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It'll be an ordinary morning,like all the others.But instead of being woken up by the buzzing of an alarm clock, you'll be roused by the smell of freshly made coffee,light entering your room as the curtains open automatically,and a gentle back massage provided by your high-tech bed.
This is what a typical person's life will be like two decades from now,according to The Guardian. Want to know more?
After you get up,your apartment will be like an electronic orchestra with you as the conductor.With simple moves of your hand and spoken instructions,you'll be able to control your apartment's temperature,humidity,music and lighting.You'll be able to look through the day's news on translucent screens while your breakfast waits for you in the automatic oven.
As you move into your kitchen,maybe you will stub your toe on the edge of a cabinet. You'll grab your cell phone and open the diagnostics app.Inside your phone there will be a tiny microchip that uses X-ray waves to scan your body. The scan will reveal that your toe is just slightly hurt,not broken,which will convince you not to see a doctor.
After breakfast,your driverless car will take you to work.While you drive,your central computer system will suggest a list of chores your housekeeping robots could see to today and it will also remind you to buy a gift for your mother's upcoming birthday.
As you can see,with the help of advanced technologies,our lives will be more efficient. Teehnology will mitigate our forgetfulness and free us of many small burdens that distract us, such as buying a ticket or trying to remember our kids' parent-teacher meeting.Our brain will therefore be able to focus on more important things like preparing for a presentation or doing "deep thinking".
However,the development of technology might have some disadvantages as well. By 2033,we'll be relying heavily on the virtual world,which will mean that all of our data will be stored in the cloud,a remote digital storage system with near limitless capacity. That will increase the possibility of someone else accessing,sharing or controlling our personal information. | [{'question': "What might be the author's purpose in writing the text?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['To stress the iniportance of developing technology.', 'To describe how advanced technologies will affect our future lives.', 'To introduce one new invcnfion that will benefit our future lives.', 'To remind people not to depend too much on computers.']}, {'question': 'According to the text,in two decades,', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["you'll be able to rely on an electronic orchestra to wake you up instead of an alarm clock", 'a tiny microchip in your phone will treat you when you are sick', 'you will be able to adjust the conditions of your apartment via oral instructions or simple hand gestures', 'technology will be smart enough to help us with important things like preparing for a presentation']}, {'question': "Which best describes the author's attitude toward our future lives?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Objective', 'Worried', 'Skeptical', 'Negative']}] |
Zoe Chambers was a successful PR(Public Relations) consultant and life was going well -- she had a great job, beautiful flat and a busy social life in London. Then one evening in June last year, she received a text message telling her she was out of work. "The first two weeks were the most difficult to live through." she said. "After everything I'd done for the company, they dismissed me by text! I was so angry and I just didn't feel like looking for another job. I hate everything about the city and my life."
Then, Zoe received an invitation from an old school friend, Kathy, to come and stay. Kathy and her husband, Huw, had just bought a farm in north-west Wales. Zoe jumped at the chance to spend a weekend away from London, and now, ten months later she is still on the farm.
"The moment I arrived at Kathy's farm, I loved it and I knew I wanted to stay." said Zoe. "Everything about my past life suddenly seemed meaningless."
Zoe has been working on the farm since October of last year and says she has no regrets. "It's a hard life, physically very tiring." she says. "In London 1 was stressed and often mentally exhausted. But this is a good, healthy tiredness. Here, all I need to put me in a good mood is a hot bath and one of Kathy's wonderful dinners."
Zoe says she has never felt bored on the farm. Every day brings a new experience. Kathy has been teaching her how to ride a horse and she has learnt to drive a tractor. Since Christmas, she has been helping with the lambing -- watching a lamb being born is unbelievable, she says, "It's one of the most moving experiences I've ever had. I could never go back to city life now." | [{'question': 'When working as a PR consultant in London, Zoe thought she lived a _ life.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['satisfying', 'tough', 'meaningless', 'boring']}, {'question': "The most important reason why Zoe went to visit Kathy's farm is that _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Zoe lost her job as a PR consultant', 'Kathy persuaded her to do so', 'Zoe got tired of the city life', 'Zoe loved Wales more than London']}, {'question': 'How docs Zoe feel about the country life according to the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Tiresome and troublesome.', 'Romantic and peaceful', 'Mentally exhausting but healthy', 'Physically tiring but rewarding.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is closest to the main idea of the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['A friend in need is a friend indeed.', 'Where there is a will, there is a way.', 'A misfortune may turn out a blessing.', 'Kill two birds with one stone.']}] |
No matter where you travel in Asia, you'll find yourself faced with a new culture. You can start your Asian exploration by visiting some of these attractive cities first.
Beijing, China
Beijing is the second largest city in China and serves as the capital. The city is so old, in fact, that almost every building has some sort of cultural or historic features -- no matter how small. Getting around the city you'll find yourself faced with amazing temples , the largest palaces in the world, and many works of art that leave you breathless.
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia. Siem Reap has a lot of French and Chinese-style architectures. In the city, there are traditional dance performances, silk farms, fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near the Tonle Sap Lake. Siem Reap today, being a popular tourist attraction , has a large number of hotels and restaurants.
Kathmandu, Nepal
Situated in the heart of the Himalayans, Kathmandu, the largest city and capital of Nepal, is considered to be one of the most outstanding cities in the world today. The shopping districts are world famous and the hotels in Kathmandu are among the most comfortable in the world.
Kyoto, Japan
The city of Kyoto served as the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868. No longer the capital, it is known for being the seventh largest city in Japan. Kyoto was destroyed throughout history by fires and war. But now the city is home to more than 1.4 million people, and it presents a modern face to the rest of the world.
Every city throughout Asia has a story of its own. It's up to you to explore them all and find out exactly what each one has to offer. Enjoy! | [{'question': 'If you want to visit the biggest place where ancient emperors lived in the world, you can go to _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Beijing', 'Siem Reap', 'Kathmandu', 'Kyoto']}, {'question': 'In Siem Reap you can see the following EXCEPT _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Chinese-style buildings', 'excellent art works', 'traditional dances', 'a protected bird area']}, {'question': "Which city's development was greatly influenced by war?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Beijing.', 'Siem Reap.', 'Kathmandu.', 'Kyoto.']}, {'question': 'We can learn from the passage that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the cities are all capital cities now', 'Beijing is the largest city in China', "one can't find a good hotel in Kathmandu", 'all the cities have their own stories']}, {'question': "The writer's purpose in writing the passage is _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['to introduce several attractive cities in Asia', 'to compare some tourist cities in Asia', 'to tell readers not to visit European cities', 'to write an advertisement about a travel company']}] |
After the first World War, a small group of veterans returned to their village in Britain. Most of them managed to get along fairly well, but one--Francis Blustering, who had been wounded and who never recovered his strength-- was unable to work like others. In time he became very poor. Yet he was too proud to accept anything from the people in the village.
Once, these veterans held a reunion dinner in the home of Jules Grandin, who had made a good deal of money. Grandin produced a curiosity --a large old gold coin. Each man examined it with interest as it passed around the long table. All, however, had drunk wine freely and the room was full of noisy talk, so that the gold piece was soon forgotten. Later, when Grandin remembered it and asked for it, the coin was missing.
One of them suggested everyone be searched, to which all agreed, except Blustering. "You refuse, then?" asked Grandin. Blustering said with a red face, "Yes, I cannot allow it."
One by one, the others turned out their pockets. When the coin failed to appear, attention was focused on poor Blustering. Under the pitying stares of his friends, he walked out and returned to his home.
A few years later, Grandin made his house repaired. A workman found the gold coin, buried in dirt between planks of the floor. Hurrying to Blustering's home, Grandin apologized to him.
"But why didn't you allow yourself be searched?"
"Because I was a thief," Blustering said brokenly. "For weeks we had not had enough to eat and my pockets were full of food that I had taken from the table to carry home to my wife and hungry children." | [{'question': 'Francis Blustering lived a poor life because _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['he was badly wounded in the battle', 'he was unable to work like ordinary people', 'he was too proud to get on well with other people', 'he was waiting for his chance']}, {'question': 'The coin was missing because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['all the friends were drunk', 'the room was too noisy', 'they were too excited to pay attention to it', 'Blustering hid it in a secret place']}, {'question': 'When Blustering turned red and refused to be searched, all people thought _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['he was really a poor fellow', 'he must have stolen the gold coin', 'the coin must be hidden somewhere in the room', 'poor Blustering had hidden some food in his pockets']}, {'question': 'What can we learn from the story?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Think twice before you make a judgment.', 'Blustering is a poor father and husband.', 'Blustering would rather live alone than be considered a thief.', 'Blustering is an example we should learn from.']}] |
BEIJING--Seven prestigious universities in China announced Sunday that they would begin using the same independent exam --besides the national one --to test students hoping to gain entrance to them in 2011.
The seven are Peking University, Beihang University, Beijing Normal University, Nankai University, Fudan University, Xiamen University and Hong Kong University.
Students who want to gain entrance to any of the seven universities will only have to sit one independent exam, according to the joint announcement.
"This will help lighten the students' load, otherwise they must take several exams for different universities ,"said the announcement.
Passing the exam could result in more than one interview chance, giving the students more opportunities to choose their favorite universities.
China' s college entrance exam system is undergoing reform as universities aim to select students based on independent criteria rather than just using the results of the national exam.
In 2003, Peking University and another 21 universities were allowed to pilot the reform by using their own criteria to independently select five percent of their students.
Now nearly 80 universities across the country have the right to select talented students based on their own exams.
Education experts regard universities selecting students according to independent examinations as conducive to better understanding where the students' talents lie.
Although this may be the case, it has also created problems as students may sit many different exams as they often apply for a number of universities.
To relieve students from such pressures, the national education outline (2010--2020) released in July this year encourages high-level universities to group together to use the same exams. | [{'question': 'If students want to be admitted to the seven prestigious universities, they can _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['only pass the interview.', 'only take the national exam.', 'only take the independent exam.', 'either take the national exam or take the independent exam.']}, {'question': "What's the purpose of students sitting one independent exam to gain entrance to the seven universities?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["It can reduce students' load to take several exams.", 'The universities will have the same standard to test students.', "There will be less trouble marking students' test papers.", 'It can avoid fierce competition among these universities.']}, {'question': 'If students pass the independent exam, they will _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['take the national exam.', 'have one or more interview chances.', 'be admitted to one of the universities.', 'he trained to be adapted to universities life and studies.']}, {'question': 'What is the advantage of universities selecting students according to independent examinations?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["Students needn't take the national exam.", "Students 'education cost can be lowered.", "Students' abilities and talents can be better found.", 'It can encourage middle schools to recommend more qualified students.']}] |
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives.
Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and other things including cups-porcelain , glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some elegant -- telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "I notice that all the nice looking and expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each others cups. Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate we have. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Thank the Lord for your blessings in 2011. And enjoy your hot chocolate in 2012!" | [{'question': 'When did they decide to go to see their professor?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['After the reunion.', 'During the get-together.', 'Before they graduated.', 'Just after the professor retired.']}, {'question': 'Why did the professor offer them different cups?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Because cups were not enough for everyone.', 'Because cups were beautiful.', 'Because the professor wanted to teach them something.', 'Because hot chocolate should be contained in different cups.']}, {'question': 'What caused the professor to say those words?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Their graduation.', 'Their reunion.', 'Their visit.', 'Their complaints.']}, {'question': 'What does the word "cup" in this passage refer to?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Life', 'happy things in life', 'hot chocolate', 'tools to hold and contain life']}, {'question': "What is the purpose of the professor's words?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['To tell them life is not easy, so try their best to be happy.', "To educate them that the happiest people don't have the best of everything.", 'To wish them to be grateful to their life and make the best of everything that they have.', 'To use different cups to tell them they should try different things in life.']}] |
Did the iPod kill music ?
DID Steve Jobs kill the music industry? That's the question on many people's lips since rock star Jon Bon Jovi accused the apple boss of personally destroying the music industry.
Bon Jovi centers his criticism on how he believes music downloading has robbed young people of what he calls the "beauty of buying on album", "Kids today have missed the beauty of taking your allowance money and making a decision based on the _ , not knowing what the record sounded like," he said.
But far from killing the industry, many young people today think Jobs has been a blessing , offering you instant, and selective access to a whole world of music.
Keith Staskiewicz at Entertainment Weekly speaks for the feelings of many music lovers. He believes listening to Mp3s rather than records or CDs "just saves them money" and doesn't "eliminate the sense of discovery they get from new music", Staskiewicz also argues that it's wrong to blame Jobs and Apple for destroying anything."Change is just part of the business," Staskiewicz said. "No doubt in 50 years, Justin Bieber will complain in his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction speech about how kids don't listen to iPods any more."
For now, though, it appears that music downloading is set to continue for the near future. According to Summer Redstone, chairman of media company Viacom, iTunes has "resurrected the music industry by creating a legal, affordable purchasing system for fans".
But recent surveys suggested that, despite the "legalizing" of music downloading via sites like iTunes, young people are still choosing to download music illegally.A report by Jupiter Research suggested that illegal downloading sites are used three times as much as legal ones.
The problem, according to its analyst Mark Mulligan, is how today's youth grow up viewing music as something they can get for free. "Unless the music industry can shift these consumers while they are young away from free consumption to paid music formats ,they may never develop music purchasing behavior," warned Mulligan " recording industry could suffer long-term harm." | [{'question': 'Jon Bon Jovi thinks Steve Jobs has destroyed the music industry because _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Apple encourages illegal music downloading', 'children today prefer music downloading to buying albums', 'children today do not like to discover new music', "children don't care what a record sounds like"]}, {'question': 'Which of the following statements might Keith Staskiewicz agree with according to the article?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["Records or CDs shouldn't be sold in stores any more.", 'Steve Jobs and Apple are partly to blame for destroying the music industry.', 'There are surely more ways to enjoy music than on iPods.', 'Music downloading has its advantages and is a change that should be accepted.']}, {'question': 'According to Mark Mulligan, the best solution to illegal music downloading is to _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['legalize music downloading via sites like iTunes', 'ban the illegal music downloading sites on the Internet', 'help young consumers get used to paying for music', 'offer young consumers instant and selective access to a variety of music']}, {'question': 'What is the main point of the article?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["How Steve Jobs and Apple changed people's music tastes.", 'Opinions on effects of music downloading.', 'How to fight illegal music downloading.', 'Criticism of free downloading of music by young people.']}] |
Home to me means a sense of familiarity and nostalgia . It's fun to come home. It looks the same. It smells the same. You'll realize what's changed is you. Home is where we ran remember pain, live, and some other experiences; We parted here; My parents met here; I won three championships here.
If I close my eyes, I can still have a clear picture in mind of my first home. I walk in the door and see a brown sofa surrounding a low glass-top wooden table. To the right of the living room is my first bedroom. It's empty, but it's where my earliest memories are.
There is the dining room table where I celebrated birthdays, and where I cried on Halloween-when I didn't want to wear the skirt my mother made for me. I always liked standing on that table because it made me feel tall and strong. If I sit at this table, I can see my favorite room in the house, my parents' room. It is simple: a brown wooden dresser lines the right side of the wall next to a television and a couple of photos of my grandparents on each side. Their bed is my safe zone. I can jump on it anytime - waking up my parents if I am scared or if I have an important announcement that cannot wait until the morning.
I'm lucky because I know my first home still exists. It exists in my mind and heart, on a physical property on West 64th street on the western edge of Los Angeles. It is proof I lived, I grew and I learned.
Sometimes when I feel lost, I lie down and shut my eyes, and I go home. I know it's where I'll find my family, my dogs, and my belongings. I purposely leave the window open at night because I know I'll be blamed by Mom. But I don't mind, because I want to hear her say my name, which reminds me I'm home. | [{'question': 'What can be learned from the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["The old furniture is still in the author's fist bedroom.", 'The author can still visit her first physical home in Los Angeles.', "The author's favorite room in her first home is the dining room.", "Many people of the author's age can still find their first physical homes."]}, {'question': 'Sometimes when she feels lost, the author will _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Open the window at night', 'lie down in bed to have a dream', 'try to bring back a sense of home', 'go to Los Angeles to visit her mom']}, {'question': "What is the author's purpose of writing this passage?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['To express how much she is attached to her home.', 'To declare how much she loves her first house.', 'To describe the state of her family.', 'To look back on her childhood.']}] |
Some kinds of mental skills naturally decrease as people get older. Yet research seems to show that some training can improve such skills. A recently published study also appears to demonstrate that the good effects of training can last for many years after that training has ended.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland wanted to learn how long memory and thinking skills would last in older people who trained to keep them. The people were part of the ten-year research project. They were taught methods meant to improve their memory, thinking and ability to perform everyday tasks.
More than 2,800 volunteered for the study called ACTIVE - short for Advanced (Cognitive) Training for Independent and Vital Elderly. Most studied when they were more than 70 years old.
The volunteers took one of several short training classes meant to help them keep their mental abilities. One class trained participants in skills including how to remember word lists. Another group trained in reasoning. A third group received help with speed-of-processing - speed of receiving and understanding information. A fourth group - the control group did not get any training.
Earlier results had established that the training helped the participants for up to five years. Now, lead study writer George Rebok says, the research showed most of the training remained effective a full ten years later.
Professor Rebok and his team found that the people trained in reasoning and speed-of-processing did better on tests than the control group.
"We are wondering whether those effects which endured over time would still be there ten years following the training, and in fact, that's exactly what we found."
The effect on memory, however, seemed not to last as long. Still, the old people in any of the three classes generally reported less difficulty in performing daily activities than the control group. The total training time for the older people was between 10 and 15 hours. | [{'question': 'Which statement is true according to the text?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['This kind of training can only have effect on people for a few years.', 'The people were trained during a period of ten years.', 'All the people who were studied were more than 70 years old.', 'The second group were trained how to remember word lists.']}, {'question': 'What can be inferred from the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['There were four groups being trained.', 'The old people trained can remember words better.', 'The second and third group improved their skills better than the first one.', 'The research showed that the effect of the training could absolutely last 10 years.']}, {'question': "What's the main idea of the fourth paragragh?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['What was the meaning of the research?', 'How was the research conducted?', 'Why was the mental training effective?', 'How long did the research last?']}, {'question': 'What is the best title of the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Mental Training Helped Elderly Stay Sharp for Years', 'How to improve our mental health', 'Four groups of old people were trained mentally.', 'The result of a ten-year research']}] |
I was now in my twenty third year of residence in this island and was accustomed to the place and to the manner of living. If it had not been the savages who had come to the place to disturb me, I could have been content to spent the rest of my time there, even to the last moment, till I had laid me down and died, like the old goat in the cave.
I had also arrived to some little recreations and amusements, which made the time pass more pleasantly with me a great deal than it did before.
At first, I had taught my Poll to speak. And he did it so familiarly and talked so clearly and plain that it was very pleasant to me. And he lived with me no less than twenty six years. How long he might live afterwards, I don't know; though I know they have an idea in Brazil that they live a hundred years. Perhaps poor Poll may be alive there still, calling Poor Robin Crusoe to this day. I wish no other English man had the bad luck to go there and hear him. But if he did, he would certainly believe it was the devil .
My dog was a very pleasant and loving companion to me, for no less than sixteen years of my time, and then died of mere old age.
As for my cats, they multiplied to that degree that I had to shoot several of them at first to keep them from eating up all I had.
Besides these, I had two more parrots which talked pretty well and would all call Robin Crusoe, but none like my first. Nor indeed did I take the pains with any of them that I had done with him.
I had also several sea-fowls, whose names I don't know, that I caught upon the shore and cut their wings. And the little stakes which I had planted before my castle wall being now grown up to a good thick bush, these fowls all lived among these low trees and bred there, which was very agreeable to me; so that as I said above, I began to be well content with the life I led if not worried about the threat from the savages. | [{'question': 'What does the passage mainly talk about?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Robin Crusoe treated animals kindly.', 'Robin Crusoe led a hard life on the island.', 'The animals raised by Robin Crusoe brought him much pleasure.', "The savages always spoiled Robin Crusoe's happy life."]}, {'question': 'How many parrots did Robin Crusoe mention in this passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['2', '3', '4', '5']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["Robin's dog may be still alive on the island.", 'Robin Crusoe lived in harmony with savages.', 'Robin Crusoe met an English man while on the island.', 'Parrots raised by Robin could talk very well.']}] |
There are 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, and 6 floors to accommodate all the people who live in, work in, and visit the White House. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 7 staircases, and 3 lifts.
At various times in history, the White House has been known as the "President's Palace", the "President's House", and the "Executive Mansion". President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901.
The White House receives approximately 6,000 visitors a day.
With five full-time chefs, the White House kitchen is able to serve as many as 140 guests and hors d'oeuvres to more than 1,000 people.
The White House requires 570 gallons of paint to cover its outside surface.
For recreation, the White House has a variety of facilities available to people who live in, including a tennis court, a jogging track, a swimming pool, a movie theater and a bowling lane.
The first US President to live in the White House was John Adams. Adams and his family moved to the White House in 1800, when the decoration of the building was not finished. And it was not until during Thomas Jefferson's term (1801-1809) that the decoration was finally completed.
President John Tyler (1841-1845) was the first president to have his photo taken. President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) was not only the first president to ride in an automobile, but also the first president to travel outside the country when he visited Panama . President Franklin Roosevelt (1933-1945) was the first president to ride in an airplane. | [{'question': 'In normal cases, how many people visit the White House per day?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['1,000.', '6,000.', '140.', '570.']}, {'question': 'Which President was in office when the decoration of the White House was completed?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['John Adams.', 'John Tyler.', 'Thomas Jefferson.', 'Theodore Roosevelt.']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, when did American President first visit a foreign country?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Between 1801 and 1809.', 'Between 1901 and 1909.', 'Between 1841 and 1845.', 'Between 1933 and 1945.']}] |
Do dogs understand us?
Be careful what you say around your dog. It might understand more than you think.
A _ named Rico recognizes the names of about 200 objects, say researchers in Germany. The dog also appears to be able to learn new words as easily as a 3-year-old child. Its word-learning skills are as good as those of a parrot or _ .
In one experiment, the researchers took all 200 items that Rico is supposed to know and divided them into 20 groups of 10 objects. Then the owner told the dog to go and fetch one of the items and bring it back. In four tests, Rico got 37 out of 40 commands right. As the dog couldn't see anyone to get clues, the scientists believe Rico must understand the meanings of certain words.
In another experiment, the scientists took one toy that Rico had never seen before and put it in a room with seven toys whose names the dog already knew. The owner then told Rico to fetch the object, using a word the dog had never heard before.
The correct object was chosen in seven out of l0 tests, suggesting that the dog had worked out the answer by the process of _ . A month later, Rico remembered half of the new names, which is even more impressive.
Rico is thought to be smarter than the average dog. For one thing, Rico is a border collie, a _ known for its mental abilities. In addition, the 9-year-old dog has been trained to fetch toys by their names since the age of nine months.
It's hard to know if all dogs understand at least some of the words we say. Even if they do, they can't talk back. Still, it wouldn't hurt to sweet-talk your dog every now and then. You might just get a big, wet kiss in return! | [{'question': 'Both experiments show that_.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Rico is smart enough to get all commands right', 'Rico can recognize different things including toys', 'Rico has developed the ability of learning mathematics', "Rico won't forget the names of objects once recognizing them"]}, {'question': 'Which of the following statements is true?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["The purpose of the experiments is to show the border collie's mental abilities.", 'Rico has a better memory partly because of its proper early training.', 'The border collie is world-famous for recognizing objects.', "Rico is born to understand its owner's commands."]}, {'question': 'What does the writer want to tell us?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['To train your dog.', 'To talk with your dog.', 'To be friendly to your dog.', 'To be careful with your dog.']}] |
Children will find it more difficult to buy cigarettes as vending machines selling tobacco will be officially banned in England today.According to the British Heart Foundation(BHF),around 200,000 young people start smoking regularly in England each year and 11 per cent of l1-to15-year-old regular smokers in England and Wales get their cigarettes from vending machines.
Betty McBride, Director of Policy and Communications at the British Heart Foundation,said,"Thousands of children who are at risk of addiction regularly get tobacco from these machines,which of course,don't ask them to prove their age.With the tobacco industry increasingly depending on young smokers to keep their profits,they're fighting tooth and nail to stop any changes that might hit their bottom line."
The ban, which makes it illegal to sell tobacco from vending machines and requires shopkeepers to ensure all tobacco advertising on the machines is removed,comes into force in England today.It is the first ban in Europe to prohibit selling cigarettes from vending machines.which shows the determination of England to fight against smoking.
Other measures to protect young people from the dangers of smoking are also on the way.In April 2013 large retailers in England and Scotland will have to get rid of all tobacco displays and small shops will be expected to do that from April 2015.Wales and Northern Ireland also plan to make similar regulations.
The UK Government is due to begin a public consultation before the end of the year on whether to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes which would reduce their marketing appeal to young people,help to make health warnings more effective and,alongside other measures,help to reduce the number of smokers in the long term. | [{'question': 'According to the text,vending machines selling cigarettes _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['offer cheaper products', 'have more varieties of products', "don't check buyers' personal information", 'keep a record of every purchase']}, {'question': 'The tobacco industry may be against the new regulation because _', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['more children will be at risk of tobacco addiction', 'it will bring inconvenience to its consumers', 'young smokers will be discouraged', 'many vending machines will be left unused']}, {'question': 'Small stores in Scotland _', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['will be banned from selling tobacco next year', 'can still present cigarettes for around 2 years', 'must get rid of all tobacco advertisements', 'must show warnings about cigarettes in 2013']}, {'question': 'It can be inferred from the text that _', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['plain packaging is a must for cigarettes', 'the number of tobacco companies will be limited', "tobacco's harm to health will be put down on packages", 'opinions will be asked for on plans of tobacco controlling']}, {'question': 'What is the best title for the text?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Cigarette vending machines banned', "The youth's addiction to tobacco", "UK's efforts to improve people's health", 'Strong opposition from tobacco industry']}] |
Cyberspace, the connections between computers in different places, considered as a real place where information, messages and pictures exist, mirrors the real world in many ways. People ask for information, play games, and share hobbies. Others buy and sell products. Still others look for friendship, or even love.
Unlike the real world, however, your knowledge about a person is limited to words on a computer screen. Identity and appearance mean very little in cyberspace. Rather, a person's thoughts--or at least the thoughts they type--are what really count. So even the shyest person can become a chat room star.
Usually, this "faceless" communication doesn't create problems. Identity doesn't really matter when you're in a chat room discussing politics or hobbies. In fact, this emphasis(,) on the ideas themselves makes the Internet a great place for exciting conversation. Where else can so many people come together to chat? But some Internet users want more than just someone to chat with. They're looking for serious love relationships. Is cyberspace a good place to find love? That answer depends on whom you ask. Some of these relationships actually succeed. Others fail miserably.
Supporters of online relationships state that the Internet allows couples to get to know each other intellectually first. Personal appearance doesn't get in the way. But critics of online relationships argue that no one can truly know another person in cyberspace. Why? Because the Internet gives users a lot of control over how others view them. Internet users can carefully craft their words to fit whatever image they want to give. And they don't have to worry about what their "nonverbal" communication is doing for their image. In a sense, they're not really themselves.
All of this may be fine if the relationship stays in cyberspace. But not knowing a person is a big problem in a love relationship. With so many unknowns, it's easy to let one's imagination "fill in the blanks." This inevitably leads to disappointment when couples meet in person. How someone imagines an online friend is often quite more different than the real person. So, before looking for love in cyberspace, remember the advice of Internet pioneer Clifford Stoll: "Life in the real world is far richer than anything you'll find on a computer screen." | [{'question': 'According to the passage, chatting in the cyberspace _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["puts emphasis on people's thoughts", 'needs people to be rich in knowledge', "stresses more about people's identity", 'allows people to discuss politics secretly']}, {'question': 'People who are against online love think _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['what is said online is under control of the Internet', "it is hard to protect the other's identity", 'the faceless communication is exciting', 'one may not show the real self in cyberspace']}, {'question': 'By saying "With so many unknowns, it\'s easy to let one\'s imagination \'fill in the blanks\'", the writer means that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the Internet allows people to get more information about their loved ones', 'the Internet makes it easy for people to imagine how others view them', 'people usually get to know each other by chance through the Internet', 'people may be disappointed when they meet in person']}] |
California places limits on water use to deal with the state's four-year drought. Californians are feeling the heat after Governor Jerry Brown announced an order that puts mandatory statewide water cutbacks into effect.
California has faced water-use cutbacks in the past. In January 2014, Governor Brown called for residents to curb their water use by 20 percent, but many places around the state failed to meet that goal. This most recent announcement, however, marks the first time in the state's history that mandatory restrictions have been ordered.
Most of California's water supply comes from the Sierra Nevada mountain range snowpack. Normally, during the spring and summer, this snow melts and puts new supplies into groundwater. but this past winter, the snowpack reached its lowest point since 1950. "today we are standing on dry grass where there should be feet of snow" announced Governor Brown.
As part of his order, Governor Brown called upon the state Water Resource Control Board to draft emergency rules for water use in the coming month. Cities and towns across the state must cut water usage by 25 percent. If city water agencies fail to meet these targets for water conservation, they could be fined $10,000 a day.
The state will also support local governments in replacing 50 million square feet of lawns with drought-tolerant plants that use less water. Outdoor lawn watering will be limited to two days per week, and residents will not be permitted to water their lawns during rainstorms and for two days afterwards. The order also asks local water agencies to raise the price of water to discourage excessive water use.
Governor Brown said change may not be easy, but it's necessary to ensure that residents can fill their water glasses into the future. "it is a wake-up call," he said. "it's requiring action and changes in behavior." | [{'question': "This year's drought in California is mainly caused by_.", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['The lack of rainfall last winter.', "Its residents' excessive water use.", 'The historically low temperature last winter.', 'The reduction of snowpack on the Sierra Nevada']}, {'question': 'Why will local government remove the 50 million square feet of lawns?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['To get rid of dry grass', 'To decrease the use of water', 'To develop the land for water storage', 'To grow plants that can block rainstorms']}, {'question': 'According to the new order, Californians should_.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Water their lawns every three or four days.', 'Avoid watering their lawns before rainstorms.', 'Take mandatory lessons on water conservation.', 'Keep the emergency rules for water use in mind']}] |
Mrs. Allen's husband died ten years ago when her son and daughter were still in high school. Mr. Allen had left some money, and since Mrs. Allen had managed a bookstore before she was married, she took the money and bought a shop in town. Later she moved the shop out to the shopping center.
She was a pleasant woman; she worked hard and was well-informed about books, and so the bookstore prospered and she was able to hire a friend to help her.
Laura Barnes, Mrs. Allen's friend and assistant, was also a widow. She had some free time and the need for a little extra-money, and so she took the job in the bookstore. She was too clever and friendly, and the two women were well-known in the neighbourhood as "Mrs. A"and "Mrs. B". | [{'question': "How many people in all were there in the two women's families? _ .", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['At least 8', 'At least 7', 'At least 6', 'At least 4']}, {'question': 'The bookstore prospered _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['after Mrs. Allen lost control of it', 'before Mrs. A got to know Mrs. B', 'because the two women had little housework to do', 'because Mrs. A became expert at management and threw herself into it']}, {'question': 'Why did Mrs. A hire Mrs. B? _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Mrs. B asked for very little pay', 'She believed that Mrs. B was the very person to help her to improve management', 'Mrs. B was a friend of hers', 'she was also that kind of woman like her']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is true? _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Mrs. A set up her bookshop in the shopping center', 'Mr. Allen was dead but Mr. Barnes alive', 'Mrs. A managed to set another bookstore with Mrs. B', 'The two children of Mrs. A were of the same age']}] |
They may be small and not able to speak, but babies are proving their amazing cleverness. Scientists began finding infants' skills are more than they are supposed to be.
_
Speaking of music, babies can't seem to resist it. Not only are their ears turned to the beats, babies can actually dance to the music.
To test babies' dancing ability, the researchers played recordings of classical music, rhythmic beats and speech to infants, and recorded the results. They also invited professional dancers to analyze how well the babies matched their movements to the music. The babies moved their arms, hands, legs feet and heads in response to the music, much more than to the speech. The finding suggests this dancing ability is innate in humans, though the researchers aren't sure why _ becomes weaker later in their life.
Learning Quickly while Sleeping
Babies can learn even while asleep, according to a 2011 study. In experiments with 26 sleeping infants, each just 1 to 2 days old, scientists played a musical tone followed by a puff of air to their eyes 200 times over the course of a half-hour. 124 electrodes stuck on the head and face of each baby recorded brain activity during the experiments. The babies rapidly learned to foretell a puff of air upon hearing the tone, showing a four-time increase on average in the chances of tightening their eyelids in response to the sound by the end of the experiments.
As newborns spend most of their time asleep, this newfound ability might be crucial to rapidly adapting to the world around them and help to ensure their survival, researchers said.
Judging Characters Well
Judging another person helpful or harmful is crucial when choosing friends. And that ability starts early. Kiley Hamlin of Yale University showed both 6-and 10-month-olds a puppet show, in which one character helped another climb a hill. In another scene a third character pushed the climber down. The little ones then got to choose which character they preferred. For both age groups, most babies chose the helper character. This character-judging ability could be baby's first step in the formation of morals, Hamlin thought. | [{'question': 'The experiment with 26 sleeping infants prove that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['babies can learn even while asleep', 'babies can respond to the world around them', 'babies can tighten their eyelids in response to the sound', 'babies can communicate with others while asleep']}, {'question': 'In the last experiment, most babies chose the helper character, showing that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['babies can judge a person helpful or harmful', 'babies love to see a puppet show', 'babies were born to help others', 'babes have learned to help others']}] |
In recent years many countries of the world have been faced with the problem of how to make their workers more productive. Some experts claim the answer is to make jobs more varied. But do more various jobs lead to greater productivity? There is evidence to suggest that while variety certainly makes the worker's life more enjoyable, it does not actually make him work harder. As far as increasing productivity is concerned, then variety is not an important factor.
Other experts feel that giving the worker freedom to do his job in his own way is important, and there is no doubt that this is true. The problem is that this kind of freedom cannot easily be given in the modern factory with its complicated machinery which must be used in a fixed way. Thus while freedom of choice may be important, there is usually very little that can be done to create it.
Another very important consideration is how each worker contributes to the product he is making. In most factories the worker sees only one part of the product. Some car factories are now experimenting with having many small production lines rather than one large one, so that each worker contributes more to the production of the cars on his line. It would seem that not only is degree of the worker contribution an important factor, therefore, but it is also one we can do something about.
To what extent does more money lead to greater productivity? The workers themselves certainly think this is important. But perhaps they want more money only because the work they do is boring. Money just lets them enjoy their spare time more. A similar argument may explain demands for shorter working hours. Perhaps if we succeed in making their jobs more interesting, they will neither want more money, nor will shorter working hours be so important to them. | [{'question': 'Which of the following is the best way to make workers work harder according to the author?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Increasing their pay.', 'Giving them more spare time.', 'Making the work itself meaningful.', 'Replacing large production lines with small ones.']}, {'question': 'The reason why a worker cannot have freedom in doing the job in his own way is that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the machinery is so complex that it should be fixed', 'the production lines are too large in modern factories', 'the bosses can create very little freedom of choices for workers', 'the machines must be operated strictly according to instructions and rules']}, {'question': 'For a worker on an assembly line in a car factory, the job is not enjoyable because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['he can only make a part of a car', 'he does not know what he is doing', 'his life in spare time is more interesting', 'the importance of his job is not clear to him']}, {'question': 'In the article, the word "productivity" means _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['the activity of producing something', 'the production volume in a time unit', 'the plan and the method of production', 'both the quantity and quality of a product']}, {'question': 'The best title for this passage may be _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Problems of Modern Workers', 'Making Jobs More Interesting', 'Pushing Workers to Produce More', 'How to Improve Labor Conditions']}] |
Why do people cross their fingers when facing difficulties-eve non-religious people? Why do we blame the black cat when we saw the low score of the test?
These habits have been referred to as magical thinking and can be found everywhere in daily life. For example, a person wishes something bad for an annoying colleague. Or parents pray for a safe fight when seeing their son off.
Psychologically helpful
In examining these habits, scientists decided to search for a reason for humans' belief in magical powers. Psychologists have their own approach to the question.
"I think in part it's because we are constantly exposed to our own thoughts, and thus likely to overestimate their connection to outside events. "said Emily Pronin, a psychologist in the prefix = st1 /US.
For people who are uncertain of their own abilities or slow to take action, magical thinking can be a great help, explained Dr. Daniel Wegner, a professor psychology at Harvard. Feeling that their own thoughts can control things can help people fight depression.
A trait gained through evolution
But evolutionists have their own ideas.
Two schools of evolutionary thought have come up with reasons by analyzing the development of humans. They are the "adaptationists "and the "byproduct theorists ".
The adaptationists say that belief in magical powers makes people feel better, less worried about difficulties, more focused on the future, and more willing to care for themselves. People with a strong faith (in something) have a better chance of surviving a tough environment or competition.
But in byproduct theory,magical thinking is a product of our psychological features.
"We automatically look for an explanation of why things happen,"explains Justin Barrett, a psychologist, The brain, therefore, has evolved to make quick judgments about causation . So we often link two events based on nothing more than coincidence. For example, "I was just thinking about looking up my old high school girlfriend when she suddenly called me. "
Another psychological feature is the theory of mind. We recognize that there could be an unseen power of mind affecting the outcome of an incident.
Byproduct theorists claim that because of these features, we are born with a tendency to believe in our magical thinking.
But we need to confine our magical thinking, warn psychologists.
For most people, beliefs are just some sort of comforting private ritual. When something important is at stake, such as a test or a performance or a relationship, people don't simply perform their private rituals. They have to prepare. | [{'question': 'Which of the following is true according to the next?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Justin Barrett, an evolutionist, denies magical thinking is a product of adaptation.', 'People with a weak faith have a better chance of surviving competition.', 'The adaptationists think we are born with a tendency to believe in our magic thinking.', 'Dr. Daniel Wegner believe magic thinking can be a great help.']}, {'question': 'In which part of the newspaper can you find this passage most possibly?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Culture.', 'Recreation', 'History', 'News']}, {'question': 'The author writes the passage mainly to_.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['persuade people to think twice faced with difficulties', 'introduce some information about opinions of evolutionists', 'explain why humans have a need for faith from different respects', 'convince people that magic thinking has advantages and disadvantages']}] |
The Opening of the Book Nook
Saturday, October 4, 10 AM to 10 PM
You will not want to miss the opening of your new neighborhood bookstore! Located at 2289 Main Street, the Book Nook is within walking distance of schools, many homes and businesses. Come and check out the Book Nook on Saturday!
Activities will include:
* Live music by local musicians
* One Book-of-the-Month Club membership giveaway
Wide Selection
The Book Nook has three floors with books of all kinds---any kind you could want. If we do not have the book you are looking for, we can specially order it for you. You will have it in your hands within two days!
Reading Nooks
We are proud of our children's reading area on the first floor, as well as our teenagers' nook on the second floor. Come for the activities and stay for a while! Settle in one of these inviting reading areas; take a seat with a good book and a free cup of hot chocolate. You will discover the perfect way to spend a few hours.
Book Events
The Book Nook will be featuring monthly book signings by different authors, giving you a chance to meet and speak with well-known writers. Don't miss the experience of hearing these authors read aloud their own books!
The Book-of-the-Month Club
Our Book-of-the-Month Club will feature 12 books each year. As a member, you will be able to select one new book each month. The membership fee is only $10.00 per month. That is a great price for 12 books each year!
So please join us on Saturday and learn about all that the Book Nook has to offer. You can come anytime between 10 AM and 10 PM. Our activities last all day long! | [{'question': 'What can we learn about the Book Nook?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['It is a well-located bookstore.', 'Any interesting books can be found right here.', 'It is open from 10 AM to 10 PM every day.', 'The third floor is specially designed for children.']}, {'question': 'What can people do in the Book Nook on October 4?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['They can have a taste of different kinds of chocolate.', 'They can read aloud together with well-known writers.', 'They can enjoy live music performed by well-known writers.', 'They can become a member of the Book-of-the-Month Club.']}, {'question': 'As a member of the Book-of-the-Month Club, you _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['can buy any books in the Book Nook at a low price', 'may borrow as many as 12 books every week', 'need to pay 120 dollars every year', 'should be over the age of 12']}] |
Almost five years ago, I announced to my loved ones I was to become a Mrs. Naturally. I then began to wonder about the perfect wedding dress, hoping that it would fit me. Even at the age of 23, I had gone through my share of dieting.
I am an emotional eater and I knew that at 5 feet 5 inches tall and 180 pounds, I wasn't at my healthiest. My mother had been doing Weight Watchers for some time and was rapidly seeing results without starving herself. She shared her books with me and explained the program: estimate your daily target based on your weight and other factors, write down everything you eat and move! The longer I stuck to it the more I noticed a difference in the way I enjoyed food. I soon began to like eating fruits and vegetables for snacks instead of chocolate bars and chips. My mother and I went on walks together and kept each other in check. Unsurprisingly, I lost twenty pounds soon and looked amazing in my wedding dress.
I buy healthy foods, replace ice cream and faithfully keep a food journal. I exercised and take evening walks. Because I have a hard time reaching for something healthy by myself, I bought a Weight Watchers cookbook and use it to prepare our meals. I use small plates and bowls to trick myself into believing there is more food than the serving size.
It's been hard to discipline myself not to eat badly. But when I find myself having a desire for strawberries instead of chocolate, I know it's all worthwhile. | [{'question': 'The author successfully lost twenty pounds _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['by walking and eating less every day', 'by only eating fruits and vegetables', "under her doctor's direction", 'with the help of her mother']}] |
Best places to visit in Australia
Are you looking for the best places to see in Australia? Here are the top 5 places to visit in Australia. It includes the best, the most beautiful and the most famous.
Sydney
For those who have made a flight from the other side of the world, if you come and don't see Sydney, it is a bit like going to Germany and not drinking a beer, or to England and not seeing London, or America and not trying a hot dog. There is plenty to see and do in Sydney apart from the well known attractions of the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, and Bondi beaches.
Byron Bay
Located in New South Wales, just south of the Queensland border, Byron Bay is popular with not just international tourists, but is also a favorite holiday destination of Australians. The lighthouse is amazing at sunset (and it is the most easterly part of mainland Australia). There are a range of music festivals over the year that attract international and local musicians alike.
The Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road, located in Victoria, is one of the best scenic drives of the world. Its official length is 243 kms (roughly 150 miles), but it will take you a full day to enjoy it due to the narrow and windy traffic lanes (only one in each direction).
Daintree Rainforest
Located in northern Queensland, roughly 110 kms north of Cairns, the rainforest is a nature wonderland. It is Australia's largest rainforest, about 20% of Australia's native bird species can be found within the Daintree.
The Great Barrier Reef
Located in Queensland, this attraction is one of those attractions that are actually known by everyone. Extending for about 2,300 kms, it is home to many rare, endangered and unique animals and plant species. | [{'question': 'Which places will you go in Australia if you are interested in music?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef', 'Byron Bay and Daintree Rainforest', 'The Great Ocean Roadand Byron Bay', 'Byron Bay and Sydney']}, {'question': 'Where can you see unique and endangered animals in Australia?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Daintree Rainforest', 'The Great Barrier Reef', 'Byron Bay', 'Sydney']}, {'question': 'What is the biggest problem when travelling in the Great Ocean Road?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Its traffic problems.', 'Its official length.', "You can't eat an America hot dog there.", 'You must make a flight from the other side of the world.']}] |
Dutch treat is a late-nineteenth-century term, and it originally refers to a dinner where everyone is expected to pay for his own share of the food and drink. If people go "Dutch treat", or simply "go Dutch", it means that they will share the expenses of a social engagement.
There are many other "Dutch" expressions in English, many of which were invented in Britain in the seventeenth century, when the Dutch and the English were commercial and military rivals. The British used "Dutch" to refer to something bad, cheap and shameful. A "Dutch bargain" at that time was an uneven, one-sided deal; "Dutch reckoning" was an unitemized account; and "Dutch widow" was slang for prostitute. Later centuries brought in "Dutch courage", for bravery caused by drink; "Dutch concert", for noisy music; "Dutch nightingale", meaning a frog; and "double Dutch", for incomprehensible language or talk.
Some of the expressions are still in use today, but some are not. In fact, in American English, some "Dutch" expressions have nothing to do with the Dutch, but something with the German. It was probably because of the similar spelling and pronunciation that people made a mistake in distinguishing between "Dutch" and "Deutsch" (the German word for German), when German immigrants came to America in the 1700s. For instance, "the Pennsylvania Dutch" refers to the German descendants, instead of the Dutch descendants, living in Pennsylvania. | [{'question': 'Many of the "Dutch" expressions were invented with negative sense, because _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['The Dutch were underdeveloped people.', 'Britain and Holland were competitors at that time.', 'The Dutch had many bad habits.', 'The British were superior to the Dutch.']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, some native American "Dutch" expressions were related to the German instead of the Dutch, simply because _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['People hated the German as much as the Dutch.', 'People made a mistake at the beginning.', 'People made a joke about the German.', 'The German immigrants proclaimed that they were Dutch.']}] |
What did you dream about last night? Did your teeth fall out or did you fly? Maybe you died or someone you know did.Or maybe you were back in high school.These are among the most common dreams people have and they all mean something.Here are some of the most common dreams and their interpretations or symbolism.
Dreams of flying.Dreams of flying represent feelings of freedom that may result from an instance when you overcome a limitation or obstacle.Usually, children have more flying dreams than adults, because children are more open to their possibilities, and adults have often accepted limitations imposed by society.
Teeth falling out.Food in a dream is symbolic of knowledge because food nourishes the physical body and knowledge nourishes the soul.Teeth are a means to break down food or knowledge.When your teeth fall out in a dream, it could signify that you feel ill - equipped to break down the knowledge that you have available, that the way you break things down has changed.That change can be either positive or negative.
High school dreams.High school is a place of learning from the past, and dreaming of being unprepared for a high school test can indicate a struggle to access information you need to handle in your life.
Recurring dreams and nightmares.Recurring dreams are your subconscious mind's way of trying to get your attention.A recurring dream is a step down from a nightmare that is a louder, more insistent way your subconscious mind communicates.If you have a recurring dream, try to stop in the dream and _ what the dream is trying to tell you.That could mean asking someone who is chasing you what he or she wants.A woman dreamed for years that an old, haggard woman was chasing her around her home.When she finally stopped in the dream and asked the old woman what she represented, the old woman suddenly turned into a beautiful young woman and replied, "I represent your question of ' what if?' " | [{'question': 'The text is mainly about _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['high school dreams', "dreams' symbolism", 'dreams of flying', 'nightmares']}, {'question': "After you' ve got out of some difficulties, you might have a _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['high school dream', 'dream of flying', 'dream of teeth falling out', 'a nightmare']}, {'question': 'If you dream of being unprepared for a "high school test, it means _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["you' re trying to learn something", 'you will certainly fail in the test', 'you will be scolded by your teacher', "you' re not well prepared for the test"]}, {'question': "The woman' s dream is mentioned mainly to _ .", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['tell us nothing but an interesting story', 'show us what a nightmare is like', 'tell us that women are always changeable', 'show us the way to deal with a recurring dream']}] |
It's 5pm on a Friday and I'm standing in a coffee shop above Shibuya crossing - one of the most busiest place in Japan where more than a thousand of Tokyo's smartly dressed people gather at eight points, ready to cross - then rush straight for each other. It looks like they must bump into each other, but It's amazing that they all manage to reach the other side safely.
But the real reason I'm here is that I want to see people crash. I want businessmen to knock into each other, their umbrellas flying off their arms, and uniformed schoolchildren hitting grannies. Why may I see this now, but wouldn't have had the chance even a year ago? It's very simple - smartphones.
Smartphone use is booming in Japan. In 2012, only about a quarter of Japanese used them, most being perfectly happy with their everyday mobiles. But now more than half of all Japanese now own a smartphone and the number is rising fast. But with that rise has grown another phenomenon - the smartphone walk. Those people who're staring at a phone screen adopt this kind of pace- their head down, arms outreached, looking like zombies trying to find human prey .
Surprisingly, an American named Michael Cucek who has lived here for more than 20 years told me smartphone walk probably wouldn't be a long-term problem. Japanese phone manner is in fact better than anywhere else in the world - hardly anyone speaks on their phones on trains, and teenagers wouldn't dare broadcast music out of one. If things got truly bad at Shibuya, the police would just start shouting at people to look up.
But really, is the smartphone walk such an annoying problem? There's only one way to find out. So I leave the coffee shop, head down to the crossing and start typing an email, promising myself I won't look up until I get to the other side. When they start walking past me, it's my time to cross. As I step forward, the experience quickly becomes nervous - legs jump in and out of my vision without warning, while shopping bags fly towards my face before being pulled away at the last moment. I'm sure I'm going to get hit, but after a few seconds I relax. It's OK. Everyone's reacting for me.
I expect to see two smartphone walkers just like me. But instead I find a young couple, very much in love and very much refusing to let each other's hands go just to give way to a fool on his smartphone. The girl gives me such a look of dislike that I quickly apologize and rush round them. That look was enough to ensure I'll never be smartphone walking again. | [{'question': 'Why does the author stand in a coffee shop above Shibuya crossing?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Because he is waiting for somebody.', 'Because he can have a good view from there.', 'Because he wants to see what would happen because of smartphones.', "Because it's interesting to see businessmen's umbrellas flying off their arms"]}, {'question': 'How does Michael Cucek find smartphone walk in Japan?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['He found it by accident when he lives here.', 'Japanese pay much attention to their phone manner in public.', "The police in Shibuya are too strict with people's phone manner.", 'Smartphone walk in Japan has a deep root.']}, {'question': 'How does the author confirm whether smartphone walk is annoying or not?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['By personal experimenting', 'By comparing with other way of walk', 'By giving example.', 'By explaining the traffic rules patiently']}, {'question': 'After smartphone walking himself, the author thinks _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["it's exciting to walk while sending emails", "it's really dangerous to walk while sending emails", 'there are some others smartphone walking like him', 'other passers-by give way to him although they dislike.']}] |
A woman was waiting at an airport one night, with several long hours before her flight. She bought a book and a bag of cookies in the airport shop, and found a place to drop.
She was interested in her book, but the man sitting beside her grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between, which she tried to ignore to avoid an argument.
So she ate the cookies noisily and watched the clock, as the cookie thief diminished (......) her stock. She was getting angrier as the minutes passed, thinking,"Oh, brother, if I wasn't so nice, I would blacken your eyes."
With each cookie she took, he took one, too. When only one was left, she wondered what he would do. With a smile on his face, he took the last cookie and broke it in half. He offered her half, and he ate the other. She got it from him and thought, " This guy has some nerve and he's also rude. Why didn't he even show any gratitude?"
She had never known when she had been so angry. She gathered her bag and headed for the gate, refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate .
She boarded the plane and then she sought her book, which was almost complete. As she reached in her bag, she was shocked-- there was her bag of cookies. "If mine are here," she thought, "the others were his. It's too late to apologize." | [{'question': 'Why did the woman ignore it when she found the man eating the cookies?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["She didn't want to get into an argument.", 'She was full of pity for the man.', 'The man was dangerous and brave.', 'She was too careless to notice it.']}, {'question': 'When offered her half of the last cookie, the woman _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['felt a bit disappointed.', 'felt deeply thankful.', 'considered the man unthankful.', 'saw the man as his brave brother.']}, {'question': 'We can infer that the man _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['might have returned the bag of cookies secretly.', 'tried to share his cookies with the woman.', "was thankful for the woman's kindness.", 'was really a thief.']}] |
Coaches and parents always tell us to keep our goals in mind when we go for a competition. Carrying your goals and expectations into a competition is one of the biggest mistakes any athlete can make. This is a big game and you want to win. You want to score a hundred, defeat your competitors, or score a hat-trick of goals. When you carry your goals into the competitive ground with you, chances are great that you will leave that performance with disappointment and heartache, and nothing more!
Expectations will _ Expectations will distract you from the performance and make your muscles tighten up. Want to perform to your potential when it counts the most? Then write your goals on a piece of paper before you leave for the game, match or race, and then leave that paper at home! Make a deal with yourself to let go of your goals. Expectations and goals should be your training partner, used to motivate you to work harder during practice and take your game to the next level, However, never take your goals and expectations into a competition. You will not perform to your potential!
Go into your competitions without any preconceived ideas about the result. Forget the outcome! Instead, keep your focus on what you're doing in the moment. Think of the competition as it unfolds, moment by moment. Relax at every opportunity by breathing deep and letting go of the tension in your muscles. When you do this you'll remain loose and relaxed. When you stay loose, you'll perform to your capabilities. Goals and expectations are very important for your overall motivation, and very harmful when you carry them into a performance. | [{'question': 'According to the passage, for an athlete one of the biggest mistakes is _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['forgetting his goals when competing', 'worrying about his not winning', 'carrying his goals into the competition', 'paying too much attention to the result']}, {'question': 'According to the author, expectations and goals should be _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["set within one's capabilities", 'used as an encouragement when training', 'written down in case of being forgotten', 'divided into some small parts']}, {'question': 'What might be the most suitable title for the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Keep your goals in mind', 'Set your goals for a competition', 'Forget your goals after competitions', 'Leave your goals at home']}] |
What does the word "home" mean to you? How do you say the word in French? In Spanish? In your language? Although people usually know what the word means, it often has no exact translation. It's not surprising really, because the idea of home differs from country to country, and from person to person. A home is more than a roof and four walls. It's the cooking, eating, talking, playing and family living that go on inside, which are important as well. And at home you usually feel safe and relaxed.
But it's not just that homes look different in different countries, they also contain different things and reveal different attitudes and needs. For example, in cold northern Europe, there's a fire in the living room or kitchen and all the chairs face it. In the south, where the sun shines a lot and it's more important to keep the heat out, there are small windows, cool stone floors and often no carpets. We asked some people about their homes.
How often do people move house in your country?
"In my country many people don't stay in one place for a very long time. They often move every ten years or so."
Cheryl, Boston, USA
What are typical features of homes in your country?
"In Britain, even in town there's always a garden and sometimes a cellar . We have separate bedrooms and living rooms. But we don't often have balconies . The weather isn't warm enough!"
-- Pat, Exeter, England | [{'question': 'Which one is true according to the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["People in Britain seldom have balconies because it's so hot outside.", '"Home" is a place where you feel safe and relaxed.', 'Although homes look different in different countries, they have the same needs.', 'Houses in northern Europe always have big windows and cool stone floors.']}, {'question': 'The word "home" has no exact translation because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["people can't find this word in the dictionary", 'no one knows what it is', 'it has different meanings in different countries', "people can't understand each other very well"]}, {'question': 'You can _ at home according to the passage.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['eat, play, and teach students', 'cook, talk, and play games', 'swim, eat, and make friends', 'do nothing']}, {'question': 'Why is it important to keep the heat out of the houses in southern Europe?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Because they want to breathe fresh air outside.', "Because there's a fire in the living room.", 'Because they wear heavy clothing all day long.', 'Because the sun there shines a lot.']}] |
College visits are important.Before you commit years of your life and money to a school, be sure you're choosing a place," that is a good match for your personality and interests.You can't get the "feel' of a school from any guidebook, so be sure to visit the campus.Below are a few tips for getting the most out of your college visit.
1.Explore on your own
Of course you should take the official campus tour, but be sure to allow time to hang around on your own. The trained tour guides will show you a school's selling points.But the 1dest and prettiest buildings don't give you the entire picture of a college.Try to walk the extra mile and get the complete picture of the campus.
2.Read the Bulletin Boards
When you visit the student center, academic buildings and residence hall, take a few minutes to read the bulletin boards.They provide an easy way to see what's happening on campus.The ads for lectures, clubs and plays can tell you what's going on outside the classrooms.
3.Eat in the Dining Hall
You can get a good feel for student life by eating in the dining hall.Try to sit with students if you can.Do the students seem happy or stressed? Also, is the food good? Are there adequate healthy options? Many admission offices will give prospective students coupons for free meals in the dining halls.
4.Visit a Class in Your Major
If you know what you want to study, a class visit makes a lot of sense.You'll get to observe other students in your field and see how involved they are in classroom discussion.Try to stay after class for a few minutes and chat with the students to get their impressions of their professors and major.Be sure to call in advance to schedule a classroom visit--most colleges don't allow visitors to drop in on class unannounced.
5.Talk to Lots of Students
Your campus tour guide has been trained to market the sch001.Try to talk to students who aren't getting paid to impress you.These important conversations can often provide you with information about co1lege life that isn't part of the admission script.Few university officials wi11 tell you if their students spend all weekend drinking or studying, but a group of random(,) students might.
For more tips,please go to collegeapps.about.com. | [{'question': 'The best way to know about a college in an official campus tour is _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['to walk around the campus alone', 'to take pictures of the campus', 'to visit the oldest and prettiest buildings', 'to hire a tour guide']}, {'question': 'Reading the bulletin boards can help you _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['decide the major you want to study', 'find out the after-class activities on campus', 'get free coupons from the admission offices', 'find out the options of healthy food']}, {'question': 'If you plan to attend a class on campus, _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['drop in on a class in your major', 'have talks with the students in the class', 'make an appointment in advance', 'ask how the students like their teachers and majors']}, {'question': "To get a real idea of the college during a visit, it's best to talk to _ .", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['famous professors', 'campus tour guides', 'admission officers', 'random students']}, {'question': 'Where does the passage probably come from?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['A news report', 'A tourist poster.', 'An educational journal.', 'A geographical magazine.']}] |
Hilton English Language Center
Information for New Students
CLASS TIME: 8:30a.m.--10:00a.m., 10:30a.m.--12:00a.m., 1:30p.m.--3:00p.m..
The Language Center is open Monday to Friday. Each class has one afternoon free per week. On the first day, go to the lecture hall to check your timetable.
SELF-ACCESS: The language laboratory (Room 1110) is open Monday to Friday from 3:15p.m. to 5:00p.m. for all full-time students.
You can learn how to use computers for language games or word-processing . There are tapes for students to borrow to practice their English. Go in and ask the teacher to show you. If you plan to take public examinations, there are dictation and listening comprehension tapes for you to practice with. There are cloze exercises on the computers. Ask your class teacher for a list of past exam essays. Students can borrow tapes to take home but they must be returned after two days.
ATTENDANCE :All students are expected to attend classes as it is required. Students who do not attend classes will be reported to OSS. Eighty percent attendance is required for students to receive their certificates when they finish their courses. It is also required by OSS for an extension to your visa.
BOOKS: If students are given course books, the books are their responsibility. If a book is lost, the student will be expected to pay for it.
If students wish to buy books, there is a bookshop in the college specializing in English books (Room 3520). | [{'question': 'When do classes begin and end on a full day?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['8:30a.m.--1:30p.m..', '8:30a.m.--3:00p.m..', '8:30a.m.--3:15p.m..', '3:15p.m.--5:00p.m..']}, {'question': 'Which of the following statements is TRUE?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['No teachers are in the language lab.', '90% attendance is required for the students.', "Books can't be taken out of the center.", 'Students can prepare for exams by listening to tapes.']}, {'question': 'The timetable can be seen in _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['the lecture hall', 'Room 3520', 'the classroom', 'Room 1110']}] |
"Regardless of social class, race and age, men say they hate to shop." says Zukin, City University of New York sociology professor. Yet when you ask them deeper questions, it turns out that they like to shop. Men generally like to shop for books, music and hardware. But if you ask them about the shopping they do for books or music, they'll say, "Well, that's not shopping. That's research."
In other words, what men and women call "buying things" and how they approach that task are different.
Women will wander through several 1,000-aquare-meter stores in search of the perfect party dress. Men will wander through 100 Internet sites in search of the perfect digital camcorder. Women see shopping as a social event. Men see it as a special task or a game to be won.
"Men are frequently shopping to win," says Ann, a marketing professor at Loyola University of Chicago. "They want to get the best deal. They want to get the best one, the latest one and if they do that it makes them happy." When women shop, "They're doing it in a way that they want everybody to be very happy." says Ann. "They're kind of shopping for love."
"Teenage girls learn to shop from their moms and older sisters, but they also learn to shop by examining articles in magazines like Seventeen," City University Zukin says. "And although men's magazines such as GQ and Esquire have long had shopping articles, it's TV that has the eye of young male shoppers," say Ann and Zukin.
"Television shows are used by young men in the same way Seventeen magazine or Lucky is used by girls," says Zukin, "to help make clothing and toiletry choices."
"Of course, there are men who love to shop and are proud of it." Loyola's Ann says. And that is important no matter whether you buy a car or a frying pan. All men love to buy but don't want to get cheated. Ann adds, "There actually are men who are interested, for example, in cooking or shopping or chinaware or things around the home---they become kind of girl magnets. Women like it." | [{'question': 'Compared to women, men usually treat shopping more _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['seriously', 'honestly', 'curiously', 'foolishly']}] |
"Family" is of course an _ word. But when British people say that their society is based on family life, they are thinking of "family" in its narrow, peculiarly European sense of mother ,father and children living together alone in their own house as an economic and social unit. Thus, every British marriage indicates the beginning of a new and independent family--hence the tremendous importance of marriage in British life. For both the man and the woman, marriage means leaving one's parents and starting one's own life. The man's first duty will then be to his wife, and the wife's to her husband. He will be entirely responsible for her financial support, and she for the running of the new home. Their children will be their common responsibility and theirs alone. Neither the wife's parents nor the husband's, nor their brothers or sisters, aunts or uncles, have any right to interfere with them--they are their own masters.
Readers of novels like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice will know that in former times marriage among wealthy families were arranged by the girl's parents, that is, it was the parents' duty to find a suitable husband for their daughter, preferably a rich one, and by skillful encouragement to lead him eventually to ask their permission to marry her. Until that time, the girl was protected and maintained in the parents' home, and the financial relief of getting rid of her could be seen in their giving the newly married pair a sum of money called a dowry. It is very different today. Most girls of today get a job when they leave school and become financially independent before their marriage. This has had two results. A girl chooses her own husband, and she gets no dowry. | [{'question': 'What does the author mean by "Family is of course an elastic word"?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Different families have different ways of life.', 'Different definitions could be given to the word.', 'Different nations have different families.', 'Different times produce different families.']}, {'question': "For an English family, the husband's duty is _ .", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['supporting the family while the wife is financial', 'defending the family while the wife is running the home', 'financial while the wife is running the home', 'independent while the wife is dependent']}, {'question': 'Everything is decided in a family _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['by the couple', 'with the help of their parents', 'by brothers and sisters', 'with the help of aunts and uncles']}, {'question': 'What is true concerning the book Pride and Prejudice?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['It is the best book on marriage.', 'It is a handbook of marriage.', 'It gives quite some idea of English social life in the past.', 'It provides a lot of information of former time wealthy families.']}, {'question': 'With regard to marriage in Britain, present day girls differ from former time girls in _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['the right marry', 'more parental support', 'choosing husbands', 'social position']}] |
Joke l:
A man was sitting reading his papers when his wife hit him round the head with a frying pan. "What was that for?" the man asked.
The wife replied, "That was for the piece of paper with the name Jenny on it I found in your pocket." The man then said, "When l was at the races last week Jenny was the name of the horse I bet on." The wife apologized and went on with the housework. Three days later the man was watching TV when his wife hit him on the head with an even bigger frying pan, knocking him unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness the man asked why she had hit again. Wife replied, "Your horse phoned."
Joke 2:
"Do you believe in life after death?" the boss asked one of his employees.
"Yes, sir, " the new employee replied.
"Well, then, that makes everything just fine, " the boss went on. "After you left early yesterday to go to your grandmother's funeral. she stopped in to see you!"
Joke 3:
"Oh, I am happy to see you, " the little boy said to his grandmother on his mother's side. "Now maybe daddy will do the trick he has been promising us. " The grandmother was curious. "What trick is that?" she asked.
"I heard him tell mommy that he would climb the walls if you came to visit, " the little boy answered.
Joke 4:
A woman's husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months, yet she had stayed by his bedside every single day. One day, he signaled for her to come nearer. As she sat by him, he whispered, eyes full of tears, "You know what? You have been with me all through the bad times.
When I got fired, you were there to support me.
When my business failed, you were there.
When I got shot, you were by my side.
When we lost the house, you stayed right here.
When my health started failing, you were still by my side... You know what Martha?"
"What dear?" she gently asked, smiling as her heart began to fill with warmth.
"I'm beginning to think you're bad luck..." | [{'question': 'The wife became angry suddenly in Joke 1 because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['she had her frying pan burned while away', 'her husband made a bet on a horse but lost', "her husband was carrying with himself a woman's name", "her husband's pocket money was lost without any reason"]}, {'question': 'Who called the husband in Joke 1?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['The organization of the horse races of a club.', 'Jenny the man chose to bet on in the races.', 'Jenny who won the race successfully.', 'Jenny whom the man made friends with.']}, {'question': 'What dose the boss mean in Joke 2?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["He was lucky to see the employee's former grandmother.", "The employee's grandmother has come into heaven after death.", 'He has figured out that the employee told a lie to him.', "The employee's grandmother was an honest woman."]}, {'question': 'What can we learn about the little boy from Joke 3?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['His father likes to make fun of his mother-in-law.', 'He likes to play tricks on others.', 'His mother is strict with him.', "His father doesn't like his mother-in-law to come."]}, {'question': 'The husband in Joke 4 means that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['he is thankful for his selfless and lovely wife', 'he realizes he is unlucky to have married his wife', 'it is fortunate to experience so many unforgettable things', 'his wife deserves all his love because of her devotion']}] |
If you wish to dance with a certain lady, go to her, bow, and say, "May I have the pleasure of a dance?" If it is a formal dance with programs, she will tell you which dance she will have with you; if there are no programs, she will either rise and dance with you, or she may say, "I have this dance taken." Or she may say, "I am sorry, I am not dancing this dance." This may be a polite way of saying that she does not want to dance with you, or it may be that she is tired and wants to rest; you will have to judge which is her attitude.
Do not expect a lady whom you have invited to dance in advance for a dance to make any attempt to find you. It is her part to remain seated until you find her. Bow and say, "I believe this is my dance."
At the end of a dance, thank your partner, but do not leave her until you have led her to a seat. Then, if you wish, you may excuse yourself, and go in search of your next partner.
If you cannot dance very well, it is always permissible to ask a lady if she is willing to _ a dance with you. Sometimes during the evening, your hostess, the daughter of the hostess, and any guest of honor should all be asked by you to dance. | [{'question': 'When a lady says, "I am sorry I am not dancing this dance.", she actually means _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['she is not willing to dance with you', 'she is too tired to dance with you', 'she is not good at dancing at all', 'either A or B']}, {'question': 'If you have already made an appointment with a lady at the ball, _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['it is her duty to find you', 'it is still your duty to find her', 'it is both of your duty to find each other', 'you wait and wait until it is your turn to dance with her']}, {'question': 'At the end of the dance, _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['you leave your partner and go to find your next partner', 'you thank your partner and leave her', 'you should introduce your partner to another gentleman', 'none of the above is right']}] |
"Migrant workers" is a familiar term for 17-year-old Shi Jian. Her father and uncle often talk about the problems surrounding this group of people. However, Shi cares more about the children of these migrant workers.
Last year Shi's housekeeper's daughter had to give up her schooling in Beijing because she would not be allowed to sit the national college entrance exam. She was forced to continue her high school education in her hometown in Sichuan Province.
Shi thinks the current law is unfair for migrant workers' children, as it prevents them from studying at public schools, unless their parents pay huge sums. So, Shi decided to do a survey of migrant workers so that she could find some solutions to help solve the problem.
In the last six months Shi spoke to 186 migrant workers in Beijing. Her interviewees include babysitters, guards, keepers, supermarket clerks, house cleaners and construction site workers. Shi found out that 55 of them were parents. Among this group, only eight have children who attend schools in Beijing. The other 47 had to leave children with relatives in the countryside. However, 40 of the 47 would like to enroll their children in city schools.
From her interviews, Shi found that the workers' lowest income was 400 yuan each month. Over one-third earn a monthly wage of or below 1000 yuan. "Even schools for migrant workers' children charge more than public schools. Morever, parents constantly worry about these schools closing or relocating," she explained.
Shi has recently completed a report about her survey, in which she makes a series of recommendations. "The government can set up public schools for migrants' children equal to schools for city children. Second, to offset migrant workers' very low pay, public schools should offer them special rates so they can afford their children's tuition . | [{'question': 'What drove Shi to do the survey of migrant workers?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["Her curiosity about migrant workers' lives", 'She was asked to do a survey of migrant workers as part of a school project.', "Her housekeeper's daughter was forced to move to her hometown to continue studying.", "She wanted to draw people's attention and become famous"]}, {'question': "According to Shi's survey, most migrant workers' kids _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["don't live together with their parents", "attend schools near their parents' working places", 'have to help their parents support the family', 'always do better in schools than children from the city.']}, {'question': "All of the following prevent migrant worker's kids from attending schools in cities EXCEPT _", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["their parents' low income", 'their lack of confidence to face the fierce competitions in city schools', "school's high tuitions", "that schools for migrant workers' children may close or relocate"]}, {'question': 'Shi suggested in her survey that _', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["more private schools for migrants' children should be built", "more money should be collected for migrants' children", "children's tuition should be reduced", 'students from the city and the countryside should be encouraged to communicate more']}] |
Last week, I bought an alarm system for about $ 450. It consisted of a control unit with three other small units. I put the control unit in the sitting room and fastened the other units by the front door, back door and living-room windows. The instructions told us to choose three numbers, so we chose 491, the last three numbers of our telephone number.
Now I must explain how the alarm works:
1. There is a power siren in the control unit. It makes a very loud noise.
2. Each of the small units sends out beams or rays in different directions. If anything moves, it breaks a beam. This sends a signal to the control unit. The siren makes a noise that you can hear 50 meters away.
3. When we go to bed, I press the three buttons numbered 4, 9 and 1. Then we have 30 seconds to get out of the room before the alarm starts to work.
That might I slept soundly because I was sure that no burglar could get into our house. However, at about 2:10a.m., I woke up and heard the siren .
"There must be a burglar in the house," Mary said. "What shall we do?"
"I'll go and see who's there," I said. "Stay here. Don't make a noise."
I went downstairs quietly. When I reached the living room, I switched on my torch and looked round the room. Then I turned the light on. I switched the siren off and searched the rooms downstairs. There was nothing wrong except that the back door was unlocked. I locked it, re-set the alarm and went back to bed.
About an hour later, the alarm started again. I jumped out of bed, fell over a chair in the dark and bumped into the bedroom door. Mary woke up and started hitting me with a torch. "Hey! Wait a minute!" I whispered. "It's only me. I' m going downstairs to see what's wrong."
I went down into the living room and listened for a moment. The only sound I could hear was the siren. I turned on the light and then switched the siren off. As I did so, I glanced across at the curtains in front of the windows. I saw a house lizard disappear behind the curtains.
"Oh!" I said to myself. "That's our burglar."
When the lizard moved, it started the siren. I guessed that the alarm had been made in Europe, where there are no house lizards.
Well, I won't finish this story but if you want an alarm system free of charge, let me know. I'll send you ours. We bought a dog this morning. It knows the difference between a lizard and a burglar. | [{'question': 'The writer bought an alarm system to _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['make sure that he got up early every day', 'warn him when there were lizards in his house', 'frighten burglars and tell him that somebody had got into the house', 'make Mary feel safe to live in the large room']}, {'question': 'The purpose of the three units was to _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['send a message to the control unit and start the siren', 'sound their own sirens when the control unit told them to', 'check that the control unit worked properly all the time', 'give them enough light']}, {'question': 'What can we learn from the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["A burglar broke into the writer's house.", "The writer's wife was attacked by the burglar.", 'The alarm that the writer bought must be made in Europe.', "It was a lizard that broke into the writer's house."]}, {'question': 'The purpose of the writer in writing the passage is to _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["tell us that the alarm system doesn't work", 'tell us an interesting experience', 'show us how the alarm system works', 'make it clear that he wants to give away his alarm system']}] |
Father's Garden
My father was always a good gardener. One of my earliest memories is standing without shoes in the freshly tilled soil, my hands blackened from digging in the ground.
As a child, I loved following Dad around in the garden. I remember Dad pushing the tiller ahead in perfectly straight lines. Dad loved growing all sorts of things: yellow and green onions, watermelons almost as big as me, rows of yellow corn, and our favorite--- red tomatoes.
As I grew into a teenager, I didn't get so excited about gardening with Dad. Instead of magical land of possibility, it had turned into some kind of prison. As Dad grew older, his love for gardening never disappeared. After all the kids were grown and had started families of their own, Dad turned to gardening like never before. Even when he was diagnosed with cancer, he still took care of his garden.
But then, the cancer, bit by bit, invaded his body. I had to do the things he used to do. What really convinced me that Dad was dying was the state of his garden that year. The rows and rows of multicolored vegetables were gone. Too tired to weed them, he simply let them be. He only planted tomatoes.
For the first few years after he died, I couldn't even bear to look at anyone's garden without having strong memories pour over me like cold water from a bucket. Three years ago, I decided to plant my own garden and started out with just a few tomatoes. That morning, after breaking up a fair amount of soil, something caught the corner of my eye and I had to smile. It was my eight-year-old son Nathan, happily playing in the freshly tilled soil. | [{'question': 'Why did the author like the garden when he was a child?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['He wanted to be a garden-crazy like his father.', 'He loved being in the garden with his father.', 'The garden was full of his favorite food.', 'The garden was just freshly tilled.']}, {'question': "When all the kids started their own families, the author's father _ .", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['stopped his gardening.', 'turned to other hobbies.', 'devoted more to gardening.', 'focused on planting tomatoes.']}, {'question': "What happened to the garden when the author's father was seriously ill?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['There was a great harvest.', 'The garden was almost deserted.', 'No plant grew in the garden at all.', "The author's son took charge of the garden."]}, {'question': 'Why did the author start his garden with tomatoes?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['He wanted to honor his father.', 'His son liked the fields of tomatoes.', 'He only knew how to grow tomatoes.', 'He thought tomatoes were easy to manage.']}] |
The U. S. Postal Service (USPS) is losing billions of dollars a year. The government company that delivers "small mail" is losing out to email and other types of electronic communication. First-class mail amount fell from a high point of 104 million pieces in 2000 to just 64 million pieces by 2014.
Congress permits the 600.000-empIoyee USPS to hold a monopoly over first-class and standard mail. The company pays no federal, state or local taxes; pays no vehicle fees; and is free from many regulations on other businesses. Despite these advantages, the USPS has lost $52 billion since 2007, and will continue losing money without major reforms.
The problem is that Congress is preventing the USPS from reducing costs as its sales decline, and is blocking efforts to end Saturday service and close unneeded post office locations. USPS also has a costly union-dominated workforce that slows the introduction of new ideas or methods down. USPS workers earn significantly higher payment than comparable private-sector workers. The answer is to privatize the USPS and open postal markets to competition. With the rise of the Internet, the argument that mail is a natural monopoly that needs government protection is weaker than ever.
Other countries facing declining letter amounts have made reforms Germany and the Netherlands privatized their national postal companies over a decade ago, and other European countries have followed suit. Britain floated shares of the Royal Mail on its stock exchange in 2013. Some countries, such us Sweden and New Zealand, have not privatized their national postal companies, but they have opened them up to competition.
These reforms have driven efficiency improvements in all of these countries. Additional number of workers have been reduced, productivity has risen and consumers have benefited. Also, note that cost-cutting measures--such as closing tone post offices--are good for both the economy and the environment.
Privatization and competition also encourage new changes. When the USPS monopoly over "extremely urgent" mail was stopped in 1979, we saw an explosion in efficient overnight private delivery by firms such as FedEx.
The government needs to wake up to changing technology, study postal reforms abroad and let businessmen reinvent our out-of-date postal system. | [{'question': 'What do we know about the USPS?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Its great competitor is the delivery firm FedEx.', 'It is an old public service open to competitions.', "Its employees don't pay federal, state or local taxes.", 'It has complete control of first-class and standard mail.']}, {'question': 'The author probably that the USPS _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["needs government's protection as ever", 'can work together with other businesses', 'must be replaced by international companies', 'should be sold out and become a private service']}] |
We are not rich by what we possess but rather by what we can do without.
----Immauel Kant
Many times my friend June would say, "If I ever get rich, I'm getting a completely new wardrobe and moving into a bigger apartment." I thought of her words and her chances of being rich are about as good as mine. But, to everyone's surprise, a few years ago June did come to large inheritance .
At first June said very little about the money. As the initial shock disappeared, she became excited, June is a great believer in making lists, so I was surprised to find her writing down all the ways she would spend her new wealth.
As time went on, she started revising the list. What had been midway down the list was now at the top. At last, I said to her, "You know, it isn't necessary to spend all your inheritance at once. Take come time; think about it." "I know, I know," she answered with a little bit anger.
Then one morning June called, "I've decided how I want to use my new inheritance. I want to see what you think," she said. This wasn't something I looked forward to, but we had been friends so long.
As we sat, June spread a sheet of paper on the table. To my great surprise, she had written only two words: Charities, and Grandchildren-in that order. Though I had promised to keep quiet, I couldn't keep from asking how she came to this decision.
"Well," she said, "I took your advice and thought about it." She added, "Helping others means a lot to me, so I'm hoping this gift will help people in need."
I interrupted, "But what about this big apartment you most hope to have?"
"At first it was hard, but it doesn't seem as important any more", she answered with a smile.
Then June moved her hand, and I could see a few words written in tiny letters at the bottom of the page. After having a look at the small print, I burst into laughter. June had written: AND one new wardrobe. | [{'question': 'From the passage we can learn that the writer at first _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['was richer than her friend June', 'was no richer than her friend June', 'was poorer than her friend June', 'was interested in money as June']}, {'question': 'When making a list of how to deal with her inheritance, June _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["didn't change it at all", 'had a quarrel with the writer', 'kept it secret from the writer', 'made some changes to it']}, {'question': 'When June called the writer to talk about her new decision, the writer _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['felt that June would do something meaningful', 'refused the invitation at first, but changed her mind later', "had decided not to make any comments on June's list", 'was eager to learn more about the new list']}, {'question': "What did the writer think of her friend's new decision?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['She found it funny and wrong.', 'She found it unacceptable and unbelievable.', 'She found it surprising and meaningful.', 'She found it difficult and meaningless.']}] |
The slogan "a dog is for life, not just for Christmas" has been going strong for 27 years now. Dogs and cats have been popular Christmas gifts in the gifts in the UK and Europe for many years. But some people still haven't quite got the message.
The slogan still holds good. Some 105,000 dogs were _ by local government last year because they had been abandoned, many of them shortly after the festival season.
The main reason given by owners for handing their dogs over to the Dogs Trust is that the dogs need more attention than they can give; behavioral problems and moving home are also reasons given.
But Eleanor Silk, the Trust's communications director, says, "It's often four or five months after Christmas, in early summer, when owners find that the dog has got too big and too active, or it hasn't been trained properly and has caused damage around the home."
In any case, some organizations that help pets are quick to point out that if you are serious about getting a puppy as a pet, Christmas is not the time to do it. Puppies need to get used to their new surroundings, to be introduced to a routine, and to be looked after like small children. It's hard to meet any of these needs at Christmas. What's more, pulling a puppy out of a Christmas stocking in itself sends the wrong message to children. It encourages children to think of the puppy as a toy, rather than a responsibility.
Appreciating what you're taking on with a dog can be a sobering realization. "For life" means thinking about the effect they'll have on your life. It also infers you will need to care for the dog for its whole life. | [{'question': 'What would be the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Dogs and Cats--the Most Popular Christmas Gifts.', 'A pet is for Life, Not just for Christmas.', 'How to Take Care of Your Pets over Christmas.', "Let's Help Those Abandoned Pets"]}, {'question': 'According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a reason for pets to be abandoned?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Pets spread some diseases.', 'Pets damage some things in the house.', "The owners can't take good care of the pets.", 'The owners have to move to other places.']}, {'question': 'Why is the author against the idea of putting a dog in the Christmas stocking as a Christmas gift?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Because these dogs can still cause damage.', 'Because children will not take dogs seriously.', "Because children don't like to have dogs as Christmas gifts.", 'Because a Christmas stocking is not big enough to put a dog in.']}] |
Americans have contributed to many art forms, and jazz, a type of music, is one of the art forms started in the United States. Black Americans, who sang and played the music of their homeland, created jazz.
Jazz is a mixture of the music of Africa, the work songs the slaves sang, and religious music. Improvisation is an important part of jazz. This is why a jazz song sounds a little different each time it is played.
Jazz bands formed in the late 1800s. They played in bars and clubs in many towns and cities of the South, especially New Orleans. New Orleans is an international seaport, and people from all over the world come to New Orleans to hear jazz.
Jazz became more and more popular. By the 1920s, jazz was popular all over the United States. By the 1940s, you could hear jazz not only in clubs and bars, but in concert halls as well. Today, people from all over the world play jazz. Jazz musicians from the United States, Asia, Africa, South America, and Europe meet and share their music at festivals on every continent. In this way, jazz continues to grow and change. | [{'question': 'What can be the best title of the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['American Art Forms', 'The Development of Jazz', 'The Music of Black Americans', 'The Birthplace of Jazz']}, {'question': 'From the text we can learn that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['New Orleans is the place where jazz was very popular', 'the American people are all jazz lovers', 'jazz is merrily sung by black people when working', 'jazz may become less popular as time goes on']}, {'question': 'It took about _ years to make jazz popular in the United States.', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['200', '120', '80', '40']}] |
Cole Bettles had been rejected by a number of universities when he received an e-mail from the University of California, San Diego, last month, congratulating him on his admission and inviting him to tour the campus. His mother booked a hotel in San Diego, and the 18-year-old Ojai high school senior arranged for his grandfather, uncle and other family members to meet them at the campus for lunch during the Saturday tour.
"They were like 'Oh my God, that's so awesome ', " Bettles said. Right before he got in bed, he checked his e-mail one last time and found another message saying the school had made a mistake and his application had been denied.
In fact, all 28, 000 students turned away from UC San Diego, in one of the toughest college entrance seasons on record, had received the same incorrect message. The students' hopes had been raised and then dashed in a cruel twist that shows the danger of instant communications in the Internet age.
UCSD admissions director Mae Brown called it an "administrative error" but refused to say who had made the mistake, or if those responsible would be disciplined .
The e-mail, which began, "We're thrilled that you've been admitted to UC San Diego, and we're showcasing our beautiful campus on Admit Day, " was sent to the full 46, 000 students who had applied, instead of just the 18, 000 who got in, Brown said.
The error was discovered almost immediately by her staff, who sent an apology within hours.
"It was really thrilling for a few hours; now he's crushed , " said Cole's mother, Tracy Bettles. "It's really tough on them."
The admissions director said she was in the office on Monday until midnight answering e-mails and phone calls from disappointed students and their parents. She said she took full responsibility for the error. "We accessed the wrong database. We recognize the incredible pain receiving this false encouragement caused. It was not our intent." | [{'question': 'How many students received an admission e-mail from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD)?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['18, 000', '28, 000', '46, 000', '18']}, {'question': 'Which of the following statements is TRUE about the wrong e-mail message?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['The mistake was made on purpose to cause pain among the applicants.', 'It was UCSD admissions director Mae Brown who made the mistake.', 'UCSD admissions staff got information from the wrong database.', 'Staff did not discover the mistake until next Monday.']}, {'question': 'The admissions director Mae Brown did what she could to _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['protect the person who made the mistake', 'punish herself for the mistake', 'make up for the mistake', 'help the disappointed students enter the university']}] |
A Scottish woman has given birth to twins for the third time. Karen Rodger, 41, welcomed her first pair of girls rowan and Isla after having twice given birth to twin boys.
"I still haven't really taken it on board because I was convinced I was having two boys," Rodger told Sky News. Karen said her husband Colin was equally stunned when the couple learned they were going to have their fifth and sixth child. "He thought I was joking and immediately wrote back to say 'this is not funny'. I had to explain that it really was true," Karen said.
The average couple has about a 3 percent chance of having twins when not accounting for fertility drugs. And with each following pregnancy, the changes of producing twins a second, or even third time, become less.
Karen, a dance lecturer, first learned of the incredibly rare occurrence during a visit to her doctor and immediately texted her husband to share the news. "I just could not believe it. It never crossed my mind that it would be twins again. I just thought that wouldn't happen to people like me, but I'm ly delighted," she said.
It had been several years since the couple's last children were born. Their oldest twins are 14 and the second set was born just two years later. "I turned 40 and I thought, if I'm going to do it, I should do it now," Karen said. "I spoken to my husband and we both thought we'd quite like another one so that was it and, one month later, I was pregnant."
Colin says the age and gender difference will ensure a sweat-inducing dilemma for any future suitors of the twin girls. It will be a frightening challenge for any boyfriend. | [{'question': "From Karen 's reaction to the news given by her doctor, we infer that _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["she didn't know she was pregnant again", 'she was happy to have twins again', "she didn't think she was different from others", "she didn't know how to tell her husband the news"]}, {'question': 'After reading the passage, we know that Karen _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['gave birth to the twin girls in her forties', 'now has three boys and three girls in total', 'was talked into having more kids by her husband', 'hoped she could have more girls soon']}] |
Thousands of people living in the Chinese capital will celebrate the start of the Chinese New year by heading for the ski resorts . Never mind that Beijing's dry weather seldom produces snow. It is cold enough in winter for snow-making machines to make a covering for the hills north to the capital. And the rapid growth of a pleasure-seeking middle class has formed the basis for this new craze .
Since Beijing's first ski resort was opened ten years ago, the sport has enjoyed astonishing increase. There are now more than a dozen resorts. Clothes markets in the city have added bright colored ski suits to their winter collections. Mr. Wei, a manager of a newly-opened ski resort in Beijing, sees the growth of an industry that could soon lead Chinese to head for the ski resorts of Europe. In recent years, ski resorts offering natural snow have opened in China. But many are in faraway areas of the country and can't really match the equipment and services of some ski resorts in Europe.
Beijing's skiing craze is partly a result of the recent increase in private cars. This has led to the growth of a _ in the capital's suburbs , which until the late-1990s were unreachable to ordinary people. According to Mr. Wei, about 40% of the visitors to his resort come in their own cars. The rest are bused in by schools, businesses or government offices.
The problem is making money. Starting ski resorts requires quite a lot of money; hiring land from the local government, preparing the hills, buying snow machines, making sure there are enough water and electricity to run them, and buying ski equipment for hiring out to customers.
The ski resort where Mr. Wei works cost nearly $4 million to set up. And as so often in China when someone comes up with a good idea, many others rush in and price wars break out. Beijing now offers some of the cheapest ski training classes in the world, though with most people rather new to the sport, expecting a few more doing the same job. | [{'question': 'What does this text mainly talk about?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Convenience for skiers brought about by private cars.', "Skiing as a new way of enjoying one's spare time.", 'Things to be considered when starting a ski resort.', 'A sudden increase of ski training classes in Beijing.']}, {'question': 'Why are some Chinese likely to go skiing in Europe?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['To visit more ski areas.', 'To ski on natural snow.', 'For a large collection of ski suits.', 'For better services and equipment.']}, {'question': 'What is the main problem in running a ski resort?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Difficulty in hiring land.', 'Lack of business experience.', 'Price wars with other ski resorts', 'Shortage of water and electricity.']}] |
Planning to go to a gym? If you are one of those who have spent many days planning to join a gym or to attend it regularly, then why not choose some home exercise? Here are some home exercises without equipment.
Jumping jacks
This one is the best home workout without weights which is a great exercise that will work your hands and legs. Perform this exercise by standing with your feet placed together and arms at your sides. Now tuck in your abs and jump by bending in your knees. At the same time, move your feet apart as much as you can and raise your hands to bring in line with your shoulder. While you come back you must be in a starting position, feet together, hands at sides and knees bent. You must land on your heels and again jump.
Jogging
Jogging is one of the best home exercises without weights. You don't need to have a lawn or jogging track at home to perform this exercise. There are many benefits of jogging. It will work your entire legs. Moreover, it is a classic cardiovascular workout. Make sure you wear jogging footwear even if you are jogging at home to avoid any stress on your feet. Also, you can gradually increase the jogging time and speed.
Rotating exercise
Start by rotating your wrists, clockwise and anticlockwise. Now, alternately rotate your feet in the same fashion. Now place both your hands on the shoulder and start rotating your shoulder clockwise and anticlockwise. Place an exercise mat and lie flat on your back. Now lift your left leg and rotate it clockwise; do not bend you knees. Now rest the left leg, lift your right leg and rotate it anticlockwise.
It is necessary to set a perfect mood for exercise which will help you stick to the exercise routine and excitement. Make sure you wear proper exercise clothes to perform the workout with ease. Also, putting on your favorite music will make your exercise session more lively. If you get bored with exercises, just dance, after all it's also one of the best home exercises. | [{'question': 'To carry out jumping jacks effectively, you _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['need to keep your two feet apart at first.', 'must stand straight first and bend your abs.', 'must use your arms to support your body.', 'need to use your heels to touch the ground.']}, {'question': 'What is the right order of your body parts during rotation exercise?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['hands--legs---back----legs.', 'wrists--hands---feet---shoulders', 'wrists---feet---shoulders---legs', 'hands---shoulders---knees---legs']}, {'question': 'To carry out home exercises continuously, you need _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['a good atmosphere.', 'a good coach.', 'a dance teacher', 'a good timer.']}] |
Downing the last drop of an expensive famous brand H2O as well as remembering to throw the empty bottle in the recycling bin, makes you feel pretty good about yourself, _ Even when the bottles are recycles, there are all kinds of other consequences of swallowing bottled water, says Melissa Peffers, the air-quality program manager for Environmental Defense.
The containers are often filled in faraway lands, then shipped from abroad, and stored in refrigerators at your local store. Compare that with the influence on environment of turning on your tap, filling a glass, and drinking up!
Anyone who is choosing bottled water for health reasons is misguided, says Peffers, "Most bottled water is just tap water." And what comes out of your tap is carefully monitored to follow the strict rules. Consider another fact that bottled water is surprisingly expensive, especially when compared with the alternative, which is almost free, and it is astonishing that prefix = st1 /America's desire for bottled water seems impossible to satisfy, reaching nearly 30 billion bottles a year.
"My parents' generation never had bottled water, " says Isabelle Silvrman, an Environmental Defense legal adviser. She has made a commitment to _ . "You don't need to fetch it home from the store, and it's cheaper." She adds.
Bottled water's role as a status symbol needs to change, Peffers points out. So when a waiter at an expensive restaurant offers "And what's your drink?" that's no reason to forger your conviction . "Don't be afraid to say, 'I'll have tap.' Say it loud enough that the other tables nearby can hear you," Peffers says, "And then spend that money on a dessert." | [{'question': 'According to the author, tap water is_.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['as safe as bottled water', 'more likely to be polluted', 'healthier than bottled water', 'less convenient than bottled water']}, {'question': 'Why does Peffers ask people to say "I\'ll have tap." Loudly?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['To encourage them to set an example for others to follow.', 'To advise them to save the money for one more dessert.', 'To remind them to be aware of their social status.', 'To persuade them to speak confidently in public.']}] |
Some nations think they must have more and more babies, more and more people, if they are to remain strong and free.
Actually, this is not so. Very often in history, small nations have conquered large ones. It's not so much the size of the army as its organization and the technical level of its weapons. Thus, Greece took over Persia in the 300s B.C., Great Britain took over India in the 1700s, even though Persia and India had far bigger population than Greece and Great Britain.
If a nation wishes to avoid being dominated by its neighbors, its best chance is to raise its standard of living and its level of technology. _ can be done best by not allowing its population to grow to such a point that it is sunk in misery and poverty. In fact, the worst way in which a nation can try to avoid being dominated by its neighbor is to increase its population to the point of misery and poverty.
If every nation tries to compete with its neighbors by raising its population, then the whole world will be sunk in misery and poverty. The nations will become weak in a disaster that will leave nothing behind that is worth dominating. No one will have gained anything. Everyone will have lost everything.
Once all this is understood, and people generally agree that population growth must not be allowed to continue, they must also come to understand how that growth can be stopped. Population grows because more people are being born than are dying. There are two ways, then, in which the growth can be stopped. You can increase the number of people who die until it matches the number of people who are being born. Or else you can decrease the number of people who are born until it matches the number of people who are dying.
The first method--increasing the death rate--is the usual way in which population is controlled in all species of living things other than ourselves, but we don't want that, for disaster lies that way. The intelligent way is to reduce the birth rate. But how can the birth rate be reduced? | [{'question': 'It can be inferred from the passage that if a country had fewer people, _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['it could still remain strong', 'it would be defeated by a strong neighbour', 'its standard of living could be high', 'its people would live misery']}, {'question': 'What might the author be further discussing after the passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Needs to balance population.', 'Problems involved in birth control.', 'Methods of decreasing population.', 'Opposition from some nations.']}, {'question': 'The passage mainly focuses on _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['why we must control population', 'where we can find a solution', 'how to stop population growth', 'how to become a strong nation']}] |
What does the future hold for the problem of housing? A good deal depends, of course, on the meaning of "future". If one is thinking in terms of science fiction and the space age, it is at least possible to assume that man will have solved such trivial and earthly problems as housing. Writers of science fiction, from H.G. Wells onwards, have had little to say on the subject. They have conveyed the suggestion that men will live in great comfort, with every imaginable apparatus to make life smooth, healthy and easy, if not happy. But they have not said what his house will be made of. Perhaps some new building material, as yet unimagined, will have been discovered or invented at least. One may be certain that bricks and mortar(,) will long have gone out of fashion.
But the problems of the next generation or two can more readily be imagined. Scientists have already pointed out that unless something is done either to restrict the world's rapid growth in population or to discover and develop new sources of food (or both), millions of people will be dying of starvation or at the best suffering from underfeeding before this century is out. But nobody has yet worked out any plan for housing these growing populations. Admittedly the worst situations will occur in the hottest parts of the world, where housing can be light structure or in backward areas where standards are traditionally low. But even the minimum shelter requires materials of some kind and in the teeming, bulging towns the low-standard "housing" of flattened petrol cans and dirty canvas is far more wasteful of ground space than can be tolerated.
Since the war, Hong Kong has suffered the kind of crisis which is likely to arise in many other places during the next generation. Literally millions of refugees arrived to swell the already growing population and emergency steps had to be taken rapidly to prevent squalor and disease and the spread crime. The city is tackling the situation energetically and enormous blocks of tenements are rising at an astonishing aped. But Hong Kong is only one small part of what will certainly become a vast problem and not merely a housing problem, because when population grows at this rate there are accompanying problems of education, transport, hospital services, drainage, water supply and so on. Not every area may give the same resources as Hong Kong to draw upon and the search for quicker and cheaper methods of construction must never stop. | [{'question': 'The writer is sure that in the distant future _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['bricks and mortar will be replaced by some other building material.', 'a new building material will have been invented.', 'bricks and mortar will not be used by people who want their house to be fashionable.', 'a new way of using bricks and mortar will have been discovered.']}, {'question': 'The writer believes that the biggest problem likely to confront the world before the end of the century _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['is difficult to foresee.', 'will be how to provide enough houses in the hottest parts of the world.', 'will be how to feed the ever growing population.', 'is the question of finding enough ground space.']}, {'question': 'When the writer says that the worst situations will occur in the hottest parts of the world or in backward areas, he is referring to the fact that in these parts _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['the population growth will be the greatest.', 'standards of building are low.', 'only minimum shelter will be possible.', 'there is not enough ground space.']}] |
Though I have traveled in hundreds of trains, few unusual things have ever happened to me. But one day in a train something did happen. I do not mean that I was hurt: no one was hurt.
I do my work in a hot country far away from England. Every September I go there to do my business, and every July I come back to England to have a rest. So every September I go to Paris and take a train from the great French city to Mendova, and at Mendova I catch my ship.
There is one very fast train from Paris to Mendova, and it suits me well. It goes as far as Endoran, but it stops at Mendova for a few minutes to let travelers get out or in. It is called The Flying Bluebird. It reaches Mendova at seven minutes past nine in the morning, and it is never late.
A ship leaves Mendova at half past eleven, and so you will understand that The Flying Bluebird suits me very well. I always travel by it, and I have nearly two and a half hours at Mendova to go from the station to the ship. That is more than enough time.
Well, one September night, I took my place in The Flying Bluebird as usual. The train leaves Paris at nine o'clock every night, and I was in my place soon after half past eight. There were three or four people there with me, but very soon a lot of others got into the train. When no more people could sit down, they began to stand up near us and also in the corridor . In a short time the corridor was full too, and it was impossible for any more travelers to get into the train.
I could see a lot of other people outside the corridor windows, but they could not get in, and the train left Paris without them. The man sitting next to me started to ask all kinds of questions: "Where do you work? How long does it take you to get there? Are you married? How many children do you have? How much money do they pay you every year? How much do you have in the bank? How much do you spend every month?"
He asked questions for about twenty minutes but I did not give him any clear answers, and at last he stopped and began to read the paper.
I usually sleep quite well in the train, but this time I slept only a little. There were too many people, and there were too many things: small bags, large bags, coats, hats, boxes, newspapers and food. As usual, we got angry about the window. Most people wanted it shut, and two of us wanted it open. But that always happens. It was shut all night, as usual.
When I awoke in the early morning I felt hot and dirty, and glad that the journey was reaching its end. At seven minutes past nine The Flying Bluebird stopped. We were at Mendova, and I stood up thankfully. I took my two suitcases, held one in each hand, and tried to move towards the door into the corridor. In order to get out of the train, I had to pass down the corridor to the door at the far end. There was no other way out.
I could not even into the corridor. There was a suitcase on the floor by my feet, and three men were standing in my way. I felt a touch of fear. I had to get out, you see; I had to catch my ship, which left at half past eleven. And the train did not stop again until it reached Endoran, two hundred miles away.
"I must get out!" I cried. Everyone there understood me, but no one could move.
At last I was able to put one foot over the suitcase on the floor, and I nearly reached the door into the corridor. But then, very slowly, the train began to move. It was taking me away!
"Stop!" I cried. "I want to get out!" But no one outside the train could hear me, and the people inside did not care much. The train moved a little faster. What could I do? I was not even in the corridor.
Fear made me think quickly. In front of my eyes, just, above the door, was a notice that told everyone how to stop the train. I had to pull an iron thing near the notice. I did not waste time. I pulled it.
Well, _ That was to show everyone that there was something wrong. It was not a small sound. Possibly the men in my ship two miles away could hear it. Then the train stopped.
No one likes to stop a train if there is no need. But I had to catch my ship. That was the only thought in my mind: to get out and catch my ship. | [{'question': 'What do we know about the author and the man sitting next to him?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ["The author didn't like the man's foolish questions", 'They talked with each other all night', 'They got angry about the window', "The author didn't understand the man's words"]}, {'question': 'On this journey on The Flying Bluebird, the author felt uncomfortable because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["he couldn't find a seat by the window", 'he was angry with the man sitting next to him', 'the window was kept shut all night', 'there were too many people on the train']}, {'question': 'It can be learned from Para.10 that the author was afraid that _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['he would have to spend another sleepless night on the train', 'more people might crowd into the train', 'he would miss the ship that went where he worked', 'he would have to buy another ticket']}, {'question': 'What would be the best title for the text?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['A Train that Is Never Late', 'A Quick and Wise Decision', 'A Journey to Mendov', 'A Bad Experience on the Train']}] |
What's A Real Friend?
You can have the same neighbors for years. You love them or you think you love them. And you hope that they love you. But do you ever really understand them?
Charlie Kemp and his family lived next door to me for 15 years. We were good friends all the time. I enjoy friendship. I think it's the best thing in the world. And friendship with the Kemps was easy because they seemed to welcome it.
They were interesting and clever people. Their house caught fire twice, and twice the whole family slept in mine. They are always losing things like money, keys and watches. Pictures fell off the walls, the children fell out of bed ...
I was their neighbor and their friend. Life was always interesting, never dull. Best of all, I liked the whole family.
One day, I lit a fire in the garden to burn some rubbish. After some time Charlie Kemp came out of his house and walked up the road.
"Morning, Charlie," I said, "lovely day, isn't it?" He smiled at me and nodded. I went on with my work.
Twenty minutes later, a policeman arrived. He walked into my garden and said, "You'll have to put out that fire. Your neighbor has complained to us. He doesn't like the smell."
"My neighbor ...?" I asked.
"Yes," the policeman took out his notebook and read, "Charlie Kemp. He lives next door, doesn't he?" | [{'question': 'According to the passage, _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["Charlie Kemp is the author's neighbor and his real good friend", "Charlie Kemp is the author's neighbor but not his real good friend", 'Charlie Kemp treats the author as his real good friend', "the author doesn't treat Charlie Kemp as his real good friend"]}, {'question': 'The author was blamed by the policeman because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['he was found burning the rubbish by the policeman', 'he was found polluting the environment by burning the rubbish', 'his neighbor Charlie Kemp complained about his action and called the policeman', 'he burnt something of his neighbors']}, {'question': "The author's experience tells us that _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['a friend in need is a friend indeed', 'it is difficult to understand a person, even your friend', 'anyone is sure to be friendly to you if you are friendly to him', 'friendship is the best thing in the world']}] |
Eva Mozes Kor has good reasons to look down upon Oskar Groning. When she and her twin sister, Miriam, arrived in the Auschwitz death camp, they were met by Josef Mengele and became part of the cruel scientist's experiments. Groning was a junior squad leader at the camp.
While Groning could argue he was not directly responsible for procedures carried out on twins,nor for the mass murder of so many others, he played a critical role in the effort to kill Jews.
After the war Groning led an ordinary, quiet life until he became alarmed by the rise of Holocaust deniers. He went public with his role and in September 2014 was charged as an accessory to murder.
When Groning went on trial in April 2015, Eva Mozes Kor was called as a witness. After her session, she walked straight up to the 93-year-old former Nazi and shook his hand.
Eva Mozes Kor will never forget nor excuse what the Nazis did. Her two books make that clear: Surviving the Angel of Death. and the earlier Echoes from Auschwitz. She has also spent her post-war years drawing attention to the Holocaust, in the hope of preventing a repeat of its horrors.
At the same time, she is dedicated ( ) to healing rather than revenge. As she wrote in a Facebook post:
Forgiving does not mean forgetting-we all want to prevent these things from ever happening again. Forgiveness is about self-healing, self-liberation, and self-empowerment... Let's all work together to teach the world how to heal.
As a survivor suffering so much, Eva Mozes Kor is a role model for the kind of forgiveness that mends souls, a forgiveness that carries with it the responsibility to work for a world in which such horrors no longer happen. | [{'question': 'At the camp, Groning _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['killed many Jews directly', 'treated Eva Mozes Kor badly', 'experimented on Eva Mozes Kor', 'contributed to killing more Jews']}, {'question': 'Facing Holocaust deniers again, Groning felt _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['amazed', 'upset', 'fearful', 'quiet']}, {'question': 'Why did Eva Mozes Kor shake hands with Groning?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['To show her mercy.', 'To appreciate his justice.', 'To expect to forgive him.', 'To encourage others to follow her.']}, {'question': "What is the author's attitude to Eva Mozes Kor's forgiveness?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Objective.', 'Favorable.', 'Doubtful.', 'Unclear.']}] |
Computer power is moving into the "cloud"--networks of data centres that use the Internet to supply all kinds of services, from e-mail and social networks to data storage and analysis.
The rise of cloud computing is rapid and causing huge changes in the tech industry. The old guard is suffering: this week's $67 billion merger between Dell and EMC, makers of computers and storage devices respectively , was a marriage forced by the rise of the cloud. Disruptive newcomers are blooming: if Amazon's cloud-computing unit were a stand-alone public company, it would probably be worth almost as much as Dell and EMC combined.
The gains for customers have been equally dramatic. Compared with older IT systems, cloud computing is often much cheaper. It adds tremendous flexibility: firms that need more computing capacity no longer have to spend weeks adding new servers and installing software. In the cloud they can get hold of it in minutes. Their applications can be updated continually, rather than just every few months. Individual users can reach their e-mails, files and photos from any device. And cloud services also tend to be more secure, since providers know better than their customers how to protect their computing systems against hackers.
But cloud computing makes one problem worse. In the old IT world, once a firm or a consumer had decided on an operating system or database, it was difficult and costly to switch to another. In the cloud this "lock-in" is even worse. Cloud providers go to great lengths to make it easy to upload data. They accumulate huge amounts of complex information, which cannot easily be moved to an alternative provider.
Cloud firms also create a world of interconnected services, software and devices, which is convenient but only for as long as you don't venture outside their universe. Being locked in to a provider is risky. Firms can start to tighten the screws by increasing prices. If a cloud provider goes bust , its customers may have trouble getting back their data.
These risks have already caused a debate about whether the cloud needs stricter regulation. Some European politicians want to force cloud providers to ensure that data can be moved between them. That is too heavy-handed, because strict rules will inhibit innovation in what is still a young industry. The history of computing suggests that common standards may well appear naturally in response to customers' demands--just as in personal computers, where it is now much easier to use the same files on different systems.
In the meantime, a few commonsense measures can reduce the risk of lock-in. Firms that use more than one cloud provider to host their data are less affected. So are those that keep their most important information in their own data centres. Consumers can take precautions, too. Some services are better than others at enabling users to move data between providers (Google does well on this score). Cloud computing promises its users many benefits, but don't mistake it for some sort of digital heaven. | [{'question': 'The author takes "the merger between Dell and EMC" for example to show _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['the influence of cloud computing on computer and storage device makers', 'the miserable sufferings of old computer companies', 'the rapid development of new computer companies', 'the interaction between old companies and newcomers']}, {'question': 'With wide applications of cloud computing customers can _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['pay less for the older IT systems', 'gain more computing capacity quickly', 'know better about defeating the hackers', 'install software within weeks']}, {'question': 'The problem of "lock-in" can be dangerous because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['it should ensure data can easily be moved to another provider', 'it can create a network of services connected with devices', 'it may make it difficult for customers to recover their data', 'it will discourage an argument about stricter rules']}, {'question': 'Which of the following sayings can best express the main idea of the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Everything has its time and that time must be watched.', 'The grass looks greener on the other side of the fence.', 'A candle lights others and consumes itself.', 'Every white has its black, and every sweet has its sour.']}] |
Rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are a major cause of climate change, and now a new study has confirmed that atmospheric CO2is also affecting the ocean chemistry and potentially harming sea life.
Montana State University scientist Robert Dore has been researching the water in the Pacific Ocean for almost two decades. We've been going to the same spot in the Pacific Ocean, and we try and characterize long-term change in the open ocean environment. And one of the key things that we measure is CO2levels. And we've been able to record this increasing quantity of atmospheric CO2into the ocean.
Scientists expected that as atmospheric CO2increased, more and more of the carbon dioxide would be absorbed into the ocean, affecting the chemical balance of the sea water, with a potentially harmful impact on shellfish and coral in particular.
"As carbon dioxide dissolves in the water, or seawater in this case, it forms a weak acid, carbonic acid," Dore explains. "And therefore, as the concentration of CO2in the atmosphere goes up and that exchanges with the surface seawater, it drives the PH down, and makes it more acidic."
The seawater Dore and his colleagues have analyzed confirms what the theory predicts.
The effect was particular striking at about 250 meters down, and again at 500 meters. Dore and his colleagues came up with two possible explanations. It could be that surface water picked up CO2and then moved to those depths. Or there could be a biological explanation.
"It's important to realize that the oceans are really becoming acidic. And it can have negative impacts on a whole variety of sea life from fish to coral. It's potentially catastrophic." | [{'question': 'What can be the best title of the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Sea Life Facing Danger', 'Scientist Researching Seawater', 'Oceans Becoming More Acidic', 'Climate Change Affecting Seawater']}, {'question': 'With the increase of atmospheric CO2, _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['more corals will appear in the sea', 'the surface water is becoming warmer', 'the chemical balance of the seawater is affected', 'the PH of the ocean out here has been increasing']}, {'question': 'Scientist Robert Dore came to the conclusion based on _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['his research and analysis', 'the expectation of other scientists', 'some former theory', 'a major cause of climate change']}] |
Scientists have exactly discovered the set of brain cells involved in making risky decisions, and have been able to control them in rats using targeted light. By changing the activity of the cells they were able to change the behaviour of risk-taking rats to avoid risk, hinting the approach could in future be used to treat people with impulse control problems.
Risk-taking is a key part of survival, knowing when to take a chance could pay off--such as moving to a new area to look for food when pickings are slim.
While all animals need an element of risk, the preference towards it varies between individuals. Researchers found this variation, which determines how risk-averse an individual is, is regulated by brain cells in a region of the brain called the nucleus accumbens. This cluster of neurons releases the neurotransmitter dopamine, which regulates the brain's reward and pleasure centres.
Previous studies have shown that in patients with Parkinson's disease, taking medication which blocks specific dopamine receptors (DR2) leads to increased gambling behaviour and risk taking behaviour. In studies with rats, researchers were able to use a technique called optogenetics --which uses light sensitive proteins to change the activity of cells--to modify cells with DR2 in the nucleus accumbens.
Rats were trained to choose one of two levers, offering them a choice between a "safe" or "risky" choice. The safe option resulted in a small, but consistent amount of a sugar water treat. But the risky choice consistently delivered smaller amounts of sugar water, with the occasional large pay off--essentially encouraging the animals to gamble for a bigger prize. Around two-thirds of the animals weren't keen on risk, opting for the safe option, but the remaining third were risk-seekers. Brain scans of the animals showed that those with low levels of DR2 consistently went for the gamble.
But using pulses of light to stimulate the DR2 cells and improve their activity could cause the risk-takers to play it safe and opt for the guaranteed but less rewarding option. Once the light-pulses stopped, the risk-takers returned to their gambling strategy.
In the _ , stimulating the same cells had little to no effect.
Professor Karl Deisseroth, of Stanford University in California, said: "Humans and rats have similar brain structures involved."And we found a drug known to increase risk preference in people had the same effect on the rats. So every indication is that these findings are relevant to humans. "Risky behavior has its moments where it' s valuable. As a species, we wouldn't have come as far as we have without it." | [{'question': "The variation in people's preference towards risks is directly regulated by _ .", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['nucleus accumbens', 'light sensitive proteins', 'neurons', 'dopamine']}, {'question': 'From the experiment with rats, we can conclude that _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['the lack of DR2 cells results in a safe option', 'the levels of DR2 have little to do with their choices', 'the high levels of DR2 can make animals avoid risks', 'the risky choice is a less rewarding option']}, {'question': 'What can be inferred from what Professor Karl Deisseroth said?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Humans and rats differ in their preference for risk-taking.', 'Too much risk-taking can do more harm than good.', 'Risk-taking can be used to treat people with impulse control problems.', 'Risk-taking is a means of survival and brings higher returns to humans.']}] |
Nowadays everybody seems to think that they know English. Many people speak it but few speak it really well. Practice is necessary in speaking English well.
Reading is also one of the things that will help you to speak English better. Read whenever you can and whatever you like! Read papers and Internet sites that you like in English every day. Then, you will see that the number of known words is increasing and you are able to speak with more skills. Then you will have made the foundations and a good basis of English. It is not good to stop and get stuck there.
Going to England or an English speaking country is a good choice, but many people cannot afford it. If you cannot go, reading and speaking with your friends will also help you to practice your English. However, I think that it is very good to visit some English speaking country to see and test your knowledge in everyday life. You will feel the everyday usage of the language in its natural environment. There your level of English is going to improve even faster. Your ability to speak English is better. Nothing can match the excitement and happiness when a native speaker tells you that your English is very good!
Finally, in order to speak English well, you must be persistent and do it every day. It is like playing the piano. Pianists play it every day and so should you. Include English in your life and you will see where it is going. Practice, practice! Read, write and improve your language skills and you are on your way when you will be able to speak it with more and more confidence! | [{'question': 'Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['How to Improve Your Language Skills', 'How to Speak English Well', 'Speaking English', 'Practice, Practice']}, {'question': 'What does the writer suggest doing about reading?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Trying to improve your vocabulary.', 'Keeping on reading when you have time.', 'Stopping when you have a good basis of English.', 'Looking up every unknown word when reading.']}, {'question': "In the writer's eyes, the essential way to improve your speaking skills is _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['practicing', 'going abroad', 'reading', 'writing']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, what may make the author excited?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Reading papers and Internet sites.', 'Having a good basis of English.', 'Going to an English speaking country.', "A native speaker's praise."]}] |
A recent study, published in last week's Journal of the American Medical Association, offers a picture of how risky it is to get a lift from a teenage driver. Indeed, a 16-year-old driver with three or more passengers is three times as likely to have a deadly accident as a teenager driving alone, while the risk of death for drivers between 30 and 59 decreases with each additional passenger.
The authors also found that the death rates for teenage drivers increased sharply after 10 p.m., and especially after midnight. With passengers in the car, the driver was even more likely to die in a late-night accident.
Robert Foss, a scientist at the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, says the higher death rates for teenage drivers have less to do with "really stupid behavior" than with just a lack of driving experience. "The basic issue," he says, "is that adults who are responsible for issuing licenses fail to recognize how complex and skilled a task driving is."
Both he and the author of the study believe that the way to mitigate (......)the problem is to have states set up so-called graduated licensing systems, in which getting a license is a multistage process. A graduated license requires that a teenager first prove himself capable of driving in the presence of an adult, followed by a period of driving with night or passenger limits, before graduating to full driving licenses.
Graduated licensing systems have reduced teenage driver crashes, according to recent studies. About half of the states now have some sort of graduated licensing system in place, but only 10 of those states have limits on passengers. California is the strictest, with a new driver under 20 forbidden to carry any passenger (without the presence of an adult over 25) for the first six months. | [{'question': 'Which of the following situations can we infer is most dangerous according to the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['A teenager driving after midnight with passengers in the car.', 'Adults giving a lift to teenagers on the highway after 10 p.m.', 'Adults driving with three or more teenage passengers late at night.', 'A teenager getting a lift from a stranger on the highway at midnight.']}, {'question': 'According to Robert Foss, the high death rate of teenage drivers is mainly because of _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['their frequent driving at night', 'their improper ways of driving', 'their driving with passengers', 'their lack of driving experience']}, {'question': "A suggested measure to be taken to reduce teenagers' driving accidents is that _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['driving in the presence of an adult should be made a rule', 'the licensing system should be improved', 'they should not be allowed to drive after 10 p.m.', 'they should be forbidden to take on passengers']}] |
Why do men die earlier than women? The latest research makes it known that the reason could be that men's hearts go into rapid decline when they reach middle age.
The largest study of the effects of ageing on the heart has found that women's _ may be linked to the fact that their hearts do not lose their pumping power with age.
"We have found that the power of the male heart falls by 20-25 percent between 18 and 70 years of age," said the head of the study, David Goldspink of Liverpool John Moores University in the UK.
"Within the heart there are millions of cells that enable it to beat. Between the age of 20 and 70, one-third of those cells die and are not replaced in men," said Goldspink. "This is part of the ageing process."
What surprises scientists is that the female heart sees very little loss of these cells. A healthy 70-year-old woman's heart could perform almost as well as a 20-year-old one's. "This gender( ) difference might just explain why women live longer than men," said Goldspink. They studied more than 250 healthy men and women between the ages of 18 and 80, focusing on healthy persons to remove the confusing influence of disease. "The team has yet to find why ageing takes a greater loss on the male heart," said Goldspink.
The good news is that men can improve the health of their heart with regular exercise. Goldspink stressed that women also need regular exercise to prevent their leg muscles becoming smaller and weaker as they age. | [{'question': 'The text mainly talks about _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["men's heart cells", "women's ageing process", 'the gender difference', 'hearts and long life']}, {'question': 'According to the text, the UK scientists have known that _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['women have more cells than men when they are born', 'women can replace the cells that enable the heart to beat', 'the female heart loses few of the cells with age', 'women never lose their pumping power with age']}, {'question': 'If you want to live longer, you should _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['exercise regularly to keep your heart healthy', 'find out the reason for ageing', 'enable your heart to beat much faster', 'prevent your cells from being lost']}, {'question': 'We can know from the passage that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['the reason why ageing takes a greater loss on the male heart has been found out', 'scientists are on the way to finding out why the male heart loses more of the cells', 'the team has done something to prevent the male from suffering the greater loss', 'women over 70 could lose more heart cells than those at the age of 20']}] |
Certain plants and animals can survive under what seem like impossible conditions. Blind fish live freely under ocean depths that are ly dark and cold. Bacteria live at temperatures of 600 degF or a higher in places where the heat comes from the deep earth. One of the most remarkable achievements that we can observe directly is the ability of the plants and animals in the desert.
In the Death Valley ,temperatures of 134 degF in the shade have been officially reported Yet lizards live there ,along with 600 species of plants, 30 species of mammals? and even fish. While the days are terribly hot, the nights are extremely cold. Temperatures can fall down by as much as 50 degF.
Plants called xerophytes are perfectly adapted to the extremely dry conditions. These plants have survived by developing techniques for coping with their environment. Like all living things ,they must have water ,and they get it in several ways.
The mesquite and the prickly pear pick up moisture in opposite ways. The mesquite sends its roots down as deep as 60 feet to tap the water table. The prickly pear, on the other hand ,spreads its roots wide. These roots are shallow but they pick up whatever moisture is available at ground level. The paloverde saves water by shedding leaves in times of extreme drought The barrel cactus makes sure of a water supply by storing water in the plant itself. The saguaro cactus stores so much water that it can survive years of drought. But even the saguaro will die sooner or later if there is no rain. All these plants ,although well adjusted to their environment, must eventually get water.
Even if the parent plants die, there are always seeds to keep the species alive. Since the desert is so tough, thousands of seeds must be released to produce one plant. To get rooted, these seeds must have exactly the right conditions. They can lie dormant for months, even years, until a little water stimulates the sparks of life. | [{'question': 'Which of the following can best express the main idea of the passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['The Death Valley is a living museum ,where many plants and animals exist.', 'Plants and animals can survive in the desert by adjusting to the environment.', 'Days in desert can be deadly hot, while nights can be terribly cold.', 'Bacteria survive in the ocean depth and the desert burning heat.']}, {'question': 'The prickly pear survives in the desert by _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['shedding leaves in times of drought', 'sending its roots down 60 feet', 'spreading its roots wide', 'storing water in itself']}] |
Harvard researchers have created a tough, low-cost, biodegradable material inspired by insects' hard outer shells. The material's inventors say it has a number of possible uses and someday could provide a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. The material, made from shrimp (') shells and proteins produced from silk, is called "shrilk." It is thin, clear, flexible and strong.
A major benefit of the material is its biodegradability. Plastic's toughness and flexibility represented a revolution in materials science during the 1950s and '60s. Decades later, however, plastic's very durability is raising questions about how appropriate it is for one-time products such as plastic bags, or short-lived consumer goods, used in the home for a few years and then cast into a landfill where they will degrade for centuries. What is the point of making something that lasts 1,000 years?
Shrilk not only will degrade in a landfill, but its basic components are used as fertilizer , and so will enrich the soil.
Shrilk has great potential, the inventors said. Materials from which it is made are plentiful in nature, found in everything ranging from shrimp shells, insect bodies to living plants. That makes shrilk low cost, and its mass production possible should it be used for products demanding a lot of material.
Work on shrilk is continuing in the lab. The inventors said the material becomes flexible when wet, so they're exploring ways to use it in wet environments. They're also developing simpler production processes, which could be used for non-medical products, like for computer cases and other products inside the home. They're even exploring combining it with other materials, like carbon fibers, to give it new properties. | [{'question': 'What has become a concern about plastic?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Using it properly.', 'Producing it cheaply.', 'Developing its properties quickly.', 'Evaluating its contributions fairly.']}, {'question': 'According to the inventors, shrilk has great potential partly because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['it can help plastic degrade', 'it can be found in living things', 'its mass production has been realized', 'its raw materials are abundant in mature']}, {'question': 'What are the inventors doing in the lab?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Replacing carbon fibers with shrilk.', "Testing ahrilk's use in wet conditions.", 'Making shrilk out of used household goods.', "Improving shrilk's flexibility for medical purposes."]}, {'question': 'Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Recent Progress in Environmental Protection', 'Benefits of Insects in Scientific Research', 'The Harm of One-time Products', 'A Possible Alternative to Plastic']}] |
You use her as a shoulder to cry on. She texts you back with casual jokes. But she, Xiaoice, is only a virtual chatbot.
Xiaoice, Microsoft's latest artificial intelligence robot, was briefly released in 2014, and returnen to WeChat in 2015, where she became a big hit. Millions of young Chinese now exchange messages with her daily, The New York Times reported. On WeChat, Xiaoice is an official account. After following it, users can start text-based conversations with Xiaoice.
"Her incredible learning ability was why people loved to talk with Xiaoice," Liu Jinchang, a researcher at High-tech Research and Development Center under the Ministry of Science and Technology, told China Daily. Apart from her ability to identify photos and send emojis m conversations, Xiaoice gains 45 percent of her knowledge from interacting with users, China Daily reported.
Chatbot programs first appeared in the mid-1960s in the US. Driven by top tech companies, they are becoming smarter and more common. For instance, IBM's latest artificial intelligence program served as an academic consultant at Australia's Deakin University, answering students' questions about course schedules and financial aid. Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa have been used as voice assistants who can read news, play music and even make jokes for their users.
These programs are expected to move beyond smartphones, into televisions, cars and living rooms, The New York Times pointed out. However, it may take decades before scientists develop a "Samantha", the advanced chatbot seen in the fiction film Her. In the film, Samantha sparks a romantic relationship with her user played by US actor Joaquin Phoenix. Many viewers were enthusiastic about this fan tasy of virtual soul mates. | [{'question': 'Which of the following can Xiaoice do?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Do housework.', 'Spread messages.', 'Identify various photos.', 'Read news to its users.']}, {'question': "Which company's chatbot program can act as an academic consultant?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Microsoft.', 'IBM.', 'Apple.', 'Amazon.']}] |
It is under the CPC's leadership that China has overcome many challenges in its economic, political and social systems and achieved remarkable progress the world has ever seen. Under the CPC's leadership, China has become the world's largest second largest economy. People's lives have greatly improved, and hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of poverty, an objective fact no one can deny. At the same time, China is quickly becoming a major player on the world stage.
As a responsible nation, China has been playing a growing role and shouldered greater responsibilities in world affairs. Such achievements, especially for a nation with a size equaling to a continent and a population of nearly 1.4 billion, are not easy to make. What roles do you think CPC has played in China? Do you think it's the CPC leadership that has made China's economic _ possible? Is there any room for improvements for the future role of CPC? What challenges will lie ahead for the future leadership of CPC? Please share your opinion with us. | [{'question': 'According to the passage, CPC refers to_.', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Communist Party of China', 'Cost Per Click', 'card-programming control', 'Computer Process Control']}, {'question': 'How does the author feel about the roles the CPC has played in China?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Dissatisfied', 'Amazed', 'Annoyed', 'Proud']}, {'question': "What's the best title for this passage?", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['What roles do you think CPC plays in China?', 'Why has CPC played an important role in China?', "China has become the world's second largest economy.", 'China has overcome many challenges and achieved remarkable progress.']}] |
In a world with limited land, water and other natural resources, the harm from the traditional business model is on the rise. Actually, the past decade has seen more and more forests disappearing and the globe becoming increasingly warm. People now realize that this unhealthy situation must be changed, and that we must be able to develop in sustainable ways. That means growth with low carbon or development of sustainable products. In other words, we should keep the earth healthy while using its supply of natural resources.
Today, sustainable development is a proper trend in many countries. According to a recent study, the global market for low-carbon energy will become three times bigger over the next decade. China, for example, has set its mind on leading that market, hoping to seize chances in the new round of the global energy revolution. It is now trying hard to make full use of wind and solar energy, and is spending a huge amount of money making electric cars and high-speed trains. In addition, we are also seeing great growth in the global markets for sustainable products such as palm oil, which is produced without cutting down valuable rainforest. In recent years the markets for sustainable products have grown by more than 50%.
Governments can fully develop the potential of these new markets. First, they can set high targets for reducing carbon emissions and targets for saving and reusing energy. Besides, stronger arrangement of public resources like forests can also help to speed up the development. Finally, governments can avoid the huge expenses that are taking us in the wrong direction, and redirecting some of those expenses can accelerate the change from traditional model to a sustainable one.
The major challenge of this century is to find ways to meet the needs of growing population within the limits of this single planet. That is no small task, but it offers abundant new chances for sustainable product industries. | [{'question': 'The traditional business model is harmful because of all the following EXCEPT that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['it consumes natural resources', 'it makes the world warmer', 'it brings severe damage to forests', 'it makes growth hard to continue']}, {'question': 'To fully develop the low-carbon markets, governments can _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['cut public expenses', 'encourage energy conservation', 'develop public resources', 'forbid carbon emission']}, {'question': 'What is the main purpose of the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['To advocate sustainable development.', 'To compare two business models.', 'To predict a change of the global market.', 'To introduce a new business model.']}] |
It was 9:00 am already! Richard had to leave for work! Before leaving he hurriedly looked at the newspaper and stood still! Is he seeing it right? He rubbed his eyes and saw again... Yes, it was his name in the obituary ! He threw the paper in the bin and screamed.
Richard started to recollect. He remembered that last night when he went to bed he had a chest pain and he was rushed to hospital. Then he went into a sound sleep. But what happened after that?
He could suddenly see his living room filled with people... all in tears; his mom, his wife and his children. He also saw his best friend, the one he had a serious misunderstanding a few days back. He wanted to say "Sorry" to him... but now no one could hear his voice.
He wondered how he could tell his mom that he felt so thankful to have her in his life! He wanted to tell his children how much he loved them. He wanted to tell his wife how much he loved her; he felt sorry to have hurt her sometimes.
Richard started crying and pleading to God for one LAST chance! "God, one last chance, please", shouted Richard and opened his eyes.
Oh, this was a dream!
He woke up; looked around everywhere. He was on his bed; his wife lay beside him, deep in sleep. Richard whispered in her ears, "You are the best thing to have ever happened to me!"
He went up to the window, looking outside. Yes, everything was just the way he has been knowing so long. He decided to meet up his friends and clear all misunderstandings; he also decided to tell everyone who mattered to him all that has remained unsaid so far! | [{'question': 'When Richard saw his name in the newspaper, he felt _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['sad', 'shocked', 'regretful', 'worried']}, {'question': 'Richard felt sorry to his wife because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['they had a quarrel the other day', 'he misunderstood her', 'he hurt her sometimes', "he didn't love her"]}, {'question': 'After the dream, Richard would probably _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['be on good terms with his friend again', 'express appreciation and thanks to his friend', 'demand an apology from his friend', 'break up with his friend']}, {'question': 'The writer of the story mainly tells us that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['misunderstanding between friends is common', 'we need to see a doctor when having a chest pain', 'getting along well with friends is important', 'we should tell our family how much we love them']}] |
For almost two months Dominic York, a 23-year-old hairdresser, wandered about hospitals all night, wearing a white coat and pretending he was a doctor. Yesterday he proudly claimed in court that despite his complete lack of medical experience or qualifications, he had saved several people's lives. He had even been allowed to assist a surgeon during an emergency operation on a patient who was about to die on something she had swallowed.
"I watched one of those TV dramas about a hospital and suddenly I felt like playing one of the roles myself. So I put on a white jacket and a stethoscope and walked around one of the biggest hospital in London. At first I just watched. Once you learn how doctors talk to patients, nurses and others doctors, it's easy to take people in," he said.
One of the patients he treated was Laura Kennan. She had been knocked down by a car and fainted. When she came to in hospital, York was standing over her.
"He looked very professional. He told me his name was Doctor Simon. Then he gave me some sort of injection," she said. And then he suddenly cleared off when a nurse asked who he was. She didn't think there was anything wrong. "I would never have realized he was a fake if a policewoman hadn't showed me his photograph a week later. When the policewoman told me who he really was, I could hardly believe my ears."
Judge Raymond Adams told York that he was " shocked and horrified" that he got away with his deceiving for so long. And they sentenced him to eighteen months in a special prison for criminal with mental disorders.
"I can only hope that this will not lead to further problems. After all, you will have considerable opportunity to study the behaviour of the psychiatrists who will look after you while you are there. If you try to persuade people that you yourself are a psychiatrist after you are set free, I shall make sure that you are given a much longer sentence." Judge Adams warned York. | [{'question': 'York was proud of the fact that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['a surgeon let him watch an operation.', 'he could perform some duties of a doctor', 'he had cheated doctors for so long', 'people thought he could become a real doctor']}, {'question': 'York learned how to behave like a doctor by _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['watching other doctors work', 'talking to doctors and nurses', 'getting some training and experience', 'observing doctors while he was a patient']}, {'question': 'Why was Laura Kennan in hospital?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['She had swallowed something and almost died.', 'She had to have and emergency operation.', 'She had been injured in a road accident.', 'She had lost consciousness while driving.']}, {'question': "The judge's remark implied that York would be more severely punished if he _ .", 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['pretended to be a psychiatrist', 'tried to get away from prison', 'was proud of what he had done', 'studied the behaviour of the psychiatrist']}] |
A number of times Rosemary edged closer to Gordon , meaning to take his arm, but he edged away from her. She thought that she had offended him deeply, and that he was disappointed because she had pushed him away. She would have apologized if he had given her half a chance. But as a matter of fact, he was scarcely thinking of this any longer. It was the money business that was troubling him now. And the fact was that he would soon have to confess it. What nonsense it made of all he had said! Presently she stopped him, and swung him round to face her. "Gordon, why won't you speak to me?" she said. "Are you still angry with me for what happened just now?"
"No, I was never angry with you. You're not to blame. Something else has been worrying me all the way along, I've only eight pence left. I had just enough money for today when we started out, but that dinner bill upset everything. Can you lend me some money?'
Rosemary was amazed. "What does it matter if you've only eight pence left? How can you let yourself be worried by a thing like that? As though I objected to lending you money, aren't I always telling you that I want to pay for myself when we go out together?'
"Yes, and you know how I hate you paying."
"Oh, how silly you are." She said. "Do you think there's anything to be ashamed of in having no money?"
Gordon's face went bright pink. "Of course there is ! It's the only thing in the world there is to be ashamed of. I can't be a complete human being--I don't feel a human being -unless I've got money in my pocket." | [{'question': "What gave Rosemary the idea that she had hurt Gordon's feelings deeply?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["He didn't say he was sorry.", 'He pushed her away when she tried to take his arm.', "He didn't say he was sorry.", "He wouldn't let her touch him."]}, {'question': 'Rosemary made him look at her because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['she wanted to ask him a question', 'she wanted to see his face', 'she was angry with him', 'he had been rude']}, {'question': 'Gordon felt that if he asked rosemary to lend him some money _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['he would lose some of his self-respect', 'she would refuse to', 'he would have to confess his loss', 'she would be angry']}, {'question': 'It is clear that Gordon had not intended to _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['tell her he had a little money left', 'accept any money from her', 'blame her for making him angry', 'have such an expensive dinner']}] |
The word I'm going to introduce to you today is-phubbing. Let's see the definition of this term:phubbing n. the act of snubbing someone in a social setting by looking at your cell phone instead of paying attention As you can probably guess, phubbing is a blend of phone and snubbing. The term was coined by a 23-year-old Melbourne resident Alex Haigh. Obviously, he got fed up with how people are always checking Facebook or Twitter on their phones when they are supposed to be interacting with someone face to face. He wanted to put an end to this social phenomenon, therefore he came up with this catchy term.
And it did catch on. The word's earliest media mention dates back to June 2012, and in a little over a year's time, phubbing has already been picked up by almost all the mainstream media outlets one can think of.
Here is a typical example from the British newspaper The Independent. In the article titled The Rise of Phubbing, which was published on August 5, 2013, Tom Chatfield writes, there's an uncomfortable truth at the heart of phubbing: other people are easier to handle when seen on screen. They're less likely to demand unreasonable efforts such as undivided attention or clean shirts.
While the term phubbing has undoubtedly taken off, some people question why it is called phubbing instead of phnubbing. Alex Haigh has not personally addressed the issue, but word has it that phubbing sounds more crispy and thus easier to remember.
Phubbing is indeed a univers al problem that can no longer be ignored. So why do people keep phubbing each other if they know it's rude? Is there anything we can do to stop it? Or maybe we should just be more kind, because sometimes there are good excuses to phub.
I think there is plenty we can do to try and stop phubbing. For starters, we can jo in Alex Haigh in his Stop Phubbing campaign. Remind our friends and family that phubbing is not appreciated. We can also make or download some anti-phubbing posters to spread the word in public places. And don't forget that some phubbers simply do not realize the harmful effect their behavior has on others,so be b rave enough to stop them, even if you are a total stranger. | [{'question': 'This passage is mainly talking about _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['the rise of phubbing in all the mainstream media outlets', 'a new term "phubbing"and its problem', 'the campaign of keeping phubbing', 'different opinions on phubbing']}, {'question': "The author's attitude towards the act of phubbing can be described as _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['bearable', 'Unacceptable', 'reasonable', 'understandable']}, {'question': 'What can we infer from this passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['People are easier to handle when seen on screen.', 'Alex Haigh doesn\'t like the term "phnubbing"', 'More and more people have become phubbers.', 'We can phub if we have proper excuses.']}, {'question': 'The writer suggests we should _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['stop phubbing in public places', 'not be afraid of the harmful effect', 'be brave to support a st ranger phubbing', 'remind our friends of Stop Phubbing campaign']}] |
Television in the United States is free. To pay for programs, there are many advertisements. Often these advertisements are short plays with actors. The following television advertisement is like many others that Americans see daily.
We see a man and his wife at the breakfast table. They have been married for a long time. They are not speaking to each other. They haven't spoken to each other at the breakfast table for years. The husband is reading his newspaper. We can't see his face. The wife looks very bored as she pours a cup of coffee for him. Today, she is using a new kind of coffee for the first time. The husband picks up his cup. He isn't very interested. He tastes his coffee. Suddenly he puts down his newspaper. Something is different.! Can it be the coffee? He takes another taste. It's wonderful! He smiles. He looks at his wife and says in amazement,
"Doris, when did you cut your hair?"
Doris is pleased. She answers, "Two months ago."
Doris asks, "Herbie, when did your hair begin to turn gray?"
He replies, "A long time ago."
Doris says, "Oh, very handsome."
Now they aren't bored any more. Breakfast is different. Has a new kind of coffee changed their lives? | [{'question': 'In the television advertisement, Doris looks bored because _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["she doesn't like the breakfast that morning", 'she has been married to Herbie for a long time', "Her husband doesn't care much for her", "Herbie isn't interested in the breakfast she cooks"]}, {'question': 'The TV advertisement wants to tell the viewers _ . .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['to have an immediate try at the new coffee', 'to have a good laugh at the good couple', 'that a nice breakfast must go with nice coffee', 'that advertisements can certainly increase goods production']}, {'question': 'What does the author mean by saying the last sentence?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["What kind of coffee can change people's lives?", "How can a new kind of coffee change people's lives?", "Nice coffee can change one's life.", 'A new kind of coffee costs quite a lot.']}, {'question': 'This text is mainly about _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['who pays for TV programs in the United States', 'what a TV advertisement is usually like in the USA', 'why long married couples dislike speaking to each other', 'what made Herbie and Doris not bored any more']}] |
A Russian,a Cuban,an American businessman and an American lawyer were on a train traveling across England. The Russian took out a large bottle of vodka, gave each of the men a drink and then threw the rest half bottle of vodka out of the window.
"Why did you do that?" asked the American businessman.
"There's too much vodka in my country," said the Russian,"And really we have more than we will ever use."
A little later,the Cuban passed around fine Havana Cigars. Then he threw his out of the window.
"I thought Cuba is not a rich country," the businessman said. "But you threw that very good cigars out of the window!"
"Cigars," the Cuban answered,"are the cheapest in my country. We have more of them than we know what to do with."
The American businessman sat quietly for a moment. Then he got up,caught the lawyer by the arm and threw him out of the window. | [{'question': 'Vodka is a kind of _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['treasure', 'alcohol', 'food', 'medicine']}, {'question': 'The Russian and the Cuban both wanted to _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['tell the businessman what their countries are rich in', 'prove that they were not rich', 'ask the two Americans to visit their countries', 'make the businessman happy']}, {'question': 'When the businessman said "I thought Cuba is not a rich country.",he meant " _ ".', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Russian is richer than Cuba', 'America is not richer than Cuba and Russia', "You shouldn't threw that very good cigar away", 'Do you have more cigars than me?']}, {'question': 'What did the businessman want to say by throwing the lawyer out of the window?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['I want to buy some vodka.', 'We have too many lawyers in my country.', "I'll go to Cuba and do some business of cigars.", 'If you need lawyers,come to America.']}, {'question': 'Which do you think is the best title for the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Traveling across England', 'Four Rich Men', "You're Wasting Too Much", "There's Too Much"]}] |
When your pet has an emergency, first aid is not a _ for veterinary treatment. However, before you are able to get your pet to a veterinarian , knowing some basic first aid can help.
Bite Wounds
Approach the pet carefully to avoid getting bitten. Wear a mask for the animal and then check the wound. Clean the wound with large amounts of saline . If these are not available, then regular water may be used. Wrap large open wounds to keep them clean.
Bleeding
Apply firm, direct pressure over the bleeding area until the bleeding stops. Hold the pressure for at least 10 minutes. Avoid bandages that cut off circulation.
_
Check to see if the animal is choking on a foreign object. If an animal is not breathing, place it on a firm surface with its left side up. Check for a heartbeat. If you hear a heartbeat but not breathing, close the animal's mouth and breathe directly into its nose--not the mouth--until the chest expands. Repeat 12 to 15 times per minute.
Burns
Wash the burn immediately with large amounts of cool, running water. Apply an ice pack for 15--20 minutes. Do not place an ice pack directly on the skin. Wrap the pack in a light towel or other cover. If the animal has large quantities of dry chemicals on it skin, brush them off. Water may activate some dry chemicals.
Fractures
Symptoms include pain, inability to use a limb . Wear a mask for the pet and look for bleeding. If you can control bleeding without causing more injury, then do so. Watch for signs of shock. Don't try to set the fractures by pulling the limb. Transport the pet to the veterinarian immediately, supporting the injured part as best as you can. | [{'question': "What's the suitable subtitle for the blank ?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Cutting', 'Breathing Stops', 'Poisoning', 'Suffering Heart Problems']}, {'question': 'If your pet is burned by chemicals, you should _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['wash away the chemicals with saline', 'put an ice pack directly on the skin', 'bind up the cut with a bandage', 'get rid of them before washing']}, {'question': 'The passage is mainly about _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['doing pet first aid', 'treating sick pets', 'dealing with an emergency', 'working as a veterinarian']}] |
Joan, super visor of the town's morals recently accused George, a local man, of having a drinking problem because she noticed his car outside the town's only bar.She reasoned, it was a logical assumption .George stared at her for a moment and said nothing.Later that evening, he parked his car in front of her house and left it there all night.
Why is it that so many of our logical assumptions are just plain wrong? And why do we want to act as if they must be true? In an age long before the Internet, a young American at a party found himself seated next to the famous Chinese diplomat Wellington Koo.Completely not knowing what to say to someone from such a different culture, this young man turned and asked, "Likee soupee?" After all, he assumed, don't all Chinese speak in broken English? Mr.Koo smiled and nodded.Later when called upon to speak, Wellington Koo delivered a wonderful talk in fluent English, sat down while the applause was still continuing, turned to the young man and whispered, "Likee speechee?"
Do you know why red roses are so popular? Men keep buying them.They assume that all women prefer red roses.But when women are asked what color1 of rose is their favorite, they are more likely to answer that they prefer yellow, white or peach.And when asked what kind of flowers they would prefer to receive, the answer is generally not roses at all.The age-old assumption that most women like red roses best is simply not true.
We all make assumptions.They're too often wrong and can easily get us into trouble.So here is what I've learned: when in doubt, check it out.And if I'm not in doubt, I still check it out.We may think we know.But what we know may not be so.So it's best to check it out. | [{'question': 'According to the passage, we can know George is _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['clever', 'honest', 'kind-hearted', 'bad-tempered']}, {'question': "Wellington Koo's experience is mentioned to show _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['his talent in speaking English', "people's assumption can be false", 'the Chinese were looked down on', 'his humor in doing with difficult situations']}, {'question': 'Red roses are so popular at the market in that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['women prefer red roses.', 'women like the red color1 best.', 'they smell pleasant than others.', 'men think women would like them.']}, {'question': 'How is this passage mainly developed?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['By giving examples.', 'By presenting research results.', 'By analyzing causes.', 'By making comparisons.']}] |
Generational differences and the economy are shifting more responsibilities for children from their parents to grandparents, according to a new survey.
More than one-third of grandparents aged 50 and older contribute financially to their grandchildren's upbringing, and 11 percent have a grandchild living with them, the poll by AARP, the group for 36 million older US citizens, showed.
Forty percent of people who responded to the telephone survey, whose average age was 69, reported spending more than $500 on grandchildren over the past year beyond traditional gifts.Education costs accounted for 53 percent, daily expenses for 37 percent and medical costs for 23 percent.Sixteen percent provided daycare for grandchildren.
"They are the safety net for American families, helping to pay for practical expenses and necessities," said Amy Goyer, AARP's multi-generational and family issues expert.
"We see many providing daycare services, while growing numbers even have grandchildren living with them," she said, referring to the 16 percent who watch their grandchildren while the parents are at work or school.
Generally nearly 90 percent of the 1,904 grandparents questioned said they play a very or somewhat important role in their grandchildren's lives, and about 70 percent live within 50 miles of the closest one.
The poll conducted by Woelfel Research Inc.also showed that grandparents were increasingly keyed to the younger generation's life issues and preferred ways of communicating.
More than one-third connect with their grandchildren via email or text messaging, while half said they routinely discuss topics ranging from values and spirituality to drug and alcohol use.
Nearly 40 percent said they had discussed dating or sex with at least one grandchild.Some 60 percent said they spoke with their grandchildren at least once a week.
Most of the grandparents said they had five or more grandchildren, while one-fourth said they had grandchildren of a different race or mixed race. | [{'question': 'The passage mainly tells us _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the differences between generations are huge', 'how Woelfel Research Inc.conducted the poll', 'parents are the safety net for American families', 'grandparents take more responsibilities for grandchildren']}, {'question': 'Grandparents discuss with their grandchildren on various topics EXCEPT _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['races', 'values', 'drug use', 'spirituality']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is TRUE about grandparents?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Most of them have grandchildren of a different race.', 'One third keep in touch with their grandchildren via email.', 'Nearly 40 percent discussed dating with more than one grandchild.', 'About three fifths communicate with their grandchildren at least once a week.']}, {'question': 'What does the author think of the phenomenon mentioned in the passage?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Reasonable.', 'Unbelievable.', 'Acceptable.', 'Not given.']}] |
When my friend went to Europe last summer, instead of snapping photographs of the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower or Stonehenge, she brought back 32 rolls of ... cathedral ceilings. Ceilings. For the 10 years I've known her I had never suspected that she was this passionate about stained glass.
Still one of the best things about such pictures -- despite their obvious narrow appeal -- is that they can't help but tell us a great deal about the people who took them.
So I shouldn't have been surprised when I got the roll of film back from my 5-year-old son's first camping trip. I opened the envelope, naively expecting to see pictures of the nightly campfire, the sun setting over the forest, and possibly even a deer or two.
Instead, I saw an off-center picture of tennis shoes. Not even his tennis shoes, mind you, but a pair someone had lost and left in the cabin. Mystery shoes. And that's not all.
As I went through the stack, I found that my son had also taken a picture of his sleeping bag, a penny he found in the gravel next to the car, a leaf, an orange sock, a close-up of his father's ear, a burned hot dog, his thumb, a piece of gum, and many other similar things.
There was barely one sign of nature in the whole stack. I couldn't help thinking that if he'd wanted pictures of assorted junk, it would've been cheaper had he spent the weekend in our back-yard.
AT LEAST that is what I thought until I showed the photographs to my ceiling-snapping friend, the mother of three teenagers, who said simply, "There's nothing wrong with these."
But of course, this is just the type of answer you'd expect from someone who photographs ceiling.
Then she told me about the time her daughter went to Yosemite Valley and returned with rolls of photographs of the hotel, restaurant, and gift shop. She also told me about the time her son took his camera to a Major League Baseball game and returned with 24 pictures of cloud formations.
I had a feeling she was just trying to make me feel better.
Then again, to a 5-year-old boy, finding a penny is more exciting than seeing a squirrel. And why would he waste good film on something like, say, some endangered water buffaloes, when he could take a picture of cool tennis shoes? Or his shiny new green sleeping bag?
Face it: Things like beautiful sunsets and campfires can't compare to a bag of extra-large marshmallow.
So I did what any good mother would do: I marked the date on the back of the pictures and slid them into our family vacation photo album -- right after the five pages of ice sculptures I took last year on our cruise to the Bahamas. | [{'question': "Which of the following proverbs best displays the author's final thought?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Every dog will have its day.', 'Every man has his hobby-horse.', "If a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing well.", 'You can take a horse to the water but you cannot make him drink.']}, {'question': 'Who might have taken a picture of the back seat of the family car in his or her trip mentioned in this passage?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["The author's friend.", "The author's son.", 'The author.', "The author's friend's daughter."]}, {'question': "The author changed her mind on her son's picture taking because _ .", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['her friend persuaded her to do so', "her son's pictures finally struck her", 'she realized the truth by herself inspired by the surrounding examples', 'it suddenly occurred to her that she herself had also taken unique pictures before']}, {'question': 'What can we infer from this passage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ["Age and gender play an important role in one's vision of the world.", "The author's friend is a better mum in terms of educating children.", 'The author will allow her son more freedom to choose in his future life.', 'The author will take vacation pictures of different kind from her past ones.']}] |
Billy's favorite color is orange. But he can't see what orange looks like. Billy is blind.
A month after he was born, his mother noticed that his eyes weren't quite as big as a normal baby's."Billy would never be able to see." the doctor told his mother. After that Billy's mother began talking to him, describing things she saw outside the window. She described everything to him.
Billy does not only depend on his mother's descriptions to learn about the world around him. He sees with his ears and his hands, too. He has perfect hearing. When people make phone calls, he can tell the numbers they dial .
Billy loves computer science. He began teaching himself computer programming when he was just seven years old. His dream school would be Stanford University. He gets top grades in his classes, making that a real possibility.
"You can't let excuses get in the way of your dreams, and if you do that you can't move forward and reach your goals, "said Billy. | [{'question': 'From the passage, we know that _', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["Billy can't hear.", "Billy can't see.", "Billy can't walk.", "Billy can't talk."]}, {'question': "How did Billy's mother help him?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['By teaching him how to draw.', 'By asking teacher for advice.', 'By describing everything to him.', 'By sending him to his dream school.']}, {'question': 'When did Billy begin teaching himself computer programming?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['When he was7 years old.', 'When he was in Seven Grade', 'When he was high school', 'When he was at university']}] |
A woman wears a face mask to protect her from polluted air in prefix = st1 /Lanzhou,China, in December.
A new study showed air pollution might put people more at risk for heart disease than scientists had thought. Kristin Miller, a doctoral student at the UniversityofWashington, said chances of getting the disease were related to not only which city a woman lived in, but also where in the city. The study found that the effects of air pollution were often larger within cities than between cities.
The new findings make experts suspect that current pollution limits may be inadequate. Scientists examined rates of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular events in women with long-term exposure to air pollution.
The study involved women over the age of fifty who had no sign of cardiovascular disease at the start of the research. The study followed the women for as long as nine years to see how they would develop cardiovascular problems.
The researchers also examined levels of fine particles (,) in the air in 36 areas across the country. That information came from the Environmental Protection Agency. The extremely small particles came from industrial smoke and traffic, along with things like wood-burning fireplaces in houses.
In the study, every ten-microgram increase in the risk of a cardiovascular event. But it was related to a seventy-six percent increase in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
But just how do particles in the air damage the cardiovascular system? The particles may cause the lungs to swell and release chemicals from the pollutants into the blood. The chemicals then could damage the heart. | [{'question': 'The passage mainly talks about _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the effects of pollution on women', 'how to protect women from air pollution', "how air pollution damages a person's heart", 'the relationship between air pollution and heart diseases']}, {'question': 'The case of the woman wearing a face mask shows _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['people are paying more and more attention to their health', 'the woman is afraid of getting heart disease', 'Lanzhou city is more heavily polluted than other cities', 'air pollution is becoming more and more serious']}, {'question': 'We can learn from the passage that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['air pollution is more serious than scientists thought', 'the control of air pollution is effective in some cities', 'people throughout a city have the same risk of getting heart diseases', 'air pollution affects women more than men']}] |
Sons who have fond childhood memories of their fathers are more likely to be emotionally stable in the face of day-to-day stresses, according to psychologists who studied hundreds of adults of all ages. "As our study shows, fathers do play a unique and important role in the mental health of their children much later in life," psychology professor Melanie Mallers of California State University said.
For this study, 912 adult men and women between the ages of 25 and 74 completed short daily telephone interviews about that day's experiences over an eight-day period. The interviews focused on the participants' psychological and emotional distress (i.e.whether they were nervous, sad, etc.) and if they had experienced any stressful events that day.
The participants were also required to answer questions such as, "How would you rate your relationship with your mother during the years when you were growing up?" and "How much time and attention did your mother give you when you needed it?" The same questions were asked about fathers.
People who reported they had a good mother-child relationship reported three percent less psychological distress compared to those who reported a poor relationship, according to Mallers. Men who reported having a good relationship with their fathers during childhood were more likely to be less emotional when reacting to stressful events in their current daily lives than those who had a poor relationship, according to her findings.
Also, the quality of mother and father relationships was significantly associated with how many stressful events the participants faced on a daily basis. In other words, if they had a poor childhood relationship with both parents, they reported more stressful incidents over the eight-day study when compared to those who had a good relationship with their parents.
Mallers explained why healthy or unhealthy relationships may have an effect on how people handle stress as adults. "Perhaps having caring parents equips children with the experiences and skills necessary to more successfully navigate their relationships with other people throughout childhood and into adulthood," she said. | [{'question': 'What do we know about the study from the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['It paid close attention to the effect of fathers on their children.', '912 children and adults took part in the study.', 'It lasted as long as several months.', 'It was funded by the California State University.']}, {'question': 'In the interviews, people were asked about all of the following things EXCEPT _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['their psychological distress', 'their emotional distress', 'their childhood stressful events', 'their childhood relationships with their parents']}, {'question': 'What can be concluded from the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Parent-child relationships have a lasting effect on children.', 'Adults with good childhood relationships with their parents are sure to be happy.', 'The mother-child relationships is more important than the father-child one.', 'The quality of parent-child relationships determines how people handle stress as adults.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following statements is TRUE about the findings of the study?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['People with a good relationship with others suffered less distress.', 'Men with a good mother-child relationship were more likely to be emotionally stable than women.', 'Women were more skilled at getting along with their parents than men.', 'People with good childhood relationships with their parents suffered less stress.']}] |
Yang Qunhui, 28, a graduate of Chengdu University of Information Technology, Sichuan Province, gave up her job with a monthly salary of 20,000 yuan ($3,014) at a famous company, but has started her own restroom-ad business with five other graduates, becoming a "restroom queen."
The company, opened in May, is now the only one of its kind in Chengdu.
It has two goals: to find suitable restrooms to place ads and to find clients who are willing to put their ads in them.
"We are now trying to find restrooms to place the ads. A larger area means more ad sources," said Yang.
Yang got the idea to run the company one year ago when she looked for toilet repairing information on the Internet but finally noticed companies in Beijing and Shanghai doing restroom ads.
"It's so interesting," she said. "Everyone has their dream. Mine is to start my own business and do something I like."
After some research, Yang found the advantages of restroom ads. They are low-cost, making it easier to find clients. "Most private companies are middle or small-sized ones. Cheap ads are an good choice."
Another advantage, she said, is that people tend to remember words and messages they've seen while sitting or standing in the loo.
Yang said sitting on a toilet, one usually feels bored and even an old newspaper helps kill the time.
"Most people think an ad is effective as long as it is read, however, the ad works only when it is remembered by readers," she said. | [{'question': 'According to the passage , which of the following is true?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Yang accepted a job with a monthly salary of 20,000 yuan instead of starting her own restroom-ad business.', 'Yang opened the company as soon as she graduated from Chengdu University of Information Technology.', 'The restroom-ad company that was opened by five graduates is now the only one of its kind in Chengdu.', "One of the company's goals is to find clients who are willing to put their ads in the restrooms."]}, {'question': 'Yang has started her business in order to _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['do something she likes', 'become a famous boss', 'make money for her future', 'make herself known to all']}, {'question': 'This passage mainly tells us that _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['a young woman called Yang Qunhui has started her restroom-ad business.', 'restroom ads have advantages including low price and easy words.', 'many people think restroom ads are effective because they can kill the time.', 'people tend to remember lots of things while sitting or standing in the loo.']}, {'question': "The author's attitude towards restroom ads is _ .", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['positive', 'negative', 'doubtful', 'not clear']}] |
A new collection of photos brings an unsuccessful Antarctic voyage back to life.
Frank Hurley's pictures would be outstanding----undoubtedly first-rate photo-journalism---if they had been made last week. In fact, they were shot from 1914 through 1916, most of them after a disastrous shipwreck , by a cameraman who had no reasonable expectation of survival. Many of the images were stored in an ice chest, under freezing water, in the damaged wooden ship.
The ship was the Endurance, a small, tight, Norwegian-built three-master that was intended to take Sir Ernest Shackleton and a small crew of seamen and scientists, 27 men in all, to the southernmost shore of Antarctica's Weddell Sea. From that point Shackleton wanted to force a passage by dog sled across the continent. The journey was intended to achieve more than what Captain Robert Falcon Scott had done. Captain Scott had reached the South Pole early in 1912 but had died with his four companions on the march back.
As writer Caroline Alexander makes clear in her forceful and well-researched story The Endurance, adventuring was even then a thoroughly commercial effort. Scott's last journey, completed as be lay in a tent dying of cold and hunger, caught the world's imagination, and a film made in his honor drew crowds. Shackleton, a onetime British merchant-navy officer who had got to within 100 miles of the South Pole in 1908, started a business before his 1914 voyage to make money from movie and still photography. Frank Hurley, a confident and gifted Australian photographer who knew the Antarctic, was hired to make the images, most of which have never before been published. | [{'question': 'What do we know about the photos taken by Hurley?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['They were made last week', 'They showed undersea sceneries', 'They were found by a cameraman', 'They recorded a disastrous adventure']}, {'question': 'Who reached the South Pole first according to the text?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Frank Hurley', 'Ernest Shackleton', 'Robert Falcon Scott', 'Caroline Alexander']}, {'question': 'What does Alexander think was the purpose of the 1914 voyage?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Artistic creation', 'Scientific research', 'Money making', 'Treasure hunting']}] |
Have you ever stood side by side with an elephant and touched its ear or its long nose? A marvelous opportunity is offered here for you to experience working with these giant animals. The daily highlight is the walk from the elephant orphanage down to the river to bathe the elephants. Imaging what an amazing fun it is to watch an entire herd splashing around and rolling in the river just feet in front of you!
This opportunity is available through a programme designed for visitors and volunteers to work in the world-famous government-run elephant orphanage in Pinnawela, Sri Lanka. The orphanage is regarded as one of the largest centers of its kind in the world, with one of the most successful captive breeding programmes for Asian elephants.
Pinnawela Orphanage is situated in the hills of central Sri Lanka. It was established in 1975 by the Sir Lanka Wildlife Department. The orphanage's 24 acres are a home for the many baby elephants found in the jungle without their mothers. In most of these cases the mothers had either died or been killed. Baby elephants cared for by the orphanage are released into the wild when they reach a certain age.
The volunteers' working hours are quite short so there is plenty of time to sightsee and explore. The volunteer work consists mainly of the day-to-day aspects of running the orphanage, rather than more specialized research-based work.
The volunteers' main duties are cleaning the elephant homes in the morning (hard, muddy work!) and bathing some of the smaller elephants. Some elephants are overly large or have not been tamed or trained to a satisfactory level. However there are still enough opportunities to have full hands-on contact safely.
While the mahouts are bathing the larger elephants, you will have a chance to relax by the river, chat with the mahouts and watch the elephants play and interact with humans and each other. It is an ly beautiful sight. Being around these serene animals in such a beautiful setting can have a very calming effect!
If you are interested in such an experience, contact us for more information. | [{'question': 'How many main duties does the passage list for the volunteers?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Two.', 'Three.', 'Four.', 'Five.']}, {'question': "The passage's goal is to_.", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['describe the elephant orphanage in Pinnawela, Sri Lanka.', 'attract more tourists to come for sightseeing', 'get volunteers for Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage', 'call on people to care for baby elephants']}, {'question': 'Mahouts are probably people who_.', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['train elephants', 'bathe elephants', 'care for elephants', 'drive elephants']}] |
I live in north Celebes which is near Philippines. Since early December 2010 most tropical regions have been frequently hit by rain. Just like my hometown, tropical regions only have two seasons, including the dry season that usually starts from April to September and the wet or rainy season which usually happens from October to March. But, it could be _ Sometimes the rainy season can come a month earlier or later. It can be prolonged even more than 4 months and so can the dry season. Even during the dry season, rain can occur several times in certain areas.
The prolonged dry season in tropical areas usually causes a lot of losses. It will be very harmful to local farmers, because most of the tropical areas sre regions of the developing countries. Sometimes agricultural and plantation crops will be damaged because of so much dry land and the fact that the river used to flow the water for rice fields are also dry. Rain is very important for plants because rain contains many nutrients that plants are in great need of.
What's more, if the prolonged rainy season arrives and then floods usually occur in certain areas of low lands. Even for the capital city of Jakarta floods have struck several times during the prolonged rainy season. In addition to floods, the rainy season can cause many diseases. During the dry season, diseases are usually caused by mosquitoes such as dengue fever. While in the rainy season, people who have the weak immune will be more easily attacked by some diseases such as flu, fever, diarrhea, and much more.
If you live in the other places and want to travel to the tropical regions, make sure that you have known much about the season and the effect for these months in which you want to travel as tourists. Only in that way, can you at least prepare to deal with tropical weather. | [{'question': 'We can learn from the passage that in the wet season, _', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the capital of Jakarta is flooded every year', 'more crops will die after being flooded for so long.', 'mosquitoes will spread more diseases among the crowd.', 'people with weak immune might be attacked by some diseases']}, {'question': 'The main purpose of this passage is to introduce _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['some interesting facts of tropical regions', 'some knowledge about tropical regions to travelers', 'some knowledge about how to live well in different regions.', 'some differences between dry and wet seasons in tropical regions.']}] |
The International Voluntary Service runs a number of Youth Exchanges throughout the year.Youth Exchanges give small groups of 4-5 young people the opportunity to take part in volunteering trips abroad for an average of two weeks.These young people are joined by 4-5 young people from 3-4 other nationalities and are a wonderful intercultural experience in a safe environment.
Example Youth Exchanges:
Youth Exchange 1
Location:Ireland
Other nationalities:Ireland,Spain,Italy,Hungary
Theme:Focuses on the topic of community reconstruction and community activities--exploring how local issues facing our communities are connected to global issues.The group will also learn about the eco-village as an example of a community and take part in team-building activities.
Youth Exchange 2
Location:France
Other nationalities:Bulgaria,Italy,France
Theme:Organic gardening & continual living.This project will take place in a natural park,where the group will take part in gardening activities and games/workshops about continuous development.
Youth Exchange 3
Location:Macedonia
Other nationalities:Serbia,Turkey,Ireland
Theme:Foster social inclusion and motivate personal development of young people through sports and outdoor activities.Promote outdoor activities as a tool to help inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities.
Youth Exchange 4
Location:Italy
Other nationalities:Italy,Bulgaria,Greece
Theme:A sociaI-environmental project that intends to promote social inclusion and continuable development,regarded as a process of civil rights and active citizenship.Over 10 days, the group will participate in activities to raise awareness about the effect of our behavior on the environment. | [{'question': 'What do you focus on when travelling in France?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Gardening work.', 'Civil rights', 'Developing social inclusion.', 'Rebuilding communities']}, {'question': 'If you are interested in protecting the environment,you can take part in _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Youth Exchange 1', 'Youth Exchange 2', 'Youth Exchange 3', 'Youth Exchange 4']}, {'question': 'Which nationality are Youth Exchanges most popular with?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Spain.', 'Italy', 'Ireland', 'France']}] |
Spring is the time to go out and enjoy the weather and scenery.Here are some events to attend in March of 2012 in Oregon!
Oregon Country Fair(OCF), 9 am to 7 pm on March 8 - 10
OCF first started in 1969, and it's blossomed into an outstanding example of what a non - profit should be. OCF is an event of shopping & atmosphere, and food ranging from Indian & Afghani cuisine to Italian & France cuisine.Wonderful craft & music never stop.From the time you get there until the time you leave, everyone has a smile on their faces, and they wave and say hello.For tickets, go and visit www.Oregoncountryfair.org.
30thAnnual Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament, 8 am to 6 pm on March 12 - 14
The Annual Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament is an amateur tournament that draws amateur volleyball players to the small town of seaside, as well as AVP Team players who are the best volleyball players.In the past years, it has drawn more than 700 teams playing on over 80 volleyball courts.Just go west, and you can't miss it.It is about 20 miles south of Astoria.To learn more about it, visit the website www.Seasideor.com.
Hood to Coast Relay, 3:30 am to 6:45 pm on March 26 - 27
The Hood to Coast Relay is a 200 - mile - long relay that consists of 15, 000 runners and 4, 100 volunteers.It's the largest relay in the world, which goes from Mt.Hood to Pacific Ocean in Seaside, Oregon.People of the Oregon coast fear Hood to Coast, because local towns and streets are flooded.There are audiences cheering riders on, and many people set up stations to give riders water.If you would like to get the race route maps, visit the website www. Hoodtocoast. com.
Other event information
To learn about other events, visit the website www. Aadfv. Blogspot. com. | [{'question': 'OCF covers the following EXCEPT _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['music', 'dishes', 'dance', 'artworks']}, {'question': 'When was the first Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament held in Oregon?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['In 1982.', 'In 1986.', 'In 1988.', 'In 1992.']}, {'question': 'If Lisa wants to learn more about an outing in Oregon, she may visit _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['www.Seasideor.com.', 'www.Hoodtocoast.com.', 'www.aadfv.blogspot.com.', 'www.Oregoncountryfair.org.']}, {'question': 'Locals of the Oregon coast are afraid of the relay because _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the relay will last a long period', 'they have to offer food and water', 'the weather is bad during the relay', 'too many people will go there']}] |
London is the capital of the United Kingdom and the largest city in the European Union. It is the world's largest finacial center and one of the most important cultural centers and its influence on politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion, and the arts contributes to its status as a major global city. Central London is the headquarters of more than half of the UK's top 100 listed companies(the FTSE 100 ) and more than 100 of Europe's 500 largest companies. The city is a major tourist destination for both domestic and overseas visitors. London hosted the 1908 and 1948 Summer Olympic Games and will host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
London contains four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London, the historic settlement of Greenwich ;the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew; and the site comprising the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St.Margaret 's Church.
_ On July 2007, it had an official population of 7,556, 900 within the boundaries of Greater London making _ the most populous municipality in the European Union. Since the 2001 the Greater London Urban Area has been the second largest in the EU after Paris with a population of 8,278,251, and the metropolitan area is estimated to have a total population of between 12 million and 13 million, the largest population area in the EU. The public transport network, administered by Transport for London, is the most intensive in the world. Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic and the air space is the busiest of any city in the world. | [{'question': 'Which statement is True ?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["Central London has 50 of the UK's top 100 listed companies.", 'By the year of 2015, London will host the Summer Olympic Games.', 'Three are 300 languages spoken within the city.', 'The metropolitan area of Paris is the largest one in the EU.']}] |
In 1974, after filling out fifty applications, going through four interviews, and winning one offer, I took what I could get ----- a teaching job at what I considered a distant wild area: western New Jersey. My characteristic optimism was alive only when I reminded myself that I would be doing what I had wanted to do since I was fourteen ------- teaching English.
School started, but I felt more and more as if I were in a foreign country. Was this rural area really New Jersey? My students took a week off when hunting season began. I was told they were also frequently absent in late October to help their fathers make hay on the farms. I was a young woman from New York City, who thought that "Make hay while the sun shines" just meant to have a good time.
But, still, I was teaching English. I worked hard, taking time off only to eat and sleep. And then there was my sixth-grade class ---- seventeen boys and five girls who were only six years younger than me. I had a problem long before I knew it. I was struggling in my work as a young idealistic teacher. I wanted to make literature come alive and to promote a love of the written word. The students wanted to throw spitballs and whisper dirty words in the back of the room.
In college I had been taught that a successful educator should ignore bad behavior. So I did, confident that, as the textbook had said, the bad behavior would disappear as I gave my students positive attention. It sounds reasonable, but the text evidently ignored the fact that humans, particularly teenagers, rarely seem reasonable. By the time my boss, who was also my taskmaster, known to be the strictest, most demanding, most quick to fire inexperienced teachers, came into the classroom to observe me, the students exhibited very little good behavior to praise.
My boss sat in the back of the room. The boys in the class were making animal noises, hitting each other while the girls filed their nails or read magazines. I just pretended it all wasn't happening, and went on lecturing and tried to ask some inspiring questions. My boss, sitting in the back of the classroom, seemed to be growing bigger and bigger. After twenty minutes he left, silently. Visions of unemployment marched before my eyes.
I felt mildly victorious that I got through the rest of class without crying, but at my next free period I had to face him. I wondered if he would let me finish out the day. I walked to his office, took a deep breath, and opened the door.
He was sitting in his chair, and he looked at me long and hard. I said nothing. All I could think of was that I was not an English teacher; I had been lying to myself, pretending that everything was fine.
When he spoke, he said simply, without accusation, "You had nothing to say to them."
"You had nothing to say to them". he repeated." No wonder they are bored. Why not get to the meat of literature and stop talking about symbolism. Talk with them, not at them. And more important, why do you ignore their bad behavior"? We talked. He named my problems and offered solutions. We role-played. He was the bad student, and I was the forceful, yet, warm teacher.
As the year progressed, we spent many hours discussing literature and ideas about human beings and their motivations. He helped me identify my weaknesses and strengths. In short, he made a teacher of me by teaching me the reality of Emerson's words: "The secret to education lies in respecting the pupil."
Fifteen years later I still drive that same winding road to the same school. Thanks to the help I received that difficult first year, the school is my home now. | [{'question': 'It can be inferred from the story that in 1974 _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['the writer became an optimistic person', 'it was rather difficult to get a job in the USA', 'the writer was very happy about her new job', 'it was easy to get a teaching job in New Jersey']}, {'question': "According to the passage, which of the following is most probably the writer's problem as a new teacher?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["She didn't like teaching English literature.", "She didn't ask experienced teachers for advice.", 'She took too much time off to eat and sleep.', 'She had blind trust in what she learnt at college.']}, {'question': "What is the writer's biggest worry after her taskmaster's observation of her class?", 'answer': 'D', 'options': ["She couldn't ignore her students' bad behavior any more.", "She migh t lose her students' respect.", "She couldn't teach the same class any more.", 'She might lose her teaching job.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following gives the writer a sense of mild victory?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Her talk about symbolism sounded convincing.', 'She managed to finish the class without crying.', 'Her students behaved a little better than usual.', 'She was invited for a talk by her boss after class.']}, {'question': "The students behaved badly in the writer's classes because", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['They were eager to embarrass her.', "They didn't regard her as a good teacher.", "She didn't really understand them.", "She didn't have a good command of English."]}, {'question': "The taskmaster's attitude towards the writer after his observation of her class can be described as _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['cruel but encouraging', 'sincere and supportive', 'fierce but forgiving', 'angry and aggressive']}] |
When looking for love, people may go to some extreme lengths. They might go on blind dates set up by family and friends. They might write personal ad to place in newspapers. Or they might use a computer to help them in their search for a soul mate by joining an online dating service. Some people have even tried to find their perfect match through game shows on television. Many of these TV dating shows, including The Bachelor andWho Wants to Marry Multimillionaire?, have proved to be popular, with millions of viewers watching each week to find out which of the contestants will find true love.
Of all these game shows, perhaps the one with the most unexpected ending was Mr. Right, which was shown in England in 2002. On the show, a bachelor, thirty-five-year-old Lance Gerrard-Wright, dated fifteen women to find the one who was his ideal partner. The host of the show was Ulrika Jonsson, an English celebrity originally from Sweden. For seven weeks on the show, Lance took turns going on dates with each of the women, taking them to expensive restaurants and romantic locations. He even met the women's families and introduced them to his own. Then at the end of each episode , he would choose between one and three of the contestants with whom he had felt the least compatible , and say goodbye to them.
At one point during the series, one contestant volunteered to leave because she said she didn't find him attractive. After two dates she said she had had enough, and she couldn't see it working, "He wasn't my cup of tea." In another episode the woman he was on a date with burst into tears when he called her by another girl's name. "You called me by another girl's name. I can't believe you did that. I really liked you," she said in tears.
But in the final episode, the woman he eventually chose decided she didn't want to marry him after all. "I think you've chosen me because you have to choose someone," she said. Maybe this was because she already knew he had fallen in love with the show's host!
After leaving the show, Gerrard-Wright and Jonsson were seen dining together and attending parties around London more and more often. Finally, on May 1, 2003, Gerrard-Wright proposed to Jonsson on the steps of St. Paul's Cathedral. And she accepted his proposal right away, although she had to make sure that her two children from previous relationships--an eight-year-old son, Cameron, and a two-year-old daughter, Bo. agreed to the marriage. Luckily, they did. Gerrard-Wright said, "In the end the show did work for me. I grabbed an opportunity to get a girlfriend and I did. Ulrika's amazing"
The happy couple finally got married at Jonsson's home in Sweden on the island of Varmdo. They wanted to keep the ceremony small, so only forty people were invited, including family and friends. There was some gossip at the time that Jonsson's friends who did not receive invitations to the wedding felt upset. But the bride and groom did not let that ruin their wedding day.
Has Ulrika Jonsson finally found Mr. Right? Only time will tell. But none of the guests at the wedding could deny the happiness in the couple's eyes as the bride and groom left the wedding ceremony with the music of Stevie Wonder playing in the background, "Seen a lot of things in this old world. When I touched them, they did nothing, girl. Ooh baby, here I am, signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours." | [{'question': 'What is this passage mainly about?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['how a famous couple met and got married', 'the best way to meet a husband or wife', 'why the show Mr. Right was a big hit', 'how to act on a date with a stranger']}, {'question': 'What happened after seven weeks of doing the show?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['All of the women won prizes.', 'Lance asked one of the women to marry him.', 'One of the women on the show started to cry.', 'Ulrika asked Lance to marry her.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following did NOT happen during the series?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Lance went on dates with several women.', 'Lance took the women to some very good restaurants.', 'Lance and Ulrika started dating each other.', "The women met Lance's family."]}, {'question': "Why did some of Ulrika's friends feel upset?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ["They didn't agree with the marriage.", "They weren't asked to attend the wedding.", "There weren't enough guests at the wedding.", "They didn't like Lance."]}, {'question': "In Stevie Wonder's song, what is he comparing himself to?", 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['A blind man', 'A groom', 'A letter', 'A baby']}] |
Not having done physical exercise for some time, I found myself a little low-spirited and couldn't study efficiently, so I decided to do some running the next day. At 6:15 the next morning, my alarm clock rang. Unwilling to rise from my bed, I turned it off and went back to sleep. However, 5 minutes later, I struggled to get up. After washing and brushing, I had my sneakers on and went out.
Wow! The air was so fresh that I couldn't help breathing it deeply. I stretched my arms and legs, then started to run. I found all things around me were so attractive. Look, the branches were waving, as if they were welcoming me; the blossoming flowers were bowing, with shyness, just like girls. Listen, the wind was whispering, as if to say "come on, girl". What's more interesting was those two birds, perching in the tree. They were scared and flew away when I passed them. "Hey, chaps, relax." I shouted without stopping running. "Let's enjoy the beautiful morning together!" Then miracle happened. The two little creatures seemed to understand what I said. They turned back and twittered around me. "Are you singing for me?" I asked. They twittered again and again, sounded like "Yes". I was delighted to hear that. Ah, what a wonderful morning and how beautiful life is!
Actually, there are a lot of charming things around us. Helen Keller wrote in her famous article Three Days to See, " _ ". Indeed, many of us ignore the beauty around us, just because we are familiar with them. They always complain that life is boring. But, I just want to say, if you live each day with appreciation of things around, you'll find life is very charming. So, let's enjoy life from now on. | [{'question': 'According to the passage, the writer went running with the purpose of _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['seeing the beauty of nature', 'making herself more active', 'talking with birds', 'breathing fresh air']}, {'question': 'Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['The writer rose immediately after the clock went off.', 'The writer enjoyed the singing of the two birds.', 'The writer did some warm-up exercises before running.', 'The writer felt refreshed after doing some running in the morning.']}, {'question': 'The purpose of the writer in writing this passage is to tell us that _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['the nature in the morning is very beautiful', 'fresh air is beneficial', 'we should appreciate the beautiful things in life', 'physical exercise is useful']}] |
Surtsey was born in 1963. Scientists saw the birth of this island.It began at 7:30 am . on 14th November . A fishing boat was near Iceland.The boat moved under the captain's feet . He noticed a strange smell.He saw some black smoke .A volcano was breaking out . Red hot rocks,fire and smoke were rushing up from the bottom of the sea . The island grew quickly.It was 10 metres high the next day and 60 metres high on 18th November. Scientists flew there to watch.It was exciting.Smoke and fire were still rushing up. Pieces of red hot rock were flying into the air and falling into the sea. The sea was boiling and there was a strange light in the sky. Surtsey grew and grew. Then it stopped in June 1967. It was 175 metres high and 2 kilometres 1ong.And life was already coming to Surtsey. Plants grew.Birds came.Some scientists built a house.They wanted to learn about this young island.
A new island is like a new world. | [{'question': 'When did scientists fly there to watch the birth of the island?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Before the volcano broke out.', 'On 14th November 1963 .', 'About four days after the volcano broke out .', 'In June 1967.']}, {'question': 'The best title of the text is _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['New Discovery .', 'The Birth of An Island.', 'A Captain and An Island .', 'How Does A Volcano Break Out.']}] |
You may think that light pollution isn't something extraordinarily important. You may believe that every other type of pollution has a larger impact on the environment than light pollution does. But light pollution is serious.
Light pollution, or "sky glow", is the glow you can see at night above cities and towns. Light pollution is a problem that has been accompanying man ever since he started his first fire some 15,000 years ago. Light pollution is the light that comes from streetlights, buildings, parking lots and any other source of light that is reflected or directed into the atmosphere.
Urban light pollution means that one-fifth of the world's population can no longer see the Milky Way with the naked eye . Many city kids, even if they did look through the orange smog above their heads, would probably see only a handful of stars. We have lost our view of the stars, and we have _ our night-time environment as well. Astronomers are calling for the dark places on Earth to be preserved as national parks.
Lots of people find the ever-brightening night annoying, and animals that are programmed to prefer the dark may avoid a brightened habitat. Sea turtles can get lost searching for a beach to lay eggs, and their hatchlings may confuse over-lit beachfront resorts for the ocean horizon, wasting precious energy needed to find the sea and escape predators . Because their necks aren't yet long enough to see things far away, baby turtles rely on the mirror image of the moon to guide them to the sea, to begin their new life. A car may even hit a particular turtle, which was thinking the light from a nearby city was moonlight reflecting off the ocean waves. Birds that live in and around cities can die because of sky glow, too. The bright lights can blind them, leading to countless collisions with buildings and other tall structures.
Reducing light pollution is not difficult.Light pollution is the easiest type of pollution to end. people can help reduce much sky glow by using lighting only when necessary. The stars above us are priceless heritage-- for not only for astronomers but for all humans. More of our children should be able to look up at night and see the Milk Way is not just a candy bar. | [{'question': 'All the following statements are false EXCEPT _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Light pollution does not have as large an import on the earth as other types of pollution do', 'Light pollution exists everywhere on the eafth', 'People in some parts of the world cannot see the Milky Way with their naked eyes as a result of light pollution', 'Loght pollution came into existence with modem technology']}, {'question': 'Beacuse of light pollution,the sea turtles hatchlings may _', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['find the sea easily', 'cscape predaton', 'be misled by bright lights from beachfront resorts', 'find the way to the sea with the help of bright lights']}] |
In many countries today, laws protect wildlife. In India the need for such protection was realized centuries ago.
About 300 B.C. an Indian writer described forests that were somewhat like national parks today. The killing of game animals was carefully governed. Some animals were fully protected. Within the forest, nobody was allowed to cut trees, burn wood, or trap animals for their furs. Animals that became dangerous to human visitors were trapped or killed outside the park, so that other animals would not become uneasy.
The need for wildlife protection is greater now than ever before. About a thousand sorts of animals are in danger of extinction, and the speed at which they are being destroyed has been putting on. With mammals, for example, the speed of extinction is now about one sort every year; from A. D. 1 to 1800, the speed was about one sort every fifty years. Everywhere, men are trying to solve the problem of saving wildlife while caring for the world' s growing population. | [{'question': 'The report says that in Indian forests of long ago _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['hunters were given permits to hunt game', 'only dangerous animals were to be killed', 'the killing of game animals was controlled', 'no killing of animals was allowed']}, {'question': 'According to the report, men trying to save wildlife are thinking about _ as well.', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['the animals in national parks', 'stricter laws against hunting', 'the trees in the forests', 'the needs of people']}, {'question': 'The word" extinction"in this report most properly means" _ " .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['falling down', 'dying out', 'growing up', 'going away']}] |
Nervous suspects locked up in Britain's newest police station may feel relieved by a pleasant yellow color on the door . If they are close to confessing a crime , the blue on the wall might _ .
Gwent Police have abandoned colors such as greys and browns of the 20th-century police cell and have used color psychology to decorate them .
Ystrad Mynach station , which recently opened at a cost of PS5 million has four cells with glass doors for prisoners who suffer from claustrophobia . Designers have painted the frames yellow , which researchers say is a calming color . Other cells contain a royal blue line because psychologists believe that the color is likely to encourage truthfulness .
The station has 31 cells , including 12 with a "live scan" system for drunken or disturbed prisoners , which detects the rise and fall of their chest . An alarm alerts officers if a prisoner's breathing stops and carries on ringing until the door is opened .
Designers and psychologists have worked for years on color . Blue is said to suggest trust , efficiency , duty , logic , coolness , thinking and calm . It also suggests coldness and unfriendliness . It is thought that strong blues will stimulate clear thought and lighter , soft colors will calm the mind and aid concentration .
Yellow is linked with confidence , self-respect and friendliness get the color wrong and it could cause fear , depression and anxiety , but the right yellow can lift spirits and self-respect .
Ingrid Collins , a psychologist who specializes in the effects of color , said that color was an " energy force " . She said : " Blue does enhance communication but I am not sure it would enhance truthful communication . "
Yellow , she said , affected the mind . Red , on the other hand , should never be considered because it could increase aggression . Mrs. Collins praised the designers for using colors in the cells . Gwent is not the first British force to experiment with color to calm down or persuade prisoners to co-operate , In the 1990s Strathclyde Police used pink in cells based on research carried out by the US Navy . | [{'question': 'Which of the following helps alert officers if someone stops breathing ?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Scanning equipment .', 'Royal blue lines .', 'Glass doors .', 'Yellow frames .']}, {'question': 'The passage is mainly concerned with _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['the relationship between colors and psychology', 'a comparison of different functions of colors', "the use of colors in cells to affect criminals' psychology", 'scientific ways to help criminals reform themselves in prison']}] |
The latest fashion in kitchen is the food steamer. All the stores are selling them; everyone wants one. Steaming is one of the simplest and healthiest ways of cooking food.However, that cooking time is usually longer than with other methods. In case you're thinking of buying a steamer, I've done a survey about the steamers available on the market to help you decide which will suit you best.
*Folding Steamer
The simplest and least expensive is the folding stainless-steel version.
Advantages: This is a good, basic design which sits inside a variety of different shapes of pans with the water under it; a ring in the center allows for easy lifting and it's easy to clean.
Disadvantages: It only holds small dishes. Also, if you put too much water in the pan, it will boil up through the vegetables and they will be watery. If you put too little water in and let it get dry, you will burn the pan and get strange-smelling vegetables.
*Steaming Pan
This is a three-layered black Teflon-coated version with a lid and two double-handled steamers, which sits on the oven ring. The brand I bought is called Nutritious Living.
Advantages: This is an excellent steamer, lightweight, easy to clean, and of all the steamers I've tried, this cooks the fastest. Fish and chicken can be cooked on the bottom with rice or vegetables on the top. It's easier to store.
Disadvantages: Water can boil away until the pan is dry, but if you make sure you fill the pan up to the suggested level and do not overcook the food, this should not happen.You cannot see the food cooking from the top. It doesn't supply a dish for cooking rice.
For serious users of steamers, I recommend having one of each version. If you just want to try it, get the folding stainless-steel type. | [{'question': 'Why did the author carry out the survey?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['To inform people of different steamers', 'To run an advertisement for steamers', 'To find out a suitable steamer to buy', 'To learn how to cook with steamers']}, {'question': 'What can we learn about the folding steamer?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['It comes in different kinds of shapes and sizes.', 'It is designed for large families.', 'It is able to clean itself.', 'It is easy to take out.']}, {'question': 'The Nutritious Liuing steamer _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['is more difficult to store', 'provides a dish to cook rice with', 'cooks different foods at the same time', 'cooks fish and chicken faster than vegetables']}, {'question': 'According to the author, you should _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['use steamers to save cooking time', 'buy a steamer with dishes supplied', 'do a survey before choosing a steamer', 'buy a folding steamer if you want to try']}] |
Signing up for a digital TV service provides you with access to over 200 channels from all over the globe. However, television today is dominated by adult language, making it hard for concerned families to find channels suitable for young eyes. Therefore, most movie channels are automatically removed form the list of TV channels for an entire family. The following are some good ones based on popularity on a global scale.
Discovery Channel
Discovery and its many channels can be considered as the founding father of informative channels on television. What National Geographic does in a scholastic manner, Discovery tries to do in an entertaining manner--educating the masses about anything and everything.
Fox Family
Finding a movie channel that broadcasts pictures suitable for teenagers and kids alike is very difficult unless your service operator offers you Fox family movies. This channel screens most movies before it broadcasts them, ensuring that no movie shows unacceptable material for young eyes.
Nickelodeon
A channel very similar to Cartoon Network, it mostly shows US programs. However, their shows are sometimes a bit more mature for younger kids and better suited to kids aged 5 and up.
ABC Family
ABC started the ABC family channel in an attempt to introduce family-centered shows and serials to the public in the USA. The need for this channel was felt after ABC observed the lack of proper family type US channels.
Living
If travelling is a family hobby and better living is the motto then there is no better channel than Living. Kids can see never-seen-before sights, learning about new places while adults can practice their cooking and learn amazing things about motorbikes. | [{'question': 'According to the text, most channels offered by a digital TV service _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['can keep people away from TV violence', 'are welcomed by families with small children', 'are concerned about the proper use of language', 'are unsuitable for the whole family to watch together']}, {'question': 'Which of the following can best describe Discovery Channel?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['Relaxing.', 'Touching.', 'Commercial.', 'Professional.']}, {'question': 'If people want to know about what a traditional family is like, they can choose _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Fox Family', 'Nickelodeon', 'ABC Family', 'Living']}] |
To a large degree, the measure of our peace of mind is determined by how much we are able to live in the present moment. Regardless of what happened yesterday or last year, and what may or may not happen tomorrow, the present moment is where you are -- always!
We allow past problems and future concerns to control our present moments, so much that we end up anxious, frustrated, depressed, and hopeless. We often convince ourselves future will be better than today. John Lennon once said, "Life is what's happening while we're busy making other plans. "When we're busy making other plans", our children are busy growing up, the people we love are moving away and dying, our bodies are getting out of shape, and our dreams are slipping away. In short, we miss out on life.
Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal for some later date. It isn't. In fact, no one has a guarantee that he or she will be here tomorrow. Now is the only time we have, and the only time that we have any control over. When our attention is in the present moment, we push fear from our minds. Fear is the concern over events that might happen in the future--we won't have enough money, our children will get into trouble, we will get old and die, whatever.
To struggle against fear, the best strategy is to learn to bring your attention back to the present. Mark Twain said, "I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened." I don't think I can say it any better. Practice keeping your attention on the here and now and your efforts will pay off. | [{'question': 'The purpose of this passage is to tell readers _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['people who are busy making plans are living actively', 'how to help others overcome fear', 'we ought to learn to live in the present moment', 'someone who only enjoys the present time usually wastes his time blindly']}, {'question': 'It implies from the passage that _ .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['many people know how to fight against fear', "it isn't necessary to fear for future", 'you can gain more happiness by putting off your pleasure', 'some people make plans for their children to improve their lives']}, {'question': '"Many people live as if life were a dress rehearsal" suggests that _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['they always wish to be an actor or an actress', 'they believe that their present life is well prepared for their future', 'they are always busy making plans for future', 'They all have a guarantee that they will be alive tomorrow']}, {'question': 'Why are some people depressed and anxious day and night?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Because they fear they cannot pass their tests.', 'Because past problems and future concerns control their present moment.', 'Because the people they love want to leave them alone.', 'Because they make some mistakes in the past.']}] |
History is full of cases where dreams have been a pathway to creativity and discovery. A striking example is provided by Dr. Otto Loewi, a pharmacologist and winner of a Nobel Prize. Loewi had spent years studying the chemical transmission of nerve impulses . A major breakthrough in his research came when he dreamed of an experiment three nights in a row. On the first two nights he woke up and wrote down the experiment quickly and untidily on paper. But the next morning, he couldn't tell what the notes meant. On the third night, he got up after having the dream. This time, instead of making notes he went straight to his laboratory and performed the important experiment. Loewi later said that if the experiment had occurred to him while awake he would not have given it another thought.
Loewi's experiment gives some insight into using dreams to produce creative solutions. Nervous feelings are reduced during dreaming, which may be especially useful in solving problems that require a fresh point of view.
Being able to take advantage of dreams for solving is improved if you "set" yourself before sleeping. Before you go to bed, try to think intently about a problem you wish to solve. Bury yourself in the problem by stating it clearly and reviewing all relevant information. Then use the suggestions listed in the previous section to catch your dreams. Although this method is not guaranteed to produce an original solution or a new insight, it is certain to be an adventure. About half of a group of college students using the method for a week recalled a dream that helped them solve a personal problem.www.ks5u.com | [{'question': "Through Loewi's experiment, the author tries to prove that _ .", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['very little is really known about the meaning of dreams', "dreams can be useful in producing creative solutions to one's problems", 'it is possible to "catch" one\'s dreams by planning before going to sleep', 'it helped in the study of transmission of nerve impulses']}, {'question': 'The author probably thinks that _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Loewi should not have done his experiment', 'dreaming is of very little value to most people', 'college students should not try out dream experiments', 'nervous feelings may stop someone thinking of useful ideas']}, {'question': 'According to the passage, the author seems to be in favor of _ .', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['seeking creative solutions', 'avoiding scientific experiments', 'setting himself after sleeping', 'going straight to experiment after the dream']}] |
Mountaineers have noted that as they climb, for example, up to the 12,633foot Humphreys Peak in Arizona, plant life changes greatly. In the Sonoran Desert, one climbs into a pine forest at 7,000 feet and a treeless tundra on the top of the mountain. It may seem that plants at a given altitude are associated in what can be called "communities" -groupings of species. The idea is that over time, plants that require particular climate and soil conditions come to live in the same places, and are frequently to be found together. Scientists study the history of plant life and build up a picture of how groups of plants have responded to climate changes and how ecosystems develop. But are these associations, _ are real in the present, permanent?
A great natural experiment took place on this planet between 25,000 and 10,000 years ago, when small changes in the earth's orbit caused great sheets of ice to spread from poles. These glaciers covered much of North America and Europe to depths of up to two miles, and then, as the climate warmed, they retreated. During this retreat, they left behind newly uncovered land for living things to occupy, and as those living things moved in they laid down a record we can read now. As the ice retreated and plants started to grow near a lake, they release pollen . Some would fall into the lake, sink to the bottom and mix with the sand. By drilling into the lake bottom it is possible to read the record of the plant life around the lake. The fossil record seems clear; there is little or no evidence that entire groups of plants moved north together. Things that lived together in the past don't live together now, and things that live together now didn't live together in the past. Each individual living things moved at its own pace. The fossil record seems to be telling us that we should be thinking about preserving species by giving them room to move about-to respond to environmental changes. | [{'question': 'According to the passage, the movement of individual species of plants _ .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['occurs in groups', 'often depends upon the formation of lakes', 'does not occur in groups', 'depends upon climate and soil conditions']}, {'question': 'All of the following are true EXCEPT _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['The ice age occurred when there were small changes in the orbit of the earth', 'fossil records seem to indicate that plants will be preserved if they have enough room to move', 'fossil records clearly show that entire groups of plants are unlikely to have moved together', 'in the ice age glaciers covered the world to depths of up to two miles']}] |
The Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England, is the best place in Europe for discovering dinosaur bones. Dinosaur Farm Museum was established in 1993. Since then, the museum has introduced the study of old bones to many more people.
What we offer
Visitors can enjoy our displays, or watch us cleaning dinosaur bones and other fossils found on the island's beaches.
The museum has a variety of different fossils, many of them never displayed to the public before. As more are discovered all the time, you can be sure of seeing something new each time you visit.
We have a free Fossil Identification Service, so you can bring in any fossils you have and find out what they are. In addition, we have a reasonably-priced Museum Shop, where you can buy a souvenir of your visit. You could also bring a picnic and relax in our special picnic area.
Activities
Fossil hunts are organized from the museum and run all year round. Groups of up to 25 are guided on a local beach where they can search for fossils. All these hunts are fully licensed and insured, and guides can help to identify any fossils found and point out things of interest.
Due to the popularity of these hunts, all trips must be booked by a personal visit to Dinosaur Farm Museum.
Did you know...?
The BBC programme "Live from Dinosaur Island" was filmed along the coast here, and Dinosaur Farm Museum was the base for the television crew.
Find out more
Check out our website at _ to learn in detail how we dig for dinosaurs. You can also read about the many different kinds of dinosaurs which lived in this area, which was connected to Europe 120 million years ago. | [{'question': 'Why are there always new fossils to see at the museum?', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['New fossils are discovered constantly.', 'People keep donating fossils to the museum.', 'Only a few of the fossils are displayed each day.', 'The museum exchanges fossils with other museums.']}, {'question': 'Which of the following is free of charge at the museum?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Food for a picnic.', 'Attending fossil hunts.', 'Having fossils identified.', 'A souvenir of the museum.']}, {'question': 'One can book a fossil hunt _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['through a BBC programme', "through the museum's website", 'by making a call to the museum', 'by visiting the museum personally']}] |
Recently educators have been questioning "prep school" (=preparatory school) where barely literate high school athletes get their transcripts by taking courses occasionally and sometimes by taking no courses at all. The athletes then go on to famous sports universities, where they exhaust their playing years before landing back on the streets without job opportunity or college degrees.
The prep school scheme was meant to avoid academic qualification rules for college athletes made years ago by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The N.C.A.A., which was slow to recognize the seriousness of the problem, has finally adopted policies to root it out. But those policies will not do the job unless everyone is involved, including prep schools and college athletics departments that still recruit students who do not meet academic standard.
The prep school scheme sends a dangerous message to poor neighborhoods, where young people too often ignore their studies, believing that they will magically become millionaires once the world sees their athletic talents. Even worse, it encourages students to drop out of traditional schools before graduation--at which point their grade-point averages would be written in stone--to sign up with fake schools that can help them rewrite their academic records.
The N.C.A.A. has begun to check nontraditional schools for their academic programs and has actually closed some. The organization has also stepped up to look into athletes' transcripts and will pay special attention to athletes who attended several schools, showed sudden jumps in grade-point average, transferred to another school late in the senior year or took an unbelievable number of courses in one term.
These measures are encouraging as far as they go. But the N.C.A.A. will need to go much deeper into the problem if it hopes to break this scheme. For starters, it needs to make clear not just what courses high school athletes need to take to become qualified for college sports, but when they should take them. Until that happens, those who recruit young athletes will always be tempted to make fake academic record at the last possible moment for them. | [{'question': 'About students in "prep school", which of the following facts might NOTbe true?', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['Most of them are good at different kinds of sports events.', 'They can easily be admitted to a university by cheating.', 'After they graduate from university, they will usually find promising jobs.', 'They seldom have good academic performance at high school.']}, {'question': 'From the passage we can infer that _ . .', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['High school students can change their transcripts by transferring to another school or take a lot of courses in one term.', 'Transcripts of high school students can be very important reference for students to go to college.', "Most High school athletes can probably be awarded a bachelor's or master's degree after they graduate from universities.", 'Transcripts of high school students are so important that they are recorded on metal']}, {'question': 'We can conclude from the passage that the problems of prep school scheme might result from _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['young people in poor neighborhoods who tend to ignore their studies', 'many prep schools that carry out poor academic programs for high school athletes', 'many college athletics departments that still recruit academically unqualified students', 'school athletes, poor management of prep schools and irresponsibility of related college departments']}, {'question': 'Having recognized the seriousness of the prep school scheme, the N.C.A.A. has taken all the measures EXCEPT _ . .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['investigating and checking some prep school program', 'shutting down some unqualified prep school', 'listing compulsory courses and the number of course needed to be taken in high school', 'checking some problematic transcripts']}, {'question': "What might be the author's attitude towards the prep school scheme?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['The writer thinks it a chance for high school athletes to go to college.', 'The writer thinks more practical measures are needed to break it.', 'The writer remains neutral on this issue.', 'The writer believes poor children will have little chance to go to college if prep school scheme is broken.']}] |
Growing up in one of the poorest, most crime-ridden communities on the south side of Atlanta, US, being raised by a single mother who didn't finish 3rd grade, living each day on food stamps and attending what the media called "the most dysfunctional public school district," not many people expected much of me, so I had to expect something of myself.
On my 13th birthday, I bought a poster of Harvard to hang in my room. Being at Harvard became what I dreamt about: I saw myself attending class in Sanders Theater, studying in Widener Library and eating in Annenberg Hall. Even when my electricity was
cut off and I woke up at 5:30 a.m. to pitch blackness, I knew that my poster of Harvard was still hanging only two feet away from me. I'd begin my day by asking myself these two questions, "What do I want in my life?" and "Are the things I am doing today going to get me closer to that life?"
Reminding myself of my goal each day made it easy to say no to the same choices I saw my peers making, because those paths wouldn't have gotten me closer to my goal. I found that even poverty could not take away my power to decide what I choose to do with
my day. Asking myself those questions gave me the courage to cold email about 50 Harvard students so I could ask for feedback on my application essays; it gave me the energy to study just one more hour on my SATs when my friends were asleep; and it gave me the determination to submit just one more scholarship application when 180 0thers had already turned me down.
On March 3 lst, 2011, an email arrived from Harvard. The first word was "Congratulations! "A month later, Harvard flew me up to visit the campus where for the first time I got to see inside Sanders Theater, tour Widener Library and eat dinner in Annenberg Hall.
Who you are today is the result of the decisions you made yesterday, and who you will be tomorrow will be the result of the choices you make today. Who do you want to be tomorrow? | [{'question': 'What\'s the author\'s attitude towards "poverty"?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Disappointed.', 'Objective.', 'Thankful.', 'Sad.']}, {'question': 'How did motivating himself affect the author?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['It focused him on improving his application essays.', 'It helped him with decision-making and got him to put in extra effort where necessary.', 'It allowed him to measure how effectively he was moving towards achieving the goals.', 'It helped him better communicate with others in his application for colleges and scholarships.']}, {'question': 'What can we conclude from the text?', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Applying to a famous university is important.', 'It is essential to set yourself an ambitious goal as early as possible.', 'Poor people usually have greater goals than others.', 'You should be determined to act and make decisions in order to achieve your goals.']}] |
City farms are gaining popularity in cities and towns around the United States.
City Farms in Edmonston, Maryland, is located near shopping centers, car repair shops and homes. The neighborhood is a working-class community. People do not have very much money, and they have limited access to fresh food in markets.
Over the past two years, the farm has attracted volunteers from the community like Marcy Clark. She schools her four children at home. On a recent day she brought them to Eco City Farms for a lesson. Alston Clark thinks his experience very valuable. "I like coming out here, "he says, "You know, you connect with the earth, where your food comes from. You appreciate the food a little bit more. "
Margaret Morgan-Hubbard started Eco City Farms. She thinks of it as a place where people can learn to live healthier lives. "Growing food in a community and showing that you can have farms even in the city is helpful to strengthen the relationship in that community and brings people together, "she continues, "Every piece of what we do here is a demonstration to show people everything about how to have a sustainable community. "she says. From the Eco City Farms people come to know that they are not only growing food and raising chickens and bees, but improving the soil with compost made from food waste. Sixteen wooden bins are filled with worms. Their job is to eat the food waste and help make it into compost.
Eco City Farms is an experimental operation. The farm gets its power not from the local electricity networks but from the sun with solar panels. In winter, the greenhouses are heated using a geothermal system.
Vegetables can be grown all year. So once a week, all winter long, neighbors like Chris Moss and her three children bicycle to the farm to pick up a share of the harvest.
"I like eating the vegetables, "says five-year-old Owen Moss. | [{'question': 'City farms are close to the following places EXCEPT .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['shopping centers', 'car repair shops', 'working-class community', 'fast-food restaurants']}, {'question': "What is the author's attitude towards City Farms?", 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['Doubtful.', 'Enthusiastic.', 'Amazed.', 'Negative.']}, {'question': 'Eco City Farms have the following functions EXCEPT that .', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['they teach people how to have a sustainable community', 'they improve the relationships between people in a community', 'they demonstrate how to use green power in city life', 'they help people learn to appreciate the food they have']}, {'question': 'In which column of a newspaper can you most probably read this article?', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['People.', 'Environment.', 'Travel.', 'Health.']}] |
Jogging has become the most popular individual sport in America. Many theories,even some mystical ones,have been advanced to explain the popularity of jogging. The plain truth is that jogging is a cheap,quick and efficient way to maintain (or achieve) physical fitness.
The most useful sort of exercise is exercise that develops the heart,lungs, and circulatory systems. If these systems are fit,the body is ready for almost any sport and for almost any sudden demand made by work or emergencies. One can train more specifically,as by developing strength for weight lifting or the ability to run straight ahead for short distances with great power as in football,but running trains your heart and lungs to deliver oxygen more efficiently to all parts of your body. It is worth doing that: this sort of exercise is the only kind that can reduce heart disease, the number one cause of death in America.
Only one sort of equipment is needed--a pair of good shoes. Physicians advise beginning joggers not to try to run in tennis or gym shoes. Many design advances have been made in only the last several years that make a pair of excellent running shoes indispensable if a runner wishes to develop as quickly as possible,with as little chance of injury as possible. A pair of good running shoes will have soft pads for absorbing shock, as well as slightly built-up heels and full heel cups that will give the knee and ankle more stability. A wise investment in good shoes will prevent blisters and the foot,ankle and knee injuries and will also enable the wearer to run on paved or soft surfaces. No other special equipment is needed; you can jog in any clothing you desire,even your street clothes.
It takes surprisingly little time to develop the ability to run. The American Jogging Association has a twelve-week program designed to move from a fifteen- minute walk (which almost anyone can manage who is in reasonable health) to a thirty-minute run. A measure of common sense,a physical examination,and a planned schedule are all it takes. | [{'question': 'The main purpose of this passage is to _ ..', 'answer': 'A', 'options': ['discuss jogging as a physical fitness program', 'describe the type of clothing needed for jogging', 'provide scientific evidence of the benefits of jogging', 'launch a nationwide physical fitness campaign']}, {'question': 'The most effective kind of exercise should be the one that _ ..', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['trains the body for weight lifting', 'enables a person to run straight ahead', 'is both beneficial and inexpensive', 'develops the heart,lungs,and circulatory systems']}, {'question': 'We can conclude from this passage that _ ..', 'answer': 'B', 'options': ['jogging makes heart disease no longer be an American problem', 'jogging can be harmful if the runner is not properly prepared', 'suits are preferable to gym shoes and T-shirts', 'jogging is bad for the ankles and knees']}, {'question': 'The author^s attitude towards jogging is _ ..', 'answer': 'C', 'options': ['doubtful', 'critical', 'approving', 'objective']}] |
If the crust of the earth were not pretty solid ,it would be shaking about and moving up and down frequently. However,there are places in the rocks of the earth's crust where it isn't strongly held together--where faults exist. Along the faults,one rock might push against another with great force. The energy is changed to vibration in the rocks,so they begin to shake and we have an earthquake!
The most famous one in North America was the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Seven hundred people died and property damage amounted to about $425,000,000.The greatest destruction came from the fires that followed the quake.
One of the most famous earthquakes in Europe took place in Lisbon,Portugal,in 1755.The city was destroyed and at least thirty thousand people were killed. In 1908,in Calabria and Sicily,a quake killed about seventy-five thousand people. In 1915,in central Italy,hundreds of towns and villages were damaged and thirty thousand people were killed.
Two great earthquakes that caused great damage in Asia took place in Tokyo,Japan,and in Gansu Province in China. The Tokyo quake of 1923 killed more than one hundred thousand people and destroyed the city and the city of Yokohama,too. The Chinese quake in 1920 covered more than three hundred square miles and killed about two hundred thousand people. | [{'question': 'According to the passage,the earthquake that killed the most people happened in _ .', 'answer': 'D', 'options': ['Portugal', 'Italy', 'Japan', 'China']}] |