questions list | article stringlengths 9 6.44k | id stringlengths 9 14 |
|---|---|---|
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The return service only goes for IKEA stores in mainland China."
},
"options": [
"Any product bought can be returned if they are undamaged.",
"The store pay back your money in cash whatever way you use.",
"The valid time for ... | We offer a full range of services to make your IKEA experience more complete:
Old Kitchen Removing Service
Are you going to buy a brand-new kitchen in IKEA? So how to do with your old kitchen at home? Don't worry! IKEA is now providing professional _ and removing service for old kitchen to you. By this service you can have your new kitchen at home easily. (For service detail and charge please go to the staff of kitchen department.)
Transport Service
Need a way to get your new home-furnishings home? You can rent a transport or hire us to deliver it for you. Just talk to our Customer Service department for details.
Return Policy
As long as the items are undamaged, unassembled and unused, you could return them in their original package within 60days (IKEA FAMILY member within 180days) together with your original receipt/invoice (bank card POS receipt is needed if you have paid this way), we will refund you the same way as you have paid.
Sorry, we cannot accept exchange or return of food, plants, liquid bathing products, AS-IS products, customized products, kitchen electrical appliance and all products that have already been cut, sewed or painted. "The exchange and return policy above applies only to the products purchased from IKEA stores in mainland China."
IKEA Restaurant/Cafe
The restaurant/cafe serves both classic Swedish dishes and local favorites, and is one of the most popular areas of the whole IKEA store. Shopping at IKEA is fun and offers great value, but can also be hard work, so stop by and treat yourself to a refreshing drink and a bite to eat. | high6760.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "You should have a goal."
},
"options": [
"You should have a goal.",
"You had better not copy others.",
"You may do what you want to do.",
"You may have different ideas."
],
"question": "What can we learn from wh... | While working with troubled teens,I used to have them do the Ten Years in the Future exercise. I asked them to write a letter to a friend as if it was ten years in the future. Most of these boys and girls didn't think about the next week,much less ten years to come. Like the Cheshire Cat says in Alice in Wonderland, "If you don't know where you want to go,then it doesn't really matter what road you take!" We had some great conversations as they really thought about what they wanted. For most of them, this was the first time they had ever thought this way!
But the real story is what happened to me. I did the exercise right along with them on many occasions, writing my dreams and visions in detail. In my letter to a friend, I had moved to the country, built my own home,authored a book,and started my own business. Over the next ten years, something magic happened.All my dreams and visions became a reality, almost as if arranged by an unseen hand. I did write books and start my business. We did move to the country and I did build my own home.
This letter to a friend will become a magnetic factor in your life. Your vision will guide you in your yearly goals, your monthly goals,and your daily activities. For example: "Leslie,I just wanted to make contact again and tell you about my life. I started my own gardening business in 2020 and it's really taken off. "
Remember to describe all the details as if they have already happened. Write to a real person who you think may still know in ten years. This will help make it more real for you.
Sit down and write your Ten Years in the Future letter today. | high9453.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "A guidebook for visitors to London"
},
"options": [
"A history book about London.",
"A guidebook for visitors to London",
"A book describing London's development.",
"A book about London's churches and cathedrals."
]... | St paul's Cathedral
Ludgate Hill, EC4
Underground: St Paul's; Bus: 6,7,11,15,22,25
Open: Daily 8:00-19:00(17:00 from Oct. to Mar.)
Entrance free
Designed by the great architect, Sir Christopher Wren, St Paul's Cathedral was built following the Great Fire of London of 1666, which destroyed the gothic cathedral on the site at that time. It is crowned by a magnificent dome and its choir is internationally famous. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married here in 1981.
Buckingham Palace
South end of the Mall(SW1)
Underground: St. James's Park, Victoria, Hyde Park Comer, Green Park Bus:2,11,14,16,19,22,24,29,30,38,52,73,74,137
Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the monarch for much of the year. (When the monarch is in residence, a flag flies over the palace.) The Mall is a very impressive wide street, leading from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square.
Note: As the palace is the monarch's official residence, it is not open to the public during most of the year.
The Tower of London
Tower Hill, EC3
Underground: Tower Hill; Bus: 42, 78
Open: Mon. - Sat.9:00--18:00. 8:00--19:00
Parts of the Tower of London are over nine centuries old, as building began under William the Conqueror in 1078. Famous as a prison in the distant past, the Tower has also been a royal residence, a zoo and an observatory , among other things. It is now a museum and many thousands of people visit it every year in particular to see the Crown Jewels.
Westminster Abbey
Broad Sanctuary, SW1
Underground: Westminster, St James's Park; Bus: 3, 11, 12, 24, 29, 39, 53, 59, 76, 77, 88, 109, 155, 168, 170, 172, 184, 503
Open: Daily 8:00--19:00(Mar.-DEC., Tuesday till 20:00)
Entrance free
A Benedictine abbey which already existed on the site was rebuilt by Edward the Confessor and consecrated in 1065. On the way to its present form, the abbey was extended in the 13th-16th centuries, with the two west towers being added in the 18th. There are many famous tombs in the abbey, including that of the unknown Warrior and those of many poets and writers. | high8995.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Someone who works at KidsPost."
},
"options": [
"An artist.",
"A video game creator.",
"Someone who works at KidsPost.",
"Someone who works in a museum."
],
"question": "Who's the author?",
"question_type": ... | Several weeks ago, kidsPost did a story on "The Art of Video Games" at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The exhibition has created debate with some people saying that as fun as video games are ,they are not works of art. Other people say that videos games may be a new form of art and that they belong to in museums. We asked readers for their opinions on the topic. Here are a few of the letters we received.
A video game is like a painting on a screen. In order to make a video game, you have to think of something original to reach the players. This is the point of Art.
---Mary Pottanat,13
I believe video games are not a form of art. Art should be a visual and creative expression of feelings. Although it is arguable that video games are visual ,they do not express feelings in any way.
---Prannab Kirshnan,12
However exciting video games are, they are not art. Painting is art, but not video games. Art has beauty and culture that no technology could ever compare to. Even though you can create art in some video games, the " Mona Lisa" wasn't painted with Nintendo.
---Caroline Kaplan,10
Art is a way of communicating ideas to the public in a way that is fun to them. The "public", who in this case are kids and adults, are finding these video games from different time periods interesting. Video games would not have been art if it had not been for the kids and adults attracted by "the art of video games".
---Ryan Puthumana,10 | high12656.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Prohibition of cloning might limit the freedom of scientists"
},
"options": [
"Genetic limitation will be beneficial for some women",
"A large number of genes will prevent us from developing",
"Prohibition of cloning might li... | Recently there was a major discovery in the scientific research--the mapping of all DNA in a human gene is complete. Couple of years ago, this seems an impossible task for scientist to accomplish. All this progress in science leads us to believe that the day, when the human being will be cloned, is not far away. Human cloning has always been a topic of argument,in terms of morality or religion.
Taking a look at why cloning might be beneficial, among many cases, it is arguable that parents who are known to be at risk of passing a genetic limitation to a child could make use of cloning. If the clone was free of genetic limitations. Then the other clone would be as well. The latter could foe inserted in the woman and allowed to ripen to term. Moreover,cloning would enable women, who can't get pregnant, to have children of their own.
Cloning humans would also mean that organs could be cloned, so it would be a source of perfect transfer organs. This, surely would be greatly beneficial to millions of unfortunate people around the world that are expected to lose their lives due to failure of single(or more) organ(s).It is also arguable that a ban on cloning may be unlawful and would rob people of the right to reproduce and limit the freedom of scientists.
Arguments against cloning are also on a perfectly practical side. Primarily, I believe that cloning would step in the normal "cycle"of life. There would be a large number of same genes., which reduce the chances of improvement,and, in turn, development-the fundamental reason how living things naturally adapt to the ever-changing environment. Life processes failing to do so might result in untimely disappearance. Furthermore, cloning would make the uniqueness that each one of us possesses disappea. Thus, leading to creation of genetically engineered groups of people for specific purposes and, chances are, that those individuals would be regarded as "objects" rather than people in the society.
Scientists haven't 100 percent. guaranteed that the first cloned will be normal. Thus this could result in introduction of additional limitations in the human "gene-pool".
Regarding such arguable topics in "black or white" approach seems very innocent to me personally. We should rather try to look at all "shades: of it. I believe that cloning is only legal if its purpose is for cloning organs, not humans. Then we could regard this as for "saving life" instead of "creating life". I believe cloning humans is morally and socially unacceptable. | high15139.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Drive President Bush out of power."
},
"options": [
"Drive the animal out of the White House.",
"Drive President Bush out of power.",
"Keep the elephant out of the White House.",
"Insist on Bush's being elected."
],... | New York's streets were covered by people dressed in elephant costumes and others waving antiwar posters with pictures of US President George W. Bush on them last week. But this was no carnival - it was the Republican Party's National Convention , which attracted thousands of protestors . It was the largest protest ever at a US political convention, with at least 120,000 people marching through Manhattan on August 29. They demanded that the US leave Iraq and a new president be chosen.
The Republicans say the opposition - Democrat Party encouraged the people on to the streets. They believe it is a democratic move to help win presidential election, to be held on November 2. The election is described as "the decisive battle between donkey and elephant". The two animals are the symbols of the two major political parties in the US. The elephant represents the Republicans, whose candidate , President George W. Bush, is trying to defeat the donkey to win his second them. The donkey represents the democrats, whose candidate, John Kerry, is trying to kick the elephant out of the White House.
Republicans think the elephant is powerful and clever, but the Democrats argue it is stupid and conservative . In return, the Republicans regard the donkey as stubborn and silly but the Democrats say it is humble, plain, smart and courageous.
The Republicans have been sending emails to Bush supporters and journalists with the heading, "An Elephant Never Forgets", said party spokeswoman Heather Layman. Elephants are known for their long memories. The emails suggest that Bush will keep his promises, while Kerry will not stick to his words.
It is interesting that both symbols were created by a single person, Thomas Nast, a famous political cartoonist of the late 19th century. During the election in 1874, Nast drew a cartoon, in which a donkey in a lion's skin frightened an elephant marked "Republican". | high7318.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "proposals"
},
"options": [
"wishes",
"proposals",
"warnings",
"instructions"
],
"question": "According to the text, at a graduation ceremony you'll most probably hear _ given by the speaker.",
"question_... | One of the requirements of every graduation ceremony speaker is that they offer some advice. Well, get ready, here it comes.
Soon you will be leaving the company of those who think they have all the answers -your professors, instructors and counselors-and going out into what we like to call the real world. In time you will meet up with other people who think they have all the answers. These people are called bosses. My advice is: humor them.
A little later you'll meet additional people who think they have all the answers.
These are called spouses . My advice is: humor them, too.
And of all goes well, in a few years you will meet still another group of people who think they have all the answers. These are called children. Humor them.
Life will go on, your children will grow up, go to school and someday they could be taking part in a graduation ceremony just like this one. And who knows, the speakers responsible for handing out good advice might be you. Halfway through your speech, the graduate sitting next to your daughter will lean over and ask, "Who is that woman up there who thinks she has all the answers?"
Well, thanks to the reasonable advice you are hearing today and that I hope you will all pass on, she will be able to say, "That is my mother. Humor her." | high12130.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "is not sure whether the stories are true"
},
"options": [
"believes both of the stories",
"doesn't believe a word of the stories",
"is not sure whether the stories are true",
"is telling the stories just for fun"
],... | There are stories about two U.S . presidents,Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren,which attempt to explain the American English term OK.We don't know if either story is true,but they are both interesting.
The first explanation is based on the fact that President Jackson had very little education.In fact,he had difficulty reading and writing.When important papers came to Jackson,he tried to read them and then had his assistants explain what they said.If he approved of a paper, he would write "all correct"on it.The problem was that he didn't know how to spell.So what he really wrote was "ol korekt".After a while,he shortened that term to "OK".
The second explanation is based on the place where President Van Buren was born,Kinderhook,New York.Van Buren's friends organized a club to help him become President .They called the club the Old Kinderhook Club,and anyone who supported Van Buren was called"OK". | high1769.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "1776"
},
"options": [
"1786",
"1776",
"1842",
"1800"
],
"question": "From the passage we can infer that America won its independence in _ .",
"question_type": "summarization_questions"
},
{
"ans... | As we all know, it was Thomas Jefferson who wrote the Declaration of the Independence. He wrote it in two weeks, and after a few changes, it was accepted by the Congress. As a result, he became famous.
Born in Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, a brilliant student at school and almost talented lawyer later, was much interested in politics.
Jefferson was elected Governor of Virginia in 1779, and he was sent to France as the representative of the American government in 1784. Sixteen years later, at the age of 57, he was elected president after Washington and Adams.
Far from a handsome man, he was tall with long arms and big hands. Jefferson, who was an amusing talker in conversation but a poor speaker, was generally good-natured.
Jefferson was regarded as a defender of freedom on America. As a president, he protected the right of free speech. Interestingly enough, in his eight years as President, Jefferson never vetoed a bill which Congress had passed. He did a lot in organizing the new University of Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson died on July the fourth, 1826, the 50th anniversary of American Independence. | high15887.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "had a calm and quiet attitude towards life"
},
"options": [
"thought and acted differently from the majority",
"had a calm and quiet attitude towards life",
"didn't observe rules and authorities",
"had all kinds of \"ba... | Barack Obama, Lady Gaga and Steve Jobs--what do they have in common? They are, of course, all Americans. And according to a survey by social networking site badoo. com, they all best illustrate the word "cool".
But just what does it mean to say someone is "cool"? Most would answer that it is something to do with being independent-minded and not following the crowd.
Yale University art professor Robert Farris Thompson says that the term "cool" goes back to 15th century West African philosophy . "Cool" relates to ideas of grace under pressure.
"In Africa, " he writes, "coolness is a positive quality which combines calmness, silence, and life. "
The modern idea of "cool" developed largely in the US in the period after World War II. "Post-war 'cool' was in part an expression of war-weariness . . . it went against the strict social rules of the time, " write sociologists Dick Pountain and David Robins in Cool Rules: Anatomy of an Attitude.
But it was the American actor James Dean who became the symbol for "cool" in the hugely successful 1955 movie Rebel without a Cause. Dean plays a tough guy who disobeys his parents and the authorities . He always gets the girl, smokes cigarettes, wears a leather jacket and beats up bullies . In the movie, Dean showed what "cool" would mean to American young people for the next 60 years.
Today the focus of "cool" has changed to athletics stars. Often in movies about schools, students gain popularity on the athletics field more than in the classroom. This can be seen quite clearly in movies like Varsity Blues and John Tucker Must Die.
But many teenagers also think being smart is cool. Chess and other thinking games have been becoming more popular in schools.
"Call it the Harry Potterization of America --a time when being smart is the new cool, " writes journalist Joe Sunnen. | high9335.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "for children and families in difficulty"
},
"options": [
"for children and families in difficulty",
"to raise money for cancer patients",
"to earn some pocket money",
"for the homeless in her neighborhood"
],
"q... | Hannah Levine decided she wanted to give hugs to all of the children and families in need at local hospitals.
Because she couldn't give them one by one, Levine, then a sixth-grader, decided she would use her talents to do the next best thing. She began to knit hats, scarves, and blankets for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. Her creations also went to Bundle of Joy, a program that provides newborn baby items for families in need, and to Knitting Pals by the Bay, a local organization that provides hand-knitted caps to cancer patients.
"I love to knit, and I thought it would be a great idea to make all these handmade items for kids and adults who need them. It would be like a hug for them," Levine explained.
Levine started the project about a year ago. "I think it's just really fun to do, and it keeps me busy," said Levine, now 13.
Once she got started, Levine realized that her project could be much bigger than the goods she was able to produce with just her own hands. So she sent emails to her school and communities , asking for knitted donations to the project she named "Hannah's Warm Hugs". She also posted advertisements at Starbucks and other locations in her area. The warm goods began to _ .
"It was amazing; more strangers than people she knew started dropping donations at our door," said Levine's mother, Laura Levine. "We ended up with this huge box of items she was donating."
The knitted items numbered in the hundreds. Levine made her first round of donations around Hanukkah (an eight-day Jewish holiday in November or December) and later received thank-you letters from the organizations. Levine is still knitting, and she said the project will continue.
"It has turned into a bigger thing than she had thought," her mom said. "It made her feel pretty good; it made us feel pretty good." | high14541.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "High school graduates preparing to have at-home training."
},
"options": [
"High school graduates preparing to have at-home training.",
"College students preparing to study for a degree.",
"College students preparing to work ... | Have you ever wondered what a Degree might be worth to you in your job or career? It means a lot. Americans with an Associate Degree average nearly $10,000 more in yearly earnings than those with just a High School Diploma.
Harcourt Learning Direct offers you a way to get a Specialized Associate Degree in 11 of today's growing fields - without having to go to college full-time. With Harcourt, you study at home, in your spare time so you don't have to give up your present job while you train for a better one. Choose from exciting majors like Business Management, Accounting, Dressmaking & Design, Bookkeeping, Photography, Computer Science, Engineering, and more!
Your training includes everything you need!
Books, lessons, learning aids---even professional-quality tools and equipment --- everything you need to master your training and move ahead to a new career is included in the low tuition price you pay.
Your education is nationally recognized!
Nearly 2,000 American companies --- including General Electric, IBM, Mobil, General Motors, Ford, and many others --- have used our training for their employees. If companies like these recognize the value of our training, you can be sure that employers in your area will, too!
Earn your degree in as little as two years! Get a career diploma in just six months!
The career of your dreams is closer than you think! Even if you have no experience before, you can get valuable job skills in today's hottest fields! Step-by-step lessons make learning easy. Prepare for promotions, pay raises, or even start a business of your own.
Send today for FREE information about Harcourt at-home training!
Simply fill in your name and address on the coupon above. Then, write in the name and number of the program you're most interested in, and mail it today. We'll rush your free information about how you can take advantage of the opportunities. In the field you've chosen. Act today!
Mail coupon today! Or call the number below 1-800-372-1589. Call anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. www.harcourt-learning.com
E-mail: Harcourt@learning.com | high17048.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "he needed a psychiatric evaluation"
},
"options": [
"he killed a pet dog",
"he was badly injured",
"his girlfriend asked to do so",
"he needed a psychiatric evaluation"
],
"question": "The man was taken to hospi... | A Brooklyn man who was quarreling with his girlfriend yesterday threw a dog off the balcony of her 23rd-story apartment in TriBeCa, killing it, the police said.
The man, John Jefferson, 43, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, has been charged with robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and animal cruelty, the police said. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center yesterday for psychiatric evaluation , they said.
The incident began shortly before 11 a.m., the police said, when Mr. Jefferson went to visit his girlfriend, Eugenia Miller, 41, at her apartment on 80 North Moore Street. She had filed a police report on Friday accusing Mr. Jefferson of stealing from her, but yesterday she allowed him in and they began arguing, the police said.
Mr. Jefferson threatened Ms. Miller with a knife, and she called 911, the police said. When officers arrived at her door, she ran into the hallway and Mr. Jefferson stayed in the apartment, they said. Mr. Jefferson began throwing Ms. Miller's things off the balcony, first the television, the air-conditioner and clothes, then her dog, Ribsy, the police and witnesses said.
The dog had lived in the neighborhood for more than a decade and was well liked by children. "He was like a person and he would hang out with us guys or go visit kids at the basketball court," said neighbors. | high2260.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "will be guaranteed more sleeping time in the morning"
},
"options": [
"will start school one hour earlier",
"will no longer have to take GCSE exams",
"will perform better academically than those who don't participate",
... | When a big exam is coming up, you probably feel anxious about any wasted time and want to begin school as soon as you probably can.
But tens of thousands of British high school students will soon be getting up later. They're taking part in a new experiment by Oxford University to see if later classes can improve their exam results.
Grades 10 students in the UK have to take the nationwide General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams. They have to pass these exams in order to study more advanced courses, and later apply for universities.
The Oxford University project means that GCSE students from more than 100 schools across England will start school at 10 am, more than one hour later than the current start time (8:50 am).
The project is based on scientific evidence that teenagers are "out of sync " with traditional school hours, the Telegraph reported. And what they need is more sleep in the morning.
"We know that something funny happens when you're a teenager, in that you seem to be out of sync with the world," said professor Colin Epsie, who is leading the study. "Your parents think it's because you are lazy and opinionated and everything will be OK if you could get to sleep earlier. But science is telling us that teenagers need to sleep more in the mornings."
Everyone follows a natural cycle of sleep and wakefulne ss. Biology has decided that teenagers go to sleep around midnight and don't feel fully awake until 9-10 am, according to scientists. That's two hours later than adults. And their body clocks stay like this until the age of around 21 for males, and 19 for females.
"Society provides school for learning, but the brain provides sleep. So we are exploring the possibility that if you delay the schools start time until 10 am, that will improve learning performance," said Epsie.
The results could be positive, based on previous studies.
An early study at the UK's Monkseaton High School in 2009 found that starting an hour later improved grades in core subjects by 19 percent.
The Oxford project is expecting to publish the results in 2018. It's time to wait and see whether scientists will give us an excuse to get up late. | high10727.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "you have to understand the meaning behind each word"
},
"options": [
"you have to understand the meaning behind each word",
"Elvish and English are quite different in forms",
"there are no baths or beds in public bathrooms",
... | I keep hammering _ because I keep seeing people who don't do it.
1. Look up English to Elvish.
2. Look up the Elvish word in the best Elvish dictionary you have, and, preferably, find out the context in Tolkien's language dictionary.
3. Change the word to suit rules of grammar: singular or plural, mutations, verb tenses, etc.
You cannot leave out any of these steps. If you do, you're almost certain to have errors. Why you have to do step 2:
Languages never match up one- to-one. English and Elvish are closer than usual, but there are still problems. And English has strange idioms: why are there no baths or beds in public bathrooms or restrooms? You can't translate literally . You have to understand the meaning behind each word.
In Elvish this is even more true, since our dictionaries contain more or less questionable reconstructions, and words that Tolkien later threw away or replaced. Find the best one you can.
Consider the word "fair". We tend to use it to mean "just". Tolkien tends to use it to mean "beautiful". In Elvish, these are two entirely different words. So when you look up "fair", you'll have to go to the Elvish dictionary to see that you've got the right one.
Consider the nightmare of He left the bar. Is "left" the opposite of "right" (which also has two meanings) ? Is "bar" extruded steel , or something to do with law? You have to know what words mean in both languages.
And you'd be amazed at how many people ignore step 3, forgetting that language is more than a string of words, and there are rules about how to fit those words together. You can't simply look up the word "I" and use it everywhere. Sometimes you need "me" or "my". There's a reason it takes a while to learn a language: you have to learn the rules.
It drives me completely mad when people give a questionable translation they insist is right because "it's in the dictionary". A dictionary is a tool, a resource. but its entries should not be mistaken for a finished product. They are raw materials. | high11439.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Because he wasn't offered a chance to pitch."
},
"options": [
"Because he moved to a new country.",
"Because his baseball team lost the game.",
"Because he wasn't offered a chance to pitch.",
"Because he quarreled with ... | A Simple Lesson
"Another bad day at school?" my father asked as I came into the room.
"How could you tell? I didn't shut the door heavily or anything," I replied. Over the past two months I had either done this or thrown my backpack across the room every time I came home from school. Papa thinks it has something to do with moving to a new house.
"I know this move has been hard on you. Leaving your friends and cousins behind is tough," Papa said, as he put his arm around my shoulder. "What you must remember is that, with a lot of hard work and some time, you will make new friends."
"You don't know how hard it is. This year my baseball team would have won the championship. They won't even give me a chance to pitch here. All I get to play is right field, and that's the worst!"
Papa turned toward me. "Things will get better, I promise you. Let me ask you, do you know why you were named David Lorenzo?"
"Yes, your name is David and grandfather's name is Lorenzo."
"Very good, and what makes your grandfather so important?"
"He was the first in the family to come to this country and all that," I answered.
"That is only partly correct. Your grandfather was a very great man. In Mexico, he had been a teacher. When he came to America he could only get lowpaid labor jobs because he didn't speak the language. It took him two years before he spoke English well enough to be allowed to teach here, but he did it. He never complained because he knew change could be difficult. Did he ever tell you that?" my father asked.
I looked down at my feet, ashamed at my behavior. "No. That must have been hard," I said
.
"Your grandfather taught me that if you let people see your talent, they will accept you for who you are. I want you to always remember what my father taught me, even if it takes a few years for people to see who you are," said Papa.
All I could say was, "Okay." Then I asked, "What should I do now?"
Laughing, Papa said, "How about you pitch a few to me? You need some work." | high16356.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "its shape and deliciousness"
},
"options": [
"its weight and combination",
"its package and design",
"its fair price and low cost",
"its shape and deliciousness"
],
"question": "The customers would like to enjoy... | What are the chances of a 100-year-old chocolate candy falling in your treat bag this Halloween? Though Goo Goo Clusters may not be as familiar as Kit Kat or Hershey bars, people of all ages have enjoyed it for an entire century.
In 1901, a 19-year-old named Howell Campbell opened a candy store in Nashville, Tennessee. He made all kinds of sweets and hard candies with just two copper kettles and about a dozen employees. Then, in 1912, he made the first candy to combine chocolate with other ingredients such as caramel, marshmallow, nougat, and peanuts. Originally, these clusters were hand-wrapped and sold under the counter at a few local stores with a sign reading,"A nourishing lunch for a nickel." Now, they are known as Goo Goo Clusters.
What else makes a Goo Goo so special?"In addition to it being the very first-ever combination confection created, its shape also makes it quite unique,'' says Beth Sachan, Goo Goo Clusters' senior marketing manager."The Goo Goo Cluster is a big, imperfectly round mound of deliciousness!"
The 100th anniversary of the Goo Goo Cluster is being celebrated throughout the month of October, the biggest candy-selling month of the year. About 40 restaurants in the Nashville area have created unique desserts inspired by Goo Goo Clusters to serve to their customers.
Additionally, a Goo Goo-sponsored race called the "Jog'n Hog" was held in Nashville on October 13. Adults and children ran three miles to the finish line after eating at least one of six Goo Goo Clusters from a bag they were given at the halfway point. A golden Goo Goo was hidden in one of the bags. The winner received a $100 gift certificate to the candy's website, googoo. com. | high19065.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Many people are too busy to have a good lunch."
},
"options": [
"Modern technology results in good diet habits.",
"Electronic devices make our life comfortable.",
"Many people are too busy to have a good lunch.",
"Laws ... | In today's fast-paced society, few people take time to enjoy the midday meal.Most of us just rush right through it. We grab a quick salad, or buy a sandwich and eat at our computers, Sometimes, if there is a deadline around the corner, we just _
The development of technology hasn't done our eating habits much good either.We are constantly distracted by e-mail, social media, and 24 - hour news.Even when we do sit down for lunch, we are more connected to our hand - held electronic devices.
Long working hours can cause all kinds of health problems, and many developed countries have put in place labor laws specifically regarding the lunch break.These laws give employees the right to take a break during a long work shift, but it's up to them whether they do so or not.
Frank Partnoy, a former Wall Street trader, says that employers should encourage workers to take time off for lunch.This is because long lunch breaks can benefit both individuals and society.
Writing in The Guardian, Partnoy says that one obvious reason to take a lunch break is to slow down and gain some perspective . A break from work allows us to think strategically and outside the box.It also puts our daily tasks into a broader context .
What we eat at lunch is also important.In Partnoy' s opinion, a fast food lunch is more harmful than not having lunch at all. And it's not just about calories and unhealthy food.Recent studies show that fast food also has negative effects on how we think.
However, if we sit down at a proper restaurant and chat leisurely with colleagues, we are more likely to slow down, something that hardly can be achieved in a noisy and over -- packed fast food chain.
Despite these benefits, some employees might still be unwilling to take time off for lunch.Partnoy's suggestion? Make skipping lunch difficult: Employers could ask workers to fill out a form stating their reasons for skipping the meal. | high4611.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The abbot's shepherd."
},
"options": [
"The king.",
"The abbot himself.",
"The abbot's shepherd.",
"Teachers from Oxford and Cambridge."
],
"question": "Who helped the abbot out of his trouble?",
"question_t... | There was once a rich old _ ) in England who lived a very rich life. When King John, who was the worst king that England ever had, heard of the way in which the abbot lived, he decided to stop it. So he sent for the old man and said, "Your fault is clear, and unless you can answer me three questions within two weeks, your head shall be cut off, and all your money shall be mine. Firstly, you must tell me just how long I shall live. Secondly, you must tell me how long I shall ride round the whole world, and lastly, you shall tell me what I think."
The abbot went to Oxford and Cambridge for help but not one of the teachers in the great schools could. At last, sad and sorrowful, he rode towards home. Then he met his shepherd and told him all that had happened.
"Cheer up, good master. I think I can help you out of your trouble."
The shepherd dressed himself up with great care and looked just like the abbot. Then he went to the king.
"How long shall I live?" "You will live until the day that you die, and not one day longer."
"How long shall I ride round the world?" "You must rise with the sun, and you must ride with the sun until it rises again the next morning. As soon as you do that, you will find that you have ridden round the world in twenty-four hours."
"What do I think?" "You think that I am the abbot. But, to tell you the truth, I am only his poor shepherd, and I come to beg your pardon for him and for me."
The king laughed long. "Very well then, you have won the old abbot a free pardon from King John for this joke." | high21511.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because he can get food and protection"
},
"options": [
"Because he likes eating the waste given off by the shark",
"Because he can help the shark to get food",
"Because he needs the help of the shark to lead his way.",
... | Sharing not only exists between humanbeings.As is often seen that some plants and anima1s live close together, and they depend on each other. They are usually very different from their partner, and yet all live easier lives because of each other. It is nature's idea of sharing.
An example of a partnership is the shark and pilot fish. The pilot fish is a little fish only about nine inches long. He would be. helpless if he hung around by himself in the mighty ocean. He makes up for his size with his smartness. He cleverly swims along beside the shark. When the shark eats, the pilot fish gets the leftovers. And the pilot fish needn't worry about his safety. The shark also gets benefits from this relationship. The pilot fish cleans food scraps and insects from the shark's hide.
Another example of depending on each other is the sea anemone and striped clown fish. The sea anemone looks like a flower and has petals that contain poisonous stinging cells. When small fish swim into the petals, the anemone traps and paralyzes them. However,the striped clown fish is able to swim into the poisonous petals without being harmed. When he is in danger, he quickly swims into the sea anemone and is unable to be seen by his enemies. To pay for his safety,the clown fish brings food to the anemone. He also guides other fish into the anemone's deadly trap.
Large mammals such as the ox, antelope, rhinoceroses and African buffalo form such a relationship with the red-billed ox-peeker. They provide daily meals for the bird. In fact the bird eats insects. The various large mammals act as a restaurant with a varied menu for the ox-peeker. What do they get in return from the bird? Free beauty treatments!
Some plants live together in a beneficial relationship of symbiosis. The fungus does not have chlorophyll that plants need to make food. However, green algae does contain chlorophyll. It is, therefore, able to feed the fungus along with itself. But nothing is free! The fungus repays it by protecting the algae. Since it takes in and stores water, it can provide the algae with a non-ending water supply. | high18390.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "at noon on workdays"
},
"options": [
"at 9 a.m. on Monday",
"at 5 p.m. on Wednesday",
"at lunch time on weekends",
"at noon on workdays"
],
"question": "You can book your tickets _ .",
"question_type": "c... | Goddington Theater
The Goddington Theater Ticket Office is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, and for half an hour in the evening before the advertised start time of each performance.
Telephone bookings
Your tickets are held at the Ticket Office for you to collect or, if you prefer, a charge of 35 cents is made to post them to you if you pay by cash. We'll post them to you for free if you book by credit card. No extra charge.
Postal bookings
You can write to the Ticket Office requesting tickets, or to confirm a reservation.
Where to find Goddington Theater
Goddington Theater can be found within the Goddington University site, next to the car park, which is available for public use after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.
If travelling by car
Coming from the south end of Princes Street, you will see the library on your right. Next to the library is Goddington University. Take the next turning on the right, then first right into the car park gate straight ahead of you, stopping as close as possible to the orange machine. Put a $ 1 coin in the machine and the gate will rise.
If travelling by train/bus/ taxi
You will need to allow 30 minutes to walk from the train station. Taxis are available from the front of the station.
The University is a 5 to 10 minutes' walk from the main bus station.
When ordering a taxi from the theater, ask to be picked up at the bottom of North Street. Taxis will not come into the car park because of the entrance charge. | high4822.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "To help build a church big enough for every child to go to."
},
"options": [
"To save money for her future career.",
"To build a large building for more children to live in.",
"To help build a church big enough for every chil... | A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it "was too crowded." "I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby appearance, the pastor guessed the reason, and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday School class. The child was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.
Some years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor buildings and the parents called for the kindhearted pastor, who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn purse was found which seemed to have been picked up from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note scribbled in childish handwriting which read, "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School."
For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note, he told people the story of her unselfish love and devotion.
A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a Realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered it for 57 cents.
Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000, a huge sum for that time.
When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300 and Temple University, where hundreds of students are trained. Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of Sunday scholars, so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time. | high1782.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "was robbed, but she fooled the robber"
},
"options": [
"was robbed of her earrings",
"had a good time at the birthday party",
"was robbed of her necklace",
"was robbed, but she fooled the robber"
],
"question": ... | Agatha Christie went out at night.She never forgot the night when she met a robber many years ago.
That evening, she was invited to a birthday party which lasted until 2 o'clock in the morning.Agatha walked in the quiet street alone. Suddenly from the shadow of a dark building a tall man with a sharp knife in his right hand ran out at her. "Good morning, lady," the man said in a low voice, "I don't think you wish to die here!"
"What do you want?" Agatha asked.
"Your earrings . Take them off!"
Agatha suddenly had a bright idea. She tried to cover her necklace with the collar ( ) of her overcoat while she used the other hand to take off both of her earrings and then she quickly threw them on the ground.
"Take them and let me go," she said. The robber saw that the girl didn't care for the earrings at all, only trying to protect the necklace. He thought the necklace would cost more, so he said, "Give me your necklace."
"Oh, sir. It's not worth much. Please let me keep it."
"Stopping rubbish . Quick!"
With shaky hands, Agatha took off her necklace. As soon as the robber disappeared, she picked up her earrings and ran as fast as she could to one of her friends.
The earrings cost 480 pounds and the necklace the robber had taken away cost only six pounds. | high216.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Why can't we remember the events of early childhood?"
},
"options": [
"Children need to discuss experiences with their parents.",
"Why can't we remember the events of early childhood?",
"Adults can't remember things as well a... | What is your earliest childhood memory? Can you remember learning to walk? Or talk? The first time you watched a television program? Adults seldom call back events much earlier than the year or so before entering school, just as children younger than three or four seldom remember any specific, personal experiences.
A variety of explanations have been suggested by psychologists for this "childhood amnesia". Now Annette Simms, a psychologist of Riverdale University, offers a new explanation for childhood amnesia. According to Dr. Simms, children need to learn to use someone else's spoken description of their personal experiences in order to turn their own short-term, fast forgotten impressions of them into long-term memories. In other words, children have to talk about their experiences and hear others talk about them. Without this verbal reinforcement , children cannot form permanent memories of what they have experienced.
So why should personal memories depend so heavily on hearing them described? Dr. Simms presents evidence that the human mind organizes memories in that way. Children whose mothers talk with them about the day's activities before bedtime tend to remember more of the day's special event than those whose mothers don't. Talking about an event in this way helps a child to remember it. And learning to organize memories as a continuous story is the key to a permanent mental "autobiography " of important life events. Dr. Simms suggests that we humans may be biologically programmed to turn our life experiences into a novel.
The key to creating this mental life story is language, says Dr. Simms. "Children learn to talk about the past," she says. "Talking to others about their short-term memories of the past leads to the establishment of long-term memories." One way it does this is by helping a child to recognize that the retelling of an experience is just the experience itself, recreated in the form of words. The child learns that this "word-description" of an experience can then be stored in the memory and called back at any time. But a child's language skills are usually not ready for this until the age of three or four, so they have no way to remember the earliest of their experiences. | high23306.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "is under great pressure to succeed"
},
"options": [
"tries to make its voice heard",
"is under great pressure to succeed",
"turns out to be the happiest generation",
"struggles to balance work and life"
],
"ques... | Perfect grades, perfect bodies, perfect friends. Welcome to Generation Supergirl - the young women who are supposed to have everything.
Unlike their grandmothers, they don't have to fight for their right to be heard. Unlike their mothers, they are confident they can have the career without sacrificing the home life.
Record numbers of them are achieving top grades, heading to the best universities and on to great jobs.
But are all these opportunities making them happy? According to a new book, Supergirls Speak Out: Inside the Secret Crisis of Over-Achieving Girls, the answer is no.
As the book's 21-year-old author, Liz Funk, explains: Their search for perfection has turned them into stressed-out women who are at risk of eating disorders, depression and even suicide .
So why have so many teenage girls come to the conclusion that anything short of perfection is failure?
Stephen Hinshaw, professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, believes that they are suffering from the weight of expectations: society's, their parents', and most crucially , their own.
They are constantly bombarded by "perfect" celebrity(, ). Articles about how to have the perfect career and perfect life appear to be everywhere.
So it is hardly surprising that increasing numbers of young women are unable to cope and are unsure of just who they are. "Many teenage girls have no intrinsic sense of their own worth," says Funk. "Instead, they see themselves in terms of how they look, how they are seen, what they've achieved."
Teenage girls believe that they must be all things to all people. They must be good at "girl" stuff-cultivating relationships and being beautiful - as well as being good at "guy" stuff - competing aggressively both at college and in the workplace.
According to Funk, teenage girls need to recognize that "you don't have to be successful at everything." "Young women should take time for themselves and think about what matters to them, or enjoy life for what it is," she said. | high23460.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "relaxing"
},
"options": [
"tiring",
"busy",
"relaxing",
"funny"
],
"question": "It seems that the author's life used to be _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_i... | For a while, I wrote a "Tuesday tip" on my blog Lyonsdenmom.com. It was about easy week-night dinners, organizing parties or perhaps finding time out for friends.
About a year ago, I ran out of tips.
The truth? As a busy working mom with five busy kids, I probably do have a few tips to share. But honestly, the bar is set pretty low---on a recent day when I was walking our dog, a stranger who knew I had five kids said, "Wow! You have a dog, too?! And it even looks like you showered today!" Yes, it's true, I shower. Not every day, but most days. See, I'm telling the truth. Honestly, in this cold winter, I'm probably taking a shower more to warm up than to clean up.
Other funny truths? I'm tired. In fact, for the past year, I've been too tired to type up any update on our life here in Lyons Den. It's hard to arrange a career with all these kids. Although folks just believe that it must be so much easier now since all the kids are in school, I'm here to tell you, it's not. It's really not. When I get home from work, I'm often tearfully greeted by five kids and five homework folders filled with math facts, invitations, notices and artwork.
All those happy smiling faces I share on Facebook are real. We are a happy family---thank God for that! But we're not always smiling, and even in those rare best times when I can get all five kids looking at the camera, the odds would be that one of them isn't wearing underwear, one is pinching someone behind the scenes and one is just perfectly pronouncing "Damn!" So, less perfectly-posed pictures, but more telling the truth. Even if only on Tuesday. | high12865.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "There are enough smileys and icons to express yourselves while chatting on line."
},
"options": [
"Grammar and correct spelling are very important while chatting online.",
"There are enough smileys and icons to express yourselves w... | I credit my typing skill to so many hours of chatting online. Unfortunately, as my typing speed increased on the Internet, all grammatical rules _ You see instant messages have their own shorthand language and grammar isn't important, of which even a newbie is aware. They can leave out articles, subjects , pronouns, etc. They can misspell or "respell" almost any word. They often ask "A/S/L" when they first chat. Abbreviations and capitalizations are particularly important. English-speaking instant messengers also refuse to burden themselves with punctuation and capitalization.
After I came back China, I discovered not one but two instant messaging crazes. The first, which brought back memories of my previous addiction to the computer, was QQ. I can see evidence that the Chinese have the same kind of separate instant messaging language, even when they chat in English. My first word in this language, for example, was "ft". This abbreviation for "faint" is used whenever there is a need to express surprise. I also discovered that Chinese use the same kind of abbreviation for a laugh. And there is an extraordinary number of smileys to the "vomit" and "army soldier" smileys. There is even a SARA smiley.
After QQ, there is another, perhaps more widespread messaging trend. You guessed it --- cell phone text messaging. I now understand how useful text messaging is and why it is so common. I admit that I have been guilty of sending text messages while walking outside or sitting on the subway. Who hasn't ? No matter where I go, I see people on their cell phones, messaging. In fact, it's rare to see someone actually talking on their phone!
So it looks as if there is no escape from the instant messaging crazes, no matter where in the world I go. And that's plainly not going to change. In the end, though, I can't complain: instant messaging is quick, it's cheap, it's easy and it's extremely fun too. And after all, everyone's doing it. | high570.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "He thought his son should have known all the presents were sent by him, not Santa Claus."
},
"options": [
"He felt sorry he forgot to prepare presents for his son.",
"He thought his son should have known all the presents were sent ... | Parents divorced, little Buddy was in the care of his mother's large Alabama family. Over the years, Buddy seldom saw either of his parents. But he was happy where he was and he had many kindly s, among whom Miss Sook was by far his best friend. Before Christmas, Buddy's father had managed to get legal custody of him for this Christmas. So, he had a new suit, with a card pinned with his name and address and made the trip alone, by bus, to New Orleans.
Several things occurred that kept me awake the whole night. First, the footfalls, the noise of my father running up and down the stairs, breathing heavily, I had to see what he was up to. So I hid and watched. There was a Christmas tree and the fireplace downstairs. Moreover, I could see my father. He was crawling around under the tree arranging a pyramid of packages. I felt dizzy, for what I saw forced me to reconsider everything. If these were presents intended for me, then obviously they had not been ordered by the Lord and delivered by Santa Claus; no, they were gifts bought and wrapped by my father. Which meant that my rotten little cousin Billy Bob and other rotten kids like him weren't lying when they laughed at me and told me there was no Santa Claus. The worst thought was: Had Sook known the truth, and lied to me? No, Sook would never lie to me. She believed. It was just that--well, though she was sixty-something, in some ways she was at least as much of a child as I was.
I waited until I was sure he was in bed and sound asleep. Then I crept downstairs and examined the tags attached to each of the packages. They all said: "For Buddy." I decided to open the packages: It was Christmas morning. I was awake, so why not? I won't bother to describe what was inside them: just shirts and sweaters and dull stuff like that. The only thing I appreciated was a toy gun. Somehow I got the idea it would be fun to waken my father by firing it. So I did. Bang. Bang. Bang. He raced out of his room, wild-eyed, Bang. Bang. Bang. "Buddy--what the hell do you think you're doing? Bang. Bang. Bang. "Stop that!" I laughed. " Look, Daddy. Look at all wonderful things Santa Claus brought me."
Calm now, he walked into the room and hugged me. "You like what Santa Claus brought you?"
I smiled at him. He smiled at me. There was a tender lingering moment, damaged when I said: "Yes. But what are you going to give me, Daddy?" His smile evaporated. His eyes narrowed suspiciously--you could see that he thought I was pulling some kind of trick. But then he blushed, as though he was ashamed to be thinking what he was thinking. He patted my head, and coughed and said: "Well, I thought I'd wait and let you pick out something you wanted. Is there anything particular you want?"
I reminded him of the airplane we had seen in the toy store on Canal Street. His face sagged. Oh, yes, he remembered the airplane and how expensive it was. Nevertheless, the next day I was sitting in that airplane dreaming I was zooming toward heaven while my father wrote out a check for a happy salesman, who promised to help ship the plane on the bus.
But I wasn't free of New Orleans yet. The problem was a large bottle of wine; maybe it was because of my departure, but anyway my father had been drinking it all day, and on the way to the bus station, he scared me by grabbing my wrist and harshly whispering: "I'm not going to let you go. I can't let you go back to that crazy family in that crazy old house. Just look at what they've done to you. A boy six, almost seven, talking about Santa Claus! It's all their fault, all those sour old spinsters with their Bibles and their knitting needles, those drunken uncles. Listen to me, Buddy. There is no God! There is no Santa Claus." He was squeezing my wrist so hard that it ached. "Kiss me. Please. Please. Kiss me. Tell your daddy that you love him." But I couldn't speak. I was terrified I was going to miss my bus. And I was worried about my plane, which was strapped to the top of the taxi. "Say it: 'I love you.' Say it. Please. Buddy. Say it."
It was lucky for me that our taxi-driver was a good-hearted man. Because if it hadn't been for his help, and the help of some efficient porters and a friendly policeman, I don't know what would have happened when we reached the station. My father was so drunk he could hardly walk, but the policeman talked to him, quieted him down, helped him to stand straight, and the taxi-man promised to take him safely home. But my father would not leave until he had seen the porters put me on the bus.
Once I was on the bus, I crouched in a seat and shut my eyes. I felt the strangest pain. A crushing pain that hurt everywhere. I thought if I took off my heavy city shoes, those crucifying monsters, the agony would ease. I took them off, but the mysterious pain did not leave me. In a way it never has; never will.
Twelve hours later I was home in bed. The room was dark. Sook was sitting beside me, rocking in a rocking chair, a sound as soothing as ocean waves. I had tried to tell her everything that had happened, and only stopped when I was hoarse as a howling dog. She stroked her fingers through my hair, and said: "Of course there is a Santa Clause. It's just that no single somebody could do all he has to do. So the Lord has spread the task among us all. That's why everybody is Santa Claus. I am. You are. Even you cousin Billy Bob. Now go to sleep. Count stars. Think of the quietest thing. Like snow. I'm sorry you didn't get to see any. But now snow is falling through the stars--" Stars sparkled, snow whirled inside my head; the last thing I remembered was the peaceful voice of the Lord telling me something I must do. And the next day I did it. I went with Sook to the post office and bought a penny postcard. That same postcard exists today. It was found in my father's safety deposit box when he died last year. Here is what I had written him: Hello pop hope you are well I am and I am turning to pedal my plane so fast I will soon be in the sky so keep your eyes open and yes I love you Buddy. | high19930.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The scientists think possession obsessions help people get self-respect."
},
"options": [
"Terrorism is believed to easily cause the rise of materialism.",
"The materialistic find terrorism and war more stressful than others.",
... | Retail therapy has long been considered as a good way to let off stress. Now, US scientists have discovered not only does retail therapy exist,but that it could be caused by an individual's fear of sudden death.
Researchers found materialistic people thought terrorism and war more stressful than others.
Psychologists believe the rise of materialism around the world and its treatment effect on extreme stress might be a response to fear of death caused by acts of terrorism, disease and natural disasters.
The scientists from Michigan State University said people with possession obsessions often have lower self-esteem than others so are more likely to shop as the result of severe psychological suffering.
Ayalla Ruvio,a business professor studying people's shopping habits while rockets fell in Israel, said, "When the going gets tough, the materialistic people go shopping. This stress spending is likely to produce even greater stress and lower well-being. Essentially, materialism appears to make bad events even worse.
Dr Ruvio led a two-part study of Israeli citizens living in a town that came under extreme rocket attacks for about six months in 2007. She compared 139 residents of the southern town with 170 from another town that was not under attack to see how their symptoms of post-traumatic stress and shopping habits varied. Dr Ruvio found that, when faced with a deadly threat, those who are highly materialistic suffered much higher levels of stress,while their tendency to shop was increased.
Dr Ruvio said, "The relationship between materialism and stress may be more harmful than commonly thought."
The second stage of their research surveyed 855 Americans about their materialistic nature and fear of death. They found shopping was used to relieve feelings of stress and anxiety about death but this was in response to fear of a variety of life-threatening events like car accidents, criminal attacks and natural disasters. | high5282.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "He wanted to go out to the movies."
},
"options": [
"He thought it rude of him to go with the family.",
"He didn't understand what the host-mom said.",
"He changed his mind after saying \"Yes.\"",
"He wanted to go out t... | There was a Bulgarian boy who was an exchange student in the USA. He lived with an American family. One day, he went to his room in the evening, and did his homework. His host-mom came to him and asked if he would like to go along to the movies. He wanted to go, so he shook his head from side to side, said "Yes". His host-mom did a couple of steps back, and looked puzzled.
She thought that he didn't want to go out because he shook his head from side to side. However, he wanted to go out to the movies. Bulgarians shake their heads from side to side when they mean "yes". People in other countries shake their heads from side to side when they mean "no".
Gestures can have different meanings according to different cultures. For example, in America, putting your index finger and your thumb in a circle is commonly used as an OK sign that means everything is all right. However, in France, that sign is used to express "nothing" or "zero", which can have a negative meaning.
Generally speaking, gestures are a type of communication that uses a part of our body, and when speaking with people from other cultures, gestures can be important keys or clues to understand them. However, we need to understand that those gestures vary from culture to culture, and it is necessary for us to have an open mind in understanding the different gestures. | high20169.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The society hasn't done enough for old people."
},
"options": [
"China has entered an aged society.",
"All people in the society should care for the old.",
"Old people's active living ways have a good effect on the young.",
... | Chinese people are now living happier and longer than before. According to the latest study, the number of people over 60 years old is 130 million, making up 10 percent of the whole population, and increases at a rate of 3 percent per year. This marks that China has stepped into the aged society. It is the Chinese tradition to respect, love, support, and help old people, and the aging problem has received more and more attention from the society.
China has built the system to protect and serve old people's legal rights and interests, gradually developed social insurance, public health services and social welfare projects for old people, and also applied the minimum living standard protection system for the aged who are unable to work and receive no supports. Now, China is bringing the aging problem into the work of sustainable development according to China's conditions, to build and develop a social security system for old people, set up a system combined with the state, collectives and families to solve the problem of "the elderly should be provided for". The life of China's old people is more color1ful along with the fast and sound economic development of the country.
Old people in today's China who don't have to consider their food and clothing hope to live more color1fully. The happy psychology of the aged makes them _ knowledge. Strong and healthy old people can be seen everywhere of the country. They learn new knowledge, surf the Internet, practice handwriting and drawing, and take part in fashion shows, exercises and entertainments. Their active and sound living attitude encourages the youth around and they are in fact an important role in ensuring a stable and peaceful society. | high21277.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "it is the way of processing emails that makes you feel stressed."
},
"options": [
"it is the emails you get daily that puts you under pressure.",
"it is the way of processing emails that makes you feel stressed.",
"it is nece... | Few people would disagree that email makes our lives easier. But misusing email can cause problems. And I'm not talking about hitting the "reply all" button when you didn't mean to.
Answering all those emails and processing all that information can overload the brain,causing stress.
So says the Future Work Centre, a business based in London.This company carries out psychological research on people's experiences in their workplaces.
The centre's Richard MacKinnon was the lead writer of a report on messaging habits. He calls email a double-edged sword. In other works,email can be both good and bad. Americans also use the saying cuts both ways for something like a double-edged sword.
But back to the culture of emailing,Emails provide a useful way to communicate. But they could add to tension in the mind,causing stress. Come rain or shine, some office workers are under pressure to read and answer emails all day long.
Jonathan Rowe has on office job in London. His complaint is a common one:too many emails.
He says reading work emails when you're at home blurs the boundaries between work and leisure.
Psychologists are concemed about the pressure that workers bring on themselves. Dr. Richard MacKinnon spoke with VOA News on Skype.
He says that email can be a valuable, time-saving communication tool. But it can also be a source of stress and even anger for many of us. He adds that the stress does not come from the number of emails you get. The problems result from when and how you deal with them.
According to the study,there are two very stressful email behaviors. One is leaving email on all day-and never signing off. The other is reading and answering emails early in the day and late at night.
Which jobs are most affected by email stress?
But not all jobs are equally stressed by email. The jobs most affected by email stress are:
* marketing,
* public relations,
* media and
* Information Technology
Educational experts have also written several reports on how email overloads are stressing out teachers.
Ways to cut down on your email stress
MacKinnon says bad email behaviors are linked to higher levels of stress in office workers. The Future Work Centre report gives several suggestions on avoiding email stress.
*Use email with a plan. Do not just react to endless email alerts. If you use an email application, or app ,on your device, close it down when you want to be left alone.
*If you need to communicate with a co-worker,call or better still walk to their office and talk about it.
*Be careful with the "reply all" option. For example, if you are accepting an invitation to attend training, just write back to those who need to know. Trust me. Other workers on that mailing list will thank you.
*And accept the fact that if a matter is urgent employers will call you about it.
The Future Work Centre report claims that in 2014, people sent an estimated 196.3 billion emails. The average adult spent more than an hour a day answering emails.
Email is certainly not going anywhere. So, it is important to control your emails and not the other way around. | high19924.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Because Elijah has beautiful hair."
},
"options": [
"Because Elijah has beautiful hair.",
"Because she likes long hair.",
"Because Elijah looks nice with long hair.",
"Because she wants to donate his hair to charity."
... | By the age of almost four, Elijah Edney has never had a haircut in his life. But now he can ' t wait to visit the barber's - for two reasons: losing his two - foot - long golden hair will mean that strangers stop mistaking him for a girl; the hair will be donated to charity to provide a wig for a child with cancer.
Mrs. Edney, who works in a restaurant, says, "Elijah has always had beautiful hair, so I let him grow it as he w8nted. It' s like silk. But now it is at a stage where people mistake him for a girl and he wants it cut into a boy's haircut. "
Mrs. Edney and her husband want to collect enough money-PS350-to process Elijah's hair for a sick child. She says, "I couldn't bear to see all Elijah's beautiful hair go to waste and my mum mentioned charities that have human hair made into wigs. "
Mrs. Edney says, "If we can raise the amount we want, it will mean a family will not have to pay for the wig and can receive it for free. When you've got children yourself, you hope that if they lost their hair someone would do the same for them by donating their hair. "
The two-foot-long hair will be donated to the Little Princess Trust to make a wig for children suffering cancer. Elijah keeps telling people he is giving his hair to poor princesses and he is so excited about it.
A spokesman for the Little Princess Trust says, "We're very grateful to anyone who decides to have their hair cut to donate it to the Little Princess Trust. As a result of hair donations like this, the charity receives real-hair wigs for free to pass on to families whose children have sadly lost their own hair through cancer treatment. " | high5296.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "What to Blog about"
},
"options": [
"What to Blog about",
"How to Start a Blog",
"Why to Launch a Blog",
"How to Make Website Attractive"
],
"question": "Which is the best title for the text?",
"question_typ... | A blog can be a very effective way of spreading the words about yourself, and your other writing. It can _ your knowledge, and create an ongoing relationship with your readers. A good blog is more than just a marketing tool; it's also an expression of your personality.
An obvious starting point is to post samples of your work that not only show off your skills and writing ability but also leave people wanting more. Post elections from the most exciting parts of your stories but end them just as the action reaches its peak. If you write nonfiction , show people what they could achieve, and give them a few steps to get them started.
Give tips, information and advice about the subjects you cover. For example, something about struggling with difficulty and many other issues like this. Your writing tips can also be included, as well as interesting, strange or funny things you discovered during your research. Whenever you contact an expert, ask if he or she has any interesting stories you could use. You many also give background information about your stories and locations
Give details of coming posts on your blog, so people can watch out for you, or come and meet you. Personal news will help people feel better connected to you Include photos of objects and locations in your writing, famous people you meet, the views from your window, and your favorite things - with a note about where they came from and what they mean to you. Look out for things that will help your readers get to know you better, know the subject better, or anything else you think they might find useful, inspiring or entertaining.
If you only occasionally post things on your blog, people have a tendency to forget you. As a writer you shouldn't ever run out of interesting materials to fill your blog with --and your readers will love you for it. | high4188.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Amelia was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic alone"
},
"options": [
"Amelia was a woman pilot",
"She set a record for the flight",
"Amelia was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic alone",
"Amelia was able... | The year was 1932. Amelia Earhart was flying alone from North America to England in a small single--engine airplane. At midnight, several hours after she had left Newfoundland, she ran into bad weather. To make things worse, her altimeter failed.(The altimeter shows the height of the plane above the ground.) At night and in a storm, a pilot is in great difficulty without an altimeter. At times, her plane nearly plunged into the Atlantic Ocean.
Just before daylight, there was further trouble. Amelia noticed flames coming from the engine. Would she be able to reach land? There was nothing to do except to keep going and to hope.
Amelia Earhart did reach Ireland, and for the courage she had shown, she was warmly welcomed in England and the rest of Europe. When she returned to the United States, she was honored by President Hoover at a special dinner in the White House. From that time on, Amelia Earhart became famous.
What was so important about her flight? Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly the Atlantic Ocean alone, and she set a record of fourteen hours and fifty-six minutes. | high21263.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Malecon<La Paz<Baja California Sur"
},
"options": [
"Malecon<La Paz<Baja California Sur",
"La Paz<Baja Calitbmia Sur<Malecon",
"Malccon<Baja California Sur<La Paz",
"Baja California Sur<Malecon<La Paz"
],
"quest... | 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. | high17909.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "eyesight"
},
"options": [
"eyesight",
"land",
"wealth",
"knowledge"
],
"question": ". Thousands of years ago, people observed the stars with the limitation of their _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions... | Astronomy is the oldest science known to man. Thousands of years ago man looked at the stars and wondered about the heavens. But man was limited by what he could see with his eyes alone.
The Greeks studied astronomy over 2,000 years ago. They could see the size, color, and brightness of a star. They could see its place in the sky. They watched the stars move as the seasons changed. But the Greeks had no tools to help themselves study the heavens.
Each new tool added to the field of astronomy helped man reach out into space. They did not know that the planet called Saturn had rings around it. Their sight was so limited that they could not see all the planets. In the early 1700s, people thought there were only six planets. Nepture , the last of eight planets to be discovered, was not seen until 1846.
Before the spectroscope , man did not know what kind of gases was in the sun or other stars. Without the radio telescope, we didn't know that radio noises came from far out in space.
Today, astronomy is a growing science. We had learned more in the last fifty years than in the whole history of astronomy. | high6947.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The Mysterious Iceman"
},
"options": [
"What Life Was Like Five Thousand Years Ago",
"The Frightened Tourist",
"The Mysterious Iceman",
"The Mystery of the Alps"
],
"question": "The best title for this passage m... | Put yourself in these tourists' position. You are walking an icy mountain path in the Alps in Europe. Suddenly you spot a body on the ground,face downward and stuck to the ice. You think someone may have been murdered or in an accident. So you rush back and call the police. The police,however,quickly realize that this body is different from others they've found on the mountain. For one thing,it is mostly undamaged. For another,its skin is dried out,like a mummy's. And with it is a knife with a small stone knife.
The body turned out to be much older than the tourists could have guessed. When specialists had a chance to examine it,they discovered it had been there for about five thousand years!
How could a body stay preserved for all this time?Two things probably helped. First,the place where the man died was somewhat sheltered,so animals couldn't get at it. Then he was quickly covered by falling snow. Wind blowing through the snow probably "freezedried" his body,removing all _ from it.
Objects found with the body told something about the Iceman's life. He wore a thick fur overcoat and trousers. He clearly had been hunting,for he carried arrows,and animal bones were nearby. He also had a grass cushion for sitting or sleeping on. Perhaps he was exhausted when he lay down for the last time. The body was found in 1991,when some of the ice on the mountain melted. Searching for the cause of the Iceman's death,scientists put the body back into cold conditions and hoped... | high23474.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "worn by being exposed to the weather"
},
"options": [
"widely recognized as a symbol of the U.K. government.",
"surrounded by many repair projects",
"worn by being exposed to the weather",
"well maintained and in excell... | The United States Capitol Dome in Washington, DC, is recognized around the world as a symbol of the U.S. Government. Since last November, the dome has been surrounded by metal poles and heavy cloth as part of a repair project.
The last major repair work on the U.S. Capitol took place in 1960. Since then, the dome has become weathered and worn. The Architect of the Capitol group reports that the dome has more than 1,000 narrow breaks on its surface and other damage.
The dome was completed around 1863. U. S. Senate Historian Don Ritchie says the dome's cast iron frame is at special risk of weathering. "The capitol dome, being cast iron, has been hit by lightning countless times. And so the current construction is to repair the leaks, to fill the cracks, to take off extra layers of paint."
Some recent visitors to the Capitol were unhappy about its current appearance. They had hoped to get a picture of the usually shining dome. Joyce said, "It was impressive, and very fantastic, and all white, but when I come here today, it is under construction so my family cannot see it clearly, it is kind of a disappointment."
Others were more understanding of the repairs. Rick Jones, another visitor, said, "It's a little inconvenient for us not to see the dome but you have to think about the future and the people will be coming to this place for centuries...and you know ,there just needs to be preventive maintenance . I am not upset with that at all."
The project is expected to take more than two years to complete. The dome should be ready for a new president in January 2017. | high12871.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "horse"
},
"options": [
"dog",
"horse",
"parent",
"child"
],
"question": "Molly is the name of a _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text... | Wherever she goes, Molly leaves her mark. Without saying a word, she speaks to people with her kind eyes. Even when she walks away, she leaves an impression.Molly's mark is a smile, stamped into the ground by the horseshoe at the bottom of her false leg.
A few years ago, Molly was badly attacked by a dog.The dog bit all four of Molly's legs and left large cuts in her face. Molly's owner, Kate Harris, took her to an animal hospital.Doctors there were able to save Molly's life, but soon one of her legs became very infected .
At first, doctors thought Molly would have to be put to sleep.But Molly changed their minds. This pony, doctors noticed, shifted her weight, and rested her good leg from time to time. Doctors knew that Molly had amazing intelligence, and that she wanted to live.
Several doctors operated on Molly, and removed her infected leg. A false leg was made for her. The leg was a hollow cast with a pole at the bottom for balance. Doctors gave Molly a special horseshoe at the bottom of the leg. This horseshoe she had had a stamp of a smile face in it!
After the operation, Molly walked around on all four legs, as if nothing had ever happened to her! Now, with every step she takes, she stamps a smile in the dirt.But she leaves her m ark in other ways, too.
Kaye Harris took Molly to the false leg center. There were children there who, like Molly, had artificial arms or legs. They were amazed to see a pony with a false leg. Molly made them smile and gave them hope. Soon, Molly began to visit schools, nursing homes, army bases and hospitals. A book was even written about Molly! | high564.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "he thought highly of Jordan's deeds"
},
"options": [
"he thought highly of Jordan's deeds",
"he hated to see Jordan do something bad",
"he believed it was time to help the disabled",
"he felt sure he needn't keep the pr... | I promised Michael I wouldn't mention this until the season was over.Now l think it's time.
Early last season, I wrote a column about an art of kindness I had seen Jordan do to a disabled child outside the stadium.After it ran,I got a call from a man in the western suburbs.He said,"I read what you wrote about Jordan.but I thought I should tell you another thing I saw."
Here it comes, I thought. It always does. Write something nice about a person, and people call you up to say that the person is not so nice.
A few weeks later Jordan and I were talking about something else before a game, and I brought up what the man had said. Was the man right? Had Jordan really been talking to those two boys in that poor and dirty neighborhood?
"Not two boys," Jordan said. "But four."
And he named them. He said four names. And what did they talk about?
"Everything," Jordan said. " Anything. I've asked to see their grades so that I can check to see if they're paying attention to their study. If it turns out that one or two of them may need teaching, I make sure they get it."
It's just one more part of Michael Jordan's life,one more thing that no one knows about, and one more thing Jordan does fight for. The NBA season is over now, and those boys have their memories. So do J! When the expert reviewers begin to turn against Jordan as they surely will, I'll think about those boys under the streetlight, waiting for the man they know to come. For someone they can depend on. | high15878.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "the rule should be followed flexibly"
},
"options": [
"the rule should be followed flexibly",
"he supports the rule completely",
"to keep fit is the most important thing",
"anyone who breaks the rule should be caught"
... | City officials in South Jakarta must now cycle when performing their duties.in a move to help _ pollution and global warming."They can own a car and drive to work,but they must cycle when traveling to do their work",South Jakarta city spokesman Ahmad Sotar said,"This is compulsory.Cycling will not only reduce pollution and global warming,but also promote good health."He added,"The official can also get to know their residents better since now they call cycle through the narrow alleyways to reach their home.They can't do so if they drive".
South Jakarta, the second--largest of five cities making up greater Jakarta, covers an area of 145 square kilometers and has 2.5 million residents.Over 200 officials in 10 sub.districts and 65 villages have been told about the new rule.Supporting the move,Meruyuny Village chief Selamat Aryadi said cycling would keep officials fit."I don't mind buying a bike.But there must be some exceptions. What will happen if there is a big fire or landslide which I need to attend urgently? I may be late for everything,"he said with a quiet laugh."I think if it,s raining heavily it makes more sense for me to drive.I just hope 1 won't get caught,"he added.
Sotar said the officials do not have to cycle to attend to emergency calls."But it is no excuse to say they are too old and sick to cycle.That means they are also too old and sick to perform their duties so they should be replaced,"he said:"We will ask the residents to be our eyes and ears and tell us if the officials cycle or drive."Sotar said. | high23312.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "led to as many as 33 deaths in all"
},
"options": [
"led to as many as 33 deaths in all",
"was a shooting one by a group of people",
"was due to students owning personal guns",
"was not open to the public for the moment... | The police Tuesday identified the suspect of the Virginia Tech shooting as Cho Seung-Hui, a native of South Korea,who killed 32 people before taking his own life Monday.
"He was a 23-year-old South Korean here in the U.S.as a foreign university student." Flinchum said at a press conference held at Blacksburg, Virginia where the university is located.
Cho was an undergraduate student in his senior year majoring in English,Flinchum said.He lived on campus at Harper Hall and his residence was established in Centreville,Virginia outside Washington.
Meanwhile,Colonel Steve Flaherty,Superintendent of Virginia State Police, said the same gun was used in the two shootings at the university,suggesting there was only one gunman.
Previous reports had said there was a possible second gunman still at large .
A total of two attacks took place at Virginia Tech Monday.The first attack happened at a dormitory around 7:15 a.m. and left two people dead, while the second attack took place at the campus two hours later.
A total of 33 people, including the gunman,were killed in the worst campus shooting rampage in U.S. history.
Virginia Tech President Charles Steger said earlier Tuesday that all classes for the rest of the week had been cancelled.
Before today,the deadliest campus shooting in the country took place in 1 966 at the University of Texas in Austin,in which 17 people,including the gunman,were killed.
Founded in 1872, the state university has more than 25,000 full-time students.The school is best known for its engineering school and its powerful football team. | high21505.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "ask for help"
},
"options": [
"offer advice",
"tell a story",
"avoid nightmares",
"ask for help"
],
"question": "The author writes to Cary in order to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
... | Dear Cary,
I'm writing because I've understood you've struggled with alcoholism . I've been fighting mine ever since I went through 9-11. After that, I've been more or less useless. Professionally, I'm a lawyer, and have had to leave my job because I passed out , drunk in front of my computer. I've taken some medicine and it has helped somewhat. I can manage about a month without drinking, but after that I end up having a crazy stage where nothing matters except drinking. After a week or so of heavy drinking, I start having nightmares of people jumping. After that, it's a week of not being able to get out of bed.
I was supposed to travel to a conference but didn't make it because I got so drunk at the airport that I fell down on my face and spent the rest of the day in the emergency room. I have been hiding from my family since then. Fortunately they won't be expecting me to come back for a week or so. Otherwise, they would notice the bump on my forehead and two black eyes.
I don't really know what I'm asking you about. Cary, I need a way out that doesn't cause pain to my family. I'm taking medicine, but I still have these attacks every few months. If there's alcohol in the house, I can't stay away from it. It seems that this will never end. I'm worried about what will happen if something bad happens, like a family member dying, or getting fired again.
Thanks for reading.
Yours T | high18384.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "they have difficulty finding qualified personnel at home"
},
"options": [
"they have difficulty finding qualified personnel at home",
"they find foreign employees are usually more talented",
"they need original ideas from emp... | Interest in pursuing international careers has soared (increased sharply) in recent years, enhanced by chronic (lasting) personnel shortages that are causing companies to search beyond their home borders for talents.
Professionals seek career experience outside of their home countries for a variety of reasons. They may feel the need to recharge their batteries with a new challenge. They may want a position with more responsibility that encourages creativity and initiative. Or they may wish to expose their children to another culture, and the opportunity to learn a second language.
When applying for a job, one usually has to submit (present--v.) a resume or curriculum vitae (CV). The two terms generally mean the same thing: a one-or two-page document describing one's educational qualifications and professional experience. However, guidelines for preparing a resume are constantly changing. The best advice is to find out what is appropriate regarding the corporate (company) culture, the country culture, and the culture of the person making the hiring decision. The challenge will be to embrace (include) two or more cultures in one document. The following list is a good place to start.
* "Educational requirements differ from country to country. In almost every case of 'cross-border' job hunting, just stating the title of your degree will not mean adequate description. Provide the reader with details about your studies and any related experience."
*Pay attention to the resume format you use--chronological or reverse-chronological order. Chronological order means listing your 'oldest' work experience first. Reverse-chronological order means listing your current or most recent experience first. Most countries have preferences about which format is most acceptable. If you find no specific guidelines, the general preference is for the reverse-chronological format.
*If you are submitting your resume in English, find out if the recipient uses British English or American English because there are variations between the two versions. For example, university education is often referred to as 'tertiary education' in the United Kingdom, but this term is almost never used in the United States. A reader who is unfamiliar with these variations may assume that your resume contains errors. | high4836.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "parents"
},
"options": [
"teachers",
"students",
"kids",
"parents"
],
"question": "The passage is written for _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
... | Large wall posters for kids. Your kids will love these cool posters by artist Darla Daly--zebras boarding in the skateboard park, a group of jungle animals playing in the playground and two giraffes taking a drive in the city. Your kids will enjoy decorating their bedroom walls with these posters and their friends will think they are the coolest!
Displaying 1 to 4 (of 4 products) | high15850.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "It may have a negative effect on creative work."
},
"options": [
"It makes everybody time-conscious.",
"It is a convenience for work and life.",
"It may have a negative effect on creative work.",
"It clearly indicates t... | When it's five o'clock, people leave their office. The length of the workday, for many workers, is defined by time. They leave when the clock tells them they're done.
These days, the time is everywhere: not just on clocks or watches, but on cell-phones and computers. That may be a bad thing, particularly at work. New research shows that clock-based work schedules hinder morale and creativity.
Clock-timers organize their day by blocks of minutes and hours. For example: a meeting from 9 am to 10 a.m., research from 10 a.m. to noon, etc. On the other hand, task-timers have a list of things they want to accomplish. They work down the list, each task starts when the previous task is completed. It is said that all of us employ a mix of both these types of planning.
What, then, are the effects of thinking about time in these different ways? Does one make us more productive? Better at the tasks at hand? Happier? In experiments conducted by Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier, they had participants organize different activities--from project planning, holiday shopping, to yoga--by time or to-do list to measure how they performed under "clock time" vs "task time." They found clock timers to be more efficient but less happy because they felt little control over their lives. Task timers are happier and more creative, but less productive. They tend to enjoy the moment when something good is happening, and seize opportunities that come up.
The researchers argue that task-based organizing tends to be undervalued and under-supported in the business culture. Smart companies, they believe, will try to bake more task-based planning into their strategies.
This might be a small change to the way we view work and the office, but the researchers argue that it challenges a widespread characteristic of the economy: work organized by clock time. While most people will still probably need,and be, to some extent, clock-timers, task-based timing should be used when performing a job that requires more creativity. It'll make those tasks easier, and the task-doers will be happier. | high14596.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because they can hide their secrets from the authorities."
},
"options": [
"Because \"Martian language\" can make them smart.",
"Because they want to practise their foreign languages together.",
"Because they just want to hav... | The so-called post-90s generation have become even much "cooler" than the 1980s group, for they can speak "Martian language", a difficult code-like language created by themselves. And they probably think it very original and smart.
The idea of this language is to prevent the authorities- parents and teachers- from understanding what is said.
Ms. Li, mother of a 15-year-old girl, logged onto her daughter's online space and found lines of codes, mixed English, Japanese and half-finished Chinese characters, which looked completely meaningless to her. Her daughter told her that it was "Martian language" and her _ all used it.
The new language is becoming very popular in online spaces- so much so that even some translating software has been created to translate the normal language into "Martian language".
A 14-year-old netizen, nicknamed "S. _ Tangguo", explained that the language could be created by anyone. "At first, I just copied the language form other people's articles. Later , I began to create some words by myself. I split some Chinese characters, or use words that have similar pronunciations to interchange with each other, or even add some English, Japanese or Korean words into my article, and that makes the new language. My classmates all chat in 'Martian language'. It's in style and can help us hide our secrets from our parents or teachers."
Unlike the worried parents, some experts have found positive aspects in the spread of this unusual online language. Wang Haiyong, a psychologist ,said that there's no need to be too worried about the phenomenon. This so-called "Martian language" is just a little hobby of the post-90s generation. On the other hand, the new language can inspire children's imaginations, which is a good thing. However, Wang also advised teachers and parents to give proper guidance to their children, helping them better distinguish between online language and the normative language of real life. | high22024.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "they have other devices to tell the time"
},
"options": [
"they have other devices to tell the time",
"they think watches are too expensive",
"they have little sense of time now",
"they prefer to wear an iPod on their w... | When I was seven, my father gave me a Timex, my first watch. I loved it, wore it for years, and haven't had another one since it stopped ticking a decade ago. Why? Because I don't need one. I have a mobile phone and I'm always near someone with an iPod or something like that. All these
tell the time -- which is why, if you look around, you'll see lots of empty wrists ; sales of watches to young adults have been going down since 2007.
But while these wise people have realized that they don't need them, others -- including some distinguished ones of our time -- are spending total fortunes on them. Brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Breitling command shocking prices, up to PS 250.000 for a piece.
This is ridiculous. Expensive cars go faster than cheap cars. Expensive clothes hang better than cheap clothes. But these days, all watches tell the time as well as all other watches. Yes, you may say expensive watches will come with some extra functions -- but who needs them? How often do you dive to 300 metres into the sea to test its function of waterproof, or need to find your direction in the area around the South Pole by using its compass? So why pay that much of five years' school fees for watches that allow you to do these things?
If justice were done, the Swiss watch industry should have closed down when the Japanese discovered how to make accurate watches for a five-pound note. Instead, the Swiss re-invented the watch, with the aid of millions of pounds' worth of advertising, as a message about the man ---- usually a famous star, wearing it. Rolexes are for those who spend their weekends climbing icy mountains; a Patek Philippe is for one from a rich or noble family; a Breitling suggests you like to pilot planes across the world.
Watches are classified as "investment items" now. A 1994 Philippe recently sold for nearly PS 350, 000, while 1960s Rolexes have gone from 15, 000 to 30, 000 plus in a year. But, to some wealthy people, a watch is more than an investment. It's a valuable toy for self-satisfaction, a matter of fashion. Prices may keep going up -- they've been rising for fifteen years. But when fashion moves on, the owner of that PS 350, 000 treasured object will suddenly find his pride and joy is no more a good investment than my childhood Times. | high15688.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "choose a good city without snowstorm"
},
"options": [
"stop in the south",
"choose a good city without snowstorm",
"be trapped in the storm",
"wait for two or three hours"
],
"question": "When making a flight co... | Flight cancellations and loss of luggage can ruin even the best-planned holiday. The key to a stress-free trip is having a backup plan.
Fly non-stop. The worst problems involve connections, so it is important to take non-stop flights whenever possible. If you do have to make a connection, try to route through a southern city, where snowstorms and de-icing delays will be less likely. Always allow at least two to three hours for flight connections.
Check the weather. Check the weather in your connecting city, not just the arrival and departure city. If your departure flight is cancelled because of weather, you can go home or back to your hotel. Airlines promise to get you on the next available flight, not the next flight. That could be several days later on a sold-out holiday weekend.
Go early. The earlier in the day you fly, the better your chance of getting rebooked the same day after a missed connection. It will also put you ahead of stranded passengers who arrive later.
Rebook immediately. As soon as your flight is delayed or cancelled, get on the phone and rebook your flight instead of waiting at the ticket counter. If your rebooking is delayed, call or ask your travel agent to find a seat on another carrier, and then ask your original carrier to endorse your ticket to the new airline. Airlines are not required to do this but often do. Learn more at www. dot. gov/ airconsumer/ fly-rights.
Ship bags. A few days before your flight, ship suitcases or holiday gifts to your destination by a documented express service. It's preferable to losing bags because of re-routed flights and sometimes cheaper than paying airline overweight bag fees.
Know your rights. Airlines are not required to
passengers for delayed or cancelled flights, but it never hurts to ask for goodwill vouchers for meals, taxis or a room. | high16381.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "How people can improve their self-esteem."
},
"options": [
"Self-esteem plays an important role in life.",
"What self-esteem means",
"How people can improve their self-esteem.",
"What people with healthy self-esteem are... | Self-esteem is all about how much we feel valued,accepted and thought well of by others---and how much we value,love and accept ourselves.Poeple with healthy self-esteem are able to feel good about themselves,appreciate their own worth,and take pride in their abilities,skills,and accomplishments with others,feel happier,find it easier to deal with low self-esteem may feel as if no one will like them or accept them or that they can't do well in anything.
Here are some steps that may help improve your self-esteem:
Try to stop Try to thinking about negative thoughts about yourself.If you're used to focusing on your shortcomings,start thinking about positive aspects of yourself that outwheigh _ .Each day,write down three things about yourself that make you happy.it is good to aim high,but your goals should be within reach.That's why you should set pratical goals and never expect the impossible.Mistakes are part of learning,so view mistakes as learning opportunities.Accept that you will make mistakes because everyone does.Also, you should recognize what you can change and what you can't.if you realize that you're unhappy with something about yourself that you can change, then start today.If it's something you can't change(like your height),then start to work toward loving yourself the way you are.Feeling like you're making a difffference and that your help is valued can do wonders to improve self-esteem.So don't hesitate to make a contribution.Help a classmate who's having trouble,help clean up your campus,or volunteer your time in some other way.
Self-esteem plays a role in almost everything you do.It's never to be late to build healthy positive self-esteem.It takes some work,but healthy self-esteem is an asset you'll have for life. | high10928.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "forget how lucky you are"
},
"options": [
"make a difference in the world",
"express yourself",
"find your life purpose",
"forget how lucky you are"
],
"question": "Through service you can do all of the followin... | Sometimes when we are lost in the day-to-day activities of life and work, we forget there is a part of us that wants to serve and make a difference in the world. It is also a good time to look for ways to express yourself through service to others.
Most people want to live a life full of meaning. If you recognize you have a true desire to serve, voluntary work in the community and a spirit of giving can lead you to an understanding of what you care about, what your natural talents are, and what your life purpose is. It can start you on the path to a new life.
To live your purpose as fully as possible, use your natural gifts when you serve others. If you are a naturally-born teacher, you could teach students who are struggling with basic reading skills. If you are good at encouraging people, you could visit people who are sick or in nursing home.
Many of us forget how luck we are and how much support we have. When we reach out to others, we sometimes realize how our lives have been blessed. When you are aware of all the blessing that you have received, you can understand your true ability to make a difference.
Service is a spirit for living as well as a set of actions. You live your life purpose every day. It's not just when you are volunteering at church or the local food bank. It's every time you interact with anyone. Through your actions, your words and your smiles, you have the capability to either uplift someone or put them down. Meaningful, purposeful lives are built every moment, not just in isolated times spent volunteering. Whether it's at work, in traffic, in the line at the grocery store, or at a concert, you have an opportunity to serve or change the world. Your efforts don't have to be extraordinary, but your life certainly will be. | high20633.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The greatly increasing usage of the Internet."
},
"options": [
"His dream if being an inventor.",
"The support of his wife.",
"The greatly increasing usage of the Internet.",
"Millions of exciting titles."
],
"q... | Cleverness is a gift while kindness is a choice. Gifts are easy---they're given after all. Choice can be hard.
I got the idea to start Amazon 16 years ago. I came across the fact that the Internet usage was growing at 2300 percent per year. I'd never seen or heard of anything that grew that fast, and the idea of building an online bookstore with millions of titles was very exciting to me, I had just turned 30 years old , and I'd been married for a year, I told my wife MacKenzie that I wanted to quit my job and go to do this crazy thing that probably wouldn't work since most start-ups don't , and I wasn't sure what to expect, MacKenzie told me I should go for it. As a young boy, I'd been a garage inventor, I'd always wanted to be an inventor, and she wanted me to follow my passion.
I was working at a financial firm in New York City with a bunch of very smart people, and I had a brilliant boss that I much admired. I went to my boss and told him I wanted to start a company selling books on the Internet. He took me on a long walk in Central Park, listened carefully to me, and finally said, "That sounds like a really good idea, but it would be an even better idea for someone who didn't already have a good job." That logic made some sense to me, and he convinced me to think about it for 48 hours before making a final decision. Seen in that light, it really was a difficult choice, but ultimately, I decided I had to give it a shot. I didn't think I'd regret trying and failing. _
After much consideration, I took the less safe path to follow my passion, and I'm proud of that choice, For all of us, in the end, we are our choice. | high10096.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "A trick played by a group of poor artists."
},
"options": [
"The death of a poor artist in the 1840s.",
"A trick played by a group of poor artists.",
"A story about the French painter Jean-Francois Millet.",
"An experie... | Mark Twain is a name not usually connected with Broadway , but now his play "Is He Dead" will receive its first public performance on November 29.
"Is He Dead" was written by Mark Twain in 1898 but was never performed. It was rediscovered in 2002 by Shelley Fisher Fishkin, an English professor and director of the American Studies Program at Stanford University. It was published the following year by the University of California Press.
The story is about a group of poor artists who fake the death of their friend in order to increase the value of his work.
"Is He Dead" is set in France in the 1840s and centers on the French painter Jean-Francois Millet. "Millet was probably the most popular European painter in the United States in Twain's lifetime," Fishkin said in a telephone interview. "Americans greatly admired him because he focused on the life of the common man and the common woman."
According to Fishkin, "Is He Dead" is a satire about how value is created in the art world. Twain wrote the play when he was coming out of the hardest time of his life. | high3817.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "The bride-to-be and her fiance will have to wait in line with both of their parents."
},
"options": [
"The bride-to-be and her fiance will have to wait in line with both of their parents.",
"If the boy's parents are dead, a or a ... | When a couple decides to marry, they naturally inform both sets of parents and stepparents before having a party planned or telling all their friends. The days are long gone of the man going trembling to the girl's father and saying, "Sir, may I have the honor of having the hand of your daughter in marriage?" However, a wise couple always discusses their plans for marriage with their respective families, and a young man often suggests a "financial talk" with his future father-in-law before the latter is faced with the embarrassment of asking for _ . Even if a young woman has supported herself and lives away from home, her parents have the right to know how her fiance proposes to handle the long-range financing of their family and home. The fiance should state his income, his savings, and his future expectations, without overstating any of them.
Engagement parties are given by the parents of the bride-to-be or by a of the bride acting for her parents, usually just before the newspaper announcement of the engagement. If the bride-to-be and her fiance live in a city other than her parents, it is better for her parents to go to the city than her to go home to them for the engagement party. She and her fiance will, after all, be partied in her parents' hometown during the wedding festivities. However, if the family home is not far away, it is proper for the engaged couple to travel there for the announcement party. The young man's family should be invited, too. If the bride's parents are no longer living, then a or a close friend can give the party. It is usually a simple cocktail's party, champagne served for toasts to the engaged couple.
If the party is very large, the engaged couple and the girl's parents might form a receiving line -- but they do not have to. The bride-to-be usually wears her engagement ring officially for the first time on this occasion. If she has a gift for the groom-to-be, she gives it to him right before or after the engagement party.
For Americans, the traditional engagement ring is a diamond solitaire . However, today anything goes -- a ring with many color1ed stones, a ring with a large semi-precious stone, an heirloom ring reset in a modern design, or even a stone in the bride's family, simply reset in a Tiffany setting. The wedding ring will be of the same metal as the engagement ring. Some girls prefer no engagement ring but choose a wedding band that is decorated with stones instead. No one has to have an engagement ring. A girl may want her fiance to give her a pearl necklace instead, or a jeweled watch. Jeweled rings can be given as gifts on many occasions during the married lives -- such as wedding anniversaries, the birth of a child, or an important job promotion. | high20155.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "ads"
},
"options": [
"notices",
"ads",
"stories",
"news"
],
"question": "These are _ in the newspaper.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer... | Part-time Waitress
Busy cafe needs honest and good-looking waitress for weekends. Must enjoy working with a team and dealing with customers. Call Li Ling at 0732-8536724 after 6 pm.
Delivery Person
Young, healthy person able to deliver heavy boxes of books. Must have a driver's license and can carry heavy boxes. We're looking for a person for this position. Call Liu Fang at 0732-7887766 at any time.
_ Wanted
Kind, hard-working nanny wanted to look after three friendly children. Must be experienced and have childcare quail fications . Please call Chen Yiping at 0732-6774538 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m | high11388.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "a newspaper"
},
"options": [
"a textbook",
"a newspaper",
"a travel guide",
"a science report"
],
"question": "You can most probably read the text in _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
... | King's College Summer School is an annual training program for high school students at all levels who want to improve their English. Courses are given by the teachers of King's College and other colleges in New York. Trips to museums and culture centers are also organized. This year's summer school will be from July 25 to August 15.
M ore information is as follows:
Application date
*Students in New York should send their
applications before July 18, 2007.
*Students of other cities should send their
applications before July 16, 2007.
*Foreign students should send their
applications before July 10, 2007. Courses
*English Language
Spoken English: 22 hours
Reading and Writing: 10 hours
*American History: 16 hours
*American Culture: 16 hours
Steps
*A letter of self-introduction
*A letter of recommendation
*The letters should be written in English with all the necessary information. Cost
*Daily lessons: $200
*Sports and activities: $100
*Travels: $200
*Hotel service: $400
*You may choose to live with your friends or relatives in the same city.
Please write to:
Thompson, Sanders
1026 King' s Street
New York, NY 10016, USA
E-mail: KC-Summer-School@yahoo.com | high12681.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The director's other movies."
},
"options": [
"Facts about the movie.",
"Famous lines in the movie .",
"The director's other movies.",
"The movie's story."
],
"question": "What information is NOT found in the t... | Many people think prefix = st1 /Casablanca is one of the best movies ever made. It was filmed in 1942, during the Second World War, and starred Humphrey Bogart as Rick, and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa. The movie is set in Casablanca, a place the Germans hope to take from the French. Rick owns a bar there.
In the movie, the German army is coming towardsCasablanca. People who live there are trying to escape before they arrive. Rick has two tickets for the last plane out ofCasablanca. His former lover Ilsa arrives inCasablancawith her husband Victor Lazlo. Lazlo is a leader in a secret group, and his escape will help win the war againstGermany. Rick decides to give his tickets to Ilsa and Lazlo rather than use them himself. Rick really loves Ilsa, but he knows that it is more important for Lazlo to get out ofCasablanca. Rick is a very tough character but he is not selfish. He is very good to people who need his help.
Some famous lines from the movie are, "Here's looking at you, kid." and "This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Many people think that the line, "Play it again, Sam." is in the movie. Actually, the line is "Play it, Sam." Both Rick and Ilsa ask the piano player, Sam, to play the song,As Time Goes By. It was originally recorded in 1931 and became very popular because of this movie.
The movie was filmed almost entirely in the Warner Brothers film studios in Hollywood, using special effects. It won several Academy awards and is well worth seeing. If you've already seen it, see it again, Sam! | high22742.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "The scientists are satisfied with the result of the experiment."
},
"options": [
"The scientists are satisfied with the result of the experiment.",
"Ross is a kidney expert who is involved in the experiment.",
"The function o... | Scientists at Harvard University have recycled a kidney(')-in a rat. The researchers removed a kidney from a dead rat. Later, the renewed kidney was put into a living rat. It wasn't perfect. It did, however, show signs of working like a kidney should.
"It's really beautiful work," Edward Ross, a kidney researcher at the University of Florida in Gainesville, told Science News. He didn't work on the new study.
Kidneys are bean-shaped and act like guards in the body. They clean the blood by removing waste and extra water. Every day, an adult's kidneys filter enough blood to fill a bathtub half full. Along the way, they produce eight cups of urine from that waste and water. When a person's kidneys fail, all of that waste stays in the body. Such patients can quickly become very sick and die, unless they are regularly connected to a machine that filters their blood.
At any given time, about 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for a replacement kidney. But healthy donated kidneys are difficult to get. Either a living person must donate one, or a kidney must be removed from someone who just died and earlier had agreed to the donation. In either case, people receiving new kidneys face the risk that their bodies will reject the donated ones.
But there may be another option. Researchers use knowledge of living things to grow or improve tissue that can aid human health. Harald Ott's team at Harvard started with a "used" kidney.
Scientists added kidney cells from rats and blood vessel cells from people to the matrix . These cells attached themselves and began to multiply. Before long, they formed new kidney tissue.
The scientists placed this renewed kidney into another rat. There it produced a small amount of urine. This experiment shows that the lab-grown kidney can do at least some of the work performed by a healthy kidney.
The results are a promising first step toward helping people with serious kidney problems. "This is still very early, but they've come a long way," Ross said. | high12859.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "6848-5462"
},
"options": [
"6551-4748",
"6848-5462",
"8315-6170",
"6606-9999"
],
"question": "If you want to buy tickets for listening to the music Memory of Childhood, you will dial _ .",
"question_type"... | Happy birthday
The China National Opera (CNO) will give a concert to celebrate its 50th birthday.
Different generations of CNO vocalists, like Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei, will present the concert which will feature both songs from famous Chinese operas like The White-haired GM and The Hundred Bride, as well as, arias of such western opera classics as Madame Butterfly, La Traviata and Rigoletto.
Time/date: 7:30 pm, September 7, 8
Location: Tianqiao Theatre
Tel: 65514787, 83156170
Tickets: 60-500 yuan (US $ 7.2-60.2)
Folk music
A concert will be held to feature some recently-composed traditional Chinese music works. The concert, given by the Folk Orchestra of the China Opera and Ballet Theatre, will include such pieces as Memory of childhood, Memorial Ceremony for God and Wine Song.
Time/date: 7:30 pm, September 13
Location: Concert hall at the National Library of China
Tel: 6848-5462, 6841-9220 Tickets:30-200 yuan(US $ 3.6-24.1)
Moon Music
A concert of traditional Chinese music will be given on the eve of the Moon Festival which falls on September 21st this year.
The concert will feature a number of famous pieces centred on the theme of the moon, such as Moonlight, Spring Night on a Moonlit River and Lofty Mountain and Flowing river.
A number of popular traditional Chinese music performers, like Zhou Yaokun and Fan Weiqing, will play solos as well as cooperate with the folk music orchestra .
Time/date: 7:30 pm, September 21st
Location: Grand theatre of the Cultural Palace of Nationalities
Tel: 6606-8888, 6606-9999
Tickets: 40-220 yuan(US $ 4.8-27) | high9484.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "He felt upset to be with a disabled man like Sam."
},
"options": [
"He recovered but still couldn't move freely.",
"He felt upset to be with a disabled man like Sam.",
"He just found another friend.",
"He didn't know wh... | Two good friends, Sam and Jason, had a car accident. The next morning, Sam woke up but Jason was still unconscious . When Dr. Smith saw Sam awake, he smiled at him and asked, "How are you feeling today?" Sam smiled back and said, "Wonderful! Promise me you won't tell Jason anything." Dr. Smith was moved by Sam's words and said, "You are a very brave man. You know I won't do that. Trust me."
Months later Jason recovered. He stopped hanging out with(...)Sam. He felt unhappy to spend time with a disabled person like Sam. Sam was lonely and heartbroken. One day Sam died in despair . When Jason was on his burial , Dr. Smith gave Sam's letter to him.
The letter read, "Dear Jason, I have kept my promise to give you my eyes if anything had happened to them. Now there is nothing more that I can do. You will see through my eyes that you will always be my best friend ... Sam."
When he finished reading, Dr. Smith added, "I had promised Sam to keep it a secret." Jason stood there with tears on his face. | high8942.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "How its population has changed"
},
"options": [
"How it develops its attractions.",
"How it will continue to improve",
"How its population has changed",
"How its lovely parks came into being"
],
"question": "Wha... | Madrid, capital of Spain, is a city with large numbers of historic sites resting in the shadows of modern skyscrapers.
This city of over 3, 23 million people, up from 2,88 million in 2000, is proud of Western Europe's royal palace, considered by many to be Madrid's most beautiful building. Inside the Royal Palace 2,800 rooms are decorated with museum-quality furniture and artwork.
The internationally loved Prado Museum is the largest and most impressive art gallery in Spain. Opened in 1819, it is filled with works of art that include the world's most comprehensive collection of Spanish paintings.
Spain is famous for its delicious ham, and there's no better place to try it than at Museo del Jamon, which has five branches around the city. Hanging from the ceiling of each branch are dozens of hams of different types and flavors. Taste them in the bar.
Madrid had some of Europe's best shopping. For 500 years, shoppers have gathered to a large outdoor flea market known as the Rastro, where they find everything from antiques to CDs.
Get a great view of the city from Teleferico de Madrid. This cable car takes you on a 2.5kilometer trip 40 meters above the Manzanares River and Casa de Campo park. For a refreshing choice, relax beside the swimming pool on the roof of the Emperador Hotel. Enjoy delicious desserts and drinks while viewing the city, or take a dip in the cool water.
No trip to Madrid is complete without seeing a performance of Spain's famous art form, flamenco. Every day, flamenco performers sing, dance or play the guitar in small cafes and grand theaters alike. | high12695.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Foolish."
},
"options": [
"Weak.",
"Foolish.",
"Afraid.",
"Tricky."
],
"question": "Which word best describes Coyote in this passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,... | One afternoon, Coyote went hunting. Suddenly, a large frog laughed in front of him. Coyote pounced and pinned Frog to the ground. Frog thought quickly and came up with a plan. "Brother Coyote," he called. "You must not eat me today!"
Coyote laughed loudly, _
"Why, I have a bet to make with you," Frog stated. "Tomorrow there is to be a race." Coyote's ears twitched. "A race?"
"Yes," Frog continued. "You and I will race. If you win, then you may eat me." Coyote agreed. Frog hurried to the lake.
In the morning, the animals gathered to watch as Coyote and Frog agreed on the course they would run. They were to start at the large stone and circle all the way around the lake. The first one back to the stone would be the winner. When the sun reached the noonday mark, they were off. Coyote ran as quickly as he could. Frog bounded into the grass and waited. Coyote looked behind him. Seeing no sign of Frog, Coyote was sure he would win. As Coyote was beginning to tire, Frog's look-alike friend jumped onto the course from behind an alder tree ahead. Coyote was surprised to see what he thought was Frog, and ran even faster, determined to win. Coyote dashed past him and called, "You may be fast, but I'm faster, I'll wait at the finish line to eat you up, Frog!"
When Coyote came in sight of the finish line, Frog had appeared from his hiding place and easily hopped across the line. "You may be fast, Coyote, but I've managed to beat you!" Frog joyfully called out. Silently, he added, "With the help of my friends."
Coyote went home puzzled and hungry again. | high23448.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "change the way people make products"
},
"options": [
"change the way people make products",
"be applied as widely in our daily lives as computers",
"forbid many countries to make purchases of weapons",
"take the place o... | How do people traditionally manufacture things? They usually start with a sheet of metal, wood or other material and cut, drill and shave it to create a desired shape. Sometimes, they use a mold made of metal or sand, pour liquid plastic or metal into it and let it cool to create a solid part.
Now, a completely different method is gaining popularity.
On Oct. 9, 2013, London Science Museum kicked off its new exhibition, 3-D: Printing the Future, with over 600 3-D printed objects on display, including space probes , toy dolls and even human organs - basically any product you can think of, reported Live Science.
You might find it hard to believe that an object can actually be "printed out" like a picture. But it is not that hard to understand how it works. Just as a traditional printer sprays ink onto paper line by line, modern 3-D printers spread material onto a surface layer by layer, from the bottom to the top, gradually building up a shape.
Instead of ink, the materials the 3-D printer uses are mainly plastic, resin and certain metals. The thinner each layer is - from a millimeter to less than the width of a hair - the smoother and finer the object will be. And objects always come out in one piece, sparing you the trouble of putting different parts together afterward.
For example, 10 years ago a desktop 3-D printer might have cost PS20,000 (200,000 yuan), while now it costs only about PS1,000, according to the BBC. In fact, 3-D printers have been around for some time, but until recently they hadn't been very popular since few people could afford them. Last year, though, saw a big decrease in the price of 3-D printers.
However, as 3-D printing technology becomes more commonplace, it may trigger certain problems. One of them is piracy . "Once you can download a coffee maker, or print out a new set of kitchen utensils on your personal 3-D printer, who will visit a retail store again?" an expert on 3-D printing told Forbes News.
Even more frightening, the world's first 3-D printed gun was successfully fired in the US in May of this year, which means that 3-D printing could potentially give more people access to weapons. | high9490.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "She had a perfect way to educate children."
},
"options": [
"She had a perfect way to educate children.",
"She encouraged the writer to join the army.",
"She bought a lovely puppy for her grandchildren.",
"She often rea... | Dear Malia and Sasha,
I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this _
When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me--about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.
I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential--schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college--even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.
I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.
Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country--but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free--that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.
That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.
She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better--and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.
I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much--although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.
These are the things I want for you--to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.
I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.
Love, Dad | high8956.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Why is daydreaming good for people?"
},
"options": [
"Can daydreams reduce the hours we sleep?",
"How is daydreaming different from sleeping?",
"What is the right way to daydream?",
"Why is daydreaming good for people?"... | People who daydream are often thought of in negative terms, such as being lazy or not doing what they should be doing. However, scientists who study the brain have learned many interesting things from studying the brains of daydreamers. Far from being a waste of time, recent research has shown that daydreaming is a healthy and useful activity for all of our brains.
To study the brain, scientists use special devices that scan the brain and show pictures of which parts of the brain are active at certain times. When a person is daydreaming, the device will show a distinct pattern of activity in the brain called the "default" mode of thinking. In the default mode, the top or outside part of the brain is very active. Actually, several regions of the brain are interacting in this mode. Some scientists describe this mode as a time when the brain focuses on itself rather than focusing on the environment around the person. Typically, this occurs when a person is doing simple, undemanding work or performing routine actions that don't need much attention, like walking to school or cooking simple foods. People tend to daydream during such activities.
The importance of daydreaming lies in developing both creative and social skills. When the mind is not engaged in dealing with one's immediate situation or problem, then it is free to wander. A time of wandering allows the mind to create things. New inventions may be imagined, or possible solutions to a problem can be planned. For example, solutions to problems in relationships with other people may spring to mind. In fact, most daydreams involve situations with others. Perhaps these are daydreams based on past memories, or daydreams of what might be in the future. In either case, daydreams help us develop the appropriate skills we can use in real interactions with others.
As brain specialist Dr. Marcus Raichle of Washington University explains: "When you don't use a muscle, that muscle really isn't doing much. But when your brain is supposedly doing nothing and daydreaming, it's really doing a great amount." During the so-called "resting state" the brain isn't resting at all! | high19918.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "is exciting to both players and listeners"
},
"options": [
"is full of foreign terms",
"is too difficult to understand",
"is stranger than other amusements",
"is exciting to both players and listeners"
],
"quest... | Hearing live music is one of the most pleasurable experiences available to human beings. The music sounds great, but it sounds greater when you get to watch the musicians as they create it. No matter what kind of music you love, try listening to it live.
This guide focuses on classical music, a tradition that _ before recordings, radio, and the Internet, back when all music was live music. In those days live human beings performed for other live human beings, with everybody together in the same room. When heard in this way, classical music can have a special excitement. Hearing classical music in a concert can leave you feeling refreshed and energized. It can be fun. It can be romantic. It can be spiritual.
Classical music concerts can seem like snobby affairs full of foreign terms and unusual behavior. It can be hard to understand what's going on. It can be hard to know how to act. But don't worry. Concerts are no stranger than any other amusement, and the rules of behavior are much simpler and easier to understand than the stock market, football, or system software upgrades.
If you haven't been to a live concert before, or if you've been confused by concerts, this guide will explain, so you can relax and enjoy the music. | high10082.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "To arouse readers' interest in Denmark."
},
"options": [
"To show the readers that Denmark is best known for its stories.",
"To arouse readers' interest in Denmark.",
"To tell the readers that this passage is related to liter... | Hans Christian Andersen put Denmark on the map of the world literature with his stories The Emperor's New Clothes,The Little MermaidandThe Ugly Duckling. Now Copenhagen, the country's capital, has become the center of the world political map, with 190 world leaders attending the climate talks there, not to mention thousands of reporters.
Just how much do you know about the Scandinavian country?
Denmark is famous for its design culture. At the heart of "Danish Design" is the idea that, as poet and designer Piet Hein puts it: "There is one art, not more, nor less, [and that is] to do all things with artlessness ."
Danish design places equal emphasis on practicality and quality. From Lego toys to furniture, Danish products are known for their clean lines, simplicity and functionality. "Remove material where it's not needed. Keep things simple and functional and make them carefully," explained Hans J. Wegner, the first Danish designer to achieve worldwide fame: "The aim is not to create a work of art, but to produce a good chair."
"The Danes have done a better job than most in promoting arts in Europe, considering their country's size and population, in the fields of architecture, sculpture and design," writes Helena Smith, reporter with British newspaper the Guardian.
The simplicity of Danish design may extend to the quality of life there. Some even claim that the Danes have the highest quality of life of any nation in the world.
Kate Vial, a 55-year-old American who has lived and worked in Denmark for more than 30 years, explaining why she chooses to live in Denmark rather than the US, told Germany's biggest news weekly Der Spiegel: "I just chose a simpler lifestyle, one where I could ride my bike all over and where I don't have to make a great living to survive." | high20141.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "he could imagine himself being the characters in the books"
},
"options": [
"he thought it was important for a schoolboy to do so",
"he was still too young to understand other books",
"he believed all the real historical figu... | As I write this, I have half an eye on an old James Bond film that is showing on my computer. But this is a story about how I stopped watching TV and began reading again for pleasure, after ten years in which I hardly turned a page.
I suppose I was an enthusiastic reader of "literature" between the ages of nine and fourteen. I had enough time to be White Fang, Robinson Crusoe, and Bilbo Baggins and Jeeves. Of course there was room in the schoolboy's imagination for some real historical figures: Scott of the Antarctic, all of the Vikings, and Benjamin Franklin were good friends of mine.
Then, in adolescence, I began a long search for strange and radical ideas. I wanted to challenge my elders and betters, and shock my fellow students with amazing points of view. Of course, the only place to look was in books. I hunted out the longest titles and the authors with the funniest names; I searched the library for completely unread books. Then I found one which became my bible for the whole of 1982, it had a title composed of eleven long words and an author whose name I didn't know how to pronounce. It was really thick and looked dead serious. Even better, it put forward a whole world-view that would take days to explain. Perfect. I took it out of the library three times, proud to see the date-stamps lined up on the empty library insert.
Later, I went to university. Expecting to spend long evenings in learned discussion with clever people, I started reading philosophy. For some reason I never found the deep-thinking intellectuals I hoped to meet. Anyway, I was ready to impress with my profound knowledge of post-structuralism, _ and situationism. These things are usually explained in rather short books, but they take a long time to get through. They were the end of my youthful reading.
Working life was hard to get used to after so much theory. It was the end of books for me. There didn't seem to be much in books that would actually get things done. To do things you had to answer the telephone and work a computer. You had to travel about and speak to people who weren't at all interested in philosophy. I didn't stop reading, you can't avoid that. I read all day. But no books came my way, only manuals and contracts and documents. Maybe most people satisfy their need for stories and ideas with TV and, to tell the truth, it was all I needed for ten years. In those days I only had a book "on the go" for the duration of aeroplane flights. At first I would come home and watch TV over dinner. Then, I moved the TV so I could watch it from bed. I even got a switch so I could turn it off without getting out of bed. Then, one fateful day, my TV broke and my landlady took it away.
My new TV is an extra circuit board inside my computer. It's on a desk in front of a working chair and I can't see it from the bed. I still use it for the weather forecasts and it's nice to have it on while I'm typing this... but what to do last thing at night? Well, have another go with books.
Now, I just like books. I have a pile of nice ones by my bed and I'm reading about six at the same time. I don't want to be any of the characters. I don't care if a thousand people have already read them. I don't have to search through libraries. There are books everywhere and all of them have something to read in them. I have the strange feeling that they've been there all along, waiting for me to pick them up. | high3803.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "supports self-driving cars on roads."
},
"options": [
"helped design self-driving cars.",
"supports self-driving cars on roads.",
"considers self-driving cars science fiction.",
"improved the self-driving car systems."
... | People in several American states may be surprised to see cars on city streets without a driver. Experimental driverless vehicles now are legal in Florida, Nevada and California. They are pointing the way to a future that is not far down the road. The high-tech company Google has a number of self-driving cars, which had covered 480,000 kilometers by August. Volvo is among the companies doing road tests and says it plans to sell driverless cars by 2020.
In September, California Governor Jerry Brown signed an act to allow autonomous vehicles on the roads of his state. " Today we're looking at science fiction becoming tomorrow's reality-the driverless car. " The technology for these cars includes cameras, radar and motion sensors. The systems have been improved through competitions sponsored by the U. S. government agency DARPA. Engineer Richard Mason of the Rand Corporation helped design driverless vehicles for DARPA challenge races.
Cars have become much more fuel-efficient, and new electronic features are' making Hondas safer, said Angie Nucci of Honda America. " A camera on the passenger-side mirror actually engaged on your guiding screen so you can safely change lanes. " Other safety features include warning systems on the front and the sides of the cars. These systems help drivers , but don't replace them. Curator Leslie Kendall of the Petersen Automotive Museum said autonomous cars will make the high ways safer.
"By taking out drivers, you also remove most risks of an accident," Kendall said. He said consumers, however, may be unwilling to lose control. "It may take them time to come to realize that the technology is indeed reliable, but it will have to prove itself first. "
Mason said the technology already works and the biggest challenge now is getting down the cost for driverless vehicles from hundreds of thousands of dollars to something more affordable. He said this will happen as the technology is improved.
ks5u | high17935.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "he couldn't see his children often."
},
"options": [
"he couldn't see his children often.",
"he had an unhappy marriage.",
"his children didn't like him any longer.",
"he had got a kind of serious disease."
],
"... | I had been a step-mother for six years, and with my husband,I had watched his young children growing into teenagers. Although they lived mostly with their mother, they spent a lot of time with us. Over the years, we all learned to become more comfortable with each other. However, I continued to feel somewhat like an outsider.
When the children moved to a town five hours away, my husband was understandably destroyed. In order to keep in touch with the kids, we set up an e-mail and chat-line service.
Ironically , this technology can make us feel out of touch and more in need of real human contact. If a computer message came addressed to "Dad", I'd feel forgotten. If my name appeared along with his, it would brighten my day. _ not just over the telephone wires.
Late one evening, as my husband was snoozing , I was catching up on my e-mail, an "instant message" appeared on the screen. It was Margo, my oldest stepdaughter, also up late in front of her computer. We sent several messages back and forth, exchanging the latest news. When we "chatted" like that, she wouldn't necessarily know if it was me or her dad unless she asked. That night she didn't ask and I didn't tell her it was me either. After hearing the latest volleyball scores and the details about a coming dance at her school, I said that it was late and I should go to sleep. Her return message read, "Okay, talk to you later! Love you!"
At this, a wave of sadness ran through me and I realized that she must have thought she was writing to her father the whole time. She and I would never have openly exchange such words of love. Feeling guilty for not telling her the truth, yet not wanting to embarrass her, I simply replied, "Love you too! Have a good sleep!"
I thought again of their family circle and I felt again the sharp ache of emptiness and "otherness". Then, just as my fingers reached for the keys to return the screen to black, Margo's final message appeared. It read, "Tell Dad good night for me too." With tear-filled eyes, I turned the machine off. | high21539.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because they were too tight for her to wear."
},
"options": [
"Because they were too big.",
"Because her husband didn't like them.",
"Because they didn't match her shoes..",
"Because they were too tight for her to wear.... | I lay on the bed trying to put on my favorite pair of pants, pulling and dragging, but the zipper wouldn't close. Angrily I threw them to the back of the closet. I found a long large skirt, tied it around my middle, and then joined my husband downstairs. I caught sight of myself in the halfway mirror--I didn't like the person I saw. The weight kept climbing higher each year.
The problem was that I hated the word "diet". To me it meant my keeping off every good thing I loved. Later that summer, I found myself out of breath when I climbed two flights of stairs and my heart started beating heavily. I saw my doctor and she told me that I needed to bring down my blood pressure. "Easy for her to say," I thought when I drove back home. Up ahead I saw a McDonald's. I pulled in. The doctor's warning couldn't resist the pull of McDonald's food. The next morning I stepped on the scale and weighed more than I had ever had in my life.
Just at the very moment, my thoughts were finally clear. To check the weight I needed to control my choices. Several days later, I went to my favorite restaurant for lunch--I only chose Chinese chicken salad. I felt great when I left the restaurant carrying a take-home box filled with half of that huge salad. But most of all, I discovered I had control over my choices.
The weight came off slowly, but after a while it made no progress. Eating a light meal a couple of nights a week would help, but that meant I would prepare two separate dinners, for I would have to continue to make my husband his favorite meals, who supported my weight loss goal.
Dusting off the old two--wheel vehicle in the garage, I added exercise by pedaling for 30 minutes after dinner. A year later I lost 25 pounds and my blood pressure was normal. I tried on my favorite pants again. They fit perfectly. | high20627.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "How to Choose a Mountain Bike"
},
"options": [
"How to Choose a Mountain Bike",
"How to Ride a Mountain Bike",
"Where to Ride Your Local Bike",
"Why to Take a Test Ride"
],
"question": "What would be the best ti... | Choosing a nice mountain bike for you is easier than learning how to ride it. Keep these tips in mind:
Decide how you are going to use your new mountain bike.
Are you a new rider who simply wants to travel outdoors on the weekend,weather permitting?Do you intend to test yourself on the rough roads,every day,rain or shine?Or are you going to use your new mountain bike to ride to and from school or work?Be honest about your intentions,and you're more than half way toward choosing the right mountain bike for you.
Visit your local bike shops.
Any good bike shop will stock a wide range of quality mountain bikes in all price points and sizes. Your local bike shops will carry more than one brand of bicycle. Not only will they sell you a mountain bike that suits your needs,but they will service what they sell. Visit at least a few shops. You'll get one that satisfies you right away.
Don't be bashful.
Tell your salesperson how you intend to use your new mountain bike,and how much you are willing to spend. Your salesperson will show you a selection of models and brands accordingly. He or she will also help you determine the right size for you. You may ask more without any sense of shyness.
Take a test ride.
All good bike shops let customers take test rides. There's a good reason for this beyond "trybeforeyoubuy" salesmanship. Since you already know your price range and find the right size,you now have to find out which brand you ride best. They want you to be happy with your purchase. After only a few test rides from more than one bike shop,the right mountain bike will choose you. | high15844.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "prefers to stay off his cellphone while driving"
},
"options": [
"doesn't know how to drive at all",
"likes to use a cellphone while driving",
"take a great interest in using his car as a weapon",
"prefers to stay off h... | As a new driver with little experience behind the wheel, having to turn into another lane to avoid a careless driver talking on a cellphone is not something that I am prepared for. According to theNew England Journal of Medicine, an accident is four times more likely to happen than normal while you are talking on the phone. Therefore, I hold the view that using a cellphone while driving should be outlawed(......).
Cars are two-ton weapons and should be treated as such. When drivers put a key in the engine, they are taking on the responsibility of being a driver. Answer the phone while driving is like taking the safety off a gun -- at any moment something could go wrong and change a life forever.
A few countries, including Australia, Great Britain, Spain and Israel, have _ the damage that cellphone use can cause. According to Tom Alex of The Des Moines Register, people who talk on cellphones while driving are just like drunk drivers. They are likely to make a deadly mistake, causing them to hurt themselves or someone else.
Some may think that cellphone are helpful when you need directions or are in an emergency situation. Although I agree, I believe the safest way to use your phone is to pull over to the side of the road first. Some may think that hands-free phones are less dangerous, but studies have shown that the danger remains the same with these.
Using a cellphone while driving should be outlawed. One small mistake could change your whole life. Please don't let that happen -- stay off your cellphone while driving. | high14582.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "how its buying and selling is conducted"
},
"options": [
"the change in people's shopping model",
"how its buying and selling is conducted",
"the quality of the goods and service",
"their willingness to risk losing mone... | There's no shortage of web sites offering deals-everything from daily deals to members-only private sales.But when it comes to real jaw-dropping deals, there's one company that seems to have figured out a out a way to really deliver.
The company is called QuiBids and they auction the hottest, in-demand electronics like Apple ipads and ipods, as well as other items like gift cards from the top retailers .Unlike other sites, the prices people pay are nowhere near retail.How low are the prices?
$33.84 for a new Apple ipad 32 GB(retail $600)
$22.10 for a new Nikon D90 Digital SLR Camera(retail $1070)
Our first reaction on seeing these prices was disbelief.After all, how cold QuiBids possibly afford to sell these items for so little-surely they must be losing a lot of money.
That's where its unique business model comes into play.You see, for every bid a buyer places for an item on QuiBids, the company collects a small fee from the bidder.The fee to bid is only about 60 cents, but based on the volume of sales and bids, the company is able to collect enough to make up for the ridiculous prices the items sell for.
But best of all, participating in the QuiBids auction is incredibly fun.Because each each bid costs a little to place, shoppers can strategize when to place their bids.Each auction has a strict time limit.When you place your bid, the system adds a little time to the auction to see if any other bids cone in.If you have the winning bid when the cock runs out-you win the item for that price.
But the best part of Quibids may be the "Buy-It-Now"feature.This allows bidders who did not win an auction to still buy the product they want and apply the cost of the bids they placed as a discount on the regular product price. So you still get the item and the bids you placed previously in the auction don't cost you anything! | high22030.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "man-made building materials give off dangerous gases"
},
"options": [
"indoor air pollution can often make people seriously ill",
"man-made building materials give off dangerous gases",
"there may be more harmful gases outsid... | For years scientists have been worried about the effects of air pollution on the earth's natural conditions. Some believe the air inside many houses may be more dangerous than the air outside. It may be one hundred times worse.
Indoor air pollution can cause a person to feel tired, to suffer eye pain, headache and other problems. Some pollutants can cause breathing disorders, diseases of blood and even cancer. Most scientists agree that every modern house has some kind of indoor pollution.
People have paid more attention to the problem now. It is true that when builders began making houses and offices they did not waste energy. To do this they build buildings that limited the flow of air between inside and outside. They also began using man-made building materials. These materials are now known to let out harmful gases.
As the problem became more serious, scientists began searching for a way to deal with it. They discovered a natural pollution control system for building--green plants. Scientists do not really know how plants control air pollution. They believe that a plant's leaves absorb or take in the pollutants. In exchange the plant lets out oxygen through its leaves and tiny organizations on its roots. Scientists suggest that all buildings should have one large plant or several small plants inside for every nine square meters of space. Studies of different plants show that each absorbs different chemicals. So the most effective way to clean the air is to use different kinds of plants. Having green plants inside your house can make it a prettier and healthier place. | high7654.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "A permission given by a company for selling its goods."
},
"options": [
"A company policy for building up service reputation.",
"A permission given by a company for selling its goods.",
"An official association for improving ... | Well-known companies are powered by their names and reputations. When people walk into a Pizza Hut in Tokyo, Rome, or Miami, they know exactly what they are getting. Through franchising, an investor can make use of this brand power by opening a Pizza Hut of his or her own. The risk is low, and the rewards can be big. No wonder franchising is such a successful business model.
Franchising had been around for more than 100 years, but its popularity took off in the 1950s. Leading the trend were fast food restaurant like McDonald's. These days, there are franchises in more than eighty-five industries, including dry cleaning, hotels and supermarkets. It's a very big business. In the US, there are some 760,000 franchises, totaling more than $1.5 trillion in yearly revenues (income).
There are two sides in a franchise: the franchisor--the owner of the business system and the franchisee--the person who licenses the system. After signing a "franchise agreement", the franchisee pays a fee. He or she also pays for equipment, supplies, and, if necessary, building costs. The total investment usually ranges from $10,000 to $1,000,000. After the business opens, the franchisee also pays a percentage of sales revenues--called a royalty--to the franchisor. Marking fees must also be paid.
In return, the franchisee receives many benefits. Training is among the most common ones. It includes everything from dealing with customers to understanding the company's standards. The franchisor also handles advertising. On top of that, there's the benefit of the brand reputation that the company has built up. All of these benefits make the risk of opening a franchise much smaller than that of starting a business from scratch.
However, a franchise can also have drawbacks. If a customer at a single restaurant gets sick, it may hurt every franchise in the system. Running a franchise also means closely following the company's standards. So, one has to give up a degree of independence. You have to do things their way and trust that the system will work.
If you want to earn a lot of money from the business, you have to work hard. Also, remember that the monthly royalty must be paid, even if you are losing money. However, there are thousands of opportunities in franchising. They will surely grow as brand recognition becomes more important in the global economy . | high8567.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Being famous and independent."
},
"options": [
"Being famous and independent.",
"Having self-confidence.",
"Looking young and stylish.",
"Wearing proper make-up."
],
"question": "Which of the following doesn't h... | With a PS4 million ITV contract in her pocket and an engagement to her England footballer boyfriend, it's been a good year for Christine Bleakley.Perhaps it's no wonder, as the TV presenter is 31, the age at which women are the most attractive, according to a survey.
While the average British woman of 31 may be married with a child, the survey noted they are at a wonderful age because they have not only youthful beauty but also more confidence and a better sense of style than flesh-faced teenagers.
Some 70 percent of more than 2,000 men and women surveyed considered confidence as a key factor in making a woman attractive, ahead of the 67 percent who included physical beauty and 47 percent who looked for a sense of style.Almost two thirds of the women agreed with the opinion "With age, comes beauty", and over half said that as they age they do away with their insecurities and feel more beautiful, while 55 percent felt they knew the best make-up to wear.
Self-confidence varied widely across the country in the survey: London women emerged as the most confident about their looks, with 37 percent describing themselves as beautiful, compared with just 28 percent of Welsh women.Meanwhile, East Midlands women spend the most on beauty programs --PS129.69 monthly--compared with a national average of PS105.50.
The research was carried on for TV shopping channel QVC to mark the launch of its "Beauty Month".QVC marketing director Sue Leeson said: "This research shows what many have always suspected -- real beauty is about more than just good looks but a combination of confidence, style and personality, too." | high15313.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "A family of artists."
},
"options": [
"The life of Charles Willson Peale.",
"Portraits in the l8th century.",
"The Peale Museum.",
"A family of artists."
],
"question": "What is the main topic of the passage?",
... | The Peales were a famous family of American artists.Charles Willson Peale is best remembered for his portraits of leading figures of the American Revolution.He painted portraits of Franklin and Jefferson and over a dozen of George Washington.His life-size portrait of his sons Raphaelle and Titian was so realistic that George Washington reportedly once tipped his hat to the figures in the picture.
Charles Willson Peale gave up painting in his middle age and devoted his life to the Peale seum,which he founded in Philadelphia.The world's first popular museum of art and natural science mainly covered paintings by Peale and his family as well as displays of animals in their natural settings Peale found the animals himself and found a method to make the exhibits more lifelike.The museum's most popular display was the skeleton of a huge,extinct elephant,which Peale unearthed on a New York farm in l801.
Three of Peale's seventeen children were also famous artists.Raphaelle Peale often painted still lives of flowers,fruit,and cheese.His brother Rembrandt studied under his father and painted portraits of many noted people,including one of George Washington. Another brother,Rubens Peale,painted mostly landscapes and portraits.
James Peale.the brother of Charles Willson Peale,specialized in miniatures .His daughter Sarah Miriam Peale was probably the first professional female portrait painter in America | high23879.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the link between processed food and depression"
},
"options": [
"the increasingly unhealthy diet of the UK population",
"the link between processed food and depression",
"the relationship between physical and mental health",
... | Eating a diet high in processed food increases the risk of depression , research suggests. What's more, people who ate plenty of vegetables, fruit and fish actually had a lower risk of depression, the University College London team found.
Data on diet among 3,500 middle-aged civil servants were compared with their emotional state five years later, a British journal reported. They split the participants into two types of diet--those who ate a diet largely based on whole food,which includes lots of fruit, vegetables and fish,and those who ate a mainly processed food diet, such as sweetened desserts, fried food, processed meat,refined grains and high fat dairy products After accounting for factors such as gender, age, education, physical activity, smoking habits and chronic diseases, they found a significant difference in the future depression risk with the different diets.
Those who ate the most wholefood had a 26% lower risk of future depression than those who ate the least wholefood. By contrast, people with a diet high in processed food had a 58% higher risk of depression than those who ate a diet low in processed foods.
Study author Dr. Archana Singh Manoux pointed out there was a chance that the finding could be explained by lifestyle factor they had not accounted for. He also pointed in a paper that a Mediterranean diet was associated with a lower risk of depression, but the problem with that is if you live in Britain, the likelihood of you eating a Mediterranean diet is not very high.
Dr.Andrew McCulloeh, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said, this study adds to an existing body of solid research that shows the strong links between what we eat and our mental health.
He added people's diets were becoming increasingly unhealthy. The UK population is consuming less nutritious, fresh produce and more saturated fats and sugars. | high1225.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "A father should run his office and leave his children to his wife"
},
"options": [
"a mother should keep house and father educate the children",
"A father should run the home as well as his office",
"A father should run his o... | A little girl was given so many picture books on her seventh birthday that her father. Who should have run his office and let her mother run the home, thought his daughter should give one or two of her new books to a little neighbor boy named Robert, who had visited their home sometimes.
Now, taking books, or anything else, from a little girl is like taking sweets from a baby, but the father of the little girl had his way and Robert got a couple of her books. "After all, that leaves you with nine," said the father, who thought he was a child psychologist ,and couldn't shout his big stupid mouth on the subject.
A few weeks later, the father went to his library to look up "father" in The Oxford English Dictionary, eager to enjoy the praise of fatherhood through the centuries, but he couldn't find volume F-G and then he discovered that others were missing too. A-B,L-M, V-Z. He looked everywhere for them, and learned what had happened to the four missing volumes.
"A man came to the door this morning" said the little daughter, "and he didn't know how to get from here to Torrington or from Torrington to Wintec, and he was a kind man, much nicer than Robert, and so I gave him four of your books After all, there are thirteen volumes in the Oxford English Dictionary, and that leaves you with nine. | high9679.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "was a terribly difficult task"
},
"options": [
"was a dream of many bridge experts",
"was a terribly difficult task",
"was supported by the American government",
"sounded creative to many bridge building experts"
],... | In 1865, a creative engineer, John Roebling, decided to build a bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However, bridge experts throughout the world thought that this was impossible and told Roebling to forget the idea.
However, Roebling thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington that the bridge in fact could be built.
With great excitement and inspiration, and great hardships before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge in 1869.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. prefix = st1 /Washingtonwas injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move. In spite of his handicap,Washingtonwas never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.
Now all he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By touching his wife's arm with that finger, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife. For 13 years Washingtontapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, telling the engineers what to do, until the bridge was finally completed. | high18637.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Clothes that are too exposing."
},
"options": [
"Students' craze for fashions.",
"Clothes that are too exposing.",
"Students' ignoring dress codes.",
"Students' underwear."
],
"question": "What led to the argume... | Have you ever seen any students whose trousers hang so low that you can see their underwear? What do you think of that? Fashionable? Some of today's teenagers are big fans of such a look. But recently this trend has been at the center of an argument in Italian middle schools. The headmaster of a school in central Italy has asked students to stop wearing low-rise jeans that expose underwear and parts of the body. His request came after a class trip, when he saw one boy's baggy trousers slide to his feet. He pointed out that this way of dressing is not suitable for school. But in Italy, a nation that takes fashion very seriously, the suggestion caused a debate among parents, teachers and students. The issue is whether the headmaster's request will limit students' freedom-- or whether dress in Italian schools is too casual. A parents' group praised the move in favor of good taste, while others advised schools to stop worrying about fashion and fix up old school buildings. "We do not want to kick fashion out," the headmaster explained, "but extremes of fashion like this are not right in school." Many other schools have now requested that their students also stop wearing such trousers. Most students have simply ignored the request. Ludovica Gaudio, 14, wore extremely low trousers exposing orange underwear in class. It was cold, so she wore a matching orange scarf. Another 14-year-old said she would probably respect the request, simply for practical reasons. "I don't really feel comfortable in those sort of jeans," said Sarah Lattanzi, "in winter, when dressed like that, it's quite cold and I am afraid my stomach will ache." | high5043.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "tell readers about blogs"
},
"options": [
"introduce an Internet website called \"blog\"",
"introduce a short way of saying \"web log\"",
"tell readers about blogs",
"tell readers how to write blogs"
],
"questio... | A "blogger" is a person who writes on an Internet website called a "blog". The word "blog" is a short way of saying "web log", or "personal website". Anyone can start a blog, and they can write about anything they like.
There are millions of blogs on the Internet today. They provide news, information and ideas to the people who read them.They contain links to other websites.And they provide a place for people to write their ideas and react to the ideas of others.
A research company called Perseus has studied more than 3,000 web logs. It says that blogs are most popular with teenage girls. They use them to let their friends know what is happening in their lives. The study also says that more than 100,000 bloggers stopped taking part in the activity after a year.
However, some people develop serious blogs to present political and other ideas. For example, the Republican and Democratic parties in the southern state of Kentucky recently started their own blogs. And American companies are beginning to use blogs to advertise their products.
At thesame time, some long-standing blogs have ended. Last week, blogging leader Dave Winer closed his free blog service "weblogs.com". He said the site became too costly to continue. He started the blog four years ago, and thousands of people had written on it. They are now upset because they did not know that the site was closed.
One blog that is still going strong is called Rebecca's Pocket.Rebecca Blood created the website in 1999. She wrote about the history of blogs on the site.That article led to a book called The Weblog Handbook.It has been translated into four languages so far.
Miss Blood says Rebecca's Pocket gets about thirty thousand visitors a month.She writes about anything and everything ---- politics, culture and movies. She recently provided medical advice. And she wrote about how to prevent people from being stolen from online bank accounts. | high3432.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "gradually; as"
},
"options": [
"day by day; and",
"gradually; as",
"gradually; that",
"century after century; as"
],
"question": "Habits, whether good or bad, are formed _ , _ everyone knows.",
"questi... | Habits, whether good or bad, are gradually formed. When a person does a certain thing again, he is impelled(,) by some unseen force to do the same thing repeatedly; thus a habit is formed. Once a habit is formed, it is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to get rid of. It is therefore very important that we should pay great attention to the formation of habits. Children often form bad habits, some of which remain with them as long as they live. Older persons also form bad habits as long as they live, and sometimes become ruined by them..
There are other habits which, when formed in early life, are of great help. Many successful men say that much of their success has something to do with certain habits in early life, such as early rising, honesty and thoroughness .
Among the habits which children should not form are laziness, lying, stealing and so on. These are all easily formed habits. Unfortunately older persons form habits which ought to have been avoided.
We ought to keep from all these old habits, and try to form such habits as will prove good for ourselves and others. | high11175.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Shark fins are in great need."
},
"options": [
"Shark fins are in great need.",
"People kill them out of fear.",
"Sharks often attack swimmers.",
"Sharks break the balance of the sea."
],
"question": "What's the... | There is a huge demand for shark fins in Asian countries. As a result, many sharks are caught and killed. In Palau, where more than half of tourists are drawn by diving excursions, each reef shark brings in about $179,000 in tourism revenue annually, or about $1.9 million during its lifetime. Due to overexploitation and lack of proper management, many shark species are under considerable risk of unrecoverable decline with some species having declined to near extinction in recent years. According to reports, sharks are being killed at an alarming rate of up to 273 million worldwide per year.
Some experts predict that if the killing continues at the current rate many shark species will be lost forever. It can be very dangerous. Sharks are very important and they should be protected.
In a study of the east coast of the United States, 11 species of sharks were eliminated from their range. Of the 14 species of ocean life that those sharks used to eat, the populations of 12 exploded and caused great damage to the ecosystem. For example, the cownose ray population was no longer kept under control by sharks and so grew out of control. As a result, the rays destroyed the population of bay scallops , their favorite food. The scallop fishery, which had been in good condition for over 100 years, was wiped out. Also, the removal of the scallops most likely had an effect on water quality as they were no longer there to perform their function of cleaning the water.
Sharks play a vital role in the oceans in a way that the average fish does not. Most sharks serve as top predators at the pinnacle of the marine food pyramid, and so play a critical role in ocean ecosystems. Directly or indirectly they regulate the natural balance of these ecosystems. Sharks tend to eat very efficiently, going after the old, sick, or slower fish in a population, keeping that population healthy. Sharks help keep many populations of ocean life to the right size so that those prey species don't cause harm to the ecosystem by becoming too populated. The ocean ecosystem is made up of very complex food webs. For the most part, sharks are at the top of these webs and are considered by scientists to be"keystone"species, meaning that removing them may cause the whole structure to fall apart, including key fisheries such as tuna and other important fish species that maintain the health of coral reefs.
Therefore, we should protect sharks because doing so is to protect the whole ecosystem. | high19529.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "interesting"
},
"options": [
"boring",
"easy",
"interesting",
"difficult"
],
"question": "Matthew Fish thinks learning to ride the waves is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": ... | Dana Cummings was in his thirties before he first went surfing. But, even more interesting is that Dana Cummings chose to learn the sport after losing a leg in a car accident. Now, nine years later, he helps other disabled people learn how to ride the waves in AmpSurf.
On the coast of Maine, he is working with 27-year-old Matthew Fish, who is partly blind. Cummings takes hold of Fish and leads him into the ocean. The surfboard floats next to them. Fish lies on the surfboard. He tries to stand up on it. After a few attempts he is up and riding all the way back to land. "That was exciting," Fish says.
A car accident in 2002 took Dana Cummings' leg. He says the crash changed him more than just physically. "Losing my leg made me realize how precious life is and get off the couch and start living. I do more things now than I ever did before. Next week I am going to compete in a contest in Hawaii," Dana says.
One year later Dana Cummings formed AmpSurf. AmpSurf is a group that volunteers to hold surfing classes and events for people with all kinds of disabilities.
Recently, AmpSurf took its training programs to the East Coast. Eleven students attended the class in Maine. They came from all over the northeastern United States.
Dana Cummings thinks AmpSurf can change the way a disabled person thinks. "Most people with disabilities consider himself or herself unlucky and useless, but we want them to see what they can do. Who cares you lose your leg or you are blind, whatever? Have fun. Just enjoy life. Take the most advantage of _ you can," Dana says. | high3354.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "France."
},
"options": [
"Ireland.",
"France.",
"Sweden.",
"Denmark"
],
"question": "Which country has the best quality of life in Europe according to the report?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
... | British people have the worst quality of life in Europe, according to a report which highlights the long hours, bad weather, low life expectancy and high price of many goods.
In a study of ten of the largest European countries, Britain, which was considered a popular country to live in, now comes last followed by Ireland, with France and Spain topping the table.
Though British families enjoy the highest income in Europe, they still have to fight with a high cost of living, with fuel, food and alcohol all costing more than the European average.
With the high price of petrol, the UK is the second most expensive country in Europe. However, diesel is more expensive in the UK than anywhere else in Europe.
The report by the websiteuSwitch analyses 10 European countries against 17 different benchmarks , from the price of gas, electricity, fuel, food and drink to the money each country spends on education, health to working conditions and the weather.
The top three countries are France, Spain and Denmark, with Sweden, Ireland and Britain coming eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.
The study comes less than a week after the United Nations moved Britain out of the top 20 list of most _ countries to live in for the first time.
Although France and Germany were at the beginning hit hard by the global financial crisis, both have officially got out of the trouble, while Britain has yet to prove this has happened. Later this week, despite signs of recovery in the housing market and rising sales, unemployment is still expected to have climbed to above 2.5 million for the first time since 1994. | high11613.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Canadian scientists help aging people preserve memory."
},
"options": [
"A new way to develop a good memory.",
"Cognitive abilities are essential to memory.",
"Say no to the memory decline.",
"Canadian scientists help a... | Canadian scientists have found a method to help aging people get less forgetful by improving their cognitive abilities through well-designed training.Everyone experiences some degree of memory loss and cognitive decline as they get older.The decline usually becomes noticeable after 50,when people may find it slightly more difficult to focus on tasks,organize everyday jobs and remember how to do things in the right order.
A team of psychologists in Toronto created a strategy of cognitive training to help people preserve these abilities."Our primary emphasis was on improving the use of general strategic abilities because they are particularly weak to the aging process,"Dr.Donald Stuss,director of the study,said in a press release.The team examined 49 healthy older adults with normal cognitive decline.All of the participants were between the ages of 71 and 87.Over the course of 12 weeks,psychologists taught them methods to improve their strategic abilities.Afterwards,researchers saw a 15 to 40 percent improvement in the memories of all participants."Over a period of six months their improvement not only maintained,but increased,"said Dr.Gordon Winocur,coordinator of the study.The 12-week course was broken up into three four-week sections,focusing on a different skill involved in strategic abilities:memory,goal management and psychosocial function.
The memory training emphasized how to preserve and recover information, while goal management focused on methods to lower the chance of memory slips.Psychosocial training was aimed at increasing the participants' confidence in their mental abilities.
"We wanted to develop a cognitive training program that would produce improvement over a ly short period of time,so participants could benefit more on that while they're still functional and slow down the rate of decline,"said Winocur."If we can work with people in the early stages of cognitive decline,then we can slow down the rate of this decline and help them maintain a higher level of function for a longer period of time." | high21908.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "They found it hard for poor people to become rich."
},
"options": [
"They were done by economists and psychologists.",
"They found it hard for poor people to become rich.",
"They explained why poor people made poor decisions.... | New research finds a link between poverty and poor decision making. The findings may explain why poor people sometimes make bad choices that continue their hardship.
Earlier studies have found the poor less likely to escape poverty. But there has been little research on why the poor make decisions that make their lives harder. Until recently, it was economists who studied poverty, not psychologists. Eldar Shafir, a psychologist in Princeton University says now scientists from both fields work together. Mr. Shafir and his team did two experiments. One took place at a shopping center in New Jersey. Another was carried out among sugar cane farmers in rural India.
The New Jersey experiment involved individuals with low paying jobs and others belonged to the middle class. All the volunteers were asked what they would do if their cars needed repairs.
The volunteers were given two imaginary situations. In the first, the car repairs cost $ 150. In the second, $ 1,500.
"And what we found is that the poor and the rich performed equally well on almost all the tests. "
Not so when the researchers raised the repair costs to $ 1,500.
"Now the poor performed significantly worse. " The poorer lost about 13 IQ points on average. This is about the loss experienced when a person has not slept for one night.
The scientists then wondered if the same person reacted differently when he was rich and when he was poor. The Indian sugar cane farmers earn most of their money once a year, when the harvest comes in. But the money often does not last through the year.
"So they find themselves basically rich after the harvest when the income comes in and poor just before the harvest.
The researchers gave them tests similar to the ones taken by the people in New Jersey. They tested the Indian farmers before the harvest and after.
And the results were much the same as with the mall shoppers.
"They performed much more slowly and with many more mistakes when they were poorer than when they were richer. "
Mr. Shafir says the results support 50 years of research that shows all humans have limited mental power to deal with things in life.
"And so the insight here is that, having not enough of something in a way makes it harder to make good decisions for everything else. " | high17262.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "three"
},
"options": [
"four",
"three",
"two",
"five"
],
"question": "The Japanese adopted those of Chinain _ ways.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | The Four Treasures
In the 5th or 6th century prefix = st1 /Japanadopted the Chinese writing system. It is of no surprise then that the Japanese, being the industrious people that they are, adopted the methods and ideology of the Chinese writing system as well. As proof of the Japanese single mindedness they have stuck to this rigid style of writing for the past 1500 years.
The Chinese belief that that government has its foundation in writing dedicated great importance to the Four Treasures of Writing: brush, ink, inkstone, and paper. Upon copying the Chinese bureaucratic system of government the Japanese also adopted the Chinese idea of the Four Treasures. One can trace this back to Japan's earliest records from the 8th century where the brush, ink, inkstone and paper appear as objects of adoration. | high18151.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the number of competitions whose winners can be awarded extra credits will be smaller"
},
"options": [
"high school students with talent in sports are weak in academic performance",
"students who win awards in Olympic competitions ... | BEIJING -- China's education authority will tighten the widely criticized policy of "extra credits" for the national college entrance examination to ensure a fairer chance for all exam-takers.
Under the policy, high school students who win awards in national Olympic competitionscould get ''extra credits', up to 20 points for the national college entrance exam. Students with talentin sports and students who are from ethnic groups can also benefit from this policy. The extra creditshave increased these students' chances of being admitted by famous universities. Some parents werefound to have helped their children fabricate award experiences or falsify qualifications to getextra credits.
"It has harmed education equality," the ministry said.
Xiong Bingqi, vice-chief of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said the policy isdesigned to help students who have special talents but may be weak in academic performance tohave a chance to receive higher education. It will still be needed but it is time to make the rulesfairer," he said.
The ministry said it will reduce the range of competitions whose winners can get extra credits,and limit the winners, privileges.
The new policy will apply to students who begin high school in 2011, it said.
Chen Lei, a mother of a 10-year-old girl, said she welcomed the ministry's policy adjustmentas she does not want her daughter to become an Olympic competition _ .
But not all the Chinese parents welcomed the new policy. "It is like a thunderbolt for me. My 13-year-old son has spent so much time studying Olympic math, and participated in so manytechnological competitions during vacations. It is useless now," said Dong Wen, a 43-year-oldmother.
A student said, "Many students have changed the current study plan, and they can abandon thecompetition. I will be interested in learning the courses which can improve my abilities."
Yuan Guiren, minister of education, told China Daily that the reform is an attempt to consider the overall quality of an applicant. "But the country will not stop the national college entrance examination as it is still the most objective way to evaluate talent in China," he said. | high13004.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "fast food very often"
},
"options": [
"vegetables and fruit",
"bread and fish",
"snack foods sometimes",
"fast food very often"
],
"question": "A healthy diet includes all of the following EXCEPT _ .",
"q... | If you are like millions of other people in the world, you probably want to live a healthy lifestyle. While many people are able to achieve this lifestyle, there are even more that are looking for ways to improve their health. Here are 5 tips to help you.
1.Healthy diet
The food you eat plays a huge role in what type of lifestyle you live. If you eat fast food every day, you clearly don't have the best diet. You should eat vegetables, fruits, bread as well as meat and fish, and even some snack foods once in a while.
2.Water
Drink plenty of water every day and it is good for your health. Usually you need to drink 8~10 glasses of water a day.
3.Exercise
Take some exercise every day. You can take a walk, play ball games with your friends, or ride a bike. Exercise is a necessary part of a healthy lifestyle.
4.Have fun
Getting out and having fun is _ because it helps let out the stresses. Go out for a movie with your friends once in a while. Go to the park and enjoy a nice sunny day. Or just lie down and read a book.
5.Sleep
Without enough sleep, our immune system will be weak and it will be difficult to get through the day. Getting a good night's sleep can make the world of a difference in how you feel and how much you can do the next day. | high8201.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "making use of an especially short form of English"
},
"options": [
"using body language",
"drawing some strange pictures",
"making phone calls",
"making use of an especially short form of English"
],
"question":... | If you've been joining in chat room conversations, or trading e-mails with net pals , you have become one of the millions who write in a special, short form of English.
Throughout the world, every night children and their elders are "talking" online-many of them are talking at the same time.
It's fast: trying talking to six people once. It's convenient: three or four words per exchange. It takes cleverness, concentration and quick fingers.
And it requires very simple language. There's neither time nor space for explanations. Why waste valuable time telling six friends you have to leave for a moment to take care of your little brother when BRB (be right back) will do?
Want to enter a conversation? Just type PMFJI (pardon me for jumping in).
Interested in whom you're talking to? Type A/S/L, the nearly universal request to know your pal's age, sex and location. You may get 15/M/NY as a reply from your pal.
If something makes you laugh, say you're OTF (on the floor), or LOL (laughing out loud), or join the two into ROTFL (rolling on the floor laughing).
And when it's time to get back to work or go to bed, you type GTG (got to go) or TTYL (talk to you later).
People want to write as fast as possible, and they want to get their ideas across as quickly as they can. Capital letters are left in the dust, except when expressing feeling, as it takes more time to hold down the "Shift" key and use capitals. Punctuation is going too. | high15475.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "No profits will be made from the festival."
},
"options": [
"The festival will take place in a park.",
"No profits will be made from the festival.",
"The audience will be bigger than expected.",
"A lot of national stars... | The Firegathering
18-20 May
The Firegathering festival returns to an unidentified place somewhere in the Sussex countryside this May.The ticket price is a very agreeable PS40,an amount that the organisers promise covers only the costs of staging the event.As well as the nightclub singers and dancers and circus performers,you can expect live performances from local stars.If this looks like it might be right for you,you'd be well advised to book your ticket soon;the event has sold out every year since its beginning four years ago.
Sheep Music
20-22 July
Sheep Music started life as a garden party and has developed into a fullscale community event.Even though the advertising has always been limited to word of mouth,the huge number of people in 2005 left organizers worried that the large crowds could ruin the festival's family feel.Luckily July sees the return of this brilliant party.The climax comes in the shape of Saturday night's fullscale parade and fancy dress ball that you just would not expect to happen in the other sleepy Welsh borders.
The Big Chill
3-5 August
Ten years on and The Big Chill could very well be close to becoming a big pop festival like Glastonbury.That said,the many thousands in attendance are still able to relax in the beautiful Eastnor deer park and listen to plenty of music that would otherwise pass them by.Families have always been given a warm welcome and it's fair to say that The Big Chill is probably the most childfriendly of all the mediumsized festivals.If you've never been,you should certainly go.
Summer Sundae
10-12 August
Although only a year old this summer,Summer Sundae has quickly inspired the imaginations of Leicesteks music lovers.Last year's event was a success,noted by more than a few mentions at the UK Festival Awards.It is set in the impressive grounds of De Montfort Hall.Although the performers are still to be confirmed,the cabins are sure to be there.These small buildings are made from wood and carpets,storage space,and can fit a family for the night. | high6238.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Popularity."
},
"options": [
"Climate change.",
"Copies.",
"Popularity.",
"Thieves."
],
"question": "What may account for the destruction of some archaeological treasures like Tutankhamun's tomb?",
"question... | C What historical site impresses you most? I've always been fascinated by the pyramids in Egypt.A few years ago I braved a long queue and climbed through a narrow passage to reach the main chamber deep inside one of them.Like millions of other tourists, I marveled at stone-walled rooms full of the magic of this ancient civilization.
But popularity might be the destruction of such archaeological treasures.Take Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings for example.It lay untouched for more than 3,000 years until the British archaeologist Howard Carter uncovered it in 1922.Now more than 1,000 people a day walk through it.
But as more and more people visit, the temperature and humidity inside the tomb change.As a result, the beautifully decorated plaster is coming away from the rock.
In order to preserve its heritage, a replica of the monument is being opened about 1 kilometer away from the actual burial site.Specialists have recorded every detail of Tutankhamun's tomb and used the data to recreate it.
Adam Lowe from the organization behind the project says the copy is identical to the original.He believes visitors will want to become part of the force that protects it rather than a force that is leading to its destruction.So they won't mind seeing a replica.
But for historian Tom Holland, a copy is still a copy.He believes that although preservation is important, there is something unique about places like Tutankhamun's tomb.He says it was built by people who believed in the world of the spirits, the dead and the supernatural.You don't have to believe in a god or gods to feel a place is consecrated and has a particular quality that can't be reproduced.
What about you? Would you visit a replica of a monument rather than the original to help preserve it? | high13010.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Hard."
},
"options": [
"Pleasant.",
"Hard.",
"Comfortable.",
"Attractive."
],
"question": "Which of the following can best describe the sailor's work in the first act?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"a... | No opera smells of the sea quite like Britten's Peter Grimes. The music makes us constantly aware of the sea's immensity, it's potential for threat, and the play of light on its waves. But the sea isn't just a special background, it weighs on the lives of the characters, offering them a living, but at a price. In the first act the laboured sound of the strings evokes the complete heaviness of the sailor's work, as they haul the boats up the shingle . Then a storm gathers which rages through the scene at the Inn, and stirs up an orchestral hurricane. Even when it's calm and favorable, the sea is inescapable.
In the comfortable enclosed world of the opera house, this can only be suggested. In the production of Peter Grimes about to open at the Aldeburgh Festival, it will be really present, because the opera is taking place on the beach, the setting for much of the narrative of Britten's opera, and also the poem by the Suffolk poet George Crabbe that inspired it.
This won't be the first opera production to be set in the actual landscape in which the action takes place. There's a well-known filmed production of Tosca shot in Castel Gandolfo in Rome, and a production of Donizetti's Anna Bolena was once mounted in the moat surrounding the Tower of London. But those were manageable urban landscapes, with comfortingly solid buildings to act as wind shields and acoustic blocks.
On the Aldeburgh beach there's actually nothing, apart from a few boats, some whole, some wrecked. Here anything more complicated than walking the dog is hard to solve. The wind blows away one's words, so conversation is hard, and anything not tied down tends to blow away. The sliding shingle turns one's steps into a drunken stagger.
The idea of performing an opera in these conditions seems quite _ -- an accusation Aldeburgh director Jonathan Reakie takes cheerfully on the chin. Why has he done it? "Well, Grimes is the opera of Britten's that's most associated with Aldeburgh, but it's never been produced at the Festival which he founded. There just isn't the space for it. In his anniversary year we wanted to focus on Britten's connection with Suffolk, and this seemed the boldest way to do it."
Having had the mad idea, Reakie found his colleagues were not just accepting, but enthusiastic. "We spent a long time thinking about ways to do it. One idea we had was to do all the scenes at the right time of day. There's one scene at dawn, another at midday, and a lot of action at night, but that was too complicated. Then we thought about doing a few scenes on the beach. But in the end, we thought hell, let's just do the whole thing." | high7126.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Earthquakesusually can be felt because they can last for a long time."
},
"options": [
"Earthquakes are the result of the sudden shock of the earth's surface.",
"Earthquakesusually can be felt because they can last for a long time.... | Earthquakes are the shaking, rolling or sudden shock of the earth's surface. Earthquakes happen along "fault lines" in the earth's crust. Earthquakes can be felt over large areas although they usually last less than one minute. Earthquakes cannot be predicted ---- although scientists are working on it!
Most of the time, you will notice an earthquake by the gentle shaking of the ground. You may notice hanging plants swaying or objects wobbling on shelves. Sometimes you may hear a low rumbling noise or feel a sharp jolt. A survivor of the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco said the sensation was like riding a bicycle down a long flight of stairs.
The intensity of an earthquake can be measured. One measurement is called the Richter scale. Earthquakes below 4.0 on the Richter scale usually do not cause damage, and earthquakes below 2.0 usually can't be felt. Earthquakes over 5.0 on the scale can cause damage. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake is considered strong and a magnitude 7.0 is a major earthquake. The Wenchuan Earthquake, which hit Sichuan Province in 2008, was magnitude 7.8.
Earthquakes are sometimes called temblors, quakes, shakers or seismic activity. The most important thing to remember during an earthquake is to DROP, COVER and HOLD ON. So remember to DROP to the floor and get under something for COVER and HOLD ON during the shaking. | high16168.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "He built the Apple II in 1970."
},
"options": [
"He was born in California in 1955.",
"He built the Apple II in 1970.",
"He set up a film production company at 31.",
"He was found to suffer from cancer at 49."
],
... | Have you listened to music on an iPod? Used a computer at home? Those are just two of the ways your life was touched by the work of Steve Jobs.
Jobs, one founder of Apple Computers, died on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at the age of 56. He had been fighting with cancer since 2004.
Steven Jobs was born in Los Altos, California. He and his childhood friend, Steve Wozniak, designed and built the first Apple computer in his parents' garage in the 1970s. The Apple II, built when Jobs was just 21 years old, was the first personal computer to be widely sold to the public.
Steven Jobs didn't stop there. He went on to invent more devices that allowed people to bring their own creativity to computing: the Macintosh, the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad. People found his products beautiful and easy to use.
Jobs also changed the music and film industries. He started Pixar, a film production company in 1986. Toy Story was the world's first computer-animated feature film .
"Steve was among the greatest of American _ -- brave enough to think differently, confident enough to believe he could change the world, and clever enough to do it," said President Barack Obama. "By making computers personal and putting the Internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only easy to reach, but fun ... And there may be no greater praise to Steve's success than the fact that much of the world learned of his death on a device he invented."
All around the world, people are talking about the effects that Jobs' creations have had. By creating products that surprised people, he changed the way people worked and lived their everyday lives. | high3340.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "A taxi driver couldn't start his engine."
},
"options": [
"There was too much traffic in the street.",
"Truck drivers attempted to go ahead of others.",
"A taxi driver couldn't start his engine.",
"A young man wasn't go... | The cars were honking on the road one morning as I was walking to the park. I walked on and soon found the cause -- a little taxi that had got stuck in the middle of the road. There was sweat on the driver's face as he tried to start the engine again and again -- nothing happened. "No petrol,"
I said to myself and then found myself getting angry. "Why doesn't the fool move his taxi to the side?" I thought, so did all the others who honked and shouted.
He got up tiredly, and the passenger in the taxi got out. He was a young man in a white shirt, who watched the driver try to push it to the side. "Stupid guy!" I said. "Can't he lend a helping hand? "
I watched as the poor driver pushed it to the side. Cars, buses and trucks went past cursing ( ) the poor man. The young man took another taxi and went off.
The taxi driver began mending his taxi. "Stupid passenger!" I said to him. "He didn't help you!" The taxi driver slowly got up. "Sir!" he asked, "Did you?" I looked at him guiltily, then looked away, and walked away fast, asking myself, "Did I help the poor man push his taxi?"
What had I been doing as the traffic jam took place? How had I helped deal with the problem? Did I help the poor man push his taxi? I'd done my bit, with my mouth. But never had I moved to solve the problem. I was shocked with guilt as I heard him asking, "Sir! Did you?" | high10519.txt |
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