article
stringlengths 101
2.26k
| problems
stringlengths 176
1.75k
|
|---|---|
Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day the feelings were told that the island would sink, so all built boats and left, except Love. Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment.
When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.
Richness was passing by Love in a big boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?"
Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."
Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful ship."Vanity, please help me!"
"I can't help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat, "Vanity answered.
Sadness was close by so Love asked, "Sadness, let me go with you."
"Oh...Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!"
Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her.
Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you."It was an elder. So thankful and happy, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way. Realizing how much was owed the elder, Love asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who helped me?"
"It was Time, "Knowledge answered.
"Time?"asked Love."But why did Time help me?"
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is able to understand how valuable Love is." | [{'question': 'How did the feelings go away from the island?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['By water.', 'By swimming.', 'On foot.', 'By flying']}, {'question': 'How many feelings did Love ask for help but failed?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['2.', '3', '4', '5']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is true?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Happiness was blind.', 'Richness had a small boat.', "Vanity's ship was damaged.", 'Sadness wanted to stay alone.']}, {'question': 'Who saved Love?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Time.', 'Knowledge.', 'Richness.', 'Happiness.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Love and Time', 'An Accident', 'A sinking island', 'Different Feelings']}] |
Dear Mr. Expert,
I grew up in an abusive home. I always promised myself that I'd get out as soon as possible. Now, at age 20, I have a good job and a nice house of my own, and I'm really proud.
Here's the problem: some of my friends who still live with their parents spend the weekends with me. But now they make mine theirs. They bring boy friends over, talk on the phone, etc.
I enjoy having my friends here sometimes - it makes the place feel comfortable and warm, but this is my home, not a party house, what shall I do?
Joan
Dear Joan,
If your family didn't pay attention to your needs when you were a child, you probably have trouble letting others know your needs now.
And if you've gathered your friends around you to rebuild a happy family, you may fear that saying no will bring back the kind of _ that you grew up in. You need to understand that in true friendship it's okay to put your own needs first from time to time.
Be clear about the message you want to send. For example, "I really love you, but I also need some personal space. So please call before you come over."
Edward | [{'question': 'We can infer from the first letter that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Joan considers her friends more important than her personal space', "Joan's friends visit her more often than she can accept", "Joan doesn't like the parties at all", 'Joan dislikes the boyfriends that her friends bring over']}, {'question': "According to Mr. Expert, why can't Joan tell her friends her feeling?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['She is afraid of hurting her friends.', 'She does not understand true friendship.', 'Her family experience stops her doing so.', 'She does not put her needs first.']}] |
My friend Tom is a schoolboy. Everyone likes him very much because he is kind. He likes to help people. He is a smart boy and he can play many musical instruments . After school, when he is with his friends, he often plays musical instruments for them. On weekends, he is free and he always goes to the old people's home. He plays the violin and the guitar to make them happy. He thinks it's interesting and fun.
Today is February 28th. It's Tom's birthday. He has a big and interesting party at home. Many friends come to his party. Tom's mother cooks a lot of food for them. Everyone gives a beautiful gift to him. Sally gives him an English dictionary because Tom also likes English. Bob gives Tom a guitar because he likes playing the guitar very much. At the party, Tom plays the guitar and he also plays the piano. We sing many songs and play some interesting games. We have a good time today. | [{'question': 'Everyone likes Tom because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['he studies well', 'he is smart', 'he is friendly', 'he can play many instruments']}, {'question': 'What does Tom always do on weekends?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['He plays with his friends.', 'He has birthday parties.', 'He plays the piano.', 'He plays musical instruments for the old people.']}, {'question': 'Tom _ on his birthday.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['does his homework', 'goes to a movie', 'goes to the store', 'has a party']}, {'question': '_ gives Tom an English dictionary.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['His mother', 'His father', 'Sally', 'Bob']}] |
Do you know the story about Vince? It was a true story. Vince was an English boy and he was eight years old. He didn't like soap or water. Three or four times a day his mother said to him, "Vince, your hands are very dirty again." Go and wash them. " But Vince never washed them well. He only put his hands in the water for a few seconds and then took them out again.
Vince's uncle and aunt lived in another city. One day they came to stay with Vince's parents, and they brought their small son, Toby, with them. Toby was seven years old and he didn't like soap or water, either. The boys sat with their parents for a few minutes and then they went outside. When they were playing, Vince looked at Toby's hands and then went back to Toby's parents and said proudly , "Toby's hands are dirtier than mine, "
"Of course they are,"Toby said angrily. "You are one year older than I am, " | [{'question': "Vince's mother asked him to _ three or four times a day.", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['wash his hands', 'do his homework', 'clean his bedroom', 'wash his teeth']}, {'question': "When Vince saw Toby's hands, he felt _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['sorry', 'proud', 'sad', 'terrible']}, {'question': "Vince's hands were a little _ than Toby's.", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['dirtier', 'cleaner', 'bigger', 'smaller']}, {'question': 'From the story we know that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["Vince liked soap and water, but Toby didn't.", "Toby liked soap and water,but Vince didn't.", 'Vince and Toby liked soap and water.', "Vince and Toby didn't like soap or water."]}, {'question': 'How many people are there in the story?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Four.', 'Five.', 'Six.', 'Seven.']}] |
Victory Bacelis is a California immigrant who grew up in a poor village in Mexico. He is used to working hard. He works more than 90 hours a week at three different jobs, including McDonal's. He is saving up to buy a house.
One day, while Victory was cleaning the floor at McDonal's, he found an envelope and picked it up. There was $612 in it. He called the police to report the lost money. The police couldn't find the owner, so they gave the money back to Victory.
Then Victory read a story in the newspaper about Adrian Snadoval, a baby who was very sick. Victory decided to give the money away to help pay for the baby's operation. Victory truly has a heart of gold. | [{'question': 'Where did Victory Bacelis grow up?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['in California', 'in America', 'in Mexico', "at McDonal's"]}, {'question': 'Why does Victory work so hard? Because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['he is very strong', 'he likes his work very much', 'he is helping his parents', 'he is saving up to buy a house']}, {'question': 'What was in the envelope?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['3 dollars', '90 dollars', '612 yuan', '612 dollars']}, {'question': 'How did Victory deal with the money finally?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['He gave it away to a very sick baby.', 'He kept it himself.', 'He gave it back to the owner.', 'He gave it to the police.']}, {'question': 'The writer thinks that Victory is _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['very poor', 'very funny', 'very kind', 'very lucky']}] |
How much do you know about Albert Einstein?
Albert Einstein, born on March 14, 1579 in Germany, was a great scientist in the world. He was strange because he hated haircuts and new clothes. He believed in peace. All his life, he hated war. However, his most famous idea, E=mc2, helped create the world's most dangerous weapon . Many people think he was the smartest person in the world. But Einstein said that _
What did he like?
Einstein liked learning sailing . He sailed in small boats all his life. He once joked, "Sailing is the sport that takes the least energy!"
When Einstein was a child, his mother made him take violin lessons. At first, he didn't like the violin. But then he learned to love music and became a good violinist. Later, he said, "Love is the best teacher."
Why is the sky blue?
In 1910, Einstein asked a question which many children often ask, "Why is the sky blue?" After his careful research, he answered the question like this: "It's because light is made up of many colors including blue. When light travels to Earth, gas particles spread the blue light all over the sky." His answer is true in physics. | [{'question': 'Einstein _ learning sailing and playing the violin.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['was interested in', 'looked forward to', 'was known for', 'had no interest in']}, {'question': 'Einstein offered a _ explanation for the question why the sky is blue.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['magic', 'scientific', 'careful', 'Natural']}] |
It?s always hard to say goodbye to someone you love. In Washington DC, US, local zoo-goers are sad about the news that their superstar panda Tai Shan is going to leave the National Zoo.
At a morning meeting on December 4, zoo director Steven Montfort said that the black-eared bear would be going off to China sometime over the winter, under an agreement with the Chinese government.
Tai Shan, whose name means "peaceful mountain," was born at the DC zoo on July 9, 2005. He has been loved by zoo-goers since his first public show in December of that year.
But under the agreement that brought his mother, Mei Xiang, and father, Tian Tian, to the zoo from China, all three belong to China.
Tai Shan should have been returned to China when he was 2. But China gave him two extensions to stay at the National Zoo. Tai is old enough to breed . So it?s time for him to come back to China and join a program to try to increase the panda population.
The National Zoo has tried to breed Mei Xiang a few times since Tai Shan was born, without success. Montfort said the zoo would try again soon in the hope of producing another baby panda. "We?re hopeful every year," he said. | [{'question': 'Where can the passage probably be taken from?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['A dictionary.', 'A science book.', 'A newspaper.', 'A novel.']}, {'question': 'The word "zoo-goers" mean people who _', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['live at the zoo', 'love to visit the zoo', 'work at the zoo', 'leave the zoo']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, who is going to leave the National Zoo?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Steven Montfort.', 'Mei Xiang.', 'Tian Tian.', 'Tai Shan.']}, {'question': 'We can tell from the passage that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Tai Shan and his parents belong to China', 'Tai Shan first appeared in public in 2006', "Tai Shan's parents will be sent to China", "Tai Shan belongs to the US because it's born there"]}, {'question': 'What does the National Zoo try to do every year?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['To make Tai Shan stay there.', 'To make Mei Xiang give birth to new babies.', 'To attract more people to visit Tai Shan.', 'To send Tai Shan and his parents back to China.']}] |
Mr. Yang is a doctor. He cares a lot about not only others' health but also his own. He controls( )his weight carefully. To him, _ is the most important thing to do if one wants to enjoy good health.
Mr. Yang controls his weight in two ways: exercising and not eating much. As a doctor. Mr. Yang is too busy to go to the gym. He exercises by getting off the bus one or two stops early and walking the rest of the way to his office.
Besides, he doesn't eat much. Mr. Yang has a special habit. When he buys a belt, he asks the salesperson to punch a hole in the belt at 90cm from the buckle end of the belt, so that he ca always remind himself. He will stop eating if he feels the belt a little too tight . Mr. Yang thinks exercising doesn't work as well as eating less. | [{'question': "Mr. Yang cares much about _ besides others' health.", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['money', 'his work', 'his health', 'his friends']}, {'question': 'Mr.Yang controls his weight in _ way(s).', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['one', 'two', 'ninety', 'many']}, {'question': 'Mr. Yang punches a hole in his new belt, because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['he is too heavy', 'the belt is too long', "he doesn't like his new belt", 'it can remind him not to eat too much']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is true?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Mr. Yang takes exercise at the gym.', 'Mr. Yang walks all the way to work.', 'Mr. Yang uses a belt to control how much he eats.', 'Mr. Yang thinks exercising is better than eating less in controlling wight.']}] |
Jim, a successful businessman, told the experience of his childhood.
When he was 12, his parents died. He was alone and didn't get on well with others. People always laughed at him. No one showed kindness to him.
His only friend was a dog named Tiger. He gave his dog enough to eat and drink, but sometimes he was not polite to it. He didn't know that an unkind word sometimes could cut one's heart like a knife.
One day as he walked down the street, a young lady was walking in front of him. Suddenly one of her bags dropped from her arms. As she stopped to pick it up, she dropped other bags. He came to help her. "Thank you, dear! You are a nice little boy!" she said kindly, smiling.
A special feeling came to him. These were the first kind words he had ever heard. He watched her until she went far away, and then he whistled to his dog and went directly to the river nearby.
"Thank you, dear! You are a nice little boy" he repeated the woman's words. Then in a low voice he said to his dog, "You are a nice little dog!" Tiger raised its ears as if it understood.
"Unum! Even a dog likes it!" he said. "Well, Tiger, I won't say unkind words to you any more." Tiger waved its tail happily.
The boy thought and thought. Finally he looked at himself in the river. He saw nothing but a dirty boy. He washed his face carefully. Again he looked. He saw a clean nice boy. He was amazed. From then on, he had a new life.
After telling this, the businessman stopped for a while, and then he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the very place where that kind woman planted in me the first seed of kindness. All of us should learn about kindness. What a great power it has!" | [{'question': 'The boy repeated the words "Thank you, dear! You are a nice little boy!" because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['he was thinking about the words', "he didn't understand the words", 'he wanted to talk to his dog', 'he liked talking to himself']}, {'question': 'What made the boy start his new life?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['The people laughing at him.', 'The kind words spoken to him.', 'The hard life.', 'His lovely dog.']}, {'question': 'He was feeling _ when he whistled to his dog.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['funny', 'sad', 'lonely', 'excited']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is Right according to the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['He never took good care of his friend, Tiger.', 'He usually had many friends around him.', 'He helped a young lady when her bag dropped.', 'He often washed his dirty face in lake.']}, {'question': "What's the best title of this passage?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['A Dog and a Boy', "A Poor Boy's Childhood", 'A Businessman and a Boy', 'The Power of Kindness']}] |
Chinese writer Mo Yan won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2012. Mo, who was born in 1955 from a farmer's family in Gaomi county in Shandong Province, is the first person in China to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. In his early years, life was not easy and he experienced hunger. These things have influence Mo Yan's later writings.
Park Geun-hue is 64 years old this year. She was selected the new President of South Korea in December, 2012. She is the country's first female head of state and her term will last five years from 2013. "I will become a president who puts people's living before anything else," she told the cheering people in central Seoul as she accepted her win. "I will keep my promises."
Barack Obama (born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1961), who was elected the 44th President of the United States in 2008, has been elected again to a second term. Obama is a graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School. His father was from Kenya. And his mother was born in Wichita, Kansas. | [{'question': 'When Mo Yan was young, his family might be _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['big', 'poor', 'rich', 'small']}, {'question': 'When was Park Geun-hue born?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['In 1952.', 'In 1955.', 'In 1961.', 'In 1987.']}, {'question': 'Where was Barack Obama born?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['In Kansas.', 'In Kenya.', 'In Golumbia.', 'In Hawaii.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is NOT true about the passages?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['The writer Mo Yan lived in a big city before he got the prize.', 'Park Geun-hue will lead South Korea till the year 2018.', 'Obama studied in Columbia University and Harvard Law School.', 'Among the three persons, Park Geun-hue is the oldest.']}, {'question': 'The three passages may be from _ . .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['an e-mail', 'a letter', 'news', 'an ad']}] |
The first time I went abroad was when I went to London. It was in the summer holidays about five or six years ago and I went with three friends. The plane and train were quite expensive, so we decided to travel by coach. We left at five o'clock in the morning and the journey to London took about sixteen hours but we didn't mind: we were all very excited because for all four of us it was our first time away from home.
We stayed in London for three days, in a youth hotel not far from the centre. While we were there, we walked a lot. First, we went to see all the famous sites--Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, then we went shopping in Oxford Street. On the last morning my friends stayed in bed late, but I got up early and went to Camden Market. You can buy all kinds of jewelry and clothes there, and I bought a silver ring for my sister. It was really hot in the afternoon, so we went to Hyde Park for a game of football. Unfortunately, I think the ring fell out of my pocket during the game, because I couldn't find it when I got on the coach that evening!
I've been back to London several times since then, but I don't think I'll ever feel as excited as I did that first time. | [{'question': 'The writer went to London for the first time _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['By plane.', 'By car.', 'By coach.', 'By train.']}, {'question': 'Why did the writer go to Camden Market alone?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Because his friends went back home first.', 'Because his friends stayed in bed late.', "Because his friends didn't want to buy things there.", 'Because he wanted to buy his sister a ring.']}, {'question': 'When did the wrier think he lost the silver ring he bought for his sister?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['When they went shopping in Oxford Street.', 'When they played football in Hyde Park.', 'When he got on the coach that evening.', 'When he got back to London.']}, {'question': 'Why does the writer think he will never feel as excited as he did that first time? _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Because he went there for the first time.', 'Because he went there with his friends.', 'Because he lost the silver ring .', 'Because he went to Hyde Park for a game of football with friends.']}] |
To make sure that you enjoy your visit to the Harper Hot Springs and that you are safe during your visit, please take time to read the following:
Do not put your head under the hot water because it may be bad for your eyes.
Do not run around because the floors may be _
Do not leave your children alone.
Do not leave your things about. Just ask one of our workers to look after your things.
Do not eat or drink anything in the area because we want to keep the area clean .There is a place for you to eat and soft drinks when you need to have a rest.
Do not bring anything made of glass into the area, because it maybe easily to broken when you fall.
Do not bring any hard drinks into the area.
Do not smoke in the area.
Do not stay in the sunlight for too long.
We hope that you will enjoy your visit here
,. . (10) | [{'question': 'The purpose of this notice is _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['to ask people to visit the Spring', 'to make people know the area', 'to tell visitors what not to do', 'to tell the visitors to have a rest']}, {'question': 'people are not allowed to _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['bring any things into the area', 'have soft drinks in the area', 'look after children in the area', 'sit in the sun for long in the area']}, {'question': '_ is not mentioned in the notice.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['How long visitors can stay in the area', 'What visitors cannot come to the area.', 'Who can take care of the visitors things', 'Whether smoking is allowed in the area']}, {'question': 'The notice is Written for _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['visitors', 'children', 'workers', 'managers']}] |
There are two main kinds of sports. These two kinds of sports are team sports and individual sports. Team sports are such sports as baseball, basketball, and volleyball. Team sports need two separate teams. The teams play against each other. They compete against each other to get the best score. For example, in a football game, if team A gets 8 points and team B gets 4 points, team A wins the game. Team sports are sometimes called competitive sports.
Another kind of sports is individual sports. In individual sports there are no teams. There isn't any competition. People play individual sports in order to get some exercise, not to win a game. Individual sports are such sports as swimming, skiing, and running.
Of course, it is possible to compete in individual sports. It is possible to keep a score in individual sports. The main difference, however, between team sports and individual sports is that individual sports can be finished alone. But team sports always need more than one person.
,. | [{'question': 'There are _ kinds of sports according to the passage.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['one', 'two', 'three', 'four']}, {'question': 'In a football match team A gets 1 point and team B gets 3 points, then _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['team A wins', 'team B wins', 'team B loses', 'both teams win']}, {'question': '_ sports need more than one person in the games.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['No', 'Favorite', 'Individual', 'Team']}, {'question': '_ is a kind of individual sports.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['The high jump', 'Table tennis', 'Volleyball', 'Basketball']}, {'question': 'Team sports _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['are also called individual sports', 'can be done alone', 'need two teams to play against each other', 'are the same as individual sports']}] |
Kate is an American girl. Now she lives in New York with her parents. She lives in a community called Sunny Community. It's on Blue Street. There are five rows of buildings in the community. Her house is in the first row. She lives on the third floor.
There is a post office on Blue Street . Next to it ,there is a bank. Across from the bank ,there is a bookstore. The workers in the bookstore are very friendly to people. Mrs Green works in it. She is Kate's new neighbor. She has a son. His name is Bob. He is in the same class as Kate.
Kate thinks the traffic here is very good, because she never meets any accidents here. She loves her community very much. | [{'question': '.Kate lives on the _ floor.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['first', 'second', 'third', 'fourth']}, {'question': 'Where is the bookstore ?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Next to the post office', 'Next to the bank.', 'Behind the post office', 'Across from the bank']}, {'question': 'Who is Bob ?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["Mrs Green's new neighbor.", "Kate's classmate.", 'A worker in the bookstore.', "Kate's cousin."]}, {'question': 'Where does Mrs Green work ?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['In a post office.', 'In a bank.', 'In a bookstore.', 'In a school.']}, {'question': "What's the best title of this passage?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["Kate's new neighbor.", "Kate's father is a worker.", "Kate's community.", 'The stores in community.']}] |
Driving a car at a high speed along a highway seems to be fun. You only need to follow the bright traffic signs beside the highway and it will take you where you wish to go. But to a London taxi driver, driving is not an easy job. A taxi driver needs to have not only good driving skills but also a good knowledge of the city of London, from the loneliest street to the popular restaurant around. He has to be at the service of all kinds of passengers at all times.
A London taxi driver said the following about his job.
During the night it is usual for him to stop two or three times for some food. He said, "I never drink when I'm working, otherwise I'd lose my license ."
He normally goes home between two and three o'clock in the morning. There are times he has to stay longer and try to make more runs. He said, "That's the worst thing about working for yourself. If you don't make money, no one is going to give it to you. "
London taxi drivers not only "take" but also "give". Every summer hundreds of poor children from London go for a day at the sea -- by taxi! There rides are paid by the taxi drivers. At the sea, they are met by the mayor , and a lunch party is also held for the taxi drivers and the children. After a happy day's running around the beaches and visiting the market there, the children go home again by taxi, free of charge of course! | [{'question': 'London taxi drivers try to make more runs sometimes mainly because _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['they make a living by driving', 'they prefer to work for themselves', 'they want to help more passengers', 'they are used to working deep into the night']}, {'question': 'How do London taxi drivers "give"?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['They give the poor children a lunch party at the sea each summer.', 'They give poor children the chance to meet the maor.', "They pay for some poor children's rides for a day's tour each summer.", 'They play with some poor children at the sea for a day each summer.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following words can be used to describe London taxi drivers?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Brave and careful', 'Rich and generous', 'Modest and easy-going', 'Hard-working and kind']}, {'question': 'The passage is most likely to be found from _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['an advertisement of a taxi company', 'an online travel guide', 'a website about the taxi drivers in London', 'a report about living conditions in London']}] |
In many countries, holidays are important parts in people's life. Let's show some countries to you.
America
American people's holidays are flexible ( ). They can use up their holidays once, and they can also use them up a few times. During the holidays, they still get money.
Canada
Many people in Canada can rest three days a week. They have all kinds of activities for holidays. They may go fishing, boating or mountain climbing. Also, they have long holidays. They may go to the beach to spend a sunny winter holiday. Like American people, Canadians also get money during the holidays.
France
People in France are very good at enjoying life. They have a 6-week holiday every year, and they work less than 40 hours a week. | [{'question': 'How many countries are mentioned in the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Two.', 'Three.', 'Four.', 'Six.']}, {'question': 'In which countries can people still get money during the holidays according to the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['America and Canada.', 'Canada and France.', 'Japan and France.', 'America and France.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following activities is not mentioned in the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Go fishing.', 'Go boating.', 'Go skating.', 'Go mountain climbing.']}, {'question': 'In which country can people work less than 40 hours a week?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['America.', 'Canada.', 'France.', 'China.']}, {'question': 'Which is the best title for this passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Holidays are important', 'Holidays in different countries', "People's work time", 'Activities in different countries']}] |
The crow is an ordinary bird. It is about twenty inches long and black all over. Crows are dirty birds because they live on old bad food. Crows eat a lot of waste food. In this way they are more useful to us than any birds. They clean up the dirty things in our streets. Crows are always hungry. They look for food all day long, and in the evening you can see them in large numbers flying back to their nests in the trees. They sleep there at night.
Crows are much noisier than other birds. Very often a large number of crows will get together on one house and talk. Sometimes they talk together, and sometimes they do it by turns like human beings . It is easy to tell from crows' sounds whether they are pleased or angry. Perhaps crows talk a lot because they are friendly birds. A pair of crows will live together all their lives, and if one of them dies, the other one becomes very sad and quiet for the rest of its life and sometimes it dies, too. | [{'question': 'Why are crows dirty?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['They are black all over the body.', 'They like to eat dirty food.', 'They usually talk.', "They don't have baths."]}, {'question': 'Why are crows more useful to us than any birds?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['They are usually noisy.', 'They are usually dirty.', 'They are flying in large numbers.', 'They eat a lot of waste food.']}, {'question': "You can tell from crows' sounds _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['whether they are hungry or full', 'whether they are pleased or hungry', 'whether they are ill or healthy', 'whether they are living or dead.']}] |
Air is all around us. It is around us as we talk and play. From the moment we were born, We are surrounded by air. When we sit down, it is around us. When we go to bed, air is also around us. Wherever we are on the earth, We are surrounded by air. We live in air.
All living things need air, living things can't live without air. We can go without food or water for a few days, but we can't live for more than a few minutes without air. We breathe in air. When we are working or running, We need more air. So we breathe faster than usual. When we are asleep, We need less air. | [{'question': 'From the text, we know that on the earth _', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['there is air everywhere', "some animals don't need air", 'plants need more air', "for a long time people don't need air"]}, {'question': 'The writer tells us that _', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['there is less air on the earth than on the moon', 'the earth is covered with air', 'the earth is covered with water', 'there is no air on the earth']}, {'question': "Which is the first important thing for people's lives?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Water', 'Air', 'Food', 'Sunlight']}, {'question': 'Which of the following things needs air?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Land', 'A mirror', 'A cat', 'A river']}, {'question': 'A man needs more air when he _', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['dies', 'runs fast', 'takes a rest', 'sleeps']}] |
You must have seen ads on TV about hair care products . The models have shining hair like jewels . But now to make hair shine is no longer the task of hair care products, because hair can be made into real jewels. Believe it or not, a company called LifeGem in the US turns hair into jewels.
The company is in the business of taking hair from dead people and making it into diamonds . The diamonds are for the families to remember the dead people.
Now the company plans to make three diamonds using Beethoven's hair to show their latest technology . The work will take about 7 months and in the end, Beethoven's long hair will become 3 shining diamonds between 0.5 to 1 carat in size.
Since the great musician died in 1827, you may wonder how they got Beethoven's hair. Actually, the hair was given by John Rezniloff, who holds the Guinness World Record for the largest and most valuable collection of celebrities' hair. His collection also includes hair of Napoleon, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. In total, the collection is worth over 5 million dollars.
Though it sounds unbelievable , to have such diamonds made with hair may be a good way to show respect and love to those who died. | [{'question': 'What does the company of LifeGem do?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['It buys shining hair.', 'It produces hair care products.', 'It uses hair to make jewels.', 'It sells expensive diamonds to famous people.']}, {'question': "Why does the company decide to make diamonds out of Beethoven's hair?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['To show the latest technology.', 'To make the biggest diamond.', 'To make the most shining diamond.', 'To help the dead people become famous.']}, {'question': 'How long will the work take?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Half a month.', 'One month.', 'Three months.', 'Seven months.']}] |
People usually check whether their keys, wallets and phones are with them before going out. But many people in China now have one more important thing to take, a face mask. They hope that it can protect them from polluted air.
Since January 2013, many cities in China have seen a lot of foggy days. In Beijing, only five days in January _ . What's the difference between fog and smog?
According to scientists, fog is made up of tiny drops of water and also ice particles during very cold conditions. Smog is dirty air that looks like a mixture of smoke and fog, caused mainly by smoke from cars and factories in cities.
An official for the Ministry of Environmental Protection told Beijing News that PM2.5 pollution is the main problem with air pollution. PM 2.5 refers to pollution with small particles 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter .
According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, two main factors that cause PM 2.5 are motor vehicles and the burning of coal.
Poor air has done harm to people's health. Children and the elderly are more at risk. A report from Beijing Children's Hospital shows that from December 5 to December 11, 2013, half of the patients in the hospital came for respiratory problems.
Air problems and environmental protection have become a care for the whole nation.
Premier Li Keqiang made his last Government Work Report on March 6, 2014. The report said that the government should work hard to prevent pollution and give people a healthy living environment.
It calls on people to make full use of energy and resources and cut down on energy use.
'We should give people hope through our actions,' Li said. | [{'question': "From Li Keqiang's report, we learn that _ .", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the environment has improved a lot since Li was in office', 'many people have breathing problems because of the air pollution', "the air pollution problem is the government's task", 'the government will try its best to solve the air pollution problem']}] |
I am a Chinese boy. My name is Li Ming. I'm a student. In my class, some of the boys like playing football very much. Wu Jun and I are on school football team. And some of them like playing basketball. _ Han Mei and Zhang Hong are on school volleyball team. Each of them has a tennis racket. In a word , everyone in our class likes sports very much. | [{'question': 'Li Ming is in _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['China', 'America', 'Canada', 'France']}, {'question': 'Li Ming likes playing _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['basketball', 'football', 'volleyball', 'tennis']}, {'question': 'The girls like playing _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['tennis and basketball', 'football and basketball', 'tennis and volleyball', 'volleyball and basketball']}, {'question': '_ and Li Ming are on school football team.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Wu Jun', 'Han Mei', 'Zhang Hong', 'Some of the boys']}, {'question': 'Each of the girls has a _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['tennis racket', 'baseball bat', 'volleyball', 'basketball']}] |
I'm an American boy. My name is Tony. I'm thirteen this year. I come to China with my parents and study in a new school now. The name of my new school is Yingcai Middle School. It is the best school in this city. There are nine hundred students in it. Many foreign students study here. We learn to speak Chinese. And many Chinese students can speak English well. I think Chinese is hard to study, but I like it.
The students in the school are _ to me, and the teachers take good care of me. I feel very happy every day in my new school. | [{'question': 'Tony is from _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['England', 'America', 'English', 'American']}, {'question': 'Tony comes to China with _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['his father', 'his mother', 'his father and mother', 'his friends']}, {'question': 'What is the passage mainly about?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["Tony's friends.", "Tony's new school.", "Tony's teachers.", "Tony's parents"]}] |
Are you always unwilling to do housework and cleaning for no reason? Well, you will be happy today. Today is No Housework Day. It's time to forget about housework and be relaxed.
No Housework Day is always on April 7th. It is your chance to do anything, except housework. Better still, have someone else do housework for a day. Housework is a daily and endless job and most people think it's boring to do housework. I have many friends and their wish is to stay away from housework. In fact, their wish can never come true.
Do you know how to celebrate No Housework Day? Well , there are two different ways.
If you usually do the housework around the house, forget it on this day. Instead, kick back and enjoy the day. Relax and do anything, except housework.
If you never do housework, you can do it for your family. It gives your parents a break from the housework. And, you just might get a chance to know how much housework your parents need to do every day. | [{'question': 'The writer has many friends and their wish is _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['not to do any housework any more', 'to ask others to do their housework', 'to celebrate No Housework Day', 'to ask all the family members to do housework']}, {'question': 'If Lisa never does housework, the writer thinks she can _ on No Housework Day.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['forget housework', 'do housework', 'feel relaxed', 'do anything except housework']}, {'question': "What's the main idea of the passage?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["It's about the daily housework.", "It's about our duty and right.", "It's about No Housework Day.", "It's about some national holiday."]}] |
Tom was a farmer. He worked on the farm all day,but sometimes he went to the town market to sell fruit and vegetables. One day, a terrible sound attracted his attention in the town market. He saw a young bull for sale. The bull was white and yellow. It was looking at Tom in fear. Tom walked up and touched its head gently. Just at that time they both seemed to have known each other for a long time. How amazing!Tom bought it at once and called it Amba.
From then on , Tom and Amba got on well with each other. But some friends told him that it was dangerous to have such a close relationship with an animal.
One afternoon , Tom was walking through the forest with Amba. Suddenly , Amba stopped walking and kept pushing Tom with its head. Tom was very surprised and looked around. There was a big snake in front of him. It was beautiful but poisonous. Quickly Amba stepped on the snake's tail with its foot and at the same time Tom picked up a stick and hit the snake's head heavily. Soon the snake . died.
Tom was very grateful for Amba's help. When people heard this, they were shocked at the bull's expression of love for Tom. But for Tom, Amba was not a bull but a member of his family. | [{'question': 'Tom worked _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['on the farm', 'in the market', 'in the forest', 'in the town']}, {'question': 'Amba was _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['a small and nice cow', 'a big and beautiful snake', 'a white and yellow bull', 'a black and white dog']}, {'question': 'From the passage, we know Tom and Amba _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['hated each other', 'got angry with each other', 'got on well with each other', 'disliked each other']}, {'question': 'Which of the following statements is NOT true?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Tom went to the town market to sell fruit and vegetables.', "Tom's friends thought animals were safe.", "Tom hit the snake's head heavily with a stick.", 'For Tom, Amba was a member of his family.']}, {'question': 'The passage mainly wants to tell us _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['the love between humans and animals', 'the fight between a bull and a snake', 'how to keep an animal', 'how to train an animal']}] |
After a quick breakfast, I went into the lecture hall in a hurry. A famous teacher was speaking to the students. He was holding up a $100 bill. Then he said to over 300 students, " Who would like this $100 bill?" The students put up their hands at once. Then he said, "I am going to give this $100 bill to one of you, but first, let me do this." He made the bill into a ball. Then he said, "Who wants it now?" The hands went back into the air. "Well," he said, "What if I do this?" and he dropped it on the floor and stepped on it. He picked up the dirty bill and said, "Who still wants it?" Hands went back again into the air.
"My friends," he said, "you have learned a valuable lesson today. No matter what I did to the $100 bill, you still want this bill. Many times in our life, we are dropped and stepped on. We feel as if we are worth nothing. But remember, no matter what has happened to you, you will never lose your value. You are always valuable to those people who love you. Your value doesn't come form what you do or whom you know, but who you are." | [{'question': 'The lecture was given _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['in the morning', 'at noon', 'in the afternoon', 'in the evening']}, {'question': 'How many students went to listen to the lecture?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["Sorry, I don't know", 'Over 100.', 'Over 200.', 'Over 300.']}, {'question': 'What did the teacher do before he said, "Who still wants it?"', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['He did nothing.', 'He made the bill dirty.', 'He put the bill into a box.', 'He put up his hand.']}, {'question': 'The lesson tells us a truth, that is _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['we should know what we do', 'we should know whom we know', 'we must know who we are', 'how to use money']}] |
Tom, Bill and Dave lost their backpacks. They are at the lost and found case. The backpacks are the same , but the things in them are different. Can you help them find the right backpack?
Tom: I have a math book and a pencil case in my backpack. There are three pencils, a pen and an eraser in the pencil case.
Bill: I have a Chinese dictionary, a math book and two notebooks in my backpack.
Dave: There are two CDs, three picture books in my backpack. My English book is also in it. | [{'question': 'The three boys lost their _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['pens', 'backpacks', 'keys', 'dictionaries']}, {'question': "Which of the following is in Tom's backpack. A (an) _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['pencil case', 'dictionary', 'notebook', 'English book']}, {'question': "Bill doesn't have _ in his backpack.", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['a math book', 'a pencil case', 'two notebooks', 'a Chinese dictionary']}, {'question': "_ is/are not in Dave's backpack.", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Two CDs', 'Three pencils', 'Three picture books', 'An English book']}, {'question': 'Who has/have an eraser.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Tom', 'Bill', 'Dave', 'Tom and Dave']}] |
"Can I see my baby?" asked the happy new mother. When the baby was in her arms, she couldn't believe her eyes. The baby was born without ears.
Time proved that the baby's hearing was very good though he had no ears. He got on well with his classmates. But one day, he said to his mother, tears in his eyes, "A big boy called me a freak ."
The boy's father asked the family doctor. "Could nothing be done?"
"I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears if they could be got," the doctor said. They tried to find a person who was helpful for the young man.
One day, his father said to the son, "You're going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But we must keep it a secret who the person is."
The operation was a great success, and a new person appeared. His cleverness and hard work made him a very successful person. He married and lived a happy life.
He once asked his father, "Who gave me the ears? I could do enough for him or her."
"I do not believe you could, "said the father." The agreement was that you are not to know...not yet."
For years they kept it a secret, but the day did come. He stood with his father over his mother's body. Slowly, the father raised the thick, brown hair. To his surprise, the son found his mother had no outer ears.
"Mother said she was glad she never needed to cut her hair," his father said in a low voice, "and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, did they?" | [{'question': 'The mother was surprised to see her baby for the first time because the baby _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['had no outer ears', 'was born without hair', 'was in her arms', 'could not hear her']}, {'question': 'The sentence"...a new person appeared." means" _ ."', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['a new baby was born in the hospital', 'a stranger came into the hospital', 'a new doctor took care of the boy', 'the boy began to live a new life']}, {'question': "Why did the boy's mother never cut her hair?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Because she liked her thick, brown hair.', "Because her work didn't allow her to do that", 'Because the hair was good for her health', 'Because she wanted to keep the fact a secret']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is true according to the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["The boy couldn't hear without ears at first.", "The boy didn't know the truth until his mother died.", 'His parents often encouraged him to work hard.', 'His classmates were always making fun of him.']}, {'question': 'Which is the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['A Clever Boy', 'Kind Parents', 'Great Love', 'An Ear Operation']}] |
On Children's Day a young woman from America goes to Beihai Park with her little daughter. There are too many people in the park. The woman can't find her daughter, So she goes to the policeman for help. She tells the policeman her daughter is only six years old. She has two big eyes and a round face. Her hair is golden yellow. And she is in a short blue dress. At last the policeman helps her find her daughter. She thanks him very much. | [{'question': "On Children's Day, _ woman goes to Beihai Park with her little daughter.", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['an America', 'American', 'USA', 'an American']}, {'question': "The woman can't find her _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['son', 'daughter', 'children', 'sister']}, {'question': 'Her daughter is only _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['five', 'six', 'seven', 'four']}, {'question': "The little girl's hair is _ .", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['yellow', 'black', 'brown', 'golden yellow']}, {'question': '_ helps her find her daughter.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['The men', 'Policemen', 'Some people', 'The policeman']}] |
Jack is an able worker.He can do all the work in the factory and often helps his boss ,Mr. King.So his boss likes him and he gets much money.But he likes drinking and spends most money on drinks.When he drinks much,he can't control himself.His wife tells him to stop drinking,but he doesn't listen to her.She has to leave him.Now he lives in a poor and old house alone .
One Saturday evening,Jack feels very cold in his house.He can't stay there and goes into a bar .He drinks a lot,but he doesn't have enough money with him.
Of course,he can't pay for the drinks.The boss of the bar doesn't let him out,so he begins to break the glasses and tables.A girl calls the police station and soon some policemen get there.They have to take Jack to the station.
"What do you bring me here for?"he shouts.
"We bring you here for drinking."answers a policeman.
"That's great!"Jack says happily."Then when shall we start?" | [{'question': 'Jack can get much money because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['he is the boss', 'he works in the factory for a long time', 'the boss likes him', 'he is able enough to help the boss']}, {'question': "Jack's wife leaves him because _ .", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["he doesn't like her", 'he gets no money in the factory', "he doesn't stop drinking", "he doesn't do housework at home"]}, {'question': 'Jack is happy because he thinks _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['the policeman will drink with him', 'the policeman pay for his drink', 'the policeman will make friends with him', 'the policeman wi1l give him some money']}] |
If you won a lottery and had lots of money, what would you do? Most people start by buying themselves things, such as a new car or a bigger TV.
Many people who win lots of money may suddenly find that they have a lot of socalled friends. The new friends they make may follow them for their money but they may also leave them when all the money is spent. Besides that, they can't decide what to do with the money, so they try to think what they want. In the end, most people usually decide to save the money.
There are some lottery winners who decide to quit their jobs, because they think they have enough money and don't need to work any longer. Some big lottery winners make even bigger changes--they end their marriages. They think that winning a lot of money has suddenly made them more intelligent and more attractive .So they feel that they have to be with a younger or more attractive man or woman.
They don't know their new money is just a bit of luck. _ can't change everything.
Next time when you buy a lottery ticket, think about what you would like to do and what you wouldn't like to do with the money if you won. | [{'question': 'A lottery winner may suddenly find himself with many socalled friends, probably because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['he wants to make lots of friends', "he doesn't know what to do with all the money", 'these new friends are usually kind to the lottery winner', 'these new friends want the lottery winner to give them some money']}, {'question': 'Some lottery winners want to be with a more attractive man or woman because they _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["don't like their husbands or wives any more", 'think winning a lot of money has made them more intelligent and more attractive', 'have some new friends', "don't know how to spend the money"]}, {'question': 'Some lottery winners end their marriages, because _', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["they don't like their husband or wives.", 'They think winning a lot of money is lucky.', 'they feel they should be with a younger or more beautiful man or woman.', 'they think they should change everything.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is NOT true?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['All the big lottery winners want to end their marriages.', 'Most lottery winners usually decide to save the money they win', 'Some lottery winners might decide to move to a bigger house', 'Many lottery winners buy themselves things with the money that they won.']}] |
If you could see a movie of your life before you lived it, would you want to live it? Probably not. The excitement of living is that you don't know what's coming.
Sure, it's hard to see uncertainty in such active light when you're out of work, or when you feel like you're failing. But uncertainty is really another word for chance.
When Allison graduated from Harvard, she had chances all over the place but had no idea what she wanted to do. She took a job in consulting ,but she knew she wouldn't stay there. She took the GRE and scored so high that she was able to increase her income by teaching students. Still, she didn't think she wanted to go to graduate school . Allison knew she wasn't doing what she wanted, but she didn't know what she wanted.
She worried. All her friends were going to graduate school or starting their own businesses. She was lost and felt that she would never find anything out. After six years, Allison, by having a plan in mind, got married, moved to the Midwest, and used her consulting experience to get a great job. Allison realized that she spent her years finding her way: time well spent, and time we must all take if we're being honest with ourselves. The only way to lead an interesting life is to face uncertainty and make a choice. Otherwise your life is not your own - it is a path someone else has chosen. Moments of uncertainty are when you create your life, and when you become who you are. Uncertainty usually begins with a job hunt, but it doesn't end there. Every new role we take on means another round of uncertainty. Instead of fearing it, you should find some ways to deal with uncertainty | [{'question': 'What troubles Allison after graduation?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["She couldn't find a well-paid job.", 'She had no money to start a business.', 'She was not sure what to do.', "She didn't score high enough for graduate school."]}, {'question': "How did Allison feel about her six years' working experience?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Uncertain.', 'Amazed.', 'Sorry.', 'Satisfied.']}] |
Before I started school, people felt that I was not going to be successful.At the age of four I started speech lessons because I could not speak well enough for anyone to understand me.
The first grade was a struggle .I had difficulty speaking, I also couldn't learn to read.The second grade was not much better.I still struggled with the inability to read.In the third grade a new school was built. It was near my home. I went there with my parents and helped to get the school ready so that we could move to the new one. However, things didn't get better for the next two years.
It was in the fifth grade.Mrs.Wakefield was my teacher, and she was a good teacher.She did not make me feel unconfident. Instead, she did her best to let me know that I could be whatever I wanted to be.And that is just what I did.
For the past 22 years, I have been a fifth grade teacher.Because of Mrs.Wakefield's influence on my life, I am now encouraging students who have had difficulties in their lives to believe that they can deal with any difficulty successfully and become someone.I have won many awards up to now, such as Teacher of the Year.I think I should thank my fifth grade teacher. She believed in me and helped me to be all that I could be. | [{'question': 'The writer started speech lessons at the age of four because _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['he could not speak well', 'he could not read', 'he wanted to be a good teacher', 'he wanted to go to a new school']}, {'question': 'The writer _ when he was in the third grade.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['did better in reading', 'met a good teacher', 'received a high award', 'went to a new school']}, {'question': 'We can know that the writer _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['has taught speech lessons', 'thinks teaching is a good job', 'is a very successful teacher now', 'works in the same school with Mrs. Wakefield']}] |
In a small village in England about 150 years ago, a mail coach ( ) was standing on the street . It didn't come to that village often . People had to pay a lot to get a letter . The person who sent the letter didn't have to pay the postage ( ) , while the receiver had to .
"Here's a letter for Miss Alice Brown , " said the mailman .
" I'm Alice Brown , " a girl of about 18 said in a low voice .
Alice looked at the envelope for a minute , and then handed it back to the mailman .
" I'm sorry I can't take it , I don't have enough money to pay it", she said .
A gentleman standing around were very sorry for her . Then he came up and paid the postage for her .
When the gentleman gave the letter to her , she said with a smile , " Thank you very much ,This letter is from Tom . I'm going to marry him . He went to London to look for work . I've waited a long time for this letter , but now I don't need it , there is nothing in it ."
" Really ? How do you know that ? " the gentleman said in surprise .
" He told me that he would put some signs on the envelope . Look ,sir ,this cross in the corner means that he is well and this circle means he has found work . That's good news ."
The gentleman was Sir Rowland Hill . He didn't forgot Alice and her letter .
" The postage to be paid by the receiver has to be changed ," he said to himself and had a good plan .
" The postage has to be much lower , what about a penny ( ) ? And the person who sends the letter pays the postage . He has to buy a stamp and put it on the envelope ." he said .
The government accepted his plan . Then the first stamp was put out in 1840 . It was called the " Penny Black " . It had a picture of the Queen on it . | [{'question': 'The first postage stamp was made _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['in England', 'in America', 'by Alice', 'in 1910']}, {'question': 'The girl handed the letter back to the mailman because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["she didn't know whose letter it was", 'she had no money to pay the postage', "she received the letter but she didn't want to open it", 'she had already known what was written in the letter']}, {'question': "We can know from Alice's words that _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Tom had told her what the signs meant before leaving', 'Alice was clever and could guess the meaning of the signs', 'Alice had put the signs on the envelope herself', 'Tom had put the signs as Alice had told him to']}, {'question': 'The idea of using stamps was thought of by _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['the government', 'Sir Rowland Hill', 'Alice Brown', 'Tom']}, {'question': 'From the passage we know the high postage made _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['People never send each other letters', 'lovers almost lose every touch with each other', 'people try their best to avoid paying it', 'receivers refuse to pay the coming letters']}] |
Have you ever complained why life is so tiring? Does the sky sometimes seem dark to you? Are your studies sometimes not successful? Well, friends, cheer up and smile all the time. If you see the world with your warm heart , you'll find that the whole world smiles to you. While in school, sometimes you are tired of your lessons, but have you ever noticed the happy smile on your teacher's face when you did a good job?
One day it is fine. Just before you want to go out, it suddenly starts to rain . Maybe you would feel very sad and start complaining about the weather. But dear friends, why don't you sit down and listen to the free concert that the nature offers you? And with the timely rain , crops in the fields will grow better and better and farmers will have a good harvest.
Although everyone wants to succeed in what he tries to do, sometimes failure can't be avoided . I think failure is not terrible, and the terrible thing is that we are afraid of it and give up hope .
When we face failure , we must be confident in ourselves, draw a useful lesson from it and try our best to finish what we have to do. As a popular saying goes , " Failure is the mother of success ."
Attitude decides everything . With an optimistic attitude life is easy and pleasant . Let's smile to whatever we meet and the whole world will smile to us . | [{'question': 'People sometimes complain _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the sky is always dark', 'their studies are successful', 'they see the world with their heart', 'life is tiring']}, {'question': 'According to the passage , in school , _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["the students don't like their lessons", 'the teacher will be happy if the students do the good jobs', "the teachers don't like their teaching", 'the teachers are tired of their work']}, {'question': 'If there is a timely rain , _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['you want to go out', 'you can listen to a concert', 'crops in the fields will grow better', "farmers can't have a good harvest"]}, {'question': 'When we face failure , what should we do ?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['We must be confident in ourselves .', "We shouldn't be afraid of it .", "We shouldn't give up hope .", 'All of the avbove .']}, {'question': 'The best title of this passage is _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Smile and the World Smiles to You', 'Complaining about life', 'Failure is the Mother of Success', 'It is Very Hard to Success']}] |
We are all learning English, but how can we learn English well? A student can know a lot about English, but maybe he can't speak English. If you want to know how to swim, you must get into the river. And if you want to be a football player, you must play football.
So, you see. You can learn English only by using it. You must listen to your teacher in class. You must read your lessons every day. You must speak English to your classmates and also you must write something sometimes. Then one day, you may find your English very good. | [{'question': 'You know a lot about English but maybe you _', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['can speak', 'can study it', "can't study it", "can't use it"]}, {'question': 'If you want to learn to swim you should _', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['gets into the river', 'read books about swimming', 'learn from other people first', 'play football well first']}, {'question': 'If you want to be a football player, you should _', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['buy a good football', 'play football', 'watch others play football', 'put your football away']}, {'question': 'The story of learning swimming and playing football tells us _', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['we learn English by using it', 'swimming needs water', 'playing football is easy', 'learning English is difficult']}, {'question': 'If you want to study English well, you must often _', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['speak English', 'write in English', 'listen to English', 'A, B, and C']}] |
Four girls go to school every day by taxi. One day one of the girls says, "There is a test this morning. Let's get to school late. Then we will not have the test."
"What can we tell the teacher?" One of the girls says. "He will be angry. We will need a good excuse."
The girls think for a moment, then one of them says, "Let's tell him that our taxi has a flat tire ."
"That's a good idea," the other girls say. "We will tell him that."
They get to school an hour later. The test is over. "Why are you late? You missed the test."
"Our taxi had a flat tire." One of the girls said.
The teacher thought for a moment, then he said, "sit down, One of you in each corner of the room." The four girls do this.
Then the teacher says, "Write down a piece of paper the answer to this question: Which tire is flat?" | [{'question': 'How do the girls go to school every day?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['By bus', 'By taxi', 'By bike', 'On foot']}, {'question': 'Why do the girls want to go to school so late?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["They don't like school.", 'They want to go shopping.', "They don't finish their homework", "They don't want to take a test."]}, {'question': "what is the girls' excuse for being late?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['They get up late.', "They can't get a taxi.", 'Their taxi has a flat tire.', 'They forget the time']}, {'question': "Can the girls answer the teacher's question?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["No, they can't. Because they can't remember which tire is flat.", 'Yes, they can. Because there is a flat tire.', "No, they can't. Because they may give a different answer.", 'Yes, they can. Because all four tires are flat.']}, {'question': 'What can we know from the text?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['They find a good excuse.', 'The teacher is very clever.', 'There is a flat tire.', "They don't like to go to school by bike."]}] |
Be honest. That's all you have to do on Honesty Day. It would be great if we were all honest every day of the year. It's good that there is a day to encourage honesty. M. Hirsh Goldberg started Honesty Day. He chose the last day of April because the first day is April Fool's Day, which celebrate lies. On Honesty Day, anyone may ask you any question and you should give a true and honest answer. That means that you have knowledge of Honesty Day.
M. Hirsh Goldberg wrote a book on telling lies. He said in his book that almost all person lie about 200 times a day. In our daily life, a typical life for a man is "I did not drink that much" and for a woman is "Nothing is wrong, I'm fine." It is found that nurses are the most honest people, while sales people and politicians are the biggest liars.
Every Honesty Day, M. Hirsh Goldberg hands out prizes to honest people. | [{'question': 'According to the passage, _ are the most honest people.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['nurses', 'sales people', 'politicians', 'all men']}, {'question': 'M. Hirsh Goldberg started Honesty Day to _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['celebrate lies', 'encourage honesty', 'ask questions', 'hand out prizes']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is Honesty Day?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['April 1st', 'April l0th', 'April 20th', 'April 30th']}] |
A mother and her young son got into a bus in New York City and sat down. The bus conductor came to them for their money. The mother said, "I want one ticket to Central Park, "and gave him two dollars. The conductor looked at the small boy for a few seconds and then asked him, "How old are you, young man?" The mother just began to speak, but the conductor stopped her, and the boy said, "I'm four years old at home, and two and a half on buses and trains." The mother felt shamed , so she took another dollar out of her bag and gave the money to the conductor. The conductor gave her one and a half tickets. | [{'question': 'One day the mother took a bus _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['to a small city', 'to get some money', 'with her son', 'to school']}, {'question': 'The mother was _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['not honest', 'honest', 'very clever', 'not pretty']}] |
At the age of sixteen, I went on my first volunteer program in West Virginia to repair or build homes for poor families. When we arrived, we discovered that the family we were going to help was living in a trailer that was in poor condition, no bigger than two parking spaces. A group of people had been working on it for two weeks, but every time they finished one problem, another appeared.
We soon decided that the only way was to build a new house. It was something unusual because normally our goal was to repair old homes. The family was pleased with their new house that was 20 by 30 feet with three bedrooms, a bath and a kitchen.
On Tuesday of that week, I asked the family's three boys, Josh, Eric and Ryan, "What do you want for your new room?" Kids in the families we had helped usually wanted toys or posters, so we were surprised when Josh, the oldest boy said, "We just want beds." The boys had never slept in a bed. That night we had a meeting and decided that beds would be the perfect gift. On Thursday night, a few adults in our group drove to the nearest city and bought beds and new bedding.
On Friday when we saw the truck coming, we told the family about the surprise. They were very excited.
That afternoon, while we were setting up the beds, Eric ran into the house to watch us with wide eyes. As Maggie, a member of our group, put one of the pillows on the bed, Eric asked, "What is that?"
"A pillow," she replied.
"What do you do with it?" Eric went on asking.
"When you go to sleep, you put your head on it," Maggie answered softly. Tears came to our eyes as she handed Eric the pillow.
"Oh . . . that's soft," he said, holding it tightly.
Now, when my sister or I start to ask for something that seems very urgent , my dad always asks, "Do you have a pillow?" We know exactly what he means. | [{'question': "Why did the writer's group build a new house for the family?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Because it was their normal work.', 'Because the family asked them to do it.', 'Because the trailer could no longer be repaired.', 'Because they thought it was a perfect gift for the family.']}, {'question': 'What can we learn from the story?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The family needed two parking spaces.', 'The boys of the family wanted toys and posters.', 'The family were excited about the beds and bedding.', "The writer's group made some furniture for the family."]}, {'question': 'What is the best title for this passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['The Pillow', 'A New House', 'The Family', 'An Interesting Program']}] |
What are your clothes made of? Are they made of cotton or wool? Some students in Shandong wear different things. Their clothes are made of discs or old clothes!
On October 7th, 36 students in Linyi, Shandong Province, wore beautiful clothes in a show. Their clothes were made of all kinds of things.
The show gave the students a chance to make things with their own hands. It also helped them learn to make good use of waste and not to throw everything away.
Students had lots of good ideas. Some found used things, like old clothes, to make new dresses.
"We hope to save energy. Our world is _ of energy. So I don't want to just throw old things away," said Xie Jing at Linyi Art School.
Xie had more than 20 discs on her nice blue dress. She got them from her family and friends.
"Though the discs are old, I look very cool in them!" she said.
Song Dandan, a student from the school, looked like a farmer in her straw coat and hat. She picked the straw from the fields and put them all together.
"I want to show what people wore in the past." she said.
Du Yue made clothes for astronauts ! She had white cloth all over her. When she walked, she tried to be slow. It looked like she was walking on the moon.
"I hope to wear it in space some day. I wish that I could walk on the moon!" she said. | [{'question': 'The passage mainly talks about _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['how to make clothes', 'energy saving', 'how to look cool', 'a special fashion show']}, {'question': "The students' clothes were made of _ .", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['silk', 'cotton', 'waste paper', 'all kinds of things']}, {'question': 'The three students used all these things except _ to made clothes.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['discs', 'straw', 'old paper', 'cloth']}, {'question': 'The show tells people _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['we should save energy', 'they are clever', 'how to make use of old things', 'A, B and C']}] |
Before I left to meet Lynne, my friend told me that I had better take some money, but I didn't listen to him. I thought that Lynne would pay because she invited me.
I arrived at the restaurant on time because I knew Americans like to be on time. Lynne and I sat at a table near the door and soon we began to enjoy ourselves there.
The food there was very delicious. I talked a lot about Saudi Arabia and Lynne told me all about herself. After two hours the waiter came and asked if we wanted one check or two. Lynne said two. Lynne paid her check, and the waiter gave me mine, I had no money. Then I had an idea, I called my friend. In a few minutes he arrived with some money. He laughed at me all the way home.
Now, I think it's funny, but I guess you can understand how I felt at that time. So when you visit a foreign country, you have to learn their language and culture. | [{'question': 'After the meal, _ ,', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Lynne paid only for herself', 'Lynne paid for both of us.', 'I would like to pay for myself', 'I paid for both of us.']}, {'question': '. From the passage we know, when we visit a foreign country, _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["We'd better pay for ourselves.", 'We should learn their language well.', "We'd better pay for others after meal.", 'We have to learn both their language and culture.']}] |
David eats well every day. For breakfast, he has bread, eggs and milk. At school, he has vegetables and rice for lunch. After lunch, he eats an apple. In the evening, he has chicken and fruit salad at home. David _ milk, but Mom says it is healthy. So he drinks it every day. After eight in the evening, he doesn't have food. Every day, David does some sports to be healthy. He plays tennis in the morning and plays basketball after school.
,. | [{'question': 'David has _ for lunch.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['bread', 'vegetables', 'chicken', 'salad']}, {'question': "David doesn't eat food after _ in the evening.", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['7', '8', '9', '10']}, {'question': 'David plays _ after school.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['tennis', 'ping-pong', 'soccer', 'basketball']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is TRUE?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['David is not healthy.', 'David has a pear after lunch.', 'David plays sports every day.', "David can't play tennis."]}] |
For many Chinese, winter holiday season doesn't seem complete without the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. But it's impossible to satisfy all 1.3 billion Chinese.
Even if you, especially young audience complain about the Spring Festival Gala, watching it while having Lunar New Year's Eve dinner has become a common way for families to get together. It's much more than just a TV program, it's also a way to bring family members together and get them talking during the holiday. Think about how you'll watch the gala and discover its fun.
1. Share your opinions about the programs and artists with your family members. Introduce artists who young people enjoy to the elderly memebers of your family, such as "fellow brother" William Chan, or former singing group EXO members Kris Wu and Lu Han.
2. Post your _ and complaints on micro blogs and WeChat moments to share with friends. Then they will know what you're satisfied with and what you complain about. In recent years, the gala is trying to attract young people by using Internet slang . Guessing when and what Internet chat lingo will be mentioned in the show is surely going to be hot on social media. Will there be "drunk and tired" ? Have a bet with friends.
3. Online video websites such as IQiyi and Youku have introduced a real-time online discussion system. All comments are displayed on the screen. You can try watching the show in this interactive way instead of the traditional TV sets so that you may know others' opinions about the programs in the Spring Festival Gala. | [{'question': 'Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Using Internet slang to attract young audience.', 'Introducing types of programs in the Spring Festival Gala.', 'Watching the Spring Festival Gala on the online video websites.', 'Posting compliments and complaints on micro blogs and WeChat moments.']}, {'question': 'The writer mainly wants to tell us _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['not all 1.3 billion Chinese are satisfied with the Spring Festival Gala', 'winter holiday season is the time when family members get together', 'several ways for audience to discover the fun of the Spring Festival Gala', 'the Spring Festival Gala is the best way to bring family members together']}] |
June 5 is World Environment Day.This makes us pay more attention to our environment and the need to protect it.
When Wang Baoxuan,a Beijing high school boy,finishes his exercise books,he does not throw them away.He puts them in the big box in the corner of his classroom.Other students do so.Then the exercise books are sold to a paper-factory in Beijing.The paper is collected and used again by students and teachers in the school.At the same time,the money made from selling the paper goes towards schools in Inner Mongolia for planting trees and grass.During spring time,the sandstorms often attack here.
Wang's school is one of the schools in the capital that take part in the "green promise"environmental protection activity.So far,nearly 210,000 students have taken part in the activity,collecting more than 174 kilograms of waste paper.
"There are some environment problems in the city,such as sandstorms.We should do our duty and encourage others to do so as well."Said Wang.
Vice-premier Zeng Peiyan has written a letter to the teachers and students to encourage them to go on taking part in the environmental protection. | [{'question': 'What do Wang Baoxuan and his schoolmates do with the waste exercise books?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Throw them away', 'Collect and sell them', 'Cut them into pieces', 'Give them to the students in Inner Mongolia']}, {'question': 'What is the money from selling the paper used for?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Buying new exercise books', 'Helping poor students', 'Planting trees and grass', 'Being their pocket money']}] |
Do you sometimes argue about what seems to you to be a simple fact? Do you argue whether it's cold outdoors or whether the car in front of you is going faster than the speed limit ?
If you get into such arguments, try to think about the story about the six blind men and the elephant. The first blind man who felt the elephant's trunk said it was like a snake. The second who felt the elephant's side said it was like a wall, while the third said it was like a spear( ) as he touched the animal's tusk. The fourth, who took hold of the elephant's tail, insisted that it was like a rope. The fifth man said it looked like a tree as he put his arms around one of the elephant's legs. The last, who was tall and got hold of the elephant's ears, said it was like a huge fan.
Each man's idea of the animal came from his own experience. So if someone disagrees with you about a "simple fact", it's often because his experience in the matter is different from yours.
To see how hard it is for even one person to make up his mind about a "simple fact", try this simple experiment. Get three large bowls. Put ice water in one. Put hot water in the second. Put lukewarm water in the third. Now put your left hand in the hot water. Put your right hand in the lukewarm water. Your right hand will tell you the water is cold. Your left hand will tell you it is hot. | [{'question': 'There were _ blind man who were trying to tell what an elephant was like in the story.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['two', 'four', 'five', 'six']}, {'question': "The man who touched the elephant's ears must be very _ .", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['heavy', 'thin', 'tall', 'strong']}, {'question': 'What makes people think about simple facts differently?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["People's wrong ideas.", "People's different experience.", 'Simple facts are different sometimes.', 'People often disagree with each other.']}, {'question': 'It can be inferred from the passage that we should _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['learn from the blind men', 'not agree about simple facts', 'never think about simple facts', 'never decide anything with one side']}] |
Happiness is for everyone. You don't need to care about those who have beautiful houses with large gardens and swimming pools or those who have nice cars and lots of money and so on. Why? .Because those who have big house may often feel lonely and those who have cars may want to walk on the country roads at their free time.
In fact, happiness is always around you if you put your heart into it. When you are in trouble at school, your friends will help you; when you study hard at your lessons, your parents are always taking good care of your life and your health; when you get success, your friends will say congratulations to you; when you do something good to others, you will feel happy, too.All these are your happiness. If you notice them, you can see that happiness is always around you.
Happiness is not the same as money.It is a feeling of your heart. When you are poor, you can also say you are very happy, because you have something else that can't be bought with money. When you meet with difficulties, you can say loudly you are very happy, because you have bad luck. As the saying goes, life is like a _ door. When it closes, it also opens. If you take every chance you get, you can be a happy and lucky person. | [{'question': 'Happiness is for _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['those who have large and beautiful houses', 'those who have cars', 'those who have lots of money', 'all people']}, {'question': 'Which is TRUE according to the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['When you get success, your friends will be very proud of you.', 'You can get help from others when you are in trouble.', 'You can still be a happy person even if you have little money.', 'All of the above.']}, {'question': 'We say "Happiness is not the same as money." because _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['money always brings happiness', "money doesn't always bring happiness", 'everything can be bought with money', 'only rich always bring happiness']}] |
Kitesurfing as a water sport began in the 1980s, but didn't get popular until the end of last century. It is also known as kiteboarding, and in some European countries as flysurfing. Kitesurfing works through wind power by using a large kite to pull a rider on the water at high speed.
At first, kitesurfing was a difficult and dangerous sport. Now it is becoming easier and safer because of the safer kite design. For an able and strong person, kitesurfing can be a very fun, extremely exciting sport, just like skating on the water with a feeling of flying. It has become more and more popular.
Compared with other water sports, kitesurfing is easier to learn. A beginner can understand how to operate the kite with 5--10 hours of training. And anybody aged from 13 to 65 can learn. It is not expensive to get the equipment for kitesurfing, which costs $1,000 to 82,500. Training lessons _ from $200 to $500 for two or three hours. With the development of its equipment progress, kitesurfing is becoming even safer. After some training, you can enjoy its excitement and challenging feeling.
With the rising popularity of kitesurfing, most major seaside cities have kitesurfing clubs. In China, Xiamen is the only place that has the kitesurfing club, which provides professional kitesurfing training and equipments. | [{'question': 'Kitesurfing has a history of about _ years.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['30', '50', '100', '130']}, {'question': '_ is mentioned in the passage as the power of kitesurfing.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Water', 'Wind', 'The sun', 'The kite']}, {'question': 'The most important reason for the popularity of kitesurfing is that _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['its price is getting lower and lower', 'more and more people are enjoying its excitement', 'its equipment progress makes it easier and safer', 'all people can learn and take part in it']}, {'question': 'The main idea of this passage is about _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the way of operating kitesurfing', 'the progress of kitesurfing equipment', 'the history of kitesurfing in China', 'the development of kitesurfing']}] |
People usually hate mice, but people almost all over the world like one mouse-- the famous Mickey Mouse.
About eighty years ago, most films had no sounds. A man called Walt Disney made a cartoon mouse. The cartoon mouse could talk in these films. He made his mouse become a good friend of both young people and old people. Children liked to see their lovely friend, because he brought happiness to them.
Mickey is a clean mouse right from the beginning. Maybe this is why people love Mickey Mouse very much. In his early life, Mickey did some wrong things. People were very angry. They wrote to Disney and said they didn't want Mickey to do the wrong things. Because there were some things that Mickey could not do. Disney made a new animal called Donald Duck. He also made a dog, Pluto. This dog does some foolish and wrong things wherever he goes. Now, our Mickey Mouse is more interesting as well. He is known as a star of beauty and wisdom . He has friends in almost every country. | [{'question': 'Mickey Mouse first come out _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['on TV', 'in the film', 'in the play', 'In a picture book']}, {'question': 'Children love Mickey Mouse because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['it can speak', 'It is clean', 'it makes them happy', 'it is a mouse']}, {'question': 'The dog, Pluto, is _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['a fool that often does something wrong', 'a clever dog that can do everything well', 'a beautiful dog that people like very much', 'a famous dog as a star of beauty and wisdom']}, {'question': 'Why did Disney make Donald Duck?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Because Mickey Mouse was very lonely', 'Because there were some things that Mickey could not do', 'Because Mickey was able to do everything', "Because people didn't like Mickey Mouse any more."]}] |
Bush takes ice bucket challenge . Bush has joined a growing list of celebrities across the world to take the ice bucket challenge. He did it to help raise money for Lou Gehrig's disease and chose his predecessor Bill Clinton to do it next.
In a video posted on Wednesday on Bush's Facebook page, the former president, wearing a navy blue coat while sitting at a table, said he was challenged by his daughter Jenna Bush Hager to take the challenge.
As he wrote the check, Laura Bush appeared with a white bucket and poured ice water over her husband's head and then said, "That check is for me. I don't want to ruin my hairstyle."
Bush then announced his choice. "Now it's my right to challenge my friend Bill Clinton to the ALS Challenge," he said. "Yesterday was Bill's birthday and my gift to him is a bucket of cold water."
The online campaign challenges people to either dump a bucket of ice water over their heads or donate to support research for Lou Gehrig's disease. When a person accepts the ice bucket challenge, he or she must challenge another person to partake in the raising money effort. Many famous people in different fields around the world took part in the activity, including Bill Gates, Stephen King, Christiano Ronaldo, and Lady Gaga, and so on. | [{'question': 'A list of celebrities across the world to take the ice bucket challenge is _ according to the passage.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['reducing', 'cutting', 'stopping', 'growing']}, {'question': "The video about Bush's ice bucket challenge was posted on _ .", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Monday', 'Tuesday', 'Wednesday', 'Thursday']}, {'question': '_ challenge Bush to do so.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['His mother', 'His wife', 'His daughter', 'His sister']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is RIGHT?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["Bill Clinton is Bush's friend", "Bill Clinton's birthday was on Wednesday", "Bill Clinton didn't accept it", 'Bill Clinton only had one choice.']}, {'question': 'The best title of the passage is _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Many Famous People', 'A New Game Online', "Bush's Family And Friend", 'Bush Took Ice Bucket Challenge']}] |
Food is a major part of every culture. After all, everyone needs to eat! But each country has its own traditions on what people eat and when.
Egypt
Egyptians commonly start the day with a drink, sometimes going with bread. Breakfast can be eaten any time after this but before the day's main meal. In the past, this main meal was served at around 3:00 p.m. But now people work longer hours and eat when they get home at around 6:00 p.m. Dinner parties are held later, around 9:00 p.m.
Most Egyptian meals include bread or ice, cooked vegetables and beans or meat.
France
France is known for its fine cooking, and its people take food seriously. Most eat three meals a day at fixed times and never snack between meals. Breakfast is a light meal of bread and coffee. They eat lunch at around 1:00 p.m. and a dinner with multiple courses after 8:00 p.m.
The French consider eating a social activity. Eating alone is hard to see, and eating while doing something else is unheard-of. The French take time to enjoy their meals and visitors should do the same.
Brazil
Like the French, Brazilians usually eat a light breakfast. Lunch, the largest meal of the day, usually consists of meat, rice, potatoes, beans and vegetables. Between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., people enjoy a smaller meal with their families.
Brazilians don't mind eating a hurried or light meal and sometimes buy food from street carts . But they always finish eating before walking away.
The United States
American's ancestors came from many countries, so American eating habits differ. Some take time to prepare and eat a hot breakfast. Others take a bagel while rushing out the door or just _ . For lunch, most Americans eat a sandwich or leftovers. Traditionally, families got together for a large evening meal around 6:00, but now busy schedules force many families to eat in turns. American restaurant servings tend to be huge. But you don't have to finish them; taking leftovers home is common. | [{'question': 'People of Egypt usually start a day with _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['a drink', 'a bagel', 'some meat', 'some vegetables']}, {'question': 'In which country do people consider lunch the largest meal?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Egypt.', 'France.', 'Brazil.', 'The United States.']}, {'question': 'What does the passage mainly talk about?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Life styles.', 'Eating habits.', 'Delicious food.', 'Restaurant culture.']}] |
Picture Show
There are 12,000 pictures on show here. You can see the whole Chinese history!
Place: City Museum
Price: ~30
Time: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday
Films at the Museum
There are two European films on Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theatre. See Broken Window at 2:30. The Workers is at 4:45. For more information, call 84987898.
International Picnic
Are you tired of eating the same food every day? Come to Central Park on Saturday and enjoy food from all over the world. Delicious and not expensive. Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Do You Want to Hear "The Zoo"?
"The Zoo", a popular rock group from Australia, Will give their first US concert this Saturday night, at 8 at Rose Hall, City College.
The Music Shop's Sale
Sale on every record and tape in the shop, Pop, Rock, Jazz, Disco, Folk. Sale starts on Tuesday and ends on Thursday. | [{'question': 'According to the ads , what can you do on Saturday afternoon if you have time?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['I can enjoy the delicious food in Central Park.', 'I can see two films and buy some tapes.', 'I can go to the City College to watch animals.', 'I can see a picture show and listen to music.']}, {'question': 'Where can you enjoy a concert after reading the ads above?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['In the Museum Theatre.', 'In the City College.', 'In the City Museum.', 'In the Music Shop.']}, {'question': 'What is "The Zoo" in the ads?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["It's a zoo with many animals in it.", "It's the first US concert.", 'It gives a concert on Sunday night.', "It's an Australian music group."]}, {'question': 'If Lucy would like to buy some cheap records, she cannot go to the Music Shop on _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Tuesday', 'Wednesday', 'Thursday', 'Saturday']}, {'question': 'Which of the followings is True according to the ads?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['People can see the whole European history in the City Museum.', 'People can call 84987898 to find more information about food and music.', 'People can eat different kinds of food in Central Park.', 'People can go to the zoo this Saturday night.']}] |
Hi,I am Jennifer.I am 13 years old.I am from Africa.My father is a teacher and my mother works in a hospital.Now they are working in Beijing.They both like their work and work very hard.My father's favorite animal is pandas.but I like dolphins best.
I am studying at a middle school.And I like music and drawing best.I want to be a designer .I like to design my room.I like the color pink,so there are a lot of pink things in my room.
I have three friends in my room.They are Mike.Dora and Peter.They are my toys.I love them.Every night,they sleep on my bed with me. | [{'question': "What does Jennifer's mother do?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['A teacher.', 'A doctor.', 'A farmer.', 'A designer.']}, {'question': "What's Jennifer's favorite color?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Red.', 'Yellow.', 'Pink.', 'White.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is wrong?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["Jennifer's parents are from Beijing.", 'Jennifer likes dolphins best.', 'Jennifer wants to be a designer.', 'Jennifer has three toy friends.']}] |
Each morning a rich man found a poor man sitting on a park bench . The poor man always sat there, looking at the big hotel in which the rich man lived. One day the rich man got out of his car and said to the poor man, "Excuse me, but I just want to know why you sit here and look at my hotel every morning." "Sir", said the poor man, "I am a failure . I have no money, no family, no home. I sleep on this bench, and every night I dream that one day I'll sleep in that hotel." The rich man said, "Tonight your dream will come true. I'll pay for the best room in that hotel for you for a whole month.
A few days later, the rich man went by the poor man's room to ask him how he was enjoying himself. To his surprise, he found that the man had moved out of the hotel, back to his park bench. When the rich man asked why, the poor man said, "you see, when I am down here sleeping on my bench, I dream I'm up there, in that big hotel. It's a wonderful dream. But when I was up there, I dreamed I was back to this cold bench. It was a terrible dream, and I couldn't get any sleep at all." | [{'question': 'The poor man lived in _ before he met the rich man.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['the hotel', 'his home', 'the park', 'the car']}, {'question': 'Every morning, the poor man sat on the bench and _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['waited for the rich man', "looked at the rich man's hotel", "looked at the rich man's car", 'enjoyed the clean air']}, {'question': 'Every night the poor man dreamed of _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['sleeping in that hotel', 'becoming rich', 'owning that hotel', "being the rich man's friend"]}, {'question': 'The poor man moved out of the hotel because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["he didn't want to live in such a fine room", "he didn't like the rich man", "he couldn't pay for the room", "he couldn't get any sleep at all there"]}] |
Tony, 18. a member of an anti-tobacco group, he says, "Kids feel that everyone around them smokes." Tony wants kids to realize that most people don't smoke. He also wants to tell them that smoking doesn't make one look cool. Two national studies show that teenage smoking is down. Still, there is work to be done.
Smoking is an unhealthy habit. It can cause heart disease, lung cancer and other serious illnesses. Just being around cigarette smoke can make you sick.
In the 1990s, all 50 states went to court to fight tobacco companies. The states won money from the companies. It helps to pay for anti-smoking groups, but the money is not enough.
Each day, about 4,000 kids light up for the first time. "We have to do a better job of stopping kids from smoking," says Husten. Ads that tell ugly facts about smoking help to change minds. Setting smoke-free areas in public places works too. Just this month, a California town _ smoking in all public places, such as schools, shopping malls and libraries. It may be bad news for smokers. Health experts say that they will fight until all Americans get the message.
,. | [{'question': 'The number of teenage smokers _ , according to the passage.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['increased slowly', 'dropped', "didn't change", 'increased quickly']}, {'question': 'The states use the money that they won from tobacco companies to _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['pay for anti-smoking programs', 'sell more cigarettes', 'win more court cases', 'build more schools']}, {'question': 'Which of the following ways to stop smoking is NOT mentioned in the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Setting smoke-free areas.', 'Fighting with the tobacco companies.', 'Warning people about the danger of smoking by advertisements.', 'Offering money to help people stop smoking.']}] |
Dear Mr Green,
I am not happy these days. Please help me.
I want to be a member of the class volleyball team. I think I am good at volleyball. But our PE teacher says I can't get into the team. He says I am too fat .
I really want to be a good volleyball player. This is my dream. Can you help me?
Jane
Dear Jane,
I'm sorry to know that you're not happy.
You play volleyball well. But your PE teacher doesn't like fat girls. If you want to be a good volleyball player, you must be slim. Why not go running with Mary every morning? Mary is the best volleyball player in our class. You can be like her if you
Allan Green | [{'question': 'Why is Jane not happy?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Because volleyball is not easy to play.', "Because she can't join the class volleyball team.", 'Because her PE teacher likes her very much.', "Because she doesn't have time for volleyball."]}, {'question': 'Who is Mary?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["Allan Green's classmate.", "Jane's classmate.", "Jane's PE teacher.", 'A good basketball player.']}, {'question': 'Allan Green wants Jane to _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['stop playing volleyball', 'eat much meat', 'talk with her PE teacher', 'go running every day']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is TRUE?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["Jane doesn't play volleyball well.", 'Jane is really slim.', "Jane's PE teacher doesn't like fat girls.", 'Jane wants to play for the school team.']}] |
Detective Wolf and Miss Fox
Detective Wolf has waited in the doorway all the morning. He is going to meet Miss Fox. She bought a bag of diamonds from Africa. A few hours ago, someone told the police that a group of thieves would try to steal the diamonds, so the police asked Detective Wolf to make sure Miss Fox and her diamonds would be safe.
Miss Fox arrived in the airport. Detective Wolf quickly helped her get into the police car and took her to the hotel. While they were talking, Detective Wolf noticed that Miss Fox was left-handed. Half and hour later, they got to the room, two policemen checked it over and made sure there wasn't anyone else in it. Miss Fox said she was tired and wanted to have a shower. She asked Detective Wolf and the policemen to keep the diamonds for her. Half an hour later, Miss Fox didn't get out. Detective Wolf felt a little strange. Just then he got a call from the airport-a woman was found in the toilet on the plane. She said she was Miss Fox and reported the criminal was left-handed. Detective Wolf rushed to the bathroom but saw nobody in it. He opened the bag immediately and found there were only stones in it.(<<>> ) | [{'question': 'Why did the police ask Detective Wolf to go to the airport?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['To make sure the plane would be safe.', 'To catch some thieves.', 'To protect a woman and her things.', 'To check the plane for something.']}, {'question': 'What message did the police get a few hours ago?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Someone would kill Miss Fox.', 'Someone would kidnap Miss Fox.', 'A woman was trapped in the toilet on the plane.', "Some thieves would steal Miss Fox's diamonds."]}, {'question': 'Who was the criminal?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Miss Wolf.', 'A left-handed woman.', 'One of the policemen.', 'Detective Wolf.']}, {'question': 'Where were the diamonds in the end?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['They were in the bag.', 'They were on the plane.', 'They were in the bathroom.', 'They were taken away by the criminal.']}, {'question': 'Which of these is NOT true?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['The criminal was found in the toilet on the plane.', 'The woman left the bag outside the bathroom.', 'The diamonds were bought from Africa.', 'The criminal ran away before Detective Wolf went to catch her.']}] |
One evening , my dad asked me to buy some bread for dinner . It was dark and cold outside . I rode a bike to a shop near my school . When I left the shop ,it got even darker , so I got on my bike right away. Then I found a woman in a white dress riding a motorcycle after me . She followed me for a long time . I rode very fast and started to cry for help, but no one was there . I was too scared and too tired to ride any faster . At last , I gave up . The woman stopped in front of me and said , " Why were you riding so fast , Ken ?It's dangerous !" I looked at the woman . " Oh , It's you, mum !You really scared me . Dad said you wouldn't be back for dinner tonight !" | [{'question': 'Why did Ken go out that night ?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['To ride a bike', 'To buy some food', 'To go to cram school', 'To look for his mother']}, {'question': 'Why was Ken riding fast on his way home ?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['He was hungry', 'Someone was following him', 'It was getting darker and colder', 'His father asked him to go home soon']}, {'question': 'Who was the motorcyclist ?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['A stranger', 'A policeman', "Ken's father", "Ken's mother"]}] |
There was a man playing the piano in a bar. He was a good piano player. People came out just to hear him play. But one night, a customer told him he didn't want to hear him just play anymore. He wanted him to sing a song.
The man said, "I don't sing."
But the customer was persistent . He told the bartender, "I'm tired of listening to the piano. I want the man to sing!"
The bartender shouted. " Hi! If you want to get paid, sing a song. The customers are asking you to sing!"
So he did. He sang a song. A piano player who had never sung in public did so for the very first time. And nobody believed that he sang so well.
He has talent he was _ ! He may have lived the rest of his life as a no-name piano player in a no-name bar, but because he had to sing, he went on to become one of the best-known entertainers in America. | [{'question': 'There was a man playing the piano in a bar, _ likes his music.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['everyone', 'someone', 'no one', 'anyone']}, {'question': 'Why did the customer ask him to sing a song ?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Because he was not good at the piano.', "Because the customer didn't like him.", 'Because the customer was tired of listening to the music.', 'No reason.']}, {'question': 'What did the piano player play the piano for?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['For everybody liked him.', 'For he could make a living.', 'For someone could realized he was a talent.', "We don't know."]}, {'question': 'Why the man became famous in the end?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Because he was good at the piano', 'Because he never sang a song in public.', 'Because he was a talent.', 'Because he had to sing.']}] |
I hurried into the store to get Christmas gifts. Suddenly, I saw a little boy holding a lovely doll. He kept touching her hair. I watched him turn to a woman and say, "Are you sure I don't have enough money?" She said yes and told the boy not to go anywhere before she came back. Then she left.
The boy continued to hold the doll. I asked the boy who the doll was for. He said, "It's the doll that my sister wanted so badly for Christmas. She just knew that Santa would bring it." I told him that Santa was going to bring it. He said, "No, Santa can't go where my sister is. I have to give the doll to my mom to take it to her."
I asked him where his sister was. He looked at me sadly and said, "She's gone to heaven. My daddy said that Mom was going to be there with her." My heart nearly stopped beating. Then the boy said, "I told my daddy to tell her not to go there until I got back." He took out some pictures of him and said, "I want my mom to take these with her so she'll never forget me. I love my mom so much that I wish she didn't have to leave me, but Daddy said that she needed to be with my sister."
The boy lowered his head. While he was not looking, I reached into my purse and asked him, "Shall we count that money again?" He grew excited and said, "Yes, I just know it has to be enough." So I put my money with his and we began to count it. He said, "Thank you for giving me enough money." He continued, "I just asked God to give me enough money to buy this doll, and he heard my _ ."
Soon the woman came back and I left. I remembered a story I had read in the newspaper several days earlier about a drunk driver who hit a car. A little girl was killed and her mother was in serious condition. Two days later, I read the news that the mother had died.
,. | [{'question': 'Who did the boy buy the gift for?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['His mother.', 'His father.', 'His sister.', 'The writer.']}, {'question': 'What happened to the boy?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['His sister died in a car accident.', 'His father left him with his mother.', 'His father was killed by a drunk driver.', 'His mother left him with his sister.']}, {'question': 'What do you think of the writer?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Rich.', 'Kind.', 'Brave.', 'Careful.']}, {'question': "What's the best title for the passage?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Christmas shopping', 'A special gift', 'A poor boy', 'Great love']}] |
Top student Lin Yijian had a problem recently. The 14-year-old boy from Xiamen used to get marks of over 110 points (out of 120 possible points) on his math tests. But during last semester's final exams, his math score was only 90 points.
It was a shock. "I didn't know what happened," said Lin, who kept feeling nervous and frustrated about math during the following month.
Like Lin, many of us have setbacks in life. What would you do to deal with these setbacks? Would you just let them be and give up?
Lin chose to face his problem. His parents and teacher also gave him help. After some hard work he now gets marks between 100 and110 points on his math tests. Although he still isn't at his original level, Lin doesn't panic anymore.
"Don't be scared by setbacks," he said. "You will beat it."
Chen Xingzhu in Shenzhen also has a story to tell. The 15-year-old girl is not good at doing sit-ups , which is necessary for the coming high school PE entrance exam. One has to do at least 35 sit-ups in a minute to pass the test. Most of Chen's classmates can do 40. However, Chen could only do 20.
Feeling worried, Chen decided to do something. She did sit-ups for half an hour every day after school. Now, after a month, she can do 30 sit-ups a minute.
"I finally found what made me slow through continuous practice and then improved little by little," said Chen. "I believe next month I will be able to do 40!" | [{'question': 'What problem did Lin Yijian have recently?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['He used to get high marks.', 'He did well in math.', 'He did not so well as before in math.', 'He had no time to study math.']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, which is NOT true among the following statements?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Lin chose to face his problems.', 'His parents and teachers also helped him.', 'After some hard work, he now gets marks over 110 points.', 'Lin faced his problems instead of giving up.']}, {'question': 'What problems does Chen Xingzhu have according to the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['He is also not good at math.', 'He is also not good at PE.', 'He is also not good at sit-ups.', 'He is also not good at PE entrance exam.']}] |
This is Kim and Kate's bedroom. The blue bed is Kate's and the green one is Kim's. They are sisters. Kate's schoolbag is red. It's on the bed. Kim's schoolbag is yellow. It's on the chair. They have a computer. It's on the table. Their alarm clock is on the table, too. There is a baseball under their table. It's Lily's. Lily is Kim and Kate's good friend. | [{'question': 'Kim and Kate are _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['friends', 'brothers', 'sisters', 'cousins']}, {'question': "What color is Kate's schoolbag? It's _ .", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['green', 'blue', 'yellow', 'red']}, {'question': '_ bed is green.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["Kim's", "Kate's", "Lily's", "Kim's friend's"]}, {'question': "What's on the table?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['A computer.', 'A computer and an alarm clock.', 'A computer, a baseball and an alarm clock.', 'A computer and a baseball.']}, {'question': "Where's Lily's baseball?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['On the bed', 'On the chair', 'Under the table', 'On the table']}] |
We all want to have vacations. To me, it's very important to relax myself. I finished a one-week vacation just now. Let me tell you what I did. I know you will feel bored when you look at other people's vacation pictures!
My son finished his last week of school. During that week, I became a school mom. They had a class party at a teacher's house, so I volunteered to drive some of the students and _ the party. That was the last week my son would be with them. So it was time for me to spend time with them. I had lunch with the class and then attended their meeting. I never had time to be with the class before. I found it very interesting and my son was happy to show off that. | [{'question': 'To the writer, the best thing to do on her vacation is _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['to play with her child', 'to have a good rest', 'to work from day to night', 'to go to a new place']}, {'question': 'According to the writer, people _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["don't like looking at others' vacation pictures", "often help their children's teachers", "often work for their children's classes", 'like showing them off in the school']}, {'question': 'From the passage, we can guess the party is to celebrate _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["the teacher's birthday", "the teacher's child's birthday", "the children's graduation", 'the finishing of their vacation']}] |
In Britain ,people often invite friends for a meal , a party or just coffee. People who know each other very well may visit each other's houses without an invitation ,but if we invite new friends, usually an invitation is needed. When people invite someone to their homes , they often say ,"Would you like to come for dinner on Saturday ?" Answers are, "Thanks, we'd love to. What time?" or "I'm sorry, We'd love to ,but we have tickets for the concert." However, it is not polite to say,"No, we wouldn't."
Sometimes, the British use expressions that sound like invitations but which are not invitations. For example. "You must come over for a drink sometime ." or "Let's go out for a meal one of these days." These are usually just polite ways of ending a talk . They are not real invitations because they don't mention an exact time or day. They just show that the person is trying to be friendly and the answers are ,"Yes , that would be nice ." or "OK, yes ,thanks."
So next time you hear what sounds like an invitation, listen carefully. Is it a real invitation or is the person just being friendly? | [{'question': "It's always necessary for _ to visit each other's houses with an invitation.", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['close friends', 'family members', 'neighbours', 'new friends']}, {'question': 'It is not polite to answer the real invitation by saying " _ "', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["Sorry. We'd love to, but we have tickets for the concert .", "Thanks. We'd love to, what time?", "Sure. We'd like to. Thanks a lot.", "No, we wouldn't!"]}, {'question': 'If the British just want to end a talk politely, they may say," _ "', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Would you like to come for dinner on Saturday?', "Let's go out for a meal one of these days.", "Let's go out for a meal on Saturday.", 'Shall we go for a drink this afternoon .']}, {'question': 'The British often use " _ "to answer the invitations that are not real.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Yes , what time ?', "No, that's not a real invitation.", 'OK, yes , thanks.', 'No, you just want to be friendly.']}, {'question': 'Which is the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Britain.', 'Invitation.', 'A Talk with Friends.', 'A Letter to Friends.']}] |
Colourful fruit and vegetables are good for our health. Their natural colours help protect our bodies from disease(,). Think about the colours of fruit and vegetables: the red of tomatoes, the orange of carrots, the green of kiwi and the purple of grapes.
You can enjoy eating fruit and vegetables of all colours---green, yellow, blue, purple, and white. Each colour is important to our health. These colours work together to protect our bodies. Scientists have studied them and discovered the good of colourful fruit and vegetables. The list below shows the good of some colours in fruit and vegetables:
Red gives us a healthy heart. It can reduce(,) heart disease. Red helps improve our memory .
Yellow is good for our eyes.
White can reduce cholesterol .
Green is good for our eyes, too. It also gives us strong bones and teeth.
Blue helps us keep a good memory as we grow old. It also help fight heart disease. So when you are buying or eating fruit and vegetables, remember to try different colours of fruit and vegetables. | [{'question': 'Red can reduce _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['eye disease', 'cholesterol', 'reduce cholesterol', 'heart disease']}, {'question': 'If you want to keep your body strong, which colours are good for you', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Red and green.', 'Yellow and blue.', 'White and orange.', 'All the above.']}, {'question': 'The passage mainly tells us _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['the importance of colourful fruit and vegetables', 'white can reduce cholesterol', 'yellow is also good for our eyes', 'green gives us strong bones and teeth']}] |
The Monkey Buffet Festival is on the last Sunday of November. It is a great day for monkeys in Thailand . The festival has a history of 25 years. People there think monkeys can bring good luck to them. So, to thank monkeys, they have this special festival.
On that day every year, people put lots of fruit, vegetables, cakes and even drinks on the tables outside. They are all for monkeys. Many people come to see the monkeys on that day.
During the festival, there are a lot of interesting activities about monkeys. Young people always dress like monkeys and they sing and dance and play some music on the street.
Monkeys always live in groups. Most of them live in the trees. They are good at running and jumping. They eat fruit, vegetables, flowers and birds' eggs. Monkeys are clever. Do you think so? | [{'question': 'The festival is usually in _ in Thailand.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['September', 'December', 'October', 'November']}, {'question': 'People have the festival because they think monkeys _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['are cute', 'are clever', 'can work for them', 'can bring good luck']}, {'question': 'What do people always do on that day?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Eat all kinds of food.', 'Sing and dance.', 'Play with monkeys.', 'Run and jump.']}, {'question': "Of the four kinds of food, monkeys don't eat _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['beef', 'bananas', 'eggs', 'apples']}, {'question': 'What is the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Monkeys are smart animals', "Monkey's favorite food", 'The festival for monkeys', 'Monkeys in Thailand']}] |
The scientists from the Lockheed Space Company work in Felton, California, with the help of a computer. But the computer is placed in Sunnyside, about 80 kilometers away. What the scientists input is sent by telephone lines to the computer, and after a time, copies of the designs are needed back in Felton as possible. Lockheed people have tried several ways of sending the prints , but the most effective seems to be by pigeon . Are pigeons really used to carry messages in these days? They are, and they send the prints faster and cheaper than any other way.
Human messengers (persons carrying messages) are much more expensive and slower than the pigeons. The road to Felton goes through the mountains, and the driving is not easy. An electronic printout system could do the work in Felton, but at a cost of 10 dollars a print. Pigeons carry the designs for about 1 dollar each.
Now Lockheed people have ten pigeon messengers. The pigeons do the work, and they have made Lockheed more famous. You can often read the news about the pigeons in the newspapers around the world. | [{'question': 'The story is mainly about_.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Felton, California', 'the scientists', 'how to work with computers', 'sending prints by pigeon']}, {'question': 'This story is unusual because pigeons_.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["don't like carrying things", 'are often cheap to keep', 'seem out of place in the space age', "aren't friendly to the scientists"]}, {'question': "Something that's effective_.", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['usually costs more', 'is something that works', 'is often unhappy', 'is often don by animals']}, {'question': 'Which happened first?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Pigeons were used as messengers.', 'Human messengers were used.', 'What the scientists input was sent to the computer.', 'Scientists got their designs.']}, {'question': 'Lockheed likes the pigeons because they_.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['do the work at low cost', 'get their pictures on television', 'understand the computer', 'make the scientists pleased']}] |
When someone says, "Well, I guess I'll have to face the music", it doesn't mean that he is going to hear a singer. It is something far less happy, as you are called in by your leader to explain why you did this and did that or why you did not do this or that.
At some time or another, every one of us has to "face the music", especially as children. We can all remember father's angry words "I want to talk to you." And only because we did not listen to him. What a bad thing it was!
In the middle or at the end of every term, we students have to "face the music". The result of the exam will decide whether we will face the music or not. If you got a "D" in the exam, that means parents' cold faces and the contempt of the classmates.
"To face the music" is well-known to every American, young or old. It is at least 100 years old. It really means that you have to do something, no matter how terrible the whole thing might be, because you have no choice. | [{'question': '"To face the music" means "to _ ".', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["do something that we don't like to", 'go to the theatre', 'go to the music show', 'do something we want to']}, {'question': 'After the exam, we\'ll have to "face the music". That\'s why _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['we like to take the exam', 'we are afraid of taking the exam', 'the exam is very important', 'we are afraid of passing the exam']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is wrong?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['"To face the music" is well-known in the US.', '"To face the music" has a history of more than 100 years.', 'The young Americans know the meaning of "to face the music".', 'Only the old in the US know the meaning of "to face the music"']}] |
Once a tiger was in a cage . Soon a good man went by. As soon as the tiger saw the man, the tiger began to cry. "Please! Please!" the tiger called. "Please, let me out." "No," said the good man. "If I do, you will eat me." "I will not eat you," the tiger said. "Please let me out."
The good man believed the tiger. He opened the door of the cage. The tiger jumped out. "How silly you are," the tiger laughed. "Now I am going to eat you." "Wait!" the man cried. "You ought not to eat me. Let us ask others what they think." "You may ask three others. " the tiger said.
The good man asked a tree. The tree said, "I give shade . And yet I am cut down. Let the tiger eat you."
Next, the good man asked a bird. The bird said, "I hurt no one. Yet people hunt and kill me. Let the tiger eat you."
The last one that the good man asked was a road. The road said, "I don't care if the tiger eats you. People could not get along too well without me. Yet all day and all night people step on me without even a 'thank you'."
The tiger was ready to eat the good man. Just then a dog came by. "What is happening?"
asked the dog. The man told the dog the whole story.
"I don't understand," said the dog. "The tiger wants to eat you because you put him in a cage?"
"No, no," said the man. "Some other men put him in a cage."
"Oh," the dog said. "He is going to eat you because you do not have a cage."
"Silly dog!" the tiger cried. "Don't you understand? I was in the cage. This man let me out."
"Oh, I see," the dog said. "When the man was in the cage, you let him out."
"I was in the cage!" the tiger cried. "In this way!" with that, he jumped back into the cage.
At once, the dog closed the door of the cage. "Oh," the dog laughed. "At last I understand!"
The good man and the dog walked off. The tiger looked sad in the cage. If he waited long enough, perhaps another good man would come by. | [{'question': 'When the tiger saw the man, he began to cry, because _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['he wanted the man to help him out of the cage', 'he wanted to eat the man', 'he wanted to eat the dog', 'he wanted to eat the bird']}, {'question': 'After the tiger jumped out of the cage, he wanted _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['to thank the man', 'to eat the man', 'to ask the others', 'to run away']}, {'question': 'The tree _ with the tiger because _ to the tree.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['agreed; humans were kind', 'agreed; humans were not kind', 'disagreed; humans were kind', 'disagreed; humans were not kind']}, {'question': 'The bird let the tiger eat the man because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['people helped birds', 'it liked tigers', 'it liked the man', 'people hunted and killed him']}] |
Today is Saturday. The students of Grade Seven go to school early, but they have no classes. Their teachers are going to take them to the zoo. They take buses there. They get there at 8:30 a.m.
The zoo is very beautiful. There are many trees, some hills and a big lake. And they have a big lunch there. It's spring now, and you can see many flowers there, too. There are also many people. They like to watch monkeys. They have a good time there. They leave the zoo at 3:30 p.m. | [{'question': 'The students get to the zoo _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['in the afternoon', 'in the morning', 'at noon', 'in the evening']}, {'question': 'They have no classes because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["it's Saturday today", 'they want to play', 'their teachers take them to the zoo', 'they want to see flowers']}, {'question': 'They stay in the zoo for _ hours.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['eight and a half', 'three and a half', 'five', 'seven']}, {'question': 'The students have lunch _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['on the bus', 'at school', 'in the zoo', 'at home']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is NOT right?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['They must see tigers in the zoo.', 'The students go to the zoo in spring.', 'They go to the zoo by bus.', 'There are lots of people in the zoo.']}] |
Many people like to watch TV. Watching TV is one of the most important activities of the day. TV brings the outside closer to people's homes. Some people say the world is smaller than before because of TV.
What's going on in the other countries? How do people live in places far away? Is there a good sports game somewhere? What's the life like in the deepest part of the sea?
If you want to answer these and other kinds of questions, just turn on the TV. Turn it on and watch. You can see a lot and learn a lot. Of course, people can also learn through reading or listening to the radio. But with TV they can learn better and more easily. Why? Because they can hear and watch, too.
TV helps to open our eyes. TV also helps to open our minds . TV often give us new ideas. We learn newer and better ways of doing something. | [{'question': 'Some people say the world is smaller than before because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['TV makes the earth smaller and smaller', 'all people like to watch TV', 'watching TV is one of the most important activities of the day.', 'TV bring the outside world closer to people.']}, {'question': 'We can _ when we watch TV.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['go to live in the other countries', 'answer TV many questions', 'get a lot of information', 'ask TV some questions']}, {'question': 'People learn better through TV than through radio because _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['TV sets are bigger than radios', 'people can not only hear but also watch', "without TV people can't open their eyes", "it's easier to turn on TV than to turn on radio"]}, {'question': 'The sentence "TV also helps to open our minds" means: _', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['our minds can only be opened by TV', 'something is wrong with our minds', 'it can help us to get our knowledge', 'TV is new to us']}, {'question': 'This article tells us _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["it's good to watch TV", 'not to watch TV any more', "students shouldn't watch TV at any time", 'to stop reading to watch TV']}] |
Music is an important part in our life. We may feel boring without music. Today when you go to stores, stations, restaurants and other places, do you notice music playing at any of these places? The answer must be "Yes". And you might even hear music in an office or on a farm.
I like many kinds of music. Classical music is great. Rock music is fast. Light music is relaxing. But I like folk music best. It sounds very beautiful. It can bring me into the dream land. It can make me relax and forget all the problems. It makes me learn better and helps me to be more active. It is true that I learn better when I am relaxed.
Music can also influence people's behavior . Classical music makes people feel rich . When a restaurant plays classical music, people spend more money on food and drinks. When the restaurant plays modern music, people spend less money. Without music, people spend evenless. Restaurants can make more money in this way. | [{'question': 'The writer thinks that music can _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['influence our behavior', 'help us to train good habits', 'make more money', 'make our life better']}, {'question': 'Western classical music is often regarded as _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['a sign of being slow', 'something about behavior', 'a sign of being rich', 'something with new kinds']}, {'question': 'Which type of music below can make the writer relax?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Light music.', 'Folk music.', 'Rock music.', 'Pop music.']}, {'question': 'The habit of listening to music can make the writer _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['slow in action', 'care about hobby', 'more active', 'worry about studies']}, {'question': 'The passage is mainly about _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['music in restaurants', 'good and bad music', 'music in our life', 'music and behavior']}] |
We know health and happiness are important in everyone's life. Here are some ways to make them easy.
Eat a balanced diet . Eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, some grains and a little meat.
Exercise twice or three times a week.
Get enough sleep. It is best to get eight hours' sleep a day.
Keep yourself busy. This is good because _ stops you from having bad habits. To keep yourself busy, you can walk around the house, spend time with your pets, do a sport, or do a hobby you enjoy.
Go out and make friends. Spend time and have fun with them. Talk with them, but you must be sure not to talk about anything bad. You should stay with the people who are healthy and happy themselves. | [{'question': 'How often should you exercise if you want to get health and happiness?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Every day .', 'Twice a day', 'Twice or three times a week .', 'Three times a month.']}, {'question': 'How many hours do you need to sleep every day?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Seven.', 'Eight.', 'Nine.', 'Ten']}, {'question': 'Whice of the following is NOT true?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['We should eat a lot of meat to keep healthy.', 'We should exercise to keep healthy.', 'The people whom we make friends with must be healthy and happy themselves.', 'We can spend our free time doing a sport or doing hobby we enjoy.']}, {'question': 'Which is the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Eating Habit', 'Healthy Lifestyle', 'Making friends', 'Ways to Have Health and Happines']}] |
0ur village carpenter ,John Hill, came one day and made a dining table for my wife. He made it just the right size to fill the space between the two window. When I got home that evening, John was drinking a cup of tea and writing out his bill( ) for his job.
My wife said to me quietly, "That's his ninth cup of tea today. "But she said in a loud voice, "It's a beautiful table, dear, isn't it?" "I'll decide about that when I see the bill," I said. John laughed and gave me his bill for the work. I read:
One dining table 10thNovember, 2011
Cost of wood $ 17:00
Paint $1. 50
Work, 8 hours($1 an hour) $8. 00
Total $36. 50
When I was looking at the bill, John said," It's been a fine day, hasn't it? Quite sunny. "
"Yes," I said. "I'm glad it's only the 10thof November. "
"Me, too," said John, "you wait--it will be a lot colder by the end of the month. "
"Yes, colder--and more expensive! Dining table will be $20 more expensive on November 30th, won't they, John?"
John looked hard at me for half a minute. Was there a little smile in his two blue eyes? I gave his bill back to him.
"If it's not too much trouble, John," I said,"Please add it up again, You can forget the date-------"
I paid him $26. 50 and he was happy to get it. | [{'question': 'Why did John talk about the weather when the writer was looking at the bill?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["Because he didn't want the writer to check the bill carefully.", 'Because he wanted to show that he was really polite.', "Because it's a good way to communicate with each other.", 'Because he wanted to confirm what the weather was like.']}, {'question': 'How much would John ask for if he made a dining table on the last day of December according to his bill?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['$ 26. 50', '$36. 50', '$56. 50', '$57. 50']}, {'question': 'When John got the money, he was happy because _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['he felt lucky to get the money for his work', 'he got paid a lot more than usual for his work', 'he got as much money as he had expected', "he didn't have to add up the costs any more"]}, {'question': 'Which word can best describe John?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Clever', 'Silly', 'Dishonest', 'Humorous']}, {'question': 'What can we learn about John from the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['He made a mistake carelessly in the bill', 'He tried to get more money for his work.', 'He had written the bill before the writer got home', "He had talked about the bill with the writer's wife."]}] |
Several years ago, Kevin Stephan, then aged 11, was playing baseball when a player accidentally hit him with a bat.
Kevin fell down and his heart stopped. Penny Brown, the mother of another player, was watching the game.Penny usually worked in the evenings as a nurse, but luckily that evening she wasn't working. Penny ran to helped Kevin and saved his life.
Nearly seven years later, Kevin was washing up in the kitchen of the Hillview Restaurant in Buffalo, New York State. Normally, 18-year-old Kevin had school in the afternoon, but that week there were exams and he didn't have any class. At about 2 p.m., Penny Brown was having lunch with her family in the restaurant. She was eating when some food got stuck in her throat. She was very frightened because she couldn't breathe.
Kevin was a volunteer firefighter in his free time and he ran to help. A waitress tried to help her, but the food was still stuck in Penny's throat. Kevin pulled his hands quickly into her stomach and saved Penny's life. He didn't know it was Penny, but his mother, Lorraine Stephan, was also having lunch in the restaurant. She realized that Penny was the woman who saved Kevin's life, seven years before, at the baseball game. Both Penny and Kevin were completely amazed by the coincidence ! | [{'question': 'What happened during the baseball game?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Penny fell down.', "Penny's son was hit.", 'Kevin hit someone.', "Kevin's heart stopped"]}, {'question': 'Why was Penny at the game?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['She liked playing baseball.', "Her son's friend is the player.", 'Her son was playing baseball.', 'She was working as a nurse.']}, {'question': 'What did Kevin usually do in the afternoon when he was 18?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['He had some exams.', 'He studied at school.', 'He worked as firefighter.', 'He worked in a restaurant.']}, {'question': 'What can we learn from the story?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['No pain, no gain.', 'It is better to give than to take.', 'A friend in need is a friend indeed.', 'God helps those who help others.']}] |
Ann was my best friend. She had come to play half an hour ago, and I didn't want her to go. "Your mother said you could stay an hour." I said.
Ann pointed at the Teddy Bear on my desk. "I'll stay if you give me your Teddy Bear." she said.
I couldn't imagine giving it to her. It was a special gift from Aunt Reba on my tenth birthday. My aunt was a beautiful and kind woman who was never too busy to spend time with me. The day she died, I cried for hours, unable to believe that I would never see her again. Now, when I saw the Teddy Bear, I was filled with memories of Aunt Reba.
"Come on," Ann shouted, "I'm your best friend."
I don't know what came over me, but I really wanted someone to play with me. So I handed Ann the Teddy Bear! Then, she stayed.
That evening I went to bed without dinner. The memories of Aunt Reba brought tears to my eyes. How _ I felt. I was sad all night.
Alone in the dark, I asked myself, "Is Ann really my best friend?"
At school the next day, I found Ann. I asked for the Teddy Bear. She was surprised at first. Then she thought for a few seconds and finally said, "Okay, I don't like it anyway."
After that, Ann and I stopped playing together. Through the years, I have had other best friends. I have come to understand that best friends are people who want to spend time with you, and they ask nothing in return. | [{'question': 'Ann finally stayed to play with the writer because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['she wanted to play with the writer', "Ann's mother ordered her to stay", "she was the writer's best friend", 'the writer gave her the Teddy Bear']}, {'question': 'From the passage we learn _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['the Teddy Bear had a sweet face', 'Anna and the writer were friends again at last', 'the writer loved Aunt Reba deeply', 'best friends always ask something in return']}, {'question': 'The best title of the passage may be " _ ".', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The Teddy Bear', 'Aunt Reba', 'Best Friends', 'My Tenth Birthday']}] |
Mother loves her son. But he is a bad boy. He doesn't listen to what his mother says. He slaps his mother. Another time he makes her fall to the floor.
He goes out of school. He plays games on the computer day and night. He shouts loudly when he wins a game. He doesn't care( ) if his mum is sleeping. She asks him to be quiet. He asks her to be out. But he loves her cooking. She cooks delicious food. "Mum, I'm hungry," he says every day. She spends hours every day cooking for him. He never says "thank you". He never says the food is delicious. He finishes his food and goes back to his computer. His mum washes the dishes by hand. She cleans the kitchen. She does all the shopping. She works when he plays.
One day she thinks that's enough. When he is 19 years old, she leaves her son. She goes into her car and drives away. | [{'question': 'What does the boy do to his mother?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['He loves his mother.', 'He makes her mother fall to the floor.', 'He is quiet when mother is sleeping.', 'He helps mother clean the kitchen.']}, {'question': 'What does the boy do every day?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['He goes to school.', 'He cooks every day.', 'He plays games on the computer.', 'He works every day.']}, {'question': 'After he eats the food, _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['he says thanks to mother', 'he says the food is delicious', 'he plays the games again', 'he washes the dishes']}, {'question': 'Why does the mother leave her son?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['The boy is 19 years old.', 'She goes to work by car.', "She doesn't love her son.", 'Her son makes her sad']}] |
Long, long ago there was an old man. He had a very big orange tree in his garden. On the tree there were many fine oranges.
One day the old man found one of the oranges was bigger than the others. It was as big as a watermelon. So he took the big orange to the king. The king was very happy and gave the old man a lot of money for it.
When a rich man heard of this, he said to himself, "It is only an orange. Why did the king give him so much money? If I take my gold cup to the king, he will give me much more money for it."
The next day when the king got the gold cup, he said to the rich man, "What a beautiful cup! I'll give you something for it. Please take the great orange." | [{'question': 'What did the old man have in his garden?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['An orange tree', 'Watermelons', 'The king', 'A gold cup']}, {'question': 'What did the old man find one day?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['He found there was a big watermelon in his gardon.', 'He found one of the oranges was as big as a watermelon.', 'He found the rich man had a gold cup.', 'He found the king liked big oranges very much..']}, {'question': 'Who did the old man give the big orange to?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['A rich man.', 'The king,', 'Himself.', 'His friend.']}, {'question': 'What did a rich man think when he heard of the story?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['He was happy for the old man.', 'He wanted to know why the king gave the old man so much money.', 'He wanted to get the orange.', 'He thought the king would give him much money if he gave the king his gold cup.']}, {'question': 'Was the rich man very happy at last?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Yes, he was.', "No, he wasn't.", "We don't know.", 'Yes, he is.']}] |
Hunan TV's new program, Dad,Where Are We Going? has become very popular since last year. The show tells us that fathers should take part in their children's growing-up. In fact, this topic was always mentioned by Zeng Guofan (1811-1872). a famous official during the late Daoguang Period of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912).
Although Zeng spent most of his time away from his family, his letters back home to his children and younger brothers have become famous. In these letters, there are many helpful suggestions on proper behavior . Many of his ways on child education are popular among today's Chinese parents, including reading classical books and so on. His child-raising methods are useful for today's busy fathers. Like Zeng, they also spend most of their time away from home.
According to Zeng, the purpose of education was to learn wisdom from books, rather than getting an official position. Children should know that the most important purpose of studies is to get more knowledge about nature and life.
"But now ,parents just want their children to be rich and powerful. " Mr. Tang, a writer in China, said.
Some teachers say that parents need to build a good relationship with their children. Parents shouldn't force their children to realize their wishes.
In Zeng's letters, he asked his young children to do housework as part of their daily life, even though his children had many helpers. He believed that doing housework would make his children more confident and independent . | [{'question': 'When was Zeng Guofan born?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['In 1811.', 'In 1644.', 'In 1872.', 'In 1912.']}, {'question': 'Which o fthe following statements is TRUE, according to the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Zeng Guofan was a great writer during the late Guangxu Period.', 'Zeng Guofan is one of the fathers in the program, Dad,Where Are We Going?', "Many of Zeng Guofan's ideas on educati'on are not accepted by modern people.", 'Zeng Guofan was very busy and spent most of his time away from his family.']}, {'question': 'The purpose of education is to _ according to Zeng Guofan.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['get an official position', 'learn wisdom from books', 'get high scores in exams', 'make a lot of money in the future']}, {'question': 'Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["Fathers Influence Their Children's Growing-up", 'Zeng Guofan and His Children', 'How to Raise a Child', 'Dad, Where Are We Going?']}] |
Some women are talking about the problems of getting old.
One woman says, " Sometimes I stand in front of the bag with an egg. But I can't remember _ I need to put it in or get it out to make bread."
"Yes, I have the same problem," the second woman says. "Sometimes I stand on the stairs . But I can't remember whether I am going on my way up or down."
"Well, I don't have that problem," the last woman says, keeping knocking on the table.
The other two women ask, "Why are you knocking on the table?"
"Sorry, I ?don't know. Someone is knocking at the door ,isn't
It? Let me see who it is," the last woman says. | [{'question': 'What are the women talking about?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['The ways of getting beautiful.', 'The ways of getting young.', 'The problems of getting healthy.', 'The problems of getting old .']}, {'question': 'What problem do the women have ?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['They often lose things.', "They can't see well.", "They can't walk well.", 'They always forget easily.']}, {'question': 'What can we know from the story?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The first woman often puts bread in the bag.', 'The second woman always forgets the way to her room.', "The third woman doesn't know she has the same problem as (........) the other two women.", 'Someone is knocking at the door when the are talking.']}, {'question': 'Whose problem is the most serious in the story?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The first woman.', 'The second woman.', 'The third woman.', 'The fourth woman.']}] |
Emily Urich 18 years old Canada
A lot of teens aren't responsible ,and that's where I'm different. Not just about school but everyday things like being able to pay my own credit card bills on time.
The first time I got a cartoon book was on my third birthday. From then on , I fell in deep love with it. And can you guess how many cartoon books I've read? I don't really know the exact number. But I have three full boxes of them under my bed. I also like drawing cartoons and wish to be an art teacher in a sch001.
Joe Miller 16 year's old America
I'm proud of doing things my own way. So whether somebody wants me to do something or whatever it is , I feel like they're all other people's thoughts , not really mine. But like others , I love reading , too. When I first took skiing lessons , I found it exciting. For ski racing,there's no question I'm better shape than most guys . I think it's fun. I mean,it is a challenge . It's where I picked up the idea of needing a challenge always in my life. In order to improve my skiing skills,I have read many books and magazines about it. No doubt it's my dream to win gold medals in the Olympic Games.
An Oi 15 years old China
I'm different because I prefer to drop out of the world to create my own world. I'd like to build a house on a mountain. And I choose to live without electricity, a telephone,or even indoor plumbing . I have many hobbies such as traveling,reading , writing and spending time with children. I love children because they are smart and creative. They always have many strange ideas. It makes me excited. I want to do something for Hope Project and become a country school teacher . | [{'question': 'Who wants to be teacher?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Emily and Joe.', 'Joe and An Qi.', 'Emily and An Qi.', 'Only An Qi.']}, {'question': 'Which hobby do the three students all have?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Writing.', 'Skiing.', 'Travelling.', 'Reading.']}, {'question': 'According to Emily, we can infer that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['people around trust her', 'she does sports at weekends', 'she laughs at other people', 'she gets up late on Sundays']}, {'question': 'We know that Joe Miller _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["doesn't like to follow others", 'thinks skiing is too dangerous', 'does well in drawing cartoons', 'Enjoys living somewhere quiet']}, {'question': 'Why does An Qi want to be a country schoolteacher?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Because she wants to travel.', 'Because her parents are teachers.', 'Because she loves children very much.', 'Because she comes from the countryside.']}] |
Sometimes it may seem difficult to improve our health. If so, the following health habits may help you.
Eat breakfast every morning.
Research shows that if you eat a meal in the morning you may not become too fat or eat too much during lunch. Eating breakfast can help people feel better through the day.
Get enough sleep.
Poor sleep can influence our memory and learning. It can also cause traffic accidents! Studies show that people who don't get enough sleep seem to get into more accidents. So stay safe and get enough sleep!
Take a walk every day.
Walking is an easy way to exercise. You'd better meet friends for a walk, not for a meal. As you walk, you will see the beautiful world around you. Once you try, you will find that adding a walk into your daily life is very easy.
Join social groups.
Social groups can provide support. They might include sport teams, art or music groups. The people in the group can offer advice and can help each other in difficult times. Also, being in a group keeps your mind busy. An active mind is a healthy mind!
Have a hobby.
A hobby could be running reading or making something with your hands. Hobbies help people to relax and rest. Hobbies bring us joy as well.
,A, B, C, D ,. | [{'question': 'You may have a good memory and learn better if you _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['eat breakfast every morning', 'have a good sleep', 'take a walk every day', 'join a social group']}, {'question': "If you need help and want to help others, you'd better _ .", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['invite your friend to a meal', 'make something with your friends', 'become a member of a social group', 'have a hobby']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is TRUE?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["If you have breakfast every morning, you'll be fat.", 'All the traffic accidents are caused by poor sleep.', 'To join a social group helps you have a healthy mind.', 'Having a hobby is the best way to relax.']}, {'question': 'The passage is mainly written for _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['students at school', "people who don't like running", 'students who never have breakfast', 'people who want to improve health']}, {'question': 'Which is the best title of the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Ways to Improve Your Health', 'Reasons for Keeping Healthy', 'Good Habits', 'Breakfast and Exercise']}] |
We have two new students in our class. They are Cindy and Kate. They look the same. But they aren't twins.
Cindy is American. She is thirteen. Her father and mother are both teachers. She likes green and blue. She is often in blue pants. She often plays the guitar after school. She is good at math and English. She says math is her favorite because it is interesting.
Kate is English. She is twelve. Her parents are not teachers. Her father is a doctor and her mother is a worker. Kate likes yellow and orange. She can't play the guitar. But she plays volleyball very well. Her favorite subject is Chinese. She say she wants to learn about Chinese history. Kate likes documentaries very much. | [{'question': 'Cindy is _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['12 years old', 'American', 'English', "Kate's sister"]}, {'question': 'Kate is _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['12 years old', 'an American', 'an English', "Cindy's sister"]}, {'question': 'Cindy _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['likes yellow and orange', 'likes Chinese very much', 'can play volleyball well', 'likes blue pants very much']}, {'question': "Kate's favorite _ are documentaries.", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['sports', 'subjects', 'colors', 'movies']}, {'question': 'If you are ill , you can go to see _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["Cindy's father", "Cindy's mother", "Kate's father", "Kate's mother"]}] |
Look! Here's a pencil box, it's orange, it's my pencil box, it's on the desk. Look! This is a pen, it's black. And this is an eraser, it's blue and white. They're both in the pencil box. This is a ruler, it's red, it's on the pencil box. That is a ruler, too. It's yellow. It's in the drawer. Where's my math book? Ah, it's there, under the sofa. | [{'question': 'The pencil box is _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['yellow', 'white', 'blue', 'orange']}, {'question': 'The yellow ruler is _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['in the school bag', 'in the drawer', 'on the pencil box', 'on the sofa']}, {'question': '_ in the pencil box.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['A pen is', 'An eraser is', 'A ruler and a pen are', 'A pen and an eraser are']}, {'question': 'The math book is _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['under the sofa', 'in the pencil box', 'on the pencil box', 'under the pencil box']}, {'question': 'Where is my English book?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Under the sofa.', 'On the desk.', "Sorry, I don't know.", 'On the sofa.']}] |
A Chinese couple forced their 4- year- old son to run naked during a snowstorm with the temperature dipping to -13degC in New York, where they were enjoying a holiday.
The boy's father calls himself "Eagle Dad". He says he follows the parenting style of eagles, which are known to push their babies off cliffs so that they learn to fly by themselves.
Different people have different ideas about it. Some people think it is proper to do like "Eagle Dad". The 4- year- old boy, Duoduo, was weak since he was born, so his father tried to help him train to keep strong. But others disagree, they think we should concentrate more on the best ways to teach children in these fast changing times.
Different families use different methods to teach children, but all of them should be allowed by the law. Parents should pay full attention to children's physical and metal conditions, and make sure the ways can help their children think and act positively.
As long as parents know this, they can use different methods to educate children. Every child has different character. Some children grow up to be success under the guidance of (......)"eagle dads" or "tiger moms". Others are also successful growing up under more considerate elders. | [{'question': 'Duoduo was made to _ on a snowy day.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['stay at home', 'exercise', 'jump from a cliff', 'go to school']}, {'question': "Duoduo's father was inspired by .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['the ways eagles train their babies', 'how eagles feed their babies', 'how baby eagles fell from the cliffs', 'the place where eagles live']}, {'question': 'The writer thought parents should .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['be strict with children', 'be kind to children', 'choose proper ways to educate children', 'tell children to obey the laws']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is WRONG?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The event happened in America.', 'Duoduo was only four years old.', 'The writer didn\'t agree "eagle dad\'s" educating method.', 'Different children have different characters.']}] |
Dear Mr. Lee,
I am Jack. I want to be in a club in our school. I can't sing or dance or act in movies, but I can do many other things. I can play three _ , the guitar, the violin and the piano. I think I can be in the music club. Maybe I can be a famous musician. I like reading story books and I can write stories. Maybe I can be a famous writer. I like sports too, but I don't think I can be a famous and successful sportsman . Can I join you?
Yours,
Jack | [{'question': "Jack can't _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['act in movies', 'write stories', 'play the violin', 'read']}, {'question': 'Jack thinks he can be a famous _ or a famous writer.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['sportsman', 'singer', 'actor', 'musician']}, {'question': 'What club can Jack join?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['The art club.', 'The sports club.', 'The movie club.', 'The music club.']}, {'question': "Why doesn't Jack join the sports club?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["He isn't good at sports.", 'He is not strong enough .', "He doesn't think he can be famous and successful in sports.", "He doesn't like sports."]}] |
Robots are supposed to run on batteries, right? Well not all of them.
Scientists in England have built a kind of small robots that get their energy from dead flies, bad apples, or sugar.
One robot, called Slugbot, was even designed to hunt garden slugs for dinner!
What's up with all that food?
Well, scientists at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory want to invent robots that can operate for a long time in dark, dirty, or dangerous places.
Many of those spots, like the seafloor or Antarctica, don't have electrical sockets .
So inventor Chris Melhuish came up with a better idea: Build robots that get their energy just like animals do by hunting and eating food from their environment.
One robot, called Ecobot II, could run for 12 days on a diet of eight flies! Of course, it'd still get a lot more power from one AA battery, though.
Melhuish says his team is now working on a new and improved robot, called Ecobot III, which will have a better digestion system.
It seems that after an eight fly dinner, Ecobot II couldn't deal with the leftover "waste".
Maybe restrooms in the future will have signs for boys, girls, and robots. | [{'question': 'An ordinary robot usually .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['gets its energy from sugar', 'depends on batteries to work', 'can get food for itself', 'can work a few minutes without energy']}, {'question': 'From the passage, we can infer that a slug .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['is a kind of insect', 'is a kind of fish', "can't see Slugbot", 'can eat Slugbot']}, {'question': 'What kind of robots do inventor Chris Melhuish want?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Robots that can provide people with food.', 'Robots that can work in dangerous places.', 'Robots that can get energy for themselves.', 'Robots that can be very small.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is NOT true according to this passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Robots need to work in places that have no sockets for power.', 'Melhuish is not very satisfied with Ecobot II.', 'Maybe there will be three kinds of restrooms in the future.', 'Ecobot II can turn its flies into energy completely.']}, {'question': 'What does the passage mainly tell us?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Robots are hard things to invent.', 'Scientists are working to improve robots.', 'Robots in the future need to eat food like human.', 'Scientists at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory are good at robots.']}] |
Ken and Anthony were childhood friends. They went to elementary and high school together. They went to college in different states, and then they lost touch. That was twenty years ago.
One morning Ken was reading the newspaper with his morning coffee. Inside he saw an announcement for a poetry reading at a nearby bookstore. He was surprised to find that the featured poet was none other than his friend Anthony. Ken decided to see what his old pal was up to.
Ken sat in the last row of the area set up inside the bookstore. When Anthony was introduced and came up the podium, Ken hardly recognized him. Anthony was almost completely bald and had a little potbelly . When Anthony was in high school, he was very handsome. What Anthony had lost in looks was made up for in talent. Anthony's poetry was quite good.
Anthony recognized Ken sitting in the back row. When the reading was over, Ken stood in line with the others waiting for Anthony to sign a copy of his book. When it was Ken's turn, Anthony stood up and hugged his long lost friend. Anthony invited Ken to stay until he had finished signing books. Ken did, and the two men grabbed a cup of coffee at a nearby cafe.
Even though so many years had passed since the two had seen each other, both men had a lot in common. Both graduated from college with degrees in comparative literature . Both went to graduate school. Anthony got his Master's of Fine Art in writing. Ken went to law school. Both men married Mexican women. Both men also had sons that were only a year apart. Ken and Anthony decided not to lose touch again. They planned to meet once a month for breakfast on Saturdays. | [{'question': 'Ken found his long lost friend from the _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['radio', 'TV', 'magazine', 'newspaper']}, {'question': 'How did Ken probably feel while seeing Anthony at the bookstore?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Worried.', 'Amazed.', 'Frightened.', 'Relaxed.']}, {'question': 'What can be the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Childhood friends', 'Childhood memories', 'Changes of friends', 'Ways to get friends back']}] |
I am Steve. I was born and grew up in South Wales. My favorite place to play was out on the hills where my imagination had plenty of space to expand .
My family moved out of Wales when I was thirteen. I went to a new school. One of my subjects was French. Because I had never learned any French, my teacher told me to sit in the corner and write anything I was interested in. That's the time I started writing, just for myself, and I've been writing ever since.
I have always loved BIG IDEAS, and so I enjoy writing fantastic stories. And I also write horror I think they are like the old fairytales ,and can teach you important things.
I am in my forties on the outside, twelve on the inside. I like rock music, Indian and Chinese food, and I enjoy drinking. I live in a small village with my wife Mary, ducks, cats, goats, hens and lots of rabbits. If you'd like to find out more about me and hope to buy any books, go to | [{'question': 'When he was 13, the writer _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['wrote lots of poems', 'moved out of Wales', 'sold many story books', 'became a famous singer']}, {'question': 'He liked playing out on the hills because he could _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['expand his imagination', 'learn French', 'listen to stories', 'buy some books']}, {'question': 'Maybe the writer is _ years old now.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['12', '22', '32', '42']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, the write keeps _', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['cats, hens and pigs', 'ducks, goats and rabbits', 'hens, rabbits and dogs', 'rabbits, pigs and cats']}, {'question': 'From the passage, we can learn that the writer _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['lives in a big city with his son', 'likes eating Japanese and Indian food', 'lives in the countryside with his wife', 'introduces a nice book to us']}] |
Hello! My name is Zhang Fei. I am Chinese. I am twelve. I'm in No.1 Middle School in Nanjing. This is my friend. His name is Tony Green. He is an English boy .He is twelve. He and I are in the same class. Our classroom is next to the teachers' office .We have Chinese and English lessons every day. Our English teacher is Mr. Read. He is English but he can speak Chinese. Our Chinese teacher is Mr. Ding. They are good teachers, and they are our friends, too | [{'question': 'Tony Green has a Chinese friend in _ now.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['England', 'America', 'No.2Middle School.', 'China']}, {'question': 'Zhang Fei and Tony Green are _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['not at the same age', 'in an English school', 'eleven', 'in the same class']}, {'question': "Mr. Read is Zhang Fei's _", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['English teacher', 'Chinese teacher', 'father', 'classmate']}, {'question': 'Mr. Ding is a teacher of(......) _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['English', 'Chinese', 'a high school', 'an English school']}, {'question': 'Tony green is from _', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['China', 'America', 'England', 'Australia']}] |
Today, after many days of practice and lots of matches, we entered the basketball final.
I was the leader of the team. At the very beginning, one student from our team got the ball and quickly shot a basket. Oh, it went in, 2:0. All our classmates cheered.
But after a few minutes there were some mistakes and we lost eight points. I changed two players, but it didn't help.
At that time all our teammates felt worried and we even quarreled with each other angrily. "It's no use crying over spilt milk!" I shouted, "We must face it !" Let's think about our mistakes and stop making them!"
We had a short meeting . The second half of the match began. There was a big change. At first, our team got the ball and I shot from the three-point line at once. The ball did a beautiful curve and went straight into the basket.
I become very confident. The other team was still very strong.
A good chance came! I got the ball again and shot into the basket! 12:9! I couldn't believe my eyes! Am I that good at shooting? How could I get so many points?
We stayed in the lead. Finally the score was 18:16. We won! | [{'question': 'The passage mainly talks about _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['a basketball match', 'a basketball team', 'skills of playing basketball', 'ways to win a basketball match']}, {'question': "At first, the writer's team was losing because _ .", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['they felt upset', 'they kept arguing', 'they made mistakes', 'their classmates cheered too loud!']}, {'question': 'The final score of the basketball match is _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['2:0', '12:9', '18:16', '18:18']}, {'question': 'We can tell from the story that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['basketball is too hard a game to play', 'confidence comes from failure', 'failure can surely bring success', 'learning from failure can make one succeed']}] |
Can plants eat people? Probably not, but there are many plants that eat meat. Some of them are big. And they can eat small animals. One famous meat-eating plant is the Venus flytrap .
The Venus flytrap is a very strange plant. It grows in dry parts of the United States. Its leaves are like the pages of a book. They can open and close very quickly. Inside the leaves, there are three small hairs. If a fly touches one of the hairs, the leaf closes quickly. The fly cannot get out. In about half an hour, the leaf _ the fly until it is dead. Then, the plant covers the fly. Slowly, the plant eats the fly.
Why do plants do it? Most plants get what they need from the sun, the air, and the ground. In some places, the ground is very poor. It doesn't have all these important things, especially nitrogen . Animal meat has a lot of nitrogen, so some plants eat meat to get what they need. Let's hope that some of the bigger plants don't get the same idea! | [{'question': 'The Venus flytrap is a kind of _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['plant', 'animal', 'food', 'meat']}, {'question': 'Why do some plants eat animal meat?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Because plants are dangerous to animals.', 'Because animals are dangerous to plants.', 'Because plants want to get what they need from animal meat.', 'Because plants want to protect themselves against animals.']}] |
Mr. White lives on the 20th floor in a tall building in Beijing. His office is about ten kilometers from home. His wife and his children are now in America for holidays.
Today Mr. White leaves his home at eight in the moming. He takes the lift down to the first floor, gets out of the lift and walks to his car. Oh, dear! His car is broken. He waits for a taxi but there's not any empty one. So he has to go by bus.
Mr. White gets to his office at nine twenty. He is very late. Today he has a lot of work to do. He does it quickly and he has only one hamburger and a cup oforange juice for his lunch. Mr. White leaves his office at half past six. When he gets to his building, he quickly gets into the lift. Oh, dear! The lift doesn't work! He has to walk up to the 20th floor. But when he gets there, he finds he forgets to take the key with him.
What can he do now? Poor Mr. White! | [{'question': 'Mr. White goes to work by bus because _', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["he doesn't have a car", "he doesn't like to take a taxi", "there's something wrong with his car", 'his key is in the office']}, {'question': 'Today Mr. White _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['must be very tired', "doesn't work hard in the office", "isn't late for work", 'eats lunch outside the office']}, {'question': 'From the passage we can see Mr. White _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['is not healthy', 'is now in China', "can't drive a car", 'likes Chinese food']}, {'question': 'Which is wrong?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["Mr. White's home is far from his work place.", 'Mr. White works very hard.', 'Mr. White works in China.', 'The lift is broken early in the morning.']}] |
It takes a lot of skills and hard work to set a world record in pumpkin-carving . Steve Clarke, a sixth-grade teacher from Pennsylvania, is a famous carver . Clarke has set many world records for carving pumpkins quickly. When he competes, he must cut our two eyes, two eyebrows, a nose, a mouth, and two ears as fast as possible. But Clarke knows something else about pumpkin-carving. It's easier to get a record than to keep it.
He took the t _ in 2000 when he carved a pumpkin face in 74.8 seconds. That time was 19 seconds faster than what Jerry had set. From then on, Clarke broke his own records five times. In 2006, he set his best time in Florida. His winning time was 24.03 seconds!
The only problem is that someone finally beat that mark. On October 7, 2010, David set the new record with 20.1 seconds. Clarke was not able to break that record this year, but he has planned to break the record. After Halloween, he will go to local pumpkin farms to practise designs and new skills.
Clarke is popular because of his super pumpkin-carving skills. In 1999, he carved more than 30 pumpkins at the Halloween party for then vice-president Al Gore. | [{'question': 'What do you need to have if you want to set a record in pumpkin-carving?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Pumpkin farms.', 'Hard work.', 'Extra money.', 'Free time.']}, {'question': "What was Clarke's best record in pumpkin-carving competitions?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['74.8 seconds.', '24.03 seconds.', '20.1 seconds.', '19 seconds.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Clarke is from Pennsylvania.', 'Clarke is good at carving but he never practices his skills.', 'Clarke only set one world record for carving pumpkins.', 'Clarke was still the winner of the pumpkin-carving competition in 2010.']}] |
Luke Dollar has spent many years in Madagascar studying lemurs .
Reporter: What were you like as a kid?
Dollar: As a kid, I was an explorer. I lived with my grandparents on a farm in Alabama. It wasn't unusual for me to go to the woods. And I enjoyed that. From the time I was 6 to 16 years old I was an actor. My mom asked me to audition
for a show in Birmingham. I asked my mom to buy me some video games and she promised , so I got the part. Later, I became a professional actor. So for several years I went everywhere from the Alabama farm to many other cities -- all over the USA doing stage productions.
Reporter: How did you get into your field of work?
Dollar: I grew up on a farm and I was really a wild child and came to love wild things. I did a lot of photography in high school. I became a photographer and did photography for the local paper. Then I became a student of Duke University. Duke has a primate centre -- Lemur Centre. I got a job there as a work study student and met lemurs there for the first time.
Later I had a chance to go to Madagascar and decided to study lemurs.
Reporter: What's the one thing you can't travel without?
Dollar: A sense of humour or a can-do attitude is necessary, but my first response was soy sauce. If we run out of soy sauce, the journey is over.
,. | [{'question': "What was Luke's childhood like?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Boring.', 'Enjoyable.', 'Peaceful.', 'Unhappy.']}, {'question': 'Luke decided to audition for the show because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['he was really interested in it', 'he wanted to help his friend', 'his mother allowed him to go to the farm', 'his mother promised to buy him some video games']}, {'question': 'Where did Luke meet lemurs for the first time?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['At Duke University.', 'In Birmingham.', "On his grandparent's farm.", 'In Madagascar.']}, {'question': 'What do we know from the dialogue ?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["Luke's mother is a good photographer.", 'Luke come to love wild animals because of his mother .', 'Luke had been to Madagascar before he went to Duke University.', "Luck doesn't think he can travel without soy sauce."]}] |
Train-spotting
Many people around the world have seen Danny Boyle's movie Train spotting starring Ewan McGregor, but how many of us really know what train-spotting is all about? Now this is not considered cool in town and the word "train-spotter" in Britain is related to "geek" or "nerd" (someone who seems very ridiculous). But is this reputation really deserved?
First of all, let's see what train-spotting is. It is said that there are some 100,000 train spotters in the UK. Exactly as the title suggests, they spot trains, that is, they stand in train stations, look at the number of each train that leaves and arrives and write it down. The eventual aim is to have seen every train in the country.
Being crazy about railways and trains is not modern and it dates back to 1804. As the number of trains grew and they got faster and faster, so did the interest in them grow? Is this any stranger than people who love cars?
So, what do you need to be a train-spotter? Well, all you really need is a pen or pencil and a notebook to write down the train numbers. Other equipment includes hot tea in a thermos, a camera and some sandwiches for those long afternoons spent on train platforms when you don't want to risk the delights of railway station food.
It's interesting to note that despite the "bad name" of train-spotting, there have been famous railway lovers in history, such as Alfred Hitchcock, who filmed them regularly, especially The 39 Steps. There is evidence, too, that being a train-spotter is not necessarily a strange phenomenon in Britain.
One glance at the US train stations should be enough to convince you that train-spotters there are alive and well. In America, they try to call rail lovers "train-fans" and talk of "train-fanning". Don't let this fool you--these people are train spotters and there are a lot of them. Each month, two million pages are visited on the website TrainWeb.org.
340words | [{'question': 'What is train-spotting according to the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['A kind of hobby.', 'A type of sport.', 'A strange phenomenon.', 'A special job.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following about train-spotters is true according to the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['They number each train they see.', 'They keep a careful path of every train.', 'They count the trains passing in front of them.', 'They produce films about trains with video cameras.']}, {'question': 'The writer writes the passage to_.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['introduce some famous train-spotters', 'encourage readers to do more train-spotting', 'try to present a true picture of train-spotting', 'describe the necessary equipment in train-spotting']}, {'question': 'What do we learn from the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Train-spotters in the UK want to fool people.', 'Train-spotting is more acceptable in America.', 'Train-spotters are much stranger than car lovers.', 'Train-spotting relates to(...)a dangerous lifestyle.']}] |
In America, there is a traditional story called a "tall tale". A tall tale is a story about a person who is larger than life. The descriptions in the story are exaggerated , which makes the story funny. People who had lived in undeveloped areas in America first told tall tales. After a hard day's work, they would get together to tell each other funny stories. One character from these stories was Paul Bunyan, a hero who cut down trees in North America. Tradition says he cleared forests from the northeastern United States to the Pacific Ocean.
It is said that Paul Bunyan was born in the northeastern American state of Maine. His mother and father were shocked when they first saw the boy. When the boy was only a few weeks old, he weighed more than forty-five kilograms. As a child, Paul was always hungry. His parents needed ten cows to supply milk for his meals. Before long, he ate fifty eggs and ten containers of potatoes every day. Young Paul grew so big that his parents did not know what to do with him. Once, Paul rolled over so much in his sleep that he caused an earthquake. This angered people in the town where his parents lived. So the government told his mother and father they would have to move him somewhere else. Paul's parents had to take him into the woods where he grew up. | [{'question': 'From the passage we learn that tall tales were first told by _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['workers who cut down trees in America', 'people in poor areas in America', 'Paul Bunyan, a traditional figure', 'forest guards in poor areas in America']}, {'question': 'Paul Bunyan was _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['a story teller', 'a war hero', 'a tree cutter', 'a famous writer']}, {'question': "From Paul Bunyan's diet, we can learn _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['he was a huge man who needed a lot of food for energy', 'he had to eat a lot of food because of his heavy work', 'there must be something wrong with his health', 'he was a kind of strong animal']}, {'question': "Paul's parents took him back to the woods because they _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['wanted Paul to learn swimming', 'was afraid that Paul would cause another earthquake', 'was afraid that an earthquake would hurt Paul', "hoped that they wouldn't make Paul angry"]}] |
A young British man called Luke Cameron has done a good deed every day for more than a year and he says it has completely changed his life.
Luke made a decision at the beginning of 2014.He started by doing one small good thing every single day from January 1st, 2014.For example, he greeted the waiter at a cafe on New Year's Day and he bought food and drink for some homeless people the next day.
He set up a website where he could write down all his good deeds, like helping the neighbor take out the rubbish or spending a few hours in helping a disabled lady pick out a dress for a party.
"I've never thought of any return from helping others.Actually, it has given me happiness and I have become more thankful and grateful for the things I have now." Luke said.He has decided to continue doing good deeds in 2015.
Luke won the competition for the job of National Philanthropy Manager because of his kind deeds.He will travel all over the UK and help 45 different charities in 2015.
"I used to work as a part-time worker in a shop.Now I become the National Philanthropy Manager." Luke said, "I think I've helped myself by helping others." | [{'question': 'Which of the following is NOT a good deed for Luke?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Walking the dog for his neighbor.', 'Cleaning the house for his old neighbor.', 'Spending his own money buying food for people in need.', 'Selling things to customers when he worked in the shop.']}, {'question': 'How did Luke win the competition for the job of National Philanthropy Manager?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['By having a kind heart.', 'By doing many good deeds.', 'By writing down good deeds.', 'By spending all his money.']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, we can know that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Luke was very rich in the past', 'Luke has done good deeds for over a year', 'Luke wrote down his good deeds in a notebook', 'Luke became more thankful when he began to do good deeds']}, {'question': 'The passage is probably from _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['a newspaper', 'a novel', 'an advertisement', 'a scientific book']}] |
Sam is twenty-seven now. He's tall and strong. He worked hard in the small field. He's known a girl called Mabel for three years, who lives in another village. He wishes she could marry him soon, but she won't marry him until he has built a new house. He hasn't enough money. Of course it's difficult for him to do so.
Winter had come and the fields were covered with thick snow. Sam had nothing to do at home. Mabel told him to find some _ in the town. He thought she was right and came to Mr White's factory, where he carried stones from the hill to the workplaces. It was hard work but he was paid more. At the end of the month Mr White paid the young man nearly two thousand dollars. He was very happy. He hurried to the post office, but it was closed. He had a look at the clock on the wall. It was half past five, and he was told to go there the next morning. He had to return to the factory. He felt hungry and went into a restaurant and ate something. He didn't see a thief following him, and as soon as he sat at table, the man sat down next to him and asked him to drink a cup with him. He agreed and drank a lot. And when he woke up two hours later, his money was stolen. He was sad of it and cried for a long time.
The following day Mr White saw the young man's eyes were red and asked what had happened to him. He told him about it and at last he said, "I worked for the thief last month!"
,. | [{'question': "Mabel doesn't marry Sam because _ .", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['he lives in a small field', "he's a poor farmer", 'he lives in an old house', 'he is too tall']}, {'question': 'Mabel asked Sam to _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['make money in the town', 'borrow some money from his friend', 'spend the winter in town', 'build a house in her village']}, {'question': 'Sam went the post office to _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['ring up Mabel', 'post the money', 'buy some stamps', 'post a letter']}, {'question': 'The money was stolen when _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Sam left the factory', 'Sam went into the restaurant', 'Sam ate something in the restaurant', 'the thief got Sam drunk.']}] |
Dear Boris,
Thanks for your nice letter.
After I had spent a week with my English family, I slowly began to understand their English a little better. It's very different from what I learned at school! Students in my group are from different cities of Britain and their dialects are different too! Some of their accents are quite strong and they also have their own words and expressions.
But it's not the language that's different and surprising. Before I came to England I had thought that fish and chips were eaten every day. That's quite wrong! I get rather mad now when I hear all the foolish words about typical English food.
I had expected to see "London fog". Do you remember our texts about it? We had no idea that most of this 'thick fog' disappeared many years ago when people stopped using coal in their homes. But the idea to speak about the weather was very helpful. The weather in London is really changeable.
On the other hand habits are different. People tell me what is typically British here in London is not always typical in Wales or Scotland. Local habits and traditions are not the same as what we knew.
But what is ordinary for all British is that they follow traditions. Probably Britain has more living signs of its past than many other countries. And people have always been proud of having ancient buildings in capitals, big cities and the countryside.
I will tell you more about Britain in my other letters.
Love from Britain,
Peter | [{'question': 'What does Pete feel about the English language?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['At first it was difficult for him to understand people.', 'He can understand different dialects and accents.', 'He can speak English better than others.', "People can't understand his English."]}, {'question': 'Typical English food _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['makes people mad', "can't be seen now", 'is always fish and chips', 'is not what he knew']}, {'question': 'The British people like to talk about weather because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['there is thick fog in London', 'they like the weather in Britain', 'the weather changes a lot', 'it can be helpful']}, {'question': 'What do you know about habits in Britain from the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['They are not the same in different parts of Britain.', 'Habits in Wales and Scotland are typically British.', 'There are no typical British habits in Britain.', 'All that is typically British is in London.']}, {'question': 'Which is NOT true according to the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["What he's seen is quite different from what he'd learned", 'British people like to follow traditions.', 'Peter had learned about Britain before.', "Peter doesn't like his life in Britain."]}] |
After my husband died, my world crashed around me. My six children were 10, nine, eight, six, three and 18 months, and I was overwhelmed with the responsibilities of earning a living, caring for the children and simply _ .
I was fortunate to find a wonderful housekeeper to care for the children during the week, but from Friday nights to Monday mornings, the children and I were alone, and frankly I was uneasy. Every unusual noise or any late-night phone call filled me with fear. I felt incredibly alone.
One Friday evening I came home from work to find a big beautiful German shepherd on our doorstep. It was obvious he wanted to make the house his home. The children took an instant liking to "German" and begged me to let him in. I agreed to let him sleep in the basement until the next day. That night I slept peacefully for the first time in many weeks.
The following morning we made phone calls and checked lost-and-found ads for German's owner, but with no results. Saturday night he was still with us.
On Sunday I had planned to take the children on a picnic. Since I thought it best to leave German behind in case his owner came by, we drove off without him. When we stopped to get gas at a local station, we were amazed to see German racing to the gas station after us. He stayed again Sunday night.
Monday morning I let him out for a run while the children got ready for school. He didn't come back. We thought we'd never see him again. On Friday evening, German was back again. We took him in, and again he stayed until Monday morning, when our housekeeper arrived. It went like this for almost 10 months. We looked forward to his coming each Monday morning he left home.
Each week, between German's visits, I grew a little braver, but every weekend I enjoyed his company. Then one Monday morning we patted his head and let him out for what turned out to be the last time. He never came back. | [{'question': "When the author's husband died, _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["she couldn't raise the six children on her own", "she couldn't relax on the weekends", 'The housekeeper only came on weekends', 'she was too busy to feel lonely']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is Wrong according to the article?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['German was fond of living with the family.', 'The writer felt safe and protected with German around.', 'The dog stayed until the writer was strong enough to go on alone.', "The writer was too busy that weekend to go find the dog's owner."]}, {'question': 'Which is the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['A homeless dog', "A friend's strength", 'How to keep a dog', 'Keep up when in trouble']}] |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.