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devhigh10668
|
After years of study, I have known there are only two types of people in this world: those who get to the airport early and those who arrive when the plane is about to take off.
If there were any justice in this world, early-airport people would be rewarded for doing the right thing. And late-airport people would be punished. But early-airport people getulcers , heart attacks and bite their fingernails to the bone. Late-airport people almost don't realize they are flying.
A guy of that kind once said, "Don't hurry. If you miss your flight, it's because God doesn't want you to go." This is clearly a guy who is never going to get an ulcer.
Early-airport people suffer another "name". They are called exactly what they are -wimps . I know. I was an early-airport person for years. "My baggage will get on the plane first," I told myself. Indeed it would, which made it the last baggage they took off the plane after landing.
Another strange thing: No matter how early I showed up, I was always told that someone had called two or three years ahead of me and asked for the best seat. I thought it was a trick. I thought there was someone in America who called every airline every day and said: "Is that wimp Simon flying somewhere today? If he is , give me his seat."
After a lifetime arguing with my wife over whether I really have to pack 24 hours in advance and set the alarm clock four hours ahead, I have learned another fact about early-airport people and late -airport people:
They always marry each other.
|
This passage is written in order to _ .
|
[
"give readers tips about taking a plane",
"offer suggestions about having a good plane trip",
"express the writer's anxiety about taking a plane",
"show people's different attitudes toward catching planes"
] |
D
|
devhigh10668
|
After years of study, I have known there are only two types of people in this world: those who get to the airport early and those who arrive when the plane is about to take off.
If there were any justice in this world, early-airport people would be rewarded for doing the right thing. And late-airport people would be punished. But early-airport people getulcers , heart attacks and bite their fingernails to the bone. Late-airport people almost don't realize they are flying.
A guy of that kind once said, "Don't hurry. If you miss your flight, it's because God doesn't want you to go." This is clearly a guy who is never going to get an ulcer.
Early-airport people suffer another "name". They are called exactly what they are -wimps . I know. I was an early-airport person for years. "My baggage will get on the plane first," I told myself. Indeed it would, which made it the last baggage they took off the plane after landing.
Another strange thing: No matter how early I showed up, I was always told that someone had called two or three years ahead of me and asked for the best seat. I thought it was a trick. I thought there was someone in America who called every airline every day and said: "Is that wimp Simon flying somewhere today? If he is , give me his seat."
After a lifetime arguing with my wife over whether I really have to pack 24 hours in advance and set the alarm clock four hours ahead, I have learned another fact about early-airport people and late -airport people:
They always marry each other.
|
It could be inferred that the writer's wife is _ .
|
[
"an early-airport woman",
"a late-airport woman",
"a hot-tempered woman",
"a sensitive woman"
] |
B
|
devhigh10677
|
Can storms in Africa cause asthma in the Caribbean ? Islanders point to the desert insects that land on beaches after a 5,000-kilometer flight across the Atlantic. If they can use winds to get from one continent to another, so can clouds of dust that carry disease.
Scientists think that as Africa becomes drier, dust from expanding deserts is being blown away into Caribbean islands. A study in Barbados shows that asthma has increased 17 times since Africa's drought began in 1973.
Other forms of life are suffering, too. Among them are the Caribbean's famous coral reefs( ), which began dying in large numbers in the 1900s. Eugene Shinn of the U.S. Geiological Sudrvey(USGS) in Florida went to the virgin Islands to study the reefs. The tests he and his colleagues carried out showed that the coral was dying of disease caused by Africa microbes from across the ocean.
William Sprigg of the University of Arizona is studying the problem as part of a major UN project. He says that dust is causing problems in the U.S., too.
"We are just beginning to collect the evidence of airborne dust influences on human health," he toldThe Washington Post.
|
Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
|
[
"Dangerous Dust",
"Dangerous Disease",
"Changing Weather",
"Developing Technology"
] |
A
|
devhigh10677
|
Can storms in Africa cause asthma in the Caribbean ? Islanders point to the desert insects that land on beaches after a 5,000-kilometer flight across the Atlantic. If they can use winds to get from one continent to another, so can clouds of dust that carry disease.
Scientists think that as Africa becomes drier, dust from expanding deserts is being blown away into Caribbean islands. A study in Barbados shows that asthma has increased 17 times since Africa's drought began in 1973.
Other forms of life are suffering, too. Among them are the Caribbean's famous coral reefs( ), which began dying in large numbers in the 1900s. Eugene Shinn of the U.S. Geiological Sudrvey(USGS) in Florida went to the virgin Islands to study the reefs. The tests he and his colleagues carried out showed that the coral was dying of disease caused by Africa microbes from across the ocean.
William Sprigg of the University of Arizona is studying the problem as part of a major UN project. He says that dust is causing problems in the U.S., too.
"We are just beginning to collect the evidence of airborne dust influences on human health," he toldThe Washington Post.
|
Where does the dust talked about in this passage come from?
|
[
"America.",
"Africa.",
"The Atlantic.",
"The Pacific."
] |
B
|
devhigh10677
|
Can storms in Africa cause asthma in the Caribbean ? Islanders point to the desert insects that land on beaches after a 5,000-kilometer flight across the Atlantic. If they can use winds to get from one continent to another, so can clouds of dust that carry disease.
Scientists think that as Africa becomes drier, dust from expanding deserts is being blown away into Caribbean islands. A study in Barbados shows that asthma has increased 17 times since Africa's drought began in 1973.
Other forms of life are suffering, too. Among them are the Caribbean's famous coral reefs( ), which began dying in large numbers in the 1900s. Eugene Shinn of the U.S. Geiological Sudrvey(USGS) in Florida went to the virgin Islands to study the reefs. The tests he and his colleagues carried out showed that the coral was dying of disease caused by Africa microbes from across the ocean.
William Sprigg of the University of Arizona is studying the problem as part of a major UN project. He says that dust is causing problems in the U.S., too.
"We are just beginning to collect the evidence of airborne dust influences on human health," he toldThe Washington Post.
|
The increase of asthma in the Caribean is probably related to _ according to scientists.
|
[
"desert insects",
"strong winds",
"airborne dust",
"dry weather"
] |
C
|
devhigh10677
|
Can storms in Africa cause asthma in the Caribbean ? Islanders point to the desert insects that land on beaches after a 5,000-kilometer flight across the Atlantic. If they can use winds to get from one continent to another, so can clouds of dust that carry disease.
Scientists think that as Africa becomes drier, dust from expanding deserts is being blown away into Caribbean islands. A study in Barbados shows that asthma has increased 17 times since Africa's drought began in 1973.
Other forms of life are suffering, too. Among them are the Caribbean's famous coral reefs( ), which began dying in large numbers in the 1900s. Eugene Shinn of the U.S. Geiological Sudrvey(USGS) in Florida went to the virgin Islands to study the reefs. The tests he and his colleagues carried out showed that the coral was dying of disease caused by Africa microbes from across the ocean.
William Sprigg of the University of Arizona is studying the problem as part of a major UN project. He says that dust is causing problems in the U.S., too.
"We are just beginning to collect the evidence of airborne dust influences on human health," he toldThe Washington Post.
|
Which of the following is NOT true about the Caribbean coral reefs?
|
[
"They are in Florida.",
"They used to be very beautiful.",
"They began dying in the past decades.",
"The African microbes have bad effect on them."
] |
A
|
devhigh10677
|
Can storms in Africa cause asthma in the Caribbean ? Islanders point to the desert insects that land on beaches after a 5,000-kilometer flight across the Atlantic. If they can use winds to get from one continent to another, so can clouds of dust that carry disease.
Scientists think that as Africa becomes drier, dust from expanding deserts is being blown away into Caribbean islands. A study in Barbados shows that asthma has increased 17 times since Africa's drought began in 1973.
Other forms of life are suffering, too. Among them are the Caribbean's famous coral reefs( ), which began dying in large numbers in the 1900s. Eugene Shinn of the U.S. Geiological Sudrvey(USGS) in Florida went to the virgin Islands to study the reefs. The tests he and his colleagues carried out showed that the coral was dying of disease caused by Africa microbes from across the ocean.
William Sprigg of the University of Arizona is studying the problem as part of a major UN project. He says that dust is causing problems in the U.S., too.
"We are just beginning to collect the evidence of airborne dust influences on human health," he toldThe Washington Post.
|
Which of the following is TRUE about William Sprigg?
|
[
"He is a member of UN.",
"He thinks African dust also affects the US.",
"He has collected enough evidence about dust influences.",
"He is a reporter from \nThe Washington Post."
] |
B
|
devhigh10687
|
There was a man who worked all of his life and saved all of his money.He was a real miser when it came to his money.He loved money more than just about anything, and just before he died, he said to his wife, "Now listen, when I die, I want you to take all my money and place it in the casket with me.I wanna take my money to the afterlife."
So he got his wife to promise him with all her heart that when he died, she would put all the money in the casket with him.
Well, one day he died.He was stretched out in the casket, the wife was sitting there in black next to her closest friend.When they finished the ceremony, just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife said "Wait just a minute!"
She had a shoe box with her, she came over with the box and placed it in the casket.Then the undertakers locked the casket down and rolled it away.Her friend said, "I hope you weren't crazy enough to put all that money in the casket."
"Yes," the wife said, "I promised.I'm a good Christian, I can't lie.I promised him that I was going to put that money in that casket with him."
"You mean to tell me you put every cent of his money in the casket with him?"
"I sure did.I got it all together, put it into my account and I wrote him a check."
|
What was the woman's reaction to her husband's last words?
|
[
"She remained silent.",
"she said no.",
"She said yes.",
"She was annoyed."
] |
C
|
devhigh10687
|
There was a man who worked all of his life and saved all of his money.He was a real miser when it came to his money.He loved money more than just about anything, and just before he died, he said to his wife, "Now listen, when I die, I want you to take all my money and place it in the casket with me.I wanna take my money to the afterlife."
So he got his wife to promise him with all her heart that when he died, she would put all the money in the casket with him.
Well, one day he died.He was stretched out in the casket, the wife was sitting there in black next to her closest friend.When they finished the ceremony, just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife said "Wait just a minute!"
She had a shoe box with her, she came over with the box and placed it in the casket.Then the undertakers locked the casket down and rolled it away.Her friend said, "I hope you weren't crazy enough to put all that money in the casket."
"Yes," the wife said, "I promised.I'm a good Christian, I can't lie.I promised him that I was going to put that money in that casket with him."
"You mean to tell me you put every cent of his money in the casket with him?"
"I sure did.I got it all together, put it into my account and I wrote him a check."
|
The woman's friend believed that _ .
|
[
"she shouldn't put all the money in the casket",
"she should put all the money in the casket.",
"she should give his husband a promise.",
"she should not break her promise."
] |
A
|
devhigh10687
|
There was a man who worked all of his life and saved all of his money.He was a real miser when it came to his money.He loved money more than just about anything, and just before he died, he said to his wife, "Now listen, when I die, I want you to take all my money and place it in the casket with me.I wanna take my money to the afterlife."
So he got his wife to promise him with all her heart that when he died, she would put all the money in the casket with him.
Well, one day he died.He was stretched out in the casket, the wife was sitting there in black next to her closest friend.When they finished the ceremony, just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife said "Wait just a minute!"
She had a shoe box with her, she came over with the box and placed it in the casket.Then the undertakers locked the casket down and rolled it away.Her friend said, "I hope you weren't crazy enough to put all that money in the casket."
"Yes," the wife said, "I promised.I'm a good Christian, I can't lie.I promised him that I was going to put that money in that casket with him."
"You mean to tell me you put every cent of his money in the casket with him?"
"I sure did.I got it all together, put it into my account and I wrote him a check."
|
Which word can best describe the woman?
|
[
"attractive",
"clever",
"dishonest",
"lazy"
] |
B
|
devhigh10687
|
There was a man who worked all of his life and saved all of his money.He was a real miser when it came to his money.He loved money more than just about anything, and just before he died, he said to his wife, "Now listen, when I die, I want you to take all my money and place it in the casket with me.I wanna take my money to the afterlife."
So he got his wife to promise him with all her heart that when he died, she would put all the money in the casket with him.
Well, one day he died.He was stretched out in the casket, the wife was sitting there in black next to her closest friend.When they finished the ceremony, just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife said "Wait just a minute!"
She had a shoe box with her, she came over with the box and placed it in the casket.Then the undertakers locked the casket down and rolled it away.Her friend said, "I hope you weren't crazy enough to put all that money in the casket."
"Yes," the wife said, "I promised.I'm a good Christian, I can't lie.I promised him that I was going to put that money in that casket with him."
"You mean to tell me you put every cent of his money in the casket with him?"
"I sure did.I got it all together, put it into my account and I wrote him a check."
|
What might be the best title of the story ?
|
[
"Take All My Money With Me",
"A Promise Cleverly Kept",
"A Loving Wife",
"Miser and his Wife"
] |
B
|
devhigh1069
|
Body and Food
Your body, which has close relations with the food you eat, is the most important thing you own, so it needs proper treatment and proper nourishment .The old saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is not as silly as some people think. The body needs fruit and vegetables because they contain vitamin C. Many people take extra vitamins in pill form, believing that these will make them healthy.
But a good diet is made up of nourishing food and this gives all the vitamins you need. The body doesn't need or use extra vitamins, so why waste money on them?
In the modern western world, many people are too busy to bother about eating properly. They throw anything into their stomachs, eating hurriedly and carelessly. The list of illnesses caused or made worse by bad eating habits is frightening,
|
"Your body has close relations with the food you eat." It really means that _ .
|
[
"all kinds of food you eat can be made into your body",
"your body is made up of the food you eat",
"what you eat has great effect on your health",
"the more you eat, the fitter you will feel"
] |
C
|
devhigh1069
|
Body and Food
Your body, which has close relations with the food you eat, is the most important thing you own, so it needs proper treatment and proper nourishment .The old saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is not as silly as some people think. The body needs fruit and vegetables because they contain vitamin C. Many people take extra vitamins in pill form, believing that these will make them healthy.
But a good diet is made up of nourishing food and this gives all the vitamins you need. The body doesn't need or use extra vitamins, so why waste money on them?
In the modern western world, many people are too busy to bother about eating properly. They throw anything into their stomachs, eating hurriedly and carelessly. The list of illnesses caused or made worse by bad eating habits is frightening,
|
The old saying referred to in the passage tells us that _ .
|
[
"eating apples regularly does lots of good to our health",
"the apple is the best among all kinds of fruits",
"apples can take the place of doctors",
"an apple is a sure cure for illness"
] |
A
|
devhigh1069
|
Body and Food
Your body, which has close relations with the food you eat, is the most important thing you own, so it needs proper treatment and proper nourishment .The old saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is not as silly as some people think. The body needs fruit and vegetables because they contain vitamin C. Many people take extra vitamins in pill form, believing that these will make them healthy.
But a good diet is made up of nourishing food and this gives all the vitamins you need. The body doesn't need or use extra vitamins, so why waste money on them?
In the modern western world, many people are too busy to bother about eating properly. They throw anything into their stomachs, eating hurriedly and carelessly. The list of illnesses caused or made worse by bad eating habits is frightening,
|
In the modern western countries _ .
|
[
"people don't want to pay more attention to their eating",
"lots of people's illnesses are caused or made worse by bad eating habits",
"people throw everything into their stomachs without chewing",
"people are only too busy to cook meals for themselves"
] |
B
|
devhigh1069
|
Body and Food
Your body, which has close relations with the food you eat, is the most important thing you own, so it needs proper treatment and proper nourishment .The old saying "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" is not as silly as some people think. The body needs fruit and vegetables because they contain vitamin C. Many people take extra vitamins in pill form, believing that these will make them healthy.
But a good diet is made up of nourishing food and this gives all the vitamins you need. The body doesn't need or use extra vitamins, so why waste money on them?
In the modern western world, many people are too busy to bother about eating properly. They throw anything into their stomachs, eating hurriedly and carelessly. The list of illnesses caused or made worse by bad eating habits is frightening,
|
From the passage we can draw a conclusion that if we want to keep healthy, we should _ .
|
[
"only eat an apple a day",
"eat properly",
"take as many vitamin pills as possible",
"throw something into our stomachs slowly and carefully"
] |
B
|
devhigh107
|
Lawmakers in the United States have expanded an investigation into the use of location-tracking systems on mobile devices. The action follows recent reports about the storing of information on the Apple iPhone. Some people consider location tracking to be a threat to personal privacy and security.
Allan Friedman, the research director, says, "All wireless companies do some location tracking as part of their networks. This information is usually stored by the companies, not the devices, and there are laws to protect it. Law enforcement agencies, for example, have to have a fairly high standard before it can access that data. And the phone company is also prohibited from selling that information.
Now, two researchers report that location tracking information is being stored directly on Apple devices. They said Apple's newest operating systems gather global positioning system and timestamp information. The information is stored on the device in a file that is also uploaded to any computer that the device is connected to. The researchers say the information is available to anyone who has access to the device or computer.
Allan Friedman says, "This raises additional concerns. There's the idea that because it's on my phone and on my computer, rogue applications that I pay for or that I'm tricked into downloading may be able to access this data and somehow misuse it."
Apple says it is "not tracking the location of your iPhone". It is simply keeping a database of Wi-Fi hotspots and cell phone towers near the user's location. This information is meant to help the iPhone quickly find its location when needed.
Letters have been sent to some of the leading mobile device developers, including Apple and Google. The letters asked for more information about their location tracking systems. Allan Friedman calls this an important start to strengthening privacy laws. He says, "There aren't strong controls over things like location information, what they are doing with it, how long they are keeping it. And perhaps the most important question is, is my location data with other facts about me?"
|
Why did American lawmakers investigate the use of location-tracking systems on cell-phones?
|
[
"Because the systems can store users' information",
"Because many users have suffered loss after using them.",
"Because it is thought to threaten users' privacy.",
"Because many reporters have shown the problem of the systems."
] |
C
|
devhigh107
|
Lawmakers in the United States have expanded an investigation into the use of location-tracking systems on mobile devices. The action follows recent reports about the storing of information on the Apple iPhone. Some people consider location tracking to be a threat to personal privacy and security.
Allan Friedman, the research director, says, "All wireless companies do some location tracking as part of their networks. This information is usually stored by the companies, not the devices, and there are laws to protect it. Law enforcement agencies, for example, have to have a fairly high standard before it can access that data. And the phone company is also prohibited from selling that information.
Now, two researchers report that location tracking information is being stored directly on Apple devices. They said Apple's newest operating systems gather global positioning system and timestamp information. The information is stored on the device in a file that is also uploaded to any computer that the device is connected to. The researchers say the information is available to anyone who has access to the device or computer.
Allan Friedman says, "This raises additional concerns. There's the idea that because it's on my phone and on my computer, rogue applications that I pay for or that I'm tricked into downloading may be able to access this data and somehow misuse it."
Apple says it is "not tracking the location of your iPhone". It is simply keeping a database of Wi-Fi hotspots and cell phone towers near the user's location. This information is meant to help the iPhone quickly find its location when needed.
Letters have been sent to some of the leading mobile device developers, including Apple and Google. The letters asked for more information about their location tracking systems. Allan Friedman calls this an important start to strengthening privacy laws. He says, "There aren't strong controls over things like location information, what they are doing with it, how long they are keeping it. And perhaps the most important question is, is my location data with other facts about me?"
|
Allan Friedman believes that _ .
|
[
"wireless companies focus on personal privacy.",
"people are forbidden to get access to private data at will",
"phone companies may sell private information secretly",
"customers may ask wireless companies to locate their tracking"
] |
B
|
devhigh107
|
Lawmakers in the United States have expanded an investigation into the use of location-tracking systems on mobile devices. The action follows recent reports about the storing of information on the Apple iPhone. Some people consider location tracking to be a threat to personal privacy and security.
Allan Friedman, the research director, says, "All wireless companies do some location tracking as part of their networks. This information is usually stored by the companies, not the devices, and there are laws to protect it. Law enforcement agencies, for example, have to have a fairly high standard before it can access that data. And the phone company is also prohibited from selling that information.
Now, two researchers report that location tracking information is being stored directly on Apple devices. They said Apple's newest operating systems gather global positioning system and timestamp information. The information is stored on the device in a file that is also uploaded to any computer that the device is connected to. The researchers say the information is available to anyone who has access to the device or computer.
Allan Friedman says, "This raises additional concerns. There's the idea that because it's on my phone and on my computer, rogue applications that I pay for or that I'm tricked into downloading may be able to access this data and somehow misuse it."
Apple says it is "not tracking the location of your iPhone". It is simply keeping a database of Wi-Fi hotspots and cell phone towers near the user's location. This information is meant to help the iPhone quickly find its location when needed.
Letters have been sent to some of the leading mobile device developers, including Apple and Google. The letters asked for more information about their location tracking systems. Allan Friedman calls this an important start to strengthening privacy laws. He says, "There aren't strong controls over things like location information, what they are doing with it, how long they are keeping it. And perhaps the most important question is, is my location data with other facts about me?"
|
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
|
[
"Apple denies that it tracks the location of users.",
"The researchers may misunderstand the Apple's systems.",
"The global positioning system is to blame for rogue applications.",
"The iPhone can quickly find its location by using its user's information."
] |
A
|
devhigh10709
|
Many Chinese people are confused with the two nations: one is known for its cheese and watches; the other for IKEA and Volvo.
The problem largely stems from the fact that both nation's names are written similarly in Mandarin---Ruidian(Sweden) and Ruishi (Switzerland)------which begin with the same symbol, according to the Swedish Consul General Victoria Liu in China.
In an effort to put an end to the mix-up, the Swedish and Swiss governments have launched a competition on a website, asking Chinese people to come up with funny ways to help differentiate the two countries. Submissions can be accepted as a blog post, cartoon, photo, short film or in any other format.
The winner with the best submission will receive a 12-day trip to Sweden and Switzerland and will be expected to report back on his/her impressions of both countries following the trip, the website states. Entries will be accepted until November 20.
The organizers have also _ a humorous campaign logo with objects and people associated with Sweden and Switzerland on separate maps of each country. Sweden's map features meatballs, a Viking, as well as two male cartoon figures with a heart between them symbolizing gay marriage, which remains illegal in Switzerland. Switzerland's map features cheese, the Alps and a picture of Roger Federer.
China may not be the only country struggling to tell Sweden and Switzerland apart. Residents of Spanish-speaking countries also fall victim to the confusion as Sweden is spelt "Suecia" in Spanish while Switzerland is called "Suiza".
Sweden and Switzerland aren't the only places that have caused confusion among people. Last month, , a British holidaymaker hoped to explore the architecture of the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, but instead mistakenly caught a flight across the Atlantic to the tropical Caribbean island of Grenada following a confusing booking blunder. Earlier this summer, two US holidaymakers were flown to the wrong continent after an airline confused two airport codes.
|
What can we learn about the competition launched by the two governments?
|
[
"The winner of the competition will receive a 24-day trip altogether to both of the countries.",
"The winner will report his/her impressions on the two countries in his/her submission.",
"The competition is held among all people around the world.",
"The competition is held in order to stop people's confusion about the two countries."
] |
D
|
devhigh10709
|
Many Chinese people are confused with the two nations: one is known for its cheese and watches; the other for IKEA and Volvo.
The problem largely stems from the fact that both nation's names are written similarly in Mandarin---Ruidian(Sweden) and Ruishi (Switzerland)------which begin with the same symbol, according to the Swedish Consul General Victoria Liu in China.
In an effort to put an end to the mix-up, the Swedish and Swiss governments have launched a competition on a website, asking Chinese people to come up with funny ways to help differentiate the two countries. Submissions can be accepted as a blog post, cartoon, photo, short film or in any other format.
The winner with the best submission will receive a 12-day trip to Sweden and Switzerland and will be expected to report back on his/her impressions of both countries following the trip, the website states. Entries will be accepted until November 20.
The organizers have also _ a humorous campaign logo with objects and people associated with Sweden and Switzerland on separate maps of each country. Sweden's map features meatballs, a Viking, as well as two male cartoon figures with a heart between them symbolizing gay marriage, which remains illegal in Switzerland. Switzerland's map features cheese, the Alps and a picture of Roger Federer.
China may not be the only country struggling to tell Sweden and Switzerland apart. Residents of Spanish-speaking countries also fall victim to the confusion as Sweden is spelt "Suecia" in Spanish while Switzerland is called "Suiza".
Sweden and Switzerland aren't the only places that have caused confusion among people. Last month, , a British holidaymaker hoped to explore the architecture of the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, but instead mistakenly caught a flight across the Atlantic to the tropical Caribbean island of Grenada following a confusing booking blunder. Earlier this summer, two US holidaymakers were flown to the wrong continent after an airline confused two airport codes.
|
Why does the author mention the British holidaymaker?
|
[
"To show us many people are confused by Sweden and Switzerland.",
"To prove airports make mistakes about people's places too.",
"To explain Spanish-speaking people make mistakes too.",
"To prove many people are confused about some places."
] |
D
|
devhigh10709
|
Many Chinese people are confused with the two nations: one is known for its cheese and watches; the other for IKEA and Volvo.
The problem largely stems from the fact that both nation's names are written similarly in Mandarin---Ruidian(Sweden) and Ruishi (Switzerland)------which begin with the same symbol, according to the Swedish Consul General Victoria Liu in China.
In an effort to put an end to the mix-up, the Swedish and Swiss governments have launched a competition on a website, asking Chinese people to come up with funny ways to help differentiate the two countries. Submissions can be accepted as a blog post, cartoon, photo, short film or in any other format.
The winner with the best submission will receive a 12-day trip to Sweden and Switzerland and will be expected to report back on his/her impressions of both countries following the trip, the website states. Entries will be accepted until November 20.
The organizers have also _ a humorous campaign logo with objects and people associated with Sweden and Switzerland on separate maps of each country. Sweden's map features meatballs, a Viking, as well as two male cartoon figures with a heart between them symbolizing gay marriage, which remains illegal in Switzerland. Switzerland's map features cheese, the Alps and a picture of Roger Federer.
China may not be the only country struggling to tell Sweden and Switzerland apart. Residents of Spanish-speaking countries also fall victim to the confusion as Sweden is spelt "Suecia" in Spanish while Switzerland is called "Suiza".
Sweden and Switzerland aren't the only places that have caused confusion among people. Last month, , a British holidaymaker hoped to explore the architecture of the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, but instead mistakenly caught a flight across the Atlantic to the tropical Caribbean island of Grenada following a confusing booking blunder. Earlier this summer, two US holidaymakers were flown to the wrong continent after an airline confused two airport codes.
|
In which part of a newspaper could you probably find the passage?
|
[
"Tourism",
"News review",
"Business",
"Culture"
] |
D
|
devhigh10720
|
I've cheated in school when I thought that I could get away with it. I'm not proud of it and I don't usually feel very good about myself afterwards, but sometimes it's the only way possible to survive in a pressure cooker. My parents are really set on my getting good grades. They study my report card the same way they examine the newspaper's stock market page. And they make me feel that I've got to live up to their expectations.
But often it's like each teacher acts as if his is the only subject we have. They think nothing of piling on our homework or giving surprise quizzes. Sometimes we have to take two or three tests in different subjects on the same day. I'd like to see a lot of adults I know preparing for that.
When the pressure becomes too high, some kids may resort to cheating. If you have three or four subjects to study for, you're not going to be able to devote enough time to each subject in order to be well prepared for each class. Besides, it may be the only way left to live up to your parents' expectations and compete with the top students in the class.
Everybody knows that if you cheat, it's important not to get caught. Few things can cause more of chaos. Once, my elder brother got caught cheating on a math final. My parents acted as though he'd committed a federal crime. The assistant principal called them to school, but although the incident caused several conferences, I don't think that anybody ever really understood what my brother was going through. We're just supposed to perform outstandingly as well as always act honestly, but how many adults can actually live up to the standards they set for us?
My father has gotten countless traffic tickets for parking in no parking zones or for not coming to a full stop at stop signs. And you've always hearing about people who don't file their incomes tax honestly. How about all the corruption in government? Successful adults often accept dishonesty in order to achieve their business goals. Are kids the only ones who are supposed to be perfect?
Most of my friends have cheated on tests in school at one time or another. The kids who never cheated are usually either afraid of getting caught or just don't know how to do it safely. Nobody wants to cheat. But if it's a choice of being honest or of getting a better grade, most kids will try for the latter. That may sound wrong, but we didn't make the rules, we're just trying to get by.
|
What is the best title of this passage?
|
[
"Everyone can fight a cheat!",
"Everyone likes to cheat!",
"Cheating is reasonable!",
"No one wants to cheat!"
] |
D
|
devhigh10720
|
I've cheated in school when I thought that I could get away with it. I'm not proud of it and I don't usually feel very good about myself afterwards, but sometimes it's the only way possible to survive in a pressure cooker. My parents are really set on my getting good grades. They study my report card the same way they examine the newspaper's stock market page. And they make me feel that I've got to live up to their expectations.
But often it's like each teacher acts as if his is the only subject we have. They think nothing of piling on our homework or giving surprise quizzes. Sometimes we have to take two or three tests in different subjects on the same day. I'd like to see a lot of adults I know preparing for that.
When the pressure becomes too high, some kids may resort to cheating. If you have three or four subjects to study for, you're not going to be able to devote enough time to each subject in order to be well prepared for each class. Besides, it may be the only way left to live up to your parents' expectations and compete with the top students in the class.
Everybody knows that if you cheat, it's important not to get caught. Few things can cause more of chaos. Once, my elder brother got caught cheating on a math final. My parents acted as though he'd committed a federal crime. The assistant principal called them to school, but although the incident caused several conferences, I don't think that anybody ever really understood what my brother was going through. We're just supposed to perform outstandingly as well as always act honestly, but how many adults can actually live up to the standards they set for us?
My father has gotten countless traffic tickets for parking in no parking zones or for not coming to a full stop at stop signs. And you've always hearing about people who don't file their incomes tax honestly. How about all the corruption in government? Successful adults often accept dishonesty in order to achieve their business goals. Are kids the only ones who are supposed to be perfect?
Most of my friends have cheated on tests in school at one time or another. The kids who never cheated are usually either afraid of getting caught or just don't know how to do it safely. Nobody wants to cheat. But if it's a choice of being honest or of getting a better grade, most kids will try for the latter. That may sound wrong, but we didn't make the rules, we're just trying to get by.
|
The author owes children's cheat to the following EXPECT _ .
|
[
"parents",
"children",
"teacher",
"examinations"
] |
B
|
devhigh10720
|
I've cheated in school when I thought that I could get away with it. I'm not proud of it and I don't usually feel very good about myself afterwards, but sometimes it's the only way possible to survive in a pressure cooker. My parents are really set on my getting good grades. They study my report card the same way they examine the newspaper's stock market page. And they make me feel that I've got to live up to their expectations.
But often it's like each teacher acts as if his is the only subject we have. They think nothing of piling on our homework or giving surprise quizzes. Sometimes we have to take two or three tests in different subjects on the same day. I'd like to see a lot of adults I know preparing for that.
When the pressure becomes too high, some kids may resort to cheating. If you have three or four subjects to study for, you're not going to be able to devote enough time to each subject in order to be well prepared for each class. Besides, it may be the only way left to live up to your parents' expectations and compete with the top students in the class.
Everybody knows that if you cheat, it's important not to get caught. Few things can cause more of chaos. Once, my elder brother got caught cheating on a math final. My parents acted as though he'd committed a federal crime. The assistant principal called them to school, but although the incident caused several conferences, I don't think that anybody ever really understood what my brother was going through. We're just supposed to perform outstandingly as well as always act honestly, but how many adults can actually live up to the standards they set for us?
My father has gotten countless traffic tickets for parking in no parking zones or for not coming to a full stop at stop signs. And you've always hearing about people who don't file their incomes tax honestly. How about all the corruption in government? Successful adults often accept dishonesty in order to achieve their business goals. Are kids the only ones who are supposed to be perfect?
Most of my friends have cheated on tests in school at one time or another. The kids who never cheated are usually either afraid of getting caught or just don't know how to do it safely. Nobody wants to cheat. But if it's a choice of being honest or of getting a better grade, most kids will try for the latter. That may sound wrong, but we didn't make the rules, we're just trying to get by.
|
Which of the following is true according to this passage?
|
[
"The author thinks it is children's right to cheat in school.",
"Most of the author's friends like cheating on the tests in school.",
"The author thinks it wrong to cheat in school.",
"The author shows a positive attitude towards a surprise quiz in school."
] |
C
|
devhigh10760
|
If you want to be a volunteer, you have to answer the following typical questions. Do you want to work with people, animals or machines? Do you want to work indoors or outdoors, directly serve people in need or serve people behind the scenes? Every year, thousands of people in the west offer volunteer service. Volunteering greatly strengthens the community because it helps the old, the young, the weak, the sick, and the disabled and the injured to solve problems.
Volunteers usually help in many different ways. They may give people advice, offer friendship to the young, drive the elderly to church (if up to the driving age), advise kids against drugs, work as assistants in schools or nursing homes, raise funds, plant trees, help out in local libraries and do many other things. Volunteering can be a few hours a week or a few hours a month. Anybody who wants to serve people in need can become a volunteer.
In fact, the art of volunteering is a process of both giving and receiving. Volunteering allows volunteers to meet new people, make new friends and mix with people from all walks of life. Volunteering is an excellent way to experiment and try out new techniques and skills, discover your individual talents and explore career choice. Being a volunteer will take you on a wonderful journey and help you learn more than what you can get from books.
|
As a volunteer, only when you grow old enough can you _ .
|
[
"plant trees on hills",
"drive the elderly to church",
"give advice to others",
"help out in local libraries"
] |
B
|
devhigh10760
|
If you want to be a volunteer, you have to answer the following typical questions. Do you want to work with people, animals or machines? Do you want to work indoors or outdoors, directly serve people in need or serve people behind the scenes? Every year, thousands of people in the west offer volunteer service. Volunteering greatly strengthens the community because it helps the old, the young, the weak, the sick, and the disabled and the injured to solve problems.
Volunteers usually help in many different ways. They may give people advice, offer friendship to the young, drive the elderly to church (if up to the driving age), advise kids against drugs, work as assistants in schools or nursing homes, raise funds, plant trees, help out in local libraries and do many other things. Volunteering can be a few hours a week or a few hours a month. Anybody who wants to serve people in need can become a volunteer.
In fact, the art of volunteering is a process of both giving and receiving. Volunteering allows volunteers to meet new people, make new friends and mix with people from all walks of life. Volunteering is an excellent way to experiment and try out new techniques and skills, discover your individual talents and explore career choice. Being a volunteer will take you on a wonderful journey and help you learn more than what you can get from books.
|
It can be inferred from the passage that to be a volunteer, _ .
|
[
"you can do experiments",
"you must be very strong",
"you need to work very long",
"you can get something valuable"
] |
D
|
devhigh10760
|
If you want to be a volunteer, you have to answer the following typical questions. Do you want to work with people, animals or machines? Do you want to work indoors or outdoors, directly serve people in need or serve people behind the scenes? Every year, thousands of people in the west offer volunteer service. Volunteering greatly strengthens the community because it helps the old, the young, the weak, the sick, and the disabled and the injured to solve problems.
Volunteers usually help in many different ways. They may give people advice, offer friendship to the young, drive the elderly to church (if up to the driving age), advise kids against drugs, work as assistants in schools or nursing homes, raise funds, plant trees, help out in local libraries and do many other things. Volunteering can be a few hours a week or a few hours a month. Anybody who wants to serve people in need can become a volunteer.
In fact, the art of volunteering is a process of both giving and receiving. Volunteering allows volunteers to meet new people, make new friends and mix with people from all walks of life. Volunteering is an excellent way to experiment and try out new techniques and skills, discover your individual talents and explore career choice. Being a volunteer will take you on a wonderful journey and help you learn more than what you can get from books.
|
What's the best title of the passage?
|
[
"How to hunt for jobs",
"Volunteer service in the west",
"How to make friends",
"How to work with animals"
] |
B
|
devhigh10771
|
As the pace of life continues to increase, we are fast losing the art of relaxation. Once you are in the habit of rushing through life,being on the go from morning till night,it is hard to slow down. But relaxation is necessary for a healthy mind and body.
Stress is a natural part of everyday life and there is no way to avoid it. In fact,it is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be. A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life. It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health.
The amount of stress a person can bear depends very much on the individual. Some people are not afraid of stressand such characters are obviously important material for managerial responsibilities. Others lose heart at the first signs of unusual difficulties. When exposed to stressin whatever formwe react both chemically and physically. In fact we make choices between "fight" and "flight" and in more ancient days the choice made the difference between life and death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme,but however little the stress,it involves the same response. It is when _ lasts long,through continued exposure to stressthat health becomes endangered. Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress. Since we cannot remove stress from our lives(it would be unwise to do so even if we could),we need to find ways to deal with it.
|
People are finding less and less time for relaxing themselves because _ .
|
[
"they are travelling fast all the time",
"they are becoming busier with their work",
"they do not know how to enjoy themselves",
"they do not believe that relaxation is important for health"
] |
B
|
devhigh10771
|
As the pace of life continues to increase, we are fast losing the art of relaxation. Once you are in the habit of rushing through life,being on the go from morning till night,it is hard to slow down. But relaxation is necessary for a healthy mind and body.
Stress is a natural part of everyday life and there is no way to avoid it. In fact,it is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be. A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life. It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health.
The amount of stress a person can bear depends very much on the individual. Some people are not afraid of stressand such characters are obviously important material for managerial responsibilities. Others lose heart at the first signs of unusual difficulties. When exposed to stressin whatever formwe react both chemically and physically. In fact we make choices between "fight" and "flight" and in more ancient days the choice made the difference between life and death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme,but however little the stress,it involves the same response. It is when _ lasts long,through continued exposure to stressthat health becomes endangered. Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress. Since we cannot remove stress from our lives(it would be unwise to do so even if we could),we need to find ways to deal with it.
|
We can learn from the text that _ .
|
[
"stress is always harmful to people",
"we can find some ways to avoidstress",
"different people can bear different amounts of stress",
"it is easy to change the habit of keeping oneself busy with work"
] |
C
|
devhigh10771
|
As the pace of life continues to increase, we are fast losing the art of relaxation. Once you are in the habit of rushing through life,being on the go from morning till night,it is hard to slow down. But relaxation is necessary for a healthy mind and body.
Stress is a natural part of everyday life and there is no way to avoid it. In fact,it is not the bad thing it is often supposed to be. A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life. It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health.
The amount of stress a person can bear depends very much on the individual. Some people are not afraid of stressand such characters are obviously important material for managerial responsibilities. Others lose heart at the first signs of unusual difficulties. When exposed to stressin whatever formwe react both chemically and physically. In fact we make choices between "fight" and "flight" and in more ancient days the choice made the difference between life and death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme,but however little the stress,it involves the same response. It is when _ lasts long,through continued exposure to stressthat health becomes endangered. Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress. Since we cannot remove stress from our lives(it would be unwise to do so even if we could),we need to find ways to deal with it.
|
What would the passage deal with,if it were to continue?
|
[
"How to keep mentally fit.",
"Why we have a tight schedule.",
"How to handle stress correctly.",
"How we can benefit from stress."
] |
C
|
devhigh10775
|
About a year ago, a couple with three children moved into the apartment next door to me. I never heard any noise from the children, but the parents were always _ at them.
We often met. I always spoke, but the only answer I ever got was a hello from a four-year-old girl. One day when I returned, they were just coming back to their apartment and the little girl was holding the door in the hall open for the others. I remained in the car doing unnecessary things. The parents were telling her to hurry. I looked up and saw the little girl was still holding the door open, waiting for me. I hurried as much as I could and thanked her. She was smiling from ear to ear.
That afternoon I was at the K-Mart and saw a white teddy bear. I thought of the little girl and said to myself, "I bet she would like it." So I bought it for her.
The next day there was a knock on the door and it was the little girl and her father. She was so proud of her bear and thanked me. Then I noticed her mother and the other children were there in the hall, too.
Now when we meet in the hall, we all speak in a friendly manner. Last night we had about four inches of snow. The temperature was below zero. When I opened the outside door, there was my car with all the snow removed. The man next door was the only person I knew in the whole building, so when I saw him the next day, I asked him if he was the nice person that removed the snow. He said NO. He wanted to, but his wife said she wanted to do it.
Isn't it amazing that the small kind act of a four-year-old girl can change so many things for the better?
|
Why did the author do unnecessary things in his car?
|
[
"His neighbor yelled at him.",
"He did not know how to kill time.",
"The weather was cold outside.",
"He did not wanted to be embarrassed."
] |
D
|
devhigh10775
|
About a year ago, a couple with three children moved into the apartment next door to me. I never heard any noise from the children, but the parents were always _ at them.
We often met. I always spoke, but the only answer I ever got was a hello from a four-year-old girl. One day when I returned, they were just coming back to their apartment and the little girl was holding the door in the hall open for the others. I remained in the car doing unnecessary things. The parents were telling her to hurry. I looked up and saw the little girl was still holding the door open, waiting for me. I hurried as much as I could and thanked her. She was smiling from ear to ear.
That afternoon I was at the K-Mart and saw a white teddy bear. I thought of the little girl and said to myself, "I bet she would like it." So I bought it for her.
The next day there was a knock on the door and it was the little girl and her father. She was so proud of her bear and thanked me. Then I noticed her mother and the other children were there in the hall, too.
Now when we meet in the hall, we all speak in a friendly manner. Last night we had about four inches of snow. The temperature was below zero. When I opened the outside door, there was my car with all the snow removed. The man next door was the only person I knew in the whole building, so when I saw him the next day, I asked him if he was the nice person that removed the snow. He said NO. He wanted to, but his wife said she wanted to do it.
Isn't it amazing that the small kind act of a four-year-old girl can change so many things for the better?
|
What the four-year-old girl did made the author feel _ .
|
[
"warm",
"sad",
"upset",
"angry"
] |
A
|
devhigh10775
|
About a year ago, a couple with three children moved into the apartment next door to me. I never heard any noise from the children, but the parents were always _ at them.
We often met. I always spoke, but the only answer I ever got was a hello from a four-year-old girl. One day when I returned, they were just coming back to their apartment and the little girl was holding the door in the hall open for the others. I remained in the car doing unnecessary things. The parents were telling her to hurry. I looked up and saw the little girl was still holding the door open, waiting for me. I hurried as much as I could and thanked her. She was smiling from ear to ear.
That afternoon I was at the K-Mart and saw a white teddy bear. I thought of the little girl and said to myself, "I bet she would like it." So I bought it for her.
The next day there was a knock on the door and it was the little girl and her father. She was so proud of her bear and thanked me. Then I noticed her mother and the other children were there in the hall, too.
Now when we meet in the hall, we all speak in a friendly manner. Last night we had about four inches of snow. The temperature was below zero. When I opened the outside door, there was my car with all the snow removed. The man next door was the only person I knew in the whole building, so when I saw him the next day, I asked him if he was the nice person that removed the snow. He said NO. He wanted to, but his wife said she wanted to do it.
Isn't it amazing that the small kind act of a four-year-old girl can change so many things for the better?
|
The passage mainly tells us _ .?
|
[
"Children should be polite to their neighbors.",
"People should be kind and communicate with each other.",
"Your neighbors are not as bad as you think.",
"Things can be changed by removing snow."
] |
B
|
devhigh10788
|
English nowadays is widely used in science, business, the media and popular culture. For example, 80% of e-mails on the internet are in English. But where will English be at the end of the 21stcentury?
One view is that English is going to become even more important as a global language, being most widely used in trade and media while some other languages will become less important or just disappear. Another view is that English is already breaking up into several separate languages. There are already dictionaries of the "New Englishes", such as Australian English, full of words that a British English speaker would not recognize.
Hopefully, neither of these things will happen. Although different varieties of English will continue to develop around the world, standard English will survive for international communication. However, it is impossible for one language to totally control the world. Already, other languages are fighting back against the control of English on the net. Governments around the world are also starting to protect smaller languages and recognize the importance of keeping a variety of cultures and languages. English will probably stay in control for a long time, but it certainly won't become the only language in the world.
|
According to the situation, how many people do you think speak English now?
|
[
"200 million",
"300 million",
"500 million",
"a billion"
] |
D
|
devhigh10788
|
English nowadays is widely used in science, business, the media and popular culture. For example, 80% of e-mails on the internet are in English. But where will English be at the end of the 21stcentury?
One view is that English is going to become even more important as a global language, being most widely used in trade and media while some other languages will become less important or just disappear. Another view is that English is already breaking up into several separate languages. There are already dictionaries of the "New Englishes", such as Australian English, full of words that a British English speaker would not recognize.
Hopefully, neither of these things will happen. Although different varieties of English will continue to develop around the world, standard English will survive for international communication. However, it is impossible for one language to totally control the world. Already, other languages are fighting back against the control of English on the net. Governments around the world are also starting to protect smaller languages and recognize the importance of keeping a variety of cultures and languages. English will probably stay in control for a long time, but it certainly won't become the only language in the world.
|
At present, what is the most important language in the world?
|
[
"Chinese",
"English",
"French",
"German"
] |
B
|
devhigh10788
|
English nowadays is widely used in science, business, the media and popular culture. For example, 80% of e-mails on the internet are in English. But where will English be at the end of the 21stcentury?
One view is that English is going to become even more important as a global language, being most widely used in trade and media while some other languages will become less important or just disappear. Another view is that English is already breaking up into several separate languages. There are already dictionaries of the "New Englishes", such as Australian English, full of words that a British English speaker would not recognize.
Hopefully, neither of these things will happen. Although different varieties of English will continue to develop around the world, standard English will survive for international communication. However, it is impossible for one language to totally control the world. Already, other languages are fighting back against the control of English on the net. Governments around the world are also starting to protect smaller languages and recognize the importance of keeping a variety of cultures and languages. English will probably stay in control for a long time, but it certainly won't become the only language in the world.
|
What is the best title of the passage?
|
[
"The Change of English",
"Different Varieties of English",
"The Future of English",
"The Cause of English Change"
] |
C
|
devhigh1080
|
Egypt: Bridging the Gap between School English and Real English
Teaching English in Egypt in general and in my town Damietta in particular, is mainly directed towards helping students to pass their final exams. Unfortunately, most teachers do not adopt a long -term approach that guarantees that their students will be able to use English outside the classroom. So students only concentrate on one skill which is writing. Thus their listening and speaking skills are disabled. What is important to them is to pass the exam which is primarily based on writing .Teachers are not only concentrated with providing their students with questions that are similar to those of the final exam, particularly General Secondary Education Certificate (GSEC) Examination, so students spend most of their time answering typical exam questions.
Most students' scores are high; a lot of students get full marks. However, few students are able to communicate in English because their role plays. As a result, a lot of students complain that they are unable to understand and talk fluently with native speakers of English.
To enable students to communicate freely and spontaneously in English, I bring features of real communication into language practice, I always ask students about their own experiences, and suggest groups of students practice what they have learned outside the classroom. This helps lower-achieving students absorb language. Furthermore, role play is a very effective way to improve speaking skills particularly if it is connected to the experience of the students.
|
Who probably write this passage?
|
[
"a teacher",
"a governor",
"a student",
"a reporter"
] |
A
|
devhigh1080
|
Egypt: Bridging the Gap between School English and Real English
Teaching English in Egypt in general and in my town Damietta in particular, is mainly directed towards helping students to pass their final exams. Unfortunately, most teachers do not adopt a long -term approach that guarantees that their students will be able to use English outside the classroom. So students only concentrate on one skill which is writing. Thus their listening and speaking skills are disabled. What is important to them is to pass the exam which is primarily based on writing .Teachers are not only concentrated with providing their students with questions that are similar to those of the final exam, particularly General Secondary Education Certificate (GSEC) Examination, so students spend most of their time answering typical exam questions.
Most students' scores are high; a lot of students get full marks. However, few students are able to communicate in English because their role plays. As a result, a lot of students complain that they are unable to understand and talk fluently with native speakers of English.
To enable students to communicate freely and spontaneously in English, I bring features of real communication into language practice, I always ask students about their own experiences, and suggest groups of students practice what they have learned outside the classroom. This helps lower-achieving students absorb language. Furthermore, role play is a very effective way to improve speaking skills particularly if it is connected to the experience of the students.
|
In Egypt, the students only concentrate on ------
|
[
"listening skill",
"speaking skill",
"reading skill",
"writing skill"
] |
D
|
devhigh1080
|
Egypt: Bridging the Gap between School English and Real English
Teaching English in Egypt in general and in my town Damietta in particular, is mainly directed towards helping students to pass their final exams. Unfortunately, most teachers do not adopt a long -term approach that guarantees that their students will be able to use English outside the classroom. So students only concentrate on one skill which is writing. Thus their listening and speaking skills are disabled. What is important to them is to pass the exam which is primarily based on writing .Teachers are not only concentrated with providing their students with questions that are similar to those of the final exam, particularly General Secondary Education Certificate (GSEC) Examination, so students spend most of their time answering typical exam questions.
Most students' scores are high; a lot of students get full marks. However, few students are able to communicate in English because their role plays. As a result, a lot of students complain that they are unable to understand and talk fluently with native speakers of English.
To enable students to communicate freely and spontaneously in English, I bring features of real communication into language practice, I always ask students about their own experiences, and suggest groups of students practice what they have learned outside the classroom. This helps lower-achieving students absorb language. Furthermore, role play is a very effective way to improve speaking skills particularly if it is connected to the experience of the students.
|
The teachers question their students based on -------
|
[
"what they learn in the class",
"What their parents expect",
"The questions that are similar to those of GSEC",
"The ability that will be used outside the classroom"
] |
C
|
devhigh1080
|
Egypt: Bridging the Gap between School English and Real English
Teaching English in Egypt in general and in my town Damietta in particular, is mainly directed towards helping students to pass their final exams. Unfortunately, most teachers do not adopt a long -term approach that guarantees that their students will be able to use English outside the classroom. So students only concentrate on one skill which is writing. Thus their listening and speaking skills are disabled. What is important to them is to pass the exam which is primarily based on writing .Teachers are not only concentrated with providing their students with questions that are similar to those of the final exam, particularly General Secondary Education Certificate (GSEC) Examination, so students spend most of their time answering typical exam questions.
Most students' scores are high; a lot of students get full marks. However, few students are able to communicate in English because their role plays. As a result, a lot of students complain that they are unable to understand and talk fluently with native speakers of English.
To enable students to communicate freely and spontaneously in English, I bring features of real communication into language practice, I always ask students about their own experiences, and suggest groups of students practice what they have learned outside the classroom. This helps lower-achieving students absorb language. Furthermore, role play is a very effective way to improve speaking skills particularly if it is connected to the experience of the students.
|
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
|
[
"Most of the students can't get high marks but can communicate with the native speakers of English.",
"Communicating skill is more important than writing skill.",
"Role play connected to the speaker's experience is more effective \nin improving his skill.",
"The lower--achieving students can do better in speaking skill than the upper achieving students."
] |
C
|
devhigh1080
|
Egypt: Bridging the Gap between School English and Real English
Teaching English in Egypt in general and in my town Damietta in particular, is mainly directed towards helping students to pass their final exams. Unfortunately, most teachers do not adopt a long -term approach that guarantees that their students will be able to use English outside the classroom. So students only concentrate on one skill which is writing. Thus their listening and speaking skills are disabled. What is important to them is to pass the exam which is primarily based on writing .Teachers are not only concentrated with providing their students with questions that are similar to those of the final exam, particularly General Secondary Education Certificate (GSEC) Examination, so students spend most of their time answering typical exam questions.
Most students' scores are high; a lot of students get full marks. However, few students are able to communicate in English because their role plays. As a result, a lot of students complain that they are unable to understand and talk fluently with native speakers of English.
To enable students to communicate freely and spontaneously in English, I bring features of real communication into language practice, I always ask students about their own experiences, and suggest groups of students practice what they have learned outside the classroom. This helps lower-achieving students absorb language. Furthermore, role play is a very effective way to improve speaking skills particularly if it is connected to the experience of the students.
|
Who will responsible for the gap between school English and real English?
|
[
"Their parents",
"The students",
"The school",
"The education sys tem"
] |
D
|
devhigh1083
|
LONDON: What could possibly be wrong with planting trees? The advantages are obvious; they firm the soil, soak up extra water and take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
However, it now turns out that planting trees could add to global warming.
Tree roots do a great job of keeping soil firmly on the ground and out of the wind's power. The problem is that some of those dust clouds play an important part in soaking up carbon dioxide.
Huge dust storms blow out over the oceans from dry parts of North Africa and central Asia. Tons of dust are lifted and left as a thin film over the ocean surface. The dust fuels oceanic life.
Dust from China is carried east and left in the Pacific Ocean. If a tree-planting programme there is successful and the dust supply reduced, the net result may be that less carbon dioxide gets locked away in the ocean.
Andy Ridgwell, an environmental scientist from the University of East Anglia, has spent the past few years studying dust and says his work "shows clearly the complexity of the system and the importance of not tinkering with it without understanding the results. For this reason there is the need to focus on cutting carbon dioxide giving off rather than monkeying about with the land surface."
An American scientist, Robert Jackson, has shown that when native grassland areas are invaded by trees, carbon is lost from the soil. "We are studying why the soil carbon disappears, but one theory is that trees do a lot more of their growing above ground compared to grasses, so less carbon goes directly into the soil from trees, " says Jackson.
In wet areas of the world, the gain from trees absorbing carbon dioxide above ground seems to be outweighed by the loss of carbon from the soil below ground. Countries that plan to _ global warming by planting trees may have to think again. Solutions to environmental problems are often more complex than they first appear, and understanding the Earth's climate is a very great challenge.
|
People usually hold the opinion that
|
[
"huge dust storms can destroy carbon dioxide",
"huge dust storms can destroy the oceans on the earth",
"huge dust storms can't do anything beneficial for man",
"planting trees is the only way to control huge dust storms"
] |
C
|
devhigh1083
|
LONDON: What could possibly be wrong with planting trees? The advantages are obvious; they firm the soil, soak up extra water and take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
However, it now turns out that planting trees could add to global warming.
Tree roots do a great job of keeping soil firmly on the ground and out of the wind's power. The problem is that some of those dust clouds play an important part in soaking up carbon dioxide.
Huge dust storms blow out over the oceans from dry parts of North Africa and central Asia. Tons of dust are lifted and left as a thin film over the ocean surface. The dust fuels oceanic life.
Dust from China is carried east and left in the Pacific Ocean. If a tree-planting programme there is successful and the dust supply reduced, the net result may be that less carbon dioxide gets locked away in the ocean.
Andy Ridgwell, an environmental scientist from the University of East Anglia, has spent the past few years studying dust and says his work "shows clearly the complexity of the system and the importance of not tinkering with it without understanding the results. For this reason there is the need to focus on cutting carbon dioxide giving off rather than monkeying about with the land surface."
An American scientist, Robert Jackson, has shown that when native grassland areas are invaded by trees, carbon is lost from the soil. "We are studying why the soil carbon disappears, but one theory is that trees do a lot more of their growing above ground compared to grasses, so less carbon goes directly into the soil from trees, " says Jackson.
In wet areas of the world, the gain from trees absorbing carbon dioxide above ground seems to be outweighed by the loss of carbon from the soil below ground. Countries that plan to _ global warming by planting trees may have to think again. Solutions to environmental problems are often more complex than they first appear, and understanding the Earth's climate is a very great challenge.
|
Andy Ridgwell, the environmental scientist, believes that
|
[
"dust plays a more important part than trees",
"trees shouldn't have been planted in dry places",
"carbon dioxide is harmful to everything on the earth",
"environmental problems are more complex than expected"
] |
D
|
devhigh1083
|
LONDON: What could possibly be wrong with planting trees? The advantages are obvious; they firm the soil, soak up extra water and take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
However, it now turns out that planting trees could add to global warming.
Tree roots do a great job of keeping soil firmly on the ground and out of the wind's power. The problem is that some of those dust clouds play an important part in soaking up carbon dioxide.
Huge dust storms blow out over the oceans from dry parts of North Africa and central Asia. Tons of dust are lifted and left as a thin film over the ocean surface. The dust fuels oceanic life.
Dust from China is carried east and left in the Pacific Ocean. If a tree-planting programme there is successful and the dust supply reduced, the net result may be that less carbon dioxide gets locked away in the ocean.
Andy Ridgwell, an environmental scientist from the University of East Anglia, has spent the past few years studying dust and says his work "shows clearly the complexity of the system and the importance of not tinkering with it without understanding the results. For this reason there is the need to focus on cutting carbon dioxide giving off rather than monkeying about with the land surface."
An American scientist, Robert Jackson, has shown that when native grassland areas are invaded by trees, carbon is lost from the soil. "We are studying why the soil carbon disappears, but one theory is that trees do a lot more of their growing above ground compared to grasses, so less carbon goes directly into the soil from trees, " says Jackson.
In wet areas of the world, the gain from trees absorbing carbon dioxide above ground seems to be outweighed by the loss of carbon from the soil below ground. Countries that plan to _ global warming by planting trees may have to think again. Solutions to environmental problems are often more complex than they first appear, and understanding the Earth's climate is a very great challenge.
|
Robert Jackson's experiment proves that
|
[
"grassland areas should be covered by forests",
"trees hold more carbon than grass",
"carbon can turn grass into dust",
"less carbon can make trees grow faster"
] |
B
|
devhigh10897
|
Many of us already know about several American superstitions . Having a black cat cross your path, walking under a ladder, and breaking a mirror are all bad luck. In addition to these, there are many other superstitions that are worth knowing. Understanding them will keep you safe from evil spirits--if you believe in such things--and impress your American friends when you mention them.
Like the superstitions in other cultures, American superstitions often involve the things important in daily life, such as health, numbers, and marriage. For example, have you ever had a cough that would not go away? According to one American superstition, you should take a piece of your hair and put it between two slices of buttered bread. Next, feed this hair sandwich to a dog and say, "Eat well, you hound, may you be sick and I be sound."This will trick the evil spirits and help your cough. _ .
In American superstitions, the number three is very important. Often, Americans will say, "All things come in threes." Three is lucky because it represents the traditional family: mother, father, and child. Therefore, gifts, letters, and guests will often arrive at your home in groups of three. However, it is also possible for bad events, like accidents and funerals, to come in threes as well.
Another time people pay attention to superstitions is when they get married. During a wedding, brides must wear or carry"something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue."The old and borrowed things will bring luck to the person who gives them to the bride. The new and blue things will bring good fortune to the bride herself. The next time someone you know is getting married, be sure to recite this phrase.
As it would be unlucky to discuss one more superstition, we will wind things up here. Keep your fingers crossed, and stay lucky!
|
The passage is most probably entitled " _ ".
|
[
"American's Bad Luck",
"Cross-culture and Superstitions",
"American Superstitions",
"Daily Life in Superstitions"
] |
C
|
devhigh10897
|
Many of us already know about several American superstitions . Having a black cat cross your path, walking under a ladder, and breaking a mirror are all bad luck. In addition to these, there are many other superstitions that are worth knowing. Understanding them will keep you safe from evil spirits--if you believe in such things--and impress your American friends when you mention them.
Like the superstitions in other cultures, American superstitions often involve the things important in daily life, such as health, numbers, and marriage. For example, have you ever had a cough that would not go away? According to one American superstition, you should take a piece of your hair and put it between two slices of buttered bread. Next, feed this hair sandwich to a dog and say, "Eat well, you hound, may you be sick and I be sound."This will trick the evil spirits and help your cough. _ .
In American superstitions, the number three is very important. Often, Americans will say, "All things come in threes." Three is lucky because it represents the traditional family: mother, father, and child. Therefore, gifts, letters, and guests will often arrive at your home in groups of three. However, it is also possible for bad events, like accidents and funerals, to come in threes as well.
Another time people pay attention to superstitions is when they get married. During a wedding, brides must wear or carry"something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue."The old and borrowed things will bring luck to the person who gives them to the bride. The new and blue things will bring good fortune to the bride herself. The next time someone you know is getting married, be sure to recite this phrase.
As it would be unlucky to discuss one more superstition, we will wind things up here. Keep your fingers crossed, and stay lucky!
|
In American's view, the number three is a(n) _ number.
|
[
"lucky",
"unlucky",
"special",
"ordinary"
] |
C
|
devhigh10897
|
Many of us already know about several American superstitions . Having a black cat cross your path, walking under a ladder, and breaking a mirror are all bad luck. In addition to these, there are many other superstitions that are worth knowing. Understanding them will keep you safe from evil spirits--if you believe in such things--and impress your American friends when you mention them.
Like the superstitions in other cultures, American superstitions often involve the things important in daily life, such as health, numbers, and marriage. For example, have you ever had a cough that would not go away? According to one American superstition, you should take a piece of your hair and put it between two slices of buttered bread. Next, feed this hair sandwich to a dog and say, "Eat well, you hound, may you be sick and I be sound."This will trick the evil spirits and help your cough. _ .
In American superstitions, the number three is very important. Often, Americans will say, "All things come in threes." Three is lucky because it represents the traditional family: mother, father, and child. Therefore, gifts, letters, and guests will often arrive at your home in groups of three. However, it is also possible for bad events, like accidents and funerals, to come in threes as well.
Another time people pay attention to superstitions is when they get married. During a wedding, brides must wear or carry"something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue."The old and borrowed things will bring luck to the person who gives them to the bride. The new and blue things will bring good fortune to the bride herself. The next time someone you know is getting married, be sure to recite this phrase.
As it would be unlucky to discuss one more superstition, we will wind things up here. Keep your fingers crossed, and stay lucky!
|
On the wedding, the bride often uses old and borrowed things so as to _ .
|
[
"save some money for the wedding",
"bring good luck to the people who give them to the bride",
"give the good luck to the bride herself",
"pass the bad luck to others"
] |
B
|
devhigh1090
|
Summer in Europe is very nice for us to visit one of our favourite cities for a break. Below we have put together a short list of our favourite summer break locations that offer a great balance of culture, sunshine and fun.
Berlin, the second most populous city in the European Union, gets the third place on our list. It has three famous airports: Tegel International Airport, Tempelhof International Airport, and Schonefeld International Airport.
The capital of Germany is on this list not only because it is a fantastic place to go on holiday but also since it teaches a very important lesson to humanity(,). The Berlin Wall, the better part of which still remains well kept for educational and amusement aims, reminds us of the extra costs paid by everyone. Today, the undamaged part of the Wall, known as the East Side Gallery, shows striking murals ;if you are interested in this chapter of the city's history, there is also a Berlin Wall Memorial you would want to visit. The Potsdamer Platz, divided into two by the Wall, is a newly developed area that is famous for a large shopping center and movie theatre complexes , and adds a bit of modern colour to Berlin's historical value.
Much like the other places that made the list, Berlin is also a city of art. The city has over one hundred and fifty museums in all, and a few of the ones providing an extraordinary experience include the Art Center Berlin Friedrichstrabe, the Museum of Indian Art, and the Museum of East Asian Art. Appreciating Berlin's art is much like taking a university course in itself and it can only be truly appreciated in several trips.
|
Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in this passage?
|
[
"Berlin is a city with a large population in Europe.",
"Berlin has many parks and bridges.",
"Berlin is a city with many museums.",
"Berlin is the capital city of Germany."
] |
B
|
devhigh1090
|
Summer in Europe is very nice for us to visit one of our favourite cities for a break. Below we have put together a short list of our favourite summer break locations that offer a great balance of culture, sunshine and fun.
Berlin, the second most populous city in the European Union, gets the third place on our list. It has three famous airports: Tegel International Airport, Tempelhof International Airport, and Schonefeld International Airport.
The capital of Germany is on this list not only because it is a fantastic place to go on holiday but also since it teaches a very important lesson to humanity(,). The Berlin Wall, the better part of which still remains well kept for educational and amusement aims, reminds us of the extra costs paid by everyone. Today, the undamaged part of the Wall, known as the East Side Gallery, shows striking murals ;if you are interested in this chapter of the city's history, there is also a Berlin Wall Memorial you would want to visit. The Potsdamer Platz, divided into two by the Wall, is a newly developed area that is famous for a large shopping center and movie theatre complexes , and adds a bit of modern colour to Berlin's historical value.
Much like the other places that made the list, Berlin is also a city of art. The city has over one hundred and fifty museums in all, and a few of the ones providing an extraordinary experience include the Art Center Berlin Friedrichstrabe, the Museum of Indian Art, and the Museum of East Asian Art. Appreciating Berlin's art is much like taking a university course in itself and it can only be truly appreciated in several trips.
|
From the passage, visitors can enjoy _ .
|
[
"beautiful sights",
"striking murals",
"art museums",
"all the above"
] |
D
|
devhigh1090
|
Summer in Europe is very nice for us to visit one of our favourite cities for a break. Below we have put together a short list of our favourite summer break locations that offer a great balance of culture, sunshine and fun.
Berlin, the second most populous city in the European Union, gets the third place on our list. It has three famous airports: Tegel International Airport, Tempelhof International Airport, and Schonefeld International Airport.
The capital of Germany is on this list not only because it is a fantastic place to go on holiday but also since it teaches a very important lesson to humanity(,). The Berlin Wall, the better part of which still remains well kept for educational and amusement aims, reminds us of the extra costs paid by everyone. Today, the undamaged part of the Wall, known as the East Side Gallery, shows striking murals ;if you are interested in this chapter of the city's history, there is also a Berlin Wall Memorial you would want to visit. The Potsdamer Platz, divided into two by the Wall, is a newly developed area that is famous for a large shopping center and movie theatre complexes , and adds a bit of modern colour to Berlin's historical value.
Much like the other places that made the list, Berlin is also a city of art. The city has over one hundred and fifty museums in all, and a few of the ones providing an extraordinary experience include the Art Center Berlin Friedrichstrabe, the Museum of Indian Art, and the Museum of East Asian Art. Appreciating Berlin's art is much like taking a university course in itself and it can only be truly appreciated in several trips.
|
If Peter is interested in German history, he should visit _ .
|
[
"the Art Center Berlin Friedrichstrabe",
"the Museum of Indian Art",
"the Berlin Wall Memorial",
"movie theatre complexes"
] |
C
|
devhigh10902
|
Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to ban the dumping (;) of electronic equipment such as computer monitors and television sets. It means people there can no longer put computer monitors, TV sets and other devices containing glass picture tubes out on the street for pickup by garbage cleaners.
Official said much of this equipment is loaded with poisonous heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury. These poisonous heavy metals could go into groundwater or be released into the air.
The Boston Globe reports the state has set up a system to recycle _ at state expense through community recycling centers.
Robin Ingenthron of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection said the state has been trying to get its electronics-recycling program in place 'before the future wave of electronics hits'. The National Safety Council estimates some 300 million computers will enter the nation's waste system in the next few years.
In addition, millions of people will be getting rid of their old television sets. New high-quality digital televisions and new rules will make old TV sets no longer in use over the next several years.
|
The passage tells us chiefly about _ .
|
[
"forbidding of a certain type of garbage dumping",
"new problems of environmental protection",
"household problems raised by computers and TV sets",
"the handling of garbage"
] |
A
|
devhigh10902
|
Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to ban the dumping (;) of electronic equipment such as computer monitors and television sets. It means people there can no longer put computer monitors, TV sets and other devices containing glass picture tubes out on the street for pickup by garbage cleaners.
Official said much of this equipment is loaded with poisonous heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury. These poisonous heavy metals could go into groundwater or be released into the air.
The Boston Globe reports the state has set up a system to recycle _ at state expense through community recycling centers.
Robin Ingenthron of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection said the state has been trying to get its electronics-recycling program in place 'before the future wave of electronics hits'. The National Safety Council estimates some 300 million computers will enter the nation's waste system in the next few years.
In addition, millions of people will be getting rid of their old television sets. New high-quality digital televisions and new rules will make old TV sets no longer in use over the next several years.
|
Which is NOT a reason that the state enforces a ban on electronic equipment dumping?
|
[
"This kind of garbage is poisonous.",
"Recycling systems are not working well.",
"The poisonous heavy metals can go to the underground water and the air.",
"There will be much more electronic garbage soon."
] |
B
|
devhigh10908
|
Culture and Cuisine
The United States is known for jazz and blue jeans.But travel to Paris and ask your average French citizen about American cuisine and he's likely to answer," McDonalds." Ask the same thing of any American citizen on any American street and I'm afraid you'd get the same answer,or something close to it.
Hamburgers and hotdogs and fries are all fine,but with American malls and other outlets standardizing everything from clothing to food,the sad truth is that American cuisine is becoming more homogeneous--all the same--no matter where you live.True,many Americans are eating more varied foods these days,but these are largely the cuisines of immigrant groups,and they are quite likely to be affected by homogenization of American cuisine.
So what exactly is American cuisine? Well,to some extent it is a reflection of our melting pot culture,meaning that Europeans made huge contributions in the form of wheat,dairy products,pork,beef and poultry.But American cuisine also includes products that once were known only to the New World,including potatoes,corn,pumpkin,sweet potatoes,and peanuts.
The one region of the country where you still find all these things in daily use is the Deep South.The South lost the Civil War,but children of the southerners are winning the battle to preserve and advance their cooking traditions--and in this case one of the few cuisines can truly be called American,which is why we're pleased to have Low Country cuisine in this issue of food creation.That's right,grits and gravy are back in a big way in cities like Charleston and Savannah.Truth is,they never really left,but up until a decade ago Low Country cuisine was more common at home than in restaurants.
In fact,a large number of tourists now go to the lower Atlantic region in order to experience this extraordinary cuisine for themselves.Time will tell whether Low Country cuisine becomes popular in other regions of the country in the way that,say,Italian cuisine has,but it's amazing and heartening to see one of our true cultural treasures enjoying renewed popularity in these increasingly homogeneous times.
|
According to the passage,American cuisine impresses people as being _ .
|
[
"dull and changeless",
"rich and various",
"popular and delicious",
"disagreeable and unpleasant"
] |
A
|
devhigh10908
|
Culture and Cuisine
The United States is known for jazz and blue jeans.But travel to Paris and ask your average French citizen about American cuisine and he's likely to answer," McDonalds." Ask the same thing of any American citizen on any American street and I'm afraid you'd get the same answer,or something close to it.
Hamburgers and hotdogs and fries are all fine,but with American malls and other outlets standardizing everything from clothing to food,the sad truth is that American cuisine is becoming more homogeneous--all the same--no matter where you live.True,many Americans are eating more varied foods these days,but these are largely the cuisines of immigrant groups,and they are quite likely to be affected by homogenization of American cuisine.
So what exactly is American cuisine? Well,to some extent it is a reflection of our melting pot culture,meaning that Europeans made huge contributions in the form of wheat,dairy products,pork,beef and poultry.But American cuisine also includes products that once were known only to the New World,including potatoes,corn,pumpkin,sweet potatoes,and peanuts.
The one region of the country where you still find all these things in daily use is the Deep South.The South lost the Civil War,but children of the southerners are winning the battle to preserve and advance their cooking traditions--and in this case one of the few cuisines can truly be called American,which is why we're pleased to have Low Country cuisine in this issue of food creation.That's right,grits and gravy are back in a big way in cities like Charleston and Savannah.Truth is,they never really left,but up until a decade ago Low Country cuisine was more common at home than in restaurants.
In fact,a large number of tourists now go to the lower Atlantic region in order to experience this extraordinary cuisine for themselves.Time will tell whether Low Country cuisine becomes popular in other regions of the country in the way that,say,Italian cuisine has,but it's amazing and heartening to see one of our true cultural treasures enjoying renewed popularity in these increasingly homogeneous times.
|
It can be seen that the writer feels regretful that _ .
|
[
"cuisines of other countries play a more important role in America",
"American cuisine has become increasingly lacking in variety",
"American cuisine tends to vary because of immigration",
"American cuisine is being changed by foreign cuisines"
] |
B
|
devhigh10908
|
Culture and Cuisine
The United States is known for jazz and blue jeans.But travel to Paris and ask your average French citizen about American cuisine and he's likely to answer," McDonalds." Ask the same thing of any American citizen on any American street and I'm afraid you'd get the same answer,or something close to it.
Hamburgers and hotdogs and fries are all fine,but with American malls and other outlets standardizing everything from clothing to food,the sad truth is that American cuisine is becoming more homogeneous--all the same--no matter where you live.True,many Americans are eating more varied foods these days,but these are largely the cuisines of immigrant groups,and they are quite likely to be affected by homogenization of American cuisine.
So what exactly is American cuisine? Well,to some extent it is a reflection of our melting pot culture,meaning that Europeans made huge contributions in the form of wheat,dairy products,pork,beef and poultry.But American cuisine also includes products that once were known only to the New World,including potatoes,corn,pumpkin,sweet potatoes,and peanuts.
The one region of the country where you still find all these things in daily use is the Deep South.The South lost the Civil War,but children of the southerners are winning the battle to preserve and advance their cooking traditions--and in this case one of the few cuisines can truly be called American,which is why we're pleased to have Low Country cuisine in this issue of food creation.That's right,grits and gravy are back in a big way in cities like Charleston and Savannah.Truth is,they never really left,but up until a decade ago Low Country cuisine was more common at home than in restaurants.
In fact,a large number of tourists now go to the lower Atlantic region in order to experience this extraordinary cuisine for themselves.Time will tell whether Low Country cuisine becomes popular in other regions of the country in the way that,say,Italian cuisine has,but it's amazing and heartening to see one of our true cultural treasures enjoying renewed popularity in these increasingly homogeneous times.
|
From the passage,we know that grits and gravy _ .
|
[
"were cooked with new materials after the Civil War",
"are gaining popularity in the south of America",
"were more popular over ten years ago",
"are seldom served in restaurants"
] |
B
|
devhigh10908
|
Culture and Cuisine
The United States is known for jazz and blue jeans.But travel to Paris and ask your average French citizen about American cuisine and he's likely to answer," McDonalds." Ask the same thing of any American citizen on any American street and I'm afraid you'd get the same answer,or something close to it.
Hamburgers and hotdogs and fries are all fine,but with American malls and other outlets standardizing everything from clothing to food,the sad truth is that American cuisine is becoming more homogeneous--all the same--no matter where you live.True,many Americans are eating more varied foods these days,but these are largely the cuisines of immigrant groups,and they are quite likely to be affected by homogenization of American cuisine.
So what exactly is American cuisine? Well,to some extent it is a reflection of our melting pot culture,meaning that Europeans made huge contributions in the form of wheat,dairy products,pork,beef and poultry.But American cuisine also includes products that once were known only to the New World,including potatoes,corn,pumpkin,sweet potatoes,and peanuts.
The one region of the country where you still find all these things in daily use is the Deep South.The South lost the Civil War,but children of the southerners are winning the battle to preserve and advance their cooking traditions--and in this case one of the few cuisines can truly be called American,which is why we're pleased to have Low Country cuisine in this issue of food creation.That's right,grits and gravy are back in a big way in cities like Charleston and Savannah.Truth is,they never really left,but up until a decade ago Low Country cuisine was more common at home than in restaurants.
In fact,a large number of tourists now go to the lower Atlantic region in order to experience this extraordinary cuisine for themselves.Time will tell whether Low Country cuisine becomes popular in other regions of the country in the way that,say,Italian cuisine has,but it's amazing and heartening to see one of our true cultural treasures enjoying renewed popularity in these increasingly homogeneous times.
|
What's the writer's attitude towards the renewal of Low Country cuisine in America?
|
[
"Concerned and cautious.",
"Hopeless and doubtful.",
"Positive and supportive.",
"Critical and disapproving."
] |
C
|
devhigh10915
|
Everybody in this world is different from one another.But do you know that understanding differences can help you better manage your money?
As we grow up,we gradually develop a set of our own values or beliefs.These are influenced by society,our family,the education we receive and so on.Once this value system is set up,it's not easy to change later in life.
Financial experts say that everyone also has their own belief of how to manage their finances.This is part of our value system and it has a great impact on the way we look after our money.
According to our different values,experts put us in three categories.They are:the ant,the cricket and the snail.
The ant-works first
Just like ants who work heart and soul in summer in order to store food for winter,these people don't care about enjoying the moment.They work very hard and save money they earn so that they can enjoy life when they get old and retire.The ant loves to save but they could make more out of their money if they were willing to invest in some funds and stocks with low risk.
The cricket-fun first
The cricket wants to enjoy everything now and doesn't think too much about the future.They even borrow money when they really want something.Many young people now belong to this group.These people have little savings.When they get old,they might have problems.They should learn to save and buy insurance.
The snail-lives under pressure
The snail refers to people who make life difficult for themselves.They take big long-term loans from the bank in order to buy things such as luxury houses.They are happy to take big loans even though they are not sure whether they can afford it.This can cause problems in the future.They should plan more carefully.
|
People with the character of the snail would like to _ .
|
[
"enjoy life at the moment without thinking much about the future",
"put work before everything else",
"live a luxury life at all costs",
"take the risk of investing a large sum of money"
] |
C
|
devhigh10915
|
Everybody in this world is different from one another.But do you know that understanding differences can help you better manage your money?
As we grow up,we gradually develop a set of our own values or beliefs.These are influenced by society,our family,the education we receive and so on.Once this value system is set up,it's not easy to change later in life.
Financial experts say that everyone also has their own belief of how to manage their finances.This is part of our value system and it has a great impact on the way we look after our money.
According to our different values,experts put us in three categories.They are:the ant,the cricket and the snail.
The ant-works first
Just like ants who work heart and soul in summer in order to store food for winter,these people don't care about enjoying the moment.They work very hard and save money they earn so that they can enjoy life when they get old and retire.The ant loves to save but they could make more out of their money if they were willing to invest in some funds and stocks with low risk.
The cricket-fun first
The cricket wants to enjoy everything now and doesn't think too much about the future.They even borrow money when they really want something.Many young people now belong to this group.These people have little savings.When they get old,they might have problems.They should learn to save and buy insurance.
The snail-lives under pressure
The snail refers to people who make life difficult for themselves.They take big long-term loans from the bank in order to buy things such as luxury houses.They are happy to take big loans even though they are not sure whether they can afford it.This can cause problems in the future.They should plan more carefully.
|
Our beliefs and values are affected by the following except _ .
|
[
"society",
"our family",
"education",
"money"
] |
D
|
devhigh10915
|
Everybody in this world is different from one another.But do you know that understanding differences can help you better manage your money?
As we grow up,we gradually develop a set of our own values or beliefs.These are influenced by society,our family,the education we receive and so on.Once this value system is set up,it's not easy to change later in life.
Financial experts say that everyone also has their own belief of how to manage their finances.This is part of our value system and it has a great impact on the way we look after our money.
According to our different values,experts put us in three categories.They are:the ant,the cricket and the snail.
The ant-works first
Just like ants who work heart and soul in summer in order to store food for winter,these people don't care about enjoying the moment.They work very hard and save money they earn so that they can enjoy life when they get old and retire.The ant loves to save but they could make more out of their money if they were willing to invest in some funds and stocks with low risk.
The cricket-fun first
The cricket wants to enjoy everything now and doesn't think too much about the future.They even borrow money when they really want something.Many young people now belong to this group.These people have little savings.When they get old,they might have problems.They should learn to save and buy insurance.
The snail-lives under pressure
The snail refers to people who make life difficult for themselves.They take big long-term loans from the bank in order to buy things such as luxury houses.They are happy to take big loans even though they are not sure whether they can afford it.This can cause problems in the future.They should plan more carefully.
|
This passage mainly talks about _ .
|
[
"the spending nature of people",
"the relation between man and insects",
"the insects in nature",
"the problems with dealing with money"
] |
A
|
devhigh10915
|
Everybody in this world is different from one another.But do you know that understanding differences can help you better manage your money?
As we grow up,we gradually develop a set of our own values or beliefs.These are influenced by society,our family,the education we receive and so on.Once this value system is set up,it's not easy to change later in life.
Financial experts say that everyone also has their own belief of how to manage their finances.This is part of our value system and it has a great impact on the way we look after our money.
According to our different values,experts put us in three categories.They are:the ant,the cricket and the snail.
The ant-works first
Just like ants who work heart and soul in summer in order to store food for winter,these people don't care about enjoying the moment.They work very hard and save money they earn so that they can enjoy life when they get old and retire.The ant loves to save but they could make more out of their money if they were willing to invest in some funds and stocks with low risk.
The cricket-fun first
The cricket wants to enjoy everything now and doesn't think too much about the future.They even borrow money when they really want something.Many young people now belong to this group.These people have little savings.When they get old,they might have problems.They should learn to save and buy insurance.
The snail-lives under pressure
The snail refers to people who make life difficult for themselves.They take big long-term loans from the bank in order to buy things such as luxury houses.They are happy to take big loans even though they are not sure whether they can afford it.This can cause problems in the future.They should plan more carefully.
|
Which of the following has the character that the author prefers?
|
[
"The ant",
"The cricket",
"The snail",
"None of the above"
] |
A
|
devhigh10944
|
Around four years ago, I received a call from the principal of our school as to the "Parents View" talk the next morning. He asked me to speak to the group. After the call, my whole body became feverish and panicky. The time from his call to the next morning seemed like years. The whole night, I could not sleep with many _ in mind. One of them was to call the principal with regret and tell him that I could not come. Finally, I gathered some courage. I thought, "If I miss this opportunity, surely the school will never invite me again to any of their programs."
I reached the school in time. Before my turn came, my whole body was trembling. When my turn came and I started speaking, my heartbeat increased and my mouth went dry. I wasn't even able to read the written speech properly. I was not aware of where I was standing and what I was reading. That was the day when I realized my biggest weakness, Public Speaking.
After my speech, I met with the principal and explained what happened to me. He told me that this happens to everyone. Even great speaker, faced the same things when they started. He suggested that I come again next time.
Around one month later, I was invited to refer to a topic on Motivation. This time I was feeling comfortable. My speech was not only appreciated by the principal as well as the teachers, because I was able to get my idea across to them. They encouraged and praised my efforts.
After delivering is successfully, I became more confident .l said to myself, "If I can speak in front of such a learned audience, like the principal who educates others, I can now speak in front of others too."
I started delivering lectures in my plant, on various topics like Self Motivation, Personality Development, Personal Excellence, Spoken English and Presentation Skills. This has become a passion for me. I learned that everything is possible if we have the courage to take the first step.
|
Which of the following is the hest title for the passage?
|
[
"Practice Makes a Man a Better Speechmaker",
"Public Speaking Makes a Man Embarrassed.",
"Principal Provides the Best Chances.",
"Spoken English Develops in Malting Speeches."
] |
A
|
devhigh10944
|
Around four years ago, I received a call from the principal of our school as to the "Parents View" talk the next morning. He asked me to speak to the group. After the call, my whole body became feverish and panicky. The time from his call to the next morning seemed like years. The whole night, I could not sleep with many _ in mind. One of them was to call the principal with regret and tell him that I could not come. Finally, I gathered some courage. I thought, "If I miss this opportunity, surely the school will never invite me again to any of their programs."
I reached the school in time. Before my turn came, my whole body was trembling. When my turn came and I started speaking, my heartbeat increased and my mouth went dry. I wasn't even able to read the written speech properly. I was not aware of where I was standing and what I was reading. That was the day when I realized my biggest weakness, Public Speaking.
After my speech, I met with the principal and explained what happened to me. He told me that this happens to everyone. Even great speaker, faced the same things when they started. He suggested that I come again next time.
Around one month later, I was invited to refer to a topic on Motivation. This time I was feeling comfortable. My speech was not only appreciated by the principal as well as the teachers, because I was able to get my idea across to them. They encouraged and praised my efforts.
After delivering is successfully, I became more confident .l said to myself, "If I can speak in front of such a learned audience, like the principal who educates others, I can now speak in front of others too."
I started delivering lectures in my plant, on various topics like Self Motivation, Personality Development, Personal Excellence, Spoken English and Presentation Skills. This has become a passion for me. I learned that everything is possible if we have the courage to take the first step.
|
The author had bad feelings before the speech because _ .
|
[
"he disliked the idea of giving a lecture",
"he had got a high fever before that",
"he regretted accepting the invitation",
"he feared he couldn't perform it properly"
] |
D
|
devhigh10944
|
Around four years ago, I received a call from the principal of our school as to the "Parents View" talk the next morning. He asked me to speak to the group. After the call, my whole body became feverish and panicky. The time from his call to the next morning seemed like years. The whole night, I could not sleep with many _ in mind. One of them was to call the principal with regret and tell him that I could not come. Finally, I gathered some courage. I thought, "If I miss this opportunity, surely the school will never invite me again to any of their programs."
I reached the school in time. Before my turn came, my whole body was trembling. When my turn came and I started speaking, my heartbeat increased and my mouth went dry. I wasn't even able to read the written speech properly. I was not aware of where I was standing and what I was reading. That was the day when I realized my biggest weakness, Public Speaking.
After my speech, I met with the principal and explained what happened to me. He told me that this happens to everyone. Even great speaker, faced the same things when they started. He suggested that I come again next time.
Around one month later, I was invited to refer to a topic on Motivation. This time I was feeling comfortable. My speech was not only appreciated by the principal as well as the teachers, because I was able to get my idea across to them. They encouraged and praised my efforts.
After delivering is successfully, I became more confident .l said to myself, "If I can speak in front of such a learned audience, like the principal who educates others, I can now speak in front of others too."
I started delivering lectures in my plant, on various topics like Self Motivation, Personality Development, Personal Excellence, Spoken English and Presentation Skills. This has become a passion for me. I learned that everything is possible if we have the courage to take the first step.
|
What can we conclude from the passage?
|
[
"Nothing is to be got without pains but poverty.",
"Knowledge makes humble, ignorance makes proud.",
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.",
"Necessity is the mother of invention."
] |
C
|
devhigh10946
|
Picking a university is a tense period of asking yourself which institution is most relevant. That's why university rankings play such a vital role in students searching for their next academic direction. Rankings are also an inescapable part of the reputation and brand image of universities. "No university website is complete without the claim to be in the top 100 for something or other," reported the BBC. The reason is simple: Rankings help them to attract students, staff and research investment.
Currently there are numbers of university rankings, and each has its own list of criteria. But the main categories are the same: academic reputation, graduates' performance and faculty resources.
However, experts point out the ranking process isn't entirely reliable. Mark Kantrowitz, a US financial aid researcher, said university rankings were mostly just for show. He wrote in The New York Times. "It may give your parents better bragging rights, but that's about it."
Moreover, it's not difficult to see the limitations of university rankings. Many rankings focus on the number of times research work is cited by other researchers. _ helps British and US universities to dominate global rankings because English is the favored language of academia, John O'Leary, a member of the QS academic advisory board, told The Gunrdian. Also, rankings such as QS mainly focus on the qualities of the university rather than its students. "Any university ranking is likely to help students make better decisions about where to study, but the need to balance them with other more human factors is also important," said Phil Moss, an education and admissions consultant. "Advice from graduates or current students can be as valuable in providing a genuine insight into the experience or quality of a particular degree program. It can also add an element that rankings can never convey -- the actual emotion of a university experience."
|
Why do universities consider rankings important?
|
[
"Rankings make them more appealing.",
"Rankings are students' only reference.",
"Rankings can increase their academic level.",
"Rankings help them complete their websites."
] |
A
|
devhigh10946
|
Picking a university is a tense period of asking yourself which institution is most relevant. That's why university rankings play such a vital role in students searching for their next academic direction. Rankings are also an inescapable part of the reputation and brand image of universities. "No university website is complete without the claim to be in the top 100 for something or other," reported the BBC. The reason is simple: Rankings help them to attract students, staff and research investment.
Currently there are numbers of university rankings, and each has its own list of criteria. But the main categories are the same: academic reputation, graduates' performance and faculty resources.
However, experts point out the ranking process isn't entirely reliable. Mark Kantrowitz, a US financial aid researcher, said university rankings were mostly just for show. He wrote in The New York Times. "It may give your parents better bragging rights, but that's about it."
Moreover, it's not difficult to see the limitations of university rankings. Many rankings focus on the number of times research work is cited by other researchers. _ helps British and US universities to dominate global rankings because English is the favored language of academia, John O'Leary, a member of the QS academic advisory board, told The Gunrdian. Also, rankings such as QS mainly focus on the qualities of the university rather than its students. "Any university ranking is likely to help students make better decisions about where to study, but the need to balance them with other more human factors is also important," said Phil Moss, an education and admissions consultant. "Advice from graduates or current students can be as valuable in providing a genuine insight into the experience or quality of a particular degree program. It can also add an element that rankings can never convey -- the actual emotion of a university experience."
|
According to John O'Leary, what helps British and US universities rank well?
|
[
"The wide use of English in academia.",
"Their outstanding qualities.",
"Their graduates' excellent performance.",
"The academia's favor to them."
] |
A
|
devhigh10946
|
Picking a university is a tense period of asking yourself which institution is most relevant. That's why university rankings play such a vital role in students searching for their next academic direction. Rankings are also an inescapable part of the reputation and brand image of universities. "No university website is complete without the claim to be in the top 100 for something or other," reported the BBC. The reason is simple: Rankings help them to attract students, staff and research investment.
Currently there are numbers of university rankings, and each has its own list of criteria. But the main categories are the same: academic reputation, graduates' performance and faculty resources.
However, experts point out the ranking process isn't entirely reliable. Mark Kantrowitz, a US financial aid researcher, said university rankings were mostly just for show. He wrote in The New York Times. "It may give your parents better bragging rights, but that's about it."
Moreover, it's not difficult to see the limitations of university rankings. Many rankings focus on the number of times research work is cited by other researchers. _ helps British and US universities to dominate global rankings because English is the favored language of academia, John O'Leary, a member of the QS academic advisory board, told The Gunrdian. Also, rankings such as QS mainly focus on the qualities of the university rather than its students. "Any university ranking is likely to help students make better decisions about where to study, but the need to balance them with other more human factors is also important," said Phil Moss, an education and admissions consultant. "Advice from graduates or current students can be as valuable in providing a genuine insight into the experience or quality of a particular degree program. It can also add an element that rankings can never convey -- the actual emotion of a university experience."
|
Besides ranking, what does Phil Moss suggest you should refer to if you're picking a university?
|
[
"Investment in education.",
"Guidance from professors.",
"Information on websites.",
"Suggestions from students."
] |
D
|
devhigh11028
|
Nowadays, studying abroad gains popularity in China. Many parents would rather send their children abroad to receive education than let them be educated in China.
Every coin has two sides and studying abroad is no exception . There are advantages for people to attend school abroad. In the first place, he can use the foreign language in his daily life so that his ability in the second language may be greatly improved, as it is obvious that there is no better opportunity to improve second language skills than living in the country where it is spoken. While studying in a foreign country, he will mostly meet many others from overseas and it is possible to make friends with people from all over the world. This is not only exciting on the social level, but could lead to important overseas contacts in his career as well. He can learn the latest knowledge in science and make use of the first-rate facilities available. In this way, there are many chances for him to widen his horizons and broaden his mind.
Of course, attending school abroad may bring about a series of problems as well. The most serious problem is language barrier . Not all of the students who plan to go abroad are good at the language spoken there. As a result, on arriving there, they will find it difficult to understand what the teachers say. Besides, for lack of knowledge of the customs of the local people, they may constantly run into trouble in dealing with various situations. Furthermore, the tuition and the cost of living are much higher than those in our country, which may add more burdens to their family.
Therefore, given an opportunity to attend a school abroad, one must consider both its advantages and its disadvantages carefully before making up his mind.
|
What is the passage mainly about?
|
[
"Students life in the foreign countries.",
"The advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad.",
"Problems that will be met when we study abroad.",
"The reasons why many parents sent their children abroad."
] |
B
|
devhigh11028
|
Nowadays, studying abroad gains popularity in China. Many parents would rather send their children abroad to receive education than let them be educated in China.
Every coin has two sides and studying abroad is no exception . There are advantages for people to attend school abroad. In the first place, he can use the foreign language in his daily life so that his ability in the second language may be greatly improved, as it is obvious that there is no better opportunity to improve second language skills than living in the country where it is spoken. While studying in a foreign country, he will mostly meet many others from overseas and it is possible to make friends with people from all over the world. This is not only exciting on the social level, but could lead to important overseas contacts in his career as well. He can learn the latest knowledge in science and make use of the first-rate facilities available. In this way, there are many chances for him to widen his horizons and broaden his mind.
Of course, attending school abroad may bring about a series of problems as well. The most serious problem is language barrier . Not all of the students who plan to go abroad are good at the language spoken there. As a result, on arriving there, they will find it difficult to understand what the teachers say. Besides, for lack of knowledge of the customs of the local people, they may constantly run into trouble in dealing with various situations. Furthermore, the tuition and the cost of living are much higher than those in our country, which may add more burdens to their family.
Therefore, given an opportunity to attend a school abroad, one must consider both its advantages and its disadvantages carefully before making up his mind.
|
All the following are the advantages of studying abroad EXCEPT _
|
[
"the ability in the second language may be greatly improved",
"you may make friends from all over the world",
"you can learn to live an independent life",
"you can get to know the latest knowledge in science."
] |
C
|
devhigh11028
|
Nowadays, studying abroad gains popularity in China. Many parents would rather send their children abroad to receive education than let them be educated in China.
Every coin has two sides and studying abroad is no exception . There are advantages for people to attend school abroad. In the first place, he can use the foreign language in his daily life so that his ability in the second language may be greatly improved, as it is obvious that there is no better opportunity to improve second language skills than living in the country where it is spoken. While studying in a foreign country, he will mostly meet many others from overseas and it is possible to make friends with people from all over the world. This is not only exciting on the social level, but could lead to important overseas contacts in his career as well. He can learn the latest knowledge in science and make use of the first-rate facilities available. In this way, there are many chances for him to widen his horizons and broaden his mind.
Of course, attending school abroad may bring about a series of problems as well. The most serious problem is language barrier . Not all of the students who plan to go abroad are good at the language spoken there. As a result, on arriving there, they will find it difficult to understand what the teachers say. Besides, for lack of knowledge of the customs of the local people, they may constantly run into trouble in dealing with various situations. Furthermore, the tuition and the cost of living are much higher than those in our country, which may add more burdens to their family.
Therefore, given an opportunity to attend a school abroad, one must consider both its advantages and its disadvantages carefully before making up his mind.
|
The writers attitude towards studying abroad is _
|
[
"Positive",
"Negative",
"Neutral",
"Not clear"
] |
C
|
devhigh11031
|
Americans are a strange people. They work like mad, then give away much of what they earn. They play until they are exhausted, and call this a vacation. They live to think of themselves as hard-hearted business men, yet _ . They have the biggest of nearly everything including government, motor cars and debts. Yet they like to think of themselves as little people, average men, and they would like to cut everything down to their own size. They show off their tall buildings, high mountains, long rivers, big state, the best country, the best world, the best heaven. Yet they also have the most traffic deaths, the most waste, and the most liars.
When they meet, they are always telling each other, "Take it easy," then they rush off like crazy in opposite directions. They play games as if they were fighting a war, and fight wars as if playing a game. They marry more, and go broke more often. They love children, animals, mother, work, excitement, noise, nature, television shows, comedy, high pace, sports, the underdog, the hero, the flag, Christmas, jazz, shapely women and muscular men, classical recordings, crowds, comics, cigarettes, warm houses in winter and cool ones in summer, thick beefsteaks, coffee, ice cream, informal dress, plenty of running water, do-it-yourself, and a working week limited to forty hours or less.
They crowd their highways with cars while complaining about the traffic, troop to movies and television while blaming the quality and the advertisements, go to church but don't care much for sermons , and drink too much in the hope of relaxing--only to find themselves drunk into even bigger dreams.
There is of course, no typical American. But if you added them all together and then divided by 226, 000, 000 they would look something like what this chapter has tried to describe.
|
What may be the best title of the passage?
|
[
"The Americans.",
"Life in America.",
"Strange people.",
"Great America"
] |
A
|
devhigh11031
|
Americans are a strange people. They work like mad, then give away much of what they earn. They play until they are exhausted, and call this a vacation. They live to think of themselves as hard-hearted business men, yet _ . They have the biggest of nearly everything including government, motor cars and debts. Yet they like to think of themselves as little people, average men, and they would like to cut everything down to their own size. They show off their tall buildings, high mountains, long rivers, big state, the best country, the best world, the best heaven. Yet they also have the most traffic deaths, the most waste, and the most liars.
When they meet, they are always telling each other, "Take it easy," then they rush off like crazy in opposite directions. They play games as if they were fighting a war, and fight wars as if playing a game. They marry more, and go broke more often. They love children, animals, mother, work, excitement, noise, nature, television shows, comedy, high pace, sports, the underdog, the hero, the flag, Christmas, jazz, shapely women and muscular men, classical recordings, crowds, comics, cigarettes, warm houses in winter and cool ones in summer, thick beefsteaks, coffee, ice cream, informal dress, plenty of running water, do-it-yourself, and a working week limited to forty hours or less.
They crowd their highways with cars while complaining about the traffic, troop to movies and television while blaming the quality and the advertisements, go to church but don't care much for sermons , and drink too much in the hope of relaxing--only to find themselves drunk into even bigger dreams.
There is of course, no typical American. But if you added them all together and then divided by 226, 000, 000 they would look something like what this chapter has tried to describe.
|
Which one of the following is probably NOT what the Americans love?
|
[
"noise",
"advertisement",
"smoking",
"fresh water"
] |
B
|
devhigh11031
|
Americans are a strange people. They work like mad, then give away much of what they earn. They play until they are exhausted, and call this a vacation. They live to think of themselves as hard-hearted business men, yet _ . They have the biggest of nearly everything including government, motor cars and debts. Yet they like to think of themselves as little people, average men, and they would like to cut everything down to their own size. They show off their tall buildings, high mountains, long rivers, big state, the best country, the best world, the best heaven. Yet they also have the most traffic deaths, the most waste, and the most liars.
When they meet, they are always telling each other, "Take it easy," then they rush off like crazy in opposite directions. They play games as if they were fighting a war, and fight wars as if playing a game. They marry more, and go broke more often. They love children, animals, mother, work, excitement, noise, nature, television shows, comedy, high pace, sports, the underdog, the hero, the flag, Christmas, jazz, shapely women and muscular men, classical recordings, crowds, comics, cigarettes, warm houses in winter and cool ones in summer, thick beefsteaks, coffee, ice cream, informal dress, plenty of running water, do-it-yourself, and a working week limited to forty hours or less.
They crowd their highways with cars while complaining about the traffic, troop to movies and television while blaming the quality and the advertisements, go to church but don't care much for sermons , and drink too much in the hope of relaxing--only to find themselves drunk into even bigger dreams.
There is of course, no typical American. But if you added them all together and then divided by 226, 000, 000 they would look something like what this chapter has tried to describe.
|
In what way did the author write this passage?
|
[
"By comparison.",
"By giving examples.",
"By experimenting.",
"By telling stories."
] |
A
|
devhigh11036
|
A few years ago, I felt like a true failure.I was doing Weight Watchers for the third time in order to lose weight but not making progress.
At that time, I spent hours every day working out to my videos and was still overweight.I decided that there was no point in fighting it.I thought I was meant to be fat forever.I needed a change of heart and mind.That change came in the most unexpected way.It came with running.
After dinner on Thanksgiving, I went out for a walk with my family.I had turned my little MP3 player on and was enjoying the music when my favorite song came on.I felt like dancing, but that was out of the question (I had two teenagers with me).So I caught the speed a bit and started to run slowly.I was quite pleased with my burst of activity.
What was more surprising was that I got up the next morning and went out again.After running, I felt strong and calm at the same time.I recalled the good feelings I felt when I used to run 20 years ago and decided that I wanted more of that.I signed up for a spring race and practiced hard for it.
Even though my weight is still heavier than what I would like, I no longer care about it.I try to stay more focused on my life.Most importantly, my workouts are less than an hour per day and I take Sundays off completely.My goal is to keep exercising in my life but not let it take over my life.After all, I am so much more than my weight.
|
What was the author's biggest change after she started running?
|
[
"That she changed her attitude towards losing weight.",
"That she no longer wanted to lose weight.",
"That she spent more time in working out.",
"That she lost more weight than expected."
] |
A
|
devhigh11062
|
Hello everybody.You can use this website to learn English and other languages.Click the links below to explore our language learning resources.
Find an English conversation partner
You can speak English online with another person or practice any other language on our Live English Conversation Linkup service through Skype,Google Talk,MSN,etc.You can use the service to get information about travel,language,food,customs,climate,travel,business,work,study etc.Or,you can speak any foreign language on our Live Language Linkup page.
World English course
Learn English with our free World English Course.Listen,speak,read,write and understand English through our free weekly online activities and linkups.Join the English Classroom!
English courses
Take a look at some of the courses we offer.
*Be Aware:Use this free English course to brush up your grammar,vocabulary,and writing skills.
*Interactive Stories:Learn a new technique for learning languages by using stories with this free English training course.
*The Business Trip:Develop your business English with this unique free business English course.
*The Water Car:A full-length interactive story English course for intermediate level leamers.
*The Children of Kenji Takeuchi:A full-length interactive story English course for upper- intermediate level learners.
*World English:A free English course designed for topic-based discussions.
English dialogues
Follow a story in English through free English dialogues.There are three levels:
*Lower Intermediate:Hiromi's Trip to Thailand
*Intermediate:Miyako's Education
*Upper Intermediate:A New Life in Mosquito City
Real conversations
We provide recordings of real conversations and interviews,with transcripts of the conversations so you can read and listen at the same time.It is a good way to learn real English.
|
This website mainly provides users with _ .
|
[
"free courses on traveling abroad",
"plenty of language resources",
"interesting conversations",
"1ots of amazing stories"
] |
B
|
devhigh11062
|
Hello everybody.You can use this website to learn English and other languages.Click the links below to explore our language learning resources.
Find an English conversation partner
You can speak English online with another person or practice any other language on our Live English Conversation Linkup service through Skype,Google Talk,MSN,etc.You can use the service to get information about travel,language,food,customs,climate,travel,business,work,study etc.Or,you can speak any foreign language on our Live Language Linkup page.
World English course
Learn English with our free World English Course.Listen,speak,read,write and understand English through our free weekly online activities and linkups.Join the English Classroom!
English courses
Take a look at some of the courses we offer.
*Be Aware:Use this free English course to brush up your grammar,vocabulary,and writing skills.
*Interactive Stories:Learn a new technique for learning languages by using stories with this free English training course.
*The Business Trip:Develop your business English with this unique free business English course.
*The Water Car:A full-length interactive story English course for intermediate level leamers.
*The Children of Kenji Takeuchi:A full-length interactive story English course for upper- intermediate level learners.
*World English:A free English course designed for topic-based discussions.
English dialogues
Follow a story in English through free English dialogues.There are three levels:
*Lower Intermediate:Hiromi's Trip to Thailand
*Intermediate:Miyako's Education
*Upper Intermediate:A New Life in Mosquito City
Real conversations
We provide recordings of real conversations and interviews,with transcripts of the conversations so you can read and listen at the same time.It is a good way to learn real English.
|
If one wants to enrich his grammar and words,he should click _ .
|
[
"Be Aware",
"The Water Car",
"The Business Trip",
"Interactive Stories"
] |
A
|
devhigh11062
|
Hello everybody.You can use this website to learn English and other languages.Click the links below to explore our language learning resources.
Find an English conversation partner
You can speak English online with another person or practice any other language on our Live English Conversation Linkup service through Skype,Google Talk,MSN,etc.You can use the service to get information about travel,language,food,customs,climate,travel,business,work,study etc.Or,you can speak any foreign language on our Live Language Linkup page.
World English course
Learn English with our free World English Course.Listen,speak,read,write and understand English through our free weekly online activities and linkups.Join the English Classroom!
English courses
Take a look at some of the courses we offer.
*Be Aware:Use this free English course to brush up your grammar,vocabulary,and writing skills.
*Interactive Stories:Learn a new technique for learning languages by using stories with this free English training course.
*The Business Trip:Develop your business English with this unique free business English course.
*The Water Car:A full-length interactive story English course for intermediate level leamers.
*The Children of Kenji Takeuchi:A full-length interactive story English course for upper- intermediate level learners.
*World English:A free English course designed for topic-based discussions.
English dialogues
Follow a story in English through free English dialogues.There are three levels:
*Lower Intermediate:Hiromi's Trip to Thailand
*Intermediate:Miyako's Education
*Upper Intermediate:A New Life in Mosquito City
Real conversations
We provide recordings of real conversations and interviews,with transcripts of the conversations so you can read and listen at the same time.It is a good way to learn real English.
|
Which of the following is designed for intermediate level learners?
|
[
"The Children of Kenji Takeuehi.",
"A New Life in Mosquito City",
"Hiromi's Trip to Thailand.",
"Miyako's Education."
] |
D
|
devhigh11062
|
Hello everybody.You can use this website to learn English and other languages.Click the links below to explore our language learning resources.
Find an English conversation partner
You can speak English online with another person or practice any other language on our Live English Conversation Linkup service through Skype,Google Talk,MSN,etc.You can use the service to get information about travel,language,food,customs,climate,travel,business,work,study etc.Or,you can speak any foreign language on our Live Language Linkup page.
World English course
Learn English with our free World English Course.Listen,speak,read,write and understand English through our free weekly online activities and linkups.Join the English Classroom!
English courses
Take a look at some of the courses we offer.
*Be Aware:Use this free English course to brush up your grammar,vocabulary,and writing skills.
*Interactive Stories:Learn a new technique for learning languages by using stories with this free English training course.
*The Business Trip:Develop your business English with this unique free business English course.
*The Water Car:A full-length interactive story English course for intermediate level leamers.
*The Children of Kenji Takeuchi:A full-length interactive story English course for upper- intermediate level learners.
*World English:A free English course designed for topic-based discussions.
English dialogues
Follow a story in English through free English dialogues.There are three levels:
*Lower Intermediate:Hiromi's Trip to Thailand
*Intermediate:Miyako's Education
*Upper Intermediate:A New Life in Mosquito City
Real conversations
We provide recordings of real conversations and interviews,with transcripts of the conversations so you can read and listen at the same time.It is a good way to learn real English.
|
Real conversations is a good may to learn real English because _ .
|
[
"you can read while listening",
"you can see a native speaker",
"you can record your own voice and listen to it",
"you can transcript every word of real speakers"
] |
A
|
devhigh11099
|
The first time I heard the actual London Bridge was in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, I thought it was a joke. A stupid joke at that. I mean, what sort of _ would take a perfectly good, perfectly famous bridge and move it halfway around the world to some no-name town in northwest Arizona? Back in 1962 when all this started, Lake Havasu City was nothing. A couple of shops, a couple of homes, and no tourism at all.
It turns out Robert McCulloch is the moron in question, and he wasn't quite the moron I thought he was. His 2.45 million dollar investment in the 130-year-old bridge--which the British government was selling because it was about to fall into the Thames--ended up being the investment of a lifetime. You see McCulloch was a real businessman, among other things, and his money paid off big. He turned Lake Havasu into one of the most visited tourist attractions in Arizona.
It took nine long years to take down the bridge, ship it brick by brick to the middle of nowhere, and build it up again. When it finally did open up in 1971, it was a huge deal covered by the international press.
The bridge is now a popular tourist attraction, and there's even a mini "English Village" at the foot of the bridge with souvenirs and real British food so you can have a good old time.
Nowadays Lake Havasu is a busy town with a population of about 56,000 citizens and another2.5 million visitors each year. Most of that is during spring break when the town overflows with energetic boys and girls. Even MTV and the Girls Gone Wild people get in on the action. All thanks to that little bridge.
I don't know about you, but I'm saving my pennies. When the French get sick of that Eiffel Tower, I'll be the first to put money on it. It'll look great in my backyard.
|
Why did the British government put the London Bridge up for sale?
|
[
"It polluted the Thames.",
"It was no longer popular.",
"It was going to fall down.",
"It could bring them the needed money."
] |
C
|
devhigh11099
|
The first time I heard the actual London Bridge was in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, I thought it was a joke. A stupid joke at that. I mean, what sort of _ would take a perfectly good, perfectly famous bridge and move it halfway around the world to some no-name town in northwest Arizona? Back in 1962 when all this started, Lake Havasu City was nothing. A couple of shops, a couple of homes, and no tourism at all.
It turns out Robert McCulloch is the moron in question, and he wasn't quite the moron I thought he was. His 2.45 million dollar investment in the 130-year-old bridge--which the British government was selling because it was about to fall into the Thames--ended up being the investment of a lifetime. You see McCulloch was a real businessman, among other things, and his money paid off big. He turned Lake Havasu into one of the most visited tourist attractions in Arizona.
It took nine long years to take down the bridge, ship it brick by brick to the middle of nowhere, and build it up again. When it finally did open up in 1971, it was a huge deal covered by the international press.
The bridge is now a popular tourist attraction, and there's even a mini "English Village" at the foot of the bridge with souvenirs and real British food so you can have a good old time.
Nowadays Lake Havasu is a busy town with a population of about 56,000 citizens and another2.5 million visitors each year. Most of that is during spring break when the town overflows with energetic boys and girls. Even MTV and the Girls Gone Wild people get in on the action. All thanks to that little bridge.
I don't know about you, but I'm saving my pennies. When the French get sick of that Eiffel Tower, I'll be the first to put money on it. It'll look great in my backyard.
|
What was Lake Havasu City like before 1962?
|
[
"It was a good place for investment.",
"It was known for its English Village.",
"It was a small town with no tourism.",
"It had a population of 56,000 citizens."
] |
C
|
devhigh11103
|
I had worried myself sick over Simon's mother coming to see me. I was a new teacher, and I gave an honest account of the students' work. In Simon's case,the grades were awfully low. He couldn't read his own handwriting. But he was a bright student. He discussed adult subjects with nearly adult comprehension. His work in no way reflected his abilities.
So when Simon's mother entered the room, my palms were sweating. I was completely unprepared for her kisses on both my cheeks. "I came to thank you," she said, surprising me beyond speech. Because of me, Simon had become a different person. He talked of how he loved me, he had begun to make friends, and for the first time in his twelve years, he had recently spent an afternoon at a friend's house. She wanted to tell me how grateful she was for the self-respect I had developed in her son. She kissed me again and left.
I sat, stunned, for about half an hour,wondering what had just happened. How did I make such a life changing difference to that boy without even knowing it?What I finally came to remember was one day, several months before,when some students were giving reports in the front of the class, Jeanne spoke quietly,and to encourage her to raise her voice, I had said, "Speak up. Simon's the expert on this. He is the only one you have to convince, and he can't hear you in the back of the room." That was it. From that day on, Simon had sat up straighter, paid more attention, smiled more,and became happy. And it was all because he happened to be the last kid in the last row. The boy who most needed praise was the one who took the last seat that day.
It taught me the most valuable lesson over the years of my teaching career, and I'm thankful that it came early and positively. A small kindness can indeed make a difference.
|
We can infer that when Simon's mother entered the room, the writer felt _ .
|
[
"nervous",
"satisfied",
"happy",
"surprised"
] |
A
|
devhigh11103
|
I had worried myself sick over Simon's mother coming to see me. I was a new teacher, and I gave an honest account of the students' work. In Simon's case,the grades were awfully low. He couldn't read his own handwriting. But he was a bright student. He discussed adult subjects with nearly adult comprehension. His work in no way reflected his abilities.
So when Simon's mother entered the room, my palms were sweating. I was completely unprepared for her kisses on both my cheeks. "I came to thank you," she said, surprising me beyond speech. Because of me, Simon had become a different person. He talked of how he loved me, he had begun to make friends, and for the first time in his twelve years, he had recently spent an afternoon at a friend's house. She wanted to tell me how grateful she was for the self-respect I had developed in her son. She kissed me again and left.
I sat, stunned, for about half an hour,wondering what had just happened. How did I make such a life changing difference to that boy without even knowing it?What I finally came to remember was one day, several months before,when some students were giving reports in the front of the class, Jeanne spoke quietly,and to encourage her to raise her voice, I had said, "Speak up. Simon's the expert on this. He is the only one you have to convince, and he can't hear you in the back of the room." That was it. From that day on, Simon had sat up straighter, paid more attention, smiled more,and became happy. And it was all because he happened to be the last kid in the last row. The boy who most needed praise was the one who took the last seat that day.
It taught me the most valuable lesson over the years of my teaching career, and I'm thankful that it came early and positively. A small kindness can indeed make a difference.
|
Why did Simon's mother come to visit the writer?
|
[
"Because she worried about her son's poor work.",
"Because Simon asked her to do so.",
"Because she wanted to show her gratitude to the writer.",
"Because she wanted to know her son's performance in the school."
] |
C
|
devhigh11103
|
I had worried myself sick over Simon's mother coming to see me. I was a new teacher, and I gave an honest account of the students' work. In Simon's case,the grades were awfully low. He couldn't read his own handwriting. But he was a bright student. He discussed adult subjects with nearly adult comprehension. His work in no way reflected his abilities.
So when Simon's mother entered the room, my palms were sweating. I was completely unprepared for her kisses on both my cheeks. "I came to thank you," she said, surprising me beyond speech. Because of me, Simon had become a different person. He talked of how he loved me, he had begun to make friends, and for the first time in his twelve years, he had recently spent an afternoon at a friend's house. She wanted to tell me how grateful she was for the self-respect I had developed in her son. She kissed me again and left.
I sat, stunned, for about half an hour,wondering what had just happened. How did I make such a life changing difference to that boy without even knowing it?What I finally came to remember was one day, several months before,when some students were giving reports in the front of the class, Jeanne spoke quietly,and to encourage her to raise her voice, I had said, "Speak up. Simon's the expert on this. He is the only one you have to convince, and he can't hear you in the back of the room." That was it. From that day on, Simon had sat up straighter, paid more attention, smiled more,and became happy. And it was all because he happened to be the last kid in the last row. The boy who most needed praise was the one who took the last seat that day.
It taught me the most valuable lesson over the years of my teaching career, and I'm thankful that it came early and positively. A small kindness can indeed make a difference.
|
The following words can be used to describe Simon before he met the writer EXCEPT _ .
|
[
"unconfident",
"lonely",
"clever",
"outgoing"
] |
D
|
devhigh11103
|
I had worried myself sick over Simon's mother coming to see me. I was a new teacher, and I gave an honest account of the students' work. In Simon's case,the grades were awfully low. He couldn't read his own handwriting. But he was a bright student. He discussed adult subjects with nearly adult comprehension. His work in no way reflected his abilities.
So when Simon's mother entered the room, my palms were sweating. I was completely unprepared for her kisses on both my cheeks. "I came to thank you," she said, surprising me beyond speech. Because of me, Simon had become a different person. He talked of how he loved me, he had begun to make friends, and for the first time in his twelve years, he had recently spent an afternoon at a friend's house. She wanted to tell me how grateful she was for the self-respect I had developed in her son. She kissed me again and left.
I sat, stunned, for about half an hour,wondering what had just happened. How did I make such a life changing difference to that boy without even knowing it?What I finally came to remember was one day, several months before,when some students were giving reports in the front of the class, Jeanne spoke quietly,and to encourage her to raise her voice, I had said, "Speak up. Simon's the expert on this. He is the only one you have to convince, and he can't hear you in the back of the room." That was it. From that day on, Simon had sat up straighter, paid more attention, smiled more,and became happy. And it was all because he happened to be the last kid in the last row. The boy who most needed praise was the one who took the last seat that day.
It taught me the most valuable lesson over the years of my teaching career, and I'm thankful that it came early and positively. A small kindness can indeed make a difference.
|
The purpose of the passage is to _ .
|
[
"share a valuable lesson with readers",
"tell teachers how to be kind to students",
"advise the readers to be kind to others",
"tell the story of Simon"
] |
A
|
devhigh11109
|
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
This went on daily. The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishment. Of course, the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise to you."
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back. And you do no get full value for your efforts" the pot explained.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
As they went up the hill, the cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it a little.
The bearer said, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" That is because I have known about you, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walked back from the stream, you have watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
|
Why did the cracked pot feel ashamed?
|
[
"Because it didn't hold water.",
"Because the water bearer didn't like it.",
"It couldn't water the flowers well.",
"Because it could only accomplish half of its load."
] |
D
|
devhigh11109
|
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
This went on daily. The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishment. Of course, the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise to you."
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back. And you do no get full value for your efforts" the pot explained.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
As they went up the hill, the cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it a little.
The bearer said, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" That is because I have known about you, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walked back from the stream, you have watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
|
How would the cracked pot feel at the end of the story?
|
[
"Delighted with itself.",
"Disappointed with itself.",
"Prouder than the other pot.",
"Still ashamed of itself."
] |
A
|
devhigh11109
|
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
This went on daily. The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishment. Of course, the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise to you."
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back. And you do no get full value for your efforts" the pot explained.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
As they went up the hill, the cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it a little.
The bearer said, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" That is because I have known about you, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walked back from the stream, you have watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
|
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
|
[
"There were flowers on both sides of the path.",
"The cracked pot was more useful than the perfect one.",
"We sometimes don't have to mind too much the way we are.",
"The water bearer preferred the perfect pot to the cracked one."
] |
C
|
devhigh1111
|
I lost my sight when I was four years old by falling off a box car in a freight yard in Atlantic City and landing on my head. Now I am thirty two. I can slightly remember the brightness of sunshine and what color red is. It would be wonderful to see again, but a calamity can do strange things to people. It occurred to me the other day that I might not have come to love life as I do if I hadn't been blind. I believe in life now. I am not so sure that I would have believed in it so deeply, otherwise. I don't mean that I would prefer to go without my eyes. I simply mean that the loss of them made me appreciate the more what I had left.
Life, I believe, asks a continuous series of adjustments to reality. The more readily a person is able to make these adjustments, the more meaningful his own private world becomes. The adjustment is never easy. I was totally confused and afraid. But I was lucky. My parents and my teachers saw something in me--a potential to live, you might call it--which I didn't see, and they made me want to fight it out with blindness.
The hardest lesson I had to learn was to believe in myself. That was basic. If I hadn't been able to do that, I would have collapsed and _ for the rest of my life. When I say belief in myself I am not talking about simply the kind of self confidence that helps me down an unfamiliar staircase alone. That is part of it. But I mean something bigger than that: an assurance that I am, despite imperfections, a real, positive person; that somewhere in the sweeping, intricate pattern of people there is a special place where I can make myself fit.
It took me years to discover and strengthen this assurance. It had to start with the simplest things. Once a man gave me an indoor baseball. I thought he was making fun of me and I was hurt. "I can't use this." I said. "Take it with you," he urged me, "and roll it around." The words stuck in my head. "Roll it around! "By rolling the ball I could hear where it went. This gave me an idea how to achieve a goal I had thought impossible: playing baseball. At Philadelphia's Overbrook School for the Blind I invented a successful variation of baseball. We called it ground ball.
All my life I have set ahead of me a series of goals and then tried to reach them, one at a time. I had to learn my limitations. It was no good to try for something I knew at the start was wildly out of reach because that only invited the bitterness of failure. I would fail sometimes anyway but on the average I made progress.
|
We can learn from the beginning of the passage that _
|
[
"the author lost his sight because of a car crash.",
"the author wouldn't love life if the disaster didn't happen.",
"the disaster made the author appreciate what he had.",
"the disaster strengthened the author's desire to see."
] |
A
|
devhigh1111
|
I lost my sight when I was four years old by falling off a box car in a freight yard in Atlantic City and landing on my head. Now I am thirty two. I can slightly remember the brightness of sunshine and what color red is. It would be wonderful to see again, but a calamity can do strange things to people. It occurred to me the other day that I might not have come to love life as I do if I hadn't been blind. I believe in life now. I am not so sure that I would have believed in it so deeply, otherwise. I don't mean that I would prefer to go without my eyes. I simply mean that the loss of them made me appreciate the more what I had left.
Life, I believe, asks a continuous series of adjustments to reality. The more readily a person is able to make these adjustments, the more meaningful his own private world becomes. The adjustment is never easy. I was totally confused and afraid. But I was lucky. My parents and my teachers saw something in me--a potential to live, you might call it--which I didn't see, and they made me want to fight it out with blindness.
The hardest lesson I had to learn was to believe in myself. That was basic. If I hadn't been able to do that, I would have collapsed and _ for the rest of my life. When I say belief in myself I am not talking about simply the kind of self confidence that helps me down an unfamiliar staircase alone. That is part of it. But I mean something bigger than that: an assurance that I am, despite imperfections, a real, positive person; that somewhere in the sweeping, intricate pattern of people there is a special place where I can make myself fit.
It took me years to discover and strengthen this assurance. It had to start with the simplest things. Once a man gave me an indoor baseball. I thought he was making fun of me and I was hurt. "I can't use this." I said. "Take it with you," he urged me, "and roll it around." The words stuck in my head. "Roll it around! "By rolling the ball I could hear where it went. This gave me an idea how to achieve a goal I had thought impossible: playing baseball. At Philadelphia's Overbrook School for the Blind I invented a successful variation of baseball. We called it ground ball.
All my life I have set ahead of me a series of goals and then tried to reach them, one at a time. I had to learn my limitations. It was no good to try for something I knew at the start was wildly out of reach because that only invited the bitterness of failure. I would fail sometimes anyway but on the average I made progress.
|
What's the most difficult thing for the author?
|
[
"How to adjust himself to reality.",
"Building up assurance that he can find his place in life.",
"Learning to manage his life alone.",
"How to invent a successful variation of baseball."
] |
B
|
devhigh1111
|
I lost my sight when I was four years old by falling off a box car in a freight yard in Atlantic City and landing on my head. Now I am thirty two. I can slightly remember the brightness of sunshine and what color red is. It would be wonderful to see again, but a calamity can do strange things to people. It occurred to me the other day that I might not have come to love life as I do if I hadn't been blind. I believe in life now. I am not so sure that I would have believed in it so deeply, otherwise. I don't mean that I would prefer to go without my eyes. I simply mean that the loss of them made me appreciate the more what I had left.
Life, I believe, asks a continuous series of adjustments to reality. The more readily a person is able to make these adjustments, the more meaningful his own private world becomes. The adjustment is never easy. I was totally confused and afraid. But I was lucky. My parents and my teachers saw something in me--a potential to live, you might call it--which I didn't see, and they made me want to fight it out with blindness.
The hardest lesson I had to learn was to believe in myself. That was basic. If I hadn't been able to do that, I would have collapsed and _ for the rest of my life. When I say belief in myself I am not talking about simply the kind of self confidence that helps me down an unfamiliar staircase alone. That is part of it. But I mean something bigger than that: an assurance that I am, despite imperfections, a real, positive person; that somewhere in the sweeping, intricate pattern of people there is a special place where I can make myself fit.
It took me years to discover and strengthen this assurance. It had to start with the simplest things. Once a man gave me an indoor baseball. I thought he was making fun of me and I was hurt. "I can't use this." I said. "Take it with you," he urged me, "and roll it around." The words stuck in my head. "Roll it around! "By rolling the ball I could hear where it went. This gave me an idea how to achieve a goal I had thought impossible: playing baseball. At Philadelphia's Overbrook School for the Blind I invented a successful variation of baseball. We called it ground ball.
All my life I have set ahead of me a series of goals and then tried to reach them, one at a time. I had to learn my limitations. It was no good to try for something I knew at the start was wildly out of reach because that only invited the bitterness of failure. I would fail sometimes anyway but on the average I made progress.
|
According to the passage, the baseball and encouragement offered by the man _
|
[
"hurt the author's feeling.",
"gave the author a deep impression.",
"directly led to the invention of ground ball.",
"inspired the author."
] |
B
|
devhigh1111
|
I lost my sight when I was four years old by falling off a box car in a freight yard in Atlantic City and landing on my head. Now I am thirty two. I can slightly remember the brightness of sunshine and what color red is. It would be wonderful to see again, but a calamity can do strange things to people. It occurred to me the other day that I might not have come to love life as I do if I hadn't been blind. I believe in life now. I am not so sure that I would have believed in it so deeply, otherwise. I don't mean that I would prefer to go without my eyes. I simply mean that the loss of them made me appreciate the more what I had left.
Life, I believe, asks a continuous series of adjustments to reality. The more readily a person is able to make these adjustments, the more meaningful his own private world becomes. The adjustment is never easy. I was totally confused and afraid. But I was lucky. My parents and my teachers saw something in me--a potential to live, you might call it--which I didn't see, and they made me want to fight it out with blindness.
The hardest lesson I had to learn was to believe in myself. That was basic. If I hadn't been able to do that, I would have collapsed and _ for the rest of my life. When I say belief in myself I am not talking about simply the kind of self confidence that helps me down an unfamiliar staircase alone. That is part of it. But I mean something bigger than that: an assurance that I am, despite imperfections, a real, positive person; that somewhere in the sweeping, intricate pattern of people there is a special place where I can make myself fit.
It took me years to discover and strengthen this assurance. It had to start with the simplest things. Once a man gave me an indoor baseball. I thought he was making fun of me and I was hurt. "I can't use this." I said. "Take it with you," he urged me, "and roll it around." The words stuck in my head. "Roll it around! "By rolling the ball I could hear where it went. This gave me an idea how to achieve a goal I had thought impossible: playing baseball. At Philadelphia's Overbrook School for the Blind I invented a successful variation of baseball. We called it ground ball.
All my life I have set ahead of me a series of goals and then tried to reach them, one at a time. I had to learn my limitations. It was no good to try for something I knew at the start was wildly out of reach because that only invited the bitterness of failure. I would fail sometimes anyway but on the average I made progress.
|
What is the best title for the passage?
|
[
"A Miserable Life",
"Struggle Against Difficulties",
"A Disaster Makes a Strong Person",
"An Unforgetable Experience"
] |
B
|
devhigh11112
|
Many of us have heard of the saying: everything is possible if you can just believe. But few of us really know the power of faith and perseverance . South African swimmer Natalie du Tiot embodies those virtues.
Du Tiot, 24, became the first swimmer to compete in both the Olympic Games and the Paralympics in Beijing. Although she finished 16thin the tough 10km marathon in the able-bodied Games, she has collected three golds in the Paralympics so far.
One of the most successful disabled athletes of all time, Natalie du Tiot was already a promising swimmer when she lost her leg in a motorcycle accident in 2001, at just 17.
"There are a lot of dark moments," she said, "There are some days when I cry. But I try to remember that better days are ahead. You just go on."
Within a few months, she was back in the swimming pool.
She still completes and still succeeds. The only difference is she has switched to longer events--from 200m and 400m individual medley to 800m and 1,500m freestyle--to make up for her loss of speed with only one leg. But she made no adjustment to her mental look .
"Going out in the water, it feels as if there's nothing wrong with me. It doesn't matter if you look different. You're still the same as everybody else because you have the same dream."
She is the owner of many world records, and she also won gold when competing against able-bodied swimmers in the 1,500m freestyle at the All African Games in 2007.
But there is no magic recipe for success. It all comes down to hard work and determination. "She is stubborn, which is good and bad," said her coach Karoly Von Toros. "Good for the swimming, but bad for the coach."
There is a poem that hangs on her wall that reads:
The tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goals;
The tragedy of life lies in not having goals to reach for.
|
Natalie du Tiot is a vivid example that _ .
|
[
"you are what you believe",
"your biggest enemy is yourself",
"results are not so important as the process",
"you must set reasonable goals or you will fail"
] |
A
|
devhigh11112
|
Many of us have heard of the saying: everything is possible if you can just believe. But few of us really know the power of faith and perseverance . South African swimmer Natalie du Tiot embodies those virtues.
Du Tiot, 24, became the first swimmer to compete in both the Olympic Games and the Paralympics in Beijing. Although she finished 16thin the tough 10km marathon in the able-bodied Games, she has collected three golds in the Paralympics so far.
One of the most successful disabled athletes of all time, Natalie du Tiot was already a promising swimmer when she lost her leg in a motorcycle accident in 2001, at just 17.
"There are a lot of dark moments," she said, "There are some days when I cry. But I try to remember that better days are ahead. You just go on."
Within a few months, she was back in the swimming pool.
She still completes and still succeeds. The only difference is she has switched to longer events--from 200m and 400m individual medley to 800m and 1,500m freestyle--to make up for her loss of speed with only one leg. But she made no adjustment to her mental look .
"Going out in the water, it feels as if there's nothing wrong with me. It doesn't matter if you look different. You're still the same as everybody else because you have the same dream."
She is the owner of many world records, and she also won gold when competing against able-bodied swimmers in the 1,500m freestyle at the All African Games in 2007.
But there is no magic recipe for success. It all comes down to hard work and determination. "She is stubborn, which is good and bad," said her coach Karoly Von Toros. "Good for the swimming, but bad for the coach."
There is a poem that hangs on her wall that reads:
The tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goals;
The tragedy of life lies in not having goals to reach for.
|
According to the text , Natalie du Tiot became _ .
|
[
"the first athlete to compete with able-bodied swimmers in the world",
"the youngest disabled swimmer to break the world record in the 1,500m freestyle",
"the youngese disabled swimmer to collect three golds in a single Paralympics",
"the first swimmer to compete in both the Olympic Games and the Paralympics"
] |
D
|
devhigh11112
|
Many of us have heard of the saying: everything is possible if you can just believe. But few of us really know the power of faith and perseverance . South African swimmer Natalie du Tiot embodies those virtues.
Du Tiot, 24, became the first swimmer to compete in both the Olympic Games and the Paralympics in Beijing. Although she finished 16thin the tough 10km marathon in the able-bodied Games, she has collected three golds in the Paralympics so far.
One of the most successful disabled athletes of all time, Natalie du Tiot was already a promising swimmer when she lost her leg in a motorcycle accident in 2001, at just 17.
"There are a lot of dark moments," she said, "There are some days when I cry. But I try to remember that better days are ahead. You just go on."
Within a few months, she was back in the swimming pool.
She still completes and still succeeds. The only difference is she has switched to longer events--from 200m and 400m individual medley to 800m and 1,500m freestyle--to make up for her loss of speed with only one leg. But she made no adjustment to her mental look .
"Going out in the water, it feels as if there's nothing wrong with me. It doesn't matter if you look different. You're still the same as everybody else because you have the same dream."
She is the owner of many world records, and she also won gold when competing against able-bodied swimmers in the 1,500m freestyle at the All African Games in 2007.
But there is no magic recipe for success. It all comes down to hard work and determination. "She is stubborn, which is good and bad," said her coach Karoly Von Toros. "Good for the swimming, but bad for the coach."
There is a poem that hangs on her wall that reads:
The tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goals;
The tragedy of life lies in not having goals to reach for.
|
In dark moments it was _ that pushed her on.
|
[
"her coach",
"her family",
"hope and faith",
"her love of swimming"
] |
C
|
devhigh11113
|
I clearly remember my mom telling me to drink milk every day--one glass in the morning and another at night. I also remember loving it while my sister thought quite the opposite--she would _ pour her milk into the sink or water the plants with it! I guess I should thank my mom for making us drink a lot of milk, so rich in calcium , during those important years.
Today, calcium shortage is one of the main concerns of women in their 30s or even early 20s. The great fear is that when we reach our 50s or 60s, osteoprosis will set in. That is why you can see a lot of advertisements for products supposedly containing a lot of calcium.
Because calcium is not that easy to acquire from the food we normally eat, busy women these days should take calcium supplements . There are a lot of different forms of these---calcium carbonate ,oyster shell or bone-meal-based calcium supplements.
You have to be careful when choosing which kind to take. This is because calcium is not easily absorbed by the body. So the fact that you are taking supplements doesn't mean that the body is actually benefiting from them. Different supplements may have different instructions on dosage and manner of intake. You can ask your doctor to help you determine which supplement is the best for your needs.
|
From what the author's mother did we may infer that _ .
|
[
"her children had osteoporosis",
"she knew her children would benefit from milk",
"she must have suffered from osteorosis",
"she didn't like her daughter who didn't obey her order"
] |
B
|
devhigh11113
|
I clearly remember my mom telling me to drink milk every day--one glass in the morning and another at night. I also remember loving it while my sister thought quite the opposite--she would _ pour her milk into the sink or water the plants with it! I guess I should thank my mom for making us drink a lot of milk, so rich in calcium , during those important years.
Today, calcium shortage is one of the main concerns of women in their 30s or even early 20s. The great fear is that when we reach our 50s or 60s, osteoprosis will set in. That is why you can see a lot of advertisements for products supposedly containing a lot of calcium.
Because calcium is not that easy to acquire from the food we normally eat, busy women these days should take calcium supplements . There are a lot of different forms of these---calcium carbonate ,oyster shell or bone-meal-based calcium supplements.
You have to be careful when choosing which kind to take. This is because calcium is not easily absorbed by the body. So the fact that you are taking supplements doesn't mean that the body is actually benefiting from them. Different supplements may have different instructions on dosage and manner of intake. You can ask your doctor to help you determine which supplement is the best for your needs.
|
Based on the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
|
[
"The author's sister will suffer from osteoprosis when reaches her 50s or 60s",
"Many businessmen have already been selling products supposedly containing calcium.",
"We can't get enough calcium only from food we eat every day",
"Women as young as their 20s should be concerned about calcium shortage"
] |
A
|
devhigh11129
|
We know the famous ones--the Thomas Edisons and the Alexander Graham Bells--but what about the less famous inventors? What about the people who invented the traffic light and the windshield wiper ? Shouldn't we know who they are?
Joan Mclean thinks so.In fact,Mclean,a professor of physics at Mountain University in Range,feels so strongly about this matter that she's developed a course on the topic.In addition to learning"who"invented"what",however,Mclean also likes her students to learn the answers to the"why''and''how"questions.According to Mclean."When students learn the answers to these questions,they are better prepared to recognize opportunities for inventing and more motivated to give inventing a try.''
Her students agree.One young man with a patent for an unbreakable umbrella is walking proof of McLean's statement."If I had not heard the story of the windshield wiper's invention,"said Tommy Lee, a senior physics major,"I never would have dreamed of turning my bad experience during a rainstorm into something so constructive."Lee is currently negotiating to sell his patent to an umbrella producer.
So,just what is the story behind the windshield wiper Well,Mary Anderson came up with the idea in 1902 after a visit to New York City.The day was cold and stormy,but Anderson still wanted to see the sights,so she jumped aboard a streetcar.Noticing that the driver was struggling to see through the snow covering the windshield,she found herself wondering why there couldn't be a built--in device for cleaning the window.Still wondering about this when she returned home to Birmingham,Alabama, Anderson started drafting out solutions.One of her ideas,a lever on the inside of a vehicle that would control an arm on the outside,became the first windshield wiper.
Today we benefit from countless inventions and innovations.It's hard to imagine driving without Garrett A.Morgan's traffic light.It's equally impossible to picture a world without Katherine J.Blodgett's innovation that makes glass invisible.Can you picture life without clear windows and eyeglasses?
|
By mentioning"traffic light"and"windshield wiper".the author indicates that countless inventions are _ .
|
[
"beneficial,because their inventors are famous",
"beneficial,though their inventors are less famous",
"not useful,because their inventors are less famous",
"not useful,though their inventors are famous"
] |
B
|
devhigh11129
|
We know the famous ones--the Thomas Edisons and the Alexander Graham Bells--but what about the less famous inventors? What about the people who invented the traffic light and the windshield wiper ? Shouldn't we know who they are?
Joan Mclean thinks so.In fact,Mclean,a professor of physics at Mountain University in Range,feels so strongly about this matter that she's developed a course on the topic.In addition to learning"who"invented"what",however,Mclean also likes her students to learn the answers to the"why''and''how"questions.According to Mclean."When students learn the answers to these questions,they are better prepared to recognize opportunities for inventing and more motivated to give inventing a try.''
Her students agree.One young man with a patent for an unbreakable umbrella is walking proof of McLean's statement."If I had not heard the story of the windshield wiper's invention,"said Tommy Lee, a senior physics major,"I never would have dreamed of turning my bad experience during a rainstorm into something so constructive."Lee is currently negotiating to sell his patent to an umbrella producer.
So,just what is the story behind the windshield wiper Well,Mary Anderson came up with the idea in 1902 after a visit to New York City.The day was cold and stormy,but Anderson still wanted to see the sights,so she jumped aboard a streetcar.Noticing that the driver was struggling to see through the snow covering the windshield,she found herself wondering why there couldn't be a built--in device for cleaning the window.Still wondering about this when she returned home to Birmingham,Alabama, Anderson started drafting out solutions.One of her ideas,a lever on the inside of a vehicle that would control an arm on the outside,became the first windshield wiper.
Today we benefit from countless inventions and innovations.It's hard to imagine driving without Garrett A.Morgan's traffic light.It's equally impossible to picture a world without Katherine J.Blodgett's innovation that makes glass invisible.Can you picture life without clear windows and eyeglasses?
|
Professor Joan McLean's course aims to _ .
|
[
"add color and variety to students'campus life",
"inform students of the windshield wiper's invention",
"carry out the requirements by Mountain University",
"prepare students to try their own inventions"
] |
D
|
devhigh11129
|
We know the famous ones--the Thomas Edisons and the Alexander Graham Bells--but what about the less famous inventors? What about the people who invented the traffic light and the windshield wiper ? Shouldn't we know who they are?
Joan Mclean thinks so.In fact,Mclean,a professor of physics at Mountain University in Range,feels so strongly about this matter that she's developed a course on the topic.In addition to learning"who"invented"what",however,Mclean also likes her students to learn the answers to the"why''and''how"questions.According to Mclean."When students learn the answers to these questions,they are better prepared to recognize opportunities for inventing and more motivated to give inventing a try.''
Her students agree.One young man with a patent for an unbreakable umbrella is walking proof of McLean's statement."If I had not heard the story of the windshield wiper's invention,"said Tommy Lee, a senior physics major,"I never would have dreamed of turning my bad experience during a rainstorm into something so constructive."Lee is currently negotiating to sell his patent to an umbrella producer.
So,just what is the story behind the windshield wiper Well,Mary Anderson came up with the idea in 1902 after a visit to New York City.The day was cold and stormy,but Anderson still wanted to see the sights,so she jumped aboard a streetcar.Noticing that the driver was struggling to see through the snow covering the windshield,she found herself wondering why there couldn't be a built--in device for cleaning the window.Still wondering about this when she returned home to Birmingham,Alabama, Anderson started drafting out solutions.One of her ideas,a lever on the inside of a vehicle that would control an arm on the outside,became the first windshield wiper.
Today we benefit from countless inventions and innovations.It's hard to imagine driving without Garrett A.Morgan's traffic light.It's equally impossible to picture a world without Katherine J.Blodgett's innovation that makes glass invisible.Can you picture life without clear windows and eyeglasses?
|
Tommy Lee's invention of the unbreakable umbrella was _ .
|
[
"not eventually accepted by the umbrella producer",
"inspired by the story behind the windshield wiper",
"due to his dream of being caught in a rainstorm",
"not related to Professor Joan McLean's lectures"
] |
B
|
devhigh11129
|
We know the famous ones--the Thomas Edisons and the Alexander Graham Bells--but what about the less famous inventors? What about the people who invented the traffic light and the windshield wiper ? Shouldn't we know who they are?
Joan Mclean thinks so.In fact,Mclean,a professor of physics at Mountain University in Range,feels so strongly about this matter that she's developed a course on the topic.In addition to learning"who"invented"what",however,Mclean also likes her students to learn the answers to the"why''and''how"questions.According to Mclean."When students learn the answers to these questions,they are better prepared to recognize opportunities for inventing and more motivated to give inventing a try.''
Her students agree.One young man with a patent for an unbreakable umbrella is walking proof of McLean's statement."If I had not heard the story of the windshield wiper's invention,"said Tommy Lee, a senior physics major,"I never would have dreamed of turning my bad experience during a rainstorm into something so constructive."Lee is currently negotiating to sell his patent to an umbrella producer.
So,just what is the story behind the windshield wiper Well,Mary Anderson came up with the idea in 1902 after a visit to New York City.The day was cold and stormy,but Anderson still wanted to see the sights,so she jumped aboard a streetcar.Noticing that the driver was struggling to see through the snow covering the windshield,she found herself wondering why there couldn't be a built--in device for cleaning the window.Still wondering about this when she returned home to Birmingham,Alabama, Anderson started drafting out solutions.One of her ideas,a lever on the inside of a vehicle that would control an arm on the outside,became the first windshield wiper.
Today we benefit from countless inventions and innovations.It's hard to imagine driving without Garrett A.Morgan's traffic light.It's equally impossible to picture a world without Katherine J.Blodgett's innovation that makes glass invisible.Can you picture life without clear windows and eyeglasses?
|
Which of the following can best serve as the title of this passage?
|
[
"How to Help Students to Sell Their Inventions to Producers",
"How to Design a Built-in Device for Cleaning the Window",
"Shouldn't We Know Who Invented the Windshield Wiper",
"Shouldn't We Develop Invention Courses in Universities"
] |
C
|
devhigh11146
|
Money has always complicated our social lives. A question in October from a woman wondering whether she should attend her neighbors' holiday parties broke my heart: "I am not able to do the same in return, and I just feel like a freeloader to do so," she wrote. "I'm not even in a position this year to take an appropriate thankyou gift with me." I told her to go, of course.
Meanwhile, hosts worried about the costs of entertaining -- the hosts who write to me, anyway. On the other hand, the hosts that guests write to me about have taken some extreme measures to reduce the cost of their hospitality. These range from a dinner party where a relative of the host explained how expensive the steaks were and "rather pointedly suggested" that the letter writer "make a financial contribution" to the cost of dinner, to some Cape Cod homeowners who invited a couple to spend a weekend with them -- as long as they brought their own food, bottled water, and toilet paper.
Weddings and other special events always create extra sources of stress, worsened by the fact that people rarely want to talk honestly about their money situations. One couple chose to have only a civil wedding ceremony for financial reasons and wondered how to tell people this without going into too much detail. A sixtysomething couple needed to cut back on Christmas gifts to their children but weren't sure how to tell them about it. People who had been laid off wondered how to notify friends, respond to inquiries about their job search, and compete with former colleagues for positions.
If you are searching for the answers to them, write to me--an advice columnist.
|
What would you be expected to do if you were invited to spend a weekend with some Cape Cod homeowners?
|
[
"Ask someone for advice.",
"Get your food and water ready.",
"Bring a bottle of wine with you.",
"Make a financial contribution to the cost."
] |
B
|
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