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[
"spring and fall",
"winter and summer",
"summer and spring",
"fall and winter"
] |
spring and fall
|
If you are like most people ,your intelligence changes with the seasons ,You are probably a lot sharper in the spring than you are at any other time of year . A famous scientist ,Ellsworth Huntington (1876--1947),concluded from other men's work and his own among people in different climates that climate and temperature have an effect on your mental abilities .
He found that cool weather is much more favorable for creative thinking than summer heat .This does not mean that all people are less intelligent in the summer than they are during the rest of the year. It does mean, however , that the mental abilities of large numbers of people tend to be lowest in the summer .
Spring appears to be the best period of the year for thinking One reason may be that in the spring man's mental abilities are affected by the same factors that bring about great changes in nature .
Fall is the next-best season ,then winter .As for summer ,it seems to be a good time to take a long vacation from thinking .
|
The two best seasons for thinking seem to be _ .
|
[
"Kids can't learn any history about the things they draw.",
"Mark thought the stars were very far from us.",
"The writer likes \"Drawing With Mark\" a lot.",
"Mark can't draw any kinds of animals."
] |
The writer likes "Drawing With Mark" a lot.
|
If you are like me and you love drawing a lot, then I'm sure you'll love "Drawing With Mark". "Drawing With Mark" is a great show and Mark is really helpful. He gives kids some tips on how to draw and often teaches kids some history about the things they draw. Kids can also learn three or four fun facts about what they are drawing.
"Happy Tails" is about cats and dogs. Mark shows how to draw them and talks about how to look after them, too.
In "A Day With The Dinosaurs", Mark visits the Museum of Boston and speaks to an expert to learn how the dinosaurs lived, what they ate and how long they lived.
In "Reach For The Stars", Mark is also at the Museum of Boston. He speaks to another expert about the stars. I learned how far we are from the stars. I thought that the stars were just about 100 miles from us, but they are millions of miles from us. That's really far!
If you love drawing, you can watch this show. You can have fun with the tips Mark gives you. The tips will help you to become an artist.
|
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
|
[
"funny",
"sad",
"lonely",
"excited"
] |
excited
|
Jim, a successful businessman, told the experience of his childhood.
When he was 12, his parents died. He was alone and didn't get on well with others. People always laughed at him. No one showed kindness to him.
His only friend was a dog named Tiger. He gave his dog enough to eat and drink, but sometimes he was not polite to it. He didn't know that an unkind word sometimes could cut one's heart like a knife.
One day as he walked down the street, a young lady was walking in front of him. Suddenly one of her bags dropped from her arms. As she stopped to pick it up, she dropped other bags. He came to help her. "Thank you, dear! You are a nice little boy!" she said kindly, smiling.
A special feeling came to him. These were the first kind words he had ever heard. He watched her until she went far away, and then he whistled to his dog and went directly to the river nearby.
"Thank you, dear! You are a nice little boy" he repeated the woman's words. Then in a low voice he said to his dog, "You are a nice little dog!" Tiger raised its ears as if it understood.
"Unum! Even a dog likes it!" he said. "Well, Tiger, I won't say unkind words to you any more." Tiger waved its tail happily.
The boy thought and thought. Finally he looked at himself in the river. He saw nothing but a dirty boy. He washed his face carefully. Again he looked. He saw a clean nice boy. He was amazed. From then on, he had a new life.
After telling this, the businessman stopped for a while, and then he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the very place where that kind woman planted in me the first seed of kindness. All of us should learn about kindness. What a great power it has!"
|
He was feeling _ when he whistled to his dog.
|
[
"tiny",
"large",
"yellow and gold",
"very brave"
] |
tiny
|
Most animals protect their young until they are old enough to take care of themselves. A fish that swims in the rivers of South America protects its young in a very strange way. This fish, a kind of catfish, uses its mouth to keep its babies from danger .
When this catfish lays its eggs, it carries them in its mouth. From what we know, it does not eat during this time. After the eggs hatch , the fish swims with its young to protect them. It opens its mouth when danger appears , and the tiny fish swim inside. They swim out only when it's safe again.
These catfish may have a _ way to protect their young, but it seems to work.
|
The young fish are _ .
|
[
"By hand-painted portraits that Ben Schumaker painted.",
"By the photos the orphanage taken for them.",
"By the photos taken by the U.S. students in high schools.",
"By the Memory Project started by Ben Schumaker."
] |
By the Memory Project started by Ben Schumaker.
|
For some kids, old photos and baby pictures are embarrassing. For others, they are _ . But for thousands of children living in orphanages worldwide, these records of the past simply don't exist. Either the kids' parents weren't around to snap photos, or the pictures have been lost. Whatever the reason is, the Memory Project is giving orphans a lasting document of their youth.
Over the last two years, the Memory Project has provided hand-painted portraits to more than 4,000 children living in orphanages in poor countries. Ben Schumaker, 24, got the idea when he was visiting an orphanage in Guatemala in Central America. But he's not creating the _ alone. Students in hundreds of high school art classes across the U.S. paint them using photos sent from the orphanages.
Schumaker believes that the artists benefit from the project as much as the orphans do."There are two purposes of the Memory Project," he said. "One is to offer a special gift to the child abroad. The other is to help open the eyes of the student who is painting."Staring into the eyes of another person, Schumaker believes, it creates a real connection. This connection raises awareness in U.S. schools about the needs of the world's poor children."It's about planting a seed," he said.
Schumaker is also working on Books of Hope, a project in which students of all ages put together homemade books for children in Uganda and India. He hopes that one day children in Uganda and India. He hopes that one day children in Uganda and India will send books to the U.S. "It's important to me to have it be a two-way exchange," Schmnaker says.
|
How can the orphans in Guatemala get a continuing record of their youth?
|
[
"sometimes foxes are better at photographing than men",
"some foxes are more friendly than humans",
"Mr Czapp felt ashamed that the fox gained an advantage over him",
"Mr Czapp and Jessie took photos for each other"
] |
Mr Czapp and Jessie took photos for each other
|
While taking pictures of a curious five-month-old fox, photographer Simbn Czapp soon realized his subject had quite an interest in photography herself. The clever fox was so curious about the camera equipment that she climbed ri^it on top of it. And while she was supposed to be the subject of the shoot, the fox stood on the shutter release button and took her own frames.
Mr Czapp visited the New Forest Wildlife Park to capture images of new arrival Jessie. She has been at the animal park in Ashjurst, Hampshire--home to wolves, deer and other animals in 25 acres of ancient woodland--after being abandoned by her mother.
Mr Czapp said, "Jessie was very playful and curious and not at all camera shy. Soon after I arrived she was chewing my shoes and everything seemed to be a game to her. Then she started exploring the camera I had set up on a tripod .She stood on her back legs to look at the back of the camera. She balanced her front paws on it and at one point knocked it over."
He put the camera back on the tripod and Jessie soon jumped back up. At one point she had all four paws on the camera and was keeping her balance. Mr Czapp added, "She jumped up there several times and I realized it could make a good picture. As I was leaving with the public' s viewing window behind me, I thought I heard the camera go off but didn't think much of it. But when I checked the memory card afterwards, I was amazed to see Jessie had actually taken two pictures of me photographing her. I couldn't believe a fox had gained an advantage over me! Jessie is a lovely little fox. There were some lovely photos of her but she obviously thought the photographer was worthy of a picture too!,
|
From the passage we can infer that _ . .
|
[
"praise Garcia Marquez for his achievement",
"show the deep sadness of the President",
"explain the writing style of Garcia Marquez",
"describe the character of Garcia Marquez"
] |
praise Garcia Marquez for his achievement
|
Gabriel Garcia Marquez ,who was awared the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982,passed away at the age of 86 on April 17,2014. The world paused to remember the cultural giant .
Garcia Marquez was born in Colombia ,but he spent most of his adult life in Mexico City . As one of the most famous writers ,he was widely regarded as "a giant of 20th-century literature " . Garcia Marquez wrote in a style called "magical realism "In such works,people live a daily life in a certain period of time in history . But meanwhile ,magical things happen to them .
Garcia Marquez is best known for his 1967 novel ,One Hundred Years of Solitude ,which has sold about 50 million copies . It tells the tale of the small and _ town of Macondo which was separated from the outside world -of its founding and its troubled history over a hundred years . The story is a metaphor for the development of Colombia since the 19century . As Colombian President Juan Manuel Santons said , Garcia Marquez wrote about "the very essence of the Latin American beings " .
|
The writer quotes from the President to _ .
|
[
"watching TV",
"going shopping",
"doing homework",
"seeing films"
] |
seeing films
|
How do most students spend their weekends? Do they have time to do the things they like? Let's see what some students do during their weekends.
Ben is eleven. He has a sister, Kate. Both of them like going to the cinema. Every Sunday morning, they go to the town by train and then they go to the cinema because they live in a village and there is no cinema there.
They get to the town at noon. They usually have a big lunch in their favourite restaurant first, and then they buy some food in the supermarket before they go to their favourite cinema called Star Cinema. They like it because the seats there are _ and the films in the cinema are always the newest. They always have a good time on Sundays. But when the weather is bad or they are busy with their homework or someone visits them, they can't go to the cinema.
|
Ben and Kate always spend their Sundays _ .
|
[
"something unfair",
"small hottasting peppers",
"the person who is very angry",
"popular music like Dixieland jazz"
] |
something unfair
|
Many everyday American expressions are based on colors.
Red is a hot colour. Americans may say they are red hot about something unfair. They are red hot when they are very angry about something. The small hottasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hot for their colour and their fiery taste. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland jazz.
Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health. The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century. It comes from the fact that many babies are born with nice pink skin that shows that they are in good health.
The colour black is often used in expressions. People describe a day on which everything goes wrong as a black day. A blacklist is illegal now. But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations.
The colour green is natural for trees and grass. But it is,an unnatural colour for humans. A person who has a sick feeling in his stomach may say he feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green.
Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks. Dollars are called greenbacks because green is the colour of the back side of the paper money.
|
Americans use "red hot" to describe the following EXCEPT _ .
|
[
"It is a kind of artificial chemical.",
"It makes us worried by affecting our brains.",
"It is needed by us all to keep fit.",
"It is in the sunlight."
] |
It is needed by us all to keep fit.
|
For hundreds Of years, scientists have been trying to answer what things have an effect on people's emotions . How you feel is controlled by many things. Your emotions can be affected by your personality, by the actions of others and by events around you. Perhaps you don't know your emotions can be influenced by the weather as well.
People often say they feel good when the sun is shining and sad when it is cloudy. In fact, sunlight makes us feel good. When sunlight hits our skins, our bodies produce a vitamin. Vitamins are natural chemicals which we all need to stay healthy. Sunlight helps our bodies produce vitamin D. Vitamin D helps our bodies make a special chemical. This special chemical affects our brains and makes us feel happy. For example, there are long, dark winters of little sunlight in Sweden and Norway, so many people in these countries often feel sad. Without much sunlight, their bodies produce less vitamin D. Without enough vitamin D, their bodies make less of this special chemical which makes them feel good. To help the people in these countries feel better, special "sunrooms" with artificial lights have been built. People can go there and get "sunlight" for an hour or two!
The weather can also affect people's emotions in other ways. Hot weather can make people angry because people feel uncomfortable when they are hot. In the same way, rain can make people angry because being wet can be unpleasant. As you can see, the weather can have an effect on the chemicals which control our brains. Through these ways, the weather can influence our emotions. Sadly, while the weather can change us, we can hardly change the weather.
|
Which of the following is true about vitamin D according to the passage?
|
[
"Teachers called the pupils' parents to explain the new rule.",
"Pupils will have to wear clip-on ties after the summer holiday.",
"Paget High School will provide clip-on ties for pupils for free.",
"Opinions were collected before the new clothing policy was made."
] |
Opinions were collected before the new clothing policy was made.
|
Schoolgirls have been wearing such short skirts that a Staffordshire school has ordered them to wear trousers instead. All skirts will be banned from September at Paget High School in Branston. Tight-fitting trousers will also be banned and Muslim head-dressed will have to be "School blue" colour.
Head teacher Don Smith said, "one of the big problems for us at the school has been the number of girls who have been wearing improperly short skirts. This has been an area of special concern at a time when there have been a lot of wrong ideas of being beautiful." Mr Smith said it would be impossible to determine how long girls' skirts should be and that _ would be easier for teachers to carry out.
The head teacher said pupils' and other teachers' opinions were asked for before the new rule was set. The new clothing policy has been explained in a letter sent to parents of the school's 1,000 pupils and will come into force after the summer holiday.
The school also wants pupils to wear clip-on ties instead of traditional neckwear. This rule will be gradually out over the next year and support will be given to parents unable to afford the new tie.
One parent, whose teenage daughter studies at school, said, "I completely agree some girls were wearing skirts that were too short. However, I think girls should be allowed to wear skirts. Other school manage to let girls wear skirts while making sure they are not improperly dressed. I don't see why Paget can't do the same"
|
What can we know from the passage?
|
[
"He is too young to get a credit card",
"He has no time to learn driving",
"He has very little spare time",
"He will soon lose his job"
] |
He is too young to get a credit card
|
Computer programmer David Jones earns $35.000 a year designing new computer games. yet he cannot find a bank ready to let him have a credit card Instead he has been told to wait another two years until he is 18. The 16-year-old works for a small firm in Liverpool where the problem of most young people of his age is finding a job David's firm releases two new games for the fast growing computer market each month
But David's biggest headache is what to do with his money. Even though he earns a lot he cannot drive a car take out a mortgage ,or get credit cards David got his job with the Liverpool-based company four months ago ,a year after leaving school with six O-levels and working for a time in a computer shop. "I got the job because the people who run the firm knew I had already written some programs" he said David spends some of his money on records and clothes and gives his mother 50 pounds a week But most of his spare time is spent working.
"Unfortunately, computing was not part of our studies at school " he said "But I had been studying it in books and magazines for four years in my spare time I knew what I wanted to do and never considered staying on at school Most people in this business are fairly young, anyway" David added :"I would like to earn a million and I suppose early retirement is a possibility You never know when the market might disappear."
|
What is one of the problems that David is facing now?
|
[
"To advise us to buy an expensive artwork.",
"To remind us to be sensible when buying an artwork.",
"To teach us how to choose works of art.",
"To explain the benefit of art to people."
] |
To explain the benefit of art to people.
|
Why do people buy art? To answer this question, ask yourself what your reasons are for thinking of getting a piece of art. An artwork can cost a large amount of money, but if it meets your needs, it's worth every penny.
People buy art for many reasons. Many people buy an artwork simply because they like it, even if it is by an unknown artist. Art, as long as you enjoy it, is never a waste of money.
Art is for enjoyment. Art is meant to be shown. Don't ever feel pressured into buying something you won't enjoy looking at day after day, no matter what other people may say. Don't buy something that doesn't attract you just because it is trendy, or because the artist is famous, or because you have been advised that the artwork will make a good investment. If you don't like the artwork at all, don't buy it!
Art improves your environment. Have you ever noticed that all beautiful homes have art as an integral part of the decoration? Art lends life and color to otherwise plain and ordinary walls. A well thought--out art collection will help create a unique atmosphere in your home and make it more attractive.
Art makes a statement. The kind of art you surround yourself with says much about your personality tastes and values. _ .
Art enriches your life. Love--even the love of a work of art--contributes to healthier living and a longer lifespan . Art should enrich your life. Otherwise, why do you spend precious time and resources on it?
Just remember to select something which will appeal to your tastes, and keep to a sensible budget. Good art needn't cost an arm and a leg.
Happy art collecting!
|
What's the purpose of the passage?
|
[
"66 hours a week",
"71 hours a week",
"80 hours a week",
"90 hours a week"
] |
90 hours a week
|
As nanny , cook, cleaner, shopper, driver, and gardener, she has one of the most demanding jobs in Britain today. And paying someone else to do the chores which take the average housewife 71 hours a week would cost EUR349.
At over EUR18,000 a year that's more than the earnings of 70 percent of the population, including train drivers, firemen, prison officers, and social worker. Looking after a baby less than a year old takes a housewife into a even higher pay league. According to a stud, she earns EUR457 a week - at nearly EUR24,000 a year, the same as teachers, engineers, and chemists.
Researchers put a price on each chore, then tried to find out how long the average person takes doing them. They found housewives spend an average 70.7 hours a week on housework - with looking after the children (17.9hours) and cooking and cleaning (12.9 hours each) the most time-consuming .
A wife with a part-time job still works and average of 59 hours a week at home. Those in full-time employment put in longer hours at home than in the workplace. The good news is that these hours sharply as children get older. While the average mother with child under one puts in 90 hours weekly, the figure drops to 80 hours from one to four and to 66 hours from five to ten.
Mother-of-four Karen Williams from London said, "Paying the housewives may not be practical, but the government should recognize the value of housework, perhaps through the tax. Running a house takes a lot of time and most husbands don't understand this. For example, my husband only puts a shelf up now and again. He never cleans the kitchen - that's the real test."
|
According to the text, a housewife with a baby less than one year old may work _ .
|
[
"You look at the machine and type a number.",
"You need to speak and then look.",
"The machine looks at your face.",
"You look at the machine."
] |
You look at the machine.
|
Soon computers and other machines will be able to remember you by looking at your eyes! The programme works because everyone's eyes are different. So in the future you won't have to remember a number when you want to use a machine or take money out of a bank. You'll just have to look at the machine and it will be able to tell who you are. The eye-recognition programme is tested in shops and banks in the USA, Britain and Italy.
Scientists are working on other systems, such as knowing you from the shape of your face or hand or even your smell! And machines can already tell who you are from your voice or your fingerprint . But eye-recognition will replace other ways of finding out who you are. It is better, because your eyes don't change as you get older, or get dirty like hands or fingers. And even twins have different eyes, so the programme can be up to 94% correct, depending on how good the technology is. In Britain, it was found that 91% of people said that they liked the idea of eye-recognition.
,.
|
How does the eye-recognition programme work?
|
[
"he doesn't have confidence in America' s economy at all",
"China lent a huge fund to the United States",
"he is concerned about the security of China's assets in the U. S.",
"the U.S. refused to ensure the security of China's assets"
] |
he is concerned about the security of China's assets in the U. S.
|
WASHINGTON, March 14 (Xinhua) --U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed on Saturday at the White House that China can have confidence in the American economy.
"Not just the Chinese government, but every investor can have absolute confidence in the _ of investments in the United States," Obama said.
"There is a reason why even in the midst of this economic downfall you have seen actual increases in investment flows here in the U. S.,"he said.
Obama also noted the U. S. will push for stricter regulation of the financial industry "front and center" at the upcoming Group of 20Summit in London ,ending an argument between the Europe and the United States over whether more focus should be placed on financial regulatory reform.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said earlier Friady he is "a little bit worried "about the safety of Chineseassets in the United States ,urging the U. S. government to ensure the security of those assets.
China has invested its hugeforeign exchangereserves in low-risk but low-yield assets ,such as U. S.government bonds ,to play it safe . According to the U.S. Treasury, China held 681.9 billion U.S. dollars worth of U.S. government bonds as of November.
"China is indeed the largest creditor of the United States, which is the world' s biggest economy .We are extremely interested in developments in the U. S. economy."said Wen, adding that he is expecting the effect of the measures taken by the U.S.government to counter the global financial crisis.
Asked to react to Wen' s concern, Lawrence Summers, director of the U.S. National Economic Council, noted on Friday that the U.S. will be soundsteward of the money it invests.
"This is a commitment that the president has made very clear--we need to be sound stewards of the money we invest."said Summers in a speech at the Brookings Institution, a leading think tank in the united states.
|
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said earlier Friday he is "a little bit worried", because _ .
|
[
"be a good student",
"sleep quickly",
"have a good beginning",
"find something good to end his day"
] |
find something good to end his day
|
Jack is in bed. Mr. Smith sits beside him.
"What kind of day do you have today?" Mr. Smith asks.
"It is a bad day for me," Jack answers. "I have a fight with Tom. Then the teacher calls you and tells you about it, right?"
"Yes , part of the day is bad," Mr. Smith says. But there are good parts, too. Now it is time to go to sleep. So tell me the best thing to you today.
Jack is happy and he says, "After school, I go swimming. I make a new friend in the swimming pool."
"I am happy you have a good time," Mr. Smith says. "Think about it before you go to sleep. Now I'm going to turn off the light . Have a nice dream!"
"Good night, Dad," Jack says.
Every night Mr. Smith and Jack have a talk like this.
Every night Jack answers the same question, "What is the best thing to you today?
Every night Jack goes to sleep thinking about the best thing. It's really a good way to end a day."
|
Mr. Smith asks such a question because he wants Jack to _ .
|
[
"Because he became a president.",
"Because his family was very poor.",
"Because his father was dead.",
"Because his mother remarried Norger Clinton."
] |
Because his mother remarried Norger Clinton.
|
Bill Clinton took office on January 20, 1993 and became the 42nd U.S.president .He is the first U.S.president who was born after World War II .He is also one of the youngest of all U. S. presidents.
Clinton was born in a poor family in 1946.Three months before he was born, his father, William Blats, died.When he was small, his mother remarried Norger Clinton, so the boy's family name was changed.
In the summer of 1963, Clinton was asked to visit the city of Washington.During his visit, he met President Kennedy in the White House.At that time, he wanted to become a president, and then, he was!
|
Why was the boy's name changed?
|
[
"facing a tough job market",
"taking final exams.",
"finishing homework",
"handing in final papers"
] |
finishing homework
|
In your opinion,what is the most effective way to deal with pressure?Do you think the measure taken by Tufts University is useful?
Tufts University has offered extra help around test time to students. Now they're adopting new stress-fighting methods to help the students, who face a tough job market as well as finishing the term. From free massages to therapy dog visits, students are getting help during those days before turning in final papers and taking final exams.
"I think these dogs make me happy and give me a nice break between learning, cutting the learning into small pieces,"19-year-old Tufts student Chloe Wong said. She called her first term "challenging", because she has spent weeks away from family and friends and was afraid she would lose her cool in her first set of final exams.
But they now get chances to relax and play with these lovely dogs that head teacher Michael Bliss brought in for them. They can set down their books and laptops for a chance to the pet. Therapy dogs have long been used to cheer the sick and the elderly up. But the university is accepting the idea as a way of relieving stress and comforting students.
Brian Van Brunt, president of the American College Counseling Association, said, "College students are very stressed at this point of the year and some are trying to catch up with their peers. Going to events like this allows students to clear the brain and press there set button."
|
Therapy dogs may help the students in the following situations EXCEPT _ .
|
[
"Jenny loves her father very much.",
"Jenny's pearl necklace can turn green when it is wet.",
"Jenny has other toys she loves very much besides the necklace.",
"Jenny didn't want to give up her necklace though she did so."
] |
Jenny's pearl necklace can turn green when it is wet.
|
Jenny was a bright-eyed, pretty five-year-old girl.
One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $2.50. How she wanted that necklace, and when she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, "Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I'll tell you what. I'll buy you the necklace, and when we get home we can make up a list of housework that you can do to pay for the necklace. And don't forget that for your birthday Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?" Jenny agreed, and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her.
Jenny worked on her chores very hard every day, and sure enough, her grandma gave her a brand-new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon Jenny had paid off the pearls. How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere to kindergarten, bed and when she went out with her mother to run errands .
The only time she didn't wear them was in the shower. Her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green!
Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her favorite story.
One night when he finished the story, he said, "Jenny, do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you," the little girl said.
"Well, then, give me your pearls."
"Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!" Jenny said. "But you can have Rosy, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?"
"Oh no, darling, that's okay." Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss. "Good night, little one."
A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, "Do you love me?"
"Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you."
"Well, then, give me your pearls."
"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She's my favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons if you want her, Daddy," the little girl said to her father.
"No, that's okay," her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. "God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."
Several days later, when Jenny's father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling." Here, Daddy," she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father's hand.
With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box. Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls. He had had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing.
|
Which statement is NOT correct?
|
[
"The Indian inventor Santosh Pradhan invented the speeding train.",
"The T-Box's design won a silver medal in Lite-On Awards last year.[:Z",
"Rail travel has become one of the energy-efficient technologies in the world.",
"The India harvests 10,000 megawatts of electricity each day on average."
] |
The T-Box's design won a silver medal in Lite-On Awards last year.[:Z
|
Researchers around the world have been trying their hand at making better use of the huge amount of wind energy available in nature to produce clean energy. Apart from this, studies are being carried out to harness usable wind energy produced by man-made technologies.
One useful source identified by Indian inventor Santosh Pradhan about two years ago is a speeding train, which produces fierce wind that can be transformed into electricity.
According to Pradhan's proposal, with a few small improvements in existing trains running in Mumbai, the largest city in India, at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity could be harvested each day.
Building on this principle, designers Ale Leonetti Luparinia and Qian Jiang from Yanko Design have created a device called T-Box that harnesses wind energy from speeding trains.
T-Box can be placed within the railway tracks. It is half-buried underground between the concrete sleepers , which does not disturb the normal train operating at all. According to Yanko, around 150 T-Boxes can be fitted along a 1,000-meter railway track.
A train running at a speed of 200 kph can produce winds blowing at 15 miles a second. Based on this calculation, 150 T-Boxes can produce 2.6 KWH of electricity per day. The T-Box's design won a silver medal in last year's Lite-On Awards and was exhibited last summer at the Xue Xue Institute in Taipei, Taiwan Province.
Though the figures look impressive, it is important to remember that the design is still at a conceptual stage and hasn't taken into account issues such as pieces of waste material produced by the device and the efforts and costs involved in the maintenance of the device.
We can expect the technology to see the light of the day only after it clears these issues. If so, rail travel, one of the greenest forms of travel, will become greener and more energy-efficient.
|
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
|
[
"Because her husband didn't love her.",
"Because she was thinking of a better answer.",
"Because she didn't love her husband.",
"Because the writer had hurt her feelings."
] |
Because she was thinking of a better answer.
|
Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and sweet kisses. So, I really doubted whether there was any love between my parents. Every day they were working hard to pay for my high school. They didn't act in the romantic ways that I read in books and saw on TV, and they certainly didn't send flowers to each other on Valentine's Day .
One day, my mother was sewing a quilt . I asked her if there was any love between her and my dad. She stopped and raised her head in surprise. Then she went on with her work without saying anything. I was very worried because I thought I had hurt her feelings. But after a few minutes she said, "Look at this thread . Sometimes it appears, but most of the time it disappears in the quilt. If life is a quilt, then love is the thread. It can hardly be seen anywhere or at any time, but it's really there, and makes the quilt long-lasting." I listened carefully but I didn't understand her until the next spring.
My mother suddenly got seriously ill and had to stay in hospital for about a month. Every morning and evening after she returned from the hospital, my father helped her walk slowly along our country road. _ All of this made the most beautiful picture in the world. Reading their eyes, I knew they love each other deeply. From this experience, I realized that love is just a thread in the quilt of our lives. Love is inside, making life strong and warm.
|
Why didn't the writer's mother answer his question immediately?
|
[
"daily",
"on school days",
"weekly",
"weekends"
] |
daily
|
Choose the best answer. Choose the best answer(,, A, B, CD):
Can kids make their own newspapers? They do in Paris. Student editors at a French newspaper for kids called "Mon Quotidien", do every day.
The 10-year-old newspaper has its headquarters in Paris. Sometimes the newspaper sells 200,000 copies every day. It gets more than one million dollars every year! This is much more than other newspapers.
How do they decide what to put in the paper? All the adult editors working on the children's daily agree that the paper should be easy and simple to read. Kids should be able to finish it within 10 minutes.
The paper covers school life, animals, and science, which are usually kid's favourite subjects. It also talks about big world problem, like the Iraq war.
In order to make the paper more popular with kids, adult editors invite students from age 10 to 15 to take part in their meetings. They have meetings every Wednesday and Sunday. Adult editors, reporters and kids sit together and decide which topics should come out in the paper and on which page.
Which topic should come out on the front page, European Union or bears in the zoo? Often the kid editors and adult writers disagree. Sometimes, the adult editors have to give up because their little editors won't give in.
Usually the student editors stay in the newspaper office for three hours at each meeting. Any kid in France can call the newspaper if they are interested in being a one-day editor.
|
A kid can read Mon Quotidien _ .
|
[
"Showing continuous care for others is highly valued.",
"Smiling at others can often be misunderstood.",
"Looking people in the eye will make them uncomfortable.",
"You don't have to continue helping others if you don't want to."
] |
Showing continuous care for others is highly valued.
|
These simple ways can increase your popularity and win you more friends,so why not try them?
*PAYING ATTENTION TO OTHERS This will reduce any shyness you may have. You'll be more relaxed and therefore more natural and fun. And you will get more good-people will love the fact that you're paying attention to them while you don't have to worry about what people think of you.
*LOOKING PEOPLE IN THE EYE Making eye contact is very important because it shows you're interested in them. If you let your eyes wander or keep looking over their shoulders,people will feel slighted ,and they'll like you less they would otherwise.
*ASKING QUESTIONS Doing this gives you two advantages,It shows other people that you are indeed paying attention to and that you consider what they are telling you important. Being sure to follow up when you've shared a conversation with someone about something important in his / her life,be sure to ask about it later. This shows that you listen and you care.
*MAKING AN EFFORT TO SMILE A smile means acceptance,and that makes people open up to you. Make a conscious effort one day to smile at the people you stay or work with and watch how well they respond to you;
*BEING RELIABLE People like those who help them,and they quickly begin to hate those who don't.
|
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
|
[
"The author believed it's beneficial to say thank you.",
"The author was confident that his son would get the job.",
"The author was disappointed when his son was not employed.",
"The author thought it's not easy to say thank you."
] |
The author believed it's beneficial to say thank you.
|
Half a year before graduation from college, my son David began to seek a job. Due to the financial crisis, the competition was ever-fierce. My son targeted a company that was located in a coastal city. It was intended to employ only one person among more than twenty candidates, I said to David, "You should not harbor too much hope for fear that you would feel terribly disappointed when you fail." He said to me, "I am not afraid of disappointment. As long as I try, there will always be hope!"
Three young men could enter the final round, which would later decide one person to be employed. Everything seemed to go quite well and David entered the final round in a week.
Unexpectedly, the interview was unbelievably simple, during which the interviewer only chatted with them for a while. The interview strategies my son prepared were not useful at all. The interviewer said the company would inform them of the result in 3 days. On the morning of the third day, David received the text from the company that he was not employed. David felt disappointed.
In nightfall that day, David suddenly told me excitedly on phone that he had been employed. Greatly surprised, I asked him, "What's the whole matter?" David told me that he received another text saying that he was employed. David felt very confused about it. Later he found out the first text sent to him was also part of the test in the interview. Three men received the same text this morning and only David's reply was satisfying to the company. I asked my son, "How did all of you reply?" My son said, "One did not reply. The other said "goodbye" and I said "thank you"."
Only then did I know that my son's "hope" came in that way. That is, when you feel disappointed, do not forget to say "Thank you" to the one who disappoints you. Actually, it is a piece of cake to say "Thank you". Saying "Thank you" shows respect for others' work and demonstrates your grand generosity. Therefore, while under the same condition, you will get the upper hand in terms of opportunities compared with others!
|
What can be inferred from the passage?
|
[
"domestication",
"human rewards",
"evolution",
"human-dog interactions"
] |
human-dog interactions
|
Now scientists have discovered the first evidence that the animals actually behave like their masters. Just like children, they adopt a "look and learn" approach which means they can mimic human's actions when going about their tasks.
Biologists and psychologists at the universities of Vienna and Oxford designed an experiment to test the theory that dogs do have the ability to copy what they see, using a simple wooden box. In the study, ten owners showed their dogs how to open the wooden box, sometimes using their heads to push a handle and sometimes using their hands.
In the first part of the test, five dogs were rewarded with a piece of sausage for copying their owners' actions. The other five were rewarded with food for not copying, and using other methods. With each dog the experiment was repeated hundreds of times, and the time taken for a dog to get it "right" on 85 percent of attempts (17 goes out of 20) was recorded. The dogs encouraged to mirror their owners reached this point almost three times sooner on average than those rewarded for not copying them. In the second part of the test, all the dogs were only rewarded for copying the method their owners used. The five dogs previously rewarded for copying their owners reached the 85 percent mark more than twice as the other five.
In a paper published in Proceeding of the Royal Society, _ concluded, "Like humans, dogs can't help imitating actions they see." Going further, they said, "The results suggest the imitative behavior of dogs is shaped more by their developmental interactions with humans than by their evolutionary history of domestication ."
Caroline Kisko, from the Kennel club, said, "A dog's behavior is influenced much like that of a child learning right from wrong and adopting similar patterns of behavior. We hope that owners understand the importance of their actions and use this knowledge to set good examples and therefore positively influence the behavior of their pets."
|
The researchers believe dogs' imitative behavior comes mainly from _ .
|
[
"go to Reader's Digest issued in March",
"go to Random House",
"analyze the characters in Oh, Johnny",
"read the novel"
] |
go to Reader's Digest issued in March
|
Do you ever run out of great books to read? So what should I read next? Is fast-paced crime fiction your thing?
Try the new Patricia Cornwell book,
(Putnam). She is such an able writer and handles complex forensic intelligence with ease. You need to be prepared, though, for the world you're entering--
, let's say.
If peace is more your thing, try Mary Pipher's wonderful new book,
Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World (Riverhead). Mary is a lovely, comfortable writer who takes the reader through her personal awakening after reputation and fortune came her way. Even if you've never experienced life as a bestselling writer (as she has done, in her book years back,
), you'll totally understand and sympathize with her renewed need for privacy, distance and quiet.
What if you want a straightforward, totally thrilling read with vivid characters, set about World War II? You cannot go wrong with Jim Lehrer's new novel,
(Random House), about a young Marine whose life is changed forever when he meets a woman on his way to war. His relationship with her lasts him through danger and hardship, and there's an impressive ending. See our interview with the productive novelist/newsman in the current issue of Reader's Digest (March, on stands now), by the way, for insight into the very talented Mr. Lehrer and what interests him.
Well, what about something wickedly funny and totally offbeat? Does the name Carrie Fisher do anything for you? Try her vivid and new life in Hollywood and elsewhere,
(Simon & Schuster). Be prepared for humor as sharp as knives.
|
To get further information about Jim Lehrer, you may _ .
|
[
"140,000,000",
"14,000,000",
"1,400,000,000",
"14,000,000,000"
] |
1,400,000,000
|
By November 30, 2015, the comedy Goodbye, Mr. Loser had got more than 1,400 million yuan in ticket sales.
It was amazing that a film with common actors who had their first shows in the film got such great success. What's more, the actors were all stage performers and they improved their acting skills by making this film.
The comedy tells about a common middle-aged man who has no job but problems. He seems to be a loser in life and never gets any success. He causes many jokes and is laughed at a lot. And because of his bad luck, he feels upset most of the time. Later, a sudden accident changes his life and he starts to realize how important the family to him.
Goodbye, Mr. Loser was the first movie made by Happy Mahua Pictures. The film came out on September 30, 2015. Because of its great success, the film company became famous overnight.
During the seven-day holiday for National Day in 2015, the ticket sales were just behind the most popular film being shown at the same time-Lost in Hong Kong.
|
Goodbye, Mr. Loser had got over _ yuan by November 30, 2015.
|
[
"Michael Scofield in \nPrison Break.",
"Hollywood's recent big hit--\nPrison Break.",
"Miller's unusual path to fame and fortune.",
"The man who will take over all of the world."
] |
Miller's unusual path to fame and fortune.
|
Prison Breakis a huge hit thanks to its handsome star, Wentworth Miller. His character, Michael Scofield, is the engine that drives the show.
Having committed a crime to get into prison and break out with his innocent brother, Michael Scofield is one of the most interesting personalities on TV today. But what about the man behind the character?
Miller,35, is a hard guy to figure out. He does not come from a normal background and has never lived his life in a typical way.
Miller didn't take direct path to fame and fortune. He graduated from Princeton University in 1995, not with a degree in theatre of film, but in English. He didn't even act when he was in college. His only performance experience was in his university's singing group. Yet , at graduation Miller still decided to make the move to Hollywood.
Miller has always been different. Although he is American, he was in Britain when his father was studying there. His family background is also a special mix of cultures. "My father is black and my mother is white. That means I have always been caught in the middle. I could be either one, which can make you feel out of place," Miller says.
Following his unusual path, Miller did not start trying out for films and TV shows when he
first went to Hollywood. Instead, he worked as a lowly production assistant. Not what you would expect from a Princeton graduate. However, _
In 2002, Miller played a role in the drama Dinotopia(<<>> ). He starred as a thoughtful and shy man. Producers remembered his performance when they were castingPrison Breaktwo years later. With a golden globe nomination and another season ofPrison Breakon his resume, Miller seems ready to take over all of Hollywood.
|
What does the passage mainly talk about?
|
[
"He liked writing stories.",
"He loved making friends.",
"He was a very young man.",
"He was popular with children."
] |
He was popular with children.
|
From my earlier memory of Mother it somehow seemed quite natural to think of her as different, nor of everyday things as Father was. In those days he was a young-looking man. He did not hesitate to make friends with children as soon as they were able to talk to him and laugh at his stories. Mother was older than he was. She must have been a woman of nearly forty, but she seemed even older. She changed little for a long time, showing no indication of growing old at all until, towards the end of her life, she suddenly became an old lady.
I was always _ about Mother's age. She never had birthdays like other people, nor did anyone else in our family. No candles were ever lit or cakes made or presents given in our house. To my friends in the street who talked delightfully about their birthday parties, I would repeat my mother's words that such celebrations were only foolish.
"Nothing but deception," she would say. "As though life can be marked by birthdays. It's deeds, not years, that matter."
Although I often repeated her words and even prided myself on not having birthdays, I once could not help asking Mother when she was born.
"I was born. I'm alive as you can see, so what more do you want to know?" she replied, so sharply that I never asked her about her age again.
In so many other ways Mother was different. Whereas all the rest of the women I knew in the neighboring hoses took pride in their housewifely abilities, their new furniture, the neat appearance of their homes, Mother regarded all those things as of little importance. Our house always looked as if we had just moved in or were about to move out.
|
How did Father impress the author?
|
[
"forming an orderly queue",
"being rude and loud",
"traveling on subways",
"spending more time waiting in a queue"
] |
forming an orderly queue
|
"AN Englishman, even if he is alone, forms an orderly queue of one," wrote famous British author George Mikes. While this sounds funny, it's a popular English stereotype . From the supermarket to the subway, queues are a common sight on the streets of Britain.
Here in China, queues are normal, too. It is a part of everyday life. People queue most of the time, from buying tickets in the cinema to waiting for seats at a restaurant.[:ZXXK]
But in certain situations, you'll find yourself in the middle of a rushing crowd, such as getting onto the subway. Even away from the busy subway platform , queues are different. One day I was standing in line at the supermarket.
I left a small space in front of me. Within seconds, a girl walked by and took her place in that small space.
I was surprised at first, but later I found these experiences very interesting. It is with these small, everyday differences that I get to live and learn within a new culture.
Back in Britain, the average person spends six months of their life waiting in a queue, according to the auction site MadBid. To pass the time, maybe they tell themselves the famous proverb: good things come to those who wait.
|
The English are well known for _ .
|
[
"Those students should use small two-language dictionaries.",
"What were the effects of small two-language dictionaries?",
"Why students should use large college edition dictionaries?",
"What kind of dictionary students should choose and how to use it?"
] |
What kind of dictionary students should choose and how to use it?
|
Students who say they never or hardly ever used dictionaries often speak English well but usually write poorly, because they make many mistakes.
The students who use dictionaries most do not learn especially well either. The ones who look up every word do not read fast. Therefore they do not have time to read much .Those who use small two-language dictionaries have the worst problems. Their dictionaries often give one or two words as a translation of English. But one English word has many English translations in Chinese.
The most successful students are those who use large college edition dictionaries with about 100,000 words but do not use them often, When they are reading these students first try to get the general idea and understand the new words from the context .Then they read and use the dictionary to look up only key words that they still do not understand. They use dictionaries more for writing. Also if they think a noun might have an unusual plural form or a verb might have an unusual past form, they check these in a dictionary.
|
This article mainly tells us_.
|
[
"the husband was careless",
"the wife ignored the matter",
"the husband was busy",
"the wife wasn't informed of the matter"
] |
the wife ignored the matter
|
A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and loved the boy very much. When the boy was around two years old, one morning the husband saw a medicine bottle open. He was late for work so he asked the wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. The mother, preoccupied in the kitchen, totally forgot the matter.
The boy saw the bottle and playfully went to the bottle and, fascinated with its color, drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages . When the child fell down, the mother hurried him to the hospital, where he died. The mother was shocked. She was terrified how to face her husband.
When the father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just four words. The husband just said 'I am with you, Darling'. The husband's totally unexpected reaction is active behavior. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. Besides, if he had taken time to keep the bottle away, this would not have happened. No point in attaching blame. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was comfort and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her.
If everyone can look at life with this kind of viewpoint, there would be much fewer problems in the world. Take off all your envies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears and you will find things are actually not as difficult as you think. Sometimes we spend time asking who is responsible or whom to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know. By this way we miss out some warmth in human relationship.
|
The uncapped medical bottle was not put back into the cupboard because _ .
|
[
"57.9 dollars",
"44 dollars",
"77 dollars",
"25 dollars"
] |
57.9 dollars
|
The tough economy is bringing new shoppers to the secondhand market. Plato's Closet in Charlotte, NC is a private company which mainly buys and sells used clothes. While Charlotte has outstanding secondhand stores offering high-end and sophisticated brands for women, most of their stock applies to adults. Plato's Closet targets teens and those in their 20s.Plato's Closet, with stores in Matthews and the university area, sells clothes and accessories that are currently popular at up to 70 percent off retail prices .
The two hottest brands, for buying and selling, are Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch. Even though the offerings tend to be suitable for young people, there are a variety of shoppers at Plato's Closet of varying ages. Women in their 30s; 40s and older could easily find a purse, jacket or piece of jewelry they like.
Customer Beth Gibbs, 52, who has three teenage daughters, said she used to shop at name-brand stores, but "this year I'm shopping more in secondhand stores", because of the economy.
If you're selling
Unlike higher-end resale stores which usually work on consignment , Plato's Closet buys on the spot.
Items can be gently used, but must be in very good condition.
Clothes should be less than two years old and styles should be the same as those still being sold at the shopping center.
There is no negotiation; prices are set company-wide. If what you sell amounts to $30 or less, they'll give you cash. More than that, you'll get a Visa cash card.
Secondhand success
Don't get discouraged if you can't find something on your first trip. Resale shops are always getting new lists of goods and change their styles with each season.
Be sure to check each piece carefully before buying.
Price comparison
Jackets: New York & Company black blazer, $12; retail: $37.
Pants: Express Editor-style pants, $12; retail: $69.90.
Shoes: Nine West black peep-toe pumps, $12; retail: $89.
Jewelry: Necklaces, $3-$5; retail: $18-$30. (365)
|
If you buy a pair of Express Editor-style pants in Plato's Closet, you can save _ .
|
[
"To their joy, Father can have a good rest in the end.",
"They should have stopped Father from working so hard.",
"Thank God, Father can stay home with them.",
"There is no point working hard for a better life."
] |
They should have stopped Father from working so hard.
|
FFather was a hardworking man who delivered bread as a living to support his wife and three children. He spent all his evenings after work attending classes,hoping to improve himself so that he could one day find a better. paid job. Except. for Sundays, Father hardly ate a meal together with his family. He worked and studied very hard because he wanted to provide his family with the best that money could buy.
Whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
The day came when the examination results were announced. To his joy, Father passed, and with distinctions too! Soon after, he was offered a good job as a senior supervisor which paid handsomely.
Like a dream come true, Father could now afford to provide his family with life's little luxuries like nice clothing,fine food and vacation abroad.
However, the family still did not get to see Father for most of the week. He continued to work very hard, hoping to be promoted to the position of manager. In fact, to make himself a worthily candidate for the promotion, he took another course in an open university.
Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
Father's hard work paid off and he was promoted. Happily, he decided to hire a maid to relieve his wife from her domestic tasks. He also felt that their three-room flat was no longer big enough. It would be nice for his family to be able to enjoy the facilities and comfort of a condominium. Having experienced the rewards of his hard work many times before, Father resolved to further his studies and work at being promoted again. The family still did not get to see much of him. In fact, sometimes Father had to work on Sundays entertaining clients.
Over again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
As expected, Father's hard work paid off again and he bought a beautiful condominium overlooking the coast of Singapore. On the first Sunday evening at their new home, Father declared to his family that he decided not to take any more courses or pursue any more promotions. From then on he was going to devote more time to
his family, and it was a promise.
Father did not wake up the next day.
|
How would the family feel when "Father did not wake up the next day"?
|
[
"he had great influence on Frost's poetry and life",
"Frost' s poetry style was the same as Hemingway's",
"Frost was unhappy because he was the victim of his father",
"Frost spent his childhood unhappily"
] |
Frost spent his childhood unhappily
|
Robert Frost was one of America's best known and most honored serious writers. But his fame came late in his life.
He was born in San Francisco, California in 1874. He lived in California during his early childhood. He was named after the chief Southern general in America's Civil War. The general's name was Robert Edward Lee. The poet was named Robert Lee Frost, because his father wanted to honor the general.
Someone once asked another American writer, Ernest Hemingway, how to become a writer. The best thing, he said, was to have an unhappy childhood. If this is true, Robert Frost's childhood was unhappy enough to make him a very good writer. Robert Frost's father was a reporter who wanted to be a politician. He often drank too much wine and became angry. Robert was the victim of his anger.
Robert Frost finished high school in 1891. After high school, Robert's grandfather offered to pay his costs at Dartmouth College. But Robert left the school after a few months. He did not like it. He spent the next few years working at different jobs. At one time, he worked in a factory. Later, he repaired shoes. He was a teacher. He was a reporter. Always, he wrote poetry.
Robert Frost attended Harvard University for two years. After that, he returned to the many jobs he held before. For a while, Frost tried to take care of a farm in the state of New Hampshire. He was not a successful farmer. And he continued to write poetry. He said that until 1930, he earned only about ten dollars a year from writing.
In 1912, he decided to try to make a new start. He took his family to Britain. The cost of living was low. In Britain, Frost found a publisher for his first book of poems. The book was called A Boy's Will. When it appeared in 1913. Frost received high praise from British readers. Praise was something he had not received in his own country.
Ezra Pound, another American poet living in Britain, read the poems and liked them very much. He wrote a magazine article about Frost. He also helped get Frost's second book of poems published in America. That book was called North of Boston.
|
The passage wrote about Hemingway in order to show that
|
[
"talking to the soul",
"concealed speech",
"speaking nonverbally",
"a non-linguistic behavior"
] |
concealed speech
|
It is evident that there is a close connection between the capacity to use language and the capacities covered by the verb "to think". Indeed, some writers have identified thinking with using words: Plato coined the saying, "In thinking the soul is talking to itself"; J. B. Watson reduced thinking to inhibited speech located in the minute movements or tensions of the physiological mechanisms involved in speaking; and although Ryle is careful to point out that there are many senses in which a person is said to think and in which words are not in evidence, he has also said that saying something in a specific frame of mind is thinking a thought.
Is thinking reducible to, or dependent upon, language habits? It would seem that many thinking situations are hardly distinguishable from the skillful use of language, although there are some others in which language is not involved. Thought cannot be simply identified with using language. It may be the case, of course, that the non-linguistic skills involved in thought can only be acquired and developed if the learner is able to use and understand language. However, this question is one which we cannot hope to answer in this book. Obviously being able to use language makes for a considerable development in all one's capacities but how precisely this comes about we cannot say.
At the common-sense level it appears that there is often a distinction between thought and the words we employ to communicate with other people. We often have to struggle hard to find words to capture what our thinking has already grasped, and when we do find words we sometimes feel that they fail to do their job properly. Again when we report or describe our thinking to other people we do not merely report unspoken words and sentences. Such sentences do not always occur in thinking, and when they do they are merged with vague imagery and the hint of unconscious or subliminal activities going on just out of rage. Thinking, as it happens, is more like struggling, striving, or searching for something than it is like talking or reading.
Again the study of speech disorders due to brain injury disease suggests that patients can think without having adequate control over their language. Some patients, for example, fail to find the names of objects presented to them and are unable to describe simple events which they witness; they even find it difficult to interpret long written notices. But they succeed in playing games of chess or draughts. They can use the concepts needed for chess playing or draught playing but are unable to use many of the concepts in ordinary language. How they manage to do this we do not know. Presumably human beings have various capacities for thinking situations which are likewise independent of language.
|
According to the theory of "thought" devised by J. B. Watson, thinking is _ .
|
[
"develop the same interest as our friend does",
"blame your friend for not being as friendly to you as before",
"give in to the friend who has hurt your feeling deeply",
"stick to the friendship that was built up in the past"
] |
blame your friend for not being as friendly to you as before
|
Your best friend is possibly the most important person in your life. But sometimes friendship's road is not always smooth, or it's a total dead end. What do you do when this happens?
Scenario 1: Drifting Apart
You've found that your friend no longer wants to jog with you. She'd rather hit the chat rooms, or she's become crazy about hanging with her new interest.
It's a _ when old friends start having less in common. But it might still be worth trying to get into your friend's new interest, trying something new on your own, or meet some new folks who like doing the things you enjoy. Another thing to try is talking to your friend about it- in a non-this-is-your-fault way. The goal is telling how you feel, not "winning".
Scenario 2: Fights
"Yes, he is." "No, he isn't." the argument could continue forever.
No matter how sure you are that you're right, friendship is based on RESPECT. Since you and your friend aren't clones , you will disagree sometimes! Is it worth fighting over? If it is trivial , why not give it up? Agree to disagree and get on well with life. Even if you'll never agree, try to see the other person's viewpoint. At least honor his right to have his own opinions. Never get physical. Violence can make a small problem into a disaster.
Scenario 3: End of the Road
Is the friendship over? If you are not the one ending it, it feels as if a knife cut your heart into pieces. But the thing is that you can't force someone to be your friend. Give yourself time. But don't freeze in a looking-back, holding pattern . Be open to new friendship. You never know when the "best friend forever" will come along.
|
You are advised not _ when your friend reduced communication with you.
|
[
"I",
"Father",
"Mother",
"I don't know."
] |
Mother
|
We go shopping on Sunday. I often go to the supermarket with my mother on Sunday morning. Father likes fruit very much. We buy some bananas for him. Mother likes red apples, but the apples in the supermarket are green. We don't buy them. The strawberries are very nice. Mother likes them very much and buys some for herself . The oranges are very nice, too. Mother buys some for me. I like oranges very much.
We need some vegetables. The vegetables in the supermarket are very good. We buy some broccoli. I don't like broccoli, but my parents like it. I like carrots very much. We buy lots of carrots. After shopping, mother and I have some salad, French fries and ice cream. Then we go back home with the fruit and vegetables.
|
Who likes strawberries very much? _
|
[
"Because he was sure he was to be killed.",
"Because he wanted the guard to set him free.",
"Because he wanted to ease his nervousness.",
"Because he was a regular heavy smoker."
] |
Because he wanted to ease his nervousness.
|
I was sure that I was to be killed. I became terribly nervous. I fumbled in my pockets to see if there were any cigarettes, which had escaped their search. I found one and because of my shaking hands, I could barely get it to my lips. But I had no matches, they had taken those. I looked through the bars at the guard. He did not make eye contact with me. I called out to him "Have you got a light?" He looked at me, shrugged and came over to light my cigarette. As he came close and lit the match, his eyes unconsciously locked with mine. At that moment, I smiled. I don't know why I did that. Perhaps it was nervousness, perhaps it was because, when you get very close, one to another, it is very hard not to smile. In any case, I smiled. In that instant, it was as though a spark jumped across the gap between our two hearts, our two human souls. I know he didn't want to, but my smile leaped through the bars and caused a smile on his lips, too. He lit my cigarette but stayed near, looking at me directly in the eyes and continuing to smile.
I kept smiling at him, now thinking of him as a person and not just a guard. "Do you have kids?" he asked. "Yes, here, here." I took out my wallet and nervously fumbled for the pictures of my family. He, too, took out the pictures of his family and began to talk about his plans and hopes for them. My eyes were filled with tears. I said that I feared that I'd never see my family again, never have the chance to see them grow up. Tears came to his eyes, too. Suddenly, without another word, he unlocked my cell and silently led me out. Out of the prison, quietly and by back routes, out of the town. There, at the edge of town, he released me. And without another word, he turned back toward the town.
|
Why did the man want to smoke cigarettes?
|
[
"Cautious",
"Determined",
"Considerate",
"Ambitious"
] |
Determined
|
An estimated eight million people in Britain enjoy walking in the Peak District every year. But what many who enjoy outdoor hobbies don't know is that their "right to walk" was won by men who sacrificed their own freedom to gain access to the countryside for all.
In 1932 wealthy landowners had private use of large areas of uplands for hunting. Walkers were kept out by guards, until a group of 400 people from Manchester and Yorkshire, led by Benny Rothman, engaged on a mass trespass . The campaigner was put into prison with four other men.
The event is supported by many with starting a movement that paved the way for the establishment of national parks. Mr Rothman died in 2002 but he is now being honoured for his contribution with the revealing of a blue plaque on his former home in Crofton Avenue, Timperley, Greater Manchester.
Retired professor, Harry, who followed in his father's footsteps by specialising in environmental issues, says: "He was a very optimistic man and he made the best of it when he went to prison. It did''t put him off campaigning, he went on campaigning on environmental issues most of his life." Mr Rothman did live to see the Countryside Rights of Way Act passed by Parliament in 2000, ensuring the freedom of the countryside for future generations.
Roly Smith, a friend of Mr Rothman and an author of walking guidebooks, said: "It is because of them that we have got what we have today."
Councillor Jonathan Coupe, of Trafford Council, said: "The honour of having a blue plaque attributed to you means you have really made an impression on society."
"Mr Rothman contributed to the changing of history and it is because of him that we are able to enjoy the local countryside as often and freely as we can today."
|
Besides "optimistic", which of the following best describes Mr. Rothman?
|
[
"they no longer go hungry",
"they can take care of their parents",
"they don't have to worry about food",
"they can learn more skills from their parents"
] |
they can learn more skills from their parents
|
The creative projects of World Food Program (WFP) focused on preventing hunger from taking hold in the future and breaking the cycle of hunger. Here are some of the ways in which we work to prevent hunger in the future:
School Meals
As well as directly addressing hunger, School Meals projects encourage families to keep their children in school and help them build better futures. If children aren't hungry they will concentrate on their lessons. With a solid education growing children have a better chance of finding their own way out of hunger. These projects benefit girls especially. For more information: www.wfp.org/schools meals.
Food for Assets
WFP's Food for Assets projects provide the hungry with food to lay the foundation for a better tomorrow. When poor farmers no longer have to worry about the next meal, they have the time and energy to build irrigation systems that can increase production. Similarly, Food for Training projects allow the poor to devote time to learning skills that will sustain them economically in the future. For more information: www.wfp.org/food-assets.
HIV/AIDS
WFP uses its food rations to reduce the blow of HIV and AIDS. The agency distributes its rations to people living with HIV and AIDS, so they can keep providing for their families for longer and have time to transfer vital knowledge and skills to the growing number of AIDS children--the next generation of food providers in developing countries. For more information: www.wfp.org/hiv-aids.
Purchase for Progress
WFP buys large amounts of food in developing countries. It has this purchasing power and uses it to help poor farmers contact reliable markets where they can get competitive prices for their produce. With secure markets, farmers will be encouraged to produce more and innovate .The knock-on effect is producing more food for everyone. For more information: www.wfp.ofp/purchase-progress.
|
AIDS children can benefit from food rations in that _ .
|
[
"The greatest desert makers are humans.",
"There aren't any living things in the deserts.",
"Deserts have been growing quickly.",
"The size of the deserts is always changing."
] |
There aren't any living things in the deserts.
|
A desert is a beautiful land of silence and space. The sun shines, the wind blows, and time and space seem endless. Nothing is soft. The sand and rocks are hard, and many of the plants even have hard needles instead of leaves.
The size and location of the world's deserts are always changing. Over millions of years, as climates change and mountains rise, new dry and wet areas develop. But within the last 100 yeas, deserts have been growing at a frightening speed. This is partly because of natural changes, but the greatest makers are humans.
Humans can make deserts, but humans can also prevent their growth. Algeria Mauritania is planting a similar wall around Nouakchott, the capital. Iran puts a thin covering of petroleum on sandy areas and plants trees. The oil keeps the water and small trees in the land, and men on motorcycles keep the sheep and goats away. The USSR and India are building long canals to bring water to desert areas.
|
Which of the following is NOT true?
|
[
"How men and women get over stress",
"How men and women suffer from stress",
"How researchers overcome stress problems",
"How researchers handle stress-related disorders"
] |
How men and women get over stress
|
Researchers in the psychology department at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) have discovered a major difference in the way men and women respond to stress. This difference may explain why men are more likely to suffer from stress-related disorders.
Until now, psychological research has maintained that both men and women have the same "fight-or-flight" reaction to stress. In other words, individuals either react with aggressive behavior, such as verbal or physical conflict ("fight"), or they react by withdrawing from the stressful situation ("flight"). However, the UCLA research team found that men and women have quite different biological and behavioral responses to stress. While men often react to stress in the fight-or-flight response, women often have another kind of reaction which could be called "tend and befriend." That is, they often react to stressful conditions by protecting and nurturing their young ("tend"), and by looking for social contact and support from others - especially other females ('befriend").
Scientists have long known that in the fight-or- flight reaction to stress, an important role is played by certain hormones released by the body. The UCLA research team suggests that the female tend-or-befriend response is also based on a hormone. This hormone, called oxytocin, has been studied in the context of childbirth, but now it is being studied for its role in the response of both men and women to stress. The principal investigator, Dr. Shelley E. Taylor, explained that "animals and people with high levels of oxytocin are calmer, more relaxed, more social, and less anxious." While men also secrete oxytocin, its effects are reduced by male hormones.
In terms of everyday behavior, the UCLA study found that women are far more likely than men to seek social contact when they are feeling stressed. They may phone relatives or friends, or ask directions if they are lost.
The study also showed how fathers and mothers responded differently when they came home to their family after a stressful day at work. The typical father wanted to be left alone to enjoy some peace and quiet. For a typical mother, coping with a bad day at work meant focusing her attention on her children and their needs.
The differences in responding to stress may explain the fact that women have lower frequency of stress-related disorders such as high blood pressure or aggressive behavior. The tend-and-befriend regulatory system may protect women against stress, and this may explain why women on average live longer than men.
|
Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
|
[
"Two",
"Three.",
"Four.",
"Five."
] |
Four.
|
The Black family often do housework together at the weekend. Pam often cleans bedrooms. Her father buys _ for the next week. Her mother washes the clothes. John, Pam's brother, helps to cut the grass in the garden.
The Blacks often ride bikes to the park nearby. In the park, they can play basketball and football. They always have a good time there. They say they like working and playing together.
|
How many people are there in the Black family?
|
[
"There are many pictures of flowers on the wall of the room.",
"There is no student in the room now.",
"Kate isn't in the reading room now.",
"Kate's parents like reading books in the reading room."
] |
Kate's parents like reading books in the reading room.
|
This is a reading room in Kate's school. It is big and very nice. There is a lot of furniture in it. There are twenty desks, eighty chairs and twenty computers. There're some pictures on the wall. They are all of famous people. Some students are in the reading room. They like reading books here. Kate is here too. Her mother is an English teacher at the school and her father is a doctor in the school hospital. They like reading books in the reading room too.
|
Which is right ?
|
[
"In Boston.",
"In New York.",
"In Los Angeles.",
"Not mentioned."
] |
In Boston.
|
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced trends in fruit and vegetable consumption among adults. Since 2000, the CDC has made efforts with goals of getting 75% of Americans to eat two or more servings of fruit a day and 50% of Americans to eat three or more servings of vegetables a day. Unfortunately, Americans aren't meeting these modest targets.
Although a diet high in fruit and vegetables can reduce the risk of many diseases, Americans just aren't getting enough. In fact, since 2000, the amount of vegetables Americans are eating has stayed the same and the amount of fruit Americans are eating has gone down. The CDC also finds that only about a third of adults are eating their expected servings of fruit, and just over a quarter of adults are eating their expected servings of vegetables.
So why aren't Americans getting their expected servings of fruit and vegetables? It turns out that Americans might be spoiled when it comes to their produce. A national survey conducted by Fruit2day reveals that nearly half of Americans leave fruit in their fridges until it rots with people in Boston among the worst and those in New York and Los Angeles among the best. Sadly, most Americans admit to leaving fruit in the fridge for more than a week.
There are many reasons why Americans don't eat their fruit or vegetables, including the inconvenience of having to wash or peel it. Fruit2day offers consumers a surprising and convenient way to enjoy the goodness of fruit.
"With no added sugar, natural juices and two full servings of fruit, our Fruit2day line has really captured the imaginations of health-conscious consumers who are actively looking to get more fruit in their diets," said Hanno Holm, president and chief executive officer of Hero-White Wave. "Fruit2day makes getting more fruit in one's diet easier for any daily snack routine."
|
In which city are people most likely to leave fruit in their fridge?
|
[
"Take a nap.",
"Dream a task.",
"Learn about 3D computer.",
"Find their way out of a maze."
] |
Find their way out of a maze.
|
Napping after learning something new could help improve your memory...as long as you dream, scientists say.
They found people who dream about a new task do it better on waking than those who do not sleep or do not dream.
Volunteers were asked to learn the layout of a 3D computer maze so they could find their way several hours later. Those allowed to take a nap and who also remembered dreaming of the task, found their way to a landmark quicker.
The researchers think the dreams are a sign that unconscious parts of the brain are working hard to process information about the task.
Dr. Robert Stickgold of Harvard Medical School, said dreams may be a marker that the brain is working on the same problem at many levels.
Study tips
Co-author Dr. Erin Wamsley said the study suggests our non-conscious brain works on the things that it deem are the most important.
"Every day we are gathering lots of information and new experiences," she said. "It would seem that our dreams are asking the question, "How do I use this information to inform my life?"
The scientists say there may be ways to use this phenomenon for improving learning and memory. For example, students might be better studying hard before bedtime, or taking a nap after a period of afternoon study.
|
What were volunteers asked to do?
|
[
"what a parrot thinks",
"why a parrot can speak",
"how parrots make sounds",
"if parrots speak English"
] |
what a parrot thinks
|
In 1977, Irene Pepperberg of Harvard University began studying what was on another creature's mind by talking to it. Her first experiments began with Alex. Alex was a one-year-old African grey parrot and Irene taught him to produce the sounds of the English language. "I thought if he learned to communicate, I could ask him questions about how he sees the world."
At the time, most scientists didn't believe animals had any thoughts. They thought animals were more like robots but didn't have the ability to think or feel. Of course, if you own a pet you probably disagree. But it is the job of a scientist to prove this and nowadays more scientists accept that animals can think for themselves.
"That's why I started my studies with Alex," Irene said, "Some people actually called me crazy for trying this."
Nowadays, we have more and more evidence that animals have all sorts of mental abilities. Sheep can recognize faces. Chimpanzees use a variety of tools and even use weapons to hunt. And Alex the parrot became a very good talker.
Thirty years after the Alex studies began. Irene was still giving him English lessons up until his recent death. For example, if Alex was hungry he could say "want grape". Alex could count to six and was learning the sounds for seven and eight. "He has to hear the words over and over before he can correctly say them." Irene said, after pronouncing "seven" for Alex a few times in a row. Alex could also tell the difference between colors, shapes, sizes, and materials (e.g. wood and metal). Before he finally died, Alex managed to say "seven".
Another famous pet that proved some animals have greater mental skills was a dog called Rico. He appeared on a German TV game show in 2011. Rico knew the names of 200 different toys and easily learned the names of new ones. When Rico became famous, many other dog owners wanted to show how clever their pets were. Another dog called Betsy could understand 300 words.
One theory for dogs' ability to learn a language is that they have ben close companions to humans for many centuries and so their ability to understand us is constantly evolving . While animals can't do what humans do yet, some scientists believe that examples like Alex and Rico prove that evolution develops intelligence, as well as physical appearance.
|
Irene wanted to find out _ .
|
[
"It came out at the end of September in 2015.",
"It tells about a common middle-aged man.",
"It made its film company famous overnight.",
"It was more popular than Lost in Hong Kong."
] |
It was more popular than Lost in Hong Kong.
|
By November 30, 2015, the comedy Goodbye, Mr. Loser had got more than 1,400 million yuan in ticket sales.
It was amazing that a film with common actors who had their first shows in the film got such great success. What's more, the actors were all stage performers and they improved their acting skills by making this film.
The comedy tells about a common middle-aged man who has no job but problems. He seems to be a loser in life and never gets any success. He causes many jokes and is laughed at a lot. And because of his bad luck, he feels upset most of the time. Later, a sudden accident changes his life and he starts to realize how important the family to him.
Goodbye, Mr. Loser was the first movie made by Happy Mahua Pictures. The film came out on September 30, 2015. Because of its great success, the film company became famous overnight.
During the seven-day holiday for National Day in 2015, the ticket sales were just behind the most popular film being shown at the same time-Lost in Hong Kong.
|
Which of the following is NOT TRUE about Goodbye, Mr. Loser?
|
[
"Children don't care others' comments on them.",
"It's only teacher's work to make children popular.",
"Parents should take their children out for picnic and shows more often.",
"Inviting children's friends to family activities is good for them to make friends."
] |
Inviting children's friends to family activities is good for them to make friends.
|
When a child is told he is "uncool", it can be very painful. He may say he doesn't care, and even act in ways that are opposite of cool on purpose. But ultimately, these are simply ways to handle sadness by pretending it's not there.
Helping a child feel better in school had to be careful. If you say, "Why are you worried about what other children think about you? It doesn't matter!" Children know that it does matter. Instead, an active way may be best. You could say, "I'm going to do a couple of things for you to help you feel better in school."
If a boy is having trouble making friends, the teacher can help him. The teacher can arrange things so that he has chances to use his abilities to contribute to class projects. This is how the other children learn how to value his good qualities and to like him. A teacher can also raise a child's popularity in the group by showing that he values that child. It even helps to put him in a seat next to a very popular child, or let him be a partner with that child in activities, etc.
There are things that parents can do at home, too. Be friendly when your child brings others home to play. Encourage him to invite friends to meals and then serve the dishes they consider "super". When you plan trips, picnics, movies, and other shows, invite another child with whom your child wants to be friends.
What you can do is to give him a chance to join a group that may be shutting him out. Then, if he has good qualities, he can start to build real friendship of his own.
|
Which of the following is TRUE?
|
[
"The Development of Robots",
"The Use of Robots",
"The Robots in the Future",
"Robot Industry"
] |
The Use of Robots
|
Scientists have written a report on the future of trade and industry. They talk about the role robots will play in industry.
What is a robot?Basically ,it is a machine which is designed to do the work of a human being. It is usually controlled by a computer. Once it has been given a set of things to do,it will do the job on its own.
Nowadays,Britain has 120 robots at work in industry. This compares badly with other industrial countries. In Japan,there are 4,000 robots in use. In the USA there are 2,000 and in Germany there are 500. According to the report,the government must help people understand how robot technology can be used. Also,people must be educated to know how important this new technology is. The designing of new robots will be very important in the future. The report says that special robot centres should be set up where people who design robots and people who will use them work together. The assembly work of the future will be complex . So firms must develop robots to do it.
|
The title which best suits this passage is " _ ".
|
[
"How Steve Jobs and Apple changed people's music tastes.",
"Opinions on effects of music downloading.",
"How to fight illegal music downloading.",
"Criticism of free downloading of music by young people."
] |
Opinions on effects of music downloading.
|
Did the iPod kill music ?
DID Steve Jobs kill the music industry? That's the question on many people's lips since rock star Jon Bon Jovi accused the apple boss of personally destroying the music industry.
Bon Jovi centers his criticism on how he believes music downloading has robbed young people of what he calls the "beauty of buying on album", "Kids today have missed the beauty of taking your allowance money and making a decision based on the _ , not knowing what the record sounded like," he said.
But far from killing the industry, many young people today think Jobs has been a blessing , offering you instant, and selective access to a whole world of music.
Keith Staskiewicz at Entertainment Weekly speaks for the feelings of many music lovers. He believes listening to Mp3s rather than records or CDs "just saves them money" and doesn't "eliminate the sense of discovery they get from new music", Staskiewicz also argues that it's wrong to blame Jobs and Apple for destroying anything."Change is just part of the business," Staskiewicz said. "No doubt in 50 years, Justin Bieber will complain in his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction speech about how kids don't listen to iPods any more."
For now, though, it appears that music downloading is set to continue for the near future. According to Summer Redstone, chairman of media company Viacom, iTunes has "resurrected the music industry by creating a legal, affordable purchasing system for fans".
But recent surveys suggested that, despite the "legalizing" of music downloading via sites like iTunes, young people are still choosing to download music illegally.A report by Jupiter Research suggested that illegal downloading sites are used three times as much as legal ones.
The problem, according to its analyst Mark Mulligan, is how today's youth grow up viewing music as something they can get for free. "Unless the music industry can shift these consumers while they are young away from free consumption to paid music formats ,they may never develop music purchasing behavior," warned Mulligan " recording industry could suffer long-term harm."
|
What is the main point of the article?
|
[
"build up her reputation",
"show admiration for her.",
"compare the experience",
"make the tip convincing"
] |
make the tip convincing
|
Below are some tips for women traveling alone.
Exercise hotel safety
There are many ways you can make a solo stay at a hotel safer. At cheek-in, you might consider asking for a room near the elevator so you won't need to walk down long, potentially ill-lit hallways to reach your room. When filling out guest registration forms, consider using your first initial instead of your name, and skip the" Mrs/Miss/Mr" check box. Additionally, make sure the clerk writes down your room number instead of saying it out loud. This will prevent anyone nearby from knowing where to find you later.
Arrive during the day
Arrive in new cities during the day. Areas around bus and train stations can be scary and/ojr deserted, and small towns tend to shut down early. Veteran solo traveler Mara Rothman of San Francisco notes that plenty of beautiful towns can appear mysterious at night, and locals who are genuinely trying to help you can appear unnecessarily threatening. Arriving during the day means you'll be able to find a place to stay and get to know where you are before dark.
Keep your documents safe
If you choose to wear a money belt, use it for storage and not as a purse. Constantly reaching under your shirt for money draws attention to it, and tends to defeat the purpose. Instead,keep your passport, extra stores of money, and other important documents well hidden, and use a bag or purse for carrying daily spending money.
Dress appropriately
To avoid attracting unwanted attention, dress as conservatively as the women you see around you. This doesn't necessarily mean wearing the traditional dress, as that can sometimes have the opposite result. A good rule of thumb is to dress modestly. Think knee-length or longer skirts. Bare arms, shoulders, and legs are considered risked in some countries, so do the research before you go and once you're there. Note which body parts the local women cover and do the same.
Know when to make friends
Traveling alone doesn't always mean being alone. There are plenty of situations in which seeking out company can make for a safer and more enjoyable experience. Smaller hotels and hostels are great places to find like- minded travelers to explore new places with. In some countries, there are women-only sections in trains and women's waiting rooms at train stations. Sticking close to families on public transportation and in unfamiliar public markets and bazaars is another technique some women use.
Show confidence to a great extent
Whether you're on a street at home or 7 ,000 miles away, walking confidently and with direction is an effective technique for deterring unwanted attention, since appearing lost or confused can make you weak and easily damaged. If you are lost,walk into a shop or restaurant and ask for directions there. Try to avoid obviously looking at maps while you're in the street. Study your route before you go, or find one of those wallet-sized maps that you can carefully palm and refer to secretly.
Use common sense
Using common sense is perhaps the single best tip for staying safe and having a good time while you,re traveling alone. This category includes the usual recommendations: don't walk around late at night , don't drink with strange men,don't ride in empty compartments on trains, don't compromise safety to save a few bucks on a hotel or transportation, and know how to use a pay phone.
|
Mara Rothman,s notes are mentioned in order to _ .
|
[
"the less money that will be charged for the tickets to the auction",
"the more money that can be raised to support the computer lab",
"the faster the ticket will be sold to the auction",
"the higher the value that will be placed on the items in the silent auction"
] |
the more money that can be raised to support the computer lab
|
Here is a poster on a middle school web site. Read the web-site poster.
Going, Going, Gone!
The Haynes Middle School Parent-Teacher organization
Invites you to attend our latest fund-raiser,
The Fourth Annual Haynes School Auction !
Saturday, May 10
6:00 p.m.-11: p.m.
in the school hall
6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. :All items for auction are previewed.
6:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. : Silent auction begins.
7:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. : Highest bidders from silent auction are determined.
7:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m. : Main auction begins.
Items up for bid in the silent auction range in value from $ 5.00 to $ 30.00.
Items up for bid in the main auction include the following:
l Airline tickets to a place of your choice
l Weekend getaways at first-class hotels
l Season tickets to the Chicago Bears football game
l $ 50 gift tickets to local gift shops, restaurants, and salons
Don't miss the boat! Book your tickets today.
Last year, tickets sold out in five days!
Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
$ 15.00 per person
All the money from the auction will be given to the prefix = st1 /HaynesSchoolcomputer lab.
|
The more items that are given or bought for auction, _ .
|
[
"Because his father invited him to go fishing.",
"Because he decided to live in a different city.",
"Because his father is ill and needs caring.",
"Because he regretted being rude to his father."
] |
Because his father is ill and needs caring.
|
When I was a kid, I was close to my dad, but as I grew older, my dad and I grew further apart. We always had totally different opinions. He thought that college was a waste of time, but for me it was important to finish college. He wanted me to work my way to the top as he had done in his field, but I wanted a different life. There was a time when we did not talk with each other.
A few months ago, I heard that my 84-year-old dad was in poor health. When he called and asked whether I could move from Colorado back to Tennessee to help him, I knew he was seriously ill. I am his only child and so it was time to meet my father's requirement.
Two weeks after moving back, we bought a boat and started fishing again. Fishing was one of the few things that we did while I was young and that we both enjoyed. It is strange but true that as we are fishing we are able to put things that have kept us apart for so many years behind us. We are able to talk about things that we have never talked about before. Fishing has been healing the old wounds that have kept us apart
It is not important how many fish we catch. It is about enjoying the relationship that we have not had for years. I'm 62 and he is 84. When we are on the lake fishing, it is like two kids enjoying life. It is far better to find a way to put the unhappy past behind. I am so lucky to spend the happy time with my father in his last years. Now my heart is filled with love. A smile always graces my lips.
|
What made the author come back to Tennessee?
|
[
"two",
"four",
"six",
"eight"
] |
four
|
Jesse Owens was born in Alabama in the USA, in 1913. There were ten children in his family. Jesse was the youngest. He went to school in the city of Cleveland. At school he showed he had a special talent for athletics . He could run fast. He could jump high. He could jump far. Because he was good at athletics, Jesse became a student at Ohio State University.
In May, 1935 in Michigan, USA, he broke the world record for the long jump. This was his first world record. On the 25th May Jesse did something unusual. In 45 minutes he broke six world records. Some people think that this was the greatest athletics achievement ever.
In 1936 Jesse went to the Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. There were only nineteen black athletes in the USA team. He won gold medals in the 100 meters race, the 200 meters race, the long jump and the relay race.
Jesse was not a professional athlete. This meant that he could not get money for running. Later, he became a professional athlete. To make money he had to appear in strange races. Sometimes he had to race against horses.
In 1960 somebody broke Jesse's last world record. In 1980 Jesse died.
|
He won _ gold medals in 1936 in the Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany.
|
[
"the ice in the North Pole will stop melting",
"the ice in the North Pole is melting faster than expected",
"the ice in the North Pole will melt before 2030 or even earlier",
"the ice in the North Pole will not disappear until the end of the century"
] |
the ice in the North Pole is melting faster than expected
|
If you want to see climate change, head north and keep going until you run out of globe. That is easier said than done. The Arctic is home to few people and covered in ice much of the year. But those who make their way to the icy seas of the Arctic Ocean will see a part of the planet that is warming and changing faster than anywhere else.
In September, scientists announced at the National Snow and Ice Data Center that Arctic summer sea ice had fallen to its second lowest level since 1979, and probably long before that. The Arctic has lost an area of ice greater than the area of all U.S. states east of the Mississippi River. And what ice remains appears to be getting thinner and weaker.
Nick Toberg and Till Wagner are polar ice scientists who are doing sea ice fieldwork. "There is plenty of data to suggest that the ice is becoming thinner as well as smaller in area," they say.
The changes happening in the Arctic are a warning for the entire world . As polar expert Walt
Meier puts it, " _
Some scientists worry that Arctic sea ice may be going from a downward spiral to a "death spiral", one from which there is no escape. As more ice melts , more dark open water appears. The darkness absorbs more heat, which speeds up the pace of melting.
Until recently, many scientists thought it might take until the end of the century for the North Pole to become completely ice free during the summer. Now some believe it could happen by 2030 or even earlier. "The melting is happening faster in the real world than it has in the models," says Nick Toberg.
|
Nick Toberg may agree that _ .
|
[
"Michael Jordon.",
"Karl Malone.",
"Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.",
"Kobe Bryant."
] |
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
|
What could make Michael Jordon, one of the greatest basketball players in history, shed tears? It was when he became a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame on September 11. The hall is in Springfield, Massachusetts and honors the best basketball players, greatest coaches and other contributors to the game. "The game of basketball has been everything to me ," said Jordan, 46. "It is the place I have always gone when I needed to find comfort and peace."
Jordan retired twice in his 15-year career, finishing with 32292 points, the third highest total points in NBA history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. His average of 30.12 points a game is the best in the League.
"One day you might look up and see me playing the game at 50," Jordan said. "Because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion." In other words, it was motivation that made Jordan such a success..
A great career did not mean a smooth one. His high school coach cut him from the team in favor of a taller player when Jordan was in 10thgrade. His college coach wouldn't allow him on the cover of Sports Illustration in 1981 with North Carolina's four other players because Jordan was a freshman. In his first NBA All-Star game, older NBA stars wouldn't throw him the ball because of jealousy.
"That burned me up," Jordan said. "But _ don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."
|
Who scored the highest total points in NBA history?
|
[
"they died in the west",
"the sun sets in the west",
"the end of their lives was like the setting of the sun",
"they would go to the west after death"
] |
the end of their lives was like the setting of the sun
|
The kings of ancient Egypt planned strong tombs to keep their bodies safe after death and to hold their treasure.The Great Pyramids along the Nile are on its west bank.The ancient Egyptians compared the rising of the sun to the beginning of life and the setting of the sun to the end of life.This is why their dead bodies were buried on the west bank of the Nile.
The people of Mexico also built pyramids.They did not build the pyramids for tombs.They used to build a pyramid and then a temple on top of it.The pyramids of Mexico are not as high as the pyramids of Egypt,but they are bigger.Each of the pyramids has a wide stairway that goes from the bottom to the top.
The biggest pyramid in Mexico is almost 2,000 years old.Scientists think it took 10,000 men more than ten years to build it.On the top they built a temple of the sun.The temple is no longer there,but people still call it the Pyramid of the Sun.Near it is another huge pyramid,the Pyramid of the Moon.
|
All the pyramids along the Nile are on its west bank,because in ancient Egypt people thought _ .
|
[
"Singing.",
"Hockey.",
"Signing.",
"Making records."
] |
Hockey.
|
You love Jay Chou's songs and you can sing some quite well. So you make a video of your performance and post it online for your friends to see. But what if this led to something beyond your wildest
imagination--a career in music?
Canadian teenager Justin Bieber, 16, has just had the magical experience: He posted homemade videos of his versions of songs by American singer Chris Brown online for his relatives. He received a phone call from Brown, telling him how much he liked his performance. His singing eventually earned him a fan base and a record contract. After releasing a popular record in November 2009, his album My world 2.0 came out last Tuesday.
Bieber sings ballads and songs about puppy love. But is he just another gooey teen idol? David Malitz, a columnist with the Washington Post, doesn't think so. "If we truly want the best forAmerican children, let us pause and give thanks for Justin Bieber," he writes. "After years of humdrum bubblegum from Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, the 16yearold has thrown a candycoated wrench into Disney's heartthrob assembly line by giving young fans something worth screaming their lungs out for lovable pop songs."
From a boy who grew up below the poverty line with his divorced mom to a star who caused nearriots in shopping malls, even Bieber himself can't believe his overnight fame, although his kind of success is becoming more and more common in the Internet era.
Interested in hockey, the national sport of Canada, the boy once put up pictures of players on the walls of his bedroom. He dreamed of being a hockey star and used to practice signing his autograph. He doesn't need practice now. He signs autographs, if the girls can get close enough, as a music star.
|
What's Justin Bieber's hobby?
|
[
"make new hives for bees",
"let more people learn the importance of bees",
"make people know what they can do to protect bees",
"make the agricultural sector pay more attention to this problem"
] |
make the agricultural sector pay more attention to this problem
|
In the last eight years, a lot of bees have disappeared. Scientists have been studying why those bees have been leaving their hives and not returning. They believe that their living environment may be changing.
Now, the US government is stepping in to help fight this problem. President Barack Obama has asked for $50 million(310 million yuan ) in his 2015 budget to fight this problem, and has announced the start of the Pollinator Health Task Force. This group will work on keeping the US bee population healthy and strong, and will show people what they can do to help bees.
Even though many people may not like bees, they are an important part of how we grow food. As pollinators , they move from one plant to another. Through pollination, plants can grow seeds and fruit. It's said that at least 90 kinds of plants including nuts, fruits and vegetables depend on bees for pollination.
The new Pollinator Health Task Force will work hard to protect bees, and build new hives for pollinators. It also plans to start a public education activity to make more people know the importance of pollinators, and actions that can be taken to protect them. The group will reach out to schools, libraries, museums and so on.
Obama said that helping save the bee population will avoid other losses for the agricultural sector , and will help protect the health of the environment.
|
To fight this problem, the Pollinator Health Task Force will do the following EXCEPT _ .
|
[
"Magical Tricks",
"The History of Magic",
"Magic as Entertainment",
"A Great Magician"
] |
The History of Magic
|
Magic is believed to have begun with the Egyptians, in 1700 BC. A magician named Dedi of Dedsnefu was reported to have performed for the pharaoh, or the king. He was also known to have entertained the slaves who built the pyramids. The "Cups and Balls" trick which he was particularly good at is still performed by magicians all over the world today.
The ancient Greeks and Romans were also fascinated by the idea of magic. Actually, one of their main interests was the art of deception . This explains why at that time the priests even built magic devices into their temples. These devices made it possible for doors to open by themselves and wine to flow magically out of statues' mouths. This was done mainly to convince people that the priests were powerful.
Magic, however, was not well accepted before the 1800s. Magicians were thought of as freaks and were only allowed to perform in a circus . It was in the 19th century that the magician Robert Houdin came along and changed people's views and attitudes about magic. It was also because of Robert Houdin that many magicians were able to add Dr. or MD to their names. Today magicians try hard to find new ways to show their practiced skills. Magic is now entertainment for families all over the world.
|
What would be the best title for the passage?
|
[
"paint",
"sing",
"draw",
"swim"
] |
sing
|
Musicians wanted
We want four good musicians for our rock band .Are you a musician?Can you sing?Can you play the piano,the guitar or the drums?Do you want to be the best musician?If you want to join us,please send an e-mail.Our e-mail address is [email protected] you can call Mr.Liu at 790-4566.
Teachers needed
Are you an art teacher?Can you paint or draw well?Are you good with kids?We need two teachers for our art club.Please find Mrs.Wang for more information or call 628-1183.
|
The rock band needs some people who can _ or play the piano,the guitar or the drums.
|
[
"asked her pupils to bring something they had made that Saturday afternoon",
"was certain that her pupils were good at making things, so she wanted to show them to the parents.",
"invited the parents to come and see what the pupils had made",
"allowed the pupils who had hobbies not to go to class that Friday afternoon"
] |
invited the parents to come and see what the pupils had made
|
The class teacher thought that hobbies were very important for every child.She encouraged all her pupils to have one, and sometimes arranged for their parents to come and see the work they had done as a result.
One Friday morning the teacher told the class that those of them who had a hobby could have a holiday that afternoon to get the things they had made as parts of their hobbies ready for their parents to see the following afternoon.
So on Friday afternoon, while those of the pupils who had nothing to show did their usual lessons, the lucky ones who had made something were allowed to go home, on condition that they returned before five o'clock to bring what they were going to show, and to arrange them.
When the afternoon lessons began, the teacher was surprised to see that Tommy was not there.He was the laziest boy in the class, and the teacher found it difficult to believe that he had a hobby.However, at a quarter to five, Tommy arrived with a beautiful collection of butterflies in glass cases.After his teacher had admired them and helped him to arrange them on a table in the classroom, she was surprised to see Tommy pick them up again and begin to leave.
"What are you doing, Tommy?" She asked."Those things must remain here until tomorrow afternoon.That's when the parents are coming to see them."
"I know they are coming then, " answered Tommy, " and I will bring them back tomorrow, but my big brother doesn't want them to be out of our house at night in case they are stolen."
"But what has it got to do with your big brother?" asked the teacher, "Aren't the butterflies yours?"
"No, " answered Tommy."They belong to him."
"But Tommy, you are supposed to show your own hobby here, not somebody else's ! "said the teacher.
"I know that , " answered Tommy, "My hobby is watching my brother collecting butterflies."
|
The teacher _ .
|
[
"it has a great influence on the efficiency of the bike",
"it is likely to cause injuries if it is not the right size",
"it is mainly determined by personal needs",
"it has a big influence on a woman's torso"
] |
it is likely to cause injuries if it is not the right size
|
Whether you are fitness fan or plan to go eco-friendly, you have a countless number of bikes to choose from. Here are some tips on how to choose bikes for women.
Firstly, if you have decided to buy a bike, let me congratulate you! This is because you are kind to the environment. Before you go to a store to buy a bicycle, first know your need. Once the basic need is determined, then go into the small details like the frame size (Too small frames can increase the risk of the knee injuries while too large ones can be uncomfortable, so it has to be just right to suit your body frame.),brakes, chains, its efficiency and the technology employed. Don't forget the budget ! Experts say that you should be ready to spend at least 500 dollars, because anything less than that would not probably be the best. ks5u
There are a range of bikes to choose from. However, it's important to choose the correct one that fits a woman perfectly. This is because women usually tend to have a shorter torso and longer legs than men of the same height and so does the arm size vary. Moreover, the strength of the back needs to be considered too. Therefore, you have to find the best that suits your body type and gives you a comfortable ride.
|
The frame size of a bike is important because _ .
|
[
"a famous singer",
"a famous actress",
"the writer's friend",
"a sports star"
] |
a famous singer
|
My dad used to say he knew I would be a singer. When I was a baby, I was always singing loudly. Dad was a big sports fan, but he was happy I loved music.
After dinner, Dad would often ask me to sing. He always said I sang I Will Always Love You much better than Whitney Houston!
At every school concert he cheered me on. The look of pride on his face made me happy.
My life was full of concerts, singing lessons and laughter. Though my mum and brothers helped me, they did not share our love for music.
Our lives changed when Dad was told that he had cancer. We always hoped that something would happen and he would get better, but the doctors told us that they could not save him.
About a week before my dad died, he fell into a coma . The nurses said even though Dad did not reply, he could still hear me.
The nurses said I should sing him a song. I sang one of our favorites. As I sang, my dad gave a big smile, and clapped .
I will always remember that smile. I was so pleased to know that Dad had heard me sing one more song.
My dad died on May 14, 2000. It was hard to believe: he was so full of life. I don't know how to say how much I miss him.
Now I have all the memories of him and his beautiful smile deep inside my heart. I will always know that he is listening from his front row seat in _ .
He used to say: "Sing from your heart."
My dad has been and will always be my hero.
|
According to the story, Whitney Houston is probably _ .
|
[
"On foot",
"On horseback",
"By car",
"By bicycle"
] |
By car
|
Tanzania Tarangire is a national Park which lies in Tanzania. The park itself covers an area of around 2,850 square kilometers, making it the sixth largest park of its kind in the country. I recently visited Tarangire to see what it was like....
One of the first sightings upon entering the park which I found was a huge herd of elephants. Our guide told us that Tagrangire was probably the best place in Tanzania to find large herds of elephants, and that their population in the park was around 2,500. We continued to watch the elephants as they stood under trees and scratched themselves against the trees to hit the spot of an itch .
To the right of the elephant herd, we noticed a big tree! Our guide informed us that this was a Baobab tree and that they could live for hundreds of years. Compared with this tree, the elephant just looked like dwarfs ! We were informed that Tarangire was one of the best National Parks in Africa to see so many Baobab trees.
As we continued our drive through the park, we finally reached a watering hole. Our guide warned us that there were lions all around us. It took us all a while to find them, but there they were! Most of them are resting in the shade under brushes, but there was one that was drinking from the watering hole directly in front of us. We then noticed just to our right, there were a couple of fresh zebra corpses -- it seemed as if the lions which were resting had killed them! We were unlucky not to have seen the actual kill, as our guide had mentioned that the zebra corpses were fresh and the kill had occurred within the last hour.
Our final big sighting was one that none of us were expecting to see, even our guide! We pulled over to where there was a large gathering of cars, with a sleeping leopard there! We took photos happily and excitedly and observed its surprising body before returning to our hotel as it was getting late.
So, I hope you enjoyed my description of Tarangire, and that I have inspired you to add this amazing park to your very own Tanzania travel route.
|
How did the writer travel in Tanzania Tarangire?
|
[
"Impression of British men.",
"British men's dream of the World Cup.",
"Advice on how to control emotions.",
"Different attitudes British men have towards crying."
] |
Different attitudes British men have towards crying.
|
British men are encouraged to cry
There are certain things British men like to believe about themselves. The first is that one day they will again win the World Cup. They also believe they do not cry.
Over the centuries, Britons are believed to have a "stiff upper lip". But is this true?
Yes, it is. A recent study arranged by Kleenex on how the British express their emotions shows that 95 percent of them still contain their emotions.
Moreover, while 72 percent think this is unhealthy, 19 percent can't remember the last time they "let it out". As a result, Kleenex is carrying out the "Let It Out" campaign that encourages the British to grab a tissue and have a good cry.
These days, however, the male Briton's attitude toward crying is changing. Though the majority still struggles to open up emotionally, a 2004 study by Oxford's Social Issues Research Center found that 77 percent of British men considered crying in public increasingly acceptable. Half of London males admitted crying in front of their mothers. Scotsmen are the least emotional, although they are the most likely to cry at weddings.
Peter Marsh, director of the center, said: "Crying can now indicate sensitivity rather than weakness. Like with David Beckham, crying because you're dropping off your boy at nursery isn't seen as weak."
Winston Churchill was said to be a frequent crier, shedding tears at seeing a survivor in an air raid shelter, and when he saw his wife after a long absence.
Psychologists say that while society has accepted that men can cry, there are limits. Ronald Bracey, a consulting psychologist, said: "If a man began to cry when he was having stitches in hospital, he would be considered as a wimp . Men still need to be seen as strong when it comes to physical pain."
|
What does the passage mainly deal with?
|
[
"theusesofrobots",
"robotisusedinscienceresearches",
"scientistsarereplacedbyrobots",
"howtomakearobot"
] |
robotisusedinscienceresearches
|
Robots are common in today's world. They manufacture cars, work in space, explore oceans, clean up oil spills and investigate dangerous environments. And now, scientists at the University of Manchester are using a robot as a laboratory partner.
The researchers at the university created the robot in 2009 and named it Adam. Despite the name, Adam is not a humanoid robot. It is about the size of a car.
Adam was built to do science and make discoveries. Ross King is the leader of the University of Manchester research team. He says the robot made a discovery about yeast , a kind of fungus used in science as a model for human cells.
"Adam hypothesized certain functions of genes within yeast and experimentally tested these hypothesizes and confirmed them. So it both hypothesized and confirmed new scientific knowledge."
Adam's success as a scientist led to the creation of another robot scientist named Eve. Researchers developed Eve to design and test drugs for tropical and neglected diseases. These diseases kill and infect millions of people each year.
Drug development is slow and costly. Experts say it can take more than 10 years and about $1 billion to discover and develop new medicines. Drug manufacturers are unlikely to get their investment money back.
So the University of Manchester developed a low-cost test that shows whether or not a chemical is likely to be made into an effective medicine. Mr. King says that other drug testing methods were not very effective.
"How it works conventionally is you use robotics as well and you have a large collection of possible drugs. You test every single compound. And you start at the beginning of your library and continue until the end, and stop. So it's not a very intelligent process. The robotics doesn't learn anything as it goes along, even if it's tested a million compounds, it still doesn't have any expectation of what will happen next when it tests a new compound."
Mr. King says that Eve is different because the robot learns as it tests different compounds. He says the robot is designed to ignore compounds that it thinks unlikely to be good. It will only test the compounds which have a good chance of working.
Eve has discovered that a compound known to be effective against cancer might also be used to fight against malaria and other tropical diseases.
Mr. King says he hopes to completely automate the drug testing process with robots like Eve to create and test new chemicals. But he says humans remain in control of the manufacturing process.
|
What'sthemainideaofthepassage _ ?
|
[
"Over 200 billion yuan is wasted every year on food around China.",
"It's quite common for Chinese people to order more food than they need in restaurants.",
"It's universally acknowledged that wasting food is a crime.",
"Fan did something to promote people's awareness of saving food."
] |
It's universally acknowledged that wasting food is a crime.
|
The common Chinese greeting of "Ni chi le ma?" may soon be replaced by a new greeting: "Have you cleaned your plate?"
Over the Spring Festival holiday there was a big effort to get people to curb their habit of ordering too much food in restaurants because a lot of that food ended up being wasted. Holiday eaters were urged to "clean their plates" and were asked to take leftover food home in "doggy bags."
The impetus behind the campaign was the startling government statistic that over 200 billion yuan is spent every year on food that ends up in the garbage bin. And in the midst of all this waste, statistics show that 128 million people are living below the poverty line and going hungry.
The "clean your plate" campaign is part of a worldwide effort to stop precious food from being wasted. The United Nations estimates that $1trillion (yes, that's a very big number) worth of food is wasted each year. Most of that is lost during food production and transportation, but a significant percentage is attributed to waste by consumers. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has launched a campaign called "Think. Eat. Save." to make people aware of the problem.
Chinese actress Fan Bingbing is an ambassador for UNEP and she encouraged people to upload pictures of their "clean plates" to show their support for the program. Thousands of people responded and demonstrated that they had a clear conscience to go along with their full stomachs.
Xi Jinping, the incoming Chinese president, is also urging people to be less wasteful and he told Party members to cut back on extravagant holiday banquets and to be more careful when spending the people's money.
For some, though, Xi Jinping's and Fan Bingbing's admonitions don't go far enough. Yuan Longping, an agricultural scientist, caused a stir by saying that wasting food should be treated as a crime. (Jail time for leftover chicken feet!?)
If not a crime, wasting food is certainly a sin and it goes against what Xi Jinping calls, "the Chinese tradition of being diligent and thrifty." Having a "clean plate" is just a traditional and responsible thing to do.
|
Which statement is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
|
[
"take a trip",
"have himself photographed",
"make a speech about Illinois",
"convince voters to support him"
] |
convince voters to support him
|
When Abraham Lincoln was invited to give a speech in Brooklyn, New York, in February 1860, he was already famous throughout Illinois, but almost no one in the East knew what he looked like.
The presidential election of 1860 was coming, and Lincoln, as a possible Republican candidate , wanted to increase his popularity. Hoping to introduce himself to hundreds of new voters , Lincoln eagerly accepted the invitation to the East. He wrote a powerful speech opposing slavery . Then he went to Springfield, Illinois by train.
When Lincoln arrived in New York, he was surprised to learn that so many people had bought tickets for his speech that it had been moved from a small Brooklyn church to a New York City college.
Lincoln got to town exhausted. His suit was badly wrinkled , and his one piece of luggage was old and covered with dust. Worst of all, his plain face, uncombed hair shocked those who greeted him. However, his admirers decided to have Lincoln photographed . If the cameraman could make Lincoln a little handsome, perhaps he could win more votes. They found the city's most famous photographer Brady. Brady and his assistants looked through the camera and surprised by what they saw. So they decided to make an adjustment before they took the picture.
Brady walked over to Lincoln and pulled up Lincoln's shirt collar as high as it would go. As a result, the picture successfully covered up his long, ugly neck, which made Lincoln appear quite handsome.
Lincoln's speech that day proved to be a triumph. So did the photograph. The photo inspired thousands of copies; so many that Brady insisted that this picture became the means to Lincoln's election to the Presidency nine months later. If that's true it might be said that Lincoln won the election by a neck--a neck that had been shortened in New York.
|
Lincoln went to the East in order to _ .
|
[
"poor",
"rich",
"happy",
"sad"
] |
poor
|
People use their mouths for many things. They eat, talk, shout and sing. They smile and they kiss. In the English language, the word "mouth" has many meanings. But some of them are not so nice.
For example, if you say bad things about a person, the person might protest and say "Do not bad mouth me."
Sometimes, people say something to a friend or family member that they later regret because it hurts that person's feelings. Or they tell the person something they were not supposed to tell. The speaker might say, "I really put my foot in my mouth this time." In other words, he might feel sad for saying the wrong thing.
Sometimes when one person is speaking, he says the same thing that his friend was going to say. When this happens, the friend might say, "You took the words right out of my mouth!"
Some people have lots of money because they were born in a very rich family. There is an expression for this, too. You might say such a person "was born with a silver spoon in his mouth."
This rich person is the opposite of a person who lives "from hand to mouth." This person is very poor and only has enough money for the most important things in life, like food.
,.
|
If a person lives from hand to mouth, he must be very _ .
|
[
"Culture",
"Science",
"Travel",
"Entertainment"
] |
Culture
|
Public schools in New York,America's biggest city, commonly have numbers for names.But this is unusual.In the United States,the process of naming a school often involves parents and the community
as well as elected school leaders.
Researchers say school names can show civic values and also shape them. For example,naming a school after a historic person becomes a way to teach students about that person's importance in history.
A new study examines the naming of American public schools.The study is from the Manhattan Institute,an organization that does public policy research.The study shows that fewer and fewer schools are being named after people.Instead. more schools are being named after the local areas or natural features like hills.trees or animals.The researchers say these changes raise questions about the civic duty of public education.
The looked at seven states with 20% of all public school students in the country. They found the similar result in every state: new school are less likely to be named after people. This is true especially with presidents. For example, in Arizona, public school in the past 20 years were almost fifty times more likely to be named after such things as landforms or plants .
School officials say they try to choose names that will not offend anyone. For example, a few years ago the city of New Orleans banned the naming of any school after a person who owned slaves. Other school system have rules against naming new schools after any person, living or dead .
The researchers say naming a school after a person can lead it important debates about democratic values.
call for more research to identify the causes and effects of the changes in school names.
The causes may include changes in American culture as well as in the political control of school systems. One area worth exploring , they say, is the link between trends in school names and weak results for public schools on measures of civic education.
|
If the passage appears in a newspaper, which column will it be ?
|
[
"By giving more food to their pet.",
"By getting a better understanding about pet food.",
"By accompanying their pet more.",
"By knowing more about their pet."
] |
By getting a better understanding about pet food.
|
For pet owners, the hundreds of pet food recalls taking place each year has raised a lot of alarm. "Most people are caring pet owners, and they want to do what helps protect their pet," explains Will Post, founder and CEO, Hound & Gatos Pet Foods Corporation. "Yet the problem is that most are not sure what that means and how to go about it. The more they learn about pet food, the better able they will be to make an informed decision that will keep their pet healthier and safer."
Here are several tips that consumers may want to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a pet food that will help reduce the risks.
Get to know the company. Most people may know a company name simply because they spend millions on advertising. But that doesn't mean they know much about the company or their morals. Research companies to find one that offers high standards, quality products, and great customer service.
Ask questions. Don't be afraid to get in touch with a pet food company and ask them where something was made, where ingredients came from, or any other questions. They should have no problem answering questions about their products, or with being able to provide proof of their quality standards.
Read reviews. Do some searches to read some reviews about various brands of pet food. Keep in mind that some reviews can be one-sided and even planted by the company itself, so look for fair third-party sources giving the review.
Investigate ingredients. The source of ingredients is of major concern when it comes to reducing the risks of pet food recalls and keeping pets healthy. Read the labels and ask questions to determine where the ingredients are coming from.
Understand pet foods. Cat and dog food should contain 100 percent protein, which will supply them with the nutrients their bodies require. The problem with many commercial pet foods is that it is full of numerous fillers, such as cheap fillers and grains.
|
How can people provide a safer and healthier environment for their pet?
|
[
"7:15",
"8:15",
"8:30",
"7:45"
] |
8:30
|
It was a Saturday in May. When Mrs. Black opened the door and looked out, she smiled and said,"It's going to be a beautiful day." She woke her little son up at eight thirty and said to him,"Get up, Todd. We're going to the zoo today. Wash your hands and face, brush your teeth and have breakfast quickly. We are going to New York by train.
Todd was six years old. He was very happy because he liked going to the zoo very much, and he also liked going by train. He said,"I dreamed about the zoo last night, Mum."
His mother was in a hurry, but she stopped and smiled at her little son,"What did you do in the zoo in your dream?" Todd laughed and answered,"You know. You were there in my dream, too."
|
At _ she woke her son that morning.
|
[
"Direct and serious.",
"Humorous and open - minded.",
"Honest and ambitious.",
"Warm - hearted and understanding"
] |
Warm - hearted and understanding
|
One night my wife and I were going to dinner at a friend ' s.As we went towards the house, I noticed a car pulling out from the sidewalk.Just ahead, another car was waiting to back into the parking space.But before he could do so a yellow car came up from behind and sneaked into the space.
While my wife went ahead into our friend' s house, I stepped into the street.
"Hey," I said, "this parking space belongs to that guy." I gestured towards the man ahead, who was looking back angrily.At that moment I was feeling pretty manly.
" Mind your own business!" the driver told me.
"No," I said."You don' t understand.That fellow was waiting to back into this space."
Things quickly heated up, until finally he jumped out of the car.My God, he was extremely large.He grabbed me and shook his rock of a fist at me.I tasted blood.I was terrified.
Almost in a panic, I ran to my friend ' s front door.As a former Marine , as a man, I felt ly embarrassed as my wife and friends asked me what had happened.All I could say was that I had had an argument about a parking space.They were sensitive and let it go at that.
Perhaps half an hour later, the doorbell rang.For some reason I was sure that the huge man had returned for me.My blood ran cold.My hostess got up to answer it, but I stopped her.I knew I had to face up to my fear.
I opened the door.There he stood."I came back to apologize," he said in a low voice."I am ashamed of myself.The Brooklyn Navy Yard where I've worked for ten years is closing.Today I got laid off.I' m not myself.I hope you' ll accept my apology."
I remembered that after I closed the door, I stood there for a few minutes alone with tears in my eyes.
|
What kind of person is the author?
|
[
"the approaching car was very dangerous",
"they both drove their car at a terrific speed",
"he might be killed out of the other's careless driving",
"it was dark and the road was not wide enough"
] |
he might be killed out of the other's careless driving
|
One night recently, I was driving down a two-lane highway at about 60 miles an hour. A car approached from the opposite direction at about the same speed. As we passed each other, I caught the other driver's eye for only a second. I wondered whether he might be thinking, as I was, how dependent we were on each other at that moment. I was relying on him not to fall asleep, not to be distracted by a phone conversation, not to cross over into my lane and bring my life to a sudden end. Though we had never spoken a word to each other, he relied on me in just the same way.
Multiplied a million times over, I believe that is the way the world works. At some level, we all depend upon one another. Sometimes that dependence requires us simply not to do something like crossing over the double yellow line. And sometimes it requires us to act cooperatively, with friends or even with strangers.
As technology makes our world smaller and smaller, the need increases for cooperative action among nations. In 2003, doctors in five nations were quickly organized to identify the SARS virus, which saved thousands of lives. The threat of international terrorism has shown itself to be a similar problem, one requiring team action by police and intelligence forces across the world. We must recognize that our fates are not ours alone to control.
In my own life, I used to put great stock in personal responsibility. But, as time has passed, I've also come to believe that there are moments when one must rely upon the good faith and judgment of others. So, while each of us faces the case of driving alone down a dark road, what we must learn with experience is that the approaching light may not be a threat, but a shared moment of trust.
|
The author said that they depended on each other in the same way because _ .
|
[
"By threatening the country's competitiveness of economy.",
"By weakening the country's political system.",
"By losing international competitions in education.",
"By failing to find jobs in a global labor market."
] |
By threatening the country's competitiveness of economy.
|
LONDON, Feb. 18,2014 (Xinhua News agency) --Britain will send experts to East China's Shanghai to learn from the city's experience in maths teaching in an attempt to raise the teaching standards.
British Education Minister Elizabeth Truss is to lead a delegation of experts on a fact-finding mission to Shanghai's schools next week to see how children there have become the best in the world at maths, to get a first-hand look at maths classes and teaching methods there, and particularly to investigate why the performance of almost all children in Shanghai is high, regardless of gender or income.
Britain was last year placed 50th out of 148 countries and regions in the World Economic Forum's competitiveness ranking in quality of maths and science education. Two years ago, Shanghai topped the 2012 international PISA tables for maths, while England was ranked in 26th place. The top five were all in Southeast Asia, with 15-year-olds in Shanghai judged to be three years ahead of their peers in maths.
The education department said: "England's performance in maths has lagged behind while other countries have improved and overtaken us, including Poland and Germany." Actually, it is the latest step in the government's drive to raise standards in maths, looking at what has made schools in the far East the most successful in the world in teaching the subject.
"Shanghai is the top-performing part of the world for maths--their children are streets ahead. Shanghai and Singapore have teaching practices and a positive mind that make the difference. They have a belief that diligence makes up for lack of ability," Truss said. "Our new curriculum has borrowed from theirs because we know it works--early learning of key arithmetic, and a focus on times tables and long division , for instance."
She was determined to change the situation as performance in maths is weakening the country's skills base and threatening the productivity and growth. The government is emphasizing maths because of the importance of good grades in the subject to young people competing for good jobs in a global labor market and to the economy more generally.
An education and skills survey released by the Confederation of British Industry last year showed that 30 percent of employers reported dissatisfaction with the standard of school and college leavers' numeracy. More than two-thirds of employers said they wanted both maths and science promoted more in schools.
|
How will students' poor performance in maths affect the country eventually?
|
[
"people who are available to work and earn income",
"self-employed people who have the ability to work",
"people who are looking for an employment",
"employers who have created job opportunities"
] |
people who are available to work and earn income
|
Labor force is defined as being the total number of people who are available to work and earn income. This definition includes everyone who is employed or seeking paid employment, so it includes employers and the self-employed. Labor is one of the country's resources which can be combined with other resources to produce the goods and services wanted by the community.
Although the size of the workforce depends a great deal on the size of the total population, there are several other influences which also affect it. The age distribution of the total population has a very marked effect on the available workforce. If the population has a high proportion of very young people or of those too old to work, then the available workforce would be lower than if there were a balanced spread age distribution. If the population naturally grows rapidly, the number of births greatly exceeds the number of deaths then as a total population increases proportion of the workforce declines.
Sometimes a population is described as aging which means that the birth rate is either falling or growing very slowly, and as people retire from the workforce there are insufficient numbers of young people entering it to replace those who are leaving it. In that situation the population is top-heavy with older people. So the percentage of the population in the workforce declines when there is either a rapid increase in births or a falling birth rate.
The age distribution of the population has several important effects on the economy. If the population is aging and there is an increase in the number of people retiring without a corresponding increase in the number entering the workforce, this raises the problem of the ability of the economy to provide a reasonable level of social services to the retired group. If the aged are to be cared for in special homes, finance must be available for that purpose. If the size of the workforce is small to the total population, then the government tax revenue is ly low and either the government has less money available to it or workforce members have to be taxed more heavily.
|
In the passage "labor force" is defined as _ .
|
[
"one; two",
"two; one",
"three; one",
"one; three"
] |
one; two
|
Hello, everyone, I'm Xing Fei. I'm from China. My family name is Xing. I live in Bei Jing. My family is very large. In my family, my grandfather's father is the oldest one. He is now ninety-nine years old. My grandfather is eighty years old. And my grandma is eighty-two years old. They have four children, my uncle, my father, and my two aunts. I'm their grandson. My parents have two children, my sister and me. And I have four cousins. Now, I'm a student in No. 10 Middle school. And my sister is only five years old. My parents are both teachers. They love my family very much. So they work hard. We go to the park every morning. My mother says that it can help us keep healthy.
|
Xing Fei has _ uncle _ aunts
|
[
"positive",
"reasonable",
"negative",
"objective"
] |
negative
|
We all know the saying, "One's enemy is one's own anger and one's calmness is the friend of oneself." Anger is the root cause of many bad outcomes. We all know of damage that anger has caused us. There are many old stories that tell us the bad effects of anger.
But the question is whether we should never experience anger and lead lives like sages ?I do not think the answer is a firm yes. Everyone should have this emotion and be able to use it in a wise way. In other words, it is also known as controlled aggression. We see a lot of this kind of controlled emotion when we watch athletes in action. If an athlete has the right amount of aggression, the game or the battle is half won. The other half can be won by his skills.
Controlled aggression or anger also plays an important role in a person's career and life. During the courses of a person's career, people who hold high positions need to exercise this emotion called anger in a professional and right manner. For getting the work done well, it is important for you to make use of positive aggression or controlled anger. We can extend this to our daily lives as well. If the parent is not strict at times, children will behave in a wrong way and do not develop as they are expected. Teachers have to exercise this emotion in a wise way to make the students gain knowledge in an effective manner.
All in all, if one is able to use the emotion called anger in a controlled manner, it will lead to the smooth development in his life and career.
|
People's opinion of anger is usually _ .
|
[
"the gradual weakness of fresco painting",
"oils' power or influence over watercolour",
"the discovery of watercolour in England",
"the start and development of watercolour"
] |
the start and development of watercolour
|
Watercolour is the oldest paints known. It dates back to the early cave men who discovered they could add lifelike qualities to drawings of animals and other figures on the walls of caves by mixing the natural colours found in the earth with water.
Fresco , one of the greatest of all art forms, is done with watercolour. It is created by mixing paints and water and applying these to wet plaster . Of the thousands of people who stand under Michelangelo's heroic ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, very few know that they are looking at perhaps the greatest watercolour painting in the world.
The invention of oil painting by the Flemish masters in the fifteenth century made fresco painting go down-hill, and for the next several centuries watercolour was used mainly for doing sketches or as a tool for study. It was not until the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that English painters put back watercolour as a serious art form. The English have a widely-known love for outdoors and also small private pictures. The softness of watercolour had a remarkably strong attraction for them.
The popularity of watercolour continued to grow until the twentieth century. The United States passed England as the center for watercolour, producing such well-known watercolour artists as Thomas Eakins and Andrew Wyeth.
|
The purpose of the passage is to introduce _ .
|
[
"His parents forced him to leave home.",
"He was badly treated since he was a child.",
"His mother always beat him black and blue.",
"He became homeless after his father used drugs."
] |
He became homeless after his father used drugs.
|
Rahfeal Gordon has come a long way from the homeless shelters and streets of Newark, New Jersey. The 25-year-old was honored this year by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship for his work----giving motivational speeches to youth groups.
Rahfeal Gordon tells his audience, "If nobody ever says that you're brilliant, say it to yourself every day. Look yourself in the mirror: if you have survived something, I don't care how small, how big, you've survived it," he said.
Rahfeal Gordon 's speech is simple: He tells the story of his own life in three chapters. Each begins with a hip hop lyric that he knows will be meaningful to a young audience.
Gordon says he uses positive hip hop lyrics to encourage youths, especially those who grew in poverty and abuse, as he did. His talk is called "Hip Hop Saved My Life".
" When I had my very dark moments in life, I would put on certain songs, whether it is from Jay-Z , Tupac, Kanye West," Gordon said. "They kept me going through the hard times. They fulfilled a certain void that I couldn't fulfill, like not having a father or mother there, so I felt they could relate because they would tell these stories."
Gordon says his childhood was happy until his father became addicted to drugs and began to beat his three brothers and mother. They left to live on the streets and in homeless shelters. Gordon says he tries now to be a voice for others, including a brother who was murdered at the age of 19.
"When I lost my brother, that was, really, a moment when things really started to take off, in the sense of saying, 'I really, really want to be that individual to help people, to help individuals,' "Gordon said. "I can't be Superman. I can't save the world, but I think that if I can help an individual, I am saving the world. "
|
What do we know about Rahfeal Gordon's childhood?
|
[
"a club boss",
"a taxi driver",
"a bus driver",
"a gas station worker"
] |
a bus driver
|
My name is Sam. I joined a club called "passing help" last month. Now let me tell you why I joined it.
One evening this May, on my way home my old car broke down .It was 25 miles from my home. I wanted to get a ride , but there was no car. It was also hard to take a taxi. I decided to take a bus home .I went to a bus stop nearby. After a while, a bus came, but it did not go to my town , the bus driver was a young woman. She was kind and she told me which bus I should take. I waited there for about thirty minutes,but no bus came .At last a car came to me and a woman came out of the car .She was just the bus driver. "When I reached the bus station,I got to know that the bus to your town couldn't come ,so I returned here .I just can't leave you here ,"she said , " Get in my car and I will take you back to your home."
"It is a long way." I said.
"Come on,sir, "she said,"Let's go."
On the way,she told me a story. A few days ago,there wasn't gas in her car. An old man drove her up to a gas station and then back to her car.
When we got to my home,I wanted to give her some money to thank her,but she didn't accept her. "I only want to help others and do something nice for somebody. Pass it along. " she said.
|
From the passage , we know that the young woman was _ .
|
[
"didn't work very hard",
"didn't go to work from time to time",
"hated those who had good fortune",
"was happy and satisfied, and never lost hope"
] |
was happy and satisfied, and never lost hope
|
When I was growing up, I was embarrassed to be seen with my father. He was badly crippled , and when we would walk together, his hand on my arm for balance, people would stare, I would be ashamed of the unwanted attention. If ever noticed or bothered, he never let on.
It was difficult to walk together--and because of that, we didn't say much as we went along. But as we started out, he always said, "You set the pace. I will try to follow you."
Our usual walk was to or from the subway, which was how he got to work. He went to work sick, and even in bad weather. He almost never missed a day, and would make it to the office even if others could not. It was a matter of pride for him.
When snow or ice was on the ground, it was impossible for him to walk, even with help... Such times my sister or I would pull him through the streets of Brooklyn, N.Y., on a child's sleigh to the subway entrance. Once there, he would try to grasp handrail until he reached the lower steps that the warmer tunnel air kept ice free. In Manhattan the subway station was the basement of his office building, and he would not have to go outside again until we met him in Brooklyn on his way home. w.w.w.k.s.5.u.c.o.m
When I think of it now, I am surprised at how much courage it must have taken for a grown man to suffer from shame and disability. And I am also surprised at how he did it--without bitterness or complaint.
He never talked about himself as an object of pity, not did he show any envy of the more fortunate or able. What he looked for in others was a "good heart", and if he found one, the owner was good enough for him.
Now that I am older, I believe that is a proper standard by which to judge people, even though I still don't know exactly what a "good heart" is. But I know the times I don't have one myself.
He has been away for many years now, but I think of him often. I wonder if he sensed my reluctance to be seen with him during our walks. If he did, I am sorry I never told him how sorry I was, how unworthy I was, how I regretted it. I think of him when I complain about my troubles, when I am envious of another's good fortune, when I don't have a "good heart".
|
As a disabled man, his father _ .
|
[
"it wears heavy makeup and miniskirts",
"other dolls are more popular with little girls",
"other dolls are trying to beat her in the market",
"it has become less popular in the international market"
] |
other dolls are trying to beat her in the market
|
Fifty-three years ago Barbie Millicent Roberts first appeared in the world of toys. Since then, Barbie doll, as everyone called her, has become the most successful toy doll in history. Her parent, the Mattel Company, said that 90% of all American girls between 3 and 10 have at least one Barbie at home.
However, Barbie is facing some trouble at present . There are many similar dolls on the market in competition with her. Another doll named Bratz, for example, came to life thirteen years ago. She looks more like today's pop stars with heavy makeup and miniskirts. And her company offers more kinds of clothes too.
It seems that Barbie has lost her magic among older girls. 'For younger girls, playing with a Barbie is much fun. But when you get older, you want something smarter and more modern,' says Vera Shepherd, a shop assistant in a New York toy store.
It is good news that on the international market, Barbie is still No. 1. Although Mattel is selling fewer barbie in the United States these years, sales in other countries are still going up. In January 2009, Mattel opened its first Barbie store in Shanghai, where girls can shop, eat, drink or even become _ for their own Barbies.
Mattel is planning big celebrations for Barbie's 53rd birthday. She has called Fashion designers from all over the world to make new dresses for Barbie. How long will Barbie stay popular in the world of toy dolls? It is hard to say, but 53 is surely not the age to retire .
|
Barbie's trouble is that _ .
|
[
"change the channel to watch other programs",
"live in Iowa or Texas",
"are sometimes upset and scared",
"think TV gives a very positive image of friendship"
] |
are sometimes upset and scared
|
Recently a group of children in America poured some gasoline on a sleeping man and set him on fire. When caught, the children said they had done what they'd seen on TV.
The incidents make people angry who believe that American children are harmed by watching too much TV. They claim children can't tell between the fiction of TV and reality, and TV distracts them from learning and makes them violent.
To estimate the impact of TV on young people, "Life" magazine hires a company to interview hundreds of school children in Nora Springs, Iowa and in Dallas, Texas. Although the two cities are very different, the company finds children in each city watch the same TV shows.
Many Iowa children, who watch an average of three hours of TV a day, recognizing that life on TV is rosier than what they experience. Their favourite shows are situation comedies about American families in trouble. Many boys like violent shows about police detectives or heroes, girls particularly soap operas-stories about families and friends.
On the whole, children find real violence on news programs hard to take. "If you see a bus crash on the news, it's frightening," one fifth grader says. By and large, the Iowa children agree that the best thing about TV is it makes you laugh.
Children in Dallas are savvier about programs of drug use on TV. "They don't really show them doing it right. On TV they are not real." A fifth grader says.
"Life" agrees with a 1988 study by the U. S Department of education that finds children are none the worse for watching TV. The study finds TV doesn't have lasting effect on children. On the contrary, kids show good judgment about what they watch. "There are very few good shows on TV anymore," a 10-year-old boy says.
While the debate about TV is so heated, the "Life" survey gives hope that American kids aren't wasting three or four hours a day (what is worse, by the time young people enter college today, they will have devoted more time to watching television than they will spend in college). However, a child watching TV isn't reading a good book or joining in healthful sports.
|
Children who see real violence on TV news programs _ .
|
[
"with a slim figure",
"with high blood pressure",
"who are very fat",
"who seek for a healthy diet"
] |
who are very fat
|
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|
The passage is intended for those _ .
|
[
"the lack of strong motivation",
"the absence of practical ideas",
"how to search for more materials",
"how to use imagination creatively"
] |
how to use imagination creatively
|
Blind imitation is self-destruction. To those who do not recognize their unique worth, imitation appears attractive: to those who know their strength, imitation is unacceptable.
In the early stages of skill or character development, imitation is helpful. When I first learned to cook, I used recipes and turned out some tasty dishes. But soon I grew bored. Why follow someone else's way of cooking when I could create my own? Imitating role models is like using training wheels on a child's bicycle; they help you get going, but once you find your own balance, you fly faster and farther without relying on them.
In daily life, imitation can hurt us if we subconsciously hold poor role models. If, as a child, you observed people whose lives were bad, you may have accepted their fear and pain as normal and gone on to follow what they did. If you do not make strong choices for yourself, you will get the results of the weak choices of others.
In the field of entertainment, our culture glorifies celebrities. Those stars look great on screen. But when they step off screen, their personal lives may be disastrous. If you are going to follow someone, focus on their talent, not their bad character or unacceptable behaviors.
Blessed is the person willing to act on their sudden desire to create something unique. Think of the movies, books, teachers, and friends that have affected you most deeply. They touched you because their creations were motivated by inspiration, not desperation. The world is changed not by those who do what has been done before them, but by those who do what has been done inside them. Creative people have an endless resource of ideas. The problem a creator faces is not running out of material; it is what to do with the material knocking at the door of imagination.
Study your role models, accept the gifts they have given, and leave behind what does not server. Then you can say, "I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors" tragedies and stories, and know that they are cheering on.
|
The trouble a creator faces is _ .
|
[
"tailor's shop",
"operating room",
"clothes shop",
"wash house"
] |
wash house
|
Welcome to Franklin Hotel. To make you stay as enjoyable as possible. We hope you will use our facilities to the full.
Dining Room:Breakfast is served in the dining room from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Also the room staff may bring breakfast to your room at any time after 7 a.m. If this happens, please fill out a card and hang outside your door when you go to bed. Lunch is from 12 to 2:30 p.m. Dinner from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Room service:This operates 24 hours a day; phone the reception desk, and your massage will be passed on the staff.
Telephones: To make a phone call. Dial "0"for reception and ask to be connected. We apologized for delays if the lines are very busy. These are also public telephones near the Reception Desk. Tell Reception if early calls are needed.
Shop: The hotel shop is open for presents, gifts and goods from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Laundry: we have a laundry in the building, and will wash, iron and return your clothes within 24 hours, ask the room staff to collect them.
Bar :The hotel bar is open from 12 to 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Banking: The reception staff will cash cheques and exchange any foreign money for you.
|
The word "laundry" in the above passage means" _ ".
|
[
"She would lose the friendship with her.",
"Her friend's parents would be worried about their daughter.",
"Her friend would get into great trouble with the boy.",
"Her friend's boyfriend would be in great trouble."
] |
Her friend would get into great trouble with the boy.
|
Recently, one of my best friends, whom I've shared just about everything with since the first day of kindergarten, spent the weekend with me.Since I moved to a new town several years ago, we've both always looked forward to the few times a year when we can see each other.
Over the weekend, we spent hours and hours, staying up late into the night, talking about the people she was hanging around with.She started telling me stories about her new boyfriend, about how he experimented with drugs and was into other self-destructive behavior.I was blown away! She told me how she had been lying to her parents about where she was going and even stealing out to see this guy because they didn't want her around him.No matter how hard I tried to tell her that she deserved better, she didn't believe me.Her self-respect seemed to have disappeared.
I tried to convince her that she was ruining her future and heading for big trouble.I felt like I was getting nowhere.I just couldn't believe that she really thought it was acceptable to hang with a bunch of losers, especially her boyfriend.
By the time she left, I was really worried about her and exhausted by the experience.It had been so frustrating, I had come close to telling her several times during the weekend that maybe we had just grown too far apart to continue our friendship,but I didn't.I put the power of friendship to the final test.We'd been friends for far too long.I had to hope that she valued me enough to know that I was trying to save her from hurting herself.I wanted to believe that our friendship could conquer anything.
A few days later, she called to say that she had thought long and hard about our conversation, and then she told me that she had broken up with her boyfriend.I just listened on the other end of the phone with tears of joy running down my face.It was one of the truly rewarding moments in my life.Never had I been so proud of a friend.
|
What did the writer worry about?
|
[
"based in Thailand",
"for young New Zealanders",
"with prepared and unprepared debates",
"lasting for five days"
] |
with prepared and unprepared debates
|
Speak confidently and think logically. Year 13 schoolboy Arunabh Prakash can't agree more. Anmabh is one of the five students that will represent New Zealand at the 26th World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) to be held in Thailand from August 5 to l5 this year.
"You've got to be persuasive, regardless of the fact that you believe in a topic or not," says the 17-year-old.
"There are a lot of speakers who are eloquent but find it difficult to think logically and then there are those who have a good argument but can't deliver."
Endurance is another quality he says one must have in the heated arena of expressing opinions and ideas.
"There are times when you have to debate for five hours at a go and are completely exhausted. It's quite intense. You must have the energy to debate for long hours," says Arunabh, who began debating in year 10.
The WSDC is a debating competition in the world for high school students from different countries. It involves four prepared debates and four impromptu debates -- debates without specific preparations.
To gain selection for the national team for the global final, Arunabh had to compete with regional teams. Despite the mounting pressure, he says he was confident of winning.
"We didn't loose a debate in the first two days. And we had a very strong team. We were confident of our ability to win," he says.
|
The WSDC is a debating competition _ .
|
[
"50",
"10",
"15",
"20"
] |
10
|
This is Scott. He has an interesting job. He works at a radio station. His radio show is from twelve o'clock at night to six o'clock in the morning. He sings well. He usually gets up at seven thirty at night. He brushes his teeth and takes a shower at ten past eight. Then he eats breakfast at nine. That's a funny time for breakfast! After that , he usually exercise at about ten twenty. He goes to work by car at eleven o'clock. It takes ten minutes to get the radio station. So he is never late for work.
|
It takes Scott _ minutes to get to the radio station.
|
[
"the participants kept readjusting their direction of walking",
"all the participants had a good sense of direction",
"the experiment was done in different ways",
"none of the participants finished the 60 metres"
] |
the participants kept readjusting their direction of walking
|
A recent experiment held in Japan shows that it is almost impossible for people to walk exactly straight for 60 metres. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology found 20 healthy men and asked them to walk as straight as possible to a target 60 metres away at normal speed. Each man had to walk on white paper fixed flat to the floor wearing wet colored socks. The footprints revealed that all walked in a winding rather than a straight line. Researchers found that people readjust the direction of walking every few seconds. The amount of the winding differed from _ to subject. This suggests that none of us can walk in a strictly straight line. We walk in a winding way mainly because of a slight structural or functional imbalance of our limbs . Although we may start walking in a straight line, several steps afterwards we have changed direction.
Eyesight helps us to correct the direction of walking and leads us to the target. Your ears also help you walk. After turning around a lot with your eyes closed, you can hardly stand still, let alone walk straight.
It's all because your ears help you balance. Inside your inner ear there is a structure which contains liquids. On the sides of the organ are many tiny hair-like structures that move around as the liquid flows. When you spin the liquid inside also spins. The difference is that when you stop, the liquid continues to spin for a while. Dizziness is the result of these nerves in your ear. When you open your eyes, although your eyesight tells you to walk in a straight line, your brain will trust your ears more, thus you walk in a curved line.
|
The experiment held in Japan proved that _ .
|
[
"she was helped by all of her friends",
"she wanted to get a new car",
"she never got ill",
"she just wanted to keep on doing that"
] |
she just wanted to keep on doing that
|
It was Andria Baker's high school graduation party, and the time had come for her father to make good on a promise that he had made her years ago, when she was a fourth-grader. "After you started on your first day of kindergarten and continue it through your last day of high school, and I'll buy you a car." Tim Baker had told the child.
Through the years, Andria Baker kept up her end of the bargain, willing herself to go to school on those days even when she felt under the weather. She did carry out her 13th year of uninterrupted coming to the classroom with her final day at Constantine High Sehool even when she was ill.
At Sunday's party, her father gave the young woman the keys to a new, $17 000 Pontiac G6. Tim Baker, who teaches seventh grade at prefix = st1 /ConstantineMiddle School, said he has no regrets about the deal. "Without a doubt, it was worth every penny I spent," he said. The look on his daughter's face when she saw the car was great. Baker said, "When she turned around after seeing the car, she did not know what to do. We got her into the car and she just sat there. Then she ran into the house to get her driver's license, and she and her best friend got in the car and drove down the road."
Andria Baker, 19, said she thinks she would have gone ahead with that even if a new car had not been promised her. "A lot of my friends thought I was crazy, but I just kept going." she said. Baker plans to go after an education degree at AlmaCollege.
"In my sophomore year I hurt my ankle in a basketball game, and it was really painful," she said. "Also that day I caught a cold and the teacher looked at me and said, 'I'm not the teacher who's going to send you home.'"
|
Andria Baker could come to school every day because _ .
|
[
"Trees that worms can't hurt.",
"Genetically engineered trees.",
"Trees that can resist wind better.",
"Trees that can protect themselves at a chemical attack."
] |
Trees that can resist wind better.
|
Special trees that grow faster, fight pollution, produce better wood, and even sense chemical attacks are being planted by scientists in the US.
When 40 per cent of Hawaii's US$14 million-a-year papaya industry was destroyed by a virus five years ago, work began on creating genetically engineered trees.
Researchers successfully introduced seeds that were designed to resist the virus.Since then, more and more people have been testing genetically engineered trees.Some researchers put special bacteria into trees to help them grow faster and produce better wood.Others are trying to create trees that can clean polluted soil.Meanwhile fruit farmers are looking for trees that are strong enough to resist worms, and paper companies want trees that produce more wood and therefore more paper.
The Pentagon even gave the researchers US$500,000 this year after they developed a pine tree that changes its colours if it senses a chemical attack.So far, the poplar, eucalyptus , apple and coffee trees are among those being engineered.All this can be done today because we have a better understanding of tree genomes .
However, some people fear that the genetically engineered trees will cause dangerous results.They are worried that the new trees will breed with natural species and change the balance of the forest environment.
"It could be destructive," said Jim Diamond, an environmentalist. "Trees are what is left of our natural environment and home to many endangered species."
But researchers insist that science could give nature a fighting chance against both natural and man-made dangers.They hope to answer the critics by stopping the new trees from breeding, so their effect on the environment can be controlled.
|
Which kind of tree is not the ones that scientists are planting in the US?
|
[
"families can watch TV together in order to keep up their relationship",
"day trips or weekend breaks are enough for families to share experiences",
"their expectations should be increased in the face of economic difficulties",
"a week's holiday is an essential minimum during the financial crisis"
] |
day trips or weekend breaks are enough for families to share experiences
|
Annual holidays have become a luxury and are no longer a staple of family life, according to government research.
A getaway of a week or more is no longer considered essential by many families and is often beyond their reach, said the analysis of what parents and children say they really need. Fashionable clothes for the children, expensive birthday parties and lots of toys are also on the list of luxuries families don't have to have. Instead, recession -hit parents are thinking of the future, and the things they want for their children centre around learning to behave properly, good education and good health.
Their picture of what a family ought to have includes a space to eat together away from the television, plenty of fruit and vegetables, and bicycles so children can get exercise.
The breakdown of necessities and luxuries was prepared by researchers from the Department for Work and Pensions(DWP) who were trying to establish an up-to-date picture of what parents say they really need.
Their findings show how families have scaled down their expectations in the face of economic difficulties -- how parents are now concentrating their attention and money firmly on the long-term interests of their children. Many believe that while it is vital for a family to do things together, day trips or weekend breaks are enough.
Spending on furniture or decorating the house was also considered luxurious, unless the state of the home was so bad it became difficult to invite visitors in.
Instead, researchers said: A family home should have an area where the family can eat together, not on their laps in front of a television. Families should be able to go on outings, overnight trips and possibly short holiday: the fact of being able to share these experiences is more important than the precise activity and its cost.
|
In the opinion of most parents, _ .
|
[
"every day",
"on Sunday",
"on Saturday",
"on Friday."
] |
on Sunday
|
Miss Smith is only twenty. She is of medium build, and she has brown, curly hair. She likes children and her teaching work. From Monday to Friday she stays at school and teaches the children. She has a lot of work to do every day, but she often plays games with her students after school. The children like her a lot. On Sundays she usually drives her car to her parents' house and stays with her parents, but sometimes she goes to see her friends on Sunday. She drives back to school on Monday morning. She likes singing, dancing and swimming. She is a good teacher.
|
Miss Smith goes to see her friends _ .
|
[
"he had to create a plane",
"he didn't have enough money",
"he would like to learn by himself",
"his mother asked him to stay at home"
] |
he had to create a plane
|
Orville Wright was born on August 19, 1871 in Dayton, Ohio, USA and died on January 30, 1948. Together with his brother, Wilbur, he was the first airplane builder. The brothers created the first controlled, powered and heavier-than-air human flight.
His parents were Milton Wright and Susan Catherine Koerner and besides the two famous brothers they had five children. One day after a trip his father brought as a gift a small helicopter. The kids loved it and as they played daily with it after a while it broke. The brothers managed to create a new one. Wright even let go his plans of attending Yale. He spent his time helping his ill mother and reading in his father's library.
In 1884 the family decided to move to Dayton and they remained there until the 1870's. A printing press was built by the two and Wilbur was an editor. In 1892 they started being fascinated by the aeronautical events of that time. Then they started to create an airplane and Wilbur was considered the head of the team. They were the inventors of "three axis-control", which permitted the pilot to _ the aircraft's balance.
In 1900 they had their first attempts to make a functional glider -- of course it didn't have a pilot. After three years they thought of introducing an engine to the glider. At first, their patent application was refused in 1903, but after one year it was accepted.
Orville's first flight lasted 12 seconds and had 36.5 meters. He was responsible with the public shows near Washington in the United States. On September 9, 1908 his flight was 62 minutes and 15 seconds long and the success was huge.
|
Wright didn't go to Yale probably because _ .
|
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