questions list | article stringlengths 9 6.44k | id stringlengths 9 14 |
|---|---|---|
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "an Englishman; \"Robinson Crusoe\""
},
"options": [
"an Englishman; \"A Tale of Two Cities\"",
"an American; \"A Million Pound Note\"",
"a Frenchman; \"The Lost Necklace\"",
"an Englishman; \"Robinson Crusoe\""
],
... | Daniel Defoe (about 1660~1731) was an important novelist in the English literature . When he was young, he served as a soldier and had been to Spain, Italy, France and Germany. At the same time, he went in for politics. He cared much about the development of capitalism . He had written a lot of articles against it and he was put into prison twice for that. It was not until he was nearly sixty that he began to write the famous novel Robinson Crusoe, which was published in May, 1709. It spread so rapidly that the story was known to _ very soon.
Robinson Crusoe can be divided into three parts. The first part is about Crusoe's three voyages, the second part about his hunting, hiding in caves farming and his hard struggles against nature on a small island, the third part about the things which happened after his return from the island. The second part is the body of the novel, in which Robinson's characters are clearly shown.
Defoe wrote his novel in a simple style and his language is easy to understand. His novel-writing set a milestone of the modern English novel. In his later part of life, he was in poor health and lived very poorly. He died on April 24th, 1731. | high20401.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "do something we don't like to"
},
"options": [
"do something we don't like to",
"go to the theater",
"go to the music show",
"do something that we want to"
],
"question": "\"To face the music\" means \"to _ \... | When someone says "well, I guess I'll have to face the music", it doesn't mean that he is planning to go to hear a singer. It is something far less happy, as you are called in by your leader to explain why you did this and did that or why you did not do this or that.
At some time or another, every one of us has to "face the music", especially as children. We can all remember father's angry word "I wasn't to talk to you" and only because we did not listen to him. What a bad thing it was !
In the middle or at the end of every term, we students have to "face the music". The result of the exam will decide whether we will face the music or not. If ...that means parents' cold faces and the contempt of the teachers and classmates.
"To face the music" is well known to every American, younger or old. It is at least 100 years old. It really means that you have to do something, no matter how terrible the whole thing might be, because you know you have no choice. | high2085.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "more and more criminals are using social media sites for crimes"
},
"options": [
"people with mobile phones can shop at London Underground stations",
"Facebook, Twitter, and BlackBerry messenger are not popular in the US",
"t... | Express delivery: How you can buy your groceries from a virtual supermarket
Aug, 1st, 2011 Daily Mail
A "virtual supermarket" consisting of posters of goods put on platform walls is set to be introduced at London Underground stations. Passengers "shop" by scanning QR--Quick Response--codes of the items they want to buy using their smart phones. These goods are later delivered to their home address. Supermarket giant Tesco successfully trialed the hi-tech store in a South Korean underground station and there are now plans to bring the concept to Britain.
NYPD to Scan Facebook, Twitter for Trouble
Aug, 11th, 2011 Forbes
The New York Police Department announced it will form a new unit to search social media as part of its law enforcement efforts, responding to the criminals' growing use of these sites to plan and celebrate illegal activities. The NYPD unit created particularly to _ social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and BlackBerry messenger for information on planned crimes and their criminals.
Space Junk reaching "tipping point", report warns
Sep 3rd, 2011 Toronto Sun
The amount of debris orbiting the Earth has reached "a tipping point" for crashes, which would produce more debris that may be dangerous to astronauts and satellites, according to a US study. According to the US Space Surveillance Network, the number of orbital debris jumped from 9,949 in December 2006 to 16,094 in July 2011. | high5932.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Activities for the bonding between mother and daughter."
},
"options": [
"Trips for mother and daughter.",
"A daughter's attachment to her mother.",
"Suitable books for mother and daughter.",
"Activities for the bonding... | Normally and naturally, a daughter is more attached to her mother in comparison to her father or other siblings . The attachment is also due to the fact that the daughter finds it easier to believe in the mother on personal and biological matters at different stages while growing up.
The bonding between mother and daughter will increase with their being together and going out on excursions. An excursion is a journey to some far-off place undertaken by people. It is not necessary that such a trip be taken on a lavish scale involving lots of money. It can be as short as an overnight trip to some place to improve bonding.
To surprise her daughter with an unexpected excursion, mother can plan a trip to some local spa without the knowledge of her daughter. She can be ready with baggage packed and wait for the moment the daughter comes back from school. Once in the hotel they can enjoy the night together getting refreshing treatments like massage or mud packs. After relaxing spa they can laze in bed, enjoying favourite food or drink and if possible enjoying nature through the window. After a long period of relaxation, going out for a walk together will improve bonding.
Going out overnight to enjoy walk at the beach, and relaxing at intervals without the interference of any other person can be a great idea of bonding. Being of the same sex, and often having the same set of likes and dislikes, they can spend time on makeup or applying nail polish. The daughter should never forget to thank the mother for the wonderful time they spent together, and the mother should never hesitate to say a few words of praise to the daughter.
Going out for shopping together is a good bonding idea too. It is not essential that lots of money should be spent on shopping. The mother can take the daughter to some shops where she can buy her uniform or some other things. They can jointly enjoy window shopping, expressing love and gratitude for the other. | high19280.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Panos doesn't like the idea that boys and girls are in separate classes."
},
"options": [
"Panos thinks that the idea is very good for they can talk freely.",
"Panos doesn't accept the fact that girls in her class have to finish ma... | HARTLAND, Wis. (AP) -- Lauren Panos was surprised when she walked into her ninth-grade English class in the fall and saw there were no boys.
Her parents had not told her they had enrolled her in a new all-girls class at Arrowhead High School in Hartland. Panos still isn't sold on the idea.
"All the girls there, they can talk out of turn," the 14-year-old said. "We are bored of tasks and it's really upsetting."
More public school systems are looking at separating boys and girls, whether for certain classes or by total schools, after the federal government opened the door last fall. Supporters say separating students by sex helps them learn better and allows boys and girls to explore subjects they may not otherwise take.
"Boys just make a bigger trouble in the class," Panos' classmate, Alyson Douglas, 15, said "I likes not worrying about boys causing _ ."
Presently, nationwide, at least 253 public schools offer single-sex classes and 51 schools are entirely single sex, according to the National Association for Single Sex Public Education. In1995, just three public schools offered single-sex classes.
Critics of same-sex classrooms argue that proven methods of improving education should be carried out instead of one that divides boys and girls.
"Too many schools feel they can carry out a social experiment with students' education with really the weakest of theories," said Emily Martin, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Women's Rights Project.
Single-sex schools are an "illusionary silver bullet," said Lisa Maatz, director of public policy and government relations for the American Association of University Women. They distract from real problems and do not offer proven solutions such as lower class sizes and enough funding, she said.
"I would suggest that for many of our kids and families, especially in Milwaukee, it's a question of choice," Spence said. "We have a series of choices in Milwaukee and I just think this should be one additional choice." | high22216.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "do something that we don't like to"
},
"options": [
"go to the concert",
"do something that we don't like to",
"go to the music show",
"do something pleasant"
],
"question": "\"To face the music\" means \"to _ ... | In America when you hear, "Well, I guess I'll have to face the music", it doesn't mean that he is planning to go to hear a singer or attend a concert. It is something far less unhappy than you are called in by your leader to explain why you did this and that or why you did not do this or that.
At times, almost all of us have to "face the music", especially as children. We can all remember father's angry words "I want to talk to you". And only because we did not listen to him. What a bad thing it was!
In the middle or at the end of every term, we students have to "face the music". The result of the exam will decide whether we will face the music or not. If ......, that'll mean parents' cold faces and contempt of the teachers and classmates.
Every American, young or old, is familiar with the expression. It is at least 100 years old. It really means that you have to do something, no matter how terrible the whole thing might be, because you know you have no choice.
,: | high17285.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Take some part-time jobs at night."
},
"options": [
"Go out at night.",
"Do some secret things at night.",
"Go out for a walk at night.",
"Take some part-time jobs at night."
],
"question": "What is the closest ... | Fred Michel is one of 7.2 million Americans who moonlight.
Once a week, after his day job as medical director of a mental health center, the 40-year-old psychiatrist heads to a part-time job at a treatment center for young people. Twice a month, he travels three hours to another teenage treatment center.
Last year, 5.4 percent of the American workforce held second jobs, according to the US Labor Department, and that looks set to increase this year.
Many workers like the safety that moonlighting provides, says Carl Hausamn, the writer of "Moonlighting: 148 Great Ways to Make Money to the Side".
The information from the US Labor Department shows that 40 percent of US moonlighters in 1997 took a second job to meet household expenses or pay off debts. Others save money or buy some special things.
People also take second jobs with an eye to the future--wanting to try out a new field or gain experience.
Michel started moonlighting when medical systems were unstable . He wanted to make sure he wasn't tied to one system that ended up failing.
Just as the purposes for moonlighting are different, the moonlighters cross all age and racial groups. And they work in a variety of industries---no longer just service,office and sales jobs.
As its name means, moonlighting still occurs mostly at night. And that results in some pressures. Chief among them is time.
Full-time employers could misunderstand, too. Some companies do not allow after-hour work because they fear it will affect their employees' 9-to-5 performance.
"The primary employer is saying, 'Wait, I'm paying you for the sharp, fresh, energetic you,'" says Tom Gimbel, president and founder of LaSalle Staffing in Chicago. "If you're burning yourself at both ends, it's going to show."
Still, the good done to the moonlighters can be great. Besides extra income, moonlighters enjoy variety , freedom and chance to do something new. They also may find their part-time jobs strengthen what they do full time.
Besides, "it's fun," Michel says. Not only do his part-time jobs offer a chance to network, stretch his professional skills and make more money, but they also give him the variety he wouldn't find just in a full-time job.
" _ ," he says, "and offering a little variety throughout the day." | high20429.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "have never been so materialistic"
},
"options": [
"have never been so materialistic",
"have never been so interested in the arts",
"have never been so financially well off",
"have never attached so much importance to mo... | According to a survey, which was based on the responses of over 188,000 students, today's traditional age college freshmen are "more materialistic and less altruistic " than at any time in the 17 years of the poll.
Not surprising in these hard times, the student's major objective "is to be financially well off. Less important than ever is developing a meaningful philosophy of life." It follows then that today the most popular course is not literature or history but accounting.
Interest in teaching, social service and the "altruistic" fields is at a low. On the other hand, enrollment in business programs, engineering and computer science is way up.
While it's true that we all need a career, it is equally true that our civilization has accumulated an incredible amount of knowledge in scientific or artistic fields. It is equally true that, in studying the diverse wisdom of others, we learn how to think. More important, perhaps, education teaches us to see the connections between things, as well as to see beyond our immediate needs. The most important argument for a broad education is that in studying the accumulated wisdom of the ages, we improve our moral sense. I saw a cartoon recently which shows a group of businessmen looking puzzled as they sit around a conference table; one of them is talking on the intercom :"Miss Baxter," he says, "could you please send in someone who can distinguish right from wrong?"
From the long term point of view, that's what education really ought to be about. | high21737.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "deaf students"
},
"options": [
"blind students",
"deaf students",
"art students",
"dumb students"
],
"question": "The passage is written for _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answe... | We are going to talk again this week about higher education for disabled students who want to study in the United States.As we noted last time,there are no special colleges or universities for blind students.But there are for deaf students.One of them is Gallaudet University in Washington,D.C. Gallaudet is said to be the world's only liberal arts university where everything is designed for deaf or hard-of-hearing students.About 2,000 students attend Gallaudet.The cost for international students is about 33,000 dollars a year.
Financial aid is available in the form of scholarships,but only after the first year of studies. Most scholarship aid goes to students in financial need who do well in their first year.One scholarship for international students is for deaf students from developing countries.Another is just for students from China.The university also offers an English Language Institute.But Gallaudet says this program does not guarantee acceptance to the university.
In the past year,students at Gallaudet protested against the administration's choice of a new president for the university.The protests led to the choice of a different president who is more popular with the students,Robert Davila.He is a former officer of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.This technical college is in Rochester, New York. It is one of the eight colleges in the Rochester Institute of Technology.
More than one thousand students attend the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. About one hundred of them are international students.They come from Africa, Asia,Europe and South America.
The cost is about 28,000 dollars a year for an international Technical Institute student.Foreign graduate students pay about 20,000 dollars. Both undergraduate and graduate student can receive limited financial aid. They can also take part in the student employment program.This program makes it possible for students to work at the school. | high15492.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "He was upset."
},
"options": [
"He was upset.",
"He was happy.",
"He was thankful.",
"He was moved."
],
"question": "What was the author's first reaction when he knew it snowed heavily?",
"question_type": nu... | An early morning winter storm had brought several inches of snow on my small town in the mountains. Schools were canceled, roads were dangerous and all I wanted to do was to stay in bed. Still, I knew I had to get the day started so I put on warm clothes and walked outside. The snow got all over my shoes. The cold wind dried my lips and my eyes. _
Yet, when I looked out on the white blanket that covered the ground, I couldn't help but smile a bit. It was so beautiful. It softened the bare trees and hid the dead grass. In the distance I could hear the sound of the snowplow on the road, the barking of a happy dog and the laughter of children playing outside, enjoying their way off from school.
The sweet music of that laughter brought back a hundred memories of winters past. I remembered catching snowflakes on my tongue, building snowmen, making snow angles, running down hills and always losing snowball fights with first my brothers and then my own children. Standing there in that warm coat of memories made the wind a little less cold and my back a little less sore . I turned up my head, stuck out my tongue and for the first time in years caught a snowflake on it. It tasted so fresh and clean. It tasted like youth, like joy and like love.
May you always feel young in spirit, no matter how old or achy your body may be. May you always delight in the simple joys of life. May you always share your happiness with the hearts of children. And may you always give your love, your light, your laughter and your warmth to others even on the coldest days. | high14954.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Because she didn't like the greedy owner."
},
"options": [
"Because she didn't like the greedy owner.",
"Because she waned to save the gold for the poor.",
"Because the basement was too cold to stay in.",
"Because she b... | Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem. "
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning, the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their only income, lay dead in the field.
The younger angel was very angry and asked the older angel, "How could this happen? Why did you not watch out for the cow? The first man had everything, yet you watched over his house," she accused. "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you did not help. "
"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so greedy and unwilling to share his good fortune, I asked God if I could seal the wall so he couldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer's bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I ask God if the angel could take the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem. " | high23646.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "After she entered \"Mission 523\"."
},
"options": [
"When she was 84 years old",
"After she entered \"Mission 523\".",
"In 1967",
"When malaria become serious among ordinary Chinese people."
],
"question": "When... | Tu Youyou, 84, honored with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Oct 5, 2015. She was the first Chinese citizen to win a Nobel Prize in science for her work in helping to create an anti-malaria medicine.
In 1967, Communist leader Mao Zedong decided there was an urgent national need to find a cure for malaria. At the time, malaria spread by mosquitoes was killing Chinese soldiers fighting Americans in the jungles of northern Vietnam. A secret research unit was formed to find a cure for the illness. Two years later, Tu Youyou was instructed to become the new head of Mission 523. Researchers in Mission523 _ ancient books to find historical methods of fighting malaria. When she started her search for an anti-malarial drug, over 240,000 compounds around the world had already been tested, without any success.
Finally, the team found a brief reference to one substance, sweet wormwood , which had been used to treat malaria in China around 400 AD. The team isolated one active compound in wormwood, artemisinin , which appeared to battle malaria-friendly parasites . The team then tested extracts of the compound but nothing was effective until Tu Youyou returned to the original ancient text. After another careful reading, she improved the drug recipe one final time, heating the extract without allowing it to reach boiling point.
After the drug showed promising results in mice and monkeys, Tu volunteered to be the first human recipient of the new drug. "As the head of the research group, I had the responsibility." she explained. | high13785.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Memory of an Earthquake in Golcuk"
},
"options": [
"Memory of an Earthquake in Golcuk",
"My Uncle's Yearly Vacation in Golck",
"An Unforgettable Experience",
"Our Unsuccessful Attempts"
],
"question": "What is t... | In the summer of 1999, a small town called Golcuk was shaken by a big earthquake in north-western Turkey. It destroyed the whole town and other nearby places. Soon enough, help from other countries flew there for one purpose, "saving lives". Nowadays wherever an earthquake strikes, other countries are ready to send help. That is really something that, as human beings, we should be proud of.
When the earthquake struck, I was living in my hometown of Ankara, capital of the Turkey. Despite the 220-mile distance between the two locations, we still were able to feel the shakes.
I had a chance to visit Golcuk a couple times when I was a kid. My uncle who lives in Germany has a summer house there, and every summer they stay in Golcuk for their yearly vacation. After the quake struck, we couldn't contact them, so we didn't know if they were in Golcuk or in Germany during the quake. Our unsuccessful attempts worried us, and the only thing we wanted to hear was that they were OK. Without wasting any more time, my brother, my sister's husband, and I decided to drive there to check on them by ourselves.
When we were driving, the damage of the earthquake started to show itself right away. Big, wide, tall trees were laid down on the side of the road. Getting closer to Golcuk, we found the impact of the earthquake was getting worse. Inside the town was total destruction.
It wasn't easy to figure out the streets among the ruins. Finally, we were able to find my uncle's apartment and thank God, it was still standing, but nobody was there. Later on we found that they hadn't yet visited Golcuk that year. What luck!
Earthquakes are natural disasters and there is no way to avoid them, especially as earthquakes never give a warning in advance. They just strike mercilessly in the middle of the night when people are asleep in their beds. We cannot stop disasters but we can prepare ourselves for their consequences. | high24129.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "hewantedhisfriendtorepeatthemistake."
},
"options": [
"hewantedhisfriendtorepeatthemistake.",
"hedidn'tknowhisfriendhatedit.",
"hethoughthisfriendknewwhatitwas.",
"hethoughthisfriendwasinterestedinit."
],
"quest... | Robert and Peter study in the same university. They do everything together and help each other. But they often play jokes on each other. The school year was over last month and they decided to travel through the country in America. They drove a car and could stop wherever they were interested in and started whenever they wanted. Of course they enjoyed themselves. It was very hot one day and they were both hungry and thirsty. They stopped in front of a restaurant by the road. They came in, sat down at a table and ordered some dishes. Robert looked around and found there was a small bowl on the table. He thought there was some ice cream in it and took a spoonful of it and put it into his mouth. Immediately he knew it was mustard ,but it was too late. Tears ran down his face, but he pretended nothing had happened. The other young man, seeing his friend crying, asked, "What are you crying about, Robert?" "I'm thinking of my father who was hanged twenty years ago," was his reply.
After a while, Peter made the same mistake. Tears ran down his cheeks, too. And his friend asked him why.
"I wonder why your father hadn't been hanged before he got married!" | high9846.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "cheap rockets for space travel"
},
"options": [
"cheap rockets for space travel",
"a plane",
"a spaceship",
"a satellite"
],
"question": "We will have developed _ in a hundred years'time,permitting long jour... | We often think of future. We often wonder what the world would be like in a hundred years'time.
Think of space,perhaps a permanent station on the moon will have been set up. Perhaps people will be able to visit the moon as tourists. Cheap rockets for space travel will have been developed,permitting long journeys throughout the solar system . When that time comes,people will be taking holidays in space and visiting other planets. Great progress will have been made in medicine,too. Perhaps a cure will have been discovered for the most terrible of all diseases--cancer. Pollution is a problem we must solve. In a hundred years'time it will have been controlled.
All the world will have been developed -- even Antarctica. There will be large cities in Antarctica. We already have supersonic flight,but in a hundred years'time we will have supersonic land travel as well.
We will have used up most of earth's land to build our cities, so floating cities will have been built. The Japanese already have plans for cities of this kind. And there will be cities under the sea. The first of these will have been completed. | high8580.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "a thank-you letter to a newspaper"
},
"options": [
"a report about a warm-hearted girl",
"an advertisement for an animal shelter",
"a thank-you letter to a newspaper",
"a donation program for homeless pets"
],
"... | Around six weeks ago, Kaileen came running into the house, just getting off the bus from school. She was all excited about a story about homeless pets because of Hurricane Katrina and all that was going on to help them. She said that this information came from her animal newspaper (your KIND News). Kaileen has a great love and compassion for animals, so her excitement did not surprise me. Her next ideas, however, did. She said that we should go around right then to our neighbors and collect all their change to send to the animal shelters .
I thought this was a school project, but in fact, it was not. This was what Kaileen wanted to do on her own! Well, it warmed me all over. To see your child so willing to help others just lets you feel that maybe you had done something right in raising her.
Anyway, I told her to make a card and send it out to our neighbors first. With the help of her older brother, Kaileen soon made a lovely card that asked our neighbors to help these pets by giving their spare change. She gave them a few days and a date she would come by to pick up any donations .
Well, I had to go out and buy a donation box. Kaileen collected $279.50!!! I just thought you would like to know how KIND News had touched a little one's heart and given her the idea to show her compassion for animals. Thank you -- we really enjoy your paper. | high22558.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Sessions won the election campaign by a very close outcome."
},
"options": [
"Sessions launched his election campaign on Sept. 22.",
"Sessions worked so hard that he once tried to persuade people in a hospital.",
"Sessions wo... | The new mayor of Hillsdale, Michigan, is a man of the people, ready to listen to their problems, but only until 6 p.m. Then he has to do his homework. Michael Sessions, 18, beat former mayor Douglas Ingles, 51, by just two votes and became the new mayor of Hillsdale. He is America's youngest mayor.
As Sessions was too young to enter the election in the spring of 2005, he registered- to vote on Sept. 22, one day after his 18-year-old birthday. The day after that he started his write-in campaign, which means he should persuade voters to remember his name and write it by hand on the voting ballots .
To help get his name known, Sessions earned$700 by selling apples over the summer. He spent the money on posters and put them on the Hillsdale's lawns.
Sessions' month-long campaign included going door to door, explaining his ideas of the town's future in the kitchens of his neighbors. "They'd look at me, and say'How old are you again? How much experience do you have?'And I say'I'm still in high school', "he said. Sessions promised Hillsdale's voters he would renew local economy. "I was hopeful the whole time, "he explained. One day he spent so long out on the streets knocking on the doors that he ended up in a hospital emergency room.
Sessions said that his schoolwork will not get in the way of his job as a mayor. "From 7:50 a.m. to 2:30p.m., I'11 be a student. From 3 to 6, I'11 be the mayor of Hillsdale," he said.
"He did a very brave thing that couldn't have been easy for him to do, "said Jack Vettel, a councilman in Hillsdale, a city of 8,200 about 75 miles southwest of Detroit. "He does care about this town. He's been here all his life. "
Sessions will receive$3, 600 a year during his four-year term, and will work out of his bedroom since the town does not provide the mayor with an office. | high2913.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Full Moon Beach Party and Swan Lake Ballet"
},
"options": [
"2010 Jazz Festival Shanghai and In the Mood for Love Ballet",
"In the Mood for Love Ballet and Full Moon Beach Party",
"Swan Lake Ballet and In the Mood for Love B... | Swan Lake Ballet
When: Aug. 27, 2010 19:15
Where: Shanghai Grand Theatre
Ticket: 80/180/280/380 RMB pre-sale (before Aug. 28)
Description: Swan Lakeis ballet at its best. There are only two Swan Lake performances this month so get your tickets fast!Swan Laketells the tale of princess who's turned into a swan, and a prince who falls in love with her and struggles to save her from the spell in order to be with her.
In the Mood for Love Ballet
When: Aug. 31, 2010 19:15
Where: Shanghai Grand Theatre
Ticket:80/180/280/380 RMB
Description: A truly Chinese ballet, In the Mood for Loveis set in 1930's Shanghai and tells a story of two neighbors who fall in love . There will be some drama between these two characters which will be expressed and transferred to the audience through dance. The costumes are impressive and beautifully represent women's fashion back in the day.
2010 Jazz Festival Shanghai
When: Aug. 29, 2010 12:00--23:00
Where: Pudong Century Park
Tickets: 150RMB 1 day ticket / 200 RMB 2 day ticket
Description: Shanghai turns into a city of jazz this October. Music fans will be able to enjoy a selection of jazz, blues, funk and reggae on the grass of Century Park and the festival includes 129 bands from 32 different countries and performances by three popular rock stars.
Full Moon Beach Party
When: Aug. 28, 2010 21:30
Where: Sanjiagang Beach Resort
Ticket: 180RMB /150 RMB pre-sale (before Aug. 22)
Description: Full Moon Beach Party is coming straight to the shores of Shanghai. | high21051.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "They behave as if their memories had totally failed."
},
"options": [
"They cannot count numbers.",
"They sometimes jump the queue.",
"They don't know how to express themselves.",
"They behave as if their memories had t... | Since I started working part-time at a grocery store, I have learned that a customer is more than someone who buys things. To me, a customer is a person whose memory fails entirely once he or she starts to push a shopping cart. One of the first things customers forget is how to count. There is no other way to explain how so many people get in their express line, which is clearly marked 15 items or less, with 20, 25 or even a cart load of items.
Customers also forget why they came to the store in the first place. Just as I finish ringing up an order, a customer will say, "Oops, I forgot to pick up a fresh loaf of bread. I hope you don't mind waiting, while I go to get it."Five minutes later, he's back with the bread, a bottle of milk, and three rolls of paper towels. What is strange is that customers also seem to forget that they have to pay for their groceries. Instead of writing a check or looking for a credit card while I am ringing up the groceries, a customer will wait until I announce the total. Then, in surprise, she says, " Oh no, what did I do with my check book?" After 5 minutes of digging through her purse, she borrows my pen because she has forgotten hers. But I have to tolerate customers because they pay my salary, and that's something I can't afford to forget. | high11192.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "give parents advice on how to communicate with their kids"
},
"options": [
"compare two ways of parents` communicating with their kids",
"give parents advice on how to communicate with their kids",
"explain why kids won`t lis... | Many parents have learned the hard way that what sounds like open communication is often the very thing that closes a youngster`s ears and mouth. One common mistake is the The Lecture, the long _ that often starts with "When I was your age...." Eighteen-year-old Kelly calls lectures "long, one-side discussions in which I don`t say much."
Kids reflexively shut down in the face of a lecture. Their eyes glaze over, and they don`t register any incoming information. Listen to 13-year-old Sarah describe her least favorite times with her mom and dad. "First, they scream. Then comes the 'We`re so disappointed' speech. Then the 'I never did that to my parents' lecture begins. After that, even if they realize how ridiculous they sound, they never take it back."
Lines like "When you have children of your own, you`ll understand" have been seriously said by parents since time immemorial. But many of our expert parents, like Bobby, a registered nurse and mother of three, feel that by falling back on cliches to justify our actions, we weaken our position.
Since kids are creatures of the here and now, the far-off future has no relevance to them. Therefore, good communicators like Bobby suggest, "Give specific reasons for your actions in present language: 'I`m not letting you go to the party because I don`t think there will be enough adult supervisions .'"
Betty, who lives in Missiouri, uses an indirect approach. "I find that warnings are accepted more readily if I discuss a news article on a subject I am concerned about. My husband and I talk about it while our children absorb the information. Then they never think I`m preaching."
This really helped when Betty`s kids began driving. Instead of constantly repeating "Don`t drink; don`t speed," she would talk about articles in the paper and express sympathy for the victims of a car crash. Betty made no special effort to draw her kids into the conversation. She depended on a teen-ager`s strong desire to put in his opinions---especially if he thinks he isn`t being asked for them. | high21045.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "to practise speaking, writing and feeling it"
},
"options": [
"to practise speaking, writing and feeling it",
"to forget your own native language",
"to translate everything into his own language",
"to memorize the Engli... | "How can I learn English well?" This is a question many students ask. In my opinion, the most effective way is to learn lessons by heart. If you can recite the text and write it out, you've learned it fairly well. And if you can tell, in your own words, what the lesson says you're a very successful learner indeed. Your English will be quite perfect.This is a difficult task. However, if you try to learn by heart only part of each lesson, you'll find it not half so hard as you might have thought. Learning this way, you will make rapid progress. Of course, writing is also necessary. It helps you a lot on our way to success in English. Equally important is to feel the language. You should be able to laugh at jokes and be shocked at bad news. When using English, try to forget your mother tongue. Instead of helping you, your own language gets in your way. So, never try to see English through translation. | high2907.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Higher body density reduces swimming ability."
},
"options": [
"Higher body density reduces swimming ability.",
"A person's body density decides one's swimming ability.",
"Fat people can always swim faster than thin people.",... | The best swimmers tend to be tall and thin with long arms, long legs, long feet, and long hands. The size of their hands gives them great "water grasp", and only a very small hand movement keeps them afloat.
They also have great strength, endurance, insulation against heat loss while in water below body temperature, thus better energy conservation, low resistance when in the water, and swimming stroke mechanics .
Part of the reason why some people are better swimmers than others has to do with body density. The average person's body density is slightly less than that of water. Muscle has greater density than fat. Therefore, very muscular people tend to be poor at staying afloat. Bone has greater density than fat. Therefore, very skinny people tend to be poor at staying afloat.
Good buoyancy is not necessarily the most important factor in good swimming, but it certainly helps. For example, great competitive swimmers--tall, thin, and usually more muscular than average--tend to have greater body density than average and less buoyancy. Many would not float very well if they remained motionless in the water. Their much greater "water grasp" makes up for it. www.ks5u.com
The average woman contains a higher proportion of fat in her body than the average man, and the average man contains a higher proportion of muscle in his body than the average woman. Therefore, in general, women are better floaters than men. Compared with other competitive sports, the performance of women is closer to that of men in competitive swimming. | high16831.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "tell an interesting incident"
},
"options": [
"tell an interesting incident",
"warn people that some drinks might be dangerous to health",
"suggest using Coca-Cola to kill pests.",
"announce a new discovery of Coca-Cola... | Cotton farmers in some Indian villages are busily buying Coca-Cola and Pepsi, believing that the sugar in the fizzy( ) drinks kills pests.
Farmers say scientists advised them to mix pesticides with a sugary juice to control pests, and they found the mixture cheaper and more effective than pure chemicals-- although soft drink makers and scientists dismissed the remarks. N. Hamunayya, who has become a famous person in his village in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, said his crop survived an attack of pests which had resisted other pesticides. "We found that all the colas had uniform effect on pests. The pests became dead and fell to the ground, "he said. He said the drinks had all the elements they needed : they were cheaper, sticky, fizzy, and attracted ants, which ate the young of the pests. But Thinupathi Reddy, assistant director of the Regional Agri-Research Station, Guntur, says tests had proved such results wrong. "We conducted some field trials on cotton crop at our research station. There was no obvious productivity or destruction of pests, "he says.
Statements from Pepsi and Coca-Cola said there was " no scientific basis" for _ . But their dealers are enjoying increasing sales. Mantan Wall, who sells soft drinks in 17 villages in the region, said sales rose up, thanks to the farmers. " For the 10 days between August and September I had successful business. Instead of just 30 cases( each containing a dozen one-litre bottles) of cola, I started selling almost 200 cases, "he said. " We expected the sales to drop after the news over pesticide residues( ) in the cola drinks. Now I have to keep extra supply for the cotton farmers, "he said.
In February, an Indian environment group made a report saying drinks made by Coca-Cola and Pepsi contained pesticides and called for tougher safety standards. The U. S firms strongly rejected the findings of the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment and said their products were safe. | high10298.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "old friends can be found on the Web"
},
"options": [
"old friends can be found on the Web",
"sites devoted to helping students are difficult to find",
"an online dictionary is expensive for students to use",
"products o... | Almost every person uses the Web for something nowadays. This is a good idea since it is useful for so many different things. When you consider its speed and convenience, you will understand that there isn't any reason to use any other means to complete everyday jobs.
Just consider the convenience factor when you need quick simple information. Looking for a movie can take just minutes by jumping online as opposed to going and getting a newspaper and then hoping it has the theater that interests you. It is also a great way to find a restaurant for the evening. From the online yellow pages to the various websites of different eateries , there are many different choices of spots to gather information. Find old friends from school by joining in one of the endless groups that have been created to put people together.
Information is just so easy to get when you are using the Web. Find out how to build a pond yourself in your own backyard or garden by a quick search. Then shop for materials and fish as well. Shopping on the Internet also saves time and we can select a better product without having to travel a long distance. Using the Internet, shoppers can go through the product's prices from various stores while sitting in one place.
Studying for school of any kind is easier when you can use the Web to find information. Now you can search an online dictionary that anyone can use at no cost. Doing research is easy, since there are lots of sites devoted to helping students of any type get their work completed.
Businesses also have a huge existence on the Web. A company might only have a simple website to give directions and its location. There are many of us who now depend on the Web. If a business does not have some type of website, then it will not be found by those who search the Web for local businesses. | high23652.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Her tray slipped and made a man's shirt dirty."
},
"options": [
"She fell down to the ground.",
"She celebrated passing the exams.",
"Her purse strap got broken suddenly.",
"Her tray slipped and made a man's shirt dirty... | To celebrate the end of our exams, my friends and I went to a fast food restaurant. We ordered hamburgers and Coca Cola at the counter. When our food came, I started walking towards an empty table. By bad luck, my purse strap got caught on a chair and the tray that I was holding slipped from my hands and went flying in the air. The tray, and its contents, fell on a man who was just about to take a bite of his sandwich. I stared, greatly shocked , as the drinks soaked his white shirt.
Then I closed my eyes and prepared myself for his burst of anger. Instead, he said "It's OK" to comfort me before he disappeared into the washroom.
Still shaky and unsure what to do next, my friends and I went to a table and sat there, trying our best to look calm. A moment later, the man came out of the washroom and approached our table. My heart almost stopped beating. I thought he was going to ask for my father' s number and call him. To my surprise, he merely smiled at us, handed us some cash and said, "Buy yourself new hamburgers." He then walked away without even finishing his food.
He could have made what was already an uncomfortable situation worse, but he chose a different way and gave us a reason to believe that there is still kindness in this world. I'll never forget his actions. | high13791.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "It is different for men's clothing and women's."
},
"options": [
"It has been followed by the industry for over 400 years.",
"It is different for men's clothing and women's.",
"It works better with men than with women.",
... | It is hardly surprising that clothing manufacturers follow certain uniform standards for various features of clothes. What seems strange, however, is that the standard adopted for women is the opposite of the one for men. Take a look at the way your clothes button. Men's clothes tend to button from the right, and women's from the left. Considering most of the world's population--men and women--are right-handed, the men's standard would appear to make more sense for women. So why do women's clothes button from the left?
History really seems to matter here. Buttons first appeared only on the clothes of the rich in the 17thcentury, when rich women were dressed by servants. For the mostly right-handed servants, having women's shirts button from the left would be easier. On the other hand, having men's shirt button from the right made sense, too. Most men dressed themselves, and a sword drawn from the left with the right hand would be less likely to get caught in the shirt.
Today women are seldom dressed by servants, but buttoning from the left is still the standard for them. Is it interesting? Actually, a standard, once set, resists change. At a time when all women's shirts buttoned from the left, it would have been risky for any single manufacturer to offer women's shirts that buttoned from the right. After all, women had grown so used to shirts which buttoned from the left and would have to develop new habits and skills to switch. Besides, some women might have found it socially awkward to appear in public wearing shirts that buttoned from the right, since any one who noticed that would believe they were wearing men's shirts. | high742.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Preventing the wind from blowing into your room."
},
"options": [
"Don't exercise six hours before sleeping.",
"Preventing the wind from blowing into your room.",
"Staying in bed after failing to sleep.",
"Don't drink a... | Sleep is a basic human need, as basic as the need for oxygen. Getting a good night's sleep is not only directly related to how we feel the next day, but to our long-term health as well. However, many of us suffer from insomnia . Even more odf us report at least one night of restless sleep per week. This is a serious problem.
Well, how can we make sure that we rest well and stay healthy? Here are some suggestions.
If you can't sleep in the middle of the night, don't get up. The bright light will affect your body clock and worsen your insomnia. Stay in bed!
Avoid short sleep during the day, except for a brief ten to fifteen-minute sleep between 2:00 and 4:00 P.M.
Limit your time in bed to the average number of hours you 've actually slept per night last week. Don't try to make up for lost sleep. It can't be done.
Get regular exercise each day, but finish at least six hours before bedtime. Exercising in the evening can help keep you awake.
Take a hot bath for thirty minutes within two hours of bedtime. The bath will warm you, relax you, and make you feel sleepy.
Keep our bedroom dark, quiet, and well ventilated .
Keep a regular schedule seven days a week. Avoid sleeping late on weekends. Although it may feel good while you're doing it, sleeping late on weekend can lead to insomnia during the week.
Don't drink alcohol . Although, having a drink before bed makes you sleep, alcohol loses its effects after a while. The secondary effects of alcohol can wake you up during the second half of your night's sleep.
Keep the face of the clock in your bedroom turned away, and don't find out what time it is when you awaken in the night. | high9852.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the ditch was along a remote country road"
},
"options": [
"the police helped Mr. Johnson get out of the ditch",
"the accident happened on a clear warm day",
"the ditch was along a remote country road",
"Mr. Johnson had... | Mr. Peter Johnson, aged twenty-three, battled for half an hour to escape from his trapped car yesterday when it landed upside down in three feet of water. Mr. Johnson took the only escape route -- through the boot .
Mr. Johnson's car had finished up in a ditch at Romney Marsin, Kent after skidding on ice and hitting a bank."Fortunately, the water began to come in only slowly", he said. "I couldn't force the doors because they were jammed against the walls of the ditch and dared not open the windows because I knew water would come flooding in."
Mr. Johnson, a sweet salesman of Sitting Home, Kent, first tried to attract the attention of other drivers by sounding the horn and hammering on the roof and boot. Then he began his struggle to escape.
Later he said, "It was really a half penny that saved my life. It was the only coin I had in my pocket and I used it to open the back seat to get into the boot. I hammered desperately trying to make someone hear, but no help came."
It took ten minutes to open the seat, and a further five minutes to clear the sweet samples from the boot. Then Mr. Johnson found a tool and began to work on the boot lock. Fifteen minutes passed by."It was the only chance I had. _ , but as soon as I moved the boot lid, the water and mud poured in. I forced the lid down into the mud and climbed out of my car as it filled up."
His hands and arm cut and bruised, Mr.Johnson got to Beckett Farm nearby, where he was looked after by the farmer's wife, Mrs.Lucy Bates. Covered with a blanket, he said,"That thirty minutes seemed like hours.""Only the tips of the car wheels were visible,"police said last night. The vehicle had sunk into two feet of mud at the bottom of the ditch." | high13949.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Young people"
},
"options": [
"Parents",
"Both parents and their children",
"Young people",
"Teachers"
],
"question": "Whom is this text written for ?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"ans... | It is natural that young people are often uncomfortable when they are with their parents . They say their parents don't understand them .They often think that their parents are out of touch with modern ways , that they are too serious -- too strict with their children and that they seldom give their children a free hand . It is true that parents often find it difficult to win their children's trust and they often forget how they themselves felt when they were young .
For example , young people like to act _ without much thinking . It is one of their ways to show they have grown up and that they can face any difficult situation . However , older people worry more easily . Most of old people plan things ahead , at least in the back of their minds , and do not like their plans to be upset by something unexpected .
When you want your parents to let you do something , you will have better success if you ask before you really start doing it .
Young people often make their parents angry with their choices in clothes and in music . But they do not want to cause any trouble ; it is just that they feel cut off from the older people's world , into which they have not yet been accepted . That's why young people want to make a new culture of their own . And if their parents do not like their music or hairstyle or clothes or their ways of speech , this will make the young people very happy .
Sometimes you are so proud of yourself that you do not want your parents to say "yes" to what you do . All you want is to be left alone and do what you like . It is natural enough , after being a child for so many years , when you were completely under your parents' control .
If you plan to control your life , you'd better win your parents over and try to get them to understand
you. If your parents see that you have a high sense of responsibility , they will certainly give you the right to do what you want to do . | high8594.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "TV: Its Working Rules and Functions."
},
"options": [
"A Powerful Tool of Entertainment.",
"The Means of Transmission of TV.",
"TV: Its Working Rules and Functions.",
"A Brief Introduction to the Development of TV."
... | Televisiozn ---- that most widespread and persuasive of modern technologies, marked by rapid change and growth ---- is moving into a new era, an era of extraordinary advancement and diversity, which promises to reshape our lives and our world. It is an electronic revolution, made possible by the marriage of television and computer technologies.
The word 'television', coming from its Greek ( tele: distant) and Latin ( vision: sight) roots, can literally be interpreted as sight from a distance.
, it works in this way: through an advanced system of electronics, television provides the capability of changing an image ( focused on a special photoconductive plate within a camera ) into electronic impulses, which can be sent through a wire or cable. These impulses, when fed into a receiver (television set), can then be electronically reorganized into that same image.
Television is more than just an electronics system, however. It is a means of expression, as well as a tool for communication, and as such becomes a powerful tool for reaching other human beings. The field of television can be divided into two categories determined by its means of transmission(,). First, there is broadcast television, which reaches the masses through airwave transmission of television signals. Second, there is nonbroadcast television, which provides for the needs of individuals or specific interest groups through controlled transmission techniques.
Traditionally, television has been a medium of the masses. We are most familiar with broadcast television because it has been with us for about thirty-seven years in a form similar to that exists today. During those years, it has been controlled, for the most part, by the broadcast networks, ABC, NBC, and CBS, who have been the major providers of news, information, and entertainment. These giants of broadcasting have actually shaped not only television but our understanding of it as well. We have come to look upon the picture tube as a source of entertainment, placing our role in this dynamic medium as the passive viewer. | high15486.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "7.5 kg; 45 kg"
},
"options": [
"7.5 kg; 45 kg",
"30 kg; 45 kg",
"45 kg; 7.5 kg",
"5 kg; 30 kg"
],
"question": "Something that weighs 15kg on Earth weighs about _ on Mars and _ on Jupiter.",
"question... | If you look at the night sky, you'll often see stars moving very quickly. In fact, they move much more quickly than they should according to their size and the laws of physics.
Scientists do not completely understand why the speed of these stars is so high. But many believe the reason is that much of the universe is made of something called "dark matter". Groups of stars called galaxies, such as the Milky Way, might even be made up of 90 percent dark matter.
How much something weighs depends on where it is. The same object weighs only half as much on Mars as it does on Earth and almost three times as much on Jupiter. So scientists prefer to talk about the mass of something rather than how much it weighs, because mass does not change. They can work out the mass of galaxies by measuring the distance between them and the speed they move at.
Recently, Jorge Penarrubia, a senior academic at Edinburgh University, UK, and his team discovered something interesting: The mass of the Milky Way is only half as much as the mass of another nearby galaxy, Andromeda. This seems strange, and dark matter may explain why.
Finding out more about dark matter could help us understand how the universe began, but this is not easy. Lots of scientists with different types of expert knowledge are working on the problem.
We can't see dark matter, it's very difficult to measure and we can't find out its mass. Unlike stars, dark matter doesn't produce or reflect light. But we can make a good guess that it is there because of the way things move and the way light bends. Experts now think dark matter may be very different from the matter that we find on Earth. There may also be five times as much dark matter in the universe as ordinary matter. | high14940.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "fly more quickly and easily"
},
"options": [
"protect themselves from danger",
"fly more quickly and easily",
"help the sick and wounded",
"fly much higher in the sky"
],
"question": "Wild geese fly in a V forma... | Next autumn when you see wild geese heading south for the winter flying in a V formation you might think about what scientists have discovered as to why they fly that way.
As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a V formation the whole group adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flies on its own.
People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the push of one another.
When a wild goose falls out of the formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go alone and quickly tries to get back into the formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front. When the head goose gets tired, it flies back into the formation and another goose flies to the front. It is wise to take turns doing difficult jobs whether it be people or wild geese flying south.
Wild geese honk from behind to inspire those up front to keep up their speed. What can we learn from this?
When a wild goose gets sick or wounded by gunshots, and falls out of the formation, two other geese will fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection. They will stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly or until it dies, and only then will they go on with their own or with another formation to catch up with their group. | high14798.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "It is a kind of polar bear."
},
"options": [
"It is a kind of polar bear.",
"It is a white variant of the North American black bear.",
"It is a walking contradiction.",
"It's found mainly in the Great Bear Rainforest."
... | With a wildlife guide, I stepped on a journey to find one of the rarest creatures in the world ----the spirit bear, a walking contradiction--a white black bear. Neither albino nor polar bear, the spirit bear is a white variant of the North American black bear, and it's found almost exclusively here in the Great Bear Rainforest. At 25,000 square miles ---- one and a half times as big as Switzerland--the region is a spooky , wild, mysterious place: there are wolves here that fish. Deer that swim. Western red cedar trees that have stood a thousand years. And a black bear that is white.
Scientists know how black bears are born white. They're just not sure why. The phenomenon, known as Kermodism, is caused by a recessive mutation at the MC1R gene, the same gene associated with red hair and fair skin in humans. To be born white, a bear must inherit the mutation from both parents. The parents themselves don't have to be white. They just need to carry the recessive mutation. So it's not uncommon for white bears to be born to black parents.
White fur happens in only one of every 40 to 100 black bears on the British Columbia mainland coast, but the feature is especially distinct on certain islands in the Great Bear Rainforest. For example, on Princess Royal Island, one in ten black bears is white, and on Gribbell Island, directly north of Princess Royal, it's one in three.
It's unclear how the feature arose. One theory was the "glacial bear" hypothesis that the spirit bear represented a remaining adaptation from the last great ice age, which ended here 11,000 years ago. At that time most of modern-day British Columbia was still icebound, and a white coat may have offered camouflage . But the "glacial bear" theory raised a question: Why didn't the white fur feature die out when the glaciers _ ?
Researchers have recently proved that the spirit bear's white coat gives it an advantage when fishing. Although white and black bears tend to have the same success rate after dark, there is a difference during the daytime. White bears catch salmon in one-third of their attempts. Black individuals are successful only one-quarter of the time. "The salmon are less concerned about a white object as seen from below the surface," a scientist guesses. That may answer part of the question about why the white-fur feature continues to flourish today. If salmon are a coastal bear's primary fat and protein source, a successful female can feast on salmon to store more fat for winter, potentially increasing the number of cubs she can produce. | high23134.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "offer people a new way to learn languages"
},
"options": [
"increase people's interest in cooking",
"teach people how to cook French dishes",
"offer people a new way to learn languages",
"help cooks learn spoken French ... | A kitchen that gives step-by-step cooking instructions in French could inspire a revolution in language learning in the UK. By using a new technology, it speaks to you as you prepare a French dish. The kitchen breaks new ground by taking language learning out of the classroom and linking it with an enjoyable and rewarding real-life activity.
The new kitchen is designed to be used in schools, universities and even people's homes. It could also be an existing kitchen. The first version of the technology was tested in the kitchens of project partner Newcastle University. The kitchen could be available for schools and universities, and for the UK market by the June of 2014.
The Newcastle University team is now working on ways to put it on the market. And the European Union has given money to begin programs in six other languages, including English Italian and Spanish. Finally, versions could be developed for any language cuisine in the world.
Professor Paul says, "By international standards, the UK students are now poor when it comes to learning languages--a problem that certainly has an economic influence. We believe that developing skills in a country's language and its cuisine will help change the trend." [( )]
On a computer fixed into the kitchen, the user first selects the French recipe they want to follow. Digital sensors built into dishes, containers and other equipment then communicate with the computer to make sure the right instructions are given at the right time, the user can ask the computer to repeat an instruction, or translate it into English, simply by pressing the touch screen. After cooking, the user can test what they have learned by carrying out a short test on the computer.
All grammar and vocabulary has been carefully selected to make sure that using the kitchen adds to basic proficiency in understanding French.
Now three easy-carrying versions of the kitchen are being prepared. They're to be fixed in Newcastle University and at Institute Francais, a London-based charity devoted to teaching the French language. [( )] | high17291.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The Development of the Hamburger"
},
"options": [
"The St.Louis Fair",
".Russian Eating ?Habits",
"The Development of the Hamburger",
"The First Hamburger Stand"
],
"question": "What would be the best title for ... | It would be hard to find a person in America who has never eaten a hamburger, but this popular food was not originally made in America. The original hamburger can be traded back to the Middle Ages, when Russians ate raw meat that was scraped and shredded with a dull knife and formed into patties , It was called Tartar steak. This was the first step in a long series of developments that eventually resulted in hamburger as we know it today.
German sailors picked up the raw meat delicacy in their contacts with Russians and brought it back to their home port of Hamburg. But the people there were unused to eating raw meat , so they broiled the outside of the Russian steak; thus the hamburger steak was born.
The hamburger steak was brought ot America in the nineteenth century immigrants. Louis Lasssen, a cook in New Haven, Connecticut, modified the hamburger steak by sandwiching it between two pieces of bread. But the true American hamburger came into existence in St. Louis at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904. A harried cook at the fair quickly slapped broiled beef patties between buns and served them to a demanding crowd, which gulped them down joyously.
At first this new food creation was made from scraps of poorer cuts of meat that were not used for anything else, but before scrapes were not enough. The demand for greater quantities of hamburger could only be met by using more and better cuts . Hamburger stands sprang up all over the country, and a side industry of condiments , such as ketchup and relish, grew | high21723.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "making full use of your time"
},
"options": [
"making full use of your time",
"your hard work",
"your brainpower",
"how well you play the game"
],
"question": "According to the passage, your success in high scho... | High school students are some of the busiest people in the world. To get the most from all you do, you must be in control of your time. Otherwise decision that affect how well you play the game, what position you play and when you get to play will be decided for you. Your success in high school depends on your use of time. Here are some important things to remember.
*Begin each term by filling in a master plan. First fill in things you must do (classes, work, practice, etc. that you can't change.) Then find the most effective use for these times.
*Set a regular time and place for study. This will save your time in the long run. If you have a study hall in your school, use it!
*Use daylight hours to study whenever possible. For most people for every hour of study done in daylight hours, it will take them one and a half hours to do the same task at night.
*Take breaks. Don't plan marathon study time. Have a short rest before you study again.
*By using flash cards or summary sheets, you can use odd times to study while you're waiting for class to start or for a friend to pick you up.
*If possible, plan study time with a partner. Choose your partner wisely however. Make sure you study, not socialize.
*Do the most difficult tasks for times when you are active. (For example, when you're energetic, it will become easier to solve maths questions; when you're tired, it will be impossible!)
*Make a daily checklist. Do the most important tasks first. | high10461.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Acting them out."
},
"options": [
"Reading them aloud.",
"Reciting them.",
"Cooperating with actors.",
"Acting them out."
],
"question": "How will young people learn Shakespeare?",
"question_type": "factiod_... | Eleven-year-olds are to learn Shakespeare using the approaches taken by actors, and English teachers will be encouraged to let pupils walk around the classroom rather than read the plays while pupils are sitting at their desks.
Within the English curriculum you tend to look at a play text as a piece of literature rather than performance. But you can't possibly understand Shakespeare's language if you're just reading it in your head. Shakespeare is difficult; it's not a 21stcentury text. You have to use different ways to understand it.
The new teaching way focuses on how actors come to understand Shakespeare's language. In fact actors have the same nervousness about Shakespeare's language as young people in schools do. But in six to eight weeks they get to a place of complete confidence about the play. Pupils can do as well.
Exercises devised are to let children aged 11 to 14 imitate the methods of professional actors. Written and oral assessments developed alongside the lessons will show how well students have understood the texts.
In one task pupils will work on creating four key physical figures of king, warrior , lover and joker, finding which lines of their chosen character go with those features first and then acting them out. Through this they can examine how a character such as Macbeth can switch dramatically within one scene from soldier to kingly figure to trick planner. It's really creative but you're still getting a really wonderful model of understanding. _
Educators think Shakespeare should be a central part of every young person's education. Developing a love of Shakespeare at a young age often leads to a lifelong passion for literature and helps to improve a child's reading and writing. | high2126.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "in 1907"
},
"options": [
"in 1872",
"in 1907",
"in the 1600's",
"in 1914"
],
"question": ".Mother's Day in the U.S. was first celebrated _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
... | In the U.S. Mother's Day is a holiday celebrated on second Sunday in May. It is a day when children honor their mothers with cards, gifts and flowers. First _ in Philadelphia in 1907,it is based on suggestions by Julia Ward Howe in 1872 and by Anna Jarvis in 1907.
Although it wasn't celebrated in the U.S. until 1907,there were days honoring mothers even in the days of ancient Greece. In those days, however, it was Rhea, the Mother of the gods that was given honor. Later,in the 1600's,in England there was an annual celebration called "Mothering Sunday." It was celebrated during June, on the fourth Sunday ,the servants, who generally lived with their employers, were encouraged to return home and honor their mothers. It was traditional for them to bring a special cake along to celebrate the occasion.
In the U.S., in 1907 Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the 2ed Sunday of May. The next day Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia, Jarvis and others began a letter-writing campaign to ministers, businessmen, and politicians asking to establish a national Mother's Day. They were successful. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914,made the official announcement recognizing Mother's Day as a national celebration that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.
Many other countries of the world celebrate their own Mother's Day at different times throughout the year. Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May, as in the U.S. | high5649.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is about James Joyce's life"
},
"options": [
"Dublin Castle was used for government conferences",
"the sole college of the University of Dublin was established by Queen Elizabeth II... | Dublin City Hall
Inside City Hall is an interesting exhibition about Dublin's history, with historical items from the old city and multimedia presentations. The building, which dates from 1779, once badly damaged, was recently _ . Guided tours are available. Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 a.m.~5:15 p.m., Sunday and holidays 2:00 p.m.~5:00 p.m. Admission is EUR6.50. Phone 672- 2204.
Dublin Castle
This is a joy for anyone interested in archaeology or history. Dublin Castle was built in the 13th century on top of the foundations of a Viking structure. The castle served as a military fortress, prison, court of law and the core of British administration in Ireland until 1922. It's now used for state functions and government conferences. Guided tours are available. Open Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m.~4:50 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays 2:00 p.m.~4:50 p.m. Closed during state functions. Admission is EUR4.50. Phone 677- 7129 or 677- 7270.
Trinity College
The sole college of the University of Dublin, Trinity was founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592. The reason most visitors venture to Trinity is to take a look at the Book of Kells, which is on display at the Old Library. The ticket price includes admission to the Long Room, a striking space that contains 200,000 of the college's oldest books. Open Monday to Saturday 9.30am~5pm, Sunday noon~4:30 p.m. (from 9:30 a.m. June to September). College Green. Phone 608 -1177.
Irish Museum of Modern Art
Housed in the beautifully restored Royal Hospital Kilmainham (which was modelled on Les Invalides in Paris), the museum exhibits contemporary art and has an impressive permanent collection that includes pieces representing the cutting edge of Irish and international art. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 a.m.~5:30 p.m., Sunday and holidays noon~5:30 p.m. The museum has no admission charge. Military Road, Kilmainham. Phone 612- 9900.
James Joyce Centre
James Joyce is one of Dublin's most famous 20th century writers. Author of such works as Dubliners, Ulysses and his autobiographical novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Joyce's name is forever linked to the city of Dublin. The James Joyce Centre is dedicated to promoting the life and works of James Joyce to novices and scholars alike. Open Tues.~Sat. 10:00 a.m.~5:00 p.m., Sun. 1: p.m.~5:00 p.m., admission costs EUR5.00 for adults. North Great George's Street. Phone 878- 8547. | high4557.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Rmb 1,000"
},
"options": [
"Rmb 10",
"Rmb 100",
"Rmb 1,000",
"Rmb 10,000"
],
"question": "If Rmb12,000 is deposited in Chinese banks, then how much money will flow into Yu' E Bao accounts according to the passag... | Li Mingyang only joined Alibaba's investment platform one month ago but he has already transferred almost all the cash in his bank account - nearly Rmb200,000 ($32,000) - to the online fund. He is far from alone . More than 30 million people in China have signed up to Yu'E Bao, or "Leftover Treasure", only six months since its launch.
Initially as the Chinese e-co mmerce group as a platform for its users to manage extra funds in their online payment accounts, Yu'E Bao is becoming something far more powerful: a straight-up substitute for traditional bank deposits ."There's no point in keeping money in the bank any more. This is just as reliable, more flexible and you can earn a lot more from it," Mr Li says.
A quick hit of the Yu'E Bao application on his phone shows the Shanghai-based editor has earned more interest on his account over the past day than 94 per cent of other local users ."This is fun, almost like a computer game," he says with a laugh.
For every Rmb12 that companies and individuals have deposited in Chinese banks since June, they placed roughly Rmb1 in their Yu'E Bao accounts, according to Financial Times calculations based on official data. While it remains tiny compared with total deposits in the Chinese banking system, this transfer of cash from banks to the Alibaba platform is only speeding up. In the process, it threatens to upend( ) the rules of China's state-protected financial department, break banks' profit model and shifting power to savers in a way that was scarcely imaginable at the start of this year.
Other Chinese tech companies are getting in on the act. Tencent, developer of the hugely popular
messaging app WeChat, is said to be designing a fund platform similar to Yu'E Bao. Baidu, the search engine company, began marketing investment products in October.
"Internet companies, with their ability to instantly reach millions of consumers, have already started to change the competitive dynamic in finance," says Ernan Cui, an analyst with GK Dragonomics, a
Beijing-based research firm. | high19323.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the hermitage Museum and the Church of Our Savior on the Spilt Blood"
},
"options": [
"Peterhof and Kizhi Island",
"the Hernatage Museum and Peterhof",
"Kizhi Island and the Church of Our Savior on the Spilt Blood",
"th... | When you go to St. Petersburg, the number of attractions can seem large. If you are short of time, or just want to make sure to _ , these are the top must-see sights in St.Petersburg.
*The Hermitage Museum
The Hermitage Museum is one of the most important sights to see for any visitor to St.Petersburg.There are lots of different paintings by the old masters in the Hermitage.Prepare to come face-to-face with classic Western artists.
*Kizhi Island
Kizhi Island is an open-air museum of wooden architecture from the Karelia Region of Russia.These impressive structures are made entirely without nails - the wood fits together with joints and grooves .
*Peterhof
Peterhof is as beautiful as it is fun.You'll be charged for admission, but go to Petethof when the fountains are working--during the day in the summer.They are shut off in winter evenings.
*The Church of Our Savior on the Spilt Blood
Love it or hate it, the Church of Our Savior on the Spilt Blood in St.Petersburg is an enthralling must-see sight.The beautiful look may make y our eyes brighten, and the painting inside the church will make you say "Wow!"
*The Bronze Horseman Statue
The so-called Bronze Horseman is a part of Russian culture and a symbol of St.Petersburg.Made famous by Alexander Pushkin, this statue of Peter the Great sitting on his horse can truly show Peter the Great's influence on the Russian idea of greatness. | high5891.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "not only girls but also boys"
},
"options": [
"girls",
"boys",
"students",
"not only girls but also boys"
],
"question": "The word \"kid\"in this passage refers to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"... | Lots of kids go through times when they'd like to change their hair. Often, it's girls who are most concerned , but boys may be interested in how their hair looks, too. Sometimes hair will change as you get older----all by itself----when you go through puberty .
Maybe it used to be lighter and now it's darker. Or maybe it's oilier than it used to be, and now you need to wash it more. It's also normal, as you're getting older, to notice your appearance more often. You might suddenly decide you want a hairstyle like other kids at school have. But some styles and looks require chemical treatments and long hours in the chair at the hair salon. Some people dye their hair a different color, get a bunch of braids ,or make their hair straight when it's curly . Are these treatments OK for kids? That's something you should discuss with your parents. At any age, any chemical or heat applied to the hair can damage the hair or cause it to break off.
Any styling that pulls hard on the hair can also hurt the scalp or cause hair loss. Styling tools, such as curling irons and straightening irons, get very hot and can cause burns. And chemicals used to color, curl, or straighten hair can be very harmful if they get into your eyes or onto your skin. | high3238.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "5.5 hours"
},
"options": [
"3 hours",
"5.5 hours",
"7.5 hours.",
"8 hours."
],
"question": "According to the schedule, how long will a volunteer work a day?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
... | Volunteer Day schedule:
7:30 a.m.: Meet at the Community Center for breakfast.
8-8:30 a.m.: Visit with people from the many participating organizations. Choose which activity you'd like to help with for the day.
8:30-9 a.m.: Board the bus for your chosen activity, and ride with other volunteers to your activity site.
9-12:00 a.m.: Work as a volunteer.
12:00 a.m.-1 p.m.: Share lunch with your volunteer group. Don't forget to bring food for lunch from home!
1-3:30 p.m.: Continue your volunteer work.
3:30 p.m.: Board the bus that will take you back to the Community Center, where you will be able to talk with other volunteers and share your experiences.
See below for a list of volunteer opportunities for Volunteer Day so you can begin thinking about which activity you might want to join.
Happy Homes: it provides home repairs for needy people in the form of painting. It also provides painters to create beautiful paintings inside schools of community centers.
Elder Care: Elder Care sends volunteers into nursing homes to spend time with them, play board games with them, and talk with them.
City Parks Association: you can help plant flowers and bushes in city parks or pick up trash around the river banks. These activities are very active, so remember to be prepared with plenty of drinking water!
Love and Learning: it provides volunteers to help children with learning disabilities. Read books out loud to groups of children aged four to six, or read one-on-one with struggling readers aged seven to eight. | high12276.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "can be of any size or color"
},
"options": [
"can be either new or second-hand",
"can be worn by dolls and humans",
"must be a certain famous brand",
"can be of any size or color"
],
"question": "The denim cloth... | What Will Be Done-With All This Denim?
All the denim will be donated to Cotton From Blue to Green, which recycles jeans into UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation , which is used to help build houses in places that have been damaged by hurricanes and other natural disasters. Your jeans will help keep clothes out of landfills , and build houses for families to live in! UltraTouch is made of 85% recycled fibers and is an environmentally safe, natural cotton fiber insulation.
It's a Fact
It takes about 500 pairs of jeans to recycle enough denim to insulate one average-size U.S house.
Here's How You Can Get Involved!
1. Get a parent's permission and select as many denim jeans as you like. (Any denim clothing is OK)
2. The denim must be used.
3. The denim can be any brand.
4. The denim can be any color or size but must have been worn by a human (no doll clothes!).
5. Jeans must be received by June 30, 2017.
By donating denim, you can give it a "new life" by converting it into UltraTouch Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation. _ for more information about the denim drive.
UltraTouch is composed of 85% recycled fibers and is an environmentally safe, non- itch natural cotton fiber insulation. For more information about UltraTouch, _ | high14607.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "to work as a volunteer teacher in Tibetan school"
},
"options": [
"to have money for a deposit on a house",
"to travel by cycling from Sichuan to Tibet",
"to own a new car and marry a slender girl",
"to work as a volunt... | Most students, when asked about their ideal graduation gift, would probably reply, "A car", or "Money for a deposit on a house". Cai Kaiyuan, 21, made a different choice. As a graduation gift to himself, he decided to work as a volunteer teacher in a remote village in Tibet.
Cai, a senior majoring in electrical engineering at Huan Railway Professional Technology College, originally planned to cycle from Sichuan to Tibet. During his journey, Cai's idea for a different graduation gift to himself began to take shape. "I did not know beforehand what the journey would mean to me. I just want to gain a unique experience and have pleasure in appreciating the view there," he said.
It turned out cycling on a plateau was extremely challenging. And it has kept changing his outlook on life. Cai's fingers even became frostbitten while cycling up a 5008-meter-high mountain, where temperatures often dropped to 18 below zero. At night, the ice covered the road and he fell off his bike three times. The lack of oxygen made him feel dizzy and weak. "At the most serious moment, I felt that my life was _ ," said Cai.
However, he also gained something unexpected. At Ya'an, a city in Sichuan, he met a group of tourists who are also university students. A girl called Wu Ling told him that she planned to work as a teacher in a primary school in Tibet after her journey. He was impressed by the idea as she looked slender and weak.
It was not until he reached a family-run hotel in Shigatse that Cai's spirits began to rise. The hotel manager's two daughters enjoyed talking with him. The kids asked about his experiences on his trip, and showed him the beautiful local lakes. "They told me that they always liked to talk to guests, as they wanted to improve their Mandarin," he said, "Their parents and many locals can only speak Tibetan."
Cai was touched by the girls' story. Their situation is tough and the local people have little chance to learn Mandarin because the schools are short of teachers. "I want to do something to improve the situation for kids like them," said Cai. His parents finally gave their agreement and his teachers also supported him. | high6340.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Large sea turtles lay their eggs in special ways."
},
"options": [
"Sea turtles have interesting life habits.",
"Sea turtles swim to shore to lay their eggs.",
"Large sea turtles lay their eggs in special ways.",
"Sea t... | Did you know that a turtle can lay 12 eggs in one minute? A large sea turtle lays around 150 eggs at a time. She lays all these eggs in just a few minutes.
Large sea turtles live in the warm seas of the world. Except for when they lay their eggs, they spend their whole lives in the water. When it is time to lay their eggs, the females swim to land.
They usually return to the place where they themselves were born. How they find their way back there is unknown.
When they reach shore, the big, heavy turtles crawl slowly up to the high water mark. Using their flippers, they pull themselves along the sand. They must struggle like mountain climbers.
When they finally reach dry sand, they rest before beginning the difficult task of laying eggs.
The turtles lay the eggs in deep holes and cover them with warm sand. The sand protects the eggs from harm. Then the females leave them. After a few weeks, if you happened to be walking along the beach, you might see the sand begin to shake. You may see tiny black balls coming out of the sand. The tiny heads of baby turtles! | high1349.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "three kinds of animals can live in places that have no oxygen"
},
"options": [
"they found three animal species visit the salty water under the Mediterranean Sea",
"single-celled animals can live in super-salty waters",
"the ... | Scientists recently found three animal species living two miles below the surface of the Mediterranean Sea, where the super-salty waters don't have oxygen . They're multicellular , which means their bodies have many cells. They each are as small as a large grain of sand. But they are animals.
The most exciting thing about these creatures, say the scientists, is that they obviously don't need oxygen to live. What biologists know about life so far is that only single-celled living things can live in places that have no oxygen, and that multicellular organisms can visit these places, but not live there. These newly found creatures could _ .
Finding animals down there was so surprising that the scientists couldn't believe it. At first, "we thought they were dead bodies," Roberto Danovaro, a scientist at the Polytechnic University of Marche in Ancona, Italy, told Science News. To find out whether the animals could actually live there Danovaro and his colleagues brought up more samples from the ocean floor. Studying the animals in the new samples showed that they appeared to be alive.
The researchers did more tests, and found that some of the animals had eggs--which suggests they were reproducing . Also in the samples were old skins, suggesting that the animals had lived there long enough to grow. Finally, pictures taken showed that the insides of the animals appear to be adapted to live in an environment that has no oxygen.
These clues suggest the animals don't need oxygen, but the evidence is indirect, which means that scientists still have not observed how the animals live without oxygen. This means more studies are needed, but the scientists think they're on the right track. And if they're right, biologists will need to rethink what they know about where animals live. | high14161.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "politics"
},
"options": [
"science",
"language",
"politics",
"history"
],
"question": "Learning music is helpful to the following subjects EXCEPT _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"ans... | Music is often thought of as "easy" or "play time", but it's not that at all. Music plays a very important part in our education. Students who learn music learn a lot of music history at school. This includes "modes ",which were used in churches during the development of music. They are still used today. Students learn about the historical events that were taking place when the music they play was written. They learn what the music was used for. So much of our culture is in music and has been for centuries. Music also helps with science. Students use science to help them discover what sounds good together and what doesn't. Students also need science to understand something called the "overtone series", which is about how music is produced by vibration and why. Students learn a lot about languages. Many songs are written in other languages, including ancient ones. Students must learn to translate these works to understand what they are singing about. Some songs are famous poems or short works set to music. Students learn a huge amount of coordination through music, so parts of the body can work better together. Students must use fine motor skills in order to play an instrument. Singers and players must learn breath control and be in good shape to play.
Students learn about art. Some famous pieces were written about important works of art, and students learn about the artists and styles as they're playing the music. Music education also brings higher thinking to our children. It allows them to think about complex patterns (How can I make my part sound better?How do this music and these different parts fit together?). Students have to know absolutely what every other musician does at all times. In that way, it develops teamwork. As one can see, music is very important to education besides bringing us fun. | high9715.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "only the German language could be used"
},
"options": [
"all languages except English could be used",
"only some foreign languages could be used",
"only the upper class could speak English",
"only the German language co... | In Germany, English expressions are used in conversations and increasingly in written form. Advertisements are often expressed completely in English. When I go to the gym, there are "aerobic-classes ". We "warm up". We go "jogging." In business, we attend a "meeting" and we have "good connections."
Other nations, like France, have taken action to protect their language from the influence of "Americanization". In Germany, however, there is concern that those rules could be connected with Hitler's Third Reich , when the language had to be pure. If the government curbed the use of English words now, this could be considered by some as a return to that terrible past.
Some German citizens are now trying to stop the use of English vocabulary in German. However, I think generally it is not a big deal to use some common English expressions as they often describe things more directly. But we should know that it is important to use English correctly. All too often, bad English is spoken or even written instead of good German. The proper use of the German language would be the better choice. However, there are some fields that require the use of English words, for example, in the high-tech communication and the Internet fields, there is no alternative to English. Also, I think sometimes I have to speak English when I introduce some scenic places to tourists.
I think you have to find a balance and decide when it is better to use good German in place of bad English or when the use of correct English words is more suitable. Languages have always changed naturally, and I disagree with a restriction by law. Some nice expressions borrowed from other languages can make a conversation more vivid. | high7738.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "an organization that provides sports chances for the disabled"
},
"options": [
"a famous person who wants to help the disabled",
"a national program designed to help the disabled",
"an organization that provides sports chance... | Playing sports is a way for most kids to make friends, get exercise and have a good time. But what happens when kids have a disability preventing them joining in?
Challenge Alaska has worked out a national program to give those disabled kids a chance to enjoy the sports they otherwise may not be able to.
Alex thought a simple game of bocce ball was out of reach before. Alex was hit by a car when he was 5 years old, an accident that left him with a broken body and a mind full of dreams. "Those dreams are harder to do because you can't move your hands, and you can't move your legs," he said.
But today Alex was getting the chance to live his biggest dream. With some help, he can get the bocce ball across the playing field and he said he was getting the biggest joy from his favorite.
Today, Challenge Alaska worked together with another organization, the US Paralympics Academy , to give kids with physical disabilities a chance to try some new sports.
"They offer a lot of sports for people with disabilities and that's cool," Alex said.
But this program is not just about teaching these kids about sports. "It's an opportunity to learn how to work on a team, how to work with other people, how to win graciously and how to lose graciously -- all about the lessons you can use throughout life," said Jeff Dick, leader of Alaska Paralympics Academy.
Challenge Alaska also has a program called Blaze Sports, which holds different events throughout the year. Dick says skills learned at these free programs increase kids chances of getting college scholarships to play these sports. | high23915.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the taxi went through a red light again"
},
"options": [
"the writer stopped the taxi and aid the driver",
"the taxi went through a red light again",
"there was a performance the writer had already watched",
"the writer... | It was midnight in Paris and we were rolling toward Avenue Bosguet. As we came to the Pont Alexandra III, the taxi slowed down, for the traffic light was red against us, and then, without stopping, we sailed through the red in a sudden burst of speed. The same performance was repeated at the Alma Bridge. As I paid the driver, I asked him why he had driven through two red lights.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, breaking the law and endangering your life that way." I protested.
He looked at me, astonished, "Ashamed of myself? I am a law abiding citizen and have no desire to get killed either." He cut me off before I could protest.
"No, just listen to me before you complain. What did I do? Went through a red light. Well, did you ever stop to consider what a red light is? What it means?"
"Certainly,"I replied. "It's a stop signal and means the traffic is rolling in the opposite direction."
"Half-right,"said the driver, "But incomplete. It's only an automatic stop signal. And it does not mean that there is cross traffic. Did you see any cross traffic during our trip? Of course not. I slowed down at the light, looked carefully to the right and to the left. Not another car on the street at this hour. Well, then! What would you have me do? Should I stop like a stupid animal because an automatic, brainless machine turns red every forty seconds? No, sir,"he shouted, "I am a man, not a machine. I have eyes and a brain and judgment, given me by God. Ashamed of myself, you say? I would only be ashamed of myself if I let those blinking lamps do my thinking for me. Good night,sir." | high12510.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "baby animals"
},
"options": [
"garbage",
"master",
"hair",
"baby animals"
],
"question": "In this passage, the word \"litter\" in line 3 most nearly means _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{... | As far back as 700 B. C, man has talked about children being cared for by wolves. Romulus and Remus, the legendary twin founders of Rome, were said to have been cared for by wolves. It is believed that when a she-wolf loses her litter, she tries to get human child to take its place. This seemingly foolish and unreasonable idea did not become believable until the late nineteenth century when a French doctor actually found a ten-year-old boy having nothing on wandering in the woods. He didn't walk upright, could not speak understandably, nor could he relate to people. He only growled and stared at them. Finally the doctor won the boy's confidence and began to work with him. After many long years of devoted and patient teaching, the doctor was able to get the boy to clothe and feed himself, recognize and say a number of words, as well as write letters and form words. | high11019.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "to prevent children from being too fat"
},
"options": [
"to punish the badly performed students",
"to prevent children from being too fat",
"to spare a lot of money for the state",
"to meet the needs of different childr... | What would you think if you went back to school on Monday and there were no desks or chairs in your classroom?
That's what some fourth-and-fifth-graders at a school in Minnesota discovered earlier this year when they took part in a research project to see if changing their classrooms would make them more active.
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic were concerned about reports that as many as half of American kids could be seriously overweight - or obese - by the year 2014. So they set up a different kind of classroom, which you might see in the future.
Instead of desks, the Elton Hills Elementary students had adjustable work stations where they could stand, kneel on mats or sit on big exercise balls. Students were given laptops and iPods that allowed them to move and learn at the same time.
Sensors were attached to the kids' legs to calculate how many calories students burned in their new set-up.
Their typical school day was probably not anything like yours. One group of students downloaded an audio file of their teacher reading a book; they listened to it while walking for exercise. Another group took a spelling test by listening to their iPods.
Some students liked the freedom, but others missed the traditional classroom.
"I don't like standing up," Mariah Matrious said. "My legs get tired, and I like sitting down. "
So, did the experiment work? Researchers still are studying the data, but early results indicate that the kids did move around more in the new classroom. "It showed us that, given the opportunity to move, kids will move," said researcher Lorraine Lanningham-Foster.
That's important because studies have shown that even simple movement - climbing stairs instead of taking an elevator , for example, or washing dishes by hand instead of loading the dishwasher - can be as important as formal exercise when it comes to controlling one's weight. | high18983.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "save less of their income than before"
},
"options": [
"save more of their income than before",
"save less of their income than before",
"make as much money as men in the 1990s",
"spend half of their income on luxury go... | Shoppers throughout the West, wary of a double-dip recession , are still _ . However, Chinese consumers are opening their wallets--big time. According to McKinsey, shop sales in China have grown by 25 percent annually from 2007 to 2009. Consumer confidence is now at its highest point since 2007 and female shoppers are leading the way.
Chinese women saved just 24 percent of their income, compared with 55 percent in 2006, according to a recent study in Women of China Magazine. What's more, three quarters of Chinese women say that they're the ones who control the family purse strings .That means the nation's 650 million women are an "emerging powerhouse within the powerhouse" of China.
In the 1950s women contributed just 20 percent of household income. That rose to about 40 percent in the 1990s and then reached 50 percent last year.
In a recent study of Chinese consumer behavior, McKinsey found that women tend to shop more frequently than men, and spend more on personal-care products and food. Men, by contrast, tend to spend more of their income on gadgets , drinks and alcohol, dining out, and socializing. They also tend to save for the bigger-ticket items, like cars and houses.
Chinese women make up an ever-growing small part of the market--up from 20 percent a decade ago to 50 percent last year. It's estimated that in the next five years women will account for 55 percent of the $9 billion market. "The future is female," concludes a January HSBC report on luxury goods in China.
The Chinese Market Research Group recently found that women younger than 35 are the most optimistic segment in China. A very large 80 percent of the 3,500 women surveyed saying they'll spend more in the second half of 2010 than they did in the first half. With trends like these, Chinese women may bring new meaning to the term "the power of the purse." | high4231.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Positive."
},
"options": [
"Negative.",
"Positive.",
"Uncertain.",
"Disappointed."
],
"question": "What is the writer's attitude to most people today?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"ans... | While there are some unpleasant people in the world, let's not forget that most people are friendly! If you find someone who likes the same restaurants as you or who is also crazy about "Harry Potter", then feel free to talk the night away! Just keep the conversation light and about your common interests. If a topic is brought up that doesn't sit well with you, keep in mind that you are always in control. Ignore your manners at this time!
Do stay open-minded. Sometimes chatting with strangers can turn into a close bond--or just another person you can turn to for a laugh. But when typing away in your computer, it's easy to get carried away and to want to tell your new friend all about yourself. Keep the personal details as secret, and instead talk about fun hobbies or the latest episode of "The Good Wife". If Stranger Sally is asking what you look like, time to put up the red flag.
It is never necessary for someone to know what you look like.
Always listen to your gut .If something inside you is telling you something isn't right, it probably isn't. Pay attention to how your body responds to certain people online. Remember, you never really know who you are talking to just by looking at a computer screen name, so downloading anything is an no.
See? Talking to strangers online doesn't always have to be a nightmare .By following these do's and don'ts, chatting with someone you don't know can be a cool experience,and can make sure that you stay safe in the world of the Internet. | high19445.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "A new action to quit smoking."
},
"options": [
"A new action to quit smoking.",
"A way of fighting overweight.",
"A country with the most smokers.",
"The biggest cause of early death."
],
"question": "What does ... | The number of smokers in England is about 8 million. According to the Department of Health, smoking is the biggest cause of early death in the country. Smokers in England have been asked to give up smoking for 28 days this month, in an action backed by Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation.
Research shows people who manage not to light up for this length of time are 5 times more likely to kick the habit. Public health experts say campaigns that include a combination of hard-hitting ads and supportive messages work best.
Quitting smoking can be difficult. However, people are much more likely to succeed if other people are doing the same than if they try to do it alone and _ . Robert West, Director of Tobacco Studies at University College London, points out how pressure from people around can prevent a smoker going on smoking. "We are social animals," he said.
The action has met some doubts among readers of the BBC News Online website. Some compared it to asking people to stop eating as a way of fighting overweight. Others doubt the action's effectiveness. "Its weakness is that it fails to explain why a person smokes, and the reasons are as many as the number of smokers", says someone who signed as BluesBerry.
Another reader, Cazz, has decided to give it some credit. He says:" Campaigns like this won't necessarily inspire the majority of smokers to quit, but may encourage those thinking about quitting to set a date and try. Surely it's worth a shot. " | high2898.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "General English"
},
"options": [
"General English",
"High School ESL",
"Night Classes",
"One on One"
],
"question": "If you are an English beginner, you'd better choose_.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"... | We offer five kinds of courses. Each course has been designed to help students according to their needs.
Course 1: General English
General English is designed to develop students' basic communication skills in: Speaking and Pronunciation, Reading, Listening, Writing, Grammar and Vocabulary. Tuesday to Friday: 9:00 am to 11:00 am, $288 per week.
Course 2: Academic English
Academic English is for students who want to take the IELTS exam or for those who need to use English in a professional area. Monday to Friday: 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, $320 per week.
Course 3: High School ESL
Why not make the most of your time studying in Australia with the help from TIES? We have High School ESL classes each week specifically designed for International Students. Tuesday to Friday: 8:00 am to 11:00 am, $25 per hour.
Course 4: Night Classes
Do you want to improve your English and get the best results possible in your GRE test? We have two night classes each week designed to meet your needs. Tuesday and Thursday evenings: 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm, $60 per day.
Course 5: One on One
If you are interested in some One on One lessons with TIES teachers, we can design a curriculum to meet your needs. One on One lessons can improve your English language skills more quickly and help students who want to take TOEFL. Tuesday to Friday: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, $80 per hour. | high17468.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "was again allowed to produce sausages."
},
"options": [
"spread a virus across Europe.",
"sold 750 tons beef as horse-meat.",
"restarted production of frozen meat.",
"was again allowed to produce sausages."
],
"... | France
The France company that spread a Europe-wide cheating of food supply by passing off 750 tons of horse-meat as beef was allowed on Monday to restart production of minced meat, sausages and ready-to-eat meals. But the company will no longer be allowed to stock frozen meat, Agriculture Minister Stephane Foll said.
United Kingdom
A new virus that broke out in the Middle East last year and killed five people is well adapted to infecting humans but could practically be treated with drugs that improve the immune system. "The virus is from the same family as the common cold and as SARS." a scientist from Oxford on Tuesday.
South Africa
Olympian runner Oscar Pistorius broke into the door of a small bathroom where his girl friend was bathing after a shouting match on Valentine's Day, hitting her three times, a South African prosecutor said on Tuesday as he charged the sports star with planned murder.
Egypt
Former Egyptian prime minister and presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq was referred to the Cairo Criminal Court on Tuesday over corruption and money laundering charges, the official News Agency reported. Shafiq has left Egypt for the United Arab after losing the presidential race. | high10307.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Many people have wrong ideas about breakfast."
},
"options": [
"Working women usually have breakfast in a hurry.",
"Many people have wrong ideas about breakfast.",
"There are some easy ways of cooking a meal.",
"Eating ... | I know what you're thinking : pizza ? For breakfast? But the truth is that you can have last night's _ in the a. m. if you want to.
I know lots of women who skip breakfast , and they have a ton of different excuses for doing it . Some say they don't have time, others think they're "saving" calories , still others just don't like breakfast food .
But the bottom line is that eating in the morning is very important when you're trying to lose weight. "Eating just about anything from 300 to 400 calories would be better than nothing at all," says Katherine Brooking , R , D , who developed the super-easy eating plan for this year's "SELF CHALLENGE". And even pizza can be healthy if it's loaded with vegetables, and you stick to one small piece.
Breakfast is one meal I never miss, and the same goes for most weight loss success stories. Research shows that eating breakfast keeps you from overeating later in the day. Researchers at the University of Southern California found that breakfast skippers have a bigger chance of gaining weight than those who regularly have a morning meal.
So eat something in the morning, anything. I know plenty of friends who end up having no breakfast altogether, and have just coffee or orange juice. I say, try heating up last night's leftovers-it may sound crazy, but if it works for you, do it! I find if I tell myself, "You can always eat it tomorrow," I put away the leftovers instead of eating more that night. Try it...you may save yourself some pre-bedtime calories. And watch your body gain the fat-burning effects. | high2640.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "can become meals after being planted"
},
"options": [
"will survive for more than 3 years",
"must be planted in your front yard",
"can produce $80 worth per month",
"can become meals after being planted"
],
"que... | While shopping for my groceries a few years ago, I decided on an idea to buy one of those little potted basil plants instead of the package of basil leaves. It was about the same price and I figured I would plant it in my yard and maybe get a few meals worth out of it before it died.
Little did I know that the little $4 basil plant would survive for almost 3 years and provide enough fresh basil for at least 2-3 meals per month (that's about 60 basil-filled meals)!
What I learned was that the plant likes quite a bit of sun and warm temperatures (it went nearly into rest in the winter when temperatures in Arizona drop to below zero overnight). My husband and I had enjoyed so many meals with fresh basil that after the original one died, we immediately got another basil plant to replace it.
If you like to cook, you know that basil fresh off the plant transforms a good meal into an amazing one.
To make the case for always keeping a basil plant in our yard even stronger, I just opened the latest issue of All You magazine and saw this picture of a beautiful basil plant. Then I read the first sentence of the accompanying article, "Did you know a basil plant can produce nearly $80 worth of leaves each year?"
I knew that I had gotten my money's worth from the little plant, but I had no idea that I saved about $200 in the time I had that plant. $4 to produce $200? That's a great return on investment no matter how you slice it!
Whether you buy your live herbs as seeds or plants, and plant them in coffee cans or your front yard, growing herbs can be a great way to save money and enjoy even better-tasting meals. Try it for yourself and see how much you can enjoy fresh herbs in your meals. | high19451.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "If a business is losing money, we can say it is \"in the red.\""
},
"options": [
"If a business is losing money, we can say it is \"in the red.\"",
"In the past, numbers in the financial records of a company were written in red ink... | I'm Rich Kleinfeldt with some financial expressions used in business and the stock market.
Our first expression is "in the red." It is another way of saying that a business is losing money. In the past, numbers in the financial records of a company were written in red ink to show a loss.
A business magazine recently published a report about a television company. The report said the company was still in the red, but was able to cut its loss from the year before.
A profit by a business is written in black numbers. So a company that is "in the black" is making money.
Another financial expression is "run on the bank." That is what happens when many people try to withdraw all their money from a bank. A "run on the bank" usually happens when people believe there is danger a bank may fail or close.
Newspaper reports about a banking crisis in Russia used that expression. They said the government acted because of fears that the crisis would cause a run on the banks.
"Day trading" is a system that lets investors trade directly on an electronic market system. It was the first completely computerized stock market. It sells stocks of companies not listed on any stock exchange. Many high technology companies are listed on it.
Day trading companies provide a desk and a computer system to an investor who wants to trade. Individuals must provide fifty thousand dollars or more to the trading company to pay for the stocks they buy. Thousands of other investors do day trading from computers in their homes.
A day trader watches stock prices carefully. When he sees a stock rise in price, he uses the computer to buy shares of the stock. If the stock continues to rise in price in the next few minutes, the day trader sells the shares quickly to make a small profit. Then he looks for another stock to buy. If a stock goes down instead of up, he sells it and accepts the loss.
The idea is to make a small profit many times during the day. Day traders may buy and sell stocks hundreds of times each day. | high16762.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "wouldn't make friends with the disabled"
},
"options": [
"often laughed at those who are disabled",
"liked to help those who had special needs",
"wouldn't make friends with the disabled",
"looked down upon those who are... | Dear Sharon Draper,
A lot of books have flashes of insight, but only few of them can open the readers' mind and make them realize something new. Your book, Out of My Mind, filled me with those sparks. I enjoyed getting to know Melody. Despite the fact that she had cerebral palsy ,Melody had an amazing character that shone brightly. Out of My Mind helped me learn a life-long lesson.
Your book has changed my point of view. I never teased those who had special needs, but I never really felt comfortable around them either. When I started reading your novel, I saw how Melody was a smart and talented girl. At the beginning of the book, I asked myself, "Would I be Melody's friend?" The voice in my stomach told me the sad truth: no. I carried on with your book from start to finish, and when I closed it, I asked myself the same question, "Would I be Melody's friend?" I realized, with a smile, that the answer was right in front of me. Throughout Out of My Mind, I had become Melody's friend.
Last year, there was a boy in my class who had Asperger's syndrome . I didn't really know him; he just seemed different to me. This was around the time that I read your novel. Melody showed me how she was just as good as anyone else in her classroom and how the same goes for anyone else with disabilities. The boy in my class amazed me by what he was capable of doing. As the days went by, I started helping him instead of avoiding him.
Melody opened my eyes and cleared the world around me. She showed me how a girl with cerebral palsy was the same as a girl like me. Now it is time for me to thank you for writing this amazing novel. I will never forget your fantastic book.
Sincerely,
Margaret Lim | high10313.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "The first family rules."
},
"options": [
"The first family daily life.",
"The first family rules.",
"How to be good parents.",
"How to be good students."
],
"question": "What's the passage mainly about?",
"q... | When it comes to President Obama, most of his personal business is already known by the public. Personal information about his children, Malia and Sasha, however, has been kept a little more _ .
The New York Timesrecently released a list of rules that Michelle Obama has mentioned over the years that Malia and Sasha must follow during their time in the White House, as well as in general. See how the first family educates their children:
The girls must write reports about what they've seen on their trips, even if it's not required by their school.
Malia may use her cell phone only on the weekends, and she and her sister cannot watch television or use a computer for anything but homework during the week.
Malia and Sasha have to play two sports: one they choose and one selected by their mother.
Malia must learn todo laundry before she leaves for college.
The girls have to eat their vegetables, and if they say they are not hungry, they cannot ask for cookies or chips later.
While these might be shocking to some, Michelle said, "They're not little princess. It's just basic rules, boundaries, and expectations that we would have normally."
Michelle also mentions another set of rules:
The girls must do their chores , though the White House has a large staff. Malia and Sasha have chores of their own.
They must play a team sport, because it's about learning how to play on a team, how to lose and how to win gracefully.
...
It sounds like Michelle and Barack want the best for their kids and to make them as well-rounded as possible. What are your thoughts on the Obama family rules? | high2654.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "18"
},
"options": [
"4",
"14",
"18",
"40"
],
"question": "The study was done in _ countries in total in 2009.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"... | Recently, we've been talking about how we need better teachers. There's no doubt that a great teacher can help in a student's achievement but here's what some new studies are also showing: We need better parents.
Every three years, the organization called O.E.C.D. organizes exams as part of the Program for International Student Assessment , or PISA, which tests 15-year-olds on their abilities to solve real problems. America's 15-year-olds have not done as well as students in Singapore, Finland and Shanghai in the PISA exams.
To better understand the reasons, the PISA team, starting with four countries in 2006, and then adding 14 more in 2009, went to the parents of 5,000 students. They interviewed them about how they raised their kids and then compared it with the test results for each of those years. Two weeks ago, the PISA team published the main findings of its study:
Fifteen-year-olds whose parents often read books with them during their first year of primary school get much higher scores in PISA 2009 than students whose parents don't often read with them or not at all. Parents' concern for their children is strongly connected with better results in PISA.
According to Schleicher, the leader of the team, just asking your children how their school day was and showing great interest in their learning can help a lot. It is something every parent can do, no matter what their education level.
The study found that getting parents concerned about their children's learning at home is more powerful than parents attending parent-teacher meetings, volunteering in classrooms, taking part in money-raising, and showing up at back-to-school nights.
To be sure, nothing can replace a good teacher. But let's stop putting the whole responsibility on teachers. We also need better parents. Better parents can make teaching more effective . | high9701.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Chicago"
},
"options": [
"New York",
"Chicago",
"Washington DC",
"Michigan"
],
"question": "The passage mainly talks about some top destinations in _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"a... | Lincoln Park
With its many fashion shops and coffee shops,Lincoln Park is also a wonderful part of Chicago which is a delight for people to visit.The Chicago History Museum shows typical Americas,and then of course there's the park itself.Facing Lake Michigan,it offers beaches,wildlife signs and Lincoln Park Zoo,where you can see gorillas and polar bears free of charge.
Lombard-Oak Brook
Unlike many parts in Washington DC and New York,Lombard in Chicago is an old-fashioned suburb which shows the traditional attraction of old-time America.It's known for its every year's Lilac Festival ,and for the"Little Orphan Annie"house,where the red-headed character was dreamt up by Harold Gray.The nearby village of Oak Brook is even more pleasant,and known for its golf courses and polo club.
Magnificent Mile-River North
Forming part of the always busy Michigan Avenue,Magnificent Mile is the place to shop in Chicago.Fashion shops,supermarket department stores,and smart restaurants make it a must-visit.And places to look out for include the epic Wrigley Building and the Chicago Water Tower,one of the few buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.The nearby River North district is well known for its many art galleries.
The Loop-Downtown
Home to the Civic Opera House,the Goodman Theatre,and the Art Institute of Chicago,where American masterpieces can be found alongside Old Masters,the Loop is worth visiting just for the streets alone.Look up at some of the USA's most famous skyscrapers ,and there is Grant Park-a wonderful place with the huge Buckingham Fountain at its centre. | high14175.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "thinking"
},
"options": [
"studying",
"shopping",
"thinking",
"playing"
],
"question": "The Internet can not be used for _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_ind... | Today almost everyone knows computers and the Internet. If I ask you "What is the most important in your life ?" maybe you will say "Computers and the Internet."
The first computer was made in 1946. It was very big but it worked slowly . Today computers are getting smaller and smaller. But they work faster and faster. What can computers do?
A writer has said, "people can't live without computers today."
The Internet came a little later than computers. It is about twenty-five years later than computers. But now it can be found almost everywhere. We can use it to read books, write letters, do shopping, play games or make friends.
Many students like the Internet very much. They often go into the Internet as soon as they are free. They make friends on the Internet and maybe they have never seen these friends. They don't know their real names, ages, and even sex . They are so interested in making the "unreal friends" that they can't put their hearts into study. Many of them can't catch up with others on many subjects because of that.
We can use computers and the Internet to learn more about the world. But at the same time, we should remember that not all the things can be done by computers and the Internet. | high51.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The man who made spelling simple."
},
"options": [
"Webster and his best sellers.",
"British and American English.",
"The history of American English.",
"The man who made spelling simple."
],
"question": "What i... | In English the spelling of words does not always represent the sound. So people say /rait/ but spell it right or write, or even rite. Combinations of letters may be pronounced in many ways. And some words just seem to have too many letters.
For Americans things are a little bit easier, thanks to the work of Noah Webster, a teacher who graduated from Yale University in 1778. As a young man, he had fought against the British in the American War of Independence, and he felt that written English in the newly independent United States should have a distinctive American look.
So he began his work on American English. His first book, The Elementary Spelling Book, suggested simplifying the spelling of English words. The book was extremely popular. By the 1850s, it was selling one million copies a year, making it one of the most popular school books ever.
Many of the suggestions were quickly adopted. Center instead of centre, program instead of programme, and flavor instead of flavour. Others, however, such as removing silent letters like s in island or the final e in examine, were not .
Webster is best known for his American Dictionary of the English language, which first appeared in 1828. It introduced lots of new American words, with information about their pronunciation and use, and, of course, the new spelling. The British criticized the dictionary, but it quickly became a standard reference book in the States. Today, Webster's dictionary is still the number one dictionary for American students. | high6432.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "kindly"
},
"options": [
"cruelly",
"fairly",
"kindly",
"friendly"
],
"question": "Mrs. Smith treated her little dog quite _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_ind... | It was Monday. Mrs. Smith's dog was hungry , but there was not any meat in the house.
Considering that there was no better way. Mrs. Smith took a piece of paper, and wrote the following words on it:"Give my dog half a pound of meat."Then she gave the paper to her dog and said gently:"Take this to the butcher(* person whose job is selling meat)and he's going to give you your lunch today."
Holding the piece of paper in its mouth, the dog ran to the butcher's. It gave the paper to the butcher. The butcher read it carefully, recognized that it was really the lady's handwriting and soon did it as he was asked to. The dog was very happy, and ate the meat up at once.
At noon, the dog came to the shop again. It gave the butcher a piece of paper again. After reading it, he gave it half a pound of meat once more.
The next day, the dog came again exactly at noon. And as usual, it brought a piece of paper in the mouth. This time, the butcher did not take a look at paper, and gave the dog its meat, for he had regarded the dog as one of his customers.
But, the dog came again at four o'clock. And the same thing happened once again. To the butcher's more surprise, it came for the third time at six o'clock, and brought with it a third piece of paper. The butcher felt a bit puzzled . He said to himeself,"This is a small dog. Why does Mrs. Smith give it so much meat to eat today?"
Looking at the piece of paper, he found that there were not any words on it! | high811.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "suggest ways to overcome a cultural barrier"
},
"options": [
"introduce unfamiliar food",
"share the writer's personal experiences",
"suggest ways to overcome a cultural barrier",
"advise on how to politely refuse to ea... | it tastes just chicken
Away from home, eating is more than just a way to keep your stomach full.It is a language all its own, and no words can say, "Glad to meet you ...glad to be doing business with you ..." quite like sharing a meal offered by your host.
Clearly, mealtime is not the time for you to say, "Thanks, but no thanks." Acceptance of the food on your plate means acceptance of host, country, and company.So, no matter how difficult it may be to swallow, swallow.Or, as one experienced traveler says, "Travel with a cast-iron stomach and eat everything everywhere."
Often, the food offered represents proudly your host country's eating culture.What would Ataiericans think of a French person who refused to take a bite of homemade apple pie or sirloin? Our discomfort comes not so much from the thing itself; it comes from our umamiliarity with it.After all, an oyster has remarkably the same look as a sheep's eye; and a first look at a lobster would remind almost anybody of a creature from a science fiction movie, not something you dip in butter and eat.By the way, in Saudi Arabia sheep's eyes are a famous dish and in parts of China it's bear's paw soup.
Can you refuse such food without being rude? Most experienced business travelers say no, at least not before taking at least a few bites.It helps, though, to slice any item very thin.This way, you minimize the taste and the reminder of where it came from.Or, " Swallow it quickly, " as one traveler recommends."I still can't tell you what sheep's eyeballs taste like." As for dealing with taste, the old line that "it tastes just like chicken" is often thankfully true.Even when the "it" is really rat or snake.
Another useful piece of advice is not knowing what you are eating.What's for dinner? Don't ask. Avoid glancing into the kitchen or looking at English-language menus.Your host will be pleased that you are eating the food he offers, and who knows? Maybe it really is chicken in that soup. | high12504.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "his wife had found a new job there"
},
"options": [
"they liked moving from one place to another",
"they were both out of work in Colorado",
"the students of his wife were living there",
"his wife had found a new job th... | After suffering through many months of unemployment . my wife and I moved this week from Colorado to Ohio. where she was starting a new job. Not knowing anybody there. we were pretty concerned about how we'd get our entire home unloaded without killing ourselves.
We made a phone call to hire a couple of college students to help with all the heavy lifting once we got there. But one neighbor after another stopped by to help us. _
Unloading actually became fun and joy because there were so many wonderful new friends to help when we worked. The more people helped. the easier the work became. We were afraid the job might take days for the two of us alone. but it was finished in a few hours. Many total strangers would either walk by the sidewalk or drive by to ask us if we were moving in. Many were happy that this old house that had sat empty for so long was coming to life again. We were invited to an outdoor meal yesterday by neighbors on the same street.
All the time. my brain was resting on this new sense of hope that people can be so friendly to strangers. Among all the conversation were lots of offers to help each other in all kinds of ways. It's wonderful to live in such a kind little town. I feel so grateful to be here. and wish the rest of the world could see how an entire community can model what it's like to help each other. | high14613.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Smog will hurt Beijing's Winter Olympics bid."
},
"options": [
"Beijing will cut its current coal consumption.",
"Beijing will reduce the number of newly added vehicles every year.",
"Beijing will firmly control industrial po... | BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Beijing will take a series of measures to tackle its environmental problems and is confident they will not derail its bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, an official said on Thursday.
Beijing has formulated 84 measures to deal with environmental issue and air pollution, said Li Shixiang, Beijing's executive vice mayor, at the ongoing annual session of the National People's Congress, the top legislature.
Beijing is expected to cut its current coal consumption by more than half to 10 million tonnes a year by 2017. It will also impose tough controls over industrial pollution and dust fall from construction sites, while reducing the number of newly added vehicles every year to 150,000, said Li.
He said the Chinese capital will benefit from the experience of successfully holding the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Beijing and Zhangjiakou City in neighboring Hebei Province will launch a joint bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) announced in early November 2013.
Beijing will bid to stage the ice events while Zhangjiakou will seek hosting rights for snow sports, according to the COC.
Beijing has been _ by choking smog and it is a great concern for its chances of hosting the Winter Olympics. | high6354.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the advantages of children' using computers"
},
"options": [
"the disadvantages of children's using computers",
"the advantages of children' using computers",
"the development of computers",
"the fact that using compute... | A home computer not only helps children master the old ways of learning, but also opens up possibilities that simply aren't available in traditional education. Some software, for example, allows kids to make decisions and see the results in different situations. The World Wide Web encourages young minds to move easily from link to link, topic to topic. The best software draws children into learning by making them curious--what if I click on this picture, drag this over here, visit that website?
Knowing how to use a computer also encourages a child's confidence. Kids figure out quickly that computers are powerful, and mastering the machine makes them feel grown-up. In turn, feeling confident on a computer often translates to academic confidence. Researchers have found that attitudes toward writing, for example, improve when students write on a computer.
Perhaps most importantly, computers can enrich family life. Forget the idea that computer kids are separated. Children like to use the computer with adults and other kids, asking questions and comparing results. "The Internet is a unique opportunity to bring resources home, "notes Susan Haugland, PhD, Cape Girardeau, Mo. , author of Computer and Young Children:A World of Discovery.
Although the benefits of computers are real, they have disadvantages, too. Kids can lose their way, wasting hours on mindless software of violent games. Just as parents have always helped children make good choices about everything from friends to food, books to TV, now we must make sure they get the best out of computers. | high10475.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "he got a mountain bike at age 15"
},
"options": [
"he started to play ball games",
"he got a mountain bike at age 15",
"he ran his first marathon at age 18",
"he started to receive Ridgway's training"
],
"questi... | Short and shy, Ben Saunders was the last kid in his class picked for any sports team. "Football, tennis,cricket -- anything with a round ball, I was useless." he says now with a laugh. But back then he was the object of jokes in school gym classes in England's rural Devonshire.
It was a mountain bike he received for his 15th birthday that changed him. At first the teen went biking alone in a nearby forest. Then he began to cycle along with a runner friend. Gradually, Saunders set his mind building up his body, increasing his speed, strength and endurance. At age 18, he ran his first marathon.
The following year, he met John Ridgway, who became famous in the 1960s for rowing an open boat across the Atlantic Ocean. Saunders was hired as an instructor at Ridgway's school of Adventure in Scotland, where he learned about the older man's cold-water exploits . _ , Saunders read all he could about Arctic explorers and North Pole expeditions, then decided that this would be his future.
Journeys to the Pole aren't the usual holidays for British country boys, and many people dismissed his dream as fantasy. "John Ridgway was one of the few who didn't say, 'You are completely crazy,'" Saunders says.
In 2001, after becoming a skilled skier, Saunders started his first long-distance expedition toward the North Pole. He suffered frostbite, had a closer encounter with a polar bear and pushed his body to the limit.
Saunders has since become the youngest person to ski alone to the North Pole, and he's skied more of the Arctic by himself than any other Briton. His old playmates would not believe the transformation.
This October, Saunders, 27, heads south to explore from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back, an 1800-mile journey that has never been completed on skis. | high2132.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "lives away from her parents"
},
"options": [
"lives away from her parents",
"takes pride in her friends",
"knows Mr Expert quite well",
"hates her parents very much"
],
"question": "We can learn from the first l... | A letter to Edward, a columnist
Dear Mr Expert:
I grew up in an unhappy and abusive home. I always Promised myself that I'd get out as soon as possible. Now, at age 20,I have a good job and a nice house, and I'm really proud of the independence I've achieved.
Here's the problem: several of my friends who still live with their parents wish they had places like mine -- so much so that they make mine theirs.
It started out with a couple of them spending the weekends with me. But now they seem to take it for granted that they can shou up any time they like. They bring boyfriends over, talk on the phone and stay out forever.
I enjoy having my friends here sometimes-- it makes the place feel comfortable and warm-- but this is my home, not a party house. I was old enough to move out on my own, so why can't I seem to ask my friends to respect my privacy ?
Joan
Edward's reply to Joan
Dear Joan:
If your family didn't pay attention to your needs when you were a child, you probably have trouble letting others know your needs now.
And if you've gathesed yourfriends around you to rebuild a happy family atmosphere ,you may fear that saying no will bring back the kind of conflict you grew up with-- or destroy the nice atmosphere you now enjoy. You need to understand that in true friendship it's okay to put your own needs first from time to time.
Be clear about the message you want to send. For example, "I really love your company but I also need some privacy. So please call before you come over." | high21870.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "tree rings grow far apart"
},
"options": [
"tree rings grow together",
"tree rings grow far apart",
"trees in New Mexico will grow big and tall",
"people can cut down most of the trees in New Mexico"
],
"questio... | Do you want to know something about the history of weather? Don't look at the sky. Don't look for old weather reports. Looking at tree rings is more important. Correct weather reports date back only one century, but some trees can provide an exact record of the weather even further back.
It is natural that a tree would grow best in a climate with plenty of sunlight and rainfall. It is also expected that little sunlight and rainfall would limit the growth of a tree. The change from a favorable to an unfavorable climate can be determined by reading the pattern of rings in a tree trunk. To find the weather of ten years ago, count the rings of a tree trunk from the outside to the inside. If the tenth ring is far from the other rings, then it is certain that plenty of sunny and rainy weather occurred. If the rings are closed together, then the climate was bad for the tree.
Studying tree rings is important not only for the history of weather, but also for the history of man. In a region of New Mexico you can find only sand---no trees and no people. However, many centuries ago a large population lived there. They left suddenly. Why?
A scientist studied patterns of dead tree rings which had grown there. He decided that the people had to leave because they had cut down all the trees. Trees were necessary to make fires and buildings. So, after the people destroyed the trees, they had to move. In this instance studying tree rings uncovers an exciting fact about the history of man. | high18029.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Curiosity."
},
"options": [
"Curiosity.",
"Patience.",
"Judgment.",
"Excitement."
],
"question": "When you travel everywhere, what should you keep in mind according to Para.3?",
"question_type": "factiod_que... | There are hundreds of travel writers. It will not be easy for you to make a mark, unless you are different. Reading the works of great travel writers and getting inspired by them are not a bad thing, but you should not copy their style and their approach. The world needs something new. Greatness is not achieved through following, it is achieved through leading, and to lead you need to choose your own approach!
Being a travel writer can be exacting. You must realize that you will not be the first one in a long line. Flights will not arrive on time for you, every hotel will not have a room for you, and you may not be able to make a living out of your work. So, you should be prepared mentally and physically before you begin your quest to explore the world.
When you write a travel guide, you should remember that you are not the subject in your guide! You should always focus on the place that you are exploring. What is the difference between visiting a place and exploring it? The answer is very simple, when you visit a place you ask the question 'where to go?' and when you explore, you ask 'why to go there?' Your work should not turn out to be just a map which shows directions. It should explain why you chose a specific direction. If you are not curious while traveling, you will never have something new for your readers.
I believe that every individual has a unique style of writing. You should dare to have a different approach. Avoid long personal stories and do not neglect grammar and punctuation.
You should also take efforts to promote your work. You should make use of blogs, and popular social networking sites to promote your work. Try to establish contact with major publications. Once your work gets published in a big magazine, there is no stopping.
There are many travel writers who say that this is the best job in the world. If you love traveling, you will love this job! | high19337.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "The relation between names and happiness."
},
"options": [
"How to choose a good name for babies.",
"The relation between names and happiness.",
"How to have a name connected with celebrities.",
"The relation between na... | What's in name? Well, apparently, our general happiness. Psychologists say that what we are called has a direct connection with our happiness.
Those called Judy and Joshua are the happiest, while Lynn or Ben is likely to be the unhappiest, according to research. Psychologist Dr David Holmes found that this can cause the association that others make with the name. Hearing the name Judy may make them think of actress Judi Dench or TV presenter Judy Finnigan, and people who are considered good-natured and happy. On the other hand, people think Paulines are unhappy because of the character Pauline Fowler from the TV programme East Enders. The research claims that this association influences the person with the name and so their personality is shaped to fit in. Dr David Holmes said, "This also has some relation with the original meaning of the name, for example, the original meaning of Judy is 'praised'."
Certain names also work well in certain aspects of life. In the workplace Richard and Judy are the happiest, while those called Ruth and Carly are the happiest in relationships. At the other end of the scale the unhappiest workers are Stuart and Liz, with the unhappiest in relationships being Frank and Harriet.
Dr Holmes said, "The relation we have with certain names, particularly important namesakes , also shapes how we see ourselves and so may have an effect on our confidence. Names are like product brands in having a powerful effect on attitudes and should therefore be chosen with care."
"Other names are connected with being brave, outgoing or serious. Therefore, many celebrities change their names to ones which reflect these characteristic. This, in turn, influences parents when they choose names for their babies," said Dr Holmes, "while names connected with ordinary people are rarely chosen for their babies." | high4543.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "explore the life of William Shakespeare"
},
"options": [
"know something about the playwright's dust hole",
"search for some treasure in the dust hole",
"explore the life of William Shakespeare",
"find something that Sh... | Archaeologists believe they are on the turning point of throwing light on the life of William Shakespeare -- by excavating what may have been the playwright's dust hole.
Experts have begun excavating the ruins of New Place, Shakespeare's former home in Stratford-upon-Avon, which was destroyed 250 years ago. Although little remains of the property, the team, led by Birmingham Archaeology, believes it has identified a dust hole used by the 16th century poet.
Small pieces of pottery and broken clay pipe have already been found from a muddy hole on the site, which they claim could yield some of the most significant discoveries about Shakespeare in decades. The dig focuses on three areas of the property, which Shakespeare bought in 1597 when he returned to his home town from London having achieved fame -- including the so-called knot garden at the back of the building.
Dr Diana Owen, Director of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, which owns the site, said, "We do not know if the knot garden was an area used by Shakespeare -- it may have been a yard simply used by his servants. But this could actually yield some fantastic results, especially if it was an area where rubbish was thrown or the dust hole was located."
Kevin Colls, from Birmingham Archaeology,added, "Through documentary evidence we know Shakespeare lived at New Place but we have very little information regarding the layout of the house and gardens at this time. Through archaeological fieldwork, in particular the dig of structural remains and the recovery of artifacts, we hope to fill in the blanks."
Until October, visitors will be able to watch archaeologists and volunteers at work as they excavate the remains of the house, which was knocked down in 1759. Experts hope to unearth evidence to support theories that Shakespeare wrote many of his most famous works at the property. | high16004.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Things people no longer use."
},
"options": [
"Cheap and ugly things.",
"Things people no longer use.",
"Things out of season.",
"Things of great value."
],
"question": "What kind of things will go to a yard sal... | "Everybody loves a bargain." One person's useless, ugly, or broken object can be another person's bargain. That is why so many Americans do not throw things away. They put them outside their houses. They put on a "For Sale" sign. And, as simple as that, they have a yard sale.
The sellers put a paid announcement in a local newspaper. It tells when and where the yard sale will take place. These sales are very popular during weekends in spring, summer, and autumn. Early in the morning, all the things to be sold are carried out of the house. Then they sit all day in the sunlight---like tired guests at a party---waiting for someone to take them home.
Just about anything can be sold at a yard sale. Sometimes, there are more clothes than anything else. Cooking equipment is also popular. So are old toys, tools, books, tables and chairs. Then there are objects called "white elephants". A white elephant is something you think is extremely ugly or useless. It may be an electric light shaped like a fish. You feel a sharp pain whenever you look at it. To someone else, however, it might be a thing of beauty and joy.
Some people go to yard sales to find a special thing that they collect. It may be old toy trains, for example, or painting of dogs. Experts say more Americans are collecting old things now than ever before. Most people who go to yard sales, however, are not looking for anything special. They might buy an object simply because it costs so little. They enjoy negotiating over prices, even if they really do not need the object. Later, they may hold their own yard to sell all the things they have bought. | high3.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "unrealistic"
},
"options": [
"easy",
"unnecessary",
"unrealistic",
"common"
],
"question": "According to the passage, it is _ for most young architects in big cities to work in a building of their own.",
"... | Most young architects--particularly those in big cities--can only dream about working in a building of their own. And making that dream come true often means finding a building no one else seems to want, which is exactly what happened to David Yocum and his partner, Brain Bell. Their building is a former automobile electrical--parts firm in Atlanta. From the outside, it looks too old, even something horrible, but open the door and you are in a wide, open courtyard, lined on three sides with rusting walls.
In 2000, Yocum and Bell found this building in the city's West End. Built in 1947, the structure had been abandoned years earlier and the roof of the main building had fallen down. But the price was right, so Yocum bought it. He spent eight months of his off-hours on demolition , pulling rubbish out through the roof, because it was too dangerous to go inside the building, The demolition was hard work, but it gave him time to think about what he wanted to do, and "to treasure what was there--the walls, the rust, the light," Yocum said. "Every season, more paint falls off the walls and more rust develops. It's like an art installation in there--a slow-motion show."
Since the back building had been constructed without windows, an all-glass front was added to the building to give it a view of the courtyard, and skylights were installed in the roof. The back of the building is a working area and a living room for Yocum and his wife. A sort of buffer zone between the front and the back contains a bathroom, a kitchen and a mechanical room, and the walls that separate these zones have openings that allow views through to the front of the studio and the courtyard beyond.
Yocum and Bell, who have just completed an art gallery for the city, feel that the experience from the decoration of their building, focusing on the inside rather than the outside, has influenced their work. It has also given these architects a chance to show how they can make more out of less. | high8351.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "without a leader"
},
"options": [
"without Gandhi",
"without a leader",
"without force",
"without weapons"
],
"question": "An independence movement can't be successful _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questi... | Every successful independence movement needs a leader. The leader of the Indian independence movement was Mohandas Gandhi. He was born into a Hindu family. As a young man, Gandhi studied law in London. The Hindu leaders had threatened to punish him. But he went to London anyhow.
Gandhi believed in fighting without weapons or force. He called his method non-violence . He would simply disobey any unfair law or policy. He was willing to be punished for his actions. Gandhi thought that the law would be changed if enough people protested in this way. It would show how strongly the people felt about his beliefs.
Gandhi wanted all Indians to understand the independence movement. He walked barefoot through the villages, speaking to all people. Many people loved and understood Gandhi. His movement grew. The British flag came down in 1947.
The Indian people honored Gandhi with the title Mahatma, which means "Great soul". Gandhi was an unusual kind of leader. He promised never to make money for himself. He always wore simple clothes and sandals. He was shot and killed in 1948. At his death, he owned little more than a few clothes, his eyeglasses, a book, and his rice bowl. | high22389.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "less popular today"
},
"options": [
"more popular today",
"less popular today",
"as popular as before",
"getting more and more popular"
],
"question": "According to the passage, newspaper are _ .",
"quest... | Newspapers are not nearly as popular today as they were in the past. There are not very many people who seriously read a newspaper every day. Most people read only the sports pages, the advice or the gossip columns, the comics, and perhaps the classified advertisements. Most people don't take the time to read the real news. They attempt to catch the reader's interest with pictures and exciting headlines. These techniques are used on the front page because it is the first thing you see when you pick up the paper. The first page attracts attention and encourages the reader to look through the rest of the paper. This is why editors always look for a good first page story and headline to make them stop and look. If the headline is horrible enough or frightening enough or wild enough, perhaps they will go on to read the front page anymore. They may read the headlines, but that is all, then they turn to the sports page, or comics, or advertisements. It seems that people do not want the news from a newspaper anymore. They say they get the news on the television now.
More people watch television news because it is easier and more interesting than reading a newspaper. What about you? Do you read news from a newspaper? Do you think it is easier to get the news from television? Or do you care about news at all? Would you mind if there were no news? | high23097.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "He stayed with visitors for extra time."
},
"options": [
"He showed visitors around by car.",
"He took many photos of visitors.",
"He stayed with visitors for extra time.",
"He enjoyed breakfast with visitors."
],
... | Our guide was excellent! He walked us through all the local villages and took extra time at the end to enjoy a local dinner. He stayed with us longer than he was obliged to and made this a fantastic experience.
Tour _
Travel is all about the street food these days, and why not? It's fresh, fast, cheap and a great way to crack into the local scene. Join this Hanoi tour to source the best street eats from markets, food carts, street cafes and other hard-to-find-but-totally-worth-the-effort secret spots.
Highlights
Sample delicious Vietnamese cuisine just like the locals do -- on the street
Stroll through hidden alleyways and bustling markets of Hanoi's charming old quarter
Learn more about Hanoi's unique food culture
Try local specialties with influences from French and Chinese cuisine
Take in a spectacular night view of Hoan Kiem lake from a secret cafe
Schedule details
Duration: 2.5 hours
Meeting point: Sacombank ATM Machine - No. 1 Dong Xuan street (front entrance of Dong Xuan Market, Corner of Dong Xuan St with Cau Dong St)
Starting time: 5. 00 PM
Ending point: Cafe Pho Co - 11 Hang Gai St, Hoan Kiem | high13154.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "an opera house"
},
"options": [
"a mountain city",
"young musicians",
"an opera house",
"the tourism in Santa Fe"
],
"question": "This passage mainly introduces _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
... | The opera house in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is one of the most beautiful in the United States. It is small and open, with one roof over the stage where singers perform and another roof over part of the audience. This opera house in the mountain is one of the best in the country, which may seem surprising because performances are only given during seven weeks in summer, and because Santa Fe is a very small city.
One reason why the Santa Fe Opera is so good is that it attracts many excellent young singers .They all hope to sing in famous opera houses like Metropolitan in New York someday. And they work hard to become well-known during the summer. The musicians and directors are experts who come from the best orchestras and operas in the country during their vacations. They enjoy working there because they like to live in Santa Fe, which is near both the mountains and the desert. It is very beautiful there in summer.
The state government of New Mexico advertises the Santa Fe Opera in newspapers all over the country, and a great many tourists come to New Mexico because of the opera ,Still ,most of the audience does come from Santa Fe and other nearby cities. And all the seats in the theater are sold for every show.
There is only one thing that some people do not like about the Santa Fe Opera, and that is the cold weather .Because the theater is open, performances cannot start before it gets dark at nine o'clock in the evening, and then the mountain air becomes very cool. Sometimes people complain about the cold air ,but because the opera is good , these people come back again wearing warm coats. | high1413.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "By the sea"
},
"options": [
"In the hills",
"By the sea",
"On the river",
"In the town"
],
"question": "Where did the story take place?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": ... | Charlie was spending his summer holidays by the sea. One day he climbed over some rocks. He was looking for some crabs for supper. He took off his shorts and put them on a rock.
The afternoon went quickly. Time was flying by. Look! The sea was coming in fast. It was over some of the rocks now.
Charlie looked up. "It's getting late. Oh dear! Look at the sea. Where are my shorts now?" he thought. He saw them on a rock.
Oh dear! The rock was an island! Now he must swim and got them.
Charlie jumped into the sea and started swimming. He reached the rock and put his shorts on his head. Then he started swimming back. Oh no! The sea was too strong for Charlie. It was pulling him away from the beach.
"Help!" he called. "I can't get back. "
Luckily, a boat was coming by. The people in the boat saw Charlie and heard his call for help.
"Are you all right?" asked the woman in the boat.
"No! I can't swim back. The sea is too strong. "
The woman stopped the boat and she and a girl pulled Charlie into the boat. He threw his shorts into the boat too. Then they turned the boat Bound and took Charlie back to the beach.
"That was lucky," said the woman.
"Thank you very much," said Charlie.
"Be careful next time," said the woman. "The sea is usually very strong near these rocks. "
"Next time, I'm going to keep my shorts in my bag," said Charlie. "Better safe than sorry!" | high187.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "St. Louis has a higher level of homeownership than Los Angeles."
},
"options": [
"People in Los Angeles earn high incomes because of its low homeownership rate.",
"New York's low homeownership rate increases people's happiness leve... | Cities with high levels of homeownership--in the range of 75%, like Detroit and St. Lous -had on average considerably lower levels of economic activity and much lower wages and incomes. Far too many people in financial problems are trapped in homes they can't sell, unable to move on to new centers of opportunity.
The cities and regions with the lowest levels of homeownership--in the range of 55% to 60% like Los Angeles and New York--had healthier economies and higher incomes. They also had higher levels of happiness and well-being.
I was shocked to read these interesting points that Richard Florida made in his recent article. Let me try to understand. The people in Detroit and St. Louis are less happy than the people in New York, and Los Angeles. And, the reason is because of home ownership rates?
First, to compare them to New York City (the economic capital of the world), Los Angeles (the entertainment capital of the world) seems unfair. Most people in almost any other city in the world might be less happy!
Next, let's try a different way of determining whether renters are happier than homeowners. Why don't we ask them? Fannie Mae's National Housing Survey 2010 reported:
75% of current renters believe owning a home makes more sense.
67% plan to buy a home at some point in the future.
When they asked current renters for the major reason to buy a house, these were their answers (they could pick several answers):
78% said it was a good place to raise children.
75% said because they would feel safe.
70% said because you have control your own space.
If you believe renters are happier, you would also have to believe the majority enjoy living in a less safe environment, which wouldn't be a good place to raise children and would be a place where they have less control of their space. ks5u | high21858.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "some idioms about food"
},
"options": [
"some idioms about food",
"words created by mum",
"words and their stories",
"phrases in the kitchen"
],
"question": "The passage is mainly about _ .",
"question_ty... | Well, it's time for Words and Their Stories. We present more expressions about food from Elenir Scardueli, a listener in Brazil.
My mother believes you are what you eat. Then she'd always give us nutritious food. She likes serving us meat and potatoes, which can also mean the most important part of something. Here's another expression about meat: one man's meat is another man's poison--one might like something very much while another person might hate it.
My father's a good and honest person. People say he's the salt of the earth. He'd never pour salt on a wound, or make someone feel worse about something. However, sometimes he tells us a story that seems bigger than life. So we have to take it with a grain of salt.
My husband makes enough money to support our family. So we say he brings home the bacon. He can cut the mustard, or do what is expected of him at work. Besides, he stands almost two meters tall, so it's easy to find my husband in a crowd. He is a tall drink of water.
I take the train to work. It is not a pleasant ride because the train is so crowded that we are packed like sardines.
When we fail to see problems at work, my boss tells us to wake up and smell the coffee. We need to pay more attention and fix the problem.
I once made a big mistake at the office and felt foolish. I had egg on my face.
Over the weekend, my friend invited me to watch a football game on television. But I do not like football. It is not my cup of tea.
We hope this has given you food for thought and stay with us next time. Thank you. | high18001.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The little boy was too surprised to believe what had happened in the end."
},
"options": [
"The little boy got the video game because he was selected to win the prize.",
"The little girl chose the video game as her present.",
... | I was doing my last-minute Christmas shopping in a toy store, looking at fashion dolls. A nicely-dressed little girl with her father was excitedly looking through the same dolls as well. As she was looking, a boy wandered in and sorted through some of the video games. He was dressed neatly, but in clothes that were obviously rather worn. He, too, had money in his hand, but it seemed to be no more than five dollars or so at the most. He was with his father as well, but each time he picked one of the video games and looked at his father, his father shook his head.
The little girl had apparently chosen her doll, a beautifully-dressed glamorous creation that would have been the envy of every little girl on the block. However, she stopped to watch the little boy and his father. Then, the little girl put her carefully-chosen doll back on the shelf, and ran over to the video games. She excitedly picked up one that was lying on top of the other toys and raced towards the reception desk after speaking with her father. I picked up my purchases and waited in line behind them. Then, much to the little girl's obvious delight, the little boy and his father stood behind me.
After the video game was paid for and bagged, the little girl handed it back to the cashier and whispered _ in her ear. The cashier smiled and put the package under the counter. I paid for my purchases and was rearranging things in my purse when the little boy came up to the cashier.
The cashier rang up his purchases and then said, "Congratulations, you have been selected to win a prize!" With that, she handed the little boy the video game, and he could only stare in disbelief. It was, he said, exactly what he had wanted!
The little girl and her father were standing at the door-way during all of this, and I saw the biggest, prettiest smile on that little girl's face that I have ever seen in my life. | high21680.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "To attract the readers' interest in the backups."
},
"options": [
"To tell the background of the scanning photos.",
"To attract the readers' interest in the backups.",
"describe a severe natural disaster.",
"To win the ... | Back those photos up
The images were striking. Homes on the East Coast were washed away by Superstorm Sandy. People were in tears, picking up faded photographs, among their only remaining possessions.
If that doesn't move you to get serious about safekeeping your lifetime of memories, what will? The digital age offers tools never imaginable before--including one-click access to a lifetime of family photos.
Here is a brochure on how to back up your photos and save them online, where they can live forever and be accessible in good times and bad.
Scanning
The first step for those old photos is to scan them and save them to a digital format. Most printers come with scanners these days, so that's an easy but extremely time-consuming step.
Storing the photos
With your scans in place, import the photos into your computer, and back them up.
You could make multiple copies of the disks and spread them to loved ones. Or you could choose external hard drives or USB thumb drive, and add your photo and video collection from your computer.
Online backup
If you need lots of space, look at a pure online backup service, Caronite.
Caronite backs up 300 million files daily. Once you sign up, it starts to pick up everything you have on your hard drive. But photo collection on your computer's main hard drive charges for $59 a year.
Cloud Storage
For folks who don't need automatic backup, but instead want to take a more active approach, Dropbox, Google Drive and Microsoft's SkyDrive let you store files online by yourself, share and instantly access them. All offer free options--2GB of free storage for Dropbox, 5GB for Google and 7GB for SkyDrive. But if you want more, you need to pay.
Bottom Line
The hard drive or flash drive is the cheapest and easiest. But drives can fail. Online services are more expensive, but more secure. With more of us switching back and forth between our computers, such services are the best way to get access to our data from wherever we are. | high3204.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "They're difficult to work with as they are stubborn."
},
"options": [
"They've learned much from war and economic disaster.",
"They're difficult to work with as they are stubborn.",
"They respect their boss and hope to be res... | A different sort of _ is developing in the workplace. Someone --- specifically the father-daughter team of Larry and Meagan Johnson --- has figured out that on some American job sites, five generations are working side by side.
In their new book about generations in the workplace the pair argue that while such an age difference adds a lot of texture and a variety of life experiences, it can also bring tensions and conflicts.
The Johnsons are human-resource trainers and public speakers. Dad Larry is a former health-care executive; daughter Meagan is a onetime high-level sales manager.
Here are the oldest and youngest of the five generations they identify:
They call the oldest group Traditionals, born before 1945. They were heavily influenced by the lessons of the Great Depression and World War Two. They respect authority, set a high standard of workmanship, and communicate easily and confidently. But they're also stubbornly independent. They want their opinions heard.
At the other extreme are what the Johnsons call Linksters, born after 1995 into today's more complicated, multi-media world. They live and breathe technology and are often social activists.
You won't find many 15-year olds in the offices of large companies, except as volunteers, of course, but quite old and quite young workers do come together in sales environments like bike shops and ice-cream stores.
The Johnsons, Larry and Meagan, represent a generation gap themselves in their work with jobsite issues. The Johnsons' point is that as the average lifespan continues to rise and retirement dates get delayed because of the tight economy, people of different generations are working side by side, more often bringing with them very different ideas about company loyalty and work values.
The five generations are heavily influenced by quite different events, social trends, and the cultural phenomena of their times. Their experiences shape their behavior and make it difficult, sometimes, for managers to achieve a strong and efficient workplace.
Larry and Meagan Johnson discuss all this in greater detail in a new book, "Generations, Inc.: From Boomers to Linksters --- Managing the Friction Between Generations at Work," published by Amacom Press, which is available in all good bookstore from this Friday. | high11743.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The French Revolution."
},
"options": [
"France.",
"King Louis.",
"The French Revolution.",
"Europe."
],
"question": "What's this passage about?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer... | The French Revolution broke out in 1789. At the time France was in a crisis. The government was badly run and people's lives were miserable. King Louis XIV tried to control the national parliament and raise more taxes. But his effort failed. He ordered his troops to Versailles. The people thought that Louis intended to put down the Revolution by force. On July 14, 1789, they stormed and took the Bastille, where political prisoners were kept. Ever since that day, July 14 has been the French National Day. Louis tried to flee the country in 1792, to get support from Austria and Prussia. However, he was caught and put in prison. In September 1792, the monarchy was abolished _ . In the same year, Louis was executed. A few months later his wife, Marie also had her head cut off. The Revolution of France had frightened the other kings of Europe. Armies from Austria and Prussia began to march against France. The French raised republican armies to defend the nation. The Revolution went through a period of terror. Thousands of people lost their lives. In the end, power passed to Napoleon Bonaparte. | high3562.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "wash your hands and face"
},
"options": [
"wash cups,plates and so on",
"wash your body with water",
"drink from a clean cup",
"wash your hands and face"
],
"question": "In American English \"wash up\" means _... | Like most English children,I learned foreign languages at school.When I made my first visit to the United States,I was sure I could have a nice easy holiday without any language problem.But how wrong I was.
At the American airport,I was looking for a public telephone to tell my friend Jenny that I had arrived.A worker asked if he could help me."Yes,"I said,"I want to give my friend a ring.""Well,that's nice.Are you getting married?"he asked."No,"I replied."I just want to tell her on the phone I have arrived.""Oh,"he said."There is a phone downstairs on the first floor.""But we're on the first floor now,"I said."Well,I don't know what you are talking about.Maybe you aren't feeling too well after your journey,"he said."You just go and wash up,and you will feel a lot better."And he went off,leaving me wondering where on earth I was:at home we wash up after a meal to get the cups and plates clean.How can I wash up at an airport
At last we did meet.She explained the misunderstanding:Americans say "to give someone a call",but we English say"to give somebody a ring".When we say"to wash your hands",they say"to wash up".And Englishmen start numbering from the ground floor,so the first floor is the second for Americans. | high19479.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "$1 million"
},
"options": [
"$105.",
"$10 billion.",
"$63.000.",
"$1 million"
],
"question": "How much did Avon Products,Inc. provide for UNIFEM?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer":... | prefix = st1 /Yao-less Rockets Keep Rising
Houston Agencies(March 9,2008)--Tracy McGrady had 41 points and nine assists as the Houston Rockets won their 18th game continuously with a 106-96 win over New Orleans on Saturday.
McGrady fell just six points short of his season high for points as the Rockets kept their winning record.
The Rockets won their sixth in a row since Chinese All-Star Yao Ming went out for the season with his left foot hurt.Yao had an operation earlier in the week.
Joining Hands
China Daily(March 10.2008)--To celebrate International Women's Day on Saturday, March 8,Avon Products,Inc,a leading global beauty company with almost $10 billion in yearly income and the United Nations Development Fund for Women(UNIFEM)have announced their partnership to ensure women's rights and end violence against women.
Avon has offered $1 million to the UNIFEM.The partnership will enlarge the work of the UN to improve women's economic security and rights.
Oil prices fall below the $105 mark
Bloomberg News(March 11, 2008)--Oil prices dropped below $105 yesterday after last week's record highs and it reduced tension between oil producers Venezuela and Colombia over the weekend.
Cold weather in the United States and the continuing weakening of the US dollars were set as main factors supporting prices.
The rush to a new record was driven by a US Labour Department report saying that employers cut 63,000 jobs in February--the biggest drop in five years. | high17454.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "American dance was seen as a lower art form."
},
"options": [
"She was too old to learn American dance.",
"American dance was seen as a lower art form.",
"There was no academic school to teach dancing.",
"Her family was... | Martha Graham, born in 1894, was one of the most famous dancers and creators of dance, whose influence on dance has been compared with the influence Picasso had on the modern visual arts, Stravinsky had on music, or Frank Lloyd Wright had on architecture. She created almost two hundred dance pieces. She is often called the Mother of Modern Dance.
Earlier in her life, however, Martha did not know that she would become a dancer. At that time, the dancers were looked down on. So Martha's parents didn't approve of her desire to dance at the beginning. Until 1916, she began her studies at the newly created Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts, founded by Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn, where Graham worked very hard to improve her ability to dance because she was considered too old to begin dancing.
In 1936, Graham made her defining work, "Chronicle^, which signaled the beginning of a new era in modern dance. The dance brought serious issues to the stage for the general public in a dramatic manner. Influenced by the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the Great Depression that followed, and the Spanish Civil War, it focused on depression and isolation, reflected in the dark nature of both the set and costumes.
Graham continued to dance past the age of seventy. Once again, she was met with criticism from people who came to watch her shows. But she didn't give up. Her last completed ballet was 1990's Maple Leaf Rag. "A Dancer's World" is an introduction to Graham and her work. She tells about her dances and her dance group shows some of their methods.
Martha Graham received many awards during her lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in nineteen seventy-six. She was the -first dancer to receive the country's highest civilian honor. She died in 1991 at the age of ninety-six. In 1998, Time magazine listed her as the "Dancer of the Century" and as one of the most important people of the twentieth century. | high18767.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "his boss had stopped employing him"
},
"options": [
"he had to help with the author's lessons",
"his boss had stopped employing him",
"heavy house work was waiting for him to do",
"he wanted to search for new jobs on li... | When I walked into the house after school, the first thing I noticed was a box with items I recognized from my dad's office.
"What are you doing home already?" I asked casually.
"Andrew, I was laid off today," he answered, quietly.
I was sure he was joking. "No, you weren't. Why are you really home?"
Then I noticed his seriousness and realized he was telling the truth. My father has always been
a hard worker and prided himself on his career. Providing for our family has been his joy, and I guess I had taken his work for granted.
My father's unemployment created many changes in our lives. For starters, he was home all the time, which meant my bed had to be made, my room cleaned up, and my homework done right after school. I would come home every day to find him at the computer searching for jobs. I began to notice how down he seemed, and how losing his job had affected his self-esteem, though he tried to be optimistic. For the first time, I saw my dad as vulnerable. He asked my brother and me to spend less. I gave up my allowance, which even though it wasn't much, felt like the right thing to do. I also found a part-time job.
After several difficult months of searching, my dad decided to go in a totally different direction. He explained that he never wanted to be laid off again, so he was going to start his own business. Day by day, I watched him build it, and I admired how much time and energy he expended.
One evening I asked if he needed help.
"Only if it doesn't interfere with school," he said. k*s5*u
I showed up at his office the next afternoon, and most afternoons after that for two months. I always knew he was a hard worker, but watching him in action really impacted me. Although this was one of the worst experiences for our family, it taught me a lot about dealing with adversity. Now I know that through creative problem-solving, I can always find Plan B, ask for help, and take risks. What I have learned from my dad's understanding of business and his work ethic are two of the most important lessons I will ever learn, and will be my foundations for success. | high16992.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "To get a bike to go around."
},
"options": [
"To work out what to major in.",
"To open a qq account.",
"To get a bike to go around.",
"To buy a new mobile phone."
],
"question": "For a newcomer to Oxford, what d... | When you first arrive in Oxford, it may take a little while for you to find your way around. Some of the first things our students do when they arrive include finding a bike (most students in Oxford find cycling is the best way to go around), setting up a bank account, getting their computer and mobile phone working, finding their department, getting to know their college and working out the best places to socialize.
One of the major events you will experience shortly after "coming up" to Oxford is matriculation. Matriculation is held at the University's Sheldonian Theatre and is the ceremony at which you are formally admitted to the university.
International students are invited to an orientation day at the start of the academic year. Sessions run throughout the day that will give you practical information about living and studying in the UK and introduce you to other graduate students from all over the world who are starting their studies at Oxford at the same time as you, as well as to current Oxford graduate students and staff who will be able to help and advise you. The day covers topics such as studying and learning in the Oxford system, University services, information on living in Britain and cultural differences, as well as addressing practical issues such as employment, immigration and visas, health and safety. You can choose which talks to attend and at the end of the day there is a social hour so you can meet fellow students.
Another good thing to experience early is college dining. Most colleges have a tradition of regular formal hall dinners, which consist of three or four courses, and the atmosphere of an evening out in a nice restaurant. On some of these occasions you can invite people around to your college for dinner and _ . In this way, you can get to know people studying your own and other subjects at the same time as visiting many of the historical college grounds and dining halls. | high13632.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Walt Disney"
},
"options": [
"Mickey Mouse",
"Clarence Nash",
"Walt Disney",
"Pluto"
],
"question": "Who made Donald Duck film?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_i... | In 1933 an unknown American called Clarence Nash went to see the filmmaker Walt Disney. He had an unusual voice and he wanted to work in Disney's cartoon film for children. When Walt Disney heard Nash's voice, he said "Stop! That's our duck!"
The duck was the now-famous Donald Duck, who first appeared in 1934 in the film The Wise Little Hen. Donald lived in an old houseboat and wore his sailor jacket and hat. Later that year he became a star after an eight-minute Mickey Mouse film. The cinema audience liked him because he was lazy and greedy, and because he lost his temper very quickly. And they loved his voice when he became angry with Mickey's eight nephews. Soon Donald was more popular than Mickey Mouse himself, probably because he wasn't a _ like Mickey.
In the 1930s, 40s and 50s Donald and his friends Mickey, Goofy and Pluto made hundreds of Disney cartoons. He also made educational films about the place of the USA in the world, and safety in the home. Then in 1966 Donald Duck and his voice disappeared---there were no more new cartoons.
Clarence Nash died in February, 1985. But today's children can still see the old cartoons on television and hear that famous voice. | high79.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "makes us sleepy"
},
"options": [
"makes us sleepy",
"helps us relaxed",
"prevents us from waking up",
"makes us excited"
],
"question": "Melatonin is the hormone that _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questio... | American researchers have discovered that human brains and sleep patterns are confused by devices that give out bright lights. Electronics, such as laptops, mislead our minds into thinking that it is still daytime, preventing sleep and increasing the risk of _ .
Sleep experts say human's natural body clock begins to rest and relax from the day between 9 and 10 pm but the use of computers confuses it.
A person's brain biologically becomes awake when the sun is out because bright light after dark causes the brain to stop producing the hormone called melatonin that makes us sleepy.
Researchers say blue light from devices such as iPads, which is expected to become a popular reading tool when it comes out later this month, is particularly disruptive during the night when the brain thinks it should be dark.
Experts say a good book is a far better way of resting the brain and ensuring a good night's sleep because the bedside lamp light doesn't affect the brain as it does not look straight into a person's eyes.
"Potentially, yes, if you're using an iPad or a laptop close to bedtime... that light can be stimulating to the brain to make it more awake and delay your ability to sleep," Phyllis Zee, a professor at Northwestern University and director of the school's Centre for Sleep & Circadian Biology, told CNN.
"And I think more importantly, it could also be enough to affect your circadian rhythm. This is the clock in your brain that determines when you sleep and when you wake up. "
Alon Avidan, associate director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the University of California Los Angeles, added, "I wish people would just take a boring book -- an oldfashioned book -- and read by a lamp." | high9729.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "many kids have their own cellphones"
},
"options": [
"not all cellphones meet kids' needs",
"not all parents buy their kids cellphones",
"kids who are old enough should have cellphones",
"many kids have their own cellph... | Most cellphone companies design models especially for kids. But parents are usually the ones buying the phones. According to a July 2012 study, 56% of parents of children aged 8 to 12 have given their children a cellphone. The number goes up with age. The study just proves what many people already guessed: many kids, if not most, have their own cellphones.
According to a recent survey, 12 is the magic number. It is the most common age for kids to get their first cellphone. But 13% of children aged 6 to 10 already have one.
People who are for kids' using cellphones, including many parents, notice that cellphones help kids keep in touch with their friends and families. They believe that cellphones are an important tool in a dangerous situation. Kids can reach their parents at all times. And some people say having a cellphone helps teach kids to be responsible. Some cellphones designed for kids can be set to only work when parents approve . What's the harm in that?
But other people are worried about the health and safety effects of kids' cellphones. They believe that kids with cellphones will spend less time playing outside with friends, and that sending text messages or making phone calls while doing homework makes it difficult for kids to concentrate. They say that kids are spending too much time texting instead of talking to each other. "Our brains developed to communicate face to face," says Gary Small, a teacher at the UCLA School of Medicine, in California. "A lot of this is lost with texting."
Another worry is cyber bullying , which is on the rise as more kids use e-mail and text messages to communicate. And some experts are worried about possible health risks. They worry that energy waves produced by cellphones could be harmful to young people. To be safe, parents should not let them talk long on the phone. | high8437.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Alice Wilder's participation in feminist activities"
},
"options": [
"what being a feminist means in today's American society",
"Alice Wilder's participation in feminist activities",
"how girls and women fight for their right... | Alice Wilder, a 17-year-old student at Northwest School of the Arts in North Carolina, considers herself a feminist . She is one of 26 bloggers for SPARK, an international group founded in 2010. The group fights the use of the female body as a marketing tool in the media.
Alice found out about SPARK when the organization launched a campaign demanding Seventeen Magazine feature a more diverse group of models. She applied to be a blogger for the group in May and won one of the positions.
Each month, Alice pitches (...) her girl -and women - centric blog post ideas via online chat to an editor at SPARK. So far, she has written about topics such as female actresses, choosing what to wear, and dealing with anger.
Alice said she hopes large companies and media stop editing images of women. Increases in bust size, decreases in waist size, smoothing and whitewashing skin are what Alice notes. "We want them to know that these images are bad for our development," Alice said. "Three out of four teen girls feel bad about themselves after reading a fashion magazine for three minutes," she said, according to SPARK's research.
Alice first felt it necessary to advocate for women in the fifth grade, after seeing a girl's T-shirt with writing on the front that read: "Who needs brains when you have these?"
"I was raised with this idea that if you don't like something, you can change it," Alice said. So Alice started following feminist bloggers.
Alice juggles class work with blogging and creating videos and serves as editor-in-chief of her school's newspaper. It is amazing that she can handle everything well at the same time.
She's also focused on creating projects that aim to inspire girls - like designing a "girl power bathroom" at her school. The newly designed third-floor restroom is completed with pastel paint color1s and inspirational quotes from women around the world.
"Sisterhood is powerful," Alice said. "It can make you feel less alone." | high23929.txt |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.