source
stringclasses
4 values
question
stringlengths
62
6.72k
answer
stringclasses
9 values
mmlu
Question: To be a good teacher, you need some of the _ of a good actor; you must be able to hold the attention and interest of your audience; you must be a clear speaker, with a good, strong, pleasant voice which is fully under your control; and you must be able to act what you are teaching, in order to make its meaning clear. Watch a good teacher, and you will see that he doesn't sit still before his class; he stands the whole time he is teaching; he walks about, using his arms, hands and fingers to help him in his explanations, and his face to express feelings. There are very important differences between the teacher's work and the actor's. The actor has to speak words which he has learnt by heart; he has to repeat exactly the same words each time he plays a certain part, even his movements and the ways in which he uses his voice are usually fixed beforehand .What he has to do is to make all these carefully learnt words and actions seem natural on the stage. A good teacher works in quite a different way. His audience take an active part in his play: they ask and answer questions, they obey orders, and if they don't understand anything, they say so. The teacher can't learn his part by heart, but must invent it as he goes along. I have known many teachers who are fine actors in class but are unable to take part in a stage-play because they can't keep strictly to what another has written. From the passage, we know _ . Choices: A. a good teacher should be a good actor B. a good teacher may be unable to act well on the stage C. a good actor should be a good teacher D. a good actor may act well in class
B
mmlu
Question: For those who study the development of intelligence in the animal world, self-awareness is an important measurement. An animal that is aware of itself has a high level of intelligence. Awareness can be tested by studying whether the animal recognizes itself in the mirror, that is, its own reflected image .Many animals fail this exercise bitterly, paying very little attention to the reflected image. Only humans, and some intelligent animals like apes and dolphins, have been shown to recognize the image in the mirror is of themselves. Now another animal has joined the club . In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , researchers report an Asian elephant has passed the mirror self-reflection test. "We thought elephants were the next important animal" said Diana Reiss of the Wildlife Conservation Society ,an author of the study with Joshua M.Plotnik and Fans B.M..de Waal of Emory University. With their large brains, Reiss said elephants "seemed like cousins to apes and dolphins" The researchers tested Happy, Maxine and Patty, three elephants at the Bronx Zoo. They put an 8-foot-square mirror on a wall of the animals' play area (out of the sight of zoo visitors and recorded what happened with cameras, including one built in the mirror. The elephants used their long noses to find what was behind it, and to examine parts of their bodies. Of the three, Happy then passed their test, in which a clear mark was painted on one side of her face. She could tell the mark was there by looking in the mirror and she used the mirror to touch the mark with her long nose. Diana Reiss said, " We knew elephants were intelligent, but now we can talk about their intelligence in a better way". What made Happy different from Maxine and Patty? Choices: A. She used her nose to search behind the mirror. B. She recognized her own image in the mirror. C. She painted a mark on her own face. D. She found the hidden camera.
B
mmlu
Question: We all know that eating junk food can make us fat. However, a new study suggests that it can do more than that - it can also make us lazy, reported CBS News. In the study, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, US divided 32 female rats into two groups. The first group was fed a diet of healthy food such as corn and fish, while the second was given a diet of highly processed food rich in sugar, namely "junk food". Within three months, the rats in the second group were already much fatter than those on the healthy diet. And when researchers trained the rats to do simple tasks, they found even more differences between the two groups rather than weight. During the task - pushing a lever to receive a reward of sugar water - the rats on the junk food diet were found to be less willing to move, and they took longer breaks between each push than the lean rats did. "It is as if the rat is thinking 'This is too much work'," Aaron Blaisdell, leader of the study, told the Los Angeles Times. But what about the possibility that the fat rats were less passionate about getting sugar water because they were already eating lots of sugar in their daily diet? That's why researchers repeated the tests by rewarding fat rats with plain water when they were extremely thirsty. However, the results came out just the same. According to researchers, these differences suggest that junk food changed the chemistry in the rats' brains. The experiment didn't end _ . After six months, the rats' diets were switched, and the overweight rats were given a healthy diet for nine days. However, this change didn't help reduce their weight or improve their ability to perform tasks, which means the effects of their junk food diet persisted . "There's no quick fix," said Blaisdell. For a long time, we've believed that people become fat because they are lazy. But this study has proven the opposite to be true as well, which indicates that laziness and obesity are a "vicious cycle ". So, if you constantly feel tired, lacking any urge to get up from your chair, it could be that you've been studying too hard. But you should also pay attention to your diet. The researchers rewarded thirsty rats with plain water in the lever test to _ . Choices: A. help them control their weight B. test whether fat rats lost interest in the test because they had taken enough sugar C. change the diet habits of fat rats D. find out the influence of sugar on rats' brains
B
mmlu
Question: Hello! My name is Kate Green. I'm a student in No. 14 High School. I have classes from Monday to Friday. I have many things to do after class. On Monday and Wednesday, I help my friends with their English. On Tuesday and Thursday, I make model planes. On Friday afternoon, I have a good rest at home and do my homework. Now it is 8:30 in the morning. I am having a math class. I am listening to the teacher. My friends Li Lei and David are writing something. All of us are working hard. ,. _ , Kate makes model planes. Choices: A. On Friday afternoon B. On Sunday C. On Monday and Wednesday D. On Tuesday and Thursday
D
mmlu
Question: All the cities are quite the same. Living in a modern Australian city is not very different from living in an American city. But there are some differences on farms. In many parts of the world, farmers and their families live in villages or towns. In the United States, each farm family lives in its own fields. Usually their neighbours live far away. It's hard for them to see each other on weekdays. Their children take school buses to the nearest schools. These schools are only for the farm families in this area. In some areas, there are small schools for a few farm families, and the children walk to schools. Life keeps changing for everyone, so do farmers. Today there are cars, good roads, radios, television sets and there are modern machines for farming. All of these are changing farm life. Usually farm families live in _ . Choices: A. big cities B. the country C. only towns D. the mountain
B
mmlu
Question: Four years ago when I was a boy of 11, I got into the biggest trouble as a kid. It was a Saturday morning. Both my parents were out, leaving me and my 10-month-old sister home alone. Anyway, my sister was still asleep in her room. In fact I had the house to myself. I decided to do some drawing. Soon I gave up. Nothing was on TV, so I felt bored and touched the candles on the shelf ...I had an idea! What would happen if I set fire to some kitchen paper? Well, of course it went on fire, but it wasn't the tiny flame I'd expected, and I couldn't blow it out. I threw it on the floor, and then luckily got my dad's boots and _ it _ . I thought I was safe until there was a huge hole in my room. When my mum came home later, she smelt the smoke immediately. She dropped the shopping bag, luckily for me, over the hole. I thought this meant she would never see it. However, after running round the house checking for a fire, she of course picked up the bag and saw the hole. Next I was grounded and in trouble for months. Even worse, the hole was still there, reminding me of what I did. . Who put out the fire at last? Choices: A. The writer. B. The writer and his sister. C. The writer's mother. D. The writer's father.
A
mmlu
Question: Jesse Owens was born in Alabama in the USA, in 1913. There were ten children in his family. Jesse was the youngest. He went to school in the city of Cleveland. At school he showed he had a special talent for athletics . He could run fast. He could jump high. He could jump far. Because he was good at athletics, Jesse became a student at Ohio State University. In May, 1935 in Michigan, USA, he broke the world record for the long jump. This was his first world record. On the 25th May Jesse did something unusual. In 45 minutes he broke six world records. Some people think that this was the greatest athletics achievement ever. In 1936 Jesse went to the Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. There were only nineteen black athletes in the USA team. He won gold medals in the 100 meters race, the 200 meters race, the long jump and the relay race. Jesse was not a professional athlete. This meant that he could not get money for running. Later, he became a professional athlete. To make money he had to appear in strange races. Sometimes he had to race against horses. In 1960 somebody broke Jesse's last world record. In 1980 Jesse died. Jesse's first world record was for the _ . Choices: A. running B. relay race C. high jump D. long jump
D
arc_easy
Question: When a student uses the equation, mass multiplied by change in temperature multiplied by specific heat, what is being calculated? q = m \times C \times \Delta T Choices: A. a phase change B. stored energy C. heat convection D. heat gain or heat loss
D
sciq
Question: Intestinal cells combine with proteins to create what? Choices: A. lipoproteins B. chondrocytes C. amino acids D. chylomicrons
D
mmlu
Question: An Australian inventor has designed and built an environmentally friendly ferry that uses solar and wind power to transport people around Sydney Harbor. Robert Dane and his Solar Sailor were given the top prize at the Australian Design Awards recently. The Solar Sailor has been in use for six months. It uses four sources of energy for its power -- solar, wind, battery power with stored solar energy and a fuel generator in store all controlled by computers. The ferry can travel up to 7.5 knots on just wind and solar power. It's solar wings and fiberglass solar panels which not only take in sunlight and store it in batteries, but also act as sails. "We angle our solar panels to the sun in two planes , which increases the amount of energy we get from the sun by 40 percent," Dane says. "And also we can use that same structure to do another job, which is also the sail, and so these wing sails actually push the ferry forward just like a soft sail does." Computers check the sun and wind and angle the solar wings to take in the most sunlight. If there isn't much wind or it is a cloudy day, energy stored in the batteries runs the electric motor for up to five hours. "If the batteries are too low, then the computer turns the generator on so the boat is always able to meet a commercial schedule, or get from point A to point B no matter what," Dan explains. Dane got his idea for the Solar Sailor from a book on insects. He was amazed how insects use their wings to collect solar energy to warm themselves. "When I read that, I realized there was a good example in nature for what we were going to do, which was to use a solar wing to collect solar energy and also to sail," he says. What is the purpose of writing this article? Choices: A. To praise the designer Robert Dane. B. To make an advertisement. C. To tell us to learn from nature. D. To introduce a new invention.
D
mmlu
Question: Kilimanjaro Climb : a Rite of Passage for Father and Son Climbing Kilimanjaro is a transformational experience for many people. The things that make the mountain hard are the very things that make it so powerful. In the case of my son Josh and I,the walk up Kilimanjaro proved a powerful symbol ofhis transition into manhood, and a great change in our relationship. Day three on the mountain, Josh was hit with massive headaches. He told me every step felt like a nail driving into his head. And then, on the night we climbed the crater rim, less than 40 minutes from the summit, Josh fell. I was walking ahead, and did not even see it. He was so exhausted that he could not get up. He recalled our guides, debating whether or not they should take him straight down. Josh _ He forced himself to his feet, shook the guides off. He set his face towards the peak and just kept marching. Near the summit he caught up with me and we reached the peak together. " I've never been in so much pain and so happy at the same time,,,he said, as we sat side by side on the frozen rock and looked down over Africa. "You know, in the past when we'd go on camping and rafting trips, you guided and took care of me through it all. But on Kilimanjaro it was different. From the bottom up, I climbed it. I never feltlike a kid, even when 1 was in pain. You never acted like a parent." "That's not quite true,"I replied. "When you told me that on the summit you fell-and I did not even notice, my first thought was, 'Oh my God! I'm such an awful parent!' But then it hit me, 'He got himself up. He walked to the peak on his own. He didn't need me to help.," I realized as I spoke that two people had died that night on Kilimanjaro. A child and a parent. It wasjust two friends who walked down the mountain together. What can be inferred from the talk between the father and the son? Choices: A. Josh felt quite good about his independence. B. Josh appreciated his parents ,company and care. C. The father felt guilty all the time. D. The father should have taken good care of Josh as usual.
A
mmlu
Question: As a child,Alain Robert was afraid of height.One day,when he was 12,he returned home from school.At the front door of his building,he looked for his keys.He didn't find them.It was 3.30p.m.and his parents worked until 6.00p.m.Alain looked at his apartment on the eighth floor.He saw an open window.He closed his eyes and imagined himself climbing the building.When he opened his eyes,he told himself,'I can do it.'Fifteen minutes later,he was in his house and his fear of height was gone. Then,Alain tried to climb buildings.In 2003,he climbed a building in London,dressing up as aspiderman to advertise the movie.In 2004,he climbedTaipei 101(one of the tallest buildings in the world).To reach the top of a building,Alain used only his hands and special shoes. Alain takes climbing as a hobby.He also does it to raise money for charity(for have and the homeless).When he climbs,he wants to send a massage to people.If you have a dream----something you really want to do,it can become true.But you must be brave and keep trying.If something bad happens,don't give up.Close your eyes and tell yourself,'I can do it.' Alain Robert climbed the tall building in London to _ . Choices: A. advertise the movie Spiderman B. make the, movie Spiderman C. enter the apartment D. raise money for children and the homeless
A
mmlu
Question: Australia has promised to introduce the most comprehensive carbon trading program outside Europe in 2010. The government in Canberra plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least five percent by 2020, but it could make bigger reductions if other countries agree to tougher targets. The Australian government warns that without tough environmental measures the country could lose key industries and jobs. Climate Change Minister Penny Wong says the economy is under threat and decisive action is needed. Central to the government's climate change plan is a carbon emissions trading program that will be introduced within two years. It would involve one thousand of the nation's biggest companies and would cover about three-quarters of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. Many scientists believe that greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, contribute to global warming. Many of them are released by burning fuels such as coal and oil. Companies will be required to buy permits for each ton of carbon they emit, although big polluting exporters will receive up to 90 percent of their carbon licenses free. Many business leaders want the government to delay the plan because of the current global financial crisis, which is slowing the Australian economy. Peter Anderson from the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry says it is irresponsible to bring in a carbon trading plan now. Environmentalists, on the other hand, say Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has not properly addressed the threat of climate change. Activists had sought a minimum emissions cut of 25 percent. Instead, the Rudd government aims to cuts carbon emissions by at least five percent of 2000 levels by 2020. That amount could rise to 15 percent, if future global agreements set such a target. Ray Nias of the environmental group WWF says Australia will pay the price for low targets. "This is a deeply, deeply disappointing target," Nias said. "It commits Australia to long-term climate change. It will make Australia's ability to negotiate global agreements very, very difficult. It is much lower than even we had imagined." Australia has one of the highest per-person greenhouse emissions rates in the world because of its reliance on coal for electricity. _ Which group supports to cut carbon emissions by at least 25%? Choices: A. Environmentalists. B. The government. C. Business leaders. D. Scientists.
A
sciq
Question: What do you call pure substances with unique properties? Choices: A. originals B. structures C. elements D. arrangements
C
mmlu
Question: Coffee is a powerful beverage.On a personal level,it helps keep US awake and active.On a much broader level,it has helped shape our history and continues to shape our culture. Coffee didn't take off until the l400s when people figured out they could roast its seeds.By the l500s,the drink had spread to coffeehouses across the Arab world.Within another l50 years,it took Europe by storm. "It actually had a major impact on the rise of business," historian Mark Pendergrast says.Coffeehouses became a spot not just to enjoy a cup but to exchange ideas.The insurer Lloyd's of London was founded hundreds of years ago in one of London's 2,000 coffeehouses.Literature,newspapers and even the works of great composers like Bach and Beethoven were also spawned in coffeehouses. It is often said that after the Boston Tea Party of l773,when American colonists attacked British tea ships and threw boxes of tea into the harbor,Americans universally switched over to drinking coffee.In a letter John Adams wrote to his wife,Abigail,the Founding Father claims his love of tea but says he will have to learn to embrace coffee instead,because drinking tea had become a symbol of not loving the country. For all the upsides coffee has brought the modern world,it also led to its fair share of downsides,too.Europeans carried coffee with them as they colonized various parts of the world,and this frequently meant they enslaved people in order to grow it.In Brazil -- where slavery was legal until l888 -- coffee plantations would use slash-and-burn agriculture,tearing down rain forests and planting coffee trees.Once the soil had been exhausted,growers would move on to another place. And yet,coffee,as Pendergrast says,"had a very good impact in many ways on our civilization,even though it was,for a long time,grown by slaves." What is mainly talked about in this passage? Choices: A. Some interesting stories about coffee culture. B. Important Roles that coffee played in history. C. How coffee became the most popular beverage. D. How coffee affected America's independence.
B
arc_easy
Question: Which of these are broken down during chemical, but not physical, changes? Choices: A. elements B. mixtures C. solutions D. compounds
D
mmlu
Question: A plant makes its own food in its leaves .Water comes to the leaves through the roots . Air gets into the leaves through very small holes . The green coloring in the leaves uses the water and air to make the food for the plant . It also needs sunshine because a plant can make food only when the sun is shining. Animals and people could not live without green plants . They both eat plants .People and some animals also eat the meat of some animals and these animals eat plants. What does the green coloring use to make the food for a plant? Choices: A. Sunshine ,water ,air and the roots B. Air ,sunshine and water C. Water ,air and meat D. Water ,sunshine and animals
B
mmlu
Question: Two years ago my husband bought me a bicycle. If you live in a city, it is often faster than a car and you don't have to worry about parking . You can leave it anywhere. Because it has a seat at the back and a basket at the front, I can take my daughter to school, to the library, to the shops, to anywhere. I use it most in summer when the weather is warm and dry. It can be very unhappy in winter when it is cold and the rain is heavy. Of course, you must be careful on a bicycle. Accidents are not the only problems. One day I went shopping and came back late. I found my front wheel missing. So I have to walk to the bicycle shop. My husband uses my bicycle sometimes for short journeys. He says it is better than waiting for a bus. He still uses his car for longer journeys. I think that all this sitting down is making him fat and lazy. On my bike I get lots of exercise and fresh air, and this makes me feel a lot younger. In a city, a bike is better than a car because _ . Choices: A. it is much cheaper B. it is often faster C. it's not easy to buy a car D. the weather is more pleasant
B
mmlu
Question: I climbed Kilimanjaro with Lava Expeditions during the rainy season. I flew to Nairobi in Kenya and spent several days there. At my hotel in Nairobi I met the rest of the group with whom I would spend the next week. We all travelled on the bus together for a 6-hour journey into Tanzania and then Arusha , a quiet town. After we arrived at our hotel in Arusha , we had dinner and a few drinks. Then we were introduced to more members including Taddeus Minja, the main guide, who was very experienced -- climbing Kilimanjaro runs through the generations of his family. The next day the Lava Expeditions members checked if we had the correct and enough clothing for our expedition on Kilimanjaro. Only one person needed to bring more clothes. After that we set off, walking in the rain through the beauty of the rainforest, all the way to the first camp. I was happy the next few days as the view was so wonderful and changed every day. I suffered a little during the trip and I felt so tired. But the members of Lava Expeditions provided me with lots of encouragement, which was one of the best memories. Finally we reached the top of Kilimanjaro in bright blue skies. I felt excited about climbing Kilimanjaro and the feeling didn't change during my trip. Lava Expeditions looked after me so well that I was deeply thankful for their help. How did Lava Expeditions help the author while climbing Kilimanjaro? Choices: A. By carrying bags for him. B. By offering food to him. C. By encouraging him. D. By teaching him climbing skills.
C
mmlu
Question: First Frenchman: I once heard someone shout, "Look out," I put my head out of a window and a basin of water fell on me. It seems that "Look out" may mean "don't look out." Second Frenchman: Once I was on a ship and heard the captain shout, "All hands on deck," I put my hands on the deck and someone walked on them. Third Frenchman: I once visited an English friend early in the morning and the maid who came to the door and said, "He's not up yet. Come back in half an hour," When I went again for him, she said, "He's not down yet." "If he's not up and he's not down, where is he?" I asked. She said, "He's still in bed. When I say 'He's not up ' I mean 'he has not yet got up'. When I say 'He's not down ' I mean 'he has not yet come downstairs,'" All hands on deck means " _ ". Choices: A. All the sailors gather on deck B. Give your hands to me C. Put your right hand and left hand on deck D. Shake your hands with me
A
mmlu
Question: Students in many countries are learning English. Some of these students are small children. Others are teen-agers. Many are adults. Some learn at school, others by themselves. A few learn English by learning the language over the radio, on TV, or in film. One must work hard to learn another language. Why do all these people want to learn English? It is difficult to answer this question. Many boys and girls learn English at school because it is one of their subjects required for study. They study their own language and maths and English: Some people learn it because it is useful for their work. Many people learn English for their work. Many people learn English for their higher studies, because at college or university some of their books are in English. Other people learn English because they want to read newspapers or magazines in English. People learn English _ . Choices: A. at school B. over the radio C. on TV D. not all in the same way
D
mmlu
Question: What is your favourite colour? Ask famous persons like Cate Blanchett,Searlett Johansson and Bono,and maybe they will say"green."That's not because these artists particularly like the colour green.Instead,they are interested in green fashion. Green fashion is about making(and wearing)clothes that are good for humans,animals,and the Earth.In the past,green fashion made people think of hippies and ugly clothes.But today,green fashion is different.It is about looking good and caring about the Earth and other people.You can have interesting clothes and be green. Around the world,green fashion is becoming popular.For example,the U.K.company People Tree sells men's and women's clothing and accessories .They are made from natural fabrics like cotton and wool.Workers who make the clothes are from countries like Nepal,Kenya,and Bangladesh.People Tree pays the men and women good money for the clothes they create. Singer Bono and his wife also started a clothing company called EDUN.When the clothes sell,EDUN uses most of the money to help people around the world. According to the passage,what is"green fashion"? Choices: A. Wearing the colour green all the time. B. Making clothes from green trees. C. Putting green make-up on your face. D. Wearing clothes that are good for the Earth.
D
mmlu
Question: The Labrador has won the honor of the most popular breed for the past eighteen years. It has been described as gentle, clever and friendly. Yet not all Labs are the same. John Grogan discovered _ after he and his wife adopted a Labrador that they named Marley. The dog caused Mr. Grogan a lot of trouble, but it also provided many stories for his newspaper articles. Later, he wrote a best-selling book, "Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog." Marley was happy and fun-loving. But he was also extremely large and difficult to control. He bit anything that he could find around the house, including plastic, clothing and jewelry. And he had a great fear of loud noises, especially thunderstorms. Unfortunately, the Grogans lived in Florida where many thunderstorms develop. Marley would attack the furniture, walls and doors until his feet bled if he was left alone in the house during a thunderstorm. Marley almost damaged their home several times. John Grogan said that at first he considered that probably his dog could be trained to be a show champion. But he soon realized that was impossible. Marley didn't like to learn skills that didn't belong to dogs, and he was driven out of the dog training school for causing troubles for other dogs. He didn't want to hide his emotions. He would show his anger and tiredness if he felt them. Even if that, Marley still had earned a place in the Grogans'. He didn't know how to dance, and he didn't know how to walk on its two legs, but he was what he was. He would never be a Lassie or a Benji or an old Yeller for he would never like to take part in a dog show, but the Grogans accepted him and loved him very much. From the passage we can know _ . Choices: A. every dog in America attends the dog training school B. a Lassie should be a troublesome dog just like Marley C. Marley often lost his temper and bit other dogs D. Marley led a life full of love in the Grogans'
D
mmlu
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. The purpose of the advertisement is to _ . Choices: A. attract students to NSE Summer School B. introduce famous economists to students C. help students to pass the final exams D. advertise for new staff for university
A
sciq
Question: What does rising air do when it reaches the top of the troposphere? Choices: A. warms B. dries C. heats D. cools
D
sciq
Question: Which part of the plant is responsible for seed production? Choices: A. leaf B. root C. pistil D. flower
D
mmlu
Question: Which animal is warm blooded? Choices: A. salamander B. toad C. parakeet D. tadpole
C
mmlu
Question: Many Americans go to work five days a week. American students go to school five days a week, too, so they usually have a two-day weekend. The weekend is Saturday and Sunday. At the weekend people spend their time in many different ways. Sometimes they go shopping. Sometimes they go for a drive. Sometimes they visit friends. Many families enjoy weekends together. Many American families do some sports at the weekend. For example , in summer, they enjoy swimming and biking. In autumn, they prefer playing volleyball and tennis. In winter, they go skating and skiing . In spring, they like sightseeing and hiking . How happy they are! Do you have an enjoyable weekend? Which sentence is NOT right? Choices: A. American schools are open five days a week. B. People often play volleyball and tennis in autumn. C. In America, the weekend is Sunday. D. Many American families enjoy weekends together.
C
mmlu
Question: Every time I lost a tooth I would put it under my pillow at night. The next morning I would wake up to find two coins replacing my tooth. Then I'd wonder about the tooth fairy all day. "Mom, where do you think the tooth fairy lives? What does she do with the teeth she collects?" My mom said she didn't know. She only knew that the tooth fairy took the tooth away while we were sleeping and left us some money under our pillow. But I wanted to find out. So I think it was a good thing that I would lose another tooth. The plan was to stay up all night and ask the tooth fairy when she showed up. That night I lay quietly in my bed, growing sleepy as the night went on. Moments later, I felt that someone was close to me. Through my half-opened eyes, I didn't see any feet, but I knew it was the tooth fairy. I watched her run around and fly right out of my room. She was wearing a shiny green dress. After she left, I immediately felt under my pillow. There were two coins. I had never even felt my pillow move. I wondered if she used magic. As I got older, I learned from my teachers that the tooth fairy didn't exist. It was just a mythical figure of early childhood. I kind of thought it was, but how could I see the tooth fairy fly that night? Then one night my mom came into my room to check on me. The moonlight was bright that night and it shone through my window right on her shiny green nightdress. Right then I knew deep down that my mom was the tooth fairy. The author thought it was a good thing for her to lose another tooth because _ . Choices: A. she could get some coins B. she disliked her baby teeth C. she wanted to help her mother solve a mystery D. she believed the tooth fairy would come again
D
mmlu
Question: Tom was ten years old and he was a very lazy boy. He didn't like doing any work. He had to go to school, of course , but he didn't study hard there and tried to do as little work as possible. His father and mother were both doctors and they hoped that their son would become one, too. But one day Tom said to his mother, " When I finish school, I want to be a dustman." "A dustman?" his mother asked, she was very surprised. " that's not a very pleasant job, why do you want to be a dustman?" "Because then I would only have to work one day a week." Tom answered at once. "Only one day a week?" his mother said, "What do you mean? And how do you know?" " Well," Tom replied, " I know that the dustmen who come to our house to work on Thursday, because I only see them on that day." ,,. What were his father and mother? Choices: A. His father was a doctor and his mother was a nurse. B. His father was a worker and his mother was a doctor. C. His father was a doctor and his mother was a doctor, too. D. His father and mother were teachers.
C
mmlu
Question: The US first lady Michlle Obama is among the world's 100 most powerful women in a list topped by German premier Angela Merkel for four years in a row, according to a Forbes ranking released on 19 August. Michelle Obama at No.40, coming in ahead of Talk Show host Oprah Winfrey at 41 and Britain's Queen Elizabeth at 42. Sheila Bair, chair of the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, which insures bank deposits, remained No.2 after debuting on the Forbes list last year. She has gained increased fame as the US recession lasts. The list is based on factors such as politics and economic impact ,media reach and career accomplishments. The chief executives of Dupont and Sunoco are new to the top 10, replacing the Xerox Cop. Chair, who dropped to No. 15, and the former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who fell off the list after leaving office in January. Rice's successor, Hillary Clinton, came in at No.36,dropping from No.28 last year when her presidential bid made her the woman with the highest public profile on the list. Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US House of Representatives, retained No.35. "Woman in power are rising to leadership positions in business, government and philanthropy by making daring and unconventional moves," Forbes said. "Gone are the days of women feeling they have to stick with one employer and patiently wait for promotions." "Highly ambitious women are moving across companies and industries, making big leaps with each change, and repositioning themselves for opportunities that allow them to gain a breadth of experience." The business magazine said. Merkel , 55, became the first female premier of Germany in 2005 and was successful in retaining power in a federal election on September 27. Michelle Obama, 45,has won the support of fans for her down-to-earth personality, her views of healthy eating and the arts, and her fashion sense that has seen her grace several best-dressed lists. 44. We learn from the text that powerful women today _ . Choices: A. change their jobs more frequently B. are better political leaders than men C. are not content with being housewives D. have changed their traditional concept
D
mmlu
Question: Nick is a 14yearold school boy.His life is full of exams and studies on weekdays.He has little free time.He thinks playing computer games is the best way to make him relax.When he has free time,he sits in front of the computer.Just like that way,he neither eats nor drinks for several hours. Last weekend,he played games on the computer again.He was too excited and didn't want to move.He didn't have anything for six hours.When he had to go to the bathroom,he found he could not move.He was taken to the hospital.The doctor told him he should do some more different kinds of activities.In other words,he needs more exercise and outdoor activities to make him have a healthy body. After coming back from the hospital,Nick follows the doctor's advice.He often plays soccer with his friends.Sometimes he still plays computer games on weekends,but he never does it for long.Now,he lives a happy and healthy life. Nick likes _ in his free time. Choices: A. riding a bike B. playing the guitar C. playing computer games D. having a school trip
C
mmlu
Question: When I was young I wanted to be a model,so when a national contest was staged,I convinced my parents to take me for an audition .I was selected and told I had potential.They said that for only $900 I could attend a weekend event which dozens of the most prestigious modeling agencies from around the world would attend.At 13,my hopes of fame and fortune clouded all judgement and I begged my parents to let me go.We have never been rich,but they saw my enthusiasm and agreed. I imagined being signed by some famous model companies.For months,any boredom or disappointment I faced was pushed aside because I knew I would soon have the chance to be real model.I thought I would grace the covers of famous magazines! Of course,I wasn't signed,but what hurt the most was being told that if I grew to 5'9''(about 1.75 metres) I could be a success.I prayed for a growth spurt because I could not imagine giving up my dream.I made an appointment with a local modeling agency and the agent demanded $500 for classes.$500 for a photo shoot,and $300 for other expenses.My parents only agreed after hours and hours of my begging. The agency sent me out on a few auditions,but with every day I didn't receive a call,I grew more depressed. _ came in July after I had decided to focus on commercial modeling.There was an open call in New York City.We spent hours driving and another few hours waiting,only to be told that I was too short.I was devastated . Years later,I realized that the trip to New York was good as it made me notice I didn't actually love modeling,just the idea of it.I wanted to be special and I was innocently determined to reach an impossible goal.The experience has made me stronger and that will help me in the future. What's the author's parents' attitude toward her dream? Choices: A. Encouraging. B. Worried. C. Doubtful. D. Enthusiastic.
C
mmlu
Question: The new mayor of Hillsdale, Michigan, is a man of the people, ready to listen to their problems, but only until 6 p.m. Then he has to do his homework. Michael Sessions, 18, beat former mayor Douglas Ingles, 51, by just two votes and became the new mayor of Hillsdale. He is America's youngest mayor. As Sessions was too young to enter the election in the spring of 2005, he registered- to vote on Sept. 22, one day after his 18-year-old birthday. The day after that he started his write-in campaign, which means he should persuade voters to remember his name and write it by hand on the voting ballots . To help get his name known, Sessions earned$700 by selling apples over the summer. He spent the money on posters and put them on the Hillsdale's lawns. Sessions' month-long campaign included going door to door, explaining his ideas of the town's future in the kitchens of his neighbors. "They'd look at me, and say'How old are you again? How much experience do you have?'And I say'I'm still in high school', "he said. Sessions promised Hillsdale's voters he would renew local economy. "I was hopeful the whole time, "he explained. One day he spent so long out on the streets knocking on the doors that he ended up in a hospital emergency room. Sessions said that his schoolwork will not get in the way of his job as a mayor. "From 7:50 a.m. to 2:30p.m., I'11 be a student. From 3 to 6, I'11 be the mayor of Hillsdale," he said. "He did a very brave thing that couldn't have been easy for him to do, "said Jack Vettel, a councilman in Hillsdale, a city of 8,200 about 75 miles southwest of Detroit. "He does care about this town. He's been here all his life. " Sessions will receive$3, 600 a year during his four-year term, and will work out of his bedroom since the town does not provide the mayor with an office. What is TRUE of Sessions' election campaign according to the text? Choices: A. Sessions launched his election campaign on Sept. 22. B. Sessions worked so hard that he once tried to persuade people in a hospital. C. Sessions won the election campaign by a very close outcome. D. Sessions felt disappointed when asked about his age and experience.
C
mmlu
Question: One day, I went to see my last patient, an old woman. In the doorway, I saw she was struggling to put socks on her swollen feet in the bed. I stepped in, spoke quickly to the nurse, read her chart noting . I was almost in the clear that she was not in serious condition. I asked, "Could I help put on your socks? How are you feeling? Your sugars and blood pressure were high but they're better today. The nurse mentioned you're anxious to see your son. He's visiting you today. It's nice to have a family visit. I think you really look forward to seeing him." "Sit down, doctor. This is my story, not yours." She said with a serious voice. I was surprised as I helped her with the socks. She told me that her only son lived across from her house, but she had not seen him for five years. She believed that was the main cause of her health problems. After hearing her story and putting on her socks, I asked if there was anything else I could do for her. She shook her head no and smiled. All she wanted me to do was to listen. Each story is different. Some are detailed and others are simple. Some have a beginning, middle and end but others don't have clear ends. Some are true but others not. Yet all those things do not really matter. What matters to the storyteller is that the story is heard -- without interruption or judgment . It was that woman who taught me the importance of stopping, sitting down and truly listening. And, not long after, in an unexpected accident, I became a patient. 20 years later, I sit all the time -- in a wheelchair. For as long as I could, I continued to see patients from my chair. I believe in the power of listening. Which statement is NOT right according to the passage? Choices: A. Her son lived close to her house. B. Listening is powerful medicine. C. The old woman didn't need the doctor's treatments. D. The doctor has to "walk" with the help of a wheelchair.
C
mmlu
Question: Beyond two or three days, the world's best weather forecasts are doubtful, and beyond six or seven they are worthless. The Butterfly Effect is the reason. For small pieces of weather--to a global forecaster, small can mean thunderstorms and blizzards --any prediction becomes worse rapidly. Errors and uncertainties increase, from dust devils and storms up to continent-size eddies that only satellites can see. The modern weather models work with net-like points sixty miles apart, and even so, some starting data have to be guessed, since ground stations and satellites cannot see everywhere. But suppose the earth could be covered with sensors placed one foot apart, rising at one-foot intervals all the way to the top of the atmosphere. Suppose every sensor gives perfectly accurate readings of temperature, pressure, humidity , and any other data a weatherman would want. Exactly at noon a powerful computer takes all the data and calculates what will happen at each point at 12.01, then 12.02, then 12.03... the computer will still be unable to predict whether Princeton will have sun or rain one month away. At noon the spaces between the sensors will hide fluctuations that the computer will not know about. By 12.01, those fluctuations will already have created small errors one foot away. Soon the errors will have added to the ten-foot scale, and so on up to the size of the globe. Usually there is a weather sub-station _ . Choices: A. in every city B. every 60 miles C. between two cities D. every one foot
B
mmlu
Question: Mr White works in an office. He's very busy and has no time to have a good rest. Every evening, when he comes back from his office, he's always tired and wants to go to bed early. But his wife often has a lot of interesting things to tell him after dinner. She doesn't stop talking until she falls asleep . But it's usually too late and Mr White has to get up early in the morning when she is still sleeping. One day Mr White felt terrible and couldn't go to work. He decided to go to see a doctor. Mrs White went to the hospital with him. Before her husband said what was the matter with him, the woman told the doctor all. The doctor wrote out a prescription . When Mrs White took the medicine to the doctor's room, the doctor said to her, "The bottle of medicine is for your husband and the pills are for you. " "For me?" the woman said in surprise. "I'm fine. I don't need any medicine!" "I don't think so, madam," said the doctor. "They are sleeping pills. Your husband will be all right soon if you take them. " Mr White has to get up when his wife is sleeping in the morning because _ . Choices: A. he can't fall asleep B. he has to go to work C. he doesn't want to sleep D. his wife asks him to get up
B
mmlu
Question: A study of older men in The Netherlands, known for its delicious chocolate, showed those who ate the same amount of one-third of a chocolate bar every day had lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of death. The researchers say, however, it's too early to conclude that it was the chocolate that led to better health. The men who ate more cocoa products could have eaten other food that made them healthier. Experts also point out that eating too much chocolate can make you fat -- a risk for both heart disease and high blood pressure. "It's why too early to make recommendations about whether people should eat more cocoa or chocolate," said Brian Buijsse, an expert for nutrition at prefix = st1 /WageningenUniversityin The Netherlands, who co-authored the study. Still, the Dutch Study, supported by grants from the Netherlands Prevention Foundation, appears to be the largest so far to document a health effect for cocoa beans. And it confirms findings of smaller, shorter-term studies that also linked chocolate with lower blood pressure. Researchers examined the eating habits of 470 healthy men who were not taking blood pressure medicine. The men who ate the most products made from cocoa beans -- including cocoa drinks, chocolate bars and chocolate pudding -- had lower blood pressure and a 50 percent lower risk of death. "This is a very important article providing epidemiological support for what many researchers have been observing is experimental models," said Cesar Fraga of the University of California Davis, who does similar research but was not involved in the new study. Could the study results apply to women? "Our study consisted of elderly inch," Buijsse said. "If you look at the other studies, you will see the same effects in men and women, younger people and older people. The findings may be _ to women, but you never know." What is the main purpose of the text? Choices: A. To encourage us to eat as much chocolate as possible. B. To prove to us that eating chocolate can reduce blood pressure. C. To inform us of a study about the health benefits of chocolate. D. To warn us not to eat cocoa products because they can make you fat.
C
mmlu
Question: Hong Kong Harbor Night Cruise Enjoy the delicious dinner on the ferry and watch the beautiful city lights Time : 6:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. Price : Adults : HK$ 180 Children under 12 : HK$ 100 Start / Finish : Kowloon Public Pier Tel : (852) 2853 3888 E - mail:enquiry@chinatravel1.co You are 8 years old, how much will you pay? Choices: A. HK$100 B. HK$180 C. HK$90 D. HK$50
A
mmlu
Question: It happened to me recently that I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed reading Barack Obama'sDreamsfromMyFatherand how it had changed my views of the current US president.The person I was talking to agreed with me that it was,in his words,"a wonderfully written book". However,he then _ to talk about Mr Obama in a way that suggested he had no idea of his background at all.I sensed that I was talking to a book liar. And it seems that he is not the only one.Clearly two thirds of people have lied about reading a book which they haven't.In the World Book Day survey,DreamsfromMyFatheris at number 9.The survey lists top ten books,and various authors,which people have lied about reading.As I'm not one to lie too often,I'll admit here and now that I haven't read the entire ten books.But I am pleased to say that I have read the book at number one,GeorgeOrwell's1984.I think it's absolutely outstanding. Asked why they lied,the most common reason was to impress someone they were speaking to.This could be difficult if the conversation became more indepth! The World Book Day survey also has some other interesting information in it.It shows that many people lie about having read classical works by Jane Austen,the Bronte sisters,Charles Dickens and so on.But when asked which authors they actually enjoy,they named J.K.Rowling,Jilly Cooper,and Stephen King (ah,the big sellers,in other words).Fortyone percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story. So which books have you lied about reading--if any--and which is your favourite? The main reason why people lie about reading is to _ . Choices: A. make fun of the listener B. impress the listener C. please the listener D. interest the listener
B
mmlu
Question: Some people believe that classes, teachers and school buildings will no longer be necessary in the near future because of the Internet and other new technology. Perhaps this will be true one day, but if the world has no schools, I can't imagine how our society will be. In fact, we should learn how to use new technology to make schools better. We should invent a new kind of school connected to libraries, museums, science centers, labs and even companies. Technological companies should create learning programs for schools. Scientists could give talks through the Internet. TV networks and local stations could develop programs about things students are studying in school. Labs could set up websites to show new technology, so students could see it on the Internet. Is this a dream? No. There have been many cities where this is beginning to happen. Here the whole city is connected to the Internet, and learning can take place at home, at school, and in the office. Businesses provide programs for the schools and the society. The schools provide computer labs for people without their own computers at home. Because everyone can go on the Internet, older people use it as much as younger ones, and everyone can visit faraway libraries and museums as easily as nearby ones. How will this new thing of school change the usual way of learning? It is a little early to be sure, but it is very exciting to think about it. Technology will change the way we learn; schools will change as well; and we will learn something from the Internet. What fact does the passage NOT provide? Choices: A. Technology will change our way of learning. B. If you are a student, you can set up websites to show new technology. C. The schools provide computer labs for those who have no personal computers. D. On the Internet, you can visit another city's libraries as easily as the people there.
B
mmlu
Question: The common cold is the world's most widespread illness, which is a serious infection that man receives. The most widespread mistake of all is that colds are caused by cold. They are not. They are caused by viruses passing on from person to person. You catch a cold by touching directly or indirectly, with someone who already has one. If cold causes colds, it would be reasonable to expect the Eskimos to suffer from them forever. But they do not. And in separate Arctic areas, explorers have reported being free from colds until touching again with infected people from the outside world by way of packages and mail dropped from airplanes. During the First World War, soldiers who spent long periods in the trenches, cold and wet, seldom caught colds. In the Second World War, prisoners at Auschwitz concentration camp, bare and starved, were astonished to find that they seldom had colds. At the Common Cold Research Unit in England, volunteers took part in experiments in which they gave themselves to the discomforts of being cold and wet for a long time. After taking hot baths, they put on bathing suits, allowed themselves to be with cold water, and then stood about dripping wet in a room. Some wore wet socks all day while others exercised in the rain until close to exhaustion. Not one of the volunteers came down with a cold unless a cold virus was actually dropped in his nose. If then, cold and wet have nothing to do with catching colds, why are they more frequent in winter? Despite the most hard research, no one has yet found out the answer. One explanation offered by scientists is that people tend to stay together indoors more in cold weather than at other times, and that makes it easier for cold viruses to be passed on. No one has yet found a cure for the cold. There are drugs and pain-killers such as aspirin, but all that they do is to reduce the symptoms. Arctic explorers may catch colds when _ . Choices: A. they are working in the separate Arctic areas B. they are writing reports in terribly cold weather C. they are free from work in the isolated Arctic regions D. they are coming into touch again with the outside world
D
mmlu
Question: The plane landed with a gentle stop at the airport in Paris. I looked out of the window and noticed the boiling hot sun was shinning down on the city. I stepped down the stairs into the luggage room, and my family were practically busy. I walked down to the convey belt and waited for my suitcase to come along. I must wait there for about ten minutes before it actually came, by then my family had signed forms so we could be let into the country properly. I met up with my dad by the main entrance. My extremely annoying sister Talia was waving at us from the exit of the airport. My dad and I walked over and left the airport. We walked around for an hour before we actually found our hotel. The French taxi driver had dropped us off at the wrong hotel, and we found out the hotel he had dropped us off about an hour away from where our hotel was. We walked around different streets. We walked into different shops, but they all had the same answer "sorry". My mom was so annoyed that she took about several mouthfuls of her vodka she'd bought at this alcohol shop before. When we finally made it to the hotel, we checked in and made our way to our rooms. We were on the 17th floor, so the elevator ride up was rather long. I also had to share a room with Talia, which didn't really make my day. Ks5u I got into my room and sat on my bed. I took my shoes and socks off and rubbed my hurt feet. Could this day get any worse? Well it could. "Let's go," my mom said excitedly. "Go where?" I said unwillingly. "Outside of course, we're in France! I want to taste the snails, the frogs' legs, the ... French wine!" she said. We stepped out of the hotel entrance and lights came from everywhere. It looked wonderful and a bit like New York, but the building weren't as high and everyone looked so kind. We walked down to the Eiffel Tower which was amazing, it was beautiful. I know I had to see this again, but maybe when I wasn't so tired. I sat down on the grass, and looked up at the sky, Paris looked wonderful at night, and the stars in the sky added to the effect. I looked back down and someone caught my eye, his face was not very familiar... From the passage, what is the author's nationality? Choices: A. America. . B. France . C. China . D. Britain
A
mmlu
Question: For most of us, the purpose of the holidays is to bring peace, love, and goodwill towards all. Yet, for many, the holiday season often means stress, fatigue, pressure, disappointment and loneliness. These feelings, often known as the "holiday blues", may be even more prevalent, due to the emotional turmoil of the past few months, not to mention the unsteady economy. Experts say even the more ritual tasks of shopping, decorating, late-night parties, cooking, planning and family reunions can be holiday stressors. In addition, the psychological phenomenon known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, may bring a specific type of depression related to winter's shorter days and longer nights. "Certainly just because it's the holidays doesn't mean people are going to be happy," says Dr. Doug Jacobs of prefix = st1 /HarvardUniversity. "And this will be a particularly hard holiday for some who are dealing with a lost job, debt, or even a lost loved one." And with family reunions becoming less frequent events over the years, there is now the added pressure of getting just one chance to get it all right. "Families are much more different now. The disappointment and sense of alienation that often results from family gatherings, is actually a realization that the fantasy is not met." says John Stutesman, a clinical psychologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Still, say experts, the blues should be addressed. The most essential step, says Stutesman, is for the individual to acknowledge their feelings and the reason for their withdrawal. "Denial will only compound the stress they're feeling." Stutesman recommends people do things that are normally comforting in order to get a handle on the holiday stress. "If they're feeling a little blue, they should try to do things personally satisfying for them. Maybe this is exercise, cooking, reading a book, or massage." Stutesman also advises that sometimes "avoidance is actually not such a bad idea." In some situations, fulfilling social obligations may be self-destructive when the best thing may be to just stay home. The healthy choice has to do with taking care of oneself." Who are more likely to feel blue in holiday according to the passage? Choices: A. Those who are fond of family reunions. B. Those who are dissatisfied with their s. C. Those who feel frustrated in their work. D. Those who feel hard to take care of themselves.
C
mmlu
Question: I'm Grace, 13 years old and in seventh grade in Florida. This school year has been normal. However, my family and I spent my sixth-grade year driving all over Europe, seeing amazing places, meeting all kinds of people, and getting closer as a family in the process. When my family decided to move to Europe, we were excited . But we had a problem. We couldn't find a vehicle that had enough space to work for our five-member family, so my dad decided he'd just made one. No matter where we were , our new home took some getting used to . I had to leave a lot of my stuff behind because so little of it would fit into my tiny new room. We had to be careful to save our water. And we were doing home school, which worked out great. No matter what, I made sure to look out my window every morning , because the view was different every day -- England, then France, Italy,Greece... each special in its own way. In country after country, we touched around and tried to pick up little bits of the local language, but that didn't help us much. Luckily we kept finding people who knew some English. Everywhere we went , we saw the most amazing things. I love reading about places in my textbooks and then getting out of our vehicle to look right at them . I can't pick a favourite spot, because whichever one we were at seemed to be the best at the time. After our trip ended , we moved to Florida. But it makes me happy that my family had this great year-long experience together. I'm thankful for that. Grace had to throw away many of her things because _ Choices: A. her parents didn't allow her to keep them B. there was not enough room to keep them C. she had other similar things D. they were out of style
B
mmlu
Question: When you practice reading with passages shorter than book length, do not try to take in each word separately, one after the other. It is much more difficult to grasp the broad theme of the passage this way, and you will also get the stuck on individual words which may not be absolutely essential to a general understanding of the passage. It is a good idea to skim through the passage very quickly first to get the general idea of each paragraph. Titles, paragraph headings and emphasized word can be a great help in getting this skeleton outline of the passage. It is surprising how many people do not read titles, introductions or paragraph headings. Can you, without looking back, remember the title of this passage and the heading of this paragraph? Most paragraphs of a passage or chapter have a 'topic sentence' which expresses the central idea. The remaining sentence expand or support that idea. It has been estimated that between 60% and 90% of all expositive paragraphs in English have the topic sentence first. Always pay special attention to the first sentence of a paragraph; it is most likely to give you the main idea. Sometimes , though , the first sentence in the paragraph does not have the feel of 'main idea' sentence. It does not seem to give us enough new information to justify a paragraph. The next most likely place to look for the topic sentence is the last sentence of the paragraph. Remember that the opening and closing paragraphs of a passage or chapter are particularly important . The opening paragraph suggests the general direction and content of the piece, while the closing paragraph often summarizes the very essence . It is a good idea to skim through a passage quickly first _ . Choices: A. at about 350 w. P.m.(words per minute) B. to get the general idea of each paragraph C. so that you can take in each word separately D. to make sure you get to the end at least once
B
mmlu
Question: I was 20 years old when my mother passed away. It was the first real blow that life had dealt me, and I thought I would never recover. Then, by the time the following spring came, the pain was almost bearable and again I could find pleasure in the miraculous reward of nature. At first, I went to the cemetery with trepidation. But then, amazingly, by tending her grave and decorating it with flowers, I was ridding myself of the painful memories. The years passed. I moved from Kaposvar, Hungary, the town where I had been born and had spent my youth. So did my siblings. We only came together on feast days, especially on All Souls' Day in the cemetery. Father lived with me for many years, to a ripe old age. Now that he, too, rests beneath the white marble stone, I go even more eagerly to the cemetery. While I tend my parents' grave site, again I am with them in thought. One day I noticed a modest grave site behind my parents' plot. It lay among the magnificent granite and marble markers of the other graves, its very simplicity _ . Ivy had covered the site and its only decoration was a simple wooden cross on which was written in copper letters a name, and that she lived 22 years. Whenever I went by, the plot and its surroundings looked cared for and neat, and each time I felt curious about this mysterious woman who had lived all of 22 years. Once I saw an elderly man leaving from there. I concluded that perhaps he had come to visit his wife. In 1996 I was preparing for All Souls' Day in the cemetery when again I caught sight of him, tending the grave. Tall, somewhat bent, he was well passed middle age. We nodded to each other and continued our work. Occasionally I stole a glance at my neighbor. When I noticed that he hadn't got the tools for a proper cleanup, I offered him mine, which he gratefully accepted. After this, it seemed only natural to engage him in conversation. I asked him whose grave it was. This was his answer: "My mother's. She died young, in 1912 when I was only a year-and-a half old. I really never knew her. I made her that cross and the copper letters." Then he went on:"No one comes to visit this grave but me because I was her only child. She died of pneumonia. My father remarried and my stepmother only cared for her own children. So then I always came here to my mother, whether in sadness or in joy. Later, life took me far afield, but I never forgot this grave. For me it was the same as the family home is for others. I always came home here." "With the years passing, it is getting more difficult for me to come, but as long as my legs will carry me, at least twice a year I visit my mother. I'm in my 80s. so who knows how long I can still make it." In stunned silence I listened. Tears clouded my eyes as I realized that I had never seen such boundless love. How much easier is my lot, I thought, for at any moment I can reach into my storehouse of memories and draw out the joyful or sad vignettes that bind me to my parents with a thousand threads. What memories might this kindly old gentleman harbor? Perhaps a face from an ancient faded photograph of his mother. What a great attachment throughout his long life must have led him back again and again to the resting place of that young woman whose motherly love he could never truly savor , only forever feels its enormous lack. We said good-bye. I was deeply moved because I knew that I had been given a great gift. I had been allowed a glimpse of the royal and long-lasting affection that bound a simple and noble-hearted man to his mother. I decided I would tend the grave together with that of my parents, where, finally, the aged child will have met his youthful mother. The author stole a glance at her neighbor because _ . Choices: A. they were living in the same neighborhood B. the man was tall and straight, well passed middle age C. she was wondering about the dead young lady's story D. she knew the dead in the grave was the man's mother
C
mmlu
Question: Hi! My name is Lisa. I'm a student in Shanghai. I'm in Class Nine, Grade Five. Wang Tao and Li Fang are my friends. They are in Grade Five, too. They are not in my class. They are in Class Seven. I'm 12. They are 12, too. Mr. Cheng is my teacher. His telephone number is 8869254. Where is Lisa from? Choices: A. Beijing B. Shanghai C. Guangzhou. D. HongKong
B
sciq
Question: What type of chemistry is the study of chemicals containing carbon called? Choices: A. bioanalytical chemistry B. biochemistry C. inorganic chemistry D. organic chemistry
D
mmlu
Question: One night about nine o'clock, Dr. Eyck, a surgeon, had a phone call from Dr. Haydon at the hospital in Clens Falls. The surgeon was asked to go there at once to operate on a very sick boy who shot himself while playing with a gun. The doctor was soon on his way to Clens Falls. It was 60 miles away. And it was snowing heavily in the city. The surgeon thought he could get there before 12 o'clock. A few minutes later, the doctor was stopped by a man in an old black coat. Gun in hand, the man ordered the doctor to get out. Then the man drove the car down the road, leaving the doctor in the falling snow. It was after 2 o'clock in the morning when the doctor arrived at the hospital in Clens Falls. Dr. Haydon told him that the boy had died an hour before. The two doctors walked by the door of the hospital waiting room. There sat the man in the old black coat with his head in his hands. "Mr. Cuninghan," said Dr. Haydon to the man, "This is Dr. Eyck. He is the surgeon who walked all the way from Albany to save your boy." ,(A, B, CD),. Dr. Haydon asked Dr. Eyck to come to Clens Falls because _ . Choices: A. The boy needed the help of a surgeon B. Dr. Eyck knew the boy was wounded by a shot C. Dr. Eyck was the boy's father D. Dr. Eyck was Haydon's friend
A
mmlu
Question: One of the qualities that most people admire in others is the willingness to admit one's mistakes. It is extremely hard sometimes to say a simple thing like "I was wrong about that, "and it is even harder to say, "I was wrong, and you were right about that. " I had an experience recently with someone admitting to me that he had made a mistake fifteen years ago. He told me he had been the manager of a certain grocery store in the neighborhood where I grew up, and he asked me if I remembered the egg cartons . Then he related an incident and I began to remember clearly the incident he was describing. I was about eight years old at the time, and I had gone into the store with my mother to do the weekly grocery shopping. On that particular day, I must have found my way to the dairy food department where the incident took place. There must have been a special sale on eggs that day because there was an impressive display of eggs in dozen and half-dozen cartons. The cartons were stacked three or four feet high. I must have stopped in front of a display to admire the stacks. Just then a woman came by pushing her grocery cart and knocked off the stacks of cartons. For some reason, I decided it was up to me to put the display back together, so I went to work. The Manager heard the noise and came rushing over to see what had happened. When he appeared, I was on my knees inspecting (examining)some of the cartons to see if any of the eggs were broken, but to him it looked as though I was the criminal. He severely scolded me and wanted me to pay for any broken eggs. I protested my innocence and tried to explain, but it did no good. Even though I quickly forgot all about the incident, obviously the manager did not. It can be inferred that the author _ . Choices: A. regrets arguing with the manager for what he didn't do B. would like to tell people never to be fooled by an egg sale C. has forgiven the manager for what he did to him fifteen years ago D. expects the woman to say sorry to him for the mistake she made
C
mmlu
Question: Michael J. "Crocodile Dundee" (also called Mick), played by Paul Hogan, is the main character in the fictional Crocodile Dundee film series consisting of Crocodile Dundee, Crocodile Dundee II, and Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles. The character is a crocodile hunter, hence the nickname. In the first film, Crocodile Dundee, Mick is visited by a New York reporter, Sue Charlton, who travels to Australia to investigate a report she heard of a crocodile hunter, who had his leg bitten off by a crocodile in the outback. The hunter supposedly walked more than a hundred miles back to civilization and miraculously survived his injuries. However, by the time she meets him, the story turns out to be a somewhat exaggerated legend where the "bitten-off leg" turns out to be just being some bad scarring on his leg; a "love bite" as Mick calls it. Still _ by the idea of "Crocodile Dundee", Sue continues with the story. They travel together out to where the incident occurred, and follow his route through the bush to the nearest hospital. Despite his old-fashioned views, the pair eventually become close, especially after Mick saves Sue from a crocodile attack. Feeling there is still more to the story, Sue invites Mick back to New York with her, as his first trip to a city (or "first trip anywhere," as Dundee says). The rest of the film depicts Dundee as a "fish out of water," showing how, despite his expert knowledge of living outdoors, he knows little of city life. Mick meets Sue's boyfriend, Richard, but they do not get along. By the end of the film, Mick is on his way home, lovesick, when Sue realizes she loves Mick, too, and not Richard. She runs to the subway station to stop Mick from leaving and, by passing on messages through the packed-to-the-gills crowd, she tells him she won't marry Richard, and she loves him instead. With the help of the other people in the subway, Mick and Sue have a loving reunion as the film ends. In the film Crocodile Dundee, Mick _ . Choices: A. pretends he was bitten by a crocodile B. urges Sue Charlton to write his life story C. hasn't been abroad before his trip to America D. shows Sue Charlton around the town he lives in
C
mmlu
Question: An old man walked slowly into a restaurant with his cane . His old jacket and shoes made him unusual that day. A young waitress named Mary watched him move towards a table by the window. She ran over to him, and said with a smile, "Here, sir. Let me give you a hand." Without saying a word, he gave her a smile. She pulled the chair away from the table and helped him sit down. Then she put his cane against the table so that he could reach it. In a soft, clear voice, he said, "Thank you, miss." "You're welcome, sir," she replied. "I'll be back in a moment, and if you need anything, just wave at me!" After he had finished a good meal. Mary brought him the change. She handed him his cane, and walked with him to the front door. Holding the door open for him, she said, "Come back and see us, sir!" The old man turned around and smiled. When Mary went to clean his table, she was shocked. Under the plate, she found a business card, a 100-dollar bill and a note. The note said, "Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself, too. It shows the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness." In fact, the old man was the owner of the restaurant. That was the first time that she, or any of his waitresses, had seen him. The old man was _ . Choices: A. Mary's father B. Mary's neighbour C. the boss of the restaurant D. a waiter of the restaurant
C
mmlu
Question: More and more pupils are giving teachers presents, but the practice only creates insecurity in parents and staff. I've certainly noticed some pupils being feverishly overgenerous of late. Last year, I received not one bottle of wine but four for helping a disaffected pupil through his GCSEs. By and large, my colleagues report the gifts differing along gender lines. Gentlemen get ties, mugs, booze and, if they're really lucky, tickets to football matches. The ladies are often presented with flowers, jewels, chocolates and so on. When my son was at private school, I noticed there was a real competitiveness between the students about giving presents to teachers, with expensive baskets from fancy stores and huge bouquets being handed out on the last days of term. Since my wife and I only let my son give thank-you cards, it was clear we were not "classy". Now he is at an inner-city primary, we've noticed that this kind of _ seems to have more or less disappeared. For one thing, there isn't that kind of money floating around - but there isn't that kind of competitive culture either. Personally, I think gifts to teachers should be banned beyond the thank-you card: they cause many more problems than they solve, creating insecurity in both parents and staff. Perhaps the recession and the lack of money in people's pockets might be a good excuse for the government to issue some guidelines to schools that gifts shouldn't be accepted by teachers. The gifts that I really value are the cards which say a genuine thank you. I still keep them in a file at home. Which of the following can be the best title? Choices: A. Don't Forget to Give Gifts to Your Teachers B. Presents Won't Make Pupils Teachers' Pets C. Learn the Competitive Culture of Gifts D. Refuse Presents from Your Students
B
mmlu
Question: A typical Chinese Internet user is a young male who prefers instant messaging to e-mail,seldom makes online purchases but favors news,music and games sites.According to a study,about two-thirds of survey participants use the Internet for news--often entertainment-related--or for online games.About half download music and movies. They also tend to prefer instant messaging to e-mail,and they are depending on the Internet more frequently than before to communicate with others who have the same professions,hobbies and political interests.Online purchases still remain unpopular in China.Three-quarters of users surveyed have never bought anything over the Internet,and only 10 percent make purchases even once a month.Among those who do buy online,most pay for entertainment while others buy phone cards,or computer hardware or software. "Many people don't trust the quality of goods bought online," Guo said Wednesday."If they buy it in a store and don't like it,they can easily bring it back.'' The survey was done in five major cities:Beijin9,Shanghai,Guangzhou.Chengdu and Changsha.Results do not necessarily project countrywide because Internet use in rural areas is lower than in cities.Guo describes the typical netizen in the five cities surveyed as young,male,richer and more highly educated.Males make up two-thirds of the Internet community,and more than 80 percent of users are under 24.Among people ages 25 to 29,60 percent to 80 percent go online. China has more than 100 million people online,second in the world to the United States. Which of the following words fails to describe the typical netizens in the five cities? Choices: A. Well-educated. B. Richer. C. Female. D. Young.
C
sciq
Question: What leads to the buildup of electric charges on objects? Choices: A. polarization B. rotation C. movement D. gravity
A
mmlu
Question: DNA is a substance that makes up genes. Everything alive has genes. Plants have genes. Animals have genes. You have genes. Genes are the basic units of heredity . Heredity means all the characteristics you inherit from your parents. You get your genes from your parents. You inherit half of your genes from your mother. You inherit half of your genes from your father. Genes are a kind of code. A tree's genes tell what shape its leaves will be. A cat's genes tell what color1 its fur will be. Your genes tell what color1 your eyes will be. Your genes tell what color1 your hair will be. Everything about you comes from the code in your genes. Genes line up on strands called chromosomes in cells. Everything alive is made up of cells. Chromosomes are in the center, or nucleus, of cells. An Austrian monk named Gregor Mendel first saw inherited patterns in pea plants. He experimented with pea plants in the 1860s. One of the things, or traits , Mendel studied was what makes some pea plants tall and some short. He said that the traits must come from units of heredity passed from the parent plants. These units were called genes. In the mid-1900s, scientists discovered that genes are made of DNA. In the 1970s, scientists learned how to change DNA with genetic engineering. Scientists also learned that problems with certain genes cause diseases. Muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, and hemophilia are some genetic diseases--diseases caused by problems in genes. Today, scientists are looking for ways to cure genetic diseases by _ genes through a process called gene therapy. Which is the correct from large to small? Choices: A. genes---chromosomes---cells B. cells---chromosomes---genes C. chromosomes---cells---genes D. cells---genes---chromosomes
B
mmlu
Question: One day, I saw Harry sitting under a tree. He looked very sad. So I asked him what was wrong. "Nothing," He said, "I'm too short to join the school basketball team." "And our P.E .teacher thinks I've little hope to be in the team in half a year," he added. "Why not join another team?" I asked. "But my dream is to be an excellent basketball player in the future," he said. He told me his father wanted him to change his idea to join the school ping-pong team. "Good idea." I agreed. "You're sure to be popular, because you have a smart head." The next day, he joined the school ping-pong team. He worked harder than any other boy. Soon he was very popular in the team and looked happy every day. At the end of last month, his team took part in the city's high school ping-pong match. He and his team beat the others and won the championship. Sometimes your dream may not come true. Then make a small change, and it will bring you another success. ,,. The passage tells us that _ . Choices: A. Harry is too short to play basketball. B. Harry wants to be a basketball player. C. Making a change may be good for you. D. a big dream can bring you success.
C
mmlu
Question: Snooker is a big sport in China.It is said that there are 300 million snooker players in China, so it's not surprised that some of the world's best players come from China.Ding Junhui is one of them. When Ding Junhui was eight years old, there were not many snooker clubs.His father often played with his friends on a table in the street,and one day Ding Junhui played with one of his father friends and beat him.His father,a shoe salesman,discovered that his son was talented at snooker.He then took Ding Junhui to China's nation snooker training center in Dongguan,Guangdong Province.There.they lived in a room of five square meters.When they ran out of money.Ding's father phoned his wife and told her to sell their house. After years of hard training,Ding turned professional in 2003 and became China's No.1.In 2005.more than 100 million people watched Ding Junhui win the 2005 World Snooker China Open.Since then, snooker has become more and more popular in China. "When I was a small boy, snooker was not in the top 10 favorite sports in China,"Ding says."Table tennis was top, followed by soccer, basketball and badminton.Now,basketball is top,but snooker is surely in the top five." Ding Junhui became the best snooker player in China _ . Choices: A. in 2003 B. in 2005 C. when he was 6 D. when he was 8
B
mmlu
Question: Rowena and Billy Wrangler are model high school students. They study hard and do extremely well on achievement tests. And next year,Rowena will be attending Harvard University.Billy,her younger brother,hopes to go to Cornell.What makes Rowena and Billy different from most students is that they don't go to school.In fact,they've never been to school.Since kindergarten,they've studied at home.Like many of more than one million people who receive home schooling in the United States, they feel as if they've gotten a good education. The home-schooling trend began in the U.S.in the 1980s with parents keeping their children out of public schools so they could provide religious education at home. Today,as the home-schooling trend continues to grow,parents are more likely to consider home schooling as an option because they believe schools don't do a very good job of teaching and are occasionally dangerous places.But can parents really do a better job? The answer in many cases is yes.In many studies,students taught at home ranked average or above average when compared to students who went to public schools.More importantly,these students were often more self-directed and have a greater depth of knowledge.They were well prepared for academic challenges. One such student,Robert Conrad, now a sophomore at university, claims he really learned how to study and schedule his time during his eight years of home schooling.Still, not every student is as successful as Robert. "For every home-schooling success story,there are an equal number of failures."states Henry Lipscomb,an educational researcher."There are just so many disadvantages that students taught at home have to overcome." For example,they have fewer chances to get in touch with others of their own age.Consequently,they sometimes lack the usual social skills."No matter what,though,"states Lipscomb,"home-schooling is a growing trend.I think we'll be seeing more and more of this." The writer thinks _ . Choices: A. parents can do a better job than schools B. home-schooling will be more and more useful C. home-schooling is good in some aspects D. students taught at home make greater achievements
C
mmlu
Question: Mrs. Thompson stood in front of her 5th grade class on the first day of school. She found a boy sleeping in his seat. He was Teddy. Also Thompson noticed the boy didn't play well with the other children. It got to the point "F" at the top of his papers. Mrs. Thompson reviewed each child's past records. However, when she reviewed Teddy's file , she was in a surprise. Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child. He does his work neatly and has good manners..." His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, but he is troubled because his mother has an illness and life at home is difficult." His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death had been hard on him. He tries his best, but his father doesn't show much interest in his study..." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is _ and doesn't talk with other's. Also he doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class." By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents wrapped in beautiful and bright paper, except for Teddy's. He sent a rhinestone bracelet with some stones missing. But Mrs. Thompson told him with a smile, "I like it very much." After school Teddy said, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smell just like my Mother used to be." Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class. Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets." ,. From this passage, we know _ . Choices: A. Mrs. Thompson wasn't interested in Teddy's study B. Mrs. Thompson was the first teacher to find Teddy sleeping in class C. teacher's love can save a student D. Teddy's parents' death made his study fall behind others
C
mmlu
Question: Tony has always loved going to the beach. He spends as much time there as he can. It was a bright, sunny day. The beach was full by the time Tony and his mum got there. It seemed that everyone had the same idea today. When they found a spot , Tony sat down and began to relax. Soon Tony noticed something strange. There was an empty water bottle in the sand. Then, a paper bag was blowing down by the water. People had littered all over the beach! Tony was mad. His mum explained that a lot of people littered instead of using garbage cans . If Tony wanted to stop it, he would have to work to save the beach. He worked hard. Tony got a group to help clean up. He put up signs saying" _ " and got his town to add more garbage cans in the area. Most of all, he let people know how bad littering is for the environment. Tony worked hard to make a difference! What is Tony like according to the passage? Choices: A. Hard-working and caring. B. Hard-working but careless. C. Outgoing but lazy. D. Lazy and careless.
A
mmlu
Question: I have a dog . It's a girl dog. She is two years old. Her ears and eyes are big. But she has a small nose and a small mouth. Her hair is long. She has four long legs, too. Does she have mum and dad? Yes! They come from Cuba. What's her name? Can you guess? Her name is Juzi, because she is orange. Wow, she is my toy dog. My dog is _ . Choices: A. a girl B. from Cuba C. three years old D. a toy
B
mmlu
Question: The 115-year-old prestigious Oxford Dictionary will now include popular new Chinese terms like"shanzhai" "youtiao" and "fangnu", as part of the modern Chinese language. As China plays a more and more important role in the world economy, the Chinese language is forever developing, attracting more attention from people who want to understand this ancient yet lively language. For instance, the word "shanzhai" is used to describe the countless knockoffs of iPhones or designer bags imprinted with Louis Vuitton logos. Another new term in the new edition is the word "fangnu", or a "mortgage slave" --a term used to describe the phenomenon in large cities where well-educated youth complain of a miserable existence due to the heavy burden of a home mortgage. All these new or often fashionable terms can be found in the new Oxford English -Chinese, Chinese-English dictionary that was unveiled in the recently concluded Beijing International Book Fair last week. The dictionary now is available for retail sales since the beginning of this month.This dictionary is the largest single volume English-Chinese, Chinese-English dictionary and contains 670,000 words and phrases after five years of preparation.Sixty editors from the Oxford University Press and its partner in China--the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press--worked together on the project.According to Julie Kleeman, the dictionary's chief editor, most of the firm's editors were Chinese, while about one fourth were native-English speakers. "We don't want to make it florid , we want it to be modern and conversational...many of the words in the present dictionary are no longer in use," said Kleeman."The need for studying Chinese by foreigners today is totally different from decades ago...Precise, native and practical--that is our main advantage," she said. Kleeman said newer publications updates will be available only for the online version as language often changes too quickly for book versions to keep pace.The online version will also offer a Chinese phonetic pronunciation guide.The online version, allowing access via different platforms from the PC to the iPad, will be ready "as soon as possible", Kleeman said. What is the main idea of the passage? Choices: A. New Chinese terms like "shanzhai" and "fangnu" have got into Oxford Dictionary. B. The latest Oxford English-Chinese, Chinese-English Dictionary is on the market. C. Oxford Dictionary has become more fashionable due to the Chinese language. D. Beijing International Book Fair was where the new Oxford Dictionary was published
B
mmlu
Question: A federal statute requires United States civil service employees to retire at age 75. However, that statute also states that civil service employees of the armed forces must retire at age 65. Prentis, a 65-year-old service employee of the Department of the Army, seeks a declaratory judgment that would forbid his mandatory retirement until age 75. The strongest argument that Prentis can make to invalidate the requirement that he retire at age 65 is that the law Choices: A. denies him a privilege or immunity of national citizenship. B. deprives him of a property right without just compensation. C. is not within the scope of any of the enumerated powers of Congress in Article I, §8. D. invidiously discriminates against him on the basis of age in violation of the Fifth Amendmen
D
sciq
Question: Thylakoid membranes contain molecules of what green pigment used in photosynthesis? Choices: A. carbonate B. chlorophyll C. sodium D. copper
B
mmlu
Question: CCTV anchorman Luo Jing died of cancer on June 5 ,2009 at the age of 48. In 1983 ,graduating from Beijing Broadcasting Institute, he began his career as a prime time newscaster for CCTV .Over the past decades , as an icon of China's broadcasting industry,Luo Jing's modest image and clear voice left unforgettable memories with his audience. Last year when he was diagnosed as having lymph cancer ,he felt it too awful,for two weeks later he was to run the torch ,He asked doctors to keep the secret in order for him to complete the task of the Olympic torch. Finally, not only did he complete the task, but he participated in a series of voice - over work in the Olympic Games opening ceremony . After that ,he frankly said to the leader the next day,"I have completed the task and I am going to hospital today." Broadcast sowing rate of the News Network used to be 180words a minute, but increases to 300 words a minute, which is beyond most people's ability. What's more terror is the strict limit of time .Sometimes after a piece of news is broadcast, there is a few seconds left, when staff hand a message press release. The host must strictly control the time to broadcast the unexpected news. As soon as his voice _ , the program turns into the following images without one more second or less. In such high - intensity work environment, with the perfect professional he worked for 26 years without any error. In life , we seldom mention comedy without tragedy, laughter without tears ,and joy without sorrow.Though the passing of Luo Jings brings us pain, it's only fitting to remember his smiles with happiness. He's been taken from us much too soon , but he leaves us what he's been working for. When did Luo Jing go to hospital? Choices: A. As soon as he ran the torch. B. As soon as he was diagnosed with cancer. C. As soon as he felt uncomfortable. D. After attending the Olympic Games opening ceremony.
D
mmlu
Question: Three Yale University professors agreed in a discussion that the automobile was what one of them called "Public Health Enemy No. 1 in this century". Besides polluting the air and overcrowding the cities, cars are involved in more than half the disastrous accidents, and they contribute to heart disease "because we won't walk anywhere any more," said Richard Weeinaman, professor of medicine and public health. Speaking of many of those man-made dangers of the automobile, Arthur W. Galson, professor of biology, said it was possible to make a kerosene-burning turbine car that would "lessensmog by a very large factor". But he expressed doubt whether Americans were willing to give up moving about the countryside at 90 miles per hour in a large vehicle. "America seems wedded to the motor car--every family has to have at least two, and one has to be a convertible with 300 horsepower," professor Galson continued. "Is this the way of life that we choose because we treasure these values?" For professor Sears, part of the blame lies with "a society that regards profit as a supreme value, under the illusion that anything that's technically possible is, therefore, morally justified". Professor Sears also called the country's dependence on its modern automobiles "terrible economics" because of the large horsepower used simply "moving one individual to work". But he admitted that Americans have painted themselves into a corner by allowing the national economy to become so dependent on the automobile industry. "The solution," Dr Weeinerman said, "is not finding a less dangerous fuel but a different system of inner city transportation. Because of the increasing use of cars, public transportation has been allowed to wither and grow worse, so that if you can't walk to where you want to go, you have to have a car in most cities," he declared. This, in turn, Dr Weeinerman contended, is responsible for the "arteriosclerosis " of public roads, for the pollution of the inner city and for the middle-class movement to the suburbs. The main idea of the passage is that _ . Choices: A. Americans are used to travelling by cars B. American public transportation is growing worse C. American car industry caused disastrous road accidents D. American people's health is threatened by automobiles
D
mmlu
Question: As we all know, animals are our good friends. Many kids love animals very much. They like to go to the zoo every Saturday, Sunday or even every day on weekdays. But do you want to go to the zoo at night? Usually, the zoos aren't open at night. But if you are in Singapore, you may have a chance to visit a zoo at night. There is a night zoo in Singapore. Its name is Night Safari. It is open at night. Why? That's because many animals only wake up in the evening, like tigers and wolves. During the day, they like to sleep, so it's the best time to watch them at night. Is that interesting? Welcome to the Night Safari! Where can you see tigers and wolves at night? Choices: A. Every zoo in China B. Every zoo in the world C. Every zoo in Singapore D. Only in Night Safari in Singapore
D
mmlu
Question: Dora, who was eight years old, went to the grocery store with her mother. Dora pushed the grocery cart while her mother put items into it. Dora's mother remained near Dora at all times. Peterson, another customer in the store, noticed Dora pushing the cart in a manner that caused Peterson no concern. A short time later, the cart Dora was pushing struck Peterson in the knee, inflicting serious injury. If Peterson brings an action, based on negligence, against the grocery store, the store's best defense will be that Choices: A. a store owes no duty to its customers to control the use of its shopping carts. B. a store owes no duty to its customers to control the conduct of other customers. C. any negligence of the store was not the proximate cause of Peterson's injury. D. a supervised child pushing a cart does not pose an unreasonable risk to other customers.
D
mmlu
Question: The speaker, a teacher from a community college, addressed a sympathetic audience. Heads nodded in agreement when he said, "High school English teachers are not doing their jobs." He described the inadequacies of his students, all high school graduates who can use language only at a grade 9 level. I was unable to determine from his answers to my questions how this grade 9 level had been established. My topic is not standards nor its decline . What the speaker was really saying is that he is no longer young; he has been teaching for sixteen years, and is able to think and speak like a mature adult. My point is that the frequent complaint of one generation about the one immediately following it is inevitable. It is also human nature to look for the reasons for our dissatisfaction. Before English became a school subject in the late nineteenth century, it was difficult to find the target of the blame for language deficiencies . But since then, English teachers have been under constant attack. The complainers think they have hit upon an original idea. As their own command of the language improves, they notice that young people do not have this same ability. Unaware that their own ability has developed through the years, they assume the new generation of young people must be hopeless in this respect. To the eyes and ears of sensitive adults the language of the young always seems inadequate. Since this concern about the decline and fall of the English language is not perceived as a generational phenomenon but rather as something new and peculiar to today's young people, it naturally follows that today's English teachers cannot be doing their jobs. Otherwise, young people would not commit offenses against the language. The speaker the author mentioned in the passage believed that _ . Choices: A. the language of the younger generation is usually inferior to that of the older generation B. the students had a poor command of English because they didn't work hard enough C. he was an excellent language teacher because he had been teaching English for sixteen years D. English teachers should be held responsible for the students' poor command of English
D
mmlu
Question: Do you care about your memory ?The following ways can help improve your memory. Sleep: Sleep plays an important part in improving your memory. Enough sleep is very important to have a good memory. Don't watch TV while eating: Do not watch television while eating. Some people keep talking and eating while watching TV. Eating is a time when you can take a break from studying and rest your eyes. Healthy food: Healthy food is important for a healthy mind. Have milk, eggs, fish and fruits. These foods have a lot of nutrients Make the things interesting: If you find the things the teachers ask you to memorize interesting, you will memorize them more easily. For example, include music and different colors in the things you need to memorize. Repeat the things: Repeat the things by singing or talking. Repeating is a good way to memorize things. Exercise: Do exercise every day. It not only improves the body but improves the mind. Air in the morning keeps your mind clear. A clear mind is needed for memorizing things. Have a rest: Don't study for long hours. Have a rest from time to time. Studying for a long time will make you tired and you will find it harder to remember and learn things. Why shouldn't you watch TV while eating? Choices: A. Because it will make you eat less. B. Because you need to rest your eyes. C. Because you can't take in enough nutrients in this way. D. Because it is bad for your mind.
B
mmlu
Question: Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated action comedy movie made by DreamWorks. It was directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne. It tells the story about a big fat panda named Po who is a kung fu fan. The movie came out in 2008 and stars Jack Black as Po. It received critical acclaim and became a box office success. A successful sequel , Kung Fu Panda 2 was released in 2011. A big, fat panda named Po the panda dreams of becoming a kung fu master, but he doesn't know kung fu. One day, kung fu teacher Master Shifu holds a competition to see who will become the Dragon Warrior , the most powerful kung fu master in the land. Everyone thinks one of Shifu's students, the Furious Five will become the Dragon Warrior, but Po is chosen instead and begins learning kung fu. Shifu and the Furious Five don't like Po the panda and try to make him quit, but he becomes friends with them. When Master Shifu learns that the evil Tai Lung the snow leopard is coming to the land, he quickly teaches Po kung fu so he can be given the Dragon Scroll that will help him beat Tai Lung. Nothing is written on the scroll, but Po finds out that he doesn't need the scroll to be the Dragon Warrior and beats Tai Lung without it. Po becomes a kung fu master and Dragon Warrior loved by everyone and peace returns to the land. Which of the following is WRONG? Choices: A. Master Shifu is a kung fu teacher. B. The Furious Five are Master Shifu's students. C. The Furious Five become the Dragon Warrior. D. Shifu and the Furious Five don't like Po the panda.
C
mmlu
Question: Animals are not always animals. Some of them will try to cheat or cow some others in the way the human beings often do. Here is a fairy tale from Aesop for you to enjoy. An eagle made her nest at the top of a high tree while a cat, having found a convenient hole, moved into the middle of the trunk, and at the same time a wild pig, with her young took shelter in a hollow at its foot. The cat then decided to make all serve her in her wise way. To carry out her design, she climbed to the nest of the eagle, saying, "Destruction is preparing for you and for me too, unfortunately. The wild pig, whom you see daily digging up the earth, wishes to uproot the tree, so she may on its fall seize our families as food for her young." Having thus frightened the eagle out of her senses, she crept down to the cave of the pig, saying, "Your children are in great danger, for as soon as you go out to find food, the eagle is prepared to jump upon one of your little pigs." Having filled these fears into the pig, she went and pretended to hide herself in the hollow of the tree. When night came she went out silently and obtained food for herself and her children, but pretending to be afraid, she kept a lookout all through the day. Meanwhile, the eagle, full of fear of the pig, sat still on the branches, and the pig, terrified by the eagle, did not dare to go out from her cave. Thus they both, along with their families, starved from hunger, and afforded good food for the cat and her children. What was the pig frightened of? Choices: A. The eagle would kill her young child. B. The eagle would cheat her away. C. The cat was telling the true story. D. She could not find enough food.
A
mmlu
Question: It was a cold and wet night. Over the radio came the message to deal with an accident in one of the side streets of the city. The scene of the accident wasn't far away and we arrived after 10 minutes. Two cars had crashed. Two women were lying on the street and one driver was still in the car. The driver was quite drunk and kept shouting to us. He didn't get badly hurt. A young woman died at once when the two cars crashed. I was holding the other woman and tried to stop the bleeding, but at last I had to watch her die in my arms. Three months later, I saw the driver in court and found him to be a normal person. He was sorry for his actions. In the end, he was put into the prison for several years. A man isn't a man if he drinks 10 beers in an hour. A man is a man when he knows his limit and takes responsibility . When he can stay away from wine, he can drive more safely. We know _ died in the accident. Choices: A. the man B. one woman C. two women D. nobody
C
mmlu
Question: Mattel Inc.is recalling 4.4 million Polly Pocket toys with magnets after some of them caused serious injuries to children who swallowed magnets that fell off.Tiny magnets inside the toys may fall off without being noticed by parents and babysitters.The magnets can be swallowed or placed in children' s noses or ears.When more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestine perforations which can be deadly. The Consumer Product Safety Commission received 170 reports of the magnets coming out of these recalled toys.There were three reports of serious injuries to children who swallowed more than one magnet.All three suffered intestine perforations that required operations.A 2-year-old child stayed in hospital for 7 days and a 7-year-old child was hospitalized for 12 days. The recalled Polly Pocket toys contain plastic dolls and accessories that have small magnets.The magnets measure one-eighth inch in diameter and are fixed in the hands and feet of the dolls, and even in the plastic clothing, hairpieces and other accessories to help the pieces stay on the dolls or the dolls' houses. The model number is printed on the bottom of the largest pieces on the toys.Contact Mattel if you cannot find a model number on your product to determine if it is part of the recall.Polly Pocket magnetic toys currently sold in stores are not included in this recall.The model numbers included in the recall are: B2632, B3158, B7118, G8605, H1537 and H3211.The toys were on sales in department stores and toy stores from May 2006 through September 2009. Consumers should immediately take these recalled toys away from children and contact Mattel for the return of the toys.For more information contact Mattel at 888 597-6597 anytime or visit the company' s website. Consumers can find the model numbers of the problem toys _ . Choices: A. in the toys' hands B. in the clothing C. on some small accessories D. on their largest pieces
D
mmlu
Question: One day an old man is selling an elephant. A young man comes to the elephant and begins to look at it slowly . The old man goes up to him and says in his ear, " Don't say anything about the elephant before I sell it, then I'll give you some meat." "All right," says the young man. After the old man sells the elephant, he gives the young man some meat and says, " Now, can you tell me how you find the bad ears of the elephant?" " I didn' t find the bad ears," says the young man. "Then why do you look at the elephant slowly?" asks the old man. The young man answers, "Because I never see an elephant before , and I want to know what it looks like." _ the elephant. Choices: A. The young man buys B. The old man sells C. The two men sell D. The old man buys
B
mmlu
Question: We have recently heard a great deal about the effects of computers on our social and economic organizations. In industry, computers mean automation , and automation means unemployment. Computers in the prefix = st1 /United Stateshave already begun to take the place of workers whose tasks are simple. The variety of jobs, done only by humans in the past, which the machine can perform more rapidly, accurately and economically, increases with each new generation of computers. If we follow this trend, we will be faced with mass unemployment for all but a handful of highly trained professionals who will be more powerful and overworked than they are now. What can we do about it? It is foolish to dream of making history backwards. We cannot pass laws forbidding the advancement of science and technology. The computing machines are here, and they will grow because engineers want to build them, and politicians want their help in the process of government. In short they will develop and become popular because they enable us to complete tasks that could never before have been done, no matter how many unskilled laborers we might have set to work. Computers will continue to increase our intelligence for just the same reason that engines continue to strengthen our muscles. The question we must ask is not whether we shall have computers or not have computers, but rather, since we are going to have them, how we make the most humane and intelligent use of them. Which kind of the following persons will be the first to be employed if computers continue to develop? Choices: A. Skilled workers. B. Highly trained professionals. C. Ordinary engineers. D. Government officials.
B
mmlu
Question: An old and very rich friend of mine told me he had an unpleasant experience. He went to a famous jewelry shop and asked to be shown some gold necklaces. After examining several minutes, he decided to buy a gold necklace with a precious diamond, and asked if he could pay by cheque . The assistant said that was quite in order, but the moment my friend signed his name, he was invited into the manager's office. The manager was very polite, but he explained that someone with exactly the same name had given them a worthless cheque not long ago. My friend got very angry when he heard this and said that he would buy a diamond necklace somewhere else. When he got up to go, the manager told him that the police would arrive at any moment and he had better stay unless he wanted to get into serious trouble. Sure enough, the police arrived soon afterwards. They were polite, too, but explained that a person who had used the same name as his was responsible for a number of recent robberies. Then the police asked my friend to copy out a note which had been used by the thief in a number of stores. The note read, "I have a gun in my pocket. Ask no question and give me all the money in the drawer." Luckily, my friend's handwriting was quite unlike the thief's. He was not only allowed to go without further delay,but also to take the diamond necklace with him. After the man heard what the manager said, he _ . Choices: A. got very angry and left at once B. went out to buy a diamond necklace somewhere else C. insisted on staying until the police came D. thought that he had nothing to do with the stealing
D
mmlu
Question: Here's an amazing way to get a hard-boiled egg into a bottle, even though the mouth of the boiled is smaller than the egg! What's more, you don't even need to touch the egg to get it to go in! For this experiment you will need: *a hard-boiled egg *a glass bottle with a mouth just slightly smaller than the egg (a fruit-drink bottle works well) *a 8-cm by 8-cm(3-inch by 3-inch)piece of newspaper *a match Remove the shell from the egg. Set the egg on the mouth of the bottle to see that the egg does not fit through the mouth. Light the paper. Remove the egg from the mouth of the bottle and drop the burning paper into the bottle. Before the fire goes out, set the egg back onto the mouth of the bottle. Within a few seconds the egg will squeeze through the mouth and into the bottle. As it entered the bottle, the egg may have broken into pieces. This happens when the diameter of the egg is more than about 0.5 cm(about 3/16 inch) larger than the diameter of the bottle's opening. Why does the egg slide into the bottle, even though no one is pushing it? Because the pressure of the air is pushing it. Before the burning paper is put into the bottle, the pressure of the air inside is the same as outside. The burning paper, however, heats the air inside. This causes the air inside to expand. When the egg is placed on top of the bottle, it seals the bottle. When the fire goes out, the air inside cools. As it cools, the air contracts , and the pressure of the air inside becomes less than the pressure outside. Then, the higher outside pressure pushes the egg into the bottle! The best title of this passage can be _ . Choices: A. An interesting story B. The pressure of the air C. Egg in a bottle D. Egg, bottle and match
C
mmlu
Question: People People is America's No.1 magazine about fascinating people. It's a guide to who and what's hot in the arts, science, business, politics, television, movies, books, music and sports. It is published weekly. Publisher: The Time Inc. Magazine Company Cover Price: $211.47 Our Price:$117.00 Issues :53 issues/ 12 months Lucky Lucky is the shopping magazine with the best buys, and the fashion tips you'll need before you hit the stores. What makes Lucky really different is that it gets you the information you need before anyone else has it. Publisher: Conde Nast Publications Inc. Cover Price: $35.40 Our Price:$15.00 Issues: 12 issues/ 12 months Parents The most trusted magazine for parents who want to raise smart, loving and self-confident children. Each issue has age-specific child-development guidance, advice on your child's health and safety, and the best ways to encourage your child's learning. Publisher: Meredith Corporation Cover Price: $42.00 Our Price:$9.97 Issues: 12 issues/ 12 months Entertainment This magazine covers movies, television, music, Broadway stage productions, books, and popular culture. Unlike _ like People, its main concentration is on entertainment media and reviews. It's intended for a more general audience. Publisher: The Time Inc. Magazine Company Cover Price: $199.50 Our Price:$38.95 Issues: 62 issues/ 12 months According to the passage, what makes Lucky so special? Choices: A. It has lots of cartoons. B. It has pictures of stars. C. It tells you where to find bargains. D. It has information no one else has.
D
mmlu
Question: (The Daily Mail) David Thomas failed all his maths exams and left school with no qualifications, yet this 30 - year - old fire - fighter has just gone into the Guinness Book of Records by reciting from memory 22,500 digits of the mathematical constant, pi(p). After five months of training, in which he spent ten hours a day memorizing a quarter of a million digits, David Thomas took part in a 16 - hour mental battle.Witnesses watched in awe as Thomas set a new European record, earning the title 'Most Powerful Memory in the Western Hemisphere'. David says, "When I was at school I was hopeless.I could' t remember anything, but now I can remember more facts than anyone in Europe." So how does Thomas do it? "One night I was watching a TV programme about an interview with a man called Dominic O'Brien, who had been the world memory champion five times.He used to be a gambler, and he wasn't particularly successful until he developed his own mnemonics, or mental memory aid, for each card in order to remember which cards had already been dealt and which ones hadn't." Thomas became fascinated by O'Brien's theory that anyone can improve their memory by using specialized techniques.These techniques involve linking everything to familiar people or objects. "If you want to remember a phone number for example, you have to give the numbers life.Sometimes I associate a number with a person.Number 10 for me is always the Prime Minister (who lives at number 10 Downing Street) ," explained David.If David is trying to remember facts he also links them to an image."For instance, if I was trying to memorize the name 'Tom Cruise' , I would think of his film Top Cun, and that leads me to images of guns and cruise missiles." is soon going to appear on TV's Record Breakers, and this week he is teaching memory training and speed - writing at Huddersfield University.His fees are PS600 a day.He is sure that the future holds a lot more for him than a job as a fire - fighter. Which of the following is true? Choices: A. A person's ability of memorizing stuff is reflected in his studies. B. A person with a powerful memory can achieve success easily. C. Thomas' powerful memory has brought him fame and wealth. D. Thomas'memory is more powerful than O'Brien's
C
arc_easy
Question: How are animals that prey on other animals classified? Choices: A. herbivores B. carnivores C. autotrophs D. decomposers
B
mmlu
Question: How important can a fifteen-year-old boy's work be? Well, Louis Braille's work changed the world. Born in a small town near Paris in 1809, shortly after his third birthday Louis blinded himself in one eye while playing with a sharp pointed tool in his father's workshop. He soon lost the sight in his other eye when the infection spread. He wanted to go to school, but in his small town there was no school for him. At that time, blind people did not get any school education. Braille went to Paris to study, but there were few books for the blind. Louis knew that books were the key to learning. He struggled with ideas for three years. Finally, at fifteen, he invented an alphabet made with raised dots . Blind people could "read" by feeling the patterns of the dots. Being able to read Braille allows blind children to learn together with the sighted at school, and go on to get jobs. It allows people who lose their eyesight to continue to read, learn and get information. Braille got blind as a result of _ . Choices: A. an illness B. an accident C. a party D. a fired
B
mmlu
Question: A young man once went to buy a pair of pants. When he got home, he went upstairs to his bedroom and put them on. He found that they were two inches long. Then he came out of his room to see his mother and his two sisters. They were washing something in the kitchen."These new pants are too long, they need to be shortened about two inches. Would one of you like to do this for me, please?" His mother and sisters were busy and none of them said anything. The mother went upstairs after she had finished washing and shortened the pants two inches. But she didn't tell her daughters about it. Later on, after supper, the elder sister remembered her brother's pants. So she went upstairs without saying to anyone, and shortened the pants two inches. The younger sister went to the cinema, but when she came back, she also remembered what her brother had said. So she ran upstairs, and took two inches off the legs of the new pants The young man asked _ to shorten his pants. Choices: A. his mother and his two sisters B. his mother and one of his sister C. his mother D. his mother or one of his two sisters
A
mmlu
Question: Do you often lose things? Don't worry. Now a new tool that can be connected to any object you might lose may be the way to solve your problem. The Tile, a small square linked up to your iphone or ipad by means of Bluetooth, lets you see how close you are to your missing item, within a 50-to-150-foot range. If the item goes out of your phone's 150-foot range, it can still be found on other smart phones with the same app. When you drive the app on your phone, it shows you, with green bars that increase or decrease, how close or far away you are from the Tile. You can also program it to make a sound when you get close to the Tile. And you can link up your phone with up to ten Tiles. And if your lost object--a dog, for example, or a stolen bike--go out of your own phone's 150-foot Bluetooth range, you can set it as a "lost item". If any of the phones with the Tile app comes within range of your lost item, a message will be sent to your phone, telling you its position. The Tile app also has the function to remember where it last saw your Tile, so that you can easily find where you left it. Since the Tiles use Bluetooth rather than GPS, they are never out of battery or needn't to be charged, and they work for one year before needing to be replaced. And the app works with all generations of iPhones and iPads. For further information, please visit www. tile666.com. What can the Tile app help you ? Choices: A. To use your phone more wisely B. To find your missing items C. To save your phone's power D. To find other phone users
B
mmlu
Question: Debate: Can stricter gun control laws decrease the rate of crimes involving guns? Yes, because with fewer weapons, you get fewer crimes. Take a look at the crime rates of countries like the United Kingdom. Their crime rate is very low, compared to ours here in the United States. Just by simply putting stricter laws in place on who can own them, it will greatly reduce the crimes involving guns. Posted by: 5h4yGlory Past Practice There was an assault weapon ban back in 1994 under Bill Clinton. Shootings and crime did not go down for the 10 years when this law was in effect. Criminals do not follow rules. The law only affects those who try to obey the law to arm them to protect themselves. Posted by: jb1988 Wake up, you Americans! It's hardly surprising that America has one of the highest gun related murder rates of all countries! And of course guns don't kill people, but the more people own guns, the easier it is to get access to one, the higher the chance of people using it to kill somebody is! In Germany, we have really strict gun laws and only a few people own guns, and obviously we don't need them. There's no reason that a normal citizen would need a gun! Guns are made for one reason only: killing. Posted by: cstephie13 More gun control laws, fewer shootings On the same day as the Sandy Hook tragedy, a man in China entered a primary school with a knife and injured 22 students on December, 14. However, nobody was killed. Compare that to the 26 students and teachers killed at Sandy Hook in Connecticut with a powerful gun. We must learn something from this tragedy. Posted by: Jasonx986 Gun violence goes up with more gun control Criminals will take advantage of the situation. They will do whatever they want and take whatever they want and kill whoever gets in their way. They will get guns illegally. Crime rates go up as a result of more gun control, because criminals know you don't have one, and they will kill you as they like. There is no point in banning guns! Posted by: eebnflow Which of the following does cstephie13 probably agree with _ ? Choices: A. The more people own guns, the more people will be killed by them. B. The USA has one of the highest murder rates in the world. C. People need guns to protect themselves in time of danger. D. Guns are made to protect rather than kill.
A
mmlu
Question: Annual holidays have become a luxury and are no longer a staple of family life, according to government research. A getaway of a week or more is no longer considered essential by many families and is often beyond their reach, said the analysis of what parents and children say they really need. Fashionable clothes for the children, expensive birthday parties and lots of toys are also on the list of luxuries families don't have to have. Instead, recession -hit parents are thinking of the future, and the things they want for their children centre around learning to behave properly, good education and good health. Their picture of what a family ought to have includes a space to eat together away from the television, plenty of fruit and vegetables, and bicycles so children can get exercise. The breakdown of necessities and luxuries was prepared by researchers from the Department for Work and Pensions(DWP) who were trying to establish an up-to-date picture of what parents say they really need. Their findings show how families have scaled down their expectations in the face of economic difficulties -- how parents are now concentrating their attention and money firmly on the long-term interests of their children. Many believe that while it is vital for a family to do things together, day trips or weekend breaks are enough. Spending on furniture or decorating the house was also considered luxurious, unless the state of the home was so bad it became difficult to invite visitors in. Instead, researchers said: A family home should have an area where the family can eat together, not on their laps in front of a television. Families should be able to go on outings, overnight trips and possibly short holiday: the fact of being able to share these experiences is more important than the precise activity and its cost. Which of the following is TRUE of the researchers from the DWP? Choices: A. They confirm many families still need at least a week away on holiday each year. B. They learn it is insignificant for a family to do things with each other regularly. C. They want to know what parents really need in the face of economic difficulties. D. They found spending on furniture or decorating the house was thought valuable.
C
arc_easy
Question: Lori owns a house next to the lake. She uses lots of fertilizer to keep her lawn green. Which impact could fertilizing her lawn have on the lake? Choices: A. an increase in the algae population B. an increase in the fish population C. an increase in the mosquito population D. an increase in the lake's depth
A
mmlu
Question: My transportation was unexpectedly smooth and I arrived at the meeting half an hour earlier. I kept my eyes on the restaurant door. Several customers entered, but not my friend. At 6:00 pm, she sent me a text message: "Urgent work to finish. Will be 20 minutes late." I had left my book in the office, so I spent the time thinking of my experiences of being late in China. On my first visit in 1985, punctuality was deeply rooted in the Chinese hearts. There were no traffic jams then. As a teacher in Canada, I always insisted on punctuality. I would open the classroom door to a late student for the first time and the second, but not the third. During the six years I worked for CCTV, I had a Chinese friend whom I often saw at lunch time, or after work. We used to meet at the subway station nearby. He was always late by 10-20 minutes. To my question, "You were busy?" he would surprisingly answer, " No." Once I asked him to check the clock in his office, he smiled. In March 2015, I got permanent residence in China. The ceremony was scheduled for 9:00 am at the Public Security Bureau on the Second Ring Road. I told my driver I had to get there by 8:40 am. "No problem," he replied. But he thought he had time to drop someone off at the airport before picking me up. I desperately waited for him. Then, to rub salt into my wound, he had to stop at the exit of a gas station. Finally, I entered the room at 9:07 am -- the last guest to arrive! What can we learn from the passage? Choices: A. The author is always late for work or any activities. B. The author dislikes making friends with unpunctual persons. C. The author hates being late from the bottom of heart. D. The author can do something to deal with unpunctuality.
C
mmlu
Question: There was once a man called Mr. Flowers, and flowers were his only joy in life. He spent all his spare time in one of his four glass-houses and grew flowers of every color, with long and difficult names, for competitions, he tried to grow a rose of a new color to win the silver cup for the Rose of the Year. Mr. Flowers' glass-houses were very close to a middle school. Boys of around thirteen years of age were often tempted to throw a stone or two at one of Mr. Flowers' glass-houses. So Mr. Flower did his best to be in or close by his glass-houses at the beginning and end of the school day. But it was not always possible to be on watch at those times. Mr. Flowers had tried in many ways to protect his glass, but nothing had been useful. He had been to report to the headmaster, but this bad not done any good. He had tried to drive away the boys when they threw stones. He had even picked up all the stones around his garden, so that the boys would have nothing to throw, but they soon found others. At last Mr. Flowers had a good idea. He put up a large notice. It was made of good, strong wood. It was some meters away from the glass-houses. On it he had written the words: DO NOT THROW STONES AT THIS NOTICE. After that, Mr Flowers had no further trouble: The boys were much more attempted to throw stoned at the notice than at the glass-houses. Mr Flowers stayed in or close by his glass-houses _ Choices: A. at times when school-boys were walking near them B. all the school day when there were no boys around C. where he could not be seen by the boya passing D. in his spare time at the beginning and end of the school day
A
mmlu
Question: The kite was originally called Zhiyuan in North China, and Yaozi in South China. Early in the Five dynasties, a man named Li Ye used to make and fly a kite in the emperor's court. He once attached a whistle made of bamboo to the kite. Sound was let out when the kite was flying. The kite was named after Zheng, a kind of Chinese music instrument. Then it was named Fengzheng in Chinese. The earliest kite in the world was made by Motse, a famous Chinese philosopher, who lived 2,300 years ago, for military purposes. He spent three years making an eagle and managed to fly it. The eagle was later regarded as the first kite in the world. Kite-flying became a recreation probably from the Tang dynasty when the royal family and people of the highest class were addicted to it. It was said that the Emperor Xuanzong in the Tang Dynasty once was interested in a kite named Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea flying in the air. Later, the paper-made kite was invented, which cost less and spread quickly among the common people. As time went on, kites flew to various countries in the world. 'The well-known British scientist, Dr. Needham, once described kites as an important scientific invention which spread to Europe from China in his book, A History of China's Science and Technology. The invention of the kite inspired men's dream of flying and led to the invention of the airplane. What led to the invention of the kite according to the passage? Choices: A. Wars. B. An eagle. C. Motse's interest in animals. D. Motse's dream of flying.
A
mmlu
Question: Computers have beaten human world champions at chess and, earlier this year, the board game Go. So far, though, they have struggled at the card table. So we challenged one AI to a game. Why is poker so difficult? Chess and Go are "information complete" games where all players can see all the relevant information. In poker, other players' cards are hidden, making it an "information incomplete" game. Players have to guess opponents' hands from their actions--tricky for computers. Poker has become a new benchmark for AI research. Solving poker could lead to many breakthroughs, from cyber security to driverless cars. Scientists believe it is only a matter of time before AI once again _ humans, hence our human-machine match comes up in a game of Texas Hold's Em Limit Poker. The AI was developed by Johannes Heinrich, researcher studying machine learning at UCL. It combines two techniques: neural networks and reinforcement learning . Neural networks, to some degree, copy the structure of human brains: their processors are highly interconnected and work at the same time to solve problems. They are good at spotting patterns in huge amounts of data. Reinforcement learning is when a machine, given a task, carries it out, learning from mistakes it makes. In this case, it means playing poker against itself billions of times to get better. Mr Heinrich told Sky News: "Today we are presenting a new procedure that has learned in a different way, more similar to how humans learn. In particular, it is able to learn abstract patterns, represented by its neural network, which allow it to deal with new and unseen situations." After two hours of quite defensive play, from the computer at least, we called it a draw. What can be inferred from the text? Choices: A. The new procedure of AI has some features of humans. B. Computers are stronger than humans in every aspect. C. Humans will beat computers at playing poker forever. D. Scientists feel unhappy about the result of the poker game.
A
mmlu
Question: Mr. Lang worked in a factory. As a driver he was busy but he was paid much. His wife was an able woman and did all the housework. When he came back, she took good care of him and he never did anything at home. So he had enough time when he had a holiday. A few friends of his liked gambling and he learned it soon. So he was interested in it and hardly forgot anything except gambling. He lost all his money and later he began to sell the television, watches and so on. His wife told him not to do it but he didn't listen to her. She had to tell the police. He and his friends were punished for it. And he was nearly sent away. After he came out of lock-up , he hated her very much and the woman had to leave him. It was New Year's Day. Mr. Lang didn't go to work. He felt lonely and wanted to gamble again. He called his friends and they came soon. But they were afraid the police would come. He told his five-year-old son to go to find out if there were the policemen outside. They waited for a long time and didn't think the police would come and began to gamble. Suddenly a few policemen opened the door and came in. "I saw there weren't any policemen outside, Daddy" said the boy "So I went to the crossing and asked some to come." Mr. Lang was paid much because _ . Choices: A. he was a worker B. he worked in a factory C. he was a driver and had a lot of work to do D. he had worked there for a long time
C
mmlu
Question: Are you a problem shopper? The answer is "Yes", if you or someone else thinks that you sometimes get carried away with shopping. In other words, do you or does someone else think you are occupied in extreme shopping? If people have regrets later about their shopping, or have an "out-of-control" feeling about the quantities of what they buy or the amount of credit they use, they may be considered to be problem shoppers. Extreme shopping can lead to a more serious problem - addictive shopping. Addictive shoppers feel driven by the desire to shop and spend money. They experience great tension which drives them to shop and spend money and they feel a "rush" during the time they are occupied with the shopping activity. Extreme or addictive shopping may result from long-time unpleasant feelings, of which anxiety, pain and shame are common ones. When we feel bad inside, we often do something to make ourselves feel better. In this case, we often go shopping. A few people shop to relieve their boredom or emptiness. For some people, the motivation is a desire for status, power, beauty or success. Some love to shop as it makes them feel valued in the eyes of the shop assistants. Others shop simply because it makes them forget, at least temporarily, tension, fear or unhappiness in their life. Besides, shopping malls are designed to encourage continual shopping. For instance, there are some malls where you can't see clocks displaying the time because they don't want you to become too aware of the time you spend there. What's more, food courts, coffee shops and restrooms are provided, so you don't have to leave the mall because of your physical needs. Therefore, once you become aware of how market forces work, you will certainly come to control your shopping behavior. For example, how much time you will spend and what areas you will visit can be decided before you enter the mall. Keep a written account of what items you will buy and how much money you will spend. Make a plan for what you are going to buy before you feel the urge to shop and then stick to it. That is vital for gaining self-control. What does the author suggest to control our shopping behaviour? Choices: A. Never going to the shopping malls because there are many tricks. B. Applying for a credit card before we go shopping. C. Making a shopping list before we go shopping. D. Making the shopping time as short as possible.
C
mmlu
Question: It came as something of a surprise when Diana, Princess of Wales, made a trip t Angola in 1997, to support the Red Cross's campaign for a total ban on all anti-personnel landmine landmines Within hours of arriving in Angola, television screens around the world were filled with images of her comforting victims injured in explosions caused by landmines. "I knew the statistics," she said. "But putting a face to those figures brought the reality home to me; like when I met Sandra, a 13-year-old girl who had lost her leg, and people like her." The Princess concluded with a simple message: "We must stop landmines". And she used every opportunity during her visit to repeat this message. But, back in London, her views were not shared by some members of the British government, which refused to support a ban on these weapons. Angry politicians launched an attack on the Princess in the press. They described her as "very ill-informed" and a "loose cannon" . The Princess responded by brushing aside the criticisms: "This is a distraction , we do not need. All I'm trying to do is help." Opposition parties, the media and the public immediately voiced their support for the Princess. To make matters worse for the government, it soon emerged that the Princess's trip had been approved by the Foreign Office, and that she was in fact very well-informed about both the situation in Angola and the British government's policy regarding landmines. The result was a severe embarrassment for the government. To try and limit the damage, the Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkidnd, claimed that the Princess's views on landmines were not very different from government policy, and that it was "working towards" a worldwide ban. The Defense Secretary, Michael Portillo, claimed the matter was "a misinterpretation or misunderstanding." For the Princess, the trip to this war-torn country was an excellent opportunity to use her popularity to show the world how much destruction and suffering landmines can cause. She said that the experience had also given her the chance to get closer to people an their problems. Some members of the British government criticized Diana because Choices: A. They were actually opposed to banning landmines. B. She was ill-informed of the government's policy. C. She had not consulted the government before the visit. D. They believed that she had misinterpreted the situation in Angola.
A
mmlu
Question: The Dixie Chicks used to be known as the biggest-selling female group in music history. Now they are known as one of the most disputed . In 2003, Natalie Maines, the lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, was in the news. During a concert in London, she criticized President Bush for his political actions. She spoke less than two weeks before the invasion of Iraq. The Chicks did not realize the effect of those words. They soon lost their fans. They even received death threats. The comment changed the direction of their lives, music, and beliefs. Now, their new album Taking the Long Way shows their new musical direction. It is about acting and thinking freely. Maines openly sings about criticizing the president. She says she learned about herself by expressing her beliefs. The album also represents the Chicks' new musical style. In the past, they only sang songs influenced by country music. They did not always write their own music. Now, they are adding some rock sounds to their song collection, and they wrote every song on the album. Taking the Long Way quickly became the top-selling album in the country when it was released at the end of May. But many country music radio stations will not play music by the Dixie Chicks. Many people in the country music industry now oppose the band for criticizing the president. However, the Dixie Chicks continue to stress the importance of standing firmly and bravely for what they believe in --no matter what people may think or say. Although the new album quickly became the top-selling album after being released, _ . Choices: A. the Dixie Chicks will never become the biggest-selling female group again B. it's not easy for the Dixie Chicks to get rid of the influence from country music C. there are many objections and negative attitudes toward the Dixie Chicks D. the Dixie Chicks can't get public acceptance of their musical style
C
mmlu
Question: Education and Training Make sure your skills are up-to-date If you're looking for a new job or you want to change your career, having up-to-date skills is the key to a successful job search and your future earning power. Choose the right training If you need training to learn new skills or enhance existing skills, make sure you got to know the following : What training program is the best for you? How will you pay for your training? You need to consider all these and more when you choose your training. Search for training providers Massachusetts school information is made available by the Massachusetts career information system (CIS). This directory includes most of the training providers and colleges in the states. The data for trade schools covers programs, admissions, schedules and costs. Descriptions for two-year, four-year, and graduate schools include information about school size, setting, programs, admissions, schedules, and costs. A link to the school's Internet home page is provided when available. Learn about the Entrepreneurial training program The Entrepreneurial training program (ETP) provides training and technical assistance to individuals with good business ideas and the desire to start their own business. Learn about Apprenticeship programs Division of apprentice training is a system for teaching highly technical skills through a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction. Also, it is responsible for promoting, developing and providing services for apprenticeship programs in the state. Many apprentice programs are in traditional building trade areas such as Carpentry, Electrical and Ironwork. In addition, apprentice programs are being developed in areas such as Information Technology, Banking and Finance, Childcare, Culinary Arts and Telecommunications. Use Online Resources Link directly to the websites of colleges and universities in the state of Massachusetts. Explore other online job databases. Which of the following statements is true? Choices: A. If I want to find information about a four-year school, I should consult ETP. B. CIS helps to train job seekers. C. Apprentice programs provide training in areas like Carpentry, Electrical and Iron work. D. On-the-job training is compulsory for those who want to start their own business.
C
mmlu
Question: PEOPLE may use the expression "birdbrain" in English to talk about someone who is stupid, but crows prove that this is unfair. Now it has been discovered that crows may understand analogies . To test this ability in animals, scientists do "relational matching-to-sample (RMTS)"tests. If a pair was AA, for example, then picking BB to match it would be correct. An international team led by Edward Wasserman in the US first trained two crows to match things by color1, shape, and number in what is called" identity matching-to-sample (IMTS)" , then moved onto RMTS. For the IMTS test, the birds were put in a cage with a plastic tray that had three cards and two cups in it. The card in the middle was the sample card. The cups on either side were covered with the other two cards. One was the same as the sample, while the other wasn' t. The cup with the card that matched the sample card contained two worms to eat. In the second part of the experiment, the birds were tested with relational matching pairs. A card with two same- sized circles, for example, meant they should pick the test card with two same-sized squares and not two different-sized circles. The birds did well in the more difficult test and picked the correct card more than three quarters of the time. Wasserman was surprised that crows were able to solve the problem without any training in RMTS. He said in a news release: "Honestly, if it was only by force that the crows showed this learning, then it would have been an impressive result. But this was spontaneous." So perhaps it' s time to stop saying " birdbrain" permanently. Which of the following is TURE about the tests on the crows? Choices: A. The birds did better in RMTS than in IMTS. B. The birds were first made to do RMTS, then IMTS. C. The birds picked almost all the correct cards in RMTS D. In the IMTS test, the birds needed to identify the sample card to get rewards.
D
mmlu
Question: If something is able to grow from a kernel and insects assist in reproduction, then it is probably a Choices: A. carnation B. rock C. chair D. dove
A