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(Reuters)The Thunderbird is one of the most readily recognized creatures of American Indian mythology.While the vast majority of biologists believe the Thunderbird myth to be nothing more than a spiritual symbol, some zoologists believe that the hard may actually exist. I still vividly recall seeing an impossibly large raptor when I was five years old, which a few people have said might be the Thunderbird.Standing in my grandmother's back yard in Alabama, I recall watching an enormous black bird with a swallow - like tail flying directly over me from an oak tree. Its wingspan seemed to be at least three times my height, which would have made it at least fourteen feet across. While the early childhood memory is often unreliable, I clearly remember the details of the "Thunderbird".To this very day, I sometimes stand on my grandmother' s yard, eyeballing the old oak tree, but I have not yet seen another bird that resembles the giant bird.I have seen eagles, and hawks - but never another Thunderbird. Other modern sightings of what may have been thunderbirds have also occurred.In 1977, three boys were playing in a neighborhood in Illinois.They reported that two large birds chased after them.One of the boys was attacked and suffered somewhat serious injuries, He was carried a few feet off the ground, before the bird dropped him and disappeared into the wilderness. Several people interviewed the boys and their story remained the same, even under the pressure.the description of the birds somewhat matched the Andean condor ; however, these massive condors have never been known to exist in the United States. Another sighting came in 2002, in Alaska, when many people reported seeing a bird with a fourteen - foot wingspan.After being investigated, it was finally concluded that the bird was most likely a particularly large sea eagle, which typically has a wingspan of six to eight fickle. I will probably never know what the strange -looking giant bird from the oak tree was, and biologists will probably never be able to fully confirm the identity of the giant raptors spotted in Illinois and Alaska.If the Thunderbird does indeed exist, it will probably continue to remain mysterious.

[{'question': "What's the best title for the passage?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['A massive bird spotted in America', 'Could the thunderbird actually exist?', 'Some strange birds sighed by people', 'Sea eagle, condor, raptor or thunderbird?']}, {'question': 'What can be leant from the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Three Thunderbirds have been witnessed so far.', 'The Thunderbird are similar to sea eagles in size.', 'Three boys were injured by the Thunderbird in 1977.', 'The huge bird left a deep impression upon the author.']}, {'question': 'How is the passage mainly organized?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['By giving examples.', 'By following time order', 'By making comparisons.', 'By presenting a general idea.']}]

People with disabilities make up a large part of the population. It is estimated that over 35 million Americans have physical, mental, or other disabilities. About half of these disabilities are "developmental", i.e., they occur before the individual's twenty-second birthday, often from genetic conditions, and are severe enough to affect three or more areas of development, such as mobility, communication, employment, etc. Most other disabilities are considered "adventitious", i.e., accidental or caused by outside forces. Prior to the 20th century, only a small percentage of people with disabilities survived for long. Medical treatment for these disabilities was unavailable. Advancements in medicine and social services have created a climate in which people with disabilities can expect to have such basic needs as food, shelter, and medical treatment. Unfortunately, these basics are often not available. Civil liberties such as the right to vote, marry, get an education, and gain employment have historically been denied on the basis of disability. In recent decades, the disability rights movement has been organized to fight against these infringements(;)of civil rights. Congress responded by passing major legislation recognizing people with disabilities as a protected class under civil rights statutes. Still today, people with disabilities must fight to live their lives independently. It is estimated that more than half of qualified Americans with disabilities are unemployed, and a majority of those who do work are underemployed. About two-thirds live at or below the official poverty level. Significant barriers, especially in transportation and public awareness, prevent disabled people from taking part in society. For example, while no longer prohibited by law from marrying, a person with no access to transportation is effectively excluded from community and social activities which might lead to the development of long-term relationships. Only when public attitudes advance as far as laws have will disabled people be fully able to take their rightful place in society.

[{'question': 'A "developmental" disability _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['develops very slowly over time', 'is caused by forces', 'occurs in youth and affects development', 'is getting more and more severe']}, {'question': 'Most disabled people used to die early because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['disabilities destroyed major bodily functions', 'they were not very well looked after', 'medical techniques were not available', 'they were too poor to get proper treatment']}, {'question': "In the author's opinion, to enable the disabled people to take their rightful place in society, _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['more laws should be passed', 'public attitudes should be changed', 'government should provide more aids', 'more public facilities should be set up']}, {'question': 'Which of the following cannot be inferred from the passage ?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Many disabled people may remain single for their whole life.', 'The public tends to look down upon the disabled people.', 'The disabled people feel inferior to those surrounding them.', 'Discriminatory laws prevent the disabled from mixing with others.']}, {'question': 'The best title for this passage might be _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Handicaps of People with Disabilities', 'The physical difficulties of the Disabled', 'The Causes for Disabilities', 'Medical Treatments for Disabilities']}]

In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits . Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent - controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city. Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low - paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. The price, which is the wage that employers must pay, increases. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.

[{'question': 'There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may_.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['cause a shortage of apartments', 'worry those who rent apartments as homes', 'increase the profits of landlords', 'encourage landlords to invest in building apartment']}, {'question': 'According to the critics, rent control_.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['will always benefit those who rent apartments', 'is unnecessary', 'will bring negative effects in the long run', 'is very necessary']}, {'question': 'The problem of unemployment will happen_.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['if the minimum wage is set too high', 'if the minimum wage is set too low', 'if the workers are unskilled', 'if the maximum wage is set']}, {'question': 'The passage tells us_.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['the relationship between supply and demand', 'the possible results of government controls', 'the necessity of government control', 'the urgency of getting rid of government controls']}]

Willie Stewart still remembers his first day of kayaking through the grand Canyon. He was getting bounced around in the roughest white water he had ever seen. There was nothing the river threw at him. There he was in a 40-pound boat, with only a few months of training and one arm. Tied to his left shoulder was a prosthetic limb that he'd had for just about a week. The plan was to paddle for 20 days over 227 miles of the roughest white water in the United States. It was one of the most remarkable adventures that the Grand Canyon had ever seen. It started with a casual phone call in the spring of 2005. A good friend, Mike Crenshaw, finally got a permit from the National Park Service to lead a private party of 16 boaters down the Colorado River that coming August. He had a slot open for Willie, "Was he interested ?" "It was the chance of a lifetime," Stewart said. He had been waiting years for this trip to happen. "How could I refuse ?" But before they set off, Stewart had a couple of things to take care of. He had to get a white-water kayak, learn how to use it, and get an arm. For most of his life, the _ 45-year-old man has lived with only his right arm. He lost his left arm in a horrible accident when he was 18.Stewart was doing a summer construction job inprefix = st1 /Washington,D.C.The trailing end of rope he was carrying got twisted in an industrial fan. Before he could react, the fan reeled in the rope tight and cut his arm just above the elbow. He became a bitter young man, angry at the unfairness of what had happened ,and often got into fights. In time, he learned to channel his rage into sports. He joined a rugby team, established a reputation as a fearless player and eventually was elected captain. His days of rage long gone, he found peace and purpose in his life.

[{'question': 'What had urged Willie Stewart to paddle down the Colorado River ?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["His family's support", 'His great determination', 'His curiosity', 'His dream']}, {'question': 'From the passage we can know that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Stewart was depressed at one time', 'Stewart lost his left arm 22 years ago', 'Stewart never complained about the unfairness of life', 'Stewart was persuaded to kayak through the Grand Canyon']}, {'question': 'What can we learn form the story ?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['An optimist sees the rose ; a pessimist sees the thorn', 'Nothing is too difficult if you put your heart into it', 'A change of self is needed more than a change of scene', 'If winter comes, can spring be far away ?']}]

Iceland, an island just south of the Arctic Circle, has fairly mild winters, thanks to warm ocean currents. Time your vacation here during the winter months to take advantage of off-season deals. Off-season means good deals on flights, hotels and tours. You may also find that the locals are a bit friendlier and more welcoming when tourists aren't arriving in crowds. In the winter months, there are less than seven hours of daylight; thus, chances are good you'll catch sight of the northern lights. Sunsets are also beautiful at this time, making for some great photo opportunities. In Iceland, winter is the perfect time to hike glaciers, go ice climbing, explore caves made out of hardened lava and much more. One of the most popular activities is off-roading in a specially-equipped "super jeep". Before booking your trip, be sure to check for volcano alerts. There are about 130 volcanoes on or around Iceland. Thirty-five of them are active. In 2010, a volcano named Eyjaallajokull exploded, sending clouds of ash up to four kilometers into the atmosphere. The ash drifted toward the UK and Europe. Because the ask could damage aircraft engines, airlines operating in the region were forced to cancel flights for six days. As a result, thousands of people were stuck in airports. Recently, another volcano named Bardarbunga has become active, erupting ash into the air. Such events, if large enough, could prevent your trip from going ahead. So check the latest volcano news prior to making your reservations.

[{'question': 'According to this article, why are you more likely to see the northern lights in the winter?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['They move from rural areas to cities.', 'The weather is more stable at that time.', "They're a special feature of many festivals.", 'The sky is dark for longer periods then.']}, {'question': 'According to the article, how do visitors to Iceland have fun in the winter?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['They learn how to ski down the mountains.', 'They photograph famous historic sites..', 'They explore the countryside in well made vehicles..', 'They spend a week at one of the seaside resorts.']}, {'question': 'What is true about the volcanoes of Iceland?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['The majority of them are quiet.', "Their age hasn't been determined.", 'All but one of them are extinct.', "Citizens aren't affected by them."]}, {'question': 'What does this article explain?.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["Some of Iceland's urban cultural attractions.", 'A way t reduce the cost of a trip to Iceland.', 'Reasons for visiting Iceland in June and July.', 'The average price for a short tour of Iceland.']}]

When American inventor Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, it was a revolution in communication. For the first time, people could talk to each other over great distances. Over the last two decades a new means of spoken communication has appeared: the mobile phone. The mobile phone is like a two-way radio. But the two-way radio is a limited means of communication. As soon as the users move out of range of each other's broadcast area, the signal is lost. In the 1940s, researchers experimented with the idea of using a number of radio masts to pick up signals from two-way radios. A caller would always be within range of one of the masts. When he or she moved too far away from one mast, the next mast would pick up the signal. (Scientists referred to each mast's reception area as being a "cell". This is why in many countries mobile phones are called "cellphones".) However, 1940s' technology was just at the beginning. The "mobile phones" were huge boxes. They had to be moved by car. The first real mobile telephone call was made in 1973 by Dr Martin Cooper. As soon as his invention was complete, he tested it by calling a rival scientist to announce his success. Within a decade, mobile phones became available to the public. They have changed the way we do a lot of things. One powerful feature is: the short message service (SMS) or text message. It's the perfect communication method for the busy modern lifestyle. The text message has changed the way we write in English. The language construction became more lax . Traditional rules of grammar and spelling are much less important. Over the last few years mobiles have become more and more advanced. We have seen the introduction of cameras, global positioning system and Internet access. Alexander Graham Bell would be surprised if he could see how far the science of the telephone has developed in less than 150 years. If he were around today, he might say: '''That's gr8! But I'm v busy rite now. Will call U 2nite.'

[{'question': 'The article is intended to _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['warn people of the possible risks in using mobile phones', 'inform readers of the history and benefits of mobile phones', 'convince people of the uses of mobile phones', 'predict the applications of mobile phones']}, {'question': 'The last sentence of the whole passage \'\'That\'s gr8! But I\'m v busy rite now. Will call U 2nite." May probably means _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["That's great! But I'm very busy right now. (I) Will call you tonight", "It's eight now. I'm very busy. (I) Will call you tonight", "That's great! But I'm busy writing now. (I) Will call you at two tonight", '"8" is great! But I\'m very busy right now. (I) Will call it "U" tonight']}]

"Hitler and the Germans," an exhibition in Berlin's German Historical Museum which aims to investigate the society that created Hitler, has seen more than 10,000 visitors walk through its doors since opening on Friday. Rudolf Trabold, a spokesman for the museum, said there were 4,000 visitors to the exhibition on the first day alone. People visiting the exhibition said they had waited as long as one and a half hours to get in. Ravi Nair, a 73-year-old Indian visitor, said: "I had to queue for about an hour but it was worth it. The exhibition should help people in democratic countries realize that their vote is very valuable." Trabold said "Hitler and the Germans" was so popular because it was the first exhibition to explain how a man who lived on the margins of society for 30 years, in Vienna's men's hostels, could become an almost mythical leader of the German people. "We are all affected by Hitler, so it speaks to all of us and helps Germans and foreigners to come to terms with the past." Inge Lonning, a 72-year-old tourist from Norway said: "I thought the exhibition was very impressive. I wanted to see it because I experienced the German occupation of Norway as a small child, so it's not just history for me." But not everyone was convinced there was something new to be learned from the exhibition. "So much has been done about this period over the years, it was like, I knew this and I knew that," said Canadian Julien Cayer, aged 28. "I thought I'd find something new but I didn't." There has been widespread concern in the German media that the exhibition could become a magnet for neo-Nazi admirers of Hitler, but Trabold said that although there had been some right-wing extremist visitors, they had not caused any problems.

[{'question': 'What is the main idea of the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['People have different attitudes to "Hitler and the Germans".', '"Hitler and the Germans" attracts plenty of people.', 'What effect "Hitler and the Germans" has on history.', 'What people should learn from "Hitler and the Germans".']}, {'question': '"Hitler and the Germans" is open to _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['remind people not to forget history.', 'show how Hitler was hated by people', 'study the society that created Hitler', 'save money for economy growth']}, {'question': 'Trabold thought "Hitler and the Germans" was so popular because _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['help people in democratic countries realize that their vote is very valuable', 'it was the first exhibition to explain how a man from the bottom of society becomes a leader', 'people can learn a lot from the exhibition', 'people have been affected by Hitler']}, {'question': 'Who experienced the German occupation according to the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Inge Lonning.', 'Ravi Nair.', 'Rudolf Trabold.', 'Julien Cayer']}, {'question': 'What can we learn from the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['The visitors coming to "Hitler and the Germans" are all old people.', '"Hitler and the Germans" has made an impression on every visitor.', 'Some neo-Nazi admirers of Hitler have caused a lot of trouble.', 'People visit "Hitler and the Germans" with variety of purposes.']}]

One day, I was studying at home . Suddenly, there was a loud noise. I went out of my house to see what had happened . What I saw made me scared. A building in my neighborhood was on fire. Some people were using water to put out the fire; others were rushing towards the building to help put out the fire. The building had three floors. The fire started on the first floor. Soon, it spread to the second floor. There were some people on the second floor at that time. Their lives were in danger. A few people jumped out of the window. Luckily, they only got small injuries. Those who were still on the second floor were just crying for help. The people outside didn't know how to help the people inside to get out. Firefighters arrived at last. They fought the fire bravely. Water pipes were used and a ladder was put near the second-floor window. Then the people inside were taken out by the firefighters. They were seriously injured and were taken to the hospital at once. Thanks to the firefighters, the people inside were saved and the fire was put out in the end, but many things, such as desk, pictures and clothes, were damaged.

[{'question': '_ was on fire.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["The author's room", 'A ladder', "A building in the author's neighborhood", 'Only the second floor of the building']}, {'question': '_ put out the fire in the end.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['The firefighters and the people inside the building', 'The people on the second floor', 'The people in the street', 'The firefighters']}, {'question': 'The people who jumped out of the window _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['were seriously injured', 'died', 'were taken to the hospital', 'got small injuries']}, {'question': "How did the people who didn't jump out of the window get out of the building?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['They were taken out by the firefighters.', 'They climbed down a ladder by themselves.', 'They walked out of the building after the fire was put out.', 'They were taken out by doctors']}]

My dad is a wonderful man.He worked hard all his life and has never let me down.if one person influenced me to go to college and become a better person, it's him. Every morning my dad would wake up at 4 am.He would do some writing and then Ieave for work.He would get off work at 5 pm and spend the remaining day with his family.Any time I needed him,he was there.He was a great role model.My dad is a typical family man.He supports us financially and emotionally.He bends over backward to support his family. My dad is the reason why I try to support my son as much as I can.He is also the reason why I have decided to spend less time with friends and more time with family.Now I'm a much better woman.I once worked hard at my studies in school and now do well in my work.My dad became a manager in less than three years and I hope to do the same.I have had the same job for one and a half years now.I have gotten two raises and become a shift leader. - I remember 1 worked extremely hard in schoo1.I never missed a day and I never went to school late.I graduated two years ago.It is something for me to be proud of, and it is the first step towards becoming a psychologist.My father is more than 2,000 miles away, but I never forget what he did for us.Every day my work gets really hard,I think of my dad.Every time I feel like giving up,I think of him.

[{'question': 'With the example of two raises,the author shows us that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['she worked very hard in her company', 'she spent less time with her son', 'she has a talent for leadership', 'she can be a good psychologist.']}, {'question': 'We can infer from this passage that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['the author is proud of his father very much', "the author's husband has become a manager", "the author's father was too busy to be with her", 'the author has moved back and lived with her father']}]

Farmer John and Farmer Bob were neighbors. For more than 30 years, they had been getting along very well. Then their good relationship broke. It began with a small thing, then bitter words, and then weeks of silence. One morning Farmer John woke up to find a stream between the two farms. "It must be Bob," John thought. Then one day there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a carpenter standing at the doorway. "I'm looking for a few days' work," the carpenter said. "I do have a job for you," John said. "Look across the stream at that farm. That's my neighbor Bob. He dug a stream between the two farms. I want you to build a fence--an 8-foot fence. I don't want to see his place or his face any more. I don't have such a neighbor!" The carpenter said, "I think I know what to do, sir, and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you." Farmer John helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide. There was no fence there at all! It was a bridge! And the neighbor, Bob, was coming across, with his hand outstretched . "Hi, John! _ Then they met in the middle, taking each other's hands. "I'm terribly sorry for what I have said and done. We should be good to each other," said Farmer Bob. Then they turned to see the carpenter, who was ready to go. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I have a lot of other jobs for you," said Farmer John. "I'd love to stay," the carpenter said, "but I have more bridges to build."

[{'question': 'Just before the carpenter came, John and Bob _ each other.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["didn't speak to", 'were friendly to', 'often fought with', 'never had bitter words with']}, {'question': 'Farmer John asked the carpenter to build a fence because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['he wanted to protect his farm', "he didn't want to do it himself", "he wouldn't like to see Bob", 'he wanted to find him something to do']}, {'question': 'What does the sentence "You\'re quite a fellow to build this bridge!" mean?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['John was great to build this bridge.', 'John was not good at building bridges.', 'John was foolish to build such a bridge.', 'John should build the bridge earlier.']}, {'question': 'What do you think of the carpenter?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Shy.', 'Wise.', 'Proud.', 'Careless.']}, {'question': 'What is the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['What a Big Fence!', 'Farmer and Bridge', 'Three Kind Men', 'A Fence or a Bridge?']}]

New rules for pubs and clubs, including a ban on drinking games like the awful "dentist's chair", will be introduced in Britain this year to prevent the heavy drinking culture, which costs the country billions of pounds a year. Other activities like "all you can drink for 10 pounds ", "women drink free" nights and speed drinking competitions will also be banned. But, on the other hand, offers of cheap alcohol in supermarkets will not be affected, which is widely regarded as one of the main sources of Britain's problems with under-age and over-drinking. Doctors and health experts argue that the government has failed to use its most effective weapon, the taxation of minimum price controls on alcohol. Home Secretary Alan Johnson said that the government and the industry had a duty to act on heavy drinking." These bans have a real impact on society, not to mention the lives of those who just want to enjoy a good night out," he said. "The dentist's chair", where drinks are poured directly into the mouth by others, was made famous by the celebrations of footballer Paul Gascoigne at Euro '96. That game and others that promote large consumption will be banned from April and publicans will have to ensure free tap water is made available to the drinkers. The government says over-drinking costs Britain up to 12 billion pounds a year and has announced that any pubs that go against the new mandatory code will face severe punishment. For instance, publicans and vendors could lose their licenses, be fined up to 20,000 pounds ($32,750) or face six months in prison.

[{'question': 'New rules for pubs and clubs will be introduced in Britain to ban heavy drinking because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['people drink too much without paying taxes', 'drinking games are infamous', 'drinking competitions are very crazy', 'drinking in the country costs too much']}, {'question': 'Some people believe when the tough new rules come into effect, _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['supermarkets will stop selling alcohol in low prices', '"women drink free" nights will not be closed', 'over-drinking will still not be stopped', 'under-age people will not continue drinking']}, {'question': 'What is probably the most effective way to control alcohol?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['bans', 'education', 'force', 'taxation']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, "the dentist\'s chair" is _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['a chair for the patient whose teeth should be treated', 'a drinking game made famous by the celebrations of footballers', 'a way to advertise different types of alcohol', 'to be banned in October this year']}, {'question': "What's the main idea of the passage?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Heavy drinking will be banned in Britain.', 'Over-drinking will be taxed.', 'Drinking in Britain will be banned.', '12 billion pounds is spent on drinking.']}]

Tayka Hotel De Sal Where: Tahua, Bolivia How much: About $95 a night Why it's cool: You've stayed at hotels made of brick or wood, but salt? That's something few can claim. Tayka Hotel de Sal is made totally of salt -- including the beds (though you'll sleep on regular mattresses and blankets). The hotel sits on the Salar de Uyuni, a prehistoric dried-up lake that's the world's biggest salt flat. Builders use the salt from the 4,633-square-mile flat to make the bricks, and glue them together with a paste of wet salt that hardens when it dries. When rain starts to dissolve the hotel, the owners just mix up more salt paste to strengthen the bricks. Green Magic Nature Resort Where: Vythiri, India How much: About $240 a night Why it's cool: Riding a pulley -operated lift 86 feet to your treetop room is just the start of your adventure. As you look out of your open window -- there is no glass! -- you watch monkeys and birds in the rain forest canopy. Later you might test your fear of heights by crossing the handmade rope bridge to the main part of the hotel, or just sit on your bamboo bed and read. You don't even have to come down for breakfast -- the hotel will send it up on the pulley-drawn "elevator". Dog Bark Park Inn B&B Where: Cottonwood, Idaho How much: $92 a night Why it's cool: This doghouse isn't just for the family pet. Sweet Willy is a 30-foot-tall dog with guest rooms in his belly. Climb the wooden stairs beside his hind leg to enter the door in his side. You can relax in the main bedroom, go up a few steps to the loft in Willy's head, or hang out inside his nose. Although you have a full private bathroom in your quarters, there is also a toilet in the 12-foot-tall fire hydrant outside. Gamirasu Cave Hotel Where: Ayvali, Turkey How much: Between $130 and $475 a night. Why it's cool: This is caveman cool! Experience what it was like 5,000 years ago, when people lived in these mountain caves formed by volcanic ash. But your stay will be much more modern. Bathrooms and electricity provide what you expect from a modern hotel, and the white volcanic ash, called tufa, keeps the rooms cool, about 65degFin summer. (Don't worry -- there is heat in winter.)

[{'question': 'Which of the following about Tayka Hotel de Sal is true?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['The hotel is the cheapest among the four mentioned.', 'Everything in the hotel is made of salt.', 'The glue can prevent the rain from dissolving the hotel.', 'It is located on a prehistoric dried-up lake.']}, {'question': 'Which of the hotel makes you have a feeling of living in the far past?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Tayka Hotel De Sal', 'Green Magic Nature Resort', 'Dog Bark Park Inn B&B', 'Gamirasu Cave Hotel']}, {'question': 'What is the similarity of the four hotels?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Being expensive.', 'Being unique.', 'Being beautiful.', 'Being natural.']}]

Life is too short to waste a moment, so while you still have time, let your hair down, remove that "boring" tag in your so-called life and start making it worthwhile. Below are some tips that will help you live a wonderful life. 1. Keep a Positive Attitude. Enjoy what you have and work on getting the things you desire. Psychologists believe that optimism is a good defense against unhappiness, so it is better to keep your optimism alive. Feeling sad about your life will only make you sadder, so be happy. 2. Don't Be Afraid to Take Risks. Life is all about taking risks, and that's the exciting part of it. Challenges and failure are part of life. Once you learn how to take risks, you'll soon realize how good it feels not to let moments pass you by. 3. You only have one life, so make it worthwhile. Being unwilling to let the past go just keeps you away from the things you should be enjoying at the present. 4. List the Things You Want to Do. Stop lazing around and give yourself something to be busy with. Write down a list of all the things you want to do and make a timeline, not to stress you out, but to remind you of your goals. So don't put limits to yourself because you'll never know what may happen. 5. Try Out Something New. Getting into something or trying something unfamiliar to you may seem scary, but nothing can make you feel happier than being able to overcome your fear. Who knows? You might enjoy it! The world is a big place and there are still lots of things waiting to be explored by you. Go to a foreign place where you know no one.

[{'question': 'From Tip One we know that we should _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['never be afraid to take risks', 'try something new every day', 'focus on the good things in life', 'get rid of all our former habits']}, {'question': "What's the best title for the third tip?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Enjoy Today and Let Go of the Past.', 'Never Think of Tomorrow.', 'Remember You Are the Best.', 'Never Change Your Mind.']}, {'question': 'The writer may NOT agree that _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['feeling sad about your life does you no good', "it's good to keep yourself busy doing something", "you shouldn't go to a new place where you have no friends", 'you should enjoy the present instead of always thinking of the past']}, {'question': "What is the writer's attitude toward life?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Positive.', 'Negative.', 'Doubtful.', 'Indifferent.']}]

Little Tom down the street calls our dog "The keep dog".Zip is a sheep dog. But when Tom tries to say" Seep", it comes out "keep". And in a way Tom is right. Zip is always bringing things home for us to keep! I'll tell you about some of them. Zip's first present was a shoe. It was made of green silk. We didn't know how Zip found the shoe. But after a moment Mary, my big sister, told me the shoe had a strange smell. I nodded and held my nose. "What do you think it is?" "It smells like something for cleaning. I think someone tried to clean a spot off the shoe. Then he put it at the door to dry." "Along came Zip. And good-bye shoe!" I said."We should take it back." "We can't ".said my sistter. "Maybe little Tom is right," Mary said. "Maybe Zip is a keep dog!"

[{'question': "The writer and Mary didn't know _ .", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["what Zip's first present was", 'how Zip carried its first present home', "who owned Zip's first present", "what Zip's first present was made of"]}, {'question': 'Tom calls Zip "the keep dog" because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the dog likes keeping things', 'the dog likes playing with shoes', "he doesn't know the dog's name", 'he can\'t pronounce the word " sheep" well']}, {'question': 'What made the shoe strange was _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['its colour', 'its smell', 'its size', 'that it was a silk one']}, {'question': 'The word "keep" in the last sentence means " _ "', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['keeping things for itself', 'bringing things for other to keep', 'not letting it run about', 'taking care of a small child']}, {'question': 'We can know from the reading that the dog _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['likes to give presents to people', "has been kept in at the writer's home", 'has brought some trouble', 'likes to be called "the keep dog"']}]

Since the 1950s, most of the stars of pop music have come from Britain and America. Howver, in the last ten years, when many different kinds of music have established themselves on the pop scene, more and more stars have come from other countries. Pop music changes all the time and new stars appear and become famous. For a musician to stay popular and still produced good, original music over a long period of time, is a sign of true star. Most stars start their careers in a simple way---- playing in unknown night clubs or dance-hall where people want to dance to the music, not listen to it. They may have continued doing this for many years untill they get a "break"---- a chance to perform in a well -known place or get a recording contract. To become a star is the aim of every singer or musician and the dream of many a pop-crazy teenager. However a group or star makes it to the top, they can be sure that their lives will change once they are successful. Ordinary teenagers living at home with their parents may suddenly find themselves rich enough to buy their own houses. An established superstar may be able to buy several. Despite the large amount of money that are earned, life at the top is not easy for many stars.. The pop scene is hard work and many stars need to spend a lot of time away from home. For a lot of them, this means they have no home life and their personal relationships suffer. Despite great public success, life at the top can be very lonely.

[{'question': 'Since the 1950s,most of the stars of pop music have come from _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['America', 'America and Britain', 'America and Europe', 'other countries']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, a "break" may mean a chance to _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['perform in a well-known concert', 'get a recording contract', 'play in dance-halls', 'meet a lot of pop-crazy teenagers']}, {'question': 'If a star becomes successful,.he _ according to the passage.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['will live at home with their parents', 'will have an easy life because of the larger amount of money earned', 'may have a happy home life and good person relationships', 'may have a lonely life']}]

Women love shoes! They will sometimes go to look for the perfect pair of shoes to wear only once with the perfect outfit or the fashion of the day. Once worn, these fashionable designer shoes may spend weeks, months, or years in the closet without being worn again until another special occasion comes up. With that said, are expensive designer shoes really worth their cost? Historically, shoes were invented to free feet from sharp rocks, hot sands, and blisters. Shoes were made to be simple and functional, with tough leather soles and straps. As society became more sophisticated , the role of shoes changed; shoes were made to add status to the wearer. Shoe designers began to work on the production of fashion shoes for the wealthy; shoes meant more for show than for practical use or simplicity. Good shoemakers became well known and printed symbols on their shoes, so people could recognize the maker of that particular design. Designer shoes were thus born. Many women develop serious problems with their feet after wearing these designer shoes during the workday and the medical costs for dealing with these problems can get very high. Some popular makers of designer shoes have been working towards combining comfort and practical use into their shoes, but it has been noted that women still go for style, beauty and uniqueness above everything else. So to answer the question as to whether or not designer shoes are worth the cost, the answer is certainly yes, but be smart and invest in a pair of comfortable, not so stylish shoes for the days when you stay outdoors for hours! They can also be very expensive, but I can surely say that they are worth the cost.

[{'question': 'When shoes were first made, their main use was to _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["increase the wearer's image", 'protect the wearer from discomfort', 'make the wearer more noticeable', 'show the simplicity of life']}, {'question': 'From the passage, we can learn that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['women like to wear designer shoes only during the workday', 'designer shoes are more practical and beautiful than common shoes', "shoemakers won fame for their shoes' prices", 'shoemakers printed symbols on their shoes for being recognized']}, {'question': 'Designer shoes will remain on the market because they _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['make a lot of money for shoemakers', "meet women's demand for being special", 'will become increasingly comfortable', 'offer the wearer a chance to show off their wealth']}, {'question': 'In this passage, the author wants to _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['explain why expensive designer shoes are worth the money', 'talk about the necessity of owning comfortable shoes', 'warn women of the danger of wearing designer shoes', 'talk about the history and development of shoes']}]

One of the best-known American writers of children's books is Alfred Strong, or Doctor Strong, as he is better known to readers everywhere. Now, an art show called "Doctor Strong From Then to Now" is travelling around the United States. The pictures and drawings show the history of Doctor Strong. Doctor Strong first became famous almost fifty years ago when his first children's book was published. Since then, he has written forty-five books that have sold more than one hundred million copies around the world. Doctor Strong's books are known for their easy use of words and colorful, hand-drawn pictures. These drawings bring life to his imaginary creatures. The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and hundreds of others. The San Diego Museum, in California, organized the art show. It included about three hundred Doctor Strong's original drawings and some of his writings. Most of Doctor Strong's books, although written in a funny way, have serious messages. For example, in Mc Elligot's Pool, he describes the danger of pollution. He discusses the arms race in The Butter Battle Book, written in nineteen eighty-four. Doctor Strong is almost eighty-four years old now. He says he never planned to write stories just for children. He says he writes stories that interest people of all ages. He says he uses easy words so that everyone, even a child, can understand.

[{'question': 'Alfred Strong is a famous _ in the United States.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['doctor', 'artist', 'writer', 'reader']}, {'question': 'Doctor Strong first became famous in _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['his eighties when an art show was travelling around the United States', 'his fifties when his drawings and writings were published', "nineteen eighty-four when his book MeEligot's Pool was published", 'his thirties when his first book was published']}, {'question': "Doctor Strong's books are very popular in America because _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['they are stories about animals such as cats, elephants and so on', 'they are written in easy words with colourful pictures', 'he organized the art show in California', 'they are written in a funny way']}]

My mother, Marisol Torres, came with her family to Australia in the early 1960s. Then my parents' marriage ended and Mum began the study of precious stones. Her interest in opals took her to the New South Wales remote town of Lightning Ridge. There were no luxuries , but she was closer to nature and had a chance to find black opals and make some money. My mother was beautiful with dark hair and brown eyes, but she was also quiet and shy. Early in the Ridge years, she kept to herself, but later, she started going to the neighbourhood centre to make friends. It was her dream to mine, but her get-rich-quick thinking was unrealistic. She was cheated and she was never very successful. But she kept a sense of humour and a charming smile. Then, just as friendships began to blossom, she was diagnosed with cancer and had to return south for treatment. She had the intention of cooking Spanish food as special treat for her Ridge friends, but died too soon. In her honour, my aunt, Marisa, and I fulfilled her desire when we visited the Ridge in March last year. People who mine the Ridge come from a cross section of society, from lawyers to travels. Looks don't mean much: it can be hard to tell who is millionaire and who is poor. Opals attracted Sebastian and Hanna Deisenberger to Lightning Ridge. They planned a two-year stay, but became permanent residents. Then there's Neil Schellnegger, 45, who moved to the area with his parents when he was a child. He lives with his son, Luke. Luke is a shy 19-year-old boy who enjoys helping his dad. They haven't had much luck over the past couple of years, but their passion for opals conquers disappointment. They love the peaceful lifestyle. Danny Hatcher, 38, is a second-generation miner and president of the Lightning Ridge Miners' Association. He is an optimistic man, driven by the desire to find the perfect opal. "It's magic," he explains. "Once you start opal mining you don't want to do anything else... There is always the potential for finding a million dollars. Nothing beats it." It's a place where dreams --- spiritual or material --- can be fulfilled; a place, for one last bet in life.

[{'question': "What made the author's mother go to Lightning Ridge?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The luxurious life there.', 'Her new marriage there.', 'Her interest in opals.', 'Her passion for nature. .']}, {'question': "After the author's mother died, she fulfilled her desire by _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["treating her mother's Ridge friends with Spanish food", 'writing a biography about her whole life', 'decorating her house in Lightning Ridge', 'finding a lot of black opals in Lightning Ridge']}, {'question': 'We know from the passage that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the rich and the poor can be distinguished by their looks', 'Luke is a successful miner, just like his father', 'Sebastian is planning to leave Lightning Ridge', "Danny Hatcher's parents were miners in Lightning Ridge"]}, {'question': 'Lightning Ridge is a place where dreams can be fulfilled because _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['there are precious stones and life is peaceful', 'there are people from all walks of life', 'there are rich people who can help poor people', 'there is a lot of gold hidden in the ground']}, {'question': "What is the author's purpose of giving Neil Schellnegger and Danny Hatcher as examples?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['To show the magic power of opal mining.', "To tell people it isn't always hard to mine opals.", 'To warn people not to take up this kind of job.', 'To persuade people to look for more resources for the country.']}]

Friendly doctors are"bad for their patients'health",researchers have warned as a new study revealed two thirds of young doctors struggle to be truthful with patients they like. Blurring(...)the lines between social and professional relationships can affect the level of care offered and prevent patients from being honest about important side effects. "Doctors should avoid adding patients as friends on Facebook,they should not hug or allow patients to call them by their first names".regulators have warned."Those who break the boundaries will face some punishment." It comes as a survey of 338 oncologists under the age of 40,found 59 per cent said they found it difficult to tell the truth to those patients they liked.Sixty per cent of respondents said if doctors felt too close to their patients,it could prevent them from making objective decisions about a person's care. Lesley Fallowfield,of Brighton and Sussex Medical Schoo1.said:"Oncology is a profession that can be enormously rewarding but is filled with many challenges.Young oncologists have to master dealing with anxious patients who are facing a life-threatening disease;conveying the true prognosis ;discussing the complexity of modern treatments;and explaining the unavailability of some drugs,the side-effects of treatment,and likely treatment aims." But she said,"Those doctors who have entered the profession in the age of the 'Internet world'are more likely to fall victim to blurring the professional boundaries with patients. She said:"The difficulty,if you hug and kiss patients,if you allow them to call you by your first name,is that quickly the relationship can become confused as a social one rather than a professional one.Doctors become confused,'I really like this person,how can I bear to tell them that they're going to die?'They find it more difficult to be objective."

[{'question': "Why are ffiendl3,doctors bad for their patients'health?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["They don't like to cheat patients.", 'They are not good at treating patients.', 'They find it not easier to be objective to the patients.', 'They seldom blur the relationship with patients.']}, {'question': 'What should doctors do according to the regulations?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Add patients as friends on Facebook.', 'Have close connection with patients in life.', 'Always be cold to patients.', 'Keep a proper distance to patients.']}, {'question': 'Which opinion will Lesley Fallowfield agree with?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Oncology is a rewarding profession without challenges.', 'The Internet makes it easier for young doctors to break the boundaries.', "It's not the duty of doctors to deal with patients'anxiety.", 'Becoming friends with patients will help them recover soon.']}, {'question': 'Young oncologists will face the following challenges except _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['dealing with a lot of life-threatening diseases', 'discussing difficulties of treatment with patients', 'explaining the reason for the lack of some medicine', 'informing patients of the possible results of the treatment']}]

Welcome to Arundel Castle which is situated in West Sussex, England. The castle has a history of nearly 1000 years and has welcomed visitors traveling from all over the world. Arundel Castle also plays a starring role in many films. _ The White Garden is planted with soft white Iceberg Roses, and Snow White Lilies. The Rose Garden is newly planted with lovely old-fashioned English roses that are at their very best in June and July. The Organic Kitchen Garden produces a wide range of seasonal fruit and vegetables, pears, cherries and apples. _ In the Castle Shop, you will discover a wide and interesting range of gift ideas for everyone. It offers gifts and souvenirs designed to appeal to all tastes and pockets. Foods, china, books, and stationery are all available. Many are sold in this Castle Shop only. At Arundel Castle we pride ourselves on supporting local suppliers and actively encourage environmentally friendly products. _ Saturday 16th to Monday 25th August The annual Arundel Festival gets bigger and better every year. It is one of the most amazing, diverse and easily accessible arts festivals in the UK, offering a mix of visual arts, music, theatre and street entertainment. _ Coaches and mini-buses can drop off at the main Castle entrance in Mill Road and park in the main town car park that is opposite the Castle entrance. Please inform us when making your booking of how many parking permits are required.

[{'question': 'When visiting the castle, you can _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['get old-fashioned English roses as gifts', 'buy eco-friendly products in the Castle Shop', 'get seasonal fruit and vegetables for free', 'see how the local gifts are being made']}, {'question': 'How long does the Arundel Festival last this year?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['10 days', 'One week', '16 days', 'One month']}, {'question': 'Where can you park the coach?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['In Mill Road', 'Inside the Castle', 'In the main town car park', 'At the main Castle entrance']}]

I am a professor of sports and exercise so I often deal with nervousness in my research with sports people. Actually, most people experience nervousness at some time or another. If you are feeling anxious, my advice is to first find the cause or causes. Make a list of those things that are making you nervous and work out which ones you can do something about. Focus all of your efforts on managing the causes that you can control. Most people cannot tell the difference between controllable and uncontrollable causes, so things they can't control become a big reason for nervousness. Dealing with this is very important if people want to keep a healthy mind. Simply try to accept the uncontrollable causes of nervousness. You might be worried about the weather on a big day, an accident or an attack on the train, or perhaps just things that other people are doing at work. The results may be very important but there is still no use worrying because you can't control any of these things. Accept that you can't control everything. Once you understand this, it becomes easier not to worry. If a situation, such as swimming, is causing you to be anxious, try to face it as often as possible so that you can get used to it. It can often help to think about yourself doing the thing that makes you nervous--then close your eyes and imagine it going well. Imagine how the flight or job interview is going to happen so that you can get used to it. This will help you understand that the thing you fear most is probably not going to happen.

[{'question': 'Who wrote this passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['A reporter.', 'A sportsman.', 'A patient.', 'A professor.']}, {'question': 'The writer thinks there is no use worrying about some causes of nervousness because_.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['most are not very important', 'they are not the real causes of the problem', 'they cannot be controlled by people', "it's better to deal with one cause at a time"]}, {'question': 'If swimming makes you nervous, what should you do according to the writer?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Go swimming often to get used to it.', 'Avoid going to the swimming pool.', 'Find a swimming teacher.', 'Imagine watching others swim.']}, {'question': 'What is TRUE about nervousness according to the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['It usually has only one cause.', 'It is usually caused by people.', 'People can easily manage it.', 'Most people suffer from it.']}, {'question': 'What is the main purpose of this passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["To introduce the writer's sports experience.", 'To advise on how to deal with nervousness.', 'To help people remember their fears.', 'To explain the dangers of nervousness.']}]

Hello-Hello, a creative mobile language learning company, announced the launch of Hello-Hello World, a free application for the iPad that helps people learn a new language by connecting them with native speakers through social networking. The application lets users complete language lessons and connect with Hello-Hello's global community of language learners with members in almost 100 countries to help each other in the learning process. Hello-Hello World is available in 11 different languages and allows users to submit both oral and writing exercises for their friends and Hello-Hello's language experts to review. Users are also able to provide written feedback on their friend's exercises directly from their mobile devices. "The most effective way to learn a new language is through total immersion ,"said Sarah Gontijo, founder and CEO of Hello-Hello. "However, not everyone has the opportunity to live in another country. Hello-Hello World brings the convenience of connecting with native speakers anytime, from anywhere. This can help users not only learn the language but also understand the culture." Hello-Hello World lets users synchronize their information with the Hello-Hello Cloud and then access the content from any mobile device or computer. The application is first being released for the ipad and will become available on a variety of platforms, including the iPhone, Android and Blackberry. The application arrives at a time when tablet computing is driving the creation of new educational tools, such as Hell-Hello World. Many schools and colleges are finding ways to adapt mobile technology for classroom learning. "The market is hot for such pioneering in education and social networking," said Gontijo. "Hell-Hello promises to be the invention that will set the ball rolling and bring innovation to an industry that has seen little change over the years." Technology research firm Gartner predicts that app-store downloads worldwide will double to $17.7 billion as the year closes, and that app-income will hit $15.1 billion, tripling the impact of last year's sales. App-downloads are expected to continue to jump to 185 billion by 2014, at which point worldwide tablet sales are projected to surpass 208 million units.

[{'question': 'With the launch of Hello-Hello world, users can _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['talk to any foreigners in the world', 'speak any foreign languages fluently', 'practice pronouncing words correctly', 'communicate with native speakers anytime']}, {'question': 'Which mobile device is Hello-Hello World being released for now?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['The iPhone.', 'The ipad.', 'Android.', 'Blackberry.']}, {'question': 'What does Sarah Gontijo think it takes to learn a new language effectively?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Hard work and practice.', 'Cultural understanding.', 'A language learning environment.', 'Modern mobile technology.']}, {'question': 'It is implied in the passage that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['there is a potential market for this mobile technology', 'mobile technology is being used for classroom learning', 'students do not know how mobile technology can be used', 'it is difficult for Hello-Hello to change the mobile industry']}]

Discover Newsmagazine of science devoted to the wonders and stories of modern science, written for the educated general reader. Published by Disney Magazine Publishing Co., Discover tells many of the same stories professionals read in Scientific American. A truly delightful family science magazine, each issue brings to light new and newsworthy topics to make dinnertime and water-cooler conversations interesting. Cover Price: $59.88 Price: $19.95 ($1.66/issue) You Save: $39.93 (67%) Issues: 12 issues/12 months Self Published by Conde Nast Publications Inc., Self is a handbook devoted to women's overall physical and mental health. Every issue contains usable articles such as "Style Lab", in which wearable clothes are mixed and matched on non-models and the "Eat-right Road Map", with tips on how to eat properly. Cover Price: $35.86 Price: $15.00 ($2.5/issue) You Save: $20.86 (58%) Issues: 6 issues/12 months InStyle InStyle is a guide to the lives and lifestyles of the world's famous people. The magazine covers the choices people make about their homes, their clothes and their free time activities. With photos and articles, it opens the door to these people's homes, families, parties and weddings, offering ideas about beauty, fitness and in general, lifestyles. Publisher: The Time Inc. Magazine Company. Cover Price: $47.88 Price: $23.88 ($2.38/issue) You Save: $24.00 (50%) Issues: 10 issues/12 months Wired This magazine is designed for leaders in the field of information engineering including top managers and professionals in the computer, business, design and education industries. Published by Conde Nast Publications Inc., Wired often carries articles on how technology changes people's lives. Cover Price: $59.40 Price: $10.00 ($1.00/issue) You Save: $49.40 (83%) Issues: 10 issues/12 months

[{'question': 'Which of the following magazines is published monthly?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Discover.', 'Self.', 'InStyle.', 'Wired.']}, {'question': 'Which two magazines are published by the same publisher?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Wired and InStyle.', 'Discover and InStyle.', 'Self and Discover.', 'Self and Wired.']}, {'question': 'Those who are interested in management and the use of high technology would probably choose _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['In Style.', 'Self.', 'Wired.', 'Discover.']}]

I was at a busy traffic crossing waiting to cross to the other side. There was a family--a man, his wife and an old lady, waiting to cross with me. Then, the light turned green and all of us walked quickly across the road. The light lasted very short, and changed into red in no time. I noticed that both the man and his wife had crossed along with me and the old lady was left behind. I quickly realized what happened. When the light turned dreen again, I ran over to the other side, offered the old lady my right hand and we quickly walked together to the other side of the road. I used my left hand to stop any oncoming traffic so that even if the crossing signal turned red, we cuold make it to the other side safely. In the meantime, both the man and his wife realized that they had left the old woman behind and they ran back.. The old lady was in tears and told me, "Young man, you are more caring than my son," and then gave me a warm handshake . The man and woman were sorry about what happened and also thanked me. Before leaving, the old lady gave me a big smile, which I have cherished even to this day. She kept waving and waving until we couldn't see each other any more.

[{'question': "Why didn't the old lady cross the road with the others ?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['She wanted them to go first.', 'She was too old to walk quickly.', "She didn't see the light changed.", 'She wanted them to walk with her.']}, {'question': 'The auther turned back to _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['see what was happening', 'keep the old lady safe', 'look for the man and his wife', 'help the old lady cross the road']}, {'question': 'What does the auther cherish to this day ?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The opportunity that he helped the old lady.', 'The words the old lady said to him.', 'The big smile the old lady gave him.', 'The warm handshake the old lady gave him.']}, {'question': 'What does the auther learn from his experiece ?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Being kind to others can mean a lot.', 'One should take care of his parents.', 'Old people are afraid of traffic.', 'Strangers can be helpful to others.']}]

The small coastal town of Broome, in northwest Australia, is a remote village in the vast countryside. There are no traffic jams and hardly any roads. There is only the massive Australian wild land, where some houses are 500 miles apart and some driveways are 50 miles long. There seem to be only two main sources of entertainment out here: the sunset at the beach and Sun Pictures. Sun Pictures is a very different movie theater:The seats are park benches and deck chairs, but you're also welcome to sit on the grass. It is the world's oldest outdoor movie garden. Sun Pictures was built in 1916 on the other side of the globe from Hollywood. All the big films were shipped here and the lonely country was amazed. Broome resident Pearl Hamaguchi has never traveled far from home. But in the Sun Pictures chairs, under the deep blue night sky, she has been almost everywhere. "And we came back excited about Gregory Peck," she recalled. This is one of the few places left in the world where you can see two sets of stars at the same time-----one set in the sky, the other in the film. Each night, dozens of people from around the world line up at the old wooden stand, with no computer in sight, and buy their tickets to the latest films. Sun Pictures is also a museum, exhibiting projectors that date back to the silent films, a portrait gallery of the famous people who never knew about this place---- even though they came here all the time. Every once in a while, I'm told, you might find a non-ticket holder in your seat. That's why it's always a good idea to shake out your chair to make sure there are no spiders or scorpions. "We've only had a couple of scorpion incidents but no one's been stung yet," said Aaron Mestemaker, a tourist visiting from Michigan. Sun Pictures is a holy hall of movie history and a reminder that air conditioning and carpet are no match for grass and fresh air---even when the lizards steal the scene.

[{'question': '.Sun Pictures is different from other theaters because _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['it is the most historical outdoor theater in the world', 'the audience can either sit on chairs or on the grass', 'it was built by some constructor from Hollywood', 'all the films were imported here from Hollywood']}, {'question': '. Gregory Peck is most probably the name of _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['a place', 'a film', 'a movie star', 'a country fellow']}, {'question': '. It can be inferred that the tourists in Broome are most attracted by _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['its peacefulness', 'its beautiful sunset', 'the Sun Pictures', 'the gallery of movie stars']}]

A quarter of US adults say they read no books at all in the past year, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos survey. The typical person said that he / she read four books in the last year and, excluding those who had not read any books at all, the usual number of books read was seven. Of those who did read, women and pensioners were the most eager readers, and religious works and popular fiction were the top choices. The number of books read was nine books for women and five for men. The number also showed that those with college degrees read the most, and people aged 50 and over read more than those who are younger. People from the West and Midwest are more likely to have read at least one book in the past year. Southerners who do read tend to read more books -- mostly religious books and romance novels -- than people from other regions. Those who said they never attend religious services read nearly twice as many books as those who attend frequently, but the Bible and religious works were read by two thirds of the people in the survey, more than all the other categories. Popular fiction, histories, biographies and mysteries took up about half, while one in five read romance novels. Politics, poetry and classical literature were named by fewer than 5% of readers. More women than men read every major category of books except for history and biography books. Men tend to prefer non-fiction. Book sales in the US have been flat in recent years and are expected to stay that way, which, experts think, results from competition from the Internet and other media, and the unsteady economy.

[{'question': 'The passage mainly tells us _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['the number of Americans who read books last year dropped', 'the book sales in the US have been dropping in recent years', 'the reasons why one in four Americans read no books last year', 'about region differences in the number and kind of books read last year']}, {'question': 'Which kind of Americans read the most last year according to the survey?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Older men with college degrees from the South.', 'Older women with college degrees from the South.', 'Younger educated men from the Midwest.', 'Younger educated women from the West.']}, {'question': 'What kind of books was read most according to the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Religious works.', 'Popular fiction.', 'Poetry.', 'History.']}]

In the world today, there are millions of surveillance cameras, or "spy cams", watching and monitoring our daily activities. There are some benefits of course, as people who are breaking laws can be watched and caught using cameras and this helps keep our society and public places safe. These cameras are everywhere and most are openly visible on roads, in airports, businesses, shopping centers and government buildings and even in lifts. Even schools have started using spy cams to watch student activity and behaviour. The cameras are so common now that we hardly ever even notice them. But the problem lies with the ones that are hidden away from our eyes and are unseen. Technology has helped develop tiny cameras that can be very well hidden and they can "spy" on shoppers, workers, babysitters and people in hotels and clubs without the people even knowing. It is these spy cams that people feel are an invasion of privacy. Recently, in the US, there have been a number of court cases against babysitters whose actions have been recorded by their employers on hidden cameras. The number of cameras in public and private areas is on the increase and with rising crime rates and the recent terrorist attacks, more and more surveillance cameras are being used to watch us. This means that we all have to be aware that our employers, department stores, police and even some of our friends could be spying on us at any time!

[{'question': "In the writer's opinion, surveillance cameras _ . .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['do more good than wrong', 'are overused', 'should be very popular', 'ought to be more widely used']}, {'question': 'In what way can the surveillance camera benefit the public?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['By helping keep social safety.', 'By monitoring the employees.', 'By watching the students in class.', 'By spying on customers.']}, {'question': 'Spy cams will be more widely used in the future because _ . .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['all people want to spy', 'of the invasion of privacy', 'people enjoy being watched', 'of terrorist attacks']}]

Nickname: Hawaii's Island of Adventure Size: 4,028 square miles Population: 148,677. The most heavily populated areas are Hilo on the east side and Kailua-Kona on the west. Temperature: Averages between 71degFand 77degF year around ( _ ). Beaches: 47 Golf Courts: 20 Highest Peak: Mauna Kea, 13,796 feet. Agriculture: The bulk of Hawaii's farming products are grown and processed on the Big Island, including coffee, macadamia nuts and papaya. Lodging: 9,655 rooms total; nightly rates range from $35-$5,000. Airports: Hilo International Airport on the east side and Kona International Airport on the west side. Rental Cars: All of the nationally known rental car companies have locations at Hilo International and Kona International Airports as well as many resorts. In addition, Hilo, Kona and the major resort areas are serviced by taxis. Resources: Call (800) 648-2441 to order a video, poster, brochures and maps from the Big Island Visitors Bureau. See www.bigisland.org for updated information. Shopping: The largest shopping centers are in Hilo, Kona, Waimea and the Kona Coast.

[{'question': '_ are mostly interested in reading the passage.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Students', 'Tourists', 'Businessmen', 'Officials']}, {'question': 'The average population per square mile on the island is about _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['28', '32', '37', '44']}, {'question': '_ are not mentioned as traffic means to get around the Big Island.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Trains', 'Planes', 'Rental cars', 'Taxis']}, {'question': 'Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['You can see www.bigisland.org for updated information.', 'You can call (800) 648-2441 to order some food.', 'You can find some courts to play tennis on the island.', 'You may pay a high price for spending one night on the island.']}]

It seems that the Englishman just cannot live without sports of some kind. A famous French humourist once said that this is because the English insist on behaving like children all their lives. Wherever you go in this country you will see both children and grown-ups knocking a ball about with a stick or something, as if in Britain men shall always remain boys and women girls! Still, it can never be bad to get exercise, can it? Taking all amateur and professional sports in Britain into consideration, there can be no doubt that football is at the top of the list. It is called soccer in the United States. The game originated in Britain and was played in the Middle Ages or even earlier, though as an organized game, or "association football", it dates only from the beginning of the 19th century. The next is rugby, which is called "football" in the United States. It is a kind of football played by two teams of fifteen players rather than eleven. The rugby, in which an oval-shaped ball is used can be handled as well as kicked. It is a pretty rough game. In summer, cricket is the most popular sport. In fact, it has sometimes been called the English national game. Most foreigners find the game rather slow or even boring, but it enjoys great popularity among the British. Tennis rates high on the list, too. It was introduced into England from France in the 15th century, but it was from England that it spread to practically every country in the world. Table-tennis or "ping-pong" surely is not played on a great scale as it is in China or in Japan. Basketball and volleyball were introduced into Britain during the late 19th century from America and are gaining popularity. Horse-back riding, swimming, rowing and golf all attract a lot of people.

[{'question': 'According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true about football and rugby?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['They differ in the shape of the ball', 'They are played by different numbers of players', 'They both can be handled', 'They both can be kicked']}]

Study Books Basic Study Manual Hardcover :$ 37 Future success depends on the ability to learn. Here are the answers to the questions most often asked by parents, teachers, business trainers and by students themselves. Read this book and learn: What the three barriers to study are and what to do about them. What to do if you get tired of a subject you are studying. Twenty-six simple drills to help you learn how to study easily, rapidly and with full understanding. Buy and read Basic Study Manual and use it do dramatically improve your ability to study. Study Skills for Life Hardcover: $32 L. Ron Hubbard's study technology for children opens the door to their future success by giving them the ability to study and learn. Fully illustrated (,) for easy comprehension. Learning How to Learn Hardcover: $25 The basics of effective study for 8 to 12-year-olds, fully illustrated. Children who read and apply the materials in this book regain their liking for study and their ability to apply this knowledge in life. Get this book for a child you want to see win at his studies! How to Use a Dictionary Picture Book for Children Hardcover: $36 In spite of billions of dollars spent on "educational research", children are not taught the most basic skills of learning, even the most basic of these: how to use a dictionary. In fact, a research of educational books for children found no book that told them how to use a dictionary or that one should. Written for children 8 to 12-year-olds, this fully illustrated book will teach your child: How to find words in a dictionary. The different ways that words are used. What the different marks and symbols that are used in a dictionary mean. How to use a dictionary to correctly pronounce words. It includes a section for parents and teachers showing you how to use this book with children. Buy this book and give it to your children to unlock their education. What's more, you will just pay 50% for it before May 1, 2014.

[{'question': 'According to the advertisements, the four books are all intended for _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['teachers', 'children', 'adults', 'women']}, {'question': 'Some of the four books were illustrated in order to _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['persuade foreigners to buy all of them', 'reduce the cost of them', 'help readers understand them and make a better choice', 'make them suitable to different reader.']}, {'question': 'If you buy the four books on April 30, 2014, you will have to pay _ for them.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['$ 130', '$ 112', '$ 65', '$ 18']}, {'question': 'The purpose of the passage is to _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['show readers how to use the four books', 'help children to learn English', 'enrich students knowledge about nature', 'sell the four books to students.']}]

It's likely that everything you learned about America's ancient history is wrong. The new book,1491, completely changes our understanding of the America before the arrival of Columbus in 1492. DID YOU KNOW? When Columbus landed there were probably more people in the Americas than there were in Europe. The peoples of North America had such healthy life-styles that as late as the 19th century they continued to be the tallest people on earth. Facts have shown that the Americas were populated as long as 33,000 years ago. 4,000 years ago Mesoamerican farmers developed corn in a feat of genetic engineering that still isn't completely understood. COMMENTS ON 1491 "In the tradition of Jared Diamond & John MePhee, a totally new view of pre-Columbian America". -Richard Rhodes "Attractively written and really absorbing, Charles C.Mann has produced a book that's part detective story, part epic and part tragedy . He has taken on a vast topic: thousands of years, two huge continents, and cultures." -Charles Matthews,San Jese Mercary News "Powerful and challenging" -Alan Taylor,Washingto post "A pleasure to read as well as a wonderful education" -Howard Zinn

[{'question': "On the whole,1491 is a book mainly about America's _ .", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['life-styles', 'population', 'history', 'agriculture']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the comments on the book 1491?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['It is interesting and instructive.', 'It is attractive and culturally related.', 'It is challenging and revolutionary.', 'It is humorous and persuasive']}, {'question': 'From this passage, we can learn _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['people settled in the America a little earlier than 1492', 'North Americans were the tallest in the 18th century in the world', 'Mesoamencan farmers knew genetic engineering 5,000 years ago', 'the population in the Americas was smaller than that in Europe in 1492']}]

It was a physical class. But it was nothing like previous ones -- the class was "attended" by over 60 million students across China, and the teacher was not even on the planet: she was 340 kilometers above the earth. "Hello, everyone. I'm Wang Yaping. I'll host your lecture today." Smiling to the camera, Wang, China's second female astronaut, started her video class on June 20 on board the Tiangong-1 space station. To show how Newton's Laws work in space, Wang and her fellow astronauts used simple items like balls and spinning tops. The highlight of the lecture was when Wang _ using a metal ring, something that only happens in zero gravity, where the surface tension of water is much higher than it is on the earth. She then took it a step further by pouring more water onto the film and turning it into a water ball, leaving the audience amazed by what they saw. The 40-minute lesson seemed to have passed too quickly for students to see enough of those magical experiments. But sending stuff into space is really expensive. According to The Beijing Times, every kilogram launched into space cost 20,000 dollars. The experimental items taken this time were all strictly selected and weighed about 2.9 kilograms in total. This adds up to quite a large price tag. The organizers of the event also had to consider the time of day: the communication signal between the earth and Tiangong-1 was best during that specific 40 minutes, when the spacecraft was flying within the coverage of all of the ground-based testing stations.

[{'question': 'Why is the class different from a common one?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Because it took 40 minutes.', 'Because over 60 million students across the world attended it.', 'Because the teacher was on the planet.', 'Because the lecturer was in space.']}, {'question': 'One of the experiments shows _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['object motion under weight conditions', 'laws of physics under weightless conditions', 'laws of physics under weight conditions', "how Newton's Laws work on the earth"]}, {'question': 'Which of the following statements can be the best title of the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Teaching from the Sky.', 'Teaching on Physics.', 'Teaching Experiments.', 'Teaching by an Astronaut.']}]

"Who does the cooking in your home?" I'm often asked by my colleagues. "My wife and I share it 50/50," I usually say without hesitation. It's a lie, of course. We're pretty much even when it comes to the children and the elderly. But the paying of bills isn't 50/50-my wife pays all sorts of household expenses, so I never even have to set eyes on them. And the cooking isn't 50/50, either. The truth is that I am the cook. On my recent 40th birthday, I received the following gifts from my children: a new pot, two mini bottles of truffle oil, a decorative salad-dressing pourer, and a juice-making machine. For a moment I longed for something more manly, a cricket bat, perhaps, and then had to admit that all these things would be useful for me. It's not that my wife can't or doesn't like to cook (she makes delicious Welsh cakes). Nor has it always been this way. In the early years of our marriage I'd be relaxing with a glass of wine while my wife prepared for dinner after work. But at some point that changed and I became the cook. Ten years with my wife gave me the rewards-I can throw together a roast, and I can make much foreign food. But I have truly become a monster in the kitchen, unable to keep myself away from cooking. "You have to add Dijon to the sauce; it brings out the taste of the cheese," I volunteer, as my wife is cooking. "Quick, stir in the butter so the dish becomes delicious." Is it any wonder that my wife has given up coming into the kitchen while I find the whole process of chopping, mixing, and adding things deeply satisfying?

[{'question': 'The gifts that the writer received on his 40th birthday show that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["his children don't know him at all", 'he is in charge of the cooking at home', "he doesn't get along well with his children", 'his children have made wrong choices']}, {'question': "What do we know about the writer's wife?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["She can't cook.", "She doesn't like cooking.", 'She used to cook for the family.', 'She only knows how to make Welsh cakes.']}]

I was with a group of businessmen, and we were dealing with a question--What is a good person? At a certain point during the discussion, one of the students--a young man of about thirty--described an event that happened at Christmas. He and his five-year-old son were decorating the Christmas tree, and a little boy came to the front door begging. If you ever visit Mexico, you will see that the people there take begging as nothing to get upset about and nothing to get embarrassed by. So, this little boy came to the door, a boy about the same age as my student's son. The father and the son went to the front door, and the father went back with his five-year-old son and said to him, "Give him one of your toys." At the words, the little boy quickly picked up some toy, and his father said to him, "No, no-give him your favorite toy." And the little boy, like a little tiger, said, "No way!" He cried; he refused. But the father, like a big tiger in a way, insisted gently, "No, you must give him one of your favorite toys." And finally the boy, with his head down, picked up a toy he had just gotten. The father waited in the living room, and the boy walked to the front door with the toy in his hand. The father waited and waited. What do you think happened? After a couple of minutes, his son came running back into the living room, his face radiant . "Daddy," he said, "can I do that again?" I think I have got the answer to the question.

[{'question': 'From the passage, we can learn that in Mexico _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['begging is looked down upon', 'begging is considered as a normal part of life', 'visitors all over the world treat beggars kindly', 'few people are living a poor life']}, {'question': 'The sentence "can I do that again?" showed that the boy _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['got pleasure by helping the little beggar', 'wanted to please his father', 'began to like the little beggar', "wanted to be the little beggar's friend"]}, {'question': 'According to the writer, being a good person means _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['having the courage to correct his/her mistakes', 'being friendly to beggars', 'being ready to give', 'being able to teach children to tell right from wrong']}]

Manage your time well for each module , but also make sure you get a good balance between work and social life. That is for life in general. Set aside time specifically for each subject. Try to study one subject a day. You need to balance time. If you are bad at balancing things, make a personal timetable. Even if you do not stick to it, you will have an idea what you should be doing each day. This is better than trying to do everything each day and, at the end of the week, not achieve anything. Also, try to keep your weekends free of studying. Only study at the weekend if you really have to. I had to learn to balance work, study and family when I was at college. I was a retail assistant working part-time and had at least four modules to complete at the same time at college. I also had to help around the house doing household cleaning and shopping at times. I managed to finish my college work on time, which was very difficult and hard, and still hold down a job. Why was it possible? Because I only thought about my part-time work when I was at work on the weekends and my college work had to be done from Mondays to Fridays before the weekends. This was hard--but you need to set a timetable for yourself. It was an achievement when I finally realized that things have to be done in order, and need to be organized as well. Balancing study and other aspects of your life can be a problem if you have a job or a family, but planning in advance is helpful. Use the time you have well. Do not leave anything until the last minute, as this will only cause problems.

[{'question': 'According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the advice the writer gives?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Try to study many subjects in a day.', 'Try not to study on the weekends.', 'Plan in advance.', 'Try to set a timetable.']}, {'question': 'It could be inferred from the passage that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the writer has a part-time job as an assistant when he was at college', 'you need to set a timetable for yourself', 'you should make a personal timetable if you are bad at balancing your time', 'the writer can arrange his time well when he was at college']}, {'question': 'What is the passage mainly about?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['I had a good time during my college.', 'How to study well at college.', 'Balance time between study and other aspects of your life.', 'How to plan your things in advance.']}]

Choosing the Right Resolution Millions of Americans began 2014 with the same resolution they started 2013 with, a goal of losing weight. However, setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake. To reach our goal of losing weight --- the output, we need to control what we eat --- the input ( ). That is, we tend to care about the output but not to control the input. This is a bad way to construce goals. The alternative is to focus your resolution on the input. Instead of resolving to lose weight, try an actionable resolution: "I'll stop having desert for lunch," or "I'll walk every day for 20 minutes." Creating a goal that focuses on a well-specified input will likely be more effective than concentrating on the outcome. Recently a new science behind incentives , including in education, has been discussed. For example, researcher Roland Fryer wanted to see what works best in motivating children to do better in school. In some cases, he gave students incentives based on input, like reading certain books, while in others, the incentives were based on output, like results on exams. His main finding was that incentives increased achievement when based on input but had no effect on output. Fryer's conclusion was that the intensives for inputs might be more effective because do not knoe how to do better on exam, aside from general rules like "study harder." Reading certain books, on the other hand, is a well-set task over which they have much more control. As long as you have direct control over your goal, you have a much higher chance of success. And it's easier to start again if you fail, because you know exactly what you need to do. If you want to cut down on your spending, a good goal would be making morning coffee at home instead of going to a cafe, for example. This is a well-specified action-based goal for which you can measure your success easily. Spending less money isn't a goal because it's too general. Similarly, if you want to spend more time with your family, don't stop with this general wish. Think bout an actionable habit that you could adopt and stick to, like a family movie night every Wednesday. In the long run, these new goals could become a habit.

[{'question': 'The writer thinks that setting weight loss as a goal is a mistake because _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['it is hard to achieve for most Americans', 'it is focused too much on the result', 'it is dependent on too many things', 'it is based on actionable decisions']}, {'question': "In Roland Fryer's research, some students did better than the others because _ .", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['they obeyed all the general rules', 'they paid more attention to exams', 'they were motivated by their classmates', 'they were rewarded for reading some books']}, {'question': 'According to the writer, which of the following statements is a good goal?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['"I\'ll give up desert."', '"I\'ll study harder."', '"I\'ll cut down my expense"', '"I\'ll spend more time with my family"']}, {'question': 'The writer strongly believes that we should _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['develop good habits and focus on the outcome', 'be optimistic about final goals and stick to them', 'pick specific actions that can be turned into good habits', 'set ambitious goals that can balance the input ang output']}]

My father was poor in expressing his feelings. I knew that my dad loved me, but showed me love in other ways. There was one particular time in my life when this became real to me. I always believed that my parents had a good marriage, but gradually the strain on my mom and dad's relationship was quite evident. However, I was not prepared for the day when Dad had decided to leave. All that I could think of was that I was going to become a product of a divorced family. I kept telling myself that it wasn't going to happen. The night before he left, I stayed up in my room for a long time. I prayed and I cried and I wrote a long letter to my dad. I told him how much I loved him and that I would always and forever be his Krissie. As I folded my note, I stuck in a picture of me with a saying I had always heard: _ Early the next morning, as my dad left our house, I slipped my letter into one of his bags. Two weeks later, my mother told me that they decided that there were things that the both of them could and would change and that their marriage was worth saving. "Well, Dad said that when he read your letter, it made him cry. It meant a lot to him and I have hardly ever seen your dad cry. After he read your letter, he called to ask if he could come over to talk. Whatever you said really made a difference to your dad." A few days later my dad was back. We never talked about the letter. I guessed that it became a secret between us.

[{'question': "Why did the author's father decide to leave?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Because he was poor in showing his feelings.', 'Because his wife was always giving orders.', 'Because serious problems occurred in their marriage.', 'Because the strain on father-daughter relationship was evident.']}, {'question': 'How did the author feel when her father decided to leave?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Excited.', 'Annoyed.', 'Doubtful.', 'Upset.']}, {'question': "What's the main idea of the passage?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["How the author's parents enjoyed a happy marriage.", "How a letter saved the author's parents' marriage.", 'The divorce had a great influence on the author.', 'The author had a good relationship with her parents.']}]

The story goes that some time ago,a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper.Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.Nevertheless,the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said,"This is for you,Daddy." The man was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction,but his anger flared again when he found out the box was empty.He yelled at her,stating,"Don't you know,when you give someone a present,there is supposed to be something inside?" The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried,"Oh,Daddy,it's not empty at all.I blew kisses into the box.They are all for you,Daddy." The father was crushed.He put his arms around his little girl,and he begged for her forgiveness. Only a short time later,an accident took the life of the child.It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years,and whenever he was discouraged,he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense,each one of us,as human beings,has been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children,family members,friends,and God.There is simply no other possession more precious than this.

[{'question': 'The 3-year-old girl was punished by her father for _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['wasting gold', 'wasting gold wrapping paper', 'putting the box under the Christmas tree', 'bringing the gift to her father']}, {'question': "What's inside the box according to the little girl?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Nothing.', 'Air.', 'Kisses.', 'Gold wrapping paper.']}, {'question': 'The father remembered the love of his daughter by _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['kissing the gold box', 'putting gold into the box', 'taking out an imaginary kiss from the box', "keeping the little girl's gold box by his bed"]}, {'question': 'Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['The kisses in the box', 'A girl and her father', 'A love story', 'The box under the Christmas tree']}]

When his book Little Princes begins, Conor Grennan is planning a year-long trip around the globe, a journey that began with a three-month volunteer service at the Little Princes Children's home, an orphanage in Nepal. When he arrived at the orphanage, Conor was immediately welcomed by all the children even though he had no previous experience in working with children. He quickly grew to love the job. But it wasn't long before Conor came to learn that the children were not orphans at all -- they were actually children who had been separated from their parents by a child trafficker . This realization turned Conor's global journey into a strong desire to try to find a way to reunite these children with their families. As a part of his efforts, Conor did a great amount of work when he was back in America. He started up a nonprofit organization called Next Generation Nepal(NGN), raising funds in order to buy a house in Nepal for another children's home. Then, back in Nepal, he began a life-changing trek into the remote villages in the mountains of Humia. It is really amazing to read about Conor communicating with the children and to read his descriptions of each of them. He made me truly care about the kids. I wanted them to be able to reunite with their families, too! Unfortunately, this was simply not possible for some of the children. But there were some children who received amazing surprises. Jagrit, for example, had thought for years that both his parents were dead. So, Conor was dumbfounded when he visited Jagrit's village and was introduced to the boy's father! Conor successfully found many of the families of the children. Also, he was successful in finding his future wife while in Nepal.

[{'question': "What do we know about Little Princes Children's Home?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['It is a profitable organization.', 'The children in it are all orphans.', 'It has many branches all over Nepal.', 'Many children ended up there due to illegal trade.']}, {'question': 'It can be learned from the passage that Conor Grennan _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['is the author of Little Princes', 'is determined to remain single', 'likes teaching very much', "is a friend of the author's"]}]

Once upon a time, on an isolated island in the Java sea, lived short people who dominated(, ) the food chain. Standing no more than three and a half feet tall, these human ancestors hunted giant rats, lumbering lizards , and _ elephants. It sounds a bit like a fairy tale, but it's true. Unearthed relics on the island uncovered the remains of a race of tiny human ancestors. Homo floresiensis, as the newly discovered species has been named, apparently could date back to 13,000 years ago. This means they have a lot in common with modern humans. So how and why did these people get so small? Scientists suspect that it's due to the fact that this race lived on an isolated island with limited resources. Take the miniature elephants for example. When elephants first came to the island either by swimming or by some kind of natural land raft, they were probably close to full size. But since there wasn't much to eat, over time smaller elephants lived longer and better. The smaller the elephant was, the less it had to eat to stay strong and healthy. Scientists call this the "island role", and it can apply to humans as well as animals. Given the island's sparse food supply, it makes sense that the early humans living there would have evolved a body size requiring less food to survive. So bigger isn't always better. In the floresiensis, at least, getting smaller was the way to go.

[{'question': 'According to the passage, the fact Homo floresiensis are very small is based on _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['the islanders in the Java Sea', 'the human ancestors', 'the unearthed relics', 'a newspaper report']}, {'question': 'People on the island got so small because _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['they did not have enough food to eat.', 'they gradually developed for lack of food.', 'they shared less food with elephants.', 'they remained alive as the elephants.']}, {'question': 'What might be the most suitable title of the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['The history of short people', 'Short people from a fairy tale', 'The proofs on short people', 'Short people on an isolated island']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, getting smaller can make people and animals _', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['run quickly', 'live longer', 'live weaker', 'run slowly']}]

A few years ago, I moved into a new house in Los Angeles. Soon after, a family moved in next door. It wasn't the best of times for me. I had just divorced from my second wife, and I wasn't working. I'd come home each day and sit by myself in the backyard. One night, I heard someone from the yard next door, "Tom ! How are you, Tom? " I couldn't see anybody through the trees, but I answered, "I' m good." "Good!" said the voice. "What's your name?" I asked. "Eric." Then I heard someone say, "Eric, don't bother him." "Okay!" Eric said. "Talk to you tomorrow!" Months later, on Halloween, we finally met face to face. Eric came to the door dressed like a rap star. We became friends. We'd hang out in our yards, and Eric, who was almost 17 at the time and look liked a 13-year-old, would tell me his ideas and dreams. Eric's dad, Alec Gores, is a billionaire , the head of Gores Technology Group. One day, Alec called me and said, "I know you are an actor. My son's an actor, too. And he's very good. I want you to write a movie for him. He wants to do something like True lies." That's the movie I made in 1994. His father has given Eric the great gif of confidence. He believes he can do anything he wants. He also offered to fund the movie. And that's how The Kid & I, which opens in November, began. Well, I really have to say that opportunity lies anywhere.

[{'question': 'What do we learn about the writer when he had just moved into his new house in Los Angele?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['He often came back very late.', 'He was working in the city at that time.', 'He and his second wife had just gotten divorced.', 'He often talks with others in the backyard.']}, {'question': 'The writer of this passage is a(an)_.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['teacher', 'actor', 'singer', 'doctor']}, {'question': 'What do we learn about Eric from the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['He lives alone with his father.', 'He has a very rich father', 'He often feels very lonely.', 'He is a rap star.']}, {'question': 'From his experience in Los Angeles, the writer learnt that_.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['where there is a will, there is a way.', 'one should always learn from the past.', 'one can find opportunity anywhere.', 'life can always be better.']}]

Mr. Briggs got a job with an insurance company after he left school and went around visiting people in their homes to sell them life insurance. One day, after he had been working for the company for about a year, the insurance manager sent for him and said, "Mr. Briggs, I have been looking at your record as a salesman with our company, and there is one thing that surprises me about it. Why have you been selling insurance only to people over 95 years old, and why have you been giving them such generous conditions? You'll ruin our company if you go on like that. " "Oh, no, sir," answered Mr. Briggs at once, "Before I started work, I looked at the figures for deaths in this country during the past ten years, and I can tell you that few people die at the age of 95. "

[{'question': 'Before he worked in an insurance company, what was Mr. Briggs? _', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['. He was a worker.', 'He was an official.', 'He was a student.', 'He was a businessman.']}, {'question': 'As a salesman with the company, Mr. Briggs _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['visited people to ask them to work with him', 'called on people to make them join the company', 'saw old people in order to help them', 'visited many people so as to offer insurance']}, {'question': 'What was it that surprised the manager? _', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Mr. Briggs sold life insurance only to 95 people.', 'Mr. Briggs sold insurance only to people of more than 95.', 'Mr. Briggs had ruined the insurance company.', 'Mr. Briggs gave people generous conditions.']}]

A family story is like a puzzle. Each family member leaves some clues. Family members come together because they have a common tie with one another, sharing a name and special traditions. Exploring family roots and sharing past memories ensure each tradition lives on. Ancestory.com has created customized "Our Name is History" books to give your family a look into your history by learning about your last name. By visiting _ , you can check if information is available for your last name. Ancestory.com researchers have collected more than 5 billion names from records such as passenger lists, immigration records and from birth, marriage and death records. The collected information is then used for each customized book. "Our Name is History" books are available for nearly 200,000 last names, accounting form 85 percent of all the US homes. The collected information is a great start of learning about your family roots. This book will not only surprise your mother, but also become a precious memory to pass down through the generations. It can also be an inspiration for her to talk about all the special women in her life. So instead of just giving her flowers or jewelry, give her a special family name book and share your favorite memories with her. After learning the general history of your last name, your might be inspired to continue your exploration. The "Our Name is History" books include a special software product for building, searching and sharing your family history. To learn more about "Our Name is History" books, visit www. Ournameinhistory.com. The deadline to order in time for Mother's Day is April 30.

[{'question': 'The "Our Name is History" books _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['are very cheap compared with flowers or jewelry', 'can tell us where we should look to find out family history', 'cover the last names of all Americans', 'can tell us origins of our last names']}, {'question': 'What will mothers do if they get "Our Name is History" books?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['They may be inspired to talk about some special women they remember.', 'They will collect information about their family roots.', 'They will learn how great their ancestors are.', 'They will share them with some other families.']}, {'question': "What's the purpose of the author in writing this passage?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['To tell us how to explore family roots.', 'To help family traditions to live on.', 'To advertise "Our Name is History" books.', 'To tell us how to create our own family history.']}]

Have you ever suddenly felt that someone you knew was in trouble--and was he? Have you ever dreamed something that came true later? Maybe you have ESP . ESP stands for Extra Sensory Perception. It may be called a sixth sense. It seems to let people know about events before they happen, or events that are happening some distance away. Here's an example. A woman was ironing clothes. Suddenly she screamed, "My father is dead! I saw him sitting in the chair!" Just then, a telegram came. The woman's father died of a heart attack. He died sitting in a chair. There are thousands of stories like this one on record. Scientists are studying them to find out what's behind these strange mental messages. Here's another example--one of hundreds of dreams that have come true: A man dreamed he was walking along a road when a horse and carriage came by. The driver said, "There's room for one more." The man felt the driver seemed dead, so he ran away. The next day, when the man was getting on a crowded bus, the bus driver said, "There's room for one more." Then the man saw that the driver's face was the same face he had seen in the dream. He wouldn't get on the bus. As the bus drove off, it crashed and burst into flames. Everyone was killed! Some people say stories like these are _ . Others, including some scientists, say that ESP is real. From studies of ESP, we may someday learn more about the human mind.

[{'question': 'According to the passage, the author believes that the sixth sense is _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['in existence', 'imaginative', 'not real', 'impossible']}, {'question': 'By studying ESP, scientists may get to _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['learn how people tell lies', 'know more about human dreams', 'know more about human mind', 'learn how strange things happen']}, {'question': 'This article is mainly about _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['the human dream', 'the sixth sense', 'the human mind', 'a crowded bus']}]

Do you know how to play a game called "Musical Chairs"?It is easy to play and most people enjoy it. All you need are some chairs, some people and some way of making music. You may use a piano or any other musical instrument, if someone can play it. You may use a tape recorder. You can even use a radio. Put the chairs in a row. The chairs may be put in twos, back to back. A better way is to have the chairs in one row with each chair facing in the opposite direction to the chair next to it. The game is easy. When the music starts, the players walk round the chairs. Everyone goes in the same direction, of course, they should walk in time to the music. If the music is fast they should walk quickly. If the music is slow, they should walk slowly. The person playing music cannot see the people in the game. When the music stops, the players try to sit on the chairs. If a person cannot find a chair to sit on, he drops out. Then, before the music starts again, one chair must be taken away. When the music stops again, one more player will be out.. At last, there will be two players and one chair. The one who sits on the chair when the music stops is the winner.

[{'question': 'If ten people are playing musical chairs,you must begin with _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['nine chairs', 'ten chairs', 'eleven chairs', 'one chair']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is not suitable for playing musical chairs? _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['A piano', 'A radio', 'A tape recorder', 'A telephone']}, {'question': 'The chairs should be put _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['with the desks', 'before the winner', 'all over the room', 'in a line']}, {'question': 'When the music starts,the players must _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['run about the room', 'get down', 'walk around the chairs', 'sit on the chairs']}, {'question': 'Which of the following statements is NOT true?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['The game "Musical Chairs" is not difficult to learn.', 'The last one can sit on the last chair.', 'The winner can sit on the chair.', 'If the person plays music, he cannot be the winner.']}]