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Which of the following is NOT true? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
What do you usually do in your free time? Play sports? Watch TV? How about reading books? You must know the Chinese saying: " _ " .Books are important in our life. Reading books is good for us. It can help us know and understand the world better. It can help us get a lot of knowledge . It brings us a new and different world that we have never been before. Almost all the great men like reading, like Chairman Mao and Madame Curie.
In a word, books are treasure and we must love them. But before you read, remember to choose a good one. Ask your parents or teachers about what books to read. Be sure you are interested in them. There are many different kinds of books. I like biography because I can learn something from the characters .
What about you? Young friends. Please love books and read them. They are very helpful to you.
Question:
Which of the following is NOT true?
Choices:
A. Only reading books can make people succeed.
B. Chairman Mao likes reading very much.
C. Books are helpful to human.
D. Young people should read more books. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle7174.txt | What do you usually do in your free time? Play sports? Watch TV? How about reading books? You must know the Chinese saying: " _ " .Books are important in our life. Reading books is good for us. It can help us know and understand the world better. It can help us get a lot of knowledge . It brings us a new and different world that we have never been before. Almost all the great men like reading, like Chairman Mao and Madame Curie.
In a word, books are treasure and we must love them. But before you read, remember to choose a good one. Ask your parents or teachers about what books to read. Be sure you are interested in them. There are many different kinds of books. I like biography because I can learn something from the characters .
What about you? Young friends. Please love books and read them. They are very helpful to you. | [
"Only reading books can make people succeed.",
"Chairman Mao likes reading very much.",
"Books are helpful to human.",
"Young people should read more books."
] |
The Times is an independent paper because _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Newspapers in Great Britain _ greatly in their ways of carrying the news. There are serious papers for those who want to know about important happenings everywhere, both at home and abroad. There are popular newspapers for those who prefer entertainment to information.
The London newspaper that is best known outside Great Britain is probably the Times. It began in 1785, and is well accepted for believable news and serious opinions on the news. It calls itself an independent paper, which means that it does not give its support to a particular political party. Its leading articles give the opinions of the editors, not those of the owners of the paper.
Letters to the editor are printed in the newspaper. These parts of the Times are always interesting. Most of the letters are serious subjects. But from time to time there will be long letters on the subject which is not at all serious, perhaps on a new fashion of dress, or the bad manners of the young people, compared with manners of thirty years ago.
Question:
The Times is an independent paper because _ .
Choices:
A. it supports no political parties zxxk
B. it is not controlled by the British Government
C. it gives special support to all the political parties.
D. the editor's opinions are not examined by the owners of the paper | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high5240.txt | Newspapers in Great Britain _ greatly in their ways of carrying the news. There are serious papers for those who want to know about important happenings everywhere, both at home and abroad. There are popular newspapers for those who prefer entertainment to information.
The London newspaper that is best known outside Great Britain is probably the Times. It began in 1785, and is well accepted for believable news and serious opinions on the news. It calls itself an independent paper, which means that it does not give its support to a particular political party. Its leading articles give the opinions of the editors, not those of the owners of the paper.
Letters to the editor are printed in the newspaper. These parts of the Times are always interesting. Most of the letters are serious subjects. But from time to time there will be long letters on the subject which is not at all serious, perhaps on a new fashion of dress, or the bad manners of the young people, compared with manners of thirty years ago. | [
"it supports no political parties zxxk",
"it is not controlled by the British Government",
"it gives special support to all the political parties.",
"the editor's opinions are not examined by the owners of the paper"
] |
What is the author's main purpose in this passage? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Suppose that we lined up our roughly 14 million United States businesses in order of size, starting with the smallest, along an imaginary road from San Francisco to New York. There will be 4,500 businesses to the mile, or a little less than one per foot. Suppose further that we planted a flag each business. The height of the flag pole represents the yearly volume of sales , each $ 10, 000 in sales in shown by one foot of pole.
The line of flagpoles is a very interesting sight. From San Francisco to about Reno, it is almost unnoticeable, a row of poles about a foot high. From Reno eastward the poles increase in height until, near Columbus, Ohio - about four - fifths of the way across the nation - flags fly about 10 feet in the air.
But as we approach the eastern terminus , the poles suddenly begin to mount . There are about 300, 000 firms in the country with sales over $ 500, 000. These firms take up the last 75 miles of the 3,000 - mile road. There are 200, 000 firms with sales over $ 1 million. They take up the last 50 miles. Then there are 1, 000 firms with sales of $ 50, 000, 000 or more. They take up the last quarter of a mile before the city limits, flags flying at cloud height, 5 , 000 feet up .
At the very gate of New York, on the last 100 feet of the last mile , we find the 100 largest industrial firms . They have sales of at least $ 1.5 billion, so that their flags are already miles high. Along the last 10 feet of road , there are 10 largest companies . Their sales are roughly $ 10 billion and up : their flags fly 190 miles in the air , almost in the stratosphere .
Question:
What is the author's main purpose in this passage?
Choices:
A. To tell the reason why the largest firms are in New York.
B. To show the geographical distribution of the United States businesses.
C. To provide a general idea of the size of businesses in the United States.
D. To tell us how the United States businesses are arranged. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high2277.txt | Suppose that we lined up our roughly 14 million United States businesses in order of size, starting with the smallest, along an imaginary road from San Francisco to New York. There will be 4,500 businesses to the mile, or a little less than one per foot. Suppose further that we planted a flag each business. The height of the flag pole represents the yearly volume of sales , each $ 10, 000 in sales in shown by one foot of pole.
The line of flagpoles is a very interesting sight. From San Francisco to about Reno, it is almost unnoticeable, a row of poles about a foot high. From Reno eastward the poles increase in height until, near Columbus, Ohio - about four - fifths of the way across the nation - flags fly about 10 feet in the air.
But as we approach the eastern terminus , the poles suddenly begin to mount . There are about 300, 000 firms in the country with sales over $ 500, 000. These firms take up the last 75 miles of the 3,000 - mile road. There are 200, 000 firms with sales over $ 1 million. They take up the last 50 miles. Then there are 1, 000 firms with sales of $ 50, 000, 000 or more. They take up the last quarter of a mile before the city limits, flags flying at cloud height, 5 , 000 feet up .
At the very gate of New York, on the last 100 feet of the last mile , we find the 100 largest industrial firms . They have sales of at least $ 1.5 billion, so that their flags are already miles high. Along the last 10 feet of road , there are 10 largest companies . Their sales are roughly $ 10 billion and up : their flags fly 190 miles in the air , almost in the stratosphere . | [
"To tell the reason why the largest firms are in New York.",
"To show the geographical distribution of the United States businesses.",
"To provide a general idea of the size of businesses in the United States.",
"To tell us how the United States businesses are arranged."
] |
From what Morri experienced in the last year of middle school, we can learn that _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Every school has an ugly girl. In my primary school, it was me.
From first grade through fourth, I had to wear heavy orthopedic shoes because of my weak ankles. I sounded like overweight elephant wearing bricks whenever I took a single step.
"Hey, Bigfoot!"
"Geez, you're going to start an earthquake!"
Then in sixth grade I had to start wear glasses. Mom asked for the least expensive ones and that made me look like a fool.
"Four eyes!"
"Couldn't you cover up more of your faces? Why stop at the eyes?"
In Seventh, I started competing on the city swim team, thinking that if I got a killer body, nobody would notice my face. Wrong again. I loved being fast and winning ribbons now and then, but now I had red, wet eyes from the chlorine in the pool. I also did not develop a killer body.
I changed my strategy at Eighth grade, the last year of middle school. I offered my help to anyone who needs. I worked for other girls, so they could hang out with their friends. My new program began to work. People who would never have acknowledged my existence before were suddenly seeking me out.
I'd been feeling pretty good until one day I went to Christine's house to help her fill envelopes. Going into each envelope was invitation to Christine's birthday party; it was a big event at a fancy hotel. Complete with dinner. She asked me to help her address these envelopes. There was no envelope for me.
My heart was broken. I tried to escape from all the eyes. High school had to be better, right? Yes and no. Now that I'm here, I know there are still lots of shallow people judging you on what you're wearing or how cool your hair is , but there are also kids who talk to you because they liked your answers or just as you're kind, honest, and a good friend.
I still do kind things because I like the feeling I get when I am helping people. I, with my friends, went to Children's hospital, playing games and reading to the sick kids.
I still had wet red and not a smart look, but you cannot tell me I am not beautiful. Every time I visit hospital, five-year-old Terry grasps my hand, "Morri, you are so nice. I want to grow up to be just like you."
Question:
From what Morri experienced in the last year of middle school, we can learn that _ .
Choices:
A. her classmates thought highly of her
B. she was popular among her classmates
C. she was often cheated by her classmates
D. her classmates just made use of her | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high6539.txt | Every school has an ugly girl. In my primary school, it was me.
From first grade through fourth, I had to wear heavy orthopedic shoes because of my weak ankles. I sounded like overweight elephant wearing bricks whenever I took a single step.
"Hey, Bigfoot!"
"Geez, you're going to start an earthquake!"
Then in sixth grade I had to start wear glasses. Mom asked for the least expensive ones and that made me look like a fool.
"Four eyes!"
"Couldn't you cover up more of your faces? Why stop at the eyes?"
In Seventh, I started competing on the city swim team, thinking that if I got a killer body, nobody would notice my face. Wrong again. I loved being fast and winning ribbons now and then, but now I had red, wet eyes from the chlorine in the pool. I also did not develop a killer body.
I changed my strategy at Eighth grade, the last year of middle school. I offered my help to anyone who needs. I worked for other girls, so they could hang out with their friends. My new program began to work. People who would never have acknowledged my existence before were suddenly seeking me out.
I'd been feeling pretty good until one day I went to Christine's house to help her fill envelopes. Going into each envelope was invitation to Christine's birthday party; it was a big event at a fancy hotel. Complete with dinner. She asked me to help her address these envelopes. There was no envelope for me.
My heart was broken. I tried to escape from all the eyes. High school had to be better, right? Yes and no. Now that I'm here, I know there are still lots of shallow people judging you on what you're wearing or how cool your hair is , but there are also kids who talk to you because they liked your answers or just as you're kind, honest, and a good friend.
I still do kind things because I like the feeling I get when I am helping people. I, with my friends, went to Children's hospital, playing games and reading to the sick kids.
I still had wet red and not a smart look, but you cannot tell me I am not beautiful. Every time I visit hospital, five-year-old Terry grasps my hand, "Morri, you are so nice. I want to grow up to be just like you." | [
"her classmates thought highly of her",
"she was popular among her classmates",
"she was often cheated by her classmates",
"her classmates just made use of her"
] |
The little boy comes to my house to _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Now children can do many nice things after school. They can read books, ride bikes, watch TV and play games. But boys like playing ball games best.
The children near my door often play football in the garden, and sometimes they break my windows. One Saturday afternoon I stay at home and read a book. After a few minutes, I close my eyes and go to sleep. Suddenly a sound at the door wakes me up. Soon a little boy comes in.
" Not one of my windows again?"
" Oh, no!" answers the boy. " Your window is open this time and our ball is in your bedroom. May I get it, please?"
Question:
The little boy comes to my house to _ .
Choices:
A. get his ball
B. play with me
C. mend my window
D. break my window | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle2101.txt | Now children can do many nice things after school. They can read books, ride bikes, watch TV and play games. But boys like playing ball games best.
The children near my door often play football in the garden, and sometimes they break my windows. One Saturday afternoon I stay at home and read a book. After a few minutes, I close my eyes and go to sleep. Suddenly a sound at the door wakes me up. Soon a little boy comes in.
" Not one of my windows again?"
" Oh, no!" answers the boy. " Your window is open this time and our ball is in your bedroom. May I get it, please?" | [
"get his ball",
"play with me",
"mend my window",
"break my window"
] |
How the individuals in a population are spread throughout their habitat is referred to as what? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | How the individuals in a population are spread throughout their habitat is referred to as what? | population distribution | science | null | null | null | population spread | habitual distribution | population habitation | population distribution | Population density just represents the average number of individuals per unit of area or volume. Often, individuals in a population are not spread out evenly. Instead, they may live in clumps or some other pattern (see Figure below ). The pattern may reflect characteristics of the species or its environment. Population distribution describes how the individuals are distributed, or spread throughout their habitat. | null | null | null |
The important stage in the study is _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Scientists found that sleeping considerably improves our creativity. After taking a nap people are able to think faster and put more imagination into their thinking. Besides, if we dream, the thinking abilities are improved even more.
Researchers consider that sleeping on a problem in most cases leads to elucidation . They say when a person enters a phase called Rapid Eye Movement (REM) during sleep, _ increases the effect. Such phase takes place right before we awake and according to scientists it helps our brain make links between unrelated subjects.
In the study, led by Professor Sara Mednick, scientists made a conclusion that the REM was "important for assimilating new information into past experience" in order to find solutions to creative problems.
Prof. Mednick is a psychiatrist at the University of California. Her study involved the analysis of 77 adults. Each participant was given several word-associated creative tasks. All tasks were given in the morning, with participants being shown a number of groups of 3 words, for example: cookie, heart and sixteen. They were asked to come up with a word that would be associated with all three given terms--like sweet. Sometime later, after some participants were allowed to sleep, they were asked to perform the same tasks and some new ones. It is worth mentioning that while some people slept, researchers used brain scans to see the type of sleep each participant entered.
When given the same tasks, participants, who took a nap, were able to give more varied solutions, some of which were much better than they gave earlier. But when given new tasks, researchers found that those who entered REM sleep had a 40 percent better result compared to the performance they showed in the morning.
Question:
The important stage in the study is _ .
Choices:
A. to think of a creative word
B. to show a group of 3 words
C. to give participants time to think
D. to let some participants sleep for a while | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high14869.txt | Scientists found that sleeping considerably improves our creativity. After taking a nap people are able to think faster and put more imagination into their thinking. Besides, if we dream, the thinking abilities are improved even more.
Researchers consider that sleeping on a problem in most cases leads to elucidation . They say when a person enters a phase called Rapid Eye Movement (REM) during sleep, _ increases the effect. Such phase takes place right before we awake and according to scientists it helps our brain make links between unrelated subjects.
In the study, led by Professor Sara Mednick, scientists made a conclusion that the REM was "important for assimilating new information into past experience" in order to find solutions to creative problems.
Prof. Mednick is a psychiatrist at the University of California. Her study involved the analysis of 77 adults. Each participant was given several word-associated creative tasks. All tasks were given in the morning, with participants being shown a number of groups of 3 words, for example: cookie, heart and sixteen. They were asked to come up with a word that would be associated with all three given terms--like sweet. Sometime later, after some participants were allowed to sleep, they were asked to perform the same tasks and some new ones. It is worth mentioning that while some people slept, researchers used brain scans to see the type of sleep each participant entered.
When given the same tasks, participants, who took a nap, were able to give more varied solutions, some of which were much better than they gave earlier. But when given new tasks, researchers found that those who entered REM sleep had a 40 percent better result compared to the performance they showed in the morning. | [
"to think of a creative word",
"to show a group of 3 words",
"to give participants time to think",
"to let some participants sleep for a while"
] |
What do you call a mirror shaped like the inside of a bowl? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What do you call a mirror shaped like the inside of a bowl? | concave | science | null | null | null | curved | convex | circular | concave | A concave mirror is shaped like the inside of a bowl. The type of image it forms depends on where the object is relative to the focal point. The image may be real, upside down, and reduced in size; or it may be virtual, right-side up, and enlarged. | null | null | null |
What's the disadvantage of shopping online according to the passage? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It's lunch time. You're hungry and want to get your favorite meal in the restaurant, but there are a lot of people waiting at the door. Don't worry-in cyberworld, )you can get your meal just on the Internet.
"Shopping has never been so easy. With just a single click on your mouse, anything that you ordered online can be taken to your door quickly," said Bian Jing, a twenty-year-old girl.
"I don't want to spend too much time shopping, so I like doing shopping online better than in a usual store," said a boy from a middle school. "It's easy to find the things you want online."
If the shoppers buy something online, they can find lower prices and wider choices of things. But many teachers and parents are worried that shopping online is becoming too popular.
"It's not a good way for middle school students to spend their money," said a teacher. "I don't want them to shop online."
"It's also dangerous to lose money at online stores, because some of them just want to cheat shoppers," another teacher said.
Most parents are not willing to pay the money their children spend on the Internet.
Question:
What's the disadvantage of shopping online according to the passage?
Choices:
A. Finding something cheaper
B. Having wider choices
C. Being cheated sometimes
D. Saving time | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle7018.txt | It's lunch time. You're hungry and want to get your favorite meal in the restaurant, but there are a lot of people waiting at the door. Don't worry-in cyberworld, )you can get your meal just on the Internet.
"Shopping has never been so easy. With just a single click on your mouse, anything that you ordered online can be taken to your door quickly," said Bian Jing, a twenty-year-old girl.
"I don't want to spend too much time shopping, so I like doing shopping online better than in a usual store," said a boy from a middle school. "It's easy to find the things you want online."
If the shoppers buy something online, they can find lower prices and wider choices of things. But many teachers and parents are worried that shopping online is becoming too popular.
"It's not a good way for middle school students to spend their money," said a teacher. "I don't want them to shop online."
"It's also dangerous to lose money at online stores, because some of them just want to cheat shoppers," another teacher said.
Most parents are not willing to pay the money their children spend on the Internet. | [
"Finding something cheaper",
"Having wider choices",
"Being cheated sometimes",
"Saving time"
] |
Children loved to see Mickey Mouse because _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
People usually hate mice, but one mouse has won the hearts of the people all over the world---the famous Mickey Mouse.
Fifty years ago most movies were silent. A man called Walt Disney made a cartoon mouse that could talk his movies. He named his mouse Mickey Mouse. People, both young and old, were very excited at the talking mouse. Children loved to see their friend, because he brought joy and laughter to them.
Mickey was a clean mouse right from the beginning. Perhaps this is one reason why people hate real mice and love Mickey Mouse. In his early life Mickey made some mistakes. People were angry. They wrote to Disney and said that they did not want Mickey to do silly things. So Disney made a new animal named Donald Duck. He also made a dog called Pluto. This dog does stupid things and makes mistakes wherever he goes. Now our Mickey Mouse is not only clean but also important. He appears as a beautiful and clever star. He has his friends in almost every country.
Question:
Children loved to see Mickey Mouse because _ .
Choices:
A. he brought them joy and laughter
B. he made some mistakes
C. he brought them cakes
D. he made them angry | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle6988.txt | People usually hate mice, but one mouse has won the hearts of the people all over the world---the famous Mickey Mouse.
Fifty years ago most movies were silent. A man called Walt Disney made a cartoon mouse that could talk his movies. He named his mouse Mickey Mouse. People, both young and old, were very excited at the talking mouse. Children loved to see their friend, because he brought joy and laughter to them.
Mickey was a clean mouse right from the beginning. Perhaps this is one reason why people hate real mice and love Mickey Mouse. In his early life Mickey made some mistakes. People were angry. They wrote to Disney and said that they did not want Mickey to do silly things. So Disney made a new animal named Donald Duck. He also made a dog called Pluto. This dog does stupid things and makes mistakes wherever he goes. Now our Mickey Mouse is not only clean but also important. He appears as a beautiful and clever star. He has his friends in almost every country. | [
"he brought them joy and laughter",
"he made some mistakes",
"he brought them cakes",
"he made them angry"
] |
What is calculated by subtracting the smallest value from the largest value? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What is calculated by subtracting the smallest value from the largest value? | the range | science | null | null | null | the median | the sample | the density | the range | The range is the total spread of values. It gives you an idea of the variation in the measurements. The range is calculated by subtracting the smallest value from the largest value. For the data in Table above , the range in numbers of vehicles by type is: 150 - 50 = 100. | null | null | null |
According to the passage, the total number of the A/H1N1 infection in Japan now is _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
TOKYO -- The number of domestic infections cases of influenza A/H1N1 in Japan hits 42 on Sunday after a total of 34 people in Osaka and Hyogo counties were confirmed to have been infected, local media reported.
The total number of the infection in the country now stands at 46, including the first four cases contracted abroad.
The country is now facing the risk of grass-root outbreak which could lead the WHO to raise its new flu pandemic alert to the highest level of 6 from the current 5, experts has warned.
The 34 newly confirmed domestic cases, 11 in Osaka and 23 in Hyogo, included high school students, college students and teachers, the health ministry and local governments said Sunday.
Japan on Saturday confirmed the first eight cases of domestic infection on students of a Kobe high school. The later confirmed cases in Osaka are said to have contacted the Kobe students in a volleyball match. Osaka and Hyogo are neighboring in the Kansai region.
All of the 42 people had no record of overseas travel.
Meanwhile, a total of 143 students at the Kansai Okura Senior High School where many infections in Osaka were found, have shown symptoms of influenza since around Monday, according to local media reports.
The privately run school said it will be closed from Monday through Saturday.
More than 1,000 educational facilities -- kindergartens, and elementary, junior and senior high schools -- in Osaka and Hyogo counties have decided to suspend classes for certain periods following the confirmation of new flu infections in the counties, Kyodo News reported.
The two counties have requested private schools to follow suit.
Osaka Governor Toru Hashimoto held a meeting of a new flu task force on Sunday and decided to ask facilities such as movie theaters to suspend operations to prevent the spread of the flu.
TV clips showed people in Kansai region started to wear masks in public spaces and rushed to drug stores for buying medicines.
The Japanese government on Saturday shifted the stage of its new-flu action program from "a period of overseas outbreak" to "a period of domestic outbreak" and called for companies and schools in the areas concerned to allow individuals to avoid commuting during rush hours.
The Kyodo News quoted Masato Tashiro, a member of the World Health Organization's emergency committee, as saying that several hundred people in Japan already may have been infected with the new flu.
Question:
According to the passage, the total number of the A/H1N1 infection in Japan now is _ .
Choices:
A. 42
B. 34
C. 46
D. 143 | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11266.txt | TOKYO -- The number of domestic infections cases of influenza A/H1N1 in Japan hits 42 on Sunday after a total of 34 people in Osaka and Hyogo counties were confirmed to have been infected, local media reported.
The total number of the infection in the country now stands at 46, including the first four cases contracted abroad.
The country is now facing the risk of grass-root outbreak which could lead the WHO to raise its new flu pandemic alert to the highest level of 6 from the current 5, experts has warned.
The 34 newly confirmed domestic cases, 11 in Osaka and 23 in Hyogo, included high school students, college students and teachers, the health ministry and local governments said Sunday.
Japan on Saturday confirmed the first eight cases of domestic infection on students of a Kobe high school. The later confirmed cases in Osaka are said to have contacted the Kobe students in a volleyball match. Osaka and Hyogo are neighboring in the Kansai region.
All of the 42 people had no record of overseas travel.
Meanwhile, a total of 143 students at the Kansai Okura Senior High School where many infections in Osaka were found, have shown symptoms of influenza since around Monday, according to local media reports.
The privately run school said it will be closed from Monday through Saturday.
More than 1,000 educational facilities -- kindergartens, and elementary, junior and senior high schools -- in Osaka and Hyogo counties have decided to suspend classes for certain periods following the confirmation of new flu infections in the counties, Kyodo News reported.
The two counties have requested private schools to follow suit.
Osaka Governor Toru Hashimoto held a meeting of a new flu task force on Sunday and decided to ask facilities such as movie theaters to suspend operations to prevent the spread of the flu.
TV clips showed people in Kansai region started to wear masks in public spaces and rushed to drug stores for buying medicines.
The Japanese government on Saturday shifted the stage of its new-flu action program from "a period of overseas outbreak" to "a period of domestic outbreak" and called for companies and schools in the areas concerned to allow individuals to avoid commuting during rush hours.
The Kyodo News quoted Masato Tashiro, a member of the World Health Organization's emergency committee, as saying that several hundred people in Japan already may have been infected with the new flu. | [
"42",
"34",
"46",
"143"
] |
John builds a model rocket that can travel 500 ft in the air. He builds a second rocket that can travel twice as high. What is the combined height of the two rockets? | The second rocket goes 500*2=<<500*2=1000>>1000 feet
So the total height is 500+1000=<<500+1000=1500>>1500 feet
#### 1500 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | John builds a model rocket that can travel 500 ft in the air. He builds a second rocket that can travel twice as high. What is the combined height of the two rockets? | The second rocket goes 500*2=<<500*2=1000>>1000 feet
So the total height is 500+1000=<<500+1000=1500>>1500 feet
#### 1500 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
At the pet store, there are 7 puppies and 6 kittens for sale. Two puppies and three kittens are sold. How many pets remain at the store? | There are 7 + 6 = <<7+6=13>>13 pets.
They sell 2 + 3 = <<2+3=5>>5 pets.
After the sales, there are 13 - 5 = <<13-5=8>>8 pets.
#### 8 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | At the pet store, there are 7 puppies and 6 kittens for sale. Two puppies and three kittens are sold. How many pets remain at the store? | There are 7 + 6 = <<7+6=13>>13 pets.
They sell 2 + 3 = <<2+3=5>>5 pets.
After the sales, there are 13 - 5 = <<13-5=8>>8 pets.
#### 8 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The 21st generation owner of the Heihachi Tea House may be _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
In the past few decades, Japanese cuisine has acquired global appeal. Japanese restaurants have sprung up almost all over the world. In Kyoto, the Heihachi Tea House boasts a 430-year-old tradition that the owners have kept all in the family. The tea house has been operated by twenty generations of the Sonobe family.
The Heihachi Tea House, in the northern part of Kyoto, is one of the city's oldest business establishments. It is said to have opened in 1576. The present owner, Sonobe Heihachi, who is also the chef, represents the 20th generation of the Sonobe family to oversee the tea house.
Sonobe Heihachi, restaurant owner, said, "During the middle of the Edo era, from 1603 to 1868, it became customary for commoners to dine in mat rooms. The Heihachi Tea House specialized in a dish comprised of rice with barley . It then became an inn and a little later, a restaurant."
Like every other chef, Sonobe Heihachi's day often begins at the market where he personally selects ingredients that will be served to his customers. The restaurant specializes in a style of cuisine known as Kaiseki Ryori--possibly the ultimate in Japanese cooking. It offers both fresh and ocean fishes on its menu, including bream and eels. The owner's son Sonobe Shingo is also an accomplished chef. His skills include the elaborate cutting of a "daikon" radish into strips. Later they will be shredded into thin strands to form part of the garnish for sashimi.
Sonobe Shingo admits that when it comes to the small details of running the business, father and son have different ways of thinking. Sometimes they clash.
But they share a passion for what they do and continue to preserve an innovative and deeply rooted culinary tradition.
Question:
The 21st generation owner of the Heihachi Tea House may be _ .
Choices:
A. Sonobe Heihachi
B. the first owner of the Heihachi Tea House
C. Sonobe Shingo
D. Sonobe Heihachi's grandson | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1337.txt | In the past few decades, Japanese cuisine has acquired global appeal. Japanese restaurants have sprung up almost all over the world. In Kyoto, the Heihachi Tea House boasts a 430-year-old tradition that the owners have kept all in the family. The tea house has been operated by twenty generations of the Sonobe family.
The Heihachi Tea House, in the northern part of Kyoto, is one of the city's oldest business establishments. It is said to have opened in 1576. The present owner, Sonobe Heihachi, who is also the chef, represents the 20th generation of the Sonobe family to oversee the tea house.
Sonobe Heihachi, restaurant owner, said, "During the middle of the Edo era, from 1603 to 1868, it became customary for commoners to dine in mat rooms. The Heihachi Tea House specialized in a dish comprised of rice with barley . It then became an inn and a little later, a restaurant."
Like every other chef, Sonobe Heihachi's day often begins at the market where he personally selects ingredients that will be served to his customers. The restaurant specializes in a style of cuisine known as Kaiseki Ryori--possibly the ultimate in Japanese cooking. It offers both fresh and ocean fishes on its menu, including bream and eels. The owner's son Sonobe Shingo is also an accomplished chef. His skills include the elaborate cutting of a "daikon" radish into strips. Later they will be shredded into thin strands to form part of the garnish for sashimi.
Sonobe Shingo admits that when it comes to the small details of running the business, father and son have different ways of thinking. Sometimes they clash.
But they share a passion for what they do and continue to preserve an innovative and deeply rooted culinary tradition. | [
"Sonobe Heihachi",
"the first owner of the Heihachi Tea House",
"Sonobe Shingo",
"Sonobe Heihachi's grandson"
] |
Why do we sometimes forget our surroundings and even our identity while reading? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
From good reading we can get pleasure, companionship, experience, and instruction. A good book may absorb our attention so completely that for the time being we forget our surroundings and even our identity. Reading good books is one of the greatest pleasures in life. It increases our contentment when we are cheerful, and lessens our troubles when we are sad. Whatever may be our main purpose in reading, our contact with good books should never fail to give us enjoyment and satisfaction.
With a good book in our hands we need never be lonely. Whether the characters in it are taken from real life or are purely imaginary, they may become our companions and friends. In the pages of books we can walk with the wise and the good of all lands and all times. The people we meet in books may delight us either because they resemble human friends whom we hold dear or because they present unfamiliar types whom we are glad to welcome as new acquaintances . Our human friends sometimes may bore us, but the friends we make in books need never weary us with their company. By turning the page we can dismiss them without any fear of hurting their feelings. While human friends desert us, good books are always ready to give us friendship, sympathy, and encouragement.
Of all the gifts from reading books, the most valuable one is experience. Few of us can travel far from home or have a wide range of experiences, but all of us can lead varied lives through the pages of books. Whether we wish to escape from the seemingly dull realities of daily routines or whether we long to visit some far-off place, a book will help us when nothing else can. To travel by book we need no bank account to pay our way; no airship or ocean liner or stream-lined train to transport us; no passport to enter the land of our heart's desire. Through books we may get the thrill of _ adventure without danger. We can climb high mountains, brave the perils of an Antarctic winter, or cross the scorching sands of the desert, all without hardship. In books we may visit the studios of Hollywood; we may mix with the merry crowds of the Paris boulevards; we may join the picturesque peasants in an Alpine village or the kindly natives on a South Sea island. Indeed, through books _ . The possibilities of our literary experiences are almost unlimited. The beauties of nature, the enjoyment of music, the treasures of art, the triumphs of architecture, the marvels of engineering, are all open to the wonder and enjoyment of those who read.
Question:
Why do we sometimes forget our surroundings and even our identity while reading?
Choices:
A. No one is trying to disturb you there.
B. All is so quiet and calm around you.
C. The book you read is so fascinating.
D. Our life is just far from satisfactory. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7255.txt | From good reading we can get pleasure, companionship, experience, and instruction. A good book may absorb our attention so completely that for the time being we forget our surroundings and even our identity. Reading good books is one of the greatest pleasures in life. It increases our contentment when we are cheerful, and lessens our troubles when we are sad. Whatever may be our main purpose in reading, our contact with good books should never fail to give us enjoyment and satisfaction.
With a good book in our hands we need never be lonely. Whether the characters in it are taken from real life or are purely imaginary, they may become our companions and friends. In the pages of books we can walk with the wise and the good of all lands and all times. The people we meet in books may delight us either because they resemble human friends whom we hold dear or because they present unfamiliar types whom we are glad to welcome as new acquaintances . Our human friends sometimes may bore us, but the friends we make in books need never weary us with their company. By turning the page we can dismiss them without any fear of hurting their feelings. While human friends desert us, good books are always ready to give us friendship, sympathy, and encouragement.
Of all the gifts from reading books, the most valuable one is experience. Few of us can travel far from home or have a wide range of experiences, but all of us can lead varied lives through the pages of books. Whether we wish to escape from the seemingly dull realities of daily routines or whether we long to visit some far-off place, a book will help us when nothing else can. To travel by book we need no bank account to pay our way; no airship or ocean liner or stream-lined train to transport us; no passport to enter the land of our heart's desire. Through books we may get the thrill of _ adventure without danger. We can climb high mountains, brave the perils of an Antarctic winter, or cross the scorching sands of the desert, all without hardship. In books we may visit the studios of Hollywood; we may mix with the merry crowds of the Paris boulevards; we may join the picturesque peasants in an Alpine village or the kindly natives on a South Sea island. Indeed, through books _ . The possibilities of our literary experiences are almost unlimited. The beauties of nature, the enjoyment of music, the treasures of art, the triumphs of architecture, the marvels of engineering, are all open to the wonder and enjoyment of those who read. | [
"No one is trying to disturb you there.",
"All is so quiet and calm around you.",
"The book you read is so fascinating.",
"Our life is just far from satisfactory."
] |
Davie was wounded _ according to the passage? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A soldier who lost both his legs after being blown up in Afghanistan is racing a sports car in his hometown this weekend.
Remarkably David Birrell will not only drive the Mazda MX5 but he does without any specially adapted equipment.
Davie, 28, has battled back from terrible injuries after a bomb blew up directly below him. He gave himself first aid and fired at Taliban fighters until help arrived. Davie was always interested in motor sport and after spending weeks in hospital was introduced by Help the Heroes to Mission Motorsport, which helps the wounded recover. The charity are organizing a major event, Race of Remembrance, at the Anglesey Circuit near Rhosneigr of North Wales in November, and Davie was at the circuit yesterday for an official launch.
He said,"It's my first time racing on Anflesey. This means everything to me. I loved it straight away, and it gives you something to focus on, to try and stay in front of others. I was boxing since the age of eight and my whole life has been one-to-one competition. But now everything has changed."
Davie, a corporal in the Black Watch, was in Helmand in April 2010 when his interpreter stood on the bomb. He said,"I was confused and went blank for a couple of seconds. There was dust in the air and I couldn't see. Both legs were still attached but there were massive injuries to my right leg and my left foot was broken."As the Taliban began firing he returned fire and waited for help. He added,"A medical team came over. I was taken back to Camp Bastion by helicopter. I was there for two days before being flown to hospital in Birmingham."
He had lost his right leg and the following year had his left leg _ below the knee, ending the Army career.
Question:
Davie was wounded _ according to the passage?
Choices:
A. In Rhosneigr.
B. In Birmingham.
C. In Helmand.
D. In Bastion. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7960.txt | A soldier who lost both his legs after being blown up in Afghanistan is racing a sports car in his hometown this weekend.
Remarkably David Birrell will not only drive the Mazda MX5 but he does without any specially adapted equipment.
Davie, 28, has battled back from terrible injuries after a bomb blew up directly below him. He gave himself first aid and fired at Taliban fighters until help arrived. Davie was always interested in motor sport and after spending weeks in hospital was introduced by Help the Heroes to Mission Motorsport, which helps the wounded recover. The charity are organizing a major event, Race of Remembrance, at the Anglesey Circuit near Rhosneigr of North Wales in November, and Davie was at the circuit yesterday for an official launch.
He said,"It's my first time racing on Anflesey. This means everything to me. I loved it straight away, and it gives you something to focus on, to try and stay in front of others. I was boxing since the age of eight and my whole life has been one-to-one competition. But now everything has changed."
Davie, a corporal in the Black Watch, was in Helmand in April 2010 when his interpreter stood on the bomb. He said,"I was confused and went blank for a couple of seconds. There was dust in the air and I couldn't see. Both legs were still attached but there were massive injuries to my right leg and my left foot was broken."As the Taliban began firing he returned fire and waited for help. He added,"A medical team came over. I was taken back to Camp Bastion by helicopter. I was there for two days before being flown to hospital in Birmingham."
He had lost his right leg and the following year had his left leg _ below the knee, ending the Army career. | [
"In Rhosneigr.",
"In Birmingham.",
"In Helmand.",
"In Bastion."
] |
The writer bought some guidebooks in order to _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Dear Editor,
I'm now busy in preparing for the Postgraduate Entrance Exam. A few days ago, I happened to see some new guidebooks for those who want to take next year's exam. With too many hopes and without taking it into too much consideration, I bought several that were written by some known for helping candidates for master's degrees.
What made me really angry was the starting discovery that the contents of those books were almost exactly the same as some I had bought before. There were only superficial changes in their covers, with more attractive new titles and better designs. The contents were the same.
People say that the publishing industry is in a state of chaos these days but I used to be doubtful abut that. I was of the opinion that only people of noble character, prestige , and exceptional talent would produce books for higher education. But these editors are caring little about their readers.
I hope that authors and publishing houses will be more responsible for their readers. Don't destroy the image that you have with your readers.
Question:
The writer bought some guidebooks in order to _ .
Choices:
A. write an essay on guidebooks
B. prepare for the entrance exam
C. give his students a lecture
D. send them to his good friends | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11386.txt | Dear Editor,
I'm now busy in preparing for the Postgraduate Entrance Exam. A few days ago, I happened to see some new guidebooks for those who want to take next year's exam. With too many hopes and without taking it into too much consideration, I bought several that were written by some known for helping candidates for master's degrees.
What made me really angry was the starting discovery that the contents of those books were almost exactly the same as some I had bought before. There were only superficial changes in their covers, with more attractive new titles and better designs. The contents were the same.
People say that the publishing industry is in a state of chaos these days but I used to be doubtful abut that. I was of the opinion that only people of noble character, prestige , and exceptional talent would produce books for higher education. But these editors are caring little about their readers.
I hope that authors and publishing houses will be more responsible for their readers. Don't destroy the image that you have with your readers. | [
"write an essay on guidebooks",
"prepare for the entrance exam",
"give his students a lecture",
"send them to his good friends"
] |
Today _ parts of the United States can get fruits and vegetables in winter. | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The United States has many different kinds of climate .On the west coast ,the temperature changes very little between summer and winter,but the north central states have a very different kind of climate.In these states,people wear light clothes during the summer,and they need heavy wool or fur clothes in winter.
In the southwest,the climate is quite warm during the winter,but hot in summer.
In the eastern part of the United States,summer temperatures are very different from winter temperatures.Summers are usually hot,and winters are usually cold.Spring temperatures are comfortably warm,and autumn temperatures are quite cool.
Years ago,people in the cold areas of the United States did not often get vegetables and fresh fruits during the winter.Today trucks and trains carry fruits and vegetables very quickly to all parts of the United States.In this way,Americans"send their climate"to people in other states.
Question:
Today _ parts of the United States can get fruits and vegetables in winter.
Choices:
A. not all
B. a few
C. most
D. all | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5365.txt | The United States has many different kinds of climate .On the west coast ,the temperature changes very little between summer and winter,but the north central states have a very different kind of climate.In these states,people wear light clothes during the summer,and they need heavy wool or fur clothes in winter.
In the southwest,the climate is quite warm during the winter,but hot in summer.
In the eastern part of the United States,summer temperatures are very different from winter temperatures.Summers are usually hot,and winters are usually cold.Spring temperatures are comfortably warm,and autumn temperatures are quite cool.
Years ago,people in the cold areas of the United States did not often get vegetables and fresh fruits during the winter.Today trucks and trains carry fruits and vegetables very quickly to all parts of the United States.In this way,Americans"send their climate"to people in other states. | [
"not all",
"a few",
"most",
"all"
] |
What can be the best title for the text? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Honey from the African forest is not only a kind of natural sugar, it is also delicious. Most people, and many animals, like eating it. However, the only way for them to get that honey is to find a wild bees' nest and take the honey from it. Often, these nests are high up in trees, and it is difficult to find them. In parts of Africa, though, people and animals looking for honey have a strange and unexpected helpera little bird called a honey guide.
The honey guide does not actually like honey, but it does like the wax in the beehives . The little bird cannot reach this wax, which is deep inside the bees' nest. So, when it finds a suitable nest, it looks for someone to help it. The honey guide gives a loud cry that attracts the attention of both passing animals and people. Once it has their attention, it flies through the forest, waiting from time to time for the curious animal or people as it leads them to the nest. When they
finally arrive at the nest, _ reaches in to get at the delicious honey as the bird patiently waits and watches. Some of the honey, and the wax, always falls to the ground, and this is when the honey guide takes its share.
Scientists do not know why the honey guide likes eating the wax, but it is very determined in its efforts to get it. The birds seem to be able to smell wax from a long distance away. They will quickly arrive whenever a beekeeper is taking honey from his beehives, and will even enter churches when beeswax candles are being lit.
Question:
What can be the best title for the text?
Choices:
A. Wild Bees
B. Beekeeping in Africa
C. Wax and Honey
D. Honey-Lover's Helper | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high385.txt | Honey from the African forest is not only a kind of natural sugar, it is also delicious. Most people, and many animals, like eating it. However, the only way for them to get that honey is to find a wild bees' nest and take the honey from it. Often, these nests are high up in trees, and it is difficult to find them. In parts of Africa, though, people and animals looking for honey have a strange and unexpected helpera little bird called a honey guide.
The honey guide does not actually like honey, but it does like the wax in the beehives . The little bird cannot reach this wax, which is deep inside the bees' nest. So, when it finds a suitable nest, it looks for someone to help it. The honey guide gives a loud cry that attracts the attention of both passing animals and people. Once it has their attention, it flies through the forest, waiting from time to time for the curious animal or people as it leads them to the nest. When they
finally arrive at the nest, _ reaches in to get at the delicious honey as the bird patiently waits and watches. Some of the honey, and the wax, always falls to the ground, and this is when the honey guide takes its share.
Scientists do not know why the honey guide likes eating the wax, but it is very determined in its efforts to get it. The birds seem to be able to smell wax from a long distance away. They will quickly arrive whenever a beekeeper is taking honey from his beehives, and will even enter churches when beeswax candles are being lit. | [
"Wild Bees",
"Beekeeping in Africa",
"Wax and Honey",
"Honey-Lover's Helper"
] |
Tom likes _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Every morning Tom goes to work by train. He has a long way to go. So he always buys a newspaper. It helps him to spend the time on the train. Tom likes sport very much. One morning on the train he is reading something about the football match. So he forgets to get off the train at his station. He doesn't know it. When he finishes reading, he looks out of the window. It's far from his station. He gets off at the next station. He has to go back by train. Of course, he is late for work.
Question:
Tom likes _ .
Choices:
A. reading
B. sport
C. music
D. working | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1861.txt | Every morning Tom goes to work by train. He has a long way to go. So he always buys a newspaper. It helps him to spend the time on the train. Tom likes sport very much. One morning on the train he is reading something about the football match. So he forgets to get off the train at his station. He doesn't know it. When he finishes reading, he looks out of the window. It's far from his station. He gets off at the next station. He has to go back by train. Of course, he is late for work. | [
"reading",
"sport",
"music",
"working"
] |
We can learn from the passage that Tom Johnson _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Their reunion was unlike any other. Graduating from the Macon, Georgia, class of 1959 gathered together in 2009, even though many of them never had an opportunity to meet during their high school days.
Schools in the 1950's, like most other public locations, were segregated in Georgia. Kids were forced to attend different schools depending on the color1 of their skin, and those with white skin were further separated by gender. Fifty years later these people who were not allowed to associate with each other were finally able to connect.
It all began with the personal journey of a man named Tom Johnson. He grew up in Macon and enjoyed a very successful career which included serving as the publisher of the Los Angeles Times and president of CNN. Tom's life changed drastically over the years, but he still felt the desire to reconnect with his roots.
In 2005 Johnson returned to Macon with his son, Wyatt. As the pair drove around town, the father recounted high school stories to his son. He talked about how students attended one of three schools: BallardHudson, Lanier or Miller. Wyatt looked over at his father and said:"Dad think about how many friends you missed getting to know."
Johnson thought about the people he never got the chance to meet. He decided to do something about it.
The first step was to find people who graduated from all three schools. Johnson wrote to each person and proposed they all get together for a luncheon. He explained that even though they were kept apart during their youth, they didn't have to be separated any more. His classmates received the message with open hearts. A reunion date was set for October.
More than 200 former Macon students traveled hundreds of miles to reunite with people who went to high school with them. It was an unprecedented event, former students coming together to make up for the time they had lost during the days of segregation.
Question:
We can learn from the passage that Tom Johnson _ .
Choices:
A. began to miss his old school friends after he retired
B. wanted to reconnect with his roots after the dramatic changes in his life
C. wanted to reconnect with his roots in spite of his successful career
D. began to miss his old school friends after hearing his son's words | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high20773.txt | Their reunion was unlike any other. Graduating from the Macon, Georgia, class of 1959 gathered together in 2009, even though many of them never had an opportunity to meet during their high school days.
Schools in the 1950's, like most other public locations, were segregated in Georgia. Kids were forced to attend different schools depending on the color1 of their skin, and those with white skin were further separated by gender. Fifty years later these people who were not allowed to associate with each other were finally able to connect.
It all began with the personal journey of a man named Tom Johnson. He grew up in Macon and enjoyed a very successful career which included serving as the publisher of the Los Angeles Times and president of CNN. Tom's life changed drastically over the years, but he still felt the desire to reconnect with his roots.
In 2005 Johnson returned to Macon with his son, Wyatt. As the pair drove around town, the father recounted high school stories to his son. He talked about how students attended one of three schools: BallardHudson, Lanier or Miller. Wyatt looked over at his father and said:"Dad think about how many friends you missed getting to know."
Johnson thought about the people he never got the chance to meet. He decided to do something about it.
The first step was to find people who graduated from all three schools. Johnson wrote to each person and proposed they all get together for a luncheon. He explained that even though they were kept apart during their youth, they didn't have to be separated any more. His classmates received the message with open hearts. A reunion date was set for October.
More than 200 former Macon students traveled hundreds of miles to reunite with people who went to high school with them. It was an unprecedented event, former students coming together to make up for the time they had lost during the days of segregation. | [
"began to miss his old school friends after he retired",
"wanted to reconnect with his roots after the dramatic changes in his life",
"wanted to reconnect with his roots in spite of his successful career",
"began to miss his old school friends after hearing his son's words"
] |
Carefully controlling the speed of a fission reaction produces what kind of energy? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Carefully controlling the speed of a fission reaction produces what kind of energy? | nuclear | science | null | null | null | thermal | chemical | atomic | nuclear | Nuclear energy is produced by carefully controlling the speed of a fission reaction. | null | null | null |
Anika has 4 more than twice the number of pencils as Reeta. If Reeta has 20 pencils, how many pencils do the two have together? | If Reeta has 20 pencils, then twice that number is 2*20 = 40 pencils.
Anika has 4 more than twice the number of pencils as Reeta, which means she has 40+4 = 44 pencils.
Together, the two have 44+20 = <<44+20=64>>64 pencils
#### 64 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Anika has 4 more than twice the number of pencils as Reeta. If Reeta has 20 pencils, how many pencils do the two have together? | If Reeta has 20 pencils, then twice that number is 2*20 = 40 pencils.
Anika has 4 more than twice the number of pencils as Reeta, which means she has 40+4 = 44 pencils.
Together, the two have 44+20 = <<44+20=64>>64 pencils
#### 64 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Researchers focused their attention on small farmlands for the reason that _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Studies show farmland in Africa is often lacking in important nutrients. But researchers say combining different farming methods may help.
Since the world food crisis several years ago, researchers have directed more of their attention to small farms. Most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are only about one or two hectares. One of the goals is to increase production without necessarily clearing more land to grow additional crops.
American researchers say that can happen with greater use of an agricultural system called perennation. It mixes food crops with trees and perennial plants - those that return year after year.
Mr. Reganold, who is with Washington State University, says poor soil may have resulted from years of weathering that washed away many nutrients. He says some farmers may have done more harm than good.
He estimates that up to two billion dollars worth of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium is lost from African soil each year.
The scientist says the word perennation defines three systems that are already used in Africa. The oldest of the three is called evergreen agriculture. This is where farmers plant trees with their crops. John Reganold says farmers in Africa have been doing this for sixty years, but it seems to be growing in popularity.
The method is gaining widespread use in countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Zambia. The trees are planted among maize, millet or sorghum crops. They not only add nitrogen to the soil through their roots, but also through their leaves when they fall off and break down. At other times of the year, the trees can protect plants from strong sunlight.
Mr. Reganold was one of three researchers who wrote a report about perennation. It was published in the journal Nature.
Question:
Researchers focused their attention on small farmlands for the reason that _ .
Choices:
A. Africa was going through a food crisis
B. most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are small
C. there are not enough farmlands
D. farmers may grow additional crops on farmland | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16441.txt | Studies show farmland in Africa is often lacking in important nutrients. But researchers say combining different farming methods may help.
Since the world food crisis several years ago, researchers have directed more of their attention to small farms. Most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are only about one or two hectares. One of the goals is to increase production without necessarily clearing more land to grow additional crops.
American researchers say that can happen with greater use of an agricultural system called perennation. It mixes food crops with trees and perennial plants - those that return year after year.
Mr. Reganold, who is with Washington State University, says poor soil may have resulted from years of weathering that washed away many nutrients. He says some farmers may have done more harm than good.
He estimates that up to two billion dollars worth of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium is lost from African soil each year.
The scientist says the word perennation defines three systems that are already used in Africa. The oldest of the three is called evergreen agriculture. This is where farmers plant trees with their crops. John Reganold says farmers in Africa have been doing this for sixty years, but it seems to be growing in popularity.
The method is gaining widespread use in countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Zambia. The trees are planted among maize, millet or sorghum crops. They not only add nitrogen to the soil through their roots, but also through their leaves when they fall off and break down. At other times of the year, the trees can protect plants from strong sunlight.
Mr. Reganold was one of three researchers who wrote a report about perennation. It was published in the journal Nature. | [
"Africa was going through a food crisis",
"most farms in areas south of the Sahara Desert are small",
"there are not enough farmlands",
"farmers may grow additional crops on farmland"
] |
On insects, what are the openings on the sides of the abdomen that allows respiration to occur? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | On insects, what are the openings on the sides of the abdomen that allows respiration to occur? | spiracles | science | null | null | null | chloroplasts | gills | wings | spiracles | Respiration that occurs without lungs. Insects have a system of internal tubes and sacs that oxygen travels through to reach body tissues. Air is taken in through the spiracles , openings on the sides of the abdomen. | null | null | null |
If you meet with a thunderstorm in your"roadable"plane in the skies,you can_. | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Is been a dream for 30 years but now the world's first flying car is set to hit the roads this year.
Ever since the"Back to the Future"movies lit up our screens in the 1980s,designers have dreamt of cars that could take to the sky at the push of a button. And now pilots can order their own "roadable"plane for just PS 127,000.
The plane,which has fold-out wings that span 17. 5 ft,has a range of flying distance of 460 miles and can be up to 115 mph. Back on the land,it can also travel at"highway speeds"
in car mode .
Fuelling the 19 ft long plane couldn't be simpler--you just drive it into a petrol station and fill it up.
A spokeswoman said,"You can keep you 'light-sport airplane'in your garage. But because _ needs a short runway to take to the air,you will have to drive to your local airport,fly up to 460 miles,land,and drive directly to your destination. You will always be ready to drive or fly. "
The spokeswoman added,"Never let bad weather change your trip. You call simply divert and continue on the ground until the weather clears. "
There's no risk to you--This is only the chance for you to be the first at your home field to unfold your wings and fly into the future.
Question:
If you meet with a thunderstorm in your"roadable"plane in the skies,you can_.
Choices:
A. 1and in a nearby airport until it clears
B. turn back home until it clears
C. 1and and drive on the ground
D. fly high up to 460 miles | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high18721.txt | Is been a dream for 30 years but now the world's first flying car is set to hit the roads this year.
Ever since the"Back to the Future"movies lit up our screens in the 1980s,designers have dreamt of cars that could take to the sky at the push of a button. And now pilots can order their own "roadable"plane for just PS 127,000.
The plane,which has fold-out wings that span 17. 5 ft,has a range of flying distance of 460 miles and can be up to 115 mph. Back on the land,it can also travel at"highway speeds"
in car mode .
Fuelling the 19 ft long plane couldn't be simpler--you just drive it into a petrol station and fill it up.
A spokeswoman said,"You can keep you 'light-sport airplane'in your garage. But because _ needs a short runway to take to the air,you will have to drive to your local airport,fly up to 460 miles,land,and drive directly to your destination. You will always be ready to drive or fly. "
The spokeswoman added,"Never let bad weather change your trip. You call simply divert and continue on the ground until the weather clears. "
There's no risk to you--This is only the chance for you to be the first at your home field to unfold your wings and fly into the future. | [
"1and in a nearby airport until it clears",
"turn back home until it clears",
"1and and drive on the ground",
"fly high up to 460 miles"
] |
According to the passage, the website is _ for children. | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Get a Life is a website that helps middle school students answer the question --What do you want to be when you grow up?
"It encourages teenagers to have a big dream; it tries to find out what is possible; it makes a plan for children to get where they want to go," said Combs, one of the persons who set up the website. [:ZSSxxSSk.Com]
Get a Life suggests teenagers let their hobbies and interests decide what to do in the future. It encourages them to look for activities that help them try to do some jobs and get important knowledge and skills. It also offers information about fast-growing and well-paid jobs, and provides job training for teenagers.
"Middle school is the perfect time for students to find out their interests, to have many different experiences and do something for their future jobs," a middle school teacher said. "Our world will become a better place if we make our _ s wide and try new things. Our students can't wait until high school or university to begin building their dreams. Right now is the right time to get a life."
"This website is exactly what these children need for a better future. If our children can make better plans for their future, it is more possible for them to succeed," Combs said.
Question:
According to the passage, the website is _ for children.
Choices:
A. boring
B. helpful
C. colorful
D. serious | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5406.txt | Get a Life is a website that helps middle school students answer the question --What do you want to be when you grow up?
"It encourages teenagers to have a big dream; it tries to find out what is possible; it makes a plan for children to get where they want to go," said Combs, one of the persons who set up the website. [:ZSSxxSSk.Com]
Get a Life suggests teenagers let their hobbies and interests decide what to do in the future. It encourages them to look for activities that help them try to do some jobs and get important knowledge and skills. It also offers information about fast-growing and well-paid jobs, and provides job training for teenagers.
"Middle school is the perfect time for students to find out their interests, to have many different experiences and do something for their future jobs," a middle school teacher said. "Our world will become a better place if we make our _ s wide and try new things. Our students can't wait until high school or university to begin building their dreams. Right now is the right time to get a life."
"This website is exactly what these children need for a better future. If our children can make better plans for their future, it is more possible for them to succeed," Combs said. | [
"boring",
"helpful",
"colorful",
"serious"
] |
What's the main idea of the passage? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
People who smoke could lose around one third of their daily memory, researchers say.
A study by a team at Northumbria University showed that smokers lost more of their memory when compared to non-smokers.
And the research also found that those who kicked the habit saw their ability to recollect information restored to almost the same level as non-smokers.
The study involved more than seventy 18-to-25-year-olds and included a tour of the university's campus. Those who took part were asked to recall small details, such as a list of songs played at a campus concert and tasks completed at various points-known as real world memory test. Smokers performed badly, remembering just 59 percent of tasks. But those who had given up smoking remembered 74 percent and those who had never smoked recalled 81 percent of tasks.
Dr. Tom Heffernan, who leads Northumbria University's Collaboration for Drug and Alcohol Research Group, said the findings would be useful in anti-smoking campaigns. He said, "Given that there are up to 10 million smokers in the UK and as many as 45 million in the United States, it's important to understand the effects smoking has on everyday cognitive function-of which prospective memory is an excellent example. "
"This is the first time that a study has set out to examine whether giving up smoking has an _ on memory. We already know that giving up smoking has huge health benefits for the body, but this study also shows how stopping smoking can have knock-on benefits for cognitive functions too. ''
The research will now investigate the effects of passive smoking on memory, while Dr. Heffernan and Dr. Terence O'Neil will look into the effects of third-hand smoking-toxins left on curtains and furniture.
Question:
What's the main idea of the passage?
Choices:
A. Smoking does harm to health.
B. Smokers take a tour to the University's campus.
C. Smoking can affect one's memory.
D. Smokers are compared to non-smokers. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high2649.txt | People who smoke could lose around one third of their daily memory, researchers say.
A study by a team at Northumbria University showed that smokers lost more of their memory when compared to non-smokers.
And the research also found that those who kicked the habit saw their ability to recollect information restored to almost the same level as non-smokers.
The study involved more than seventy 18-to-25-year-olds and included a tour of the university's campus. Those who took part were asked to recall small details, such as a list of songs played at a campus concert and tasks completed at various points-known as real world memory test. Smokers performed badly, remembering just 59 percent of tasks. But those who had given up smoking remembered 74 percent and those who had never smoked recalled 81 percent of tasks.
Dr. Tom Heffernan, who leads Northumbria University's Collaboration for Drug and Alcohol Research Group, said the findings would be useful in anti-smoking campaigns. He said, "Given that there are up to 10 million smokers in the UK and as many as 45 million in the United States, it's important to understand the effects smoking has on everyday cognitive function-of which prospective memory is an excellent example. "
"This is the first time that a study has set out to examine whether giving up smoking has an _ on memory. We already know that giving up smoking has huge health benefits for the body, but this study also shows how stopping smoking can have knock-on benefits for cognitive functions too. ''
The research will now investigate the effects of passive smoking on memory, while Dr. Heffernan and Dr. Terence O'Neil will look into the effects of third-hand smoking-toxins left on curtains and furniture. | [
"Smoking does harm to health.",
"Smokers take a tour to the University's campus.",
"Smoking can affect one's memory.",
"Smokers are compared to non-smokers."
] |
According to the author, hot pot is popular in China because _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Why do Chinese people love hot pot so much? As the winter months begin to settle in, I find myself wondering what it is about this traditional meal, which has existed for more than 1,000 years, that makes it a Chinese food favorite.But it seems that the answer lies beyond the dish itself.
Hot pot isn't just designed to keep you warm during the cold months; it's also a social experience.It's a "theater" cuisine that turns a meal into an event.There is a lot of fun for everyone to have in adding ingredients to the hot pot.
Hot pot is eaten over two to three hours.For this reason, it is often, considered an evening's entertainment, and time to spend with friends and family.However, many westerners would be _ by the idea of other people sticking chopsticks in their food.When we come to eat at the table in the UK, we tend to have our own individual portions , although the experience is still a social one.
A similar experience to the hot pot one can be found in Korean barbecue restaurants, which let you cook your own meat.This allows people to have their meat done however they want.
For most Westerners, the idea of going to a restaurant to cook their own food is bizarre .But having given hot pot a go, I find it's now one of my favorite meals in Beijing.The steam from the pot left my clothes smelling of food when I got home, but perhaps this is also part of the experience.When the chilly wind is blowing outside, just grab some chopsticks, some good friends, and dig in.For me it's like throwing a dinner party where my taste buds and my appetite are equally satisfied in the warm company of friends.
Question:
According to the author, hot pot is popular in China because _ .
Choices:
A. it is a fun social experience
B. it has been developing for over 1,000 years
C. it involves many unique ingredients
D. it keeps people warm in winter and it is creative | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high5384.txt | Why do Chinese people love hot pot so much? As the winter months begin to settle in, I find myself wondering what it is about this traditional meal, which has existed for more than 1,000 years, that makes it a Chinese food favorite.But it seems that the answer lies beyond the dish itself.
Hot pot isn't just designed to keep you warm during the cold months; it's also a social experience.It's a "theater" cuisine that turns a meal into an event.There is a lot of fun for everyone to have in adding ingredients to the hot pot.
Hot pot is eaten over two to three hours.For this reason, it is often, considered an evening's entertainment, and time to spend with friends and family.However, many westerners would be _ by the idea of other people sticking chopsticks in their food.When we come to eat at the table in the UK, we tend to have our own individual portions , although the experience is still a social one.
A similar experience to the hot pot one can be found in Korean barbecue restaurants, which let you cook your own meat.This allows people to have their meat done however they want.
For most Westerners, the idea of going to a restaurant to cook their own food is bizarre .But having given hot pot a go, I find it's now one of my favorite meals in Beijing.The steam from the pot left my clothes smelling of food when I got home, but perhaps this is also part of the experience.When the chilly wind is blowing outside, just grab some chopsticks, some good friends, and dig in.For me it's like throwing a dinner party where my taste buds and my appetite are equally satisfied in the warm company of friends. | [
"it is a fun social experience",
"it has been developing for over 1,000 years",
"it involves many unique ingredients",
"it keeps people warm in winter and it is creative"
] |
What did Brittany do to keep up with her friends? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
In seventh grade, Brittany Blythe dreamed of being a cheerleader. Her school's coaches were less than enthusiastic. "They said, 'I don't know how you'll be able to do it,' she recalls. "'You won't be able to do it. '"
But Brittany, now a junior at Strath Haven High School near Philadelphia, persisted . And when the junior team cheerleaders won a tournament last year, she was right there, dancing and cheering with the rest of the team.
Not bad for someone whose legs were cut off below the knee when she was two years old.
Brittany, 18, was born without shinbones --"just blood and muscle tissue", as she puts it. When she tried to walk, her legs twisted.
After the operation, she adapted quickly. "From day one, I basically jumped up and wanted to do everything," she says. Prosthetic legs allowed her to move around upright, but too slowly to keep up with her friends. Brittany's solution: take the legs off and walk on her knees---sometimes she still does when safety and comfort permit.
She's rarely _ . Other children laughed at her through the years, especially in junior high school, but she says the challenge only made her stronger. Now she's trying to convince her coaches to let her remove the prostheses and be a flyer, the cheerleader who's thrown in the air and caught by her teammates.
Brittany doesn't think her problems are more difficult than the next person's. "My disability was the first thing I had to get through, and that's going to prepare me for the future," she says. "It's all just a test: If someone throws you a curve ball , what are you going to do?"
Question:
What did Brittany do to keep up with her friends?
Choices:
A. She used a pair of walking sticks.
B. She practiced hard every day.
C. She walked on her knees.
D. She asked her friends for help | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high136.txt | In seventh grade, Brittany Blythe dreamed of being a cheerleader. Her school's coaches were less than enthusiastic. "They said, 'I don't know how you'll be able to do it,' she recalls. "'You won't be able to do it. '"
But Brittany, now a junior at Strath Haven High School near Philadelphia, persisted . And when the junior team cheerleaders won a tournament last year, she was right there, dancing and cheering with the rest of the team.
Not bad for someone whose legs were cut off below the knee when she was two years old.
Brittany, 18, was born without shinbones --"just blood and muscle tissue", as she puts it. When she tried to walk, her legs twisted.
After the operation, she adapted quickly. "From day one, I basically jumped up and wanted to do everything," she says. Prosthetic legs allowed her to move around upright, but too slowly to keep up with her friends. Brittany's solution: take the legs off and walk on her knees---sometimes she still does when safety and comfort permit.
She's rarely _ . Other children laughed at her through the years, especially in junior high school, but she says the challenge only made her stronger. Now she's trying to convince her coaches to let her remove the prostheses and be a flyer, the cheerleader who's thrown in the air and caught by her teammates.
Brittany doesn't think her problems are more difficult than the next person's. "My disability was the first thing I had to get through, and that's going to prepare me for the future," she says. "It's all just a test: If someone throws you a curve ball , what are you going to do?" | [
"She used a pair of walking sticks.",
"She practiced hard every day.",
"She walked on her knees.",
"She asked her friends for help"
] |
More and more people intend to acquire a degree of MIB because _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Professional courses, such as Masters in International Business or MIB, have been taken by many students in the last two decades. They are choosing new-age non-conventional courses that guarantee a better future. MIB is a specialized course that teaches the international business. There are valid reasons for so much popularity of MIB course.
The course content and teaching methods of MIB are quite different from a normal MBA or Master of Business Administration. It has been designed with the sole objective of developing professionals with an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the international trade. The course offers various advantages over the conventional MBA degree course.
The massive increase in the international business and foreign trade gives excellent job prospects to the new generation. Acquiring a degree of MIB offers outstanding growth of job opportunities. Those who want to pursue in the field of marketing also have a good future after completing the degree from a reputed MIB college. Big multinational organizations look for talented people who can handle the job profile of International Marketing Manage, and people with MIB degrees are preferred. The profile needs an in-depth understanding of the overseas markets, because it is the strategic post from the perspective of company's international business growth.
Since business finance and economics are covered at length in the curriculum of MIB, students have great job offers in the field of finance as well. Typically, organizations offer the profile of international finance controllers to those who complete MIB with the specialization of finance. The specialization covers aspects of international taxes, accounts, budgeting and so on. People in this field are well-paid, and growth prospects are unlimited. After completing degree course from a reputed MIB college, there is a good scope in the banking and finance sector as well. International banks appoint people who have an excellent grasp over the international banking policies, currency exchange, and international policies. Thus, MIB is the golden key to success with brilliant job opportunities in national and multinational sectors.
Question:
More and more people intend to acquire a degree of MIB because _ .
Choices:
A. it is a compulsory course in the colleges
B. it offers them conventional economic knowledge
C. it offers them opportunities to do small businesses
D. it helps them get good jobs in some organizations | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high13442.txt | Professional courses, such as Masters in International Business or MIB, have been taken by many students in the last two decades. They are choosing new-age non-conventional courses that guarantee a better future. MIB is a specialized course that teaches the international business. There are valid reasons for so much popularity of MIB course.
The course content and teaching methods of MIB are quite different from a normal MBA or Master of Business Administration. It has been designed with the sole objective of developing professionals with an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the international trade. The course offers various advantages over the conventional MBA degree course.
The massive increase in the international business and foreign trade gives excellent job prospects to the new generation. Acquiring a degree of MIB offers outstanding growth of job opportunities. Those who want to pursue in the field of marketing also have a good future after completing the degree from a reputed MIB college. Big multinational organizations look for talented people who can handle the job profile of International Marketing Manage, and people with MIB degrees are preferred. The profile needs an in-depth understanding of the overseas markets, because it is the strategic post from the perspective of company's international business growth.
Since business finance and economics are covered at length in the curriculum of MIB, students have great job offers in the field of finance as well. Typically, organizations offer the profile of international finance controllers to those who complete MIB with the specialization of finance. The specialization covers aspects of international taxes, accounts, budgeting and so on. People in this field are well-paid, and growth prospects are unlimited. After completing degree course from a reputed MIB college, there is a good scope in the banking and finance sector as well. International banks appoint people who have an excellent grasp over the international banking policies, currency exchange, and international policies. Thus, MIB is the golden key to success with brilliant job opportunities in national and multinational sectors. | [
"it is a compulsory course in the colleges",
"it offers them conventional economic knowledge",
"it offers them opportunities to do small businesses",
"it helps them get good jobs in some organizations"
] |
The teachers usually hold classes in _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Many children act in TV shows. They work several hours every day, so they can not go to regular school. How do they get an education?
In Hollywood, many TV shows are made. About forty teachers give lessons to the children in the shows. They teach wherever their pupils are working. The teachers' job is very important. They are responsible for making sure that the children work only the permitted hours each week. They are also responsible for making sure that children learn the required subjects. They make sure, too, that the children get enough rest and play, along with their education.
Children actors are required to attend classes twenty hours each week. California law says they must be taught from September to June. If they do not make much progress in school, they are not permitted to continue working in TV shows. TV children are usually good pupils, and most of their teachers like this special kind of work. Their classes are held in some wonderful places. Sometimes the "classroom" is a Mississippi riverboat, and sometimes it is the inside of a spaceship. Often the pupils become famous TV or movie stars.
.
Question:
The teachers usually hold classes in _ .
Choices:
A. a classroom building
B. some interesting places
C. a Mississippi riverboat
D. a spaceship | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5512.txt | Many children act in TV shows. They work several hours every day, so they can not go to regular school. How do they get an education?
In Hollywood, many TV shows are made. About forty teachers give lessons to the children in the shows. They teach wherever their pupils are working. The teachers' job is very important. They are responsible for making sure that the children work only the permitted hours each week. They are also responsible for making sure that children learn the required subjects. They make sure, too, that the children get enough rest and play, along with their education.
Children actors are required to attend classes twenty hours each week. California law says they must be taught from September to June. If they do not make much progress in school, they are not permitted to continue working in TV shows. TV children are usually good pupils, and most of their teachers like this special kind of work. Their classes are held in some wonderful places. Sometimes the "classroom" is a Mississippi riverboat, and sometimes it is the inside of a spaceship. Often the pupils become famous TV or movie stars.
. | [
"a classroom building",
"some interesting places",
"a Mississippi riverboat",
"a spaceship"
] |
The best title for this passage is " _ ". | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Oscar the cat seems to have an unnatural ability for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up next to them during their final hours. His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means the patient has less than four hours to live. "Many family members take some comfort from it. They appreciate the companionship that the cat provides for their dying loved one," said Dosa, a doctor and assistant professor of medicine at Brown University.
The 2-year-old cat was adopted as a kitten and grew up in a third-floor dementia unit at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where the facility treats people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses. After about six months, the staff noticed Oscar would make his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses. He'd smell and observe patients, then sit beside people who would end up dying in a few hours. Dosa said Oscar seems to take his work seriously.
"Oscar is better at predicting death than the people who work here," said Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University, who treats patients at the nursing home and is an expert on care for the terminally ill. She was convinced of Oscar's talent when he made his 13th correct call. While observing one patient, Teno said she noticed the woman wasn't eating, was breathing with difficulty and that her legs had a bluish color1, signs that often mean death is near. Oscar wouldn't stay inside the room, though, so Teno thought _ . Instead, it turned out the doctor's prediction was roughly 10 hours too early. Sure enough, during the patient's final two hours, nurses told Teno that Oscar joined the woman at her bedside.
Doctors say most of the people who get a visit from the sweet-faced, gray-and-white cat are so ill that they probably don't know he's there, so patients aren't aware he's a predictor of death. Most families are grateful for the advance warning.
No one's certain if Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant or points to a cause. Teno wonders if the cat senses mysterious scents or reads something from the behavior of the nurses who raised him.
Question:
The best title for this passage is " _ ".
Choices:
A. Cats Can Be Used for Looking After Patients
B. Oscar, the Sweet-Faced, Gray-and-White Cat
C. As Death Comes Calling, So Does Oscar the Cat
D. Oscar the Cat, the Best Helper of the Hospital | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high18149.txt | Oscar the cat seems to have an unnatural ability for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, by curling up next to them during their final hours. His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means the patient has less than four hours to live. "Many family members take some comfort from it. They appreciate the companionship that the cat provides for their dying loved one," said Dosa, a doctor and assistant professor of medicine at Brown University.
The 2-year-old cat was adopted as a kitten and grew up in a third-floor dementia unit at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where the facility treats people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses. After about six months, the staff noticed Oscar would make his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses. He'd smell and observe patients, then sit beside people who would end up dying in a few hours. Dosa said Oscar seems to take his work seriously.
"Oscar is better at predicting death than the people who work here," said Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University, who treats patients at the nursing home and is an expert on care for the terminally ill. She was convinced of Oscar's talent when he made his 13th correct call. While observing one patient, Teno said she noticed the woman wasn't eating, was breathing with difficulty and that her legs had a bluish color1, signs that often mean death is near. Oscar wouldn't stay inside the room, though, so Teno thought _ . Instead, it turned out the doctor's prediction was roughly 10 hours too early. Sure enough, during the patient's final two hours, nurses told Teno that Oscar joined the woman at her bedside.
Doctors say most of the people who get a visit from the sweet-faced, gray-and-white cat are so ill that they probably don't know he's there, so patients aren't aware he's a predictor of death. Most families are grateful for the advance warning.
No one's certain if Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant or points to a cause. Teno wonders if the cat senses mysterious scents or reads something from the behavior of the nurses who raised him. | [
"Cats Can Be Used for Looking After Patients",
"Oscar, the Sweet-Faced, Gray-and-White Cat",
"As Death Comes Calling, So Does Oscar the Cat",
"Oscar the Cat, the Best Helper of the Hospital"
] |
What can we learn about Talk to the Hand? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Gimmicky--and expensive--new gloves allow chatterboxes to take the term 'handsfree' to a new level--by talking into them as they make a call.
The gloves are known as 'Talk to the Hand' and costPS1.000 a pair.
They come with a speaker unit embedded into the thumb and a microphone built into the little finger that can be connected to any mobile handset using Bluetooth.Artist Sean Miles designed the gloves that double as a phone in part of his project that shows the possibilities of gadget recycling.He combines gloves with parts from mobile handsets recycled through O2,which commissioned the project.
Mobile phone users will be able to keep their hands warm while they chat without taking their phone out of their pocket or handbag.
Mr Miles designed two pairs of the new gloves--one in pink and the other in brown and yellow.They will appear in an exhibition this July and visitors will be able to win the gloves.If demand is high,they will then be produced on a larger scale.
O2 Recycle,which backs the project,estimates that there are already 70 million unused mobile handsets in the UK.The service pays those who recycle gadgets including phones,MP3 players and digital cameras.
Designer Scan Miles,hopes his work will get people thinking about recycling.The 41-year-old said:"I hope that my Talk to the Hand project will get people to think again about the waste created by not recycling gadgets.If a few more people recycle their gadgets rather than send them to landfill ,I think this project will have fulfilled its aim."
The Talk to the Hand mobile phone gloves are the second product in a series that O2 Recycle and Miles have created.Miles is now working on combining phones with handbags--so people don't spend time rummaging around in their bags to find a phone when it rings.
Question:
What can we learn about Talk to the Hand?
Choices:
A. It has been widely used at present.
B. It has a pair of gloves that can function as a phone.
C. It can be connected directly to any mobile handset.
D. It is expensive but environment--friendly. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high18020.txt | Gimmicky--and expensive--new gloves allow chatterboxes to take the term 'handsfree' to a new level--by talking into them as they make a call.
The gloves are known as 'Talk to the Hand' and costPS1.000 a pair.
They come with a speaker unit embedded into the thumb and a microphone built into the little finger that can be connected to any mobile handset using Bluetooth.Artist Sean Miles designed the gloves that double as a phone in part of his project that shows the possibilities of gadget recycling.He combines gloves with parts from mobile handsets recycled through O2,which commissioned the project.
Mobile phone users will be able to keep their hands warm while they chat without taking their phone out of their pocket or handbag.
Mr Miles designed two pairs of the new gloves--one in pink and the other in brown and yellow.They will appear in an exhibition this July and visitors will be able to win the gloves.If demand is high,they will then be produced on a larger scale.
O2 Recycle,which backs the project,estimates that there are already 70 million unused mobile handsets in the UK.The service pays those who recycle gadgets including phones,MP3 players and digital cameras.
Designer Scan Miles,hopes his work will get people thinking about recycling.The 41-year-old said:"I hope that my Talk to the Hand project will get people to think again about the waste created by not recycling gadgets.If a few more people recycle their gadgets rather than send them to landfill ,I think this project will have fulfilled its aim."
The Talk to the Hand mobile phone gloves are the second product in a series that O2 Recycle and Miles have created.Miles is now working on combining phones with handbags--so people don't spend time rummaging around in their bags to find a phone when it rings. | [
"It has been widely used at present.",
"It has a pair of gloves that can function as a phone.",
"It can be connected directly to any mobile handset.",
"It is expensive but environment--friendly."
] |
Which of the following statements is NOT true? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
As a student, you must be excited to know something about American school students. In fact, just like in China, in the United States, high school is usually divided into two periods, the first two or three years are called "junior high school" and the other is "senior high school".
In China, children enjoy free education of nine years, but in the United States, the students enjoy free education(which will be started when they are about 6 years old) until they are 18 years old. As a result of the free education system, American children have little difficulty in going to senior high school.
American high school students can take part in a lot of activities outside of the classroom. The activities are organized by the school, such as joining a music group or a sports team. Certainly, just like us students in China, American students have to work hard in order to get good marks if they want to go to a good university. They take classes in all kinds of subjects all through the high school period. And students with low marks at the end of a school year are still allowed to go on to the next grade.
In American high schools, there is fighting or hurting or other kinds of bad behaviors. So children who want to go to university are often sent to suburban high schools, where most students want to go to university and the atmosphere is quite different.
Question:
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
Choices:
A. The time of free education in China is longer than that in America.
B. Those who get good marks can go to a good university.
C. American students can take all kinds of subjects during the high school period.
D. They can be allowed to join the next grade even if they fail the school-year exam. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9480.txt | As a student, you must be excited to know something about American school students. In fact, just like in China, in the United States, high school is usually divided into two periods, the first two or three years are called "junior high school" and the other is "senior high school".
In China, children enjoy free education of nine years, but in the United States, the students enjoy free education(which will be started when they are about 6 years old) until they are 18 years old. As a result of the free education system, American children have little difficulty in going to senior high school.
American high school students can take part in a lot of activities outside of the classroom. The activities are organized by the school, such as joining a music group or a sports team. Certainly, just like us students in China, American students have to work hard in order to get good marks if they want to go to a good university. They take classes in all kinds of subjects all through the high school period. And students with low marks at the end of a school year are still allowed to go on to the next grade.
In American high schools, there is fighting or hurting or other kinds of bad behaviors. So children who want to go to university are often sent to suburban high schools, where most students want to go to university and the atmosphere is quite different. | [
"The time of free education in China is longer than that in America.",
"Those who get good marks can go to a good university.",
"American students can take all kinds of subjects during the high school period.",
"They can be allowed to join the next grade even if they fail the school-year exam."
] |
Where's the best place to be when lightning strikes? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Lightning is shocking, and it happens all over the world! Scientists think that there are more than three million lightning strikes every day in the world-that's thirty strikes every second.
Lightning can also be very dangerous. Every year, lightning kills people because it can start big fires or because it reaches temperatures up to 28,000 degrees centigrade. American Roy Sullivan, who worked in a park, holds the record for _ the most lightning strikes. Between 1942 and 1983, he was hit seven times!
So, why does lightning strike? Lightning strikes happen when ice and water in clouds rub together, and cause atmospheric changes. When this happens, it creates a static charge . Lightning can strike inside the cloud, between two clouds and between a cloud and Earth. It's the last type of strike that is the most dangerous for humans. About 1,000 people get struck by lightning every year in the United States, and about 100 of them die as a result.
Lightning is certainly not something _ . When lightning strikes, it's best to stay inside a large building. To stay safe, do not stand under trees, on hills or near water. Trees attract lightning. Also, do not lie down on the ground, otherwise the electricity may go through you and cause a heart disease.
Question:
Where's the best place to be when lightning strikes?
Choices:
A. On top of a hill.
B. In a swimming pool.
C. In a tree.
D. Inside a large building. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle4559.txt | Lightning is shocking, and it happens all over the world! Scientists think that there are more than three million lightning strikes every day in the world-that's thirty strikes every second.
Lightning can also be very dangerous. Every year, lightning kills people because it can start big fires or because it reaches temperatures up to 28,000 degrees centigrade. American Roy Sullivan, who worked in a park, holds the record for _ the most lightning strikes. Between 1942 and 1983, he was hit seven times!
So, why does lightning strike? Lightning strikes happen when ice and water in clouds rub together, and cause atmospheric changes. When this happens, it creates a static charge . Lightning can strike inside the cloud, between two clouds and between a cloud and Earth. It's the last type of strike that is the most dangerous for humans. About 1,000 people get struck by lightning every year in the United States, and about 100 of them die as a result.
Lightning is certainly not something _ . When lightning strikes, it's best to stay inside a large building. To stay safe, do not stand under trees, on hills or near water. Trees attract lightning. Also, do not lie down on the ground, otherwise the electricity may go through you and cause a heart disease. | [
"On top of a hill.",
"In a swimming pool.",
"In a tree.",
"Inside a large building."
] |
A son can inherit traits | null | Answer this science question and explain your reasoning. | A son can inherit traits
Choices:
A. only from his father
B. only from his mother
C. from both his father and his mother
D. from either his father or his mother, but not from both | Correct answer: C | science | TIMSS_2003_8_pg6 | {
"text": [
"only from his father",
"only from his mother",
"from both his father and his mother",
"from either his father or his mother, but not from both"
],
"label": [
"A",
"B",
"C",
"D"
]
} | C | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Melatonin is a kind of material to _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Babies born in summer are more likely to become short-sighted in late life, a study has shown.
As many as a quarter of all cases of short-sightedness are caused by too great an exposure to sunlight in the first weeks of life, say eye experts.
They are advising all parents to put sunglasses on their babies during the first weeks.
Scientists had already established that over-exposure to sunlight caused shortsightedness in animals.
Researchers who compared the months in which babies were born with whether they needed glasses later on say the principle also applies to humans.
A study of almost 300,000 young adults-the largest of its kind-showed that those born in June and July had a 25 per cent greater chance of becoming severely short-sighted than those born in December or January.
Research leader Professor Michael Belkin, of Tel Aviv University, said it was because prolonged illumination causes the eyeball to lengthen-causing short-sightedness.
Hence the more light a newborn is exposed to, the more the eyeball lengthens and the worse the short-sightedness will be.
The mechanism which lengthens the eyeball is associated with levels of melatonin , a pigment which protects the skin against harmful rays of the sun.
In young babies not enough melatonin is released as protection, meaning they are more _ to sunburn and changes to eyeball shape.
Sight expert Professor Daniel O'Leary, of Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, said "At the moment we don't know the precise cause of why light exposure affects sight, but the evidence seems to prove that it is one of the reasons for people becoming shortsighted."
Question:
Melatonin is a kind of material to _ .
Choices:
A. prevent the eyes from becoming near-sighted
B. protect the skin from harmful sun rays
C. make our body strong
D. protect babies' eyes from summer sun | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9320.txt | Babies born in summer are more likely to become short-sighted in late life, a study has shown.
As many as a quarter of all cases of short-sightedness are caused by too great an exposure to sunlight in the first weeks of life, say eye experts.
They are advising all parents to put sunglasses on their babies during the first weeks.
Scientists had already established that over-exposure to sunlight caused shortsightedness in animals.
Researchers who compared the months in which babies were born with whether they needed glasses later on say the principle also applies to humans.
A study of almost 300,000 young adults-the largest of its kind-showed that those born in June and July had a 25 per cent greater chance of becoming severely short-sighted than those born in December or January.
Research leader Professor Michael Belkin, of Tel Aviv University, said it was because prolonged illumination causes the eyeball to lengthen-causing short-sightedness.
Hence the more light a newborn is exposed to, the more the eyeball lengthens and the worse the short-sightedness will be.
The mechanism which lengthens the eyeball is associated with levels of melatonin , a pigment which protects the skin against harmful rays of the sun.
In young babies not enough melatonin is released as protection, meaning they are more _ to sunburn and changes to eyeball shape.
Sight expert Professor Daniel O'Leary, of Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, said "At the moment we don't know the precise cause of why light exposure affects sight, but the evidence seems to prove that it is one of the reasons for people becoming shortsighted." | [
"prevent the eyes from becoming near-sighted",
"protect the skin from harmful sun rays",
"make our body strong",
"protect babies' eyes from summer sun"
] |
The Germans attacked British _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Winston Churchill was born into a famous family.His father was a successful politician.However, as a boy, Churchill was considered a slow learner in school.Later he entered the Army and saw action in various countries.
In October 1900, Churchill began his political career.For the next sixty years Churchill's work as a great politician was both brighter and more difficult than his father's had been.In 1939 German attacked Poland.Churchill prepared to fight.In 1940 he became the Prime Minister of English.
France fell.The Germans fought their way through Western Europe.It looked as if Britain was about to lose the war.Was it now possible to ask for peace, and listen to Hitler?
Churchill spoke: "I have nothing to offer but blood, hard work , tears and sweat... You ask what is our policy? I will tell you, it is to fight, by sea , by land and air, with all our force and with all the strength that God can give us.You ask what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory."
The Germans began moving their armies to the French coast and prepared to go to war with British.The British had not enough guns to go around.Churchill gave the answer: " We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be.We shall fight on the coast ; we shall fight on the landing grounds; we shall fight in the fields and in the streets; we shall fight in the hills; we shall never give up."
By his courage and hard work, Churchill _ his people and other nations fighting together against Hitler.Victory finally came when the Germans lost World War II.
Churchill died in 1965 and was given a state funeral.This was a fitting payment to one of all the greatest men the world had ever seen.
Question:
The Germans attacked British _ .
Choices:
A. after France was defeated
B. before France fell
C. soon after Poland was attacked
D. before Churchill became the Prime Minister | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high3601.txt | Winston Churchill was born into a famous family.His father was a successful politician.However, as a boy, Churchill was considered a slow learner in school.Later he entered the Army and saw action in various countries.
In October 1900, Churchill began his political career.For the next sixty years Churchill's work as a great politician was both brighter and more difficult than his father's had been.In 1939 German attacked Poland.Churchill prepared to fight.In 1940 he became the Prime Minister of English.
France fell.The Germans fought their way through Western Europe.It looked as if Britain was about to lose the war.Was it now possible to ask for peace, and listen to Hitler?
Churchill spoke: "I have nothing to offer but blood, hard work , tears and sweat... You ask what is our policy? I will tell you, it is to fight, by sea , by land and air, with all our force and with all the strength that God can give us.You ask what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory."
The Germans began moving their armies to the French coast and prepared to go to war with British.The British had not enough guns to go around.Churchill gave the answer: " We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be.We shall fight on the coast ; we shall fight on the landing grounds; we shall fight in the fields and in the streets; we shall fight in the hills; we shall never give up."
By his courage and hard work, Churchill _ his people and other nations fighting together against Hitler.Victory finally came when the Germans lost World War II.
Churchill died in 1965 and was given a state funeral.This was a fitting payment to one of all the greatest men the world had ever seen. | [
"after France was defeated",
"before France fell",
"soon after Poland was attacked",
"before Churchill became the Prime Minister"
] |
From this passage we know that _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The Internet has become part of teenagers' life.
A news report on 3,375 students aged from 10 to 18 in seven Chinese cities found that 38 per cent of them believe they use the Internet often.
While most of them get useful information and use the Internet to help in their studies, some are not using it in a good way. Many are playing online games too much. A few even visit Web sites they should not look at. A middle school teacher from Beijing warns that bad things can happen if young people spend too much time on the Internet. She had a student who used to be good at school. But then he started visiting sex Web sites. He went mad, cheated a girl and was taken away by the police.
In order to help young people use the Internet in a good way, a textbook on good Internet behavior has started to be used in some Shanghai middle schools this term. The book uses real examples to teach students all about good ways of using the Internet. The book gives useful advice such as it's good to read news or find helpful information to study.
Some students also make online friends. But if you are meeting a friend offline, make sure your parents know. Teachers and parents all think the book is a very good idea. This teacher said the book will be a guide for teens using the Internet. She believes it will keep students away from bad sites. "Many students are using the Internet without guidance from their parents," she said. "The book will teach students how to be a good person in the online world."
Question:
From this passage we know that _ .
Choices:
A. more and more students have given up visiting bad Web sites
B. schools and teachers begin to pay attention to students' use of the Internet
C. no more homework will be given in Shanghai
D. less and less information can be found on line | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11842.txt | The Internet has become part of teenagers' life.
A news report on 3,375 students aged from 10 to 18 in seven Chinese cities found that 38 per cent of them believe they use the Internet often.
While most of them get useful information and use the Internet to help in their studies, some are not using it in a good way. Many are playing online games too much. A few even visit Web sites they should not look at. A middle school teacher from Beijing warns that bad things can happen if young people spend too much time on the Internet. She had a student who used to be good at school. But then he started visiting sex Web sites. He went mad, cheated a girl and was taken away by the police.
In order to help young people use the Internet in a good way, a textbook on good Internet behavior has started to be used in some Shanghai middle schools this term. The book uses real examples to teach students all about good ways of using the Internet. The book gives useful advice such as it's good to read news or find helpful information to study.
Some students also make online friends. But if you are meeting a friend offline, make sure your parents know. Teachers and parents all think the book is a very good idea. This teacher said the book will be a guide for teens using the Internet. She believes it will keep students away from bad sites. "Many students are using the Internet without guidance from their parents," she said. "The book will teach students how to be a good person in the online world." | [
"more and more students have given up visiting bad Web sites",
"schools and teachers begin to pay attention to students' use of the Internet",
"no more homework will be given in Shanghai",
"less and less information can be found on line"
] |
The author develops the passage mainly by _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
In China,cultural differences arose from growing rice or wheat.Different thinking styles between northern and southern Chinese people can trace their roots to rice fields and wheat fields.
Rice farming promotes a holistic focus on distinguishing relationships among people and objects,and valuing others as much as or more than oneself, say psychologist Thomas Talhelm of the University of Virginia and his colleagues.Holistic thinking among many modem Chinese people partly reflects regional histories of building communal irrigation systems and cooperatively planting and harvesting rice fields over thousands of years.
They draw that conclusion based on studies of college students from regions with different agricultural practices.Students from southern and central China's rice.growing provinces think holistically, even though they have probably never farmed rice,Talhelm's group reports.In contrast,students from northern and central Chinese provinces that have specialized in wheat growing exhibit a preference for abstract analysis and self over others,the scientists find.Wheat is less labor-intensive to grow than rice,SO farmers can plant and harvest crops without much help from neighbors.Analytical,individualistic thinking is not more common among students from richer
Provinces, contrary to the argument that this attitude springs from modernization. "Rice theory might explain why East Asia is so much less individualistic than expected based on its wealth, " Talhelm says.
Talhelm,s team tested 1,162 Chinese students,who Viewed lists of three items,such as a rabbit,a dog and a carrot. For each list,students chose two items that belonged together. Earlier research found that analytical thinkers often group items according to categories,so rabbits and dogs go together.Holistic thinkers tend to 1ook for relationships,such as rabbits eating carrots. Students from rice-growing areas made an average of around seven to nine holistic matches of 10 possible matches,compared with roughly f1ve to seven holistic matches for those from Wheat-growing areas.
Talhelm's team also analyzed national statistics in China from 1 996,2000 and 2010 and found a higher divorce rate and a greater number of successful patents for new inventions in wheat-growing provinces than in rice-growing provinces. That trend is in line with the ides that analytical thinking develops both individualism and creativity.
Question:
The author develops the passage mainly by _ .
Choices:
A. making comparisons
B. listing examples
C. telling his personal experience
D. presenting problem and solution | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9178.txt | In China,cultural differences arose from growing rice or wheat.Different thinking styles between northern and southern Chinese people can trace their roots to rice fields and wheat fields.
Rice farming promotes a holistic focus on distinguishing relationships among people and objects,and valuing others as much as or more than oneself, say psychologist Thomas Talhelm of the University of Virginia and his colleagues.Holistic thinking among many modem Chinese people partly reflects regional histories of building communal irrigation systems and cooperatively planting and harvesting rice fields over thousands of years.
They draw that conclusion based on studies of college students from regions with different agricultural practices.Students from southern and central China's rice.growing provinces think holistically, even though they have probably never farmed rice,Talhelm's group reports.In contrast,students from northern and central Chinese provinces that have specialized in wheat growing exhibit a preference for abstract analysis and self over others,the scientists find.Wheat is less labor-intensive to grow than rice,SO farmers can plant and harvest crops without much help from neighbors.Analytical,individualistic thinking is not more common among students from richer
Provinces, contrary to the argument that this attitude springs from modernization. "Rice theory might explain why East Asia is so much less individualistic than expected based on its wealth, " Talhelm says.
Talhelm,s team tested 1,162 Chinese students,who Viewed lists of three items,such as a rabbit,a dog and a carrot. For each list,students chose two items that belonged together. Earlier research found that analytical thinkers often group items according to categories,so rabbits and dogs go together.Holistic thinkers tend to 1ook for relationships,such as rabbits eating carrots. Students from rice-growing areas made an average of around seven to nine holistic matches of 10 possible matches,compared with roughly f1ve to seven holistic matches for those from Wheat-growing areas.
Talhelm's team also analyzed national statistics in China from 1 996,2000 and 2010 and found a higher divorce rate and a greater number of successful patents for new inventions in wheat-growing provinces than in rice-growing provinces. That trend is in line with the ides that analytical thinking develops both individualism and creativity. | [
"making comparisons",
"listing examples",
"telling his personal experience",
"presenting problem and solution"
] |
It can be inferred from this passage that _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
"I drink caffeine to stay awake. It has positive effects on me. I'm healthy, and there's nothing wrong with me," said Sarah Green, a freshman, who consumes many caffeine drinks to stay awake in completing the many tasks in her busy schedule.
Caffeine is known to have many positive and negative consequences, and now that there might be an additional positive effect may have been discovered. A study suggests that a skin lotion containing caffeine, which is also found in green tea, may reduce the risk of skin cancer. Two lotion tests were conducted on hairless mice that were exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation . As a result, the lotion reduced the number of tumors each mouse developed.
Unlike sunscreen , the new lotion is applied after exposure to the ultraviolet rays. Rays from the sun can cause genetic changes in the skin that can lead to skin cancer. Caffeine obstructs this action and causes the diseased cells to kill themselves.
"I know that caffeine has been found in certain drinks and it causes increased activity of the nervous system, and increased blood pressure on blood vessels . I don't know of any positive effects of caffeine," health teacher Montego Estes said.
Caffeine, found commonly in tea, coffee and soft drinks, provides people with an increase in energy. Half of all American adults consume more than 300 milligrams of caffeine per day. Caffeine is addictive because it uses the same mechanisms as amphetamines , and cocaine and heroin to excite the brain.
"This new cream doesn't sound to me as though it would work," junior David Bobbit said, "Caffeine seems to have more negative effects than positive ones."
Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers in the US. About one million cases will be diagnosed in the country this year. There will be more than 88,000 new cases of melanoma , the disease's deadliest form of skin cancer.
Question:
It can be inferred from this passage that _ .
Choices:
A. Sarah Green knows caffeine can protect her from skin cancer
B. Exposure to ultraviolet rays is always blamed for skin cancer
C. Caffeine will be used in medicine to treat skin cancer patients soon
D. In a way, the study on caffeine is good news for many Americans | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16635.txt | "I drink caffeine to stay awake. It has positive effects on me. I'm healthy, and there's nothing wrong with me," said Sarah Green, a freshman, who consumes many caffeine drinks to stay awake in completing the many tasks in her busy schedule.
Caffeine is known to have many positive and negative consequences, and now that there might be an additional positive effect may have been discovered. A study suggests that a skin lotion containing caffeine, which is also found in green tea, may reduce the risk of skin cancer. Two lotion tests were conducted on hairless mice that were exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation . As a result, the lotion reduced the number of tumors each mouse developed.
Unlike sunscreen , the new lotion is applied after exposure to the ultraviolet rays. Rays from the sun can cause genetic changes in the skin that can lead to skin cancer. Caffeine obstructs this action and causes the diseased cells to kill themselves.
"I know that caffeine has been found in certain drinks and it causes increased activity of the nervous system, and increased blood pressure on blood vessels . I don't know of any positive effects of caffeine," health teacher Montego Estes said.
Caffeine, found commonly in tea, coffee and soft drinks, provides people with an increase in energy. Half of all American adults consume more than 300 milligrams of caffeine per day. Caffeine is addictive because it uses the same mechanisms as amphetamines , and cocaine and heroin to excite the brain.
"This new cream doesn't sound to me as though it would work," junior David Bobbit said, "Caffeine seems to have more negative effects than positive ones."
Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers in the US. About one million cases will be diagnosed in the country this year. There will be more than 88,000 new cases of melanoma , the disease's deadliest form of skin cancer. | [
"Sarah Green knows caffeine can protect her from skin cancer",
"Exposure to ultraviolet rays is always blamed for skin cancer",
"Caffeine will be used in medicine to treat skin cancer patients soon",
"In a way, the study on caffeine is good news for many Americans"
] |
The main purpose of the passage is to _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A good way to practice your writing and be recognized by professionals and scholars is to enter writing contests. There are a variety of different writing contests open to teens who enjoy writing essays, fictional stories, poems and other written pieces.
Creative communication Essay Contest
The Creative Communication Essay Contest is sponsored by Creative Communication, an organization which promotes and encourages creative writing in students. The contest is open to students in grades four to 12. To enter, submit an original , non-fiction essay of 100 to 300 words on a topic of your choice. The contest is held three times a year with a fall deadline in October, a spring deadline in February and a summer deadline in July. Winners are chosen each time, one in each of the three divisions--grades 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12.
American Library of Student Poetry Contest
The American Library of Student Poetry Contest is open to students in grades three to 12. To enter, submit an original poem of 20 lines or less. Poems are judged on originality, creativity and artistic quality, and submissions are accepted throughout the year, with the winners being announced in September. First-,second- and third-place winners are chosen within each of the four grade categories, grades 3-5,6-7, 8-9, 10-12.
YCteen Essay Contest
The YCteen Essay Contest is hosted by YCteen, a life style magazine for teens. The contest is open to American teens , ages 14to19, and is held twice a year with the first deadline being in October and the second in December. To enter, submit an original, non-fiction essay of about 800 words answering a given essay question. Past questions have focused on issues such as climate change and activism. All winning entries will be published on the YCteen website and in the print version of the magazine.
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is an art and creative writing contest hosted and sponsored by a group of more than 100 literary art organizations across the United States. The contest is open to teens in grades seven to 12 going to school in the United States and American schools abroad . Pieces can be submitted to any of 28 available categories, including humor, poetry, critical essays, journalism and more. Submissions are accepted starting in September, and the deadline ranges from December to January depending on your region.
Question:
The main purpose of the passage is to _ .
Choices:
A. tell teens how to enter writing contests
B. show the benefits of writing contests
C. offer tips on how to win writing contests
D. introduce writing contests for teens | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11959.txt | A good way to practice your writing and be recognized by professionals and scholars is to enter writing contests. There are a variety of different writing contests open to teens who enjoy writing essays, fictional stories, poems and other written pieces.
Creative communication Essay Contest
The Creative Communication Essay Contest is sponsored by Creative Communication, an organization which promotes and encourages creative writing in students. The contest is open to students in grades four to 12. To enter, submit an original , non-fiction essay of 100 to 300 words on a topic of your choice. The contest is held three times a year with a fall deadline in October, a spring deadline in February and a summer deadline in July. Winners are chosen each time, one in each of the three divisions--grades 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12.
American Library of Student Poetry Contest
The American Library of Student Poetry Contest is open to students in grades three to 12. To enter, submit an original poem of 20 lines or less. Poems are judged on originality, creativity and artistic quality, and submissions are accepted throughout the year, with the winners being announced in September. First-,second- and third-place winners are chosen within each of the four grade categories, grades 3-5,6-7, 8-9, 10-12.
YCteen Essay Contest
The YCteen Essay Contest is hosted by YCteen, a life style magazine for teens. The contest is open to American teens , ages 14to19, and is held twice a year with the first deadline being in October and the second in December. To enter, submit an original, non-fiction essay of about 800 words answering a given essay question. Past questions have focused on issues such as climate change and activism. All winning entries will be published on the YCteen website and in the print version of the magazine.
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is an art and creative writing contest hosted and sponsored by a group of more than 100 literary art organizations across the United States. The contest is open to teens in grades seven to 12 going to school in the United States and American schools abroad . Pieces can be submitted to any of 28 available categories, including humor, poetry, critical essays, journalism and more. Submissions are accepted starting in September, and the deadline ranges from December to January depending on your region. | [
"tell teens how to enter writing contests",
"show the benefits of writing contests",
"offer tips on how to win writing contests",
"introduce writing contests for teens"
] |
The function of the wax coating in the instant noodles is to _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Everyone who has eaten instant noodles before knows how it looks like. It is very easy to cook it instantly by putting the noodles into the boiling water and add in those MSG packets, together with your other ingredients like eggs or vegetables. However, have you ever wondered whether this is the correct way of cooking it? When you first took out the noodles from the packaging, you will notice that the noodles are joined together nicely as a piece. In order to make the noodles joined together nicely side by side, it needs some form of wax coating to achieve an attractive instant noodles in front of us.
Many people who enjoy eating instant noodles frequently do not really bother too much of it, as it seems very normal to everyone to have it nicely displayed in front of us. However, researches have shown that the layer of wax coating on the noodles is quite harmful to our body and we should not eat it too frequently. It is advisable to have a break of 2-3 days before we start to eat another packet of instant noodles as our body need about 3 days to clear that layer of wax coating away from our body system. Do you know the danger of having too much wax coating stored in our stomach? It will lead to CANCER if it is stored in our body system for a long period of time.
There are 2 keys points to take note while preparing instant noodles: 1) Wash the instant noodles with warm water first, stir it and pour away the water containing the wax coating.
2) Repeat Step 1 and try to stir the noodles again to wash away the wax coating on the noodles before cooking it in a new pot of water.
Hope this article will let more people have self-awareness of the hidden danger of instant noodles and thus eat safely and stay healthy.
Question:
The function of the wax coating in the instant noodles is to _ .
Choices:
A. make the noodles more delicious and tasty
B. make it easier to cook for the consumers
C. make the instant noodles healthier and more attractive to the consumers
D. make the noodles joined in a piece and avoid them sticking together | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high8247.txt | Everyone who has eaten instant noodles before knows how it looks like. It is very easy to cook it instantly by putting the noodles into the boiling water and add in those MSG packets, together with your other ingredients like eggs or vegetables. However, have you ever wondered whether this is the correct way of cooking it? When you first took out the noodles from the packaging, you will notice that the noodles are joined together nicely as a piece. In order to make the noodles joined together nicely side by side, it needs some form of wax coating to achieve an attractive instant noodles in front of us.
Many people who enjoy eating instant noodles frequently do not really bother too much of it, as it seems very normal to everyone to have it nicely displayed in front of us. However, researches have shown that the layer of wax coating on the noodles is quite harmful to our body and we should not eat it too frequently. It is advisable to have a break of 2-3 days before we start to eat another packet of instant noodles as our body need about 3 days to clear that layer of wax coating away from our body system. Do you know the danger of having too much wax coating stored in our stomach? It will lead to CANCER if it is stored in our body system for a long period of time.
There are 2 keys points to take note while preparing instant noodles: 1) Wash the instant noodles with warm water first, stir it and pour away the water containing the wax coating.
2) Repeat Step 1 and try to stir the noodles again to wash away the wax coating on the noodles before cooking it in a new pot of water.
Hope this article will let more people have self-awareness of the hidden danger of instant noodles and thus eat safely and stay healthy. | [
"make the noodles more delicious and tasty",
"make it easier to cook for the consumers",
"make the instant noodles healthier and more attractive to the consumers",
"make the noodles joined in a piece and avoid them sticking together"
] |
What's the purpose of the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The Verizon Innovative App Challenge gives kids a chance to create apps that can solve problems in their community.
Do you want to make a difference in your community? The Verizon Innovative App Challenge can get you started. The first step is to think of a problem in your community. The next step is to create an app that can solve the problem.
Groups of five to seven students in middle school or high school, led by a teacher, can enter the contest. First, teams compete on a local level. Teams that make it to the next round receive $5,000 for their schools. Finalists present their app ideas to judges in a live webinar .
Next, the judges pick national winners. The top eight teams receive an additional $15,000 for their schools, and each team member receives a Samsung tablet. Plus, the winning teams get the chance to bring their app to life.
A group of six girls from Los Fresnos, Texas, won the second annual Verizon Innovative App Challenge. They came up with the Hello Navi app concept, short for "hello navigation". The app was designed to help visuallyimpaired students navigate their school by using an internal compass and voiceover technology. Read more about the team in September 19, 2016 issue of TIME For Kids: Edition 3-4.
Do you have an app idea that could help solve a local issue? The deadline to register is November 24, 2016. Find more information and register your team at www. verizonfoundation. org/appchallenge.
Here are some tips from the Verizon Foundation to get you started:
*Get your team together for a brainstorming meeting. Write out all the ideas that come to mind.
* Don't ignore challenges. Think of the problems that exist in your community.
*Ask family, friends, and people in your community to share their thoughts about problems that they want to see solved.
Question:
What's the purpose of the passage?
Choices:
A. To tell readers how to solve a local issue.
B. To invite kids to join in the Verizon Innovative App Challenge.
C. To offer readers information about a talent show.
D. To appeal to adults to make contributions to society. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high14894.txt | The Verizon Innovative App Challenge gives kids a chance to create apps that can solve problems in their community.
Do you want to make a difference in your community? The Verizon Innovative App Challenge can get you started. The first step is to think of a problem in your community. The next step is to create an app that can solve the problem.
Groups of five to seven students in middle school or high school, led by a teacher, can enter the contest. First, teams compete on a local level. Teams that make it to the next round receive $5,000 for their schools. Finalists present their app ideas to judges in a live webinar .
Next, the judges pick national winners. The top eight teams receive an additional $15,000 for their schools, and each team member receives a Samsung tablet. Plus, the winning teams get the chance to bring their app to life.
A group of six girls from Los Fresnos, Texas, won the second annual Verizon Innovative App Challenge. They came up with the Hello Navi app concept, short for "hello navigation". The app was designed to help visuallyimpaired students navigate their school by using an internal compass and voiceover technology. Read more about the team in September 19, 2016 issue of TIME For Kids: Edition 3-4.
Do you have an app idea that could help solve a local issue? The deadline to register is November 24, 2016. Find more information and register your team at www. verizonfoundation. org/appchallenge.
Here are some tips from the Verizon Foundation to get you started:
*Get your team together for a brainstorming meeting. Write out all the ideas that come to mind.
* Don't ignore challenges. Think of the problems that exist in your community.
*Ask family, friends, and people in your community to share their thoughts about problems that they want to see solved. | [
"To tell readers how to solve a local issue.",
"To invite kids to join in the Verizon Innovative App Challenge.",
"To offer readers information about a talent show.",
"To appeal to adults to make contributions to society."
] |
We can draw the conclusion from the passage that _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
As computers become more popular in China, Chinese people are increasingly relying on computer keyboards to input Chinese characters. But if they use the computer too much, they may end up forgetting the exact strokes of each Chinese character when writing on paper. Experts suggest people, especially students, write by hand more.
Do you write by hand more or type more? In Beijing, students start using a computer as early as primary school. And computer dependence is more wide-spread among university students. Almost all their assignments and essays are typed on a computer.
All the students interviewed say they usually use a computer.
It's faster and easier to correct if using a computer. And that's why computers are being applied more and more often to modern education. But when people are _ computers increasingly, problems appear.
"When I'm writing with a pen, I find I often can't remember how to write a character, though I feel I'm familiar with it."
"I'm not in the mood to write when faced with a pen and paper."
Many students don't feel this is something to worry about. Now that it's more convenient and efficient to write on a computer, why bother to handwrite?
Many educators think differently. Shi Liwei, the headmaster of a famous primary school in the capital said, "Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic value. But those characters typed with computer keyboards only maintain their practical value. All the artistic beauty of the characters is lost. And handwriting contains the writer's emotion. Through one's handwriting, people can get to know one's thinking and personality. Beautiful writing will give people a better first impression of them."
To encourage students to handwrite more, many primary schools in Beijing have made writing classes compulsory and in universities, some professors are asking students to turn in their homework and essays written by hand.
Question:
We can draw the conclusion from the passage that _ .
Choices:
A. more and more students will give up writing on a computer
B. writing by hand will give way to typing by computer one day
C. more and more students will pay attention to handwriting
D. the typing article better expresses one's emotion and quality | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high540.txt | As computers become more popular in China, Chinese people are increasingly relying on computer keyboards to input Chinese characters. But if they use the computer too much, they may end up forgetting the exact strokes of each Chinese character when writing on paper. Experts suggest people, especially students, write by hand more.
Do you write by hand more or type more? In Beijing, students start using a computer as early as primary school. And computer dependence is more wide-spread among university students. Almost all their assignments and essays are typed on a computer.
All the students interviewed say they usually use a computer.
It's faster and easier to correct if using a computer. And that's why computers are being applied more and more often to modern education. But when people are _ computers increasingly, problems appear.
"When I'm writing with a pen, I find I often can't remember how to write a character, though I feel I'm familiar with it."
"I'm not in the mood to write when faced with a pen and paper."
Many students don't feel this is something to worry about. Now that it's more convenient and efficient to write on a computer, why bother to handwrite?
Many educators think differently. Shi Liwei, the headmaster of a famous primary school in the capital said, "Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic value. But those characters typed with computer keyboards only maintain their practical value. All the artistic beauty of the characters is lost. And handwriting contains the writer's emotion. Through one's handwriting, people can get to know one's thinking and personality. Beautiful writing will give people a better first impression of them."
To encourage students to handwrite more, many primary schools in Beijing have made writing classes compulsory and in universities, some professors are asking students to turn in their homework and essays written by hand. | [
"more and more students will give up writing on a computer",
"writing by hand will give way to typing by computer one day",
"more and more students will pay attention to handwriting",
"the typing article better expresses one's emotion and quality"
] |
Which of the following statements is TRUE? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
People have been painting pictures for at least 30,000 years. The earliest pictures were painted by people who hunted animals. They used to paint pictures of the animals they wanted to catch and kill. Pictures of this kind have been found on the walls of caves in France and Spain. No one knows why they were painted there. Perhaps the painters thought that their pictures would help them to catch these animals. Or perhaps human beings have always wanted to tell stories according to pictures.
About 5,000 years ago, the Egyptians and other people in the Near East began to use pictures as kind of writing. They drew simple pictures or signs to represent things and ideas, and also to represent the sounds of their language. The signs these people used became a kind of alphabet.
The Egyptians used to record information and to tell stories by putting picture writing and pictures together. When an important person died, scenes and stories from his life were painted and carved on the walls of the place where he was buried. Some of these pictures are like modern comic strip stories. It has been said that Egypt is the home of the comic strip. But, for the Egyptians, pictures still had magic power. So they did not try to make their way of writing simple. The ordinary people could not understand it.
By the year 1,000 BC, people who lived in the area around the Mediterranean Sea had developed a simpler system of writing. The signs they used were very easy to write, and there were fewer of them than in the Egyptian system. This was because each sign, or letter, represented only one sound in their language. The Greeks developed this system and formed the letters of the Greek alphabet. The Romans copied the idea, and the Roman alphabet is now used all over the world.
These days, we can write down a story, or record information, without using pictures. But we still need pictures of all kinds: drawing, photographs, signs and diagrams. We find them everywhere: in books and newspapers, in the street, and on the walls of the places where we live and work. Pictures help us to understand and remember things more easily, and they can make a story much more interesting.
Question:
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
Choices:
A. The Egyptian signs later became a particular alphabet.
B. The Egyptians liked to write comic strip stories.
C. The Roman alphabet was developed from the Egyptian one.
D. The Greeks copied their writing system from the Egyptians. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high4277.txt | People have been painting pictures for at least 30,000 years. The earliest pictures were painted by people who hunted animals. They used to paint pictures of the animals they wanted to catch and kill. Pictures of this kind have been found on the walls of caves in France and Spain. No one knows why they were painted there. Perhaps the painters thought that their pictures would help them to catch these animals. Or perhaps human beings have always wanted to tell stories according to pictures.
About 5,000 years ago, the Egyptians and other people in the Near East began to use pictures as kind of writing. They drew simple pictures or signs to represent things and ideas, and also to represent the sounds of their language. The signs these people used became a kind of alphabet.
The Egyptians used to record information and to tell stories by putting picture writing and pictures together. When an important person died, scenes and stories from his life were painted and carved on the walls of the place where he was buried. Some of these pictures are like modern comic strip stories. It has been said that Egypt is the home of the comic strip. But, for the Egyptians, pictures still had magic power. So they did not try to make their way of writing simple. The ordinary people could not understand it.
By the year 1,000 BC, people who lived in the area around the Mediterranean Sea had developed a simpler system of writing. The signs they used were very easy to write, and there were fewer of them than in the Egyptian system. This was because each sign, or letter, represented only one sound in their language. The Greeks developed this system and formed the letters of the Greek alphabet. The Romans copied the idea, and the Roman alphabet is now used all over the world.
These days, we can write down a story, or record information, without using pictures. But we still need pictures of all kinds: drawing, photographs, signs and diagrams. We find them everywhere: in books and newspapers, in the street, and on the walls of the places where we live and work. Pictures help us to understand and remember things more easily, and they can make a story much more interesting. | [
"The Egyptian signs later became a particular alphabet.",
"The Egyptians liked to write comic strip stories.",
"The Roman alphabet was developed from the Egyptian one.",
"The Greeks copied their writing system from the Egyptians."
] |
Mary got a gift from her old friend and said "I am duang surprised". She might mean that she was _ according to the passage. | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A new word is becoming more and more popular on the Internet in China - but no one knows quite what it means.The word "duang" is so new that you can't even find it in the Chinese dictionary. But it has already spread like fire on the Chinese Internet , appearing more than 8,000,000 times on Weibo, where 15,000 users had more than 312,000 discussions. On Baidu, it has been looked up almost 600,000 times. But what does it mean?
"Everyone's duang-ing and I still don't know what it means! Looks like I'd better go back to school now," said Weibo user Fahmida.
Another user asked: "Have you duang-ed today? My mind is full of duang duang duang."
"To duang or not to duang, that is the question," wrote user Beatrice.
"Duang" seems to be imitating a sound. It all seems to have started with Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan, who in 2004 appeared in a shampoo ad where he used the sound "duang" to describe his soft and black hair. The word came to people again recently after Chan posted it on his Weibo page. Thousands of users then began to visit Chan's Weibo page with comments .
The word seems to have many different meanings, and there's no perfect Chinese meaning for it, but you could use it to give emphasis to the word that follows it. A kid might be "duang cute", for example.
Question:
Mary got a gift from her old friend and said "I am duang surprised". She might mean that she was _ according to the passage.
Choices:
A. not surprised at all
B. a little surprised
C. quite surprised
D. no longer surprised | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5194.txt | A new word is becoming more and more popular on the Internet in China - but no one knows quite what it means.The word "duang" is so new that you can't even find it in the Chinese dictionary. But it has already spread like fire on the Chinese Internet , appearing more than 8,000,000 times on Weibo, where 15,000 users had more than 312,000 discussions. On Baidu, it has been looked up almost 600,000 times. But what does it mean?
"Everyone's duang-ing and I still don't know what it means! Looks like I'd better go back to school now," said Weibo user Fahmida.
Another user asked: "Have you duang-ed today? My mind is full of duang duang duang."
"To duang or not to duang, that is the question," wrote user Beatrice.
"Duang" seems to be imitating a sound. It all seems to have started with Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan, who in 2004 appeared in a shampoo ad where he used the sound "duang" to describe his soft and black hair. The word came to people again recently after Chan posted it on his Weibo page. Thousands of users then began to visit Chan's Weibo page with comments .
The word seems to have many different meanings, and there's no perfect Chinese meaning for it, but you could use it to give emphasis to the word that follows it. A kid might be "duang cute", for example. | [
"not surprised at all",
"a little surprised",
"quite surprised",
"no longer surprised"
] |
According to the passage, which statement istrue? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Jeremy Shu-How Lin, who was born in California, 1988, world-famous now,is the first Chinese-American professional basketball player with the New York Knicks of NBA.
It hasn't been an easy road for Lin. After high school, Lin sent his resume and a DVD of highlights to all the Ivy League schools, and his dream schools Stanford and UCLA. Harvard and Brown were the only schools that guaranteed him a spot on their basketball teams, but Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships.
After graduating from Harvard University, Lin went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft . Lin spent his first season with his hometown the Golden State Warriors. He saw limited minutes with the Warriors, but was cheered in arenas around the country, particularly in cities with large Asian communities, as fans came out in crowds to cheer their homegrown star. In late 2011, Lin spent less than two weeks with the Houston Rockets, moving to the New York Knicks at the very end of the year.
He has made several trips to the NBA's Development League, a minor league for players who show promise but need seasoning before they can compete at the highest level. It appears to have paid off. In February 2012, after keying the Knicks victory over New Jersey, Lin was named the starter for the Utah game, a position he appears to have a hold on in the short term, as Baron Davis, who signed in December to play the position, stays on the disabled list. Lin will likely get stronger the more minutes he plays, and even if Davis returns, spelling the older, recovering player could be productive for Lin: a proven good student who can learn a lot from practicing against a veteran.
Without the services of All-Stars Carmelo and Amare, Lin led New York to a 4-0 record last week. He became the first player in NBA history to record at least 20 points and seven assists in each of his first four starts, which generated a global following known as Linsanity. The Associated Press called Lin "the most Surprising story in the NBA".
Question:
According to the passage, which statement istrue?
Choices:
A. Harvard offered Lin an athletic scholarship.
B. Harvard and Brown make sure of Lin's position on their basketball teams.
C. Stanford and Harvard were Lin's dream schools.
D. Lin's DVD impressed all the Ivy League schools greatly. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high2061.txt | Jeremy Shu-How Lin, who was born in California, 1988, world-famous now,is the first Chinese-American professional basketball player with the New York Knicks of NBA.
It hasn't been an easy road for Lin. After high school, Lin sent his resume and a DVD of highlights to all the Ivy League schools, and his dream schools Stanford and UCLA. Harvard and Brown were the only schools that guaranteed him a spot on their basketball teams, but Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships.
After graduating from Harvard University, Lin went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft . Lin spent his first season with his hometown the Golden State Warriors. He saw limited minutes with the Warriors, but was cheered in arenas around the country, particularly in cities with large Asian communities, as fans came out in crowds to cheer their homegrown star. In late 2011, Lin spent less than two weeks with the Houston Rockets, moving to the New York Knicks at the very end of the year.
He has made several trips to the NBA's Development League, a minor league for players who show promise but need seasoning before they can compete at the highest level. It appears to have paid off. In February 2012, after keying the Knicks victory over New Jersey, Lin was named the starter for the Utah game, a position he appears to have a hold on in the short term, as Baron Davis, who signed in December to play the position, stays on the disabled list. Lin will likely get stronger the more minutes he plays, and even if Davis returns, spelling the older, recovering player could be productive for Lin: a proven good student who can learn a lot from practicing against a veteran.
Without the services of All-Stars Carmelo and Amare, Lin led New York to a 4-0 record last week. He became the first player in NBA history to record at least 20 points and seven assists in each of his first four starts, which generated a global following known as Linsanity. The Associated Press called Lin "the most Surprising story in the NBA". | [
"Harvard offered Lin an athletic scholarship.",
"Harvard and Brown make sure of Lin's position on their basketball teams.",
"Stanford and Harvard were Lin's dream schools.",
"Lin's DVD impressed all the Ivy League schools greatly."
] |
The gardener didn't _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
One day Frank was walking with his mother when they came to a pretty garden. Frank looked in, and saw that it had clean gravel walks and beautiful flowers.
He called to his mother and said, "Mum, come and look at this pretty garden. I wish I might open the gate, and walk in."
The gardener heard what Frank said, and kindly invited him and his mother to come into the garden.
Frank's mother thanked the man. Then she said to her son, "Frank, if I take you to walk in this garden, you must take care not to meddle with anything in it."
Frank walked along the tidy gravel walks, and looked at everything, but touched nothing that he saw.
He did not step on any of the borders , and was careful that his clothes should not brush the tops of the flowers so that he might not break them.
The gardener was much pleased with Frank, because he was so careful to behave well. He showed him the seeds, and told him the name of many of the flowers and plants.
While Frank was admiring the beauty of a flower, a little boy came to the gate, and finding it locked. He shook it hard, but it would not open. Then he said, "Let me in. Let me in. Will you not let me in this garden?"
"No," said the gardener, "1 will not let you in, Tom. When I let you in yesterday, you meddled with my flowers, and pulled some of my fruit. I do not choose to let a boy into my garden who meddles with the plants."
Tom looked ashamed, and when he found that the gardener would not let him in, he went slowly away.
Frank saw and felt how much happier a boy may be by not meddling with what does not belong to him.
He and his mother then continued their walk in the garden, and enjoyed the day very much. Before they left, the gardener gave each of them some pretty flowers.
Question:
The gardener didn't _ .
Choices:
A. show Frank any seeds
B. let Tom in the garden a second time
C. give Frank and his mother any flowers
D. tell Frank the names of many of the flowers | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high19366.txt | One day Frank was walking with his mother when they came to a pretty garden. Frank looked in, and saw that it had clean gravel walks and beautiful flowers.
He called to his mother and said, "Mum, come and look at this pretty garden. I wish I might open the gate, and walk in."
The gardener heard what Frank said, and kindly invited him and his mother to come into the garden.
Frank's mother thanked the man. Then she said to her son, "Frank, if I take you to walk in this garden, you must take care not to meddle with anything in it."
Frank walked along the tidy gravel walks, and looked at everything, but touched nothing that he saw.
He did not step on any of the borders , and was careful that his clothes should not brush the tops of the flowers so that he might not break them.
The gardener was much pleased with Frank, because he was so careful to behave well. He showed him the seeds, and told him the name of many of the flowers and plants.
While Frank was admiring the beauty of a flower, a little boy came to the gate, and finding it locked. He shook it hard, but it would not open. Then he said, "Let me in. Let me in. Will you not let me in this garden?"
"No," said the gardener, "1 will not let you in, Tom. When I let you in yesterday, you meddled with my flowers, and pulled some of my fruit. I do not choose to let a boy into my garden who meddles with the plants."
Tom looked ashamed, and when he found that the gardener would not let him in, he went slowly away.
Frank saw and felt how much happier a boy may be by not meddling with what does not belong to him.
He and his mother then continued their walk in the garden, and enjoyed the day very much. Before they left, the gardener gave each of them some pretty flowers. | [
"show Frank any seeds",
"let Tom in the garden a second time",
"give Frank and his mother any flowers",
"tell Frank the names of many of the flowers"
] |
In the lungs, bicarbonate is transported back into the red blood cells in exchange for what? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | In the lungs, bicarbonate is transported back into the red blood cells in exchange for what? | chloride | science | null | null | null | oxygen | phosphate | glucose | chloride | 39.4 Transport of Gases in Human Bodily Fluids Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that is comprised of two alpha and two beta subunits that surround an iron-containing heme group. Oxygen readily binds this heme group. The ability of oxygen to bind increases as more oxygen molecules are bound to heme. Disease states and altered conditions in the body can affect the binding ability of oxygen, and increase or decrease its ability to dissociate from hemoglobin. Carbon dioxide can be transported through the blood via three methods. It is dissolved directly in the blood, bound to plasma proteins or hemoglobin, or converted into bicarbonate. The majority of carbon dioxide is transported as part of the bicarbonate system. Carbon dioxide diffuses into red blood cells. Inside, carbonic anhydrase converts carbon dioxide into + + carbonic acid (H2CO3), which is subsequently hydrolyzed into bicarbonate (HCO− 3 ) and H . The H ion binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells, and bicarbonate is transported out of the red blood cells in exchange for a chloride ion. This is called the chloride shift. Bicarbonate leaves the red blood cells and enters the blood plasma. In the lungs, bicarbonate is transported back into the red blood cells in exchange for chloride. The H+ dissociates from hemoglobin and combines with bicarbonate to form carbonic acid with the help of carbonic anhydrase, which further catalyzes the reaction to convert carbonic acid back into carbon dioxide and water. The carbon dioxide is then expelled from the lungs. | null | null | null |
Tom is cutting a piece of wood to make a shelf. He cut the wood to 143 cm, but it is too long to fit in the bookshelf he is making. He decides to cut 25 cm off the board. But it turned out longer than the other boards. He had to cut off 7 cm from each to make them the same size. How long were the boards before he cut the 7 cm off? | After the first cut, the board was 143 - 25 = <<143-25=118>>118 cm
The other boards were 118 + 7 = <<118+7=125>>125 cm before they got cut.
#### 125 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Tom is cutting a piece of wood to make a shelf. He cut the wood to 143 cm, but it is too long to fit in the bookshelf he is making. He decides to cut 25 cm off the board. But it turned out longer than the other boards. He had to cut off 7 cm from each to make them the same size. How long were the boards before he cut the 7 cm off? | After the first cut, the board was 143 - 25 = <<143-25=118>>118 cm
The other boards were 118 + 7 = <<118+7=125>>125 cm before they got cut.
#### 125 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Which of the following proverb can best express the idea of friendship by Hawaiians? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Every culture has it own ways to show friendship. On the island of Hawaii, _ aloha spirit". In the language of the Hawaiians who first settled the islands long ago,alohahad a very special meaning. That is "to be with happiness".
Hawaiians believe that once somebody loves the land, they are ready to love their people or community. This is the second most important thing of friendship. It is calledlokahiin the Hawaiian language, which means "oneness with all people". To enjoy the land you should not be selfish. The land is for everyone who lives on. Today many different people call Hawaii their home. Indeed, Hawaii is a place where people make one big community from many smaller communities. Each person giveskokua(help) to other people so that all feel stronger. It is believed that the islands can be a paradise when people live in peace. People are told that their actions should be as gentle as the wind that blows from the sea. When problems happen, people are asked to solve them with understanding. So when people of Hawaii talk aboutohana(family), they are really talking about all those who live on the island.
Living in peace, Hawaiians have developed a third sign of friendship. This personal friendship is shown by givingleisto one another. Thelei, a string of flowers, is put over a friend's neck. Then the friend is given a kiss on the cheek. Visitors to the islands are also givenleis. When they hearaloha, visitors began to feel at home.Alohaalso means "goodbye", so visitors will hear it again when they leave. It can mean "our hearts singing together". Perhaps this is how most visitors will remember their new friendship.
Question:
Which of the following proverb can best express the idea of friendship by Hawaiians?
Choices:
A. Practice makes perfect.
B. Love me, love my dog.
C. A penny saved is a penny gained.
D. An apple a day keeps a doctor away. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high2655.txt | Every culture has it own ways to show friendship. On the island of Hawaii, _ aloha spirit". In the language of the Hawaiians who first settled the islands long ago,alohahad a very special meaning. That is "to be with happiness".
Hawaiians believe that once somebody loves the land, they are ready to love their people or community. This is the second most important thing of friendship. It is calledlokahiin the Hawaiian language, which means "oneness with all people". To enjoy the land you should not be selfish. The land is for everyone who lives on. Today many different people call Hawaii their home. Indeed, Hawaii is a place where people make one big community from many smaller communities. Each person giveskokua(help) to other people so that all feel stronger. It is believed that the islands can be a paradise when people live in peace. People are told that their actions should be as gentle as the wind that blows from the sea. When problems happen, people are asked to solve them with understanding. So when people of Hawaii talk aboutohana(family), they are really talking about all those who live on the island.
Living in peace, Hawaiians have developed a third sign of friendship. This personal friendship is shown by givingleisto one another. Thelei, a string of flowers, is put over a friend's neck. Then the friend is given a kiss on the cheek. Visitors to the islands are also givenleis. When they hearaloha, visitors began to feel at home.Alohaalso means "goodbye", so visitors will hear it again when they leave. It can mean "our hearts singing together". Perhaps this is how most visitors will remember their new friendship. | [
"Practice makes perfect.",
"Love me, love my dog.",
"A penny saved is a penny gained.",
"An apple a day keeps a doctor away."
] |
What should we do to achieve peace? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Is war unavoidable? Can war be prevented?
History tells that there were wars, great or small, in every century, in every decade. Throughout the ages, from the Stone age to the Atomic Age, men have been fighting, first with swords and shields , then with guns and cannons, and now, hydrogen bombs and missiles are used for military purpose. But, in spite of all these, it is still my belief that war can be prevented and peace can be won, but it requires the effort of every one of us.
I am sure that we would not like to experience another world war. If it ever happens, two-thirds of the world and much of the civilization which men have gained through time, patience and effort will be destroyed. Will then the remaining one-third of the world be able to survive on its own?
Our task now is not to blame the past, but to plan for the future.
If there is peace in the world, men can use their rockets to explore the mystery of space, their submarines to explore the depth of the sea, their missiles to deliver mails and their fine equipment to penetrate the jungles of Africa, instead of using them military.
Governments can use their money to build more schools, so that more children can be educated to be useful citizens. Scientists can use atomic energy to propel steamships and planes. They can also design new machines to increase the production of goods and thus improve the way of living of the people.
How can a peaceful world be achieved? It requires, in my opinion, the understanding and friendship between all people from all nations. Let no one suffer discrimination by reason of color, race, religion, or national origin. Let the rich support the poor and the strong help the weak.
We know that neither peace nor such a dream world can come true in a day or a month. It may even take decades or centuries. But let us plan and begin now.
Question:
What should we do to achieve peace?
Choices:
A. Spend more money educating children.
B. Stop military exploration
C. Call on people to help each other
D. Act from right now on. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high838.txt | Is war unavoidable? Can war be prevented?
History tells that there were wars, great or small, in every century, in every decade. Throughout the ages, from the Stone age to the Atomic Age, men have been fighting, first with swords and shields , then with guns and cannons, and now, hydrogen bombs and missiles are used for military purpose. But, in spite of all these, it is still my belief that war can be prevented and peace can be won, but it requires the effort of every one of us.
I am sure that we would not like to experience another world war. If it ever happens, two-thirds of the world and much of the civilization which men have gained through time, patience and effort will be destroyed. Will then the remaining one-third of the world be able to survive on its own?
Our task now is not to blame the past, but to plan for the future.
If there is peace in the world, men can use their rockets to explore the mystery of space, their submarines to explore the depth of the sea, their missiles to deliver mails and their fine equipment to penetrate the jungles of Africa, instead of using them military.
Governments can use their money to build more schools, so that more children can be educated to be useful citizens. Scientists can use atomic energy to propel steamships and planes. They can also design new machines to increase the production of goods and thus improve the way of living of the people.
How can a peaceful world be achieved? It requires, in my opinion, the understanding and friendship between all people from all nations. Let no one suffer discrimination by reason of color, race, religion, or national origin. Let the rich support the poor and the strong help the weak.
We know that neither peace nor such a dream world can come true in a day or a month. It may even take decades or centuries. But let us plan and begin now. | [
"Spend more money educating children.",
"Stop military exploration",
"Call on people to help each other",
"Act from right now on."
] |
What does the passage lead us to believe when one writes? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Right is right. Right? Of course. But is left wrong? Well, the Romans used to think so. They thought left-handed people were mistakes of nature. Latin, the language of the Romans, had many words that expressed this view. Some words we use today still have this meaning. The Latin word "dexter" means "right". The English word "dexterous" comes from this word. It means "handy" (clever with hands). So, right is handy. But the Latin word for left is "sinister". The English word "sinister" comes from this word. Sinister means "evil" (very bad). Is it fair to call right-handed people handy and left-handed people evil? Well, fair or not, many languages have words that express such beliefs. In old English, the word for left means "weak". That isn't much of an improvement over "evil".
Not very long ago, children were often forced to write with their right hands. Doctors have since found that this can be very harmful. You should use the hand you were born to use.
People who use their left hands are just starting to get better treatment. But why they get all these bad names in the first place? One reason may be that there are not as many left-handed people as there are right-handed people. There is one left-handed person for every five right-handed ones. People who are different are often thought to be wrong. But attitudes do seem to be changing. Fair-minded right-handed people are finally starting to give left-handed people a hand.
Question:
What does the passage lead us to believe when one writes?
Choices:
A. He can only use his right hand.
B. He can only use his left hand.
C. He can use either his left hand or his right hand.
D. He can use both his left hand and his right hand. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7696.txt | Right is right. Right? Of course. But is left wrong? Well, the Romans used to think so. They thought left-handed people were mistakes of nature. Latin, the language of the Romans, had many words that expressed this view. Some words we use today still have this meaning. The Latin word "dexter" means "right". The English word "dexterous" comes from this word. It means "handy" (clever with hands). So, right is handy. But the Latin word for left is "sinister". The English word "sinister" comes from this word. Sinister means "evil" (very bad). Is it fair to call right-handed people handy and left-handed people evil? Well, fair or not, many languages have words that express such beliefs. In old English, the word for left means "weak". That isn't much of an improvement over "evil".
Not very long ago, children were often forced to write with their right hands. Doctors have since found that this can be very harmful. You should use the hand you were born to use.
People who use their left hands are just starting to get better treatment. But why they get all these bad names in the first place? One reason may be that there are not as many left-handed people as there are right-handed people. There is one left-handed person for every five right-handed ones. People who are different are often thought to be wrong. But attitudes do seem to be changing. Fair-minded right-handed people are finally starting to give left-handed people a hand. | [
"He can only use his right hand.",
"He can only use his left hand.",
"He can use either his left hand or his right hand.",
"He can use both his left hand and his right hand."
] |
What's this passage mainly about? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Attending a university is an important part of a person's life. Today, many people go to a university to study and train for a future job in subjects like law, medicine, or education. But the university is not a modern invention. It has a history that is over a thousand years old.
The world's oldest university, Al-Azhar, is in Cairo, Egypt. It was first built as a mosque in A.D. 972. A few years later, learners and teachers began meeting in the mosque in "tutoring circles". They read and talked about the subject of law. Around 988, leaders in the city of Cairo decided to create a school for higher learning and the University of Al-Azhar was founded.
At Al-Azhar, there were many university 'firsts.' _ were created. The earliest ones taught at Al-Azhar were in law and religion. In a course, students read and studied with the teacher, but there was also free discussion. Often, students and teachers talked about a topic, and there was no 'right' answer. Finally, scholars from around the world came to Al-Azhar to teach and do research. At the university, people studied the past, but it was also a place for sharing new ideas.
Over a thousand years later, Al-Azhar is still an important university in the world. Its library contains more than 250,000 of the world's oldest and most valuable books. Today, many of the world's most important universities such as Oxford and Harvard still follow the traditions started at Al-Azhar.
Question:
What's this passage mainly about?
Choices:
A. The history of the world's oldest university.
B. The importance of attending a university.
C. The relationship between university and future job.
D. The invention of a modern university. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high10679.txt | Attending a university is an important part of a person's life. Today, many people go to a university to study and train for a future job in subjects like law, medicine, or education. But the university is not a modern invention. It has a history that is over a thousand years old.
The world's oldest university, Al-Azhar, is in Cairo, Egypt. It was first built as a mosque in A.D. 972. A few years later, learners and teachers began meeting in the mosque in "tutoring circles". They read and talked about the subject of law. Around 988, leaders in the city of Cairo decided to create a school for higher learning and the University of Al-Azhar was founded.
At Al-Azhar, there were many university 'firsts.' _ were created. The earliest ones taught at Al-Azhar were in law and religion. In a course, students read and studied with the teacher, but there was also free discussion. Often, students and teachers talked about a topic, and there was no 'right' answer. Finally, scholars from around the world came to Al-Azhar to teach and do research. At the university, people studied the past, but it was also a place for sharing new ideas.
Over a thousand years later, Al-Azhar is still an important university in the world. Its library contains more than 250,000 of the world's oldest and most valuable books. Today, many of the world's most important universities such as Oxford and Harvard still follow the traditions started at Al-Azhar. | [
"The history of the world's oldest university.",
"The importance of attending a university.",
"The relationship between university and future job.",
"The invention of a modern university."
] |
What would be the best title for the passage? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
In China,cultural differences arose from growing rice or wheat.Different thinking styles between northern and southern Chinese people can trace their roots to rice fields and wheat fields.
Rice farming promotes a holistic focus on distinguishing relationships among people and objects,and valuing others as much as or more than oneself, say psychologist Thomas Talhelm of the University of Virginia and his colleagues.Holistic thinking among many modem Chinese people partly reflects regional histories of building communal irrigation systems and cooperatively planting and harvesting rice fields over thousands of years.
They draw that conclusion based on studies of college students from regions with different agricultural practices.Students from southern and central China's rice.growing provinces think holistically, even though they have probably never farmed rice,Talhelm's group reports.In contrast,students from northern and central Chinese provinces that have specialized in wheat growing exhibit a preference for abstract analysis and self over others,the scientists find.Wheat is less labor-intensive to grow than rice,SO farmers can plant and harvest crops without much help from neighbors.Analytical,individualistic thinking is not more common among students from richer
Provinces, contrary to the argument that this attitude springs from modernization. "Rice theory might explain why East Asia is so much less individualistic than expected based on its wealth, " Talhelm says.
Talhelm,s team tested 1,162 Chinese students,who Viewed lists of three items,such as a rabbit,a dog and a carrot. For each list,students chose two items that belonged together. Earlier research found that analytical thinkers often group items according to categories,so rabbits and dogs go together.Holistic thinkers tend to 1ook for relationships,such as rabbits eating carrots. Students from rice-growing areas made an average of around seven to nine holistic matches of 10 possible matches,compared with roughly f1ve to seven holistic matches for those from Wheat-growing areas.
Talhelm's team also analyzed national statistics in China from 1 996,2000 and 2010 and found a higher divorce rate and a greater number of successful patents for new inventions in wheat-growing provinces than in rice-growing provinces. That trend is in line with the ides that analytical thinking develops both individualism and creativity.
Question:
What would be the best title for the passage?
Choices:
A. Cultural differences in China
B. 1isting examples
C. Chinese people tracing their roots
D. Farming influences thinking styles | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9178.txt | In China,cultural differences arose from growing rice or wheat.Different thinking styles between northern and southern Chinese people can trace their roots to rice fields and wheat fields.
Rice farming promotes a holistic focus on distinguishing relationships among people and objects,and valuing others as much as or more than oneself, say psychologist Thomas Talhelm of the University of Virginia and his colleagues.Holistic thinking among many modem Chinese people partly reflects regional histories of building communal irrigation systems and cooperatively planting and harvesting rice fields over thousands of years.
They draw that conclusion based on studies of college students from regions with different agricultural practices.Students from southern and central China's rice.growing provinces think holistically, even though they have probably never farmed rice,Talhelm's group reports.In contrast,students from northern and central Chinese provinces that have specialized in wheat growing exhibit a preference for abstract analysis and self over others,the scientists find.Wheat is less labor-intensive to grow than rice,SO farmers can plant and harvest crops without much help from neighbors.Analytical,individualistic thinking is not more common among students from richer
Provinces, contrary to the argument that this attitude springs from modernization. "Rice theory might explain why East Asia is so much less individualistic than expected based on its wealth, " Talhelm says.
Talhelm,s team tested 1,162 Chinese students,who Viewed lists of three items,such as a rabbit,a dog and a carrot. For each list,students chose two items that belonged together. Earlier research found that analytical thinkers often group items according to categories,so rabbits and dogs go together.Holistic thinkers tend to 1ook for relationships,such as rabbits eating carrots. Students from rice-growing areas made an average of around seven to nine holistic matches of 10 possible matches,compared with roughly f1ve to seven holistic matches for those from Wheat-growing areas.
Talhelm's team also analyzed national statistics in China from 1 996,2000 and 2010 and found a higher divorce rate and a greater number of successful patents for new inventions in wheat-growing provinces than in rice-growing provinces. That trend is in line with the ides that analytical thinking develops both individualism and creativity. | [
"Cultural differences in China",
"1isting examples",
"Chinese people tracing their roots",
"Farming influences thinking styles"
] |
The two ovaries are small, oval organs on either side of what part of the body? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | The two ovaries are small, oval organs on either side of what part of the body? | uterus | science | null | null | null | pancreas | lungs | heart | uterus | The two ovaries are small, oval organs on either side of the uterus. Each ovary contains thousands of eggs, with about 1-2 million immature eggs present at birth and 40,000 immature eggs present at puberty, as most of the eggs die off. The eggs do not fully develop until a female has gone through puberty. About once a month, on average one egg completes development and is released by the ovary. The ovaries also secrete estrogen , the main female sex hormone. | null | null | null |
If a new product costs $ 60, how much money may be spent on packaging? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Shopping is not as simple as you may think! Much has to be done for the producers before putting the products on the shelf.
Color, for example, changes a lot according to what the producers are trying to sell. Health foods are packed in greens, yellows or browns because we think of these as healthy colors.
When some kind of medicine was brought out recently, researchers found that the color of the package caused the shoppers to lose interest because they made the product look ineffective . At last, it came on the market in dark blue and white--blue because we think of it as safe, and white as calm.
The size of a package can also attract a shopper, although quite often a bottle doesn't hold as much as it seems to.
It is said that the better-known companies spend about 40 percent of the cost of the product itself on packaging!
The most successful producers know that it's not enough to have a good product. The head of Pears Soap, who for 25 years has used pretty little girls to sell their goods, came to the conclusion: "Any fool can make soap, but it takes a talent to sell it."
Question:
If a new product costs $ 60, how much money may be spent on packaging?
Choices:
A. $ 24
B. $ 36
C. $ 40
D. $ 60 | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle266.txt | Shopping is not as simple as you may think! Much has to be done for the producers before putting the products on the shelf.
Color, for example, changes a lot according to what the producers are trying to sell. Health foods are packed in greens, yellows or browns because we think of these as healthy colors.
When some kind of medicine was brought out recently, researchers found that the color of the package caused the shoppers to lose interest because they made the product look ineffective . At last, it came on the market in dark blue and white--blue because we think of it as safe, and white as calm.
The size of a package can also attract a shopper, although quite often a bottle doesn't hold as much as it seems to.
It is said that the better-known companies spend about 40 percent of the cost of the product itself on packaging!
The most successful producers know that it's not enough to have a good product. The head of Pears Soap, who for 25 years has used pretty little girls to sell their goods, came to the conclusion: "Any fool can make soap, but it takes a talent to sell it." | [
"$ 24",
"$ 36",
"$ 40",
"$ 60"
] |
In a science lab, what device would you use to measure the volume of a liquid? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | In a science lab, what device would you use to measure the volume of a liquid? | graduated cylinder | science | null | null | null | yardstick | anemometer | Richter scale | graduated cylinder | Measuring devices must be used correctly to get accurate measurements. Figure below shows the correct way to use a graduated cylinder to measure the volume of a liquid. | null | null | null |
Why didn't George Cayley make his plane fly? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The man who learned to fly
It is publicly accepted that it was the Wright brothers that invented the plane, but actually George Cayley knew how to make a plane a century before the Wright brothers took off. If only he'd got the internal combustion engine to work.
During the 18thand 19thcenturies, scientists and the public all believed that it was only impossible to fly using an artificial wing, but an act of silly deed to suggest that you could. This did not discourage the English gentleman scientist George Cayley, even though his contemporaries --- including his own son--- were embarrassed by his efforts.
In 1799, Cayley carved a silver disc with one side bearing a design for the world's first aeroplane and the other illustrating the earliest published description of the aerodynamic forces on the wing that enable a plane to fly. His three--part essay Aerial Navigation, published in 1809 and 1810, was greeted with skepticism by his contemporaries.
But Cayley "didn't give a rat's ass" about what they all thought, according to Richard Dyde of York University in Ontario, Canada, author of The Man Who Discovered Flight--- and with good reason. He had completed a series of experiments to back up his theories and "was convinced that everyone else was wrong". Cayley constructed increasingly excellent model flying machines, and finally invented a full-scale glider, which was flown in 1853 by his grandson, George.
This pioneering work would prove inspirational to Orville and Wilbur Wright, who made the first controlled and sustained heavier-than-air human flight 50 years later. Their success was dependent on the recent invention of the internal combustion engine--- a device which Cayley, having realized its great importance, had spent many fruitless years trying to develop.
Question:
Why didn't George Cayley make his plane fly?
Choices:
A. Because he was short of money.
B. Because he didn' t get support from the government.
C. Because he didn't have the internal combustion engine.
D. Because he didn't have a pilot. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high23402.txt | The man who learned to fly
It is publicly accepted that it was the Wright brothers that invented the plane, but actually George Cayley knew how to make a plane a century before the Wright brothers took off. If only he'd got the internal combustion engine to work.
During the 18thand 19thcenturies, scientists and the public all believed that it was only impossible to fly using an artificial wing, but an act of silly deed to suggest that you could. This did not discourage the English gentleman scientist George Cayley, even though his contemporaries --- including his own son--- were embarrassed by his efforts.
In 1799, Cayley carved a silver disc with one side bearing a design for the world's first aeroplane and the other illustrating the earliest published description of the aerodynamic forces on the wing that enable a plane to fly. His three--part essay Aerial Navigation, published in 1809 and 1810, was greeted with skepticism by his contemporaries.
But Cayley "didn't give a rat's ass" about what they all thought, according to Richard Dyde of York University in Ontario, Canada, author of The Man Who Discovered Flight--- and with good reason. He had completed a series of experiments to back up his theories and "was convinced that everyone else was wrong". Cayley constructed increasingly excellent model flying machines, and finally invented a full-scale glider, which was flown in 1853 by his grandson, George.
This pioneering work would prove inspirational to Orville and Wilbur Wright, who made the first controlled and sustained heavier-than-air human flight 50 years later. Their success was dependent on the recent invention of the internal combustion engine--- a device which Cayley, having realized its great importance, had spent many fruitless years trying to develop. | [
"Because he was short of money.",
"Because he didn' t get support from the government.",
"Because he didn't have the internal combustion engine.",
"Because he didn't have a pilot."
] |
Jack was worried because _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
People sometimes like to read stories of dogs very much. They think that dogs are much cleverer than cats, sheep, cows or other animals in their homes.
One of my best friends, Bob, has a dog named Jack. Every Sunday afternoon, Bob and Jack have a walk in the park nearby. Jack likes these walks very much. One Sunday afternoon, I stayed in Bob's home for a long time and we talked happily. Soon it was time for them to take a walk in the park. Jack was worried about it. He walked around the room several times and then sat down in front of me and looked at me. But I still paid no attention to him. I went on talking with my friend. At last, Jack could not wait any longer. He went out of the room and came back a few minutes later. He sat down in front of me again. But this time, he held my hat in his mouth. Suddenly, I understood what Jack meant.
Question:
Jack was worried because _ .
Choices:
A. he wanted to eat something
B. it was Sunday afternoon again
C. he was not feeling well
D. he wanted his master to take him for a walk | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1171.txt | People sometimes like to read stories of dogs very much. They think that dogs are much cleverer than cats, sheep, cows or other animals in their homes.
One of my best friends, Bob, has a dog named Jack. Every Sunday afternoon, Bob and Jack have a walk in the park nearby. Jack likes these walks very much. One Sunday afternoon, I stayed in Bob's home for a long time and we talked happily. Soon it was time for them to take a walk in the park. Jack was worried about it. He walked around the room several times and then sat down in front of me and looked at me. But I still paid no attention to him. I went on talking with my friend. At last, Jack could not wait any longer. He went out of the room and came back a few minutes later. He sat down in front of me again. But this time, he held my hat in his mouth. Suddenly, I understood what Jack meant. | [
"he wanted to eat something",
"it was Sunday afternoon again",
"he was not feeling well",
"he wanted his master to take him for a walk"
] |
According to the author, if you _ , you can be trusted. | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It's not about how much money you make, and it's not about who your daddy is. We're talking about being attractive in general, whether it's on a job interview or just gaining the respect of your colleagues . . .
Ask lots of questions
If you come across as a know-it-all (even if you really do know it all!), it really pushes people away. Rather, asking lots and lots of questions makes people feel like you care, you can be trusted.
Great body language
Your body language says a lot about you - it says whether you have confidence, or simply if you really care. Talking physically, it is one of the most important physical characteristics you need!
Stay busy
Always have something to do. Have you ever seen someone just sitting around, doing nothing? How unattractive. Always be busy with something, even if for some reason you have to make something up.
Show your pearly whites (or just smile)
Smile more, no matter how ugly your teeth are. I'm not kidding about this one. It's not all about the teeth. If you are smiling genuinely, you can draw everyone for 100 meters around to you.
Wear what fits
Wear clothing that fits you. For women, wearing tight pants or shirts is not attractive. Things that just fit you and your shape are the best but not tight. Wear things that fit you nicely, please . . . And for goodness sake, both sexes, stay away from logos and printed shirts! Most people you may ask do not find this attractive. Stop being some company's billboard .
Be interested in other man
Be interested in the other person. Don't talk about. If you are truly interested in the person, it will come across. And if you want to talk about yourself, you'll find that putting the other person first actually opens him up to return the favor and ask you questions. See how fun this is?
Question:
According to the author, if you _ , you can be trusted.
Choices:
A. always smile and show your pearly teeth
B. keep asking lots of questions
C. are interested in other people's personal affairs
D. always wear clothes that fit you | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high4228.txt | It's not about how much money you make, and it's not about who your daddy is. We're talking about being attractive in general, whether it's on a job interview or just gaining the respect of your colleagues . . .
Ask lots of questions
If you come across as a know-it-all (even if you really do know it all!), it really pushes people away. Rather, asking lots and lots of questions makes people feel like you care, you can be trusted.
Great body language
Your body language says a lot about you - it says whether you have confidence, or simply if you really care. Talking physically, it is one of the most important physical characteristics you need!
Stay busy
Always have something to do. Have you ever seen someone just sitting around, doing nothing? How unattractive. Always be busy with something, even if for some reason you have to make something up.
Show your pearly whites (or just smile)
Smile more, no matter how ugly your teeth are. I'm not kidding about this one. It's not all about the teeth. If you are smiling genuinely, you can draw everyone for 100 meters around to you.
Wear what fits
Wear clothing that fits you. For women, wearing tight pants or shirts is not attractive. Things that just fit you and your shape are the best but not tight. Wear things that fit you nicely, please . . . And for goodness sake, both sexes, stay away from logos and printed shirts! Most people you may ask do not find this attractive. Stop being some company's billboard .
Be interested in other man
Be interested in the other person. Don't talk about. If you are truly interested in the person, it will come across. And if you want to talk about yourself, you'll find that putting the other person first actually opens him up to return the favor and ask you questions. See how fun this is? | [
"always smile and show your pearly teeth",
"keep asking lots of questions",
"are interested in other people's personal affairs",
"always wear clothes that fit you"
] |
Detective stories are stories about _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
John Smith was a writer, who wrote detective stories for magazines , though he never dealt with criminals . One evening he could not finish an end for a story. He sat in his study , but he had no ideas. So he decided to go to the cinema.
When he came back, he found that he had had a visitor. Someone had broken into his house. The visitor had had a drink, smoked several of his cigarettes and had read his story. The visitor left him a note. "I have read your story and I don't think it is very good. Please read my suggestions and you can finish it. By the way, I am a thief. I'm not going to steal anything tonight. But if you become a successful writer, I will return."
John read the thief's suggestions. Then he sat down and wrote the rest of the story. He is still not a successful writer, and he is waiting for his "visitor" to return. Before he goes out in the evening, he always leaves a half-finished story in his study.
Question:
Detective stories are stories about _ .
Choices:
A. science
B. children
C. the future
D. the police | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1620.txt | John Smith was a writer, who wrote detective stories for magazines , though he never dealt with criminals . One evening he could not finish an end for a story. He sat in his study , but he had no ideas. So he decided to go to the cinema.
When he came back, he found that he had had a visitor. Someone had broken into his house. The visitor had had a drink, smoked several of his cigarettes and had read his story. The visitor left him a note. "I have read your story and I don't think it is very good. Please read my suggestions and you can finish it. By the way, I am a thief. I'm not going to steal anything tonight. But if you become a successful writer, I will return."
John read the thief's suggestions. Then he sat down and wrote the rest of the story. He is still not a successful writer, and he is waiting for his "visitor" to return. Before he goes out in the evening, he always leaves a half-finished story in his study. | [
"science",
"children",
"the future",
"the police"
] |
Why are children becoming more inactive in study? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
"It hurts me more than you,''and "This is for your own good.''These are the statements my mother used to make years ago when I had to learn Latin,clean my room,stay home and do homework.
That was before we entered the permissive period in educafion in which we decided it was all right not to push our children to achieve their best in school.The schools and the educators made it easy on us.They thought that it was all right to be parents who take a let-alone policy. We stopped making our children do homework. We gave them calculators,turned on the television,left the teaching to the teachers and went on vacation.
Now teachers,faced with children who have been developing at their own pace for the past 15 years,are realizing we've made a terrible mistake.One such teacher is Sharon Klompus who says of her students-"so passive"-and-wonders what happened.Nothing was demanded of them,she believes. Television,says Klompus,contributes to children's passivity."We're not training kids to work any more," says Klompus."we're talking about a generation of kids who've never been hurt or hungry.They have learned somebody will always do it for them. Instead of saying 'go look it up',you tell them the answer.It takes greater energy to say no to a kid."
Yes,it does.It takes energy and it takes work. It's time for parents to end their vacation and come back to work.It's time to take the car away, to turn the TV off, to tell them it hurts you more than them but it's for their own good.It's time to start telling them no again.
Question:
Why are children becoming more inactive in study?
Choices:
A. Because they watch TV too often
B. Because they have done too much homework.
C. Because they have to fulfill too many duties.
D. Because teachers are too strict with them. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high6454.txt | "It hurts me more than you,''and "This is for your own good.''These are the statements my mother used to make years ago when I had to learn Latin,clean my room,stay home and do homework.
That was before we entered the permissive period in educafion in which we decided it was all right not to push our children to achieve their best in school.The schools and the educators made it easy on us.They thought that it was all right to be parents who take a let-alone policy. We stopped making our children do homework. We gave them calculators,turned on the television,left the teaching to the teachers and went on vacation.
Now teachers,faced with children who have been developing at their own pace for the past 15 years,are realizing we've made a terrible mistake.One such teacher is Sharon Klompus who says of her students-"so passive"-and-wonders what happened.Nothing was demanded of them,she believes. Television,says Klompus,contributes to children's passivity."We're not training kids to work any more," says Klompus."we're talking about a generation of kids who've never been hurt or hungry.They have learned somebody will always do it for them. Instead of saying 'go look it up',you tell them the answer.It takes greater energy to say no to a kid."
Yes,it does.It takes energy and it takes work. It's time for parents to end their vacation and come back to work.It's time to take the car away, to turn the TV off, to tell them it hurts you more than them but it's for their own good.It's time to start telling them no again. | [
"Because they watch TV too often",
"Because they have done too much homework.",
"Because they have to fulfill too many duties.",
"Because teachers are too strict with them."
] |
According to the passage, nowadays British people _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Over the centuries the French have lost a number of famous battles with the British. However, they've always felt superior in the kitchen. France has for centuries had a reputation for cooking excellence, and Britain for some of the worst cooking in the world. But according to a recent survey, _
In the survey, 71% of the Britons said they cook at home every day, while only 59% of the French said they cook daily. British home cooks spend more time cooking each week and also produce a greater variety of dishes than French home cooks.
The reaction in London was predictably enthusiastic. British food has greatly improved since the 1990s. Once upon a time, the menu for many family meals would have been roast beef, potatoes and over-cooked vegetables, but not now. Home cooks are experimenting with the huge range of ingredients now available in British supermarkets and are preparing all kinds of new dishes, using the cookbooks that sell millions of copies every year. As a result, there's much more diversity in British food now, compared to French food, which tends to be very traditional.
Some French people say that the survey did not show the whole picture. They agree that during the week French women don't cook as much as they used to because most of them work and don't have much time. They tend to buy ready-made or frozen dishes, but many of them make up for it on the weekend. There's also a difference between Paris and the country-side. It's true that people in Paris don't cook much, but elsewhere, cooking is still at the heart of daily life.
For many French people, opinions about British food have not changed. When Bernard Blier, the food editor at a magazine, was asked about British food, he replied: "I don't go out of my way to try it. It is not very refined. You can say that I'm not a fan at all."
Question:
According to the passage, nowadays British people _ .
Choices:
A. cook less at home than the French every day
B. no longer eat roast beef and over-cooked vegetables
C. are more willing to try cooking all kinds of new foods
D. buy more cookbooks than French people do | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high8347.txt | Over the centuries the French have lost a number of famous battles with the British. However, they've always felt superior in the kitchen. France has for centuries had a reputation for cooking excellence, and Britain for some of the worst cooking in the world. But according to a recent survey, _
In the survey, 71% of the Britons said they cook at home every day, while only 59% of the French said they cook daily. British home cooks spend more time cooking each week and also produce a greater variety of dishes than French home cooks.
The reaction in London was predictably enthusiastic. British food has greatly improved since the 1990s. Once upon a time, the menu for many family meals would have been roast beef, potatoes and over-cooked vegetables, but not now. Home cooks are experimenting with the huge range of ingredients now available in British supermarkets and are preparing all kinds of new dishes, using the cookbooks that sell millions of copies every year. As a result, there's much more diversity in British food now, compared to French food, which tends to be very traditional.
Some French people say that the survey did not show the whole picture. They agree that during the week French women don't cook as much as they used to because most of them work and don't have much time. They tend to buy ready-made or frozen dishes, but many of them make up for it on the weekend. There's also a difference between Paris and the country-side. It's true that people in Paris don't cook much, but elsewhere, cooking is still at the heart of daily life.
For many French people, opinions about British food have not changed. When Bernard Blier, the food editor at a magazine, was asked about British food, he replied: "I don't go out of my way to try it. It is not very refined. You can say that I'm not a fan at all." | [
"cook less at home than the French every day",
"no longer eat roast beef and over-cooked vegetables",
"are more willing to try cooking all kinds of new foods",
"buy more cookbooks than French people do"
] |
The people in the restaurant all ran out because _ | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Once an old man was walking in a street with his horse. It was raining hard. The old man was cold because he was walking in the rain. He wanted to stay in a restaurant.
It was a quarter past three in the afternoon. The old man got to a small restaurant. A lot of people crowded in it. The old man couldn't come near the fireplace. He thought and thought.At last he said to the waiters, " Take some fish to my horse." The waiter and the other people were very surprised. The waitered said, "A horse doesn't eat fish." The old man told the waiter, " The horse is _ . It can sing, dance and does all kinds of things. It can eat fish, too." So the waiter took some fish to the horse.
All the people in the restaurant rushed out to see the horse eat fish except(......) the old man. Now the old man sat beside the fire. After a while the waiter returned and said. "Your horse didn't eat any fish." The old man said, "All right, take the fish back and put it on the table. I'll eat it."
Question:
The people in the restaurant all ran out because _
Choices:
A. They want to see the old man
B. they wanted the horse eat fish
C. the old man told them the horse came
D. There was no fire over the stove | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle253.txt | Once an old man was walking in a street with his horse. It was raining hard. The old man was cold because he was walking in the rain. He wanted to stay in a restaurant.
It was a quarter past three in the afternoon. The old man got to a small restaurant. A lot of people crowded in it. The old man couldn't come near the fireplace. He thought and thought.At last he said to the waiters, " Take some fish to my horse." The waiter and the other people were very surprised. The waitered said, "A horse doesn't eat fish." The old man told the waiter, " The horse is _ . It can sing, dance and does all kinds of things. It can eat fish, too." So the waiter took some fish to the horse.
All the people in the restaurant rushed out to see the horse eat fish except(......) the old man. Now the old man sat beside the fire. After a while the waiter returned and said. "Your horse didn't eat any fish." The old man said, "All right, take the fish back and put it on the table. I'll eat it." | [
"They want to see the old man",
"they wanted the horse eat fish",
"the old man told them the horse came",
"There was no fire over the stove"
] |
Which animal is NOT mentioned in the passage? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
When humans and nature go head to head, nature often ends up losing. Rivers get polluted. Trees are knocked down. Natural resources are exhausted. That's what makes the Galapagos Islands so special--it's one of he few places on the Earth that nature can truly call its own.
For people used to having wild animals run at the scent of humans, a visit to the Galapagos is a real eye-opening experience. Over 1,600 km west of Ecuador, the islands are home to a unique variety of animals that have absolutely no fear of people. Visitors can play on the beach with sea lions and giant sea turtles, swim with dolphins and whales, and get close enough to the penguins to count the eggs in their nests.
The islands were declared a national park over 40 years ago, and the number of human visitors is tightly limited to avoid damaging he environment or putting stress on the animal. Tourists have to pay a $100 daily visitors fee, and can't step off the boat unless accompanied by an official guide. Once on the islands, you have to stay on the trail , but that seldom presents a problem: the animals are so curious about people that they'll usually come up to say hello.
"It's a little like being in a zoo," said one traveler. "But instead of us looking at the animals, the animals, the animals are looking at us."
Aside from the wildlife, one of the island' more unusual features is its post office. You can send postcards for free, but the problem is that there's no postman to collect them. Instead, travelers pick up mail addressed to people who live near them back home, and then hand-deliver the postcards when their trip is finished.
Question:
Which animal is NOT mentioned in the passage?
Choices:
A. Whales.
B. Sea lions.
C. Goats.
D. Dolphins. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7891.txt | When humans and nature go head to head, nature often ends up losing. Rivers get polluted. Trees are knocked down. Natural resources are exhausted. That's what makes the Galapagos Islands so special--it's one of he few places on the Earth that nature can truly call its own.
For people used to having wild animals run at the scent of humans, a visit to the Galapagos is a real eye-opening experience. Over 1,600 km west of Ecuador, the islands are home to a unique variety of animals that have absolutely no fear of people. Visitors can play on the beach with sea lions and giant sea turtles, swim with dolphins and whales, and get close enough to the penguins to count the eggs in their nests.
The islands were declared a national park over 40 years ago, and the number of human visitors is tightly limited to avoid damaging he environment or putting stress on the animal. Tourists have to pay a $100 daily visitors fee, and can't step off the boat unless accompanied by an official guide. Once on the islands, you have to stay on the trail , but that seldom presents a problem: the animals are so curious about people that they'll usually come up to say hello.
"It's a little like being in a zoo," said one traveler. "But instead of us looking at the animals, the animals, the animals are looking at us."
Aside from the wildlife, one of the island' more unusual features is its post office. You can send postcards for free, but the problem is that there's no postman to collect them. Instead, travelers pick up mail addressed to people who live near them back home, and then hand-deliver the postcards when their trip is finished. | [
"Whales.",
"Sea lions.",
"Goats.",
"Dolphins."
] |
Which Chinese film won an award for best foreign film? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Do you know what Oscar is? When did it start? Maybe you can find the background of the awards in the following passage.
The awards started in 1929. Their full title is "The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards". The Academy is a group of people who have worked in the film industry for many years. They decide who will receive the awards. The awards are often referred to as the "Oscar". This is a nickname given to the awards by a lady called Margaret Herrick. She was once the director of the Academy and she once said that the little gold statue reminded her of her uncle Oscar!
The Oscar is always an exciting event. Each year, at least one unusual thing happens. When the Italian actor and director Roberto Benigni won an Oscar for best foreign film, he danced on stage! When Gwyneth Paltrow, the star of Shakespeare in Love won the Oscar for best actress, she could not make her acceptance speech because she was crying so much with happiness!
In 1987, Roberto Benigni won the award for best director for a film about the last emperor of China. Since then, Chinese film and actors have started to make an impact at the award. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a huge success and it won the award for best foreign language film in 2001. It also won several technical awards for its amazing "flying" people. We expect to see more awards for Chinese film in the near future.
It's time for the Oscar again. Once more, the stars will dress up in their finest and go to Kodak Theater. There, they will find out who had won the awards for best actor, best actress and best director. Millions of people watch the awards every year to find out who the winners are. Some people watch it to see the stars crying and laughing as they receive their awards.
Question:
Which Chinese film won an award for best foreign film?
Choices:
A. Crouching Dragon, Hidden Tiger.
B. Crouching and Hidden Dragon and Tiger.
C. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
D. Crouching, Dragon, Hiding Tiger. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle2085.txt | Do you know what Oscar is? When did it start? Maybe you can find the background of the awards in the following passage.
The awards started in 1929. Their full title is "The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards". The Academy is a group of people who have worked in the film industry for many years. They decide who will receive the awards. The awards are often referred to as the "Oscar". This is a nickname given to the awards by a lady called Margaret Herrick. She was once the director of the Academy and she once said that the little gold statue reminded her of her uncle Oscar!
The Oscar is always an exciting event. Each year, at least one unusual thing happens. When the Italian actor and director Roberto Benigni won an Oscar for best foreign film, he danced on stage! When Gwyneth Paltrow, the star of Shakespeare in Love won the Oscar for best actress, she could not make her acceptance speech because she was crying so much with happiness!
In 1987, Roberto Benigni won the award for best director for a film about the last emperor of China. Since then, Chinese film and actors have started to make an impact at the award. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a huge success and it won the award for best foreign language film in 2001. It also won several technical awards for its amazing "flying" people. We expect to see more awards for Chinese film in the near future.
It's time for the Oscar again. Once more, the stars will dress up in their finest and go to Kodak Theater. There, they will find out who had won the awards for best actor, best actress and best director. Millions of people watch the awards every year to find out who the winners are. Some people watch it to see the stars crying and laughing as they receive their awards. | [
"Crouching Dragon, Hidden Tiger.",
"Crouching and Hidden Dragon and Tiger.",
"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.",
"Crouching, Dragon, Hiding Tiger."
] |
What may make the cable stay in place on the moon? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Think about the longest elevator ride that you've ever taken. Whether you rose five or 100 floors, it probably took less than a few minutes. Now imagine riding in an elevator higher and higher as it climbs for nearly a day. When you reach the top floor, prepare for views that are really out of this world. You'll be in space!
Space elevators might sound like a crazy idea, but they're something scientists have been working on for decades.
At the moment, riding in a capsule is the only way ordinary people can get to and from space. But those rides are very expensive---about $ 25 million per person per flight. Now scientists are making efforts to reduce the expense of those rides.
Researchers are still figuring out the details about how a space elevator might work. One idea is stretching a very long cable -- more than 37,000 kilometers -- up to space from the earth's equator . Objects in space above the equator orbit (......) the earth at the same speed that our planet turns. A weight on the end of the cable would stretch it tight. An elevator tied to the cable could use _ to climb up and down.
The only problem is that besides being long, this cable must also be very strong. Storms, including hurricanes might break it. One way to solve this problem is to stretch the cable from the moon instead of from the earth. Airplanes designed to climb higher than a typical jet might take off from the earth and link up with the cable, which would be held in place by the pull of gravity from the earth. An elevator car waiting there would then take riders the rest of the way to the moon. Fueled by solar power, the elevator could transport people and materials without much expense or effort per ride.
Question:
What may make the cable stay in place on the moon?
Choices:
A. The elevator car on the moon.
B. The elevator fastened to the cable.
C. The pull of gravity from the earth.
D. The speed of the moon orbiting the earth. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high12997.txt | Think about the longest elevator ride that you've ever taken. Whether you rose five or 100 floors, it probably took less than a few minutes. Now imagine riding in an elevator higher and higher as it climbs for nearly a day. When you reach the top floor, prepare for views that are really out of this world. You'll be in space!
Space elevators might sound like a crazy idea, but they're something scientists have been working on for decades.
At the moment, riding in a capsule is the only way ordinary people can get to and from space. But those rides are very expensive---about $ 25 million per person per flight. Now scientists are making efforts to reduce the expense of those rides.
Researchers are still figuring out the details about how a space elevator might work. One idea is stretching a very long cable -- more than 37,000 kilometers -- up to space from the earth's equator . Objects in space above the equator orbit (......) the earth at the same speed that our planet turns. A weight on the end of the cable would stretch it tight. An elevator tied to the cable could use _ to climb up and down.
The only problem is that besides being long, this cable must also be very strong. Storms, including hurricanes might break it. One way to solve this problem is to stretch the cable from the moon instead of from the earth. Airplanes designed to climb higher than a typical jet might take off from the earth and link up with the cable, which would be held in place by the pull of gravity from the earth. An elevator car waiting there would then take riders the rest of the way to the moon. Fueled by solar power, the elevator could transport people and materials without much expense or effort per ride. | [
"The elevator car on the moon.",
"The elevator fastened to the cable.",
"The pull of gravity from the earth.",
"The speed of the moon orbiting the earth."
] |
Rohan owns a 20-square meter coconut farm. Each square meter has 2 coconut trees and each tree has 6 coconuts. If the coconuts can be harvested every 3 months and each coconut costs $0.50, how much will he earn after 6 months? | Rohan has a total of 20 x 2 = <<20*2=40>>40 coconut trees.
And he has a total of 40 x 6 = <<40*6=240>>240 coconuts.
So, the total coconut he will have after 6 months is 240 x 2= <<240*2=480>>480.
Therefore, the total amount he will earn is 480 x $0.50 = $<<480*0.5=240>>240.
#### 240 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Rohan owns a 20-square meter coconut farm. Each square meter has 2 coconut trees and each tree has 6 coconuts. If the coconuts can be harvested every 3 months and each coconut costs $0.50, how much will he earn after 6 months? | Rohan has a total of 20 x 2 = <<20*2=40>>40 coconut trees.
And he has a total of 40 x 6 = <<40*6=240>>240 coconuts.
So, the total coconut he will have after 6 months is 240 x 2= <<240*2=480>>480.
Therefore, the total amount he will earn is 480 x $0.50 = $<<480*0.5=240>>240.
#### 240 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
How many sets of chromosomes do gametes contain? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | How many sets of chromosomes do gametes contain? | single | science | null | null | null | eight | twelve | four | single | null | null | null | |
The passage implies that_. | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Things you need to know about studying there
Study style
Since the 1950s, the Netherlands has had courses in English especially for foreign students. Students are expected to be critical of what they read and hear, and to be able of working independently. Foreign students will soon notice that at Dutch institutions for higher learning people are expected to do a lot of talking. The most common form of teaching is the seminar or working group, where a small group of students work under a teacher's supervision to analyze a certain problem. On exams, they have to show that they know the material, and that they have formed well-founded opinions on the subject.
Accommodations
If you are in an exchange programme or an international course, it is quite possible that a room will be arranged for you. Accept it immediately, or you will regret it later. That's because finding a place to live in a country as crowded as the Netherlands is not easy.
Before you leave China, ask your host institution whether or not housing will indeed be arranged in advance. If you are in the Netherlands and still looking for a place, ask the international relations office or the student dean for advice.
Expences
Tuition:
Bachelor's degree:about 2,500 euros a year
Master's degree: 5,000-12,000 euros a year
Living expenses:
Experience has shown that a year in the Netherlands costs a Chinese
Student about 450-700 euros a month.
Here is a breakdown of average prices of supermarket goods:
Litre of milk: 0.5--0.8 euro
Kilo of apples: 1.5 euros
Shampoo, 400ml: 4 euros
Tube of toothpaste: 1 euro
Bed sheet: 20 euros
Other expenses:
Haircut: 15 euros
Air ticket to China: 600-800 euros
Mobile phone call(one minute): 0.1-0.3 euro
Phone call to China (with IP card): 7 euros(one minute)
Postage stamp in the Netherlands: 0.39 euro
Stamp for China: 0.78 euro
(1 euro-about 10 yuan)
Transportation
Trains, buses and trams run throughout the country.
If you really want to sample Dutch life, and get around quickly and easily, buy yourself a bicycle. Most students buy second-hand bicycles. A reasonable one will cost you 70-120 euros.
You can find them at second-hand bicycle shops or at the bicycle parking facilities near railway stations.
Question:
The passage implies that_.
Choices:
A. it is easier to find a room in Netherlands
B. it is difficult to find a room in Netherlands
C. your host institution will surely find a room for you
D. the international relations office can find a room for you | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1987.txt | Things you need to know about studying there
Study style
Since the 1950s, the Netherlands has had courses in English especially for foreign students. Students are expected to be critical of what they read and hear, and to be able of working independently. Foreign students will soon notice that at Dutch institutions for higher learning people are expected to do a lot of talking. The most common form of teaching is the seminar or working group, where a small group of students work under a teacher's supervision to analyze a certain problem. On exams, they have to show that they know the material, and that they have formed well-founded opinions on the subject.
Accommodations
If you are in an exchange programme or an international course, it is quite possible that a room will be arranged for you. Accept it immediately, or you will regret it later. That's because finding a place to live in a country as crowded as the Netherlands is not easy.
Before you leave China, ask your host institution whether or not housing will indeed be arranged in advance. If you are in the Netherlands and still looking for a place, ask the international relations office or the student dean for advice.
Expences
Tuition:
Bachelor's degree:about 2,500 euros a year
Master's degree: 5,000-12,000 euros a year
Living expenses:
Experience has shown that a year in the Netherlands costs a Chinese
Student about 450-700 euros a month.
Here is a breakdown of average prices of supermarket goods:
Litre of milk: 0.5--0.8 euro
Kilo of apples: 1.5 euros
Shampoo, 400ml: 4 euros
Tube of toothpaste: 1 euro
Bed sheet: 20 euros
Other expenses:
Haircut: 15 euros
Air ticket to China: 600-800 euros
Mobile phone call(one minute): 0.1-0.3 euro
Phone call to China (with IP card): 7 euros(one minute)
Postage stamp in the Netherlands: 0.39 euro
Stamp for China: 0.78 euro
(1 euro-about 10 yuan)
Transportation
Trains, buses and trams run throughout the country.
If you really want to sample Dutch life, and get around quickly and easily, buy yourself a bicycle. Most students buy second-hand bicycles. A reasonable one will cost you 70-120 euros.
You can find them at second-hand bicycle shops or at the bicycle parking facilities near railway stations. | [
"it is easier to find a room in Netherlands",
"it is difficult to find a room in Netherlands",
"your host institution will surely find a room for you",
"the international relations office can find a room for you"
] |
Steven's leaving _ for vacation. | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Peter: What are you doing for vacation, Steven?
Steven: I'm visiting my aunt in San Francisco. My brother's staying there. He's joining a club.
Peter: Oh? When are you going?
Steven: Next Friday.
Peter: How long are you staying?
Steven: I'm staying at my aunt's home for four days. I'm going sightseeing in San Francisco, and then I'm seeing all of my friends New York. How about you?
Peter: I'm going to the beach and my friends and I are also going hiking for a few days.
Steven: Aren't you renting video tapes and relaxing at home?
Peter: No, it's boring. We like outside activities.
Question:
Steven's leaving _ for vacation.
Choices:
A. tomorrow
B. next month
C. next Friday
D. next year | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5631.txt | Peter: What are you doing for vacation, Steven?
Steven: I'm visiting my aunt in San Francisco. My brother's staying there. He's joining a club.
Peter: Oh? When are you going?
Steven: Next Friday.
Peter: How long are you staying?
Steven: I'm staying at my aunt's home for four days. I'm going sightseeing in San Francisco, and then I'm seeing all of my friends New York. How about you?
Peter: I'm going to the beach and my friends and I are also going hiking for a few days.
Steven: Aren't you renting video tapes and relaxing at home?
Peter: No, it's boring. We like outside activities. | [
"tomorrow",
"next month",
"next Friday",
"next year"
] |
We may infer from the tips that _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
When the musical sound rings you, you immediately reach for your pocket ready to have a chat. But although you probably use it all the time, have you ever thought about the manners related to talking on the phone? If you haven't, here are some tips to guide you.
*Always give the person you are calling plenty of time to get to the phone before you hang up. If the person who answers is not the one you want, give your name and ask if you may speak to the person you want.
*Think about the time you call people. Try not to call too early in the morning (before about 9:00) or too late at night (after about 9:30). Also try not to call at mealtimes.
*If you go by plane to visit your relatives at Christmas, remember to follow airline instructions. Cell phone must be turned off as soon as the plane doors are closed and remain so until the doors open again on arrival.
*When you're face to face with someone, do not talk on the phone. It is rude to be on the phone when a waiter is trying to take your order in a restaurant, or when you are returning the shoes you have just been trying on in a shop. Finish any face-to-face business before taking a call. Continuing to use the phone while nodding to the person in front of you is quite impolite.
*When in a restaurant with your friends, keep phone conversations short. Make a call only if it is important. Practice speaking in a low voice. If no one turns to your way, _ .
*If you go to a theatre, a concert or a cinema, consider the other people around you. Check that your phone is "off" before you enter. If you are expecting a very important call, put your phone on "vibrate" and run for the exit as soon as you feel it. If you forget both "off" and "vibrate" and your phone rings, don't answer it, turn it off straight away.
Question:
We may infer from the tips that _ .
Choices:
A. some people didn't pay much attention to manners while making cell phone calls.
B. You must hang up quickly if the person you are calling is not the one you want.
C. calling people too early or too late is not polite.
D. almost everyone has got a cell phone. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9034.txt | When the musical sound rings you, you immediately reach for your pocket ready to have a chat. But although you probably use it all the time, have you ever thought about the manners related to talking on the phone? If you haven't, here are some tips to guide you.
*Always give the person you are calling plenty of time to get to the phone before you hang up. If the person who answers is not the one you want, give your name and ask if you may speak to the person you want.
*Think about the time you call people. Try not to call too early in the morning (before about 9:00) or too late at night (after about 9:30). Also try not to call at mealtimes.
*If you go by plane to visit your relatives at Christmas, remember to follow airline instructions. Cell phone must be turned off as soon as the plane doors are closed and remain so until the doors open again on arrival.
*When you're face to face with someone, do not talk on the phone. It is rude to be on the phone when a waiter is trying to take your order in a restaurant, or when you are returning the shoes you have just been trying on in a shop. Finish any face-to-face business before taking a call. Continuing to use the phone while nodding to the person in front of you is quite impolite.
*When in a restaurant with your friends, keep phone conversations short. Make a call only if it is important. Practice speaking in a low voice. If no one turns to your way, _ .
*If you go to a theatre, a concert or a cinema, consider the other people around you. Check that your phone is "off" before you enter. If you are expecting a very important call, put your phone on "vibrate" and run for the exit as soon as you feel it. If you forget both "off" and "vibrate" and your phone rings, don't answer it, turn it off straight away. | [
"some people didn't pay much attention to manners while making cell phone calls.",
"You must hang up quickly if the person you are calling is not the one you want.",
"calling people too early or too late is not polite.",
"almost everyone has got a cell phone."
] |
Mary is counting the number of minnows in the pond. 40% of the minnows have red bellies, 30% have green bellies and the rest have white bellies. If 20 minnows have red bellies, how many minnows have white bellies? | First find the total number of minnows by dividing the number of red minnows by the percentage of minnows that are red: 20 minnows / 40% = 50 minnows
Then subtract the percentages of red- and green-bellied minnows to find the percentage of white-bellied minnows: 100% - 40% - 30% = 30%
Then multiply the total number of minnows by the percentage that have white bellies: 30% * 50 minnows = <<30*.01*50=15>>15 minnows
#### 15 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Mary is counting the number of minnows in the pond. 40% of the minnows have red bellies, 30% have green bellies and the rest have white bellies. If 20 minnows have red bellies, how many minnows have white bellies? | First find the total number of minnows by dividing the number of red minnows by the percentage of minnows that are red: 20 minnows / 40% = 50 minnows
Then subtract the percentages of red- and green-bellied minnows to find the percentage of white-bellied minnows: 100% - 40% - 30% = 30%
Then multiply the total number of minnows by the percentage that have white bellies: 30% * 50 minnows = <<30*.01*50=15>>15 minnows
#### 15 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Hendricks buys a guitar for $200, which is 20% less than what Gerald bought the same guitar for. How much did Gerald pay for his guitar? | Let G be the price Gerald paid for his guitar.
Then 0.8 * G = $200
So G = $200 / 0.8 = $<<200/0.8=250>>250
#### 250 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Hendricks buys a guitar for $200, which is 20% less than what Gerald bought the same guitar for. How much did Gerald pay for his guitar? | Let G be the price Gerald paid for his guitar.
Then 0.8 * G = $200
So G = $200 / 0.8 = $<<200/0.8=250>>250
#### 250 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
The writer thinks that _ are the safest. | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Many people love going on a trip by plane, because planes are fast. But an airport is usually far away from the city, and it usually takes hours to get out of the airport and into the city. You have to get there and wait for the plane to _ for hours. You can not open the window, and you can not have delicious food.
I like travelling by train. I think trains are the safest . Train stations are usually in cities. When you are late for a train, you can catch another one. You can walk around in the train and look out of the window. You can see many interesting things on your way. I know it takes some time.
I also like cars. You can start your trip when you want to, and you don't need to get to a station. You can carry many things with you, too. But sometimes there are many cars on the road.
Question:
The writer thinks that _ are the safest.
Choices:
A. trains
B. planes
C. boats
D. cars | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle2336.txt | Many people love going on a trip by plane, because planes are fast. But an airport is usually far away from the city, and it usually takes hours to get out of the airport and into the city. You have to get there and wait for the plane to _ for hours. You can not open the window, and you can not have delicious food.
I like travelling by train. I think trains are the safest . Train stations are usually in cities. When you are late for a train, you can catch another one. You can walk around in the train and look out of the window. You can see many interesting things on your way. I know it takes some time.
I also like cars. You can start your trip when you want to, and you don't need to get to a station. You can carry many things with you, too. But sometimes there are many cars on the road. | [
"trains",
"planes",
"boats",
"cars"
] |
What may teachers not do? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
This is my school. There are many trees and flowers in it. The teaching building is big and tall. There is a big playground in our school..It is very nice to have it . After 4:30 in the afternoon, many students come to the playground to play football and some students play table tennis in the table tennis room.
There are 1,200 students in 30 classes in our school. The students all like to study. The teachers in our school are very good. They help the students to study and sometimes play with them .All the students like them, too.
Question:
What may teachers not do?
Choices:
A. give the students lessons.
B. play football and table tennis with the students.
C. don't like some students.
D. help students study | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3697.txt | This is my school. There are many trees and flowers in it. The teaching building is big and tall. There is a big playground in our school..It is very nice to have it . After 4:30 in the afternoon, many students come to the playground to play football and some students play table tennis in the table tennis room.
There are 1,200 students in 30 classes in our school. The students all like to study. The teachers in our school are very good. They help the students to study and sometimes play with them .All the students like them, too. | [
"give the students lessons.",
"play football and table tennis with the students.",
"don't like some students.",
"help students study"
] |
What can we know about TechShop from the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Maurice Mountain is a retired lawyer in Washington, D.C. He developed a prototype for a device he calls the Presto Emergency Boat Ladder. His invention is a small folding ladder that attaches to the side of a boat to help people who fall into the water. Mr. Mountain plans to mass-produce his boat ladder.
He created his invention at a workshop called TechShop. Mr. Mountain says, "I think it encourages innovation. I think people who probably have had ideas rolling around in the back of their minds for years but have never had the opportunity to actually put them into production or even experiment with them would find this place wonderful. Members of TechShop use high-tech equipment to develop and produce ideas they have for inventions." Isabella Musachio manages a TechShop in Arlington, Virginia. She says the shop has many different kinds of equipment.
"TechShop is a do-it-yourself maker space. So when you come in we have all these different areas of the shop, and we have a metal shop, wood shop, lasers, 3D printers, electronics. I mean, we have so many different areas and we have all the equipment that is availahle to anybody above the age of 12."
Membership costs for TechShop start at just over $ 100 per month. Members are able to use costly machines including 3D modeling tools and laser cutters. Isabella Musachio says TechShop helps its members build their dreams.
"Our motto is 'build your dreams here' because you can really come in with just an idea, and then with the help of TechShop make that leap from an idea to building your project o, your prototype or even your business."
Jim Newton is the founder of TechShop. He first introduced the idea for the technology workshops at an arts and sciences event called Maker Faire in San Mateo, California in 2006. His idea attracted hundreds of members during that event, Now, there are eight TechShop locations in the U. S. In all, there are more than 6,000 members. Two more-TechShop locations in the cities of St. Louis and Look Angeles will be set up.
Question:
What can we know about TechShop from the passage?
Choices:
A. TechShop is founded by Maurice Mountain.
B. TechShop puts high-tech dreams within reach.
C. TechShop is a non-profit organization.
D. TechShop offers its members more ideas. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high10945.txt | Maurice Mountain is a retired lawyer in Washington, D.C. He developed a prototype for a device he calls the Presto Emergency Boat Ladder. His invention is a small folding ladder that attaches to the side of a boat to help people who fall into the water. Mr. Mountain plans to mass-produce his boat ladder.
He created his invention at a workshop called TechShop. Mr. Mountain says, "I think it encourages innovation. I think people who probably have had ideas rolling around in the back of their minds for years but have never had the opportunity to actually put them into production or even experiment with them would find this place wonderful. Members of TechShop use high-tech equipment to develop and produce ideas they have for inventions." Isabella Musachio manages a TechShop in Arlington, Virginia. She says the shop has many different kinds of equipment.
"TechShop is a do-it-yourself maker space. So when you come in we have all these different areas of the shop, and we have a metal shop, wood shop, lasers, 3D printers, electronics. I mean, we have so many different areas and we have all the equipment that is availahle to anybody above the age of 12."
Membership costs for TechShop start at just over $ 100 per month. Members are able to use costly machines including 3D modeling tools and laser cutters. Isabella Musachio says TechShop helps its members build their dreams.
"Our motto is 'build your dreams here' because you can really come in with just an idea, and then with the help of TechShop make that leap from an idea to building your project o, your prototype or even your business."
Jim Newton is the founder of TechShop. He first introduced the idea for the technology workshops at an arts and sciences event called Maker Faire in San Mateo, California in 2006. His idea attracted hundreds of members during that event, Now, there are eight TechShop locations in the U. S. In all, there are more than 6,000 members. Two more-TechShop locations in the cities of St. Louis and Look Angeles will be set up. | [
"TechShop is founded by Maurice Mountain.",
"TechShop puts high-tech dreams within reach.",
"TechShop is a non-profit organization.",
"TechShop offers its members more ideas."
] |
What does the word that in Para.7 refers to ? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
On the first day of school, Jack found a little old lady with a warm smile."Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I'm 87 years old."she said.
"Why are you in university at such a YOUNG age?" Jack asked.
"I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of kids, and then retired and travel." she answered.
Jack knew she's joking but he was surprised what encouraged her to be here at her age.
"I always dreamed of having a university education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. We became friends. Every day they would talk after class. Jack always enjoyed listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with him. And Rose easily made friends wherever she went.
At the end of the term, Rose was invited to make a little speech. She said, "We don't stop playing because we're old. We grow old because we stop playing. Being happy and achieving success may keep you staying young. If you have a dream, hold on. When you lose your dreams, you die."
"Anybody can grow older. _ doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the chance in change..."
Question:
What does the word that in Para.7 refers to ?
Choices:
A. Growing older.
B. Growing up
C. Staying young
D. Being happy | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5079.txt | On the first day of school, Jack found a little old lady with a warm smile."Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I'm 87 years old."she said.
"Why are you in university at such a YOUNG age?" Jack asked.
"I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of kids, and then retired and travel." she answered.
Jack knew she's joking but he was surprised what encouraged her to be here at her age.
"I always dreamed of having a university education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. We became friends. Every day they would talk after class. Jack always enjoyed listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with him. And Rose easily made friends wherever she went.
At the end of the term, Rose was invited to make a little speech. She said, "We don't stop playing because we're old. We grow old because we stop playing. Being happy and achieving success may keep you staying young. If you have a dream, hold on. When you lose your dreams, you die."
"Anybody can grow older. _ doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the chance in change..." | [
"Growing older.",
"Growing up",
"Staying young",
"Being happy"
] |
What can we learn about Amelia Atwater - Rhodes? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It was on her 14th birthday that her first book ,In the Forest of the Night, was accepted for publication. It was a huge success gaining the attention of millions of young readers. At 16, her second novel,Demon in My View, also reached the bookstores. Several books later, the teenage author still works away in her room, surrounded by shelves full of dark tales about vampires and witches. Amelia Atwater - Rhodes is widely seen as America's finest teen writer and was named one of Teen People's "20 Teens Who Will Change the World."
Born in 1984, she began making up stories when she was about three years old. "I never stopped and said, 'I want to write'," Amelia remembers. "I loved stories and created stories before I was old enough to know how to write them down."
In her family, reading was basic and fun. "My parents encouraged me to read -- and to read anything I wanted, so long as I was reading," she said. "They never restricted what I read. Later, when I started writing, they never criticized what I did or said I was 'too young'. They never said it was impossible for me to achieve what I have."
In her short but successful career, Amelia has tried different styles. But vampires were the first characters to really come alive in her work. From _ she has developed a whole world, one which she always enjoys learning more about.
As a published teen writer, Amelia's advice to other teens who dream of being authors is: just do it! "I believe anything is possible. Don't give up your dreams just because you fear failure. Getting a book published is difficult, but if I can do it, others can too. "
Question:
What can we learn about Amelia Atwater - Rhodes?
Choices:
A. Reading widely helped her a lot in her career.
B. She found getting a book published was easy.
C. Vampires have been the only characters in her books.
D. Her parents began to teach her to make up stories when she was 3. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high12929.txt | It was on her 14th birthday that her first book ,In the Forest of the Night, was accepted for publication. It was a huge success gaining the attention of millions of young readers. At 16, her second novel,Demon in My View, also reached the bookstores. Several books later, the teenage author still works away in her room, surrounded by shelves full of dark tales about vampires and witches. Amelia Atwater - Rhodes is widely seen as America's finest teen writer and was named one of Teen People's "20 Teens Who Will Change the World."
Born in 1984, she began making up stories when she was about three years old. "I never stopped and said, 'I want to write'," Amelia remembers. "I loved stories and created stories before I was old enough to know how to write them down."
In her family, reading was basic and fun. "My parents encouraged me to read -- and to read anything I wanted, so long as I was reading," she said. "They never restricted what I read. Later, when I started writing, they never criticized what I did or said I was 'too young'. They never said it was impossible for me to achieve what I have."
In her short but successful career, Amelia has tried different styles. But vampires were the first characters to really come alive in her work. From _ she has developed a whole world, one which she always enjoys learning more about.
As a published teen writer, Amelia's advice to other teens who dream of being authors is: just do it! "I believe anything is possible. Don't give up your dreams just because you fear failure. Getting a book published is difficult, but if I can do it, others can too. " | [
"Reading widely helped her a lot in her career.",
"She found getting a book published was easy.",
"Vampires have been the only characters in her books.",
"Her parents began to teach her to make up stories when she was 3."
] |
What kind of people may not know the word "duang"? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The character "duang" is so new that it does not even exist in the Chinese dictionary. But it has already spread like wildfire online in China, appearing more than 8 million times on China's micro-blogging site Weibo, where it spawned a top-trending hashtag that drew 312,000 discussions among 15,000 users. On China's biggest online search engine Baidu, it has been looked up almost 600,000 times. It's been noticed in the West too, with Foreign Policy seeing it as a "break the internet" viral meme - like a certain Kirn Kardashian image, or a certain multicoloured dress.
But what does it mean? "Everyone's duang-ing and I still don't know what it means! As if it's back to school for me," said Weibo user Weileiweito. Another user asked: "Have you duang-ed today? My mind is full of duang duang duang." "To duang or not to duang, that is the question," wrote user BaiKut automan.
"Duang" seems to be an example of onomatopoeia , a word that phonetically imitates a sound. It all seems to have started with Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan, who in 2004 was featured in a shampoo commercial where he said famously defended his sleek, black hair using the rhythmical-sounding "duang". The word resurfaced again recently after Chan posted it on his Weibo page. Thousands of users then began to flood Chan's Weibo page with comments, coining the word in reference to his infamous shampoo appearance.
The word appears to have many different meanings, and there's no perfect translation, but you could use it as an adjective to give emphasis to the word that follows it. A kitten might be "duang cute", for example. Or you might be "very duang confused" by this blog.
For readers of Chinese characters, the Jackie Chan theme is also apparent from the quirky way in which the word is written: a combination of Chan's Mandarin names.
Question:
What kind of people may not know the word "duang"?
Choices:
A. the old who are over sixties
B. the young who are in fashion
C. a boy who has dropped out of school
D. a woman who never surfs the internet | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9931.txt | The character "duang" is so new that it does not even exist in the Chinese dictionary. But it has already spread like wildfire online in China, appearing more than 8 million times on China's micro-blogging site Weibo, where it spawned a top-trending hashtag that drew 312,000 discussions among 15,000 users. On China's biggest online search engine Baidu, it has been looked up almost 600,000 times. It's been noticed in the West too, with Foreign Policy seeing it as a "break the internet" viral meme - like a certain Kirn Kardashian image, or a certain multicoloured dress.
But what does it mean? "Everyone's duang-ing and I still don't know what it means! As if it's back to school for me," said Weibo user Weileiweito. Another user asked: "Have you duang-ed today? My mind is full of duang duang duang." "To duang or not to duang, that is the question," wrote user BaiKut automan.
"Duang" seems to be an example of onomatopoeia , a word that phonetically imitates a sound. It all seems to have started with Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan, who in 2004 was featured in a shampoo commercial where he said famously defended his sleek, black hair using the rhythmical-sounding "duang". The word resurfaced again recently after Chan posted it on his Weibo page. Thousands of users then began to flood Chan's Weibo page with comments, coining the word in reference to his infamous shampoo appearance.
The word appears to have many different meanings, and there's no perfect translation, but you could use it as an adjective to give emphasis to the word that follows it. A kitten might be "duang cute", for example. Or you might be "very duang confused" by this blog.
For readers of Chinese characters, the Jackie Chan theme is also apparent from the quirky way in which the word is written: a combination of Chan's Mandarin names. | [
"the old who are over sixties",
"the young who are in fashion",
"a boy who has dropped out of school",
"a woman who never surfs the internet"
] |
What would probably be the best title for this passage? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The story happened during the Second World War. An old man lived in a small town of Germany. He had three sons and they all worked in the same factory where he had worked. After the war had begun, his sons were all made to join the army one after another and they all died in the fights. The old man was very sad. He didn't have enough food and was often hungry. And nobody helped him and he didn't know how to go on living.
It was a very cold winter night. The old man couldn't go to sleep. He had been hungry for two days and it was so cold in his room that ice could be seen. He had to get up and began to run in the room until he lay down on the floor. The next morning he had to beg from door to door. He had been to a lot of cities and knew a lot.
Once he came to a village, but the villagers were all poor and couldn't give him anything. He was too hungry to go to another village. He thought hard and found a way. He came to a police station and called out, "Hitler is a foolish pig!"
Out came an old policeman at once. He took the old man into a room, gave him some bread and a cup of tea. Then he said, "Don't say so in our village, sir!"
"I'm sorry, sir," said the old man. "I don't know it's Hitler's hometown." "No, no, sir," the policeman said in a hurry. "It's pigs' hometown!"
Question:
What would probably be the best title for this passage?
Choices:
A. An Old Man and His Three Sons
B. Hitler is a Foolish Pig
C. It's Hitler's Hometown
D. It's Pigs' Hometown | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high2838.txt | The story happened during the Second World War. An old man lived in a small town of Germany. He had three sons and they all worked in the same factory where he had worked. After the war had begun, his sons were all made to join the army one after another and they all died in the fights. The old man was very sad. He didn't have enough food and was often hungry. And nobody helped him and he didn't know how to go on living.
It was a very cold winter night. The old man couldn't go to sleep. He had been hungry for two days and it was so cold in his room that ice could be seen. He had to get up and began to run in the room until he lay down on the floor. The next morning he had to beg from door to door. He had been to a lot of cities and knew a lot.
Once he came to a village, but the villagers were all poor and couldn't give him anything. He was too hungry to go to another village. He thought hard and found a way. He came to a police station and called out, "Hitler is a foolish pig!"
Out came an old policeman at once. He took the old man into a room, gave him some bread and a cup of tea. Then he said, "Don't say so in our village, sir!"
"I'm sorry, sir," said the old man. "I don't know it's Hitler's hometown." "No, no, sir," the policeman said in a hurry. "It's pigs' hometown!" | [
"An Old Man and His Three Sons",
"Hitler is a Foolish Pig",
"It's Hitler's Hometown",
"It's Pigs' Hometown"
] |
The purpose of this passage is to tell us _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
I was very sympathetic with world leaders burdened with resolving conflicts between nations. When my three children were young, in most days it was hard to keep my house from becoming a war zone. It got worse as they grew older. Three years ago, Zack, then 16, couldn't make it through a day without playing tricks on his sisters, Alex and Taryn, then 11 and 9.
My husband and I tried to understand his adolescent moodiness. We begged, reasoned, punished, and left heartfelt notes on his bed about how his behavior was hurting our family. His response was a shrug and "I say it because it's true".
I even tried telling the girls to fight back. But it was a bad idea. Now I had three kids at war. At wit's end, I poured my heart out to my sister in an e-mail. She wrote back, "Don't e-mail me. E-mail him."
Our son was online every day, mailing and instantly messaging his friends. So what if I was within shouting distance? Maybe he would actually hear me this way. There'd be no yelling or door slamming . Zack wouldn't feel under attack. And with a few simple keystrokes, he could respond. Or not. Zack didn't reply for days. When he finally did, his entire message was four words. I expected the worst, but then smiled when I read them, "You are right. I'm sorry." The kids still fought, of course, but Zack scaled back the abuse . Best of all, I now have an effective way to communicate with not one but three easily annoyed teens. They don't tune me out as much. They don't like to listen to me nag .Or as Alex says, "You're so much nicer online."
All I know is that the house is quiet, and we're talking. In fact, Taryn just instantly messaged me from upstairs. It's time to take her to softball practice.
Question:
The purpose of this passage is to tell us _ .
Choices:
A. how to solve family problems
B. how a mother shows her love to her children
C. how to treat kids in a more sensible way
D. the value of understanding between parents and children | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high6054.txt | I was very sympathetic with world leaders burdened with resolving conflicts between nations. When my three children were young, in most days it was hard to keep my house from becoming a war zone. It got worse as they grew older. Three years ago, Zack, then 16, couldn't make it through a day without playing tricks on his sisters, Alex and Taryn, then 11 and 9.
My husband and I tried to understand his adolescent moodiness. We begged, reasoned, punished, and left heartfelt notes on his bed about how his behavior was hurting our family. His response was a shrug and "I say it because it's true".
I even tried telling the girls to fight back. But it was a bad idea. Now I had three kids at war. At wit's end, I poured my heart out to my sister in an e-mail. She wrote back, "Don't e-mail me. E-mail him."
Our son was online every day, mailing and instantly messaging his friends. So what if I was within shouting distance? Maybe he would actually hear me this way. There'd be no yelling or door slamming . Zack wouldn't feel under attack. And with a few simple keystrokes, he could respond. Or not. Zack didn't reply for days. When he finally did, his entire message was four words. I expected the worst, but then smiled when I read them, "You are right. I'm sorry." The kids still fought, of course, but Zack scaled back the abuse . Best of all, I now have an effective way to communicate with not one but three easily annoyed teens. They don't tune me out as much. They don't like to listen to me nag .Or as Alex says, "You're so much nicer online."
All I know is that the house is quiet, and we're talking. In fact, Taryn just instantly messaged me from upstairs. It's time to take her to softball practice. | [
"how to solve family problems",
"how a mother shows her love to her children",
"how to treat kids in a more sensible way",
"the value of understanding between parents and children"
] |
Most online shoppers are _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
"Who needs a shopping mall if you have Taobao?" says Wang Lin, 28, a writer in Beijing. Taobao, China's largest online shopping site, becomes an important part of Wang Lin's life. She spends lots of money on Taobao.
Most online shoppers like Wang are students or young workers, More women shop on line than men. Clothing and home-use products are the most popular on line. It was reported that more than 250 billion yuan was spent on online shopping last year, 80% through Taobao.
Taobao means"Looking for treasure" in Chinese .People can find almost everything they need on Taobao, from clothes to books, from candies to DVD players.
You may question the _ of online shopping. Wang Lin says ,"It's very safe and conveniet . If you don't like the products from the sellers, the seller can't get the money. You can also get your money back if you want to return the products.
Question:
Most online shoppers are _ .
Choices:
A. young
B. old
C. men
D. women | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle4416.txt | "Who needs a shopping mall if you have Taobao?" says Wang Lin, 28, a writer in Beijing. Taobao, China's largest online shopping site, becomes an important part of Wang Lin's life. She spends lots of money on Taobao.
Most online shoppers like Wang are students or young workers, More women shop on line than men. Clothing and home-use products are the most popular on line. It was reported that more than 250 billion yuan was spent on online shopping last year, 80% through Taobao.
Taobao means"Looking for treasure" in Chinese .People can find almost everything they need on Taobao, from clothes to books, from candies to DVD players.
You may question the _ of online shopping. Wang Lin says ,"It's very safe and conveniet . If you don't like the products from the sellers, the seller can't get the money. You can also get your money back if you want to return the products. | [
"young",
"old",
"men",
"women"
] |
According to the passage, Westerners _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Most Westerners--particularly most Americans--are not nearly as concerned about protocol in social matters as Chinese people are. America is a nation of immigrants. It's made up of people from all over the world, all of whom bring their own traditions and habits with them. Thus you needn't worry much about "proper" behavior :who sits next to whom at the dinner table, what is the suitable dress for the occasion, etc. , unless you receive a formal invitation to a dinner or party.
Americans are very direct people. When you want something you say "Yes" and when you don't, you say "No". If you want something different from what is offered, you ask for it. Westerners will not ask you again and again or try to press something on you after you have said you don't want it. In fact, if you say "No" when you really want something to drink or to eat, you may find yourself very thirsty or hungry.
But there are a few Western customs which are very important and you should try at all times to observe.A Westerner doesn't leave his paper or cloth on the table. He puts it on his lap where it's supposed to protect his clothes from spilled food or uses it to wipe his hand or mouth when necessary.
A Westerner doesn't put his own fork, knife or spoon into a serving bowl. He uses it in the bowl to put some of the food on his own plate, and then returns the serving fork(knife or spoon) to the bowl.
A Westerner doesn't spit food anywhere. If he has bones in his mouth, he takes them out with his fingers and places them on the edge of his plate, never on the table or floor.
A Westerner doesn't belch out loud. If he does, he says "Excuse me" quietly and goes on with the conversation.
Question:
According to the passage, Westerners _ .
Choices:
A. care what they wear very much
B. care who offers the first toast at dinner
C. do the same things as Chinese do
D. don't care what you wear, who sits next to whom | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high12823.txt | Most Westerners--particularly most Americans--are not nearly as concerned about protocol in social matters as Chinese people are. America is a nation of immigrants. It's made up of people from all over the world, all of whom bring their own traditions and habits with them. Thus you needn't worry much about "proper" behavior :who sits next to whom at the dinner table, what is the suitable dress for the occasion, etc. , unless you receive a formal invitation to a dinner or party.
Americans are very direct people. When you want something you say "Yes" and when you don't, you say "No". If you want something different from what is offered, you ask for it. Westerners will not ask you again and again or try to press something on you after you have said you don't want it. In fact, if you say "No" when you really want something to drink or to eat, you may find yourself very thirsty or hungry.
But there are a few Western customs which are very important and you should try at all times to observe.A Westerner doesn't leave his paper or cloth on the table. He puts it on his lap where it's supposed to protect his clothes from spilled food or uses it to wipe his hand or mouth when necessary.
A Westerner doesn't put his own fork, knife or spoon into a serving bowl. He uses it in the bowl to put some of the food on his own plate, and then returns the serving fork(knife or spoon) to the bowl.
A Westerner doesn't spit food anywhere. If he has bones in his mouth, he takes them out with his fingers and places them on the edge of his plate, never on the table or floor.
A Westerner doesn't belch out loud. If he does, he says "Excuse me" quietly and goes on with the conversation. | [
"care what they wear very much",
"care who offers the first toast at dinner",
"do the same things as Chinese do",
"don't care what you wear, who sits next to whom"
] |
What's the main purpose of the text? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
If your dog or cat is eating grass, it means it's going to rain.
False maybe. There' s no evidence that when a dog or cat is eating grass in the front yard, it' s going to rain. But then, there's no evidence that it isn't going to rain, either. Doctors think dogs and cats eat grass to help make their stomach better or maybe just because they like the taste of it.
You'll get sick if you go outside in cold weather with wet hair.
False. You might feel cold, but you can't catch a cold because you were outside with wet hair.
Many churches have prevented people from throwing rice at weddings because the rice grows larger in a bird's stomach when eaten, causing the bird to explode .
True and false. It's true many churches have prevented people from throwing rice, but this is more likely because the rice can become slick on a road or street. There's nothing about rice that will hurt birds. Rice is an important part of many bird's food.
Chocolate is Poisonous to dogs.
True. Chocolate has theobromine, which can make your dog sick. So, if you don't want to put your dog's life at risk, don't feed it with chocolate.
The number of people visiting the hospital goes way up during a full moon.
False. According to researchers, there is no evidence that more people visit the hospital during a full moon, though more people do seem to get caught by the police during that time. The idea that the moon influences behavior has been studied for thousands of years--even the word "lunacy", which means crazy behavior, is based on the word "luna" or "moon".
Question:
What's the main purpose of the text?
Choices:
A. To give advice on health
B. To provide information about certain stories
C. To test people on their knowledge of animals
D. To report the latest discoveries in science | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high18930.txt | If your dog or cat is eating grass, it means it's going to rain.
False maybe. There' s no evidence that when a dog or cat is eating grass in the front yard, it' s going to rain. But then, there's no evidence that it isn't going to rain, either. Doctors think dogs and cats eat grass to help make their stomach better or maybe just because they like the taste of it.
You'll get sick if you go outside in cold weather with wet hair.
False. You might feel cold, but you can't catch a cold because you were outside with wet hair.
Many churches have prevented people from throwing rice at weddings because the rice grows larger in a bird's stomach when eaten, causing the bird to explode .
True and false. It's true many churches have prevented people from throwing rice, but this is more likely because the rice can become slick on a road or street. There's nothing about rice that will hurt birds. Rice is an important part of many bird's food.
Chocolate is Poisonous to dogs.
True. Chocolate has theobromine, which can make your dog sick. So, if you don't want to put your dog's life at risk, don't feed it with chocolate.
The number of people visiting the hospital goes way up during a full moon.
False. According to researchers, there is no evidence that more people visit the hospital during a full moon, though more people do seem to get caught by the police during that time. The idea that the moon influences behavior has been studied for thousands of years--even the word "lunacy", which means crazy behavior, is based on the word "luna" or "moon". | [
"To give advice on health",
"To provide information about certain stories",
"To test people on their knowledge of animals",
"To report the latest discoveries in science"
] |
It's better to write a poem with rhymes because _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Mother's Day is the time you say "thank you" to your mom. Stop shopping at the store. Flowers and other things in stores are too common to mention. You can choose a special gift for Mother's Day! Just try staying close to home--and heart --write a Mother's Day poem for her.
Use your head. Think of special moments when you were a child, times you've shared with your mom, things she did for you, and why you love her. Write down how those moments influenced you. Write down everything you can think of. This is your inspiration for the poem.
Look at what you wrote and pick out those things that are connected . See if any words rhyme . It's fine to write a free poem(one without rhymes), but many people find poems with rhymes are easier to work with, easier to read and quite catchy . If no words rhyme but you want your poem to, try to find connecting words that can help connect memories.
Once you have a few sentences, put them in a good order. For example, you could start with a childhood memory and end with something you remember from last month.
Add a title that shows the feeling of the poem. Even something as simple as "For Mom" can work, although something more personal might be better.
Write it in pen if you have beautiful handwriting. Read the poem over breakfast on Mother's Day, and then hand it to your mom. Let's wait and see the smile and tears of happiness on her face.
Question:
It's better to write a poem with rhymes because _ .
Choices:
A. it is easier to read and remember
B. it makes the poem more interesting
C. it shows the unforgettable moments
D. it shows how things are connected | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high3626.txt | Mother's Day is the time you say "thank you" to your mom. Stop shopping at the store. Flowers and other things in stores are too common to mention. You can choose a special gift for Mother's Day! Just try staying close to home--and heart --write a Mother's Day poem for her.
Use your head. Think of special moments when you were a child, times you've shared with your mom, things she did for you, and why you love her. Write down how those moments influenced you. Write down everything you can think of. This is your inspiration for the poem.
Look at what you wrote and pick out those things that are connected . See if any words rhyme . It's fine to write a free poem(one without rhymes), but many people find poems with rhymes are easier to work with, easier to read and quite catchy . If no words rhyme but you want your poem to, try to find connecting words that can help connect memories.
Once you have a few sentences, put them in a good order. For example, you could start with a childhood memory and end with something you remember from last month.
Add a title that shows the feeling of the poem. Even something as simple as "For Mom" can work, although something more personal might be better.
Write it in pen if you have beautiful handwriting. Read the poem over breakfast on Mother's Day, and then hand it to your mom. Let's wait and see the smile and tears of happiness on her face. | [
"it is easier to read and remember",
"it makes the poem more interesting",
"it shows the unforgettable moments",
"it shows how things are connected"
] |
What are different forms of the same gene? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What are different forms of the same gene? | alleles | science | null | null | null | nuerons | genomes | peptides | alleles | Homologous chromosomes form a pair, one from each parent. Homologous chromosomes are similar in size and shape, and contain the same genes, though they may have different alleles. Alleles are alternative forms of the same gene. This diagram represents two pairs of homologous chromosomes. | null | null | null |
What's the passage mainly about? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Many parents like setting family rules for their kids. When kids break rules, parents will give them some punishments, which aren't included in rules. In fact, when you tell your kids about a new rule, you should talk with them about the price they should pay for breaking the rule -- what the punishment will be.
Punishments you set should be reasonable, without violence or threat . For example, if you find your son smoking, you may limit his social activities for two weeks. You should punish your kids only in ways you have discussed before the rule is broken. A study shows that the most popular punishment is to limit kids' TV time.
It's understandable that you'll be angry when rules are broken. Punishment is a way to express your anger, but it's not a very good one. Sharing your feelings of anger, disappointment or sadness with your kids can have a better effect on them. Try to do that. When your kids know what they have done has made you sad, they will feel _ . When they know their actions influence you greatly, they will obey rules better.
Rules are made to help your kids behave better. If your rules or ways of punishment make them unhappy or under a lot of pressure, are they helpful?
Question:
What's the passage mainly about?
Choices:
A. How to make rules.
B. Why to make rules.
C. Why to punish kids.
D. How to educate kids. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1581.txt | Many parents like setting family rules for their kids. When kids break rules, parents will give them some punishments, which aren't included in rules. In fact, when you tell your kids about a new rule, you should talk with them about the price they should pay for breaking the rule -- what the punishment will be.
Punishments you set should be reasonable, without violence or threat . For example, if you find your son smoking, you may limit his social activities for two weeks. You should punish your kids only in ways you have discussed before the rule is broken. A study shows that the most popular punishment is to limit kids' TV time.
It's understandable that you'll be angry when rules are broken. Punishment is a way to express your anger, but it's not a very good one. Sharing your feelings of anger, disappointment or sadness with your kids can have a better effect on them. Try to do that. When your kids know what they have done has made you sad, they will feel _ . When they know their actions influence you greatly, they will obey rules better.
Rules are made to help your kids behave better. If your rules or ways of punishment make them unhappy or under a lot of pressure, are they helpful? | [
"How to make rules.",
"Why to make rules.",
"Why to punish kids.",
"How to educate kids."
] |
If you want to share a story of your pets with the readers, you need to send it to _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Share With Us
Would you like to have your writing published in this magazine? Then let us know! We pay for stories, anecdotes and jokes:
Anecdotes and Jokes $50
What made you laugh recently? A funny sign? A colleague's behaviour? Got a joke? Send it in for Laughter is the Best Medicine! Email: Juliet@sws.com
Smart Animals Up to $100
Send us a tale about the strange behaviour of unique pets or wildlife in up 300 words. Email: audry@sws.com
Power of Love Up to $150
Acts of generosity can change lives or just give you that warm feeling full of love. Share your moments 100--500 words. Email: susan@sws.com
My Story $350
Do you have an inspiring or life-changing story to tell? Your story must be true, unpublished, original and 800--
1000 words. Email: nanjc@sws.com
For more information, please visit: http://www.sws.com./share
Question:
If you want to share a story of your pets with the readers, you need to send it to _ .
Choices:
A. Anecdotes and Jokes
B. Smart Animals
C. Power of Love
D. My Story | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high12822.txt | Share With Us
Would you like to have your writing published in this magazine? Then let us know! We pay for stories, anecdotes and jokes:
Anecdotes and Jokes $50
What made you laugh recently? A funny sign? A colleague's behaviour? Got a joke? Send it in for Laughter is the Best Medicine! Email: Juliet@sws.com
Smart Animals Up to $100
Send us a tale about the strange behaviour of unique pets or wildlife in up 300 words. Email: audry@sws.com
Power of Love Up to $150
Acts of generosity can change lives or just give you that warm feeling full of love. Share your moments 100--500 words. Email: susan@sws.com
My Story $350
Do you have an inspiring or life-changing story to tell? Your story must be true, unpublished, original and 800--
1000 words. Email: nanjc@sws.com
For more information, please visit: http://www.sws.com./share | [
"Anecdotes and Jokes",
"Smart Animals",
"Power of Love",
"My Story"
] |
The teacher thought at first that the farmer _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Two strangers were sitting together in a plane . They were on a long journey . One of the men was a teacher . The other was a farmer .
They sat without talking for a while , then the farmer said , " Let's do something to pass the time ."
" What do you want to do ?" the teacher asked .
" We can ask each other riddles ( )," the farmer said, " You start."
" Let's make the rules first ," the teacher said . " And to make the game more interesting , let's play it for money . If we don't know the answer to the riddle , we have to pay a dollar ."
The farmer thought about this for a while , then he said , " That's not fair( . You are a teacher , an educated ( ) man . You know more things than I do . I am just a farmer ."
" That's true ," the teacher said , " What do you think we should do ?"
The farmer said , " If you don't know the answer to a riddle ,you pay me 100 dollars .If I don't know the answer to the riddle , I'll pay you 50 dollars."
The teacher thought for a while , then he said , " OK. That's fair . Who'll go first ?"
"I will ," the farmer said . " Here's my riddle . What has three legs when it walks , but only two legs when it flies ?"
The teacher thought and thought , " What has three legs when it walks, but only two when it flies ?" Then he said , " That's a good one . I don't know the answer ." He gave the farmer 100 dollars and said , " Tell me the answer . What is it ?"
" I don't know , either ." The farmer said , and gave him 50 dollars .
Question:
The teacher thought at first that the farmer _ .
Choices:
A. would fail the game
B. knew more then he.
C. could answer any riddles .
D. would win the game . | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1116.txt | Two strangers were sitting together in a plane . They were on a long journey . One of the men was a teacher . The other was a farmer .
They sat without talking for a while , then the farmer said , " Let's do something to pass the time ."
" What do you want to do ?" the teacher asked .
" We can ask each other riddles ( )," the farmer said, " You start."
" Let's make the rules first ," the teacher said . " And to make the game more interesting , let's play it for money . If we don't know the answer to the riddle , we have to pay a dollar ."
The farmer thought about this for a while , then he said , " That's not fair( . You are a teacher , an educated ( ) man . You know more things than I do . I am just a farmer ."
" That's true ," the teacher said , " What do you think we should do ?"
The farmer said , " If you don't know the answer to a riddle ,you pay me 100 dollars .If I don't know the answer to the riddle , I'll pay you 50 dollars."
The teacher thought for a while , then he said , " OK. That's fair . Who'll go first ?"
"I will ," the farmer said . " Here's my riddle . What has three legs when it walks , but only two legs when it flies ?"
The teacher thought and thought , " What has three legs when it walks, but only two when it flies ?" Then he said , " That's a good one . I don't know the answer ." He gave the farmer 100 dollars and said , " Tell me the answer . What is it ?"
" I don't know , either ." The farmer said , and gave him 50 dollars . | [
"would fail the game",
"knew more then he.",
"could answer any riddles .",
"would win the game ."
] |
Which of the following is a good way to stop us putting on weight during holidays? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Do you love holidays but hate the increase of weight that follows? You are not alone. Holidays are happy days with pleasure and delicious foods. Many people, however, are worried about the weight that comes along with these delicious foods.
With proper planning, though, it is possible to control your weight. The idea is to enjoy the holidays but not to eat too much. You don't have to turn away from the foods that you enjoy. The following suggestions may be of some help to you.
* Do not miss meals. Before you leave home for a big dinner, have small, low fat foods. This may help to keep you from getting too excited before delicious foods.
* Begin with clear soup and fruit or vegetables. A large glass of water before you eat may help you feel full. Use a small plate ; a large plate will encourage you to have more than enough.
* Better not have high fat foods. Dishes that look oily have much fat in them.
* Fill your plate with salad and green vegetables.
* If you have a sweet tooth, try some fruits. They don't have as much fat as cream and chocolate.
* Don't let exercise take a break during the holidays. A 20 minutes' walk after a meal can help burn off calories .
Question:
Which of the following is a good way to stop us putting on weight during holidays?
Choices:
A. Don't take exercise and have a rest.
B. Just have clear soup and fruit or vegetables.
C. Drink a large glass of water before eating.
D. Use a big plate and fill it with beef and chicken. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5000.txt | Do you love holidays but hate the increase of weight that follows? You are not alone. Holidays are happy days with pleasure and delicious foods. Many people, however, are worried about the weight that comes along with these delicious foods.
With proper planning, though, it is possible to control your weight. The idea is to enjoy the holidays but not to eat too much. You don't have to turn away from the foods that you enjoy. The following suggestions may be of some help to you.
* Do not miss meals. Before you leave home for a big dinner, have small, low fat foods. This may help to keep you from getting too excited before delicious foods.
* Begin with clear soup and fruit or vegetables. A large glass of water before you eat may help you feel full. Use a small plate ; a large plate will encourage you to have more than enough.
* Better not have high fat foods. Dishes that look oily have much fat in them.
* Fill your plate with salad and green vegetables.
* If you have a sweet tooth, try some fruits. They don't have as much fat as cream and chocolate.
* Don't let exercise take a break during the holidays. A 20 minutes' walk after a meal can help burn off calories . | [
"Don't take exercise and have a rest.",
"Just have clear soup and fruit or vegetables.",
"Drink a large glass of water before eating.",
"Use a big plate and fill it with beef and chicken."
] |
Which underground station is closest to the British Museum? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The British Museum first opened in the 18th Century largely based on the collections of the scientist Sir Hans Sloane.
The current neoclassical building was founded nearly a century later and is quadrangular with four wings and a great classical appearance. Inside is a courtyard, the Great Court, covered with a special modern addition--a spiraling glass and steel roof which was designed by Norman Foster and completed in 2000. The courtyard surrounds the round Reading Room with a copper domed ceiling the same size as the dome of St Peter's in Rome.
The museum, one of the oldest in the world, is Britain's largest museum, and widely considered to be one of the world's greatest museums of human history and culture. The permanent collection is made up of over 8 million objects spanning the history of the world's cultures from the stone tools of early man to twentieth-century prints. The collection includes controversial items including the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon in Greece, Egyptian mummies and the Rosetta Stone.
The expansion of the museum over the years has resulted in the creation of several branch institutions including the Natural History Museum in South Kensington. The British Library previously occupied the Reading Room but in 1997 moved to a new site next to St Pancras Station on Euston Road. There are frequent special exhibitions of international significance.
Opening Times: The museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. On Fridays it stays open until 8:30 pm. Entry to the museum is free, although a charge may be made for entry to temporary exhibitions.
Address: Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
Nearest Underground Station: Tottenham Court Road (5-minute walk), Russell Square (6-minute walk) and Holborn (7-minute walk).Website: http://www. britishmuseum. org/.
Question:
Which underground station is closest to the British Museum?
Choices:
A. Tottenham Court Road.
B. Russell Square.
C. Euston Road.
D. Holborn. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high19142.txt | The British Museum first opened in the 18th Century largely based on the collections of the scientist Sir Hans Sloane.
The current neoclassical building was founded nearly a century later and is quadrangular with four wings and a great classical appearance. Inside is a courtyard, the Great Court, covered with a special modern addition--a spiraling glass and steel roof which was designed by Norman Foster and completed in 2000. The courtyard surrounds the round Reading Room with a copper domed ceiling the same size as the dome of St Peter's in Rome.
The museum, one of the oldest in the world, is Britain's largest museum, and widely considered to be one of the world's greatest museums of human history and culture. The permanent collection is made up of over 8 million objects spanning the history of the world's cultures from the stone tools of early man to twentieth-century prints. The collection includes controversial items including the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon in Greece, Egyptian mummies and the Rosetta Stone.
The expansion of the museum over the years has resulted in the creation of several branch institutions including the Natural History Museum in South Kensington. The British Library previously occupied the Reading Room but in 1997 moved to a new site next to St Pancras Station on Euston Road. There are frequent special exhibitions of international significance.
Opening Times: The museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. On Fridays it stays open until 8:30 pm. Entry to the museum is free, although a charge may be made for entry to temporary exhibitions.
Address: Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
Nearest Underground Station: Tottenham Court Road (5-minute walk), Russell Square (6-minute walk) and Holborn (7-minute walk).Website: http://www. britishmuseum. org/. | [
"Tottenham Court Road.",
"Russell Square.",
"Euston Road.",
"Holborn."
] |
When you turn on the radio _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Turn on the radio. A program will come out from a broadcasting station miles and miles away. We know that sounds and music themselves couldn't travel that distance through space .There must be something that brings the program from the station. But what is this silent carrier ( ) ?
This is known as radio waves. However, we can't see them or even hear them. In fact, nobody knows exactly what they are. Nevertheless( ) ,we know that they are made by electricity .
At the broadcasting station, people talk, sing, play musical instruments or make many other sounds. These sounds are changed into electricity. Then from the broadcasting aerial of a tall tower , electricity sends out radio waves which travel in all directions .And some of them reach your radio aerial. What happens next is a magical thing. The radio waves start an electric current ( ) in your aerial like the one that was first made in the broadcasting station . Finally, the loudspeaker in your radio set changes the electricity into sound .Therefore, you hear the program.
,.
Question:
When you turn on the radio _ .
Choices:
A. you can see a program
B. you can hear a program
C. a picture will appear
D. you can feel the electric current. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3966.txt | Turn on the radio. A program will come out from a broadcasting station miles and miles away. We know that sounds and music themselves couldn't travel that distance through space .There must be something that brings the program from the station. But what is this silent carrier ( ) ?
This is known as radio waves. However, we can't see them or even hear them. In fact, nobody knows exactly what they are. Nevertheless( ) ,we know that they are made by electricity .
At the broadcasting station, people talk, sing, play musical instruments or make many other sounds. These sounds are changed into electricity. Then from the broadcasting aerial of a tall tower , electricity sends out radio waves which travel in all directions .And some of them reach your radio aerial. What happens next is a magical thing. The radio waves start an electric current ( ) in your aerial like the one that was first made in the broadcasting station . Finally, the loudspeaker in your radio set changes the electricity into sound .Therefore, you hear the program.
,. | [
"you can see a program",
"you can hear a program",
"a picture will appear",
"you can feel the electric current."
] |
The writer is probably _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Monday - 9:00 p.m. PT (11:00 p.m. CT) (Midnight ET)
I love to answer questions about children's health. Some questions and their answers become articles, FAQ's, Updates, Fast Facts, Top Tips, or Guidelines here on the site. I answer others in real time during chat. Either way, here is how to submit a question -
I am available live, for one hour, every weekday. No appointments are necessary! All you have to do is log on to Chat and ask your question. In most cases, you'll get your answer right there! Some of the questions from chat are selected for me to write about in greater depth. Even if you don't have time to stay at chat, come for a moment, and send your question to the chat host to be considered for a future article.
Please join me in chat, Monday - November 22, 2004 at 9:00 p.m. PT(11:00 p.m. CT) (Midnight ET)
I will be in the chat room for one hour to answer your children's health questions.
To ask your question please type a " ?" mark on the screen
A host will call upon you when it is your turn to ask a question.
Click here to chat
Click here to learn more about chat
Click here for a complete chat schedule
Question:
The writer is probably _ .
Choices:
A. an advertiser
B. a lawyer
C. a teacher
D. an adviser | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high22927.txt | Monday - 9:00 p.m. PT (11:00 p.m. CT) (Midnight ET)
I love to answer questions about children's health. Some questions and their answers become articles, FAQ's, Updates, Fast Facts, Top Tips, or Guidelines here on the site. I answer others in real time during chat. Either way, here is how to submit a question -
I am available live, for one hour, every weekday. No appointments are necessary! All you have to do is log on to Chat and ask your question. In most cases, you'll get your answer right there! Some of the questions from chat are selected for me to write about in greater depth. Even if you don't have time to stay at chat, come for a moment, and send your question to the chat host to be considered for a future article.
Please join me in chat, Monday - November 22, 2004 at 9:00 p.m. PT(11:00 p.m. CT) (Midnight ET)
I will be in the chat room for one hour to answer your children's health questions.
To ask your question please type a " ?" mark on the screen
A host will call upon you when it is your turn to ask a question.
Click here to chat
Click here to learn more about chat
Click here for a complete chat schedule | [
"an advertiser",
"a lawyer",
"a teacher",
"an adviser"
] |
As is meant by the author, thorns of a rose _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A metaphor is a poetic device that deals with comparison. It compares similar qualities of two dissimilar objects. With a simple metaphor, one object becomes the other: Love is a rose. Although this does not sound like a particularly rich image, a metaphor can communicate so much about a particular image that poets use them more than any other type of figurative language. The reason for this is that poets compose their poetry to express what they are experiencing emotionally at that moment. Consequently, what the poet imagines love to be may or may not be our understanding of love. Therefore, the poet's job is to enable us to experience it, to feel it the same way as the poet does.
Let's analyze this remarkably simple metaphor concerning love and the rose to see what it offers. Because the poet uses a comparison with a rose, first we must examine the characteristics of that flower. A rose is impressive in its beauty, its petals are nicely soft, and its smell is pleasing. It's possible to say that a rose is actually a feast to the senses of sight, touch, and smell. The rose's appearance seems to border on perfection, each petal seemingly equal in form. Isn't this the way one's love should be?A loved one should be a delight to one's senses and seem perfect.
However, there is another dimension added to the comparison by using a rose. Roses have thorns. The poet wants to convey the idea that roses can be tricky. So can love, the metaphor tells us. When one reaches out with absolute trust to touch the object of his or her affection, ouch, a thorn can cause great harm! "Be careful," the metaphor warns, "Love is a feast to the senses, but it can overwhelm us, and it can also hurt us and cause acute suffering." This is the poet's understanding of love--an admonition . What is the point?Just this: It took almost 14 sentences to clarify what a simple metaphor communicates in only four words! That is the artistry and the joy of the simple metaphor.
Question:
As is meant by the author, thorns of a rose _ .
Choices:
A. add a new element to the image of love
B. protect the rose from harm
C. symbolize reduced love
D. cause acute suffering | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high602.txt | A metaphor is a poetic device that deals with comparison. It compares similar qualities of two dissimilar objects. With a simple metaphor, one object becomes the other: Love is a rose. Although this does not sound like a particularly rich image, a metaphor can communicate so much about a particular image that poets use them more than any other type of figurative language. The reason for this is that poets compose their poetry to express what they are experiencing emotionally at that moment. Consequently, what the poet imagines love to be may or may not be our understanding of love. Therefore, the poet's job is to enable us to experience it, to feel it the same way as the poet does.
Let's analyze this remarkably simple metaphor concerning love and the rose to see what it offers. Because the poet uses a comparison with a rose, first we must examine the characteristics of that flower. A rose is impressive in its beauty, its petals are nicely soft, and its smell is pleasing. It's possible to say that a rose is actually a feast to the senses of sight, touch, and smell. The rose's appearance seems to border on perfection, each petal seemingly equal in form. Isn't this the way one's love should be?A loved one should be a delight to one's senses and seem perfect.
However, there is another dimension added to the comparison by using a rose. Roses have thorns. The poet wants to convey the idea that roses can be tricky. So can love, the metaphor tells us. When one reaches out with absolute trust to touch the object of his or her affection, ouch, a thorn can cause great harm! "Be careful," the metaphor warns, "Love is a feast to the senses, but it can overwhelm us, and it can also hurt us and cause acute suffering." This is the poet's understanding of love--an admonition . What is the point?Just this: It took almost 14 sentences to clarify what a simple metaphor communicates in only four words! That is the artistry and the joy of the simple metaphor. | [
"add a new element to the image of love",
"protect the rose from harm",
"symbolize reduced love",
"cause acute suffering"
] |
It can be inferred that _ | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
When many people are worried that there are no more heroes in the modern era two university students who lost their lives to rescue drowning children have shown that heroes still exist .
According to the Inner Mongolia Morning Post, the tragedy occurred on the afternoon of December 14, 2002 when three school students skating on a frozen lake in Qingcheng Park in Hohhot fell through the ice into the freezing water. More than 20 university students who happened to be near the spot immediately went to the rescue of the children. Two children were quickly rescued, but the third died. The child's body was not found for three hours. Two of the rescuers, Liu Ye and Hao Longbiao, also died of cold and exhaustion . The body of Hao and who took the lead in jumping into the lake was not found until the next day. A student who was unwilling to tell his name said he and his classmates from the local college were taking photos at the lake. When they heard the children's cries for help, they went to the ice hole hand in hand to rescue the children. But the ice kept breaking, causing most of then to fall into the icy water. Local residents held mourning ceremonies at the lake.
Eight of the students were seriously affected by the freezing water and were being kept in hospital for further observation, but their lives were no longer in danger.
Question:
It can be inferred that _
Choices:
A. people think little of the two university students' death
B. the ice on the lake wasn't strong enough to skate on
C. some students regretted for what they had done
D. heroes don't agree with the steps of modern times | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7886.txt | When many people are worried that there are no more heroes in the modern era two university students who lost their lives to rescue drowning children have shown that heroes still exist .
According to the Inner Mongolia Morning Post, the tragedy occurred on the afternoon of December 14, 2002 when three school students skating on a frozen lake in Qingcheng Park in Hohhot fell through the ice into the freezing water. More than 20 university students who happened to be near the spot immediately went to the rescue of the children. Two children were quickly rescued, but the third died. The child's body was not found for three hours. Two of the rescuers, Liu Ye and Hao Longbiao, also died of cold and exhaustion . The body of Hao and who took the lead in jumping into the lake was not found until the next day. A student who was unwilling to tell his name said he and his classmates from the local college were taking photos at the lake. When they heard the children's cries for help, they went to the ice hole hand in hand to rescue the children. But the ice kept breaking, causing most of then to fall into the icy water. Local residents held mourning ceremonies at the lake.
Eight of the students were seriously affected by the freezing water and were being kept in hospital for further observation, but their lives were no longer in danger. | [
"people think little of the two university students' death",
"the ice on the lake wasn't strong enough to skate on",
"some students regretted for what they had done",
"heroes don't agree with the steps of modern times"
] |
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