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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Who is the king in the animal world according to the text? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Lion is a special animal to Chinese people. A couple of stone lions, a male and a female , can often be seen in front of the gates of old buildings. The male lion is on the left with his right paw on a ball, and the female on the right. And her left paw is touching a baby animal.
The lion is the king in the animal world because he is powerful. The ball shows the country or the family will be together forever, and the baby animal with the female shows that you will have many children.
The stone lions were also used to show the families were powerful. If you had no money or power, you couldn't put the stone lions in front of your houses.
It was also popular to make bridges with stone lions. The best known of this is the Lugou Bridge (also as Marco Polo Bridge), built from 1189 to 1192. The stone lions on the bridge are most famous. Maybe there are 485 lions in all, maybe there are 498 or 501. A famous saying is that "the lions on the Lugou Bridge are uncountable ."
Question:
Who is the king in the animal world according to the text?
Choices:
A. Tigers
B. Lions
C. Elephants
D. Bears | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3079.txt | Lion is a special animal to Chinese people. A couple of stone lions, a male and a female , can often be seen in front of the gates of old buildings. The male lion is on the left with his right paw on a ball, and the female on the right. And her left paw is touching a baby animal.
The lion is the king in the animal world because he is powerful. The ball shows the country or the family will be together forever, and the baby animal with the female shows that you will have many children.
The stone lions were also used to show the families were powerful. If you had no money or power, you couldn't put the stone lions in front of your houses.
It was also popular to make bridges with stone lions. The best known of this is the Lugou Bridge (also as Marco Polo Bridge), built from 1189 to 1192. The stone lions on the bridge are most famous. Maybe there are 485 lions in all, maybe there are 498 or 501. A famous saying is that "the lions on the Lugou Bridge are uncountable ." | [
"Tigers",
"Lions",
"Elephants",
"Bears"
] |
The silk thread found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy suggests that _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
New archaeological discovers suggest that trade between Europe and Asia along the Silk
Road probably began in some form many countries earlier than once thought. The findings, _ with a widening range of scientific and historical research, could add a fascinating new
page to the epic of the Silk Road.
The latest and most surprising discovery is pieces of silk found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy from about 1000 BC, long before regular traffic on the Silk Road and at least one thousand years before silk was previously thought to be used in Egypt. Other research may extend human activity along this route back even further, perhaps a million years to the migration of human ancestors into eastern Asia.
The official origin of East-West commerce along the road is usually placed in the late 2nd century BC when an agent of the Chinese Emperor Wu-di returned from a dangerous secret mission across the desert into the remote high country of Central Asia. The agent, Zhang Qian, travelled as far as Afghanistan and brought back knowledge of even more distant lands such as Persia, Syria and a place known as Lijien, perhaps Rome. Historians have called this one of the most important journeys in ancient times. His journey opened the way for what have been thought to be the first indirect contacts between the ancient world's two superpowers, China and Rome. Chinese silk, first traded to central Asian tribes for war horses and to the Parthians of old Persia in exchange for acrobats and ostrich eggs, was soon finding its way through a network of merchants to the luxury markets of Rome.
But the new discoveries show that Chinese silk was apparently present in the West long before the Han emperor started organized trade over the Silk Road. The research could change thinking about the early history of world trade and provide insights into the mystery of just how and when Europe and the Mediterranean lands first became aware of the glorious culture at the other end of Eurasia.
Question:
The silk thread found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy suggests that _ .
Choices:
A. Egyptians had probably travelled to China to buy silk
B. trade along the Silk Road began earlier than once thought
C. historical research often achieves fascinating results
D. new light can now be thrown on ancient trading practices | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7249.txt | New archaeological discovers suggest that trade between Europe and Asia along the Silk
Road probably began in some form many countries earlier than once thought. The findings, _ with a widening range of scientific and historical research, could add a fascinating new
page to the epic of the Silk Road.
The latest and most surprising discovery is pieces of silk found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy from about 1000 BC, long before regular traffic on the Silk Road and at least one thousand years before silk was previously thought to be used in Egypt. Other research may extend human activity along this route back even further, perhaps a million years to the migration of human ancestors into eastern Asia.
The official origin of East-West commerce along the road is usually placed in the late 2nd century BC when an agent of the Chinese Emperor Wu-di returned from a dangerous secret mission across the desert into the remote high country of Central Asia. The agent, Zhang Qian, travelled as far as Afghanistan and brought back knowledge of even more distant lands such as Persia, Syria and a place known as Lijien, perhaps Rome. Historians have called this one of the most important journeys in ancient times. His journey opened the way for what have been thought to be the first indirect contacts between the ancient world's two superpowers, China and Rome. Chinese silk, first traded to central Asian tribes for war horses and to the Parthians of old Persia in exchange for acrobats and ostrich eggs, was soon finding its way through a network of merchants to the luxury markets of Rome.
But the new discoveries show that Chinese silk was apparently present in the West long before the Han emperor started organized trade over the Silk Road. The research could change thinking about the early history of world trade and provide insights into the mystery of just how and when Europe and the Mediterranean lands first became aware of the glorious culture at the other end of Eurasia. | [
"Egyptians had probably travelled to China to buy silk",
"trade along the Silk Road began earlier than once thought",
"historical research often achieves fascinating results",
"new light can now be thrown on ancient trading practices"
] |
Which may NOT be right according to the passage? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
At least eight babies in East China'sprefix = st1 /AnhuiProvincehave died since last year. they died of serious deficiency disease which happened to them because of fake milk powders.
More than 100 other babies in Fuyang, mostly between three and five months old, are still in poor nutrition after drinking different kinds of cheap milk powders produced in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province and Beijing.
The baby victims were born healthy, but they became thinner and thinner, and had large heads for their bodies after fake milk powders were fed to them.
"My girl, the first child of mine, died when she was only four months old after drinking the 'Haobaobei'milk powder."said Zhang Linwei, a 32-year-old villager of the Wangzhuang Village in Fuyang.
Zhang found that his daughter got ill after the girl didn't want to drink the milk powder any more half a month before.
"Before that , I though my daughter's face was becoming fatter and fatter because she was fed well and grew fast."the baby's father said.
The girl died nine days later after she was sent to hospital and all of the family's savings were spent on her medical treatment.
"It is like a terrible dream. I never thought that my baby would _ like this ."he said.
Zhang said he tried to telephone and write to the producer of the milk powder by the address on the packing bag but never made it.
"The fake milk powders only have 5-6 per cent protein and the lowest is has only 1 per cent. For babies, drinking such fake milk powder is no different from drinking water,"Zhang Fangjun, said a medical expert with the Fuyang People's Hospital.
"Such so-called milk powders cannot afford any nutrition for babies' growth," Zhang said.
Question:
Which may NOT be right according to the passage?
Choices:
A. Fuyang is the only place where fake milk powders were found.
B. Deficiency disease is a kind of disease from the people who are in poor nutrition.
C. The baby victims became thinner and thinner and had large heads for their bodies after drinking the fake milk powders.
D. The milk powders the sick children ate fail to reach the national standard of protein content for baby milk powder-at least 10 per cent. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17793.txt | At least eight babies in East China'sprefix = st1 /AnhuiProvincehave died since last year. they died of serious deficiency disease which happened to them because of fake milk powders.
More than 100 other babies in Fuyang, mostly between three and five months old, are still in poor nutrition after drinking different kinds of cheap milk powders produced in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province and Beijing.
The baby victims were born healthy, but they became thinner and thinner, and had large heads for their bodies after fake milk powders were fed to them.
"My girl, the first child of mine, died when she was only four months old after drinking the 'Haobaobei'milk powder."said Zhang Linwei, a 32-year-old villager of the Wangzhuang Village in Fuyang.
Zhang found that his daughter got ill after the girl didn't want to drink the milk powder any more half a month before.
"Before that , I though my daughter's face was becoming fatter and fatter because she was fed well and grew fast."the baby's father said.
The girl died nine days later after she was sent to hospital and all of the family's savings were spent on her medical treatment.
"It is like a terrible dream. I never thought that my baby would _ like this ."he said.
Zhang said he tried to telephone and write to the producer of the milk powder by the address on the packing bag but never made it.
"The fake milk powders only have 5-6 per cent protein and the lowest is has only 1 per cent. For babies, drinking such fake milk powder is no different from drinking water,"Zhang Fangjun, said a medical expert with the Fuyang People's Hospital.
"Such so-called milk powders cannot afford any nutrition for babies' growth," Zhang said. | [
"Fuyang is the only place where fake milk powders were found.",
"Deficiency disease is a kind of disease from the people who are in poor nutrition.",
"The baby victims became thinner and thinner and had large heads for their bodies after drinking the fake milk powders.",
"The milk powders the sick children ate fail to reach the national standard of protein content for baby milk powder-at least 10 per cent."
] |
The organizers of the competition hoped the schoolchildren would _ . . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Do you have bright ideas? Ideas or inventions that change society or, at least, make life easier for somebody? Perhaps we all do sometimes, but we don't often make the idea a reality. Recently, in Britain, there was a competition called British Designers for Tomorrow. The competition encourages young people to carry out their bright ideas. There were two groups in the contest: Group One was for schoolchildren under 16; Group Two was for schoolchildren over 16, and there were eleven prize-winners altogether.
Neil Hunt, one of the prize-winners, was called "Sunshine Superman". It's important when people study the weather to be able to record sunshine accurately. We need to know how many hours of sunshine we have and how strong it is. Most sunshine recorders only record direct sunlight. Neil's is more accurate and this is very important for research into the way of using solar power.
You can do so much with animated cartoon. Look at Simon West's idea for animated road signs. He uses pictures which appear to move as you go nearer to or farther from them. This isn't a new idea. But it is new to use these pictures on road signs. "We found that people were more likely to see moving signs," said Simon. So now, you can really see rocks falling, trains moving, horses running or a car falling over the edge of a cliff. Quite a warning!
The ideas in the competition were so inventive that we are surprised that British industry doesn't ask more schoolchildren for suggestions. Perhaps this will be the start of "pupil power!"
Question:
The organizers of the competition hoped the schoolchildren would _ . .
Choices:
A. become good designers for future Britain
B. win as many prizes as they could
C. design something useful for the next day
D. invent something for immediate use | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16568.txt | Do you have bright ideas? Ideas or inventions that change society or, at least, make life easier for somebody? Perhaps we all do sometimes, but we don't often make the idea a reality. Recently, in Britain, there was a competition called British Designers for Tomorrow. The competition encourages young people to carry out their bright ideas. There were two groups in the contest: Group One was for schoolchildren under 16; Group Two was for schoolchildren over 16, and there were eleven prize-winners altogether.
Neil Hunt, one of the prize-winners, was called "Sunshine Superman". It's important when people study the weather to be able to record sunshine accurately. We need to know how many hours of sunshine we have and how strong it is. Most sunshine recorders only record direct sunlight. Neil's is more accurate and this is very important for research into the way of using solar power.
You can do so much with animated cartoon. Look at Simon West's idea for animated road signs. He uses pictures which appear to move as you go nearer to or farther from them. This isn't a new idea. But it is new to use these pictures on road signs. "We found that people were more likely to see moving signs," said Simon. So now, you can really see rocks falling, trains moving, horses running or a car falling over the edge of a cliff. Quite a warning!
The ideas in the competition were so inventive that we are surprised that British industry doesn't ask more schoolchildren for suggestions. Perhaps this will be the start of "pupil power!" | [
"become good designers for future Britain",
"win as many prizes as they could",
"design something useful for the next day",
"invent something for immediate use"
] |
What was the weather like before school was over? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A little girl walked to and from school every day. Though it was not fine and clouds appeared in the sky that morning, the little girl made her daily trip to school as usual. When school was over, winds became stronger and it began to rain.
The mother of the little girl felt worried that her daughter would be afraid when she walked home from school and that lightning might frighten her child. Following the bright light of lightning, the mother quickly got into her car and drove to her child's school.
As the mother drove along the road, she saw her little girl walking alone in the rain.To her great surprise, she found that when a lightning came, her daughter stopped, looked up and smiled. Another lightning came and then another followed. With each lightning, the little girl stopped, looked up and smiled.
Inside the car, the mother asked her daughter, "What were you doing? Why did you look up and smile when the lightning came?" The little girl answered with a smile, "Mum, you know, God was looking at me. Each time I felt a little afraid walking in the rain, God would take a picture of me. I knew he was playing a game with me."
Question:
What was the weather like before school was over?
Choices:
A. It was rainy.
B. It was fine.
C. It was just windy.
D. It was cloudy. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle2143.txt | A little girl walked to and from school every day. Though it was not fine and clouds appeared in the sky that morning, the little girl made her daily trip to school as usual. When school was over, winds became stronger and it began to rain.
The mother of the little girl felt worried that her daughter would be afraid when she walked home from school and that lightning might frighten her child. Following the bright light of lightning, the mother quickly got into her car and drove to her child's school.
As the mother drove along the road, she saw her little girl walking alone in the rain.To her great surprise, she found that when a lightning came, her daughter stopped, looked up and smiled. Another lightning came and then another followed. With each lightning, the little girl stopped, looked up and smiled.
Inside the car, the mother asked her daughter, "What were you doing? Why did you look up and smile when the lightning came?" The little girl answered with a smile, "Mum, you know, God was looking at me. Each time I felt a little afraid walking in the rain, God would take a picture of me. I knew he was playing a game with me." | [
"It was rainy.",
"It was fine.",
"It was just windy.",
"It was cloudy."
] |
When did the author and his brother notice the young man who had a flat tire? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Last Friday my brother and I were driving home together after doing some shopping and gave our attention to an interesting conversation. Because of this distraction my brother took a wrong turn.
Unfortunately, the wrong turn took us towards a bridge and we had no way to turn back. Unwillingly, my brother paid the bridge fee and drove on. He was clearly frustrated by the mistake and the needless waste of $4.
We eventually reached an exit and, as we took it, my brother noticed a young fellow pulled over to the side of the road. He came out of his car and tried to phone someone. I was busy trying to figure out which way we would go next but my brother pulled over and asked the guy if he needed any help. And he did. He had a flat tire and needed a tool to get it off.
My brother gave him a wrench, and then began to help him change the flat. The young man said that this had been a bad week for him: earlier he had gotten into a minor car accident, and now this flat on his way home from work. But he called us "a breath of fresh air" and kept thanking us because he really would have been stuck if we hadn't come along.
After we finished the job he thanked us again and pulled out $20 from his pocket and tried to give it to us. "No," I said. "We were never supposed to even get on that bridge,we took a wrong turn. But now we know why we did. It was to help you. Thank you for turning our mistake into an opportunity to serve."
What I loved most was that my brother was able to see a chance to help. His reaction in the situation is a lesson for everyone and we felt so good the rest of the day.
Question:
When did the author and his brother notice the young man who had a flat tire?
Choices:
A. Before they arrived at a bridge.
B. When they were passing through an exit.
C. When the young man stopped them for help.
D. After they came back to the right road. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1057.txt | Last Friday my brother and I were driving home together after doing some shopping and gave our attention to an interesting conversation. Because of this distraction my brother took a wrong turn.
Unfortunately, the wrong turn took us towards a bridge and we had no way to turn back. Unwillingly, my brother paid the bridge fee and drove on. He was clearly frustrated by the mistake and the needless waste of $4.
We eventually reached an exit and, as we took it, my brother noticed a young fellow pulled over to the side of the road. He came out of his car and tried to phone someone. I was busy trying to figure out which way we would go next but my brother pulled over and asked the guy if he needed any help. And he did. He had a flat tire and needed a tool to get it off.
My brother gave him a wrench, and then began to help him change the flat. The young man said that this had been a bad week for him: earlier he had gotten into a minor car accident, and now this flat on his way home from work. But he called us "a breath of fresh air" and kept thanking us because he really would have been stuck if we hadn't come along.
After we finished the job he thanked us again and pulled out $20 from his pocket and tried to give it to us. "No," I said. "We were never supposed to even get on that bridge,we took a wrong turn. But now we know why we did. It was to help you. Thank you for turning our mistake into an opportunity to serve."
What I loved most was that my brother was able to see a chance to help. His reaction in the situation is a lesson for everyone and we felt so good the rest of the day. | [
"Before they arrived at a bridge.",
"When they were passing through an exit.",
"When the young man stopped them for help.",
"After they came back to the right road."
] |
The db gene encodes the which receptor? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | The db gene encodes the which receptor? | leptin | science | null | null | null | estrogen | glucose | opioid | leptin | null | null | null | |
Which of the following wins greater customer satisfaction? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Watch out, Yahoo.There's a search engine out there with super speed and accuracy.It's really cool.
Google is the Web's largest search engine.In just two years it has gained a fame for surprising speed and accuracy, sending exactly what you're looking for in a second.The site now does this 40 million times a day--a number achieved without spending a penny on a TV or newspaper ad.
Google doesn't need them. In the past six months alone, the site has won a Webby (the online version of the Oscar) for technical excellence, sets a new record for search engines by indexing a billion Web pages.
Yahoo still has 10 times the audience, but Google consistently ranks first in customer satisfaction: 97% of users find what they're looking for most or all of the time."You see people smile when they use it, like they've found something no one else knows about," says Danny Sullivan, editor of an online newsletter.
No one is smiling more than Larry Page, 27, and Sergey Brin, 26, who seem certain to become billionaires when the company goes public, probably sometime next year.They make a great comedy.When they first met as PhD students, the pair say, they found each other horrible--"I still find him horrible," adds Brin--but were driven together by a computer science project aimed at coming up with better ways of searching the Web.
The idea behind Google is that traditional search engines are stupid.They think the connection is based on repetition; if you type in a request for Tiger Woods, say, you'll get websites listed according to how many times those words appear.Not only is this no guarantee of quality, but it's also open to bad use.If you own a Tiger fan site and want to lead more people to it, simply type his name thousands of times in the site's source code.
Question:
Which of the following wins greater customer satisfaction?
Choices:
A. Yahoo.
B. Google.
C. Page.
D. Brin. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17671.txt | Watch out, Yahoo.There's a search engine out there with super speed and accuracy.It's really cool.
Google is the Web's largest search engine.In just two years it has gained a fame for surprising speed and accuracy, sending exactly what you're looking for in a second.The site now does this 40 million times a day--a number achieved without spending a penny on a TV or newspaper ad.
Google doesn't need them. In the past six months alone, the site has won a Webby (the online version of the Oscar) for technical excellence, sets a new record for search engines by indexing a billion Web pages.
Yahoo still has 10 times the audience, but Google consistently ranks first in customer satisfaction: 97% of users find what they're looking for most or all of the time."You see people smile when they use it, like they've found something no one else knows about," says Danny Sullivan, editor of an online newsletter.
No one is smiling more than Larry Page, 27, and Sergey Brin, 26, who seem certain to become billionaires when the company goes public, probably sometime next year.They make a great comedy.When they first met as PhD students, the pair say, they found each other horrible--"I still find him horrible," adds Brin--but were driven together by a computer science project aimed at coming up with better ways of searching the Web.
The idea behind Google is that traditional search engines are stupid.They think the connection is based on repetition; if you type in a request for Tiger Woods, say, you'll get websites listed according to how many times those words appear.Not only is this no guarantee of quality, but it's also open to bad use.If you own a Tiger fan site and want to lead more people to it, simply type his name thousands of times in the site's source code. | [
"Yahoo.",
"Google.",
"Page.",
"Brin."
] |
In which column of a newspaper could we find this text? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Soccer has the FIFA World Cup. Tennis has the majors. Golf has the majors. Football has the Super Bowl. Basketball has the NBA. These major sports all have established leagues for professionals and amateurs, so why do they have a spot in the Olympics?
The Olympics isn't the most desirable title in these sports. An Olympic gold medal, for example, can't motivate some footballers to work hard, because they have to reserve sufficient physical strength for the supremacy--the FIFA Cup. Every year the Olympic committee votes, and every year someone gets let down.
A sport endangered of being cut is very close to my heart, wrestling. I grew up with it: the first 8 years of my life were in a college wrestling room, watching my dad coach his team and the countless hours continue to this day. Wrestling meant everything to my dad: he was an Olympian, Pan American winner, World champion, Olympic coach, and Division 1 coach. In February 2013, they dropped wrestling, softball, and baseball. In May, they allowed the three sports to be short-listed. However, in September they voted on the return of wrestling.
My point is that it isn't fair that basketball, tennis, football (soccer), and golf all take spots on the summer Olympics outline for sports. They all have leagues that the whole world participates in. I can't say for all of the sports that an Olympic gold is the ultimate title, but I can tell you a fact that in wrestling, both freestyle and Greco-Roman, it truly is.
These "smaller" sports, that maybe don't make boatloads of money, need the Olympics. It means so much to so many people, fans, athletes, and families. They deserve spots, they don't have professional leagues, and can't fill entire stadiums, and they need the support of the Olympic Games. The whole point of the Olympics is to bring people together, so shouldn't less popular sports be included?
Question:
In which column of a newspaper could we find this text?
Choices:
A. Personal experiences.
B. Sports review.
C. Sports and hobbies.
D. Current events. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high19312.txt | Soccer has the FIFA World Cup. Tennis has the majors. Golf has the majors. Football has the Super Bowl. Basketball has the NBA. These major sports all have established leagues for professionals and amateurs, so why do they have a spot in the Olympics?
The Olympics isn't the most desirable title in these sports. An Olympic gold medal, for example, can't motivate some footballers to work hard, because they have to reserve sufficient physical strength for the supremacy--the FIFA Cup. Every year the Olympic committee votes, and every year someone gets let down.
A sport endangered of being cut is very close to my heart, wrestling. I grew up with it: the first 8 years of my life were in a college wrestling room, watching my dad coach his team and the countless hours continue to this day. Wrestling meant everything to my dad: he was an Olympian, Pan American winner, World champion, Olympic coach, and Division 1 coach. In February 2013, they dropped wrestling, softball, and baseball. In May, they allowed the three sports to be short-listed. However, in September they voted on the return of wrestling.
My point is that it isn't fair that basketball, tennis, football (soccer), and golf all take spots on the summer Olympics outline for sports. They all have leagues that the whole world participates in. I can't say for all of the sports that an Olympic gold is the ultimate title, but I can tell you a fact that in wrestling, both freestyle and Greco-Roman, it truly is.
These "smaller" sports, that maybe don't make boatloads of money, need the Olympics. It means so much to so many people, fans, athletes, and families. They deserve spots, they don't have professional leagues, and can't fill entire stadiums, and they need the support of the Olympic Games. The whole point of the Olympics is to bring people together, so shouldn't less popular sports be included? | [
"Personal experiences.",
"Sports review.",
"Sports and hobbies.",
"Current events."
] |
From the passage, what is TRUE about the writer's family? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
My kids and I were heading into the supermarket over the weekend. On the way, we spotted a man holding a piece of paper that said, "Lost my job. Family to feed."
At this store, a sight like this is not normal. My 10-year-old noticed him and made a comment on how bad it must be to have to stand outside in the cold wind.
In the store, I asked each of my kids to pick something they thought our "friend" there would appreciate. They got apples, a sandwich and a bottle of juice. Then my 17-year-old suggested giving him a gift card. I thought about _ . We were low on cash ourselves, but ... well, sometimes giving from our need instead of our abundance is just what we need to do! All the kids declared something they could do away with for the week.
When we handed him the bag of food, he lit up and thanked us with watery eyes. When I handed him the gift card, saying he could use it for whatever his family might need, he burst into tears.
This has been a wonderful experience for our family. For days the kids have been looking for others we can help! Things would have played out so differently if I had simply said, "No, we really don't have money to give more." Stepping out not only helped a brother in need, it also gave my kids the _ taste of helping others. It'll go a long way with them.
Question:
From the passage, what is TRUE about the writer's family?
Choices:
A. There were two children in her family.
B. They lived a rich and generous life.
C. They helped the poor man at last.
D. They didn't have any money to help others. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle7120.txt | My kids and I were heading into the supermarket over the weekend. On the way, we spotted a man holding a piece of paper that said, "Lost my job. Family to feed."
At this store, a sight like this is not normal. My 10-year-old noticed him and made a comment on how bad it must be to have to stand outside in the cold wind.
In the store, I asked each of my kids to pick something they thought our "friend" there would appreciate. They got apples, a sandwich and a bottle of juice. Then my 17-year-old suggested giving him a gift card. I thought about _ . We were low on cash ourselves, but ... well, sometimes giving from our need instead of our abundance is just what we need to do! All the kids declared something they could do away with for the week.
When we handed him the bag of food, he lit up and thanked us with watery eyes. When I handed him the gift card, saying he could use it for whatever his family might need, he burst into tears.
This has been a wonderful experience for our family. For days the kids have been looking for others we can help! Things would have played out so differently if I had simply said, "No, we really don't have money to give more." Stepping out not only helped a brother in need, it also gave my kids the _ taste of helping others. It'll go a long way with them. | [
"There were two children in her family.",
"They lived a rich and generous life.",
"They helped the poor man at last.",
"They didn't have any money to help others."
] |
Which of the sentence is true? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The Smiths are going to visit Hong Kong next summer. They will fly there. They will spend about two weeks there.
First, they are going to visit all the places of interest in the city and also do some shopping. They can enjoy shopping until ten o'clock at night.
Second, they are going to eat delicious food there. There are many Chinese and western restaurants there. They can enjoy many kinds of food, for example, fish, meat and vegetables.
Last, they are going to visit Disneyland. There are lots of interesting things to do. They will take lots of photos there.
They are looking forward to their summer holidays.
Question:
Which of the sentence is true?
Choices:
A. It will take the Smiths two weeks to go to Hong Kong.
B. There are lots of interesting places in Hong Kong.
C. Visitors cannot take photos in Disneyland.
D. They aren't going to take photos there. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle4768.txt | The Smiths are going to visit Hong Kong next summer. They will fly there. They will spend about two weeks there.
First, they are going to visit all the places of interest in the city and also do some shopping. They can enjoy shopping until ten o'clock at night.
Second, they are going to eat delicious food there. There are many Chinese and western restaurants there. They can enjoy many kinds of food, for example, fish, meat and vegetables.
Last, they are going to visit Disneyland. There are lots of interesting things to do. They will take lots of photos there.
They are looking forward to their summer holidays. | [
"It will take the Smiths two weeks to go to Hong Kong.",
"There are lots of interesting places in Hong Kong.",
"Visitors cannot take photos in Disneyland.",
"They aren't going to take photos there."
] |
The fire began in _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The Great Fire of London started in the very early hours of 2 September 1666. In four days it destroyed more than three-quarters of the old city, where most of the houses were wooden and close together. Over one hundred people became homeless, but only a few lost their lives.
The fire started on Sunday morning in the house of the King's baker in Pudding Lane. The baker, with his wife and _ , was able to get out through a window into the roof. A strong wind blew the fire from the bakery into a small hotel next door. Then it spread quickly into Thames Street. That was the beginning.
By eight o' clock three hundred houses were on fire. On Monday nearly a kilometer of the city was burning along the River Thames. Tuesday was the worst day. The fire destroyed many well-known buildings, old St Pauls and the Guildhall among them.
Samuel Pepys, the famous writer, write about the fire, "People threw their things into the river. Many poor people stayed in their houses until the last moment. Birds fell out of the air because of the heat ."
The fire stopped only when the King finally ordered people to destroy hundreds of buildings in the path of the fire. With nothing left to burn, the fire became weak and finally died out.
After the fire, Christopher Wren, the architect , wanted a city with wider streets and fine new houses of stone. In fact, the streets are still narrow, but he did build more than fifty churches, among them the mew St Pauls.
The fire caused great pain and loss, but after it London was a better place: a city for the future and not just of the past.
Question:
The fire began in _ .
Choices:
A. a hotel
B. the palace
C. Pudding Lane
D. Thames Street | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high4730.txt | The Great Fire of London started in the very early hours of 2 September 1666. In four days it destroyed more than three-quarters of the old city, where most of the houses were wooden and close together. Over one hundred people became homeless, but only a few lost their lives.
The fire started on Sunday morning in the house of the King's baker in Pudding Lane. The baker, with his wife and _ , was able to get out through a window into the roof. A strong wind blew the fire from the bakery into a small hotel next door. Then it spread quickly into Thames Street. That was the beginning.
By eight o' clock three hundred houses were on fire. On Monday nearly a kilometer of the city was burning along the River Thames. Tuesday was the worst day. The fire destroyed many well-known buildings, old St Pauls and the Guildhall among them.
Samuel Pepys, the famous writer, write about the fire, "People threw their things into the river. Many poor people stayed in their houses until the last moment. Birds fell out of the air because of the heat ."
The fire stopped only when the King finally ordered people to destroy hundreds of buildings in the path of the fire. With nothing left to burn, the fire became weak and finally died out.
After the fire, Christopher Wren, the architect , wanted a city with wider streets and fine new houses of stone. In fact, the streets are still narrow, but he did build more than fifty churches, among them the mew St Pauls.
The fire caused great pain and loss, but after it London was a better place: a city for the future and not just of the past. | [
"a hotel",
"the palace",
"Pudding Lane",
"Thames Street"
] |
Video and audio signals are broadcast on these? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Video and audio signals are broadcast on these? | electromagnetic waves | science | null | null | null | thermal waves | mechanical waves | radiation waves | electromagnetic waves | video and audio signals broadcast on electromagnetic waves. | null | null | null |
Which of the following is true according to the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
At age 61, identical twins Jeanne and Susan no longer look exactly alike. Susan smoked for many years and is an admitted sun worshipper, whose habits Jeanne does not share. A new study of twins suggests you can blame those coarse wrinkles, brown or pink spots on too much time in the sun, smoking, and being overweight.
Because twins share genes, but may have different exposures to environmental factors, studying twins allows an "opportunity to control for genetic susceptibility ," Dr. Elma D. Baron, at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, and his colleagues explain in the latest issue of Archives of Dermatology.
Their analysis of environmental skin-damaging factors in 65 pairs of twins hints that skin aging is related more to environment and lifestyle than genetic factors.
But when it comes to skin cancer, the researchers say their findings support previous reports that both environment and genes affect skin cancer risk.
Baron's team examined facial skin of 130 twins, 18 to 77 years old, who lived mostly in the northem Midwest and Eastern regions of the US, who were attending the Twins Days Festival in Ohio in August 2002. At this time, each of the twins also separately reported how their skin burned or tanned without sunscreen, their weight, and their history of skin cancer, smoking, and alcohol drinking. The study group consisted of 52 fraternal and 10 identical twin pairs, plus 3 pairs who were unsure of their twin status.
From these data, the researchers noted strong ties, outside of twin status, between smoking, older age, and being overweight, and having facial skin with evidence of environmental damage. By contrast, sunscreen use and drinking alcohol appeared related to less skin damage.
Baron and his colleagues say the current findings, which highlight ties between facial aging and potentially avoidable environmental factors--such as smoking, being overweight, and unprotected overexposure to the sun's damaging rays--may help motivate people to minimize these risky behaviors.
Question:
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
Choices:
A. Jeanne and Susan share all the habits including smoking.
B. Skin aging is related more to environment and lifestyle than genetic factors.
C. Only identical twins can take part in the research.
D. Sunscreen use cannot help people have less skin damage. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16046.txt | At age 61, identical twins Jeanne and Susan no longer look exactly alike. Susan smoked for many years and is an admitted sun worshipper, whose habits Jeanne does not share. A new study of twins suggests you can blame those coarse wrinkles, brown or pink spots on too much time in the sun, smoking, and being overweight.
Because twins share genes, but may have different exposures to environmental factors, studying twins allows an "opportunity to control for genetic susceptibility ," Dr. Elma D. Baron, at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, and his colleagues explain in the latest issue of Archives of Dermatology.
Their analysis of environmental skin-damaging factors in 65 pairs of twins hints that skin aging is related more to environment and lifestyle than genetic factors.
But when it comes to skin cancer, the researchers say their findings support previous reports that both environment and genes affect skin cancer risk.
Baron's team examined facial skin of 130 twins, 18 to 77 years old, who lived mostly in the northem Midwest and Eastern regions of the US, who were attending the Twins Days Festival in Ohio in August 2002. At this time, each of the twins also separately reported how their skin burned or tanned without sunscreen, their weight, and their history of skin cancer, smoking, and alcohol drinking. The study group consisted of 52 fraternal and 10 identical twin pairs, plus 3 pairs who were unsure of their twin status.
From these data, the researchers noted strong ties, outside of twin status, between smoking, older age, and being overweight, and having facial skin with evidence of environmental damage. By contrast, sunscreen use and drinking alcohol appeared related to less skin damage.
Baron and his colleagues say the current findings, which highlight ties between facial aging and potentially avoidable environmental factors--such as smoking, being overweight, and unprotected overexposure to the sun's damaging rays--may help motivate people to minimize these risky behaviors. | [
"Jeanne and Susan share all the habits including smoking.",
"Skin aging is related more to environment and lifestyle than genetic factors.",
"Only identical twins can take part in the research.",
"Sunscreen use cannot help people have less skin damage."
] |
What can be the best title for the text? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Recently a study, led by Pedro Hallal of the Federal University, suggests that nearly a third of adults, 31%, are not getting enough exercise. That rates of exercise have declined is hardly a new discovery. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, technology and economic growth have helped to create a world in which taking exercise is more and more an option rather than a necessity. But only recently have enough good data been collected from enough places to carry out the sort of analysis Dr Hallal and his colleagues have engaged in.
There are common themes in different places. Unsurprisingly, people in rich countries are less active than those in poor ones, and old people are less active than young ones. Less obviously, women tend to exercise less than men--34% are inactive, compared with 28% of men. But there are exceptions. The women of Croatia, Finland, Iraq and Luxembourg, for example, move more than their male countrymen.
Malta wins the race for most _ country, with 72% of adults getting too little exercise, and Swaziland and Saudi Arabia are in close behind, with 69%. In Bangladesh, just 5% of adults fail to exercise enough. Surprisingly, six Americans in ten are active enough according to Dr Hallal's study, compared with fewer than four in ten British.
These high rates of inactivity are worrying. Human beings seem to have evolved to benefit from exercise while deliberately avoiding it whenever they can. In a state of nature it would be impossible to live a life that did not provide enough of it. But that is no longer the case. Actually lack of enough activity these days has nearly the same effect on life span as smoking.
Question:
What can be the best title for the text?
Choices:
A. Worldwide Lack of Enough Exercise
B. New Health Discovery
C. Evolvement of Human Beings
D. Benefits of Taking Exercise | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high6049.txt | Recently a study, led by Pedro Hallal of the Federal University, suggests that nearly a third of adults, 31%, are not getting enough exercise. That rates of exercise have declined is hardly a new discovery. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, technology and economic growth have helped to create a world in which taking exercise is more and more an option rather than a necessity. But only recently have enough good data been collected from enough places to carry out the sort of analysis Dr Hallal and his colleagues have engaged in.
There are common themes in different places. Unsurprisingly, people in rich countries are less active than those in poor ones, and old people are less active than young ones. Less obviously, women tend to exercise less than men--34% are inactive, compared with 28% of men. But there are exceptions. The women of Croatia, Finland, Iraq and Luxembourg, for example, move more than their male countrymen.
Malta wins the race for most _ country, with 72% of adults getting too little exercise, and Swaziland and Saudi Arabia are in close behind, with 69%. In Bangladesh, just 5% of adults fail to exercise enough. Surprisingly, six Americans in ten are active enough according to Dr Hallal's study, compared with fewer than four in ten British.
These high rates of inactivity are worrying. Human beings seem to have evolved to benefit from exercise while deliberately avoiding it whenever they can. In a state of nature it would be impossible to live a life that did not provide enough of it. But that is no longer the case. Actually lack of enough activity these days has nearly the same effect on life span as smoking. | [
"Worldwide Lack of Enough Exercise",
"New Health Discovery",
"Evolvement of Human Beings",
"Benefits of Taking Exercise"
] |
Which of the following statements is probably NOT true according to the news? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
BEIJING, March, 17th --The Japanese automaker Toyota will _ some 4,400 units of FJ Cruiser cars in China over seat belt flaws, China's consumer quality watchdog said Saturday.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said on its website that Toyota China will recall these imported cars produced between December 2007 and March 2013.
Toyota is busy working on the solution to the flaw and will release improvement methods before April 15, according to the administration.
This marks Toyota's second recalling this year after the auto giant announced in January that it would recall 22,869 units of Lexus IS cars in China due to wiper arm problem.
China's private auto ownership reached 93.09 million units by the end of 2012, up 18.3 percent compared with the year before. Along with the fast expanding auto market, Chinese drivers grow more concerned about the quality of their cars.
Also on Saturday, the AQSIQ said in a statement on its website that its research has basically confirmed the German automaker Volkswagen's direct shift gearbox (DSG) transmission has defects which may cause engine power failures and urged Volkswagen to recall defective cars after China Central Television (CCTV) exposed Volkswagen's gearbox defect on Friday.
To better protect the interests of Chinese consumers, the AQSIQ announced late last year that it would formulate a guideline to regulate a recall system for faulty cars.
Question:
Which of the following statements is probably NOT true according to the news?
Choices:
A. Toyota will release its improvements on faulty cars in less than a month.
B. Chinese put more and more focus on the quality of their cars.
C. You may get the information about faulty cars on the website of AQSIQ.
D. It was AQSIQ that first exposed Volkswagen's DSG defects. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high2992.txt | BEIJING, March, 17th --The Japanese automaker Toyota will _ some 4,400 units of FJ Cruiser cars in China over seat belt flaws, China's consumer quality watchdog said Saturday.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said on its website that Toyota China will recall these imported cars produced between December 2007 and March 2013.
Toyota is busy working on the solution to the flaw and will release improvement methods before April 15, according to the administration.
This marks Toyota's second recalling this year after the auto giant announced in January that it would recall 22,869 units of Lexus IS cars in China due to wiper arm problem.
China's private auto ownership reached 93.09 million units by the end of 2012, up 18.3 percent compared with the year before. Along with the fast expanding auto market, Chinese drivers grow more concerned about the quality of their cars.
Also on Saturday, the AQSIQ said in a statement on its website that its research has basically confirmed the German automaker Volkswagen's direct shift gearbox (DSG) transmission has defects which may cause engine power failures and urged Volkswagen to recall defective cars after China Central Television (CCTV) exposed Volkswagen's gearbox defect on Friday.
To better protect the interests of Chinese consumers, the AQSIQ announced late last year that it would formulate a guideline to regulate a recall system for faulty cars. | [
"Toyota will release its improvements on faulty cars in less than a month.",
"Chinese put more and more focus on the quality of their cars.",
"You may get the information about faulty cars on the website of AQSIQ.",
"It was AQSIQ that first exposed Volkswagen's DSG defects."
] |
What is the term for plants that lack vascular tissues, roots, leaves, seeds, and flowers? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What is the term for plants that lack vascular tissues, roots, leaves, seeds, and flowers? | bryophytes | science | null | null | null | conifers | chloroplasts | primates | bryophytes | Modern nonvascular plants are called bryophytes. There are about 17,000 bryophyte species. They include liverworts, hornworts, and mosses. Mosses are the most numerous group of bryophytes. You can see an example of moss in Figure below . Like the moss in the figure, most bryophytes are small. They lack not only vascular tissues. They also lack true roots, leaves, seeds, and flowers. Bryophytes live in moist habitats. Without the adaptations of vascular plants, bryophytes are not very good at absorbing water. They also need water to reproduce. | null | null | null |
Why did the colors quarrel? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel.
Green said, "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."
Blue interrupted, "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life."
Yellow chuckled . "The sun is yellow, as well as the moon and the stars. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile."
Red could bear it no longer. "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood-life's blood! I am the color of danger and bravery. I bring fire into the blood. I am the color of passion and love."
Purple stood at his full height. "I am the color of royalty and power. I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."
Finally Indigo spoke with determination, "Think of me and I am the color of silence. I represent thought and reflection. You need me for balance and contrast , for prayer and inner peace."
The colors went on boasting , each showing off his or her own advantages. Suddenlythere came a flash of bright lightening. Thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down. The colors were scared to death.
In the midst of the quarrelling, rain began to speak, "You foolish colors. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.
From then on, when it rains, colors will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color.
Whenever a rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.
Question:
Why did the colors quarrel?
Choices:
A. Because they often fought for some reasons.
B. Because they were not liked by each other.
C. Because they all claimed to be the best.
D. Because they all wanted to rule other colors. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high14389.txt | Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel.
Green said, "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."
Blue interrupted, "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life."
Yellow chuckled . "The sun is yellow, as well as the moon and the stars. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile."
Red could bear it no longer. "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood-life's blood! I am the color of danger and bravery. I bring fire into the blood. I am the color of passion and love."
Purple stood at his full height. "I am the color of royalty and power. I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."
Finally Indigo spoke with determination, "Think of me and I am the color of silence. I represent thought and reflection. You need me for balance and contrast , for prayer and inner peace."
The colors went on boasting , each showing off his or her own advantages. Suddenlythere came a flash of bright lightening. Thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down. The colors were scared to death.
In the midst of the quarrelling, rain began to speak, "You foolish colors. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.
From then on, when it rains, colors will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color.
Whenever a rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another. | [
"Because they often fought for some reasons.",
"Because they were not liked by each other.",
"Because they all claimed to be the best.",
"Because they all wanted to rule other colors."
] |
Song Siyu got some achievements in the military school except _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
"Beating is a sign of affection,cursing is a sign of love."
Many may not expect to hear the words of the old Chinese saying in these modern times--with parents wealthier and better educated than they have ever been--but experts say they still ring true.
Today,it seems,Chinese parents are more likely to send their children to precollege military academies in the United States in the hope that some tough love will pave the way to success.
"Good education doesn't mean letting your children enjoy privileges,especially our boys." said Song Wenming,an entrepreneur in Jinhua,East China's Zhejiang province. "They should be raised in tough conditions to know what to fight for in the future."
In August,Song sent his 17yearold son to Valley Forge Military Academy (VFMA) in Pennsylvania. And _ ,even though it takes a lot of money--around $48,000 per year--to send a child to a strict military school.
Statistics show that an increasing number of Chinese students have been registering with such academies.
A few years ago,there were no Chinese students at Valley Forge. Today,there are 28. "All of the Chinese students at Valley Forge came from wealthy families;some of them were spoiled." said Jennifer Myers,director of marketing and communications at the school.
Song's only son,Song Siyu,had a rocky start during his first six weeks at the school. The teenager said he went to the school voluntarily but did not expect it to be as difficult.
Now,three months later,he has perfected the art of taking a bath in 35 seconds,finishing a meal without looking at his food,and making his bed with precision. He can even take criticism,no matter how unreasonable.
"The training is hard but I know it is good for selfdevelopment of individuals." said Song Siyu. "The endless training and scolding are just ways to build up our character;they are not personal."
But his enthusiasm is not universal. Ten of the 13 Chinese students who joined the academy this year have transferred to other schools.
But for those who stick with it,there is a reward for all the hard work.
Question:
Song Siyu got some achievements in the military school except _ .
Choices:
A. taking a bath in a short time
B. improving his character
C. taking unreasonable criticism
D. having his meal with his eyes closed | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high14512.txt | "Beating is a sign of affection,cursing is a sign of love."
Many may not expect to hear the words of the old Chinese saying in these modern times--with parents wealthier and better educated than they have ever been--but experts say they still ring true.
Today,it seems,Chinese parents are more likely to send their children to precollege military academies in the United States in the hope that some tough love will pave the way to success.
"Good education doesn't mean letting your children enjoy privileges,especially our boys." said Song Wenming,an entrepreneur in Jinhua,East China's Zhejiang province. "They should be raised in tough conditions to know what to fight for in the future."
In August,Song sent his 17yearold son to Valley Forge Military Academy (VFMA) in Pennsylvania. And _ ,even though it takes a lot of money--around $48,000 per year--to send a child to a strict military school.
Statistics show that an increasing number of Chinese students have been registering with such academies.
A few years ago,there were no Chinese students at Valley Forge. Today,there are 28. "All of the Chinese students at Valley Forge came from wealthy families;some of them were spoiled." said Jennifer Myers,director of marketing and communications at the school.
Song's only son,Song Siyu,had a rocky start during his first six weeks at the school. The teenager said he went to the school voluntarily but did not expect it to be as difficult.
Now,three months later,he has perfected the art of taking a bath in 35 seconds,finishing a meal without looking at his food,and making his bed with precision. He can even take criticism,no matter how unreasonable.
"The training is hard but I know it is good for selfdevelopment of individuals." said Song Siyu. "The endless training and scolding are just ways to build up our character;they are not personal."
But his enthusiasm is not universal. Ten of the 13 Chinese students who joined the academy this year have transferred to other schools.
But for those who stick with it,there is a reward for all the hard work. | [
"taking a bath in a short time",
"improving his character",
"taking unreasonable criticism",
"having his meal with his eyes closed"
] |
The passage is probably taken from _ Edition. | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Have You Read Them?
Time
Time is a weekly news magazine founded by Briton Hadden and Henry R. Luce. Time's current circulation is about 4.3 million.Time summarizes the news concisely and completely, gives background, organizes and departmentalizes the news each week. It covers national and foreign affairs, books, art, music, education, religion, medicine, law, science, finance, sports, press and milestones.
Women
Women is a popular illustrated weekly British magazine for women, containing fashion details, short stories and serial stories, often on romantic themes. It also has practical advice and hints for housewives and a variety of articles of general interest. It was first published in 1937, with a current circulation of around 1.5 million.
China Daily
China Daily is the first and only national English language newspaper in China, launched in Beijing on June 1, 1981. Distributed in more than 150 countries and regions, China Daily is one of China's major information sources for English language readers who want to learn about China's political, economic, cultural and social development.
Question:
The passage is probably taken from _ Edition.
Choices:
A. Travel
B. Business
C. Finance
D. Advertisement | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high23002.txt | Have You Read Them?
Time
Time is a weekly news magazine founded by Briton Hadden and Henry R. Luce. Time's current circulation is about 4.3 million.Time summarizes the news concisely and completely, gives background, organizes and departmentalizes the news each week. It covers national and foreign affairs, books, art, music, education, religion, medicine, law, science, finance, sports, press and milestones.
Women
Women is a popular illustrated weekly British magazine for women, containing fashion details, short stories and serial stories, often on romantic themes. It also has practical advice and hints for housewives and a variety of articles of general interest. It was first published in 1937, with a current circulation of around 1.5 million.
China Daily
China Daily is the first and only national English language newspaper in China, launched in Beijing on June 1, 1981. Distributed in more than 150 countries and regions, China Daily is one of China's major information sources for English language readers who want to learn about China's political, economic, cultural and social development. | [
"Travel",
"Business",
"Finance",
"Advertisement"
] |
The money in the purse _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A famous doctor once received a little child who was badly ill. Thanks to his skill and care, his young patient got well and was soon able to get up and run about again.
The child's mother was very much obliged to the doctor, and she called on him to thank him for what he had done for her child. "Doctor," she said, "you have saved my little son. I don't know how to thank you enough. I feel that money alone cannot repay you, so I have made this little purse with my own hands, as a sign of my gratitude. I hope you will accept it." The doctor stood up and said coldly, "Madam, a little present like that is very nice between friends, but a doctor needs to be paid properly for what he has done." The lady was so surprised and hurt so much that she could not reply for a moment. Then she said quietly, "Perhaps you will tell me how much your fee is?"
"Fifty pounds", he answered.
The lady opened the little purse and took out four fifty-pound bank notes. She handed one of them to the doctor, and put the other three back into the purse. She put the purse into her handbag and, saying good bye to the doctor, went out of the room.
Question:
The money in the purse _ .
Choices:
A. was only 150 pounds
B. was less than 200 pounds
C. was much more than the medical fee
D. was not enough for the medical fee | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high6963.txt | A famous doctor once received a little child who was badly ill. Thanks to his skill and care, his young patient got well and was soon able to get up and run about again.
The child's mother was very much obliged to the doctor, and she called on him to thank him for what he had done for her child. "Doctor," she said, "you have saved my little son. I don't know how to thank you enough. I feel that money alone cannot repay you, so I have made this little purse with my own hands, as a sign of my gratitude. I hope you will accept it." The doctor stood up and said coldly, "Madam, a little present like that is very nice between friends, but a doctor needs to be paid properly for what he has done." The lady was so surprised and hurt so much that she could not reply for a moment. Then she said quietly, "Perhaps you will tell me how much your fee is?"
"Fifty pounds", he answered.
The lady opened the little purse and took out four fifty-pound bank notes. She handed one of them to the doctor, and put the other three back into the purse. She put the purse into her handbag and, saying good bye to the doctor, went out of the room. | [
"was only 150 pounds",
"was less than 200 pounds",
"was much more than the medical fee",
"was not enough for the medical fee"
] |
What do you call a simple machine consisting of a sloping surface that connects lower and higher elevations? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What do you call a simple machine consisting of a sloping surface that connects lower and higher elevations? | inclined plane | science | null | null | null | jack | lever | wedge | inclined plane | An inclined plane is a simple machine consisting of a sloping surface that connects lower and higher elevations. The ideal mechanical advantage of an inclined plane is always greater than 1. | null | null | null |
We can learn from the passage that _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
March, April and May are months full of festivals and events all over the world. Here are some wonderful festivals around the world that happen in spring.
SongKran--Thailand
Dates: 13th-15th, April
In Thailand, it's time to celebrate the coming monsoon season, which will bring the rain many people have been looking forward to. They celebrate it with a festival called Songkran, when people head out to the streets with water guns to spray(,)everyone who walks past. If you walk on the streets where the festival is celebrated, prepare to get _ !
Naghol--Vanuatu
Dates: Every Saturday from April to May
Every year, villagers come together to celebrate the harvest of yams, an important part in the peopls's diet in Vanuatu. The festival is most famous for its "land diving ceremony". During the ceremony men and boys dive to the ground from high wooden towers with only two thin vines attached to their ankles . The divers' heads have to lightly touch the ground when they jump---something very dangerous if the vines are not measured properly.
Cherry Blossom Viewing ---Japan
Dates: The cherry blossom season is different from year to year depending on the weather forecast.
The cherry blossom season has huge importance to the people of Japan, who celebrate the days when the flowers finally blossom. Only a few days later, the petals fall to the ground, like pink snowflakes. This is one of the most beautiful things to see. In Japan, almost everyone has picnics in the parks to view the flowers.
Sinhalese New Year--Sri Lanka
Dates: 13thor 14th, April
Just like in many other countries in South an South East Asia, this is the time when the Sinhalese celebrate the traditional New Year, an ancient celebration which marks the end of the harvest season and is one of two times of the year when the sun is straight above Sri Lanka. There are a lot of delicious foods during the celebration.
Question:
We can learn from the passage that _ .
Choices:
A. the Cherry Blossom Celebration usually lasts a long time in Japan
B. the Cherry Blossom Celebration is the most important festival in Japan
C. the time for the Cherry Blossom Celebration in Japan can be different yearly
D. people usually stay at home for celebration during the cherry blossom season. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1777.txt | March, April and May are months full of festivals and events all over the world. Here are some wonderful festivals around the world that happen in spring.
SongKran--Thailand
Dates: 13th-15th, April
In Thailand, it's time to celebrate the coming monsoon season, which will bring the rain many people have been looking forward to. They celebrate it with a festival called Songkran, when people head out to the streets with water guns to spray(,)everyone who walks past. If you walk on the streets where the festival is celebrated, prepare to get _ !
Naghol--Vanuatu
Dates: Every Saturday from April to May
Every year, villagers come together to celebrate the harvest of yams, an important part in the peopls's diet in Vanuatu. The festival is most famous for its "land diving ceremony". During the ceremony men and boys dive to the ground from high wooden towers with only two thin vines attached to their ankles . The divers' heads have to lightly touch the ground when they jump---something very dangerous if the vines are not measured properly.
Cherry Blossom Viewing ---Japan
Dates: The cherry blossom season is different from year to year depending on the weather forecast.
The cherry blossom season has huge importance to the people of Japan, who celebrate the days when the flowers finally blossom. Only a few days later, the petals fall to the ground, like pink snowflakes. This is one of the most beautiful things to see. In Japan, almost everyone has picnics in the parks to view the flowers.
Sinhalese New Year--Sri Lanka
Dates: 13thor 14th, April
Just like in many other countries in South an South East Asia, this is the time when the Sinhalese celebrate the traditional New Year, an ancient celebration which marks the end of the harvest season and is one of two times of the year when the sun is straight above Sri Lanka. There are a lot of delicious foods during the celebration. | [
"the Cherry Blossom Celebration usually lasts a long time in Japan",
"the Cherry Blossom Celebration is the most important festival in Japan",
"the time for the Cherry Blossom Celebration in Japan can be different yearly",
"people usually stay at home for celebration during the cherry blossom season."
] |
What was Ima' s attitude towards the purchase? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Dear Mr. Plant,
I am an enthusiastic camper and longtime X-Ports customer, but after being offended for the third time at your Sierra Vista location, I am writing to complain about your impolite employees.
Several months ago ,I bought a tent that leaked the first time I used it and wanted it replaced . When I took it back, your employees accused me of tearing it myself. I left not only withm1, torn tent, but no refund and no satisfaction.
A couple of weeks ago , I bought a sleeping bag that was supposed to sleep two people comfort-ably. It didn't. Your employees refused to give me my money back even though I had the receipt. I was asked to leave the store, again with no satisfaction.
To my misfortune, my latest purchase , of a piece of camping equipment at your store proyed to be another disappointment. The propane camp stove I bought didn't work properly. When I returned to exchange it, the rude clerk refused to help me because I did not have my sales receipt. It was an even exchange! He said that I was a problem and even asked if I had seen what products I-could purchase at one of your competitor's stores at comparable prices. Was he accusing me of something? Why would I have brought a receipt for an even exchange? Why would I know the price at other stores?
Furthermore, the clerk called security and forced me to leave your store-without my camp stove! How can I go camping now? The tent leaks, the sleeping bag is just wrong, and I don't have a stove to keep warm ! Who is going to refund my money for my stove? Who is going to help me get over the abuse I suffered in your store?
You, as the area manager must clear these matters up for me immediately! I am sending copies of this letter to your main office and the Sierra Vista Store.
Sincerely ,
Ima Kumpanee
Question:
What was Ima' s attitude towards the purchase?
Choices:
A. Doubtful.
B. Surprised.
C. Dissatisfied.
D. Uninterested | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9331.txt | Dear Mr. Plant,
I am an enthusiastic camper and longtime X-Ports customer, but after being offended for the third time at your Sierra Vista location, I am writing to complain about your impolite employees.
Several months ago ,I bought a tent that leaked the first time I used it and wanted it replaced . When I took it back, your employees accused me of tearing it myself. I left not only withm1, torn tent, but no refund and no satisfaction.
A couple of weeks ago , I bought a sleeping bag that was supposed to sleep two people comfort-ably. It didn't. Your employees refused to give me my money back even though I had the receipt. I was asked to leave the store, again with no satisfaction.
To my misfortune, my latest purchase , of a piece of camping equipment at your store proyed to be another disappointment. The propane camp stove I bought didn't work properly. When I returned to exchange it, the rude clerk refused to help me because I did not have my sales receipt. It was an even exchange! He said that I was a problem and even asked if I had seen what products I-could purchase at one of your competitor's stores at comparable prices. Was he accusing me of something? Why would I have brought a receipt for an even exchange? Why would I know the price at other stores?
Furthermore, the clerk called security and forced me to leave your store-without my camp stove! How can I go camping now? The tent leaks, the sleeping bag is just wrong, and I don't have a stove to keep warm ! Who is going to refund my money for my stove? Who is going to help me get over the abuse I suffered in your store?
You, as the area manager must clear these matters up for me immediately! I am sending copies of this letter to your main office and the Sierra Vista Store.
Sincerely ,
Ima Kumpanee | [
"Doubtful.",
"Surprised.",
"Dissatisfied.",
"Uninterested"
] |
According to the French writer, we often need help from others, so we should _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A great French writer has said that we should help everyone as much as we can because we often need help ourselves. The small even can help the great. About this, he told the following story.
An ant was drinking at a small river and fell in. she tried her best to reach the side, but she couldn't move at all. The poor ant got too tired but was still doing her best when a big bird saw her. With a pity, the bird threw a piece of wood. With it the ant reached the bank again. While she was resting and drying herself in grass she heard a man coming up. He was walking without shoes on his feet and carrying a gun in his hand. As soon as he saw the bird, he wished to kill her, and he would certainly do so, but the ant bit him in one of his feet and at that moment the bird flew away at once. It was an animal much weaker and smaller than the bird herself that had saved her life.
Question:
According to the French writer, we often need help from others, so we should _ .
Choices:
A. help others as much as we can
B. help the people who may be useful to us
C. get as much help as we can
D. first need to help ourselves | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high3156.txt | A great French writer has said that we should help everyone as much as we can because we often need help ourselves. The small even can help the great. About this, he told the following story.
An ant was drinking at a small river and fell in. she tried her best to reach the side, but she couldn't move at all. The poor ant got too tired but was still doing her best when a big bird saw her. With a pity, the bird threw a piece of wood. With it the ant reached the bank again. While she was resting and drying herself in grass she heard a man coming up. He was walking without shoes on his feet and carrying a gun in his hand. As soon as he saw the bird, he wished to kill her, and he would certainly do so, but the ant bit him in one of his feet and at that moment the bird flew away at once. It was an animal much weaker and smaller than the bird herself that had saved her life. | [
"help others as much as we can",
"help the people who may be useful to us",
"get as much help as we can",
"first need to help ourselves"
] |
How many tricks are mentioned in the passage? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Even if you are naturally shy, these three tricks will help you to quickly build a new social circle in any new city.
1. Take pictures
One of the great things about taking pictures at an event or a party is that it gives you an excuse to get in touch with the person later. Everybody loves seeing pictures of themselves, and it's very easy after taking a picture to say "If you'd like I can email it to you". This can be the seed that leads to new connections.
2. Eat alone in public
You might feel self-conscious eating by yourself but it has an important benefit: you are much easier to approach when you are alone. People may be afraid of disturbing you or being rude if you talk with someone else. Bring a book or newspaper to read. Plus, having an interesting book with you will give others an excuse tostart a conversation if they've read it.
3. Join a class, sports team, or club
Yoga, salsa dancing, volleyball, Toastmasters (a public speaking club), a class for work, etc. Choose a new hobby or continue an old one!
These are all great places to meet new people, primarily because you will be made to see the same people over and over again in the class. You will automatically make friends with them if you have a common interest and are made to see each other again.
Question:
How many tricks are mentioned in the passage?
Choices:
A. Three.
B. Four.
C. Five.
D. Six. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1660.txt | Even if you are naturally shy, these three tricks will help you to quickly build a new social circle in any new city.
1. Take pictures
One of the great things about taking pictures at an event or a party is that it gives you an excuse to get in touch with the person later. Everybody loves seeing pictures of themselves, and it's very easy after taking a picture to say "If you'd like I can email it to you". This can be the seed that leads to new connections.
2. Eat alone in public
You might feel self-conscious eating by yourself but it has an important benefit: you are much easier to approach when you are alone. People may be afraid of disturbing you or being rude if you talk with someone else. Bring a book or newspaper to read. Plus, having an interesting book with you will give others an excuse tostart a conversation if they've read it.
3. Join a class, sports team, or club
Yoga, salsa dancing, volleyball, Toastmasters (a public speaking club), a class for work, etc. Choose a new hobby or continue an old one!
These are all great places to meet new people, primarily because you will be made to see the same people over and over again in the class. You will automatically make friends with them if you have a common interest and are made to see each other again. | [
"Three.",
"Four.",
"Five.",
"Six."
] |
Why did the driver said sorry when the writer settled into the back seat? Because | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
He must have been completely lost in something he was reading because I had to tap on the windshield to get his attention."Is your cab available ?"I asked when he finally looked up at me.He nodded,then said apologetically as I settled into the back seat,"I'm sorry,but I was reading a letter."He sounded as if he had a cold."I am not in a hurry,"I told him."Go ahead and finish your letter."He shook his head."I've read it several times already.I guess I almost know it by heart." "Letters from home always mean a lot" I said.
"This isn't family," he replied."although it might just as well have been family.Old Ed was my oldest friend.In fact,we used to call each other 'Old Friend'--when we'd meet.I'm not much good at writing."
"I don't think any of us keep up our correspondence too well,"I said."I know I don't,but I take it he's someone you've known quite a while?" "All my life.We were kids together, went to school together and all the way through high school.""There are not too many people who've had such a long friendship,"I said."Actually,"the driver went on,"I hadn't seen him more than once or twice year over the past 25 or 30 years because I moved away from the old neighborhood and you kind of lose touch even though you never forget."
"You said 'was'.Does that mean---?" he nodded."A couple of weeks ago." "I'm sorry" He didn't say anything more,and we rode on in silence for a few minutes.But I realized that Old Ed was still on his mind when he spoke again,almost more to himself than to me." "I should have kept in touch with him." "Well,'' I agreed,"we should all keep in touch with old friends more than we do.But things come up and we just don't seem to find the time."
When I got to my hotel room I didn't unpack right away.First I had to write a letter --and mail it.
Question:
Why did the driver said sorry when the writer settled into the back seat? Because
Choices:
A. he didn't want to take the passenger
B. he didn't notice the writer
C. he had a cold and could not speak
D. he didn't feel well | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17235.txt | He must have been completely lost in something he was reading because I had to tap on the windshield to get his attention."Is your cab available ?"I asked when he finally looked up at me.He nodded,then said apologetically as I settled into the back seat,"I'm sorry,but I was reading a letter."He sounded as if he had a cold."I am not in a hurry,"I told him."Go ahead and finish your letter."He shook his head."I've read it several times already.I guess I almost know it by heart." "Letters from home always mean a lot" I said.
"This isn't family," he replied."although it might just as well have been family.Old Ed was my oldest friend.In fact,we used to call each other 'Old Friend'--when we'd meet.I'm not much good at writing."
"I don't think any of us keep up our correspondence too well,"I said."I know I don't,but I take it he's someone you've known quite a while?" "All my life.We were kids together, went to school together and all the way through high school.""There are not too many people who've had such a long friendship,"I said."Actually,"the driver went on,"I hadn't seen him more than once or twice year over the past 25 or 30 years because I moved away from the old neighborhood and you kind of lose touch even though you never forget."
"You said 'was'.Does that mean---?" he nodded."A couple of weeks ago." "I'm sorry" He didn't say anything more,and we rode on in silence for a few minutes.But I realized that Old Ed was still on his mind when he spoke again,almost more to himself than to me." "I should have kept in touch with him." "Well,'' I agreed,"we should all keep in touch with old friends more than we do.But things come up and we just don't seem to find the time."
When I got to my hotel room I didn't unpack right away.First I had to write a letter --and mail it. | [
"he didn't want to take the passenger",
"he didn't notice the writer",
"he had a cold and could not speak",
"he didn't feel well"
] |
The dictionary may be _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Found:
A black pen is in the library. Is it yours? I am Lucy. E-mail me at lucy556@hotmail.com.
Lost:
I am Anna. I lost my computer game. It is blue. My telephone number is 471-4295. Call me! Thanks!
Lisa,
Is this your dictionary? Your name is on it. I found it in Classroom 6A.
Tom
Found:
I found a ring. It is nice. Please e-mail me at frank996@gmail.com.
Frank
Question:
The dictionary may be _ .
Choices:
A. Lucy's
B. Anna's
C. Lisa's
D. Frank's | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle8077.txt | Found:
A black pen is in the library. Is it yours? I am Lucy. E-mail me at lucy556@hotmail.com.
Lost:
I am Anna. I lost my computer game. It is blue. My telephone number is 471-4295. Call me! Thanks!
Lisa,
Is this your dictionary? Your name is on it. I found it in Classroom 6A.
Tom
Found:
I found a ring. It is nice. Please e-mail me at frank996@gmail.com.
Frank | [
"Lucy's",
"Anna's",
"Lisa's",
"Frank's"
] |
Carson is going to spend 4 hours at a carnival. The wait for the roller coaster is 30 minutes, the wait for the tilt-a-whirl is 60 minutes, and the wait for the giant slide is 15 minutes. If Carson rides the roller coaster 4 times and the tilt-a-whirl once, how many times can he ride the giant slide? (Wait times include the time actually spent on the ride.) | First figure out how many minutes Carson spends at the carnival by multiplying the number of hours he's there by the number of minutes per hour: 4 hours * 60 minutes/hour = <<4*60=240>>240 minutes
Then figure out how long Carson spends waiting for the roller coaster by multiplying the wait time per ride by the number of rides: 4 rides * 30 minutes/ride = <<4*30=120>>120 minutes
Now subtract the time Carson spends on the roller coaster and tilt-a-whirl from the total time he spends at the park to find out how much time he has left: 240 minutes - 120 minutes - 60 minutes = <<240-120-60=60>>60 minutes
Now divide the time Carson has left by the wait time for the giant slide to see how many times he can ride it: 60 minutes / 15 minutes/ride = <<60/15=4>>4 rides
#### 4 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Carson is going to spend 4 hours at a carnival. The wait for the roller coaster is 30 minutes, the wait for the tilt-a-whirl is 60 minutes, and the wait for the giant slide is 15 minutes. If Carson rides the roller coaster 4 times and the tilt-a-whirl once, how many times can he ride the giant slide? (Wait times include the time actually spent on the ride.) | First figure out how many minutes Carson spends at the carnival by multiplying the number of hours he's there by the number of minutes per hour: 4 hours * 60 minutes/hour = <<4*60=240>>240 minutes
Then figure out how long Carson spends waiting for the roller coaster by multiplying the wait time per ride by the number of rides: 4 rides * 30 minutes/ride = <<4*30=120>>120 minutes
Now subtract the time Carson spends on the roller coaster and tilt-a-whirl from the total time he spends at the park to find out how much time he has left: 240 minutes - 120 minutes - 60 minutes = <<240-120-60=60>>60 minutes
Now divide the time Carson has left by the wait time for the giant slide to see how many times he can ride it: 60 minutes / 15 minutes/ride = <<60/15=4>>4 rides
#### 4 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
What type of cells capture light energy, and use carbon dioxide as their carbon source? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What type of cells capture light energy, and use carbon dioxide as their carbon source? | photoautotrophs | science | null | null | null | chloroplasts | sporozoans | blood cells | photoautotrophs | Photoautotrophs are cells that capture light energy, and use carbon dioxide as their carbon source. There are many photoautotrophic prokaryotes, which include cyanobacteria. Photoautotrophic prokaryotes use similar compounds to those of plants to trap light energy. | null | null | null |
How did the German Chancellor Angela Merkel feel about the tragedy? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Angry survivors demanded answers on Sunday after a terrible stampede at "Love Parade 2010", a music festival in Germany, killed 19 people and left hundreds hurt.
The German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her shock over Saturday's tragedy in the western city of Duisburg. "This was a very sad day," Merkel said. "We must do everything we can to ensure that something like this never happens again."
Witnesses said that people pushed into the narrow tunnel, the only entrance to the Love Parade festival, from both sides until it was dangerously overcrowded. The panic began as festival-goers began to lose consciousness as they were crushed against the walls and each other. The dead included eight foreigners, from Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, China, Bosnia and Spain. More than 340 people were injured.
After the panic, a lot of emergency vehicles, including helicopters, could be seen parked on the highway leading to helicopters, could be seen parked on the highway leading to the festival site, carrying away the injured people. The festival itself, however, went on. Police were afraid that ending the music altogether could cause further unrest among the crowd.
"The event was a real mess," Patrick Guenter, a 22-year-old baker, said. "Although the festival was full, they kept letting people in." he added. "It seems the organizers didn't plan the route. The road was very narrow, and no one knew what was going on." Said Taggart Bowen-Gaddy,20,an American from Philadelphia.
Officials said 4,000 police officers and 1,000 security guards provided security for the event, which attracted up to 1.4 million people. The authorities had only given organizers permission for 250,000 people to attend.
"I warned one year ago that Duisburg was not a suitable place for the Love Parade. The city is too small and narrow for such events. It is a pity that..." German police union chief Rainer Wendt told the Bild.
The chief organizer, Rainer Schaller, said the popular event would never be held again, "out of respect for the victims and their families".
First held in Berlin in 1989 just months before the fall of the Wall, the Love Parade is one of the biggest music festivals in Europe. It left Berlin from 2007 onwards after disagreements with the city authorities over security and has been held in several other German cities in recent years.
Question:
How did the German Chancellor Angela Merkel feel about the tragedy?
Choices:
A. Very disappointed.
B. Angry and surprised.
C. Very puzzled.
D. Touched. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high433.txt | Angry survivors demanded answers on Sunday after a terrible stampede at "Love Parade 2010", a music festival in Germany, killed 19 people and left hundreds hurt.
The German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her shock over Saturday's tragedy in the western city of Duisburg. "This was a very sad day," Merkel said. "We must do everything we can to ensure that something like this never happens again."
Witnesses said that people pushed into the narrow tunnel, the only entrance to the Love Parade festival, from both sides until it was dangerously overcrowded. The panic began as festival-goers began to lose consciousness as they were crushed against the walls and each other. The dead included eight foreigners, from Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, China, Bosnia and Spain. More than 340 people were injured.
After the panic, a lot of emergency vehicles, including helicopters, could be seen parked on the highway leading to helicopters, could be seen parked on the highway leading to the festival site, carrying away the injured people. The festival itself, however, went on. Police were afraid that ending the music altogether could cause further unrest among the crowd.
"The event was a real mess," Patrick Guenter, a 22-year-old baker, said. "Although the festival was full, they kept letting people in." he added. "It seems the organizers didn't plan the route. The road was very narrow, and no one knew what was going on." Said Taggart Bowen-Gaddy,20,an American from Philadelphia.
Officials said 4,000 police officers and 1,000 security guards provided security for the event, which attracted up to 1.4 million people. The authorities had only given organizers permission for 250,000 people to attend.
"I warned one year ago that Duisburg was not a suitable place for the Love Parade. The city is too small and narrow for such events. It is a pity that..." German police union chief Rainer Wendt told the Bild.
The chief organizer, Rainer Schaller, said the popular event would never be held again, "out of respect for the victims and their families".
First held in Berlin in 1989 just months before the fall of the Wall, the Love Parade is one of the biggest music festivals in Europe. It left Berlin from 2007 onwards after disagreements with the city authorities over security and has been held in several other German cities in recent years. | [
"Very disappointed.",
"Angry and surprised.",
"Very puzzled.",
"Touched."
] |
What is Lederer's opinion? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
High-tech gadget shows draw throngs of excited consumers each year in the United States, Japan, Europe and the Arabian peninsula. Though many people are already surrounded with all kinds of smart electronic devices, some always need one more -- better and smarter than the previous one.
At electronic shows, visitors flock around the newest tablet computers, cameras, 3D television screens, even small robots, dreaming of taking one home.
Consumers spend hours waiting in lines and spend hundreds of dollars to be among the first to get the latest smart phone.
The modern world seems to _ shiny expensive objects that keep us connected, help us navigate, record our thoughts and memorable events, and even talk to us. So infatuated, we no longer merely "own" our gadgets -- we have relationships with them, according to clinical psychologist and life transition therapist Francine Lederer.
"It's a lot easier to have, right, a one-sided relationship with your computer, your phone, than it is with a live person. So that at the end of the day, you don't need to worry about somebody being angry with you, you don't need to worry about getting blamed for anything," she said.
Magical devices
Although having a thousand Facebook friends may be perceived as equivalent to having a thousand real, authentic friendships, Lederer said in reality it is not so.
"It comes down to a lot of the internal stuff. How we feel about ourselves, our own sense of self-esteem, our self-worth, a lot of those things," she said.
But gadgets are magical. They fascinate us the same way we are intrigued by a magician's trick, said psychology professor at the University of the South Pacific, Robert Epstein.
"If you don't know how they're doing it, that's very fascinating and intriguing. But if they do it 10 times or 20 times or 100 times, it gets boring and you want something else. That's why magicians do not repeat the same trick over and over again," he said.
Plugged in, isolated
Epstein, former editor-in-chief of Psychology Today magazine, said he is concerned that gadgets will take on a life of their own.
"All we're seeing so far is a little bit of the so-called wearable technology that you might wear on your wrist or in your glasses, but we're moving very rapidly, whether the public knows it or not, toward real biological interfaces so that the gadgets will be built into us to some extent," he said.
Lederer said the danger is that our dependence on electronic gadgets is increasingly being perceived as normal.
"I think our society in a way, and the media, often times normalizes the extent to which we use these gadgets and phones, but the reality is, it's really not healthy for us," she said.
Scientists predict that gadgets with biological interfaces may be available within the next 20 years and, coupled with strong artificial intelligence, will be much smarter than today.
Question:
What is Lederer's opinion?
Choices:
A. It's abnormal for us to rely on electronic gadgets too much.
B. Gadgets will take on a life of their own.
C. It's healthy for us to use model electronic gadgets.
D. The gadgets will be built into us to some extent. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high8654.txt | High-tech gadget shows draw throngs of excited consumers each year in the United States, Japan, Europe and the Arabian peninsula. Though many people are already surrounded with all kinds of smart electronic devices, some always need one more -- better and smarter than the previous one.
At electronic shows, visitors flock around the newest tablet computers, cameras, 3D television screens, even small robots, dreaming of taking one home.
Consumers spend hours waiting in lines and spend hundreds of dollars to be among the first to get the latest smart phone.
The modern world seems to _ shiny expensive objects that keep us connected, help us navigate, record our thoughts and memorable events, and even talk to us. So infatuated, we no longer merely "own" our gadgets -- we have relationships with them, according to clinical psychologist and life transition therapist Francine Lederer.
"It's a lot easier to have, right, a one-sided relationship with your computer, your phone, than it is with a live person. So that at the end of the day, you don't need to worry about somebody being angry with you, you don't need to worry about getting blamed for anything," she said.
Magical devices
Although having a thousand Facebook friends may be perceived as equivalent to having a thousand real, authentic friendships, Lederer said in reality it is not so.
"It comes down to a lot of the internal stuff. How we feel about ourselves, our own sense of self-esteem, our self-worth, a lot of those things," she said.
But gadgets are magical. They fascinate us the same way we are intrigued by a magician's trick, said psychology professor at the University of the South Pacific, Robert Epstein.
"If you don't know how they're doing it, that's very fascinating and intriguing. But if they do it 10 times or 20 times or 100 times, it gets boring and you want something else. That's why magicians do not repeat the same trick over and over again," he said.
Plugged in, isolated
Epstein, former editor-in-chief of Psychology Today magazine, said he is concerned that gadgets will take on a life of their own.
"All we're seeing so far is a little bit of the so-called wearable technology that you might wear on your wrist or in your glasses, but we're moving very rapidly, whether the public knows it or not, toward real biological interfaces so that the gadgets will be built into us to some extent," he said.
Lederer said the danger is that our dependence on electronic gadgets is increasingly being perceived as normal.
"I think our society in a way, and the media, often times normalizes the extent to which we use these gadgets and phones, but the reality is, it's really not healthy for us," she said.
Scientists predict that gadgets with biological interfaces may be available within the next 20 years and, coupled with strong artificial intelligence, will be much smarter than today. | [
"It's abnormal for us to rely on electronic gadgets too much.",
"Gadgets will take on a life of their own.",
"It's healthy for us to use model electronic gadgets.",
"The gadgets will be built into us to some extent."
] |
How many pieces of advice do health experts give in this passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Wang Yan, a 15-year-old Chinese girl, likes eating snacks very much. She prefers cream biscuits, McDonald's food, KFC chicken. As a result, she has become overweight.
Today in China, there are many children like Wang Yan. Health experts say that children should have healthy eating habits. First, they must eat regular meals and begin with a healthy breakfast. Second, they should have different kinds of foods, such as fruit, vegetables, grain, eggs, milk and meat. Third, children shouldn't eat too much junk food. It's delicious, but eating it often is bad for their health. If children do as the experts say, they won't become overweight. They will be healthier. Students won't become tired at school, and they will have enough energy to study hard.
Question:
How many pieces of advice do health experts give in this passage?
Choices:
A. Two.
B. Three.
C. Four
D. Five. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3165.txt | Wang Yan, a 15-year-old Chinese girl, likes eating snacks very much. She prefers cream biscuits, McDonald's food, KFC chicken. As a result, she has become overweight.
Today in China, there are many children like Wang Yan. Health experts say that children should have healthy eating habits. First, they must eat regular meals and begin with a healthy breakfast. Second, they should have different kinds of foods, such as fruit, vegetables, grain, eggs, milk and meat. Third, children shouldn't eat too much junk food. It's delicious, but eating it often is bad for their health. If children do as the experts say, they won't become overweight. They will be healthier. Students won't become tired at school, and they will have enough energy to study hard. | [
"Two.",
"Three.",
"Four",
"Five."
] |
What information can we learn from the program? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Get up close and very personal with the Aquarium's largest exhibit and its biggest predators with the new Shark Keeper program! After each participant prepares to feed the sharks and other fishes in the 120,000-gallon Lost City of Atlantis Exhibit, they will then get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to feed our sand tiger sharks! Participants will also experience a tour of other behind-the-scenes animal care work areas and take home a real-life shark tooth.
Program Outline:
*Greeting from Educator
*Educational Program: misunderstandings about sharks, biology, pictures, shark tooth comparisons, animal overview, what to expect during the experience.
*Behind-the-scenes food prep
*Brief overview of Safety and Policies
*Feeding
Schedule:
Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 3:40 pm
Session: 3:40 pm
Length: 60 minutes
Requirements: All participants must be 16+.
Price: $50.00, plus Admission(Members: $45.00). Space is currently limited to three participants per scheduled session.
How to Book: Phone: 631 208 9200,ext.H2O(426)
Online: When purchasing your Admission ticket, please select the Shark Keeper add-on under the Aquatic Adventures section of the shopping cart.
Guests with Special Needs:
Long Island Aquarium&Exhibition Center makes every effort to accommodate guests with special needs. Please be aware that to participate in this program, guests must be able to navigate the animal habitat spaces with minimum assistance, and must be able to understand and take direction in English from staff members. To ensure the best experience, please contact the Call Center at 631 208 9200, ext. H2O(426) to discuss your individual needs.
Cancellations :
There is a 72-hour cancellation policy. Any cancellation made within 72 hours will not be refunded. No-shows will not be refunded or rescheduled. Guests arriving late (after the required program check-in time) will not be permitted to participate in the program and will not be refunded or rescheduled. We encourage guests to arrive at the Aquarium with plenty of time to park, enter, and check into the program. Adventurers should report to the Main Entrance at least ten minutes ahead. The sessions will begin quickly at the scheduled time. Please plan accordingly.
Question:
What information can we learn from the program?
Choices:
A. You can book the program in advance online.
B. There is no limit to the age of participants.
C. You need to pay $95 at least for the program.
D. A session is scheduled for 3 children every week. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9653.txt | Get up close and very personal with the Aquarium's largest exhibit and its biggest predators with the new Shark Keeper program! After each participant prepares to feed the sharks and other fishes in the 120,000-gallon Lost City of Atlantis Exhibit, they will then get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to feed our sand tiger sharks! Participants will also experience a tour of other behind-the-scenes animal care work areas and take home a real-life shark tooth.
Program Outline:
*Greeting from Educator
*Educational Program: misunderstandings about sharks, biology, pictures, shark tooth comparisons, animal overview, what to expect during the experience.
*Behind-the-scenes food prep
*Brief overview of Safety and Policies
*Feeding
Schedule:
Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 3:40 pm
Session: 3:40 pm
Length: 60 minutes
Requirements: All participants must be 16+.
Price: $50.00, plus Admission(Members: $45.00). Space is currently limited to three participants per scheduled session.
How to Book: Phone: 631 208 9200,ext.H2O(426)
Online: When purchasing your Admission ticket, please select the Shark Keeper add-on under the Aquatic Adventures section of the shopping cart.
Guests with Special Needs:
Long Island Aquarium&Exhibition Center makes every effort to accommodate guests with special needs. Please be aware that to participate in this program, guests must be able to navigate the animal habitat spaces with minimum assistance, and must be able to understand and take direction in English from staff members. To ensure the best experience, please contact the Call Center at 631 208 9200, ext. H2O(426) to discuss your individual needs.
Cancellations :
There is a 72-hour cancellation policy. Any cancellation made within 72 hours will not be refunded. No-shows will not be refunded or rescheduled. Guests arriving late (after the required program check-in time) will not be permitted to participate in the program and will not be refunded or rescheduled. We encourage guests to arrive at the Aquarium with plenty of time to park, enter, and check into the program. Adventurers should report to the Main Entrance at least ten minutes ahead. The sessions will begin quickly at the scheduled time. Please plan accordingly. | [
"You can book the program in advance online.",
"There is no limit to the age of participants.",
"You need to pay $95 at least for the program.",
"A session is scheduled for 3 children every week."
] |
What's Matchett's attitude towards the future of black-footed ferrets? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
On a cool summer night in Wyoming, Dean Biggins waits patiently in his truck. Suddenly, Biggins, a wildlife biologist, spots a pair of eyes in the distance.
Baggins can't believe his luck: He's just caught sight of a black-footed ferret --one of the world's rarest animals.
Just over a century ago, hundreds of thousands of black-footed ferrets lived on the grasslands in North America known as the prairie. But the animals died off as prairie dog disappeared.
Black-footed ferret depend on prairie dogs for both food and shelter. After a ferret has eaten a prairie dog, it moves into the animal's burrow .
When cattlemen started setting up ranches on the prairie in the early 1900s, they thought prairie dogs, which eat grass, might compete with their cattle and sheep for food. To make sure that didn't happen, they killed off billions of prairie dogs.
As prairie dog populations dropped, black-footed ferrets disappeared. By 1979, researchers couldn't find any ferrets and declared the species extinct.
Then, two years later, a small group was discovered. Although scientists were excited about the discovery, it soon became clear that the ferrets were in danger. A disease called sylvatic plague was killing the ferrets. Soon, just 18 ferrets remained.
"To help the species survive, the researchers put all the ferrets in cages in 1986 and began raising them," says Randy Matchett, a wildlife biologist.
To help the black-footed ferrets learn survival skills, wildlife biologists put them through a process called preconditioning. Researchers build a fence around old prairie dog burrows and put the ferrets in them when they are a couple of months old. While the animals get used to their new home, researchers feed them live prairie dogs so they can practice hunting.
"Now about 1,000 black-footed ferrets are back in the wild. Despite their amazing comeback, black-footed ferrets aren't out of the woods yet," says Matchett. Sylvatic plague is still a threat, and ranchers still don't want too many prairie dogs on their land.
"We have come a long way, and we've learned a lot," says Matchett. "I think if we keep working, we'll be able to help this species recover."
Question:
What's Matchett's attitude towards the future of black-footed ferrets?
Choices:
A. Worried.
B. Hopeful.
C. Proud.
D. Uncertain. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high18232.txt | On a cool summer night in Wyoming, Dean Biggins waits patiently in his truck. Suddenly, Biggins, a wildlife biologist, spots a pair of eyes in the distance.
Baggins can't believe his luck: He's just caught sight of a black-footed ferret --one of the world's rarest animals.
Just over a century ago, hundreds of thousands of black-footed ferrets lived on the grasslands in North America known as the prairie. But the animals died off as prairie dog disappeared.
Black-footed ferret depend on prairie dogs for both food and shelter. After a ferret has eaten a prairie dog, it moves into the animal's burrow .
When cattlemen started setting up ranches on the prairie in the early 1900s, they thought prairie dogs, which eat grass, might compete with their cattle and sheep for food. To make sure that didn't happen, they killed off billions of prairie dogs.
As prairie dog populations dropped, black-footed ferrets disappeared. By 1979, researchers couldn't find any ferrets and declared the species extinct.
Then, two years later, a small group was discovered. Although scientists were excited about the discovery, it soon became clear that the ferrets were in danger. A disease called sylvatic plague was killing the ferrets. Soon, just 18 ferrets remained.
"To help the species survive, the researchers put all the ferrets in cages in 1986 and began raising them," says Randy Matchett, a wildlife biologist.
To help the black-footed ferrets learn survival skills, wildlife biologists put them through a process called preconditioning. Researchers build a fence around old prairie dog burrows and put the ferrets in them when they are a couple of months old. While the animals get used to their new home, researchers feed them live prairie dogs so they can practice hunting.
"Now about 1,000 black-footed ferrets are back in the wild. Despite their amazing comeback, black-footed ferrets aren't out of the woods yet," says Matchett. Sylvatic plague is still a threat, and ranchers still don't want too many prairie dogs on their land.
"We have come a long way, and we've learned a lot," says Matchett. "I think if we keep working, we'll be able to help this species recover." | [
"Worried.",
"Hopeful.",
"Proud.",
"Uncertain."
] |
What does "Its hardware" in Paragraph 6 refer to? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Consumer electronics once again topped the list of the most wanted gifts this holiday season.
"Seventy-six percent of consumers who plan to buy holiday gifts say that they will spend money or buy at least one technology product; definitely a solid vote of confidence for technology."
Steve Koenig is with the Consumer Electronics Association. He says the group's latest research also shows that Americans this year are spending more on technology products. "
"
From tablet computers to smart phones, American shoppers have been lining up to get the newest and coolest electronic devices on the market. There are more choices today than ever before. "It's kind of hard to make a decision."
Tablet computers are one of the best-selling products this year. Brian Tong is Senior Editor of CNET.com. The website reports on tech news and examines the latest electronic products. He says the Apple iPad Mini is one of the most popular tablets. Its starting price is $329. One of Apple's biggest competitors is the Google Nexus 7. It starts at $199.
"
is more powerful than what's in the iPad Mini, but also it offers you a lot of things like maps that work better than Apple's maps.
But Brian Tong says there is one reason why people may like the iPad Mini more than the Nexus 7. "If you just want to read books and surf the Internet, you don't really need to get an iPad Mini, but if you want the largest robust group of apps that's where the iPad and Apple's ecosystem shines the most."
Elman Chacon is with the electronics store Best Buy. He says another hot product this season is smart cameras. They connect to the Internet through WiFi. This makes it easy for users to email or upload photographs directly from the camera.
"You can literally take a picture and upload it into your Facebook in a matter of seconds. These things are pretty cool because they do a lot of things."
Streaming media boxes also connect to the Internet. People are able to watch web content such as movies and YouTube videos on their televisions. Another popular item is wireless speaker systems. The newest ones work with any device that has Bluetooth technology, including smart phones, laptops and tablets.
Question:
What does "Its hardware" in Paragraph 6 refer to?
Choices:
A. The hardware of tablet computers.
B. The hardware of the Apple iPad.
C. The hardware of the Google Nexus 7.
D. The hardware of the iPad Mini. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16554.txt | Consumer electronics once again topped the list of the most wanted gifts this holiday season.
"Seventy-six percent of consumers who plan to buy holiday gifts say that they will spend money or buy at least one technology product; definitely a solid vote of confidence for technology."
Steve Koenig is with the Consumer Electronics Association. He says the group's latest research also shows that Americans this year are spending more on technology products. "
"
From tablet computers to smart phones, American shoppers have been lining up to get the newest and coolest electronic devices on the market. There are more choices today than ever before. "It's kind of hard to make a decision."
Tablet computers are one of the best-selling products this year. Brian Tong is Senior Editor of CNET.com. The website reports on tech news and examines the latest electronic products. He says the Apple iPad Mini is one of the most popular tablets. Its starting price is $329. One of Apple's biggest competitors is the Google Nexus 7. It starts at $199.
"
is more powerful than what's in the iPad Mini, but also it offers you a lot of things like maps that work better than Apple's maps.
But Brian Tong says there is one reason why people may like the iPad Mini more than the Nexus 7. "If you just want to read books and surf the Internet, you don't really need to get an iPad Mini, but if you want the largest robust group of apps that's where the iPad and Apple's ecosystem shines the most."
Elman Chacon is with the electronics store Best Buy. He says another hot product this season is smart cameras. They connect to the Internet through WiFi. This makes it easy for users to email or upload photographs directly from the camera.
"You can literally take a picture and upload it into your Facebook in a matter of seconds. These things are pretty cool because they do a lot of things."
Streaming media boxes also connect to the Internet. People are able to watch web content such as movies and YouTube videos on their televisions. Another popular item is wireless speaker systems. The newest ones work with any device that has Bluetooth technology, including smart phones, laptops and tablets. | [
"The hardware of tablet computers.",
"The hardware of the Apple iPad.",
"The hardware of the Google Nexus 7.",
"The hardware of the iPad Mini."
] |
What is mainly described in the passage ? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The year is 2094,It has been announced that a comet is heading towards the Earth.Most of it will miss our planet, but two pieces will probably hit the southern half of the Earth.
On 17 July, a piece four kilometers wide enters the Earth's atmosphere with a massive explosion.About half of the piece is destoryed but the remaining part hits the South Atlantic at 200times the speed of sound.The sea boils and a huge gole is made in the sea bed.Huge waves are created and spread outwards form the hole.The eall of water,a kilometer high,rushes towards southern Africa at 800 kilometers an hour.Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people are drowned.
Before the waves reach South America.the second piece of the comet lands in Argentina.Earthquakes and volcanoes are set off in the Andes Moutains.The shock waves move north into California and all around the Pacific Ocean. The cities of Los Angeles,San Francisco and Tokyo are completely destroyed by earthquakes,Millions of people in the southern half of the earth are already dead,but the north won't eacape for long.Because of the explosions the sun is hidden by clouds of dust,and temperatures around the world fall to almost zero.Crops are ruined.The sun won't be seen again for many years.Wars break out as countries fight for food.A year later,no more than 10 million remain laive.
Could it really happen?In fact,it has already happened more than once in the history of the Earth.The dinesaurs were on the Earth for over 160 million years,Then 65 million years ago they suddenly disappeared.Many scientists believe that the Earth was hit by a piece of object in space. The dinosaurs couldn't live through the cold climate that followed and they died out .Will we meet the same end ?
Question:
What is mainly described in the passage ?
Choices:
A. A historic discovery
B. A research on space
C. A scientific adventure
D. An imaginary event | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high6297.txt | The year is 2094,It has been announced that a comet is heading towards the Earth.Most of it will miss our planet, but two pieces will probably hit the southern half of the Earth.
On 17 July, a piece four kilometers wide enters the Earth's atmosphere with a massive explosion.About half of the piece is destoryed but the remaining part hits the South Atlantic at 200times the speed of sound.The sea boils and a huge gole is made in the sea bed.Huge waves are created and spread outwards form the hole.The eall of water,a kilometer high,rushes towards southern Africa at 800 kilometers an hour.Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people are drowned.
Before the waves reach South America.the second piece of the comet lands in Argentina.Earthquakes and volcanoes are set off in the Andes Moutains.The shock waves move north into California and all around the Pacific Ocean. The cities of Los Angeles,San Francisco and Tokyo are completely destroyed by earthquakes,Millions of people in the southern half of the earth are already dead,but the north won't eacape for long.Because of the explosions the sun is hidden by clouds of dust,and temperatures around the world fall to almost zero.Crops are ruined.The sun won't be seen again for many years.Wars break out as countries fight for food.A year later,no more than 10 million remain laive.
Could it really happen?In fact,it has already happened more than once in the history of the Earth.The dinesaurs were on the Earth for over 160 million years,Then 65 million years ago they suddenly disappeared.Many scientists believe that the Earth was hit by a piece of object in space. The dinosaurs couldn't live through the cold climate that followed and they died out .Will we meet the same end ? | [
"A historic discovery",
"A research on space",
"A scientific adventure",
"An imaginary event"
] |
What is the implied meaning of the last sentence? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The art of reading fiction is largely a matter of inferring meanings. To infer means to understand facts which are not directly stated---only suggested. Inference is one of the commonest ways of knowing things: a child holds his knee and cries; this action implies his feeling; an observer infers that the child is hurt. To infer accurately in everyday life requires caution in observing; to infer skillfully in fiction requires caution in reading; both require disciplined imagination.
The short-story reader can expect to find certain basic elements in any story. For example, all stories involve a person or persons, in a particular setting, faced with a demand for a response. The response called for may be a physical action, such as defeating an adversary or escaping from a danger; or it may be a mental action, such as adjusting to others or within oneself. In either case, the short story is a description in two ways: first, it shows the motives for a given human action; second, it makes a point about the general human situation. Such descriptions, however, rather than being stated directly, usually are implied by the elements of the story.
When the reader of a story understands all the facts and their interrelationships, he is ready to infer the significance of the story as a whole---its comment on the human situation. This comment, or theme, is the seed from which the story grew. It is also the idea by which all the separate elements of the story are governed, while these in turn further shape and modify the theme. In addition to action, character, and setting, these elements include structure, mood, tone, and point of view.
Fiction reading requires an awareness of all the ways in which a story communicates. It also requires attention to detail. What the author provides is a network of points which serve as clues to his meaning. He invites the reader to develop the meaning by inference, actually to create much of the story himself and so make it part of his own experience.
Question:
What is the implied meaning of the last sentence?
Choices:
A. Inferringcanreallyhelpthereaderdevelopimaginationandenrichhimself.
B. Inferringcanhelpthereaderwriteastoryofhisown.
C. Thereadershouldlookforanexperiencedescribedinthestoryhereads.
D. Theexperiencedescribedinthestorywillleaveagreatimpactonitsreader. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high3938.txt | The art of reading fiction is largely a matter of inferring meanings. To infer means to understand facts which are not directly stated---only suggested. Inference is one of the commonest ways of knowing things: a child holds his knee and cries; this action implies his feeling; an observer infers that the child is hurt. To infer accurately in everyday life requires caution in observing; to infer skillfully in fiction requires caution in reading; both require disciplined imagination.
The short-story reader can expect to find certain basic elements in any story. For example, all stories involve a person or persons, in a particular setting, faced with a demand for a response. The response called for may be a physical action, such as defeating an adversary or escaping from a danger; or it may be a mental action, such as adjusting to others or within oneself. In either case, the short story is a description in two ways: first, it shows the motives for a given human action; second, it makes a point about the general human situation. Such descriptions, however, rather than being stated directly, usually are implied by the elements of the story.
When the reader of a story understands all the facts and their interrelationships, he is ready to infer the significance of the story as a whole---its comment on the human situation. This comment, or theme, is the seed from which the story grew. It is also the idea by which all the separate elements of the story are governed, while these in turn further shape and modify the theme. In addition to action, character, and setting, these elements include structure, mood, tone, and point of view.
Fiction reading requires an awareness of all the ways in which a story communicates. It also requires attention to detail. What the author provides is a network of points which serve as clues to his meaning. He invites the reader to develop the meaning by inference, actually to create much of the story himself and so make it part of his own experience. | [
"Inferringcanreallyhelpthereaderdevelopimaginationandenrichhimself.",
"Inferringcanhelpthereaderwriteastoryofhisown.",
"Thereadershouldlookforanexperiencedescribedinthestoryhereads.",
"Theexperiencedescribedinthestorywillleaveagreatimpactonitsreader."
] |
Atria fibrillation can cause _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Vegetable may aid the brain
A study suggests certain vegetables such as broccoli and spinach might help older women keep their minds sharp.
Researchers have discovered that women in their 60s who eat more green leafy vegetables show less signs of mental decline over time, reported Wednesday's CRI online.
They gave participants a bundle of tests measuring memory, oral ability and attention. The study didn't include men, but researchers say a similar diet would likely have the same results.
Eating fish can cut risk of heart rhythm disorder .
US scientists have found that eating fish can reduce the risk of deadly heartbeat disorders. They say baked fish can effectively reduce the risk of atria fibrillation among older men and women, reported Tuesday's CRI online.
Researchers say in their 12 years of research among 4,800 people over the age of 65,they found those who ate fish one to four times per week had a about 30 percent lower risk compared with those who ate fish less than once a month. They say the pmega-3 fatty acids in fish can reduce the risk of a range of heart disorders and is _ to brain development and function.
More than 2 million Americans are affected by atria fibrillation, a chronic condition that causes shortness of breath and an inability to exercise.
Red wine may extend life
US scientists have found that a mixture that makes red wine a healthy drink may also hold the secret to a longer life. They say antioxidant in wine acted on fruit flies and worms in the same way as a method known to extend the life of many animals, which is by sharply limiting how much they eat.CRIENGLISH.com reported Thursday.
Limiting calories has been shown to make animals such as dogs and monkeys live longer, but they are often tired and lose productivity.
The researchers will begin testing the mixture in mice, which are considerably closer to humans biologically.
Question:
Atria fibrillation can cause _ .
Choices:
A. mental problems
B. fatness
C. shortness of breath
D. poor memories | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high13077.txt | Vegetable may aid the brain
A study suggests certain vegetables such as broccoli and spinach might help older women keep their minds sharp.
Researchers have discovered that women in their 60s who eat more green leafy vegetables show less signs of mental decline over time, reported Wednesday's CRI online.
They gave participants a bundle of tests measuring memory, oral ability and attention. The study didn't include men, but researchers say a similar diet would likely have the same results.
Eating fish can cut risk of heart rhythm disorder .
US scientists have found that eating fish can reduce the risk of deadly heartbeat disorders. They say baked fish can effectively reduce the risk of atria fibrillation among older men and women, reported Tuesday's CRI online.
Researchers say in their 12 years of research among 4,800 people over the age of 65,they found those who ate fish one to four times per week had a about 30 percent lower risk compared with those who ate fish less than once a month. They say the pmega-3 fatty acids in fish can reduce the risk of a range of heart disorders and is _ to brain development and function.
More than 2 million Americans are affected by atria fibrillation, a chronic condition that causes shortness of breath and an inability to exercise.
Red wine may extend life
US scientists have found that a mixture that makes red wine a healthy drink may also hold the secret to a longer life. They say antioxidant in wine acted on fruit flies and worms in the same way as a method known to extend the life of many animals, which is by sharply limiting how much they eat.CRIENGLISH.com reported Thursday.
Limiting calories has been shown to make animals such as dogs and monkeys live longer, but they are often tired and lose productivity.
The researchers will begin testing the mixture in mice, which are considerably closer to humans biologically. | [
"mental problems",
"fatness",
"shortness of breath",
"poor memories"
] |
What is true of the service Life Tools? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Twenty-three-year old Rio Safiyanto sells face masks, or coverings, for about 30 cents each in central Jakarta, Indonesia. He makes enough money to buy a cell phone that permits him to visit websites. He says every average person has a cellphone. He likes having one because he can talk to his family when he is away from home. And, he is especially pleased that he can use it to listen to music. It is known as a feature phone . That is because it is cheaper and cannot perform as many actions as more advanced phones like the Apple iPhone.
These devices make up the majority of cell phones sold around the world. They have proven more successful in places like Indonesia, where some smartphones cost 700 dollars or more. Although many lower-income users are new to smartphones, they are quickly learning to use the technology.
Cell manufacturer Nokia offers a service called Life Tools. For a small monthly payment, the company sends text messages to farmers. The messages tell of weather conditions, crop prices, agricultural news and give other advice.
Local businessman Aldi Haryopratomo has developed a way for small store owners to sell things like prepaid cellphone minutes and life insurance through text messages. Ruma is the company that developed the technology. The company is working on a system that will _ people about jobs in their area.
At a recent digital technology show in Jakarta, banks offered no-interest financing for credit card purchases. Marina Luthfiani manages a mobile shop in the area. She said almost everyone can buy a smartphone because of competitive financing and credit choices. She says Indonesians like to buy the latest devices.
A report last June by Semiocast, a French internet research company, said Jakarta was the world's top tweeting city, ahead of Tokyo and London.
Question:
What is true of the service Life Tools?
Choices:
A. It can sell agricultural products
B. It provides useful information to farmers
C. It is free of charge mainly for farmers.
D. It helps farmers to make production plan. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high6572.txt | Twenty-three-year old Rio Safiyanto sells face masks, or coverings, for about 30 cents each in central Jakarta, Indonesia. He makes enough money to buy a cell phone that permits him to visit websites. He says every average person has a cellphone. He likes having one because he can talk to his family when he is away from home. And, he is especially pleased that he can use it to listen to music. It is known as a feature phone . That is because it is cheaper and cannot perform as many actions as more advanced phones like the Apple iPhone.
These devices make up the majority of cell phones sold around the world. They have proven more successful in places like Indonesia, where some smartphones cost 700 dollars or more. Although many lower-income users are new to smartphones, they are quickly learning to use the technology.
Cell manufacturer Nokia offers a service called Life Tools. For a small monthly payment, the company sends text messages to farmers. The messages tell of weather conditions, crop prices, agricultural news and give other advice.
Local businessman Aldi Haryopratomo has developed a way for small store owners to sell things like prepaid cellphone minutes and life insurance through text messages. Ruma is the company that developed the technology. The company is working on a system that will _ people about jobs in their area.
At a recent digital technology show in Jakarta, banks offered no-interest financing for credit card purchases. Marina Luthfiani manages a mobile shop in the area. She said almost everyone can buy a smartphone because of competitive financing and credit choices. She says Indonesians like to buy the latest devices.
A report last June by Semiocast, a French internet research company, said Jakarta was the world's top tweeting city, ahead of Tokyo and London. | [
"It can sell agricultural products",
"It provides useful information to farmers",
"It is free of charge mainly for farmers.",
"It helps farmers to make production plan."
] |
What did Jen do on Thanksgiving in the past? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
"Did you go skating a lot last year?" I asked. Jen shook her head and looked at me. Finally she said, "On Thanksgiving, Mom and I always went to visit some friends who lived on a farm. I especially loved seeing their big turkeys."
Until then, I didn't think about how Jen felt. She had a new stepfather and stepbrother, and had a new town and home, too. Jen and her mom used to live near a lake where Dad and I went every summer, and she had to move up north with us. She had more changes than me.
Jen seemed sad, so I was busy thinking of some ways to cheer her up on Thanksgiving. I told her my plan and she was excited. First we made a huge snowball, and then a small snowball. Then we built a wall behind the big snowball as a tail. Jen mixed some food coloring with water, saying, "We can spray colors on the tail." Our snow turkey had a red, blue, green, and yellow tail. We were so busy that we didn't notice our parents come outside. Dad found a hat for the snow turkey, and Mom wrapped her scarf around its neck.
" _ ," Mom said. "You're a good brother, and you always come up with great ideas.'' A happy feeling spread through me. I began to understand how much she cared about everyone in our new family.
Question:
What did Jen do on Thanksgiving in the past?
Choices:
A. She went skating with her friends.
B. She went to the farm with her mother.
C. She stayed at home with her mother.
D. She made snow turkeys with her mother. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3746.txt | "Did you go skating a lot last year?" I asked. Jen shook her head and looked at me. Finally she said, "On Thanksgiving, Mom and I always went to visit some friends who lived on a farm. I especially loved seeing their big turkeys."
Until then, I didn't think about how Jen felt. She had a new stepfather and stepbrother, and had a new town and home, too. Jen and her mom used to live near a lake where Dad and I went every summer, and she had to move up north with us. She had more changes than me.
Jen seemed sad, so I was busy thinking of some ways to cheer her up on Thanksgiving. I told her my plan and she was excited. First we made a huge snowball, and then a small snowball. Then we built a wall behind the big snowball as a tail. Jen mixed some food coloring with water, saying, "We can spray colors on the tail." Our snow turkey had a red, blue, green, and yellow tail. We were so busy that we didn't notice our parents come outside. Dad found a hat for the snow turkey, and Mom wrapped her scarf around its neck.
" _ ," Mom said. "You're a good brother, and you always come up with great ideas.'' A happy feeling spread through me. I began to understand how much she cared about everyone in our new family. | [
"She went skating with her friends.",
"She went to the farm with her mother.",
"She stayed at home with her mother.",
"She made snow turkeys with her mother."
] |
The sentence "There's neither time nor space for explanations" means that _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
If you've been joining in chat room conversations, or trading e-mail with net pals , you have become one of the millions who write in a special, short form of English.
Throughout the world, every night children and their elders are "talking" online -- many of them are talking at the same time.
It's fast: trying talking to six people once. It's convenient: three or four words per exchange. It takes cleverness, concentration and quick fingers.
And it requires very simple language. There's neither time nor space for explanations. Why waste valuable time telling six friends you have to leave for a moment to take care of your little brother when BRB (="be" right back) will do?
Want to enter a conversation? Just type PMFJI (="pardon" me for jumping in).
Interested in whom you're talking to? Type A/S/L, the common request to know your pal's age, sex and location. You may get 15/M/NY as a reply from your pal.
If something makes you laugh, say you're OTF (="on" the floor), or LOL (="laughing" out loud), or join the two into ROTFL (="rolling" on the floor laughing).
And when it's time to get back to work or go to bed, you type GTG (="got" to go) or TTYL (="talk" to you later).
People want to write as fast as possible, and they want to get their ideas across as quickly as they can. Capital letters are left in the dust, except when expressing feeling, as it takes more time to hold down the "shift" key and use capitals. Punctuation is going too.
Question:
The sentence "There's neither time nor space for explanations" means that _ .
Choices:
A. people should use words properly
B. people should know what time it is when they are talking
C. people online have to express themselves in a simple way
D. people should communicate in a funny way | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle7661.txt | If you've been joining in chat room conversations, or trading e-mail with net pals , you have become one of the millions who write in a special, short form of English.
Throughout the world, every night children and their elders are "talking" online -- many of them are talking at the same time.
It's fast: trying talking to six people once. It's convenient: three or four words per exchange. It takes cleverness, concentration and quick fingers.
And it requires very simple language. There's neither time nor space for explanations. Why waste valuable time telling six friends you have to leave for a moment to take care of your little brother when BRB (="be" right back) will do?
Want to enter a conversation? Just type PMFJI (="pardon" me for jumping in).
Interested in whom you're talking to? Type A/S/L, the common request to know your pal's age, sex and location. You may get 15/M/NY as a reply from your pal.
If something makes you laugh, say you're OTF (="on" the floor), or LOL (="laughing" out loud), or join the two into ROTFL (="rolling" on the floor laughing).
And when it's time to get back to work or go to bed, you type GTG (="got" to go) or TTYL (="talk" to you later).
People want to write as fast as possible, and they want to get their ideas across as quickly as they can. Capital letters are left in the dust, except when expressing feeling, as it takes more time to hold down the "shift" key and use capitals. Punctuation is going too. | [
"people should use words properly",
"people should know what time it is when they are talking",
"people online have to express themselves in a simple way",
"people should communicate in a funny way"
] |
One type of tissue, called brown fat, is made up of cells packed full of what? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | One type of tissue, called brown fat, is made up of cells packed full of what? | mitochondria | science | null | null | null | chromosomes | proteins | Atoms | mitochondria | null | null | null | |
In the text the author expresses _ , ks5u | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
When I was going home to India last year, I called up my mother to ask if she wanted anything from China. ks5. When India had not opened up its markets to the world, I carried suitcase loads of dark glasses and jeans. Thankfully, we can get all these anywhere in India now. ks5uStill, her answer surprised me:"Green tea!" kAs long as I can remember she didn't even drink Indian tea. ks5u
I dutifully bought a big packet of Longjing and headed home to hear the story. My mother and her brother, both regular newspaper readers, believed that Chinese green tea was the wonder drug for all illnesses ks5u
At the turn of the century, China was not really familiar to the average Indian. It was a strange country.. How things change! And how soon!s5uNow every town of any size seems to have a "China Market". And everyone is talking about China ks5u
The government of India has planned to send a team to China to see how things are done. A minister once said that India must open the doors for more foreign investment and such a step would "work wonders as it did for China". ks5u
But it's a two-way street, I just heard about a thousand Shenzhen office workers who have gone to Rangalore to train in software. Meanwhile, all the IT majors are setting up a strong presence in China, ks5u
No wonder that trade, which was only in the millions just ten years ago, is expected to his about US $15 billion for last year and US $20 billion by 2008, a goal set by both governments.
No wonder, my colleague wrote some weeks ago about this being the Sino-Indian century as the two countries started on January I the Sino-Indian Friendship Year, ks5u
But what is still a wonder to me is my mother drinking Chinese tea. ks5u
Question:
In the text the author expresses _ , ks5u
Choices:
A. his concern for his mother's health ks5u
B. his support for drinking Chinese green tea ks5u
C. his surprise at China's recent development ks5u
D. his wonder at the growth of India's IT industry ks5u | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high20206.txt | When I was going home to India last year, I called up my mother to ask if she wanted anything from China. ks5. When India had not opened up its markets to the world, I carried suitcase loads of dark glasses and jeans. Thankfully, we can get all these anywhere in India now. ks5uStill, her answer surprised me:"Green tea!" kAs long as I can remember she didn't even drink Indian tea. ks5u
I dutifully bought a big packet of Longjing and headed home to hear the story. My mother and her brother, both regular newspaper readers, believed that Chinese green tea was the wonder drug for all illnesses ks5u
At the turn of the century, China was not really familiar to the average Indian. It was a strange country.. How things change! And how soon!s5uNow every town of any size seems to have a "China Market". And everyone is talking about China ks5u
The government of India has planned to send a team to China to see how things are done. A minister once said that India must open the doors for more foreign investment and such a step would "work wonders as it did for China". ks5u
But it's a two-way street, I just heard about a thousand Shenzhen office workers who have gone to Rangalore to train in software. Meanwhile, all the IT majors are setting up a strong presence in China, ks5u
No wonder that trade, which was only in the millions just ten years ago, is expected to his about US $15 billion for last year and US $20 billion by 2008, a goal set by both governments.
No wonder, my colleague wrote some weeks ago about this being the Sino-Indian century as the two countries started on January I the Sino-Indian Friendship Year, ks5u
But what is still a wonder to me is my mother drinking Chinese tea. ks5u | [
"his concern for his mother's health ks5u",
"his support for drinking Chinese green tea ks5u",
"his surprise at China's recent development ks5u",
"his wonder at the growth of India's IT industry ks5u"
] |
Facebook was created _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
You are busy with your job but want to make new friends? You miss your old friends and try to find them? Then try a new website --- Facebook.
Mark Zuckerberg,a Harvard student,created Facebook only about eight years ago. At first,it was only for Harvard students. Soon it became popular on the Internet. Now over 25 million people around the world use it to keep in touch with their friends. People like Facebook because it makes them feel comfortable. On Facebook,they share joys or sorrows by posting pictures and videos. What's more,they leave messages and give online presents to their friends. Now Facebook,like eBay,is a place to sell things.
The best part about Facebook is to help find old friends. For people,the only thing to do is to sign their real names. Then it takes a short time to sign their old friends. So have fun with Facebook if you love to be with friends,old or new.
Question:
Facebook was created _ .
Choices:
A. twenty years ago
B. thirty years ago
C. by Mark Zuckerberg and his classmates
D. by a Harvard student named Mark Zuckerberg | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5614.txt | You are busy with your job but want to make new friends? You miss your old friends and try to find them? Then try a new website --- Facebook.
Mark Zuckerberg,a Harvard student,created Facebook only about eight years ago. At first,it was only for Harvard students. Soon it became popular on the Internet. Now over 25 million people around the world use it to keep in touch with their friends. People like Facebook because it makes them feel comfortable. On Facebook,they share joys or sorrows by posting pictures and videos. What's more,they leave messages and give online presents to their friends. Now Facebook,like eBay,is a place to sell things.
The best part about Facebook is to help find old friends. For people,the only thing to do is to sign their real names. Then it takes a short time to sign their old friends. So have fun with Facebook if you love to be with friends,old or new. | [
"twenty years ago",
"thirty years ago",
"by Mark Zuckerberg and his classmates",
"by a Harvard student named Mark Zuckerberg"
] |
Where can you most probably find the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
You might not want a holiday in your hometown, but there is probably someone who does. And, in exchange, you could have a cheap vacation anywhere in the world.
Just picture the scene: you're watching the sunset from the balcony of a Caribbean island house. It's large. And it's free as long as you don't mind the owners living in your home at the same time.
All you need to be a home-swapper is the Internet and a rough idea of when and where you want to go on holiday. When you find someone whose dates match yours, and who wants to visit your area, you're all set to swap.
The advantages are numerous: you can save a fortune in accommodation cost. You could get to use the owners' car, boat, bikes, pool or gym. You might even be able to come to an arrangement about looking after each other's pets!
You also get to live like a local, and you might be invited around to neighbors' homes for tea, barbecues and tips on the area. People say that these cultural experiences are the memories that last. Plus, instead of one tiny hotel room, you have an entire house where you can make yourself at home. And it's not cold and impersonal like a hotel room.
Of course, there are disadvantages. A lot of effort and communication are needed before the arrangements are finalized. Nobody wants a stranger living in their house, sleeping in their bed and using their bathroom, so you have to get to know each other well beforehand.
Some people are concerned about theft or property damage, but in reality this is very rare. Most home-exchangers have the view that "If they can trust me with their house, I can trust them with mine." The worse complaint people have is the difference in standards of cleanness.
If you're interested in home-exchange for your next holiday, start by contacting a famous agency like homelink.org and intervac,co.uk. These agencies will also have advice about preparing for a home-exchange.
Question:
Where can you most probably find the passage?
Choices:
A. In a story book.
B. In a guide book.
C. In a textbook.
D. In a science book. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high8998.txt | You might not want a holiday in your hometown, but there is probably someone who does. And, in exchange, you could have a cheap vacation anywhere in the world.
Just picture the scene: you're watching the sunset from the balcony of a Caribbean island house. It's large. And it's free as long as you don't mind the owners living in your home at the same time.
All you need to be a home-swapper is the Internet and a rough idea of when and where you want to go on holiday. When you find someone whose dates match yours, and who wants to visit your area, you're all set to swap.
The advantages are numerous: you can save a fortune in accommodation cost. You could get to use the owners' car, boat, bikes, pool or gym. You might even be able to come to an arrangement about looking after each other's pets!
You also get to live like a local, and you might be invited around to neighbors' homes for tea, barbecues and tips on the area. People say that these cultural experiences are the memories that last. Plus, instead of one tiny hotel room, you have an entire house where you can make yourself at home. And it's not cold and impersonal like a hotel room.
Of course, there are disadvantages. A lot of effort and communication are needed before the arrangements are finalized. Nobody wants a stranger living in their house, sleeping in their bed and using their bathroom, so you have to get to know each other well beforehand.
Some people are concerned about theft or property damage, but in reality this is very rare. Most home-exchangers have the view that "If they can trust me with their house, I can trust them with mine." The worse complaint people have is the difference in standards of cleanness.
If you're interested in home-exchange for your next holiday, start by contacting a famous agency like homelink.org and intervac,co.uk. These agencies will also have advice about preparing for a home-exchange. | [
"In a story book.",
"In a guide book.",
"In a textbook.",
"In a science book."
] |
The argument against the headmaster's request is that _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Have you ever seen any students whose trousers hang so low that you can see their underwear? What do you think of that? Fashionable? Some of today's teenagers are big fans of such a look. But recently this trend has been at the center of an argument in Italian middle schools. The headmaster of a school in central Italy has asked students to stop wearing low-rise jeans that expose underwear and parts of the body. His request came after a class trip, when he saw one boy's baggy trousers slide to his feet. He pointed out that this way of dressing is not suitable for school. But in Italy, a nation that takes fashion very seriously, the suggestion caused a debate among parents, teachers and students. The issue is whether the headmaster's request will limit students' freedom-- or whether dress in Italian schools is too casual. A parents' group praised the move in favor of good taste, while others advised schools to stop worrying about fashion and fix up old school buildings. "We do not want to kick fashion out," the headmaster explained, "but extremes of fashion like this are not right in school." Many other schools have now requested that their students also stop wearing such trousers. Most students have simply ignored the request. Ludovica Gaudio, 14, wore extremely low trousers exposing orange underwear in class. It was cold, so she wore a matching orange scarf. Another 14-year-old said she would probably respect the request, simply for practical reasons. "I don't really feel comfortable in those sort of jeans," said Sarah Lattanzi, "in winter, when dressed like that, it's quite cold and I am afraid my stomach will ache."
Question:
The argument against the headmaster's request is that _ .
Choices:
A. dress in Italian schools is too casual
B. fashion should not be followed in school
C. schools should pay attention to things more important than students' clothes
D. low-rise jeans can do harm to youngster's health | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high5043.txt | Have you ever seen any students whose trousers hang so low that you can see their underwear? What do you think of that? Fashionable? Some of today's teenagers are big fans of such a look. But recently this trend has been at the center of an argument in Italian middle schools. The headmaster of a school in central Italy has asked students to stop wearing low-rise jeans that expose underwear and parts of the body. His request came after a class trip, when he saw one boy's baggy trousers slide to his feet. He pointed out that this way of dressing is not suitable for school. But in Italy, a nation that takes fashion very seriously, the suggestion caused a debate among parents, teachers and students. The issue is whether the headmaster's request will limit students' freedom-- or whether dress in Italian schools is too casual. A parents' group praised the move in favor of good taste, while others advised schools to stop worrying about fashion and fix up old school buildings. "We do not want to kick fashion out," the headmaster explained, "but extremes of fashion like this are not right in school." Many other schools have now requested that their students also stop wearing such trousers. Most students have simply ignored the request. Ludovica Gaudio, 14, wore extremely low trousers exposing orange underwear in class. It was cold, so she wore a matching orange scarf. Another 14-year-old said she would probably respect the request, simply for practical reasons. "I don't really feel comfortable in those sort of jeans," said Sarah Lattanzi, "in winter, when dressed like that, it's quite cold and I am afraid my stomach will ache." | [
"dress in Italian schools is too casual",
"fashion should not be followed in school",
"schools should pay attention to things more important than students' clothes",
"low-rise jeans can do harm to youngster's health"
] |
According to the passage, being completely relaxed before a test _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Have you ever felt so anxious during an examination that you couldn't even put down the answers you knew? If so, you were suffering from what is known as test anxiety.
According to psychologist Ralph Trimble, test anxiety is a very real problem for many people. When you're worried over your performance on an exam, your heart beats faster and your pulse speeds up. These reactions start others: You may sweat more than normal or suffer from a stomachache or headache. Your field of vision narrows and becomes tunnel-like. Before you know it, you're having difficulty focusing.
"What I hear students say over and over again," says Dr. Trimble, who is working at the Psychological and Counseling Center at the University of Illinois, "is, 'My mind went blank.'"
For a number of years, Dr. Trimble helped many students learn how to perform better during exams and to bring up their grades. Some of these students were interested in sharing what they learned and, with Trimble's help, began holding workshops on overcoming test anxiety. For many students, just being in a workshop(,) with other sufferers made them feel better. They realized that they were not the only ones who had done poorly on tests because of tension.
The workshops were so successful that they are still given.
In the workshops, students are taught that anxiety is normal. You just have to prevent it from getting the best of you. The first step is to learn to relax. If before or during an examination you start to panic, stretch as hard as you can, tensing the muscles in your arms and legs; then suddenly relax all of them.
This will help relieve tension. But keep in mind that you don't want to be too relaxed. Being completely relaxed is no better than being too tense. "If you are so calm you don't care how you do on an examination, you won't do well," Trimble says. "There is an optimum level of concern when you perform at your best. Some stress helps. There are people who can't take even slight stress. They have to learn that in a challenging situation, being anxiously excited is good and will help them to do better. But if they call it anxiety and say, 'It's going to hit me again,' that will make them nervous and worried."
As a student you must also realize that if you leave too much studying until a day or two before the examination, you can't do the impossible and learn it all. Instead, concentrate on what you can do and try to think what questions are likely to be asked and what you can do in the time left for studying.
When you sit down to study, set a moderate pace and vary it by reading, writing notes, and going over any papers you have already written for the course, as well as the textbooks and notes you took in class. Review what you know. Take breaks and go to sleep early enough to get a good night's rest before the exam. You should also eat a moderate breakfast or lunch, avoid drinks like coffee and stay away from fellow students who get tense. Panic spreads easily.
Get to the exam room a few minutes early so that you will have a chance to familiarize yourself with the surroundings and get out your supplies. When the examination is handed out, read the directions twice and underline the significant instructions, making sure you understand them. Ask the teacher to explain if you don't. First answer the easiest questions, then go back to the more difficult.
On essay questions, instead of starting right away, take a few minutes to organize your thoughts, make a brief outline, and then start off with a summary sentence. Keep working steadily, and even when time starts to run out, don't speed up.
Question:
According to the passage, being completely relaxed before a test _ .
Choices:
A. helps a student to perform better in the test
B. can also be harmful to a person's performance in the test
C. helps a student to cope with a challenging situation better
D. may be more harmful that getting too worried over tests | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high21400.txt | Have you ever felt so anxious during an examination that you couldn't even put down the answers you knew? If so, you were suffering from what is known as test anxiety.
According to psychologist Ralph Trimble, test anxiety is a very real problem for many people. When you're worried over your performance on an exam, your heart beats faster and your pulse speeds up. These reactions start others: You may sweat more than normal or suffer from a stomachache or headache. Your field of vision narrows and becomes tunnel-like. Before you know it, you're having difficulty focusing.
"What I hear students say over and over again," says Dr. Trimble, who is working at the Psychological and Counseling Center at the University of Illinois, "is, 'My mind went blank.'"
For a number of years, Dr. Trimble helped many students learn how to perform better during exams and to bring up their grades. Some of these students were interested in sharing what they learned and, with Trimble's help, began holding workshops on overcoming test anxiety. For many students, just being in a workshop(,) with other sufferers made them feel better. They realized that they were not the only ones who had done poorly on tests because of tension.
The workshops were so successful that they are still given.
In the workshops, students are taught that anxiety is normal. You just have to prevent it from getting the best of you. The first step is to learn to relax. If before or during an examination you start to panic, stretch as hard as you can, tensing the muscles in your arms and legs; then suddenly relax all of them.
This will help relieve tension. But keep in mind that you don't want to be too relaxed. Being completely relaxed is no better than being too tense. "If you are so calm you don't care how you do on an examination, you won't do well," Trimble says. "There is an optimum level of concern when you perform at your best. Some stress helps. There are people who can't take even slight stress. They have to learn that in a challenging situation, being anxiously excited is good and will help them to do better. But if they call it anxiety and say, 'It's going to hit me again,' that will make them nervous and worried."
As a student you must also realize that if you leave too much studying until a day or two before the examination, you can't do the impossible and learn it all. Instead, concentrate on what you can do and try to think what questions are likely to be asked and what you can do in the time left for studying.
When you sit down to study, set a moderate pace and vary it by reading, writing notes, and going over any papers you have already written for the course, as well as the textbooks and notes you took in class. Review what you know. Take breaks and go to sleep early enough to get a good night's rest before the exam. You should also eat a moderate breakfast or lunch, avoid drinks like coffee and stay away from fellow students who get tense. Panic spreads easily.
Get to the exam room a few minutes early so that you will have a chance to familiarize yourself with the surroundings and get out your supplies. When the examination is handed out, read the directions twice and underline the significant instructions, making sure you understand them. Ask the teacher to explain if you don't. First answer the easiest questions, then go back to the more difficult.
On essay questions, instead of starting right away, take a few minutes to organize your thoughts, make a brief outline, and then start off with a summary sentence. Keep working steadily, and even when time starts to run out, don't speed up. | [
"helps a student to perform better in the test",
"can also be harmful to a person's performance in the test",
"helps a student to cope with a challenging situation better",
"may be more harmful that getting too worried over tests"
] |
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KABC)A Santa Monica High School teacher who was put on
leave after using physical force to control a student who was selling marijuana in his classroom has received surprising support on Facebook. The incident was captured on video and has caused a sudden reaction from parents, teachers, students and even graduates. They are showing their support for Black. A Facebook page supporting "Coach Black" has over 4,700 likes. And many want him back in the classroom.
Student witnesses say Mark Black, who is also the wrestling coach, tried to confiscate a bag of marijuana and was then injured by the student with a pencil. The cellphone video shows Black locking the student's legs and pinning the student to the ground. "He just wanted him to stop and he was trying to be a teacher and help, and I don't think it was his fault." said student Kylan Townsend.
School Board member Oscar De La Tone says Mr. Black is one of his teachers at Santa Monica High School. "I know him very well. I know him to be a fair person, a good person, someone who cares deeply about his students," said De La Torre. He says that the video does not tell the whole story and that the incident brings to light the issue of drug use, something the district needs to address.
But in an email to parents, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Superintendent Sandra Lyon says the teacher's behavior is "absolutely alarming." She put Black on leave during an independent investigation.
Lyon has come under fire from parents for initially saying the kind of physical action used by the teacher was unacceptable. On Saturday, Lyon released the following statement to Eyewitness News: "I want to stress that teachers are at times confronted with difficult, even threatening situations, and they must make judgment calls to protect safety. I want to emphasize that putting the teacher who was involved in this incident on leave until completion of an independent investigation is a matter of standard policy and practice; it in no way prejudices the outcome of the investigation."
Students hope the situation will have a quick and just resolution. An online petition pas also peen createu by one of Black's former students. The petition has already gained thousands of signatures.Black did not respond to a request for comment.
Question:
Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
Choices:
A. Teacher Put on Leave Receives Support
B. Thousands Come and Sign the Petition
C. School Teacher Wrestled with Student
D. Cellphone Video on the Facebook Page | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16278.txt | SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KABC)A Santa Monica High School teacher who was put on
leave after using physical force to control a student who was selling marijuana in his classroom has received surprising support on Facebook. The incident was captured on video and has caused a sudden reaction from parents, teachers, students and even graduates. They are showing their support for Black. A Facebook page supporting "Coach Black" has over 4,700 likes. And many want him back in the classroom.
Student witnesses say Mark Black, who is also the wrestling coach, tried to confiscate a bag of marijuana and was then injured by the student with a pencil. The cellphone video shows Black locking the student's legs and pinning the student to the ground. "He just wanted him to stop and he was trying to be a teacher and help, and I don't think it was his fault." said student Kylan Townsend.
School Board member Oscar De La Tone says Mr. Black is one of his teachers at Santa Monica High School. "I know him very well. I know him to be a fair person, a good person, someone who cares deeply about his students," said De La Torre. He says that the video does not tell the whole story and that the incident brings to light the issue of drug use, something the district needs to address.
But in an email to parents, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Superintendent Sandra Lyon says the teacher's behavior is "absolutely alarming." She put Black on leave during an independent investigation.
Lyon has come under fire from parents for initially saying the kind of physical action used by the teacher was unacceptable. On Saturday, Lyon released the following statement to Eyewitness News: "I want to stress that teachers are at times confronted with difficult, even threatening situations, and they must make judgment calls to protect safety. I want to emphasize that putting the teacher who was involved in this incident on leave until completion of an independent investigation is a matter of standard policy and practice; it in no way prejudices the outcome of the investigation."
Students hope the situation will have a quick and just resolution. An online petition pas also peen createu by one of Black's former students. The petition has already gained thousands of signatures.Black did not respond to a request for comment. | [
"Teacher Put on Leave Receives Support",
"Thousands Come and Sign the Petition",
"School Teacher Wrestled with Student",
"Cellphone Video on the Facebook Page"
] |
What process can be triggered by a burst of ethylene production in the fruit? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What process can be triggered by a burst of ethylene production in the fruit? | ripening | science | null | null | null | drying | pickling | hardening | ripening | null | null | null | |
From the text we can infer that _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
You don't know what you've got until it's gone. I've learned that through my personal experiences. A few months ago, I woke up deaf in one ear. I did not pay much attention to it at first. It felt that I had water in my ear. However, I began to hear less and less out of that ear. I even had to ask people to talk into my other ear so that I could hear them. I didn't realize how serious it was until late in the day . One evening, when I was sitting on my bed doing chemistry homework, I fell off my bed. When trying to get up, I was incredibly dizzy .
I went to see a doctor and he told me that hearing loss was common. However, hearing loss is usually bilatera _ or occurs in both ears. He said that my hearing should come back within a week. After about a week the dizziness eventually went away, but the hearing loss did not. The medicine helped and I gained some of my hearing back. After many hearing tests, the doctor diagnosed that I had permanent hearing loss in that ear.
School became harder for me because I couldn't hear my teachers. I was very depressed. Finally, I bought a hearing aid. With the hearing aid, my hearing is almost back to normal. It makes school and group conversations easier.
My friends, teachers and even complete strangers always ask me questions about hearing loss. I answer them patiently. I never get offended because I know this is new to them. I am delighted that I can teach them something new.
What I have learned from this particular situation is that when things are desperate(;), there is always something good that can come out of it. My experiences have given me an opportunity to teach people about hearing loss and also taught me about the value of hearing.
Question:
From the text we can infer that _ .
Choices:
A. the author's hearing loss was cured after the treatment
B. the author is unwilling to talk about his hearing loss with others
C. the author took some medicine to treat his hearing loss
D. the medicine that doctors gave him didn't work at all | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high8177.txt | You don't know what you've got until it's gone. I've learned that through my personal experiences. A few months ago, I woke up deaf in one ear. I did not pay much attention to it at first. It felt that I had water in my ear. However, I began to hear less and less out of that ear. I even had to ask people to talk into my other ear so that I could hear them. I didn't realize how serious it was until late in the day . One evening, when I was sitting on my bed doing chemistry homework, I fell off my bed. When trying to get up, I was incredibly dizzy .
I went to see a doctor and he told me that hearing loss was common. However, hearing loss is usually bilatera _ or occurs in both ears. He said that my hearing should come back within a week. After about a week the dizziness eventually went away, but the hearing loss did not. The medicine helped and I gained some of my hearing back. After many hearing tests, the doctor diagnosed that I had permanent hearing loss in that ear.
School became harder for me because I couldn't hear my teachers. I was very depressed. Finally, I bought a hearing aid. With the hearing aid, my hearing is almost back to normal. It makes school and group conversations easier.
My friends, teachers and even complete strangers always ask me questions about hearing loss. I answer them patiently. I never get offended because I know this is new to them. I am delighted that I can teach them something new.
What I have learned from this particular situation is that when things are desperate(;), there is always something good that can come out of it. My experiences have given me an opportunity to teach people about hearing loss and also taught me about the value of hearing. | [
"the author's hearing loss was cured after the treatment",
"the author is unwilling to talk about his hearing loss with others",
"the author took some medicine to treat his hearing loss",
"the medicine that doctors gave him didn't work at all"
] |
Generally speaking, a digital camera's price is _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Film cameras and digital cameras work in a similar way.
Film cameras
After all, a film camera is basically a light - proof box. It has a lens system to focus light onto the film at the back of the camera.
Let's suppose that we are outside on a beautiful summer day trying to take a picture of the family dog. We are using a film camera. We finally get the dog to lie still. You point the camera at him. What happens? Light goes into the camera lens and hits the shutter. In other words, nothing happens yet. Now let's say that the dog looks really cute and you decide to snap a picture. What happens? When you press the button, the shutter opens for a very short period of time. A small amount of light passes through and hits the film at the back of the camera. This creates an upside-down and reversed image on the film.
When you finish the roll of the film, you can take it to the photo shop to develop it and you will have a great picture of your dog!
Cameras come with different lens lengths. Why does it matter? Many small cameras have shorter focal lengths, which means that there is a small distance between the lens and the place where the light focuses at the back of the camera. This gives you a large view of the area you are taking a picture of. Lenses with a long focal length show a smaller area but allow you to focus on distant objects and make them bigger. They are often called telephoto lenses. A good example of a long focus lens is one that is used by sports photographers to get photos of football players as if they were standing right beside them.
Digital cameras
In digital cameras, the light falls not on film but onto a sensor called a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). This digitally converts light and color into a digital information or pixels . The CCD is the heart of any digital camera and usually the most expensive part ---- depending on how good it is.
Question:
Generally speaking, a digital camera's price is _ .
Choices:
A. closely related to the quality of the CCD
B. irrelevant to the quality of the CCD
C. closely related to the lens
D. irrelevant to the lens | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16253.txt | Film cameras and digital cameras work in a similar way.
Film cameras
After all, a film camera is basically a light - proof box. It has a lens system to focus light onto the film at the back of the camera.
Let's suppose that we are outside on a beautiful summer day trying to take a picture of the family dog. We are using a film camera. We finally get the dog to lie still. You point the camera at him. What happens? Light goes into the camera lens and hits the shutter. In other words, nothing happens yet. Now let's say that the dog looks really cute and you decide to snap a picture. What happens? When you press the button, the shutter opens for a very short period of time. A small amount of light passes through and hits the film at the back of the camera. This creates an upside-down and reversed image on the film.
When you finish the roll of the film, you can take it to the photo shop to develop it and you will have a great picture of your dog!
Cameras come with different lens lengths. Why does it matter? Many small cameras have shorter focal lengths, which means that there is a small distance between the lens and the place where the light focuses at the back of the camera. This gives you a large view of the area you are taking a picture of. Lenses with a long focal length show a smaller area but allow you to focus on distant objects and make them bigger. They are often called telephoto lenses. A good example of a long focus lens is one that is used by sports photographers to get photos of football players as if they were standing right beside them.
Digital cameras
In digital cameras, the light falls not on film but onto a sensor called a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). This digitally converts light and color into a digital information or pixels . The CCD is the heart of any digital camera and usually the most expensive part ---- depending on how good it is. | [
"closely related to the quality of the CCD",
"irrelevant to the quality of the CCD",
"closely related to the lens",
"irrelevant to the lens"
] |
Low-frequency earthquakes occur when _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A new study revealed that the formation of the Earth, Sun and Moon that cause changes in Earth's tides can also trigger a special kind of Earthquake along the California's San Andreas Fault .
The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science,is based on previous researcher suggesting that the gravitational tug of sun and moon is not only affecting the sea levels of Earth, but can also stretch and compress that Earth's crust, producing tremors and quakes. Furthermore, the new study showed that small tremors deep underground were more likely to occur during certain periods of the tidal cycle.
For the study, the researchers looked at about 81,000 low-frequency earthquakes from 2008 to 2015 along the Parkfield section of the San Andreas Fault and compared it to the two-week tidal cycle known as the "fortnightly tide," Low-frequency earthquakes are named due to the rumbling sound they make and not by the rate of its occurrence. These kinds of earthquake only occur about 15 to 30 kilometers below ground and are no larger than magnitude 1 in the Richter scale.
The researchers discovered that low-frequency earthquakes tend to occur during the waxing period of the tidal cycle, when the tides are getting little by little. It is already known that the strongest Earth tides occur when the sun and moon are in a straight line, while the tide is at its weakest state when the sun and moon are 90 degrees apart.
According to the researchers, low-frequency earthquakes show that some part of the San Andreas Fault is creeping, or slowly moving, almost all the time. With the help of the tidal forces, low-frequency earthquakes could provide more information about the deeper part of the fault.
"They tell us that the fault continues down below where the regular or typical earthquakes stop on the San Andreas, about 10 or 12 km (about 6 to 7 miles)," said David Shelly, a seismologist at USGS and helped write the study, in a statement. "And they tell us a lot of things about that deep part of the fault that we had no idea existed at all before."
"It's almost like having a lot of little creep meters embedded in the fault,"Shelly said. "We can use these low-frequency earthquakes as measurements of, at least in a sense, how much slip is happening at each little spot on the deep part of the fault where we see these events. When we don't see them, we don't know what's happening; we don't know whether it,s slipping silently or not slipping at all."
The information is incredibly useful, he added. Whenever the deep part of the fault slips, the stress gets transferred to the shallow part of the fault.
"So if all of a sudden, we saw that the deep part of the fault was slipping a huge amount, it might be an indication that there was an increased chance of having an earthquake come at the shallower part of the fault" he said.
Question:
Low-frequency earthquakes occur when _ .
Choices:
A. the tides are getting bigger gradually
B. the sun and moon are in a straight line
C. the sun and moon are 90 degrees apart
D. the San Andreas Fault moves slowly | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high19735.txt | A new study revealed that the formation of the Earth, Sun and Moon that cause changes in Earth's tides can also trigger a special kind of Earthquake along the California's San Andreas Fault .
The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science,is based on previous researcher suggesting that the gravitational tug of sun and moon is not only affecting the sea levels of Earth, but can also stretch and compress that Earth's crust, producing tremors and quakes. Furthermore, the new study showed that small tremors deep underground were more likely to occur during certain periods of the tidal cycle.
For the study, the researchers looked at about 81,000 low-frequency earthquakes from 2008 to 2015 along the Parkfield section of the San Andreas Fault and compared it to the two-week tidal cycle known as the "fortnightly tide," Low-frequency earthquakes are named due to the rumbling sound they make and not by the rate of its occurrence. These kinds of earthquake only occur about 15 to 30 kilometers below ground and are no larger than magnitude 1 in the Richter scale.
The researchers discovered that low-frequency earthquakes tend to occur during the waxing period of the tidal cycle, when the tides are getting little by little. It is already known that the strongest Earth tides occur when the sun and moon are in a straight line, while the tide is at its weakest state when the sun and moon are 90 degrees apart.
According to the researchers, low-frequency earthquakes show that some part of the San Andreas Fault is creeping, or slowly moving, almost all the time. With the help of the tidal forces, low-frequency earthquakes could provide more information about the deeper part of the fault.
"They tell us that the fault continues down below where the regular or typical earthquakes stop on the San Andreas, about 10 or 12 km (about 6 to 7 miles)," said David Shelly, a seismologist at USGS and helped write the study, in a statement. "And they tell us a lot of things about that deep part of the fault that we had no idea existed at all before."
"It's almost like having a lot of little creep meters embedded in the fault,"Shelly said. "We can use these low-frequency earthquakes as measurements of, at least in a sense, how much slip is happening at each little spot on the deep part of the fault where we see these events. When we don't see them, we don't know what's happening; we don't know whether it,s slipping silently or not slipping at all."
The information is incredibly useful, he added. Whenever the deep part of the fault slips, the stress gets transferred to the shallow part of the fault.
"So if all of a sudden, we saw that the deep part of the fault was slipping a huge amount, it might be an indication that there was an increased chance of having an earthquake come at the shallower part of the fault" he said. | [
"the tides are getting bigger gradually",
"the sun and moon are in a straight line",
"the sun and moon are 90 degrees apart",
"the San Andreas Fault moves slowly"
] |
The students have lunch _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Here is the school day in an English school.
Morning The students have an English lesson and a Maths lesson.The first lesson begins at 9:00 a.m.The children have a break from 10:00 a.m.to 10:20 a.m.They usually eat snacks or play games in the playground.After the break, they have the second lesson.It lasts for an hour and fifteen minutes.They usually take a test during the first fifteen minutes.
Lunchtime Lunchtime is from 12 at noon to 1:10 p.m.Most children bring their own lunch from home.Some children have lunch in the school canteen.After lunch, they play games in the playground.
Afternoon The students do some reading.Then they have one or two lessons.They study Art, History and Science, etc.School is over at 3:15 p.m.Then they go home.
Question:
The students have lunch _ .
Choices:
A. From 10:00 to 10:20
B. From 9:00 to 10:00
C. From 1:10 to 3:15
D. From 12:00 to 1:10 | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle6371.txt | Here is the school day in an English school.
Morning The students have an English lesson and a Maths lesson.The first lesson begins at 9:00 a.m.The children have a break from 10:00 a.m.to 10:20 a.m.They usually eat snacks or play games in the playground.After the break, they have the second lesson.It lasts for an hour and fifteen minutes.They usually take a test during the first fifteen minutes.
Lunchtime Lunchtime is from 12 at noon to 1:10 p.m.Most children bring their own lunch from home.Some children have lunch in the school canteen.After lunch, they play games in the playground.
Afternoon The students do some reading.Then they have one or two lessons.They study Art, History and Science, etc.School is over at 3:15 p.m.Then they go home. | [
"From 10:00 to 10:20",
"From 9:00 to 10:00",
"From 1:10 to 3:15",
"From 12:00 to 1:10"
] |
Why did Granddad put a watermelon where the author planted seeds? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
"Please read this," my three-year-old Claire said one day, pointing to a page with an old children's song: "Do you know how to plant cabbages". In blue ink, someone had crossed out cabbages and written "Watermelons!"
"Daddy! Did you do that?" Claire asked, looking up with an expression of shock. We had only recently asked her not to write in books, and suddenly here was proof that her parents weren't practicing what they asked. I told her it was written by my grandfather and sat down to tell the story.
I grew up on Granddad's farm in Nebraska, America. One afternoon, I decided to plant some watermelons.
"Hmm, there's a crop I haven't tried!" Granddad smiled. "Let's do it now!"
With Granddad's help I planted the seeds.
The next morning, I found a big watermelon there. I knew it was Granddad that put a watermelon there and I thought he had played a joke on me.
Later that month, Granddad gave me a book. "For school," he said seriously. I opened it to where he'd written "Watermelons!" and laughed at another of his jokes.
Claire listened quietly to the story and asked to plant seeds too, so I took her to buy some seeds. On the walk home, I realized for the first time that Granddad could have met my childish enthusiasm with some disappointing facts such as that watermelons don't grow well in Nebraska or that it was too late to plant them anyway. But instead of doing that, he had stolen back into town that afternoon and bought the biggest melon on the market. That night, after I was asleep, he had awkwardly unloaded it and, with a painful bend, placed it exactly above my seeds. He made sure I experienced the "wow."
I had always thought the midnight miracle was just one of Granddad's jokes. Now I realized he had planted hope that day. As Claire planted the seeds happily, I watched my grandfather's joy take fresh root in her life. And that was the biggest miracle of all.
Question:
Why did Granddad put a watermelon where the author planted seeds?
Choices:
A. Because he didn't want to waste the watermelon.
B. Because he didn't want to disappoint the author.
C. Because he wanted to make fun of the author.
D. Because he wanted the author to be a farmer. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high19537.txt | "Please read this," my three-year-old Claire said one day, pointing to a page with an old children's song: "Do you know how to plant cabbages". In blue ink, someone had crossed out cabbages and written "Watermelons!"
"Daddy! Did you do that?" Claire asked, looking up with an expression of shock. We had only recently asked her not to write in books, and suddenly here was proof that her parents weren't practicing what they asked. I told her it was written by my grandfather and sat down to tell the story.
I grew up on Granddad's farm in Nebraska, America. One afternoon, I decided to plant some watermelons.
"Hmm, there's a crop I haven't tried!" Granddad smiled. "Let's do it now!"
With Granddad's help I planted the seeds.
The next morning, I found a big watermelon there. I knew it was Granddad that put a watermelon there and I thought he had played a joke on me.
Later that month, Granddad gave me a book. "For school," he said seriously. I opened it to where he'd written "Watermelons!" and laughed at another of his jokes.
Claire listened quietly to the story and asked to plant seeds too, so I took her to buy some seeds. On the walk home, I realized for the first time that Granddad could have met my childish enthusiasm with some disappointing facts such as that watermelons don't grow well in Nebraska or that it was too late to plant them anyway. But instead of doing that, he had stolen back into town that afternoon and bought the biggest melon on the market. That night, after I was asleep, he had awkwardly unloaded it and, with a painful bend, placed it exactly above my seeds. He made sure I experienced the "wow."
I had always thought the midnight miracle was just one of Granddad's jokes. Now I realized he had planted hope that day. As Claire planted the seeds happily, I watched my grandfather's joy take fresh root in her life. And that was the biggest miracle of all. | [
"Because he didn't want to waste the watermelon.",
"Because he didn't want to disappoint the author.",
"Because he wanted to make fun of the author.",
"Because he wanted the author to be a farmer."
] |
With which of the following may Dr. Linda Henkel agree? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Taking photographs at a birthday or a wedding has become as natural as blowing out candles or cutting the cake. But our obsession with recording every detail of our happiest moments could be damaging our ability to remember _ , according to new research. A study has shown that taking pictures rather than concentrating fully on the events in front of us prevents memories taking hold.
Dr. Linda Henkel, from Fairfield University, Connecticut, described it as the "photo-taking impairment effect". She said: "People so often pull out their cameras almost mindlessly to capture a moment, to the point where they are missing what is happening right in front of them. When people rely on technology to remember for them--counting on the camera to record the event and thus not needing to attend to it fully themselves--it can have a negative impact on how well they remember their experiences."
Dr Henkel and her team carried out an experiment in a museum, to learn if taking pictures of the exhibits was hindering the ability of visitors to remember what they had seen.
A group of university students were led on a tour at the Bellarmine Museum of Art at Fairfield University and were asked to either photograph or try and remember objects on display. The next day their memory was tested. The results showed that people were less accurate in recognizing the objects they had photographed than those they had only looked at. It was found that their memory for the details of the objects they had photographed was poorer.
Henkel's lab is currently investigating whether the content of a photo, such as whether you are in it, affects later memory. She is also researching whether actively choosing what to photograph might influence what we remember.
Previous research suggests that reviewing photos we have taken does help us remember the objects, but only if we take the time.
"Research has suggested that the sheer volume and lack of organization of digital photos for personal memories discourages many people from accessing and recalling them. In order to remember, we have to access and interact with the photos, rather than just collect them," said Dr Henkel.
Question:
With which of the following may Dr. Linda Henkel agree?
Choices:
A. Reviewing photos improves memories of objects.
B. Focusing on people at events is the best way to remember.
C. Relying on technology to remember affects the memory.
D. Counting on cameras to record events is always reliable. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high8864.txt | Taking photographs at a birthday or a wedding has become as natural as blowing out candles or cutting the cake. But our obsession with recording every detail of our happiest moments could be damaging our ability to remember _ , according to new research. A study has shown that taking pictures rather than concentrating fully on the events in front of us prevents memories taking hold.
Dr. Linda Henkel, from Fairfield University, Connecticut, described it as the "photo-taking impairment effect". She said: "People so often pull out their cameras almost mindlessly to capture a moment, to the point where they are missing what is happening right in front of them. When people rely on technology to remember for them--counting on the camera to record the event and thus not needing to attend to it fully themselves--it can have a negative impact on how well they remember their experiences."
Dr Henkel and her team carried out an experiment in a museum, to learn if taking pictures of the exhibits was hindering the ability of visitors to remember what they had seen.
A group of university students were led on a tour at the Bellarmine Museum of Art at Fairfield University and were asked to either photograph or try and remember objects on display. The next day their memory was tested. The results showed that people were less accurate in recognizing the objects they had photographed than those they had only looked at. It was found that their memory for the details of the objects they had photographed was poorer.
Henkel's lab is currently investigating whether the content of a photo, such as whether you are in it, affects later memory. She is also researching whether actively choosing what to photograph might influence what we remember.
Previous research suggests that reviewing photos we have taken does help us remember the objects, but only if we take the time.
"Research has suggested that the sheer volume and lack of organization of digital photos for personal memories discourages many people from accessing and recalling them. In order to remember, we have to access and interact with the photos, rather than just collect them," said Dr Henkel. | [
"Reviewing photos improves memories of objects.",
"Focusing on people at events is the best way to remember.",
"Relying on technology to remember affects the memory.",
"Counting on cameras to record events is always reliable."
] |
If you want to experience a new activity in the countryside in the mornings, you may fax _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Riding School:
You can start horse - riding at any age.Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9:00 a.m.and 8: 30 p.m.(3: 30 p.m.on Saturdays).There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country.You will need a riding hat.
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m.--8:30 p.m.
Phone: (412) 396 -6754 Fax: (412) 396 -6752 .
Sailing Club:
Our Young Sailor's Course leads to the Stage I Sailing qualification.You'll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid.Have fun with other course members, afterwards in the clubroom.There are 10 weekly two - hour lessons ( Tuesdays 6 p.m.-- 8 p.m.).
Opening Hours: Tuesdays: 6:00 p.m.--8:00 p.m.
Phone: (412) 396 -6644 Fax: (412) 396 -6644
Diving Centre:
Our experienced instructors offer one - month courses in deep - sea diving for beginners.There are two evening lessons a week, in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely.You only need swimming costume and towel. Reduced rates for couples.
Opening Hours: Monday and Friday: 6: 30 p.m.--8:30 p.m.
Phone: (412) 396 -6312 Fax: (412) 396 -6706
Medical Center:
The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university. The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems.Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation. Also, all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores.
Opening Hours: 24 hour from Monday to Sunday
Phone: (412) 396 -6649 Fax:(412)396 -6648
Watersports Club:
We use a two - kilometer length of river for speedboat racing, and water - skiing, a beginners course consists of ten 20 - minute lessons. You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently, but must be able to swim. The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4: 00 p.m., with lessons all through the day.
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m.
Phone:(412)396 -6899 Fax:(412)396 -6890
Question:
If you want to experience a new activity in the countryside in the mornings, you may fax _ .
Choices:
A. (412)396 - 6648
B. (412)396 - 6706
C. (412)396 - 6752
D. (412)396 - 6876 | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high2766.txt | Riding School:
You can start horse - riding at any age.Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9:00 a.m.and 8: 30 p.m.(3: 30 p.m.on Saturdays).There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country.You will need a riding hat.
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m.--8:30 p.m.
Phone: (412) 396 -6754 Fax: (412) 396 -6752 .
Sailing Club:
Our Young Sailor's Course leads to the Stage I Sailing qualification.You'll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid.Have fun with other course members, afterwards in the clubroom.There are 10 weekly two - hour lessons ( Tuesdays 6 p.m.-- 8 p.m.).
Opening Hours: Tuesdays: 6:00 p.m.--8:00 p.m.
Phone: (412) 396 -6644 Fax: (412) 396 -6644
Diving Centre:
Our experienced instructors offer one - month courses in deep - sea diving for beginners.There are two evening lessons a week, in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely.You only need swimming costume and towel. Reduced rates for couples.
Opening Hours: Monday and Friday: 6: 30 p.m.--8:30 p.m.
Phone: (412) 396 -6312 Fax: (412) 396 -6706
Medical Center:
The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university. The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems.Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation. Also, all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores.
Opening Hours: 24 hour from Monday to Sunday
Phone: (412) 396 -6649 Fax:(412)396 -6648
Watersports Club:
We use a two - kilometer length of river for speedboat racing, and water - skiing, a beginners course consists of ten 20 - minute lessons. You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently, but must be able to swim. The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4: 00 p.m., with lessons all through the day.
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m.
Phone:(412)396 -6899 Fax:(412)396 -6890 | [
"(412)396 - 6648",
"(412)396 - 6706",
"(412)396 - 6752",
"(412)396 - 6876"
] |
Why don't Tom and Mary eat the vegetables Mrs Smith cooks one day? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Mr and Mrs Smith come from America. They teach English in Yangzhou. They like their jobs. They have a son, Tom and a daughter, Mary. They are all in China now. Mr Smith can speak Chinese. He likes swimming and singing. Mrs Smith likes swimming and running. Tom and Mary like playing chess. They often play games with Chinese boys and girls.
Mr and Mrs Smith like Chinese food very much, but Tom and Mary don't like it. They like French fries and hamburgers. Mrs Smith wants them to eat more vegetables and fruit. One day, Mrs Smith cooks some vegetables for them. Tom sees them and says, " I am full ." And Mary says, "I have something to do." And she runs away.
Question:
Why don't Tom and Mary eat the vegetables Mrs Smith cooks one day?
Choices:
A. Because they don't like them.
B. Because they like Chinese food.
C. Because they are full.
D. Because they are busy. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3767.txt | Mr and Mrs Smith come from America. They teach English in Yangzhou. They like their jobs. They have a son, Tom and a daughter, Mary. They are all in China now. Mr Smith can speak Chinese. He likes swimming and singing. Mrs Smith likes swimming and running. Tom and Mary like playing chess. They often play games with Chinese boys and girls.
Mr and Mrs Smith like Chinese food very much, but Tom and Mary don't like it. They like French fries and hamburgers. Mrs Smith wants them to eat more vegetables and fruit. One day, Mrs Smith cooks some vegetables for them. Tom sees them and says, " I am full ." And Mary says, "I have something to do." And she runs away. | [
"Because they don't like them.",
"Because they like Chinese food.",
"Because they are full.",
"Because they are busy."
] |
What is the diploid number for fruit flies? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What is the diploid number for fruit flies? | 8 | science | null | null | null | 9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | null | null | null | |
When you sleep 7.7 hours a night,you will _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
There are new findings that not enough sleep may cause people to gain weight.Researchers say a lack of sleep can produce hormonal changes that increase feelings of hunger.
In one study,researchers in the United States examined information on more than 1000 people.The people had taken part in a long-term study of sleep disorders.
Some people slept less than five hours a night.They had 15 percent higher blood levels of a hormone called ghrelin than people who slept eight hours.And they had 15 percent less of the hormone leptin.Experts say ghrelin helps make people feel hungry;leptin makes you feel full.
The scientists say these hormonal changes may be a cause of obesity in Western societies.They note the combination that limitation is common and is widely available.
The results were not affected by how much people exercised.People who are awake longer have more time to burn energy.But the researchers say loss of sleep may increase hunger especially for high-calorie foods,so people gain weight.It seems that,for survival,the body may be designed to store more fat during times with less sleep.
Researchers from Stanford University in California and the University of Wisconsin did the study.They found that the best amount of sleep for weight control is 7.7 hours a night.
The Public Library of Science published the findings in its journal Medicine.Internet users can read the full study,free of charge,at plos.org.
Question:
When you sleep 7.7 hours a night,you will _ .
Choices:
A. have your ghrelin level rise and leptin level drop
B. have your leptin level rise and ghrelin level drop
C. have your ghrelin and leptin levels properly balanced
D. feel neither hungry nor full | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7817.txt | There are new findings that not enough sleep may cause people to gain weight.Researchers say a lack of sleep can produce hormonal changes that increase feelings of hunger.
In one study,researchers in the United States examined information on more than 1000 people.The people had taken part in a long-term study of sleep disorders.
Some people slept less than five hours a night.They had 15 percent higher blood levels of a hormone called ghrelin than people who slept eight hours.And they had 15 percent less of the hormone leptin.Experts say ghrelin helps make people feel hungry;leptin makes you feel full.
The scientists say these hormonal changes may be a cause of obesity in Western societies.They note the combination that limitation is common and is widely available.
The results were not affected by how much people exercised.People who are awake longer have more time to burn energy.But the researchers say loss of sleep may increase hunger especially for high-calorie foods,so people gain weight.It seems that,for survival,the body may be designed to store more fat during times with less sleep.
Researchers from Stanford University in California and the University of Wisconsin did the study.They found that the best amount of sleep for weight control is 7.7 hours a night.
The Public Library of Science published the findings in its journal Medicine.Internet users can read the full study,free of charge,at plos.org. | [
"have your ghrelin level rise and leptin level drop",
"have your leptin level rise and ghrelin level drop",
"have your ghrelin and leptin levels properly balanced",
"feel neither hungry nor full"
] |
Overpopulation takes place when the number of organisms in an area exceeds what? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Overpopulation takes place when the number of organisms in an area exceeds what? | carrying capacity | science | null | null | null | biome size | consumers | predators | carrying capacity | Overpopulation takes place when the number of organisms exceeds the carrying capacity of the region. What is the carrying capacity of Earth for humans? Are seven billion people the human carrying capacity? Nine billion? We don't know yet. | null | null | null |
Pretend friends will be present at the following occasions except _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Japanese couples, too busy for a normal social life, are increasingly turning to actors to play their friends on the most important days of their lives.
Several agencies have sprung up offering actors to attend weddings or even funerals.The first guest-for-hire company was established about nine years ago and around 10 agencies now send out dozens of pretend friends to family events.
Agencies such as Hagemashi Tai, which means "I want to cheer you up", charge around PS100 for each "guest". Other services such as giving a speech in praise of a bride or the groom cost extra.
The appearance of the small fake friends industry has been linked to social and economic changes in Japan.With lifetime employment a thing of the past, couples feel uncomfortable about inviting work colleagues to their wedding.Increasingly busy and put upon, many Japanese surround themselves with only a very small circle of friends.
When they marry, however, they are under pressure to match the number of their new partner's wedding guests.
Office Agents, the largest provider of pretend friends, makes sure that its employees have done their homework and know all about the bride or groom before the wedding.
Hiroshi Mizutani, the company's founder, said the fake friends he provides must look happy, be well dressed and look like people with good jobs.
Question:
Pretend friends will be present at the following occasions except _ .
Choices:
A. weddings
B. funerals
C. work
D. family gathering | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high3670.txt | Japanese couples, too busy for a normal social life, are increasingly turning to actors to play their friends on the most important days of their lives.
Several agencies have sprung up offering actors to attend weddings or even funerals.The first guest-for-hire company was established about nine years ago and around 10 agencies now send out dozens of pretend friends to family events.
Agencies such as Hagemashi Tai, which means "I want to cheer you up", charge around PS100 for each "guest". Other services such as giving a speech in praise of a bride or the groom cost extra.
The appearance of the small fake friends industry has been linked to social and economic changes in Japan.With lifetime employment a thing of the past, couples feel uncomfortable about inviting work colleagues to their wedding.Increasingly busy and put upon, many Japanese surround themselves with only a very small circle of friends.
When they marry, however, they are under pressure to match the number of their new partner's wedding guests.
Office Agents, the largest provider of pretend friends, makes sure that its employees have done their homework and know all about the bride or groom before the wedding.
Hiroshi Mizutani, the company's founder, said the fake friends he provides must look happy, be well dressed and look like people with good jobs. | [
"weddings",
"funerals",
"work",
"family gathering"
] |
What term describes the number and kinds of species in a location or on the planet? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What term describes the number and kinds of species in a location or on the planet? | biodiversity | science | null | null | null | ecosystem | habitat | Allopatric speciation | biodiversity | Types of Biodiversity Scientists generally accept that the term biodiversity describes the number and kinds of species in a location or on the planet. Species can be difficult to define, but most biologists still feel comfortable with the concept and are able to identify and count eukaryotic species in most contexts. Biologists have also identified alternate measures of biodiversity, some of which are important for planning how to preserve biodiversity. Genetic diversity is one of those alternate concepts. Genetic diversity or variation is the raw material for adaptation in a species. A species’ future potential for adaptation depends on the genetic diversity held in the genomes of the individuals in populations that make up the species. The same is true for higher taxonomic categories. A genus with very different types of species will have more genetic diversity than a genus with species that look alike and have similar ecologies. If there were a choice between one of these genera of species being preserved, the one with the greatest potential for subsequent. | null | null | null |
Which is NOT true according to the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Lang Lang, the young Chinese pianist, was born in Shenyang in 1982. He began to play the piano when he was 3. At the age of 5, he won first place in a piano competition in Shenyang. People thought he was a genius . From then on, playing the piano became the dream of Lang and his parents.
When Lang was 9 years old, he and his father went to Beijing to study piano. His father even left his work. Although he endured great pressure , Lang never gave up his dream of becoming a concert pianist. When he was 17, Lang became famous after he played in a great concert in Chicago, US.
Now 28-year-old Lang is famous all over the world for his great performances. He played at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He was also one ofTimesmagazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2009. He is one of the world's great musicians.
Question:
Which is NOT true according to the passage?
Choices:
A. Lang Lang works very hard at piano.
B. Lang Lang wasn't famous before 2009.
C. Lang Lang was born in Liaoning Province.
D. Lang Lang played at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle2562.txt | Lang Lang, the young Chinese pianist, was born in Shenyang in 1982. He began to play the piano when he was 3. At the age of 5, he won first place in a piano competition in Shenyang. People thought he was a genius . From then on, playing the piano became the dream of Lang and his parents.
When Lang was 9 years old, he and his father went to Beijing to study piano. His father even left his work. Although he endured great pressure , Lang never gave up his dream of becoming a concert pianist. When he was 17, Lang became famous after he played in a great concert in Chicago, US.
Now 28-year-old Lang is famous all over the world for his great performances. He played at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He was also one ofTimesmagazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2009. He is one of the world's great musicians. | [
"Lang Lang works very hard at piano.",
"Lang Lang wasn't famous before 2009.",
"Lang Lang was born in Liaoning Province.",
"Lang Lang played at the Beijing Olympics in 2008."
] |
One necklace is worth $34. Bob decided to buy one for his wife. But, he also bought a book, which is $5 more expensive than the necklace. Before he went shopping, Bob set a limit and decided not to spend more than $70. How many dollars over the "limit" did Bob spend? | The book is $5 more expensive than the necklace, which means the book costs 34 + 5 = $<<34+5=39>>39.
Both products which Bob wants to buy cost in total 39 + 34 = $<<39+34=73>>73.
So Bob will spend 73 - 70 = $<<73-70=3>>3 over the limit.
#### 3 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | One necklace is worth $34. Bob decided to buy one for his wife. But, he also bought a book, which is $5 more expensive than the necklace. Before he went shopping, Bob set a limit and decided not to spend more than $70. How many dollars over the "limit" did Bob spend? | The book is $5 more expensive than the necklace, which means the book costs 34 + 5 = $<<34+5=39>>39.
Both products which Bob wants to buy cost in total 39 + 34 = $<<39+34=73>>73.
So Bob will spend 73 - 70 = $<<73-70=3>>3 over the limit.
#### 3 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
According to the passage, the percentage of deaths due to smoking is _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Smoking is the single worst thing you can do for your health. Fortunately, it's never too late to get the benefits of quitting. If you've tried to quit before and failed, it's time to make up your mind and try again.
Smoking is responsible for one of every five deaths. That includes 29% of all cancer deaths, 87% of all lung cancer deaths, and nearly 20% of all deaths from cardiovascular disease. But long before smoking kills you, it ages you. You can see for yourself that smoking accelerates the drying and wrinkling of the skin. But there are less obvious effects as well. Indeed, smoking takes years away from your life. Nearly half of all chronic smokers die an average of 20 to 25 years before their time.
Besides an early death from cancer or heart disease, smoking can cause lung disorders. People who smoke over a pack a day have almost three times the risk of contracting pneumonia than that of nonsmokers. By lowering levels of estrogen in men and women, smoking speeds bone less. If a woman smokes a pack of cigarettes every day, she will enter menopause with 5 to 10% less bone mass than a nonsmoker.
The good news is that no matter what your age is or how long you've smoked, you'll live longer if you quit today. The Coronary Artery Surgery Study examined nearly 2,000 long-term smokers over age 54. Those who quit had significantly lower death rates six years later than those who didn't. Even the oldest ex-smokers had a higher survival rate.
Not only will live longer if you quit, you'll feel better, breathe easier, and find that you have more energy. You'll have fewer respiratory infections,headaches, and stomachaches. What's more, you'll save money. Your clothes and breath won't smell unpleasant any longer. And your habit won't annoy--or threaten the health of --the people who live and work with you.
Question:
According to the passage, the percentage of deaths due to smoking is _ .
Choices:
A. 20%
B. 25%
C. 29%
D. 87% | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high23221.txt | Smoking is the single worst thing you can do for your health. Fortunately, it's never too late to get the benefits of quitting. If you've tried to quit before and failed, it's time to make up your mind and try again.
Smoking is responsible for one of every five deaths. That includes 29% of all cancer deaths, 87% of all lung cancer deaths, and nearly 20% of all deaths from cardiovascular disease. But long before smoking kills you, it ages you. You can see for yourself that smoking accelerates the drying and wrinkling of the skin. But there are less obvious effects as well. Indeed, smoking takes years away from your life. Nearly half of all chronic smokers die an average of 20 to 25 years before their time.
Besides an early death from cancer or heart disease, smoking can cause lung disorders. People who smoke over a pack a day have almost three times the risk of contracting pneumonia than that of nonsmokers. By lowering levels of estrogen in men and women, smoking speeds bone less. If a woman smokes a pack of cigarettes every day, she will enter menopause with 5 to 10% less bone mass than a nonsmoker.
The good news is that no matter what your age is or how long you've smoked, you'll live longer if you quit today. The Coronary Artery Surgery Study examined nearly 2,000 long-term smokers over age 54. Those who quit had significantly lower death rates six years later than those who didn't. Even the oldest ex-smokers had a higher survival rate.
Not only will live longer if you quit, you'll feel better, breathe easier, and find that you have more energy. You'll have fewer respiratory infections,headaches, and stomachaches. What's more, you'll save money. Your clothes and breath won't smell unpleasant any longer. And your habit won't annoy--or threaten the health of --the people who live and work with you. | [
"20%",
"25%",
"29%",
"87%"
] |
What can we infer about the author? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A Simple Lesson
"Another bad day at school?" my father asked as I came into the room.
"How could you tell? I didn't shut the door heavily or anything," I replied. Over the past two months I had either done this or thrown my backpack across the room every time I came home from school. Papa thinks it has something to do with moving to a new house.
"I know this move has been hard on you. Leaving your friends and cousins behind is tough," Papa said, as he put his arm around my shoulder. "What you must remember is that, with a lot of hard work and some time, you will make new friends."
"You don't know how hard it is. This year my baseball team would have won the championship. They won't even give me a chance to pitch here. All I get to play is right field, and that's the worst!"
Papa turned toward me. "Things will get better, I promise you. Let me ask you, do you know why you were named David Lorenzo?"
"Yes, your name is David and grandfather's name is Lorenzo."
"Very good, and what makes your grandfather so important?"
"He was the first in the family to come to this country and all that," I answered.
"That is only partly correct. Your grandfather was a very great man. In Mexico, he had been a teacher. When he came to America he could only get lowpaid labor jobs because he didn't speak the language. It took him two years before he spoke English well enough to be allowed to teach here, but he did it. He never complained because he knew change could be difficult. Did he ever tell you that?" my father asked.
I looked down at my feet, ashamed at my behavior. "No. That must have been hard," I said
.
"Your grandfather taught me that if you let people see your talent, they will accept you for who you are. I want you to always remember what my father taught me, even if it takes a few years for people to see who you are," said Papa.
All I could say was, "Okay." Then I asked, "What should I do now?"
Laughing, Papa said, "How about you pitch a few to me? You need some work."
Question:
What can we infer about the author?
Choices:
A. He thinks his father lives in the past.
B. He'd rather live with his grandfather.
C. He will continue to dislike school and everything.
D. He will try his best to adapt to the new environment. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16356.txt | A Simple Lesson
"Another bad day at school?" my father asked as I came into the room.
"How could you tell? I didn't shut the door heavily or anything," I replied. Over the past two months I had either done this or thrown my backpack across the room every time I came home from school. Papa thinks it has something to do with moving to a new house.
"I know this move has been hard on you. Leaving your friends and cousins behind is tough," Papa said, as he put his arm around my shoulder. "What you must remember is that, with a lot of hard work and some time, you will make new friends."
"You don't know how hard it is. This year my baseball team would have won the championship. They won't even give me a chance to pitch here. All I get to play is right field, and that's the worst!"
Papa turned toward me. "Things will get better, I promise you. Let me ask you, do you know why you were named David Lorenzo?"
"Yes, your name is David and grandfather's name is Lorenzo."
"Very good, and what makes your grandfather so important?"
"He was the first in the family to come to this country and all that," I answered.
"That is only partly correct. Your grandfather was a very great man. In Mexico, he had been a teacher. When he came to America he could only get lowpaid labor jobs because he didn't speak the language. It took him two years before he spoke English well enough to be allowed to teach here, but he did it. He never complained because he knew change could be difficult. Did he ever tell you that?" my father asked.
I looked down at my feet, ashamed at my behavior. "No. That must have been hard," I said
.
"Your grandfather taught me that if you let people see your talent, they will accept you for who you are. I want you to always remember what my father taught me, even if it takes a few years for people to see who you are," said Papa.
All I could say was, "Okay." Then I asked, "What should I do now?"
Laughing, Papa said, "How about you pitch a few to me? You need some work." | [
"He thinks his father lives in the past.",
"He'd rather live with his grandfather.",
"He will continue to dislike school and everything.",
"He will try his best to adapt to the new environment."
] |
According to this article, which statement about "New York" and "Los Angeles" is true? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Traffic jam and cities, it seems, go hand in hand. Everyone complains about being stuck in traffic; but, like the weather, no one seems to do anything about it. In particular, traffic engineers, transportation planners, and public officials responsible for transportation systems in large cities are frequently criticized for failing to solve traffic jam. But is traffic jam a sign of failure? Long queues at restaurants or theater box offices are seen as signs of success. Should transportation systems be viewed any differently? I think we should recognize that traffic jam is an unpreventable by-product of successful cities, and view the "traffic problem" in a different light.
Cities exist because they promote social interactions and economic transactions.Traffic jam occurs where there are lots of people but limited spaces. Culturally and economically successful cities have the worst traffic problems, while _ cities don't have much traffic. New York and Los Angeles are America's most crowded cities. But if you want access to major brokerage houses , you will find them easier to reach in crowded New York than in any other large cities. And if your firm needs access to post-production film editors or satellite-guidance engineers, you will reach them more quickly through the crowded freeways of LA than through less crowded roads elsewhere.
Despite traffic jam, a larger number and wider variety of social interactions and economic transactions can be made perfect in large, crowded cities than elsewhere. Seen in this sight, traffic jam is an unfortunate consequence of prosperity, not a cause of economic decline and urban decay.
So while we can consider traffic jam as increasing costs on the areas of big cities, the costs of inaccessibility in uncrowded places are almost certainly greater.
There is no doubt that traffic jam brings the terrible economic and environmental damage in places like Bangkok, Jakarta, and Lagos. But mobility is far higher and traffic jam levels are far lower here in the US, even in our most crowded cities. That's why, for now, we don't see people and capital streaming out of San Francisco and Chicago, heading for cities like California, and Illinois.
Question:
According to this article, which statement about "New York" and "Los Angeles" is true?
Choices:
A. The traffic jam in the two cities has been worsened.
B. New York and Los Angeles are the least successful cities in the US.
C. It is easier to reach major brokerage houses in the two cities than in other cities.
D. Despite the traffic jam in LA, you'll find a satellite-guidance engineer more quickly there. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1601.txt | Traffic jam and cities, it seems, go hand in hand. Everyone complains about being stuck in traffic; but, like the weather, no one seems to do anything about it. In particular, traffic engineers, transportation planners, and public officials responsible for transportation systems in large cities are frequently criticized for failing to solve traffic jam. But is traffic jam a sign of failure? Long queues at restaurants or theater box offices are seen as signs of success. Should transportation systems be viewed any differently? I think we should recognize that traffic jam is an unpreventable by-product of successful cities, and view the "traffic problem" in a different light.
Cities exist because they promote social interactions and economic transactions.Traffic jam occurs where there are lots of people but limited spaces. Culturally and economically successful cities have the worst traffic problems, while _ cities don't have much traffic. New York and Los Angeles are America's most crowded cities. But if you want access to major brokerage houses , you will find them easier to reach in crowded New York than in any other large cities. And if your firm needs access to post-production film editors or satellite-guidance engineers, you will reach them more quickly through the crowded freeways of LA than through less crowded roads elsewhere.
Despite traffic jam, a larger number and wider variety of social interactions and economic transactions can be made perfect in large, crowded cities than elsewhere. Seen in this sight, traffic jam is an unfortunate consequence of prosperity, not a cause of economic decline and urban decay.
So while we can consider traffic jam as increasing costs on the areas of big cities, the costs of inaccessibility in uncrowded places are almost certainly greater.
There is no doubt that traffic jam brings the terrible economic and environmental damage in places like Bangkok, Jakarta, and Lagos. But mobility is far higher and traffic jam levels are far lower here in the US, even in our most crowded cities. That's why, for now, we don't see people and capital streaming out of San Francisco and Chicago, heading for cities like California, and Illinois. | [
"The traffic jam in the two cities has been worsened.",
"New York and Los Angeles are the least successful cities in the US.",
"It is easier to reach major brokerage houses in the two cities than in other cities.",
"Despite the traffic jam in LA, you'll find a satellite-guidance engineer more quickly there."
] |
The passage mainly discusses _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Believe it or not, optical illusion can cut highway crashes.
Japan is a case in point. It has reduced automobile crashes on some roads by nearly 75 percent using a simple optical illusion. Bent strips, called chevrons , painted on the roads make drivers think that they are driving faster than they really are, and thus drivers slow down.
Now the American Automobile Association Foundations For Traffic Safety in Washington D.C. is planning to repeat Japan's success. Starting next year, the foundation will paint chevrons and other patterns of stripes on selected roads around the country to test how well the patterns reduce highway crashes.
Excessive speed plays a major role in as much as one fifty of all fatal traffic accidents, according to the foundation. To help reduce those accidents, the foundation will conduct its tests in areas where speed-related hazards are the greatest-curves, exit slopes, traffic circles, and bridges.
Some studies suggest that straight, horizontal bars painted across roads can initially cut the average speed of drivers in half. However, traffic often returns to full speed within months as drivers become used to seeing the painted bars.
Chevrons, scientists say, not only give drivers the impression that they are driving faster than they really are but also make a lane appear to be narrower. The result is a longer lasting reduction of highway speed and the number of traffic accidents.
Question:
The passage mainly discusses _ .
Choices:
A. a new way of highway speed control
B. a new pattern for painting highway
C. a new way of training drivers
D. a new type of optical illusion | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high725.txt | Believe it or not, optical illusion can cut highway crashes.
Japan is a case in point. It has reduced automobile crashes on some roads by nearly 75 percent using a simple optical illusion. Bent strips, called chevrons , painted on the roads make drivers think that they are driving faster than they really are, and thus drivers slow down.
Now the American Automobile Association Foundations For Traffic Safety in Washington D.C. is planning to repeat Japan's success. Starting next year, the foundation will paint chevrons and other patterns of stripes on selected roads around the country to test how well the patterns reduce highway crashes.
Excessive speed plays a major role in as much as one fifty of all fatal traffic accidents, according to the foundation. To help reduce those accidents, the foundation will conduct its tests in areas where speed-related hazards are the greatest-curves, exit slopes, traffic circles, and bridges.
Some studies suggest that straight, horizontal bars painted across roads can initially cut the average speed of drivers in half. However, traffic often returns to full speed within months as drivers become used to seeing the painted bars.
Chevrons, scientists say, not only give drivers the impression that they are driving faster than they really are but also make a lane appear to be narrower. The result is a longer lasting reduction of highway speed and the number of traffic accidents. | [
"a new way of highway speed control",
"a new pattern for painting highway",
"a new way of training drivers",
"a new type of optical illusion"
] |
What is the best title for the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Little Lopsy fluttered into our home and our hearts one Saturday morning this summer. My husband went out to do something, and when he opened the door there was a great flutter on the ground and something came into the living room. It was clear that whatever it was was hurt.
I was in a bit of a shock and didn't know what to do next. Fortunately it calmed down and tried to hide itself in a corner. I realized it was a sparrow chick . There are a few sparrow nests under the roof of our apartment, and this little fellow must have fallen out and hurt itself. It was also very young, and obviously far from ready to leave the safety of the nest.
I ran to the place and found a box. Having read somewhere that one shouldn't touch a baby bird with one's hands, I picked the chick up with a hand towel and put it in the box. I placed the box outside the front door in the hope that the parents would try to feed it. They never came near it and I brought it inside. I placed the box on a table and it slept for about twenty hours. We later learned that it is quite normal for a hurt bird to sleep so much after undergoing such a hurt experience.
When it finally woke up we carefully examined it for wounds, but fortunately there wasn't any. It had hurt its right wing and leg, which meant it must have landed on its right side when it fell out of the nest. We named it Lopsy.
After doing some research we felt there was a chance that it might survive, but we weren't sure that it would ever be able to fly. A hurt bird doesn't stand much of a chance of survival and could fall easy pray to cats, other animals. Was it fair to allow it to live if it meant keeping it in a cage its whole life? It was a hard decision, but we decided to give it a go.
We started off by dripping drops of water into its mouth. It was very thirsty and drank quite a bit. Next we fed it with bread soaked in water. Our household routine soon revolved around Lopsy who needed to be fed about every three hours during the day. Fortunately we live on campus and my husband could come home during his breaks to feed our new baby.
Soon Lopsy was growing nicely. The bigger it got, the more vocal it became. There was no doubt as to who was ruling the house.
We remained concerned because its leg did not heal, and its wing seemed quite useless. I took it outside for exercise every day. I also hoped it would get used to the sights and sounds of nature. In the beginning all it was interested in was staying as close to me as possible.
Anyway, it got stronger and started running on the grass, and one day Lopsy found a fence it liked. It got to the point where I would leave it outside under its fence for about two hours at a time while I kept an eye on developments from our kitchen window. Soon Lopsy figured out how to get from one branch to another.[: ]
It also got to the point where it could flutter down from my hand to the ground, and I let it do this over and over again to exercise its wings. Then came the day that it actually flew into the fence. We were overjoyed when this happened.
Finally it got to the point where I left it outside in its fence all day and night, but I would still go outside to feed it. Lopsy remained vocal and would jumped over for its food as soon as I came into view. I left some bread on the wall next to its fence, but it would have none of it. The little fellow was totally spoilt and wanted to be spoon fed, but I saw him eating quite happily as soon as I left his line of vision. Some of the bigger species of birds were a bit aggressive towards Lopsy, and I continued to keep a close eye on it.
Not long after this we saw Lopsy flying without a problem. It still jumped to the side, but that didn't seem to stop it in any way. Other birds seemed quite curious about Lopsy. At first it chased them away if they came too close to its fence, but Lopsy soon seemed to realize that they were of its own kind and it stopped doing so. Then, one day, our fellow left the nest. We never saw it again, but I know Little Lopsy is now leading a happy life. This experience has taught me much.
Question:
What is the best title for the passage?
Choices:
A. Kindness
B. Little Lopsy
C. Loving birds
D. Living well with nature | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high21833.txt | Little Lopsy fluttered into our home and our hearts one Saturday morning this summer. My husband went out to do something, and when he opened the door there was a great flutter on the ground and something came into the living room. It was clear that whatever it was was hurt.
I was in a bit of a shock and didn't know what to do next. Fortunately it calmed down and tried to hide itself in a corner. I realized it was a sparrow chick . There are a few sparrow nests under the roof of our apartment, and this little fellow must have fallen out and hurt itself. It was also very young, and obviously far from ready to leave the safety of the nest.
I ran to the place and found a box. Having read somewhere that one shouldn't touch a baby bird with one's hands, I picked the chick up with a hand towel and put it in the box. I placed the box outside the front door in the hope that the parents would try to feed it. They never came near it and I brought it inside. I placed the box on a table and it slept for about twenty hours. We later learned that it is quite normal for a hurt bird to sleep so much after undergoing such a hurt experience.
When it finally woke up we carefully examined it for wounds, but fortunately there wasn't any. It had hurt its right wing and leg, which meant it must have landed on its right side when it fell out of the nest. We named it Lopsy.
After doing some research we felt there was a chance that it might survive, but we weren't sure that it would ever be able to fly. A hurt bird doesn't stand much of a chance of survival and could fall easy pray to cats, other animals. Was it fair to allow it to live if it meant keeping it in a cage its whole life? It was a hard decision, but we decided to give it a go.
We started off by dripping drops of water into its mouth. It was very thirsty and drank quite a bit. Next we fed it with bread soaked in water. Our household routine soon revolved around Lopsy who needed to be fed about every three hours during the day. Fortunately we live on campus and my husband could come home during his breaks to feed our new baby.
Soon Lopsy was growing nicely. The bigger it got, the more vocal it became. There was no doubt as to who was ruling the house.
We remained concerned because its leg did not heal, and its wing seemed quite useless. I took it outside for exercise every day. I also hoped it would get used to the sights and sounds of nature. In the beginning all it was interested in was staying as close to me as possible.
Anyway, it got stronger and started running on the grass, and one day Lopsy found a fence it liked. It got to the point where I would leave it outside under its fence for about two hours at a time while I kept an eye on developments from our kitchen window. Soon Lopsy figured out how to get from one branch to another.[: ]
It also got to the point where it could flutter down from my hand to the ground, and I let it do this over and over again to exercise its wings. Then came the day that it actually flew into the fence. We were overjoyed when this happened.
Finally it got to the point where I left it outside in its fence all day and night, but I would still go outside to feed it. Lopsy remained vocal and would jumped over for its food as soon as I came into view. I left some bread on the wall next to its fence, but it would have none of it. The little fellow was totally spoilt and wanted to be spoon fed, but I saw him eating quite happily as soon as I left his line of vision. Some of the bigger species of birds were a bit aggressive towards Lopsy, and I continued to keep a close eye on it.
Not long after this we saw Lopsy flying without a problem. It still jumped to the side, but that didn't seem to stop it in any way. Other birds seemed quite curious about Lopsy. At first it chased them away if they came too close to its fence, but Lopsy soon seemed to realize that they were of its own kind and it stopped doing so. Then, one day, our fellow left the nest. We never saw it again, but I know Little Lopsy is now leading a happy life. This experience has taught me much. | [
"Kindness",
"Little Lopsy",
"Loving birds",
"Living well with nature"
] |
From the passage, we can know that _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
To be punctual is important for us because people rather expect us to be on time for appointments. But it seems not easy to be on time every time. Here are some useful methods to help you be punctual.
Plan your route. If your destination is unfamiliar, go online the night before to map out your route and see how long it's going to take. Then you will know when you have to leave the house.
Do as much as possible the night before. Make your mornings less stressful by doing what you can the night before to make your time enough. Get your clothes ready. Set the breakfast table. Make your lunch if you need to take it.
Make a time table. You need to make a time table if you have lots of things to do in a day. For example, the time you get up, the time you leave the house, and the time you wait for the bus. You also need to estimate how long it takes.
Give yourself a gift of being early. If you plan to get to your destination 15 minutes early, you'll probably never be late again. Being early seems a waste of time. But you can do something you love. Read the newspaper, read your favorite blogs and even call a friend. It really can be a gift.
Question:
From the passage, we can know that _ .
Choices:
A. being early is a waste of time
B. your friends will give you a gift if you're on time
C. being late sometimes is good
D. doing something you love is a gift sometimes | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high6857.txt | To be punctual is important for us because people rather expect us to be on time for appointments. But it seems not easy to be on time every time. Here are some useful methods to help you be punctual.
Plan your route. If your destination is unfamiliar, go online the night before to map out your route and see how long it's going to take. Then you will know when you have to leave the house.
Do as much as possible the night before. Make your mornings less stressful by doing what you can the night before to make your time enough. Get your clothes ready. Set the breakfast table. Make your lunch if you need to take it.
Make a time table. You need to make a time table if you have lots of things to do in a day. For example, the time you get up, the time you leave the house, and the time you wait for the bus. You also need to estimate how long it takes.
Give yourself a gift of being early. If you plan to get to your destination 15 minutes early, you'll probably never be late again. Being early seems a waste of time. But you can do something you love. Read the newspaper, read your favorite blogs and even call a friend. It really can be a gift. | [
"being early is a waste of time",
"your friends will give you a gift if you're on time",
"being late sometimes is good",
"doing something you love is a gift sometimes"
] |
I have _ volleyballs. | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
I have seven bags. Three bags are big, and the other four bags are small. I have some basketballs and volleyballs. I put two volleyballs in each small bag. And I put two basketballs and two volleyballs in each big bag. The number of the volleyballs is my age.
Question:
I have _ volleyballs.
Choices:
A. three
B. five
C. fourteen
D. seven | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle6473.txt | I have seven bags. Three bags are big, and the other four bags are small. I have some basketballs and volleyballs. I put two volleyballs in each small bag. And I put two basketballs and two volleyballs in each big bag. The number of the volleyballs is my age. | [
"three",
"five",
"fourteen",
"seven"
] |
What is the first step to deal with the noisy neighbor? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Living in a modern society has its advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage is that you often have to live closer to other people than you would like to. Sometimes, your neighbors make a noise that you are not comfortable with.
The best way to solve this problem is to talk with your neighbor first. You should be very polite and ask your neighbor if he knows how thin the walls of your homes are. This way doesn't criticize his behavior ; it simply points out that he may not realize how far his sound travels. Tell him that you know that sometimes you make noise as well, but that you do your best to keep it down. Often this will solve the problem right away, but sometimes the neighbor may become angry.
If your neighbor becomes angry with you, there are some more steps you can take. You might write a letter to the neighborhood committee. Make sure you write down the source of the noise and the time in the letter. They will review the situation and decide whether your neighbor is out of line. Some noise is considered to be _ , even if it bothers you. So you may prepare a good pair of earplugs .
Even if your neighbor makes too much noise, you don't have to live your life in discomfort. It's always a good idea to be friendly with your neighbors. You may clean the rubbish in front of his door. He's sure to appreciate behavior like this and be more open to your suggestions about noise level.
Question:
What is the first step to deal with the noisy neighbor?
Choices:
A. To buy a good pair of earplugs
B. To offer suggestions to the neighbor
C. To ask the neighborhood committee for help
D. To tell the neighbor how bad his behavior is | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high5851.txt | Living in a modern society has its advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage is that you often have to live closer to other people than you would like to. Sometimes, your neighbors make a noise that you are not comfortable with.
The best way to solve this problem is to talk with your neighbor first. You should be very polite and ask your neighbor if he knows how thin the walls of your homes are. This way doesn't criticize his behavior ; it simply points out that he may not realize how far his sound travels. Tell him that you know that sometimes you make noise as well, but that you do your best to keep it down. Often this will solve the problem right away, but sometimes the neighbor may become angry.
If your neighbor becomes angry with you, there are some more steps you can take. You might write a letter to the neighborhood committee. Make sure you write down the source of the noise and the time in the letter. They will review the situation and decide whether your neighbor is out of line. Some noise is considered to be _ , even if it bothers you. So you may prepare a good pair of earplugs .
Even if your neighbor makes too much noise, you don't have to live your life in discomfort. It's always a good idea to be friendly with your neighbors. You may clean the rubbish in front of his door. He's sure to appreciate behavior like this and be more open to your suggestions about noise level. | [
"To buy a good pair of earplugs",
"To offer suggestions to the neighbor",
"To ask the neighborhood committee for help",
"To tell the neighbor how bad his behavior is"
] |
When the wallet was found, it _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Bill Fulton doesn't remember losing his wallet, but its return helped him remember the past. The leather stayed smooth and the cowboy design unblemished . And when he looked inside, the contents brought back memories from 1946, when he apparently dropped the wallet behind the balcony bleachers in the Baker Middle School gym.
Fulton's Social Security Card and bicycle license, bearing the address where he lived during his teenage years, were positioned in their respective compartments, apparently untouched since the year after World War Il ended.
Worker Nathan Osborne found the wallet -- along with old homework, lost library books and a 1964 talent show program -- while removing the bleachers for renovations on June 17. It was brought to Fulton's door the following day by Melanie Trindle, the Baker Middle School secretary.
Middle School Principal Mindi Vaughan said the brown pine bleachers were connected to the gym balcony's brick wall and had remained in the same place since the school, known as the Helen M. Stack Building, opened in 1936.
Fulton, 78, said he probably lost the wallet while cheering for the Baker High basketball team with a group of friends. Fulton said the bicycle ID was needed because he delivered medicine for Rodamar Drug. He was surprised, however, that his bicycle ID wasn't inside. He said he always kept it there.
But rather than focus on what was inside the wallet, Fulton said the recovery has led him to reflect on his life -- one that took him to the Korean War and Berlin before the return to Baker City. He worked at Ellingson Lumber Company for 30 years, from March 1964 to April 1994.
Since his retirement, Fulton has enjoyed spending time with his 11-year-old black dog, Smokey. The two often hike the nearby mountains.
Trindle's knock on the door, wallet in hand, induced a slight ripple in his life, prompting him to consider the times he hadn't thought about in many years. "Where did all the times go?" Fulton said with a deep sigh. "It' s hard to believe that the times have gone so fast."
Question:
When the wallet was found, it _ .
Choices:
A. was still in good condition
B. was a little damaged
C. had just lost color1
D. was just repaired | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high22684.txt | Bill Fulton doesn't remember losing his wallet, but its return helped him remember the past. The leather stayed smooth and the cowboy design unblemished . And when he looked inside, the contents brought back memories from 1946, when he apparently dropped the wallet behind the balcony bleachers in the Baker Middle School gym.
Fulton's Social Security Card and bicycle license, bearing the address where he lived during his teenage years, were positioned in their respective compartments, apparently untouched since the year after World War Il ended.
Worker Nathan Osborne found the wallet -- along with old homework, lost library books and a 1964 talent show program -- while removing the bleachers for renovations on June 17. It was brought to Fulton's door the following day by Melanie Trindle, the Baker Middle School secretary.
Middle School Principal Mindi Vaughan said the brown pine bleachers were connected to the gym balcony's brick wall and had remained in the same place since the school, known as the Helen M. Stack Building, opened in 1936.
Fulton, 78, said he probably lost the wallet while cheering for the Baker High basketball team with a group of friends. Fulton said the bicycle ID was needed because he delivered medicine for Rodamar Drug. He was surprised, however, that his bicycle ID wasn't inside. He said he always kept it there.
But rather than focus on what was inside the wallet, Fulton said the recovery has led him to reflect on his life -- one that took him to the Korean War and Berlin before the return to Baker City. He worked at Ellingson Lumber Company for 30 years, from March 1964 to April 1994.
Since his retirement, Fulton has enjoyed spending time with his 11-year-old black dog, Smokey. The two often hike the nearby mountains.
Trindle's knock on the door, wallet in hand, induced a slight ripple in his life, prompting him to consider the times he hadn't thought about in many years. "Where did all the times go?" Fulton said with a deep sigh. "It' s hard to believe that the times have gone so fast." | [
"was still in good condition",
"was a little damaged",
"had just lost color1",
"was just repaired"
] |
The reason for things to be more expensive in a city than elsewhere is that _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
"Avoid the rush hour" must be the slogan of large cities all over the world. Wherever you look it's people, people, people. The trains which leave or arrive every few minutes are packed. The streets are so crowded; there is hardly room to move on the pavements. It takes ages for a bus to get to you because the traffic on the roads has almost come to a standstill. Even when a bus does at last arrive, it's so full, it can't take any more passengers. The smallest unexpected event can bring about conditions of complete chaos. The strange thing is not that people stand these conditions, but that they actually choose them in preference to anything else.
Large modern cites are too big to control. People living there are forced by their environment to take a wholly unnatural way of life. They lost touch with the land and rhythm of nature. It is possible to live in such an air-conditioned existence in a large city that you can hardly tell the season. A few flowers in a public park may remind you that it is spring or summer. All the simple, good things of life like sunshine and fresh air are hard to find. Even the distinction between days and nights is lost.
The funny thing about it all is that you pay dearly to live in a city. The demand for accommodation is so great that it is often impossible for ordinary people to buy a house of their own. The cost of living is also very high. Just about everything you buy is likely to be more expensive than it would be in the country. Besides, the crime rate in most cities is very high. If you think about it, they're not really fit to live in at all. Can anyone really doubt that the country is what man was born for and where he truly belongs?
Question:
The reason for things to be more expensive in a city than elsewhere is that _ .
Choices:
A. city people have to pay higher to live in a city
B. there is a greater demand for things in a city
C. things are better in a city than elsewhere
D. people in a city are much more wealthy | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high23699.txt | "Avoid the rush hour" must be the slogan of large cities all over the world. Wherever you look it's people, people, people. The trains which leave or arrive every few minutes are packed. The streets are so crowded; there is hardly room to move on the pavements. It takes ages for a bus to get to you because the traffic on the roads has almost come to a standstill. Even when a bus does at last arrive, it's so full, it can't take any more passengers. The smallest unexpected event can bring about conditions of complete chaos. The strange thing is not that people stand these conditions, but that they actually choose them in preference to anything else.
Large modern cites are too big to control. People living there are forced by their environment to take a wholly unnatural way of life. They lost touch with the land and rhythm of nature. It is possible to live in such an air-conditioned existence in a large city that you can hardly tell the season. A few flowers in a public park may remind you that it is spring or summer. All the simple, good things of life like sunshine and fresh air are hard to find. Even the distinction between days and nights is lost.
The funny thing about it all is that you pay dearly to live in a city. The demand for accommodation is so great that it is often impossible for ordinary people to buy a house of their own. The cost of living is also very high. Just about everything you buy is likely to be more expensive than it would be in the country. Besides, the crime rate in most cities is very high. If you think about it, they're not really fit to live in at all. Can anyone really doubt that the country is what man was born for and where he truly belongs? | [
"city people have to pay higher to live in a city",
"there is a greater demand for things in a city",
"things are better in a city than elsewhere",
"people in a city are much more wealthy"
] |
Where did Bill Gates begin his career in personal computer software? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Bill Gates was born on October 28th, 1955. He and his two sisters grew up inprefix = st1 /Seattle. Their father, William H. Gates II, was aSeattleattorney . Mary Gates, their late mother, was a school teacher.
Gates attended public elementary school before moving on to the private Lakeside School in North Seattle. It was at Lakeside that Gates began his career in personal computer soft- ware, programming computers at age 13.
In 1973, Gates enteredHarvardUniversityas a freshman, where he lived down the hall from Steve Ballmer, who is now Microsoft's president. While at Harvard, Gates developed a version of the programming language BASIC for the first microcomputer---the MITS Astair. In his junior year, Gates dropped out of Harvard to devote his energies full-time to Microsoft, a company he had started in 1975 with his boyhood friend Paul Allen. Guided by a belief that the personal computer would be a valuable tool on every office desk-top and in every home, they began developing software for personal computers.
Gates' foresight and vision have led to the success of Microsoft and the software industry. He plays an important role in the technical development of new products. Much of his time is devoted to meeting with customers and staying in contact with Microsoft employees around the world through e-mail.
In the dozen years since Microsoft went public, Gates has donated more than $ 800 mil- lion to charities , including $ 200 million to the Gates Library Foundation to help libraries in North America take advantage of new technologies and the Information Age.
Question:
Where did Bill Gates begin his career in personal computer software?
Choices:
A. At public elementary school.
B. At the privateLakesideSchool.
C. AtHarvardUniversity.
D. At Microsoft Company. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high19796.txt | Bill Gates was born on October 28th, 1955. He and his two sisters grew up inprefix = st1 /Seattle. Their father, William H. Gates II, was aSeattleattorney . Mary Gates, their late mother, was a school teacher.
Gates attended public elementary school before moving on to the private Lakeside School in North Seattle. It was at Lakeside that Gates began his career in personal computer soft- ware, programming computers at age 13.
In 1973, Gates enteredHarvardUniversityas a freshman, where he lived down the hall from Steve Ballmer, who is now Microsoft's president. While at Harvard, Gates developed a version of the programming language BASIC for the first microcomputer---the MITS Astair. In his junior year, Gates dropped out of Harvard to devote his energies full-time to Microsoft, a company he had started in 1975 with his boyhood friend Paul Allen. Guided by a belief that the personal computer would be a valuable tool on every office desk-top and in every home, they began developing software for personal computers.
Gates' foresight and vision have led to the success of Microsoft and the software industry. He plays an important role in the technical development of new products. Much of his time is devoted to meeting with customers and staying in contact with Microsoft employees around the world through e-mail.
In the dozen years since Microsoft went public, Gates has donated more than $ 800 mil- lion to charities , including $ 200 million to the Gates Library Foundation to help libraries in North America take advantage of new technologies and the Information Age. | [
"At public elementary school.",
"At the privateLakesideSchool.",
"AtHarvardUniversity.",
"At Microsoft Company."
] |
Which of the following disease may not be connected with secondhand smoking? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
SHANGHAI - Health experts in Shanghai are calling for more protection for young children as the latest research shows about half of the youngsters are suffering from secondhand smoke.
About 45 percent of children suffer passive smoking in families, 50 percent in public places, and almost 6 percent on public transportation, shows a research released by the Shanghai Children's Medical Center on Tuesday.
"Not only adults but also children and newborn babies are at risk for the adverse effects of passive smoking," said Tang Jingyan, a doctor at the Shanghai Children's Medical Center.
"Actually, those young children whose bodies are still growing and developing are more sensitive to the effects of secondhand smoke."
Research has shown that children who are exposed to secondhand smoke will suffer from more colds, coughs and sore throats, and they are more likely to suffer from bronchitis, pneumonia and will have a higher risk of developing cancer.
Doctors even suggested that children suffering passive smoking are more likely to have behavioral problems and may not develop mentally as quickly as their peers.
Other research by the Shanghai Children's Medical Center has found that more than 80 percent of child patients in the center live in a smoke-filled household, where one or both parents smoke.
"Though doctors have stressed the harm of passive smoking over and over, it is still hard to reach a totally 'smoke free' home," said a pediatrician named Zhang Yiwen, noting that parents are often tempted to smoke even though they have learned the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
China has 540 million people suffering from passive smoke, 180 million of them younger than 15.The age of smokers is also getting lower, earlier reports said.
"There are more young smokers than before.You can see young people wearing a school uniform and carrying a schoolbag light a cigarette on the street.Some of them are even female students," said Jing Xingming, a professor of children's developmental behavior at the center.
"Children like to imitate adults, especially their parents.If parents often smoke at home, it is very likely children will develop a smoking habit, which can cause a vicious circle," Jin said.
Reports from the Ministry of Health said China has about 350 million smokers, of whom 15 million are underage smokers.Also, around 40 million of the country's 130 million children aged between 13 and 18 had tried smoking, and 15 million had become addicted to tobacco.
Question:
Which of the following disease may not be connected with secondhand smoking?
Choices:
A. Cancer.
B. Behavioral problems.
C. Sore throats.
D. Coughs. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high15933.txt | SHANGHAI - Health experts in Shanghai are calling for more protection for young children as the latest research shows about half of the youngsters are suffering from secondhand smoke.
About 45 percent of children suffer passive smoking in families, 50 percent in public places, and almost 6 percent on public transportation, shows a research released by the Shanghai Children's Medical Center on Tuesday.
"Not only adults but also children and newborn babies are at risk for the adverse effects of passive smoking," said Tang Jingyan, a doctor at the Shanghai Children's Medical Center.
"Actually, those young children whose bodies are still growing and developing are more sensitive to the effects of secondhand smoke."
Research has shown that children who are exposed to secondhand smoke will suffer from more colds, coughs and sore throats, and they are more likely to suffer from bronchitis, pneumonia and will have a higher risk of developing cancer.
Doctors even suggested that children suffering passive smoking are more likely to have behavioral problems and may not develop mentally as quickly as their peers.
Other research by the Shanghai Children's Medical Center has found that more than 80 percent of child patients in the center live in a smoke-filled household, where one or both parents smoke.
"Though doctors have stressed the harm of passive smoking over and over, it is still hard to reach a totally 'smoke free' home," said a pediatrician named Zhang Yiwen, noting that parents are often tempted to smoke even though they have learned the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
China has 540 million people suffering from passive smoke, 180 million of them younger than 15.The age of smokers is also getting lower, earlier reports said.
"There are more young smokers than before.You can see young people wearing a school uniform and carrying a schoolbag light a cigarette on the street.Some of them are even female students," said Jing Xingming, a professor of children's developmental behavior at the center.
"Children like to imitate adults, especially their parents.If parents often smoke at home, it is very likely children will develop a smoking habit, which can cause a vicious circle," Jin said.
Reports from the Ministry of Health said China has about 350 million smokers, of whom 15 million are underage smokers.Also, around 40 million of the country's 130 million children aged between 13 and 18 had tried smoking, and 15 million had become addicted to tobacco. | [
"Cancer.",
"Behavioral problems.",
"Sore throats.",
"Coughs."
] |
According to the 1st ad, which of the following is NOT included in the daily duties of an IT manager? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Beijing City International School
Position: IT manager
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Prepares and carries out the annual budget of the department.
Builds and develops the whole school IT system
Provides excellent IT services with IT team for teaching and business. Requirements/Qualifications:
Bachelor or above, majoring in Information Technology or Finance.
Good command of both Chinese and English
Minimum 5 years working experience, 3 years in a managerial level
Able to work in a collaborative style
KAI CABLE INC.
Position: Sales Internship
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Builds and develops good relationship with new customers
Maintains strong relationship with the existing customers
Explores potential customers further
Conducts market ~ competitors analysis to improve customer satisfaction.
Requirements/Qualifications:
Graduates with Bachelor degree.
Major in Finance, Economics, International Trade.
Fluent English (in both written ~ spoken) and Mandarin .
Familiar with MS office, especially Excel and PowerPoint and Internet application
Willingness to accept challenges and work under pressure.
Strong sense of responsibility.
Preoare for business trios.
Question:
According to the 1st ad, which of the following is NOT included in the daily duties of an IT manager?
Choices:
A. Making a plan of the annual expense of the department beforehand.
B. Analyzing the needs of the market and developing its IT systems.
C. Offering assistance if people have any computer problems.
D. Managing and controlling the money of the department. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high21554.txt | Beijing City International School
Position: IT manager
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Prepares and carries out the annual budget of the department.
Builds and develops the whole school IT system
Provides excellent IT services with IT team for teaching and business. Requirements/Qualifications:
Bachelor or above, majoring in Information Technology or Finance.
Good command of both Chinese and English
Minimum 5 years working experience, 3 years in a managerial level
Able to work in a collaborative style
KAI CABLE INC.
Position: Sales Internship
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Builds and develops good relationship with new customers
Maintains strong relationship with the existing customers
Explores potential customers further
Conducts market ~ competitors analysis to improve customer satisfaction.
Requirements/Qualifications:
Graduates with Bachelor degree.
Major in Finance, Economics, International Trade.
Fluent English (in both written ~ spoken) and Mandarin .
Familiar with MS office, especially Excel and PowerPoint and Internet application
Willingness to accept challenges and work under pressure.
Strong sense of responsibility.
Preoare for business trios. | [
"Making a plan of the annual expense of the department beforehand.",
"Analyzing the needs of the market and developing its IT systems.",
"Offering assistance if people have any computer problems.",
"Managing and controlling the money of the department."
] |
The passage mainly tells us that _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It will be hot--hot enough that most locals will have cleared town for cooler places. But because athletes competing at the 2004 Olympics have no choice but to stay in the hot weather, many plan to turn to science to stay cool.
Some will put their hands in ice water just before competing and nearly all will be wearing fabrics designed with hot weather in mind.
"Normally we warm up before exercise,"said Gordon Sleivert, director of sports science and medicine at the Canadian Sport Center in Victoria, British Columbia."But in this case we're taking the warm out of warm up. It's like pre-cooling."
Experts are predicting the average high this August in Athens will be 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with temperatures often reaching above 100(the average temperature in Sydney for the 2000 summer games was 64).
Although some events, such as the marathon, will start early(1 a.m.) to avoid hot weather, _ Drinking lots of water will help athletes keep cool, but humidity remains a problem. The body's ability to cool down is weakened by damp air since sweat drips off the skin rather than evaporates ,resulting in dehydration without the cooling.
"Getting hot is a real problem because when our brains heats up, the brain waves are more like when you're really sleepy. Everything feels harder," said Sleivert.
Question:
The passage mainly tells us that _ .
Choices:
A. why it is very hot in Athens
B. the hot weather is a big problem for Olympic athletes
C. how important science is to every athlete
D. the Olympics will be put off because of the hot weather | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7792.txt | It will be hot--hot enough that most locals will have cleared town for cooler places. But because athletes competing at the 2004 Olympics have no choice but to stay in the hot weather, many plan to turn to science to stay cool.
Some will put their hands in ice water just before competing and nearly all will be wearing fabrics designed with hot weather in mind.
"Normally we warm up before exercise,"said Gordon Sleivert, director of sports science and medicine at the Canadian Sport Center in Victoria, British Columbia."But in this case we're taking the warm out of warm up. It's like pre-cooling."
Experts are predicting the average high this August in Athens will be 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with temperatures often reaching above 100(the average temperature in Sydney for the 2000 summer games was 64).
Although some events, such as the marathon, will start early(1 a.m.) to avoid hot weather, _ Drinking lots of water will help athletes keep cool, but humidity remains a problem. The body's ability to cool down is weakened by damp air since sweat drips off the skin rather than evaporates ,resulting in dehydration without the cooling.
"Getting hot is a real problem because when our brains heats up, the brain waves are more like when you're really sleepy. Everything feels harder," said Sleivert. | [
"why it is very hot in Athens",
"the hot weather is a big problem for Olympic athletes",
"how important science is to every athlete",
"the Olympics will be put off because of the hot weather"
] |
Stephanie is checking her household budget, and needs to calculate how much she has left to pay for her bills. Her electricity bill costs $60, and this is paid in full. Her gas bill was $40, and she has already paid three-quarters of this. She makes another payment of $5 towards her gas bill while checking her budget. Her water bill is $40, which she has paid half of, and her internet bill is $25, which she has made 4 payments of $5 towards. Overall, how many dollars does Stephanie still need to pay to finish paying her bills? | Stephanie has paid three-quarters of her gas bill, which is 40 * 0.75 = $<<40*0.75=30>>30.
She then made another payment, which means she has paid 30 + 5 =$<<30+5=35>>35 of her gas bill.
She has paid half of her water bill, which is 40 * 0.5 = $<<40*0.5=20>>20.
She has made 4 payments towards her internet bill, which is a total of 4 * 5 = $<<4*5=20>>20.
Overall, her bills were 60 + 40 + 40 + 25 = $<<60+40+40+25=165>>165.
Overall, she has made payments of 60 + 35 + 20 + 20 = $<<60+35+20+20=135>>135.
Therefore, she still has to pay 165 – 135 = $<<165-135=30>>30.
#### 30 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Stephanie is checking her household budget, and needs to calculate how much she has left to pay for her bills. Her electricity bill costs $60, and this is paid in full. Her gas bill was $40, and she has already paid three-quarters of this. She makes another payment of $5 towards her gas bill while checking her budget. Her water bill is $40, which she has paid half of, and her internet bill is $25, which she has made 4 payments of $5 towards. Overall, how many dollars does Stephanie still need to pay to finish paying her bills? | Stephanie has paid three-quarters of her gas bill, which is 40 * 0.75 = $<<40*0.75=30>>30.
She then made another payment, which means she has paid 30 + 5 =$<<30+5=35>>35 of her gas bill.
She has paid half of her water bill, which is 40 * 0.5 = $<<40*0.5=20>>20.
She has made 4 payments towards her internet bill, which is a total of 4 * 5 = $<<4*5=20>>20.
Overall, her bills were 60 + 40 + 40 + 25 = $<<60+40+40+25=165>>165.
Overall, she has made payments of 60 + 35 + 20 + 20 = $<<60+35+20+20=135>>135.
Therefore, she still has to pay 165 – 135 = $<<165-135=30>>30.
#### 30 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Clams, oysters, and mussels eat plankton filtered from water. How would clams, oysters, and mussels most likely be affected if the amount of plankton in a large body of water was significantly reduced? | null | Answer this science question and explain your reasoning. | Clams, oysters, and mussels eat plankton filtered from water. How would clams, oysters, and mussels most likely be affected if the amount of plankton in a large body of water was significantly reduced?
Choices:
A. They would increase in number.
B. They would find a new food source.
C. They would become prey to other animals.
D. They would compete for a limited food source. | Correct answer: D | science | MDSA_2009_8_44 | {
"text": [
"They would increase in number.",
"They would find a new food source.",
"They would become prey to other animals.",
"They would compete for a limited food source."
],
"label": [
"A",
"B",
"C",
"D"
]
} | D | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
It's likely that Albert Hofmann produced LSD in _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Albert Hofmann was a Swiss Scientist who was fascinated by nature. This led him to a career in chemistry in which he sought answers to his uncertainties. He worked at Sandoz Laboratories where he nurtured his research work, and there he made a lot of success by working with various plants and changing them into something useful. He became famous when he became the first person to produce lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) . In addition, he was also the first person to taste it and learn about its hallucinogenic effects. He was deeply connected to the nature and argued that LSD, besides being useful for psychiatry , could also be used to promote awareness of mankind's place in nature. However, he was disappointed that his discovery was being carelessly used as a drug for entertainment. Because of his discovery, LSD fans have fondly called him "The father of LSD". Besides carrying out his scientific experiments, he also authored numerous books and more than 100 scientific articles. In 2007, he featured in a list of the 100 greatest living geniuses , published by The Telegraph Newspaper.
Childhood & Early Life
Albert Hofmann was born in Baden, Switzerland, on January 11, 1906. He was the eldest of four children. His father was a poor toolmaker in a factory and they lived in a rented apartment. He spent much of his childhood outdoors, and grew up with a very deep connection with nature.
He had mind-blowing experiences in childhood, wherein nature was changed in magical ways that he didn't understand. These experiences caused questions in his mind, and chemistry was the scientific field which allowed him to understand them.
He studied chemistry at Zurich University, and his main interest is the chemistry of plants and animals. At 23, he earned his Ph. D with honors.
Question:
It's likely that Albert Hofmann produced LSD in _ .
Choices:
A. Baden
B. a factory
C. Sandoz Laboratories
D. Zurich University | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high14851.txt | Albert Hofmann was a Swiss Scientist who was fascinated by nature. This led him to a career in chemistry in which he sought answers to his uncertainties. He worked at Sandoz Laboratories where he nurtured his research work, and there he made a lot of success by working with various plants and changing them into something useful. He became famous when he became the first person to produce lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) . In addition, he was also the first person to taste it and learn about its hallucinogenic effects. He was deeply connected to the nature and argued that LSD, besides being useful for psychiatry , could also be used to promote awareness of mankind's place in nature. However, he was disappointed that his discovery was being carelessly used as a drug for entertainment. Because of his discovery, LSD fans have fondly called him "The father of LSD". Besides carrying out his scientific experiments, he also authored numerous books and more than 100 scientific articles. In 2007, he featured in a list of the 100 greatest living geniuses , published by The Telegraph Newspaper.
Childhood & Early Life
Albert Hofmann was born in Baden, Switzerland, on January 11, 1906. He was the eldest of four children. His father was a poor toolmaker in a factory and they lived in a rented apartment. He spent much of his childhood outdoors, and grew up with a very deep connection with nature.
He had mind-blowing experiences in childhood, wherein nature was changed in magical ways that he didn't understand. These experiences caused questions in his mind, and chemistry was the scientific field which allowed him to understand them.
He studied chemistry at Zurich University, and his main interest is the chemistry of plants and animals. At 23, he earned his Ph. D with honors. | [
"Baden",
"a factory",
"Sandoz Laboratories",
"Zurich University"
] |
Why does ice wedging occur? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Why does ice wedging occur? | water expands | science | null | null | null | water evaporates | water melts | water freezes | water expands | Ice wedging happens because water expands as it goes from liquid to solid. When the temperature is warm, water works its way into cracks in rock. When the temperature cools below freezing, the water turns to ice and expands. The ice takes up more space. Over time, this wedges the rock apart. Ice wedging is very effective at weathering. You can find large piles of broken rock at the base of a slope. These rocks were broken up by ice wedging. Once loose, they tumbled down the slope. | null | null | null |
According to Dr. Vincent Lynch, what has been a risk in the evolution of large animals? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Elephants have impressed us for centuries. They are big, clever, and sociable. But what if someone told you that they may also hold the key to fighting cancer?
People have been wondering why elephants do not develop cancer, even though they have life spans that are similar to humans, living for around 50 to 70 years.
Now scientists believe they know why. A team at the University of Chicago, Us has found that elephants carry a large number of genes that stop tumors from developing. To be precise, they found 20 copies of an anti-tumor gene called TP 53 in elephants. Most other species, humans included, only carry one copy.
According to the research, which was recently published on the online science network BioRxiv, the extra copies of the gene improved the animal's sensitivity to DNA damage. This lets the cells quickly kill themselves when damaged before they can form deadly tumors.
"An increased risk of developing cancer has stood in the way of the evolution of large body sizes in many animals," study author Dr Vincent Lynch told The Guardian. If every living cell has the same chance of becoming cancerous, large creatures with long life spans like whales and elephants should have a greater risk of developing cancer than humans and mice do. But across species, the risk of cancer does not show a connection with body mass.
_ was found by Oxford University scientist Richard Peto in the 1970s and later named "Peto's paradox". Evolutionary biologists believe it results from larger animals using protection that many smaller do not, In the elephant's case, the making of TP53 is nature's way of keeping this species alive.
The study also found that when the same genes were brought to life in mice, they had the same cancer resistance as elephants. This means researchers could use the discovery to develop new treatments that can help stop cancers from spreading or even developing in the first place.
"Nature has already figured out how to prevent cancer," said Joshua Schiffman, an oncologist at the School of Medicine, University of Utah, US.
"It's up to us to learn how different animals tackle the problem so we can use those strategies to prevent cancer in people."
Question:
According to Dr. Vincent Lynch, what has been a risk in the evolution of large animals?
Choices:
A. Extreme weather
B. Cells killing themselves
C. Human behavior
D. A risk of deadly tumors | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high13492.txt | Elephants have impressed us for centuries. They are big, clever, and sociable. But what if someone told you that they may also hold the key to fighting cancer?
People have been wondering why elephants do not develop cancer, even though they have life spans that are similar to humans, living for around 50 to 70 years.
Now scientists believe they know why. A team at the University of Chicago, Us has found that elephants carry a large number of genes that stop tumors from developing. To be precise, they found 20 copies of an anti-tumor gene called TP 53 in elephants. Most other species, humans included, only carry one copy.
According to the research, which was recently published on the online science network BioRxiv, the extra copies of the gene improved the animal's sensitivity to DNA damage. This lets the cells quickly kill themselves when damaged before they can form deadly tumors.
"An increased risk of developing cancer has stood in the way of the evolution of large body sizes in many animals," study author Dr Vincent Lynch told The Guardian. If every living cell has the same chance of becoming cancerous, large creatures with long life spans like whales and elephants should have a greater risk of developing cancer than humans and mice do. But across species, the risk of cancer does not show a connection with body mass.
_ was found by Oxford University scientist Richard Peto in the 1970s and later named "Peto's paradox". Evolutionary biologists believe it results from larger animals using protection that many smaller do not, In the elephant's case, the making of TP53 is nature's way of keeping this species alive.
The study also found that when the same genes were brought to life in mice, they had the same cancer resistance as elephants. This means researchers could use the discovery to develop new treatments that can help stop cancers from spreading or even developing in the first place.
"Nature has already figured out how to prevent cancer," said Joshua Schiffman, an oncologist at the School of Medicine, University of Utah, US.
"It's up to us to learn how different animals tackle the problem so we can use those strategies to prevent cancer in people." | [
"Extreme weather",
"Cells killing themselves",
"Human behavior",
"A risk of deadly tumors"
] |
The writer realized that _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Several months ago I decided it would be wise to look into the possibilities of buying a life insurance policy , because I understood it might be a good investment. I got the name of an insurance agent from a friend and called the agent to get some information. From the kinds of questions I put to him the agent could tell that I knew nothing about insurance, so he kindly offered to explore the matter with me in more detail---to help me determine the kind of policy I ought to be considering.
That evening he appeared at my door promptly at 7:30; without wasting time on pleasantness, he spread his papers out on the kitchen table and launched into a lengthy explanation. I listened attentively as he talked about the difference between various types of policies, and he explained the kind of coverage he felt I ought to have. Toward the end of the evening (after three or four hours of talking), he kindly helped me fill out an application for a $50,000 policy, and then he asked if I could go to a Dr. Luther's office on Friday for a physical examination.
I don't know why, but it was not until the mention of the doctor's appointment that I realized fully what was happening. I was about to sign a lifetime contract, yet I had not really made a decision about whether I wanted to buy the policy. However, since he had spent so much time with me, I didn't want to make him feel that he had wasted his time. So I invented an excuse about things I had to do on Friday, and I assured him I would call him in a few days. Actually, I had no intention of going to see Dr. Luther or of calling the agent again. I wanted to forget the whole thing.
It's been over three months now since our meeting, and my friendly insurance agent still calls at my office faithfully two or three times a week. My secretary knows that I don't want to talk to him, so when he calls she tells him that I'm in a meeting or that I'm out of the office or that I'm away on a business trip. I realize now that it was a mistake not to tell him that first night that I didn't want the policy. Since I still can't bring myself to tell him clearly that I'm not interested, and please not to bother me anymore, all I can do is avoid his calls and hope I don't run into him some place.
Question:
The writer realized that _ .
Choices:
A. he should have told the truth to the agent earlier
B. he should buy the policy
C. the agent is a real friend
D. insurance is but a cheat | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17666.txt | Several months ago I decided it would be wise to look into the possibilities of buying a life insurance policy , because I understood it might be a good investment. I got the name of an insurance agent from a friend and called the agent to get some information. From the kinds of questions I put to him the agent could tell that I knew nothing about insurance, so he kindly offered to explore the matter with me in more detail---to help me determine the kind of policy I ought to be considering.
That evening he appeared at my door promptly at 7:30; without wasting time on pleasantness, he spread his papers out on the kitchen table and launched into a lengthy explanation. I listened attentively as he talked about the difference between various types of policies, and he explained the kind of coverage he felt I ought to have. Toward the end of the evening (after three or four hours of talking), he kindly helped me fill out an application for a $50,000 policy, and then he asked if I could go to a Dr. Luther's office on Friday for a physical examination.
I don't know why, but it was not until the mention of the doctor's appointment that I realized fully what was happening. I was about to sign a lifetime contract, yet I had not really made a decision about whether I wanted to buy the policy. However, since he had spent so much time with me, I didn't want to make him feel that he had wasted his time. So I invented an excuse about things I had to do on Friday, and I assured him I would call him in a few days. Actually, I had no intention of going to see Dr. Luther or of calling the agent again. I wanted to forget the whole thing.
It's been over three months now since our meeting, and my friendly insurance agent still calls at my office faithfully two or three times a week. My secretary knows that I don't want to talk to him, so when he calls she tells him that I'm in a meeting or that I'm out of the office or that I'm away on a business trip. I realize now that it was a mistake not to tell him that first night that I didn't want the policy. Since I still can't bring myself to tell him clearly that I'm not interested, and please not to bother me anymore, all I can do is avoid his calls and hope I don't run into him some place. | [
"he should have told the truth to the agent earlier",
"he should buy the policy",
"the agent is a real friend",
"insurance is but a cheat"
] |
Which stage of development is a period during which apoptosis is widespread and plays a crucial role? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Which stage of development is a period during which apoptosis is widespread and plays a crucial role? | embryonic | science | null | null | null | infancy | puberty | transgenic | embryonic | null | null | null | |
Which of the following is TRUE? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It was Sunday yesterday. Tom and his mother were at home. Tom woke up late and sat on the bed watching TV. And he ate much chocolate. Then it was noon. Tom had to get up. Mother and Tom sat at the table. They were having their lunch. "The soup is not good. I don't want to have it," said Tom and put down his spoon . Mother said nothing and took it away. After lunch, Mother and Tom worked in the garden There was much work to do, so Tom was tired and felt hungry soon. His mother gave him nothing to eat.
In the evening, mother gave a bowl of soup to Tom "Oh, how delicious !" said Tom. "it's the same soup, Tom," said Mother with a smile.
Question:
Which of the following is TRUE?
Choices:
A. Tom had the soup for lunch.
B. Tom sat on the sofa watching TV.
C. There was little work to do in the garden .
D. The soup was "delicious" at dinner, because Tom was hungry. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle4312.txt | It was Sunday yesterday. Tom and his mother were at home. Tom woke up late and sat on the bed watching TV. And he ate much chocolate. Then it was noon. Tom had to get up. Mother and Tom sat at the table. They were having their lunch. "The soup is not good. I don't want to have it," said Tom and put down his spoon . Mother said nothing and took it away. After lunch, Mother and Tom worked in the garden There was much work to do, so Tom was tired and felt hungry soon. His mother gave him nothing to eat.
In the evening, mother gave a bowl of soup to Tom "Oh, how delicious !" said Tom. "it's the same soup, Tom," said Mother with a smile. | [
"Tom had the soup for lunch.",
"Tom sat on the sofa watching TV.",
"There was little work to do in the garden .",
"The soup was \"delicious\" at dinner, because Tom was hungry."
] |
According to the National Weather Service forecast, _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
WASHINGTON(Reuters)--Federal Government Agencies in the capital region will remain closed for a second day on Tuesday as residents trying to clean up the weekend storm that shocked the area with two feet of snow.
Another big winter storm was expected to hit the U.S. mid--Atlantic on Tuesday and last through Wednesday, the National Weather Service forecast on Monday. _ snowfall is ranged from 10 to 20 inches, it said. The new storm was expected to hit other big cities along the East Coast, including Baltimore and Philadelphia, which is still extending into New Jersey and New York. It would pile on to the 32 inches of snow that fell in suburban Washington in the biggest snowfall to hit the city in decades.
The Office of Personnel Management announced on Monday evening that Federal Government Offices in the Washington area would be closed on Tuesday. Emergency employees were expected to report for work in time, but non--emergency employees were excused. The Federal Government was closed on Monday, though President Barack Obama still held meetings at the White House. Schools and most businesses in the region also were shut.
In the county, about 80,000 people lost power on Saturday, and some customers still had no electricity or heat on Monday. Many schools said classes would be canceled through Tuesday, even before the latest storm warning.
On Monday, winter sunshine bathed the nation's capital and the surrounding region, where people dug out their driveways and sidewalks to finally start to clear streets in some residential neighborhoods. Bus service on Monday was limited to just a small number of routes in the Washington, D.C.
Cold and snow blanketed much of the central United States this winter, slowing weight gain in cattle and pigs, delaying livestock sales, and increasing feed costs for producers.
The new storm might also hit the Northeast, the nation's largest market for heating fuel. The weekend blast largely bypassed that region.
Question:
According to the National Weather Service forecast, _ .
Choices:
A. the new snowfall will reach 32 inches around Washington
B. the snowstorm will hit more big cities along the West Coast
C. the snowstorm will make 80,000 people live in darkness
D. Washington hasn't suffered such a big snow for scores of years | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high20960.txt | WASHINGTON(Reuters)--Federal Government Agencies in the capital region will remain closed for a second day on Tuesday as residents trying to clean up the weekend storm that shocked the area with two feet of snow.
Another big winter storm was expected to hit the U.S. mid--Atlantic on Tuesday and last through Wednesday, the National Weather Service forecast on Monday. _ snowfall is ranged from 10 to 20 inches, it said. The new storm was expected to hit other big cities along the East Coast, including Baltimore and Philadelphia, which is still extending into New Jersey and New York. It would pile on to the 32 inches of snow that fell in suburban Washington in the biggest snowfall to hit the city in decades.
The Office of Personnel Management announced on Monday evening that Federal Government Offices in the Washington area would be closed on Tuesday. Emergency employees were expected to report for work in time, but non--emergency employees were excused. The Federal Government was closed on Monday, though President Barack Obama still held meetings at the White House. Schools and most businesses in the region also were shut.
In the county, about 80,000 people lost power on Saturday, and some customers still had no electricity or heat on Monday. Many schools said classes would be canceled through Tuesday, even before the latest storm warning.
On Monday, winter sunshine bathed the nation's capital and the surrounding region, where people dug out their driveways and sidewalks to finally start to clear streets in some residential neighborhoods. Bus service on Monday was limited to just a small number of routes in the Washington, D.C.
Cold and snow blanketed much of the central United States this winter, slowing weight gain in cattle and pigs, delaying livestock sales, and increasing feed costs for producers.
The new storm might also hit the Northeast, the nation's largest market for heating fuel. The weekend blast largely bypassed that region. | [
"the new snowfall will reach 32 inches around Washington",
"the snowstorm will hit more big cities along the West Coast",
"the snowstorm will make 80,000 people live in darkness",
"Washington hasn't suffered such a big snow for scores of years"
] |
What can we learn from this passage? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It was a secret Eli kept until he was 8 years old.
"He would scream, like we were hurting him when we tried to put a dress on him." recalled Grace, his mother. That was when Eli was an 18-month-old baby girl already rejecting anything female.
Now, Eli's mother and Eli are sharing their story with CBS New York. Eli still remembers being a baby, and rejecting putting on a dress. "Oh, I remember that," he said. "It was like torture." Now Eli is 11 years old. He is, by all accounts, a happy, active boy who never doubted he was born the wrong sex. Eli said to CBS New York. It was hard to keep that secret for 8 years though, "It was kind of hard because I hadn't really told anyone ever," he said.
"He said, 'I have a secret, and the secret is I don't want to be a girl. I think I'm a boy,'"Grace recalled. "...I thought, 'I don't know what we're going to do, but we're going to figure it out."'
CBS New York reports that it was a less clear path for Ryan, now a 21-year-old man. He, too, was born female, but never felt like one.
He didn't understand his feelings at the time. Then he learned about what it meant to be transgender on the Internet, and it began to make sense. "It was a relief to know what exactly I was or am," he said.
Ryan's mother said at first it was hard to accept. "It's a scary thing to think about," she said. But she came around. "I was glad my son is able to become the person he needed to be," she said.
Experts say the kind of family support both Ryan and Eli are getting is of great significance. Without it, many transgender kids suffer from anxiety, depression and high rates of suicide.
"We see a lot of kids with a lot of mental health concerns, and we also see that those mental health concerns really reduced when the family is on board," said Jean Malpas of Ackerman Institute for the Family, a non-profit research organization to CBS New York.
Grace said for her it went from a situation that felt really confusing and difficult to one that she now celebrates. "We feel so lucky to have him." she said.
Question:
What can we learn from this passage?
Choices:
A. Many people feel difficult to accept who themselves really are.
B. Knowledge about transgender should be made known to more people.
C. Support from family is important to special groups like the transgender.
D. Many non-profit organizations are trying to help people like Eli and Ryan. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high12915.txt | It was a secret Eli kept until he was 8 years old.
"He would scream, like we were hurting him when we tried to put a dress on him." recalled Grace, his mother. That was when Eli was an 18-month-old baby girl already rejecting anything female.
Now, Eli's mother and Eli are sharing their story with CBS New York. Eli still remembers being a baby, and rejecting putting on a dress. "Oh, I remember that," he said. "It was like torture." Now Eli is 11 years old. He is, by all accounts, a happy, active boy who never doubted he was born the wrong sex. Eli said to CBS New York. It was hard to keep that secret for 8 years though, "It was kind of hard because I hadn't really told anyone ever," he said.
"He said, 'I have a secret, and the secret is I don't want to be a girl. I think I'm a boy,'"Grace recalled. "...I thought, 'I don't know what we're going to do, but we're going to figure it out."'
CBS New York reports that it was a less clear path for Ryan, now a 21-year-old man. He, too, was born female, but never felt like one.
He didn't understand his feelings at the time. Then he learned about what it meant to be transgender on the Internet, and it began to make sense. "It was a relief to know what exactly I was or am," he said.
Ryan's mother said at first it was hard to accept. "It's a scary thing to think about," she said. But she came around. "I was glad my son is able to become the person he needed to be," she said.
Experts say the kind of family support both Ryan and Eli are getting is of great significance. Without it, many transgender kids suffer from anxiety, depression and high rates of suicide.
"We see a lot of kids with a lot of mental health concerns, and we also see that those mental health concerns really reduced when the family is on board," said Jean Malpas of Ackerman Institute for the Family, a non-profit research organization to CBS New York.
Grace said for her it went from a situation that felt really confusing and difficult to one that she now celebrates. "We feel so lucky to have him." she said. | [
"Many people feel difficult to accept who themselves really are.",
"Knowledge about transgender should be made known to more people.",
"Support from family is important to special groups like the transgender.",
"Many non-profit organizations are trying to help people like Eli and Ryan."
] |
The text seems to suggest that Jeanne Calment owes her good health and long life to _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Jeanne Calment, a French woman, become a record breaker on 17 October 1995, when at the age of 120 years and 238 days, she became the longest-lived human being on record. A Japanese man died in 1986 at the age of 120 years and 237 days.
Jeanne Calment lives in a small old people's home in the south of France, her husband, her only child and her grandson have all died. She is nearly blind and deaf and is always in a wheelchair, but her doctor describes here as being "more like a 90-year-old in good health" than someone of 120. She still has a lively sense of humor. When asked on the 120thbirthday what she expected of the future, she replied, "A very short one." She also remarked that she thought the good Lord had forgotten all about her.
So what is the key to a long life? According to some doctors, diet, exercise and no smoking are the three important factors. Jeanne Calment has followed two of the tips. She has always eaten a healthy diet, and she used to do exercises every day until she broke her leg at the age of 115. However, until recently she drank two glasses of strong red wine a say, and she does smoke (now only a little). Besides, Jeanne Calment might have got very good _ from her parents. Her father lived to the age of 94 and her mother to 86.
A local lawyer bought her house when she was 80 under an agreement that he would pay her some money every year until her death. It must have seemed a good move at the time, but so far the lawyer has paid her at least three times the value of the house. Every year on her birthday Jeanne Calment sends him a card saying: "Sorry, I'm still alive!"
Question:
The text seems to suggest that Jeanne Calment owes her good health and long life to _ .
Choices:
A. smoking only little every day
B. neither smoking nor drinking
C. always drinking two glasses of strong red wine a day and never smoking
D. the good genes from her parents, a healthy diet and some exercises | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high3108.txt | Jeanne Calment, a French woman, become a record breaker on 17 October 1995, when at the age of 120 years and 238 days, she became the longest-lived human being on record. A Japanese man died in 1986 at the age of 120 years and 237 days.
Jeanne Calment lives in a small old people's home in the south of France, her husband, her only child and her grandson have all died. She is nearly blind and deaf and is always in a wheelchair, but her doctor describes here as being "more like a 90-year-old in good health" than someone of 120. She still has a lively sense of humor. When asked on the 120thbirthday what she expected of the future, she replied, "A very short one." She also remarked that she thought the good Lord had forgotten all about her.
So what is the key to a long life? According to some doctors, diet, exercise and no smoking are the three important factors. Jeanne Calment has followed two of the tips. She has always eaten a healthy diet, and she used to do exercises every day until she broke her leg at the age of 115. However, until recently she drank two glasses of strong red wine a say, and she does smoke (now only a little). Besides, Jeanne Calment might have got very good _ from her parents. Her father lived to the age of 94 and her mother to 86.
A local lawyer bought her house when she was 80 under an agreement that he would pay her some money every year until her death. It must have seemed a good move at the time, but so far the lawyer has paid her at least three times the value of the house. Every year on her birthday Jeanne Calment sends him a card saying: "Sorry, I'm still alive!" | [
"smoking only little every day",
"neither smoking nor drinking",
"always drinking two glasses of strong red wine a day and never smoking",
"the good genes from her parents, a healthy diet and some exercises"
] |
Which is Not true according to the passage? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
These days,more and more young people wish to be more beautiful,So they turn to plastic surgery for help.They spend thousands of yuan on these painful surgeries to fix their nose,to change their eyelids or to take off weight from their stomachs.
In fact,most people are not pleased with the way they look.Even the most beautiful actresses
often wish they could change something about their looks.Should we live our whole lives believing we are ugly? Why can't we raise our head high and believe that we are as beautiful as others? A smile is beautiful on any face,whether fat,oily or hairy.And a kind heart is much more beautiful than a pretty look.
So,let's feel grateful that we all have beautiful and healthy bodies that do not need surgeries! Today,I call on you to make an easy change:hold your head high! smile and be kind to others.If you do these,you will be full of confidence ,beauty, and warmth everywhere you go.
Question:
Which is Not true according to the passage?
Choices:
A. Actresses never worry about their looks.
B. It costs a lot of money to have plastic surgeries.
C. We only need to make a small change to feel beautiful enough.
D. A good look is less important than a kind heart. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle2807.txt | These days,more and more young people wish to be more beautiful,So they turn to plastic surgery for help.They spend thousands of yuan on these painful surgeries to fix their nose,to change their eyelids or to take off weight from their stomachs.
In fact,most people are not pleased with the way they look.Even the most beautiful actresses
often wish they could change something about their looks.Should we live our whole lives believing we are ugly? Why can't we raise our head high and believe that we are as beautiful as others? A smile is beautiful on any face,whether fat,oily or hairy.And a kind heart is much more beautiful than a pretty look.
So,let's feel grateful that we all have beautiful and healthy bodies that do not need surgeries! Today,I call on you to make an easy change:hold your head high! smile and be kind to others.If you do these,you will be full of confidence ,beauty, and warmth everywhere you go. | [
"Actresses never worry about their looks.",
"It costs a lot of money to have plastic surgeries.",
"We only need to make a small change to feel beautiful enough.",
"A good look is less important than a kind heart."
] |
What do we know about the online tutoring? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
India was once part of the British Empire, but thanks to modern technology and a booming economy, it has turned the tables on its former colonial master. Indian tutors are helping to teach math to British children over high-speed Internet connections. Early results suggest the idea is improving exam results. But not everyone is happy at this "outsourcing" of tutoring.
It's 3:30, and pupils at Raynham Primary School in London are gathering for their after-school maths lessons.
Five time zones-- thousands of kilometers away--their math tutors are also arriving for class. High-speed Internet has made it possible for Indian tutors to teach British pupils in real time. Each pupil gets a dedicated one-to-one online tutor. The students work with activities on their computer screen and wear a headset and microphone to talk to their tutor.
The class teacher, Altus Basson, says he has seen an improvement in results. "There are some children who've really rocketed in their results. Children who struggleto focus in class focus a lot better on the laptops. The real advantage is that each child gets a focused activity and a single tutor," he said.
Such individualized teaching is the core idea of Brightspark Education, the company that provides the online tutoring, says founder Tom Hooper. "Children today feel very confident online; they feel very engaged; they feel very in control. And that's half the battle with education.Give them control, make them feel confident and enjoy their learning and you'll see them start to improve and embrace it," he said.
Raynham Primary School is among the first in Europe to try online tutoring. At between $20 and $25 an hour, it's about half the cost of face-to-face coaching. But some people say an Internet connection is not enough of a connection for teaching and learning. Kevin Courtney is deputy General Secretary of Britain's National Union of Teachers. "We think, there's a really important emotional connection between a teacher and a child whether it's a whole class or whether it's one-to-one. You need that immediacy of feedback and we're not convinced that that can happen across an Internet connection. In one of the wealthiest.countries in the world, we think that we can afford to have teachers with genuine emotional connection there with the children," he said.
Brightspark Education says the online tutoring is used only as an addition to supplement regular teaching. The company says its service does not represent a threat to teachers' jobs in Britain.
Parents say they're very satisfied with the results they've seen. And what about the children?Children: "I love it!"I love it!"I hate maths!" So math--or, as the British call it, maths--is still not everyone's favorite subject even with the latest technology to teach it.
Question:
What do we know about the online tutoring?
Choices:
A. Indian tutors are helping to teach math in Britain.
B. Tutors and students are in different places.
C. An online tutor helps several students at the same time.
D. Tutors and students communicate by telephone. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1757.txt | India was once part of the British Empire, but thanks to modern technology and a booming economy, it has turned the tables on its former colonial master. Indian tutors are helping to teach math to British children over high-speed Internet connections. Early results suggest the idea is improving exam results. But not everyone is happy at this "outsourcing" of tutoring.
It's 3:30, and pupils at Raynham Primary School in London are gathering for their after-school maths lessons.
Five time zones-- thousands of kilometers away--their math tutors are also arriving for class. High-speed Internet has made it possible for Indian tutors to teach British pupils in real time. Each pupil gets a dedicated one-to-one online tutor. The students work with activities on their computer screen and wear a headset and microphone to talk to their tutor.
The class teacher, Altus Basson, says he has seen an improvement in results. "There are some children who've really rocketed in their results. Children who struggleto focus in class focus a lot better on the laptops. The real advantage is that each child gets a focused activity and a single tutor," he said.
Such individualized teaching is the core idea of Brightspark Education, the company that provides the online tutoring, says founder Tom Hooper. "Children today feel very confident online; they feel very engaged; they feel very in control. And that's half the battle with education.Give them control, make them feel confident and enjoy their learning and you'll see them start to improve and embrace it," he said.
Raynham Primary School is among the first in Europe to try online tutoring. At between $20 and $25 an hour, it's about half the cost of face-to-face coaching. But some people say an Internet connection is not enough of a connection for teaching and learning. Kevin Courtney is deputy General Secretary of Britain's National Union of Teachers. "We think, there's a really important emotional connection between a teacher and a child whether it's a whole class or whether it's one-to-one. You need that immediacy of feedback and we're not convinced that that can happen across an Internet connection. In one of the wealthiest.countries in the world, we think that we can afford to have teachers with genuine emotional connection there with the children," he said.
Brightspark Education says the online tutoring is used only as an addition to supplement regular teaching. The company says its service does not represent a threat to teachers' jobs in Britain.
Parents say they're very satisfied with the results they've seen. And what about the children?Children: "I love it!"I love it!"I hate maths!" So math--or, as the British call it, maths--is still not everyone's favorite subject even with the latest technology to teach it. | [
"Indian tutors are helping to teach math in Britain.",
"Tutors and students are in different places.",
"An online tutor helps several students at the same time.",
"Tutors and students communicate by telephone."
] |
Where did Emie's kindness and caring come from? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
As a young man, Tom was a famous artist with a wife and two fine sons. One night, his older son was ill. Tom and his wife thought it was nothing serious. But the boy died suddenly that night..
After his son died, Tom always felt very sad. To make matters worse, his wife also left him later, leaving him alone with his six-year-old younger son, Emie. Sadly, he turned to alcohol for help.
As time went by, Tom began to lose everything he had---his land, house, etc. A few months later, Tom passed away alone in a small bar. Hearing of Tom's death, I thought,"What a complete failure!"
But later, I began to change my earlier opinion. I knew Tom's now adult son, Emie. He is one of the kindest, most caring men. I saw the love between Emie and his children. And I thought that kindness and caring had to come from somewhere.
One day, I asked him what made him become such a specia1 person. Emie said quietly, "My father came into my room every night, give me a kiss and said,"love you, son."
Hearing his words, I understood everything. Tom didn't leave many things behind. But he had been a kind loving father, and left behind his best love.
Question:
Where did Emie's kindness and caring come from?
Choices:
A. His father's love.
B. His mother's love.
C. His own hard-work.
D. His parent's hard-work. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5389.txt | As a young man, Tom was a famous artist with a wife and two fine sons. One night, his older son was ill. Tom and his wife thought it was nothing serious. But the boy died suddenly that night..
After his son died, Tom always felt very sad. To make matters worse, his wife also left him later, leaving him alone with his six-year-old younger son, Emie. Sadly, he turned to alcohol for help.
As time went by, Tom began to lose everything he had---his land, house, etc. A few months later, Tom passed away alone in a small bar. Hearing of Tom's death, I thought,"What a complete failure!"
But later, I began to change my earlier opinion. I knew Tom's now adult son, Emie. He is one of the kindest, most caring men. I saw the love between Emie and his children. And I thought that kindness and caring had to come from somewhere.
One day, I asked him what made him become such a specia1 person. Emie said quietly, "My father came into my room every night, give me a kiss and said,"love you, son."
Hearing his words, I understood everything. Tom didn't leave many things behind. But he had been a kind loving father, and left behind his best love. | [
"His father's love.",
"His mother's love.",
"His own hard-work.",
"His parent's hard-work."
] |
A chicken is able to gain energy that came from the Sun by | null | Answer this science question and explain your reasoning. | A chicken is able to gain energy that came from the Sun by
Choices:
A. eating seeds.
B. drinking water.
C. laying eggs.
D. breathing oxygen. | Correct answer: A | science | Mercury_SC_407186 | {
"text": [
"eating seeds.",
"drinking water.",
"laying eggs.",
"breathing oxygen."
],
"label": [
"A",
"B",
"C",
"D"
]
} | A | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Why has the FDA been called"Foot Dragging Administration"? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to rule soon that milk from cloned animals and meat from their offspring are safe to eat.
The agricultural industry has observed a self-acting stop on using the products of clones, but it has recently become clear that a few offspring of cloned pigs and cows are already flowing into the food supply. Many in agriculture believe such genetic copies are the next logical step in improving the nation's livestock .
Many Americans are likely to be against the idea of serving clones' milk to their children or putting meat from the offspring of clones into the kitchens. When they were asked earlier this year in a survey by the International Food Information Council whether they would willingly buy meat, milk and eggs that come from clones if the FDA declared them to be safe, 63 percent of consumers said no.
Yet scientific evidence suggests there is little cause for alarm, at least on food-safety grounds. Studies have shown that meat and milk from clones are not different from that from normal animals, although work is not complete and researchers say that clones do suffer slight genetic abnormalities .
While milk from clones might reach the shelves, _ They'd be used as breeding stock , so the real question is whether their produced offspring would be safe.
The FDA has been promising a policy for three years, but hasn't produced a final view, and some biotechnology companies involved in cloning have run out of cash while waiting. Livestock producers have called the FDA the"Foot Dragging Administration".
Question:
Why has the FDA been called"Foot Dragging Administration"?
Choices:
A. Because the FDA hasn't made final policy in the limited time.
B. Because the FDA have used up their money to make cloned food.
C. Because the FDA doesn't know whether the cloned meat is safe to eat or not.
D. Because the livestock producers like to play jokes. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17156.txt | The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to rule soon that milk from cloned animals and meat from their offspring are safe to eat.
The agricultural industry has observed a self-acting stop on using the products of clones, but it has recently become clear that a few offspring of cloned pigs and cows are already flowing into the food supply. Many in agriculture believe such genetic copies are the next logical step in improving the nation's livestock .
Many Americans are likely to be against the idea of serving clones' milk to their children or putting meat from the offspring of clones into the kitchens. When they were asked earlier this year in a survey by the International Food Information Council whether they would willingly buy meat, milk and eggs that come from clones if the FDA declared them to be safe, 63 percent of consumers said no.
Yet scientific evidence suggests there is little cause for alarm, at least on food-safety grounds. Studies have shown that meat and milk from clones are not different from that from normal animals, although work is not complete and researchers say that clones do suffer slight genetic abnormalities .
While milk from clones might reach the shelves, _ They'd be used as breeding stock , so the real question is whether their produced offspring would be safe.
The FDA has been promising a policy for three years, but hasn't produced a final view, and some biotechnology companies involved in cloning have run out of cash while waiting. Livestock producers have called the FDA the"Foot Dragging Administration". | [
"Because the FDA hasn't made final policy in the limited time.",
"Because the FDA have used up their money to make cloned food.",
"Because the FDA doesn't know whether the cloned meat is safe to eat or not.",
"Because the livestock producers like to play jokes."
] |
The writer spent most of his days in | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
London is my favorite city in the world and it's a place that draws me back to it again and again.
My first trip to London at the age of 19 was my first solo trip anywhere. I found a home stay program in one of my guidebooks so I spent my first several days staying on the out streets of London near Ealing Broadway. Each morning the older lady I was staying with would come into my room and place a cup of tea by my bedside and then wake me up so I could have breakfast and start my day of sight-seeing. It was like having my own British grandmother.
On that first trip to the UK, which was three weeks long, I decided to spend a week in London and then the rest of the time in Liverpool with a pen pal of mine. Well, after traveling up to Liverpool and spending two days with him, I found we really weren't such great friends after all, so I decided to take the boat from Liverpool to Dublin and make my way to County Galway to see my family. Partly, I wanted to go to Ireland. And partly, I just wanted to get away from my pen pal and couldn't afford a whole week on my own in England, so family to the rescue!
After a great week in Galway with my s, I went back to London for a few more days and ended up staying with some s there I didn't even know I had.
One of the funny things about that entire trip was that every single day when I was in London it rained. The only time it didn't rain was the week I spent in Ireland.
Question:
The writer spent most of his days in
Choices:
A. London
B. Liverpool
C. Ireland
D. Galway | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high22436.txt | London is my favorite city in the world and it's a place that draws me back to it again and again.
My first trip to London at the age of 19 was my first solo trip anywhere. I found a home stay program in one of my guidebooks so I spent my first several days staying on the out streets of London near Ealing Broadway. Each morning the older lady I was staying with would come into my room and place a cup of tea by my bedside and then wake me up so I could have breakfast and start my day of sight-seeing. It was like having my own British grandmother.
On that first trip to the UK, which was three weeks long, I decided to spend a week in London and then the rest of the time in Liverpool with a pen pal of mine. Well, after traveling up to Liverpool and spending two days with him, I found we really weren't such great friends after all, so I decided to take the boat from Liverpool to Dublin and make my way to County Galway to see my family. Partly, I wanted to go to Ireland. And partly, I just wanted to get away from my pen pal and couldn't afford a whole week on my own in England, so family to the rescue!
After a great week in Galway with my s, I went back to London for a few more days and ended up staying with some s there I didn't even know I had.
One of the funny things about that entire trip was that every single day when I was in London it rained. The only time it didn't rain was the week I spent in Ireland. | [
"London",
"Liverpool",
"Ireland",
"Galway"
] |
What can we learn from this story? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
This is a tale of two friends --- one is blind, the other has no arms. On their own, the two are "disabled". But together, they are a powerful team that has changed part of their village in North China's Hebei Province into a rich, green forest. Meet 53-year-old Jia Haixia and Jia Wenqi!
Their story began in 2000, when Haixia, who was already blind in his right eye, lost his left one after an illness. Wenqi lost his arms in an accident when he was just three. Neither
could find a job, so the two decided to team up. They rented some poor land and began to plant trees. In return, the local officials paid them a small fee. Haixia and Wenqi never imagined that they would end up creating an environmental paradise. Their forest now has over 10,000 trees, hundreds of birds and many other wild animals. In addition, it saves the village from river flooding during the rainy season. When the friends work together, they focus on their strengths not their disabilities. Their day begins at 7 a.m. when the sightless Haixia carries Wenqi across the river to get to their worksite. Since they cannot afford to buy young trees to plant, the two use branches from existing trees. Haixia climbs to the tree-top and with Wenqi's direction, selects the perfect branch. He then digs a hole and carefully plants it. Finally Wenqi waters the area.
Though hard-working, the men don't make much money. But as Wenqi puts it, " _ ."
Neither Haixia nor Wenqi cares about money. Together, they already have everything they need --- a perfect pair of eyes, two strong hands, and the best friendship in the world!
Question:
What can we learn from this story?
Choices:
A. Never give up and you will succeed.
B. We should help the disabled to work.
C. Try your best when facing difficulties.
D. We can achieve more with teamwork. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5096.txt | This is a tale of two friends --- one is blind, the other has no arms. On their own, the two are "disabled". But together, they are a powerful team that has changed part of their village in North China's Hebei Province into a rich, green forest. Meet 53-year-old Jia Haixia and Jia Wenqi!
Their story began in 2000, when Haixia, who was already blind in his right eye, lost his left one after an illness. Wenqi lost his arms in an accident when he was just three. Neither
could find a job, so the two decided to team up. They rented some poor land and began to plant trees. In return, the local officials paid them a small fee. Haixia and Wenqi never imagined that they would end up creating an environmental paradise. Their forest now has over 10,000 trees, hundreds of birds and many other wild animals. In addition, it saves the village from river flooding during the rainy season. When the friends work together, they focus on their strengths not their disabilities. Their day begins at 7 a.m. when the sightless Haixia carries Wenqi across the river to get to their worksite. Since they cannot afford to buy young trees to plant, the two use branches from existing trees. Haixia climbs to the tree-top and with Wenqi's direction, selects the perfect branch. He then digs a hole and carefully plants it. Finally Wenqi waters the area.
Though hard-working, the men don't make much money. But as Wenqi puts it, " _ ."
Neither Haixia nor Wenqi cares about money. Together, they already have everything they need --- a perfect pair of eyes, two strong hands, and the best friendship in the world! | [
"Never give up and you will succeed.",
"We should help the disabled to work.",
"Try your best when facing difficulties.",
"We can achieve more with teamwork."
] |
The story happened _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Once a boy went to a palace to ask a wise man what the secret of happiness is. After talking with the boy, the wise man asked the boy to look around the palace and return in two hours. "And , I want to ask you to do something,"said the wise man ."As you look around, carry this spoon with you without making the oil spill ."
The boy began walking up and down the stairs of the palace, and he kept his eyes on the spoon all the time. After two hours, he returned. "Well," asked the wise man, "what did you see in my palace?" The boy said that he had seen nothing.
"Then go back and enjoy my wonderful world," said the wise man. The boy picked up the spoon and began to look around the palace again. This time, he saw many beautiful things in the palace. When he returned, the wise man asked, "but where are the drops of oil I give you?" The boy saw that the oil was gone.
"There is only one piece of advice I can give you," said the wise man. "The secret of happiness is to see all wonders of the world and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon."
,A, B, C, D,, .
Question:
The story happened _ .
Choices:
A. in a university
B. in a palace
C. in a restaurant
D. in a boy's home | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3417.txt | Once a boy went to a palace to ask a wise man what the secret of happiness is. After talking with the boy, the wise man asked the boy to look around the palace and return in two hours. "And , I want to ask you to do something,"said the wise man ."As you look around, carry this spoon with you without making the oil spill ."
The boy began walking up and down the stairs of the palace, and he kept his eyes on the spoon all the time. After two hours, he returned. "Well," asked the wise man, "what did you see in my palace?" The boy said that he had seen nothing.
"Then go back and enjoy my wonderful world," said the wise man. The boy picked up the spoon and began to look around the palace again. This time, he saw many beautiful things in the palace. When he returned, the wise man asked, "but where are the drops of oil I give you?" The boy saw that the oil was gone.
"There is only one piece of advice I can give you," said the wise man. "The secret of happiness is to see all wonders of the world and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon."
,A, B, C, D,, . | [
"in a university",
"in a palace",
"in a restaurant",
"in a boy's home"
] |
The population of the world doubled between the year _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It is believed that it took about 800 thousand to 1 million years for the earth's population to reach the 250 million total which existed at the end of the first century AD. For some time after that, disease, famine and war kept the population increase down to a rate of 1 percent a year so that more than 15 centuries passed before the population reached 500 million. But in the next 250 years, up to 1850, the population of the world shot to 1 billion and today it has reached 3.5 billion. Scientists say that in the next 35 years the population of the world will double, reaching almost 7 billion by the year 2010.
When experts are asked what are the most effective measures that can stop over population, they reply that at least three measures can be considered.
(A) Increasing sources and supply of food for under-developed countries.
(B) Increasing the industrialization of under- developed countries.
(C) Controlling birth.
The experts add, however, that none of the above measures can be effective by itself, and that all must be combined into one whole program. They also agree that without controlling of births, any other measures are doomed to failure.
Question:
The population of the world doubled between the year _ .
Choices:
A. 1850 and today
B. 100 and the year 1400
C. 100 and the year 1600
D. 1 and the year 100 | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high10983.txt | It is believed that it took about 800 thousand to 1 million years for the earth's population to reach the 250 million total which existed at the end of the first century AD. For some time after that, disease, famine and war kept the population increase down to a rate of 1 percent a year so that more than 15 centuries passed before the population reached 500 million. But in the next 250 years, up to 1850, the population of the world shot to 1 billion and today it has reached 3.5 billion. Scientists say that in the next 35 years the population of the world will double, reaching almost 7 billion by the year 2010.
When experts are asked what are the most effective measures that can stop over population, they reply that at least three measures can be considered.
(A) Increasing sources and supply of food for under-developed countries.
(B) Increasing the industrialization of under- developed countries.
(C) Controlling birth.
The experts add, however, that none of the above measures can be effective by itself, and that all must be combined into one whole program. They also agree that without controlling of births, any other measures are doomed to failure. | [
"1850 and today",
"100 and the year 1400",
"100 and the year 1600",
"1 and the year 100"
] |
What is the best title for the text? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Philo Farnsworth is not a name most people know. But his work changed the way we learn, the way we live, and even the way we think. Philo Farnsworth is responsible for one of the 20thcentury: television.
Philo Farnsworth was born in America in 1906. He was interested in science and technology at an early age. When he was twelve years old, he built an electric motor for his family's washing machine. When he was fourteen, he was already giving a lot of thought to electrons . As he was driving the family's horse-drawn plowing machine, he noticed the evenly spaced rows of the potato fields. This sight gave him the idea that electrons could scan an image one row at a time--an idea that was the key to electronic television.
By the time he was twenty-one years old, Farnsworth had started his own company and had managed to build the world's first electronic television. It was a very simple device . But after years of hard work, Farnsworth was able to introduce the kind of television we now use.
Farnsworth was a great inventor, but lived an unhappy life. He had a legal battle with the company, Radio Corporation of America (RCA) over who the real inventor of the TV was. _ , but the government stopped companies from making TVs during the war, so Farnsworth didn't make much money from the invention.
When Farnsworth was young, he imagined television as a convenient way for distant audiences to enjoy lectures by famous professors, or entertainment by the best symphonies and ballets. When he was older, television became much more popular, but he was very disappointed in the silly programs on TV. He even told his own son, "There's nothing on it worthwhile, and we're not going to watch it in this household."
Question:
What is the best title for the text?
Choices:
A. How did Philo Farnsworth invent television?
B. What caused Philo Farnsworth to invent television?
C. Philo Farnsworth: the unhappy father of television
D. Philo Farnsworth: a well-known scientist and inventor | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high14378.txt | Philo Farnsworth is not a name most people know. But his work changed the way we learn, the way we live, and even the way we think. Philo Farnsworth is responsible for one of the 20thcentury: television.
Philo Farnsworth was born in America in 1906. He was interested in science and technology at an early age. When he was twelve years old, he built an electric motor for his family's washing machine. When he was fourteen, he was already giving a lot of thought to electrons . As he was driving the family's horse-drawn plowing machine, he noticed the evenly spaced rows of the potato fields. This sight gave him the idea that electrons could scan an image one row at a time--an idea that was the key to electronic television.
By the time he was twenty-one years old, Farnsworth had started his own company and had managed to build the world's first electronic television. It was a very simple device . But after years of hard work, Farnsworth was able to introduce the kind of television we now use.
Farnsworth was a great inventor, but lived an unhappy life. He had a legal battle with the company, Radio Corporation of America (RCA) over who the real inventor of the TV was. _ , but the government stopped companies from making TVs during the war, so Farnsworth didn't make much money from the invention.
When Farnsworth was young, he imagined television as a convenient way for distant audiences to enjoy lectures by famous professors, or entertainment by the best symphonies and ballets. When he was older, television became much more popular, but he was very disappointed in the silly programs on TV. He even told his own son, "There's nothing on it worthwhile, and we're not going to watch it in this household." | [
"How did Philo Farnsworth invent television?",
"What caused Philo Farnsworth to invent television?",
"Philo Farnsworth: the unhappy father of television",
"Philo Farnsworth: a well-known scientist and inventor"
] |
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