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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Which of the following statements is true? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It was late in a spring afternoon. I was sitting at a fruit stand beside Beihai Lake looking at the shinning ripple , which awoke me to a full sense of life.
A mother and her daughter were sitting opposite to me. The latter, a lovely girl of seven or eight with a pretty, small nose, was occupied with an ice cream. Her mother, holding the child's sweater, was whispering to her.
A sudden breeze blew and the child sneezed. Her mother rapidly put the sweater on her and began to button it up. In her hurry the buttons were wrongly matched, which was unnoticed by her until several had been done. The mother at once unbuttoned the sweater and did it again. Such an unimportant incident, however, did not escape the child's eye. "Ha-ha, mum, see how your mind has wandered!" said the girl with a loud laughter, which brought a bit angry look to the mother's face.
As an onlooker, I imagined a good dressing down for the little girl because of the impolite remark she made. But instead there was only an embarrassing interval of a few seconds. Then I heard the mother's gentle voice: "Yes, it surely has, for my heart has gone out to you!" said the mother, pointing a kind finger at the girl's little chest. The child blinked puzzlingly, hiding her red face in the arms of her mother who hugged her gently. A smile of satisfaction spread over the mother's face.
I was deeply moved by the scene of motherly love. What was the most praiseworthy thing about the mother was her way of treating the child's behavior. Nowadays many people seem to forget that the best way to educate a child is not tolerating or blaming, or even moral lecturing, but tender enlightening with love.
Question:
Which of the following statements is true?
Choices:
A. The child was very naughty.
B. Many people are short of love.
C. The writer was familiar with the mother.
D. The writer can't agree more with the mother's way of educating her child. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high20143.txt | It was late in a spring afternoon. I was sitting at a fruit stand beside Beihai Lake looking at the shinning ripple , which awoke me to a full sense of life.
A mother and her daughter were sitting opposite to me. The latter, a lovely girl of seven or eight with a pretty, small nose, was occupied with an ice cream. Her mother, holding the child's sweater, was whispering to her.
A sudden breeze blew and the child sneezed. Her mother rapidly put the sweater on her and began to button it up. In her hurry the buttons were wrongly matched, which was unnoticed by her until several had been done. The mother at once unbuttoned the sweater and did it again. Such an unimportant incident, however, did not escape the child's eye. "Ha-ha, mum, see how your mind has wandered!" said the girl with a loud laughter, which brought a bit angry look to the mother's face.
As an onlooker, I imagined a good dressing down for the little girl because of the impolite remark she made. But instead there was only an embarrassing interval of a few seconds. Then I heard the mother's gentle voice: "Yes, it surely has, for my heart has gone out to you!" said the mother, pointing a kind finger at the girl's little chest. The child blinked puzzlingly, hiding her red face in the arms of her mother who hugged her gently. A smile of satisfaction spread over the mother's face.
I was deeply moved by the scene of motherly love. What was the most praiseworthy thing about the mother was her way of treating the child's behavior. Nowadays many people seem to forget that the best way to educate a child is not tolerating or blaming, or even moral lecturing, but tender enlightening with love. | [
"The child was very naughty.",
"Many people are short of love.",
"The writer was familiar with the mother.",
"The writer can't agree more with the mother's way of educating her child."
] |
If you do not have good study habits, you must _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
All students need to have good study habits .When you have good study habits, you learn things quickly. You also remember them easily.
Do you like to study in the living room? This is not a good place because it is usually too noisy. You need to study in a quiet place, like your bedroom. A quiet place will help you only think about one thing.
When you study, don't think about other things at the same time. Only think about your homework. If you do this, you will do your homework more quickly and you will make fewer mistakes.
Good study habits are very important. If you do not have them, try to learn them. If you are already good, try to make them better.
Question:
If you do not have good study habits, you must _ .
Choices:
A. try to learn them and have them
B. try to make them better
C. try to make fewer mistakes
D. try to do our homework quickly. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle7994.txt | All students need to have good study habits .When you have good study habits, you learn things quickly. You also remember them easily.
Do you like to study in the living room? This is not a good place because it is usually too noisy. You need to study in a quiet place, like your bedroom. A quiet place will help you only think about one thing.
When you study, don't think about other things at the same time. Only think about your homework. If you do this, you will do your homework more quickly and you will make fewer mistakes.
Good study habits are very important. If you do not have them, try to learn them. If you are already good, try to make them better. | [
"try to learn them and have them",
"try to make them better",
"try to make fewer mistakes",
"try to do our homework quickly."
] |
Rwanda's Mountain Gorilla Project is a good example because _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
If your idea of a good time is to sleep in a hut, carry your own rubbish, and eat insects and wild animals, then ecotourism may be just for you. But is it also for people who want to fly over a rainforest sky before checking into a comfortable and expensive hotel in the middle of a national park? Whatever ecotourism is, it is hot--perhaps too hot for its own good.
The World Tourism Organization claims that the industry looked after 592 million travelers last year who spent $423 billion, and of all the types of tourism, ecotourism seems to be the fastest growing. By the broadest measure -- a trip with some sort of nature or wilderness element -- ecotourism already accounts for perhaps a third of these travelers. On a stricter definition favored by the Ecotourism Society, it is "responsible travel that preserves natural environments and keeps up the well-being of local people," which accounts for no more than 5% of tourism.
Ideally, ecotourism helps both people and nature. Before the disastrous civil war, Rwanda's Mountain Gorilla Project was one such model. Visits to the gorillas were limited, local guides ensured good behavior or on the part of the humans, and the high admission charge - $170 a day -- paid for salaries and presentation of the gorillas' living areas. As this made the gorillas worth more alive than dead, poaching decreased. As another example, preservation Cooperation, Africa's largest ecotour operator, uses only local labor, buys products 5om local farmers, and supports building projects: such as clinics and schools. This contribution to social advance is also good business sense. Projects from which local people benefit directly are less likely to be affected by poaching and theft.
Ecotourism's biggest problem is labeling. Going on an eco-tour is no guarantee of good ecology. So far, only Australia has an official system to grade tour operators and tourist attractions on the basis of their "greenness". Another issue is how eco-tourists damage the environment. Dolphin-feeding, for instance, is innocent and enjoyable, but after too many free meals, the dolphins forget how to catch their own dinners.
Keeping prices high is one way to limit enthusiasm. But measuring the effect of ecotourism on human environments is trickier. It is common, for villagers to see ecotourism as a source of new income. Hence, the very tourists who venture in search of traditional cultures end up breaking them up. As ecotourism becomes more popular, it will finally threaten the very things that are good for business.
Question:
Rwanda's Mountain Gorilla Project is a good example because _ .
Choices:
A. tourists were free to visit the gorillas whenever they wanted to
B. local people's attitudes toward animals were not affected
C. the gorillas were protected from both tourists and local people
D. the gorillas' living area was modernized because of the high admission | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high4603.txt | If your idea of a good time is to sleep in a hut, carry your own rubbish, and eat insects and wild animals, then ecotourism may be just for you. But is it also for people who want to fly over a rainforest sky before checking into a comfortable and expensive hotel in the middle of a national park? Whatever ecotourism is, it is hot--perhaps too hot for its own good.
The World Tourism Organization claims that the industry looked after 592 million travelers last year who spent $423 billion, and of all the types of tourism, ecotourism seems to be the fastest growing. By the broadest measure -- a trip with some sort of nature or wilderness element -- ecotourism already accounts for perhaps a third of these travelers. On a stricter definition favored by the Ecotourism Society, it is "responsible travel that preserves natural environments and keeps up the well-being of local people," which accounts for no more than 5% of tourism.
Ideally, ecotourism helps both people and nature. Before the disastrous civil war, Rwanda's Mountain Gorilla Project was one such model. Visits to the gorillas were limited, local guides ensured good behavior or on the part of the humans, and the high admission charge - $170 a day -- paid for salaries and presentation of the gorillas' living areas. As this made the gorillas worth more alive than dead, poaching decreased. As another example, preservation Cooperation, Africa's largest ecotour operator, uses only local labor, buys products 5om local farmers, and supports building projects: such as clinics and schools. This contribution to social advance is also good business sense. Projects from which local people benefit directly are less likely to be affected by poaching and theft.
Ecotourism's biggest problem is labeling. Going on an eco-tour is no guarantee of good ecology. So far, only Australia has an official system to grade tour operators and tourist attractions on the basis of their "greenness". Another issue is how eco-tourists damage the environment. Dolphin-feeding, for instance, is innocent and enjoyable, but after too many free meals, the dolphins forget how to catch their own dinners.
Keeping prices high is one way to limit enthusiasm. But measuring the effect of ecotourism on human environments is trickier. It is common, for villagers to see ecotourism as a source of new income. Hence, the very tourists who venture in search of traditional cultures end up breaking them up. As ecotourism becomes more popular, it will finally threaten the very things that are good for business. | [
"tourists were free to visit the gorillas whenever they wanted to",
"local people's attitudes toward animals were not affected",
"the gorillas were protected from both tourists and local people",
"the gorillas' living area was modernized because of the high admission"
] |
_ is a teacher. | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Here is a photo of my family. These are my parents, Jack Ken and Mary Ken. My father is a teacher and my mother is a nurse . This is my brother David and this is my sister Jane. And the little girl is me .I have a happy family. I love my family.
Question:
_ is a teacher.
Choices:
A. Jack
B. David
C. Mary
D. Jane | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1312.txt | Here is a photo of my family. These are my parents, Jack Ken and Mary Ken. My father is a teacher and my mother is a nurse . This is my brother David and this is my sister Jane. And the little girl is me .I have a happy family. I love my family. | [
"Jack",
"David",
"Mary",
"Jane"
] |
Where does this text probably come from? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Everyone knows that regular bedtimes are important, especially for children. But a research by Yvonne Kelly of University College, London, shows that daughters, it seems, do benefit from regular bedtimes. Sons do not.
Dr Kelly and a team of colleagues examined the bedtimes and cognitive abilities of 11,178 children born in Britain between September 2000 and January 2002, who took part in a research project called the Millennium Cohort Study.
The bedtime information they used was collected during four visits interviewers made to the homes of those participating in the study. These happened when the children were nine months, three years, five years and seven years of age. Besides asking whether the children had set bedtimes on weekdays and if they always, usually, sometimes or never made them, interviewers collected information about family routines, economic circumstances and other matters--including whether children were read to before they went to sleep and whether they had a television in their bedroom. The children in question were also asked, at the ages of three, five and seven, to take standardised reading, mathematical tests, from which their IQs could be tested.
Dr Kelly's report shows that by the time children had reached the age of seven, not having had a regular bedtime did seem to affect their cognition. But that was true only if they were female. On the IQ scale, whose average value is 100 points, girls who had had regular bedtimes scored between eight and nine points more than those who did not. Boys were not completely unaffected. Irregular bedtimes left their IQs about six points below those of their contemporaries at the age of three. But the distinction disappeared by the time they were seven.
This difference between the sexes is puzzling. "I did not expect it, and more research is necessary." said Dr Kelly.
Question:
Where does this text probably come from?
Choices:
A. A science fiction.
B. Children's literature.
C. An advertisement.
D. A science report. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17241.txt | Everyone knows that regular bedtimes are important, especially for children. But a research by Yvonne Kelly of University College, London, shows that daughters, it seems, do benefit from regular bedtimes. Sons do not.
Dr Kelly and a team of colleagues examined the bedtimes and cognitive abilities of 11,178 children born in Britain between September 2000 and January 2002, who took part in a research project called the Millennium Cohort Study.
The bedtime information they used was collected during four visits interviewers made to the homes of those participating in the study. These happened when the children were nine months, three years, five years and seven years of age. Besides asking whether the children had set bedtimes on weekdays and if they always, usually, sometimes or never made them, interviewers collected information about family routines, economic circumstances and other matters--including whether children were read to before they went to sleep and whether they had a television in their bedroom. The children in question were also asked, at the ages of three, five and seven, to take standardised reading, mathematical tests, from which their IQs could be tested.
Dr Kelly's report shows that by the time children had reached the age of seven, not having had a regular bedtime did seem to affect their cognition. But that was true only if they were female. On the IQ scale, whose average value is 100 points, girls who had had regular bedtimes scored between eight and nine points more than those who did not. Boys were not completely unaffected. Irregular bedtimes left their IQs about six points below those of their contemporaries at the age of three. But the distinction disappeared by the time they were seven.
This difference between the sexes is puzzling. "I did not expect it, and more research is necessary." said Dr Kelly. | [
"A science fiction.",
"Children's literature.",
"An advertisement.",
"A science report."
] |
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
"The world has never been a better place to live in" says science writer Matt Ridley, "and it will keep on getting better." Read on to see how Ridley makes his case. Right or wrong? You decide.
Compared with 50 years ago, when I was just four years old, people now make nearly three times as much money, eat one third more food and expect to live one third longer. In fact, it's hard to find any areas of the world that's worse off now than it was then, even though the world population has more than doubled over that period.
One reason we are richer, healthier, taller, cleverer, longer-lived and freer than ever before is that the four most basic human needs--food, clothing, fuel and shelter--have grown much cheaper. Take one example: In 1800, a candle providing one hour's light cost six hours' work. In the 1880s, the same light from a lamp took 15 minutes' work to pay for. In 1950, it was eight seconds. Today, it's half a second. In these terms, we are 43,200 times better off than in1800.
In the United States, rivers, lakes, seas and air are getting cleaner all the time. A car today produces less pollution traveling at full speed than a parked car did from leaks in 1970.
Although the world population is growing, the rate of increase has been falling for 50 years. Across the world, national birth rates are lower now than in 1960, and in the less developed world, the birth rate has almost halved. According to a research report from the United Nations, population will start falling once it reaches 9.2 billion in 2075. After all, there are already seven billion people on earth, and they are eating better and better.
In 1970s, there were 550 billion barrels of oil reserves in the world, and in the 20 years that followed the world used up 600 billion. So by 1990, reserves should have been overused by 50 billion barrels. Instead, it is reported there are 900 billion today. They will last for many years and people will find something in place of oil long before they run out.
The more we develop, the more we can develop. The more we invent, the more inventions become possible. For 200 years, pessimists (people who believe that terrible things will happen in future) have had all the headlines--even though _ have far more often been right. There are some reasons for pessimists. No charity ever raised money by saying things are getting better. No journalist ever got the front page writing a story about how terrible things won't happen. Don't be a pessimist--dare to be an optimist!
Question:
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
Choices:
A. Never Give Up
B. Cheer Up
C. Don't Be Sad
D. Think Out | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5383.txt | "The world has never been a better place to live in" says science writer Matt Ridley, "and it will keep on getting better." Read on to see how Ridley makes his case. Right or wrong? You decide.
Compared with 50 years ago, when I was just four years old, people now make nearly three times as much money, eat one third more food and expect to live one third longer. In fact, it's hard to find any areas of the world that's worse off now than it was then, even though the world population has more than doubled over that period.
One reason we are richer, healthier, taller, cleverer, longer-lived and freer than ever before is that the four most basic human needs--food, clothing, fuel and shelter--have grown much cheaper. Take one example: In 1800, a candle providing one hour's light cost six hours' work. In the 1880s, the same light from a lamp took 15 minutes' work to pay for. In 1950, it was eight seconds. Today, it's half a second. In these terms, we are 43,200 times better off than in1800.
In the United States, rivers, lakes, seas and air are getting cleaner all the time. A car today produces less pollution traveling at full speed than a parked car did from leaks in 1970.
Although the world population is growing, the rate of increase has been falling for 50 years. Across the world, national birth rates are lower now than in 1960, and in the less developed world, the birth rate has almost halved. According to a research report from the United Nations, population will start falling once it reaches 9.2 billion in 2075. After all, there are already seven billion people on earth, and they are eating better and better.
In 1970s, there were 550 billion barrels of oil reserves in the world, and in the 20 years that followed the world used up 600 billion. So by 1990, reserves should have been overused by 50 billion barrels. Instead, it is reported there are 900 billion today. They will last for many years and people will find something in place of oil long before they run out.
The more we develop, the more we can develop. The more we invent, the more inventions become possible. For 200 years, pessimists (people who believe that terrible things will happen in future) have had all the headlines--even though _ have far more often been right. There are some reasons for pessimists. No charity ever raised money by saying things are getting better. No journalist ever got the front page writing a story about how terrible things won't happen. Don't be a pessimist--dare to be an optimist! | [
"Never Give Up",
"Cheer Up",
"Don't Be Sad",
"Think Out"
] |
Who are target learners of Rocket French Premium? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Learn To Speak French With Rocket French!
Who Wants to Learn to Speak French Fluently in the Shortest Possible Time?
If You Answered "I Do!" Then Please Read on to Try My FREE 6-Day French Course
Why do you want to learn to speak French?
Do you live in a French speaking country and want to communicate better?
Are you traveling to a French speaking country?
Are you a home-schooled student or a parent who wants their children to learn more quickly and easily?
Are you a student who wants to get an A in French?
Have you learned French before and want a fun refresher course ?
Or, perhaps you just have an interest in learning the language of love!
I've designed Rocket French Premium to be the easiest to follow, fastest system for learning how to speak French available. Rocket French Premium is an interactive course that makes you want to study. Also, it's practical. You are going to be able to speak at a restaurant, at an airport, and with new friends!
It's a great experience to be able to speak with others in a different language. You will be able to enter into a different culture, a different world! Being bilingual is a very special ability, and it's a gift that we want to give to you.
So are you ready to get to know the secret of learning a new language? You're looking right at it.
Try our free six-day course. If you don't, you'll be missing a valuable opportunity to see just how much Rocket French Premium can improve your language level. Thousands of people worldwide have used our unique multimedia course to _ their French learning, while having piles of fun in the process. Will you be next?
Your e-mail address is required for you to receive the FREE course. You can unsubscribe any time and your e-mail address will never be given to any third party.
Question:
Who are target learners of Rocket French Premium?
Choices:
A. Students of the French language.
B. Language experts doing research into French.
C. Teachers who are eager to improve their students' French.
D. Parents who want their children to learn French more quickly and easily. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high20390.txt | Learn To Speak French With Rocket French!
Who Wants to Learn to Speak French Fluently in the Shortest Possible Time?
If You Answered "I Do!" Then Please Read on to Try My FREE 6-Day French Course
Why do you want to learn to speak French?
Do you live in a French speaking country and want to communicate better?
Are you traveling to a French speaking country?
Are you a home-schooled student or a parent who wants their children to learn more quickly and easily?
Are you a student who wants to get an A in French?
Have you learned French before and want a fun refresher course ?
Or, perhaps you just have an interest in learning the language of love!
I've designed Rocket French Premium to be the easiest to follow, fastest system for learning how to speak French available. Rocket French Premium is an interactive course that makes you want to study. Also, it's practical. You are going to be able to speak at a restaurant, at an airport, and with new friends!
It's a great experience to be able to speak with others in a different language. You will be able to enter into a different culture, a different world! Being bilingual is a very special ability, and it's a gift that we want to give to you.
So are you ready to get to know the secret of learning a new language? You're looking right at it.
Try our free six-day course. If you don't, you'll be missing a valuable opportunity to see just how much Rocket French Premium can improve your language level. Thousands of people worldwide have used our unique multimedia course to _ their French learning, while having piles of fun in the process. Will you be next?
Your e-mail address is required for you to receive the FREE course. You can unsubscribe any time and your e-mail address will never be given to any third party. | [
"Students of the French language.",
"Language experts doing research into French.",
"Teachers who are eager to improve their students' French.",
"Parents who want their children to learn French more quickly and easily."
] |
According to the passage,the following statements are true EXCEPT_. | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
No matter what he is doing,every human being gives body heat.The usual problem is how to _ it.But the designers of the Johnstown campus of the university of Pittsburg set themselves the opposite problem--how to collect body heat.They have designed a collection system which uses not only body heat but also the heat given off by such objects as light bulbs and refrigerators as well.The system works so well that no conventional fuel is needed to make the campus's six buildings comfortable.
Some parts of most modern buildings--theatres and offices as well as classrooms-are more than heated by people and lights and sometimes must be air-conditioned even in the winter.The technique of saving and redistributing it is called "heat recovery".A few modern buildings recover heat,but the university's system is the first to recover heat from some buildings and reuse it in others.
Along the way,Pitt has learned a great deal about some of its heat producers.The harder a student studies,the more heat his body gives off.Male students emit more heat than female students,and the larger a student,the more heat he produces.It is tempting to conclude that the hottest prospect for the Johnstown campus would be a hard-working,overweight male genius.
Question:
According to the passage,the following statements are true EXCEPT_.
Choices:
A. fat,male and hard-working students give off more heat
B. six buildings are heated by the heat system on the prefix = st1 /Johnstowncampus
C. the heat is supplied by human bodies,other heat-omitting objects
D. the heat from human bodies,other heat-omitting objects is only used in cold winter | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16887.txt | No matter what he is doing,every human being gives body heat.The usual problem is how to _ it.But the designers of the Johnstown campus of the university of Pittsburg set themselves the opposite problem--how to collect body heat.They have designed a collection system which uses not only body heat but also the heat given off by such objects as light bulbs and refrigerators as well.The system works so well that no conventional fuel is needed to make the campus's six buildings comfortable.
Some parts of most modern buildings--theatres and offices as well as classrooms-are more than heated by people and lights and sometimes must be air-conditioned even in the winter.The technique of saving and redistributing it is called "heat recovery".A few modern buildings recover heat,but the university's system is the first to recover heat from some buildings and reuse it in others.
Along the way,Pitt has learned a great deal about some of its heat producers.The harder a student studies,the more heat his body gives off.Male students emit more heat than female students,and the larger a student,the more heat he produces.It is tempting to conclude that the hottest prospect for the Johnstown campus would be a hard-working,overweight male genius. | [
"fat,male and hard-working students give off more heat",
"six buildings are heated by the heat system on the prefix = st1 /Johnstowncampus",
"the heat is supplied by human bodies,other heat-omitting objects",
"the heat from human bodies,other heat-omitting objects is only used in cold winter"
] |
Repeating experiments improves the likelihood of accurate results because the overall results are | null | Answer this science question and explain your reasoning. | Repeating experiments improves the likelihood of accurate results because the overall results are
Choices:
A. less likely to prove the hypothesis correct.
B. more likely to prove the hypothesis correct.
C. less likely to be correct due to fewer errors being made.
D. more likely to be correct due to fewer errors being made. | Correct answer: D | science | AKDE&ED_2008_8_32 | {
"text": [
"less likely to prove the hypothesis correct.",
"more likely to prove the hypothesis correct.",
"less likely to be correct due to fewer errors being made.",
"more likely to be correct due to fewer errors being made."
],
"label": [
"A",
"B",
"C",
"D"
]
} | D | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Which of the following is true of the biomethane gas? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A town in Oxfordshire has become the first in the UK to have biomethane gas from human waste piped to their homes for gas central heating and cooking.
Up to 200 families in Didcot now receive the gas via the national gas power system. Head of energy and technology at British Gas, Martin Orrill, said customers wouldn't notice any difference as the gas is purified to the highest standard and has no smell. The gas is produced at a sewage treatment works plant in Didcot.
The entire process takes only less than three weeks, with the sewage being collected and sent first to settlement tanks. The solid waste material is then fed into digesters, where anaerobic bacteria digest the sewage, with the aid of enzymes to speed up the process. The digestion process produces methane, which can be burned to drive machines to produce electricity, or can be purified and fed into the gas network and piped to homes and businesses. British Gas says supplying the gas rather than electricity is far more efficient since around two-thirds of the energy is lost in producing electricity.
Partners in the Didcot project, British Gas, Scotia Gas Networks, and Thames Water, all hope to expand the process to other towns, and other companies such as Ecotricity and United Utilities have also announced biomethane projects being planned. One of these projects, in Manchester, could be supplying 500 homes with biomethane by mid next year. Another British Gas project in Suffolk will provide gas from digestion of brewery wastes to around 235 families.
The Didcot project cost PS2.5m and was influenced by promises of government aids aimed at encouraging companies to develop renewable technologies. An EU directive means the UK must ensure at least 15 percent of its energy is from renewable sources by 2020.
The UK produces about 1.73 million tons of sewage annually. If all sewage treatment works in the UK were fitted with the technology, they could supply gas for up to 350,000 families.
Question:
Which of the following is true of the biomethane gas?
Choices:
A. It's mainly made from rotting plants.
B. It's an environmentally friendly gas.
C. Its production process is too long.
D. It's easily recognized by the customers. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11430.txt | A town in Oxfordshire has become the first in the UK to have biomethane gas from human waste piped to their homes for gas central heating and cooking.
Up to 200 families in Didcot now receive the gas via the national gas power system. Head of energy and technology at British Gas, Martin Orrill, said customers wouldn't notice any difference as the gas is purified to the highest standard and has no smell. The gas is produced at a sewage treatment works plant in Didcot.
The entire process takes only less than three weeks, with the sewage being collected and sent first to settlement tanks. The solid waste material is then fed into digesters, where anaerobic bacteria digest the sewage, with the aid of enzymes to speed up the process. The digestion process produces methane, which can be burned to drive machines to produce electricity, or can be purified and fed into the gas network and piped to homes and businesses. British Gas says supplying the gas rather than electricity is far more efficient since around two-thirds of the energy is lost in producing electricity.
Partners in the Didcot project, British Gas, Scotia Gas Networks, and Thames Water, all hope to expand the process to other towns, and other companies such as Ecotricity and United Utilities have also announced biomethane projects being planned. One of these projects, in Manchester, could be supplying 500 homes with biomethane by mid next year. Another British Gas project in Suffolk will provide gas from digestion of brewery wastes to around 235 families.
The Didcot project cost PS2.5m and was influenced by promises of government aids aimed at encouraging companies to develop renewable technologies. An EU directive means the UK must ensure at least 15 percent of its energy is from renewable sources by 2020.
The UK produces about 1.73 million tons of sewage annually. If all sewage treatment works in the UK were fitted with the technology, they could supply gas for up to 350,000 families. | [
"It's mainly made from rotting plants.",
"It's an environmentally friendly gas.",
"Its production process is too long.",
"It's easily recognized by the customers."
] |
A certain animal has specialized cells that can cause it to change color rapidly. This color change will most likely help the animal | null | Answer this science question and explain your reasoning. | A certain animal has specialized cells that can cause it to change color rapidly. This color change will most likely help the animal
Choices:
A. run quickly.
B. digest food rapidly.
C. hide from predators.
D. retain body heat. | Correct answer: C | science | Mercury_SC_401284 | {
"text": [
"run quickly.",
"digest food rapidly.",
"hide from predators.",
"retain body heat."
],
"label": [
"A",
"B",
"C",
"D"
]
} | C | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
You can't play _ in Ball Games Club. | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Do you like sports? Here are some sports clubs for you.
Ball Games Club
Do you like ball games? We have basketball, soccer, volleyball and tennis for you. Let's play them together!
Sunday: 8: 30 a.m.~ 11: 00 a.m. 3: 00 p.m. ~ 6: 00 p.m.
Telephone: 15934678726
Roller Skating Club
Do you like roller skating? You can have a lot of new friends in our club. Students are 6~16 years old.
Saturday and Sunday evenings: 7: 00~ 10: 00
Meet on Renmin Square .
Telephone: 13473401430
Cycling Club
Let's go out with our friends on our bikes. It's really cool and exciting.
Saturday morning: 6: 00~11: 00
Start in the city park.
E-mail address: cycling@163.com
Kung Fu Club
Do you want to do kung fu well? Come and join us!
Sunday evening: 6: 00~8: 00
Call us at 746-3838.
Question:
You can't play _ in Ball Games Club.
Choices:
A. basketball
B. baseball
C. volleyball
D. tennis | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle6580.txt | Do you like sports? Here are some sports clubs for you.
Ball Games Club
Do you like ball games? We have basketball, soccer, volleyball and tennis for you. Let's play them together!
Sunday: 8: 30 a.m.~ 11: 00 a.m. 3: 00 p.m. ~ 6: 00 p.m.
Telephone: 15934678726
Roller Skating Club
Do you like roller skating? You can have a lot of new friends in our club. Students are 6~16 years old.
Saturday and Sunday evenings: 7: 00~ 10: 00
Meet on Renmin Square .
Telephone: 13473401430
Cycling Club
Let's go out with our friends on our bikes. It's really cool and exciting.
Saturday morning: 6: 00~11: 00
Start in the city park.
E-mail address: cycling@163.com
Kung Fu Club
Do you want to do kung fu well? Come and join us!
Sunday evening: 6: 00~8: 00
Call us at 746-3838. | [
"basketball",
"baseball",
"volleyball",
"tennis"
] |
From the first news item, we can infer that_. | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Bomb attack onprefix = st1 /Bombaytrains kills 190
BOMBAY, India-Eight bombs exploded in first -class compartments of packed Bombay Trains Tuesday, killing 190 people and wounding hundreds in a well-designed terror attack on the heart of a city that embodies the ambition of the country.
Liu Xiang record warmsChina's hearts
Liu Xiang ofChinaset a new 110 metres hurdles world record on a stunning night in Lausanne, breaking the record he shared withBritain's Colin Jackson. Liu rushed to the finishing line in a time of 12.88 seconds, beating the old mark of 12.91 that he matched in winning gold at the 2004 A thens Olympics. Jackson ran 12.91 inStuttgart,Germany, in August 1993.
Materazzi admits insulting Zidane
Marco Materazzi admits he insulted Zinedine Zidane before the France captain head-butted him in the World Cup final. Materazzi denies calling him a"terrorist."Zidane and Materazzi _ after Italy broke up a French attack in extra-time of Sunday's final in Berlin Seconds later, Zidane lowered his head and rammed Materazzi in the chest, knocking him to the ground.
President Hu departs for G8 summit
BEIJING,July 16-Chinese President Hu Jintao left Beijing on Sunday morning for Russia's St. Petersburg to attend the summit of the Group of Eight major economies. Hu is invited by Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Monday. Hu will meet with G-8 leaders to discuss energy security, prevention and control of epidemic diseases, education, African development and other topics. Among Hu's entourages are State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Director of the Policy Research Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China(CPC)Wang Huning, Deputy Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Ling Jihua, Director of thePresident's Office Chen Shiju and Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai. The G-8 members are Britain,Canada,France,Germany,Italy,Japan,Russiaand theUnited States.
Question:
From the first news item, we can infer that_.
Choices:
A. few Indian people are rich enough to take the first-class compartments
B. the terrorists spent plenty of time and efforts in planning the attack
C. an exact number of injuries has been discovered after the attack
D. the heart of the city Bombayhas always been the target of terror attacks | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17143.txt | Bomb attack onprefix = st1 /Bombaytrains kills 190
BOMBAY, India-Eight bombs exploded in first -class compartments of packed Bombay Trains Tuesday, killing 190 people and wounding hundreds in a well-designed terror attack on the heart of a city that embodies the ambition of the country.
Liu Xiang record warmsChina's hearts
Liu Xiang ofChinaset a new 110 metres hurdles world record on a stunning night in Lausanne, breaking the record he shared withBritain's Colin Jackson. Liu rushed to the finishing line in a time of 12.88 seconds, beating the old mark of 12.91 that he matched in winning gold at the 2004 A thens Olympics. Jackson ran 12.91 inStuttgart,Germany, in August 1993.
Materazzi admits insulting Zidane
Marco Materazzi admits he insulted Zinedine Zidane before the France captain head-butted him in the World Cup final. Materazzi denies calling him a"terrorist."Zidane and Materazzi _ after Italy broke up a French attack in extra-time of Sunday's final in Berlin Seconds later, Zidane lowered his head and rammed Materazzi in the chest, knocking him to the ground.
President Hu departs for G8 summit
BEIJING,July 16-Chinese President Hu Jintao left Beijing on Sunday morning for Russia's St. Petersburg to attend the summit of the Group of Eight major economies. Hu is invited by Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Monday. Hu will meet with G-8 leaders to discuss energy security, prevention and control of epidemic diseases, education, African development and other topics. Among Hu's entourages are State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Director of the Policy Research Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China(CPC)Wang Huning, Deputy Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee Ling Jihua, Director of thePresident's Office Chen Shiju and Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai. The G-8 members are Britain,Canada,France,Germany,Italy,Japan,Russiaand theUnited States. | [
"few Indian people are rich enough to take the first-class compartments",
"the terrorists spent plenty of time and efforts in planning the attack",
"an exact number of injuries has been discovered after the attack",
"the heart of the city Bombayhas always been the target of terror attacks"
] |
The mother warned that if Martha didn't give up smoking, she would _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Our 16-year-old daughter started to smoke last Christmas. It killed me to see that lovely girl with a cigarette in her mouth. I told her how I felt. Martha continued to smoke, saying, "It's my life," and so on. I told her if she didn't stop smoking, I wouldn't send her to college. She agreed to give it up.
Last night there was cigarette smell on Martha's breath. She had to say she had broken her word. Now I must do what I've said to punish her.
Martha is unusually bright and wants to teach children. I'm working full-time to put her older sister through school and would do the same for Martha. My husband's pay is good, but with prices going up all the time we could never educate the girls unless I kept on working.
My theory is that if smoking is more important to Martha than college, I'm a fool to work to put her through college.
Question:
The mother warned that if Martha didn't give up smoking, she would _ .
Choices:
A. refuse to give Martha any money
B. not be Martha's mother
C. refuse to pay for Martha's college education
D. not let Martha teach children | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16292.txt | Our 16-year-old daughter started to smoke last Christmas. It killed me to see that lovely girl with a cigarette in her mouth. I told her how I felt. Martha continued to smoke, saying, "It's my life," and so on. I told her if she didn't stop smoking, I wouldn't send her to college. She agreed to give it up.
Last night there was cigarette smell on Martha's breath. She had to say she had broken her word. Now I must do what I've said to punish her.
Martha is unusually bright and wants to teach children. I'm working full-time to put her older sister through school and would do the same for Martha. My husband's pay is good, but with prices going up all the time we could never educate the girls unless I kept on working.
My theory is that if smoking is more important to Martha than college, I'm a fool to work to put her through college. | [
"refuse to give Martha any money",
"not be Martha's mother",
"refuse to pay for Martha's college education",
"not let Martha teach children"
] |
Why are Mr.Clune and other scientists devoted to developing the technology? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
When a dog loses a leg, the animal eventually figures out the best way to get around on three legs. In a short time, the dog learns to deal with its physical disability.
Now, scientists have developed robots that behave in much the same way.
We can find robots everywhere. Robots build cars, play chess and can clean your house. They may someday drive your car, too.
Two robots, named Spirit and Opportunity, were sent to Mars on a mission to explore the red planet.
Jeff Clune is a computer scientist with the University of Wyoming. He says robots also help people in natural disasters.
Robots are deployed in search and rescue operations following an earthquake. They may someday also be used to examine the wreckage of a nuclear accident, like the one in Fukushima, Japan.
Mr. Clune says robots can be sent to a lot of places said to be unsafe.
"The problem is that all of those types of situations and environment are extremely unpredictable and dangerous. And it is very likely that robots and humans in those situations become damaged."
He and other scientists are developing technology so that robots will continue operating after the first sign of injury. They want the machines to have the ability to make changes and continue performing until they can be repaired.
Mr. Clune and researchers in France have added one more operation to the skill set of robots working under difficult conditions. They say they programmed a hexapod robot, one with six legs, and a robotic arm to learn how to deal with injury. Their findings were reported in the journal "Nature".
Mr. Clune said that once the robots become damaged, they use their intuition and knowledge of how their body works to find a way to deal with the damage.
He says the robots are also programmed with child-like curiosity. In other words, they are always asking questions and looking for answers. The whole process takes about a minute for the robots to find a way to overcome damage.
Question:
Why are Mr.Clune and other scientists devoted to developing the technology?
Choices:
A. They want to succeed in programming robots with child-like curiosity.
B. They expect to enable robots to continue working despite injury under difficult conditions.
C. They intend to make robots which can be sent to a lot of places said to be unsafe.
D. They are determined to design a more powerful robot for Mars exploration. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high19259.txt | When a dog loses a leg, the animal eventually figures out the best way to get around on three legs. In a short time, the dog learns to deal with its physical disability.
Now, scientists have developed robots that behave in much the same way.
We can find robots everywhere. Robots build cars, play chess and can clean your house. They may someday drive your car, too.
Two robots, named Spirit and Opportunity, were sent to Mars on a mission to explore the red planet.
Jeff Clune is a computer scientist with the University of Wyoming. He says robots also help people in natural disasters.
Robots are deployed in search and rescue operations following an earthquake. They may someday also be used to examine the wreckage of a nuclear accident, like the one in Fukushima, Japan.
Mr. Clune says robots can be sent to a lot of places said to be unsafe.
"The problem is that all of those types of situations and environment are extremely unpredictable and dangerous. And it is very likely that robots and humans in those situations become damaged."
He and other scientists are developing technology so that robots will continue operating after the first sign of injury. They want the machines to have the ability to make changes and continue performing until they can be repaired.
Mr. Clune and researchers in France have added one more operation to the skill set of robots working under difficult conditions. They say they programmed a hexapod robot, one with six legs, and a robotic arm to learn how to deal with injury. Their findings were reported in the journal "Nature".
Mr. Clune said that once the robots become damaged, they use their intuition and knowledge of how their body works to find a way to deal with the damage.
He says the robots are also programmed with child-like curiosity. In other words, they are always asking questions and looking for answers. The whole process takes about a minute for the robots to find a way to overcome damage. | [
"They want to succeed in programming robots with child-like curiosity.",
"They expect to enable robots to continue working despite injury under difficult conditions.",
"They intend to make robots which can be sent to a lot of places said to be unsafe.",
"They are determined to design a more powerful robot for Mars exploration."
] |
Three planes are going to the same place but each has a different number of passengers. The first plane has 50, the second had 60, and the third has 40. An empty plane can go 600 MPH, but each passenger makes it go 2 MPH slower. What is their average speed? | The first plane goes 100 MPH slower than empty because 50 x 2 = <<50*2=100>>100
The first plane goes 500 MPH because 600 - 100 = <<600-100=500>>500
The second plane goes 120 MPH slower because 60 x 2 = <<60*2=120>>120
The second plane goes 480 because 600 - 120 = <<600-120=480>>480
The third plane goes 80 MPH slower because 40 x 2 = <<40*2=80>>80
The third plane goes 520 MPH because 600 - 80 = 520
The total speed is 1500 because 500 + 480 + 520 = <<500+480+520=1500>>1500
Their average speed is 500 because 1500 / 3 = <<1500/3=500>>500
#### 500 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Three planes are going to the same place but each has a different number of passengers. The first plane has 50, the second had 60, and the third has 40. An empty plane can go 600 MPH, but each passenger makes it go 2 MPH slower. What is their average speed? | The first plane goes 100 MPH slower than empty because 50 x 2 = <<50*2=100>>100
The first plane goes 500 MPH because 600 - 100 = <<600-100=500>>500
The second plane goes 120 MPH slower because 60 x 2 = <<60*2=120>>120
The second plane goes 480 because 600 - 120 = <<600-120=480>>480
The third plane goes 80 MPH slower because 40 x 2 = <<40*2=80>>80
The third plane goes 520 MPH because 600 - 80 = 520
The total speed is 1500 because 500 + 480 + 520 = <<500+480+520=1500>>1500
Their average speed is 500 because 1500 / 3 = <<1500/3=500>>500
#### 500 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The writer and her brother had thought that they could _ in their summer vacation. | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The summer I was ten, my mother decided to bring us to the world of art. My brother and I were not very excited when we realized what my mother meant. What she meant was not that we could take drawing classes or painting classes but that we would have to spend one afternoon a week with her at the Fine Arts Museum. Before each visit to the museum, she made us read about artists and painting styles. It was almost as bad as being in school. Who wants to spend the summer thinking about artists when you could be with your friends at the swimming pool?
First we had to read about ancient Egyptians and their strange way of painting faces and then go to look at them at the museum. My 12-year-old brother thought this was so funny, but I was not interested. Later we had to learn about artists in the Middle Ages who painted people wearing strange long clothing. We had to look at pictures of fat babies with wings and curly hair and with no clothes on flying around the edges of paintings. I certainly couldn't see what was so great about art.
On our last visit to the museum, something happened when I saw a painting by a woman called Mary. In it, a woman was reading to a child. The colors were soft and gentle, and you could tell by the mother's expression how happy she was just to be with the child. I couldn't stop looking at this painting! I wanted to see every painting Mary had ever made! It was really worth looking at so many paintings to find a painter who could interest me so much.
Question:
The writer and her brother had thought that they could _ in their summer vacation.
Choices:
A. visit some art museums
B. go to Egypt for a visit
C. take drawing or painting classes
D. play with their friends. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1875.txt | The summer I was ten, my mother decided to bring us to the world of art. My brother and I were not very excited when we realized what my mother meant. What she meant was not that we could take drawing classes or painting classes but that we would have to spend one afternoon a week with her at the Fine Arts Museum. Before each visit to the museum, she made us read about artists and painting styles. It was almost as bad as being in school. Who wants to spend the summer thinking about artists when you could be with your friends at the swimming pool?
First we had to read about ancient Egyptians and their strange way of painting faces and then go to look at them at the museum. My 12-year-old brother thought this was so funny, but I was not interested. Later we had to learn about artists in the Middle Ages who painted people wearing strange long clothing. We had to look at pictures of fat babies with wings and curly hair and with no clothes on flying around the edges of paintings. I certainly couldn't see what was so great about art.
On our last visit to the museum, something happened when I saw a painting by a woman called Mary. In it, a woman was reading to a child. The colors were soft and gentle, and you could tell by the mother's expression how happy she was just to be with the child. I couldn't stop looking at this painting! I wanted to see every painting Mary had ever made! It was really worth looking at so many paintings to find a painter who could interest me so much. | [
"visit some art museums",
"go to Egypt for a visit",
"take drawing or painting classes",
"play with their friends."
] |
According to the passage, who ought to get off the bus? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Many years ago I lived in a western country. My very first job was in the city and I was excited to go to work by public transport! I had never been employed before and my chances of travelling on a bus by myself had always been very slim. So, I was very happy with my new lifestyle!
I left home each morning in time to catch the 8.05 bus from the main road. One autumn morning I could see the bus approaching. I could also see an elderly lady walking with a lovely dog beside her. There were some youngsters behind her.
The bus arrived and we got on. Only eight passengers were permitted to travel standing. I was inside the bus when the conductor called, "Only eight standing passengers! Could the last one to get on please get off?" I saw those youngsters inside, right in front of me, and it occurred that they had jumped the queue!
I turned and saw the elderly lady with her dog about to get off. I moved quickly to get in front of her. I encouraged her to stay, knowing very well I would be late that morning, but it didn't bother me. It was only as I moved past her to get off the bus that I realized -- she was blind! Her dog was her guide dog!
Well, I eventually got to the office. After the day's work I went to the bus stand in front of my office to make the return journey. What a pleasant surprise! The lady and her dog were there! I was really pleased because I would get a better chance to speak with her. I started the conversation and she recognized my Asian accent! She asked if I was the same person who helped her that morning. Amazing! From there onwards it was one long happy conversation.
These beautiful memories are still fresh in my mind. By helping others, I feel content!
Question:
According to the passage, who ought to get off the bus?
Choices:
A. The old lady
B. The dog
C. One of those youngsters
D. The author | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high23996.txt | Many years ago I lived in a western country. My very first job was in the city and I was excited to go to work by public transport! I had never been employed before and my chances of travelling on a bus by myself had always been very slim. So, I was very happy with my new lifestyle!
I left home each morning in time to catch the 8.05 bus from the main road. One autumn morning I could see the bus approaching. I could also see an elderly lady walking with a lovely dog beside her. There were some youngsters behind her.
The bus arrived and we got on. Only eight passengers were permitted to travel standing. I was inside the bus when the conductor called, "Only eight standing passengers! Could the last one to get on please get off?" I saw those youngsters inside, right in front of me, and it occurred that they had jumped the queue!
I turned and saw the elderly lady with her dog about to get off. I moved quickly to get in front of her. I encouraged her to stay, knowing very well I would be late that morning, but it didn't bother me. It was only as I moved past her to get off the bus that I realized -- she was blind! Her dog was her guide dog!
Well, I eventually got to the office. After the day's work I went to the bus stand in front of my office to make the return journey. What a pleasant surprise! The lady and her dog were there! I was really pleased because I would get a better chance to speak with her. I started the conversation and she recognized my Asian accent! She asked if I was the same person who helped her that morning. Amazing! From there onwards it was one long happy conversation.
These beautiful memories are still fresh in my mind. By helping others, I feel content! | [
"The old lady",
"The dog",
"One of those youngsters",
"The author"
] |
According to the passage, it is exciting for people to visit different places for the following reasons EXCEPT _ | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It is exciting to visit different places. As you travel, you will see beautiful sceneries typical of the region. Besides, you can meet and make friends with people of different color1s and races. Finally, you can get to know the customs and living habits of the local people. Today people are so fond of travelling that tourism has become one of the fastest growing industries in most countries.
The main reason why people travel is, perhaps, for pleasure. For example, having worked hard throughout the weekdays, people will find a widened trip to the nearby mountains or beaches for a relaxation. For another example, spending an annual holiday travelling abroad is an especially satisfying experience for those who do not have much of an opportunity to be away from their homelands. When people return from their travel, they will generally feel fresh and energetic, ready to work harder.
Travelling is also one of the best means for learning. You may have read or heard about something but you can never get an accurate picture of it until you see it for yourself. _ . Furthermore, if you are a careful observer, you can learn much during your travel about the geography, biology, and history of the places you visit. No matter how well educated you are, there is always a lot for you to learn through travelling. The knowledge _ from travel, as you have found in your life, is no less valuable than that from any influential reference books.
Question:
According to the passage, it is exciting for people to visit different places for the following reasons EXCEPT _
Choices:
A. They can enjoy the beautiful sceneries of different regions
B. They can make friends with different kinds of people
C. They will help to improve the tourism of the region
D. They can get to know the local customs and living habits | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high22244.txt | It is exciting to visit different places. As you travel, you will see beautiful sceneries typical of the region. Besides, you can meet and make friends with people of different color1s and races. Finally, you can get to know the customs and living habits of the local people. Today people are so fond of travelling that tourism has become one of the fastest growing industries in most countries.
The main reason why people travel is, perhaps, for pleasure. For example, having worked hard throughout the weekdays, people will find a widened trip to the nearby mountains or beaches for a relaxation. For another example, spending an annual holiday travelling abroad is an especially satisfying experience for those who do not have much of an opportunity to be away from their homelands. When people return from their travel, they will generally feel fresh and energetic, ready to work harder.
Travelling is also one of the best means for learning. You may have read or heard about something but you can never get an accurate picture of it until you see it for yourself. _ . Furthermore, if you are a careful observer, you can learn much during your travel about the geography, biology, and history of the places you visit. No matter how well educated you are, there is always a lot for you to learn through travelling. The knowledge _ from travel, as you have found in your life, is no less valuable than that from any influential reference books. | [
"They can enjoy the beautiful sceneries of different regions",
"They can make friends with different kinds of people",
"They will help to improve the tourism of the region",
"They can get to know the local customs and living habits"
] |
The advertisement is mainly aimed at those who _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Attention STARBUCKS
Owners of Stainless Steel Travel Mug
Mug lid Recall---16 oz Stainless Steel Travel Mug
We've recognized a fault at the cup. The fault might cause some lids to lift slightly from the body of the mug, and could possibly result in injury from hot liquid leaking. So, we have given a lid recall notice immediately. The notice is only related to STARBUCKS 16 oz Stainless Steel Travel Mugs which were sold between November 2012 and February 2013. The bottom of the mug is stamped with "ThermoSServ", the distributor's name. There is not any printing on the mug handle.
At STARBUCKS, customers' safety is valued above anything else. Therefore, no matter whether your lid is leaking , in the interest of your safety, we request you bring your mug to your nearest STARBUCKS (excluding Esso STARBUCKS), where they are sure exchange the lid for a new lid that fits well and safely. The new lids are going to be available March 1, 2013.
Don't use your mug until you exchange the lid, please.
Here's what you do:
* Please do not use your mug until you have exchanged the lid for a new one.
* New lids will be available March 1, 2013.
* Return your travel mug to a STARBUCKS store.
* Your lid will be exchanged for a new lid.
If you'd like to return the entire mug, bring it back at any time for a full repayment.
If you have any questions regarding this recall, please don't hesitate to us at:
Toll Free Number: 1-999-701-1717
9:30 am - 6:00 pm Eastern Standard Time STARBUCKS
Question:
The advertisement is mainly aimed at those who _ .
Choices:
A. have 16 oz Stainless mugs
B. often travel around
C. want to buy 16 oz stainless mugs
D. are selling the mugs | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high5634.txt | Attention STARBUCKS
Owners of Stainless Steel Travel Mug
Mug lid Recall---16 oz Stainless Steel Travel Mug
We've recognized a fault at the cup. The fault might cause some lids to lift slightly from the body of the mug, and could possibly result in injury from hot liquid leaking. So, we have given a lid recall notice immediately. The notice is only related to STARBUCKS 16 oz Stainless Steel Travel Mugs which were sold between November 2012 and February 2013. The bottom of the mug is stamped with "ThermoSServ", the distributor's name. There is not any printing on the mug handle.
At STARBUCKS, customers' safety is valued above anything else. Therefore, no matter whether your lid is leaking , in the interest of your safety, we request you bring your mug to your nearest STARBUCKS (excluding Esso STARBUCKS), where they are sure exchange the lid for a new lid that fits well and safely. The new lids are going to be available March 1, 2013.
Don't use your mug until you exchange the lid, please.
Here's what you do:
* Please do not use your mug until you have exchanged the lid for a new one.
* New lids will be available March 1, 2013.
* Return your travel mug to a STARBUCKS store.
* Your lid will be exchanged for a new lid.
If you'd like to return the entire mug, bring it back at any time for a full repayment.
If you have any questions regarding this recall, please don't hesitate to us at:
Toll Free Number: 1-999-701-1717
9:30 am - 6:00 pm Eastern Standard Time STARBUCKS | [
"have 16 oz Stainless mugs",
"often travel around",
"want to buy 16 oz stainless mugs",
"are selling the mugs"
] |
Why was Mr. Baker happy at first? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Mr. Baker lived in an old and low house. His wife was blind in both eyes and the two children were very young. All his family often went hungry(.) He had nothing but a small piece of field. One autumn he grew some wheat in his field. He hoped it would do well because all family would depend on it. The whole winter it often snowed. And the next spring the wheat was doing well. Mr. Baker was happy. One day Mr. Baker went to watch his wheat. To his surprise, a lot of crops were eaten up by a horse. He became angry but could not find out whose horse had eaten them. He thought the horse would go there again. So he decided to stay in his field and tried to catch the horse.
A few days later a yellow horse came in his field again and began to eat the wheat. Mr. Baker ran after it quickly, with a stick in his hand. But the beast ran much faster than he. He tried his best, but could not catch up with it. The next morning, when Mr. Baker was working in his field, he saw the yellow horse pulling carriage on the road. He picked up a stick at once, ran closer to the horse and began to beat it up.
The driver was surprised and stopped him. He asked, "Why are you beating my horse?"
"It has nothing to do with you, " Mr. Baker said angrily. "The beast knows why I'm beating him!"
Question:
Why was Mr. Baker happy at first?
Choices:
A. Because wheat was doing well.
B. Because he would soon get a good harvest.
C. Because he found out the beast that ate up his wheat.
D. Because his family would not grow any more wheat. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high5943.txt | Mr. Baker lived in an old and low house. His wife was blind in both eyes and the two children were very young. All his family often went hungry(.) He had nothing but a small piece of field. One autumn he grew some wheat in his field. He hoped it would do well because all family would depend on it. The whole winter it often snowed. And the next spring the wheat was doing well. Mr. Baker was happy. One day Mr. Baker went to watch his wheat. To his surprise, a lot of crops were eaten up by a horse. He became angry but could not find out whose horse had eaten them. He thought the horse would go there again. So he decided to stay in his field and tried to catch the horse.
A few days later a yellow horse came in his field again and began to eat the wheat. Mr. Baker ran after it quickly, with a stick in his hand. But the beast ran much faster than he. He tried his best, but could not catch up with it. The next morning, when Mr. Baker was working in his field, he saw the yellow horse pulling carriage on the road. He picked up a stick at once, ran closer to the horse and began to beat it up.
The driver was surprised and stopped him. He asked, "Why are you beating my horse?"
"It has nothing to do with you, " Mr. Baker said angrily. "The beast knows why I'm beating him!" | [
"Because wheat was doing well.",
"Because he would soon get a good harvest.",
"Because he found out the beast that ate up his wheat.",
"Because his family would not grow any more wheat."
] |
Which of the following things is NOT mentioned in the passage ? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Mother stayed at home cooking and cleaning while Father left for work. Two or more children took the bus to school. In the evening, all the family members got together at home again. This is what a traditional family was like twenty years ago. But now great changes have happened in British families.
As many as 2 out of 3 marriages now end in divorce , and many children have to live with one parent and only see the other at weekends or during holidays.
There has been a great increase in the number of working women with children. Many women have to work to support themselves and their children. Even in the family where there is no divorce, both parents have to work in order to survive.
Also women are no longer happy to stay at home taking care of children. Many of them have jobs and some of them can even make more money than men, the traditional _ .
What's more, the increasing number of single-parent families have caused an increase in the crime rate among children in a way. It is thought that if a child doesn't have a father, he or she will be harmed.
However the changes may be good for some people. For women it's now much easier to have well-paid jobs. Although it is difficult to be a working mother, it is no longer seen as a bad thing for children.
As for some children, they learn how to solve problems by themselves at an early age.
Question:
Which of the following things is NOT mentioned in the passage ?
Choices:
A. The increasing number of divorces.
B. The increasing number of fathers who stay at home.
C. The increasing number of working mothers.
D. The increasing crime rate among children. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high4884.txt | Mother stayed at home cooking and cleaning while Father left for work. Two or more children took the bus to school. In the evening, all the family members got together at home again. This is what a traditional family was like twenty years ago. But now great changes have happened in British families.
As many as 2 out of 3 marriages now end in divorce , and many children have to live with one parent and only see the other at weekends or during holidays.
There has been a great increase in the number of working women with children. Many women have to work to support themselves and their children. Even in the family where there is no divorce, both parents have to work in order to survive.
Also women are no longer happy to stay at home taking care of children. Many of them have jobs and some of them can even make more money than men, the traditional _ .
What's more, the increasing number of single-parent families have caused an increase in the crime rate among children in a way. It is thought that if a child doesn't have a father, he or she will be harmed.
However the changes may be good for some people. For women it's now much easier to have well-paid jobs. Although it is difficult to be a working mother, it is no longer seen as a bad thing for children.
As for some children, they learn how to solve problems by themselves at an early age. | [
"The increasing number of divorces.",
"The increasing number of fathers who stay at home.",
"The increasing number of working mothers.",
"The increasing crime rate among children."
] |
What can we conclude from the text? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Alfred Alder, a famous psychiatrist, had an interesting experience. When he was a small boy he got off to a poor start in arithmetic. His teacher got the idea that he had no ability in arithmetic, and told his parents what she thought in order that they would not expect too much of him. In this way, they too developed the idea, "Isn't it too bad that Alfred can't do arithmetic?" He accepted their mistaken estimate of his ability, feeling that it was useless to try, and that he was very poor at arithmetic, just as they expected.
One day he became very angry at the teacher and the other students because they laughed when he said he saw how to do a problem which none of the other students had been able to solve.
Adler succeeded in solving the problem. This gave him confidence. He rejected the idea that he couldn't do arithmetic and was determined to show them that he could. His anger and his new found confidence stimulated him to go at arithmetic problems with a new spirit. He now worked with interest, determination, and purpose, and he soon became extraordinarily good at arithmetic. He not only proved that he could do arithmetic, but he learned early in life from his own experience that, if a person goes at a job with determination and purpose, he may astonish himself as well as others by his ability.
This experience made him realize that many people have more ability than they think they have, and that lack of success is as often the result of lack of knowledge of how to apply one's ability, lack of confidence, and lack of determination as it is the result of lack of ability.
Question:
What can we conclude from the text?
Choices:
A. Alfred has a strong determination and a firm belief
B. Others' opinions are important
C. A person lacking in ability can still succeed
D. Alfred's teacher and classmates will regret. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high2354.txt | Alfred Alder, a famous psychiatrist, had an interesting experience. When he was a small boy he got off to a poor start in arithmetic. His teacher got the idea that he had no ability in arithmetic, and told his parents what she thought in order that they would not expect too much of him. In this way, they too developed the idea, "Isn't it too bad that Alfred can't do arithmetic?" He accepted their mistaken estimate of his ability, feeling that it was useless to try, and that he was very poor at arithmetic, just as they expected.
One day he became very angry at the teacher and the other students because they laughed when he said he saw how to do a problem which none of the other students had been able to solve.
Adler succeeded in solving the problem. This gave him confidence. He rejected the idea that he couldn't do arithmetic and was determined to show them that he could. His anger and his new found confidence stimulated him to go at arithmetic problems with a new spirit. He now worked with interest, determination, and purpose, and he soon became extraordinarily good at arithmetic. He not only proved that he could do arithmetic, but he learned early in life from his own experience that, if a person goes at a job with determination and purpose, he may astonish himself as well as others by his ability.
This experience made him realize that many people have more ability than they think they have, and that lack of success is as often the result of lack of knowledge of how to apply one's ability, lack of confidence, and lack of determination as it is the result of lack of ability. | [
"Alfred has a strong determination and a firm belief",
"Others' opinions are important",
"A person lacking in ability can still succeed",
"Alfred's teacher and classmates will regret."
] |
We can infer from the passage that _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Weekend Miracles
Weekend Miracles give children aged 9 and older in the Children's Center the opportunity to visit a host family who partners the child to find the child a permanent family. The host family arranges activities that the child will enjoy and introduces the child to their circle of friends--in order to develop a lasting connection with someone.
Organization: Kidsave International
Location: the United States
Duration: 2 days to 6 weeks
Web Designer Needed
We need the skills of a Web designer to help us redesign our website. The project will be fun and fulfilling, and give much needed visibility to our grass-roots projects that are serving children and mothers in every corner of the world.
Organization: Children's Fund
Location: the United States
Duration: 3 weeks to 2 months
Living Miracles
Doctors and dentists are needed as volunteers at Shechen Medical Clinic in Nepal for two months or longer. In Tibet, we need doctors for only 1-2 months. Dentists can come for one month or longer. Please understand that modern conveniences are not available here.
Organization: Dilgo Khyentse Fellowship
Location: Nepal
Duration: 21 days to 6 years
Teaching English to Children in India
The Salus Foundation, Inc. needs help from volunteers, teachers, college students or recent college graduates trained in ESL, or who are willing to be trained in ESL to teach English to the students at the Sulaxim School.
Organization: The Salus Foundation, Inc.
Location: India
Duration: 6 weeks to 9 months
Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Cameroon
In Defense of Animals in Africa needs help from highly motivated, mature volunteers who care about the conservation of great apes and are willing to live in an isolated, challenging, French-speaking environment for six months to benefit our future generation.
Organization: In Defense of Animals in Africa
Location: Cameroon
Duration: 6 months
Question:
We can infer from the passage that _ .
Choices:
A. serving children in every corner of the world is the Web designer's duty
B. volunteers going to Cameroon should be able to speak French
C. more dentists are needed than doctors in Nepal
D. the time you work in one of these places can be changed | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high958.txt | Weekend Miracles
Weekend Miracles give children aged 9 and older in the Children's Center the opportunity to visit a host family who partners the child to find the child a permanent family. The host family arranges activities that the child will enjoy and introduces the child to their circle of friends--in order to develop a lasting connection with someone.
Organization: Kidsave International
Location: the United States
Duration: 2 days to 6 weeks
Web Designer Needed
We need the skills of a Web designer to help us redesign our website. The project will be fun and fulfilling, and give much needed visibility to our grass-roots projects that are serving children and mothers in every corner of the world.
Organization: Children's Fund
Location: the United States
Duration: 3 weeks to 2 months
Living Miracles
Doctors and dentists are needed as volunteers at Shechen Medical Clinic in Nepal for two months or longer. In Tibet, we need doctors for only 1-2 months. Dentists can come for one month or longer. Please understand that modern conveniences are not available here.
Organization: Dilgo Khyentse Fellowship
Location: Nepal
Duration: 21 days to 6 years
Teaching English to Children in India
The Salus Foundation, Inc. needs help from volunteers, teachers, college students or recent college graduates trained in ESL, or who are willing to be trained in ESL to teach English to the students at the Sulaxim School.
Organization: The Salus Foundation, Inc.
Location: India
Duration: 6 weeks to 9 months
Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Cameroon
In Defense of Animals in Africa needs help from highly motivated, mature volunteers who care about the conservation of great apes and are willing to live in an isolated, challenging, French-speaking environment for six months to benefit our future generation.
Organization: In Defense of Animals in Africa
Location: Cameroon
Duration: 6 months | [
"serving children in every corner of the world is the Web designer's duty",
"volunteers going to Cameroon should be able to speak French",
"more dentists are needed than doctors in Nepal",
"the time you work in one of these places can be changed"
] |
In a section of the forest, there are 100 weasels and 50 rabbits. Three foxes invade this region and hunt the rodents. Each fox catches an average of 4 weasels and 2 rabbits per week. How many rabbits and weasels will be left after 3 weeks? | 3 foxes catch 4 weasels each every week for a total of 3*4 = <<3*4=12>>12 weasels
12 weasels are caught every week for 3 weeks for a total of 12*3 = <<12*3=36>>36 weasels
3 foxes catch 2 rabbits each every week for a total of 3*2 = <<3*2=6>>6 rabbits
6 rabbits are caught every week for 3 weeks for a total of 6*3 = <<6*3=18>>18 rabbits
There were originally 100 weasels so now there are 100-36 = <<100-36=64>>64 weasels left
There were originally 50 rabbits so now there are 50-18 = <<50-18=32>>32 rabbits left
There are 64+32 = <<64+32=96>>96 weasels and rabbits left
#### 96 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | In a section of the forest, there are 100 weasels and 50 rabbits. Three foxes invade this region and hunt the rodents. Each fox catches an average of 4 weasels and 2 rabbits per week. How many rabbits and weasels will be left after 3 weeks? | 3 foxes catch 4 weasels each every week for a total of 3*4 = <<3*4=12>>12 weasels
12 weasels are caught every week for 3 weeks for a total of 12*3 = <<12*3=36>>36 weasels
3 foxes catch 2 rabbits each every week for a total of 3*2 = <<3*2=6>>6 rabbits
6 rabbits are caught every week for 3 weeks for a total of 6*3 = <<6*3=18>>18 rabbits
There were originally 100 weasels so now there are 100-36 = <<100-36=64>>64 weasels left
There were originally 50 rabbits so now there are 50-18 = <<50-18=32>>32 rabbits left
There are 64+32 = <<64+32=96>>96 weasels and rabbits left
#### 96 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
From the whole report, it can be inferred that _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
TOKYO (Reuters) - "Who played the father in the movie 'Kramer versus Kramer'?" That's one of the 50 questions Japanese men could face in a "daddy exam", meant to raise awareness about fatherhood in a country where men tend to work long hours and leave their wives in charge of childcare and household work.
Even men who remember Dustin Hoffman struggling as a father in the movie may have a hard time answering questions ranging from baby food to politics.
Tetsuya Ando, director of Fathering Japan, a Tokyo non-profit organization that came up with the test and will offer it to eager dads from next March, said the exam was an attracting way to get fathers into parenting. "There just isn't enough information about parenting for fathers. Through the exam, we want men to realize that they don't know anything about bringing up kids," he said.
For the price of 3,900 yen ($34), fathers can find out whether they qualify as a "Super Dad," or are in need of more effort as a "Challenge Dad."
"We have received inquiries from fathers, single men, to-be-dads, grandfathers ... even an aunt who was concerned that her nephew is too busy with work to notice the fun of parenting," Ando said. The image of fathers is gradually changing in Japan as younger men _ their own dads' hands-off way in favor of closer involvement, and a wave of new parenting magazines for male readers has been hitting newsstands. But it is still hard for Japanese fathers to cut down on their work hours and spend more time with their families. Only 0.5 percent of employed men in Japan took parental leave in 2011, compared with 14 percent in the United States and 12 percent in Britain in 2000.
Question:
From the whole report, it can be inferred that _ .
Choices:
A. Japanese fathers show no interest in parenting
B. young Japanese men tend to set about parenting
C. young fathers value parenting less than their fathers
D. Japanese fathers value parenting more than British fathers | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high2670.txt | TOKYO (Reuters) - "Who played the father in the movie 'Kramer versus Kramer'?" That's one of the 50 questions Japanese men could face in a "daddy exam", meant to raise awareness about fatherhood in a country where men tend to work long hours and leave their wives in charge of childcare and household work.
Even men who remember Dustin Hoffman struggling as a father in the movie may have a hard time answering questions ranging from baby food to politics.
Tetsuya Ando, director of Fathering Japan, a Tokyo non-profit organization that came up with the test and will offer it to eager dads from next March, said the exam was an attracting way to get fathers into parenting. "There just isn't enough information about parenting for fathers. Through the exam, we want men to realize that they don't know anything about bringing up kids," he said.
For the price of 3,900 yen ($34), fathers can find out whether they qualify as a "Super Dad," or are in need of more effort as a "Challenge Dad."
"We have received inquiries from fathers, single men, to-be-dads, grandfathers ... even an aunt who was concerned that her nephew is too busy with work to notice the fun of parenting," Ando said. The image of fathers is gradually changing in Japan as younger men _ their own dads' hands-off way in favor of closer involvement, and a wave of new parenting magazines for male readers has been hitting newsstands. But it is still hard for Japanese fathers to cut down on their work hours and spend more time with their families. Only 0.5 percent of employed men in Japan took parental leave in 2011, compared with 14 percent in the United States and 12 percent in Britain in 2000. | [
"Japanese fathers show no interest in parenting",
"young Japanese men tend to set about parenting",
"young fathers value parenting less than their fathers",
"Japanese fathers value parenting more than British fathers"
] |
Mr. Wang------- _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Mary has a room. It's a big and nice room. It's bright and clean . There are some pictures on the front wall. On the back wall there is a map of China.
There is a desk and a chair in her room. Her backpack is behind the chair. Some books and her pencil-case are on the desk. There are some color pencils, a pen, a ruler, and a knife in the pencil-case. Mary's bed is near the desk. Her shoes and a volleyball are under the bed.
Mary and her friends are often in her room. They usually listen to music there. Mary likes English and Chinese very much. But she doesn't like math. It's to difficult for her. Mary's Chinese teacher is Mr. Wang. The students all love him, he is very strict, but sometimes very funny.
Question:
Mr. Wang------- _ .
Choices:
A. is an English teacher
B. is busy and strict
C. doesn't like his students
D. is Mary's Chinese teacher | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1000.txt | Mary has a room. It's a big and nice room. It's bright and clean . There are some pictures on the front wall. On the back wall there is a map of China.
There is a desk and a chair in her room. Her backpack is behind the chair. Some books and her pencil-case are on the desk. There are some color pencils, a pen, a ruler, and a knife in the pencil-case. Mary's bed is near the desk. Her shoes and a volleyball are under the bed.
Mary and her friends are often in her room. They usually listen to music there. Mary likes English and Chinese very much. But she doesn't like math. It's to difficult for her. Mary's Chinese teacher is Mr. Wang. The students all love him, he is very strict, but sometimes very funny. | [
"is an English teacher",
"is busy and strict",
"doesn't like his students",
"is Mary's Chinese teacher"
] |
What service does Mr Robinson's business provide? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
June 3, 2013
Suzanne Rogers
Ultra--Ergonomic Furniture
Sales and Shipping Department
Suite 58, 107 Morris Circle
Moorabbin, Victoria 3206
Dear Ms Rogers,
As I'm sure you are aware, our company has been organizing conventions, festivals, and other large corporate events for the last fifteen years. We have relied on your company for purchase and rental supplies of high--quality furniture for that entire period, and we've never had any cause for complaints with regard to your services.
I am writing to you personally to ask a special favor. We recently made an order with your company for the supply of rental furniture that includes chairs, tables, and partitions for an auto show (see order No. 11--35698A). Unfortunately, a serious error was made. In fact the show begins one week earlier than indicated on the order form. The starting date is actually July 7. I would appreciate it very much if you could try to do everything you can to ensure that our order be delivered to us on that date. Also, if possible, I'd like to add 20 Pop-up displays on top of our original order.
Please contact me soon.
Yours sincerely
Michael Robinson
Properties Manager
Mrobinson@btc. com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From: srogers@uef. shipping. com
Sent: June 8, 2013
To: mrobinson@btc. com
Dear Mr Robinson,
Thank you for your letter. I was surprised and of course concerned that you find yourself in this unfortunate situation. And of course I will do my best to help you.
Anyway, I personally look a trip down to our warehouse this morning to have a closer look at our stock to see if we have all the things you need for your convention--which I believe is from July 7 to July 14. I am happy to say that we will be able to provide you with everything you originally requested. However, as for the additional request you made, it won't be possible because we have already rented them out to another client during that week.
Kind regards,
Suzanne Rogers
Sales and shipping Department
Question:
What service does Mr Robinson's business provide?
Choices:
A. Arranging large, organized affairs.
B. Producing automobiles.
C. Selling and renting office furniture.
D. Delivering heavy equipment. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17264.txt | June 3, 2013
Suzanne Rogers
Ultra--Ergonomic Furniture
Sales and Shipping Department
Suite 58, 107 Morris Circle
Moorabbin, Victoria 3206
Dear Ms Rogers,
As I'm sure you are aware, our company has been organizing conventions, festivals, and other large corporate events for the last fifteen years. We have relied on your company for purchase and rental supplies of high--quality furniture for that entire period, and we've never had any cause for complaints with regard to your services.
I am writing to you personally to ask a special favor. We recently made an order with your company for the supply of rental furniture that includes chairs, tables, and partitions for an auto show (see order No. 11--35698A). Unfortunately, a serious error was made. In fact the show begins one week earlier than indicated on the order form. The starting date is actually July 7. I would appreciate it very much if you could try to do everything you can to ensure that our order be delivered to us on that date. Also, if possible, I'd like to add 20 Pop-up displays on top of our original order.
Please contact me soon.
Yours sincerely
Michael Robinson
Properties Manager
Mrobinson@btc. com
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From: srogers@uef. shipping. com
Sent: June 8, 2013
To: mrobinson@btc. com
Dear Mr Robinson,
Thank you for your letter. I was surprised and of course concerned that you find yourself in this unfortunate situation. And of course I will do my best to help you.
Anyway, I personally look a trip down to our warehouse this morning to have a closer look at our stock to see if we have all the things you need for your convention--which I believe is from July 7 to July 14. I am happy to say that we will be able to provide you with everything you originally requested. However, as for the additional request you made, it won't be possible because we have already rented them out to another client during that week.
Kind regards,
Suzanne Rogers
Sales and shipping Department | [
"Arranging large, organized affairs.",
"Producing automobiles.",
"Selling and renting office furniture.",
"Delivering heavy equipment."
] |
Scientists say if kids watch too much TV,they will _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Television is good.You'd like to watch it all day and all night.But too much TV is a very bad thing.Scientists found that kids who watch too much TV may have more trouble learning to read.They can't focus on their work.
Kids learn language skills best by reading,talking and playing with others.If they spend too much time watching TV,they'll have less time for those things.
Watching too much TV is bad for people's health.People don't move much while watching TV.What's more,they may eat a lot of food while watching.This can make them fat.We call these people"couch potatoes".
Fighting on TV is a big problem for kids.Young people are good at following.Scientists have found that those who watch a lot of fighting programmes are more likely to fight.
Question:
Scientists say if kids watch too much TV,they will _ .
Choices:
A. learn language skills more easily
B. be healthier
C. find it hard to learn to read
D. eat less food | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1048.txt | Television is good.You'd like to watch it all day and all night.But too much TV is a very bad thing.Scientists found that kids who watch too much TV may have more trouble learning to read.They can't focus on their work.
Kids learn language skills best by reading,talking and playing with others.If they spend too much time watching TV,they'll have less time for those things.
Watching too much TV is bad for people's health.People don't move much while watching TV.What's more,they may eat a lot of food while watching.This can make them fat.We call these people"couch potatoes".
Fighting on TV is a big problem for kids.Young people are good at following.Scientists have found that those who watch a lot of fighting programmes are more likely to fight. | [
"learn language skills more easily",
"be healthier",
"find it hard to learn to read",
"eat less food"
] |
Those who eat with both arms on the table at home _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
We would probably all be amazed if we watched a videotape of ourselves performing basically unconscious acts as we go about the business of the day. These unconscious acts consist of all the little personal habits that we don't even think about, but definitely should. These are some of the things that present an image of who we are to others, and if we are careless in performing them, this image may well be other than we would like it to be.
Parents who insist that their children practice good manners and habits at home are doing them a great service, for these habits then become lifelong and the natural way they do things. It proves true that their unconscious actions will reflect a well-mannered person.
People who, for example, eat with both arms on the table at home will likely do so when out. Those who are lazy and slow in private will certainly be so in public. Children who are permitted to be disrespectful to their parents will follow suit with other adults, and will, most likely, become adults who are disrespectful of others. This is an area where the saying "practice makes perfect" may be applied.
There is an article about the actress, Audrey Hepburn, known for her beautiful carriage and posture. According to her biographer, her grandmother tied her neck to the back of her chair, at table, so that she would not drop down suddenly over her food, but rather would learn to put only small amounts of food on her spoon or fork and bring them to her mouth. This is a rather extreme "at home" method for the development of erect posture, but it does illustrate the effectiveness of practicing good habits so that, when in public, they are instinctive.
Question:
Those who eat with both arms on the table at home _ .
Choices:
A. will probably change the habit when eating out with their relatives
B. will probably have the same habit when they have meals in the restaurant
C. will feel embarrassed when having meals with so many strangers in public
D. will always put their arms on the table no matter where they eat | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high15156.txt | We would probably all be amazed if we watched a videotape of ourselves performing basically unconscious acts as we go about the business of the day. These unconscious acts consist of all the little personal habits that we don't even think about, but definitely should. These are some of the things that present an image of who we are to others, and if we are careless in performing them, this image may well be other than we would like it to be.
Parents who insist that their children practice good manners and habits at home are doing them a great service, for these habits then become lifelong and the natural way they do things. It proves true that their unconscious actions will reflect a well-mannered person.
People who, for example, eat with both arms on the table at home will likely do so when out. Those who are lazy and slow in private will certainly be so in public. Children who are permitted to be disrespectful to their parents will follow suit with other adults, and will, most likely, become adults who are disrespectful of others. This is an area where the saying "practice makes perfect" may be applied.
There is an article about the actress, Audrey Hepburn, known for her beautiful carriage and posture. According to her biographer, her grandmother tied her neck to the back of her chair, at table, so that she would not drop down suddenly over her food, but rather would learn to put only small amounts of food on her spoon or fork and bring them to her mouth. This is a rather extreme "at home" method for the development of erect posture, but it does illustrate the effectiveness of practicing good habits so that, when in public, they are instinctive. | [
"will probably change the habit when eating out with their relatives",
"will probably have the same habit when they have meals in the restaurant",
"will feel embarrassed when having meals with so many strangers in public",
"will always put their arms on the table no matter where they eat"
] |
The author's hometown _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Moving to a new city and state was difficult for me, especially in winter. Little did I know that a Colorado snowstorm would greet me after I had been in my new home for only a week.
I just missed home. But more than the old house and the beach, I missed Stacey, my best friend. And I missed our lovely tea. Going to a sweet little tearoom, we had discovered was a special treat for us. The place was a Victorian dream, with delicate teacups and tablecloths with flower prints. The hat shelf near the front door swept us back to childhood. Stacey and I became little girls, trying on different hats until we found the perfect one for our dress-up tea party. We would then choose a lovely table and order our tea. That was a precious time, filled with laughter between scones and sharing our lives between tiny cucumber sandwiches.
Springtime descended upon Denver, and the sun lightened my heart. But I still fought loneliness almost every day. I decided to explore the Denver area. While my husband went to the office, I took time to see what our new area had to offer.
One day, I was walking along the street when suddenly the words "Tea Leaves" caught my eye. A tea room? Here, in the land of loneliness and pain?
I walked through the doors, and tears came to my eyes. It was a beautiful room, not Victorian, but simple and lovely.
I sat down and ordered a pot of tea, a cucumber sandwich, and some scones.It felt silly and wonderful --- and it felt like home. For the first time since moving, I felt as if this new city and state could be, would eventually be, my home. I would come back here and bring new friends. When Stacey visited, we would come here.
I lifted my cup and made a silent toast. I toasted Stacey, whom I missed ly, and I toasted the sweet little tearoom that lessened my pain.
Question:
The author's hometown _ .
Choices:
A. never snows
B. is still warm in winter
C. has a long history
D. is in an area by the sea | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high2812.txt | Moving to a new city and state was difficult for me, especially in winter. Little did I know that a Colorado snowstorm would greet me after I had been in my new home for only a week.
I just missed home. But more than the old house and the beach, I missed Stacey, my best friend. And I missed our lovely tea. Going to a sweet little tearoom, we had discovered was a special treat for us. The place was a Victorian dream, with delicate teacups and tablecloths with flower prints. The hat shelf near the front door swept us back to childhood. Stacey and I became little girls, trying on different hats until we found the perfect one for our dress-up tea party. We would then choose a lovely table and order our tea. That was a precious time, filled with laughter between scones and sharing our lives between tiny cucumber sandwiches.
Springtime descended upon Denver, and the sun lightened my heart. But I still fought loneliness almost every day. I decided to explore the Denver area. While my husband went to the office, I took time to see what our new area had to offer.
One day, I was walking along the street when suddenly the words "Tea Leaves" caught my eye. A tea room? Here, in the land of loneliness and pain?
I walked through the doors, and tears came to my eyes. It was a beautiful room, not Victorian, but simple and lovely.
I sat down and ordered a pot of tea, a cucumber sandwich, and some scones.It felt silly and wonderful --- and it felt like home. For the first time since moving, I felt as if this new city and state could be, would eventually be, my home. I would come back here and bring new friends. When Stacey visited, we would come here.
I lifted my cup and made a silent toast. I toasted Stacey, whom I missed ly, and I toasted the sweet little tearoom that lessened my pain. | [
"never snows",
"is still warm in winter",
"has a long history",
"is in an area by the sea"
] |
Where did Alice spend her Christmas Eve? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
I am a manager who is in charge of taking care of the elderly and many of my clients live out of state.
This year, a very sweet old lady that I care for, Alice, had gone through a particularly rough time. She had been in hospital twice. In November I was finally able to get her back to her "home" into an "assisted living facility" .
Alice has dementia and thought her daughter was coming to visit her on Christmas day and that they were going to have the whole family together like the old days. When she finally realized that the happy moment was not going to happen, she was so _ . Knowing that her daughter was coming after Christmas was not enough to cheer her up, I hated the idea of her being alone on the holiday!
On Christmas Eve, I gave her a surprise by asking if she would like to go to a candlelight service at church that night. Instead of taking her to my church, I took her to her old neighborhood church where all her friends were. We got there early and I got each of us a seat where her friends could see her as they came in. The plan worked out very perfectly. All of her friends seemed to be there and rushed over to greet her and sit with her. The candlelight service was a beautiful, tearful affair and Alice got a lot of hugs and love from her old and new friends there.
The truth of the story is that I am the one who got the best gift:the smile on Alice's face and the feeling that I made a difference.
Question:
Where did Alice spend her Christmas Eve?
Choices:
A. Alice's old house
B. Alice's old neighborhood church
C. A church in the author's neighborhood
D. A church in Alice's daughter's neighborhood | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high8636.txt | I am a manager who is in charge of taking care of the elderly and many of my clients live out of state.
This year, a very sweet old lady that I care for, Alice, had gone through a particularly rough time. She had been in hospital twice. In November I was finally able to get her back to her "home" into an "assisted living facility" .
Alice has dementia and thought her daughter was coming to visit her on Christmas day and that they were going to have the whole family together like the old days. When she finally realized that the happy moment was not going to happen, she was so _ . Knowing that her daughter was coming after Christmas was not enough to cheer her up, I hated the idea of her being alone on the holiday!
On Christmas Eve, I gave her a surprise by asking if she would like to go to a candlelight service at church that night. Instead of taking her to my church, I took her to her old neighborhood church where all her friends were. We got there early and I got each of us a seat where her friends could see her as they came in. The plan worked out very perfectly. All of her friends seemed to be there and rushed over to greet her and sit with her. The candlelight service was a beautiful, tearful affair and Alice got a lot of hugs and love from her old and new friends there.
The truth of the story is that I am the one who got the best gift:the smile on Alice's face and the feeling that I made a difference. | [
"Alice's old house",
"Alice's old neighborhood church",
"A church in the author's neighborhood",
"A church in Alice's daughter's neighborhood"
] |
What is the possible difficulty in carrying out the plan? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Experts have put forward detailed plans for a tunnel to join Taiwan with the Chinese mainland.
The shortest proposed route would be 126 kilometers--more than twice the length of the English Channel Tunnel.And the longest proposed route would be 207 kilometers.
A recent conference in xiamen,Fujian Province brought together more than 70 experts.The event was cosponsored by universities from Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.Fujian is the province where both proposed mutes would begin.
There is no direct passenger access between the mainland and Taiwan by air or sea at the moment.
Experts say that it is better to start research sooner rather than later,although there is a lack of government funding .There are no technical problems t0 build a Taiwan tunnel.But it will require an improved political relationship across the Straits.
A professor of TsinghHa University said,"A special feature of huge projects is that the period of preparation is longer than the period of construction."
For example,he said,the English channel Tunnel took 14 years of planning and had been discussed for two centuries.And preparations for the huge Three Corges dam on the Yangze River began in the 1950s.
The xiamen conference focused on the longest southern route,which would use the Taiwan-controlled islands of Jinmen and Penghu as steppingstones.
The first stage of the new project could be a bridge to cross the five kilometers between Xiamen and Jinmen.This would mean that traveling from Xiamen to Jinmen by car would only take five minutes.
The longest tunnel now being planned anywhere in the world is the 54-kilometer land tunnel to link Lyon in France with Turin in Italy.The tunnel will not be completed until 2015-2020.
Question:
What is the possible difficulty in carrying out the plan?
Choices:
A. The 1ack of money for the project from the government.
B. Improving the relationship between Taiwan and the mainland.
C. The detailed plans for the tunnel.
D. The technical problems with the tunnel. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high20016.txt | Experts have put forward detailed plans for a tunnel to join Taiwan with the Chinese mainland.
The shortest proposed route would be 126 kilometers--more than twice the length of the English Channel Tunnel.And the longest proposed route would be 207 kilometers.
A recent conference in xiamen,Fujian Province brought together more than 70 experts.The event was cosponsored by universities from Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.Fujian is the province where both proposed mutes would begin.
There is no direct passenger access between the mainland and Taiwan by air or sea at the moment.
Experts say that it is better to start research sooner rather than later,although there is a lack of government funding .There are no technical problems t0 build a Taiwan tunnel.But it will require an improved political relationship across the Straits.
A professor of TsinghHa University said,"A special feature of huge projects is that the period of preparation is longer than the period of construction."
For example,he said,the English channel Tunnel took 14 years of planning and had been discussed for two centuries.And preparations for the huge Three Corges dam on the Yangze River began in the 1950s.
The xiamen conference focused on the longest southern route,which would use the Taiwan-controlled islands of Jinmen and Penghu as steppingstones.
The first stage of the new project could be a bridge to cross the five kilometers between Xiamen and Jinmen.This would mean that traveling from Xiamen to Jinmen by car would only take five minutes.
The longest tunnel now being planned anywhere in the world is the 54-kilometer land tunnel to link Lyon in France with Turin in Italy.The tunnel will not be completed until 2015-2020. | [
"The 1ack of money for the project from the government.",
"Improving the relationship between Taiwan and the mainland.",
"The detailed plans for the tunnel.",
"The technical problems with the tunnel."
] |
It is not easy to study the migrating behavior of the insects because _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
As they migrate , butterflies and moths choose the winds they want to fly with, and they change their body positions if they start floating in the wrong direction. This new finding suggests that insects may employ some of the same methods that birds use for traveling long distances. Scientists have long thought that insects were simply at the mercy of the wind.
Fascinating as their skills of flight are, migrating behavior has been difficult to study in insects because many long distant trips happen thousands of feet above ground. Only recently have scientists developed technologies that can detect such little creatures at such great heights.
To their surprise, though, the insects weren't passive travelers on the winds. In autumn, for example, most light winds blew from the east, but the insects somehow sought out ones that carried them south and they positioned themselves to navigate directly to their wintering homes.
Even in the spring, when most winds flowed northward, the insects didn't always go with the flow. If breezes weren't blowing in the exact direction they wanted to go, the insects changed their body positions to compensate . Many migrating birds do the same thing.
The study also found, butterflies and moths actively flew within the air streams that pushed them along. By adding flight speeds to wind speeds, the scientists calculated that butterflies and moths can travel as fast as 100 kilometers an hour. The findings may have real-world applications. With climate warming, migrating insects are growing in number. Knowing how and when these pests move could help when farmers decide when to spray their crops.
Question:
It is not easy to study the migrating behavior of the insects because _ .
Choices:
A. the little creatures can fly very fast
B. they have no regular migrating courses
C. the wind's direction is hard to foresee
D. their flight is long and high above ground | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high5705.txt | As they migrate , butterflies and moths choose the winds they want to fly with, and they change their body positions if they start floating in the wrong direction. This new finding suggests that insects may employ some of the same methods that birds use for traveling long distances. Scientists have long thought that insects were simply at the mercy of the wind.
Fascinating as their skills of flight are, migrating behavior has been difficult to study in insects because many long distant trips happen thousands of feet above ground. Only recently have scientists developed technologies that can detect such little creatures at such great heights.
To their surprise, though, the insects weren't passive travelers on the winds. In autumn, for example, most light winds blew from the east, but the insects somehow sought out ones that carried them south and they positioned themselves to navigate directly to their wintering homes.
Even in the spring, when most winds flowed northward, the insects didn't always go with the flow. If breezes weren't blowing in the exact direction they wanted to go, the insects changed their body positions to compensate . Many migrating birds do the same thing.
The study also found, butterflies and moths actively flew within the air streams that pushed them along. By adding flight speeds to wind speeds, the scientists calculated that butterflies and moths can travel as fast as 100 kilometers an hour. The findings may have real-world applications. With climate warming, migrating insects are growing in number. Knowing how and when these pests move could help when farmers decide when to spray their crops. | [
"the little creatures can fly very fast",
"they have no regular migrating courses",
"the wind's direction is hard to foresee",
"their flight is long and high above ground"
] |
Which of the following best describes the author's tone in telling the story? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
One day, while a woodcutter was cutting a branch of a tree above a river. When he began crying, God appeared and asked him, "Why are you crying?"
The woodcutter told him that he had dropped his axe into water. God went down into the water and reappeared with a golden axe.
"Is this your axe?" God asked.
The woodcutter said "No."
God again went down and came up with a silver axe." Is this your axe?" God asked.
The woodcutter said "No."
God again went down and came up with a iron axe." Is this your axe?" God asked.
The woodcutter said "Yes."
God was pleased with the man's honesty and gave him all the three axes.
The woodcutter went home happily. One day while he was walking with his wife along the river, his wife fell into the river. W hen he began crying, God appeared and asked him, "Why are you crying?"
"My wife has fallen into water."
God went down into the water and came up with Jennifer Lopez.
"Is this your wife?" God asked him.
"Yes." he said.
God was furious ,"YOU CHEAT !Now I am going to curse you."
The woodcutter quickly said, "Forgive me my lord. It is a misunderstanding. IF I say 'No' to Jennifer Lopez, you will come up with Catherine Zeta Jones, If I also say 'No' to her, you will finally come up
With my wife and I will say, 'Yes.' Then you will give all the three to me .I am a poor man .I will not be able to look after all the three. So that's why I've to say 'Yes' "
Question:
Which of the following best describes the author's tone in telling the story?
Choices:
A. Optimistic
B. Humoristic
C. Objective
D. Critical | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high15594.txt | One day, while a woodcutter was cutting a branch of a tree above a river. When he began crying, God appeared and asked him, "Why are you crying?"
The woodcutter told him that he had dropped his axe into water. God went down into the water and reappeared with a golden axe.
"Is this your axe?" God asked.
The woodcutter said "No."
God again went down and came up with a silver axe." Is this your axe?" God asked.
The woodcutter said "No."
God again went down and came up with a iron axe." Is this your axe?" God asked.
The woodcutter said "Yes."
God was pleased with the man's honesty and gave him all the three axes.
The woodcutter went home happily. One day while he was walking with his wife along the river, his wife fell into the river. W hen he began crying, God appeared and asked him, "Why are you crying?"
"My wife has fallen into water."
God went down into the water and came up with Jennifer Lopez.
"Is this your wife?" God asked him.
"Yes." he said.
God was furious ,"YOU CHEAT !Now I am going to curse you."
The woodcutter quickly said, "Forgive me my lord. It is a misunderstanding. IF I say 'No' to Jennifer Lopez, you will come up with Catherine Zeta Jones, If I also say 'No' to her, you will finally come up
With my wife and I will say, 'Yes.' Then you will give all the three to me .I am a poor man .I will not be able to look after all the three. So that's why I've to say 'Yes' " | [
"Optimistic",
"Humoristic",
"Objective",
"Critical"
] |
In the summer high season, Finland doesnt seem to sleep because _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Finland lies in the north of Europe, and has Russia to the east. It is two different places in winter and summer. Summers there are fairly dry and hot, although by August things can already begin to get cold and unpleasant. Of course, winters are cold, but the cold is dry. In most parts snow comes in October and clears by the end of March, but in the northern parts snow can fall as early as September and stay until late May.
The tourist season in southern Finland is from early June to late August. This is when all the tourist attractions and summer programs are open, with steamboats and ferries traveling on the lakes and rivers, and festivals become very lively. Finnish holidays are from the summer high season in late June to the end of July. This is the time period of nights with sunlight, when Finland doesnt seem to sleep.
The tourist season in northern Finland is different. Mosquitoes can be annoying in July, but September is lovely with its autumn colors. October, February and March are good times to visit the north of Finland to view the aurora borealis , and enjoy winter activities such as skiing and dog sledding. The Christmas holiday period is also one of the best times in Finland --after all, this is the "official" home of Santa Claus. Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is popular all year round.
Question:
In the summer high season, Finland doesnt seem to sleep because _ .
Choices:
A. the sun is out at night
B. people in Finland work at night
C. people would rather go traveling
D. lots of lights are on because of the tourist season | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high10169.txt | Finland lies in the north of Europe, and has Russia to the east. It is two different places in winter and summer. Summers there are fairly dry and hot, although by August things can already begin to get cold and unpleasant. Of course, winters are cold, but the cold is dry. In most parts snow comes in October and clears by the end of March, but in the northern parts snow can fall as early as September and stay until late May.
The tourist season in southern Finland is from early June to late August. This is when all the tourist attractions and summer programs are open, with steamboats and ferries traveling on the lakes and rivers, and festivals become very lively. Finnish holidays are from the summer high season in late June to the end of July. This is the time period of nights with sunlight, when Finland doesnt seem to sleep.
The tourist season in northern Finland is different. Mosquitoes can be annoying in July, but September is lovely with its autumn colors. October, February and March are good times to visit the north of Finland to view the aurora borealis , and enjoy winter activities such as skiing and dog sledding. The Christmas holiday period is also one of the best times in Finland --after all, this is the "official" home of Santa Claus. Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is popular all year round. | [
"the sun is out at night",
"people in Finland work at night",
"people would rather go traveling",
"lots of lights are on because of the tourist season"
] |
From the last part of the passage, we learn that _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Eddie's father used to say he'd spent so many years by the ocean, breathing seawater. Now, away from that ocean, in the hospital bed, his body began to look like a beached fish. His condition went from fair to stable and from stable to serious. Friends went from saying, "He'll be home in a day" to "He'll be home in a week." In his father's absence, Eddie helped out at the pier , working evenings after his taxi job.
When Eddie was a teenager, if he ever complained or seemed bored with the pier, his father would shout, "What? This isn't good enough for you?" And later, when he'd suggested Eddie take a job there after high school, Eddie almost laughed, and his father again said, "What? This isn't good enough for you?" And before Eddie went to war, when he'd talked of marrying Marguerite and becoming an engineer, his father said, "What? This isn't good enough for you?"
And now, regardless of all that, here he was, at the pier, doing his father's labor.
Parents rarely let go of their children, so children let go of them. They move on. They move away. It is not until much later, as the heart weakens, that children understand; their stories, and all their accomplishments, sit on top of the stories of their mothers and fathers, stones upon stones, beneath the waters of their lives.
Finally, one night, at his mother's urging, Eddie visited the hospital. He entered the room slowly. His father, who for years had refused to speak to Eddie, now lacked the strength to even try.
"Don't sweat it, kid," the other workers told him. "Your old man will pull through. He's the toughest man we've ever seen."
When the news came that his father had died, Eddie felt the emptiest kind of anger, the kind that circles in its cage.
In the weeks that followed, Eddie's mother lived in a confused state. She spoke to her husband as if he were still there. She yelled at him to turn down the radio. She cooked enough food for two. One night, when Eddie offered to help with the dishes, she said. "Your father will put them away." Eddie put a hand on her shoulder. "Ma," he said, softly, "Dad's gone."
"Gone where?"
Question:
From the last part of the passage, we learn that _ .
Choices:
A. Eddie's mother liked to listen to the radio
B. Eddie often helped his mother wash the dishes
C. Eddie and his wife lived in his mother's apartment
D. Eddie's mother missed her husband so much that she was at a loss | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high18097.txt | Eddie's father used to say he'd spent so many years by the ocean, breathing seawater. Now, away from that ocean, in the hospital bed, his body began to look like a beached fish. His condition went from fair to stable and from stable to serious. Friends went from saying, "He'll be home in a day" to "He'll be home in a week." In his father's absence, Eddie helped out at the pier , working evenings after his taxi job.
When Eddie was a teenager, if he ever complained or seemed bored with the pier, his father would shout, "What? This isn't good enough for you?" And later, when he'd suggested Eddie take a job there after high school, Eddie almost laughed, and his father again said, "What? This isn't good enough for you?" And before Eddie went to war, when he'd talked of marrying Marguerite and becoming an engineer, his father said, "What? This isn't good enough for you?"
And now, regardless of all that, here he was, at the pier, doing his father's labor.
Parents rarely let go of their children, so children let go of them. They move on. They move away. It is not until much later, as the heart weakens, that children understand; their stories, and all their accomplishments, sit on top of the stories of their mothers and fathers, stones upon stones, beneath the waters of their lives.
Finally, one night, at his mother's urging, Eddie visited the hospital. He entered the room slowly. His father, who for years had refused to speak to Eddie, now lacked the strength to even try.
"Don't sweat it, kid," the other workers told him. "Your old man will pull through. He's the toughest man we've ever seen."
When the news came that his father had died, Eddie felt the emptiest kind of anger, the kind that circles in its cage.
In the weeks that followed, Eddie's mother lived in a confused state. She spoke to her husband as if he were still there. She yelled at him to turn down the radio. She cooked enough food for two. One night, when Eddie offered to help with the dishes, she said. "Your father will put them away." Eddie put a hand on her shoulder. "Ma," he said, softly, "Dad's gone."
"Gone where?" | [
"Eddie's mother liked to listen to the radio",
"Eddie often helped his mother wash the dishes",
"Eddie and his wife lived in his mother's apartment",
"Eddie's mother missed her husband so much that she was at a loss"
] |
what made Van Gogh become interested in religion? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
V _ , an artist of tremendous energy and prodigious output. He killed himself when he was only 37, but he left behind him more than 2,000 paintings and drawings, which established his reputation in a way he would never have considered possible.
Van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853 at Groot Zundert Province of Noord Nrabant in Dutch. He was the son of a clergyman. His first artist impressions were formed as a boy, from his uncle who was an art dealer. The motivation bore early fruit and from the age of 12 the young Vincent was drawing. The interest led to an apprenticeship in an art dealer's firm, Groupil's, in the Hague. When he was only 20, he was transferred to the firm's London office.
In London Van Gogh faced his first major crisis, when he was rejected in love. After that, he turned to religion, expressed disapproval with art-dealing and neglected his work. Groupil transferred him from London to Paris but, when his work was still unsatisfactory, dismissed him in 1876.
The young Van Gogh made religion a consuming interest and during the next few years travelled in Britain, Belgium and Holland, trying to establish himself as a preacher, but without success.
In 1880, at the age of 27, he found himself drawn back to art. He had a job as an assistant evangelist in the mining village of Borinage in Belgium but realized an artist drive which was to motivate him unceasingly until his death 10 years later.
Late in 1881, he moved to the Hague and established a relationship with a woman, Christine Hoornik, with whom he lived for a time. He broke with her in 1883, however, and never again established a significant intimate relationship with a woman.
In 1886 Van Gogh left Holland forever and travelled via Antwerp to Paris, and to major changes in artistic style. Van Gogh's work became more youthful in Paris. He
lived with his brother, Theo, who managed the modern department of an art dealer's. A new, more animated, painting style emerged and the impressionist tendencies of earlier work weakened somewhat.
Van Gogh developed a taste for personalized brushwork and brilliant, unmixed color1s. Among his most prominent experiments with color1 were a series of some 30 flower paintings, a fascination which stayed with him until his death.
Question:
what made Van Gogh become interested in religion?
Choices:
A. That he was dismissed by Groupil
B. His experience in an art dealer's firm
C. That a girl refused his love
D. His consuming interest in art | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high20366.txt | V _ , an artist of tremendous energy and prodigious output. He killed himself when he was only 37, but he left behind him more than 2,000 paintings and drawings, which established his reputation in a way he would never have considered possible.
Van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853 at Groot Zundert Province of Noord Nrabant in Dutch. He was the son of a clergyman. His first artist impressions were formed as a boy, from his uncle who was an art dealer. The motivation bore early fruit and from the age of 12 the young Vincent was drawing. The interest led to an apprenticeship in an art dealer's firm, Groupil's, in the Hague. When he was only 20, he was transferred to the firm's London office.
In London Van Gogh faced his first major crisis, when he was rejected in love. After that, he turned to religion, expressed disapproval with art-dealing and neglected his work. Groupil transferred him from London to Paris but, when his work was still unsatisfactory, dismissed him in 1876.
The young Van Gogh made religion a consuming interest and during the next few years travelled in Britain, Belgium and Holland, trying to establish himself as a preacher, but without success.
In 1880, at the age of 27, he found himself drawn back to art. He had a job as an assistant evangelist in the mining village of Borinage in Belgium but realized an artist drive which was to motivate him unceasingly until his death 10 years later.
Late in 1881, he moved to the Hague and established a relationship with a woman, Christine Hoornik, with whom he lived for a time. He broke with her in 1883, however, and never again established a significant intimate relationship with a woman.
In 1886 Van Gogh left Holland forever and travelled via Antwerp to Paris, and to major changes in artistic style. Van Gogh's work became more youthful in Paris. He
lived with his brother, Theo, who managed the modern department of an art dealer's. A new, more animated, painting style emerged and the impressionist tendencies of earlier work weakened somewhat.
Van Gogh developed a taste for personalized brushwork and brilliant, unmixed color1s. Among his most prominent experiments with color1 were a series of some 30 flower paintings, a fascination which stayed with him until his death. | [
"That he was dismissed by Groupil",
"His experience in an art dealer's firm",
"That a girl refused his love",
"His consuming interest in art"
] |
From the passage we can see that One-day adventure course _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The Outdoor Centre
Opening times
Water sports: 10 a.m. -- 6 p.m.
Play Park: 10 a.m. -- 5:30 p.m.
Windsurfing -- One-day course
Beginner windsurfing courses are offered on Saturdays and Sundays when the weather is good enough. Learning to windsurf is a lot of fun. The excitement when you sail across the water for the first time is not easily forgotten. Boards with small sails are available for beginners.
Course fee: PS32 for adults; PS16 for children under 16 (this includes all equipment)
One-day adventure course
This is the opportunity you have been waiting for. Come and try sailing, climbing, surfing and archery . This course is intended to introduce outdoor activities to adults in a fun and leisurely manner. You do not need to be very fit or to have previous experience with the activities. All you need is to be interested.
Course fee: PS22.50
Play Park
The Play Park is suitable for children from two to ten years of age. It is one of the best of its type in the country. It has sand and water playgrounds, slides, large pool balls, a play castle and much, much more. Next year the center will open Play Palace and Play Ship.
Summer adventure holidays
Sailing, Climbing, Windsurfing, Fun Games
Fee: PS50 for adults; PS30 for children under 16
Statement:
Safety is of primary importance at the Outdoor Center. All staff members are fully trained in first aid, and qualified to teach the activities on offer. We also make sure that all children only take part in activities that are suitable for their ages and physical abilities. For this programme children must be able to swim 25 metres and be in good physical health.
Question:
From the passage we can see that One-day adventure course _ .
Choices:
A. costs more than the other activities
B. is the most dangerous of all
C. is not open to children
D. requires some experience | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1430.txt | The Outdoor Centre
Opening times
Water sports: 10 a.m. -- 6 p.m.
Play Park: 10 a.m. -- 5:30 p.m.
Windsurfing -- One-day course
Beginner windsurfing courses are offered on Saturdays and Sundays when the weather is good enough. Learning to windsurf is a lot of fun. The excitement when you sail across the water for the first time is not easily forgotten. Boards with small sails are available for beginners.
Course fee: PS32 for adults; PS16 for children under 16 (this includes all equipment)
One-day adventure course
This is the opportunity you have been waiting for. Come and try sailing, climbing, surfing and archery . This course is intended to introduce outdoor activities to adults in a fun and leisurely manner. You do not need to be very fit or to have previous experience with the activities. All you need is to be interested.
Course fee: PS22.50
Play Park
The Play Park is suitable for children from two to ten years of age. It is one of the best of its type in the country. It has sand and water playgrounds, slides, large pool balls, a play castle and much, much more. Next year the center will open Play Palace and Play Ship.
Summer adventure holidays
Sailing, Climbing, Windsurfing, Fun Games
Fee: PS50 for adults; PS30 for children under 16
Statement:
Safety is of primary importance at the Outdoor Center. All staff members are fully trained in first aid, and qualified to teach the activities on offer. We also make sure that all children only take part in activities that are suitable for their ages and physical abilities. For this programme children must be able to swim 25 metres and be in good physical health. | [
"costs more than the other activities",
"is the most dangerous of all",
"is not open to children",
"requires some experience"
] |
Topographic maps have a horizontal scale to indicate what distances? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Topographic maps have a horizontal scale to indicate what distances? | horizontal | science | null | null | null | perpendicular | diagonal | vertical | horizontal | Topographic maps have a horizontal scale to indicate horizontal distances. | null | null | null |
Why did not Yang Yang(S) compete in the 500 meters? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Five-time world overall short-track speed skating champion Yang Yang(A)won China's first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal with a runaway victory in the 500m final on Saturday.
Yang Yang, putting behind her a dismal fourth place finish in the 1,500 meters three days ago, got off to a sparking lead and never looked back to cross the line in 44.187 seconds.
World-record holder and four-time European champion Evgenia Radanova followed home 0.065 seconds behind.
Another Chinese, Wang Chunju, the world champion in the shortest distance came in third, two-hundredths of a second further behind.
Yang, 25, whose name is tagged with the letter A to distinguish her from her younger teammate and namesake, Yang Yang(S), is the overall World Cup winner this season, with the top points in the 1,000m and 1,500m.
In the 1,500m, the younger Yang, 24, who won two silver medals in Nagano four years ago, crashed out while chasing herd after two South Korean teenagers, KoGi-Hyun and Choi Eun-Kyungm who eventually finished first and second. Yang Yang(A) ended up fourth.
Yang Yang(S) did not compete in the 500 meters.
Question:
Why did not Yang Yang(S) compete in the 500 meters?
Choices:
A. She did want to.
B. She was wounded.
C. She was not qualified.
D. It was not mentioned. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1997.txt | Five-time world overall short-track speed skating champion Yang Yang(A)won China's first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal with a runaway victory in the 500m final on Saturday.
Yang Yang, putting behind her a dismal fourth place finish in the 1,500 meters three days ago, got off to a sparking lead and never looked back to cross the line in 44.187 seconds.
World-record holder and four-time European champion Evgenia Radanova followed home 0.065 seconds behind.
Another Chinese, Wang Chunju, the world champion in the shortest distance came in third, two-hundredths of a second further behind.
Yang, 25, whose name is tagged with the letter A to distinguish her from her younger teammate and namesake, Yang Yang(S), is the overall World Cup winner this season, with the top points in the 1,000m and 1,500m.
In the 1,500m, the younger Yang, 24, who won two silver medals in Nagano four years ago, crashed out while chasing herd after two South Korean teenagers, KoGi-Hyun and Choi Eun-Kyungm who eventually finished first and second. Yang Yang(A) ended up fourth.
Yang Yang(S) did not compete in the 500 meters. | [
"She did want to.",
"She was wounded.",
"She was not qualified.",
"It was not mentioned."
] |
How soon can TSF send workers to a disaster area? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
When trouble comes, what do we usually do? We pick up our mobile phones and call for help. That's easy, right? But in an emergency, many people are unable to call for help. Floods and earthquakes come suddenly. Wars can hurt or kill. Successful communication can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.
Meet French NGO Telecoms Sans Frontiers (Telecommunications Without Borders ). Its goal is to use mobile communication technology to help people in need. TSF began in 1998. First, they opened their main base in France. Then in 2003, they started another base in Nicaragua. The next year they opened their Thailand base. Now if a disaster hits anywhere in the world, TSF is ready. They can send workers to a disaster area to set up communication systems within 24 hours.
Once TSF arrives at a disaster area, they set up telephone connections and Internet service. They share these services with other international helpers on the scene such as the UN or UNICEF. Mobile communication helps other volunteers do their jobs better.
TSF also offers three-minute phone calls to local people who need to contact their loved ones. These communications can allow people to get together again after being separated . Often the callers are moved to tears after speaking to a relative found to be still alive. Then the families can decide on a safe course of action for their family members.
Since 1998, TSF has helped thousands of people in many countries. Most of the TSF workers does not get paid with money, but the satisfaction of helping others and changing lives is often a great reward.
Question:
How soon can TSF send workers to a disaster area?
Choices:
A. In one day.
B. In two days.
C. In three days.
D. In four days. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5660.txt | When trouble comes, what do we usually do? We pick up our mobile phones and call for help. That's easy, right? But in an emergency, many people are unable to call for help. Floods and earthquakes come suddenly. Wars can hurt or kill. Successful communication can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.
Meet French NGO Telecoms Sans Frontiers (Telecommunications Without Borders ). Its goal is to use mobile communication technology to help people in need. TSF began in 1998. First, they opened their main base in France. Then in 2003, they started another base in Nicaragua. The next year they opened their Thailand base. Now if a disaster hits anywhere in the world, TSF is ready. They can send workers to a disaster area to set up communication systems within 24 hours.
Once TSF arrives at a disaster area, they set up telephone connections and Internet service. They share these services with other international helpers on the scene such as the UN or UNICEF. Mobile communication helps other volunteers do their jobs better.
TSF also offers three-minute phone calls to local people who need to contact their loved ones. These communications can allow people to get together again after being separated . Often the callers are moved to tears after speaking to a relative found to be still alive. Then the families can decide on a safe course of action for their family members.
Since 1998, TSF has helped thousands of people in many countries. Most of the TSF workers does not get paid with money, but the satisfaction of helping others and changing lives is often a great reward. | [
"In one day.",
"In two days.",
"In three days.",
"In four days."
] |
Penny's canoe can carry 6 people, but if she wants to take her dog, she will only fit 2/3 of that number inside. If every person in a trip where Penny had her dog inside the canoe weighed 140 pounds, and the dog 1/4 as much weight, calculate the total weight the canoe was carrying? | When Penny has her dog inside the canoe, only 2/3*6 = <<2/3*6=4>>4 people could fit inside the canoe.
If every person in a trip where Penny had her dog inside the canoe weighed 140 pounds, the total weight of people inside the canoe was 140*4= <<140*4=560>>560 pounds.
The dog weighs 1/4*140 = <<140/4=35>>35 pounds
On the trip, the canoe was carrying 560+35 = <<560+35=595>>595 pounds
#### 595 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Penny's canoe can carry 6 people, but if she wants to take her dog, she will only fit 2/3 of that number inside. If every person in a trip where Penny had her dog inside the canoe weighed 140 pounds, and the dog 1/4 as much weight, calculate the total weight the canoe was carrying? | When Penny has her dog inside the canoe, only 2/3*6 = <<2/3*6=4>>4 people could fit inside the canoe.
If every person in a trip where Penny had her dog inside the canoe weighed 140 pounds, the total weight of people inside the canoe was 140*4= <<140*4=560>>560 pounds.
The dog weighs 1/4*140 = <<140/4=35>>35 pounds
On the trip, the canoe was carrying 560+35 = <<560+35=595>>595 pounds
#### 595 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
What is the region called where an electron is most likely to be found? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What is the region called where an electron is most likely to be found? | the orbital | science | null | null | null | the ellipse | the shell | the nucleus | the orbital | Negative electrons are attracted to the positive nucleus. This force of attraction keeps electrons constantly moving around the nucleus. The region where an electron is most likely to be found is called an orbital. | null | null | null |
What is the lowest energy state of the atom called? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What is the lowest energy state of the atom called? | ground state | science | null | null | null | base state | work state | active state | ground state | The electrons in an atom tend to be arranged in such a way that the energy of the atom is as low as possible. The ground state of an atom is the lowest energy state of the atom. When those atoms are given energy, the electrons absorb the energy and move to a higher energy level. These energy levels of the electrons in atoms are quantized, meaning again that the electron must move from one energy level to another in discrete steps rather than continuously. An excited state of an atom is a state where its potential energy is higher than the ground state. An atom in the excited state is not stable. When it returns back to the ground state, it releases the energy that it had previously gained in the form of electromagnetic radiation. | null | null | null |
As soon as you enter the taxi, you pay a ride fee of $2. Michelle rode a taxi from her office to her home, which constitutes 4 miles. If the taxi charge per mile is $2.5, how much did pay Michelle pay in total for her ride? | The taxi charge for a distance of 4 miles is 4 x $2.5 = $<<4*2.5=10>>10.
The total amount that Michelle paid for the ride was $2 + $10 = $<<2+10=12>>12.
#### 12 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | As soon as you enter the taxi, you pay a ride fee of $2. Michelle rode a taxi from her office to her home, which constitutes 4 miles. If the taxi charge per mile is $2.5, how much did pay Michelle pay in total for her ride? | The taxi charge for a distance of 4 miles is 4 x $2.5 = $<<4*2.5=10>>10.
The total amount that Michelle paid for the ride was $2 + $10 = $<<2+10=12>>12.
#### 12 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Speaking in any language is all about imitating other people. You want to be able to speak like native speakers do. Before you can form your own correct sentences, you first need to see lots of similar ones in the language you are learning.
When you speak in your native language, you don't have to think about the grammar or the words you use. Correct sentences just come to you. In fact, your brain uses sentences you've already seen or heard. If you want to speak a foreign language fluently, you have to learn it the way you learned your native language--- by massive input.
Reading and listening will help you develop language intuition . It's all about putting lots of correct sentences in your head. Then your brain can imitate them, producing similar sentences to express the meaning you want. When you read and listen a lot, paying attention to useful vocabulary, you will soon start to use new words and phrases in your speaking and writing, and you will develop language intuition. You will start to feel what sounds good and what sounds bad --- just as you do in your native language.
It may seem like you need more time to learn a language by reading and listening, as opposed to learning based on grammar rules. For example, to get a good feeling for the use of articles in English you need to read lots of sentences, analyzing them closely. Wouldn't it be easier to read a unit on articles in a grammar book? Well, the problem is that it takes lots of time to build a sentence when you have to think of grammar rules. When you talk to someone, you don't have time for that. The input-based approach may seem to be more demanding, but it's the only way to achieve fluency.
Question:
According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?
Choices:
A. You can speak your native language without think about grammar
B. Before you can speak your native you must hear millions of sentences
C. The input-based approach is the only way to speak a language fluently
D. Grammar is no use at all | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high4748.txt | Speaking in any language is all about imitating other people. You want to be able to speak like native speakers do. Before you can form your own correct sentences, you first need to see lots of similar ones in the language you are learning.
When you speak in your native language, you don't have to think about the grammar or the words you use. Correct sentences just come to you. In fact, your brain uses sentences you've already seen or heard. If you want to speak a foreign language fluently, you have to learn it the way you learned your native language--- by massive input.
Reading and listening will help you develop language intuition . It's all about putting lots of correct sentences in your head. Then your brain can imitate them, producing similar sentences to express the meaning you want. When you read and listen a lot, paying attention to useful vocabulary, you will soon start to use new words and phrases in your speaking and writing, and you will develop language intuition. You will start to feel what sounds good and what sounds bad --- just as you do in your native language.
It may seem like you need more time to learn a language by reading and listening, as opposed to learning based on grammar rules. For example, to get a good feeling for the use of articles in English you need to read lots of sentences, analyzing them closely. Wouldn't it be easier to read a unit on articles in a grammar book? Well, the problem is that it takes lots of time to build a sentence when you have to think of grammar rules. When you talk to someone, you don't have time for that. The input-based approach may seem to be more demanding, but it's the only way to achieve fluency. | [
"You can speak your native language without think about grammar",
"Before you can speak your native you must hear millions of sentences",
"The input-based approach is the only way to speak a language fluently",
"Grammar is no use at all"
] |
From this passage it can be inferred that _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
What do those countries have in common? People are killing each other or drive others out of their homes. Why is this happening? Very simple, in each of these, one group of people believes another group is different from them and dangerous to them. It has been thus through history. How different are humans from each other?
We come in different colors: red, black, white, yellow and brown; we have a variety of political systems, social systems, religious views or none at all; We are different in mind, have different educational systems, different economic classes. We speak different languages, and have different customs and dresses.
If we were to break each of these further, we would have quite a long list of qualities and characteristics that make humans appears to be different from each other. I say they appear to be different, because most of what have been listed stand for what we see or hear, not what is true of human. Man is man everywhere. It is only where he lives, when he lives there, with whom he lives there, and al the others that have effect on how he lives, that is, what he believes, what he wears, his customs, his language and so on. These are man-made facts that each group develops over tome, living together, facing the same problems, needing and desiring the same things. They are his culture. The truth is that we are much more same than different. If you wear one type of clothing and I wear another, we both wear some kind of clothing. Our culture demands it. If you speak one language and I another, we both speak so that others will understand us; we must communicate with each other. Nothing is gained by giving too many differences, but much is lost. If we understood our differences as the ones of culture, then we could make our world more peaceful.
Differences does not mean better or worse, right or wrong. It means only that differences have been made by society. Differences produce variety of thoughts, work out human problems peacefully.
Question:
From this passage it can be inferred that _ .
Choices:
A. Our world would be more peaceful if we understand and communicate with each other.
B. People don't know how differences are caused.
C. It is only differences that can solve man's problems.
D. Man is man everywhere but not woman. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11565.txt | What do those countries have in common? People are killing each other or drive others out of their homes. Why is this happening? Very simple, in each of these, one group of people believes another group is different from them and dangerous to them. It has been thus through history. How different are humans from each other?
We come in different colors: red, black, white, yellow and brown; we have a variety of political systems, social systems, religious views or none at all; We are different in mind, have different educational systems, different economic classes. We speak different languages, and have different customs and dresses.
If we were to break each of these further, we would have quite a long list of qualities and characteristics that make humans appears to be different from each other. I say they appear to be different, because most of what have been listed stand for what we see or hear, not what is true of human. Man is man everywhere. It is only where he lives, when he lives there, with whom he lives there, and al the others that have effect on how he lives, that is, what he believes, what he wears, his customs, his language and so on. These are man-made facts that each group develops over tome, living together, facing the same problems, needing and desiring the same things. They are his culture. The truth is that we are much more same than different. If you wear one type of clothing and I wear another, we both wear some kind of clothing. Our culture demands it. If you speak one language and I another, we both speak so that others will understand us; we must communicate with each other. Nothing is gained by giving too many differences, but much is lost. If we understood our differences as the ones of culture, then we could make our world more peaceful.
Differences does not mean better or worse, right or wrong. It means only that differences have been made by society. Differences produce variety of thoughts, work out human problems peacefully. | [
"Our world would be more peaceful if we understand and communicate with each other.",
"People don't know how differences are caused.",
"It is only differences that can solve man's problems.",
"Man is man everywhere but not woman."
] |
According to the text, Lucille Mantelli is _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Determined to make school more related to the workplace, Roosevelt High School in Portland, Oregon, developed a school-to-work program. In their first year, students are offered some job pathways in natural resources, human services, health care, business, arts and communication. The following year, each student chooses one of the pathways and examines it in depth, spending three hours a week watching someone on the job. Such a program is also in practice in some other states.
The school-to-work program is built around a partnership. For example, Eastman Kodak, a major employer in Colorado, introduces students to business by helping them construct a model city using small pieces of wood. "The children use the models to decide on the best place to set up schools," says Lucille Mantelli, director for Eastman Kodak in Colorado. Kodak introduces math by teaching fifth graders to use their pocket money properly. They also provide one-on-one job watching experiences and offer chances of practice for high school juniors and seniors. "Students come to the workplace two or three hours a week," explains Mantelli. "They do the job for us. We pay them and they get school credits . We also give them our views on their performance and developmental opportunities."
In these partnerships, everybody wins. The students tend to take more difficult courses than students in schools that don't offer such programs. Business benefits by having a better prepared workforce needed in future years. "It's a way for us to work with the school systems to develop the type of workforce we'll need in future years," Mantelli continued. "We need employees who understand the basics of reading and writing. We need them to be good at math and to be comfortable working on a team."
"Our theory is that they can learn as much outside the classroom as in. All students have the ability to change the world, not just to live in it. To do that, they have to know how to solve problems and use critical thinking skills. We need to encourage them to dream about jobs that go beyond what they see today," concludes a school-to-work program organizer.
Question:
According to the text, Lucille Mantelli is _ .
Choices:
A. a math teacher
B. a company manager
C. a school designer
D. a program organizer | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11534.txt | Determined to make school more related to the workplace, Roosevelt High School in Portland, Oregon, developed a school-to-work program. In their first year, students are offered some job pathways in natural resources, human services, health care, business, arts and communication. The following year, each student chooses one of the pathways and examines it in depth, spending three hours a week watching someone on the job. Such a program is also in practice in some other states.
The school-to-work program is built around a partnership. For example, Eastman Kodak, a major employer in Colorado, introduces students to business by helping them construct a model city using small pieces of wood. "The children use the models to decide on the best place to set up schools," says Lucille Mantelli, director for Eastman Kodak in Colorado. Kodak introduces math by teaching fifth graders to use their pocket money properly. They also provide one-on-one job watching experiences and offer chances of practice for high school juniors and seniors. "Students come to the workplace two or three hours a week," explains Mantelli. "They do the job for us. We pay them and they get school credits . We also give them our views on their performance and developmental opportunities."
In these partnerships, everybody wins. The students tend to take more difficult courses than students in schools that don't offer such programs. Business benefits by having a better prepared workforce needed in future years. "It's a way for us to work with the school systems to develop the type of workforce we'll need in future years," Mantelli continued. "We need employees who understand the basics of reading and writing. We need them to be good at math and to be comfortable working on a team."
"Our theory is that they can learn as much outside the classroom as in. All students have the ability to change the world, not just to live in it. To do that, they have to know how to solve problems and use critical thinking skills. We need to encourage them to dream about jobs that go beyond what they see today," concludes a school-to-work program organizer. | [
"a math teacher",
"a company manager",
"a school designer",
"a program organizer"
] |
What can we infer from the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Looking good can matter a lot when you are a teenager. Of course the budget matters a lot, too. Luckily, fashion trends in the UK mean that getting the right image doesn't have to _ . Here's a quick guide to which looks are hot this year.
For girls, the 70s are back. Wide-legged jeans, platform shoes and skirts that reach the feet are again in fashion among UK teens, topped off with colored, shining eyeshadow. Girls can have fun mixing and matching bright shades. Colors like pink, orange and light yellow-green are all perfectly fit. Shorts and mini-skirts are still popular in cold weather. By wearing a pair of tights underneath ( ..), girls can stay warm as well as fashionable in the winter.
How about boys? To look lively, fans of skateboards and snowboards can dress in skinny jeans accompanied by a T-shirt topped off with a baseball cap or a woolen hat. Music is often an inspiration for fashion, and hip-hop music fans like to dress in baggy jeans, T-shirts, baseball caps and sneakers. For those who can afford it, designer clothing is a must, especially if the logo is showing.
Question:
What can we infer from the passage?
Choices:
A. Old clothes look hot this year.
B. Music can affect fashion trends.
C. A T-shirt is really a good choice for fans.
D. Designer clothing is what teens must have. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high14893.txt | Looking good can matter a lot when you are a teenager. Of course the budget matters a lot, too. Luckily, fashion trends in the UK mean that getting the right image doesn't have to _ . Here's a quick guide to which looks are hot this year.
For girls, the 70s are back. Wide-legged jeans, platform shoes and skirts that reach the feet are again in fashion among UK teens, topped off with colored, shining eyeshadow. Girls can have fun mixing and matching bright shades. Colors like pink, orange and light yellow-green are all perfectly fit. Shorts and mini-skirts are still popular in cold weather. By wearing a pair of tights underneath ( ..), girls can stay warm as well as fashionable in the winter.
How about boys? To look lively, fans of skateboards and snowboards can dress in skinny jeans accompanied by a T-shirt topped off with a baseball cap or a woolen hat. Music is often an inspiration for fashion, and hip-hop music fans like to dress in baggy jeans, T-shirts, baseball caps and sneakers. For those who can afford it, designer clothing is a must, especially if the logo is showing. | [
"Old clothes look hot this year.",
"Music can affect fashion trends.",
"A T-shirt is really a good choice for fans.",
"Designer clothing is what teens must have."
] |
My mother is _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Jenny is an English girl. She is a nice girl. and she is my good friend, My name is Amy. My father is John. My mother is Helen. Jack is my brother. I love them. I like singing. Jack likes reading. My favorite color is blue.
Question:
My mother is _ .
Choices:
A. Jack
B. Jenny
C. Amy
D. Helen | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3676.txt | Jenny is an English girl. She is a nice girl. and she is my good friend, My name is Amy. My father is John. My mother is Helen. Jack is my brother. I love them. I like singing. Jack likes reading. My favorite color is blue. | [
"Jack",
"Jenny",
"Amy",
"Helen"
] |
In Americawhen the number of households is_, the number of people in a house is . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Divorce is bad for environment
US researchers raised a new theory on Monday: divorce is bad for the environment.
The global trend toward higher divorce rates has created more households with fewet People,scientists at Michigan State University reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
More households means more houses,fuel and water are Heeded for them,the researchers wrote."Globally,the number of households is increasing much faster than the number of people,"said co-author "Jack" Liu in a telephone interview. "Even in regions with declining population, we see _ increase in the number of households. Divorce is the main reason for reducing the number of people in a household," he said.
The average divorced person's household is about 40 to 50 percent smaller than the average married person's household, Liu said. But whether there are three or six people in a house ,the amount of fuel needed to heat them is about the same.
In the prefix = st1 /United States, divorced households used 73 billion kilowatt--hours of electricity and 2.850 trillion litres of water in 2005 that could have been saved if households had stayed the same size as when they were married.
I the United Statesand 11 other countries between 1998 and 2002, if divorced households had combined to have the same average household size as married households, there could have been 7.4 million fewer households.
The number of divorced households in those countries ranged from 40,000 in Costa Ricato almost 16 million in theUnited Statesaround 2000. The number of rooms per person in divorced households was 33 percent to 95 percent greater than in married households.
"If you really want to get divorced, maybe you can remarry with somebody else, or live together with somebody else you like", Liu said.
Question:
In Americawhen the number of households is_, the number of people in a house is .
Choices:
A. increasing, decreasing
B. decreasing, increasing
C. increasing, increasing
D. decreasing, decreasing | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high22736.txt | Divorce is bad for environment
US researchers raised a new theory on Monday: divorce is bad for the environment.
The global trend toward higher divorce rates has created more households with fewet People,scientists at Michigan State University reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
More households means more houses,fuel and water are Heeded for them,the researchers wrote."Globally,the number of households is increasing much faster than the number of people,"said co-author "Jack" Liu in a telephone interview. "Even in regions with declining population, we see _ increase in the number of households. Divorce is the main reason for reducing the number of people in a household," he said.
The average divorced person's household is about 40 to 50 percent smaller than the average married person's household, Liu said. But whether there are three or six people in a house ,the amount of fuel needed to heat them is about the same.
In the prefix = st1 /United States, divorced households used 73 billion kilowatt--hours of electricity and 2.850 trillion litres of water in 2005 that could have been saved if households had stayed the same size as when they were married.
I the United Statesand 11 other countries between 1998 and 2002, if divorced households had combined to have the same average household size as married households, there could have been 7.4 million fewer households.
The number of divorced households in those countries ranged from 40,000 in Costa Ricato almost 16 million in theUnited Statesaround 2000. The number of rooms per person in divorced households was 33 percent to 95 percent greater than in married households.
"If you really want to get divorced, maybe you can remarry with somebody else, or live together with somebody else you like", Liu said. | [
"increasing, decreasing",
"decreasing, increasing",
"increasing, increasing",
"decreasing, decreasing"
] |
In the 19th century, Americans moved from the east to the west because they _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Empty Deserts
In the 19th century Americans from the eastern states moved out west to settle in the rich new lands along the Pacific coast. The most difficult part of their trip was crossing the "Great American Desert in the western part of theprefix = st1 /United Statesby horse and wagon.
The western desert can be very dangerous. There is little water and there are few trees. But the desert also has scenery of great beauty. Tall towers of red and yellow stone rise sharply from the flat sandy valley floor. The scene has been photographed many times and appears in movies and in TV.
In Arizona, man made dams across the Colorado River have made two large lakes in the middle of the dry desert country. At Lake Powell, the red stone arch of Rainbow Bridge rises high above the blue lake.
There are few roads. Many areas ofLakePowell's shore can only be reached by boat or on foot. But hikers in this empty desert land sometimes find very old native American pictures, painted on the rocks.
In Death Valley,California, the summer temperature rises to 130 degrees. There is less than two inches of rain each year. Death Valley is the lowest place in America---- 925 meters below sea level. In the 1800s, many travelers died when they tried to cross this waterless valley in the terrible heat.
Although the desert is dry and seems empty, there is plenty of life if you look closely. Small insects, snakes and rats have learned how to live in the desert heat. They live under ground and come out at night, when it is cool. Plants such as cacti need very little water. When it does rain in the desert (sometimes only once or twice a year), plants grow quickly, and flowers open in a single day. For a short time, the desert is covered with brilliant color1s.
Question:
In the 19th century, Americans moved from the east to the west because they _ .
Choices:
A. enjoy the trip
B. wanted to make their home there
C. wanted to find new grassland there
D. had no water to drink | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high18517.txt | Empty Deserts
In the 19th century Americans from the eastern states moved out west to settle in the rich new lands along the Pacific coast. The most difficult part of their trip was crossing the "Great American Desert in the western part of theprefix = st1 /United Statesby horse and wagon.
The western desert can be very dangerous. There is little water and there are few trees. But the desert also has scenery of great beauty. Tall towers of red and yellow stone rise sharply from the flat sandy valley floor. The scene has been photographed many times and appears in movies and in TV.
In Arizona, man made dams across the Colorado River have made two large lakes in the middle of the dry desert country. At Lake Powell, the red stone arch of Rainbow Bridge rises high above the blue lake.
There are few roads. Many areas ofLakePowell's shore can only be reached by boat or on foot. But hikers in this empty desert land sometimes find very old native American pictures, painted on the rocks.
In Death Valley,California, the summer temperature rises to 130 degrees. There is less than two inches of rain each year. Death Valley is the lowest place in America---- 925 meters below sea level. In the 1800s, many travelers died when they tried to cross this waterless valley in the terrible heat.
Although the desert is dry and seems empty, there is plenty of life if you look closely. Small insects, snakes and rats have learned how to live in the desert heat. They live under ground and come out at night, when it is cool. Plants such as cacti need very little water. When it does rain in the desert (sometimes only once or twice a year), plants grow quickly, and flowers open in a single day. For a short time, the desert is covered with brilliant color1s. | [
"enjoy the trip",
"wanted to make their home there",
"wanted to find new grassland there",
"had no water to drink"
] |
Usually the weather in the wetlands is _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
There are many wetlands in China and some of them have become the world's important wetlands. The Chinese Yellow Sea Wetlands are among them. They are in Yancheng,Jiangsu Province. They are home of many different kinds of birds and animals. The world's largest Milu Deer Nature Reserve is in them. More than 700 milu deer live freely there.
The temperature in the wetlands is usually neither too high nor too low. There is a lot of rain and sunshine,too. They are really good places for wildlife. Offering food and home for some special kinds of animals and birds is not the only reason why we need to protect wetlands.
Wetlands are important because they also prevent flood. But some people want to change the wetlands to make more space for farms and buildings. This means there will be less and less space for wildlife.
Luckily, more and more people are beginning to realize the important of wetlands and wildlife. Every year, on February 2nd many activities are held to tell people more about wetlands around the world.
Question:
Usually the weather in the wetlands is _ .
Choices:
A. hot
B. mild
C. cold
D. dry | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high3157.txt | There are many wetlands in China and some of them have become the world's important wetlands. The Chinese Yellow Sea Wetlands are among them. They are in Yancheng,Jiangsu Province. They are home of many different kinds of birds and animals. The world's largest Milu Deer Nature Reserve is in them. More than 700 milu deer live freely there.
The temperature in the wetlands is usually neither too high nor too low. There is a lot of rain and sunshine,too. They are really good places for wildlife. Offering food and home for some special kinds of animals and birds is not the only reason why we need to protect wetlands.
Wetlands are important because they also prevent flood. But some people want to change the wetlands to make more space for farms and buildings. This means there will be less and less space for wildlife.
Luckily, more and more people are beginning to realize the important of wetlands and wildlife. Every year, on February 2nd many activities are held to tell people more about wetlands around the world. | [
"hot",
"mild",
"cold",
"dry"
] |
The boy didn't buy the ice cream sundae because _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
When an ice cream sundae cost much less, a boy entered a coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.
"How much is an ice cream sundae?"
"Fifty cents," said the waitress.
The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins in it. "How much is a dish of plain ice cream?" he asked.
Some people were waiting for a table, and the waitress was not patient. "Thirty-five cents," she said angrily.
The little boy again counted the coins. "I will have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream and walked away. The boy finished, paid the money, and left.
When the waitress came back, she was surprised at what she saw. There were fifteen cents placed beside the empty dish. That was her tip.
Question:
The boy didn't buy the ice cream sundae because _ .
Choices:
A. he thought it was too sweet
B. the ice cream sundae sold out
C. he thought it cost too much
D. he wanted to leave quickly | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle7393.txt | When an ice cream sundae cost much less, a boy entered a coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.
"How much is an ice cream sundae?"
"Fifty cents," said the waitress.
The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins in it. "How much is a dish of plain ice cream?" he asked.
Some people were waiting for a table, and the waitress was not patient. "Thirty-five cents," she said angrily.
The little boy again counted the coins. "I will have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream and walked away. The boy finished, paid the money, and left.
When the waitress came back, she was surprised at what she saw. There were fifteen cents placed beside the empty dish. That was her tip. | [
"he thought it was too sweet",
"the ice cream sundae sold out",
"he thought it cost too much",
"he wanted to leave quickly"
] |
Amanda charges $20.00 per hour to help clean out and organize a person's home. She has 5 1.5 hours appointments on Monday, a 3-hours appointment on Tuesday and 2 2-hours appointments on Thursday. On Saturday, she will spend 6 hours at one client's house. How much money will she make this week? | She has 5 1.5 hour appointments on Monday for a total of 5*1.5 = <<5*1.5=7.5>>7.5 hours
She has 2 2 hour appointments on Thursday for a total of 2*2 = <<2*2=4>>4 hours
She is working 7.5 hours on Monday, 3 hours on Tuesday, 4 hours on Thursday and 6 hours on Saturday for a total of 7.5+3+4+6 = <<7.5+3+4+6=20.5>>20.5 hours
She charges $20.00 an hour and is working 20.5 hours a week for a total of 20*20.5 = $<<20*20.5=410.00>>410.00
#### 410 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Amanda charges $20.00 per hour to help clean out and organize a person's home. She has 5 1.5 hours appointments on Monday, a 3-hours appointment on Tuesday and 2 2-hours appointments on Thursday. On Saturday, she will spend 6 hours at one client's house. How much money will she make this week? | She has 5 1.5 hour appointments on Monday for a total of 5*1.5 = <<5*1.5=7.5>>7.5 hours
She has 2 2 hour appointments on Thursday for a total of 2*2 = <<2*2=4>>4 hours
She is working 7.5 hours on Monday, 3 hours on Tuesday, 4 hours on Thursday and 6 hours on Saturday for a total of 7.5+3+4+6 = <<7.5+3+4+6=20.5>>20.5 hours
She charges $20.00 an hour and is working 20.5 hours a week for a total of 20*20.5 = $<<20*20.5=410.00>>410.00
#### 410 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Angiosperms possess reproductive structures that attract animals that perform what role? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Angiosperms possess reproductive structures that attract animals that perform what role? | pollination | science | null | null | null | isolation | evolution | vegetation | pollination | structure in angiosperms consisting of male and female reproductive structures that attracts animal pollinators. | null | null | null |
According to the article, emoticons are popular because _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
OK, I admit it: emoticons are popular. Some people even think they are fun. Many seem unable to get through an e-mail or Instant Message chat sentence without using one. Some feel that they add feeling and character to otherwise cold digital communications.
Some, however, such as editor and Hollywood scriptwriter John Blumenthal, blast the use of emoticons as "infantile just like the people who use them" He believes that words themselves should be enough. "If you're being funny, happy or sad, that should be apparent from the comment that goes before the emoticon," he argues.
In the eyes of Blumenthal, the use of emoticons is a gender issue. "Men don't use emoticons very much. Maybe not at all," he said. "Teenage girls and women seem to use them a lot. Maybe there' s an emoticon gene."
It's an interesting opinion, but it is not shared by all.
In an interview with The New York Times, Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at the University of California, said that emoticons are popular because our brains are programmed "to seek out representations of humanity". He believes that they appeal not because they are shortcuts for the lazy, but because they tap into something beyond language. They reach to our need to be with and communicate with people.
All of these arguments may be somehow valid . Each one of us will choose to communicate in our own way. I do not have much time for emoticons. I tried to use one once and felt like I was stealing into a primary school class that I had no place being in. I'd rather let my words do the talking.
Friends, however, send me messages and e-mails full of emoticons. I have no problem with this. I don't regard any of my friends as lazy or immature . It's just a question of individuality. :)
Question:
According to the article, emoticons are popular because _ .
Choices:
A. most of them look funny
B. they are easy for lazy people to use
C. they add feeling and character to a communication
D. a reader cannot understand a message without them | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11729.txt | OK, I admit it: emoticons are popular. Some people even think they are fun. Many seem unable to get through an e-mail or Instant Message chat sentence without using one. Some feel that they add feeling and character to otherwise cold digital communications.
Some, however, such as editor and Hollywood scriptwriter John Blumenthal, blast the use of emoticons as "infantile just like the people who use them" He believes that words themselves should be enough. "If you're being funny, happy or sad, that should be apparent from the comment that goes before the emoticon," he argues.
In the eyes of Blumenthal, the use of emoticons is a gender issue. "Men don't use emoticons very much. Maybe not at all," he said. "Teenage girls and women seem to use them a lot. Maybe there' s an emoticon gene."
It's an interesting opinion, but it is not shared by all.
In an interview with The New York Times, Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at the University of California, said that emoticons are popular because our brains are programmed "to seek out representations of humanity". He believes that they appeal not because they are shortcuts for the lazy, but because they tap into something beyond language. They reach to our need to be with and communicate with people.
All of these arguments may be somehow valid . Each one of us will choose to communicate in our own way. I do not have much time for emoticons. I tried to use one once and felt like I was stealing into a primary school class that I had no place being in. I'd rather let my words do the talking.
Friends, however, send me messages and e-mails full of emoticons. I have no problem with this. I don't regard any of my friends as lazy or immature . It's just a question of individuality. :) | [
"most of them look funny",
"they are easy for lazy people to use",
"they add feeling and character to a communication",
"a reader cannot understand a message without them"
] |
What can we infer from the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Researchers are now using 3D printing to create models of the human heart to help heart specialists. The heart doctors can use the models to better help patients before an operation.
Dr. Bramlet, a children's heart expert at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, says the 3-D models show information he cannot get any other way.
"And so what we've done with the printed models? We've pulled it out of the screen so that you can actually hold it in your hand and evaluate the anatomy ."
A 3-D printer uses images from a digital display to create a physical model of a human heart. Matthew Bramlet says doctors can use the model to understand the anatomy.
Pictures from medical tests like CAT scan or MRI are sent to a 3-D printer to create a heart in a plaster form. The printer then constructs the heart, thin layer by thin layer. Dr. Bramlet says the model matches the real heart in every detail. "When we're done with the model and made our decision, we want to be able to go back to the source image and confirm those findings," he says.
Dr. Bramlet has built model hearts for different kinds of heart operations. All of the operations were successful. In his first case, digital images showed only one tiny hole in a baby's heart. But, the 3-D printed model showed several defects or problems that the baby was born with. Dr. Bramlet says those defects could not be seen easily in the images. The heart surgeon was able to change the type of surgery for the patient based on the 3-D model. He added that 3-D heart models saves time during heart operations.
Kathy Magliato is a heart surgeon at Saint John's Health Center in Los Angeles. She welcomes the new technology. She says it could help her make better decisions before she operates on the hearts of her patients.
"I can then take this very complicated structure before the operation and I can hold it in my hand and plan an operation around what I'm seeing, touching and feeling. That to me is what can potentially change the game in an operation and save lives."
Dr Bramlet continues to research the technology. He is working with the National Institutes of Health to build a 3-D library that includes heart models and images that others can use.
Question:
What can we infer from the passage?
Choices:
A. Digital images will mislead heart surgeons.
B. More patients will benefit from the 3-D technology.
C. Heart operations will never fail with 3-D models.
D. Surgeons cannot operate on hearts without 3-D models. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9672.txt | Researchers are now using 3D printing to create models of the human heart to help heart specialists. The heart doctors can use the models to better help patients before an operation.
Dr. Bramlet, a children's heart expert at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, says the 3-D models show information he cannot get any other way.
"And so what we've done with the printed models? We've pulled it out of the screen so that you can actually hold it in your hand and evaluate the anatomy ."
A 3-D printer uses images from a digital display to create a physical model of a human heart. Matthew Bramlet says doctors can use the model to understand the anatomy.
Pictures from medical tests like CAT scan or MRI are sent to a 3-D printer to create a heart in a plaster form. The printer then constructs the heart, thin layer by thin layer. Dr. Bramlet says the model matches the real heart in every detail. "When we're done with the model and made our decision, we want to be able to go back to the source image and confirm those findings," he says.
Dr. Bramlet has built model hearts for different kinds of heart operations. All of the operations were successful. In his first case, digital images showed only one tiny hole in a baby's heart. But, the 3-D printed model showed several defects or problems that the baby was born with. Dr. Bramlet says those defects could not be seen easily in the images. The heart surgeon was able to change the type of surgery for the patient based on the 3-D model. He added that 3-D heart models saves time during heart operations.
Kathy Magliato is a heart surgeon at Saint John's Health Center in Los Angeles. She welcomes the new technology. She says it could help her make better decisions before she operates on the hearts of her patients.
"I can then take this very complicated structure before the operation and I can hold it in my hand and plan an operation around what I'm seeing, touching and feeling. That to me is what can potentially change the game in an operation and save lives."
Dr Bramlet continues to research the technology. He is working with the National Institutes of Health to build a 3-D library that includes heart models and images that others can use. | [
"Digital images will mislead heart surgeons.",
"More patients will benefit from the 3-D technology.",
"Heart operations will never fail with 3-D models.",
"Surgeons cannot operate on hearts without 3-D models."
] |
Einstein doesn't want to buy a new one because _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
One day Einstein is walking in a street in New York . His friend meets him and says to him, "Einstein, you should buy a new coat. Look, your coat is very old." But Einstein answers, "It doesn't matter . Nobody knows me here."
After a few years, Einstein becomes a famous scientist . But he still wears the old coat. His friend meets him again and asks him to buy a new one. But Einstein says, "I don't need to buy a new one. Everyone knows me here."
Question:
Einstein doesn't want to buy a new one because _ .
Choices:
A. nobody knows him
B. he likes the old one
C. he has no money
D. he isn't interested in his clothes | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5617.txt | One day Einstein is walking in a street in New York . His friend meets him and says to him, "Einstein, you should buy a new coat. Look, your coat is very old." But Einstein answers, "It doesn't matter . Nobody knows me here."
After a few years, Einstein becomes a famous scientist . But he still wears the old coat. His friend meets him again and asks him to buy a new one. But Einstein says, "I don't need to buy a new one. Everyone knows me here." | [
"nobody knows him",
"he likes the old one",
"he has no money",
"he isn't interested in his clothes"
] |
Which of the following is NOT true? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
For one tired out from work, autumn is one of the best times to step into the open air to _ and enjoy some great music. And that's what many Beijingers have done this past weekend.
Family, friends, laughter; beautiful grass, fresh air and live music echoing off the forest and the Great Wall that surround this place. A weekend in this music paradise just seems too short. Besides, a brand new world-class outdoor theater has just been open at this year's festival, which will surely make the festival a better and more permanent experience.
A full house is before the new outdoor amphitheater . Even the thunderstorm couldn't break up the crowd completely absorbed in the music. Thanks to the new theater, this year's Great Wall Forest Festival offers even more superb acoustics and an overall outdoor theatrical experience, even though the project is still half complete.
The festival is now in its fourth year. Since its first show in 2010, the festival has seen a steady increase in festival-goers and has expanded its length from two days to four days, divided over two weekends. It has also been experimenting with a variety of styles, from classical to pop, with this year's theme "Celebrating 20 Years of Chinese Folk Song." Folk Song legend Lao Lang explains how folk songs have helped encourage more amateur folks to express themselves through music.
"Before music was reserved for the professionals. But folk songs made young people realize that they can express themselves through music as well. And that's what characterizes folk songs. It's popular music and it always has a story." said Lao Lang.
Unlike some of the other outdoor festivals, the Great Wall Forest Festival appeals to a wide range of audiences. It's a rare place where teens, parents and families can all enjoy the outdoors and have a great time.
Great music and scenery aside, many children's workshops, master music classes, and interactive art activities have also been introduced this year. If music is the reason to come to the festivals, you'll find even more reasons not to leave.
Question:
Which of the following is NOT true?
Choices:
A. The place where the Festival is held is near the Great Wall.
B. The completed project adds to the attraction of this year's Festival.
C. The audience attending the festival bury themselves in the music.
D. The year 2010 saw the beginning of the Great Wall Forest Festival. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7967.txt | For one tired out from work, autumn is one of the best times to step into the open air to _ and enjoy some great music. And that's what many Beijingers have done this past weekend.
Family, friends, laughter; beautiful grass, fresh air and live music echoing off the forest and the Great Wall that surround this place. A weekend in this music paradise just seems too short. Besides, a brand new world-class outdoor theater has just been open at this year's festival, which will surely make the festival a better and more permanent experience.
A full house is before the new outdoor amphitheater . Even the thunderstorm couldn't break up the crowd completely absorbed in the music. Thanks to the new theater, this year's Great Wall Forest Festival offers even more superb acoustics and an overall outdoor theatrical experience, even though the project is still half complete.
The festival is now in its fourth year. Since its first show in 2010, the festival has seen a steady increase in festival-goers and has expanded its length from two days to four days, divided over two weekends. It has also been experimenting with a variety of styles, from classical to pop, with this year's theme "Celebrating 20 Years of Chinese Folk Song." Folk Song legend Lao Lang explains how folk songs have helped encourage more amateur folks to express themselves through music.
"Before music was reserved for the professionals. But folk songs made young people realize that they can express themselves through music as well. And that's what characterizes folk songs. It's popular music and it always has a story." said Lao Lang.
Unlike some of the other outdoor festivals, the Great Wall Forest Festival appeals to a wide range of audiences. It's a rare place where teens, parents and families can all enjoy the outdoors and have a great time.
Great music and scenery aside, many children's workshops, master music classes, and interactive art activities have also been introduced this year. If music is the reason to come to the festivals, you'll find even more reasons not to leave. | [
"The place where the Festival is held is near the Great Wall.",
"The completed project adds to the attraction of this year's Festival.",
"The audience attending the festival bury themselves in the music.",
"The year 2010 saw the beginning of the Great Wall Forest Festival."
] |
According to the passage, Ebola only spreads through _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The virus "Ebola" is named after the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That's where the virus was discovered in 1976. A person can only get Ebola through direct contact with an infected person's bodily fluids, for example, sweat or spit. Additionally, the virus can get into your body through your eyes and mouth if those areas come into contact with something that contains the bodily fluids of an infected person. That's why health care workers are supposed to keep themselves completely covered while treating patients.
The deadliest Ebola outbreak is spreading fast in Western Africa, taking over 900 lives so far. The health systems in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia are severely lacking in resources, and health care workers may not have access to adequate protective clothing when working in rural clinics, where the proper protections are lacking. Since Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia share a border; it's easier for people to move from one country to another, increasing the risk for disease spread.
For now, all doctors can do is treat the symptoms and provide supportive care like monitoring heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing while making sure the patients' fluids are supplied. Sometimes patients are given antibiotics to treat other possible infections. The hope is to make the patient pull through the infection so their immune system can eventually clear the virus. The people who survive Ebola have created enough antibodies to kill it.
There are several promising drugs and vaccines in development, but since Ebola is less common--and research about it is not well funded -- there is no drug or vaccine that has been approved for use in humans. Many of the other drugs and vaccines have not yet been tested in humans. The WHO (World Health Organization) is meeting next week to discuss whether experimental treatments should be used during this outbreak.
Question:
According to the passage, Ebola only spreads through _ .
Choices:
A. patients' sweat
B. bodily fluids
C. people's spit
D. your body | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9191.txt | The virus "Ebola" is named after the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That's where the virus was discovered in 1976. A person can only get Ebola through direct contact with an infected person's bodily fluids, for example, sweat or spit. Additionally, the virus can get into your body through your eyes and mouth if those areas come into contact with something that contains the bodily fluids of an infected person. That's why health care workers are supposed to keep themselves completely covered while treating patients.
The deadliest Ebola outbreak is spreading fast in Western Africa, taking over 900 lives so far. The health systems in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia are severely lacking in resources, and health care workers may not have access to adequate protective clothing when working in rural clinics, where the proper protections are lacking. Since Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia share a border; it's easier for people to move from one country to another, increasing the risk for disease spread.
For now, all doctors can do is treat the symptoms and provide supportive care like monitoring heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing while making sure the patients' fluids are supplied. Sometimes patients are given antibiotics to treat other possible infections. The hope is to make the patient pull through the infection so their immune system can eventually clear the virus. The people who survive Ebola have created enough antibodies to kill it.
There are several promising drugs and vaccines in development, but since Ebola is less common--and research about it is not well funded -- there is no drug or vaccine that has been approved for use in humans. Many of the other drugs and vaccines have not yet been tested in humans. The WHO (World Health Organization) is meeting next week to discuss whether experimental treatments should be used during this outbreak. | [
"patients' sweat",
"bodily fluids",
"people's spit",
"your body"
] |
At first when receiving the message for help, Sean _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
One day,when 12-year-old Sean Redden went to a popular chat room on the Internet, he saw the name of someone he'd never seen there before, Susan Hicks. Her message was " Would someone help me? I can't breathe. Help me! I can't feel my left side."
At first, Sean thought it was a bad joke and he told his mother Sharon Redden. But she asked, " It's not just some game, is it?
The message was not a joke. " Susan Hicks" was actually 20-year-old Taija Laitinen, a student working late at night at a college library near Helsinki, Finland---almost 7,000 miles away from Sean's home in Texas. While searching the Internet, she began to feel terrible pain all through her body. The library was empty and the nearest phone was outside in the hallway. She couldn't move that far because any movement caused the pain to get worse. Then as the pain became worse, she began typing her message for help in the chat room.
"I don't think it's a joke, mom," Sean said. He typed, " Where are you? The letters appeared, "Finland." Sean and Sharon couldn't believe it. Not knowing what else to do, Sharon called the local police and explained the situation to officer Amy Schmidt. Schmidt told Sharon to try to get the sick girl's phone number and address.
Meanwhile, the Texas police called the international telephone operator and asked to be connected to the proper agency in Finland. The Texas police explained the situation and gave Susan's address to the Finnish operator. When Sean heard that, he typed, "Help is on the way."
In the few minutes, the library door opened. Doctors and three policemen ran in. Taija turned once more to the computer, " They are here. Thanks. Bye-bye."
Question:
At first when receiving the message for help, Sean _ .
Choices:
A. didn't believe it
B. took no notice of it
C. called the police at once
D. had a joke with the person | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17382.txt | One day,when 12-year-old Sean Redden went to a popular chat room on the Internet, he saw the name of someone he'd never seen there before, Susan Hicks. Her message was " Would someone help me? I can't breathe. Help me! I can't feel my left side."
At first, Sean thought it was a bad joke and he told his mother Sharon Redden. But she asked, " It's not just some game, is it?
The message was not a joke. " Susan Hicks" was actually 20-year-old Taija Laitinen, a student working late at night at a college library near Helsinki, Finland---almost 7,000 miles away from Sean's home in Texas. While searching the Internet, she began to feel terrible pain all through her body. The library was empty and the nearest phone was outside in the hallway. She couldn't move that far because any movement caused the pain to get worse. Then as the pain became worse, she began typing her message for help in the chat room.
"I don't think it's a joke, mom," Sean said. He typed, " Where are you? The letters appeared, "Finland." Sean and Sharon couldn't believe it. Not knowing what else to do, Sharon called the local police and explained the situation to officer Amy Schmidt. Schmidt told Sharon to try to get the sick girl's phone number and address.
Meanwhile, the Texas police called the international telephone operator and asked to be connected to the proper agency in Finland. The Texas police explained the situation and gave Susan's address to the Finnish operator. When Sean heard that, he typed, "Help is on the way."
In the few minutes, the library door opened. Doctors and three policemen ran in. Taija turned once more to the computer, " They are here. Thanks. Bye-bye." | [
"didn't believe it",
"took no notice of it",
"called the police at once",
"had a joke with the person"
] |
The captain got the sailors' wages _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
There was once a captain who loved money so much that he cheated his sailors at the end of every voyage and took their wages.
On the last day of one voyage, the ship was in a small port. It was winter time, and the sea was very cold, so the captain said to his sailors, "If one of you stays in the water during the whole night, I will give him my ship. But if he comes out before the sun appears, I shall get his wages."
The sailors had heard about the captain's cheating, so they didn't trust him. But then one of them, who thought that he was cleverer than the captain, said that he would do it. He got into the water, and, though it was very cold, he stayed in it. When it was nearly morning, some fishermen lit a fire on the shore about half a mile away.
"You are cheating," the captain said to the sailor. "The fire's warming you."
"But it's half a mile away!" said the sailor.
"A fire's fire," answered the captain. "I have won."
The sailor came out of the water, and said, "Perhaps you think that you are clever because you have won my wages, but you can't cook a chicken."
"I can," answered the captain.
"If you cook this chicken," said the sailor, "I shall work for you without wages for seven years, but if you can't, you will give me your ship."
The captain agreed, took the chicken and said, "Where's the fire?"
"There it is," answered the sailor. "On the shore."
"But it's half a mile away," said the captain angrily.
"A fire's fire,' you said," answered the sailor. "If it is enough to warm me in the water, it is enough to cook your chicken."
Question:
The captain got the sailors' wages _ .
Choices:
A. to buy a chicken for himself
B. and kept the money for future use
C. by cheating him
D. and said he would return the money soon | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high8208.txt | There was once a captain who loved money so much that he cheated his sailors at the end of every voyage and took their wages.
On the last day of one voyage, the ship was in a small port. It was winter time, and the sea was very cold, so the captain said to his sailors, "If one of you stays in the water during the whole night, I will give him my ship. But if he comes out before the sun appears, I shall get his wages."
The sailors had heard about the captain's cheating, so they didn't trust him. But then one of them, who thought that he was cleverer than the captain, said that he would do it. He got into the water, and, though it was very cold, he stayed in it. When it was nearly morning, some fishermen lit a fire on the shore about half a mile away.
"You are cheating," the captain said to the sailor. "The fire's warming you."
"But it's half a mile away!" said the sailor.
"A fire's fire," answered the captain. "I have won."
The sailor came out of the water, and said, "Perhaps you think that you are clever because you have won my wages, but you can't cook a chicken."
"I can," answered the captain.
"If you cook this chicken," said the sailor, "I shall work for you without wages for seven years, but if you can't, you will give me your ship."
The captain agreed, took the chicken and said, "Where's the fire?"
"There it is," answered the sailor. "On the shore."
"But it's half a mile away," said the captain angrily.
"A fire's fire,' you said," answered the sailor. "If it is enough to warm me in the water, it is enough to cook your chicken." | [
"to buy a chicken for himself",
"and kept the money for future use",
"by cheating him",
"and said he would return the money soon"
] |
Like the strings of cello, anything that vibrates produces waves of what? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Like the strings of cello, anything that vibrates produces waves of what? | energy | science | null | null | null | sound | heating | light | energy | A: Like the strings of cello, anything that vibrates produces waves of energy that travel through matter. For example, when you throw a pebble into a pond, waves of energy travel from the pebble through the water in all directions. Like an incandescent light bulb, anything that glows consists of matter that produces light energy. For example, fireflies use chemicals to produce light energy. Like a moving tennis racket, anything that moves has energy because it is moving, including your eyes as they read this sentence. | null | null | null |
What is the unit of evolution? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What is the unit of evolution? | the population | science | null | null | null | a phylum | dna | the cell | the population | The population is the unit of evolution. | null | null | null |
What is the reason to look back into the past of a lighthouse ? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Everyone should visit a lighthouse at least once.
The most important reason for such a visit is to realize how our ancestors battled nature with the basic tools they had . They had only basic ways of creating light , and yet they found a way of using this simple technology in isolated places to save ships from hitting rocks .
Secondly , visiting lighthouses will help us to understand the lives of lighthouse keepers .By their very nature , lighthouses were built on some rocks or cliffs . Thus , the lighthouse keepers often lived lonely lives . To walk around their small home , and imagine the angry storm outside beating against the walls , is to take a step towards understanding the lives they had.
The reasons for a visit to a lighthouse are not all so backward-looking in time . It is true that lighthouses were built in _ places . But on a pleasant sunny summer day. This very isolation has a natural beauty that many people will love to experience . Therefore, with the gentle waves touching all round the lighthouse . the visitor is likely to think it is a world preferable to the busy and noisy modern life.
Another reason for considering a visit is that the lighthouses themselves can be very attractive buildings . Mankind could often not be content just to put up a basic structure . but felt the need . even in such an isolated place , to build with an artistic touch . The result is a view for tired eyes to enjoy .
Finally , lighthouses have a romantic attraction , summed up by the image of the oil-skin coated keeper climbing his winding stairs to take care of the light to warn ships and save lives .
Question:
What is the reason to look back into the past of a lighthouse ?
Choices:
A. To escape from the busy and noisy city .
B. To look for the tools used by our ancestors .
C. To experience the natural beauty of a lighthouse .
D. To learn about the living condition of lighthouse keepers . | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1566.txt | Everyone should visit a lighthouse at least once.
The most important reason for such a visit is to realize how our ancestors battled nature with the basic tools they had . They had only basic ways of creating light , and yet they found a way of using this simple technology in isolated places to save ships from hitting rocks .
Secondly , visiting lighthouses will help us to understand the lives of lighthouse keepers .By their very nature , lighthouses were built on some rocks or cliffs . Thus , the lighthouse keepers often lived lonely lives . To walk around their small home , and imagine the angry storm outside beating against the walls , is to take a step towards understanding the lives they had.
The reasons for a visit to a lighthouse are not all so backward-looking in time . It is true that lighthouses were built in _ places . But on a pleasant sunny summer day. This very isolation has a natural beauty that many people will love to experience . Therefore, with the gentle waves touching all round the lighthouse . the visitor is likely to think it is a world preferable to the busy and noisy modern life.
Another reason for considering a visit is that the lighthouses themselves can be very attractive buildings . Mankind could often not be content just to put up a basic structure . but felt the need . even in such an isolated place , to build with an artistic touch . The result is a view for tired eyes to enjoy .
Finally , lighthouses have a romantic attraction , summed up by the image of the oil-skin coated keeper climbing his winding stairs to take care of the light to warn ships and save lives . | [
"To escape from the busy and noisy city .",
"To look for the tools used by our ancestors .",
"To experience the natural beauty of a lighthouse .",
"To learn about the living condition of lighthouse keepers ."
] |
Kim drinks a 1.5-quart bottle of water. She then drinks a 12 ounce can of water. How many ounces of water did she drink? | The bottle was 1.5*32=<<1.5*32=48>>48 ounces.
So she drinks 48+12=<<48+12=60>>60 ounces of water.
#### 60 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Kim drinks a 1.5-quart bottle of water. She then drinks a 12 ounce can of water. How many ounces of water did she drink? | The bottle was 1.5*32=<<1.5*32=48>>48 ounces.
So she drinks 48+12=<<48+12=60>>60 ounces of water.
#### 60 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
What is a gap in rock layers called? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What is a gap in rock layers called? | an unconformity | science | null | null | null | an anomaly | a crevice | a mutation | an unconformity | An unconformity is a gap in rock layers. They occur where older rock layers eroded away completely before new rock layers were deposited. | null | null | null |
Lennon is a sales rep and is paid $0.36 in mileage reimbursement when he travels to meet with clients. On Monday he drove 18 miles. Tuesday he drove 26 miles. Wednesday and Thursday he drove 20 miles each day and on Friday he drove 16 miles. How much money will he be reimbursed? | In one week he drove 18+26+20+20+16 = <<18+26+20+20+16=100>>100 miles
He is reimbursed $0.36 per mile of travel, and he travels 100 miles so he will receive .36*100 = $<<.36*100=36.00>>36.00
#### 36 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Lennon is a sales rep and is paid $0.36 in mileage reimbursement when he travels to meet with clients. On Monday he drove 18 miles. Tuesday he drove 26 miles. Wednesday and Thursday he drove 20 miles each day and on Friday he drove 16 miles. How much money will he be reimbursed? | In one week he drove 18+26+20+20+16 = <<18+26+20+20+16=100>>100 miles
He is reimbursed $0.36 per mile of travel, and he travels 100 miles so he will receive .36*100 = $<<.36*100=36.00>>36.00
#### 36 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Chemical reactions are typically written to imply that they proceed in one direction - if they can occur in either direction, they are considered what? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Chemical reactions are typically written to imply that they proceed in one direction - if they can occur in either direction, they are considered what? | reversible | science | null | null | null | reactive | singular | observable | reversible | A chemical reaction is usually written in a way that suggests it proceeds in one direction, the direction in which we read, but all chemical reactions are reversible, and both the forward and reverse reaction occur to one degree or another depending on conditions. In a chemical equilibrium, the forward and reverse reactions occur at equal rates, and the concentrations of products and reactants remain constant. If we run a reaction in a closed system so that the products cannot escape, we often find the reaction does not give a 100% yield of products. Instead, some reactants remain after the concentrations stop changing. At this point, when there is no further change in concentrations of reactants and products, we say the reaction is at equilibrium. A mixture of reactants and products is found at equilibrium. For example, when we place a sample of dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4, a colorless gas) in a glass tube, it forms nitrogen dioxide (NO2, a brown gas) by the reaction N 2 O 4(g) ⇌ 2NO 2(g) The color becomes darker as N2O4 is converted to NO2. When the system reaches equilibrium, both N2O4 and NO2 are present (Figure 13.2). | null | null | null |
From the passage we can see _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Mr Green has a car. In the morning he takes his children to school in his car. Then he drives to work. Mr Green and his children do not have lunch at home, but Mrs Green does. She does not go to work. She stays at home and does some shopping and cleaning in the morning. In the afternoon she usually goes to see some of her friends, has tea and talks a lot with them. Then she cooks supper for her family. Mr Green comes back home much later than his children. They do not come back in their father's car. They take a bus home. They usually come back home before five.
Question:
From the passage we can see _ .
Choices:
A. Mr Green can cook a good supper
B. Mrs Green has supper only with her children
C. Mr Green's family don't live very happily
D. Mr Green usually comes back home after five | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle6801.txt | Mr Green has a car. In the morning he takes his children to school in his car. Then he drives to work. Mr Green and his children do not have lunch at home, but Mrs Green does. She does not go to work. She stays at home and does some shopping and cleaning in the morning. In the afternoon she usually goes to see some of her friends, has tea and talks a lot with them. Then she cooks supper for her family. Mr Green comes back home much later than his children. They do not come back in their father's car. They take a bus home. They usually come back home before five. | [
"Mr Green can cook a good supper",
"Mrs Green has supper only with her children",
"Mr Green's family don't live very happily",
"Mr Green usually comes back home after five"
] |
Inserting an extra plane of atoms into a crystal lattice produces what? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Inserting an extra plane of atoms into a crystal lattice produces what? | edge dislocation | science | null | null | null | edge location | spot location | spot dislocation | edge dislocation | Dislocations, Deformations, and Work Hardening Inserting an extra plane of atoms into a crystal lattice produces an edge dislocation. A familiar example of an edge dislocation occurs when an ear of corn contains an extra row of kernels between the other rows (). An edge dislocation in a crystal causes the planes of atoms in the lattice to deform where the extra plane of atoms begins (). The edge dislocation frequently determines whether the entire solid will deform and fail under stress. Deformation occurs when a dislocation moves through a crystal. To illustrate the process, suppose you have a heavy rug that is lying a few inches off-center on a nonskid pad. To move the rug to its proper place, you could pick up one end and pull it. Because of the large area of contact between the rug and the pad, however, they will probably move as a unit. Alternatively, you could pick up the rug and try to set it back down exactly where you want it, but that requires a great deal of effort (and probably at least one extra person). An easier solution is to create a small wrinkle at one end of the rug (an edge dislocation) and gradually push the wrinkle across, resulting in a net movement of the rug as a whole (part (a) in ). Moving the wrinkle requires only a small amount of energy because only a small part of the rug is actually moving at any one time. Similarly, in a solid, the contacts between layers are broken in only one place at a time, which facilitates the deformation process. Saylor URL: http://www. saylor. org/books. | null | null | null |
Kristy, a sales representative earns a basic salary of $7.50 per hour plus a 16% commission on everything she sells. This month, she worked for 160 hours and sold $25000 worth of items. Her monthly budget for food, clothing, rent, transportation, bills and savings is 95% of her total monthly earnings and the rest will be put towards insurance. How much did she allocate to insurance? | Kristy earns a basic salary of $7.50 x 160 = $<<7.5*160=1200>>1200.
Her total commission is $25000 x 16/100 = $<<25000*16/100=4000>>4000.
Thus, her total earning is $1200 + $4000 = $<<1200+4000=5200>>5200.
Her monthly budget aside from the insurance is $5200 x 95/100 = $<<5200*95/100=4940>>4940.
Therefore, she allocated $5200 - $4940 = $<<5200-4940=260>>260 on insurance.
#### 260 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Kristy, a sales representative earns a basic salary of $7.50 per hour plus a 16% commission on everything she sells. This month, she worked for 160 hours and sold $25000 worth of items. Her monthly budget for food, clothing, rent, transportation, bills and savings is 95% of her total monthly earnings and the rest will be put towards insurance. How much did she allocate to insurance? | Kristy earns a basic salary of $7.50 x 160 = $<<7.5*160=1200>>1200.
Her total commission is $25000 x 16/100 = $<<25000*16/100=4000>>4000.
Thus, her total earning is $1200 + $4000 = $<<1200+4000=5200>>5200.
Her monthly budget aside from the insurance is $5200 x 95/100 = $<<5200*95/100=4940>>4940.
Therefore, she allocated $5200 - $4940 = $<<5200-4940=260>>260 on insurance.
#### 260 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Some birds can learn to say words, _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
People have always wanted to speak with animals. There are many books about this, especially children books. Now there are also movies, such as Dr. Doolittle. When you watch animals, it seems clear that they can communicate with each other. Many people wonder why people can't also communicate with them.
Scientists know how some animals communicate. Bees, for example, use their bodies. They do a kind of dance to give information about food. Birds, on the other hand, share information with sounds. They use certain sounds to protect their homes and to stay together when they fly. Some male birds use lovely songs to attract a female . Other animals communicate with both body movements and sounds. For example, dogs wag their tails when they are happy, and they bark when they are excited.
People used to think it was possible to teach human language to animals. Parrots and other birds, for example, can learn to say words. But the birds just repeat the words. They don't understand them. Some American scientists tried to teach English to chimpanzees , close s of human beings. However, this was impossible. Chimpanzees can't move their mouths the right way. They could never learn to speak like people.
Then scientists tried to teach human language to chimpanzees in other ways. Some tried with American Sign Language (ASL). Others tried with a simple computer. But chimpanzees could only learn to use a few words. They could never learn to use grammar. Their brains are very different from the brains of human beings.
Now some scientists are studying the same points between human and animal language. In fact, some animals use sounds like people do. Dogs, for example, use an unpleasant, low sound to tell other dogs to stay away. People, too, use that kind of voice to say the same things. A dog's noisy bark communicate that something is happening. People use the same high tone when they shout, "Watch out!"
Scientists want to understand the language of other animals, such as whales and bears. To do this, they go out to the animals' natural homes. They watch the animals for days or even years. They take pictures and make tape recordings and share the information with other scientists. In this way, they hope to learn more about the way animals communicate, and maybe someday we'll be able to communicate better with them.
Question:
Some birds can learn to say words, _ .
Choices:
A. but they don't really know the meaning
B. and they make up new words, too
C. and they use grammar, too
D. but they forget them quickly | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high22653.txt | People have always wanted to speak with animals. There are many books about this, especially children books. Now there are also movies, such as Dr. Doolittle. When you watch animals, it seems clear that they can communicate with each other. Many people wonder why people can't also communicate with them.
Scientists know how some animals communicate. Bees, for example, use their bodies. They do a kind of dance to give information about food. Birds, on the other hand, share information with sounds. They use certain sounds to protect their homes and to stay together when they fly. Some male birds use lovely songs to attract a female . Other animals communicate with both body movements and sounds. For example, dogs wag their tails when they are happy, and they bark when they are excited.
People used to think it was possible to teach human language to animals. Parrots and other birds, for example, can learn to say words. But the birds just repeat the words. They don't understand them. Some American scientists tried to teach English to chimpanzees , close s of human beings. However, this was impossible. Chimpanzees can't move their mouths the right way. They could never learn to speak like people.
Then scientists tried to teach human language to chimpanzees in other ways. Some tried with American Sign Language (ASL). Others tried with a simple computer. But chimpanzees could only learn to use a few words. They could never learn to use grammar. Their brains are very different from the brains of human beings.
Now some scientists are studying the same points between human and animal language. In fact, some animals use sounds like people do. Dogs, for example, use an unpleasant, low sound to tell other dogs to stay away. People, too, use that kind of voice to say the same things. A dog's noisy bark communicate that something is happening. People use the same high tone when they shout, "Watch out!"
Scientists want to understand the language of other animals, such as whales and bears. To do this, they go out to the animals' natural homes. They watch the animals for days or even years. They take pictures and make tape recordings and share the information with other scientists. In this way, they hope to learn more about the way animals communicate, and maybe someday we'll be able to communicate better with them. | [
"but they don't really know the meaning",
"and they make up new words, too",
"and they use grammar, too",
"but they forget them quickly"
] |
In big cities people can _ | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other big cities are exciting places to live. There are many interesting things to see and to do. You can go to different kinds of museums, plays and movies. You can also go to supermarkets to buy things from all over the world. But there are serious problems in big cities, too. The cost of living is high, and there are too many people in some big cities. Every year many people move to the cities because there are more chances to find jobs, to study at good schools, and to receive good medical care. But sometimes these people cannot find work or a good place to live. Also, too many people in a small space make it hard to keep the cities safe and clean.
Some people enjoy living in big cities. Others do not. Before people move to big cities, they should think about the problems of living there.
Question:
In big cities people can _
Choices:
A. find jobs more easily
B. study at good schools
C. receive good medical care
D. A, B and C | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle2585.txt | Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other big cities are exciting places to live. There are many interesting things to see and to do. You can go to different kinds of museums, plays and movies. You can also go to supermarkets to buy things from all over the world. But there are serious problems in big cities, too. The cost of living is high, and there are too many people in some big cities. Every year many people move to the cities because there are more chances to find jobs, to study at good schools, and to receive good medical care. But sometimes these people cannot find work or a good place to live. Also, too many people in a small space make it hard to keep the cities safe and clean.
Some people enjoy living in big cities. Others do not. Before people move to big cities, they should think about the problems of living there. | [
"find jobs more easily",
"study at good schools",
"receive good medical care",
"A, B and C"
] |
Which of the following is TRUE about the Hundred Years Starship? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The US space agency NASA is looking for people to go to Mars, and stay there. This attractive career is for people who want a huge change of scenery and planet. The project is called the Hundred Years Starship, which aims to colonize other lands such as the red planet Mars.
Settlers would travel to the red planet and live there forever. NASA says it would be too expensive to bring humans back to Earth. The space agency can afford, however, to send supplies to the astronaut pioneers from Earth. Astronauts would be landed on the planet's surface and would never be able to return home due to the cost.
NASA has started the project with $1.6 million, and hopes to attract investment from space-living billionaires. Google co-founder Larry Page told NASA he would be interested if the cost of a one-way ticket can go down from $10 billion to $2 billion.
The journey to Mars could take 4 months. Setting on the red planet would be extremely dangerous, especially given the freezing temperatures there. The thin atmosphere would be another problem as it is mostly carbon dioxide, so oxygen supplies are a must. A director in NASA said that he believed the trip might start with visiting Mars's moons first. He claimed that humans could be on Mars's moons by 2030.
Many scientists think colonizing space is absolutely necessary. Steven Hawking believes we must move to other planets to survive as a species. He said: "Once we spread out into space and establish independent colonies, our future should be safe." Scientists Dirk' Schulze-Makuch and Paul Davies also call it a "desirable goal", though there surely are huge risks to explore new lands.
Question:
Which of the following is TRUE about the Hundred Years Starship?
Choices:
A. It has cost NASA around $10 billion.
B. It is expected to be conducted on Mars in 2030.
C. It aims to explore new lands in the universe.
D. It is a project first raise by Steven Hawking. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high3216.txt | The US space agency NASA is looking for people to go to Mars, and stay there. This attractive career is for people who want a huge change of scenery and planet. The project is called the Hundred Years Starship, which aims to colonize other lands such as the red planet Mars.
Settlers would travel to the red planet and live there forever. NASA says it would be too expensive to bring humans back to Earth. The space agency can afford, however, to send supplies to the astronaut pioneers from Earth. Astronauts would be landed on the planet's surface and would never be able to return home due to the cost.
NASA has started the project with $1.6 million, and hopes to attract investment from space-living billionaires. Google co-founder Larry Page told NASA he would be interested if the cost of a one-way ticket can go down from $10 billion to $2 billion.
The journey to Mars could take 4 months. Setting on the red planet would be extremely dangerous, especially given the freezing temperatures there. The thin atmosphere would be another problem as it is mostly carbon dioxide, so oxygen supplies are a must. A director in NASA said that he believed the trip might start with visiting Mars's moons first. He claimed that humans could be on Mars's moons by 2030.
Many scientists think colonizing space is absolutely necessary. Steven Hawking believes we must move to other planets to survive as a species. He said: "Once we spread out into space and establish independent colonies, our future should be safe." Scientists Dirk' Schulze-Makuch and Paul Davies also call it a "desirable goal", though there surely are huge risks to explore new lands. | [
"It has cost NASA around $10 billion.",
"It is expected to be conducted on Mars in 2030.",
"It aims to explore new lands in the universe.",
"It is a project first raise by Steven Hawking."
] |
Each kidney is supplied by a renal artery and what else? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Each kidney is supplied by a renal artery and what else? | renal vein | science | null | null | null | coronary artery | spinal cord | brain vein | renal vein | Each kidney is supplied by a renal artery and renal vein. | null | null | null |
What time does Happy Days Club open? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Happy Days Clud
For young people
From 12...18 years old
Every Friday 7:30p.m...10:30p.m
29 Milton Street Just PS1 a week
Parker's Sweet Shop
14 Barrett Road 5minutes from town centre
Try our famous chocolate eggs and sugar
Hearts
Prices lower than in other shops
Open Monday--Saturday 9am.--5pm
International Library
Books, CDs and Videos over 100 foreign
newspapers and magazines
Entrance free
Monday...Saturday 9:30--6:00p.m
News England House, Muswum Street
Painting Competition
For young people 8...16 years old
Paint a picture of an animal
Send it to:
Young Artist Magazine
12 High Street
Before 14 September and win a bicycle!
Question:
What time does Happy Days Club open?
Choices:
A. 7:30 p.m.
B. 9:00a.m.
C. 9:30a.m.
D. 10:30p.m. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle6711.txt | Happy Days Clud
For young people
From 12...18 years old
Every Friday 7:30p.m...10:30p.m
29 Milton Street Just PS1 a week
Parker's Sweet Shop
14 Barrett Road 5minutes from town centre
Try our famous chocolate eggs and sugar
Hearts
Prices lower than in other shops
Open Monday--Saturday 9am.--5pm
International Library
Books, CDs and Videos over 100 foreign
newspapers and magazines
Entrance free
Monday...Saturday 9:30--6:00p.m
News England House, Muswum Street
Painting Competition
For young people 8...16 years old
Paint a picture of an animal
Send it to:
Young Artist Magazine
12 High Street
Before 14 September and win a bicycle! | [
"7:30 p.m.",
"9:00a.m.",
"9:30a.m.",
"10:30p.m."
] |
What does Mike mean by saying that "the threat was just a scare tactic"? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Downloading music over the Internet is pretty common among high school and college students. However, when students download and share copyrighted music without permission, they are against the law.
A survey of young people's music ownership has found that teenagers and college students have an average of more than 800 illegally copied songs each on their digital music players.Half of those surveyed share all the music on their hard drive , enabling others to copy hundreds of songs at any one time. Some students were found to have randomly linked their personal blogs to music sites, so as to allow free trial listening of copyrighted songs for blog visitors, or adopted some of the songs as the background music for their blogs. Such practices may be easy and free, but there are consequences.
Sandra Dowd, a student of Central Michigan University, was fined US$7,500 for downloading 501 files from LimeWire, a peer-to-peer file sharing program. Sandra claimed that she was unaware that her downloads were illegal until she was contacted by authorities. Similarly, Mike Lewinski paid US$4,000 to settle a lawsuit against him for copyright violation . Mike expressed shock and couldn't believe that this was happening to him. "I just wanted to save some money and I always thought the threat was just a scare tactic ." "You know, everyone does it," added Mike.
The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), the organization that files lawsuits against illegal downloaders, states that suing students was by no means their first choice. Unfortunately, without the threat of consequences, students are just not changing their behavior. Education alone is not enough to stop the extraordinary growth of the illegal downloading practice.
Question:
What does Mike mean by saying that "the threat was just a scare tactic"?
Choices:
A. One should not be afraid of threats.
B. A lawsuit will result from the threat.
C. It is unfair to scare people with a threat.
D. No serious consequence will follow the threat. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high23494.txt | Downloading music over the Internet is pretty common among high school and college students. However, when students download and share copyrighted music without permission, they are against the law.
A survey of young people's music ownership has found that teenagers and college students have an average of more than 800 illegally copied songs each on their digital music players.Half of those surveyed share all the music on their hard drive , enabling others to copy hundreds of songs at any one time. Some students were found to have randomly linked their personal blogs to music sites, so as to allow free trial listening of copyrighted songs for blog visitors, or adopted some of the songs as the background music for their blogs. Such practices may be easy and free, but there are consequences.
Sandra Dowd, a student of Central Michigan University, was fined US$7,500 for downloading 501 files from LimeWire, a peer-to-peer file sharing program. Sandra claimed that she was unaware that her downloads were illegal until she was contacted by authorities. Similarly, Mike Lewinski paid US$4,000 to settle a lawsuit against him for copyright violation . Mike expressed shock and couldn't believe that this was happening to him. "I just wanted to save some money and I always thought the threat was just a scare tactic ." "You know, everyone does it," added Mike.
The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), the organization that files lawsuits against illegal downloaders, states that suing students was by no means their first choice. Unfortunately, without the threat of consequences, students are just not changing their behavior. Education alone is not enough to stop the extraordinary growth of the illegal downloading practice. | [
"One should not be afraid of threats.",
"A lawsuit will result from the threat.",
"It is unfair to scare people with a threat.",
"No serious consequence will follow the threat."
] |
What is the present situation of the teaching? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
At present, in many American cities especially, many teachers in the public schools say they are underpaid. They point to jobs such as secretary or truck driver, which often pay more to start than
of a teacher. In many other fields, such as law, medicine, computer science, a beginning worker may make more than a teacher who has taught for several years.
Teaching has never been a profession that attracted people interested in high salaries. It is by history a profession that has provided rewards in addition to money--the satisfaction of sharing knowledge, of influencing others, of guiding young people. But in the past several years, there are more difficulties in teaching, for many, than there are rewards.
Unruly students, especially in big cities, large classes and a lack of support from the public in terms of money and understanding have led many public school teachers to leave the profession.
As a result, many of the best students, who would have chosen teaching as their life career in the past, are going into other fields.
Another reason for this change in teacher candidates is the changing status of women in the United States. Until the late 1960s and 1970s, one of the most popular choices for women was teaching. But as other professions, such as law and medicine opened up to women, women stopped pouring into teacher training programs. Thus, a major pool of excellent candidates for the teaching profession dwindled.
Bit by bit government officials and others realized that the status of the teacher had suffered. They talked about change. But the change in a vast society like the United States is not easy. People's attitudes have formed over many years, and sometimes change takes many years.
Question:
What is the present situation of the teaching?
Choices:
A. Teachers work harder and get underpaid.
B. Teachers have no opportunities to work in other fields.
C. Teaching can attract best students to work as a teacher.
D. Teaching can provide rewards as well as high salaries. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16220.txt | At present, in many American cities especially, many teachers in the public schools say they are underpaid. They point to jobs such as secretary or truck driver, which often pay more to start than
of a teacher. In many other fields, such as law, medicine, computer science, a beginning worker may make more than a teacher who has taught for several years.
Teaching has never been a profession that attracted people interested in high salaries. It is by history a profession that has provided rewards in addition to money--the satisfaction of sharing knowledge, of influencing others, of guiding young people. But in the past several years, there are more difficulties in teaching, for many, than there are rewards.
Unruly students, especially in big cities, large classes and a lack of support from the public in terms of money and understanding have led many public school teachers to leave the profession.
As a result, many of the best students, who would have chosen teaching as their life career in the past, are going into other fields.
Another reason for this change in teacher candidates is the changing status of women in the United States. Until the late 1960s and 1970s, one of the most popular choices for women was teaching. But as other professions, such as law and medicine opened up to women, women stopped pouring into teacher training programs. Thus, a major pool of excellent candidates for the teaching profession dwindled.
Bit by bit government officials and others realized that the status of the teacher had suffered. They talked about change. But the change in a vast society like the United States is not easy. People's attitudes have formed over many years, and sometimes change takes many years. | [
"Teachers work harder and get underpaid.",
"Teachers have no opportunities to work in other fields.",
"Teaching can attract best students to work as a teacher.",
"Teaching can provide rewards as well as high salaries."
] |
Why is Doctor Mark Humayun well respected? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
There are millions of people throughout the world who are either born blind or have become blind over the course of their lifetimes. It is unfair to take away the visual beauty of the world from these people. Doctor Humayun has created the world's first bionic eye that could change the life of every blind people in the world.
Doctor Mark Humayun is a well respected professor at the Doheny Eye Institute in California. He has been working for years on creating a bionic eye that would allow blind people to see images just like a normal person does. His idea of the bionic eye is actually an eye that has been built in a small video camera.
The test results show the bionic eye has given blind patients the amazing ability to see the scientists doing the tests. But the images are still blurry and we need much work before the eye actually becomes a regular implant into blind people. Humayun believes that he can go into production with the bionic eye over the next three to five years.
A closer look at the bionic eye is amazing. The patient wears a special set of eyeglasses. All the signals are passed to the implanted eye. It's done by wireless technology. Humayun has created an invention that could change the lives of millions of people. Imagine a world in which someone would no longer fear about being blind. This could be considered a technological achievement.
Question:
Why is Doctor Mark Humayun well respected?
Choices:
A. Because he has been working on a small video camera.
B. Because he is a professor of a famous university.
C. Because he invented a video camera for the blind.
D. Because he devoted himself to making the blind see again. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle7595.txt | There are millions of people throughout the world who are either born blind or have become blind over the course of their lifetimes. It is unfair to take away the visual beauty of the world from these people. Doctor Humayun has created the world's first bionic eye that could change the life of every blind people in the world.
Doctor Mark Humayun is a well respected professor at the Doheny Eye Institute in California. He has been working for years on creating a bionic eye that would allow blind people to see images just like a normal person does. His idea of the bionic eye is actually an eye that has been built in a small video camera.
The test results show the bionic eye has given blind patients the amazing ability to see the scientists doing the tests. But the images are still blurry and we need much work before the eye actually becomes a regular implant into blind people. Humayun believes that he can go into production with the bionic eye over the next three to five years.
A closer look at the bionic eye is amazing. The patient wears a special set of eyeglasses. All the signals are passed to the implanted eye. It's done by wireless technology. Humayun has created an invention that could change the lives of millions of people. Imagine a world in which someone would no longer fear about being blind. This could be considered a technological achievement. | [
"Because he has been working on a small video camera.",
"Because he is a professor of a famous university.",
"Because he invented a video camera for the blind.",
"Because he devoted himself to making the blind see again."
] |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Actually, long-distance bicycle camping is one of the happiest activities I have ever experienced. I generally sleep poorly at night, but in the woods on a tour, I sleep like a baby with the music of insects. In the morning, birds wake me up. I eat a snack before getting up, and then I quickly pack my sleeping bag, tent, and other things and get on the road. Usually I have less speed. Traveling by bike allows me to stop anywhere, such as lakes(especially places to swim), woods, and scenic spots .
Somewhere near lunch, I find a small drugstore and buy some bread, sandwich materials, and fruit. In the afternoon, my speeds are higher, and I spend less time at stops. In the late afternoon, I start thinking about stopping. I finally find a place in the early evening, cook a simple meal, and rest and cool off. As it starts to get dark, I put up my tent, and fall asleep.
There are exciting times and difficult times as well. Visiting strange or famous places are always exciting to me. I meet and talk with interesting people along the way. Enjoying beautiful scenes, meeting wild animals(usually at my camping site), and traveling up and down hills also make me cheerful. On the other hand, I may run into rainy or hot days, have to repair my bike, or just find myself in a bad state. The problems are easily dealt with. The pleasures remain in my mind for years.
Question:
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
Choices:
A. The writer has to sleep late during the tour.
B. The writer doesn't want to get up early.
C. The writer always has fruit for breakfast.
D. The writer rides faster in the afternoon. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5091.txt | Actually, long-distance bicycle camping is one of the happiest activities I have ever experienced. I generally sleep poorly at night, but in the woods on a tour, I sleep like a baby with the music of insects. In the morning, birds wake me up. I eat a snack before getting up, and then I quickly pack my sleeping bag, tent, and other things and get on the road. Usually I have less speed. Traveling by bike allows me to stop anywhere, such as lakes(especially places to swim), woods, and scenic spots .
Somewhere near lunch, I find a small drugstore and buy some bread, sandwich materials, and fruit. In the afternoon, my speeds are higher, and I spend less time at stops. In the late afternoon, I start thinking about stopping. I finally find a place in the early evening, cook a simple meal, and rest and cool off. As it starts to get dark, I put up my tent, and fall asleep.
There are exciting times and difficult times as well. Visiting strange or famous places are always exciting to me. I meet and talk with interesting people along the way. Enjoying beautiful scenes, meeting wild animals(usually at my camping site), and traveling up and down hills also make me cheerful. On the other hand, I may run into rainy or hot days, have to repair my bike, or just find myself in a bad state. The problems are easily dealt with. The pleasures remain in my mind for years. | [
"The writer has to sleep late during the tour.",
"The writer doesn't want to get up early.",
"The writer always has fruit for breakfast.",
"The writer rides faster in the afternoon."
] |
What is argued about in this passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Zoo elephants don't live as long as those in the wild, according to a study sure to cause debate about keeping the giant animals on display. Researchers compared the life spans of elephants in European zoos with those living in Amboseli National Park in Kenya and others working on a timber enterprise in Buma. Animals in the wild or in natural working conditions had life expectancies twice than or more of their relatives in zoos.
Animal care activists have urged in recent years to discourage keeping elephants in zoos, largely because of the lack of space and small numbers of animals that can be kept in a group.
The researchers found that the _ life span for African elephants in European zoos was 16.9 years, compared with 56 years for elephants who died of natural causes in Kenya's Amboseli Park. Adding in those elephants killed by people in Africa lowered the median life expectancy there to 35.9 years. For the more endangered Asian elephants, the median life span in European zoos was 18.9 years, compared with 41.7 years for those working in the Burma Timber Enterprise. Median means half died younger than that age and half lived longer.
There is some good news, though. The life expectancies of zoo elephants have improved in recent years, suggesting an improvement in their care and raising, but "Protecting elephants in Africa and Asia is far more successful than protecting them in Western zoos."
There are about 1,200 elephants in zoos, half in Europe, researchers concentrated on female elephants, which make up 80 percent of the zoo population. One amazing thing was that Asian elephants born in zoos had shorter life spans that those brought to the zoos from the wild.
Zoos usually lack large areas that elephants are used to in the wild, and that zoo animals often are alone or with one or two other unrelated animals, while in the wild they tend to live in related groups of 8 to 12 animals. In Asian elephants, baby death rates are two to three times higher in zoos than in the Burmese logging camps, and then, in adulthood, zoo-born animals die young. People are not sure why.
Question:
What is argued about in this passage?
Choices:
A. Zoo elephants don't live as long as those in the wild.
B. Elephants should not be on display.
C. Asian elephants are in danger.
D. Asia is far more successful in protecting elephants in zoos. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high2287.txt | Zoo elephants don't live as long as those in the wild, according to a study sure to cause debate about keeping the giant animals on display. Researchers compared the life spans of elephants in European zoos with those living in Amboseli National Park in Kenya and others working on a timber enterprise in Buma. Animals in the wild or in natural working conditions had life expectancies twice than or more of their relatives in zoos.
Animal care activists have urged in recent years to discourage keeping elephants in zoos, largely because of the lack of space and small numbers of animals that can be kept in a group.
The researchers found that the _ life span for African elephants in European zoos was 16.9 years, compared with 56 years for elephants who died of natural causes in Kenya's Amboseli Park. Adding in those elephants killed by people in Africa lowered the median life expectancy there to 35.9 years. For the more endangered Asian elephants, the median life span in European zoos was 18.9 years, compared with 41.7 years for those working in the Burma Timber Enterprise. Median means half died younger than that age and half lived longer.
There is some good news, though. The life expectancies of zoo elephants have improved in recent years, suggesting an improvement in their care and raising, but "Protecting elephants in Africa and Asia is far more successful than protecting them in Western zoos."
There are about 1,200 elephants in zoos, half in Europe, researchers concentrated on female elephants, which make up 80 percent of the zoo population. One amazing thing was that Asian elephants born in zoos had shorter life spans that those brought to the zoos from the wild.
Zoos usually lack large areas that elephants are used to in the wild, and that zoo animals often are alone or with one or two other unrelated animals, while in the wild they tend to live in related groups of 8 to 12 animals. In Asian elephants, baby death rates are two to three times higher in zoos than in the Burmese logging camps, and then, in adulthood, zoo-born animals die young. People are not sure why. | [
"Zoo elephants don't live as long as those in the wild.",
"Elephants should not be on display.",
"Asian elephants are in danger.",
"Asia is far more successful in protecting elephants in zoos."
] |
What can be inferred from the text? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Everybody loves to play board games sometimes, but it is surprising to know how long this pastime has been in existence. Some of the earliest board games are over 5,000 years old. The oldest is probably Senet, an American Egyptian game which has been found in burials from before 3000 BC. The game involves an element of luck, and so it was thought by the Ancient Egyptians that those who won the game were protected by God. For this reason, games of Senet were often buried alongside the dead body, to be used on the dangerous game board is set out as a grid of three by ten rows, and uses two sets of at least five pawns. The actual rules are unknown, although some historians have proposed rules which were used in the Senet sets available today.
The Royal Game of Ur, also known as the Game of Twenty Squares, is another ancient game which dates back to the First Dynasty of Ur, in 2600 BC Mesopotamia. It was played with two sets of seven counters, one black and one white, and three four-sided dice . Although the ancient rules are unknown, a stone tablet has been found which describes a reliable record of how the game was played in 177-176 BC.
Both Senet and The Royal Game of Ur probably came into existence long before the game backgammon ,which itself has a long history. The game of Nard, which existed in Iran in around 3000 BC, used two sets of fifteen counters, four dice and same board as the one used in backgammon today, although the initial starting positions and rules are different. Similar games were played in Ancient Rome and India.
Question:
What can be inferred from the text?
Choices:
A. All the games used the same number of dice.
B. The earliest board game was found in Europe.
C. There were some similarities between the games.
D. We haven't got any record of the board games. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high18921.txt | Everybody loves to play board games sometimes, but it is surprising to know how long this pastime has been in existence. Some of the earliest board games are over 5,000 years old. The oldest is probably Senet, an American Egyptian game which has been found in burials from before 3000 BC. The game involves an element of luck, and so it was thought by the Ancient Egyptians that those who won the game were protected by God. For this reason, games of Senet were often buried alongside the dead body, to be used on the dangerous game board is set out as a grid of three by ten rows, and uses two sets of at least five pawns. The actual rules are unknown, although some historians have proposed rules which were used in the Senet sets available today.
The Royal Game of Ur, also known as the Game of Twenty Squares, is another ancient game which dates back to the First Dynasty of Ur, in 2600 BC Mesopotamia. It was played with two sets of seven counters, one black and one white, and three four-sided dice . Although the ancient rules are unknown, a stone tablet has been found which describes a reliable record of how the game was played in 177-176 BC.
Both Senet and The Royal Game of Ur probably came into existence long before the game backgammon ,which itself has a long history. The game of Nard, which existed in Iran in around 3000 BC, used two sets of fifteen counters, four dice and same board as the one used in backgammon today, although the initial starting positions and rules are different. Similar games were played in Ancient Rome and India. | [
"All the games used the same number of dice.",
"The earliest board game was found in Europe.",
"There were some similarities between the games.",
"We haven't got any record of the board games."
] |
According to the author, when you buy locally-grown foods _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The Horn of Plenty is one of the largest natural health food stores within the Greater Hamilton area. We are big supporters of buying locally and we are here to tell you why it is so important for your family, the community and the environment.
The concept of buying locally is simple: buy food produced, grown, or raised as close to your home as possible. Not only will your food be fresher and tastier, but you are helping protect the environment and are supporting businesses within your community and reducing pollution.
Better for the environment
Sustainability and global warming are such hot topics at the moment, and many people want to do their bit to help support a healthier environment. Small action carried out by many people can make a big difference. Most materials in an average North American meal have traveled about 1,500 miles to get from farm to plate. To cut out a big part of this travel would greatly reduce not only pollution from transportation and refrigeration but also customers' expenses as well.
Taste and nutritional content
Locally-grown fruits and vegetables are usually sold within 24 hours of being harvested. Because they are picked at the height of ripeness and travel only a short distance to the market, their freshness, nutrition, and flavor are kept. Produce trucked in from far away may lose both taste and nutritional content.
Community and home values
When you buy direct from a farmer or buy locally-grown foods, you are engaged in a time-honored tradition between a grower and an eater. You also help keep dollars within your community.
Question:
According to the author, when you buy locally-grown foods _ .
Choices:
A. you can see how fruits and vegetables grow
B. you will contribute to protecting the environment
C. you will become much healthier and prettier
D. you are making money from your community | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high12111.txt | The Horn of Plenty is one of the largest natural health food stores within the Greater Hamilton area. We are big supporters of buying locally and we are here to tell you why it is so important for your family, the community and the environment.
The concept of buying locally is simple: buy food produced, grown, or raised as close to your home as possible. Not only will your food be fresher and tastier, but you are helping protect the environment and are supporting businesses within your community and reducing pollution.
Better for the environment
Sustainability and global warming are such hot topics at the moment, and many people want to do their bit to help support a healthier environment. Small action carried out by many people can make a big difference. Most materials in an average North American meal have traveled about 1,500 miles to get from farm to plate. To cut out a big part of this travel would greatly reduce not only pollution from transportation and refrigeration but also customers' expenses as well.
Taste and nutritional content
Locally-grown fruits and vegetables are usually sold within 24 hours of being harvested. Because they are picked at the height of ripeness and travel only a short distance to the market, their freshness, nutrition, and flavor are kept. Produce trucked in from far away may lose both taste and nutritional content.
Community and home values
When you buy direct from a farmer or buy locally-grown foods, you are engaged in a time-honored tradition between a grower and an eater. You also help keep dollars within your community. | [
"you can see how fruits and vegetables grow",
"you will contribute to protecting the environment",
"you will become much healthier and prettier",
"you are making money from your community"
] |
What is necessary for organisms to survive in the deepest parts of the ocean? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What is necessary for organisms to survive in the deepest parts of the ocean? | adaptations | science | null | null | null | competition | reflexes | mutation | adaptations | There are few organisms that live in the deepest ocean. The ones that do have amazing adaptations to the exceptionally harsh conditions. | null | null | null |
People often think the life in space is _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
An astronaut's work may sound exciting, but living in space isn't as fun as you think. The website www.space.com lists the disadvantages of living in space. Here are some of them.
When astronauts work outside the station during spacewalks, they have to wear special gloves. The gloves are very tight. They can hurt the astronauts' fingernails and even make them fall off.
In space, you don't have many choices in what you eat. It's hard to get fresh fruits and vegetables. It is not OK to eat bread because it leaves crumbs . Crumbs could fly around everywhere.
In space, it is impossible to have a good shower because water can fly all over the ship and break the machines. Astronauts have to use a special water-shooting gun and a washcloth.
Astronauts lose their bone strength quickly during their stay in space. So far, there is no way to solve this problem. They do exercise while they're in space to try to keep their bones strong as long as possible.
Perhaps the hardest part of life in space is the feeling of loneliness. Astronauts sometimes have to spend weeks and even months away from Earth. They miss their friends and families.
Question:
People often think the life in space is _ .
Choices:
A. terrible
B. lonely
C. hard
D. fun | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle2193.txt | An astronaut's work may sound exciting, but living in space isn't as fun as you think. The website www.space.com lists the disadvantages of living in space. Here are some of them.
When astronauts work outside the station during spacewalks, they have to wear special gloves. The gloves are very tight. They can hurt the astronauts' fingernails and even make them fall off.
In space, you don't have many choices in what you eat. It's hard to get fresh fruits and vegetables. It is not OK to eat bread because it leaves crumbs . Crumbs could fly around everywhere.
In space, it is impossible to have a good shower because water can fly all over the ship and break the machines. Astronauts have to use a special water-shooting gun and a washcloth.
Astronauts lose their bone strength quickly during their stay in space. So far, there is no way to solve this problem. They do exercise while they're in space to try to keep their bones strong as long as possible.
Perhaps the hardest part of life in space is the feeling of loneliness. Astronauts sometimes have to spend weeks and even months away from Earth. They miss their friends and families. | [
"terrible",
"lonely",
"hard",
"fun"
] |
Which is the longest tunnel in the world at present? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Experts have put forward detailed plans for a tunnel to join Taiwan with the Chinese mainland.
The shortest proposed route would be 126 kilometers--more than twice the length of the English Channel Tunnel.And the longest proposed route would be 207 kilometers.
A recent conference in xiamen,Fujian Province brought together more than 70 experts.The event was cosponsored by universities from Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.Fujian is the province where both proposed mutes would begin.
There is no direct passenger access between the mainland and Taiwan by air or sea at the moment.
Experts say that it is better to start research sooner rather than later,although there is a lack of government funding .There are no technical problems t0 build a Taiwan tunnel.But it will require an improved political relationship across the Straits.
A professor of TsinghHa University said,"A special feature of huge projects is that the period of preparation is longer than the period of construction."
For example,he said,the English channel Tunnel took 14 years of planning and had been discussed for two centuries.And preparations for the huge Three Corges dam on the Yangze River began in the 1950s.
The xiamen conference focused on the longest southern route,which would use the Taiwan-controlled islands of Jinmen and Penghu as steppingstones.
The first stage of the new project could be a bridge to cross the five kilometers between Xiamen and Jinmen.This would mean that traveling from Xiamen to Jinmen by car would only take five minutes.
The longest tunnel now being planned anywhere in the world is the 54-kilometer land tunnel to link Lyon in France with Turin in Italy.The tunnel will not be completed until 2015-2020.
Question:
Which is the longest tunnel in the world at present?
Choices:
A. The English Channel Tunnel.
B. The tunnel between Lyon and Turin.
C. The prefix = st1 /Taiwanstraits tunnel _
D. The passage doesn't mention it. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high20016.txt | Experts have put forward detailed plans for a tunnel to join Taiwan with the Chinese mainland.
The shortest proposed route would be 126 kilometers--more than twice the length of the English Channel Tunnel.And the longest proposed route would be 207 kilometers.
A recent conference in xiamen,Fujian Province brought together more than 70 experts.The event was cosponsored by universities from Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.Fujian is the province where both proposed mutes would begin.
There is no direct passenger access between the mainland and Taiwan by air or sea at the moment.
Experts say that it is better to start research sooner rather than later,although there is a lack of government funding .There are no technical problems t0 build a Taiwan tunnel.But it will require an improved political relationship across the Straits.
A professor of TsinghHa University said,"A special feature of huge projects is that the period of preparation is longer than the period of construction."
For example,he said,the English channel Tunnel took 14 years of planning and had been discussed for two centuries.And preparations for the huge Three Corges dam on the Yangze River began in the 1950s.
The xiamen conference focused on the longest southern route,which would use the Taiwan-controlled islands of Jinmen and Penghu as steppingstones.
The first stage of the new project could be a bridge to cross the five kilometers between Xiamen and Jinmen.This would mean that traveling from Xiamen to Jinmen by car would only take five minutes.
The longest tunnel now being planned anywhere in the world is the 54-kilometer land tunnel to link Lyon in France with Turin in Italy.The tunnel will not be completed until 2015-2020. | [
"The English Channel Tunnel.",
"The tunnel between Lyon and Turin.",
"The prefix = st1 /Taiwanstraits tunnel _",
"The passage doesn't mention it."
] |
From the text, we can learn that if you join the gym, _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Look and feel better in 30 days, guaranteed!
Our proven workout system helps you reach your goals fast.
Many Americans are overweight for lack of physical activity. Many are struggling to lose weight, but most give up just within days. If you've struggled with diets and workout routines, only to feel like you aren't getting anywhere, our gym is for you! Take a moment to read this page to find out what we can do for you.
Let us help you
Reach your fitness goals quickly and safely
Work out in a comfortable environment
Look and feel great
Get the results you've been looking for
Have you tried dieting and working out, only to be let down? Do you have trouble pulling yourself to the gym every day? Our program is designed for the "average Joe or Jane" to be able to lose weight and keep it off, with a combination of nutrition, motivation, and fitness.
Our fitness method
Our workout system will ensure that you lose weight and build muscles quickly and safely. We have developed a workout that targets all the right muscle groups, while at the same time burning unwanted fat. Our experienced trainers can help you with nutrition in between workouts to allow you to reach your goals faster. Nutrition is a big part of getting fit; don't overlook it!
If working out on your own hasn't produced the type of results you want, that's why we're here. Join today! We charge $500 for each membership, but people who join our gym today can get a 20 percent discount. Those who join in the following week can get a 10 percent discount. For more information, please click here.
Question:
From the text, we can learn that if you join the gym, _ .
Choices:
A. you'll lose weight safely but slowly
B. you'll struggle with workout routines
C. you'll be advised to pay attention to nutrition
D. you'll be advised to do nothing in between workouts | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9134.txt | Look and feel better in 30 days, guaranteed!
Our proven workout system helps you reach your goals fast.
Many Americans are overweight for lack of physical activity. Many are struggling to lose weight, but most give up just within days. If you've struggled with diets and workout routines, only to feel like you aren't getting anywhere, our gym is for you! Take a moment to read this page to find out what we can do for you.
Let us help you
Reach your fitness goals quickly and safely
Work out in a comfortable environment
Look and feel great
Get the results you've been looking for
Have you tried dieting and working out, only to be let down? Do you have trouble pulling yourself to the gym every day? Our program is designed for the "average Joe or Jane" to be able to lose weight and keep it off, with a combination of nutrition, motivation, and fitness.
Our fitness method
Our workout system will ensure that you lose weight and build muscles quickly and safely. We have developed a workout that targets all the right muscle groups, while at the same time burning unwanted fat. Our experienced trainers can help you with nutrition in between workouts to allow you to reach your goals faster. Nutrition is a big part of getting fit; don't overlook it!
If working out on your own hasn't produced the type of results you want, that's why we're here. Join today! We charge $500 for each membership, but people who join our gym today can get a 20 percent discount. Those who join in the following week can get a 10 percent discount. For more information, please click here. | [
"you'll lose weight safely but slowly",
"you'll struggle with workout routines",
"you'll be advised to pay attention to nutrition",
"you'll be advised to do nothing in between workouts"
] |
The passage is mainly about _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Only three local students won Chinese Blog Competition. And 15 of the 18 awards went to students from China.
170 students' task: to get a fully-designed blog up and running, complete with many postings based on a theme of choice--all written in Chinese.
Themes ranged from local opinions-such as the usage of Singlish, education and whether Singapore can be a cultural centre-to food blogs.
The entries were judged on Language proficiency and the quality of writing, as well as the design and level of exchanging ideas with readers.
Academics from the National University of Singapore and the SIM University IT experts, and a journalist from Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao in Singapore made up the judges.
In the end, only three Singaporean students made it to the award list--the rest of the awards were swept up by students from China.
"No surprise, " said Mr. Chow Yaw Long, 37, teachers in charge from Innova Junior College, which organized the event. "Although the topics were local subjects, the foreign students were generally better in terms of the content of the posts and their grasp of the Chinese language. "
One of the three local students winning the first prize in the Best Language Award was blogger Christina Gao 19, from the Saint Andrew's Junior College, who spared no effort in researching for and writing her blog. Each entry took her between five and seven days to produce, complete with pictures and even podcasts
Her advice for bloggers is: Be responsible
"Some bloggers out there only seek to blame the authorities and other bloggers." Said Miss Gao. "I think they lack responsibilities and there is no value to their posts."
Question:
The passage is mainly about _ .
Choices:
A. how Chinese students won the awards in the competition
B. why bloggers should take responsibility for their blogs
C. what the result of the competition was
D. how Miss Gao won the first prize in the competition | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high3667.txt | Only three local students won Chinese Blog Competition. And 15 of the 18 awards went to students from China.
170 students' task: to get a fully-designed blog up and running, complete with many postings based on a theme of choice--all written in Chinese.
Themes ranged from local opinions-such as the usage of Singlish, education and whether Singapore can be a cultural centre-to food blogs.
The entries were judged on Language proficiency and the quality of writing, as well as the design and level of exchanging ideas with readers.
Academics from the National University of Singapore and the SIM University IT experts, and a journalist from Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao in Singapore made up the judges.
In the end, only three Singaporean students made it to the award list--the rest of the awards were swept up by students from China.
"No surprise, " said Mr. Chow Yaw Long, 37, teachers in charge from Innova Junior College, which organized the event. "Although the topics were local subjects, the foreign students were generally better in terms of the content of the posts and their grasp of the Chinese language. "
One of the three local students winning the first prize in the Best Language Award was blogger Christina Gao 19, from the Saint Andrew's Junior College, who spared no effort in researching for and writing her blog. Each entry took her between five and seven days to produce, complete with pictures and even podcasts
Her advice for bloggers is: Be responsible
"Some bloggers out there only seek to blame the authorities and other bloggers." Said Miss Gao. "I think they lack responsibilities and there is no value to their posts." | [
"how Chinese students won the awards in the competition",
"why bloggers should take responsibility for their blogs",
"what the result of the competition was",
"how Miss Gao won the first prize in the competition"
] |
What will probably follow this passage? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The most exciting kind of education is also the most personal. Nothing can exceed the joy of discovering for yourself something that is important to you! It may be an idea or a bit of information you come across accidentally--or a sudden insight, fitting together pieces of information or working through a problem. Such personal encounters are the "payoff" in education. A teacher may direct you to learning and even encourage you in it--but no teacher can make the excitement or the joy happen. That's up to you.
A research paper, assigned in a course and perhaps checked at various stages by an instructor, leads you beyond classrooms, beyond the texts for classes and into a process where the joy of discovery and learning can come to you many times. Preparing the research paper is an active and individual process, and ideal learning process. It provides a structure within which you can make exciting discoveries, of knowledge and of self, that are basic to education. But the research paper also gives you a chance to individualize a school assignment, to suit a piece of work to your own interests and abilities, to show others what you can do. Writing a research paper is more than just a classroom exercise. It is an experience in searching out, understanding and synthesizing , which forms the basis of many skills applicable to both academic and nonacademic tasks. It is, in the fullest sense, a discovering of an education. So, to produce a good research paper is both a useful and a thoroughly satisfying experience!
To some, the thought of having to write an assigned number of pages, often more than ever produced before, is upsetting. To others, the very idea of having to work independently is threatening. But there is no need to approach paper assignment with anxiety, and nobody should view the research paper as an obstacle to overcome. Instead, consider it a goal to accomplish, a goal within reach if you use the help this book can give you.
Question:
What will probably follow this passage?
Choices:
A. How to write a research paper.
B. The importance of research in education.
C. How to make new discoveries for oneself.
D. The skill of putting pieces of information together. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high23767.txt | The most exciting kind of education is also the most personal. Nothing can exceed the joy of discovering for yourself something that is important to you! It may be an idea or a bit of information you come across accidentally--or a sudden insight, fitting together pieces of information or working through a problem. Such personal encounters are the "payoff" in education. A teacher may direct you to learning and even encourage you in it--but no teacher can make the excitement or the joy happen. That's up to you.
A research paper, assigned in a course and perhaps checked at various stages by an instructor, leads you beyond classrooms, beyond the texts for classes and into a process where the joy of discovery and learning can come to you many times. Preparing the research paper is an active and individual process, and ideal learning process. It provides a structure within which you can make exciting discoveries, of knowledge and of self, that are basic to education. But the research paper also gives you a chance to individualize a school assignment, to suit a piece of work to your own interests and abilities, to show others what you can do. Writing a research paper is more than just a classroom exercise. It is an experience in searching out, understanding and synthesizing , which forms the basis of many skills applicable to both academic and nonacademic tasks. It is, in the fullest sense, a discovering of an education. So, to produce a good research paper is both a useful and a thoroughly satisfying experience!
To some, the thought of having to write an assigned number of pages, often more than ever produced before, is upsetting. To others, the very idea of having to work independently is threatening. But there is no need to approach paper assignment with anxiety, and nobody should view the research paper as an obstacle to overcome. Instead, consider it a goal to accomplish, a goal within reach if you use the help this book can give you. | [
"How to write a research paper.",
"The importance of research in education.",
"How to make new discoveries for oneself.",
"The skill of putting pieces of information together."
] |
How many things are compared in the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
On the old-time farm in America, there were chickens, cows, pigs and horses. But there were very few machines. Most of the work was done by the farm family. Sometimes more workmen were needed in busy seasons. Work done by horses took up 79 percent; by men, 15 percent; and machine work only took up 6 percent.
Today all that has changed. On many modern farms machines now will do 96 percent of the work, while man does 3 percent. As for horses, they do 1 percent of the whole work. The children go to school by bus every morning; the parents work on the farm or in the house and other people's help is hardly needed. Their work has been replaced by a whole army of farm machines.
Question:
How many things are compared in the passage?
Choices:
A. Two.
B. Three.
C. Four.
D. Five. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high19428.txt | On the old-time farm in America, there were chickens, cows, pigs and horses. But there were very few machines. Most of the work was done by the farm family. Sometimes more workmen were needed in busy seasons. Work done by horses took up 79 percent; by men, 15 percent; and machine work only took up 6 percent.
Today all that has changed. On many modern farms machines now will do 96 percent of the work, while man does 3 percent. As for horses, they do 1 percent of the whole work. The children go to school by bus every morning; the parents work on the farm or in the house and other people's help is hardly needed. Their work has been replaced by a whole army of farm machines. | [
"Two.",
"Three.",
"Four.",
"Five."
] |
The story happened _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
While I was waiting outside my wife's office building for her to get out of work, I saw a beggar coming my way from across the parking lot.
"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought.
He didn't.
He came and sat in front of the bus stop, but he didn't look like he could have enough money to ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke. "That's a pretty car," he said, pointing to my car. He was ragged , but he had an air of dignity about himself.
I gave him a smile and continued cleaning my car.
He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected asking for money never came. As the silence between us widened, it seemed that a voice inside me said, "Ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes", but I listened to the inner voice.
"Do you need any help?" I asked.
He answered in three simple but meaningful words that I shall never forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women, and we expect it from those of higher learning and achievements. I expected nothing but a dirty hand from him, but he said three words that shook me.
"Don't we all?" he said.
I was feeling high, successful and important above a beggar in the street, until those three words hit me like a shot.
Don't we all?
I needed help. Maybe not for a bus fare or for a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only for a bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have achieved, you need help, too. No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help.
Question:
The story happened _ .
Choices:
A. outside an office building
B. in front of a store
C. near a post office
D. on a bus | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high20463.txt | While I was waiting outside my wife's office building for her to get out of work, I saw a beggar coming my way from across the parking lot.
"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought.
He didn't.
He came and sat in front of the bus stop, but he didn't look like he could have enough money to ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke. "That's a pretty car," he said, pointing to my car. He was ragged , but he had an air of dignity about himself.
I gave him a smile and continued cleaning my car.
He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected asking for money never came. As the silence between us widened, it seemed that a voice inside me said, "Ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes", but I listened to the inner voice.
"Do you need any help?" I asked.
He answered in three simple but meaningful words that I shall never forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women, and we expect it from those of higher learning and achievements. I expected nothing but a dirty hand from him, but he said three words that shook me.
"Don't we all?" he said.
I was feeling high, successful and important above a beggar in the street, until those three words hit me like a shot.
Don't we all?
I needed help. Maybe not for a bus fare or for a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only for a bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have achieved, you need help, too. No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help. | [
"outside an office building",
"in front of a store",
"near a post office",
"on a bus"
] |
People give each group of the mice _ amount of food every year. | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
One way that scientists learn about man is by studying animals.In this lab, the scientists are studying the relationship between diet and health.
They are studying the relationship between the amount of food the mice eat and their health.The mice are in three groups.All three groups are receiving the same healthy food.The first group is eating one cup of food each day, the second group is eating two cups, and the third group is eating three cups.
After three years, the healthiest group is the one that is only eating one cup of food each day.The mice in this group are a little thinner. But _ are more active.Most of the day, they are running, playing with one another.Also, they are living longer.Mice usually live for two years.Most of the mice in this group are still alive after three years.
The second group of mice is healthy, too.They are active, but not as active as the thinner mice.They are only living about two years.
The last group of mice is receiving more food than the other two groups.Most of the day, these mice are eating or sleeping.They are not very active.These mice are living longer than the scientists thought-about a year and a half.But they are not healthy.They are sick more often than the other two groups.
Question:
People give each group of the mice _ amount of food every year.
Choices:
A. a different
B. the same
C. a small
D. a large | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle6202.txt | One way that scientists learn about man is by studying animals.In this lab, the scientists are studying the relationship between diet and health.
They are studying the relationship between the amount of food the mice eat and their health.The mice are in three groups.All three groups are receiving the same healthy food.The first group is eating one cup of food each day, the second group is eating two cups, and the third group is eating three cups.
After three years, the healthiest group is the one that is only eating one cup of food each day.The mice in this group are a little thinner. But _ are more active.Most of the day, they are running, playing with one another.Also, they are living longer.Mice usually live for two years.Most of the mice in this group are still alive after three years.
The second group of mice is healthy, too.They are active, but not as active as the thinner mice.They are only living about two years.
The last group of mice is receiving more food than the other two groups.Most of the day, these mice are eating or sleeping.They are not very active.These mice are living longer than the scientists thought-about a year and a half.But they are not healthy.They are sick more often than the other two groups. | [
"a different",
"the same",
"a small",
"a large"
] |
What are mudskipper fish able to do in short distances? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What are mudskipper fish able to do in short distances? | walk | science | null | null | null | spit | tumble | run | walk | Thomas H Brown. Mudskippers are fish that are able to walk short distances . CC-BY 2.0. | null | null | null |
Which of the following could best express the teacher's feelings when she said the words before leaving the ranch two years ago? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch . He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events. The last time I was there he introduced me by saying: "I want to tell you a story. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy's high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.
"That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.
"He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, 'See me after class.'
"The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, 'Why did I receive an F?' The teacher said, 'This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you'll have to pay large stud fees. There's no way you could ever do it.' Then the teacher added, 'If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.'
"The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, 'Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.' Finally, after a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He stated, 'You can keep the F and I'll keep my dream.' "
Monty then turned to the group present and said, "I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace." He added, "The best part of the story is that two years ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week. When the teacher was leaving, he said, 'Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids' dreams. Fortunately you had enough courage not to give up yours.' "
"Don't let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what," Monty at last concluded.
Question:
Which of the following could best express the teacher's feelings when she said the words before leaving the ranch two years ago?
Choices:
A. Regretful and proud.
B. Regretful and guilty.
C. Honest and sorry.
D. Embarrassed and proud. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9571.txt | I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch . He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events. The last time I was there he introduced me by saying: "I want to tell you a story. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy's high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.
"That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.
"He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, 'See me after class.'
"The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, 'Why did I receive an F?' The teacher said, 'This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you'll have to pay large stud fees. There's no way you could ever do it.' Then the teacher added, 'If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.'
"The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, 'Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.' Finally, after a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He stated, 'You can keep the F and I'll keep my dream.' "
Monty then turned to the group present and said, "I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace." He added, "The best part of the story is that two years ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week. When the teacher was leaving, he said, 'Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids' dreams. Fortunately you had enough courage not to give up yours.' "
"Don't let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what," Monty at last concluded. | [
"Regretful and proud.",
"Regretful and guilty.",
"Honest and sorry.",
"Embarrassed and proud."
] |
What made Rowling accept Warner Brothers' proposal? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Warner Brothers has announced more Harry Potter movies are on the way. The studio is working with Potter author J. K. Rowling to create a new franchise of movies based on "Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them", which is a fictitious textbook in the Harry Potter world. The story will also follow the adventures of the book's author, Newt Scamander. Rowling, for the first time, will pen the screenplay.
It comes as no surprise that Warner Brothers is trying to keep the Harry Potter franchise going. The films alone have earned $7.7 billion at the box office. The franchise has probably almost doubled those earnings on home video and TV sales. Then there's the many Harry Potter products that fans still _ .
But at some point, Harry Potter could seem old hat and that's not something Warner Brothers wants to see happen. So executives had three choices: restart the franchise, come up with continuations or spin off part of the Potter world into a new movie.
Without books to support the new stories, the upcoming movies could be a tougher sell for Warner Brothers. Harry and friends won't appear at all in the new movies which will be set in New York 70 years before Harry Potter heads to Hogwarts.
The new stories will also net video games, products and enhance Rowling's website.
Here's Rowling on the upcoming franchise:
It all started when Warner Brothers came to me with the suggestion of turning "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" into a film. I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of "Fantastic Beasts", realized by another writer was difficult. Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it and I already knew a lot about Newt. As Harry Potter fans will know, I liked him so much that I even married his grandson, Rolf, to one of my favourite characters from the Harry Potter series, Luna Lovegood.
As I considered Warners' proposal, an idea took shape that I couldn't get rid of. That is how I could express my own idea for a film to Warner Brothers.
Although it will be set in the worldwide community of wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, it is neither a previous work nor a continuation to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world. The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt's story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry gets underway.
Question:
What made Rowling accept Warner Brothers' proposal?
Choices:
A. Her eagerness to try writing for the screenplay.
B. Her unwillingness to see others write the story.
C. The attraction of earning more at the box office.
D. The film company's promise to enhance her website. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high10588.txt | Warner Brothers has announced more Harry Potter movies are on the way. The studio is working with Potter author J. K. Rowling to create a new franchise of movies based on "Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them", which is a fictitious textbook in the Harry Potter world. The story will also follow the adventures of the book's author, Newt Scamander. Rowling, for the first time, will pen the screenplay.
It comes as no surprise that Warner Brothers is trying to keep the Harry Potter franchise going. The films alone have earned $7.7 billion at the box office. The franchise has probably almost doubled those earnings on home video and TV sales. Then there's the many Harry Potter products that fans still _ .
But at some point, Harry Potter could seem old hat and that's not something Warner Brothers wants to see happen. So executives had three choices: restart the franchise, come up with continuations or spin off part of the Potter world into a new movie.
Without books to support the new stories, the upcoming movies could be a tougher sell for Warner Brothers. Harry and friends won't appear at all in the new movies which will be set in New York 70 years before Harry Potter heads to Hogwarts.
The new stories will also net video games, products and enhance Rowling's website.
Here's Rowling on the upcoming franchise:
It all started when Warner Brothers came to me with the suggestion of turning "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" into a film. I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of "Fantastic Beasts", realized by another writer was difficult. Having lived for so long in my fictional universe, I feel very protective of it and I already knew a lot about Newt. As Harry Potter fans will know, I liked him so much that I even married his grandson, Rolf, to one of my favourite characters from the Harry Potter series, Luna Lovegood.
As I considered Warners' proposal, an idea took shape that I couldn't get rid of. That is how I could express my own idea for a film to Warner Brothers.
Although it will be set in the worldwide community of wizards where I was so happy for seventeen years, it is neither a previous work nor a continuation to the Harry Potter series, but an extension of the wizarding world. The laws and customs of the hidden magical society will be familiar to anyone who has read the Harry Potter books or seen the films, but Newt's story will start in New York, seventy years before Harry gets underway. | [
"Her eagerness to try writing for the screenplay.",
"Her unwillingness to see others write the story.",
"The attraction of earning more at the box office.",
"The film company's promise to enhance her website."
] |
When the writer was small, he lived _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
As a youngster, there was nothing I liked better than Sunday afternoons at my grandfather's farm in western Pennsylvania. Surrounded by miles of winding stone walls, the house and field provided endless hours of fun for a city kid like me. I was used to tidy living rooms that seemed to whisper, "Not to be touched!"
I can still remember one afternoon when I was eight years old. Since my first visit to the farm, I had wanted more than anything to be allowed to climb the stone walls surrounding the houses. My parents would never _ . The walls were old; some stones were missing, others loose and falling. Still, my idea to climb across those walls grew so strong that finally, one spring afternoon, I had all my courage to enter the living room, where the adults had gathered after Sunday dinner.
"I, uh-I want to climb the stone walls," I said. Everyone looked up. "Can I climb the stone walls? "Immediately voices of disagreement went up from the women in the room. "Heavens, no!" You'll hurt yourself!" I wasn't too disappointed; the response was just as I'd expected. But before I could leave the room, I was stopped by my grandfather's loud voice. "Now hold on just a minute," I heard him say. "Let the boy climb the stone walls. He has to learn to do things for himself."
"Go," he said to me, "and come and see me when you get back." For the next two and a half hours I climbed those old walls -and had the time of my life. Later I met with my grandfather to tell him about my adventures. I'll never forget what he said. "Fred," he said, smiling, "You made this day a special day just by being yourself. Always remember, there's only one person in this whole world like you, and I like you exactly as you are."
Many years have passed since then, and today I host the television program Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, seen by millions of children throughout America. There have been changes over the years, but one thing remains the same: my message to children at the end of almost every visit. "There's only one person in this whole world like you," the kids can count on hearing me say, "and people can like you exactly as you are."
Question:
When the writer was small, he lived _ .
Choices:
A. in the city
B. on the farm
C. with his grandparents
D. away from his parents | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1810.txt | As a youngster, there was nothing I liked better than Sunday afternoons at my grandfather's farm in western Pennsylvania. Surrounded by miles of winding stone walls, the house and field provided endless hours of fun for a city kid like me. I was used to tidy living rooms that seemed to whisper, "Not to be touched!"
I can still remember one afternoon when I was eight years old. Since my first visit to the farm, I had wanted more than anything to be allowed to climb the stone walls surrounding the houses. My parents would never _ . The walls were old; some stones were missing, others loose and falling. Still, my idea to climb across those walls grew so strong that finally, one spring afternoon, I had all my courage to enter the living room, where the adults had gathered after Sunday dinner.
"I, uh-I want to climb the stone walls," I said. Everyone looked up. "Can I climb the stone walls? "Immediately voices of disagreement went up from the women in the room. "Heavens, no!" You'll hurt yourself!" I wasn't too disappointed; the response was just as I'd expected. But before I could leave the room, I was stopped by my grandfather's loud voice. "Now hold on just a minute," I heard him say. "Let the boy climb the stone walls. He has to learn to do things for himself."
"Go," he said to me, "and come and see me when you get back." For the next two and a half hours I climbed those old walls -and had the time of my life. Later I met with my grandfather to tell him about my adventures. I'll never forget what he said. "Fred," he said, smiling, "You made this day a special day just by being yourself. Always remember, there's only one person in this whole world like you, and I like you exactly as you are."
Many years have passed since then, and today I host the television program Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, seen by millions of children throughout America. There have been changes over the years, but one thing remains the same: my message to children at the end of almost every visit. "There's only one person in this whole world like you," the kids can count on hearing me say, "and people can like you exactly as you are." | [
"in the city",
"on the farm",
"with his grandparents",
"away from his parents"
] |
Which of the following is true? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Did you hear of the supercomputer? Recently, China's Tianhe-1 was ranked as the world's fastest supercomputer, according to a new list of world's TOP 500 supercomputers.
It took 200 Chinese scientists two years to build the fastest supercomputer. It can do 2,507 trillion calculations in a second! That means it will take a personal computer 600 years to finish the work that a supercomputer does in a day!
The US now leads the world in the area of supercomputers. It is home to more than half of the world's top 500 supercomputers. Japan also has advanced technology. China is developing its supercomputer technology quickly. But experts say it will take years before China's total computing power can catch up with that of the US.
Supercomputers can work on many different things. They can solve problems in areas like national defense , energy and science. In business, you can also use supercomputers. Oil companies use them to find oil and gas. Banks use them for quick trades. Food companies even use supercomputers to make sure that they put potato chips into cans without breaking them.
To make a supercomputer, scientists first need to link thousands of small computers together. Then they use software to turn them into one supercomputer. In fact, any person with enough knowledge about computers can make a supercomputer. But you need the top technology to make a supercomputer run fast.
Question:
Which of the following is true?
Choices:
A. A personal computer needs 300 years to finish the work that a supercomputer does in a day.
B. Japan now leads the world in the area of supercomputers.
C. Supercomputer can be used by food companies.
D. Scientists needn't use software to turn small companies into one supercomputer. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle4346.txt | Did you hear of the supercomputer? Recently, China's Tianhe-1 was ranked as the world's fastest supercomputer, according to a new list of world's TOP 500 supercomputers.
It took 200 Chinese scientists two years to build the fastest supercomputer. It can do 2,507 trillion calculations in a second! That means it will take a personal computer 600 years to finish the work that a supercomputer does in a day!
The US now leads the world in the area of supercomputers. It is home to more than half of the world's top 500 supercomputers. Japan also has advanced technology. China is developing its supercomputer technology quickly. But experts say it will take years before China's total computing power can catch up with that of the US.
Supercomputers can work on many different things. They can solve problems in areas like national defense , energy and science. In business, you can also use supercomputers. Oil companies use them to find oil and gas. Banks use them for quick trades. Food companies even use supercomputers to make sure that they put potato chips into cans without breaking them.
To make a supercomputer, scientists first need to link thousands of small computers together. Then they use software to turn them into one supercomputer. In fact, any person with enough knowledge about computers can make a supercomputer. But you need the top technology to make a supercomputer run fast. | [
"A personal computer needs 300 years to finish the work that a supercomputer does in a day.",
"Japan now leads the world in the area of supercomputers.",
"Supercomputer can be used by food companies.",
"Scientists needn't use software to turn small companies into one supercomputer."
] |
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