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Question: Gadgets can be wildly expensive and quickly out-of-date, but Steven Poole is still the first to buy them. Technological innovations are often quite stupid. The idea that you might want to walk down the street holding a mobile phone in front of your face, just to experience the wonders of video calling, is clearly ridiculous. Luckily for the tech companies, however, there are some people who jump at the chance to buy into new gadgets before they are fully ready and cheap enough for the mass-market. They are called early adopters, and their fate is a terrible one. I should know, since I am one myself. Early adopters have a Mecca: it's Tokyo's Akihabara district, also known as "Electric City". There, in 1999, I bought a digital camera, a gizmo that few people in Britain had heard of. Over the next few years I watched in great sadness as digital cameras became more popular, cheaper and more powerful, until better models could be had for a quarter of the price I had paid. Did I feel stupid? What I actually did was this: I splashed out more money last year for a new one, one that let me feel pleasantly ahead of the curve once again. But I know that cannot last, and I'll probably have to buy another in a few years. Thus early adopters are betting on other people eventually feeling the same desires. And it's worse if that future never arrives. Early adopters of the Betamax home-video format in the 1970s could only look on in sadness when their investment was nullified by the success of VHS. All sorts of apparently splendid inventions, such as videogame consoles like the Atari Jaguar have been abandoned to the dustbin of history right after a few early adopters bought in. Those who invested thousands in a Segway motorized scooter on the wave of ridiculous advertising campaigns that accompanied its launch a couple of years ago can join the club. You might think we should just stop being so silly, save our money, and wait to see what really catches on. But the logic of the industry is such that, if everyone did that, no innovation would become popular. Imagine the third person to buy an ordinary telephone soon after Alexander Graham Bell had invented it. Who was he going to call? Maybe he simply bought two phones, one for a special friend. But still, the usefulness and eventual popularity of the device wasn't clear at the time. Nobody dreamed of the possibility of being able to speak to any one of millions of people. And yet if he, and the hundreds and thousands of early adopters after him, had not bought into the idea, the vast communication networks that we all take for granted today would never have been built. The same goes, indeed, for all new technologies. Those guys holding bricks to their ears that we laughed at in the 1980s made the current mobile phone possible. People who bought DVD players when they still cost a fortune, instead of today's cheap one at the local supermarket, made sure that the new format succeeded. Early adopters' desire for desires supported the future financially. And what did they get for their pains? They got a hole in their bank accounts and inferior, unperfected technology. But still, they got it first. And today they are still at work, buying overpriced digital radios, DVD recorders and LCD televisions, and even 3G phones, so that you will be eventually be able to buy better and less expensive ones. So next time you see a gadget-festooned geek and feel tempted to sneer , think for a minute. Without early adopters, there would be no cheap mobile phones or DVD players; there would be no telephone or television either. We are the tragic, unsung foot soldiers of the technology revolution. We're the desire-addicted pioneers, pure in heart, dreaming of a better future. We make expensive mistakes so you don't have to. Really, we are heroes. According to the passage, what's probably the worst result for an early adopter? Choices: A. He is laughed at by his family and friends. B. What he buys proves useless and expensive. C. He finds himself no longer the most fashionable. D. What he buys doesn't eventually become popular.
D
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Question: "Who needs a shopping mall if you have Taobao?" says Wang Lin, 28, a writer in Beijing. Taobao, China's largest online shopping site, becomes an important part of Wang Lin's life. She spends lots of money on Taobao. Most online shoppers like Wang are students or young workers, More women shop on line than men. Clothing and home-use products are the most popular on line. It was reported that more than 250 billion yuan was spent on online shopping last year, 80% through Taobao. Taobao means"Looking for treasure" in Chinese .People can find almost everything they need on Taobao, from clothes to books, from candies to DVD players. You may question the _ of online shopping. Wang Lin says ,"It's very safe and conveniet . If you don't like the products from the sellers, the seller can't get the money. You can also get your money back if you want to return the products. What are the most popular online? Choices: A. Candies and DVD players . B. Clothes and books. C. Clothing and home-use products. D. Everything.
C
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Question: As an erythrocyte matures in the red bone marrow, it extrudes its nucleus and most of its other what? Choices: A. energy B. organelles C. moisture D. electrons
B
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Question: Luggage We ask you to keep a medium - sized suitcase per person, but a small holdall can also be taken onto the coach. Seats Requests for particular seats can be made on most coach breaks when booking, but since seats are booked on a first come, first serve basic, early booking is advisable. When bookings are made with us, you will be offered the best seats that are available on the coach at that time. Travel Documents When you have paid your deposit we will send you all the necessary documents, so that you receive them in good time before the coach break leaving date. Certain documents, for example, air or boat tickets, may have to be reserved and your guide will then give them to you during the break. Special Diets If you require a special diet, you must inform us at the time of booking with a copy of the diet. This will be told to the hotels on your coach break. The hotels for certain coach breaks are tourist class and they may not have the equipment to deal with special diets. Any extra costs must be paid by yourself before leaving the hotel. Accommodation On any coach break there are only a limited number of single rooms. When a single room is available, it may be subject to an extra charge and this will be shown on the brochure page. Entertainment Some of our hotels arrange extra entertainment which could include music, dancing, films, etc. The nature and frequency of the entertainment presented is decided by the hotel and therefore not guaranteed and could be withdrawn if there is a lack of demand or insufficient numbers in the hotel. What should you do if you need a special diet? Choices: A. Bring your own food with you. B. Tell the organizer while booking. C. Inform the hotel when you arrive. D. Pay extra money with the booking.
B
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Question: At dawn on Friday, May 19, 1780, farmers in New England stopped to wonder at the pink color of the sun. By noon the sky had darkened to midnight blackness, causing Americans, still in the painful struggle of a prolonged war of independence, to light candles and tremble at thoughts of the Last Judgment. As the birds quieted and no storm accompanied the darkness, men and women crowded into churches, where one minister commented that "The people were very attentive." John Greenleaf Whittier later wrote that "Men prayed, and women wept; all ears grew sharp . . ." A recent study of researchers, led by Richard Guyette from the University of Missouri's Tree Ring Laboratory, has shown that vast forest fires in the Algonquin Highlands of southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada brought this event upon New England. The scientists have discovered "fire scars" on the rings for that year, left when the heat of a wildfire has killed a part of a tree's cambium . Evidence collected also points to a drought that year. An easterly wind and low barometric pressure helped force smoke into the upper atmosphere. "The record fits pretty close," says Guyette. "We had the right fuel, the drought. The conditions were all there." Lacking the ability to communicate quickly over long distances, Americans in 1780 remained in the dark about the event, which had disappeared by the next day. Over the next several months, the papers carried heated debates about what brought the darkness. Some were the voices of angry prediction, such as one Massachusetts farmer who wrote, "Oh! Backsliding New-England, attend now to the things which belong to your peace before they are forever hid from your eyes." Others gave different answers. One stated that a "flaming star" had passed between the earth and the sun. Ash, argued another commentator. The debate, carried on throughout New England, where there were no scientific journals or academies yet, reflected an unfolding culture of scientific enquiry already sweeping the Western world, a revolution nearly as influential as the war for independence from the English. New Englanders would not soon forget that dark day; it lived on in folklore, poems, and sermons for generations. What can be the best title for the text? Choices: A. New England's dark day. B. Voices of angry prediction. C. There is no smoke without fire. D. Tree rings and scientific discovery.
A
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Question: Evidence indicates that the magnetic field of Earth has reversed direction many times throughout history. After a magnetic reversal, which would most likely be affected? Choices: A. the length and severity of seasons B. the formation of new tectonic plates C. the direction of rotation of Earth on the axis D. the alignment of minerals in newly formed crust
D
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Question: This is a reading room in Kate's school. It is big and very nice. There is a lot of furniture in it. There are twenty desks, eighty chairs and twenty computers. There're some pictures on the wall. They are all of famous people. Some students are in the reading room. They like reading books here. Kate is here too. Her mother is an English teacher at the school and her father is a doctor in the school hospital. They like reading books in the reading room too. Which is right ? Choices: A. There are many pictures of flowers on the wall of the room. B. There is no student in the room now. C. Kate isn't in the reading room now. D. Kate's parents like reading books in the reading room.
D
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Question: Hello,everyone! My name is Emily.I'm 38 years old and live in a small city near New York now.Three years ago.I started to learn Russian.I once had a Russian friend.We used to meet twice a month and have some coffee and a talk together.However, she went to China later, so nobody can help me with my Russian.I hope to find an outgoing Russian girl to help me learn more about Russian culture.I can help you with your English or Spanish.I can also speak a little Chinese.I have many friends in this city and they think I'm friendly.I think we'll be good friends and have much good time. If you like to be my friend, you can email me at emily@163.com.I'm sorry for writing in English but it would take me too long to express myself in Russian. Hope to hear from you soon. Emily Emily is good at _ . Choices: A. English and Russian B. Spanish and Chinese C. Chinese and Russian D. English and Spanish
D
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Question: During the 15 days from New Year's Eve to Lantern Festival , Beijing was affected by haze .Do you know what the haze is ? Today I will introduce it to you . Haze is air pollution in which is mixed up with dust, smoke and other dry particles (,),and it covers our blue sky ,so we can't see sunny days. It often happens in winter and spring. The haze brings much trouble to people's lives. On the road many traffic accidents happened because people can not see clearly. The haze is _ to our health. People also have to go to see the doctor because of the poisonous air caused by the haze. As students, we must tell our friends and family members to go to work or school with the public traffic, such as the bus and the underground and BRT .Also we should plant more trees and develop green and energy to reduce the haze. According to me, I will go to school by bike or on foot, and I won't throw the waste anywhere . It may take about 20 years to solve the problems caused by the haze .I believe the environment will get better and better and haze weather will vanish completely with the help of new technology. What is haze ? Choices: A. It is something delicious to eat . B. It is a kind of air pollution. C. It is a girl's name. D. It is a place.
B
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Question: Li Lu is a fifth-grade student who lived in a small village in Shanxi Province. She lived with her grandparents, because her parents are migrant workers in big cities. During the days when there were no school buses, Li Lu had to ride a bike five kilometers and climb a small mountain to school every day. Her 70-year-old grandfather says he and Li Lu's grandmother always worried about her safety. "There are so many cars on the roads, and we were really _ about her all the time. When it was time for her to come home, we would stare at the alley's entrance until she showed up." But with the start of the new school year, the school's new bus now picks up the students. Eleven-year-old Li Lu pointed at her seat on the bus and said ,"Now I don't ride my bike any more. My grandparents no longer need to worry about me. The bus is spacious and comfortable. Look! This is my seat, with my name tag on the seatback." How far is Li Lu's home from her school? Choices: A. Five minutes by bike. B. Over five kilometers. C. Fifty minutes by bus. D. Four kilometers.
B
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Question: A high school history teacher once told us, "If you make one close friend in school, you will be most fortunate. A true friend is someone who stays with you for life." Experience teaches that he was right. Good friendships are just not easily formed. Why? One reason is that it is easy to move around in our society. Mr. Darrell Sifford, a news reporter for the Washington Daily, has been studying and talking about friendships for a number of years. He reports what one woman thought about the effect of ease of movement on friendship: "I was nine, and we'd just moved from South Carolina to New Jersey, and I didn't know anybody. _ and she said to me, 'Amelia, I know you're feeling bad because you don't have any friends. But you can fix that. Just walk across the street -- I know there's a girl about your age over there -- and knock on the door and ask her to be your friend.'" "As a 9-year-old, I could do that. I knocked on the door and said, 'Hi, my name is Amelia, and I'd like for us to be friends.' And to my surprise, she said that she would like that too--and we became friends." She added that going about it directly always worked when she was a child. But as she left childhood, she found that the simple direct approach was more and more difficult for her to follow. So, as an adult, Amelia longed to have friends but her hands were tied when it came to doing anything about it. The problem, according to her, is that society teaches us in a number of ways that direct action is not an acceptable way of doing things. We need to be less direct so that our feelings will not be hurt if our offer of friendship is refused. Mr. Sifford goes on to describe his own ideas on the subject: "To most of us, friendship is very important, but we need to have clear in our own minds the kinds of friendships we want. Are they to be very close or kept at arm's length? Do we want to share ourselves or do we want to walk on the surface?" "For some people, an ordinary friendship is enough -- and that's all right. But at some point we need to make sure that what we expect from the friendship is the same as what our friends expect from it. If one wants more from the friendship than the other, and if this is not talked about, one is likely eventually to feel that he's not being given enough attention. "The sharing of close secrets, including our fears as well as our dark dreams, is the surest way to deepen friendships. But the process must be gone through slowly and continued only if there are signs of interest and our efforts are answered." What are some of the problems in forming friendships? According to Mr. Sifford, the biggest problem is to expect too much too soon. Deep relationships take time. Another "big difficulty" is to think one "possesses" the other and that he should spend all his time only with you. Similarly, friendships require action from both sides. In short, you must give as much as you take. Finally there is a question of developing friendship. Unless you spend enough time together, talking on the phone, writing letters, doing things together, friendships will gradually fade away. Why is it so difficult to form friendships? Perhaps it is possible, as Mr. Sifford states, that we simply do not stay in one place long enough for a true friendship to develop. However, we all agree that each of us should think carefully about the kind of friendships we want. As in all interpersonal relationships, success depends on the kind of friendship we expect to have, openness to others, and a willingness to experiment. In which of the following cases is it possible for you to develop true friendships? Choices: A. You stay in one place for long enough with your friend. B. You spend all your time together with your friend. C. You completely possess your friend's time and attention. D. You give your friend as much as you take from him.
D
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Question: Every pet owner loves his pet. There is no argument here. But when we asked our readers whether they would clone (, )their beloved animals, the responses were split almost down the middle. Of the 228 readers who answered it, 108 would clone, 111 would not and nine weighed each side without offering an opinion. Clearly, from readers' response, this is an issue that reaches deeply into both the joy and _ . It speaks, as well, to people's widely differing expectations over the developing scientific procedure. Most of the respondents who favored the idea strongly believed it would produce at least a close copy of the original; many felt the process would actually return an exact copy. Those on the other side, however, held little hope a clone could never truly recreate a pet, many simply didn't wish to go against the natural law of life and death. Both sides expressed equal love for their animals. More than a few respondents owned "the best dog/cat in the world". They thought of their pets as their "best friend", "a member of the family,""the light of my life." They told moving stories of pets' heroism, intelligence and selfless devotion. Then the loss is so disturbing---and the cloning so attractive. "People become very close to their animals, and the loss can be just as hard to bear as when a friend or family member dies," says Gary Kowalski, author of Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet. "For me, cloning feels like an attempt to turn death away...It's understandable. Death is always painful. It's difficult to deal with. It's hard to accept." But would cloning reduce the blow? This question seemed to be at the heart of this problem. What is the key question at the heart of the problem of cloning pets? Choices: A. Can cloning make the pain one suffers less when a pet dies? B. Can pet owners afford the cost of cloning? C. Does cloning go against the law of nature? D. How reliably does cloning produce an exact copy of one's pet?
A
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Question: Tendons work with what to move the bodies skeletal system Choices: A. wires B. meat C. robots D. ropes
B
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Question: If you think GM food sounds far away from you, you are totally wrong. In fact, you may eat GM food every day. Four of every five people in the world are eating GM food, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. According to Xinhua News Agency, in China, the only GM plants that are grown for sale are cotton and papaya. Also, China buys some GM plants from other countries, such as soybeans and corn. The GM plants are used to make other products. A reporter once said, "In China, more than half of cooking oil is soybean oil. And 90 percent of that oil is made from GM soybeans." So it's possible that we eat GM food every day! Scientists have changed GM plants' DNA in a laboratory. Scientists usually do this to protect plants against bugs and diseases and have more _ . Many people think it's against nature. Also, they worry that eating such food might be bad for their health. Is GM food safe? There's no agreement. Some people say that GM food causes tumors. But there are no long-term safety studies about GM food. If you want to stay away from GM food, you can start by checking the cooking oil in your home. Which of the following is NOT TURE according to the passage? Choices: A. In fact, GM food isn't far away from us. B. People use the GM plants to make other products. C. In China, about a quarter of cooking oil is soybean oil. D. Some people say that the GM food causes tumors.
C
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Question: Recently a professor of philosophy in the United States has written a book called Money and the Meaning of Life. He has discovered that how we deal with money in our day to day life has more meaning than we usually think. One of the exercises he has asked his students to do is to keep a record of every penny they spend for a week. From the way they spend their money, they can see what they really value in life. The professor says our relation with others often becomes clearly defined when money enters the picture. You might have wonderful friendship with somebody and you think that you are very good friends. But you will know him only when you ask him to lend you some money.If he does,it brings something to the relationship that seems stronger than ever before. Otherwise it can suddenly weaken the relationship if he doesn't. Since money is so important to us, we consider those who are rich to be very important. The professor interviews some rich people in his research for his book. Question: What is the most surprising thing you have discovered about being rich? Answer : The most surprising thing is why people give me so much respect . I am nothing.I don't know much.All I am is rich. People just have an idea of making more and more money, but what is it for? How much money do I need for any given purpose in my life? In his book,the professor uncovered an important need in modern society:to bring back the idea that money is a tool rather than the end.Money plays an important role in the material world,but expecting money to give happiness may be missing the meaning of life. Which of the following might the author disagree? Choices: A. Money is important in modern society. B. The meaning of life does not completely lie in money. C. Wealth will surely bring the owner happiness. D. Happiness is not necessarily the result of wealth.
C
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Question: Forbes asked a panel of architects and campus designers to nominate their picks for the best-looking campuses in the world. These are their top choices. Kenyon College Gambier, Ohio, US Mike Evans, a principal at Norfolk, Va., design firm Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas + Company, says to be beautiful a campus must have a "signature campus space as a carrier of the campus brand." At Kenyon College, that space is "Middle Path," a 10-foot-wide footpath that serves as the Gothic hilltop campus' central artery. More than just a trail, it's a village green for the tight-knit campus community. Sergei Lobanov-Rostovsky, who teaches 17th-century poetry at Kenyon, says the college, both isolated and pastoral, is "a small place to think big thoughts." Oxford University Oxford, England Teaching within Oxford's stone walls dates as far back as the 11th century, and the school is considered a paradigm for all college campuses. With its labyrinth of quads, cloisters, and archways, it evokes elegance and tradition at every turn. "Its monastic roots and the spectacular quality of its buildings make it an architectural wonderland," says David Mayernik, associate professor at Notre Dame's School of Architecture. Princeton University Princeton, N.J., US Princeton's style is pure Collegiate Gothic ; most of it executed in gray stone covered in, yes, ivy. As imposing as these old stone structures are, the campus keeps life on a "human scale" by preserving green spaces and walkability.Sinuous footpaths, archways, plazas - all are designed to inspire spontaneous discussion and learning. Scripps College Claremont, Calif., US The total plan of this women's college, founded in the 1920's, has always called for artistic connection between buildings and landscape. Together, architect Gordon Kaufmann, in collaboration with landscape architect Edward Huntsman-Trout, created a distinctively Southern Californian blend of Mission Revival-inspired architecture and landscape, which is lovely, evocative and intact. An expert in deciduous trees, Trout planted rows of liquid amber trees to give the students "a sense of autumn" come fall. He also peppered the campus with tulip trees, sycamores, almond and orange trees, as well as rare shrubs. Stanford University Palo Alto, Calif., US New additions like the Science and Engineering Quad manage to gracefully blend modern and technological elements with the timeless, elegant aesthetics of the campus' early California Mission Revival architecture. The campus also scores big points for its dramatic entrance via Palm Drive, its romantic Spanish red-tile roofs and myriad patches of green. Tsinghua University Beijing, China Forbe's panel of architects says natural setting plays a big part in assessing a campus' beauty. In that regard, this campus is blessed: Founded in 1925, Tsinghua sits on the former site of the Qing Dynasty's royal gardens. Many of Beijing's most notable historical sites, like the Summer Palace, are close by. The campus is peppered with artificial ponds where stone benches and floating lotus blossoms inspire reflection. Which University has the style of pure Collegiate Gothic? Choices: A. Tsinghua University B. Oxford University C. Princeton University D. Kenyon College
C
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Question: The weight of an object can change even when the mass stays the same. Which statement correctly identifies a relationship between mass and weight? Choices: A. The weight of an object depends on its mass and its volume. B. Gravity affects the weight of an object but not its mass. C. The mass of an object depends on its weight and size. D. Magnetic fields can affect mass but not weight.
B
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Question: Five Things You Should Know About Adult Asthma About 44 million people in Asia Pacific suffer from asthma. The numbers are on the rise especially in China and India where there is rapid industrialization and urbanization. Dr Mariko Koh, Director of the Pulmonary Function Laboratory and Asthma Programme at Singapore General Hospital, tells us more about adult asthma: 1. Chronic inflammation of the airways When the airways are inflamed, mucus forms, blocking airflow, causing breathlessness, wheezing and tightness in the chest. 2. Common triggers Exposure to allergens such as mites, cockroaches, pets and pollen can trigger asthma. Tobacco smoke, respiratory infections, exercise and some medications like aspirin and beta blockers are also possible triggers. 3. Effective treatment Asthma can be controlled with medication. The main treatment of asthma is inhaled corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and block of the airways. Reliever medications may be used to treat acute symptoms. Take note: it is not too late to take medication after an asthma attack. 4. Take medication daily To ensure good control over asthma, medication must be taken daily on a long term basis to prevent attacks. Also, go to your doctor for regular checkups. 5. Quality of life Asthma sufferers can lead normal active lives as long as the symptoms are well controlled. Taking medication as directed and avoiding triggers can make a big difference to the quality of life. What can be inferred from the passage? Choices: A. There is no possible cure for allergic asthma. B. Asthma is caused by acute inflammation of the airways. C. China and India have the largest number of asthma sufferers in the world. D. Regular checkups and exercise can ensure you a life free from asthma symptoms.
A
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Question: We are looking for teachers for our private secondary school in Nigeria. This is a Christian school and we are looking for Christian teachers. Accommodations are provided and salaries can be discussed. Volunteers are welcome to apply but those with teaching qualifications and experience will be first chosen. Subjects: English, French or Art. Those who teach other subjects are also welcome. Applicant 1 Modupe Bvuma I have a master's degree in Managerial Psychology and know a little French. I'm looking for a job either as a teacher or as a personnel manager. I'm a Christian and live in Nigeria, Africa and I'd be glad to be given the opportunity. Applicant 2 Rachel Moore I'm an Australian and have experience in working with children in the local church, although I don't believe in Jesus. I have bachelor's degrees in both Art and Education. I have _ my job with my pupils and now have settled in Nigeria, Africa to look for a job teaching English or French. Applicant 3 Mwanyimi Bushabu I've been in Africa for 5 years as a banker. It is advantageous for me to teach French at your school since it's my mother tongue, I am a Church member and promise I shall keep the Christian standards at your school. Applicant 4 Freddie Matthews I am to graduate from the University of Nottingham, England. I have gained teaching experience by tutoring children in lots of families and will have a teaching qualification. I'm interested in your job. Applicant 5 Adelaide White I am an Egyptian living in San Francisco, the USA. I'm a Christian. I have been a teacher of English and French for 12 years. I am currently an advisor in schools. Besides my master's degree, my post bachelor's degree is in Pupils Personnel Service Credentials. I want to return to my continent. According to the passage, for teachers to work in the mentioned secondary school in Nigeria, _ . Choices: A. their salary will be determined by the school. B. the housing issue is left for further discussion. C. their religious belief ought to be confirmed. D. they must have got related qualifications.
C
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Question: Hello! My name is Mike. I am from America. Now I am with my parents. I like breakfast at home. I have an egg, some bread and porridge for breakfast. I do not like milk. I have no time to go home for lunch. So I have it at school. The lunch in our school is good. I can have different food for lunch. I eat rice, meat and vegetables. Sometimes I have noodles and dumplings. I have dinner at home with my parents. Sometimes we go out to eat with friends. We have chicken, vegetables and fruit. He has _ for lunch. Choices: A. rice, meat and vegetables B. noodles and dumplings C. chicken, meat and fruit D. A and B
D
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Question: An out-of-body experience? It's just your brain playing tricks on you. Some report feeling as if they are floating above their own bodies, while others find themselves drawn towards a blinding light. But out-of-body experiences are nothing more than a trick of the mind, scientists claim. They say that common spooky scenarios, such as floating above a hospital bed or walking towards the light at the end of a tunnel, can be explained by the brain trying to make sense of the process of death. Scientists from the universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge reviewed studies into changes in the brain that cause certain strong feelings associated with near-death experiences. Researcher Caroline Watt said one common vision -- that of people seeing a bright light which seems to be drawing them into the afterlife -- is probably produced by the death of the cells we use to process the light picked up by our eyes and turn it into pictures. "It is simply your brain trying to make sense of the unusual experiences you are having," Dr Watt said. Feelings of being out of the body can also be explained by the brain's behavior, the journal Trends in Cognitive Science reports. "If you put on a virtual reality headset showing an image of yourself three feet in front, you can trick your brain into thinking that is you over there, and get the sense you are outside your body," Dr Watt added. The scientific evidence suggests that all aspects of the near-death experience have a biological basis. In another example, the hormone noradrenalin, which is released when we suffer from stress and injuries, could be behind the feelings of love and peace that many experience when they seem to be approaching death. However, other scientists say we should not be so quick to dismiss (stop considering) people's accounts (descriptions). Sam Parnia, of the University of Southampton, stressed that being able to trace something back to the brain does not mean it is not real. Dr Parnia, who is close to completing a three-year study of hospital patients' recollections of their near-death experiences, said, "Every experience, whether near-death or otherwise -- such as depression, happiness and love -- is mediated by the brain." According to the passage, when people are dying, some may have the following feelings except that _ . Choices: A. they are floating above their own bodies B. they are walking towards a light C. they are flying in the sky D. they are seeing a bright light
C
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Question: Which lists the diameter of the planets in order from smallest to largest? Choices: A. Venus, Earth, Mercury, Mars B. Earth, Mars, Venus, Mercury C. Mars, Mercury, Earth, Venus D. Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth
D
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Question: The Lionfish Invasion! Lionfish are popular saltwater aquarium fish all over the world, especially in the United States. Nowadays, they also live in Atlantic waters off the East Coast of the United States. These lionfish are what scientists call an invasive species or an "alien invader." Local divers off the coast of North Carolina were not expecting to see what they found one day in August 2002--the beautiful lionfish, common to the warm waters of the western Pacific, but unknown of the Carolina coast. They provided the first solid evidence that lionfish were in the Atlantic. A year later, scientists documented 19 lionfish sightings at eight locations along the North Carolina continental shelf. Then, lionfish were observed off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, and even as far north as Long Island, New York! Between 2000 and 2003, lionfish sightings were reported at 16 different shipwrecks and natural hard bottom locations. During a summer 2004 research expedition, NOAA(The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) scientists collected 155 lionfish at 19 different locations off the North Carolina coast alone. The jump in numbers and distributions over such a short time strongly indicates that the lionfish is reproducing in the Atlantic Ocean. If this is true, it's the first time that a western Pacific fish has populated the U.S. Atlantic coast. These lionfish were likely released on purpose when people no longer wanted them! The swift and warm Gulf Stream, which transported the floating lionfish eggs from Florida northward, helped the lionfish's Atlantic journey. In Florida waters and along the continental shelf near the Gulf Stream the temperatures are very similar to the lionfish's native waters. However, from north Florida upward, the waters along the coastline are too cold in the winter for lionfish to survive. Scientists expect them to survive the winter only at water depths greater than 120ft because this is where the Gulf Stream has influence all year long. Very importantly, the types of predators and competitors present in the Atlantic are very different from the native range of the lionfish. Generally, the lionfish have not been found to endanger marine ecosystems because they were not likely to survive long. Which of the following is the main idea of the passage? Choices: A. Lionfish got into the Atlantic Ocean in 2002. B. Lionfish will not live long in the new environment. C. Lionfish is a popular aquarium fish in the United States. D. Lionfish has been populating the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
D
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Question: A toy car rolls at a constant speed down a straight inclined track. When the car reaches the flat surface at the base of the inclined track, the speed of the car decreases. Which statement best explains why the speed of the car decreases when it reaches the flat surface? Choices: A. The force of gravity acting on the car increases. B. The force of gravity acting on the car decreases. C. The forces influencing the car are not balanced. D. The forces influencing the car are balanced.
C
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Question: Global warming is the process of earth's atmosphere heating up. Over the last 100 years, the average temperature of earth's atmosphere has gone up 1 Fahrenheit. The weather has not changed exactly the same way in every area of the planet. But scientists think that the rise in average temperature is already affecting the earth's climate. Many scientists now believe that global warming is caused by cutting down trees, producing more trash, and polluting the environment which are some of the reasons why the temperature has gone up. Many scientists believe that the biggest causes of global warming are new human technologies that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is not new. Certain gases in the atmosphere, like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane, making it hard for heat energy to go into space. In the past, the climate didn't change much because nature produced just the right amount of greenhouse gases to deal with it. Today, most scientists are pretty sure that the rising temperature can't be blamed on nature. Ever since the industrial revolution in the 1700s, humans have relied on machines for daily life. And many of those machines give off a lot of greenhouse gases. An increase in the release of greenhouse gases from human activities is throwing nature off balance. The climate is a very complicated thing, but many scientists agree that the rising atmospheric temperature has already damaged the environment. Sheets of ice, called glaciers, are melting in Antarctica and other parts of the globe. As glaciers break off and melt into the oceans, they are adding warm water to the oceans and causing the sea level to rise. Over the past 100 years, the sea level has risen 6-8 inches around the world. That means land along the coasts is beginning to disappear under water. Bigger and warmer oceans are also adding to other weather problems caused by pollution in the atmosphere. Some places have received more rain, others have had bigger storms and a few areas in the world have experienced unusual droughts. From the passage we can see that global warming will bring about _ . Choices: A. the pollution in the atmosphere B. natural disasters C. population pollution D. the rise of glaciers
B
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Question: My teacher, Mr. August J. Bachmann, was the most influential teacher I ever had. I had gotten into trouble in his class: Another student had pushed me for fun, and I became angry and began to hit him. Mr. Bachmann stopped the fight, but instead of sending me to the office, he sat me down and asked a simple question: "Penna, why are you wasting your life? Why aren't you going to college?" I didn't know anything about colleges or scholarships. No one had ever considered that a fatherless boy from the poorest neighborhood had a future. That day, instead of rushing off for lunch, he stayed and explained possible education options to me. At the end of our talk, he sent me to see a secretary who had a child at a state college. This was in 1962 at Emerson High School in Union City, New Jersey. Well, 53 years have passed, and what have I done with the knowledge he gave me? I gained a PhD from Fordham University when I was only 29. I taught English and social studies and then moved up the chain of command from teacher to principal. I've sat on the board for Magnet Schools of America and represented that organization at the United Nations. I've won a number of great educational awards. But where would I be if a truly caring teacher had not taken the time out of his lunch period to speak to me? It was without question only his confidence in me that helped me forward. I have repaid his kindness hundreds of times by encouraging misguided youngsters to aim higher. If I have saved any children, it is because of him. If I have been a successful educator, it is because I had a great role model in Mr. Bachmann. What does the writer think of his achievement? Choices: A. He is very proud of himself. B. He feels his effort gets paid off at last. C. He owes his achievement to Mr. Bachmann. D. He thinks it an honor to be a successful educator.
C
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Question: A team of researchers from Oxford University has demonstrated a self-driving car that is different from such cars being tested by Audi, Ford, etc. It' s much cheaper because it's based on off-the-shelf technology and controlled by an ordinary iPad. Instead of using GPS to understand the location, the car learns routes when a person is driving, and then asks after it's got it down, if the driver would like the computer to take over. As time passes, it's becoming very clear that people believe computers would be better drivers than humans. This has been proven by extensive research that indicates that computers are able to react more quickly to driving conditions, make smarter decisions, don't take risks, and don't make mistakes in concentration. They don't drink either, of course, which means accidents due to drunk driving could be reduced dramatically if the computer could take over when someone needs to get home from the bar. And the team says drivers don't need their cars to know everything about every road, condition or possible danger. Instead, they just need to know how to get from one point to another, and to do a good job of it when asked. To that end, the researchers have added cameras, lasers, a central computer to process information and a regular iPad. In practice, the car would learn how to get to and from places that the driver frequents, such as their work place, the local pub or grocery store. Once it has it down, the computer asks the driver if they' d like a rest. If so, they simply tap the iPad, and the car takes over. It' s very simple and doesn't require nearly the same number of devices as those being tested by other car companies. The researchers say people might be able to get the total price of the system below a hundred dollars. And of course, the iPad can be lifted out and carried away for other purposes when not being used as a driver assistant. What best describes the author's tone in this passage? Choices: A. Objective. B. Worried. C. Serious D. Subjective.
A
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Question: The creation of a voltage across a current-carrying conductor by a magnetic field is known as what? Choices: A. show effect B. hall effect C. newton effect D. off effect
B
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Question: Once I spoke at a high school. After the speech, I was asked to see a special student. An illness had kept the boy home, but he had expressed an interest in meeting me, and it would mean a great deal to him. I agreed. He was Matthew. When he was born, the doctor told his parents that he would not live to see five, then they were told he would not make it to ten. Now he was thirteen. He wanted to meet me because I was a gold-medal weight lifter, and I knew about overcoming obstacles and going for my dreams. I spent over an hour talking to Matthew. Never once did he complain. He spoke about winning and succeeding and going for his dreams. Obviously, he knew what he was talking about. He just talked about his hopes for the future, and how one day he wanted to lift weight with me. When we finished talking, I went to my briefcase and pulled out the first gold medal I won and put it around his neck. I told him he was more of a winner and knew more about success and overcoming obstacles than I ever would. He looked at it for a moment, then took it off and handed it back to me. He said, "You are a champion. You earned that medal. Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal, I will show it to you." Last summer I got the news that Matthew had passed away and a letter Matthew had written me a few days before: Dear Rick, My mom said I should send you a thank-you letter for the picture you sent me. The doctors tell me that I don't have long to live any more. But I still smile as much as I can. I told you some day I was going to the Olympics and win a gold medal. But I know now I'll never make it. But I know I'm a champion, and God knows that too. When I get to Heaven, God will give me my medal and when you get there, I will show it to you. Thank you for loving me. Your friend, Matthew Why did the boy refuse the author's medal? Choices: A. . He thought he was not worthy of it. B. Rick looked on the medal as treasure. C. The gold medal was very dear to Rick. D. He didn't want to be pitied by others.
D
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Question: The activation of what kind of buds induces branching? Choices: A. lymphatic buds B. axillary buds C. leafy buds D. arterial buds
B
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Question: Tigers are among the most admired and most feared animals in the world . When we think of a tiger, we think of danger. We think of the big teeth and large feet of it. We also think of beauty. The tiger is a hunter that hunts alone. In fact , tigers are probably better than any other land mammal at catching large animals without help. Even so, the life of this big-game hunter isn't easy. Finding food can be difficult, especially for a tiger that is old or weak. Most of the animals it tries to attack get away. A tiger sometimes goes weeks without eating. When that happens, it may hunt animals that can be dangerous even for a tiger. When they are in a bad situation, some tigers may even attack humans. But in fact, tigers kill very few people each year. Most tigers run away when they see people. What tigers have done to people can't compare to what people have done to tigers. Over the last 200 years, we have almost killed tigers in the wild . Today, the tiger is one of the most endangered animals on Earth. A tiger may live 20 years or more, if it is not disturbed by humans. Female tigers usually live longer than male tigers, because the males live more dangerously. It isn't easy for people to tell a male from a female unless the female happens to be with her babies.Only females take care of the young. The big difference between males and females is size. Male tigers are much bigger. Tigers are big eaters. In a single year, one tiger must eat about 70 deer or other large animals. That is one reason why tigers hunt alone. If they lived in big groups, they could never find enough animals to feed them all. What can we learn from the passage? Choices: A. A tiger can only live about 20 years. B. It is people who make tigers endangered C. Many people are killed by tigers every year. D. Male and female tigers take care of their babies together.
B
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Question: I have a friend named Monty Roberts. He has let me use his horse ranch to put on events to raise money for youth at risk programs. Last time I was there he introduced me by saying, "I want to tell you why I let you use my house. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be when he grew up." "That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of owning a horse ranch someday. He put all his heart into the project and wrote about his dream in great detail. He even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of the buildings, stables and the track, and even a detailed floor plan for a 4000-square-foot house on it." "The next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later ,he received a large red "F" on his paper with a note, 'See me after class.' The boy went to see the teacher and asked why. The teacher told him there was no way for a young boy like him to do that because owning a horse ranch required much money and resources, and then added 'If you'll rewrite his paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.'" "The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what to do. His father said, 'Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it's a very important decision for you.'" "Finally, a week later, the boy turned in the same paper without any change and stated, 'You can keep the F and I'll keep my dream.'" "I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace." Don't let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what. Why did the boy turn in the same paper without any change? Choices: A. Because he made up his mind to stick to his dream. B. Because his father stopped him from rewriting it. C. Because he was angry about his teacher's words. D. Because he had put too much of his heart into it.
A
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Question: When you first arrive in Oxford, it may take a little while for you to find your way around. Some of the first things our students do when they arrive include finding a bike (most students in Oxford find cycling is the best way to go around), setting up a bank account, getting their computer and mobile phone working, finding their department, getting to know their college and working out the best places to socialize. One of the major events you will experience shortly after "coming up" to Oxford is matriculation. Matriculation is held at the University's Sheldonian Theatre and is the ceremony at which you are formally admitted to the university. International students are invited to an orientation day at the start of the academic year. Sessions run throughout the day that will give you practical information about living and studying in the UK and introduce you to other graduate students from all over the world who are starting their studies at Oxford at the same time as you, as well as to current Oxford graduate students and staff who will be able to help and advise you. The day covers topics such as studying and learning in the Oxford system, University services, information on living in Britain and cultural differences, as well as addressing practical issues such as employment, immigration and visas, health and safety. You can choose which talks to attend and at the end of the day there is a social hour so you can meet fellow students. Another good thing to experience early is college dining. Most colleges have a tradition of regular formal hall dinners, which consist of three or four courses, and the atmosphere of an evening out in a nice restaurant. On some of these occasions you can invite people around to your college for dinner and _ . In this way, you can get to know people studying your own and other subjects at the same time as visiting many of the historical college grounds and dining halls. Which talk can students attend on the orientation day? Choices: A. Studying in the Cambridge system. B. Talks on how to meet fellow students. C. Practical issues like employment, immigration, and health. D. University services about the life in Britain and cultural similarities.
C
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Question: One might expect that the ever-growing demands of the tourist trade would bring nothing but good for the countries that receive the holiday-makers. Indeed, a rosy picture is painted for the long-term future of the holiday industry. Every month sees the building of a new hotel somewhere, and every month another rock-bound Pacific island is advertised as the 'last paradise on earth'. However, the scale and speed of this growth seem set to destroy the very things tourists want to enjoy. In those countries where there was a rush to make quick money out of sea-side holidays, over-crowded beaches and the concrete jungles of endless hotels have begun to lose their appeal. Those countries with little experience of tourism can suffer most. In recent years, Nepal set out to attract foreign visitors to fund developments in health and education. Its forests, full of wildlife and rare flowers, were offered to tourists as one more untouched paradise. In fact, the nature all too soon felt the effects of thousands of holiday-makers traveling through the forest land. Ancient tacks became major routes for the walkers, with the consequent exploitation of precious trees and plants. Not only can the environment of a country suffer from the sudden growth of tourism. The people as well rapidly feel its effects. Farmland makes way for hotels, roads and airports; the old way of life goes. The one-time farmer is now the servant of some multi-national organization; he is no longer his own master. Once it was his back that bore the pain; now it is his smile that is exploited. No doubt he wonders whether he wasn't happier in his village working his own land. Thankfully, the tourist industry is waking up to the responsibilities it has towards those countries that receive its customers. The protection of wildlife and the creation of national parks go hand in hand with tourist development and in fact obtain financial support from tourist companies. At the same time, tourists are being encouraged to respect not only the countryside they visit but also its people. The way tourism is handled in the next ten years will decide its fate and that of the countries we all want to visit. Their needs and problems are more important than those of the tourist companies. Increased understanding in planning world-wide tourism can preserve the market for these companies. If not, in a few years' time the very things that attract tourists now may well have been destroyed. Which of the following determines the future of tourism? Choices: A. The number of tourists B. The improvement of services. C. The promotion of new products. D. The management of tourism
D
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Question: What are the pyramid-shaped, paired organs that are connected to the trachea by the right and left bronchi? Choices: A. kidneys B. stomachs C. ovaries D. lungs
D
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Question: Once again, rumors are spreading. Judgment Day, this time, is set to happen on December 21st, 2012. The date originated from the Mayan calendar, but actually gained popularity through the hit movie, "2012". How will the world end? And how do we know the exact date? There are many theories: A meteoroid from outer space; a solar storm; a shift in the earth's poles; bla bla bla. They all supposedly pointed to the date of December 21st, 2012. Unfortunately, none of it is true. Zhu Jin, director of Beijing Planetarium, said, "For earth itself, the end will be billions of years away from now.And for us humans, there is a very small chance that we may be affected by some astronomical factors.However, we don't have the ability to foresee such events so far.So when someone tells you the world is going to end on an exact date, it must be fake." But the truth hasn't stopped people from believing. In the sci-fi movie "2012", the director imagined the end of the world based on the Mayan calendar. The film earned nearly 770 million US dollars worldwide. Ning Hong, Hebei Province, said. "The movie 2012 did get one thing right. There are arks being made in China, But they're not being built secretly inside the mountains.They are constructed here in the courtyard of a factory." In April, Liu Qiyuan quit his furniture business and devoted himself to developing these huge round balls. He doesn't believe the end is near, but he wants to be prepared just in case. Liu Qiyuan, the "Ark" builder, said, "The concept originated twenty years ago. The Tangshan earthquake had flattened our house, so I wanted to build a shelter that wouldn't fall. Then in 2004, I saw the tsunami in Indonesia that killed so many people.Then I realized it should be something that could withstand the earthquake and float on water." Liu is hoping to use his invention as a life boat on the sea.He's planning to test his product on the water next year. It turns out that rumor, though false, is good for business. Doomsday discounts and products are hot on many online stores. While it's surely attracted attention, many complain that it misleads consumers. Their purpose is to promote products. If they believe the world is going to end, who would buy things? Money would be useless, too. Liu Qiyuan quit his job and built his "ark" because _ . Choices: A. he wanted to make preparations for destructive natural disasters B. he was tired of making money from his furniture business C. he was almost killed in Indonesia in 2004 D. he believed that the world was going to end on Dec. 21, 2012
A
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Question: Chinese students aren't the only ones who have a sleep loss problem. In Australia, teenagers are also missing out on, on average, one hour's sleep every night during the school week. Organized activities and homework push bedtimes later, the first large-scale Australian study of children's sleeping habits has revealed . Their sleep deprivation is enough to cause "serious drop-offs in school performance, attention and memory", and governments should consider later or flexible school start times, said the study's leader, Tim Olds. ks5u His survey, of more than 4,000 children aged 9 to 18, found those who slept least did not watch more television but spent their time socializing with family or friends or listening to music. "Almost all children get up at 7 or 7:15 -- they have to get to school on time," said Olds. He favors a later start over an earlier finish because he believes organized sports and activities would still consume the latter end of the day. Olds' research also establishes lack of sleep as a cause of weight gain in children, and a possible source of future problems with depression, anxiety and increased susceptibility to illness. It was already known that overweight children sleep less, but Professor Olds found sleep duration was strongly linked to weight across the full range of body sizes. The thinnest children sleep 20 minutes more than the _ . This showed being overweight had no specific effect on sleep patterns, and it was more likely that shorter sleep times stimulate appetite and make kids hungry. The US National Sleep Foundation says teenagers aged 13 to 18 need eight to nine hours' sleep a night. Younger school-aged kids need 9 to 11 hours. On that basis, Professor Olds said, half of Australian children are under-sleeping on weekdays and a quarter on weekends. Which of the following statements is TRUE? Choices: A. Australian students usually take part in activities in the afternoon. B. More students are short of sleep on weekends than on weekdays. C. Being overweight has an effect on the length of the sleeping time. D. The survey suggests that teenagers need 8-9 hours' sleep a night.
A
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Question: Some immune cells are actively involved in ingesting, destroying, and presenting invading microbial antigens on their surface to stimulate other cells to produce antibodies. Which of these cells is responsible for initiating such an immune response? Choices: A. mast cells B. phagocytes C. B-lymphocytes D. T-lymphocytes
B
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Question: When Jason's parents saw him for the first time, they were shocked .This lovely little baby with shining blue eyes and curly hair was born disabled . But soon the young couple accepted this fact: Jason's arms are just half without hands and his legs aren't fully grown either. They even forgot to think of him as disabled. At the age of six, he told his mother he wanted to get down from the prosthetics and play with other kids. This was the last time Jason had worn them. He now has an electric wheelchair , but he never uses it at home or when it is easy for him to move using only his body. Jason learned handwriting and coloring at school, holding the pen between the ends of his arms. He also learned to eat with forks at home. When he was ten, he fell in love with football. He never had a pair of shoes in his life because of the shape of his feet. He only wore socks on the football field. He never won a match, but he refused to give up. His strong arms and body, as well as some fantastic ways made him a respected player on the school team. He went to a famous university after high school. Now Jason still faces many _ in life, but he will make you believe that you can do what he has done. "Never be afraid of any difficulty", Jason often encourages others in his speeches. What is the best title of this passage Choices: A. Disabled but still able B. Playing football brings good luck C. Never wear prosthetics even disabled D. Walking hard at school and home
A
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Question: Many people especially beginners,often complain that listening to spoken English is too hard for them. But if you don't understand what people are saying,how can you converse with them?It may be difficult,but learning by listening is necessary. It can be done. It is a common fact that different people have different pronunciations of the same word. Stanronunciation is the basis for English study,especially of listening. If your pronunciation is not standard,it is hard for other people to understand you as it is for you to understand them. You may know the words when they are written down. That's important.You should plan to read every time you practise speaking and listening. Select a set of good books with cassettes. Do the exercises, from the simple to the difficult, step by step.As for listening, you have many choices: Watch English-language films, listen to English-language radio and television programs. Try to listen every day,even if only for a few minutes. At first,you may understand few words or perhaps only familiar names such as Clinton. Don't give up. Just listen. On TV,you can guess some of the words from watching what is happening on the screen.Gradually, you will find yourself recognizing some words.Try to pronounce them. Do you sound like the person on TV? Are you speaking standard English? Remember to read and practise speaking. It will help you to listen better. You may find many words that you missed or didn't understand when you were listening. Every day, spend an hour reading English. Talk to English-speaking foreigners whenever possible. Talking face to face is the liveliest textbook.In general, foreigners will speak more slowly with you, use simple words, and use gestures to help you understand them. Beginners often complain that listening to spoken English is too hard,because _ . Choices: A. they can't pronounce standardizedly B. they spend little time listening English C. they are not familiar with the words they've learnt D. all mentioned above
D
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Question: Henry Loomis served as director of the Voice of America for seven years starting in 1958.Mr Loomis played an important role in creating the Special English service . Henry Loomis was born in 1919 Tuxedo Park , New York. His father was Alfred Lee Loomis , a rich New York City businessman .In 1940, Henry Loomis dropped out of Harvard University to join the United States Navy .He was able to put to good use his knowledge of radar technology that he had learned about because of his father's work .After graduating at the top in his naval training class, Henry Loomis became a teacher at the Navy's radar training school in Hawaii. By the end of World War Two, Henry Loomis had received many honors for his service, including a Bronze Star and an Air Medal. He left the Navy in 1946 to begin graduate studies. Henry Loomis later moved to Washington, D.C. to begin another part of his career in public service. He held positions in the Department of Defense and other agencies: In 1958, he became director of the Voice of America. During his travels around the world, Mr. Loomis saw that English was becoming an important international language. He believed that it was important to make English easier to understand by listeners of VOA broadcasts whose native language was not English. So Mr. Loomis asked VOA program manager Barry Zorthian to develop a way to broadcast to listeners with a limited knowledge of English: The result of this effort was Special English: The first Voice of America broadcast in Special English took place on October 19th, 1959. Those against his ideas at the time said the Special English method of broadcasting at a slower rate with a limited vocabulary would never work, it was not practical. American embassies demanded that the program be called off. But Mr. Loomis supported the program. Soon, VOA began to receive hundreds of letters from listeners praising the program. Special English programs became some of the most popular on VOA. We are pleased to say that our programs still are. We can know from the passage that Henry Loomis _ . Choices: A. was born in a poor family B. did well in his naval training class C. stayed in the Navy for nearly 8 years D. joined the army immediately after graduating from university
B
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Question: A 13-year-old Shenzhen girl wrote a book about her life in junior school, and you could see the book in bookstores in June, the News Today reported yesterday. The book is A fresh Summer Day. Zhao Yue finished it in three months. Zhao Yue is a Junior One student of a middle school. She started writing this book after she finished her first book. " I think it is important for me to write the life of students. Adults cannot understand the world of us. So if adults read my book, they will know more about students." The girl also said that she wrote most of the book at night, sometimes until the early hours of the next morning. " I went to school as usual during the three months of writing. I felt very good every day even though I slept for only four hours a day," said the girl. A fresh Summer Day is about love between two junior high school students. _ said it was a common problem among young children. When did Zhao Yue write the book mostly? Choices: A. During the class B. In the morning C. At weekends D. At night
D
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Question: Soil is produced naturally when, over a period of many years Choices: A. stones are rock solid B. stones are blown up C. stones are vaporized by storms D. stones are worn down
D
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Question: Willam Shakespeare was a writer of plays and poems. Some of his most famous plays are Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth .He wrote thirty-seven plays in all. They are still popular today. He was born in 1564 in England. At school he liked watching plays. He decided to be an actor when he finished school at the age of fourteen. In 1582, he married a farmer's daughter. She was eight years older than he was. Their first child was a daughter .Later they had twins. In1585, Shakespeare left his hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon. His wife and children stayed behind .No one knows why he left or what he did between 1585 and 1592. At twenty-eight he moved to London and joined a theatre company which opened the Globe Theatre in 1599. He became an actor, and he also wrote plays. He usually acted in his own plays .He earned almost no money from his writing. But he made a lot of money from acting. With the money he bought a large house in his hometown. At the age of forty-nine, Shakespeare retired and went to live in Stratford-upon-Avon. He died at the age of fifty-two. He left his money to his family. He left his genius to the world. You still see his plays in English and in many other languages. He is one of the most famous writers in the world.. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE? Choices: A. Shakespeare had two children. B. Shakespeare wrote both plays and poems. C. Shakespeare left his money to the Globe Theatre. D. Shakespeare wrote plays in English and some other languages.
B
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Question: Twenty years are just a blink in time. But 20 years is also long enough for a man to grow up. It is always painful. For Andre Agassi, maturing in the spotlight of international tennis competition was even harder. On September 3, the American tennis player said a tearful goodbye to his 21-year career after a third-round defeat in the US Open. The 36-year-old tried his best, but was unable to keep up with German Benjamin Becker, _ years his _ "The scoreboard said I lost today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what I've found," Agassi said to the fans. "I have found inspiration and you willed me to succeed." It was an emotional speech at the end of a long career. Agassi hated tennis as a teenager as much as he loves it now. His father made him play when he was a child. He got bored, and became a rebel . The strict training that his father pushed upon him got in the way of his wild lifestyle. He grew hair long, wore colourful clothes and spat at a judge. Over the years, he has made bad jokes during news conferences Asked what he would say to his 17-year-old self, Agassi answered, "I would say, I understand you a lot more than I want to be you." The turning point in Agassi's career came in 1992 when he unexpectedly won his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon. It was the first time Agassi understood what real champions finally understand: winning is a test of courage and not just power, it's a marathon, not a sprint . And what a marathon Agassi was about to begin. He cut his long hair, got fitter and tightened up emotionally. On the court, he was ranked No. 1 for almost two years. His lowest point came in 1997 when his ranking dropped to No. 141. He didn't quit though. "I knew that I would try to get the most out of myself every day from that day forward. That was my promise," he said. "That never stopped." The score of the match between Agassi and Becket is_. Choices: A. 0-2 B. 0-3 C. 1-3 D. 2-3
B
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Question: Parents often believe that they have a good relationship with their teenagers.But last summer,Joanna and Henry noticed a change in their older son:suddenly he seemed to be talking more to his friends than to his parents."The door to his room is always shut,"Joanna noted. Tina and Mark noticed similar changes in their 14-year-old daughter."She used to cuddle up with me on the sofa and talk,"said Mark."Now we joke that she does this only when she wants something.Sometimes she wants to be treated like a 1ittle girl and sometimes like a young lady.The problem is figuring out which time is which." Before age 11,children like to tell their parents what's on their minds."In fact,parents are first on the list,"said Michael Riera,author of Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers."This completely changes during the teen years,"Riera explained."They talk to their friends first,then maybe their teachers,and their parents last." Parents who know what's going on in their teenagers' lives are in the best position to help them.To break down _ ,parents should create chances to understand what their children want to say,and try to find ways to talk and write to them.And they must give their children a mental break,for children also need freedom,though young.Another thing parents should remember is that to be a friend,not a manager,with their children is a better way to know them. What troubles Tina and Mark most is that _ . Choices: A. their daughter isn't as lovely as before B. they can't read their daughter's mind exactly C. they don't know what to say to their daughter D. their daughter has grown up so quickly
B
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Question: One day, when old Jacob and little Jacoble were walking home, the sun began to go down. Old Jacob was thinking of his house and little Jacoble didn't know what to think. Then he thought of a wonderful idea, and he cried, "Jacob! Do you know what I saw yesterday? I saw a green rabbit. It was flying in the air and it was so big, even bigger than an elephant!" "You saw that with your own eyes?" asked old Jacob. "Of course I did," said Jacoble proudly. "It's a good thing that you really saw that big, flying, green rabbit," said old Jacob, "because that old bridge we are going to walk over is a very strange one. As soon as anyone who hasn't told the truth comes on it, the bridge breaks in two." They continued walking. "Jacob," said Jacoble a little later, "you know that big, green, flying rabbit I saw yesterday ... Well, it wasn't really flying, and ... it wasn't quite as big as an elephant ... but it was very big, about the size of a horse!" "Big as a horse?" asked Jacob as they got closer to the bridge and little Jacoble began not to feel so well. "Jacob," said Jacoble. "That big, green rabbit I saw yesterday, well, I had something in my eye and so I couldn't see that well. It wasn't a very big rabbit but it was green. Yes, that's what it was -- all green!" Old Jacob didn't say a word. He just walked over the bridge. But Jacoble didn't go after him because he was afraid and he knew why he was afraid. He stood at the bridge and said, "Oh, Jacob! You know that rabbit I saw yesterday. It wasn't green. No. It was just a little, brown rabbit." Then he was not afraid of anything any more and he ran happily over the bridge. We know from the text that the story happened _ . Choices: A. in the morning B. in the afternoon C. at dusk D. at midnight
C
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Question: The card using a built-in voice-recognition chip requires users to give a spoken password that it recognizes. The idea is to prevent thieves from using a stolen card to buy goods online. A model built by engineers in California packs a microphone, a loudspeaker, a battery and a voice-recognition chip into a standard-sized credit card. The card is the length and width of an ordinary credit card but about three times as thick. The company now plans to make it thinner. The voice card is based on an earlier Beep card technology designed to prevent fraud in online deals. The Beep card has no microphone, but has a built-in loudspeaker to utter an audible ID signal by a computer's microphone to an online server . By confirming that signal matches the information in the card, the server can make sure that the user is not simply keying in a credit card number but actually has the card in his hand. The ID code, which only the server knows, changes each time the card is used. This prevents fraudsters recording the beeps, noting the card details and then playing back the audible ID when they key in the details later. But this earlier Beep card technology cannot prevent illegal use of stolen cards. The new voice card can. The new voice card doesn't identify itself by its ID until it has confirmed the real user's spoken password. Thieves will be unable to use the card because even if they knew the password they would have to be able to copy the owner's voice with a high degree of accuracy. The challenge for Beep card has been to develop voice-recognition and audio circuitry . The voice-recognition credit is powered by a mini battery. To extend batter life, the electronics have only to be switched on when the card is being used. Pressing a button on the card's surface allows one to hear a female voice saying, "Say your password." If the voice-recognition software proves that the password is real, it sends its ID, which the server then identifies, allowing the deal to continue. Why is the voice credit an important innovation? Choices: A. It is cheap to make and buy. B. It can leave voice messages. C. It makes online shopping easy. D. It makes fraud more difficult.
D
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Question: An American educational expert, Frederick M. Hess, says that a long summer vacation doesn't make sense in today's world. This summer, 50 million kids will spend much time talking online, watching TV, playing video games and asking older brothers or sisters to take them to the supermarket. They will also be putting their academic futures at risk. During much of the 20th century, many Americans worked in factories that did not need a college degree but still offered a high salary. Also, in the 19th century, there was no air condition. And poor hygiene meant that crowded schools had health risks. Things have changed. For today's students, academic skills are key to future success. Many countries don't give kids an American-style summer vacation. They offer no more than seven consecutive weeks of vacation. Most American school districts offer up to 13 weeks. To compete in global marketplace, Americans must be prepared to go up against international competitors. Summer vacation also causes challenges for today's families. In the 1960s, more than 60% of families had a stay-at-home mum. Now, two-thirds of American children live families where every adult works. For these families, summer vacation can be more burden than break. Someone must watch the kids. But the biggest problem may be how summer vacation hurts academic achievement. Scientist have found that disadvantaged students lose important ground in the summertime. A school year can allow time-limited teachers to conduct richer and more imaginative lessons. Schools would have more time for sports, languages, music and the arts. How many reasons did the writer give to support his/her opinion? Choices: A. One. B. Two. C. Three. D. Four.
D
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Question: NSE Summer School is suitable for those who are at, or are about to start university. It will begin accepting applications in January 2013. Courses: Accounting and Finance; Economics; Management; Law; International Relations; Government and Society Dates: Session I: 7 July~25 July Session2: 28 July~15 August Rate: Standard Rate: One session: $1,400; Both session: $2,400 Reduced Student Rate: One session: $1,100; Both session: $1,875 The reduced student rate applies to full-time students registered at a university or college anywhere in the world. Accommodation is not included, and fees range from $500~~$1,000 for 20 nights. Applicant requirements: If you have studied in the USA then you do not need any additional English qualifications. Students from other countries will generally not require a visa to study at the Summer School; however, you will enter the USA as a "Student Visitor". You are permitted to change courses before the start of the program and within the first three days of the session. Contact hours and teaching methods: Summer School courses are full-time and normally consist of 48 contact hours over the three-week period, taking the form of 36 hours of lectures and 12 hours of classes. Lectures, attended by all students, take place in either the morning or afternoon supplemented by small one-hour classes, of approximately 15 students. Assessment and examinations: Assessment for Summer School is based upon the results of either two written examinations, or a final written examination and assessment work. Everyone is required to take the examinations and no exception can be made for any reason. Summer School lecture series: Famous economistsTony Giddens and David Held--have agreed to give lectures to Summer School participants in July in 2013. If any questions, please click here to see our Frequently Asked Questions/ Contact Us Page. During the course, _ Choices: A. students can learn about everything from culture to science B. students can choose not to attend the lectures they don't like C. world-famous economists will give students lessons every day D. all the students must take part in the exams without any excuse
D
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Question: David Nabarro, the UN special envoy , told the reporter the number of Ebola cases was currently increasing rapidly, but greater community awareness would help contain the virus. People were becoming aware that isolating those infected was the best way to prevent transmission, he added. So far, there have been more than 8,300 confirmed and suspected cases of Ebola, and at least 4,033 deaths. Most deaths - 4,024 - have occurred in the west African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Cases have also been reported in Nigeria, Senegal, Spain and the US. Mr Nabarro said that the number of new cases was "quite frightening", as the spread of the disease was currently accelerating. At the beginning, many west African communities did not understand that the outbreak was an infectious disease, he said. "I think we've got much better community involvement which leads me to believe that getting it under control within the next three months is a reasonable target," he continued. "By under control I mean... the numbers of new cases each week _ compared with the previous week to the point where there is no new transmission." The Ebola virus is spread by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or animal. Meanwhile, New York's JFK airport began screening passengers from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea for the Ebola virus on Saturday, in an attempt to stop the outbreak. Passengers from those countries will have their temperatures taken and have to answer a series of questions. Checks at O'Hare in Chicago, Newark, Washington's Dulles and Atlanta's airport will begin in the coming days. The screening system is being introduced after the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the US died in Texas on Wednesday. According to the UN special envoy, how long will it take to bring Ebola under control? Choices: A. a few days from now. B. six weeks. C. about three months. D. the coming week.
C
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Question: On a summer day, a dog stuck outside will Choices: A. be dripping with sweat B. lick at the window C. appear to be smiling with its mouth open D. curl up somewhere and shiver
C
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Question: A unique thermo-solar power station Germasolar in southern Spain can work even on cloudy days:energy stored when the sun shines lets it produce electricity even during the night. It is the first solar power station in the world that works 24 hours a day! This is how it works: the panels reflect the sun's rays onto the tower, transmitting energy 1,000 times stronger than that of the sun's rays reaching the earth. Energy is stored in tanks, and then steam is produced before finally turned into electricity. It is the station's capacity to store plenty of energy that makes Gemasolar so different because it allows the plant to transmit power during the night, relying on energy it has gained during the day. Helped by the generous state aid, renewable energies have enjoyed a boom in Spain, the world number two in solar energy and the biggest wind power producer in Europe, ahead of Germany. For the Gemasolar solar product, foreign investors helped too: Torresol Energy is a joint enterprise between the Spanish engineering group Sener, which holds 60 percent, and Abu Dhabi-financed renewable energy firm Masdar. This type of station is expensive, not because of the raw material we use, which is free solar energy, but because of the enormous investment these plants require. The investment cost is over 200 million euros ($ 260 million). But the day when the business has repaid that money to the banks (maybe, in 18 years, someone estimates), this station will become a 1,000-euro note printing machine! For now, the economic crisis has nevertheless cast a shadow over this kind of project: Spain is battling to cut its deficit as it slides into a difficult time and has cancelled aid to new renewable energy projects. What can we learn from the passage? Choices: A. Spain is building more energy projects. B. The Spanish government will aid renewable energy projects. C. The Spanish government ignores the development of this project. D. Germasolar will make fortunes in the future.
D
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Question: People around the world are superstitious about numbers; even those ancient Greeks believed that all numbers and their multiples had some mystical significance. Those numbers between 1 and 13 were in particular to have a powerful influence over the affairs of men. For example, _ . The arrival of a letter will be followed by two others within a certain period. Another belief involving the number three has it that it is unlucky to light three cigarettes from the one match. If this happens, the bad luck that goes with the deed falls upon the person whose cigarette was the last to be lit. The ill-men linked to the lighting of three things from one match or candle goes back to at least the 17th century and probably earlier. It was believed that three candles alight at the same time would be sure to bring bad luck; one, two, or four, were permissible, but never just three. Seven was another significant number, usually regarded as a bringer of good luck. The ancient astrologers believed that the universe was governed by seven planets; students of Shakespeare will recall that the life of man was divided into seven ages. Seven horseshoes nailed to a house will protect it from all evil. Nine is usually thought of as a lucky number because it is the product of three times three. It was much used by the Anglo Saxons in their charms for healing. Another belief was that great changes occurred every 7th and 9th of a man's life. Consequently, the age of 63 (the product of nine and seven) was thought to be a very _ time for him. If he survived his 63rd year he might hope to live to a ripe old age. Thirteen, as we well know, is regarded with great awe and fear. The common belief is that this derives from the fact that there were 13 people at Christ's Last Supper. This being the eve of his betrayal, it is not difficult to understand the significance given to the number by the early Christians. In more modern times 13 is an especially unlucky number of a dinner party, for example. Hotels will avoid numbering a floor the 13th; the progression is from 12 to 14, and no room is given the number 13. Many home owners will use 12 1/2 instead of 13 as their house number. Yet oddly enough, to be born on the 13th of the month is not regarded with any fear at all, which just shows how irrational we are in our superstitious beliefs. According to the passage, which of the following groups of numbers will certainly bring good luck to people? Choices: A. 3 and 7. B. 7 and 9. C. 3 and 9. D. 3 and 13.
B
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Question: While Nick was on the bus, reading his newspaper, the man sitting next to him suddenly pushed a large envelope into his hands. "Here, take this!" the man said, stood up and got off the bus before Nick could say a word. Nick sat there, holding the envelope. It felt heavy. There were papers inside, or money perhaps. "I'd better hand it over to the police," he thought. There was a police station close to his office. But, as he got off the bus, a man came to him. He seemed to be waiting for something. "He wants the envelope," Nick thought. Nick began to walk quickly, and the man hurried after him. Nick started to run, and the man began to run, too. But then, just before he got to the police station, Nick managed to lose the man in the crowds. When he entered the police station, the man was no longer in sight. Inside the police station, Nick handed over the envelope to a policeman in charge. The man opened it. The envelope was full of money, false money. "Clearly the man made a mistake," the policeman said. "He thought you were one of the gang !" Nick felt like a hero. He could already see his name in all the papers. He could imagine an interview on television. "However," the policeman went on, "I'm afraid I must ask you to keep quiet about all this. We're trying to catch some very clever thieves, and we don't want them to know that we have some of the money. So you mustn't say a word to anyone -- not even your boss!" As Nick got off the bus, a man came to him because _ . Choices: A. he wanted to catch Nick B. he thought Nick was a policeman C. he wanted to give Nick some money D. he thought Nick was one of their gang
D
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Question: Chinese government has decided to give up the rules of food with no checking .According to the Xinhua News, from September 17th , 2008, Chinese government decided to give up the rules of food with no checking. Many people said yes to it. The officer said that these days, the food safety accident about children milk of Sanlu made the government decide to give it up. In order to keep the food safe and people healthy, Chinese government said that all the food must be checked. The rule of food with no checking made in 1999 was given up from that day. "I think if the companies get the food with no checking, they will never check their food. It gives them the chance of making the food of poor quality," an old man said in the shop. " I hope our government not only gives it up, but also makes some strong rules to manage the companies," a young woman told us. " The important point is our government should send officers to the companies and check their food every time," a shop owner said. A young expert of food safety said, " The department of government should take the food from the shop or supermarket and check, not ask them to send. In that way, we can get the real checking." But in order to keep people's health, the government asks the officers to check all the food before they are sent to the shop or supermarket. That means all the food must be checked before they are sold. Many people _ to check all the food. Choices: A. agree with B. disagree C. agreement D. agree
D
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Question: What is the layman's term for mammals raising their hair with tiny muscles in the skin, something that is automatic in humans sensing cold? Choices: A. follicles B. hypothermia C. spine tingling D. goosebumps
D
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Question: What is time? Is it a thing to be saved or spent or wasted, like money? Or is it something we have no control over, like the weather? Is time the same all over the world? That's an easy question, you say. Wherever you go, a minute is 60 seconds, an hour is 60 minutes, a day is 24 hours, and so forth. Well, maybe. But in America, time is more than that. Americans see time as a valuable resource. Maybe that's why they are fond of the expression, "Time is money." To Americans, punctuality is a way of showing respect for other people's time. Being more than 10 minutes late to an appointment usually calls for an apology, and maybe an explanation. People who are running late often call ahead to let others know of the delay. Of course, the less formal the situation, the less important it is to be exactly on time. At informal get-togethers, for example, people often arrive as much as 30 minutes past the appointed time. But they usually don't try that at work. American lifestyles show how much people respect the time of others. When people plan an event, they often set the time days or weeks in advance. Once the time is fixed, it takes almost an emergency to change it. If people want to come to your house for a friendly visit, they will usually call first to make sure it is suitable. Only very close friends will just "drop by" unannounced. Also, people hesitate to call others late at night for fear they might be in bed. The time may vary, but most folks think twice about calling after 10:00 p.m. Why are the Americans fond of the expression " Time is money."? Choices: A. Because they can't control time. B. Because they is the same all over the world. C. Because they consider time as a thing like money. D. Because they consider time as a valuable resource.
D
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Question: What if you could fly like a bird just by thinking happy thoughts? Or you could disappear to a faraway land, never grow old and fight pirates every day? For Peter Pan and his friends, the Lost Boys, these dreams come true. More than 100 years after this playful boy was "born", Peter Pan and his friends are to continue their adventure in a sequel to J.M. Barrie's original novel. "Peter Pan in Scarlet" ,written by British author Geraldine McCaughrean, was published earlier this month. The sequel brings all the original characters back. Peter Pan's friends, the Lost Boys, are now grown up and live in the real world. What's more, at the end of the first book, Peter Pan thinks he has killed his enemy, Captain Hook. But ,new readers discover he is not so dead at all. For those who are unfamiliar with the original story, Peter Pan lives in faraway Neverland with a group of orphans. But they are eager for a real mother and Peter Pan flies to London with a fairy , Tinkerbell, to find one. They visit a young girl, Wendy, who loves to read stories, and bring her and her two brothers back to Neverland to live with them. In Neverland, children never have to grow up, and there are no parents to tell them what to do. Many teenagers dream of a world where they don't have to grow old and take responsibility. But, the author explains such a world is not the paradise when it first appears: adventures can be scary and often dangerous, and, though we all sometimes dream of running away, we all need someone to love and look after us too. The stories of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys reflect that those at their age _ . Choices: A. are ready to shoulder responsibility B. choose adventures in faraway places C. long for independence but also need someone to love them D. can't wait to grow up
C
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Question: For Canadians, backpacking Europe is a special ceremony signifying a new life stage. Unlike package tours, backpacking is a struggle, full of discovery and chance connections. It is about focusing on something different from our own lives and losing ourselves in a new world, if only for a moment. Well, that's what backpacking Europe is supposed to do. That's what it used to do before modern communications, social media, and commercial hostelling . Older Canadians would not recognize the Europe that they backpacked in the 1960s, 1970s and even the 1980s. Far from a rough adventure into foreign cultures, the European experience has been _ in part by today's technology. A few years ago, I took my then 60-year-old father on a backpacking trip across part of Europe and Turkey. As he is an experienced traveler and someone who possesses a strong sense of adventure, I decided that we'd travel on a budget, staying in hostel dorms. For him, backpacking through Europe in 1969 was about independence and struggle. But two things surprised him at the end of our journey. First was how technology-based backpacking had become: Young people were so directly connected to home that they were hardly away in any meaningful sense. Second, the lack of connections we made with locals. Instead of making us feel closer to a place, he found commercial hostelling actually made us more alienated . But there was some room for hope. While technology takes our attention away from the beauty and history before us, there were also ways in which it helped us to connect with our surroundings. Websites like Airbnb have made it easier to stay with enthusiastic locals. Couch Surfing helps organize meet-ups between locals and travelers. The online marketplace Dopios offers a chance to meet locals through enjoyable experiences like a personalized city tour. Backpacking can never be the way it was for our parents' generation. But doing a little study of history and culture before leaving, and bravely getting rid of any electronic devices while traveling, will help give young travelers a taste of the glory days. After the recent backpacking trip in Europe, the author's father finds _ . Choices: A. backpackers connect less with locals than before B. young people dislike getting in touch with their family C. a hostel is a nice place for travelers to meet each other D. backpacking in Europe becomes more difficult than before
A
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Question: What most likely happens to soil when crops are not rotated from year to year? Choices: A. The soil nutrients are depleted. B. The soil fertility increases. C. The soil becomes more porous. D. The soil erodes less rapidly.
A
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Question: Recently the busiest person on the Internet is absolutely Yuanfang, a fictional figure from the Chinese TV series "Detective Di Renjie". In the TV series, Li was often asked by Di, "How do you see it, Yuanfang?" Then, the dialogues between them help advance the plot. Now, the casual pet phrase is used as many as 2.5 million times by netizens in a single day, according to statistics. In fact, it is not the first popular sentence pattern on the Internet. Many other types of popular network words include those evolved from "the slogans of Vancl " and actor's lines of "The Legend of Concubine Zhen Huan". The explosive spread of the sentence "How do you see it, Yuanfang?" again proved the vast power of the network spread. The appearance of a buzzword on the Internet may be coincidental, but the spread of numerous buzzwords has started a social and cultural phenomenon. It is more noticeable that the spread is not _ but by chance. Usually, everyone has known about it, except the one concerned. The appearance of buzzwords is resulting from the agreement of netizens. If something is new and interesting enough, it will cause public attention. The rise of these buzzwords also benefits from their strong "adhesive force". After analyzing these buzzwords, we find that they have a common character, namely "novel in structure but empty in content". Therefore, any concrete contents can be added in these buzzwords, creating fantastic results. Taking the "Yuanfang-style" as an example, its popularity displayed a social mentality of questioning. Although it seems a little funny to ask "Yuanfang", a fictional character, and some people even find it boring. This way of asking a question reveals a valuable quality-listening. The Internet provides a space for everyone to express their views, but it also causes controversies. What's your opinion, Yuanfang? We can learn from the passage that Yuanfang _ . Choices: A. is the busiest person in modern industrial societies B. plays an important role in a Chinese TV series C. is a fictional figure currently popular with netizens D. starts a social and cultural phenomenon by himself
C
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Question: One morning , Mr. Black is driving in the country and looking for the Sun Hotel. When he sees an old woman on the side of the road, he stops his car and says to the woman, "Excuse me, I want to go to the Sun Hotel, do you know it?" "Yes, "the woman says, "I'll show you the way. "She gets into Mr. Black's car, and they drive about twelve kilometers. When they come to a small house, the old woman says, "stop here. "Mr. Black stops, and looks at house. "But this is not a hotel. "He says to the old woman. "No, "the old woman answers, "This is my house. And I'll show you the way to the hotel. Turn round and go back nine kilometers. Then you'll see the hotel!" What's Mr. Black doing that morning? Choices: A. He is walking in the country B. He is working for a restaurant C. He is looking for a hotel to live in D. He is driving a small bus
C
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Question: Dear Nancy, How are you? Now I want to tell something interesting. Last week we had a trip to Mount Tai. On Tuesday we went to Taian by bus, a city at the foot of the mountain. We had a good rest at a hotel. At about one o'clock early the next morning, we began to climb the mountain. It took us about four hours and a half to get to the top. The mountain is covered with trees. I didn't see such a beautiful place before. "Look! The sun is going to rise!" my friend Lim shouted. We all turned to the east and watched. Soon half of the sky because white, and a big, red ball was rising slowly. A few minutes later, the sky became bright . We stayed on the top and had a good time. After lunch we started going down. We got to the tour hotel at about four in the afternoon. Though we were tired, we were very happy. We came back to school the next day. Thank you very much for your last letter and the beautiful postcards. Hope to hear from you soon. Yours Wu Tong When did Wu Tong reach the top of the mountain? Choices: A. At about 1:00 pm. B. At about 4:00 am. C. At about 4:30 pm. D. At about 5:30 am.
D
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Question: A young boy arrives at a barber shop and the barber _ to his customer, "This is the most foolish kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you." The barber puts a dollar bill in one hand and two cents in the other, then calls the boy over and asks,"Which do you want,son?"The boy takes the cents and leaves. "What did I tell you?"says the barber."That kid never learns!" Later,when the customer leaves, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream store."Hey, son! May I ask you a question ? Why did you take the cents instead of the dollar bill?" The boy licks his ice cream and answers,"Because the day I take the dollar, the game is over!" The young boy takes the money to _ . Choices: A. give the customer B. have a haircut C. give his parents D. buy an ice cream
D
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Question: Which of the following keeps the planets in our solar system in orbit around the Sun? Choices: A. atmospheric pressure B. gravitational force C. electromagnetic energy D. thermal energy
B
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Question: Japan is made up of a chain of islands that lie off the coast of Asia. People came to live in Japan from the nearby countries of China and Korea. From these older countries, the Japanese borrowed ideas, inventions and habits. For many years, the Japanese built houses like those in China. They dressed themselves like a Chinese. From China came their way of writing and their habit of drinking tea. In more recent times, the Japanese have borrowed things from our country, the United States. They have a government like ours. They do much work in science, as we do. Baseball is a favorite sport in Japan, just as it is here. Things change when they come to Japan. The Japanese improve on almost everything they borrow. The art of garden making came from Korea and China, but the Japanese gardens are special. Each garden has a waterfall, a pond, and small bridges. There are few flowers in Japanese gardens. But the gardens are green during all the year round because they have many evergreens. Japanese gardens have a different kind of beauty. Choose a statement from the following sentences that is NOT true. Choices: A. The government of Japan is like that of the United States. B. People in the United States like playing baseball. C. The Japanese invented the habit of drinking tea. D. Japan is made up of many islands.
C
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Question: Joey felt the very first rain drop hit his hat. "Let's go inside!" he said to his friend Billy. The two ran inside the house as it began to rain more outside. Joey's mother was very happy that they missed the rain and got inside before it made a big mess. Joey and Billy weren't as happy. "What are we going to do in here all day?" asked Billy. "I don't know" said Joey, looking out the window as the rain came down. Harder. And harder. "Oh no! I left my baseball glove outside" said Joey as he watched it begin to fill up with rain. His glove was going to be a mess! Thankfully, Joey's dad pulled up in his car. Seeing the glove on the ground, he picked it up as he ran inside. "Careful sport, you almost lost this" he told his son as he tossed him the wet mitt. But Joey wasn't listening, he was looking past his dad as he walked through the door. The sky was clearing up! Joey ran outside, Billy came after him. "Look at that!" Billy said as he pointed at the sky. A rainbow was appearing, it was so beautiful! The rain wasn't bad after all! What made the boys come inside? Choices: A. Joey's dad came home B. Billy didn't like baseball C. It started to rain D. Joey's mom made them come inside
C
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Question: The outer planets are made of hydrogen and helium, so they are termed what? Choices: A. hydrogen giants B. helium giants C. light giants D. gas giants
D
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Question: Good morning, everyone! Welcome to our school. Now you are students of a middle school. All the things here are new. The life here is a little different. I think you must know what you can do and what you can't do. It can help you study well and live happily. Here are some rules of our school. You have to come to school from Monday to Friday. You will learn some important subjects, such as Chinese, math, English and science. Classes begin at 8:00. You have four classes in the morning. You have lunch in the school dining hall. You can't eat in the classroom. Classes are over at 3:30 in the afternoon and then you can join your favorite clubs to have fun. You can't play balls or run in the classroom and hallways. You mustn't _ these rules. I really hope you will have a happy life here. Thank you. What can you do in the classroom? Choices: A. Eat food B. Play balls. C. Run D. Learn English
D
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Question: Seedy the watermelon was a very special type of watermelon. He didn't have any seeds. He was green and he had stripes. All of his cousins had seeds, but he didn't have any. He felt very left out. He couldn't thing of why he was different. His mom told him it was because he was a very special watermelon. She also tells him she loves him the way he is. But Seedy didn't think it was a good thing. He wished he could be like everyone else and have seeds. One day, he rolled out to the lawn and looked at all of his new cousins growing in the garden. He rolled around until he found a little baby watermelon that didn't have any seeds either. He sat next to him and talked to him. He told him that he was very special, and was excited for him to be picked off the vine and be his special best friend. He would name him Seedy, Jr. What did Seedy name his best friend? Choices: A. Green B. Stripes C. Mom D. Seedy, Jr.
D
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Question: Bognor Regis is a small beautiful town in the UK. From March 12 to 17 of each year, lots of clowns get together in the town to celebrate the International Clown Festival. The first one was in 1987. During the festival, people can see all kinds of clowns. They are together for the clown shows. They have big feet, red noses and look really funny. They sing and dance in a strange way to make people happy. Children like this interesting festival best. Now women can take part in the clown shows and they're very popular. But in the past, only men could be clowns. What is the best title of the passage? Choices: A. Wonderful clown shows. B. Bognor Regis' clown festval. C. A beautiful town, Bognor Regis. D. The first International Clown Festival.
B
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Question: Coffee has been a part of people's lives for thousands of years, and today it is still one of the favorite drinks in the world. Many people in the world begin their busy day by drinking a cup of or several cups of coffee. They have always said that a cup of coffee in the morning helps them begin their day in the right way. So they say a cup of coffee is necessary for them in the morning. Do you know what in the coffee makes our bodies and brains active? It is caffeine . Caffeine may increase a person's mental and physical abilities . For example, two cups of coffee will make you breathe faster and _ body heat. All this makes you heart beat faster, and doctors warn that this may be a little dangerous. Caffeine is found in tea, coffee, chocolate and some other foods. A little caffeine is probably not harmful. But much caffeine can make people nervous and sleepless. The word "augment "means _ . Choices: A. increase B. drink C. stop D. drop
A
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Question: Sam woke up early. He wanted to play. Mom said he could not play. It was time for breakfast. Sam loves breakfast. Sam loves breakfast because Sam loves cereal. There is a lot of cereal in the kitchen. There are Cheerios, Fruit Loops, Friendly O's, and Sharkies. Sam loves Cheerios, Fruit Loops, Friendly O's, and Sharkies. His favorite cereal is Friendly-O's. Sam loves Friendly-O's because they look like smiley faces. After Sam finishes breakfast Sam plays with Ralph. Ralph is a dog. Sam loves Ralph. Ralph likes to play. Ralph likes to run. Ralph likes to jump. Sam loves Ralph because Ralph has floppy ears. Sam loves Ralph because he licks him on the face. After Sam plays with Ralph he takes a bath. Sam takes a bath because he has to get ready for school. Sam is happy to go to school. Sam can play with his friends at school. When he is at school he can see Bill, John, and Katy. Bill is Sam's best friend. John is the class cat. Katy is the class bird. Bill lives two houses down from Sam. Sam likes John the cat. He has a fluffy tail. Bill likes John the cat too. When Bill and Sam get to school they pet John. Sam is ready to play at school. School is fun. What is Sam's favorite cereal? Choices: A. Fruit Loops B. Friendly O's C. Cheerios D. Sharkies
B
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Question: The lion says that he is _ . So he asks all the animals to come and listen to his last wishes. The cat comes to the lion's cave . He stands there and goes in. Then a sheep goes in. Before she comes out, a rabbit goes in to hear the last wishes of the king of animals. But soon the lion looks well again, and goes out of his cave. He sees a fox waiting outside. "Why don't you come in?" asks the lion to the fox. "I beg your pardon," says the fox, "I see many animals go into your cave, but nobody comes out. Before they come out again, I will wait outside." Why does the lion ask the animals to listen to his last wishes? Choices: A. He wants to say something. B. He likes to play tricks on others. C. He wants to eat them. D. He likes the animals very much.
C
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Question: Winnie-the-Pooh By A. A. Milne Winnie-the-Pooh has been introduced and reintroduced to generation after generation as a model of a child's best friend. However, not everyone has found Pooh is lovely. This classic has been banned in a variety of countries at one point. So why would anyone ever want to keep children from the joy of Milne's classic? In the case of Russia, Winnie-the-Pooh was banned in 2009 because of alleged Nazi ties. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz By Frank Baum Originally published in the year 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is one of the foundations of the fairytale genre. Who, then, would seek to ban a book that has become so important to the American experience? America is that who. The Detroit Library banned The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1957 for having no value for children. Charlotte's Web By E. B. White White's tale of the relationship between two unexpected creatures, a spider and a pig, has been drawing children in for over half a century. Published in 1952, this classic has been readily available on most library shelves for children to read. However, some people would like to make this book never see the light of day. In one extreme case, a school in England banned Charlotte's Web for fear that the pig Wilbur might be offensive to Muslim students. Fortunately, the Muslim Council of Britain saw the foolishness of this ban, so the book was quickly restored to its right place on the shelves. Where the Wild Things Are By Maurice Sendak Though its first copy was published fifty years ago, this book hasn't always been readily available in libraries and in stores. After its release, Where the Wild Things Are was banned in libraries all across the U.S. for its dark tone and unruly leading characters. Nowadays, you'll find far fewer libraries that still hold this ban. Who are the intended readers of the four books mentioned in the passage? Choices: A. Parents. B. Children. C. Teachers. D. Critics.
B
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Question: The oddness of life in space never quite goes away. Here are some examples. First consider something as simple as sleep. Its position presents its own challenges. The main question is whether you want your arms inside or outside the sleeping bag. If you leave your arms out, they float free in zero gravity, often giving a sleeping astronaut the look of a funny balled dancer. "I'm an inside guy," Mike Hopkins says, who returned from a six-month tour on the International Space Station. "I like to be wrapped up." On the station, the ordinary becomes strange. The exercise bike for the American astronauts has no handlebars. It also has no seat. With no gravity, it's just as easy to pedal violently. You can watch a movie while you pedal by floating a microcomputer anywhere you want. But station residents have to be careful about staying in one place too long. Without gravity to help circulate air, the carbon dioxide you exhale has a tendency to form an invisible cloud around you head. You can end up with what astronauts call a carbon-dioxide headache. Leroy Chiao, 54, an American retired astronaut after four flights, describes what happens even before you float out of your seat,"Your inner ear thinks your're falling . Meanwhile your eyes are telling you you're standing straight. That can be annoying--that's why some people feel sick." Within a couple days --truly terrible days for some --astronauts' brains learn to ignore the panicky signals from the inner ear, and space sickness disappears. Space travel can be so delightful but at the same time invisibly dangerous. For instance, astronauts lose bone mass. That's why exercise is considered so vital that National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) puts it right on the workday schedule. The focus on fitness is as much about science and the future as it is about keeping any individual astronauts return home, and, more importantly, how to maintain strength and fitness for the two and a half years or more that it would take to make a round-trip to Mars. The astronauts will suffer from a carbon-dioxide headache when _ . Choices: A. the y circle around on their bikes B. they use microcomputers without a stop C. they exercise in one place for a long time D. they watch a movie while pedaling
C
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Question: Where do dogs come from? Gray wolves are their ancestors. Scientists are pretty consistent about that. And researchers have suggested that dogs' origins can date back to Europe, the Near East, Siberia and South China. Central Asia is the newest and best candidate, according to a large study of dogs from around the world. Laura M. Shannon and Adam R. Boyko at Cornell University, and an international group of other scientists, studied not only purebred dogs, but also street or village dogs. Dr. Shannon analyzed three different kinds of DNA, Dr. Boyko said, the first time this has been done for such a large and diverse group of dogs from 38 countries. And that led them to Central Asia as the place of origin for dogs in much the same way that genetic studies have located the origin of modern humans in East Africa. The analysis, Dr. Boyko said, pointed to Central Asia, as the place where "all the dogs alive today" come from. The data did not allow precise dating of the origin, he said, but showed it occurred at least 15,000 years ago. Greger Larson of Oxford University, who is leading a large international effort to analyze ancient DNA from fossilized bones, said he was impressed by the study. "It's really great to see not just the number of street dogs, but also the geographic breadth and the number of remote locations where the dogs were sampled," he said in an email. He also praised the sampling of different kinds of DNA and the analytic methods. Dr. Larson, who was not involved with the study, said he thought the Central Asia finding required further testing. He said he suspected that the origins of modern dogs were "extremely messy" and that no amount of sampling of living populations will be definitive. He said a combination of studies of modern and ancient DNA is necessary. Greger Larson got a very deep impression of his study because he _ . Choices: A. found the study based on many different dogs and the sample dogs' remote locations B. saw the number of street dogs from fossilized bones C. watched the geographic breadth of the sampled dogs D. praised his teammates for their hard work on the dogs
A
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Question: Mr. Li worked in a post office in Weihai. Last month he retired. His son works in America. Five years ago Mrs. Li went to America to look after their grandson. So Mr. Li decided to see them. Mr. Li was afraid of taking the plane so he decided to go to America by ship. On the first morning on the ship, Mr. Li met an American. The man said to him, "Good morning!" Mr. Li thought the man told him his name. So he said to him, "Li Haitao." On the second morning, Mr. Li met his son's friend on the ship. He told him about the American. After hearing that, his son's friend laughed and said, "He said hello to you in the morning." On the third morning when Mr. Li met the American again, he said, "Good morning!" And the American said to him, "Li Haitao, sir." Mrs. Li stayed in America for _ . Choices: A. one month B. five months C. three years D. five years
D
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Question: 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 aging 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 aging 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 aging 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. According to the text, the UK scientists have known that _ . Choices: A. women have more cells than men when they are born B. women can replace the cells that enable the heart to beat C. the female heart loses few of the cells with age D. women never lose their pumping power with age
C
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Question: Which human organ system exchanges gases with the environment? Choices: A. endocrine B. circulatory C. respiratory D. integumentary
C
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Question: A Korean wave is sweeping across China, with many Chinese women worshipping South Korean actors Kim Soo Hyun and Lee Min Ho as demigods . Chinese netizens have always been divided over South Korean TV dramas, but there is no doubt that programs from the neighboring country are now enjoying a new round of popularity in China. And a big part of the credit for that goes to You Who Came From The Star, the South Korean TV series which is on the air now. Top South Korean actors Jun Ji-hyun and Kim Soo Hyun recently earned a popularity rating of 24.8 percent in their country, considered strong by Nielsen Korea. You Who Came From The Star and The Heirs have been subjects of hot online discussions throughout Asia. Besides, the book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, read by the hero in You Who Came From The Star was a hard-to-get item on Amazon for a while. The two TV programs have several common elements: a tall, handsome, and rich hero who loves the heroine blindly and always protects her, and an equally handsome man madly in love with the same woman. Both programs portray the purity of love, which is expressed through a kiss or a warm hug. Perhaps that's the secret of their success; perhaps people are still fascinated by Cinderella-type stories. The growing wealth gap is a matter of social concern both in South Korea and China, and the challenges that young people face in their search for a better life might have prompted many ordinary girls to dream of marrying rich, caring men. This is precisely what the popular South Korean TV dramas portray. In fact, South Korean TV dramas are tailored to meet the market's demands. In contrast, Chinese TV screens are flooded by knock-off or poorly made soap operas. There are too many Chinese TV dramas that are either of the stereotyped war theme or just blindly copy foreign programs. The lack of good stories has resulted in loads of TV series on time travel or fights in the harems of Qing Dynastyemperors. These, in short, are the pain of Chinese TV productions. The shooting for South Korean productions generally starts when the scripts are just one-third ready. Many popular productions have their own websites, where scriptwriters post part of the finished scripts, inviting viewers to leave messages, discuss the plot and come up with suggestions for future events. This not only keeps viewers' interest in the TV dramas alive, but also helps scriptwriters and directors make changes to the storylines to suit the audience's demand. Hopefully, the innovation-induced success of South Korean TV programs will prompt Chinese TV drama makers to think up new ideas and abandon their bad practice of copying foreign productions in order to attract more viewers at home, and possibly abroad. According to the passage, the secret to Korean TV dramas' being successful is that _ . Choices: A. drama stars must be tall, rich and handsome or beautiful B. scriptwriters should choose the appropriate themes for all viewers C. drama producers have creative ideas to adapt to viewers' interest and demand D. people's concerns such as wealth gap both in Korea and China are taken good care of
C
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Question: Which is an example of conduction? Choices: A. a space heater turned on B. water boiling on the stove C. sunlight shining through the window D. a metal spoon warming in a pot of hot soup
D
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Question: When did you last see a polar bear ? On a trip to a zoo, perhaps? If you had attended a winter activity in New York a few years ago, you would have seen a whole polar bear club. These "Polar Bears" are people who meet frequently in the winter to swim in freezing cold water. That day, the air temperature was 3degC, and the water temperature was a bit higher. The members of the Polar Bears Club at Coney Island, New York are usually about the age of 60. Members must satisfy two requirements. First, they must get along well with everyone else in the group; this is very important because there are so many different kinds of people in the club. Polar Bears must also agree to swim outdoors at least twice a month from November through February. Doctors do not agree about the medical effects of cold-water swimming. Some are worried about the dangers of a condition in which the body's temperature drops so low that finally the heart stops. Other doctors, however, point out that there is more danger of a heart attack during summer swimming because the difference between the air temperature and water temperature is much greater in summer than in winter. The Polar Bears themselves are satisfied with the benefits(or advantages)of cold-water swimming. They say that their favorite form of exercise is very good for the circulatory system because it forces the blood to move fast to keep the body warm. Cold-water swimmers usually turn bright red after a few minutes in the water. A person who turns blue probably has a very poor circulatory system and should not try cold-water swimming. The main benefits(or advantages)of cold-water swimming are probably mental. The Polar Bears love to swim year-round; they find it fun and relaxing. As one 70-old woman says, When I go into the water , I pour my troubles into the ocean and let them float away. According to the passage, some doctors believe it is true that _ . Choices: A. you are healthy if cold-water swimming turn your skin color1 blue B. cold-water swimming causes more heart attacks in summer than in winter C. cold-water swimming can make the body temperature dangerously high D. Polar Bears are bears swimming in freezing water
B
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Question: You've just found your dream job, but it pays less than the one you've working hard at right now. What should you do ? How can you make the right decision ? When you have a difficult decision to make , you may probably think it over and over again for hours, weighting up all the advantages and disadvantages before coming to a decision .Or ,maybe you decide it quickly without thinking carefully .But according to scientific research, there's a better way to do this: Sleep on it . In a resent study , scientists made an experiment . They offered the participants some information about different types of cars .And they asked them to decide hypothetically which one would be the best fit. Some of them were asked to make the decision right away ,while others were asked to choose the next morning. The result of the survey was interesting. The people who had a good night's sleep were energetic the next morning .And they choose the best quality cars. But those who made quick decisions chose cars with bad quality. So ,if someone asks you to make a big decision ,don't rush to give an answer at once .Instead ,take a step back and get a good night's sleep. Chances are that ,in the morning , you'll know exactly what to do . Which makes it hard for you to make a decision? Choices: A. You get less money from the dream job. B. You get more money from the dream job. C. You get less money from the job you're doing now. D. You get no money from the job you're doing now .
A
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Question: Trees are mulched and liquefied before being dried to make Choices: A. houses B. paper C. toothpicks D. floors
B
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Question: A month went by in this manner, but a month was all I could bear. The memory of Marguerite accompanied me wherever I went. I had loved that woman -- still loved her -- too much for her suddenly to mean nothing to me. Whatever feelings I might have for her now, I had to see her again. At once. ... I knew Marguerite. Meeting me so unexpectedly must have thrown her into a state of great confusion. Probably, she had heard of my departure which had set her mind at rest as to the consequences of our sudden parting. But, seeing me back and coming face to face with me, weak as I was, she had sensed that my return had a purpose, and must have wondered what was going to happen. If, when I saw her again, Marguerite had been unhappy; if, in taking my revenge , there had also been some way of helping her then I might well have forgiven her, and would certainly never have dreamed of doing her any harm. But when I saw her again, she was happy, at least on the surface. Another man had ensured her the wealthy life in which I had been unable to keep her. She brought shame both to my pride and my love; she was going to have to pay for what I had suffered. I could not remain cold to what she did now. It followed that the thing that would hurt her most would be exactly for me to show coldness. Coldness, therefore, was the feeling which I now needed to pretend, not only in her presence but in the eyes of others. I tried to put a smile on my face, and I went to call on Prudence with whom Marguerite was staying. ... Prudence saw me to the door, and I returned to my apartment with tears of anger in my eyes and thirst for revenge in my heart and thought only of finding a way to make the poor creature suffer. According to the passage, the hero wanted to _ . Choices: A. forgive Marguerite because he found her unhappy B. stop the relationship with Marguerite because he couldn't afford a rich life C. make up the relationship with Marguerite because he still loved her D. give Marguerite sufferings because his pride and his love were hurt
D
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Question: An endangered deer with vampire-like fangs was spotted for the first time in nearly 60 years, in a remote forest in northeastern Afghanistan. The fanged creature is known as the Kashmir musk deer, and it is native to the Himalayas of northern India, Pakistan's Kashmir region and northern Afghanistan. Only the male deer have fangs, and they use them during mating season to compete for females. A team of researchers scoured Afghanistan's Nuristan province during 2008 and 2009, and recorded five sightings of the animal. This was the first time the species had been spotted since 1948. During the survey, the researchers spotted a single male Kashmir musk deer near the same area three separate times. The researchers also recorded one female and her baby, and saw a second single female that they think may have been the same deer, without her baby. These musk deer are classified as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. Musk-deer meat is a local delicacy, but the species is mostly hunted for its scent glands that are more valuable by weight than gold -- some believe the glands have pharmaceutical properties, and they sell for nearly $20,455 per pound ($45,000 per kilogram) on the black market, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Three decades of war have ravaged Nuristan province, and the continued violence and political instability make the black-market trade of scent glands uncontrollable. Furthermore, the species is quickly losing suitable habitat. All of the musk deer were spotted on sheltered rocky outcrops around 9,843 feet (3,000 meters) high. In the summer, they regularly trek along steep slopes that make them almost impossible to approach and keep them ly safe from hunters. However, heavy snowfall in the winter drives the species farther down, to more human-accessible slopes, and hunters come from all over the country to stalk the deer for their valuable scent glands. Due to violence and unrest, nongovernmental organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Society have not been able to operate in the Nuristan province since 2010. The WCS maintains contact with locals they have trained to survey and search for the musk deer. Once the situation in Nuristan improves, the WCS intends to return to the area to continue research and to formulate a conservation plan. Which factor does not contribute to the uncontrollable trade in the black market? Choices: A. Government control. B. Continued violence. C. Political instability. D. Years of war.
A
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Question: The term "smog" was first used in London during the early 1900's to describe the combination of smoke and fog. What we typically call " smog" today is a mixture of pollutants but is primarily made up of ground-level ozone . Ozone can be beneficial or harmful depending on where it stays. The ozone staying high above the Earth protects human health and the environment, but ground-level ozone is responsible for the choking, coughing, and painful eyes associated with smog. The ozone in smog also prevents plants growth and can cause widespread damage to crops and forest. Major smog occurrences often are linked to heavy motor vehicle traffic, high temperatures, sunshine, and calm winds. Weather and geography affect the position and severity of smog. Because temperature regulates the length of time it takes for smog to form, smog can form faster and be more severe on a hot and sunny day. When warm air stays near the ground instead of rising and winds are calm, smog may stay trapped over your city for days. As traffic and other sources add more pollutants to the air, the smog gets worse. Smog is often more severe away from the pollution sources because the chemical reactions that cause smog occur in the atmosphere while the reacting chemicals are being moved by the wind. Smog is a visible example of air pollution. You can look into the distance during the day to see how much smog there is in the air. In addition, most cities measure the concentrations of pollutants in the air and report the results to the public. Environmental Protection Agency sets national standards for pollutants. Areas that fail to meet the standards for at least one air pollutant are called "nonattainment areas. " New measures are being taken by local governments across the country to reduce air pollution in nonattainment areas. These include: banning charcoal barbecues and wood burning in stoves or fireplaces when pollution levels are high; developing programs to encourage carpooling and voluntary "ozone actions" ; limiting traffic in overcrowded areas; expanding or improving public transportation systems; requiring employers to contribute to employee public transportation costs; assessing " smog fees" on cars according to the number of miles driven and vehicle emissions produced; and even buying and breaking up older " super-dirty" cars. According to the passage, ground-level ozone can _ . Choices: A. damage the environment B. benefit human health C. protect crops and forest D. limit the spread of smog
A
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Question: It's Sunday. Children don't go to school on Sundays. But Kate gets up early in the morning. "It's my birthday. I'm eight years old today." she thinks, "Where are Dad and Mum? I want to know what they can give me for my birthday." Her father and mother are not at home. They are going shopping. And now they are talking about what to buy for Kate. ---- Dad: How about the doll? It looks nice. I think Kate would like the doll. ---- Mom: I don't think so. She is not a little girl. I think she likes a new dress. Girls often like new dresses very much. ---Dad: But she has a few new dresses and some new blouses. Oh, I think she must be very happy to have a box of colorful pencils and some picture books. Do you think so? ----- Mom: Yes. Let's go over there and buy them. _ doesn't want to buy the doll. Choices: A. Kate B. Kate's father C. Kate's mother D. her parents
C
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Question: I'm a commercial fisherman in prefix = st1 /Alaska. It was an eye-opener to see the destruction and waste popular in the world's fisheries. TheAlaskafishery is very well managed and we do not see the damage occurring elsewhere. Many local people complain of the many restrictive laws in the fishery, but after reading these articles, I'm in favor of even stricter regulation. The sea is the basis for life on Earth, and we must take care of it. Tom Hagen Craig, Alaska Your report presents an overly hopeless future. Here in New England where I have fished commercially for 45 years, we are beginning a recovery from years of over fishing. Under the newly authorized Magnuson-Stevens Act, fishermen are forming partnerships with scientists for the purpose of developing fishing-gear modifications to reduce by-catch and reduce impacts to fish habitat. Additionally, we are collecting information on fish stock abundance, population, and ecosystems. The New England Regional Fishery Management Council is supporting the formation of harvest districts, which enables fishermen to have changing market conditions. Frank Mirarchi Scituate,Massachusetts You described fishing around the world, but not here in the United States. There is no support for the American fisherman who is working under the harshest regulations on Earth and the strictest restrictions. We are fishing in a fashion that is completely suitable as required in the Magnuson-Stevens Act. TheU.S.keeps importing more fish from countries that have no requirements on gear or on their catch.U.S.fishermen cannot compete with foreign prices, so the fishermen's numbers have been reduced. There are no young people who will take our place. Jeremiah O'Brien MorroBay,California Jeremiah O'Brien does not agree with _ . Choices: A. the opinion of Tom Hagen's B. the opinion of Frank Mirarchi's C. Magnuson-Stevens Act D. all the ideas in the article mentioned
A
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Question: Australia -a huge island continent that lies to the south of Asia.Australia-more than two hundred years old, a nation that is still growing. Its big cities lie on the southeast coast, this is where most Australians live.Australians prefer to own their own houses, though some live in apartments.Australians are a suburban people.The suburbs surround the cities for many miles, and so efficient transport is of great importance.As the economy grows, so do its industries- a higher level of production, a wider range of products. The Australian works hard, but he likes his leisure.The climate makes outdoor activities the most popular. Canberra, the capital of Australia, is a planned modem city located inland.Australia is governed by a parliamentary democracy.The representatives of other countries have their embassies here.Australia wants to strengthen relations with her neighbors. Australia is a strange land, a land of vast expanses- fertile valleys, snow fields and deserts- also a land with unique animal, many that can not be found on any other continent in the world today. Much of the continent is dry, but man has utilized the land, made it productive, with its tools, with its technology.This is the driest continent of all, and water is a precious possession, more precious than all other natural resources.Large dams are built to collect the water, there to irrigate the fields of pastures and crops. But Australia is changing.The land of wool and wheat is now a land of large-scale industry and mining.The costs of developing the new mineral discoveries are enormous, but the rewards are great too. Australia -- a young and developing nation.Australia -- a nation that wants to communicate with its neighbors. We can infer from the passage that the Australian likes outdoor activities for the _ climate. Choices: A. dull and wet B. fine and shiny C. gloomy and rainy D. wet and cold
B
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Question: In the near future,we may be using our eyes to operate our smart-phones and tablets,even when it comes to playing popular games like Fruit Ninja. The Gaze Group has been developing eye-controlled computer technology for nearly 20 years.But those devices have been firstly designed to help those with disabilities,and are very expensive. "After a while,we figured out that probably the best way is to go for a mass-market way," says Gaze's Sune Alstrup Johansen."where everybody would have this available." Johansen and some of his colleagues have formed a new company,the Eye Tribe,which is hoping to develop the technology on a mass commercial level. The technology works with the help of the computing device toward the user's face. After making sure of the user's eye movements,the technology is then able to easily find where a person's eyes are moving,and then allow the eyes to control a cursor . "Our software can then determine the location of the eyes and know where you're looking on the screen to make sure what you're looking at,"reads an explanation on the Eye Tribe site. There has been a gradual change toward hands-free technology in recent years, particularly in the gaming world.Recently Xbox released the Kinect device,which lets users control their Xbox and play certain games using only their hands,legs and voices. But still,most of these devices have been more of a _ than a practical way to use one's hands to control a mobile device.Johansen said a replaceable filter would be a cheap,convenient way for most consumers. And even as companies like The Eye Tribe work to create such a product for the average user, making the eye-controlled technology more accessible and less expensive will have similar benefits for physically disabled users. For more articles on modern science,please CLICK here. This passage is probably taken from _ . Choices: A. an experiment report B. a science fiction C. a school textbook D. a science website
D
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Question: What is the largest planet in the solar system? Choices: A. mars B. pluto C. saturn D. jupiter
D
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Question: What type of generations do plants alternate between during a life cycle? Choices: A. algal and diploid B. haploid and diploid C. haploid and clump D. vitro and diploid
B
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Question: Here begins the story of the life of Tim. Tim's father was Frank. Frank's father was Jim. Jim's father was Greg. And Greg's father was Mark. These 5 men had ruled Markton for the last 100 years. For the last 20 years, Tim had been the ruler. When Frank died, Tim became the ruler. In these last 20 years, Tim brought lots of good luck to his people. They had never eaten so well. Most of his people ate 3 meals a day. Recently, Tim had been having trouble with a band of troublemakers led by Horace. Tim chose to do whatever he could to get rid of Horace. So, he got Assassin to get rid of Horace. One night Assassin sneaked into Horace's bedroom and did away with him. With the bad man gone, all the people had a giant party and sang a song about the greatness of their ruler. Who was Jim's father Choices: A. Mark B. Tim C. Markton D. Greg
D
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Question: What's life like on a deserted island? Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona decided to find out. The adventurous senator took a vacation from Capitol Hill and went on a fourday Robinson Crusoe style holiday with his two teenage sons to a remote, deserted island in the North Pacific Ocean. The senator and his sons, 15yearold Tanner and 13yearold Dallin, traveled 5,200 miles from Phoenix, Arizona to the island of Biggarenn. They didn't carry any food or water. The island is part of the Marshall Islands. It offered no basic supplies, so the Flakes had to catch and cook their own food and purify their water. Their diet was made up of coconuts, crabs and fish. They caught the crab and fish themselves and cooked the food over an open fire started with a magnifying glass . The Flakes brought along a lobster trap in the hope of having some delicious treats, but lost it within the first few hours after it was attacked by a shark. They also carried two pumps to remove salt from ocean water. It took them hours each night to pump for just a few gallons of fresh water. One of the most memorable moments of the trip, the father said, was when he and his 15yearold son were almost caught by sharks after spearing a fish in the ocean. Still, it was quite an enjoyable holiday for them. "For a dad it was a wonderful thing. No video games around, no television, no disturbance, no texting," Flake recalled. What can we learn from the text? Choices: A. The Flakes could easily find a fire on the island. B. The Flakes caught lobsters for food on the island. C. The Flakes found basic things that they needed on the island. D. The Flakes took much trouble to get drinkable water on the island.
D
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Question: If one was to cease perspiration, what would they be most at risk for Choices: A. hypothermia B. seizure C. overheating D. cramps
C
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Question: If prefix = st1 /U.S.software companies don't pay more attention to quality, they could kiss their business good-bye. BothIndiaandBrazilare developing a world-class software industry. Their weapon is quality and one of their jobs is to attract the topU.S.quality specialists whose voices are not listened to in their country. Already, of the world's 12 software houses that have earned the highest rating in the world, seven are in India. That's largely because they have used new methods rejected by American software specialists. For example, for decades, quality specialists, W. Edwards Deming and J. M. Juran had urgedU.S.software companies to change their attitudes to quality. But their quality call mainly fell on deaf ears in the U.S -- but not in Japan. By the 1970s and 1980s,Japanwas grabbing market share with better, cheaper products. They used Deming's and Juran's ideas to bring down the cost of good quality to as little as 5% of total production costs. InU.S.factories, the cost of quality then was 10 times as high: 50%. In software, it still is. Watts S. Humphrey spent 27 years at IBM heading up software production and then quality assurance. But his advice was seldom paid attention to. He retired from IBM in 1986. In 1987, he worked out a system for assessing(evaluating) and improving software quality. It has proved its value time and again. For example, in 1990 the cost of quality at Raytheon Electronics Systems was almost 60% of total software production costs. It fell to 15% in 1996 and has since further dropped to below 10%. Like Deming and Juran, Humphrey seems to be winning more praises overseas than at home. The Indian government and several companies have just founded the Watts Humphrey Software Quality Institute at the Software Technology Park in Chennai,India. Let's hope thatU.S.lead in software will not be eaten up by its quality problems. What country has more highest-rating companies in the world than any other country has? Choices: A. India. B. TheUS. C. Brazil. D. Germany.
A
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Question: A pair of giant pandas from southwest China's Sichuan Province arrived at their new home in Belgium's Pairi Daiza zoo, some 60km southwest of downtown Brussels, at around 15:00 local time (1400GMT) on February 23, 2014. About 2,500 people, many of them excited children waving national flags of China and Belgium as well as panda-decorated flags or wearing costume of Panda greeted the pandas along the road to the zoo. Visitors today can only observe the pandas through a closed-circuit television system in the reception. Officials said they wanted the pandas fully adapted to their new home before making public _ in April. The pandas, Xing Hui, the male and Hao Hao, the female, are both 4 years old and are on lease from a breeding center in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The lease term is 15 years, according to officials with the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas, the world's largest research base for the species. "It's a good thing for Belgium." Nicole Duflot, a grandmother coming to the zoo with her husband and her grandson told Xinhua, "We can't see the Panda today but it's a great thing for us to come here." The Pandas will be living in a panda hall of 5,300 square meters within the zoo. "I hope Xing Hui and Hao Hao will enhance friendship between Belgium and China." Liao Liqiang, the Chinese ambassador to Belgium, said during an interview with Xinhua. From the passage, we can predict that _ . Choices: A. Belgium's Pairi Daiza Zoo will make much money soon B. Xing Hui and Hao Hao will be very well treated in their new home C. Belgium's Pairi Daiza Zoo will serve the Chinese visitors with free admission D. pandas will be best-sellers in Belgium
B