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To me, life without music would not be exciting. I realize that this is not true for everybody. Many people get along quite well without going to the concert, and listening to the record. But music plays an important part in everyone's life, whether he realizes it or not. Try to imagine, for example, what films or TV plays would be like without music. Would the feelings, the moving plot, and the greatest interests, be so exciting or dramatic? I'm not sure about it.
Now, we have been speaking of music in its more common meaning----the kind of music we hear in the concert hall. But if we look at some parts of music more closely, we discover them in our everyday life too----in the rhythm of the sea, the _ of a bird in the woods and so on. So music surely has meaning for everyone, in some way or other. And, of course, it has special meaning for those who have spent all their lives working on playing or writing music.
It is well said, "Through music a child enters into a world of beauty, expresses himself from his heart, feels the joy of doing things alone, learns to take care of others, develops his mind and makes his body strong." | [{'question': 'What dose the writer say more about in the text?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Life full of music.', 'Life without music.', 'The importance of music.', 'The development of music.']}, {'question': 'From the text, we learn that many people _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["don't realize the importance of music", 'get along quite well without music', 'go to the concert instead of enjoying music', 'think music would be less exciting than films']}] |
Learning new words is learning new ideas: High school students can take control of
their learning by always looking up new words and finding out what they mean. They should keep a dictionary and a thesaurus close at hand.
Make clear lists: Students should make a list of everything that they need to get done. They should check off assignments once completed. They should include clear due dates.
Make a commitment: Active learners will resolve to keep up -to-date from the start. They will avoid _ . They will complete most of their work as early as possible.
Independent work is best: Students will do all assignments independently--they will never copy! Students who copy are passive learners. Passive learners do not give their mind a chance to think on its own.
Organization is key: Students should keep an excellent folder and notebook. All problems should be clearly stated and solutions given. All tests and quizzes should be corrected and used as study guides for exams and finals.
All actions without solutions are dead: Active learners will always show their work needed to solve a problem. Active learners will never turn in a list of answers without giving an explanation or a solution.
Advanced reading: Students should do any required reading for the topic before class. They should write an outline of the section or chapter. They should actively take notes as they read to help them remember. | [{'question': 'If you want to be successful in exams and finals you should _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['give your mind a chance to think on its own', 'check off your papers once completed', 'keep an excellent folder and notebook', 'hand in your homework on time']}, {'question': 'The best title of the passage is " _ ".', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['How to Be an Effective Reader', 'How to Get Good Scores in Tests', 'How to Collect Academic Information', 'How to Actively Study in High School']}] |
We might not be alone in the universe. Actually, it may be confirmed as a very crowded place by new computer models developed to help identify habitable planets.
Estimates of places where life can exist have been based on the possibility of them having surface water. But software recently developed by the Aberdeen University allows researchers to identify planets with underground water kept liquid by heat from planets.
Water is fundamental for life and planets too close to the sun lose water to the atmosphere through evaporation. On the other hand, planets located in distant reaches from their star have their surface water locked away as ice.
Sean McMahon, who is carrying out the work, explained: "Traditionally people have said that if a planet is in this Goldilocks zone--not too hot and not too cold--then it can have liquid water on its surface and be habitable."
But this concept might change when considering that planets can receive two sources of heat--heat direct from the star and heat generated deep inside the planet.
It is easy to observe it in our own planet. As you go down through the crust of the Earth, the temperature gets higher and higher. Even when the surface is frozen, water can exist below ground.
There could be immense quantities of water in fact--full of primitive life.
Professor John Parnell, also from Aberdeen University said: "There is a significant habitat for microorganisms below the surface of the Earth, extending down several kilometres".
"And some believe that the majority of life on Earth could even reside in this deep biosphere."
So the Aberdeen team are developing models to predict which distant planets might harbour underground reservoirs of liquid water with the possibility of alien life. | [{'question': 'What is considered as the symbol of life existence traditionally?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Solid water on its surface.', 'Solid water below ground.', 'Liquid water below ground.', 'Liquid water on its surface.']}, {'question': 'Why did John Parnell mention the fact about Earth?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['To prove that there is majority of life on Earth.', 'To prove that life may also exist in other planets.', 'To prove that there is primitive life down through Earth.', 'To prove that there is a habitat for microorganisms below Earth.']}, {'question': "What theory is the Aberdeen team's study based on?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Planets can lose water through evaporation.', 'Planets can receive heat direct from the star.', 'Planets can have their surface water locked away as ice.', 'Planets can receive heat generated deep inside the planet.']}, {'question': 'What can we know about the computer models?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['They will help identify planets where there is life.', 'They will help researchers find Goldilocks zones.', 'They have helped find some significant discoveries.', 'They have already located some habitats for life.']}] |
The findings of a new survey have American professors talking about the good old days--when A's were a lot tougher to earn.
Sites like Rate My Professors.com make it easy for students to find a class taught by a professor who is known as an "easy grader".A recent survey by Kaplan Test Prep found that 46 percent of the more than 1,200 students polled admitted to using the site for just such a purpose.
"Our research shows that many of today's college students are looking at multiple factors when picking out courses: overall teacher quality that will result in a good learning experience, but also instructors who don't like to award a lot of C's and D's," said Jeff Olson, vice president of research at Kaplan Test Prep.
"While it makes sense that students would choose kinder graders, it also helps explain the recent popularity of grade inflation ."
Grade inflation is seen by many professors as poisoning the learning environment.Some, like former Duke University professor Stuart Rojstaczer, are righting it head-on.
On his website, Gradelnflation.com, he releases an annual list of schools where grade inflation is the worst.
This year, he decided to name the schools where grades were inflated the least.He praised, for example, Princeton University, as well as Purdue University, where the average GPA has remained around 2.8 for over 30 years.
"Purdue doesn't even seem to know that grade inflation exists in the US," Rojstaczer says."Ignorance is bliss ." | [{'question': 'Grade inflation is spreading because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["it's poisoning the learning environment", 'instructors intend to improve their overall teaching quality', "many instructors adapt to the students' expectations", 'students get easy access to sites like RateMyProfessors.com']}, {'question': 'The passage suggests that _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['universities will employ hard graders', 'if we want to be happy, we should be ignorant', "A's are becoming easy to earn at most US universities", 'professors and instructors should give students higher grades']}, {'question': 'The writer tends to _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['favor easy graders', 'see grade inflation as unavoidable', 'oppose Kaplan Test Prep', "miss the days when A's were hard to earn"]}] |
For years we have been dieting strictly after the year-end overeating, afraid that when summer. comes, the bigger size we have accumulated will betray how we ate. Now scientists say, it's a little bug that causes obesity .
As the holiday season with its abundant feasting arrives, millions of food lovers are keeping an eye on their figures. But scientists have found that weight gain is not about too much Christmas
turkey or hot chocolates, but some bacteria in your guts .
Chinese scientists recently discovered a type ofbacteria in guts that may be to blame for obesity.
A research team led by Zhao Liping, a professor in Shanghai, has identified a precise link
between a particular kind ofbacteria and unusual weight gain.
"The endotoxin released by the bacterium can activate a gene that helps produce fat. And it also deactivates a gene that consumes fat," Zhao says.
Scientists have long believed that microscopic organisms in the gut, microbiota, may play a very important role in weight gain, but they had never been able to prove it.
In 2004, American microbiologist Jeffrey Gordon and his colleagues discovered a general link between obesity and gut microbiota in mice.
While a link was believed to exist, proving it was another matter.
"The list of diseases that they may play a role in is just growing and growing," says Lita Proctor, director of the US National Institutes of Health. "But the problem is that we're only able to look at associations and aren't yet able to conduct cause-and-effect studies."
In the clinical study, researchers found a growth of too much endotoxin-producing bacteria,
leading t0 35 percent ofthe gut bacteria, in an obese patient whose initial weight was 175 kg.
Based on this information, researchers tried to cure the patient by feeding him a specialized
nutritional liquid food to decrease the bacteria in his guts to ignorable amounts.
After 23 weeks, the patient lost 51.4 kg, with his fatty liver disease having almost disappeared. | [{'question': 'We diet strictly after the year-end overeating because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["we won't betray ourselves", 'we eat too much turkey', 'there are bacteria in our guts', "we don't want to look fat"]}, {'question': "What can be learned from Zhao's research?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Obesity is related to a kind of bacteria.', 'Healthy diet helps reduce your fat.', "Chocolate doesn't cause weight gain.", 'Too much food leads to overweight.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following statements is TRUE?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["Scientists didn't try to find out the cause of overweight.", "There is a link between mice's overweight and human's.", 'Lita proved the link between bacteria and weight gain.', 'Scientists found bacteria may be related to many diseases.']}, {'question': 'The patient finally lost 51.4 kg of his weight after _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['35 percent of his gut bacteria were killed', 'the amount of gut bacteria was decreased', 'he had a special kind ofoperation', 'his fatty liver had disappeared']}, {'question': 'What does the passage mainly talk about?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["People's eating habits.", 'Healthy lifestyles.', 'A medical discovery.', 'The consequence of obesity.']}] |
While elephants are respected by the people of Thailand, they are also used as beasts of burdens . Today, these majestic animals are extensively used to help carry wood for the logging industry. It is therefore nice to hear that on National Elephant Day the mighty mammals are treated like a king, and served with meals fit for a king.
One of the biggest celebrations took place at the Pattaya Resort in Thailand's Chonburi Province. Fifty-two elephants, some wearing beautiful clothes, arrived bright and early for the big day. Each was first blessed with holy water by a professional elephant rider and then led to the grand feast, which served an unlimited supply of their favorite treats--bananas, dragon fruits , pineapples, assorted melons, apples and the list went on and on! The elephants ate till they were satisfied before walking back with their owners for a good night's rest.
Though called National Elephant Day, the celebrations that took place on March 13th this year stretched out for an entire week. Besides providing a well-deserved treat and break for the hard-working animals, the celebrations were also aimed to raise awareness about the mammal's dwindling population. One smart elephant even helped show the message by painting a dead elephant and the words "Don't kill me", right beside _ .
And horrible as the message may sound, there is a sad ring of truth to it. Since the 1900s the number of elephants in Thailand has gone from over 100,000 to just 3,000-4,000 because of the destruction of their natural habitat and illegal killing. Asian elephants are not the only ones that are in trouble. African elephants are facing the same fate . Hopefully, the public and officials are now working together to save these mighty animals from disappearing from the world. | [{'question': 'Nowadays elephants in Thailand are', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['still used to help fight battles', 'never used as beasts of burdens', 'used to do tasks that need strength', 'less respected because of the development of the society']}, {'question': 'The celebrations held at the Pattaya Resort aimed to _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["show visitors the elephants' great performance", 'honor elephants for their devotion to the country', 'encourage people to play with elephants', 'show visitors the beautiful scenery in Thailand']}, {'question': 'What can we learn from the text?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Elephants are protected very well in Thailand.', 'Elephants also face the risk of being killed in Thailand.', 'The number of elephants is increasing gradually in Thailand.', 'Elephants could enjoy a grand feast every week in Thailand.']}] |
You've probably heard of the expression "A leopard can't change its spots." This, of course, is true of leopards. But isn't it true of people? Can people change themselves? Are we humans just creatures of habits? Do we not have any control over our actions and habits?
One guy said, "Bad habits are like a comfortable bed. They're easy to get into, but hard to get out of." Someone else said, "The chains of habits are too small to feel until they're too strong to break." So breaking the mould of our bad habits takes effort.
Habits are like the roads we take through our life every day. The problem is that not every road takes us where we need to go. Actually, our routes through life often become our ruts in life. We end up stuck in them and find it hard to dig ourselves out. That's why we must change our bad habits as soon as possible before they become our second nature. You see, our habits become our character and our character becomes our life. As one wise person said, "First we make our habits, and then our habits make us."
But we humans don't like to change. So we come up with excuses, like "I can't be different; that's just the way I am." And the good excuse is "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." But that's just it: we're not dogs or animals. In fact, we're the only creatures who have the freedom and power to change and choose the kind of person we want to become. | [{'question': "The author's attitude towards changing one's bad habits is _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['doubtful', 'optimistic', 'negative', 'indifferent']}] |
A news release is a tool of communication,through which information is passed to even the farthest end of the world.It keeps us well informed of the happenings of the world which would otherwise remain unknown.
When writing a news release,keep in mind that the media receive hundreds of releases every day.Try to follow these guidelines:Keep it short and professional.Come up with a _ headline that will grasp someone's attention.Sometimes the title will take more time to come up with than writing the release.That's okay-the headline could be critical for getting an event covered!
Cover the 5 W's in your first paragraph.Those are who you are; what you are doing;where,when you are doing;why you are doing it,which help us understand the details about the event.Besides,any opinions in the news release should be put in quotations from your designated spokesperson.Include things that the media finds newsworthy,which is the most essential.
Make the time on your news release at least half an hour later than the time you have told activists to show up at an event.This will ensure that activists are prepared and in place by the time the media arrive.
Choose a spokesperson for the event who can be quoted in the release and will be available for calls at that number the day before the event.
Have someone proof the release for spelling,grammar and content(determine whether what you are trying to relay is clear and right).Sometimes the person who writes the release may not notice mistakes that a fresh pair of eyes will catch.
Accuracy is the last but not least important in terms of your content and the location and time that you tell the media.If you do make a mistake,it is critical that you call and notify the media of the correction. | [{'question': "What's the main purpose of the passage?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['To tell us the importance of the news release.', 'To tell us how to avoid mistakes in the news release.', 'To make us know how to make the news release.', 'To ask us to read news release on the latest events.']}, {'question': 'What is the most important for a news release according to the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["Make sure the 5 W's in your first paragraph.", 'Choose a proper spokesperson for the event.', 'Make the news release newsworthy and accuracy.', 'Ensure activists are prepared for the events in advance.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is RIGHT according to the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['A news release is more important than any other medium.', 'Any opinions in the news release should have quotations.', 'The main task of the spokesperson is to correct the mistakes by the writer.', 'Lacking experience,the person who writes the release may make mistakes.']}] |
Are you a big fan of pirate stories? Do you know how to talk like a pirate? You can have fun on September 19th. This special holiday is called International Talk Like A Pirate Day. It was invented in 1995 by two young Americans, John Baur and Mark Summers.
These two good friends came up with this idea when they were playing racquetball, and began to talk like pirates. At that moment, they thought, "Young people are interested in pirate, but there is no such a chance for people to get together to share it. Why not have a day when everybody talks like a pirate?" They decided to make September 19th the date. Since then, Baur and Summers have tried hard to promote Talk Like A Pirate Day. As Baur said, "We've talked like pirates, and encouraged several of our friends to do so every September 19th."
At first, this day was only known by a few people. In 2002, Baur and Summers sent a letter about their invented holiday to Dave Barry. This columnist really liked their idea. He promoted the holiday and made it known to more and more people. Now, it has really become an international holiday. On Talk Like A Pirate Day, you need to dress like a pirate. You should wear a big hat or maybe cover one of your eyes. You can pretend to be any kind of pirate that you can find in any story or movie.
Having fun and being relaxed are not the only best things about the holiday. Young people share the same interest and childhood dreams that day. That's why it is welcomed by so many people, especially young people.
Unlike traditional holidays, International Talk Like A Pirate Day is a brand new holiday which is invented by the youth themselves and celebrated by themselves too. Because of Baur and Summers' imagination and creativity, thousands of young people's pirate dream come true. Next time, when you have a good idea, why not share it with your fiends and insist on your belief? Maybe you can create another wonderful holiday for the youth in the future. | [{'question': 'How did John Baur and Mark Summers invent the special holiday?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Many young people asked them to do it', 'They did it just for pleasure', 'They did it in order to honor pirates', 'They thought out the idea by chance and imagination']}, {'question': 'Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['It was Dave Barry who made more people know the holiday.', 'Talk Like A Pirate Day is a young, active and lively holiday', 'The holiday has been popular since the birth of it.', "Thanks to John Baur and Mark Summers' imagination and creativity, many people realize the pirate dream."]}, {'question': 'According to the passage, which of the following can show that the holiday is special?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['It is a brand new holiday invented and celebrated by the youth themselves.', 'It is a wonderful and instructive holiday.', 'It has a long history.', 'People can make their dream come true on this day.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following can serve as the best title of the passage in a newspaper?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["Young people's pirate dream", 'Can you talk like a pirate?', 'John Baur and Mark Summers', 'September 19th--a traditional day in honor of pirates']}] |
Once upon a time a peacock and a tortoise became great friends. The peacock lived in a tree on the bank of the stream in which the tortoise had his home, and every day the peacock danced near the stream and displayed his gay plumage for the amusement of his friend.
Unfortunately, one day a bird-catcher caught the peacock and was about to take him away to the market. The unhappy bird begged his captor to allow him to say goodbyeto his friend -- the tortoise. The bird-catcher agreed and took the peacock to the tortoise, who was greatly astonished when he saw his friend become a captive. The tortoise asked the bird-catcher to let the peacock go, but the bird-catcher laughed at his request, saying that was his livelihood. The tortoise then said, "If I give you a handsome present, will you let my friend go?" "Certainly," answered the bird-catcher. So the tortoise dived into the water and in a few seconds came up with a handsome pearl. To the bird-catcher's astonishment, the tortoise handed it to him. This was beyond his expectation, and he let the peacock go immediately.
A short time later, the _ man came back and told the tortoise that he thought he had not been paid enough for the release of his friend, and threatened that unless he received another pearl which matched the first one, he would again catch the peacock. The tortoise, who had already advised his friend to go to a distant place on being set free, was greatly enraged at the greed of this man. "Well," said the tortoise, "if you insist on having another pearl like that one, give it to me and I will fish you out an exact match for it." The cupidity of the bird-catcher prevented his reasoning that "one in the hand is equal to two in the bed of the stream", and he quickly gave the pearl to the wily tortoise, who swam out with it, saying, "I am no fool to take one and give two!" and disappeared immediately, leaving the bird-catcher to be sorry for his greed. | [{'question': 'This passage is a _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['joke', 'fairy tale', 'fable', 'life story']}, {'question': 'Why did the bird-catcher come back to the tortoise?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Because he wanted to win a match.', "Because he thought the pearl didn't suit him.", 'Because he wanted to thank the tortoise.', 'Because he wanted to get one more pearl.']}, {'question': 'From the story about the peacock and the tortoise, we learn that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['the tortoise was cleverer than the peacock', 'a friend in need is a friend indeed', 'the peacock was very careless', 'the tortoise was a fool']}, {'question': 'In this passage, the author is telling us that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["human beings shouldn't trust a tortoise", 'if we are too greedy, we may get nothing', "human beings shouldn't catch animals", "the bird-catcher shouldn't have asked for another pearl"]}] |
Welcome to Gold Coast Wax Museum
HIGHLIGHTS
The Gold Wax Museum is one of the Cold Coast's longest running attractions. It's a collection of famous figures. It's Australia's largest museum of its kind, featuring more than 110 life-size wax figures copies of British and Australian History.
The Wax Museum is visited by many thousands of people each year who are shocked at the amazing realism of the life-size figures in authentic costumes. This is your invitation to wander through at your leisure and meet many important and famous people's figures on Queensland's Gold Coast.
Come face to face with such celebrities as Michael Jackson, President Obama, past President John F. Kennedy, King Hussein, members of the Royal Family, and many others whose lives have all left an indelible mark on our world. Information cards are located alongside each figure.
The Gold Coast Wax Museum contains figures which have been made by leading local and overseas sculptors to international standards, equal in quality to the world's best, as seen in Europe, the United Kingdom, and U. S. A. The detail in the figures is amazing -and includes hair applied one strand at a time, requiring many working hours for one hand, and the eyes are so real that they seem to follow the viewer around.
Price
Child (1-3yrs) free
Child (4-12yrs) $ 22. 00
Adult $ 29. 00
Family (2 Adults + I Child) $68.00
Opening hours
Open 7 days a week, 10a. m. to l0p. m.
Closed at Christmas Day (25 Dec. ) and Anzac Day (25 Apr. )
Location
Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise ( Gold Coast ) QLD
How to get there
You can choose any of the Gold Coast airport transfers, car rentals, shuttles and private transfers to/from your hotel. Many coach operators also offer Gold Coast transfers to surrounding attractions, beaches, and the more distant destinations, throughout the day.
What to bring
Bring your sense of adventure and your camera and see something exciting and quite unique.
For further information, please click here to see more about the Gold Coast Wax Museum. | [{'question': 'If you visit the Gold Coast Wax Museum, you can', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['see many members of the Royal Family in person in the Museum', 'enjoy some world-class vivid max-works in the Museum', 'meet many leading local and internatioanal sculptors in the Museum', 'e at any time of the year except at Christmas Day']}, {'question': 'If a couple and their l0-year-old son visit the Gold Coast Wax Museum, they may pay _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['$87', '$80', '$68', '$58']}, {'question': 'You will most probably find this passage _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['in a guidebook', 'in a magazine', 'in a text book', 'on a webpage']}] |
If you want to pay a visit to Iceland, you'll enter a whole new region of experience. You'll discover original nature as you've never seen it before. The freedom to wander in the city or the wilds as you please is the key to the Iceland experience.
Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, is just a part of the Icelandic experience with its midnight sun or the magical landscapes mixed with ice and fire. Reykjavik has a population of around 170,000 and offers an interesting mix of culture and local village roots.
Old accounts say the ancient gods themselves guided Iceland's first settler to make his home in Reykjavik. He named the place Reykjavik (Steamy Bay)after the geothermal steam he saw, which today heats homes and outdoor swimming pools throughout the city, a pollution-free energy source that leaves the air very fresh, clean and clear.
A beautiful river runs through the city limits, and so do fine parks and even wild outdoor areas. Against this backcloth of nature, Reykjavik has a packed program of familiar city joys too: art museums, several theaters, an opera house, a symphony orchestra and concerts meeting the needs of all ages and tastes.
One must for all visitors is dining out on Icelandic specialties, including delicious seafood, ocean-fresh from the morning' s catch, highland lamb and unusual varieties of game. Its purely natural food is imaginatively served to delight the most discerning of diners. Reykjavik is also famous as one of Europe's hottest nightspots, where the action on the friendly pub and nightlife scene lasts right through the night. In the evening, the downtown area is filled with activity, reaching its peak on Friday or Saturday. The number of pubs, cafe, discos, and other nightspots in the downtown area is astonishing. There is a rich variety of places to go: European-style cafes, nightclubs with live entertainment, dance halls for seniors, sports-theme pubs with big TV screens, cafes that offer over 100 types of beer, an Irish pub, a Spanish cafe, a French wine bar.
Walking distances are short downtown, and everything worth seeing outside the city center can be quickly and conveniently reached by bus. With its long, easy-going main street and large shopping mall, Iceland's capital is a great place to shop too -- with a bonus of tax-free shopping for visitors!
A full range of accommodations is available in Reykjavik, from international-standard hotels with good conference facilities, through smaller hotels and comfortable guesthouses, to a campsite in the city's biggest park. | [{'question': 'It can be learned from the passage the Reykiavik_.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['was named by the ancient gods.', "was named by Iceland's first settler.", 'got its name from the visitors.', "was named after Iceland's first settler."]}, {'question': 'It can be inferred from the passage that_.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['people living in Reykiavik seldom get heat from coal.', "hotel accommodation is so rare that visitors usually camp in the city's biggest parks.", 'all visitors must dine out while visiting Iceland.', 'you have to walk a short distance if you want to go sightseeing outside the city.']}] |
I grow up in San Pedro. My Dad was a fisherman, and he loved the sea. He had his own boat, but it was hard making a living on the sea. He worked hard and would stay out until he caught enough to feed the family. Not just enough for our family, but also for his Mom and Dad and the other kids that were still at home.
Dad was a big man, and he was strong from pulling the nets and fighting the sea for his catch. When you got close to him, you smelled the ocean.
When the weather was bad he would drive me to school. He would pull right up in front, and it seemed like everybody would be standing around and watching. Then he would lean over and give me a big kiss on the cheek and tell me to be a good boy. It was so embarrassing for me. Here I was twelve years old, and my Dad would lean over and kiss me good-bye!
I remembered the day I thought I was too old for a good-bye kiss. When we got to the school and came to a stop, he had his usual big smile. He started to lean toward me, but _ It was the first time I had ever talked to him that way, and he had this surprised look on his face.
I said, "Dad, I'm too old for a good-bye kiss. I'm too old for any kind of kiss." My Dad looked at me for the longest time, and his eyes started to tear up. I had never seen him cry. He turned and looked at the windshield . "You're right," he said. "You are a big boy...a man. I won't kiss you any more.
It wasn't long after that when my Dad went to sea and never came back.
Guys, you don't know what I would give to have my Dad give me just one more kiss on the cheek ... to feel his rough old face ... to smell the ocean on him ... to feel his arm around my neck. I wish I had been a man then. If I had been a man, I would be a man. I would never have told my Dad I was too old for a good-bye kiss. | [{'question': "From the passage, we know that the writer's father _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['was a successful businessman', 'had an accident and died at sea', 'was good at driving cars', 'drove the writer to school every day']}, {'question': 'The writher wrote the passage in order to _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': [".tell readers about his father's love to him", 'attract readers to visit his father', 'give a brief introduction to himself', 'ask readers to love their fathers']}] |
Schoolgirls have been wearing such short skirts at Paget High School in Branston that they've been ordered to wear trousers instead. All skirts will be banned from September. Tight-fitting trousers will also be forbidden and Muslim head-dresses will have to be "school blue'' color.
Head teacher Don Smith said, "One of the big problems for us at the school has been the number of girls who have been wearing inappropriately short skirts. This has been an area of particular concern at a time when there has been a lot of material nationally about the sexualisation of young people."
He also said, " It will be impractical to police the length of girls' skirts. A blanket ban will be easier for staff to put into practice. We did not want to arrive at a situation where we were telling girls their skirts could only be a certain number of centimeters above or below the knee. Pupils', parents' and other teachers' opinions were sought before the uniform rules were changed.,,
The new clothing policy has been explained in a letter sent to parents of the school's 1,000 pupils and will come into force after the summer holiday. Support will be given to parents unable to afford the new tie. The school also wants pupils to wear clip-on ties instead of traditional neckties.
But the new uniform rules have not been well received by everyone. One parent, whose teenage daughter attends the school, said, "I completely agree some girls were wearing skirts that were too short. However, I think girls should be allowed to be feminine .Other schools manage to let girls wear skirts while making sure they are not inappropriately dressed. I don't see why Paget can't do the same." | [{'question': 'The girls at Paget High School are not allowed to wear skirts in that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['short skirts give people the impression of sexualisation', 'short skirts are too expensive for parents to afford', "the headmaster doesn't like girls wearing short skirts", 'the girls wearing short skirts will be at the risk of being laughed at']}, {'question': 'We can learn from the passage that _', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the new uniform rules are well received by everyone', 'no schools in Branston allow girls to wear short skirts', 'parents unable to afford the new uniform will gain support', "the pupils' parents were informed of the new clothing policy"]}, {'question': "What's the attitude of Mr. Smith towards the new uniform rules?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Disagreeable.', 'Supportive.', 'Anxious.', 'Curious.']}, {'question': "What's the best title for the passage?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['New School Rules Set', "Girls' Skirts Forbidden", 'Traditional Neckties Gone', 'Different Opinions Voiced']}] |
One warm September night, Mira had come down to the beach to enjoy the night air. She closed her eyes and listened to the waves. Suddenly, she could hear another sound, so she opened her eyes and looked down at the sand. It was moving! All of a sudden she could see a tiny head coming out. Then a turtle appeared! One by one they struggled out of their underground nests. Mira looked in surprise at the baby turtles.
Mira knew the turtles should head towards the waves and swim away, so she was puzzled when they began to pull themselves towards the dunes . Suddenly, she remembered something her grandmother had told her.
"Sea turtles bury their eggs on the beach every year in April and in September. Those baby turtles hatch and head back down to the sea. But some of them never make it. Sometimes they die going across the dunes, trying to find those bright lights on the houses. Every day there are more houses being built on the dunes. That means more and more lights to confuse the sea turtles."
Mira looked out across the dunes at her house. Mira saw her mother and father, sitting on the porch . She could see them because her house had two bright lights that lit up the porch.
Mira began to run to her house and shouted, "The turtles are hatching! We have to help the turtles!" With these words, Mira ran into the house and turned off the bright porch lights.
In a rush she was off running down the dunes with her whole family following her. They reached the beach just in time to see the tiny turtles slipping silently into the waves. Mira watched as the last turtle entered the water. As the turtle swam away, it looked back at Mira. In the moonlight, Mira thought she saw it smile. | [{'question': 'Where did the story happen?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['On a beach at night', 'In a house near the dunes.', 'On a front porch in the evening.', 'In the shallow water of the ocean.']}, {'question': 'How did Mira feel when she saw the baby turtles appear?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Proud.', 'Sad.', 'Confused.', 'Surprised.']}, {'question': 'How did Mira know the lights confused the turtles?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['She read it in a book.', 'Her grandmother told her.', 'She learned about the turtles at school.', 'Her parents taught her about the turtles.']}, {'question': 'Why did Mira run to her house?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['To get a flashlight', 'To turn off the porch light.', 'To communicate with her parents.', 'To ask her grandmother about the lights.']}, {'question': 'This story is mainly about a girl _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['enjoying the ocean', 'turning lights off at night', 'saving the baby turtles', 'learning from her grandparents']}] |
Trapped on the 37thFloor
Melinda Skaar wasn't expecting any phone calls. Skaar was working late in her office at the First Internet bank of California. By 10:45 that night she was almost ready to go home when the phone rang.
Picking it up, she heard a guard shouting. There is a fire! Get out of there.
Skaar didn't panic. She figured that it was just a small fire. Her office building was huge. There were 62 floors and her desk was on the 37thfloor.
Skaar called out to office mate Stephen Oksas, who also stayed late to work. But when they got out to the hallway, they were met by a cloud of black smoke. Rushing back, Skaar shut the door and filled the space at the bottom of the door with her jacket to keep the smoke out.
Then they called 911. before they could call their families, however, the line went dead. That meant that they were completely cut off from the outside world. All they could do was wait and hope someone would come to rescue them.
Minutes ticked by. Smoke began to float into the office. Soon it became hard for them to breathe.
Looking around, Skaar noticed a small workroom. It seemed to have cleaner air. So they crowed there. That helped for a while, but in time even the workroom was filled with deadly smoke.
Hopeless, they tried to break the windows, but the glass was not breakable. Everything they threw at just bounced back.
Defeated, they struggled back to the workroom. They felt weak and dizzy. Soon Skaar found Oksas had passed out.
Skaar and Oksas knew they were lucky to be alive. Sunday is my birthday, Skaar told a reporter. She would be turning 29. but she knew she had already got the best present possible----the gift of life. | [{'question': 'What did Skaar and Oksas do where were stopped by the fire?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['they called their families', 'they waited where they were', 'they tried to run down the stairs', 'they rushed back and shut the door']}, {'question': 'The first sentence of the passage is to _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['introduce Skaar', "get the reader's attention", 'explain the cause of the event', 'tell the background information']}, {'question': 'The following helped Skaar and Oksas survive the fire except _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['calling 911 for help', 'breaking the windows to get some fresh air', 'crowding in a small workroom for clean air', 'shutting the door and keeping the smoke out with a jacket']}, {'question': "what can we conclude from Skaar's action in the fire?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['she is cleverer than Oksas', 'she was trained as a firefighter', 'she remained calm in the face of danger', 'she had had the experience of being caught in fire.']}] |
China, known as the "kingdom of bicycle", will see a quick growth in electric bicycle production in the next five years thanks to the country's efforts to save energy and improve the environment.
The output of electric bikes is expected to maintain an annual growth rate of at least 80 percent in the coming five years. China will _ 30 million electricity-driven bikes in 2020, compared to 9 million bikes last year, according to a report from the Development Research Center under the State Council and other ministries such as the National Development and Reform Commission.
The central government wants to reduce the amount of energy consumption by as much as 20 percent within the next five years. That would be achieved through the introduction of new sources of energy and encouraging people to save energy, China Daily reported.
The smoke from car exhausts is a major cause of pollution darkening the sky in Chinese cities, especially Beijing. On Monday, industrial experts called on the government to come up with more preferential measures to spread the use of electric bikes in China.
Electric bike production in China accounts for about 90 percent of the world's total, making China the world's biggest producer, consumer and exporter of the energy-efficient vehicle, the report said. The country last year sold about 3 million electric bikes to foreign countries, a figure expected to double in five years. By 2020, the production value of the electric bike industry in China is expected to be 70 billion yuan, almost four times of the current level. | [{'question': 'Why will there be a quick growth in electric bicycle production in the next five years in China?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Because electric bicycles can save the consumer more money.', 'Because the central government encourages people to save energy.', "Because most people in China can't afford cars.", 'Because the Chinese government limits the development of bicycle production.']}, {'question': 'We can learn from the passage that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['China will produce 9 million electricity-driven bikes in 2020', 'the central government of China wants to increase the amount of energy consumption', "China is the world's second biggest producer, consumer and exporter of the energy-efficient vehicle", 'the output of electric bikes is expected to increase at least 80 percent in the coming five years']}, {'question': 'What is the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['How to make electric bicycles', "The world's biggest producer of electric bicycles", "China's quick growth in electric bicycle", 'How to save energy and improve the environment']}] |
A single letter written by Albert Einstein was sold for more than $400, 000. But could an e-mail printout or an electronic file reach similar heights? That's the question facing those who deal in the literary artifacts of public figures, as they struggle to work out how to do business in the electronic world where information can be copied and spread out more easily than ever before.
"Booksellers, collectors and libraries are already trading in digital objects," Joan Winterkorn, a researcher told people. When Emory University Library bought author Slaman Rushdie's archives in 2006, it received a desktop computer, three laptops, a hard drive and a smart phone along with his paper flies. And the writer John Updike, who died last month, started using computers in the 1980s, Winterkorn pointed out, so his "papers" will include a big store of electronic documents.
So far, however, digital archives have been traded as just a small part of a larger, mainly paper-based archive. Indeed, no one is quite sure how much the digital documents of a historical figure are worth.
_ " said Gabriel Heaton, a literary manuscript specialist, adding that more tangible digital objects were easier for auctioneers to price and sell, "What about a laptop? For example, the one used by J. K. Rowling to write Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in an Edinburgh cafe has real value," he said. "Because she used it." Even if the hard drive had been cloned by a library, the artifact would still be valuable.
Gordon Bell, from Microsoft Research, suggested that prices will actually fall to almost nothing. "Once it's been copied and spread out the value is gone. It's just a piece of memory." | [{'question': 'What is the purpose of the example mentioned in Para. 1?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['To introduce the topic of the passage.', 'To show that some written letter are of great value.', 'To get readers interested in electronic documents.', 'To tell us to pay attention to public figures, artifacts.']}, {'question': 'According to the text, the trade in digital archives _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['has been well developed', 'is still in its early stage', 'is enjoying a period of prosperity', 'is developing very rapidly']}, {'question': "Who doesn't think digital archives are of great value?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Joan Winterkorn.', 'Salman Rushdie.', 'J. K. Rowling.', 'Gordon Bell.']}, {'question': "What is the author's attitude towards the trade in electronic documents?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Negative.', 'Positive.', 'Neutral.', 'Hopeful.']}] |
There are one billion homeless people living in our world today . The Homeless World Cup exists to end this , so we all have a home , a basic human need .
The Homeless World Cup is an annual , international football tournament , uniting teams of people who are homeless to take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever . It has inspired and supported over 50 grass roots football projects around the world working with homeless people throughout the year .
The first tournament took place in Graz 2003 uniting 17 national teams . At the 5th Homeless World Cup in Copenhagen in 2004 , 48 nations , 500 players were united for a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country . 25,000 players were involved in pre-tournament training and trials around the world .
The Homeless World Cup is full of players with courage , spirit and determination . Research shows that 73% of players change their lives for the better after the international tournament by coming off drugs and alcohol , moving into jobs , education , homes , training , reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches for professional or semi-professional football teams . David Duke (Scotland) played in 2004 , came off alcohol , passed his coaching qualifications . He became assistant coach for Scotland 2005 , coach in 2006 and now owns his own home . The best goal scorer in 2004 Yevgen Adamenko(Ukraine) went on to play in a professional club in Ukraine .
The Homeless World Cup supporters include Nike , UN , Manchester United , Real Madrid and international footballers Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand . | [{'question': 'The purpose of the Homeless World Cup is to _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['find a home for homeless people', 'collect money for homeless people', 'help the homeless kick bad habits', 'help the homeless start a new life']}, {'question': 'Which of the following statements is true about the Copenhagen Homeless World Cup ?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['It took place in early December .', '25,000 players entered the tournament .', 'Nearly 50 teams competed in the tournament .', 'David Duke won the best goal scorer in 2004 .']}] |
Ladji Doucoure of France beat Olympic champion Liu Xiang of China in the final meters to claim the title of the men's 110 meters hurdles at the 10thworld championships in Helsinki on Friday.
Doucoure, who led the world this season with 12.97 seconds, over took the Chinese to win the race in 13.07 seconds. Liu was second in 13.08. Four-time world champion Allen Johnson of the United States took the third in 13.10.
The 22-year-old Doucoure said after the race, " I can not tell you just how long I have been dreaming of this. This victory is the result of a lot of hard work, and also a lot of support from people who have believed in me. I had a bad start, touched a few hurdles, but after the 4thhurdle I _ and went straight to the finish line."
Liu, who won the Olympic gold with a world record-tying time of 12.91 seconds, said, "I'm very satisfied with the second place. The result could have been worse. I felt quite well and did my best. I' m not tired, I had some clearance problems at the start, so I should practice that some mor. Finally, I didn't lose by much, only by a little bit, but I did think I could win it."
Liu's coach, Sun Haiping said on Friday he was content with Liu's performance.
" Liu Xiang was quite good during his reaction period, but he was a little bit slow in the middle and he finally caught up during the last two hurdles," Sun told Xinhua.
Although satisfied with the silver medal and the clocking of 13.08 seconds, Sun said Liu might have added the world title to the Olympic championship if Liu had run the track neighboring his major rivals of Doucoure Ladji or Allen Johnson.
" If he had run next to Ladji Doucoure or Allen Johnson, Liu could have kept pace with them and then sprinted at the last stage. In this case, he could grab the gold," said Sun, who had become a household name for coaching China's first men's Olympic champion in the track. | [{'question': 'This passage probably appears _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['in a story book', 'in a text book', 'in a newspaper', 'in a fashion magazine']}, {'question': 'The following statements about Doucoure are true EXCEPT _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["He won the gold medal in the men's 110m hurdles in Helsinki.", "He led the world in the men's 110m hurdles with 12.97 seconds this season.", 'He did a lot of hard practice before the race in Helsinki.', 'He won the world champion title four times.']}, {'question': 'According to Sun Haiping, Liu Xiang might have won the gold if _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['he had done better during his reaction period', 'he had run the track next to Ladji Doucoure of Allen Johnson', 'he had practiced clearance more before that race', "he hadn't touched a few hurdles in the race"]}] |
In our daily life, many of us feel stressed more or less. Some like this pressure and work better because of it. Others are not comfortable with any stress at alls they soon become unhappy if they feel stressed. Sometimes stress can lead people to do things they wouldn't usually do, such as overeat, smoke, drink, or use drugs. Streas, however, is a very normal part of life.
It is important to understand that stress doesn't come from an event itself, that is, from the things that are happening in our lives. It comes from the meaning we give to what has happened. For example, a crying baby may be stressful to one person, but it may not bother another person at all, a traffic jam may be stressful to one person while another person may be able to stay calm.
We can experience stress any time we feel we don't have control. It can come from a feeling that we can't do anything about a situation. Basically, it is the body's way of showing anxiety or worry.
Stress is not just caused by our mental or emotional condition. It is also influenced by how tired we are, whether we have a balanced diet with enough vitamins and minerals, whether we get enough physical exercise, and whether we can relax.
The key point of relieving the stress is that we need to find what is causing the stress in our lives. Once we have found it, we should try to change that part of out lives. If we believe that we can control stress, we can begin to control out lives. Then we can start to use stress in positive way. | [{'question': 'According to the text, _ can cause stress.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['overeat', 'smoke', 'a traffic jam', 'a hard test.']}, {'question': 'The author mentions the example of crying baby in order to _', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['explain that stress is everywhere', 'tell different people react to stress differently', 'help people learn that stress comes from an event', 'give the definition of stress.']}, {'question': 'What does the author suggest dealing with stress?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Finding the cause and making changes.', 'Controlling the emotions', 'Having enough sleep', 'Taking some drugs']}, {'question': 'From the text, we can conclude that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['if someone has stress he will do something wrong unavoidably', 'anyone can experience stress when he is out of control', 'one will feel no stress at all if he gets enough physical exercise.', 'one is sure to work better because of the stress.']}] |
One summer day as I was heading to the teaching building I heard someone call my name. I turned around and I saw Philip ,a counselor at our admissions office , standing with another young man, Philip introduced me to him, Stephen, and reminded me that Stephen would be taking one of my classes.
Stephen looked at me. With a somewhat painful expression, he asked if my class was going to be hard and if he would be able to pass. I introduced all the things that he would be expected to learn. As we talked, I saw Stephen's eyes getting big with fear.
I told him to do all of his assignments, and to hand them in on time. Rather than being overwhelmed by all of the work, I told him the most successful students made a master calendar of all the assignments so they could plan their workload.
As the fall semester went on, I learned more of Stephen's story. It had taken him longer to finish the assignments than most young people. Family members , including his mother ,kept reminding him that he was a failure. But he kept at it and didn't take them to heart. He told me that before coming to our college, no one believed he could manage it.
Stephen didn't become an A student. Still, he managed to pass all of his courses by being in class every day, turning in all of his assignments on time and breaking down his study into bite-sized parts. By passing course after course he began to gain a measure of self-esteem.
On his graduation day, he walked up to me, and said "Thank you." | [{'question': "According to Stephen's questions to the author, we know that Stephen _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["wasn't very confident about himself.", "didn't want to attend the author's class.", 'had never been an A student.', "couldn't pass the author's exam."]}, {'question': 'Compared with other students, Stephen _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['arranged his workload better.', 'failed fewer times than them.', 'spent more time on study.', 'handed his work earlier.']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, the author _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["wouldn't have met Stephen without the introduction of Philip", 'told Stephen how to deal with his study.', 'helped Stephen to get an A in his class.', "didn't believe that Stephen could study in college"]}, {'question': 'What lesson can we learn from the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['A good beginning is a half done.', 'One bite at a time', 'Haste(n.) makes waste', 'Look before you leap(v. ).']}] |
C.O.P.D blocks air flow through the lungs. It makes breathing difficult. The leading cause of C.O.P.D. is cigarette smoking. Experts at the National Institutes of Health in the United States say there is no cure to the damage to the lungs.
Dawn Demeo is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. She said, "By 2020, C.O.P.D. may be the third leading cause of death across the world."
C.O.P.D. is a new name for emphysema and chronic bronchitis . These are the two most common forms of the disease. Many people with C.O.P.D. have both of them. And Doctor Demeo says more women than men now die from the disease.
She is the lead author of a study by a team from Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital and the University of Bergen in Norway. The new study adds to findings that women may be more at risk than men from the damaging effects of smoking.
The team examined results from a Norwegian study of 954 people with C.O.P.D. Inga-Cecilie Soerheim co-wrote the team's findings. Doctor Soerheim says they show that women suffered the same level of C.O.P.D.as men. But the female smokers were younger and had smoked a lot less.
The team also looked at two groups among the people in the study. These were people under the age of 60 and those who had smoked for less than 20 years. In both cases, women had more serious C.O.P.D. and a greater loss of lung function than men. | [{'question': 'It can be known from the study that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['female smokers die faster than male ones.', 'women are more likely to suffer from the damaging effects of smoking than men.', 'O.P.D than women.', 'in the group of people under the age of 60, men suffered more from']}, {'question': 'In which part of a newspaper would you most probably read this passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Science', 'Health report', 'Education', 'Business report']}] |
Wild animals seem to have escaped the Indian Ocean tsunami , adding weight to ideas they possess a "sixth sense" for disasters, experts said on Thursday.
Sri Lanka wildlife officials have said the giant waves that killed over 24,000 people along the Indian Ocean island's coast seemingly missed wild beasts, with no dead animals found.
"No elephants are dead, not even a dead hare or rabbit. I think animals can sense disaster. They have a sixth sense. They know when things are happening," H.D. Ratnayake, deputy director of Sri Lanka's Wildlife Department, said on Wednesday.
The waves washed floodwaters up to 3 km (2 miles) inland at Yala National Park in the southeast, Sri Lanka's biggest wildlife reserve and home to hundreds of wild elephants. "There has been a lot of evidence about dogs barking or birds migrating before volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. But it has not been proven," said Matthew van Lierop, an animal behaviour specialist at Johannesburg Zoo.
"There have been no specific studies because you can't really test it in a lab or field setting," he said.
Other authorities agreed with this conclusion.
"Wildlife seem to be able to pick up certain phenomenon, especially birds. There are many reports of birds detecting coming disasters," said Clive Walker, who has written several books on African wildlife.
Animals certainly rely on the known senses such as smell or hearing to avoid danger such as predators .
The idea of an animal "sixth sense" is a lasting one that the evidence on Sri Lanka's damaged coast is likely to add to. | [{'question': 'This passage is mainly about _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['the damage that was caused in the Indian Ocean tsunami', 'why animals can save them from natural disasters', 'how to protect the wildlife when disaster happens', "the different opinions about animals' natural power"]}, {'question': 'Which of the following is true according to the text?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['It has been proved that animals have a "sixth sense".', 'Research has been made on the special movements of animals before disasters.', "It's generally considered that animals can sense the coming of disasters.", 'Animals have depended on the known senses to escape the Indian Ocean tsunami.']}, {'question': 'What does the term "sixth sense" in the text means?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['It is the natural ability of animals that can save them from danger.', "It is the animal's imagination in the brain.", 'It is some hidden power to say in advance that something will happen.', 'It is a kind of sense that is the same as smell or hearing.']}, {'question': 'Which section does the text most probably appear in a newspaper?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['News Report.', 'Discovery.', 'Science Fiction.', 'Culture.']}] |
Science isn't something mysterious, only for the few. Every one of us--whether a poet, worker, or physicist has to be able to think scientifically, and to understand some science, such as whether to smoke, what to eat, and what protection to use. Even for decisions that don't depend on some scientific facts, science remains the proven set of best methods for getting exact information about the world.
Some people will end up as policy-makers in government or business. People such as these make decisions that affect the life of everyone, and most of them know no more about science than does the rest of the general public. Yet they are called upon to decide what to do about nuclear reactors , global warming, environmental toxins , expensive space programs, and biomedical research. It's nonscientists, not scientists, who have the last word on whether the milk we drink can safely come from cows treated with medicine. To make such decisions wisely, the decision makers have to be drawn from a scientifically educated public.
Even if science is irrelevant to the lives of ordinary Americans, _ . This requires lots of young people to become excited enough by science that they decide to become professional scientists. This also requires, to some degree, the support and understanding of the general public.
Scientists are not always able to communicate their findings in an easy-to-understand manner. Although the scientists should do a better job of explaining what they have discovered, members of the general public have to make efforts to understand what is being said. | [{'question': 'What does the author mean by saying that "a strong scientific spirit is basic to the economy, educational system and society"?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['School and society should encourage young people to become professional scientists.', 'The school should only teach lessons of economy and education*', 'A scientifically educated public is basic to the economy,educational system and society.', 'More scientists work in our economy, educational system and society.']}, {'question': 'The general public is required to _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['support and understand the need of scientific education', 'check what the scientists are saying', 'give help to the policy-makers', 'become professional scientists']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, who can decide whether the milk we drink can safely come from cows treated with medicine?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Scientists', 'Young people', 'The public', 'Policy-makers']}] |
In terms of history, Australian cuisine was on the basis of traditional British cooking brought to the country by the first settlers.Modern Australian cuisine,however.has been heavily influenced by Australia' s Asian and Southeast Asian neighbors.The trend,encouraged by long-term government health programs,is towards low-fat healthy cookery including low-fat meat and lightly cooked,colorful,steamed or fried vegetables.Besides,1ike many English families,in many Australian homes,a widespread tradition of having roast turkey,chicken,and ham for Christmas 1unch or dinner still remains.
Generally breakfast is light in most parts of Australia.but in the colder regions porridge or meals similar to the full English breakfast may be consumed.In recent years,however,most Australian people prefer light breakfast in order to control their weight.The 1ight breakfast commonly consists of cereals ,toast and fruit.A heavier breakfast will frequently include fried bacon,eggs,mushrooms,etc.Drinks taken at breakfast include tea,coffee,milk or juice.
The evening meal is the main meal of the day for most Australians,and when consumed at home,it is often eaten with members of the _ .The dishes served will vary widely according to the tastes and background of the family.A typical Australian restaurant might offer sandwiches,chicken or other meat-based dishes and cakes.
In recent years,take--away food is becoming popular in Australia.American-style chain restaurants are common including Subway,KFC,and Mcdonald's.They a11 come from America.Most of these restaurants sell high quality food at reasonable prices.
With the high 1evels of immigration from the Middle East.South and Southeast Asia.Korea.China and other countries from a11 over the world to Australia.many authentic and high-quality restaurants are run by first-and second-generation immigrants from these areas. | [{'question': 'From the passage, we learn that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['fewer and fewer immigrants enter Australia every year', 'Subway is a chain restaurant and it is from the USA', 'home cooking is becoming more and more popular in Australia', 'a typical restaurant mainly offers porridge and noodles for supper']}] |
How's your relationship with your dad? It can be easy to let walls build up between you during the teen years. But by taking several simple steps, you can help improve the relationship between the two of you--even without great efforts. Here are a few quick tips.
Talk it out. Communication is key to any friendship. Open your mouth and let your dad know what's on your mind. Give him a chance to get to know you.
Listen up. Your dad's lived more life than you have. Believe it or not, he's probably been there and can help you get through the pressures and struggles. Ask how he dealt with school, girls or temptations . Then pay attention.
Take some time. It can be hard for us kids to talk about what really matters. But spending time together can build the relationship, and create chances to talk. Go for a hike or a game. Work on the car. Whatever you're into, ask your dad to do it together.
Fight fair. Family disagreements are unavoidable. _ , keep your mouth respectful and cool off before you say something bad. Talk it out when you can do so calmly.
Realize respect. Face it: your dad's been given authority to help guide you as you know. He's going to make mistakes, but so are you. Forgive him when he blows it, and honor his decisions--even if you don't agree. | [{'question': 'The main purpose of the passage is to advise teenagers on how to _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['respect and obey their fathers', 'communicate with their fathers', 'ask their fathers for advice', 'get along well with their fathers']}, {'question': 'According to the writer, _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['fathers have the right to guide teenagers', 'respect means never fighting with fathers', 'disagreements can be avoided through efforts', 'always keeping your mouth closed really matters']}, {'question': '"When temperatures rise" means _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['when it is too hot', 'when teenagers have a fever', 'when fathers fall ill', 'when disagreements get worse']}, {'question': 'From the passage we can infer that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["fathers play an important role in teenagers' growth", 'communication can prevent all the disagreements', 'talking everything out at once always helps', 'teenagers should never get angry with their fathers']}] |
The U.S. Department of Labor statistics show that there is an oversupply of college trained workers and that this oversupply is increasing. Already there have been more than enough teachers, engineers, physicists, aerospace experts, and other specialists. Yet colleges and graduate schools continue every year to turn out highly trained people to compete for jobs that aren't there. The result is that graduates cannot enter the professions for which they were trained and must take temporary jobs which do not require a college degree.
On the other hand, there is a great need for skilled workers of all sorts: carpenters, electricians, mechanics, plumbers, TV repairmen. These people have more work than they can deal with, and their annual incomes are often higher than those of college graduates. The old gap that white --collar workers make a better living than blue collar workers no longer holds true. The law of supply and demand now favors the skilled workmen.
The reason for this situation is the traditional myth that college degree is a passport to a prosperous future. A large part of American society matches success in life equally with a college degree. Parents begin indoctrinating their children with this myth before they are out of grade school. High school teachers play their part by acting as if high school education were a preparation for college rather than for life. Under this pressure the kids fall in line. Whether they want to go to college or not doesn't matter. Everybody should go to college, so of course they must go. And every year college enrollments go up and up, and more and more graduates are overeducated for the kinds of jobs available to them.
One result of this emphasis on a college education is that _ . Of the sixty percent of high school graduates who enter college, half of them do not graduate with their class. Many of them drop out within the first year. Some struggle on for two or three years and then give up. | [{'question': "It's implied but not stated in the passage that _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['many other countries are facing the same problem', 'white-collar workers in the US used to make more money than blue-collar workers', 'fewer students will prefer to go to college in the future', 'the law of supply and demand has a strong effect on American higher education']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is NOT a reason why college enrollments go up every year?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Many people believe that the only way to success is a college education.', 'Many parents want their children to go to college.', 'High school teachers urge their students to go to college.', 'Every young man and woman wants to go to college.']}, {'question': 'By saying that "many people go to college who do not belong there", the author means that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['many people who are not fit for college education go to college', 'many people who do not have enough money go to college', 'many people who go to college drop out within the first year', 'many people who go to college have their hopes destroyed']}, {'question': 'We can infer from the passage that the author believes that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['every young man and woman should go to college', 'college education is a bad thing', 'people with a college education should receive higher pay', 'fewer people should go to college while more should be trained for skilled jobs']}] |
An English saying goes: " _ " That means we should relax after a day's hard work or we'll be unhealthy.
Many students know that if they want to get ideal jobs with good salaries, they must do well in high school so they can enter good universities. Therefore, they spend all day studying without time to relax.
However, not all students can go to top universities even if they work very hard. Students are pressurized by parents and teachers who are just concerned about their studies and exam scores while ignoring their hobbies and individual differences. As a result, students are forces to work harder and harder. Furthermore, there is pressure coming from students themselves. They realize they have a slim chance of getting into a top university as competition is fierce. So, they put a lot of stress on themselves and stay in a nervous state day after day. If they keep it up, they'll suffer illnesses; both psychological and physical.
What students need is relaxation. This doesn't mean that they should give up their ambitions and stop studying hard. It means "work while you work, play while you play". If you can do this, you will improve your health greatly. You'll feel yourself suddenly fresh, just like recovering from a terrible illness. You'll find that your studies are not a burden anymore. | [{'question': 'What trouble have both the parents and teachers brought to the students?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["They don't know how to let the students relax.", 'They give too much burden for them to bear.', "They don't love those who work the hardest.", 'They fail to understand what the students need most.']}, {'question': "What causes the student' pressure from themselves?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["That they don't know how to get top universities.", 'That they want to relax but have no chance.', 'That they fail to relax themselves during their work.', 'That they think too much about the result of their work.']}, {'question': 'What is the passage mainly about?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['What to do to relax yourself.', 'The serous situation for the poor students.', 'Some problems caused by the misunderstanding of learning.', 'How to be a healthy and successful learner.']}] |
One of India's great economic advantages is the youth of its population. To make the most of this advantage, India's children need to be educated. On paper, India is doing well here. The country has a nationwide network of state primary schools funded by a specially designed tax. 96% of children aged 6-14 go to school, even in rural areas. That's well above the average for the developing world and their attendance is good. But the attainment is poor: three quarters of third graders can't read a gradeone text and 53% of grade five kids can't read at the standard they should have achieved at grade two. Levels of achievement are almost as bad in math.
"The main problem in India is not school entry or whether there is a local school; it's the delivery of education, the way teaching is done or not done," says Vinati Sukhdev, the executive director of Pratham, a charity that campaigns for better education in India. And according to Ms. Sukhdev, the country's teachers are the thirdbestpaid in the world but they're poorly trained and are often absent. Teacher attendance at the primary level is only 85%, according to Pratham's research and there's little punishment for those who don't turn up.
The government knows that state schooling needs to improve. In 2009 it passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), a law for the national provision of free, childfriendly education. It says that there should be two teachers for every 60 students and that they should go to work regularly, get there on time, follow the curriculum, assess how well the children are learning and meet regularly with parents.
"What we need to do next is improve accountability ," says Ms. Sukhdev. Schools have management committees that are supposed to include parent and local government representatives. "But they don't work or people don't know they exist." Pratham tries to help local communities and parents drive improvement. "You should see the kind of reaction we get when they realize the teacher is paid but isn't turning up!"says Ms. Sukhdev. "We can't be everywhere, so we limit ourselves to working in a few districts, where we can create model schools. Then we try to work together with local government to make sure every school in the district or state is raised to that level."
The Read India programme is an example of what targeted help can achieve. Pratham has created an easytouse teaching and assessment pack called Learn to Read. It has trained teachers in how to use the pack at school and showed community health workers, volunteers and parents how it could support learning outside school. The programme has now run across 19 states, involving 450,000 volunteers and training 600,000 teachers and government workers. Among the 33 million children who have participated, the number of those who can read simple sentences has risen by 20%. | [{'question': "Who are to blame for India's poor education according to Vinati Sukhdev?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['School teachers.', 'Local governments.', 'Parents with stereotypes.', 'Educational organizations.']}, {'question': 'What can be inferred about the Read India programme?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['It encourages more kids to attend school.', "It improves the quality of India's education.", 'It is in the charge of management committees.', 'It helps improve the basic facilities of schooling.']}] |
When I was 18, I had a motorbike accident that put me in a coma for three months. The doctors said there was little chance of my coming out of it, but my identical twin, Marcus, didn't believe them and carried on talking to me. My first words when I came to myself were, "Hello, Marcus. "Even though I had no memory of my own name, or that the woman crying at my bedside was my mother, I knew Marcus immediately; it was like a genetic memory. just felt close to him.
As weeks went by, I still could remember nothing before the accident. Marcus was the only person I could relate to.
I had to relearn everything, and Marcus helped me. Because of my twin I wasn't scared of having lost my memory; I believed everything he said. He became my memory, telling me about my school, friends, previous girlfriends and holidays, showing me family photographs, and telling me how perfect I was.
With his encouragement I slowly recovered and tried to become the person everyone around me loved. Then years later, when my memories flooded back, I learned that I was anything but perfect--I was troublesome, selfish, and now very angry with Marcus for having lied to me.
But finally I understood. Out of love, Marcus had chosen not to tell me about my dark side. He wanted me to have a fresh start--and in fact I had one. Thanks to him, I was able to get married and have kids. I'm 46 now, and feel as if I'm in the third stage of my life. I know all there is to know, and wouldn't want it any other way. | [{'question': 'Which of the following words best describes Marcus?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Dishonest.', 'Thoughtful.', 'Careful.', 'Strict.']}, {'question': 'According to the text, the author _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['felt very close to Marcus when he first woke up', "didn't get his memories back until months later", 'had been very popular before the accident', 'remembered nothing but his own name when he first woke up']}, {'question': 'How did the author feel when he first got his memories back?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Angry.', 'Excited', 'Guilty.', 'Lonely.']}, {'question': "What was the author's purpose in writing the text?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['To tell us the importance of being honest.', 'To explain the meaning of success.', 'To express his gratitude to his twin.', 'To show how he had suffered.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following would be the best title for the text?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['My Twin Rewrote My Childhood', 'An Accident Destroyed My Life', 'Family Will Always Be with You', 'Friends Share Everything']}] |
In the 1960s, people asked about your astrological sign . In the 1990s, they wanted to know your website. These days, having a web address is almost as important as a street address. Your website is an electronic meeting place for your family, friends and potentially, millions of people around the world. Best of all, you may not have to spend a cent. The Web is filled with all kinds of free services and all it takes is some time and creativity.
Think of your home page as the starting point of your website. Like the table of contents of a book or a magazine, the home page is the front door. Your site can have one or more pages, depending on how you design it.
While web pages vary greatly in their design and content, most use a traditional magazine layout. At the top of the page is a banner GRAPHIC. Next comes a greeting and a short description of the site. Pictures, texts, and links to other websites follow.
Before you start building your site, do some planning. Think about whom the site is for and what you want to say. Next, gather up the material that you want to put on the site. Draw a rough layout on a sheet of paper.
While there are no rules you have to follow, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Start simply. If you are too ambitious at the beginning, you may never get the site off the ground. You can always add to your site.
Less is better. Most people don't like to read a lot of text online. Break it into small pieces.
Smaller is better. Most people connect to the Internet with a modem. Since it can take a long time to download large image files, keep the file sizes small.
Have the rights. Don't put any material on your site unless you are sure you can do it legally. Learn the Net's Copyright Article for more about this.
Now it's time to roll up your sleeves and start building. Learning the Net Communities provides tools to help you build your site. | [{'question': 'The main purpose of the passage is to tell you _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['what a website is like', 'how to build your own website', 'how to meet people online', 'what a website is made up of']}, {'question': 'According to the writer, your website is a place _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['where you can meet people all around the world', 'where you can buy what you want', 'where you can get free services', 'where you can meet people on the Internet']}, {'question': 'The purpose of the home page of your website is _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['to give a list of all the contents of your website', 'to make it look like a front door', 'to direct people to more of your pages', 'to design the cover of a book or magazine']}, {'question': 'The writer thinks that if you are too ambitious at the beginning, _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['your website may leave no space for adding new things', 'you may never have your website working', 'you may have no idea how to build your website', 'you may tire yourself out']}] |
Then comes July, and with it examinations, but these are soon finished and with them ends the school year. Boys and girls have nearly two months' holiday before them as they leave school by train and car to return home to their fathers and mothers.
The summer holidays are the best part of the year for most children. The weather is usually good, so that one can spend most of one's time playing in the garden or, if one lives in the country, out in the woods and fields. Even if one lives in a big town, one can usually go to a park to play.
The best place for a summer holiday, however, is the seaside. Some children are lucky enough to live near the sea, but for the others who do not, a week or two at one of the big seaside towns is something that they will talk about for the whole of the following year.
In England, it is not only the rich who can take their children to the seaside; if a factory worker or a bus driver, a street cleaner or a waiter wants to take his wife and children to Southend or Margate, Blackpoor or Clacton, he is usually quite able to do so.
Now, what is it that children like so much about the seaside? I think it is the sand, sea and sun more than any other things. Of course, there are lots of new things to see, nice things to eat, and exciting things to do, but it is the feeling of sand under one's feet, of salt water on one's skin, and of the warm sun on one's back that make the seaside what it is. | [{'question': 'After the examination, pupils leave for home _', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['by train only', 'by air', 'by bike', 'by either train or car']}, {'question': 'July and August are the brightest months for most children, for they can _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['stay with their parents for all the vacation.', 'do more reading', 'play out-of-door', 'meet their old friends']}, {'question': 'Children like the seaside so much, because they can _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['swim in the sea', 'play with the sand', 'take a sun bath', 'do all of the above']}] |
Lindsay Morgan Lohan was born on July 2, 1986. She was such a natural beauty that she began modeling at the age of 3, and because of her natural talent, she played parts in over 60 TV commercials for companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Wendy's, the Gap, Pizza Hut, Calvin Klein, and Jell-O, in which she shared the screen with Bill Cosby.
When she was 7, Lohan was required to dress up as garbage for a Halloween short play on the Late Show with David Letterman called "Things You Find on the Bottom of the Subway." It was her first real acting job. In 1996, Lohan got her second big _ when she was given a role on the long-running NBC soap opera "Another World." For only one season, she became the third actress to act the part Alexandra Alli Fowler.
Shortly after, she hit the highway to fame when Disney sought to remake the hugely successful family comedy "The Parent Trap" (1998). In addition, she also got a three-picture deal with Disney thanks to this movie. Her next move was to appear in the Wonderful World of Disney production of "Life-Size" (2000), a comedy also featuring supermodel Tyra Banks.
In 2003, along with Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan performed in Freaky Friday and played one of the early roles that made Jodie Foster a household name.
In September 2002, Lohan also got a contract with music heavyweight Emilio Estefan Jr who is of great influence in music. She signed a five-album deal with Estefan Enterprises. In 2005, she released her first album, "Speak," followed by "A Little More Personal" the next year. | [{'question': 'Which of the following is NOT the job that Lohan has done until now?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['A singer.', 'An actress.', 'A model.', 'A dancer.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Lohan has played three films produced by Disney.', 'Lohan played the part Bill Cosby in a TV show.', 'Lohan has released two albums since 2005.', 'Lohan was greatly influenced by Emilio Estefan Jr.']}] |
Chocolate soap is supposed to be good for the skin. But it's not so good for the tongue. Unfortunately for the US soldiers of World War II, the chocolate bars the army gave them tasted like they were intended for use in the bath.
In the army's defense, it wasn't trying to win any cooking awards. In fact, it specifically ordered that its chocolate bars not be too delicious, so soldiers wouldn't eat them too quickly. These bars were created for survival, not taste. "They were awful," John Otto, a former army captain in World War II said, "They were big, thick things, and they weren't any good. I tried them, but I had to be awfully hungry after I tried them once."
As unappealing as the chocolate bars were to some, others like them. Samuel Hinkle, the chemist who created the chocolate bars, pointed out that the number of bars made were far greater than the army needed. "It soon became obvious that the generous American soldiers were sharing their valued possessions with their foreign friends, whether soldiers of other countries or local citizens."
The bars turned many hungry Europeans into friends of the United States. "People wanted them," said Otto. "You'd give them to kids. In some places they were very hungry. And they surely helped relax people about American soldiers."
Otto said he never saw a European _ the chocolate. "It was food," he said. "At that time, everyone was very hungry. I saw German kids standing outside the US army kitchen. They weren't begging, just standing there very politely. When we were done, the kids would eat the food out of the garbage. They were so hungry."
Other Europeans did not see chocolate until well after the war ended. "We didn't see any Americans where I was," said Elizabeth Radsma, who was 25 years old when the Germans occupied her country, the Netherlands. "Even after the war, we saw only the British. Maybe the Americans gave out some chocolates in the big cities, but we were only in a small town. Before the British, we saw only German soldiers. But chocolate? Don't make me laugh! Maybe in my dreams!"
A soldier in the field might have responded "Be careful what you wish for"--and then gratefully bit on a chocolate bar, the only food available for miles. | [{'question': 'Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['The US soldiers used the chocolate bars as bath soap.', 'The US army produced more chocolate bars than necessary for its soldiers.', 'The US soldiers did not have enough food during World War II.', 'European people regretted eating chocolate bars from the US soldiers.']}, {'question': "Why does the author mention the German kids' story?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['To tell how friendly the American soldiers were.', 'To show how much they were eager for chocolate.', 'To prove German kids could be very polite.', 'To describe the hunger in Germany during the war.']}, {'question': 'Elizabeth Radsma never saw chocolate during the war because _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['the US soldiers never showed up in the small town she lived in', 'the German soldiers kept them all for themselves', "the British soldiers didn't share it with the local people", 'the US soldiers handed out all chocolates to people in big cities']}] |
As part of an effort to improve treatments for life-threatening illnesses, a team of scientists have created rabbits that glow in the dark.
The efforts have produced two rabbits out of a litter of eight that went from being a normal, soft white to glowing green in the dark. The rabbits were born at the University of Istanbul as part of the cooperation between scientists from universities in Turkey and Hawaii.
The rabbits glow to show that a genetic operation technique can work efficiently. "The green is not important at all--it's just a marker to show the experiment can be done successfully," said University of Hawaii associate professor, Stefan Moisyadi.
To produce the glowing effect, researchers injected jellyfish DNA into a mother rabbit's embryos. Then those embryos were put into the mother. Similar experiments have resulted in glowing cockroaches and cats.
Eventually, the researchers hope the technique can lead to new ways to produce medicines, Moisyadi said.
"The final goal is to develop animals that are able to produce beneficial molecules in their milk that can be cheaply extracted , especially in countries that cannot afford big factories that make drugs, which usually cost US$1bn to build. Then they will be able to produce their own protein-based medication in animals," Moisyadi said.
The rabbits are expected to live as long as non-glowing rabbits, but Moisyadi said he understands people can object to this kind of experimentation involving live animals. "To the people against, I say: think, what are the benefits and what is the harm?" Moisyadi said. "And if the benefits outweigh the harm, let's go with the benefits."
Moisyadi started developing the project in 2006, and researchers are now waiting to see if pregnant sheep produce similar results. | [{'question': 'What do we know about the glowing rabbits?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Their fur became green after the experiment.', 'They were chosen from a special species of rabbits.', "The color1 that they glow isn't of interest to scientists.", 'They live shorter lives than ordinary rabbits.']}, {'question': "According to the passage, the researchers' next goal of the experiment is the creation of a glowing _ .", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['cockroach', 'cat', 'rabbbit', 'sheep']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is TRUE, according to the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The success rate in creating the rabbits is 20%.', 'The project is supported by people.', 'The project has been conducted for about eight years.', 'The project is mainly conducted by Turkish scientists.']}, {'question': "What is Moisyadi's attitude towards such experimentation?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Doubtful', 'Supportive', 'Disapproving', 'Indifferent']}] |
In the last 500 years nothing about people--not their clothes, ideas, or languages has changed as much as what they eat. Chocolate drink was first made from the seeds of the cacao tree by South American Indians. The Spanish introduced it to the rest of the world during the 1500s. And although it was very expensive, it quickly became popular, In London, shops where chocolate drinks were served became important places. Some still exist today. The potato is also from the New World. Around 1600, the Spanish brought it from Peru to Europe, where it soon was widely grown. Ireland became so dependent on it that thousands of Irish people starved when the crop failed during the years of 1845--1846, and thousands more were forced to go to live in America.
There are many other foods that have traveled from South America to the Old World. But some others went in the opposite direction. Brazil is now the world's largest grower of coffee, and coffee is an important crop in other South American countries. But it is native to Ethiopia. It was first made into a drink by Arabs during the 1400s. According to an Arabic story, coffee was discovered when a goat keeper named Lakdi noticed that his goats were eating red fruits on a coffee tree. He tried one and experienced the "wide-awake " feeling that one third of the world's population now starts the day with. | [{'question': 'According to the passage, which of the following changed more than others?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Clothes.', 'Ideas.', 'Languages.', 'Foods.']}, {'question': 'Chocolate drink was first invented in _ while coffee was first invented in _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Spain; Brazil', 'South America; the Old World', 'Spain; Ethiopia', 'London; Rent']}, {'question': 'In 1845, thousands of Irish people were forced to live in America mainly because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Ireland became dependent on the potato', 'the potato was brought to Europe from Peru', 'they could easily get potato in America', 'the production of potatoes reduced']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, who first made chocolate drink from the seeds of the cacao tree?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['People in Peru', 'People in Brazil.', 'South American Indians.', 'People in Ethiopia.']}, {'question': 'From the passage we can conclude that millions of people drink coffee _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['in the morning', 'at noon', 'in the afternoon', 'in the evening']}] |
WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday announced a new plan to renew and expand the nation's roads, railways and runways, in a bid to restart the _ economy and to help create jobs.
Obama announced the billion-dollar infrastructure spending program at an event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, marking the Labor Day holiday in the United States.
The proposal calls for investments over six years, including rebuilding and modernizing 150,000 miles (241,350 kilometers) of roads, 4,000 miles (6,430 kilometers) of railways and 150 miles ( 241 kilometers) of runways.
"It sets up an Infrastructure Bank to leverage(;) federal dollars and focus on the smartest investment. All of this will not only create jobs now, but will make our economy run better over the long haul," Obama said.
"This is a plan that will be fully paid for and will not add to the deficit over time," said Obama.
The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 9.6 percent in August, reflecting business reluctance to hire among uncertain economic prospects, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Friday.
The president admitted that new jobs "have not been coming fast enough" in the United States.
"These years would be some of the most difficult in our history. The problems facing working families are nothing new, but they are more serious than ever. And that makes our cause more urgent than ever," he added. | [{'question': "What's the main idea of this passage?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["The US president launched a new program aiming at improving the nation's infrastructure.", 'The US unemployment rate rose according to the Labor Department.', 'These years will be the most difficult in the American history.', 'More roads, railways and runways will be rebuilt and modernized.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following will be changed most in length?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Roads.', 'Railways.', 'Runways.', 'Highways.']}] |
I still remember my first day at school in London and I was half-excited and half-frightened. On my way to school I wondered what sort of questions the other boys would ask me and practiced all the answers: "I am nine years old. I was born here but I haven't lived here since I was two. I was living in Farley. It's about thirty miles away. I came back to London two months ago." I also wondered if it was the custom for boys to fight strangers like me, but I was tall for my age. I hoped they would decide not to risk it.
No one took any notice of me before school. I stood in the center of the playground, expecting someone to say "hello", but no one spoke to me. When a teacher called my name and told me where my classroom was, one or two boys looked at me but that was all.
My teacher was called Mr. Jones. There were 42 boys in the class, so _ , either, until the first lesson of the afternoon. Mr. Jones was very fond of Charles Dickens and he had decided to read aloud to us from David Copperfield, but first he asked several boys if they knew Dickens' birthplace, but no one guessed right. A boy called Brian, the biggest in the class, said: "Timbuktu", and Mr. Jones went red in the face. Then he asked me. I said: "Portsmouth", and everyone stared at me because Mr. Jones said I was right. This didn't make me very popular, of course.
"He thinks he's clever," I heard Brian say.
After that, we went out to the playground to play football. I was in Brian's team, and he obviously had Dickens in mind because he told me to go in goal. No one ever wanted to be the goalkeeper.
"He's big enough and useless enough." Brian said when someone asked him why he had chosen me.
I suppose Mr. Jones, who served as the judge, remembered Dickens, too, because when the game was nearly over, Brian pushed one of the players on the other team, and he gave them a penalty . As the boy kicked the ball to my right, I threw myself down instinctively and saved it. All my team crowded round me. My bare knees were injured and bleeding. Brian took out a handkerchief and offered it to me.
"Do you want to join my gang ?" he said.
At the end of the day, I was no longer a stranger. | [{'question': 'The writer prepared to answer all of the following questions EXCEPT " _ ".', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['How old are you?', 'Where are you from?', 'Do you want to join my gang?', 'When did you come back to London?']}, {'question': 'We can learn from the passage that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['boys were usually unfriendly to new students', 'the writer was not greeted as he expected', 'Brian praised the writer for his cleverness', 'the writer was glad to be a goalkeeper']}, {'question': 'The writer was offered a handkerchief because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['he threw himself down and saved the goal', 'he pushed a player on the other team', 'he was beginning to be accepted', 'he was no longer a newcomer']}] |
For some reason, it takes constant reminders that weprimates need nurturing.
In a recent study of 46 babychimpanzee orphans, Kim Bard of the University of Portsmouth in England and her colleagues demonstrated that primate babies that have tight relationships with mother figures do much better oncognitive tests than babies who receive only food, shelter, and friendship with peers. But this is not breaking mews. In fact, it's old news.
In the 1950s, Harry Harlow conducted a series of experiments with baby monkeys that showed, without doubt, that lack of love and comfort makes for a crazy monkey.
Harlow constructed a cage that included a wire monkey "mother" topped with a plastic face. In this wire he fixed Mom with a milk bottle. The cage also held another wire mother covered with terry cloth. The baby monkeys spent all their time with the cloth mother and only went to the wire mother to feed, demonstrating that a soft touch beat something to eat any day.
Harlow's monkey work was important because, at the time, child care "experts" and everybody's grandmother had a "no touch, no comfort" policy toward children. They advised parents not to respond to crying babies, felt babies should sleep alone to grow up independent, and for God's sake put those kids down. But Harlow's work changed all that. Mothers were soon permitted to have their newborns next to them in the hospital.
The current chimp research based on Harlow's work shows that mother love not only makes for a psychologically well-adjusted child, but also makes for a smart kid. Bard and her colleagues evaluated the abilities of the chimps when they were 12 months old with standard human tests for children of that age, tests that ask little kids to imitate some action.
The highly raised chimps did better than the ones that were not loved, and what do you know, the well-raised chimps did even better than human kids on this small IQ test.
So we hear it once again. We are primates, social animals which need care and love. We need to be held and talked to and made to feel that at least one person wants to be with us all the time. And if we get that kind of connection, we are sure to be fine, even better than fine. | [{'question': 'The study Kim Bard and his colleagues did _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['included 46 baby and mother monkeys', 'was nothing new to people about the findings', 'showed that many chimpanzees lacked love when they were young', 'showed that many chimpanzees had good relationships with their mothers']}, {'question': "Why was Harlow's monkey work important?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Because the "no touch, no comfort" policy toward children was quite right.', "Because parents were advised not to respond to babies' crying.", "Because Harlow's work changed people's former belief in child care.", 'Because mothers were not allowed to have their newborns next to them in the hospital.']}, {'question': 'Harlow built two "mothers" for baby monkeys to _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['make them live comfortably', 'let them have more choices', 'give them more love', 'make a comparison']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is TURE according to the text?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Well-raised chimps always do even better than human kids.', 'A 12-month chimps is far cleverer than a child of that age.', 'The newborns were not allowed to be with their mothers in the past in the hospital.', 'Constantly touching the baby can make it feel safer.']}] |
Harry potter and The Hunger Games haven't been big hits for nothing. Lots of teens still read quite a lot. But a study shows a clear decrease over time. Nearly half of 17-year-olds say they read for pleasure no more than one or two times a year. That's way down from ten years ago.
The digital revolution means there are more platforms than ever to read on. Jim Steyer has been studying the effect of technology on children. He has four kids and has seen the trend most with his 16-year-old. "I start to see it in our 10-year-old as well, because he is reading less and less, and more and more attracted to some of the digital media platforms that he has access to, and that he didn't have access to when he was 6 or 7 years old," he says.
The studies don't say that kids are reading less because they're spending more time online. But Steyer is convinced that's at least part of the answer.
"First of all, most children now have access to e-readers, or other smart electronic devices like phones and tablets ," he says. " And they're spending time on that. Many reports show the increasing use of new technology platforms by kids. It just strikes me as extremely logical that that's a big reason.
Researchers want to know more about how teens are spending their time in the digital age. But Kathryn Zickuhr of the Pew Research Center says it's tricky. If a kid is looking at a book, you may think he or she is reading. But when it comes to looking at a smartphone or tablet, who knows?
"We've heard from middle and high school teachers that sometimes the Internet is wonderful for enthusiastic students to do deep research," says Zickuhr. "But on the other side, obviously there are many distractions on the Internet."
However, Jim Steyer says, "Kids with parents who read, who buy or take books out of the library for their kids, and who then set time aside in their kids' daily schedule for reading, tend to read the most -- whether it's on a book, an e-book or some other devices." | [{'question': 'What did Jim Steyer see in his four kids?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['They tend to read more on electronic devices.', 'They created their own digital media platform.', 'They improved their reading on electronic devices.', 'They have become more addicted to digital media.']}, {'question': 'What statement may Kathryn Zickuhr agree to?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Kids are easily distracted on the Internet.', 'Most kids pretend to be doing online reading.', 'Most kids like to read on a smartphone or tablet.', 'Kids rarely use the Internet to do serious research.']}, {'question': 'What is the main idea of the text?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['What books do teens like to read the most?', "Why aren't teens reading like they used to?", 'How can teens read on electronic platforms?', 'When will teens turn to books for fun again?']}] |
From March 29 to April 19, a new version of Death of a Salesman
was performedat tne Capital Theatre as the first in a series of
foreign classics to mark the 60th anniversary of the Beijing People's Art
Theatre.The last time this play was performed in Beijing was 29 years ago.
Death of a Salesman was created in 1949 by Arthur Miller, who used it to reveal the weakness of the "American Dream" .The main character, Willy Loman, believes wholeheartedly in American capitalism, and desires to "succeed" but his own greed _ him in the end.Death of a Salesman's first performance was a huge hit on Broadway, where it shocked the American theatre world, and strengthened the 33-year-old Miller's status as a master of American theatre.The play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, New York Drama Critics' Circle, and the Tony Award for Best Play.The New York Times praised Death of a Salesman as a milestone of 20th century theatre.In 1999, Death of a Salesman received another Tony Award for Best Revival, and the then 83-year-old Miller was given the National Medal of Arts.
The 1983 version of Death of a Salesman was directed personally by Arthur Miller on a visit to China, with Beijing director and actor Ying Ruocheng as the main character of Willy Loman.On May 7, 1983, the play was performed for the first time at the Capital Theatre, and the first series of performances lasted until August 18, with over 50 performances, some of which filled the house, and all of which had great influence.
When it was first performed here, China didn't have "salesman" , so the actors had to use their imagination to represent the characters and American society, and the audiences weren't entirely sure about some information.For example, they couldn't understand what "fixed payments" were, or why, if Willy was a lower-class member of American society, his family had a house, car, refrigerator, and television.But this didn't stop the play from becoming a widely-known page in Beijing's theatre history. | [{'question': 'What would be the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Death of a Salesman Returns to Beijing', 'Arthur Miller--a master of American theatre', 'Willy Loman--winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama', 'Death of a Salesman--a milestone of 20th century theatre']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is true according to the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['The play received the Tony Award twice.', 'Arthur Miller became famous in his forties.', 'China didn\'t have "salesman" until the play was first performed here.', 'The 1983 version of Death of a Salesman was directed by Ying Ruocheng.']}] |
My heroes are the Singapore Women's Everest Team.In 2009,they became the first all-women team to climb Mount Everest.The team of six young women trained for seven years before they climbed the mountain.It was difficult for them to train because Singapore doesn't have any snow or any mountains.But they didn't stop,and in the end they made it.They Worked hard every day for their dream so I really admire them.
----Lance Reed, 16, from Britain
My mum,Mary Evans,is a real hero.I have a very big family, with two brothers and three sisters.My mum works very hard every day to look after us, and she is very busy.She always makes time for everyone and she always listens to me if I have a problem.I really respect my mum because she always looks after my family and makes sure we have everything we need.
----Mark Sterling,l7,from America
I admire the Salwen family from Atlanta,USA.In 2006, they made a very unusual choice.They decided to sell their house and give half of the money to charity .They moved into a smaller house and gave $800,000 to charities in Ghana. I really respect them because they gave their money to people in need.
----William Kloster, 17, from Canada
I really admire Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple.He invented a new kind of technology.Apple technology is very intelligent .The products that he made are also really beautiful.Steve Jobs created a successful business in IT.I was very sad when he died in October 2011.I respect him because he changed the way people use technology all over the world.
----Richard Hale, 18,from Australia | [{'question': "What do we know about the Singapore Women's Everest Team?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['They thought of giving up during training.', 'They trained very hard outside Singapore.', 'They made history as mountaineers.', 'They never expected to make it.']}, {'question': "William admires the Salwen family's _ .", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['wealth', 'courage', 'success', 'kindness']}, {'question': 'Who is closest to his hero?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Mark.', 'William.', 'Richard.', 'Lance.']}] |
Working Wives
Last week, we published an article about modern marriage. A recent survey showed that in England 51 percent of married women go out to work . people were asked what they thought of "working wives". The results were as follow:
Men Women
In favor 70% 80%
Against 10% 20%
Don't know 20% 0%
We asked readers to write and tell us their opinions.
Here are some of the hundreds of letters we received.
I'm a (woman)photographer. I make plenty of money, travel a lot, and meet a lot of people. I enjoy my work, and would hate to stay at home. I would never marry a man who wanted me to give up my work.
Ms. Jojo O Leary
Hampstead
At present there are over 1,000,000 unemployed men in Britain. If a woman gets a job, she puts one more man out of work. Perhaps that man has a wife and twelve children to support. Let women stay at home where they belong.
Ted Stubbs
Southend
I am a mother of twelve children. When I go to work, my husband looks after the children. He is very good with the children and enjoys staying at home with them. And I enjoy my job as a bus driver.
Mrs E. Boot
Battersea
We are twin sisters, who both got married recently. One of us (Doreen)kept her job. The other(Doris)gave up her job. But Doris gets bored staying at home, and Doreen gets bored going out to work .So now Doreen works for a week, while Doris stays at home. Then Doris Doreen's job for a week, while Doreen stays at home. At work, they never know if it's Doreen who's working today!
Doris and Doreen Bean
Hendon | [{'question': 'Last week we published an article about _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['marriage nowadays', 'working women', 'working wives', 'a strange marriage']}, {'question': 'The woman photographer would not marry a man who _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['has less money than her', 'likes staying at home', 'is not very gentle', 'wants her to stay at home']}, {'question': 'Ted Stubbs thought that women going out to work _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['would make men lose chances for work', 'would be better than men', 'would weaken the right of the husband at home', 'would be meaningless']}, {'question': 'When the bus driver goes to work, _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['her children take care of themselves', 'a nurse looks after her children instead of her', 'her husband looks after the children', 'she has to have everything ready for the family']}] |
Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a street boy was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. "Is this your car, Mister?" he asked.
Paul nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Christmas." The boy was astonished. "You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you anything? Boy, I wish...." He hesitated. Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the kid said made Paul quite surprised.
"I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that." Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, and then impulsively he added, "Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?"
"Oh, yes, I'd love that."
After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes shining, said, "Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?" Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the he wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Paul was wrong again.
"Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up the steps. Then after a little while Paul saw him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car. "There _ is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent. And some day I'm going to give you one just like it... then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about."
Paul got out and lifted the kid to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.
That Christmas Eve, Paul learned that it was more blessed to give.... | [{'question': 'Why did what the boy said surprise Paul? _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["Because he didn't say what Paul had expected.", "Because he didn't say that he wanted a ride.", 'Because he said something impolite.', 'Because he said something improper.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is FALSE according to the passage? _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['The boy had a brother who was disabled.', "Paul's brother gave him a car at Christmas.", 'Paul had thought the boy were wishing for a brother like his.', 'The boy wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride in a big car.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following best describes the boy? _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Kind-hearted and generous.', 'Kind-hearted and thoughtful.', 'Honest and generous.', 'Honest and hardworking.']}, {'question': 'What can we learn from the passage? _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Having a rich brother is important.', "It's unlucky to have a disabled brother.", "It's better to give than to receive.", 'God helps those who help themselves.']}] |
The British policeman has several nicknames, but the most frequently used are"copper"and"bobby". The first name comes from the verb "cop" meaning "to take" or "capture", and thesecond comes from the first name of Sir Robert Peel, a 19th century politician, who was the founder of the police force. An early nickname for the policeman was "peeler", but this name had died out.
Visitors to England seem,nearly always, to be very impressed by the English police. In fact, it has become a joke that the visitors to Britain, when asked for his views of the country, will always say,at some point or other, "I think your policemen are wonderful."
Well, the British bobby may not always be wonderful but he is usually a very friendly and helpful character.
A music-hall song of some years ago was called, "If you want to know the time, ask a policeman." Nowadays, most people own watches but they still seem to find plenty of other questions to ask the policeman. In London, the policemen spend so much of their time directing visitors about the city that one wonders how they ever find time to do anything else! | [{'question': 'The British policeman has _ nicknames mentioned in the passage.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['five', 'two', 'three', 'ten']}, {'question': 'One of the nicknames for the policeman, "peeler" _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['is the name of a politician', 'is most frequently used sometimes', 'is not used any more', 'is still used as much as "bobby"']}, {'question': '"If you want to know the time, ask a policeman." That means _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['the British policeman is friendly and helpful', 'the British policeman has plenty of time to help people', 'people usually think that the policeman always knows the time', 'it is a duty for the policeman to tell people the time']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is NOT true?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The British policeman has some nicknames.', 'The British policeman is wonderful.', 'Only the British policeman knows the time very well.', 'The British policeman is ready to help people.']}] |
TheCastle of Monteriggioni
Located in central Tuscany,the Castle of Monteriggioniwas built by the Republic of Siena at the beginning of the 13th century in orderto defend its southern border against Florence.With their impressive towers, they feature in Dante's Divine Comedy.
MainSights
Inside the town are the Church of Santa Maria Assunta,the battlements on the town walls and the small "Monteriggioni in Arme" museum, where there are models andlife-size armors .
Every July within the wall of the town a special eventis celebrated: the Medieval Festival of Monteriggioni, one of the mostbeautiful festivals in the region. The city goes back in time to the MiddleAges, the streets are filled up with people in period costume creating a realatmosphere. Dances, live performances, music, theatre, kids entertainment,storytellers and more entertain the public.
Thesurrounding area
The townlands ofMonteriggioni, with the walled town as their capital, cover an area of about 100km2 directly to the north of Siena,full of woods, hills, vineyards and olive groves . Thetownlands also take in a large area of unspoiled nature that has been declareda Site of Community Importance(SCI). The area is crossed by a network oftrails, including the Via Francigena, which can be travelled on foot, bicycleor on horse-back.
Howto get to Monteriggioni
BY CAR
Take the "Monteriggioni" exit on theFlorence-Siena motorway link.
BY BUS
Line 130 from Siena for Colle di Val d'Elsa-Poggibonsi-SanGimignano.
BY TRAIN
The closest station is "Castellina inChianti- Monteriggioni".
TouristOffice
Piazza Roma, 23
53035 Monteriggioni(SI)-Italy
Tel./fax+39 0577 304834
info@ Monteriggioniturismo.it | [{'question': 'Which of the following you cannot seein the Castle of Monteriggioni ?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Tower', 'Vineyards', 'Church', 'Performance']}, {'question': 'The best way to travel around thesurrounding area is _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['by car', 'by bus', 'by train', 'on foot']}, {'question': 'Where can this article be probably found?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['In a travel guidebook.', 'In a textbook.', 'In a fashion magazine.', 'In a newspaper.']}] |
One night recently , I was driving down a two-lane highway at about 60 miles an hour . A car approached from the opposite direction at about the same speed . As we passed each other , I caught the other driver's eye for only a second . I wondered whether he might be thinking , as I was , how dependent we were on each other at that moment . I was relying on him not to fall asleep , not to be put off by a phone conversation, not to cross over into my lane and bring my life to a sudden end . Though we had never spoken a word to each other , he relied on me in just the same way .
Multiplied a million times over, I believe that is the way the world works . At some level , we all depend upon one another . Sometimes that dependence requires us simply not to do something like crossing over the double yellow line . And sometimes it requires us to act cooperatively , with friends or even with strangers .
As technology shrinks our world , the need increases for cooperative action among nations . In 2003, doctors in five nations were quickly organized to identify the SARS virus , which saved thousands of lives . The threat of international terrorism has shown itself to be a similar problem, one requiring coordinated action by police and intelligence forces across the world . We must recognize that our fates are not ours alone to control .
In my own life , I've put great stock in personal responsibility . But , as the years have passed, I've also come to believe that there are moments when one must rely upon the good faith and judgment of others . so , while each of us faces the case of driving alone down a dark road , what we must learn is that the approaching light may not be a threat , but a shared moment of trust . | [{'question': 'The author considers _ very important .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['driving alone on a dark road', 'independence of people', 'cooperation to identify SARS virus', 'shared trust and cooperation']}, {'question': 'The author said that they depended on each other in the same way because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['the approaching car was very dangerous', 'they both drove their car at a terrific speed', "he might be killed out of the other's careless driving", 'it was dark and the road was not wide enough']}, {'question': 'The need for cooperation increases because _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["peoples' fates can't be controlled by themselves", 'the SARS virus spread quickly', 'terrorism can happen everywhere', 'the world has become smaller']}] |
What is your favorite English letter? Many of you may say Q. Why? Because so many of you chat with your friends on QQ. What do you like about QQ? What do you talk about? The CCTV reporter, Miss Wang, interviews three kids. Let's listen to what they say.
When do you chat on QQ? What do you talk about?
Lin yuhan, Xi'an: On weekends. We talk about homework and chat with each other.
Tang Xuting, Shanghai: At weekends and when I don't have much homework. We exchange test answers and chat.
Yang yuhang, Dalian: Our class goes online together at 4:00----6:00pm on weekends. We complain about homework, chat and talk about computer games.
What do you put on your QQ blog ?
Lin: I put good articles I have found online on my blog. I also write articles myself. They are about funny things that have happened in my class.
Tang: I put picture on my blog. Not my own photos, but pictures from my favorite Japanese cartoons like Tennis Prince Conan.
Yang: I put DV films on my blog. I shoot them during sports meetings and school parties. The most popular one is about a dancing teacher, he is so funny that everyone watches it.
How do you like QQ?
Lin: It's a good space for us to make a record of our lives of both good times and sad times.
Tang: My friends and I may not have time to chat at school. But we can do it on QQ. It's very helpful to our friendships.
Yang: If you chat with friends on the telephone, your parents sometimes listen to your conversation. There's no such problem with QQ. You can relax and talk freely. | [{'question': 'What does Lin Yuhan put on her QQ blog?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Some pictures.', 'Good articles.', 'DV films', 'Japanese cartoons']}, {'question': 'Which one is TURE according to this article?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Lin says QQ is very helpful to their friendships.', 'Yang says he can chat freely with many friends and relax on QQ.', 'Tang says QQ is a good space for them to make a record of their lives.', 'Tang says he chats on QQ on weekends though he has lots of homework.']}] |
In his 1930 essay "Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren ", John Keynes, a famous economist, wrote that human needs fall into two classes: absolute needs ,which are independent of what others have , and relative needs ,which make us feel superior to our fellows. He thought that although relative needs may indeed be insatiable , this is not true of absolute needs.
Keynes was surely correct that only a small part of total spending is decided by the desire for superiority. He was greatly mistaken, however, in seeing this desire as the only source of insatiable demands.
Decisions to spend are also driven by ideas of quality which can influence the demands for almost all goods, including even basic goods like food. When a couple goes out for an anniversary dinner, for example, the thought of feeling superior to others probably never comes to them. Their goal is to share a special meal that stands out from other meals.
There are no obvious limits to the _ of demand for quality. For example, Porsche, a famous car producer, has a model which was considered perhaps the best sport car on the market Priced at over $120,000, it handles perfectly well and has great speed acceleration. But in 2004, the producer introduced some changes which made the model slightly better in handling and acceleration. People who really care about cars find these small improvements exciting. To get them, however, they must pay almost four times the price.
By placing the desire to be superior to others at the heart of his description of insatiable demands, Keynes actually reduced such demands. However, the desire for higher quality has no natural limits. | [{'question': 'According to the passage, John Keynes believed that _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['desire is the root of both absolute and relative needs', 'absolute needs come from our sense of superiority', 'relative needs alone lead to insatiable demands', 'absolute needs are stronger than relative needs']}, {'question': 'The author of the passage argues that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['absolute needs have no limits', 'demands for quality are not insatiable', 'human desires influence ideas of quality', 'relative needs decide most of our spending']}] |
"Our aim is to take our art to the world and make people understand what it is to move," said David Belle, the cofounder of parkour .
Do you love running? It is a good exercise, yet many people find it boring. But what if making your morning jog a creative one?Like jumping from walls and over gaps and ground rolls? Just like the James Bond in the movie Casino Royale? Bond jumps down from a roof to a windowsill and then runs several blocks over _ on the way. It is just because of Bond's wonderful performances that the sport has become popular worldwide.
Yes, that's parkour, an extreme street sport aimed at moving from one point to another as quickly as possible, getting over all the obstacles in the path using only the abilities of the human body. Parkour is considered an extreme sport. As its participants dash around a city, they may jump over fences, run up walls and even move from rooftop to rooftop.
Parkour can be just as exciting and charming as it sounds,but its participants see parkour much more than that.
Overcoming all the obstacles on the course and in life is part of the philosophy behind parkour. This is the same as life. You must determine your destination, go straight, and jump over all the barriers as if in parkour and never fall back from them in your life, to reach the destination successfully. A parkour lover said,"I love parkour because its philosophy has become my life, my way to do everything."
Another philosophy we've learnt from parkour is freedom. It can be done by anyone, at any time, anywhere in the world. It is a kind of expression of trust in yourself that you earn energy and confidence. | [{'question': 'Parkour has become popular throughout the world because of _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['its cofounder, David Belle', 'the film, Casino Royale', 'its risks and tricks', 'the varieties of participants']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is TRUE of parkour?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['It challenges human abilities.', 'It is a good but boring sport.', 'It needs special training.', 'It is a team sport.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is the philosophy of parkour?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Sports and extremes.', 'Excitement and popularity.', 'Dreams and success.', 'Determination and freedom.']}] |
My student teaching experience was a wonderful adventure. I had to deal with various discipline and behavior challenges that occurred again and again.
The greatest part of it was the relationship I developed with two students. One of the students was named Michael,whom I met when I was working for a kindergarten. Before I became a morning bus assistant, I'd heard that Michael was a challenging student who would always shout, stand up on the bus, make fun of other students, and distract bus driver. So I decided that each morning, when he got on the bus, I'd have Michael sit beside me. At first he didn't like this idea and pouted about it. But soon he settled down, knowing he had no choice. I began to talk to him about little things outside of school life, such as his weekend activities and things that he liked to do. I also listened closely to him When he talked and thoroughly responded to his ideas. As I gave Michael the attention that he needed,little by little, he began to behave better and better. His transformation was noticed by all, by the students and especially the bus driver.
Another student I took a special interest in was a boy named Tony, a third grader. To some, Tony seemed to be a slow or passive learner. So I decided to see if I could find a way to motivate Tony to stay on the task. I would sit in the seat next to him and encourage him through every step of the work he was doing. This helped him to stay motivated and at least the work was getting down on time. Before long, he was paying more attention to his studies, and scoring high on all his tests. I knew that all Tony had needed was to be motivated on a one-on-one basis. | [{'question': 'What is the text mainly about?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["The two greatest students during the writer's career as a teacher.", "The writer's best memories of his teaching experience.", 'How to motivate slow students.', 'How to deal with naughty students.']}, {'question': 'The writer first made Michael sit beside him in order to _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['limit his freedom and his behaviour', 'listen to him and know his real thoughts', 'talk to him to change his bad attitude', 'give him attention and teach him to behave well']}, {'question': 'Which of the following would probably have nothing to do with Tony?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['He was uninterested in what the teacher was saying.', 'He often shouted and stood up to distract the teacher.', 'He seemed to stare at nothing and think of nothing.', 'He always had a blank sheet of paper on his desk.']}, {'question': 'What can we learn from the text?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Selfless giving is always a pleasure for a teacher.', 'An act of kindness could bring the students great joy.', 'Different students should be taught in different ways.', "Students should learn to appreciate teachers' concern."]}] |
Juac has made the leap from being an African refugee to a chess champion in the United States. His job is to share his expertise with students in schools, chess camps and other events.
During Sudan's civil war in the mid-1980s, Juac was forced out of the country with 20,000 0ther so -called Lost Boys. He fled to Ethiopia, then to Kenya staying in a refugee camp for eight years, where he learned to play chess.
Juac described a dangerous journey in which half the boys didn't survive. To eat, they had to kill wild animals.
"There were animals on the way. It was about a thousand miles and sometimes there was no water. When we were in Ethiopia, we had to cross the river and there a lot drowned."
Juac arrived in the United States in 2004 and began working as a security guard. Winning a chess tournament gave him this teaching opportunity. Juac believes chess helps prepare young people for life.
"Some kids are not interested, so it's your job to make them like the game, to explain them what chess is going to help them with." He said. "Like, I can tell, this game will give you patience, and help with your math skills."
Julie Cathone, a second grade teacher in Jackson Public School, agrees. The School's principal, Meghan Kelley, said Juac and chess have made a big difference.
"What a role model. I mean when you think about just overcoming, and finding what you love and turning that into your life's work."
Juac said he enjoys the freedom he has in the United States. But his passion is playing and teaching chess to youngsters. His boss, Michael Propper , said Juac has one great advantage.
"I think he's believable. I think they look at him and he's so _ that they feel like they can do what he's doing and be a person as he is too."
Ju ac still has a big goal ahead of him-becoming an international chess master. With his skill and patience, Propper and his peers have no doubt that will happen. | [{'question': 'How long did Juac most probably stay in Ethiopia?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['About six years.', 'About eight years.', 'About twelve years.', 'About sixteen years.']}, {'question': 'We can learn from the passage that Juac _', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['must be teaching kids chess for free', 'is patient and good at math problems', 'surely has his own chess school in American', "hasn't taken part in international chess contests"]}] |
NOT all math skills are learned in the classroom. Some of them come naturally. Consider the split-second calculations you make when you estimate the number of empty seats on the school bus or the number of cookies in a cookie jar.
These estimates can often be done without counting. That's because humans are born with the ability to closely guess the number of items in a group. Researchers call this ability a person's "number sense".
To see how a person's inborn number sense might be linked to mathematical performance in the classroom, psychologist Justin Halberda and his colleagues from Johns Hopkins University in prefix = st1 /Baltimore,USran some tests.
The scientists asked 64 14-year-olds to look at images of yellow and blue dots that flashed on a computer screen for a fraction of a second. Each image contained between 10 and 32 dots that varied in size.
Some images contained twice as many blue dots as yellow dots. In other images, however, the number of blue and yellow dots was nearly equal. For each image, the students were asked to estimate which color1 had more dots.
The scientists found a wide variation in how well students could pick the color1 with the most dots.
The scientists then looked at the students' math scores dating back to kindergarten. Children that performed best in the image test also scored the highest in standard math tests.
The same finding held true at the other end of the spectrum . Students who didn't score well on the image test received lower math scores.
The study was the first to show a link between a person's inborn number sense and his or her achievement in formal math training.
Does this connection mean that one cannot be good in math if they have a weak number sense? Or that having a strong number sense is a guarantee for good grades in math? The answers are not clear.
While scientists continue looking at the possible links between a person's number sense and math achievement, one thing is certain: Doing lots of math homework will _ your chances of success. | [{'question': 'Which of the following is not true according to the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Everyone has an inborn number sense.', 'Those who have a strong number sense are sure to do well in math.', 'Some of the math skills are inborn.', 'Doing a lot of math exercises may help to learn math well.']}, {'question': 'Justin Halberda and his colleagues ran some tests to_.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["look at the students' math scores dating back to kindergarten.", 'ask the students to estimate the dots', "see if a person's inborn number sense has something to do with math learning", 'decide how to learn math well']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, the most important thing to learn math well is that_.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['one should have an inborn number sense', 'one should practice a lot', 'one should do a lot of tests', 'one should do a lot of counting']}, {'question': "What is the result of Justin Halberda's tests?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Students who did well in the tests also did well in math exams.', 'One cannot be successful in math if he has a well number sense.', 'One who has a strong number sense can not do math well.', 'One should do a lot of math homework if he wants to have a number sense.']}] |
Instagram is a fast,beautiful and fun way to share your life with friends and family.Take a picture or video,choose a filter to transform its look and feel.and then post to Instagram--it's that easy.You can even share to Facebook.Twitter and more.It's a new way to see the world.So many photos of food are contained on Instagram--now a pop-up diner in London is taking advantage of this new trend by letting people settle the bill for their meals simply by uploading photos of their dishes to social networks.
I always thought people's taking pictures of their food was kind of silly, but at this new pop-up restaurant in the UK,I'd probably do it too."The Picture House"is the world's first pay-by-photo restaurant--you order, click a photo of the food,share on Instagram and eat for free!
The restaurant belongs to frozen food giant Birds Eye,who came up with the idea to cash in on people's addiction with photographing food and sharing the pictures online. They conducted a survey and found out that more than half of the British population regularly took pictures of their meals.So they realized it was a better way to advertise their new dining range.
The pop-up diner was open in Soho,London for three days in May,and is now moving to other major UK cities.They serve two-course meals that customers don't have to pay for, if they photo and lnstagram it.
The restaurant is a part of Birds Eye's"Food for Life"campaign,a new marketing project that aims at changing the way people look at frozen food."Taking photos of food enables people to show off and to share their mealtime moments--from the everyday to the special,"said marketing director Margaret Jobling.
The reaction to The Picture House has been great so far And the pay-by-picture concept has proven to be an effective way.Alternative payment methods are actually gaining popularity among a lot of businesses.Last year in a cafe in Germany customers pay by how much time they spend there,not by what they eat. | [{'question': 'Instagram probably is _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['a restaurant free of chmge', 'a campaign of"Food for Life\'\'', 'a program used to share photos', 'a new marketing project']}, {'question': "What's the author's attitude to this new trend?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Confused', 'Unconcerned', 'Opposed', 'Interested']}, {'question': '"The Picture House"encourages sharing photos of its food to _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['raise the price of frozen food', 'attract more customers', 'create a new social media trend', 'reward the regular customers']}, {'question': 'Which of the following can serve as the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Pay by Picture', 'The Pop-up Diner', 'No Need to Pay', 'Food for Life']}] |
What I like to advise people is to find out what it is that makes them happy. What do you love to do? If you truly love what you do just go ahead and try to make a living by doing it. People will throw money at you to do it. But you will always have to work hard at it. I have to draw every single day of my life. I have to draw about 20 ideas. My advice is to put aside a certain amount of time every day and make you draw or whatever, especially when you don't feel like it. Only in this way will you be able to perfect your talent.
The first step you take is to go to your local library and ask for the publications issued in the current years. When you get these publications, try to find the names of the top people concerned and their presidents. After you find these, write down their names and addresses. Keep this list and update it every year. Next thing you want to do is to create at least 40 cartoons. Get a grid from one of the strips in the newspapers, enlarge it to whatever size you wish and draw inside this grid. Now take the best 20 of your ideas and make them into finished pieces. To do this, you would want to copy them in ink because if you were a professional cartoonist, that was what you should do. Now you can reduce the size of the finished cartoons to fit onto a regular comic's page. By comparing yours with the others already in print, it gives you a good idea of clarity to your cartoon.
The next step is to write letters to presidents of the publication. In the letters, explain who you think would read your work, or in other words, what group do you think you would target. After you complete these, send all of your information enclosed with letters in the appropriate envelope.
Now as soon as you send out these letters, start to create a brand new strip with all new characters. Don't _ because if your idea gets turned down then you will give up. And always remember. If you receive a rejection from any of them, keep in mind that you are working on something better. You will be working on something new and more exciting and the rejection letter will not have any impact. With this in mind... | [{'question': 'The purpose of writing a letter to the president was to _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['get some money to support the later career', 'enclose the information on how to become cartoonists with the letter', 'focus his attention on the work', 'explain who would be the readers of the work']}] |
Dreaming is a natural part of who we are. We explore our dreams and develop personal dreams. We even like to dream BIG!
For the most part our dreams and wishes focus on the end result. We see ourselves in love, married, driving a great car, on vacation, with tons of money, in a great career, etc. Dreaming about the end result is just fantasizing and wishing. Wishing relies on some magical force to make our dreams turn into reality, and we become unhappy as we're not living our dreams.
So how can we make our dreams come true? That is a question we all often struggle with. Even though we struggle with the answer, the answer is not that clear. We make our dreams come true with the action we take.
In my opinion, if you dream about being in good health, then change your dream to see yourself working out and eating right day by day. See the beginning of the dream and let the dream build day by day with all the action that gets you to the end dream of you being in good health.
If you want riches, then change the dream. Dream of yourself going to school, developing a career, working hard and taking the steps to arrive at the destination. If you want love, love the process. Love the dating process . Love yourself and the journey to find love.
Make all your dreams include the beginning, middle and end. Then when you are doing the action instead of thinking to yourself, "This is a drag. I don't like working out," or if you are having any negative thoughts about doing the work it takes to create your visions , realize then that every step of the way you are living your dream. You are living your dream because you made the action and journey part of your dream. | [{'question': 'According to the writer, most of the people _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['pay more attention to developing their dreams', 'enjoy the process of their dreams', 'are always ignoring the process of living their dreams', 'probably dream of making much more money easily']}, {'question': 'In order to live our dreams, we must _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['struggle with dreams day and night.', 'have great wishes and thoughts.', 'have magical forces every night.', 'take action or steps.']}, {'question': 'If you want to keep fit, _', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["you'd better dream a sweet dream first.", 'you must love the process of the journey.', 'you would rather begin with your diet and exercise.', 'you should have a good beginning first.']}] |
An American research company shows that $248.7 billion online sales are expected by 2014. It seems as if we can't get enough of spending money through countless online clicks today. Following are some of the incredible things that you can buy online!
1) Parents
51-year-old Michael Amatrudo from Connecticut put a posting on Craig list in 2009 to sell his elderly parents, asking for $155 in return.
2) Chewing Gum
Bidding for Britney Spears' chewing gum reached $14,000 in 2004. The pop star's half-eaten sandwich also went for over $500.
3) Kidney Stone
Star Trek actor William Shatner sold his kidney stone for $20,000 when he put it up for sale online to see how much a piece of him was worth. He ended up giving the money to charity.
4) An Imaginary Friend
This imaginary guy went (or might still be going) by the name of Jon Malipieman and was sold on eBay for $3,000 by a man who claimed:
"My imaginary friend Jon Malipieman is getting too old for me now. I am now 27 and I feel I am growing out of him. He is very friendly. Along with him, I will send you what he likes and dislikes, his favorite things to do and his personal self portrait."
5) Souls
The website demonical.com is probably the creepiest site I have ever visited. You can sell your own soul or buy the souls of people such as Fidel Castro and Woody Allen (both selling for $950). Bill Gate, whoever that is, has his soul for sale at $1,300 while Michael Jacobsen's soul is being sold for $3000.
6) A Rock That Looks Like Meat
The screen shot from eBay tells us that people are bidding over $1 million for this "naturally formed bbq pork rock". Absolute madness. | [{'question': "What is the author's purpose for writing the passage?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['To introduce some unbelievable things online.', 'To call on customers to resist the products.', 'To attract readers to visit the related websites.', 'To encourage readers to buy the things online.']}, {'question': 'Which is probably sold at the highest price according to the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Chewing Gum.', 'Kidney Stone.', 'An Imaginary Friend.', 'A Rock That Looks Like Meat.']}, {'question': 'According to the text, _ is most likely to have starred in a film.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Britney Spears', 'William Shatner', 'Jon Malipieman', 'Fidel Castro']}, {'question': 'What can be inferred from the text?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Michael Amatrudo charged a high price for selling his elderly parents.', 'William Shatner sold the kidney stone so as to donate the money to charity.', 'Jon Malipieman was sold because he was not wanted any longer.', 'The soul of Michael Jacobsen is worth more than that of Woody Allen.']}] |
A long road leads through the woods to Don Robinson's unfinished house. Wearing dirty sneakers and a shirt with holes, Don Robinson is an 81-year-old Missouri businessman. Although he's rich, he didn't use his money to buy himself a grand home. Instead, he used it to buy wild land.
Robinson has decided to donate 843 acres of his own personal _ to the Department of Natural Resources after his death, which can then be used to create a new state park. His generous donation is the same size as New York City's Central Park. It is said that it's the largest land donation to happen in the last 25 years.
How did he come up with this idea? For Robinson, the idea of donation came from his respect for the land and the environment. He doesn't have children to pass it onto. He hoped that someone would make full use of it, or the land would probably turn into wasteland. A green park filled with trees can at least help deal with global warming, in addition to producing fresh air.
Robinson has lived here in a small wooden house since 1964.One room holds his bed, a few chairs and a desk. He said he didn't care how much his donation was worth. Tom Pounders who used to work for Robinson said, "He doesn't think material objects are important." He also recalled that Robinson once repaired a broken tennis shoe with a spare tire.
Robinson has just one request for the new park that will be established after his death. He'd like it to be named the Don Robinson State Park. "There's a lot of Robinsons, but only one me. It would be nice if people remembered to use my full name when walking through the park," he said. | [{'question': 'Don Robinson has decided to donate _ to the Department of Natural Resources after his death.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['a green park', 'a big wooden house', '843 acres of land', 'all his money']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, which of the following statements about is TRUE?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Don Robinson paid much attention to how much his donation was worth.', "New York City's Central Park was built with Don Robinson's help.", 'Don Robinson had many children and lived with them.', "The idea of donation came from Robinson's respect for the land and the environment."]}] |
Pingviman Hotel
Offering an outdoor pool, Pingviman Hotel offers Thai-style rooms in Chiang Mai. Free WiFi is available through-out and a complimentary service takes guests to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. All rooms are equipped with a 48-inch flat-screen cable TV and DVD player.
Facilities at this hotel include a business center, a fitness center and laundry services. There is also a tour desk and meeting facilities.
We speak your language!
Hotel Rooms:35
Art Mai Gallery Nimman Hotel
Situated in Chiang Mai's trendiest area, Art Mai Gallery Nimman Hotel Chiang Mai by Compass Hospitality boasts accommodation in a boutique hotel well-decorated with art works from the renowned local Thai artists. Free WiFi is offered all throughout the property.
At Art Mai Gallery Nimman Hotel, guests will find an outdoor pool, a fitness center and massage services. There is also a modern art collection for sale at the lobby area.
Hotel Rooms:79
At Chiang Mai
At Chiang Mai is a 2-minute walk from Sunday Walking Street. It offers rooms with a bathtub and free WiFi. Guests can relax by the pool or arrange sightseeing trips at the tour desk.
Staff at the 24-hour front desk can help guests arrange shuttle service and laundry. A selection of international newspapers and board games is available for guests to enjoy.
Home-style Thai and European dishes are served at the restaurant from 07:00 to 23:00 hrs.
We speak your language!
Hotel Rooms:37
De Chai The Colonial Hotel
Stylish colonial design is the trademark of De Chai Hotel, with its indoor pool and free WiFi. Located along Thapae Road, it is a 5-minute walk from the Sunday Walking Street.
Fully air-conditioned and extra spacious, rooms at De Chai are equipped with 37-inch flat-screen TVs, DVD players and iPod docks. Beautiful city views can be enjoyed through the clear floor-to-ceiling windows. Free WiFi is available in all areas.
Chang Khlan is a great choice for travelers interested in shopping, night markers and markets.
We speak your language!
Hotel Rooms: 40 | [{'question': "What's the similarity among the four hotels?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['They all have an outdoor pool.', 'They all equip the hotel rooms with cable TVs.', 'They all have a center for fitness.', 'They all provide free WiFi service.']}, {'question': 'In which hotels can guests book a trip more conveniently?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Pingviman Hotel and De Chai Hotel.', 'Art Mai Gallery Nimman Hotel and At Chiang Mai.', 'Pingviman Hotel and At Chiang Mai.', 'Art Mai Gallery Nimman Hotel and De Chai Hotel.']}, {'question': 'What can be infer from the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['The bus of Pingviman Hotel can take guests to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.', 'There are two hotels not far away from the Sunday Walking Street.', 'Guests living in the De Chai Hotel can enjoy the beautiful city views.', 'Art Mai Gallery Nimman Hotel sells artworks from local Thai artists.']}, {'question': "What can't guests do in the hotel according to the passage?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Have meals at the restaurant of At Chiang Mai 24 hours.', 'Have their clothes washed in At Chiang Mai.', 'Have a meeting in Pingviman Hotel.', 'Do massage in Art mai Gallery Nimman Hotel.']}] |
Climate change has been blamed for killer hurricanes, sea level rise, and drought, but a new report suggests the effects of climate change might hit the world's coffee supply. Up to 70 percent of the world's coffee supply could be threatened over the next 66 years, according to a new study by researchers at England's Royal Botanic Gardens.
Nearly 100 percent of the world's Arabica coffee growing regions could become unsuitable for the plant by 2080, according to the study. Beans from Arabica coffee plants account for about 70 percent of the world's coffee, but the plant also has to be grown under strict weather conditions: they grow well at temperatures between 64 and 70 degrees Celsius, and are highly influenced by frost or temperatures higher than 73 degrees Celsius.
With temperatures estimated to increase by between 1.8 and 4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, the fragile plant might become increasingly expensive and difficult to grow, especially in places such as Ethiopia and Kenya. In that worst case, nearly all of the world's native Arabica coffee would die out. Under more conservative estimates, about 65 percent of the regions used to grow the coffee would become unsuitable for it The evidence from coffee farmers and coffee growing regions around the world is that they are already suffering from the influences of increased warming.
Some farmers would likely be able to move their operations to other areas or would be able to overcome climate change with artificial cooling techniques, but wild Arabica is generally considered to be much more suitable for making high-quality coffee.
If Arabica becomes impossible to raise in its native areas, it could do serious damage to the economies of the mainly third-world countries in which it grows. Coffee is the world's most popular drink and is the second most-traded product in the world, behind oil. | [{'question': 'What does the passage mainly talk about?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Climate change affects people in many ways.', 'More and more attention has been paid to climate change.', "The world's coffee supply could be threatened by climate change.", "The' growing conditions of Arabica coffee have been improved recently."]}, {'question': 'In order to solve the problem of Arabica, coffee plants, some farmers_.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['would make efforts to produce high-quality coffee.', 'would bring in artificial cooling techniques.', 'would tend to move to some warm places.', 'would grow more wild Arabica.']}, {'question': 'What is the result if Arabica coffee has less production?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Coffee will replace oil to be the first most-traded commodity.', 'Coffee is likely to become less popular than before.', 'Some countries will suffer great economic losses.', 'Farmers will plant other crops instead of coffee.']}] |
At an airport I overheard a father and a daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her plane's departure. Standing near the door, he said to his daughter: "I love you. I wish you enough."
"Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough too, Daddy." They kissed goodbye and she left.
He walked over toward the window where I was seated. I tried not to _ his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking:
"Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?"
"Yes, I have," I replied.
"Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever goodbye?" I asked.
"I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is that her next trip back will be for my funeral. "
"When you were saying goodbye I heard you say, 'I wish you, enough'. May I ask what that means?"
He began to smile. " That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused for a moment looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. "When we said 'I wish you enough', we wanted the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them," he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish enough "hellos" to get you through the final "goodbye". | [{'question': "The old man's attitude towards life is _ .", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['unusual', 'negative', 'optimistic', 'pessimistic']}, {'question': 'The author began his talk with the old man _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['when he stood by the window', 'because the old man wanted to', 'because he was interested in how to say to say goodbye', 'when he sat around thinking about saying goodbye.']}, {'question': 'From the passage we know that _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['the young man is a writer', 'the talk between the two men is common', 'the daughter lives far away from her daddy', 'the young man is interested in the old man']}, {'question': "What's the most probable title of the passage?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['a talk between two men', 'an interview', 'your attitude to your life', 'I wish you enough']}] |
People want action on noise, a recent public meeting in Brisbane showed.Some want technical improvements such as quieter air conditioners or better sound barriers around major roads.Others want tougher laws to restrict noise from building sites or to require owners to take responsibility for barking dogs.But the highest priority was a noise complaints system that works.
Brisbane City Council receives more complaints about noise than all other problems put together.So it conducted a survey and found that about half its residents are upset by noise in one form or another -traffic, mowers, pool pumps, air conditioners or loud parties.This inspired the Council to bring together more than 100 citizens one evening to talk through a range of options.
The meeting found the present regulatory system bizarre.Depending on the problem, responsibility for noise can lie with the Council, the Environment Protection Authority, one of three government departments or even the police.So complainants often feel they are getting the run-round.When the people at the forum were asked to vote for changes, the strongest response was for a 24-hour noise hotline to be the first part of call for all complaints.
The forum also favored regulatory measures, such as tougher minimum standards for noise in appliances like air conditioners.This even makes economic sense, as noise is a waste of energy and money.Other measures the meeting supported were wider buffer zones around noisy activities and controls to keep heavy traffic away from residential areas.
But there are obvious conflicts.Many people like to have a bar within walking distance if they feel like a drink, but they don't want a noisy pub keeping them awake when they want an early night.Most people want to live near a major road providing good access to other parts of the city, but they don't' want the problem of road noise.
I was most interested by the proposals aimed at behavioral change.There was strong support for measures to reduce traffic: better public transport, cycle ways and footpaths, even charges for road use.Many people optimistically thought industry awards for better equipment would stimulate the production of quieter appliances.It was even suggested that noise from building sites could be alleviated if Brisbane adopted daylight saving, thus shifting the working day and providing longer, quieter evenings. | [{'question': 'According to the recent public meeting in Brisbane, what was the first step to take in order to reduce noise pollution?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Produce quieter air conditioners.', 'Provide better sound barriers around major roads.', 'Establish a noise complaints system.', 'Make stricter laws to require owners to take responsibility for barking dogs.']}, {'question': 'It can be inferred from the passage that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the Brisbane residents were satisfied with the present noise regulatory system', 'many people in Brisbane preferred to live near a pub to which they have easy access', 'nearly all the inhabitants in Brisbane were bothered by noise in one form or another', 'noise pollution is the most serious among pollution complaints in Brisbane']}, {'question': 'What does the word "run-round" (Para.3) mean?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Unfair treatment.', 'Quick response.', 'Delaying action in response to a request.', 'Full attention.']}, {'question': 'How could noise from building sites be alleviated if Brisbane adopted daylight saving?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['If daylight saving was adopted, the daytime would be prolonged and the night would become quieter.', 'If daylight saving was adopted, the working hours during the daytime would be shortened while the night would be extended and thus quieter.', 'If daylight saving was adopted, the night would be shortened and thus quieter.', 'If daylight saving was adopted, both the daytime and the night would be shortened and the noise would be reduced.']}, {'question': "What was the author's attitude towards the industry awards for quieter equipment?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Suspicious.', 'Positive.', 'Enthusiastic.', 'Indifferent.']}] |
Every day is a gift, and if you look forward to spending each day with happiness, wake up every morning with a positive attitude and enjoy a beautiful day!
Set up a daily plan for yourself and ensure that you reserve enough time for your homework. Also, don't forget to spare some time for play! Stop being lazy and start participating in your life instead of just watching it pass by. Try to do something fun and constructive every day. _ , write something interesting in your diary, try a new hobby, spend time with your friends, or just watch your favorite show on television, and you will see how every moment of your day unfolds. You'll achieve better results, and ultimately greater success.
However, every day will not be the way you want it to be. Some days will be good, while some will be bad. You won't be always happy and smiling. You may come across many challenges. Don't forget to remind yourself to slow down and take care of yourself. In today's busy lifestyle, it is necessary to relax to bring balance and joy back into your life. So, take charge of your life. Enjoy and appreciate the small things around you. Do a good deed and make others happy. Sometimes, doing something as simple as having a cup of tea with an old friend or a family member, listening to a cheerful song, or just writing down all the things that make you happy could indeed turn your day around!
Review and analyze your day before you retire at night. Reward yourself for completing the set goals and prepare the stage for the next day. This will impact your sleep and overall happiness levels. Plan for the next day, take a good rest, and wake up fresh the next morning!
If you will you are doing the same things every day, step out of your comfort zone and set aside some time to do things you have never done before. Stretch your limits. Not only will it make a boring day exciting but it will also build your confidence. | [{'question': 'Who are the intended readers of the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Teachers', 'Students', 'Workers', 'People in general']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Planning your schedule for the next day the night before.', 'Getting into the habit of self-praising with goals achieved.', 'Rising early to get ready for your day with positive energy.', 'Trying something new to learn from it to stretch your limits.']}, {'question': 'What would be the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['How to make the most of your day', 'How to lead a happy and satisfying life', 'Act now without delay to change your life', 'Spare time to focus on daily responsibilities']}] |
Researchers in the psychology department at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) have discovered a major difference in the way men and women respond to stress. This difference may explain why men are more likely to suffer from stress-related disorders.
Until now, psychological research has maintained that both men and women have the same "fight-or-flight" reaction to stress. In other words, individuals either react with aggressive behavior, such as verbal or physical conflict ("fight"), or they react by withdrawing from the stressful situation ("flight"). However, the UCLA research team found that men and women have quite different biological and behavioral responses to stress. While men often react to stress in the fight-or-flight response, women often have another kind of reaction which could be called "tend and befriend." That is, they often react to stressful conditions by protecting and nurturing their young ("tend"), and by looking for social contact and support from others - especially other females ('befriend").
Scientists have long known that in the fight-or- flight reaction to stress, an important role is played by certain hormones released by the body. The UCLA research team suggests that the female tend-or-befriend response is also based on a hormone. This hormone, called oxytocin, has been studied in the context of childbirth, but now it is being studied for its role in the response of both men and women to stress. The principal investigator, Dr. Shelley E. Taylor, explained that "animals and people with high levels of oxytocin are calmer, more relaxed, more social, and less anxious." While men also secrete oxytocin, its effects are reduced by male hormones.
In terms of everyday behavior, the UCLA study found that women are far more likely than men to seek social contact when they are feeling stressed. They may phone relatives or friends, or ask directions if they are lost.
The study also showed how fathers and mothers responded differently when they came home to their family after a stressful day at work. The typical father wanted to be left alone to enjoy some peace and quiet. For a typical mother, coping with a bad day at work meant focusing her attention on her children and their needs.
The differences in responding to stress may explain the fact that women have lower frequency of stress-related disorders such as high blood pressure or aggressive behavior. The tend-and-befriend regulatory system may protect women against stress, and this may explain why women on average live longer than men. | [{'question': 'The UCLA study shows that in response to stress, men are more likely than women to _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['turn to friends for help', 'solve a conflict calmly', 'find an escape from reality', 'seek comfort from children']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is true about oxytocin according to the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Men have the same level of oxytocin as women do.', 'Oxytocin used to be studied in both men and women.', 'Both animals and people have high levels of oxytocin.', 'Oxytocin has more of an effect on women than on men.']}, {'question': 'What can be learned from the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["Male hormones help build up the body's resistance to stress.", 'In a family a mother cares more about children than a father does.', 'Biological differences lead to different behavioral responses to stress.', 'The UCLA study was designed to confirm previous research findings.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['How men and women get over stress', 'How men and women suffer from stress', 'How researchers overcome stress problems', 'How researchers handle stress-related disorders']}] |
When you were a child you had a pure mind which was free from worries and anxieties. However, as time goes by, you're faced with so many problems in life. Below are five techniques that can help you get relaxed.
1. Mind your own business.
Yes, please mind your own business. When you start being concerned about things which are not related to you, you lose your control on your thought process, which often has negative results disturbing the mental peace. Basically, your mind starts wandering here and there. So next time an unnecessary thought comes to your mind, think whether this is really something you should be worrying for? If not, keep it away and focus on something positive, practical and fruitful.
2. Surround yourself with positive people.
_ negative comments and stay away from negative souls. When someone is negative, he spreads negativity and you get affected. Staying with such people will have long term influence on your character so think about your company.
3. Don't think about others too much.
Remember: _ Don't allow your brain to compare yourself to others as this is an insult to yourself. Don't be jealous; it's a heart killing disease, get rid of it as soon as possible. When you are jealous you focus on finding faults in others even if they don't have. This poisons your soul and steals the mental peace.
4. You can't keep everyone happy.
Don't be oversensitive . Be natural in what you do. Be positive and constructive in your deeds and then don't really care too much about others. Be aware, don't apply this to too closed relations. Develop trust to build up powerful relationships.
5. Don't believe yourself to be unlucky.
Remember this: Bad luck happens to everyone. It's not your fault at all. Time, whether good or bad, passes quickly. Develop the power of not looking back into your past. Believe in the power of Now. Believe in your skills. Work hard and you will get what you have been entitled for. Be patient and see what has been planned for you.
With these recommendations, I believe if you can make it, it's probable that you can bring changes in your lifestyle and get back your mental peace. | [{'question': 'This passage is written for those who want to _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['seek learning skills', 'find positive people as friends', 'make their mind pure', 'get mentally peaceful and relaxed']}, {'question': 'Which of the following should NOT be done according to the five techniques?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Stay with positive people.', 'Care about the business of strangers.', 'Be sincere with others and never care too much about them.', 'Believe in the magic power of what the present can bring you.']}] |
Thomas Brodie-Sangster's cars and action figures weren't just toys. "They would always be characters, and I would always put on stupid voices," says Thomas (Born on 16 May 1990). For him, acting was just a matter of moving childhood games to a set.
Maturity and independence came to Thomas early as he started work at ten. After his first audition , he learned about _ . Though hurt and disappointed, he took a part in a tiny, unknown TV film in 2001. No one noticed his performance - no one except screenwriter Richard Curtis. Two years later, he played Sam, a twelve-year-old in love in Curtis's Love Actually. After that hit film, he played actor Colin Firth's son in Nanny McPhee. Firth then joined a film called The Last Legion and supported Thomas for its lead role. As a result, the boy played Rome's final ruler in the action-adventure.
At about 16, Thomas had to make a decision. Did he really want to devote his life to acting? Many people in the public "aren't letting you be you because they see you as something special", he says. Also, friendship made during filming was often broken soon after the project finished. Despite these things, he found enough joy and satisfaction in the work to continue. Actually, Thomas seems to find joy in difficulty itself. He played 10-year-old Adolf Hitler in a TV movie and a teenage Paul McCartney in Nowhere Boy. The subject of his film Death of a Superhero made it his most challenging film. Still, he found a positive message in its story of a schoolboy with cancer.
Thomas now enjoys roles in Game of Thrones and the upcoming Maze Runner films. Popular as those projects may be, most still recognize him as Sam in Love Actually. Sam seems to run after Thomas, just as he ran through Heathrow airport to his sweetheart. | [{'question': 'Thomas Brodie-Sangster reached maturity early probably because of _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['his failure in the first audition', 'his starting acting as early as ten', 'his being supported by adult actors', 'his acting in a tiny unknown TV film']}, {'question': 'What can be considered as one of the negative aspects of acting according to Thomas?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Pressure from the public.', 'Long-term working friendship.', 'Finding joy in difficulty itself.', 'Reading scripts and memorizing lines.']}, {'question': 'Thomas played the lead role in _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Love Actually', 'Games of Thrones', 'The Last Region', 'Nanny McPhee']}] |
"For those who haven't been to Tibet is a dream; for those who have already been there, Tibet is a memory." said Li Wan, a graduate from Zhongshan University. "For me, living there is my dream and happiness."
Li was suddenly crazy about Tibet after working there for three months as an office clerk. Since 2008, Li has spent most of her time travelling in Tibet. Four years have passed and she has been almost every corner of Tibet.
Li came to Tibet firstly because of her desire for personal freedom. She entered Tibet along the Yunnan-Tibetan road, enjoying the special view happily. She was surprised to find that it is a white paradise on earth. Although she couldn't even speak a word of Tibetan language, she had no difficulty in communicating with natives. "To me, they are free, generous, simple and happy. It appears to me that people should live in this way, singing while working, dancing while living." Li said.
Li Wan's dream is to live in Tibet for a long time. She has learnt to make good use of every penny and keep her cost of living within 300 yuan a month. Li has shown great courage in the adventures . On many situations she travelled alone in some places in terrible climate. To her greatest surprise, she learned to value life and to follow her own heart.
"I felt very close to death many times when I was in extreme coldness and quietness, running out of energy. After having survived the difficulties, I find more beauty in my life. I have learned to insist on my dream," she said. | [{'question': 'This passage mainly talks about _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['the challenges Li Wan met in Tibet', 'the travel of Li Wan made in Tibet', 'the people Li Wan communicated with in Tibet', 'the route of Li Wan planned in Tibet']}, {'question': 'During the adventures in Tibet, what Li Wan learned most is _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['to enjoy the beauty of nature', 'to get along well with natives', 'to follow her heart to live her life', 'to set down journals about travel']}, {'question': 'According to the last two passages, we can see Li Wan is a _ person.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['determined', 'simple', 'proud', 'pretty']}, {'question': 'What can we infer from the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Li Wan felt it hard to communicate with natives because of their special culture.', "Li Wan couldn't live in Tibet well because she had little money to travel.", 'Li Wan survived many difficulties but she still insisted on her dream.', 'Li Wan fell in love with Tibet after she made tours there.']}] |
Global warming is causing more than 300,000 deaths and about $125 billion in economic losses each year, according to a report by the Global Humanitarian Forum, an organization led by Annan, the former United Nations secretary general.
The report, to be released Friday, analyzed data and existing studies of health, disaster, population and economic trends. It found that human-influenced climate change was raising the global death rates from illnesses including malnutrition and heat-related health problems.
But even before its release, the report drew criticism from some experts on climate and risk, who questioned its methods and conclusions.
Along with the deaths, the report said that the lives of 325 million people, primarily in poor countries, were being seriously affected by climate change. It projected that the number would double by 2030.
Roger Pielke Jr., a political scientist at the University of Colorado, Boulder, who studies disaster trends, said the Forum's report was "a methodological embarrassment" because there was no way to distinguish deaths or economic losses related to human-driven global warming amid the much larger losses resulting from the growth in populations and economic development in vulnerable regions. Dr. Pielke said that "climate change is an important problem requiring our utmost attention." But the report, he said, "will harm the cause for action on both climate change and disasters because it is so deeply flawed ."
However, Soren Andreasen, a social scientist at Dalberg Global Development Partners who supervised the writing of the report, defended it, saying that it was clear that the numbers were rough estimates. He said the report was aimed at world leaders, who will meet in Copenhagen in December to negotiate a new international climate treaty.
In a press release describing the report, Mr. Annan stressed the need for the negotiations to focus on increasing the flow of money from rich to poor regions to help reduce their vulnerability to climate hazards while still curbing the emissions of the heat-trapping gases. More than 90% of the human and economic losses from climate change are occurring in poor countries, according to the report. | [{'question': 'What is the finding of the Global Humanitarian Forum?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Global temperatures affect the rate of economic development.', 'Rates of death from illnesses have risen due to global warming.', 'Malnutrition has caused serious health problems in poor countries.', 'Economic trends have to do with population and natural disasters.']}, {'question': "What do we learn about the Forum's report from the passage?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['It was challenged by some climate and risk experts.', 'It aroused a lot of interest in the scientific circles.', 'It was warmly received by environmentalists.', 'It caused a big stir in developing countries.']}, {'question': "What does Dr. Pielke say about the Forum's report?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Its statistics look embarrassing.', 'It is invalid in terms of methodology.', 'It deserves our closest attention.', 'Its conclusion is purposely exaggerated.']}, {'question': "What is Soren Andreasen's view of the report?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Its conclusions are based on carefully collected data.', 'It is vulnerable to criticism if the statistics are closely examined.', 'It will give rise to heated discussions at the Copenhagen conference.', 'Its rough estimates are meant to draw the attention of world leaders.']}, {'question': 'What does Kofi Annan say should be the focus of the Copenhagen conference?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['How rich and poor regions can share responsibility in curbing global warming.', 'How human and economic losses from climate change can be reduced.', 'How emissions of heat-trapping gases can be reduced on a global scale.', 'How rich countries can better help poor regions reduce climate hazards.']}] |
This Monday,the nation will start to celebrate Presidents' Day,just seven days before George Washington's birthday.Everyone agrees that day is a holiday,but is it just to celebrate George Washington's Birthday? What about Abraham Lincoln? Some government offices call it Presidents' Day.Others say the holiday is officially Washington's Birthday.Confused yet?
George Washington was elected the country's first President on April 30,1789.Soon after,Americans began publicly celebrating his birthday.Presidential historians say the actual date of George Washington's birth is February 11,1732.But a change in the calendar system 20 years later shifted all dates,making Washington's birthday February 22,which is now well accepted.In 1879.Congress made Washington's birthday an official federal holiday.It was the first federal holiday to celebrate an individual's birthday.In 1968,Congress passed the Monday Holidays Act,which moved the holiday to the third Monday in February.The new law did not change the holiday's name.It was still called Washington's Birthday,even though some lawmakers wanted to call it Presidents' Day to include Abraham Lincoln,whose actual birthday is February 12.
Many people argue that the holiday should celebrate all past Presidents.They feel Lincoln should be honored for his role in preserving the nation during the Civil War and helping to free slaves.Others feel the holiday should only honor Washington.the country's first President.They say shifting the focus away from Washington would mean future generations of kids would not know about the Father of Our Country.
Laws have been introduced in Congress over the years to require use of the term "George Washington's Birthday."but none of those laws have been passed.Meanwhile,many state governments and school districts now use the term "Presidents' Day."Many stoles also use it to promote holiday sales.
Should the holiday honor Washington,Washington and Lincoln,or all past Presidents? Write to [email protected] and tell us what you think. | [{'question': "The President's Day was originally designed to honor _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['George Washington', 'Abraham Lincoln', 'all presidents', 'the Civil War']}, {'question': 'What can we infer from the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["Washington's Birthday is the same as Lincoln's.", 'The change in the calendar system was not wise.', "The new act changed the holiday's name.", 'This Monday is the third one of this February.']}, {'question': "What's the main argument about this holiday?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['When to celebrate the holiday.', 'How to celebrate the holiday.', 'Which president to honor.', 'Where to celebrate the holiday.']}, {'question': "What's the best title for this passage?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Why people celebrate President Day.', "The history and debate behind Presidents' Day", "To celebrate Presidents' Day or not", "Colorful activities on Presidents' Day"]}] |
How can you build more word-of-mouth advertising ? In other words, why would your customers want to talk to their friends about their experience of doing business with you?
When you perform your service or deliver your product competently , you are just doing what the customer expects. In order to increase the number of the customers who want to share their good experience with their friends, you must make your service impressive, going beyond what is expected.
Recently my daughter Dawn and I had lunch with my team members at the Campbell House. The food and service were truly excellent. My daughter asked for her leftovers to be packed. They were returned to her in aluminum foil shaped like a swan . Guess what she talked about when she got home? How much more do you think it cost the Campbell House to produce that "Wow!" experience? Answer --not a cent!
Disneyland should be an inspiration to us all in providing a "Wow!" experience. What do people talk to their friends about when they come home? "You should have seen how clean that park was! With all of the people there, it's unbelievable! There's not even a gum wrapper on the ground!" Walt Disney understood that cleanliness is marketing. | [{'question': 'According to the passage, customers would like to share their good experience with their friends if _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['what they need is provided on time', 'the price of the service is low enough', 'the service is better than they expected', 'the after-sale service is good enough']}, {'question': 'How did Dawn feel the moment she saw her packed leftovers?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Disappointed and angry.', 'Excited and crazy.', 'Worried and unhappy.', 'Surprised and pleased.']}, {'question': 'By saying "Answer -- not a cent!" the author seems to believe that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['it is always possible to satisfy all of the customers', 'sometimes it is easy to provide a good experience', 'most customers are easy to do business with', 'the service should be as cheap as possible']}] |
NEW YORK--Microsoft on Monday made another effort to challenge Apple's iPhone and Google's Android in the exploding smartphone market--launching a wireless operating system,Windows Phone 7.
Consumers will consider it"always delightful and thoroughly mine,"Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said at a launch event. Ballmer said last year that Microsoft had" _ "with its Windows Mobile operating system.For example,it failed to keep up with touch-screen innovations that make iPhones and Android phones easy to use.
Microsoft fell from third to fourth place in market share this year,behind BlackBerry,iPhone and Android. Only 10.8% of smartphone owners used Microsoft's system in August,down from 18% last December.
But Windows Phone 7 is"a total departure from anything they've done".Microsoft says it sought to simplify common activities. For example,you can instantly take a picture with a phone's camera by pushing a button on the device. You don't have to first awaken it from its sleep mode and launch the camera application. You also can program the phones to automatically upload photos to Facebook or other social network sites in a couple of seconds. Users can easily work with Microsoft Office contact and calendar information as well as documents created in Microsoft's Word,Excel and PowerPoint.
The phones will not show videos built on Adobe's Flash platform,widely used by services including YouTube and Hulu.
AT&T will offer the first Windows Phone 7 smartphone,the Samsung Focus,on Nov.8.Soon after,it will have the LG Quantum and HTC Surround. Each will cost S| 199.99 with a two-year service contract. T-Mobile will have two Windows Phone 7 models out for the holiday shopping season:the HTC HD7 and Dell Venue Pro. It did not say how much they'll cost. | [{'question': 'Which of the following phones will NOT use Windows Phone 7 operating system?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Quantum.', 'Surround.', 'Android.', 'Focus.']}, {'question': 'Why did Microsoft see a drop in market share last year?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["Because its operating system didn't catch up with changes.", "Because its phones can't show videos from YouTube.", 'Because it was inconvenient to take photos using its phones.', 'Because its system was based only on Microsoft soft wares.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Smartphone Market Welcomes New Giant', 'Microsoft to Fight Back on Smartphone', 'Mobile Phones Getting Smarter and Easier', 'Microsoft Proved a Failure in Smartphone']}] |
Dr. Paul Kelly, head of Monkeseaton Community High School in North Tyneside, said it would mean the end of sleeping in lessons before lunch, after experiments showed teenagers could have different body clocks from adults and younger children.
Russell Foster, an Oxford professor of neuroscience , tested the memory of 200 Monkseaton pupils at 9 am and 2 pm using pairs of words, and discovered a 9% improvement in the afternoon. Students correctly identified 51% of word pairs in the latest session, compared with 42% in the morning. Tayler McCullough, 15, one of the test subjects, said the majority of students would welcome the extra hours in bed, "I'm extremely hard to get up in the morning. One or two people like to get to school early, but most of us would be up for going in later. I'm sure it would make a big difference to our learning ability."
Kelly is _ that a change of school timetable will have a meaningful effect on exam performance. He wants his school's governors to approve his plan and put the new time-table in place before the opening of Monkseaton's new timetable in place before the opening of Monkseaton's new school building, the most technologically advanced in the country, in September.
Kelly hopes his latest idea will be just as successful. "We have to be practical. But this proves that, by starting later, children's learning improves, as does their health."
Foster said, "This is preliminary data, but what's exciting is that it matches more detailed studies carried out in Canada and the US. Teenagers get up late not because they are lazy but because they are biologically programmed to do so." | [{'question': 'How many professors are mentioned in the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['One', 'Two', 'Three', 'Four']}, {'question': "According to Russell Foster's research, _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['the students tested had very good memories', 'the students tested did better jobs in the afternoon', '42% of the students tested could do very good jobs', '51% of the students tested could master 9% of words']}, {'question': "Foster's opinion on teenagers' getting up late is that _ .", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['teenagers are practical', 'teenagers are lazy-bones', "it's based on their body development", "it's good for their learning and health"]}] |
Italy is one country where beauty is prized more than any other virtue. That is, except in the small town of Piobbico, the self-declared World Capital of Ugly People. The road sign at the edge of the town even warns visitors that they are entering the ugly zone. People who consider themselves ugly have been gathering in Piobbico since the 1960s. That's when Ugly Club president Telesforo Lacobelli established a dating agency for women who believed they were too ugly to attract husbands. Lacobelli believes that he is ugly himself because he has a short nose in a country where long or large noses have always been considered beautiful.
People from around the world travel to Piobbico to tell their sad stories of ugliness. During the annual Festival of the Ugly, which occurs on the first Sunday of every September, hundreds of people gather in Piobbico's town square to elect the president of the Ugly Club. Lacobelli wins the election every year. The Ugly Club has over 20, 000 members. They carry ID cards that grade their ugliness from bearable to extreme. A prize is awarded to Ugly Club members who qualify as extremely ugly.
The Ugly Club president insists that ugliness is a virtue. Since beautiful people get a lot of attention for their beauty alone, they have to work hard to prove their other virtues. Ugly people, on the other hand, are genuine and do not have to prove anything to anybody, according to Lacobelli.
Lacobelli is a spokesperson for ugly people everywhere. He believes that the uglier one is, the better life can be. Though the club enjoys making fun of beauty, especially beauty contests, Lacobelli has a serious side as well. He believes that too many people suffer from financial and emotional pressures because they don't meet society's standards of beauty. The fact that beautiful people are more successful in the workforce is a problem that Lacobelli has attempted to bring forward to the Italian public and government. | [{'question': 'Piobbico is rather special in that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['it is a very small town', 'it is home to ugly people', 'it receives no visitors', 'it is the capital of Italy']}, {'question': 'Why is Lacobelli elected the president of the Ugly Club every year?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Because he is the ugliest person in the whole world.', 'Because his ugliness is always graded as bearable.', 'Because he is a spokesperson for ugly people everywhere.', "Because he has won the members' trust and admiration."]}, {'question': 'Which of the following is true according to the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Ugly people are most respected in Italy.', 'The Festival of the Ugly is held every two years.', 'Ugly people are unfairly treated in society.', 'The uglier one is, the better life he or she lives.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['The Ugly Capital of the World', 'The Ugliest Person of the World', 'Festival of the Ugly', 'Beauty Contests Should be Banned']}] |
Most people buy a lot of gifts just before Christmas. But some people think we buy too much. They have started a special day called Buy Nothing Day. They don't want anyone to go shopping on that day.
Buy Nothing Day is November 29. It's 25 days before Christmas. It's after Thanksgiving Day and often the first day of Christmas shopping. At this time, we see ads in Newspapers and on TV telling us to "buy, buy, buy!"
The idea for Buy Nothing Day started in Vancouver, British Columbia. Now people all over the world celebrate Buy Nothing Day. In California, parents and children get together to read stories, sing songs, and paint pictures. The children talk about why they don't need a lot of toys. This year, in Manchester, England, people dressed up in costumes to tell people that we buy too much.
In Albuquerque, New Mexico, high school students wanted to tell other students about Buy Nothing Day. They organized a spaghetti dinner to give people information about Buy Nothing Day. They asked restaurants in the neighborhood to donate the food. They made posters and talked to other students about it. The dinner was a big success, and many students agreed not to buy anything on November 29. The students at high schools liked the idea of this new tradition. Next year, they want to have another dinner to tell more people about Buy Nothing Day! | [{'question': 'Which of the following is NOT the day for people to celebrate Buy Nothing Day?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['November 29.', '25 days before Christmas.', 'After Thanksgiving.', 'The first day after Christmas.']}, {'question': 'People usually buy many gifts _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['before Thanksgiving', 'on Christmas', 'before Christmas', 'anytime']}, {'question': 'How do people celebrate Buy Nothing Day?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['In California, parents and children get together to play games.', 'In England, people celebrate by performing plays.', 'In Mexico, high school students dress up.', 'They buy nothing and persuade others not to buy things.']}, {'question': 'What did the students do in New Mexico for the day?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['They donated the food of their own.', 'They talked to others about it.', 'They made some slogans for it.', 'They organized a luxurious dinner.']}] |
Teachers and textbooks _ -- your future could be under threat from a quickly developing and very smart technology.
University of California researchers led by Jacob White hill recently programmed teaching robots to react to facial expression. Whitehill's achievement marked a major step forward in the way people could one day learn by establishing facial expression recognition in robot teachers.
The teaching robots or, Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) are computer systems that provide personalized instruction and feedback to students without human intervention. The facial expression recognition allows a computer to react according to expressions a user makes.
He said that the system was an important development in improving learning systems.
"Classical ITS typically have a somewhat rigid architecture of 'first I ask a questions then I wait for a responses then I talk some more; then I wait for another response.' Facial expression recognition, I believe, will allow the feedback from student to teacher to happen while the robot teacher is talking," Whitehill said.
Experts agree the latest developments in ITS open new possibilities for how people could learn. University of Memphis researcher, Dr Andrew Olney, who recently received a US$ I. 3 million grant to develop an ITS, said the key to future learning will be enabling interactive , one-on-one instruction.
"The technology can benefit these more advanced learning scenarios ," he said.
Although robot teachers of varying abilities have existed for more than 30 years, ITS developments such as Whitehill's and Olney's are pushing beliefs that robots could soon be as effective as-- if not more effective than human teachers.
"The ITS which have been developed are already better teachers than people who have no experience," Olney said.
So, what is the future for today's teachers, classrooms, and textbooks? | [{'question': 'The newly teaching robots are more advanced because they have _', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Jacob Whitehill as the designer', 'a program reacting to facial expressions', 'a system to help people learn', 'a set of instruments to recognize your voice']}, {'question': 'Compared with classical ITS, developed ITS can', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['ask and answer questions in turns', 'provide feedback to students in less time', 'somewhat interact with the students', 'make different facial expressions']}, {'question': 'According to the text, we can infer that', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['in the future, students will not need textbooks at all', 'the developed ITS can answer any question students ask', 'facial expression recognition in ITS has existed for a long time', 'in the future teaching robots will possibly take the place of human teachers']}, {'question': 'The writer seems to _ the newly-developed teaching robots.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['throw doubt on', 'object to', 'take no interest in', 'approve of']}, {'question': 'The author wrote the passage aiming to', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['warn teachers against robot teachers in advance', 'explain how robot teachers in the future work', 'introduce a newly developed teaching robot', 'show his respect for the designers of the advanced ITS']}] |
"Ten years ago I could never have imagined I'd be doing this,"says Greg Pal,33,a former software executive. "I mean ,this is essentially agriculture ,right? But the people I talk to, especially the ones coming out of business school , think this is the one hot area everyone wants to get into ."
He means bugs. To be more accurate, the genetic change of bugs---very, very small ones---so that when they feed on agricultural waste such as woodchip or wheat straw ,they do something extraordinary . They excrete crude oil.
Unbelievably ,this is not science fiction .Mr. Pal holds up a small cup of bug excretion that could ,in theory ,be poured into the tank of the big Lexus SUX next to us .Not that Mr. Pal was willing to risk it just yet .He gives it a month before the first vehicle is filled up with what he calls "renewable petroleum ".After that ,he smiles ,"It's a brave new world."
Mr. Pal is a senior director of LS9,one of several companies in or near Silicon Valley.The company is not interested in using corn as material ,given the much-advertised problems created by using food crops for fuel .Instead ,different types of agricultural waste will be used according to whatever makes sense for the local climate and economy :wheat straw in California ,for example ,or woodchip in the south.
Are Americans ready to be putting genetically changed bug excretion in their cars? "It's not the same as with food,"Mr. Pal say ."We are putting these bacteria in a very isolated container. Their entire universe is in that tank .When we've done with them .they are destroyed."
" Besides ",he says ,"there is greater good being served."" I have two children, and climate change is something that they are going to face .The energy crisis is something that they are going to face .We have a collective responsibility to do this." | [{'question': 'Greg Pal used to _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['have great interest in bugs', 'major in agriculture', 'be engaged in developing software', 'study in a business school']}, {'question': 'To make the bugs excrete crude oil, Greg Pal has to _', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['keep them in an isolated tank', 'change their genes first', 'change their usual diet first', 'kill them for bacteria']}, {'question': 'We can infer from the passage that _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['it is a very complex process for bugs to produce oil', 'it is not worthwhile for Mr. Pal to do the experiment', 'it is safe to use the excretion produced by bugs', 'it is necessary to use bugs to produce crude oil']}, {'question': 'What would be the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Bugs Eat Waste and Excrete Petrol', 'Waste Turns into Crude Oil', 'A Promising Business', 'Software Executive Turned to Bugs']}] |
Dreams can be familiar and strange, fantastical or boring, but some dreams might be connected to the mental processes that help us learn. In a recent study, scientists found a connection between nap-time dreams and better memory in people who were learning a new skill.
In the study,99 college students between the ages of 18 and 30 each spent an hour on a compute, trying to get through a virtual maze .The maze was different place each time they tired--making it even more difficult. They were also told to find a particular picture of a tree and remember where it was.
For the first 90 minutes of a five-hour break, half of the participants stayed awake and an half were told to take a short nap .Participants who stayed awake were asked to describe their thoughts. Participants who took a nap were asked about their dreams before sleep and after sleep--and they were awakened within a minute of sleep to describe their dreams.
Stickgold, a neuroscientist ,wanted to know what people were dreaming about when their eyes weren't moving during sleep.
Four of the 50 people who slept said their dreams were connected to the maze. Some dreamed about the music that had been playing when they were working ; others said they dreamed about seeing people in the maze. When these four people tried the computer maze again, they were able to find the tree faster than before their naps.
Stickgold suggests the dream itself doesn't help a person learn--it's the other way around.He suspects that the dream was caused by the brain processes associated with learning.
All four of the people who dreamed about the task had done poorly the first time, which makes Stickgold wonder if the dreams show up when a person finds a new task particularly difficult. People who had other dreams, or people who didn't take a nap, didn't show the same improvement. | [{'question': 'Before having a short nap, participants of the experiment were asked to _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['stay in a different place in the maze', 'design a virtual maze which is difficult to get through', 'experience the experiment and try to remember something', 'get through a virtual maze on a computer from the same place']}, {'question': 'What can we learn from the text?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Participants who took a nap were required to express their thoughts.', 'Some dreams may encourage people to invent something new.', 'Participants who dreamed about films could finish the task more easily.', 'Participants whose dreams had something to do with the maze could find the tree faster.']}, {'question': 'According to Stickgold, _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['every person may dream about what they learned', "people's brain processes may still be connected with their learning in their dreams", "once people's eyes stop moving, they are sure to dream about something", "no matter how fantastical or boring, dreams are connected with people's life"]}, {'question': 'What is the best title for this text?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Dreams Are Strange', 'Not All Dreams Are True', 'Dreaming Makes Perfect', 'Stickgold, a Dream Expert']}] |
If you are ever planning to buy a telescope and want to get yourself involved in astronomy it is always a good idea to know a bit of the sky.Get acquainted with a few constellations so that it will be easier for you to spot the constellations when you are using your telescope.
It's a good idea to buy a few magazines on astronomy to help you to get familiar with the constellations in the sky and also read a few reviews on the different types of telescopes in the market.This will help you gather all the information that is out there regarding telescopes and what people have to say about them.
It's advisable to go in for a pair of binoculars before you buy your first telescope so that you can get used to spotting constellations before your view of the sky is narrowed down.This will also help you know if you really want to get involved in astronomy.Many people buy a costly telescope and then discover that they're not actually interested in astronomy.
Experience has no substitute,and there certainly is nothing better than using different telescopes before you buy one.This will help you to get the feel of all the types of telescopes and you will know which one is easier for you to use.A large aperture refractor may give you an excellent image but you may not be able to keep a steady hand while using it resulting in a blurry image.
There are three types of telescopes that are available in the market.If you want a more elegant looking telescope you can always choose to buy a fine brass telescope.It's good to become acquainted with each type before going for the plunge of a first telescope.The first type of telescope is the refractor telescope,which uses lenses to gather light to a focus at the eye piece.The use of lenses helps the telescope have a superior image.A refracting telescope is not as portable as the other two types of telescopes and so you will have to buy one with a small aperture.
The second type of telescope is the Reflector.Made by Sir Isaac Newton,this telescope functions by focusing the light back at the front of the tube,which is where the eyepiece sits,by using parabolic mirrors and another smaller mirror to deflect the light.There is no added color in the image caused by refraction of light since this telescope does not use lenses.These are the cheapest of all telescopes and are more portable than refractors. | [{'question': 'According to the text,a telescope is intended to be bought for _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['getting experience', 'watching stars', 'studying the climate', 'learning about a bit of the sky']}, {'question': 'Why does the author advise buying a pair of binoculars first?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The telescope is too expensive.', 'The binoculars are easier to use.', 'You may gain plenty of experience in astronomy.', 'Your view will be narrow by using a pair of binoculars.']}, {'question': 'What do we know about the refracting telescope?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['It looks very elegant.', 'It refracts light by an eye piece.', 'It has clear images without any lenses.', 'It is not convenient to take along for its size.']}] |
If you have been joining in chat room conversations, or trading email with web pals , you have become one of the millions who write in a peculiarly short form of English.
And you've got a sense of humor about short forms like SOHF (=" sense" of humor failure) to describe Internet newcomers who don't understand you.
Across the globe, every night teenagers and their elders are "talking online", many of them all talking at the same time.
It's fast: try talking to six people at once.It's brief: three or four words per exchange.It takes wit, concentration, and quick fingers.
And it requires tremendous linguistic economy .There's neither time nor space for explanations.Why consume precious key-strokes telling six friends you have to leave for a moment to take care of your little brother when BRB( =" be" right back) will do?
Want to enter a conversation? Just type PMFJI (=" pardon" me for jumping in).
Interested in whom you are talking to? Type A/S/L, the nearly universal request to know your pal's age, sex and location.You may get 15/M/NY as a response from your pal.
If something makes you laugh, say you are OTF (=" on" the floor), or LOL (=" laughing" out loud), or combing the two into ROTFL ( =" rolling" on the floor laughing) .
And when it is time to get back to work or go to bed, you type GTG (=" got" to go) or TTYL (="talk" to you later).
People want to write as fast as possible, and they want to get their ideas across as quickly as they can.Capital letters are left in the dust, except when expressing emotion, as it takes, more time to hold down the "shift" key and capitals.Punctuation is going, too. | [{'question': 'Many people talk on the Internet _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['by sending short emails', 'by using a particular short form of English', 'by using peculiar English words and expression', 'in a funny way']}, {'question': 'In order to talk to several people at the same time on the Internet _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['you have to speak fast and fluently', 'you should speak with wit and humor', 'you have to express your ideas in a brief way', 'one should pay much attention to the accuracy of words']}, {'question': 'If you get 17/F/NY as an answer to your A/S/L, it means _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['the person on the other end is 17 from New York and he is fine', 'you are talking to a girl who is 17 and lives in New York', 'you are talking to 17 girls who are from New York', 'the person who you are talking to is a 17-foot tall New York girl']}, {'question': 'To save time on the Internet, _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['some people leave their letters in the dustbin', 'some people never use "shift" in their writing', 'many people leave the capital and punctuation', 'people seldom use capital letters or punctuation']}] |
Europe is now the biggest market for organic food in the world, having grown by 25 percent a year over the past 10 years. Denmark's agriculture minister is herself an organic farmer. The UK market for organic food grew by 55 percent in 2000, while the food market as a whole grew by only one percent. Yet only seven percent of British shoppers account for nearly 60 percent of organic sales. However popular the idea of organic farming may be, it is still an interest for only a few people.
So what makes the idea of organic farming popular? Organic farming means farming with natural materials, rather than with man-made fertilizers or pesticides . Organic farmers rely on many methods -- such as crop rotation and the use of resistant varieties, because they are necessary for organic farmers to _ the shortage of man-made chemicals.
Organic farming is often supposed to be safer than traditional farming for the environment. Yet after a long research on organic farming worldwide for a number of years, science continues to be against this opinion. The House of Commons committee on agriculture stated that, even with complete research work, it would fail to find any scientific evidence to prove "that any of claims made for organic farming is always true".
However, the talk about the benefits of organic farming is going on. This is partly because many people depend on their individual farm, the soil, the weather, and so on. | [{'question': 'What can we know about organic farming?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['It refers to farming with natural materials, instead of chemical fertilizers.', 'It refers to farming with chemical fertilizers rather than natural fertilizers.', 'It refers to farming with soil rather than any other thing.', 'It refers to growing crops with man-made fertilizers and pesticides.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is TRUE, according to the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["The UK's agriculture minister is an organic farmer.", 'Organic farming is popular with young people.', 'Farmers try every means to improve the organic sales system.', "Ninety-three percent of British shoppers don't buy organic products."]}] |
Throughout life,change is the only thing that seems constant.Change has come to my 1ife many ways,in myself,and in my surroundings.At the same time,some things stay the same.This is when traditions are formed.I am often reminded of this by the photograph that sits by my bed.
It all began with a kiss on my very first day of school.I remember dancing around the mirror,watching as my dark blue dress created a teacup around my waist.I admired the little ruffle of my shirt collar and how it matched perfectly with the trim at the bottom of my dress.I knew I would be the envy of all my classmates.
But somehow,something was missing.I reached under my bed for the large box of bows ,in every color1 imaginable,that I was famous for.I picked out a white one that would match my shirt and carefully ran to my mom.She fastened the finishing touch to my short brown hair and I was ready for my very first day of school.
After admiring myself in the mirror,I heard my mom yell,"picture time!" I dashed downstairs where my mum led to the spot.I ly loved getting my picture taken.
After several individual shots and some with my older sister,Katherine,my dad came for a picture with us together.As I climbed onto my dad's lap,he wrapped his arms around Katherine and me and we both leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.At that moment,mum snapped the shot and our tradition began.
From them on,every year when the first day of school rolled around,we continued our tradition of pictures in the yard.The picture grew with my family;when my two younger sisters began school,our tradition expanded from 15 minutes to 45.The mass chaos was directed by my mom when my dad was already off to work or away on a business trip. | [{'question': "What's the author's family tradition?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Photographs must be put in bedroom.', "Taking family pictures on a child's first day of school.", 'Dad always drove children to their school.', 'Each girl of the family has a large box of bows.']}, {'question': 'Why did the author look for bows according to Paras 2 and 3 ?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Because her mother liked bows very much.', 'Because she was famous for making bows.', 'Because her favorite bow was missing.', 'Because she wanted to look perfect.']}, {'question': 'How did the author feel when she dressed herself up?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Disappointed', 'Excited', 'Nervous', 'Embarrassed']}, {'question': "What's the author's purpose of writing such a passage?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['To prove change is the only thing that seems constant.', 'To show what a skilled photographer her mother was.', 'To recall a family tradition on their first day of school.', 'To display her beautiful look on the first day of school.']}] |
Boxing was long viewed sickly. Generally forbidden by law in earlier days, the fighting was usually done with bare fists, and matches often lasted forty or fifty rounds.
In 1882 John L. Sullivan, a fighter of great power, won the world heavyweight championship from Paddy Ryan in a bare fisted battle marked by hitting, scratching, and biting without any rule. Five years later, while fighting Patsy Cardiff at Minneapolis, Sullivan broke his right arm in the third round, but he continued fighting to the sixth round and won. In 1889, Sullivan defeated Jade Kilrain with his bare fists in another championship fight, winning twenty thousand dollars and a diamond prize medal. His admirers talked then of running him for the next governor, but he traveled to Australia for a boxing tour instead, coming back only to lose his title in a twenty-one-round match with a young Californian named James J. Corbett.
"Gentleman James" victory in this match marked a turning point, for it showed scientific boxing was over strength. But Corbett's title ended in 1897, when another boxer, Bob Fitzsimmons, in less than three seconds, achieved his feats and then Fitzsimmons knocked out an Irishman, won the heavyweight championship of the world, and invented the terrible "solar plexus punch." | [{'question': 'Boxing matches in the early days were _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['short and bloody', 'usually spare-time competitions', 'governed by strict rules', 'cruel']}, {'question': "Sullivan held the world's heavyweight title for _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['at least seven years', 'only a year', 'five years', 'twenty-one years']}, {'question': "Sullivan's fight with Kilrain was _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['the first boxing championship match', 'a bare-fisted championship fight', 'the last boxing match to be fought bare-fisted', 'a six-round match']}, {'question': 'Sullivan was so popular that his admirers _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['encouraged him to be a governor', 'raised twenty thousand dollars for him', 'advised him to take boxing tour of Australia', 'refused to believe he could be defeated']}] |
Nigel received a reward for his excellence in study. It began when he was selected to help the teachers in the computer laboratories.
The peak of his school career came not when he topped the school but when he was selected for the nationwide competition. Unlike everyone else, Nigel wanted to join the contest because he liked making something out of the Lego sets. Nigel spent the next two months rebuilding the robot. It was during the time that Nigel found out about the prizes for the competition as well as another competitor, Alicia, from a neighboring school. His early intentions were forgotten. Getting the thousand-dollar prize was more important than anything else. Nigel decided to befriend Alicia. Unaware of his intentions, she told him all about the robot that she had been building for the competition. He even helped her to put the finishing branches to her robot. He was glad with the way things had progressed. His robot was able to become a ball with its arms, which Alicia had failed to do.
Everything didn't dawn on her until she saw him among the competition. She stared at him, puzzled at first, then angry and finally a look of helplessness came over her.
The flashbulbs of the camera exploded in Nigel's try. The robot bird performed actions so unique that the specialist judgments were the same. Nigel was so personal with himself that he did not even notice the girl standing a few feet away from him. Without her, he would never win the competition. | [{'question': "Nigel's original intention of joining the contest was to _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['be the top student of the school', 'constructs a robot with the Lego sets', 'being great honor to his school', 'wins the thousand-dollar prize']}, {'question': 'What reward did Nigel receive for doing well in his school work?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['He helped in the computer laboratories', 'He was honored with a scholarship', 'He helped his teacher construct a robot', 'He was offered a part-time job']}, {'question': 'Why did Nigel help Alicia finish her robot?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['He tried to make friends with her', 'He was fond of building robots', 'He intended to help her', "He didn't want her to suspect him"]}, {'question': "What is the author's attitude towards Nigel's actions?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['ambiguous', 'defensive', 'supportive', 'critical']}] |
From a very early age, some children show better self-control than others. Now, a new study that began with about 1,000 children in New Zealand has tracked how a child's low self-control can predict poor health, money troubles and even a criminal record in their adult years.
Researchers have been studying this group of children for decades now. They observed the level of self-control the youngsters displayed. Parents, teachers, even the kids themselves, scored the youngsters on measures like "acting before thinking" and "Persistence in reaching goals."
The study led by Moffitt of Duke University and colleagues followed 1,000 children from birth to age 32 in Dunedin, New Zealand.
"The children who had the lowest self-control when they were age three to ten, later on had the most health problems in their 30s," Moffitt said,"and they had the worst financial situation. They were more likely to have a criminal record and to be raising a child as a single parent on a very low income." Moffitt explained that self-control problems were widely observed, and weren't just a feature of a small group of misbehaving kids.
Moffitt said it's still unclear why some children have better self-control than others, though she said other researchers have found that it's mostly a learned behavior, with relatively little genetic influence. But good self-control can be set to run in families because children with good self-control are more likely to grow up to be healthy and prosperous parents. But the good news, Moffitt said, is that self-control can be taught by parents, and through school curricula that have been shown to be effective. | [{'question': 'Children with low self-control are more likely to_.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['become wealthy in later life', 'get good school performance', 'have better financial planning', 'adopt negative behaviors']}, {'question': 'According to Moffitt,_.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['only good genetic factors can shape their lives in the future', 'scientists know well why some children have better self-control', 'self-control in childhood has nothing to do with criminal activity', "willpower as a child really influences people's chances of adulthood"]}, {'question': 'What can be inferred from the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Self-control cannot be taught in schools.', 'The study is restricted within few participants.', "It's never too late to deal with self-control problems.", 'Good parenting can improve self-control and life success.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["Child's self-control predicts future health and success", 'Kids are encouraged to take risks at an early age', "Children's development cannot be changed by teachers", 'How to teach the kids a bit of self-control in schools']}] |
Bicycles are a great way to get around. They're fun to ride, especially down hills. And, as you speed along the road, you might also think of ways in which you could improve your bike-- make it safer, more efficient, or more comfortable. In fact, the two-wheeled machines make for some cool science projects.
This year's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held last May in Cleveland, featured(had)three bicycle projects from three countries. Like many of the other experiments presented at ISEF, the bike projects showed that some of the most interesting scientific research often begins by taking a closer look at things you care about.
Renato Angulo Chu had even grander ambitions. The 12th-grader from Lima, Peru, wanted to _ some of his country's economic troubles.
"I see a problem in my country," Renato said. "If you go to the forests in Peru, in some places you cannot find electricity. If you go with my bicycle, you can turn on the lights."
Renato, 16, spent 3 years designing his special Multibike. The device looks like a fixed exercise bike. It has wires fixed along the frame and a blender strapped (fastened) to the back. Turning the pedals operates the blender. The same principle can be used to sharpen knives or sweep city streets.
The Multibike can work either as a fixed bike or as a bicycle able to travel city streets and country roads. It's made from inexpensive materials, and the user gets exercise while pedaling to operate a machine.
"You pedal the bike, and you can mix any drink you want," Renato said. More importantly, he added, the same concept could be used to bring light to houses in remote regions of the rainforest. | [{'question': 'Which of the following is true according to the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['ISEF is an exhibiton displaying bicycle experiments designed by students.', 'Looking closely at things you are concerned about can lead to scientific research.', "Renato's improvement of the bicycle has solved the country's great problem.", "Renato's special bicycle will soon be put into use in remote areas.'"]}, {'question': "Renato's special Multibike has all the following EXCEPT _ .", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['making knives sharp', 'mixing any kind of drinks', 'producing electricity', 'operating a machine with its own electricity']}, {'question': "It can be inferred that Renato's special bicycle is mainly designed for _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['distant areas in the rainforest without electricity.', 'the use of his own family to make life easier.', 'the competition of ISEF to win money to support remote rainforests', 'enough exercise by pedaling it']}] |
Active vacations are often the most relaxing of all. But Wait! It's all in defining what an active vacation is. We don't expect you to take up jogging, backpacking, or hang gliding. we ask the sedentary vacationers to spend two to four hours a day doing things, such as walking the city streets, exploring a nature preserve, or taking a leisurely rowboat ride.
These kinds of activities aren't just good for your physical health. They improve your mental health, even your spiritual health. And they make vacations memorable and worthwhile. Here are some fresh ideas for active and healthy vacation.
Make the morning your activity time. At that time it is most likely that the weather will be friendlier, your energy level higher, and your schedule emptier than later in the day.
Have a walk at dawn or dusk. Such activity is called rejuvenation . Try to make this a daily routine of life away from home, and you will guarantee yourself both physical and spiritual youth.
Get into the water as much as you can. Don't allow yourself to spend your entire time sitting in front of the water. Whether it is the ocean, a swimming pool, or a tree-lined lake, make sure you get into the water for swimming or games or even walking. Merely standing in waist-high water is a good workout, thanks to the action of the water. And you'll feel so much more alive!
Choose a cruise for your trip. It's amazing how active you can be being stuck on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic. Most cruise ships offer numerous options for seaworthy exercise. During your sea and land trips you can burn calories as you swim, hike, dive, and horseback ride.
Get out of the car every two hours. Many of us spend a large part of our vacations on the road, either getting to and from our destinations, or using the car for sightseeing. But no matter how beautiful the scenery is, great and memorable vacations don't happen in a car seat. Don't wait for tiredness or nature's call to get you to pull over. Frequently get out and stretch, walk, picnic, shop, visit, and have fun. It's important for your health and energy, and it makes traveling a lot more active and interesting. | [{'question': 'How many tips does the writer give in the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Three', 'Four', 'Five', 'Six']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is WRONG according to the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Usually the weather in the morning is better.', 'You can have a memorable vacation in a car.', 'Swimming can make you feel much more alive.', "Don't drive your car very often to go sightseeing."]}, {'question': 'Which of the following is probably the best title for this passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Driving Tips', 'How to Relax Without cars', 'Give up Your Car and Walk', 'Make your Vacation Healthy']}] |
Do you feel embarrassed when your mum tries to use slang or when she calls you by your childhood nickname in front of your friends? And how about searching for the nearest exit when your father dances with joy when he finds his favorite CD in the shop? Loving them dearly doesn't prevent you from feeling uncomfortable around them.
And parents have to accept that Adam Gopnick, a writer for the New Yorker magazine, said in an article published by the BBC: ''The one thing that is written into the human genome is that exactly at the age of 13, your child... will discover that you are now the most embarrassing, ridiculous and annoying person on the planet.''
A survey by the site YoungPoll.com in 2010 suggested that one in three youngsters is so _ by their parents that they refuse to be seen with them in public; and seven in ten children are humiliated by their mum and dad's behavior, like kissing them in front of friends and holding their hands.
Part of going through adolescence is a sudden feeling that we are wise and self-sufficient and we are embarrassed when treated like vulnerable babies. But we are bound to lose this discomfort when we reach our 20s.
Gopnick reminds us of writer William Blake's comment: ''When I was 14, my dad seemed to be so silly that I wouldn't even walk down the street with him. By the time I was 21, I was amazed how much he'd learnt.''
In any case, dissatisfied parents might feel comforted in the thought that their grandchildren are likely to end up enjoying their company. Then the uncool ones will be the grandchildren's parents! | [{'question': 'According to the passage, which of the following deeds will make a teenager feel bad?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['His parents ask him to do housework.', 'His parents show up in the public.', 'His parents hold his hands before his friends.', 'A child reaches the age of 13.']}, {'question': 'Why do some children feel humiliated when their parents kiss them in front of friends?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["Because they don't show enough love for their parents.", "Because they don't want to be treated like children.", 'Because their parents are embarrassing, ridiculous and annoying.', 'Because they want to grow up.']}, {'question': "What does William Blake's comment suggest?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['His father had learnt a lot about parenting when he was 21.', 'His father changed a lot since he was 21.', 'He began to appreciate his father when he was 21.', 'His father stopped doing the embarrassing things to him.']}, {'question': 'What is the main idea of the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The situations on which parents embarrass their children.', 'Parents should be careful not to embarrass their children.', 'It is normal for teenagers to feel embarrassed with their parents sometimes.', 'The generation gap between children and parents is growing.']}] |
Street art can be found on buildings, sidewalks, street signs and even trash cans from Tokyo to Paris to New York City. This special kind of art can take the form of paintings, sculptures, cloth or even stickers. Street art has become part of a global visual culture. Now, even art museums and galleries are collecting the work of street artists.
It is not easy to provide an exact history of the street art movement. This kind of art has developed in many kinds of ways in places all over the world. Also, because it is illegal to paint public and private property without permission, street artists usually work secretly. This secretive nature of street art and its countless forms make it hard to define exactly. And people have different opinions about the movement. Some think street art is a crime and destroys property. But others see this art as a rich form of non-traditional cultural expression. Many experts say the movement began in New York City in the nineteen sixties. Young adults would use paint in special cans to spray their TAG on walls and train cars around the city. This tag was a name they created to identify themselves and their artwork. This colorful style of writing is also called graffiti. It is visually exciting and energetic.
Graffiti also became a separate movement expressing the street culture of young people living in big cities. Graffiti art represented social and political rebellion. These artists could travel around areas of the city making creative paintings for everyone to see. Sometimes this street art created a dispute between artists and city officials. Graffiti artists created their images and city officials quickly painted over them. During the 1980s, two famous New York painters--Keith Haring and Jean Michel began showing their work in art galleries and museums. This is when street art started to become part of the more general popular culture. | [{'question': 'Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['TAG was a word created by people to distinguish street artists and the other artists.', 'There are three reasons to explain why it is hard to define the history of street art.', 'The movement of street art began in the 1980s in New York City.', 'Not all the people think that the street art is a rich form of cultural expression.']}, {'question': 'The city officials used to do away with graffiti probably because _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['they caused arguments between people', "they were ugly in someone's eyes", 'they were not painted under proper guidance', "they didn't express good traditional culture."]}, {'question': 'They best title of the passage is _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The way to become a street artist.', 'What does Graffiti art stand for?', 'The history of an art movement.', 'The work of street artists.']}] |
Jack was born without eyes. He's very lucky with his timing. He grew up having other kittens to play and socialize with, and was used to people from the moment he was born since there are always kids hanging around the barn. He was a favorite amongst the students at the barn. However, when it came time to find the kittens homes, no one knew where Jack would end up. That's when I got an e-mail from my friend. All she asked was "Do you still want one of the kittens? There's one here with no eyes and no one can take him." Without thinking I told her that I did want the kitten.
When we first brought him home Jack walked cautiously around, sniffing everything. He went through a time when he could climb the stairs, but couldn't get down. He would sit at the top and cry until someone came and got him. Every now and then when he gets disoriented he'll stop and cry. But we just call his name and talk to him and it isn't long before he finds his way back to us.
Also, a few weeks after getting Jack, we got a new barn cat named Bear. I always take Jack outside at that time for some fresh air and exercise. He loves to run (at top speed!) around the backyard and gardens. Bear and Jack have become best friends. Jack always knows when Bear is around. He'll run across the yard straight to Bear and wrap his front legs around his neck in a big hug. When they're tired they'll lie down in the grass together.
Jack is truly an inspiration. I've owned a lot of kittens in my life, but Jack is the happiest, most playful of them all. People who know Jack don't feel sorry for him. They cherish him for the treasure that he is. I have talked to a few people who haven't met him personally and tend to pity him, but they just don't understand. Jack doesn't need pity. I think that cats like him don't have disabilities; they have adaptabilities. | [{'question': "When Jack first came to the author's house, he _ .", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['would cry when he felt lonely', 'was very happy and played wildly in the room', 'had difficulty getting down the stairs', 'always needed someone to guide him']}] |
In the 19thcentury, Americans from the eastern states moved out west to settle in the rich new lands along the Pacific Coast. The most difficult part of their trip was crossing "the Great American Desert" in the western part of the United States by horse and wagon.
The western desert can be very dangerous. There is little water and there are few trees. But the desert also has scenery of great beauty. Tall towers of red and yellow stone rise sharply from the flat, sandy valley floor. The scene has been photographed many times and appears in movies and on TV.
In Arizona, man-made dams across the Colorado River have made two large lakes in the middle of the dry desert country. At Lake Powell, the red stone arch of Rainbow Bridge rises high above the blue lake.
There are few roads. Many areas of Lake Powell's shore can only be reached by boat or on foot. But hikers in this empty desert land sometimes find very old native American pictures, painted on the rocks.
In Death Valley, California, the summer temperature rises to 130degF--165degF. There is less than inches of rain each year. Death Valley is the lowest place in America---925 metres below sea level. In the 1800s, many travelers died when they tried to cross this waterless valley in the terrible heat.
Although the desert is dry and seems empty, there is plenty of life if you look closely. Snakes and rats have learned how to live in the desert heat. They live underground and come out at night, when it is cool. Plants such as cacti need very little water. When it does rain in the desert (sometimes only once or twice a year), plants grow quickly, and flowers open in a single day. For a short time, the desert is covered with brilliant (very bright) colours. | [{'question': 'In the 19thcentury, Americans moved from east to west because they _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['enjoyed the trip', 'wanted to make their home there', 'wanted to find new grassland there', 'had no water to drink']}, {'question': 'From this passage. we can conclude that _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['the western desert is a good place for people to live in', 'there is little water but there are many trees in the desert', 'the desert is dangerous but it is full of beauty', 'till now, people know little about the desert']}, {'question': 'In the 1800s, many travelers died in Death Valley because of _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['illness', 'high temperature', 'cold weather', 'poisonous water']}, {'question': 'In the desert, animals will die _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['if they move about', "if they can't make holes underground", 'if they come out at night', 'if they drink much water']}] |
It is amazing to note that the Internet is still such a new device, and yet it is one of the fastest and most powerful media tools. But think about it for a moment. On the Internet, a big online company can be run by two guys out of their garage. So it is only reasonable that people shopping on the Net would be a little _ of the security levels.
Internet giants such as Microsoft knew consumer confidence was the key to getting virtual shopping off the ground, and they work hard to make people feel safe to shop online.
Credit card companies, too, quickly saw the potential for Internet shopping, and have installed things like online shopping insurance for people. If you ever have a problem with your online credit purchases, many credit card companies will happily refund your money and then set their claws on the company that wronged you. Now that's buying power!
There are other bonuses for online shoppers, of course. No line-ups, for one. No annoying mall shopping carts with broken wheels and kids crying because their parents won't get them what they want.
When shopping online, consumers can sit down, have a coffee, and wear their slippers, not have to worry about their hair or parking and just click through sale after sale. Comparison shopping couldn't be any easier. And thanks to courier companies getting in on the act, you never need wait longer than a day or two to get those all important purchases delivered right to your door.
No wonder so many companies are shaking their heads at traditional advertising and instead looking to the "virtual" world to attract online shoppers. | [{'question': "_ leads to consumers' trust in online shopping.", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Shopping law', 'Shopping convenience', 'Internet access', 'Shopping security']}, {'question': 'Which group of words would the writer use to describe current Internet shopping?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Adventurous, enjoyable, fast, unreal.', 'Unsafe, cheap, slow, convenient.', 'Reliable, popular, convenient, slow.', 'Safe, convenient, fast, comfortable.']}, {'question': 'The following are thought to have made contributions to the popularity of online shoppingEXCEPT _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['internet companies', 'courier companies', 'advertising companies', 'credit card companies']}] |
There has been much discussion recently about reducing the weight of English in China's high-stake tests such as the national college entrance examination. It is argued by some applauding the recent change to reduce the importance of English in tests so that it will lead students to focus more on learning Chinese. The TV program Writing in Chinese has exposed the problem that students and the general public cannot write in Chinese as they used to do.
Some blame the design of the curriculum for giving English an equal or greater amount of emphasis, which might have contributed to the failure in teaching Chinese. But this is probably not a fair accusation since children in English speaking countries cannot spell either.
I doubt that studying English in itself hurts the study of Chinese. In fact, high achievers in English or another foreign language are more likely to be high achievers in Chinese. It has been proved many times in recent Chinese history that those capable of using a foreign language are also masters in their mother tongue. Qian Zhongshu, Lu Xun and Lin Yutang are just a few examples.
Another trend of thought for curriculum reform is related to the perception of "worth". It is true that English is one of the subjects that students do spend too much time on, with pitiful results. This makes some doubt if it is worth giving it priority. But this is not a sound argument either as students still need to study things that matter more to their future in spite of challenges learning English presents to them.
Improvements in Chinese language education should not be achieved by sacrificing another important subject. There should be a robust foreign language education program, as a foreign language improves a student's future job prospects. Bashing English education as a waste of time or using it as a goat for failures in Chinese education are both harmful tendencies.
To be constructive, we ought to start a dialogue on ways to make improvements in learning outcomes so that students' time learning English is spent more effectively. There are a few things that could improve English education, such as assessment design,learner motivation and teaching style,
I am sure there are many other areas where changes can greatly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of English learning. The public discourse at present is a little oversimplified. People are arguing for or against English having less weight in major tests, when the dialogue should be taken a step further, to the improvement of learning or teaching methods that may benefit the teaching of other subjects as well, Chinese included. | [{'question': 'According to the passage, which of the following statements is right?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The TV program Writing in Chinese is very popular at present.', 'Good results of learning English are not worth so much time.', 'Some are in favor of attaching less importance to English in exams.', 'Sacrificing English can improve Chinese language education.']}, {'question': "In the writer's opinion, what should be done to solve the argument?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Increasing time spent in learning Chinese.', 'Increasing time spent in learning English.', 'Reducing the weight of English in examinations.', 'Improving the learning outcomes effectively.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['English education is still important in China.', 'Chinese education is more important in China.', 'English contributes to the failure in teaching Chinese', 'Ways to make improvements in learning Chinese.']}] |
In the past ten years, America's National Basketball Association (NBA) has grown increasingly dependent on the rest of the world to supply players.
When Michael Jordan and Larry Bird won gold in Barcelona in 1992, the Americans were praised for teaching the world how to play basketball. This season, however, 20 percent of NBA rosters will be filled by non-Americans. NBA commissioner David Stem happily embraces the trend. On a visit to Paris in October, Stern outlined his vision for the future, which is likely to see Europe hosting NBA games by 2010.
The NBA is now planning to _ .
"Our experience in China has been that it is going to be explosive in its growth,"said Stem. The strategy (,)in China is television."We've made 14 deals in China with local and national networks on cable and satellite." The success of Chinese centre Yao Ming has paved the way for the NBA marketing blitz in China. The NBA, which is broadcasted in more than 200 countries in 42 languages, will put that to the test in October 2004 when the Houston Rockets play two pre-season games against the Sacramento Kings in Beijing and Shanghai. The NBA knows that it needs a global market to condensate for tough times on _ soil.
"It doesn't matter where the players come from, all the NBA teams now know that they have to scout(,) internationally," said Terry Lyons, the NBA's vice-president of international public relations. "It has increased the level of competition here." As Frenchman Tony Parker and Argentine Emanuel Ginobili showed in winning championship rings with the San Antonio Spurs last season, many people can earn the respect of their American peers. Others, such as the Houston Rockets' Chinese centre Yao Ming -- number one draft pick in 2002 -- and the Detroit Pistons' 18-year-old Serb Darko Milicic -- number two overall in this year's draft -- are icons in-waiting. It is the ultimate(,) revolution -- the rest of the world teaching the US how to play basketball. | [{'question': 'According to the report, _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Michael Jordan is still playing a very important role in NBA', 'the part played by the foreign players in NBA will be great', 'Yao Ming is to play two pre-season games in NBA', 'European countries will host the 2004 NBA games']}, {'question': 'When the writer talked of "home soil", he was referring to _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['farms in the States', 'native Americans', 'the NBA training center', 'the USA']}, {'question': 'Which of the following can be used as the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The Non-American Basketball Players', 'NBA Is Coming to China', 'The Foreign Ties That Bind the NBA', 'NBA Is Making Big Progress']}] |
With five breakout games, Jeremy Lin has become the NBA's newest star.
In the New York Knicks' 92-85 won over the Los Angles Lakers last Saturday, Lin had a career-high 38 points.A day later, he led the Knicks to their fifth victory, 100-98 to Minnesota Timberwolves.In his previous games, Lin, 23, had 23 points against the Washington, 25 points against New Jersey and 28 against Utah in his first start.
Lin is smart.Before graduating from high school in California, he had sent his application to all the Ivy League Schools .He only got into Harvard and Brown, and he chose Harvard.In 2010, Lin graduated with a degree in economics.
Lin is the first Chinese-American player in the NBA.He was born in the US and his family is Asian.Although not born in China, Lin has attracted nearly all Yao Ming's old fans, who see him as a powerful role model.
He started off on the Golden State Warriors.Lin first signed with the Warriors in July, 2010, but seldom played in games before the start of the fourth quarter.His first time on the court for the Warriors earned him seven points, three rebounds and two assists in just 11 minutes.
He is really perfect for the Knicks.The New York Knicks has been in need of a reliable point guard and to Mike D'Antoni, the Knicks coach who's going through a difficult season, Lin is a most unexpected figure."Lin just does everything easy and the rest of the guys around him are playing the way we want to," D'Antoni said."I think it's for real, and it can only get better." | [{'question': 'In which team did Lin start his career in NBA?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['the New York Knicks.', 'The Golden State Warriors.', 'Minnesota Timberwolves.', 'The Los Angles Lakers.']}, {'question': 'From the passage, we learn that _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['the New York Knicks has never been defeated', 'Lin is an American-Chinese basketball player', "most of Yao Ming's fans take Lin as a great role model", 'after graduation from Harvard, Lin signed with the Knicks']}, {'question': 'From the passage, it can be inferred that _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Lin is the team leader of the Knicks', "the Knicks' success only depends on Lin", "the Knicks'coach puts strong hopes on Lin", 'the Knicks is sure to win the season this year']}, {'question': "The author's purpose of writing the report is _ .", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['to show his support for the Knicks', 'to express his love for Jeremy Lin', 'to report the progress of the Knicks', 'to introduce a newest rising NBA star']}] |
Phyllis Lee of prefix = st1 /Singaporeknew something wasn't right. Her younger son, Alex, then six years old, was getting good grades in his private kindergarten classes. But Lee realized something was wrong when Alex came home one day, crying, with "zeroes" on his Chinese spelling test. Lee decided to investigate. According to Lee, the teacher would frequently describe Alex's Chinese writing as 'ghost writings' and made him a laughing stock in class instead of helping him out.
Lee, 46, spent the next 12 months teaching Alex and still helps him when necessary. She not only taught him the formation of the Chinese words but also their origin so that he could understand better, often taking more than an hour to read a simple paragraph. Visits to the library and surfing the Internet kept her up to speed on teaching materials. Alex's grades improved and by the end of Year One, he had become one of the top students in Chinese in his class.
Alex is keeping an A - plus average in all subjects, and his mother's involvement is a big reason behind it. Alex, now 11, recently wrote a book recording his struggles with Chinese, which an international education center has published to inspire its students. He sometimes writes for local student magazines as well.
Lee has always had input into the education of Alex. She reads to him "all the time." As a result, he is an eager reader who regularly visit the library.
To Lee, one of the most valuable things she does is to take turns with her husband to drive Alex to school. "We'd talk along the way. Talking enables me to have a better understanding of my child and reminds me of changes every now and then so that I know when to get involved, she says." | [{'question': 'Alex arrived home with tears because_.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['he failed in the Chinese exam', 'his teacher punished him', "he didn't want to learn Chinese", 'his classmates did him wrong']}, {'question': 'Alex succeeded in learning Chinese with_.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["his teacher's guide", "his classmates' help", "his father's influence", "his mother's instruction"]}, {'question': 'For Alex the great achievement recently is that_.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["he gets A's in some subjects", 'he wrote a book', 'he earns some money', 'he understands Chinese better']}, {'question': "Lee's education method succeeds mainly because of her_.", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['involvement', 'communication', 'tolerance', 'encouragement']}] |
It seems that men are under more stress when stuck in a traffic jam than women. British researchers for the GPS company TomTom used saliva to decide the stress levels. Levels for women were far lower than levels for men. Most of the people taking part in the research, men and women, reported that they didn't feel any stress at all. Even with that report, their saliva told a different story. In fact, people are under stress while in traffic and not even realizing it. That does not mean good things for health. People can only do something about their health if they know something is wrong.
Men are more likely to have much less patience than women. That is why their stress levels are much higher than women when they are sitting still in traffic. Men want to get where they are going now.
72% of people taking part in the research drove every day. Of course, 86% believed that traffic affected their lives in a bad way. Being stuck in traffic after a stressful day at work could raise the level to an even higher level. The more likely they are to get further stressed.
Stress from being stuck in traffic is also related to a higher chance of getting into car accidents. It is wise to avoid driving when already feeling stressed. Calm down for a few minutes, take a deep breath and drive as safely as possible. Driving with too much stress could cost you or someone else their life. It is not worth the danger. Reduce the amount of stress that you are experiencing before getting into the car and find ways to relax more when stuck in traffic. One way to relax is to have soothing music to play during these times. | [{'question': 'What people reported were different from the research findings because _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["they didn't know they were stressed", "they didn't know how to describe their feelings", "they didn't want to share their true feelings with others", "they didn't want to admit something was wrong with themselves"]}, {'question': 'Why are men under more stress than women when stuck in a traffic jam?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Because they drive more than women.', 'Because they are less patient than women.', 'Because they face more stress than women at work.', 'Because they are less clear about where to go than women.']}, {'question': 'What can we learn about the research?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['14% of people taking part in it were not affected by traffic jams.', 'Researchers used saliva to decide whether people told the truth.', 'It was carried out by a GPS company.', 'Only British people took part in it.']}] |
Trees should only be pruned when there is a good and clear reason for doing so and , fortunately, the number of such reasons is small.
First, pruning may be done to make sure that trees have a desired shape or size.The object may be to get a tree of the right height, and at the same time to help the growth of small side branches which will thicken its appearance or give it a special shape.Secondly, pruning may be done to make the tree healthier.You may cut diseased or dead wood, or branches that are rubbing against each other and thus cause wounds.The health of a tree may be encouraged by removing branches that are blocking up the centre and so preventing the free movement of air.
One result of pruning is that an open wound is left on the tree and this provides an easy entry for disease, but it is a wound that will heal .Often there is a race between the healing and the disease as to whether the tree will live or die.It should be the aim of every gardener to reduce the risk as far as possible.It is necessary to make the area which has been pruned, smooth and clean, for healing will be slowed down by roughness .You should allow the cut surface to dry for a few hours and then paint it with one of the substances available from garden shops produced especially for this purpose.Pruning is usually done in winter, "From then you can see the shape of the tree clearly and it is, too, very unlikely that the cuts you make will bleed.If this does happen, it is, of course, impossible to paint them properly. | [{'question': 'Pruning should be done to _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['make the tree grow taller', 'improve the shape of the tree', 'get rid of the small branches', 'make the tree grow taller']}, {'question': 'Trees become unhealthy if the gardener _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['allows too many branches to grow in the middle', 'does not protect them from wind', 'forces them to grow too quickly', 'damages some of the small side branches']}, {'question': 'Why is a special substance painted on the tree?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['To make a wound smooth and clean.', 'To prevent disease entering a wound.', 'To cover a rough surface.', 'To help a wound to dry.']}, {'question': 'What is the passage mainly about?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The history of tree pruning.', 'The reasons for tree pruning.', 'Some directions for tree pruning.', 'Some results of tree pruning.']}] |
Japan Earthquake and Tsunami :How to Help
For readers interested in contributing to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan and the Pacific region,here is a list of contact information and links for some agencies that plan to provide relief.
THE JAPAN CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE
The Japan Center for International Exchange has set up the Japan NGO Earthquake Relief and Recovery Fund.Half of the money raised will go to support six Japanese NGOs currently at work in the disaster area and half will be retained to support the longer term recovery.
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Red Cross officials say donors can text REDCROSS to 90999 and a $10 donation will automatically be charged to donors' phone bill,or donations can be made directly on its Web site.
B'NAI B'RITH INTERNATIONAL
To help the victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami,donate online on the group's secure Web site.
Or,by mail to:B'nai B'rith International Disaster Relief Fund,Attn:Japan Earthquake,2020 K Street,NW,7th Floor,Washington,D.C.,20006.
Or by phone:8005739057
CARE
CARE is one of the world's largest private international humanitarian organizations.Their offices in Asia are on high alert and have ensured that staff are informed of the tsunami warnings and other related developments.(Updated information on CARE's work in Japan is available here.)
GLOBALGIVING.ORG
GlobalGiving is working with International Medical Corps,Save the Children,and other organizations on the ground to disburse funds to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami.Donors can text JAPAN to 50555 to give$10,and larger donations can be submitted on GlobalGiving's Web site.
THE SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army has been providing food and shelter to Tokyo commuters who were _ when public transportation was interrupted by the earthquake.They are to send a team to Sendai,a city about 250 miles away from Tokyo,to assess the situation there.Text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to make a $10 donation.(Make sure to respond "YES" to the thankyou message you receive.) Donations can also be made on the organization's Web site or by calling 1800SALARMY. | [{'question': 'If you want to make donations to the victims by phone,you can text REDCROSS to _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['90999', '80888', '50555', '20006']}, {'question': 'What do we know about CARE from the text?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['It opened a Person Finder Page online.', "It is the world's largest humanitarian organization.", 'It raised much money to support six Japanese NGOs.', 'It warned its staff in Asia of the danger of tsunami.']}, {'question': 'Which group can provide food and shelter?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['THE SALVATION ARMY.', 'GLOBALGIVING.ORG.', "B'NAI B'RITH INTERNATIONAL.", 'AMERICAN RED CROSS.']}] |
Mars is the planet most like Earth.Flying to Mars is a difficult task for humans.
There is an experiment with the name "Mars 500" in Russia.Six volunteers take part in the experiment.They come from China, Russia, France and Italy.They won't go to outer space.They will stay in small modules on the ground for 520 days.It's just like a real journey
In the modules, they will experience a lot: flying to Mars, flying back and working on Mars.During the long "journey", the volunteers can only eat space food.They can shower every 10 days.They can call their friends or families.Anyone of them can _ if he doesn't feel well.This experiment helps scientists know how well humans will be on a long journey to Mars.
Wangyue, 26, from China, is the youngest of the volunteers.He is a teacher at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing. | [{'question': 'Which of the statement is Not True?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The volunteers are not going to move to outer space.', 'The volunteers will stay on the Mars for more than 17 months.', 'The volunteers can make video calls to their friends and families', 'The name of the experiment is "Mars 500".']}, {'question': 'How often can the volunteers take a shower?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['three times a month', 'three times a day', 'ten days a month', 'ten times a month']}, {'question': 'Where can you read the article?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['story book', 'geography magazines', 'science magazines', 'magazines about ET']}] |
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