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The British government promises PS1,000,000 to any person who . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
"The British government will offer PS1,000,000 to anyone who can solve the world's biggest problem--whatever it might be," said Prime Minister David Cameron at a science conference. In an unusual competition, the Government will ask people to find out the greatest challenge today, such as finding a replacement for oil, producing low cost food or curing AIDS/HIV. When the toughest problem has been decided, the Prime Minister will give away PS1,000,000 to the person who successfully works out the answer. The competition follows the example of the Longitude Prize started by the government in 1714, which offered PS20,000 (worth PS6,000,000 today) to anyone who could discover how far east or west ships had sailed. Sailors could work out their location north and south, and were able to decide their local time from the sun. However, they needed to know the time at a reference point in order to find out how far they had travelled east or west. Many people thought the problem was impossible to solve, but the prize was finally won by John Harrison, an ordinary worker. He did this by designing a clock that kept accurate time at sea and made it possible for sailors to work out their location. Almost exactly 300 years on, Mr Cameron will have a group of scientists collect suggestions and draw up a short list of problems facing the world. He will then start a race to solve the most difficult problem. A government officer said, "We want people to think big: what does the world need and how can we achieve that? We are looking for the next penicillin , airplane or World Wide Web. Something that is going to really change what we do and how we live our lives--sending us ahead in the global race. "According to Mr Cameron, it is important to "encourage new ideas" and "attract back the best and the brightest" to Britain.
Question:
The British government promises PS1,000,000 to any person who .
Choices:
A. can solve the biggest challenge facing the world
B. can find how the next penicillin works on illnesses
C. can think of the most difficult problem in the world
D. can help the Prime Minister run his government better | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3547.txt | "The British government will offer PS1,000,000 to anyone who can solve the world's biggest problem--whatever it might be," said Prime Minister David Cameron at a science conference. In an unusual competition, the Government will ask people to find out the greatest challenge today, such as finding a replacement for oil, producing low cost food or curing AIDS/HIV. When the toughest problem has been decided, the Prime Minister will give away PS1,000,000 to the person who successfully works out the answer. The competition follows the example of the Longitude Prize started by the government in 1714, which offered PS20,000 (worth PS6,000,000 today) to anyone who could discover how far east or west ships had sailed. Sailors could work out their location north and south, and were able to decide their local time from the sun. However, they needed to know the time at a reference point in order to find out how far they had travelled east or west. Many people thought the problem was impossible to solve, but the prize was finally won by John Harrison, an ordinary worker. He did this by designing a clock that kept accurate time at sea and made it possible for sailors to work out their location. Almost exactly 300 years on, Mr Cameron will have a group of scientists collect suggestions and draw up a short list of problems facing the world. He will then start a race to solve the most difficult problem. A government officer said, "We want people to think big: what does the world need and how can we achieve that? We are looking for the next penicillin , airplane or World Wide Web. Something that is going to really change what we do and how we live our lives--sending us ahead in the global race. "According to Mr Cameron, it is important to "encourage new ideas" and "attract back the best and the brightest" to Britain. | [
"can solve the biggest challenge facing the world",
"can find how the next penicillin works on illnesses",
"can think of the most difficult problem in the world",
"can help the Prime Minister run his government better"
] |
Why are more and more birds coming to the biggest salt-water lake in the Great Northwest? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
More and more birds are flying to settle at Qinghai Lake, one of the highest inland lakes in China, thanks to the protection efforts of local governments. Covering an area of over 4,000 square kilometers, Qinghai Lake is also the country's biggest salt-water lake.
Located in Northwest China's Qinghai Province, the lake is famous for the two islands at its northwest point--Cormorant Island and Egg Island.
The two islands have plenty of floating grass and various schools of fish, offering rich food sources for birds. The islands have become a paradise for different kinds of groups of birds and have been called 'Bird Islands'.
Each March and April, when ice and snow covering the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau starts to melt, over 20 kinds of birds fly to the Bird Islands to lay eggs.
During the months, flocks of birds cover the whole sky over the islands and birds eggs can be found everywhere. Visitors can hear the singing of birds from miles away. These have become a world famous symbol of the lake.
To protect this paradise for birds and support calls for ecological protection, China set up the Qinghai Lake Natural Protection Zone at the end of 1997. Meanwhile, the State has pointed out the Bird Islands and Spring Bay of the Qinghai Lake as central protection zones.
Inspection officials and management employees often patrol the lake, improving local residents' knowledge of related laws and spreading knowledge about animal protection to visitors. They are making great efforts to call on people to love and protect the birds.
At the same time, they have built special fences around the island area, to prevent wolves, foxes and other carnivorous animals, as well as illegal hunters from breaking up the birds' nest-building, egg-laying and breeding. As a result, more and more birds are coming to the islands for sheltering and breeding.
Question:
Why are more and more birds coming to the biggest salt-water lake in the Great Northwest?
Choices:
A. Because it is getting warmer and warmer.
B. Because it is being reformed
C. Because environments there are getting more and more agreeable for them to live in.
D. Because the people there are becoming richer and richer | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16254.txt | More and more birds are flying to settle at Qinghai Lake, one of the highest inland lakes in China, thanks to the protection efforts of local governments. Covering an area of over 4,000 square kilometers, Qinghai Lake is also the country's biggest salt-water lake.
Located in Northwest China's Qinghai Province, the lake is famous for the two islands at its northwest point--Cormorant Island and Egg Island.
The two islands have plenty of floating grass and various schools of fish, offering rich food sources for birds. The islands have become a paradise for different kinds of groups of birds and have been called 'Bird Islands'.
Each March and April, when ice and snow covering the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau starts to melt, over 20 kinds of birds fly to the Bird Islands to lay eggs.
During the months, flocks of birds cover the whole sky over the islands and birds eggs can be found everywhere. Visitors can hear the singing of birds from miles away. These have become a world famous symbol of the lake.
To protect this paradise for birds and support calls for ecological protection, China set up the Qinghai Lake Natural Protection Zone at the end of 1997. Meanwhile, the State has pointed out the Bird Islands and Spring Bay of the Qinghai Lake as central protection zones.
Inspection officials and management employees often patrol the lake, improving local residents' knowledge of related laws and spreading knowledge about animal protection to visitors. They are making great efforts to call on people to love and protect the birds.
At the same time, they have built special fences around the island area, to prevent wolves, foxes and other carnivorous animals, as well as illegal hunters from breaking up the birds' nest-building, egg-laying and breeding. As a result, more and more birds are coming to the islands for sheltering and breeding. | [
"Because it is getting warmer and warmer.",
"Because it is being reformed",
"Because environments there are getting more and more agreeable for them to live in.",
"Because the people there are becoming richer and richer"
] |
This passage mainly talks about _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
My friend Matt and I arrived at the Activity Centre on Friday evening. The accommodation wasn't wonderful,but we had everything we needed(beds,blankets,food),and we were pleased to be out of the city and in the fresh air.
On Saturday morning we met the other ten members of our group. Cameron had come along with two friends,Kevin and Simon,while sisters Carole and Lynn had come with Amanda. There were some other members I didn't know. We had come from different places and none of us knew the area.
We knew we were going to spend the weekend outdoors,but none of us was sure exactly how. Half of us spent the morning caving while the others went rock-climbing and then we changed at lunchtime. Matt and I went to the caves first. Climbing out was harder than going in,but after a good deal of pushing, we were out at last. Though we were covered with mud,we were pleased and excited by what we'd done.
,.
Question:
This passage mainly talks about _ .
Choices:
A. the writer's friends at the Activity Centre
B. the writer's experience at the Activity Centre
C. outdoor sports at the Activity Centre
D. how to go rock-climbing and caving | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle2919.txt | My friend Matt and I arrived at the Activity Centre on Friday evening. The accommodation wasn't wonderful,but we had everything we needed(beds,blankets,food),and we were pleased to be out of the city and in the fresh air.
On Saturday morning we met the other ten members of our group. Cameron had come along with two friends,Kevin and Simon,while sisters Carole and Lynn had come with Amanda. There were some other members I didn't know. We had come from different places and none of us knew the area.
We knew we were going to spend the weekend outdoors,but none of us was sure exactly how. Half of us spent the morning caving while the others went rock-climbing and then we changed at lunchtime. Matt and I went to the caves first. Climbing out was harder than going in,but after a good deal of pushing, we were out at last. Though we were covered with mud,we were pleased and excited by what we'd done.
,. | [
"the writer's friends at the Activity Centre",
"the writer's experience at the Activity Centre",
"outdoor sports at the Activity Centre",
"how to go rock-climbing and caving"
] |
What may be the cause for the reality gap? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A new study from Harvard University revealed that the message parents mean to send to children about the value of sympathy is being mistaken by the message they actually send. In fact they value achievement and happiness above all else.
The Making Caring Common Project at Harvard's Graduate School of Education surveyed 10,000 middle and high school students about which is more important to them--achievement, happiness, or caring about others. Almost 80 percent of students placed achievement or happiness over caring about others. Only 20 percent of students considered caring about others as their top aim.
In the study "The Children We Mean to Raise: The Real Message Adults Are Sending about Values", the authors refer to a reality gap, an incongruity between what adults tell children they should value and the message we grown-ups actually send through our behavior.
Simply talking about sympathy is not enough. While 96 percent of parents say they want to raise caring children, and cite the development of moral character as "very important, if not essential", 80 percent of the youths surveyed reported that their parents "are more concerned about achievement and happiness than caring about others". Approximately the same percentage of the students reported that their teachers put their achievement over caring.
As the report shows, simply talking about sympathy is not enough. Children are sensitive creatures, fully capable of telling the true meanings in the blank spaces between well-organised words. If parents really want to let their kids know that they value care and sympathy, the authors suggest, they must make a real effort to help their children learn to care about other people--even when it's hard, even when it does not make them happy, and yes, even when it is at odds with their personal success.
Question:
What may be the cause for the reality gap?
Choices:
A. Children's failure to understand parents' well-organised words.
B. The generation gap between parents and children.
C. Children's desire for getting individual achievement.
D. Parents' lack of a real effort to guide children. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9478.txt | A new study from Harvard University revealed that the message parents mean to send to children about the value of sympathy is being mistaken by the message they actually send. In fact they value achievement and happiness above all else.
The Making Caring Common Project at Harvard's Graduate School of Education surveyed 10,000 middle and high school students about which is more important to them--achievement, happiness, or caring about others. Almost 80 percent of students placed achievement or happiness over caring about others. Only 20 percent of students considered caring about others as their top aim.
In the study "The Children We Mean to Raise: The Real Message Adults Are Sending about Values", the authors refer to a reality gap, an incongruity between what adults tell children they should value and the message we grown-ups actually send through our behavior.
Simply talking about sympathy is not enough. While 96 percent of parents say they want to raise caring children, and cite the development of moral character as "very important, if not essential", 80 percent of the youths surveyed reported that their parents "are more concerned about achievement and happiness than caring about others". Approximately the same percentage of the students reported that their teachers put their achievement over caring.
As the report shows, simply talking about sympathy is not enough. Children are sensitive creatures, fully capable of telling the true meanings in the blank spaces between well-organised words. If parents really want to let their kids know that they value care and sympathy, the authors suggest, they must make a real effort to help their children learn to care about other people--even when it's hard, even when it does not make them happy, and yes, even when it is at odds with their personal success. | [
"Children's failure to understand parents' well-organised words.",
"The generation gap between parents and children.",
"Children's desire for getting individual achievement.",
"Parents' lack of a real effort to guide children."
] |
It can be inferred that Yao Guancheng's service is _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Chinese people around the world are celebrating their most important holiday, Chinese New Year. But for one man in Taiwan, it's all about business as he washes dirty banknotes for gifts.
According to Chinese tradition, parents give their children clean, fresh banknotes at the start of the new year. But such notes are in high demand during the time just before the holiday period, and Yao Guancheng noticed _ .
Yao Guancheng said, " When we first started this business it was for family members who liked to collect antique banknotes. But later on , it suddenly occurred to me that this service would come in handy for the Chinese New Year. It is one of our customs to put banknotes inside little red envelopes in order to bring our children good luck."
"To do that , people change old notes for new ones at the banks. But here in Taiwan, there are all sorts of restrictions as to how much you can change, what days you can do that and which banks you can go to . That's inconvenient. So I thought: why not give people an alternative ?"
He doesn't just leave the money in water for quite a long time. He uses special chemicals that are a closely guarded secret. His services don't come cheap; he charges about$10 for washing twenty banknotes. But during the time just before the new year holiday, he's been in demand , cleaning people's banknotes and in the process, giving a new , cleaner image to the term "money laundering -an illegal process by which criminals attempt to hide money from government officials because it has been earned illegally or taxes should be paid on it"
Question:
It can be inferred that Yao Guancheng's service is _ .
Choices:
A. very cheap
B. in demand all the year round
C. convenient
D. equal to money laundering | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high21251.txt | Chinese people around the world are celebrating their most important holiday, Chinese New Year. But for one man in Taiwan, it's all about business as he washes dirty banknotes for gifts.
According to Chinese tradition, parents give their children clean, fresh banknotes at the start of the new year. But such notes are in high demand during the time just before the holiday period, and Yao Guancheng noticed _ .
Yao Guancheng said, " When we first started this business it was for family members who liked to collect antique banknotes. But later on , it suddenly occurred to me that this service would come in handy for the Chinese New Year. It is one of our customs to put banknotes inside little red envelopes in order to bring our children good luck."
"To do that , people change old notes for new ones at the banks. But here in Taiwan, there are all sorts of restrictions as to how much you can change, what days you can do that and which banks you can go to . That's inconvenient. So I thought: why not give people an alternative ?"
He doesn't just leave the money in water for quite a long time. He uses special chemicals that are a closely guarded secret. His services don't come cheap; he charges about$10 for washing twenty banknotes. But during the time just before the new year holiday, he's been in demand , cleaning people's banknotes and in the process, giving a new , cleaner image to the term "money laundering -an illegal process by which criminals attempt to hide money from government officials because it has been earned illegally or taxes should be paid on it" | [
"very cheap",
"in demand all the year round",
"convenient",
"equal to money laundering"
] |
On 1stApril, you can _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Alderbury International Festival Society
FESTIVAL 22ND MAY-9TH JUNE 2012
Art
Displays of paintings, drawings and photographs from Europe and Asia are all part of the Festival programme, with a total of more than 400 pieces of work to be seen.
Early century advertisements will be on display at this year's festival. Copies of these advertisements are to be sold at the box office.
Music
There will be a huge rang of music in this year's festival from 14thdance music to modern jazz. Many famous musicians will be visiting the Festival as well as at least two internationally famous bands.
Lunchtime concerts-Every day of the Festival!
All lunchtime concerts begin at 1:00p.m. and last about 55 minutes, except on Monday, 26 of May, which is to be held in the Guildhall. All tickets are priced at PS2.00.
How to get the tickets
Telephone reservations: 63362/6641 from 1stApril
Payment for tickets reserved by telephone must be received at the Festival Box Office within 3 days. The tickets will then be sent by post.
One can buy tickets in person from 1stMay. The Festival Box Office will be open as follows:
Monday to Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sunday(during the Festival only )9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Question:
On 1stApril, you can _ .
Choices:
A. enjoy modern jazz
B. receive tickets by post
C. listen to lunchtime concerts
D. phone for ticket reservations | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1557.txt | Alderbury International Festival Society
FESTIVAL 22ND MAY-9TH JUNE 2012
Art
Displays of paintings, drawings and photographs from Europe and Asia are all part of the Festival programme, with a total of more than 400 pieces of work to be seen.
Early century advertisements will be on display at this year's festival. Copies of these advertisements are to be sold at the box office.
Music
There will be a huge rang of music in this year's festival from 14thdance music to modern jazz. Many famous musicians will be visiting the Festival as well as at least two internationally famous bands.
Lunchtime concerts-Every day of the Festival!
All lunchtime concerts begin at 1:00p.m. and last about 55 minutes, except on Monday, 26 of May, which is to be held in the Guildhall. All tickets are priced at PS2.00.
How to get the tickets
Telephone reservations: 63362/6641 from 1stApril
Payment for tickets reserved by telephone must be received at the Festival Box Office within 3 days. The tickets will then be sent by post.
One can buy tickets in person from 1stMay. The Festival Box Office will be open as follows:
Monday to Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sunday(during the Festival only )9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | [
"enjoy modern jazz",
"receive tickets by post",
"listen to lunchtime concerts",
"phone for ticket reservations"
] |
Alicia has to buy some books for the new school year. She buys 2 math books, 3 art books, and 6 science books, for a total of $30. If both the math and science books cost $3 each, what was the cost of each art book? | The total cost of maths books is 2*3 = <<2*3=6>>6 dollars
The total cost of science books is 6*3 = <<6*3=18>>18 dollars
The total cost for maths and science books is 6+18 = <<6+18=24>>24 dollars
The cost for art books is 30-24 = <<30-24=6>>6 dollars.
Since he bought 3 art books, the cost for each art book will be 6/3 = 2 dollars
#### 2 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Alicia has to buy some books for the new school year. She buys 2 math books, 3 art books, and 6 science books, for a total of $30. If both the math and science books cost $3 each, what was the cost of each art book? | The total cost of maths books is 2*3 = <<2*3=6>>6 dollars
The total cost of science books is 6*3 = <<6*3=18>>18 dollars
The total cost for maths and science books is 6+18 = <<6+18=24>>24 dollars
The cost for art books is 30-24 = <<30-24=6>>6 dollars.
Since he bought 3 art books, the cost for each art book will be 6/3 = 2 dollars
#### 2 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Which of the following is TRUE about the study on language skills of pre-school children? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Teachers and parents usually call attention to the pictures when they read storybooks to pre-school children. But a new study suggests that calling attention to the words and letters on the page may lead to better readers.
The two-year study compared children who were read in this way in class with children who were not. Those whose teachers most often discussed the print showed clearly higher skills in reading, spelling and understanding. These results were found one year and even two years later.
Shayne Piasta, an assistant professor of teaching and learning at Ohio State University, was an author of the study. She says most pre-school teachers would find this method manageable and would need only a small change in the way they teach. They already read story-books in class. The only difference would be increased attention to the printed text. "If you get children to pay attention to letters and words, it makes sense that they will do better at word recognition and spelling." But she says research suggests that very few parents and teachers do this in a systematic way.
More than 300 children aged four and five were observed in classrooms. They came from poor families and were below average in their language skills. For thirty weeks, the children took part in a program called Project STAR--- Sit Together and Read. The project is based at Ohio State. It tests the short-term and long-term results of reading regularly to pre-school children in their classrooms.
There are different ways that adults can talk to children about print. They can point to a letter and discuss it, and even trace the shape with a finger. They can point out a word and discuss the meaning of the print or how the words tell the story. And they can talk about the organization of the print--- for instance, showing how words are written left to right in English.
Question:
Which of the following is TRUE about the study on language skills of pre-school children?
Choices:
A. Many teachers want to change their way of teaching pre-school children.
B. Attention on the pictures has made the children uninterested in reading.
C. Project STAR aims to research into the results of reading books to pre-school children in the classroom.
D. Teachers are often prevented from taking different approaches to language teaching. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high3584.txt | Teachers and parents usually call attention to the pictures when they read storybooks to pre-school children. But a new study suggests that calling attention to the words and letters on the page may lead to better readers.
The two-year study compared children who were read in this way in class with children who were not. Those whose teachers most often discussed the print showed clearly higher skills in reading, spelling and understanding. These results were found one year and even two years later.
Shayne Piasta, an assistant professor of teaching and learning at Ohio State University, was an author of the study. She says most pre-school teachers would find this method manageable and would need only a small change in the way they teach. They already read story-books in class. The only difference would be increased attention to the printed text. "If you get children to pay attention to letters and words, it makes sense that they will do better at word recognition and spelling." But she says research suggests that very few parents and teachers do this in a systematic way.
More than 300 children aged four and five were observed in classrooms. They came from poor families and were below average in their language skills. For thirty weeks, the children took part in a program called Project STAR--- Sit Together and Read. The project is based at Ohio State. It tests the short-term and long-term results of reading regularly to pre-school children in their classrooms.
There are different ways that adults can talk to children about print. They can point to a letter and discuss it, and even trace the shape with a finger. They can point out a word and discuss the meaning of the print or how the words tell the story. And they can talk about the organization of the print--- for instance, showing how words are written left to right in English. | [
"Many teachers want to change their way of teaching pre-school children.",
"Attention on the pictures has made the children uninterested in reading.",
"Project STAR aims to research into the results of reading books to pre-school children in the classroom.",
"Teachers are often prevented from taking different approaches to language teaching."
] |
The Essential 55 is _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
When I met him, I had a lot of anger inside me. I've lived my whole life in Spanish Harlem, but in my neighborhood, there are shoot-ups all the time. I know kids who have been shot or beaten up. I have friends who ended up in prison. I could have ended up that way, too, but Mr. Clark wouldn't let that happen.
Mr. Clark worked long hours, making sure I did my work. My grades rose. In fact, the scores of our whole class rose. One day, he took our class to see The Phantom of the Opera, and it was the first time some kids had ever been out of Harlem. Before the show, he treated us to dinner at a restaurant and taught us not to talk with our mouths full. We did not want to let him down.
Mr. Clark was selected as Disney's 2000 Teacher of the Year. He said he would draw three names out of a hat ; those students would go with him to Los Angles to get the award. But when the time came to draw names, Mr. Clark said, "You're all going."
On graduation day, there were a lot of tears. We didn't want his class to end. In 2001, he moved to Atlanta, but he always kept in touch. He started giving lectures about education, and wrote a best-selling book based on his classroom rules, The Essential 55. In 2003, Mr. Clark took some of us on a trip to South Africa to deliver school supplies and visit orphanages . It was the most amazing experience of my life. It's now my dream to start a group of women's clubs one day, helping people from all backgrounds.
Question:
The Essential 55 is _ .
Choices:
A. a show
B. a speech
C. a classroom rule
D. a book | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11794.txt | When I met him, I had a lot of anger inside me. I've lived my whole life in Spanish Harlem, but in my neighborhood, there are shoot-ups all the time. I know kids who have been shot or beaten up. I have friends who ended up in prison. I could have ended up that way, too, but Mr. Clark wouldn't let that happen.
Mr. Clark worked long hours, making sure I did my work. My grades rose. In fact, the scores of our whole class rose. One day, he took our class to see The Phantom of the Opera, and it was the first time some kids had ever been out of Harlem. Before the show, he treated us to dinner at a restaurant and taught us not to talk with our mouths full. We did not want to let him down.
Mr. Clark was selected as Disney's 2000 Teacher of the Year. He said he would draw three names out of a hat ; those students would go with him to Los Angles to get the award. But when the time came to draw names, Mr. Clark said, "You're all going."
On graduation day, there were a lot of tears. We didn't want his class to end. In 2001, he moved to Atlanta, but he always kept in touch. He started giving lectures about education, and wrote a best-selling book based on his classroom rules, The Essential 55. In 2003, Mr. Clark took some of us on a trip to South Africa to deliver school supplies and visit orphanages . It was the most amazing experience of my life. It's now my dream to start a group of women's clubs one day, helping people from all backgrounds. | [
"a show",
"a speech",
"a classroom rule",
"a book"
] |
Gas particles are constantly colliding with each other and the walls of a container, and these collisions are elastic, so there is no net loss of what? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | Gas particles are constantly colliding with each other and the walls of a container, and these collisions are elastic, so there is no net loss of what? | energy | science | null | null | null | temperature | velocity | heat | energy | A N SW E R S 1. Gases consist of tiny particles of matter that are in constant motion. Gas particles are constantly colliding with each other and the walls of a container. These collisions are elastic; that is, there is no net loss of energy from the collisions. Gas particles are separated by large distances, with the size of a gas particle tiny compared to the distances that separate them. There are no interactive forces (i. , attraction or repulsion) between the particles of a gas. The average speed of gas particles is dependent on the temperature of the gas. | null | null | null |
When the traffic lights are _ , the traffic must stop. | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
In England, traffic keeps on the left.Cars, buses and bikes all move on the left side of the road.But the traffic keeps on the right in China.So when you are in England, you must be very careful in the street.Before you cross a street you must stop and look both ways.Look right and look left and look right again.If the traffic lights are red, the traffic must stop.Then the people on foot can cross the road.If the traffic lights are green, the traffic can go.People on foot mustn't cross.
In the morning and in the evening, when people go to or come back from work, the streets are very busy.Traffic is very dangerous .
When you go by bus in England, you have to be careful, too.Always remember the traffic moves on the left.If you don't have a look first, you will go the wrong way.
In many English cities, there are big buses with two floors.You can sit on the second floor.From there you can see the city very well.It's very interesting.
,.
Question:
When the traffic lights are _ , the traffic must stop.
Choices:
A. red
B. yellow
C. green
D. we don't know | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5537.txt | In England, traffic keeps on the left.Cars, buses and bikes all move on the left side of the road.But the traffic keeps on the right in China.So when you are in England, you must be very careful in the street.Before you cross a street you must stop and look both ways.Look right and look left and look right again.If the traffic lights are red, the traffic must stop.Then the people on foot can cross the road.If the traffic lights are green, the traffic can go.People on foot mustn't cross.
In the morning and in the evening, when people go to or come back from work, the streets are very busy.Traffic is very dangerous .
When you go by bus in England, you have to be careful, too.Always remember the traffic moves on the left.If you don't have a look first, you will go the wrong way.
In many English cities, there are big buses with two floors.You can sit on the second floor.From there you can see the city very well.It's very interesting.
,. | [
"red",
"yellow",
"green",
"we don't know"
] |
Which of the following is NOT true? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
My name is Peter. I study in Cambell Middle School. It has a very large building. There are big playgrounds on two sides and a beautiful garden in front.
In the building, there is the headmaster's room, the teacher's rooms and thirty-four classrooms. We also have two labs and a library in the building. Our library is on the ground floor. It has books almost on all subjects. It opens after school from Monday to Friday.
Our school has uniforms . Boys wear white shirts and blue trousers. Girls wear white blouses and blue skirts. We all wear black shoes and white socks.
We study English, Maths, History, Biology, Music and PE at school. My favourite subject is Biology. I think it is fun. Our teachers are nice to us. They check our homework and help us when we need. I love my school and my teachers.
Question:
Which of the following is NOT true?
Choices:
A. Peter studies six subjects at school.
B. Biology is Peter's favourite subject.
C. There are lots of books in the library.
D. Their teachers are very fun. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle8251.txt | My name is Peter. I study in Cambell Middle School. It has a very large building. There are big playgrounds on two sides and a beautiful garden in front.
In the building, there is the headmaster's room, the teacher's rooms and thirty-four classrooms. We also have two labs and a library in the building. Our library is on the ground floor. It has books almost on all subjects. It opens after school from Monday to Friday.
Our school has uniforms . Boys wear white shirts and blue trousers. Girls wear white blouses and blue skirts. We all wear black shoes and white socks.
We study English, Maths, History, Biology, Music and PE at school. My favourite subject is Biology. I think it is fun. Our teachers are nice to us. They check our homework and help us when we need. I love my school and my teachers. | [
"Peter studies six subjects at school.",
"Biology is Peter's favourite subject.",
"There are lots of books in the library.",
"Their teachers are very fun."
] |
Ginger owns a flower shop, where she sells roses, lilacs, and gardenias. On Tuesday, she sold three times more roses than lilacs, and half as many gardenias as lilacs. If she sold 10 lilacs, what is the total number of flowers sold on Tuesday? | With 10 lilacs sold, three times more roses than lilacs is 3*10=<<10*3=30>>30 roses.
Half as many gardenias as lilacs is 10/2=<<10/2=5>>5 gardenias.
In total, there were 10+30+5=<<10+30+5=45>>45 flowers sold on Tuesday.
#### 45 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Ginger owns a flower shop, where she sells roses, lilacs, and gardenias. On Tuesday, she sold three times more roses than lilacs, and half as many gardenias as lilacs. If she sold 10 lilacs, what is the total number of flowers sold on Tuesday? | With 10 lilacs sold, three times more roses than lilacs is 3*10=<<10*3=30>>30 roses.
Half as many gardenias as lilacs is 10/2=<<10/2=5>>5 gardenias.
In total, there were 10+30+5=<<10+30+5=45>>45 flowers sold on Tuesday.
#### 45 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Mrs Wilson bought things in the supermarket in the new shopping mall because _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
One day Mrs Wilson took Trudy and Ben to go shopping. They went to the supermarket in the new shopping mall . "Why do you buy things here, Mum?" Trudy asked. "Because they are cheaper than those at the corner store," Mrs Wilson said. "Help me check the prices." The Wilsons were not wealthy and Mrs Wilson was always careful with her money. She looked carefully at the prices of things. She bought some groceries in the supermarket. When they got home, the children said, "We don't think you saved money by going to the supermarket there." "Of course I did," said Mrs Wilson, "everything was cheap there." "We know," said the children, "but we came home by taxi because we had too much to carry. The cost of the taxi was more than the money you saved!" Mrs Wilson added everything up and found her children were right. "Well done,"she said, "next time we will do shopping near our home."
Question:
Mrs Wilson bought things in the supermarket in the new shopping mall because _ .
Choices:
A. goods there had good quality
B. there were many goods
C. goods there were cheap
D. goods there were expensive | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle4081.txt | One day Mrs Wilson took Trudy and Ben to go shopping. They went to the supermarket in the new shopping mall . "Why do you buy things here, Mum?" Trudy asked. "Because they are cheaper than those at the corner store," Mrs Wilson said. "Help me check the prices." The Wilsons were not wealthy and Mrs Wilson was always careful with her money. She looked carefully at the prices of things. She bought some groceries in the supermarket. When they got home, the children said, "We don't think you saved money by going to the supermarket there." "Of course I did," said Mrs Wilson, "everything was cheap there." "We know," said the children, "but we came home by taxi because we had too much to carry. The cost of the taxi was more than the money you saved!" Mrs Wilson added everything up and found her children were right. "Well done,"she said, "next time we will do shopping near our home." | [
"goods there had good quality",
"there were many goods",
"goods there were cheap",
"goods there were expensive"
] |
What are the ice crystals that form on the ground called? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What are the ice crystals that form on the ground called? | frost | science | null | null | null | sleet | snow | granules | frost | Deposition as a change of state often occurs in nature. For example, when warm moist air comes into contact with very cold surfaces—such as the ground or objects on the ground—ice crystals are deposited on them. These ice crystals are commonly called frost. Look at the dead leaf and blades of grass in the Figure below . They are covered with frost. If you look closely, you can see the individual crystals of ice. You can watch a demonstration of frost forming on the side of a very cold can at the URL below. (Click on the mulitmedia choice “Ice on a Can. ”). The ice in the can has been cooled to a very low temperature by adding salt to it. If you want to do the demonstration yourself, follow the procedure at the URL. http://www. middleschoolchemistry. com/lessonplans/chapter2/lesson4. | null | null | null |
According to the passage, which of the following is the key to solving the piracy in Somalia? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Kenya wants to organize a major international conference to discuss how to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia. The conference may also deal with ways to rescue Somalia from seventeen years of civil war. More than forty percent of its people depend on food aid.
Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula says the world cannot end piracy and civil war without dealing with Somalia's political problems.
Somali pirates operate in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. The Gulf of Aden connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean by way of the Suez Canal. The pirates have fast boats, modern weapons and equipment like satellite phones and global positioning systems.
Pirates hijacked the Sirius Star off the coast of Kenya and moved it to waters off Somalia.
The tanker Sirius Star, at three hundred thirty meters long, is the biggest ship ever known to have been captured by pirates. It also happened farther south than most attacks, and farther out at sea ---- more than eight hundred kilometers from land.
The ship was headed for the United States with two million karrels of oil, worth an estimated one hundred million dollars. A Saudi Arabian company owns the tanker. The pirates have reportedly demanded twenty-five million dollars in negotiations to release the ship and its crew of twenty-five.
Somali pirates generally do not steal goods or kill hostages. They are believed to be holding seventeen ships with about three hundred crew members. Among the ships is a Ukrainian vessel hijacked in September with a load of military weapons including tanks.
The increase in piracy is raising the cost of insuring ships. Also, oil from the Middle East and exports from East Asia could take longer to arrive.
Some of the world's heaviest shipping traffic passes the Somali coast. But major shipping companies have begun to consider new routes. One of the world's biggest shippers, A.P, Moeller Maersk, says it will avoid the Gulf of Aden. A move away from the Suez Canal could hurt Egypt's economy.
American and other foreign navy ships are now watching for pirates. This week the Indian Navy destroyed a heavily armed "mother ship" in the Gulf of Aden. But the area to protect covers more than one hundred sixty million square kilometers.
Question:
According to the passage, which of the following is the key to solving the piracy in Somalia?
Choices:
A. Providing lots of money.
B. Ending Civil war.
C. Supplying enough food.
D. Handling Somalia's political problems. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high12429.txt | Kenya wants to organize a major international conference to discuss how to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia. The conference may also deal with ways to rescue Somalia from seventeen years of civil war. More than forty percent of its people depend on food aid.
Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula says the world cannot end piracy and civil war without dealing with Somalia's political problems.
Somali pirates operate in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. The Gulf of Aden connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean by way of the Suez Canal. The pirates have fast boats, modern weapons and equipment like satellite phones and global positioning systems.
Pirates hijacked the Sirius Star off the coast of Kenya and moved it to waters off Somalia.
The tanker Sirius Star, at three hundred thirty meters long, is the biggest ship ever known to have been captured by pirates. It also happened farther south than most attacks, and farther out at sea ---- more than eight hundred kilometers from land.
The ship was headed for the United States with two million karrels of oil, worth an estimated one hundred million dollars. A Saudi Arabian company owns the tanker. The pirates have reportedly demanded twenty-five million dollars in negotiations to release the ship and its crew of twenty-five.
Somali pirates generally do not steal goods or kill hostages. They are believed to be holding seventeen ships with about three hundred crew members. Among the ships is a Ukrainian vessel hijacked in September with a load of military weapons including tanks.
The increase in piracy is raising the cost of insuring ships. Also, oil from the Middle East and exports from East Asia could take longer to arrive.
Some of the world's heaviest shipping traffic passes the Somali coast. But major shipping companies have begun to consider new routes. One of the world's biggest shippers, A.P, Moeller Maersk, says it will avoid the Gulf of Aden. A move away from the Suez Canal could hurt Egypt's economy.
American and other foreign navy ships are now watching for pirates. This week the Indian Navy destroyed a heavily armed "mother ship" in the Gulf of Aden. But the area to protect covers more than one hundred sixty million square kilometers. | [
"Providing lots of money.",
"Ending Civil war.",
"Supplying enough food.",
"Handling Somalia's political problems."
] |
You can see three films on _ or _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Films in Beijing Theater This Week
HARRY POTTER (III)
American film
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
Time: From Monday to Wednesday, at 6:00 p.m.
Ticket Price:Y=50
KUNGFU HUSTLE
Chinese film
Director: Zhou Xingchi
Starring: Zhou Xingchi, Liang Xiaolong, Yuan Hua
Time: From Wednesday to Friday, at 9:00 p.m.
Ticket Price:Y=40
A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES
Chinese film
Director: Feng Xiaogang
Starring: Liu Dehua, Liu Ruoying, Ge You, Li Bingbing
Time: From Friday to Sunday, at 6:30 p.m.
Ticket Price:Y=40 (Half on Sunday for children)
TROY
American film
Director: Wolfgang Peterson
Starring: Julian Glover, Brian Cox, Nathan Jones, Adoni Maropis
Time: From Tuesday to Saturday, at 9:30 a.m.
Ticket Price:Y=30
Question:
You can see three films on _ or _ .
Choices:
A. Wednesday; Friday
B. Tuesday; Wednesday
C. Thursday; Friday
D. Saturday; Sunday | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle63.txt | Films in Beijing Theater This Week
HARRY POTTER (III)
American film
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
Time: From Monday to Wednesday, at 6:00 p.m.
Ticket Price:Y=50
KUNGFU HUSTLE
Chinese film
Director: Zhou Xingchi
Starring: Zhou Xingchi, Liang Xiaolong, Yuan Hua
Time: From Wednesday to Friday, at 9:00 p.m.
Ticket Price:Y=40
A WORLD WITHOUT THIEVES
Chinese film
Director: Feng Xiaogang
Starring: Liu Dehua, Liu Ruoying, Ge You, Li Bingbing
Time: From Friday to Sunday, at 6:30 p.m.
Ticket Price:Y=40 (Half on Sunday for children)
TROY
American film
Director: Wolfgang Peterson
Starring: Julian Glover, Brian Cox, Nathan Jones, Adoni Maropis
Time: From Tuesday to Saturday, at 9:30 a.m.
Ticket Price:Y=30 | [
"Wednesday; Friday",
"Tuesday; Wednesday",
"Thursday; Friday",
"Saturday; Sunday"
] |
According to the text, the Fusses _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A year ago, August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but it was hard for Dave to find work, and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift--$7,000, a legacy from their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident. "It really made a difference when we were meeting difficulty ."says Dave.
But the Fusses weren't the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Dozens of other families were touched by what the Hatches had done. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars; in others, it was more than $100,000.
It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than $3 million--they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm.
Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving. They preferred comparison shopping and would go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase.
Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camps when their parents couldn't afford it. "Ish and Arlene never asked if you needed anything," says their friend Sandy Van Weelden, "They could see things they could do to make you happier, and they would do them."
Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches gave away their farmland. It was the Hatches' wish that their legacy--a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cents--should enrich the whole community and last for generations to come.
Neighbors helping neighbors--that was Ish and Arlene Hatch's story.
Question:
According to the text, the Fusses _ .
Choices:
A. were employed by a truck company
B. led a difficult life
C. worked in a school cafeteria
D. lost their home | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high675.txt | A year ago, August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but it was hard for Dave to find work, and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift--$7,000, a legacy from their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident. "It really made a difference when we were meeting difficulty ."says Dave.
But the Fusses weren't the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Dozens of other families were touched by what the Hatches had done. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars; in others, it was more than $100,000.
It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than $3 million--they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm.
Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving. They preferred comparison shopping and would go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase.
Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camps when their parents couldn't afford it. "Ish and Arlene never asked if you needed anything," says their friend Sandy Van Weelden, "They could see things they could do to make you happier, and they would do them."
Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches gave away their farmland. It was the Hatches' wish that their legacy--a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cents--should enrich the whole community and last for generations to come.
Neighbors helping neighbors--that was Ish and Arlene Hatch's story. | [
"were employed by a truck company",
"led a difficult life",
"worked in a school cafeteria",
"lost their home"
] |
When the author goes to bed, she _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Most nights I lie in bed, ready for an escape from myself, yet a streaming video of everything I ate, how I exercised, the activities of the day won't stop playing in my mind.
I pause. I breathe. I try to relax once again, but it doesn't work.
When I'm not exercising -- even if I've already exercised that day -- I'm consumed with anxiety about my next workout. Will something come up and make me miss the gym? What about holidays when the gym is closed?
Exercise has become a disease; it even disguises (,) itself as the cure. If I don't have _ as an escape, then what's left to hold me together? Working out feels like the only way to calm myself, but as soon as I leave the gym or finish a walk, the whole cycle starts over again.
As you might have guessed by now, I suffer from depression and OCD . I'm a highly-educated adult woman who knows the risks of this behavior, and yet I can't stop.
As a society, we're told over and over that it's important to exercise. That's what makes it so easy to keep this addiction a secret; it's not as obvious as lighting up a cigarette. You can continue to feed your addiction under the guise that you're just being "healthy". I not only have to fight the nonstop thoughts in my head but also the "more exercise is better" messages I receive from the media every day.
For me, exercise has become a drug, which is a way to numb the pain I might feel. I wonder what it would be like to "have the problem" of not wanting to go to the gym. It still feels very far away.
Yet I know I can be stronger than this. I can break the cycle I'm in. I can tell my story so as to give up a piece of the secrecy that keeps me sick.
Because no, you don't want my problem. And finally, neither do I.
Question:
When the author goes to bed, she _ .
Choices:
A. can't breathe normally
B. can't fall asleep
C. always feels hungry
D. always feels tired | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high12387.txt | Most nights I lie in bed, ready for an escape from myself, yet a streaming video of everything I ate, how I exercised, the activities of the day won't stop playing in my mind.
I pause. I breathe. I try to relax once again, but it doesn't work.
When I'm not exercising -- even if I've already exercised that day -- I'm consumed with anxiety about my next workout. Will something come up and make me miss the gym? What about holidays when the gym is closed?
Exercise has become a disease; it even disguises (,) itself as the cure. If I don't have _ as an escape, then what's left to hold me together? Working out feels like the only way to calm myself, but as soon as I leave the gym or finish a walk, the whole cycle starts over again.
As you might have guessed by now, I suffer from depression and OCD . I'm a highly-educated adult woman who knows the risks of this behavior, and yet I can't stop.
As a society, we're told over and over that it's important to exercise. That's what makes it so easy to keep this addiction a secret; it's not as obvious as lighting up a cigarette. You can continue to feed your addiction under the guise that you're just being "healthy". I not only have to fight the nonstop thoughts in my head but also the "more exercise is better" messages I receive from the media every day.
For me, exercise has become a drug, which is a way to numb the pain I might feel. I wonder what it would be like to "have the problem" of not wanting to go to the gym. It still feels very far away.
Yet I know I can be stronger than this. I can break the cycle I'm in. I can tell my story so as to give up a piece of the secrecy that keeps me sick.
Because no, you don't want my problem. And finally, neither do I. | [
"can't breathe normally",
"can't fall asleep",
"always feels hungry",
"always feels tired"
] |
This passage can be classified as _ | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
There are many dimensions to football's allure and appeal: top-class moves, thrilling goals, majestic star players, thunderous encounters and passionate fans. Football stirs the emotions all over the globe, brings people from contrasting cultures together, and promotes solid virtues such as fairness, team spirit and tolerance. All these facts will emerge in their most intense form at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil next summer.
Millions of people will be transfixed(...)by this unique festival of sport and friendship. We are thoroughly looking forward to football of the highest quality. We're delighted to welcome the biggest names in the sport as well as those nations set to appear at the finals for the first time. And we're looking forward to greeting fans from all over the world as they fill our cities with even more colour and life. A heartfelt welcome to everyone!
Brazil is a cosmopolitan country with a passion for football. The people will devote themselves to the job of ensuring the 2014 FIFA World Cup is an unforgettable experience, a fact demonstrated by the thousands of ordinary folk who have come forward as volunteers.
Brazil is well prepared to host the FIFA World Cup. We have finished constructing our new, modern stadiums and an outstanding transportation system. The organization is in the enormously capable hands of the Organizing Committee headed by RonaldoLuiz Nazario de Lima. The slogan "A time to make friends" perfectly describes our intention to ensure everyone delighted in a secure and peaceful festival of football.
The FIFA World Cup is a unique opportunity for Brazil to present herself as a hospitable, joyful and modern nation bursting with ideas. I am convinced that the flames of passion and togetherness _ by the FIFA World Cup in Brazil will spread to the entire world.
I'm personally looking forward to a festival of goals, excitement and fair play. We Brazilians will be right behind our national team, but our aim is to act as welcoming hosts and friends to every team and their fans. Passionate and cosmopolitan Brazil is delighted to welcome visitors to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Question:
This passage can be classified as _
Choices:
A. a news report
B. a feature story
C. greeting speech
D. an advertisement | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high4415.txt | There are many dimensions to football's allure and appeal: top-class moves, thrilling goals, majestic star players, thunderous encounters and passionate fans. Football stirs the emotions all over the globe, brings people from contrasting cultures together, and promotes solid virtues such as fairness, team spirit and tolerance. All these facts will emerge in their most intense form at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil next summer.
Millions of people will be transfixed(...)by this unique festival of sport and friendship. We are thoroughly looking forward to football of the highest quality. We're delighted to welcome the biggest names in the sport as well as those nations set to appear at the finals for the first time. And we're looking forward to greeting fans from all over the world as they fill our cities with even more colour and life. A heartfelt welcome to everyone!
Brazil is a cosmopolitan country with a passion for football. The people will devote themselves to the job of ensuring the 2014 FIFA World Cup is an unforgettable experience, a fact demonstrated by the thousands of ordinary folk who have come forward as volunteers.
Brazil is well prepared to host the FIFA World Cup. We have finished constructing our new, modern stadiums and an outstanding transportation system. The organization is in the enormously capable hands of the Organizing Committee headed by RonaldoLuiz Nazario de Lima. The slogan "A time to make friends" perfectly describes our intention to ensure everyone delighted in a secure and peaceful festival of football.
The FIFA World Cup is a unique opportunity for Brazil to present herself as a hospitable, joyful and modern nation bursting with ideas. I am convinced that the flames of passion and togetherness _ by the FIFA World Cup in Brazil will spread to the entire world.
I'm personally looking forward to a festival of goals, excitement and fair play. We Brazilians will be right behind our national team, but our aim is to act as welcoming hosts and friends to every team and their fans. Passionate and cosmopolitan Brazil is delighted to welcome visitors to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. | [
"a news report",
"a feature story",
"greeting speech",
"an advertisement"
] |
We can learn from the survey that of all the media use | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The researchers used a national long-term survey of adolescent health to investigate the relationship between media use and depression. They based their findings on more than four thousand adolescents who were not depressed when the survey began in 2000.
As part of the survey, the young people were asked how many hours of television or videos they watched daily. They were also asked how often they played computer games and listened to the radio. Media use totaled an average of five and one-half hours a day. More than two hours of that was spent watching TV.
Seven years later, in 2007, more than seven percent of the young people had signs of depression. The average age at that time was twenty-one.
The researchers say they did not find any such relationship with the use of other media such as movies, video games or radio, etc. But the study did find that every extra hour of television meant an eight percent increase in the chances of developing signs of depression. Young men were more likely than young women to develop depression given the same amount of media use.
The study didn't explore if watching TV causes depression. But one possibility is that it was taking time away from activities that could help prevent depression.
Last December, the journal Social Indicators Research published a study of activities that help lead to happy lives. Sociologists from theprefix = st1 /UniversityofMarylandfound that people who describe themselves as happy spend less time watching television than unhappy people. The study found that happy people are more likely to he socially active, to read, attend religious services and to vote.
Question:
We can learn from the survey that of all the media use
Choices:
A. computer games are teenagers' favorite
B. most teenagers prefer to listen to the radio
C. teenagers enjoy watching TV very much
D. newspaper is not included in the survey | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high23961.txt | The researchers used a national long-term survey of adolescent health to investigate the relationship between media use and depression. They based their findings on more than four thousand adolescents who were not depressed when the survey began in 2000.
As part of the survey, the young people were asked how many hours of television or videos they watched daily. They were also asked how often they played computer games and listened to the radio. Media use totaled an average of five and one-half hours a day. More than two hours of that was spent watching TV.
Seven years later, in 2007, more than seven percent of the young people had signs of depression. The average age at that time was twenty-one.
The researchers say they did not find any such relationship with the use of other media such as movies, video games or radio, etc. But the study did find that every extra hour of television meant an eight percent increase in the chances of developing signs of depression. Young men were more likely than young women to develop depression given the same amount of media use.
The study didn't explore if watching TV causes depression. But one possibility is that it was taking time away from activities that could help prevent depression.
Last December, the journal Social Indicators Research published a study of activities that help lead to happy lives. Sociologists from theprefix = st1 /UniversityofMarylandfound that people who describe themselves as happy spend less time watching television than unhappy people. The study found that happy people are more likely to he socially active, to read, attend religious services and to vote. | [
"computer games are teenagers' favorite",
"most teenagers prefer to listen to the radio",
"teenagers enjoy watching TV very much",
"newspaper is not included in the survey"
] |
Annie calculated she has three times more toys than Mike, and two less than Tom. Mike has 6 toys. How many toys do Annie, Mike, and Tom have in total? | Annie has three times more toys than Mike, which means she has 3 * 6 = <<3*6=18>>18 more toys than Mike.
Annie has a total of 18+6= <<18+6=24>>24 toys.
Tom has two toys more than Annie, so he has 24 + 2 = <<24+2=26>>26 toys.
In total Annie, Mike, and Tom have 6 + 24 + 26 = <<6+24+26=56>>56 toys.
#### 56 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Annie calculated she has three times more toys than Mike, and two less than Tom. Mike has 6 toys. How many toys do Annie, Mike, and Tom have in total? | Annie has three times more toys than Mike, which means she has 3 * 6 = <<3*6=18>>18 more toys than Mike.
Annie has a total of 18+6= <<18+6=24>>24 toys.
Tom has two toys more than Annie, so he has 24 + 2 = <<24+2=26>>26 toys.
In total Annie, Mike, and Tom have 6 + 24 + 26 = <<6+24+26=56>>56 toys.
#### 56 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Kyle bikes for 2 hours to work every day. Ten times the time he takes to travel to work and back is the same as the cost of buying a pack of snacks (in dollars). How much will Ryan pay, in dollars, to buy 50 packs of snacks? | A round trip to work and back takes 2*2 = <<2*2=4>>4 hours
Ten times the time Kyle takes to travel to work and back is the same as the cost of buying a pack of snacks, meaning the packs are sold at 4*10 = $<<10*4=40>>40 each
Ryan will pay $40*50=$<<40*50=2000>>2000 to buy 50 packs of snacks?
#### 2000 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Kyle bikes for 2 hours to work every day. Ten times the time he takes to travel to work and back is the same as the cost of buying a pack of snacks (in dollars). How much will Ryan pay, in dollars, to buy 50 packs of snacks? | A round trip to work and back takes 2*2 = <<2*2=4>>4 hours
Ten times the time Kyle takes to travel to work and back is the same as the cost of buying a pack of snacks, meaning the packs are sold at 4*10 = $<<10*4=40>>40 each
Ryan will pay $40*50=$<<40*50=2000>>2000 to buy 50 packs of snacks?
#### 2000 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
This program is quite different from other food shows because it has more features of _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Do you often watch TV programs? There are many TV programs on Chinese cuisines (, ),but few are like A Bite of China. It tries to bring something new by introducing more cultural features related to dishes, such as eating habits and wonderful stories about food.
It's said that more than 100 million Chinese people are watching the program. Most Chinese people regard this program as more than just the regular food shows. They see it as an amazing documentary providing a special view of Chinese as well as the relations between people and food , between people and society.
On the other hand, the documentary also stimulates Chinese people's consumption . Taobao, one of China's biggest online shopping sites, reports that the search on food items that were introduced by the documentary has increased to 4 million times in one week, and sales have increased to 5.82 million.
To get enough good stories, the production team spent three months doing research and interviews in about 60 cities before they started making the documentary last July. Filming lasted about nine months. Liu Wen, the director, says "As CCTV-9 serves as a window, allowing the world to better understand China, the documentary aims to help the world not only enjoy the beauty of Chinese cuisines, but also learn Chinese customs."
Question:
This program is quite different from other food shows because it has more features of _ .
Choices:
A. culture
B. cuisine
C. news
D. place | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5379.txt | Do you often watch TV programs? There are many TV programs on Chinese cuisines (, ),but few are like A Bite of China. It tries to bring something new by introducing more cultural features related to dishes, such as eating habits and wonderful stories about food.
It's said that more than 100 million Chinese people are watching the program. Most Chinese people regard this program as more than just the regular food shows. They see it as an amazing documentary providing a special view of Chinese as well as the relations between people and food , between people and society.
On the other hand, the documentary also stimulates Chinese people's consumption . Taobao, one of China's biggest online shopping sites, reports that the search on food items that were introduced by the documentary has increased to 4 million times in one week, and sales have increased to 5.82 million.
To get enough good stories, the production team spent three months doing research and interviews in about 60 cities before they started making the documentary last July. Filming lasted about nine months. Liu Wen, the director, says "As CCTV-9 serves as a window, allowing the world to better understand China, the documentary aims to help the world not only enjoy the beauty of Chinese cuisines, but also learn Chinese customs." | [
"culture",
"cuisine",
"news",
"place"
] |
He _ in the factory. | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Do you know that man? He is my uncle. His name is David Smith. He is forty-eight this year. He is a worker. He works in a Car Factory. His factory is not near his home. So he gets up early in the morning and takes a bus to work.
At about seven thirty, he gets to his factory. He makes the parts of the car. He makes many every day. He works very hard. Everyone likes him and says he is a good worker. He has his lunch in the factory. He often plays basketball after work. In the evening, he learns Chinese at home. His Chinese is good, too. Sometimes he helps me with my Chinese. I like my uncle very much.
Question:
He _ in the factory.
Choices:
A. has dinner
B. plays basketball
C. sleeps
D. eats lunch | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3484.txt | Do you know that man? He is my uncle. His name is David Smith. He is forty-eight this year. He is a worker. He works in a Car Factory. His factory is not near his home. So he gets up early in the morning and takes a bus to work.
At about seven thirty, he gets to his factory. He makes the parts of the car. He makes many every day. He works very hard. Everyone likes him and says he is a good worker. He has his lunch in the factory. He often plays basketball after work. In the evening, he learns Chinese at home. His Chinese is good, too. Sometimes he helps me with my Chinese. I like my uncle very much. | [
"has dinner",
"plays basketball",
"sleeps",
"eats lunch"
] |
Pessimism may be positive in some way because it causes people _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A German study suggests that people who were too optimistic about their future actually faced greater risk of disability or death within 10 years than those pessimists who expected their future to be worse.
The paper, published this March in Psychology and Aging, examined health and welfare surveys from roughly 40,000 Germans between ages 18 and 96. The surveys were conducted every year from 1993 to 2003.
Survey respondents were asked to estimate their present and future life satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10, among other questions.
The researchers found that young adults (age 18 to 39) routinely overestimated their future life satisfaction, while middle-aged adults (age 40 to 64) more accurately predicted how they would feel in the future. Adults of 65 and older, however, were far more likely to underestimate their future life satisfaction. Not only did they feel more satisfied than they thought they would, the older pessimists seemed to suffer a lower ratio of disability and death for the study period.
"We observed that being too optimistic in predicting a better future than actually observed was associated with a greater risk of disability and a greater risk of death within the following decade," wrote Frieder R. Lang, a professor at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.
Lang and his colleagues believed that people who were pessimistic about their future may be more careful about their actions than people who expected a rosy future.
"Seeing a dark future may encourage positive evaluations of the actual self and may contribute to taking improved precautions ," the authors wrote.
Surprisingly, compared with those in poor health or who had low incomes, respondents who enjoyed good health or income were associated with expecting a greater decline. Also, the researchers said that higher income was related to a greater risk of disability.
The authors of the study noted that there were limitations to their conclusions. Illness, medical treatment and personal loss could also have driven health outcomes.
However, the researchers said a pattern was clear. "We found that from early to late adulthood, individuals adapt their expectations of future life satisfaction from optimistic, to accurate, to pessimistic," the authors concluded.
Question:
Pessimism may be positive in some way because it causes people _ .
Choices:
A. to fully enjoy their present life
B. to estimate their contribution accurately
C. to take measures against potential risks
D. to value health more highly than wealth | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high4069.txt | A German study suggests that people who were too optimistic about their future actually faced greater risk of disability or death within 10 years than those pessimists who expected their future to be worse.
The paper, published this March in Psychology and Aging, examined health and welfare surveys from roughly 40,000 Germans between ages 18 and 96. The surveys were conducted every year from 1993 to 2003.
Survey respondents were asked to estimate their present and future life satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10, among other questions.
The researchers found that young adults (age 18 to 39) routinely overestimated their future life satisfaction, while middle-aged adults (age 40 to 64) more accurately predicted how they would feel in the future. Adults of 65 and older, however, were far more likely to underestimate their future life satisfaction. Not only did they feel more satisfied than they thought they would, the older pessimists seemed to suffer a lower ratio of disability and death for the study period.
"We observed that being too optimistic in predicting a better future than actually observed was associated with a greater risk of disability and a greater risk of death within the following decade," wrote Frieder R. Lang, a professor at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.
Lang and his colleagues believed that people who were pessimistic about their future may be more careful about their actions than people who expected a rosy future.
"Seeing a dark future may encourage positive evaluations of the actual self and may contribute to taking improved precautions ," the authors wrote.
Surprisingly, compared with those in poor health or who had low incomes, respondents who enjoyed good health or income were associated with expecting a greater decline. Also, the researchers said that higher income was related to a greater risk of disability.
The authors of the study noted that there were limitations to their conclusions. Illness, medical treatment and personal loss could also have driven health outcomes.
However, the researchers said a pattern was clear. "We found that from early to late adulthood, individuals adapt their expectations of future life satisfaction from optimistic, to accurate, to pessimistic," the authors concluded. | [
"to fully enjoy their present life",
"to estimate their contribution accurately",
"to take measures against potential risks",
"to value health more highly than wealth"
] |
What is essential for cellular respiration for all aerobic organisms? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What is essential for cellular respiration for all aerobic organisms? | oxygen | science | null | null | null | carbon | nitrogen | water | oxygen | An online guide from the University of Illinois about air masses and fronts is found here: http://ww2010. atmos. uiuc. edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/af/home. rxml . | null | null | null |
According to the report, how many themed attractions are there in Suzhou? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
SUZHOU-Jinji Lake has become the latest Chinese landmark to enjoy global fame.
The lake was ranked one of the most popular Chinese scenic spots for its highest search rate during the Labor Day holiday, according to statistics revealed by China Central Television. During this year's Labor Day holiday, Jinji Lake attracted 287,400 visitors.
Located in Suzhou Industrial Park, the lake is China's largest urban lake and is home to a great number of cultural, entertainment, commercial and business facilities.
Jinji Lake has earned high praise around the world. In 2013, it received about 9.77 million tourists, increasing by 47.76% from the year before and ranking first among major attractions in Suzhou.
The lake area was designed by EDAW, a United States architectural firm that has worked with Disney theme parks, as well as eight other themed attractions in Suzhou, including Harmony Times Square, the Ferris Wheel Park, the musical fountain, Ligongdi, Linglong Bay, Lakeside Street, the water corridor with art and culture facilities , and Jinji Lake Bridge.
A tourism app for Jinji Lake, providing information about transportation, food, accommodation and other resources in the area is available to the public.
Question:
According to the report, how many themed attractions are there in Suzhou?
Choices:
A. Only one
B. Eight
C. Ten
D. Nine | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3227.txt | SUZHOU-Jinji Lake has become the latest Chinese landmark to enjoy global fame.
The lake was ranked one of the most popular Chinese scenic spots for its highest search rate during the Labor Day holiday, according to statistics revealed by China Central Television. During this year's Labor Day holiday, Jinji Lake attracted 287,400 visitors.
Located in Suzhou Industrial Park, the lake is China's largest urban lake and is home to a great number of cultural, entertainment, commercial and business facilities.
Jinji Lake has earned high praise around the world. In 2013, it received about 9.77 million tourists, increasing by 47.76% from the year before and ranking first among major attractions in Suzhou.
The lake area was designed by EDAW, a United States architectural firm that has worked with Disney theme parks, as well as eight other themed attractions in Suzhou, including Harmony Times Square, the Ferris Wheel Park, the musical fountain, Ligongdi, Linglong Bay, Lakeside Street, the water corridor with art and culture facilities , and Jinji Lake Bridge.
A tourism app for Jinji Lake, providing information about transportation, food, accommodation and other resources in the area is available to the public. | [
"Only one",
"Eight",
"Ten",
"Nine"
] |
Josh wants to build a square sandbox that is 3 ft long, 3 ft wide for his son. He can buy sand in 3 sq ft bags for $4.00 a bag. How much will it cost him to fill up the sandbox? | The sandbox is 3' long, 3' wide so the sq footage of the sandbox is 3*3 = <<3*3=9>>9 sq ft
He needs 9 sq ft of sand to fill the sandbox and he can buy it in 3 sq ft bags so he needs 9/3 = <<9/3=3>>3 bags of sand
The sand costs $4.00 a bag and he needs 3 bags so it will cost him 4*3 = $<<4*3=12.00>>12.00 in sand
#### 12 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Josh wants to build a square sandbox that is 3 ft long, 3 ft wide for his son. He can buy sand in 3 sq ft bags for $4.00 a bag. How much will it cost him to fill up the sandbox? | The sandbox is 3' long, 3' wide so the sq footage of the sandbox is 3*3 = <<3*3=9>>9 sq ft
He needs 9 sq ft of sand to fill the sandbox and he can buy it in 3 sq ft bags so he needs 9/3 = <<9/3=3>>3 bags of sand
The sand costs $4.00 a bag and he needs 3 bags so it will cost him 4*3 = $<<4*3=12.00>>12.00 in sand
#### 12 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the four passages? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Friends and Buddies
This program is planned for teenagers who have special needs with the goal of meeting within a community with other peers . The purpose of the program is that it will lead to a better understanding of friendships. Gym, Swim, Surprise Guest, and Pizza are included. Ages 12-18, numbers of members are limited. Contact: Gloria Bass. This program is held 2 Fridays per month. Fees: $65/$85
Club Saturday Swim
This program is available to anyone aged 5-14 who is challenged by mental, physical, or emotional trouble. The program will be held each Saturday afternoon, 12:00-12:30 pm or 12:30-1:00 pm. Fees: $136/$260
Sibshops (Ages 10-13)
Sibshops is a program for siblings of children with challenges. It includes group activities and talk treatment ways with the focus on improving sibling relationships and whole family happiness. Location: Hope Church, Wilton CT. Wednesday: 4:00-5:00 pm. Fees: $50/$65
Banana Splits
Banana Splits is an educational support group for children in family trouble. Children aged 9-13 will have the opportunity to meet other children whose parents have separated or divorced, learn to recognize feelings, think of healthy coping skills and have a place to share their struggles through verbal , physical, and artistic experiences. Location: Hope Church, Wilton CT. Tuesday:4:30-5:30 pm. Fees: $50/$65
Question:
Which of the following is TRUE according to the four passages?
Choices:
A. They are all in the same place.
B. They are all free of charge.
C. They all hold activities each week.
D. They are all intended for children. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11730.txt | Friends and Buddies
This program is planned for teenagers who have special needs with the goal of meeting within a community with other peers . The purpose of the program is that it will lead to a better understanding of friendships. Gym, Swim, Surprise Guest, and Pizza are included. Ages 12-18, numbers of members are limited. Contact: Gloria Bass. This program is held 2 Fridays per month. Fees: $65/$85
Club Saturday Swim
This program is available to anyone aged 5-14 who is challenged by mental, physical, or emotional trouble. The program will be held each Saturday afternoon, 12:00-12:30 pm or 12:30-1:00 pm. Fees: $136/$260
Sibshops (Ages 10-13)
Sibshops is a program for siblings of children with challenges. It includes group activities and talk treatment ways with the focus on improving sibling relationships and whole family happiness. Location: Hope Church, Wilton CT. Wednesday: 4:00-5:00 pm. Fees: $50/$65
Banana Splits
Banana Splits is an educational support group for children in family trouble. Children aged 9-13 will have the opportunity to meet other children whose parents have separated or divorced, learn to recognize feelings, think of healthy coping skills and have a place to share their struggles through verbal , physical, and artistic experiences. Location: Hope Church, Wilton CT. Tuesday:4:30-5:30 pm. Fees: $50/$65 | [
"They are all in the same place.",
"They are all free of charge.",
"They all hold activities each week.",
"They are all intended for children."
] |
Why do some jokes fail to work? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
What is funny? The short answer is: Who knows? The joke that causes a burst of laughter from one listener might be met with a puzzled look from another.
In general, you should avoid jokes at any business or social gathering where there are more than two people in your conversational group. If there are only two people -- and they consist of you and your best friend -- go ahead and tell it.
Admittedly, a few people possess a perfect sense of timing, appropriateness, and joke delivery. You are probably not one of them. You might be quite funny and have many great jokes. But there's a place for jokes -- over dinner with family, hiking with friends, but business or social affairs with colleagues and acquaintances are not it. It takes a whole other level of joke-telling ability to put a joke into the more formal conversations.
The best jokes come into the conversation so that by the time listeners realize a joke is in progress, the punchline that produces humour is being delivered -- to their surprise and delight.
Jokes don't translate well when you're in a group with mixed backgrounds: those whose first language is not English, those who might not understand a special term or an "in" expression, young people who wouldn't catch a reference to some bit of culture familiar to older people -- and vice versa .
Never joke about another person in the group -- about their name, habits, hometown, profession, appearance, or past. It's not a question of whether the joke is cheery or appropriate. No one enjoys being singled out this way. When you are the subject of the joke, the laughter doesn't feel good no matter how hard you try to tell yourself they're not laughing at you. Because that's what it feels like.
What do you say if you realize your joke upset someone? Apologize as briefly and as sincerely as you can, and hope that someone changes the subject. Try saying: "I'm sorry. I should have known better" or "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."
What do you do if people don't get your joke or don't appear to find it as funny as you do? First, do not retell it, only louder this time, hoping the point of the joke will be seen. Second, don't try to push people to get it. People do not like people whose jokes they don't understand. They feel stupid and need to blame someone. If you want to leave with the goodwill of your listeners, say something to make them feel less foolish. You could say: "I don't know why I tell jokes when I'm so poor at it."
The world needs laughter, and good humour is a success wherever it goes, so this caveat about joke-telling is not meant to dampen high spirits or to advocate dull conversation. If you're a gifted story-teller and you know people love your jokes, go for it. We need your kind. The rest of us will save our jokes for family and close friends.
Question:
Why do some jokes fail to work?
Choices:
A. Because the punchline is too long to catch.
B. Because the joke-teller uses wrong words and expressions.
C. Because the joke-teller and listeners don't share the same background knowledge.
D. Because the jokes are not properly translated into the listeners' native language. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11656.txt | What is funny? The short answer is: Who knows? The joke that causes a burst of laughter from one listener might be met with a puzzled look from another.
In general, you should avoid jokes at any business or social gathering where there are more than two people in your conversational group. If there are only two people -- and they consist of you and your best friend -- go ahead and tell it.
Admittedly, a few people possess a perfect sense of timing, appropriateness, and joke delivery. You are probably not one of them. You might be quite funny and have many great jokes. But there's a place for jokes -- over dinner with family, hiking with friends, but business or social affairs with colleagues and acquaintances are not it. It takes a whole other level of joke-telling ability to put a joke into the more formal conversations.
The best jokes come into the conversation so that by the time listeners realize a joke is in progress, the punchline that produces humour is being delivered -- to their surprise and delight.
Jokes don't translate well when you're in a group with mixed backgrounds: those whose first language is not English, those who might not understand a special term or an "in" expression, young people who wouldn't catch a reference to some bit of culture familiar to older people -- and vice versa .
Never joke about another person in the group -- about their name, habits, hometown, profession, appearance, or past. It's not a question of whether the joke is cheery or appropriate. No one enjoys being singled out this way. When you are the subject of the joke, the laughter doesn't feel good no matter how hard you try to tell yourself they're not laughing at you. Because that's what it feels like.
What do you say if you realize your joke upset someone? Apologize as briefly and as sincerely as you can, and hope that someone changes the subject. Try saying: "I'm sorry. I should have known better" or "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."
What do you do if people don't get your joke or don't appear to find it as funny as you do? First, do not retell it, only louder this time, hoping the point of the joke will be seen. Second, don't try to push people to get it. People do not like people whose jokes they don't understand. They feel stupid and need to blame someone. If you want to leave with the goodwill of your listeners, say something to make them feel less foolish. You could say: "I don't know why I tell jokes when I'm so poor at it."
The world needs laughter, and good humour is a success wherever it goes, so this caveat about joke-telling is not meant to dampen high spirits or to advocate dull conversation. If you're a gifted story-teller and you know people love your jokes, go for it. We need your kind. The rest of us will save our jokes for family and close friends. | [
"Because the punchline is too long to catch.",
"Because the joke-teller uses wrong words and expressions.",
"Because the joke-teller and listeners don't share the same background knowledge.",
"Because the jokes are not properly translated into the listeners' native language."
] |
According to the passage, the American family is now threatened by_. | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
In this century the traditional American family is constantly faced with the threat of breakdown. Some people suggest that one little - noticed cause may be the introduction of the TV dinner.
Before the appearance of television seats, the American dinner was a big event for the family. In many homes dinner time may be the only time when everyone got together. A typical dinner was usually in three periods In the preparation period, the children and Father frequently helped with setting while Mother put the last touches on the roast. In the eating period, family members shared the day's experiences and more than food was eaten. In this period,families got to know one another and made joint decisions around the dinner table, and thus the family solidarity was strengthened. In the cleaning - up period,children or Father again gave their hands, so that their meaning to the home community was clear. Unfortunately, all of these have been abandoned by a product--the television set.
By the beginning of the 1980s, the typical American family dinner was just twenty minutes long. The speed - up of this once - leisurely experiences is clearly connected to the overall pace of modern life and maybe a model of the modern life is the TV dinners--meals designed to be used between the opening and closing credits of a half - hour program. The once family affair has now become nothing more than the use of a fork and knife.
Question:
According to the passage, the American family is now threatened by_.
Choices:
A. Being poor
B. having few children
C. poor living conditions
D. separation | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11332.txt | In this century the traditional American family is constantly faced with the threat of breakdown. Some people suggest that one little - noticed cause may be the introduction of the TV dinner.
Before the appearance of television seats, the American dinner was a big event for the family. In many homes dinner time may be the only time when everyone got together. A typical dinner was usually in three periods In the preparation period, the children and Father frequently helped with setting while Mother put the last touches on the roast. In the eating period, family members shared the day's experiences and more than food was eaten. In this period,families got to know one another and made joint decisions around the dinner table, and thus the family solidarity was strengthened. In the cleaning - up period,children or Father again gave their hands, so that their meaning to the home community was clear. Unfortunately, all of these have been abandoned by a product--the television set.
By the beginning of the 1980s, the typical American family dinner was just twenty minutes long. The speed - up of this once - leisurely experiences is clearly connected to the overall pace of modern life and maybe a model of the modern life is the TV dinners--meals designed to be used between the opening and closing credits of a half - hour program. The once family affair has now become nothing more than the use of a fork and knife. | [
"Being poor",
"having few children",
"poor living conditions",
"separation"
] |
What is the key to finding a job according to the author? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
As you are probably aware,the latest job markets news isn't good:Unemployment is still more than 9 percent,and new job growth has fallen close to zero.That's bad for the economy,of course.And it may be especially discouraging if you happen to be looking for a job or hoping to change careers right now.But it actually shouldn't matter to you nearly as much as you think.
That's because job growth numbers don't matter to job hunters as much as job staff-turnover data.After all,existing jobs open up every day due to promotions,resignations,and retirements.(Yes,people are retiring even in this economy.)In both good times and bad,staff-turnover creates more openings than economic growth does.Even in June of 2007,when the economy was still booming along,job growth was only 132,000,while staff-turnover was 4.7 million!
And as it turns out,even today--with job growth near zero--over 4 million job hunters are being hired every month.
I don't mean to imply that overall job growth doesn't have an impact on one's ability to land a job.It's true that if total employment were higher.it would mean more jobs for all of us to choose from(and compete for).And it's true that there are currently more people applying for each available job opening,regardless of whether it's a new one or not.
But what often distinguishes those who land jobs from those who don't is their ability to stay motivated.They're willing to do the hard work of identifying their valuable skills;be creative about where and how to look;learn how to present themselves to potential employers;and keep going,even after repeated rejections.The Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that 2.7 million people who wanted and were available for work hadn't hunted for it within the last four weeks and were no longer even classified as unemployed.
So don't let the headlines fool you into giving up.Four million people get hired every month in the U.S.You can be one of them
Question:
What is the key to finding a job according to the author?
Choices:
A. Education
B. Intelligence
C. Persistence
D. Experience | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high18828.txt | As you are probably aware,the latest job markets news isn't good:Unemployment is still more than 9 percent,and new job growth has fallen close to zero.That's bad for the economy,of course.And it may be especially discouraging if you happen to be looking for a job or hoping to change careers right now.But it actually shouldn't matter to you nearly as much as you think.
That's because job growth numbers don't matter to job hunters as much as job staff-turnover data.After all,existing jobs open up every day due to promotions,resignations,and retirements.(Yes,people are retiring even in this economy.)In both good times and bad,staff-turnover creates more openings than economic growth does.Even in June of 2007,when the economy was still booming along,job growth was only 132,000,while staff-turnover was 4.7 million!
And as it turns out,even today--with job growth near zero--over 4 million job hunters are being hired every month.
I don't mean to imply that overall job growth doesn't have an impact on one's ability to land a job.It's true that if total employment were higher.it would mean more jobs for all of us to choose from(and compete for).And it's true that there are currently more people applying for each available job opening,regardless of whether it's a new one or not.
But what often distinguishes those who land jobs from those who don't is their ability to stay motivated.They're willing to do the hard work of identifying their valuable skills;be creative about where and how to look;learn how to present themselves to potential employers;and keep going,even after repeated rejections.The Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that 2.7 million people who wanted and were available for work hadn't hunted for it within the last four weeks and were no longer even classified as unemployed.
So don't let the headlines fool you into giving up.Four million people get hired every month in the U.S.You can be one of them | [
"Education",
"Intelligence",
"Persistence",
"Experience"
] |
Some scientists think the debate over ethics of cloning humans is overstressed because _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The scientific world continues to be amazed by the speed of the development of cloning. Some scientists now suggest that the cloning of humans could occur in the near future. Despite the benefits of cloning, however, certain ethical questions concerning the possible abuse of cloning have been raised. At the heart of these questions is the idea of humans influencing life in a way that could harm society, either morally or in a real physical sense. Some people object to cloning because it allows scientists to "act like God" in the handling of living organisms.
The cloning of Dolly raised the debate over this practice to a whole new level. It has become obvious that the technology for cloning Dolly could also be used to clone humans. A person could choose to make two or ten or a hundred copies of himself or herself by the same techniques used with Dolly. An active debate about the morality of cloning humans arises. Some people see benefits from the practice, such as providing a way for parents to produce a new child to replace one dying of a fatal disease. Other people worry about humans taking into their own hands the future of the human race.
At the beginning of the twenty-first century, many scientists say the controversy over the ethics of cloning humans is overstressed because of the unpredictability of cloning in general. While scientists have cloned animals such as sheep, mice, cows, pigs, and goats, fewer than 3 percent of all those cloning efforts have succeeded. The animal clones that have been produced often have health problems. Scientists believe the rapid reprogramming in cloning can introduce random errors into a clone's DNA. Those errors have altered individual genes in minor ways, and the genetic defects have led to the development of major medical problems. Some scientists say this should make human cloning out of the question, but others argue that cloning humans may actually be easier and safer than cloning animals. Whatever, I agree that further research in the field of cloning is needed.
Question:
Some scientists think the debate over ethics of cloning humans is overstressed because _ .
Choices:
A. cloning of human beings is completely impossible
B. the result of cloning can't be predicted in general
C. cloning of animals is a failure
D. there are big errors in a clone's DNA | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high23701.txt | The scientific world continues to be amazed by the speed of the development of cloning. Some scientists now suggest that the cloning of humans could occur in the near future. Despite the benefits of cloning, however, certain ethical questions concerning the possible abuse of cloning have been raised. At the heart of these questions is the idea of humans influencing life in a way that could harm society, either morally or in a real physical sense. Some people object to cloning because it allows scientists to "act like God" in the handling of living organisms.
The cloning of Dolly raised the debate over this practice to a whole new level. It has become obvious that the technology for cloning Dolly could also be used to clone humans. A person could choose to make two or ten or a hundred copies of himself or herself by the same techniques used with Dolly. An active debate about the morality of cloning humans arises. Some people see benefits from the practice, such as providing a way for parents to produce a new child to replace one dying of a fatal disease. Other people worry about humans taking into their own hands the future of the human race.
At the beginning of the twenty-first century, many scientists say the controversy over the ethics of cloning humans is overstressed because of the unpredictability of cloning in general. While scientists have cloned animals such as sheep, mice, cows, pigs, and goats, fewer than 3 percent of all those cloning efforts have succeeded. The animal clones that have been produced often have health problems. Scientists believe the rapid reprogramming in cloning can introduce random errors into a clone's DNA. Those errors have altered individual genes in minor ways, and the genetic defects have led to the development of major medical problems. Some scientists say this should make human cloning out of the question, but others argue that cloning humans may actually be easier and safer than cloning animals. Whatever, I agree that further research in the field of cloning is needed. | [
"cloning of human beings is completely impossible",
"the result of cloning can't be predicted in general",
"cloning of animals is a failure",
"there are big errors in a clone's DNA"
] |
According to the article, which of these issues may NOT be a problem for life in the 21st century? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
As the saying goes, "Change is not always for the better". Take social interaction, for example! We now live in an era in which many teenagers spend hours locked away in their bedrooms shooting virtual soldiers and hitting zombies over the head with digital baseball bats, while others sit home alone, chatting with friends, not in person, but through social networks. Teachers, politicians and parents have genuine reasons to argue that young people like this are in danger of losing the ability to connect with one another, to develop genuine relationships and to separate the fictional world of the Xbox or the Play Station from the real world.
Others worry about the increasing breakdown of the family unit within the UK and link that to the increase of youth crime and antisocial behavior, or the problems that some young people have with drugs or alcohol. These issues are particularly common in areas of poverty and, in the light of the economic crisis, are unlikely to improve. Indeed, the gap between rich and poor in the UK could well increase, as unemployment figures rise and the cost of higher education increases.
But being a teenager in the 21st century is not all doom and gloom, Young people in the UK today can enjoy living in a far more multicultural, integrated society in which opportunities are more equal and which is increasingly environmentally aware. They benefit from better child protection policies, a wider range of educational activities and clearer guidance on leading healthy lifestyles.
And as they grow up, this generation will benefit from huge technological inventions which will have an impact on almost every aspect of their lives, from entertainment to transport. They will see medical advances which could put an end to diseases like malaria and rid the world of AIDS. They will live longer, work smarter and they will even have a greater understanding of nature and the universe.
Question:
According to the article, which of these issues may NOT be a problem for life in the 21st century?
Choices:
A. Teenagers playing computer games
B. Broken homes and unstable families
C. The rising cost of university education
D. AIDS and Malaria | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high19866.txt | As the saying goes, "Change is not always for the better". Take social interaction, for example! We now live in an era in which many teenagers spend hours locked away in their bedrooms shooting virtual soldiers and hitting zombies over the head with digital baseball bats, while others sit home alone, chatting with friends, not in person, but through social networks. Teachers, politicians and parents have genuine reasons to argue that young people like this are in danger of losing the ability to connect with one another, to develop genuine relationships and to separate the fictional world of the Xbox or the Play Station from the real world.
Others worry about the increasing breakdown of the family unit within the UK and link that to the increase of youth crime and antisocial behavior, or the problems that some young people have with drugs or alcohol. These issues are particularly common in areas of poverty and, in the light of the economic crisis, are unlikely to improve. Indeed, the gap between rich and poor in the UK could well increase, as unemployment figures rise and the cost of higher education increases.
But being a teenager in the 21st century is not all doom and gloom, Young people in the UK today can enjoy living in a far more multicultural, integrated society in which opportunities are more equal and which is increasingly environmentally aware. They benefit from better child protection policies, a wider range of educational activities and clearer guidance on leading healthy lifestyles.
And as they grow up, this generation will benefit from huge technological inventions which will have an impact on almost every aspect of their lives, from entertainment to transport. They will see medical advances which could put an end to diseases like malaria and rid the world of AIDS. They will live longer, work smarter and they will even have a greater understanding of nature and the universe. | [
"Teenagers playing computer games",
"Broken homes and unstable families",
"The rising cost of university education",
"AIDS and Malaria"
] |
From the second example we can infer that the parents of the two daughters _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Parents should stop blaming themselves because there's not a lot they can do about it. I mean the teenager problem. Whatever you do or however you choose to deal with it, at certain times a wonderful, reasonable and helpful child will turn into a terrible animal.
I've seen friends deal with _ in all kinds of different ways. One strict mother insisted that her son, right from a child, should stand up whenever anyone entered the room, open doors and shake hands like a gentleman. I saw him last week when I called round. Sprawling himself on the sofa in full length, he made no attempt to turn off the loud TV he was watching as I walked in, and his greeting was no more than a quick glance at me. His mother was ashamed. "I don't know what to do with him these days," she said. "He's forgotten all the manners we taught him."
He hasn't forgotten them. He's just decided that he's not going to use them. She confessed that she would like to come up behind him and throw him down from the sofa onto the floor.
Another good friend of mine let her two daughters climb all over the furniture, reach across the table, stare at me and say, "I don't like your dress; it's ugly." One of the daughters has recently been driven out of school. The other has left home.
"Where did we go wrong?" her parents are now very sad. Probably nowhere much. At least, no more than the rest of that unfortunate race, parents.
Question:
From the second example we can infer that the parents of the two daughters _ .
Choices:
A. pay no attention to them
B. feel helpless to do much about them
C. have come to hate them
D. are too busy to look after them | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high2452.txt | Parents should stop blaming themselves because there's not a lot they can do about it. I mean the teenager problem. Whatever you do or however you choose to deal with it, at certain times a wonderful, reasonable and helpful child will turn into a terrible animal.
I've seen friends deal with _ in all kinds of different ways. One strict mother insisted that her son, right from a child, should stand up whenever anyone entered the room, open doors and shake hands like a gentleman. I saw him last week when I called round. Sprawling himself on the sofa in full length, he made no attempt to turn off the loud TV he was watching as I walked in, and his greeting was no more than a quick glance at me. His mother was ashamed. "I don't know what to do with him these days," she said. "He's forgotten all the manners we taught him."
He hasn't forgotten them. He's just decided that he's not going to use them. She confessed that she would like to come up behind him and throw him down from the sofa onto the floor.
Another good friend of mine let her two daughters climb all over the furniture, reach across the table, stare at me and say, "I don't like your dress; it's ugly." One of the daughters has recently been driven out of school. The other has left home.
"Where did we go wrong?" her parents are now very sad. Probably nowhere much. At least, no more than the rest of that unfortunate race, parents. | [
"pay no attention to them",
"feel helpless to do much about them",
"have come to hate them",
"are too busy to look after them"
] |
What is the best title for the passage? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Windmills dot the landscape,producing a renewable energy source.Our pioneer ancestors established windmills as a means of bringing water to the surface.To tell the truth,the history of wind energy is very long.Since early recorded history,people have been _ the energy of the wind.Wind energy drove boats along the Nile River as early as 5000 BC.By 200 BC,simple windmills in China were pumping water,while well-designed windmills were grinding grain in Persia and the Middle East.
New innovations and curiosity helped spread interest in windmills and wind power.Middle Eastern citizens used them for food production by the 11th century.Merchants along trade routes returned to Europe and shared the idea.Windmills caught on,especially in Holland,and the Dutch improved their use.Here,windmills drained lakes and other bodies of water.In France,the windmill pumped irrigation water.Elsewhere in Europe,windmills were used to grind grain.
By the 19th century,settlers in the United States realized the importance of the simple windmill.Pioneers pumped water for livestock and farming.As estimated six million windmills dotted America's landscape by the end of the 1880s.Charles Brush,the US inventor,invented a windmill capable of producing electricity in 1888.And now the machines are called wind turbines.As late as the 1920s,Americans used small windmills to provide electricity in rural areas without electric service.When power lines began to transport electricity to rural areas in the 1930s,local windmills were used less and less,though they can still be seen on some Western farms.
In the 1970s,oil shortages pushed the development of alternative energy sources,paving the way for the re-entry of the windmill to produce electricity.In the early 1980s,wind energy really took off in California,partly because of State policies that encouraged renewable energy sources.In the 1990s,the push came from a renewed concern for the environment in response to scientific studies indicating potential changes to the global climate if the use of fossil fuels continues to increase.Wind energy is an economical power resource in many areas of the country.
Wind energy isn't a new phenomenon,but using wind turbines to create and use electricity is a trend that continues to sweep across the globe.
Question:
What is the best title for the passage?
Choices:
A. The importance of wind power
B. How does wind energy work?
C. The history of wind energy
D. When was wind power first used? | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high13998.txt | Windmills dot the landscape,producing a renewable energy source.Our pioneer ancestors established windmills as a means of bringing water to the surface.To tell the truth,the history of wind energy is very long.Since early recorded history,people have been _ the energy of the wind.Wind energy drove boats along the Nile River as early as 5000 BC.By 200 BC,simple windmills in China were pumping water,while well-designed windmills were grinding grain in Persia and the Middle East.
New innovations and curiosity helped spread interest in windmills and wind power.Middle Eastern citizens used them for food production by the 11th century.Merchants along trade routes returned to Europe and shared the idea.Windmills caught on,especially in Holland,and the Dutch improved their use.Here,windmills drained lakes and other bodies of water.In France,the windmill pumped irrigation water.Elsewhere in Europe,windmills were used to grind grain.
By the 19th century,settlers in the United States realized the importance of the simple windmill.Pioneers pumped water for livestock and farming.As estimated six million windmills dotted America's landscape by the end of the 1880s.Charles Brush,the US inventor,invented a windmill capable of producing electricity in 1888.And now the machines are called wind turbines.As late as the 1920s,Americans used small windmills to provide electricity in rural areas without electric service.When power lines began to transport electricity to rural areas in the 1930s,local windmills were used less and less,though they can still be seen on some Western farms.
In the 1970s,oil shortages pushed the development of alternative energy sources,paving the way for the re-entry of the windmill to produce electricity.In the early 1980s,wind energy really took off in California,partly because of State policies that encouraged renewable energy sources.In the 1990s,the push came from a renewed concern for the environment in response to scientific studies indicating potential changes to the global climate if the use of fossil fuels continues to increase.Wind energy is an economical power resource in many areas of the country.
Wind energy isn't a new phenomenon,but using wind turbines to create and use electricity is a trend that continues to sweep across the globe. | [
"The importance of wind power",
"How does wind energy work?",
"The history of wind energy",
"When was wind power first used?"
] |
Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the passage? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Generational differences and the economy are shifting more responsibilities for children from their parents to grandparents, according to a new survey.
More than one-third of grandparents aged 50 and older contribute financially to their grandchildren's upbringing, and 11 percent have a grandchild living with them, the poll by AARP showed.
40 percent of people who responded to the telephone survey, whose average age was 69, reported spending more than $500 on grandchildren over the past year beyond traditional gifts. Education costs accounted for about 50 percent, daily expenses for about 32 percent and medical and dental costs for about 18 percent.16 percent provided daycare for grandchildren.
"They are the safety nets for American families, helping to pay for practical expenses and necessities,"said Amy Goyer, AARP's multigenerational and family issues expert.
"We see many providing daycare services, while growing numbers even have grandchildren living with them,"she said, referring to the 16 percent who watch their grandchildren while the parents are at work or at school.
Overall, nearly 90 percent of the 1,904 grandparents questioned said they play a very or somewhat important role in their grandchildren's lives, and about 70 percent live within 50 miles of the closest one.
The poll conducted by Woelfel Research Inc. also showed that grandparents increasingly adapted to the younger generation's life issues and preferred ways of communicating.
More than one-third connect with their grandchildren via email, Skype or text messaging, while half said they routinely discuss topics ranging from values to drug and alcohol use.
Nearly 40 percent said they had discussed dating or sex with at least one grandchild. About 60 percent said they spoke with their grandchildren at least once a week.
Most of the grandparents said they had five or more grandchildren, while one-fourth said they have grandchildren of a different race, mixed race or different ethnicity.
Question:
Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the passage?
Choices:
A. One-third of grandparents aged 50 and older assist in bringing up their grandchildren.
B. The grandparents surveyed offered nets to their grandchildren.
C. Many grandparents polled said they play an important role in their grandchildren's lives.
D. A majority of the grandparents surveyed said they had five or more grandchildren. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high8925.txt | Generational differences and the economy are shifting more responsibilities for children from their parents to grandparents, according to a new survey.
More than one-third of grandparents aged 50 and older contribute financially to their grandchildren's upbringing, and 11 percent have a grandchild living with them, the poll by AARP showed.
40 percent of people who responded to the telephone survey, whose average age was 69, reported spending more than $500 on grandchildren over the past year beyond traditional gifts. Education costs accounted for about 50 percent, daily expenses for about 32 percent and medical and dental costs for about 18 percent.16 percent provided daycare for grandchildren.
"They are the safety nets for American families, helping to pay for practical expenses and necessities,"said Amy Goyer, AARP's multigenerational and family issues expert.
"We see many providing daycare services, while growing numbers even have grandchildren living with them,"she said, referring to the 16 percent who watch their grandchildren while the parents are at work or at school.
Overall, nearly 90 percent of the 1,904 grandparents questioned said they play a very or somewhat important role in their grandchildren's lives, and about 70 percent live within 50 miles of the closest one.
The poll conducted by Woelfel Research Inc. also showed that grandparents increasingly adapted to the younger generation's life issues and preferred ways of communicating.
More than one-third connect with their grandchildren via email, Skype or text messaging, while half said they routinely discuss topics ranging from values to drug and alcohol use.
Nearly 40 percent said they had discussed dating or sex with at least one grandchild. About 60 percent said they spoke with their grandchildren at least once a week.
Most of the grandparents said they had five or more grandchildren, while one-fourth said they have grandchildren of a different race, mixed race or different ethnicity. | [
"One-third of grandparents aged 50 and older assist in bringing up their grandchildren.",
"The grandparents surveyed offered nets to their grandchildren.",
"Many grandparents polled said they play an important role in their grandchildren's lives.",
"A majority of the grandparents surveyed said they had five or more grandchildren."
] |
From the passage, we can predict that _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A pair of giant pandas from southwest China's Sichuan Province arrived at their new home in Belgium's Pairi Daiza zoo, some 60km southwest of downtown Brussels, at around 15:00 local time (1400GMT) on February 23, 2014.
About 2,500 people, many of them excited children waving national flags of China and Belgium as well as panda-decorated flags or wearing costume of Panda greeted the pandas along the road to the zoo.
Visitors today can only observe the pandas through a closed-circuit television system in the reception.
Officials said they wanted the pandas fully adapted to their new home before making public _ in April.
The pandas, Xing Hui, the male and Hao Hao, the female, are both 4 years old and are on lease from a breeding center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The lease term is 15 years, according to officials with the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas, the world's largest research base for the species.
"It's a good thing for Belgium." Nicole Duflot, a grandmother coming to the zoo with her husband and her grandson told Xinhua, "We can't see the Panda today but it's a great thing for us to come here."
The Pandas will be living in a panda hall of 5,300 square meters within the zoo.
"I hope Xing Hui and Hao Hao will enhance friendship between Belgium and China." Liao Liqiang, the Chinese ambassador to Belgium, said during an interview with Xinhua.
Question:
From the passage, we can predict that _ .
Choices:
A. Belgium's Pairi Daiza Zoo will make much money soon
B. Xing Hui and Hao Hao will be very well treated in their new home
C. Belgium's Pairi Daiza Zoo will serve the Chinese visitors with free admission
D. pandas will be best-sellers in Belgium | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high6007.txt | A pair of giant pandas from southwest China's Sichuan Province arrived at their new home in Belgium's Pairi Daiza zoo, some 60km southwest of downtown Brussels, at around 15:00 local time (1400GMT) on February 23, 2014.
About 2,500 people, many of them excited children waving national flags of China and Belgium as well as panda-decorated flags or wearing costume of Panda greeted the pandas along the road to the zoo.
Visitors today can only observe the pandas through a closed-circuit television system in the reception.
Officials said they wanted the pandas fully adapted to their new home before making public _ in April.
The pandas, Xing Hui, the male and Hao Hao, the female, are both 4 years old and are on lease from a breeding center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The lease term is 15 years, according to officials with the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas, the world's largest research base for the species.
"It's a good thing for Belgium." Nicole Duflot, a grandmother coming to the zoo with her husband and her grandson told Xinhua, "We can't see the Panda today but it's a great thing for us to come here."
The Pandas will be living in a panda hall of 5,300 square meters within the zoo.
"I hope Xing Hui and Hao Hao will enhance friendship between Belgium and China." Liao Liqiang, the Chinese ambassador to Belgium, said during an interview with Xinhua. | [
"Belgium's Pairi Daiza Zoo will make much money soon",
"Xing Hui and Hao Hao will be very well treated in their new home",
"Belgium's Pairi Daiza Zoo will serve the Chinese visitors with free admission",
"pandas will be best-sellers in Belgium"
] |
Why was "thunk" the only sound they heard when the rich man dropped the candy? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Just as they were getting ready to leave the street corner, they noticed a man walking toward them. He was obviously a wealthy man ---- they could tell that from the finely tailored business suit he was wearing and the gold watch chain that decorated his left pocket.
The first beggar whispered to the second with excitement, "He's coming our way!"
The two tried not to look directly at the man as he stepped closer to them, but they couldn't help glaring at him with expectation as he reached into his pocket and took something out.
"Thunk" was the only sound they heard as what looked like a piece of hard candy, wrapped doubly in tissue paper, hit each of their waiting hats. The rich man turned and continued on his way, not making a backward glance.
"How disgusting !" said the first beggar, as soon as the rich man was out of sound range. "He could have easily left us a few coins or a spare bill, but he tricks us with a piece of rock candy."
He looked at the wrapped offering with disgust. "Who does he think we are ---- children? There's no way we can even eat this ---- we have no teeth."
The beggar picked up the object with the very tips of his fingers and threw it into the gutter . He watched as it floated a few yards in the stream of smelly water and disappeared at the end of the street. Then, he gathered up his things and walked away.
The second beggar looked down at the candy in his hat, then at his departing friend. His first impulse was to throw the donation in the trashcan under the street light. But his second thought made him change his mind.
"I haven't had anything like this for ages," he thought. "I can't chew it, but I can suck on it for a while, and the sugary juices will stay in my mouth for a long time. How nice of that man to offer me something so sweet."
He eagerly opened the paper outside, then paused as his hands touched the white tissue paper inside. "Maybe I should save it for another time," he thought. "It won't spoil, and I could eat it later when I'm really hungry."
The beggar hesitated for a moment, then declared aloud, "Who cares? He wanted me to have it anyway. I might as well enjoy it now."
With that, he unwrapped the white tissue paper, but to his surprise, there was no hard rock candy inside. Instead, into his fingers fell a shiny white pearl worth thousands of dollars.
Question:
Why was "thunk" the only sound they heard when the rich man dropped the candy?
Choices:
A. Because there was no other sound at that time.
B. Because all their attention was focused on the offering.
C. Because the sound was too loud at that time.
D. Because they liked listening to the sound. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high18940.txt | Just as they were getting ready to leave the street corner, they noticed a man walking toward them. He was obviously a wealthy man ---- they could tell that from the finely tailored business suit he was wearing and the gold watch chain that decorated his left pocket.
The first beggar whispered to the second with excitement, "He's coming our way!"
The two tried not to look directly at the man as he stepped closer to them, but they couldn't help glaring at him with expectation as he reached into his pocket and took something out.
"Thunk" was the only sound they heard as what looked like a piece of hard candy, wrapped doubly in tissue paper, hit each of their waiting hats. The rich man turned and continued on his way, not making a backward glance.
"How disgusting !" said the first beggar, as soon as the rich man was out of sound range. "He could have easily left us a few coins or a spare bill, but he tricks us with a piece of rock candy."
He looked at the wrapped offering with disgust. "Who does he think we are ---- children? There's no way we can even eat this ---- we have no teeth."
The beggar picked up the object with the very tips of his fingers and threw it into the gutter . He watched as it floated a few yards in the stream of smelly water and disappeared at the end of the street. Then, he gathered up his things and walked away.
The second beggar looked down at the candy in his hat, then at his departing friend. His first impulse was to throw the donation in the trashcan under the street light. But his second thought made him change his mind.
"I haven't had anything like this for ages," he thought. "I can't chew it, but I can suck on it for a while, and the sugary juices will stay in my mouth for a long time. How nice of that man to offer me something so sweet."
He eagerly opened the paper outside, then paused as his hands touched the white tissue paper inside. "Maybe I should save it for another time," he thought. "It won't spoil, and I could eat it later when I'm really hungry."
The beggar hesitated for a moment, then declared aloud, "Who cares? He wanted me to have it anyway. I might as well enjoy it now."
With that, he unwrapped the white tissue paper, but to his surprise, there was no hard rock candy inside. Instead, into his fingers fell a shiny white pearl worth thousands of dollars. | [
"Because there was no other sound at that time.",
"Because all their attention was focused on the offering.",
"Because the sound was too loud at that time.",
"Because they liked listening to the sound."
] |
Judging from what Jamie Pittock says, he wants to _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
prefix = st1 /Gland, Switzerland - Rivers on every continent are drying out, threatening severe water shortages, according to a new WWF report.
The report, World's Top Rivers at Risk, released ahead of World Water Day (22 March), lists the top ten rivers that are fast dying as a result of climate change, pollution and dams.
"All the rivers in the report symbolize the current freshwater crisis, which we have been signalling for years," says WWF Global Freshwater Programme Director Jamie Pittock.
"Poor planning and inadequate protection of natural areas mean we can no longer assume that water will flow forever. Like the climate change crisis, which now has the attention of business and government, we want leaders to take notice of the emergency facing freshwater now not later."
Five of the ten rivers listed in the report are in Asia alone. They are the Yangtze, Mekong, Salween, Ganges and Indus. Europe's Danube, the America'sLa Plataand Rio Grande/Rio Bravo, Africa's Nile-Lake Victoria andAustralia's Murray-Darling also make the list.
Dams along the Danube River -- one of the longest flowing rivers in Europe -- have already destroyed 80 per cent of the river basin's wetlands and floodplains. Even without warmer temperatures threatening to melt Himalayan glaciers, the IndusRiverfaces scarcity due to over-extraction for agriculture. Fish populations, the main source of protein and overall life support systems for hundreds of thousands of communities worldwide, are also being threatened.
The report calls on governments to better protect river flows and water allocations in order to safeguard habitats and people's livelihoods.
"Conservation of rivers and wetlands must be seen as part and parcel of national security, health and economic success," Pittock adds. "Emphasis must be given to exploring ways of using water for crops and products that do not use more water than necessary."
In addition, cooperative agreements for managing shared resources, such as the UN Watercourses Convention, must be ratified and given the resources to make them work, says WWF.
"The freshwater crisis is bigger than the ten rivers listed in this report but it mirrors the extent to which unabated development is _ nature's ability to meet our growing demands," says Pittock. "We must change our mindset now or pay the price in the not so distant future."(373)
Question:
Judging from what Jamie Pittock says, he wants to _ .
Choices:
A. make readers aware of the serious situation of water shortage
B. warn people not to waste water any longer
C. call on leaders to pay attention to the problem promptly
D. analyze the causes of the severe water shortage | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17145.txt | prefix = st1 /Gland, Switzerland - Rivers on every continent are drying out, threatening severe water shortages, according to a new WWF report.
The report, World's Top Rivers at Risk, released ahead of World Water Day (22 March), lists the top ten rivers that are fast dying as a result of climate change, pollution and dams.
"All the rivers in the report symbolize the current freshwater crisis, which we have been signalling for years," says WWF Global Freshwater Programme Director Jamie Pittock.
"Poor planning and inadequate protection of natural areas mean we can no longer assume that water will flow forever. Like the climate change crisis, which now has the attention of business and government, we want leaders to take notice of the emergency facing freshwater now not later."
Five of the ten rivers listed in the report are in Asia alone. They are the Yangtze, Mekong, Salween, Ganges and Indus. Europe's Danube, the America'sLa Plataand Rio Grande/Rio Bravo, Africa's Nile-Lake Victoria andAustralia's Murray-Darling also make the list.
Dams along the Danube River -- one of the longest flowing rivers in Europe -- have already destroyed 80 per cent of the river basin's wetlands and floodplains. Even without warmer temperatures threatening to melt Himalayan glaciers, the IndusRiverfaces scarcity due to over-extraction for agriculture. Fish populations, the main source of protein and overall life support systems for hundreds of thousands of communities worldwide, are also being threatened.
The report calls on governments to better protect river flows and water allocations in order to safeguard habitats and people's livelihoods.
"Conservation of rivers and wetlands must be seen as part and parcel of national security, health and economic success," Pittock adds. "Emphasis must be given to exploring ways of using water for crops and products that do not use more water than necessary."
In addition, cooperative agreements for managing shared resources, such as the UN Watercourses Convention, must be ratified and given the resources to make them work, says WWF.
"The freshwater crisis is bigger than the ten rivers listed in this report but it mirrors the extent to which unabated development is _ nature's ability to meet our growing demands," says Pittock. "We must change our mindset now or pay the price in the not so distant future."(373) | [
"make readers aware of the serious situation of water shortage",
"warn people not to waste water any longer",
"call on leaders to pay attention to the problem promptly",
"analyze the causes of the severe water shortage"
] |
What can we learn from the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
In Britain and other countries,young people sometimes take a"gap year",a year off between high school and college.This idea never gained a big following in America.Recent news reports have suggested that interest may be growing,though there are no official numbers.
Charles Deacon,.Dean of Admissions at Georgetown University in Washington,D.C.,estimates that in the current first-year class of 1,600 students,only about 25 decided to take a year off.He says this number hasn't changed much over the years.
Mr.Deacon says the most common reason for taking a"gap year"is to have a chance to travel,but he says international students may take a"gap year"to meet requirements at home for military duty.
Some high school graduates see a year off as a chance to recover after twelve years of required education,but it can also give students a chance to explore their interests.Students hoping to be doctors,for example,could learn about the profession by volunteering in a hospital.
Many colleges and universities support gap-year projects by permitting students to delay their admission.Expels say students can grow emotionally and intellectually as they work at something they enjoy.
The Harvard admissions office has an essay on its Web site called"Time Out or Bum Out for the Next Generation.''It praises the idea of taking time off to step back,think and enjoy gaining life experiences outside the pressure of studies.It also notes that students are sometimes admitted to Harvard or other colleges partly because they did something unusual with that time.
Of course,a gap year is not for everyone.Students might miss their friends who go on directly to college,and parents might worry that their children will decide not to go to college once they take time off.Another concern is money.A year off,away from home,can be costly.
Holly Bull's job is to specialize in helping students plan their gap year.She notes that several books have been written about this subject.She says these books along with media attention and the availability of information on the Internet have increased interest in the idea of a year off, and she points out that many gap-year programs cost far less than a year of college.
Question:
What can we learn from the passage?
Choices:
A. Charles Deacon doesn't support the idea of the students'taking a"gap year"
B. Parents might disagree with the program,concerned about their children's future.
C. Books and media have contributed to the students'interest in school learning.
D. Experts agree taking a year off will benefit the students emotionally and physically. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high12707.txt | In Britain and other countries,young people sometimes take a"gap year",a year off between high school and college.This idea never gained a big following in America.Recent news reports have suggested that interest may be growing,though there are no official numbers.
Charles Deacon,.Dean of Admissions at Georgetown University in Washington,D.C.,estimates that in the current first-year class of 1,600 students,only about 25 decided to take a year off.He says this number hasn't changed much over the years.
Mr.Deacon says the most common reason for taking a"gap year"is to have a chance to travel,but he says international students may take a"gap year"to meet requirements at home for military duty.
Some high school graduates see a year off as a chance to recover after twelve years of required education,but it can also give students a chance to explore their interests.Students hoping to be doctors,for example,could learn about the profession by volunteering in a hospital.
Many colleges and universities support gap-year projects by permitting students to delay their admission.Expels say students can grow emotionally and intellectually as they work at something they enjoy.
The Harvard admissions office has an essay on its Web site called"Time Out or Bum Out for the Next Generation.''It praises the idea of taking time off to step back,think and enjoy gaining life experiences outside the pressure of studies.It also notes that students are sometimes admitted to Harvard or other colleges partly because they did something unusual with that time.
Of course,a gap year is not for everyone.Students might miss their friends who go on directly to college,and parents might worry that their children will decide not to go to college once they take time off.Another concern is money.A year off,away from home,can be costly.
Holly Bull's job is to specialize in helping students plan their gap year.She notes that several books have been written about this subject.She says these books along with media attention and the availability of information on the Internet have increased interest in the idea of a year off, and she points out that many gap-year programs cost far less than a year of college. | [
"Charles Deacon doesn't support the idea of the students'taking a\"gap year\"",
"Parents might disagree with the program,concerned about their children's future.",
"Books and media have contributed to the students'interest in school learning.",
"Experts agree taking a year off will benefit the students emotionally and physically."
] |
If you are a student with an International Student Identity Card, _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Would you like to visit Britain one day?--Our country would like to welcome you!
Overseas travel can be expensive. But there are ways of visiting Britain cheaply. We hope that we can give you some good ideas.
When to come?
If you can avoid the busy months --July and August ,your visit may be cheaper. There will be smaller numbers of visitors. British weather is pleasant from April to the end of September. Of course, you can visit it in winter, but it is often dark by 4pm.Many places, such as large houses and castles ,are closed early in winter. However, if you are interested in museums, art galleries or theatres, winter may be a good time to visit.
Be prepared.
If you are a student, it's a good idea to apply for an International Student Identity Card .With this card, you can save a lot of money. You can get the card from your local student travel office, and you can also call (44)-08708-413224 to get it. To get the card, you need to show that you are a student, get a passport photo, and pay a little money.
Question:
If you are a student with an International Student Identity Card, _ .
Choices:
A. you have to prove you're a student
B. you will pay less money for your trip.
C. you can call (44)-08708-413224 for help.
D. you must apply for a trip from the student travel office | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle4796.txt | Would you like to visit Britain one day?--Our country would like to welcome you!
Overseas travel can be expensive. But there are ways of visiting Britain cheaply. We hope that we can give you some good ideas.
When to come?
If you can avoid the busy months --July and August ,your visit may be cheaper. There will be smaller numbers of visitors. British weather is pleasant from April to the end of September. Of course, you can visit it in winter, but it is often dark by 4pm.Many places, such as large houses and castles ,are closed early in winter. However, if you are interested in museums, art galleries or theatres, winter may be a good time to visit.
Be prepared.
If you are a student, it's a good idea to apply for an International Student Identity Card .With this card, you can save a lot of money. You can get the card from your local student travel office, and you can also call (44)-08708-413224 to get it. To get the card, you need to show that you are a student, get a passport photo, and pay a little money. | [
"you have to prove you're a student",
"you will pay less money for your trip.",
"you can call (44)-08708-413224 for help.",
"you must apply for a trip from the student travel office"
] |
Which of the following statements about Queen Victoria is NOT true? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Queen Victoria was monarch of Great Britain from 1837 until her death in 1901. This period is often called the Victorian Age.
Queen Victoria was a stern and serious woman. One reason she was so serious was that she had suffered a great loss. When she was twenty years old, she married a German prince named Albert. Victoria and Albert were deeply in love, and their marriage was extremely happy. In 1861, after they had been married for twenty-one years, Albert died, leaving Queen Victoria heartbroken. For the rest of her life, the lonely Victoria mourned his loss. It was customary in those days for a widow to dress in black for a short time after the death of her husband. But Queen Victoria dressed in black for forty years. And for forty years, as another sigh of her grief, she wrote her letters white paper edged in black.
Even before Prince Albert died, Queen Victoria was known as a very serious woman. She had a strong sense of duty and worked very hard at all her tasks. In her diary she wrote, "I love to be employed; I hate to be idle." She never forgot that she was Britain's queen and always acted with great dignity. Victoria had high ideals and moral standards that sometimes made her seem stuffy. She was also very sure of herself. She always thought that she was right, and she expected everyone to agree with her.
Question:
Which of the following statements about Queen Victoria is NOT true?
Choices:
A. She had great confidence in herself.
B. She ruled Great Britain for sixty-four years.
C. She enjoyed her marriage to a German prince.
D. She became a serious woman after her beloved husband died. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high9736.txt | Queen Victoria was monarch of Great Britain from 1837 until her death in 1901. This period is often called the Victorian Age.
Queen Victoria was a stern and serious woman. One reason she was so serious was that she had suffered a great loss. When she was twenty years old, she married a German prince named Albert. Victoria and Albert were deeply in love, and their marriage was extremely happy. In 1861, after they had been married for twenty-one years, Albert died, leaving Queen Victoria heartbroken. For the rest of her life, the lonely Victoria mourned his loss. It was customary in those days for a widow to dress in black for a short time after the death of her husband. But Queen Victoria dressed in black for forty years. And for forty years, as another sigh of her grief, she wrote her letters white paper edged in black.
Even before Prince Albert died, Queen Victoria was known as a very serious woman. She had a strong sense of duty and worked very hard at all her tasks. In her diary she wrote, "I love to be employed; I hate to be idle." She never forgot that she was Britain's queen and always acted with great dignity. Victoria had high ideals and moral standards that sometimes made her seem stuffy. She was also very sure of herself. She always thought that she was right, and she expected everyone to agree with her. | [
"She had great confidence in herself.",
"She ruled Great Britain for sixty-four years.",
"She enjoyed her marriage to a German prince.",
"She became a serious woman after her beloved husband died."
] |
If you buy the four books on April 1, 2008, you will have to pay _ for the four books. | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
*Basic Study Manual Hardcover: $ 37.50
Future success depends on the ability to learn. Here are the answers to the questions most often asked by parents, teachers, business trainers and by students themselves. Read this book and learn:
* What the three barriers to study are - and what to do about them
* What to do if you get tired of a subject you are studying
* Twenty-six simple drills to help you learn how to study easily, rapidly and with full understanding
* Buy and read the Basic Study Manual and use it to dramatically improve your ability to study.
*Study Skills for Life Hardcover: $31.99
L. Ron Hubbard's study technology for teenagers opens the door to their future success by giving them the ability to study and learn. Fully illustrated for easy comprehension.
* Learning How to Learn Hardcover: $24.99
The basics of effective study for 8-to 12-year olds, fully illustrated. Children who read and apply the materials in this book regain their liking for study and their ability to apply this knowledge in life. Get this book for a child you want to see win at his studies!
* How to Use a Dictionary Picture Book for Children Hardcover: $34.90
In spite of billions of dollars spent on "educational research," children are not taught the most basic skills of learning, even the most basic of these: how to use a dictionary. In fact, a search of educational books for children found not one that told them how to use a dictionary -or that one should. Written for children 8 to 12-year old, this fully illustrated book will teach your child:
* How to find words in a dictionary
* The different ways that words are used
* What the different marks and symbols that are used in a dictionary mean
* How to use a dictionary to correctly pronounce words
Includes a section for parents and teachers showing you how to use this book with children. Buy this book and give it to your children to unlock their education. What's more, you'll just pay 50% for it before May 1, 2008.
Question:
If you buy the four books on April 1, 2008, you will have to pay _ for the four books.
Choices:
A. $129.38
B. $111.93
C. $64.69
D. $34.90 | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high24213.txt | *Basic Study Manual Hardcover: $ 37.50
Future success depends on the ability to learn. Here are the answers to the questions most often asked by parents, teachers, business trainers and by students themselves. Read this book and learn:
* What the three barriers to study are - and what to do about them
* What to do if you get tired of a subject you are studying
* Twenty-six simple drills to help you learn how to study easily, rapidly and with full understanding
* Buy and read the Basic Study Manual and use it to dramatically improve your ability to study.
*Study Skills for Life Hardcover: $31.99
L. Ron Hubbard's study technology for teenagers opens the door to their future success by giving them the ability to study and learn. Fully illustrated for easy comprehension.
* Learning How to Learn Hardcover: $24.99
The basics of effective study for 8-to 12-year olds, fully illustrated. Children who read and apply the materials in this book regain their liking for study and their ability to apply this knowledge in life. Get this book for a child you want to see win at his studies!
* How to Use a Dictionary Picture Book for Children Hardcover: $34.90
In spite of billions of dollars spent on "educational research," children are not taught the most basic skills of learning, even the most basic of these: how to use a dictionary. In fact, a search of educational books for children found not one that told them how to use a dictionary -or that one should. Written for children 8 to 12-year old, this fully illustrated book will teach your child:
* How to find words in a dictionary
* The different ways that words are used
* What the different marks and symbols that are used in a dictionary mean
* How to use a dictionary to correctly pronounce words
Includes a section for parents and teachers showing you how to use this book with children. Buy this book and give it to your children to unlock their education. What's more, you'll just pay 50% for it before May 1, 2008. | [
"$129.38",
"$111.93",
"$64.69",
"$34.90"
] |
What is the main idea of the passage? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Not long ago, people thought babies were not able to learn things until they were five or six months old. Yet doctors in the United States say babies begin learning on their first day of life.
Scientists note that babies are strongly influenced by their environment. They say a baby will smile if her mother does something the baby likes. A baby learns to get the best care possible by smiling to please her mother or other caregiver. This is how babies learn to connect and communicate with other human beings.
One study shows that babies can learn before they are born. The researchers placed a tape recorder on the stomach of a pregnant woman. Then, they played a recording of a short story. On the day the baby was born, the researchers attempted to find if he knew the sounds of the story repeated while in his mother. They did this by placing a device in the mouth of the newborn baby. The baby would hear the story if he moved his mouth one way. If the baby moved his mouth the other way, he would hear a different story. The researchers say the baby clearly liked the story he heard before he was born. They say the baby would move his mouth so he could hear the story again and again.
Another study shows how mothers can strongly influence social development and language skills in their children. Researchers studied the children from the age of one month to three years. The researchers attempted to measure the sensitivity of the mothers. The women were considered sensitive if they supported their children's activities and did not interfere unnecessarily. They tested the children for thinking and language development when they were three years old. Also, the researchers observed the women for signs of depression.
The children of depressed women did not do as well in tests as the children of women who did not suffer from depression. The children of depressed women did poorly in tests of language skills and understanding what they hear.
These children also were less cooperative and had more problems dealing with other people. The researchers noted that the sensitivity of the mothers was important to the intelligence development of their children. Children did better when their mothers were caring, even when they suffered from depression.
Question:
What is the main idea of the passage?
Choices:
A. Scientific findings about how babies develop before birth.
B. Scientific findings about how the environment has an effect on babies' intelligence.
C. A study shows babies are not able to learn things until they are rice or six months old.
D. Scientific findings about how intelligence develops in babies. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high5621.txt | Not long ago, people thought babies were not able to learn things until they were five or six months old. Yet doctors in the United States say babies begin learning on their first day of life.
Scientists note that babies are strongly influenced by their environment. They say a baby will smile if her mother does something the baby likes. A baby learns to get the best care possible by smiling to please her mother or other caregiver. This is how babies learn to connect and communicate with other human beings.
One study shows that babies can learn before they are born. The researchers placed a tape recorder on the stomach of a pregnant woman. Then, they played a recording of a short story. On the day the baby was born, the researchers attempted to find if he knew the sounds of the story repeated while in his mother. They did this by placing a device in the mouth of the newborn baby. The baby would hear the story if he moved his mouth one way. If the baby moved his mouth the other way, he would hear a different story. The researchers say the baby clearly liked the story he heard before he was born. They say the baby would move his mouth so he could hear the story again and again.
Another study shows how mothers can strongly influence social development and language skills in their children. Researchers studied the children from the age of one month to three years. The researchers attempted to measure the sensitivity of the mothers. The women were considered sensitive if they supported their children's activities and did not interfere unnecessarily. They tested the children for thinking and language development when they were three years old. Also, the researchers observed the women for signs of depression.
The children of depressed women did not do as well in tests as the children of women who did not suffer from depression. The children of depressed women did poorly in tests of language skills and understanding what they hear.
These children also were less cooperative and had more problems dealing with other people. The researchers noted that the sensitivity of the mothers was important to the intelligence development of their children. Children did better when their mothers were caring, even when they suffered from depression. | [
"Scientific findings about how babies develop before birth.",
"Scientific findings about how the environment has an effect on babies' intelligence.",
"A study shows babies are not able to learn things until they are rice or six months old.",
"Scientific findings about how intelligence develops in babies."
] |
The company KTEL offers bus services _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Greece is one of the most beautiful countries of the world. Millions of tourists visit this place every year. In Greece the bus is the most convenient and preferred means of travelling. There are intercity buses operated by KTEL that interconnect various cities of Greece, and there are international buses operated by OSE that connect Greece to other European cities.
Every tourist must visit Greece at least once in life. This country is really a vacation heaven. It is the perfect blend of history and art with adventure and romance. You can dive into deep blue waters, climb up the mountains or enjoy ancient architecture and history.
Buses in Greece are cheap and very comfortable. All bus stations display schedules of buses on every route. Conductors and drivers are very polite and helpful. Travelers never face any trouble locating and boarding buses to their destinations. Tourists can always ask the conductor to inform them about their stop, so that they can get down at the right stop. Everyone here is more than happy to help tourists.
Athens, the capital of Greece, has three bus terminals. Buses to different part of Greece leave from different terminals.
Air-conditioned express buses also operated between major cities. They are faster and more comfortable than other buses. Tourists can choose guided Greece bus tour. These tours are the perfect way of exploring this great country.
Buses in Greece are also a great way of saving _ on the journey. The long-distance bus system is very cheap. Buses save a lot of money to cover long distances, cheaper than taxis or cars. They are also the best means of interacting with local people. You can sit next to a native Greece and get some information about the place.
Question:
The company KTEL offers bus services _ .
Choices:
A. to different cities in Greece
B. from Greece to other countries
C. to tourist attractions in Greece
D. from Greece to its bordering countries | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high23111.txt | Greece is one of the most beautiful countries of the world. Millions of tourists visit this place every year. In Greece the bus is the most convenient and preferred means of travelling. There are intercity buses operated by KTEL that interconnect various cities of Greece, and there are international buses operated by OSE that connect Greece to other European cities.
Every tourist must visit Greece at least once in life. This country is really a vacation heaven. It is the perfect blend of history and art with adventure and romance. You can dive into deep blue waters, climb up the mountains or enjoy ancient architecture and history.
Buses in Greece are cheap and very comfortable. All bus stations display schedules of buses on every route. Conductors and drivers are very polite and helpful. Travelers never face any trouble locating and boarding buses to their destinations. Tourists can always ask the conductor to inform them about their stop, so that they can get down at the right stop. Everyone here is more than happy to help tourists.
Athens, the capital of Greece, has three bus terminals. Buses to different part of Greece leave from different terminals.
Air-conditioned express buses also operated between major cities. They are faster and more comfortable than other buses. Tourists can choose guided Greece bus tour. These tours are the perfect way of exploring this great country.
Buses in Greece are also a great way of saving _ on the journey. The long-distance bus system is very cheap. Buses save a lot of money to cover long distances, cheaper than taxis or cars. They are also the best means of interacting with local people. You can sit next to a native Greece and get some information about the place. | [
"to different cities in Greece",
"from Greece to other countries",
"to tourist attractions in Greece",
"from Greece to its bordering countries"
] |
From what Klemperer said, we know that the drug _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
An oral drug, named ERDRP-0519, was invented. It is specifically designed to protect people who got infected measles from spreading the virus to others. Like the flu, measles spreads through the air by breathing, coughing or sneezing. There is typically a time, about two weeks, between becoming infected with the virus and the beginning of symptoms like skin rash , runny nose, heavy cough and high fever.
"This therapy application determines the desired characteristics of the drug, which are orally available, cost-effective manufacture and high stability," Richard Klemperer, professor of Georgia State University, told reporters last Wednesday.
"With these criteria in mind, we have developed a small drug that blocks the measles virus over the past years, which is essential for copy of the virus."
The researchers tested the drug in rats infected with canine distemper virus , which is a close relative of measles virus. They found that all of the infected rats treated with the drug survived the deadly infection, showed no clinical signs of disease and developed a strong protective immune response.
The drug could be used to treat friends, family and other social contacts of a person infected with measles virus, which have not developed symptoms yet but are at risk of having caught the disease, Klemperer said truthfully.
"The emergence of strong antiviral immunity in treated animals is particularly encouraging, since it suggests that the drug may not only save an infected individual from disease but contribute to closing measles immunity gaps in a population," Klemperer said.
The researchers emphasized the drug is not intended as a substitute for vaccination, but as an additional weapon to get rid of the measles. They planned to test the drug's safety in larger animals, before moving into clinical trials in humans.
"If our next series of studies confirms that the human situation mirrors what we have seen in rats, then this drug may make a major contribution to getting rid of measles by preventing local outbreaks" Klemperer said.
Despite the existence of an effective vaccine, annual measles deaths worldwide have remained constant at around 150,000 since 2007. The reasons for this are the highly infectious nature of the virus, in the developing world largely due to issues of resources, and in many developed countries in particular in the European region due to parental concerns regarding vaccination safety.
Question:
From what Klemperer said, we know that the drug _ .
Choices:
A. is only intended as a substitute for vaccination
B. can only save those infected individuals from disease
C. is cost-effective and high stability for curing measles
D. has the same effect on human as on larger animals | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11895.txt | An oral drug, named ERDRP-0519, was invented. It is specifically designed to protect people who got infected measles from spreading the virus to others. Like the flu, measles spreads through the air by breathing, coughing or sneezing. There is typically a time, about two weeks, between becoming infected with the virus and the beginning of symptoms like skin rash , runny nose, heavy cough and high fever.
"This therapy application determines the desired characteristics of the drug, which are orally available, cost-effective manufacture and high stability," Richard Klemperer, professor of Georgia State University, told reporters last Wednesday.
"With these criteria in mind, we have developed a small drug that blocks the measles virus over the past years, which is essential for copy of the virus."
The researchers tested the drug in rats infected with canine distemper virus , which is a close relative of measles virus. They found that all of the infected rats treated with the drug survived the deadly infection, showed no clinical signs of disease and developed a strong protective immune response.
The drug could be used to treat friends, family and other social contacts of a person infected with measles virus, which have not developed symptoms yet but are at risk of having caught the disease, Klemperer said truthfully.
"The emergence of strong antiviral immunity in treated animals is particularly encouraging, since it suggests that the drug may not only save an infected individual from disease but contribute to closing measles immunity gaps in a population," Klemperer said.
The researchers emphasized the drug is not intended as a substitute for vaccination, but as an additional weapon to get rid of the measles. They planned to test the drug's safety in larger animals, before moving into clinical trials in humans.
"If our next series of studies confirms that the human situation mirrors what we have seen in rats, then this drug may make a major contribution to getting rid of measles by preventing local outbreaks" Klemperer said.
Despite the existence of an effective vaccine, annual measles deaths worldwide have remained constant at around 150,000 since 2007. The reasons for this are the highly infectious nature of the virus, in the developing world largely due to issues of resources, and in many developed countries in particular in the European region due to parental concerns regarding vaccination safety. | [
"is only intended as a substitute for vaccination",
"can only save those infected individuals from disease",
"is cost-effective and high stability for curing measles",
"has the same effect on human as on larger animals"
] |
What can we learn about David's mother? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Dear Mom,
I'm sorry that I can't go back home for Mother's Day next week. On that day, I'll have to go to an important meeting for my boss, who helps me a lot with my work and life here. But I'll find time to see you at home soon.
Mom, thank you for everything you've done for Tim and me. After Dad died of a heart attack at home ten years ago in a road accident, you had to work in a supermarket in the daytime and in a restaurant at night. But you always gave us two your love and care. Though you don't have to work now, I still remember your coming home and feeling tired many evenings.
Tim is going to finish his studies next month. He said he would move back from school and look for a job near home. I'm glad you won't live by yourself any more. Let's plan to take a trip in the near future. It's been years since the three of us took a trip together.
Happy Mother's Day. I love you, Mom.
Best wishes,
David
Question:
What can we learn about David's mother?
Choices:
A. She still works day and night.
B. She lives all by herself now.
C. She is making a plan to save money.
D. She used to be too busy to look after her children. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5442.txt | Dear Mom,
I'm sorry that I can't go back home for Mother's Day next week. On that day, I'll have to go to an important meeting for my boss, who helps me a lot with my work and life here. But I'll find time to see you at home soon.
Mom, thank you for everything you've done for Tim and me. After Dad died of a heart attack at home ten years ago in a road accident, you had to work in a supermarket in the daytime and in a restaurant at night. But you always gave us two your love and care. Though you don't have to work now, I still remember your coming home and feeling tired many evenings.
Tim is going to finish his studies next month. He said he would move back from school and look for a job near home. I'm glad you won't live by yourself any more. Let's plan to take a trip in the near future. It's been years since the three of us took a trip together.
Happy Mother's Day. I love you, Mom.
Best wishes,
David | [
"She still works day and night.",
"She lives all by herself now.",
"She is making a plan to save money.",
"She used to be too busy to look after her children."
] |
The purpose of the author in writing the text is to _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
More and more people are coming under the umbrella of fatness in modern times. Not just adults,but even children are getting overweight. Today some of the newborn babies are also born fat. It has been proved that the people living in the developed Western countries are more likely to become overweight. There are a number of causes behind this.
The people in the developed countries including the United States almost enjoy all the comforts of life. Almost all the things in the lives of the people living in these countries are at their fingertips. A very limited amount of movement and physical effort is required to do any kind of job. Because of the fact that these countries are quite developed,most of the jobs that the people take up are desk jobs. So the lifestyle of them is just around the office desk.
Most of the developed Western countries are cold ones. Nature demands that people eat the food that can somehow make them stand the coldness. Therefore,wine,fatty dairy products,bread,junk food and red meat become an important diet in these countries.
However,the blame cannot be entirely put on the unhealthy eating habits of the people. Technology allows them to import almost all the food products that they do not grow. Although some healthy food are grown in the countries nowadays,the quantity is very limited. It is not enough to meet the demand. So when they are not available and fatty foods are cheaper,then people prefer to go for the eating habit that they have always been following.
Question:
The purpose of the author in writing the text is to _ .
Choices:
A. warn people of their bad eating habits in the developed countries
B. remind people of the relation between food and weight gain
C. inform people of the causes of weight gain in the developed countries
D. tell people that fatness in the developed countries is natural | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16742.txt | More and more people are coming under the umbrella of fatness in modern times. Not just adults,but even children are getting overweight. Today some of the newborn babies are also born fat. It has been proved that the people living in the developed Western countries are more likely to become overweight. There are a number of causes behind this.
The people in the developed countries including the United States almost enjoy all the comforts of life. Almost all the things in the lives of the people living in these countries are at their fingertips. A very limited amount of movement and physical effort is required to do any kind of job. Because of the fact that these countries are quite developed,most of the jobs that the people take up are desk jobs. So the lifestyle of them is just around the office desk.
Most of the developed Western countries are cold ones. Nature demands that people eat the food that can somehow make them stand the coldness. Therefore,wine,fatty dairy products,bread,junk food and red meat become an important diet in these countries.
However,the blame cannot be entirely put on the unhealthy eating habits of the people. Technology allows them to import almost all the food products that they do not grow. Although some healthy food are grown in the countries nowadays,the quantity is very limited. It is not enough to meet the demand. So when they are not available and fatty foods are cheaper,then people prefer to go for the eating habit that they have always been following. | [
"warn people of their bad eating habits in the developed countries",
"remind people of the relation between food and weight gain",
"inform people of the causes of weight gain in the developed countries",
"tell people that fatness in the developed countries is natural"
] |
The writer compares the Olympic volunteers to. | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Unlike other people, my Olympic heroes are not Olympic champions or the important people on the Olympic Committee . They are just the ordinary ones who do the everyday things. They work without the recognition the famous people get. They are the Olympic volunteers.
These people aren't the great stars of sport. They just want to do their part for the Olympics by smiling and helping the Games go smoothly.The stars of the Games are like brightly colored sailboats on the sea, racing through the waves. How lovely to watch them! But the volunteers are the wind, which nobody sees. Without the wind the sailboats would not be able to move and no one would want to watch them. The volunteers breathe the wind of life into the athletes.
The volunteers may never win medals, but they always do their best to encourage the _ , whether the athletes win or lose.Some might think what the volunteers do is boring, hardly worth mentioning . But in my eyes, they are as important as the champions and the stars. They are just as much heroes, despite not appearing in newspapers or on TV.
I truly admire them and I will always cheer for them. They are my Olympic heroes.
Question:
The writer compares the Olympic volunteers to.
Choices:
A. brightly colored sailboats
B. the wind
C. the sun
D. the water | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle6876.txt | Unlike other people, my Olympic heroes are not Olympic champions or the important people on the Olympic Committee . They are just the ordinary ones who do the everyday things. They work without the recognition the famous people get. They are the Olympic volunteers.
These people aren't the great stars of sport. They just want to do their part for the Olympics by smiling and helping the Games go smoothly.The stars of the Games are like brightly colored sailboats on the sea, racing through the waves. How lovely to watch them! But the volunteers are the wind, which nobody sees. Without the wind the sailboats would not be able to move and no one would want to watch them. The volunteers breathe the wind of life into the athletes.
The volunteers may never win medals, but they always do their best to encourage the _ , whether the athletes win or lose.Some might think what the volunteers do is boring, hardly worth mentioning . But in my eyes, they are as important as the champions and the stars. They are just as much heroes, despite not appearing in newspapers or on TV.
I truly admire them and I will always cheer for them. They are my Olympic heroes. | [
"brightly colored sailboats",
"the wind",
"the sun",
"the water"
] |
What can we learn from the third news? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The Spotlight in Rio
Phelps puts spotlight on cupping Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps fed American swimmers to 8 gold medals in the 4x100-meter relay, but what grabbed media attention and led to stories and photos around the globe were the purple and red circles on his back.
Michael Phelps of the USA is seen with red cupping marks on his shoulder as he competes during the 2016 Rio Olympics men's 200m butterfly in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil , Aug 8,2016 .
Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui goes viral
China's women's swimmer Fu Yuanhui has created a hit online not just by winning the bronze medal in the 100m backstroke competition, but also by her facial expressions during the post semi-final interview with China Central Television (CCTV) on Monday .
When asked whether she held back for the final, Fu replied, "No, I used my 'prehistorical power'.What she meant was that she had spared no efforts in the semi-final.Since then, the so-called "prehistorical power" has gone viral and become a new Internet meme.
Britain wins first Olympic diving gold in men's synchronized 3m springboard( 3 )
Britain's Jack Laugher and Chris Mears ended China's gold medal monopoly over diving events at the Rio Olympics by winning the men's synchronized 3m springboard final On Wednesday, the country's first-ever Olympic gold medal in diving .
Laugher and Mears finished with a six-round total of 454.32 points, just 4.11 points ahead of silver medallists Mike Hixon and Sam Dorman of the USA at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center.China's Cao Yuan and Qin Kai took the bronze with 443.70 points.
Question:
What can we learn from the third news?
Choices:
A. China didn't win any gold medals in diving events at the Rio Olympics.
B. Britain became the gold medal monopolist of diving events at the Rio Olympics.
C. Mike Hixon and Sam Dorman of the USA took silver with 447.81 points.
D. Britain had never won the Olympic diving gold medal before the Rio Olympics. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high19648.txt | The Spotlight in Rio
Phelps puts spotlight on cupping Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps fed American swimmers to 8 gold medals in the 4x100-meter relay, but what grabbed media attention and led to stories and photos around the globe were the purple and red circles on his back.
Michael Phelps of the USA is seen with red cupping marks on his shoulder as he competes during the 2016 Rio Olympics men's 200m butterfly in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil , Aug 8,2016 .
Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui goes viral
China's women's swimmer Fu Yuanhui has created a hit online not just by winning the bronze medal in the 100m backstroke competition, but also by her facial expressions during the post semi-final interview with China Central Television (CCTV) on Monday .
When asked whether she held back for the final, Fu replied, "No, I used my 'prehistorical power'.What she meant was that she had spared no efforts in the semi-final.Since then, the so-called "prehistorical power" has gone viral and become a new Internet meme.
Britain wins first Olympic diving gold in men's synchronized 3m springboard( 3 )
Britain's Jack Laugher and Chris Mears ended China's gold medal monopoly over diving events at the Rio Olympics by winning the men's synchronized 3m springboard final On Wednesday, the country's first-ever Olympic gold medal in diving .
Laugher and Mears finished with a six-round total of 454.32 points, just 4.11 points ahead of silver medallists Mike Hixon and Sam Dorman of the USA at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center.China's Cao Yuan and Qin Kai took the bronze with 443.70 points. | [
"China didn't win any gold medals in diving events at the Rio Olympics.",
"Britain became the gold medal monopolist of diving events at the Rio Olympics.",
"Mike Hixon and Sam Dorman of the USA took silver with 447.81 points.",
"Britain had never won the Olympic diving gold medal before the Rio Olympics."
] |
David Smith wears casual clothes now, because _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. "I was a clothes addict," he jokes. "I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled." Today David wears casual clothes--khaki pants and sports shirt--to the office. He hardly ever wears a necktie. "I'm working harder than ever," David says, "and I need to feel comfortable."
More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work. In the United States, the change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday, but only on Friday. This became known as "dress-down Friday" or "casual Friday". "What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing." said business consultant Maisly Jones.
Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it's easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code. "A lot of young people don't want to dress up for work," says the owner of a software company, "so it's hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code." Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Strauss Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale . Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative effect on productivity. Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. "Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day," one person said. "For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes."
Question:
David Smith wears casual clothes now, because _ .
Choices:
A. they make him feel at ease when working
B. he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes
C. he looks handsome in casual clothes
D. he no longer works for any company | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1052.txt | Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. "I was a clothes addict," he jokes. "I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled." Today David wears casual clothes--khaki pants and sports shirt--to the office. He hardly ever wears a necktie. "I'm working harder than ever," David says, "and I need to feel comfortable."
More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work. In the United States, the change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday, but only on Friday. This became known as "dress-down Friday" or "casual Friday". "What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing." said business consultant Maisly Jones.
Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it's easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code. "A lot of young people don't want to dress up for work," says the owner of a software company, "so it's hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code." Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Strauss Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale . Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative effect on productivity. Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. "Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day," one person said. "For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes." | [
"they make him feel at ease when working",
"he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes",
"he looks handsome in casual clothes",
"he no longer works for any company"
] |
Bruce and Bruno were worried because _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Bruce and Bruno looked worried those days. Their father went to a town far away. Before leaving, he said he would write to them as soon as he found a job there. But two months passed, they did not hear from him. Now they had nothing except the old house and they had no money to buy any food. They thought for a long time. Then they decided to sell the house and look for their father. So one day the two brothers said goodbye to their friends and started to go. They got to the station and bought two tickets.
They were afraid that they would be hungry in the train, so they went to the market to buy something to eat. They saw bananas for the first time. The seller told them the bananas were very delicious, so they bought five kilos and got on the train with them. After a while Bruce brought out a banana and bit a little. Just at that moment the train went into a tunnel and it was dark in the train. He was afraid and called out,"Have you taken a bite of your bananas, Bruno?"
"Not yet."
"That's good."Bruce said, crying,"I did and went blind!"
Question:
Bruce and Bruno were worried because _ .
Choices:
A. their father couldn't find a job in the town..
B. they didn't hear from their father.
C. Their father left them away.
D. They had no money to buy any food. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1879.txt | Bruce and Bruno looked worried those days. Their father went to a town far away. Before leaving, he said he would write to them as soon as he found a job there. But two months passed, they did not hear from him. Now they had nothing except the old house and they had no money to buy any food. They thought for a long time. Then they decided to sell the house and look for their father. So one day the two brothers said goodbye to their friends and started to go. They got to the station and bought two tickets.
They were afraid that they would be hungry in the train, so they went to the market to buy something to eat. They saw bananas for the first time. The seller told them the bananas were very delicious, so they bought five kilos and got on the train with them. After a while Bruce brought out a banana and bit a little. Just at that moment the train went into a tunnel and it was dark in the train. He was afraid and called out,"Have you taken a bite of your bananas, Bruno?"
"Not yet."
"That's good."Bruce said, crying,"I did and went blind!" | [
"their father couldn't find a job in the town..",
"they didn't hear from their father.",
"Their father left them away.",
"They had no money to buy any food."
] |
The writer's cousins felt different in their parents' country because they _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Language is a way to communicate with each other. We started to learn language when we were born. However, people are used to speaking their native language, so immigrants are having many problems between the first generation and the second generation because they don't have the same native language. Also, the second generation is losing their identity. Especially in America, there are many immigrants that came from different countries to succeed in the States. Because they suffer in lots of areas such as getting a job and trying to speak English, they want their children to speak English, not only at school, but also at home in order to be more successful. Because of this situation, their children are losing their identity and, even more, they are ignoring their parents whose English is not very good.
I think most immigrants are trying to preserve their native language in their new country, but this doesn't help very much in getting a good job. My aunt taught Korean to her children not to help hem succeed in the U.S. she did so, hopefully, to help them establish a Korean identity. Though the second generation was born in the new country, they often get confused about their identity because they look different from others, and also, if they visit their parents' country, they will probably feel different from other people there too. My cousins told me that when they visited Korea a few years ago, they felt different from other Koreans. They could even feel it just strolling around the street because they wore different clothes and walked differently.
We must realize that language is important and valuable for many reasons. Immigrants should make an effort not to be ignored by their children understand their background by teaching them the parents' language. This is very important, not only for the harmony of the family, but also in helping the second generation establish their identity.
Question:
The writer's cousins felt different in their parents' country because they _ .
Choices:
A. had never been there before
B. behaved quite differently
C. couldn't understand the language
D. had different facial appearance | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7312.txt | Language is a way to communicate with each other. We started to learn language when we were born. However, people are used to speaking their native language, so immigrants are having many problems between the first generation and the second generation because they don't have the same native language. Also, the second generation is losing their identity. Especially in America, there are many immigrants that came from different countries to succeed in the States. Because they suffer in lots of areas such as getting a job and trying to speak English, they want their children to speak English, not only at school, but also at home in order to be more successful. Because of this situation, their children are losing their identity and, even more, they are ignoring their parents whose English is not very good.
I think most immigrants are trying to preserve their native language in their new country, but this doesn't help very much in getting a good job. My aunt taught Korean to her children not to help hem succeed in the U.S. she did so, hopefully, to help them establish a Korean identity. Though the second generation was born in the new country, they often get confused about their identity because they look different from others, and also, if they visit their parents' country, they will probably feel different from other people there too. My cousins told me that when they visited Korea a few years ago, they felt different from other Koreans. They could even feel it just strolling around the street because they wore different clothes and walked differently.
We must realize that language is important and valuable for many reasons. Immigrants should make an effort not to be ignored by their children understand their background by teaching them the parents' language. This is very important, not only for the harmony of the family, but also in helping the second generation establish their identity. | [
"had never been there before",
"behaved quite differently",
"couldn't understand the language",
"had different facial appearance"
] |
The implied advice in the proverb "It takes an entire village to raise a child." is that _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
"It takes an entire village to raise a child." That's an old proverb that is being quoted more and more often these days. And I'm pleased about that.
Today, more and more schools are reaching out to involve parents, community members and businesses to help shape a child's future.
Parents need to be involved in their children's education in many ways. Helping children with homework and studying, going on a field trip, teaching a craft or coaching a child's sports team are all great ways to be involved with your child's education. And don't forget to communicate with teachers ---- they need and respect your input. Studies show that children learn more and schools function better when parents and schools work together. It's important to stay in touch with your child's education all through his or her school career.
Communities can help children create and achieve new goals. Help with homework, read to a child, coach a children's team, or provide emotional support. Help solve problems and build self-esteem . Kids need role models and advisers can be role models by sharing their experiences and wisdom.
Businesses can also help shape our children's future. Invite a class from your local school to visit your workplace. You may be providing a glimpse that opens a new world of possibilities. Show students what goes on during a typical day. Give a mini course for students: how to use a computer; how products are made; how machinery works. You may have a developing electrician, teacher, nurse, or even a newspaper reporter on your hands.
It really does take an entire village to raise a child.So share the responsibility -- and the joy -- of bringing a child to his or her full potential .
Question:
The implied advice in the proverb "It takes an entire village to raise a child." is that _ .
Choices:
A. All the people in a village should give food to a child.
B. Schools, parents, and other organizations should share the responsibility of shaping a
child's future.
C. Children should be brought up in the village where they were born.
D. Schools should be set up in the village where a child was raised. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7846.txt | "It takes an entire village to raise a child." That's an old proverb that is being quoted more and more often these days. And I'm pleased about that.
Today, more and more schools are reaching out to involve parents, community members and businesses to help shape a child's future.
Parents need to be involved in their children's education in many ways. Helping children with homework and studying, going on a field trip, teaching a craft or coaching a child's sports team are all great ways to be involved with your child's education. And don't forget to communicate with teachers ---- they need and respect your input. Studies show that children learn more and schools function better when parents and schools work together. It's important to stay in touch with your child's education all through his or her school career.
Communities can help children create and achieve new goals. Help with homework, read to a child, coach a children's team, or provide emotional support. Help solve problems and build self-esteem . Kids need role models and advisers can be role models by sharing their experiences and wisdom.
Businesses can also help shape our children's future. Invite a class from your local school to visit your workplace. You may be providing a glimpse that opens a new world of possibilities. Show students what goes on during a typical day. Give a mini course for students: how to use a computer; how products are made; how machinery works. You may have a developing electrician, teacher, nurse, or even a newspaper reporter on your hands.
It really does take an entire village to raise a child.So share the responsibility -- and the joy -- of bringing a child to his or her full potential . | [
"All the people in a village should give food to a child.",
"Schools, parents, and other organizations should share the responsibility of shaping a \nchild's future.",
"Children should be brought up in the village where they were born.",
"Schools should be set up in the village where a child was raised."
] |
If you are eleven years old and you don't have dinner during the cruise, how much will you pay? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Hong Kong Harbour Cruise By Night
Enjoy your wonderful dinner on the ferry and see the fantastic city lights.
Time: 7:00 pm~10:00 pm daily
Price: With dinner Without dinner
Adult: HK$300 HK$120
Child under 12: HK$ 210 HK$ 84
Start/ Stop: Kowloon Public Pier (Near Star Ferry Pier)
Ticket Office:Star Company (123 Canton Road)
Question:
If you are eleven years old and you don't have dinner during the cruise, how much will you pay?
Choices:
A. HK$300
B. HK$120
C. HK$84
D. HK$45 | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1410.txt | Hong Kong Harbour Cruise By Night
Enjoy your wonderful dinner on the ferry and see the fantastic city lights.
Time: 7:00 pm~10:00 pm daily
Price: With dinner Without dinner
Adult: HK$300 HK$120
Child under 12: HK$ 210 HK$ 84
Start/ Stop: Kowloon Public Pier (Near Star Ferry Pier)
Ticket Office:Star Company (123 Canton Road) | [
"HK$300",
"HK$120",
"HK$84",
"HK$45"
] |
What is the author's attitude towards grammar learning? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Grammar is the system of a language. People sometimes describe grammar as the "rules" of a language; but in fact no language has rules. If we use the word "rules", we suggest that somebody created the rules first and then spoke the language, like a new game. But languages did not start like that. Languages started by people making sounds which evolved into words, phrases and sentences. No commonly-spoken language is fixed. All languages change over time. What we call "grammar" is simply a reflection of a language at a particular time.
Do we need to study grammar to learn a language? The short answer is "no". Very many people in the world speak their own, native language without having studied its grammar. Children start to speak before they even know the word"grammar". But if you are serious about learning a foreign language, the long answer is "yes, grammar can help you to learn a language more quickly and more efficiently." It's important to think of grammar as something that can help you, like a friend. When you understand the grammar (or system) of a language, you can understand many things yourself, without having to ask a teacher or look in a book.
So think of grammar as something good, something positive, something that you can use to find your way---like a signpost or a map.
Except invented languages like Esperanto . And if Esperanto were widely spoken, its rules would soon be very different.
Question:
What is the author's attitude towards grammar learning?
Choices:
A. He is against grammar learning.
B. He is in favor of grammar learning.
C. His attitude is objective .
D. His attitude is unknown to us. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high14036.txt | Grammar is the system of a language. People sometimes describe grammar as the "rules" of a language; but in fact no language has rules. If we use the word "rules", we suggest that somebody created the rules first and then spoke the language, like a new game. But languages did not start like that. Languages started by people making sounds which evolved into words, phrases and sentences. No commonly-spoken language is fixed. All languages change over time. What we call "grammar" is simply a reflection of a language at a particular time.
Do we need to study grammar to learn a language? The short answer is "no". Very many people in the world speak their own, native language without having studied its grammar. Children start to speak before they even know the word"grammar". But if you are serious about learning a foreign language, the long answer is "yes, grammar can help you to learn a language more quickly and more efficiently." It's important to think of grammar as something that can help you, like a friend. When you understand the grammar (or system) of a language, you can understand many things yourself, without having to ask a teacher or look in a book.
So think of grammar as something good, something positive, something that you can use to find your way---like a signpost or a map.
Except invented languages like Esperanto . And if Esperanto were widely spoken, its rules would soon be very different. | [
"He is against grammar learning.",
"He is in favor of grammar learning.",
"His attitude is objective .",
"His attitude is unknown to us."
] |
Roger had a 6-hour drive planned out. He didn't want to listen to music so he downloaded several podcasts. The first podcast was 45 minutes long. The second podcast was twice as long as that. The third podcast was 1 hour and 45 minutes long. His fourth podcast is 1 hour long. How many hours will his next podcast have to be to fill up the full 6 hours? | The second podcast was twice as long as the first so 2*45 = <<2*45=90>>90
1 hour is 60 mins. So his 1 hour and 45 min podcast is 60+45 = <<1*60+45=105>>105 minutes long
So far he has downloaded 45+90+105+60 = <<45+90+105+60=300>>300 min
If he converts 300 min to hours then he has 300/60 = <<300/60=5>>5 hours of podcasts downloaded
He has 5 hours of podcasts and his drive is 6 hours so he will need 6 - 5 = <<6-5=1>>1 more hour of podcasts
#### 1 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Roger had a 6-hour drive planned out. He didn't want to listen to music so he downloaded several podcasts. The first podcast was 45 minutes long. The second podcast was twice as long as that. The third podcast was 1 hour and 45 minutes long. His fourth podcast is 1 hour long. How many hours will his next podcast have to be to fill up the full 6 hours? | The second podcast was twice as long as the first so 2*45 = <<2*45=90>>90
1 hour is 60 mins. So his 1 hour and 45 min podcast is 60+45 = <<1*60+45=105>>105 minutes long
So far he has downloaded 45+90+105+60 = <<45+90+105+60=300>>300 min
If he converts 300 min to hours then he has 300/60 = <<300/60=5>>5 hours of podcasts downloaded
He has 5 hours of podcasts and his drive is 6 hours so he will need 6 - 5 = <<6-5=1>>1 more hour of podcasts
#### 1 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Why was it difficult for Ms Cheng to find another nursing job? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A job is more than just a job,especially to the older generation."It's not the money that matters,but the sense of selfworth," 56yearold Cheng Wonlan said.So,every day Ms Cheng carries a bag of parcels,letters and documents of all shapes and sizes and does her rounds in North Point.She's a courier .
Five years ago,Ms Cheng was a nurse at a private clinic.She had worked there for almost 30 years but was made jobless when the doctor migrated .It was extremely difficult for her to find another job."People do not trust my ability when they learn how old I am," she said.After two years of searching,the mother of two eventually found another nursing job.But then after two years,she quit.Why?
"My colleagues were young and they didn't understand me because of my age.They often asked me,'You are so old;what are you working for?' I was very unhappy." she said.So while the rest of her family left for work,she was left to lonely boredom at home.The urge to work drove her to suffering.Then,one of Ms Cheng's neighbours told her about Employee's Retraining Board (ERB) offering retraining courses for older people on specific occupations,such as convenience store assistants,junior clerks and so on.
"I was interested in courier work.I didn't think my age was a barrier because I was fit and healthy.So I thought why not give it a try." she said.Upon graduation from the ERB,Ms Cheng was offered a job by the Speeding Shuttle Courier Service Company Limited.But then Ms Cheng was faced with a conflict:she was caught between honour and employment.It took Ms Cheng 24 hours to make up her mind and eventually came to the conclusion that there was nothing wrong or embarrassing about doing the job.So she took heart and went off to work as a courier.
Ms Cheng's employer is delighted with her,"Ms Cheng has been working with us for two months and has shown a good responsible attitude to work."Anthony Chong,who runs the company,said.Currently,Mr Chong has 60 couriers working for his company:five of them are over fifty,four of whom have been through the ERB plan.Mr Chong said he hired older people because they were able and reliable."Age is not an important factor but attitude is.Many old people are more capable than the youngsters.They will not run from difficulties but the young ones will," he said."It is not easy to recruit young people since they shy away from hardship and challenges."
Question:
Why was it difficult for Ms Cheng to find another nursing job?
Choices:
A. Nursing clinics were hard to find.
B. People thought that old people couldn't be trusted.
C. People thought she was too old to take on a new job.
D. People didn't think she had enough working experience. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high6169.txt | A job is more than just a job,especially to the older generation."It's not the money that matters,but the sense of selfworth," 56yearold Cheng Wonlan said.So,every day Ms Cheng carries a bag of parcels,letters and documents of all shapes and sizes and does her rounds in North Point.She's a courier .
Five years ago,Ms Cheng was a nurse at a private clinic.She had worked there for almost 30 years but was made jobless when the doctor migrated .It was extremely difficult for her to find another job."People do not trust my ability when they learn how old I am," she said.After two years of searching,the mother of two eventually found another nursing job.But then after two years,she quit.Why?
"My colleagues were young and they didn't understand me because of my age.They often asked me,'You are so old;what are you working for?' I was very unhappy." she said.So while the rest of her family left for work,she was left to lonely boredom at home.The urge to work drove her to suffering.Then,one of Ms Cheng's neighbours told her about Employee's Retraining Board (ERB) offering retraining courses for older people on specific occupations,such as convenience store assistants,junior clerks and so on.
"I was interested in courier work.I didn't think my age was a barrier because I was fit and healthy.So I thought why not give it a try." she said.Upon graduation from the ERB,Ms Cheng was offered a job by the Speeding Shuttle Courier Service Company Limited.But then Ms Cheng was faced with a conflict:she was caught between honour and employment.It took Ms Cheng 24 hours to make up her mind and eventually came to the conclusion that there was nothing wrong or embarrassing about doing the job.So she took heart and went off to work as a courier.
Ms Cheng's employer is delighted with her,"Ms Cheng has been working with us for two months and has shown a good responsible attitude to work."Anthony Chong,who runs the company,said.Currently,Mr Chong has 60 couriers working for his company:five of them are over fifty,four of whom have been through the ERB plan.Mr Chong said he hired older people because they were able and reliable."Age is not an important factor but attitude is.Many old people are more capable than the youngsters.They will not run from difficulties but the young ones will," he said."It is not easy to recruit young people since they shy away from hardship and challenges." | [
"Nursing clinics were hard to find.",
"People thought that old people couldn't be trusted.",
"People thought she was too old to take on a new job.",
"People didn't think she had enough working experience."
] |
Which is NOT true according to the passage? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Where do you think people will live in the future? Can you predict people will work and live in the sea? But how will people go to work then? By submarine!
Some scientists believe that some day submarines will be as many as today's cars. A famous French driver says, " One day, man will work on the ocean floor as they do on the street!"
If people want to live in the sea, they have to solve a lot of problems first. Some of these problems, similar to those of living on the moon, are lack of oxygen and weightlessness . Many questions are hard to answer. For example, what will happen to our bodies if we live in the sea for a very long time? Scientists are looking for answers.
Maybe in 50 years man will be able to live in the sea, away from the crowded and noisy cities on land. Man will find it fun and interesting to live in the sea. And life in the sea is more comfortable. Don't you think so?
Question:
Which is NOT true according to the passage?
Choices:
A. There are also some problems for people to solve if they want to live on the moon.
B. The sea is noisy and crowded for man to live in.
C. Some of the problems are very hard to solve.
D. Some scientists believe submarines will be popular in the future. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle4050.txt | Where do you think people will live in the future? Can you predict people will work and live in the sea? But how will people go to work then? By submarine!
Some scientists believe that some day submarines will be as many as today's cars. A famous French driver says, " One day, man will work on the ocean floor as they do on the street!"
If people want to live in the sea, they have to solve a lot of problems first. Some of these problems, similar to those of living on the moon, are lack of oxygen and weightlessness . Many questions are hard to answer. For example, what will happen to our bodies if we live in the sea for a very long time? Scientists are looking for answers.
Maybe in 50 years man will be able to live in the sea, away from the crowded and noisy cities on land. Man will find it fun and interesting to live in the sea. And life in the sea is more comfortable. Don't you think so? | [
"There are also some problems for people to solve if they want to live on the moon.",
"The sea is noisy and crowded for man to live in.",
"Some of the problems are very hard to solve.",
"Some scientists believe submarines will be popular in the future."
] |
The rocks that are taken from a mine are full of valuable minerals plus rock that isn't valuable. what is this rock called? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | The rocks that are taken from a mine are full of valuable minerals plus rock that isn't valuable. what is this rock called? | waste rock | science | null | null | null | empty rock | garbage rock | compost rock | waste rock | Most minerals are a combination of metal and other elements. The rocks that are taken from a mine are full of valuable minerals plus rock that isn't valuable. This is called waste rock. The valuable minerals must be separated from the waste rock. One way to do this is with a chemical reaction. Chemicals are added to the ores at very high temperatures. | null | null | null |
What kind of power plant uses energy to heat water that becomes steam and spins turbines? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What kind of power plant uses energy to heat water that becomes steam and spins turbines? | nuclear power plants | science | null | null | null | wind | hydroelectric | coal | nuclear power plants | Nuclear power plants use the energy they produce to heat water. The water turns into steam, which causes a turbine to spin. This in turn produces electricity. | null | null | null |
What's the main idea of the passage? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Michelle, a famous lady, has found that more than 25% students are too fat in her country. It is a very serious problem. So she starts a health program to deal with it. The health program is to reduce the amount of fat students today and in the future.
The program will get families, schools, newspapers, magazines and TVs to join together and deal with the students' obesity so that students will be at a healthier weight. The program includes: Food stores should sell healthier foods. Schools should serve healthier meals with less fat and should also offer gym classes.
The lady is trying to fight the students' obesity all over the country because it can cause illnesses and higher health cost. She wants the students to eat right, exercise more and control their weight. She also wants the students to understand it is important to have less sweet food, and drink water, milk and fresh juices, but not to choose cokes. At the same time she has also set a good example by planting a vegetable garden. She hopes that the garden will encourage more people to plant one, too.
The health program is really helpful to the students today and in the future. As she says, we cannot always build the future for youth, but we can build our youth for the future.
Question:
What's the main idea of the passage?
Choices:
A. The lady introduces healthy drinks.
B. The lady cares about food cost.
C. The lady fights obesity in students.
D. The lady feel worried about the height. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle5168.txt | Michelle, a famous lady, has found that more than 25% students are too fat in her country. It is a very serious problem. So she starts a health program to deal with it. The health program is to reduce the amount of fat students today and in the future.
The program will get families, schools, newspapers, magazines and TVs to join together and deal with the students' obesity so that students will be at a healthier weight. The program includes: Food stores should sell healthier foods. Schools should serve healthier meals with less fat and should also offer gym classes.
The lady is trying to fight the students' obesity all over the country because it can cause illnesses and higher health cost. She wants the students to eat right, exercise more and control their weight. She also wants the students to understand it is important to have less sweet food, and drink water, milk and fresh juices, but not to choose cokes. At the same time she has also set a good example by planting a vegetable garden. She hopes that the garden will encourage more people to plant one, too.
The health program is really helpful to the students today and in the future. As she says, we cannot always build the future for youth, but we can build our youth for the future. | [
"The lady introduces healthy drinks.",
"The lady cares about food cost.",
"The lady fights obesity in students.",
"The lady feel worried about the height."
] |
The author of the passage _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Well, more and more companies are beginning to create products and services for teenagers. The Disney Company sells the Hannah Montans television show, music, film and merchandise to teenagers and their parents. You can get everything from branded lunchboxes and mobile phone covers, to monthly fan magazines and clothing. The High School Musical series of films is also intended for a teenage audience. So, it's all about sales, which tells us teenagers must have more money, freedom and influence upon their parents than they've ever had before.
UK teenagers never used to be worried about spending money on clothes and fashion accessories . That's changed. Now, they are much more fashion conscious and concerned about their image. In a world of television programmes that promise overnight success and fame at a young age (for example, the shows Britain's Got Talent and American Idol), some people think it's extremely important to look fashionable.
So what does teenage fashion look like? Well, it's quite horrible really, but then I'm a bit too old to appreciate it, I suppose. It's lots of brightly coloured materials, particularly pink, and usually plain, not patterned. There are plenty of bows, necklaces and bracelets , too. It's all very cute , if that's your taste.
Surely none of the above is a good thing, is it? Can it really be healthy for us to encourage kids to be like adults at such a young age? Are we stealing childhoods in return for a bit of profit? Well, the UK government is certainly concerned, and for that reason has strict laws preventing companies from explicitly marketing their products and services at children.
Even the rest of UK society is concerned. Now that people are aware of the problem, there is a popular backlash against the exploitation of children by commercial marketing.
Question:
The author of the passage _ .
Choices:
A. supports teenage fashion quite a lot
B. is fond of brightly colored materials that are to his taste
C. thinks it illegal to make profits by selling things to kids
D. is strongly against marketing products and services at children | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high13859.txt | Well, more and more companies are beginning to create products and services for teenagers. The Disney Company sells the Hannah Montans television show, music, film and merchandise to teenagers and their parents. You can get everything from branded lunchboxes and mobile phone covers, to monthly fan magazines and clothing. The High School Musical series of films is also intended for a teenage audience. So, it's all about sales, which tells us teenagers must have more money, freedom and influence upon their parents than they've ever had before.
UK teenagers never used to be worried about spending money on clothes and fashion accessories . That's changed. Now, they are much more fashion conscious and concerned about their image. In a world of television programmes that promise overnight success and fame at a young age (for example, the shows Britain's Got Talent and American Idol), some people think it's extremely important to look fashionable.
So what does teenage fashion look like? Well, it's quite horrible really, but then I'm a bit too old to appreciate it, I suppose. It's lots of brightly coloured materials, particularly pink, and usually plain, not patterned. There are plenty of bows, necklaces and bracelets , too. It's all very cute , if that's your taste.
Surely none of the above is a good thing, is it? Can it really be healthy for us to encourage kids to be like adults at such a young age? Are we stealing childhoods in return for a bit of profit? Well, the UK government is certainly concerned, and for that reason has strict laws preventing companies from explicitly marketing their products and services at children.
Even the rest of UK society is concerned. Now that people are aware of the problem, there is a popular backlash against the exploitation of children by commercial marketing. | [
"supports teenage fashion quite a lot",
"is fond of brightly colored materials that are to his taste",
"thinks it illegal to make profits by selling things to kids",
"is strongly against marketing products and services at children"
] |
According to the passage, the piano _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
The piano on which Mozart wrote all of his late works returned home to Vienna for the first time since his death in 1791.The piano will stand in his former Vienna home, now a museum, for two weeks, ending in a concert of the works by Mozart.
Mozart bought the instrument from Anton Walter, the most famous piano maker of his time, in 1782.He wrote more than 50 works for the piano on it, many of them in the apartment in Vienna.After Mozart's death, Constanze, Mozart's wife, gave the instrument to their elder surviving son, Carl Thomas, who donated it to the Mozarteum Salzburg on what would have been the composer's 100th birthday.The piano is now part of the permanent exhibition in the Austrian city of Salzburg.
" It was very hard to let it go," said Matthias Schulz, director of the Mozarteum Salzburg." If we didn' t know it was in the best hands, we wouldn' t have done it." The piano is much smaller and lighter than modern concert ones.Its sound is fresher and brighter than that of a modern piano, with lighter action and hammers .
Piano restorer Josef Meingast, who has looked after the Mozart piano since 1975, said it was superior to any of its surviving copies.Meingast said he had to fight to replace the existing strings , dating from a 1973 restoration, with softer ones that produce a rounder sound thought to be more similar to what Mozart would have produced.
Russian pianist Alexander Melnikov, who planned to give a concert of Mozart' s music on the piano on November 7, said he was privileged to play such an instrument.It's easily the biggest day of a musician' s life."
Question:
According to the passage, the piano _ .
Choices:
A. is now being owned by the Mozart family
B. has been kept by Carl Thomas since Mozart died
C. is much bigger and heavier than modern ones
D. is part of the permanent exhibition in the city of Salzburg | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high10795.txt | The piano on which Mozart wrote all of his late works returned home to Vienna for the first time since his death in 1791.The piano will stand in his former Vienna home, now a museum, for two weeks, ending in a concert of the works by Mozart.
Mozart bought the instrument from Anton Walter, the most famous piano maker of his time, in 1782.He wrote more than 50 works for the piano on it, many of them in the apartment in Vienna.After Mozart's death, Constanze, Mozart's wife, gave the instrument to their elder surviving son, Carl Thomas, who donated it to the Mozarteum Salzburg on what would have been the composer's 100th birthday.The piano is now part of the permanent exhibition in the Austrian city of Salzburg.
" It was very hard to let it go," said Matthias Schulz, director of the Mozarteum Salzburg." If we didn' t know it was in the best hands, we wouldn' t have done it." The piano is much smaller and lighter than modern concert ones.Its sound is fresher and brighter than that of a modern piano, with lighter action and hammers .
Piano restorer Josef Meingast, who has looked after the Mozart piano since 1975, said it was superior to any of its surviving copies.Meingast said he had to fight to replace the existing strings , dating from a 1973 restoration, with softer ones that produce a rounder sound thought to be more similar to what Mozart would have produced.
Russian pianist Alexander Melnikov, who planned to give a concert of Mozart' s music on the piano on November 7, said he was privileged to play such an instrument.It's easily the biggest day of a musician' s life." | [
"is now being owned by the Mozart family",
"has been kept by Carl Thomas since Mozart died",
"is much bigger and heavier than modern ones",
"is part of the permanent exhibition in the city of Salzburg"
] |
Hayden works for a limousine company as a driver. He gets reimbursed for any gas he puts in the limo, his hourly wage is $15, and he gets paid an additional $5 for every ride he gives. A positive review from a rider in his limo also gets him a $20 bonus. Today, he gave rides to three groups, drove for eight hours, and had to put 17 gallons of gas at $3 per gallon in the limo to refill the tank. He got two good reviews. How many dollars is he owed for his work today? | Hayden gave 3 groups rides, so he is owed 3 * 5 = $<<3*5=15>>15.
He drove for 8 hours, so he is owed 15 * 8 = $<<15*8=120>>120.
He refilled the gas tank, so he is owed back 17 * 3 = $<<17*3=51>>51.
He got two good reviews for a bonus of 2 * 20 = $<<2*20=40>>40.
Hayden is owned 15 + 120 + 51 + 40 = $<<15+120+51+40=226>>226 for his work today.
#### 226 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Hayden works for a limousine company as a driver. He gets reimbursed for any gas he puts in the limo, his hourly wage is $15, and he gets paid an additional $5 for every ride he gives. A positive review from a rider in his limo also gets him a $20 bonus. Today, he gave rides to three groups, drove for eight hours, and had to put 17 gallons of gas at $3 per gallon in the limo to refill the tank. He got two good reviews. How many dollars is he owed for his work today? | Hayden gave 3 groups rides, so he is owed 3 * 5 = $<<3*5=15>>15.
He drove for 8 hours, so he is owed 15 * 8 = $<<15*8=120>>120.
He refilled the gas tank, so he is owed back 17 * 3 = $<<17*3=51>>51.
He got two good reviews for a bonus of 2 * 20 = $<<2*20=40>>40.
Hayden is owned 15 + 120 + 51 + 40 = $<<15+120+51+40=226>>226 for his work today.
#### 226 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
According to the passage , which statement is true? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A dog
a newborn baby abandoned by its 14-year-old mother in a field in rural Argentina until the boy was rescued, a doctor said on August 22 (Friday).
A resident of a rural area outside La Plata called police late Wednesday night to say that he had heard the baby crying in a field behind his house.
The man went outside and found the infant lying beside the dog and its six newborn puppies, Daniel Salcedo, chief of police of the Province of Buenos Aires, told CNN.
The temperature was a chilly 37 degrees, Salcedo said.
The dog had apparently carried the baby some 50 meters from where his mother had abandoned him to where the puppies were huddled, police said.
"She took it like a puppy and rescued it," Salcedo said. "The doctors told us if she hadn't done this, he would have died."
"The dog is a hero to us."
Dr. Egidio Melia, director of the Melchor Romero Hospital in La Plata, told CNN that police showed up at the hospital at 11:30 pm Wednesday with the baby who doctors say was only a few hours old.
Though the infant had superficial scratches and bruises and was bleeding from his mouth, he was in good shape, Melia said.
The next morning, the child's mother was driven by a neighbor to the hospital and told authorities the 8-pound, 13-ounce infant is hers, Melia said.
The teenager was immediately give psychological treatment and was hospitalized, he said. She has said little about the incident.
The child has been transferred to a children's hospital in La Plata, 37 miles from Buenos Aires.
Question:
According to the passage , which statement is true?
Choices:
A. It's hard for the infant to recover soon.
B. The puppies were running here and there all the time
C. The temperature was very high at that time.
D. But for the mother do | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16140.txt | A dog
a newborn baby abandoned by its 14-year-old mother in a field in rural Argentina until the boy was rescued, a doctor said on August 22 (Friday).
A resident of a rural area outside La Plata called police late Wednesday night to say that he had heard the baby crying in a field behind his house.
The man went outside and found the infant lying beside the dog and its six newborn puppies, Daniel Salcedo, chief of police of the Province of Buenos Aires, told CNN.
The temperature was a chilly 37 degrees, Salcedo said.
The dog had apparently carried the baby some 50 meters from where his mother had abandoned him to where the puppies were huddled, police said.
"She took it like a puppy and rescued it," Salcedo said. "The doctors told us if she hadn't done this, he would have died."
"The dog is a hero to us."
Dr. Egidio Melia, director of the Melchor Romero Hospital in La Plata, told CNN that police showed up at the hospital at 11:30 pm Wednesday with the baby who doctors say was only a few hours old.
Though the infant had superficial scratches and bruises and was bleeding from his mouth, he was in good shape, Melia said.
The next morning, the child's mother was driven by a neighbor to the hospital and told authorities the 8-pound, 13-ounce infant is hers, Melia said.
The teenager was immediately give psychological treatment and was hospitalized, he said. She has said little about the incident.
The child has been transferred to a children's hospital in La Plata, 37 miles from Buenos Aires. | [
"It's hard for the infant to recover soon.",
"The puppies were running here and there all the time",
"The temperature was very high at that time.",
"But for the mother do"
] |
What helps ensure that, at least, some species will survive environmental change? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What helps ensure that, at least, some species will survive environmental change? | biodiversity | science | null | null | null | spontaneous mutation | reproduction | ecosystem | biodiversity | Biodiversity generally increases the productivity and stability of ecosystems. It helps ensure that at least some species will survive environmental change. It also provides many other ecosystem services. For example:. | null | null | null |
What's the title of the passage? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
DENGZHOU: Five children seriously injured Tuesday in a kindergarten bus accident in Dengzhou City, in central China's Henan Province, have died after emergency hospital treatment failed, hospital sources said Wednesday.
The NO. 1 People's Hospital and No. 3 People's Hospital in Dengzhou admitted eight injured children after the accident, which took place at 6:40 a. m. Tuesday.
According to initial investigation , 11 children aged between two and five were on the bus owned by a village kindergarten in Gengzhuang Village of Dengzhou.
It was taking children from neighboring villages to the kindergarten when it suddenly lost control and plunged into a river by the roadside. Three of the children on the bus were not injured.
The hospitals said the three remaining injured were in stable condition and they would be out of hospital.
The driver of the bus has been put into custody by the police.
Question:
What's the title of the passage?
Choices:
A. Five children died in a kindergarten bus accident.
B. A bus accident in Deng zhou.
C. All primary school and kindergarten vehicles in Dengzhou.
D. The driver of the bus has been put into custody by the police. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high16937.txt | DENGZHOU: Five children seriously injured Tuesday in a kindergarten bus accident in Dengzhou City, in central China's Henan Province, have died after emergency hospital treatment failed, hospital sources said Wednesday.
The NO. 1 People's Hospital and No. 3 People's Hospital in Dengzhou admitted eight injured children after the accident, which took place at 6:40 a. m. Tuesday.
According to initial investigation , 11 children aged between two and five were on the bus owned by a village kindergarten in Gengzhuang Village of Dengzhou.
It was taking children from neighboring villages to the kindergarten when it suddenly lost control and plunged into a river by the roadside. Three of the children on the bus were not injured.
The hospitals said the three remaining injured were in stable condition and they would be out of hospital.
The driver of the bus has been put into custody by the police. | [
"Five children died in a kindergarten bus accident.",
"A bus accident in Deng zhou.",
"All primary school and kindergarten vehicles in Dengzhou.",
"The driver of the bus has been put into custody by the police."
] |
What's the best title of this passage? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Last Saturday night Jenny was walking through a mall in London , texting on her phone. She wasn't watching where she was going , so she fell into a sewer and got trapped. Luckily she didn't hurt badly. She quickly climbed out and walked away. But her accident was caught on a mall camera. Then someone posted it on YouTube. The video was viewed almost 2 million times and received national attention. Jenny was angry with this, but she learned a deep lesson: Texting while walking is dangerous. This time I just fell into a sewer. Next time I didn't know what would happen. Maybe I would be knocked down by a car or something else. It was horrible.
Jenny may be famous for her mistake. After that, she was laughed at by her friends and workmates. She _ what she had done. But it was too late. However, she wasn't the only one who got into trouble while texting on the phone. In 2008, more than 1000 Englishmen visited hospital for similar reasons. They were walking and texting or talking on the phone. Suddenly a wall appeared! Or a hole or something like that got in the way. There were cuts, bumps, broken bones and even worse result happened on them.
So we must be careful when we are walking. Don't send messages or talk with somebody on the phone while walking. Or you may hurt yourself and become another Jenny in the future.
Question:
What's the best title of this passage?
Choices:
A. An Unforgettable Lesson
B. A Horrible Accident
C. Texting on the Phone While Walking
D. Don't Send Message While Walking | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle2906.txt | Last Saturday night Jenny was walking through a mall in London , texting on her phone. She wasn't watching where she was going , so she fell into a sewer and got trapped. Luckily she didn't hurt badly. She quickly climbed out and walked away. But her accident was caught on a mall camera. Then someone posted it on YouTube. The video was viewed almost 2 million times and received national attention. Jenny was angry with this, but she learned a deep lesson: Texting while walking is dangerous. This time I just fell into a sewer. Next time I didn't know what would happen. Maybe I would be knocked down by a car or something else. It was horrible.
Jenny may be famous for her mistake. After that, she was laughed at by her friends and workmates. She _ what she had done. But it was too late. However, she wasn't the only one who got into trouble while texting on the phone. In 2008, more than 1000 Englishmen visited hospital for similar reasons. They were walking and texting or talking on the phone. Suddenly a wall appeared! Or a hole or something like that got in the way. There were cuts, bumps, broken bones and even worse result happened on them.
So we must be careful when we are walking. Don't send messages or talk with somebody on the phone while walking. Or you may hurt yourself and become another Jenny in the future. | [
"An Unforgettable Lesson",
"A Horrible Accident",
"Texting on the Phone While Walking",
"Don't Send Message While Walking"
] |
What can we infer from the text? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
By the mid-nineteenth century, the term "icebox" had entered the American language, but ice was still only beginning to affect the diet of ordinary citizens in the United States. The ice trade grew with the growth of cities. Ice was used in hotels, taverns , and hospitals, and by some forward-looking city dealers in fresh meat, fresh fish, and butter. After the Civil War (1861-1865), as ice was used to refrigerate freight cars, it also came into household use. Even before 1880, half of the ice sold in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, and one-third of that sold in Boston and Chicago, went to families for their own use. This had become possible because a new household convenience, the icebox, a precursor of the modern fridge, had been invented.
Making an efficient icebox as not as easy as we might now suppose. In the early nineteenth century, the knowledge of the physics of heat, which was essential to a science of refrigeration, was rudimentary . The commonsense notion that the best icebox was one that prevented the ice from melting was of course mistaken, for it was the melting of the ice that performed the cooling. Nevertheless, early efforts to economize ice included wrapping up the ice in blankets, which kept the ice from doing its job. Not until near the end of the nineteenth century did inventors achieve the delicate balance of insulation and circulation needed for an efficient icebox.
But as early as 1803, and ingenious Maryland farmer, Thomas Moore, had been on the right track. He owned a farm about twenty miles outside the city of Washington, for which the village of Georgetown was the market center. When he used an icebox of his own design to transport his butter to market, he found that customers would pass up the rapidly melting stuff in the tubs of his competitors to pay a premium price for his butter, still fresh and hard in neat, one-pound bricks. One advantage of his icebox, Moore explained, was that farmers would no longer have to travel to market at night in order to keep their produce cool.
Question:
What can we infer from the text?
Choices:
A. Thomas Moore is the inventor of modern fridge
B. The butter produced by Thomas Moored is better in quality than other famers'
C. Knowledge of the physics of heat plays an important part in inventing a good icebox
D. Before 1880, most of the sold ice was used for family use. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high506.txt | By the mid-nineteenth century, the term "icebox" had entered the American language, but ice was still only beginning to affect the diet of ordinary citizens in the United States. The ice trade grew with the growth of cities. Ice was used in hotels, taverns , and hospitals, and by some forward-looking city dealers in fresh meat, fresh fish, and butter. After the Civil War (1861-1865), as ice was used to refrigerate freight cars, it also came into household use. Even before 1880, half of the ice sold in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, and one-third of that sold in Boston and Chicago, went to families for their own use. This had become possible because a new household convenience, the icebox, a precursor of the modern fridge, had been invented.
Making an efficient icebox as not as easy as we might now suppose. In the early nineteenth century, the knowledge of the physics of heat, which was essential to a science of refrigeration, was rudimentary . The commonsense notion that the best icebox was one that prevented the ice from melting was of course mistaken, for it was the melting of the ice that performed the cooling. Nevertheless, early efforts to economize ice included wrapping up the ice in blankets, which kept the ice from doing its job. Not until near the end of the nineteenth century did inventors achieve the delicate balance of insulation and circulation needed for an efficient icebox.
But as early as 1803, and ingenious Maryland farmer, Thomas Moore, had been on the right track. He owned a farm about twenty miles outside the city of Washington, for which the village of Georgetown was the market center. When he used an icebox of his own design to transport his butter to market, he found that customers would pass up the rapidly melting stuff in the tubs of his competitors to pay a premium price for his butter, still fresh and hard in neat, one-pound bricks. One advantage of his icebox, Moore explained, was that farmers would no longer have to travel to market at night in order to keep their produce cool. | [
"Thomas Moore is the inventor of modern fridge",
"The butter produced by Thomas Moored is better in quality than other famers'",
"Knowledge of the physics of heat plays an important part in inventing a good icebox",
"Before 1880, most of the sold ice was used for family use."
] |
According to the text,college students should do many things EXCEPT _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
You will go to college some day and college is one of the most exciting stages of one's life.If you wish to make the most of your campus experience and become a better person after those four years,then first you ought to make friends.Close friends contribute to your selfgrowth for they provide you with moral support that is so important to survive the stressful college life.Friends can lend a helping hand when necessary like collecting your homework when you're too sick to leave your dorm,and help you develop the right attitude by pointing out to you your weaknesses.
Being home most of your life and then suddenly finding yourself on your own in a large campus without your parents to hold your hand can be annoying.However,rather than thinking about your missing home too much,why not see this new stage in your life as an opportunity for selfgrowth and develop the right attitude that will prepare you for the rigors of postgraduation life,particularly when you join the workforce?
Specialinterest clubs or organizations are great for selfgrowth.Here,not only do you get the opportunity to meet with likeminded people,you can also discover more things about your field of interest.Club meetings usually include lively discussions,so go there with the right attitude.You should try to build a good name in the organization by being respectful,active and considerate to others.
You might not like all of your professors,but they are there to provide knowledge you need to be successful in your chosen field.Thus,show up for each class with the right attitude and determination to learn.Whether you get along well with your professors or not has a huge effect on your selfgrowth as it is a measure of how well you can respect authority and obey requirements.
Actively participating in a class debate or lecture contributes to your selfgrowth as it helps you build confidence in speaking up and improves your communication skills.It also helps you develop the right attitude by exercising diplomacy when you choose your words carefully especially when discussing a very politically sensitive issue and exercising patience when dealing with classmates who shoot down your ideas.
Question:
According to the text,college students should do many things EXCEPT _ .
Choices:
A. forget the family
B. be respectful at club meetings
C. try to attend each class
D. take an active part in a class debate | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high6207.txt | You will go to college some day and college is one of the most exciting stages of one's life.If you wish to make the most of your campus experience and become a better person after those four years,then first you ought to make friends.Close friends contribute to your selfgrowth for they provide you with moral support that is so important to survive the stressful college life.Friends can lend a helping hand when necessary like collecting your homework when you're too sick to leave your dorm,and help you develop the right attitude by pointing out to you your weaknesses.
Being home most of your life and then suddenly finding yourself on your own in a large campus without your parents to hold your hand can be annoying.However,rather than thinking about your missing home too much,why not see this new stage in your life as an opportunity for selfgrowth and develop the right attitude that will prepare you for the rigors of postgraduation life,particularly when you join the workforce?
Specialinterest clubs or organizations are great for selfgrowth.Here,not only do you get the opportunity to meet with likeminded people,you can also discover more things about your field of interest.Club meetings usually include lively discussions,so go there with the right attitude.You should try to build a good name in the organization by being respectful,active and considerate to others.
You might not like all of your professors,but they are there to provide knowledge you need to be successful in your chosen field.Thus,show up for each class with the right attitude and determination to learn.Whether you get along well with your professors or not has a huge effect on your selfgrowth as it is a measure of how well you can respect authority and obey requirements.
Actively participating in a class debate or lecture contributes to your selfgrowth as it helps you build confidence in speaking up and improves your communication skills.It also helps you develop the right attitude by exercising diplomacy when you choose your words carefully especially when discussing a very politically sensitive issue and exercising patience when dealing with classmates who shoot down your ideas. | [
"forget the family",
"be respectful at club meetings",
"try to attend each class",
"take an active part in a class debate"
] |
What's the best title of this passage? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Some people are so rude!
Who sends an e-mail or a text message that just says "Thank you"? Who leaves a voice mail message rather than texts you? Who asks for a fact easily found on Google? Don't these people realize that they're wasting your time?
Maybe I'm the rude one for not appreciating life's little politeness. But many social agreed standards just don't make sense to people drowning in digital communication.
In texts, you don't have to declare who you are or even say hello; E-mail, too, is slower than a text; Voice mail is a now impolite way of trying to connect.
My father learned this lesson after leaving me a dozen voice mail messages, none of which I listened to. _ , he called my sister to express his dissatisfaction that I never returned his phone calls. "Why are you leaving him voice mails?" my sister asked. "Just text him."
In the age of the smartphone, there is no reason to ask once-acceptable questions about: the weather forecast, a business's phone number, or directions to a house, a restaurant, which can be easily found on Google Maps. But people still ask these things. And when you answer, they respond with a thank-you e-mail.
How to handle these differing standards? Easy: Consider your audience. Some people, especially older ones, appreciate a thank-you message. Others, like me, want no reply.
The anthropologist Margaret Mead once said that in traditional societies, the young learn from the old. But in modern societies, the old can also learn from the young. Here's hoping that politeness never goes out of fashion but that time-wasting forms of communication do.
Question:
What's the best title of this passage?
Choices:
A. Nowadays: what means should we use in communication
B. Nowadays: do you like leaving others a voice message
C. Nowadays: what should we do with text messages
D. Nowadays: do you need a thank-you message | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high14013.txt | Some people are so rude!
Who sends an e-mail or a text message that just says "Thank you"? Who leaves a voice mail message rather than texts you? Who asks for a fact easily found on Google? Don't these people realize that they're wasting your time?
Maybe I'm the rude one for not appreciating life's little politeness. But many social agreed standards just don't make sense to people drowning in digital communication.
In texts, you don't have to declare who you are or even say hello; E-mail, too, is slower than a text; Voice mail is a now impolite way of trying to connect.
My father learned this lesson after leaving me a dozen voice mail messages, none of which I listened to. _ , he called my sister to express his dissatisfaction that I never returned his phone calls. "Why are you leaving him voice mails?" my sister asked. "Just text him."
In the age of the smartphone, there is no reason to ask once-acceptable questions about: the weather forecast, a business's phone number, or directions to a house, a restaurant, which can be easily found on Google Maps. But people still ask these things. And when you answer, they respond with a thank-you e-mail.
How to handle these differing standards? Easy: Consider your audience. Some people, especially older ones, appreciate a thank-you message. Others, like me, want no reply.
The anthropologist Margaret Mead once said that in traditional societies, the young learn from the old. But in modern societies, the old can also learn from the young. Here's hoping that politeness never goes out of fashion but that time-wasting forms of communication do. | [
"Nowadays: what means should we use in communication",
"Nowadays: do you like leaving others a voice message",
"Nowadays: what should we do with text messages",
"Nowadays: do you need a thank-you message"
] |
The fish called "salmon" spends a long life in _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
We know that many animals do not stay ill one place. Birds, fish and other animals move from one place to another at a certain time. They move for different reasons: most of them move to find food more easily, but others move to get away from places that are too crowed.
When cold weather comes, many birds move to warmer places to find food. Some fishes give birth in warm water and move to cold water to feed. The most famous migration is probably the migration of the fish, which is called "salmon" . This fish is born in fresh water but it travels many miles to salt water. There it spends its life. When it is cold, it returns to its birthplace in fresh water. Then it gives birth and dies there. In northern Europe, there is a kind of mouse. They leave their mountain homes when they become too crowded. They move down to the low land. Sometimes they move all the way to the seaside, and many of them are killed when they fall into the sea.
Recently, scientists have studied the migration of a kind lobster . Every year, when the season of bad weather arrives, the lobster get into a long time and start to walk across tile floor of the ocean. Nobody knows why they do this, and nobody knows where they go.
So, sometimes we know why humans and animals move from one place to another, but at other times we don't. Maybe living things just like to travel.
,.
Question:
The fish called "salmon" spends a long life in _ .
Choices:
A. salt water
B. rivers
C. fresh water
D. its birthplace | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle3985.txt | We know that many animals do not stay ill one place. Birds, fish and other animals move from one place to another at a certain time. They move for different reasons: most of them move to find food more easily, but others move to get away from places that are too crowed.
When cold weather comes, many birds move to warmer places to find food. Some fishes give birth in warm water and move to cold water to feed. The most famous migration is probably the migration of the fish, which is called "salmon" . This fish is born in fresh water but it travels many miles to salt water. There it spends its life. When it is cold, it returns to its birthplace in fresh water. Then it gives birth and dies there. In northern Europe, there is a kind of mouse. They leave their mountain homes when they become too crowded. They move down to the low land. Sometimes they move all the way to the seaside, and many of them are killed when they fall into the sea.
Recently, scientists have studied the migration of a kind lobster . Every year, when the season of bad weather arrives, the lobster get into a long time and start to walk across tile floor of the ocean. Nobody knows why they do this, and nobody knows where they go.
So, sometimes we know why humans and animals move from one place to another, but at other times we don't. Maybe living things just like to travel.
,. | [
"salt water",
"rivers",
"fresh water",
"its birthplace"
] |
Those_may be interested in this passage. | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Experience whale watching unlike anywhere else on the planet! This trip explores the west coast of southern Baja and the renowned whale breeding lagoons of Magdalena Bay, Visitors enjoy opportunities for up close and personal encounters with gray whales,great sea kayaking ,excellent bird viewing,beautiful sunsets,and delicious food at our remote base on the shores of the Pacific Ocean,
LA PAZ
All trips begin and end in La Paz.It lies 800 miles south of the USA/Mexico border,on the Sea of Cortez. La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur,and the largest city in southern Baja. It is located on a large,natural bay, and some of Baja's most beautiful islands are just a short distance offshore. Maleeon,the waterfront area of La Paz is particularly beautiful,and the sunsets across the bay are usually quite spectacular! Local families and tourists often gather along Malecon to enjoy this nightly show.It's the perfect place to walk before and after a meal at one of the many restaurants or sidewalk cafes.
MAGDALENA BAY
Magdalena Bay is a series of lagoons from the Pacific Ocean,which are shielded by low barrier islands .It is also the winter breeding grounds of the California Gray Whale.It is one of the three largest bays on Baja's Pacific coast where the whales go to mate and give birth from late December through March each year. Protected mangrove estuaries provide an exciting exploration via sea kayak.
Every trip that we lead draws on the experience of countless tours and trips across the world.Our kayak guides hold certifications from both the American Canoe Association and the British Canoe Union. Our guides are all skilled naturalists and will share their knowledge of the area's natural history,marine biology,birds and local flora .Through their humor and skill,they will give you a rich and deep experience of this place.Great Mexican cuisine and the culinary skills of our staff make for tasty meals in this remote setting on the Pacific coast.
ITINERARY
Our itinerary is designed to give our guests the best opportunities to view whales up close and experience the natural beauty of this area.It includes 2 nights in La Paz, and 3 nights camping in our remote ocean side location.There is enough opportunity for kayaking,hiking,relaxation,in addition to the incredible whale watching expedences.
Day l:Arrival in La Paz airport.You'll be greeted by our friendly staff and transported to the hotel.Pre-trip meeting with guides at the hotel in the evening.(B,D)
Day 2:In the morning you'll ride in our van for 3.5 hours to the launch site on the west side of the peninsula .We'll board the ships for a two-hour journey of whale watching in the heart of whale activity (this is truly the best way to get up close to these gentle giants)and settle into camp & dinner. (L, D)
Days 3-4:Our days are filled with watching dolphins,whales and birds,exploring the forest,hiking along the sand dunes , kayaking the warm inland waters, swimming or star-gazing. (B,L,D)
Day 5:After some more whale watching in the the morning, we'll depart for La Paz and spend the night in the hotel.(B,L)
Day 6:Fly home from La Paz.
INCLUDED
Professional American guides,2 nights hotel accommodations and meals in La Paz,all sea kayak equipment,camping group gear ,and other equipment,meals as noted (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch,D=Dinner),airport transfers on Days l and 6,motorboat transfer and support.
NOT INCLUDED
Airfare to La Paz,alcoholic beverages in town,and personal items.
Question:
Those_may be interested in this passage.
Choices:
A. who'd like to go skiing
B. who are looking for indoor games
C. who arc fond of climbing motmtain
D. who'd like to take a holiday at the seaside | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17909.txt | Experience whale watching unlike anywhere else on the planet! This trip explores the west coast of southern Baja and the renowned whale breeding lagoons of Magdalena Bay, Visitors enjoy opportunities for up close and personal encounters with gray whales,great sea kayaking ,excellent bird viewing,beautiful sunsets,and delicious food at our remote base on the shores of the Pacific Ocean,
LA PAZ
All trips begin and end in La Paz.It lies 800 miles south of the USA/Mexico border,on the Sea of Cortez. La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur,and the largest city in southern Baja. It is located on a large,natural bay, and some of Baja's most beautiful islands are just a short distance offshore. Maleeon,the waterfront area of La Paz is particularly beautiful,and the sunsets across the bay are usually quite spectacular! Local families and tourists often gather along Malecon to enjoy this nightly show.It's the perfect place to walk before and after a meal at one of the many restaurants or sidewalk cafes.
MAGDALENA BAY
Magdalena Bay is a series of lagoons from the Pacific Ocean,which are shielded by low barrier islands .It is also the winter breeding grounds of the California Gray Whale.It is one of the three largest bays on Baja's Pacific coast where the whales go to mate and give birth from late December through March each year. Protected mangrove estuaries provide an exciting exploration via sea kayak.
Every trip that we lead draws on the experience of countless tours and trips across the world.Our kayak guides hold certifications from both the American Canoe Association and the British Canoe Union. Our guides are all skilled naturalists and will share their knowledge of the area's natural history,marine biology,birds and local flora .Through their humor and skill,they will give you a rich and deep experience of this place.Great Mexican cuisine and the culinary skills of our staff make for tasty meals in this remote setting on the Pacific coast.
ITINERARY
Our itinerary is designed to give our guests the best opportunities to view whales up close and experience the natural beauty of this area.It includes 2 nights in La Paz, and 3 nights camping in our remote ocean side location.There is enough opportunity for kayaking,hiking,relaxation,in addition to the incredible whale watching expedences.
Day l:Arrival in La Paz airport.You'll be greeted by our friendly staff and transported to the hotel.Pre-trip meeting with guides at the hotel in the evening.(B,D)
Day 2:In the morning you'll ride in our van for 3.5 hours to the launch site on the west side of the peninsula .We'll board the ships for a two-hour journey of whale watching in the heart of whale activity (this is truly the best way to get up close to these gentle giants)and settle into camp & dinner. (L, D)
Days 3-4:Our days are filled with watching dolphins,whales and birds,exploring the forest,hiking along the sand dunes , kayaking the warm inland waters, swimming or star-gazing. (B,L,D)
Day 5:After some more whale watching in the the morning, we'll depart for La Paz and spend the night in the hotel.(B,L)
Day 6:Fly home from La Paz.
INCLUDED
Professional American guides,2 nights hotel accommodations and meals in La Paz,all sea kayak equipment,camping group gear ,and other equipment,meals as noted (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch,D=Dinner),airport transfers on Days l and 6,motorboat transfer and support.
NOT INCLUDED
Airfare to La Paz,alcoholic beverages in town,and personal items. | [
"who'd like to go skiing",
"who are looking for indoor games",
"who arc fond of climbing motmtain",
"who'd like to take a holiday at the seaside"
] |
Which of the Days is said to come from a Chinese festival? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
On Boy's Day,children don't have to go to school.Every family with a boy hangs up huge carpshaped flags.The flags are usually three colors:black(representing the father),red (representing the mother)and blue(representing the son). Japanese parents believe that the flags will bring their boys good luck and give them courage and power.
May 5th is Japanese Children's Day. But since the festival is mainly celebrated by boys,it is usually called Boy's Day. The celebration of Boy's Day has a long history.It is said that the festival is derived from the Dragon Boat Festival in China.
On this day,Japanese boys eat a special kind of rice cake. It is covered with a leaf and filled with bean paste .Children love to eat it. And eggs on leaves are another traditional food.
Japanese children are so happy that they have three festivals each year. In addition to Boy's Day,they also have Girl's Day and the 753 Festival.
Girl's Day is the girl's festival on March 3. It is also called the Doll's Festival because on that day,families get a set of dolls at home for their daughters. It is celebrated because the parents want their daughters to be strong and healthy.
The 753 Festival is for children aged three, five and seven years old. Japanese people think that these three ages are the luckiest ones in one's life. On that day, these children get special candies wrapped in beautiful bags.The candy is a symbol of a long and healthy life for these children. The 753 Festival falls in November.
Question:
Which of the Days is said to come from a Chinese festival?
Choices:
A. International Children's Day
B. Boy's Day
C. Girl's Day
D. The 753 Festival | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high7334.txt | On Boy's Day,children don't have to go to school.Every family with a boy hangs up huge carpshaped flags.The flags are usually three colors:black(representing the father),red (representing the mother)and blue(representing the son). Japanese parents believe that the flags will bring their boys good luck and give them courage and power.
May 5th is Japanese Children's Day. But since the festival is mainly celebrated by boys,it is usually called Boy's Day. The celebration of Boy's Day has a long history.It is said that the festival is derived from the Dragon Boat Festival in China.
On this day,Japanese boys eat a special kind of rice cake. It is covered with a leaf and filled with bean paste .Children love to eat it. And eggs on leaves are another traditional food.
Japanese children are so happy that they have three festivals each year. In addition to Boy's Day,they also have Girl's Day and the 753 Festival.
Girl's Day is the girl's festival on March 3. It is also called the Doll's Festival because on that day,families get a set of dolls at home for their daughters. It is celebrated because the parents want their daughters to be strong and healthy.
The 753 Festival is for children aged three, five and seven years old. Japanese people think that these three ages are the luckiest ones in one's life. On that day, these children get special candies wrapped in beautiful bags.The candy is a symbol of a long and healthy life for these children. The 753 Festival falls in November. | [
"International Children's Day",
"Boy's Day",
"Girl's Day",
"The 753 Festival"
] |
_ has many English tapes. | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Hello, dear friends! I'm Jenny. Please look at this photo. The girl in red is me. I'm 13. I have a sister and two brothers. My sister, Linda, is 15. She likes red and green. She has two red rulers and a green pencil case. She also likes sports and she has a great sports collection. She has five baseballs, three basketballs and two volleyballs. The baseballs and basketballs are under her bed. The volleyballs are under her chair. . And she is in the baseball club.
My brothers are Alan and Tom. Alan is 14 and Tom is 8.Alan likes English very much, and he is in the English club. He has many English books and English tapes. But Tom only likes watching TV. He watches it every evening.
Question:
_ has many English tapes.
Choices:
A. Jenny
B. Linda
C. Tom
D. Alan | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle109.txt | Hello, dear friends! I'm Jenny. Please look at this photo. The girl in red is me. I'm 13. I have a sister and two brothers. My sister, Linda, is 15. She likes red and green. She has two red rulers and a green pencil case. She also likes sports and she has a great sports collection. She has five baseballs, three basketballs and two volleyballs. The baseballs and basketballs are under her bed. The volleyballs are under her chair. . And she is in the baseball club.
My brothers are Alan and Tom. Alan is 14 and Tom is 8.Alan likes English very much, and he is in the English club. He has many English books and English tapes. But Tom only likes watching TV. He watches it every evening. | [
"Jenny",
"Linda",
"Tom",
"Alan"
] |
From what Rachel Hosken said we know that _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
It looks like a scene from the thriller movieJaws,but these photos of a huge shark swimming with swimmers were in fact taken in Britain. The amazing pictures,which showed that the basking shark was swimming friendly with swimmers,were taken at Porthcurno beach,Cornwall,where the basking shark was swimming just yards off shore.
The single 14foot giant was feeding in the shallow waters off the scenic area,and quickly became curious about the swimmers and surfers sharing the water. Though it came within touching distance,the swimmers and surfers were in no danger. The large sharks are plankton feeders-unlike the man-eating Great White fromJaws.
Beach-goer Rachel Hosken,who took the pictures,said that several basking sharks had been seen in the area."It is one of the few I have ever seen around this year and it was great to see," she said excitedly."There are usually more of them by now,but for some reason there are fewer around than normal at this time of year. I think more have been spotted in deeper waters,but the particular one in the pictures seems to have taken a liking to this spot. I have seen it a few times."
Known as the gentle giant of the sea,the basking shark is the second largest fish in the sea,only weighing lighter than the whale shark. They can grow to over 36 feet (11 meters) and weigh up to seven tons (7,000 kilograms) and feed on a diet of plankton and small fish. Basking sharks normally begin to appear in May and June.
Question:
From what Rachel Hosken said we know that _ .
Choices:
A. most basking sharks swim deep in the sea
B. this basking shark has often appeared in that area
C. many basking sharks have been killed in that area
D. the basking shark doesn't like being with other basking sharks | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1184.txt | It looks like a scene from the thriller movieJaws,but these photos of a huge shark swimming with swimmers were in fact taken in Britain. The amazing pictures,which showed that the basking shark was swimming friendly with swimmers,were taken at Porthcurno beach,Cornwall,where the basking shark was swimming just yards off shore.
The single 14foot giant was feeding in the shallow waters off the scenic area,and quickly became curious about the swimmers and surfers sharing the water. Though it came within touching distance,the swimmers and surfers were in no danger. The large sharks are plankton feeders-unlike the man-eating Great White fromJaws.
Beach-goer Rachel Hosken,who took the pictures,said that several basking sharks had been seen in the area."It is one of the few I have ever seen around this year and it was great to see," she said excitedly."There are usually more of them by now,but for some reason there are fewer around than normal at this time of year. I think more have been spotted in deeper waters,but the particular one in the pictures seems to have taken a liking to this spot. I have seen it a few times."
Known as the gentle giant of the sea,the basking shark is the second largest fish in the sea,only weighing lighter than the whale shark. They can grow to over 36 feet (11 meters) and weigh up to seven tons (7,000 kilograms) and feed on a diet of plankton and small fish. Basking sharks normally begin to appear in May and June. | [
"most basking sharks swim deep in the sea",
"this basking shark has often appeared in that area",
"many basking sharks have been killed in that area",
"the basking shark doesn't like being with other basking sharks"
] |
Sina.com decided to found a specialized team to _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
With only a click of the mouse,rumors can be forwarded between microblogs very quickly.As an example,recently,sensitive netizens discovered that some photos displayed on microblogs describing Beijing's June rainstorm had actually been fabricated.
Sina.com is one of the major Internet portals in China with hundreds and thousands of users,and a majority of celebrities and famous citizens have their microblog accounts on this portal.As recently as six months ago,the website decided to establish a specialized team to prove rumors and provide accurate information for its users.Tan Chao is in charge of the team.
"Before I took the job,I usually couldn't identify what information was real and what was fake.But during the process of identification,we discovered that a lot of information was false,including fake photos,fake news stories and rumors that had been spread through microblogs."
It's not just website portals which are taking on factchecking responsibilities,but also a number of civicminded netizens,who recently set up a Rumor Identification Federation on Sina.com's microblog system to help netizens identify fake information online.
Dian Zizheng is the team leader of the federation.He says they've publicized more than 150 pieces which contradict rumors,which attracted more than 10 thousand visitors within two months.
"We live in an age of new media,so we can't use the old methods to prove rumors.We can't wait for the media to prove the facts with related administrative departments and then release a formal announcement.We can't allow rumors to run wild and then deal with it,we need to fight rumors while they're spreading.I think that this is the best way to deal with rumors nowadays."
Some experts say this displays the advantages of the Internet compared to other traditional media.The open platform allows information to be examined and clarified by netizens.But experts like Ding Wenguo,President of the Journalism and Communication College at the China University of Political Science and Law says this selfcorrection function of the Internet is still quite limited.
"It's still quite difficult to tell which information is true in such an open environment by just reading a number of different opinions on the same issue.This is something which we need to pay attention to.If society is flooded with too much false information,and it's allowed to spread in such a fast manner,then people will be suspicious of all kinds of information including important information from authorities.It also worsens problems relating to social communications and mutualunderstanding,which in turn harms society as a whole."
Experts suggest that the government should react more quickly in the Internet age.Once a rumor begins to spread,administrative departments should make announcements as early as possible to drive away rumors before they lead to bad outcomes.
Question:
Sina.com decided to found a specialized team to _ .
Choices:
A. prevent the spread of rumors on the Internet
B. advance the development of microblogs
C. limit the number of microblogs
D. urge the government to react quickly to the rumors | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high18735.txt | With only a click of the mouse,rumors can be forwarded between microblogs very quickly.As an example,recently,sensitive netizens discovered that some photos displayed on microblogs describing Beijing's June rainstorm had actually been fabricated.
Sina.com is one of the major Internet portals in China with hundreds and thousands of users,and a majority of celebrities and famous citizens have their microblog accounts on this portal.As recently as six months ago,the website decided to establish a specialized team to prove rumors and provide accurate information for its users.Tan Chao is in charge of the team.
"Before I took the job,I usually couldn't identify what information was real and what was fake.But during the process of identification,we discovered that a lot of information was false,including fake photos,fake news stories and rumors that had been spread through microblogs."
It's not just website portals which are taking on factchecking responsibilities,but also a number of civicminded netizens,who recently set up a Rumor Identification Federation on Sina.com's microblog system to help netizens identify fake information online.
Dian Zizheng is the team leader of the federation.He says they've publicized more than 150 pieces which contradict rumors,which attracted more than 10 thousand visitors within two months.
"We live in an age of new media,so we can't use the old methods to prove rumors.We can't wait for the media to prove the facts with related administrative departments and then release a formal announcement.We can't allow rumors to run wild and then deal with it,we need to fight rumors while they're spreading.I think that this is the best way to deal with rumors nowadays."
Some experts say this displays the advantages of the Internet compared to other traditional media.The open platform allows information to be examined and clarified by netizens.But experts like Ding Wenguo,President of the Journalism and Communication College at the China University of Political Science and Law says this selfcorrection function of the Internet is still quite limited.
"It's still quite difficult to tell which information is true in such an open environment by just reading a number of different opinions on the same issue.This is something which we need to pay attention to.If society is flooded with too much false information,and it's allowed to spread in such a fast manner,then people will be suspicious of all kinds of information including important information from authorities.It also worsens problems relating to social communications and mutualunderstanding,which in turn harms society as a whole."
Experts suggest that the government should react more quickly in the Internet age.Once a rumor begins to spread,administrative departments should make announcements as early as possible to drive away rumors before they lead to bad outcomes. | [
"prevent the spread of rumors on the Internet",
"advance the development of microblogs",
"limit the number of microblogs",
"urge the government to react quickly to the rumors"
] |
The story is mainly about _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
In elementary school, Guadalupe Quintanilla was often referred to as a "slow learner" by her teachers. But she really wasn't slow at all. She just didn't understand the language used in the classroom. Her problem was that she didn't speak English. So she left school after the fourth grade.
When Guadalupe grew up, married, and had children of her own, she knew that her children were clever. But some of their teachers didn't think so. The children were having trouble in school because they didn't speak English. Mrs Quintanilla was angry. She didn't want people to think that her children were slow learners. So she decided to learn English herself as a way of helping them. She practiced English. She looked up words in the dictionary. She asked the school headmaster to let her sit in on classes. It wasn't easy, but she passed all her exams. She said that many of the other students helped her.
Mrs Quintanilla has helped her children with their lessons. Her two sons have won success. One is a teacher, and the other is a doctor. Her youngest child, a daughter, is studying in a university.
Question:
The story is mainly about _ .
Choices:
A. learning to sing and dance
B. the problem of slow learning
C. going to a university
D. Mrs Quintanilla's success | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1855.txt | In elementary school, Guadalupe Quintanilla was often referred to as a "slow learner" by her teachers. But she really wasn't slow at all. She just didn't understand the language used in the classroom. Her problem was that she didn't speak English. So she left school after the fourth grade.
When Guadalupe grew up, married, and had children of her own, she knew that her children were clever. But some of their teachers didn't think so. The children were having trouble in school because they didn't speak English. Mrs Quintanilla was angry. She didn't want people to think that her children were slow learners. So she decided to learn English herself as a way of helping them. She practiced English. She looked up words in the dictionary. She asked the school headmaster to let her sit in on classes. It wasn't easy, but she passed all her exams. She said that many of the other students helped her.
Mrs Quintanilla has helped her children with their lessons. Her two sons have won success. One is a teacher, and the other is a doctor. Her youngest child, a daughter, is studying in a university. | [
"learning to sing and dance",
"the problem of slow learning",
"going to a university",
"Mrs Quintanilla's success"
] |
What kind of weather change do la nina years usually bring? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | What kind of weather change do la nina years usually bring? | drought | science | null | null | null | moisture | heat | Mass amounts of snow | drought | El Niño and La Niña bring about dramatic changes in climate for a year or two. In some locations, one brings rain and the other brings drought. In California, for example, El Niño years are full of snow and rain. La Niña years tend toward drought. These variations can bring tremendous changes to living creatures. Humans are also affected; for example, erosion from storms may be very high some years. | null | null | null |
According to the passage, which is Huang Lei's opinion? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
If you love reading books, you must know about the book The Little Prince. It's a famous novel written by a French writer. As one of the best-selling books in history, it has been sold as many as 200 million copies in 253 languages and dialects . Now, around seventy years after the birth of the book, an American director has found a way to make it into a 3D animated film.
The book tells the story of a pilot, called The Aviator, who crashes into the desert and meets a young prince there. However, in the film, the story starts years after the crash when The Aviator is much older. He has got a new neighbor called The Little Girl, whose mother wants her to get ready to enter the grown-up world. Slowly, the Aviator shares his story with The Little Girl by writing it down and sending her a page at a time. The pages are complete with the pictures in the book, speaking about his time in the desert and taking The Little Girl to an amazing world where anything is possible.
China is the first country in the world to see the film in two versions--in Chinese and English. The film shows The Little Girl's life and tells The Little Prince's story at the same time in a beautiful way.
Huang Lei, who voices the film together with his 9-year-old daughter, says the film is like a childhood dream which is lost by most adults in this stressed-out society.
"The most touching part is that every one of us was a good-natured kid like the Little Prince, and it's a pity that this good characteristic goes away as time flies," he says.
,
Question:
According to the passage, which is Huang Lei's opinion?
Choices:
A. He doesn't believe the good characteristic is lost as we grow older in this stressed-out society.
B. He thinks all of us should keep our better nature and never let it disappear.
C. He feels excited because he can see the film in two versions first.
D. He and his daughter voice the film together. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle7573.txt | If you love reading books, you must know about the book The Little Prince. It's a famous novel written by a French writer. As one of the best-selling books in history, it has been sold as many as 200 million copies in 253 languages and dialects . Now, around seventy years after the birth of the book, an American director has found a way to make it into a 3D animated film.
The book tells the story of a pilot, called The Aviator, who crashes into the desert and meets a young prince there. However, in the film, the story starts years after the crash when The Aviator is much older. He has got a new neighbor called The Little Girl, whose mother wants her to get ready to enter the grown-up world. Slowly, the Aviator shares his story with The Little Girl by writing it down and sending her a page at a time. The pages are complete with the pictures in the book, speaking about his time in the desert and taking The Little Girl to an amazing world where anything is possible.
China is the first country in the world to see the film in two versions--in Chinese and English. The film shows The Little Girl's life and tells The Little Prince's story at the same time in a beautiful way.
Huang Lei, who voices the film together with his 9-year-old daughter, says the film is like a childhood dream which is lost by most adults in this stressed-out society.
"The most touching part is that every one of us was a good-natured kid like the Little Prince, and it's a pity that this good characteristic goes away as time flies," he says.
, | [
"He doesn't believe the good characteristic is lost as we grow older in this stressed-out society.",
"He thinks all of us should keep our better nature and never let it disappear.",
"He feels excited because he can see the film in two versions first.",
"He and his daughter voice the film together."
] |
This passage has been written about Mont Bego to _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Tens of thousands of ancient pictures carved into the rocks at one of France's most important tourist sites are being gradually destroyed. Scientists and researchers fear that the 36,000 drawings on rocks in Mont Bego in the French Alps are being damaged so rapidly that they will not survive for future generations.
The mountain, believed to have once been a site for prayer, is scattered with 4,000-year-old drawings cut into bare rock. They include pictures of cows with horns, cultivated fields and various gods and goddesses. But as the popularity of the site increases, the pictures are being ruined by thoughtless graffiti .
Jean Clottes is the chairman of the International Committee on Rock Art. He says, "People think that because the pictures have been there so long they will always continue to be there. But if the damage continues at this rate there will be nothing left in 50 years."
He describes seeing tourists stamping on the drawings, wearing away the rock and definition of the artwork as they do so. Some visitors, he says, even cut off parts to take home as souvenirs. "When people think they can't take a good enough photograph, they rub the drawings to get a clearer picture," he said. "The drawings are polished by the weather, and if the sun is shining and the visitors can't see them properly they simply rub them to make them look fresher." Other researchers describe how people arrive carrying long sticks with sharp ends to scratch their own drawings, or even their names, in the rocks.
But experts are divided over the best way to preserve the drawings. Henry de Lumley, director of the Museum of Natural History in Paris, believes that the only way to save the site is to turn the whole mountain into a "no-go" area, preventing the public from going there except on guided tours. Otherwise, he says, not only will the site be completely destroyed but important research work will be reduced.
Clottes disagrees, "The measure suggested by Henry de Lumley is the most severe, and while it is the most effective, it is also certain to bring about protests from people who live there," he said. "The site was classified as a historic monument years ago by the Ministry of Culture, and we must do as much as possible to save what is there."
David Lavergne, the regional architect, also wants to avoid closing the site. "Henry de Lumley's idea isn't ideal," he said. "Our department feels that the best solution is to let people look at the site, but because the area is very big it is difficult to prevent visitors from damaging it. I would prefer that everyone was able to look at it, but the main problem is money. We do not have the funds to employ the necessary number of guards. We may have to consider charging a fee. It doesn't seem to be possible to get the government support."
In Nice, Annie Echassoux, who also worked on researching the site, is alarmed that as the mountain becomes easier to reach -- tourists can now avoid the three-and-a-half-hour walk by hiring vehicles -- the damage will increase rapidly. She thinks that the only solution is to rope off the area and provide guides. "You can't say the plan can't go ahead because there is no money," she said. "That is not good enough. Money must be provided because the Ministry of Culture has classified this area as a historic site. If we don't take steps, we will be responsible for losing the drawings for the next generation."
Question:
This passage has been written about Mont Bego to _ .
Choices:
A. advertise the closing of the site
B. warn visitors about the dangers of the site
C. encourage scientists to visit the site
D. describe fears for the future of the site | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high8097.txt | Tens of thousands of ancient pictures carved into the rocks at one of France's most important tourist sites are being gradually destroyed. Scientists and researchers fear that the 36,000 drawings on rocks in Mont Bego in the French Alps are being damaged so rapidly that they will not survive for future generations.
The mountain, believed to have once been a site for prayer, is scattered with 4,000-year-old drawings cut into bare rock. They include pictures of cows with horns, cultivated fields and various gods and goddesses. But as the popularity of the site increases, the pictures are being ruined by thoughtless graffiti .
Jean Clottes is the chairman of the International Committee on Rock Art. He says, "People think that because the pictures have been there so long they will always continue to be there. But if the damage continues at this rate there will be nothing left in 50 years."
He describes seeing tourists stamping on the drawings, wearing away the rock and definition of the artwork as they do so. Some visitors, he says, even cut off parts to take home as souvenirs. "When people think they can't take a good enough photograph, they rub the drawings to get a clearer picture," he said. "The drawings are polished by the weather, and if the sun is shining and the visitors can't see them properly they simply rub them to make them look fresher." Other researchers describe how people arrive carrying long sticks with sharp ends to scratch their own drawings, or even their names, in the rocks.
But experts are divided over the best way to preserve the drawings. Henry de Lumley, director of the Museum of Natural History in Paris, believes that the only way to save the site is to turn the whole mountain into a "no-go" area, preventing the public from going there except on guided tours. Otherwise, he says, not only will the site be completely destroyed but important research work will be reduced.
Clottes disagrees, "The measure suggested by Henry de Lumley is the most severe, and while it is the most effective, it is also certain to bring about protests from people who live there," he said. "The site was classified as a historic monument years ago by the Ministry of Culture, and we must do as much as possible to save what is there."
David Lavergne, the regional architect, also wants to avoid closing the site. "Henry de Lumley's idea isn't ideal," he said. "Our department feels that the best solution is to let people look at the site, but because the area is very big it is difficult to prevent visitors from damaging it. I would prefer that everyone was able to look at it, but the main problem is money. We do not have the funds to employ the necessary number of guards. We may have to consider charging a fee. It doesn't seem to be possible to get the government support."
In Nice, Annie Echassoux, who also worked on researching the site, is alarmed that as the mountain becomes easier to reach -- tourists can now avoid the three-and-a-half-hour walk by hiring vehicles -- the damage will increase rapidly. She thinks that the only solution is to rope off the area and provide guides. "You can't say the plan can't go ahead because there is no money," she said. "That is not good enough. Money must be provided because the Ministry of Culture has classified this area as a historic site. If we don't take steps, we will be responsible for losing the drawings for the next generation." | [
"advertise the closing of the site",
"warn visitors about the dangers of the site",
"encourage scientists to visit the site",
"describe fears for the future of the site"
] |
Which of the following is most likely to be a customer of Rafting the Grand Canyon? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Rafting the GRAND CANYON Welcomes You!
If you are looking for an exciting, fun and challenging white water tour, Rafting the GRAND CANYON is here to help you plan the right tour for you. Whether you want to travel for two days or ten, hike in or not, go on an oar boat or motorboat, through Class 3 or 6 water, we will help you find the trip that meets your needs.
For those who will be vacationing in the off-season, a rafting trip on the Native American Red River is available or a one-day trip is available on the Colorado River from Diamond Creek to Pierce Ferry.
Most of the trips depart from Lees Ferry, Arizona. We offer partial trips which allow you to get on or off at Phantom Ranch located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim. You can have a hike, and with proper planning the mule ride up or down is also an option. Most trips occur between April and October.
Since all rafting on the Colorado requires a permit, planning and reserving your trip requires reservations well in advance. Please let us know when you would like to go and we will contact all the river concessionaires to help you find the best trip for you.
To talk to us or to make a reservation, call us toll free:
1-800-222-6966
or 702-655-6060
If you have any questions regarding a trip, please _ to fill out our form. This will speed up the process of getting you accurate information regarding that trip.
If you would like to send us an email about something other than an upcoming trip you can contact us at info@raftingthegrandcanyon.com.
We look forward to helping you plan your trip!
(Please NO Travel Agents.)
Question:
Which of the following is most likely to be a customer of Rafting the Grand Canyon?
Choices:
A. Travel agents.
B. River concessionaires.
C. A couple who are planning their honeymoon.
D. An athlete who wants to have a rest after an injury. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high11378.txt | Rafting the GRAND CANYON Welcomes You!
If you are looking for an exciting, fun and challenging white water tour, Rafting the GRAND CANYON is here to help you plan the right tour for you. Whether you want to travel for two days or ten, hike in or not, go on an oar boat or motorboat, through Class 3 or 6 water, we will help you find the trip that meets your needs.
For those who will be vacationing in the off-season, a rafting trip on the Native American Red River is available or a one-day trip is available on the Colorado River from Diamond Creek to Pierce Ferry.
Most of the trips depart from Lees Ferry, Arizona. We offer partial trips which allow you to get on or off at Phantom Ranch located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim. You can have a hike, and with proper planning the mule ride up or down is also an option. Most trips occur between April and October.
Since all rafting on the Colorado requires a permit, planning and reserving your trip requires reservations well in advance. Please let us know when you would like to go and we will contact all the river concessionaires to help you find the best trip for you.
To talk to us or to make a reservation, call us toll free:
1-800-222-6966
or 702-655-6060
If you have any questions regarding a trip, please _ to fill out our form. This will speed up the process of getting you accurate information regarding that trip.
If you would like to send us an email about something other than an upcoming trip you can contact us at info@raftingthegrandcanyon.com.
We look forward to helping you plan your trip!
(Please NO Travel Agents.) | [
"Travel agents.",
"River concessionaires.",
"A couple who are planning their honeymoon.",
"An athlete who wants to have a rest after an injury."
] |
Why did Jack considered Rose as a "time machine"? Because _ . | C | 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:
Why did Jack considered Rose as a "time machine"? Because _ .
Choices:
A. she always got to class on time
B. she made friends easily
C. she had wisdom and experience
D. she made a little speech | Answer: C | 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..." | [
"she always got to class on time",
"she made friends easily",
"she had wisdom and experience",
"she made a little speech"
] |
Which of the following statements is TRUE about the author's co-worker? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Humor is very important in any relationship. It is truly a unique gift when someone has the ability to make another laugh. Humor allows a person to forget his troubles and focus on positive aspects of his life. Personally speaking, making another laugh, whether it is a family member, a close friend, or even a stranger, has always given me a good feeling!
Humor plays an important role in our family lives. The interaction , between husband and wife and between a parent and a child, is very important, just thinking how much better our relationships would be if we would take the time to laugh.
Humor and laughter are especially important during difficult times. No matter how bad a person may feel, a family member or a friend can make him feel good by laughing with him. I once had a co-worker, for whom there was no humor in her daily life. She seldom smiled and seemed to focus on only the negative or the dark side. One day I was told she was very unhappy, had few friends, and had poor relations with family members. Later, I learnt that she couldn't remember laughing or enjoying life. In order to enjoy her life, she was advised to have humor and laughter each day of her life. In the end, it seemed to make a huge difference.
We do live in a difficult world. "Stress" seems to be a major factor contributing to health problems of our society. So, in order to live easily, we should put humor into our daily lives. I have a plaque hanging on the wall, which reads "Live, Love and Laugh"!
Question:
Which of the following statements is TRUE about the author's co-worker?
Choices:
A. She lived in a happy family though she seldom smiled.
B. It was humor that she benefited a lot from.
C. There was something wrong with the woman's mind.
D. She performed very poorly in her work1 for lack of humor. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high18963.txt | Humor is very important in any relationship. It is truly a unique gift when someone has the ability to make another laugh. Humor allows a person to forget his troubles and focus on positive aspects of his life. Personally speaking, making another laugh, whether it is a family member, a close friend, or even a stranger, has always given me a good feeling!
Humor plays an important role in our family lives. The interaction , between husband and wife and between a parent and a child, is very important, just thinking how much better our relationships would be if we would take the time to laugh.
Humor and laughter are especially important during difficult times. No matter how bad a person may feel, a family member or a friend can make him feel good by laughing with him. I once had a co-worker, for whom there was no humor in her daily life. She seldom smiled and seemed to focus on only the negative or the dark side. One day I was told she was very unhappy, had few friends, and had poor relations with family members. Later, I learnt that she couldn't remember laughing or enjoying life. In order to enjoy her life, she was advised to have humor and laughter each day of her life. In the end, it seemed to make a huge difference.
We do live in a difficult world. "Stress" seems to be a major factor contributing to health problems of our society. So, in order to live easily, we should put humor into our daily lives. I have a plaque hanging on the wall, which reads "Live, Love and Laugh"! | [
"She lived in a happy family though she seldom smiled.",
"It was humor that she benefited a lot from.",
"There was something wrong with the woman's mind.",
"She performed very poorly in her work1 for lack of humor."
] |
Susan makes money by _ . | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
If you live in the United States, the law says you can't have a full-time job until you are 16 years old. At 14 or 15, you can work part-time after school or on weekends, and during summer holidays you can work 40 hours each week. Does all that mean that if you are younger than 14, you can't earn your own money? Of course not ! Kids who are between the ages of 10 and 13 can earn money by doing lots of things.
Valerie, 11, told us that she made money by cleaning up other people's yards. Susan, 12, said she had started taking art classes and showing her work to people. People ask her to draw pictures for them and they pay her for them. Jasmine, 13, writes articles for different magazines!
Earning is learning. By working to earn your own money, you are learning the skills you will need to succeed in life. When you make your own money ,you don't have to depend on someone else. The five dollars that you earn will probably make you feel a lot better in your hand than the twenty dollars you ask for.
Question:
Susan makes money by _ .
Choices:
A. drawing pictures for others
B. cleaning up other people's yards
C. writing articles for different magazines
D. selling clothes to others | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high22940.txt | If you live in the United States, the law says you can't have a full-time job until you are 16 years old. At 14 or 15, you can work part-time after school or on weekends, and during summer holidays you can work 40 hours each week. Does all that mean that if you are younger than 14, you can't earn your own money? Of course not ! Kids who are between the ages of 10 and 13 can earn money by doing lots of things.
Valerie, 11, told us that she made money by cleaning up other people's yards. Susan, 12, said she had started taking art classes and showing her work to people. People ask her to draw pictures for them and they pay her for them. Jasmine, 13, writes articles for different magazines!
Earning is learning. By working to earn your own money, you are learning the skills you will need to succeed in life. When you make your own money ,you don't have to depend on someone else. The five dollars that you earn will probably make you feel a lot better in your hand than the twenty dollars you ask for. | [
"drawing pictures for others",
"cleaning up other people's yards",
"writing articles for different magazines",
"selling clothes to others"
] |
The children in Tahoua, West Africa have suffered from _ . | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Singaporean singer Stefanie Sun goes to Tahoua, West Africa to visit the children who have _ and war. Stefanie Sun is touched by those poor kids there: "Some children are already 3 or 4 years old, but they are so thin that you can hold them with your single arm. You can see scare and hopelessness in their eyes. The children only wish to have food to eat, and can survive and go to school. However, these basic needs are like dreams to them."
Stefanie Sun is deeply touched by a 4-month baby who weighs only 2.5kg! Stefanie says that the children have nothing but leaves to eat during famine. The reconstruction in that area needs enough food, education, and clean water.
Question:
The children in Tahoua, West Africa have suffered from _ .
Choices:
A. water and food
B. illness and war
C. famine and war
D. earthquakes and typhoon | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle7590.txt | Singaporean singer Stefanie Sun goes to Tahoua, West Africa to visit the children who have _ and war. Stefanie Sun is touched by those poor kids there: "Some children are already 3 or 4 years old, but they are so thin that you can hold them with your single arm. You can see scare and hopelessness in their eyes. The children only wish to have food to eat, and can survive and go to school. However, these basic needs are like dreams to them."
Stefanie Sun is deeply touched by a 4-month baby who weighs only 2.5kg! Stefanie says that the children have nothing but leaves to eat during famine. The reconstruction in that area needs enough food, education, and clean water. | [
"water and food",
"illness and war",
"famine and war",
"earthquakes and typhoon"
] |
What did the author and her companions mainly do in Chicago? | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Soft winds blew throughout the Windy City today. We welcomed the winds, as it was another hot day in Chicago. The wind blew, bringing us some coolness and making the weather not that hot. But it was a beautiful summer day with a blue sky.
Chicago is a great city for eating, and we have enjoyed tasting the different foods. Last night, we tried one of the city's most famous foods: deep-dish pizza. Chicago claims credit for the rich and cheesy thick-crust pizza, covered with a sweet tomato sauce. We topped it with olives and green peppers.
We were touring the city, mainly looking for delicious local foods. Today, we enjoyed a Polish specialty at lunch: Pierogis, an Eastern European dumpling-like dish, filled with foods like potatoes, cheese, mushrooms, cabbage and meat. Polish immigrants started settling in Chicago in the 1850s, and the city has one of the largest Polish communities in the U.S.
We took a break from exploring the city to talk with some of you! Ashley and Caty logged onto the Internet for an on-the-road version of TALK2US. We spoke to an English teacher in Tokyo, Japan, and a graduate student in India.
Meanwhile, Adam searched for some locations around the city to shoot some video. He chose a spectacular spot: Navy Pier, Chicago's most-visited attraction. The winds from Lake Michigan keep visitors cool, and the view of the Chicago skyline never fails to impress. In fact, the view made all of us _ !
Our time in Chicago has come to an end. Tomorrow, the true journey begins, as we pass through Illinois and into Missouri via Route 66. Springfield, the home of Abe Lincoln, and St. Louis, the "gateway to the West," wait for us.
Question:
What did the author and her companions mainly do in Chicago?
Choices:
A. They explored for foreign customs.
B. They visited Polish communities.
C. They studied the history of the city.
D. They enjoyed famous local foods. | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high14336.txt | Soft winds blew throughout the Windy City today. We welcomed the winds, as it was another hot day in Chicago. The wind blew, bringing us some coolness and making the weather not that hot. But it was a beautiful summer day with a blue sky.
Chicago is a great city for eating, and we have enjoyed tasting the different foods. Last night, we tried one of the city's most famous foods: deep-dish pizza. Chicago claims credit for the rich and cheesy thick-crust pizza, covered with a sweet tomato sauce. We topped it with olives and green peppers.
We were touring the city, mainly looking for delicious local foods. Today, we enjoyed a Polish specialty at lunch: Pierogis, an Eastern European dumpling-like dish, filled with foods like potatoes, cheese, mushrooms, cabbage and meat. Polish immigrants started settling in Chicago in the 1850s, and the city has one of the largest Polish communities in the U.S.
We took a break from exploring the city to talk with some of you! Ashley and Caty logged onto the Internet for an on-the-road version of TALK2US. We spoke to an English teacher in Tokyo, Japan, and a graduate student in India.
Meanwhile, Adam searched for some locations around the city to shoot some video. He chose a spectacular spot: Navy Pier, Chicago's most-visited attraction. The winds from Lake Michigan keep visitors cool, and the view of the Chicago skyline never fails to impress. In fact, the view made all of us _ !
Our time in Chicago has come to an end. Tomorrow, the true journey begins, as we pass through Illinois and into Missouri via Route 66. Springfield, the home of Abe Lincoln, and St. Louis, the "gateway to the West," wait for us. | [
"They explored for foreign customs.",
"They visited Polish communities.",
"They studied the history of the city.",
"They enjoyed famous local foods."
] |
Employees' Retraining Board is an organization _ . | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
A job is more than a job, especially to the old. "It's not the money that matters, but the sense of self-worth," 56-year-old Cheng Wonlan said. So, every day Ms Cheng carries a bag of parcels, letters and documents and does her rounds in North Point. She's a courier .
Five years ago, Ms Cheng was a nurse at a private clinic. She had worked there for 30 years but became jobless when the doctor moved away. It was difficult for her to find another job as a nurse. "People do not trust my ability when they learn how old I am," she said. After two years of searching, she eventually found another nursing job. But then after two years, she quit. Why?
"My colleagues were young and they didn't understand me because of my age. They often asked me, 'You are so old. What are you working for?' I was very unhappy," she said. When the rest of her family left for work, she was lonely and bored at home. Then her neighbours told her about Employees' Retraining Board offering retraining courses for older people. These courses are specifically designed to encourage the older people back to work.
"I was interested in courier work. I didn't think my age was a barrier because I was fit," she said. Upon graduating, Ms Cheng was offered a job by a company. But then Ms Cheng was faced with a conflict: she was caught between honour and employment. "I felt embarrassed about carrying and delivering letters and parcels," she said. It took Ms Cheng 24 hours to make up her mind: there was nothing wrong or embarrassing about doing the job. So she went off to work as a courier.
Ms Cheng's employer, Anthony Chong, is delighted with her responsible attitude and said, "I hire older people because they are able and reliable. Age is not an important factor but attitude is. Many old people will not run from difficulties but the young ones will."
Question:
Employees' Retraining Board is an organization _ .
Choices:
A. finding jobs for older people
B. teaching new skills to older people
C. training older people to make them healthier
D. providing older people with chances to earn money | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high13951.txt | A job is more than a job, especially to the old. "It's not the money that matters, but the sense of self-worth," 56-year-old Cheng Wonlan said. So, every day Ms Cheng carries a bag of parcels, letters and documents and does her rounds in North Point. She's a courier .
Five years ago, Ms Cheng was a nurse at a private clinic. She had worked there for 30 years but became jobless when the doctor moved away. It was difficult for her to find another job as a nurse. "People do not trust my ability when they learn how old I am," she said. After two years of searching, she eventually found another nursing job. But then after two years, she quit. Why?
"My colleagues were young and they didn't understand me because of my age. They often asked me, 'You are so old. What are you working for?' I was very unhappy," she said. When the rest of her family left for work, she was lonely and bored at home. Then her neighbours told her about Employees' Retraining Board offering retraining courses for older people. These courses are specifically designed to encourage the older people back to work.
"I was interested in courier work. I didn't think my age was a barrier because I was fit," she said. Upon graduating, Ms Cheng was offered a job by a company. But then Ms Cheng was faced with a conflict: she was caught between honour and employment. "I felt embarrassed about carrying and delivering letters and parcels," she said. It took Ms Cheng 24 hours to make up her mind: there was nothing wrong or embarrassing about doing the job. So she went off to work as a courier.
Ms Cheng's employer, Anthony Chong, is delighted with her responsible attitude and said, "I hire older people because they are able and reliable. Age is not an important factor but attitude is. Many old people will not run from difficulties but the young ones will." | [
"finding jobs for older people",
"teaching new skills to older people",
"training older people to make them healthier",
"providing older people with chances to earn money"
] |
Why do some people often dream about their work? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
" Dreams may be more important than sleep. We all need to dream." some scientists say. Dreams take up about one quarter of our sleeping time. People have several dreams each night.
Dreams are like short films. They are usually in color. Some dreams are like old films. They come up over and over again. That may be the dreamer worrying about something. Dreaming may be a way of trying to find an answer.
Some people get new ideas about their work from dreams. They may have been thinking about their work all day. These thoughts can carry over into dreams.
Too much dreaming can be harmful. The more we sleep,the longer we dream. The mind is still at work when we dream. That is why we may have a long sleep and still wake up tired.
Question:
Why do some people often dream about their work?
Choices:
A. Because they are tired in the daytime.
B. Because they not interested in their work.
C. Because they may be thinking about their work all day.
D. Because they have too much work to do. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle1827.txt | " Dreams may be more important than sleep. We all need to dream." some scientists say. Dreams take up about one quarter of our sleeping time. People have several dreams each night.
Dreams are like short films. They are usually in color. Some dreams are like old films. They come up over and over again. That may be the dreamer worrying about something. Dreaming may be a way of trying to find an answer.
Some people get new ideas about their work from dreams. They may have been thinking about their work all day. These thoughts can carry over into dreams.
Too much dreaming can be harmful. The more we sleep,the longer we dream. The mind is still at work when we dream. That is why we may have a long sleep and still wake up tired. | [
"Because they are tired in the daytime.",
"Because they not interested in their work.",
"Because they may be thinking about their work all day.",
"Because they have too much work to do."
] |
What does the writer think of the physically-deformed man? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
One day, a physically-deformed man came to our college and on his back was a notice saying, "Free shoe repairing for college students".
Repairing shoes for free? Most of us didn't believe it, and some even thought that it was just a device to the students who would have to pay for shoes once they had been repaired. But the man just smiled and said, "Save your money to buy some books." These words really surprised me and I talked with him, "You need to make a living. Why do you repair shoes for us for free?" He answered, while keeping on working, "I'm an illiterate , but I know how important knowledge is for everyone. So I'd like to serve the students like you. I hope you can do well in your studies. In my opinion, money isn't everything in life."
After the chat, I felt he was great compared with me. He, a physically-deformed man who couldn't walk without a wheelchair, still tried his best to devote himself to society. I would like to thank him because he gave me a new direction in my life, and taught me what the true value of life is.
,.
Question:
What does the writer think of the physically-deformed man?
Choices:
A. He is hard-working.
B. He is brave.
C. He is great.
D. He is healthy. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | middle7696.txt | One day, a physically-deformed man came to our college and on his back was a notice saying, "Free shoe repairing for college students".
Repairing shoes for free? Most of us didn't believe it, and some even thought that it was just a device to the students who would have to pay for shoes once they had been repaired. But the man just smiled and said, "Save your money to buy some books." These words really surprised me and I talked with him, "You need to make a living. Why do you repair shoes for us for free?" He answered, while keeping on working, "I'm an illiterate , but I know how important knowledge is for everyone. So I'd like to serve the students like you. I hope you can do well in your studies. In my opinion, money isn't everything in life."
After the chat, I felt he was great compared with me. He, a physically-deformed man who couldn't walk without a wheelchair, still tried his best to devote himself to society. I would like to thank him because he gave me a new direction in my life, and taught me what the true value of life is.
,. | [
"He is hard-working.",
"He is brave.",
"He is great.",
"He is healthy."
] |
Where is this passage probably taken from? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Meet the "Tutor Kings and Queens"
"If you want to be a top tutor, it definitely helps if you are young and attractive. Students look at your appearance," said Kelly Mok, 26, a "tutor queen" at King's Glory, one of Hong Kong's largest tutorial establishments.
Richard Eng from Beacon College, a former secondary school teacher, is often credited with being the first of Hong Kong's "star tutors". "In school all the teachers look the same, there's no excitement," he said.
The celebrity tutor phenomenon is a result of the huge growth in outofschool tutoring in Asia. It is fuelled by highly pressured examination systems and ambitious parents wanting their children to secure places at top universities and highstatus secondary schools.
In societies where success _ good exam results, parental anxiety converts into a "steady stream of revenue " for tutoring establishments, according to a study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The tutoring industry, or "shadow education" as the ADB calls it, has become very widespread in Asia, fed by the growth in universities and the rising proportion of school leavers aiming for university. Hong Kong University's professor Mark Bray, one of the authors of the ADB study, said a staggering 72% of finalyear school students in Hong Kong now go to private tutors.
It's not just Hong Kong. Tutoring has "spread and intensified in Asia and become more commercialized," said Professor Bray. In South Korea, 90% of primary school children attend such classes. In China, New Oriental Education and Technology has grown to become one of the largest tutoring schools in Asia with around 2.4 million students this year. In South Korea, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India, tutorial schools use star tutors to attract even more students.
Question:
Where is this passage probably taken from?
Choices:
A. An English newspaper.
B. A travel guide.
C. A fashion magazine.
D. A physics book. | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high5967.txt | Meet the "Tutor Kings and Queens"
"If you want to be a top tutor, it definitely helps if you are young and attractive. Students look at your appearance," said Kelly Mok, 26, a "tutor queen" at King's Glory, one of Hong Kong's largest tutorial establishments.
Richard Eng from Beacon College, a former secondary school teacher, is often credited with being the first of Hong Kong's "star tutors". "In school all the teachers look the same, there's no excitement," he said.
The celebrity tutor phenomenon is a result of the huge growth in outofschool tutoring in Asia. It is fuelled by highly pressured examination systems and ambitious parents wanting their children to secure places at top universities and highstatus secondary schools.
In societies where success _ good exam results, parental anxiety converts into a "steady stream of revenue " for tutoring establishments, according to a study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The tutoring industry, or "shadow education" as the ADB calls it, has become very widespread in Asia, fed by the growth in universities and the rising proportion of school leavers aiming for university. Hong Kong University's professor Mark Bray, one of the authors of the ADB study, said a staggering 72% of finalyear school students in Hong Kong now go to private tutors.
It's not just Hong Kong. Tutoring has "spread and intensified in Asia and become more commercialized," said Professor Bray. In South Korea, 90% of primary school children attend such classes. In China, New Oriental Education and Technology has grown to become one of the largest tutoring schools in Asia with around 2.4 million students this year. In South Korea, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India, tutorial schools use star tutors to attract even more students. | [
"An English newspaper.",
"A travel guide.",
"A fashion magazine.",
"A physics book."
] |
When the boy suffered many defeats, he _ . | D | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
This is a true story about a boy who, the world might say, was a terrible underachiever. While in the eighth grade, he failed subjects repeatedly. High school wasn't much better; he _ Latin, algebra, English, and received a grade of zero in physics. The boy managed to make the school golf team, but he lost the most important golf match of the season.
It's not that his peers disliked this boy; it's just that they never really seemed to notice him much. Even "Hellos" in the hall were a rarity. Out of all the failures in his life, there was something that did hold great importance to this boy, his love of drawing. Although in high school, the cartoons he submitted to the yearbook were rejected, once out of school, the boy was so sure of his artistic talent that he approached Walt Disney Studios with drawing works. I wish I could say the studios loved his work and immediately hired him, but such was not the case; another huge rejection.
Despite his lack of successes, this boy did not give up. He then decided to write his own autobiography in cartoons, about a little boy who was regarded as a loser and a nobody.
The name of this boy was Charles Schulz, the creator of the famous Charlie Brown and comic dog Snoopy.
In life, it is sometimes easy to feel like a nobody. We pass hundreds of people on the street on our way to work, or walk through a faceless crowd in a mall, and no one seems to notice or care. Deep inside, we may know we are special and unique and have lots to offer, but unless someone takes the time to look our way and give us a chance, we may feel worthless, just like Charlie Brown who couldn't even manage to fly a kite or kick a football properly.
Just as Charles Schulz had faith in his artistic talent, so too, we must realize that nobody is a nobody. We all have special gifts and talents, and every human being is deserving and capable of being loved and appreciated.
Question:
When the boy suffered many defeats, he _ .
Choices:
A. gave up his dream finally
B. wrote some articles in magazines
C. he turned to others for help
D. he wrote himself as a loser in cartoons | Answer: D | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high10971.txt | This is a true story about a boy who, the world might say, was a terrible underachiever. While in the eighth grade, he failed subjects repeatedly. High school wasn't much better; he _ Latin, algebra, English, and received a grade of zero in physics. The boy managed to make the school golf team, but he lost the most important golf match of the season.
It's not that his peers disliked this boy; it's just that they never really seemed to notice him much. Even "Hellos" in the hall were a rarity. Out of all the failures in his life, there was something that did hold great importance to this boy, his love of drawing. Although in high school, the cartoons he submitted to the yearbook were rejected, once out of school, the boy was so sure of his artistic talent that he approached Walt Disney Studios with drawing works. I wish I could say the studios loved his work and immediately hired him, but such was not the case; another huge rejection.
Despite his lack of successes, this boy did not give up. He then decided to write his own autobiography in cartoons, about a little boy who was regarded as a loser and a nobody.
The name of this boy was Charles Schulz, the creator of the famous Charlie Brown and comic dog Snoopy.
In life, it is sometimes easy to feel like a nobody. We pass hundreds of people on the street on our way to work, or walk through a faceless crowd in a mall, and no one seems to notice or care. Deep inside, we may know we are special and unique and have lots to offer, but unless someone takes the time to look our way and give us a chance, we may feel worthless, just like Charlie Brown who couldn't even manage to fly a kite or kick a football properly.
Just as Charles Schulz had faith in his artistic talent, so too, we must realize that nobody is a nobody. We all have special gifts and talents, and every human being is deserving and capable of being loved and appreciated. | [
"gave up his dream finally",
"wrote some articles in magazines",
"he turned to others for help",
"he wrote himself as a loser in cartoons"
] |
Lorin has 4 black marbles. Jimmy has 22 yellow marbles. Alex had twice as many black marbles as Lorin and one half as many yellow marbles as Jimmy. How many marbles does Alex have? | Alex has 2*4=<<2*4=8>>8 black marbles
Alex has 22/2=<<22/2=11>>11 yellow marbles
Alex has 8+11=<<8+11=19>>19 marbles
#### 19 | Solve the following math problem and explain your reasoning step by step. | Lorin has 4 black marbles. Jimmy has 22 yellow marbles. Alex had twice as many black marbles as Lorin and one half as many yellow marbles as Jimmy. How many marbles does Alex have? | Alex has 2*4=<<2*4=8>>8 black marbles
Alex has 22/2=<<22/2=11>>11 yellow marbles
Alex has 8+11=<<8+11=19>>19 marbles
#### 19 | math | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Which is the best title for the text? | A | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Helen Thayer, one of the greatest explorers of the 20th century, loves challenges. She says,"I like to see what's on the other side of the hill." She has gone almost everywhere to do that.
In 1988,at the age of 50,she became the first woman to travel alone to the North Pole. She pulled her own sled piled with 160 pounds of supplies,and during her trip no one brought her fresh supplies.Accompanied only by her dog Charlie,she survived cold weather and meetings with polar bears. In fact,Charlie saved her life when one of them attacked her.Near the end of her trip,a forceful wind blew away the majority of her supplies. The last week of the trip,she survived on a handful of nuts and a little water each day.
Helen goes to challenging places not only for adventures,but also for education.Before her Arctic journey,she started a website called Adventure Classroom.On the site,she shared her adventures in order to inspire students.She explained,"Although kids often see the world in a negative way,without hope for their future,we work to inspire them to set goals,plan for success and never give up..."
Helen grew up in New Zealand.Her parents were athletes and mountain climbers.Following her parents'example,she climbed her first mountain at the age of nine.Later,she climbed the highest mountains in North and South America,the former USSR and New Zealand.
In 1996,she took on another challenge--the Sahara Desert.She and her husband,Bill,walked 2,400 miles across it.In 2001,she and Bill travelled on foot from west to east through the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.They hope to travel in mainland China into Sichuan and Tibet to study pandas.
Helen plans to continue taking trips.She'll use her explorations,writing,photography and environmental works to create programs for her Adventure Classroom website. She wants to inspire her students to never stop facing challenges.
Question:
Which is the best title for the text?
Choices:
A. The Woman Who loves Adventures
B. A Famous Woman
C. A Woman Mountain Climber
D. Adventure Classroom Owner | Answer: A | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high17044.txt | Helen Thayer, one of the greatest explorers of the 20th century, loves challenges. She says,"I like to see what's on the other side of the hill." She has gone almost everywhere to do that.
In 1988,at the age of 50,she became the first woman to travel alone to the North Pole. She pulled her own sled piled with 160 pounds of supplies,and during her trip no one brought her fresh supplies.Accompanied only by her dog Charlie,she survived cold weather and meetings with polar bears. In fact,Charlie saved her life when one of them attacked her.Near the end of her trip,a forceful wind blew away the majority of her supplies. The last week of the trip,she survived on a handful of nuts and a little water each day.
Helen goes to challenging places not only for adventures,but also for education.Before her Arctic journey,she started a website called Adventure Classroom.On the site,she shared her adventures in order to inspire students.She explained,"Although kids often see the world in a negative way,without hope for their future,we work to inspire them to set goals,plan for success and never give up..."
Helen grew up in New Zealand.Her parents were athletes and mountain climbers.Following her parents'example,she climbed her first mountain at the age of nine.Later,she climbed the highest mountains in North and South America,the former USSR and New Zealand.
In 1996,she took on another challenge--the Sahara Desert.She and her husband,Bill,walked 2,400 miles across it.In 2001,she and Bill travelled on foot from west to east through the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.They hope to travel in mainland China into Sichuan and Tibet to study pandas.
Helen plans to continue taking trips.She'll use her explorations,writing,photography and environmental works to create programs for her Adventure Classroom website. She wants to inspire her students to never stop facing challenges. | [
"The Woman Who loves Adventures",
"A Famous Woman",
"A Woman Mountain Climber",
"Adventure Classroom Owner"
] |
Who do we usually have small talk with? | B | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Small talk is meaningless conversation in terms of content,but is often seen as socially important in certain situations,or context.In many English-speaking countries,it can be viewed as rude or unfriendly not to make small talk.
Discussing the weather with people who you don't really know is an example of small talk that many of us are very familiar with on a daily basis.We may chat about the weather with the cashier at the supermarket or with the attendant at the gas station.Small talk may also be related to the situation such as waiting in line.People in the line may comment to others about how slow it is in the post office or bank that day,for instance.We also engage in small talk with people we may see every day but don't really know such as those we share the elevator with in our office building.
Small talk is common at parties when guests may know the host but not each other.It is considered rude not to mingle and speak with other guests at social functions,so small talk can break the ice and get guests chatting.Compliments may be a type of small talk such as one woman at party complimenting another on her dress.
Some people like small talk because they find silence uncomfortable and/or they enjoy communicating verbally.Others enjoy meeting new people and use small talk to start conversations. When making small talk,especially with strangers or those you don't know very well,it's important to observe certain socially acceptable conventions.First,small talk should be general and not personal or about controversial topics. Second,while compliments are acceptable,they shouldn't refer to the person's body or sound like a pick-up line.
Question:
Who do we usually have small talk with?
Choices:
A. Close friends.
B. People we don't really know.
C. Family members.
D. Our seniors. | Answer: B | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high1896.txt | Small talk is meaningless conversation in terms of content,but is often seen as socially important in certain situations,or context.In many English-speaking countries,it can be viewed as rude or unfriendly not to make small talk.
Discussing the weather with people who you don't really know is an example of small talk that many of us are very familiar with on a daily basis.We may chat about the weather with the cashier at the supermarket or with the attendant at the gas station.Small talk may also be related to the situation such as waiting in line.People in the line may comment to others about how slow it is in the post office or bank that day,for instance.We also engage in small talk with people we may see every day but don't really know such as those we share the elevator with in our office building.
Small talk is common at parties when guests may know the host but not each other.It is considered rude not to mingle and speak with other guests at social functions,so small talk can break the ice and get guests chatting.Compliments may be a type of small talk such as one woman at party complimenting another on her dress.
Some people like small talk because they find silence uncomfortable and/or they enjoy communicating verbally.Others enjoy meeting new people and use small talk to start conversations. When making small talk,especially with strangers or those you don't know very well,it's important to observe certain socially acceptable conventions.First,small talk should be general and not personal or about controversial topics. Second,while compliments are acceptable,they shouldn't refer to the person's body or sound like a pick-up line. | [
"Close friends.",
"People we don't really know.",
"Family members.",
"Our seniors."
] |
The heart, blood vessels, and blood make up which system in the body? | null | Answer the following science question clearly and accurately. | The heart, blood vessels, and blood make up which system in the body? | cardiovascular | science | null | null | null | respiratory | digestive | pulminary | cardiovascular | The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart, the blood vessels, and the blood. | null | null | null |
Why did the ladybirds decide to choose a new guide? | C | Read the passage and answer the question. | Passage:
Ladybirds didn't have black spots on their backs at first. Then a storm broke out, and their famous guide, Caius Insectus, disappeared into the flood , and the few ladybirds who survived had to choose a new leader to guide them out of trouble. They decided that their new leader would be the first ladybird to successfully travel south to the Great Lake and return to describe it.
Many young ladybirds moved off immediately into this adventure. One by one they returned and told of how beautiful the southern lake was at that time of year, with its clear waters and flowers. However, the last of the ladybirds was late in getting back. He hadn't managed to reach the lake. Everyone criticized him, and they prepared to continue their journey the next day.
Following their new guide, they spent a morning walking northwards until they reached some tall thick grassland, where they stopped. There were no clear waters or flowers in front of them. The heavy rain had turned the place into a huge green puddle . Everyone understood what had happened. When the ladybirds had gone out looking for the lake, they had gone in the wrong direction. Now they could see that, except that one late ladybird, they had lied in order to get what they wanted.
And so, the late little ladybird was made the Great Guide. They also decided that every time one of them was discovered lying they would paint a black spot on that ladybird's back. From then on, when a ladybird looks at another's back, it can tell whether that ladybird can be trusted.
Question:
Why did the ladybirds decide to choose a new guide?
Choices:
A. They lost their way in the storm.
B. They weren't satisfied with Caius Insectus.
C. They needed someone to lead them out of danger.
D. They needed someone to help prepare for the storm. | Answer: C | reading | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | null | high10403.txt | Ladybirds didn't have black spots on their backs at first. Then a storm broke out, and their famous guide, Caius Insectus, disappeared into the flood , and the few ladybirds who survived had to choose a new leader to guide them out of trouble. They decided that their new leader would be the first ladybird to successfully travel south to the Great Lake and return to describe it.
Many young ladybirds moved off immediately into this adventure. One by one they returned and told of how beautiful the southern lake was at that time of year, with its clear waters and flowers. However, the last of the ladybirds was late in getting back. He hadn't managed to reach the lake. Everyone criticized him, and they prepared to continue their journey the next day.
Following their new guide, they spent a morning walking northwards until they reached some tall thick grassland, where they stopped. There were no clear waters or flowers in front of them. The heavy rain had turned the place into a huge green puddle . Everyone understood what had happened. When the ladybirds had gone out looking for the lake, they had gone in the wrong direction. Now they could see that, except that one late ladybird, they had lied in order to get what they wanted.
And so, the late little ladybird was made the Great Guide. They also decided that every time one of them was discovered lying they would paint a black spot on that ladybird's back. From then on, when a ladybird looks at another's back, it can tell whether that ladybird can be trusted. | [
"They lost their way in the storm.",
"They weren't satisfied with Caius Insectus.",
"They needed someone to lead them out of danger.",
"They needed someone to help prepare for the storm."
] |
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