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[
"Doing something that is exciting.",
"Doing something almost every day.",
"Doing something every day, not only once.",
"Doing something every day or only once."
] |
Doing something every day or only once.
|
Recently I have discovered it's often easier for me to do something every day than to do it just some days. I post to my blog six days a week. I take notes every day. I write in my one-sentence journal every day. Many people have told me that they find it easier to exercise when they exercise every day. If I try to do something just four days a week, I spend a lot of time arguing with myself: Is today the day, or is it tomorrow, or the next day? Does the week start on Sunday or Monday?
If you do something every day, you tend to fall into a routine. Routine has a bad reputation for lacking excitement. It's true that novelty and challenge bring happiness and that people who break their routines, try new things, and go to new places are happier, but I think that some routine activities also bring happiness. The pleasure of doing the same thing, in the same way, every day, shouldn't be overlooked. By repeating, you can find happiness in activities like doing dishes or sweeping the floor as well as in your beloved morning coffee-and-news routines.
Two geniuses whom I know of also wrote about the power of doing something every day. Andy Warhol wrote, "Either once only, or every day. If you do something once it's exciting, and if you do it every day it's exciting. But if you do it, say, twice or just almost every day, it's not good any more." Gertrude Stein made a similar point, "Anything one does every day is important and anywhere one lives is interesting and beautiful."
So if there's something that you wish you did more regularly, try doing it every day; if you do something every day, take great pleasure in it.
|
Which of the following statements does Andy Warhol probably agree to?
|
[
"Ann",
"Tom",
"John",
"All of them"
] |
John
|
My name is Tom. My best friends are John and Ann. John lives near my house and we are in the same class. He's tall and thin, he has blonde hair and blue eyes. He is polite and very clever. He is very good at math and sometimes helps me with my homework sometimes. He usually wears jeans and a blue T--shirt. We three often play basketball in a nearby park.
My friend Ann studies at another school.
She's short and slim with straight brown hair and brown eyes. She's a little bit shy. We all have Kong fu lessons every Tuesday and Friday afternoon. We love Kung fu very much. Ann is really good at Kung fu. We call her the "Kong fu girl". Sometimes she practices Kung fu with us. She loves wearing a T--shirts and a hat. The three of us have great fun together.
|
Who is good at math?
|
[
"Brand Power",
"Famous Brands",
"Company Brands",
"Brand Products"
] |
Brand Power
|
A brand is a name, word, sign, symbol, design, or a combination of these, intended to identify the goods or services of a company or a group of companies. Another purpose of a brand is to contrast one company from another. The most important skill of professional marketers is the ability to create, maintain, protect, and enhance the brands of their products and services. Branding has become so important that today hardly any company or product is without one. Therefore, brand management is an increasingly important element in marketing.
Brand power refers to the relative strength of a company's brand in the minds of consumers, and can influence consumers' choice of products. Brands are powerful to the extent that they give high brand loyalty and strong brand associations, name recognition, perceived quality and other assets to a company. A strong brand can be one of a company's most important assets.
High brand power provides a company with many competitive advantages. A powerful brand enjoys a high level of consumer brand awareness and loyalty. Because consumers expect stores to carry the brand, the company has more bargaining power when negotiating with retailers . And because the brand name brings high credibility, a company with a strong brand can more easily launch new products with the same brand name.
Many companies use the advantage of a strong brand power strategically to expand their business. When a company introduces an additional item with a new flavour, form, colour or package size in a given product category and under the same brand name, it is called a line extension. Another strategy is called brand extension. This involves the use of a successful brand name to launch new or modified products in a new category, thereby employing brand recognition in order to increase sales of new products.
Brand recognition is certainly important. Because consumers often hold long-standing perceptions about brands, high brand power ensure a company continued sales of its products.
|
What might be the best title of this passage?
|
[
"A yelloe bike.",
"A yellow car.",
"A green car.",
"A black bike"
] |
A yelloe bike.
|
Mark Green is my friend. He is English. He has a yellow bike. His bike number is 9075. His mother has a green car. The number is JA3566. His father has a black car. The number is JA3567.
|
What does Mark have ?
|
[
"To ask the family for help",
"To make a study of financial courses",
"To do research on the price of college",
"To get to know how to ask for financial aid"
] |
To get to know how to ask for financial aid
|
Hey there,
So you're about to spend four years of your life and tens of thousands of dollars of your parents' money, and all you really know about college is that all of your friends are going. Do you ever stop to wonder why you're going?
Relax. You're making the right decision. First of all, you'll discover what interests you by taking courses in many subjects. For example, it's hard to decide if you want to be a painter if you've never painted any pictures; once you're in a drawing-room on campus, you'll know one way or the other. College is also a lot of fun--after you graduate, you'll be working every weekday for 50 or so years. And remember that college graduates get about twice the
of those who never attended college.
Finding the right college can be difficult. Fortunately,
is here to help you every step of the way.
Researching School. To us, the most important decision you'll make is to choose the school that really fits you best---- not the one that is the most competitive or has the best-equipped rooms.
Applying to School. On
, you'll find hundreds of actual college applications and links to many more.
Raising Your Scores. American College Test is one of the most important parts of the admissions course. It's not the most important, though, and not everyone needs to prepare for the best. But, if you think you can do better, find the right course for better scores.
Paying for School. Most families need financial aid for the high cost of college. The problem is that financial aid seems difficult to get and many families get caught up in the price of college. However, if you really do your research, you'll learn that there are many ways to get financial aid and that you can afford to attend any college, no matter the cost.
For more information, call 600-3681 or visit J
, wherever you go, have a nice trip!
Johnson Smith
Founder and CEO
John Review
|
What does the author advise you to do to pay the high cost of college?
|
[
"visit www.parislasvegas.com",
"visit www.booklasvegasshows.com",
"visit www.harrahs.com/total/lasvegas/buffetofbuffets",
"visit www.newyorknewyork.com/attractions/\ntherollercoaster.aspx"
] |
visit www.harrahs.com/total/lasvegas/buffetofbuffets
|
It's slimbudget time in Las Vegas
Las Vegas? It's where halfprice flights are wide open and where reservations are easily booked on a moment's notice. Tourism is down, so rooms are plentiful, as well as inexpensive.
Getting there: The best way to get there from McCarran Airport is to exit the baggage claim through Door 11 and check in at any number of shuttle booths. Shuttle vans that run between the airport and the Las Vegas Strip cost $6 for a oneway trip.
Leaving Las Vegas:Many Vegas vacationers are eager to get there and slow to leave. So take the "redeye" back home. Most redeye flights leave around midnight, leaving you with an extra night of gaming, and fun without added expense of a higher hotel charge. You can sleep the whole way home.
Romantic getaway: Las Vegas is no longer all about gaming. The artwork at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is certainly comparable to that at the Louvre. Speaking of Paris, take a trip up the Eiffel Tower at ParisLas Vegas. The Eiffel Tower Experience costs just $10($7 for kids) and is unquestionably worth the price of admission. For an intimate evening, don't hesitate to book reservations at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. Get an impressive nighttime view of the Fountains at Bellagio by asking for seating alongside the floortoceiling windows. This is truly a oneofakind finedining experience. Details:www.parislasvegas.com.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes:Casinos can appear very close together, but actually may not be. Know the tram systems that run up and down the Strip. Most tram lines are free.
Shows:Purchase show tickets at one of the many "Half Priced Show" booths on the Strip. You can experience a unique show each night of your stay. Need a look at what's playing when you'll be there? Visit www.booklasvegasshows.com.
Buffets:In Vegas you can take anything to the next level--including eating. Seven casinos on the Strip have teamed up to bring you an amazing deal:seven buffets--breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner--all for just $44.99 within a 24hour period. Details:www.harrahs.com/total/lasvegas/buffetofbuffets.
|
If you want to know more about food in Las Vegas, you should _ .
|
[
"In Yushu.",
"In Beijing.",
"In Shanghai.",
"In Qinghai."
] |
In Beijing.
|
I'm Lin Min. My sister Lin Li is a teacher, but she isn't in Beijing with us. She works in a small school in Yushu in Qinghai. She works very hard. Every morning after breakfast, she goes to four of her students' homes and brings them to school. At eight o'clock, the students have the first morning class. After four classes, they have lunch at school. During the lunch time, Lin Li tells some stories to them. The students like listening to her stories. The afternoon classes start at 13:00 and finish at 16:00. After school, Lin Li sends the four students back to their homes. In the evening, she doesn't watch TV or play computer games. She usually checks her students' homework. Then she goes to bed at 22:00.
Lin Li wants to do more things for her students. She is a great teacher, isn't she?
|
Where is Lin Min?
|
[
"the taxi driver couldn't accept just being average",
"the author was anxious to get back to meet a client",
"when the author waited for a taxi at the airport, he was not in a rush",
"the taxi driver loved to play his favorite music during rides"
] |
the taxi driver couldn't accept just being average
|
A taxi driver taught me a million dollar lesson in customer satisfaction and expectation. Inspiring speakers charge thousands of dollars to give his kind of training to business managers and staff. It cost me only a$12 taxi ride.
I had flown into Dallas just for the purpose of calling on a client. Time was important and my plan included a quick turn-around trip from and back to the airport. A clean taxi pulled up.
The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. As he got in the driver's seat, he mentioned that the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me was for my use. He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy.
Well! I looked around for a "Watching Camera!" Wouldn't you? I could not believe the service I was receiving! I took the opportunity to say, "Obviously you take great pride in your work. You must have a story to tell."
"You bet," he replied, "I used to be in Commercial America. But I got tired of that, thinking my best would never be good enough. I decided to find my right position in life, somewhere I could feel proud of being the best I could be. I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have done a full day's work and done it well. I evaluated my personal property and, I became a taxi driver! One thing I know for sure is that to be good in my business I can simply just meet the expectations of my passengers. However, to be great in my business, I have to go beyond the customers' expectations! I like both the sound and the return of being 'great' better than just getting by on average. "
Did I tip him without hesitation? You bet! Commercial America's loss is the traveling folk's friend.
The taxi driver taught me a great life lesson: Go an extra mile when providing any service to others. And there is no good or bad job and you can make any job good.
|
It can be inferred from the story that_.
|
[
"Because it's too busy.",
"Because it's too difficult.",
"Because it's too dangerous.",
"Because it's too boring."
] |
Because it's too dangerous.
|
Dear Editor,
I am unhappy these days.I am a student in Grade 3 of a middle school. I want to be a policewoman in the future. But my mother doesn't like the job. She always says it is too dangerous for a girl to work as a policewoman. She thinks girls should work in the office. She hopes that I can work as a teacher. But I really dislike being a teacher. I don't like work with children. When I talk with her about it , she is often angry. She always thinks she is right. I don't know what to do. Can you help me?
Yours,
Lily
|
Why doesn't Lily's mother like the job as a policewoman?
|
[
"riding a bike",
"playing the guitar",
"playing computer games",
"having a school trip"
] |
playing computer games
|
Nick is a 14yearold school boy.His life is full of exams and studies on weekdays.He has little free time.He thinks playing computer games is the best way to make him relax.When he has free time,he sits in front of the computer.Just like that way,he neither eats nor drinks for several hours.
Last weekend,he played games on the computer again.He was too excited and didn't want to move.He didn't have anything for six hours.When he had to go to the bathroom,he found he could not move.He was taken to the hospital.The doctor told him he should do some more different kinds of activities.In other words,he needs more exercise and outdoor activities to make him have a healthy body.
After coming back from the hospital,Nick follows the doctor's advice.He often plays soccer with his friends.Sometimes he still plays computer games on weekends,but he never does it for long.Now,he lives a happy and healthy life.
|
Nick likes _ in his free time.
|
[
"a doctor",
"a nurse",
"a teacher",
"a musician"
] |
a musician
|
How many things can you do at the same time? Eating and reading are easy. Reading and playing the violin are difficult. But some people can do many things at the same time. Bob is a one-man _ . In this picture Bob is playing the drums and the guitar with his feet. He is playing the drums and the guitar with his feet. He is playing the cymbals between his knees and the accordion with his hands. He's also playing the bells with his hands. What a talented man Bob is!
|
This story is talking about _ .
|
[
"The desert is like a sea.",
"The camel can cross the desert just like a ship.",
"The movement of the camel is just like a ship traveling on an ocean.",
"The shape of the camel is like that of a ship."
] |
The movement of the camel is just like a ship traveling on an ocean.
|
There is just one four-legged animal that can walk two hundred miles without stopping once to rest. It would take a person two days and two nights to walk this far, and only one man has ever done it without stopping. What amazing animal has such endurance ? The camel! The camel is well known for something else, too. It can cross an entire desert without a single drink of water. Its body is built in a special way to help it store water and food.
A person has just one stomach, but a camel has quite a few. Within each stomach are layers and layers of cells. These cells are like tiny water balloons, storing liquids until the camel needs them. When the camel drinks, the cells grow larger and larger. For a whole week, they can keep the animal's thirst away by sending water to all parts of its body.
Have you ever wondered why the camel has a hump ? The hump is a storage place for fat. Because it has this storage area, the camel does not need to eat very often. When the animal needs energy, the layers of fat serve as fuel to keep it going on the long, hot days in the burning sun.
The camel has another gift that makes it well suited to arid regions. This gift is its amazing nose. A camel can smell a water hole from miles away!
When a camel moves, it sways from side to side like a ship on a wavy ocean. Because of this swaying motion, the camel has been called the "ship of the desert".
|
Why has the camel been called the "ship of the desert"?
|
[
"encourage p.eople to care more about their parents",
"introduce a short video",
"think highly of the talent of Liu Xiaoyu",
"show the kind heart of most people"
] |
encourage p.eople to care more about their parents
|
If you had a chance to prepare dinner for your mother, would you choose to make it right now or some day in the future? Watch the video Paradise Dinner by Liu Xiaoyu, a junior at[Hebei Institute of Communications, and you will find a right answer.
Recently the six-minute film Paradise Dinner won a great success on the Internet. It told the story of a son who made a big lunch for his mother, but he can only send the dinner to paradise, because his mother has been dead.
"If you do not show your _ to your mother right now, you might never have the opportunity in the future, because your mother is growing older and older day by day-this is the main theme of my film, " said the 21-year-old Liu.
Liu conceived the story for Paradise Dinner over his 2010 summer vacation.
One day during that holiday, Liu found his parents were not young any more. " So I decided to write a story for Paradise Dinner to call for all people, especially young people, to show more filial piety to their parents," he said.
With the help of his teachers and his schoolmates, he found actors, Zhang who played the mother and Yuan Zhen who played the son. At last he finished the film.
Many Web users said they liked the film very much and most of them cried like Liu's parents when they watched it.
|
The writer wrote this article to _ .
|
[
"A Lesson in Hope",
"The Life of a Sick Boy",
"A Voluntary Job",
"The Meaning of Life"
] |
A Lesson in Hope
|
I may not be the wisest person on this planet.but I will tell you a little secret to happiness:Help other,,and live life.It is that simple.Just help a friend study for a test,or volunteer at a nursing home .I learned this after a long,hard search.
I was feeling really down because my long4ime friend had died.Then I started a six-week volunteering at a nursing home all day every Saturday.My routine was to serve the meal and clean up.After that,I would wait for the head nurse to tell me what to do.
One day I was told to go to Room 117 to make sure the patient was all right.In the room I found a boy of eight sitting in his bed watching a movie.I was shocked to see a child in this seemingly forgotten nursing home for the old.He was so small and weak that you had to look closely to find him.He motioned for me to sit down.I grabbed his medical chart from which later I found out he had a terminal illness.
We started to talk,and I found out that his family rarely visited,and all he did ever7 day was watch TV.I wanted to cry for him,and for my lost friend.As we talked,he had a smile on his face,and I asked him why.
"The entire two hours I've been here you've never lost that smile.With this horrible disease,how do you still manage to stay happy?"
He thought for a moment,and then said that too many people are dead even before they die.
They walk around feeling that God has cursed them and that they have nothing to live for.
The boy said that he would not be like that.He wakes every morning thankful to see another sunrise.He keeps his window open so that he can smell the flowers and feel the heat of the sun.He also said that he has hope.
"Too many people haven't seen much of that around here," he said," Life is full of hope and we need to live life before it is gone."
I don't know what happened to him.I assume he passed away,but his lesson lives on.I now wake up and live each day to the fullest.The key to life is not money or fame,but the lessons we learn from it.
|
What would be the best title for the passage?
|
[
"To be in charge of the finance of the business.",
"To put what he has learned into practice.",
"To work with people from different backgrounds.",
"To find out how the consumers bought their products."
] |
To be in charge of the finance of the business.
|
I always wanted to run a business of some sort,and finally I got such a good chance to do so at the beginning of the summer term.The business project is called Young Enterprise,where we set up a small company called "Limitless" and sold the products to the school and public.I was appointed deputy director and financial director of the company,in which my role was to manage the financial activities.
I have learnt so much from this experience,for I could put what I have learnt into practice in real life and learn to work with different people,which improved my skills in management and communication.
In this school we students can organise our own activities if we want to,and the school is usually highly supportive:so this term I have organised an Engineering Society in school,which arranges regular visits to local industries.So far,the society which has only 10 members has proved to be really "popular".Well,it is always the quality,not the quantity,that matters,isn't it?
I have had many opportunities to challenge myself since I got to the school,and I do think it is all of these challenges that make me more and more mature.Perhaps one of the most important lessons I have learned in this school is to have the initiative to look for any possible challenges.
|
What is the writer's duty in the small company called "Limitless"?
|
[
"1",
"2",
"3",
"4"
] |
2
|
How can something that represents nothing in particular be so eye-catching to look at? If you have once said, "That is easy to paint... Who would pay that significant amount of money for something that doesn't even relate to anything?", then chances are that you do not appreciate what Abstract Art really is. When looking at Abstract Art, you are seeing the most freely formed type of artwork an artist can create.
_ 1 _ . You would think that when looking at art that is non-representational, it would be less interesting to view as you do not know what the artist is truly trying to depict in his or her artwork.
_ 2 _ . This type of art is meant to grab your attention and pull an emotional response right from within you. Once you see that part of the painting...the part that keeps you drawn in and your mind thinking, it is then when you know you are analyzing something special...something called Abstract Art.
_ 3 _ . So what grabs your attention when seeing this particular piece of art? Well let's think...what gets your attention in any circumstance? Why is a stop sign bright red? That's right...Abstract Art, in most circumstances, is filled with color1s of all sorts that are meant to turn heads. These characteristics, along with others such as the paintings texture and other elements, are what make this form of art one of the most popular styles collected today. The creativity involved with these pieces of art brings upon a new imagination that some viewers didn't know existed within them. This art is from the heart and soul, instead of what you see is what you get. With that being said, you can now see that Abstract Art is more than just a thoughtless mess put on a canvas.
_ 4 _ . While viewing the work of a very talented artist, Osnat Tzadok, I came across a quote of hers that states "Every time I pass near a blank canvas I feel something explode inside of me. It is not something I can explain or pass on to someone else...but it is, always, a beginning of a new creation". This quote of Osnat's perfectly portrays what we, the viewers, should feel when viewing an artist's abstract creation. Just as an artist gets this "explosion" that Osnat speaks of, we receive the same feeling when looking at their piece if we truly appreciate Abstract Art. The beauty of non-representational art is that we can create the story within the painting. We can ask ourselves, "Why do these color1s interact with each other?" or "What does this symbolize?".... and with those questions our imagination brings about answers.
|
Where can we most properly put the sentence "This is where the beauty of Abstract Art comes about"?
|
[
"every year when autumn comes",
"in the afternoon every day",
"every time he walks along his street",
"now that he is an old man"
] |
every year when autumn comes
|
About this time every year, I get very nostalgic . Walking through my neighborhood on a fall afternoon reminds me of a time not too long ago when sounds of children filled the air, children playing games on a hill, and throwing leaves around in the street below. I was one of those children, carefree and happy. I live on a street that is only one block long. I have lived on the same street for sixteen years. I love my street. One side has six houses on it, and the other has only two houses, with a small hill in the middle and a huge cottonwood tree on one end. When I think of home, I think of my street. Only I see it as it was before. Unfortunately things change. One day, not long ago, I looked around and saw how different everything has become. Life on my street will never be the same because neighbors are quickly grown old, friends are growing up and leaving, and the city is planning to destroy my precious hill and sell the property to contractors.
It is hard for me to accept that many of my wonderful neighbors are growing old and won't be around much longer. I have fond memories of the couple across the street, who sat together on their porch swing almost every evening, the widow next door who yelled at my brother and me for being too loud, and the crazy old man in a black suit who drove an old car. In contrast to those people, the people I see today are very old neighbors who have seen better days. The man in the black suit says he wants to die, and another neighbor just sold his house and moved into a nursing home. The lady who used to yell at us is too tired to bother any more, and the couple across the street rarely go out to their front porch these days. It is difficult to watch these precious people as they near the end of their lives because at once I thought they would live forever.
The "comings and goings" of the younger generation of my street are now mostly "goings" as friends and peers move on. Once upon a time, my life and the lives of my peers revolved around home. The boundary of our world was the gutter at the end of the street. We got pleasure from playing night games or from a breathtaking ride on a tricycle. Things are different now, as my friends become adults and move on. Children who rode tricycles now drive cars. The kids who once played with me now have new interests and values as they go their separate ways. Some have gone away to college like me, a few got married, two went into the army, and one went to prison. Watching all these people grow up and go away makes me long for the good old days.
Perhaps the biggest change on my street is the fact that the city is going to turn my precious hill into several lots for new homes. For sixteen years, the view out of my kitchen window has been a view of that hill. The hill was a fundamental part of my childhood life; it was the hub of social activity for the children of my street. We spent hours there building forts, sledding, and playing tag. The view out of my kitchen window now is very different; it is one of tractors and dump trucks tearing up the hill. When the hill goes, the neighborhood will not be the same. It is a piece of my childhood. It is a visual reminder of being a kid. Without the hill, my street will be just another pea in the pod.
There was a time when my street was my world, and I thought my world would never change. But something happened. People grow up, and people grow old. Places changes, and with the change comes the heartache of knowing I can never go back to the times I loved. In a year or so, I will be gone just like many of my neighbors. I will always look back to my years as a child, but the place I remember will not be the silent street whose peace is interrupted by the sounds of construction. It will be the happy, noisy, somewhat strange, but wonderful street I knew as a child.
|
The writer calls up the memory of the street _ .
|
[
"Eating American Food",
"A Look at American Food",
"Making American Food",
"Cooking American Food"
] |
A Look at American Food
|
Convenience Foods
Instead of buying only fresh foods, Americans nowadays buy many more convenience foods. These are foods which are ready partly or completely prepared. Many of them are frozen, such as frozen dinner, heat-and-serve French fries, and frozen pizzas. There are also many canned convenience foods, such as ready-made spaghetti, soups, stews and vegetables
Convenience foods save time and trouble. They are popular with people who are busy or who don't like to cook or wash dishes. But they often cost more than fresh, unprepared foods and many contain man-made additives. Also, many people feel they don't taste as good as home-cooked foods.
Health Food and Co-ops
In the 1960s, a "back-to-the-earth" movement was started by young people in the United States. The movement was a reaction against the harmful effects of technology. From the movement came a new understanding of food and health. Many people now prefer natural and organic foods to the prepared foods sold in health foods stores and in food co-ops, which are small stores where customers help manage the store. In co-ops, food is usually not packaged. Customers bring their own bags and jars and scoop their food out of boxes or baskets.
The Diet Craze
These days Americans are more and more concerned with their weight. Perhaps as many as 70 million Americans are on weight-dollar business.
American supermarkets sell a variety of diet food such as soft drinks, diet candy, and diet salad dressings. Dieters also spend money on diet pills, exercise machines, and jogging suits . Each year dozens of new diets are popularized. They have such names as the Miracle Diet, the Nine-day Wonder Diet, and the East 24-hour Diet. There is even one called the Ice Cream Diet, which advises the dieters to eat only ice cream for lunch and dinner! For dieters who cannot lose weight on their own, there are many well-organized diet groups, which offer help and encouragement.
|
What would be the best title for this text?
|
[
"may be a false belief",
"is common nowadays",
"existed only in the 1960s",
"resulted from changes in families"
] |
may be a false belief
|
The evidence for harmony may not be obvious in some families. But it seems that four out of five young people now get on well with their parents, which is the opposite of the popularly-held image of unhappy teenagers locked in their room after endless family quarrels.
An important new study into teenage attitudes surprisingly shows that their family life is more harmonious than it had ever been in the past. "We were surprised by just how positive today's young people seem to be about their families," said one number of the research team. "They're expected to be rebellious and selfish but actually they have other things on their minds: they want a car and material goods, and they worry about whether school is serving them well. There's more negotiation and discussion between parents and children, and children expect to take part in the family decision-making process. They don't want to rock the boat."
So it seems that this generation of parents is much more likely than parents of 30 years ago to treat their children as friends. "My parents are happy to discuss things with me and willing to listen to me," says 17-year-old Daniel Lazall. "I always tell them when I'm going out clubbing. As long as they know what I'm doing, they're fine with me." Susan Crome, who is now 21, agrees. "Looking back on the last 10 years, there was a lot of what you could call negotiation. For example, as long as I'd done all my homework, I could go out on a Saturday night. But I think my grandparents were a lot stricter with my parents than that."
Maybe this positive view of family life should not be unexpected. It is possible that the idea of teenage rebellion is not rooted in real facts. A researcher comments, "Our surprise that teenagers say they get along well with their parents comes because of a brief period in our social history when teenagers were regarded as different beings. But that idea of rebelling and breaking away from their parents really happened during that one time in the 1960s when everyone rebelled. The normal situation throughout history has been a smooth change. "
|
According to the writer, teenage rebellion _ .
|
[
"a bag",
"a message",
"a bag full of money and a message",
"a bag full of message"
] |
a bag full of money and a message
|
Many years ago, there lived a very rich man who wanted to do something good for the people of his town. But first he wanted to find out if they deserved his help. So he put a very large stone in the middle of the main road into the town. Then he stood behind a tree,waiting and watching.
Soon an old man came along with his cow. "Who put this stone in the center of the road?" said the old man, but he didn't try to move the stone away. He passed around the stone with some difficulties and continued on his way. Another man came along and did the same thing; then another came,and another. All of them complained about the stone in the center of the road,but nobody tried to move it.
Late in the afternoon,a young man came along. He saw the stone and said, "It will be dark at night. Some people will come along later in the dark and will fall over the stone and get hurt." The young man then began to move the stone. He pushed and pulled and tried everything he could to move it out of the road. But to his surprise, under the stone he found a bag full of money and this message, "This money is for the person who moves this stone from the road. The person deserves help."
|
When the young man moved the stone, he found _ .
|
[
"(A)There is a large automobile production company in the city, and the order restriction will definitely affect the automobile sales of the enterprise.",
"(B)Private car owners in the city generally have two or more private cars.",
"(C)The owners of private cars in the city are generally wealthy, and they do not care about the fines for violations.",
"(D)Mass transit is being developed in the city, which will help overcome congestion."
] |
(B)Private car owners in the city generally have two or more private cars.
|
The proliferation of private cars in a certain city has aggravated the air pollution in the city, and often caused severe congestion on multiple road sections during the morning and evening peaks.In order to solve this problem, the city government decided to implement all-weather single and double number travel restrictions for private cars, that is, only private cars with ending numbers on odd days are allowed to travel, and only private cars with ending numbers are allowed on even days.
|
Which of the following can best question the decision of the city government?
|
[
"Fish.",
"Vegetable oil.",
"Olive oil.",
"Butter."
] |
Butter.
|
Eating foods high in trans-fats(fats present in artificial form in industrially-produced cakes and fast food...) and saturated fats increases the risk of depression, according to a Spanish study, confirming previous studies that linked "junk food" with the disease. Researchers also showed that some products, such as olive oil, can fight against the risk of mental illness.
Authors of the wide-reaching study, from the universities of Navarra and Las Palmas, followed and analyzed the diet and lifestyle of over l2,000 volunteers over six years. When the study began, none of the participants had been diagnosed with depression; by the end, 657 of them were new sufferers.
"Participants with an increased consumption of trans-fats presented up to a 48 percent increase in the risk of depression when they were compared to participants who did not consume these fats," the head study author said. "The more trans-fats were consumed, the greater harmful effect they produced in the volunteers."
The research team found, at the same time, that after assessing the effect of polyunsaturated fats made up of larger amounts of fish and vegetable oils and olive oil, these products are associated with a lower risk of suffering depression.
The report, published in the online journal PLOS ONE, noted the research was performed on a European population that enjoys a relatively low intake of trans-fats--making up only 0.4 percent of the total energy taken in by the volunteers. "Despite this, we observed an increase in the risk of suffering depression of nearly 50 percent," said researcher Miguel Martinez. "On this basis we think it of great importance to take this effect into account in countries like the United States, where the percentage of energy _ from these fats is around 2.5 percent."
The report pointed out that the current number of depression sufferers in the world is around l50 million people, and has increased in recent years. This rise is attributable, according to the authors, "to great changes in the sources of fats consumed in Western diets, where we have replaced certain types of beneficial fats in nuts, vegetable oils and fish with the saturated and trans-fats found in meats, butter and other products such as mass-produced cakes and fast food."
|
Which of the following increases the risk of suffering depression?
|
[
"are just Like lions",
"are well-known but ordinary",
"are disappointing",
"are inspiring"
] |
are well-known but ordinary
|
It's time to remind myself what I love about life here in California,USA, to remember what I desperately miss when I go home.
Real radio
In the USA there are so many radio stations that those iPod tuner things don't work at all. _ . It took me a while to discover the USA's many public radio stations, which don't broadcast any advertisements. KCRW is my favorites station, for its blend of indie music and current affairs. But I also listen to KJAZZ and KPCC. But before you feel jealous -- it's all online. My favorites: American life Snap Judgement and Henry Rollins live every Saturday night. Take listen online for free News? Well, there's not a lot of news from South Africa, and when it is, it's bad and full of fear, so I ignore it. But I care about any place I live in, and that includes the USA. And on public radio, the USA is covered in depth, from the perspective of individual stories rather than statistics.
The festivals
I'm jealously watching tweets and Facebook boasts and reviews from SXSW -- seems like half the people I used to work with in South Africa are there,meeting Grumpy Cat and watching bands they've always wanted to see live. It's great to know that these 1000s of festivals are so close, and that one day,if film school schedule ever allows me to leave campus for more than a few days, I can go to one or two of them. I have already exchanged my much loved Ford Mustang for a bigger, less sexy car -- a car spacious enough to sleep in -- so that next year I can be there, not just dream of it.
The famous people
When I go back to SA, I'm often asked if I've spotted any famous people. It's awkward for me. I feel the the same way about it as I feel when an American asks me if there are lions in the streets. Except yes, I have. No,not lions. I have met some famous people. I chatted to RJ Mitte from Breaking Bad outside a dub in West Hollywood. Many of my professors are famous directors. The problem is, once you meet these famous people, they're just people, FFS. This feels disappointing at first, like you're missing a Jesus moment of some sort. But if you think about it, it's inspiring. What it means, is that I, litlle me (right now, also "just a person") could be a famous just-a-person person one day, and get to make all the films I just dream of now.
|
The author thinks the famous people in the USA _ .
|
[
"take a rest",
"watch the woman beggar",
"get away from the crowds",
"avoid meeting the beggar"
] |
get away from the crowds
|
My conscience was pricked again on a tour of Venice in 2010. I had taken refuge from the crowds in a quiet canal-side cafe. Outside the cafe was an old woman kneeling on the ancient cobbled stones, begging. Steady streams of tourists were walking past her. A lone young back-packer stood away from the throng drinking something, but I noticed he was also observing the woman.
A tourist group glanced at the woman and walked on. Another group of tourists arrived and, again, walked past her. The backpacker watched. Then, as I prepared to leave, I stopped at the sight of the backpacker stepping forward and placing some money in the woman's cup. He did this rather ostentatiously , just before the arrival of another tourist group. I watched as the leader of the group stopped and put some money in the cup. Having been shown the way, other tourists followed suit and added more coins to the woman's cup.
The young backpacker repeated this process in front of the next tour party going past. Once again, the subtle peer pressure worked on the tourists, who all added coins to the cup. His work done, the young man walked over to the old beggar woman, patted her shoulder and said, "I hope that helps a bit."
I don't know if the woman understood his English or realized what had just happened, but I did. I placed some money in the woman's cup and continued my travels, light-hearted after witnessing such an astute act of caring.
|
The author went to a quiet canal-side cafe to _ .
|
[
"He needs people to talk to him.",
"He is unhappy.",
"He likes Mrs Fang.",
"His arm was broken and cannot wash or put on his clothes himself."
] |
His arm was broken and cannot wash or put on his clothes himself.
|
At 7: 40 when Mrs. Fang is at breakfast, there comes a call. Twenty minutes later, she is with Ann, because she cannot stop her baby crying . There, Mrs Fang helps Ann to wash her three-day-old baby. It is her first child and she is learning what to do. After that, Mrs Fang goes on to see Mr Johnson. His arm was broken and cannot wash or put on his clothes himself. He must be looked after every day.
Then Mrs Fang gets her second call that day. She goes to the home for the old. There she works with the old people till 2: 00 p. m. One by one, she answers their questions and helps them take their medicine .
This is her life. She is busy all day and sometimes she can get calls even late at night when someone needs help. She is busy, but she likes her job and enjoys helping others.
|
Why does Mrs. Fang look after Mr Johnson?
|
[
"human's life pattern is predictable",
"physical fitness can't stop the force of aging",
"human's lifetime will last longer than 75 years",
"all of the changes of aging take place deep inside the body"
] |
all of the changes of aging take place deep inside the body
|
Like distance runners on a measured course,all of us will move through time in a roughly predictable pattern.
In the first stage of our lives,we develop and grow, reaching toward the top of physical vitality .
After we grow up,however, the body begins a process of gradually wearing out.
A new awareness of physical fitness may help lengthen our years of health and vitality,yet nothing we do will work to stop the unavoidable force of aging.
Most of the changes of aging take place deep inside the body.The lungs become less able to take in oxygen.Powerful muscles gradually lose their strength.The heart loses power and pumps less blood.Bones grow easier to break.
Finally, we meet a stress,a stress that is greater than our physical resistance.Often,it is only a minor accident or chance infection(a disease caused by virus),but this time, _ brings life to an end.
In 1932,a classic experiment nearly doubled the lifetime of rats,simply by cutting back the calories in their diet The reason for the effect was then unknown.
Today, at the University of California at Berkley, Dr.Paul Seagle has also greatly lengthened the normal lifetime of rats.The result was achieved through a special protein limited diet,which had a great effect on the chemistry of the brain.Seagle showed that within the brain,specific chemicals control many of the signals that influence aging.By changing that chemical balance,the clock of aging can be reset.
For the first time, the mystery of why we age is being seriously challenged.Scientists in many fields are now making striking and far-reaching discoveries.
An average lifetime lasts 75 years,yet in each of us lies a potential for a longer life.If we could keep the vitality and resistance to disease that we have at age twenty, we would live for 800 years.
|
The author believes the following except that _ .
|
[
"To buy a good pair of earplugs",
"To offer suggestions to the neighbor",
"To ask the neighborhood committee for help",
"To tell the neighbor how bad his behavior is"
] |
To tell the neighbor how bad his behavior is
|
Living in a modern society has its advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage is that you often have to live closer to other people than you would like to. Sometimes, your neighbors make a noise that you are not comfortable with.
The best way to solve this problem is to talk with your neighbor first. You should be very polite and ask your neighbor if he knows how thin the walls of your homes are. This way doesn't criticize his behavior ; it simply points out that he may not realize how far his sound travels. Tell him that you know that sometimes you make noise as well, but that you do your best to keep it down. Often this will solve the problem right away, but sometimes the neighbor may become angry.
If your neighbor becomes angry with you, there are some more steps you can take. You might write a letter to the neighborhood committee. Make sure you write down the source of the noise and the time in the letter. They will review the situation and decide whether your neighbor is out of line. Some noise is considered to be _ , even if it bothers you. So you may prepare a good pair of earplugs .
Even if your neighbor makes too much noise, you don't have to live your life in discomfort. It's always a good idea to be friendly with your neighbors. You may clean the rubbish in front of his door. He's sure to appreciate behavior like this and be more open to your suggestions about noise level.
|
What is the first step to deal with the noisy neighbor?
|
[
"introduce his new books.",
"introduce two funny stories",
"explain why he enjoys writing",
"answer some readers' questions"
] |
answer some readers' questions
|
I receive many letters from children and can't answer them all--there wouldn't be enough time in a day. I'll try to answer some of the questions that are mostly asked. Where did I get the idea for Stuart Little and for Charlotte's Web? Well, many years ago, I went to bed one night in a railway sleeping car, and during the night I dreamed about a tiny boy who acted rather like a mouse. That's how the story of Stuart Little got started.
As for Charlotte's Web, I like animals and my farm is a very pleasant place to be--at all hours. One day, when I was on my way to feed the pig, I began feeling sorry for the pig because, like most pigs, he was going to die. This made me sad. So I started thinking of ways to save his life. Three years after I started writing it; it was published . ( I am not a fast writer, as you can see.)
Sometimes I'm asked when I started to write, and what made me want to write. I started early -as soon as I could spell. Children often find pleasure through trying to set their thoughts down on paper, either in words or in pictures. I was not good at drawing, so I used words instead. As I grew older, I found that writing could be a way of making a living.
Well, here is the answer to the last question. No, they are imaginary stories. In real life, a family doesn't have a child who looks like a mouse and a spider doesn't write words in her web. Although my stories are imaginary, I like to think that there is some truth in them, too--truth about the way people and animals feel, think and act.
|
The writer wrote this passage to _ .
|
[
"Because she will have enough time to watch TV.",
"Because she is interested in doing homework.",
"Because she has many important things to do.",
"Because she can have more energy to do some cleanig in her house."
] |
Because she can have more energy to do some cleanig in her house.
|
Dear Mum:
Today I'm going to tell you something really special. I know you work very hard and feel tired every day.
Every time you come home and see the messy house. I know you are very angry with me. But you always say nothing and clean up the house .I always want to help you, but I have so much homework to do. After I finish my homework, I feel like dying. I really want to help you, but I'm so tired too.
I also want to tell you one thing, I love you so much. I usually talk back to you when you say that I don't study hard enough. But in fact I just want you to praise me more. I will try my best to get good grades and get praise from my teacher. So don't feel frustrated about my grades, OK? I have made up my mind that I will study harder and help you to clean the house. I am serious this time. I will have my homework done faster so that I can have more energy to clean the house. I will watch TV less so that I can have more time to study and get good grades. All these things are for one reason: I want to make you happy Mum.
I love you!
With lots of love Sally
|
Why does Sally want to do her homework faster?
|
[
"two kinds of parties in the southern United States",
"how to arrange a birthday party",
"how to arrange a Christmas party",
"who will arrange a party"
] |
two kinds of parties in the southern United States
|
In the southern part of America, when somebody has a birthday, often family or friends, or both, will arrange a party. The party could be elaborate and include a meal or may be simple with a birthday cake and drinks. One does not plan, nor give, one's own birthday as is the custom in some cultures. At a party there is usually a decorated cake, often with the words "Happy Birthday" and with the name of the person written on the top of the cake. Sometimes there is also one candle for each year of the person celebrating the birthday before the cake is cut. While blowing out the candles, the person makes a wish for something pleasant.
Usually those invited to a birthday party will bring a gift for the person honored. Gifts given by friends do not have to be expensive, but the family of the birthday person will spend whatever they can afford on a gift.
Christmas parties also are very popular in the South. Often this is the only time during the year that some people see acquaintances . These parties can be elaborate or simple, ranging from a buffet to a reception called "open house ". If you are invited to one of these, you don't need to take a Christmas gift, as it is not customary to take the hostess a gift every time you are invited to a party or a meal. However, if you wish to take a gift, it should only be something useful and inexpensive and should be given to the hostess at the door as you enter the party. Usually gifts of Christmas food treats are the most appreciated.
|
This passage mainly tells us about _ .
|
[
"was determined to learn to cook",
"asked her husband to have every meal with her",
"decided to have dinner together with her family",
"was advised by her husband to learn from the friends"
] |
was advised by her husband to learn from the friends
|
"Mommy, I'm a funny bird," Jack, my almost-4-year-old tells me. He moves his little fingers like wings.
"You are?" I say. I'm sitting across from him while he eats breakfast at our table. I smile; he says the greatest things. A week ago, however, when he had chocolate on his face and I licked my finger to wipe it off, he said, "Don't put your dirty water on me."
A week ago, I wouldn't have been sitting here with him during breakfast. I wouldn't have been up, emptying the dishwasher, cleaning the kitchen, or answering emails. We always had dinner together at the table, but other meals got much less attention. I work from home, and my husband owns an advertising agency and often travels. We were so busy that we had to do the chores during breakfast or lunch.
Why was I not sitting down with my son? It could take Jack an hour to eat a meal, during which I could feel the tug of unanswered emails, a deadline, and the unswept floor each minute.
Then we went to visit friends for a weekend. They have two kids. They are busy, professional, and good parents. And at every meal -- not just dinner -- we all sat down at the table and ate. When we got home, my husband said, "Maybe we should be doing that."
I took this as criticism. My husband works a lot, so mealtimes are mostly under my charge. The "we" he was talking about was me.
Then, I remembered myself that I'm a big girl, and took his comment the way it was meant. We both want what's best for Jack. Yes, I thought. I'm home. I have to eat, too. My husband is Jack's favorite, which delights and moves me, but I am Jack's constant. Constants are there. Constants sit down.
So I've been sitting. And, surprise, I haven't missed a deadline. The house has been clean. And Jack seems to like having me there. Two days ago, over lunch, he smiled and stared at me.
"What?" I asked, amused.
"Mommy, I love you so much and I can't stop loving you."
I could have missed that.
God, I could have missed _ .
|
After visiting the friends, the author _ .
|
[
"Because she didn't want to sit in economy.",
"Because she would like a seat in first class.",
"Because she didn't want to sit next to a black man.",
"Because she didn't want to sit in club."
] |
Because she didn't want to sit next to a black man.
|
On a flight from Johannesburg, a middle-aged rich white South African lady had found herself sitting next to a black man. She called the cabin crew attendant over to complain about her seat. "What seems to be the problem, Madam?" asked the attendant.
"Can't you see?" She said, "You have seated me next to a black person! I can't possibly sit next to this kind of person. Find me another seat!"
"Please calm down, Madam," the stewardess replied. "The flight is very full today, but I will tell you what I will do---- I will go and check to see if we have any seats available in club or first class."
The woman glanced at the angry black man beside her. A few minutes later, the stewardess returned with the good news, which she delivered to the lady.
"Madam, unfortunately, as I expected, economy is full. I have spoken to the cabin services director, and club is also full. However, we do have one seat in first class."
Before the lady had a chance to answer, the stewardess continued, "It is most extraordinary to make this kind of upgrade, however, and I have had to get special permission from the captain. But, learning this condition, the captain felt that it was shocking that someone should be forced to sit next to such a tiring person."
Having said that, the stewardess turned to the black man sitting next to the lady, and said, "So if you'd like to get you things, sir, I have your seat ready for you..."
At this point, obviously the surrounding passengers stood and gave an applause while the black man walked up to the front of the plane.
|
Why did the lady complain about her seating?
|
[
"Scanning equipment .",
"Royal blue lines .",
"Glass doors .",
"Yellow frames ."
] |
Scanning equipment .
|
Nervous suspects locked up in Britain's newest police station may feel relieved by a pleasant yellow color on the door . If they are close to confessing a crime , the blue on the wall might _ .
Gwent Police have abandoned colors such as greys and browns of the 20th-century police cell and have used color psychology to decorate them .
Ystrad Mynach station , which recently opened at a cost of PS5 million has four cells with glass doors for prisoners who suffer from claustrophobia . Designers have painted the frames yellow , which researchers say is a calming color . Other cells contain a royal blue line because psychologists believe that the color is likely to encourage truthfulness .
The station has 31 cells , including 12 with a "live scan" system for drunken or disturbed prisoners , which detects the rise and fall of their chest . An alarm alerts officers if a prisoner's breathing stops and carries on ringing until the door is opened .
Designers and psychologists have worked for years on color . Blue is said to suggest trust , efficiency , duty , logic , coolness , thinking and calm . It also suggests coldness and unfriendliness . It is thought that strong blues will stimulate clear thought and lighter , soft colors will calm the mind and aid concentration .
Yellow is linked with confidence , self-respect and friendliness get the color wrong and it could cause fear , depression and anxiety , but the right yellow can lift spirits and self-respect .
Ingrid Collins , a psychologist who specializes in the effects of color , said that color was an " energy force " . She said : " Blue does enhance communication but I am not sure it would enhance truthful communication . "
Yellow , she said , affected the mind . Red , on the other hand , should never be considered because it could increase aggression . Mrs. Collins praised the designers for using colors in the cells . Gwent is not the first British force to experiment with color to calm down or persuade prisoners to co-operate , In the 1990s Strathclyde Police used pink in cells based on research carried out by the US Navy .
|
Which of the following helps alert officers if someone stops breathing ?
|
[
"Watch the salt.",
"Take care, black people.",
"Say no to takeaways.",
"Say no to high blood pressure."
] |
Watch the salt.
|
Now I know that we black people are much more likely to have high blood pressure and diabetes than white people. And _ often lead to heart attacks and other untreated diseases. For example, black people are three to four times more likely than white people to have high blood pressure and twice as likely as the white population to die of a stroke .
New research has found out the surprisingly high levels of salt in many of black people's favorite meals. I stopped putting extra salt in my food at the table long ago and I try to cut down on the salt I use in cooking. The recommended daily level of salt for adults is 6 grams. It is easy to see that if you avoid processed foods and use salt in your cooking within the limit, you won't exceed the daily level.
The research showed how much salt there is in some foods that we buy from restaurants and takeaways. An average salad with rice and peas has 6.2 grams of salt. This is more salt than you are supposed to eat for the whole day.
A researcher talked about the importance of home cooking rather than take-outs. At home, he pointed out, not only can you hold control of the salt shaker, but also you can create tasty food which is low on salt. The researcher later provided curry goat and rice and peas. They were low on salt, but completely delicious.
I do not suppose Jamaicans are going to stop buying takeaways soon. But if you suffer from high blood pressure, it is probably better not to buy them often.
|
What would be the best title for this passage?
|
[
"apply as many kinds of commercial repellents as possible to the plant roots",
"sacrifice some plants and keep semi-decayed plant matter as food for slugs",
"employ all possible gardening techniques to get rid of slugs completely",
"protect the garden from slugs by keeping it in a clean and tidy state"
] |
sacrifice some plants and keep semi-decayed plant matter as food for slugs
|
Many people believe that the common garden slug[ is nothing more than a pest that should be wiped out. In attempts to beautify their yards, people employ various poisons, strategically chosen plants, and gardening techniques. Success is attained when no trace of slugs can be found, although the worn-out gardener still watches and waits for their return, as completely ridding a garden of slugs is almost impossible.
Experts, however, have discovered that the slug's evil reputation as an enemy of home gardeners may, in fact, be groundless to some degree. Although it is true that a slug can devour[ garden plants from the roots up in amazing quantities, it also produces nutrients for the soil, which help other plants grow. The diet of a slug consists of plant waste and mould, as well as living plants, making it a sort of natural recycling center. The unique structure of a slug digestive system enables it to take these discarded products, transform them into the nutrients that plants need, and then release those nutrients harmlessly as wastes.
To some, this situation is unacceptable. No gardener wants to sacrifice his or her plants just to gain a few nutrients that could easily be provided by fertilizers In order to achieve a balance, both slug and gardener may have to compromise some things. One ly easy step is to separate plants with high slug appeal from those with low appeal. That way, the sections of the garden spared for plants with high slug appeal can contain plants that the gardener is willing to sacrifice so as to protect those plants that have a lower slug appeal . Another possibility is to leave some ground-covering plants in a less tidy state, since slugs particularly enjoy semi-decayed plant matter. The slugs will then be drawn toward this decaying matter instead of toward the living plants.
These measures may seem slow and difficult but they are still preferable to commercial slug repellents for several reasons. The topsoil of a garden is often highly lacking in nutrients, due to chemical damage caused by just such products. The fertilizer industry sells millions of pounds of dirt mixed with the nutrients necessary for a healthy garden every year. Yet these are the very same minerals that a healthy slug population would provide at no cost. Moreover, since slugs find newly dead slugs highly appetizing. the slug population is unlikely to decrease significantly as a result of these severe measures.
|
According to the passage, the wise way to deal with slug problem is that we should _ ,
|
[
"It has played a leading role in the international online education.",
"More people will get into it because of the high fee of going to university.",
"It provides users with many lectures and resources from universities.",
"people have to pay for the materials downloaded from Harvard or Oxford."
] |
people have to pay for the materials downloaded from Harvard or Oxford.
|
"In the online world you don't need to fill buildings or lecture theatres with people and you don't need to be trapped into a lecture timetable," says Peter Scott, director of the Open University's Knowledge Media Institute.
The Open University, the UK's open access university, which allows people to study from home in their own time, has been an international pioneer of degree courses online.
The university, with more than 263,000 students in 23 countries, has become a record breaker on the iTunes U service, which provides a digital library of materials for university students and staff.Instead of music or movies, Apple's iTunes U provides a download service for lectures and resources from universities around the world.Top universities from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard in the US to Oxford and Cambridge in the UK have been making their materials available, with no charge to the users.
There have been 31 million downloads of OU materials, more than any other university, representing roughly 10% of all iTunes U downloads.Nearly 90% of these users are from outside the UK.In this online era, the OU student is also getting younger.A quarter of students are aged under-25 and only 10% are aged 50 or over.That change can only be accelerated as the cost of going to university increases in many countries.The prospect of learning from Harvard from your own bedroom is getting closer.
"We have a belief that a degree and an opportunity are rights for all citizens.And we have got to enable the population of students attending higher education to scale up.What I am most excited about is that the privilege of going for higher education is not something only for the wealthy or for the smartest or for the most well-equipped students in the future," an American educator says.Online education will be a way of opening up more choices and getting beyond the big brand names of the most exclusive universities.
At the Open University, Peter Scott says they are trying to develop services that give students exactly what they want, from face-to-face learning to the fully online experience."We can produce brilliant televisual material and get it to you on YouTube, on iTunes U or even on the web.
|
Which of the following statement about the Open University is NOT TRUE?
|
[
"Basketball.",
"Football.",
"Ping-pong ball.",
"Tennis."
] |
Basketball.
|
Lin Feng is a student of Class One, Grade Seven. He likes basketball very much. He often plays it after school. And he often goes home late. His home is not far from school. And his mother knows _ . So she doesn't worry about him.
One Saturday morning Lin Feng goes to a shop with his mother. The shop is very big. There are many things in it. It sells clothes, food and books. Then his mother says to him, "What do you want?" "I want a red blouse." says Lin Feng. "a red blouse?" asks his mother. "You can't wear a red blouse."
Lin Feng smiled, "OK, please get me basketball clothes."
|
What's Lin Feng's favorite sport?
|
[
"The development of Autom.",
"The automated way to motivation.",
"The working principle of robots.",
"The way to change the lifestyle habits."
] |
The automated way to motivation.
|
Ask anyone what is the most difficult part of changing their lifestyle habits and they are most likely to say, "Staying motivated." But a 36-year-old professor from Carnegie Mellon University claims it may have the answer in the form of robot weight loss coach that dishes out daily health advice and encouragement.
Autom is the work of Intuitive Automata, a company based in Sha Tin which claims to be a pioneer in commercial socially-interactive robots.
The robot, which stands around 38 centimeters tall, has a head that swivels , blue eyes, and a touch screen which allows the user to input information daily about exercise and diet Its creators say Autom will have a daily conversation with its user lasting up to five minutes, giving feedback and encouragement.Over time, it will interact more with the user as it gathers more information about them.
Cory Krdd, a research team manager with the Federal Emergency Management Agency claims research has shown that people find robots a more reliable source of information than on-screen-based character.
In a controlled study in Pittsburgh City Council, 15 dieters were given Autom for six weeks. Another 15 received a touch-screen computer with identical software and 15 were given a paper log.The study found, people using the robot are more likely to stick with their diets longer, in fact twice as long as those using just a paper log.
"While not one person among the computer or paper groups continued past six weeks, most who had Autom did not want to give her back at the conclusion of the study," he said.
The bottom line is that a robot creates a more powerful and long-lasting relationship with the user than a character on the screen.
Autom is expected to go on sale later this year in the United States for around $500.A robot which speaks and understands Cantonese and Mandarin in addition to English according to the demands is also being developed.
|
What's the passage mainly about?
|
[
"A shoe",
"An old bag",
"A fish",
"A small boat"
] |
A shoe
|
When I was five years old. I took a boat out on the river and went fishing by myself. I really wanted to catch a fish! But they were not biting.
I stayed in my boat for three days, waiting. A few times, I thought I felt a fish at the end of the line. The first time I pulled in my catch, it was not a fish; it was an old bag. The second time, it was a shoe. Finally, at the end of the third day, I felt a strong pull at the end of the line. The pull was so strong they my boat raced around and around. I needed all my power just to hold onto the fishing rod. I pulled, and I pulled and I caught the biggest fish that ever swam on the Earth! It was heavier than everyone in this room put together! Then something terrible happened!
After I pulled the huge fish into my boat, I saw that the boat was going under water! Water was coming into the boat from all sides! I was not a very good swimmer, so I was scared.
Although it was the hardest choice I ever made. I had to let the fish go. I pushed it back over the side of the boat, and we waved good-bye to each other as it swam away.
|
What did the writer get when he pulled in his catch the second time?
|
[
"cans",
"bottles",
"broken glass",
"old books"
] |
old books
|
Editor's note: do you care about the environment ? Have you ever wanted to help protect it ? Well read on, as this month we're going to hear from overseas teens about what they do to help the environment.
I can't remember when I started collecting litter . But it was when I got tired of seeing litter near my home and realized that no one else was going to pick it up.
I live close to a forest in Ohio, America. I can walk there in three minutes!
I used to love going there to play with my dog. But one day there was so much litter there that I became very unhappy. I decided I had to clean up the forest. I wanted to feel happy going there again.
I made my first trip to clean the forest that afternoon. I took a big black rubbish bag with me. Ten minutes after starting to pick up litter, my bag was full! It had cans, bottles, broken glass and newspapers in it.
Since that first trip three years ago. I've gone to the forest four times a year to pick up litter. I'm often there for three hours. It makes me feel great to do something for the environment.
After each trip, I look at all the litter I've found. If any of it is recyclable , I keep it.I can't understand why people drop litter. But I will keep picking it up until they stop dropping it.
I know I am only doing a small bit to help the earth, but I still think it is important.
|
What were not mentioned in this passage?
|
[
"63",
"over 66",
"62",
"less than 62"
] |
less than 62
|
Working Americans expect to retire at age 66, up from 63 in 2002, according to a recent Gallup poll .But most retirees don't stay on the job nearly that long.
The average retirement age among retirees is 62, Gallup found.And even retirement at age 62 is a recent development.The average retirement age has been around 60 for most of the past decade.
"Americans have two reasons for which they may project a later retirement year.One is financial, and they simply think they will need to work longer because there are fewer pensions, and now people may have a more psychologically positive view of work," says Frank Newport, editor-in-chief of Gallup poll.But a plan to work longer isn't the same as keeping a job into your mid- or late 60s.
Other surveys have similarly found a significant gap between the age workers expect to retire and when they actually leave their jobs.A 2014 Employee Benefit Research Institute survey found that 33 percent of workers expect to retire after age 65, but only 16 percent of retirees report staying on the job that long.Just 9 percent of workers say they are planning to retire before age 60, but 35 percent of retirees say they retired that early.The average retirement age in the survey was 62.
Many of these early retirements are unexpected and due to unforeseen circumstances.About half (49 percent) of retirees say they left the workforce earlier than planned, often as a result of a health problem or disability (61 percent) or to care for a family member (18 percent), EBRI found.Other retirees are forced out of their jobs due to changes at their company, such as a downsizing or closing (18 percent), changes in the skills required for their job (7 percent) or other work-related reasons (22 percent).
"The difference is between what you know you want to do and what factors outside your control ultimately require you to do," says Dallas Salisbury, president of EBRI.
|
In the past ten years, most working Americans retired at the age of .
|
[
"Bobak Ferdowsi got a Mohawk haircut to win great Internet fame.",
"Obama called on the government and companies to invest in science.",
"America's president seldom congratulates on scientific achievements.",
"Children showed special interest in the landing of Curiosity."
] |
Children showed special interest in the landing of Curiosity.
|
In today's congratulatory phone call to the team behind NASA's Mars Curiosity rover , President Barack Obama made sure that if the mission discovers Martians, he'll be one of the first to know.
"If in fact you do make contact with Martians, please let me know right away," Obama said during the call, "I've got a lot of things on my plate, but I expect that that will go to the top of the list. Even if they're just microbes , it will be pretty exciting."
Obama also said he was impressed by the attention that's been paid to flight director Bobak Ferdowsi, the "Mohawk Guy" whose star-spangled haircut and warmhearted behavior during Curiosity's Aug. 5 landing won him Internet fame.
"I, in the past, thought about getting a Mohawk myself," Obama joked. "But my team keeps on discouraging me. And now that he's received marriage proposals and thousands of new Twitter followers, I think I'm going to go back to my team and see if it makes sense."
The congratulatory phone call is a tradition for the White House. But it was clear that Obama particularly enjoyed congratulating the scientists and engineers behind the amazingly successful landing of NASA's newest Mars exploration.
He also said the achievement reflected the American spirit, and he gave his personal promise to protect these critical investments in science and technology.
"This is the kind of thing that inspires kids across the country," he said. "They're telling their moms and dads they want to be part of a Mars mission, maybe even the first person to walk on Mars. And that kind of inspiration is the byproduct of work of the sort that you guys have done."
The Curiosity rover's $2.5 billion mission focuses on studying billions of years' worth of geology on Mars and determining whether the planet was ever potentially suitable for people to live in. The mission is not specifically designed to explore life, even on the range of microbes, but it could point the way for future life-exploration experiments.
|
What can we learn from the passage ?
|
[
"The clone created will have one defect or another.",
"The clone created will be mistreated.",
"The clone created is unlikely to fulfill your expectations.",
"The clone created is ethically unacceptable."
] |
The clone created will be mistreated.
|
Some scientists have suggested that it might in some cases be ethically acceptable to clone existing people. One possibility is generating replacement for a dying . All such possibilities, however, raise the concern that the clone would be treated as less than a complete individual, because he or she would likely suffer from limitations and expectations based on the family's knowledge of the genetic "twin." Those expectations might be false, because human personality is only partly determined by genes. The clone of an extrovert could have a quite different way of behavior. Clones of athletes, movie stars, or scientists might well choose different careers because of chance events in early life.
Some people have also put forward the belief that couples in which one member is infertile might choose to make a copy of one or the other partner. But society ought to be concerned that a couple might not treat naturally a child who is a copy of just one of them. Because other methods are available for the treatment of all known types of infertility, the traditional choice seems more appropriate. None of the suggested uses of cloning for making copies of existing people is ethically acceptable to my way of thinking, because they are not in the interests of the resulting child. It should go without saying that I am strongly opposed to allowing cloned human embryos to develop so that they can be tissue donors.
In spite of this, it seems clear that cloning from cultured cells will offer important medical opportunities. Predictions about new technologies are often wrong: societal attitudes change; unexpected developments occur. Time will tell. But biomedical researchers looking into the potential of cloning now have plenty to do.
|
What is the author's concern about cloning an existing person?
|
[
"tell us Lang Lang's father is great",
"let us know Lang Lang is successful",
"tell us Lang Lang has won many competitions",
"encourage us to study hard to realise our dreams just like Lang Lang"
] |
encourage us to study hard to realise our dreams just like Lang Lang
|
Lang Lang,one of the best-known Chinese pianists in the world,was born in 1982 in Shenyang.He began to take piano lessons at the age of three.At the age of five he won the Shenyang Piano Competition and played his first public recital.Four years later,he got the chance to study at the Central Music Conservatory in Beijing.
What made him sad was that his piano teacher in Beijing didn't like him."You have no talent.You will never be a pianist,"said the teacher.Lang Lang was badly hurt.He decided that he didn't want to be a pianist any more.For the next two weeks he didn't touch the piano.Wisely,his father didn't push,but waited.
Luckily,the day came when his teacher asked him to play some holiday songs.He didn't want to,but as he placed his fingers on the piano keys,he realised that he could show others that he had talent after all.From that point on,everything turned around.Lang Lang's father even quit his job and followed Lang Lang everywhere he went,not only as a father,but also as a manager,tutor and friend.
He started winning competitions.In the 1994 International Young Pianists Competition,Lang Lang impressed the audience with his splendid piano skills.In 1997 Lang Lang went to Philadelphia,US,where he spent two years practising.During his study there he made rapid progress and became a top professional pianist.After his successful performance at Chicago's Ravinia Festival,gigs in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall he started pouring in.Lang Lang finally worked to reach the place where fortune spotted him and let him shine.
|
The passage wants to .
|
[
"A Magical Lottery",
"A Thief's Lucky Day",
"A Stubborn Professor",
"A Reward of Honesty"
] |
A Thief's Lucky Day
|
Strange it may sound, this is a true story about a lesson of honesty happening between a lucky thief and a worthy professor.
Once a thief won a lottery ticket but left it at his crime scene when he stole a suitcase from a professor. To his great surprise, his victim, who picked up the ticket and took the prize money of PS25 000, managed to get in touch with him in order to return him the case. The robbery took place when John Smith, a math professor was changing a tyre on the motorway. The thief happened to pass by. He appeared to be a warm-hearted guy and stopped "to help". When the professor found his suitcase in the car missing, the thief had driven off as fast as he could. The professor picked up the dropped ticket on the floor and put it in his pocket before driving home.
John Smith didn't realize it was a winner until he knew the lottery results on TV. He got the prize money and _ . At last,he decided not to keep the money although he just had been robbed of his suitcase by the owner of the ticket. He set out to advertise in newspapers and on radio for finding the owner, " Don't be surprised that I'm trying to find the man who robbed me in order to returned him the PS25 000--a lottery win. Please meet me without telling me your real name if you don't want to. ".
Later John received tens of hundreds of calls from people around the country trying to trick him into handing them the cash. But he didn't arrange to meet the right person in the park until he recognized the voice. The robber, was moved into tears when he returned the suitcase. "Why didn't you keep the money?"he asked, not believing what was happening. The honest professor replied simply, "Because it's not mine." With these words, he walked off, _ the thief's offer of a reward.
|
Which of the following can be used as the best title for the passage?
|
[
"his parents had little money to support him",
"his teacher didn't think he could graduate",
"he didn't work hard on his study",
"he didn't dare to face the obstacles for short of confidence"
] |
his parents had little money to support him
|
Bob was born in Cambridge. When he was in elementary school, he asked his mother to take him to parks in their community so he could collect empty soda cans to recycle. His mother agreed, as long as he saved part of the money he earned for college.
Bob's mother remembers Bob as the most determined of her seven kids. Bob's persistence paid off. On Friday, he will become the first person in his family, originally from El Salvador, to graduate from college. And he's graduating with university honors.
For his honors thesis he researched unmanned solar-powered airplanes, which BYU students have been building and testing for about 10 years. Bob's study helps discover the best way to fly a solar-powered airplane so that it uses the least amount of power. The goal is to design and build an airplane that flies indefinitely. Bob's thesis helps lay the foundation for this work.
"My parents were always diligent," Bob said. "They often tell us hard work leads to success. " Bob's father taught him to read at the age of 3, and his mother is currently a student at Utah Valley University in a way to becoming a dentist.
Bob acknowledges he overcame some obstacles to get where he is. For starters, English is his second language. He also faced stereotypes . Although Bob never doubted that he would be a college graduate, other people assumed he wouldn't because he didn't come from a family of high income. There were other obstacles as well, but Bob viewed them all as opportunities.
Bob's mother says she feels very happy and proud that her son is about to graduate with honors, and remembers the sacrifices he's made to get there. "He has worked very hard. He started something, and now he has finished it," Cathy says. "I have always told him, 'If this is your dream, then you can get it! Keep working hard and you can get it!'"
|
People thought Bob couldn't graduate from college because _ .
|
[
"Because they can gain greathappiness.",
"Because it is easier for the children to throw themselves in the role",
"Because they tend to have wild imagination",
"Because when they see the magic in the tales in the beginning, they can face the future"
] |
Because when they see the magic in the tales in the beginning, they can face the future
|
''If you can see the magic in a fairytale), you can face the future"-- Danielle Steel
Who have not read fairytales? We all have had the experience of taking great delight in the beauty and innocence of fairytales.May it be Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty...Fairytale is a word which cannot be new to us. But haveyou ever travelled ages back to the earliest of times and uncovered the fascinating facts about these stories?
The history of the fairytale is particularly difficult to track.The oral tradition of the fairytale came long before the written page.The oldest known fairytales date back to ancient Egypt around 1300B.C.and now, after travelling through various periods of time, they have grown and matured in various aspects and have become the most popular forms of stories for young children
The characters and themes of fairytales are simple and similar:Princesses and goose girls, youngest sons and brave princes, wicked, stepmothers, fairy godmothers, talking animals, glass mountains, witches, castles and the like. The tale goes into an unreal world and in this never-never land our heroes kill the enemy, succeed to kingdoms and marry the ever beautiful princesses. W. H Auden said, "The way to read a fairytale is to throw yourself in." It is very true indeed or you will not be able to feel the _ of reading a fairytale. So whenever you read a fairytale, imagine you arethe hero/heroine and you will be carried to a mysterious land where everything will be as you want.
Every child believes in fairies , dragons, etc. Yet, as we grow up we fail to believe in these fantasy-based characters.Fairytales are told to children when they are young. This is very essential indeed, for if in the beginning of our lives, our minds are touched by the beauty, innocence and the morals in these tales, we will be able to obtain the optimistic side of happenings.In life, sometimes, believing in such mystics can lead to greathappiness.
Well, I don't know about you, but I do believe in fairies...and who knows I may someday meet one because, after all, believing is just the beginning! And as J.M. Barries said, " _ ." And I wouldn't want anyone dead on my account, would you?
|
Why is it important to tell the fairytales to the children when young?
|
[
"The crow.",
"The fox and his friends.",
"The baby crows.",
"The old fox."
] |
The old fox.
|
A crow is sitting in a big tree. She has a big piece of meat in her mouth, "My babies will have a nice breakfast," she thinks. An old fox is looking for his breakfast. He sees the crow and the meat, " How can I get that piece of meat? " he thinks.
"Good morning, Mrs. Crow," says the fox. " How are you? "
But the crow doesn't say a word.
"You have very nice babies, Mrs. Crow," says the fox. " How are they? May I see them? "
Still the crow doesn't say a word.
"You are very beautiful, Mrs. Crow. And you have a beautiful voice, too," says the fox. " Would you like to sing a song for me? "
Mrs. Crow thinks, "How nice Mr. Fox is! I must sing a song for him. " So she opens her mouth, at that time, Mrs. Crow drops the meat into the fox's mouth.
|
Who has a nice breakfast?
|
[
"Li Jing is a student from China Youth University for Electronic Sciences.",
"Most college students earn more pocket money by taking up parttime jobs.",
"It's not a good idea to ask five roommates to buy one oven together.",
"You should think twice before buying something from online stores."
] |
You should think twice before buying something from online stores.
|
With limited pocket money in hand,many Chinese college students are increasingly opting to live life "low cost".One way to save money is teambuying.Online teambuying offers huge discounts and becomes popular on campus.
Li Jing,a student at China Youth University for Political Sciences,for example,says she often buys movie tickets on teambuying websites.But while they offer a good opportunity to save money,Li said she would "think twice before buying them from online stores".Because many of them are "a bit chaotic ",and have fake goods mixed among them.Then why don't the students just earn more pocket money by taking up parttime jobs?Guo Na,a teacher at the Communication University of China,said most college students were unlikely to choose workstudy programs to earn pocket money because of their intensive study schedules.
A kind of card called "VELO" has become another ideal choice for many money savers.It provides allround discounts while dining out or shopping in general.Cao Zuyang,a student at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China,often searches for sales online and buys things together with friends to cut down on costs.Cao once wanted to buy an electromagnetic oven ,which was on sale at a shopping website.He then asked five dormitory roommates to pitch in for the oven.Each student only paid 25 yuan.
Most students find it difficult to deal with the expense of accommodation while traveling.So they choose to travel to cities where they have friends and live in their dorms.For instance,Ge Rui,a student at the Hebei University of Technology,has been to many cities where he has friends."Friends can act as free guides,offer me free accommodation,give me valuable tour information,and broaden my mind at the same time," he said.He also had friends from other cities coming over and living with him when they visited his city.
|
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
|
[
"The students",
"The mother",
"The writer",
"The teacher"
] |
The teacher
|
I can still remember my first day at school. I was only 6 years old at that time. It was a very big room. I sat at the desk near the window, but I couldn't see anything because the windows were too high. There was a big map of the world on the wall. But I don't think I was worried or unhappy at that time. There was another little boy next to me. He sat there and kept quiet at first. Then he began to cry, because he didn't want to stay there.
More and more students came in , but the boy didn't stop crying " Mom, I want to go home. " He cried again and again. Later , the teacher came in . She went to the little boy, and said something to him. I couldn't hear what she said. Soon the boy stopped crying and began to smile.
To this day, I still don't know what the teacher said to the little boy.
|
Who made the little boy stop crying ?
|
[
"provide students with greater control over the media",
"help the students to be familiar with educational programs",
"help the students to deal with most of the environment issues",
"link cultural information to recognizable plants"
] |
help the students to be familiar with educational programs
|
Evening Workshops
Optional evening workshops will be held at small restaurants or other meeting places near the conference hotel. Meals and other costs are not included but are also optional. Locations will be announced at the conference site. Workshops are very loosely organized and most represent discussions that have been held at Society for Economic Botany (SEB) meetings over a series of years.
Workshop 1: Student Network
Date: Wednesday evening, Feb. 5th
Chairs: Hugo de Boer and Arika Virapongse
Sponsor: Society for Economic Botany
Description: Student members of the SEB hold a networking mixer each year in order to meet each other and to become familiar with a variety of educational programs and faculty advisors . Faculty members who are part of training programs are encouraged to join the mixer to meet and talk with students.
Workshop 2: Botanical Film Making
Date: Wednesday evening, Feb. 5th
Chair: David Strauch
Sponsor: University of Hawaii
Description: Digital film making is a particularly useful tool of linking cultural information to recognizable plants. This workshop is aimed towards increasing the quality of material recorded by giving participants greater control over the medium. We will cover technical aspects (e.g. camera settings, audio), technical aspects (framing, lighting, focus), and some ways of presenting the material. Experienced filmmakers are encouraged to attend, and participants are welcome to bring their own camera equipment.
Workshop 3: Collections for Botany-- Collections Development and Management
Date: Friday evening, Feb. 7th
Chair: Jan Salick
Sponsor: Society for Economic Botany
Description: SEB is a network of researchers who have been developing standards for the development of collections of artifacts, plant samples and related materials. Participants discuss successes, problems, and funding sources for solving management issues.
|
One of the purposes of a networking mixer held each year is to _ .
|
[
"get more chances of making friends",
"lay a better foundation for your future jobs",
"transform yourself into a clone.",
"make you feel like a fake."
] |
get more chances of making friends
|
The trouble with school is that you can't choose the people you get to see every day. If you're unlucky enough to be stuck with classmates who don't really "get" you, you've just got to try to make the best of it.
But that doesn't mean you need to "fit in", or at least in the way that people think. If you try to transform yourself into a clone of everyone else, it won't help you make friends. It'll just make you feel like a fake.
You also shouldn't shut down or refuse to be friends with everyone who doesn't like you. If you do that, you'll just make yourself miserable. Instead, you've got to work on being comfortable and confident with whom you are while ignoring all the haters. Keep on speaking up, asking questions and getting to know people better. If you send out positive energy, then people will generally send some back to you. A couple of them will stay the same, and you're allowed to forget about them.
If you feel like you're doing all that but still not getting anywhere, then don't give up. Just expand your circle. Get a part-time job at a cool-looking place, join an after-school art class or youth group--do whatever it takes to find a couple of like-minded people to connect with. Even if you don't find anyone right away, you'll still be getting some more social experiences under your belt, and that's always a good thing.
A fun book called Uncool, by Erin Elisabeth Conley, has some tips for folks like you who want to stay positive at school while being true to your personality:
*Throw caution to the wind.
*Don't tolerate others' mistakes.
*Have patience with people who are different from you.
*Don't change just because someone else thinks you should.
*Know that even though you may be a misfit, there's always some place where you will be welcomed in the world.
|
The author agrees that you should take part in more activities in order to _ .
|
[
"$16.26",
"$34.59",
"$50.58",
"$75"
] |
$34.59
|
A. You and Me, Baby
Reading level: Baby - Grade 1
Hardcover: 40 pages
Language: English
List Price: $15.95
Price: $12.44 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
You Save: $3.51 (22%)
Availability: In Stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon. com. Gift - wrap available.
Only 4 left in stock-order soon(more on the way). Want it delivered Thursday, September 27.
B. Ruff! Ruff! Where's Scruff?
Reading level: Baby - Preschool
Hardcover: 16 pages
Language: English
Price: $11.16 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
Availability: In Stock. Sold by Amazon. com. Gift - wrap available.
Want it delivered Thursday, September 2.
Book Description: It's bath time for Scruff. But does anyone know where he's hiding? Have the cows seen him? Moo - no !How about the pigs? Oink - no ! Looking for that dog is just too tough! But not for toddlers. If they look carefully, they'll find Scruff hiding on every pop - up page !
C. The Giving Tree
Reading level: Ages 4 - 8
Hardcover: 64 pages
Language: English
Price: $11.55
Availability: Sold all year round and choose One - Day Shipping at checkout.
Book Description: Once there was a tree... and she loved a little boy. Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her think... and the tree was happy.
D. Where the Wild Things Are
Reading level: Ages 6 - 10
Hardcover comic: 62 pages
Language: English
List Price: $16.95
Price: $11.53 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $ 25.
You Save: $5.42(32%)
Availability: In Stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon. com. Gift - wrap available. Want it delivered Thursday, September 12. Order it at once, and choose One - Day Shipping at checkout.
|
How much will you pay if you order three books named "Where the Wild Things Are?"
|
[
"TV.",
"Computer.",
"Mobile phones.",
"Tradition."
] |
Tradition.
|
India is a developing country. It has thousands of years of tradition and culture. Different types of people live in India. In the old days the educational institutions were called "ashramam" and teachers were "gurus". A guru was a respected person in society.
Now we are living in the technological world. Big changes are occurring in people's living. The influence of television, telephone, radio, computer, Internet and mobile phones is very strong in everyday life. But even today, teachers are role models for students. Teaching is still a respectable job. But there are great changes in the education system.
One of the most obvious changes is that the influence of Western culture has increased. We are paying too much attention to doing business, just like the Western world. Teachers are likely to to be influenced by this too, but it is not good. Teachers are nation builders. The development of any country depends upon its education system. All types of development are possible through education.
Another change has happened in the curriculum . The curriculum connects the teacher and the student. While education is about learning, curriculum means the situations in which one learns. When we say that education deals with "what", then curriculum deals with "how" and "when". But at the moment, it is hard to say whether the curriculum is playing such a role.
|
Which of the following is NOT a reason to change people's lives in India?
|
[
"learn more about themselves",
"express themselves in art",
"show their thoughts to others",
"dream big and go for it"
] |
express themselves in art
|
My name is Amanda LaMunyon. I have Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism . I don't see myself as a person with a disability. I share who I am when I paint, sing and write.
I started writing poetry because I wanted to tell people what it was like to have Asperger's syndrome. I don't know how my life would be different without Asperger's, but I know I look at the world differently than most people. I'm also learning that you don't have to be like everybody else. You just have to be confident in who you are.
I discovered I could paint when I was 7. My math teacher Mrs. Brock loved one of my paintings so much that she hung it on the wall in her bedroom. I was so encouraged by her and since then my life has changed greatly.
Soon after, people asked me to show my art for charity events. I began to donate prints of my work for charity auctions . I was glad that I really made a difference. I learned that when you give, you receive happiness.
I think it is very important for teens to express themselves. It's a way to know yourself more clearly. You can turn your thoughts and feelings into a piece of artwork or a poem.
For example, when you paint, colors can help you express different emotions. When you write a poem, you have to get really honest with yourself and not be afraid to write down what you feel.
Creativity makes you unique and sets you apart from others. Creative ideas also help you make your dreams come true. They help you look at things in a new way.
I hope my story helps people to believe they can overcome their challenges and achieve their dreams. I like to encourage others. I know what encouragement has meant to me.
|
The author advises teens to _ .
|
[
"sad",
"puzzled",
"excited",
"happy"
] |
sad
|
A father was sitting at his desk and looking at his bills when his little son rushed in and said, "Dad, because today is your birthday and you're 40 years old, I'm going to give you 40 kisses, one for each year!" When the boy started kissing, the father shouted, "Oh, Andrew, don't do it now. I'm too busy!"
The boy soon became silent as tears fell down from his big blue eyes. Feeling sorry, the father said, "You can finish the kisses later ."
The boy said nothing but quietly walked away. That evening the father said, "Come and finish the kisses now, Andrew!" But the boy didn't.
Unluckily, a few days later, the boy had an accident and died. His sad father wrote,"If only I could tell him how sorry I am for my thoughtless words and how much my heart is hurt."
Love is a two-way street. We must warmly accept any loving acts, or others will take it as a "No" and it may leave a scar . If we don't have love, our life will lose its true meaning.
If we are too busy to give and receive love, we are too silly! Nothing is more important than loving the people who are important to us.
|
The boy felt _ when his father refused him.
|
[
"make it heated",
"warm his cold hands",
"avoid paying the restaurant owner",
"make it smell and taste a little better"
] |
make it smell and taste a little better
|
One day, a poor man, who had only one piece of bread to eat, was walking past a restaurant. There was a large pot of soup on the table. The poor man held his bread over the soup, so the steam from the soup went into the bread, and gave it a good smell. Then he ate the bread.
The restaurant owner was very angry at this, and he asked the man for money, in exchange for the steam from the soup. The poor man had no money, so the restaurant owner took him to Nasreddin, who was a judge at that time. Nasreddin thought about the case for a little while.
Then he took some money from his pocket. He held the coins next to the restaurant owner's ear, and shook them, so that they made a dingling noise.
"What was that?" asked the restaurant owner.
"That was payment for you," answered Nasreddin.
"What do you mean? That was just the sound of coins!" protested the restaurant owner.
"The sound of the coin is payment for the smell of the soup," answered Nasreddin. "Now go back to your restaurant."
|
The poor man held his bread over the soup to _ .
|
[
"Taking exercise",
"Singing",
"Sleeping",
"Making friends"
] |
Taking exercise
|
Sports can help us a lot. Taking exercise can make us strong. In collectivesports like basketball,volleyball or football,wewill learn the importance of cooperation. And sports can also help us relax after work or study.
However,as the saying goes,"There are two sides of everything. "Sometimes we may hurt other players or ourselves if we are not careful enough when participatingin sports activities. What's more,too much or hard practice can be bad for our health.
Sports can make us healthy both physically and psychologically. It is also a good way for people to know each other and can improve friendship between people. So long as we are careful enough,sports can do us nothing but good.
|
_ can make us strong.
|
[
"Because it was her friend's picture.",
"Because she wanted to find its owner.",
"Because she herself was in the picture.",
"Because it brought back good memories."
] |
Because she wanted to find its owner.
|
On the site of the 9/11 tragedy, Irish university professor Elizabeth Stinger Keefe found an image of hope-- a wedding photo of a happy couple and their friends lay among the rubble of the Twin Towers. As a gesture of goodwill, she decided to try and reunite the picture with either its owner or a .
Every year, on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks, she would make an attempt, posting the picture on social media and asking others to share it. Finally, after a remarkable 13 years, her work paid off. Thanks to the power of social media, her appeal was more widely shared than ever before.
A man named Fred Mahe called Ms Keefe after the image went viral -- to tell her that he was in fact in the picture and that all six people photographed were alive and well. He said that the image belonged to him and had been lost in the rubble after 9/11.The photo was originally taken at a friend's wedding in Colorado, earlier in 2001. Mahe said, "The picture was at my desk in the world Trade Center, Tower Two, on the 77th floor. I never thought it could have been kept safe by Keefe for the last 13 years."
Mahe said that he was in touch with Keefe over the phone and described the conversation as "dedication and persistence" to continue to seek the owner of the photo. "She kept my photo safe for 13 years in her favorite Ernest Hemingway book, A Moveable Feast." Mahe said he wasn't yet at work as the attacks began on 9/11, and, "thankfully never got a chance to go up to my office."
And Mahe's wife has even invited Keefe to Thanksgiving dinner. Now the pair have reconnected with a piece of their past as Keefe has finally returned the picture to its rightful owner and has made a new friend in the process.
|
Why did Keefe want to keep the picture she found?
|
[
"four",
"five",
"six",
"seven"
] |
six
|
Here are some ideas for learning English well.
You are like a new baby.
Babies learn their language slowly, First they learn to listen .Then they learn to talk .Finally , they can read and talk.
Listen to English every day
Listen to English radio , watch English TV, go to see English movies or use online lessons.
Practise the conversations
Make up conversations and practise the conversations .You'd better use beginner textbooks.
Reading English stories
Start with children's storybooks .Try to read stories for ESL readers , Read ads and so on ,Try English Club.com for young learners.
Write down new words
Start a new word notebook.Write words in _ (A...B...C)Make some sentences.Try to use an English-English dictionary.
Keep an English diary
Start with one sentence.Like how do you feel? What did you do today?Write another sentence tomorrow.
|
The writer gave us _ ideas for learning English faster.
|
[
"became out of control at first",
"destroyed the park completely",
"was allowed to burn continuously",
"brought the natural burn policy to an end"
] |
brought the natural burn policy to an end
|
Starting in l972,the National Park Service established a policy for forest fires calle Natural Burn.It was acknowledged that some forest fires,such as those caused by lightning were necessary for forests to maintain balanced ecosystems,so the fire should be allowed to burn.However, a big fire in Yellowstone National Park in l988 caused this policy to be abandoned since the fire was initially allowed to burn yet soon out of control.As a result,the fire of l988 destroyed much of Yellowstone,which is America's oldest and most beloved national park.Massive areas of plants were destroyed,and large empty spaces and acres of burned and blackened trees greeted visitors.The rivers and streams were choked with ash,and the ecosystem of the park was changed beyond repair.
In addition,great numbers of animals were killed by the fires that bumed out of control. The fires were driven by high winds,moving as many as ten miles a day.Many small animals died in the flames.The fires' rapid advances gave the wildlife little chance to escape. Even today,few of these small forest animals have returned to live in the park. In the years immediately following the fires,the numbers of visitors declined rapidly.No one was interested in seeing a blackened and treeless park on vacation.Yellowstone had previously been famous for its amazing views and unique geological formations such as the geyser Old Faithful. But now its reputation as America's wonder is damaged permanently.
|
The big fire in Yellowstone in 1988 _ .
|
[
"keeping people in a healthy physical condition",
"monitoring patients' body functions",
"removing people's bad living habits",
"ensuring people's psychological well-being"
] |
removing people's bad living habits
|
As we have seen, the focus of medical care in our society has been shifting from curing disease to preventing disease--especially in terms of changing our many unhealthy behaviors, such as poor eating habits, smoking, and failure to exercise. The line of thought involved in this shift can be pursued further. Imagine a person who is about the right weight, but does not eat very nutritious foods, who feels OK but exercises only occasionally, who goes to work every day, but is not an outstanding worker, who drinks a few beers at home most nights but does not drive while drunk, and who has no chest pains or abnormal blood counts, but sleeps a lot and often feels tired. This person is not ill. He may not even be at risk for any particular disease. But we can imagine that this person could be a lot healthier.
The field of medicine has not traditionally distinguished between someone who is merely "not ill" and someone who is in excellent health and pays attention to the body's special needs. Both types have simply been called "well". In recent years, however, some health specialists have begun to apply the terms "well" and "wellness" only to those who are actively striving to maintain and improve their health. People who are well are concerned with nutrition and exercise, and they make a point of monitoring their body's condition. Most important, perhaps, people who are well take active responsibility for all matters related to their health. Even people who have a physical disease or handicap may be "well" in this new sense, if they make an effort to maintain the best possible health they can in the face of their physical limitations. "Wellness" may perhaps best be viewed not as a state that people can achieve, but as an ideal that people can strive for. People who are well are likely to be better able to resist disease and to fight disease when it strikes. And by focusing attention on healthy ways of living, the concept of wellness can have a beneficial impact on the ways in which people face the challenges of daily life.
|
Today medical care is placing more stress on _ .
|
[
"At five o'clock.",
"At about six.",
"At about eight.",
"We don't know."
] |
At about six.
|
Hello! My name is Jane. I usually get up at seven o'clock and then have a cup of coffee and some bread for breakfast. After breakfast, I take a shower and then I go to work by bus. I get to work at nine o'clock. I work till one o'clock and then I have my lunch. I start again at two o'clock and finish at five o'clock. I do some shopping before I go home. I get home at about a quarter to six. I have supper at about seven o'clock. After super, I sometimes go out for a walk, but I usually just stay at home and watch TV. I go to bed before eleven o'clock.
|
What time does Jane get home?
|
[
"3.",
"4.",
"6.",
"7."
] |
4.
|
Mr Robin had his house in a tree.
His four baby robins lived in it. They grew very fast. Soon the house was too little for them.
"It is time for you to fly," said Mr Robin.
"Oh, we can not fly," said the baby robins.
"You can, if you try, " said Mr Robin.
A robin tried. He flew into a tree.
"Oh, how interesting!" said the little robin. "I like to fly. See me go!"
Then the other robins tried.
In a little while they could all fly.
The robins could fly, but they could not sing.
"No, Dad, we can not sing."
"You can, if you try. Hear the other birds sing. Look at the pretty flowers and the blue sky. Then you will want to sing. Hear me sing to you. Now sing for me."
One little robin sang.
Then they all sang.
A little girl came by. "Wow, hear the birds sing!" she said. "How happy they are!"
|
How many baby robins lived in the house?
|
[
"Bill received a gold medal from Finland.",
"Bill's son helped make his dream come true.",
"Bill earned the respect of all the American people.",
"Bill took part in the Olympic Games and won."
] |
Bill's son helped make his dream come true.
|
At the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, the sport of canoe racing was added to the list of international competitions. The favorite team in the four-man canoe race was the Unites States team. One member of that team was Bill Havens.
As the time for the Olympics neared, it became clear that Bill's wife would give birth to their first child about the time that the US team would be competing in the Paris games. In 1924, there were no jet airliners from Paris to the Unites States, only slow ocean-going ships. Bill found himself in a _ . Should he go to Paris and risk not being at his wife's side when their baby was born? Or should he stay with his family?
Bill's wife insisted that he go to Paris. But after much soul searching, Bill decided to stay at home, where he could support his wife when the child arrived. As it turned out , the Unites States four-man canoe team won the gold medal in Paris. And Bill's wife was late in giving birth to their child. In fact, Bill could have competed in the event and returned home in time to be with her when she gave birth. People said ," what a shame!"
The child finally born to Bill and his wife was a boy, whom they named Frank. Twenty-eight years later, in 1952, Bill received a telegram from Frank. It was sent from Helsinki, Finland, where the 1952 Olympics were being held. The telegram read, "Dad, I won. I am bringing home the gold medal you lost while waiting for me to be born." Frank had just won the gold medal for the Unites States in a rowing event, a medal his father had dreamed of winning but never did. When people asked Bill about his decision he made twenty-eight years ago, he said he would make the same choice if he was in such a situation again.
|
What happened twenty-eight years later after the baby's birth?
|
[
"Cats do not easily follow your directions while dogs are more loyal.",
"Parents had better leave their teenagers alone and don't care about them.",
"Parents should consider what they do wrong to educate their children.",
"You can't expect Children to be considerate toward their parents."
] |
Cats do not easily follow your directions while dogs are more loyal.
|
While children are dogs---loyal and affectionate --teenagers are cats. It's so easy to be a dog owner. You feed it, train it, and boss it around. It puts its head on your knee and gazes at you as if you were a Rembrandt painting. It bounds indoors with enthusiasm when you call it.
Then around age 13, your adoring little puppy turns into a big old cat. When you tell it to come inside, it looks amazed, as if wondering who died and made you emperor. Instead of dogging your doorsteps, it disappears. You won't see it again until it gets hungry--then it pauses on its sprint through the kitchen long enough to turn its nose up at whatever you're serving. when you reach out to ruffle its head, in that old affectionate gesture, it twists away from you, then gives you a blank stare, as if trying to remember where it has seen you before.
You, not realizing that the dog is now a cat, think something must be desperately wrong with it. It seems so antisocial, so distant, sort of depressed. It won't go on family outings.
Since you are the one who raised it, taught it to fetch and stay and sit on command, you assume that you did something wrong. Flooded with guilt and fear, you redouble your efforts to make your pet behave.
Only now you're dealing with a cat, so everything that worked before now produces the opposite of the desired result. Call it, and it runs away. Tell it to sit, and it jumps on the counter. The more you go toward it, wringing your hands, the more it moves away.
Put a dish of food near the door, and let it come to you. But remember that a cat needs your help and your affection too. Sit still, and it will come, seeking that warm, comforting lap it has not entirely forgotten. Be there to open the door for it.
One day your grown-up child will walk into the kitchen, give you a big kiss and say, "You've been on your feet all day. Let me get those dishes for you. "
Then you'll realize your cat is a dog again.
|
What can we learn from the passage?
|
[
"new words in writing",
"different dictionaries",
"the best way of reading",
"using an English-Chinese dictionary"
] |
using an English-Chinese dictionary
|
When you are reading something in English, you may often meet with a new word. What's the best way to know it?
You may look it up in the English-Chinese dictionary. It will tell you a lot about the word: the pronunciation, the Chinese meaning and how to use the word. But how can you know where the word is thousands of English words? How to find it in the dictionary both quickly and correctly?
First, all the English words are arranged in the letter order. In the dictionary you can first see the words beginning with letter A, then B, C, D.... That means, if there are two words "desert" and "pull", "desert" will be certainly before "pull". Then if there are two words both beginning with the same letter, you may look at the second letter. Then the third, the fourth... For example, "pardon" is before "plough", "judge" before "just", etc.
Do you understand how to look up in the dictionary?
The dictionary will be your good friend. I hope you'll use it as often as possible in your English study.
|
This passage is about _ .
|
[
"book",
"website",
"newspaper",
"announcement"
] |
website
|
The Museum: The Charles Dickens Museum in London is the world's most important collection of material relating to the great Victorian novelist and social commentator.The only surviving London home of Dickens (from 1837 until 1839) was opened as a museum in 1925 and is still welcoming visitors from all over the world.On four floors, visitors can see paintings, rare editions, manuscripts, original furniture and many items relating to the life of one of the most popular and beloved personalities of the Victorian age.
Opening Hours
* The Museum is open from Mondays to Saturdays 10:00-17:00; Sundays 11:00-17:00.
* Last admission is 30 minutes before closing time.
*Special opening times can be arranged for groups, who may wish to book a private view.
Admission Charges: Adults: PS5.00; Students: PS4:00; Seniors: PS4.00; Children: PS3.00; Families:PS14.00( 2 adults & up to five children)
Group Rates: For a group of 10 or more, a special group rate of PS4.00 each applies.
Children will still be admitted for PS3.00 each,
Access: We are constantly working to improve access to the Museum and its collection.Our current projects involve the fitting of a wheelchair ramp for better access, a customer care kit and an audio tour for visitors with impaired vision.Our Handling Sessions are also suitable for the visually impaired.The Museum has developed an online virtual tour through the Museum.Click here to visit all the rooms in the Museum online.
Hire the Museum: The Museum can be hired for private functions, performances soirees and many other social occasions.
Find Us: The Museum may be reached by using the following buses: 7, 17, 19, 38, 45,46, 55, 243.And by these underground services: Piccadilly Line; Central Line.For a map, please click here.The British Museum and the Foundling Museum are within walking distance.
|
The passage is probably from a(n) _ .
|
[
"Ducks with one eye open at the edge can still enjoy a certain degree of sleep.",
"Ducks with less sense of duty usually choose to stay in the center of a row.",
"Ducks on the northern end of a row would keep their eye facing the south open.",
"A video tape recorder was the only electronic device used in the experiment."
] |
Ducks with one eye open at the edge can still enjoy a certain degree of sleep.
|
How would you like to sleep with one half your brain asleep and the other half awake? Dolphins sleep this way. Recently, scientists at Indiana State University have discovered that ducks sleep this way too. They found that ducks sleep half awake so they can rest and watch for danger at the same time.
After putting their ducks in a row and videotaping them, some researchers found ducks on the end of each row spent more time asleep with one eye open, apparently looking for _
"The more the ducks felt threatened, the more they slept with one eye open," said lead author Niels C. Rattenborg, a graduate student at Indiana State University, Terre Haute. "The unique aspect is not that they do it, but that they control it. When they sleep at the edge of a group, they tend to realize greater danger, so they spend more time sleeping with one half of their brain." Ducks with one eye open were still awake enough to detect predators, said the authors of the study, which appears today in the journal Nature.
The researchers studied four groups of four ducks held in plastic boxes, which were arranged in a row. Ducks on the end were found to sleep with one eye open 31.8 per cent of the time, compared to 12.4 percent of the time for ducks in the central position.
Also, ducks in the central position did not open one eye more than the others, while ducks on each end kept the eye facing away from the group open 86.2 per cent of the time. Brain wave readings of the ducks showed that the half of the brain receiving signals from the closed eye indicated that half of the brain was sleeping. Signals from the half of the brain receiving signals from the open eye showed a state between fully awake and asleep.
|
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
|
[
"The length of the list.",
"The type of list items.",
"The time difference of relearning.",
"The time difference of brain working."
] |
The time difference of relearning.
|
Memory is the ability to keep track of things that have happened in the past. Memory really is learning. One needs memory to ride a bicycle. A dog needs to remember if it is to come when called.
Memory is said to be stored in the brain as a "memory trace ." What makes up this trace is not known. Some scientists believe that certain chemical substances may carry certain memories. For example, one substance, when given to rats, causes them to fear the dark.
Other research into memory has to do with how the brain works. Psychologists use three means to find out how a person remembers. For example, give a person a grocery list. Let the person memorize the list, then put it away. The most natural way to find out how much a person remembers of the grocery list is to ask what he or she remembers. This is called the method of recall. Another method is called recognition. Give the person another grocery list. Ask him or her to choose items on the first list from the items that are on only the second list. Often a person will be able to recognize things that he or she cannot recall. A third method of finding how much a person remembers is called relearning. Here the person is asked to read over the first list. The person will probably learn the list the second time faster than he did the first time. The difference in the time it takes to relearn the list is thought of as a measure of how much a person has remembered.
One way of remembering something is to repeat it many times. Interest is very important. Boring lists of facts are much more difficult to remember than something that we understand and are interested in. Motivation, or wanting to do something, is also important. Motivation is linked with reward. For example, a hungry animal quickly learns how to do something if that action gets the animal food. In humans, wanting to learn is often motivation. The praise of a teacher or the knowledge that an answer is correct is rewarding.
|
What is considered as a measure of how much one has remembered?
|
[
"The host family may not have a telephone.",
"Some people may not pay for their calls.",
"Some people talk for a few minutes.",
"The call fees may be very expensive."
] |
Some people may not pay for their calls.
|
Your stay in Britain should be a memorable and happy time. To achieve this, you
need to prepare yourself well for the trip. Not only will you use English, but you will also need to get used to customs, attitudes and food that are different from what you know.
Your stay will be more enjoyable if you join in with your host family, which is the family you will stay with. Use every opportunity to talk with your hosts. Do not just sit alone in your bedroom. If you plan to go out, you should tell them when and where you are going and when you expect to get back. This is important because your hosts are responsible for you.
Find out what the "house rules" are. For example, who uses the bathroom first in the morning? When can you do your washing? Can you use the iron for your clothes? What about doing the dishes after dinner? Most British teenagers are very tidy. They are expected to help in the home and look after their things. Do not expect your host mother to do everything for you.
The telephone can be a problem. At the start of your stay, ask your hosts if you may use their phone and of course, tell them you will pay for the calls to China. Make sure that you do not spend too long on their phone in the evenings.
The food in Britain will be a new experience for you. Everyday food in Britain is not the same as the Western-style food you can find in China. Even so, you should try to eat whatever you are given. However, if it is something you really do not like, just say so politely. Do not bring your own food into the house.
Whether you are at home or in a restaurant, do not spit out bones onto the table. Put them on the side of your plate. And remember--in Europe, people eat the main dish with a knife and fork. The spoon is used only for soup or dessert.
|
Why can the telephone be a problem?
|
[
"Yes, it did.",
"No, it didn't.",
"We don't know.",
"It isn't mentioned ."
] |
No, it didn't.
|
I watched a little girl playing basketball every day from my bedroom window. One day, I asked her why she practiced so much. She said, "I want to go to college. The only way I can go is to get a scholarship . I like basketball and I want to be the best player in college. My dad told me, "If the dream is big enough, the facts don't count." She never changed her mind. Whenever she was in junior high school or senior high school. One day, before she graduate from senior high school, I saw her sitting on the grass sadly. I asked her what was wrong. She told me that her coach said she was too short to be a good basketball player, so she should stop dreaming about going to college. She was heartbroken and it made me feel bad, too. Then she smiled and told me her father said to her, "If you really want to play for the scholarship of a good college, nothing but yourself can stop your dream." The next year, she and her team went to a big game she was seen by a coach of a famous college team and was offered a scholarship to the women's basketball team of their college. She was getting the college education that she had dreamed of. "If the dream is big enough, the facts don't count." It is true.
|
Did the girl's family have a lot of money?
|
[
"War Horse is based on the same-titled novel by Steven Spielberg.",
"Joey is a heroic character because he saved many people's lives.",
"Albert sold Joey into the war effort for Europe.",
"Joey came to Albert's care after Ted paid a lot of money for it."
] |
Joey came to Albert's care after Ted paid a lot of money for it.
|
Joey is loyal, encouraging and self-sacrificing, always putting others' interests ahead of his own. He is a hard worker, who also loves to run and play. In short, he's an ideal friend and a heroic character.
Here is the thing: Joey is a horse, who appears as the main character in Steven Spielberg's new film War Horse.
It is based on Michael Morpurgo's 1982 novel, which also caused the same-titled Tony Awards winning play.
The film follows the saga of Joey, a racehorse that's trained for farm work under the loving care of Albert (Jeremy Irvine )after Albert's drunk father Ted(Peter Mullan ) overpays for the animal at auction .
Then the World War I tears Albert and Joey apart. Joey is sold into the war effort for the British and starts his episodic adventures in Europe.
Splendidly staged, the battle plots in the film are visually
and impressive.
And with Spielberg's unique, top-notch direction and storytelling skills, War Horse cannot escape its episodic nature, calling to mind another Spielberg film about the horrors of war and its effects upon soldiers and civilians--Saving Private Ryan.
While that film shocked with horrific scenes of bleeding, it relied on a company of easily-described characters and a focused storyline to present heroic themes.
Like Saving Private Ryan, War Horse clings to a series of characters, not only Albert, but also British officers, French civilians and German soldiers, who display courage in the face of danger. Everyone who comes in contact with Joey is either already in touch with their inner angel or is quickly moved to become more humane.
Although none of this covers the fact that we've seen this stuff elsewhere before, the lovely sentiment will steal your heart.
And the emotional signature of Spielberg can be felt as he establishes the relationship between the boy and the horse and the mood of the piece - there will be tears.
Therefore, calling this beautiful, dramatically incomplete film " Saving Private Joey", is entirely justifiable.
|
Which statement is true according to the passage?
|
[
"The music.",
"The excitement.",
"The price .",
"The people."
] |
The price .
|
Irene's Thai
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The Party: New Year's Eve!!!
The Price: 100 RMB Open Bar!!!
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The Reason: Great Music, Beautiful People,
Life, Love, Fun, Excitement!!!
Merry Christmas from the crew at Pegasus
50 RMB Entrance includes two complimentary drinks.
Champagne Toast at Midnight
If ever there was a time to enjoy oneself, that time is now!!!
|
Which of the following is NOT a reason to go to Pegasus?
|
[
"show appreciation",
"express love",
"lend a hand",
"ask for help"
] |
show appreciation
|
Last Sunday, as soon as I walked into the house in the afternoon, my little brother placed a bunch of papers in my hands and asked me to fold them up so they could fit into an envelope as quickly as possible. He said it needed to get done quickly before it turned dark.
After I read what was on the papers, I smiled. It was a lovely letter to all the residents in my neighborhood. My brother was asking everyone to let him know if anyone needed help. He left his contact information and said that anyone that needed help should get in touch with him and he would try to help. He also asked people to get in touch if they were able to help out.
London received an unusual amount of snow last week, and the city was not prepared for it at all. So it was quite difficult to get anywhere. The major roads had been cleared, but the smaller roads and pavements hadn't, so they could be quite _ . There are a large number of old people in our little community. So my brother thought that the snow may have caused some difficulty for some of them, particularly because we live on a hill.
A few elderly people got in touch with him asking for help for things they needed. One of them was especially grateful because his caregiver couldn't make it. To our surprise, he got more responses from people offering to help. Then he received help from people who wanted to help. Everyone was really touched and wrote to my brother wonderful emails. One of our neighbors wrote an email saying that although she wasn't able to help, she was "very proud of having a neighbor like him who puts other people's interests first."
|
One of their neighbors sent an email to the author's brother to _ .
|
[
"a white-collar worker",
"a foreign store owner",
"a restaurant manager",
"a high school student"
] |
a foreign store owner
|
Sometimes it is difficult to talk to taxi drivers. They must give all their attention to the road as they work out the shortest way to the place where you are going. However, passengers from Wangfujing were in surprise when they took a taxi. The driver just would not stop talking - in English.
Organized by the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy, "Dare to Speak" examines if Chinese people will speak English in "real-life" situations.
Matthew Knowles, an acting student from South Carolina at Beijing Film Academy, acted the part as the "driver". He collected six passengers on Saturday morning, most of whom were female white-collar workers.
"Of course they were surprised at first, wondering why I'm driving a taxi, and wondering whether this is a real taxi, but then most of them were pretty willing to speak," he said. Knowles said he was also surprised by his "passengers". "Apart from my first 'passenger', who could speak very little English, all the rest spoke English very well, and it was fun to communicate with them," he said, adding that some "passengers" were quite talkative.
The "foreign taxi driver" project was just one of the "Dare to Speak" activities, which have been going on since the end of October. Other projects included a foreign store owner near a high school in Beijing, a cook in a Shanghai university canteen. They were testing the willingness of Chinese people, especially students and white-collar workers, to speak to foreigners in English.
Rong Xin, senior manager of IELTS with the British Embassy, said they hoped to let IELTS takers in China know that communication is the _ goal of IELTS.
"We hope that more and more IELTS takers in China can realize the importance of communicating in English in real life, instead of just getting high test scores," she said.
|
The Chinese may meet and talk to _ in "Dear to speak" projects.
|
[
"Photos and Videos of a New Baby's Birth",
"Proud Parents of a New Baby",
"Ways of Celebrating a New Baby's Birth",
"Presents for Parents of a New Baby"
] |
Ways of Celebrating a New Baby's Birth
|
How did your parents celebrate when you were born? Of course you can't remember, but they can. They have photos or videos from a ceremony of some kind.
In the United States, the proud parents of a new baby often put something on their front door. It's an exciting time for them, and they want to share the good news with their neighbors. For example, they put balloons on their door. Pink balloons mean the baby is a girl. Blue ones are for boys.
People around the world often celebrate a new baby's birth with some kinds of ceremonies, perhaps a religious ceremony. This perhaps takes place when a baby is a few days or weeks old. Take what people do in Mexico as an example, many new parents dress their babies in special clothes take them to church.In some African countries, the family plants a tree near the house. In Korea, there is a traditional ceremony on the baby's 100th day. And it's the same in China. On that day, all family members and friends get together to have a big meal, with all the best wishes that the baby will grow up happily and healthily.
The parents of new babies often receive presents. In the United States, friends send cards, flowers or baby clothes. In China, family members and friends give money or presents.
Presents, celebrations---these are great, but what do most new parents really need? More sleep!
|
The best title of this passage is probably" _ ".
|
[
"Cheap and ugly things.",
"Things people no longer use.",
"Things out of season.",
"Things of great value."
] |
Things people no longer use.
|
"Everybody loves a bargain." One person's useless, ugly, or broken object can be another person's bargain. That is why so many Americans do not throw things away. They put them outside their houses. They put on a "For Sale" sign. And, as simple as that, they have a yard sale.
The sellers put a paid announcement in a local newspaper. It tells when and where the yard sale will take place. These sales are very popular during weekends in spring, summer, and autumn. Early in the morning, all the things to be sold are carried out of the house. Then they sit all day in the sunlight---like tired guests at a party---waiting for someone to take them home.
Just about anything can be sold at a yard sale. Sometimes, there are more clothes than anything else. Cooking equipment is also popular. So are old toys, tools, books, tables and chairs. Then there are objects called "white elephants". A white elephant is something you think is extremely ugly or useless. It may be an electric light shaped like a fish. You feel a sharp pain whenever you look at it. To someone else, however, it might be a thing of beauty and joy.
Some people go to yard sales to find a special thing that they collect. It may be old toy trains, for example, or painting of dogs. Experts say more Americans are collecting old things now than ever before. Most people who go to yard sales, however, are not looking for anything special. They might buy an object simply because it costs so little. They enjoy negotiating over prices, even if they really do not need the object. Later, they may hold their own yard to sell all the things they have bought.
|
What kind of things will go to a yard sale?
|
[
"it has long history.",
"the price of the rooms is high.",
"the guests are special.",
"it is made of salt."
] |
it is made of salt.
|
There are many unusual hotels around the world. In Greenland , there is a hotel made of ice, open between December and April every year. In Turkey , there is a cave hotel with a television, furniture, and a bathroom in each room. And in Bolivia , there is a hotel named the Salt Palace Hotel.
Thousands of years ago, the area around the Salt Palace Hotel was a large lake. But today, the area has only two small lakes and two salt deserts .
The larger of the two deserts is called Uyuni salt desert. During the day, the desert is bright white because of the salt. There are no roads across the Uyuni desert, so local people must show guests the way to the hotel.
In the early 1990s, a man named Juan Quesada built the hotel. He cut big blocks of salt from the desert and used the blocks to build it. Everything in the hotel is made of salt: the walls, the roof , the tables, the chairs, the beds, and the hotel's bar.
The sun makes the walls and roof warm during the day. At night the desert is very cold, but the rooms are warm. The hotel has twelve rooms. A single room costs$40 a night, and a double room costs$60.
A sign on the hotel's wall tells guests, " Please don't lick the walls." [:Zxxk.Com]
|
The Salt Palace Hotel is unusual because _ .
|
[
"You can watch the performance only once a day.",
"A dwarf came up an idea to create the park.",
"Dwarfs have a chance to show their talent in the park.",
"The Kingdom of Little People is a theme park for children."
] |
Dwarfs have a chance to show their talent in the park.
|
If you travel in the city of Kunming, you can't miss the Kingdom of Little People. It opened in the summer of 2009 in the mountains in Kunming.
There are tiny animals, little beautiful cottages and small furniture in the park. The big attraction of the park is the performances by little people. Many little people work in the park. Twice a day, they perform for visitors. They sing, dance and give a magic show. People who want to work in the park should be between eighteen and forty years old from any part of the country. And they should be under 130 cm in height.
The creator of the park is a rich businessman. He wants the park to be like a fairyland. And he wants to do something good for _ in China. This theme park has brought together people of unusual stature . They enjoy being part of the community and impressing tourists with (......) their courage and skills.
Are you interested in this fairyland? How about having a visit in the Kingdom of Little People?
|
Which of the following is TRUE?
|
[
"a success for teachers and students to make friends",
"a revolution of teaching to learning with many advantages",
"an advance to attract more students to learn IT knowledge",
"an improvement in making more companies to support schools"
] |
a revolution of teaching to learning with many advantages
|
The South Korean Ministry of education is investing $ 2.4 billion into making the country's school system completely digital. The plan is to get rid of textbooks and replace them with digital learning materials stored in a central database, which students would get into with PCs. Though some digital education programs have been tried in the U.S. and other countries, few can match the South Korean plan. While it will certainly be interesting to spread out, a completely paperless school system will surely stand for other countries to follow. Perhaps the digital learning revolution will have its start in Seoul.
The digital developments have improved our personal lives. It was a matter of time before they would finally have an effect on other fields. It's an exciting time in education--whether you're a CEO setting plans for growth, an IT expert making new technology decisions or an educator giving lively courses. All of us are connected by the movement of a more digital campus. Today's generation has integrated web-based technology into their daily lives. Expectations are forming: lively content-anytime, anywhere and on any equipment. And those expectations aren't just for fun--they're spreading into the educational space as well. Expanding our digital footprint isn't just an excitement-it's a necessity. And CEOs and IT experts aren't the only ones feeling the pressure to improve--educators are as well.
More and more studies report a change from teaching to learning--moving away from giving lectures of facts to encouraging skills of self-study, analysis and learning paths ; from courses built using a single textbook to numbers of available publisher materials ; and from dull content to lively digital advantages that connect the learners, providing real-time response. Students aren't the only ones benefiting from this change. Educators can now easily build lively online courses while increasing student outcomes.
|
The use of digital technology in education is _
|
[
"Her hard work and strong competitiveness.",
"Her emotional explosion and volatile emotional state.",
"The fact that she is 1.82 meters tall and weighs 70kg.",
"The fact that her parents are both good tennis players."
] |
Her emotional explosion and volatile emotional state.
|
About a year ago,if you had asked who Dinara Safina was,the answer would have been,"She is Marat Safin's younger sister." She was overshadowed by her wonder brother.But now she has made a name for herself:the world No.1 player in women's tennis.
The 22yearold Russian overtook Serena Williams of the US for top ranking on April 20."Before,every place I go,I am Marat's sister.Nothing else,"she told New York Times."I always wanted to be myself,and now finally the results come,and people can know me as Dinara Safina."
Safina has made it to two great event finals,in the 2008 French and in the 2009 Australian Open,and won a silver medal in the Beijing Olympic Games.
Clearly,family isn't the only connection Safina and her brother share.Their DNA burns with competitive fire.Safin has held the distinction for years of being a hottempered player on court.When he lost his temper,he would smash a racket .Safina is as emotionally explosive as her brother.A headline in the newspaper The Australian once described her as "mad as a snake".The Sydney Morning Herald,during the Australian Open,summed up Safina's volatile emotional state with the headline--Safina goes from basket case to top of the world.
It's not rare for a family to have two top tennis players.Safina's father owns a tennis academy and her mother worked as a coach."I had no choice but to become a tennis player,but I don't mind being a tennis player," Safina said.
From this talented family she is also given one of her best weapons on court,her size.She is 1.82 meters tall and weighs 70kg.But it is hard work that led her to her recent success.
"I hope to prove to everyone over the coming months that I deserve the honor of being world No.1,"she said.
|
Which one of the following doesn't contribute to Safina's success?
|
[
"We must learn to climb tall buildings.",
"If we have a dream, we must be brave and hold on to it.",
"If we say \"I can do it\", we can climb tall buildings.",
"We must climb tall buildings to raise money for charity."
] |
If we have a dream, we must be brave and hold on to it.
|
As a child, Alain Robert was afraid of height. One day, when he was 12, he returned home from school. At the front door of his building, he looked for his keys. He didn't have them. It was 3.30 p.m. and his parents worked until 6.00 p.m. Alain looked at his apartment on the eighth floor. He saw an open window. He closed his eyes and imagined himself climbing the building. When he opened his eyes, he told himself,"I can do it."Fifteen minutes later, he was in his house and his fear of height was gone.
Today Alain still climbs buildings. In 2003, he climbed a building in London dressed as Spiderman to advertise the movie. In 2004, he climbed Taipei 101(one of the tallest buildings in the world). To reach the top of a building, Alain uses only his hands and special shoes. He has no rope or other safety tools.
Alain climbs as a hobby. He also does it to raise money for _ (for poor children and the homeless).When he climbs, he wants to send a massage to people. If you have a dream----something you really want to do, it can become real. But you must be brave and keep trying. If something bad happens, don't give up. Close your eyes and tell yourself, "I can do it."
|
What can you learn from this passage?
|
[
"preferred sewing to cooking",
"made great progress in cooking",
"was unwilling to take the course at first",
"always thought it attractive to do housework"
] |
made great progress in cooking
|
One evening last summer, when I asked my 17-year-old son, Ray, for help with dinner, his response surprised me, "What's a colander ?" he asked.
I could only blame myself. Nobody's hands went in the sauce except my own. But that night, as I explained with a touch of panic that a colander is the thing with holes in it, I wondered what else I hadn't prepared Ray for.
As parents, while we focus on our child's confidence and character, we perhaps don't always consider that we are also raising someone's future roommate, boyfriend, husband, or father. I wanted to know that I'd raised a boy who would never ask the woman in his life, "What's for dinner?" So I came up with a plan: I would offer Ray a private home economics course. I was delighted to find that he didn't say no.
For two hours, three days a week, Ray was all mine. One day, as his tomato sauce reduced on the stove, he washed and seasoned a chicken for roasting. Then he rolled out the piecrust and filled it with apples, all while listening to my explanation on the importance of preheating an oven.
I knew that he would rather have been shooting hoops I the driveway than learning to mend socks with his mother -- he tried to beg off sewing lessons, even though I insisted that one day, someone would find the sight of him fixing his own shirt very attractive -- but it couldn't be denied that he was learning, and _ . "I appreciate more what you do as a mom," he told me one day.
Ray now understands the finer points of cooking, and more important, he realizes there's nothing masculine about being helpless. Not only can he make his own dinner, he can make it for his family, too. That's what I call a man.
|
We can learn from the text that Ray _ .
|
[
"His son called him \"Dad\" when the writer called him \"My son\".",
"All the people didn't hear the baby say except the writer.",
"Sanchez is the writer's family name.",
"The baby was taken away because the nurse found there was a mistake."
] |
Sanchez is the writer's family name.
|
My son. The phrase felt difficult and strange the first time I said it, and I had to practice it a thousand times. I started saying the words to myself the day when the ultrasound told me we were having a baby.
Finally, my son was born.
The nurse came out of the delivery room, holding a tiny, howling human being wrapped in a white sheet, his small hands and delicate fingers shaking nervously. "Baby Sanchez?" she asked, looking at the room full of expectant fathers.
I stood up, holding my breath. She showed me my baby. "My son," I whispered. The little guy screamed, "waaaaaaaaaah."
But in my heart I heard him cry out, "Daaaaaaad!" I don't care if everyone in the room will swear they didn't hear my baby say that. I called him, "My son," and he called me "Dad," and that's that.
People ask me, "What did you feel at that moment?" I can't even begin to answer. I'm a writer yet I try hard to find the right words. Joyful isn't powerful enough. Bliss is not sweet enough. Peaceful isn't calm enough. Happy isn't tense enough.
After my son was taken away to the nursery, I sat down and shut my eyes. But tears escaped them away. Then out of the blue, my 80-year-old father entered, and we embraced.
"Dad," I whispered.
"My son," my heart heard him saying.
Suddenly the past 33 years folded into the present and I was now the baby bundled in white, with my father standing over me.
"My son," I imagined him saying.
"Daaaaaaaaaad!" I cried my little lungs out.
At that point, I knew I was going to be a great father. The old man in front of me seemed to agree. He smiled and we walked out of the room in search of the tiny human being that would change our lives for ever.
|
Which of the following statement is TRUE according to the passage?
|
[
"SARS reports must be given to the disease control center and health bureau.",
"Fever patients receiving special sections are ready.",
"High fever patients are to be observed for 3 weeks.",
"Doctors treating high fever patients will wear protection clothes."
] |
High fever patients are to be observed for 3 weeks.
|
BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- A recent sudden temperature drop in most areas of China has set off fears of a possible return of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the country has mobilized to prepare for another outbreak.
North China's Tianjin Port resumed a temperature reporting system on Sunday. Any passengers through the port with a temperature above 38 degrees Celsius would be provided medical observation and reported to relevant authorities.
Zhong Nanshan, a well-known anti-SARS scientist during the last outbreak, said it was unlikely the SARS virus would die out naturally and it would definitely come back, but predicted no widespread epidemic outbreak and the epidemic would not cause serious damage again.
Caught unprepared this spring, Chinese authorities have learned to act quickly before the epidemic can take a hold.
Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi Thursday urged strictly implementing the daily SARS epidemic reporting system and warned that people delaying reporting or hiding the true situation would be severely punished.
In Beijing, the disease control center in Dongcheng District has recovered a 24 hour schedule for possible epidemic breakout. Every afternoon before 3:00 o'clock, the center receives SARS reports from every hospital in the district and then reports to the Beijing municipal disease control center and health bureau.
In Beijing Xiehe Hospital, plans are ready for fever patients to receive treatment in a special section. Doctors in that ward, wearing protective clothing, will observe patients for any possible respiratory diseases. Patients with high fever and symptoms of respiratory diseases are required to be observed for one or two weeks.
North China's Shanxi Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the two other hardest-hit areas in the last SARS crisis, have both set up an emergency response mechanism and mobilized all concerned departments. The system has also been set up in rural Inner Mongolia.
People are urged to pick up again the healthy habits they formed during the last SARS outbreak. Zhong Nanshan said the most important way to prevent SARS was to play more sports and maintain good ventilation. Spitting in public and eating wild animals were very dangerous, said Zhong.
|
Which doesn't belong to Beijing's reaction to the possible epidemic?
|
[
"Newspaper",
"TV news",
"Radio program",
"Magazine"
] |
Radio program
|
Snow can be very beautiful. When snow covers everything around you , the world looks like a "Winter Wonderland". That is the name of a very popular song about winter. Richard Smith and Felix Bernard wrote the song in 1934.
But winter is not always such a beautiful and happy time. It is cold outside.The wind blows and makes it even colder. The days are shorter and darker. The sun rarely shines. The leaves on the trees are brown or have fallen to the ground. The flowers are mostly gone. It is not surprising that some people are sad in winter. And some people dream about being somewhere else where it is warm and pretty----like the state of California. The Mamas and the Papas recorded their famous song, "California Dreaming" in 1965.
During the 1960s, many other famous rock groups sang songs about winter. Here is a song by Simon and Garfunkel called "A Hazy Shade of Winter". They sing about life and hope.
In 1968, the group Blood, Sweat and Tears recorded this gentle, sad song about winter. They sing about a lost love and forgotten memories in "Sometimes in Winter".
Gordon Lightfoot wrote and recorded another sad and lovely song about winter in 1975.Sarah McLachlan recorded "Song for a Winter's Night" for an album in 2006.She sings about reading a love letter and wishing the writer were with her.
Finally, on a lovely note, we leave you this sad song by Wayne.
|
Where is this passage most probably taken from?
|
[
"T-shirt.",
"Jeans.",
"Trousers.",
"Skirts"
] |
T-shirt.
|
My best friends are John and Ann. We do many things together. John lives near my house and we are in the same class. He's fifteen years old and he's tall and thin. He's got blond hair and blue eyes. He's polite and very clever. He's very good at math and he helps me with my homework sometimes. He usually wears jeans and a T-shirt but in the photo he's wearing black trousers and a yellow T-shirt. We also play basketball at a nearby park together and sometimes we play video games at my home.
Our friend Ann doesn't go to our school. She's short and thin, with straight brown hair and brown eyes. She's a little bit shy. We all have Kung Fu lesson every Tuesday and Friday afternoon. We love it. Ann is really good at Kung Fu. We call her the" Kung Fu Kid". She sometimes plays basketball with us, too. In the picture she is wearing a dress, T-shirt and a baseball cap. The three of us have great fun together,
|
What are John and Ann's favorite clothes?
|
[
"Causing trouble.",
"Doing easy jobs.",
"Telling people what to do.",
"Working without thinking."
] |
Causing trouble.
|
Dear Aunt Tara,
I have a problem with my homework. We have to do it in a group. It has to be finished this Friday, but Gary, the boy in our group, has done nothing helpful. He just keeps _ .
Every time we talk about the work with him, he always says, "Don't worry. I'll do it later." But he seldom does his job. And when he does, he does it the wrong way. Someone has to do it for him again. What's worse is when Ms. Lin asks about our group, Gary always tells her that we others don't work hard enough. I'm really mad at Gary about this. We're in the same group. Shouldn't we help each other to do a better job?
Kate
Dear Kate,
It is important for students to learn how to work together in a group. Maybe you should talk to Gary about the problem and tell him you all need his help. If he still doesn't change, go talk to your teacher. I believe she can make Gary do his job.
Aunt Tara
|
What does "rocking the boat" most likely mean in Kate's letter?
|
[
"a kind of color",
"protect the environment",
"the plants and the land",
"the air we breathe"
] |
protect the environment
|
"Green" is more than just a color. It also means taking special steps to protect the environment--the water, the land, and the air we breathe. Why green? Plants are green, and without them the earth wouldn't be such a lovely home for us human beings.
Every day, people make choices that affect the amount of trash and pollution that gets produced in our world. What can you do? A whole lot, actually. Here's a four-step guide to being green:
Reduce the amount of stuff you use and throw away.
Reuse stuff when you can.
Recycle cans, bottles, paper, books, and even toys, Sometimes water can be. For instance, some communities take used water - like from the washing machine and shower - and clean it up so it's safe to use for watering the grass and flowers.
Enjoy the Earth - walk in the woods, plant a tree, and eat some of the delicious food it produces.
Here's a list of other stuff you can reduce:
Close the switches when you're not using lights.
Turn off the water when you're brushing your teeth..
When you can, walk or ride your bike instead of driving in the car. You'll use less gas - and get some exercise!
Turn off for your phone and MP3 player when you're not using them.
Put your computer to "sleep" instead of leaving it on with the screensaver running.
|
According to this passage, the "green" means _
|
[
"on Princess Royal Island",
"on Gribbell Island",
"on the British Columbia mainland coast",
"on islands in the Great Bear Rainforest"
] |
on Gribbell Island
|
With a wildlife guide, I stepped on a journey to find one of the rarest creatures in the world ----the spirit bear, a walking contradiction--a white black bear. Neither albino nor polar bear, the spirit bear is a white variant of the North American black bear, and it's found almost exclusively here in the Great Bear Rainforest. At 25,000 square miles ---- one and a half times as big as Switzerland--the region is a spooky , wild, mysterious place: there are wolves here that fish. Deer that swim. Western red cedar trees that have stood a thousand years. And a black bear that is white.
Scientists know how black bears are born white. They're just not sure why. The phenomenon, known as Kermodism, is caused by a recessive mutation at the MC1R gene, the same gene associated with red hair and fair skin in humans. To be born white, a bear must inherit the mutation from both parents. The parents themselves don't have to be white. They just need to carry the recessive mutation. So it's not uncommon for white bears to be born to black parents.
White fur happens in only one of every 40 to 100 black bears on the British Columbia mainland coast, but the feature is especially distinct on certain islands in the Great Bear Rainforest. For example, on Princess Royal Island, one in ten black bears is white, and on Gribbell Island, directly north of Princess Royal, it's one in three.
It's unclear how the feature arose. One theory was the "glacial bear" hypothesis that the spirit bear represented a remaining adaptation from the last great ice age, which ended here 11,000 years ago. At that time most of modern-day British Columbia was still icebound, and a white coat may have offered camouflage . But the "glacial bear" theory raised a question: Why didn't the white fur feature die out when the glaciers _ ?
Researchers have recently proved that the spirit bear's white coat gives it an advantage when fishing. Although white and black bears tend to have the same success rate after dark, there is a difference during the daytime. White bears catch salmon in one-third of their attempts. Black individuals are successful only one-quarter of the time. "The salmon are less concerned about a white object as seen from below the surface," a scientist guesses. That may answer part of the question about why the white-fur feature continues to flourish today. If salmon are a coastal bear's primary fat and protein source, a successful female can feast on salmon to store more fat for winter, potentially increasing the number of cubs she can produce.
|
It is most likely that white fur happens _ .
|
[
"A chalk board covered with descriptions of sandwiches",
"Refrigerator cases full of prepared foods and desserts",
"Shelves filled with olives and different kinds of pasta",
"Customers eating happily around tables"
] |
Customers eating happily around tables
|
Hidden in a small street in the south end of Springfield, not far from buildings torn apart by the tornado earlier this year, Frigo's is an Italian restaurant right in our own backyard.
Frigo's is not a tiny place. It provides different kinds of Italian food. There are refrigerator cases full of prepared foods and desserts, and shelves filled with olives and various pasta.
There's some traditional Italian music and the smell is of olive oil and garlic . Above the largest refrigerator case, there's a chalk board covered with desriptions of more Italian sandwiches than I could remember.
I stepped into Frigo's almost by accident when I had to stay in Springfield into the evening for an open house at the school where I work. Frigo's is the perfect place to find something quick to go. There are no tables, so all food is taken out. I also thought it would be a great place to pick up some already-prepared food to bring home for dinner.
I ordered the easiest meal possible: a chicken sandwich and a salad. It cost$4.75 for the sandwich. The salad was$4.99 and didn't have salad dressing on it. I must have missed the choice of salad dressing on the way out. The sandwich was great--great chicken, excellent tomato sauce and not too much cheese.
I wish I had tried one of the many other sandwiches which include Joe's Favorite ($5.25-$6.75) and the Dante (King) which is made of turkey breast, roasted red peppers, asiago cheese and choice of dressing.
I have a feeling that I'll be picking up dinner for me and the kids at Frigo's soon.
|
Which of the following cannot be seen at Frigo's?
|
[
"It builds up your character.",
"Through the experience, you learn to live in a tent.",
"Through the experience, you learn to rely on yourself.",
"Through the experience, you learn to cope with loneliness."
] |
Through the experience, you learn to live in a tent.
|
A spirit of adventure, curiosity about different cultures and the desire for a challenge can be found in young people everywhere. More and more students inprefix = st1 /Chinaare backpacking around the country.
According to the China Youth Travel Service, Hainan, Dalian, Zhangjiajie andQingdaowere among the most popular spots for young Chinese backpackers last year. Backpacking allows the traveler a greater sense of independence.
"I can no longer put up with the instructions of a tourist guide," said Huang Ye, a 19-year-old college student inBeijing. "They are always driving you to places that you do not want to go to and trying to make you buy local souvenirs."
Huang likes to travel as a backpacker. She prefers an independent trip that she took with two friends to Jiuzhaigou inSichuanProvince. There, they chose some scenic spots to visit and avoided the masses of tourists.
Backpackers see the difficulties of such travel as a challenge. Living on bread and water for days on end, wearing the same clothes over and over again and carrying a heavy bag on their backs while climbing a mountain are all character-building experiences.
But perhaps the greatest challenge that a backpacker faces is not a physical one, but mental. They may face loneliness if they travel alone.
Chen Xuewei, 21, suffered when he took off aroundChinalast year."I felt very lonely at the beginning of my journey. A walkman didn't make me feel better, but rather heightened the sense of loneliness I felt. I even called up my friends to tell them that I wanted to give up and go back toBeijing," he recalled. But he kept going. He started to make friends and appreciate the local customs. He took lots of photos to record his trip and now he is glad he stuck it out.
Backpackers generally find themselves to be mature after their experiences. "Their travel logs track their development as people." "When I feel _ , I read my travel log again," said Tang Weifeng, a postgraduate atPekingUniversity. "By reading it, I get a sense that I am better off now than I was when I wrote those words by the light of a torch in a hot tent."
|
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as one of the advantages of backpacking according to the story?
|
[
"Justin Bieber came to rescue Igor Vorozhbitsyn.",
"Justin Bieber sang to it.",
"Justin Bieber's ringtone was a sudden fright to it.",
"Igor Vorozhbitsyn's mobile phone was a sudden fright to it."
] |
Justin Bieber's ringtone was a sudden fright to it.
|
Justin Bieber may have millions of fans worldwide, but Russia's bears don't appear to admire the pop singer's music --- which proved fortunate for one lucky fisherman.
Igor Vorozhbitsyn had his life saved by a Justin Bieber ringtone, when his mobile phone went off during a dangerous attack by a brown bear.
The 42-year-old was attacked as he was walking to a favourite fishing spot in northern Russia's Yakutia Republic and firmly believed that he was going to be killed.
Wildlife experts believe the ringtone must have frightened the bear into stopping its attack.
'Sometimes a sharp shock can stop an angry bear in its attack and that ringtone would be a very unexpected sound for a bear,' explained one.
Mr Vorozhbitsyn suffered from cuts and severe wounds and was rescued when he was found by other fishermen after using the phone to call for help.
Mr Vorozhbitsyn ---now recovering from his wounds---explained: 'I had parked my car and was walking towards the spot I'd marked out when there was a tremendous impact on my back and the bear was on top of me.'
'I couldn't believe my luck when the phone went off and it run away.'
'I know that sort of ringtone isn't to everyone's taste but my granddaughter loaded it onto my phone for a joke,' he added.
Adult brown bears can weigh as much as 600kg and have been known to kill wolves and even Siberian tigers.
Finally, this is a proof that Justin Bieber is unbearable
|
The bear stopped attacking because _ .
|
[
"she felt nervous on the stage.",
"she lost her interest in that role.",
"she preferred the role of the narrator",
"she had difficulty memorizing her words"
] |
she felt nervous on the stage.
|
When I was in the third grade, I was picked to be the princess in the school play. For weeks my mother had helped me practice my lines. But once on stage, every word disappeared from my head. Then my teacher told me she had written a narrator's part for the play, and asked me to change roles. Though I didn't tell my mother what had happened that day, she sensed my unhappiness and asked if I wanted to take a walk in the yard. It was a lovely spring day. We could see dandelions popping through the grass in bunches, as if a painter had touched our landscape with bits of gold. I watched my mother carelessly bend down by one of the bunches. "I think I am going to dig up all these weeds," she said. "From now on, we'll have only roses in this garden." "But I like dandelions," I protested. "All flowers are beautiful-even dandelions!" My mother looked at me seriously. "Yes, every flower gives pleasure in its own way, doesn't it?" she asked thoughtfully. I nodded. "And that is true of people, too," she added. When I realized that she had guessed my pain, I started to cry and told her the fact. "But you will be a beautiful narrator," she said, reminding me of how much I loved to read stories aloud to her. Over the next few weeks, with her continuous encouragement, I learned to take pride in the role. The big day finally came. A few minutes before the play, my teacher came over to me. "Your mother asked me to give this to you," she said, handing me a dandelion. After the play, I took home the flower, laughing that I was perhaps the only person who would keep such a weed.
|
The girl did not play the role of the princess mainly because _
|
[
"share with your friends",
"keep reading it",
"give it up",
"take it easy"
] |
give it up
|
For a student, reading ability is very important in our study. How to read faster and understand better? Here is some advice for you.
1. Find Your Purpose for Reading
Before you start reading, ask yourself why you are reading this book. Most people read for two main reasons---pleasure or knowledge. Being clear about your reading purpose not only helps you to stay away from books that you don't need to read. It also reminds you why reading the. book is important to you when you are reading it. You can easily keep reading and finish the book faster.
2. Read Only What You Are Interested in
Whether you're reading fiction or nonfiction, it's important to enjoy what you read. Your friends may share books they love, but those books might not be the ones you enjoy.
3. Give up Books That You Don't Enjoy
You may have chosen books that agree with your purpose. You may have chosen books that you are interested in. But when you are reading them, there may still be some books that you won't enjoy reading, Whenever you realize that you aren't enjoying the book you are reading, give it up. Remember reading shouldn't be a chore. 4. Give Yourself a Deadline to Finish Each Book
Before you read each book, ask yourself when you need to finish this book by. What I find interesting is that I read books that I borrow from libraries faster than the books I bought. The reason is the books I bought don't have a due date! I don't need to return those books, When you don't set a _ to finish your book. There isn't a sense of urgency . And when something isn't urgent, you will like to put it off.
|
When you find that you aren't enjoying the book you are reading, you should _ .
|
[
"A teacher.",
"A hairstylist.",
"An engineer.",
"A volunteer.\n:,,regular"
] |
A hairstylist.
|
Faced with a life-changing tragedy, it would be easy for Martha Clements to focus on the negative. But that's not her way. Five years after losing her vision, Clements is back doing what she loves.
"It is long, Kathy," Clements says, running her hands down the length of her client's hair. Kathy Braga is letting it grow. It now hangs below her shoulders and down her back, and all she wants is a trim , so she asks Clements to show her how much an inch would be. Clements pulls a ruler from a drawer and holds it up to Braga's hair in front near her face. "Right here. An inch will be right here at your chin."
Clements was in this career for about 10 years before losing her vision. Now, when she begins cutting, it's easy to forget that Clements is completely blind. She carefully compares the length of each strand of hair. Though confident of her sense of touch, she at times asks her client to be her eyes and check her work.
After a careful inspection, Braga gives her approval. And after Clements blows her hair dry, she remarks, "You made me younger. I love it."
Clements had been doing Braga's hair for years before she became blind. Braga is proud to say she was Clements' first customer after she lost her vision.
"She sat me in the kitchen. It was dark, and she said ,' Are you ready?' I said, 'I'm ready.' And that is when she took this thing, and she said, ' Look and see if there is hair on the ground,' and I said ,' Yes, there is .' And she said, 'Okay, I have the right end of the thing."
Clements was 42 years old when she suffered a pulmonary embolism that cost her sight. "I was dead for 20 minutes first and then half an hour, and the lack of oxygen killed my optical nerve." The last thing Clements remembered that day was the ambulance coming to get her. "I couldn't breathe. The next thing I remembered was waking up three days later, blind, in the hospital."
Her ribs had been broken, when they treated her. Her shoulder was dislocated. She had to undergo nine months of physical treatment.
"It was the hardest time in my life," she says. "Everything changed in my life: distance, smell, and sound. My kids didn't sound the same. My husband didn't sound the same too. I didn't know my home. It took me three months to find the coffee table."
Once a month, a teacher from the Virginia Center for the Blind came to her home in Woodbridge, about 40 kilometers from Washington. But Clements was eager to learn more. So in 2008, she left her husband and sons, to go to the Virginia School for the Blind in Richmond for a nine-month program. "My plan was to be able to do for my family again, to do what I like to do, cook, clean, make phone calls."
She learned basic skills like how to walk with a cane, how to listen and how to eat different foods. There were classes in Braille, computer skills and using different gadgets designed for the blind. Graduates of the program are expected to leave with not only life skills, but a marketable skill as well.
"My teacher asked me why I wouldn't do hair. I said, ' Hello. Blind. No, no, no.' I was scared to think I could even do it."
But gradually, Clements gained confidence and by the time she graduated, had styled 100 heads of hair at the school. "People from headquarters came, people from the library, students, secretaries, teachers, and friends came. Everybody came and let me do their hair," Clements says.
Three days a week she leaves home to volunteer at the House of Mercy, a Catholic service organization that provides clothing, food and other support to the poor.
Kellie Ross, executive director of the House of Mercy, remembered when Clements first showed up with her friend, Kathy Braga, to offer her help.
At first, she had no idea Clements was blind. "As she started to walk I realized she couldn't see, " Ross recalls. "She could have taken that tragic experience of losing her sight and gone inward, but instead she used that experience to help other people who are suffering."
Clements says she feels blessed to day, five years after her brush with death. "I thank the Lord every day for my blindness, because I'm alive," she says. "I could have been dead. I'm alive. I'm healthy, and that is what matters."
|
What was Clements before she lost her sight?
|
[
"don't get to them often",
"write a letter to them",
"don't speak to them politely",
"express yourself well"
] |
don't speak to them politely
|
Some people think only school children do not agree with their parents,however,it is not true.
Communication is a problem for parents and children of all ages.If it's hard for you to communicate with your parents,don't worry about it.Here are some advice for you to bridge the generation gap .
Don't argue with your parents.Don't get to your parents when you are angry.Your parents probably won't consider your ideas if you are shouting at them. And you can't express yourself well if you are angry. Go someplace to _ . Make sure you understand why you are unhappy. Then think about what you want to say to your parents. If you don't think you can speak to them at the moment, try writing a letter.
Try to reach a compromise . Perhaps you and your parents disagree on something. You can keep your disagreement and try your best to accept each other. Michael's mother didn't agree with him about buying a motorcycle. They argued over it. But they finally came to a compromise. Michael bought the motorcycle, but only drove it on certain days.
Of course, your parents might refuse to compromise on something. In these situations, it is especially important to show love and respect to them. Showing respect will keep your relationship strong.
Talk about your values. The values of your parents are probably different from those of your own. Tell your parents what you care about, and why. Understanding your values might help them see your purposes in life.
A good relationship with your parents can make you a better and happier person.
|
Your parents probably won't consider your ideas if you _
|
[
"green",
"blue",
"yellow",
"red"
] |
red
|
This is Kim and Kate's bedroom. The blue bed is Kate's and the green one is Kim's. They are sisters. Kate's schoolbag is red. It's on the bed. Kim's schoolbag is yellow. It's on the chair. They have a computer. It's on the table. Their alarm clock is on the table, too. There is a baseball under their table. It's Lily's. Lily is Kim and Kate's good friend.
|
What color is Kate's schoolbag? It's _ .
|
[
"The causes of absent-mindedness.",
"The environment and memory.",
"A way of encoding and recalling.",
"The process of gradual memory loss."
] |
The causes of absent-mindedness.
|
Most episodes of absent- mindedness- forgetting where you left something or wondering why you just entered a room-are caused by a simple lack of attention, says Schacter."You're supposed to remember something, but you haven't encoded it deeply."
Encoding, Schacter explains, is a special way of paying attention to an event that has a major impact on recalling it later.Failure to encode properly can create annoying situations.If you put your mobile phone in a pocket, for example, and don't pay attention to what you did because you're involved in a conversation, you'll probably forget that the phone is in the jacket now hanging in your wardrobe ."Your memory itself isn't failing you,"says Schacter."Rather, you didn't give your memory system the information it needed."
Lack of interest can also lead to absent-mindedness."A man who can recite sports statistics from 30 years ago,"says Zelinski,"may not remember to drop a letter in the mailbox."Women have slightly better memories than men, possibly because they pay more attention to their environment, and memory depends on just that.
"Visual cues can help prevent absent -mindedness",says Schacter."But be sure the cue is clear and available,"he cautions.If you want to remember to take a medication with lunch, put the pill bottle on the kitchen table-don't leave it in the medicine chest and write yourself a note that you keep in a pocket.
Another common episode of absent-mindedness: walking into a room and wondering why you're there.Most likely, you were thinking about something else."Everyone does this from time to time,"says Zelinski.The best thing to do is to return to where you were before entering the room, and you'll likely remember.
|
What is the passage mainly about?
|
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