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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
It is implied in the passage that _ .
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Few people would question the value of taking part in sports for young people. With proper training, supervision, protective equipment and techniques, and a proper emphasis on winning, sports can develop a healthy body and spirit and a life-long interest in being active and fit. Without such measures, childhood sports can lead to injuries and even paralysis or death.
Even in the best conditions, no activity can be risk-free. But most serious dangers are preventable. Cyclists and football players can reduce their risks by wearing helmets, hockey players by wearing masks; basketball and tennis players by wearing eye guards; baseball players by wearing batting helmets. Besides, risks to individual players can often be found, and thus prevented, through a properly performed medical exam before a child plays. For accidents that may not be preventable, having an emergency plan and first-aid equipment, and someone trained to use the equipment, can be lifesaving.
Still, each year, according to the American College of Sports Medicine, more than 775, 000 children under 14 are treated in emergency rooms for sports injuries, nearly half of them preventable. An estimated 300,000 athletes experience exercise-related head illnesses each year, and almost all of them should have been avoided.
Further, from half to three-fourths of sports-related concussions are never even diagnosed; the injured are often sent back to play too soon and put at risk of another more serious brain-damaging concussion. To help reduce these risks, the National Center for Sports Safety, with the National Athletic Trainers' Association, offers a three-hour online safety course for coaches for $28 at www. SportsSafety. Org.
Question:
It is implied in the passage that _ .
Choices:
A. prevention of injuries is not paid enough attention to
B. children under 14 are more easily hurt in sports
C. most head illnesses are related with exercise
D. none of the head illnesses should have happened
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high17122.txt
|
Few people would question the value of taking part in sports for young people. With proper training, supervision, protective equipment and techniques, and a proper emphasis on winning, sports can develop a healthy body and spirit and a life-long interest in being active and fit. Without such measures, childhood sports can lead to injuries and even paralysis or death.
Even in the best conditions, no activity can be risk-free. But most serious dangers are preventable. Cyclists and football players can reduce their risks by wearing helmets, hockey players by wearing masks; basketball and tennis players by wearing eye guards; baseball players by wearing batting helmets. Besides, risks to individual players can often be found, and thus prevented, through a properly performed medical exam before a child plays. For accidents that may not be preventable, having an emergency plan and first-aid equipment, and someone trained to use the equipment, can be lifesaving.
Still, each year, according to the American College of Sports Medicine, more than 775, 000 children under 14 are treated in emergency rooms for sports injuries, nearly half of them preventable. An estimated 300,000 athletes experience exercise-related head illnesses each year, and almost all of them should have been avoided.
Further, from half to three-fourths of sports-related concussions are never even diagnosed; the injured are often sent back to play too soon and put at risk of another more serious brain-damaging concussion. To help reduce these risks, the National Center for Sports Safety, with the National Athletic Trainers' Association, offers a three-hour online safety course for coaches for $28 at www. SportsSafety. Org.
|
[
"prevention of injuries is not paid enough attention to",
"children under 14 are more easily hurt in sports",
"most head illnesses are related with exercise",
"none of the head illnesses should have happened"
] |
We can imply from the passage that by using Facebook we can _ .
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
It seems some people have something bad to say about Facebook, the social media website that now has attracted more than 300 million members. To them I have only this to say: Stop please!
A recent article in theWall Street Journalblamed Facebook's ability to ruin friendships, saying that it limits communication to typing and encourages people to spend far too much time with friends they have never met.
Having used Facebook since its first year, I find these arguments false. The simple truth is that the problems are only a symptom of Facebook abuse. Like many things, it is only as harmful to your life and relationships as you allow it to be. Consider arguments against watching too much TV and overeating.
Try using Facebook to find friends who may have long ago changed their e-mail addresses and phone numbers, to find out what your old college friends are up to, to congratulate your friends on their latest birthdays, to share pictures and articles you find interesting, and to join in the discussion about them with your friends.
Sure, I had days when I wasted a little more time on Facebook than I should, but I'm not going to blame Facebook for my own laziness. If Facebook wasn't there, I would have found something else to waste time on. To my "friends": if you don't feel like broadcasting your life stories on your Facebook, don't. If you tire of my personal updates, ignore them. If you don't want to join in the popular online games, don't. It is a fun tool at your fingers that can be used for both good and bad. If you don't like using Facebook, don't.
I am now a consultant at the Department of State. I use Facebook to keep in touch with friends, family, and colleagues who live and work all over the world.
Question:
We can imply from the passage that by using Facebook we can _ .
Choices:
A. read other's personal updates
B. write our life stories online secretly
C. decide who can read our life stories
D. refuse to join in popular online games
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high2231.txt
|
It seems some people have something bad to say about Facebook, the social media website that now has attracted more than 300 million members. To them I have only this to say: Stop please!
A recent article in theWall Street Journalblamed Facebook's ability to ruin friendships, saying that it limits communication to typing and encourages people to spend far too much time with friends they have never met.
Having used Facebook since its first year, I find these arguments false. The simple truth is that the problems are only a symptom of Facebook abuse. Like many things, it is only as harmful to your life and relationships as you allow it to be. Consider arguments against watching too much TV and overeating.
Try using Facebook to find friends who may have long ago changed their e-mail addresses and phone numbers, to find out what your old college friends are up to, to congratulate your friends on their latest birthdays, to share pictures and articles you find interesting, and to join in the discussion about them with your friends.
Sure, I had days when I wasted a little more time on Facebook than I should, but I'm not going to blame Facebook for my own laziness. If Facebook wasn't there, I would have found something else to waste time on. To my "friends": if you don't feel like broadcasting your life stories on your Facebook, don't. If you tire of my personal updates, ignore them. If you don't want to join in the popular online games, don't. It is a fun tool at your fingers that can be used for both good and bad. If you don't like using Facebook, don't.
I am now a consultant at the Department of State. I use Facebook to keep in touch with friends, family, and colleagues who live and work all over the world.
|
[
"read other's personal updates",
"write our life stories online secretly",
"decide who can read our life stories",
"refuse to join in popular online games"
] |
Where can we probably read this passage?
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Spending more than two hours a night doing homework leads to better results in English,math and science, according to a major study (by Pam Sammons, England) which has tracked the progress of3,000 children over the past 15 years.
Spending any time doing homework showed advantages, but the influence was greater for the students who put in two to three hours a night, according to the study published by the Department for Education in England.
The scientists who did the research say their study empbasizes what students actually do rather than how much work the school has set.
Pam Sammons, a professor of education at Oxford University, said that time spent on homework showed the influence of the school-if children were expected to do homework and if they enjoy their subjects. "That's one of the reasons Indian and Chinese children do better.They put more time in it." he added.
It's also reported that students who enjoyed school got better results. "Schools could make sure children had a better experience by improving the school environment, making school work interesting and making children feel supported by teachers." Sammons said.
It is suggested that children aged 5 t0 7 should be set one-hour homework a week, half an hour a night for 7 t0 11-year-olds. Secondary schools were encouraged to set up two hours a night for 14 t0 16-year-olds.
"Head teachers should make their own homework policy ," the government says.
Question:
Where can we probably read this passage?
Choices:
A. In a poster.
B. In a magazine.
C. In a storybook
D. In an advertisement.
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle5068.txt
|
Spending more than two hours a night doing homework leads to better results in English,math and science, according to a major study (by Pam Sammons, England) which has tracked the progress of3,000 children over the past 15 years.
Spending any time doing homework showed advantages, but the influence was greater for the students who put in two to three hours a night, according to the study published by the Department for Education in England.
The scientists who did the research say their study empbasizes what students actually do rather than how much work the school has set.
Pam Sammons, a professor of education at Oxford University, said that time spent on homework showed the influence of the school-if children were expected to do homework and if they enjoy their subjects. "That's one of the reasons Indian and Chinese children do better.They put more time in it." he added.
It's also reported that students who enjoyed school got better results. "Schools could make sure children had a better experience by improving the school environment, making school work interesting and making children feel supported by teachers." Sammons said.
It is suggested that children aged 5 t0 7 should be set one-hour homework a week, half an hour a night for 7 t0 11-year-olds. Secondary schools were encouraged to set up two hours a night for 14 t0 16-year-olds.
"Head teachers should make their own homework policy ," the government says.
|
[
"In a poster.",
"In a magazine.",
"In a storybook",
"In an advertisement."
] |
From the passage,we can see that_.
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
The days of Europeans relaxing in the cafe with a newspaper and a seemingly endless cup of coffee appear to be numbered.A new English expression is popular in Europe these days:"coffee to go."
"Five or ten years ago it was much more normal to sit in a cafe for several hours than it is nowadays,"says Joann,who works in a central Berlin coffee bar owned by the Canadian coffee and bakery chain Tim's.
"There is a trend towards a more fast-paced life.But people still act surprised when you ask if the coffee is'to go'.You mean I can take it with me? they ask.."
"Europe is often five or eight years behind trends in America,"says Joann."In the States.'coffee to go'is part of everyday life."
Owing in part to Starbucks,it appears to be very much part of everyday life in many other countries too.
The Seattle-based group compete with a growing number of global chains in attempting to reshape coffee drinking cultures in regions including Asia and the Middle East.
The US is the model for continental Europe's new"coffee to go"culture:Each of the new cafe bars offers bagels,muffins,brownies and cookies to go with the coffee.
But then,"coffee to go''might sound a little odd to English ears used to the words "takeaway"or take one.
It does sum up the brisker pace of life since the city resumed its status as the German capital following the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989.
As one more sign of the changing times,one of Berlin's most venerable coffee houses,cafe Einstein,has followed the trend by opening a small chain of coffee shops across the city.
Taking coffee,slowly and in decorous surroundings,has been a feature of European coffee houses,particularly in German speaking countries,for decades.
For the elderly citzens of Vienna it amounts to a ritual when they gather in coffee houses around the city for a cup of their favovrite drink and a piece of rich,creamy cake.
Question:
From the passage,we can see that_.
Choices:
A. "coffee to go" springs in Europe these days
B. Europe is often a few years before trends in America
C. America often follows Europe's "coffee to go"culture
D. it's easy to reshape coffee drinking cultures in the Middle East
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high15095.txt
|
The days of Europeans relaxing in the cafe with a newspaper and a seemingly endless cup of coffee appear to be numbered.A new English expression is popular in Europe these days:"coffee to go."
"Five or ten years ago it was much more normal to sit in a cafe for several hours than it is nowadays,"says Joann,who works in a central Berlin coffee bar owned by the Canadian coffee and bakery chain Tim's.
"There is a trend towards a more fast-paced life.But people still act surprised when you ask if the coffee is'to go'.You mean I can take it with me? they ask.."
"Europe is often five or eight years behind trends in America,"says Joann."In the States.'coffee to go'is part of everyday life."
Owing in part to Starbucks,it appears to be very much part of everyday life in many other countries too.
The Seattle-based group compete with a growing number of global chains in attempting to reshape coffee drinking cultures in regions including Asia and the Middle East.
The US is the model for continental Europe's new"coffee to go"culture:Each of the new cafe bars offers bagels,muffins,brownies and cookies to go with the coffee.
But then,"coffee to go''might sound a little odd to English ears used to the words "takeaway"or take one.
It does sum up the brisker pace of life since the city resumed its status as the German capital following the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989.
As one more sign of the changing times,one of Berlin's most venerable coffee houses,cafe Einstein,has followed the trend by opening a small chain of coffee shops across the city.
Taking coffee,slowly and in decorous surroundings,has been a feature of European coffee houses,particularly in German speaking countries,for decades.
For the elderly citzens of Vienna it amounts to a ritual when they gather in coffee houses around the city for a cup of their favovrite drink and a piece of rich,creamy cake.
|
[
"\"coffee to go\" springs in Europe these days",
"Europe is often a few years before trends in America",
"America often follows Europe's \"coffee to go\"culture",
"it's easy to reshape coffee drinking cultures in the Middle East"
] |
The reason that Severn Suzuki gave this speech is to _ .
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Hello, I'm Severn Suzuki speaking for E.C.O.--The Environmental Children's Organization.
We are a group of twelve and thirteen-year-olds from Canada trying to make a difference.
Vanessa Suttie, Morgan Geisler, Michelle Quigg and me. We raised all the money ourselves to come six thousand miles to tell you adults you must change your ways. Coming here today, I have no hidden agenda. I am fighting for my future.
I am here to speak on behalf of the starving children around the world whose cries go unheard.
I am here to speak for the countless animals dying across this planet because they have nowhere left to go.
I am afraid to go out in the sun now because of the holes in the ozone . I am afraid to breathe the air because I don't know what chemicals are in it.
I used to go fishing in Vancouver with my dad until just a few years ago we found the fish full of cancers. And now we hear about animals and plants going _ every day.
In my life, I have dreamt of seeing the great herds of wild animals, jungles and rainforests full of birds and butterflies, but now I wonder if they will even exist for my children to see.
Did you have to worry about these little things when you were my age?
All this is happening before our eyes and yet we act as if we have all the time we want and all the solutions . I'm only a child and I don't have all the solutions, but I want you to realize, neither do you!
Question:
The reason that Severn Suzuki gave this speech is to _ .
Choices:
A. fight for the people who pollute the environment
B. ask people to take action to protect the environment
C. find the solution for herself to change the environment
D. let people become interested in learning about the environment
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle7183.txt
|
Hello, I'm Severn Suzuki speaking for E.C.O.--The Environmental Children's Organization.
We are a group of twelve and thirteen-year-olds from Canada trying to make a difference.
Vanessa Suttie, Morgan Geisler, Michelle Quigg and me. We raised all the money ourselves to come six thousand miles to tell you adults you must change your ways. Coming here today, I have no hidden agenda. I am fighting for my future.
I am here to speak on behalf of the starving children around the world whose cries go unheard.
I am here to speak for the countless animals dying across this planet because they have nowhere left to go.
I am afraid to go out in the sun now because of the holes in the ozone . I am afraid to breathe the air because I don't know what chemicals are in it.
I used to go fishing in Vancouver with my dad until just a few years ago we found the fish full of cancers. And now we hear about animals and plants going _ every day.
In my life, I have dreamt of seeing the great herds of wild animals, jungles and rainforests full of birds and butterflies, but now I wonder if they will even exist for my children to see.
Did you have to worry about these little things when you were my age?
All this is happening before our eyes and yet we act as if we have all the time we want and all the solutions . I'm only a child and I don't have all the solutions, but I want you to realize, neither do you!
|
[
"fight for the people who pollute the environment",
"ask people to take action to protect the environment",
"find the solution for herself to change the environment",
"let people become interested in learning about the environment"
] |
Because the lawyer's wife was seriously ill, the doctor _ .
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
One day a lawyer's wife fell ill, and he went to get a doctor. The doctor willingly came to see the woman and to do what he could for her, but before he went into the house, he made a short stop. He knew that the lawyer was famous for not paying his bills, even if they were due .He therefore said to the man."But if I save your wife, I am afraid you may not pay me."
"Sir,"replied the lawyer. "Here I have$500,,whether you cure my wife or you kill her. I'll give you all this."
The doctor was reassured and went into the house. When he reached the woman's bedside, it soon became clear to him that he could do little. She was seriously ill, and though he prescribed her medicine, she soon died.
He told the lawyer he was very sorry, and then asked for the money which he had promised. "Did you kill my wife?"asked the lawyer. "Of course I didn't," said the doctor. "Well! Did you cure my wife?" asked the man. "I'm afraid that was impossible," replied the doctor."Well, then since you neither killed my wife nor cured her, I have nothing to pay you."
Question:
Because the lawyer's wife was seriously ill, the doctor _ .
Choices:
A. couldn' t do much and didn't save her life
B. tried his best and saved her at last
C. had to do everything he could for her
D. had to spend a lot of time to cure her
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high5259.txt
|
One day a lawyer's wife fell ill, and he went to get a doctor. The doctor willingly came to see the woman and to do what he could for her, but before he went into the house, he made a short stop. He knew that the lawyer was famous for not paying his bills, even if they were due .He therefore said to the man."But if I save your wife, I am afraid you may not pay me."
"Sir,"replied the lawyer. "Here I have$500,,whether you cure my wife or you kill her. I'll give you all this."
The doctor was reassured and went into the house. When he reached the woman's bedside, it soon became clear to him that he could do little. She was seriously ill, and though he prescribed her medicine, she soon died.
He told the lawyer he was very sorry, and then asked for the money which he had promised. "Did you kill my wife?"asked the lawyer. "Of course I didn't," said the doctor. "Well! Did you cure my wife?" asked the man. "I'm afraid that was impossible," replied the doctor."Well, then since you neither killed my wife nor cured her, I have nothing to pay you."
|
[
"couldn' t do much and didn't save her life",
"tried his best and saved her at last",
"had to do everything he could for her",
"had to spend a lot of time to cure her"
] |
Brendan went fishing with his dad. Brenden caught 8 fish in the morning. He threw 3 back that were too small. He caught 5 more in the afternoon. Brendan’s dad caught 13 fish. How many fish did they catch in all?
|
Brenden caught 8 fish in the morning + 5 in the afternoon = <<8+5=13>>13 fish.
After throwing the small fish back, Brenden has 13 – 3 = <<13-3=10>>10 fish.
Together, Brenden and his dad caught 10 + 13 = <<10+13=23>>23 fish.
#### 23
|
Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step.
|
Brendan went fishing with his dad. Brenden caught 8 fish in the morning. He threw 3 back that were too small. He caught 5 more in the afternoon. Brendan’s dad caught 13 fish. How many fish did they catch in all?
|
Brenden caught 8 fish in the morning + 5 in the afternoon = <<8+5=13>>13 fish.
After throwing the small fish back, Brenden has 13 – 3 = <<13-3=10>>10 fish.
Together, Brenden and his dad caught 10 + 13 = <<10+13=23>>23 fish.
#### 23
|
math
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
To get water from a PlayPump, people need to _ .
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
For many kids in Africa, the colorful PlayPump is the first playground thing they have ever seen. When the children give it a push and jump in for their first ride, smiles of wonder appears on their faces.
The fun of going round and round in a circle is just part of the wonder. The wonderful invention doesn't only change the kids' play time, but also makes a big difference to the people's lives.
As the merry-go-round starts, _ pumps clean water up from deep underground and keeps it in a huge tank . People are welcomed to come and help themselves to get the water for free. They are very happy these days.
In the countryside of Africa, very few people could drink clean water. They don't have machines that can get water in their homes. Instead, they often walk a long way to carry water back.
Patricia Molope, a fifteen-year-old girl, explains that before her village in South Africa got a PlayPump, people would pay a taxi driver to take them to a well far from their homes. " Sometimes the taxi drivers were so busy that we would have to stop taking showers in order to save water. It was so far to walk there, but at present we have our own clean water in the village, and the life is better, too."
The hard job of carrying water usually is done by women and girls. Carrying water for miles and hours each day is such a heavy job that it sometimes prevents girls from being able to go to school.
Thanks to the PlayPump, getting water is quicker and easier-----and even boys join in. The pumps have become a new activity. Kids and adults seem to love playing with them while collecting water.
A boy named Khumalo, twelve years old, says, " I have seen many kinds of water pumps, but have never seen one that can keep water. When I grow up, I want to be an inventor so I can also invent clever things like the PlayPump that will help my country."
So far, more than 800 PlayPumps are being operated in schools and neighborhoods in four African countries, providing water for almost two million people.
Question:
To get water from a PlayPump, people need to _ .
Choices:
A. walk for a long way
B. push it first
C. make it in a circle
D. use a big tank
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle7014.txt
|
For many kids in Africa, the colorful PlayPump is the first playground thing they have ever seen. When the children give it a push and jump in for their first ride, smiles of wonder appears on their faces.
The fun of going round and round in a circle is just part of the wonder. The wonderful invention doesn't only change the kids' play time, but also makes a big difference to the people's lives.
As the merry-go-round starts, _ pumps clean water up from deep underground and keeps it in a huge tank . People are welcomed to come and help themselves to get the water for free. They are very happy these days.
In the countryside of Africa, very few people could drink clean water. They don't have machines that can get water in their homes. Instead, they often walk a long way to carry water back.
Patricia Molope, a fifteen-year-old girl, explains that before her village in South Africa got a PlayPump, people would pay a taxi driver to take them to a well far from their homes. " Sometimes the taxi drivers were so busy that we would have to stop taking showers in order to save water. It was so far to walk there, but at present we have our own clean water in the village, and the life is better, too."
The hard job of carrying water usually is done by women and girls. Carrying water for miles and hours each day is such a heavy job that it sometimes prevents girls from being able to go to school.
Thanks to the PlayPump, getting water is quicker and easier-----and even boys join in. The pumps have become a new activity. Kids and adults seem to love playing with them while collecting water.
A boy named Khumalo, twelve years old, says, " I have seen many kinds of water pumps, but have never seen one that can keep water. When I grow up, I want to be an inventor so I can also invent clever things like the PlayPump that will help my country."
So far, more than 800 PlayPumps are being operated in schools and neighborhoods in four African countries, providing water for almost two million people.
|
[
"walk for a long way",
"push it first",
"make it in a circle",
"use a big tank"
] |
If Mr. Smith attends a 30-minute public tour with his wife and seven-year-old twin sons, he should pay at least _ .
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Ice Hotel Quebec, located 30 minutes west of Downtown Quebec City, Canada, is only open during the winter season. The hotel is made entirely of ice. The two galleries at the Ice Hotel Quebec feature events such as ice painting and ice sculpture competitions.
Things to Do
Guests have a choice of different winter vacation activities, including cross-country skiing, ice skating, dog sledding , ice fishing and sliding . Ice Hotel Quebec has a sauna( ),so remember to pack your bathing suit.
Rooms & Suites
The hotel offers 18 rooms and 14 theme suites built from 12,000 tons of snow and 400 tons of ice. The walls at Ice Hotel Quebec are four feet thick and allow the hotel to keep a temperature of -2degC to -5degC.
The furniture at the hotel is made of snow and ice, including the beds. The beds are equipped with a thick foam mattress and an extra thick sleeping bag. That is enough to prevent you from catching a cold.
Vacation Tip
Ice Hotel Quebec offers 30-minute guided public tours daily from 10:30am to 4:30pm. It costs $15 CAD for adults, $7.5 for children (under eight), $13for students\seniors (above sixty), and $42 for families.
Plan This Vacation
Ice Hotel Quebec-Canada will be open for its sixth season from January 5thto April 1st. Costs for overnight stays start at $199CAD per person.
If you're looking for something really different to do on your next trip, think creatively and plan to visit the truly unusual Ice Hotel Quebec!
Question:
If Mr. Smith attends a 30-minute public tour with his wife and seven-year-old twin sons, he should pay at least _ .
Choices:
A. $37.5 CAD
B. $45 CAD
C. $42CAD
D. $199 CAD
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high2632.txt
|
Ice Hotel Quebec, located 30 minutes west of Downtown Quebec City, Canada, is only open during the winter season. The hotel is made entirely of ice. The two galleries at the Ice Hotel Quebec feature events such as ice painting and ice sculpture competitions.
Things to Do
Guests have a choice of different winter vacation activities, including cross-country skiing, ice skating, dog sledding , ice fishing and sliding . Ice Hotel Quebec has a sauna( ),so remember to pack your bathing suit.
Rooms & Suites
The hotel offers 18 rooms and 14 theme suites built from 12,000 tons of snow and 400 tons of ice. The walls at Ice Hotel Quebec are four feet thick and allow the hotel to keep a temperature of -2degC to -5degC.
The furniture at the hotel is made of snow and ice, including the beds. The beds are equipped with a thick foam mattress and an extra thick sleeping bag. That is enough to prevent you from catching a cold.
Vacation Tip
Ice Hotel Quebec offers 30-minute guided public tours daily from 10:30am to 4:30pm. It costs $15 CAD for adults, $7.5 for children (under eight), $13for students\seniors (above sixty), and $42 for families.
Plan This Vacation
Ice Hotel Quebec-Canada will be open for its sixth season from January 5thto April 1st. Costs for overnight stays start at $199CAD per person.
If you're looking for something really different to do on your next trip, think creatively and plan to visit the truly unusual Ice Hotel Quebec!
|
[
"$37.5 CAD",
"$45 CAD",
"$42CAD",
"$199 CAD"
] |
Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
FU Yuan has been left at home with his grandparents since he was one month old. His mom and dad left to work in Fujian Province. For the past eight years, Fu has only seen his parents three times although they send home 500 yuan every two or three months.
Fu Xiaoyu, 16, has had to live alone since her grandmother passed away three years ago. Her parents do not want to renounce their jobs at a clothing factory in Guangdong Province. Nor can they afford the cost of sending her to a school in the city where they work.
These are just two of the 29 kids that 16-year-olds Huang Ruoqing and Zhang Linna at Beijing No 4 High School talked with this summer in Guixiang Village in Sichuan Province.
What Huang and Zhang learned from their three-day visit shocked them. They wrote down all the kids' stories in a moving 40-page essay filled with statistical charts.
In the poor village with a population of 2,118 people, 582 adults have left to find work, leaving 156 children without parents. Among these so-called left-behind kids, 88 percent of them live with their grandparents, five percent live with uncles or aunts and seven percent have to live on their own.
To Huang and Zhang's surprise, 80 percent of the children said they love going to school. Even
though, some children have to walk along the hilly roads for two hours to get there.
However, for this village's students studying is not their first task. Housework, such as helping feed pigs or buffalos and taking care of old grandparents, younger sisters or brothers, takes up a considerable amount of their time.
Despite having to work hard at home, over 65 percent of the young interviewees would prefer their parents' stay away working rather than returning to live with them.
"These kids are understanding and considerate and know how important money is for their families. Their little wishes like having dinner with their parents inspire us never to take what we have had for granted," Zhang said.
Question:
Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
Choices:
A. Kids Are Left Alone
B. The True Story of Home Alone
C. Kids Miss Parents
D. Parents and Kids
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high15884.txt
|
FU Yuan has been left at home with his grandparents since he was one month old. His mom and dad left to work in Fujian Province. For the past eight years, Fu has only seen his parents three times although they send home 500 yuan every two or three months.
Fu Xiaoyu, 16, has had to live alone since her grandmother passed away three years ago. Her parents do not want to renounce their jobs at a clothing factory in Guangdong Province. Nor can they afford the cost of sending her to a school in the city where they work.
These are just two of the 29 kids that 16-year-olds Huang Ruoqing and Zhang Linna at Beijing No 4 High School talked with this summer in Guixiang Village in Sichuan Province.
What Huang and Zhang learned from their three-day visit shocked them. They wrote down all the kids' stories in a moving 40-page essay filled with statistical charts.
In the poor village with a population of 2,118 people, 582 adults have left to find work, leaving 156 children without parents. Among these so-called left-behind kids, 88 percent of them live with their grandparents, five percent live with uncles or aunts and seven percent have to live on their own.
To Huang and Zhang's surprise, 80 percent of the children said they love going to school. Even
though, some children have to walk along the hilly roads for two hours to get there.
However, for this village's students studying is not their first task. Housework, such as helping feed pigs or buffalos and taking care of old grandparents, younger sisters or brothers, takes up a considerable amount of their time.
Despite having to work hard at home, over 65 percent of the young interviewees would prefer their parents' stay away working rather than returning to live with them.
"These kids are understanding and considerate and know how important money is for their families. Their little wishes like having dinner with their parents inspire us never to take what we have had for granted," Zhang said.
|
[
"Kids Are Left Alone",
"The True Story of Home Alone",
"Kids Miss Parents",
"Parents and Kids"
] |
Hybrid cars consume less energy than conventional cars because hybrid cars _ .
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Hybrid cars are cars that run on petrol and electricity. They have a small standard petrol engine and a battery electric motor to provide electric power.
There are some differences between different models of hybrid cars, but the general principle is that the car runs on petrol, and the electric motor kicks in when additional power is required, for example, when going uphill or accelerating. In some hybrid cars the petrol engine turns itself off when not needed, for example when the car has stopped at traffic light, keeping only the electric engine running.
Conventional cars have large engines to deal with driving uphill and accelerating. Hybrid cars have much smaller petrol engines, improved by electric motors when needed, so they use less petrol. Another way that fuel consumption is cut is by a system of "regenerative braking". The electric motor is used to slow down the car, rather than conventional brakes. The energy produced by slowing the car is changed into electrical power, which is automatically stored in the battery. In effect, the battery recharges when you brake. In conventional cars the energy produced when braking is wasted.
In 1928 Ferdinand Porsche built an experimental hybrid car. The first mass-produced hybrid car, the Toyota Prius, came out in Japan at the end of 1997. However, hybrid cars became available in the USA only in 1999. As they use less fuel, hybrid cars are cheaper to run. There are also many voices in place to encourage people to buy them. In some countries, hybrid car owners pay a lower rate of tax, and don't have to pay on certain roads. In some cities, hybrid cars are allowed to park for free.
Question:
Hybrid cars consume less energy than conventional cars because hybrid cars _ .
Choices:
A. have large engines to deal with accelerating
B. have conventional brakes to slow down the car
C. have electric power to assist when needed
D. have no energy consumption when stopping
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high9388.txt
|
Hybrid cars are cars that run on petrol and electricity. They have a small standard petrol engine and a battery electric motor to provide electric power.
There are some differences between different models of hybrid cars, but the general principle is that the car runs on petrol, and the electric motor kicks in when additional power is required, for example, when going uphill or accelerating. In some hybrid cars the petrol engine turns itself off when not needed, for example when the car has stopped at traffic light, keeping only the electric engine running.
Conventional cars have large engines to deal with driving uphill and accelerating. Hybrid cars have much smaller petrol engines, improved by electric motors when needed, so they use less petrol. Another way that fuel consumption is cut is by a system of "regenerative braking". The electric motor is used to slow down the car, rather than conventional brakes. The energy produced by slowing the car is changed into electrical power, which is automatically stored in the battery. In effect, the battery recharges when you brake. In conventional cars the energy produced when braking is wasted.
In 1928 Ferdinand Porsche built an experimental hybrid car. The first mass-produced hybrid car, the Toyota Prius, came out in Japan at the end of 1997. However, hybrid cars became available in the USA only in 1999. As they use less fuel, hybrid cars are cheaper to run. There are also many voices in place to encourage people to buy them. In some countries, hybrid car owners pay a lower rate of tax, and don't have to pay on certain roads. In some cities, hybrid cars are allowed to park for free.
|
[
"have large engines to deal with accelerating",
"have conventional brakes to slow down the car",
"have electric power to assist when needed",
"have no energy consumption when stopping"
] |
At first, the writer thought the old man was _ .
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Last weekend, our family went to have Christmas dinner in a restaurant. We were the only family with a baby in the restaurant. Suddenly, my baby Erik became excited when we were enjoying our meal. I looked around and saw an old man with old clothes and dirty old shoes. His hair was unwashed. He was smiling at my Erik.
"He might hurt my Erik," I thought. Everyone in the restaurant looked at us and the old man. Then we decided to leave. The old man sat between the door and us.
As I walked closer to the man, I turned my back. Suddenly, Erik leaned over my arms, reaching with both arms in a baby's pick-me-up position . Before I could stop him, Erik had escaped from my arms to the man's. Soon the very old smelly man and my young baby developed a kind of friendship.
Erik put his little hand on the man's face, and I saw the old man closed his eyes and tears running down his face. His aged hands held my baby so gently . A moment later, the old man opened his eyes, passed me my baby and said, "Thank you, Madam. You've given me the best Christmas gift."
I cried, with my face burning hot. A child saw a soul , but a mother saw only a kind of clothes.
Question:
At first, the writer thought the old man was _ .
Choices:
A. terrible
B. friendly
C. impossible
D. wise
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle3092.txt
|
Last weekend, our family went to have Christmas dinner in a restaurant. We were the only family with a baby in the restaurant. Suddenly, my baby Erik became excited when we were enjoying our meal. I looked around and saw an old man with old clothes and dirty old shoes. His hair was unwashed. He was smiling at my Erik.
"He might hurt my Erik," I thought. Everyone in the restaurant looked at us and the old man. Then we decided to leave. The old man sat between the door and us.
As I walked closer to the man, I turned my back. Suddenly, Erik leaned over my arms, reaching with both arms in a baby's pick-me-up position . Before I could stop him, Erik had escaped from my arms to the man's. Soon the very old smelly man and my young baby developed a kind of friendship.
Erik put his little hand on the man's face, and I saw the old man closed his eyes and tears running down his face. His aged hands held my baby so gently . A moment later, the old man opened his eyes, passed me my baby and said, "Thank you, Madam. You've given me the best Christmas gift."
I cried, with my face burning hot. A child saw a soul , but a mother saw only a kind of clothes.
|
[
"terrible",
"friendly",
"impossible",
"wise"
] |
Which sentence is similar to the sentence "I would say, better here than the bees."?
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Molly Daniels opened the door so hard that the door nearly broke it. Then she looked through the window at her neighbor across the yard. " She is in my garden again. Those are my strawberries, not hers. Maybe I should call the police."
Her friend, Doris, was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in her hands. "You want to call the police because she picks your strawberries?" she asked.
"Of course," Molly answered angrily. "What would you do if your neighbor walked into your yard without your _ and picked your strawberries?"
"I would say, better here the bees."
"The bees don't take my strawberries."
"But the birds do," Doris continued. "That old lady only picks a few strawberries every year, and the only ones she picks are those you leave to the birds. Why don't you pick some of your good strawberries and give them to her?"
"Are you crazy? What are you thinking?'
"Don't you remember what happened when you were in hospital last year? She went to see you and gave you a pot full of chicken soup. When you give her the strawberries you can tell her that you still remember that."
Molly was shocked. She had almost forgotten that little kindness because she was too angry. Then she picked a basket of good strawberries and went out. Through the window, Doris could see that the anger on Molly's face changed into a bright smile.
Question:
Which sentence is similar to the sentence "I would say, better here than the bees."?
Choices:
A. It's better to let the neighbor pick the strawberries than to give them to the bees.
B. The bees are better than the neighbor.
C. The bees like strawberries more than the neighbor does.
D. The neighbor is good at picking strawberries.
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle224.txt
|
Molly Daniels opened the door so hard that the door nearly broke it. Then she looked through the window at her neighbor across the yard. " She is in my garden again. Those are my strawberries, not hers. Maybe I should call the police."
Her friend, Doris, was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in her hands. "You want to call the police because she picks your strawberries?" she asked.
"Of course," Molly answered angrily. "What would you do if your neighbor walked into your yard without your _ and picked your strawberries?"
"I would say, better here the bees."
"The bees don't take my strawberries."
"But the birds do," Doris continued. "That old lady only picks a few strawberries every year, and the only ones she picks are those you leave to the birds. Why don't you pick some of your good strawberries and give them to her?"
"Are you crazy? What are you thinking?'
"Don't you remember what happened when you were in hospital last year? She went to see you and gave you a pot full of chicken soup. When you give her the strawberries you can tell her that you still remember that."
Molly was shocked. She had almost forgotten that little kindness because she was too angry. Then she picked a basket of good strawberries and went out. Through the window, Doris could see that the anger on Molly's face changed into a bright smile.
|
[
"It's better to let the neighbor pick the strawberries than to give them to the bees.",
"The bees are better than the neighbor.",
"The bees like strawberries more than the neighbor does.",
"The neighbor is good at picking strawberries."
] |
We can learn from the text that the show will _ .
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Welcome here! The Southern Spring Home & Garden Show will be held at The Park Expo and Conference Center. This show will last from Wednesday (March 2) to Sunday (March 6,2012).
Admission : Adults $10.00. Teenagers under 15 free with a paying adult.
Join Lincolnton's own Tammie Davis as she performs her original country songs at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday,March 5th.
Special Days: The Spring for Kids First Night Gala benefiting the Council for Children's Rights will take place from 7 p.m. to 10p.m. on Wednesday, March 2,2012. Tickets are $50 and include an access to Freedom Hall, where you can enjoy delicious food, beverage and entertainment free of charge.
Seniors Day(55+):Wednesday is for them. Cost is $7.00 but without coupons .
Hours :Wednesday,Thursday &Sunday :10 a.m.---5p.m.;Friday &Saturday :10 a.m.----9 a.m.
Wheelchairs are available on a first come first served basis for you. The cost is $1.00 and you are required to leave a valid driver's license or ID.
Parking :All Day Parking: $6.00;Half Day Parking:$3.00; Every Hour Parking:$1.00
For more Information: Come to visit Mardee Woodward in person.
E-mail: mwoodward@southernshows.com
Telephone:704-376-4085
Question:
We can learn from the text that the show will _ .
Choices:
A. last only five days
B. offer a free parking
C. have the only one singer
D. take place in a private house
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high8637.txt
|
Welcome here! The Southern Spring Home & Garden Show will be held at The Park Expo and Conference Center. This show will last from Wednesday (March 2) to Sunday (March 6,2012).
Admission : Adults $10.00. Teenagers under 15 free with a paying adult.
Join Lincolnton's own Tammie Davis as she performs her original country songs at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday,March 5th.
Special Days: The Spring for Kids First Night Gala benefiting the Council for Children's Rights will take place from 7 p.m. to 10p.m. on Wednesday, March 2,2012. Tickets are $50 and include an access to Freedom Hall, where you can enjoy delicious food, beverage and entertainment free of charge.
Seniors Day(55+):Wednesday is for them. Cost is $7.00 but without coupons .
Hours :Wednesday,Thursday &Sunday :10 a.m.---5p.m.;Friday &Saturday :10 a.m.----9 a.m.
Wheelchairs are available on a first come first served basis for you. The cost is $1.00 and you are required to leave a valid driver's license or ID.
Parking :All Day Parking: $6.00;Half Day Parking:$3.00; Every Hour Parking:$1.00
For more Information: Come to visit Mardee Woodward in person.
E-mail: mwoodward@southernshows.com
Telephone:704-376-4085
|
[
"last only five days",
"offer a free parking",
"have the only one singer",
"take place in a private house"
] |
We can infer that the text is _
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Edward Wilson is America's, if not the world's, leading naturalist. In The Future of Life, he takes us on a tour of the world's natural resources. How are they used? What has been lost? What remains and is it able to continue with the present speed of use? Wilson also points out the need to understand fully the biodiversity of our earth.
Wilson begins with an open letter to the pioneer in environment protection, Henry David Thoreau. He compares today's Walden Pond with that of Thoreau's day. Wilson will use such comparisons for the rest of the book. The problem is clear: man has done great damage to his home over the years. Can the earth, with human help, be made to return to biodiversity levels that will be able to support us in the future?
Biodiversity, Wilson argues, is the key to settling many problems the earth faces today. Even our agricultural crops can gain advantages from it. A mere hundred species are the basis of our food supply, of which but twenty carry the load. Wilson suggests changing this situation by looking into ten thousand species that could be made use of, which will be a way to reduce the clearing of the natural homes of plants and animals to enlarge farming areas.
At the end of the book, Wilson discusses the importance of human values in considering the environment. If you are to continue to live on the earth, you may as well read and act on the ideas in this book.
Question:
We can infer that the text is _
Choices:
A. description of natural resources
B. a research report
C. a book review
D. an introduction to a scientist
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high6867.txt
|
Edward Wilson is America's, if not the world's, leading naturalist. In The Future of Life, he takes us on a tour of the world's natural resources. How are they used? What has been lost? What remains and is it able to continue with the present speed of use? Wilson also points out the need to understand fully the biodiversity of our earth.
Wilson begins with an open letter to the pioneer in environment protection, Henry David Thoreau. He compares today's Walden Pond with that of Thoreau's day. Wilson will use such comparisons for the rest of the book. The problem is clear: man has done great damage to his home over the years. Can the earth, with human help, be made to return to biodiversity levels that will be able to support us in the future?
Biodiversity, Wilson argues, is the key to settling many problems the earth faces today. Even our agricultural crops can gain advantages from it. A mere hundred species are the basis of our food supply, of which but twenty carry the load. Wilson suggests changing this situation by looking into ten thousand species that could be made use of, which will be a way to reduce the clearing of the natural homes of plants and animals to enlarge farming areas.
At the end of the book, Wilson discusses the importance of human values in considering the environment. If you are to continue to live on the earth, you may as well read and act on the ideas in this book.
|
[
"description of natural resources",
"a research report",
"a book review",
"an introduction to a scientist"
] |
The passage is mainly about _ .
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
At the onset of a northern winter, many dream of warmer climates.In 1934 the Canadian-born composer Colin Mcphee did more than dream. He set out for the island of Bali.
In his bookA House in Bali,Colin Mcphee described how he first gained insight into the essence of Balinese music.For about a month he had been working on transcribing a complete score to a Balinese play he had seen. It seemed impossible that so much beauty could be achieved with a scale of only five tones.
But the distinctive embellishments of the music _ him.Fortunately a young household helper and his friend decided to assist. One morning they set two objects next to Mcphee's piano.They were gangas--metal keyed instruments.The two boys played them in what struck Mcphee as"a fast duet in Morse code".
At last the composer had found the key to Balinese music."Wait!" Mcphee would call out from the piano as the boys flew along,"Stop!Please!That bit once more!"
Patiently the boys would stop and began again.But soon they were flying again,faster than ever, amazing Mcphee with their memory and precision. Sometimes the patterns repeated.Sometimes they opened up into something new. Then, suddenly the whole duet would fly apart and the boys would burst out laughing,breaking the spell.
Although Colin Mcphee left the island in 1939,he remained spellbound by Balinese music.And its rich,distinctive sound would colour many of the compositions he would write for the next quarter century.
Question:
The passage is mainly about _ .
Choices:
A. a book introducing the island of Bali
B. two Balinese boys playing gangas
C. a composer named Colin Mcphee
D. Balinese music touching Colin Mcphee
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high2710.txt
|
At the onset of a northern winter, many dream of warmer climates.In 1934 the Canadian-born composer Colin Mcphee did more than dream. He set out for the island of Bali.
In his bookA House in Bali,Colin Mcphee described how he first gained insight into the essence of Balinese music.For about a month he had been working on transcribing a complete score to a Balinese play he had seen. It seemed impossible that so much beauty could be achieved with a scale of only five tones.
But the distinctive embellishments of the music _ him.Fortunately a young household helper and his friend decided to assist. One morning they set two objects next to Mcphee's piano.They were gangas--metal keyed instruments.The two boys played them in what struck Mcphee as"a fast duet in Morse code".
At last the composer had found the key to Balinese music."Wait!" Mcphee would call out from the piano as the boys flew along,"Stop!Please!That bit once more!"
Patiently the boys would stop and began again.But soon they were flying again,faster than ever, amazing Mcphee with their memory and precision. Sometimes the patterns repeated.Sometimes they opened up into something new. Then, suddenly the whole duet would fly apart and the boys would burst out laughing,breaking the spell.
Although Colin Mcphee left the island in 1939,he remained spellbound by Balinese music.And its rich,distinctive sound would colour many of the compositions he would write for the next quarter century.
|
[
"a book introducing the island of Bali",
"two Balinese boys playing gangas",
"a composer named Colin Mcphee",
"Balinese music touching Colin Mcphee"
] |
The passage is mainly about _
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
When he was a boy, Tim was much influenced by the books about the sea, but in fact by the age of fifteen he had decided to become a doctor rather than a sailor. His father was a dentist and as a result, Tim had the opportunity of meeting many doctors either at home or elsewhere. When he was fourteen he was already hanging around the clinic of a local doctor where he was supposed to help to wrap up medicine bottles, but was actually trying to listen to the conversations taking place between the doctor and his patients in the next room.
During the war Tim served in the Navy as a surgeon . "That was the happiest time of my life. I was dealing with very real suffering and on the whole making a success of it." In California he taught the country people simple facts about medicine. He saw himself as a life-saver. He had proved his skills to himself and his ability to take decisions. Thus, while he was able to tell them what to do, he could feel he was saving them. After the war, he got married and chose to be a doctor in the countryside, working under an old doctor who was popular in the area, but who hated the sight of blood and believed that the secret of medicine was faith. This gave the young man many opportunities to go on working as a life-saver.
Question:
The passage is mainly about _
Choices:
A. Tim's life story
B. Tim' dreams
C. Tim's marriage
D. Tim's patients
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high1035.txt
|
When he was a boy, Tim was much influenced by the books about the sea, but in fact by the age of fifteen he had decided to become a doctor rather than a sailor. His father was a dentist and as a result, Tim had the opportunity of meeting many doctors either at home or elsewhere. When he was fourteen he was already hanging around the clinic of a local doctor where he was supposed to help to wrap up medicine bottles, but was actually trying to listen to the conversations taking place between the doctor and his patients in the next room.
During the war Tim served in the Navy as a surgeon . "That was the happiest time of my life. I was dealing with very real suffering and on the whole making a success of it." In California he taught the country people simple facts about medicine. He saw himself as a life-saver. He had proved his skills to himself and his ability to take decisions. Thus, while he was able to tell them what to do, he could feel he was saving them. After the war, he got married and chose to be a doctor in the countryside, working under an old doctor who was popular in the area, but who hated the sight of blood and believed that the secret of medicine was faith. This gave the young man many opportunities to go on working as a life-saver.
|
[
"Tim's life story",
"Tim' dreams",
"Tim's marriage",
"Tim's patients"
] |
Dna replication, chromosome segregation, and the separation into two daughter cells are steps in what process?
| null |
Answer the following science question clearly and accurately.
|
Dna replication, chromosome segregation, and the separation into two daughter cells are steps in what process?
|
binary fission
|
science
| null | null | null |
multiple fission
|
reproductive fission
|
nuclear fission
|
binary fission
|
Binary fission can be described as a series of steps, although it is actually a continuous process. The steps are described below and also illustrated in Figure below . They include DNA replication, chromosome segregation, and finally the separation into two daughter cells.
| null | null | null |
In the author's opinion, when you exercise and eat right, you will experience some changes EXCEPT _ .
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Life is to be enjoyed. There's no point in giving up something you enjoy unless you get something back that's even better. When people eat more healthfully, exercise, quit smoking, and manage stress better, they find that they feel so much better that it reconstructs the reason for making these changes from fear of dying to joy of living. The latest studies show that when you exercise and eat right:
YOUR BRAIN receives more blood flow and oxygen, so you become smarter, think more clearly, have more energy, and need less sleep. Two studies showed that just walking for three hours per week for only three months caused so many new neurons to grow that it actually increased the size of people's brains!
YOUR FACE receives more blood flow, so your skin glows more and wrinkles less. You look younger and more attractive. In contrast, an unhealthy diet, chronic emotional stress and smoking reduce blood flow to your face so you age more quickly. Smoking accelerates aging because nicotine causes your arteries to narrow down, which decreases blood flow to your face and makes it wrinkle earlier. This is why smokers look years older than they really are.
YOUR GENES change. In May, a study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showing that changing your lifestyle changes your genes.
YOUR TELOMERES get longer. Telomeres are the ends of our chromosomes that control how long we live. As telomeres become shorter, then cells age more quickly, thus shortening your life.
Besides, one of the most interesting findings in the study was that the mothers' awareness of stress was more important than what was really occurring in their lives. The researchers gave the women a questionnaire and asked them to rate on a three-point scale how stressed they felt each day, and how out of control their lives felt to them. The women who were aware that they were under heavy stress had significantly shortened and damaged telomeres compared with those who felt more relaxed. On the contrary, some of the women who felt relaxed despite raising a disabled child had more normal-appearing telomeres.
In other words, if you feel stressed, you are stressed; if you feel fine, you are fine.
Question:
In the author's opinion, when you exercise and eat right, you will experience some changes EXCEPT _ .
Choices:
A. brains becoming cleverer
B. faces having fewer wrinkles
C. arteries turning narrower
D. genes being changed
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high4881.txt
|
Life is to be enjoyed. There's no point in giving up something you enjoy unless you get something back that's even better. When people eat more healthfully, exercise, quit smoking, and manage stress better, they find that they feel so much better that it reconstructs the reason for making these changes from fear of dying to joy of living. The latest studies show that when you exercise and eat right:
YOUR BRAIN receives more blood flow and oxygen, so you become smarter, think more clearly, have more energy, and need less sleep. Two studies showed that just walking for three hours per week for only three months caused so many new neurons to grow that it actually increased the size of people's brains!
YOUR FACE receives more blood flow, so your skin glows more and wrinkles less. You look younger and more attractive. In contrast, an unhealthy diet, chronic emotional stress and smoking reduce blood flow to your face so you age more quickly. Smoking accelerates aging because nicotine causes your arteries to narrow down, which decreases blood flow to your face and makes it wrinkle earlier. This is why smokers look years older than they really are.
YOUR GENES change. In May, a study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showing that changing your lifestyle changes your genes.
YOUR TELOMERES get longer. Telomeres are the ends of our chromosomes that control how long we live. As telomeres become shorter, then cells age more quickly, thus shortening your life.
Besides, one of the most interesting findings in the study was that the mothers' awareness of stress was more important than what was really occurring in their lives. The researchers gave the women a questionnaire and asked them to rate on a three-point scale how stressed they felt each day, and how out of control their lives felt to them. The women who were aware that they were under heavy stress had significantly shortened and damaged telomeres compared with those who felt more relaxed. On the contrary, some of the women who felt relaxed despite raising a disabled child had more normal-appearing telomeres.
In other words, if you feel stressed, you are stressed; if you feel fine, you are fine.
|
[
"brains becoming cleverer",
"faces having fewer wrinkles",
"arteries turning narrower",
"genes being changed"
] |
What was Gerard's attitude towards DST?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
James Proud, a British businessman who settled in San Francisco launched a Twitter campaign called "Stop DST". Daylight Saving Time (DST) refers to the time during the summer when clocks are one hour ahead of standard time.
"Daylight saving was created to save energy, and it doesn't really do that." Proud said, "but what's even worse are its negative health effects. It's both outdated and harmful." daylight saving has been linked to a surprising number of health issues such as heart attacks, but Proud has a particular interest in the topic because of its disruptive effects on sleep.
Last year, German researchers suggested that our body cocks never really adjust t daylight saving, which causes a host of health problems. Till Roenneberg of Ludwig-Maximillians University said that because of DST, "the majority of the population has severely decreased productivity, decreased quality of life, increasing chance of getting illness, and is just plain tired."
The week after daylight saving also witnesses a sudden increase in fatal traffic accidents, according to the University of Colorado. It is believed that this is caused both by disrupted sleep schedules and the shift of daylight hours from the morning to the evening.
"Daylight saving is an economic tradition. And all economic choices involve achieving a balance. " said behavioral economist David Gerard. "Even if we decide to abolish daylight saving, there would be a large number of unhappy people."
Some such people are shift works, students and parents of schoolchildren, all of whom get to enjoy an extra hour of daylight after work or class with DST. Plus, restaurants love the extra evening sales DST allows.
Daylight saving has also been linked to lower crime rates, due to the "deterrent effect" of longer daylight. Basically, more light increase a criminal's chances of being seen by witnesses or police, which discourages criminal activity.
Gerard also point out that an extra hour of daylight has vastly more influence in the American South, where the sun sets earlier, even in the summer, than in the north. That's why residents of southern states may values DST more.
Question:
What was Gerard's attitude towards DST?
Choices:
A. A bit doubtful
B. A little worried
C. Fairly objective
D. Strongly opposed
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high19685.txt
|
James Proud, a British businessman who settled in San Francisco launched a Twitter campaign called "Stop DST". Daylight Saving Time (DST) refers to the time during the summer when clocks are one hour ahead of standard time.
"Daylight saving was created to save energy, and it doesn't really do that." Proud said, "but what's even worse are its negative health effects. It's both outdated and harmful." daylight saving has been linked to a surprising number of health issues such as heart attacks, but Proud has a particular interest in the topic because of its disruptive effects on sleep.
Last year, German researchers suggested that our body cocks never really adjust t daylight saving, which causes a host of health problems. Till Roenneberg of Ludwig-Maximillians University said that because of DST, "the majority of the population has severely decreased productivity, decreased quality of life, increasing chance of getting illness, and is just plain tired."
The week after daylight saving also witnesses a sudden increase in fatal traffic accidents, according to the University of Colorado. It is believed that this is caused both by disrupted sleep schedules and the shift of daylight hours from the morning to the evening.
"Daylight saving is an economic tradition. And all economic choices involve achieving a balance. " said behavioral economist David Gerard. "Even if we decide to abolish daylight saving, there would be a large number of unhappy people."
Some such people are shift works, students and parents of schoolchildren, all of whom get to enjoy an extra hour of daylight after work or class with DST. Plus, restaurants love the extra evening sales DST allows.
Daylight saving has also been linked to lower crime rates, due to the "deterrent effect" of longer daylight. Basically, more light increase a criminal's chances of being seen by witnesses or police, which discourages criminal activity.
Gerard also point out that an extra hour of daylight has vastly more influence in the American South, where the sun sets earlier, even in the summer, than in the north. That's why residents of southern states may values DST more.
|
[
"A bit doubtful",
"A little worried",
"Fairly objective",
"Strongly opposed"
] |
The main purpose of the passage is to _
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Rooster Morris is an author, entertainer, storyteller, musician, and composer. He has performed for over 4.5 million students in elementary schools, public libraries and museums. Rooster shares with the audience some of the stories in children's books. Kids walk away from his performances, believing they can write, draw, perform, sing, or play a musical instrument. Most importantly, students walk away, believing reading will open the doors to every opportunity in life.
Everyone knows authors write books, but how many students actually have the opportunity to watch a published author read from their books? When a student has the advantage of meeting an author and has the opportunity to ask questions, they realize authors are people from far-away places. Rooster points out these misunderstandings and explains how he started writing.
Rooster talks of habits being one of the most important things in a person's life. If people develop good habits, they will achieve their goals and be ready for anything. Rooster talks about how he wanted to play the fiddle when he was a young boy. He learns to make a habit of practicing the fundamentals. Rooster shows the kids the pay-off -- he plays a song in front of the audience and brings the excitement to a new level.
Rooster will educate and entertain the audience. Many students begin writing after having seen Rooster's program. When children hear someone they admire say, "You can do anything if you want to do it," it motivates them into action.
Laid-Back West, Inc. has been booking authors for schools for over 13 years. We know the value of a successful author visit and can invite Rooster and other authors to visit your school.
Question:
The main purpose of the passage is to _
Choices:
A. sell Rooster Morris' children's books
B. persuade kids to attend Rooster Morris' school
C. encourage children to write
D. attract customers for Laid-Back West, Inc.
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high3336.txt
|
Rooster Morris is an author, entertainer, storyteller, musician, and composer. He has performed for over 4.5 million students in elementary schools, public libraries and museums. Rooster shares with the audience some of the stories in children's books. Kids walk away from his performances, believing they can write, draw, perform, sing, or play a musical instrument. Most importantly, students walk away, believing reading will open the doors to every opportunity in life.
Everyone knows authors write books, but how many students actually have the opportunity to watch a published author read from their books? When a student has the advantage of meeting an author and has the opportunity to ask questions, they realize authors are people from far-away places. Rooster points out these misunderstandings and explains how he started writing.
Rooster talks of habits being one of the most important things in a person's life. If people develop good habits, they will achieve their goals and be ready for anything. Rooster talks about how he wanted to play the fiddle when he was a young boy. He learns to make a habit of practicing the fundamentals. Rooster shows the kids the pay-off -- he plays a song in front of the audience and brings the excitement to a new level.
Rooster will educate and entertain the audience. Many students begin writing after having seen Rooster's program. When children hear someone they admire say, "You can do anything if you want to do it," it motivates them into action.
Laid-Back West, Inc. has been booking authors for schools for over 13 years. We know the value of a successful author visit and can invite Rooster and other authors to visit your school.
|
[
"sell Rooster Morris' children's books",
"persuade kids to attend Rooster Morris' school",
"encourage children to write",
"attract customers for Laid-Back West, Inc."
] |
It was difficult for the couple to live a green life for the whole year because _ .
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Going green seems to be a fad for a lot of people these days.Whether that is good or bad,we can't really say,but for the two of us,going green is not a fad but a lifestyle.
On April 22,2011,we decided to go green every single day for an entire year.This meant doing 365 different green things,and it also meant challenging ourselves to go green beyond the easy things.Rather than recycle and reduce our energy,we had to think of 365 different green things to do and this was no easy task.
With the idea of going green every single day for a year,Our Green Year started.My wife and I decided to educate people about how they could go green in their lives and hoped we could show people all the green things that could be done to help the environment.We wanted to push the message that every little bit helps.
Over the course of Our Green Year,we completely changed our lifestyles.We now shop at organic stores.We consume less meat,choosing green food.We have greatly reduced our buying we don't need.We have given away half of what we owned through websites.Our home is kept clean by vinegar and lemon juice,with no chemical cleaners.We make our own butter,enjoying the smell of homemade fresh bread.In our home office anyone caught doing something ungreen might be punished.
Our minds have been changed by Our Green Year.We are grateful for the chance to have been able to go green and educate others.We believe that we do have the power to change things and help our planet. (2013*,B)
Question:
It was difficult for the couple to live a green life for the whole year because _ .
Choices:
A. they were expected to follow the green fad
B. they didn't know how to educate other people
C. they were unwilling to reduce their energy
D. they needed to perform unusual green tasks
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high6198.txt
|
Going green seems to be a fad for a lot of people these days.Whether that is good or bad,we can't really say,but for the two of us,going green is not a fad but a lifestyle.
On April 22,2011,we decided to go green every single day for an entire year.This meant doing 365 different green things,and it also meant challenging ourselves to go green beyond the easy things.Rather than recycle and reduce our energy,we had to think of 365 different green things to do and this was no easy task.
With the idea of going green every single day for a year,Our Green Year started.My wife and I decided to educate people about how they could go green in their lives and hoped we could show people all the green things that could be done to help the environment.We wanted to push the message that every little bit helps.
Over the course of Our Green Year,we completely changed our lifestyles.We now shop at organic stores.We consume less meat,choosing green food.We have greatly reduced our buying we don't need.We have given away half of what we owned through websites.Our home is kept clean by vinegar and lemon juice,with no chemical cleaners.We make our own butter,enjoying the smell of homemade fresh bread.In our home office anyone caught doing something ungreen might be punished.
Our minds have been changed by Our Green Year.We are grateful for the chance to have been able to go green and educate others.We believe that we do have the power to change things and help our planet. (2013*,B)
|
[
"they were expected to follow the green fad",
"they didn't know how to educate other people",
"they were unwilling to reduce their energy",
"they needed to perform unusual green tasks"
] |
What do we know about the DRD2?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Are you a forgetful person? You might be able to blame your genes, a new study in the journal Neuroscience Letters suggests.
Researchers from the University of Bonn have identified a variant on the DRD2 gene that seems to be associated with increased forgetfulness.
Everyone has one of two variants of the DRD2 gene, the difference is just one letter in the genetic code: Some people have the cytosine (C) variant, while others have the thymine (T) variant. The researchers wanted to see how having one variant over another was associated with forgetfulness.
To test this, they analyzed the DRD2 gene of 500 study participants, and also had the participants answer surveys about their forgetfulness (such as how often they misplaced their keys, or forgot names).
Most of the study participants--three quarters of them--had the thymine gene variant, while the other quarter had the cytosine gene variant. Researchers found an association between more forgetfulness problems and having the thymine gene variant of DRD2. Meanwhile, the cytosine gene variant seemed to have a protective effect against forgetfulness.
However, "there are things you can do to compensate for forgetfulness; writing yourself notes or making more of an effort to put your keys down in a specific location--and not just anywhere," study researcher Dr. Sebastian Markett, of the University of Bonn, said in a statement.
Research has also suggested that some age groups are more forgetful than others. A recent national poll showed that millenials, who were born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s, are actually more likely than seniors to be absent-minded with things like what day of the week it is, where they put their keys and remembering to bring their lunch.
Meanwhile, another study recently published in the journal BMC Psychology showed that men are more likely than women to experience minor memory problems.
Question:
What do we know about the DRD2?
Choices:
A. It has two similar variants.
B. Some people don't have it.
C. It's bad for people's memory.
D. Everyone has one of its variants.
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high9647.txt
|
Are you a forgetful person? You might be able to blame your genes, a new study in the journal Neuroscience Letters suggests.
Researchers from the University of Bonn have identified a variant on the DRD2 gene that seems to be associated with increased forgetfulness.
Everyone has one of two variants of the DRD2 gene, the difference is just one letter in the genetic code: Some people have the cytosine (C) variant, while others have the thymine (T) variant. The researchers wanted to see how having one variant over another was associated with forgetfulness.
To test this, they analyzed the DRD2 gene of 500 study participants, and also had the participants answer surveys about their forgetfulness (such as how often they misplaced their keys, or forgot names).
Most of the study participants--three quarters of them--had the thymine gene variant, while the other quarter had the cytosine gene variant. Researchers found an association between more forgetfulness problems and having the thymine gene variant of DRD2. Meanwhile, the cytosine gene variant seemed to have a protective effect against forgetfulness.
However, "there are things you can do to compensate for forgetfulness; writing yourself notes or making more of an effort to put your keys down in a specific location--and not just anywhere," study researcher Dr. Sebastian Markett, of the University of Bonn, said in a statement.
Research has also suggested that some age groups are more forgetful than others. A recent national poll showed that millenials, who were born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s, are actually more likely than seniors to be absent-minded with things like what day of the week it is, where they put their keys and remembering to bring their lunch.
Meanwhile, another study recently published in the journal BMC Psychology showed that men are more likely than women to experience minor memory problems.
|
[
"It has two similar variants.",
"Some people don't have it.",
"It's bad for people's memory.",
"Everyone has one of its variants."
] |
The motivation of the teacher's moving lay in his _ .
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
The teacher was leaving the village, and everybody seemed sorry. The miller at Cresscombe lent him the small cart and horse to carry his goods to Christminster, the city of his destination, such a vehicle proving of quite enough size for the teacher's belongings. For his only article, in addition to the packing-case of books, was a piano that he had bought when he thought of learning instrumental music. But the eagerness having faded, he had never acquired any skill in playing, and the purchased article had been a permanent trouble to him.
The headmaster had gone away for the day, being a man who disliked the sight of changes. He did not mean to return till the evening, when the new teacher would have arrived, and everything would be smooth again.
The blacksmith, the farm bailiff and the teacher were standing in confused attitudes in the sitting room before the instrument. The teacher had remarked that even if he got it into the cart he should not know what to do with it on his arrival at Christminster, since he was only going into a temporary place just at first.
A little boy of eleven, who had been assisting in the packing, joined the group of men, and said, "Aunt has got a fuel-house, and it could be put there, perhaps, till you've found a place to settle in, sir."
"Good idea," said the blacksmith.
The smith and the bailiff started to see about the possibility of the suggested shelter, and the boy and the teacher were left standing alone.
"Sorry I am going, Jude." said the latter gently.
Tears rose into the boy's eyes. He admitted that he was sorry.
"So am I," said Mr. Phillotson.
"Why do you go, sir?" asked the boy.
"Well ----- don't speak of this everywhere. You know what a university is, and a university degree? It is the necessary hallmark of a man who wants to do anything in teaching. My scheme, or dream, is to be a university graduate. By going to live at Christminster, I shall be at headquarters, so to speak, and if my scheme is practicable at all, I consider that being on the spot will afford me a better chance."
The smith and _ returned. Old Miss Fawley's fuel-house was practicable; and she seemed willing to give the instrument standing-room there. So it was left in the school till the evening, when more hands would be available for removing it; and the teacher gave a final glance round.
At nine o'clock Mr. Phillotson mounted beside his box of books, and waved his friends good-bye.
Question:
The motivation of the teacher's moving lay in his _ .
Choices:
A. ambition
B. devotion
C. admiration
D. inspiration
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high1224.txt
|
The teacher was leaving the village, and everybody seemed sorry. The miller at Cresscombe lent him the small cart and horse to carry his goods to Christminster, the city of his destination, such a vehicle proving of quite enough size for the teacher's belongings. For his only article, in addition to the packing-case of books, was a piano that he had bought when he thought of learning instrumental music. But the eagerness having faded, he had never acquired any skill in playing, and the purchased article had been a permanent trouble to him.
The headmaster had gone away for the day, being a man who disliked the sight of changes. He did not mean to return till the evening, when the new teacher would have arrived, and everything would be smooth again.
The blacksmith, the farm bailiff and the teacher were standing in confused attitudes in the sitting room before the instrument. The teacher had remarked that even if he got it into the cart he should not know what to do with it on his arrival at Christminster, since he was only going into a temporary place just at first.
A little boy of eleven, who had been assisting in the packing, joined the group of men, and said, "Aunt has got a fuel-house, and it could be put there, perhaps, till you've found a place to settle in, sir."
"Good idea," said the blacksmith.
The smith and the bailiff started to see about the possibility of the suggested shelter, and the boy and the teacher were left standing alone.
"Sorry I am going, Jude." said the latter gently.
Tears rose into the boy's eyes. He admitted that he was sorry.
"So am I," said Mr. Phillotson.
"Why do you go, sir?" asked the boy.
"Well ----- don't speak of this everywhere. You know what a university is, and a university degree? It is the necessary hallmark of a man who wants to do anything in teaching. My scheme, or dream, is to be a university graduate. By going to live at Christminster, I shall be at headquarters, so to speak, and if my scheme is practicable at all, I consider that being on the spot will afford me a better chance."
The smith and _ returned. Old Miss Fawley's fuel-house was practicable; and she seemed willing to give the instrument standing-room there. So it was left in the school till the evening, when more hands would be available for removing it; and the teacher gave a final glance round.
At nine o'clock Mr. Phillotson mounted beside his box of books, and waved his friends good-bye.
|
[
"ambition",
"devotion",
"admiration",
"inspiration"
] |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE about Kamba and Maasai people?
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
It is easy for us to tell our friends from our enemies. But can other animals do the same? Elephants can! They can use their sense of vision and smell to tell the difference between people who pose a threat and those who do not.
In Kenya, researchers found that elephants react differently to clothing worn by men of the Maasai and Kamba ethnic groups. Young Maasai men spear animals and thus pose a threat to elephants; Kamba men are mainly farmers and are not a danger to elephants.
In an experiment conducted by animal scientists, elephants were first presented with clean clothing or clothing that had been worn for five days by either a Maasai or a Kamba man. When the elephants detected the smell of clothing worn by a Maasai man, they moved away from the smell faster and took longer to relax than when they detected the smells of either clothing worn by Kamba men or clothing that had not been worn at all.
Clothing color also plays a role, though in a different way. In the same study, when the elephants saw red clothing not worn before, they reacted angrily, as red is typically worn by Maasai men. Rather than running away as they did with the smell, the elephants acted aggressively toward the red clothing.
The researchers believe that the elephants' emotional reactions are due to their different interpretations of the smells and the sights. Smelling a potential danger means that a threat is nearby and the best thing to do is run away and hide. Seeing a potential threat without its smell means that risk is low. Therefore, instead of showing fear and running away, the elephants express their anger and become aggressive.
Question:
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE about Kamba and Maasai people?
Choices:
A. Maasai people are a threat to elephants.
B. Kamba people raise elephants for farming.
C. Both Kamba and Maasai people are elephant hunters.
D. Both Kamba and Maasai people traditionally wear red clothing.
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high3910.txt
|
It is easy for us to tell our friends from our enemies. But can other animals do the same? Elephants can! They can use their sense of vision and smell to tell the difference between people who pose a threat and those who do not.
In Kenya, researchers found that elephants react differently to clothing worn by men of the Maasai and Kamba ethnic groups. Young Maasai men spear animals and thus pose a threat to elephants; Kamba men are mainly farmers and are not a danger to elephants.
In an experiment conducted by animal scientists, elephants were first presented with clean clothing or clothing that had been worn for five days by either a Maasai or a Kamba man. When the elephants detected the smell of clothing worn by a Maasai man, they moved away from the smell faster and took longer to relax than when they detected the smells of either clothing worn by Kamba men or clothing that had not been worn at all.
Clothing color also plays a role, though in a different way. In the same study, when the elephants saw red clothing not worn before, they reacted angrily, as red is typically worn by Maasai men. Rather than running away as they did with the smell, the elephants acted aggressively toward the red clothing.
The researchers believe that the elephants' emotional reactions are due to their different interpretations of the smells and the sights. Smelling a potential danger means that a threat is nearby and the best thing to do is run away and hide. Seeing a potential threat without its smell means that risk is low. Therefore, instead of showing fear and running away, the elephants express their anger and become aggressive.
|
[
"Maasai people are a threat to elephants.",
"Kamba people raise elephants for farming.",
"Both Kamba and Maasai people are elephant hunters.",
"Both Kamba and Maasai people traditionally wear red clothing."
] |
It can be inferred from the passage that _ .
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Bursting into the classroom from recess , 15 children take their seats and face the woman they know as Ms. Yang.
"What day is it today?"she asks, in Mandarin Chinese.
"Confucius' birthday!"the fifth graders shout in Mandarin.
"Why do we celebrate Confucius' birthday?"
"Because he's the greatest teacher in the history of China!"exclaims a brown-haired girl. She too is speaking Mandarin.
English is rarely heard in Lisa Yang's class at the Chinese American International School(CAIS), despite the fact that few students are native speakers of Mandarin.
The United States is actively trying to increase the group of students in"critical languages"such as Mandarin. The students at CAIS are way ahead in such a trend.
Mandarin explosion in America
Founded 25 years ago, this small private school in San Francisco, USA, does what few other American schools do: It produces fully fluent speakers of Mandarin Chinese, by far the most commonly spoken language in the world.
Mandarin Chinese is suddenly hot in American schools. As China becomes the world's leading economy sometimes this century, schools in the U.S. are _ to add Mandarin to their roster of foreign languages or expand Chinese programs already in place.
"It really is almost unprecedented . People are looking at China as a force to be reckoned with...And to ensure that the U.S. has the ability to conduct trade, and to work with the Chinese, certainly having an understanding of Chinese language and culture is an advantage,"said Marty Abbott of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages(ACTFL) .
Cultural differences in teaching styles
To develop Chinese-language programs has not been smooth. A shortage of trained teachers has made it difficult for some schools to join the race. When schools do get teachers, they often hire them straight from China, and the teachers usually suffer culture shock when they come to the U.S.
Robert Liu remembers his first two years in an American classroom. It was not an easy adjustment. "In China, students respect their teachers,"he said. Liu found that American students, however, expect an active teaching style. He had to use games to engage them rather than lectures.
To avoid many of the problems with foreign teaching styles, the CAIS has been working with the Chinese government to improve training of teachers who are sent to the U.S.
Question:
It can be inferred from the passage that _ .
Choices:
A. the students in Lisa Yang's class usually speak Chinese
B. there are few American students in Lisa Yang's class
C. we celebrate Confucius' birthday because he's the greatest teacher in the history of China
D. in America the students don't respect their teachers
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high1512.txt
|
Bursting into the classroom from recess , 15 children take their seats and face the woman they know as Ms. Yang.
"What day is it today?"she asks, in Mandarin Chinese.
"Confucius' birthday!"the fifth graders shout in Mandarin.
"Why do we celebrate Confucius' birthday?"
"Because he's the greatest teacher in the history of China!"exclaims a brown-haired girl. She too is speaking Mandarin.
English is rarely heard in Lisa Yang's class at the Chinese American International School(CAIS), despite the fact that few students are native speakers of Mandarin.
The United States is actively trying to increase the group of students in"critical languages"such as Mandarin. The students at CAIS are way ahead in such a trend.
Mandarin explosion in America
Founded 25 years ago, this small private school in San Francisco, USA, does what few other American schools do: It produces fully fluent speakers of Mandarin Chinese, by far the most commonly spoken language in the world.
Mandarin Chinese is suddenly hot in American schools. As China becomes the world's leading economy sometimes this century, schools in the U.S. are _ to add Mandarin to their roster of foreign languages or expand Chinese programs already in place.
"It really is almost unprecedented . People are looking at China as a force to be reckoned with...And to ensure that the U.S. has the ability to conduct trade, and to work with the Chinese, certainly having an understanding of Chinese language and culture is an advantage,"said Marty Abbott of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages(ACTFL) .
Cultural differences in teaching styles
To develop Chinese-language programs has not been smooth. A shortage of trained teachers has made it difficult for some schools to join the race. When schools do get teachers, they often hire them straight from China, and the teachers usually suffer culture shock when they come to the U.S.
Robert Liu remembers his first two years in an American classroom. It was not an easy adjustment. "In China, students respect their teachers,"he said. Liu found that American students, however, expect an active teaching style. He had to use games to engage them rather than lectures.
To avoid many of the problems with foreign teaching styles, the CAIS has been working with the Chinese government to improve training of teachers who are sent to the U.S.
|
[
"the students in Lisa Yang's class usually speak Chinese",
"there are few American students in Lisa Yang's class",
"we celebrate Confucius' birthday because he's the greatest teacher in the history of China",
"in America the students don't respect their teachers"
] |
What does the sentence"It's true that most Americans eat fast food for their breakfast and lunch"mean?It means _ .
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Every country has its own way of cooking.Ameri can people have their own way of cooking,don't they?Most people in the United states like fast food,but if you think that American people don't 1 ike cooking,you are wrong.It's true that most Americans eat fast food for their breakfast and lunch,but they also think cooking is interesting.Parents see the importance of teaching their children how to cook,and most Americans say that home--cooked meals are the best.
Americans have their own way of cooking.For example,baking is the most popular way of cooking in America.Most American families have ovens .American cooks pay attention to the balance of food.When planning a big meal,they try to cook meat,a few vegetab]es,some bread and sweet food.They also like to make the meal look beautiful.There are so many kinds of colorful foods,so the meal is healthy and look beautiful,too.
Question:
What does the sentence"It's true that most Americans eat fast food for their breakfast and lunch"mean?It means _ .
Choices:
A. they don't eat dinner
B. they like eating fast food
C. they only eat fast food
D. they can't cook
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle1396.txt
|
Every country has its own way of cooking.Ameri can people have their own way of cooking,don't they?Most people in the United states like fast food,but if you think that American people don't 1 ike cooking,you are wrong.It's true that most Americans eat fast food for their breakfast and lunch,but they also think cooking is interesting.Parents see the importance of teaching their children how to cook,and most Americans say that home--cooked meals are the best.
Americans have their own way of cooking.For example,baking is the most popular way of cooking in America.Most American families have ovens .American cooks pay attention to the balance of food.When planning a big meal,they try to cook meat,a few vegetab]es,some bread and sweet food.They also like to make the meal look beautiful.There are so many kinds of colorful foods,so the meal is healthy and look beautiful,too.
|
[
"they don't eat dinner",
"they like eating fast food",
"they only eat fast food",
"they can't cook"
] |
What part of the plant, in general, is responsible for transport and storage of water and minerals?
| null |
Answer the following science question clearly and accurately.
|
What part of the plant, in general, is responsible for transport and storage of water and minerals?
|
stems
|
science
| null | null | null |
petals
|
leaves
|
pistil
|
stems
|
Stems are needed for transport and storage. Their vascular tissue carries water and minerals from roots to leaves. It carries dissolved sugar from the leaves to the rest of the plant. Without this connection between roots and leaves, plants could not survive high above the ground in the air. In many plants, ground tissue in stems also stores food or water during cold or dry seasons.
| null | null | null |
How should a driver respond to the sounds from Driver Alert?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
A device that stops drivers from falling asleep at the wheel is about to undergo testing at Department of Transport laboratories and could go on sale within 12 months.
The system, called Driver Alert, aims to reduce deadly road accidents by 20% - 40% that are caused by tiredness. Airline pilots can also use it to reduce the 30% of all pilot-error accidents that are related to fatigue.
Driver Alert is based on a computerized wristband. The device, worn by drivers or pilots, gives out a sound about every four minutes during a car journey. After each sound the driver must respond by squeezing the steering wheel. A sensor in the wristband detects this pressing action and measures the time between the sound the driver's response.
Tiredness is directly related to a driver's response time. Usually, a watchful driver would take about 400 milliseconds to respond, but once that falls to more than 500 milliseconds, it suggests that the driver is getting sleepy.
In such cases the device gives out more regular and louder sounds, showing that the driver should open a window or stop for a rest. If the driver's response continues to slow down, the sounds become more frequent until a nonstop alarm warns that the driver must stop as soon as possible.
The device has been delivered to the department's laboratories for testing. If these tests, scheduled for six months' time, are successful, the makers will bring the product to market within about a year.
Question:
How should a driver respond to the sounds from Driver Alert?
Choices:
A. By sounding a warning.
B. By touching the wristband.
C. By checking the driving time.
D. By pressing the steering wheel.
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high3754.txt
|
A device that stops drivers from falling asleep at the wheel is about to undergo testing at Department of Transport laboratories and could go on sale within 12 months.
The system, called Driver Alert, aims to reduce deadly road accidents by 20% - 40% that are caused by tiredness. Airline pilots can also use it to reduce the 30% of all pilot-error accidents that are related to fatigue.
Driver Alert is based on a computerized wristband. The device, worn by drivers or pilots, gives out a sound about every four minutes during a car journey. After each sound the driver must respond by squeezing the steering wheel. A sensor in the wristband detects this pressing action and measures the time between the sound the driver's response.
Tiredness is directly related to a driver's response time. Usually, a watchful driver would take about 400 milliseconds to respond, but once that falls to more than 500 milliseconds, it suggests that the driver is getting sleepy.
In such cases the device gives out more regular and louder sounds, showing that the driver should open a window or stop for a rest. If the driver's response continues to slow down, the sounds become more frequent until a nonstop alarm warns that the driver must stop as soon as possible.
The device has been delivered to the department's laboratories for testing. If these tests, scheduled for six months' time, are successful, the makers will bring the product to market within about a year.
|
[
"By sounding a warning.",
"By touching the wristband.",
"By checking the driving time.",
"By pressing the steering wheel."
] |
What tends to give rise to the highest death toll according to the passage?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
The economic growth that many nations in Asia and increasingly Africa have experienced over the past couple of decades has transformed hundreds of millions of lives - almost entirely for the better. But there's a _ to that growth, one that's evident - or sometimes less than evident - in the smoggy, smelly skies above cities like Beijing, New Delhi and Jakarta. Thanks to new cars and power plants, air pollution is bad and getting worse in much of the world, and it's taking a major toll (,) on global health.
How big? According to a new analysis published in the Lancet, more than 3.2 million people suffered deaths from air pollution in 2010, the largest number on record. That's up from 800,000 in 2000. And it's a regional problem: 65% of those deaths occurred in Asia, where the air is choked by diesel soot from cars and trucks, as well as the song from power plants and the dust from endless urban construction. In East Asia and China, 1.2 million people died, as well as another 712,000 in South Asia, including India. For the first time ever, air pollution is on the world's top - 10 list of killers, and it's moving up the ranks faster than any other factor.
So how can air pollution be so damaging? It is the very finest soot - so small that it roots deep within the lungs and then enters the bloodstream - that contributes to most of the public - health toll of air pollution including death. Diesel soot, which can also cause cancer, is a major problem because it is concentrated in cities along transportation zones affecting overpopulated areas. It is thought to contribute to half the deaths from air pollution in urban centers. Fro example, 1 in 6 people in the U.S. live near a diesel - pollution hot spot like a rail yard, port terminal or freeway.
We also know that air pollution may be linked to other non - deadly diseases. Fortunately in the U.S. and other developed nations, urban air is for the most part cleaner than it was 30 or 40 years ago, thanks to regulations and new technologies like the catalytic converters that reduce automobile emissions. Govemments are also pushing to make air cleaner - see the White House's move last week to further tighten soot standards. It's not perfect, but we've had much more success dealing with air pollution than climate change.
Will developing nations like India eventually catch up? Hopefully - though the problem may get worse before it gets better. The good news is that it doesn't take a major technological advance to improve urban air. Switching from diesel fuel to unleaded helps, as do newer and cleaner cars which are less likely to send out pollutants. Power plants - even ones that burn mineral fuels like coal - can be fitted with pollution - control equipment that, at a price, will greatly reduce smog and other pollutants.
But the best solutions may involve urban design. In the Guardian, John Vidal notes that Delhi now has 200 cars per 1,000 people, far more than much richer Asian cities like Hong Kong and Singapore. Developing cities will almost certainly see an increase in car ownership as residents become wealthier - and that doesn't have to mean deadly air pollution. Higher incomes should also lead to tougher environmental regulations, which is exactly what happened in the West. We can only hope it happens before the death toll from bad air gets even higher.
Question:
What tends to give rise to the highest death toll according to the passage?
Choices:
A. The lack of tight environmental protection standards.
B. The increasing numbers of the diesel cars and trucks.
C. The frighteningly high death rate from deadly cancer.
D. The world's serious air pollution such as soot and dust.
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high4423.txt
|
The economic growth that many nations in Asia and increasingly Africa have experienced over the past couple of decades has transformed hundreds of millions of lives - almost entirely for the better. But there's a _ to that growth, one that's evident - or sometimes less than evident - in the smoggy, smelly skies above cities like Beijing, New Delhi and Jakarta. Thanks to new cars and power plants, air pollution is bad and getting worse in much of the world, and it's taking a major toll (,) on global health.
How big? According to a new analysis published in the Lancet, more than 3.2 million people suffered deaths from air pollution in 2010, the largest number on record. That's up from 800,000 in 2000. And it's a regional problem: 65% of those deaths occurred in Asia, where the air is choked by diesel soot from cars and trucks, as well as the song from power plants and the dust from endless urban construction. In East Asia and China, 1.2 million people died, as well as another 712,000 in South Asia, including India. For the first time ever, air pollution is on the world's top - 10 list of killers, and it's moving up the ranks faster than any other factor.
So how can air pollution be so damaging? It is the very finest soot - so small that it roots deep within the lungs and then enters the bloodstream - that contributes to most of the public - health toll of air pollution including death. Diesel soot, which can also cause cancer, is a major problem because it is concentrated in cities along transportation zones affecting overpopulated areas. It is thought to contribute to half the deaths from air pollution in urban centers. Fro example, 1 in 6 people in the U.S. live near a diesel - pollution hot spot like a rail yard, port terminal or freeway.
We also know that air pollution may be linked to other non - deadly diseases. Fortunately in the U.S. and other developed nations, urban air is for the most part cleaner than it was 30 or 40 years ago, thanks to regulations and new technologies like the catalytic converters that reduce automobile emissions. Govemments are also pushing to make air cleaner - see the White House's move last week to further tighten soot standards. It's not perfect, but we've had much more success dealing with air pollution than climate change.
Will developing nations like India eventually catch up? Hopefully - though the problem may get worse before it gets better. The good news is that it doesn't take a major technological advance to improve urban air. Switching from diesel fuel to unleaded helps, as do newer and cleaner cars which are less likely to send out pollutants. Power plants - even ones that burn mineral fuels like coal - can be fitted with pollution - control equipment that, at a price, will greatly reduce smog and other pollutants.
But the best solutions may involve urban design. In the Guardian, John Vidal notes that Delhi now has 200 cars per 1,000 people, far more than much richer Asian cities like Hong Kong and Singapore. Developing cities will almost certainly see an increase in car ownership as residents become wealthier - and that doesn't have to mean deadly air pollution. Higher incomes should also lead to tougher environmental regulations, which is exactly what happened in the West. We can only hope it happens before the death toll from bad air gets even higher.
|
[
"The lack of tight environmental protection standards.",
"The increasing numbers of the diesel cars and trucks.",
"The frighteningly high death rate from deadly cancer.",
"The world's serious air pollution such as soot and dust."
] |
Some samples of matter appear to have properties of solids, liquids, and/or gases at the same time. this can occur when the sample is composed of many what?
| null |
Answer the following science question clearly and accurately.
|
Some samples of matter appear to have properties of solids, liquids, and/or gases at the same time. this can occur when the sample is composed of many what?
|
small pieces
|
science
| null | null | null |
few pieces
|
turn pieces
|
large pieces
|
small pieces
|
Some samples of matter appear to have properties of solids, liquids, and/or gases at the same time. This can occur when the sample is composed of many small pieces. For example, we can pour sand as if it were a liquid because it is composed of many small grains of solid sand. Matter can also have properties of more than one state when it is a mixture, such as with clouds. Clouds appear to behave somewhat like gases, but they are actually mixtures of air (gas) and tiny particles of water (liquid or solid). The mass of an object is a measure of the amount of matter in it. One way to measure an object’s mass is to measure the force it takes to accelerate the object. It takes much more force to accelerate a car than a bicycle because the car has much more mass. A more common way to determine the mass of an object is to use a balance to compare its mass with a standard mass. Although weight is related to mass, it is not the same thing. Weight refers to the force that gravity exerts on an object. This force is directly proportional to the mass of the object. The weight of an object changes as the force of gravity changes, but its mass does not. An astronaut’s mass does not change just because she goes to the moon. But her weight on the moon is only one-sixth her earth-bound weight because the moon’s gravity is only one-sixth that of the earth’s. She may feel “weightless” during her trip when she experiences negligible external forces (gravitational or any other), although she is, of course, never “massless. ” The law of conservation of matter summarizes many scientific observations about matter: It states that there is no detectable change in the total quantity of matter present when matter converts from one type to another (a chemical change) or changes among solid, liquid, or gaseous states (a physical change). Brewing beer and the operation of batteries provide examples of the conservation of matter (Figure 1.8). During the brewing of beer, the ingredients (water, yeast, grains, malt, hops, and sugar) are converted into beer (water, alcohol, carbonation, and flavoring substances) with no actual loss of substance. This is most clearly seen during the bottling process, when glucose turns.
| null | null | null |
How should we make choices?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Four Simple Keys to Transform Your Life
The Power of Choice.Every one of us makes countless choices every day.Every choice we make has an impact on our lives.Even insignificant choices can affect what we experience and how we feel.When hunger strikes, we can reach for a healthy, nutritious snack, or we can choose the sugar high of junk food.The more important the decision, the greater its effect.For instance, how do I act towards that person who treated me badly? Do I generally choose to be passive, or do I actively set clear intentions and create what I want in my life? Every choice we make, however big or small, affects us in some way.
How Do You Make Choices? If you are interested in living a richer, fuller life, there is a foundation upon which you can base all of your decisions which can make life better not only for you, but also for those around you.This foundation is to choose based on what's best for all.Imagine a world where every parent, spouse , friend, teacher, business person, and politician truly did their best to choose what's best for all involved in every decision they made. We would certainly live in a more caring, supportive world.
It's the Intention."But how do I know what is really best?" you might ask.The answer is simple.It doesn't matter.What matters is not the choice you make, but rather the intention beind your choice.What matters is that whatever decision you make, you are clear in your intention of choosing based on what's best for all.If it later turns out that you made what appears to have been a bad choice, there's no need for guilt.Knowing that you did your best to choose with a sincere desire for what's best for all, your conscience stays clear and open.This then allows you to more easily learn from your mistakes, and to live with a clear heart and mind.
What's Best for Me, Too! Choosing what's best does not mean you have to always sacrifice yourself for others.An overly exhausted mother can lose her temper easily.Some time off for this mother might seem selfish, yet in the long run, it can help her to be a better mother to her children.So as we move through each day of our lives, let us remember to include ourselves as we do our best to choose what's best for all.
Question:
How should we make choices?
Choices:
A. To be interested in a richer, fuller life.
B. To make life better for ourselves.
C. To imagine a world where everyone did their best.
D. To choose based on what's best for all.
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high2518.txt
|
Four Simple Keys to Transform Your Life
The Power of Choice.Every one of us makes countless choices every day.Every choice we make has an impact on our lives.Even insignificant choices can affect what we experience and how we feel.When hunger strikes, we can reach for a healthy, nutritious snack, or we can choose the sugar high of junk food.The more important the decision, the greater its effect.For instance, how do I act towards that person who treated me badly? Do I generally choose to be passive, or do I actively set clear intentions and create what I want in my life? Every choice we make, however big or small, affects us in some way.
How Do You Make Choices? If you are interested in living a richer, fuller life, there is a foundation upon which you can base all of your decisions which can make life better not only for you, but also for those around you.This foundation is to choose based on what's best for all.Imagine a world where every parent, spouse , friend, teacher, business person, and politician truly did their best to choose what's best for all involved in every decision they made. We would certainly live in a more caring, supportive world.
It's the Intention."But how do I know what is really best?" you might ask.The answer is simple.It doesn't matter.What matters is not the choice you make, but rather the intention beind your choice.What matters is that whatever decision you make, you are clear in your intention of choosing based on what's best for all.If it later turns out that you made what appears to have been a bad choice, there's no need for guilt.Knowing that you did your best to choose with a sincere desire for what's best for all, your conscience stays clear and open.This then allows you to more easily learn from your mistakes, and to live with a clear heart and mind.
What's Best for Me, Too! Choosing what's best does not mean you have to always sacrifice yourself for others.An overly exhausted mother can lose her temper easily.Some time off for this mother might seem selfish, yet in the long run, it can help her to be a better mother to her children.So as we move through each day of our lives, let us remember to include ourselves as we do our best to choose what's best for all.
|
[
"To be interested in a richer, fuller life.",
"To make life better for ourselves.",
"To imagine a world where everyone did their best.",
"To choose based on what's best for all."
] |
The main purpose of the passage is to _ .
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
What is the first thing you notice when you walk into a shop? The products displayed at the entrance? Or the soft background music?
But have you ever notice the smell? Unless it is bad,the answer is likely to be no.But while a shop's scent may not be outstanding compared with sights and sounds,it is certainly there.And it is providing to be an increasing powerful tool in encouraging people to purchase.
A brand store has become famous for its distinctive scent which floats through the fairly dark hall and out to the entrance,via scent machines. A smell may be attractive but it may not just be used for freshening air.One sports goods company once reposed that when it first introduced scent into its stores,customers'intension to purchase increased by 80 percent.
When it comes to the best shopping streets in Pairs,scent is just as important to a brand's success as the quality of its window displays and goods on sales.That is mainly because shopping is a very different experience to what it used to be.
Some years ago,the focus for brand name shopping was on a few people with sales assistants'disproving attitude and don't-touch-what-you-can't afford displays.Now the rise of electronic commerce(e-commerce)has opened up famous brands to a wider audience.But while e-shops can use sights and sounds,only bricks-and-mortar stores can offer a full experience from the minute customers step through the door to the moment they leave.Another brand store seeks to be much more than a shop,but rather a _ .And scent is just one way to achieve this.
Now a famous store uses complex man-made smell to make sure that the soft scent of baby powder floats through the kid department,and coconut scent in the swimsuit section.A department store has even opened a new lab,inviting customers on a journey into the store's windows to smell books,pots and drawers,in search of their perfect scent.
Question:
The main purpose of the passage is to _ .
Choices:
A. compare and evaluate
B. examine and assess
C. argue and discuss
D. inform and explain
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high11979.txt
|
What is the first thing you notice when you walk into a shop? The products displayed at the entrance? Or the soft background music?
But have you ever notice the smell? Unless it is bad,the answer is likely to be no.But while a shop's scent may not be outstanding compared with sights and sounds,it is certainly there.And it is providing to be an increasing powerful tool in encouraging people to purchase.
A brand store has become famous for its distinctive scent which floats through the fairly dark hall and out to the entrance,via scent machines. A smell may be attractive but it may not just be used for freshening air.One sports goods company once reposed that when it first introduced scent into its stores,customers'intension to purchase increased by 80 percent.
When it comes to the best shopping streets in Pairs,scent is just as important to a brand's success as the quality of its window displays and goods on sales.That is mainly because shopping is a very different experience to what it used to be.
Some years ago,the focus for brand name shopping was on a few people with sales assistants'disproving attitude and don't-touch-what-you-can't afford displays.Now the rise of electronic commerce(e-commerce)has opened up famous brands to a wider audience.But while e-shops can use sights and sounds,only bricks-and-mortar stores can offer a full experience from the minute customers step through the door to the moment they leave.Another brand store seeks to be much more than a shop,but rather a _ .And scent is just one way to achieve this.
Now a famous store uses complex man-made smell to make sure that the soft scent of baby powder floats through the kid department,and coconut scent in the swimsuit section.A department store has even opened a new lab,inviting customers on a journey into the store's windows to smell books,pots and drawers,in search of their perfect scent.
|
[
"compare and evaluate",
"examine and assess",
"argue and discuss",
"inform and explain"
] |
"The second $100,000 never tastes as good as the first" because _ .
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Does money buy happiness? Not! Ah, but would a little more money make us a little happier? Many of us smirk(,) and nod. There is, we believe, some connection between financial fitness and emotional fulfillment. Three in four American college students--nearly double the 1970 proportion-- now consider it "very important" or "essential" that they become "very well off financially". Money matters.
But a surprising fact of life is that in countries where nearly everyone can afford life's necessities, increasing wealth matters surprisingly little. The connection between income and happiness is "surprisingly weak," observed University of Michigan researcher Ronald Inglehart in one 16-nation study of 170,000 people. Once comfortable, more money provides diminishing returns . The second piece of pie, or the second $100,000, never tastes as good as the first. Even lottery winners and the Forbes' 100 wealthiest Americans surveyed by University of Illinois psychologist Ed Diener have expressed only slightly greater happiness than the average American. Making it big brings temporary joy. But in the long run wealth is like health: its complete absence can create suffering, but having it doesn't guarantee happiness. Happiness seems less a matter of getting what we want than of wanting what we have.
Has our happiness, however, floated upward with the rising economic tide? Are we happier today than in 1940s, when two out of five homes lacked a shower or tub? Actually, we are not. Since 1957, the number of Americans who say they are "very happy" has declined from 35 to 32 percent. Meanwhile, the divorce rate has doubled, the teen suicide rate has increased nearly three times, the violent crime rate has gone up nearly four times, and depression has mushroomed. Economic growth has provided no boost to human morale. When it comes to psychological well being, it is not the economy.
I call this soaring wealth and shrinking spirit "the American paradox." More than ever, we have big houses and broken homes, high incomes and low confidence, secured rights and reduced civility. We are good at making a living but often fail at making a life. We celebrate our prosperity but long for a purpose. We treasure our freedoms but long for connection. In an age of plenty, we feel spiritual hunger.
Question:
"The second $100,000 never tastes as good as the first" because _ .
Choices:
A. it is not so fresh as the first $100,000
B. it is not so important as the first $100,000
C. profit brought by it is less than that from the first $100,000
D. happiness brought by it is less than that from the first $100,000
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high7577.txt
|
Does money buy happiness? Not! Ah, but would a little more money make us a little happier? Many of us smirk(,) and nod. There is, we believe, some connection between financial fitness and emotional fulfillment. Three in four American college students--nearly double the 1970 proportion-- now consider it "very important" or "essential" that they become "very well off financially". Money matters.
But a surprising fact of life is that in countries where nearly everyone can afford life's necessities, increasing wealth matters surprisingly little. The connection between income and happiness is "surprisingly weak," observed University of Michigan researcher Ronald Inglehart in one 16-nation study of 170,000 people. Once comfortable, more money provides diminishing returns . The second piece of pie, or the second $100,000, never tastes as good as the first. Even lottery winners and the Forbes' 100 wealthiest Americans surveyed by University of Illinois psychologist Ed Diener have expressed only slightly greater happiness than the average American. Making it big brings temporary joy. But in the long run wealth is like health: its complete absence can create suffering, but having it doesn't guarantee happiness. Happiness seems less a matter of getting what we want than of wanting what we have.
Has our happiness, however, floated upward with the rising economic tide? Are we happier today than in 1940s, when two out of five homes lacked a shower or tub? Actually, we are not. Since 1957, the number of Americans who say they are "very happy" has declined from 35 to 32 percent. Meanwhile, the divorce rate has doubled, the teen suicide rate has increased nearly three times, the violent crime rate has gone up nearly four times, and depression has mushroomed. Economic growth has provided no boost to human morale. When it comes to psychological well being, it is not the economy.
I call this soaring wealth and shrinking spirit "the American paradox." More than ever, we have big houses and broken homes, high incomes and low confidence, secured rights and reduced civility. We are good at making a living but often fail at making a life. We celebrate our prosperity but long for a purpose. We treasure our freedoms but long for connection. In an age of plenty, we feel spiritual hunger.
|
[
"it is not so fresh as the first $100,000",
"it is not so important as the first $100,000",
"profit brought by it is less than that from the first $100,000",
"happiness brought by it is less than that from the first $100,000"
] |
What is the text mainly about?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Mother's Day is coming up. Maybe your gift is wrapped and your dinner plans booked for mom, step-mom, grandmother - whoever the person is who fed, cared for, taught and loved you.
But there are other people who said their most special Mother's Day memories rarely dealt with beautifully wrapped objects, but rather, the ways people showed they cared.
Mother's Day 2012 was the last one Jannet Walsh was able to celebrate with her mother, Margaret, who had a stroke in 2009. In her last few years, Walsh always shot photos and videos of their visits together, and with Walsh's West Highland White Terrier, Andrew.
"My mother had a dog just like him, so I would tell her it was her dog, and she would hold onto his leash, even in bed up to the last few weeks before she passed away," Walsh said.
As Mother's Day approached, Walsh wanted a way to remember her mother and "best friend". She decided to build the memories she captured during those last few years into a video memorial - images of her mother with Andrew or quiet moments at her gravesite.
"I thought it good to tell the story with few words, just show my mother as she was - happy, and loved till the end," Walsh said.
Mother's Day was not a light-hearted subject for Wendy Bowers in the past. Her mom had walked out when she was 18, and Bowers had tried for years to become pregnant without success. She had almost convinced herself she wasn't meant to be a parent.
But three years after she gave up on having a baby, Bowers discovered that she was pregnant. Six weeks earlier than expected, little Nathan arrived.
That first year, Nathan, only 10 months old, was sick with a stomach bug. Bowers said she spent the day holding him between loads of laundry. "I would not have been anywhere else in the world that day," she said. "I wouldn't trade that first Mother's Day for anything, and I'm pretty sure Mother's Day will always be a reminder to me of just how lucky I am to even be a mom."
Question:
What is the text mainly about?
Choices:
A. Painful memories of Mother's Day.
B. Plans for Mother's Day.
C. Tips for a special Mother's Day.
D. Special ideas for Mother's Day.
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high19404.txt
|
Mother's Day is coming up. Maybe your gift is wrapped and your dinner plans booked for mom, step-mom, grandmother - whoever the person is who fed, cared for, taught and loved you.
But there are other people who said their most special Mother's Day memories rarely dealt with beautifully wrapped objects, but rather, the ways people showed they cared.
Mother's Day 2012 was the last one Jannet Walsh was able to celebrate with her mother, Margaret, who had a stroke in 2009. In her last few years, Walsh always shot photos and videos of their visits together, and with Walsh's West Highland White Terrier, Andrew.
"My mother had a dog just like him, so I would tell her it was her dog, and she would hold onto his leash, even in bed up to the last few weeks before she passed away," Walsh said.
As Mother's Day approached, Walsh wanted a way to remember her mother and "best friend". She decided to build the memories she captured during those last few years into a video memorial - images of her mother with Andrew or quiet moments at her gravesite.
"I thought it good to tell the story with few words, just show my mother as she was - happy, and loved till the end," Walsh said.
Mother's Day was not a light-hearted subject for Wendy Bowers in the past. Her mom had walked out when she was 18, and Bowers had tried for years to become pregnant without success. She had almost convinced herself she wasn't meant to be a parent.
But three years after she gave up on having a baby, Bowers discovered that she was pregnant. Six weeks earlier than expected, little Nathan arrived.
That first year, Nathan, only 10 months old, was sick with a stomach bug. Bowers said she spent the day holding him between loads of laundry. "I would not have been anywhere else in the world that day," she said. "I wouldn't trade that first Mother's Day for anything, and I'm pretty sure Mother's Day will always be a reminder to me of just how lucky I am to even be a mom."
|
[
"Painful memories of Mother's Day.",
"Plans for Mother's Day.",
"Tips for a special Mother's Day.",
"Special ideas for Mother's Day."
] |
If you have a gift for painting, you'd better participate in_.
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Contests from the Community
Annual Playwright Challenge
Attention, students! Unleash your creativity and writing skill by submitting an original story for an opportunity to have your entry produced as a full-length musical by the Scripps Performing Arts academy this fall. The winner will also get the opportunity to perform in the show or serve as the assistant director of the production. Also, the winner will attend two playwright workshops with the director to work on the musical together. Entries can be submitted in paragraph, story or script form (1-3 pages) to info@ scrippsperformingarts.com with the subject line: Playwright Challenge Entry. For ages 18 & under. Students are allowed to work individually or as a team of two for each submission. Deadline: April 1.
Kids' Poster Contest
The City of San Diego's Public Utilities Department invites students, grades 1-6, to make a poster with the theme: "Sam Diegans Waste No Water. All Days. All Ways. " Three winners will be selected for each grade level and will receive gift cards and a Certificate of Excellence. Also, winning posters will be on display in the lobby of the City Society's Gallery and the San Diego County Fair's Kids Best Art Exhibit. Open to students in the cities of San Diego, Coronado and Imperial Beach. To enter, go to www.wastenowater.org. Deadline: March 28.
Kohl's Cares Scholarship Program
Outstanding young volunteers, ages 6-18, can be rewarded through this annual program. Regional winners will each receive a $1,000 scholarship for higher education, while national winners will each be rewarded a total of $10, 000 in scholarships plus a $ l, 000 donation from Kohl's to a nonprofit of the student's choice. Nominations are now accepted at www.kohlskids.com. Deadline: March 14.
Dream House Raffle
Enter to win a $ 4 million home in Rancho Santa Fe or $ 2.1 million in cash in this annual raffle that includes more than 1,300 prizes to be given away! In addition to the grand prize drawing on May 17, you can also be part of early bird drawing that offer more chances of winning. Next earlybird drawing is on March 19 (entry deadline: March 7). Proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego. For tickets and the list of prizes, visit www.sdraffle.com or call 888-8254-9939.
Question:
If you have a gift for painting, you'd better participate in_.
Choices:
A. Annual Playwright Challenge
B. Dream House Raffle
C. Kohl's Cares Scholarship Program
D. Kids' Poster Contest
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high19049.txt
|
Contests from the Community
Annual Playwright Challenge
Attention, students! Unleash your creativity and writing skill by submitting an original story for an opportunity to have your entry produced as a full-length musical by the Scripps Performing Arts academy this fall. The winner will also get the opportunity to perform in the show or serve as the assistant director of the production. Also, the winner will attend two playwright workshops with the director to work on the musical together. Entries can be submitted in paragraph, story or script form (1-3 pages) to info@ scrippsperformingarts.com with the subject line: Playwright Challenge Entry. For ages 18 & under. Students are allowed to work individually or as a team of two for each submission. Deadline: April 1.
Kids' Poster Contest
The City of San Diego's Public Utilities Department invites students, grades 1-6, to make a poster with the theme: "Sam Diegans Waste No Water. All Days. All Ways. " Three winners will be selected for each grade level and will receive gift cards and a Certificate of Excellence. Also, winning posters will be on display in the lobby of the City Society's Gallery and the San Diego County Fair's Kids Best Art Exhibit. Open to students in the cities of San Diego, Coronado and Imperial Beach. To enter, go to www.wastenowater.org. Deadline: March 28.
Kohl's Cares Scholarship Program
Outstanding young volunteers, ages 6-18, can be rewarded through this annual program. Regional winners will each receive a $1,000 scholarship for higher education, while national winners will each be rewarded a total of $10, 000 in scholarships plus a $ l, 000 donation from Kohl's to a nonprofit of the student's choice. Nominations are now accepted at www.kohlskids.com. Deadline: March 14.
Dream House Raffle
Enter to win a $ 4 million home in Rancho Santa Fe or $ 2.1 million in cash in this annual raffle that includes more than 1,300 prizes to be given away! In addition to the grand prize drawing on May 17, you can also be part of early bird drawing that offer more chances of winning. Next earlybird drawing is on March 19 (entry deadline: March 7). Proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego. For tickets and the list of prizes, visit www.sdraffle.com or call 888-8254-9939.
|
[
"Annual Playwright Challenge",
"Dream House Raffle",
"Kohl's Cares Scholarship Program",
"Kids' Poster Contest"
] |
American women make clothes by themselves because _ .
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
As we all know sewing-machine repair is one of the fastest growing businesses in the world today. Newspapers, women's magazines, high schools and colleges are all encouraging millions of American women to do their own sewing, not only to make their own shirts and sweaters, but also to make nice clothes for their husbands, sons, or boyfriends. The lattes figures show that over 89 million American women, because of the high costs of ready-to-wear clothing are now making almost all of their families' clothes. Most of these women get great satisfaction from making the family clothes on their own sewing machines. So it is natural that the demand for excellent service of sewing machines is growing.
Think of it! 89 million or more sewing machines, not including another 10 million sewing machines in schools of all kinds, need service at least once a year, and quite possibly four or more times each year. I know some women who return their sewing machines to repairmen time after time to get them fixed properly. I've seen sewing machines come out of repair shops in worse condition than they were when they went in.
So I've decided to write an introduction book to sewing-machine repair and teach people how to repair their own sewing machines at home. It's not that difficult. In the book, I will teach you everything you need to know about how to repair your sewing machine.
Question:
American women make clothes by themselves because _ .
Choices:
A. they cannot buy the clothes they see in magazines
B. their husbands or boyfriends want them to do so
C. ready-to-wear clothes cost a great deal of money
D. they can't get great satisfaction from buying clothes
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high11475.txt
|
As we all know sewing-machine repair is one of the fastest growing businesses in the world today. Newspapers, women's magazines, high schools and colleges are all encouraging millions of American women to do their own sewing, not only to make their own shirts and sweaters, but also to make nice clothes for their husbands, sons, or boyfriends. The lattes figures show that over 89 million American women, because of the high costs of ready-to-wear clothing are now making almost all of their families' clothes. Most of these women get great satisfaction from making the family clothes on their own sewing machines. So it is natural that the demand for excellent service of sewing machines is growing.
Think of it! 89 million or more sewing machines, not including another 10 million sewing machines in schools of all kinds, need service at least once a year, and quite possibly four or more times each year. I know some women who return their sewing machines to repairmen time after time to get them fixed properly. I've seen sewing machines come out of repair shops in worse condition than they were when they went in.
So I've decided to write an introduction book to sewing-machine repair and teach people how to repair their own sewing machines at home. It's not that difficult. In the book, I will teach you everything you need to know about how to repair your sewing machine.
|
[
"they cannot buy the clothes they see in magazines",
"their husbands or boyfriends want them to do so",
"ready-to-wear clothes cost a great deal of money",
"they can't get great satisfaction from buying clothes"
] |
In the passage, the writer tries to _ .
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Living next to next is the principle of a neighbor. Good neighborliness is the ideal to be aimed at. As the saying goes, no man is an island; he has to live with his neighbors. To make life easy and pleasant, he must cooperate with his neighbors.
Whether one likes it or not, one cannot do without neighbors. Normally one may think he can do without neighbors because he can manage all comforts and services, so the services or the need for a friend may not happen. However, the sympathy , admiration and appreciation which a neighbor may offer will have a great humanizing influence. To share one's view and sometimes even sadness, one needs some neighbors.
But all neighbors are not always keeping the friendly relationship. Stresses and tension develop because of misunderstanding. Very often children may be the cause for tense feelings. The neighbor's son may pick a flower or a fruit from your garden and an argument may follow. Again he may throw his ball at your window breaking it. These are common cases so far as the younger one is concerned but it is for the elders to view them with calmness and make up for it. This may read easy on paper but not so in real life. But being broad minded, one must be able to tolerate . Another reason for tension may be the animals. Your neighbor's dog may be a real trouble or his chickens would come into your garden and eat away your plants.
In all these cases to keep up good neighborliness, some understanding between the neighbors is important. _ Try to be friendly and the problem will not be difficult to solve. Care can at times play a good part and help the neighbors in a small or big way. Nobody is perfect and it is better not to speak ill of your neighbors. A cheerful word, a nod or a small talk will strengthen the feeling of good neighborliness.
Neighborliness is not only for people but it is also largely important between neighboring countries. History has got a lot to teach on this. Unless countries learn to live as good neighbors, there cannot be peace on earth. So children must be taught at home and in the school to cooperate with the neighbors and be friendly with them. The basic rule is to give and take and to develop a sense that the other man has as much right as you do, and some degree of tolerance is very necessary.
Question:
In the passage, the writer tries to _ .
Choices:
A. show the important of getting on with neighbors
B. teach the basic rules of behaving well at home
C. explain the reasons of learning teamwork
D. introduce ways of being a better person
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle6918.txt
|
Living next to next is the principle of a neighbor. Good neighborliness is the ideal to be aimed at. As the saying goes, no man is an island; he has to live with his neighbors. To make life easy and pleasant, he must cooperate with his neighbors.
Whether one likes it or not, one cannot do without neighbors. Normally one may think he can do without neighbors because he can manage all comforts and services, so the services or the need for a friend may not happen. However, the sympathy , admiration and appreciation which a neighbor may offer will have a great humanizing influence. To share one's view and sometimes even sadness, one needs some neighbors.
But all neighbors are not always keeping the friendly relationship. Stresses and tension develop because of misunderstanding. Very often children may be the cause for tense feelings. The neighbor's son may pick a flower or a fruit from your garden and an argument may follow. Again he may throw his ball at your window breaking it. These are common cases so far as the younger one is concerned but it is for the elders to view them with calmness and make up for it. This may read easy on paper but not so in real life. But being broad minded, one must be able to tolerate . Another reason for tension may be the animals. Your neighbor's dog may be a real trouble or his chickens would come into your garden and eat away your plants.
In all these cases to keep up good neighborliness, some understanding between the neighbors is important. _ Try to be friendly and the problem will not be difficult to solve. Care can at times play a good part and help the neighbors in a small or big way. Nobody is perfect and it is better not to speak ill of your neighbors. A cheerful word, a nod or a small talk will strengthen the feeling of good neighborliness.
Neighborliness is not only for people but it is also largely important between neighboring countries. History has got a lot to teach on this. Unless countries learn to live as good neighbors, there cannot be peace on earth. So children must be taught at home and in the school to cooperate with the neighbors and be friendly with them. The basic rule is to give and take and to develop a sense that the other man has as much right as you do, and some degree of tolerance is very necessary.
|
[
"show the important of getting on with neighbors",
"teach the basic rules of behaving well at home",
"explain the reasons of learning teamwork",
"introduce ways of being a better person"
] |
Who did June go to Hainan with?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Hello, I'm June. Now let me tell you something about my holiday last week. I had a pretty good holiday to Hainan with my family .We have great fun playing in different places.On Monday, the weather was sunny and hot. On Tuesday,it was cloudy and humid .We visited two museums.We saw a lot of old things . On Wednesday and Thursday,it was rainy and windy . We walked in the city . We bought some interesting things and ate some delicious food.On Friday, the weather was cool. We went to the mountains. We were very tired but very happy . I really enjoyed my holiday.
Question:
Who did June go to Hainan with?
Choices:
A. Her classmate
B. Her friends
C. Her student
D. Her family
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle3494.txt
|
Hello, I'm June. Now let me tell you something about my holiday last week. I had a pretty good holiday to Hainan with my family .We have great fun playing in different places.On Monday, the weather was sunny and hot. On Tuesday,it was cloudy and humid .We visited two museums.We saw a lot of old things . On Wednesday and Thursday,it was rainy and windy . We walked in the city . We bought some interesting things and ate some delicious food.On Friday, the weather was cool. We went to the mountains. We were very tired but very happy . I really enjoyed my holiday.
|
[
"Her classmate",
"Her friends",
"Her student",
"Her family"
] |
What is the main purpose of the passage?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
How many times a day do you check your email? When you wake up? Before bed? A dozen times in between? The technology that was supposed to simplify our lives has become the vital time-suck: the average teen spends more than seven hours a day using technological devices, plus an additional hour just text-messaging friends.
The advantage of technological devices is connectedness: email lets us respond on the go, and we are in touch with more people during more hours of the day than at any other time in history. But is it possible we're more lonely than ever, too? That's what MIT professor Sherry Turkle observes in her new book, Alone Together, a fascinating portrait of our changing relationship with technology. Turkle details the ways technology has redefined our comprehension of closeness and loneliness--and warns us of the danger of accepting such virtual relationships in place of lasting emotional connections.
For Turkle, the biggest worry is the effect all these shallow connections have on our development. Is technology offering us the lives we want to live? "We're texting people at a distance," says Turkle, "We're using lifeless objects to convince ourselves that even when we're alone, we feel together. And then when we're with each other, we put ourselves in situations where we are alone--constantly on our mobile devices. It's what I call a perfect storm of confusion about what's important in our human connections."
What can't be denied is that technology, whatever its faults, makes life a whole lot easier. It allows us to communicate with more people in less time and makes conversation simple. But it can also be seductive , providing more stimulation than our natural lives. There are usually some unhealthy videos online which remove teenagers' attention from their schoolwork. Besides, some online activities make people addicted, which occupied their daily life and affected their ability to form real-world relationships."Technology can be more immediately satisfying than the labor of building an intimate relationship," said one highschool student, "Every time I text, I start to have some happy feelings."
But are any of those feelings equal to the kind we feel when engaged in real, face-to-face communication? Online, you can neglect others' feelings. In a text message, you can avoid eye contact. A number of studies have found that this generation of teens is less sympathetic than ever. That doesn't spell disaster, says Turkle--but,
Question:
What is the main purpose of the passage?
Choices:
A. To instruct people how to do with emails.
B. To stress the importance of technology.
C. To promote a wider use of technological devices.
D. To lead us to consider what's important in human connections.
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high9242.txt
|
How many times a day do you check your email? When you wake up? Before bed? A dozen times in between? The technology that was supposed to simplify our lives has become the vital time-suck: the average teen spends more than seven hours a day using technological devices, plus an additional hour just text-messaging friends.
The advantage of technological devices is connectedness: email lets us respond on the go, and we are in touch with more people during more hours of the day than at any other time in history. But is it possible we're more lonely than ever, too? That's what MIT professor Sherry Turkle observes in her new book, Alone Together, a fascinating portrait of our changing relationship with technology. Turkle details the ways technology has redefined our comprehension of closeness and loneliness--and warns us of the danger of accepting such virtual relationships in place of lasting emotional connections.
For Turkle, the biggest worry is the effect all these shallow connections have on our development. Is technology offering us the lives we want to live? "We're texting people at a distance," says Turkle, "We're using lifeless objects to convince ourselves that even when we're alone, we feel together. And then when we're with each other, we put ourselves in situations where we are alone--constantly on our mobile devices. It's what I call a perfect storm of confusion about what's important in our human connections."
What can't be denied is that technology, whatever its faults, makes life a whole lot easier. It allows us to communicate with more people in less time and makes conversation simple. But it can also be seductive , providing more stimulation than our natural lives. There are usually some unhealthy videos online which remove teenagers' attention from their schoolwork. Besides, some online activities make people addicted, which occupied their daily life and affected their ability to form real-world relationships."Technology can be more immediately satisfying than the labor of building an intimate relationship," said one highschool student, "Every time I text, I start to have some happy feelings."
But are any of those feelings equal to the kind we feel when engaged in real, face-to-face communication? Online, you can neglect others' feelings. In a text message, you can avoid eye contact. A number of studies have found that this generation of teens is less sympathetic than ever. That doesn't spell disaster, says Turkle--but,
|
[
"To instruct people how to do with emails.",
"To stress the importance of technology.",
"To promote a wider use of technological devices.",
"To lead us to consider what's important in human connections."
] |
What does Jones think of the streets in Paris?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Hello, I'm Jones. I want to go to the following three places.
I would like to visit Harpo Studios in Chicago, because it hosts The Oprah Winfrey Show. I really love Oprah Winfrey. I want to meet her. It doesn't snow in my country. Chicago is in the northeast of the USA. I'd like to be there, see snow.
Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. I would like to visit its beautiful streets and the famous Eiffel Tower. Paris has many zoos. So I can go to the zoos and have a look at the animals. There are many cars on the streets, but I can take the subway to get around the city.
On my summer vocation, I would like to go to Barcelona. First, there are many beautiful beaches. Second, there are well-known desserts and fruits in Barcelona.
Question:
What does Jones think of the streets in Paris?
Choices:
A. Long
B. Quiet
C. Clean
D. Beautiful
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle6643.txt
|
Hello, I'm Jones. I want to go to the following three places.
I would like to visit Harpo Studios in Chicago, because it hosts The Oprah Winfrey Show. I really love Oprah Winfrey. I want to meet her. It doesn't snow in my country. Chicago is in the northeast of the USA. I'd like to be there, see snow.
Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. I would like to visit its beautiful streets and the famous Eiffel Tower. Paris has many zoos. So I can go to the zoos and have a look at the animals. There are many cars on the streets, but I can take the subway to get around the city.
On my summer vocation, I would like to go to Barcelona. First, there are many beautiful beaches. Second, there are well-known desserts and fruits in Barcelona.
|
[
"Long",
"Quiet",
"Clean",
"Beautiful"
] |
What is the name for the division of the cytoplasm in eukaryotic cells, resulting in two genetically identical daughter cells?
| null |
Answer the following science question clearly and accurately.
|
What is the name for the division of the cytoplasm in eukaryotic cells, resulting in two genetically identical daughter cells?
|
cytokinesis
|
science
| null | null | null |
metamorphosis
|
mitosis
|
vegetative division
|
cytokinesis
|
The second major step is cytokinesis. As in prokaryotic cells, the cytoplasm must divide. Cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm in eukaryotic cells, resulting in two genetically identical daughter cells.
| null | null | null |
Which of the following statements about color is NOT true?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
It helps to choose the colors you plan to live with in your home with awareness of how different colors affect your emotional and physical states. Every color has a unique meaning, and this can significantly affect how you feel in a room.
A room that is painted red will energize, inspire activity and movement, help passion, and be powerful and stimulating. A red room can also be exhausting and overpowering, and stressful for those who are anxious.
Orange rooms encourage happy, joyful, social gatherings. While an orange dining room or family room can stimulate the appetite, it is a great choice for such gathering places. Orange enhances parties, communication, positive feelings, and general good cheer.
Yellow rooms inspire intellectual clarity, organization, clear -headed thinking, and happy energy. Yellow is considered a color for the logical left side of the brain. Yellow is also very bright and somewhat energizing.
Blue rooms are often chosen for bedrooms and meditation rooms because its cool energy is very calming, restful, peaceful, and spiritual. Blue helps inspire a quiet meditative quality, and color therapy with blue has been found to reduce blood pressure. Blue is also useful to make one to sleep.
Green rooms are very restful but combine with an energizing quality. Green is the color of outdoors, calm and active at the same time. Green brings balance and harmony to a room, and can be used as a calming place for people who are troubled or in need of refreshment.
Question:
Which of the following statements about color is NOT true?
Choices:
A. Yellow rooms inspire logical and clear thinking.
B. Blue creates a quiet meditative quality.
C. Different colors affect you emotionally and physically.
D. Red rooms are acceptable when you are in a bad mood.
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high16242.txt
|
It helps to choose the colors you plan to live with in your home with awareness of how different colors affect your emotional and physical states. Every color has a unique meaning, and this can significantly affect how you feel in a room.
A room that is painted red will energize, inspire activity and movement, help passion, and be powerful and stimulating. A red room can also be exhausting and overpowering, and stressful for those who are anxious.
Orange rooms encourage happy, joyful, social gatherings. While an orange dining room or family room can stimulate the appetite, it is a great choice for such gathering places. Orange enhances parties, communication, positive feelings, and general good cheer.
Yellow rooms inspire intellectual clarity, organization, clear -headed thinking, and happy energy. Yellow is considered a color for the logical left side of the brain. Yellow is also very bright and somewhat energizing.
Blue rooms are often chosen for bedrooms and meditation rooms because its cool energy is very calming, restful, peaceful, and spiritual. Blue helps inspire a quiet meditative quality, and color therapy with blue has been found to reduce blood pressure. Blue is also useful to make one to sleep.
Green rooms are very restful but combine with an energizing quality. Green is the color of outdoors, calm and active at the same time. Green brings balance and harmony to a room, and can be used as a calming place for people who are troubled or in need of refreshment.
|
[
"Yellow rooms inspire logical and clear thinking.",
"Blue creates a quiet meditative quality.",
"Different colors affect you emotionally and physically.",
"Red rooms are acceptable when you are in a bad mood."
] |
What did the writer learn from the blind man?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
It was a sunny winter day. I had gone down the tower when a blind man came toward me. He kept close to the wall, touching it lightly with his arm. I stood still and looked at him walking toward the tower.
"What does a blind man want to climb up the tower for?" I wondered, "Not the view certainly, perhaps he wants to jump. "Thinking of this terrible reason, I thought I should follow him.
He went up slowly and stopped from time to time. I followed him a few steps behind. When he got to the first corner of the bell tower, I came close to him. "Excuse me," I said as politely as I could, "but I wonder why you came up."
"You'd never guess." he said.
"Not the view or the fresh air on this winter day?"
"No." he said.
"Tell me, then."
He smiled, "Perhaps climbing up the tower. You have noticed - and yet, not being blind, perhaps you won't - how the sun shines into the tower through the windows here and there, so that one can feel the cool steps suddenly become quite warm, even in winter. But behind the wall there is shade . There is no place so good as this for feeling the difference between light and darkness. Though I'm blind, I also want to feel the happiness brought by the sunlight. In fact, it isn't my first time to be here." He said and seemed as pleased as a child.
I had never thought that even a blind man could have his way to enjoy the beautiful life. But we often paid no attention to its value because we never lost it.
We went down the tower together and I left him. From then on, I began to treasure what life has given me.
Question:
What did the writer learn from the blind man?
Choices:
A. To take exercise
B. To feel happiness
C. To enjoy sunlight
D. To treasure life
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high10080.txt
|
It was a sunny winter day. I had gone down the tower when a blind man came toward me. He kept close to the wall, touching it lightly with his arm. I stood still and looked at him walking toward the tower.
"What does a blind man want to climb up the tower for?" I wondered, "Not the view certainly, perhaps he wants to jump. "Thinking of this terrible reason, I thought I should follow him.
He went up slowly and stopped from time to time. I followed him a few steps behind. When he got to the first corner of the bell tower, I came close to him. "Excuse me," I said as politely as I could, "but I wonder why you came up."
"You'd never guess." he said.
"Not the view or the fresh air on this winter day?"
"No." he said.
"Tell me, then."
He smiled, "Perhaps climbing up the tower. You have noticed - and yet, not being blind, perhaps you won't - how the sun shines into the tower through the windows here and there, so that one can feel the cool steps suddenly become quite warm, even in winter. But behind the wall there is shade . There is no place so good as this for feeling the difference between light and darkness. Though I'm blind, I also want to feel the happiness brought by the sunlight. In fact, it isn't my first time to be here." He said and seemed as pleased as a child.
I had never thought that even a blind man could have his way to enjoy the beautiful life. But we often paid no attention to its value because we never lost it.
We went down the tower together and I left him. From then on, I began to treasure what life has given me.
|
[
"To take exercise",
"To feel happiness",
"To enjoy sunlight",
"To treasure life"
] |
Why was the author shocked at her son's response?
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
One evening last summer, when I asked my 14-year-old son, Ray, for help with dinner, his response shocked me. "What's a colander ? " he asked.
I could only blame myself. In the family, nobody else's hands went in the sauce except my own. But that night, as I explained with a touch of panic that a colander is the thing with holes in it, I wondered what else I hadn't prepared Ray for.
As parents, while we focus on our sons' confidence and character, we perhaps don't always consider that we are also raising someone's future roommates, boyfriends, husbands, or fathers. I wanted to know that I'd raised a boy who would never ask the woman in his life, "What's for dinner?" So I came up with a plan: I would offer Ray a private home economics course. I was delighted to find that he didn't say no. For two hours, three days a week, Ray was all mine. One day, as his tomato sauce reduced on the stove, he washed and seasoned a chicken for roasting. Then he rolled out the piecrust and filled it with apples, all while listening to my explanation on the importance of preheating an oven.
I knew that he would rather have been shooting hoops in the driveway than learning to mend socks with his mother--he tried to beg off sewing lessons, even though I insisted that one day, someone would find the sight of him fixing his own shirt very attractive-- but it couldn't be denied that he was learning, and more than just housekeeping. "I appreciate what you do as a mom," he told me one day. Ray now understands the finer points of cooking, and more importantly, he realizes there's nothing masculine about being helpless.
Now, not only can he make his own dinner, but also he can make a big meal for his family. That's what I call a man. I'm glad that I prepared so great a present for my future daughter-in-law.
Question:
Why was the author shocked at her son's response?
Choices:
A. Because he was not well behaved.
B. Because he refused to help with dinner.
C. Because he didn't know the common kitchen utensils .
D. Because he was very curious about kitchen utensils.
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high8815.txt
|
One evening last summer, when I asked my 14-year-old son, Ray, for help with dinner, his response shocked me. "What's a colander ? " he asked.
I could only blame myself. In the family, nobody else's hands went in the sauce except my own. But that night, as I explained with a touch of panic that a colander is the thing with holes in it, I wondered what else I hadn't prepared Ray for.
As parents, while we focus on our sons' confidence and character, we perhaps don't always consider that we are also raising someone's future roommates, boyfriends, husbands, or fathers. I wanted to know that I'd raised a boy who would never ask the woman in his life, "What's for dinner?" So I came up with a plan: I would offer Ray a private home economics course. I was delighted to find that he didn't say no. For two hours, three days a week, Ray was all mine. One day, as his tomato sauce reduced on the stove, he washed and seasoned a chicken for roasting. Then he rolled out the piecrust and filled it with apples, all while listening to my explanation on the importance of preheating an oven.
I knew that he would rather have been shooting hoops in the driveway than learning to mend socks with his mother--he tried to beg off sewing lessons, even though I insisted that one day, someone would find the sight of him fixing his own shirt very attractive-- but it couldn't be denied that he was learning, and more than just housekeeping. "I appreciate what you do as a mom," he told me one day. Ray now understands the finer points of cooking, and more importantly, he realizes there's nothing masculine about being helpless.
Now, not only can he make his own dinner, but also he can make a big meal for his family. That's what I call a man. I'm glad that I prepared so great a present for my future daughter-in-law.
|
[
"Because he was not well behaved.",
"Because he refused to help with dinner.",
"Because he didn't know the common kitchen utensils .",
"Because he was very curious about kitchen utensils."
] |
What can we learn from the passage?
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Hello! The University of Hawaii is located just outside of downtown Honolulu in green Manoa valley.We invite you to visit and want to let you know about our learning programs, the richness of our culture, the beauty of our environment, the spirit of our students and teachers, advanced equipment and modern buildings.We look forward to seeing you come.The following information is given so that your visit will be as easy as possible.
You should get in touch with us ahead of time.You may directly contact the office of the College to schedule appointment service at 1--877-447-3233. To arrange a campus tour, please hand in a request through our Online Campus Visit Request Form.
Tours are on weekdays:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
9:00a.m.--9:30a.m.: Meet with a University Representative
9:30a.m.--11:30a.m.: General Campus Tour with a UHM (The University of Hawaii Manoa ) student
Tuesday & Thursday
1:00p.m.--l:30p.m.: Meet with a University Representative
l:30p.m.--3:30p.m.: General Campus Tour with a UHM student
You also can get in touch with us by:
Phone Number: 1 (877) 447-3233, or 1 (808) 956-6524
E-mail: visituhm@hawaii.edu
How do you get to UHM?
It is in Honolulu less than 3 miles away from Waikiki and about 9 miles from Honolul International Airport.
By car: From Waikiki and from Honolulu International Airport
Taxi: Taxi fare to UHM is about $25.00, except baggage charges and a tip of 10 to 15percent.
Public bus: Luggage is allowed on city buses. Bus stops are on the second floor of the airport.A one-way fare is $2.00(in exact change).
Question:
What can we learn from the passage?
Choices:
A. You need to contact them in advance.
B. Taxi fare to UHM is about $ 25.00, including a tip.
C. Only by car and bus can you get to UHM.
D. You can visit the campus both on weekdays and weekends.
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high10778.txt
|
Hello! The University of Hawaii is located just outside of downtown Honolulu in green Manoa valley.We invite you to visit and want to let you know about our learning programs, the richness of our culture, the beauty of our environment, the spirit of our students and teachers, advanced equipment and modern buildings.We look forward to seeing you come.The following information is given so that your visit will be as easy as possible.
You should get in touch with us ahead of time.You may directly contact the office of the College to schedule appointment service at 1--877-447-3233. To arrange a campus tour, please hand in a request through our Online Campus Visit Request Form.
Tours are on weekdays:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
9:00a.m.--9:30a.m.: Meet with a University Representative
9:30a.m.--11:30a.m.: General Campus Tour with a UHM (The University of Hawaii Manoa ) student
Tuesday & Thursday
1:00p.m.--l:30p.m.: Meet with a University Representative
l:30p.m.--3:30p.m.: General Campus Tour with a UHM student
You also can get in touch with us by:
Phone Number: 1 (877) 447-3233, or 1 (808) 956-6524
E-mail: visituhm@hawaii.edu
How do you get to UHM?
It is in Honolulu less than 3 miles away from Waikiki and about 9 miles from Honolul International Airport.
By car: From Waikiki and from Honolulu International Airport
Taxi: Taxi fare to UHM is about $25.00, except baggage charges and a tip of 10 to 15percent.
Public bus: Luggage is allowed on city buses. Bus stops are on the second floor of the airport.A one-way fare is $2.00(in exact change).
|
[
"You need to contact them in advance.",
"Taxi fare to UHM is about $ 25.00, including a tip.",
"Only by car and bus can you get to UHM.",
"You can visit the campus both on weekdays and weekends."
] |
You can feel the history of the local place at _ .
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Nothing evokes Alaska like a whale exploding out of the water or an eagle pulling a silver fish from the river .Combine these images with high mountains,brilliant icebergs and wonderful meals and you really do have the Best of Alaska! Join us for an unforgettable 7-day excursion to the last frontier!
Highlights:
JUNEAU:Juneau, the state capital,is rich in culture and scenic beauty.It is here that we start and end our trip.
HAINES:Haines is a small community located along the fjords .The natural beauty and expansive wilderness found here have made Haines a premier center for adventure in Alaska. ALASKA INDIAN ARTS:Alaska Indian Arts is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the preservation and continuation of traditional native craft and culture of the Northwest Native Tribes.We spend a few hours learning carving, native beading and culture from these master artists.
SKAGWAY:Skagway is a lively town,which still reflects its gold rush roots and contains colorful shops.In Skagway, we stop by the Klondike Gold Rush National Park Visitor's Center and ride the White Pass Yukon Route Railway.
GUSTAVUS:Gustavus is the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park.We'II stay at a comfortable lodge here for two nights.This will be the base for both the whale-watching excursion and a full day cruise in Glacier Bay.
DATES/PRICES:
May 15,June 17,July 16,August 14.
7 days--$3500,including lodging,all meals,excursions,guides,park fees,sales taxes,and transportation between Juneau,Skagway, Haines,and Gustavus.Not included:Alcohol,personal items,airfare to and from Juneau.
Contact:
E-mail:info@alaskamountainguides.com
Call:800--766--3396
Write:Alaska Mountain Guides &Climbing School
P.O.Box 1081,Haines AK 99827
Question:
You can feel the history of the local place at _ .
Choices:
A. Juneau
B. Skagway
C. Haines
D. Gustavus
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high9307.txt
|
Nothing evokes Alaska like a whale exploding out of the water or an eagle pulling a silver fish from the river .Combine these images with high mountains,brilliant icebergs and wonderful meals and you really do have the Best of Alaska! Join us for an unforgettable 7-day excursion to the last frontier!
Highlights:
JUNEAU:Juneau, the state capital,is rich in culture and scenic beauty.It is here that we start and end our trip.
HAINES:Haines is a small community located along the fjords .The natural beauty and expansive wilderness found here have made Haines a premier center for adventure in Alaska. ALASKA INDIAN ARTS:Alaska Indian Arts is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the preservation and continuation of traditional native craft and culture of the Northwest Native Tribes.We spend a few hours learning carving, native beading and culture from these master artists.
SKAGWAY:Skagway is a lively town,which still reflects its gold rush roots and contains colorful shops.In Skagway, we stop by the Klondike Gold Rush National Park Visitor's Center and ride the White Pass Yukon Route Railway.
GUSTAVUS:Gustavus is the gateway to Glacier Bay National Park.We'II stay at a comfortable lodge here for two nights.This will be the base for both the whale-watching excursion and a full day cruise in Glacier Bay.
DATES/PRICES:
May 15,June 17,July 16,August 14.
7 days--$3500,including lodging,all meals,excursions,guides,park fees,sales taxes,and transportation between Juneau,Skagway, Haines,and Gustavus.Not included:Alcohol,personal items,airfare to and from Juneau.
Contact:
E-mail:info@alaskamountainguides.com
Call:800--766--3396
Write:Alaska Mountain Guides &Climbing School
P.O.Box 1081,Haines AK 99827
|
[
"Juneau",
"Skagway",
"Haines",
"Gustavus"
] |
In what condition could the boy pull off a nail?
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Once a boy often made trouble. His mother gave him many nails . She told him to hammer(,)one in the garden fence every time he lost his patience and fought with someone. The first day he hammered 27 nails. In the following weeks he learned how to control himself better and the number of nails hammered became smaller and smaller. He learned it was easier to control himself than to hammer nails.
The day finally came when he didn't hammer any nails. He went to tell his mother about it. Then his mother told him to pull off a nail from the fence each time he didn't lose his patience. After some days he told his mother that all the nails had been pulled off, so she took him to the fence and said to him, "You've behaved well, but look at all the holes in the fence. The fence will never be again like it was before. When you fight with someone, you leave wounds in him like these. The trouble may be over, but the wounds will always be there."
So, learn to control yourself before you hammer the nail in the fence. Try not to leave any holes in your past.
Question:
In what condition could the boy pull off a nail?
Choices:
A. He could control himself.
B. He fought with others.
C. He wanted to do so.
D. His mother asked him to do so.
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle7664.txt
|
Once a boy often made trouble. His mother gave him many nails . She told him to hammer(,)one in the garden fence every time he lost his patience and fought with someone. The first day he hammered 27 nails. In the following weeks he learned how to control himself better and the number of nails hammered became smaller and smaller. He learned it was easier to control himself than to hammer nails.
The day finally came when he didn't hammer any nails. He went to tell his mother about it. Then his mother told him to pull off a nail from the fence each time he didn't lose his patience. After some days he told his mother that all the nails had been pulled off, so she took him to the fence and said to him, "You've behaved well, but look at all the holes in the fence. The fence will never be again like it was before. When you fight with someone, you leave wounds in him like these. The trouble may be over, but the wounds will always be there."
So, learn to control yourself before you hammer the nail in the fence. Try not to leave any holes in your past.
|
[
"He could control himself.",
"He fought with others.",
"He wanted to do so.",
"His mother asked him to do so."
] |
What is the amount actually produced in a reaction called?
| null |
Answer the following science question clearly and accurately.
|
What is the amount actually produced in a reaction called?
|
actual yield
|
science
| null | null | null |
minimum yield
|
individual yield
|
maximum yield
|
actual yield
|
In all the previous calculations we have performed involving balanced chemical equations, we made two assumptions: (1) the reaction goes exactly as written, and (2) the reaction proceeds completely. In reality, such things as side reactions occur that make some chemical reactions rather messy. For example, in the actual combustion of some carbon-containing compounds, such as methane, some CO is produced as well as CO2. However, we will continue to ignore side reactions, unless otherwise noted. The second assumption, that the reaction proceeds completely, is more troublesome. Many chemical reactions do not proceed to completion as written, for a variety of reasons (some of which we will consider in Chapter 13 "Chemical Equilibrium"). When we calculate an amount of product assuming that all the reactant reacts, we calculate the theoretical yield, an amount that is theoretically produced as calculated using the balanced chemical reaction. In many cases, however, this is not what really happens. In many cases, less—sometimes much less—of a product is made during the course of a chemical reaction. The amount that is actually produced in a reaction is called the actual yield. By definition, the actual yield is less than or equal to the theoretical yield. If it is not, then an error has been made. Both theoretical yields and actual yields are expressed in units of moles or grams. It is also common to see something called a percent yield. The percent yield is a comparison between the actual yield and the theoretical yield and is defined as Saylor URL: http://www. saylor. org/books.
| null | null | null |
David Bieber was most probably handcuffed in _ .
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
One of Britain's bravest women told yesterday how she helped to catch suspected police killer David Bieber-and was thanked with flowers by the police. It was also said that she could be in line for a share of up to PS 30,000 reward money.
Vicki Brown, 30, played a very important role in ending the nationwide manhunt. Vicki, who has worked at the Royal Hotel for four years, told of her terrible experience when she had to steal into Bieber's bedroom and to watch him secretly. Then she waited alone for the hours while armed police prepared to storm into the building.
She said: "I was very nervous. But when I opened the hotel door and saw 20 armed policemen lined up in the car park I was so glad they were there."
The alarm had been raised because Vicki became suspicious of the guest who checked in at 3 pm the day before New year's Eve with little luggage and wearing sunglasses and a hat pulled down over his face. She said: "He didn't seem to want to talk too much and make any eye contact ." Vicki, the only employee on duty, called her bosses Margaret, 64, and husband Stall McKale, 65, who phoned the police at 11 pm.
Officers from Northumbria Police called Vicki at the hotel in Dunston, Gatesheed, at about 11:30 pm to make sure that this was the wanted man. Then they kept in touch by phoning Vicki every 15 minutes.
"It was about ten past two in the morning when the phone went again and a policeman said 'Would you go and make yourself known to the armed officers outside?' My heart missed a beat."
Vicki quietly showed eight armed officers through passages and staircases to the top floor room and handed over the key.
"I realized that my bedroom window overlooks that part of the hotel, so I went to watch. I could not see into the man's room, but I could see the passage. The police kept shouting at the man to come out with his hands showing. Then suddenly he must have come out because they shouted for him to lie down while he was handcuffed .
Question:
David Bieber was most probably handcuffed in _ .
Choices:
A. the passage
B. the washroom
C. Vicki's bedroom
D. the top floor room
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high17284.txt
|
One of Britain's bravest women told yesterday how she helped to catch suspected police killer David Bieber-and was thanked with flowers by the police. It was also said that she could be in line for a share of up to PS 30,000 reward money.
Vicki Brown, 30, played a very important role in ending the nationwide manhunt. Vicki, who has worked at the Royal Hotel for four years, told of her terrible experience when she had to steal into Bieber's bedroom and to watch him secretly. Then she waited alone for the hours while armed police prepared to storm into the building.
She said: "I was very nervous. But when I opened the hotel door and saw 20 armed policemen lined up in the car park I was so glad they were there."
The alarm had been raised because Vicki became suspicious of the guest who checked in at 3 pm the day before New year's Eve with little luggage and wearing sunglasses and a hat pulled down over his face. She said: "He didn't seem to want to talk too much and make any eye contact ." Vicki, the only employee on duty, called her bosses Margaret, 64, and husband Stall McKale, 65, who phoned the police at 11 pm.
Officers from Northumbria Police called Vicki at the hotel in Dunston, Gatesheed, at about 11:30 pm to make sure that this was the wanted man. Then they kept in touch by phoning Vicki every 15 minutes.
"It was about ten past two in the morning when the phone went again and a policeman said 'Would you go and make yourself known to the armed officers outside?' My heart missed a beat."
Vicki quietly showed eight armed officers through passages and staircases to the top floor room and handed over the key.
"I realized that my bedroom window overlooks that part of the hotel, so I went to watch. I could not see into the man's room, but I could see the passage. The police kept shouting at the man to come out with his hands showing. Then suddenly he must have come out because they shouted for him to lie down while he was handcuffed .
|
[
"the passage",
"the washroom",
"Vicki's bedroom",
"the top floor room"
] |
What is the name for the nonliving parts of ecosystems?
| null |
Answer the following science question clearly and accurately.
|
What is the name for the nonliving parts of ecosystems?
|
abiotic factors
|
science
| null | null | null |
Dead factors
|
diverse factors
|
nucleic factors
|
abiotic factors
|
Abiotic factors are the nonliving parts of ecosystems. They include air, sunlight, soil, water, and minerals. These are all things that are needed for life. They determine which living things — and how many of them — an ecosystem can support. Figure below shows an ecosystem and its abiotic factors.
| null | null | null |
According to the passage, moving to an unfamiliar school is _ .
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Being in an unfamiliar school can be frightening. If you start a new school, you'll have to worry about making friends. Here are some simple tips which help you make new friends more easily.
*Try speaking to the students you're sitting next to in class. As they're close by, it is easy to chat to them first.
*Try to speak to everyone in your class. You will study here for three years, so it helps if you get along well with them.
*If you don't have many friends in your class, try and make new friends in your neighbor classes. You can also chat to them at lunchtimes and after school.
*Join a lunchtime or afterschool club. You'll get to meet kids of all years that way.
*Ask your teacher to pair you With another student.
*Use your "celebrity status" ! Since you're the new person, you'll have got celebrity status, which you can use for a couple of weeks.
*Talk to classmates, remember to smile, and be open and friendly. Don't break in while your classmates are speaking. When your classmates talk to you, you should listen carefully and look at them in the eye to make them feel important.
*As you grow older, it's natural to make new friends and sometimes that means you begin to grow apart from your old friends. So try and make time for all your friends. But what if a friendship group is pushing you out? If this is happening to you, ask someone you're friendly with what has happened .If the friendship is hopeless, try to find new friends.
Question:
According to the passage, moving to an unfamiliar school is _ .
Choices:
A. interesting
B. exciting
C. uncomfortable
D. boring
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high6143.txt
|
Being in an unfamiliar school can be frightening. If you start a new school, you'll have to worry about making friends. Here are some simple tips which help you make new friends more easily.
*Try speaking to the students you're sitting next to in class. As they're close by, it is easy to chat to them first.
*Try to speak to everyone in your class. You will study here for three years, so it helps if you get along well with them.
*If you don't have many friends in your class, try and make new friends in your neighbor classes. You can also chat to them at lunchtimes and after school.
*Join a lunchtime or afterschool club. You'll get to meet kids of all years that way.
*Ask your teacher to pair you With another student.
*Use your "celebrity status" ! Since you're the new person, you'll have got celebrity status, which you can use for a couple of weeks.
*Talk to classmates, remember to smile, and be open and friendly. Don't break in while your classmates are speaking. When your classmates talk to you, you should listen carefully and look at them in the eye to make them feel important.
*As you grow older, it's natural to make new friends and sometimes that means you begin to grow apart from your old friends. So try and make time for all your friends. But what if a friendship group is pushing you out? If this is happening to you, ask someone you're friendly with what has happened .If the friendship is hopeless, try to find new friends.
|
[
"interesting",
"exciting",
"uncomfortable",
"boring"
] |
What is the main idea of this passage?
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
A new study suggests that sad music might actually arouse positive emotions. The finding helps to explain why people enjoy listening to sad music, say Ai Kawakami and her colleagues from Tokyo University of the Arts and the RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Japan. Ai Kawakami and her colleagues asked 44 volunteers, including both musicians and nonspecialists, to listen to two pieces of sad music and one piece of happy music. Each participant was required to use a set of keywords to rate both their perception of the music and their own emotional state.
The sad pieces of music included Glinka's La Separation in F minor and Blumenfeld's Etude Sur Mer in G minor. The happy music piece was Granados's Allegro de Concierto in G major. To control the "happy" effect of major key, they also played the minor key pieces in major key, and vise versa.
The researchers explained that sad music aroused contradictory emotions because the participants of the study tended to feel sad to be more tragic and less romantic than they felt themselves while listening to it.
" In general, sad music causes sadness in listeners, and sadness is regarded as an unpleasant emotion. If sad music actually arouses only unpleasant emotion, we would not listen to it," the researchers wrote in the study.
"Music that is believed as sad actually causes romantic emotion as well as sad emotion.And people, regardless of their musical training, experience this ambivalent emotion to listen to the sad music," added the researchers.
Also, unlike sadness in daily life, sadness experienced through art actually feels pleasant, possibly because the latter does not cause an actual threat to our safety. This could help people to deal with their negative emotions in daily life, concluded the authors.
"Emotion experienced by music has no direct danger or harm unlike the emotion experienced in everyday life. Therefore, we can even enjoy unpleasant emotion such as sadness. If we suffer from unpleasant emotion aroused through daily life, sad music might be helpful to
negative emotion," they added.
Question:
What is the main idea of this passage?
Choices:
A. People should listen to sad music.
B. Happy music can make people sad.
C. Sad music may actually cause positive emotions.
D. Sad music is really bad to people.
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high16454.txt
|
A new study suggests that sad music might actually arouse positive emotions. The finding helps to explain why people enjoy listening to sad music, say Ai Kawakami and her colleagues from Tokyo University of the Arts and the RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Japan. Ai Kawakami and her colleagues asked 44 volunteers, including both musicians and nonspecialists, to listen to two pieces of sad music and one piece of happy music. Each participant was required to use a set of keywords to rate both their perception of the music and their own emotional state.
The sad pieces of music included Glinka's La Separation in F minor and Blumenfeld's Etude Sur Mer in G minor. The happy music piece was Granados's Allegro de Concierto in G major. To control the "happy" effect of major key, they also played the minor key pieces in major key, and vise versa.
The researchers explained that sad music aroused contradictory emotions because the participants of the study tended to feel sad to be more tragic and less romantic than they felt themselves while listening to it.
" In general, sad music causes sadness in listeners, and sadness is regarded as an unpleasant emotion. If sad music actually arouses only unpleasant emotion, we would not listen to it," the researchers wrote in the study.
"Music that is believed as sad actually causes romantic emotion as well as sad emotion.And people, regardless of their musical training, experience this ambivalent emotion to listen to the sad music," added the researchers.
Also, unlike sadness in daily life, sadness experienced through art actually feels pleasant, possibly because the latter does not cause an actual threat to our safety. This could help people to deal with their negative emotions in daily life, concluded the authors.
"Emotion experienced by music has no direct danger or harm unlike the emotion experienced in everyday life. Therefore, we can even enjoy unpleasant emotion such as sadness. If we suffer from unpleasant emotion aroused through daily life, sad music might be helpful to
negative emotion," they added.
|
[
"People should listen to sad music.",
"Happy music can make people sad.",
"Sad music may actually cause positive emotions.",
"Sad music is really bad to people."
] |
The author advises in Para.4 that people make their family members laugh by _ .
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Children love to play and laugh throughout their days at school or at home. Finding the time to laugh with your children may be the best thing you can do for the relationship. Encourage your children to develop a good humor by laughing at the jokes they make up on the spot. This will help them grow confident and build their self-esteem. If you do not get the joke, you can ask why they think the joke is funny.
Honest feedback will help your children develop funnier jokes. You can take them to your local library and have them pick up a few joke books. Then you can head back home or out to the park and read it together for a good laugh. You can take turns reading jokes to each other from the book or make up a few yourselves. But if they make a joke at the expense of another person, you may want to discuss the difference between making fun of yourself and making fun of others. In turn try not to make jokes at your children's expense, you need to set an example that they can follow.
Learning to laugh at oneself is a great quality to attain. You can set an example by laughing at your own mistakes. This is a great way to help reduce your own stress as well as your children's. Laughing may make the situation seem lighter and easier to work through. By doing this your children will be better prepared to handle any difficulties.
Most importantly laughing will bring you closer together as a family. You can have your family find different ways to laugh. You can play games. You can start a staring contest, arm wrestling contest, thumb wars contest and have a prize for the winners. You can all watch your best funny movies and act out the best parts together after enjoying them. You could hold a contest to see who can make the other members of the family laugh more by doing something funny. Kids will be able to enjoy the good time they had with their parents. The family that laughs together stays together!
Question:
The author advises in Para.4 that people make their family members laugh by _ .
Choices:
A. having a party
B. having some kinds of contests
C. doing some housework
D. reading joke books
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high18834.txt
|
Children love to play and laugh throughout their days at school or at home. Finding the time to laugh with your children may be the best thing you can do for the relationship. Encourage your children to develop a good humor by laughing at the jokes they make up on the spot. This will help them grow confident and build their self-esteem. If you do not get the joke, you can ask why they think the joke is funny.
Honest feedback will help your children develop funnier jokes. You can take them to your local library and have them pick up a few joke books. Then you can head back home or out to the park and read it together for a good laugh. You can take turns reading jokes to each other from the book or make up a few yourselves. But if they make a joke at the expense of another person, you may want to discuss the difference between making fun of yourself and making fun of others. In turn try not to make jokes at your children's expense, you need to set an example that they can follow.
Learning to laugh at oneself is a great quality to attain. You can set an example by laughing at your own mistakes. This is a great way to help reduce your own stress as well as your children's. Laughing may make the situation seem lighter and easier to work through. By doing this your children will be better prepared to handle any difficulties.
Most importantly laughing will bring you closer together as a family. You can have your family find different ways to laugh. You can play games. You can start a staring contest, arm wrestling contest, thumb wars contest and have a prize for the winners. You can all watch your best funny movies and act out the best parts together after enjoying them. You could hold a contest to see who can make the other members of the family laugh more by doing something funny. Kids will be able to enjoy the good time they had with their parents. The family that laughs together stays together!
|
[
"having a party",
"having some kinds of contests",
"doing some housework",
"reading joke books"
] |
All metabolic functions carried out by a prokaryote take place in the plasma membrane or where else?
| null |
Answer the following science question clearly and accurately.
|
All metabolic functions carried out by a prokaryote take place in the plasma membrane or where else?
|
cytosol
|
science
| null | null | null |
mitochondrial
|
extracellular
|
Shell
|
cytosol
|
The bacterium in Figure above is a prokaryote. Prokaryotes are microscopic organisms that have neither a membrane-bound nucleus nor membrane-bound organelles. Some cell biologists consider the term "organelle" to describe membrane-bound structures only, whereas other cell biologists define organelles as discrete structures that have a specialized function. Prokaryotes have ribosomes, which are not surrounded by a membrane but do have a specialized function, and could therefore be considered organelles. All metabolic functions carried out by a prokaryote take place in the plasma membrane or the cytosol.
| null | null | null |
Suppose it is September 14th today, how many activities can people choose to attend?
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
What's on stage
An acrobatic show: To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the China Acrobatic Troupe will present "The Soul of China", where the seemingly impossible is made real. Chills will run down your spine as you watch breathlessly as performers take their art and their bodies to the edge.
Time: 7: 30 p. m., September 13-19
Place: Capital Theatre, 22 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
Exhibitions
Joint Show: A group ink painting exhibition is running at the Huangshicheng Art Gallery in Beijing. About 50 works by 25 young artists including Ge Yun and Yu Yang are on display.
Time :9:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. until September 10
Place:prefix = st1 /HuangshichengArtGallery, 136 Nanchizi Dajie, Dongcheng District
Oil paintings:The Wanfung Art Gallery will host a joint show of oil painting by 10 young and middle-aged artists. On display are, more than 30 of their latest works, which capture the wondrous variety of life in unique styles.
Time:9:00 a. m. - 4:00 p. m. until September 15
Place:136 Nanchizi Street, Dongcheng District
Literature museum: The National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature offers an in-depth study of the evolution of Chinese contemporary literature from 1919 to 1949.
Time: 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., daily
Place: 45 Anyuan Donglu, Chaoyang District (Shaoyaoju area)
Concert
Beijing rocks: "The Fashion Night of Chinese Rock" is set to bring rock fans out by the thousands next month. Nine Chinese rock bands will perform at the concert, including older generation bands, middle generation and some recent arrivals. The audience will be given a chance to decide what songs they want to hear, which is sure to bring a storm.
Time:September 11-14
Place:The Olympic Center
Question:
Suppose it is September 14th today, how many activities can people choose to attend?
Choices:
A. 2.
B. 3.
C. 4.
D. 5.
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high22509.txt
|
What's on stage
An acrobatic show: To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the China Acrobatic Troupe will present "The Soul of China", where the seemingly impossible is made real. Chills will run down your spine as you watch breathlessly as performers take their art and their bodies to the edge.
Time: 7: 30 p. m., September 13-19
Place: Capital Theatre, 22 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District
Exhibitions
Joint Show: A group ink painting exhibition is running at the Huangshicheng Art Gallery in Beijing. About 50 works by 25 young artists including Ge Yun and Yu Yang are on display.
Time :9:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. until September 10
Place:prefix = st1 /HuangshichengArtGallery, 136 Nanchizi Dajie, Dongcheng District
Oil paintings:The Wanfung Art Gallery will host a joint show of oil painting by 10 young and middle-aged artists. On display are, more than 30 of their latest works, which capture the wondrous variety of life in unique styles.
Time:9:00 a. m. - 4:00 p. m. until September 15
Place:136 Nanchizi Street, Dongcheng District
Literature museum: The National Museum of Modern Chinese Literature offers an in-depth study of the evolution of Chinese contemporary literature from 1919 to 1949.
Time: 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., daily
Place: 45 Anyuan Donglu, Chaoyang District (Shaoyaoju area)
Concert
Beijing rocks: "The Fashion Night of Chinese Rock" is set to bring rock fans out by the thousands next month. Nine Chinese rock bands will perform at the concert, including older generation bands, middle generation and some recent arrivals. The audience will be given a chance to decide what songs they want to hear, which is sure to bring a storm.
Time:September 11-14
Place:The Olympic Center
|
[
"2.",
"3.",
"4.",
"5."
] |
According to Michelle, 17-year-old teenagers _ .
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Dear Michelle,
Why can't my daughter manage her life better? She is 17 and an honor student, but she seems to be wasting her life away with a boyfriend who is holding her back.
He consumes every waking minute of her precious time and smooth-talks her as well.
His goal is to get her to agree to go to the college of his choice, not her choice, and because his grades are lower, his choice will be limited.
I feel like I want to rescue her, but she pushes me away and shuts me out. She has only brought us pride and joy; and now this! Help!
A worried mother
Dear Mother of a 17-year-old Girl,
Hmmmmm. What's the matter with kids today? Remember that song from "Bye Bye Birdie"?
Well if you do not, let me fill you in about teenagers and their life-management skills. Do not expect too much too soon because at the ripe age of 17, life-management is not within their reach, nor should it be.
Life experience creates both the conditions and the skills for management, and if management went before experience, there would be little of it.
Your daughter is an honor student for good reasons. She is smart, studies with intelligence and you have given her good values.
When the time comes for her to apply for college, and she visits the ones that are specifically designed for students at the top of their grade, she will most likely break away from her boyfriend's influence.
It is rare for an honor student to change the path of their academic career for _ . That being said, there might be some adolescent wisdom in her behavior after all.
Perhaps she is choosing to worry you, her parents, for unconscious reasons. Being such a good girl and being a steady source of joy might have become a bit too much for her.
Let your daughter have her own private moment of 11th grade rebellion. She deserves a break from perfection.
Michelle
Question:
According to Michelle, 17-year-old teenagers _ .
Choices:
A. are too young to manage their life
B. are old enough to live their own life
C. should have management before experience
D. have reached the age of an adult
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high4528.txt
|
Dear Michelle,
Why can't my daughter manage her life better? She is 17 and an honor student, but she seems to be wasting her life away with a boyfriend who is holding her back.
He consumes every waking minute of her precious time and smooth-talks her as well.
His goal is to get her to agree to go to the college of his choice, not her choice, and because his grades are lower, his choice will be limited.
I feel like I want to rescue her, but she pushes me away and shuts me out. She has only brought us pride and joy; and now this! Help!
A worried mother
Dear Mother of a 17-year-old Girl,
Hmmmmm. What's the matter with kids today? Remember that song from "Bye Bye Birdie"?
Well if you do not, let me fill you in about teenagers and their life-management skills. Do not expect too much too soon because at the ripe age of 17, life-management is not within their reach, nor should it be.
Life experience creates both the conditions and the skills for management, and if management went before experience, there would be little of it.
Your daughter is an honor student for good reasons. She is smart, studies with intelligence and you have given her good values.
When the time comes for her to apply for college, and she visits the ones that are specifically designed for students at the top of their grade, she will most likely break away from her boyfriend's influence.
It is rare for an honor student to change the path of their academic career for _ . That being said, there might be some adolescent wisdom in her behavior after all.
Perhaps she is choosing to worry you, her parents, for unconscious reasons. Being such a good girl and being a steady source of joy might have become a bit too much for her.
Let your daughter have her own private moment of 11th grade rebellion. She deserves a break from perfection.
Michelle
|
[
"are too young to manage their life",
"are old enough to live their own life",
"should have management before experience",
"have reached the age of an adult"
] |
What would be the best title for the text?
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Waves are beautiful to look at,but they can destroy ships at sea,as well as houses and buildings near the shore.What causes waves? Most waves are caused by winds blowing over the surface of the water.The sun heats the earth,causing the air to rise and the winds to blow.The winds blow across the sea,pushing little waves into bigger and bigger ones.
The size of a wave depends on how strong the wind is,how long it blows,and how large the body of water is.In a small bay big waves will never build up,but at sea the wind can build up giant,powerful waves.
A rule says that the height of a wave (in meters)will usually be no more than one-tenth of the wind's speed(in kilometers).In other words,when the wind is blowing at 120 kilometers per hour,most waves will be about twelve meters of course,and some waves may combine to form giant
waves that are much higher.In 1933 the United States Navy reported the largest measured wave in
history.It rose in the Pacific Ocean to a height of thirty-four meters.
Question:
What would be the best title for the text?
Choices:
A. Beautiful Waves
B. Waves in the Pacific Ocean
C. What Causes Waves
D. The Largest Waves in History
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high22412.txt
|
Waves are beautiful to look at,but they can destroy ships at sea,as well as houses and buildings near the shore.What causes waves? Most waves are caused by winds blowing over the surface of the water.The sun heats the earth,causing the air to rise and the winds to blow.The winds blow across the sea,pushing little waves into bigger and bigger ones.
The size of a wave depends on how strong the wind is,how long it blows,and how large the body of water is.In a small bay big waves will never build up,but at sea the wind can build up giant,powerful waves.
A rule says that the height of a wave (in meters)will usually be no more than one-tenth of the wind's speed(in kilometers).In other words,when the wind is blowing at 120 kilometers per hour,most waves will be about twelve meters of course,and some waves may combine to form giant
waves that are much higher.In 1933 the United States Navy reported the largest measured wave in
history.It rose in the Pacific Ocean to a height of thirty-four meters.
|
[
"Beautiful Waves",
"Waves in the Pacific Ocean",
"What Causes Waves",
"The Largest Waves in History"
] |
According to the writer, you can learn more about "Walk to School" by _ .
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
What is "walk to School?"
Now we are working on a programme of "Walk to School". We would like as many parents and children as possible to take part, even if in a small way. Children who walk to and from school along with their parents can learn essential road safety and life skills.
You can take part by...
#Walking to and from school with your child every day.
#Walking for one or two days during the week.
#Encouraging others to walk, if you already do.
Walking is great!
#Walking is great exercise! A walk is good for your body and can keep you fit.
#You won't have to waste time looking for a parking site .
#It's pollution free.
#It's a good chance to talk to your children and to meet other parents, too.
Enjoying walking to school!
Here is some advice to help you and your child enjoy walking to school.
#Plan a safe route together.
#Teach children what a kerb is and what it means.
#Encourage your child to help you choose the safest places to cross the road.
#Look at and discuss the things you see on your way - especially road signs and what they mean.
Walk to school! Thousands of parents and children take part, could you?
Please go to www.walktoschool. org. uk for more information.
Question:
According to the writer, you can learn more about "Walk to School" by _ .
Choices:
A. reading a newspaper
B. making a phone call
C. going to the Internet
D. having a traffic lesson
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle4160.txt
|
What is "walk to School?"
Now we are working on a programme of "Walk to School". We would like as many parents and children as possible to take part, even if in a small way. Children who walk to and from school along with their parents can learn essential road safety and life skills.
You can take part by...
#Walking to and from school with your child every day.
#Walking for one or two days during the week.
#Encouraging others to walk, if you already do.
Walking is great!
#Walking is great exercise! A walk is good for your body and can keep you fit.
#You won't have to waste time looking for a parking site .
#It's pollution free.
#It's a good chance to talk to your children and to meet other parents, too.
Enjoying walking to school!
Here is some advice to help you and your child enjoy walking to school.
#Plan a safe route together.
#Teach children what a kerb is and what it means.
#Encourage your child to help you choose the safest places to cross the road.
#Look at and discuss the things you see on your way - especially road signs and what they mean.
Walk to school! Thousands of parents and children take part, could you?
Please go to www.walktoschool. org. uk for more information.
|
[
"reading a newspaper",
"making a phone call",
"going to the Internet",
"having a traffic lesson"
] |
In 1884, George Eastman changed photography by inventing a new kind of _ .
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
The invention of the camera goes far into the past. In the 1500s, men were experimenting with cameras that made images. But it was not until the early 1800s that man found a way to make the pictures permanent. Even then, photography was a new field. Most families had their pictures taken by a photographer. People did not own cameras because taking pictures and developing the film were too difficult.
In 1884, George Eastman changed photography by inventing a kind of film that fit into a small camera. Because the new film was easy to use, many people began to buy cameras. When they had used up their film, people returned their cameras to the factory. There, the film was developed, and pictures were printed. Then more film was put into the cameras, which was sent back to the owners, along with their pictures.
Eastman's camera made it easy to take pictures. Today's cameras are even easier to use, and people can put in their own film. Photography has become a growing hobby.
There are also many new jobs in the field of photography. One of the most important kinds of work is in news reporting. Newspapers, magazines, and television all need pictures to tell their stories. Photographers aid scientists by taking pictures through microscopes and telescopes. Deep-sea divers take pictures of ocean plants and animals, while astronauts take cameras into space. Man finds new uses for the cameras every day.
Question:
In 1884, George Eastman changed photography by inventing a new kind of _ .
Choices:
A. image
B. factory
C. film
D. camera
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high17353.txt
|
The invention of the camera goes far into the past. In the 1500s, men were experimenting with cameras that made images. But it was not until the early 1800s that man found a way to make the pictures permanent. Even then, photography was a new field. Most families had their pictures taken by a photographer. People did not own cameras because taking pictures and developing the film were too difficult.
In 1884, George Eastman changed photography by inventing a kind of film that fit into a small camera. Because the new film was easy to use, many people began to buy cameras. When they had used up their film, people returned their cameras to the factory. There, the film was developed, and pictures were printed. Then more film was put into the cameras, which was sent back to the owners, along with their pictures.
Eastman's camera made it easy to take pictures. Today's cameras are even easier to use, and people can put in their own film. Photography has become a growing hobby.
There are also many new jobs in the field of photography. One of the most important kinds of work is in news reporting. Newspapers, magazines, and television all need pictures to tell their stories. Photographers aid scientists by taking pictures through microscopes and telescopes. Deep-sea divers take pictures of ocean plants and animals, while astronauts take cameras into space. Man finds new uses for the cameras every day.
|
[
"image",
"factory",
"film",
"camera"
] |
What's the writer's attitude towards the rumors from microblogs according to the passage?
|
A
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
With only a click of the mouse,rumors can be forwarded between microblogs very quickly.As an example,recently,sensitive netizens discovered that some photos displayed on microblogs describing Beijing's June rainstorm had actually been fabricated.
Sina.com is one of the major Internet portals in China with hundreds and thousands of users,and a majority of celebrities and famous citizens have their microblog accounts on this portal.As recently as six months ago,the website decided to establish a specialized team to prove rumors and provide accurate information for its users.Tan Chao is in charge of the team.
"Before I took the job,I usually couldn't identify what information was real and what was fake.But during the process of identification,we discovered that a lot of information was false,including fake photos,fake news stories and rumors that had been spread through microblogs."
It's not just website portals which are taking on factchecking responsibilities,but also a number of civicminded netizens,who recently set up a Rumor Identification Federation on Sina.com's microblog system to help netizens identify fake information online.
Dian Zizheng is the team leader of the federation.He says they've publicized more than 150 pieces which contradict rumors,which attracted more than 10 thousand visitors within two months.
"We live in an age of new media,so we can't use the old methods to prove rumors.We can't wait for the media to prove the facts with related administrative departments and then release a formal announcement.We can't allow rumors to run wild and then deal with it,we need to fight rumors while they're spreading.I think that this is the best way to deal with rumors nowadays."
Some experts say this displays the advantages of the Internet compared to other traditional media.The open platform allows information to be examined and clarified by netizens.But experts like Ding Wenguo,President of the Journalism and Communication College at the China University of Political Science and Law says this selfcorrection function of the Internet is still quite limited.
"It's still quite difficult to tell which information is true in such an open environment by just reading a number of different opinions on the same issue.This is something which we need to pay attention to.If society is flooded with too much false information,and it's allowed to spread in such a fast manner,then people will be suspicious of all kinds of information including important information from authorities.It also worsens problems relating to social communications and mutualunderstanding,which in turn harms society as a whole."
Experts suggest that the government should react more quickly in the Internet age.Once a rumor begins to spread,administrative departments should make announcements as early as possible to drive away rumors before they lead to bad outcomes.
Question:
What's the writer's attitude towards the rumors from microblogs according to the passage?
Choices:
A. Negative.
B. Sympathetic.
C. Supportive.
D. Changeable.
|
Answer: A
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high18735.txt
|
With only a click of the mouse,rumors can be forwarded between microblogs very quickly.As an example,recently,sensitive netizens discovered that some photos displayed on microblogs describing Beijing's June rainstorm had actually been fabricated.
Sina.com is one of the major Internet portals in China with hundreds and thousands of users,and a majority of celebrities and famous citizens have their microblog accounts on this portal.As recently as six months ago,the website decided to establish a specialized team to prove rumors and provide accurate information for its users.Tan Chao is in charge of the team.
"Before I took the job,I usually couldn't identify what information was real and what was fake.But during the process of identification,we discovered that a lot of information was false,including fake photos,fake news stories and rumors that had been spread through microblogs."
It's not just website portals which are taking on factchecking responsibilities,but also a number of civicminded netizens,who recently set up a Rumor Identification Federation on Sina.com's microblog system to help netizens identify fake information online.
Dian Zizheng is the team leader of the federation.He says they've publicized more than 150 pieces which contradict rumors,which attracted more than 10 thousand visitors within two months.
"We live in an age of new media,so we can't use the old methods to prove rumors.We can't wait for the media to prove the facts with related administrative departments and then release a formal announcement.We can't allow rumors to run wild and then deal with it,we need to fight rumors while they're spreading.I think that this is the best way to deal with rumors nowadays."
Some experts say this displays the advantages of the Internet compared to other traditional media.The open platform allows information to be examined and clarified by netizens.But experts like Ding Wenguo,President of the Journalism and Communication College at the China University of Political Science and Law says this selfcorrection function of the Internet is still quite limited.
"It's still quite difficult to tell which information is true in such an open environment by just reading a number of different opinions on the same issue.This is something which we need to pay attention to.If society is flooded with too much false information,and it's allowed to spread in such a fast manner,then people will be suspicious of all kinds of information including important information from authorities.It also worsens problems relating to social communications and mutualunderstanding,which in turn harms society as a whole."
Experts suggest that the government should react more quickly in the Internet age.Once a rumor begins to spread,administrative departments should make announcements as early as possible to drive away rumors before they lead to bad outcomes.
|
[
"Negative.",
"Sympathetic.",
"Supportive.",
"Changeable."
] |
Watson was angry with Franklin because she _ .
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Four people in England back in 1953, stared at Photo 51,It wasn't much--a picture showing a black X. But three of these people won the Nobel Prize for figuring out what the photo really showed -the shape of DNA The discovery brought fame and fortune to scientists James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins. The fourth, the one who actually made the picture, was left out.
Her name was Rosalind Franklin."She should have been up there," says historian Mary Bowden." If her photos hadn't been there, the others couldn't have come up with the structure." One reason Franklin was missing was that she had died of cancer four years before the Nobel decision. But now scholars doubt that Franklin was not only robbed of her life by disease but robbed of credit by her competitors
At Cambridge University in the 1950s, Watson and Click tried to make models by cutting up shapes of DNA's parts and then putting them together. In the meantime, at King's College in London, Franklin and Wilkins shone X-rays at the molecule . The rays produced patterns reflection the shape.
But Wilkins and Franklin's relationship was a lot rockier than the celebrated teamwork of Watson and Crick, Wilkins thought Franklin was hired to be his assistant .But the college actually employed her to take over the DNA project.
What she did was produce X-ray pictures that told Watson and Crick that one of their early models was inside out. And she was not shy about saying so. That angered Watson, who attacked her in return, "Mere inspection suggested that she would not easily bend. Clearly she had to go or be put in her place."
As Franklin's competitors, Wilkins, Watson and Crick had much to gain by cutting her out of the little group of researchers, says historian Pnina Abir-Am. In 1962 at the Nobel Prize awarding ceremony, Wilkins thanked 13 colleagues by name before he mentioned Franklin, Watson wrote his book laughing at her. Crick wrote in 1974 that "Franklin was only two steps away from the solution."
No, Franklin was the solution. "She contributed more than any other player to solving the structure of DNA . She must be considered a co-discoverer," Abir-Am says. This was backed up by Aaron Klug, who worked with Franklin and later won a Nobel Prize himself. Once described as the "Dark Lady of DNA", Franklin is finally coming into the light.
Question:
Watson was angry with Franklin because she _ .
Choices:
A. took the lead in the competition
B. kept her results from him
C. proved some of his findings wrong
D. shared her data with other scientists
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high3956.txt
|
Four people in England back in 1953, stared at Photo 51,It wasn't much--a picture showing a black X. But three of these people won the Nobel Prize for figuring out what the photo really showed -the shape of DNA The discovery brought fame and fortune to scientists James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins. The fourth, the one who actually made the picture, was left out.
Her name was Rosalind Franklin."She should have been up there," says historian Mary Bowden." If her photos hadn't been there, the others couldn't have come up with the structure." One reason Franklin was missing was that she had died of cancer four years before the Nobel decision. But now scholars doubt that Franklin was not only robbed of her life by disease but robbed of credit by her competitors
At Cambridge University in the 1950s, Watson and Click tried to make models by cutting up shapes of DNA's parts and then putting them together. In the meantime, at King's College in London, Franklin and Wilkins shone X-rays at the molecule . The rays produced patterns reflection the shape.
But Wilkins and Franklin's relationship was a lot rockier than the celebrated teamwork of Watson and Crick, Wilkins thought Franklin was hired to be his assistant .But the college actually employed her to take over the DNA project.
What she did was produce X-ray pictures that told Watson and Crick that one of their early models was inside out. And she was not shy about saying so. That angered Watson, who attacked her in return, "Mere inspection suggested that she would not easily bend. Clearly she had to go or be put in her place."
As Franklin's competitors, Wilkins, Watson and Crick had much to gain by cutting her out of the little group of researchers, says historian Pnina Abir-Am. In 1962 at the Nobel Prize awarding ceremony, Wilkins thanked 13 colleagues by name before he mentioned Franklin, Watson wrote his book laughing at her. Crick wrote in 1974 that "Franklin was only two steps away from the solution."
No, Franklin was the solution. "She contributed more than any other player to solving the structure of DNA . She must be considered a co-discoverer," Abir-Am says. This was backed up by Aaron Klug, who worked with Franklin and later won a Nobel Prize himself. Once described as the "Dark Lady of DNA", Franklin is finally coming into the light.
|
[
"took the lead in the competition",
"kept her results from him",
"proved some of his findings wrong",
"shared her data with other scientists"
] |
The Indian sugar cane farmers_( )
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
New research finds a link between poverty and poor decision making. The findings may explain why poor people sometimes make bad choices that continue their hardship.
Earlier studies have found the poor less likely to escape poverty. But there has been little research on why the poor make decisions that make their lives harder. Until recently, it was economists who studied poverty, not psychologists. Eldar Shafir, a psychologist in Princeton University says now scientists from both fields work together. Mr. Shafir and his team did two experiments. One took place at a shopping center in New Jersey. Another was carried out among sugar cane farmers in rural India.
The New Jersey experiment involved individuals with low paying jobs and others belonged to the middle class. All the volunteers were asked what they would do if their cars needed repairs.
The volunteers were given two imaginary situations. In the first, the car repairs cost $ 150. In the second, $ 1,500.
"And what we found is that the poor and the rich performed equally well on almost all the tests. "
Not so when the researchers raised the repair costs to $ 1,500.
"Now the poor performed significantly worse. " The poorer lost about 13 IQ points on average. This is about the loss experienced when a person has not slept for one night.
The scientists then wondered if the same person reacted differently when he was rich and when he was poor. The Indian sugar cane farmers earn most of their money once a year, when the harvest comes in. But the money often does not last through the year.
"So they find themselves basically rich after the harvest when the income comes in and poor just before the harvest.
The researchers gave them tests similar to the ones taken by the people in New Jersey. They tested the Indian farmers before the harvest and after.
And the results were much the same as with the mall shoppers.
"They performed much more slowly and with many more mistakes when they were poorer than when they were richer. "
Mr. Shafir says the results support 50 years of research that shows all humans have limited mental power to deal with things in life.
"And so the insight here is that, having not enough of something in a way makes it harder to make good decisions for everything else. "
Question:
The Indian sugar cane farmers_( )
Choices:
A. are smarter when they are poor
B. earn money all through the year
C. earn lots of money so they think they are rich
D. feel rich after the harvest and poor before harvest
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high17262.txt
|
New research finds a link between poverty and poor decision making. The findings may explain why poor people sometimes make bad choices that continue their hardship.
Earlier studies have found the poor less likely to escape poverty. But there has been little research on why the poor make decisions that make their lives harder. Until recently, it was economists who studied poverty, not psychologists. Eldar Shafir, a psychologist in Princeton University says now scientists from both fields work together. Mr. Shafir and his team did two experiments. One took place at a shopping center in New Jersey. Another was carried out among sugar cane farmers in rural India.
The New Jersey experiment involved individuals with low paying jobs and others belonged to the middle class. All the volunteers were asked what they would do if their cars needed repairs.
The volunteers were given two imaginary situations. In the first, the car repairs cost $ 150. In the second, $ 1,500.
"And what we found is that the poor and the rich performed equally well on almost all the tests. "
Not so when the researchers raised the repair costs to $ 1,500.
"Now the poor performed significantly worse. " The poorer lost about 13 IQ points on average. This is about the loss experienced when a person has not slept for one night.
The scientists then wondered if the same person reacted differently when he was rich and when he was poor. The Indian sugar cane farmers earn most of their money once a year, when the harvest comes in. But the money often does not last through the year.
"So they find themselves basically rich after the harvest when the income comes in and poor just before the harvest.
The researchers gave them tests similar to the ones taken by the people in New Jersey. They tested the Indian farmers before the harvest and after.
And the results were much the same as with the mall shoppers.
"They performed much more slowly and with many more mistakes when they were poorer than when they were richer. "
Mr. Shafir says the results support 50 years of research that shows all humans have limited mental power to deal with things in life.
"And so the insight here is that, having not enough of something in a way makes it harder to make good decisions for everything else. "
|
[
"are smarter when they are poor",
"earn money all through the year",
"earn lots of money so they think they are rich",
"feel rich after the harvest and poor before harvest"
] |
What was Katherine like when the writer first saw her?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
One day a family visited the school where I taught deaf children. They said they would move here and planned to send their deaf daughter to my school as a first grader. They were upset that their child's kindergarten teacher told them not to have high hopes for her. Standing behind them was Katherine, a beautiful five-year-old with long hair and dark eyes. The whole time her parents were there, she didn't make a sound or use sign language, even when her parents asked her to do so.
After a few weeks with Katherine, I discovered she was a very smart child. Although she joined in different learning activities, writing was always a problem . I tried all kinds of ways to get her interested in writing, but she always refused to write.
One day Katherine got off the school bus and stood in front of the school crying. The teachers there did not know enough sign language to ask her what happened. Finally they led her into the office and gave her a pen and a piece of paper. Katherine wrote:"PACBAK". Then the teachers realized she had left her backpack on the bus. They called the bus driver back to school and soon Katherine got her backpack back.
That day _ . From then on she fell in love with writing. She is a young woman now and has become an excellent writer, public speaker and student leader.
Question:
What was Katherine like when the writer first saw her?
Choices:
A. She was active.
B. She was upset.
C. She smiled a lot.
D. She kept silent.
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle7537.txt
|
One day a family visited the school where I taught deaf children. They said they would move here and planned to send their deaf daughter to my school as a first grader. They were upset that their child's kindergarten teacher told them not to have high hopes for her. Standing behind them was Katherine, a beautiful five-year-old with long hair and dark eyes. The whole time her parents were there, she didn't make a sound or use sign language, even when her parents asked her to do so.
After a few weeks with Katherine, I discovered she was a very smart child. Although she joined in different learning activities, writing was always a problem . I tried all kinds of ways to get her interested in writing, but she always refused to write.
One day Katherine got off the school bus and stood in front of the school crying. The teachers there did not know enough sign language to ask her what happened. Finally they led her into the office and gave her a pen and a piece of paper. Katherine wrote:"PACBAK". Then the teachers realized she had left her backpack on the bus. They called the bus driver back to school and soon Katherine got her backpack back.
That day _ . From then on she fell in love with writing. She is a young woman now and has become an excellent writer, public speaker and student leader.
|
[
"She was active.",
"She was upset.",
"She smiled a lot.",
"She kept silent."
] |
The conductor _ .
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Mark Twain, the famous American writer, was traveling inprefix = st1 /France. Once he was very tired and wanted to sleep. He therefore asked the conductor to wake him up when they came toDijon. But first he explained that he was a very heavy sleeper. "I'll strongly protest when you try to wake me up," he said to the conductor. "But do not take any notice, just put me off the train anyway."
Then Mark Twain went to sleep. Later, when he woke up it was night time and the train was inParisalready. He realized at once that the conductor had forgotten to wake him up atDijon. He ran up to the conductor and began to shout at him." I have never been so angry in all my life," Mark Twain said.
The conductor looked at him calmly. "You are not half so angry as the American whom I put off the train atDijon," he said loudly.
Question:
The conductor _ .
Choices:
A. was a man who didn't care much about others' feelings.
B. didn't realize what had happened when he was shouted at
C. put Mark Twain off at Dijonby accident
D. became extremely angry when he was shouted and shouted back
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high19973.txt
|
Mark Twain, the famous American writer, was traveling inprefix = st1 /France. Once he was very tired and wanted to sleep. He therefore asked the conductor to wake him up when they came toDijon. But first he explained that he was a very heavy sleeper. "I'll strongly protest when you try to wake me up," he said to the conductor. "But do not take any notice, just put me off the train anyway."
Then Mark Twain went to sleep. Later, when he woke up it was night time and the train was inParisalready. He realized at once that the conductor had forgotten to wake him up atDijon. He ran up to the conductor and began to shout at him." I have never been so angry in all my life," Mark Twain said.
The conductor looked at him calmly. "You are not half so angry as the American whom I put off the train atDijon," he said loudly.
|
[
"was a man who didn't care much about others' feelings.",
"didn't realize what had happened when he was shouted at",
"put Mark Twain off at Dijonby accident",
"became extremely angry when he was shouted and shouted back"
] |
Carter usually bakes 6 cheesecakes, 5 muffins, and 8 red velvet cakes regularly for a week. For this week he was able to bake triple the number of cheesecakes, muffins, chocolate moist cakes, and red velvet cakes. How much more cakes was Carter able to bake for this week?
|
Carter can make 6 + 5 + 8 = <<6+5+8=19>>19 cakes regularly for a week.
For this week, he made 6 x 3 = <<6*3=18>>18 cheesecakes.
He made 5 x 3 = <<5*3=15>>15 muffins.
And also made 8 x 3 = <<8*3=24>>24 red velvet cakes.
Carter was able to make 18 + 15 + 24 = <<18+15+24=57>>57 cakes for this week.
Therefore, Carter was able to make 57 - 19 = <<57-19=38>>38 more cakes for this week.
#### 38
|
Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step.
|
Carter usually bakes 6 cheesecakes, 5 muffins, and 8 red velvet cakes regularly for a week. For this week he was able to bake triple the number of cheesecakes, muffins, chocolate moist cakes, and red velvet cakes. How much more cakes was Carter able to bake for this week?
|
Carter can make 6 + 5 + 8 = <<6+5+8=19>>19 cakes regularly for a week.
For this week, he made 6 x 3 = <<6*3=18>>18 cheesecakes.
He made 5 x 3 = <<5*3=15>>15 muffins.
And also made 8 x 3 = <<8*3=24>>24 red velvet cakes.
Carter was able to make 18 + 15 + 24 = <<18+15+24=57>>57 cakes for this week.
Therefore, Carter was able to make 57 - 19 = <<57-19=38>>38 more cakes for this week.
#### 38
|
math
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Annealing can make metal _ .
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Annealing is a way of making metal softer by heating it and then letting it cool very slowly. If metal is heated and then cooled very quickly , for example by dipping it in water , it will be very hard but also very brittle ---that is , It will break easily. Metal that has been annealed is soft but does not break as easily . It is possible to make metal as hard or as soft as is wished, by annealing it. The metal is heated, and allowed to cool slowly , for a certain length of time. The longer the heated metal takes to cool slowly , the softer it becomes . Annealing can also be used on other materials, such as glass.
Question:
Annealing can make metal _ .
Choices:
A. hard and tough
B. hard but brittle
C. soft but tough
D. soft and brittle
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high2749.txt
|
Annealing is a way of making metal softer by heating it and then letting it cool very slowly. If metal is heated and then cooled very quickly , for example by dipping it in water , it will be very hard but also very brittle ---that is , It will break easily. Metal that has been annealed is soft but does not break as easily . It is possible to make metal as hard or as soft as is wished, by annealing it. The metal is heated, and allowed to cool slowly , for a certain length of time. The longer the heated metal takes to cool slowly , the softer it becomes . Annealing can also be used on other materials, such as glass.
|
[
"hard and tough",
"hard but brittle",
"soft but tough",
"soft and brittle"
] |
For photosynthesis to begin, the inputs required are sunlight, water, and what?
| null |
Answer the following science question clearly and accurately.
|
For photosynthesis to begin, the inputs required are sunlight, water, and what?
|
carbon dioxide
|
science
| null | null | null |
sulfur dioxide
|
phosphorus dioxide
|
methane
|
carbon dioxide
|
Recall that the only required ingredients needed for photosynthesis are sunlight, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and water (H 2 O). From these simple inorganic ingredients, photosynthetic organisms produce the carbohydrate glucose (C 6 H 12 O 6 ), and other complex organic compounds. Essentially, these producers are changing the energy from the sunlight into a usable form of energy. They are also making the oxygen that we breathe. Oxygen is a waste product of photosynthesis.
| null | null | null |
Medical tourism is so popular nowadays partly because _ .
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
While most travelers aim to stay out of the hospital while on vacation, a growing number of medical tourists-people who combine treatment with travel - are crossing international borders for the purpose of getting medical services, which can range from a hip replacement to a tummy tuck. Widespread air travel, increasing healthcare costs in developed countries, long waiting lists and an ageing world population have all contributed to a global increase in medical tourism in the past decade. And Asia takes the lead in terms of world market share.
More than 89% of medical tourists travelled to Thailand, India or Singapore in 2010, with Bangkok and Singapore leading the pack. But the cost of hotel rooms and treatment are both far more expensive in Singapore than in the Thai capital, making Bangkok the most popular place for medical tourism in the world. Even after the serious floods of 2011, 19 million tourists visited Thailand in 2011, a 20% jump from 2010, with about 500,000 tourists travelling specifically for medical treatment.
Given Thailand's reputation for outstanding service, it is not hard to see why Bangkok has quickly become the medical tourism centre of Asia. The Tourism Authority of Thailand(TAT), which began medical tourism in 2004, has a detailed medical tourism website that lists many of the most popular treatments available, including dental work, dermatology and cosmetic surgery, as well as listing reputed hospitals, making it easy for potential visitors to decide on a procedure. TAT has also recently partnered with Krungthai Bank, the national bank of Thailand, to offer tourists a card called the Miracle Thailand Card, which offers some medical and life insurance coverage in case of an accident.
"The hospitals in Bangkok are some of the highest quality in the world,meeting US standards,"said Steven Lash, CEO of a US-based medical travel company that sends tourists to Bangkok as well as to seven other countries, including Turkey and Mexico. "All of the tourists we have sent to these hospitals have given us excellent feedback on their procedures and their experiences at the hospitals."
Question:
Medical tourism is so popular nowadays partly because _ .
Choices:
A. aged patients prefer to travel
B. air travel is cheaper than before
C. local hospitals lack advanced equipment
D. medical treatment is expensive in some countries
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high3823.txt
|
While most travelers aim to stay out of the hospital while on vacation, a growing number of medical tourists-people who combine treatment with travel - are crossing international borders for the purpose of getting medical services, which can range from a hip replacement to a tummy tuck. Widespread air travel, increasing healthcare costs in developed countries, long waiting lists and an ageing world population have all contributed to a global increase in medical tourism in the past decade. And Asia takes the lead in terms of world market share.
More than 89% of medical tourists travelled to Thailand, India or Singapore in 2010, with Bangkok and Singapore leading the pack. But the cost of hotel rooms and treatment are both far more expensive in Singapore than in the Thai capital, making Bangkok the most popular place for medical tourism in the world. Even after the serious floods of 2011, 19 million tourists visited Thailand in 2011, a 20% jump from 2010, with about 500,000 tourists travelling specifically for medical treatment.
Given Thailand's reputation for outstanding service, it is not hard to see why Bangkok has quickly become the medical tourism centre of Asia. The Tourism Authority of Thailand(TAT), which began medical tourism in 2004, has a detailed medical tourism website that lists many of the most popular treatments available, including dental work, dermatology and cosmetic surgery, as well as listing reputed hospitals, making it easy for potential visitors to decide on a procedure. TAT has also recently partnered with Krungthai Bank, the national bank of Thailand, to offer tourists a card called the Miracle Thailand Card, which offers some medical and life insurance coverage in case of an accident.
"The hospitals in Bangkok are some of the highest quality in the world,meeting US standards,"said Steven Lash, CEO of a US-based medical travel company that sends tourists to Bangkok as well as to seven other countries, including Turkey and Mexico. "All of the tourists we have sent to these hospitals have given us excellent feedback on their procedures and their experiences at the hospitals."
|
[
"aged patients prefer to travel",
"air travel is cheaper than before",
"local hospitals lack advanced equipment",
"medical treatment is expensive in some countries"
] |
What is the clear, protective covering on the outside of the eye?
| null |
Answer the following science question clearly and accurately.
|
What is the clear, protective covering on the outside of the eye?
|
cornea
|
science
| null | null | null |
iris
|
retina
|
vitreous fluid
|
cornea
|
First, light passes through the cornea of the eye. The cornea is a clear, protective covering on the outside of the eye.
| null | null | null |
In order to know the weight of the airplane, the pilots must know _ .
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Here's an interview to a pilot about his life.
(R="Reporter;" P= Pilot)
R: How much time do pilots actually spend flying a plane?
P: It varies (WES'J) from about 20 minutes on some domestic flights to as much as 18 hours on international flights. It all depends on if the flight is a short- or long-haul flight.
R: Do pilots take breaks during flights or do they fly the whole time?
P: Yes, we take breaks during long-haul flights. Airlines assign three or four pilots to long flights. We take turns flying the plane.
R: If pilots are traveling all the time, how do they deal with jet lag ?
P: Jet lag is annoying for almost all pilots. I try to go to sleep as I would at home.
R: How important is it to know the weight and size of the plane you are flying?
P: It is very important. We weigh almost everything put into the airplane and make estimates according to the number of people on each flight.
R: Do pilots eat the airplane food?
P: Yes, we eat business class food! Airplane food changes every season and is very delicious if you don't hate eating lobster every day! The pilots on the same plane are supposed to make different meal choices so that if one of the dishes causes food _ , only one of them will be sick. That way, at least one pilot will always be well enough to fly the plane!
Question:
In order to know the weight of the airplane, the pilots must know _ .
Choices:
A. the weight of everything put into the plane
B. the number of people on the plane
C. the weight of the things and people on the plane
D. the importance of the weight
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle3428.txt
|
Here's an interview to a pilot about his life.
(R="Reporter;" P= Pilot)
R: How much time do pilots actually spend flying a plane?
P: It varies (WES'J) from about 20 minutes on some domestic flights to as much as 18 hours on international flights. It all depends on if the flight is a short- or long-haul flight.
R: Do pilots take breaks during flights or do they fly the whole time?
P: Yes, we take breaks during long-haul flights. Airlines assign three or four pilots to long flights. We take turns flying the plane.
R: If pilots are traveling all the time, how do they deal with jet lag ?
P: Jet lag is annoying for almost all pilots. I try to go to sleep as I would at home.
R: How important is it to know the weight and size of the plane you are flying?
P: It is very important. We weigh almost everything put into the airplane and make estimates according to the number of people on each flight.
R: Do pilots eat the airplane food?
P: Yes, we eat business class food! Airplane food changes every season and is very delicious if you don't hate eating lobster every day! The pilots on the same plane are supposed to make different meal choices so that if one of the dishes causes food _ , only one of them will be sick. That way, at least one pilot will always be well enough to fly the plane!
|
[
"the weight of everything put into the plane",
"the number of people on the plane",
"the weight of the things and people on the plane",
"the importance of the weight"
] |
When she was over fifty, the late 19th century mother _ .
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
The greatest recent changes have been in the lives of women. During the twentieth century there was an unusual shortening of the time of a woman's life spent in caring for children. A woman marrying at the end of the 19th century would probably have been in her middle twenties, and would be likely to have seven or eight children, of whom four or five lived till they were five years old. By the time the youngest was fifteen, the mother would have been in her early fifties and would expect to live a further twenty years, during which custom, chance and health made it unusual for her to get paid work. Today women marry younger and have fewer children. Usually a woman's youngest child will be fifteen when she is forty-five and is likely to take paid work until retirement at sixty. Even while she has the care of children ,her work is lightened by household appliances and convenience foods.
This important change in women's way of life has only recently begun to have its full effect on women's economic position. Even a few years ago most girls left school at the first opportunity and most of them took a full-time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it.
Today the school-leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age , and though women tend to marry younger ,more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Many more after wads, return to full or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with both husband and wife accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfaction of family life, and with both husband and wife sharing more equally in providing the money and running the home, according to the abilities and interest of each of them.
Question:
When she was over fifty, the late 19th century mother _ .
Choices:
A. would expect to work until she died
B. was usually expected to take up paid employment
C. would be healthy enough to take up paid employment
D. was unlikely to find a job even if she is now likely
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high16790.txt
|
The greatest recent changes have been in the lives of women. During the twentieth century there was an unusual shortening of the time of a woman's life spent in caring for children. A woman marrying at the end of the 19th century would probably have been in her middle twenties, and would be likely to have seven or eight children, of whom four or five lived till they were five years old. By the time the youngest was fifteen, the mother would have been in her early fifties and would expect to live a further twenty years, during which custom, chance and health made it unusual for her to get paid work. Today women marry younger and have fewer children. Usually a woman's youngest child will be fifteen when she is forty-five and is likely to take paid work until retirement at sixty. Even while she has the care of children ,her work is lightened by household appliances and convenience foods.
This important change in women's way of life has only recently begun to have its full effect on women's economic position. Even a few years ago most girls left school at the first opportunity and most of them took a full-time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it.
Today the school-leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age , and though women tend to marry younger ,more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Many more after wads, return to full or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with both husband and wife accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfaction of family life, and with both husband and wife sharing more equally in providing the money and running the home, according to the abilities and interest of each of them.
|
[
"would expect to work until she died",
"was usually expected to take up paid employment",
"would be healthy enough to take up paid employment",
"was unlikely to find a job even if she is now likely"
] |
In The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, _ .
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Coincidences happen all the time to ordinary people, but the following events are perhaps some of the strangest of them all.
1. In the 19thcentury, the famous writer, Edgar Allan Poe, wrote a book called The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. It was about four survivors of a shipwreck who were in an open boat for many days before three of them decided to kill and eat the cabin boy whose name was Richard Parker. Some years later, in 1884, the boat Mignonette sank, and only four survivors were left in an open boat for many days. Finally the three older members killed and ate the cabin boy. The name of the cabin boy was Richard Parker.
2. In Monza, Italy, King Umberto I went to a small restaurant for dinner. When the owner took King Umberto I's order, the King noticed that he and the restaurant owner were doubles, in face and in build. Both men began discussing the resemblance between each other and found many more similarities. Both men were born in the same place, on the same day, of the same year (March 14, 1844, Turin, Italy). On the day that the King married Queen Margherita, the restaurant owner had married a lady named Margherita. The restaurant owner opened his restaurant on the same day that King Umberto I was crowned King of Italy. On July 29, 1900, King Umberto I was informed that the restaurant owner had died that day in a shooting accident, and as he expressed his regret, someone in the crowd killed him!
3. Mark Twain was a popular American author who wrote famous books such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain was born on the day of the appearance of Halley's Comet in 1835, and died on the day of its next appearance in 1910. He himself predicted this in 1909, when he said: "I came in with Halley's Comet in1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it."
Question:
In The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, _ .
Choices:
A. the boat was named Mignonette
B. the ship sank after the cabin boy's death
C. three people in all eventually survived the shipwreck
D. Richard Parker was unfriendly to the other survivors
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high12388.txt
|
Coincidences happen all the time to ordinary people, but the following events are perhaps some of the strangest of them all.
1. In the 19thcentury, the famous writer, Edgar Allan Poe, wrote a book called The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. It was about four survivors of a shipwreck who were in an open boat for many days before three of them decided to kill and eat the cabin boy whose name was Richard Parker. Some years later, in 1884, the boat Mignonette sank, and only four survivors were left in an open boat for many days. Finally the three older members killed and ate the cabin boy. The name of the cabin boy was Richard Parker.
2. In Monza, Italy, King Umberto I went to a small restaurant for dinner. When the owner took King Umberto I's order, the King noticed that he and the restaurant owner were doubles, in face and in build. Both men began discussing the resemblance between each other and found many more similarities. Both men were born in the same place, on the same day, of the same year (March 14, 1844, Turin, Italy). On the day that the King married Queen Margherita, the restaurant owner had married a lady named Margherita. The restaurant owner opened his restaurant on the same day that King Umberto I was crowned King of Italy. On July 29, 1900, King Umberto I was informed that the restaurant owner had died that day in a shooting accident, and as he expressed his regret, someone in the crowd killed him!
3. Mark Twain was a popular American author who wrote famous books such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain was born on the day of the appearance of Halley's Comet in 1835, and died on the day of its next appearance in 1910. He himself predicted this in 1909, when he said: "I came in with Halley's Comet in1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it."
|
[
"the boat was named Mignonette",
"the ship sank after the cabin boy's death",
"three people in all eventually survived the shipwreck",
"Richard Parker was unfriendly to the other survivors"
] |
Which can be the best title for the passage?
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
These days haze is around us here and there. In fact,everyone has the power to change their living habits to help reduce it. Many local governments call on their people to take action to make the air cleaner.
Transport is one of the biggest contributors to haze. When,where,how,why and what you drive all affect air quality. When one drives to work for one year,he uses as much energy as a bus rider uses in 10 years. So walk or ride your bicycle to work or school whenever possible. If it is necessary,you can use public transport instead of your car. Each person using public transport for a year instead of a car can save nearly a tonne of pollutants,including CO2,from going into the atmosphere.
Carpooling is another way to reduce carbon emissions .Carpooling is the sharing of car journeys so that more than one person travels in a car. It immediately reduces your car's emissions by half.
What you do inside your living space can have a big effect on the air quality outside it. You can do a lot of things inside and around your home that will help you pollute less and save some money.
A large amount of our energy supply comes from burning coal,another contributor to haze. By cutting down your electricity use,you are cutting down on haze. So you may try to reduce your use of electricity by turning off lights,using your air conditioner wisely during the summer months,or updating some of your electrical appliances to low-energy models. For example,you can use energy-saving lamps that require less energy and last 10 times longer than common bulbs.
Question:
Which can be the best title for the passage?
Choices:
A. What are causing haze around us
B. What you can do to reduce haze
C. How dangerous haze is to our life
D. How important it is to reduce haze
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle3404.txt
|
These days haze is around us here and there. In fact,everyone has the power to change their living habits to help reduce it. Many local governments call on their people to take action to make the air cleaner.
Transport is one of the biggest contributors to haze. When,where,how,why and what you drive all affect air quality. When one drives to work for one year,he uses as much energy as a bus rider uses in 10 years. So walk or ride your bicycle to work or school whenever possible. If it is necessary,you can use public transport instead of your car. Each person using public transport for a year instead of a car can save nearly a tonne of pollutants,including CO2,from going into the atmosphere.
Carpooling is another way to reduce carbon emissions .Carpooling is the sharing of car journeys so that more than one person travels in a car. It immediately reduces your car's emissions by half.
What you do inside your living space can have a big effect on the air quality outside it. You can do a lot of things inside and around your home that will help you pollute less and save some money.
A large amount of our energy supply comes from burning coal,another contributor to haze. By cutting down your electricity use,you are cutting down on haze. So you may try to reduce your use of electricity by turning off lights,using your air conditioner wisely during the summer months,or updating some of your electrical appliances to low-energy models. For example,you can use energy-saving lamps that require less energy and last 10 times longer than common bulbs.
|
[
"What are causing haze around us",
"What you can do to reduce haze",
"How dangerous haze is to our life",
"How important it is to reduce haze"
] |
A plant gets food from _
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
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.
Question:
A plant gets food from _
Choices:
A. the sun
B. its leaves
C. its roots
D. the air
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle2604.txt
|
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.
|
[
"the sun",
"its leaves",
"its roots",
"the air"
] |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Copenhagen is a city full of fairy tales . If you want to _ it, you have to spend a long time and walk slower to enjoy yourself. Copenhagen was the first city to have a street for walkers only. The city has less traffic noise and pollution than any other European capital.
Walking along the river banks, you'll see the Amalienborg Palace first. The king's family is living there.
Churches and castles show us the original city. Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark in 1445. But fires in 1728 and 1795 completely destroyed the old wooden buildings. Much of what we see today dates back to the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Keep going, and you'll see the Christiansborg Palace. The town of Copenhagen began there. The you'll see Nyhavn ,a waterway, which was dug in 1673. When you see it, you'll understand why Hans Christian Andersen made this beautiful waterway his home. Nyhavn is a peaceful and wonderful place. You'll usually see some rich people walk along here.
If you walk there, you can enjoy the old trees, the colorful lights and the beautiful gardens. You might feel as if you were in a fairy tale.
Question:
What does the passage mainly talk about?
Choices:
A. Preventing fires.
B. Visiting Copenhagen
C. Writing fairy tales
D. Digging a waterway
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle7300.txt
|
Copenhagen is a city full of fairy tales . If you want to _ it, you have to spend a long time and walk slower to enjoy yourself. Copenhagen was the first city to have a street for walkers only. The city has less traffic noise and pollution than any other European capital.
Walking along the river banks, you'll see the Amalienborg Palace first. The king's family is living there.
Churches and castles show us the original city. Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark in 1445. But fires in 1728 and 1795 completely destroyed the old wooden buildings. Much of what we see today dates back to the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Keep going, and you'll see the Christiansborg Palace. The town of Copenhagen began there. The you'll see Nyhavn ,a waterway, which was dug in 1673. When you see it, you'll understand why Hans Christian Andersen made this beautiful waterway his home. Nyhavn is a peaceful and wonderful place. You'll usually see some rich people walk along here.
If you walk there, you can enjoy the old trees, the colorful lights and the beautiful gardens. You might feel as if you were in a fairy tale.
|
[
"Preventing fires.",
"Visiting Copenhagen",
"Writing fairy tales",
"Digging a waterway"
] |
If you're a volunteer in the activities of Deathbed Care, what kind of people do you have to attend to?
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
A girl became a volunteer in the activities of Deathbed Care, which meant visiting and taking care of a patient suffering from an incurable disease with days numbered.
The girl was assigned to look after an old man suffering from cancer whose children lived abroad. Their living conditions were not satisfactory while the old man had a lot of savings. She was expected to comfort him and keep up his spirits.
Every Saturday the girl came on time to keep him company, telling him stories. When he was having an intravenous drip , she would help massage his arms. The doctor found the patient much improved mentally. The old man began to involve himself actively in the medical treatment and he seldom shouted at others.
But something that happened made the doctor uneasy and puzzled. Each time the girl left, the old man would give her some money. The doctor did nothing to interfere , unwilling to offend the old man. A month later the old man showed evident signs of decline after suffering coma a few times.
When rescued from the latest coma, the old man told the doctor his last wish, "I have deep sympathy for the girl. Will you be kind enough to help her finish her studies?"
But the doctor knew that her family was welloff and she had no difficulty pursuing her studies. Sometimes she even came to the hospital in her father's car.
When the girl came at the weekend after the death of the old man, the doctor told her the bad news. She was very sad and burst into tears. Then she handed $ 500 to the doctor, saying, "The old man had all along thought I came to do the job because of poverty. He gave me money so that I could continue my schooling." Now he got the answer to the puzzle. In the last period of his life, the old man found it a real pleasure to be able to help a girl badly in need.
Question:
If you're a volunteer in the activities of Deathbed Care, what kind of people do you have to attend to?
Choices:
A. Patients with a lot of money.
B. Patients suffering from cancer.
C. Patients without many days left.
D. Patients living alone.
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high4169.txt
|
A girl became a volunteer in the activities of Deathbed Care, which meant visiting and taking care of a patient suffering from an incurable disease with days numbered.
The girl was assigned to look after an old man suffering from cancer whose children lived abroad. Their living conditions were not satisfactory while the old man had a lot of savings. She was expected to comfort him and keep up his spirits.
Every Saturday the girl came on time to keep him company, telling him stories. When he was having an intravenous drip , she would help massage his arms. The doctor found the patient much improved mentally. The old man began to involve himself actively in the medical treatment and he seldom shouted at others.
But something that happened made the doctor uneasy and puzzled. Each time the girl left, the old man would give her some money. The doctor did nothing to interfere , unwilling to offend the old man. A month later the old man showed evident signs of decline after suffering coma a few times.
When rescued from the latest coma, the old man told the doctor his last wish, "I have deep sympathy for the girl. Will you be kind enough to help her finish her studies?"
But the doctor knew that her family was welloff and she had no difficulty pursuing her studies. Sometimes she even came to the hospital in her father's car.
When the girl came at the weekend after the death of the old man, the doctor told her the bad news. She was very sad and burst into tears. Then she handed $ 500 to the doctor, saying, "The old man had all along thought I came to do the job because of poverty. He gave me money so that I could continue my schooling." Now he got the answer to the puzzle. In the last period of his life, the old man found it a real pleasure to be able to help a girl badly in need.
|
[
"Patients with a lot of money.",
"Patients suffering from cancer.",
"Patients without many days left.",
"Patients living alone."
] |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Charlie Vansant, a college student of Athens, Ohio who reported that his car was stolen, got a surprise when he learned a woman had mistaken it for her daughter's car and taken it-using her key.
Kate Anderson became an accidental car thief when picking up her daughter's car near an Ohio University building last week. Anderson spotted the Toyota Camry and used her daughter's key to unlock the car, start the engine and drive home-without realizing that the car wasn't her daughter's.
When Charlie Vansant left class a short time later, he found only an empty parking spot. He first assumed the car had been _ , but when the police couldn't find a record of it, they took a theft report.
The morning after Anderson took the car, her daughter discovered the Camry in the driveway wasn't hers. Anderson said she was able to find Vansant's name on paperwork in the glove compartment and look up his phone number on the website for the university.
When Anderson told Charlie the car was in her driveway, "It sounded real suspicious at first, as she wanted to hold the thing for ransom ," said Vansant. He eventually went to the house with a police officer, where he was reunited with his car. According to the police report, the case was closed "because of mistaken car identity", Anderson wasn't charged.
Vansant seemed to blame the car company more than the "thief". "Her key fit not only my lock, but my ignition as well - so high-five for Toyota. I guess." he said.
Question:
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
Choices:
A. Mrs. Anderson's daughter discovered the car her mother drove was not hers.
B. Mrs. Anderson stole Charlie's car at the request of her daughter.
C. Charlie had thought he had to give Anderson money to get his car back.
D. Mrs. Anderson used her daughter's key to unlock Charlie's car and drive home.
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high7214.txt
|
Charlie Vansant, a college student of Athens, Ohio who reported that his car was stolen, got a surprise when he learned a woman had mistaken it for her daughter's car and taken it-using her key.
Kate Anderson became an accidental car thief when picking up her daughter's car near an Ohio University building last week. Anderson spotted the Toyota Camry and used her daughter's key to unlock the car, start the engine and drive home-without realizing that the car wasn't her daughter's.
When Charlie Vansant left class a short time later, he found only an empty parking spot. He first assumed the car had been _ , but when the police couldn't find a record of it, they took a theft report.
The morning after Anderson took the car, her daughter discovered the Camry in the driveway wasn't hers. Anderson said she was able to find Vansant's name on paperwork in the glove compartment and look up his phone number on the website for the university.
When Anderson told Charlie the car was in her driveway, "It sounded real suspicious at first, as she wanted to hold the thing for ransom ," said Vansant. He eventually went to the house with a police officer, where he was reunited with his car. According to the police report, the case was closed "because of mistaken car identity", Anderson wasn't charged.
Vansant seemed to blame the car company more than the "thief". "Her key fit not only my lock, but my ignition as well - so high-five for Toyota. I guess." he said.
|
[
"Mrs. Anderson's daughter discovered the car her mother drove was not hers.",
"Mrs. Anderson stole Charlie's car at the request of her daughter.",
"Charlie had thought he had to give Anderson money to get his car back.",
"Mrs. Anderson used her daughter's key to unlock Charlie's car and drive home."
] |
Before looking for crabs, Charlie put _ .
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Charlie was spending his summer holidays by the sea. One day he climbed over some rocks. He was looking for some crabs for supper. He took off his shorts and put them on a rock.
The afternoon went quickly. Time was flying by. Look! The sea was coming in fast. It was over some of the rocks now.
Charlie looked up. "It's getting late. Oh dear! Look at the sea. Where are my shorts now?" he thought. He saw them on a rock.
Oh dear! The rock was an island! Now he must swim and got them.
Charlie jumped into the sea and started swimming. He reached the rock and put his shorts on his head. Then he started swimming back. Oh no! The sea was too strong for Charlie. It was pulling him away from the beach.
"Help!" he called. "I can't get back. "
Luckily, a boat was coming by. The people in the boat saw Charlie and heard his call for help.
"Are you all right?" asked the woman in the boat.
"No! I can't swim back. The sea is too strong. "
The woman stopped the boat and she and a girl pulled Charlie into the boat. He threw his shorts into the boat too. Then they turned the boat Bound and took Charlie back to the beach.
"That was lucky," said the woman.
"Thank you very much," said Charlie.
"Be careful next time," said the woman. "The sea is usually very strong near these rocks. "
"Next time, I'm going to keep my shorts in my bag," said Charlie. "Better safe than sorry!"
Question:
Before looking for crabs, Charlie put _ .
Choices:
A. his shirts in a bag
B. his shoes on a rock
C. his shorts in a bag
D. his shorts on a rock
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high187.txt
|
Charlie was spending his summer holidays by the sea. One day he climbed over some rocks. He was looking for some crabs for supper. He took off his shorts and put them on a rock.
The afternoon went quickly. Time was flying by. Look! The sea was coming in fast. It was over some of the rocks now.
Charlie looked up. "It's getting late. Oh dear! Look at the sea. Where are my shorts now?" he thought. He saw them on a rock.
Oh dear! The rock was an island! Now he must swim and got them.
Charlie jumped into the sea and started swimming. He reached the rock and put his shorts on his head. Then he started swimming back. Oh no! The sea was too strong for Charlie. It was pulling him away from the beach.
"Help!" he called. "I can't get back. "
Luckily, a boat was coming by. The people in the boat saw Charlie and heard his call for help.
"Are you all right?" asked the woman in the boat.
"No! I can't swim back. The sea is too strong. "
The woman stopped the boat and she and a girl pulled Charlie into the boat. He threw his shorts into the boat too. Then they turned the boat Bound and took Charlie back to the beach.
"That was lucky," said the woman.
"Thank you very much," said Charlie.
"Be careful next time," said the woman. "The sea is usually very strong near these rocks. "
"Next time, I'm going to keep my shorts in my bag," said Charlie. "Better safe than sorry!"
|
[
"his shirts in a bag",
"his shoes on a rock",
"his shorts in a bag",
"his shorts on a rock"
] |
Which of the following might be the effect that movie adaptations have on modern-day students?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
As more and more books become movie adaptations , I can't help but think how this will affect English classes in America. Thinking back to my years in middle and high school -- ten years ago, I would be rewarded if I had read a number of classics. Today, a majority of those books are now also movies Life of Pi, The Great Gatsby, Much Ado About Nothing and Anna Karenina, to name a few.
Even modern books such as The Hunger Games and Harry Potter have been adapted for the big screen. In discussion with my students, I often hear them say they are not going to read books because movies will come out soon, which makes me wonder what effect movie adaptations have on modern-day students. Will the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) encourage them to read books more carefully or to use movies to improve their understanding of the text?
The CCSS requires students to provide text-based evidence when reading and discussing a book. By focusing on such evidence, teachers can pull specific details from a book that may have not made the final cut when the book was adapted for the big screen. For instance, after reading and watching The Hunger Games, there were a number of details from the book that were missing from the film -- many people were disappointed with Rue's meek movie role. A student who failed to read The Hunger Games would not quite understand Rue's impact on the games in the same way as someone who had read the book and remembered all the details that went into her death.
I am not saying the CCSS will stop students from cutting corners, but I believe if teachers use the support the CCSS provides, it can be a great roadway to ensure all students are digging deep into texts and not just hitting the play button.
Question:
Which of the following might be the effect that movie adaptations have on modern-day students?
Choices:
A. They spend less time in studying.
B. They can't understand English texts.
C. They discuss movies more frequently.
D. They spend less time in reading.
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high8341.txt
|
As more and more books become movie adaptations , I can't help but think how this will affect English classes in America. Thinking back to my years in middle and high school -- ten years ago, I would be rewarded if I had read a number of classics. Today, a majority of those books are now also movies Life of Pi, The Great Gatsby, Much Ado About Nothing and Anna Karenina, to name a few.
Even modern books such as The Hunger Games and Harry Potter have been adapted for the big screen. In discussion with my students, I often hear them say they are not going to read books because movies will come out soon, which makes me wonder what effect movie adaptations have on modern-day students. Will the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) encourage them to read books more carefully or to use movies to improve their understanding of the text?
The CCSS requires students to provide text-based evidence when reading and discussing a book. By focusing on such evidence, teachers can pull specific details from a book that may have not made the final cut when the book was adapted for the big screen. For instance, after reading and watching The Hunger Games, there were a number of details from the book that were missing from the film -- many people were disappointed with Rue's meek movie role. A student who failed to read The Hunger Games would not quite understand Rue's impact on the games in the same way as someone who had read the book and remembered all the details that went into her death.
I am not saying the CCSS will stop students from cutting corners, but I believe if teachers use the support the CCSS provides, it can be a great roadway to ensure all students are digging deep into texts and not just hitting the play button.
|
[
"They spend less time in studying.",
"They can't understand English texts.",
"They discuss movies more frequently.",
"They spend less time in reading."
] |
What are teachers not doing through blogs?
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Blogs are being used more and more by teachers. Many Internet services now offer free and easy ways to create personal Web pages.
Through comments on blogs, or Web logs, teachers can share their classroom experiences. They can exchange ideas and discuss successes and failures. They can debate educational policies. Or they can just sympathize with each other.
A teacher in the American state of North Carolina recently wrote on her blog: "Apparently the teachers at my school use too much paper. So my principal yelled at everyone at the last staff meeting for, like, ten minutes. Now, I've just been told, we are not getting anymore paper for the rest of the year."
This unidentified blogger is now in her third year of teaching, but still calls her sitefirstyearteacher.blogspot.com.
A blogger who calls himself Minister Lawrence works as a substitute teacher. In April he wrote about a disputed plan to split the Omaha, Nebraska, public schools into separate systems for black, Latino and white students. Supporters say minority parents do not have enough power over their children's education.
But Minister Lawrence wrote at teachersparadise.blogspot.com: "I'm afraid that what this says' to a lot of people is that blacks, whites and Hispanics are not equal, and "reinforces" racist beliefs among people."
Educators did not become involved with blogging right away. Many were concerned with privacy issues and security. But now, thousands of teacher blogs can be found on the Internet. Many teachers do not identify themselves, and they change the names of students and co-workers.
Question:
What are teachers not doing through blogs?
Choices:
A. They discuss educational problem.
B. They send money to the poor students.
C. They share teaching ideas.
D. They comfort each other.
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high11123.txt
|
Blogs are being used more and more by teachers. Many Internet services now offer free and easy ways to create personal Web pages.
Through comments on blogs, or Web logs, teachers can share their classroom experiences. They can exchange ideas and discuss successes and failures. They can debate educational policies. Or they can just sympathize with each other.
A teacher in the American state of North Carolina recently wrote on her blog: "Apparently the teachers at my school use too much paper. So my principal yelled at everyone at the last staff meeting for, like, ten minutes. Now, I've just been told, we are not getting anymore paper for the rest of the year."
This unidentified blogger is now in her third year of teaching, but still calls her sitefirstyearteacher.blogspot.com.
A blogger who calls himself Minister Lawrence works as a substitute teacher. In April he wrote about a disputed plan to split the Omaha, Nebraska, public schools into separate systems for black, Latino and white students. Supporters say minority parents do not have enough power over their children's education.
But Minister Lawrence wrote at teachersparadise.blogspot.com: "I'm afraid that what this says' to a lot of people is that blacks, whites and Hispanics are not equal, and "reinforces" racist beliefs among people."
Educators did not become involved with blogging right away. Many were concerned with privacy issues and security. But now, thousands of teacher blogs can be found on the Internet. Many teachers do not identify themselves, and they change the names of students and co-workers.
|
[
"They discuss educational problem.",
"They send money to the poor students.",
"They share teaching ideas.",
"They comfort each other."
] |
From the passage we learn that _ .
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Commander-in-chief of China's manned space program Chang Wanquan announced Thursday night that the launch of Tiangong-1 space lab module is successful.
China's first space lab module Tiangong-1 blasted off at 9:16 p.m. Beijing Time (1316 GMT) Thursday from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest desert area.
The unmanned module, carried by Long March-2FT1 rocket, will test space docking with a spacecraft later this year, _ the way for China to become the third country in the world to operate a permanent space station around 2020.
The Tiangong-1 will orbit the Earth for about one month to await Shenzhou-8 unmanned spacecraft. Once the two vehicles successfully rendezvous , they will conduct the first space docking at a height of 340 kilometers above Earth surface.
After two docking tests, Tiangong-1 will await Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 in the next two years, according to a plan of China's manned space program.
The 8.5-tonne Tiangong-1, with a length of 10.4 meters and maximum diameter of 3.35 meters, provides a room of 15 cubic meters for two to three astronauts to live and work.
Zhang Shancong, deputy chief designer of the Tiangong-1, told Xinhua that the module carries special cameras which will take hyperspectral images of China's vast farmlands to detect heavy metal pollution and pesticide residue as well as plant disease.
Moreover, scientists on the ground will also conduct experiments on photonic crystal , a new material expected to revolutionize information technology, in the low-gravity environment inside the Tiangong-1 as these experiments would be extremely difficult to conduct on Earth's surface.
"China is clearly becoming a global power and its investments in areas like technology and space exploration reflect this," said Peter Singer, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Brookings Institution.
"It is a natural result of the growth in political and economic power and is to be expected," said Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's manned space program, "China will turn its future space station into an international platform for space research and application. A space station could provide a low-gravity environment for research on geography, astronomy and bio-technology, which will bring unimaginably greater achievements than those conducted on Earth's surface. " "The Chinese nation has pursued peace since ancient times," Zhou also said, "China's ultimate intention with the space program is to explore space resources and make use of them for mankind's well-being."
Question:
From the passage we learn that _ .
Choices:
A. China has become the third country in the world to operate a permanent space station.
B. Tiangong-1 will orbit the Earth for two years to await Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 unmanned spacecraft after a docking test.
C. The experiments inside the Tiangong-1 would be extremely difficult to conduct on the Earth.
D. A space station could provide a high-gravity environment for research on geography, astronomy and bio-technology
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high7617.txt
|
BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Commander-in-chief of China's manned space program Chang Wanquan announced Thursday night that the launch of Tiangong-1 space lab module is successful.
China's first space lab module Tiangong-1 blasted off at 9:16 p.m. Beijing Time (1316 GMT) Thursday from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest desert area.
The unmanned module, carried by Long March-2FT1 rocket, will test space docking with a spacecraft later this year, _ the way for China to become the third country in the world to operate a permanent space station around 2020.
The Tiangong-1 will orbit the Earth for about one month to await Shenzhou-8 unmanned spacecraft. Once the two vehicles successfully rendezvous , they will conduct the first space docking at a height of 340 kilometers above Earth surface.
After two docking tests, Tiangong-1 will await Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 in the next two years, according to a plan of China's manned space program.
The 8.5-tonne Tiangong-1, with a length of 10.4 meters and maximum diameter of 3.35 meters, provides a room of 15 cubic meters for two to three astronauts to live and work.
Zhang Shancong, deputy chief designer of the Tiangong-1, told Xinhua that the module carries special cameras which will take hyperspectral images of China's vast farmlands to detect heavy metal pollution and pesticide residue as well as plant disease.
Moreover, scientists on the ground will also conduct experiments on photonic crystal , a new material expected to revolutionize information technology, in the low-gravity environment inside the Tiangong-1 as these experiments would be extremely difficult to conduct on Earth's surface.
"China is clearly becoming a global power and its investments in areas like technology and space exploration reflect this," said Peter Singer, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Brookings Institution.
"It is a natural result of the growth in political and economic power and is to be expected," said Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's manned space program, "China will turn its future space station into an international platform for space research and application. A space station could provide a low-gravity environment for research on geography, astronomy and bio-technology, which will bring unimaginably greater achievements than those conducted on Earth's surface. " "The Chinese nation has pursued peace since ancient times," Zhou also said, "China's ultimate intention with the space program is to explore space resources and make use of them for mankind's well-being."
|
[
"China has become the third country in the world to operate a permanent space station.",
"Tiangong-1 will orbit the Earth for two years to await Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 unmanned spacecraft after a docking test.",
"The experiments inside the Tiangong-1 would be extremely difficult to conduct on the Earth.",
"A space station could provide a high-gravity environment for research on geography, astronomy and bio-technology"
] |
Which of the following words can best describe the ending of the story?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Recently, we were given the opportunity to review a book written by a young author. When we received it, I noted how beautifully done it was. While often the case---we see beautifully written and illustrated books all the time---but how often do they come from a 10-year-old? Sewing a Friendship, written by a creative and talented young girl named Natalie Tinti, is such a book.
Developing friendships is an area that Natalie Tinti has researched in her own life. In her book, Sewing a Friendship, she tells what great things can happen if kids take a step toward friendship.
Tinti's characters in Sewing a Friendship have colorful and creative personalities. Jonsy Jipsy loves singing and belly dance. Sokron Blossom lives in a neat and tidy world and loves to read fashion magazines. Meeka likes brain games and Nina is happy with her life and the music it brings her.
All but one of the characters seems happy with their lives. One of the girls, Kiki Shaver, was sad to live in a small home with her aunt and uncle. She had no friend and didn't know how to make them. When four girls invites her into the circle of their friendship, it's no wonder that Kiki is hesitant and uneasy.
The story continues as the four girls invite and accept a " not so likeable" girl into their circle to win a fashion show. The girls feel a strong bond of friendship after the show. Kiki then understands that taking a step towards friendship is better than being alone. All the girls learn that by having the courage to include others, you can " sew a friendship".
Today, it seems that almost every news headline begins with a child's suicide---or murder---because of being bullied ,not having friends or family to discuss issues with and feelings of low self -respect. What's causing these senseless terrible events? If more kids would invite the outcasts into their circle of friends, lives would be saved as well as pointed in another direction.
Natalie Tinti finds her voice in Sewing a Friendship ---and shows a talent that's rare for such a young girl. Recommended reading for all young adult fans.
Question:
Which of the following words can best describe the ending of the story?
Choices:
A. Disappointing.
B. Unexpected
C. Uncertain.
D. Satisfying
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high9855.txt
|
Recently, we were given the opportunity to review a book written by a young author. When we received it, I noted how beautifully done it was. While often the case---we see beautifully written and illustrated books all the time---but how often do they come from a 10-year-old? Sewing a Friendship, written by a creative and talented young girl named Natalie Tinti, is such a book.
Developing friendships is an area that Natalie Tinti has researched in her own life. In her book, Sewing a Friendship, she tells what great things can happen if kids take a step toward friendship.
Tinti's characters in Sewing a Friendship have colorful and creative personalities. Jonsy Jipsy loves singing and belly dance. Sokron Blossom lives in a neat and tidy world and loves to read fashion magazines. Meeka likes brain games and Nina is happy with her life and the music it brings her.
All but one of the characters seems happy with their lives. One of the girls, Kiki Shaver, was sad to live in a small home with her aunt and uncle. She had no friend and didn't know how to make them. When four girls invites her into the circle of their friendship, it's no wonder that Kiki is hesitant and uneasy.
The story continues as the four girls invite and accept a " not so likeable" girl into their circle to win a fashion show. The girls feel a strong bond of friendship after the show. Kiki then understands that taking a step towards friendship is better than being alone. All the girls learn that by having the courage to include others, you can " sew a friendship".
Today, it seems that almost every news headline begins with a child's suicide---or murder---because of being bullied ,not having friends or family to discuss issues with and feelings of low self -respect. What's causing these senseless terrible events? If more kids would invite the outcasts into their circle of friends, lives would be saved as well as pointed in another direction.
Natalie Tinti finds her voice in Sewing a Friendship ---and shows a talent that's rare for such a young girl. Recommended reading for all young adult fans.
|
[
"Disappointing.",
"Unexpected",
"Uncertain.",
"Satisfying"
] |
Why were the animals afraid of the lion? Because the lion _ .
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Once there lived a lion in the big mountain.He was very big and strong.He often ate the other animals.Every day he went out to look for food.The small animals in the mountain were all afraid of him.Near the mountain there were four bulls .They are friends, and they often worked and played together.The tiger tried many times to catch them, but he could not do so.Every time he came near, the four bulls stood together to fight him.So he could do nothing to them.
One day, the four bulls had a quarrel .After that each of them went his own way.When the lion saw this, he was happy.He caught one bull and ate him up .Then he caught another.One by one he caught all the four bulls and ate them up.
Question:
Why were the animals afraid of the lion? Because the lion _ .
Choices:
A. didn't love them
B. wanted to eat them
C. wanted to play with them
D. wanted to make friends with them.
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle448.txt
|
Once there lived a lion in the big mountain.He was very big and strong.He often ate the other animals.Every day he went out to look for food.The small animals in the mountain were all afraid of him.Near the mountain there were four bulls .They are friends, and they often worked and played together.The tiger tried many times to catch them, but he could not do so.Every time he came near, the four bulls stood together to fight him.So he could do nothing to them.
One day, the four bulls had a quarrel .After that each of them went his own way.When the lion saw this, he was happy.He caught one bull and ate him up .Then he caught another.One by one he caught all the four bulls and ate them up.
|
[
"didn't love them",
"wanted to eat them",
"wanted to play with them",
"wanted to make friends with them."
] |
What does shaking one's head mean all over the world?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
The idea of what shaking the head means is not always the same in different countries. Maybe some visitors would be surprised when they first come to India. When they talk to an Indian, they would find he would often shake his head. The visitors might think that the Indian doesn't like what they say. But in fact, they would be completely wrong.
Indians always shake their heads when they talk to others. It doesn't mean "No". If someone wants to visit India, he should know this, or he will be in trouble.
One day, a foreign officer went to India on business. He hired a car and asked an Indian to drive him. When he told his driver to take him to his office, the Indian shook his head at once. The officer said again and the driver shook his head again. At last the officer, of course, got angry.
"How dare you refuse my order?" he shouted, "Drive me to my office at once!"
The driver answered in quite a loud voice, too. "Yes, sir!" But to the officer's surprise, the driver shook his head at the same time.
The car started and the foreign officer was now too surprised to say a word. He thought about it for a while, and then he nodded with a smile, "'No' means 'Yes' here!"
Question:
What does shaking one's head mean all over the world?
Choices:
A. Yes.
B. No.
C. Glad.
D. Yes or No.
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
middle3048.txt
|
The idea of what shaking the head means is not always the same in different countries. Maybe some visitors would be surprised when they first come to India. When they talk to an Indian, they would find he would often shake his head. The visitors might think that the Indian doesn't like what they say. But in fact, they would be completely wrong.
Indians always shake their heads when they talk to others. It doesn't mean "No". If someone wants to visit India, he should know this, or he will be in trouble.
One day, a foreign officer went to India on business. He hired a car and asked an Indian to drive him. When he told his driver to take him to his office, the Indian shook his head at once. The officer said again and the driver shook his head again. At last the officer, of course, got angry.
"How dare you refuse my order?" he shouted, "Drive me to my office at once!"
The driver answered in quite a loud voice, too. "Yes, sir!" But to the officer's surprise, the driver shook his head at the same time.
The car started and the foreign officer was now too surprised to say a word. He thought about it for a while, and then he nodded with a smile, "'No' means 'Yes' here!"
|
[
"Yes.",
"No.",
"Glad.",
"Yes or No."
] |
The text probably comes from a book about _ .
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Renaissance is a French word. It means "rebirth". It's a strange name for a period of history. What was exactly " reborn" during the Renaissance?
To answer this question, we need to look back at the time of the Roman Empire. At this time Roman artists, scientists and writers influenced by Greek ideas were the world's most advanced. They had become skilled observers of the natural world around them, and had become experts in studying animals, plants, the human body or the stars and planets. They wrote down their ideas about what they saw, and based their theories about the world on their observations.
During the fourth and fifth centuries the Roman Empire slowly broke down. Many of the Romans' art and sculptures were destroyed and some manuscripts were lost as well. But most importantly, some of the ancient attitudes were lost. A questioning approach to the world was replaced by an unquestioning one.
Why did this happen? One reason was to do with the influence of the Christian Church. Through the thousand years following the fall of the Roman Empire, the Church controlled many aspects of life including education and learning. The Church ran all the universities and thought that the aim of a university should be to teach old ideas more clearly, not to introduce new ones. The scholars in the universities were expected to study God and heaven from the Bible and ancient books, rather than the world around them.
Take medicine for example. The main textbook for doctors had been written by a Greek doctor called Galen more than a thousand years earlier. But when Roger Bacon, a thirteenth-century priest , said that a new approach to medicine was needed --- doctors should do their own original research instead of reading writers from the past such as Galen-the Church put him in prison.
By the time of the fourteenth century, however, some parts of the Christian Church were becoming less strict about their ideas and there was a new state of mind among artists, doctors and scientist. People wanted to find out more about the world by studying it. This attitude of investigation had been common in classical scholars, and it was 'reborn' during the Renaissance.
Question:
The text probably comes from a book about _ .
Choices:
A. medicine
B. education
C. religion
D. history
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high14848.txt
|
Renaissance is a French word. It means "rebirth". It's a strange name for a period of history. What was exactly " reborn" during the Renaissance?
To answer this question, we need to look back at the time of the Roman Empire. At this time Roman artists, scientists and writers influenced by Greek ideas were the world's most advanced. They had become skilled observers of the natural world around them, and had become experts in studying animals, plants, the human body or the stars and planets. They wrote down their ideas about what they saw, and based their theories about the world on their observations.
During the fourth and fifth centuries the Roman Empire slowly broke down. Many of the Romans' art and sculptures were destroyed and some manuscripts were lost as well. But most importantly, some of the ancient attitudes were lost. A questioning approach to the world was replaced by an unquestioning one.
Why did this happen? One reason was to do with the influence of the Christian Church. Through the thousand years following the fall of the Roman Empire, the Church controlled many aspects of life including education and learning. The Church ran all the universities and thought that the aim of a university should be to teach old ideas more clearly, not to introduce new ones. The scholars in the universities were expected to study God and heaven from the Bible and ancient books, rather than the world around them.
Take medicine for example. The main textbook for doctors had been written by a Greek doctor called Galen more than a thousand years earlier. But when Roger Bacon, a thirteenth-century priest , said that a new approach to medicine was needed --- doctors should do their own original research instead of reading writers from the past such as Galen-the Church put him in prison.
By the time of the fourteenth century, however, some parts of the Christian Church were becoming less strict about their ideas and there was a new state of mind among artists, doctors and scientist. People wanted to find out more about the world by studying it. This attitude of investigation had been common in classical scholars, and it was 'reborn' during the Renaissance.
|
[
"medicine",
"education",
"religion",
"history"
] |
What can we infer from the passage ? _ .
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
A machine that takes sweat-laden clothes and turns the moisture into drinking water is in use in Sweden. The device spins and heats the material to remove the sweat, and then passes the vapor through a special membrane designed to only let water molecules get through.
Since its Monday launch, its creators say more than 1,000 people have "drunk others' sweat(h)" in Gothenburg. They add the liquid is cleaner than local tap water.
The device was built for the United Nation's child-focused charity UNICEF to promote a campaign highlighting the fact that 780 million people in the world lack access to clean water.
The machine was designed and built by engineer Andreas Hammar, known locally for his appearances on TV tech show Mekatronik. He said the critical part of the sweat machine was a new water purification component developed by a company named HVR in collaboration with Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology.
"It uses a technique called membrane distillation ," he told the BBC."We use a substance that's a bit like Gortex that only lets steam through but keeps bacteria, salts, clothing fibers and other substances out."They have something similar on the International Space Station to treat astronaut's urine - but our machine was cheaper to build. Volunteers have been sampling the treated sweat since the start of the week in Gothenburg ."The amount of water it produces depends on how sweaty the person is - but one person's T-shirt typically produces 10ml , roughly a mouthful."
The equipment has been put on show at the Gothia Cup - the world's largest international youth football tournament. MattiasRonge, chief executive of Stockholm-based advertising agency Deportivo - which organized the stunt - said the machine had helped raise awareness for UNICEF, but in reality had its limitations.
"People haven't produced as much sweat as we hoped - right now the weather in Gothenburg is lousy," he said."So we've installed exercise bikes alongside the machine and volunteers are cycling like crazy."Even so, the demand for sweat is greater than the supply. And the machine will never be mass produced - there are better solutions out there such as water purifying pills."
Question:
What can we infer from the passage ? _ .
Choices:
A. The water processed by the machine is cleaner than local tap water .
B. The machine can help raise awareness of lacking water in the world .
C. The machine is cheaper than the similar one on the International Space Station
D. The amount of water the machine produces is roughly a mouthful.
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high12858.txt
|
A machine that takes sweat-laden clothes and turns the moisture into drinking water is in use in Sweden. The device spins and heats the material to remove the sweat, and then passes the vapor through a special membrane designed to only let water molecules get through.
Since its Monday launch, its creators say more than 1,000 people have "drunk others' sweat(h)" in Gothenburg. They add the liquid is cleaner than local tap water.
The device was built for the United Nation's child-focused charity UNICEF to promote a campaign highlighting the fact that 780 million people in the world lack access to clean water.
The machine was designed and built by engineer Andreas Hammar, known locally for his appearances on TV tech show Mekatronik. He said the critical part of the sweat machine was a new water purification component developed by a company named HVR in collaboration with Sweden's Royal Institute of Technology.
"It uses a technique called membrane distillation ," he told the BBC."We use a substance that's a bit like Gortex that only lets steam through but keeps bacteria, salts, clothing fibers and other substances out."They have something similar on the International Space Station to treat astronaut's urine - but our machine was cheaper to build. Volunteers have been sampling the treated sweat since the start of the week in Gothenburg ."The amount of water it produces depends on how sweaty the person is - but one person's T-shirt typically produces 10ml , roughly a mouthful."
The equipment has been put on show at the Gothia Cup - the world's largest international youth football tournament. MattiasRonge, chief executive of Stockholm-based advertising agency Deportivo - which organized the stunt - said the machine had helped raise awareness for UNICEF, but in reality had its limitations.
"People haven't produced as much sweat as we hoped - right now the weather in Gothenburg is lousy," he said."So we've installed exercise bikes alongside the machine and volunteers are cycling like crazy."Even so, the demand for sweat is greater than the supply. And the machine will never be mass produced - there are better solutions out there such as water purifying pills."
|
[
"The water processed by the machine is cleaner than local tap water .",
"The machine can help raise awareness of lacking water in the world .",
"The machine is cheaper than the similar one on the International Space Station",
"The amount of water the machine produces is roughly a mouthful."
] |
What effects do computers have on family life?
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
A home computer not only helps children master the old ways of learning, but also opens up possibilities that simply aren't available in traditional education. Some software, for example, allows kids to make decisions and see the results in different situations. The World Wide Web encourages young minds to move easily from link to link, topic to topic. The best software draws children into learning by making them curious--what if I click on this picture, drag this over here, visit that website?
Knowing how to use a computer also encourages a child's confidence. Kids figure out quickly that computers are powerful, and mastering the machine makes them feel grown-up. In turn, feeling confident on a computer often translates to academic confidence. Researchers have found that attitudes toward writing, for example, improve when students write on a computer.
Perhaps most importantly, computers can enrich family life. Forget the idea that computer kids are separated. Children like to use the computer with adults and other kids, asking questions and comparing results. "The Internet is a unique opportunity to bring resources home, "notes Susan Haugland, PhD, Cape Girardeau, Mo. , author of Computer and Young Children:A World of Discovery.
Although the benefits of computers are real, they have disadvantages, too. Kids can lose their way, wasting hours on mindless software of violent games. Just as parents have always helped children make good choices about everything from friends to food, books to TV, now we must make sure they get the best out of computers.
Question:
What effects do computers have on family life?
Choices:
A. They reduce the connection between family members.
B. They destroy the relationship between parents and kids.
C. They provide more opportunities of communication.
D. They make all the family members study together.
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high10475.txt
|
A home computer not only helps children master the old ways of learning, but also opens up possibilities that simply aren't available in traditional education. Some software, for example, allows kids to make decisions and see the results in different situations. The World Wide Web encourages young minds to move easily from link to link, topic to topic. The best software draws children into learning by making them curious--what if I click on this picture, drag this over here, visit that website?
Knowing how to use a computer also encourages a child's confidence. Kids figure out quickly that computers are powerful, and mastering the machine makes them feel grown-up. In turn, feeling confident on a computer often translates to academic confidence. Researchers have found that attitudes toward writing, for example, improve when students write on a computer.
Perhaps most importantly, computers can enrich family life. Forget the idea that computer kids are separated. Children like to use the computer with adults and other kids, asking questions and comparing results. "The Internet is a unique opportunity to bring resources home, "notes Susan Haugland, PhD, Cape Girardeau, Mo. , author of Computer and Young Children:A World of Discovery.
Although the benefits of computers are real, they have disadvantages, too. Kids can lose their way, wasting hours on mindless software of violent games. Just as parents have always helped children make good choices about everything from friends to food, books to TV, now we must make sure they get the best out of computers.
|
[
"They reduce the connection between family members.",
"They destroy the relationship between parents and kids.",
"They provide more opportunities of communication.",
"They make all the family members study together."
] |
Children with a stutter at school _ .
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
A new Australian research indicates that children with a stutter do not suffer disadvantages at school, More than ten percent of children have a stutter by the age of four but they score just as high as other children on tests designed to judge their language, thinking skills and character.
Professor Reilly's team studied over 1600 children from Melbourne, Australia. Their mothers had been filling out regular questionnaires since their babies were eight months old and the children were judged by a range of language and behaviour tests when they reached the age of four. Reilly and her colleagues asked the parents to call the study group if their children started showing signs of stuttering. Diagnoses were confirmed by a researcher, who then visited the homes of children with a stutter every month to check on their progress.
By the age of four, 181 of the children studied had been diagnosed with a stutter. Follow-up visits to the 181 children who were judged after diagnoses showed just nine no longer had a stutter one year later. Stuttering children scored 5. 5 points higher than that of their non-stuttering children on language tests and 2. 6 points higher on the test of non-verbal intelligence. The researchers said it was possible that stuttering could improve language skills, or that stuttering could result from very fast language development among some children.
The research suggests parents of children who stutter are usually advised to wait a year before looking for treatment --which can be expensive -- to see if the stutter goes away by itself, unless the children become very unhappy or stop talking.
Question:
Children with a stutter at school _ .
Choices:
A. are poor in their lessons
B. have normal language skills
C. work much harder than others
D. are looked down upon by others
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high9928.txt
|
A new Australian research indicates that children with a stutter do not suffer disadvantages at school, More than ten percent of children have a stutter by the age of four but they score just as high as other children on tests designed to judge their language, thinking skills and character.
Professor Reilly's team studied over 1600 children from Melbourne, Australia. Their mothers had been filling out regular questionnaires since their babies were eight months old and the children were judged by a range of language and behaviour tests when they reached the age of four. Reilly and her colleagues asked the parents to call the study group if their children started showing signs of stuttering. Diagnoses were confirmed by a researcher, who then visited the homes of children with a stutter every month to check on their progress.
By the age of four, 181 of the children studied had been diagnosed with a stutter. Follow-up visits to the 181 children who were judged after diagnoses showed just nine no longer had a stutter one year later. Stuttering children scored 5. 5 points higher than that of their non-stuttering children on language tests and 2. 6 points higher on the test of non-verbal intelligence. The researchers said it was possible that stuttering could improve language skills, or that stuttering could result from very fast language development among some children.
The research suggests parents of children who stutter are usually advised to wait a year before looking for treatment --which can be expensive -- to see if the stutter goes away by itself, unless the children become very unhappy or stop talking.
|
[
"are poor in their lessons",
"have normal language skills",
"work much harder than others",
"are looked down upon by others"
] |
Brittany got a 78 on her first test. After her second test, her average rose to an 81. What grade did she get on her second test?
|
First multiply her average grade by the number of tests she took to find the total number of points she scored: 81 points * 2 = <<81*2=162>>162 points
Then subtract the number of points she scored on her first exam to find how many points she scored on her second exam: 162 points - 78 points = <<162-78=84>>84 points
#### 84
|
Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step.
|
Brittany got a 78 on her first test. After her second test, her average rose to an 81. What grade did she get on her second test?
|
First multiply her average grade by the number of tests she took to find the total number of points she scored: 81 points * 2 = <<81*2=162>>162 points
Then subtract the number of points she scored on her first exam to find how many points she scored on her second exam: 162 points - 78 points = <<162-78=84>>84 points
#### 84
|
math
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
What does the author mainly want to express by telling her story?
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
July 21st. 2007 was a typical English summer's day--it rained for 24 hours! As usual, I rushed home from work at midday to check on the house. Nothing was _ . By the time I left work at 5p.m., however, the road into our village was flooded. Our house had never been flooded but, as I opened the front door, a wave of waters greeted me. Thank God! The kids weren't with me, because the house was 5 feet deep in water. We lost everything downstairs. And the plaster had to be torn off the wall's ceilings pulled down.
At first we tried to push on through. We didn't want to move the children out of home. So we camped upstairs. We put a sheet of plastic across the floor to protect us from the damp. But after three months, we felt very sick, so we move to a wooden house in a park. The house was small, but at first we were all just delighted to be in a new place. Unfortunately, things took longer than expected and we were there for 10 months. The life there was inconvenient. What surprised me most was how much I missed being part of a community . We had lived in a friendly village with good neighbors, and I'd never thought how much I'd miss that.
Although our situation was very bad, it's difficult to feel too sorry for yourself when you look at what's happening elsewhere. I watched a news report about floods in Northern India and thought. "We didn't have a straw hut that was for Christmas. But I can't wait--I'm going to throw a party for our friends in the village to say thanks for their support. This year, I won't need any gifts--living away from home for months has made me realize how little we actually need or miss all our possessions. Although we are replacing things, there's really no rush--we have our home back. And that's the main thing.
Question:
What does the author mainly want to express by telling her story?
Choices:
A. She realized she needed no more possession.
B. She valued human feelings more than before.
C. She found Christmas gifts no longer badly needed.
D. She thought her own home was the most important of all.
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high7966.txt
|
July 21st. 2007 was a typical English summer's day--it rained for 24 hours! As usual, I rushed home from work at midday to check on the house. Nothing was _ . By the time I left work at 5p.m., however, the road into our village was flooded. Our house had never been flooded but, as I opened the front door, a wave of waters greeted me. Thank God! The kids weren't with me, because the house was 5 feet deep in water. We lost everything downstairs. And the plaster had to be torn off the wall's ceilings pulled down.
At first we tried to push on through. We didn't want to move the children out of home. So we camped upstairs. We put a sheet of plastic across the floor to protect us from the damp. But after three months, we felt very sick, so we move to a wooden house in a park. The house was small, but at first we were all just delighted to be in a new place. Unfortunately, things took longer than expected and we were there for 10 months. The life there was inconvenient. What surprised me most was how much I missed being part of a community . We had lived in a friendly village with good neighbors, and I'd never thought how much I'd miss that.
Although our situation was very bad, it's difficult to feel too sorry for yourself when you look at what's happening elsewhere. I watched a news report about floods in Northern India and thought. "We didn't have a straw hut that was for Christmas. But I can't wait--I'm going to throw a party for our friends in the village to say thanks for their support. This year, I won't need any gifts--living away from home for months has made me realize how little we actually need or miss all our possessions. Although we are replacing things, there's really no rush--we have our home back. And that's the main thing.
|
[
"She realized she needed no more possession.",
"She valued human feelings more than before.",
"She found Christmas gifts no longer badly needed.",
"She thought her own home was the most important of all."
] |
Which of the following is NOT true about Big Ben according to the text?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Big Ben, one of London's best-known landmarks, which is famous for its accuracy and chimes ,stopped ticking for 90 minutes, an engineer said Saturday.
Officials do not know why the 147-year-old clock on the banks of the River Thames stopped at 10:07 p.m. Friday. It continued keeping time, but stopped again at 10:20 p.m. and remained still for about 90 minutes before starting up again, a spokeswoman for the House of Commons said.
A recent period of hot weather may have been to blame. Temperatures in London reached 90 Saturday, and forecasters called it England's hottest day in May in the past fifty three years, since 1953.
Big Ben, which is operated by the Palace of Westminster, survived attack by German Luftwaffe bombers during World WarII,continued to mark the time within11/2 seconds of Greenwich Mean Time.
However, the clock has experienced occasional problems. In 1962, snow caused the clock to ring in the New Year 10 minutes late. In 1976, the clock stopped when a piece of its machinery broke. Big Ben also stopped on April 30, 1997, and once more three weeks later.
Big Ben is actually the clock's 13-ton bell, which was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the British commissioner of works at the time the clock was built. The official name for the Gothic tower holding Big Ben is St. Stephen's Tower. Standing 315 feet tall, it was completed in 1859 after an 1834 fire destroyed most of the Palace of Westminster.
Question:
Which of the following is NOT true about Big Ben according to the text?
Choices:
A. Big Ben was by the name of Sir Benjamin Hall.
B. Big Ben was famous for its accuracy and chimes.
C. Big Ben once made mistakes in telling time.
D. Big Ben was damaged in 1834 in a big fire.
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high21351.txt
|
Big Ben, one of London's best-known landmarks, which is famous for its accuracy and chimes ,stopped ticking for 90 minutes, an engineer said Saturday.
Officials do not know why the 147-year-old clock on the banks of the River Thames stopped at 10:07 p.m. Friday. It continued keeping time, but stopped again at 10:20 p.m. and remained still for about 90 minutes before starting up again, a spokeswoman for the House of Commons said.
A recent period of hot weather may have been to blame. Temperatures in London reached 90 Saturday, and forecasters called it England's hottest day in May in the past fifty three years, since 1953.
Big Ben, which is operated by the Palace of Westminster, survived attack by German Luftwaffe bombers during World WarII,continued to mark the time within11/2 seconds of Greenwich Mean Time.
However, the clock has experienced occasional problems. In 1962, snow caused the clock to ring in the New Year 10 minutes late. In 1976, the clock stopped when a piece of its machinery broke. Big Ben also stopped on April 30, 1997, and once more three weeks later.
Big Ben is actually the clock's 13-ton bell, which was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the British commissioner of works at the time the clock was built. The official name for the Gothic tower holding Big Ben is St. Stephen's Tower. Standing 315 feet tall, it was completed in 1859 after an 1834 fire destroyed most of the Palace of Westminster.
|
[
"Big Ben was by the name of Sir Benjamin Hall.",
"Big Ben was famous for its accuracy and chimes.",
"Big Ben once made mistakes in telling time.",
"Big Ben was damaged in 1834 in a big fire."
] |
Because microorganisms can go through several generations in a matter of hours, their gene expression profiles adapt to the new laboratory environment very quickly. in addition, the vast majority of bacterial species resist being cultured in this?
| null |
Answer the following science question clearly and accurately.
|
Because microorganisms can go through several generations in a matter of hours, their gene expression profiles adapt to the new laboratory environment very quickly. in addition, the vast majority of bacterial species resist being cultured in this?
|
isolation
|
science
| null | null | null |
colonies
|
water
|
substrate
|
isolation
|
Microbial Genomics: Metagenomics Traditionally, microbiology has been taught with the view that microorganisms are best studied under pure culture conditions, which involves isolating a single type of cell and culturing it in the laboratory. Because microorganisms can go through several generations in a matter of hours, their gene expression profiles adapt to the new laboratory environment very quickly. In addition, the vast majority of bacterial species resist being cultured in isolation. Most microorganisms do not live as isolated entities, but in microbial communities known as biofilms. For all of these reasons, pure culture is not always the best way to study microorganisms. Metagenomics is the study of the collective genomes of multiple species.
| null | null | null |
Jason has a carriage house that he rents out. He’s charging $50.00 per day or $500.00 for 14 days. Eric wants to rent the house for 20 days. How much will it cost him?
|
He wants to rent for 20 days and there is a deal if you rent for 14 days so that leaves 20-14 = <<20-14=6>>6 individual days
Each individual day is $50.00 and he will have 6 individual days for a total of 50*6 = $<<50*6=300.00>>300.00
14 days costs $500.00 and 6 days costs $300.00 for a total of 500+300 = $800.00
#### 800
|
Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step.
|
Jason has a carriage house that he rents out. He’s charging $50.00 per day or $500.00 for 14 days. Eric wants to rent the house for 20 days. How much will it cost him?
|
He wants to rent for 20 days and there is a deal if you rent for 14 days so that leaves 20-14 = <<20-14=6>>6 individual days
Each individual day is $50.00 and he will have 6 individual days for a total of 50*6 = $<<50*6=300.00>>300.00
14 days costs $500.00 and 6 days costs $300.00 for a total of 500+300 = $800.00
#### 800
|
math
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
What is the text mainly about?
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Many pets got separated from their families almost two years ago, when Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast. A New Jersey family was one of them. They lost their dog. He got away from their backyard during the storm.
Chuck James said that his family searched for the brown-and-white dog named Reckless for months after the October 2012 storm. Reckless was a cute dog which brought much pleasure to the whole family, and the youngest daughter Tiffany loved him most. They played together, watched TV together, ate popcorn together and Reckless even saw Tiffany off when she headed for the kindergarten every morning. Chuck James kept searching for the lovely dog in every possible way, but no luck
"We reported him missing and called the shelters from time to time, just hoping they had him," James said. "We always kept our hopes up, but finally it was time to move on."
James said the family had planned to get a new dog. The dog was to be a tenth birthday surprise for their eldest daughter, Ally. The family of five went to the Monmouth County SPCA( Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to adopt a new animal. When James and his wife walked close to the first cage, they saw a familiar face inside.
"He was a little bigger than I remembered because they had fed him well," James joked. "But then he was lying on my wife's feet and I knew it was him. It was unbelievable. I know this dog is meant to be with our family."
When SPCA officials asked if they could prove the animal was their dog, a friend sent a _ showing the family, with their dog before Sandy hit the East Coast.
"We're all so happy to have him back." James said. The family is living in hotel while their home is being repaired. This weekend, the James went on camping trip with Reckless to celebrate the dog's return
Question:
What is the text mainly about?
Choices:
A. A dog got separated from his family in a storm.
B. A lost dog found his way home with difficulty.
C. A family looked for a new dog but found the old one instead.
D. Dogs are always devoted friends of human beings.
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high9819.txt
|
Many pets got separated from their families almost two years ago, when Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast. A New Jersey family was one of them. They lost their dog. He got away from their backyard during the storm.
Chuck James said that his family searched for the brown-and-white dog named Reckless for months after the October 2012 storm. Reckless was a cute dog which brought much pleasure to the whole family, and the youngest daughter Tiffany loved him most. They played together, watched TV together, ate popcorn together and Reckless even saw Tiffany off when she headed for the kindergarten every morning. Chuck James kept searching for the lovely dog in every possible way, but no luck
"We reported him missing and called the shelters from time to time, just hoping they had him," James said. "We always kept our hopes up, but finally it was time to move on."
James said the family had planned to get a new dog. The dog was to be a tenth birthday surprise for their eldest daughter, Ally. The family of five went to the Monmouth County SPCA( Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to adopt a new animal. When James and his wife walked close to the first cage, they saw a familiar face inside.
"He was a little bigger than I remembered because they had fed him well," James joked. "But then he was lying on my wife's feet and I knew it was him. It was unbelievable. I know this dog is meant to be with our family."
When SPCA officials asked if they could prove the animal was their dog, a friend sent a _ showing the family, with their dog before Sandy hit the East Coast.
"We're all so happy to have him back." James said. The family is living in hotel while their home is being repaired. This weekend, the James went on camping trip with Reckless to celebrate the dog's return
|
[
"A dog got separated from his family in a storm.",
"A lost dog found his way home with difficulty.",
"A family looked for a new dog but found the old one instead.",
"Dogs are always devoted friends of human beings."
] |
It can be inferred that John Hersey _ .
|
B
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
The Cat in the Hat takes place on a cold, wet day with two kids awaiting their mother's return. Instead of their mother, a strange cat enters the house. He begins balancing a fish bowl on the tip of his umbrella while balancing himself on a beach ball! The two kids and their pet fish worry and worry. But readers around the world laughed and laughed over the Cat and the Hat.
Theodore Seuss Geisel, known to fans as Dr. Seuss, wrote the book. It was first published in 1957. Geisel liked to have fun and make people laugh, but he had a serious reason for writing the book. In 1954, a Life magazine article argued that kids couldn't read because the books used to teach them how to read were too boring. John Hersey, the Pulitzer-prize winning author of the article, suggested Geisel write a story that "first graders wouldn't be able to put down".
To write the book, Geisel had to have a good knowledge of a beginning reader's word list. Geisel says that he came up with the title by looking for the first two words on the list that rhymed . And so The Cat in the Hat was born! But it wasn't an easy book to write. It took Geisel one and a half years to complete.
To celebrate The Cat in the Hat's birthday, Random House, the book's publisher, created Project 236. The number 236 represents the number of words Geisel used to write the book. As a part of Project 236, there will be a nationwide read-aloud of The Cat in the Hat at 2:36 on March 2, Dr. Seuss's birthday.
Question:
It can be inferred that John Hersey _ .
Choices:
A. thought his article was too difficult for first graders to read
B. was dissatisfied with children's readings of that time
C. won the Pulitzer-prize because of the book
D. was the editor of the magazine Life
|
Answer: B
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high8846.txt
|
The Cat in the Hat takes place on a cold, wet day with two kids awaiting their mother's return. Instead of their mother, a strange cat enters the house. He begins balancing a fish bowl on the tip of his umbrella while balancing himself on a beach ball! The two kids and their pet fish worry and worry. But readers around the world laughed and laughed over the Cat and the Hat.
Theodore Seuss Geisel, known to fans as Dr. Seuss, wrote the book. It was first published in 1957. Geisel liked to have fun and make people laugh, but he had a serious reason for writing the book. In 1954, a Life magazine article argued that kids couldn't read because the books used to teach them how to read were too boring. John Hersey, the Pulitzer-prize winning author of the article, suggested Geisel write a story that "first graders wouldn't be able to put down".
To write the book, Geisel had to have a good knowledge of a beginning reader's word list. Geisel says that he came up with the title by looking for the first two words on the list that rhymed . And so The Cat in the Hat was born! But it wasn't an easy book to write. It took Geisel one and a half years to complete.
To celebrate The Cat in the Hat's birthday, Random House, the book's publisher, created Project 236. The number 236 represents the number of words Geisel used to write the book. As a part of Project 236, there will be a nationwide read-aloud of The Cat in the Hat at 2:36 on March 2, Dr. Seuss's birthday.
|
[
"thought his article was too difficult for first graders to read",
"was dissatisfied with children's readings of that time",
"won the Pulitzer-prize because of the book",
"was the editor of the magazine Life"
] |
According to the text, we can infer the "child" is in fact _ .
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
Dear mommy and daddy,
I write this letter to you in hopes that you should consider your method of parenting me before I arrive. I am a joyous child. I expect love and respect, order and discipline. When I arrive, I will seem very small to you. Even though I don't look like an adult, please understand that I am a human being.
Even though I will not speak words to you, I will know you with my heart. I will feel all your feelings, absorb your thoughts. I will come to know you more than you may know yourself. Do not be misled by my silence. I am open, growing and learning more rapidly than you can imagine.
I will keep in heart all that I see, so please give me sweet music and language that tells me how much I am loved. Give me silence to rest my ears. I will absorb all that I feel, so please wrap life in love.
I am waiting patiently to be with you. I am so happy to have the opportunity to be alive. Maybe when you see me you will remember how precious life is too!
Your joyous child
Question:
According to the text, we can infer the "child" is in fact _ .
Choices:
A. a lovely boy
B. a joyous child
C. an unborn baby
D. a lovely girl
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high9456.txt
|
Dear mommy and daddy,
I write this letter to you in hopes that you should consider your method of parenting me before I arrive. I am a joyous child. I expect love and respect, order and discipline. When I arrive, I will seem very small to you. Even though I don't look like an adult, please understand that I am a human being.
Even though I will not speak words to you, I will know you with my heart. I will feel all your feelings, absorb your thoughts. I will come to know you more than you may know yourself. Do not be misled by my silence. I am open, growing and learning more rapidly than you can imagine.
I will keep in heart all that I see, so please give me sweet music and language that tells me how much I am loved. Give me silence to rest my ears. I will absorb all that I feel, so please wrap life in love.
I am waiting patiently to be with you. I am so happy to have the opportunity to be alive. Maybe when you see me you will remember how precious life is too!
Your joyous child
|
[
"a lovely boy",
"a joyous child",
"an unborn baby",
"a lovely girl"
] |
Chad is hosting a BBQ on the hottest day of the year, where there will be a total of 15 people. He will need 2 pounds of ice per person to account for the heat. One pound bags of ice are sold for $3.00 for a pack of 10. How much will he spend on ice?
|
He’s inviting 15 guests and will need 2 pounds per person so he will need 15*2 = <<15*2=30>>30 pounds of ice
Ice is sold in 10-pound bags and he needs 30 pounds so he will need 30/10 = <<30/10=3>>3 bags of ice
Each bag is $3.00 and he needs 3 bags so they will cost 3*3 = $<<3*3=9.00>>9.00
#### 9
|
Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step.
|
Chad is hosting a BBQ on the hottest day of the year, where there will be a total of 15 people. He will need 2 pounds of ice per person to account for the heat. One pound bags of ice are sold for $3.00 for a pack of 10. How much will he spend on ice?
|
He’s inviting 15 guests and will need 2 pounds per person so he will need 15*2 = <<15*2=30>>30 pounds of ice
Ice is sold in 10-pound bags and he needs 30 pounds so he will need 30/10 = <<30/10=3>>3 bags of ice
Each bag is $3.00 and he needs 3 bags so they will cost 3*3 = $<<3*3=9.00>>9.00
#### 9
|
math
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Which of the following "weirdest" foods is the one writer hasn't tried?
|
D
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
"Just ate chicken feet for lunch. " These were the words I wrote on my blog yesterday. By the next day there were hundreds of comments from my friends. They ranged from "OH MY GOD! That is so disgusting! " to "What were they like?" to "Why can't you eat sandwiches like everyone else?"
To Chinese people, chicken feet are a normal snack. To my friends in Britain, the thought of eating a chicken's foot is----well, weird . As weird, in fact, as eating a bullfrog, scorpion , snake, or turtle.
But if there are two things I love more than anything else in life, they are: trying new things and food.
I arrived in Beijing five months ago. Since then, I've searched for the "weirdest" foods so I can try them, then treat my friends to some "virtual eating" on my blog.
One weekend, I went to Wangfujing, Beijing's "snack street". The trip gave me tons of blog material.
"I chose a stick with three live, wriggling scorpions on it," I wrote. "And it was pretty good. The scorpion was warm and crispy. The legs did have a tendency to get stuck between one's teeth, however. What's more, I am sure scorpion number two stung me with its tail in revenge ."
Next came snake: "A bit like a cross between fish and chicken, with a slightly rubbery texture and meaty taste."
Some people were actually angry when I ate turtle soup----especially when I posted pictures showing the poor little guy's head staring sadly up at us from the bowl. "I am never speaking to you again," wrote one (former) friend.
Still, I will continue my culinary quest.
Next on my list is starfish, though I feel I should have some vegetables too----algae, maybe.
So what am I eating, tonight, you may ask. Pizza. Well, a girl's gotta have a break sometimes.
Question:
Which of the following "weirdest" foods is the one writer hasn't tried?
Choices:
A. Chicken's feet.
B. Bullfrog.
C. Scorpion.
D. Chicken's head.
|
Answer: D
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high14440.txt
|
"Just ate chicken feet for lunch. " These were the words I wrote on my blog yesterday. By the next day there were hundreds of comments from my friends. They ranged from "OH MY GOD! That is so disgusting! " to "What were they like?" to "Why can't you eat sandwiches like everyone else?"
To Chinese people, chicken feet are a normal snack. To my friends in Britain, the thought of eating a chicken's foot is----well, weird . As weird, in fact, as eating a bullfrog, scorpion , snake, or turtle.
But if there are two things I love more than anything else in life, they are: trying new things and food.
I arrived in Beijing five months ago. Since then, I've searched for the "weirdest" foods so I can try them, then treat my friends to some "virtual eating" on my blog.
One weekend, I went to Wangfujing, Beijing's "snack street". The trip gave me tons of blog material.
"I chose a stick with three live, wriggling scorpions on it," I wrote. "And it was pretty good. The scorpion was warm and crispy. The legs did have a tendency to get stuck between one's teeth, however. What's more, I am sure scorpion number two stung me with its tail in revenge ."
Next came snake: "A bit like a cross between fish and chicken, with a slightly rubbery texture and meaty taste."
Some people were actually angry when I ate turtle soup----especially when I posted pictures showing the poor little guy's head staring sadly up at us from the bowl. "I am never speaking to you again," wrote one (former) friend.
Still, I will continue my culinary quest.
Next on my list is starfish, though I feel I should have some vegetables too----algae, maybe.
So what am I eating, tonight, you may ask. Pizza. Well, a girl's gotta have a break sometimes.
|
[
"Chicken's feet.",
"Bullfrog.",
"Scorpion.",
"Chicken's head."
] |
What may El Ninos bring about to the countries affected?
|
C
|
Read the passage and answer the question.
|
Passage:
El Nifio, a Spanish term for "the Christ child", was named by South American fisherman who noticed that the global weather pattern, which happens every two to seven years, reduced the amount of fishes caught around Christmas. El Nifio sees warm water, collected over several years in the western Pacific, flow back eastwards when winds that normally blow westwards weaken, or sometimes the other way round.
The weather effects both good and bad, are felt in many places. Rich countries gain more from powerful Nifio, on balance, than they lose. A study found that a strong Nifio in 1997 helped American's economy grow by 15 billion, partly because of better agricultural harvest, farmers in the Midwest gained from extra rain. The total rise in agricultural in rich countries in growth than the fall in poor ones.
But in Indonesia extremely dry forests are in flames. A multi-year drought in south-east Brazil is becoming worse. Though heavy rains brought about by El Nino may relieve the drought in California, they are likely to cause surface flooding and other disasters.
The most recent powerful Nino, in 1997-98, killed around 21,000 people and caused damage worth $36 billion around the globe. But such Ninos come with months of warning, and so much is known about how they happen that governments can prepare. According to the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), however, just 12% of disaster-relief funding in the past two decades has gone on reducing risks in advance, rather than recovery and rebuilding afterwards. This is despite evidence that a dollar spent on risk-reduction saves at least two on reconstruction.
Simple improvements to infrastructure can reduce the spread of disease. Better sewers make it less likely that heavy rain is followed by an outbreak of the disease of bad stomach. Stronger bridges mean villages are less likely to be left without food and medicine after floods. According to a paper in 2011 by Mr Hsiang and co-authors, civil conflict is related to El Nino's harmful effects--and the poorer the country, the stronger the link. Though the relationship may not be causal, helping divided communities to prepare for disasters would at least reduce the risk that those disasters are followed by killing and wounding people. Since the poorest are least likely to make up for their losses from disasters linked to El Nino, reducing their losses needs to be the priority.
Question:
What may El Ninos bring about to the countries affected?
Choices:
A. Agricultural harvests in rich countries fall.
B. Droughts become more harmful than floods.
C. Rich countries' gains are greater than their losses.
D. Poor countries suffer less from droughts economically.
|
Answer: C
|
reading
| null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
high13737.txt
|
El Nifio, a Spanish term for "the Christ child", was named by South American fisherman who noticed that the global weather pattern, which happens every two to seven years, reduced the amount of fishes caught around Christmas. El Nifio sees warm water, collected over several years in the western Pacific, flow back eastwards when winds that normally blow westwards weaken, or sometimes the other way round.
The weather effects both good and bad, are felt in many places. Rich countries gain more from powerful Nifio, on balance, than they lose. A study found that a strong Nifio in 1997 helped American's economy grow by 15 billion, partly because of better agricultural harvest, farmers in the Midwest gained from extra rain. The total rise in agricultural in rich countries in growth than the fall in poor ones.
But in Indonesia extremely dry forests are in flames. A multi-year drought in south-east Brazil is becoming worse. Though heavy rains brought about by El Nino may relieve the drought in California, they are likely to cause surface flooding and other disasters.
The most recent powerful Nino, in 1997-98, killed around 21,000 people and caused damage worth $36 billion around the globe. But such Ninos come with months of warning, and so much is known about how they happen that governments can prepare. According to the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), however, just 12% of disaster-relief funding in the past two decades has gone on reducing risks in advance, rather than recovery and rebuilding afterwards. This is despite evidence that a dollar spent on risk-reduction saves at least two on reconstruction.
Simple improvements to infrastructure can reduce the spread of disease. Better sewers make it less likely that heavy rain is followed by an outbreak of the disease of bad stomach. Stronger bridges mean villages are less likely to be left without food and medicine after floods. According to a paper in 2011 by Mr Hsiang and co-authors, civil conflict is related to El Nino's harmful effects--and the poorer the country, the stronger the link. Though the relationship may not be causal, helping divided communities to prepare for disasters would at least reduce the risk that those disasters are followed by killing and wounding people. Since the poorest are least likely to make up for their losses from disasters linked to El Nino, reducing their losses needs to be the priority.
|
[
"Agricultural harvests in rich countries fall.",
"Droughts become more harmful than floods.",
"Rich countries' gains are greater than their losses.",
"Poor countries suffer less from droughts economically."
] |
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