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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Why was Thelma popular in the community? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Thelma was such a life-loving and easy-going person that she was always full of energy and never felt sad. When she was at the age of 75, her husband passed away. Her children were afraid she was lonely and suggested that she move to a "Senior living community ". Thelma thought that was a good idea and decided to do so.
Shortly after moving in, Thelma became many activities' director. She loved to organize all kinds of things for the people in the community. So quickly she became very popular and made many friends.
When Thelma turned 80, her new friends showed their appreciation by throwing a surprise birthday party for her. When Thelma entered the dining room for dinner that night, she was greeted by a standing ovation and one of _ led her to the head table. The night was filled with laughter and entertainment, but throughout the evening, Thelma could not take her eyes off a gentleman sitting at the other end of the table.
When the party ended, Thelma quickly rose from her seat and rushed over to the man "Pardon me," Thelma said, "Please forgive me if I made you feel uncomfortable by _ at you all night. I just couldn't help myself from looking your way. You see, you look just like my fifth husband."
"Your fifth husband!" replied the gentleman. "Forgive me for asking, but how many times have you been married? "
With that, a smile appeared on Thelma's face as she replied, "Four."
They were married shortly after that.
Question:
Why was Thelma popular in the community?
Choices:
A. Because she was old enough.
B. Because she was outgoing and life-loving.
C. Because she was always lonely.
D. Because she was beautiful and easy-going. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle6626.txt | Thelma was such a life-loving and easy-going person that she was always full of energy and never felt sad. When she was at the age of 75, her husband passed away. Her children were afraid she was lonely and suggested that she move to a "Senior living community ". Thelma thought that was a good idea and decided to do so.
Shortly after moving in, Thelma became many activities' director. She loved to organize all kinds of things for the people in the community. So quickly she became very popular and made many friends.
When Thelma turned 80, her new friends showed their appreciation by throwing a surprise birthday party for her. When Thelma entered the dining room for dinner that night, she was greeted by a standing ovation and one of _ led her to the head table. The night was filled with laughter and entertainment, but throughout the evening, Thelma could not take her eyes off a gentleman sitting at the other end of the table.
When the party ended, Thelma quickly rose from her seat and rushed over to the man "Pardon me," Thelma said, "Please forgive me if I made you feel uncomfortable by _ at you all night. I just couldn't help myself from looking your way. You see, you look just like my fifth husband."
"Your fifth husband!" replied the gentleman. "Forgive me for asking, but how many times have you been married? "
With that, a smile appeared on Thelma's face as she replied, "Four."
They were married shortly after that. | [
"Because she was old enough.",
"Because she was outgoing and life-loving.",
"Because she was always lonely.",
"Because she was beautiful and easy-going."
] |
We could probably see this passage in _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
School violence is in the headlines again after recent shootings at schools in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Colorado. After hearing the news, it's natural for students -- no matter how old they are or where they go to school -- to worry about whether this type of incident may someday happen to them.
So how safe are schools? It's actually safer to be in a school than in a car. Twice as many 15-to-19-year-olds die in car accidents than in shootings (and that's all shootings, not just the ones that happen in schools). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than 1% of all homicides among school-age children happen on school grounds or on the way to and from school. So the vast majority of students will never experience violence at school.
However, some schools have re-evaluated their safety needs in response to the concerns of families and communities. Some now require that guests check in at the office or have more guards on duty. Some schools have fixed metal detectors. Another thing that helps make schools safer is greater awareness of problems like bullying and discrimination. Many schools have practiced programs to fight these problems and to help teachers and administrators know more about protecting students from this type of violence.
The cause of school violence isn't easy to understand. There is no single reason why students become violent. Some are just copying behavior they've seen at home, in the streets, or in video games, movies, or television. There's one thing experts do agree on, though: Having access to guns or other weapons makes it easier for some people to lash out against the things or people they don't like.
Question:
We could probably see this passage in _ .
Choices:
A. an analysis report
B. a realistic novel
C. a case investigation
D. a news journal | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11499.txt | School violence is in the headlines again after recent shootings at schools in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Colorado. After hearing the news, it's natural for students -- no matter how old they are or where they go to school -- to worry about whether this type of incident may someday happen to them.
So how safe are schools? It's actually safer to be in a school than in a car. Twice as many 15-to-19-year-olds die in car accidents than in shootings (and that's all shootings, not just the ones that happen in schools). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than 1% of all homicides among school-age children happen on school grounds or on the way to and from school. So the vast majority of students will never experience violence at school.
However, some schools have re-evaluated their safety needs in response to the concerns of families and communities. Some now require that guests check in at the office or have more guards on duty. Some schools have fixed metal detectors. Another thing that helps make schools safer is greater awareness of problems like bullying and discrimination. Many schools have practiced programs to fight these problems and to help teachers and administrators know more about protecting students from this type of violence.
The cause of school violence isn't easy to understand. There is no single reason why students become violent. Some are just copying behavior they've seen at home, in the streets, or in video games, movies, or television. There's one thing experts do agree on, though: Having access to guns or other weapons makes it easier for some people to lash out against the things or people they don't like. | [
"an analysis report",
"a realistic novel",
"a case investigation",
"a news journal"
] |
September's temperature fluctuated severely in 1 week. They started off with 40 degrees on Sunday then hit 50 on Monday, 65 on Tuesday, 36 on Wednesday, 82 on Thursday, 72 on Friday and ended the week at 26 on Saturday. What was the average temperature for that week? | When you add up the temperature for the entire week, it comes to 40+50+65+36+82+72+26 = <<40+50+65+36+82+72+26=371>>371
These temperatures were over 7 days so the average temperature was 371/7 =<<371/7=53>>53 degrees
#### 53 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | September's temperature fluctuated severely in 1 week. They started off with 40 degrees on Sunday then hit 50 on Monday, 65 on Tuesday, 36 on Wednesday, 82 on Thursday, 72 on Friday and ended the week at 26 on Saturday. What was the average temperature for that week? | When you add up the temperature for the entire week, it comes to 40+50+65+36+82+72+26 = <<40+50+65+36+82+72+26=371>>371
These temperatures were over 7 days so the average temperature was 371/7 =<<371/7=53>>53 degrees
#### 53 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
What can we learn from this passage? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
This July, Wang Chen, a student from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, won the International University WEICHI Tournament 2013 in Shanghai, which saw competitors from 54 universities around the world, including Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Compared with the busy sports ground, it seems a bit dull, but Wang and his peers enjoy an intense brain workout . Wang is an amateur seventh-degree master player -- the highest degree amateur players can attain. "I had hoped to win first place, but when it came true, I couldn't believe it," says Wang. Wang began studying weichi when he was 7 years old. "I was a quiet boy and my parents thought weichi would help develop my logical thinking ability," he says. He began to attend the Chinese Rank Promotion from the age of 10. "I failed for nine years, and them I gave up. I entered university and became an amateur player," says Wang.
What this hobby brings Wang is not only a sense of achievement, but also independence. He has won 10 national and international championships, which have brought the young student a handsome sum of money. When he won the national amateur competition in 2011, he received 100,000 yuan in prize money. With awards from contests, Wang covers his expenses and tuition fees all by himself.
Wang is busier than most of his peers. A look at his calendar shows that he will attend competitions in Guizhou and Taiwan at the end of August, after attending an international competition only this July. But Wang admits he has little in common with his classmates. "I feel a bit lonely sometimes," he says.
On campus Wang spends more time on exploring his skills. Wang now regards playing weichi as a hobby. He is the captain of the weichi team on campus, which has five members. He organizes them to research the latest formations once a week. Wang says his next project is to promote weichi among his peers on campus. "Many young people in China don't understand this kind of sports and I want to promote it," says Wang.
Question:
What can we learn from this passage?
Choices:
A. Family plays an important role in shaping world-rank players.
B. As long as you have the same loneliness as Wang Chen, you are sure to succeed.
C. Wang Chen doesn't get on well with his classmates.
D. Perseverance helps to make a top player. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7162.txt | This July, Wang Chen, a student from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, won the International University WEICHI Tournament 2013 in Shanghai, which saw competitors from 54 universities around the world, including Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Compared with the busy sports ground, it seems a bit dull, but Wang and his peers enjoy an intense brain workout . Wang is an amateur seventh-degree master player -- the highest degree amateur players can attain. "I had hoped to win first place, but when it came true, I couldn't believe it," says Wang. Wang began studying weichi when he was 7 years old. "I was a quiet boy and my parents thought weichi would help develop my logical thinking ability," he says. He began to attend the Chinese Rank Promotion from the age of 10. "I failed for nine years, and them I gave up. I entered university and became an amateur player," says Wang.
What this hobby brings Wang is not only a sense of achievement, but also independence. He has won 10 national and international championships, which have brought the young student a handsome sum of money. When he won the national amateur competition in 2011, he received 100,000 yuan in prize money. With awards from contests, Wang covers his expenses and tuition fees all by himself.
Wang is busier than most of his peers. A look at his calendar shows that he will attend competitions in Guizhou and Taiwan at the end of August, after attending an international competition only this July. But Wang admits he has little in common with his classmates. "I feel a bit lonely sometimes," he says.
On campus Wang spends more time on exploring his skills. Wang now regards playing weichi as a hobby. He is the captain of the weichi team on campus, which has five members. He organizes them to research the latest formations once a week. Wang says his next project is to promote weichi among his peers on campus. "Many young people in China don't understand this kind of sports and I want to promote it," says Wang. | [
"Family plays an important role in shaping world-rank players.",
"As long as you have the same loneliness as Wang Chen, you are sure to succeed.",
"Wang Chen doesn't get on well with his classmates.",
"Perseverance helps to make a top player."
] |
Which of the following is true according to the passage? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
My summer hols wr CWOT. B4, we usd 2 go 2 NY 2C my bro, his CF & thr 3:-@ kids FTF ILNY, its gr8.
Can you understand this sentence? If you can't, don't feel too bad: neither could the middle school teacher in England who received this as homework. This is Netspeak: the language of computerized communication found on Internet or cellphones. To newcomers, it can look like a completely foreign language. So, what is the "translation" of the sentence above? My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend, and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York; it's great.
Schoolteachers and parents say this new form of writing is harming the English language. Increasing spelling and grammatical mistakes cxan be seen in students' writing. They fear the language could become corrupted .
Everyone should just relax, say linguists . They believe Netspeak is in fact more of a good thing. David Crystal, from the University of Wales, argues that Netspeak and Internet create a new language use and the almost lost art of diary writing has been picked up again. Geoffrey Nunberg, from Stanford University, agrees. "People get better at writing by writing," he says, "Kids who are now doing text messaging, e-mail, and instant messages will write at least as well as, and possibly better than, their parents."
Linguist James Millroy says, for centuries, it is believed without exception that young people are harming the language. And you can bet your bottom dollar that when today's teenagers become tomorrow's parents, they too will think this way. Milroy argues that languages do not and cannot become "corrupted"; they simply change to meet the new needs.
However, Netspeakers do agree that it is important to teach young people how to speak and write Standard English. Cynthia McVey says, "I can understand Netspeak worries teachers and it's important that they get across to their pupils that text messaging is for fun, but that learning to write proper English is a must for their future."
Perhaps we should give teenagers a little more trust anyway. Erin, age 12, says, "I wouldn't use text language in my homework. Texting is just for fun"
Question:
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
Choices:
A. Cynthia McVey points out teenagers can deal with Netspeak properly.
B. Geoffrey Nunberg believes Netspeakers can write Standard English.
C. David Crystal thinks Netspeak helps develop the habit of writing.
D. James Milroy says that language is changing and improving. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle7137.txt | My summer hols wr CWOT. B4, we usd 2 go 2 NY 2C my bro, his CF & thr 3:-@ kids FTF ILNY, its gr8.
Can you understand this sentence? If you can't, don't feel too bad: neither could the middle school teacher in England who received this as homework. This is Netspeak: the language of computerized communication found on Internet or cellphones. To newcomers, it can look like a completely foreign language. So, what is the "translation" of the sentence above? My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend, and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York; it's great.
Schoolteachers and parents say this new form of writing is harming the English language. Increasing spelling and grammatical mistakes cxan be seen in students' writing. They fear the language could become corrupted .
Everyone should just relax, say linguists . They believe Netspeak is in fact more of a good thing. David Crystal, from the University of Wales, argues that Netspeak and Internet create a new language use and the almost lost art of diary writing has been picked up again. Geoffrey Nunberg, from Stanford University, agrees. "People get better at writing by writing," he says, "Kids who are now doing text messaging, e-mail, and instant messages will write at least as well as, and possibly better than, their parents."
Linguist James Millroy says, for centuries, it is believed without exception that young people are harming the language. And you can bet your bottom dollar that when today's teenagers become tomorrow's parents, they too will think this way. Milroy argues that languages do not and cannot become "corrupted"; they simply change to meet the new needs.
However, Netspeakers do agree that it is important to teach young people how to speak and write Standard English. Cynthia McVey says, "I can understand Netspeak worries teachers and it's important that they get across to their pupils that text messaging is for fun, but that learning to write proper English is a must for their future."
Perhaps we should give teenagers a little more trust anyway. Erin, age 12, says, "I wouldn't use text language in my homework. Texting is just for fun" | [
"Cynthia McVey points out teenagers can deal with Netspeak properly.",
"Geoffrey Nunberg believes Netspeakers can write Standard English.",
"David Crystal thinks Netspeak helps develop the habit of writing.",
"James Milroy says that language is changing and improving."
] |
Which of the following is not a way of saving paper? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
In the 13thcentury, the famous Italian traveler, Marco Polo, traveled a long way to China. During his stay in China, he saw many wonderful things. One of the things he discovered was that the Chinese used paper money. In western countries, people didn't use the paper money until 15thcentury. However, people in China began to use paper money in the 7thcentury.
A Chinese man called Cai Lun invented paper almost 2,000 years ago. He took the wood from trees and made it into paper. He then put these pieces of paper together and made them into a book.
Now paper still comes from trees. We use a lot of paper every day. If we keep on wasting so much paper, there will not be any trees left on the earth. If there are no trees, there will be no paper. Every day, people throw away about 2,800 tons of paper in our city. It takes 17 trees to make one ton of paper. This means that we are cutting nearly 48,000 trees every day. Since it takes more than 10 years for a tree to grow, we must start using less paper now.
So how can we save paper? We can use both sides of every piece of paper, especially when we are making notes. We can use cotton handkerchiefs and not paper ones. When we go shopping, we can use fewer paper bags. If the shop assistant gives us a paper bag, we can save it and reuse it later.
Everyone can help to save paper. If we all think carefully, we can help protect trees. But we should do it now, before it is too late.
Question:
Which of the following is not a way of saving paper?
Choices:
A. To use both sides of every piece of paper
B. To use fewer paper bags when shopping
C. To use cotton handkerchiefs instead of paper ones
D. To grow more trees | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high12295.txt | In the 13thcentury, the famous Italian traveler, Marco Polo, traveled a long way to China. During his stay in China, he saw many wonderful things. One of the things he discovered was that the Chinese used paper money. In western countries, people didn't use the paper money until 15thcentury. However, people in China began to use paper money in the 7thcentury.
A Chinese man called Cai Lun invented paper almost 2,000 years ago. He took the wood from trees and made it into paper. He then put these pieces of paper together and made them into a book.
Now paper still comes from trees. We use a lot of paper every day. If we keep on wasting so much paper, there will not be any trees left on the earth. If there are no trees, there will be no paper. Every day, people throw away about 2,800 tons of paper in our city. It takes 17 trees to make one ton of paper. This means that we are cutting nearly 48,000 trees every day. Since it takes more than 10 years for a tree to grow, we must start using less paper now.
So how can we save paper? We can use both sides of every piece of paper, especially when we are making notes. We can use cotton handkerchiefs and not paper ones. When we go shopping, we can use fewer paper bags. If the shop assistant gives us a paper bag, we can save it and reuse it later.
Everyone can help to save paper. If we all think carefully, we can help protect trees. But we should do it now, before it is too late. | [
"To use both sides of every piece of paper",
"To use fewer paper bags when shopping",
"To use cotton handkerchiefs instead of paper ones",
"To grow more trees"
] |
In the U.S., thin is "in", fat is "out", this means _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
At some time in your life you may have a strong desire to do something strange or terrible. However, chances are that you don't act on your impulse , but let it pass instead. You know that to take the action is wrong in some way and that other people will not accept your behavior.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the phenomenon of taboo behavior is how it can change over the years within the same society, how certain behavior and attitudes once considered taboo can become perfectly acceptable and natural at another point in time. Topics such as death, for example, were once considered so upsetting and unpleasant that it was a taboo to even talk about them. Now with the publication of important books such as On Death and Dying and Learning to Say Goodbye, people have become more aware of the importance of expressing feelings about death and, as a result, are more willing to talk about this taboo subject.
One of the newest taboos in American society is the topic of fat. Unlike many other taboos, fat is a topic that Americans talk about constantly. It's not taboo to talk about fat; it's taboo to be fat. The "in" look is thin, not fat. In the work world, most companies prefer youthful-looking, trim executives to sell their image as well as their products to the public. The thin look is associated with youth, vigor, and success. The fat person, on the other hand, is thought of as lazy and lacking in energy, self-discipline, and self-respect. In an image-conscious society like the U.S., thin is "in", fat is "out".
It's not surprising, then, that millions of Americans have become obsessed with staying slim and "in shape". The pursuit of a youthful physical appearance is not, however, the only reason for America's fascination with diet and exercise. Recent research has shown the critical importance of diet and exercise for personal health. As in most technologically developed nations, the life-style of North Americans has changed dramatically during the course of the last century. Modern machines do all the physical labor that people were once forced to do by hand. Cars and buses transport us quickly from point to point. As a result of inactivity and disuse, people's bodies can easily become weak and vulnerable to disease. In an effort to avoid such a fate, millions of Americans are spending more of their time exercising.
Question:
In the U.S., thin is "in", fat is "out", this means _ .
Choices:
A. thin is "inside", fat is "outside"
B. thin is "diligent", fat is "lazy"
C. thin is "youthful", fat is "spiritless"
D. thin is "fashionable", fat is "unfashionable" | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7130.txt | At some time in your life you may have a strong desire to do something strange or terrible. However, chances are that you don't act on your impulse , but let it pass instead. You know that to take the action is wrong in some way and that other people will not accept your behavior.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the phenomenon of taboo behavior is how it can change over the years within the same society, how certain behavior and attitudes once considered taboo can become perfectly acceptable and natural at another point in time. Topics such as death, for example, were once considered so upsetting and unpleasant that it was a taboo to even talk about them. Now with the publication of important books such as On Death and Dying and Learning to Say Goodbye, people have become more aware of the importance of expressing feelings about death and, as a result, are more willing to talk about this taboo subject.
One of the newest taboos in American society is the topic of fat. Unlike many other taboos, fat is a topic that Americans talk about constantly. It's not taboo to talk about fat; it's taboo to be fat. The "in" look is thin, not fat. In the work world, most companies prefer youthful-looking, trim executives to sell their image as well as their products to the public. The thin look is associated with youth, vigor, and success. The fat person, on the other hand, is thought of as lazy and lacking in energy, self-discipline, and self-respect. In an image-conscious society like the U.S., thin is "in", fat is "out".
It's not surprising, then, that millions of Americans have become obsessed with staying slim and "in shape". The pursuit of a youthful physical appearance is not, however, the only reason for America's fascination with diet and exercise. Recent research has shown the critical importance of diet and exercise for personal health. As in most technologically developed nations, the life-style of North Americans has changed dramatically during the course of the last century. Modern machines do all the physical labor that people were once forced to do by hand. Cars and buses transport us quickly from point to point. As a result of inactivity and disuse, people's bodies can easily become weak and vulnerable to disease. In an effort to avoid such a fate, millions of Americans are spending more of their time exercising. | [
"thin is \"inside\", fat is \"outside\"",
"thin is \"diligent\", fat is \"lazy\"",
"thin is \"youthful\", fat is \"spiritless\"",
"thin is \"fashionable\", fat is \"unfashionable\""
] |
What are two ways cnidarians are able to reproduce? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What are two ways cnidarians are able to reproduce? | asexually and sexually | science | null | null | null | internally and externally | mitosis and meiosis | spawning and sexual | asexually and sexually | General Cnidarian Life Cycle. Cnidarians may reproduce both asexually and sexually. | null | null | null |
Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A mouse looked through a hole in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package; what food might it contain? He was astonished to discover that it was a mouse trap!
Running to the farmyard,the mouse shouted,warning everyone,"There is a mouse trap in the house,there is a mouse trap in the house."The chicken,with her head high,glared at the mouse and said,"Shut up.Little Ugly.This is a great concern to you,but it has nothing to do with me:I can't be troubled by it."
The mouse turned to the pig and told him."There is a mouse trap in the house.""I am so sorry,Mr Mouse,"said the pig sympathetically,"but there is nothing I can do about it but pray;you are always in my prayers."
The mouse turned to the cow,who said,"A mouse trap,am I in great danger,huh?"
Now the mouse had to face the farmer's mouse trap alone.
That very night a sound was heard through the house,like that of a mouse trap catching its prey.The farmer'wife rushed to see what was caught.In the darkness,she did not see it was a big poisonous snake whose tail the trap had caught.The snake bit the farmer's wife.The farmer rushed her to the hospital.She returned home with a fever.It is said that drinking fresh chicken soup will help treat fever,so the farmer took his sharp knife to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.His wife's sickness continued,so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.To feed them,the farmer killed the pig.The farmer's wife did not get well,in fact,she died,and so many people came for her funeral.The farmer had the cow killed to provide for all of them to eat.
So next time when someone is facing a problem,don't say that it has nothing to do with you.
Question:
Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
Choices:
A. The others help the farmer kill the cow.
B. The mouse trap was very practical.
C. The pig is more friendly than the other animals.
D. The farmer's family had no friends at all. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high408.txt | A mouse looked through a hole in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package; what food might it contain? He was astonished to discover that it was a mouse trap!
Running to the farmyard,the mouse shouted,warning everyone,"There is a mouse trap in the house,there is a mouse trap in the house."The chicken,with her head high,glared at the mouse and said,"Shut up.Little Ugly.This is a great concern to you,but it has nothing to do with me:I can't be troubled by it."
The mouse turned to the pig and told him."There is a mouse trap in the house.""I am so sorry,Mr Mouse,"said the pig sympathetically,"but there is nothing I can do about it but pray;you are always in my prayers."
The mouse turned to the cow,who said,"A mouse trap,am I in great danger,huh?"
Now the mouse had to face the farmer's mouse trap alone.
That very night a sound was heard through the house,like that of a mouse trap catching its prey.The farmer'wife rushed to see what was caught.In the darkness,she did not see it was a big poisonous snake whose tail the trap had caught.The snake bit the farmer's wife.The farmer rushed her to the hospital.She returned home with a fever.It is said that drinking fresh chicken soup will help treat fever,so the farmer took his sharp knife to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.His wife's sickness continued,so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.To feed them,the farmer killed the pig.The farmer's wife did not get well,in fact,she died,and so many people came for her funeral.The farmer had the cow killed to provide for all of them to eat.
So next time when someone is facing a problem,don't say that it has nothing to do with you. | [
"The others help the farmer kill the cow.",
"The mouse trap was very practical.",
"The pig is more friendly than the other animals.",
"The farmer's family had no friends at all."
] |
What did the servant get him back? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A man went out with the wrong boots, one with a thick sole and the other with a thin one. As he began to walk, he felt uncomfortable, for one foot was higher than the other. He felt very strange and said, " Is there anything wrong with my legs today? Why is one of my legs long, and the other short? "
A _ told him that he was wearing the wrong boots. He look down and found that it was really so. At once he asked his servant to go back home and get another pair.
After a while the servant ran back to him. There was nothing in his hand. So he was angry and shouted at him, "Why didn't you get me the right boots?" "There's no need to change them," the servant said. "The pair at home is the same, one with a thick sole and the other with a thin one."
Question:
What did the servant get him back?
Choices:
A. He got the right boots quickly.
B. He got nothing when he came back
C. He got the same boots back.
D. He got the different boots back. : | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1152.txt | A man went out with the wrong boots, one with a thick sole and the other with a thin one. As he began to walk, he felt uncomfortable, for one foot was higher than the other. He felt very strange and said, " Is there anything wrong with my legs today? Why is one of my legs long, and the other short? "
A _ told him that he was wearing the wrong boots. He look down and found that it was really so. At once he asked his servant to go back home and get another pair.
After a while the servant ran back to him. There was nothing in his hand. So he was angry and shouted at him, "Why didn't you get me the right boots?" "There's no need to change them," the servant said. "The pair at home is the same, one with a thick sole and the other with a thin one." | [
"He got the right boots quickly.",
"He got nothing when he came back",
"He got the same boots back.",
"He got the different boots back. :"
] |
We can infer from the passage that_. | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Difficult times often bring out the best in people. And this was the case for basketball star Yao Ming, who hosted a television show in Shanghai that raised US $ 300, 000 to help researchers find a cure for SARS. Fund-raising, or charity, is an act of goodwill towards others.
Charities in the West have more ways. Look at a typical day for Ruth, a wealthy woman in the UK, for example. Ruth wakes up in the morning and collects her post. There's a letter addressed to her with a picture of a half-dead, beaten horse. It's from a charity asking Ruth to donate money to save the animals. The door bell rings and there, on Ruth's doorstep, is an old woman asking for money to help the aged. She turns on the television, hears sad music and sees a picture of a wide-eyed child dying of hunger in Africa with an appeal for money to help the child. Ruth then goes shopping for a dress to wear to that evening's large party for the rich and famous. The tickets for charity shows often cost her a large sum of money, but she doesn't mind because most of the money is going to a charity that fights AIDS. She feels good about going because she's helping the sick.
Edna, a little old lady, looks after an old secondhand shop. Any profit it has made goes to a cancer charity. Now that she has retired, she has plenty of spare time to offer her services for free. www.ks5u.com
For people like Yao Ming, Ruth and Edna, charity is a virtue that holds the same importance in life as faith and hope. "As you look back on your life, the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others," said Scottish author Henry Drummond.
Question:
We can infer from the passage that_.
Choices:
A. Ruth leads a busy life and she feels very tired
B. Rich as she may not be, Edna is willing to help others
C. Yao Ming is very proud of what he did for SARS
D. Ruth is angry because so many people ask her for money | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16809.txt | Difficult times often bring out the best in people. And this was the case for basketball star Yao Ming, who hosted a television show in Shanghai that raised US $ 300, 000 to help researchers find a cure for SARS. Fund-raising, or charity, is an act of goodwill towards others.
Charities in the West have more ways. Look at a typical day for Ruth, a wealthy woman in the UK, for example. Ruth wakes up in the morning and collects her post. There's a letter addressed to her with a picture of a half-dead, beaten horse. It's from a charity asking Ruth to donate money to save the animals. The door bell rings and there, on Ruth's doorstep, is an old woman asking for money to help the aged. She turns on the television, hears sad music and sees a picture of a wide-eyed child dying of hunger in Africa with an appeal for money to help the child. Ruth then goes shopping for a dress to wear to that evening's large party for the rich and famous. The tickets for charity shows often cost her a large sum of money, but she doesn't mind because most of the money is going to a charity that fights AIDS. She feels good about going because she's helping the sick.
Edna, a little old lady, looks after an old secondhand shop. Any profit it has made goes to a cancer charity. Now that she has retired, she has plenty of spare time to offer her services for free. www.ks5u.com
For people like Yao Ming, Ruth and Edna, charity is a virtue that holds the same importance in life as faith and hope. "As you look back on your life, the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others," said Scottish author Henry Drummond. | [
"Ruth leads a busy life and she feels very tired",
"Rich as she may not be, Edna is willing to help others",
"Yao Ming is very proud of what he did for SARS",
"Ruth is angry because so many people ask her for money"
] |
What has made brains a popular food in Shanxi? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
In Shanxi Province you may be offered brains to eat. Frightened? You shouldn't, because the brains is only a kind of food, which is famous for its unusual name and rich nutrition .
Brains as food was invented more than 300 years ago by Fu Shan, an artist whose mother had been ill for a long time. To help her become well again, he studied medicine and invented a kind of soup made of meat, vegetables and a number of Chinese medicines.
Rice wine was also used in the soup to help treat illnesses caused by old age. After taking the soup his mother got better little by little and lived a long life.
Fu's soup became the talk of the town. Many people came to see him. One day a restaurant owner asked him what was in the soup. "I'll tell you," Fu said. "But if your restaurant is going to sell the soup, you must call it brains because of its shape and colour. And your restaurant should be renamed after my mother."
Question:
What has made brains a popular food in Shanxi?
Choices:
A. It is served in many restaurants there.
B. It is good for health and has a strange name.
C. It is made of Chinese medicines and wine.
D. It must be used to help the sick. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17685.txt | In Shanxi Province you may be offered brains to eat. Frightened? You shouldn't, because the brains is only a kind of food, which is famous for its unusual name and rich nutrition .
Brains as food was invented more than 300 years ago by Fu Shan, an artist whose mother had been ill for a long time. To help her become well again, he studied medicine and invented a kind of soup made of meat, vegetables and a number of Chinese medicines.
Rice wine was also used in the soup to help treat illnesses caused by old age. After taking the soup his mother got better little by little and lived a long life.
Fu's soup became the talk of the town. Many people came to see him. One day a restaurant owner asked him what was in the soup. "I'll tell you," Fu said. "But if your restaurant is going to sell the soup, you must call it brains because of its shape and colour. And your restaurant should be renamed after my mother." | [
"It is served in many restaurants there.",
"It is good for health and has a strange name.",
"It is made of Chinese medicines and wine.",
"It must be used to help the sick."
] |
We can infer from the passage people often ask her " _ ". | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Catherine Destivelle is a rock star. She loves rock, but she can't sing or play the guitar! She is a rock climber and a big star in France and Italy. She is the most famous woman climber in the world because she often climbs without ropes. She climbs in many countries but most often in the French Alps near Chamonix, where she lives. She started climbing near her home in Paris when she was five. Then, at fourteen, she joined the French Alpine Club to learn more, but immediately she climbed better and more quickly than the older members of the club. She won her first competition in Italy in 1995.
Three years ago she found a new route up the Dru Mountain near Chamonix. The climb took eleven days and for four days the snow was so heavy that she could not move. Last year other climbers tried to follow the new Destivelle Route, but they failed. They are going to try again this year.
People always ask her about her climbing. She says, "I climb because I'm in love with mountains. I like touching the rock and reading the face of the rock. I like it a lot. I felt at home on the side of a mountain. I prepare well before I go, so I'm never worried."
Catherine chooses new mountains from books--like buying from a shopping catalogue! "I see a nice mountain and I go to climb it!" Her next mountain is in Pakistan. She is going there next month. "It's much bigger than the Dru, so it's going to take longer to climb. An American climber, Jeff Lowe, is coming with me to help."
Question:
We can infer from the passage people often ask her " _ ".
Choices:
A. Why do you like climbing?
B. Are you in love with an American climber?
C. Do you enjoy reading books on mountains?
D. What do you do before you go climbing? | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high22497.txt | Catherine Destivelle is a rock star. She loves rock, but she can't sing or play the guitar! She is a rock climber and a big star in France and Italy. She is the most famous woman climber in the world because she often climbs without ropes. She climbs in many countries but most often in the French Alps near Chamonix, where she lives. She started climbing near her home in Paris when she was five. Then, at fourteen, she joined the French Alpine Club to learn more, but immediately she climbed better and more quickly than the older members of the club. She won her first competition in Italy in 1995.
Three years ago she found a new route up the Dru Mountain near Chamonix. The climb took eleven days and for four days the snow was so heavy that she could not move. Last year other climbers tried to follow the new Destivelle Route, but they failed. They are going to try again this year.
People always ask her about her climbing. She says, "I climb because I'm in love with mountains. I like touching the rock and reading the face of the rock. I like it a lot. I felt at home on the side of a mountain. I prepare well before I go, so I'm never worried."
Catherine chooses new mountains from books--like buying from a shopping catalogue! "I see a nice mountain and I go to climb it!" Her next mountain is in Pakistan. She is going there next month. "It's much bigger than the Dru, so it's going to take longer to climb. An American climber, Jeff Lowe, is coming with me to help." | [
"Why do you like climbing?",
"Are you in love with an American climber?",
"Do you enjoy reading books on mountains?",
"What do you do before you go climbing?"
] |
Which reader didn't state clearly which pronunciation he or she preferred? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Do you prefer British English or American English? Here are opinions from our readers.
Andy: Well, being in British for 3 years now from New Zealand I've come to realize that a lot of British people pronounce words how Americans do. But in saying that, I guess the more educated British people do not pronounce words the way some Americans do. So, I prefer Educated British English.
Bill: Well, I am studying English and I think British sounds funny and I prefer Americans sounds. Although I can tell that everyone else in my class loves British pronunciation and thinks American English is less pretty or even ugly. I don't agree at all, though.
Cindy: At first British English accent sounds better and wonderful but then it gets annoying, so I love American English.
Dale: I prefer the British accent. It sounds like someone reading a poem. I just like the pronunciation of the British people, very clear and sounds like music! British accent is more musical.
Edward: When I listen to the BBC announcers, I notice that they're exploding the letters out, not pronouncing them. And some British people from the North of England or Scotland speak with strange accents. I mean it is difficult to understand their English.
Frank: As a matter of fact, English for International Communication is very much like American accent. I love the American accent.
Question:
Which reader didn't state clearly which pronunciation he or she preferred?
Choices:
A. Andy
B. Bill
C. Cindy
D. Edward | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high18501.txt | Do you prefer British English or American English? Here are opinions from our readers.
Andy: Well, being in British for 3 years now from New Zealand I've come to realize that a lot of British people pronounce words how Americans do. But in saying that, I guess the more educated British people do not pronounce words the way some Americans do. So, I prefer Educated British English.
Bill: Well, I am studying English and I think British sounds funny and I prefer Americans sounds. Although I can tell that everyone else in my class loves British pronunciation and thinks American English is less pretty or even ugly. I don't agree at all, though.
Cindy: At first British English accent sounds better and wonderful but then it gets annoying, so I love American English.
Dale: I prefer the British accent. It sounds like someone reading a poem. I just like the pronunciation of the British people, very clear and sounds like music! British accent is more musical.
Edward: When I listen to the BBC announcers, I notice that they're exploding the letters out, not pronouncing them. And some British people from the North of England or Scotland speak with strange accents. I mean it is difficult to understand their English.
Frank: As a matter of fact, English for International Communication is very much like American accent. I love the American accent. | [
"Andy",
"Bill",
"Cindy",
"Edward"
] |
What did the mother do when the boy wanted to give up? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
I began working in journalism when I was eight. It was my mother's idea. She wanted me to "make something" of myself, and decided I had better start young if I was to have any chance of keeping up with the competition.
With my load of magazines I headed toward Belleville Avenue. The crowds were there. There were two gas stations on the corner of Belleville and Union. For several hours I made myself highly visible, making sure everyone could see me and the heavy black letters on the bag that said THE SATURDAY EVENING POST. When it was suppertime, I walked back home.
" How many did you sell, my boy?" my mother asked.
" None."
" Where did you go?"
" The corner of Belleville and Union Avenues."
" What did you do?"
" Stood on the corner waiting for somebody to buy a Saturday Evening Post."
" You just stood there?"
" Didn't sell a single one."
" My God, Russell!"
Uncle Allen put in, " Well, I've decided to take the Post." I handed him a copy and he paid me a nickel. It was the first nickel I earned.
Afterwards my mother taught me how to be a salesman. I would have to ring doorbells, address adults with self-confidence, and persuade them by saying that no one, no matter how poor, could afford to be without the Saturday Evening Post in the home.
One day, I told my mother I'd changed my mind. I didn't want to make a success in the magazine business.
" If you think you can change your mind like this," she replied, " you'll become a good-for-nothing." She insisted that, as soon as school was over, I should start ringing doorbells, selling magazines. Whenever I said no, she would scold me.
My mother and I had fought this battle almost as long as I could remember. My mother, dissatisfied with my father's plain workman's life, determined that I would not grow up like him and his people. But never did she expect that, forty years later, such a successful journalist as me would go back to her husband's people for true life and love.
Question:
What did the mother do when the boy wanted to give up?
Choices:
A. She forced him to continue.
B. She punished him.
C. She gave him some money.
D. She changed her plan. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1195.txt | I began working in journalism when I was eight. It was my mother's idea. She wanted me to "make something" of myself, and decided I had better start young if I was to have any chance of keeping up with the competition.
With my load of magazines I headed toward Belleville Avenue. The crowds were there. There were two gas stations on the corner of Belleville and Union. For several hours I made myself highly visible, making sure everyone could see me and the heavy black letters on the bag that said THE SATURDAY EVENING POST. When it was suppertime, I walked back home.
" How many did you sell, my boy?" my mother asked.
" None."
" Where did you go?"
" The corner of Belleville and Union Avenues."
" What did you do?"
" Stood on the corner waiting for somebody to buy a Saturday Evening Post."
" You just stood there?"
" Didn't sell a single one."
" My God, Russell!"
Uncle Allen put in, " Well, I've decided to take the Post." I handed him a copy and he paid me a nickel. It was the first nickel I earned.
Afterwards my mother taught me how to be a salesman. I would have to ring doorbells, address adults with self-confidence, and persuade them by saying that no one, no matter how poor, could afford to be without the Saturday Evening Post in the home.
One day, I told my mother I'd changed my mind. I didn't want to make a success in the magazine business.
" If you think you can change your mind like this," she replied, " you'll become a good-for-nothing." She insisted that, as soon as school was over, I should start ringing doorbells, selling magazines. Whenever I said no, she would scold me.
My mother and I had fought this battle almost as long as I could remember. My mother, dissatisfied with my father's plain workman's life, determined that I would not grow up like him and his people. But never did she expect that, forty years later, such a successful journalist as me would go back to her husband's people for true life and love. | [
"She forced him to continue.",
"She punished him.",
"She gave him some money.",
"She changed her plan."
] |
When someone is rude to you, you're advised to _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
When my mother was alive, she used to tell me again and again about the value of just being nice. "Never underestimate the power of a smile," she would say. I fear she would be very disappointed looking at the world today. A lot of people don't smile and when it comes to service today, they're just not nice. Now don't give me wrong, not all service workers but a good many.
I was on the phone the other day with a computer help desk. First a man, then later a woman, who couldn't have been ruder. And this to a customer, who didn't know his way around a PC. But no matter, I could tell they thought I was a bother, The woman, in fact, seemed to be chewing gum as she unemotionally clicked off a series of commands for me to perform.
The next day I heard from a friend of mine who got a performance review without his boss once looking up at him. Not once.
You see it everywhere. Gone are the days when people cared about you. It's a sign of the time, I suspect. But that makes me sad -- for them and for us all. People who aren't happy, who don't smile, who don't kid, who don't joke or make light of even bad situations, make for an even worse situation.
And it spreads like a cancer. Someone's rude to you, you're rude to them and to the next fellow you meet, and on and on. Smiles are contagious but so annoyances. The boss who can't be bothered with his workers. The celebrity who can't be bothered with her annoying fans.
You know, my mom used to judge presidential candidates by how they smiled. I would say, "But mom, you don't know if that smile is real."
"Oh, yes I do," she would tell me. "I can feel it."
It's in their eyes, she would say. And it's in their smile. The rest just kind of falls into place.
Question:
When someone is rude to you, you're advised to _ .
Choices:
A. be rude to the next person
B. be nice to the people you meet
C. become one just like him or her
D. make for a worse situation | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high8640.txt | When my mother was alive, she used to tell me again and again about the value of just being nice. "Never underestimate the power of a smile," she would say. I fear she would be very disappointed looking at the world today. A lot of people don't smile and when it comes to service today, they're just not nice. Now don't give me wrong, not all service workers but a good many.
I was on the phone the other day with a computer help desk. First a man, then later a woman, who couldn't have been ruder. And this to a customer, who didn't know his way around a PC. But no matter, I could tell they thought I was a bother, The woman, in fact, seemed to be chewing gum as she unemotionally clicked off a series of commands for me to perform.
The next day I heard from a friend of mine who got a performance review without his boss once looking up at him. Not once.
You see it everywhere. Gone are the days when people cared about you. It's a sign of the time, I suspect. But that makes me sad -- for them and for us all. People who aren't happy, who don't smile, who don't kid, who don't joke or make light of even bad situations, make for an even worse situation.
And it spreads like a cancer. Someone's rude to you, you're rude to them and to the next fellow you meet, and on and on. Smiles are contagious but so annoyances. The boss who can't be bothered with his workers. The celebrity who can't be bothered with her annoying fans.
You know, my mom used to judge presidential candidates by how they smiled. I would say, "But mom, you don't know if that smile is real."
"Oh, yes I do," she would tell me. "I can feel it."
It's in their eyes, she would say. And it's in their smile. The rest just kind of falls into place. | [
"be rude to the next person",
"be nice to the people you meet",
"become one just like him or her",
"make for a worse situation"
] |
The writer's purpose in writing the passage is to _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Last Friday, I was coming home late after spending time with friends and thought I'd go down to the $99 cent pizza place. On the way, I saw a man sitting on the stairs alone there. I'd seen him before every day I run late to work, but this time I had no place to rush off to.
There was something about him, a quiet manner, different from many of other homeless people I had seen in New York City. I walked past him, went to the pizza place, and those 10 seconds waiting in line was enough to practice stepping outside of my usual, familiar flow. So with a few slices in hand, I went back to join him. I asked him if he was hungry. He said yes, but not for pizza because it made him uncomfortable. He'd rather have a few bucks for chicken and rice since it was easier on his stomach. It's funny, in that moment, he became more real to me.
This man I had seen almost every day was someone with specific conditions, needs, and experiences. We exchanged names and ended up talking for a little over an hour that night as Kevin told me stories from his life, how he had done things when "he was younger and didn't know any better" and how he tried to make amends but too much time had passed. He shared his views on the value for young adults to learn the history of other people.
He talked about his one wish being in his 60's before he leaves this earth, which is to share his story with the teenagers and young adults so they could avoid the mistakes he went through. Throughout the conversation, he eventually got his chicken and rice and gifted me a rose he had been carrying. Shortly afterwards, I made my way home, thinking to myself, "I met an amazing homeless person".
Question:
The writer's purpose in writing the passage is to _ .
Choices:
A. share his experience
B. show his generosity
C. express his thoughts
D. exchange his opinions | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high5575.txt | Last Friday, I was coming home late after spending time with friends and thought I'd go down to the $99 cent pizza place. On the way, I saw a man sitting on the stairs alone there. I'd seen him before every day I run late to work, but this time I had no place to rush off to.
There was something about him, a quiet manner, different from many of other homeless people I had seen in New York City. I walked past him, went to the pizza place, and those 10 seconds waiting in line was enough to practice stepping outside of my usual, familiar flow. So with a few slices in hand, I went back to join him. I asked him if he was hungry. He said yes, but not for pizza because it made him uncomfortable. He'd rather have a few bucks for chicken and rice since it was easier on his stomach. It's funny, in that moment, he became more real to me.
This man I had seen almost every day was someone with specific conditions, needs, and experiences. We exchanged names and ended up talking for a little over an hour that night as Kevin told me stories from his life, how he had done things when "he was younger and didn't know any better" and how he tried to make amends but too much time had passed. He shared his views on the value for young adults to learn the history of other people.
He talked about his one wish being in his 60's before he leaves this earth, which is to share his story with the teenagers and young adults so they could avoid the mistakes he went through. Throughout the conversation, he eventually got his chicken and rice and gifted me a rose he had been carrying. Shortly afterwards, I made my way home, thinking to myself, "I met an amazing homeless person". | [
"share his experience",
"show his generosity",
"express his thoughts",
"exchange his opinions"
] |
My brother and his wife work _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Boys and girls, let's begin our English class now. This time I want to talk about my family. Then I want you to say something about your families.
There are seven people in my family. They are my parents, my two sisters, my brother, his wife and I. In England, a family like this is a big one. My father has a factory . It isn't very big. It makes all kinds of boats. My brother is a doctor. He works in a hospital . His wife works in a hospital, too. She is a nurse. My two sisters are students. One wants to be a teacher. She studies hard and well. The other likes singing very much and can sing very well. So she wants to be a singer . I'm now in China teaching English and learning Chinese. My mother stays at home. Can you guess what she does at home? Yes, she does housework. She is a housewife.
Question:
My brother and his wife work _ .
Choices:
A. as teachers
B. as nurses
C. as doctors
D. in a hospital | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle980.txt | Boys and girls, let's begin our English class now. This time I want to talk about my family. Then I want you to say something about your families.
There are seven people in my family. They are my parents, my two sisters, my brother, his wife and I. In England, a family like this is a big one. My father has a factory . It isn't very big. It makes all kinds of boats. My brother is a doctor. He works in a hospital . His wife works in a hospital, too. She is a nurse. My two sisters are students. One wants to be a teacher. She studies hard and well. The other likes singing very much and can sing very well. So she wants to be a singer . I'm now in China teaching English and learning Chinese. My mother stays at home. Can you guess what she does at home? Yes, she does housework. She is a housewife. | [
"as teachers",
"as nurses",
"as doctors",
"in a hospital"
] |
If your family want to go to Highertown Farm during official holidays, you'd better _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The National Trust has many campsites in scenic locations all over the UK. Make the most of the last days of summer by living outdoors and taking in these beautiful landscapes. Here are some of the most popular places to go.
Low Wray, Cumbria
Low Wray is a lovely campsite situated on the western shore Windermere in the Lake District. There are magnificent views across the water to Wansfell Pike and the Fairfield Horseshow and the site is an ideal base for water sports with on-site access for launching.
Phone 05139463862 or _ .
Houghton Mill, Cambridgeshire
This site is situated on the banks of the Great Ouse with spectacular views across the river to the Trust's Houghton Mill, the last working mill on this river. Mill demonstrations are held every Sunday during the season and the site is situated near the picturesque village of Houghton. There are plenty of footpaths for walkers, horse riders and cyclists along the waterways.
_ or phone 01480466716.
Wasdale Head, Cumbria
Wasdale is a great base for climbers of all abilities. The site is nestled under the Scafell mountain range at the head of beautiful Wastwater, the deepest lake in England. Canoeing is possible on Wastwater although limited to no more than 15 on the lake at a time.
Phone 01212765416 or _ .
Highertown Farm, Cornwall
A small, basic campsite situated in the quiet hamlet of Lansallos with fine views of the south-east Cornwall coast and not far from a secluded beach. Bookings may be necessary at peak time.
Email or phone 01208265211
Lundy, Bristol Channel
Lundy Island is an unspoilt island, home to a fascinating array of wildlife amidst dramatic scenery. There are passages from Bideford and Ilfracombe according to the tides, 1 April-31Oct and a winter helicopter service 1 Nov-31 March.
Email or phone 01271863636 for more information.
Question:
If your family want to go to Highertown Farm during official holidays, you'd better _ .
Choices:
A. book in advance
B. send emails first
C. dial 01218265211
D. bring your own tents | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high634.txt | The National Trust has many campsites in scenic locations all over the UK. Make the most of the last days of summer by living outdoors and taking in these beautiful landscapes. Here are some of the most popular places to go.
Low Wray, Cumbria
Low Wray is a lovely campsite situated on the western shore Windermere in the Lake District. There are magnificent views across the water to Wansfell Pike and the Fairfield Horseshow and the site is an ideal base for water sports with on-site access for launching.
Phone 05139463862 or _ .
Houghton Mill, Cambridgeshire
This site is situated on the banks of the Great Ouse with spectacular views across the river to the Trust's Houghton Mill, the last working mill on this river. Mill demonstrations are held every Sunday during the season and the site is situated near the picturesque village of Houghton. There are plenty of footpaths for walkers, horse riders and cyclists along the waterways.
_ or phone 01480466716.
Wasdale Head, Cumbria
Wasdale is a great base for climbers of all abilities. The site is nestled under the Scafell mountain range at the head of beautiful Wastwater, the deepest lake in England. Canoeing is possible on Wastwater although limited to no more than 15 on the lake at a time.
Phone 01212765416 or _ .
Highertown Farm, Cornwall
A small, basic campsite situated in the quiet hamlet of Lansallos with fine views of the south-east Cornwall coast and not far from a secluded beach. Bookings may be necessary at peak time.
Email or phone 01208265211
Lundy, Bristol Channel
Lundy Island is an unspoilt island, home to a fascinating array of wildlife amidst dramatic scenery. There are passages from Bideford and Ilfracombe according to the tides, 1 April-31Oct and a winter helicopter service 1 Nov-31 March.
Email or phone 01271863636 for more information. | [
"book in advance",
"send emails first",
"dial 01218265211",
"bring your own tents"
] |
According to the passage, people stared at Mirth and his friend because Minh was _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Mirth Pham was born in Vietnam. He left his native country when he was 21 years old. Minh has been in America for almost two years. There is still much he does not understand about America.
Once Minh was in a supermarket. He saw an old man and an old woman. They wanted a box of cereal .The box was on a high shelf. The man and the woman couldn't reach it. Minh saw a ladder. He got on the ladder and got the box. He handed it to the elderly couple. They thanked him.
"Where are your children?" asked Minh. "Why don' t they help you buy food?"
"Our children have their own lives," said the man and the woman. "We like to be independent." Mirth doesn't think this is right. In his country, .children help their parents. Minh gave the elderly couple his phone number. He told them to call him if they needed help. One night they asked Mirth to dinner, but they never asked him for help.
One day, Minh was walking with a Vietnamese friend. The two were going to a movie. Minh wanted to go to a restaurant first. Minh took his friend's hand. He pulled him toward the restaurant. People on the street stared at Minh. In Vietnam, friends often hold hands. Minh found out that people in America are not used to holding hands.
Minh Pham is going through a process known as re-socialization. Socialization is the process in which a person learns to live in a society. Everyone goes through this process. Minh went through it when he lived in Vietnam. But the Vietnamese way of life is much different from the American way of life. When Mirth came to America, he had to learn a new way of life. He had to learn how to live in a new society.
Minh has learned a lot about American life in two years. He still has a lot to learn. The process of re-socialization can take many years.
Question:
According to the passage, people stared at Mirth and his friend because Minh was _ .
Choices:
A. a Vietnamese
B. doing something unusual
C. entering a restaurant
D. not dressed like Americans | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high8357.txt | Mirth Pham was born in Vietnam. He left his native country when he was 21 years old. Minh has been in America for almost two years. There is still much he does not understand about America.
Once Minh was in a supermarket. He saw an old man and an old woman. They wanted a box of cereal .The box was on a high shelf. The man and the woman couldn't reach it. Minh saw a ladder. He got on the ladder and got the box. He handed it to the elderly couple. They thanked him.
"Where are your children?" asked Minh. "Why don' t they help you buy food?"
"Our children have their own lives," said the man and the woman. "We like to be independent." Mirth doesn't think this is right. In his country, .children help their parents. Minh gave the elderly couple his phone number. He told them to call him if they needed help. One night they asked Mirth to dinner, but they never asked him for help.
One day, Minh was walking with a Vietnamese friend. The two were going to a movie. Minh wanted to go to a restaurant first. Minh took his friend's hand. He pulled him toward the restaurant. People on the street stared at Minh. In Vietnam, friends often hold hands. Minh found out that people in America are not used to holding hands.
Minh Pham is going through a process known as re-socialization. Socialization is the process in which a person learns to live in a society. Everyone goes through this process. Minh went through it when he lived in Vietnam. But the Vietnamese way of life is much different from the American way of life. When Mirth came to America, he had to learn a new way of life. He had to learn how to live in a new society.
Minh has learned a lot about American life in two years. He still has a lot to learn. The process of re-socialization can take many years. | [
"a Vietnamese",
"doing something unusual",
"entering a restaurant",
"not dressed like Americans"
] |
Mark and _ are good friends. | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Mark Black is my good friend. He is English. He has a yellow bike. His bike number is 9075. His mother has a black car. The number is CA3566. His father has a black car, too. The number is CA3567.
Question:
Mark and _ are good friends.
Choices:
A. I
B. me
C. you
D. she | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle4429.txt | Mark Black is my good friend. He is English. He has a yellow bike. His bike number is 9075. His mother has a black car. The number is CA3566. His father has a black car, too. The number is CA3567. | [
"I",
"me",
"you",
"she"
] |
Which sentence best summarizes the whole text? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It's five minutes before the exam and you are in a state of panic. You just have to pass it, but how? You didn't even open the book the night before and you hear a voice in your head saying "Cheat, cheat ..." So what are you going to do, ignore it and fail or go for it? It's a tough decision many students must make.
Most young people believe that cheating is wrong. However, they have cheated at least once in their high school years. So, why do they do it? Are they too lazy to study? Perhaps, it's not as simple as that. According to some experts, one main reason why students cheat is that they see their friends get away with it. It's an easy way out. They avoid embarrassment and their parents' anger for not doing well in an exam. Another reason is that students think it's OK to cheat if the subject isn't important for their future career. What's more, most students have to put up with the pressure of getting into university. They need to get good marks to carry on with their studies. This means that there will always be students who will do anything for a better mark.
It has never been easier to cheat than it is today. With all the technology available, students needn't cheat by looking over their shoulders anymore. They use mobile phones to send answers to each other during a test. There is also the Internet. With hundreds of websites, students don't have to worry because they can find lots of material which they can copy and use in projects. There are even tips on the art of cheating in exams.
Obviously, if you get caught cheating, you fail the exam or the subject. But it doesn't really matter whether you get caught or not. What's important is that it's wrong. You mustn't cheat because cheating is a lie. It deceives people into thinking you know more than you actually do. How can you be proud of something you have achieved through cheating? In the end, it's not about deceiving your teachers and your parents, but about fooling yourself that you can do something you really can't.
Question:
Which sentence best summarizes the whole text?
Choices:
A. Cheating can be explained but not excused.
B. Technology has made cheating easier.
C. Students cheat to get into university.
D. Cheating is a social and psychological problem. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high6388.txt | It's five minutes before the exam and you are in a state of panic. You just have to pass it, but how? You didn't even open the book the night before and you hear a voice in your head saying "Cheat, cheat ..." So what are you going to do, ignore it and fail or go for it? It's a tough decision many students must make.
Most young people believe that cheating is wrong. However, they have cheated at least once in their high school years. So, why do they do it? Are they too lazy to study? Perhaps, it's not as simple as that. According to some experts, one main reason why students cheat is that they see their friends get away with it. It's an easy way out. They avoid embarrassment and their parents' anger for not doing well in an exam. Another reason is that students think it's OK to cheat if the subject isn't important for their future career. What's more, most students have to put up with the pressure of getting into university. They need to get good marks to carry on with their studies. This means that there will always be students who will do anything for a better mark.
It has never been easier to cheat than it is today. With all the technology available, students needn't cheat by looking over their shoulders anymore. They use mobile phones to send answers to each other during a test. There is also the Internet. With hundreds of websites, students don't have to worry because they can find lots of material which they can copy and use in projects. There are even tips on the art of cheating in exams.
Obviously, if you get caught cheating, you fail the exam or the subject. But it doesn't really matter whether you get caught or not. What's important is that it's wrong. You mustn't cheat because cheating is a lie. It deceives people into thinking you know more than you actually do. How can you be proud of something you have achieved through cheating? In the end, it's not about deceiving your teachers and your parents, but about fooling yourself that you can do something you really can't. | [
"Cheating can be explained but not excused.",
"Technology has made cheating easier.",
"Students cheat to get into university.",
"Cheating is a social and psychological problem."
] |
A tale about fairies should be read _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
If you want to become a better reader, here are four important points to remember about rate or speed of reading:
First, knowing why you are reading and what you are reading to find out will often help you to know whether to read rapidly or slowly.
Second, some things should be read slowly. Examples are directions for making or doing something; arithmetic problems, science and history books. They are full of important information. You must read such things slowly to remember each important step and understand each idea.
Third, some things should be read rapidly. Examples are simple stories for enjoyment, news, letters from friends, items or bits of news from local or hometown paper, telling what is happening to friends and neighbors.
Fourth, in some of your readings, you must change your speed from fast to slow, and slow to fast, as you read. You'll need to read certain pages rapidly and then slow down and do more careful reading when you come to important ideas which should be remembered.
Question:
A tale about fairies should be read _ .
Choices:
A. slowly
B. carefully
C. rapidly
D. to change one's speed fast to slow | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1553.txt | If you want to become a better reader, here are four important points to remember about rate or speed of reading:
First, knowing why you are reading and what you are reading to find out will often help you to know whether to read rapidly or slowly.
Second, some things should be read slowly. Examples are directions for making or doing something; arithmetic problems, science and history books. They are full of important information. You must read such things slowly to remember each important step and understand each idea.
Third, some things should be read rapidly. Examples are simple stories for enjoyment, news, letters from friends, items or bits of news from local or hometown paper, telling what is happening to friends and neighbors.
Fourth, in some of your readings, you must change your speed from fast to slow, and slow to fast, as you read. You'll need to read certain pages rapidly and then slow down and do more careful reading when you come to important ideas which should be remembered. | [
"slowly",
"carefully",
"rapidly",
"to change one's speed fast to slow"
] |
What measures have been taken to preserve the heritage of Tutankhamun's tomb? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
C What historical site impresses you most? I've always been fascinated by the pyramids in Egypt.A few years ago I braved a long queue and climbed through a narrow passage to reach the main chamber deep inside one of them.Like millions of other tourists, I marveled at stone-walled rooms full of the magic of this ancient civilization.
But popularity might be the destruction of such archaeological treasures.Take Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings for example.It lay untouched for more than 3,000 years until the British archaeologist Howard Carter uncovered it in 1922.Now more than 1,000 people a day walk through it.
But as more and more people visit, the temperature and humidity inside the tomb change.As a result, the beautifully decorated plaster is coming away from the rock.
In order to preserve its heritage, a replica of the monument is being opened about 1 kilometer away from the actual burial site.Specialists have recorded every detail of Tutankhamun's tomb and used the data to recreate it.
Adam Lowe from the organization behind the project says the copy is identical to the original.He believes visitors will want to become part of the force that protects it rather than a force that is leading to its destruction.So they won't mind seeing a replica.
But for historian Tom Holland, a copy is still a copy.He believes that although preservation is important, there is something unique about places like Tutankhamun's tomb.He says it was built by people who believed in the world of the spirits, the dead and the supernatural.You don't have to believe in a god or gods to feel a place is consecrated and has a particular quality that can't be reproduced.
What about you? Would you visit a replica of a monument rather than the original to help preserve it?
Question:
What measures have been taken to preserve the heritage of Tutankhamun's tomb?
Choices:
A. Decorating the monument again.
B. Building a replica of the monument.
C. Limiting the number of visitors.
D. Moving the tomb away from the actual site. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high13010.txt | C What historical site impresses you most? I've always been fascinated by the pyramids in Egypt.A few years ago I braved a long queue and climbed through a narrow passage to reach the main chamber deep inside one of them.Like millions of other tourists, I marveled at stone-walled rooms full of the magic of this ancient civilization.
But popularity might be the destruction of such archaeological treasures.Take Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings for example.It lay untouched for more than 3,000 years until the British archaeologist Howard Carter uncovered it in 1922.Now more than 1,000 people a day walk through it.
But as more and more people visit, the temperature and humidity inside the tomb change.As a result, the beautifully decorated plaster is coming away from the rock.
In order to preserve its heritage, a replica of the monument is being opened about 1 kilometer away from the actual burial site.Specialists have recorded every detail of Tutankhamun's tomb and used the data to recreate it.
Adam Lowe from the organization behind the project says the copy is identical to the original.He believes visitors will want to become part of the force that protects it rather than a force that is leading to its destruction.So they won't mind seeing a replica.
But for historian Tom Holland, a copy is still a copy.He believes that although preservation is important, there is something unique about places like Tutankhamun's tomb.He says it was built by people who believed in the world of the spirits, the dead and the supernatural.You don't have to believe in a god or gods to feel a place is consecrated and has a particular quality that can't be reproduced.
What about you? Would you visit a replica of a monument rather than the original to help preserve it? | [
"Decorating the monument again.",
"Building a replica of the monument.",
"Limiting the number of visitors.",
"Moving the tomb away from the actual site."
] |
Different forms of the same element are called what? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Different forms of the same element are called what? | allotropes | science | null | null | null | polymorphs | subclasses | amines | allotropes | Graphite is one of three forms of crystalline, or crystal-forming, carbon. Carbon also exists in an amorphous, or “shapeless,” form in substances such as coal and charcoal. Different forms of the same element are called allotropes. Besides graphite, the other allotropes of crystalline carbon are diamond and fullerenes. All three forms exist as crystals rather than molecules. In a crystal, many atoms are bonded together in a repeating pattern that may contains thousands of atoms. The arrangement of atoms in the crystal differs for each form of carbon and explains why the different forms have different properties. For an entertaining, video-game introduction to the three forms of crystalline carbon, go to this URL: http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=GIHmfBsHsCY . | null | null | null |
If a country wants to take part in the World Cup ,she must have _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
In the world ,soccer is the most popular sport. This is because many countries have wonderful teams for the World Cup. The World Cup is held every four years.
To remember 2002 FIFA World Cup ,children from different countries and more than 60 children from Japanese schools came together and spent three weekends drawing a big picture called "Dream World Cups "in Japan .The children drew animals, flowers and people playing soccer under a blue bright sky. They wished each soccer team good luck by drawing the flags of all the countries that would take part in the World Cup in Japan and South Korea.The picture was put up in a park near a playground in Yokohama .Some soccer teams would have games there.
Are you a soccer fan ?The World Cup makes more and more people interested in soccer. Teenagers like playing and watching soccer .Many of them love some soccer stars so much that they get the pictures of their favourite players on the walls of their rooms. That is the way to show their love for the World Cup as children in Japan.As Chinese teenagers,if we stick on to our soccer dream,it will come true.Let's take action now.
Question:
If a country wants to take part in the World Cup ,she must have _ .
Choices:
A. Many soccer fans
B. a very good team
C. many soccer player
D. a big playground | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle4770.txt | In the world ,soccer is the most popular sport. This is because many countries have wonderful teams for the World Cup. The World Cup is held every four years.
To remember 2002 FIFA World Cup ,children from different countries and more than 60 children from Japanese schools came together and spent three weekends drawing a big picture called "Dream World Cups "in Japan .The children drew animals, flowers and people playing soccer under a blue bright sky. They wished each soccer team good luck by drawing the flags of all the countries that would take part in the World Cup in Japan and South Korea.The picture was put up in a park near a playground in Yokohama .Some soccer teams would have games there.
Are you a soccer fan ?The World Cup makes more and more people interested in soccer. Teenagers like playing and watching soccer .Many of them love some soccer stars so much that they get the pictures of their favourite players on the walls of their rooms. That is the way to show their love for the World Cup as children in Japan.As Chinese teenagers,if we stick on to our soccer dream,it will come true.Let's take action now. | [
"Many soccer fans",
"a very good team",
"many soccer player",
"a big playground"
] |
Where do Bob and Paul play every afternoon? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Hello, everyone! My name is Bob. I have a good friend. His name is Paul. He is a yellow dog. I like him very much.
Every morning Paul runs with me, and we play in the park every afternoon. Paul is very fat. He likes eating beef hamburgers for breakfast. For dinner, he likes fish. Paul likes red. He has two red hats. Look! They are on my bed.
But Paul is lost now. Please help me. My telephone number is 312-3216. My E-mail address is _ . Thanks.
Question:
Where do Bob and Paul play every afternoon?
Choices:
A. at home
B. at school
C. in the park
D. in the library | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle6411.txt | Hello, everyone! My name is Bob. I have a good friend. His name is Paul. He is a yellow dog. I like him very much.
Every morning Paul runs with me, and we play in the park every afternoon. Paul is very fat. He likes eating beef hamburgers for breakfast. For dinner, he likes fish. Paul likes red. He has two red hats. Look! They are on my bed.
But Paul is lost now. Please help me. My telephone number is 312-3216. My E-mail address is _ . Thanks. | [
"at home",
"at school",
"in the park",
"in the library"
] |
What was the problem with guessing at the sound to stop a bus? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
I'm a blind teenager girl, but I am ashamed of it if it is known. I refuse to use a white stick and hate asking for help, and I couldn't bear people to look at me and think I am not like them. I must be a terrible danger on the roads. Coming across me wandering through the traffic, motorists probably would have to step rapidly on their brakes. Apart from that, there are all sorts of disasters that used to occur on the way to and from work.
One evening, I got off the bus about halfway home where I had to change buses, and as usual I ran into something. "I'm awfully sorry," I said and stepped forward only to run into it again. When it happened a third time, I realized I had been apologizing to a lamppost. This was just one of the stupid things that constantly happened to me. So I carried on and found the bus stop, which was a request stop, where the bus wouldn't stop unless passengers wanted to get on or off. No one else was there and I had to try to guess if the bus had arrived.
Generally in this situation, because I hated showing I was blind by asking for help, I tried to guess at the sound. Sometimes I would stop a big lorry and stand there feeling stupid as it drew away. In the end, I usually managed to swallow my pride and ask someone at the stop for help.
But on this particular evening no one joined me at the stop; it seemed that everyone had suddenly decided not to travel by bus. Of course I heard plenty of buses pass, or I thought I did. But because I had given up stopping them for fear of making a fool of myself, I let them all go by. I stood there alone for half an hour without stopping one. Then I gave up. I decided to walk on to the next stop.
Question:
What was the problem with guessing at the sound to stop a bus?
Choices:
A. All cars have exactly the same sound.
B. No bus would stop to pick up a blind girl.
C. Some lorries may have the same sound as that of the bus.
D. It took long for the girl to recognize the sound of a bus. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high13063.txt | I'm a blind teenager girl, but I am ashamed of it if it is known. I refuse to use a white stick and hate asking for help, and I couldn't bear people to look at me and think I am not like them. I must be a terrible danger on the roads. Coming across me wandering through the traffic, motorists probably would have to step rapidly on their brakes. Apart from that, there are all sorts of disasters that used to occur on the way to and from work.
One evening, I got off the bus about halfway home where I had to change buses, and as usual I ran into something. "I'm awfully sorry," I said and stepped forward only to run into it again. When it happened a third time, I realized I had been apologizing to a lamppost. This was just one of the stupid things that constantly happened to me. So I carried on and found the bus stop, which was a request stop, where the bus wouldn't stop unless passengers wanted to get on or off. No one else was there and I had to try to guess if the bus had arrived.
Generally in this situation, because I hated showing I was blind by asking for help, I tried to guess at the sound. Sometimes I would stop a big lorry and stand there feeling stupid as it drew away. In the end, I usually managed to swallow my pride and ask someone at the stop for help.
But on this particular evening no one joined me at the stop; it seemed that everyone had suddenly decided not to travel by bus. Of course I heard plenty of buses pass, or I thought I did. But because I had given up stopping them for fear of making a fool of myself, I let them all go by. I stood there alone for half an hour without stopping one. Then I gave up. I decided to walk on to the next stop. | [
"All cars have exactly the same sound.",
"No bus would stop to pick up a blind girl.",
"Some lorries may have the same sound as that of the bus.",
"It took long for the girl to recognize the sound of a bus."
] |
How did the dog take the note? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It was Sunday morning. A butcher heard the doorbell and thought it must be a customer. But he was surprised to see that a dog was coming into his shop. The dog had $10 and a note in its mouth.
The butcher took the note and read it. It said,"10 pork chops , please."So the butcher took the money and put a bag of chops in the dog's mouth.
Then he quickly closed the shop because he decided to follow the dog. He found the dog on the street. The dog was waiting for a green light. Then the dog walked across the road. The dog went to a bus stop. When a bus arrived, the dog checked the number and then got on the bus.
After a while, the dog stood up on his back paws to push the "stop" button . The bus stopped and the dog got off. Then the butcher followed it to get off the bus.
The dog ran to a house and dropped the bag in front of the front door. It then began to beat its head against the front door. After a while, a big man opened the door and began shouting at the dog. The butcher ran up and shouted at the man, "What are you doing? Your dog is a genius ."
The owner of the dog said, "Genius? No way! I always tell him to take the keys when he goes to the stores. But he never listens to me!"
Question:
How did the dog take the note?
Choices:
A. In the bag.
B. On its back.
C. In its mouth.
D. Around its neck. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3863.txt | It was Sunday morning. A butcher heard the doorbell and thought it must be a customer. But he was surprised to see that a dog was coming into his shop. The dog had $10 and a note in its mouth.
The butcher took the note and read it. It said,"10 pork chops , please."So the butcher took the money and put a bag of chops in the dog's mouth.
Then he quickly closed the shop because he decided to follow the dog. He found the dog on the street. The dog was waiting for a green light. Then the dog walked across the road. The dog went to a bus stop. When a bus arrived, the dog checked the number and then got on the bus.
After a while, the dog stood up on his back paws to push the "stop" button . The bus stopped and the dog got off. Then the butcher followed it to get off the bus.
The dog ran to a house and dropped the bag in front of the front door. It then began to beat its head against the front door. After a while, a big man opened the door and began shouting at the dog. The butcher ran up and shouted at the man, "What are you doing? Your dog is a genius ."
The owner of the dog said, "Genius? No way! I always tell him to take the keys when he goes to the stores. But he never listens to me!" | [
"In the bag.",
"On its back.",
"In its mouth.",
"Around its neck."
] |
A priest named Valentine was stoned to death for the sake of _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Valentine's Day is on Feb. 14, and Chinese call it "lovers day". I don't think the translation is an accurate one, since it doesn't only belong to lovers. Valentine's Day is for expressing affection of all sorts. But it is uniquely for the romantically involved who shine the brightest, who spend the most money, whose hearts are the most engaged.
When I was b boy, my mother would buy enough cheap cards with ugly drawings of butterflies and little rabbits and honeybees for me to give one to every kid in my class, about 20 or so. The cards came in bags, and each card had a few foolish words-"Be Mine" or "I like you" or "You've Got My Heart" or the uninteresting words, "Hi, Valentine!" I would sign my name on the cards quickly and the name of one of my classmates on each easily-broken envelope. I would lick each one shut, but they were so cheap that the envelopes rarely had enough glue. On Valentine's Day, I would take the cards to school-everyone did. We would have a party in our classroom, with cupcakes and juice and tiny candy hearts, which also had Valentine messages printed on them-"You're sweet" or "Cupid "or "Love".
Ah, love! That's the Valentine's Day message: love. No one knows for certain the origin of the holiday. Several, Catholic victims were named Valentine, but it's difficult to separate legend from fact. One story tells of a priest named Valentine who was imprisoned and may have been stoned to death around 270 for performing marriages in going against the orders of the Roman Emperor Claudius II. But it's hard today to find any religious connection.
Question:
A priest named Valentine was stoned to death for the sake of _ .
Choices:
A. his not attending a ceremony on time.
B. his stealing something from the church
C. his rude words to Roman Emperor Claudius II
D. his not obeying the orders by Roman Emperor Claudius II | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11619.txt | Valentine's Day is on Feb. 14, and Chinese call it "lovers day". I don't think the translation is an accurate one, since it doesn't only belong to lovers. Valentine's Day is for expressing affection of all sorts. But it is uniquely for the romantically involved who shine the brightest, who spend the most money, whose hearts are the most engaged.
When I was b boy, my mother would buy enough cheap cards with ugly drawings of butterflies and little rabbits and honeybees for me to give one to every kid in my class, about 20 or so. The cards came in bags, and each card had a few foolish words-"Be Mine" or "I like you" or "You've Got My Heart" or the uninteresting words, "Hi, Valentine!" I would sign my name on the cards quickly and the name of one of my classmates on each easily-broken envelope. I would lick each one shut, but they were so cheap that the envelopes rarely had enough glue. On Valentine's Day, I would take the cards to school-everyone did. We would have a party in our classroom, with cupcakes and juice and tiny candy hearts, which also had Valentine messages printed on them-"You're sweet" or "Cupid "or "Love".
Ah, love! That's the Valentine's Day message: love. No one knows for certain the origin of the holiday. Several, Catholic victims were named Valentine, but it's difficult to separate legend from fact. One story tells of a priest named Valentine who was imprisoned and may have been stoned to death around 270 for performing marriages in going against the orders of the Roman Emperor Claudius II. But it's hard today to find any religious connection. | [
"his not attending a ceremony on time.",
"his stealing something from the church",
"his rude words to Roman Emperor Claudius II",
"his not obeying the orders by Roman Emperor Claudius II"
] |
People want to build the tower high, then _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Hello,my friend.I'm Jack.Today I'd like to tell you a story about the language.People live together and they speak the same language.They are kind to each other .
People want to build a tower.One of them says, "Let's build it high and it can reach the heaven !".And the name is the Tower of Babel.But God doesn't like it."I will stop them!" God says.
People can work together because they can speak the same language.So God makes people speak different language.This is a big problem.Someone asks for water,people give him clothes.They can't understand each other.So people are not friendly.They don't like building the tower.
People begin to speak different languages and live in different places.They never finish building the Tower of Babel.
Question:
People want to build the tower high, then _ .
Choices:
A. they can live in it
B. it can reach the heaven
C. it can take many things
D. they can see the world on it | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5542.txt | Hello,my friend.I'm Jack.Today I'd like to tell you a story about the language.People live together and they speak the same language.They are kind to each other .
People want to build a tower.One of them says, "Let's build it high and it can reach the heaven !".And the name is the Tower of Babel.But God doesn't like it."I will stop them!" God says.
People can work together because they can speak the same language.So God makes people speak different language.This is a big problem.Someone asks for water,people give him clothes.They can't understand each other.So people are not friendly.They don't like building the tower.
People begin to speak different languages and live in different places.They never finish building the Tower of Babel. | [
"they can live in it",
"it can reach the heaven",
"it can take many things",
"they can see the world on it"
] |
A group of 5 children are taken to an amusement park. Only 3 of them were daring enough to get on the Ferris wheel which cost $5 per child. Everyone had a go at the merry-go-round (at $3 per child). On their way home, they bought 2 cones of ice cream each (each cone cost $8). How much did they spend altogether? | 3 children rode the Ferris wheel at $5 reach for a total of 3*$5 = $<<3*5=15>>15
5 children rode the merry-go-round at $3 each for a total of 5*$3 = $<<5*3=15>>15
5 children bought 2 cones of ice cream each at $8 per cone for a total of 5*2*$8 = $<<5*2*8=80>>80
In total, they spent $15+$15+$80 = $<<15+15+80=110>>110
#### 110 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | A group of 5 children are taken to an amusement park. Only 3 of them were daring enough to get on the Ferris wheel which cost $5 per child. Everyone had a go at the merry-go-round (at $3 per child). On their way home, they bought 2 cones of ice cream each (each cone cost $8). How much did they spend altogether? | 3 children rode the Ferris wheel at $5 reach for a total of 3*$5 = $<<3*5=15>>15
5 children rode the merry-go-round at $3 each for a total of 5*$3 = $<<5*3=15>>15
5 children bought 2 cones of ice cream each at $8 per cone for a total of 5*2*$8 = $<<5*2*8=80>>80
In total, they spent $15+$15+$80 = $<<15+15+80=110>>110
#### 110 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
You will find that you are a survivor in | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
We may know that there are four basic periods for human beings to pass through when you enter and live in another country. This process helps you deal with culture shock .
Culture shock begins with the "honeymoon period". This is the time when you first arrive in a place where everything about the new cu1ture is strange and exciting. You see new things, hear new sounds and language, eat new kinds of food. This period can last for quite a long time because you feel very happy.
Unluckily, the second period can be more difficu1t. After you have got used to your new life, you can become very tired and begin to miss your motherland, your family, your friends, your pets and so on. Al1 the little prob1ems in life seem to be much bigger and more worrying when you face them in a foreign country. This period can be very difficult and lead to moving backwards quickly.
The third period is called the "adjustment period". This is When you begin to realize that things are not so bad in the new country. Your sense of humor usually becomes stronger and you realize you are becoming stronger by 1earning to take care of yourself in the new place. Things are still difficult, but you are now a survivor .
The fourth period can be cal1ed "at ease at last". Now you feel quite comfortable in your new place. You can deal with most problems that you have. You may still have prob1ems with language,but you know you are strong enough to deal with them. At this time, you may feel a little uncomfortable if you go back to your motherland.
Question:
You will find that you are a survivor in
Choices:
A. the lst period
B. the 2nd period
C. the 3rd period
D. the 4th period | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1799.txt | We may know that there are four basic periods for human beings to pass through when you enter and live in another country. This process helps you deal with culture shock .
Culture shock begins with the "honeymoon period". This is the time when you first arrive in a place where everything about the new cu1ture is strange and exciting. You see new things, hear new sounds and language, eat new kinds of food. This period can last for quite a long time because you feel very happy.
Unluckily, the second period can be more difficu1t. After you have got used to your new life, you can become very tired and begin to miss your motherland, your family, your friends, your pets and so on. Al1 the little prob1ems in life seem to be much bigger and more worrying when you face them in a foreign country. This period can be very difficult and lead to moving backwards quickly.
The third period is called the "adjustment period". This is When you begin to realize that things are not so bad in the new country. Your sense of humor usually becomes stronger and you realize you are becoming stronger by 1earning to take care of yourself in the new place. Things are still difficult, but you are now a survivor .
The fourth period can be cal1ed "at ease at last". Now you feel quite comfortable in your new place. You can deal with most problems that you have. You may still have prob1ems with language,but you know you are strong enough to deal with them. At this time, you may feel a little uncomfortable if you go back to your motherland. | [
"the lst period",
"the 2nd period",
"the 3rd period",
"the 4th period"
] |
Why didn't people get into the writer's father's taxi? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
This Thursday, across the USA, kids are skipping school and going to work with their parents. They'll be making copies, sending faxes and sweeping floors. This is because April 28 is Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day all over the USA. This holiday shows kids what it means to be a grown-up in the working world.
I still remember when this day started, I was very happy. Not only did I have the chance to miss school, but I also got to sit in my dad's taxi all day long and we would go to a restaurant for lunch.
But after only 20 minutes of driving around the city, I was very bored. couldn't read my book in the car as I would get carsick and my dad didn't like to turn on the radio. I got hot and uncomfortable. People wouldn't get into his taxi because they thought he already had a passenger-me, so nothing happened. It seemed years before we went out for lunch. I actually started to miss school.
While the point of the day is to give kids a chance to experience real-life jobs and give them an idea of the possibilities for their futures, I got something completely different from the day. I learned to appreciate school. Where else do you get to play with your friends, do science experiments, read great books and write stories all in one day?
Just as you'll have to learn to love your job later in life, learn to love school now. If you don't already, try spending the day at work with your dad.
Question:
Why didn't people get into the writer's father's taxi?
Choices:
A. Because her father didn't like to turn on the radio.
B. Because they thought the writer was a passenger.
C. Because her father's car was hot and uncomfortable.
D. Because her father didn't stop to take any passengers. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle4795.txt | This Thursday, across the USA, kids are skipping school and going to work with their parents. They'll be making copies, sending faxes and sweeping floors. This is because April 28 is Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day all over the USA. This holiday shows kids what it means to be a grown-up in the working world.
I still remember when this day started, I was very happy. Not only did I have the chance to miss school, but I also got to sit in my dad's taxi all day long and we would go to a restaurant for lunch.
But after only 20 minutes of driving around the city, I was very bored. couldn't read my book in the car as I would get carsick and my dad didn't like to turn on the radio. I got hot and uncomfortable. People wouldn't get into his taxi because they thought he already had a passenger-me, so nothing happened. It seemed years before we went out for lunch. I actually started to miss school.
While the point of the day is to give kids a chance to experience real-life jobs and give them an idea of the possibilities for their futures, I got something completely different from the day. I learned to appreciate school. Where else do you get to play with your friends, do science experiments, read great books and write stories all in one day?
Just as you'll have to learn to love your job later in life, learn to love school now. If you don't already, try spending the day at work with your dad. | [
"Because her father didn't like to turn on the radio.",
"Because they thought the writer was a passenger.",
"Because her father's car was hot and uncomfortable.",
"Because her father didn't stop to take any passengers."
] |
In which part of a future newspaper can you read the text? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It is now February 7, 2035. The search engine TalkTalk will be open to the public next week and this service will soon be something beyond your imagination. For the first time you can not only talk to the search engine, but you can discuss with it what you are looking for.
For example, if you want to know more about the oil price, TalkTalk asks if you want to know the current oil price, the development of the oil price, or news related to the oil price. You say that you want to read news about it and TalkTalk then directs you to your source, or lets you have the latest news related to the oil price in order from the most respectable sources.
Compared with other search services that use a certain algorithm to provide data from a search, the artificial intelligence behind TalkTalk is said to easily spot if a certain source is aiming to cheat the searcher. TalkTalk also judges and stores every given reply and discussion, to learn how to give correct answers. TalkTalk is also set to answer questions directly where there is a definite answer. How well this will work in the long run is yet to be seen, but thousands of people have tested TalkTalk and the quality is really good.
The first talking search engine saw the light of day more than 30 years ago and was called Speegle. It could read the results from a written search on the Internet, and was mostly for blind people.
So far, TalkTalk cannot read the information from a certain source to you by phone, if it is not freely available. There are currently talks to find an arrangement for this, but it would most likely be difficult because of copyright .
TalkTalk is available over the Internet and also by phone, even though it only speaks English. There are no plans to add other languages in the near future, most likely because it will cost a lot of money. When you are tired of asking TalkTalk all your questions, just ask, "Where is TalkTalk?" and you will get an answer that will make you leave it with a smile on your lips.
Question:
In which part of a future newspaper can you read the text?
Choices:
A. Opinion.
B. Culture.
C. Lifestyle.
D. Technology. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11054.txt | It is now February 7, 2035. The search engine TalkTalk will be open to the public next week and this service will soon be something beyond your imagination. For the first time you can not only talk to the search engine, but you can discuss with it what you are looking for.
For example, if you want to know more about the oil price, TalkTalk asks if you want to know the current oil price, the development of the oil price, or news related to the oil price. You say that you want to read news about it and TalkTalk then directs you to your source, or lets you have the latest news related to the oil price in order from the most respectable sources.
Compared with other search services that use a certain algorithm to provide data from a search, the artificial intelligence behind TalkTalk is said to easily spot if a certain source is aiming to cheat the searcher. TalkTalk also judges and stores every given reply and discussion, to learn how to give correct answers. TalkTalk is also set to answer questions directly where there is a definite answer. How well this will work in the long run is yet to be seen, but thousands of people have tested TalkTalk and the quality is really good.
The first talking search engine saw the light of day more than 30 years ago and was called Speegle. It could read the results from a written search on the Internet, and was mostly for blind people.
So far, TalkTalk cannot read the information from a certain source to you by phone, if it is not freely available. There are currently talks to find an arrangement for this, but it would most likely be difficult because of copyright .
TalkTalk is available over the Internet and also by phone, even though it only speaks English. There are no plans to add other languages in the near future, most likely because it will cost a lot of money. When you are tired of asking TalkTalk all your questions, just ask, "Where is TalkTalk?" and you will get an answer that will make you leave it with a smile on your lips. | [
"Opinion.",
"Culture.",
"Lifestyle.",
"Technology."
] |
Which of the following about Grand Canyon, Arizona is NOT true? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Amazing Rafting Adventures
White water rafting is one of the classic, wild, activities in the outdoors. It is also an opportunity for an unbelievable family adventure. Around the country, there are several rivers--and rafting outfitters--that are perfectly suited to the entire family.
Here are three of the best:
New River Gorge, West Virginia
Rafting in West Virginia is renowned for its established infrastructure, reliability, and easy access. These things make it an obvious choice for a family vacation. Famous areas, including the New River Gorge, offer everything from lazy floats to intense Class IV runs.
READ MORE: Water Water Rafting: Top 5 U.S. Locations
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole provides a full range of opportunities in the outdoors--and white water rafting is certainly one of them. Popular trips include the rough rapids of the Snake River and gentle floats in nearby Yellowstone National Park.
READ MORE: What You Need to Know Before Visiting Yellowstone National Park
Grand Canyon, Arizona
For really bold families, a multi-day trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon is the penultimate adventure. Guided trips typically pack in boats-worth of supplies so the overnight adventures are far from "roughing it." Instead, evenings are catered in a rugged luxury style, allowing everyone to rest up for the next day's activities.
Whether looking for a casual float or a challenging adventure, white water rafting is a great option for any active family vacation.
Question:
Which of the following about Grand Canyon, Arizona is NOT true?
Choices:
A. A multi-day trip down the Colorado River is really challenging.
B. Really brave families will like to have a multi-day trip down the river
C. Everyone can rest for the next day's activities.
D. People can only enjoy the rough rapids down the river | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high4265.txt | Amazing Rafting Adventures
White water rafting is one of the classic, wild, activities in the outdoors. It is also an opportunity for an unbelievable family adventure. Around the country, there are several rivers--and rafting outfitters--that are perfectly suited to the entire family.
Here are three of the best:
New River Gorge, West Virginia
Rafting in West Virginia is renowned for its established infrastructure, reliability, and easy access. These things make it an obvious choice for a family vacation. Famous areas, including the New River Gorge, offer everything from lazy floats to intense Class IV runs.
READ MORE: Water Water Rafting: Top 5 U.S. Locations
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole provides a full range of opportunities in the outdoors--and white water rafting is certainly one of them. Popular trips include the rough rapids of the Snake River and gentle floats in nearby Yellowstone National Park.
READ MORE: What You Need to Know Before Visiting Yellowstone National Park
Grand Canyon, Arizona
For really bold families, a multi-day trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon is the penultimate adventure. Guided trips typically pack in boats-worth of supplies so the overnight adventures are far from "roughing it." Instead, evenings are catered in a rugged luxury style, allowing everyone to rest up for the next day's activities.
Whether looking for a casual float or a challenging adventure, white water rafting is a great option for any active family vacation. | [
"A multi-day trip down the Colorado River is really challenging.",
"Really brave families will like to have a multi-day trip down the river",
"Everyone can rest for the next day's activities.",
"People can only enjoy the rough rapids down the river"
] |
Which are the closest living relations to land plants? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Which are the closest living relations to land plants? | charophytes | science | null | null | null | sporozoans | mammals | arthropods | charophytes | outcompete the green tint of chlorophyll, making these species appear as varying shades of red. Other protists classified as red algae lack phycoerythrins and are parasites. Red algae are common in tropical waters where they have been detected at depths of 260 meters. Other red algae exist in terrestrial or freshwater environments. Green Algae: Chlorophytes and Charophytes The most abundant group of algae is the green algae. The green algae exhibit similar features to the land plants, particularly in terms of chloroplast structure. That this group of protists shared a relatively recent common ancestor with land plants is well supported. The green algae are subdivided into the chlorophytes and the charophytes. The charophytes are the closest living relatives to land plants and resemble them in morphology and reproductive strategies. Charophytes are common in wet habitats, and their presence often signals a healthy ecosystem. The chlorophytes exhibit great diversity of form and function. Chlorophytes primarily inhabit freshwater and damp soil, and are a common component of plankton. Chlamydomonas is a simple, unicellular chlorophyte with a pear-shaped morphology and two opposing, anterior flagella that guide this protist toward light sensed by its eyespot. More complex chlorophyte species exhibit haploid gametes and spores that resemble Chlamydomonas. The chlorophyte Volvox is one of only a few examples of a colonial organism, which behaves in some ways like a collection of individual cells, but in other ways like the specialized cells of a multicellular organism (Figure 23.24). Volvox colonies contain 500 to 60,000 cells, each with two flagella, contained within a hollow, spherical matrix composed of a gelatinous glycoprotein secretion. Individual Volvox cells move in a coordinated fashion and are interconnected by cytoplasmic bridges. Only a few of the cells reproduce to create daughter colonies, an example of basic cell specialization in this organism. | null | null | null |
How does Gunter Grass revive the memory of the Wilhelm Gustloff tragedy ? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It's the worst event in human being's nautical history , six times more deadly than the Titanic . When the German cruise ship Wilhelm Gustloff was hit by torpedoes fired from a Russian submarine in the final winter of World War II , more than 10,000 people - mostly women , children and old people fleeing the final Red Army push into Nazi Germany - were packed aboard .
An ice storm had turned the decks into frozen sheets that sent hundreds of families sliding into the sea as the ship tilted and began to go down . Others desperately tried to put lifeboats down . Some who succeeded fought off those in the water who had the strength to try to claw their way aboard . Most people froze immediately . " I'll never forget the screams , " says Christa Ntitzmann , 87 , one of the 1,200 survivors . She recalls watching the ship , brightly lit , slipping into its dark grave-and into seeming nothingness , rarely mentioned for more than half a century .
Now Germany's Nobel Prize-winning author Gtinter Grass has revived the memory of the 9,000 dead , including more than 4,000 children-with his latest novel Crab Walk , published last month . The book ,which will be out in English next year , doesn't dwell on the sinking : its heroine is a pregnant young woman who survives the catastrophe only to say later : " Nobody wanted to hear about it , not here in the West ( of Germany ) and not at all in the East . "
The reason was obvious . As Grass put in a recent interview with the weekly Die Woche : " Because the crimes we Germans are responsible for were and are so dominant , we didn't have the energy left to tell of our own sufferings . " The long silence about the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff was probably unavoidable - and necessary .
By unreservedly owning up to their country's monstrous crimes in the Second World War , Germans have managed to win acceptance abroad , _ the neo-Nazis at home and make peace with their neighbors .
Today's unified Germany is more prosperous and stable than at any time in its long , troubled history . For that , a half century of willful forgetting about painful memories like the German Titanic was perhaps a reasonable price to pay . But even the most politically correct Germans believe that they've now earned the right to discuss the full historical record . Not to equate German suffering with that of its victims , but simply to acknowledge a terrible tragedy .
Question:
How does Gunter Grass revive the memory of the Wilhelm Gustloff tragedy ?
Choices:
A. By presenting the horrible scene of the torpedo attack .
B. By describing the ship's sinking in great detail .
C. By giving an interview to the weekly Die Woche .
D. By illustrating the survival of a young pregnant woman . | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high10753.txt | It's the worst event in human being's nautical history , six times more deadly than the Titanic . When the German cruise ship Wilhelm Gustloff was hit by torpedoes fired from a Russian submarine in the final winter of World War II , more than 10,000 people - mostly women , children and old people fleeing the final Red Army push into Nazi Germany - were packed aboard .
An ice storm had turned the decks into frozen sheets that sent hundreds of families sliding into the sea as the ship tilted and began to go down . Others desperately tried to put lifeboats down . Some who succeeded fought off those in the water who had the strength to try to claw their way aboard . Most people froze immediately . " I'll never forget the screams , " says Christa Ntitzmann , 87 , one of the 1,200 survivors . She recalls watching the ship , brightly lit , slipping into its dark grave-and into seeming nothingness , rarely mentioned for more than half a century .
Now Germany's Nobel Prize-winning author Gtinter Grass has revived the memory of the 9,000 dead , including more than 4,000 children-with his latest novel Crab Walk , published last month . The book ,which will be out in English next year , doesn't dwell on the sinking : its heroine is a pregnant young woman who survives the catastrophe only to say later : " Nobody wanted to hear about it , not here in the West ( of Germany ) and not at all in the East . "
The reason was obvious . As Grass put in a recent interview with the weekly Die Woche : " Because the crimes we Germans are responsible for were and are so dominant , we didn't have the energy left to tell of our own sufferings . " The long silence about the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff was probably unavoidable - and necessary .
By unreservedly owning up to their country's monstrous crimes in the Second World War , Germans have managed to win acceptance abroad , _ the neo-Nazis at home and make peace with their neighbors .
Today's unified Germany is more prosperous and stable than at any time in its long , troubled history . For that , a half century of willful forgetting about painful memories like the German Titanic was perhaps a reasonable price to pay . But even the most politically correct Germans believe that they've now earned the right to discuss the full historical record . Not to equate German suffering with that of its victims , but simply to acknowledge a terrible tragedy . | [
"By presenting the horrible scene of the torpedo attack .",
"By describing the ship's sinking in great detail .",
"By giving an interview to the weekly Die Woche .",
"By illustrating the survival of a young pregnant woman ."
] |
Why does the writer suggest choosing a person outside your area? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
When disaster happens, you might find yourself without water, gas and electricity. You might even need to leave your home right away. So you are supposed to plan for the bad situations before the disaster comes. Here are some suggestions:
First, have a family meeting. Plan a way to get your family members together if they can't find each other after the disaster. Choose two places for everyone to go to if it isn't safe to return home. The first should be near your house. You can go there in an emergency like a fire. The second meeting place should be outside your neighborhood.
Next, choose a person outside your area who can help your family get in touch with each other. After a disaster, it is often easier to communicate over a long-distance call than a local one. The person can pass messages between your family members.
Then, get a family disaster _ ready. It should include things your family needs. It can help you survive at least for three days like bread, water, medicine and things like that. Put them in a bag so you can carry it if you leave in a hurry. When doing it, remember that different people have different needs. Include special things necessary for elderly or young members of your family.
Finally, practice your emergency plan, and update it as necessary.
You may not be able to stop disasters, but with a little planning you can be helped.
Question:
Why does the writer suggest choosing a person outside your area?
Choices:
A. To send food and water to you family.
B. To help your family move to a safe place.
C. To choose two places for your family to go to.
D. To help your family get in touch with each other. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3091.txt | When disaster happens, you might find yourself without water, gas and electricity. You might even need to leave your home right away. So you are supposed to plan for the bad situations before the disaster comes. Here are some suggestions:
First, have a family meeting. Plan a way to get your family members together if they can't find each other after the disaster. Choose two places for everyone to go to if it isn't safe to return home. The first should be near your house. You can go there in an emergency like a fire. The second meeting place should be outside your neighborhood.
Next, choose a person outside your area who can help your family get in touch with each other. After a disaster, it is often easier to communicate over a long-distance call than a local one. The person can pass messages between your family members.
Then, get a family disaster _ ready. It should include things your family needs. It can help you survive at least for three days like bread, water, medicine and things like that. Put them in a bag so you can carry it if you leave in a hurry. When doing it, remember that different people have different needs. Include special things necessary for elderly or young members of your family.
Finally, practice your emergency plan, and update it as necessary.
You may not be able to stop disasters, but with a little planning you can be helped. | [
"To send food and water to you family.",
"To help your family move to a safe place.",
"To choose two places for your family to go to.",
"To help your family get in touch with each other."
] |
Which statement is true according to the passage? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The president of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, is asking for foreign help to fight forest and agricultural fires in his country. According to Mr Widodo, Indonesian helicopters are only able to carry a small amount of the water needed to put out the fires. " _ " the Associated Press reported his comment.
The Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space says more than 1,300 fires are burning across the country. The government has sent about 25,000 soldiers, police and firefighters in six provinces to battle the fires.
Indonesian farmers and some businesses often burn rainforest to clear land at this time of year. The burning usually takes place during the country's dry season. But a large rise in palm oil production on peat lands is blamed for the many fires this year. Peat is made partly of dead plants, which burns easily and is often used as cooking fuel.
The resulting thick, black smoke has polluted skies over Indonesia and four other countries. The burning has worsened air quality, closed schools and caused any outdoor activities to stop. The smoke is not only affecting people; it is affecting wildlife. In Indonesian Borneo, an animal rescue center says some of its animals have developed breathing problems. If the fires continue, a lot more could become sick and some could die.
Scientists have warned that the fires this year could be worst ever because of a weather system called El Nino. They say the weather system has created extremely dry conditions in Indonesia.
Question:
Which statement is true according to the passage?
Choices:
A. El Nino might help relieve the dry conditions in Indonesia.
B. Many animals have become sick and died because of the fires.
C. 25,000 people from home and abroad have been sent to fight fires.
D. Some other countries besides Indonesia have been affected by the fires. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high12776.txt | The president of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, is asking for foreign help to fight forest and agricultural fires in his country. According to Mr Widodo, Indonesian helicopters are only able to carry a small amount of the water needed to put out the fires. " _ " the Associated Press reported his comment.
The Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space says more than 1,300 fires are burning across the country. The government has sent about 25,000 soldiers, police and firefighters in six provinces to battle the fires.
Indonesian farmers and some businesses often burn rainforest to clear land at this time of year. The burning usually takes place during the country's dry season. But a large rise in palm oil production on peat lands is blamed for the many fires this year. Peat is made partly of dead plants, which burns easily and is often used as cooking fuel.
The resulting thick, black smoke has polluted skies over Indonesia and four other countries. The burning has worsened air quality, closed schools and caused any outdoor activities to stop. The smoke is not only affecting people; it is affecting wildlife. In Indonesian Borneo, an animal rescue center says some of its animals have developed breathing problems. If the fires continue, a lot more could become sick and some could die.
Scientists have warned that the fires this year could be worst ever because of a weather system called El Nino. They say the weather system has created extremely dry conditions in Indonesia. | [
"El Nino might help relieve the dry conditions in Indonesia.",
"Many animals have become sick and died because of the fires.",
"25,000 people from home and abroad have been sent to fight fires.",
"Some other countries besides Indonesia have been affected by the fires."
] |
The woman went to the shop again the next day in order to _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A woman in blue jeans stood at the window of expensive shop. Though she hesitated for a moment, she finally went in and asked to see a dress that was in the window. The assistant who served her did not like the way she was dressed. Glancing at her scornfully , he told her the dress was sold. The woman walked out of the shop angrily and decided to punish the assistant the next day.
She returned to the shop the following morning dressed in a fur coat, with a handbag in one hand and a long umbrella in the other. After searching out the rude assistant she asked for the same dress. Not realizing who she was, the assistant was eager to serve her this time. With great difficulty, he climbed into the shop window to get the dress. As soon as she saw it, the woman said she did not like it. She enjoy herself making the assistant bring almost everything in the window before finally buying the dress she had first asked for.
Question:
The woman went to the shop again the next day in order to _ .
Choices:
A. get the dress she loved
B. teach the assistant a lesson
C. ask for the same dress
D. search out the rude assistant | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high22840.txt | A woman in blue jeans stood at the window of expensive shop. Though she hesitated for a moment, she finally went in and asked to see a dress that was in the window. The assistant who served her did not like the way she was dressed. Glancing at her scornfully , he told her the dress was sold. The woman walked out of the shop angrily and decided to punish the assistant the next day.
She returned to the shop the following morning dressed in a fur coat, with a handbag in one hand and a long umbrella in the other. After searching out the rude assistant she asked for the same dress. Not realizing who she was, the assistant was eager to serve her this time. With great difficulty, he climbed into the shop window to get the dress. As soon as she saw it, the woman said she did not like it. She enjoy herself making the assistant bring almost everything in the window before finally buying the dress she had first asked for. | [
"get the dress she loved",
"teach the assistant a lesson",
"ask for the same dress",
"search out the rude assistant"
] |
According to the passage, Tsholofelo's mother seemed to hope Tsholofelo could be _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
I recall my mother's voice which called me to order, and often ended with some strong proverb to express the gravity of the wrong done. It was common practice for my mother to send me off soul-searching with a proverb.
Of the many interactions I had with my mother those many years ago, one stands out with clarity. I remember the occasion when Mother sent me to the main road, about twenty yards away from the farmhouse, to invite a passing group of seasonal work-seekers home for a meal. She instructed me to take a container along and collect dry cow dung for making a fire. I was then to prepare the meal for the group of work-seekers.
The thought of making an open fire outside at midday, cooking in a large three-legged pot in that high heat, was enough to upset even an angel. I did not manage to hide my feelings from my mother, and after serving the group, she called me to the balcony, where she usually sat to attend to her sewing .
Looking straight into my eyes, she said, "Tsholofelo, why were you so unhappy when I requested you to prepare a meal for those poor people?" Despite my attempt to deny her allegation , and using the heat of the fire and the sun as an excuse for my alleged behavior, Mother, giving me a firm look, said, "A foot has no nose." It means, "You can't detect what trouble may lie ahead of you." Had I denied the group of people a meal, it may have happened that, in my travels some time in the future, I found myself at the mercy of those very individuals. As if that was not enough to shame me, Mother continued, "A person is a person because of another person."
Question:
According to the passage, Tsholofelo's mother seemed to hope Tsholofelo could be _ .
Choices:
A. flexible and creative
B. sincere and honest
C. active and confident
D. sympathetic and helpful | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high15070.txt | I recall my mother's voice which called me to order, and often ended with some strong proverb to express the gravity of the wrong done. It was common practice for my mother to send me off soul-searching with a proverb.
Of the many interactions I had with my mother those many years ago, one stands out with clarity. I remember the occasion when Mother sent me to the main road, about twenty yards away from the farmhouse, to invite a passing group of seasonal work-seekers home for a meal. She instructed me to take a container along and collect dry cow dung for making a fire. I was then to prepare the meal for the group of work-seekers.
The thought of making an open fire outside at midday, cooking in a large three-legged pot in that high heat, was enough to upset even an angel. I did not manage to hide my feelings from my mother, and after serving the group, she called me to the balcony, where she usually sat to attend to her sewing .
Looking straight into my eyes, she said, "Tsholofelo, why were you so unhappy when I requested you to prepare a meal for those poor people?" Despite my attempt to deny her allegation , and using the heat of the fire and the sun as an excuse for my alleged behavior, Mother, giving me a firm look, said, "A foot has no nose." It means, "You can't detect what trouble may lie ahead of you." Had I denied the group of people a meal, it may have happened that, in my travels some time in the future, I found myself at the mercy of those very individuals. As if that was not enough to shame me, Mother continued, "A person is a person because of another person." | [
"flexible and creative",
"sincere and honest",
"active and confident",
"sympathetic and helpful"
] |
The most important people in your life are your _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Mom and dad are the most important people in your life. They have been looking after you since you were born, so you should always love them. You should also get on well with them. But some children don't know how to do this. Here are some ways to help you.
Spend more time with your parents. Don't spend too much time playing computer games or watching TV. Ask your parents to play with you. Talk or go outside with them.
Be kind to your parents. You can make them happy with a smile when you come home. You can send your mother a card on Mothers' Day or tell your father a joke on his birthday. You can also clean your room by yourself.
Work hard. If you do your best in your studies, your parents will be proud of you.
Question:
The most important people in your life are your _ .
Choices:
A. friends
B. mom and dad
C. classmates
D. brother and sister | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle6911.txt | Mom and dad are the most important people in your life. They have been looking after you since you were born, so you should always love them. You should also get on well with them. But some children don't know how to do this. Here are some ways to help you.
Spend more time with your parents. Don't spend too much time playing computer games or watching TV. Ask your parents to play with you. Talk or go outside with them.
Be kind to your parents. You can make them happy with a smile when you come home. You can send your mother a card on Mothers' Day or tell your father a joke on his birthday. You can also clean your room by yourself.
Work hard. If you do your best in your studies, your parents will be proud of you. | [
"friends",
"mom and dad",
"classmates",
"brother and sister"
] |
Gavin is always alone because he_. | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Gavin Joseph, a teenager with Asperger's Syndrome, was beaten up by a group of people for just being different. Asperger's Syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a person's ability to socialize. But instead of putting them into prison for what they did to him, Gavin offered them a chance to become more tolerant and understanding.
On Thursday night, some kids were talking about how "it's weird " that he is always by himself, attending events alone and watching people, and it was "creepy" that he wanted to be friends with people he didn't know.
On Friday night, another kid that overheard that conversation decided to take matters into his own hands and become judge and jury, and this is the result of that. He didn't ask questions, didn't get to know Gavin, never met him, and didn't give him a chance to leave. Gavin was called to meet someone, surrounded by people he didn't know, choked, punched , and left lying on the pavement so he would "learn his lesson".
Gavin emerged from the attack with a concussion , a fractured nose, a bruised esophagus and some damage to his eyes, but thankfully, none of the injuries resulted in permanent damage.
But here's the truly amazing part -- Gavin refused to press charges against the people who did this to him. Instead of wanting to see them punished, he wants to see them educated. Gavin asked that his attackers do community service that is disability-related. According to his mother, Gavin also asked that they watch a 20-minute video statement he taped while their families were present so they could see the damage they did and hear the event from his perspective.
"If you are reading this, I hope you talk to your teens," his mother wrote. "Tell them about disabilities you can't see, teach them to be tolerant of people that are different, teach them that if they continuously see someone alone that maybe it is not their choice to be alone, remind them to ask questions first and get to know one another."
Question:
Gavin is always alone because he_.
Choices:
A. enjoys being alone
B. is always upsetting
C. suffers from a disease
D. doesn't like his schoolmates | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high19933.txt | Gavin Joseph, a teenager with Asperger's Syndrome, was beaten up by a group of people for just being different. Asperger's Syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a person's ability to socialize. But instead of putting them into prison for what they did to him, Gavin offered them a chance to become more tolerant and understanding.
On Thursday night, some kids were talking about how "it's weird " that he is always by himself, attending events alone and watching people, and it was "creepy" that he wanted to be friends with people he didn't know.
On Friday night, another kid that overheard that conversation decided to take matters into his own hands and become judge and jury, and this is the result of that. He didn't ask questions, didn't get to know Gavin, never met him, and didn't give him a chance to leave. Gavin was called to meet someone, surrounded by people he didn't know, choked, punched , and left lying on the pavement so he would "learn his lesson".
Gavin emerged from the attack with a concussion , a fractured nose, a bruised esophagus and some damage to his eyes, but thankfully, none of the injuries resulted in permanent damage.
But here's the truly amazing part -- Gavin refused to press charges against the people who did this to him. Instead of wanting to see them punished, he wants to see them educated. Gavin asked that his attackers do community service that is disability-related. According to his mother, Gavin also asked that they watch a 20-minute video statement he taped while their families were present so they could see the damage they did and hear the event from his perspective.
"If you are reading this, I hope you talk to your teens," his mother wrote. "Tell them about disabilities you can't see, teach them to be tolerant of people that are different, teach them that if they continuously see someone alone that maybe it is not their choice to be alone, remind them to ask questions first and get to know one another." | [
"enjoys being alone",
"is always upsetting",
"suffers from a disease",
"doesn't like his schoolmates"
] |
Phil started his day with $40. He bought a slice of pizza for $2.75, a soda for $1.50 and a pair of jeans for $11.50. If he has nothing but quarters left of his original money, how many quarters does he now have? | The total cost of pizza, soda and jeans is $2.75 + $1.50 + $11.50 = $<<2.75+1.5+11.5=15.75>>15.75
He now has $40 - $15.75 = $<<40-15.75=24.25>>24.25 left.
There are 4 quarters in $1.00 so $24 is equal to 24 x 4 = <<24*4=96>>96 quarters.
25 cents is equal to 1 quarter.
Therefore, Phil has 96 quarters + 1 quarter = <<96+1=97>>97 quarters now.
#### 97 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Phil started his day with $40. He bought a slice of pizza for $2.75, a soda for $1.50 and a pair of jeans for $11.50. If he has nothing but quarters left of his original money, how many quarters does he now have? | The total cost of pizza, soda and jeans is $2.75 + $1.50 + $11.50 = $<<2.75+1.5+11.5=15.75>>15.75
He now has $40 - $15.75 = $<<40-15.75=24.25>>24.25 left.
There are 4 quarters in $1.00 so $24 is equal to 24 x 4 = <<24*4=96>>96 quarters.
25 cents is equal to 1 quarter.
Therefore, Phil has 96 quarters + 1 quarter = <<96+1=97>>97 quarters now.
#### 97 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The Grand Canal was in the most glorious time _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
When it comes to cultural heritage protection, the Grand Canal of China is probably the world's greatest project of its kind. The big inland waterway system in the north-eastern and central eastern plains passes through eight of the country's present-day provinces.
The Canal runs from Beijing in the north to Zhejiang Province in the south. Constructed in sections from the 5th century BC onwards, it was designed as a means of communication in the 7th century AD. The Canal is the world's greatest civil engineering project before the Industrial Revolution.
The Grand Canal reached a peak in the 13th century, providing an inland navigation network consisting of more than 2,000 kilometers of artificial waterways, linking five of the most important river basins in China, including the Yellow River and the Yangtze. It entered a bid as a UNESCO cultural heritage site in 2008.
The Grand Canal cultural square is located in Beijing's Tongzhou district. Ever since the Yuan dynasty 800 years ago, the Tongzhou section of the Grand Canal has been the life blood of Beijing. Grain and building materials were all transported to meet the endless demands of the big cities. Even today, the Grand Canal plays a major role in the lives of its citizens.
"I grew up near the Grand Canal. In the past the waterway was a lot narrower, but now it's nice and wide and bridges are built over it. I think if the bid for world heritage status succeeds, it will greatly make Tongzhou more famous in the world, especially with Tongzhou aiming to be a sub-center of the capital Beijing," a citizen said.
The result of the bid is set to be released next week, and no doubt it will certainly make it into the history books if the Canal is listed as a world heritage site.
Question:
The Grand Canal was in the most glorious time _ .
Choices:
A. when it was aimed as a means of communication
B. when it crossed the Yellow River and the Yangtze
C. when it was born about six hundred years later
D. when it was designed as an artificial waterway | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high12752.txt | When it comes to cultural heritage protection, the Grand Canal of China is probably the world's greatest project of its kind. The big inland waterway system in the north-eastern and central eastern plains passes through eight of the country's present-day provinces.
The Canal runs from Beijing in the north to Zhejiang Province in the south. Constructed in sections from the 5th century BC onwards, it was designed as a means of communication in the 7th century AD. The Canal is the world's greatest civil engineering project before the Industrial Revolution.
The Grand Canal reached a peak in the 13th century, providing an inland navigation network consisting of more than 2,000 kilometers of artificial waterways, linking five of the most important river basins in China, including the Yellow River and the Yangtze. It entered a bid as a UNESCO cultural heritage site in 2008.
The Grand Canal cultural square is located in Beijing's Tongzhou district. Ever since the Yuan dynasty 800 years ago, the Tongzhou section of the Grand Canal has been the life blood of Beijing. Grain and building materials were all transported to meet the endless demands of the big cities. Even today, the Grand Canal plays a major role in the lives of its citizens.
"I grew up near the Grand Canal. In the past the waterway was a lot narrower, but now it's nice and wide and bridges are built over it. I think if the bid for world heritage status succeeds, it will greatly make Tongzhou more famous in the world, especially with Tongzhou aiming to be a sub-center of the capital Beijing," a citizen said.
The result of the bid is set to be released next week, and no doubt it will certainly make it into the history books if the Canal is listed as a world heritage site. | [
"when it was aimed as a means of communication",
"when it crossed the Yellow River and the Yangtze",
"when it was born about six hundred years later",
"when it was designed as an artificial waterway"
] |
What does the author intend to tell us? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Life can be so wonderful, full of adventure and joy. It can also be full of challenges, setbacks and heartbreaks. Whatever our circumstances, we generally still have dreams, hopes and desires--that little something more we want for ourselves and our loved ones. Yet knowing we can have more can also create a problem, because when we go to change the way we do things, up come the old patterns and pitfalls that stopped us from seeking what we wanted in the first place.
This tension between what we feel we can have and what we are seemingly able to have is niggling suffering, the anxiety we feel. This is where we usually think it is easier to just give up. But we are never meant to let go of the part of us that knows we can have more. The intelligence behind that knowing is us--the real us. It's the part that believes in life and its possibilities. If you drop that, you begin to feel a little "dead" inside because you are dropping "you".
So, if we have this capability but somehow life seems to keep us stuck, how do we break these patterns?
Decide on a new course and make one decision at a time. This is good advice for a new adventure or just getting through today's challenges.
While, deep down, we know we can do it, our mind--or the minds of those close to us--usually say we can't. That isn't a reason to stop, it's just the mind, that little man or woman on your shoulder, trying to talk you out of something again. It has done it many times before. It's all about starting simple and doing it now.
Decide and act before overthinking. When you do this you may feel a little, or large, _ and you will be on your way.
Question:
What does the author intend to tell us?
Choices:
A. It's easier than we think to get what we want.
B. It's important to learn to accept sufferings in life.
C. It's impractical to change our way of thinking.
D. It's harder than we expect to follow a new course. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high14438.txt | Life can be so wonderful, full of adventure and joy. It can also be full of challenges, setbacks and heartbreaks. Whatever our circumstances, we generally still have dreams, hopes and desires--that little something more we want for ourselves and our loved ones. Yet knowing we can have more can also create a problem, because when we go to change the way we do things, up come the old patterns and pitfalls that stopped us from seeking what we wanted in the first place.
This tension between what we feel we can have and what we are seemingly able to have is niggling suffering, the anxiety we feel. This is where we usually think it is easier to just give up. But we are never meant to let go of the part of us that knows we can have more. The intelligence behind that knowing is us--the real us. It's the part that believes in life and its possibilities. If you drop that, you begin to feel a little "dead" inside because you are dropping "you".
So, if we have this capability but somehow life seems to keep us stuck, how do we break these patterns?
Decide on a new course and make one decision at a time. This is good advice for a new adventure or just getting through today's challenges.
While, deep down, we know we can do it, our mind--or the minds of those close to us--usually say we can't. That isn't a reason to stop, it's just the mind, that little man or woman on your shoulder, trying to talk you out of something again. It has done it many times before. It's all about starting simple and doing it now.
Decide and act before overthinking. When you do this you may feel a little, or large, _ and you will be on your way. | [
"It's easier than we think to get what we want.",
"It's important to learn to accept sufferings in life.",
"It's impractical to change our way of thinking.",
"It's harder than we expect to follow a new course."
] |
Some people who hold a high position in the government think they can _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Happiness is important for everyone. Most people want to be happy but few know how to find happiness. Money and success don't bring lasting happiness. Happiness depends on ourselves. In other words, we make our own happiness.
Some people believe that if they are _ , they will be able to do anything they want, which means happiness. On the other hand, some people believe that holding a high position in the government is happiness. In this way, you have not only money, but also many other things which can't be bought by money. However, other people believe that having lots of money is not happiness, nor is holding a high position in the government. These people value their beliefs, or their intelligence, or their health. They think these can make them happy.
Here are a few ways to help you be happier.
The first secret of happiness is to enjoy the simple things in life. Too often, we spend so much time thinking about the future, for example, getting into college or getting a good job, that we don't enjoy the present. You should enjoy life's simple pleasures, such as reading a good book, listening to your favorite music, or spending time with close friends. People who have close friends usually enjoy happier and healthier lives.
The second secret of happiness is to be active. Many people go dancing or play sports. People can forget about their problems and only think about the activities.
Finally, many people find happiness in helping others. According to studies, people feel good when they volunteer their time to do many meaningful things for other people. If you want to feel happier, do something nice for someone. You can help a friend with his or her studies, go shopping to get food for an old neighbor, or simply help around the house.
Now maybe you know how to find happiness!
Question:
Some people who hold a high position in the government think they can _ .
Choices:
A. get money and something they can't buy with money
B. do what they want to do at any time
C. enjoy health which makes them work hard
D. take an active part in all kinds of activities every day | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high8896.txt | Happiness is important for everyone. Most people want to be happy but few know how to find happiness. Money and success don't bring lasting happiness. Happiness depends on ourselves. In other words, we make our own happiness.
Some people believe that if they are _ , they will be able to do anything they want, which means happiness. On the other hand, some people believe that holding a high position in the government is happiness. In this way, you have not only money, but also many other things which can't be bought by money. However, other people believe that having lots of money is not happiness, nor is holding a high position in the government. These people value their beliefs, or their intelligence, or their health. They think these can make them happy.
Here are a few ways to help you be happier.
The first secret of happiness is to enjoy the simple things in life. Too often, we spend so much time thinking about the future, for example, getting into college or getting a good job, that we don't enjoy the present. You should enjoy life's simple pleasures, such as reading a good book, listening to your favorite music, or spending time with close friends. People who have close friends usually enjoy happier and healthier lives.
The second secret of happiness is to be active. Many people go dancing or play sports. People can forget about their problems and only think about the activities.
Finally, many people find happiness in helping others. According to studies, people feel good when they volunteer their time to do many meaningful things for other people. If you want to feel happier, do something nice for someone. You can help a friend with his or her studies, go shopping to get food for an old neighbor, or simply help around the house.
Now maybe you know how to find happiness! | [
"get money and something they can't buy with money",
"do what they want to do at any time",
"enjoy health which makes them work hard",
"take an active part in all kinds of activities every day"
] |
What allows giraffes to reach leaves that other ground animals cannot? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What allows giraffes to reach leaves that other ground animals cannot? | long necks | science | null | null | null | long horns | camouflage pattern | long tongue | long necks | African Giraffes. Giraffes feed on leaves high in trees. Their long necks allow them to reach leaves that other ground animals cannot. | null | null | null |
The main purpose of the advertisements is to tell you _ when you are in these cities. | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
If you're travelling in the following cities, these exciting events may drag you out of the house.
CONCERTS
Mayday Noah's Ark World Tour
Info: Jul 13, Xiamen; Jul 19/20, Shanghai; Aug 3, Shenzhen; Aug 17, Beijing
The rock band Mayday is about to bring their attractive tour to an end -- and, as usual, it's going to happen in a grand way. On Aug 17, they will rock the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest Stadium, and hold their last Noah's Ark concert in China, before heading to Europe in September.
Tanya Chua 2013 Concert Tour
Info: Aug 10, Shanghai; Aug 31, Beijing
In her music career of more than 15 years, the 38-year-old Singaporean singer-songwriter has never been short of popular songs that astonish the heart. Now, for the first time since 2008, when she played a small Christmas concert in Shanghai, Chua is visiting China as part of a concert tour.
THEATER
What is Success?
Director: Edward Lam
Performers: Chu Hung-chang, Ethan Wei, Shi Yi-hsiu
Info: Aug 9-10, Guangzhou; Aug 16-17, Chongqing; Aug 29-Sept 1, Beijing
In Part Three of Edward Lam's Four Great Classics Series, which looks back at Luo Guanzhong's novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it is sure to give you a surprise. Will it be true? Find out for yourself!
To Live
Director: Meng Jinghui
Performers: Huang Bo, Yuan Quan
Info: Jul 30-Aug 4, Beijing; Aug 6-7, Tianjin; Aug 9-11, Hangzhou; Aug 13-18, Shanghai
After their world show in September, theater director Meng Jinghui and his team are back for another tour around China. While audiences can renew their memories of Yu Hua's new realism works, film stars Huang Bo and Yuan Quan will also impress audiences with their excellent performance.
EXHIBITIONS
Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal
Info: Apr 29-Jul 28, Shanghai
Launched in 2012 -- the 25th anniversary of the pop artist Andy Warhol's death -- the exhibition brings the largest ever collection of Warhol's work to Asia. It includes more than 300 paintings, photographs, drawings and 3-D art, including his works such as Marilyn Monroe, Mao, Campbell's Soup and Self-Portrait.
Question:
The main purpose of the advertisements is to tell you _ when you are in these cities.
Choices:
A. how to enjoy these activities
B. how to improve your artistic level
C. how to amuse yourselves
D. what to enjoy | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7125.txt | If you're travelling in the following cities, these exciting events may drag you out of the house.
CONCERTS
Mayday Noah's Ark World Tour
Info: Jul 13, Xiamen; Jul 19/20, Shanghai; Aug 3, Shenzhen; Aug 17, Beijing
The rock band Mayday is about to bring their attractive tour to an end -- and, as usual, it's going to happen in a grand way. On Aug 17, they will rock the National Stadium, or the Bird's Nest Stadium, and hold their last Noah's Ark concert in China, before heading to Europe in September.
Tanya Chua 2013 Concert Tour
Info: Aug 10, Shanghai; Aug 31, Beijing
In her music career of more than 15 years, the 38-year-old Singaporean singer-songwriter has never been short of popular songs that astonish the heart. Now, for the first time since 2008, when she played a small Christmas concert in Shanghai, Chua is visiting China as part of a concert tour.
THEATER
What is Success?
Director: Edward Lam
Performers: Chu Hung-chang, Ethan Wei, Shi Yi-hsiu
Info: Aug 9-10, Guangzhou; Aug 16-17, Chongqing; Aug 29-Sept 1, Beijing
In Part Three of Edward Lam's Four Great Classics Series, which looks back at Luo Guanzhong's novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, it is sure to give you a surprise. Will it be true? Find out for yourself!
To Live
Director: Meng Jinghui
Performers: Huang Bo, Yuan Quan
Info: Jul 30-Aug 4, Beijing; Aug 6-7, Tianjin; Aug 9-11, Hangzhou; Aug 13-18, Shanghai
After their world show in September, theater director Meng Jinghui and his team are back for another tour around China. While audiences can renew their memories of Yu Hua's new realism works, film stars Huang Bo and Yuan Quan will also impress audiences with their excellent performance.
EXHIBITIONS
Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal
Info: Apr 29-Jul 28, Shanghai
Launched in 2012 -- the 25th anniversary of the pop artist Andy Warhol's death -- the exhibition brings the largest ever collection of Warhol's work to Asia. It includes more than 300 paintings, photographs, drawings and 3-D art, including his works such as Marilyn Monroe, Mao, Campbell's Soup and Self-Portrait. | [
"how to enjoy these activities",
"how to improve your artistic level",
"how to amuse yourselves",
"what to enjoy"
] |
Before Jennie knew she was the best match, her feeling could be described as" _ ". | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
My friend Jennie gave her bone marrow( )to a 50-year-old woman, a woman she has never met.
At the end of March, the Red Cross called back. Six different blood elements were tested ; Jennie matched five completely and was about a 3/4 match of the six. So she was the best match.
In April, Jennie went for a complete physical exam by one of the doctors who would perform the surgery. The doctor had to make sure that it would be no tread to her. The doctor told her that the surgery would need to have two quarts of bone marrow from her hip bones. Jennie would probably be released the same day the surgery took place and should expect to be painful for a couple of months.
"I didn't think it was that big a deal until I realized I was a match," Jennie said. "There was not a question in my head. It didn't seem like something that was going above and beyond. "
Jennie was left with two very small scars on her lower back from the surgery and was giving medication to help reduce the pain. She still felt a great deal of pressure on her lower back. "Being only 21, I felt like I am not old enough to significantly impact someone's life," Jennie said. " It seems strange to me that I could possibly save this woman's life which was being cut short by cancer. "
Three weeks after the surgery, Jennie received a car from the Red Cross representative who told her the transplant was successful. "I feel good, and I think it will actually work for her. " She said, "So many people say that they'd only donate if it was for a family member or close friend. This woman was someone's family and someone's friend. Obviously no one she knows is a match, and the fact that you'd be able to help a perfect stranger is greater. "
Question:
Before Jennie knew she was the best match, her feeling could be described as" _ ".
Choices:
A. frightened
B. nervous
C. calm
D. excite | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17897.txt | My friend Jennie gave her bone marrow( )to a 50-year-old woman, a woman she has never met.
At the end of March, the Red Cross called back. Six different blood elements were tested ; Jennie matched five completely and was about a 3/4 match of the six. So she was the best match.
In April, Jennie went for a complete physical exam by one of the doctors who would perform the surgery. The doctor had to make sure that it would be no tread to her. The doctor told her that the surgery would need to have two quarts of bone marrow from her hip bones. Jennie would probably be released the same day the surgery took place and should expect to be painful for a couple of months.
"I didn't think it was that big a deal until I realized I was a match," Jennie said. "There was not a question in my head. It didn't seem like something that was going above and beyond. "
Jennie was left with two very small scars on her lower back from the surgery and was giving medication to help reduce the pain. She still felt a great deal of pressure on her lower back. "Being only 21, I felt like I am not old enough to significantly impact someone's life," Jennie said. " It seems strange to me that I could possibly save this woman's life which was being cut short by cancer. "
Three weeks after the surgery, Jennie received a car from the Red Cross representative who told her the transplant was successful. "I feel good, and I think it will actually work for her. " She said, "So many people say that they'd only donate if it was for a family member or close friend. This woman was someone's family and someone's friend. Obviously no one she knows is a match, and the fact that you'd be able to help a perfect stranger is greater. " | [
"frightened",
"nervous",
"calm",
"excite"
] |
From the passage, we can infer that _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
There are many people who say Thomas Edison invented the twentieth century. Although there are those who may disagree, yet Edison was one of the greatest inventors in America.
Born in 1847 in Ohio, Thomas Edison attended school for only three months. After his teacher said that he could not learn, Edison's mother decided to teach him at home. There he was allowed to study the subjects that most interested him. By age ten, Edison had built a science laboratory of his own.
Edison got his first job at age twelve on the railway selling candy and newspapers. There he once saved a boy whose father was the boss of the railway station. In return the boss helped him a lot.
In his late twenties, Edison built an "invention factory" where he and his business partners could devote all their time to inventing. After improving upon the telephone, Edison created the phonograph . Although Edison did not actually invent the light bulb, he did create an electric lighting system which led to its widespread use.
Edison set up the first central electric power station in 1882, so New York became the first city in the world to have electric lights. This was the beginning of the modern world in which electricity became a way of life.
The following year, one of Edison's engineers discovered electrons , which at last led to electronics. Without electronics, we might not have radio, TV, computers, or space travel. The rest of Edison's life was spent making and improving inventions.
Thomas Edison died at the age of eighty-four in 1931. Three days later, much of America dimmed its lights in honor of the inventor--a man who had more impact on the development of present-day civilization than anyone else in history.
Question:
From the passage, we can infer that _ .
Choices:
A. Edison's teacher thought Edison was not worth teaching
B. Edison's mother stopped Edison studying at school
C. Edison didn't invent many things in all his life
D. Edison didn't spend his life working on these inventions when he was old | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high13552.txt | There are many people who say Thomas Edison invented the twentieth century. Although there are those who may disagree, yet Edison was one of the greatest inventors in America.
Born in 1847 in Ohio, Thomas Edison attended school for only three months. After his teacher said that he could not learn, Edison's mother decided to teach him at home. There he was allowed to study the subjects that most interested him. By age ten, Edison had built a science laboratory of his own.
Edison got his first job at age twelve on the railway selling candy and newspapers. There he once saved a boy whose father was the boss of the railway station. In return the boss helped him a lot.
In his late twenties, Edison built an "invention factory" where he and his business partners could devote all their time to inventing. After improving upon the telephone, Edison created the phonograph . Although Edison did not actually invent the light bulb, he did create an electric lighting system which led to its widespread use.
Edison set up the first central electric power station in 1882, so New York became the first city in the world to have electric lights. This was the beginning of the modern world in which electricity became a way of life.
The following year, one of Edison's engineers discovered electrons , which at last led to electronics. Without electronics, we might not have radio, TV, computers, or space travel. The rest of Edison's life was spent making and improving inventions.
Thomas Edison died at the age of eighty-four in 1931. Three days later, much of America dimmed its lights in honor of the inventor--a man who had more impact on the development of present-day civilization than anyone else in history. | [
"Edison's teacher thought Edison was not worth teaching",
"Edison's mother stopped Edison studying at school",
"Edison didn't invent many things in all his life",
"Edison didn't spend his life working on these inventions when he was old"
] |
This year, Green Week welcomes _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
In November of 2007, NBC Universal launched its first official Green Week. Throughout the week, NBC Universal presented over 150 hours of environmentally themed content through multiple platforms .
Now, NBC Universal is proud to present Green Week 2012. With a new theme and message of "Green Your Routine", NBC and NBC.com presents green-themed tips in several of our daytime life, among several other features here on the "Green Your Routine" site.
Fashion & Beauty
Throw a clothes exchange party! Are you dying for that sweater your friend wore the other day? Well, maybe she'll trade for that old T-shirt you have. Here's a website that helps you organize an exchange party (www.swapstyle.com), or just plan your own!
Go natural with organic make-up. Applying unnatural products on your skin wasn't exactly that nature intended. Try switching to a line of organic make-up and cosmetics for a different way to bring out your natural beauty.
Home
Drop a brick in your toilet tank! Literally! According to the EPA, flushing makes up 30 percent of a household's water use (about three to six gallons per flush). By placing a brick in your toilet tank, you can help to conserve the amount of water used during each flush.
Work
Print smarter. Printing and copying can be one of the most costly operations in any office. To save on ink and paper costs, print double-sided and try to fit more than one page on a sheet. More printing tips can be found here: lifehacker.com
Turn off your computer. Do you leave your computer on over night? If so, you're using up a good amount of electricity. If you can, try turning off your computer and the power strip it's connected to. If you can't, shut off your monitor at least.
Transportation
Organize a car pool . There are many benefits to carpooling. You save on gas and you get to ride in the HOV lines. Get connected with your neighbors and co-workers to start sharing rides and check out this website for more tips: www.erideshare.com.
Lose the car and get a bike. If you live close to where you work, try taking a bike instead of driving. You'll keep in shape and save on gas!
Every small step and efforts makes a difference! Be sure to GREEN YOUR ROUTINE!
Question:
This year, Green Week welcomes _ .
Choices:
A. advice on how to improve the website
B. suggestions about how to make their activities more interesting
C. tips on what to do to make our life greener
D. opinions on whether we should have campaigns | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high3902.txt | In November of 2007, NBC Universal launched its first official Green Week. Throughout the week, NBC Universal presented over 150 hours of environmentally themed content through multiple platforms .
Now, NBC Universal is proud to present Green Week 2012. With a new theme and message of "Green Your Routine", NBC and NBC.com presents green-themed tips in several of our daytime life, among several other features here on the "Green Your Routine" site.
Fashion & Beauty
Throw a clothes exchange party! Are you dying for that sweater your friend wore the other day? Well, maybe she'll trade for that old T-shirt you have. Here's a website that helps you organize an exchange party (www.swapstyle.com), or just plan your own!
Go natural with organic make-up. Applying unnatural products on your skin wasn't exactly that nature intended. Try switching to a line of organic make-up and cosmetics for a different way to bring out your natural beauty.
Home
Drop a brick in your toilet tank! Literally! According to the EPA, flushing makes up 30 percent of a household's water use (about three to six gallons per flush). By placing a brick in your toilet tank, you can help to conserve the amount of water used during each flush.
Work
Print smarter. Printing and copying can be one of the most costly operations in any office. To save on ink and paper costs, print double-sided and try to fit more than one page on a sheet. More printing tips can be found here: lifehacker.com
Turn off your computer. Do you leave your computer on over night? If so, you're using up a good amount of electricity. If you can, try turning off your computer and the power strip it's connected to. If you can't, shut off your monitor at least.
Transportation
Organize a car pool . There are many benefits to carpooling. You save on gas and you get to ride in the HOV lines. Get connected with your neighbors and co-workers to start sharing rides and check out this website for more tips: www.erideshare.com.
Lose the car and get a bike. If you live close to where you work, try taking a bike instead of driving. You'll keep in shape and save on gas!
Every small step and efforts makes a difference! Be sure to GREEN YOUR ROUTINE! | [
"advice on how to improve the website",
"suggestions about how to make their activities more interesting",
"tips on what to do to make our life greener",
"opinions on whether we should have campaigns"
] |
Why did the Walmart employee refuse Ayers' money? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
In a touching story, a family was shocked to find that a stranger had secretly paid for more than half of their Christmas gifts.
When Ayers went to make a payment toward the $283 balance for her family's Christmas gifts at Walmart, her money was refused. According to a Walmart employee, a woman had paid a part of Ayers' bill after seeing her shopping in the store. The unknown woman also left Ayers a touching note, which left the mother of two in tears.
Ayers, whose sons are 11 and 3, says the stranger's great generosity came at the perfect time for her family. Before the anonymous payment was made, Ayers had worried she would not be able to get her kids' toys in time for Christmas.
Ayers is still looking for the woman who helped pay for their Christmas gifts for her kids. She took a picture of her receipt with the headline: This stranger paid 4 gifts for us. I wish I could thank her for helping give our kids a Merry Christmas!
For thousands of families like Ayers', feeling this financial pressure around Christmastime is nothing new. These families who still have a roof over their heads and food on their tables often slip through the cracks -- they can afford all the necessities, but the "extras" are harder to come by. Considering that Americans are estimated to spend $882 on Christmas gifts this year, it makes sense that a family with a few financial problems would have a hard time filling the stockings for their kids.
Realizing how common this Christmas problem really is makes Ayers' story even more special. These random acts of kindness around the holidays, often from nameless strangers, can determine what a family's Christmas looks like. Christmas may not be all about the material stuff, but for families, and especially for kids, it's the little things that can make the biggest difference.
Question:
Why did the Walmart employee refuse Ayers' money?
Choices:
A. She was too poor to afford it.
B. Her money was not enough.
C. Someone had paid for her.
D. The charismas gifts were free. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high14333.txt | In a touching story, a family was shocked to find that a stranger had secretly paid for more than half of their Christmas gifts.
When Ayers went to make a payment toward the $283 balance for her family's Christmas gifts at Walmart, her money was refused. According to a Walmart employee, a woman had paid a part of Ayers' bill after seeing her shopping in the store. The unknown woman also left Ayers a touching note, which left the mother of two in tears.
Ayers, whose sons are 11 and 3, says the stranger's great generosity came at the perfect time for her family. Before the anonymous payment was made, Ayers had worried she would not be able to get her kids' toys in time for Christmas.
Ayers is still looking for the woman who helped pay for their Christmas gifts for her kids. She took a picture of her receipt with the headline: This stranger paid 4 gifts for us. I wish I could thank her for helping give our kids a Merry Christmas!
For thousands of families like Ayers', feeling this financial pressure around Christmastime is nothing new. These families who still have a roof over their heads and food on their tables often slip through the cracks -- they can afford all the necessities, but the "extras" are harder to come by. Considering that Americans are estimated to spend $882 on Christmas gifts this year, it makes sense that a family with a few financial problems would have a hard time filling the stockings for their kids.
Realizing how common this Christmas problem really is makes Ayers' story even more special. These random acts of kindness around the holidays, often from nameless strangers, can determine what a family's Christmas looks like. Christmas may not be all about the material stuff, but for families, and especially for kids, it's the little things that can make the biggest difference. | [
"She was too poor to afford it.",
"Her money was not enough.",
"Someone had paid for her.",
"The charismas gifts were free."
] |
There are lower prices for _ in most countries according to the passage. | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Some advice on travel
Here is some advice on travel. I think it will be helpful to you.
1. Forget fashion! Always wear your most comfortable clothes and shoes when you go on long trips.
2. If you're going somewhere cold, remember to take your warm clothes with you.
3. If you are going somewhere sunny, remember to take some sun block and sunglasses.
4. Traveling on trains and buses can be boring, so you'd better take an MP4 player.
5. Always take a camera with you to _ those special moments.
6. Be careful with your things whenever you go to crowded places, like a train station.
7. Always leave room in your bag for souvenirs .
8. Tour buses often stop at expensive shops along the way. Save your money by buying souvenirs at local shops.
9. Most countries have lower prices for students, so if you are, take your student card with you.
10. If you travel abroad, remember to take your passport.
Question:
There are lower prices for _ in most countries according to the passage.
Choices:
A. students
B. policemen
C. old people
D. children | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle508.txt | Some advice on travel
Here is some advice on travel. I think it will be helpful to you.
1. Forget fashion! Always wear your most comfortable clothes and shoes when you go on long trips.
2. If you're going somewhere cold, remember to take your warm clothes with you.
3. If you are going somewhere sunny, remember to take some sun block and sunglasses.
4. Traveling on trains and buses can be boring, so you'd better take an MP4 player.
5. Always take a camera with you to _ those special moments.
6. Be careful with your things whenever you go to crowded places, like a train station.
7. Always leave room in your bag for souvenirs .
8. Tour buses often stop at expensive shops along the way. Save your money by buying souvenirs at local shops.
9. Most countries have lower prices for students, so if you are, take your student card with you.
10. If you travel abroad, remember to take your passport. | [
"students",
"policemen",
"old people",
"children"
] |
How does the author introduce the topic of this passage? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Have you ever been bitten? Of course you have. You are surrounded by living things which might, or do, bite. Even when you rest your head on your pillow, bedbugs are probably nibbling away at you. They live happily inside most pillows.
Take a walk outside and you are a target for "man's best friend. " Hundreds of dog-bite victims visit US emergency rooms daily. Many bites are terrible. To avoid the dogs in your neighborhood, you might want to hike into the desert or the woods. There, you run the risk of bites from rattlesnakes, scorpions, and blood-sucking ticks. Not to mention bears, wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions.
Speaking of housing, watch out when you touch the corner of your house or garage. Shy but deadly, the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider make themselves comfortable in quiet areas of your closets or garage. One bite from either of them can make you very sick; occasionally, people die from such bites. Unfortunately, many people fear all spiders, not just the few dangerous ones. They squash them or run from them at first sight, not realizing that most spiders are actually beneficial to man.
If you're concerned about bites, don't forget about rabid animal bites. Any warm-blooded animal can get infected with rabies. Although humans in the US rarely get attacked by rabid animals, the disease is painful and dangerous. You will most likely die if you are not treated properly within 48 hours of being bitten.
Question:
How does the author introduce the topic of this passage?
Choices:
A. By asking questions.
B. By giving examples.
C. By offering suggestions.
D. By doing experiments. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high4947.txt | Have you ever been bitten? Of course you have. You are surrounded by living things which might, or do, bite. Even when you rest your head on your pillow, bedbugs are probably nibbling away at you. They live happily inside most pillows.
Take a walk outside and you are a target for "man's best friend. " Hundreds of dog-bite victims visit US emergency rooms daily. Many bites are terrible. To avoid the dogs in your neighborhood, you might want to hike into the desert or the woods. There, you run the risk of bites from rattlesnakes, scorpions, and blood-sucking ticks. Not to mention bears, wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions.
Speaking of housing, watch out when you touch the corner of your house or garage. Shy but deadly, the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider make themselves comfortable in quiet areas of your closets or garage. One bite from either of them can make you very sick; occasionally, people die from such bites. Unfortunately, many people fear all spiders, not just the few dangerous ones. They squash them or run from them at first sight, not realizing that most spiders are actually beneficial to man.
If you're concerned about bites, don't forget about rabid animal bites. Any warm-blooded animal can get infected with rabies. Although humans in the US rarely get attacked by rabid animals, the disease is painful and dangerous. You will most likely die if you are not treated properly within 48 hours of being bitten. | [
"By asking questions.",
"By giving examples.",
"By offering suggestions.",
"By doing experiments."
] |
Ali and Sara ate 80 small apples combined. Ali ate 4 times more apples than Sara. How many apples did Sara eat? | Let A be the number of apples Ali ate and S be the number of apples Sara ate.
We have: A + S = 80 apples
And: A = <<4=4>>4S
Which means: 4S + S = 80
So: 5S = 80
So the number of apples Sara ate is: S = 80 / 5= <<80/5=16>>16 apples
#### 16 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Ali and Sara ate 80 small apples combined. Ali ate 4 times more apples than Sara. How many apples did Sara eat? | Let A be the number of apples Ali ate and S be the number of apples Sara ate.
We have: A + S = 80 apples
And: A = <<4=4>>4S
Which means: 4S + S = 80
So: 5S = 80
So the number of apples Sara ate is: S = 80 / 5= <<80/5=16>>16 apples
#### 16 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
What is the purpose of founding Green River? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The 48-year-old photographer and adventurer with his trademark black and white beard and shoulder-length hair is also an environmentalist devoted to protecting the source of the Yangtze River.And he likes his new nick-name, "garbage cleaner at the source of the Yangtze River".
Yang Xin , is the founder of Green River, one of the country ' s biggest non-govemmental organizationsto protect the country's major rivers.
The Yangtze River begins from glaciers in the Tanggula Mountains on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Garbage was rarely seen in the area about 20 years ago, Yang said, as local nomadic people ledtraditional self-sufficient lives, living in tents. Thanks to increasingly convenient transportation, they ' ve started to use modern products packed in plastics, which can ' t degrade naturally.
"They don' t have a waste management system and just throw rubbish away like before. So tons of garbage are left on the grasslands and river ways," said Yang.
He founded a group with the purpose of dealing with garbage such as plastic bottles, batteries, lunch boxes and so on.
In 1997, Yang and his group founded the Sonam Dhargye Nature Preservation Station in the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, in memory of the anti-hunting hero who sacrificed his life to protect Tibetan antelopes.
Question:
What is the purpose of founding Green River?
Choices:
A. .To protect the source of the Yangtze River
B. To protect the country ' s major rivers
C. .To use modem products packed in plastics
D. .To process rubbish such as bottles. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17430.txt | The 48-year-old photographer and adventurer with his trademark black and white beard and shoulder-length hair is also an environmentalist devoted to protecting the source of the Yangtze River.And he likes his new nick-name, "garbage cleaner at the source of the Yangtze River".
Yang Xin , is the founder of Green River, one of the country ' s biggest non-govemmental organizationsto protect the country's major rivers.
The Yangtze River begins from glaciers in the Tanggula Mountains on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Garbage was rarely seen in the area about 20 years ago, Yang said, as local nomadic people ledtraditional self-sufficient lives, living in tents. Thanks to increasingly convenient transportation, they ' ve started to use modern products packed in plastics, which can ' t degrade naturally.
"They don' t have a waste management system and just throw rubbish away like before. So tons of garbage are left on the grasslands and river ways," said Yang.
He founded a group with the purpose of dealing with garbage such as plastic bottles, batteries, lunch boxes and so on.
In 1997, Yang and his group founded the Sonam Dhargye Nature Preservation Station in the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve, in memory of the anti-hunting hero who sacrificed his life to protect Tibetan antelopes. | [
".To protect the source of the Yangtze River",
"To protect the country ' s major rivers",
".To use modem products packed in plastics",
".To process rubbish such as bottles."
] |
Why didn't the Venezuelan police go into the man's bedroom? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Here are two stories from different parts of the world. They seem strange but, believe it or not, they re all true!
John Lee was an Englishman who refused to be hanged! In 1884 the police said Lee had killed an old woman who he used to work with. There was nothing to show that Lee had killed the woman. Lee told the police he hadn't done it, but no one believed him and he was going to be hanged. On the day of the hanging, however, the door in the floor, through which Lee's body would fall, did not open. They tried three times but each time the door stayed closed, even though it had worked well the day before. In the end they sent Lee back to prison, where he lived for the next twenty-two years. At all times, John Lee said he hadn't killed the woman, and he believed it was the "hand of God" that had saved him from death by hanging.
The police in Venezuela in South America followed a man home one night. He was the thief they wanted to catch. However, half of his house was standing in Venezuela and the other half was standing in Colombia . Venezuela's neighbor. When the police entered the house, the man ran upstairs to his bedroom, which was in Colombia, and called his lawyer . The Venezuelan police were not allowed to enter Colombia so they could not enter the bedroom. They asked the police in Colombia to help. The Colombian police refused to help because the man's crime was not a crime in Colombia. In the end, the Venezuelan police gave up and went back to the police station.
Question:
Why didn't the Venezuelan police go into the man's bedroom?
Choices:
A. They didn't know where it was.
B. The Venezuelan police were not allowed to enter Colombia.
C. The police in Colombia told them that (hey would help.
D. The police in Colombia told them not to go inside. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3669.txt | Here are two stories from different parts of the world. They seem strange but, believe it or not, they re all true!
John Lee was an Englishman who refused to be hanged! In 1884 the police said Lee had killed an old woman who he used to work with. There was nothing to show that Lee had killed the woman. Lee told the police he hadn't done it, but no one believed him and he was going to be hanged. On the day of the hanging, however, the door in the floor, through which Lee's body would fall, did not open. They tried three times but each time the door stayed closed, even though it had worked well the day before. In the end they sent Lee back to prison, where he lived for the next twenty-two years. At all times, John Lee said he hadn't killed the woman, and he believed it was the "hand of God" that had saved him from death by hanging.
The police in Venezuela in South America followed a man home one night. He was the thief they wanted to catch. However, half of his house was standing in Venezuela and the other half was standing in Colombia . Venezuela's neighbor. When the police entered the house, the man ran upstairs to his bedroom, which was in Colombia, and called his lawyer . The Venezuelan police were not allowed to enter Colombia so they could not enter the bedroom. They asked the police in Colombia to help. The Colombian police refused to help because the man's crime was not a crime in Colombia. In the end, the Venezuelan police gave up and went back to the police station. | [
"They didn't know where it was.",
"The Venezuelan police were not allowed to enter Colombia.",
"The police in Colombia told them that (hey would help.",
"The police in Colombia told them not to go inside."
] |
What is the tone of the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Nowadays, a cellphone service is available to everyone, everywhere. Probably thousands of people have already been using it, but I just discovered it, so I'm going to claim it and also name it: Fake Foning.
The technology has been working well for me at the office, but there are infinite applications. Virtually in any public space.
Say you work at a big university with lots of talky faculty members buzzing about. Now, say you need to use the restroom. The trip down the hall will take approximately one hour, because a person can't walk into those talky people without getting pulled aside for a question, a bit of gossip, a new read on a certain line of Paradise Lost.
So, a cellphone. Any cellphone. Just pick it up. Don't dial. Just hold that phone to your face and start talking. Walk confidently down the hall engaged in fake conversation, making sure to tailor both the topic and content to the person standing before you whom you are trying to avoid.
For standard colleague avoidance, I suggest fake chatting about fake business:
"Yes, I'm glad you called, because we really need to hammer out the details. What's that? Yes, I read Page 12, but if you look at the bottom of 4, I think you can see the problem begins right there."
Be engaged in your fake fone conversation. Make eye contact with the people passing, nod to them, gesture keen interest in talking to them at a later time, point to your phone, shrug and move on.
Shoppers should consider fake foning anytime they spot a talky neighbor in the produce department pinching unripe peaches. Without your phone at your face, you'd be in for a 20-minute speech on how terrible the world is.
One important caution about fake foning. The other day I was fake foning my way past a colleague, and he was actually following me to get my attention. I knew he wanted to ask about a project I had not yet finished. I was trying to buy myself some time, so I continued fake foning with my doctor. "So I don't need the operation? Oh, doctor, that is the best news."
And then: Brrrrrrng! Brrrrrmg! Brrrrrmg! My phone started ringing, right there while it was planted on my face. My colleague looked at me, and I at him, and naturally I gasped. "What is the matter with this thing?" I said, pulling the phone away to look at it, and then putting it back to my ear.
"Hello? Are you still there?" Oops.
Question:
What is the tone of the passage?
Choices:
A. Critical.
B. Humorous.
C. Serious.
D. Unclear. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high2961.txt | Nowadays, a cellphone service is available to everyone, everywhere. Probably thousands of people have already been using it, but I just discovered it, so I'm going to claim it and also name it: Fake Foning.
The technology has been working well for me at the office, but there are infinite applications. Virtually in any public space.
Say you work at a big university with lots of talky faculty members buzzing about. Now, say you need to use the restroom. The trip down the hall will take approximately one hour, because a person can't walk into those talky people without getting pulled aside for a question, a bit of gossip, a new read on a certain line of Paradise Lost.
So, a cellphone. Any cellphone. Just pick it up. Don't dial. Just hold that phone to your face and start talking. Walk confidently down the hall engaged in fake conversation, making sure to tailor both the topic and content to the person standing before you whom you are trying to avoid.
For standard colleague avoidance, I suggest fake chatting about fake business:
"Yes, I'm glad you called, because we really need to hammer out the details. What's that? Yes, I read Page 12, but if you look at the bottom of 4, I think you can see the problem begins right there."
Be engaged in your fake fone conversation. Make eye contact with the people passing, nod to them, gesture keen interest in talking to them at a later time, point to your phone, shrug and move on.
Shoppers should consider fake foning anytime they spot a talky neighbor in the produce department pinching unripe peaches. Without your phone at your face, you'd be in for a 20-minute speech on how terrible the world is.
One important caution about fake foning. The other day I was fake foning my way past a colleague, and he was actually following me to get my attention. I knew he wanted to ask about a project I had not yet finished. I was trying to buy myself some time, so I continued fake foning with my doctor. "So I don't need the operation? Oh, doctor, that is the best news."
And then: Brrrrrrng! Brrrrrmg! Brrrrrmg! My phone started ringing, right there while it was planted on my face. My colleague looked at me, and I at him, and naturally I gasped. "What is the matter with this thing?" I said, pulling the phone away to look at it, and then putting it back to my ear.
"Hello? Are you still there?" Oops. | [
"Critical.",
"Humorous.",
"Serious.",
"Unclear."
] |
We can infer from the text that the writer was the _ of ISM. | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Because I will be away for a few days after Spring Break, I am writing this during the actual holiday, when I can use time to catch up on a number of purely administrative items.
First of all, you should have received the letter I sent out on April 2 advising of the transition arrangements to new leadership at ISM (International School of Moscow). In that letter I pointed out that Dr. Paul Malone will be arriving in Moscow on Monday, May 4th, and that I will work with him during that week to ensure smooth transition. My last day at ISM will be Friday, May 8th.
Several people have asked me why I required Dr. Malone to come early. There are many problems facing ISM at the moment which have major implications for the future, and it makes sense for the new director to come aboard before the end of the school year. This will give him the chance to play a major role in the planning process for 2014--2015 and beyond. The fact that Paul Malone is able to arrive in early May is good for the school. I have been working closely with him, and will do everything possible to see that he can move in easily when I leave. From here I will go to Hong Kong for a couple of weeks to spend time in my new situation, and then I will return to the United States for a few weeks' vacation.
In the most recent edition of the Compass(a kind of paper of ISM), I wrote briefly what I consider to be the major challenge for ISM in the future. I am sure that the new leadership of the school will be able to face those challenges in an active manner, which will ensure a strong future for the school. I shall certainly watch the progress of the school with interest. The results of the school for the past few years have been quite outstanding, and I fully expect that level of performance to continue.
Question:
We can infer from the text that the writer was the _ of ISM.
Choices:
A. director
B. employee
C. teacher
D. student | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high10845.txt | Because I will be away for a few days after Spring Break, I am writing this during the actual holiday, when I can use time to catch up on a number of purely administrative items.
First of all, you should have received the letter I sent out on April 2 advising of the transition arrangements to new leadership at ISM (International School of Moscow). In that letter I pointed out that Dr. Paul Malone will be arriving in Moscow on Monday, May 4th, and that I will work with him during that week to ensure smooth transition. My last day at ISM will be Friday, May 8th.
Several people have asked me why I required Dr. Malone to come early. There are many problems facing ISM at the moment which have major implications for the future, and it makes sense for the new director to come aboard before the end of the school year. This will give him the chance to play a major role in the planning process for 2014--2015 and beyond. The fact that Paul Malone is able to arrive in early May is good for the school. I have been working closely with him, and will do everything possible to see that he can move in easily when I leave. From here I will go to Hong Kong for a couple of weeks to spend time in my new situation, and then I will return to the United States for a few weeks' vacation.
In the most recent edition of the Compass(a kind of paper of ISM), I wrote briefly what I consider to be the major challenge for ISM in the future. I am sure that the new leadership of the school will be able to face those challenges in an active manner, which will ensure a strong future for the school. I shall certainly watch the progress of the school with interest. The results of the school for the past few years have been quite outstanding, and I fully expect that level of performance to continue. | [
"director",
"employee",
"teacher",
"student"
] |
After the woman visited the United States she might feel that _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A woman from Japan was telling a friend about her trip to the United States.The woman had visited major businesses and investment companies in New York City and Chicago.
"I studied English before I left home,"she said."But I still was not sure that people were speaking English."
Her problem is easy to understand.Americans in business are like people who are in business anywhere.They have a language of their own.Some of the words and expressions deal with the special areas of their work.Other expressions are borrowed from different kinds of work such as the theater and movie industry.
One such saying is "get your act together".
When things go wrong in a business,an employer may get angry.He may shout,"Stop making mistakes.Get your act together."
Or,if the employer is calmer,he may say,"Let us get our act together."
Either way,the meaning is the same.Getting your act together is getting organized.In business,it usually means to develop a calm and orderly plan of action.
It is difficult to tell exactly where the saying began.But,it is probable that it was in the theater or movie industry.Perhaps one of the actors was nervous and made a lot of mistakes.The director may have said,"Calm down,now.Get your act together."
Word expert James Rogers says the expression was common by the late 1970s.Mister Rogers says the Manchester Guardian newspaper used it in 1978.The newspaper said a reform policy required that the British government get its act together.
Now,this expression is heard often when officials of a company meet.One company even called its yearly report,"Getting Our Act Together."
The Japanese visitor was confused by another expression used by American business people.It is cut to the chase.
She heard that expression when she attended an important meeting of one company.One official was giving a very long report.It was not very interesting.In fact,some people at the meeting were falling asleep.
Finally,the president of the company said,"Cut to the chase."
Cut to the chase means to stop spending so much time on details or unimportant material.Hurry and get to the good part.
Naturally,this saying was started by people who make movies.Hollywood movie producers believe that most Americans want to see action movies.Many of their movies show scenes in which the actors chase each other in cars,or in airplanes or on foot.
Cut is the director's word for stop.The director means to stop filming,leave out some material,and get to the chase scene now.
So,if your employer tells you to cut to the chase,be sure to get to the main point of your story quickly.
Question:
After the woman visited the United States she might feel that _ .
Choices:
A. her English was poor
B. it's easy to master English
C. it's difficult to make money
D. people there weren't very friendly | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high6240.txt | A woman from Japan was telling a friend about her trip to the United States.The woman had visited major businesses and investment companies in New York City and Chicago.
"I studied English before I left home,"she said."But I still was not sure that people were speaking English."
Her problem is easy to understand.Americans in business are like people who are in business anywhere.They have a language of their own.Some of the words and expressions deal with the special areas of their work.Other expressions are borrowed from different kinds of work such as the theater and movie industry.
One such saying is "get your act together".
When things go wrong in a business,an employer may get angry.He may shout,"Stop making mistakes.Get your act together."
Or,if the employer is calmer,he may say,"Let us get our act together."
Either way,the meaning is the same.Getting your act together is getting organized.In business,it usually means to develop a calm and orderly plan of action.
It is difficult to tell exactly where the saying began.But,it is probable that it was in the theater or movie industry.Perhaps one of the actors was nervous and made a lot of mistakes.The director may have said,"Calm down,now.Get your act together."
Word expert James Rogers says the expression was common by the late 1970s.Mister Rogers says the Manchester Guardian newspaper used it in 1978.The newspaper said a reform policy required that the British government get its act together.
Now,this expression is heard often when officials of a company meet.One company even called its yearly report,"Getting Our Act Together."
The Japanese visitor was confused by another expression used by American business people.It is cut to the chase.
She heard that expression when she attended an important meeting of one company.One official was giving a very long report.It was not very interesting.In fact,some people at the meeting were falling asleep.
Finally,the president of the company said,"Cut to the chase."
Cut to the chase means to stop spending so much time on details or unimportant material.Hurry and get to the good part.
Naturally,this saying was started by people who make movies.Hollywood movie producers believe that most Americans want to see action movies.Many of their movies show scenes in which the actors chase each other in cars,or in airplanes or on foot.
Cut is the director's word for stop.The director means to stop filming,leave out some material,and get to the chase scene now.
So,if your employer tells you to cut to the chase,be sure to get to the main point of your story quickly. | [
"her English was poor",
"it's easy to master English",
"it's difficult to make money",
"people there weren't very friendly"
] |
Peter _ when he sees uncle waves to everybody passing by. | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
To Make Everybody Happy
Peter's uncle lives in the country. Once in summer, Peter goes to stay with him for a few weeks. Whenever they go for a walk or for a drive in the car and pass somebody, his uncle waves to the passer-by. Peter is surprised and says, "Uncle Georage, you seem to know everybody here. Where did you meet them all?"
"I don't know all these people." answers his uncle. "Then why do you wave to them?" "Well, Peter ," says his uncle "When I wave to someone who knows me, he is pleased. He goes on his journey with a happier heart. But when I wave to someone who doesn't know me , he is surprised and says to himself, ' Who is that man? Why did he wave to me?' So he has something to think about during the rest of his journey, and that makes his journey seem shorter.So.I.make.everybody.happy.
Question:
Peter _ when he sees uncle waves to everybody passing by.
Choices:
A. always asks his uncle "Who is that man?"
B. is very happy
C. is not surprised at all
D. is very surprised | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle2218.txt | To Make Everybody Happy
Peter's uncle lives in the country. Once in summer, Peter goes to stay with him for a few weeks. Whenever they go for a walk or for a drive in the car and pass somebody, his uncle waves to the passer-by. Peter is surprised and says, "Uncle Georage, you seem to know everybody here. Where did you meet them all?"
"I don't know all these people." answers his uncle. "Then why do you wave to them?" "Well, Peter ," says his uncle "When I wave to someone who knows me, he is pleased. He goes on his journey with a happier heart. But when I wave to someone who doesn't know me , he is surprised and says to himself, ' Who is that man? Why did he wave to me?' So he has something to think about during the rest of his journey, and that makes his journey seem shorter.So.I.make.everybody.happy. | [
"always asks his uncle \"Who is that man?\"",
"is very happy",
"is not surprised at all",
"is very surprised"
] |
If the story appears in a newspaper, the best title might be " _ ". | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Everyone talks about the greenhouse effect and how our Earth and its climate are being affected. We can do a science experiment designed by some kids to show this effect and what is happening to the Earth.
First prepare the following items:
*2 glass containers that need to be the same size and shape
*1 gallon plastic bag
*4 cups of very cold water
*Ice cubes
Fill each container with two cups of cold water. Add the same amount of ice cubes to each container. Then put one of the containers in the plastic bag and close it tight. Put both containers in the sun together and keep them there for at least an hour.
At the end of one hour remove the container from the plastic bag and immediately check the temperature of the water. After you record this, find out the temperature of the water that is not covered.
When you place the containers in direct sunlight, the air inside the bag becomes very warm. The heat filters in but cannot escape so it stays in the closed plastic bag and increases the temperature. What if you leave that for two, three or four hours?
Think about what is happening to the Earth. There are chemicals that are creating a type of plastic bag around the Earth. It causes our air to get warmer because of the heat from the sun being kept in this closed area.
Think about your car in the hot summer. This is what happens when you leave your car outside all day. This greenhouse effect has caused your car to be so hot that you sometimes cannot even touch the steering wheel.
This science project goes to show what affects our planet.
Question:
If the story appears in a newspaper, the best title might be " _ ".
Choices:
A. An Interesting Experiment Done by Kids
B. How to Protect Our Precious Planet
C. Bring Home the Seriousness of Greenhouse Effect
D. The Greenhouse Effect Has Been Proved by Kids | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high22144.txt | Everyone talks about the greenhouse effect and how our Earth and its climate are being affected. We can do a science experiment designed by some kids to show this effect and what is happening to the Earth.
First prepare the following items:
*2 glass containers that need to be the same size and shape
*1 gallon plastic bag
*4 cups of very cold water
*Ice cubes
Fill each container with two cups of cold water. Add the same amount of ice cubes to each container. Then put one of the containers in the plastic bag and close it tight. Put both containers in the sun together and keep them there for at least an hour.
At the end of one hour remove the container from the plastic bag and immediately check the temperature of the water. After you record this, find out the temperature of the water that is not covered.
When you place the containers in direct sunlight, the air inside the bag becomes very warm. The heat filters in but cannot escape so it stays in the closed plastic bag and increases the temperature. What if you leave that for two, three or four hours?
Think about what is happening to the Earth. There are chemicals that are creating a type of plastic bag around the Earth. It causes our air to get warmer because of the heat from the sun being kept in this closed area.
Think about your car in the hot summer. This is what happens when you leave your car outside all day. This greenhouse effect has caused your car to be so hot that you sometimes cannot even touch the steering wheel.
This science project goes to show what affects our planet. | [
"An Interesting Experiment Done by Kids",
"How to Protect Our Precious Planet",
"Bring Home the Seriousness of Greenhouse Effect",
"The Greenhouse Effect Has Been Proved by Kids"
] |
The infection-fighting complement system consists of roughly 30 proteins in? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | The infection-fighting complement system consists of roughly 30 proteins in? | blood plasma | science | null | null | null | fats | stomach acid | stool | blood plasma | null | null | null | |
From this passage we know that_. | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The search for life in the universe took a step forward last month with the opening of the Allen Telescope Array in Hat Creek, California. The telescopes were partly made possible by a gift of twenty-five million dollars from Paul Allen. The total cost of the project is already fifty million dollars.
At present, there are 42 radio telescopes working at the Hat Creek observatory. The signals they receive are combined to create what is equal to a single, very large telescope. The telescope will be used to observe objects like exploding stars, black holes and other objects that are predicted but have not yet been observed. Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute says this is the first telescope whose main purpose is to search for signals from intelligent life in space. The SETI Institute is based in Mountain View, California. The organization supports the search for other life forms in the universe.
What makes the Allen Telescope Array unusual is that it can collect and study information from a wide area of the sky. In addition, the 42 telescopes can study information about several projects at the same time. That means studies of large areas of the sky can be made faster than ever before.
Some officials think the Allen Telescope Array will be completed in three more years. 350 individual radio telescopes are planned. The new abilities of the Allen Telescope Array will make searching for stars similar to the sun much faster.
An earlier search by SETI, Project Phoenix, studied about 800 stars to a distance of 240 light years. The project ended in 2004. With the Allen Telescope Array, astronomers hope to gather thousands of times more information in the search for life beyond our planet.
Question:
From this passage we know that_.
Choices:
A. the 42 radio telescopes at Hat Creek observatory can work together
B. the total cost of the project came from Paul Allen
C. Hat Creek observatory can receive signals from all parts of the worm
D. Hat Creek observatory is operated by an American named Paul Allen | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high3441.txt | The search for life in the universe took a step forward last month with the opening of the Allen Telescope Array in Hat Creek, California. The telescopes were partly made possible by a gift of twenty-five million dollars from Paul Allen. The total cost of the project is already fifty million dollars.
At present, there are 42 radio telescopes working at the Hat Creek observatory. The signals they receive are combined to create what is equal to a single, very large telescope. The telescope will be used to observe objects like exploding stars, black holes and other objects that are predicted but have not yet been observed. Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute says this is the first telescope whose main purpose is to search for signals from intelligent life in space. The SETI Institute is based in Mountain View, California. The organization supports the search for other life forms in the universe.
What makes the Allen Telescope Array unusual is that it can collect and study information from a wide area of the sky. In addition, the 42 telescopes can study information about several projects at the same time. That means studies of large areas of the sky can be made faster than ever before.
Some officials think the Allen Telescope Array will be completed in three more years. 350 individual radio telescopes are planned. The new abilities of the Allen Telescope Array will make searching for stars similar to the sun much faster.
An earlier search by SETI, Project Phoenix, studied about 800 stars to a distance of 240 light years. The project ended in 2004. With the Allen Telescope Array, astronomers hope to gather thousands of times more information in the search for life beyond our planet. | [
"the 42 radio telescopes at Hat Creek observatory can work together",
"the total cost of the project came from Paul Allen",
"Hat Creek observatory can receive signals from all parts of the worm",
"Hat Creek observatory is operated by an American named Paul Allen"
] |
What is the purpose of the story? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Believe it or not, you can't escape Disney World. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Winnie the Pooh look out from T-shirts, school bags and lunch boxes. Cartoons such as "Snow White" and "The Lion King" shape the childhoods of countless kids.
While Disney's products might have been your favorites as a child, you may not have realized that Disney has tried to shape your imagination.
"The Little Mermaid" (<<>> ) is a good example. The lesson of the original tale was the evils of lust . In the original story, the mermaid lusts after the prince, but the prince does not choose her. In the end, she dies while the sea witch lives. In Disney's film, the lesson is completely lost because the mermaid lives. The prince picks her, and the sea witch dies. Disney completely leaves out the destructive nature of lust.
According to US writer Elizabeth Bell, Disney tries to keep its innocence by taking violence, sex, and race struggles out of the movies. However, these are all real-life problems that children must face.
While "family-friendly" treatment is the way Disney has dealt with classic fairy tales, its films spread American values. Aladdin and the Lamp (<<>> ) is a well known story.
Although the film is set in an Arabian city, its treatment of romance is very much American: young people choose their own mates and recognize the right person right away. Even their parents accept the love when they see their children's happiness. Aladdin and heroine Jasmine have physical contact during their first meeting. The common American advice "be yourself" works. What's more, some critics have pointed out that Disney visually makes fun of Arabian culture in the film. For example, a holy man hurts himself playing with fire, and thieves with scimitars run through the streets.
Disney is called the top promoter of Americanization. "It is a danger to our cultural diversity ," said Akio Igarashi, a professor in a Japanese university.
Question:
What is the purpose of the story?
Choices:
A. To introduce to you some fairy tales that Disney has remade.
B. To show you the negative effects Disney can have.
C. To tell you about some important American values.
D. To promote American values. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17076.txt | Believe it or not, you can't escape Disney World. Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Winnie the Pooh look out from T-shirts, school bags and lunch boxes. Cartoons such as "Snow White" and "The Lion King" shape the childhoods of countless kids.
While Disney's products might have been your favorites as a child, you may not have realized that Disney has tried to shape your imagination.
"The Little Mermaid" (<<>> ) is a good example. The lesson of the original tale was the evils of lust . In the original story, the mermaid lusts after the prince, but the prince does not choose her. In the end, she dies while the sea witch lives. In Disney's film, the lesson is completely lost because the mermaid lives. The prince picks her, and the sea witch dies. Disney completely leaves out the destructive nature of lust.
According to US writer Elizabeth Bell, Disney tries to keep its innocence by taking violence, sex, and race struggles out of the movies. However, these are all real-life problems that children must face.
While "family-friendly" treatment is the way Disney has dealt with classic fairy tales, its films spread American values. Aladdin and the Lamp (<<>> ) is a well known story.
Although the film is set in an Arabian city, its treatment of romance is very much American: young people choose their own mates and recognize the right person right away. Even their parents accept the love when they see their children's happiness. Aladdin and heroine Jasmine have physical contact during their first meeting. The common American advice "be yourself" works. What's more, some critics have pointed out that Disney visually makes fun of Arabian culture in the film. For example, a holy man hurts himself playing with fire, and thieves with scimitars run through the streets.
Disney is called the top promoter of Americanization. "It is a danger to our cultural diversity ," said Akio Igarashi, a professor in a Japanese university. | [
"To introduce to you some fairy tales that Disney has remade.",
"To show you the negative effects Disney can have.",
"To tell you about some important American values.",
"To promote American values."
] |
Which of the following statements about the third position is TRUE? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Sourcing Assistant Needed
Time: 28 March-27 September, 2011
Indian company's Shanghai office is looking for a local Chinese girl, who can speak fluent English, and has at least one year experience in trading business.
Main responsibilities are: sourcing for new suppliers, factory visiting, negotiating and orders following up.
Interested candidates can email me you expected salary, resume and current photo to: _ , Miss Wang for more details.
Senior Interior Designer
Time: 10 January-09 June, 2011
Reply to: _
RHK Design is seeking a Senior Interior Designer for our corporate projects. Your primary role is to work closely with our American and European clients to deliver the international design solution they require. You must have an ability to work with 8 individual managers to negotiate space needs and requirements, and communicate your designs to your design support team.In-depth knowledge of interesting and innovative materials is required. Travel throughout China may be required.
Customer Service Assistant
Time: 01 February-31 August, 2011
Reply to: _
Type of job: Full-time
Requirements:
--B.A. or B.S.degree; foreigners only:
--One year's working experience desired, preferably in customer service or hospitality industry
--Responsible, pleasant personality and self-motivated.
--Good communication and interpersonal skills
--Good command of both spoken and written English; Putonghua is an advantage but not a must
Work Load: 5-day-work; national holidays
Monthly Salary: Around RMB 8-10 K
Female English Tutor Needed
Time: 05 January-01 October, 2011
Reply to: _
A 10 -year-old girl is looking for an oral English tutor
Time: twice a week, in the evening and weekend, 1.5 hrs at a time
Rate: 200/h
Requirements: From America: female; experienced
Question:
Which of the following statements about the third position is TRUE?
Choices:
A. Nationalities are not required for the position.
B. The candidate must have two years' working experience.
C. The deadline for application is July the 31st.
D. Communication skills are requested as a must. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high21736.txt | Sourcing Assistant Needed
Time: 28 March-27 September, 2011
Indian company's Shanghai office is looking for a local Chinese girl, who can speak fluent English, and has at least one year experience in trading business.
Main responsibilities are: sourcing for new suppliers, factory visiting, negotiating and orders following up.
Interested candidates can email me you expected salary, resume and current photo to: _ , Miss Wang for more details.
Senior Interior Designer
Time: 10 January-09 June, 2011
Reply to: _
RHK Design is seeking a Senior Interior Designer for our corporate projects. Your primary role is to work closely with our American and European clients to deliver the international design solution they require. You must have an ability to work with 8 individual managers to negotiate space needs and requirements, and communicate your designs to your design support team.In-depth knowledge of interesting and innovative materials is required. Travel throughout China may be required.
Customer Service Assistant
Time: 01 February-31 August, 2011
Reply to: _
Type of job: Full-time
Requirements:
--B.A. or B.S.degree; foreigners only:
--One year's working experience desired, preferably in customer service or hospitality industry
--Responsible, pleasant personality and self-motivated.
--Good communication and interpersonal skills
--Good command of both spoken and written English; Putonghua is an advantage but not a must
Work Load: 5-day-work; national holidays
Monthly Salary: Around RMB 8-10 K
Female English Tutor Needed
Time: 05 January-01 October, 2011
Reply to: _
A 10 -year-old girl is looking for an oral English tutor
Time: twice a week, in the evening and weekend, 1.5 hrs at a time
Rate: 200/h
Requirements: From America: female; experienced | [
"Nationalities are not required for the position.",
"The candidate must have two years' working experience.",
"The deadline for application is July the 31st.",
"Communication skills are requested as a must."
] |
Which of the following is TRUE? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
For years I went to school by bus,so I met many"familiar"strangers.We took the same bus but didn't know each other's names.I used to think it was impossible for us to be true friends.How wrong I was!Smiles from the"nameless"people have changed my thoughts.
The first time I got on the bus,I saw different faces.We met,greeted and cold faces turned into smiling faces.As days went on,we chatted like old friends.
But I felt it a pity that I was unable to set up the same friendship with a silent girl in the front of the bus.Her old clothing suggested that she didn't have much money,but she always took a cup of water for the driver.I guessed she was a kind girl.But why did she sit in silence instead of talking with us?Why did she never reply to our friendly greetings?Couldn't she smile?
Then,one evening,I got the answer.I walked to the park nearby and found the girl sitting alone under a tree,lonely and sad.I greeted her with the same warm smile that I had shown to her all these months,but this time her face turned red,then a shy smile appeared.As soon as she began her first words,I understood why she hadn't spoken to us before.Talking was hard for her.
I learnt her story:Her parents worked hard somewhere.She lived with her disabled grandparents.She said,"I can't express myself very well.Most of the time,I can't say what I want to say.I have no friends but...you always smile to me like an angel...so I also want to smile."That evening,we exchanged our names and we said goodbye like old friends.
Smile is the key to opening the door of the heart;it can break the cold walls in front of us.
Question:
Which of the following is TRUE?
Choices:
A. The girl is very rich.
B. Smile is the key to closing the door of the heart.
C. The writer knew the name of the girl that evening.
D. The writer can't make friends with those nameless people on the bus now. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5295.txt | For years I went to school by bus,so I met many"familiar"strangers.We took the same bus but didn't know each other's names.I used to think it was impossible for us to be true friends.How wrong I was!Smiles from the"nameless"people have changed my thoughts.
The first time I got on the bus,I saw different faces.We met,greeted and cold faces turned into smiling faces.As days went on,we chatted like old friends.
But I felt it a pity that I was unable to set up the same friendship with a silent girl in the front of the bus.Her old clothing suggested that she didn't have much money,but she always took a cup of water for the driver.I guessed she was a kind girl.But why did she sit in silence instead of talking with us?Why did she never reply to our friendly greetings?Couldn't she smile?
Then,one evening,I got the answer.I walked to the park nearby and found the girl sitting alone under a tree,lonely and sad.I greeted her with the same warm smile that I had shown to her all these months,but this time her face turned red,then a shy smile appeared.As soon as she began her first words,I understood why she hadn't spoken to us before.Talking was hard for her.
I learnt her story:Her parents worked hard somewhere.She lived with her disabled grandparents.She said,"I can't express myself very well.Most of the time,I can't say what I want to say.I have no friends but...you always smile to me like an angel...so I also want to smile."That evening,we exchanged our names and we said goodbye like old friends.
Smile is the key to opening the door of the heart;it can break the cold walls in front of us. | [
"The girl is very rich.",
"Smile is the key to closing the door of the heart.",
"The writer knew the name of the girl that evening.",
"The writer can't make friends with those nameless people on the bus now."
] |
From the passage, we can learn that the author _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Summer is slipping away from me.Some days, it makes me want to cry.Other days, I feel a sense of expectation within me just thinking about fall that makes me want to burst.Tonight, all five of us were in the family room doing our own things.
At this moment, my littlest kid is my number one trouble and my number one joy.He has a tooth on the way and although it's such a tiny thing, it's causing so much grief.I'm holding him a lot and I'm not going to lie.I live for his afternoon nap so I'm able to actually get dressed and use the restroom.
The big E is starting school soon.The other day, I found myself a bit depressed about the end of summer and the beginning of another school year.I looked out of our front window with eyes that were heavy and a bit teary.Then, I suddenly realized just how silly this end of summer depression of mine is.I can't change time.But, I can change my emotions and my thoughts.I decided not to spend my final days of summer vacation walking around with a sad face.I decided to hug the last few days of summer and remind myself that before I know it, we will be back in our school routine and all will go well.
This week we plan on meeting teachers.I'm taking my girl to have her nails done before her first day of kindergarten.We want to bake a few dozen cookies.We'll take our evening walks as usual and stay up late.And last but not least, I'll get school clothes ready, I'll pack lunches and write lunch notes, we'll read "The Kissing Hand," like we normally do, and I'll tuck my third grader and kindergartener in their little beds before the big first day.
Thank you summer, you've been warm and wonderful, you've been sweet and sticky, you've been refreshing and exactly what we need.And your sunsets have been amazing, so thank you.
Question:
From the passage, we can learn that the author _ .
Choices:
A. is fond of reading novels
B. has two annoying children
C. often takes evening walks
D. has no time to get dressed | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high10960.txt | Summer is slipping away from me.Some days, it makes me want to cry.Other days, I feel a sense of expectation within me just thinking about fall that makes me want to burst.Tonight, all five of us were in the family room doing our own things.
At this moment, my littlest kid is my number one trouble and my number one joy.He has a tooth on the way and although it's such a tiny thing, it's causing so much grief.I'm holding him a lot and I'm not going to lie.I live for his afternoon nap so I'm able to actually get dressed and use the restroom.
The big E is starting school soon.The other day, I found myself a bit depressed about the end of summer and the beginning of another school year.I looked out of our front window with eyes that were heavy and a bit teary.Then, I suddenly realized just how silly this end of summer depression of mine is.I can't change time.But, I can change my emotions and my thoughts.I decided not to spend my final days of summer vacation walking around with a sad face.I decided to hug the last few days of summer and remind myself that before I know it, we will be back in our school routine and all will go well.
This week we plan on meeting teachers.I'm taking my girl to have her nails done before her first day of kindergarten.We want to bake a few dozen cookies.We'll take our evening walks as usual and stay up late.And last but not least, I'll get school clothes ready, I'll pack lunches and write lunch notes, we'll read "The Kissing Hand," like we normally do, and I'll tuck my third grader and kindergartener in their little beds before the big first day.
Thank you summer, you've been warm and wonderful, you've been sweet and sticky, you've been refreshing and exactly what we need.And your sunsets have been amazing, so thank you. | [
"is fond of reading novels",
"has two annoying children",
"often takes evening walks",
"has no time to get dressed"
] |
The distance between Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia must be_. | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
When it's 10:15 in New York, it's 9:15 in Salt Lake City, and 7:15 in San Francisco - isn't it? This consistent and orderly time system, based on a grid of time zones, seems so natural that people rarely give it a moment's thought. So you may find it surprising to learn that prior to the late 1800s each community established its own time - by looking at the sun. When the sun shone directly overhead in Washington, D.C., for example, it was 12:00 noon there; up the road in Philadelphia, however, it was 12:07, and in Boston it was 12:24. To measure time with accuracy, it is necessary to move the clock about one minute for every twelve miles of distance; so according to "sun time" your pocket watch would be slightly incorrect if you ventured only a few miles down the road.
It was not until the advent of widespread railroad travel that a need arose for regularized time. At one point over 300 local times were honored within the country, making it literally impossible for trains to arrive consistently on time everywhere. As a result, in 1883 the continental, United States was divided into four time longitude. The standardization resulting from this system proved so helpful that in 1884 the International Meridian Conference applied the same procedure to establish time zones around the world. Thus, if it is 11:07 p.m. in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a little simple research will quickly determine that in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it is 9:07 A.M. - and not 9:15.
Question:
The distance between Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia must be_.
Choices:
A. more than 75 miles
B. more than 150 miles
C. more than 200 miles
D. more than 300 miles | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high23790.txt | When it's 10:15 in New York, it's 9:15 in Salt Lake City, and 7:15 in San Francisco - isn't it? This consistent and orderly time system, based on a grid of time zones, seems so natural that people rarely give it a moment's thought. So you may find it surprising to learn that prior to the late 1800s each community established its own time - by looking at the sun. When the sun shone directly overhead in Washington, D.C., for example, it was 12:00 noon there; up the road in Philadelphia, however, it was 12:07, and in Boston it was 12:24. To measure time with accuracy, it is necessary to move the clock about one minute for every twelve miles of distance; so according to "sun time" your pocket watch would be slightly incorrect if you ventured only a few miles down the road.
It was not until the advent of widespread railroad travel that a need arose for regularized time. At one point over 300 local times were honored within the country, making it literally impossible for trains to arrive consistently on time everywhere. As a result, in 1883 the continental, United States was divided into four time longitude. The standardization resulting from this system proved so helpful that in 1884 the International Meridian Conference applied the same procedure to establish time zones around the world. Thus, if it is 11:07 p.m. in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a little simple research will quickly determine that in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it is 9:07 A.M. - and not 9:15. | [
"more than 75 miles",
"more than 150 miles",
"more than 200 miles",
"more than 300 miles"
] |
What is the author's attitude towards homework? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The old saying that practice makes perfect seems to make no sense when it comes to schoolwork. Many educators today are looking for evidence to support the case for homework, but are coming up empty-handed.
Mary Jane Cera is the academic administrator for the Kino School, and she maintains a no-homework policy across all grades. The purpose of the policy is to make sure learning remains a joy, not a thing that discourages social time and creative activity.
At the Kino school, Cera says children often choose to take their favorite parts of school home. "A lot of what we see kids doing is practicing music with their friends, and taking experiments home to show their parents," she says. Surveys of Kino graduates suggest that the early control they are given over their education continues to serve them well into college.
"One of the reasons that we continue to assign much homework is our obsession with tests, although we can agree on the importance of kids doing better on tests through proper homework to some degree,"says author Alfie Kohn. In his book The Homework Myth, Kohn points out that no study has ever found a relation between homework and academic achievement and that if kids have no choice in the matter of homework, they're not really exercising judgment, and are instead losing their sense of self-control.
However, many supporters of homework argue that life is filled with things we don't like to do, and that homework teaches self-discipline, time management and other non-academic life skills.
Wherever the homework debate goes next, it's worth taking a moment to examine if we're doing the right thing about our children's education. The good news is -- it's never too late to start.
Question:
What is the author's attitude towards homework?
Choices:
A. Disapproved.
B. Supportive.
C. Objective.
D. Uninterested. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7993.txt | The old saying that practice makes perfect seems to make no sense when it comes to schoolwork. Many educators today are looking for evidence to support the case for homework, but are coming up empty-handed.
Mary Jane Cera is the academic administrator for the Kino School, and she maintains a no-homework policy across all grades. The purpose of the policy is to make sure learning remains a joy, not a thing that discourages social time and creative activity.
At the Kino school, Cera says children often choose to take their favorite parts of school home. "A lot of what we see kids doing is practicing music with their friends, and taking experiments home to show their parents," she says. Surveys of Kino graduates suggest that the early control they are given over their education continues to serve them well into college.
"One of the reasons that we continue to assign much homework is our obsession with tests, although we can agree on the importance of kids doing better on tests through proper homework to some degree,"says author Alfie Kohn. In his book The Homework Myth, Kohn points out that no study has ever found a relation between homework and academic achievement and that if kids have no choice in the matter of homework, they're not really exercising judgment, and are instead losing their sense of self-control.
However, many supporters of homework argue that life is filled with things we don't like to do, and that homework teaches self-discipline, time management and other non-academic life skills.
Wherever the homework debate goes next, it's worth taking a moment to examine if we're doing the right thing about our children's education. The good news is -- it's never too late to start. | [
"Disapproved.",
"Supportive.",
"Objective.",
"Uninterested."
] |
Why do many companies use social-networking sites to recruit graduates? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Nearly 28% of college Students plan to seek employment using Linkedin, up from 5% last year, according to a survey out today from employee recognition provider i Love Rewards and career-services network Experience.Slightly more than 7% plan to use Facebook, up from 5%.
No longer do students just wait for visiting campus recruiters to learn about job possibilities.Instead they're using digital tools to find their dream jobs, says I Love Rewards CEO Razor Suleman.Companies need to know their online image, then update anything that is outdated, inaccurate or not inleractive .
'The recruited have now become the recruiters," Suleman says."They are now going out and finding the companies they want to apply for."
Students learn about employers by viewing their websites, reading Facehook and Twitter updates and perusing Linkedln profiles.Another information source: Comments by past and current employees on job-oriented websites.
A strong digital presence is one way for employers to stand out as the search for the best and brightest gets competitive.
Slightly more than four in 10 employers say they will use "different" recruiting tactics to reach Generation Y, according to a survey by job-search site Monster.com to be released today.Of those respondents, almost 60% say social-networking sites are popular tools to reach Gen Y candidates.
"Our reason for using social media is because that's where we think the candidates are," he says.
The company posts updates and videos on topics such as job opportunities and the benefits of being an employee.It also created a mobile-friendly site for those who want to apply via smart phone.
"Younger people want to attach to you in a different way than the past," Lavery says."They want to interact with you.They want to learn about you."
The updated recruitment techniques take effort, but they work, he says.
In 2010, UPS used those tactics to _ 955 employees.The year before, it hired 29 employees through those means.
"It's a time investment that you have to be willing to do," he says."You can't just have a page up there and not have content.In social media, you have to have a give and a take, or people won't be a part of your community."
Question:
Why do many companies use social-networking sites to recruit graduates?
Choices:
A. Because they have no other way to get in touch with graduates.
B. Because graduates tend to learn about employers through social media.
C. Because companies want to post advertisements for their products.
D. Because companies like to post videos and updates about their products. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high20484.txt | Nearly 28% of college Students plan to seek employment using Linkedin, up from 5% last year, according to a survey out today from employee recognition provider i Love Rewards and career-services network Experience.Slightly more than 7% plan to use Facebook, up from 5%.
No longer do students just wait for visiting campus recruiters to learn about job possibilities.Instead they're using digital tools to find their dream jobs, says I Love Rewards CEO Razor Suleman.Companies need to know their online image, then update anything that is outdated, inaccurate or not inleractive .
'The recruited have now become the recruiters," Suleman says."They are now going out and finding the companies they want to apply for."
Students learn about employers by viewing their websites, reading Facehook and Twitter updates and perusing Linkedln profiles.Another information source: Comments by past and current employees on job-oriented websites.
A strong digital presence is one way for employers to stand out as the search for the best and brightest gets competitive.
Slightly more than four in 10 employers say they will use "different" recruiting tactics to reach Generation Y, according to a survey by job-search site Monster.com to be released today.Of those respondents, almost 60% say social-networking sites are popular tools to reach Gen Y candidates.
"Our reason for using social media is because that's where we think the candidates are," he says.
The company posts updates and videos on topics such as job opportunities and the benefits of being an employee.It also created a mobile-friendly site for those who want to apply via smart phone.
"Younger people want to attach to you in a different way than the past," Lavery says."They want to interact with you.They want to learn about you."
The updated recruitment techniques take effort, but they work, he says.
In 2010, UPS used those tactics to _ 955 employees.The year before, it hired 29 employees through those means.
"It's a time investment that you have to be willing to do," he says."You can't just have a page up there and not have content.In social media, you have to have a give and a take, or people won't be a part of your community." | [
"Because they have no other way to get in touch with graduates.",
"Because graduates tend to learn about employers through social media.",
"Because companies want to post advertisements for their products.",
"Because companies like to post videos and updates about their products."
] |
Kinetic energy is energy of this? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Kinetic energy is energy of this? | motion | science | null | null | null | food | speed | gravity | motion | Kinetic Energy and the Ultimate Speed Limit Kinetic energy is energy of motion. Classically, kinetic energy has the familiar expression. | null | null | null |
According to this passage, which of the following can be considered as the behavior of a hero? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Once many years ago, I pulled a family out of a burning car somewhere in Wyoming. Last week I received a telephone call from a woman who could not stop crying as she told me that one of my stories had saved her son from committing suicide. In closing she called me a hero.
That got me thinking about what a hero is. Was I a hero because I pulled a family from a burning car? If so, how could I be a hero just because I wrote a story that saved someone's life?
Today I decided to look up the word "hero" in the dictionary to see exactly what it meant. It read "a person who does. something brave". As I read on, it also said "a person who is good and noble ".
That statement impressed me more than the part about being brave. So I thought about something very important. Say I was walking into the local Wal-Mart Store and I happened to open, and hold the door for someone as a _ . As they passed me by, I say, "How are you today?" Most of the time that would be no big deal, but this time let's say it was for someone who was deeply depressed and near the end of the rope. That may have very well been the only kindness or courtesy shown to them in a very long time.
Having been near "the end of my rope", after my marriage of twenty years ended, I was in such a condition. I was within hours trying to get enough courage to end the pain and misery. When I returned home, someone had sent me a card in the mail which told me how much they would appreciate me as a friend. That wonderful card probably saved my life. That person, without even knowing it, saved a life and became a hero.
Gee, who would have ever thought that anyone can become a hero, and possibly save a life just by being kind and courteous to others? The best part of all is that becoming a hero is free to all who wish to wear such an honor.
Question:
According to this passage, which of the following can be considered as the behavior of a hero?
Choices:
A. Holding a door open for someone.
B. Sending someone a wonderful card.
C. Keeping writing stories for children.
D. Being kind to someone who has a hard time. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high21855.txt | Once many years ago, I pulled a family out of a burning car somewhere in Wyoming. Last week I received a telephone call from a woman who could not stop crying as she told me that one of my stories had saved her son from committing suicide. In closing she called me a hero.
That got me thinking about what a hero is. Was I a hero because I pulled a family from a burning car? If so, how could I be a hero just because I wrote a story that saved someone's life?
Today I decided to look up the word "hero" in the dictionary to see exactly what it meant. It read "a person who does. something brave". As I read on, it also said "a person who is good and noble ".
That statement impressed me more than the part about being brave. So I thought about something very important. Say I was walking into the local Wal-Mart Store and I happened to open, and hold the door for someone as a _ . As they passed me by, I say, "How are you today?" Most of the time that would be no big deal, but this time let's say it was for someone who was deeply depressed and near the end of the rope. That may have very well been the only kindness or courtesy shown to them in a very long time.
Having been near "the end of my rope", after my marriage of twenty years ended, I was in such a condition. I was within hours trying to get enough courage to end the pain and misery. When I returned home, someone had sent me a card in the mail which told me how much they would appreciate me as a friend. That wonderful card probably saved my life. That person, without even knowing it, saved a life and became a hero.
Gee, who would have ever thought that anyone can become a hero, and possibly save a life just by being kind and courteous to others? The best part of all is that becoming a hero is free to all who wish to wear such an honor. | [
"Holding a door open for someone.",
"Sending someone a wonderful card.",
"Keeping writing stories for children.",
"Being kind to someone who has a hard time."
] |
Alice doesn't get _ from her family. | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
I'm Alice. Today is Children's Day. I get many presents from my family. Do you want to have a look?
I like toy bears very much. I have five different bears in my room. My mother buys another brown bear for me today. It's very cute;
My uncle gives me a new pencil case; It's so nice. There's an interesting picture on it. My uncle buys it in Canada.
My sister buys a red toy car for me. I like cars very much. My sister is so nice. Green is my favourite colour. But I like the car best.
The diary book is from my grandmother. I like writing a diary in the evening. I want to be a writer when I grow up.
Question:
Alice doesn't get _ from her family.
Choices:
A. a computer
B. a diary book
C. a toy bear
D. a toy car | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5575.txt | I'm Alice. Today is Children's Day. I get many presents from my family. Do you want to have a look?
I like toy bears very much. I have five different bears in my room. My mother buys another brown bear for me today. It's very cute;
My uncle gives me a new pencil case; It's so nice. There's an interesting picture on it. My uncle buys it in Canada.
My sister buys a red toy car for me. I like cars very much. My sister is so nice. Green is my favourite colour. But I like the car best.
The diary book is from my grandmother. I like writing a diary in the evening. I want to be a writer when I grow up. | [
"a computer",
"a diary book",
"a toy bear",
"a toy car"
] |
We should carry our school bags _ on the bus. | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
If you want to protect yourself,please remember the following ways of information. These ways will make you safe.
Don't use earphones when you are running in the school yard or in the street. You will keep yourself from the outside world and can easily get into trouble.
If a stranger is following you, please don't go home directly .You may be safer in the street than you are in your home or in a lift. If necessary, please go and get help from others.
When you take a bus, don't sit alone. You should sit behind the driver or with friends. Don't sleep. Your school bag should be carried towards(,)the front of your body. Don't put it on your back.
Don't play with matches or candles , because it may cause fire. If it causes fire, please call 119.
Question:
We should carry our school bags _ on the bus.
Choices:
A. in front of our bodies
B. on the floor
C. on our backs
D. on the heads | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5035.txt | If you want to protect yourself,please remember the following ways of information. These ways will make you safe.
Don't use earphones when you are running in the school yard or in the street. You will keep yourself from the outside world and can easily get into trouble.
If a stranger is following you, please don't go home directly .You may be safer in the street than you are in your home or in a lift. If necessary, please go and get help from others.
When you take a bus, don't sit alone. You should sit behind the driver or with friends. Don't sleep. Your school bag should be carried towards(,)the front of your body. Don't put it on your back.
Don't play with matches or candles , because it may cause fire. If it causes fire, please call 119. | [
"in front of our bodies",
"on the floor",
"on our backs",
"on the heads"
] |
The sentence "... a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife" means that _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It is a truth universally acknowledged that
.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families that he is considered the rightful property of someone or other of their daughters.
"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day. "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?" Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
"But it is, " returned she, "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it."
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently.
"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."
This was invitation enough.
"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week."
"What is his name?"
"Bingley."
"Is he married or single?"
"Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!"
How so? How can it affect them?
"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them."
"Is that his design in settling here?"
"Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes."
"I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as beautiful as any of them. Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party. "
Question:
The sentence "... a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife" means that _ .
Choices:
A. a single man without money needn't a wife
B. women want to get married to financial stable men
C. a single man who is financially stable needs a wife
D. once man becomes rich, he must want to get a wife | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16507.txt | It is a truth universally acknowledged that
.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families that he is considered the rightful property of someone or other of their daughters.
"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day. "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?" Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
"But it is, " returned she, "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it."
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently.
"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."
This was invitation enough.
"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week."
"What is his name?"
"Bingley."
"Is he married or single?"
"Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!"
How so? How can it affect them?
"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them."
"Is that his design in settling here?"
"Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes."
"I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as beautiful as any of them. Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party. " | [
"a single man without money needn't a wife",
"women want to get married to financial stable men",
"a single man who is financially stable needs a wife",
"once man becomes rich, he must want to get a wife"
] |
What do we know from the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It's Tuesday today. After four classes in the morning, it's time for lunch. "Boys and girls, do you want to go to the City Book Store with me this afternoon?" Miss Cheng asks. All the students in our class are very happy, because we don't have to have three afternoon classes as usual . So we answer, "Yes!" "Well, come to the classroom after lunch," Miss Cheng says.
At about 1:30 pm, we take a bus to the City Book Store. We get to the store at 2:00 pm.
In the City Book Store are lots of books, but I can't read all of them. I only read two books about my favorite subject, history. The books in the store are nice, but they are expensive. I can't afford them.
After two hours, we go to the front door of the book store. With Miss Cheng's help, some of the students buy some books at a special discount . Then we take a bus to our school.
Question:
What do we know from the passage?
Choices:
A. Tom doesn't like any subject.
B. Tom's class takes a bus to the City Book Store.
C. Miss Cheng buys some books at a special discount.
D. It takes the students about one hour to get to the store from the school. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle4495.txt | It's Tuesday today. After four classes in the morning, it's time for lunch. "Boys and girls, do you want to go to the City Book Store with me this afternoon?" Miss Cheng asks. All the students in our class are very happy, because we don't have to have three afternoon classes as usual . So we answer, "Yes!" "Well, come to the classroom after lunch," Miss Cheng says.
At about 1:30 pm, we take a bus to the City Book Store. We get to the store at 2:00 pm.
In the City Book Store are lots of books, but I can't read all of them. I only read two books about my favorite subject, history. The books in the store are nice, but they are expensive. I can't afford them.
After two hours, we go to the front door of the book store. With Miss Cheng's help, some of the students buy some books at a special discount . Then we take a bus to our school. | [
"Tom doesn't like any subject.",
"Tom's class takes a bus to the City Book Store.",
"Miss Cheng buys some books at a special discount.",
"It takes the students about one hour to get to the store from the school."
] |
How did Erler treat Ms Garcia during the first seven months'? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Silvia Garcia,a black woman.applied for a job at a small company.One question on the application form was"Who else lives at your home address?"Ms.Garcia did not answer this question.She left the space blank.
The boss,Jeff Erler, was a very religious man.He had started the company himself and felt that his employees were like his family.Mr Erler interviewed Ms.Garcia personally,He noticed that she had marked"single" on her application and he was surprised that she was not married at her age.When he mentioned this to her, she just laughed and did not answer.He decided that she was a very nice woman.He also needed to hire members of minorities,so he hired her.
Ms.Garcia did very well in the company.In a few months she got a rise and was happy with the additional money.However, seven months after Mr.Erler hired her, he overheard a conversation in the dining hall.Two other workers were talking about her and "the guy she's living with."
Mr Erler called Ms.Garcia into his office that afternoon.He questioned her about her living situation and she admitted that she was living with her boyfriend.Mr Erler told her that he was very sorry, but he did not want immoral people to work in his company.At first,she could not believe that Mr.Erler was serious.She told him that he had no right to call her immoral because she was living with her boyfriend.She said that as long as she was a good worker, her personal life was her own business and that he could not make judgments about it.However, Mr.Erler fired Ms. Garcia.
Question:
How did Erler treat Ms Garcia during the first seven months'?
Choices:
A. He treated her quite well.
B. He didn't trust her at all.
C. He was too hard on her.
D. He made her work long hours | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high21469.txt | Silvia Garcia,a black woman.applied for a job at a small company.One question on the application form was"Who else lives at your home address?"Ms.Garcia did not answer this question.She left the space blank.
The boss,Jeff Erler, was a very religious man.He had started the company himself and felt that his employees were like his family.Mr Erler interviewed Ms.Garcia personally,He noticed that she had marked"single" on her application and he was surprised that she was not married at her age.When he mentioned this to her, she just laughed and did not answer.He decided that she was a very nice woman.He also needed to hire members of minorities,so he hired her.
Ms.Garcia did very well in the company.In a few months she got a rise and was happy with the additional money.However, seven months after Mr.Erler hired her, he overheard a conversation in the dining hall.Two other workers were talking about her and "the guy she's living with."
Mr Erler called Ms.Garcia into his office that afternoon.He questioned her about her living situation and she admitted that she was living with her boyfriend.Mr Erler told her that he was very sorry, but he did not want immoral people to work in his company.At first,she could not believe that Mr.Erler was serious.She told him that he had no right to call her immoral because she was living with her boyfriend.She said that as long as she was a good worker, her personal life was her own business and that he could not make judgments about it.However, Mr.Erler fired Ms. Garcia. | [
"He treated her quite well.",
"He didn't trust her at all.",
"He was too hard on her.",
"He made her work long hours"
] |
Bilaterally symmetrical animals have both dorsal and what type of sides? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Bilaterally symmetrical animals have both dorsal and what type of sides? | ventral | science | null | null | null | posterior | exterior | anterior | ventral | null | null | null | |
Jack wrote a card to his mother in order to _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Valentine's Day was coming. Helen felt hurt and lonely because this was her first Valentine's Day after the divorce .
Helen's twelve-year-old son, Jack, looked at his mother, knowing that this was a difficult time for both of them. In order to make his mother happy, he prepared a present, and handed it to her on Valentine's Day.
It was a beautiful gift package .Helen couldn't believe what was happening. She opened it and took out a lovely card and a small box.
"Now," he said, "read the card." It read as follows:
"I know that this isn't easy for you because it has been a hard year for both of us. I know that Valentine's Day is a special day for people in love. I want you to know that I love you. I know that Valentines are supposed to get chocolate. I went to the store today to buy some for you. Luckily, I got the last piece. I told the clerk it was just perfect."
Helen stood there for a moment and looked at her son. Her eyes sparkled in the light as tears formed in each corner. Jack knew he had done the right thing. Slowly she opened the small box, careful not to tear the paper. She would never forget the moment. She found a chocolate heart that was broken into pieces along with a note:
"I am so sorry that Dad left us, Mom. And all you were left with was a broken heart. But I just want you to know we still have each other.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Your son,
Jack"
Question:
Jack wrote a card to his mother in order to _ .
Choices:
A. express he missed his father
B. explain why he felt lonely
C. ask her to give him some money
D. show his love to her | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16659.txt | Valentine's Day was coming. Helen felt hurt and lonely because this was her first Valentine's Day after the divorce .
Helen's twelve-year-old son, Jack, looked at his mother, knowing that this was a difficult time for both of them. In order to make his mother happy, he prepared a present, and handed it to her on Valentine's Day.
It was a beautiful gift package .Helen couldn't believe what was happening. She opened it and took out a lovely card and a small box.
"Now," he said, "read the card." It read as follows:
"I know that this isn't easy for you because it has been a hard year for both of us. I know that Valentine's Day is a special day for people in love. I want you to know that I love you. I know that Valentines are supposed to get chocolate. I went to the store today to buy some for you. Luckily, I got the last piece. I told the clerk it was just perfect."
Helen stood there for a moment and looked at her son. Her eyes sparkled in the light as tears formed in each corner. Jack knew he had done the right thing. Slowly she opened the small box, careful not to tear the paper. She would never forget the moment. She found a chocolate heart that was broken into pieces along with a note:
"I am so sorry that Dad left us, Mom. And all you were left with was a broken heart. But I just want you to know we still have each other.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Your son,
Jack" | [
"express he missed his father",
"explain why he felt lonely",
"ask her to give him some money",
"show his love to her"
] |
Joseph has a refrigerator, a water heater in his house, and an electric oven that consumes power at different rates. The total amount of money that Joseph pays for the energy used by the refrigerator is three times the amount he pays for the power used by the water heater. If the electric oven uses power worth $500 in a month, twice what Joseph pays for the power the water heater uses, calculate the total amount he pays for the power used by these gadgets. | If the electric oven uses power worth $500 in a month, twice what Joseph pays for the power the water heater uses, Joseph pays 1/2*$500=$<<500/2=250>>250 for power used by the water heater.
The total amount of money that Joseph pays for the power used by the water heater and the electric oven is $250+$500 = $<<250+500=750>>750
The total amount of money that Joseph pays for the energy used by the refrigerator is three times the amount he pays for the power used by the water heater, a total of 3*$250=$<<3*250=750>>750
For the three gadgets, Joseph pays $750+$750 = $<<750+750=1500>>1500 for the power they use.
#### 1500 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Joseph has a refrigerator, a water heater in his house, and an electric oven that consumes power at different rates. The total amount of money that Joseph pays for the energy used by the refrigerator is three times the amount he pays for the power used by the water heater. If the electric oven uses power worth $500 in a month, twice what Joseph pays for the power the water heater uses, calculate the total amount he pays for the power used by these gadgets. | If the electric oven uses power worth $500 in a month, twice what Joseph pays for the power the water heater uses, Joseph pays 1/2*$500=$<<500/2=250>>250 for power used by the water heater.
The total amount of money that Joseph pays for the power used by the water heater and the electric oven is $250+$500 = $<<250+500=750>>750
The total amount of money that Joseph pays for the energy used by the refrigerator is three times the amount he pays for the power used by the water heater, a total of 3*$250=$<<3*250=750>>750
For the three gadgets, Joseph pays $750+$750 = $<<750+750=1500>>1500 for the power they use.
#### 1500 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
What is it called when crystals form from magma? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What is it called when crystals form from magma? | crystallization | science | null | null | null | vulcanism | sedimentation | transpiration | crystallization | Cooling and crystallization. Deep within the Earth, temperatures can get hot enough to create magma. As magma cools, crystals grow, forming an igneous rock. The crystals grow larger if the magma cools slowly, as it does if it remains deep within the Earth. If the magma cools quickly, the crystals will be very small. When crystals form from magma it is called crystallization . | null | null | null |
How many valence electrons does a sodium atom have ? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | How many valence electrons does a sodium atom have ? | one | science | null | null | null | two | three | six | one | A: Any element in group 1 has just one valence electron. Examples include hydrogen (H), lithium (Li), and sodium (Na). Any element in group 18 has eight valence electrons (except for helium, which has a total of just two electrons). Examples include neon (Ne), argon (Ar), and krypton (Kr). Oxygen, like all the other elements in group 16, has six valence electrons. | null | null | null |
We can know from the text _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Deadly heat waves, home-wrecking hurricanes, neighborhood-burning wildfires...When you stop to think about it, global warming can be thoroughly depressing.
According to rising evidence, climate changewon't just cause new cases of stress, anxiety and depression. People who already have serious psychological problems will probably suffer most in the result of natural disasters and extreme weather events.
"When these events happen, people with pre-established mental illnesses often have more extreme difficulty," said Lisa Page, a psychiatrist. "This is an area we maybe need to think about a little more seriously."
In public health circles and even in climate talks, scientists have studied how climate change might affect physical health, by for example, causing the spread of malaria, fever and other infectious diseases.
For the most part, though, the experts have made only vague references to the link between climate change and mental health, even though evidence for such connections is starting to pile up.
In the future, climate models predict more destructive storms, floods, droughts and diseases. In turn, the new study suggests, more psychological crises will follow.
Heat waves -- like the one that killed some 70,000 people in Europe in the summer of 2003 -- will also happen more frequently, last longer and be severer in coming years. The mentally ill will be hardest hit by these events because they're more likely to live in poor housing without air conditioning.
People with pre-existing mental challenges will probably also have an extra hard time dealing with other forecasted consequences of climate change, including the sinking of coastlines and mass migration away from flooded shores.
Then, there's the general sense of sadness that can come from reading about climate change, and recognizing that the world is changing.
Question:
We can know from the text _ .
Choices:
A. when people read about climate change, they are sure the world will be destructive
B. heat waves in Europe will happen again in the near future
C. the experts haven't clearly found out the relationship between climate change and mental health
D. malaria, fever and other infectious diseases are caused by climate change | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high20273.txt | Deadly heat waves, home-wrecking hurricanes, neighborhood-burning wildfires...When you stop to think about it, global warming can be thoroughly depressing.
According to rising evidence, climate changewon't just cause new cases of stress, anxiety and depression. People who already have serious psychological problems will probably suffer most in the result of natural disasters and extreme weather events.
"When these events happen, people with pre-established mental illnesses often have more extreme difficulty," said Lisa Page, a psychiatrist. "This is an area we maybe need to think about a little more seriously."
In public health circles and even in climate talks, scientists have studied how climate change might affect physical health, by for example, causing the spread of malaria, fever and other infectious diseases.
For the most part, though, the experts have made only vague references to the link between climate change and mental health, even though evidence for such connections is starting to pile up.
In the future, climate models predict more destructive storms, floods, droughts and diseases. In turn, the new study suggests, more psychological crises will follow.
Heat waves -- like the one that killed some 70,000 people in Europe in the summer of 2003 -- will also happen more frequently, last longer and be severer in coming years. The mentally ill will be hardest hit by these events because they're more likely to live in poor housing without air conditioning.
People with pre-existing mental challenges will probably also have an extra hard time dealing with other forecasted consequences of climate change, including the sinking of coastlines and mass migration away from flooded shores.
Then, there's the general sense of sadness that can come from reading about climate change, and recognizing that the world is changing. | [
"when people read about climate change, they are sure the world will be destructive",
"heat waves in Europe will happen again in the near future",
"the experts haven't clearly found out the relationship between climate change and mental health",
"malaria, fever and other infectious diseases are caused by climate change"
] |
What's Ann' s last name? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Hello! I'm Mark Smith. I'm an American boy. I'm 12 years old. This is my little sister, Ann . She is five. My family are in China now. Because my father and my mother work in China. They are English teachers. They work hard. The students all like them.
Now I'm a middle school student. I have a friend at school. He's a Chinese boy. He's very good. His name is Huang Long. His English name is Bill. But I don't know his family name. Can you tell me?
Question:
What's Ann' s last name?
Choices:
A. Mark
B. Bill
C. Huang
D. Smith | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5833.txt | Hello! I'm Mark Smith. I'm an American boy. I'm 12 years old. This is my little sister, Ann . She is five. My family are in China now. Because my father and my mother work in China. They are English teachers. They work hard. The students all like them.
Now I'm a middle school student. I have a friend at school. He's a Chinese boy. He's very good. His name is Huang Long. His English name is Bill. But I don't know his family name. Can you tell me? | [
"Mark",
"Bill",
"Huang",
"Smith"
] |
Tire repair for each tire costs $7, plus another 50 cents for sales tax. If Juan needs all 4 tires repaired, how much is the final cost? | Juan pays 4*7 = <<4*7=28>>28 dollars for all four tire repairs.
Juan pays 0.50*4 = <<0.50*4=2>>2 dollars in sales tax for all four tire repairs.
Juan pays a total of 28+2 = <<28+2=30>>30 dollars.
#### 30 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Tire repair for each tire costs $7, plus another 50 cents for sales tax. If Juan needs all 4 tires repaired, how much is the final cost? | Juan pays 4*7 = <<4*7=28>>28 dollars for all four tire repairs.
Juan pays 0.50*4 = <<0.50*4=2>>2 dollars in sales tax for all four tire repairs.
Juan pays a total of 28+2 = <<28+2=30>>30 dollars.
#### 30 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
What does the passage mainly tell us? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Group buying is one of the fastest growing trends in South Africa today. Industry leaders are confident the growth potential remains strong since group buying is location-specific. Start-up costs are low and profit room remains high, so many sites continue to receive invested money despite widespread criticism and Facebook's decision to _ deal business due to privacy concerns.
In the early stages of all industries, some companied fail because they cannot compete with stronger companies in difficult economic conditions. To deal with difficult conditions, an alarming number of businesses are developing group buying websites in places like China and India, so the increase of group buying in South Africa is nothing more than a natural progression into the international mainstream.
The group buying concept is fairly new and consumers have accepted this concept because they can now make full use of the rich information available on the Internet. Group buying is convenient and easy so it works. Anyone can view a site, join a mailing list, subscribe to RSS or print out a coupon . The current group buying structure offered by the industry leaders works although there are still challenges to overcome.
Perhaps, the future of group buying is tied to the joining together of social media and mobile devices. Mobile devices are with us wherever we go and almost everyone is using some type of social media site like Facebook or Twitter to stay informed. Using GPS and social media technology to provide real time location-specific promotions would be beneficial to every consumer looking for the best deals in town.
Pause for a moment and think about it! What is better than signing on to your phone while having fun in town and you receive a real time information that your favorite shop across the street is offering a killer dial?
The future of the group buying in South Africa is bright and we can expect to see more advanced approaches to this concept in the future. In addition to the technological advances consumers will see the range of promotions expand to include new products and services.
Question:
What does the passage mainly tell us?
Choices:
A. The history of group buying
B. Group buying in South Africa
C. The feature of group buying
D. The group buying concept | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1710.txt | Group buying is one of the fastest growing trends in South Africa today. Industry leaders are confident the growth potential remains strong since group buying is location-specific. Start-up costs are low and profit room remains high, so many sites continue to receive invested money despite widespread criticism and Facebook's decision to _ deal business due to privacy concerns.
In the early stages of all industries, some companied fail because they cannot compete with stronger companies in difficult economic conditions. To deal with difficult conditions, an alarming number of businesses are developing group buying websites in places like China and India, so the increase of group buying in South Africa is nothing more than a natural progression into the international mainstream.
The group buying concept is fairly new and consumers have accepted this concept because they can now make full use of the rich information available on the Internet. Group buying is convenient and easy so it works. Anyone can view a site, join a mailing list, subscribe to RSS or print out a coupon . The current group buying structure offered by the industry leaders works although there are still challenges to overcome.
Perhaps, the future of group buying is tied to the joining together of social media and mobile devices. Mobile devices are with us wherever we go and almost everyone is using some type of social media site like Facebook or Twitter to stay informed. Using GPS and social media technology to provide real time location-specific promotions would be beneficial to every consumer looking for the best deals in town.
Pause for a moment and think about it! What is better than signing on to your phone while having fun in town and you receive a real time information that your favorite shop across the street is offering a killer dial?
The future of the group buying in South Africa is bright and we can expect to see more advanced approaches to this concept in the future. In addition to the technological advances consumers will see the range of promotions expand to include new products and services. | [
"The history of group buying",
"Group buying in South Africa",
"The feature of group buying",
"The group buying concept"
] |
What is the paradox of American culture according to the author? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Ask most people how they define the American Dream and chances are they'll say, "Success." The dream of individual opportunity has been home in American since Europeans discovered a "new world" in the Western Hemisphere. Early immigrants like Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur praised highly the freedom and opportunity to be found in this new land. His glowing descriptions of a classless society where anyone could attain success through honesty and hard work fired the imaginations of many European readers: in Letters from an American Farmer (1782) he wrote. "We are all excited at the spirit of an industry which is unfettered and unrestrained, because each person works for himself ... We have no princes, for whom we toil ,starve, and bleed: we are the most perfect society now existing in the world." The promise of a land where "the rewards of a man's industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labor" drew poor immigrants from Europe and fueled national expansion into the western territories.
Our national mythology is full of illustration of the American success story. There's Benjamin Franklin, the very model of the self-educated, self-made man, who rose from modest origins to become a well-known scientist, philosopher, and statesman. In the nineteenth century, Horatio Alger, a writer of fiction for young boys, became American's best-selling author with rags-to-riches tales. The notion of success haunts us: we spend million every year reading about the rich and famous, learning how to "make a fortune in real estate with no money down," and "dressing for success." The myth of success has even invaded our personal relationships: today it's as important to be "successful" in marriage or parenthoods as it is to come out on top in business.
But dreams easily turn into nightmares. Every American who hopes to "make it" also knows the fear of failure, because the myth of success inevitably implies comparison between the haves and the have-nots, the stars and the anonymous crowd. Under pressure of the myth, we become indulged in status symbols: we try to live in the "right" neighborhoods, wear the "right" clothes, eat the "right" foods. These symbols of distinction assure us and others that we believe strongly in the fundamental equality of all, yet strive as hard as we can to separate ourselves from our fellow citizens.
Question:
What is the paradox of American culture according to the author?
Choices:
A. The American road to success is full of nightmares.
B. Status symbols are not a real indicator of a person's wealth.
C. The American Dream is nothing but an empty dream.
D. What Americans strive after often contradicts their beliefs. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9120.txt | Ask most people how they define the American Dream and chances are they'll say, "Success." The dream of individual opportunity has been home in American since Europeans discovered a "new world" in the Western Hemisphere. Early immigrants like Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur praised highly the freedom and opportunity to be found in this new land. His glowing descriptions of a classless society where anyone could attain success through honesty and hard work fired the imaginations of many European readers: in Letters from an American Farmer (1782) he wrote. "We are all excited at the spirit of an industry which is unfettered and unrestrained, because each person works for himself ... We have no princes, for whom we toil ,starve, and bleed: we are the most perfect society now existing in the world." The promise of a land where "the rewards of a man's industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labor" drew poor immigrants from Europe and fueled national expansion into the western territories.
Our national mythology is full of illustration of the American success story. There's Benjamin Franklin, the very model of the self-educated, self-made man, who rose from modest origins to become a well-known scientist, philosopher, and statesman. In the nineteenth century, Horatio Alger, a writer of fiction for young boys, became American's best-selling author with rags-to-riches tales. The notion of success haunts us: we spend million every year reading about the rich and famous, learning how to "make a fortune in real estate with no money down," and "dressing for success." The myth of success has even invaded our personal relationships: today it's as important to be "successful" in marriage or parenthoods as it is to come out on top in business.
But dreams easily turn into nightmares. Every American who hopes to "make it" also knows the fear of failure, because the myth of success inevitably implies comparison between the haves and the have-nots, the stars and the anonymous crowd. Under pressure of the myth, we become indulged in status symbols: we try to live in the "right" neighborhoods, wear the "right" clothes, eat the "right" foods. These symbols of distinction assure us and others that we believe strongly in the fundamental equality of all, yet strive as hard as we can to separate ourselves from our fellow citizens. | [
"The American road to success is full of nightmares.",
"Status symbols are not a real indicator of a person's wealth.",
"The American Dream is nothing but an empty dream.",
"What Americans strive after often contradicts their beliefs."
] |
We can infer from the passage that. | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Ever since news of widespread food recalls caused by a _ dye broke, there has been confusion over possible links to the country of the same name, but Sudan officials say there is no connection whatever.
Sudan 1 is a red industrial dye that has been found in some chilli powder, but was banned in food products across the European Union (EU) in July 2003.
Since the ban was put in place, EU officials have been trying to remove some food products from the shelves.So far 580 products have been recalled.
Last week Sudan's Embassy in the United Kingdom asked the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for clarification of the origin of the dye's name.
Omaima Mahmoud Al Sharief, a press official at Sudan's Embassy in China, explained the purpose of the inquiry was to clear up any misunderstanding over links between the country and the poisonous dye.
"We want to keep an eye on every detail and avoid any misunderstanding there," she said."Our embassy to Britain asked them how the dye got that name and whether the dye had something to do with our country.But they told us there was no relationship."
The FSA, an independent food security watchdog in Britain, received a letter from the Sudanese embassy last week.
"They asked us why the dye is named Sudan, however, we also do not know how it got the name," she said."People found the dye in 1883 and gave it the name.Nobody knows the reason, and we cannot give any explanation before we find out."
Sudan dyes, which include Sudan 1 to 4, are red dyesused for colouring oils, waxes, petrol, and shoe and floor polishes.They are classified as carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Question:
We can infer from the passage that.
Choices:
A. the Sudan government is paying much attention to the food safety
B. Sudan 1 is often used to be added to the food
C. people didn't realize the danger of Sudan1 until 2003
D. many food shops will be closed down | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high3307.txt | Ever since news of widespread food recalls caused by a _ dye broke, there has been confusion over possible links to the country of the same name, but Sudan officials say there is no connection whatever.
Sudan 1 is a red industrial dye that has been found in some chilli powder, but was banned in food products across the European Union (EU) in July 2003.
Since the ban was put in place, EU officials have been trying to remove some food products from the shelves.So far 580 products have been recalled.
Last week Sudan's Embassy in the United Kingdom asked the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for clarification of the origin of the dye's name.
Omaima Mahmoud Al Sharief, a press official at Sudan's Embassy in China, explained the purpose of the inquiry was to clear up any misunderstanding over links between the country and the poisonous dye.
"We want to keep an eye on every detail and avoid any misunderstanding there," she said."Our embassy to Britain asked them how the dye got that name and whether the dye had something to do with our country.But they told us there was no relationship."
The FSA, an independent food security watchdog in Britain, received a letter from the Sudanese embassy last week.
"They asked us why the dye is named Sudan, however, we also do not know how it got the name," she said."People found the dye in 1883 and gave it the name.Nobody knows the reason, and we cannot give any explanation before we find out."
Sudan dyes, which include Sudan 1 to 4, are red dyesused for colouring oils, waxes, petrol, and shoe and floor polishes.They are classified as carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. | [
"the Sudan government is paying much attention to the food safety",
"Sudan 1 is often used to be added to the food",
"people didn't realize the danger of Sudan1 until 2003",
"many food shops will be closed down"
] |
The writer's father explained that there was thunder because _ and made it. | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
I don't have too many memories of my father because he was so sick in the last years of his life. But there aresome that I am often reminded of and which may have developed my love ofscience.
When I was small, I was somewhatafraid of lightning and thunder . My father explained it. The explanation wasin words that a child could understand but was basically correct. I gained a betterunderstanding and learnt something from him.
What he said was that there was electricity in the cloudsand it traveled to the ground like a spark . When it traveled through the air, it made the air so hot that it burned. Then there was nothing where the air had been and the air all around rushed in to fill the space. Saying this, he clapped his hands together very loudly, pretending to be the air rushing in, and said that makes the thunder. When I hear thunder, I can still hear that clap clearly.
He also explained why a cloudy winter night was warmer than a clear one. When there were clouds, they were like blankets which kept the earth and us warm. He said that if there were no clouds, we had no blankets and were _ to the universe. Our warmth was going toheat the whole universe. Even today, I still feel on the edge of space on a very clear night.
I am sure there were many other lessons that Itook but no longer remember most of them now. What I didlearn, in general, was that there were explanations and that the more I understood them, the more comfortable the world was to live in. I was not taught that there were mysteries but that there was understanding if you looked for it. This may be why I have always takenaninterest in science.
Question:
The writer's father explained that there was thunder because _ and made it.
Choices:
A. his hands clapped loudly
B. rushing air filled the space
C. electricity traveled through the air
D. thick clouds knocked into each other | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle6833.txt | I don't have too many memories of my father because he was so sick in the last years of his life. But there aresome that I am often reminded of and which may have developed my love ofscience.
When I was small, I was somewhatafraid of lightning and thunder . My father explained it. The explanation wasin words that a child could understand but was basically correct. I gained a betterunderstanding and learnt something from him.
What he said was that there was electricity in the cloudsand it traveled to the ground like a spark . When it traveled through the air, it made the air so hot that it burned. Then there was nothing where the air had been and the air all around rushed in to fill the space. Saying this, he clapped his hands together very loudly, pretending to be the air rushing in, and said that makes the thunder. When I hear thunder, I can still hear that clap clearly.
He also explained why a cloudy winter night was warmer than a clear one. When there were clouds, they were like blankets which kept the earth and us warm. He said that if there were no clouds, we had no blankets and were _ to the universe. Our warmth was going toheat the whole universe. Even today, I still feel on the edge of space on a very clear night.
I am sure there were many other lessons that Itook but no longer remember most of them now. What I didlearn, in general, was that there were explanations and that the more I understood them, the more comfortable the world was to live in. I was not taught that there were mysteries but that there was understanding if you looked for it. This may be why I have always takenaninterest in science. | [
"his hands clapped loudly",
"rushing air filled the space",
"electricity traveled through the air",
"thick clouds knocked into each other"
] |
In the experiment, what should you do right after you pour the water over the spoon? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It is easier to float in the ocean than it is to float in a swimming pool. Do you know why?
Ocean water is full of salt-- and salt water can hold up more weigh than fresh water. See for yourself!
You Will Need:
* 3 cups of warm water
* Measuring cup
* Wide-mouthed jar
* Salt
* Spoon
* Raw potato
You Will Do: Pour 1.5 cups of warm water into the jar.Add 1/3 cup of salt.Stir until the salt is completely dissolved.Add another 1.5 cups of water. Pour it slowly over the back of the spoon into the jar so that the two liquid will not mix together. Gently place the potato into the jar. Do not drop it.
What Will Happen:
The potato will sink-- but only halfway!
Why?
Salt water is heavier than fresh water, so it will stay on the bottom. The fresh water will remain on top.
The potato is heavier than the fresh water, but it is lighter than the salt water. That is why the potato will sink halfway down.
Question:
In the experiment, what should you do right after you pour the water over the spoon?
Choices:
A. Add the salt to the water.
B. Stir the salt into the water.
C. Place the potato in the jar.
D. Pour warm water into thejar. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high22985.txt | It is easier to float in the ocean than it is to float in a swimming pool. Do you know why?
Ocean water is full of salt-- and salt water can hold up more weigh than fresh water. See for yourself!
You Will Need:
* 3 cups of warm water
* Measuring cup
* Wide-mouthed jar
* Salt
* Spoon
* Raw potato
You Will Do: Pour 1.5 cups of warm water into the jar.Add 1/3 cup of salt.Stir until the salt is completely dissolved.Add another 1.5 cups of water. Pour it slowly over the back of the spoon into the jar so that the two liquid will not mix together. Gently place the potato into the jar. Do not drop it.
What Will Happen:
The potato will sink-- but only halfway!
Why?
Salt water is heavier than fresh water, so it will stay on the bottom. The fresh water will remain on top.
The potato is heavier than the fresh water, but it is lighter than the salt water. That is why the potato will sink halfway down. | [
"Add the salt to the water.",
"Stir the salt into the water.",
"Place the potato in the jar.",
"Pour warm water into thejar."
] |
What's the best title for the text? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The end of the 2014 World Cup does not mean the end of the international competition in Brazil. A major football event which is known as RoboCup will be held in the coastal city Joao Pessoa. Teams of robots from around the world will take part in _ and play the game known as soccer in the United States. The robot teams are guided by teams of human beings.
Watching robots play football is similar to watching children play the game. The kicks are not good, there are a lot of falls , and people are there to guide and support the robot players. Students of the University of Pennsylvania are trying for their fourth victory at the competition. The students have won the last three RoboCup competition in the Netherlands, Mexico and Turkey.
Jian Qiaoli is one of the leaders of the University of Pennsylvania team. He says one goal he has set for his team is to make sure the robots can find the ball and know where they are on the playing field. And he wants the team to be able to better control the walking ability of the robots. They should pay more attention to the kicking ability, which is the key to winning the game.
Qin He is another leader of the robot team. She says the abilities of the robots improve every year. The robots know the difference between the colors green and red, and they can decide where to go and where the ball is on the playing field. She says the robots are self-learning and don't need to be told what to do. If there are three robot players on the playing field at the same time, they will communicate with each other to decide different responsibility for each of them. They have very good team play right now.
As long as the radar detection works well, the robots will be very competitive. So RoboCup will be an exciting technology competition. Each team develops their own software. Actually, it's a competition of who has the best software. Some RoboCup participants hope to develop a team of robots that can play against human beings.
Question:
What's the best title for the text?
Choices:
A. The technology competition--RoboCup
B. The international competitions in Brazil
C. How to develop robot players?
D. Can robot players play football? | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high8714.txt | The end of the 2014 World Cup does not mean the end of the international competition in Brazil. A major football event which is known as RoboCup will be held in the coastal city Joao Pessoa. Teams of robots from around the world will take part in _ and play the game known as soccer in the United States. The robot teams are guided by teams of human beings.
Watching robots play football is similar to watching children play the game. The kicks are not good, there are a lot of falls , and people are there to guide and support the robot players. Students of the University of Pennsylvania are trying for their fourth victory at the competition. The students have won the last three RoboCup competition in the Netherlands, Mexico and Turkey.
Jian Qiaoli is one of the leaders of the University of Pennsylvania team. He says one goal he has set for his team is to make sure the robots can find the ball and know where they are on the playing field. And he wants the team to be able to better control the walking ability of the robots. They should pay more attention to the kicking ability, which is the key to winning the game.
Qin He is another leader of the robot team. She says the abilities of the robots improve every year. The robots know the difference between the colors green and red, and they can decide where to go and where the ball is on the playing field. She says the robots are self-learning and don't need to be told what to do. If there are three robot players on the playing field at the same time, they will communicate with each other to decide different responsibility for each of them. They have very good team play right now.
As long as the radar detection works well, the robots will be very competitive. So RoboCup will be an exciting technology competition. Each team develops their own software. Actually, it's a competition of who has the best software. Some RoboCup participants hope to develop a team of robots that can play against human beings. | [
"The technology competition--RoboCup",
"The international competitions in Brazil",
"How to develop robot players?",
"Can robot players play football?"
] |
What is the main idea of the story? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
For many kids in Africa, the colorful PlayPump is the first playground thing they have ever seen. When the children give it a push and jump in for their first ride, smiles of wonder appears on their faces.
The fun of going round and round in a circle is just part of the wonder. The wonderful invention doesn't only change the kids' play time, but also makes a big difference to the people's lives.
As the merry-go-round starts, _ pumps clean water up from deep underground and keeps it in a huge tank . People are welcomed to come and help themselves to get the water for free. They are very happy these days.
In the countryside of Africa, very few people could drink clean water. They don't have machines that can get water in their homes. Instead, they often walk a long way to carry water back.
Patricia Molope, a fifteen-year-old girl, explains that before her village in South Africa got a PlayPump, people would pay a taxi driver to take them to a well far from their homes. " Sometimes the taxi drivers were so busy that we would have to stop taking showers in order to save water. It was so far to walk there, but at present we have our own clean water in the village, and the life is better, too."
The hard job of carrying water usually is done by women and girls. Carrying water for miles and hours each day is such a heavy job that it sometimes prevents girls from being able to go to school.
Thanks to the PlayPump, getting water is quicker and easier-----and even boys join in. The pumps have become a new activity. Kids and adults seem to love playing with them while collecting water.
A boy named Khumalo, twelve years old, says, " I have seen many kinds of water pumps, but have never seen one that can keep water. When I grow up, I want to be an inventor so I can also invent clever things like the PlayPump that will help my country."
So far, more than 800 PlayPumps are being operated in schools and neighborhoods in four African countries, providing water for almost two million people.
Question:
What is the main idea of the story?
Choices:
A. PlayPump can bring people together.
B. PlayPump helps turn work into play.
C. Every country in the world is thirsty.
D. PlayPump is a great invention in the world. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle7014.txt | For many kids in Africa, the colorful PlayPump is the first playground thing they have ever seen. When the children give it a push and jump in for their first ride, smiles of wonder appears on their faces.
The fun of going round and round in a circle is just part of the wonder. The wonderful invention doesn't only change the kids' play time, but also makes a big difference to the people's lives.
As the merry-go-round starts, _ pumps clean water up from deep underground and keeps it in a huge tank . People are welcomed to come and help themselves to get the water for free. They are very happy these days.
In the countryside of Africa, very few people could drink clean water. They don't have machines that can get water in their homes. Instead, they often walk a long way to carry water back.
Patricia Molope, a fifteen-year-old girl, explains that before her village in South Africa got a PlayPump, people would pay a taxi driver to take them to a well far from their homes. " Sometimes the taxi drivers were so busy that we would have to stop taking showers in order to save water. It was so far to walk there, but at present we have our own clean water in the village, and the life is better, too."
The hard job of carrying water usually is done by women and girls. Carrying water for miles and hours each day is such a heavy job that it sometimes prevents girls from being able to go to school.
Thanks to the PlayPump, getting water is quicker and easier-----and even boys join in. The pumps have become a new activity. Kids and adults seem to love playing with them while collecting water.
A boy named Khumalo, twelve years old, says, " I have seen many kinds of water pumps, but have never seen one that can keep water. When I grow up, I want to be an inventor so I can also invent clever things like the PlayPump that will help my country."
So far, more than 800 PlayPumps are being operated in schools and neighborhoods in four African countries, providing water for almost two million people. | [
"PlayPump can bring people together.",
"PlayPump helps turn work into play.",
"Every country in the world is thirsty.",
"PlayPump is a great invention in the world."
] |
Which of the following is RIGHT about Amaya according to the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
I've been home from Hawaii less than a week, and I've almost adjusted to being back at work (the 30 degree temperatures are a different story). I came back from my trip with a ton of energy, a great fun and so many wonderful memories. I also came back with some unexpected realizations about my business and my role as chief executive.
Here's what I've decided:
First and foremost, I'm still too caught up in the details. When I glanced at my e-mail each day I was away, I noticed so many messages,customer requests, etc. that I would have addressed immediately if I had been at the office. By putting myself in a position where I "couldn't" respond to these e-mails, I realized that the majority of them didn't require my response.
I was worried that our new operations manager Amaya might get stuck in things without me there, but it turned out that she was just fine. When she had questions about the storage history of a customer, for example, she turned to the team and got her answers. It gave me new appreciation for my employees and their ability to help each other.
I often get involved with the engineers on decisions related to our data centers. While I was gone, they had to make important decisions on a number of data center projects. They analyzed the options, and determined the proper course of action. I now realize that I don't need to be as involved in the details of this aspect of the business.
Finally, I learned that having an auto--response message on my e-mail is the BEST. People immediately knew my status and were given contact information for other people who could help them. I saw all of my e-mails but didn't need to answer them. Somehow, everything just got done.
So what does this mean for me? Well, that's a big, important question that involves my ever evolving role here. I thought I was doing a pretty good job pulling out myself from the details, but now I realize I can step back even more, so long as I'm keeping an eye through ongoing team and individual checkpoints. It'll require some restriction on my part, but it'll give me more time to work on other projects, like some marketing ideas I've been toying with. I may even plan a few more vacations!
Question:
Which of the following is RIGHT about Amaya according to the passage?
Choices:
A. She appreciates the author very much.
B. She is not familiar with her work very much.
C. She is an operations manager, helping other employees.
D. She's a person solving problem about the storage history of a customer. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high19448.txt | I've been home from Hawaii less than a week, and I've almost adjusted to being back at work (the 30 degree temperatures are a different story). I came back from my trip with a ton of energy, a great fun and so many wonderful memories. I also came back with some unexpected realizations about my business and my role as chief executive.
Here's what I've decided:
First and foremost, I'm still too caught up in the details. When I glanced at my e-mail each day I was away, I noticed so many messages,customer requests, etc. that I would have addressed immediately if I had been at the office. By putting myself in a position where I "couldn't" respond to these e-mails, I realized that the majority of them didn't require my response.
I was worried that our new operations manager Amaya might get stuck in things without me there, but it turned out that she was just fine. When she had questions about the storage history of a customer, for example, she turned to the team and got her answers. It gave me new appreciation for my employees and their ability to help each other.
I often get involved with the engineers on decisions related to our data centers. While I was gone, they had to make important decisions on a number of data center projects. They analyzed the options, and determined the proper course of action. I now realize that I don't need to be as involved in the details of this aspect of the business.
Finally, I learned that having an auto--response message on my e-mail is the BEST. People immediately knew my status and were given contact information for other people who could help them. I saw all of my e-mails but didn't need to answer them. Somehow, everything just got done.
So what does this mean for me? Well, that's a big, important question that involves my ever evolving role here. I thought I was doing a pretty good job pulling out myself from the details, but now I realize I can step back even more, so long as I'm keeping an eye through ongoing team and individual checkpoints. It'll require some restriction on my part, but it'll give me more time to work on other projects, like some marketing ideas I've been toying with. I may even plan a few more vacations! | [
"She appreciates the author very much.",
"She is not familiar with her work very much.",
"She is an operations manager, helping other employees.",
"She's a person solving problem about the storage history of a customer."
] |
Which of the following would be the best title for the text? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
FRANCE has destroyed the hopes of those who had planned to take refuge in one of the few places on Earth which some believe will be spared when the world ends on December 21 .Local officials banned access to the Pic de Bugarach,a mountain in the southwest where rumor has it that the hilltop will open on the last day and aliens will appear with spaceships to save nearby humans.
Eric Freysselinard,the state's top representative in the area,said he was blocking access to the mountain for public safety reasons to avoid a rush of New Age fanatics ,sight-seers and media crews. Believers say the world will end on December 21,2012,the end date of the ancient Mayan calendar,and they see Bugarach as one of a few sacred mountains sheltered from the cataclysm .
Mr Freysselinard said the 100 police and firefighters will also control approaches to the tiny village of the same name at the foot of the mountain,and if too many people turn up,they will block access there too."We are expecting a few people who believe in this end of the world,but in extremely limited numbers," he said in the. nearby city of Carcassonne."We are expecting greater numbers of people who are just curious,but in numbers we cannot determine. Above all,we are expecting lots of journalists,"he said.
Films,documentaries and websites have promoted the idea that the ancient Mayan calendar predicts that doomsday is on December 21.The culture ministry in Guatemala-where half the population are of Mayan descent-is hosting a massive event in the capital just in case the world actually does end,while tour groups are promoting doomsday-themed getaways.
Question:
Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
Choices:
A. The World Ends on December 21
B. The Ancient Mayan Calendar Ends
C. A Massive Event in The Capital
D. French Say'No'to The Refugee | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high2572.txt | FRANCE has destroyed the hopes of those who had planned to take refuge in one of the few places on Earth which some believe will be spared when the world ends on December 21 .Local officials banned access to the Pic de Bugarach,a mountain in the southwest where rumor has it that the hilltop will open on the last day and aliens will appear with spaceships to save nearby humans.
Eric Freysselinard,the state's top representative in the area,said he was blocking access to the mountain for public safety reasons to avoid a rush of New Age fanatics ,sight-seers and media crews. Believers say the world will end on December 21,2012,the end date of the ancient Mayan calendar,and they see Bugarach as one of a few sacred mountains sheltered from the cataclysm .
Mr Freysselinard said the 100 police and firefighters will also control approaches to the tiny village of the same name at the foot of the mountain,and if too many people turn up,they will block access there too."We are expecting a few people who believe in this end of the world,but in extremely limited numbers," he said in the. nearby city of Carcassonne."We are expecting greater numbers of people who are just curious,but in numbers we cannot determine. Above all,we are expecting lots of journalists,"he said.
Films,documentaries and websites have promoted the idea that the ancient Mayan calendar predicts that doomsday is on December 21.The culture ministry in Guatemala-where half the population are of Mayan descent-is hosting a massive event in the capital just in case the world actually does end,while tour groups are promoting doomsday-themed getaways. | [
"The World Ends on December 21",
"The Ancient Mayan Calendar Ends",
"A Massive Event in The Capital",
"French Say'No'to The Refugee"
] |
Watching a film with your mom can _ | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Dear Lucy,
In your last letter, your asked me how to love to your parents. Here is my advice.
*Make a picture for them. Whether with pencils or paints, it will be a treasure to them forever.
*Write a letter to them. Take your time to put your thoughts in _ .
*keep your room clean! Though it's a kind of the chore, it shows mom and dad that care.
*Cook them a dinner! It can be some rice , some cheese or some hot dogs; it can give them a break.
*tell them that you love them very often. Your love can make them feel warm and proud.
*Never tell a lie to them. Probably the biggest way to show them you love them is, never to lie. This shows them that you not only love them, but also believe in and respect them.
*Create time to be with them. Watch a film with your mom once in a while, or go to a sports match with your dad once in a while just to show them how much you care and want to close with them.
*If you do something wrong, apologize and explain it! They will know you are sorry. You could do something for them to show you want to make it up to them. Just saying sorry can really show how much you love them.
Yours ,
Agony Aunt
Question:
Watching a film with your mom can _
Choices:
A. show you want to be close with her
B. make her feel proud
C. cost her a lot of money
D. make both of you healthy | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle4755.txt | Dear Lucy,
In your last letter, your asked me how to love to your parents. Here is my advice.
*Make a picture for them. Whether with pencils or paints, it will be a treasure to them forever.
*Write a letter to them. Take your time to put your thoughts in _ .
*keep your room clean! Though it's a kind of the chore, it shows mom and dad that care.
*Cook them a dinner! It can be some rice , some cheese or some hot dogs; it can give them a break.
*tell them that you love them very often. Your love can make them feel warm and proud.
*Never tell a lie to them. Probably the biggest way to show them you love them is, never to lie. This shows them that you not only love them, but also believe in and respect them.
*Create time to be with them. Watch a film with your mom once in a while, or go to a sports match with your dad once in a while just to show them how much you care and want to close with them.
*If you do something wrong, apologize and explain it! They will know you are sorry. You could do something for them to show you want to make it up to them. Just saying sorry can really show how much you love them.
Yours ,
Agony Aunt | [
"show you want to be close with her",
"make her feel proud",
"cost her a lot of money",
"make both of you healthy"
] |
Who wrote the letter? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
I had to knock on the taxi to get his attention.Finally,the driver,a man about 60,looked up from behind the wheel and apologized,"I'm sorry,but I was reading a letter." He sounded as if he had a cold or a cough.
Since I was in no hurry,I told him to finish his letter.He shook his head,explaining that he had already read it several times and almost knew it by heart.Curious,I asked whether it was from a child or maybe a grandchild."This isn't family,"he replied."though he might just as well have been a regular member of the family.Old Ed and I grew up together."
They were always friends.But since he moved away from the neighborhood 30 years ago,it'd generally just been postcards at Christmas time between them.A couple of weeks ago,Ed died."I should have kept in touch." He repeated this,more to himself than to me.To comfort him,I said sometimes we just didn't seem to find the time."But we used to find the time," he said."Take a look." He handed the letter over to me.
The first sentence "I've been meaning to write for some time,but I've always delayed it." reminded me of myself.It went on to say that he often thought about the good times they had had together.When I read the part where it said "Your friendship really means a lot to me,more than I can say because I'm not good at saying things like that",I found myself nodding in agreement.
We had gone several kilometers and were almost at my hotel, so I read the last paragraph: "So I thought you'd like to know that I was thinking of you." And it was ended with "Your Old Friend, Tom."
"I thought your friend's name was Ed," I said.
"I'm Tom," he explained. "It's a letter I wrote to Ed before I knew he'd died. I never put it in the mailbox. I guess I should have written it sooner." His face was pale as he wiped his eyes with a handkerchief.
When I got to my hotel room I didn't unpack right away.I had to write a letter and post it.
Question:
Who wrote the letter?
Choices:
A. Tom
B. Old Ed.
C. The author.
D. The driver's grandchild. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high10905.txt | I had to knock on the taxi to get his attention.Finally,the driver,a man about 60,looked up from behind the wheel and apologized,"I'm sorry,but I was reading a letter." He sounded as if he had a cold or a cough.
Since I was in no hurry,I told him to finish his letter.He shook his head,explaining that he had already read it several times and almost knew it by heart.Curious,I asked whether it was from a child or maybe a grandchild."This isn't family,"he replied."though he might just as well have been a regular member of the family.Old Ed and I grew up together."
They were always friends.But since he moved away from the neighborhood 30 years ago,it'd generally just been postcards at Christmas time between them.A couple of weeks ago,Ed died."I should have kept in touch." He repeated this,more to himself than to me.To comfort him,I said sometimes we just didn't seem to find the time."But we used to find the time," he said."Take a look." He handed the letter over to me.
The first sentence "I've been meaning to write for some time,but I've always delayed it." reminded me of myself.It went on to say that he often thought about the good times they had had together.When I read the part where it said "Your friendship really means a lot to me,more than I can say because I'm not good at saying things like that",I found myself nodding in agreement.
We had gone several kilometers and were almost at my hotel, so I read the last paragraph: "So I thought you'd like to know that I was thinking of you." And it was ended with "Your Old Friend, Tom."
"I thought your friend's name was Ed," I said.
"I'm Tom," he explained. "It's a letter I wrote to Ed before I knew he'd died. I never put it in the mailbox. I guess I should have written it sooner." His face was pale as he wiped his eyes with a handkerchief.
When I got to my hotel room I didn't unpack right away.I had to write a letter and post it. | [
"Tom",
"Old Ed.",
"The author.",
"The driver's grandchild."
] |
According to the passage, Melbourne is a city where _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Melbourne, with a population of over 3.5 million, is the second largest city in Australia. It is clean, safe, dynamic and exciting, and well known internationally for its universities and other educational institutions. The city has well-planned tree-lined wide streets and many beautiful parks and gardens. It has a good transport system of roads, buses, trains, and trams. The La Trobe University campus is connected to the Central Business District by trams, express buses, and bus and train connections. Melbourne is a culturally rich city, and is home to large communities of people from all parts of Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The city is famous for its restaurants, theatres, music, opera, ballet, art, culture, and shops, and a lively and dynamic nightlife. Melbourne people are fond of sports, and the city hosts many famous international sports events. Near Melbourne there are beautiful coastlines with excellent beaches, national parks, forests, wineries , winter snowfields and summer resorts. The climate is _ and comfortable, with warm summers and cool winters. In summer, maximum daytime temperatures range from 26degC to 36degC, and in winter from 12degC to 18degC. The weather in Melbourne can be variable from day to day. Melbourne was rated the world's best city to live in by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Question:
According to the passage, Melbourne is a city where _ .
Choices:
A. rich people choose to live
B. the best wine is produced
C. various cultures exist
D. Asian food is popular | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high5301.txt | Melbourne, with a population of over 3.5 million, is the second largest city in Australia. It is clean, safe, dynamic and exciting, and well known internationally for its universities and other educational institutions. The city has well-planned tree-lined wide streets and many beautiful parks and gardens. It has a good transport system of roads, buses, trains, and trams. The La Trobe University campus is connected to the Central Business District by trams, express buses, and bus and train connections. Melbourne is a culturally rich city, and is home to large communities of people from all parts of Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The city is famous for its restaurants, theatres, music, opera, ballet, art, culture, and shops, and a lively and dynamic nightlife. Melbourne people are fond of sports, and the city hosts many famous international sports events. Near Melbourne there are beautiful coastlines with excellent beaches, national parks, forests, wineries , winter snowfields and summer resorts. The climate is _ and comfortable, with warm summers and cool winters. In summer, maximum daytime temperatures range from 26degC to 36degC, and in winter from 12degC to 18degC. The weather in Melbourne can be variable from day to day. Melbourne was rated the world's best city to live in by the Economist Intelligence Unit. | [
"rich people choose to live",
"the best wine is produced",
"various cultures exist",
"Asian food is popular"
] |
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