questions list | article stringlengths 9 6.44k | id stringlengths 9 14 |
|---|---|---|
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Students in the first year of college."
},
"options": [
"University teachers.",
"Students who are not independent.",
"Students in the first year of college.",
"Students who will graduate from college soon."
],
"... | When you are far away from home for the first time and have a lot to adjust to,you can't do it alone. However independent you are,it is good to have a roommate during your first year.
Living with someone helps ease your loneliness. Sure it may seem appealing to be able to play your music and turn up your TV as loud as you want, but coming home to an empty room every day can be depressing. If you have a bad day, you may want to talk to someone.
Friends are great sources of venting , but friends can't always be there. Even worse, they may be selfcentered and show no interest in your problem. It's not that roommates aren't like this, but even just small talk can help you feel better.
Having a roommate teaches you how to get along with people and settle conflict. You two should set up rules immediately and discuss what to do when there is conflict. If you two don't like each other,you still study,relax,and sleep in the same room. You must find a way to get along.
Finally,having a roommate exposes you to different ways of living. Your roommate may come from a different city,and have different living habits. He or she also has different interests and personalities. You don't have to end up liking the same things your roommate does,but try to learn something different. You will be surrounded by many different people in college and have the chance to try things you never have before. Why not start learning from your roommate?
Having a roommate gives you the skills and personal background you will need to utilize when you are out on your own. Make the most of living with a stranger and besides,there will be plenty of opportunities for you to have your own room later in your college years. | high12466.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "should experience difficulties to make it steady"
},
"options": [
"has to go peacefully and happily for all time",
"has to experience many disasters at the beginning",
"must always allow the couple be together and happy",
... | A newly-wedded couple on a four-month honeymoon were hit by six natural disasters, including the Australian floods, Christchurch earthquake and Japanese tsunami .
Stefan and Erika Svanstrom left Stockholm, Sweden, on December 6 and were immediately stuck in Munich, Germany, due to one of Europe's worst snowstorms.
Travelling with their baby daughter, they flew on to Cairns in Australia which was then struck by one of the most violent cyclones in the nation's history.
From there, the couple, in their 20s, were forced to shelter for 24 hours on the cement floor of a shopping centre with 2,500 others.
"Trees were being knocked over and big branches were put down across the streets, " Mr. Svanstrom told Sweden's Expressen newspaper. "We escaped by the skin of our teeth."
Mr. Svanstrom said they then headed south to Brisbane but the city was experiencing massive flooding, so they crossed the country to Perth where they narrowly escaped burning bush fires.
The couple then flew to Christchurch, New Zealand, arriving just after a massive magnitude 6.3 earthquake attacked the city on February 22.
Mrs. Svanstrom said, "When we got there the whole town was like a war zone. We could not visit the city since it was completely blocked off, so instead we travelled around before going to Japan."
But days after the Svanstroms arrived, Tokyo was rocked by Japan's largest earthquake since records began.
"The trembling was horrible and we saw roof tiles fly off the buildings," Mr. Svanstrom said. "It was like the buildings were swaying back and forth."
The family returned to Stockholm on March 29 after a much calmer visit to their last destination China.
But Mr. Svanstrom --- who also survived the destructive Boxing Day tsunami that hit southeast Asia in 2004 --- said the marriage was still going strong.
He added, "I know marriages have to experience some difficulties, but I think we have been through most of them. We've certainly experienced more than our fair share of disasters, but the most important thing is that we're together and happy." | high7128.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "7 and 9."
},
"options": [
"3 and 7.",
"7 and 9.",
"3 and 9.",
"3 and 13."
],
"question": "According to the passage, which of the following groups of numbers will certainly bring good luck to people?",
"quest... | People around the world are superstitious about numbers; even those ancient Greeks believed that all numbers and their multiples had some mystical significance.
Those numbers between 1 and 13 were in particular to have a powerful influence over the affairs of men.
For example, _ . The arrival of a letter will be followed by two others within a certain period.
Another belief involving the number three has it that it is unlucky to light three cigarettes from the one match. If this happens, the bad luck that goes with the deed falls upon the person whose cigarette was the last to be lit. The ill-men linked to the lighting of three things from one match or candle goes back to at least the 17th century and probably earlier. It was believed that three candles alight at the same time would be sure to bring bad luck; one, two, or four, were permissible, but never just three.
Seven was another significant number, usually regarded as a bringer of good luck. The ancient astrologers believed that the universe was governed by seven planets; students of Shakespeare will recall that the life of man was divided into seven ages. Seven horseshoes nailed to a house will protect it from all evil.
Nine is usually thought of as a lucky number because it is the product of three times three. It was much used by the Anglo Saxons in their charms for healing.
Another belief was that great changes occurred every 7th and 9th of a man's life. Consequently, the age of 63 (the product of nine and seven) was thought to be a very _ time for him. If he survived his 63rd year he might hope to live to a ripe old age.
Thirteen, as we well know, is regarded with great awe and fear. The common belief is that this derives from the fact that there were 13 people at Christ's Last Supper. This being the eve of his betrayal, it is not difficult to understand the significance given to the number by the early Christians.
In more modern times 13 is an especially unlucky number of a dinner party, for example. Hotels will avoid numbering a floor the 13th; the progression is from 12 to 14, and no room is given the number 13. Many home owners will use 12 1/2 instead of 13 as their house number.
Yet oddly enough, to be born on the 13th of the month is not regarded with any fear at all, which just shows how irrational we are in our superstitious beliefs. | high14771.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Gratitude is important to happiness."
},
"options": [
"There are many ways of being thankful.",
"Gratitude is important to happiness.",
"Mom is great for her being thankful.",
"Being thankful will keep you fit."
],
... | Mom was right!If you say thank you,for even the smallest gift or slightest show of kindness,you'll feel happy.
Gratitude ,says Robert A.Emmons,a professor of psychology at the University of California,is an important element of happiness.In his recent book,Thanks!,Emmons uses the first major study on gratitude to prove mom's point.In acknowledging and developing this muchignored expression of thankfulness,he explains how people have benefited--even improved their health.
As one of the leading scholars of the positive psychology movement,he admits gratitude may be difficult to express.He advises you to begin by admitting that life is good and full of events and elements that make daily existence a wonder.Second,recognize that the source of life's goodness is more than just you.That source may be your mom,a friend,partner,child,colleague at work or play,or any combination of these.
Gratitude is always otherdirected,notes Emmons.You can be pleased or angry with yourself and feel guilty about doing something wrong,but you can never be grateful to or for yourself.
Expressing gratitude shouldn't be a reaction;it should be a state of mind.To feel grateful when life is a breeze and you have more than you need is easy.To feel grateful in time of crisis--anger,hatred and bitterness--is easier.Also,too many people are aware of life's blessings only after these are lost.The voices expressing gratitude from his studies of individuals are many.
It's crisis and chaos--danger,disease,disability and death--that bring many individuals to realize just how dependent they are on others.Yet it's the way each of us begins life and ends it.It's too bad that so many people waste those decades in between labouring under the illusion they are selfsufficient,says Emmons.
To enable and embrace gratitude,Emmons encourages the readers of Thanks! to keep a gratitude diary.He even provides easytofollow directions on how to practise and develop gratitude.
I'm not a reader or advocate of selfhelp books,but I am thankful for the reference I found in a newspaper article to the research Emmons was conducting on gratitude involving organ donors and recipients .The chance discovery led me to this book.
Mom implied that kindness seems to find its way back to the giver because life really is all about giving,receiving and repaying.So I'll pay attention to her professional advice and say:Thank you,professor Emmons. | high6236.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the gaur lives in Asia and is endangered"
},
"options": [
"scientists have cloned the African bongo antelope",
"both the cheetah and the giant panda live in Asia",
"the gaur lives in Asia and is endangered",
"the gaur i... | Have you seen Jurassic Park? In this film, scientists use DNA kept for tens of millions of years to clone dinosaurs. They find trouble, however, when they realize that the cloned creatures are smarter and more dangerous than expected. That's nothing more than a fiction.
But could we really clone endangered animals?
To date, the most successful attempt to do so was the cloning of a gaur, a rare ox-like animal from southeast Asia. Scientists used a cow to bring the cloned baby gaur, named Noah. Two days after birth, however, Noah died from a common bacterial infection. Other endangered species that may be cloned include the African bongo antelope , the Sumatran tiger, the cheetah , and the giant panda. Next, could we really clone extinct animals?
In theory? Yes. To do this, you need a well-kept source of DNA from the extinct animals such as wool mammoth , Tasmanian tiger, or even dinosaur, and a closely related species, still living, which could serve as a surrogate mother.
In reality? Probably not. On the one hand, it's not likely that extinct animals' DNA could survive undamaged for such a long time. Cloning extinct animals as wool mammoth, Tasmanian tiger, or dinosaur is much more difficult due to the lack of properly well-preserved DNA. On the other hand, for example, a gaur can have a cow as _ , definitely not a monkey. But what about an extinct animal as unique as the panda? What species could possibly serve as a surrogate mother?
Cloning presents many exciting possibilities. However, even if extinct animals are brought back, they could not survive in today's world. Not only do most extinct animals have no habitat to live in, but the other plants and animals they depended on for food may also be gone as well. | high10517.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "They are good tools for learning other cultures."
},
"options": [
"They are often quite cheap to apply for.",
"They are very difficult to apply for.",
"They are good tools for learning other cultures.",
"They are only f... | Study-abroad programs are a great way to learn about different cultures. Sometimes students don't have the money to join in these programs. That is why scholarships for study-abroad programs are starting to become popular.
Study-abroad programs can often be quite expensive. Finding scholarships is not that difficult. Usually, you can just visit the study-abroad office at your educational institution or even the financial services office. They will have a large directory of available scholarships. If your school does not have these offices, you can just quickly have a look on the Internet and find a wide variety of scholarships you might qualify for.
The credentials you need to be considered for a scholarship vary greatly. But, to be a candidate for any scholarship, you generally need to have good grades, be an outstanding person, and be able to take full advantage of the opportunities presented to you. You will be able to show why you are a good candidate through the application process.
The application process for each scholarship varies, which usually includes submitting an academic record, an essay, and sometimes an interview.
Usually, you will have to submit your academic records. The administrators of the scholarship will know that you take your academic studies seriously. Next you usually need to write an essay. This could be on a wide variety of subjects, but they usually focus on something related to 'why you should get this scholarship' to determine how much you want the scholarship and how good of a candidate you would be. After this, the final few applicants may be asked in for an interview to learn about you and why you would be a good recipient of the scholarship.
If you satisfy all these requirements, there is a good chance you will get a scholarship. If you don't have enough money, don't give up but use plenty of scholarship opportunities for you! | high21912.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "many English expressions contain the word \"cold\""
},
"options": [
"cold weather has a great effect on human bodies",
"many English expressions contain the word \"cold\"",
"cold is a word closely linked with human emotions",... | Cold weather has a great effect on how our minds and our bodies work. Maybe that is why there are so many expressions that use the word "cold". For centuries, the body's blood has been linked closely with the emotions. People who show no human emotions or feelings, for example, are said to be cold-blooded. Cold-blooded people act in merciless ways. They may do brutal things to others, and not by accident. For example, a newspaper says the police are searching for a cold-blooded killer. The killer murdered someone, not in self-defense. He seemed to kill for no reason, and with no emotion, as if taking someone's life meant nothing.
Cold can affect other parts of the body, the feet, for example. Heavy socks can you're your feet, if your feet are really cold. But there is an expression--to get cold feet--that has nothing to do with cold or your feet.
The expression means being afraid to do something you have decided to do. For example, you agree to be president of an organization. But then you learn that all the other officers have resigned. All the work of the organization will be your responsibility. You are likely to get cold feet about being the president when you understand the situation.
Cold can also affect your shoulder. You give someone the cold shoulder when you refuse to speak to them. You treat them in a distant and cold way. The expression probably comes from the physical act of turning your back toward someone, instead of speaking to him face-to-face. You may give a cold shoulder to a friend who has not kept a promise he made to you, or to someone who has lied about you to others.
A cold fish is not a fish. It is a person. But it is a person who is unfriendly, unemotional and shows no love or warmth. A cold fish does not offer much of himself to anyone.
Out in the cold is an expression often heard. It means not getting something that everybody else got. A person might say that everybody but him got a pay raise, and that he was left out in the cold. And it is not a pleasant place to be. | high2050.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": ".Chques help improve children's self-respect"
},
"options": [
".Cliques members have different characteristics and interests.",
".Once a cliques is formed its members are not changeable.",
".Cliques are more popular among boy... | Some children show preferences for friends at an early age. At 9 or 10,children become a were of differences, they begin to form cliques(,).At l0 0r 12 years of age ,as they are separate from parents, identification with peers may become enlarged and cliques may form and change frequently. At middle and high school the issue of belonging becomes even more extraordinary and outstanding.
Cliques are small, particular groups of friends who share common characteristics and common interests(music, dress, sports, etc.).Each member is either directly or indirectly connected to other members. Cliques usually refer to groups of girls; however boys are also involved in cliques. There are usually hierarchies of cliques among teens ,from the populars to the losers,and there are often many cliques in schools.
Normal adolescent development often circles around cliques - joining cliques, wanting to join cliques, or being out of cliques. Cliques can have a strong positive effect on self-worth. They provide social occasions and help kids develop a sense of belonging support and protection Cliques improve self-respect by making kids feel wanted ,and they enable the cliques member to develop a sense of identity and to deal with social events around themselves.
While, cliques can be opposed to other kids and other cliques. In some cases cliques members can become harmful to outsiders by putting them down using teasing, backstabbing, and even violence. Although girls are socialized to suppress physical displays of violence ,it can take the form of intimidating behavior. Cliques can pollute individuality and prevent members from mixing with members of other groups. They usually require some degree of agreement in appearance, attitude, or behavior. They can drive away members for no apparent reason, and they can pressure kids into group activities in order to
fit in , creating interpersonal cliques and violence. | high17278.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Winter."
},
"options": [
"Spring.",
"Summer.",
"Autumn.",
"Winter."
],
"question": "Which of the following would most probably be the worst time of the year as seen by the writer?",
"question_type": null
}... | It was an autumn morning shortly after my husband and I moved into our first house. Children were upstairs unpacking , and I was looking out of the window at my father moving around mysteriously on the front lawn. My parents lived nearby ,and Dad had visited us several times already. "What are you doing out there?" I called to him .He looked up, smiling. "I'm making you a surprise." Knowing my father, I thought it could be just about anything. A self-employed jobber, he was always building things out of odds and ends. When we were kids, he always created something surprising for us.
Today, however, Dad would say no more, and caught ups in the busyness of our new life, I eventually forgot about his surprise. Until one gloomy day the following March when I glanced out of the window. Any yet... I saw a dot of blue across the yard. I headed outside for a closer look. They were crocuses , throughout the front lawn. Lavender, blue, yellow and my favorite pink ---- little faces moved up and down in the cold wind.
Dad! I smiled, remembering the things he had secretly planted last autumn. He knew how the darkness and dullness of winter always got me down. What could have been more perfectly timely to my needs?
My father's crocuses bloomed each spring for the next four or five seasons, bringing the same assurance every time they arrived: hard times was almost over. Hold on, keep going, light is coming soon.
Then a spring came with only half the usual blooms. The next spring there were none. I missed the crocuses. I would ask Dad to come over and plant new bulbs. But I never did.
He died suddenly one October day. My family was in deep sorrow, leaning on our faith. I missed him terribly.
Four years passed, and on a dismal spring afternoon I was driving back when I found myself feeling depressed. "You've got the winter depression again and you get them every year." I told myself.
It was Dad's birthday, and I found myself thinking about him. This was not unusual --- my family often talked about him, remembering how he lived his faith. Once I saw him give his coat to a homeless man.
Suddenly I slowed as I turned into our driveway. I stopped and stared at the lawn. And there on the muddy grass and small gray piles of melting snow, bravely waving in the wind, was one pink crocus.
How could a flower bloom from a bulb more than 18 years old, one that had not blossomed in over a decade? But there was the crocus. Tears filled my eyes as I realized its significance.
Hold on, keep going, light is coming soon. The pink crocus bloomed for only a day. But it built my faith for a lifetime. | high4421.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the school lacked teaching facilities for music."
},
"options": [
"music was focus of learning in most schools.",
"the environment was favorable to music teaching.",
"the school lacked teaching facilities for music.",
"... | When Andrea Peterson landed her first teaching job, she faced the
task of creating a music program with almost no money for equipment or supplies in a climate where standards-based learning was the focus and music just provided a break for students and teachers.
For her drive and creativity in overcoming those challenges, she's been name national teacher of the year.
Principal Waynes Kettler said he's worked with many outstanding teachers in his 22 years as an educator, but Peterson is "just that one step above anybody I've ever worked with before."
Kettler and others at Monte Cristo Elementary School talk about the ways she has introduced the learning from other classrooms into her music program and her creativity in working around things such as the lack of money for new music.
When students were reading S.E. Hinton's novel
in their regular classroom, Peterson helped them write a 30-minute play with scenes from the book. Then they chose three Broadway tunes that focused on race, equality and social justice, the themes of the book. Peterson composed two other sons herself after classroom discussions about the play and the book.
The honor means a lot to residents of Granie Falls. It's inspiring to know that people from small towns can even win national honors.
As national teacher of the year, Peterson will spend the next year outside classroom, as a national and international spokeswoman for education.
Not surprisingly, she is a big believer in the value of arts education. She said it's essential for schools to offer classes such as art or music and physical education because for some kids one of those subjects is the only thing that motivates them to come back to school day after day. | high16166.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "It doesn't require a lot of money to make the finals splendid."
},
"options": [
"Norway will host next year's Eurovision finals.",
"It doesn't require too much money to win the finals.",
"Norway is determined to win next year... | OSLO -- Excited with pride, Norwegians sang in the streets of Oslo on Sunday, celebrating Norway's National Day and the country's Eurovision Song Contest victory.
Hundreds of Norwegians sang along to Alexander Rybak's winning song Fairytale as they walked in the country's traditional National Day parade celebrating the Norwegian constitution.
Alexander Rybak -- called "Alexander the Great" by the Norwegian media -- won a great victory in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) by gaining the most votes in its 53-year history in Moscow on Saturday.
Alexander has played violin and piano since he was five years old, and he also composes his own music and sings. In 2006 he won the Norwegian talent show Kjempesjansen with his own song Foolin. Alexander has performed with one of the world's most celebrated violinists, Pinchas Zukerman, won the Anders Jahres Culture Price and has been the concertmaster for Norway's largest symphony orchestra for youths, Ung Symfoni.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said there was clearly something special about the 23-year-old and his folk music. "This is a _ performance by a young and talented musician," Stoltenberg said in a statement.
Rybak is expected to draw a large crowd of fans to Oslo's Gardermoen airport when he arrives next Sunday, after having invited all his countrymen from the stage in Moscow.
With Rybak's win, Norway will host next year's Eurovision finals, a show that reaches a television audience of over 100 million people. Norway's Minister of Culture, Trond Giske, promised that Norway would put on a splendid show next year but without spending as much as Moscow, which spent 24 million euros this year. "I don't think that is necessary," he told national broadcaster NRK.
The win was Norway's third. The Nordic country also won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1985 and 1995. | high11609.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The father didn't farm any longer because of his illness"
},
"options": [
"There were six children in the family.",
"The father wanted to give his children to his s.",
"The father didn't farm any longer because of his illnes... | When his wife died, one baby was two. They had six other children, three boys and three girls, ranging in age from 4 to 16.
A few days after he became a _ the man's parents and his past wife's parents came to visit the family. ''We've been talking' they said,'' about how to take care of all these children and work to make a living. So, we've arranged for each child to be placed with a different uncle or aunt. We're making sure that here in the neighborhood, so you can see them at any time'' ''you have no idea how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness.' The man said .''But I want you to know,'' he smiled and continued, '' if the children affect my work or if we should need any help, we'll let you know.''
Over the next few weeks, the man worked with his children, assigning them small work and giving them responsibilities. But then another misfortune happened. The man got a disease-- arthritis. His hands swelled, and he was unable to catch the handles of his farm tools. The children did their work well, but the man could see that he would not be able to continue the work on his farm, He sold his farming equipment, moved the family to a small town, and opened a small business, The family was welcomed into the new neighborhood. The man's business flourished soon. He got pleasure from seeing people and serving them. Word of his pleasant personality and good customer service began to spread in the town. People came from far and wide to do business with him, and the children helped both at home and at work, Their father's pleasure in his work brought courage to them and the father got pleasure from their success.
The children grew up and got married. Five of the seven went to college and then they were married. Each one paid his or her own way. The children's success in school was a source of pride to the father, as he had stopped at the sixth grade .Then came grandchildren .No one enjoyed grandchildren more than this man. As they became older, he invited them to his workplace and his small home .They brought each other great joy finally, the youngest daughter, the baby, who had been two years old at her mother's death, got married. And the man, his life's work completed, died.
This man's work had been the lonely but joyful task of raising his family. This man was my father. I was the 16-year-old one, the oldest of the seven. | high21906.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "a soccer player"
},
"options": [
"a league leader",
"a soccer player",
"a doctor",
"a coach"
],
"question": "According to the passage, Dirk Kuyt is probably _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
... | Soccer is not a violent game. But players can hit the ball with their head to purposely change the direction of the ball. In the sport this move is known as a header. Unfortunately, they may sometimes crash into other players, the ground or goal posts. During the World Cup semifinal soccer match in Sao Paulo, Brazil, July 2014,Netherlands,Dirk Kuyt went for a header with Argentina's Javier Mascherano and Ezequiel Garay, making his competitors injured in head.
Catherine McGill is a neuropsychologist at the Children's National Health System in Houston. She examines many children who have suffered concussions ,which are the most common brain injury. She says concussions from soccer and other youth sports are increasing.
"Firstly,parents, coaches, and medical providers alike are getting better at recognizing and responding to the injury, and it,s a huge proof to media paying more attention to this and leagues paying more attention to the safety of their players. Also, kids are getting bigger, faster, stronger across the sports, and so more injuries may be occurring simply because of that."
Catherine McGill spoke at a recent conference on ways to make soccer safer for young players which was held recently in New York. She says researchers are examining the effects of soccer-related head injuries. They want to know whether repeated hits to the head can cause CTE, which is a brain disorder that worsens as a person ages.
She says parents often ask what age children should start "heading" or whether there should be "heading" at all. She thinks it,s a very individual decision. The age for one child may be quite different from another. | high19241.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Computers and the Internet are important for a happy family."
},
"options": [
"A home is a place where you are willing to stay .",
"Even the poorest person can have a happy home .",
"Computers and the Internet are important f... | What is it that makes a house a home ? A home is a place of companionship with people in it who love each other , who are harmonious and closer inside with one another than they are outside with those in the workplace or with classmates at school . A home is a place of companionship that it's difficult to leave. In a home there is love , sharing and appreciation , and the members help each other .
I have seen families on the street. But if they live , sleep , talk , and eat together , they are a family, even if they are poorly off. You don't need a roof to make a home. The truly homeless are some of the rich people who build multi-million-dollar houses and are too busy to live in them . The truly homeless are those who have turned their home into a hotel lobby . The parents work. The children do wrong . They don't talk and eat together every day . They rarely see each other . The truly homeless people are _ with babysitters , caretakers , gardeners and maids. Parents are unaware , too busy making money outside the home that they don't live in . This is another way of looking at the rich and the homeless . Who is to be pitied ?
Control of the computer and the Internet is also important to make a house into a home. If the computer is on all the time , the house turns into an office, even if everyone is at home . Many homes these days are just offices. Human communication has stopped . The computer eats up the time that one should be giving to others within the home . Using the computer moderately gives us time for gentleness , play and communication , not with a screen , but with a human being. | high4435.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "they would be given lunch as well"
},
"options": [
"they would be the only people there",
"they would be given lunch as well",
"they would be taken to a restaurant for lunch",
"they would be asked to take some food with... | More than three years after moving from Australia to this remote part of England, we are still learning how things are done here.
Not too long after we arrived and unpacked, we were invited for "a drink on Sunday morning" by a retired couple nearby. We got there about noon, to find the living-room crowded -- lots of chat and discussions, and in all a very jolly occasion.
Trouble was, there was no food -- no self-respecting Australian would regard a tray of crisps as food. In Sydney, when you are invited for a drink any time after midday on a Sunday, you know you will be fed as well as watered and you plan accordingly. Meaning the hardworked little woman makes no plans to cook lunch because you are eating out.
By one-fifteen my stomach was sending up "please explain" to me. Even the crisps had gone. There was nothing we could do except wait, and wonder if the hostess was going to perform some magic and feed us fashionably late. Then, as quickly as if word had spread that there was free beer at the local pub, the room emptied. By one-forty-five there were only a few guests left, so we decided to go home. Tinned soup for lunch that day because the little woman was not really interested in real cooking for us.
A few weeks ago we were invited out for "supper" and the hostess suggested 8:15. Ah, we thought greedily, "this is going to be the real thing."
We dressed with some care -- I putting on a dark suit -- and arrived on time. My wife looked pretty good, I thought, a little black dress and so on. But when we walked in I had a terrible feeling we had got the night wrong because the hostess was dressed in a daytime kind of way and the husband was in jeans and an open-neck shirt. But no, we were greeted and shown into the sitting-room.
After a drink I looked around and saw that this was indeed a superior cottage because it had a (more or less) separate dining-room. But there were no signs of a table-setting. Not again! I thought. Were we meant to eat before we came? I decided that in future my wife and I would always carry a chocolate bar. About 9:28 our hostess went out of the room, saying something about food. Ten minutes later she returned and asked us to follow. We were led out to the kitchen. There on the table were country style plates and a huge bowl of soup, rough bread and all the makings of a simple meal. And that is what it was. In other words we had not read the signals right when we were invited for "supper". If they want you to come to dinner, they say so, and you know that means dark suits and so on. If they mean supper, they say it, and you get fed in the kitchen. | high16172.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "your home router will be changed for new settings."
},
"options": [
"your home router will be linked to some bad websites.",
"you will find it's very convenient to surf the Internet",
"your home router will be changed for new... | Researchers recently found that hackers took control of 300,000 home routers . Once your home router has been controlled, hackers could redirect your network to malicious websites controlled by hi-tech thieves who could then steal your online back details and other sensitive data. However, there are some simple steps you can take to protect your router.
Say no to 12345 passwords
First, never leave your router open without a password and make sure you change both your Wi-Fi and router login password from the default one it comes with. If you use the default password , this could give someone access to the router setup, which could allow them to change your router settings, including viewing any security keys.
Don't broadcast it
Make sure you don't show up in other people's wireless network scans. Know your network name so you can easily enter it into any devices you want to access that network. Other people do not need to know your network name. To prevent outsiders from seeing your network's name and attempting to join your wireless network, turn off broadcasting in your router's settings.
Invite only please
One way you can ensure no one else joins your network without your permission is to enable your router to only allow certain devices to connect, and ban all others. To do that you can filter by media access control (MAC) addresses.
Turn it off
This is a simple piece of advice that can go a very long way in keeping you safe. Simply turn off your router when you're not using your network. If you're at work all day and no one's home, why keep it running?
Build a firewall
The firewall built into your router prevents hackers on the internet from getting access to your PC so it's always worth enabling it to help add an extra layer of security. However, it does nothing to stop people in range of your Wi-Fi signal from getting onto your network - and as said, a router in the wrong place means your Wi-Fi signal could reach pretty far.
For further protection, you should run software firewalls on the individual PCs on your networks. | high12314.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "invest our money wisely when we are young"
},
"options": [
"get along well with our family and friends",
"bring ourselves leisure as well as enjoyment",
"invest our money wisely when we are young",
"learn some new skill... | Top Four Ways to Build a Wonderful Life
1. Live Below Your Means
There will always be temptation to give up the future for immediate pleasure. We all want to buy that new piece of technology, treat ourselves to an expensive night on the town, or take out a loan for the flashy car we can't afford. It might feel great at the time but unwise spending hurts a lot later on. Enjoy life's simple pleasures and save as much as you can. Expensive things don't create lasting happiness and security. Careful spending will bring you greater leisure and enjoyment in the long run.
2. Put Your Money to Work
Saving is great, but to make the most of your money you need to put it to work. Good investments can be the difference between retiring in your 40's or in your 60's. A post today at The Simple Dollar really got me thinking. According to Trent's estimates, if a person in their early 20's invests 20% of their income in an S&P index fund, the interest they earn will equal their current salary when they reach their early 40's. They could retire without a drop in income! Wise investing is the surest path to financial independence and it's something everyone can work on. It's definitely an area I'll be devoting more attention to in my personal life.
3. Educate Yourself
To be happy we need continuous growth. The best way to grow is life-long education. This doesn't mean you need to pursue a doctorate or spend 2 hours reading every day. Self-education can be anything that takes you out of your comfort zone. The important part is keeping an open mind and searching for fresh ideas and perspectives. Education builds over time. It might feel like the bits of wisdom you acquire don't mean much, but over the years they add up to form a wiser, kinder, more interesting person.
4. Develop Lasting Personal Relationships
Suppose you had everything you wanted. Would you be happy without anyone to share it with? The personal relationships we develop with friends and family members are the greatest source of happiness in our lives. Don't forget about them. Taking the time to cultivate and enjoy personal relationships is essential to long-term happiness. Without the people you care about you'll probably be miserable, no matter how successful you become. | high9111.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "can't be deleted completely"
},
"options": [
"can be deleted easily",
"can't be deleted completely",
"usually falls in the hands of employers",
"remains for a long time"
],
"question": "The information posted on... | During a career planning class, Brenda Fabian asked how many students use Facebook, a popular online networking community for college students. Almost everyone in the room raised a hand."Then I asked how many knew that employers are reviewing Facebook for hiring purposes,"says Fabian,director for Center for Career Services at Susquehanna University."No hands were raised, and their faces revealed the students' surprise."
Although some parents do keep track of their teen's online activities,most teenagers don't realize that websites may be monitored by schools,prospective employers or anyone else who might be interested in the teenager's lifestyle not just today but anytime in the future.
Most of us don't realize that the information that gets posted on the Internet may be deleted,but it doesn't disappear permanently."The stuff is there forever,"says Jamie Riehle,director of Web Publishing at Lycos."It is backed up on servers and doesn't go away."
As company recruiters,college admission officers,law enforcement personnel and parents become more Web savvy ,it becomes even more vital for teenagers to be cautious when posting any information on their websites. Even though sites that are private can be seen only by a preselected list of friends,there are companies that,for a fee,can dig deeper into cyberspace and find anything. Even government officials who thought that deleting email would exonerate(......) them from wrongdoing are discovering that,on the Web,there is no such thing as private or gone forever.
Steven Rothenberg,president and founder of College-Recruiter.com,suggests that teenagers think of their Web posts as tattoos . "Inherently ,there is nothing wrong with them if they are private,"he says."But if they are visible or offensive, it can affect the way others see you." | high14765.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "show his humor"
},
"options": [
"laugh at Michelle",
"show his humor",
"remember the \"bangs\"",
"make big changes"
],
"question": "President Obama made a good-natured hit at Michelle's expense to _ .",
"... | The White House Correspondents' Dinner is an annual event, and a highlight of the evening is the President's comedy routine. This year, President Obama decided to make a good-natured hit at Michelle's expense. You might remember the "bangs" that the First Lady introduced to the world several months ago! Oh yes he did! Obama bangs joke shows how, with professional helps, presidents are now just as funny as the comedian hosts.
For his second term, President Obama will be making big changes! He _ his White House Correspondents' Dinner speech at the Washington Hilton on Saturday, Apr. 27 by joking, "Second term, baby!" "I recognize that this job can take an attack on you. I understand that second term you need a burst of new energy and try some new things," Obama, 51, said. "My team and I talked about it and we're willing to try anything, so we borrowed one of Michelle's tricks." He then presented a slideshow of funny photoshopped images of himself sporting his wife's famous new bangs, a photo of himself and the first lady side by side, both with bangs. "I think this looked pretty good."
After Obama's speech, Conan O'Brien took the stage and kept the jokes coming. The late night host made a joke about the President's focus on job creation. "Since he was reelected," he said, " the number of popes has doubled and the number of Tonight Show hosts had three times." | high7882.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Enlarge its memory to at least 128 MB"
},
"options": [
"Change its RAM for at least 256MB,",
"Put in good software in your computer.",
"Enlarge its memory to at least 128 MB",
"Buy another new computer to match it ."
... | Getting a new PC is one thing, Keeping it running smoothly is quite another. While a personal computer should continue to perform well for years, users know that system unsteadiness does exist Yet you can reduce it to the smallest amount by following the tips below .
First, put in as little software as possible. You'11 have fewer software -related problems and a system that is easier to manage.
Second, you should ensure that you have as much memory (RAM) in your PC as you need If you run Windows 98,your computer should have as least 128 megabytes (MB)of RAM and more You can also get by with 128 MB of RAM if you use Windows NT or Windows2000,but these operating systems will run much more smoothly if you have 256 MB of RAM or more.
Third, make sure you buy good hardware. Noname products may be cheaper and sometimes just as good as named-brand products, but name-brand products usually became well-known because of famous companies because Windows will more often support the hardware that you buy ,If you are starting out with to have been tested thoroughly with your operating system, and you will generally experience fewer problems.
Fourth, do prepare for disaster .No matter how well your system runs when you get it ,the day will come when it will need to be replaced .Hopefully, you will replace it because technology has become outdated, but you may need to replace it also because the hard drive crashes or you begin experiencing problems that no one can figure out .That's why it 's important to you're your important to copy your important information regularly. Whether you use a tape backup device or a CD-RW drive, it's important to make a regular backup plan and stick to it . | high9677.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the climate of the world is subjected to dangers from air pollution"
},
"options": [
"the climate of the earth is always changing",
"air pollution has greatly affected the climate of the world",
"carbon dioxide has something ... | Every year there are changes in climate in different parts of the world.Some of these changes are due to natural causes.However,some climate changes are caused by air pollution and these changes may increase.
If the pollution affects the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,the results are likely to be serious.There is only a small part of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.But it has an important function in keeping the balance between radiation from the sun entering the atmosphere and radiation leaving the Earth.Some of the radiation is absorbed by the Earth and some is radiated back into the atmosphere.The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere prevents some of the radiation from leaving the atmosphere.Thus the heat remains in the atmosphere and carbon dioxide helps to prevent the temperature of the Earth from falling.
If the proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increased as a result of air pollution,the temperature of the atmosphere may rise.This might cause the ice in the North and South to melt.If this happened,the sea level could rise and parts of the Earth would be flooded.This is not quite likely but the possibility exists.
There is also a fairly strong possibility that the dust level in the atmosphere will rise as a result of industrial pollution.This dust pollution will reflect sunlight back onto space.If this happens,less sunlight will reach the Earth and the temperature will fall.
Another danger comes from the destruction of the Earth's vegetation such as the forest of Brazil,which is being cleared away for farmland and cities.Trees use carbon dioxide and their destruction may upset the balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. | high14003.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "honoring the dead"
},
"options": [
"respecting the old",
"pleasing the children",
"honoring the dead",
"praying for relatives"
],
"question": "Halloween is a day _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
... | Halloween falls on October 31st, the last day of the Celtic calendar. Halloween was referred to as All Hallows Eve and dates back to over 2000 years ago.
The American tradition of "trick-or-treating" probably dates back to the early All Souls' Day marches in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray for the family's dead relatives.
The act of giving out soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for homeless ghosts. The practice, which was referred to as "going a-souling" was finally taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given sweets, food, and money.
The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. Hundreds of years ago, winter was an uncertain and frightening time. Food supplies were often not enough because people were afraid of the darkness and would stay at home without doing businesses.
On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would meet with ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for their fellows .
On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to satisfy the ghosts and prevent them from trying to enter their houses. | high8569.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "cheap rockets for space travel"
},
"options": [
"cheap rockets for space travel",
"a plane for space travel",
"a permanent spaceship",
"a satellite for tourists"
],
"question": "We will have developed _ in a... | 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 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. | high12472.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "on the day before her wedding"
},
"options": [
"on her first birthday",
"during her first date with Mick",
"on her wedding day",
"on the day before her wedding"
],
"question": "The writer's right eye couldn't se... | I lost my left eye just after my first birthday -- I'd fallen seriously ill. My artificial eye was very convincing and I usually wore glasses over it -- even my boyfriend, Mick, didn't really notice. I told him I was blind in one eye just before we got married -- I was 19 at the time. He said he didn't care and that he loved me just the same.
The day before we married, I was at my parents' house, when my other eye suddenly went blurry . My dad phoned the doctor, who told him it was probably nerves and I'd be fine by morning. He was right -- when I awoke, I was able to read my good luck cards.
The wedding photographer arrived just as I was putting on my dress and I was called into the garden for a pre-ceremony photo. There was no time even to look in a mirror. Afterwards, we drove straight to the church.
It was a sunny day, and as we approached I could see all our friends waiting. The service was delightful, and Mick and I went into the minister's office to sign the register -- the last thing I ever wrote with my sight.
It was only when we reached the hotel, where the reception was taking place, that I started to feel strange. As we waited to greet our guests, my sight started to become blurry again and I really had to concentrate as our friends and family lined up to congratulate us. Afterwards, we went into the reception room, so the photographer could take our picture as we pretended to cut the cake. That's when the pain started.
"Don't let anyone know!"my mum said. She'd always blamed herself for the loss of my other eye, wishing she'd taken me to the doctor earlier. Only a few family members had ever been told -- even my close friends had beennone the wiser.
So even as the pain became more severe, I carried on as if nothing was happening. I'd waited so long for this day, and everyone seemed so happy, I didn't want to spoil things.
I couldn't make anything out, but I managed tostay calm and made it through the meal and the speeches. I suppose it's normal for the bride and groom to stay close together after a wedding, and Mick led me around properly. We took regular dance lessons, so the first dance passed without incident, Mick leading me in a slow, graceful waltz.
Afterwards, we left the building to see if a bit of air would improve the situation, but it didn't help, and nor did a lie-down. I still thought the blurriness would pass, as it had the night before. But I finally accepted that things just weren't going to get better on their own -- I was in so much pain.
Mick sent for a doctor, who took one look at me and called for an ambulance. At the hospital, I remember a nurse bursting into tears when she saw me arrive -- I still had confetti in my hair.
I was diagnosed with glaucoma, a disease in the eye that causes terrible pressure -- it was unrelated to the problems I'd had as a child, just a coincidence. An operation to try to save my sight seemed successful at first -- as the bandages were removed, I remember seeing a vase of flowers at the end of the bed. But it's the last thing I ever saw.
It was hard, but I coped, and nearly 40 years on I feel I've had a full and active life. There are sights I'll always feel sad not to have seen -- the face of the daughter and my grandchildren. I'll always regret not finding the time to look in the mirror on the morning of my wedding, too -- despite everything that happened, I have happy memories of the ceremony. | high19527.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "It relates artistic values to local conditions."
},
"options": [
"It introduces different cultural values.",
"It explains the history of artistic works.",
"It relates artistic values to local conditions.",
"It excites t... | The values of artistic works, according to cultural relativism , are simply reflections of local social and economic conditions. Such a view, however, fails to explain the ability of some works of art to excite the human mind across cultures and through centuries.
History has witnessed the endless productions of Shakespearean plays in every major language of the world. It is never rare to find that Mozart packs Japanese concert halls, as Japanese painter Hiroshige does Paris galleries, Unique works of this kind are different from today's popular art, even if they began as works of popular art. They have set themselves apart in their timeless appeal and will probably be enjoyed for centuries into the future.
In a 1757 essay, the philosopher David Hume argued that because"the general principles of taste are uniform in human nature,"the value of some works of art might be essentially permanent. He observed that Homer was still admired after two thousand years. Works of this type, he believed, spoke to deep and unvarying features of human nature and could continue to exist over centuries.
Now researchers are applying scientific methods to the study of the universality of art. For example, evolutionary psychology is being used by literary scholars to explain the long-lasting themes and plot devices in fiction. The structures of musical pieces are now open to experimental analysis as never before. Research findings seem to indicate that the creation by a great artist is as permanent an achievement as the discovery by a great scientist. | high10265.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "encourage people to communicate with each other"
},
"options": [
"encourage more people to consume drinks",
"encourage people to communicate with each other",
"form its own character of culture",
"attract more tourists ... | Visitors to Britain may find the best place to _ local culture is in a traditional pub. But these friendly pubs can be dangerous places of potential gaffes for the newcomers.
A team of researchers have discovered some of the unknown customs of British pubs-starting with the difficulty of getting a drink. Most pubs have no waiters-you have to go to the bar to buy drinks. A group of Italian youths were waiting 45 minutes before they realized they would have to fetch their own. This may sound inconvenient, but there is a hidden purpose.
Pub culture is designed to promote sociability in a society known for its reserve. Standing at the bar for service allows you to chat with others waiting to be served. The bar counter is possibly the only site in the British Isles in which friendly conversation with strangers is considered entirely suitable and really quite normal behavior. "If you haven't been to a pub, you haven't been to Britain." This tip can be found in a booklet, Passport to the Pub: The Tourists' Guide to Pub Etiquette, a customers' rule of conduct for those wanting to sample "a central part of British life and culture".
The trouble is that if you do not follow the local rules, the experience may fall flat. For example, if you are in a big group, it is best if only one or two people go to buy the drinks. Nothing annoys the regular customers and bar staff more than a group of strangers blocking all access to the bar while they chat and hesitate about what to order. | high2722.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Before the murder, John Purcell went out and turned left down the road."
},
"options": [
"John Purcell was attacked around 10:30 pm in Easterhouse Road.",
"John Purcell had three children, but he did not live with them.",
"Be... | Police today stepped up a murder probe after a father was killed by a gang. They attacked him with an axe.
John Purcell, 40, suffered fatal injuries in the incident in Easterhouse,prefix = st1 /Glasgowon Saturday evening... moments after he had said goodbye to his children. His youngest son John, 11, was being comforted by his mum Elizabeth Malcolm after witnessing the street horror. The father-of-three was attacked around 10:30 inEasterhouse Road.
Young John said, "My father was struck from behind with something that looked like a chopper." John, his sister Danielle, 15, and bother William, 19, have been left _ and placed a floral tribute at the attack scene in memory of their dad. Elizabeth Malcolm said, "We are all in shock about what had happened. When he left here he usually turned left down the road, but for some reason on Saturday he went in the opposite direction which is where the gang members always hang out."
"We have been apart for a number of years, but John always remained close to his children and this has hit them hard," she said.
Police officers initially sealed off the area for forensic examination but later allowed his s to lay flowers. Following a post-mortem , Mr. Purcell's death is being treated as murder. He had been taken by ambulance to GlasgowRoyalHospitalbut died from his severe injuries. Detective Chief Inspector John Riggans, who is leading the investigation, appealed for witnesses to come forward and said, "Inquiries are at an early stage and we are trying to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack scene for the moment." | high17085.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "20%"
},
"options": [
"10 %",
"20%",
"25%",
"50%"
],
"question": "_ young people have sleep problems.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_tex... | One in every five young people has a sleep problem, so you're not alone; Getting enough sleep has become as important as eating vegetables and exercising regularly. It's very important for your body.
Most young people only get seven hours of sleep each night, when they actually need nine hours. And making up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping in on weekends doesn't really work. In fact, sleeping late on weekends may actually do you more harm than good, if you have sleep problems.
What happens if you don't get enough sleep? If your sleep problem continues for a few nights, you could suffer serious problems. Lack of sleep can affect learning and memory. Worse , if your sleep difficulties last a long time , that could lead to anxiety or depression . Therefore, you've got to have some healthy sleep habits. Below are some suggestions:
* GO TO BED AT THE SAME TIME--including weekends , if possible .
* WAKE UP AROUND THE SAME TIME EVERY MORNING . When you sleep late just one morning during the week, it may disturb your body clock. This will make it hard for you to sleep that night.
* DO SMOETHING REALXING before going to bed .
* EXERCISE DURING THE DAY . Don't exercise right before going to bed.
* AVOID DRINKING ALCOHOL. Alcohol makes you excited. This prevents you from falling asleep or wakes you up during the night.
* DON'T SMOKE . Smoking is always bad for the body. Smoking before bedtime keeps you awake.
If trying these tips over a couple of weeks does not help you, speak to your doctor. Do not take any sleeping pills without first asking your doctor. Many have strong side effects. | high20629.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "To find out information about roaming charges."
},
"options": [
"To hand over his business.",
"To check his cellphone bill",
"To find out information about Jamaica.",
"To find out information about roaming charges."
... | It's hard not to feel cheated and over-charged when you receive unexpected roaming charges while traveling abroad--whether they come from making phone calls or checking e-mails.
Jeff Gardner received an $ 11,000 bill from Verizon after spending four days in Jamaica. Before the trip, Mr. Gardner, who runs a fly-fishing business in Grayling, Michigan, said he called Verizon to find out what it would cost to use his cellphone for calls and his wireless card to check e-mails while in Jamaica. He said he was told that calls would be about $ 2 a minute and that there would be no extra charges for data as he was on an unlimited plan. _ .
"I don't mind paying a fair amount for fair service, but $11,000 for four days is ridiculous," said Mr. Gardner, who used his phone carefully and economically on the trip. He also tried to check and send e-mails using his wireless card, but quickly gave up after the e-mails didn't go through. Still, his Verizon bill said more than 500,000 kilobytes of data was delivered while he was in Jamaica, an amount Mr. Gardner said is 100 times what he normally uses in a month.
As travelers increasingly use smart phones abroad in the same way they do at home--to check e-mails, update Facebook and Twitter and pull up online maps--many are facing costly roaming fees, which providers charge when customers use their phones outside their service area. In fact, roaming charges have gotten so out of hand that the Federal Communications Commission has proposed a plan that would require wireless companies to send their customers a voice or text message when they are approaching their plan's limit, when they have reached that limit and when they are starting to result in roaming fees. | high4804.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "asked him to try to manage their money"
},
"options": [
"advised him to earn money by himself",
"asked him to try to manage their money",
"persuaded him not to buy them patiently",
"agreed to buy them for him immediatel... | My mother was a household servant. Through her work, she observed that successful people spent a lot more time reading than they did watching television. She announced that my brother and I could only watch two to three pre-selected TV programs during the week. With our free time, we had to read two books each from the Detroit Public Library and write book reports. She would mark them up with check marks. Years later we realized her marks were a _ My mother had only received a third-grade education. Although we had no money, between the covers of those books, I could go anywhere, do anything and be anybody.
When I entered high school, I was an A-student, but not for long. I wanted the fancy clothes. I wanted to hang out with the guys. I went form being an A- student to a B- student to a C-student, but I didn't care.
One night my mother came home and I complained about not having enough shirts. She said, "Okay, I'll give you all the money I make this week cleaning floors and bathrooms, and you can buy the family food and pay the bills. With everything left over, you can have all the shirts you want."
I was very pleased with that arrangement but once I got through allocating money, there was nothing left. I realized my mother was a financial genius to be able to keep a roof over our heads and any kind of food on the table, much less buy clothes.
I also realized that immediate satisfaction wasn't going to get me anywhere. Success required intellectual preparation. I went back to my studies and became an A-student again. I dreamed of becoming a doctor when I was just a kid. And now I have achieved my dream.
Over the years my mother's changeless faith in God has inspired me, particularly when I found myself faced with my own medical illness. A few years ago I discovered I had a very serious cancer; I was told it might have spread to my spine . My mother believed in God very much. She never worried. She said that God would never throw me away forever; there was no way that _ was going to be a major problem. The abnormality in spine turned out to be not bad; I was able to have surgery and am cured.
My story is really my mother's story -a woman little formal education or worldly goods who used her position as a parent to change the lives of her children. | high10932.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "is a boy of many gifts"
},
"options": [
"is a boy of many gifts",
"is very helpful to his parents",
"learned fast under Dr. Tisman's instruction",
"stopped working with Dr. Tisman after his success"
],
"question... | Dr. Glenn Tisman, a cancer specialist, knew his young neighbor, Ray Bateman, had an unusual mind. But he had no idea at the time that 12 - year - old Ray had the ability to become his partner in cancer research.
Ray's parents remembered that at age four, Ray surprised them by fixing a broken vacuum cleaner . When he was ten, he speedily constructed the family color television from a kit. Later, he succeeded in assembling a complex stereo system after two experts had failed to do the job.
When Ray was ten, he convinced his parents to buy him a computer. In a short time, Ray was able to do amazing things with the computer. Ray shared his enthusiasm for computers with Dr. Tisman, who used a computer for his research. The two discussed computers and medicine frequently. Amazingly, Ray understood the biology and chemistry related to Dr. Tisman's medical research without any previous instruction.
Ray then worked with Dr. Tisman after school. He helped conduct research with the equipment and kept it in working order. The purpose of the research was to test the effectiveness of mixing an old cancer drug with certain vitamins. Ray analyzed patient test results by computer, while Dr. Tisman handled all patient contact. Together, they came up with solid research that helped advance cancer treatment.
In 1988, 14 - year - old Ray went with Dr. Tisman to a meeting of the American Federation for Clinical Research(AFCR), where Ray presented their initial research findings. Using terminology beyond the grasp of most kids his age, Ray told the scientists how the new drug mixture caused fewer and milder side effects for cancer patients.
A year later, Ray returned to the meeting to update the findings of his and Dr. Tisman's research. By then, he had become well - known for his devotion to finding cures for sick patients. Stories about him appeared in hundred of newspapers around the world. He appeared on television newscasts and talk shows.
Ray continued to spend most free hours working with Dr. Tisman. The two began studying the effects of vitamins on babies inside the womb . However, Ray's main interest remained cancer treatment, and he continues his research today. | high15692.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "5."
},
"options": [
"5.",
"6.",
"7.",
"8."
],
"question": "How many novels written by Fitzgerald are mentioned in the passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
... | F. Scott Fitzgerald, born on September 24, 1896, an American novelist, was once a student of St. Paul Academy, the Newman School and attended Princeton University for a short while. In 1917 he joined the army and was posted in Alabama, where he met his future wife Zelda Sayre. Then he had to make some money to impress her.
His life with her was full of great happiness, as he wrote in his diary: "My own happiness in the past often approached such joy that I could not share it even with the person dearest to me but had to walk it away in quiet streets and take down parts of it in my diary."
This Side of Paradise, his first novel, was published in 1920. Encouraged by its success, Fitzgerald began to devote more time to his writing. Then he continued with the novel The Beautiful and Damned (1922), a collection of short storiesTales of the Jazz Age(1922), and a play The Vegetable (1923). But his greatest success wasThe Great Gatsby, published in 1925, which quickly brought him praise from the literary world. Yet it failed to give him the needed financial security. Then, in 1926, he published another collection of short storiesAll the Sad Young Men.
However, Fitzgerald's problems with his wife Zelda affected his writing. During the 1920s he tried to reorder his life, but failed. By 1930, his wife had her first mental breakdown and went to a Swiss clinic. During this period he completed novel Tender Is the Nightin 1934.While his wife was in hospital in the United States, he got totally addicted to alcohol. Fitzgerald died in 1940, before he could complete the novel The Love of the Last Tycoon. | high23320.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "They are probably water birds."
},
"options": [
"They are being cared for by volunteers.",
"They are probably water birds.",
"They are called oiled birds because they can produce oil.",
"They are birds usually seen in S... | A group that rescues wildlife has started to search for land and money to build a bird and wildlife hospital in San Francisco.
"About 40 volunteers care for injured animals in their homes," founder Jamie Ray said. Ray presented her proposal to build a $2 million wildlife hospital and nature center to environment commissioners recently. "What we need is to be able to build a 100-foot-long flight aviary for hawks that are recovering and to have water pools for recovering water birds," Ray said.
She hopes they will open by the end of 2010, and will be able to care for oiled birds after more than 50,000 gallons of fuel flowed into the Bay.
"For any animal, whether it is oiled, injured or anything else, getting it immediate care is important to its survival," she said.
Department employees drive as many as 350 injured animals every year to a wildlife hospital, according to Friedman. He said around 80 percent of those animals are birds.
"It would be wonderful to have a wildlife rehabilitation center here in San Francisco," Friedman said.
Ray's proposal includes aviaries as well as a nature education center and outdoor picnic area. She has suggested building the center at Lake Merced or in western Golden Gate Park. A parking lot, soccer field and storage area are presently being planned for construction at the Golden Gate Park site. Any changes to those plans would need to be _ by department commissioners. The Board of Supervisors is also in charge of those plans. | high23446.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "he specialized in name brands at low prices"
},
"options": [
"he worked in his father's store",
"he created Walton's management style",
"a chain of Wal-Mart stores sprang up across rural America",
"he specialized in nam... | Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart, was born in Kingfish, Oklahoma on March 29, 1918. He was raised in Missouri where he worked in his father's store while attending school. This was his first retailing experience and he really enjoyed it. After graduation, he began his own career as a retail merchant.
He soon opened his first Wal-Mart store in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. Wal-Mart specialized in name brands at low prices and Sam Walton was surprised at the success. Soon a chain of Wal-Mart stores sprang up across rural America.
Walton's management style was popular with employees and he founded some of the basic concepts of management that are still in use today.
After taking the company public in 1970, Walton introduced his "profit sharing plan". The profit sharing plan was a plan for Wal-Mart employees to improve their income dependent on the profits of the store. Sam Walton believed that "individuals don't win, teams do". Employees at Wal-Mart stores were offered stock options and store discounts. These benefits are commonplace today, but Walton was among the first to implement them. Walton believed that a happy employee meant happy customers and more sales. He also believed that by giving employees a part of the company and making their success dependent on the company's success, they would care about the company.
By the 1980s, Wal-Mart had sales of over one billion dollars and over three hundred stores across North America. Wal-Mart's unique decentralized distribution system, also Walton's idea, created the _ needed to further encourage growth in the 1980s during growing complaints that the "superstore" was stopping smaller and traditional stores from developing. By 1991, Wal-Mart was the largest US retailer with 1,700 stores. Walton remained active in managing the company, as president and CEO until 1988 and chairman until his death. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom shortly before his death. | high8958.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "money spent on advertising is worth while"
},
"options": [
"he is fairly familiar with the cost of advertising",
"everybody knows well that advertising is a waste of money",
"advertising costs more money than everything else"... | Money spent on advertising is money spent as well as any I know of. It selves directly to bring about a rapid sale of goods at reasonable prices, so setting up a firm home market and so making it possible to provide for export at good prices. By drawing attention to new ideas it helps greatly to raise standards of living. By helping to increase demand it causes an increased need for labor, and is therefore a nice way to fight unemployment. It lowers the costs of many services: without advertisements your daily newspaper would cost four times as much, the price of your television program would need to be doubled, and travel by bus or subway would cost more.
And perhaps most important of all, advertising provides a promise of reasonable value in the products and services you buy. Besides the fact that twenty-seven Acts of Parliament govern the terms of advertising, no regular advertiser dare promote a product that fails to live up to the promise of his advertisements. He might fool some people for a little while through misleading advertising. He will not do so for long, for the public has the good sense not to buy the poor article more than once. If you see an article frequently advertised, it is the proof I know that the article does what is promised for it, and that it has good value.
Advertising does more for the good of the public than any other force I can think of.
There is one more point I feel I ought to touch on. Recently I heard a well-known television person declare that he was against advertising because it persuades rather than informs. He was telling us the real difference. Of course advertising tries to persuade.
If its message were nothing but information, that would be difficult to get more people to buy, for even a detail such as the choice of the color of a shirt is a bit persuasive-advertising would be so boring that no one would pay any attention. But perhaps that is what the well-known television person wants. | high556.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "The Origin and Development of Square Dancing"
},
"options": [
"The Different Steps of Square Dancing",
"The Origin and Development of Square Dancing",
"Who Was the Inventor of Square Dancing?",
"Why Did Square Dancing G... | When early colonial settlers went to America, they took many forms of dance to _ . Square dancing, one of the oldest forms of American folk dancing, developed from several different Old World group dances, mainly English country dances, and the French quadrille .
In the American version of square dancing, four couples form a square and dance to music. An American addition to square dancing is the caller. What do you think a caller does?
The callers---someone who calls out the dance steps in time to the music--- was a completely American invention. At first dancers memorized all the steps for a particular dance, but eventually the dances became so complicated that it was necessary to have someone call out cues so that dancers didn't have to remember so many steps. The caller didn't just call out "do-se-do your partner"; a good caller also came up with colorful sayings or witty lines that he said in between the cues such as "Don't be shy and don't be afraid. Swing on the corner in a waltz promenade ." A caller might also come up with new dance steps and routines.
Although popular for years, square dancing seemed to be going out of style and fading away until the early 1930s, when Henry Ford helped revive interest in it. Ford, the automobile manufacturer, used to vacation at the Wayside Inn in Massachusetts, where he enjoyed the dance programme run by a man named Benjamin Lovett. Ford asked Lovett to come to Detroit and teach dances, but Lovett said he couldn't because he had a contract with the inn. Ford solved that problem by buying the inn and Lovett's contract. He took Lovett back to Detroit, where together they established a programme for teaching squares and rounds. Square dancing was updated and groups began forming all over the country. | high13585.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "She has a nice lady to act as herself."
},
"options": [
"She often meets people in public.",
"She actively attends social activities.",
"She has a nice lady to act as herself.",
"She and Miss Slack have a lot in common.... | Elizabeth's Second!
In 60 years, the Queen has never put a foot wrong in public. And for the last 24 of them, it turns out she's had a secret weapon -- the nice Ella Slack. The former BBC manager has, unknown to anyone except a handful of key advisers, spent the last quarter of a century acting as the Queen's official stand-in at rehearsals for royal events. The 69-year-old has never accepted a penny for her royal service, considering it "a pleasure and an honour" to ensure that everything runs smoothly for the Queen. "How many people in the world have had a chance to sit in a royal landau or walk onto the dais at Windsor Castle even before the Queen has done so?" she said.
While Miss Slack may not resemble the Queen facially, she has a similar figure to the Queen, standing just 5 foot. The Queen is 5 foot 2 inch. She began her remarkable role in 1988, when she was working as manager of the BBC's sports and events department. A producer asked her if she could stand in for the Queen to check camera angles at a rehearsal -- and her second career was born.
Since then, from the State Opening of Parliament to the 50th anniversary of Victory day, wherever the Queen is on duty Miss Slack is likely to have been there first. She has perfected her own version of the Queen's clothes, including a black patent handbag she bought in a charity shop for PS1, and even styles her hair like the Queen. | high6975.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "spending time with her grandmother was good for her emotional needs"
},
"options": [
"her grandmother taught her everything about flowers",
"her grandmother would never let the flowers scratch her",
"spending time with her gr... | My grandmother was a master gardener. She could make anything bloom . Even me. For most of her life, she lived on a farm in the mountains of North Carolina, where she raised four children, buried a husband, and watched the changing of the seasons.
After my parents divorced , my dad moved back to the farm. I visited on weekends or holidays. While my dad ate my grandmother's vegetables, I breathed in her flowers. I was a skinny kid, but her flowers filled a thousand hungry places in my soul. When my regular farm tasks were done, I was free to climb the mountain, singing songs and gathering flowers. Sometimes the plants scratched me. My grandmother would say: "Beauty has a price. I hope it was worth it."
"Yes, ma'am," I'd say. "It was." Then I'd scratch some more. I loved gathering flowers on my own. But what I loved best was gathering them with her. I walked behind her like a sponge with legs, trying to soak it all up. At the end of the day, we'd sort the flowers and make bouquets : One for the living room, one for the kitchen, and three for the bedrooms. Even then, as a child, I knew what I needed most from my grandmother was not her flowers, but her time.
She's been gone for years, but sometimes, when I reach down to pick a flower or pull a weed, I see her hand, not mine. I thought I'd grow up to be a gardener too. I told myself, someday, when my children had children, I'd be a gardening grandma. Then the grandbabies started showing up, and I discovered I'd much rather chase after them than go digging. The truth is, I'm no gardener. I'm a picker, not a planter.
I differ from my grandmother in lots of ways, but this: I will always carry within me a heart she made from her own. They don't need to plant a garden. My children are my flowers. Delight and complete me with a beauty that is worth any price.
All I need to do is care for them with time, water them with love, and hope that someday, when they hold their first grandchild, they might see my hand. | high8780.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Whether they have self-awareness."
},
"options": [
"Whether they have large brains.",
"Whether they have self-awareness.",
"Whether they enjoy outdoor exercises.",
"Whether they enjoy playing with mirrors."
],
"... | For those who study the development of intelligence in the animal world, self-awareness is an important measurement. An animal that is aware of itself has a high level of intelligence.
Awareness can be tested by studying whether the animal recognizes itself in the mirror, that is, its own reflected image .Many animals fail this exercise bitterly, paying very little attention to the reflected image. Only humans, and some intelligent animals like apes and dolphins, have been shown to recognize the image in the mirror is of themselves.
Now another animal has joined the club . In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , researchers report an Asian elephant has passed the mirror self-reflection test.
"We thought elephants were the next important animal" said Diana Reiss of the Wildlife Conservation Society ,an author of the study with Joshua M.Plotnik and Fans B.M..de Waal of Emory University. With their large brains, Reiss said elephants "seemed like cousins to apes and dolphins"
The researchers tested Happy, Maxine and Patty, three elephants at the Bronx Zoo. They put an 8-foot-square mirror on a wall of the animals' play area (out of the sight of zoo visitors and recorded what happened with cameras, including one built in the mirror.
The elephants used their long noses to find what was behind it, and to examine parts of their bodies.
Of the three, Happy then passed their test, in which a clear mark was painted on one side of her face. She could tell the mark was there by looking in the mirror and she used the mirror to touch the mark with her long nose.
Diana Reiss said, " We knew elephants were intelligent, but now we can talk about their intelligence in a better way". | high22758.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "serve old money collectors"
},
"options": [
"avoid paying more taxes",
"make a healthy profit",
"bring children good luck",
"serve old money collectors"
],
"question": "Yao Guancheng's initial aim of running hi... | Chinese people around the world are celebrating their most important holiday, Chinese New Year. But for one man in Taiwan, it's all about business as he washes dirty banknotes for gifts.
According to Chinese tradition, parents give their children clean, fresh banknotes at the start of the new year. But such notes are in high demand during the time just before the holiday period, and Yao Guancheng noticed _ .
Yao Guancheng said, " When we first started this business it was for family members who liked to collect antique banknotes. But later on , it suddenly occurred to me that this service would come in handy for the Chinese New Year. It is one of our customs to put banknotes inside little red envelopes in order to bring our children good luck."
"To do that , people change old notes for new ones at the banks. But here in Taiwan, there are all sorts of restrictions as to how much you can change, what days you can do that and which banks you can go to . That's inconvenient. So I thought: why not give people an alternative ?"
He doesn't just leave the money in water for quite a long time. He uses special chemicals that are a closely guarded secret. His services don't come cheap; he charges about$10 for washing twenty banknotes. But during the time just before the new year holiday, he's been in demand , cleaning people's banknotes and in the process, giving a new , cleaner image to the term "money laundering -an illegal process by which criminals attempt to hide money from government officials because it has been earned illegally or taxes should be paid on it" | high21251.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "were curious about the difference between the cups"
},
"options": [
"were satisfied with their own cup",
"were angry about the broken cups they had been given",
"asked the teacher to get new cups for them",
"were curiou... | "You know, these cups bring to mind a tea quote I heard." Mary's aunt said.
She poured tea. There were four of them and there were four totally different cups on the table.
They took their tea cups.
"What quote?" Mary asked.
"Well, maybe I should rather say it is a story," aunt said, "I heard that there was a wise teacher who took all his students for tea. They were surprised that all the cups on the table were different. Each of them took a cup and started drinking their tea, each looking at the cups of others. The teacher let them do that for a while and then said,' Do you notice your behavior? You are all looking at each other's tea cup and I can see some of you with the broken ones are even envious of the finer cups of others. Is this not so?' "
The students agreed, amused by their own behavior.
"You may have wondered why you all had different cups, but I put them here on purpose. You see they represent life itself. Life is like that tea and the cups are like the physical circumstances of your life. You all got the same thing in your cups -- tea. And yet you can not truly enjoy it in your envy of another's cup. It's just the same with life. You forget to enjoy your own life when you concentrate on envying the circumstances of someone else's life.
So now, close your eyes, and taste your own tea. Really taste it. And tell me -- did it matter from which cup it came from?"
Aunt finished telling her short tea story and they all sat in silence for a while, tasting their tea. A sleepy fly buzzed past, a bird sang in the tree. And it really did not matter one bit from which tea cup they drank. | high11392.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "newspaper"
},
"options": [
"newspaper",
"travel guide",
"reference book",
"textbook"
],
"question": "You can most probably read the passage in a _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answ... | Name: Off the Beaten Path
Cover price: $30.00
Our price: $l9.80
The best-selling Reader's Digest travel book has 40% new content including over 200 new sites, over 200 new full-color1 photographs, and all-new, up-to-date maps. It spotlights over l, 000 of the United States' most overlooked must-see destinations.
Name: Container Gardens by Number
Cover price: $l5.95
Our price: $9.49
A unique book contains 50 easy-to-follow container designs. Each design provides a simple numbered planting plan that shows exactly how to create each display, with an instruction of the finished planter and in-depth plant information. The plans are easy to follow and for any type of living space or garden.
Name: Best Weekend Projects
Cover price: $l7.95
Our price: $l3.96
Choose from 80 unique ideas to create an extraordinary living space. The projects are practical, as well as attractive, and will improve your home and yard and can be made in a weekend. These 80 well-designed projects are presented in a clear, easy-to-follow style that addresses readers in an accessible, user-friendly tone.
Name: l80l Home Remedies
Cover price: $40.00
Our price: $29.96
Plenty of health complaints can be handled at home. Each and every remedy will be tested by a doctor to make sure it is safe and sound.
Dozens of conditions are covered, from headaches, sunburn, bad breath, and blisters to allergies , and hiccups . | high21245.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "prepare for the entrance exam"
},
"options": [
"write an essay on guidebooks",
"prepare for the entrance exam",
"give his students a lecture",
"send them to his good friends"
],
"question": "The writer bought so... | Dear Editor,
I'm now busy in preparing for the Postgraduate Entrance Exam. A few days ago, I happened to see some new guidebooks for those who want to take next year's exam. With too many hopes and without taking it into too much consideration, I bought several that were written by some known for helping candidates for master's degrees.
What made me really angry was the starting discovery that the contents of those books were almost exactly the same as some I had bought before. There were only superficial changes in their covers, with more attractive new titles and better designs. The contents were the same.
People say that the publishing industry is in a state of chaos these days but I used to be doubtful abut that. I was of the opinion that only people of noble character, prestige , and exceptional talent would produce books for higher education. But these editors are caring little about their readers.
I hope that authors and publishing houses will be more responsible for their readers. Don't destroy the image that you have with your readers. | high11386.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "are at the experiment stage"
},
"options": [
"are at the experiment stage",
"can cure all the disease",
"are widely used among patients",
"cost patients so little money"
],
"question": "We can learn from the pas... | No one would much like the idea of eating 61 pounds of tomatoes a day. But if their goodness was put into an easy-to-swallow pill that you were told might prevent strokes and heart attacks you would probably be putting in an order tomorrow.
Researchers believe they may have come up with just that after trials. The daily pill contains a chemical called lycopene which makes tomatoes red and is known to break down fat in the vessels . A Cambridge University study found taking the pills improved blood flow and the lining of vessels in patients with pre-existing heart conditions. It also increased the flexibility of their vessels by 50 percent. The scientists believe it could limit the damage caused by heart disease-responsible for 180,000 deaths a year-and help cut the 49,000 deaths a year from strokes. They also hope it could benefit those with arthritis , diabetes and even slow the progress of cancer.
Each pill is equal to eating around 61 pounds of ripe tomatoes. Studies have shown eating a Mediterranean-style diet rich in tomatoes fish, vegetables, nuts and olive oil can significantly reduce cholesterol and help prevent cardiovascular disease.
Preliminary results from a two-month trial, in which the pill was given to 36 heart disease patients and 36 healthy volunteers with an average age of 67, were presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association. It was shown to improve the function of the endothelium- the layer of cells lining blood vessels. It also improved their sensitivity to nitric oxide, the gas which causes the enlargement of the vessels in response to exercise.
Ian Wilkinson, head of Cambridge University's clinical trials unit, said "These results are potentially very significant and it meets the goal, but we need more trials to see if they translate into fewer heart attacks and strokes."
Further studies are planned, with researchers hoping it could offer a choice for heart disease sufferers who can not take the cholesterol-lowing drugs.
Mike Knapton, head of the British Heart Foundation, said, "Although this showed lycopene improved blood flow in people with heart disease, that's a long way from demonstrating that taking it could improve outcomes for people with heart disease. The best way to get the benefits of a good diet is to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables." | high10098.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Mr. Harris changed his work."
},
"options": [
"They wanted to make some new friends.",
"Mr. Harris changed his work.",
"They wanted to meet a lot of interesting people.",
"They enjoyed going to parties and visiting othe... | Mr. Harris used to work in Dover, but then he changed his work, and he and his wife moved to another town. They did not have many friends there, but they soon met a lot of interesting people, and after a few weeks, they often went to dinner or to parties at other people's houses.
Then Mrs. Harris said to her husband, "We've been to a lot of other people's houses, and now we must invite them to our house, mustn't we?"
"Yes, certainly," answered her husband, "A big party will be the easiest thing, won't it? Then we can start to invite people to dinner in small numbers next month."
So Mrs. Harris said, "Yes, I'll invite all our friends here to a big party on 5th December."
"How many will that be?" Mr. Harris asked. "Don't invite too many."
Mrs. Harris was beginning to write the invitations when her husband saw that she was writing, "Party. 6.30 to 8.30 p.m."
"That isn't very nice, is it?" he said. "You're telling our guests that they must go at 8.30." So Mrs. Harris just wrote "Party. 6.30 p.m."
A lot of guests came, and they all had a good time, so they did not go home at 8.30. In fact they were still there at mid-night when the door bell rang and a policeman arrived. He said, "You must stop making a noise, because someone has complained."
Mr. Harris said he did not want to quarrel with the policeman, so everyone went home. They were sorry to have to go.
When Mr. and Mrs. Harris were alone again, she said to him. "That was a surprise, wasn't it? Who complained about the noise?"
"I did," Mr Harris answered in a tired voice. | high3819.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "some of Norand's employees joined the Pioneer"
},
"options": [
"Pioneer can explore high-technology markets outside agriculture",
"Pioneer's sales representatives can upload information using Norand hand-held terminals",
"som... | A few years ago, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, where I was employed. purchased Norand Corporation. Pioneer's sales representatives in the field used Norand hand-held terminals to upload daily sales information and download new price and sales incentive information. Pioneer bought so many of these hand-held-terminals, the economies made the purchase of Norand look interesting. Owning Norand also allowed Pioneer to explore high-technology markets outside agriculture.
But after a few years, the emerging laptop PC technology made the hand-held units obsolete . Pioneer sold Norand at a loss. Pioneer always took a given percent of the annual profits to divide equally among all employees, so our profit-sharing checks were lower than if Pioneer had not purchased Norand. Additionally, my Pioneer stock was lower than it had been before the purchase of Norand. I was not pleased.
The CEO of Pioneer, Tom Urban, made annual formal visits to each of the Pioneer divisions to talk about the state of the business and to listen to employees' concerns. When he walked into the meeting room for his first visit after the sale of Norand, he acknowledged the group, remove his jacket, and neatly folded it across the back of the chair. He loosened his tie, undid his collar and rolled up his sleeves. _ .
He said, "I made a mistake buying Norand and I am sorry. I am sorry your profit-sharing was lower because of the purchase, and I am sorry your stock was hurt by the purchase. I will continue to take risks, but I am a bit smarter now, and I will work harder for you."
A great man and leader stood before us that day. As I sat listening to him, I knew I could trust him, and that he deserved every bit of loyalty I could give to him and to Pioneer. I also knew I could take risks in my own job.
In the brief moment of silence before the questions started, I recall thinking that follow him into any battle. | high542.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Weight changes."
},
"options": [
"A dry mouth.",
"Stomach upset.",
"Weight changes.",
"A rise in blood pressure."
],
"question": "Which of the following is not the reaction of short-term stress?",
"question_... | If you experience great stress in your life on a frequent basis, you're not alone. Nowadays, stress is almost a given fact of life. Actually, a certain degree of stress can have positive effects on us. But if stress continues over a long period of time, the effects on the body can be harmful, resulting in health problems and stress-related illness, including heart attack and stroke.
Stress is a normal reaction by the body to what it perceives as a threatening situation or environment. Short-term reactions may include an increase in heart rate as well as a rise in blood pressure. A person under short-term stress may feel nervous, anxious and even experience shortness of breath. Other reactions can include a dry mouth, quick heartbeat, sweating, stomach upset and diarrhea.
When stress is long-term and becomes more chronic in nature, it can cause more serious health-related problems, including regular headaches, back pain, weight changes, sleep difficulties, changes in mood and so on. Chronic stress can also result in memory problems, including difficulty remembering new information and the inability to quickly deal with old information.
No matter how your body reacts to stress, ignoring the problem can have serious health results. Not surprisingly, more women than men openly seek the help of their family doctors or other health care experts when they are experiencing stress or stress-related illness. Men are more likely to refuse to admit the problem or attempt to self-treat it, which may contribute to higher rate of drug and alcohol addiction seen in men exposed to chronic stress.
There's no doubt that stress is a fact of life and is likely to remain a part of our fast-paced society. Although stress can't be completely _ , methods of dealing with stress-related issues, in my view, can be developed so that the effects of stress on the body are avoided, so people won't be so easy to suffer stress-related illness. | high13591.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "who had to travel a long way"
},
"options": [
"whose parents were worried about them",
"who would have had to walk otherwise",
"who could not walk",
"who had to travel a long way"
],
"question": "The children th... | A new plan for getting children to and from school is being started by the education authorities in part of Eastern England. This could end the worries of many parents fearful for their children's safety on the roads.
Until now the Country Council has only been prepared to provide bus services for children living more than three miles from their school, or sometimes less if special reasons existed. Now it has been decided that if a group of parents ask for help in organizing transport they will be prepared to go ahead, provided the arrangement will not lose money and that children taking part will be attending their nearest school.
The new scheme is to be tried out this term for children living at Milton who attend Impington school. The children live just within the three-mile limit and the Council has said in the past it will not undertake to provide free transport to the school. But now they have agreed to organize a bus service from Milton to Impington and back, a plan which has the support of the school's headmaster.
Between 50 and 60 parents have said they would like their children to take part. Final calculations have still to be carried out, but a council official has said the cost to parents should be less than PS6. 50 a term.
They have been able to arrange the service at a low cost because there is already an agreement with the bus company for a bus to take children who live further away to Impington. The same bus would now just make an extra journey to pick up the Milton children. The official said they would get in touch with other groups of parents who in the past had asked if transport could be provided for their children, to see if they would like to take part in the new scheme. | high6961.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "New York Writers, New York Stories"
},
"options": [
"Health, Wellness and the Politics of Food",
"Sports Writing: For the Love of the Game",
"The Art of the Review",
"New York Writers, New York Stories"
],
"ques... | *Health, Wellness and the Politics of Food
9:00--9:45 a.m. Blue Tent
Panelists :Jami Bernard, David Kamp, Marion Nestle and Peter Singer.
Hosted by Denise Grady, science writer for the New York Times.
How does what we eat not only affect our bodies, but also the world?The food and nutrition experts debate the role that the diet plays in both personal and global health, and present a look at food politics.
*Sports Writing:For the Love of the Game
9:50--10:35 a.m. Blue Tent
Panelists:Christine Brennan, Ira Rosen, Joe Wallace and Joe Drape.
Hosted by William C. Rhoden, sports writer for the New York Times.
Whether catching that key moment of victory or defeat, or covering breaking news, sports writers are anything but audience. Listen as some professionals discuss the special experience in reporting of sports news.
*The Art of the Review
11:15--12:00 a.m. Green Tent
Panelists: John Freeman, Barry Gewen, David Orr, Celia McGee and Jennifer Schuessler.
Hosted by Sam Tanenhaus, editor for the New York Times Book Review.
How much of an effect does the book review have on book sales?Join this group of critics as they discuss the reality of book review and bestseller lists, and how they choose books for review.
*New York Writers, New York Stories
3:00--3:45 p.m. Green Tent
Panelists: Cindy Adams, Richard Cohen, RicKlass and Lauren Redness.
Hosted by Clyde Haberman, columnist for the City Section of the New York Times.
Join this inspiring group of New Yorkcentric writers as they talk about why New York is a gold mine of ideas for their work. | high8794.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "By studying Allan Hills meteorite."
},
"options": [
"By studying Allan Hills meteorite.",
"By using spacecraft orbiting Mars.",
"By studying minerals gathered on Mars",
"By studying a meteorite on the Martian surface."
... | Mars Was Not Always Bitterly Cold
Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have reported evidence that Mars was warmer and wetter long ago than it is today. The Caltech scientists say they have directly _ the temperature of Mars four billion years ago. At least, they established the surface temperature on part of the planet at that time. The researchers say it is the first such evidence to be discovered and presented.
The Caltech scientists say carbonate minerals formed on Mars at about eighteen degrees Celsius. They reached the finding after studying a meteorite that had its beginnings near the Martian surface.
Today, the average temperature on Mars is sixty-three degrees below zero Celsius.
The finding was reported on the website of the National Academy of Sciences. Caltech Assistant Professor Woody Fischer helped to prepare the report. He says eighteen degrees Celsius is not especially cold or hot. He says this makes the finding extremely interesting. Knowing the temperature can give scientists an idea of the climate on Mars long ago. It can also help them decide whether the planet had liquid water. Spacecraft orbiting Mars have shown what appear to be rivers, lakebeds and mineral deposits. These pictures suggest that, at one time, water did flow there. Mars Rover vehicles and other spacecraft have confirmed the information.
Caltech Geology Professor John Eiler was another writer of the report. He says knowing the temperature of Mars from long ago provides valuable information. It shows that early in the planet's history, at least part of Mars could support a climate like that of Earth.
The meteorite the scientists examined is one of the oldest known rocks in the world. It is called the Allan Hills meteorite. Its name came from the place in Antarctica where it was found in 1984. The meteorite is believed to have blown loose from the Mars' surface when another space rock struck its "home." | high1968.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "achieve weight loss"
},
"options": [
"enjoy its taste",
"achieve weight loss",
"stay in fashion",
"gain more energy"
],
"question": "People drink diet soda to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},... | Let's face it.No one drinks diet soda for the taste.People drink diet soda in the hope that it will help them lose weight or at least keep them from gaining it.Yet it seems to have exactly the opposite effect, according to a new study.
Researchers from the University of Texas said those who drank two or more diet sodas a day had waist size increases that were six times greater than those who didn't drink diet soda."What we saw was that the more diet sodas a person drank, the more weight they were likely to gain," said Sharon Fowler.
The study was based on data from 474 participants in a large, ongoing research project, where the participants were followed for nearly l0 years.
While the findings are surprising, they also offer some explanations.
Nutrition expert, Melanie Rogers, who works with overweight patients in New York, has found that when patients are switched from regular to diet soda, they don't lose weight at all."We weren't seeing weight loss necessarily, and that was confusing to us," said Rogers.
So why would diet soda cause weight gain? No one knows for sure yet, but it could be that people think they can eat more if they drink diet soda, and so over-compensate for the missing calories.
A related study found some sweeteners raised blood sugar levels in some mice."Data from this and other potential studies suggest that the promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners may be risky," said Helen P.Hazuda, professor at the University of Texas's school of medicine." _ may be free of calories, but not of consequences." | high224.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Blind tasting is tasting a wine without seeing the label."
},
"options": [
"Blind tasting is the professional way to identify a wine.",
"Blind tasting usually has the right result.",
"Blind tasting means tasting a wine with o... | Blind tasting is a very strange activity. Contrary to what many people imagine, it has nothing to do with blindfolds. It involves tasting a wine without seeing the label and it can deliver shocking surprises. I tasted seven champagnes blind with a group of professionals recently. There was a shock when they discovered the wine most of them preferred carried a label they regarded as their least favorite. That sort of result is especially common with champagne, the most image-driven rather than quality-driven wine of all. But it happens all the time when wine is tasted blind.
Because I'm interested in how wines really taste instead of how I think they should, I taste wine blind as often as I can, especially when assessing similar young wines. But blind tasting when you know absolutely nothing about the wine in front of you is something completely different. The most difficult Master of Wine exams include three sessions during which you have a dozen glasses in front of you and nothing more helpful than a printed exam paper asking you to identify each wine as closely as possible, and assess its quality.
Now that the MW is behind me, I taste wine completely blind only very rarely, and never in public. So my blind tastings these days are round the dinner table with good friends and once a year when I act as a judge, with Hugh Johnson, in the Oxford vs Cambridge wine-tasting competition. This is the most extraordinary match, always held before the Boat Race but taken just as seriously nowadays. This year's taste-off took place at the end of last month, as usual in the Oxford and Cambridge Club on Pall Mall in London. | high14598.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "He has a positive attitude to his disease."
},
"options": [
"He needs to go to the doctor every day.",
"He studies the leading cause of diabetes.",
"He has a positive attitude to his disease.",
"He encourages diabetics ... | Christopher Thomas,27,was a writer by night and a teacher by day when he noticed he was always tired and was losing weight fast. Diagnosed with diabetes , Thomas would need to inject himself with insulin three times a day for the rest of his life or risk nerve damage, blindness and even death. And if that weren't bad enough, he had no health insurance.
After a month of feeling upset, Thomas decided he' d better find a way to fight back. He left Canton,Michigan for New York, got a job waiting tables, nicknamed himself the Diabetic Rockstar, and created diabeticrockstar..com, a free online community for diabetics and their loved ones-a place where over l,100people share personal stories, information and resources.
Jason Swencki' s son, Kody, was diagnosed with diabetes at six. Father and son visit the online children' s forums together most evenings. " Kody gets so excited, writing to kids from all over," says Swencki, one of the site ' s volunteers." They know what he' s going through, so he doesn' t feel alone. "
Kody is anything but alone; Diabetes is now the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, with 24 million, diagnosed cases. And more people are being diagnosed at younger ages.
These days, Thomas' s main focus is his charity,Fight It, which provides medicines and supplies to people--225 to date-- who can' t afford a diabetic' s huge expenses. Fight-it. Org has raised about $ 23,000 -- in products and in cash. In May, Thomas will hold the first annual Diabetic Rockstar Festival in the Caribbean.
Even with a staff of 22 volunteers, Thomas often devotes up to 50 hours a week to his cause, while still doing his full-time job waiting tables. " Of the diabetes charities out there, most are putting money into finding a cure, " says Bentley Gubar, one of Rockstar ' s original members. " But Christopher is the only person I know saying people need help now. " | high23334.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Because the weather was hot and they were tired."
},
"options": [
"Because they had to work long hours.",
"Because the weather was hot and they were tired.",
"Because the project was too hard.",
"Because they didn't hav... | An African-American man named John Henry was the hero of former slaves and the people who built the railroads in the US in the 19th century.
John Henry was born a slave. He was known for his strength. Many people say he represents the spirit of growth in America during that period.
John Henry grew up in a world that _ . Before he was six years old, he was carrying stones for workers building a nearby railroad. By the time John Henry was a young man, he was one of the best railroad workers in the country.
John Henry was asked to lead workers on a hard project, creating a tunnel through a mountain. The project required about 1,000 laborers and lasted three years. Hundreds of men became sick as a result of the hot weather and tiredness. John Henry was the strongest and fastest man. Concerned his friends might lose their jobs, he picked up their hammers and began doing their work. He worked day and night, rarely stopping to have a rest.
One day, a salesman came to the work area with a new drilling machine powered by steam. He said it could drill holes faster than twelve men working together.[: _ Z _ X _ X _ K]
John Henry looked at the machine and saw images of the future. He saw machines taking the place of America's best laborers. He saw himself and his friends unemployed and sanding by a road, asking for food. He decided he would never let the machine take their jobs. Therefore, a competition between a man and a machine began .At first, the steam-powered drill worked twice faster. Then, John Henry started working with a hammer in each hand. He worked faster and faster. People cheered when the machine broke down and was pulled away. But they were sad to find John Henry fall to the ground, with blood spilling all around, and still holding a hammer in one of his hands."I beat them,"he said. Then he took his last breath. | high4810.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "keep the classroom clean and tidy"
},
"options": [
"have a duty book each",
"keep the classroom clean and tidy",
"empty the waste paper basket after each lesson",
"put personal things in the class cabinets"
],
"... | We spend lots of our lives in the school, getting knowledge, developing ourselves and growing up. It is so important that the school provides a pleasant environment. So all the students must do the following:
In the Classrooms
All classes must have a duty book.
Classrooms must be clean and tidy. Waste paper baskets should be emptied before the first lesson every morning.
All students are to make sure that the classrooms stay clean and tidy all the day.
The class cabinets are strictly for keeping things for the class. No personal things are kept in the class cabinets.
Each class is to provide their own batteries for the clock in the classroom.
Class Signs
Class signs are put up for your teachers and your parents to easily find you. So please take good care of them.
School Toilets
For good hygiene and convenience of all, please keep our toilets dry and clean.
Always clean them with water after use and wash your hands after that. Do not waste paper. The school can only provide paper in a month. Please use the school toilets as you use the toilet in your own home. | high21523.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "that uranium gave off radiation"
},
"options": [
"that uranium gave off radiation",
"that radium gave off radiation",
"that there was some radium in uranium",
"that uranium and radium both gave off radiation"
],
... | Today many people say that women have the same chance as men in society. But this was not always so. In the past, women all over the world had to fight to get the same chance as men in education and jobs. Many people said that women should not receive much education because they would not do as well as men when they went to work.
One woman who showed that women should have the same chance was Marie, a scientist. In the 1800s scientists knew that a metal, uranium, gave off radiation. They also knew how much radiation came from his element. But they didn't know what this radiation was like; they wondered why and how uranium gave off radiation. Marie Curie set out to answer these questions. In one of her experiments she was studying a certain material which, she knew, contained uranium, But it gave off 4 times as much radiation as usually does. What could explain this fact? Marie Curie thought that there must be another source of radiation in this material.
In 1898 Marie Curie set out to find out this new source of radiation, which she named "radium". Her husband, who was also a scientist, helped her. They set up a laboratory in an old building behind a school. For four years Curies searched, doing many experiments, And one morning in 1902 Marie found the source of the radiation.
Marie Curie proved to the world that there was element that gave off radiation. And she also proved to the world that, if women are given truly equal chance, they can really help society. | high1940.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "She survived while her uncle did not."
},
"options": [
"She survived while her uncle did not.",
"She didn't shy away from public attention.",
"She has inspired some disabled people.",
"She managed to make a living by he... | Maricel Apatan, 22, stands in the kitchen of the Edsa Shangi-La Hotel in Manila, preparing to decorate a cheesecake. It would seem to be a routine task for a cake chef, but Maricel is no ordinary chef -- she has no hands.
Maricel has come a long way since the day in September 2000 when she and her uncle were attacked near their farm. Fortunately, both of them survived, but the 11-year-old girl lost her hands. In 2004, she entered a Manila training centre for people with disabilities. She learned how to write and do housework and, more importantly, came to terms with her disability.
After graduation from high school, she took a two-year Hotel and Restaurant course and _ even though she was the only disabled student in the course. After she moved back to Manila to continue her studies, the media started reporting on this determined young woman. She didn't shy away from the attention. "I wanted others living with disabilities to believe it's possible to live a normal life," Maricel says.
After managers at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel saw Maricel on television, they hired her as part of the hotel's Care for People project. She has also accomplished her goal of inspiring others. One of them is Ronelyn Calumpiano, a 21-year-old with cerebral palsy . She saw Maricel on television and was moved by her confidence. Ronelyn will soon start classes and is already planning a career in IT.
Maricel's three younger sisters have moved to Manila. She pays for the rent of their small apartment, while their parents look after their family farm in Mindanao. "It is difficult to make ends meet but I don't lose hope. I believe anything is possible if you dream, work hard and pray." | high22002.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "The article and the drawing should be closely related."
},
"options": [
"Whether your article is written in a neat way.",
"The article and the drawing should be closely related.",
"Whether you show your passion to draw and ex... | Win a trip to the OREGON COAST----- Dare to Explore the Pacific Ocean. Build the biggest sand castle on the beach. Search tide pools for sea life. Watch the bright orange sunset over the ocean. Whether you've been to the Pacific Ocean before or have only closed your eyes and imagined it, we want to know how you would explore the Oregon Coast if you had the chance to go this summer.
JUDGING
1. Clear relationship between the Essay and the Drawing 40%.
2. Creativity and skill in design and form of the Drawing 40%.
3. Expression of the passion to draw and explore 10%.
4. Journalistic quality, uncluttered nature and overall quality of the Essay 10%.
PRIZE
By entering, you will have the chance to win an all-expense paid trip to the OREGON COAST. Activities will include: Kite flying, studying beautiful sea creatures, searching for sea life on a boat, science exploration at a science center and roasting over a beach campfire.
Who may enter: The competition is open to kids aged 6-14.
TEAM: Entries must be postmarked no later than July 31, 2010.
How to enter
Surf traveloregon.com/kids to download and print out an entry form.
Be sure to mark whether you have to or have not been to the Pacific Ocean in the form. Create a drawing of the Pacific Ocean on a piece of paper using a pen or paints.
Write an article of 100 words or less to explain why you want to go, what you think you would see, and what you would explore if you have never been to the Pacific Ocean, or describe your favorite memories from your last visit.
Send to Dare to Explore the Pacific Ocean, NG1145 17th street NW, WashingtonD.C.20036. | high15876.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "bosses"
},
"options": [
"men",
"employees",
"customers",
"bosses"
],
"question": "The finding of the research might serve as a warning to .",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {... | Pretending to be happy can actually make you more miserable--especially if you're a woman, according to a new study. Researchers found that walking around with a forced smile and faking happiness simply led to people feeling gloomier. So, putting a brave face on your woes could actually be counterproductive.
The research found that women suffered more than men when pretending to be happy. Psychologist, Dr. Brent Scott, who led the study, said employers should take note because forcing workers to smile when workers were dealing with clients could backfire . He said:"Smiling for the sake of smiling can lead to emotional exhaustion, and that's bad for the organization."
Dr. Scott said the research showed customer service workers who"faked smiles"throughout a day worsened their moods and then withdrew from work, so their productivity dropped. He added:"Bosses may think that getting their staff to smile is good for the organization, but that's not necessarily the case."Dr. Scott, assistant professor of management at Michigan State University, analyzed a group of bus drivers during a two -week period.
The study is one of the first of its kind to examine emotional displays over a period of time and compare the different effects that they have on men and women. His team examined the effects of"surface acting"--or fake smiling--compared to what was termed"deep acting", or cultivating positive emotions by recalling pleasant memories.
Dr. Scott said: "Women were harmed more by'surface acting', meaning their moods worsened even more than men and they withdrew more from work. However , they were helped more by'deep acting',which meant their moods improved more."
Dr. Scott suggested women tended to suffer more when pretending to be happy because they were expected to be more emotionally expressive than men. Therefore, faking a smile while they are feeling down is more likely to go against their normal behavior and cause more harmful feelings.
Although,"deep acting"seemed to improve moods in the short term, Dr. Scott said it was not a long-term solution to feeling unhappy.
He said:"You're trying to cultivate positive emotions, but at the end of the day you may not feel like yourself any more" | high20615.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "read books"
},
"options": [
"read books",
"hand over money",
"practice law",
"answer questions"
],
"question": "The first thing a law student has to do is to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
... | The law has a great many rules, showing when and how far a man is to be punished, or if he should be made to hand over money or property to his neighbors, and so on. These rules are contained in books. A lawyer learns them mainly by reading books.
He begins by doing little else than reading, and after he has prepared himself by three years' study, still, he has to, almost every day, read more about some new questions which he has to answer.
The power to use books, then, is a special skill which a would-be lawyer ought to possess. He ought to have enough flexibility to make it easy for him to collect ideas from printed words. He ought to have some readiness to find what a book contains, and something of an instinct for where to look for what he wants.
But although this is the power which he will first feel in need of, it is not the most important. A lawyer does not study law to recite it; he studies it to use it and act upon the rules which he has learned in real life. His business is to try cases in court and to advise people what to do in order to keep out or get out of trouble. | high2291.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "They did nothing and just let it be."
},
"options": [
"They invited plant experts to observe it.",
"They pulled it out and chopped it up into firewood.",
"They prevented it from being infected by the disease.",
"They di... | In the 1950s, a family that owned a farm near Beulah, Michigan kept a bull chained to an elm . The bull paced around the tree, dragging the heavy iron chain, which led to a groove in the bark . The groove deepened over the years. Though for whatever reason, it did not kill the tree.
After some years, the family took their bull away. They cut the chain, leaving the loop around the tree and one link hanging down.
Then one year, agricultural disaster struck Michigan in the form of Dutch Elm Disease. All of the elms lining the road leading to the farm became infected and died. Everyone thought that the old elm would be the next.
The farm owners considered doing the safe thing: pulling it out and cutting it up into firewood before it died. But they simply could not bring themselves to do it. It was as if the old tree had become a family friend. So they decided to let nature take its course.
Amazingly, the tree did not die. Nobody could understand why it was the only elm still standing in the county!
Plant experts from Michigan State University came out to observe the tree. They observed the scar left by the iron chain, now almost completely covered by bark. The experts decided that it was the chain that saved the elm's life. They reasoned that the tree must have absorbed so much iron from the chain that it became immune to the virus.
It's said that what doesn't kill you will make you stronger. Or, as Earnest Hemingway put it, "Life breaks us all, but afterwards, many of us are strongest at the broken places." | high4838.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "They have less to lose and more to gain."
},
"options": [
"They can get more chances to gain a good job.",
"They can get more financial aid.",
"They have nothing to lose.",
"They have less to lose and more to gain."
... | For the most part, it seems, workers in rich countries have little to fear from globalization, and a lot to gain. But is the same thing true for workers in poor countries? The answer is that they are even more likely than their rich-country counterparts to benefit, because they have less to lose and more to gain.
Traditional economics takes an optimistic line on integration and the developing countries. Openness to foreign trade and investment should encourage capital to flow to poor economies. In the developing world, capital is scarce, so the returns on investment there should be higher than in the industrialized countries, where the best opportunities to make money by adding capital to labour have already been used up. If poor countries lower their barriers to trade and investment, the theory goes, rich foreigners will want to send over some of their capital.
If this inflow of resources arrives in the form of loans or portfolio investment , it will top up domestic savings and loosen the financial restriction on additional investment by local companies. If it arrives in the form of new foreign-controlled operations, FDI, so much the better: this kind of capital brings technology and skills from abroad packaged along with it, with less financial risk as well. In either case, the addition to investment ought to push incomes up, partly by raising the demand for labour and partly by making labour more productive.
This is why workers in FDI-receiving countries should be in an even better position to profit from integration than workers in FDI-sending countries. Also, with or without inflows of foreign capital, the same gains from trade should apply in developing countries as in rich ones. This gains from trade logic often arouses suspicion, because the benefits seem to come from nowhere. Surely one side or the other must lose. Not so. The benefits that a rich country gets through trade do not come at the expense of its poor country trading partners, or vice versa. Recall that according to the theory, trade is a positive sum game. In all these trades, both sides--exporters and importers, borrowers and lenders, shareholders and workers can gain. | high19094.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "ignore it if it is beyond your control"
},
"options": [
"fight it bravely whenever it happens",
"ignore it if it is beyond your control",
"let it go to avoid trouble",
"make people feel ashamed of their bad behavior"
... | Bad behavior is something that most people don't want to tolerate. However, we have had to tolerate it more and more with each passing year. There seems to be no concern for other people's feelings; nor do we seem to care about other people's property. We live in an age where saying what is on our minds has priority over any harm that it might do.
There are ways to deal with bad behavior in modern times, though. Too many of us let bad behavior go because we don't want to rock the boat. This is the time that you should rock the boat and rock it hard. Let people know that you expect it to change. That is the key to dealing with bad behavior. If it continues, take the proper action for the situation you are in. If you have developed the habit of bad behavior, take a hard look at it and then change it. You can't expect others to behave well if you aren't willing to look at your own bad behavior and change it.
If you don't have control over anything in a situation, just walk away from it and move on to something that you do have control over. You needn't feel ashamed of that. Besides, you must stand firm in what you believe. You can't control what other people do, but you can control what you do about it. You can't go wrong if you stand firm in what you believe. Understanding your responsibility is also important. Don't try to take on the responsibility for other people's behavior. Take care of what you have to and do it in the way you know it should be done. The rest will take care of itself.
Bad behavior is on the rise with more and more people behaving badly without having to pay any consequences. Worry about how you behave rather than how others behave. Pretty soon, it just may catch on. | high4186.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "No one knows why the shooter opened fire."
},
"options": [
"Landsberry and Marine were killed in the shooting.",
"Only Landsberry died in the shooting.",
"The shooter killed Landsberry and was later killed by the police.",
... | Beloved teacher Michael Landsberry, a former Marine, died a hero at Sparks Middle School in Nevada on Monday in another tragic campus shooting.
The 45-year-old was killed while trying to talk to the unidentified 12-year-old gunman, who later killed himself.
"He was telling him to stop and put the gun down," student Jose Cazares told Today on Tuesday. "Then the kid, he yelled out, 'No!' Like, he was yelling at him, and he shot him. The teacher was calm, he was holding out his hand like, 'Put the gun in my hand.' "
Students, parents and fellow teachers are calling Landsberry's actions heroic. Tom Robinson, vice chief with the Reno Police Department, also praised him, saying, "In my estimation, he is a hero. We do know he was trying to intervene (,)."
Landsberry, who went by the nickname Batman, and coached sports teams at the middle school and neighboring high school, was remembered fondly on social media by many students.
"It's just so sad knowing he left because he protected his students," one of the posts said, followed by another that read, "The sad part is this week it's his and his wife's anniversary and his daughter graduates from the military tomorrow."
CNN reports that two students who were wounded by the shooter - who used a Ruger 9 mm semi-automatic handgun - are currently in stable condition in hospital.
Authorities will not be releasing the identity of the shooter out of respect for his parents, but schoolmate Amaya Newton was shocked by his actions, calling the gunman "a really nice kid," adding, "He would make you smile when you were having a bad day."
"Everybody wants to know why the shooter opened fire," Sparks vice chief Tom Miller said at a news conference. "That's the big question. The answer is we don't know right now, but we are trying to determine why." | high17907.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "in a bedroom of a large international hotel"
},
"options": [
"in a hotel bar",
"in a hotel dining room",
"in a bedroom of a large international hotel",
"at the entrance of a small family hotel"
],
"question": "Y... | Welcome to Franklin Hotel. To make you stay as enjoyable as possible. We hope you will use our facilities to the full.
Dining Room:Breakfast is served in the dining room from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Also the room staff may bring breakfast to your room at any time after 7 a.m. If this happens, please fill out a card and hang outside your door when you go to bed. Lunch is from 12 to 2:30 p.m. Dinner from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Room service:This operates 24 hours a day; phone the reception desk, and your massage will be passed on the staff.
Telephones: To make a phone call. Dial "0"for reception and ask to be connected. We apologized for delays if the lines are very busy. These are also public telephones near the Reception Desk. Tell Reception if early calls are needed.
Shop: The hotel shop is open for presents, gifts and goods from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Laundry: we have a laundry in the building, and will wash, iron and return your clothes within 24 hours, ask the room staff to collect them.
Bar :The hotel bar is open from 12 to 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Banking: The reception staff will cash cheques and exchange any foreign money for you. | high20173.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "teenagers to try to pursue their real selves"
},
"options": [
"teenagers to try to pursue their real selves",
"readers to try to be popular with people around",
"parents to try to control and guide their children",
"peo... | I heard many parents complaining that their teenage children are rebelling. I wish it were so. At your age you ought to be growing away from your parents. You should be learning to stand on your own two feet. But take a good look at the present rebellion. It seems that teenagers are taking the same way of showing that they disagree with their parents. Instead of striking out boldly on their own, most of them are clutching at one another's hands for reassurance.
They claim they want to dress as they please. But they all wear the same clothes. They set off in new directions in music. But somehow they all end up huddled round listening to the same record. Their reason for thinking or acting in thus-and-such a way is that the crowd is doing it. They have come out of their cocoon into a larger cocoon.
It has become harder and harder for a teenager to stand up against the popularity wave and to go his or her own way. Industry has firmly carved out a teenage market. These days every teenager can learn from the advertisements what a teenager should have and be. And many of today's parents have come to award high marks for the popularity of their children. All this adds up to a great barrier for the teenager who wants to find his or her own path.
But the barrier is worth climbing over. The path is worth following. You may want to listen to classical music instead of going to a party. You may want to collect rocks when everyone else is collecting records. You may have some thoughts that you don't care to share at once with your classmates. Well, go to it. Find yourself. Be yourself. Popularity will come -- with the people who respect you for who you are. That is the only kind of popularity that really counts. | high3831.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "He wanted to go to community college."
},
"options": [
"He wanted to go to community college.",
"He had a gift for dance.",
"He was well prepared for the exam.",
"He believed his brother would help him."
],
... | During my high school years, the most important thing was what I was wearing to the Friday night dance and who I was taking. Although college was talked about, it was the least of my worries.
When I was graduating eighth grade and starting high school, my older brother was graduating twelfth grade and going onto college. For my graduation, he gave me a card in which he wrote, "Enjoy your four years..., they go by fast." I remember not believe him then, but looking back..., he was right. Those four years shaped who I was as a person, pushed me to my limit and encouraged me to become an adult.
However, I was so completely absorbed in my junior and senior years of high school, that when someone spoke of college I brushed it off. I wasn't ready to leave my comfort zone of having all of my closest friends together and knowing what every single day was going to be like . Studying was something I did only AFTER I nailed my half-time dance performance. I knew my parents wanted me to go to college, so I told them I would go to commuity college and I didn't worry about my SAT scores.
When my senior year passed and everyone graduated and went off to their own college ,I started to wish I had done the same. My friends were living away, meeting new people, discovering new places, and I was living at home and driving to and from class every day. It seemed exactly like high school. I hated it! I thought college was supposed to be different! Why didn't I take more time to research colleges and do the same? I ended up loving college and wishing I had four years to enjoy the campus atmosphere instead of two.
My advice to anyone thinking about attending college is to think about it very seriously and look into all of your choices well ahead of time. Now I have graduate and I am working full time and I would do anything to go back to my high school days for a second chance! | high5298.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "To offer tips on finding a dream career."
},
"options": [
"To explain what a dream career really is.",
"To offer tips on finding a dream career.",
"To tell us what Career Personality means.",
"To give examples of differ... | What exactly is a Dream Career? I am sure it means different things to different people. You could presently be unsure about what your final job would be. If you have any doubts about what your dream career is, you may know which careers you definitely would not like to do. For example, if you have an interest in art, and do not like math, you most certainly would not be an engineer .If you love art. and have no artist talent ,maybe you would like to be around art instead, as an art curator
A career related to your passion, bobby, or special interest, is the path to follow in finding your dream job. Try thinking about what things you like to do in your spare time. Many are attracted toward turning what they love to do in their off work hours into a full time job. For example, if you like to put together model cars, maybe you would like opening your own hobby shop, or work for someone who owns one.
Once you find what you arc interested in doing, you can then match this to a career which will be similar to what you are passionate about. What you consider a dream career has to centre around what kind of person you actually are. This is called your Career Personality. What type of person do you consider yourself to be? People are naturally attracted to those things which reflect who they are as unique individuals. For example, if you are slightly on the shy side, maybe you would like a job where you work on your own. relatively unsupervised ,behind a computer. If you are outgoing, maybe you would like to work with others, and be the supervisor.
All it may take to find our dream career is to know ourselves a little better, trust in our own judgment, and be realistic about what we can attain occupationally: This is how I found what I am doing now. | high6791.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "showing inferiority in another person or group"
},
"options": [
"showing inferiority in another person or group",
"resulting in a sense of success",
"having a good opinion of other people",
"making people laugh unexpect... | What is it that makes people laugh? More than two thousand years ago the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle defined jokes as the pleasure that results from a feeling of triumph by showing we're better than someone else in a certain way. According to Aristotle and many other philosophers, all jokes depend mainly on showing inferiority in another person or group of persons--that is, putting it clearly, on showing that they are worse off than ourselves. Jokes raise our good opinion of ourselves at someone else's expense.
Showing how much better than other people we are is only one reason we like jokes. Someone may also use a joke to express their anger or their cruelty or any other kind of action that is not acceptable to us. We feel free to laugh when we hear about someone sliding on a banana skin. The joke lets us express those attitudes which are usually unacceptable to society. This is probably the reason why some of the jokes, especially those involving cruelty, are so popular with certain people.
Besides, all jokes depend on our enjoyment of laughing at something that is strange and out of place because it's different from things which are happening around it. The same situation can be either sad or pleasant, depending entirely on how strange and out of place it is. If a girl in a bathing suit falls into a swimming pool, we don't laugh because nothing unusual has happened. But if a man in a smart suit falls in, the situation is at once unusual in a pleasant way and we laugh. A good joketeller will always try to build up a situation in which one thing is expected until something unexpected suddenly happens, and so we laugh. | high8964.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Depend on Yourself."
},
"options": [
"What Nature Says to Every Man.",
"How to Be Famous.",
"Men Must Help Each Other.",
"Depend on Yourself."
],
"question": "Which of the following titles fits this article best... | "Depend on yourself" is what nature says to every man. Parents can help you. Teachers can help you. But all these only help you to help yourself.
There have been many men in history. But many of them were very poor in childhood, and no uncles, aunts or friends to help them. Schools were few. They could not depend upon themselves for an education. They saw how it was and set to work with all their strength to know something. They worked their own way till they became well known.
One of the most famous teachers in England used to tell his pupils, "I can not make worthy men of you, but I can help make men of yourself."
Some young men don't try their best to make themselves valuable to the human beings. They can never gain achievement unless they see their weak points and change their course. They are nothing now, and will be nothing as long as they live, unless they accept the advice of their parents and teachers, and depend on their own efforts. | high6949.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Strengths and weaknesses."
},
"options": [
"Strengths and weaknesses.",
"Plot and character.",
"Programs and scenes.",
"Location and description."
],
"question": "Which aspects should be included in all three re... | We're always looking for well-written reviews of books, music, movies, television shows, websites, video games and other products. When writing a review, concentrate on exactly what you liked or didn't like. Give examples of strengths and weaknesses, be descriptive and provide background information on an author, director, actor or musician, if possible. Find professional reviews in magazines or newspapers and see how reviewers deal with their topic, but be sure to express your own voice in your review.
Grammar Hint for Reviews: When describing a book, movie, album or anything else, use the present tense.
Book Reviews
Discuss an author's technique, strengths and weaknesses instead of focusing on the plot. Does the story flow? Is there a strong sense of character and place? Did you stay up until dawn to finish it? Is it good reading for teenagers? What influence did it have on you and why? If you've read other books by the same author, discuss how this book compares.
Movie Reviews
Think of the major Oscar categories and consider the performances, music, lighting and setting, etc. Do these work together? Did some hold up while others didn't? If the movie is based on a book, discuss whether one is better than the other and why. If the movie is a remake, compare the film to its original.
Remember that a well-written movie review should discuss strengths and weaknesses. Some readers may not have seen a movie yet, so don't give away an exciting scene or the ending!
College Reviews
Begin by providing an overview of the college, including location, size and a description of the campus and/or dorm life. Think about all aspects of your college visit. What academic, athletic and after-class programs are available? What are the students like? What makes the college different from others? Every school has strengths and weaknesses. Be objective. Consider what the school has to offer and who might enjoy or benefit the most from attending there. | high6785.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because his family could not make a good living in their hometown."
},
"options": [
"Because his father was offered a good job in Pittsburgh.",
"Because he did not want to follow his father's profession.",
"Because there were... | Andrew Carnegie, once the world's richest person, was born in 1835 to a weaver's family in Scotland. As a child, he was expected to follow his father's profession. But the industrial revolution destroyed the weavers' craft, and the family had to leave for new possibilities in America.
In 1848, the Carnegies arrived in Pittsburgh, then the iron-manufacturing center of the country. Young Carnegie took odd jobs at a cotton factory and later worked as a messenger boy in the telegraph office. He was often asked to deliver messages to the city theater, where he would stay to watch plays by great playwrights. He also spent most of his spare time in a small library that a local sponsor made available to working boys.
After the Civil War, Carnegie saw great potential in the iron industry. He devoted himself to the replacement of wooden bridges with stronger iron ones and earned a fortune. He further introduced a new technique to change iron into steel. By 1900, Carnegie Steel produced more of the metal than all of Great Britain.
However, Carnegie often expressed his uneasiness with the businessman's life. Wishing to spend more time receiving instruction and reading systematically, he once wrote, "To continue much longer overwhelmed by business cares and with most of my thoughts wholly upon the way to make more money in the shortest time, must degrade me beyond hope of permanent recovery." The strong desire for getting knowledge led him to sell his company and retire at 64.
Fond of saying that "He, who dies rich, dies disgraced," Carnegie then turned his attention to giving away his fortune. He opposed charity; instead, he used his money to help others help themselves. He established over 2,500 public libraries, and sponsored numerous cultural, educational and scientific institutions. By the time he died in 1919, he had given away 350 million dollars. | high22770.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "its two large spines"
},
"options": [
"its small size",
"its large eyes",
"its two large spines",
"its brown color with spots"
],
"question": "The horn shark gets its name for _ .",
"question_type": "cloze... | When someone says "SHARK" most people think of a big, toothy, underwater animal; basically we are imagining a Great White. In fact sharks come in all shapes, sizes and even colors! Follow me please; I'd like to show you a very special small shark commonly known as horn sharks, only found in the coastal waters of north-west North America.
Look at this shark, and you can easily see the horns on it and you will know the reason why it is called the horn shark is that it has the broad, flattened head and two large horn-like spines found behind its eyes and makes it one of the hardiest of all shark species. What makes it unique is that as its enemy attempts to swallow it, the spines on its back will stick into the enemy's mouth and give a good chance for it to get away.
The horn shark is brown in color with black spots all over its body. The adults can reach up to a length of 4 feet and weigh up to 10 kg. An interesting fact about the horn shark is that it has five gills . The horn shark is a clumsy swimmer using its flexible pectoral fins to push itself along the bottom of the ocean. The maximum distance that has ever been recorded for a horn shark to have traveled out from its habitat is 10 miles.
Today, as so little is known about its population off the Californian coast, they have been listed as being "Data Deficient" in the World Conservation Union. The horn shark is being threatened both by water pollution and commercial fishing in the area. Though they are not among those sea creatures hunted primarily for food, but they often get caught as a by-catch in fishing expeditions. | high4192.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "PS64.5"
},
"options": [
"PS12.9",
"PS64.5",
"PS38.7",
"PS77.4"
],
"question": "If a couple and their 10-year-old boy want to take 5 tennis classes, they should pay_.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},... | Tennis lessons
This event takes place every Wednesday from May 9 to July 17. These lessons are open to all from complete beginners to seasoned pros . Playing tennis is a great way of getting fit. Contact The Bridge to find the time for your age group.
Cost:[?]4.8 adults, [?]3.30 under 16 per class
Contact: Laura Reynolds
Tel: 020 8778 7158
Street dance classes
This event takes place every Wednesday from February 27 to December 25. The classes are set up for 3 to 6-year-olds. They provide an environment where each child can become confident in his or her efforts and successes. Our school believes "If You Aim High,You Will Succeed".
Cost: PS4 per student
Contact: Hayley Rea
Email: info@aimhighacademy.co.uk
Children's workshops in clay
This event takes place every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from April 15 to July I. The workshops are suitable for children aged five years and above . The children will be shown different methods of making many things in clay.
Cost: PS75 for 10 lessons
Contact: Shirley Stewart
Email: shirli stewart@yahoo.com
Caterpillar music
This event takes place every Tuesday and Friday from. October 18 to December 31. The classes are set up for 0 to 4-year-olds. We use puppets , actions, songs, instruments and games to entertain and introduce a love of music to your little one. The classes last 40 minutes and each week we have a different theme.
Cost: PS6 per class
Contact: Angela Capriati
Tel: 020 8698 8439 | high17913.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "To explore the link between nature and technologies."
},
"options": [
"To honor the Wright Brothers.",
"To show her recent inventions.",
"To gather talented people for her research.",
"To explore the link between nature... | What do butterfly wings have to do with computer screens? What do birds have to do with high speed trains?
These may sound like strange things to put together. But scientists, inventors, and designers are doing just that. They are learning from nature to create new technology.
The word biomimicry combines two words: biology and mimicry. So people using biomimicry try to use examples in nature to design new technology.
Biomimicry is not a new idea. People have been studying nature for hundreds of years. Leonardo DaVinci used birds as models to invent his flying machine. And when the Wright Brothers made the first successful airplane, they also studied birds. In 998, Janine Benyus, a natural science writer and teacher, wrote a book about biomimicry. To develop her interest in the subject, Janine Benyus started the Biomimicry Institute.
The Biomimicry Institute is a non-profit organization. It brings together scientists, designers, inventors and many other people. It offers classes to teach people biomimicry. It provides money for people to research and test new technologies. And it wants all people, from children to adults, to think about new ways to learn from nature.
People involved with the Biomimicry Institute believe that biomimicry can help solve many of the world's problems. Often, new technologies can harm nature, but this is not true for biomimicry. Let's look at some examples.
Butterflies have colorful wings because light shines off them in a special way. Scientists want to copy these same ways to make light shine off computers. They hope this will make for more colorful screens.
Another example of biomimicry is the bullet train. It travels at speeds of over 250 kilometers per hour! But it had a problem: it made too much noise!
Through the observation of birds, scientists thought about a kind of bird, the kingfisher . The kingfisher can dive into water without making any noise because of the shape of its beak . Researchers thought that if they could design the front of the train like this beak, the train would be quieter. Well, it worked! | high3825.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "a word game"
},
"options": [
"'Lexico'",
"three men",
"a word game",
"Alfred Butts"
],
"question": "The text is mainly about _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_... | In the 1930s, a lot of people in the USA were out of work. Among these people was a man named Alfred Butts. He always had an interest in word games and so, to fill his time, he planned a game which he called 'Lexico'. However, he was not completely satisfied with the game, so he made a number of changes to it and, in time, changed its name from 'Lexico' to 'Alph' and then to 'Criss Cross'. He wanted to make some money from his new game but he didn't have any real commercial success.
In 1939, Butts happened to meet a man called Jim Brunot who showed an interest in the new game. The two men worked together on developing the game and in 1948 it was offered for sale in the United States under its new name -- 'Scrabble'.
At first, it didn't sell very well. In the first year it sold just 2,250 sets and by 1951 it had only reached 8,500 sets a year.
Then, in 1952 the manager of Macy's department store in New York, Jack Strauss, happened to play 'Scrabble' while he was on holiday. He thought it was a wonderful game and, when he went back to work after his holiday, he insisted that Macy's should stock the game and make an effort to call the public's attention to it.
As a result, 'scrabble' became a big success in the United States and it soon spread to Australia and then to other English-speaking countries. | high20167.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "some of the technology for vertical farming has already been mastered"
},
"options": [
"scientists haven't developed the technology for vertical farming",
"some of the technology for vertical farming has already been mastered",
... | When you hear the word "farm", chances are you picture rolling hills in the country covered with cows and cornstalks. Some scientists, engineers and city planners say the farms of the future could rise straight into the air---in skyscrapers in the world's most populated cities.
It might sound far--fetched, but in fact, some of the technology for growing crops indoors already exists. The scientists at the South Pole research station enjoy fresh salads every day from vegetables they grow in their own greenhouse. And NASA has been experimenting for years with methods for growing fresh fruits on the moon or even on Mars.
As is known, traditional farming takes a plot of land as big as the entire state of Virginia just to grow enough food for 8 million people, says ecologist Dichson Despommer. Cities that can't grow their own food are often influenced by disasters such as hurricanes that can make it impossible for trucks to deliver fresh produce to grocery stores. In addition, fruit and vegetables grown outdoors face all kinds of dangers, from flooding to insect pests to weather instability, such as late or early frosts that can damage a crop. "You can control everything indoors. You can't control anything outdoors," Despommier says.
To top it off, by the year 2050, the world population will grow by another 3 billion. "Where will we grow the food for all these people?" Vertical farming----growing crops in skyscrapers, tens of stories high----is the answer," says Despommier. Others say _ could provide new uses for hundreds of abandoned buildings in cities around the world. Crop waste, like leaves, would be composted , and the gases given off from composting would be used to heat the building.
"I'd say it is going to be tough," says agriculturist Giacomelli. It can be tricky to regulate climate conditions indoors. Plus, plants differ in their weather and lighting requirements. Tomatoes like warm, sunny weather, while greens like lettuce prefer cooler temperatures. And nearly all crop plants require lots of sunlight. | high20601.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "to enter the Europe-wide student competition"
},
"options": [
"to enjoy delicious food",
"to try Tractor Ride through 600 acres",
"to enter the Europe-wide student competition",
"to watch the world go by from the beauti... | Cafe Hub
Next to the Castle lies The Hub, home of the Edinburgh International Festival and one of the most talked about spots in town. Our cafe is open every day for mouth-watering lunches, snacks and fine dining. Come in and enjoy the atmosphere of The Hub or watch the world go by from our beautiful terrace.
The Hub, Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh. Open every day from 9:30 a. m. till late.
Tel: 0131 473 2067 www. thehub-edinburgh. Com
Farm World
Enjoy being "A Farmer for a Day". Join in delivering and feeding our spring babies--bottle feeding sessions twice daily. Fun for all family. Horse Rides, BMX Bikes Cross Country Course, Tractor Ride through 600 acres, New Adventure Playground, Nature Trails. Full details on website.
Open: May---Oct Wednesdays to Saturdays and daily during school holidays 11 a. m. ----5 p. m.
Tel: 01797 0260256/260321 www. Farmworld-rye. co. uk
Enter the Europe-wide student competition!
Are you curious, creative and energetic? Are you interested in the new media? Are you between 12 and 19 years of age? Then Join Multimedia 2010 is for you!
Your challenge will be to build a team and develop a multimedia presentation in English----based on one of three different topics. You can register between May 1 and Nov. 15, 2010 and will have to turn in your entry before Dec. 15, 2010.
The rewards are wonderful:PS150 000in prize for schools and teams and the chance to attend a European student camp ---- plus new experiences, an opportunity to make friends throughout Europe! | high2285.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "does a very good job in his studies."
},
"options": [
"is not sure of his success in the coming exam",
"does a very good job in his studies.",
"will not be chosen by the PekingUniversity.",
"shows not much interest in P... | He wanted to go to college, and the only thing that might have stopped him was his disability.
But this year, Zhang Yan and other physically disabled kids can realize their dream just like any other students.
As registration for this year's college entrance examinations draws near, the government has loosened its requirements on physical examinations for new college students.
A new rule was jointly decided in March by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the China Disabled Persons' Federation. It clearly states that no student should be rejected simply because they have a physical disability.
Schools may still advise disabled students on the choice of their major if it is likely to affect their future chances of employment. However,the final decision will be up to the student.,
"Now I can just go ahead and do my best in the exams. I don't have to worry that my healthier classmates will have the upper hand because of my disability," said Zhang happily.
The 18-year-old boy will graduate this year from a Chengdu high school inprefix = st1 /SichuanProvince. He lost an eye during an accident as a child.
Zhang's mother calledPekingUniversityto ask if her son's eye problem would make it difficult for him to accepted by the university's Bio-chemistry Department. She was happy to find out that their choice of students would be based "fairly" on exam results.
"The university official said my son would be judged at the same level as other students ," said Zhang's mother. | high19080.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "are considering switching their jobs"
},
"options": [
"are considering switching their jobs",
"are disappointed at their incomes",
"are most satisfied with their work",
"are modest about themselves"
],
"question... | While their jobs may not be providing them with great excitement, respondents of the Win2000 Salary Survey are saying that they are pretty pleased with their current positions. In fact almost three-quarters of them report a modest to more than average sense of job satisfaction and a little more than ten percent say they are "very satisfied" with their work. So why then does an overwhelming majority of this contented group also report that they are considering changing jobs?
The easy and most popular theory says that it's all about the money. IT professionals with highly-prized skills in a very tight job market play salary-stick-em-up by raising their salary demands with each job hop. But this theory calls for a closer look. According to a recent Gartner Group IT market study, enterprises that are experiencing high rates of turnover on average actually offer higher salaries. The Gartner study cites "lack of career development opportunities" as the single most reported reason employees leave companies.
Mark Pecoraro, president and CEOof SuccessFactors.com, a workforce management firm, tends to agree: "One of the things we see is the strong desire of these professionals to keep on the cutting edge. These employees are taking control of building their knowledge toolsets and essentially writing their own career tickets."
"INDUS Corporation, a Washington, D.C.-based IT firm, is a wonderful place to work," says SearchWin2000 salary survey respondent James Voorhees. Voorhees got his start in IT as an INDUS technical writer. Now, he works as a network administrator, crediting his employer for creating a work environment that let him develop the skills he needed in order to change careers.
"An important part of the company culture is an emphasis on employee satisfaction," Voorhees says, pointing to "the company's willingness to let employees try new things ... which has given me several great opportunities to learn and gain experience in networking and software engineering."
But INDUS' success relies on a steady series of contract work. Voorhees believes that his status as an IT newbie makes him at risk if these contracts should dry up. As a result he has adopted a mindset that is ready to seize an outside opportunity if it should present itself. | high22016.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "surely lose his life"
},
"options": [
"have no after-effects",
"suffer from sharper pain",
"become more sensitive",
"surely lose his life"
],
"question": "Allen didn't know that if stung by wasps again, he would... | One August afternoon, Richard Allen dropped off his last passenger, Mrs. Carey. Lifting two grocery bags, he followed her across the yard and stood on the step of her house. Glancing up, he saw a large wasp nest under the roof. Allen had heard that wasps can become more likely to sting(sting, stung, stung)in summer. He mentioned this to Mrs. Carey, who had opened the door.
"Oh, they don't bother me," she said lightly. "I go in and out all the time."
Anxiously, Allen looked at the nest again-to see the wasps flying straight at him. "Hurry!" he shouted to Mrs. Carey. "Get in!"
She stepped quickly inside. Allen ran for his mini-bus. Too late; they were upon him. Just as he jumped aboard, half a dozen red spots showed on his arm, and he felt more on his back and shoulders.
As he was driving down the road, Allen felt as if something was burning at the back of his neck, and the "fire" was spreading forward toward his face. An immediate anxiety took hold of him. Allen knew that stings could cause some persons to die. But he had been stung the previous summer and the after-effects soon passed. However, what he didn't know was that the first sting had turned his body into a time bomb waiting for the next to set off an explosion.
Miles from the nearest medical assistance, Allen began to feel his tongue thick and heavy and his heartbeat louder. Most frightening, he felt his breathing more and more difficult. He reached for the radio mike ,trying to call the mini-bus center, but his words were hardly understandable. Signals were also poor that far out. He knew a rescue team was on 24-hour duty at the Amherst Fire Department's north station. So his best chance was to make a run for it.
Rushing down the mountain, Allen tried not to panic, focusing his mind on each sharp turn. He was almost through the last of them when he felt sure he was going into shock .Just then he reached for the radio mike again.
"Call fire station," he shouted, concentrating to form the words. "Emergency. Bee sting. Emergency. There in ten minutes."
"Five-ten," the center replied.
Hold on, Allen thought. Keep your eyes open. Breathe. Keep awake.
At last he reached the station. Two firemen ran out. Allen felt their hands grasp him before he hit the ground. You made it, he thought. | high1954.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The bosses in Finland pay the employees according to registration of t heir working hours."
},
"options": [
"While taking a taxi in Finland, you can get off without first paying your fare.",
"In a big hotel in Finland, you can enjo... | If you have a chance to go to Finland, you will probably be surprised to find how "foolish" the Finnish people are.
Take the taxi drivers for example. Taxis in Finland are mostly high-class Benz with a fare of two US dollars a kilometer. You can go anywhere in one, tell the driver to drop you at any place, say that you have some business to attend to, and then walk off without paying your fare. The driver would not show the least sign of anxiety.
The dining rooms in all big hotels not only serve their guests, but also serve outside diners. Hotel guests have their meals free, so they naturally go to the free dining rooms to have their meals. The most they would do to show their good faith is to wave their registration card to the waiter. With such a loose check, you can easily use any old registration card to take a couple of friends to dine free of charge.
The Finnish workers are paid by the hour. They are very much on their own as soon as they have agreed with the boss on the rate. From then on they just say how many hours they have worked and they will be paid accordingly.
With so many loopholes in everyday life, surely Finland must be a heaven to those who love to _ . But the strange thing is, all the taxi passengers would always come back to pay their fare after they have attended to their business; not a single outsider has ever been found in the free hotel dining rooms. And workers always give an honest account of the exact hours they put in. As the Finns always act on good faith in everything they do, living in such a society has turned everyone into a real "gentleman". | high218.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Mozart: The Early Life of a Musical Genius."
},
"options": [
"Classical Music in the Eighteenth Century: An Overview.",
"Stage Parents: A Historical Point of View.",
"Mozart: The Early Life of a Musical Genius.",
"Mozar... | The composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's remarkable musical talent was apparent even before most children can sing a simple nursery rhyme. Wolfgang's older sister Maria Anna (who the family called Nannerl) was learning the clavier, an early keyboard instrument, when her three-year-old brother took an interest in playing. As Nannerl later recalled, Wolfgang "often spent much time at the clavier picking out thirds , which he was always striking, and his pleasure showed that it sounded good." Their father Leopold, an assistant concertmaster at the Salzburg Court, recognized his children's unique gifts and soon devoted himself to their musical education.
Born in Salzburg, Austria, on January 27, 1756, Wolfgang had composed his first original work by age five. Leopold planned to take Nannerl and Wolfgang on tour to play before the European courts. Their first venture was to nearby Munich where the children played for Maximillian III Joseph, elector of Bavaria. Leopold soon set his sights on the capital of the Hapsburg Empire, Vienna. On their way to Vienna, the family stopped in Linz, where Wolfgang gave his first public concert. By this time, Wolfgang was not only a skilled harpsichord player, but he had also mastered the violin. The audience at Linz was amazed by the six-year-old, and word of his genius soon traveled to Vienna. In a much attended concert, the Mozart children appeared at the Schonbrunn Palace on October 13, 1762. They completely attracted the emperor and empress.
Following this success, Leopold received a lot of invitations for the children to play, for a fee. Leopold seized the opportunity and booked as many concerts as possible at courts throughout Europe. A concert could last three hours, and the children played at least two per a day. Today, Leopold might be considered the worst kind of stage parent, but at the time, it was not uncommon for prodigies to make extensive concert tours. Even so, it was an exhausting schedule for a child who was just past the age of needing an afternoon nap. | high15862.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Big Cities Facing Big Disasters"
},
"options": [
"Big Cities Facing Big Disasters",
"Big Disasters in the Future",
"The Increase of Natural Disasters",
"Solutions to Natural Disasters"
],
"question": "Which of t... | There has been a dramatic increase in the number of natural disasters over the past few years,and it is assumed that global warming and climate change could cause even more disasters in the future.Some of the world's leading cities are facing disasters like floods and heat waves.
prefix = st1 /London
London's flood defenses are getting older.Since 1 982,the Thames Barrier has protected the city from the threat of flooding,but it was only designed to last until 2030 and close once every two or three years.About 26 years later the barrier now closes five or six times a year and according to Environment Agency predictions,by 2050 the barrier will be closed on almost every tide if the problem is not addressed.
There are 26 underground stations,400 schools,1 6 hospitals,an airport and 80 billion worth of property in London's flood risk area, so large scale flooding would be disastrous.
Paris
Over a six week period in July and August 2003,more than 1 1,400---mainly elderly people--died in France from dehydration and extremely high body temperature in a deadly heat wave.Heat waves of similar intensity are expected every seven years by 2050,so what can be done to make sure such a disaster does not happen again?
One solution is to have air-conditioners installed in elderly care homes.But this is considered a short-term solution,as the increase in demand for electricity also increases carbon emissions .
InParisthe local authorities are encouraging architects to design new types of buildings
such as the building"Flower Tower,"which uses a covering.of bamboo to act as a natural
air-conditioner.
Shanghai
Shanghai is the fastest growing city on Earth.It has a population of 1 8 million and is only 4 meters above sea level.Sea levels are predicted to rise by 20 cm within the next century.
An estimated 250,000 people move to Shanghai every year in search of work, placing extra demands on energy consumption.China relies heavily on coal--fired power stations,but these emissions increase temperatures and,in turn,warmer seas increase the risk of typhoons. | high23308.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "result in a warming climate"
},
"options": [
"result in a warming climate",
"cause the forest fires to occur more frequently",
"lead to a longer fire season",
"protect the forests and the environment there"
],
"... | Against the supposition that forest fires in Alaska, Canada and Siberia warm the climate, scientists have discovered that cooling may occur in areas where burnt trees allow more snow to mirror more sunlight into space.
This finding suggests that taking steps to prevent northern forest fires to limit the release of greenhouse gases may warm the climate in northern regions. Usually large fires destroyed forests in these areas over the past decade. Scientists predict that with climate warming, fires may occur more frequently over the next several centuries as a result of a longer fire season. Sunlight taken in by the earth tends to cause warming, while heat mirrored back into space tends to cause cooling.
This is the first study to analyze all aspects of how northern fires influence climate. Earlier studies by other scientists have suggested that fire in northern regions speed up climate warming because greenhouse gases from burning trees and plants are released into the atmosphere and thus trap heat.
Scientists found that right after the fire, large amounts of greenhouse gases entered the atmosphere and caused warming. Ozone levels increased, and ash from the fire fell on far-off sea ice, darkening the surface and causing more radiation from the sun to be taken in. The following spring, however, the land within the area of the fire was brighter than before the fire, because fewer trees covered the ground. Snow on the ground mirrored more sunlight back into space, leading to cooling.
"We need to find out all possible ways to reduce the growth of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere." Scientists tracked the change in the amount of radiation entering and leaving the climate system as a result of the fire, and found a measurement closely related to the global air temperature. Typically, fire in northern regions occurs in the same area every 80 to 150 years. Scientists, however, found that when fire occurs more frequently, more radiation is lost from the earth and cooling results. Specifically, they determined when fire returns 20 years earlier than predicted, 0.5 watts per square meter of area burned are _ by the earth from greenhouse gases, but 0.9 watts per square meter will be sent back into space. The net effect is cooling. Watts are used to measure the rate at which energy is gained or lost from the earth. | high1767.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Oxford school of government under plans."
},
"options": [
"Political leaders from Oxford.",
"Traditions and strengths of Oxford.",
"Oxford ways to train future leaders.",
"Oxford school of government under plans."
]... | Europe's first major university department to promote research into government and public policy will open in Oxford under new plans.
In a hugely significant move, Oxford University will create a new school of government in 2012 following aPS75 million donation by Leonard Blavatnik, the American industrialist and philanthropist .The school is intended to train outstanding graduates from across the world in the skills and responsibilities of government.The move is being backed by world leaders including Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton and Kofi Annan.
Andrew Hamilton, Oxford's vice - chancellor, said: "The school represents a huge milestone in Oxford's history.It will give tomorrow leaders the best of Oxford's traditional strengths alongside new and practical ways of understanding and meeting the challenges of good governance.
"The university has educated 26 British Prime Ministers and over 30 other world leaders, yet until how the major international schools of government have all been outside Europe, principally in the United States."
Under plans, the Blavatnik School of Government will provide a series of practical courses leading to a Master's degree.It will cover a range of subjects including the humanities, social sciences, law, science, technology, health, finance, energy and security policy.
Oxford said Mr Blavatnik's donation was one of the most generous in the university' s 900 year history The university itself will be investing an additionalPS26m in the school, as well as land in the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, where the school will be located.
Lord Patten, Oxford's chancellor, said: "This is a once - in - a - century opportunity for Oxford through the Blavatnik donation, Oxford will now become the world's leading centre for the training of future leaders in government and public policy - and in ways that take proper account of the very different additions, institutions and cultures that those leaders will serve.It is an important moment for the future good government throughout the world." | high15889.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "not to waste food"
},
"options": [
"not to save food",
"to wash the dishes",
"not to eat too much",
"not to waste food"
],
"question": "Parents in the United States tend to ask their children _ .",
"quest... | "Clean your plate!" and "Be a member of the clean-plate club!" Just about every kid in the US heard this from a parent or grandparent. Often, it's accompanied by an appeal: "Just think about those starving orphans in Africa." Sure, we should be grateful for every bite of food. Unfortunately, many people in the US take too many bites. Instead of "cleaning the plate', perhaps we should save some food for tomorrow.
According to news reports, US restaurants are partly to blame for the growing bellies(,). A waiter puts a plate of food in front of each customer, with two to four times the amount recommended by the government, according to a USA Today story. Americans traditionally associate (......) quantity with value and most restaurants try to give them that. They prefer to have customers complain about too much food rather than too little.
Barbara Rolls, a nutrition professor at Pennsylvania State University, told USA Today that restaurant portion(,) sizes began (or grew) in the 1970s, the same time that the American waistline began to expand .
Health experts have tried to get many restaurants to serve smaller portions. Now, apparently, some customers are calling for this too. The restaurant industry trade magazine QSR reported last month that 57 percent of more than 4,000 people surveyed believe restaurants serve portions that are too large; 23 percent had no opinion; 20 percent disagreed. But a closer look at the survey indicates that many Americans who can't afford fine dining still prefer large portions. Seventy percent of those earning at least $150,000 per year prefer smaller portions; but only 45 percent of those earning less than $25,000 want smaller.
It's not that working-class Americans don't want to eat healthily. It's just that, "after long hours at low-paying jobs, getting less on their plate hardly seems like a good deal. They live from paycheck, happy to save a little money for next year's Christmas presents." | high8025.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "a nearby diner is answering a phone call"
},
"options": [
"you receive icy glares",
"a nearby diner is answering a phone call",
"you have to use the message service",
"you can not return calls until after you leave"
... | The mobile phone has been a part of our lives since the 1980s. It enables us to stay in contact with our family and friends at all times and in most areas. However, because of the quick acceptance and extensive usage of mobiles in our lives, we have missed out on an important step, namely, the appropriate use.
Driving a car
Do not use your phone while you are driving ! You could concentrate on your conversation and forget to look where you are going, or you could take your eyes off the road to look at the phone's display or to press in a number. Either way, you could cause a terrible accident.
In a restaurant
There is probably nothing more annoying than a diner receiving or making a call near you when you are in a restaurant. The icy glares you receive should be warning enough that it is not appreciated. Turn you phone off and enough that it is not appreciated. Turn you phone off and use your message service to return calls after you leave.
At the cinema
Do not give way to the desire to call a friend if the film is boring, or if you want to find out what happens. You could become the target of all the angry cinema customers.
At the theatre
There is no more icy glare than that of a theatre goer who has paid a lot of money to see a show and hears your phone playing a tone. It goes without saying that you will be seen as a socially unacceptable person in this situation.
In hospitals
This is probably the most important place to make sure your phone is switched off. Your phone can disturb life-saving electronic equipment in hospitals, so it is necessary that your phone is switched off before you enter.
On planes
Your phone might disturb navigational equipment and cause a horrible accident so you should switch it off before boarding a plane. | high7316.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Shoppers may find themselves lost in the broad range of items."
},
"options": [
"Professionals find it hard to decide on a suitable product.",
"People are likely to find themselves overcome by business persuasion.",
"Shoppers... | Almost every day we come across situations in which we have to make decisions one way or another. Choice, we are given to believe, is a right. But for a good many people in the world, in rich and poor countries, choice is a luxury, something wonderful but hard to get, not a right. And for those who think they are exercising their right to make choices, the whole system is merely an illusion, a false idea created by companies and advertisers hoping to sell their products.
The endless choice gives birth to anxiety in people's life. Buying something as basic as a coffee pot is not exactly simple. Easy access to a wide range of everyday goods leads to a sense of powerlessness in many people, ending in the shopper giving up and walking away, or just buying an unsuitable item that is not really wanted. Recent studies in England have shown that many electrical goods bought in almost every family are not really needed. More difficult decision-making is then either avoided or trusted into the hands of the professionals, lifestyle instructors, or advisors.
It is not just the availability of the goods that is the problem, but the speed with which new types of products come on the market. Advances in design and production help quicken the process. Products also need to have a short lifespan so that the public can be persuaded to replace them within a short time. The typical example is computers, which are almost out-of-date once they are bought. This indeed makes selection a problem. Gone are the days when one could just walk with ease into a shop and buy one thing: no choice, no anxiety. | high11437.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Lively."
},
"options": [
"Lively.",
"Sorry.",
"Angry.",
"Exeicted."
],
"question": "How does Angelina Jolie feel while staying with homeless people?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answe... | With her adopted son, she travels the world making movies and dispensing hope. Angelina Jolie lives in two worlds: Hollywood, where she makes movies and stays in five-star hotels, and the refugee camps of Africa and Asia, where she works with the UN, bringing hope to the homeless. She feels most alive, most herself, she says, working with refugees, yet still feel grateful for life.
At 24, Jolie won an Oscar for playing in Girl Interrupted, but found little satisfac-tion in stardom or the wealth that came with it. The daughter of actor Jon Voight and actress Marcheline Bertrand, she had already seen the downside of celebrity--her parents divorced when Jolie was a child. And she always burst into tears when metioned that. After she finished shooting Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Jolie volunteered to be a UN ambassador and returned to Cambodia to visit refugee camps. She found a calling, and realized that her fame and money could be used to accomplish a world of good.
Now the mother of son Maddox, 3, whom she adopted in Cambodia, Angelina Jolie hopes to adopt more children. We caught up with her in Beverly Hills on a day away from the set. She talked to us about her role as the mother of Alexander the Great (played by Colin Farrell) in her new movie, Alexander, her passion for helping the homeless, and her longing for a partner with whom she might share it all. | high20832.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "psychological effects"
},
"options": [
"personal taste",
"our aesthetics",
"cultural effects",
"psychological effects"
],
"question": "Most of the time, we ignore _ when choosing colors for decoration.",
... | Most of the time, we choose colors for decorating based on our personal taste and our sense of aesthetics . But, a number of color experts believe that colors have an effect on our emotions and that it would be wise of us to be conscious of that before settling on a definite choice.
Some of the effects of colors are well known and accepted by most people. In fact, those effects have been the subject of serious research and experiments and have been scientifically proven. But not all scientists agree on the validity of the results.
When we become interested in the psychological effects of colors, it is important to know that not all societies share our opinion of those effects on our emotions. What we hold as an "objective" observation on a color is often nothing more than a reflection of our cultural belongingness, which has attributed properties to that color for generations.
Why is it not possible for us to hold a really objective discourse on the subject? In part, because it is very difficult to separate the psychological from the symbolic, the symbolic aspects are definitely cultural. Often, and this without our realizing it, they influence our understanding of colors and the following emotions - both psychological aspects. Black and white are good examples. In western countries, black is considered serious, dramatic and sometimes sad. People are warned against its potentially depressing effects on decoration. Black is the traditional color of mourning. White, on the other hand, is associated with purity, peace and optimism. For those reasons, white is the traditional color of bridal dresses. No one would think of attending a funeral in white. Any more than it would occur to a bride to wear black. We simply remain convinced that it is not in the "nature" of those colors. Yet, in certain oriental countries, it is white, not black that is the color of mourning.
That having been said, there is some "overlapping" in the properties different cultures attribute to certain colors. For example, Feng Shui, the traditional Chinese philosophy that distinguishes between good and evil influences explains colors much in the same way as the majority of western color specialists. Is that to say that colors have real natural properties which all humans perceive in the same way or is the phenomenon an example of the cross-influences that affect the thinking of cultures brought closer to one another by a certain Venetian called Marco Polo? It is difficult to say.
But, be that as it may, colors do affect us. And if you feel emotions for a certain color, note them and remember them. You may even wish to consider them next time you are planning to decorate. The decision is yours! | high3170.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "the process of reaching decisions"
},
"options": [
"the process of reaching decisions",
"the difference between poker and chess",
"the secret of making good business plans",
"the value of information in winning games"
... | Decision-thinking is not unlike poker --it often matters not only what you think, but also what others think you think and what you think they think you think.The mental process is similar.Naturally,this card game has often been of considerable interest to people who are,by any standards,good thinkers.
The great mathematician John von Neumann was one of the founders of game theory.In particular,he showed that all games fall into two classes:there are what he called games of 'perfect information', games like chess where the players can't hide anything or play tricks:they don't win by chance,but by means of logic and skills.Then there are games of 'imperfect information', 1ike poker,in which it is impossible to know in advance that one course of action is better than another.
One mistaken idea about business is that it can be treated as a game of perfect information.Quite the reverse.Business,politics,life itself are games which we must normally play with very imperfect information.Business decisions are often made with many unknown and unknowable factors which would even puzzle best poker players.But few business people find it comfortable to admit that they are taking a chance,and many still prefer to believe that they are playing chess,not poker. | high17046.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Sending recyclable cards for Christmas."
},
"options": [
"Plant trees at Christmas.",
"Using plastic bags when shopping.",
"Sending recyclable cards for Christmas.",
"Buying things when you are very hungry."
],
... | Going Zero Waste means more than dealing with the rubbish we create. It means reducing _ , too. People who go Zero Waste are careful about what they do. They never take more than they need, they reuse plastic bags, and they make good plans not to buy more than necessary before going shopping.
Kamikatsu, a Japanese village, has already gone Zero Waste. The 2,000 villagers recycle everything possible. There are 34 different boxes at the recycling center! The villagers sometimes just feel unhappy about what they have to do, but they also see the good side.
Let's think about how to enjoy a Zero Waste Christmas. By sending recyclable cards, we can help our friends and family reduce waste. And wouldn't it be better to enjoy the spirit of Christmas with a real tree that can be re-planted in spring?
Going Zero Waste requires us to think more about what happens before and after we act. It is not always easy. But just think how good it would be, both for ourselves and for the earth we live on, if we never had to waste anything. | high2508.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "which layer of skin is burned"
},
"options": [
"what kind of treatment they need",
"what kind of tissue of the body is damaged",
"whether there is pain and what degree of pain there is",
"which layer of skin is burned"
... | Burns can be caused by fire, the sun, chemicals, heated objects or fluids, and electricity. They can be minor problems or life-threatening emergencies. Distinguishing a minor burn from a more serious burn involves determining the degree of damage to the tissues of the body. If you are not sure how serious the burn is, seek emergency medical help.
First-degree burns are those in which only the outer layer of skin is burned. The skin is usually red and some swelling and pain may occur. Unless the burn involves large portions of the body, it can be treated at home.
Second-degree burns are those in which the first layer of skin has been burned through and the second layer of skin is also burned. In these burns, the skin reddens intensely and blisters develop. Severe pain and swelling also occur. Second-degree burns require medical treatment.
Third-degree burns are the most serious and involve all layers of skin. Fat, nerves, muscles, and even bones may be affected. Areas may be charred black or appear a dry white. If nerve damage is substantial, there may be no pain at all. These burns require emergency medical attention.
Follow these steps when treating minor burns at home
1) If the skin is not broken, run cool water over the burn for several minutes.
2) Cover the burn with a sterile bandage or clean cloth.
3) Take aspirin to relieve any swelling or pain.
Seek emergency treatment immediately for major burns. Before an emergency unit arrives, follow these steps
1) Remove the person from the source of the burn (fire, electrical current, etc.).
2) If the person is not breathing, begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation immediately.
3) Remove all clothing to stop further burning. If the clothing is stuck to the burn, do not attempt to remove it.
4) Cover the burned area with a cool, moist, sterile bandage or clean cloth. Do not place any creams, ointments or ice on the burned area or break blisters.
5) Monitor the patient for signs of shock, and treat accordingly. | high18413.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "a nurse"
},
"options": [
"an animal trainer",
"a horse rider",
"a farmer",
"a nurse"
],
"question": "Regina's plan is to be _ in the future.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
... | When Regina Mary' parents refused to let her get a horse ,the smart 15-year-olddidn't sit in her room and complain. Instead she turned to a cow called Luna to make her riding dreams come true.
Hours of training ,and tons of treats later, the results are impressive: not only do the two regularly go on long rides through the southern German countryside, they can even do some difficult jumps successfully. Regina joked while sitting on her brown-and-white companion: "It's unbelievable really , She thinks she's a horse."
The pairs unlikely friendship started about two years ago, shortly after Luna was born on the Mayer's farm. They
started off with walks in the woods. Then Mayer slowly got her cow more adapted to human contact and riding equipment.
About six months later, it was time to see how Luna would respond to a rider on her back in a competition for horses. Mayer sat in the saddle ,and all went as planned. "She was really well behaved and walked normally, but after a couple of meters, she wanted to get me off her back! You could see that she got a bit _ " said Mayer.
Luna and Mayer are now soul mates, spending most afternoons together once the teen--who dreams of becoming a nurse one day--come home from school. | high5267.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "meet the demands as a source of manpower"
},
"options": [
"raise their payment",
"get employed",
"become specialized in some field",
"meet the demands as a source of manpower"
],
"question": "According to the wr... | When people ask your children to "get an education", they tell you only half the truth. What they really mean is to get just enough education to give manpower for your society.
Get a high school diploma, at least. Without that, you are occupationally dead, unless your name happens to be George Washington or Thomas Edison and you can successfully stop study in primary schools.
Get a college degree, if possible. With a BA, you should start to find a job. You have to _ now. If you do go for a master's degree, make sure it is an MBA and only from a first - class university. Otherwise, the famous law of diminishing begins to work.
Do you know, for example, that long - distance truck drivers make more money a year than full professors? Yes, each driver was paid $28,000 in 1997 while a full professor managed to get $27,930.
A PhD is the highest degree you can get, but except in a few specialized fields such as physics or chemistry, where the degree can quickly be turned to industrial or commercial aim, you are facing a not very bright future. There are more PhDs unemployed in this country than in any other part of the world by far.
If you became a PhD in English or history or political science or languages or - worst of all - in philosophy , you take the risk of becoming over - educated for our national demands.
Thousands of PhDs are selling shoes, driving taxis, waiting on tables and filling out applications month after month, and then may be taking a job in some high school or college with the pay much less than a door-keeper makes. | high17720.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Help him get trained in art."
},
"options": [
"Help him write stories.",
"Help him get trained in art.",
"Teach him how to draw well.",
"Teach him how to educate himself."
],
"question": "What did the Bronte sis... | Yorkshire, England was the setting for two great novels of the 19th century. One of them is Jane Eyre written by Charlotte Bronte.
The Bronte family had three girls and a boy. Charlotte was born in 1816, Emily was born in 1818 and Anne in 1820. Their brother Branwell was born in 1817. The children wrote and told stories and walked over the hills. They grew up largely self-educated. Branwell showed a great interest in drawing. The girls took positions as teachers or taught children in their homes. The girls were determined to earn money for Branwell's art education.
As children, the girls had all written many stories. Charlotte alone wrote 22 books, each with 60 to 100 pages of small handwriting. Therefore, they turned to writing for income. By 1847, Charlotte had written The Professor; Emily, Wuthering Heights; and Anne, Agnes Grey. After much difficulty, Anne and Emily found a publisher , but there was no interest shown in Charlotte's book. ( It was not published until 1859. ) However, one publisher expressed an interest in seeing more of her work. Jane Eyre was already started, and she hurriedly finished it. It was accepted at once; thus each of the sisters had a book published in 1847.
Jane Eyre was immediately successful; _ , however, did not do so well. Emily lived only a short while after the publication of her book, and Anne died in 1849.
Charlotte published Shirley in 1849, and Villette in 1853. In 1854 she married Arthur Bell Nicholls. But only a year later, she died of tuberculosis as her sisters had. | high4179.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "show off one of the Brits' hobbies"
},
"options": [
"attract foreign tourists",
"show off one of the Brits' hobbies",
"call on people to protect the environment",
"encourage Brits to build typically British gardens"
... | ONE of Britain's favorite pastimes, gardening is to be celebrated during the Olympics. Last week, the Olympics minister Tessa Jowell announced a public competition to design a typically British garden within London's new Olympic park.
Jowell said the idea behind the competition was to show off to the world one of the nation's favorite hobbies. It's likely the government also hopes that the competition will inspire more Brits to take an interest in the Olympics. It's a good plan, as the British love gardens almost as much as they love tea.
In many ways gardening defines Brits, perhaps because they are some of the world's keenest gardeners. The garden is seen as a private place in the UK. Most Brits would far rather sit in their garden than visit a park. They see their garden as an extension of their house outdoors, which is why so many Brits are as garden-proud as they are house-proud. There also seems to be something about the nourishing act of gardening that appeals to the nation's gentle temperament .
Interestingly, gardening has never been as widely enjoyed as it is today in Britain. Its growing popularity is no doubt due to people's increased awareness of the environment and the success of several popular gardening programs.
Historically, Brits are also skilful gardeners. As Jowell noted when she made her announcement, if gardening were an Olympic sport then green-fingered Brits "would win gold, silver and bronze."
Of course, the irony of Brits' passion for gardening is that their climate is so wet that there are very few months in the year they can sit outside and enjoy their gardens. In fact, it may be the very valuableness of these few warm months that make gardens so prized and valued by Brits. | high21292.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Starbucks has some effect on the development of coffee culture"
},
"options": [
"Starbucks has beaten all the competitors",
"there are no changes in the development of coffee culture",
"the taste of coffee has changed a lot",... | Coffee has a history dating back to at least the 9th century and has been a catalyst for social interaction across cultures and eras. Originally discovered in Ethiopia, coffee beans were brought into the Middle East by Arab traders, spreading to Egypt, Yemen, Persia, Turkey, and North Africa by the 15th century. Muslim merchants eventually brought the beans to the thriving port city of Venice, where they sold them to wealthy Italian buyers. Soon, the Dutch began importing and growing coffee in places like Java and Ceylon (largely through slave labor), and the British East India Trading Company was popularizing the beverage in England. Coffee spread across Europe and even reached America.
Where there has been coffee, there has been the coffeehouse. From the 15th century Middle Eastern establishments where men gathered to listen to music, play chess, and hear recitations from works of literature, to Paris' Cafe le Procope where luminaries of the French Enlightenment such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot came to enjoy a hot cup of joe, coffeehouses have traditionally served as centers of social interaction, places where people can come to relax, chat, and exchange ideas.
The modern coffee shop is modeled on the espresso and pastry-centered Italian coffeehouses that arose with the establishment of Italian-American immigrant communities in major US cities such as New York City's Little Italy and Greenwich Village, Boston's North End, and San Francisco's North Beach. New York coffee shops were often frequented by the Beats in the 1950's. It wasn't long before Seattle and other parts of the Pacific Northwest were developing coffee shops as part of a thriving counterculture scene. The Seattle-based Starbucks took this model and brought it into mainstream culture.
Although coffeehouses today continue to serve their traditional purpose as lively social hubs in many communities, they have noticeably adapted to the times. Rediscovering their purpose as centers of information exchange and communication, many coffee shops now provide their customers with internet access and newspapers. It has become extremely common to see someone sitting at a Starbucks listening to music or surfing the web on his or her laptop. Coffee stores today also maintain a fairly identifiable, yet unique aesthetic: wooden furniture and plush couches, paintings and murals drawn on walls, and soft-lighting combine to give coffee shops the cozy feeling of a home away from home.
Today, big business retail coffee shops are expanding quickly all over the world. Starbucks alone has stores in over 40 countries and plans to add more. Despite its popularity, Starbucks has been criticized and labeled by many as a blood-sucking corporate machine, driving smaller coffee shops out of business through unfair practices. This has even spawned an anti-corporate coffee counterculture, with those subscribing to this culture boycotting big business coffee chains. Increasingly popular coffee stores such as The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf are also giving Starbucks some stiff competition. In any case, it seems pretty clear that coffee has weaved itself into the fabric of our consumer-oriented culture. | high11351.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Showing collarbones being considered a huge mistake."
},
"options": [
"Her daughter making big mistakes in class.",
"Showing collarbones being considered a huge mistake.",
"Sharing the incident on Facebook.",
"Being cal... | On her first day back at school in August, Stephanie Hughes, a teenage student, was sent to the principal's office at Woodford County High School in Kentucky, US and her mom was called to school.
She had made a "huge" mistake-at least in the eyes of the school-by wearing a top that showed her collarbone . It was against the school's _ .
"This is ridiculous!" Stacie Dunn, Hughes's mom, wrote on the social media site Facebook. "Something needs to change!"
The incident has become an Internet sensation. Across the US, schools like Woodford are being criticized for their dress codes. Some say the rules are especially unfair to young women.
Over half of US public schools have a dress code, and they are often different for girls and boys, according to the National Center for Education Statistics in the US. Some dress codes, for example, ban skirts and ask for pants to be at least knee-length.
Some have pointed out that these rules are mostly for female students. Women's clothes are usually cut to be more fitted and shorter, while men's clothes are longer and looser. In practice, more women will be caught breaking dress codes. The New York Post reported that last year, one school in Staten Island, New York gave 200 dress code detentions in two weeks-90 percent of which went to female students.
Some school administrators say they simply want students to dress professionally to prepare students for their future careers. But others have told female students that their clothes present a "distraction" to male students. That idea is being criticized.
The "distraction" argument is unfair to women, critics say. It suggests that exposed skin means that you want criticism or sexual advances.
"These dress codes mean that girls are getting very clear messages that men have a right to your body in public spaces and it's socially acceptable, but you will be punished," Laura Bates, a co-founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, a project that aims to promote equality between men and women, told The Atlantic.
Some students have taken action to change the situation. They have started online campaigns and made short films to build public support.
Certain schools have now chosen to think again about their dress codes with parents and students. Even Woodford County High School-home of the "collarbone" ban-is thinking again about its policies. But, at least for now, the dress code debate is far from over. | high12658.txt |
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