questions list | article stringlengths 9 6.44k | id stringlengths 9 14 |
|---|---|---|
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Katherine of Aragon"
},
"options": [
"Two stone crosses in Ampthill",
"Stevenson's Treasure Island",
"Katherine of Aragon",
"Williams' hometown"
],
"question": "What is the most important clue in the story to he... | Treasure hunts have excited people's imagination for hundreds of years both in real life and in books such as Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island .Kit Williams ,a modern writer ,had the idea of combining the real excitement of a treasure hunt with clues found in a book when he wrote a children's story Masquerade, in 1979. The book was about a hare ,and a month before it came out, Williams buried a gold hare in a park in Bedfordshire .The book contained a large number of clues to help readers find the hare ,but Williams put in a lot of "red herrings ",or false clues ,to mislead _
Ken Roberts ,the man who found the hare ,had been looking for it for nearly two years .Although he had been searching in the wrong area most of the time ,he found it by logic ,not by luck .His success came from the fact that he had gained an important clue at the start .He had realized that the words :"One of Six to Eight" under the first picture in the book connected the hare in some way to Katherine of Aragon ,the first of Henry VIII's six wives. Even here ,however ,Williams had succeeded in misleading him .Ken knew that Katherine of Aragon had died at Kimbolton in Cambridgeshire in 1536 and thought that Williams had buried the hare there .He had been digging there for over a year before a new idea occurred to him. He found out that Kit Williams had spent his childhood near Ampthill ,in Befordshire and thought that he must have buried the hare in a place he knew well ,but he still could not see the connection with Katherine of Aragon ,until one day he came across two stone crosses in Ampthill Park and learnt that they had been built in her honor in 1773.
Even then his search had not come to an end. It was only after he had spent several nights digging around the cross that he decided to write to Kit Williams to find out if he was wasting his time there .Williams encouraged him to continue ,and on February 24th 1982 ,he found the treasure. It was worth PS 3000 in the beginning ,but the excitement it had caused since its burial made it much more valuable . | high10085.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "they lost their land after European settlers' arrival"
},
"options": [
"they lost their vote right after European settlers' arrival",
"they lost their land after European settlers' arrival",
"they were driven out of their cou... | ABORIGINAL is a term used to describe the people and animals that lived in a place from the earliest known times or before Europeans arrived. Examples are the Maori in New Zealand, the Aborigines in Australia and the Indians in America. They all share the fact that they were pushed off their land by European settlers.
Maori
The Maori were the first people to go to New Zealand, about 1,000 years ago. They came from the islands of Polynesia in the Pacific. They brought dogs, rats and plants with them and settled mainly on the Northern Island. In 1769, Captain James Cook from Britain took possession of the Island and from that time British people started to settle. The Maori signed an agreement on land rights with these settlers, but in later years there were arguments and battles between them.
Aborigines
The native people of Australia came from somewhere in Asia more than 40,000 years ago. They lived by hunting and gathering. Their contact with British settlers began in 1788. By the 1940s almost all of them were mixed into Australian society as low-paid workers. Their rights were limited. In 1976 and 1993 the Australian Government passed laws that returned some land to the Aborigines and recognized their property rights.
American Indians
Long before the Europeans came to America in the 16th and 17th century, the American Indians, or Native Americans, lived there. It is believed that they came from Asia. Christopher Columbus mistook the land for India and so called the people there Indians. The white settlers and American Indians lived in peace at the beginning, but conflicts finally arose and led to the Indian Wars (1866-1890). After the wars, the Indians were driven to the west of the country. Not until 1924 did they gain the right to vote. | high3804.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "a school trip to another country"
},
"options": [
"schools in another country",
"getting a job in another country",
"people studying in another country",
"a school trip to another country"
],
"question": "The ke... | Hello, children and parents. Thank you all for coming to this meeting. I'd like to start by confirming that we will receive some money from the government for our school trip to Indonesia.
We will receive approximately $1,300 per child, which will reduce the overall cost to you.
Now that we are sure to get the money, it is time to do some serious planning. We are sure that the trip will be very exciting for the children, especially if they have not traveled overseas before. There are many benefits to having some exposure to different places and cultures. Your children will be able to learn a lot about other people and cultures on this trip.
Leanne is with us tonight. Leanne, where are you? Put up your hand, Leanne, so that the people can see who you are. Thank you. Leanne went on the trip last year and will be happy to tell you .of her experiences and answer any questions you might have. We will hear from her a bit later in the meeting.
We only have five months to organize the trip. From past experience I can tell you that the time will go very quickly! So we need to start organizing the trip. This is the agenda for tonight's meeting:
* Passport: when and how to apply for one
* Schedule: what places we will visit
* Health matters: what precautions you need to take, plus any special needs that your child may have
* Studying: description of the school and type of lessons your child will attend
* Money: paying for the trip, plus how much money your child should take
* Hotel: where we will be staying
*Clothing and personal items: what your children should take with them
Are there any other items that you would like to place on the agenda? | high20146.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "a girl musical group"
},
"options": [
"a girl musical group",
"the name of a cute girl",
"a Singaporean twin",
"the name of a dancing group"
],
"question": "We can learn from the text that S. H. E is _ .",
... | Following the success of S. H. E and Twins, another girl band . has arrived on the music scene. Eighteen-year-old Singaporean twin sisters Yumi and Miko Bai create the magic in the band BY2.
The pair recently released their second album, Twins.
With great voices and dance moves to match, the cute sisters have won the hearts of many fans since their first album NC-16 came out last year.
At a young age,the sisters began to learn ballet dancing and the violin. When a music company wanted to work with them, the girls had to leave their home and parents to go to Taiwan for training.
Miko and Yumi dropped out of school to focus on their music. This decision caused a hot debate in Singapore. Some people said that their mother was using her daughters to make money. But their father, who died of cancer when they were 15 years old, had encouraged the girls to work hard to make their dreams come true.
The girls felt lonely in Taiwan when they first arrived. " We celebrated our birthday in Taiwan without any family and friends," Yumi said. " We cut our birthday cake ourselves. "
The girls faced many challenges. "We had to learn Mandarin. Also, it was a killer to dance in high heels, " said the twins,who had to do so in their music videos.
However,they are glad that they entered the entertainment scene at an early age. " When we are younger, we learn things faster and can gain more experience, " Yumi said. | high9497.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "inform the readers of Apple Store"
},
"options": [
"recommend a new product of Apple",
"inform the readers of Apple Store",
"describe the function of Apple Store",
"offer additional services to the customers of Apple St... | Description
Tap the Apple Store app on your iPhone or iPod touch, and you can do all things Apple. Buy Apple products and accessories and read customer reviews. Add free laser engraving and choose signature gift wrap on select products to make your items even more special. Find Apple Retail Stores, reserve select Apple products for pickup at your favorite store, and request help when you are at the store. Schedule Genius Bar and One to One reservations and check in for them when you arrive.
The Apple Store app is also the easiest way to buy or reserve your new iPhone -- right from your current iPhone. You can do it in just a few taps, without entering your AT&T account information. Order your new iPhone from the Apple Online Store and it's shipped to you free and ready to use. Or reserve your new iPhone, pick it up at an Apple Retail Store, and we'll set it up for you in minutes.
Apple Online Store Features
- Explore new and featured products from Apple.
- Buy a new iPhone and other Apple products, accessories, and software.
- Add free personal engraving to any new iPad or iPod.
- Choose signature gift wrapping for any iPad or iPod, select Mac notebooks, and select Apple software and accessories.
- Read customer reviews and get answers to product questions.
Apple Retail Store Features
- Reserve iPhone and other select products for pick up.
- Request help, check in for reservations, and receive meet-up alerts when you are at a store (iOS 4 required).
- Make Genius Bar and One to One reservations.
- Sign up for workshops and events.
What's New in Version 1.1
- Add engraving and gift wrapping to select purchases from the Apple Online Store.
- Reserve products for pickup at an Apple Retail Store.
- Check in for reservations and request help within stores (iOS 4 required).
- Add Apple Retail Store reservations directly to iCal.
Please note: With Location Services on and the Apple Store app open, Apple will use your location to identify nearby Apple Retail Stores and to offer additional services when you are in a store. If you have previously selected the Apple Store app using location but do not want this new feature, you can update your Location Services preferences in General Settings. | high8951.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "all the above"
},
"options": [
"size",
"taste",
"color1",
"all the above"
],
"question": "Apples are different in _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
... | For thousands of years, man has enjoyed the taste of apples. Apples, which are about 35 percent water, grow almost everywhere in the world but the hottest and coldest areas. The leading countries in apple production are China, France and the United States.
There are various kinds of apples, but a very few make up the majority of those that are grown
for sale. The three most common kinds that are grown in the United States are Delicious,
Golden Delicious and Macintosh.w
Apples are different in color1. Size and taste. The color1 of the skin may be red, green, or yellow. They have various sizes, with Delicious apples being among the largest. The taste may be sweet or tart"". Generally, sweet apples are eaten fresh while tart apples are used to make apple sauce .
Apple trees may grow as tall as twelve meters. They do best in areas that have cold winters. Although no fruit is _ during the winter ,this cold period is good for the tree. | high22989.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "73"
},
"options": [
"82",
"73",
"91",
"71"
],
"question": "Darwin died at the age of _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "They m... | Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882) was a great naturalist, famous for his theory of evolution .
One day two boys decided to play a trick on the great man. They took the body of a centipede , the head of a beetle , the leg of a grasshopper , and the wings of a butterfly, and glued them together. Putting the strange creature into a box carefully, they took it to Darwin.
"Please, sir," said one of the two boys, "can you tell us what sort of a bug this is?"
The naturalist looked at the bug and then at the boys. "Did it hum ?" he asked.
"Oh, yes. It did!"
"In that case," declared Darwin, "I would say it's a humbug !" | high22751.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "to see her children"
},
"options": [
"to do business",
"to see her children",
"to visit places of interest",
"to see her old friends"
],
"question": "According to the passage,the purpose of the author's train ri... | Have you ever thought of taking a train and having an adventure ?Riding the train can be a real adventure. That is how I feel every time I take Amtrak. I often take a four-hour trip to visit my children. Every time I take this trip I never know what will happen.
Last week when I was on the train and over an hour into the train ride,there was a man sitting by himself in the back of the train carrying on a mobile phone conversation-in another language. It was loud and disturbed most of the people on the train. I think it was annoying.
Fortunately I sat next to a wonderful old lady who was taking a two-day trip by train. She said her two daughters were distraught at the thought of her driving for three days to reach her home,although she had no trouble driving. The train ride was the only choice for her. She loved to look out of the window and watch the world go by on the train.
She was fun to talk to and asked me when my children started being parents. That is a very good question. Both of us are old and have children. She asked that same question from time to time.
There are always many people on the train from all walks of life,different countries,and many languages. Riding the train is a great way to increase your knowledge and take in all kinds of cultures. If you get hungry,you can buy food in the food car at any time. If you need to use the restroom there is always one available.
It sure beats driving the car,which has to stop for food and restrooms. And it is better than taking the bus. | high1975.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "one with a black square design."
},
"options": [
"a blue one.",
"one with a black square design.",
"one with an action hero.",
"a small one."
],
"question": "The backpack that Jack bought is _ .",
"quest... | Jack was so excited about getting a new backpack because his old one had a broken zipper and a hole in the bottom.
Jack's elder brother took him to buy a new backpack. There were so many cool ones. How would he ever decide? He saw blue ones--his favorite color. He saw ones with his favorite action hero on the front. And then Jack saw a backpack with a black square design. When he opened it, he saw it had a hidden, secret small bag. He liked it, which made it different from others.
"This is the one," he said, then carried it to the check-out counter.
That evening, Jack carefully filled his new backpack with his school things. He put his special pen in the secret small bag. The next day in English class, Mr. Mack said, "Let's write an essay about earthquakes!" Jack looked for his pen in his backpack, but he couldn't find it! He
through his desk and his pockets, but no pen.
Jack asked if anyone had seen his pen, but no one had. Mr. Mack lent him a pencil, but Jack was feeling anxious because he lost his pen. When he got home, Jack told his brother he couldn't find his favorite pen. His brother said, "You must have put it in that secret small bag."
Jack laughed and said, "That small bag was so secret that I forgot all about it." | high15843.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "A great number of pets died during Hurricane Katrina."
},
"options": [
"A great number of pets died during Hurricane Katrina.",
"San Francisco's \"no-pets-left-behind\" policy had been made before Hurricane Katrina.",
"The pe... | Located along California's San Andreas Fault, the city of San Francisco is likely to take precautions(,) in the event of the next big earthquake.
According to aNew York Timesreport, emergency planners in San Francisco are not only thinking of human evacuation(,) plans in the event of an earthquake, but also of how to care for pets during a natural disaster. Ideally, the planners will be able to train pet-disaster responders who work to evacuate dogs, cats and other household pets from the disaster site to one of the 125 temporary animal shelters that will be set up or, if the pet is injured, it will be brought to an emergency animal medical unit where there will be people on hand to tend to the pet's injury. The city's "no-pets-left-behind" policy results from the great number of pet deaths during the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.
As emergency responders arrived to rescue people isolated in their homes during Katrina, hurricane victims were told that they could not take their pets along with them when evacuating; thus, many pet owners were forced to make the heart-breaking decision to save themselves while leaving their pets behind to perhaps meet their deaths.
Since then, the U.S. has passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006, allocating federal funds for animal disaster planning projects. Yet, not all counties are as progressive as San Francisco has been in the effort to protect pets in the event of a natural disaster. Pets are after all, a large part of San Francisco's population -- overnumbering the number of school age children in the city.
Over the last three years, San Francisco has received $350,000 in federal funds _ to animal disaster preparedness efforts in order to protect animals in the case of a disaster such as an earthquake. The city is still working on obtaining $300,000 to pay for an emergency animal unit. Until then, animal lovers in San Francisco will continue to work to ensure that pets are never an afterthought when it comes to rescues during earthquakes or other life threatening situations. | high239.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "when the coast of Southern California was polluted"
},
"options": [
"when 20 million Americans to clean the ocean",
"when the US government realized the importance of environmental protection",
"when a great many marine life ... | Earth Day is day that is meat to inspire awareness for the Earth's natural environment. It is the day to highlight the fact that we all have a responsibility to the environment and need to change our behavior to improve the quality of our air, earth and water.
Global awareness of the need to protect the environment has grown greatly since 20 million people in the United States marked the first Earth Day on April 22,1970.That was started at the time of the destruction caused by an oil spill along the coast of southern California, which killed marine life and about 10000 birds. The incident was a wake-up call for the need to protect the Earth. But similar disasters have continued to happen.
Having one day to protect the Earth's resources is clearly more than necessary. However, efforts need to be made by individual of a country instead of just the government. Solving environmental problems is a personal responsibility.
Some of us don't think that reusing grocery bags and recycling water bottles can help improve the quality of our air, land and water. But this is an easy place to start to make a difference when we celebrate Earth Day.
,A.B.C.D . (3;1.5,4.5) | high23329.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Thunderstorms."
},
"options": [
"Hurricanes.",
"Great heat.",
"Thunderstorms.",
"Sandstorms."
],
"question": "From the passage, where may tornadoes come from?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {... | Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms, which can cause deaths and destroy a neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as a funnel-shaped cloud from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be over one mile wide and 50 miles long. Every state is at some risk from this disaster.
Some tornadoes can be seen clearly, while rain or nearby low-hanging clouds _ others. At many times, tornadoes develop so rapidly that little, if any, advance warning is possible.
Before a tornado hits, the air may become very still. A cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel can not be seen. Tornadoes generally occur near the edge of a thunderstorm, when the strong wind may die down. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.
The following are facts about tornadoes:
The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 MPH, but may also vary from still to 70 MPH. Debris is picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
The average tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction. Tornadoes are most often reported east of the Rocky Mountains during spring and summer months.
Tornadoes can happen together with tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land. Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water.
The tornado season in the southern states of America is March through May; in the northern states, it is late spring through early summer. Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time. | high14585.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The government of Copenhagen does encourage people to ride bicycles."
},
"options": [
"Copenhagen is a city with lots of places of interest.",
"Stoget is the biggest pedestrian mall in the world.",
"The government of Copenhag... | As a child, I remember listening to a song called "Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen." When I visited the city last year, that song kept running through my head. It got me wondering: Just what is wonderful about Copenhagen?
It's not a place filled with world-famous tourist sites. But it does have a charm that makes you want to _ . You can sample the food, visit the castles and museums, and learn about the life of the Danes.
Stoget, the world's longest pedestrian mall, runs through the center of the old city. This string of lively street and squares _ I happily explored the mall, looking in the windows of shops and cafes. I followed Stoget from the square in front of the city hall to Nyhavn. Here, old houses painted bright color1s look out over a picturesque harbor filled with sailing ships. Denmark's beloved storyteller Hans Christian Andersen lived here when he wrote his first stories.
From Nyhavan, I continued heading north. I wanted to see Copenhagen's symbol, the statue of the Little Mermaid . She was set up in honor of Hans Christian Andersen's famous story. As I continued my city tour, one thing impressed me all the bicycles. I learned that half the population of Copenhagen rides bikes every day. Only 20 percent of Copenhageners own cars because there is a 180 percent tax on them. That certainly keeps the city free of traffic jams and heavy pollution! It's easy to join all the bicyclists pedaling through the streets, too. The city provides free bicycles that anyone can use. The cycling around the castles and parks made a relaxing end to a full day. As darkness fell and the parks' lights began to twinkle, I watched families enjoying themselves.
So what is wonderful about Copenhagen? Just about everything. | high20620.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Neither Superman nor Holmes was a real character."
},
"options": [
"Neither Superman nor Holmes was a real character.",
"Both Superman and Holmes used super intellect to solve problems.",
"Superman was a comic book figure, wh... | Sherlock Holmes was the greatest detective in history. His astonishing power of observation and analysis meant that he was able to solve cases which left the real police completely
. As a problem solver in the law forced business, he was a knowledgeable person equal to Superman, the comic book hero.
Like Superman, of course, Holmes did not exist. He was the creation of a Scottish doctor and novelist Arthur Conan Doyle, and remains one of the most famous literary fiction characters of all time.
Holmes' general rule when trying to solve a case was as follows: completely get rid of the impossible. Then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
It's said that Holmes' powers of deduction were superhuman, particularly his ability to process information from what he observed. In a story called The Boscombe Valley Mystery, Holmes examines the area near a lake where a murder has been committed. The local police have already searched the area and found no clues. Holmes spends ten minutes in the area, and announces that the murderer "is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears thick-soled shooting boots and a gray coat, smokes Indian cigars, uses a cigar holder, and carries a penknife in his pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be enough to aid us in our search." Needless to say, he has found evidence to support all of these statements.
The fictional Holmes lived in an apartment at 221 Baker Street, a real street in Central London. When Conan Doyle wrote about Holmes, there was no 221 Baker Street, but after the street was extended northwards, there was. There is currently a bank at that address.
The fact that Holmes didn't actually exist doesn't stop thousands of people writing to him for help every year.The bank kindly responds to every letter they receive with the following message: "Mr. Holmes thanks you for your letter. At the moment he is retired in Sussex, keeping bees, and does not undertake detective work nowadays." | high16392.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "often goes out on business"
},
"options": [
"often goes out on business",
"didn't get along well with his/her family",
"has not grown into an adult",
"comes from a rich family"
],
"question": "We can infer from ... | I stepped into my hotel room to a pleasant surprise. Lots of room surrounded an inviting king-size bed, with armchairs nearby resting against sliding glass doors that opened onto a private yard. A small dining table sat next to a kitchen with a refrigerator and coffee machine. "Wow," I thought to myself. "Nice place."
I love hotels. I love to enter a clean room, hang my clothes and gaze out the window, walk out in the morning and when I return, someone else will have made the bed. I like in-room dining and the way they greet you so professionally. "Nice to have you with us again, Mr. Goldsborough." Very cool.
The problem is that unless Alison travels with me, I never sleep well in hotels. I miss my family, even though Linus and Camille, at ages 4 and almost 2, find a way to interrupt even the best night's sleep at home.
I'm deeply troubled by the number of parents who wake up too late with the realization:
"My children grew up too fast. In the busy career and corporate rat race , I missed their childhood." What they fail to say but too often think causes me even more pain: "...and I barely even know them."
A hundred years from now, no one will remember the size of your bank account, the car you drove or the size of your house. The world might differ greatly however, based on your impact in the life of a small child. If you pay attention to your significant others, make the choice to put them first.
Think of one specific action that you can take, and take it. Then think of another one and take that, too. Challenge yourself to find new ways to express your appreciation and love on a daily basis. It will pay off ten-fold at home. | high11416.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "he had sympathy for the beautiful butterfly"
},
"options": [
"he liked it very much",
"he had sympathy for the beautiful butterfly",
"he couldn't bear a butterfly dying in his favorite bushes",
"its wing broke off"
... | There was a time in my life when beauty meant something special to me. I guess that would have been when I was about six or seven years old, just several weeks or maybe a month before the orphanage turned me into an old man.
I would get up every morning at the orphanage, make my bed just like the little soldier that I had become and then I would get into one of the two straight lines and march to breakfast with the other twenty or thirty boys who also lived in my dormitory.
After breakfast one Saturday morning I returned to the dormitory and saw the house parent chasing the beautiful monarch butterflies who lived by the hundreds in the bushes scattered around the orphanage.
I carefully watched as he caught these beautiful creatures, one after another, and then took them from the net and then stuck straight pins through their head and wings, pinning them onto a heavy cardboard sheet.
How cruel it was to kill something of such beauty. I had walked many times out into the bushes, all by myself, just so the butterflies could land on my head, face and hands so I could look at them up close.
When the telephone rang the house parent laid the large cardboard paper down on the back cement step and went inside to answer the phone. I walked up to the cardboard and looked at the one butterfly who he had just pinned to the large paper. It was still moving about so I reached down and touched it on the wing causing one of the pins to fall out. It started flying around and around trying to get away but it was still pinned by the one wing with the other straight pin. Finally its wing broke off and the butterfly fell to the ground and just trembled.
I picked up the torn wing and the butterfly and I spat on its wing and tried to get it to stick back on so it could fly away and be free before the house parent came back. But it would not stay on him. | high20813.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "To tell us a few tips to help us learn a new language well."
},
"options": [
"To tell us the importance of practicing speaking as often as we can.",
"To tell us a few tips to help us learn a new language well.",
"To tell us t... | Speak, speak, speak!
Practise speaking as often as you can. Speaking to yourself is good practice.
Try recording yourself whenever you can.
Compare your pronunciation with the master version to see how you can do better and _ . If you do this several times, you will find that each time is better than last.
Why not learn with someone else?
It helps if you can learn with someone else. If you can persuade a friend or family member to study with you, it will make you keep working.
Don't get stuck by a word you don't know.
Practise improving ways of getting your meaning across when speaking spontaneously ,even if you don't know the exact words or phrases. Think of things you might want to say whenever you have spare time. Use facial expressions, hand movements, anything to make yourself understood.
Language learning is also about intuition .
Guesswork is an important way to learn a new language. When listening to recorded material, you aren't expected to understand everything first time round. If you play the same piece several times, you will most probably understand something new each time.
Build up your vocabulary.
A wide vocabulary is the key to successful language learning but don't try to learn too much at once. It's best to study frequently, for short periods of time. Take at most six or seven items of vocabulary and learn them. Put them into sentences to fix them in your mind, and then come back to them later.
And above all, have fun! | high3151.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Because he was afraid of being cheated."
},
"options": [
"Because he failed to notice this man.",
"Because he was driving too fast.",
"Because he was afraid of being cheated.",
"Because he thought the young man didn't n... | One summer I was driving from my hometown of Tahoe City, California, to New Orleans. In the middle of the desert, I came upon a young man standing by the roadside. He had his thumb out and held a gas can in his other hand. I drove right by him. There was a time in the country when you'd be considered a stupid person if you passed by somebody in need. Now you are a fool for helping. With gangs, drug addicts, murderers, thieves everywhere, "I don't want to get involved" has become a national motto.
Several states later I was still thinking about the hitch-hiker . Leaving him standing in the desert did not bother me so much. What bothered me was how easily I had reached the decision. I never even lifted my foot off the accelerator .
Does anyone stop any more? I wondered. I recalled Blanche DuBois's family line: "I have always depended on the kindness of the strangers". Could anyone rely on the kindness of the strangers these days? One way to test this would be for a person to journey from coast to coast without any money, relying only on the good will of his fellow Americans. What kind of Americans would he find? Who would feed him, shelter him, and carry him down the road?
The idea interested me.
So I decided to travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic without a penny. It would be a cashless journey through the land of the almighty dollar. I would only accept offers of rides, food and a place to rest my head. My final destination would be Cape Fear in North Carolina, a symbol of all the fears I'd have to conquer during the trip.
I rose early on September 6, 1994, and headed for the Golden Gate Bridge with a 50-pound pack on my back and a sign displaying my destination to passing vehicles: "America".
For six weeks I hitched 82 rides and covered 4,223 miles across 14 states. As I traveled, folks were always warning me about someplace else. In Montana they told me to watch out for the cowboys in Wyoming; in Nebraska they said people would not be as nice as in Iowa. Yet I was amazed by people's readiness to help a stranger, even when it seemed against their own best interests. | high16379.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "suffered a lot from the accident"
},
"options": [
"was born with disability",
"suffered a lot from the accident",
"chose to live because of a TV programme",
"was fond of swimming since he was young"
],
"question... | Imagine someone has crossed the seas joining five continents by swimming. It is a major success for anyone. But it is an even greater success for Philippe Croizon, who has no arms, and no legs! His achievements show that we can all achieve great things--no matter who we are.
Philippe Croizon was 26 years old when he had an accident. The doctors had to remove both of his arms and legs. "When they cut off my last leg I wanted to die. I suffered great depression and my spirit was as low as you can get. But you have to choose--and I chose to live!" said Croizon.
While he was recovering in hospital, Croizon saw a television programme about a woman who had been swimming across the English Channel. After watching the programme Croizon decided to do it. He began to exercise every day to make him strong and it took him two years to prepare.
Finally in 2010, Croizon was ready. He entered the cold, grey sea of the English Channel. He was now 42 years old. It took him from early morning until night to swim the distance. He felt a lot of pain. But he had become the first person without arms and legs to swim between France and England. Croizon had achieved his dream, but he did not stop there. He looked for a new goal.
Early in 2012 he planned to swim across the seas that join five major continents. During the next few months he swam between the four continents of Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe and finally in the cold waters of the Bering Strait between the continents of Asia and the Americas.
"We want to show people something. If disabled people have courage and a lot of training they can do the same things as those who are not disabled," said Croizon. | high5520.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "animals"
},
"options": [
"plants",
"animals",
"places",
"people"
],
"question": "Wombats and the Tasmanian devil are the names of_.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer... | The Australian continent is a land like no other. Its animals, plants and landscapes have evolved over one thousand years, and there are about a million different natural species in Australia. More than 80 per cent of the country's plants and animals are unique to prefix = st1 /Australia, along with most of the fish and almost half the birds.
Australia has more than 140 species of marsupials ,including koalas, wombats and the Tasmanian devil, now found only in the Australian wilderness. More than 750 species of birds have been recorded in Australia, 350 of which are found nowhere else in the world. Among them are the kookaburra, the rainbow lorikeet and fairy penguins. There are also 55 differernt species of macropods--the kangaroo family--native toAustralia. They vary greatly in size and weight, ranging from half a kilogram to 90 kilograms.
The country has been making every effort to protect its natural heritage. Despite the large size of the continent, the majority of Australians live on the coast and in major cities--around 75 per cent of Australia's population lives in city areas.
Australia is the driest continent on earth. Its center has one of the lowest rainfalls in the world and about three-quarters of the land is dry. These dry areas extend from the large central deserts to the western coast. Soils in these areas are very poor compared to other deserts. This has given Australians a great challenge.They have to make the best use of the variety of regions to meet the competing demands of agriculture, economy and conservation. | high18354.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "By analyzing 173 studies on influences of media sources."
},
"options": [
"By examining health problems including overweight and smoking.",
"By analyzing 173 studies on influences of media sources.",
"By watching TV, playing ... | Spending a lot of time watching TV, playing video games and surfing the Web causes a lot of healthy problems to children such as overweight and smoking, US researchers said yesterday.
U.S. experts analyzed 173 studies on how media sources influence the physical health of children and adolescents . The studies, mostly carried out in the prefix = st1 /United States, largely focused on television, but some looked at video games, films, music, computer and Internet use. Three quarters of them found that increased media viewing was connected with poor health.
The studies offered strong evidence that children who get more media exposure are more likely to become overweight, start smoking and begin earlier sexual activity than those who spend less time in front of a screen, the researchers said. Studies also showed more media exposure is linked to drug and alcohol use and poorer school performance. "We were pretty surprised by the number of studies that showed these negative health results," said one of the researchers in the report.
For decades, experts have worried about the effect on young viewers of the violence and sexual content in some TV programs, movies and video games. Another issue is that kids are spending time sitting on a couch watching TV or playing computer games when they could be running around outside.
One study found that children who spend more than eight hours watching TV per week at age 3 are more likely to be overweight at 7. And research showed that many USchildren watch far more. Another study showed TV and other media content can have a deep influence on children's attitudes and beliefs, particularly among teens. A US study published in November showed that adolescents who watched more programs with sexual themes had a higher risk of becoming pregnant or causing a pregnancy. Thirteen of 14 studies that evaluated sexual behavior found a connection between media exposure and earlier sexual behavior, the researchers said. | high17067.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Human's killing."
},
"options": [
"Human's killing.",
"Global warming.",
"Habitat loss.",
"Lack of food."
],
"question": "Which is NOT the threat to the survival of polar bears according to the passage?",
"q... | Many people may not believe it, but this is what is happening: polar bears are dying out! They are dying because they are losing a great deal of habitat due to human incursion and global warming. They are dying because of starvation as well. With the sea ice they depend on for survival shrinking, it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to find food.
An ecosystem is highly dependent on all of its parts, and removing even a single species can result in serious consequences. Polar bears are at the top of the predators where they live. They play an important part in the ecosystem. They feed on seals, fish and deer. Several other animals depend on the kill of polar bears. The failure to save polar bears might result in loss of these predators.
In addition, all large predators perform a very important function in their habitat: helping to control the populations of other species. When an animal group loses its natural predators, its population will rise rapidly, having a direct result in population decrease of other groups. A huge boom in population of Arctic seals would have a direct effect on the prey of seals, and could reduce numbers of certain types of fish.
This could also have a direct effect on humans, who might have to compete with Arctic seals for food supplies from fish. Lack of polar bears could eventually affect human food supply. Human beings shall save polar bears to ensure the food supply.
There is no doubt that we should save polar bears. However, there is still another question: can they be saved? This is a matter that scientists debate because of rapid degradation of the polar bear' environment in recent years due to warming temperatures. It is estimated that if the bears cannot adapt to changing climates, they might die out before the end of the 21stcentury, with about 50% of the animals disappearing by 2050. So time is running out!
There are some things that may help slow down global warming and help delay extinction of polar bears. These include finding new energy sources that don't give off greenhouse gases and not making any more incursions into polar bear's territory. | high10708.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "to seek temporary protection"
},
"options": [
"to seek temporary protection",
"to visit the Duke of Bedford",
"to enjoy the beauty of nature",
"to escape from the bad weather"
],
"question": "The kings of Englan... | Bedfordshire had its fair share of royal visits from the early stages of the 10th Century onwards and the importance that the county placed on this is evident in the monuments, country houses, churches and any number of other structures that are still present there to this day. Bedford Castle is one of those structures and, although it is nowhere near its former glory today, it is an essential attraction to visit if you really want to grasp what its heritage means to the county!
Bedford Castle was built _ as a fortress to help protect Bedfordshire on the south of the River Ouse after the people in the local towns and villages had already been subdued. It was erected in 919 on the orders of King Edward the Elder, although it was destroyed by a Danish invasion years later. This was when it was rebuilt as the castle, of which the ruins exist today!
There is a long history behind the castle that involves several kings as a result of the Duke of Bedford being an ardent royalist. Bedford Castle repeatedly offered the kings of England refuge against various storms in the form of onslaughts from abroad and various domestic threats against them, and this is where much of its fame lies, even though the castle itself is no longer there. There are various tours of the ruins that you can take when you visit though and all of the guides are extremely knowledgeable. They will happily tell you tales of the mound and the castle that preceded it.
The mound is open to the public all year round and is a proud part of the area's heritage. It is recommended by the majority of people that visit Bedfordshire because it tells you much about why the county is currently how it is. You can view the river from the mound and the surrounding settlements as well as the remains of the castle, and every moment spent there is worth it so enjoy the history and the very nature of the county itself! | high1746.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "he did his duty better than his workmates."
},
"options": [
"he had been in the army.",
"he was young.",
"he had worked there for five years.",
"he did his duty better than his workmates."
],
"question": "Mr. Sc... | Mr. Scott has worked at a police station since he left army five years ago. He's brave and has already caught many thieves. He was promoted to the rank of officer last month. Now he works harder.
It was Mrs. Scott's birthday yesterday. The woman thought her husband was very busy, and she decided to hold a small party only with her husband. Mr. Scott agreed with her and they didn't invite any friends of theirs to the party. At noon he didn't go home for lunch and went to a shop. There he bought an expensive diamond necklace for his wife. He hoped to put it on her neck with his own hands at the party. To his sorrow, a rich woman's house was broken into and some jewelry was stolen, and at once he was sent there to solve the case ,when he came back to his office, it was late at night. He was tired and hungry. He brought out the necklace and was going to leave when he was asked to answer a telephone. Several minutes later when he came into his office, he found the necklace was gone, and he saw the case only on his table. He became very angry and called all the policemen in and told them about it. But nobody admitted having stolen the necklace.
"I'll give you a chance." Said Mr. Scott, " All the lights will be turned off. The man who took the necklace away will be able to put the necklace into the case in the dark."
A few minutes later, Mr. Scott turned on the lights again. To his surprise, the case was also stolen. | high15670.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "just listen unless asked"
},
"options": [
"give him or her some advice",
"just listen unless asked",
"calm him or her down",
"share your feelings as well"
],
"question": "While your friend is talking to you abou... | One of the most important things in the world is friendship. In order to have friends, you have to be a friend. But how can you be a good friend at school?
Listen----Listen when they are talking. Don't say anything unless they ask you a question. Sometimes it's not necessary for you to have anything to say; they just need someone to talk to about their feelings.
Help them----If your friend is ever in need of something, be there to help them. You should try to put them first, but make sure you don't do everything they want you to do. Try to take an extra pencil or pen with you to classes in case they forget one. Have a little extra money in your pocket in case they forget something they need.
Be there for them----Be there for your friends to help make them feel better in hard times. Marilyn Monroe, a famous US actor, once said, "I often make mistakes. Sometimes I am out of control, but if you can't stay with me at my worst, you are sure not to deserve(, ) to be with me at my best." Always remember this! If you don't want to stay with your friends when they're in hard times, then you don't deserve to be with them when they're having a good time!
_ ----Try to make plans with your friends. Go shopping, go for ice cream, have a party, go to a movie and so on. Take time to know each other even better by doing something you both enjoy. By planning things together, you both can have a good time. And you'll remember these things when you're all old! | high8004.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "It has translated into 18 languages."
},
"options": [
"It is the first book about psychoanalysis.",
"It has a successful beginning and ending.",
"It has translated into 18 languages.",
"It remains the complete book abou... | Women, Race & Class
Angela Y Davis
PS7.99
Analysing the differences and similarities between the experiences of black and white women, Davis casts new light on the struggle for human rights.
The Words to Say it
(an autobiographical novel)
Marie Cardinal
translated by Pat Goodheart
PS7.99
Marie Cardinal's groundbreaking book was the first and remains the complete book about the personal experience of psychoanalysis . It reveals her traumatic childhood and institutionalisation , followed by her escape to the cul-de-sac where her analyst lived. There, for many years, she made the journey towards recovery through Freudian psychoanalysis. A worldwide bestseller, translated into eighteen languages, it remains one of the most highly-praised books of our age.
Jade
Millie Murray
PS4.99
Jade Wilson is smart, young, black and ambitious. And she's just been given the chance of a lifetime - a try-out for the Commonwealth Games swimming team. Jade lives with her mum, Jojo, a successful business woman. Jojo is overprotective of Jade, but she has her reasons. As a young model with a wonderful career ahead of her, she fell pregnant with Jade, and, much as she loves her daughter, she's determined not to let anything get in the way of Jade's success. So when Jade starts dating Dicey, there is hell to pay. Will Jade survive her Mum's constant nagging ? And what if she were to get pregnant - would she, could she, do the same as Jojo and give up her career? As things start hotting up with Dicey, Jade is faced with some very tough choices... .
The book is very popular with people all over the world. | high7337.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "dreams can be useful in producing creative solutions to one's problems"
},
"options": [
"very little is really known about the meaning of dreams",
"it is possible to \"catch\" one's dreams by planning before going to sleep",
... | History is full of cases where dreams have been a pathway to creativity and discovery.A striking example is provided by Dr.Otto Loewi,a pharmacologist and winner of a Nobel Prize.Loewi had spent years studying the chemical transmission of nerve impulses .A tremendous breakthrough in his research came when he dreamed of an experiment three nights in a row.The first two nights he woke up and wrote down the experiment quickly and untidily on paper.But the next morning,he couldn't tell what the notes meant.On the third night,he got up after having the dream.This time,instead of making notes he went straight to his laboratory and performed the crucial experiment.Loewi later said that if the experiment had occurred to him while awake he would have rejected it.
Loewi's experiment gives some insight into using dreams to produce creative solutions.Inhibitions are reduced during dreaming,which may be especially useful in solving problems that require a fresh point of view.
Being able to take advantage of dreams for problem solving is improved if you "set" yourself before retiring.Before you go to bed,try to think intently about a problem you wish to solve.Bury yourself in the problem by stating it clearly and reviewing all relevant information.Then use the suggestions listed in the previous section to catch your dreams.Although this method is not guaranteed to produce a novel solution or a new insight,it is certain to be an adventure.About half of a group of college students using the method for a week recalled a dream that helped them solve a personal problem. | high6997.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Food Day Campaign"
},
"options": [
"Food Day Campaign",
"Eat Real and Keep fit",
"How to Observe Food Day",
"Food Problems in the USA"
],
"question": "What is the best title of the text?",
"question_type": n... | A growing number of health, hunger, and sustainable agriculture groups today announced plans for Food Day-a nationwide campaign to change the way Americans eat and think about food.Food Day will encourage people around the country to sponsor or participate in activities that encourage Americans to "eat real" and support healthy, affordable food grown in a sustainable, humane way.
Organizers hope Food Day will inspire Americans to hold thousands of events in schools, college campuses, houses of worship and even in private homes aimed at fixing America's food system.A Food Day event could be as small as a parent organizing a vegetable identification contest at a kindergarten class-or as massive as a rally in a city park, with entertainment and healthy food.Health departments, city councils and other policy makers could use Food Day to launch campaigns, hold hearings, or otherwise address communities food problems.
The campaign will advocate progress toward five central goals:
*Reducing diet-related disease by promoting healthy foods.The American diet is too low in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and too high in fatty meat, soft drinks and salty packaged and restaurant foods-contributing to hundreds of thousands of premature deaths each year.
*Supporting sustainable farms and stopping subsidies to agribusiness.Billions of federal dollars a year would be better spent helping environmentally conscious family farmers than hugeagribusiness operations.
*Expanding access to food and alleviating hunger.Far too many Americans don't know where their next meal is coming from, or have access to fresh produce in their neighborhood.
*Reforming factory farms to protect animals and the environment.Farming of animals can and should be done without cruelty, and without degrading the quality of life.
*Curbing junk-food marketing to kids.Food companies should not be targeting children with foods that promote tooth decay, obesity and other health problems. | high15116.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "never completely said \"thank you\" to their mothers"
},
"options": [
"could tell them their appreciation",
"never completely said \"thank you\" to their mothers",
"lived to their mother",
"were very thankful"
],
... | Dear God,
Now that I am no longer young, I have friends whose mothers have passed away. I have heard these sons and daughters say they never fully appreciated their mothers until it was too late to tell them.
I am blessed with the dear mother who is still alive. I appreciate her more each day. My mother does not change, but I do. As I grow older and wiser, I realize what an extraordinary person she is. How sad that I am unable to speak these words in her presence, but they flow easily from my pen.
How does a daughter begin to thank her mother for life itself? For the love, patience and just plain hard work that go into raising a child? For running after a toddler, for understanding a moody teenager, for tolerating a college student who knows everything? For waiting for the day when a daughter realizes how wise her mother really is?
How does a grown woman thank a mother for continuing to be a mother? For being ready with advice (when asked) or remaining silent when it is most appreciated? For not saying, "I told you so", when she could have said these words dozens of times? For being essentially herself -- loving, thoughtful, patient, and forgiving?
I don't know how, dear God, except to bless her as richly as she deserves and to help me live up to the example she has set. I pray that I will look as good in the eyes of my children as my mother looks in mine.
A daughter | high8762.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "their parents"
},
"options": [
"the children themselves",
"other students",
"their parents",
"Nobody else"
],
"question": "Some homework is given by their teachers, and some by _ .",
"question_type": "clo... | In China, more and more middle school students are getting shorter sleeping time than before. Most students sleep less than nine hours every night, because they have much homework to do. Some homework is given by their teachers, and some by their parents. Also, some students don't know how to save time. They are not careful enough while they do their homework, so it takes them a lot of time. Some students spend too much time watching TV or playing computer games. They stay up very late. Some students have to get up early every morning on weekdays to go to school in time by bus or by bike. It may be a long way from home to school.
Schools and parents should cut down some of the homework so that our children can enjoy more than nine hours of sleep every night for their health. For children, we should make best use of our time. When we have enough time for sleeping, we will find it much better for both our study and health. | high14208.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "depression"
},
"options": [
"depression",
"sunshine",
"blue music",
"cold winds"
],
"question": "Autumn blues is also called autumn _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"... | Autumn blues? Let the sunshine in falling leaves, flowers, and cold winds. For many people late autumn can be a season of depression.
Those who suffer from " the autumn blue" are often extremely tired, lack energy, need more sleep, feel increased appetite and gain weight. "The exact cause of this condition, often called seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is not known yet," says Chen Jue, associate professor at Shanghai Mental Health Center. "But recent studies indicate that weather change is influential and strongly suggest that this condition is caused by changes in the availability of sunlight."
One theory is that with decreased exposure to sunlight, the biological clock that regulates mood, sleep, and hormones is delayed, running more slowly in winter. Exposure to light may reset the biological clock. Another theory is that brain chemicals that transmit information between nerves, called neurotransmitters (for example, serotonin), may be altered in individuals with SAD. It is believed that exposure to light can correct these imbalances. "It is a sad season, but you can try to make it happy. Remember, spring always lives in your heart," Chen says. "Going outdoors to get some sunlight may reduce the tension that brings you the low spirits. Relax at work. Stretch, breathe deeply. Take a tea break. Think of your next vacation. Color treatment also works in handling low mood. Music also plays a role in treating autumn blues." | high1020.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Fifty five"
},
"options": [
"Forty three",
"Forty five",
"Fifty five",
"Fifty six"
],
"question": "How old is the writer now? _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_i... | Forty-three years seems like a long time to remember the name of a mere acquaintance. I have forgotten the name of an old lady, who was a customer on the paper route in my home town when I was a twelve-year-old boy. Yet it stays in my memory, for she taught me a lesson of forgiveness that I shall never forget.
On a winter afternoon, a friend and I were throwing stones onto the leaning roof of the old lady's house from a spot near her backyard. The object of our play was to observe how the stones changed to missiles as they rolled to the roof's edge and shot out into the yard. I found myself a perfectly smooth rock and threw it out. The stone, however, slipped from my hand and headed straight for a small window on the old lady's back porch. At the sound of fractured glass, we knew we were in trouble. We ran as fast as possible.
I was too scared about getting caught to be concerned about the old lady with the broken window in winter. However, a few days later, when I was sure that I hadn't been discovered, I started to feel guilty for her misfortune. She still greeted me with a smile each day when I gave her the paper, but I was no longer able to act comfortably in her presence.
I made up my mind that I would save my paper delivery money, and after three weeks I had the seven dollars that I thought would cover the cost of her window. I put the money in an envelope with a note explaining that I was sorry for breaking her window and hoped that the seven dollars would cover the cost. I put the letter through the letter slot in her door. My soul felt _ and I could have the freedom of, once again, looking straight into the old lady's kind eyes. The next day, I handed the old lady her paper and was able to return the warm smile that I was receiving from her. She gave me a bag of cookies. I thanked her and felt an envelope in it. When I opened the envelope, inside it were the seven dollars and a short note reading, "I'm proud of you." | high22962.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "To provide faster and safer transportation than boats."
},
"options": [
"To replace an old bridge.",
"To set up a model for bridge construction.",
"To build a longspan bridge for the Civil War.",
"To provide faster and ... | Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first longspan bridge to carry motor traffic, and it quickly became the model for the great suspension bridges of the following century. Spanning New York's East River, it provided the first traffic artery between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn. Before that, the only transportation was by ferries, which were slow and could be dangerous in winter.
The construction of a bridge over the EastRiver had been discussed since the early 19th century, but the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 _ all consideration of the project. When the war ended in 1865, the bridge became an important issue once more. In 1867, the New York State passed an act setting up the New York Bridge Company for the purpose of constructing a bridge between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn.
John Augustus Roebling was chosen to design the bridge. Born in Germany in 1806, he held aggressive views as a student and was listed by the German police as a dangerous figure. He emigrated to America in 1830 to escape political discrimination.
Roebling proposed a bridge with a span of 1,500 feet (465 m), with two towers in the East River serving as the main piers. The bridge that was actually built is longer--1,597 feet (486 m), the longest suspension bridge at that time. | high13567.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "It enjoyed the bath very much."
},
"options": [
"It enjoyed the bath very much.",
"The author decided to adopt it.",
"It had black fur with white spots.",
"Yukie could be sold at a high price."
],
"question": "W... | The barks of dogs surrounded me as I got off the bus. They ran around their cages jumping up and down. My heart became soft at the sight of these poor creatures. I entered the building and discovered more unwanted animals. A white rabbit jumped around in its cage. I walked around the shelter,screaming "oh" and "ah" at every animal,as they looked out of their cages,waiting for love and help. A pit bull particularly interested me. She was as gentle as a baby. I slightly touched her head with affection as she sat on the floor. The pit bull licked my hand with appreciation as she cried.
A litter of puppies were in the cage opposite the pit bull. They snuggled together for warmth as one of the puppies let out a weak bark,as if calling to its mother. Recognizing my love and willingness to help these puppies,the director suggested I give them a bath. I lifted one of the puppies,Yukie,from his brothers and sisters. His black fur was as soft as cotton candy. I held him tightly. The sweet smell of liquid soap surrounded the wash area. The puppy seemed like a tiny fish,swimming delightedly in a pool. Water dropped down his black,soft ears as he tried to shake off the heavy water. I wrapped Yukie in a towel as he licked my hand. After all the cleaning and drying,he looked as if he'd come from an expensive pet shop. I kissed his little face as I unwillingly placed him back.
Next,I walked some dogs around the shelter. They jumped out of their cages,unable to hold back their urge for exercise. I ran around with them,while touching them gently and talking to them. They moved back when the time came to put them back.
The time came to leave. I silently promised these creatures to come and again provide them with love. The sad eyes and the faces of these creatures will always be impressed on my memory. | high18432.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "The Sun"
},
"options": [
"The Sun",
"Enjoy the Sun",
"Warning",
"Outdoor Activities"
],
"question": "What is the best title of the third part of the passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
... | Welcome to Australia
The Great Outdoors
Australia is the world's oldest continent and indigenous Australians have one of the world's oldest culture.
In Australia you will see unique plants and animals and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.Many parks have information centres offering advice on where to go, what to see and how to see it--for both your personal safety and to protect our sensitive, natural environment.
Banks and Money Matters
Banks are generally open between 9:30am and 4pm on Monday to Thursday and 9:30am and 5pm on Friday.
Foreign currency or traveller's cheques can be changed at all banks and some of the larger hotels.There are currency exchange facilities at all international airports.
_
Take care! Our sunlight is very strong and you can get sunburnt.
For best sun protection, it is advisable to wear:
l A broad-brimmed hat
l A shirt with a collar and sleeves
l Sunscreen with high protection factor.
Swimming
We have so many beautiful places to swim--beaches, lakes, rivers and creeks.
l Many of our waters are safe for swimming, but if you have any doubts, ask before entering the water.
l Most of our popular ocean beaches have patrols with life-saving service.Red and yellow flags mark the area that you are advised to swim within.
l If there are no flags and no life guards on the beach, talk to local people about the best areas to swim.
Staying Safe on the Roads
l Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road.
l For safety, everyone in the car, including children, must wear a seat belt.
l Motor cyclists and bicyclists are required to wear a helmet.
l Watch out for native animals crossing the roads, especially at night.Road signs are erected in places where animals are commonly seen. | high17701.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "it's dangerous to play near the waterways"
},
"options": [
"they could play throwing games",
"they couldstay close to the animals",
"the zoo animals have been well-trained",
"it's dangerous to play near the waterways"
... | To help make the most of your experience at Auckland Zoo we suggest:
Plan Your Day:
Plan your day to learn more about your favorite zoo animals.
Don't forget your camera - the best way to capture your visit forever.
Keep Safe at the Zoo:
Children aged 12 years and under need to be accompanied by a caregiver.
To keep the safety of our animals, any throwing games are not permitted in the zoo grounds.
The zoo animals are not trained. Do not enter any enclosure , or put any part of your body into an enclosure.
There are a number of natural waterways at the zoo, so please take care of your children at all times.
General Information:
Check out the weather before you come. In winter we suggest you bring a jacket and an umbrella, and in summer, be sure to bring sunscreen and a hat.
Every zoo animal enjoys its own specific: well-balanced food. We hope that you enjoy some great food treats on your zoo visit, but please do not feed any of our animals. Our keepers work strictly on _ .
Feel free to take personal photos and make videos. However, any commercial photography or filming needs written permissions from zoo management.
Not all animals are permitted in the zoo grounds. We welcome people with guide dogs, but they must contact us ahead of time about their visit. Please phone the Zoo Information Center on +64(0)9-360-3805.
Smoking is not permitted in covered areas.
Auckland Zoo does not allow entry to any unaccompanied children 12 years and under. If the children are found by themselves, the staff do have the right to call the police. | high4158.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "they think it can strengthen blood circulation and improve their resistance"
},
"options": [
"they want to make themselves handsome or pretty",
"they know it is the best way to kill flu bacteria",
"they think it can strengthe... | With winter fast approaching, flu season is here. People can easily catch the flu bug and they try to fight it with western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine or some homemade secret recipes. Yet some of these strategies are ineffective or even harmful, the best way to counter the flu is to protect us from contracting it. So here are some good habits to protect people from contracting flu from the very beginning.
*During the day, keep the bedroom window open to let fresh air in.
*Wash your face with cold water in the morning and wash your feet with hot water in the evening. This practice can help boost blood circulation and improve the body's resistance.
*Do some exercises in the morning. such as jogging or shadowboxing for 10 minutes.
*Rinse your mouth with salt water or tea every morning and every evening. This can help kill flu bacteria, clear phlegm and keep the mouth fresh.
*Wear more clothes when it's cold and take some off when it's warm
*Get a bottle of vinegar or Chinese white wine at hand and smell it now and then. Their pungent smell can help people get refreshed and improve their body's resistance.
* Drink two kinds of beverages before going to bed, which can help people stay away from the flu: soup made of radish and vinegar, and tea made of fresh ginger .
*Close the doors and windows and put a pot of boiling vinegar in the room Vinegar steam is a good way to kill flu bacteria in the air. | high11370.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Study links smoking to millions of TB deaths."
},
"options": [
"Scientists try to find the causes of TB deaths.",
"Study shows smoking is harmful to our health.",
"Study links smoking to millions of TB deaths.",
"Scient... | The World Health Organization recently reported that the number of cases of tuberculosis(TB) has been _ since 2006 . Also, fewer people are dying from TB. But a study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, says smoking could threaten this progress.
Nearly twenty percent of all people use tobacco, and millions of non-smokers get sick from breathing the smoke. The new study predicts that smoking will produce an additional thirty-four million TB deaths by 2024.
Efforts to control the spread of TB have mainly focused on finding and treating infections. Fewer efforts have been made to understand the causes. Dr Anthony Fauci is the director of the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases. He said, "Despite our control efforts, we still have more than a million people each year dying from TB and millions of people getting infected; we realize it's still a very important problem. So we have to do the practical thing and we have to do the fundamental research things at the same time. "
Smoking does not cause TB; bacteria cause the infection. But the study says smoking affects the nervous system in a way that makes an inactive case of TB more likely to develop into an active one. Stanton Glantz is the director of the University of California's Centre for Tobacco Control Research and Education and an author of the new study. He says it shows that TB cannot be controlled unless tobacco use is controlled. He said, "It increases the number of people who will get TB by about seven percent."
The study is described as the first to identify a direct link between tobacco use and rates of TB infection and death. Professor Glantz says the results should guide those creating health policies and TB control efforts. He said, "If you want to control the infectious disease of TB, you have to control the tobacco industry and the tobacco industry's efforts to increase tobacco use, particularly in developing countries where TB is a big problem." | high3637.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "asking a series of questions"
},
"options": [
"asking a series of questions",
"presenting some simple facts",
"stating his own point of view",
"listing the benefits of a to-do list"
],
"question": "The author in... | Do you start your work by making a list of all you have to complete, from walking the dog and washing the clothes, to phoning a or checking your emails? Do you always take a list with you to the supermarket? Do you write down all the steps you need to see a big project through? If you're a natural list maker you can consider this habit as a good thing to do. Here are some reasons:
Gives your memory a kick: Even if you pride yourself on remembering all you need to complete, it's only human to forget every once in a while. A to-do list is a handy reminder.
Helps you stay in the moment: It sounds surprising, but true. Trying to mentally keep track of the things weighing on your mind can make it tougher to concentrate on the activity at hand.
_ : Instead of carrying around a nagging nervousness that you've forgotten to take care of a chore, keeping an up-to-date list can help relieve that kind of stress.
Helps planning: Most of us are likely to put off until tomorrow what we can do today, but keeping a list helps to keep this natural impulse at bay. Thinking about what has to be done in advance is a good way to prevent us from falling behind schedule.
Prioritizes : Seeing everything we want to take care of allows us to prioritize and give the most time to the more important tasks. On the other hand, not having a to-do list makes it possible for us to spend too much time on unimportant items.
Boosts happiness: You will feel very happy each time you check off a task you have completed on your list. Studies show that reaching your goal actually releases feel-good chemical in your brain that boosts happiness. | high18426.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "The headmaster"
},
"options": [
"Michael Jackson",
"The headmaster",
"Muhammad Ali",
"Li Ning"
],
"question": "According to the author which of the person is NOT a superstar?",
"question_type": null
},
{... | A superstar is someone who is usually famous in sports, or films, or popular music, someone like the singer Michael Jackson. In the nineteen eighties, Michael Jackson made a record album called "Thriller". It quickly became the most popular recording in the history of music and it made Michael Jackson a superstar.
The word "super" means more than usual or very wonderful. And of course, a star is a person who is very famous. So people who are famous and skilful in sports, films or music are called superstars, such as Li Ning.
One of the most famous sports superstars in the United States is the boxer Muhammad Ali. After he won a gold medal in the Olympics and became the heavyweight boxing champion, he was known as one of the greatest and most famous boxers in the sports history. At that time Muhammad Ali was even better known than the president of the United States. He was a true superstar. nearly everyone knew his name.
But like the stars in the sky, a superstar may fade away as the years go by. These days people know little about Muhammad Ali.
Superstars, loved by millions of people today, may be forgotten tomorrow. | high17715.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Lack of money."
},
"options": [
"Lack of experience.",
"Lack of money.",
"Lack of confidence*",
"Lack of encouragement."
],
"question": "What difficulty did the author once meet?",
"question_type": null
},... | I'm perfectly aware that many people you know probably think you re crazy for wanting to travel instead of settling into a typical 9-5 lifestyle. It's difficult for others to understand your
goals.
Well, 1 certainly don't think you're crazy. In fact, every traveler I know would agree that you're only crazy if you decide not to go after your goals in life.
I started traveling back in 1999, shortly after graduating from university. My plan was to backpack around Southeast Asia for three months and then return to the US to become a sports agent. However, just one week into that trip, I realized that tbree months of travel simply wasn't enough.
The only problem was that I had less than $1,500 to my name. Fast forward lo today... Over the past 15 years, 1 have discovered, and taken advantage of, endless opportunities that have allowed me to continuously live, travel, study and earn money in over 85 countries.
The point is, if I can make it happen with $1,500 and no idea what I was doing, you can make it happen as well.
And with the knowledge and experience I'm about to pass on to you in this guide , you're going to have a much easier path ahead than I ever did!
If you are constantly wondering how you can possibly achieve all of your travel goals during this lifetime, I just want to repeat everything you, re dreaming about really can be achieved.
It'll take some haixl work and determination for sure, but when you find yourself living or traveling or working overseas, enjoying rewarding experiences, you'11 be thankful that you decided to choose a life of travel.
And I honestly can't wait to meet up with you in some foreign land where we can swap travel stories over a beer or coffee or tea! | high19738.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "cleaner"
},
"options": [
"nurse",
"cleaner",
"patient",
"visitor"
],
"question": "When the nurse talked to Mum, she thought Mum was a _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
... | It was a cloudy day on November 11, 2015. We walked in so quietly that the nurse at the desk didn't even lift her eyes from the book. Mum pointed at a big chair by the door and I knew she wanted me to sit down. While I watched, mouth open in surprise, Mum took off her hat and coat and gave them to me to hold. She walked quietly to the small room by the lift and took out a wet mop . She pushed the mop past the desk and as the nurse looked up, Mum nodded and said, "Very dirty floors."
"Yes, I'm glad they've finally decided to clean them," the nurse answered. She looked at Mum strangely and said, "But aren't you working late?"
Mum just pushed harder, each swipe of the mop taking her farther and farther down the hall. I watched until she was out of sight and the nurse had turned back to writing in the big book.
After a long time Mum came back. Her eyes were shining. She quickly put the mop back and took my hand. As we turned to go out of the door, Mum nodded politely to the nurse and said, "Thank you."
Outside, Mum told me, "Dagma is fine. No fever. "
"You see her, Mum?"
"Of course. I told her about the hospital rules, and she will not expect us until tomorrow. Dad will stop worrying as well. It's a fine hospital. But the floors! A mop is no good. You need a brush. " | high11364.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "a Canadian fishing boat wanted to save the ghost ship"
},
"options": [
"the ghost ship was beyond the reach of the Coast Guard's guns",
"state officials worried the ghost ship might give out radiation",
"the shells were not p... | The long, lonely voyage of the Japanese ghost ship is over.
A US Coast Guard cutter poured cannon fire into an abandoned Japanese ghost ship that had been drifting since last year's tsunami , sinking the vessel into waters more than 305 meters deep in the Gulf of Alaska and removing the danger it posed to shipping and the coastline on Thursday.
The cutter's guns tore holes in the 164-foot Ryou-Un Maru, and then it began to take on water and lean to one side. In about four hours, the ship disappeared into the sea, said Chief Petty Officer Kip Wadlow.
The ship had no lights or communications system, and its tank was able to carry more than 7,570 liters of diesel fuel. Officials, however, didn't know exactly how much fuel was aboard.
"It's less risky than it would be running into shore or running into other ships," coast guard spokesman Paul Webb said.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency studied the problem and decided it is safer to sink the ship than let the fuel evaporate and pollute the sea environment.
Ryou-Un Maru was probably among the first wave of the 1.5 million tons of garbage of refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, roofs and fishing nets heading toward North America since last March when a magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck Japan.
As the coast guard was ready to fire on the vessel, a Canadian fishing vessel, the 19-meter Bernice C, claimed the rights to save the ghost ship in international waters.
Plans to sink it were paused so the Canadian crew could have a chance to take the stricken ship. A Canadian official with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press that the Bernice C was unable to drag it.
Then the Canadian boat left, and once it was about 10 kilometers from the Japanese vessel, the Coast Guard began to fire, first with 25 mm shells, then a few hours later with ammunition twice that size.
State officials have been working to test the danger of garbage including materials affected by a damaged nuclear power plant, to see if Alaska residents, seafood or wild animals could be affected. | high3623.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "She's the first Romanian writer that has won the Nobel Prize for Literature."
},
"options": [
"Most of her works have been translated into English.",
"She immigrated to Germany from Romania when she was 35.",
"She's the first... | Herta Muller, the Romanianborn German writer, has won the 2009 Nobel Prize for Literature.The award was announced in Stockholm.
Ms Muller, 56, immigrated to Germany from Romania in 1987.She is the first German writer to win the Nobel Prize for literature since Gunter Grass in 1999 and the 13th winner writing in German since the prize was first given in 1901.She is the 12th woman to get the literature prize.
But unlike Doris Leasing and V.S.Naipaul, Ms Muller is relatively unknown outside literary circles in Germany."I am very surprised and still cannot believe it," Ms Muller said in a statement in Germany."I can't say anything more at the moment."
She has written about 20 books, but just five have been translated into English, including the novels "The Land of Green Plums" and "The Appointment".
At a news conference at the German Publishers and Booksellers Association in Berlin, where she lives, Ms Muller, wearing all black and sitting on a big chair, appeared overwhelmed by all the cameras in her face.She spoke of the 30 years she spent under a dictatorship, describing "living with fear in the morning that in the evening one would no longer exist".
When asked what it meant that her name would now be mentioned at the same moment as German greats like Thomas Mann and Heinrich Bll, Ms Muller remained calm."I am now nothing better and I'm nothing worse," she said."My inner thing is writing.That's what I can _ and if nothing special happens, I will never give up."
Earlier in the day, at a news conference in Stockholm, Peter Englund,secretary of the Swedish Academy, said Ms Muller was honored for her "very, very special language" and because "she has really a story to tell about...and growing up as a stranger in your own family." | high6983.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Because she needed medical information for her paper."
},
"options": [
"Because it was the duty as a medical student.",
"Because she needed medical information for her paper.",
"Because she was going to get a good position th... | I was a medical student. To gather data for my paper, I started visiting patients at Dr Sardjito Hospital, where I would review the medical records of patients and then interview them.
One evening, I was in a ward , desperately "hunting" for the final three patients I needed to complete my study. Holding a patient questionnaire, I walked towards a room. A patient called Ms A was lying in bed, clearly still weak. There were no relatives or friends with her. Even the bed beside her was empty. I sat down on a chair next to her bed, and in a low voice I introduced myself and asked if I could gather some additional information from her. She agreed. After I finished, I prepared to leave. Before I could stand up, Ms A said, "I haven't seen you here before, doctor. Are you new?" "Not really, Madam. It's just that I don't come here every day," I replied. Ms A started talking about herself. She shared her difficulties and sufferings, talked about her husband, who was killed in a car accident, and that she struggled to earn money. All I did was nod my head as a way of showing my sympathy.
Without realizing it, I had begun holding Ms A's hand. Finally, Ms A stopped talking. "I'm very sorry for keeping you here to listen to my problem, but I feel relieved now. I had no one to pour out my problems to." Tears fell from the corner of her eyes. Finally, I knew what to say. "It's OK, Madam. It's part of my duty." I stood up and waved goodbye. A few days later, when I returned to the ward, I discovered Ms A had left the hospital as her condition had improved.
Ms A taught me the most important lessons a doctor can learn. Sometimes patients do not need expensive medicine. They just need someone with the patience and willingness to lend an ear and spare a little of their time. | high8776.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Because they mainly want to find work there."
},
"options": [
"Because they can live more comfortably there.",
"Because they like noisy life better than peaceful life.",
"Because they mainly want to find work there.",
"... | Today, people all over the world are moving out of small villages in the country to go and live in big, noisy cities. They are moving from the peaceful hills, mountains, fields, rivers and streams of the countryside to the busy world of streets, buildings, traffic and crowds. This movement from rural areas to urban areas has been going on for over two hundred years.
In many countries, the main reason people come to live in towns and cities is work. After one or two large factories have been built in or near a town, people come to find work, and soon an industrial area begins to grow. There is usually _ nearby, too. The families of these workers need schools, hospitals and shops, so many people come to live in the area to provide these services and a city grows.
In every major city in the world, there is a business district where the big companies have their main offices. In the United States, this area is usually in the city center downtown. It is here that you can see many huge skyscrapers and office blocks. The people who work here often travel a long way to work each day. Many of them live in the suburbs of the city, far away from the industrial area and the city center. Some suburbs are very pleasant, with nice houses and big gardens. There are usually parks for children to play in and large department stores where you can buy all you need.
But what is the future of the big cities? Will they continue to get bigger and bigger? Perhaps not. Some major cities have actually become smaller in the last ten years, and it is quite possible that one day we will see people moving out of the major cities and back into smaller towns and villages. | high1034.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "take physical exercise"
},
"options": [
"do strange things",
"suffer from great pains",
"play Dante's Inferno",
"take physical exercise"
],
"question": "The strange rooms are places where people _ .",
"qu... | When I walk through the streets, I pass strange rooms where people are doing strange things. Some are biking madly. Others are holding metal bars to keep them from dropping down. Still others are jumping around while someone is shouting at them. It looks like something out of Dante's Inferno (<<>> <<>> ). But what is the most amazing is that people pay for these sufferings!
The strange rooms are gyms. It is reported that some 41 million Americans are gym members. 12% of the memberships are born in January, as they are determined to knock off the holiday fat. Maybe it is good to exercise in the gym. However, should they know they can keep in good shape, spending little money, would they still agree with its necessity?
At the age of 23, I joined a gym. I lifted weights twice a week in Muscle's Gym. I paid as little as $200 per year. You can't find such gyms in every city any more. Too often, the gym is fancy with lots of equipment. If you ask how much it costs to join it, the person at the front desk often won't tell you straight. Instead, he'll let you meet with a fitness consultant , who will provide you with a great number of reasons and suggestions, such as losing weight and getting healthier, just in order to put pressure on you to spend much money joining the gym and becoming a member there.
Working out with the help of equipment at home has problems, too. In the early 2000's, I bought a spinning bike at a cost of $700 for home use. I tried a few times only to find that it brought me a neck problem.
Now I'm back to my old way. I do Yoga every morning and evening. Total cost: $60 for an exercise mat . I'm enjoying fitness. | high13573.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "parents"
},
"options": [
"parents",
"doctors",
"teachers",
"children"
],
"question": "The intended readers of this passage are _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answe... | Every family with kids has seen its share of arguments, shouting and complaining. It turns out that all those conflicts serve an important purpose in the development of children . Saying "no" followed by a bad temper, just may be an unavoidable part of growing up. And _ . These are the first steps toward independence. Even young children have to challenge their parents sometimes. Studies have shown the following:
*Although stressful, conflicts are beneficial for children.
*Learning to manage conflicts is necessary for a child's development.
*Conflicts during the preschool years occur because children desire more attention than parents can or should give.
If you understand why conflicts occur, it can minimize the conflicts between you and your children. Conflict is a child's attempt to develop a sense of self and how he or she learns to express his or her needs and ideas. Parents develop and drive this independence by putting children to the outside world both formally and informally.
Conflicts can grow out of a difference of opinion or might just be a way to blow off steam . In rare situations, constant conflicts between parents and children can indicate a deeper emotional problem. Consult your doctor if this seems to be your situation.
It's important to offer your child choices, which should be determined by age and developmental level. The more responsible a child is, the more choices he or she gets in reward. You can threaten your child with punishment, but often offering a choice will better improve angry situations. Consequences and rewards should have some meaning to your child.
Often a child's adverse reaction when he or she hears the word "no" can be avoided by giving the child an explanation as to why you have refused his or her request. | high1752.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "slightly obese people have lower death rates"
},
"options": [
"obese people have higher death rates",
"slightly obese people have lower death rates",
"obese people tend to die early",
"death rates have nothing to do wit... | People who are slightly overweight or mildly obese have a lower risk of early death than normal weight individuals(;), according to a new analysis of nearly 100 international studies.
The studies, most conducted within the past decade, included about three million adults from around the world. The result of these studies by researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics in Maryland, part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shows that slightly overweight or obese people were six percent less likely to die from all causes compared to people of normal weight. But the researchers found that seriously obese individuals were still at a 30 percent greater risk of death compared to healthy-weight individuals.
Study lead author Katherine Flegal says she was not surprised that overweight people would not have a higher death risk. "Because we'd actually already read a lot of this literature and realized that death rates for overweight would be at least not higher than normal[weight," she said. "I guess l was a little bit surprised that it was definitely lower. And l was also surprised that the lower rates of obesity didn't seem to differ from normal weight."
But Flegal stresses the difference in death rates appear to be small between normal-weight people and overweight and mildly obese individuals.
The finding by Flegal and colleagues have raised new questions about the reliability of the so-called "body mass index" or BMI, a measurement of body fat as a ratio(,)of height to weight, that has become popular in recent years among public healthexperts to measure potential health risks.
But Heymsfield warns that individuals should not conclude that it's okay to put on extra kilograms, since being at a healthy weight lowers the risk for heart disease and diabetes. | high13215.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Evelyn"
},
"options": [
"Winnie",
"Evelyn",
"Graca",
"not mentioned"
],
"question": "The first wife of Nelson Mandela is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_ind... | For most South Africans, Nelson Mandela is the father of their nation - many even called him "Tata", a local word for father. It was sometimes forgotten that he was also a real father of six, grandfather of 18, great-grandfather of eight, and husband to three women.
He earned a place in history just like another father of a nation, Mahatma Gandhi. But there was a fundamental difference between these beloved men. While Gandhi was thought to be a depressed family man, Mandela was a strong and loving family man. Even so, Mandela and his family paid dearly for his devotion to his country's freedom.
Mandela himself offered a glimpse into his personal war. "To be the father of a nation is a great honor, but to be the father of a family is a greater joy. _ " he said in April 1992, announcing his separation from Winnie.
In 1944, Nelson Mandela married Evelyn. "I could not give up my life in the struggle," Mandela explained in his autobiography , Long Walk to Freedom, "and she (Evelyn) could not live with my devotion to something other than herself and her family... I never lost my admiration for her, but in the end we could not make our marriage work." They divorced in 1958.
When Evelyn died in 2004, Mandela stood at her graveside with his third wife, Graca. Winnie also attended the funeral.
Mandela married Winnie in 1958. But Winnie bore the hardship of life as Mandela, enduring her husband's 27-year imprisonment. From prison, Mandela wrote some of the greatest love letters to Winnie. "I dust it (your photo) carefully every morning - I even touch your nose with mine to regain the electric current that used to run through my blood whenever I did so."
For many South Africans, it was the end of a fairytale love story when their separation was made public in 1992. "Tensions" had arisen and they had agreed on a separation. The hurt in his words was clear: "Perhaps I was blinded to certain things because of the pain I felt for not being able to play my role as a husband to my wife and a father to my children."
"Unstable personal lives seemed freedom fighters' destiny ," he said. "When your life is the struggle, as mine was, there is little room left for family. That has always been my greatest regret, and the most painful aspect of the choice I made." The couple divorced in 1996. | high8010.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "how to make proper conversations with Americans"
},
"options": [
"how to make friends with Americans",
"how to make proper conversations with Americans",
"what Americans like to talk about in their dailv life",
"what to... | Americans love to talk and generally it is OK to talk even to strangers about nearly any subject at any time as long as you are polite.However there are some subjects,like racism,American foreign policy,gun ownership,and religion that are best discussed among friends.
In America,it is OK to approach a stranger and start up a conversation with him as long as the subject is not too abstract.In America,it is not considered inappropriate to talk to people you don't know.Talking to a stranger about the weather or the quality of nearby restaurants,or the prices in a grocery store is all perfectly fine.Even complimenting someone on the car they drive or asking them where they bought their clothes are all appropriate topics of conversation with complete strangers.
Generally,Americans prefer that people say what they think and they respect frankness.Usually when it comes to personal matters,it's best to accentuate the positive:don't tell someone that their children are ugly or that their cooking is terrible.However;it's OK to tell someone that they are wrong as long as you do so politely and with respect.Americans generally believe that you show someone respect by telling them the truth.Don't be afraid to be honest with Americans,but be appropriate.
Most Americans will start a conversation with a person they just met by asking them what they do for a living.This question is not only considered appropriate by Americans,but it's also considered an important way to learn about someone. | high15664.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "The unearthliness and the grandeur of its architecture."
},
"options": [
"The unearthliness and the grandeur of its architecture.",
"The presence of American super stars.",
"The saying made by American writers and journalists... | A famous American John Muir said in 1898: "The Grand Canyon... as unearthly in the color and grandeur of its architecture as if you had found it after death on some other star." Like Muir, those of us who stand along the rim are prompted to wonder about the unearthliness and the forces that created and are still changing this place.
After more than 100 years of studies, many things are still mysterious. Today visitors come by the thousands -- the great and simple of the earth -- all in a spirit of wonder. Travelers come from every state of the Union, from every country in Europe and Asia.
From the depths of the canyon comes welling silence. Seldom can you hear the roar of the river, for all sounds are swallowed in this gulf of space. "It makes one want to murmur." A woman once whispered to her companion. This silence is not the silence of death; rather, it is a presence. It is like a great piece of music. But music made of man works up to a climax and stops.
Now, visitors to the South Rim alone may number 18,000 in a single day. Some of that number will travel by mule train down Bright Angel Trail to the canyon's floor, cross the raging river by a suspension bridge and walk to the North Rim. Though the two rims face each other across only 12 miles, it is a journey of 214 miles by car from one to the other. Nor can you visit the North Rim except in summer; some 1,200 feet higher than the South Rim, it is snow covered much of the year except in July and August.
But there is no day that you may not visit the South Rim and find the sun warm on your face and the air perfumed with the incense of smoke from an Indian hearth . No wonder an American writer and journalist said, "I came here an atheist , and departed a devout believer." | high7323.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Because his family was badly off at that time."
},
"options": [
"Because his family was badly off at that time.",
"Because he liked his job more than studying.",
"Because he wanted to be an actor in London.",
"Because h... | Shakespeare's life can be divided into three periods: the first 20 years in Stratford, which includes his schooling,early marriage, and fatherhood;the next 25 years as an actor and playwright in London; and the last five in retirement back in Stratford where he enjoyed the wealth gained from his theatrical successes. The years linking the first two periods are marked by a lack of information about Shakespeare, and are often referred to as the "dark years".
Shakespeare probably left school at 15, and took some sorts of jobs, especially since this was the period of his father's financial difficulty. A great number of references in his plays suggest that William may have in fact worked for his father, thus gaining specialized knowledge.
At some point during the "dark years", Shakespeare began his career with a London theatrical company -- perhaps in 1589 -- for he was already an actor and playwright in 1592. Shakespeare apparently wrote and acted for Pembroke's Men, as well as a lot of others, in particular Strange's Men, which later became the Chamberlain's Men.
When, in 1592, the theaters were closed for about two years, due to a terrible disease. Shakespeare turned to writing book-length poetry. Most _ were Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece, both of which have been translated into many languages and even been included in students' textbooks. During this same period, Shakespeare was writing his sonnets , which are more likely signs of the time's fashion rather than actual love poems detailing any particular relationship. He returned to play writing when theater reopened in 1594, and published no more poetry. His sonnets were published without his permission in 1609, shortly before his retirement. His final play was Henry VIII, two years before his death in 1616. | high11402.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "students should be fined for skipping school"
},
"options": [
"schools have the right to punish students",
"authorities should consider protecting kids",
"students should be fined for skipping school",
"parents are resp... | In New Britain, Connecticut, a new official in charge of schools named Kelt Cooper wants to end high truancy rates among public school students, and he's suggesting financial punishments to get job done. A plan to fine students up to $75 for each day they skip school is now being considered by New Britain authorities.
The concept of fining kids for skipping school may come as a shock, but it's not new. In Ohio, the parents responsible for a student guilty of habitual truancy can be fined up to $500 and/or be required to perform up to 70 hours of community service. Until recently, students in Los Angeles could be hit with a $250 punishment for each count of truancy; in early 2012 the law was changed and the heavy fines were removed, though a $20 punishment may still be handed out if a student truants for the third time.
Fines for truancy are also in effect overseas. In the UK, The Guardian reports, parents can be fined PS50 (about $80) per skipped school day. The punishment doubles if it's not paid within 28 days.
The question is: Do fines like this work? The vast majority of authorities in the UK said that, indeed, they do. The fines were believed either "very successful" or "fairly successful" by 79% in reducing truancy, according to a survey.
If the plan is passed in Connecticut, it's unclear how effective the law might be, how to make parents and students obey the law and what might happen if they refuse to pay. However, local officials seem to be willing to _ . According to the Hartford Courant:
"The mayor agrees that truancy is a real issue in New Britain schools, and what's been done in the past hasn't been working to reduce truancy." said Phil Sherwood, assistant to Mayor Timothy O' Brien.
And what do the students think? In the New Britain Herald, one 17-year-old entering her senior year called the plan "ridiculous" and predicted that the punishments will bring about negative effects on the court system. Besides, "I don't see the point," she said. "Kids will just try harder not to get caught." | high3145.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "in most developing countries people will have less food than they have today"
},
"options": [
"people will have sufficient food supplies",
"the resource will become more than enough",
"in most developing countries people will... | Have you ever imagined what the world will be in the near future? A recent study shows that the world in 2100 will be more crowded, more polluted and less stable ecologically than the world we live in now. Visible ahead is serious stress involving population, resource and environment. Despite greater food output, people in the world will be poorer in many ways than they are today.
For hundred of millions of the extremely poor, the outlook for food and other necessities of life will be no better, for many it will be worse.
While the economies of the developing countries are expected to grow at a faster rate than those of the industrialized nation, the total national product per head in most less developed countries remains low. The existing gap between the rich and poor nations will further widen.
World food production is estimated to increase by 90 percent from 2000 to 2100. Most of that increase goes to the countries that already have higher per-head food consumption. Meanwhile, per-head consumption of food in the developing countries will scarcely improve or will actually fall far below the present inadequate level. What is worse is that prices for food are expected to double.
As a result, many less developed countries will have increasing difficulties meeting energy needs. For the one quarter of mankind that depends primarily on wood for fuel, the outlook is not hopeful.
Regional water shortage will become more sever. In the 1970-2100 period population growth will require twice as much water as it does today in nearly half the world. Still greater increases would be needed to improve standards of living. Development of new water supply will become more costly. | high20807.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because he wants more students to choose these fields ."
},
"options": [
"Because these fields usually attract very few students",
"Because science and business are too difficult to learn.",
"Because he thinks they have a poo... | Should people who study science and business pay less for college than people who focus on art and history? That may soon be the case at Florida's state universities.
In tough economic times, Florida governor Rick Scott wants to lead college students toward careers that will pay off after graduation. There are more jobs available in Florida in the fields of business, engineering, healthcare, science and technology. So why not encourage students to focus on these "high-demand" subjects by charging less tuition for them?
"We assume students go to college because they want to pursue jobs," Dale Brill said. He is the head of a group of business people, educators and lawmakers who made the recommendation to the governor to keep tuition low for job-friendly areas of academic study. "We all share the goal of students getting jobs and being productive citizens. Some majors are more valuable than others."
Supporters of the plan have their reasons. More students will choose these "high-demand" majors and get jobs after graduation. The state will gain an
educated workforce that is qualified to fill open jobs. Universities that can show that their
graduates are getting jobs will qualify for more funding from the state.
But critics of the plan say it's unfair to load humanities majors--those who study literature, philosophy, history and art--with debt while keeping tuition low for so-called "high-demand" majors in business and science. In fact, university professors wrote a letter to Governor Scott arguing that if students majoring in history and other humanities subjects are forced to pay higher tuition, they may simply choose to attend universities in other states.
Still others argue that the plan sets students up for failure. Students should choose majors based on their interests, skills and talents, rather than on what jobs are available at any given time. Those who choose majors because they are interested in a particular field of study will be more successful and satisfied in their careers. | high18340.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Because she didn't do well at work."
},
"options": [
"Because she lives too far away from work.",
"Because she was out of work.",
"Because she didn't do well at work.",
"Because she failed a test."
],
"question"... | A good friend of mine lives about one hour away. I called her last week and found out that she wasn't doing well at work, which would make the following year a little more difficult. After hanging up the phone, I decided to offer to help her, but I couldn't think of what to do. However, opportunities come themselves when you're not even looking for.
A few days later, some friends and I happened to be eating desserts at a restaurant in her city. As we were looking at the menu, I turned to my friends and asked them if they wanted to join in a game. After explaining the idea, they decided to take 15 minutes to _ . We ordered an extra dessert, wrote a note, added a smile card and were off. However, there was one problem: I had no idea where she was.
Therefore, it was time to rely on the network. I called up a friend and got him to call her to see what she was doing and found out that she was at work.
We drove to her work place and one of my friends became the delivery person.He went in to look for my friend, found her, didn't really answer her questions and walked out, saying he's simply a delivery person.
He ran out quickly and I bent down as we drove by to make sure she didn't follow him out. Afterwards, all of us had this huge smile on our faces. We felt as if we had just planned a surprise party or something.
A simple opportunity turned into a moment that many of us can now share. | high5534.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "To talk about a new study that shows the differences between men and women in terms of multitasking."
},
"options": [
"To discuss the effects that multitasking have on men and women.",
"To explain why men are generally not as good ... | YOU'VE lost your keys and your parents are both busy. If you had to ask one of them for help, whom would you pick?
Before you give your answer, you should probably know that a new study found that women are better than men at multitasking , especially if one of those tasks is searching for a lost item. That should help you choose.
In the study, a team of UK researchers compared the performances of 120women and 120men in a computer game involving tasks of counting and shape-recognition
Men and women were equally capable when tasks were handled one at a time. But when the tasks started switching quickly , men responded c) much slower than women.
To make the experiment more relevant to everyday life, researchers tried a second test. A group of women and men were asked to complete a series of "everyday challenges" such as finding restaurants on a map and searching for a lost key in a field.
Once again, women outperformed men on the test, particularly in the key-searching task. "It suggests that- in a stressed and complex situation - women are more able to stop and think about what's going on in front of them,'' researcher Keith Law of the University of Hertfordshire, UK, told the BBC,[ln contrast,] men had a slight impulsiveness ;they jumped in too quickly"
But where did women get the ability to keep organized under pressure? Researchers believe that it has its roots in evolution ,In early human communities, women had to keep an eye on children while cooking meals. Meanwhile, men only needed to focus on hunting.
Men might not be happy about this study. After all, many great pilots are men and they have to deal with lots of information at the same time too.
This is true, and researchers have their response. "[We don't mean]that all men can't multitask, or that only women can," said Laws.[We are saying that] the average woman is better able to organize her time and switch between tasks than the average man. There's no point denying these differences exist." | high17073.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "To give information about a kind of medicine."
},
"options": [
"To show the importance of taking proper medicine.",
"To present a report on a scientific research.",
"To give information about a kind of medicine.",
"To t... | What is TOVIAZ?
TOVIAZ is a medicine used in adults to treat the symptoms of a condition called overactive bladder .
Who is TOVIAZ for?
Adults 18 years older with symptoms of overactive bladder.
Don't take TOVIAZ if you:
Your stomach empties slowly.
Have eye problems.
Are allergic to any ingredients of TOVIAZ.
Possible side effects of TOVIAZ
Dry mouth.
Constipation
Dry eyes.
Trouble empting the bladder
These aren't all possible side effects of TOVIAZ. For a complete list, ask your doctor.
How to take TOVIAZ:
Your doctor may give you the lower 4mg dose of TOVIAZ if you have severe kidney problem.
Take TOVIAZ with liquid and swallow the tablet whole. Do not chew, divide or crush the tablet.
You can take TOVIAZ with or without food.
If you miss a dose of TOVIAZ, start taking it again the next day.
Things you should keep in mind when taking TOVIAZ:
Decreased sweating and severe heat illness can occur when medicines such as TOVIAZ are used in hot environments.
Drinking alcohol while taking TOVIAZ may cause increased sleepiness. | high15894.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "are entirely surrounded by trees"
},
"options": [
"are entirely surrounded by trees",
"have always been her home",
"were built for just a few people",
"are in a county with the same population as Wales"
],
"ques... | Dorothea Shaw is 71 years old and nearly blind, and she chose to live alone far away from people. She lives in Belize -- a county the size of Wales with a population only that of Swansea. Her home is at Gales Point, a tiny village which can be reached only by sea or air; after a 10-mile walk into the hills one finally reaches a piece of land and two small houses so hidden in the thick over-grown forest that only a handful of people know Dorothea is there.
She lives happily and totally alone - growing her vegetables, looking after her trees and dogs, cats and chickens. Once a month or so an old friend passes by with her food supplies and letters-usually including a letter from her sister in Scunthorpe and some bits of clothing from friends in Canada. Sometimes a local man will come and cut wood for her and a group of British soldiers will come across her and be greeted with the offer of a cup of coffee.
At night she lies in her tiny sleeping room with the dogs on the floor, the cats on the table near the typewriter and one of the hens settled down in a corner of the bookshelf, and listens for hours to any Spanish, English, German or French broadcasts she can find on her radio. Sometimes she gets lonely but most of the time the animals and the radio are company enough.
But recently the very things that she had tried to get free from so well have begun to catch up with her. The peace of the forest has been destroyed by the noise of earth-moving machines not many miles away. What she once only heard of distantly on the radio is now on her doorstep. Things began to change three years ago. The new main north-south road in Belize was cut through the forest only four or five miles away. "Now more people know I'm here." She says. "I feel more and more uneasy each day." | high9326.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "can cause big trouble"
},
"options": [
"is very popular",
"is difficult to grow",
"can cause big trouble",
"can make air cleaner"
],
"question": "We can learn from the text that Kudzu in Virginia _ .",
"q... | Today, many people use plants from other places to design their yards. Well, do they have any influence on animals living nearby? As we know, plants supply food for things like insects and plant-eating animals. In turn, birds and meat-eating animals feed on these insects and plant-eating animals. It is easy to see how important plants are.
Although foreign plants may look beautiful, they can cause problems when there are too many of them. I live in Virginia, USA, and sometimes see a plant--commonly known as Kudzu--that seems to cover everything in the area, even climbing over whole trees and houses.
Kudzu is an unbelievable plant since it grows very fast. It was first brought to the United States from south-east Asia around the 1870's as a crop that farmers could grow. However, Kudzu quickly came to be considered harmful throughout the southern United States.
Since Kudzu grows fast in many different environments, it can completely cover areas of land quickly. The plant is also not eaten by any insects or birds in the United States so it can grow unchecked. Kudzu can cover trees, bushes, and even houses. It costs the United States 500 million dollars a year to just keep Kudzu from growing too fast. The plant is a perfect example of what scientists call an invasive species, which grows more quickly than other native plants.
All foreign plants have the possibility to spread quickly. Not only are they costly, but planting them in gardens actually takes away food from insects. If everyone filled their garden with plants native to where they live, many lovely butterflies and other native creatures would be attracted to their backyards! So, take a look out of your window -- how does your garden grow? | high14552.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "on Nov. 20, 2013"
},
"options": [
"on Nov. 19, 2013",
"on Nov. 20, 2013",
"on Nov. 21, 2013",
"on Nov. 22, 2013"
],
"question": "From the passage we can learn that the Dreamlifter landed at Jabara airport _ .... | Page last updated at 04:08, Friday, Nov. 22, 2013
US _ jet leaves tiny airport
A Boeing 747 Dreamlifter cargo plane has safely taken off from a tiny airport in Kansas after it landed there by mistake.
The huge cargo jet had been heading for McConnell air force base in Wichita, but instead touched down at nearby Colonel James Jabara airport.
No one was injured and no property damage occurred when the plane landed.
There had been questions as to whether the aircraft would be able to depart from the much shorter runway at Jabara.
The Dreamlifter normally needs a runway of 2,780m (9,119ft) to get into the air at maximum weight;
Jabara's runway is only 1,860m long.
A tug was sent to the airport to turn around the huge cargo plane.
Brad Christopher of the Wichita Airport Authority told the Associated Press news agency that the company operating the aircraft had assured us they've run all the engineering calculation and performance and the aircraft is very safe for a normal departure at its present weight and conditions here.
The Dreamlifter, which landed at Jabara on Wednesday evening, is a modified 747-400 passenger aeroplane, which can carry more cargo than any aeroplane in the world, according to Boeing.
The aerospace company uses its fleet of four Dreamlifters to transport large assembled components of its 787 Dreamliner from suppliers around the world to the final location in Washington State. | high8038.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Her unusual appearance."
},
"options": [
"Her unusual appearance.",
"Her bad temper.",
"Her short and fat body.",
"Her unique fur."
],
"question": "What made Grumpy Cat become famous?",
"question_type": "fac... | Ever since Grumpy Cat first appeared online, _ But attention is not the only thing that this cat is getting. Her fortune is estimated at $ 100 million, more than many famous actors and musicians earn.
So how did it all start?
Grumpy Cat's owner Tabatha Bundesen was working as a waitress when her brother Bryan decided to take a photo of her funny-looking cat and post it on Reddit, the social-news site. In a matter of hours, she became a sensation .
It got 1 million views on Imgur in 48 hours.
Grumpy Cat's real name is Tardar Sauce and she actually has a condition called dwarfism, which makes her constantly frowning. But that unique frown turned out to be worth millions of dollars.
Tabatha, who lives in Arizona in US, isn't complaining. She still remembers that September 22, 2012, when her life turned upside down.
Since her cat became a worldwide phenomenon, she was able to quit her job and devote her life to managing her cat's modeling career. Sounds unbelievable, but it's true. She says that her only job now is to book Tardar's photo shoots, commercials , and other appearances.
What are the other benefits of owning a million-dollar cat?
Apart from not having to work, Tabatha can travel all the time. She has time and money to visit her family more often and enjoy her life. She never could have imagined just how huge her cat would become, but she always knew Tardar was very special. And she is glad to see her cat bringing joy to so many people around the world.
As for the millions of dollars Grumpy has earned, they come from all the products, commercials and a best-selling book. She even has her own movie--Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever. | high12123.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "US"
},
"options": [
"UK",
"Italy",
"US",
"France"
],
"question": "From the news above we know that health is usually most being talked about in _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer"... | UK
Attention, Harry Potter fans: The sixth novel in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter stories,
, will go on sale in the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia on July 16, 2005
Italy
According to a recent study, there are now more dogs and cats in Italian homes than children. There are at least 14.5 million dogs cats in Italian homes compared with 8.7 million children under the age of 15.Italy has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe. A psychologist said that pets were loved by many young Italians who could not have or did not want to have children. In Italy, spending on pets has increased by 20 percent in the past five years.
US
The start of a new years is time when many Americans like to think about ways to make improvements for the future. But this year, instead of the usually New Year's resolution to lose weight, quit smoking or exercise more, the US Department of Homeland Security is urging Americans to create a family emergency plan for any terror attack.
France & Iraq
The two French journalists who had been held hostage in Iraq for 124 days were freed last week. Christian Chesnot, 37 and Georges Malbunot, 41, were kidnapped along with their Iraqi driver on Aug, 20 in Iraq. French Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, said that the French government had not paid ransom for their release. | high16345.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "In the IMTS test, the birds needed to identify the sample card to get rewards."
},
"options": [
"The birds did better in RMTS than in IMTS.",
"The birds were first made to do RMTS, then IMTS.",
"The birds picked almost all th... | PEOPLE may use the expression "birdbrain" in English to talk about someone who is stupid, but crows prove that this is unfair. Now it has been discovered that crows may understand analogies .
To test this ability in animals, scientists do "relational matching-to-sample (RMTS)"tests. If a pair was AA, for example, then picking BB to match it would be correct.
An international team led by Edward Wasserman in the US first trained two crows to match things by color1, shape, and number in what is called" identity matching-to-sample (IMTS)" , then moved onto RMTS.
For the IMTS test, the birds were put in a cage with a plastic tray that had three cards and two cups in it. The card in the middle was the sample card. The cups on either side were covered with the other two cards. One was the same as the sample, while the other wasn' t. The cup with the card that matched the sample card contained two worms to eat.
In the second part of the experiment, the birds were tested with relational matching pairs. A card with two same- sized circles, for example, meant they should pick the test card with two same-sized squares and not two different-sized circles.
The birds did well in the more difficult test and picked the correct card more than three quarters of the time.
Wasserman was surprised that crows were able to solve the problem without any training in RMTS. He said in a news release: "Honestly, if it was only by force that the crows showed this learning, then it would have been an impressive result. But this was spontaneous."
So perhaps it' s time to stop saying " birdbrain" permanently. | high19076.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "getting a chance for her family to get together"
},
"options": [
"having her baby examined",
"giving her husband a chance to make his escape",
"having her husband examined",
"getting a chance for her family to get toget... | It was the afternoon of December 24, the day before Christmas; and as the newest doctor in our office, I had to work. The only thing that brightened my day was the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in our waiting room and a gift sent to me by a fellow I was dating -- a dozen long-stemmed red roses.
As I was cleaning my office, I was told a lady urgently needed to speak with me. As I stepped out, I noticed a young, tired-looking woman with a baby in her arms. Nervously, she explained that her husband -- a prisoner in a nearby prison -- was my next patient. She told me she wasn't allowed to visit her husband in prison and that he had never seen his son. Her request was for me to let the boy's father sit in the waiting room with her as long as possible before I called him for his appointment. Since my schedule wasn't full, I agreed. After all, it was Christmas Eve.[:Zxxk.Com]
A short time later, her husband arrived -- with chains on his feet and hands, and two armed guards as bodyguards. The woman's tired face lit up like our little Christmas tree when her husband took a seat beside her. I kept glancing out to watch them laugh, cry and share their child. After almost an hour, I called the prisoner back to my office. The patient seemed like a gentle and modest man. I wondered what he possibly could have done to be held _ . I tried to make him as comfortable as possible.
At the end of the appointment, I wished him a Merry Christmas-a difficult thing to say to a man headed back to prison. He smiled and thanked me. He also said he felt saddened by the fact he hadn't been able to get his wife anything for Christmas. On hearing this, I was inspired with a wonderful idea.
I'll never forget the look on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful, long-stemmed roses. I'm not sure who experienced the most joy -- the husband in giving, the wife in receiving, or myself in having the opportunity to share in this special moment. | high4602.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the train was late"
},
"options": [
"he didn't pay the driver",
"he took the wrong train",
"the train was late",
"the conductor advised him to get off early"
],
"question": "The writer couldn't arrive in Paris i... | The train was already half an hour late. I had to arrive in Vienna at 7:15 in time to catch the 7:20 train to Paris, but there was no hope of that now. I told my problem to the conductor . He advised me to get off two stops before Vienna Station and take a taxi. When the time came, he even helped with my bag. He wished me good luck as I jumped off. A few minutes later I was racing towards the center of the city in a taxi. It was almost 7:25 when we stopped outside the station. I paid the driver quickly, picked up my bag and hurried inside. "Paris train?" was all I had time to say to the official I saw. You can see how I felt when he pointed to a train that was just moving out of the station. | high10734.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Travel planners"
},
"options": [
"Students majoring in tourism",
"Foreign travelers",
"travel agencies",
"Travel planners"
],
"question": "Who are the intended readers of the text?",
"question_type": null
... | There are many travel destinations across the globe. What confuses a person most is which travel destination to choose. When choosing a destination for a vacation or a trip, you need to decide what that destination has to offer to you. Meanwhile, you should also take many factors into consideration, so that the decision-making will get easy.
The amount of money you want to spend is an important factor and plays an important role in deciding a destination. For example, cities like London, New York, Vegas etc are expensive. On the other hand when you travel to Asia, the cost is generally lower and you don't need to spend much on traveling, lodging or shopping. Therefore, it is important to estimate your budget before selecting a destination.
When you plan your vacation, another important thing to plan is the number of the days you want to spend. There are many travel destinations in the world that can be covered in a week's time. Some destinations like Africa, or Maldives beaches can be planned in a week's time. Some other destinations like New York, Thailand may require more than a few weeks to enjoy completely.
Vacations are also planned according to the company you have. For example, if you travel with your family, then you'll need a place where you can enjoy with your family members. Similarly, if you are going with friends, a city full of amusement parks, museums, shopping centers will be an ideal destination. Therefore you need to consider whom you are going with, before deciding a destination. | high2515.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "he thought of giving up."
},
"options": [
"he feared to get hurt.",
"the teacher felt satisfied",
"he thought of giving up.",
"the judge stopped the game."
],
"question": "After the boy came in the finals, _ ... | Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your biggest strength. Take, for example, the story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.
The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move."Sensei," the boy finally said, "shouldn't I be learning more moves?""This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the sensei replied.
Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy skillfully used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared _ . Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened.
"No," the sensei insisted, "Let him continue." Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.
On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?" "You won for two reasons," the sensei answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. Second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength. | high10052.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "find tracks left by sea turtles"
},
"options": [
"find tracks left by sea turtles",
"pick up the trash on the beach",
"collect eggs laid by sea turtles",
"exercise to lose weight"
],
"question": "What do Ahern a... | Miami Beach is a top destination for vacationers from around the world --not to mention a location for sea turtles laying eggs. For years, female sea turtles have returned to the beaches where they were born to build nests for their next generation. As Miami Beach continues to develop; wildlife officials and volunteers are making sure the beach remains a welcoming place for these endangered animals.
The sea turtle patrol starts his day at sunrise. "The reason we need to get out at first light is to make sure we see the tracks before anybody else gets out here, Bill Ahern says, "Something that weighs 350 pounds is going to leave evidence." Bill Ahern directs the sea turtle program in Miami-Dade county. His team monitors and marks nests left by sea turtles who lay eggs in the sand and then return to the sea. The patrols also work with beach residents to keep track of new nests and possible threats to existing ones.
Nearly 65,000 turtles nested on Florida's Atlantic coast last year. A tiny part comes to Miami Beach where they face many risks. Tough laws have been passed to punishpoachers . And bright lights from nearby buildings can confuse newly born turtles, attracting them onto roads instead of into the ocean. "I recall in the mid-1960s, me and my beach buddies(policemen) would pick up hatchlings from the road and put them back in the water," he recalls .To avoid that problem, city officials have imposed limits on coastal lighting.
Although most sea turtles hatch on their own, coming out at night, some have a harder time. In the future, the Sea Turtles Program hopes to do away with the hatchery. Educating beach-goers is a step in that direction. Each week, people are invited to see a release of newly born turtles recovered from nests. The experience helps sunbathers understand the role of the beach in the turtle's life cycle.
"Only a part of the newly hatched turtles will escape predators and man-made dangers in their first year." Their instincts are so sharp ," Ahern says, "I'll face a turtle to the west, and then watch him, he turns right around ,facing the ocean. " | high20191.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Because of their different attitude to life."
},
"options": [
"Because of the suits of the four Liverpool boys.",
"Because of changing lengths of hair the four Liverpool boys wore.",
"Because of their different attitude to li... | The Beatles were the most influential band in pop history. In their 8-year, 12-album history, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr altered popular culture dramatically. It wasn't just the suits and changing lengths of hair the four Liverpool boys wore that had such an impact, but what they seemed to stand for. The world saw them as the voice of a new generation, one with a very different attitude to life.
Their influence was at its height in the 1 960s.but their music continues to stir listeners today.However, up until recently one aspect of the Beatles was struck in Yesterday:The music had never been remastered .But on September 9 that situation came to an end,with the release of the entire band's music in a digital makeover.It is probably the biggest reissue in pop music history, said British newspaper the Financial Times.
The albums were to be remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London, the location where the band produced much of their work.The cover of their 1ast album,Abbey Road of 1969.featured the four young men striding across a zebra crossing on Abbey Road itself.It is one of the most famous Of a11 Beatles images.
Recently, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the album, hundreds of Beatles lovers gathered there to show their appreciation.
Pop groups come and go.The boy band pursued by screaming fans one year will be forgotten the next.But the Beatles are one Of the few groups whose music seems to have endured.Why? Paul McCartney's biographer Barry Miles has an explanation:"They were the first rock band...and they just happened to be the best.They were the first band to play stadiums,to have their own products.They were ground--breaking in every way."he says. | high16423.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the mind"
},
"options": [
"the Internet",
"the time we have",
"the place we live",
"the mind"
],
"question": "The number of friends we can keep relationships with is decided by _ .",
"question_type": "cloz... | The Internet will open up new vistas , create the global village----you can make new friends all around the world. That, at least, is what it promised us. The difficulty is that it did not take the human mind into account. The reality is that we cannot keep relationships with more than a limited number of people. No matter how hard the Internet tries to put you in communication, its best efforts will be defeated by your mind.
The problem is twofold . First, there is a limit on the number of people we can hold in mind and have a meaningful relationship with. That number is about 150 and is set by the size of our brain. Second, the quality of your relationships depends on the amount of time you invest in then. We invest a lot in a small number of people and then distribute what's left among as many others as we can. The problem is that if we invest little time in a person, our _ with that person will decline until eventually it dies into "someone I once knew".
This is not, of course, to say that the Internet doesn't serve a socially valuable function. Of course it does. But the question is not that it allows you to increase the size of your social circle to include the rest of the world, but that you can keep your relationships with your existing friends going even though you have to move to the other side of the world.
In one sense, that's a good thing. But it also has a disadvantage. If you continue to invest in your old friends even though you can no longer see them, then certainly you aren't using your time to make new friends where you now live. And I suspect that probably isn't the best use of your time. Meaningful relationships are about being able to communicate with each other, face to face. The Internet will slow down the rate with which relationships end, but it won't stop that happening eventually. | high4164.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Marco spent about six years on the way to China and back to Venice."
},
"options": [
"Soon after his mother's death, Marco was raised by his father.",
"Marco spent about six years on the way to China and back to Venice.",
"Ma... | You've probably heard of Marco Polo, but how much do you actually know about him and his incredible journey? Marco was the original travel writer, whose trade contacts with Asia changed Europe, opening it up to new ideas and cultures.
Marco Polo was born in the Venetian Republic around 1254.At the time, Venice was one of the most powerful trading cities in the world, and was ruled as an independent city state.Marco's mother died when he was young, so he was brought up by his aunt and uncle.When Marco was born, his brother (Maffeo) and father (Niccolo), who were successful merchants, were away on a trading voyage.They didn't get back until Marco was about 15.
In 1271, Niccolo and Maffeo set off again for Asia, this time taking Marco with them.On a previous journey they'd met Kublai Khan (the Yuan Dynasty), and they were keen to establish trade links between Kublai's empire and Venice.The Polos sailed across the Mediterranean to Acre (now in northern Israel).Then, they traveled by camel to the port of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.Their plan was to sail to China but they couldn't find any good boats.So, they continued the journey overland, finally meeting Kublai Khan at his summer palace in Xanadu, about 275 kms north of modern Beijing.Marco was now probably 21 years ol
The journey had taken over three years.
The Polos had learnt a great deal about the world during their travels and so Kublai employed Marco as a government official.This gave Marco the opportunity to travel around much of Kublai's empire in China.In fact, Kublai found the Polos so useful that he was unwilling to let them return home.However, in 1292, the Polos eventually left, sailing from China and ending up in Hormuz again.The journey was extremely dangerous: of the 600 travelers who set off, only 18 arrived in Hormuz, including all three of the Polo family.
The Polos finally returned to Venice in 1295, twenty-four years after setting off.They had traveled 24,000 kms.By this time Venice was at war with Genoa, its trade rival.Unfortunately for Marco, he was captured by the Genoese and imprisione
However, he used his time as a prisoner to write a book about his family's travels: II Milione (known as The Travels of Marco Polo in English).It was the first book to tell Europeans about China and the East.No original copy survives, but there are several versions of it.Marco's writings influenced many other travelers, most notably Christopher Columbus, who carried a copy of II Milione with him on his voyage in search of Asia.
After his release from prison in 1299, Marco rejoined his father and uncle in Venice.The family were now even wealthier than before thanks to the many treasures they'd brought back from the East.Marco financed many more trading journeys but never left the city again.He died in 1324 and was buried in the church of San Lorenzo in Venice. | high12645.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "to advertising a book"
},
"options": [
"to promote classroom teaching",
"to analyzing boys' academic performance",
"to advertising a book",
"to introduce two educators"
],
"question": "The purpose of this passag... | Teaching Boys: Developing classroom practices that work
Amanda Keddie and Martin Mills
Bridges the gap between theory and practice to offer a practical and sustainable framework for teaching boys in classrooms of all levels.
Sales points
Teaching boys remains one of the most concerned issues in education today.
Many books have been published analysing why boys perform less well than girls, and why some boys struggle at school. But they don't show teachers what will work: this book does.
The authors offer a research-based framework for classroom strategies that work with boys--and don't disadvantage girls.
Description
Boys' education continues to be a focus of public anxiety among teachers. Concern about boys' general educational under-achievement and the impact this under-achievement has on the boys themselves, as well as on the broader society, continues to fuel disagreement and debate on the best approach to take in response.
Teaching Boys provides a framework for developing practical and sustainable ways to improve boys' education. The book indicates how what teachers do in the classroom can enable boys' academic and social outcomes. With detailed case studies, Keddie & Mills outline a range of practical classroom strategies that will assist teachers to meet the challenge of teaching boys, without neglecting the girls in the process.
About the Authors
Amanda Keddie is a researcher at the University of Queensland. Her research interests and teaching areas focus on classroom teaching, curriculum and educational sociology. Martin Mills is Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Queensland. He has written several books, and is co-author of Teachers and Schooling Making a Difference (Allen & Unwin, 2010). | high22786.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "influential"
},
"options": [
"unusual",
"shocking",
"influential",
"encouraging"
],
"question": "According to the text, the anti-smoking ad is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer... | "Can I get a light?" This question is among the most common between smokers. What if this question was to come from an unusual source? In April 2014, the National Health Promotion Foundation uploaded an anti-smoking advertisement onto YouTube. The anti-smoking ad has quickly been known as the "most powerful anti-smoking ad."
The anti-smoking video, called the "Smoking Kid," features children walking up to adult smokers asking for a light. The children in the ad are actors but the adults smoking are _ participants in the project.
The video begins with the statement "adults know that smoking is harmful, but don't remind themselves of this fact " Once a "smoking kid" approaches the adults, every adult asked is shocked that a child with a cigarette in hand is asking for a light. The first adult starts by saying, "I'm not giving it to you," and the video goes on to state "every adult filmed said no and reminded the children that smoking is bad."
Before going away, the kid hands each adult a booklet after being turned down for a light. The booklet says, "You worry about me, but why not about yourself?" Each adult looks around for the child as their faces are filled with confusion and discomfort.
The video shows that a few of the smokers quickly threw away their cigarettes or put their cigarettes away, showing that this experiment was affective at that moment.
The most influential element in the ad isn't the use of children or the responses from the smoking adults. It comes down to something much simpler than that. Why is it that we worry about other people, forgetting to worry about ourselves? | high6773.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "when the World Cup is held"
},
"options": [
"why the World Cup is held",
"where the host countries of the World Cup are",
"where the World Cup is usually held",
"when the World Cup is held"
],
"question": "By me... | With the World Cup always held in the European off-season in June and July, when the tiny nation of Qatar beat out USA Australia, Japan and South Korea, as the venue of the 2022 World Cup Soccer, there were gasps of surprise from the fans - it was not just because of the size of the competitors, but also the fact that Doha sees an average top temperature of 41 degrees Celsius in June and July with the possibility of top temperatures as high as 50degC.
Since the World Cup cannot be moved to the 'cooler' season in January or to a neighboring country with milder weather, Qatar has to figure out a solution to make the game more comfortable. A team of engineering scientists from Qatar University (QU) have taken a more high-tech approach to solving the problem - they've reportedly developed a type of artificial "cloud" designed to float above the World Cup venues and provide fans and players with relief from the blazing sun.
The artificial clouds system was invented by a team led by Dr Saul Abdul Ghani, Head of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department at QU, who told Gulf News that the "clouds" would be made from a lightweight carbon structure carrying a giant envelope of material containing helium gas. The "cloud" would also feature solar panels on its upper surface to power engines that allow the cloud to be moved via remote control. While the country officials have promised to improve some of the issues with solar-powered stadiums capable of reducing the temperatures inside, to a comfortable 20degC, there is still concern of how the players will be able to function in the practice fields.
The system would initially cost around US$500,000, with prices coming down with commercial scale production. However, since Qatar needs to find a solution, the money is probably to the issue. The bigger question is, will this team of scientists actually be able to conjure up something that they have promised? We will all find out in about eleven years! | high9440.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "There is no cashier in it."
},
"options": [
"There is no cashier in it.",
"There are no paper books in it.",
"None of the customers need to pay for the books.",
"Only honest customers can visit the shop."
],
"qu... | A busy public square in the Chinese city of Nanjing is home to an unusual experiment.
For almost two months, the country's first "honesty bookshop" has occupied a sidewalk on HanZhong Road in the city's Gulou District.
With no cashier or other staff, the store relies on trust for payment.
Making money isn't the company's main goal and they don't punish those who take books without paying.
"If they can really finish the books, it doesn't matter if they took the books for free," Zhu Yu, the marketing director of the company says.
"In fact, we are really happy to witness so many people taking books from the honesty bookshop."
After browsing the four wooden bookshelves, customers must drop their money in a locked box.
Prices are set at 30% of the usual cover price.
Zhu hopes that his sidewalk store, which sells, on average, 60 books a day, will make more people interested in reading.
Like elsewhere, e-books are affecting sales of traditional books, and traditional books and many independent booksellers are struggling.
Zhu got permission from the city government to use the sidewalk and says he's determined to make it a long-term project.
He says the store is open every day, except when it rains, and it's locked up each night.
In September last year, the company laid out 1,000 books and reading lamps on the ground and encouraged people "to go on a date" with a book.
"Independent bookshops represent the well-being of the city." Zhu told CNN in 2013, "when a city is losing its bookshops, it's actually losing something in its soul."
If the success of the Honesty Bookstore is any guide, Nanjing's soul is in pretty good shape. | high14234.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "modern forecasting cannot always guarantee accurate weather forecasting for some reason"
},
"options": [
"using folklore and proverbs to forecast weather is more accurate than modem forecasting",
"complex computer models and weathe... | Accurately forecasting the weather is a very hard thing to do. There are many parts of weather dynamics -- the study of how water and air in motion cause weather patterns -- to consider. Even the best forecast can be changed by a small weather disturbance halfway around the world. Today's forecast use complex computer models, weather instruments, and detailed analyses of daily observations to predict the weather. However, it hasn't always been that way. People, like your grandparents, use folklore and proverbs to help forecast the weather. They remembered what conditions caused changes and observed the factors associated with weather: atmospheric and cloud conditions, temperature, winds, and reactions of plants and animals. Many people believe that this way of forecasting weather is accurate more often than modem forecasting.
Grandma's aching joints might indicate the arrival of a low-pressure system. She might also observe the geese flying lower than usual, confirming the low-pressure system. Finally, she might feel dampness on her skin, a sign of high humidity . Based on these three observations, grandma might warn that a storm is brewing.
Joints and nerves can indicate dropping air pressure, dissolved gases in the blood form bubbles under low air pressure. This causes pain in joints and nerve endings. Geese and other birds respond to changes in air pressure by adjusting how high they fly. In the fair, calm weather of a high-pressure system, the birds fly higher than in the stormy weather associated with a low-pressure system.
Nature provides other clues to changing weather. A decrease in air pressure causes deer and elk to come down from the mountains to look for shelter. Some animals feed more than usual. The higher humidity before a storm causes some insects to leave the trees and gather near the ground. Some flowers close so rain doesn't get inside them. In winter, rhododendron plants curl up to protect themselves as the temperature drops.
Several of the sayings apply in particular areas of the world. Here are some of them.
#Early thunder, early spring.
#Rainbow in the morning gives you fair warning.
#When teeth and bones ache, expect the clouds to fill the lake.
#When high clouds and low clouds do not match together, prepare for a blow and a change in the weather. | high8986.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "People communicate more since telephone has been created."
},
"options": [
"People don't communicate without telephone.",
"People communicate because of the creating of the telephone.",
"People communicate more since telephon... | When I asked my daughter which item she would keep; the phone, the car, the cooker, the computer, the TV, or her boyfriend, she said"the phone". Personally, I could do without the phone entirely, which makes me unusual. Because the telephone is changing our lives more than any other piece of technology.
Point 1 The telephone creates the need to communicate, in the same way that more roads create more traffic. My daughter comes home from school at 4:00 pm and then spends an hour on the phone talking to the very people she has been at school with all day. If the phone did not exist, would she have anything to talk about?
Point 2 The mobile phone means that we are never alone. "The mobile saved my life,"says Crystal Johnstone. She had an accident in her Volvo on the A45 between Otley and Skipton. Trapped inside, she managed to make the call that brought the ambulance to her rescue.
Point 3 The mobile removes our secret. It allows marketing manager of Haba Deutsch, Carl Nicolaisen, to ring his sales staff all round the world at and time of day to ask where they are , where they are going, and how their last meeting went.
Point 4 The telephone separates us. Antonella Bramante in Rome says, "We worked in separate offices but I could see him through the window. It was easy to get his number. We were so near----but we didn't meet for the first two weeks!"
Point 5 The telephone allows us to reach out beyond our own lives. Today we can talk to several complete strangers simultaneously ( ) on chat lines (at least my daughter does. I wouldn't know what to talk about). We can talk across the world. We can even talk to astronauts (if you know any) while they're space-walking. And, with the phone line hooked up to the computer, we can access the Internet, the biggest library on Earth. | high588.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Upset."
},
"options": [
"Cheerful.",
"Nervous.",
"Satisfied.",
"Upset."
],
"question": "Which of the following best describes the author's feeling that morning?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer":... | The morning had been a disaster. My tooth was aching,and I'd been in an argument with a friend. Her words still hurt:"The trouble with you is that you won't put yourself in my place. Can't you see things from my point of view?"I shook my head stubbornly-and felt the ache in my tooth. I'd thought I could hold out till my dentist came back from holiday,but the pain was really unbearable. I started calling the dentists in the phone book,but no one could see me immediately. Finally,at about lunchtime,I got lucky.
"If you come by right now,"the receptionist said,"the dentist will fit you in."
I took my purse and keys and rushed to my car. But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist. What kind of dentist would be so eager to treat someone at such short notice?Why wasn't he as busy as the others?
In the dentist's office,I sat down and looked around. I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more worried. The assistant noticed my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my icecold one.
When I told her my fears,she laughed and said,"Don't worry. The dentist is very good."
"How long do I have to wait for him?"I asked impatiently.
"Come on,he is coming. Just lie down and relax. And enjoy the artwork,"the assistant said.
"The artwork?"I was puzzled.
The chair went back. Suddenly I smiled. There was a beautiful picture,right where I could enjoy it:on the ceiling. How considerate the dentist was!At that moment,I began to understand what my friend meant by her words. What a relief! | high12651.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "McDonald's and KFC pay too low a salary to their employees."
},
"options": [
"McDonald's and KFC pay too low a salary to their employees.",
"Setting up a social security system.",
"Fast-food restaurants have no rights to fire... | Observer 2007-03-28 13:54
Nothing could be more shameful for McDonald's and KFC. They are violating labour's rights. The government must immediately bring the guilty to justice. A stricter government inspection system must be enforced to protect the workers.
Nathan 2007-03-28 21:39
It is known that McDonald's and KFC and other fast-food restaurants pay the lowest wage they possibly can to get their employees. I think it's kind of funny that these two restaurants have not yet set up unions. It is also known that _ also take every possible measure e(legal, and sometimes illegal) to prevent their employees from forming or joining unions. I think it is high time that government enforced the law that they have made.
Cushman 2007-03-28 22:32
The deepest reason is that China has a large population. If you complain that the pay is very low, the boss will tell you that can go to other places and that there are a lot of people waiting for the job. Today finding a job is not very easy, so you don't have many choices, and you have to face the reality.
Chip 2007-03-29 20:33
If wages were too low, people wouldn't work for them, but they do, so it proves the wages are reasonable. Sure, they could raise the wages, but why should they? The workers are still working, still willing to show up on time, and it keeps costs lower. Were they to raise wages, they would have to FIRE more workers, and the price of burgers would go up. Then people wouldn't buy them, then McDonald's would once again FIRE more workers because of a reduced demand, and you'd be back in the same boat, just with less people working. | high7479.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Confused"
},
"options": [
"Frightened",
"Enjoyable",
"Confused",
"Usual"
],
"question": "How did the Japanese feel when seeing the stuck lizard?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": ... | This is a true story that happened in Japan. In order to _ the house, a Japanese tore open the walls. Japanese houses normally have a empty space between the wooden walls. When tearing down the walls, he found that there was a lizard stuck there because a nail from outside was hammered into one of its feet. He saw this, feeling pity and curious. When he checked the nail, he found it was nailed 10 years ago when the house was first built.
What happened? The lizard had survived in such a position for 10 years! It has been in a dark wall partition for 10 years without moving! Then he wondered how this lizard survived for 10 years without moving a single step--since its foot was nailed! So he stopped his work and observed the lizard: What has it been doing? What and how has it been eating? Later, he didn't know from where another lizard appeared, with food in its mouth. Ah! He was astonished and touched deeply. The free lizard had been feeding the stuck one for the past 10 years.
Such love, a beautiful love! Such love happened with this tiny creature... What can love do? It can do wonders! Just think about it: one lizard had been feeding the other one untiringly for 10 long years, without giving up hope on its partner. If a small creature like a lizard can love like this, just imagine how we can love if we try. | high12889.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "those who truly helped civilization forward is rarely mentioned in history books."
},
"options": [
"conquerors, generals and soldiers should not be mentioned in history books.",
"history books focus more on those who helped civiliz... | Most of the people who appear most often and most gloriously in the history books are great conquerors and generals and soldiers, whereas the people who really helped civilization forward are often never mentioned at all. We do not know who first set a broken leg, or launched a seaworthy boat, or calculated the length of the year, or manured a field; but we know all about the killers and destroyers. People think a great deal of them, so much so that on all the highest pillars in the great cities of the world you will find the figure of a conqueror or a general or a soldier. And I think most people believe that the greatest countries are those that have beaten in battle the greatest number of other countries and ruled over them as conquerors. It is just possible they are, but they are not the most civilized.
Animals fight; so do savages ; hence to be good at fighting is to be good in the way in which an animal or a savage is good, but it is not to be civilized. Even being good at getting other people to fight for you and telling them how to do it most efficiently -this, after all, is what conquerors and generals have done -is not being civilized. People fight to settle quarrels. Fighting means killing, and civilized peoples ought to be able to find some way of settling their disputes other than by seeing which side can kill off the greater number of the other side, and then saying that that side which has killed most has won. And it not only has won, but, because it has won, has been in the right. For that is what going to war means; it means saying that might is right.
That is what the story of mankind has on the whole been like. Even our own age has fought the two greatest wars in history, in which millions of people were killed or disabled. And while today it is true that people do not fight and kill each other in the streets -while, that is to say, we have got to the stage of keeping the rules and behaving properly to each other in daily life - nations and countries have not learnt to do this yet, and still behave like savages. | high6767.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "It is better to wash dog waste down a toilet or bury it in a landfill."
},
"options": [
"It makes a kind of natural fertilizer of high quality.",
"The microorganisms in dog waste are helpful to water.",
"It is better to wash ... | A dog might be man's best friend, but my dogs are more like my kids! I think everyone should experience the unconditional love of a dog, but owning one is not for the nervousness. It's work--especially when it comes to the job of cleaning up their waste. When you clean up after your dogs, your neighbors will love you for keeping those smelly landmines out of their yards. But there are even bigger benefits. You'll not only be doing your part to keep bacteria out of your yard and neighborhood, you're also keeping harmful microorganisms away from the drinking water supply.
There are more than 77 million pet dogs in the United States and their waste is found in backyards, neighborhood parks, and the green areas that frequently line small waterways. When you don't clean up after your dog, heavy rain can carry bacteria from the waste into drains. Dog waste left in parks and other such places can be swept directly into nearby streams. This affects the quality of the water in our streams. These small channels often empty directly into our local drinking water supply or the water where we boat or fish.
Dog waste contains harmful microorganisms like roundworms that can be passed onto humans. This is why dog waste should not be used as fertilizer around your home. And it won't fertilize your yard either if you leave it behind like other types of fertilizer. Dogs don't eat the same kinds of natural material that cattle, horses or even elephants eat. The waste from those animals is actually beneficial for your yard and garden.
You should always pick up after your dog and throw the waste into the trash can. Some smaller cities might prefer the waste to be washed down the toilet, but in cities where there are many dogs, it's best to send the waste to the landfill.
When you properly deal with your dog's waste, you'll be doing your part to keep harmful bacteria out of your yards, your neighborhoods and your drinking water. | high14220.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Radiation from the phone probably causes the change in the brain."
},
"options": [
"Scientists are sure that cell phones are bad for the brain.",
"In the experiment, the left side of the brain used more glucose.",
"Radiation ... | Here's one number to keep in mind during your next cell phone conversation: 50. A new experiment shows that spending 50 minutes with an active phone pressed up to the ear increases activity in the brain. This brain activity probably doesn't make you smarter. When cell phones are on, they emit energy in the form of radiation that could be harmful, especially after years of cell phone usage. Scientists don't know yet whether cell phones are bad for the brain. Studies like this one are attempting to find it out.
The 47 participants in the experiment may have looked a little strange. Each one had two Samsung cell phones attached to his or her head -- one on each ear. The phone on the left ear was off. The phone on the right ear played a message for 50 minutes, but the participants couldn't hear it because the sound was off.
With this set-up, the scientists could be sure they were studying brain activity from the phone itself, and not brain activity due to listening and talking during a conversation. After 50 minutes with two phones strapped to their heads, the participants were given PET scans.
The PET scan showed that the left side (the side with the phone turned off) of each participant's brain hadn't changed during the experiment. The right side of the brain, however, had used more glucose, which is a type of sugar that provides fuel to brain cells. These right-side brain cells were using almost as much glucose as the brain uses when a person is talking. This suggests that the brain cells there were active -- even without the person hearing anything. That activity, the scientists say, was probably caused by radiation from the phone.
Henry Lai, who works at the University of Washington in Seattle, is uncomfortable with the data related to cell phones. Holding a cell phone to your ear during a conversation is "not really safe," Lai told Science News. Lai is a bioengineer at the University of Washington in Seattle. He wrote an article about the new study for a journal, but he did not work on the study. Bioengineers bring together ideas from engineering and biology.
For those who don't want to wait to find out for sure whether cell phones are bad for the brain, there are ways to talk more safely. You can have short and sweet conversations, use a speakerphone or keep the phone away from your head. | high9454.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "From one direction at a time."
},
"options": [
"Only from left to right.",
"Only from right to left.",
"From both directions at the same time.",
"From one direction at a time."
],
"question": "How do human genom... | Imagine that the genome is a book.The book consists of 23 chapters with thousands of stories made up of paragraphs, words and letters on different levels.There are one billion words in the book, as long as 800 Bibles; if I read the genome out to you at the rate of one word per second for eight hours a day, it would take me centuries; if I wrote out the human genome, one letter per millimeter, my text would be as long as the River Danube.This is a huge volume, a book of great length, but it all fits inside an extremely small cell nuclear that fits easily upon the head of a pin.
The idea of the genome as a book is not, strictly speaking, even a metaphor.It is true to a great extent.A book is a piece of digital information, written in one-directional form and defined by a code that translates a small alphabet of signs into a large dictionary of meanings through the order of their groupings.So is a genome.The only difference is that all English books read from left to right, while some parts of the genome read from left to right while some from right to left, but never both at the same time.
While English books are written in words of different lengthens using twenty-six letters, genomes are written entirely in words of three-letter length, using only four letters, and instead of being written on flat pages, they are written on long chains of DNA molecules .
The genome is a very clever book, because in the right condition it can both photocopy itself and read itself. | high1008.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "How to beat a bad mood."
},
"options": [
"How to beat a bad mood.",
"How to talk bad moods out.",
"How to do physical exercises.",
"How to do aerobic exercise."
],
"question": "What is the main subject of the pa... | Moods, say the experts, are feelings that are likely to become fixed, having effects on one's outlook (way of looking at things) for hours, days or even weeks. That's great if your mood is a pleasant one, but a problem if you are sad, anxious, angry, or simply lonely.
Perhaps the best way to deal with such moods is to talk them out; sometimes, though, there is no one to listen. Modern pharmacology offers a lot of tranquilizers and anti-anxiety drugs. What many people don't realize, however, is that scientists have discovered the effectiveness of several non-drug methods to make you free from an unwanted mood. These can be just as useful as drugs, and have the added benefit of being nonpoisonous. So next time you feel out of sorts, don't head for the drug store--try the following method.
Of all the mood-changing self-help techniques, aerobic exercise seem to be the best cure for a bad mood. --If you could keep the exercise, you'd be in high spirits, says Kathryn Lance, author of Running for Health and Beauty.
Researchers have explained biochemical and various other changes that make exercise a better mood-raiser than drugs. Physical work such as housework, however, does little. The key is aerobic exercise - running, cycling, walking, swimming, or other repetitive and sustained activities that increase the heart rate and circulation , and improve the body's use of oxygen. Do them for at least 20 minutes a time, three to five times a week. | high8992.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the driver was driving beyond the speed limit"
},
"options": [
"it was an expensive car",
"the driver was a proud lady",
"the driver was driving beyond the speed limit",
"the driver was going to make trouble for the pol... | An expensive car speeding down the main street of a small town was soon caught up with by a young motorcycle policeman. As he started to make out the ticket, the woman behind the wheel said proudly, "Before you go any further, young man, I think you should know that the mayor of this city is a good friend of mine."The officer did not say a word, but kept writing. "I am also a friend of chief of police Barens,"continued the woman, getting more angrier each moment. Still he kept on writing. "Young man ,"she persisted, "I know Judge Lawson and State Senator Patton." Handing the ticket to the woman, the officer asked pleasantly, "Tell me, do you know Bill Bronson."
"Why, no,"She answered. "Well, that is the man you should have known,"he said, heading back to his motorcycle, "I am Bill Bronson." | high2501.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "stories of Leonard Maltin"
},
"options": [
"journals of travels",
"well-taken photographs",
"stories of Leonard Maltin",
"opinions on restaurants"
],
"question": "In the Lifestyle section, you may not find _ ... | Keen to share your views and have your articles published in the Campus Link? We are calling for contributions to the following sections:
Lifestyle:
Do you travel widely, keep a journal of your adventures and have nice photographs that you might want to share? Or have you simply been somewhere that caught your imagination? Tell us all about your travels!
Are you an eager movie-goer? Be Leonard Maltin for the day and share your views of the latest blockbuster with our readers!
If food is your preferred choice of relaxation, try your hand at being food critic and send us your views on food/restaurants worth trying.
Research:
If this noble line of work is your bread and butter or passion, we want to hear from you! Share with Campus Link your research developments and breakthroughs. If you know of someone (your schoolmate or teacher) whose research work is a source of inspiration for our community, do not hesitate to send in your suggestions!
If you are interested in sharing any of the above, or if you know of someone worthy of feature, please get in touch with the Editor-in-Chief, at karinyeo@campuslink.sg.
Contributions will be selected based on their relevance and quality and Campus Link reserves the right to publish or reject a submission . All contributions will be edited for clarity and length. Please send your submissions in word.doc files and your photos in jpeg format. | high10046.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "sea creatures and plants"
},
"options": [
"sea creatures and rock",
"mud, rocks and shales",
"living things and mud",
"sea creatures and plants"
],
"question": "According to the passage, oil was formed from _ ... | What was the origin of the oil which now drives our motorcars and aircraft? Scientists are confident about the formation of coal, but they do not seem so sure when asked about oil. They think that the oil under the surface of the earth originated in the distant past, and was formed from living things in the sea. Countless billions of small sea creatures and plants lived and sank to the seabed. They were covered with huge deposits of mud and by process of chemistry, pressure and temperature were changed through long ages into what we know as oil. For these creatures to become oil, it was necessary that they should be imprisoned between layers of rock for a great length of time. The statement that oil originated in the sea is confirmed by a glance at a map showing the chief oilfields of the world. Very few of them are far distant from the oceans of today. In some places gas' and oil come up to the surface of the sea from its bed. The rocks in which oil is found are of the marine origin too. They are rocks which were laid down by the action of water on the' bed of the ocean. Almost always the remains of shells, and other proofs of sea life are found close to the oil. A very common sedimentary rock is called shale, which is a soft rock and was obviously formed by being deposited on the seabed. And when there is shale, there is likely to be oil.
There is a lot of luck in drilling for oil The drill may just miss the oil although it is near; on the other hand, it may strike oil at a fairly high level When the drill goes down, it brings up soil. The soil from various depths are examined for. Traces of oil. If they are disappointed at one place, the drillers go to another. Great sums of money have been spent, for example, in the deserts of Egypt, in looking for oil. Sometimes little is found. When we buy a few gallons of petrol for our cars, we pay not only the cost of the petrol, but also part of the cost of the search that is always going on.
There are four main areas of the world where deposits of oil appear. The first is that of the Middle East. Another is the area between North and South America, and a third, between Asia and Australia. The fourth area is the part near the North Pole. When there is no more oil in the present oilfields to bring up, it is possible that this cold region may become the scene of busy oil activity. | high20185.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The lost purse had been returned to the loser"
},
"options": [
"A purse with jewelry in it was lost",
"The lost purse was left on a bench",
"The owner must have been to a place near San Francisco",
"The lost purse had b... | A purse containing a million dollars worth of jewelry was on its way back to its owner inprefix = st1 /Canadaafter being forgotten on a bench in a town nearSan Francisco, police said .
Shahla Ghannadian had entrusted her 2 , 00-dollar Louis Vuitton handbag and its precious contents to her husband after they stopped at an ice cream parlor in the city ofSunday, according to authorities .
He left it on a bench near a downtown parking lot , and the oversight was not noticed until the couple was back at their hotel , saidSausalitopolice sergeant Kurtis Skoog
The couple had traveled from Toronto toSan Franciscofor a daughter's wedding .
The purse contained a Cartier watch , cash , and jewelry worn by the mother and the bride at the ceremony , said Skoog .
The gems included emeralds , pearls and diamonds , one of them a 12-karat stone , according to police .
Ghannadian and her husband had a bit of sightseeing before catching a flight back toCanadaon Sunday night . Family members checked the bench , but the purse was gone .
Local resident John Suhroff walked into the police department the next day with the bag , its contents intact , Skoog said .
Suhroff handed the bag to a clerk , saying it held " either costume of junk jewelry " . " We caped the owner . and they were excited , " said Skoog .
A family friend picked up the bag and was to take it to Ghannadian . The family indicated Ssuhroff was in line for a reward , but did not specify an amount , Skoog said . | high17729.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "She had not enough money to buy Christmas gifts"
},
"options": [
"She had to leave Aunt Mary",
"She didn't know what kind of Christmas gifts she should buy",
"She had not enough money to buy Christmas gifts",
"She had n... | "It is a dreadful thing to be poor a fortnight before Christmas, " said Clorinda, with the mournful sigh of seventeen years.
Aunt Emmy smiled. Aunt Emmy was sixty, and spent the hours she didn't spend in a bed, on a sofa or in a wheel chair; but Aunt Emmy was never heard to sigh.
"The gifts which money can purchase are not the only ones we can give," said Aunt Emmy gently, "nor the best, either."
"Oh, I know it's nicer to give something of your own work," agreed Clorinda, "but materials for fancy work cost too. That kind of gift is just as much out of the question for me as any other."
"That was not what I meant," said Aunt Emmy.
"What did you mean, then?" asked Clorinda, looking puzzled.
Aunt Emmy smiled.
"Suppose you think out my meaning for yourself," she said. "That would be better than if I explained it. Besides, I don't think I could explain it. Take the beautiful line of a beautiful poem to help you in your thinking out: '
"
"I'd put it the other way and say, 'The giver without the gift is bare," said Clorinda. "That is my predicament exactly. Well, I hope by next Christmas I'll not be quite bankrupt. I'm going into Mr. Callender's store down at Murraybridge in February. He has offered me the place, you know."
"Won't your aunt miss you terribly?" said Aunt Emmy gravely. "I think she would rather have your companionship than a part of your salary, Clorinda," said Aunt Emmy. "But of course you must decide for yourself, dear."
"Well, I must say bye-bye and run home." Clorinda lived just across the road from Aunt Emmy in a tiny white house behind some huge willows. But Aunt Mary lived there too--the only relative Clorinda had, for Aunt Emmy wasn't really her aunt at all. Clorinda had always lived with Aunt Mary ever since she could remember.
Clorinda puzzled over Aunt Emmy's meaning for days. Then all at once it came to her. On Christmas Day, Clorinda went over to Aunt Emmy's.Aunt Emmy was lying on the sofa before the fire, and Clorinda sat down beside her.
"I've come to tell you all about it," she said. "Aunt Emmy, I thought for days over your meaning ... And then one evening it just came to me. At first I didn't think I could give some of them, and then I thought how selfish I was. I would have been willing to pay any amount of money for gifts if I had had it, but I wasn't willing to pay what I had. I got over that, though, Aunt Emmy. Now I'm going to tell you what I did give."
"First, there was old Aunt Kitty. You know she was my nurse when I was a baby. She is always glad when I go to see her, but I've never gone except when I couldn't help it. She is very deaf, and rather dull and stupid, you know. Well, I gave her a whole day. I took my knitting yesterday, and sat with her the whole time and just talked and talked. She was so pleased and proud; she told me when I came away that she hadn't had such a nice time for years. "
"Then there was ... Florence. You know, Aunt Emmy, we were always intimate friends until last year. Then Florence once told Rose Watson something I had told her
. I found it out and I was so hurt. I couldn't forgive Florence, and I told her plainly I could never be a real friend to her again. Florence felt badly, because she really did love me, and she asked me to forgive her, but it seemed as if I couldn't. Well, Aunt Emmy, that was my Christmas gift to her ... my forgiveness."
"I gave Aunt Mary her gift this morning. I told her I wasn't going to Murraybridge, that I just meant to stay home with her. She was so glad--and I'm glad, too, now that I've decided so."
"Your gifts have been real gifts, Clorinda," said Aunt Emmy. "Something of you--the best of you--went into each of them."
"I didn't forget you, Aunt Emmy," she said, as she unpinned the paper.
There was a rosebush. Aunt Emmy loved flowers. She put her finger under one of the roses and kissed it.
"It's as sweet as yourself, dear child," she said tenderly. "And it will be a joy to me all through the lonely winter days. You've found out the best meaning of Christmas giving, haven't you, dear?"
"Yes, thanks to you, Aunt Emmy," said Clorinda softly. | high16437.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the limited energy"
},
"options": [
"a schedule without gaps",
"breaks and distractions",
"the limited time",
"the limited energy"
],
"question": "If someone can't work with 100% efficiency, the most important l... | Even when you're extremely busy, you aren't using your time with 100% efficiency. There are gaps in everyone's schedule where they aren't doing anything important. Even if your schedule has no gaps, there is probably lots of time when you aren't working as fast or as effectively as you possibly could.
Why aren't you completely efficient? It's because time isn't the limiting factor. If it were the limiting factor, people could work non-stop without breaks or any unproductive distractions . Instead, people, even those who are highly productive, need to take breaks, occasionally procrastinate and slow down on tasks throughout the day.
The real and most important limiting factor for productivity is your energy levels to pay attention. Energy levels limit your productivity because when you're tired, you can have enough time and still not get everything done. Your attention ability is also limited, because even if there are a million things that need to be done, you can only focus on one or two at a time.
You might not be able to insert another 4-5 hours into your schedule without making some sacrifices. But even extremely busy people can add an hour or two into their schedule without cancelling anything. The reason why it's hard to "find time" isn't a lack of time. It's because you don't have enough energy left to focus on something else that needs to fit into your day.
I first suspected time wasn't the real problem during an extremely busy period in my life over a year ago. I was extremely busy, but at that time I still exercised regularly. I had daily to-do lists with over twenty items, and I still found time to exercise. However, after a few weeks off, due to illness, I stopped exercising. I was not busy by any standards, in fact, my schedule was incredibly light. Despite this free time, I found it hard to find time to exercise. It seemed to get pushed later and later into my schedule until it was gone. How can I explain this odd experience? I believe you have known it. | high4170.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "animals in a symbiotic relationship"
},
"options": [
"the hard life in the wild",
"some dangerous animals",
"animals living together",
"animals in a symbiotic relationship"
],
"question": "The text is mainly abo... | Living in the wild can be hard. Finding food and staying safe aren't easy. Each day, animals struggle to survive in their habitats. Not all animals get by on their own. Some animals form a close partnership with other kinds of animals. These pairings are called symbiotic relationships.
In a symbiotic relationship, the animals depend on each other. One animal helps the other meet its needs. Sounds good, right? Not always. Some animals are not very kind to their partners. In some cases, one animal meets its needs but hurts its partner. Take ticks, for example. These insects suck blood to live. To get blood, they attach themselves to other kinds of animals. Ticks can pass germs that cause disease instead of helping their hosts.
In other relationships, animals don't treat their partners so poorly. Both animals benefit from living with the other animal.
Small animals called cleaner shrimps have found a way of helping fish at coral reefs. As their name suggests, the shrimps clean the fish. They hang out at what scientists call a cleaning station. A fish stops by. Then a shrimp climbs onto the fish and even steps into the fish's mouth. The shrimp uses its tiny claws to pick stuff off the fish's body. That can include dead skin, tiny pieces of food, and wee creatures that can hurt the fish. The fish gets a nice cleaning. The shrimp enjoys a tasty meal of fish trash.
Small birds called plovers are also in the cleaning business. They have big customers-crocodiles. Crocs have long snouts filled with sharp teeth. Cleaning them is tricky. When a croc opens its mouth, the plover hops right in. The croc does not snap its snout shut.Instead, it lets the plover eat small, harmful animals attached to the crocodile's teeth. The plover gets an easy meal while the croc gets clean teeth. | high19704.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "she thought she should do something for the lady at the special time"
},
"options": [
"she thought the lady was too busy",
"she would make them as thanks to her",
"they had had an agreement before",
"she thought she sho... | I went over my grandmother's house today and she didn't have time for me. You see, the lady's husband downstairs died and my Grandmother wanted to make some cookies for her. My grandmother did not analyze how the lady treated her, or if the lady needed any cookies, or even if the lady would like the cookies. She didn't think how much the lady has done for her. She simply began baking.
My Grandmother turned 94 last week and this I believe is her secret to life. My grandmother is generous and hard-working in a way that is rare for our time. She lives by a simple belief: if someone needs your help, you help. Never mind all the analyzing and thinking whether the person deserves or appreciates the help. My grandmother doesn't sit around thinking about who might be making use of her: she simply does what is needed.
At 94, she is busy in life. She is making a blanket for a new great grandchild, and worried that I don't have enough kitchen towels for my home. She is bringing soup to a sick neighbor, and teaching the new wife of her cousin (who is 88) how to cook Italian food.
My grandmother had every right to give up, but she didn't -- and amazingly life did bring her good things, like a husband with twinkling blue eyes who was much ahead of his time and believed that men should do an equal amount of cooking and cleaning in the home, three beautiful children (my father and two aunts), 22 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. My grandmother is not afraid to give someone she barely knows a bowl of soup. She never keeps herself out of the world. | high11358.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because it was full of so many advisements that audience can't tolerate it."
},
"options": [
"Because it had a good start but it failed to attract audience' attention in the end.",
"Because it had a good start but it failed to make... | The hottest show this summer---"the Voice" just finished on Sunday at the Shanghai Stadium. But the show that had a good start didn't end to everyone's satisfaction. The two and a half hour show dragged on for more than four hours because of the huge amount of advertising, which the audience and residents living nearby could hardly bear.
This summer, something hotter than the weather came to Shanghai. That is the Voice of China. The show soon became a cash cow for the organizer as the advertisement prices reached 1.16 million yuan for 15 seconds. And the show has earned more than 100 million yuan up to now in ad income only,
But the organizers' bliss was audiences' melancholy.
In the final live show on Sunday, about 14 rounds of advertisements were aired, each of which came at a crucial result-announcing moment.
Frequently interrupted by advertisements, some live audience members complained that the show wasn't worth its ticket prices of 180 to 1680 yuan.
The planned two and a half hour show went two hours overtime because of the advertising. This annoyed audience members, and touched the nerves of residents living near the site.
Someone called the police, and the show is now facing punishment for going over-time and disturbing residents late at night. | high3179.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "to deal with a lot of difficulties"
},
"options": [
"to deal with a lot of difficulties",
"to know the making of products",
"to receive certain special training",
"to remember the entire trade route"
],
"questio... | Runners in a relay race pass a stick in one direction. However, merchants passed silk, gold, fruit, and glass along the Silk Road in more than one direction. They earned their living by traveling the famous Silk Road.
The Silk Road was not a simple trading network. It passed through thousands of cities and towns. It started from eastern China, across Central Asia and the Middle East, and ended in the Mediterranean Sea. It was used from about 200 BC to about 1300 AD, when sea travel offered new routes. It was sometimes called the world's longest highway.
However, the Silk Road was made up of many routes, not one smooth path. They passed through what are now 18 countries. The routes crossed mountains and deserts and had many dangers of hot sun, deep snow and even battles. Only experienced traders could return safe.
The Silk Road got its name from its most prized product. Silk could be used like money to pay taxes or buy goods. But the traders carried more than just silk. Gold, silver, and glass from Europe were much found in the Middle East and Asia. Horses traded from other areas changed farming practices in China. Indian merchants traded salt and other valuable goods. Chinese merchants traded paper, which produced an immediate effect on the West. Apples traveled from central Asia to Rome. The Chinese had learned to graft different trees together to make new kinds of fruit.
They passed this science on to others, including the Romans. The Romans used grafting to grow the apple. Trading along the Silk Road led to world-wide business 2,000 years before the World Wide Web.
The people along the Silk Road did not share just goods. They also shared their beliefs. The Silk Road provided pathways for learning, diplomacy, and religion. | high4616.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Her father's name"
},
"options": [
"Her father's looks",
"Her father's name",
"Her father's hobby",
"Her father's job"
],
"question": "What did Lisa know about her father?",
"question_type": null
},
{
... | Lisa never had the chance to know her father. He and her mother divorced when she was just a young child. Even though he didn't move far, he never came to visit his children.
Lisa often wondered about her father. What did he looked like and what he was doing. All she knew was his name: Jeff White.
After Lisa grew up, she became a nurse at a hospital, where she would help provide medicine and comfort for patients in their final days. A few weeks ago, she received a new patient whose name was Jeff White.
When Jeff came into his room, Lisa asked him if he had any children. Jeff told her that he had two daughters, Lisa and Elly. Lisa couldn't hold her tears back. She told him, "I am Lisa, your daughter."
Jeff embraced her, saying that he was not a good father. And the daughter held his hand and kissed him. Then Jeff began to sing This Magic Moment.
Jeff could have just weeks left to live, so Lisa wanted to make the most of the time she had with him. Lisa also brought her kids to the hospital to meet their grandfather. The kid made cards for him with the words, "I love you."
Forgiveness is also a kind of love. | high19062.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "create different feelings for us"
},
"options": [
"create different feelings for us",
"help us to develop good habits",
"develop our interest in money",
"influence natural environments"
],
"question": "According... | We know music is very important in our daily life. Today most stores, stations, restaurants and other places play music. Do you notice music playing at any of these places when you go somewhere? You might even hear music in an office or on a farm.
Scientists believe that music influences the way people behave. They think that the sound of western classical music makes people feel richer. When a restaurant plays classical music, people spend more money on food and drinks. When the restaurant plays modern music, people spend less money. Without music, people spend even less.
Scientists also believe that loud, fast music makes people eat faster. Some restaurants play fast music during meal time. This makes people eat faster and leave quickly. Restaurants can make more money in this way.
Some scientists think that music makes you think and learn better. They say that music helps students to be more active. It is true that people learn better when they are relaxed. And listening to music can help you relax.
Next time you hear music somewhere, be careful. It might influence the way you do things. | high13229.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the author's class regulator"
},
"options": [
"the course material",
"others' misuse of technology",
"discussion topics",
"the author's class regulator"
],
"question": "some of the students in the history class ... | Students and Technology in the Classroom
I love my blackberry--it's my little connection to the larger world that can go anywhere with me . I also love my laptop computer ,as it holds all of my writing and thought .Despite this love of technology ,I know that there are times when I need to move away from these device and truly communication with others.On occasion ,I teach a course called History Matters for a group of higher education managers. My goals for the class include a full discussion of historical themes and ideas .Because I want students to thoroughly study the material and exchange their ideas with each other in the classroom ,I have a rule --no laptop ,ipads ,phones ,etc .When students were told my rule in advance of the class, some of them were not happy .
Most students assume that year reasons for this rule include unpleasant experiences in the past with students misusing technology . There's a bit of truth to that.Some students assume that I am anti-technology . There's no truth in that at all . I love technology and try to keep up with it so I relate to my students.
The real reason why I ask students to leave technology at the door is that I think there are very few places in which we can have deep conversions and truly
complex ideas. Interruptions by technology often break concentration and allow for too much dependence on outside information for ideas . I want students to think differently and make connections between the course the material and the class discussion .
I've been teaching my history class in this way for many years and the educations reflect student satisfaction with the environment that I create .Students realize that with deep conversation and challenge , they learn at a level that helps them keep the course material beyond the classroom .
I'm not saying that I won't ever change my mind about technology use in my history class, but until I hear a really good reason for the change ,I'm sticking to my plan. a few hours of technology-free dialogue is just too give up. | high15880.txt |
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