questions list | article stringlengths 9 6.44k | id stringlengths 9 14 |
|---|---|---|
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Frank greeted him in a special way."
},
"options": [
"He was told that Frank was in the hospital.",
"He was invited to study Frank's illness.",
"Frank greeted him in a special way.",
"Frank's name was written on the doo... | "Last week," Dr. P said "I was invited to a doctors' meeting at the R. Hospital. In one of the rooms a patient, an old man, got up from his bed and moved slowly towards me. I could see that he hadn't long to live, but he came up to me and placed his right foot close to mine on the floor."
"Frank!" I cried with surprise. He couldn't answer as I knew, but he tried to smile, all the time keeping his foot close to mine.
My thoughts raced back more than thirty years--to the dark days of 1941, when I was a student in London. The scene was an air-raid shelter , in which I and about a hundred other people slept every night. Among them were Mrs. West and her son Frank, who lived nearby. Sharing wartime problems, we got to know each other very well. Frank interested me because he was not normal . He had never been normal, ever since he was born. His mother told me he was 37 then, but he had less of a mind than a baby has. Mrs. West, then about 75, was a strong, able woman, as she had to be of course, because Frank depended on her completely. He needed all the attention of a baby.
One night a policeman came into our shelter and told Mrs. West that her house had been all destroyed. That wasn't quite true, because the West went on living there for quite some time. But they certainly lost nearly everything they owned.
When that kind of thing happened, the rest of us helped the unlucky ones. So before we separated that morning, I stood beside Frank and measured my right foot against his.
They were about the same size. That night, then, I took a spare pair of shoes to the shelter for Frank. As soon as he saw me, he came running--and placed his right foot against mine. After that, he always greeted me in the same way. | high3075.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Struggling to satisfy high expectations"
},
"options": [
"Struggling to satisfy high expectations",
"Increasing number of high school athletes",
"Rising pressure from excellent students",
"Growing desire to become star ... | With the level of high school education increasing, the expectations for high school athletes are directly affected. Most high school athletes are faced with high stress levels due to the rising expectations of sports teams. As a result>> many of them are trying their best to prepare themselves to be varsity athletes but also feel the pressure to be good students as well.
In our society, more and more parents are pushing their kids to be their best and want them to possess more and better than what they had. However ,sometimes the pressure from parents, students and fellow teammates can be a little too much for them. Colleges now are looking to accept not only good students but socially well-rounded students too. How are they supposed to be able to be socially popular? How can they balance school work and sports practices? Don't you think it is too much for them?
Everyone wants to have a personal life and does what they like to. But actually, they are always caught up in trying to be the ''best,' and planning ahead for their future. Therefore ,many teens have to struggle both at school and outside of school. To become varsity athletes tmost teens are required to stay very late in the school. In this way it leaves very few hours to eat, shower, do homework and then get to sleep and the next day they have to wake up early again.
Sports seem to become more and more competitive every year ,just as academics do as well. At some point, teens will start to suffer greatly. So in order to fix this, the school needs to care more about the students participating in sports. In other words, varsity athletes should have the right to rearrange their schedule due to their sports season and sports coaches should also understand the teens. When an athlete asks to leave early, it doesn't mean that they want to give up ,but rather, they are trying to keep up with everything. | high20937.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "delighted"
},
"options": [
"lonely",
"delighted",
"nervous",
"confused"
],
"question": "When hiking in the foothills, the author was _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
... | Recently, while hiking in the foothills of South Carolina, I happened to notice a small, yet quickly flowing whitewater stream. While relaxing and enjoying the aloneness, I sensed a battle for favorable position between the highly-spirited water and the large rocks resting on the bed along the edges of the stream.
At first; the rocks, stubborn, immovable and unbending, seemed to have their way with their adversary . However, the water, determined yet forgiving, seemed merely inconvenienced by the presence of the rocks, as it effortlessly changed its course, running towards its original destination.
Soon it became clear that the rocks, although remaining strong and firm, were losing this battle as the water's total indifference began to slowly reform these obstacles into smooth and beautifully polished stones.
You see, there seemed to be total lack of struggle associated with the water's journey. Struggle is like bondage forcing harmony and the water would have none of that. On the contrary,the water seemed perfectly content to move around the rocks when necessary, following some route God had originally intended.
I paused for thought. Maybe people need to be more determined and less stubborn. Maybe human beings need to always be open to different points of view, not afraid to readjust their direction as life presents all of its new and unforeseen challenges. | high21397.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "To get families into the habit of reading aloud."
},
"options": [
"To celebrate the joys of reading.",
"To help improve family relationship,",
"To change families bad reading habits.",
"To get families into the habit of... | Join the Family Read-Aloud Celebration, held by the Gonda Family Library and the Family School Alliance at UCLA Lab School, from February 21 to March 14,2014. We ask you to spend time reading aloud to your children at least 20 minutes each day.We hope to help families develop a habit of reading aloud every day throughout and beyond primary school. We'll finish the celebration with a party on March 14 for the whole school.
Ways to join:
* Visit Book Corner for reading aloud suggestions.
Come to the start of the activity on Friday, Feb, 21.
* Add books to our list of favorite read aloud
* Send us a photo of your family reading together (jkan,tor@ucta. edu). We will share it at the party.
* Record your family's reading journey! .
* Join us for th< party on March 14,57 p. rn.
Go on a reading journey!
Books can introduce your family to interesting people, exciting places, adventures and information. Let your journeys take you through these categories:
*Fiction * Picture books * Poetry
*Science * History * Sports
*Arts * other Non-Fiction * Benefits of Reading Aloud
Reading aloud helps a cloud to read with pleasure, create background knowledge, and build vocabulary. It also provides children with a reading model. Reading aloud doesn't just benefit young children. Parents should continue reading aloud as their children grow because listening comprehension is more important than reading skills in middle school.
Jim Trelease, in his Read-Aloud Handbook, has noted that almost as big a mistake as not reading to children at all is stopping too soon Until about the eighth grade, children listen and comprehend on a higher level than their reading skills allow them to read independently, This means children can hear and understand stories that are more difficult and more interesting than anything they can read on their own | high11254.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "he didn't believe in himself"
},
"options": [
"nobody looked after him",
"he was thrown into the open air",
"he can't not grow up",
"he didn't believe in himself"
],
"question": "The seed didn't realize the impo... | A long time ago, there was a seed and because he was only a seed, nobody noticed him. Thus, feeling inferior , the seed gave no importance to his existence . Then one day, a wind picked him up and threw him on an open field in the sun. Later, he was given rain. Years later he saw a traveler sitting by his side. "Thank you God for this. I really need some rest," he heard the traveler say. "What are you talking about?" the seed quickly asked. He thought the man was making fun of him. No one ever spoke to him like that. "Who just spoke?" the shocked man asked. "It is me. A seed." "A seed?" The man looked at the big tree. "Are you joking? You are not a seed. You are a big tree!" "Really?" "Yes! Why else do you think people come here?" "What do they come here for?" "To feel your shade ! Don't tell me you didn't know you had grown over time." A moment passed before the traveler's words brought him pride. The seed thought and smiled for the first time in his life. The years of torture by the sun and the rain finally helped him grow up. "Oh! That means I'm not a little seed anymore! I was actually born to make people feel comfortable. Wow! That's great!" | high3713.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "It had an artistic atmosphere"
},
"options": [
"It filled Yeats's childhood with laughter",
"It was shocked by Yeats's choice",
"It was a typically wealthy family",
"It had an artistic atmosphere"
],
"question":... | William Butler Yeats, a most famous Irish writer, was born in Dublin on June 13, 1865. His childhood lacked the harmony that was typical of a happy family. Later, Yeats shocked his family by saying that he remembered "little of childhood but its pain". In fact, he inherited excellent taste in art from his family--both his father and his brother were painters. But he finally settled on literature, particularly drama and poetry.
Yeats had strong faith in the coming of new artistic movements. He set himself the fresh task in founding an Irish national theatre in the late 1890s. His early theatrical experiments, however, were not received favorably at beginning. He didn't lose heart, and finally enjoyed success in his poetical drama.
Compared with his dramatic works, Yeats's poems attract much admiring notice. The subject matter includes love, nature, history, time and aging. Though Yeats generally relied on very traditional forms, he brought modern sensibility to them. As his literary life progressed, his poetry grew finer and richer, which led him to worldwide recognition.
He had not enjoyed a major public life since winning the Nobel Price in 1923. Yet, he continued writing almost to the end of his life. Had Yeats stopped writing at age 40, he would probably now be valued as a minor poet, for there is no other example in literary history of a poet who produces his greatest works between the ages of 50 and 75. After Yeats' death in 1939, W. H. Auden wrote, among others, the following lines:
Earth, receive an honored guest:
William Yeats is laid to rest.
Let the Irish vessel lie
Emptied of its poetry. | high5362.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "showed less interest in their favorites"
},
"options": [
"changed their preferences",
"escaped from the water more eagerly",
"showed less interest in their favorites",
"remained active as before"
],
"question": ... | Doctors sometimes prescribe light therapy to treat a form of depression in people who get too little morning sun. But too much light at other times may actually cause such mood disorders. Long-lasting exposure to light at night brings depression, a new study finds, at least in animals.
The new data confirm observations from studies of people who work night shifts, says Richard Stevens of the University of Connecticut Health Center. Mood disorders join a growing list of problems, including cancer, obesity and diabetes--that can occur when light throws life out of balance by disturbing the biological clock and its timing of daily rhythms. www.ks5u.com
In the new study, Tracy Bedrosian and Randy Nelson of Ohio State University exposed mice to normal light and dark cycles for four weeks. For the next four weeks, half of the mice remained on this schedule, and the rest received continuous dim light throughout their night. Compared with mice exposed to normal nighttime darkness, those getting dim light at night lost their strong preference for sweet drinks, "a sign they no longer get pleasure out of activities they once enjoyed, " Bedrosian says.
In a second test, mice were clocked on how long they actively tried to escape a pool of water. Those exposed to night lights stopped struggling and just floated in the water, a sign of "behavioral despair",10 times as long as the mice that had experienced normal nighttime darkness. All symptoms of depression disappeared within two weeks of the mice returning to a normal light-dark cycle, the researchers report. The scientists also could quash the behavioral symptoms by injecting the brains of animals with a drug that prohibits the activity of certain molecules linked with human depression. This finding further suggests that light at night may cause something related to depression.
Human studies linking nighttime light and mood disorders are important but can't easily detect molecular underpinnings as animal studies can,says George Brainard of Thomas Jefferson University. The new work, he says, suggests that the change of the biological clock by light at night can be "an extremely powerful force in regulating biology and behavior. " | high18516.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "who want to take some special courses"
},
"options": [
"who live in the city of Chicago",
"who are free in the evening",
"who want to take some special courses",
"who like to learn something new"
],
"question": ... | Register in person, by phone 264-8833, or by mail. Use form given.
178 IN Winchester St., Chicago
Basic Photography This is an eight-hour course for beginners who want to learn how to use a 35mm camera. The teacher will cover such areas as kinds of film, light and lenses . Bring your own 35mm camera to class. Course charge: $50.Jan. 10,12,17,19, Tues & Thurs. 6:00-8:00 pm. Marianne Adams is a professional photographer whose photographs appear in many magazines.
Understanding Computers This twelve-hour course is for people who do not know much about computers, but need to learn about them. You will learn what computers are, what they can and can't do, and how to use them. Course charge: $75. Equipment charge: $10. Jan.14, 21, 28, Sats. 7:00-10:30pm. Joseph Saimders is Professor of Computer Science at New Urban University. He has over twelve years of experience in the computer field.
Stop Smoking Do you want to stop smoking? Have you already tried to stop and failed? Now it's the time to stop smoking using the latest methods. You can stop smoking, and this twelve-hour course will help you do it. Course charge: $30. Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25, Wedns. 4:00-7:00pm. Dr John Goode is a practicing psychologist who has helped hundreds of people stop smoking.
Typing This course on week-days is for those who want to learn to type, as well as those who want to improve their typing. You are tested in the first class and practice at one of eight different skill levels. This allows you to learn at your own speed. Each program lasts 20 hours. Bring your own paper. Course charge: $125. Material charge: $25. Two hours each evening for two weeks. New classes begin every two weeks. This course is taught by a number of business education teachers who have successfully taught typing courses before.
Oil painting Oil paint is easy to use once you learn the basics. When you enroll at this oil painting course, you will learn to draw and learn to paint using many oil painting techniques under complete guidance and instruction. Together with the teacher's knowledge and your passion-we'll unlock your creativity and develop your potential! Course charge: $35. Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26, Thurs. 2:00-5:00 pm. Ralf Ericssion has taught beginners to masters and he has learned that everything builds on just a few basic concepts that he will show you here.
Singing This course shows you how to deliver an accomplished vocal performance on stage and in the studio. Develop your vocal talents with professional warm-up routines and learn vocal techniques to gain confidence in your performance. You'll learn to perform classic songs before exploring your own songwriting ideas with a tutor. And finally you'll get the chance to record in a professional studio. Singing tuition may be in groups or one-to-one. We have Choral singing, Gospel singing, Folk singing and many other styles of song. All styles are welcome and no previous experience is required. Please read on for course contents and reviews from our students. Course charge: $90. Jan. 10, 12, 17, 19, Tues. & Thurs. 5:30-8:30pm. Peter Syrus is a Grammy award winning tutor. | high17625.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "led an unhappy life when she was a child"
},
"options": [
"make mistakes about the youth.",
"complains too much about her childhood",
"receive good education at school",
"led an unhappy life when she was a child"
],... | I'm beginning to think whether my grandmother was right when she complains, as she frequently does, that children nowadays aren't as well-behaved as they used to be. She recounts in detail how she used to be told to respect her elders and betters. She was taught to speak when she went out on her own, she was reminded to say please and thank you. Children in her days, she continues, were expected to be seen and not heard , but these days you are lucky if you ever hear parents telling their children to mind her manners.
If you give her the chance she then takes out of her writing desk the old photograph album which she keeps there, and which she never tires of displaying. Of course when you look at pictures of her parents you feel sure that , with a father as strict looking as that , you too would have been "seen and not heard". Besides him sits his wife , with their children around her, Granny and her elder brothers. It always occurs to me that perhaps those long, stiff, black clothes were so burdensome to a little girl that she hadn't enough breath left to be talkative, let alone mischievous . It must have been a dull and lonely life too, for she stayed mainly at home during her childhood, while her brothers were sent to school from an early age.
However, my childhood was much freer than Granny's. I went to school with my brother. I played football with him and his friends . We all spoke a common language , and we got up to the same mischief. I would have dies if I had to stay indoors , wearing tight , stiff clothes. | high23580.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "destructive activities of human beings"
},
"options": [
"continuous appearance of new species",
"destructive activities of human beings",
"more and more homeless animals",
"the great change of ocean ecosystem"
],
... | An absolute description of the threat hanging over the world's mammals, reptiles, amphibians(, , ) and other life forms has been published by the well-known scientific journal, Nature. A special analysis carried out by the journal indicates that an astonishing 41% of all amphibians on the planet now face extinction while 26% of mammal species and 13% of birds are similarly threatened.
Many species are already critically endangered and lose to extinction, including the Sumatran elephant, Amur leopard and mountain gorilla. But also in danger of vanishing for the wild, it now appears, are animals that are currently rated as merely being endangered.
In each case, the finger of blame points directly at human activites The continuing spread of agriculture is destroying million of hectares of wild habitats every year, leaving animals without homes, while the introduction of newly-come species, often helped by humans, is also damaging native populations. At the same time, pollution and overfishing are destroying ocean ecosystems.
"Habitat destruction, pollution or overfishing either skill off wild creatures and plants or leaves them badly weakened," said Derek Tittensor, an ocean ecologist at the World Conservation Monitoring Centre in Cambridge. "The trouble is that in coming decades, the additional threat of worsening climate change will become more and more common and could then kill off these survivors."
The problem, according to Nature, is worsened because of the huge gaps in scientists knowledge about the planet's biodiversity. Evaluations of the total number of species of animals and plants alive vary from 2 million to 50 million. In addition, evaluations of current rates of species' disappearances vary from 500 to 36, 000 a year. "That is the real problem we face," added Tittensor. "The scale of uncertainty is huge."
In the end, however, the data indicate that the world is heading cruelty towards a mass extinction-which is defined as one involving a loss of 75% of species or more. This could arrive in less than a hundred years or could take a thousand, depending on extinction rates. | high9558.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Because the cost of travel is high."
},
"options": [
"Because they can hardly find hotels.",
"Because the food is not healthy.",
"Because the cost of travel is high.",
"Because they are afraid of adventure."
],
... | To travel around the world is the dream of many adventurous people. But very few people can afford a global tour because hotels, food and airplane tickets are too expensive. Some people, however, have thought of some ways to realize their dreams.
Laura Cody and Tanbay Theune, a couple from Britain, decided to travel around the world. They have found a good way to pay for their trips. They look after pets for rich house owners. In exchange, they can stay in the houses for free. They have looked after horses, cows, cats, dogs and fish. In two years, the couple has been to Australia, Germany, Spain and Italy. They have stayed in big cities and small villages. The home owners are usually very generous and have given them food, wine and day trips.
Another person who tries to realize her travel dream is photographer Rhiannon Taylor. She travels around the world to visit, review and take photos of the best hotels. She shares the places she stays in and the food she eats on the Internet with tens of thousands of followers.
With these ways of making money, traveling around the world is no longer a dream. More and more young people are thinking creatively to make their dream come true. | high12985.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "American parents also care for their children going to university"
},
"options": [
"American children have some difficulty in getting enough money to go to college",
"Chinese parents give their children too much love",
"Ameri... | I once studied at a major university in the Midwest United States. At the beginning of each term, I could see lots of undergraduates accompanied by their parents gather around the dormitory buildings. Fathers often helped children with huge luggage; mothers took much concern over children's necessities in university; while children were only absorbed in chatting with friends and getting to know each other, showing no sign of worrying about their future lives.
In fact, compared with Chinese parents, American parents care equally about their children's advanced education and make plans accordingly. It is true that some students begin to save money for their university education quite earlier---- for example, Amy, the daughter of my workmate Stevenson, planned to continue her education after secondary school. However Stevenson earned little and could not afford the tuition. Amy had to find a part-time job, working from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on holiday ----but for most American students, at least the majority of undergraduates, _
Some parents not only take the financial burden for their children's advanced education but also try every possible way to help them. I could still remember that our teacher once said that American parents seldom offered help to their children, by which she meant to say that Chinese parents might be too caring. However every coin has two sides. For example, my academic advisor successfully got money from a major scientific grant to continue his research project, and then he hired an undergraduate Sarah to work with us. The fact is that research assistantship is usually competitive, especially to undergraduate students, and it turned out that Sarah was the daughter of my advisor! "When I apply to the graduate school next year, the money I make and the research experience I build up will benefit me a lot," Sarah said. I used to think that American people behave like businessmen, but this small incident proves that they still might compromise the rules for the benefit of their children as loving parents. | high22846.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "receive a certificate of TESOL"
},
"options": [
"graduate from university",
"receive a certificate of TESOL",
"be trained in a summer course",
"take a course online"
],
"question": "To teach English in a foreign... | On the first day of the New Year 2013, I made up my mind to go to Thailand to teach English as a volunteer. Fresh out of college with the world at my fingertips, all I cared about was travelling and seeing the world. Little did I know how awesome my life would be in the coming months!
My journey began with the attendance of TESOL certification course in my home state of Florida last February. After 3 weekends of study and another 40 hours' post-study online, I received my TESOL certificate.
I was put in touch with Philip, who is Program Director of the Teach in Thailand. In close consultation with Philip, I chose my employment school and after many months of excitement, I finally boarded my plane to Thailand in early April, and set off on an adventure!
After a few weeks of single travel, I met up with Philip and the other new teachers in my program in Bangkok. It was great to meet other people who were on the same journey as me, see some cool sights and hang out in Thailand's cities! Directly after that, I attended the week-long seminar , which is included in the Teach in Thailand Program. At the end of the seminar, I was transported to my employment school---Anuban Buriram Primary School.
I truly love my job--- I teach Grades 5 and 6 and I have the cleverest and most motivated kids in the world. It's a truly fantastic thing that you can see the difference you make in someone else's life, right in front of you!
The city Buriram is small, surrounded with green rice fields. People here are more friendly than anyone I've ever met--I've never been anywhere where a smile is so easily received, where everyone you pass is so eager to say "Hello" and "Good morning". I've been taken out to countless dinners, and been lent a guitar, a digital camera, and even a motorbike, and I am constantly given little Thai treats and the most delicious fresh fruits many times a week. I only hope to pay it forward in the future. | high13443.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "To enable students to learn from each other."
},
"options": [
"To offer students access to library staff.",
"To help students learn to be considerate.",
"To keep students free from disturbance.",
"To enable students to ... | When you use our university libraries there are different learning spaces available so you can decide what is best for your purpose.
Social learning area
We recognize that you can learn from your friends so we have provided social study areas in all our libraries. Here you can discuss your work with your friends without worrying about disturbing others as a reasonable level of noise is accepted, though we do ask that you're considerate of other students and staff.
Group study rooms
There are bookable group study rooms of various sizes in the libraries. These rooms are well equipped so that you can easily work in groups or practice presentations.
*Bookings are available to groups of 3 or more students
*Bookings can be made in hourly blocks up to a maximum of 2 hours per group per day
*Bookings can be made for the current week and the following week
*Contact the library Help Desk to book a room. Bookings are restricted to student use only.
Silent study spaces
We know that on occasion you may prefer to study on your own. To help you achieve this we have individual quiet or silent study areas.
In order to preserve the quiet study environment and to avoid disturbing other students, discussion about your course work or exams, or using mobile phones isn't permitted anywhere in these areas.
Food, drink and phones
Cold snacks and drinks can be consumed in most areas of the libraries though we ask that you help keep the learning environment clean and pleasant for everyone by clearing rubbish into the bins provided.
Mobile phones can be used in the social learning areas and group study rooms but not in the silent study spaces or the hallways or stairs that lead to those areas. We ask that you switch your phone to silent mode when you come in the library. | high15032.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Because she cared much about her appearance."
},
"options": [
"Because she really cared about her clothes.",
"Because she cared much about her appearance.",
"Because her teeth were not good.",
"Because she didn't know h... | Dear Carol,
I wear braces and I know I look just terrible in them. Is there anything I can do to improve my appearance until they come off?
Connie N.
Philadelphia, PA
Dear Connie,
Start by thinking about how good you are going to look when your braces come off. If you are negative about your appearance, people will pick that up right away about you. In the meantime there are several things that you can do to lift your spirits:
Change your hairstyle. Be sure to get a good cut so that the shape of your hair will be flattering to your face and also good for your type of hair (fine, thick, straight, curly, etc.) Choose a hairstyle that draws attention away from your face. Hair pulled back into a pony-tail or into a ball on top or slightly off-center can be attractive and practical for this purpose.
Keep skin clean. If you choose to wear makeup , it should look natural. Blusher and lip gloss in light tones of peach or pink are best.
Be well-groomed . Neatness really _ . People see a total look about you before they ever become aware of your braces. And first impressions are lasting ones! | high8646.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Swift stands out as a singer and songwriter."
},
"options": [
"Swift stands out as a singer and songwriter.",
"Only Swift writes her own songs.",
"Swift begins to take interest in singing.",
"Swift decides to deal with ... | When Taylor Swift first came to the attention of the public,she was a 17yearold newcomer who loved singing to her guitar.She seemed far more enthusiastic than skillful.
Four years later,Swift became a multiaward winner.This month,she was crowned "Woman of the Year" by Billboard magazine,the youngest singersongwriter ever to receive the honor."Aged only 21,Taylor has already made a maior impact on music and has been an unbelievable role model for hopeful artists and young women everywhere," said Bill Werde,Billboard's director.
_ Unlike many pop singers,especially those who do not write their own material,Swift has the power of turning her ideas into lyrics that will set people thinking."Hidden beneath Taylor Swift's notagirl,notyetawoman sweetness is a very skillful songwriting technique," wrote Leah Greenblatt in an American magazine.
Songwriting,as Swift explains,is to cope with issues."I tend to write about things that really impact me most." There certainly seems to be something true and honest running through every one of the 14 songs on her album,Speak Now,about "the lessons and confusion and heartbreak and all the different things that go along with being 18,19 and 20."
"For the audience too young to have experienced real passion or heartbreak,Swift's songs are like a potential road map,promising things will work out OK," commented Dorian ynskey in a British newspaper.
Now Swift is getting ready to go further and has so far written about 10 songs for her 2012 album,which is about feelings of growing up and becoming an adult."They're sad,if I'm being honest.""They're about my heartbreaks and my moving on.But more importantly,they are about achieving contentment.You're not always going to be perfectly happy as you grow up." | high7575.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The demand of physician assistants is expected to expand largely and they are well-paid."
},
"options": [
"Physician assistants are medical professionals.",
"Physician assistants enjoy the highest pay compared with other grads.",
... | Forbes set out to determine which master's degrees would provide the best long-term opportunities, based on salary and employment outlook. To find the mid-career average pay for 35 popular degrees, we turned to Payscale.com, which lets users compare their salaries with those of other people in similar jobs by gathering real-time salary data from its 35 million profiles. We then looked at the Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment estimate data to see how fast employment was expected to increase between 2010 and 2020 in popular jobs held by people with each degree. Finally we averaged each degree's pay rank and estimated growth rank to find the best and worst master's degrees for jobs.
Physician assistant degree is at the top of the Forbes' third-annual look at the best master's degrees for jobs. Physician assistants are medical professionals who provide diagnostic and preventative health care services under the guidance of doctors.
"Both an aging population and health care reform are contributing to a higher demand for health care services," says Katie Bardaro, Payscale's lead economist.
They don't earn as much as doctors, but their mid-career average pay is $97,000. Another advantage of a physician assistant degree: Employment opportunities are expected to grow 30% by 2020 (from the 2010 employment numbers), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
By our count, computer science follows close behind as the No. 2 best advanced degree for jobs. Mid-career average pay for these grads is $109,000, sixth best out of the 35 degrees in our survey. Employment opportunities for computer science degree-holders are expected to expand about 22% between 2010 and 2020. Electrical engineering, physics and economics degrees also make the top 10, all with an average mid-career salary of more than $110,000 a year.
Not all master's degree holders enjoy anywhere near such optimistic job prospects or extraordinary pay. Biology, chemistry and history degrees are toward the bottom of the list--but that doesn't mean they're useless. If you're enthusiastic about these fields, the lower pay and slimmer job prospects shouldn't prevent you from pursuing a master's.
Before you make a decision, you should bear one thing in mind: master's degree-holders don't necessarily earn more than other people in similar jobs--so don't base your decision to pursue one on the idea that you'll bring in bigger paychecks.
It's also important to think about work-life balance and employee satisfaction for the common jobs associated with these degrees. "You need to consider overall happiness," Bardaro says. "If obtaining a master's degree causes an imbalance due to time devoted to education and potentially more stress at work, then one will need to decide if these costs are worth it." | high23594.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Designers"
},
"options": [
"Scientists",
"Teachers",
"Designers",
"Lawyers"
],
"question": "What kind of people will benefit a lot more from this passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
... | Trends come and go but style is eternal. So what is the latest fashion trend that defines this season? Let's take a look at the fashion trend in 2016 and be the first ones to embrace the latest trend.
Head----It seems like everyone will be wearing a bucket hat this season. Bucket hat might sound a bit old-fashioned for some people, but the 90s trend is in season again! Spring and summer are always the seasons for casual clothes, so pairing the bucket hat with casual shorts or skirts would be your outfit to go in this spring and summer in 2016.
Bottom--Summer is the season when everyone gets ready for the humid weather. The current season trend is making everyone have a more comfortable summer because wide-leg bottoms is in trend again. Perhaps not everyone likes wide-leg bottoms because this could possible make people look shorter, choosing a high-waist wide-leg bottom and matching it with crop top will definitely make you look taller and trendy in 2016.
Dress---Be prepared for embracing the feminine details this season. Ruffles around the sleeve or ruffles all-over the dress will be everyone's favorite in SS 2016. All these little details will transform your look in season. Simple colors like pink and black are designer's favorites in this season too.
Shoes---Many people thought wedges are also the shoes to go in spring and summer time, but in SS 2016, very flat flats are in trend again. Shoe designers are trying to have more combinations flats or low-heels with less of gender identity.
Accessories----No outfit goes perfect without accessories. Adding statement accessories to your simple and natural outlook this summer is your day-to-night outfit. These jewels are doing to make you feel completed in day time and sparkled at night. | high12991.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the length of a group of words"
},
"options": [
"one's familiarity with the text",
"one's purpose in reading",
"the length of a group of words",
"lighting and tiredness"
],
"question": "The time of the recogniti... | Now let us look at how we read. When we read a printed text, our eyes move across a page in short, jerky movement. We recognize words usually when our eyes are still when they fixate. Each time they fixate, we see a group of words. This is known as the recognition span or the visual span. The length of time of which the eyes stop ---the duration of the fixation ----varies considerably from person to person. It also varies within any one person according to his purpose in reading and his familiarity with the text. Furthermore, it can be affected by such factors as lighting and tiredness.
Unfortunately, in the past, many reading improvement courses have concentrated too much on how our eyes move across the printed page. As a result of this misleading emphasis on the purely visual aspects of reading, numerous exercises have been devised to train the eyes to see more words at one fixation. For instance, in some exercises, words are flashed on to a screen for, say, a tenth or a twentieth of a second. One of the exercises has required students to fix their eyes on some central point, taking in the words on either side. Such word patterns are often constructed in the shape of rather steep pyramids so the reader takes in more and more words at each successive fixation. All these exercises are very clever, _ Reading requires the ability to understand the relationship between words. Consequently , for these reasons, many experts have now begun to question the usefulness of eye training, especially since any approach which trains a person to read isolated words and phrases would seem unlikely to help him in reading a continuous text. | high1110.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "A Palestinian girl blew herself up to kill Israelis."
},
"options": [
"A Palestinian girl killed herself.",
"Andaleeb, her father's favorite daughter.",
"A Palestinian girl blew herself up to kill Israelis.",
"Israeli t... | BELT FAJAR, West Bank - of Khalil Taqataqah's nine children, 20-year-old Andaleeb was his favorite. She was up early on Friday, made him tea and then slipped unnoticed out of the modest family home in this West Bank village.
In centralprefix = st1 /Jerusalemlater in the day, Andaleeb ended her life the way dozens of other Palestinians did before: She blew herself up, killing herself and six Israelis and injured scores more.
Andaleeb's parents, sisters, best friends and close s painted a picture of a quiet and soft-spoken woman who had not given a hint of her intentions.
But Andaleeb spoke of her plan in a video taken before Friday's bombing and shown on Saturday on the Qatar-based Arab satellite TV channel AI-Jazeera.
"I've chosen to say with my body what Arab's leaders have failed to say." Said Andaleeb, repeating a frequent complaint by Palestinians that Arab nations are not doing enough againstIsrael.
"My body is a barrel of gunpowder that burns the enemy." she said, reading from a piece of paper.
"She was like any other girl of her age. She spoke about love and marriage. I am so sad she's gone. It's the shock of my life." said her best friend and coworker Laila Mahmoud.
A school dropout, Andaleeb had supported her family from a job at a Palestinian-owned textile factory in the nearby town ofBelt Jala. She had not reported for work for nearly three weeks because of repeated closures of West Bank roads by the Israeli army, according to her s.
"Anyone in her place would have been out of control. It's her destiny and it's a source of pride and glory for us that she did what she could." said her aunt, Jameela Taqataqah as she held back tears.
Andaleeb, the third Palestinian woman to commit a suicide murder this year, wore blue jeans and a matching checkered shirt when she had a photograph taken two months ago.
Andaleeb, her parents' fourth child, looked more than 20 in the photograph.
Andaleeb's parents said they learned of their daughter's death early this morning when Israeli troops arrived and asked everyone to step out while they searched the house.
"They arrested one of her brothers and a male cousin who lives next door." said the parents. | high22852.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Four"
},
"options": [
"Two",
"Three",
"Four",
"Seven"
],
"question": "How many locked rooms can students and teaching staff use?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_... | A Guide
To use or protect all kinds of facilities in the library, follow the procedures given at the circulation desk.
Group Study Rooms(2F)
Students and teaching staff can use these rooms for group study. Students are advised to use unlocked rooms(4 rooms for 2 people, 3 rooms for 4 people) available for free. When you use locked rooms(2 rooms for 4 people, 2 rooms for 10 people), you need to go through reservation procedures at the circulation desk. These rooms are available for group discussion.
Individual Reading Rooms(1-3F)
There are 4 single rooms available for use by teaching staff and visiting scholars. Each room is equipped with a computer together 1 printer and 6 scanners. Reservation of these rooms is available for a period up to seven days on end.
Meeting Rooms and Seminar Rooms(1-3F)
Only teaching staff and graduate students can apply to use these rooms and reserve them one day in advance. The total number of seats is 40. They are available for workshops and small seminars.
Computer Rooms(4F)
These rooms are available for classes or seminars and so on. The total number of seats is 88. Only teaching staff can apply to use the computer rooms and reserve them one day in advance. | high13457.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Douglas-Hamilton's devotion to protecting elephants."
},
"options": [
"Douglas-Hamilton's winning the Indianapolis Prize.",
"Douglas-Hamilton's devotion to protecting elephants.",
"Douglas-Hamilton's research into African ani... | When Iain Douglas-Hamilton first started studying elephants in Africa,he had to invent ways of tracking the big animals. Over the course of 40 years in the field, the zoologist learned how to fly airplanes and use some high-tech means to follow their movements. He also learned how to get out of the way fast. "I learned how to climb trees very quickly," says Dr. Douglas-Hamilton, winner of the 2010 Indianapolis Prize.
As co-founder of Save the Elephants, he has also learned to be an activist, author, and politician. When Douglas-Hamilton left Tanzania, in East Africa, in 1970 to study at Oxford University in Britain, he left behind "an elephants' paradise ."But when he returned in 1972, the country's national parks looked more like a war zone. Douglas-Hamilton often found more dead elephants than living ones.
Dr. Douglas-Hamilton now lives in Kenya with his wife, Oria, who co-founded Save the Elephants. Together they have written two books, "Battle for the Elephants" and " Among the Elephants".
During the height of the ivory poaching ,Douglas-Hamilton flew in small planes, helping bring back elephants in Uganda from the edge of extinction. He's been repeatedly shot at and has survived plane crashes, floods and diseases. He fought for years for a worldwide ban on ivory sales, which finally took effect in 1989.
Douglas-Hamilton pioneered the scientific study of elephant social behavior. Among his discoveries: Elephants have a society controlled by female elephants and travel in families. In 2009, he worked to save a rare group of desert elephants in Mali from the worst dry weather in Mali's history. There have been other successes, particularly in East and Southern Africa. Douglas--Hamilton has proposed the idea of a mobile national park, where the protected land would follow elephants as they travel. No country has yet accepted it.
Even after decades of research, Douglas-Hamilton still enjoys the company of elephants. "I love to sit with them and be with them, "he says. "I have the greatest joy just to be with elephants at peace." | high12749.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Be honest with your friends."
},
"options": [
"Understand your friends.",
"Be honest with your friends.",
"Spend more time with your friends.",
"Keep your distance from your friends."
],
"question": "What does t... | Who doesn't have a clingy friend? You know, that person who often calls,texts, and e-mails. He often needs your attention, your feedback,or your help.Worse yet, he often gets _ when you don't reply immediately.
Is there ever a moment when you just want to turn off your phone and be alone? But you won't do that to a friend. Actually there are better ways to deal with a clingy friend.
Give Yourself Some Time
If you really need some time for yourself, or you're just tired of being the listener, just explain to your friend honestly that you want or need some time of your own.Even the most determined friends will understand and give you some space. Of course, those extremely clingy friends will still call, text, and e-mail. If that happens, just reply gently that you need some time for yourself.
Suggest an Activity for Your Friend
If you 're tired of different get-togethers and outings, then you should advise your friend to do something alone. If you both like sports, you could tell your friend to have a try at the new gym. If your friend likes your suggestion, but insists that you go along, just explain that you've already visited the gym. Mention that you enjoy the gym. If you're lucky , he'll try it, and like it.
Introduce Your Clingy Friend to Others.
Your clingy friend may just be lonely or have trouble meeting new people. If that's the case , introduce him to others with similar interests. He may just make some new friends.
_
There's no reason for you to rudely tell your clingy friend that he's a pain in the neck. Just follow the above advice to take your time back. After a while, your clingy friend should learn to value your time and your friendship. | high8652.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "It draws on spare resources."
},
"options": [
"It is a global trend.",
"It is beyond regulations.",
"It draws on spare resources.",
"It brings in modest profits."
],
"question": "What is the positive thing about... | The sharing economy, represented by companies like Airbnb or Uber, is the latest fashion craze. But many supporters have overlooked the reality that this new business model is largely based on escaping regulations and breaking the law.
Airbnb is an Internet-based service that allows people to rent out spare rooms to strangers for short stays. Uber is an Internet taxi service that allows thousands of people to answer ride requests with their own cars. There are hundreds of other such services.
The good thing about the sharing economy is that it promotes the use of underused resources. Millions of people have houses or apartments with empty rooms, and Airbnb allows them to profit from these rooms while allowing guests a place to stay at prices that are often far less than those charged by hotels. Uber offers prices that are competitive with standard taxi prices and their drivers are often much quicker and more trustworthy.
But the downside of the sharing economy has gotten much less attention. Most cities and states both tax and regulate hotels, and the tourists who stay in hotels are usually an important source of tax income. But many of Airbnb's customers are not paying the taxes required under the law.
Airbnb can also raise issues of safety for its customers and trouble for hosts' neighbors. Hotels are regularly inspected to ensure that they are not fire traps and that they don't form other risks for visitors. Airbnb hosts face no such inspections.
Since Airbnb is allowing people to escape taxes and regulations, the company is simply promoting thefts. Others in the economy will lose by bearing an additional tax burden or being forced to live next to an apartment unit with a never-ending series of noisy visitors.
The same story may apply with Uber. Uber is currently in disputes over whether its cars meet the safety and insurance requirements imposed on standard taxis. Also, if Uber and related services flood the market, they could harm all taxi drivers' ability to earn a minimum wage.
This downside of the sharing needs to be taken seriously, but that doesn't mean the current tax and regulatory structure is perfect. | high15026.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "advertisements"
},
"options": [
"the government",
"their owners?families",
"advertisements",
"the audience"
],
"question": "The existence of the privately owned mass media depends financially on _ .",
"... | When you turn on the radio, you hear an advertisement. When you watch television, you hear and see an advertisement. If you turn the pages of a newspaper or magazine, again you find an advertisement. If you walk down the street, you see one advertising board after another. All day, every day, people who want to sell you something compete to catch your attention. As a result, advertisements are almost everywhere.
In the West, advertisements are the fuel that makes mass media work. Many TV stations, newspapers, magazines, radio stations are privately owned. The government does not give them money. So where does the money come from? From advertisements. Without advertisements, there would not be these private businesses.
Have you ever asked yourself what advertising is? Through the years, people have given different answers to the question. For some time it was felt that advertising was a means of keeping your name before the public? and some people thought that advertising was "truth well told." Now more and more people describe it in this way: Advertising is the paid, non-personal, and usually persuasive description of goods, services and ideas by identified sponsors through various media.
First, advertising is usually paid for. Various sponsors pay for the advertisements we see, read, and hear over the various media. Second, advertising is non-personal. It is not face to face communication. Although you may feel that a message in a certain advertisement is aimed directly at you, in reality, it is directed at large groups of people. Third, advertising is usually persuasive. Directly or indirectly it tells people to do something. All advertisements try to make people believe that the product, idea, or service advertised can do good to them. Fourth, the sponsor of the advertisement must be identified. From the advertisement, we can see if the sponsor is a company, or an organization, or an individual. Fifth, advertising reaches us through traditional and nontraditional mass media. Included in the traditional media are newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and films. Nontraditional media include the mail, matchbox covers, and billboards. | high7561.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "she thought she knew it well"
},
"options": [
"she thought she knew it well",
"she had purchased medicine online",
"she graduated from a medical school",
"she had been treated by local doctors"
],
"question": "M... | The technology is great. Without it we wouldn't have been able to put a man on the moon, explore the ocean's depths or eat microwave sausages. Computers have revolutionized our lives and they have the power to educate and pass on knowledge. But sometimes this power can create more problems than it solves.
Every doctor has had to try their best to calm down patients who've come into their surgery waving an Internet print-out, convinced that they have some rare incurable disease, say, throat cancer. The truth is usually far more ordinary, though: they don't have throat cancer, and it's just that their throats are swollen. Being a graduate of the Internet "school" of medicine does not guarantee accurate self-health-checks.
One day Mrs. Almond came to my hospital after feeling faint at work. While I took her blood sample and tried to find out what was wrong, she said calmly, "I know what's wrong;I've got throat cancer. I know there's nothing you doctors can do about it and I've just got to wait until the day comes."
As a matter of routine I ordered a chest X-ray. I looked at it and the blood results an hour later. Something wasn't right. "Did your local doctor do an X-ray?" I asked. "Oh, I haven't been to the doctor for years," she replied. "I read about it on a website and the symptoms fitted, so I knew that's what I had."
However, some of her symptoms, like the severe cough and weight loss, didn't fit with it--but she'd just ignored this.
I looked at the X-ray again, and more tests confirmed it wasn't the cancer but tuberculosis --something that most certainly did need treating, and could be deadly. She was lucky we caught it when we did.
Mrs. Almond went pale when I explained she would have to be on treatment for the next six months to ensure that she was fully recovered. It was certainly a lesson for her. " _ ," she said, shaking her head, as I explained that all the people she had come into close contact with would have to be found out and tested. She listed up to about 20, and then I went to my office to type up my notes. Unexpectedly, the computer was not working, so I had to wait until someone from the IT department came to fix it. Typical. Maybe I should have a microwave sausage while I waited? | high4068.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "The total lunar eclipse ended at about 6:56 a.m.."
},
"options": [
"The total lunar eclipse began at about 3:30 a.m..",
"The total lunar eclipse ended at about 6:56 a.m..",
"The lunar eclipse ended at about 6:56 in the evenin... | SAN FRANCISCO -- In the western U.S., Hawaii and elsewhere across the globe, moon watchers were treated on Saturday to a rare celestial phenomenon: a total lunar eclipse .
For about 50 minutes starting at 6:06 a.m. PST, the moon was completely blocked by the Earth's shadow.
With only some indirect sunlight able to reach it after passing through the Earth's atmosphere, the moon took on a reddish weak light. Since the atmosphere scatters blue light, only red light strikes the moon, giving it a dark red color1.
Dally Sam, who runs a public relations firm in Hawaii, said it had been cloudy and rainy, but the weather cleared just in time for the eclipse.
Around 3 a.m., he awoke, as he usually does, and remembered to step outside the house in time to catch the beginning of the eclipse about a half hour later. No one else in the neighborhood was up then.
"It was turning that dark red color1," Sayre, aged 47, said, "I'd better get a camera. To be able to see it just right outside our house was really cool."
At the local observatory in Los Angeles, some 300 people, many holding coffee cups in the cold morning air, sat with blankets and chairs on the observatory's great grass land.
"It's really a celestial festival out here," John Peter, aged 39, told the Los Angeles Times as he set up his camera.
Lying on a slope north of downtown near the Hollywood sign, the place offers clear views of the sky. Observatory officials reminded the crowd when the eclipse began and big applause burst when the celestial event ended.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon goes through the long shadow cast by the Earth and is blocked from the sunlight that brightens it. ks5u | high21383.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Drinking too much water might bring harm."
},
"options": [
"Drinking too much water might bring harm.",
"Whether to drink enough water makes no difference.",
"Drinking too much water may cause headaches.",
"Average, hea... | Drinking a lot of water does not do any good to the body, according to two experts in the United States. In fact, they warn, drinking too much water could be, in certain cases, harmful.
In a study, Dr Stanly Goldfarb and Dr Dan Negoianu, both of the Renal, Electrolyte and Hypertension Division at the University of Pensylvania, the United States, have denied the popular belief that drinking a lot of water clears body toxins better, improves skin, and helps reduce weight.
Dr Goldfarb and Dr Negoianu say that they found little proof to back the public opinion that drinking 8 glasses of water every day benefits health. At the same time, they fond little proof of harm in drinking 8 glasses of water every day.
It is widely believed that in some cases-such as athletes, people who live in hot, dry environments, and those with certain medical conditions-drinking a lot of water indeed helps, but no studies have been done to prove the benefits of this practice in average, healthy people, the website medheadlines.com reports.
The study at the University of Pennsylvania also examined reports that some people experienced increased headaches when their consumption of water was low. In one small study, which the doctors reviewed, the group drinking the most water reported fewer headaches than the control group, "but the difference in the number of headaches was o small between the two groups as to be considered unimportant."
The researchers concluded that there is no scientific proof to support that average, healthy people need to drink at least 8 glasses of water each each day.
The website medheadines.com says that, according to an Indian doctor, drinking too much water is harmful. If water enters the body more quickly than it can be removed, problems can occur. | high11240.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "People are fairly interested in climbing nowadays."
},
"options": [
"People are fairly interested in climbing nowadays.",
"It is impossible to build up one's body by climbing.",
"People can only learn the skill of climbing ou... | People believe that climbing can do good to health. Where can you learn the skill of climbing then? If you think that you have to go to the mountains to learn how to climb,you're wrong. Many Americans are learning to climb in city gyms . Here,people are learning on special climbing walls. The climbing wall goes straight up and has small holding places for hands and feet.
How do people climb the wall? To climb,you need special shoes and a harness around your chest to hold you. There are ropes tied to your harness. The ropes hold you in place so that you don't fall. A beginner's wall is usually about 15 feet high,and you climb straight up. There are small pieces of metal that stick out for you to stand on and hold on to. Sometimes it's easy to see the new piece of metal. Sometimes, it's not. The most difficult part is to control your fear. It's normal for humans to be afraid of falling, so it's difficult not to feel fear. But when you move away from the wall,the harness and the ropes hold you,and you begin to feel safe. You move slowly until you reach the top.
Climbing attracts people because it's good exercise for almost everyone. You use your whole body,especially your arms and legs. This sport gives your body a complete _ . When you climb,both your mind and your body can become stronger. | high3707.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Friends in childhood are sometimes forgotten by us."
},
"options": [
"Friendship can not be easily affected by one's family.",
"Friends are always around us and will never go away.",
"Friends in childhood are the best no matt... | Life affects friendships. As we grow, marry, fight in wars, move across the country or change jobs, old friendships fall away and new ones form. As long as we live, the things around us change, and as long as things change, friendships are affected.
When we were children we had best friends. No matter what happened we were still friends. We live our lives, however, and do what life calls for us to do, and as we get older, memories fade, faces blur, and even friends' names from childhood are forgotten.
Do you have a question about friendship? Do you wonder what to do with a friend who is no longer friendly? Perhaps you will see that you can't control others. If someone wants to be your friend, it is their choice. All you can do is treat them well and do the best for them when you are with them. Then you wish them well when they leave.
You can talk to old timers and they will tell you that life is full of incredible joy and incredible sorrow, and that what bothers you today will one day becomes a memory and the sting will be gone. Seniors might tell you that you will learn more as you get older. They will tell you that friendships come and friendships go. Sometimes when they go it will hurt, but you will be okay with it. It's the way life works, after all. | high2419.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Using gene technology, the scientist finds the wrong gene and corrects it."
},
"options": [
"Using gene technology, people with hereditary diseases can have more living days.",
"Using gene technology, the scientist finds the wrong ... | Among all the fast growing science and technology, the research of human genes, or biological engineering as people call it, is drawing more and more attention now. Sometimes it is a hot topic discussed by people.
The greatest thing that gene technology can do is to cure serious diseases that doctors at present can almost do nothing with, such as cancer and heart disease. Every year, millions of people are murdered by these two killers. And to date, doctors have not found an effective way to cure them. But if the gene technology is applied, not only these two diseases can be cured completely, bringing happiness and more living days to the patients, but also the great amount of money people spend on curing their diseases can be saved, therefore it benefits the economy as well. In addition, human life span can be prolonged. www.zxxk.com
Gene technology can help people to give birth to healthy and clever children. Some families, with the English imperial family being a good example, have hereditary diseases. This means their children will for sure have the family disease, which is a great trouble for these families. In the past, doctors could do nothing about hereditary diseases. But gene technology can solve this problem perfectly. The scientist just need to find the wrong gene and correct it, and a healthy child will be born.
Some people are worrying that the gene research can be used to manufacture human beings in large quantities. In the past few years, scientists have succeeded in cloning a sheep, therefore these people predict that human babies would soon be cloned. But I believe cloned babies will not come out in large quantities, for most couples in the world can have babies in very normal way. Of course, the government must take care to control gene technology. | high5376.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "collect materials from many places"
},
"options": [
"think hard",
"collect materials from many places",
"express what they want to",
"describe women's sufferings and emotions"
],
"question": "When writing comput... | Now net fiction ,also called computer fiction is popular in more than 80 countries.
To write computer fictions,the writers don't have to think about making any plot.Like reporters,they just go to a lot of places and collect materials:what most women want,their ideas about life and love,their happiness and sufferings and emotions.All these materials are fed into the computer to be processed and classified .Then the writers just pick some materials from every part and fill in some details and a story is made up.
The first computer fiction was edited by 13 editors and published in Canada in 1976.It was a great success and 45 million copies were sold.Seeing this new process as profittaking a big American publishing company bought over the majority of the 13 Canadian editors and soon a series of computer fictions were published in the United States.
All the computer fictions have very romantic titles.The heroine is always about 20,while the hero is a 30 to 40 bachelor ,handsome,with money and power.The hero and the heroine have a happy reunion after all kinds of misunderstandings .Computer fictions are enjoyed by most women readers of the west.But people doubt if they have any literary value . | high17631.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "a shock to online booksellers"
},
"options": [
"a shock to online booksellers",
"curiosity to the Swedish Academy",
"contrary to the belief of the Chinese media",
"beyond the expectation of most Chinese people"
],
... | The breaking news of Mo Yan's Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday evening soon aroused public curiosity of the 57-year-old Chinese writer: Why was he favored by the Swedish Academy?
Less than half an hour after the announcement from Stockholm, Mo's works turned to "sold out" status at China's major online book sellers.
One lucky buyer wrote in an online comment: "Rushed to purchase, but to my shame, I have not read any of his novels."
Although Mo was entitled one of the top China's literature awards before the Nobel Prize, he is not the most popular novelist in China, in either the book market or in reputation.
Chinese media seemed to be shocked as some journalists were reported to be on their way overnight to Gaomi City of East China's Shandong Province, Mo's birthplace where he stayed with his family.
Born in 1955 into a rural family, Mo dropped out of school and became a farmer when he was a teenager. He joined the army and devoted himself to writing. Mo's novels were translated into several languages.
For more than a century, Nobel Prize has been regarded by the world as recognition to an individual or even a nation's cultural and scientific advances.
"I think the reason why I could win the prize is that my works present lives with unique Chinese characteristics, and they also tell stones from a viewpoint of common human beings, which transcends differences of nations and races," Mo said on Thursday evening to Chinese journalists.
Mo also said many folk arts originated from his hometown, such as paper cuts and traditional new year paintings, have inspired and influenced his novels.
Mo's prize may give powerful encouragement to the country's writers as the more reflective of Chinese lives their works are, the more possible they arise as world literature. | high18264.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Your order in a takeout restaurant can be sent to your home."
},
"options": [
"There exist great differences of rules in different restaurants.",
"People from Wales and southeast Britain are the most polite.",
"Your order in ... | " Dining out", or " eating out ",is a phrase people use in Britain when they eat in a restaurant or a pub. Eating out is more popular in Britain today than ever before.
However, eating out can be expensive. Restaurants are normally more expensive than pubs, though many pubs serve very good ,simple food. As British people don't dine out every night of the week ,eating in a restaurant is often seen as a special occasion. When going for the first date, or if celebrating an anniversary or a birthday, many people like to go to a restaurant. People often eat in a restaurant before going to the cinema or the theatre.
As in all cultures, there are many rules of etiquette surrounding food and eating, and nowhere is this more _ than when eating in a smart restaurant. People are almost always expected to eat with a knife and fork and these should be held in the correct hand and used in the correct way. It is also impolite to have your elbows on the dining table when you are eating.
There're many such "unspoken" rules -- they are normally only important when eating in a very elegant and expensive restaurant, and vary slightly from restaurant to restaurant and place to place. A recent nationwide survey showed that there was a divide in manners between the north and south of Britain ---the "worst" manners were in Scotland and the northeast, and the "best" in Wales and the southeast! However, this survey was almost certainly conducted by someone in the southeast, so it may not be entirely fair.
Naturally, restaurants vary greatly in quality and price. However, almost all British cities have a vast range of food and cooking styles to choose from as well as traditional British food, from the very cheap to the very expensive -- French, Italian, Indian, Greek, Thai, Japanese and many more. In fact, when asked what their favorite food is, many British people say an Indian curry rather than any other dish!
As well as dining in a restaurant ,when people are too tired to cook after work they often get a "takeaway". This means they order from a takeaway or takeout restaurant by phone, then go to collect it and take it home to eat. Many takeout restaurants also deliver to your house. While you can normally find a takeout restaurant for almost any cuisine, the most popular are Italian, Indian and Chinese -- and all you have to do is to open the door, pay and eat! | high5410.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "like to follow the fashion"
},
"options": [
"spend much time doing their homework",
"like to follow the fashion",
"have their hair cut too often",
"refuse to listen in class"
],
"question": "It is implied in thi... | Tokyo--Our kids,the Japanese government announced,have forgotten how to behave.They can't he bothered with housework.If they see someone being wronged,they probably look the other way.
Few countries have placed more importance on being well--behave in public than Japan.The simplest requests for directions often result in guided tours.If is still a rule that shopkeepers are all smiles.Lost wallets usually make their way back to their owners.
But according to recent surveys,all that may he going the way of the ancient hair-do.And Japan's government has got into a situation in which a lot of problems must be dealt with quickly.
A Japanese Education Ministry survey formed last year and made public last month found that Japan moves behind other nations in teaching youngsters right from wrong.
It also reposed that Japanese children are less helpful and do far less housework than the foreigners who are the same age as them in all classes.But they are better about taking dirty dishes to the kitchen after dinner.
Besides,Japanese kids are more likely to color1 their hair and carry cell phones than American and Chinese kids,according to another survey.
Children in about 18 percent of public school classrooms are so disorderly that teachers cannot give lessons,further recent reports show.Children refuse to sit,to listen or to stop talking.
"Older and middle-aged Japanese continue to have a solid sense of good manners and social justice "said Professor Yoshina Hirano from Shinshu University,who was appointed to direct the ministry's survey.
"Despite the knowledge of good manners among adults,the breakdown in manners may be spreading."he said. | high17157.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Names are required to indicate writers' responsibility for what they say."
},
"options": [
"Writers need to provide their personal information in the game.",
"Publication must bear the writer's full name, address and phone number."... | Many people write to newspaper and magazines to express their opinions. Letters to the editor must carry the writer's full name, address and telephone number, although the information is not necessary for publication. This requirement to provide personal particulars is a clear indication that writers are held responsible for what they say. When a writer wants his voice heard, he needs to claim ownership of his voice. Responsibility is the name of the game.
"People today prefer living together to putting their signatures on a marriage certificate because they refuse to accept responsibility for the relationship," said social worker Ken Yip, "and this is what is causing a lot of family problems." When we sign a paper, for example, a business contract or a bank document, the signature is a seal of consent, an agreement to take the matter seriously. Most governments and many organizations will not process written complaints if they do not bear the writer's signature. The absence of a signature, they explain, tells us that the writer cannot be too serious and therefore does not deserve a reply.
There are people who wish to remain anonymous for various reasons. Multi-billionaire Mr. King donates generously to charity several times a year. He gives simply because he wants to help but not for the publicity his donations may bring, and he does not want his good deeds to make news. In other cases, people insist on anonymity because they are afraid of the consequences of revealing their identity. Crime witnesses may be willing to assist the police, but most are unwilling to give their names when reporting a crime.
Name or no name? The answer is very personal and lies in how much we want to get involved. We all have a name. It is a matter if responsibility to use it when we make a statement, a claim or an accusation. We all want to honor our own name, and it is only by stamping our expression of an opinion with our own name that we honor what we say. | high10638.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "they get what they want to have"
},
"options": [
"they think happiness is rooted in their deep hearts",
"they get what they want to have",
"they get a great paying job",
"they get an expensive car"
],
"question"... | Are you happy? Do you remember a time when you were happy? Are you seeking happiness today?
Many have sought a variety of sources for their feelings of happiness.Some have put their hearts and efforts into their work.Too many have turned to drugs and alcohol.Meanwhile, untold numbers have looked for it in the possession of expensive cars, exotic vacation homes and other popular "toys".Most of their efforts have a root in one common fact: people are looking for a lasting source of happiness.
Unfortunately, I believe that happiness escapes from many people because they misunderstand the journey of finding it.I have heard many people say that, "I'll be happy when I get my new promotion." Or "I'll be happy when I lose that extra 20 pounds." It is dangerous because it accepts that happiness is a "response" to having, being or doing something.
In life, we all experience stimulus and response.Today, some people think that an expensive car is a stimulus, and happiness is a response; a great paying job is a stimulus, and happiness is a response; a loving relationship is a stimulus, and happiness is a response.This belief leaves us the thinking and feeling: I'll be happy when ...
It has been my finding that actually the opposite is true.I believe that happiness is a stimulus and a response is what life brings to those who are truly happy.When we are happy, we tend to have more success in our work.When we are happy, people want to be around us and enjoy loving relationships.When we are happy, we more naturally take better care of our bodies and enjoy good health.Happiness is not a response but a stimulus.
Happiness is a conscious choice we make every day of our lives.For unknown reason to me, many choose to be painful, unsuccessful and angry most of the time.Happiness is not something that happens to us after we get something we want--we usually get things we want AFTER we choose to be happy. | high20923.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Most feathers are paid no attention to."
},
"options": [
"Feathers are used to make pillows, coats and other products.",
"Most feathers are paid no attention to.",
"Most feathers are used as nutrient",
"Most feathers ar... | Chicken feathers are useful, and not just to a chicken. Some go into pillows, coats and other products. But countless chicken feathers go to waste.
In the United States, billions of chickens are produced yearly. Most of their feathers are thrown away.
But instead of being buried in land, some feathers could find a future in plastics .
One of the products they have developed is a flowerpot . It may look like other flowerpots. But the container breaks down in the earth within one to five years. And as it _ , it naturally becomes nutrient in the soil.
The environmentally friendly flowerpot is the work of two researchers. Walter Schmidt is with the Agricultural Research Service, part of the United States Agriculture Department. Masud Huda is with the Horticultural Research Institute, a private organization .
Walter Schmidt has been working to find uses for chicken feathers since the 1990s. Progress in 2002 showed that plastic made from feathers could be formed like other plastics.
He says feathers are much stronger and last longer than another plant material. "Feathers are stronger. By design, feathers are also more durable . And the other part about it is if feathers were twice as heavy, or half as strong, then birds couldn't fly."
He points out that traditional flowerpots made from other plastics can last much longer. But he wonders if there is really a need. He says most flowerpots are never re-used.
"Why would you want a plastic that you use for a year to last for two hundred years? It makes no sense. You want to match the product with the use." said Walter Schmidt.
Walter Schmidt and Masud Huda are now adding another chicken product to their flowerpots -- chicken waste. The waste will add more nutrients to the soil as the pot breaks down. The scientists say they hope their flowerpot will be on the market in a year or two. | high3061.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The research has caused a heated argument."
},
"options": [
"People often suffer from bad memories.",
"American researchers are trying to develop a pill.",
"Forget bad memories, and be happy.",
"The research has caused ... | Not all memories are sweet. Some people spend all their lives trying to forget bad experiences. Violence and traffic accidents can leave people with terrible physical and emotional scars. Often they relive these experiences in nightmares.
Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill, which will help people forget bad memories. The pill is designed to be taken immediately after a frightening experience. They hope it might reduce, or possibly erase , the effect of painful memories.
In November, experts tested a drug on people in the US and France. The drug stops the body releasing chemicals that fix memories in the brain. So far the research has suggested that only the emotional effects of memories may be reduced, not that the memories are erased.
The research has caused a great deal of argument. Some think
is a bad idea, while others support it. Supporters say it could lead to pills that prevent or treat soldiers' troubling memories after war.
They say that there are many people who suffer from terrible memories."Some memories can ruin people's lives. They come back to you when you don't want to have them in a daydream or nightmare. They usually come with very painful emotions,"said Roger Pitman, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School."This could relieve a lot of that suffering."
But those who are against the research say that changing memories is very dangerous because memories give us our identity . They also help us all avoid the mistakes of the past. "All of us can think of bad events in our lives that were horrible at the time but make us who we are. I'm not sure we'd want to wipe those memories out," said Rebecca Dresser, a medical ethicist .
Some people fear that although the drug would first be used in only very serious cases, it would become more and more common. "People always have the ability to misuse science,"said Joseph LeDoux, a New York University memory researcher. "All we want to do is help people have better control of memories." | high16249.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "divided"
},
"options": [
"negative",
"divided",
"supportive",
"doubtful"
],
"question": "We can learn from the article that students' attitudes towards dress codes are _",
"question_type": "summarization_q... | Dress codes cause us arguments
The first day of school is always a chaotic time. For many students in the US, this year was even more so. It was all due to one extra school policy. They are now required to wear clothes that meet a new standardized dress code .
According to the handbooks of all high schools in Allentown, Pennsylvania, students must wear short or long sleeve polo shirts and khaki or black pants. Skinny jeans, leggings , and open toe shoes are not allowed.
Allentown schools are not alone. Overall, about 57 percent of American public schools now have a "strict dress code", up from more than 47 percent a decade earlier, said USA Today.
Some students don't mind wearing a similar attire every day. "It takes away the daily fashion show and helps level the playing fields a little bit with the haves and have-nots," longtime school safety consultant Ken Trump told USA Today.
But others aren't happy, claiming that uniforms rob students of individuality .
While school uniforms have been a popular topic to discuss recently in the US, however, in the UK there are much fewer questions about them-they are a tradition.
School uniforms in England were first introduced during the reign of King Henry VIII in the 16thcentury. They became popular following the Elementary Education Act of 1870. The UK Department of Education's website states: "The Department strongly encourages schools to have a uniform as it can...contribute to the beliefs of a school and set the correct tone.
The uniform is now a strong part of school culture in the UK. Schools sometimes even have "Mufti" days on which students can wear their own clothes if they make a small donation to charity.
However, the tradition does not mean that school uniforms are popular there.
Many "children hate them", according to Aisha on the BBC Newsround website. Ask UK students why they wear a school uniform and their answer will mostly likely be, "because we have to". | high8134.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "sort and explain some errors in human actions"
},
"options": [
"show the difference between men and women",
"sort and explain some errors in human actions",
"find the causes which lead to computer failures",
"compare co... | Professor Reason recently persuaded 35 people to keep a diary of all their absent-minded actions for two weeks. When he came to analyze their embarrassing errors, he was surprised to find that nearly all of them fell into a few groups.
One of the women, for instance, on leaving her house for work one morning threw her pet dog her earrings and tried to fix a dog biscuit on her ear. "The explanation for this is that the brain is like a computer," explains the professor. "People programme themselves to do certain activities regularly." It was the woman's custom every morning to throw her dog two biscuits and then put on her earrings. "But somehow the action got reversed in the programme." About one in twenty of the incidents the volunteers reported were these "programme assembly failures."
Twenty percent of all errors were "test failures" -- mainly due to not verifying the progress of what the body was doing. A man about to get his car out of the garage passed through the back yard where his garden jacket and boots were kept, put them on -- much to his surprise. A woman reported, "I got into the bath with my socks on."
The commonest problem was information "storage failures". People forgot the names of people whose faces they knew, went into a room and forgot why they were there, mislaid something, or smoked a cigarette without realizing it.
The research so far suggests that while the central processor of the brain is liberated from second-to-second control of a well-practiced routine, it must repeatedly switch back its attention at important decision points to check that the action goes on as intended. Otherwise the activity may be gotten by another frequently and recently used programme, resulting in embarrassing errors. | high15740.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "pay a cashier for her"
},
"options": [
"get cash at the bank",
"pay a cashier for her",
"take on a telephone for her",
"open the door"
],
"question": "Lee Ann's dog Jeannie cannot _ .",
"question_type": "... | For Lee Ann Laraway, polio has made almost everything in life just out of reach. But what her hands can't retrieve, her assistant can. Meet Jeannie, a three-year-old help, has become Lee Ann's arms and legs.
Jeannie understands no fewer than 72 commands. To get a feel for what that means, Lee Ann takes us on a shopping trip in San Jose. First stop: The bank, where she got cash from the teller. From the bank, it's on to the drug store, where Jeannie got a candy bar for Lee Ann. Then Jeannie helped pay the cashier, and got change hack.
"When you have a really good working animal, they come and interact with you all the time," Lee Ann said. While there's no argument that Jeannie is an ordinary animal, she wasn't born that way. She was tutored and trained here at a facility that has become the final legacy of one of the Bay Area's most beloved figures.
Canine Companions for Independence sits on twelve acres of land in Santa Rosa donated by late Peanuts cartoonist Charles Shultz, Here, handlers work with specially selected labs for hours a day-- but not every dog will make the cut.
The work is serious Business. In the case of hearing dogs, the animals alert their disabled owners to everything from ringing telephones to doorbells.
Other dogs will work with severely disabled patients like eight-year-old Noah Habib of Mountain View who communicates with a special computer. "I like it when new people come up to ask me about my dog," he says. "People are really interested in the dog and will come over and ask to pet her and ask to play with her, and ask about what she does, and these are people that normally might not approach us and want to talk to Noah," says his Dad.
And back in San Jose Lee Ann is arriving home with Jeannie and her groceries. With just one chore left--opening her own door. "You can train a dog to do a lot of things," said Lee Ann. "You cannot give them the heart to do the job, and that is what a good working dog has." | high7207.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "nuclear radiation"
},
"options": [
"nuclear mystery",
"radiation detection",
"radiation level",
"nuclear radiation"
],
"question": "According to the passage, the danger of nuclear power lies in _ .",
"que... | Nuclear radiation has a certain mystery, partly because it cannot be detected by human senses. It can't be seen or heard, or touched or tasted, even though it may be all around us. There are other things like that. For example, radio waves are all around but we can't detect them or sense them without a radio receiver. Similarly, we can't sense radioactivity without a radiation detector. But unlike common radio waves, nuclear radiation is not harmless to human beings and other living things.
At very high levels, radiation can kill an animal or human being outright by killing masses of cells in important organs. Even the lowest levels can do serious damage. There is no level of radiation that is completely safe. If the radiation does not hit anything important, the damage may not be serious. This is the case when only a few cells are hit, and when they are killed outright. Your body will replace the dead cells with healthy ones. But if the few cells are only damaged, and if they reproduce themselves, you may be in trouble. They reproduce themselves in an unusual way. They can grow into cancer. Sometimes this does not show up for many years.
This is another reason for some of the mystery about nuclear radiation. Serious damage can be done without the knowledge of the person at the time that damage has occurred. A person can be irradiated and feel fine, then die of cancer five, ten, or twenty years later as a result. A child can be born weak or easy to get serious illness as a result of radiation absorbed by its grandparents. | high1676.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "To stay away from busy schedules."
},
"options": [
"To write some great books.",
"To stay away from busy schedules.",
"To teach his grandchildren.",
"To plan for his future."
],
"question": "What did the writer ... | Being the head of a high school for many years, I grew tired of budget meetings, funding cuts, and many other administrative chores . I started to dream of retirement. Sitting in traffic on a weekday morning, I would find my mind wandering. I would imagine spending time with my grandchildren, quiet evenings with my wife, traveling, or rediscovering some great books. I told myself that I wouldn't sign myself up for any committees, any classes, or anything requiring a schedule.
My first day of retirement came at last! I cooked a great breakfast for my wife and me, leisurely read the paper, cleaned a bit of the house, and wrote a few letters to friends. On the second day, I cooked breakfast, read the paper... On the third day, ... This is retirement? I tried to tell myself that it was just the transition , that those golden moments were right round the corner, and that I would enjoy them soon enough. But something was missing.
A former colleague asked a favor. A group of students was going to Jamaica to work with children in the poorest neighborhoods. Would I interrupt my newfound "happiness" and return to the students, just this once? One trip. That's all. My bags were packed and by the door.
The trip was very inspiring. I was moved not only by the poverty I saw but also by the sense of responsibility of the young people on the trip. When I returned home, I offered to work one day a week with a local youth organization. The experience was so positive that I was soon volunteering nearly full-time, working with students across North America to assist them in their voluntary work.
Now, it seems,
. Some days I am the teacher, other days I am the student. These young people have reawakened my commitment to social justice issues by challenging me to learn more about the situation in the world today, where people are still poor and suffer because of greed, corruption and war. Most important, they have given me the opportunity to continue to participate in helping to find solutions. In return, I help them do their charitable projects overseas. I've gone from running one school to helping oversee the construction of schools in twenty-one countries! | high15998.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Its sources of money."
},
"options": [
"Its history.",
"Its goal.",
"Its approach.",
"Its sources of money."
],
"question": "Which of the following aspects of build On is NOT mentioned in the text?",
"questi... | "To educate a girl is to educate a thousand people," says Maimouna Samake, a mother of six children(including five girls). "If you put one seed in the ground and rain comes, it will grow to produce many seeds."
Samake, one of 2,000 residents, lives in a small village, Sounkala, in one of the world's poorest countries. Now she has a chance to see this wish come true thanks to build On, an American non-profit organization that is building a school in her community.
For 17 years, build On has been sending American high school students overseas to create schools in places where literacy and formal education are usually out of reach. The organization has built about 300 schools in Mali, Malawi, Nepal, Senegal, Nicaragua and Haiti. Its goal is to get young Americans in mostly urban areas to get involved in education. At the same time it can bring literacy to children and adults in poor villages in the developing world.
Sounkala's school only has about 70 children; mud floors, poor lighting, few desks and an absence of books mean that the school is not the most ideal learning environment. Therefore they certainly could use build On's help.
Samake hasn't been to school, but she wants a better future for her five daughters, including Ramatou, 12, and Mariam, 10. "When a woman attends school, she will teach what she learns to her children," said Ramatou, who wants to become a doctor. "She will also know how to take better care of her family."
Build On tries to build schools for grades one to three. If things go well over those three years, they return to help build another school for grades four to six, and then set up evening adult literacy classes.
Ramatou and Mariam will not learn inside the walls of build On school since they are already in the sixth grade, but Samake hopes that they will be able to attend evening classes to continue learning. | high13331.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "people living in Shellharbour City with an illness or disability"
},
"options": [
"those who are fond of reading",
"only those who have walking disabilities",
"people living in Shellharbour City with an illness or disability"... | Library Special Needs Service
Shellharbour City Library provides a rang of Library Special Needs Service for people who are unable to access our library service in the usual way. As long as you live in Shellharbour City, we'll provide a full rang of library services and resources including:
* Large printed and ordinary printed books
* Talking books on tape and CD
* DVDs and music CDs
* Magazines
* Reference and information requests
You will be asked to complete a 'Statement of Need' application form which must be signed by a medical professional.
Home delivery service
Let us know what you like to read and we will choose the resources for you.Our staff will deliver the resources to your home for free. We also provide a service where we can choose the resources for you or someone instead of you choose the things from the library .You can also choose the resources you need personally.
Talking books and captioned videos
The library can provide talking books for people who are unable to use printed books because of eye diseases. You don't have to miss out on reading any more when you can borrow talking books from the library. If you have limited hearing which prevents you from enjoying movies, we can provide captioned videos for you at no charge.
Languages besides English
We can provide books in a rang of languages besides English. If possible, we will request these items from the State Library of NSW, Australia.
How to join?
Contact the Library Special Needs Coordinator to register or discuss if you are eligible for any of the services we provide ---Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am ---5pm on 4297 2522 for more information. | high6119.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "it has the largest number of desert plants"
},
"options": [
"it has the hottest ground in the world",
"it has the largest number of desert plants",
"it is the driest place in North America",
"it is the lowest point in t... | Death Valley National Park, California
Situated in the southeast part of California, Death Valley covers an area of more than 3.3 million acres, even larger than the famous Yellowstone National Park.
Death Valley is a land of extremes. It is one of the hottest places on the surface of the earth. The highest ground temperature ever recorded was 93.9degC on July 15,1972. It is the driest place in North America with an average rainfall of only 1.96 inches a year. Death Valley also boasts the lowest point in the western hemisphere.
Death Valley got its name in 1849, when a group of emigrants were looking for a short cut to the gold fields of California. They were given the bad advice and went into the valley. Some of them were killed by the bad weather and harsh roads. When the rest finally walked out, they gave the area its name by saying to it "goodbye, Death Valley".
As the name might suggest, there is very little apparent vegetation within Death Valley. First impression, however, can be deceiving . Death Valley includes more than 1,000 species of plants that have adapted to the harsh conditions.
Death Valley is also a land of beauties. Sunrise and sunset are two of the most spectacular attractions. Depending on different angles, they show many of the area's different moods. For the best viewing, plan to be there approximately one hour before sunset or before sunrise.
Death Valley National Park is open year round. In spite of the climate, hiking is one of the most popular activities in Death Valley. The surrounding mountains produce spectacular wildflower displays along with snow-covered peaks, breathtaking sand dunes , abandoned mines and industrial structures. | high24012.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "They got help from the school and the federal government."
},
"options": [
"They asked their kids to come home.",
"They borrowed $20,000 from the school.",
"They encouraged their twin sons to do part-time jobs.",
"They ... | Diana Jacobs thought her family had a workable plan to pay for college for her 21-year-old twin sons: a combination of savings, income, scholarships, and a modest amount of borrowing. Then her husband lost his job, and the plan fell apart.
"I have two kids in college, and I want to say 'come home', but at the same time I want to provide them with a good education." says Jacobs.
The Jacobs family did work out a solution. They asked and received more aid from the schools, and each son increased his borrowing to the maximum amount through the federal loan program. They will each graduate with $20,000 of debt, but at least they will be able to finish school.
With unemployment rising, financial aid administrators expect to hear more families like the Jacobs. More students are applying for aid, and more families expect to need student loans. College administrators are concerned that they will not have enough aid money to go around.
At the same time, tuition continues to rise. A report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education found that college tuition and fees increased 439% from 1982 to 2007, while average family income rose just 147%. Student borrowing has more than doubled in the last decade.
"If we go on this way for another 25 years, we won't have an affordable system of higher education," says Patrick M. Callan, president of the center. "The middle class families have been financing it through debt. They will send kids to college whatever it takes, even if that means a huge amount of debt."
Financial aid administrators have been having a hard time as many companies decide that student loans are not profitable enough and have stopped making them. The good news, however, is that federal loans account for about three quarters of student borrowing, and the government says that money will flow uninterrupted. | high6496.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "the importance of role models to children"
},
"options": [
"the importance of role models to children",
"how to be a good role model for children",
"the relation between role models and children",
"how to change childre... | Children are known to be very keen observers and once they are interested in something, it is very likely to stay with them for life. They tend to look at life through the eyes of the person they are close to or want to be like. If their role model is optimistic, there are more chances of them optimistic. The role model becomes their standard of measurement.
Because they follow the actions of their role models so closely, children adopt the personality and attitude of their role models. Children learn to like or dislike certain things by _ the personality and attitude of the people they admire.
One reason why children keep changing their answers to "what would you like to be when you grow up" is that they are influenced by individuals in a certain field.
Children view the social relationships (family or public) mainly in the light of the importance these relationships hold in the life of their role models. Their expression of their feelings is many times a reflection of their role model's outlook.
According to a study, around 56% of teenagers identified with the role models. Out of these, those having personal or direct contact with their role models had higher self-esteem and were better at academics compared to those who didn't. As such, children who have positive role models, have more self-confidence and are more optimistic about their future. They learn to handle themselves well in social settings and positively interact with those around them.
Of course, children who have their parents as positive role models have a well-rounded outlook towards life. They find it easier to deal with the highs and lows of life because they have seen their parents do it before. They find a sense of stability and security knowing that they will overcome failures just like their parents before them. Besides, it becomes easier for parents to discipline and guide children. So it is no wonder why children who have parents as their role models have fewer behavioral issues. | high13866.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "An Extensive Collection of Glass Flowers"
},
"options": [
"An Extensive Collection of Glass Flowers",
"The Lives of Leopold and Rudolph",
"Flowers Native to the United States",
"Material Used for Artificial Flowers"
... | Artificial flowers are used for scientific as well as for decorative purposes. They are made from a variety of materials, such as wax and glass, so skillfully that they can scarcely be distinguished from natural flowers. In making such models, painstaking and artistry are called for, as well as thorough knowledge of plant structure. The collection of glass flowers in the Botanical Museum of Harvard University is the most famous in North America and is widely known throughout the scientific world. In all, there are several thousand models in colored glass, the work of two artist-naturalists, Leopold Blaschka and his son Rudolph.
The intention was to have the collection represent at least one member of each flower family native to the United States. Although it was never completed. It contains more than seven hundred species representing 164 families of flowering plants, a group of fruits showing the effect of fungus diseases, and thousands of flower parts and magnified details. Every detail of these is accurately reproduced in color and structure. The models are kept in locked cases as they are too valuable and fragile for classroom use. | high7788.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "relaxing ."
},
"options": [
"incredible",
"stressful",
"worrying",
"relaxing ."
],
"question": "You may feel it _ if you let a travel agent handle your travelling items.",
"question_type": "cloze... | Has planning your next wonderful, energy-recovering and care-free vacation--- ever stressed you out?
Whether you're planning a group trip, couple's escape, girlfriend getaway or family vacation, a travel agent can make the entire process easier for you and everyone involved.
First of all, travel agents can recommend the best destinations for your specific trip. But they can do much more than that. Travel specialists can also put together your entire travel route and schedule, no matter how complex, so that you don' t have to plan a thing. They're truly in the business of creating possibilities that most people would have never dreamed were possible.
Yes, travel agents can handle every single aspect of your upcoming trip, from airline tickets to accommodations to ground transportation to various activities, area tours and much more, all while keeping in mind the needs and interests of every member of your travel group, what's more, they're also constantly communicating with the travel community in your intended destination, so they have the most up-to-date information to answer any questions you might have along the way.
Find Your Travel Agent Now! You're probably sold already. So how do you find an excellent, knowledgeable travel agent, you ask. That's where Tripology comes in. Tripology.com exists to connect travelers like you with expert trip planners who specialize in the type of trip you wish to take. There are a lot of expert travel professionals out there with useful knowledge and terrific deals, but many people don't have a good way of finding them. And they don't have a good way of finding you. We help you find each other. | high18933.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "To introduce the general information of staycatons."
},
"options": [
"To introduce the general information of staycatons.",
"To compare staycatons with other vacations.",
"To persuade more people to have staycations.",
... | A staycation is a vacation when you do not travel at all. Some people use a staycation to just stay at home, and others prefer to experience the attractions around them without traveling very far.
There are many choices for staycations. Any town or city has plenty of choices for things to do if you know where to look. If the weather is nice, you can visit the local gardens or forests for a hike. You can look online for several historic places and create your own history tours. Of course, you can also visit other attractions in the areas like museums, restaurants, bars, parks, beaches, and so on. Often, if you drive just a few hours, you can find a city that you can walk around and see. Then by driving home you can save the cost of a hotel and a plane ride.
Others take the term "staycation" word for word and do not leave their houses at all. Some choices for this can include taking time off to cook a great meal and enjoy it together or spending all day at a pool.
Just as a coin has two sides, staycation has its advantages as well as disadvantages.
Since you are not traveling or staying in a hotel, a staycation can be unbelievably costeffective . You don't have to pay for a hotel, so that cost has been completely _ . You are also saving by not driving very far and by not taking an airplane anywhere. Travel costs have become really high, and the farther you go, the higher they are. By staying close to home, you cut that cost by quite a bit. You are also pushing money back into your local economy by spending your money at local businesses rather than in cities that are far away from home. Finally, any stress that you feel with travel, whether that is from driving long distances or looking for an airport, will completely disappear. | high2828.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "She was ready to move onto something new."
},
"options": [
"She cried like a little girl.",
"She was ready to move onto something new.",
"She was happy to have the time for romance.",
"She felt it was like the end of a ... | When the shooting of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was complete, it was much more than a movie wrap-up .
Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, toldThe Sunday Timesthat he's happy to have the time for romance now filming is over. Emma Watson, who is Hermione Granger in the movies, said she looked forward to "finally being free, being my own person" - a change signaled by her new haircut.
Daniel Radcliffe, who has been the face of the boy wizard since 2001, said that he "did cry like a little girl" when the last movie finished.
"It's like the ending of a relationship," he toldThe Vancouver Sun. "There's a sense of, 'God, what am I going to do now?'" He said he was eager to see "what life holds for him beyond Hogwarts".
Along with the three actors, Harry Potter fans, now in their late teens, came of age with J.K. Rowling's characters. For them, the last film isn't just a goodbye to a decade of magic, but the close of their childhoods.
"We are the Harry Potter generation," Canadian Andrea Hill, 19, toldThe Vancouver Sun."We started in elementary school, reading about a boy our age who was going through the same things we were going through. We grew up, so did he."
For Emily Chahal, an 18-year-old student, the series has been an inspiring journey. "That first book was what started my love of literature. It was the inspiration for everything - really teaching me to appreciate my friends, and to face difficulties with a sense of courage," she said. "I have a sense of sadness. The end of the movies is kind of the end of my childhood, too."
Fortunately, to the delight of die-hard fans, there are many things that keep the boy wizard alive. For example, in June this year, a Harry Potter theme park opened in Florida, US.
Some schools in the US and UK also have Quidditch teams - players ride broomsticks. "We're not waiting anymore to see what happens to Harry next," Hill told The Vancouver Sun. She founded a Quidditch club at Carleton University in Canada. "We're still engaged in that magical world." | high20274.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "An education website for children"
},
"options": [
"The guide of Admongo",
"An education website for children",
"A popular online video game",
"A website aimed at children"
],
"question": "What is the best title... | The US government has started a website, Admongo, to help children think critically about the advertising aimed at them. It claims to provide visitors with an "education" through games and other amusement.
A cartoon man dressed in old time pilot clothing greets visitors to Admongo. "Call me Haiz", he says upon arrival in a rocket ship that opens up with a crazy world inside it. Spacey dance music plays in the background as Haiz tells visitors that they need to learn about advertising.
Its inventors say eight to twelve years old is the age kids develop their critical thinking abilities. Kids that age are also a big market for advertisers.
The idea behind Admongo is to teach children three things: To _ the advertiser. To know what the advertiser is really saying. And to know what the advertisement is trying to get the child to do.
Children learn these things through a video game. They create their own game character. They can choose different skin colors, hair styles, eye and mouth shapes. Then they begin a trip through ad-land, where there are ads on buses and billboards. The players have to find all the marketing in the neighborhood before they can move on to the next level.
The Admongo game takes players inside a home, to the advertising studio and everywhere else ads can be found. It is a complete exploration of the world of marketing.
One such area is food marketing. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says it is a big business. The FTC estimates that food, drink and fast-food restaurants spent more than one and a half billion dollars on advertising to young people in 2010.
The FTC says children are important for three reasons. They buy products. They influence parents and caregivers to buy. And they are the future adult buyers of the products.
A recent study says most advertising aimed at children is for foods of the lowest nutritional value. First Lady Michelle Obama has said she would like to see advertisers marketing healthy foods for children. | high2196.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Jay Chou's way to success"
},
"options": [
"From an ugly dumb to a superstar",
"Jay Chou's way to success",
"Jay Chou and his band",
"Jay Chou's life"
],
"question": "The best title for this passage can be _ ... | Jay Chou is a well-known name both in Taiwan and mainland. He is now one of Asia's hottest pop stars. His catchy tunes have main-streamed rap and R&B in the Mando-pop world. In the past his teacher thought he was dumb . Talent spotters thought he was ugly. But his success proves that the music still _ than looks and image. His musical talent is recognized by fans, fellow-singers and producers. Now, a singing contest was held in Taiwan
Chou appeared at the contest with band "Nan Quan Mama", which was discovered by Chou. Their first album the Summer of Nan Quan Mama, composed and produced by Chou was a great success.
Chou started his career at a singing contest, attracting the attention of record producers. But the successful singer does not believe in luck. He says it's his passion for music and hard work that are keys to his success. He said, "I didn't know how to sing at the beginning, so I lost the first time. But I was so determined that I never stopped trying. My advice to these young singers is never to give up, and always believe in yourself. "
Chou's confidence has strengthened his music. He is a great source of inspiration to youngsters who share his determination to become a superstar. | high11917.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "The participants were divided into three groups."
},
"options": [
"The participants were divided into three groups.",
"Half the participants judged right by the body alone.",
"The participants couldn't judge by the face alone... | If you think by examining someone's facial expressions you can judge if he has good or bad luck in the stock market, think again. A study published in the journal, Science, has shown that body language provides a better signal in judging whether the observed subject has just gone through an intensely positive or negative experience.
To test highly intense faces, Dr. Hillel Aviezer and his colleagues presented test groups with photos of dozens of highly intense facial expressions in real-life situations.
In one study, they compared emotional expressions of professional tennis players winning or losing a point. To discover exactly how people view images, the researchers showed different editions of the pictures to three groups of participants: 1 ) the full picture with the face and body;2) the body with the face removed; 3) the face with the body removed. Remarkably, participants could easily pick the losers from winners when they judged by the full picture or the body alone, but they only had a 50:50 chance of being right when judging by the face alone. Strangely, the participants .who viewed the full image believed that it was the face, not the body, that revealed the person's emotions.
In an additional study, the researchers performed the same series of tests, asking viewers to examine a wider range of real-life intense faces. Again, viewers were unable to tell faces in positive situations from negative situations. The researchers also "planted" faces on bodies expressing positive or negative emotions. Sure enough, the researchers discovered that the emotion of the same face on different bodies was determined by the body on which it appeared.
"These results show that when emotions become extremely intense, the difference between positive and negative facial expressions no longer seems clear," says Aviezer. "The findings challenge classic behavioral models, in which the boundary between positive and negative emotions is clear."
Aviezer adds, "The results may help researchers understand how body and facial expressions interact during emotional situations. For example, individuals with autism may fail to recognize facial expressions, but if trained to read important body language signs, their performance may significantly improve." | high19393.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "preserving her history"
},
"options": [
"observing her school routine",
"expressing her satisfaction",
"impressing her classmates",
"preserving her history"
],
"question": "Before the age of thirteen,the author ... | Some years ago,writing in my diary used to be a usual activity.I would return from school and spend the expected half hour recording the day's events,feelings,and impressions in my little blue diary.I did not really need to express my emotions by way of words,but I gained a certain satisfaction from seeing my experiences forever recorded on paper.After all,isn't accumulating memories a way of preserving the past?
When I was thirteen years old,I went on a long journey on foot in a great valley,wellequipped with pens,a diary,and a camera.During the trip,I was busy recording every incident,name and place I came across.I felt proud to be spending my time productively,dutifully preserving for future generations a detailed description of my travels.On my last night there,I wandered out of my tent,diary in hand.The sky was clear and lit by the glare of the moon,and the walls of the valley looked threatening behind their screen of shadows.I automatically took out my pen...
At that point,I understood that nothing I wrote could ever match or replace the few seconds I allowed myself to experience the dramatic beauty of the valley.All I remembered of the previous few days were the dull characterizations I had set down in my diary.
Now,I only write in my diary when I need to write down a special thought or feeling.I still love to record ideas and quotations that strike me in books,or observations that are particularly meaningful.I take pictures,but not very often-only of objects I find really beautiful.I'm no longer blindly satisfied with having something to remember when I grow old.I realize that life will simply pass me by if I stay behind the camera,busy preserving the present so as to live it in the future.
I don't want to wake up one day and have nothing but a pile of pictures and notes.Maybe I won't have as many exact representations of people and places;maybe I'll forget certain facts,but at least the experiences will always remain inside me.I don't live to make memories-I just live,and the memories form themselves. | high5821.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "26"
},
"options": [
"6",
"14",
"26",
"36"
],
"question": "Pitt acted his first film at the age of _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_te... | With long brown hair, deep blue eyes, a tall and thin figure Brad Pitt seems to be _ .He made his first appearance in a film in 1990.Though he was in the film for only 14 minutes, people flooded the cinema to see him.In his next film Pitt played the role of a fisherman.To make the film better, he learned the skill of fishing from a fisherman.
Pitt, caring more about roles than money, has a special favor for the "hard" roles.After reading the screenplay of "Legends of the Fall", he was attracted by the leading character.He asked for a lower pay from the shooting team and was willing to work in hard conditions in the Rocky Mountains for six months."The film gives the chance to know life.I shall always remember the time when we were making the film," Pitt said after completing it fully.
Pitt started his dream of art when he was in university.Though born in a common family in 1964, he showed his interest in film at an early age.After leaving high school, he went to university to study law.Because he loved film more than law, shortly before he could graduate, he dropped out for a life of his own, with only 325 dollars in hand, sometimes as a porter or a waiter.Thanks to his hard work, he finally opened up a new field of his own. | high3288.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Its author is the Queen's cousin who knows her well."
},
"options": [
"It predicts whether the Queen will leave the Palace.",
"Its author is the Queen's cousin who knows her well.",
"Its author presents readers a really diffe... | As the queen prepares to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee, one of her closest s and oldest friends has been allowed to give a deep description of the family life of the royals. There have been hundreds of other books declaring to offer a quick look behind the Palace doors, but this is the first written by someone who is closely related to the royal family and has shared their lives----not only throughout the Queen's reign but also through that of her father, King George VI.
The Final Curtseywas written by Her Majesty's cousin and childhood playmate, the Honorable Margaret Rhodes. It tells in detail the story of Mrs. Rhodes's relationship with the royal family over eight decades. The book, showed with delightfully informal and never-before-seen pictures, has been written with the full knowledge of the Queen, who has read and approved parts of it.
Mrs. Rhodes lives on the royal farm in Windsor Great Park, in a house given to her by the Queen in 1980. She tells how it was offered out of the blue one day when she and the Queen---whose 60 years on the throne next year will be marked with many national famous people---were out riding. She suddenly turned around and said, " Could you bear to live in the suburb?" Therefore Mrs. Rhodes is now still living here.
Born in 1925, the youngest daughter of the 16thLord Elphinstone and his wife Mary, the Honorable Margaret Rhodes has led an extraordinary life. She was the childhood playmate of her cousin, the Queen; she was a wartime MI6 spy; she was a lady-in-waiting to her aunt, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, from 1991 until the latter's death in 2002. At the Queen's 80thbirthday in April 2006, Margaret gave an interview to the BBC in which she proved that, in her own opinion and despite several false reports, the Queen would not abdicate . Now, at the age of 86, she has written a charming autobiography that paints a first-time close portrait of the private world of the royal family.
Elsewhere in the book she reveals how the Queen Mother was a fan of the TV shows Two Fat Ladies and Dad's Army. Perhaps more surprisingly, she was also a fan of the poet Edith Sitwell and the Poet Laureate Ted Hughes, who was a regular and favoured guest.
Life at Birkhall, the Queen Mother's home of the edge of the Balmoral Estate, is described along with sometimes noisy dinners. Mrs. Rhodes recalls: "At the end of the meal, Queen Elizabeth would start a series of toasts. As well as 'Hooray for...' with glasses held high, there was even more of ' Down with...' with glasses almost disappearing beneath the table." | high22305.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "tell how the family spends Thanksgiving Day"
},
"options": [
"tell what the family do for Thanksgiving Day",
"tell how the family spends Thanksgiving Day",
"introduce foods served on Thanksgiving Day",
"introduce the Am... | Every American family has its own traditions on Thanksgiving Day, and mine is no difference. Once the national holiday arrives, my mom rises early to make the meal. She puts a turkey in the oven, chops carrots and bakes pies. I'm sorry to say that the men in the family - my dad, my younger brother and myself - rarely pitch in to help. Our job is to wash the mountain of dirty dishes after the meal is over.
Around 2 pm every Thanksgiving Day, family members seat themselves around the kitchen table. Plates of turkey, vegetables, salad, rolls and pies cover it. At this point, we can hardly keep ourselves from drooling all over our fancy clothes, but it's not yet time to eat.
First, we must bow our heads, close our eyes and say a prayer of thanks aloud to God for giving us everything we have. Under normal circumstances, I would have no problem making a list of things I am thankful for. I grew up in a loving family. My parents, who aren't wealthy, took out loans to help me pay for university.
But, the funny thing is, every time I sit down for Thanksgiving dinner and try to say a prayer of thanks, my mind usually goes blank. I think it has something to do with my growling stomach and all of that food sitting right there under my nose.
Eventually, though, we all finish our short prayers and _ . To be sure, the day includes other highlights - visiting with family and watching football. But usually around 6 pm we are all ourselves stuffed like turkeys and thankful to have a nice warm bed to sleep in. | high2182.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "around 6 miles"
},
"options": [
"around 6 miles",
"around 25 miles",
"no more than 6 miles",
"more than 25 miles"
],
"question": "An elephant usually travels at a speed of _ per hour.",
"question_type": ... | Wild elephants live in herds of 10 to about 50. The leader is usually a female. A herd can go through a forest quietly. It travels in a single line. It goes about 6 miles an hour. When frightened, it may run at about 25 miles an hour. When they reach water, elephants swim across. They are great swimmers.
Elephants eat grass, leaves, small branches, and bark. They particularly like the tender leaves on the top of trees. How do they get these leaves? They use their heads to knock trees down. They can easily knock down a 30-foot tree. Elephants also eat berries, mangoes, coconuts, corn, and sugar cane. They love salt. A wild male adult eats 500 to 600 pounds of food a day.
Many people want to find the graveyards of elephants. There is a strong belief that such graveyards exist. Here is why. Bones and tusks of dead elephants have almost never been found. Searches have been made in forests. Grassy plains have been searched too. But neither bones nor tusks are found. Elephants don't live forever. Where are their bones? They don't just bury themselves. Here is one belief. When an elephant gets sick or old, it instinctively knows death is near. It leaves the herd. It goes off to a secret graveyard. The place is known only to elephants, and perhaps other animals, but not to humans. Obviously, such a graveyard would be filled with tusks. These were once very valuable. The objective of explorers was to find this "gold" mine. This graveyard belief may be a truth or a myth. But it is romantic. It would be nice if it were true. | high18099.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Jobs."
},
"options": [
"Health care.",
"Jobs.",
"Education.",
"National security."
],
"question": "Which of the following things does Obama consider the most important in 2010?",
"question_type": null
}
] | President Barack Obama set out his plans for the nation on January 27. At the top of his to-do list: his jobs for Americans, health care and education.
"Although we have our difficulties, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not stop," President Barack Obama told American in his State of the Union speech on January 27. Guests and government officials filled the hall of the House of Representatives .
Obama looked back on his first year in office and explained his plan for the future. He dealt with important matters, including health care, the nation' s high unemployment, national security and education. Many times during the 70-minute speech, people in the hall clapped their hands happily.
The U.S. law system requires the President to report regularly to government officials. Presidents see the speech as an opportunity to set their goals and encourage the nation.
The President devoted much of his speech to the _ of unemployed Americans. "Jobs must be our Number 1 focus in 2010," he said. "People are out of work. They are hurting." Obama also stressed the value of education. "The best way for people to lead a better life is a first-class education." he told the nation.
Following the President's speech, the other party always gets the chance to speak. Bob McDonnell, the new governor of Virginia, spoke for Republicans . He agreed with many of Obama's goals, but pointed out policy difference. He tried to persuade both parties to work together. The President had made the same point earlier in the evening. He promised to hold monthly meetings with members of both parties. "Let's show the American people," he said, "that we can do it together." | high11903.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Because teachers'work is not easy"
},
"options": [
"Because it's hot in summer",
"Because their children are too busy.",
"Because teachers'work is not easy",
"Because teachers'pay is too low"
],
"question": "Why... | Some parents say summer is the time when teachers should get more pay.But not everyone is grateful to teachers for keeping kids occupied between June and August--Washington state representative Liz Pike has written a Face book post and responded to teachers' complaints of rising cost of living.After reading her post,I feel that Liz Pike should rethink her criticism of public school teaching and avoid comparing it to the private sector.
Many of us teachers would certainly like teaching to be more like the private school.It's nothing wrong with fair pay for fair performance.With standardized testing popular throughout the education, teachers are some of the most analyzed and performance-measured employees in the United Sates. Liz Pike is very angry that teachers want raises even while test scores are dropping.Well,how are they supposed to have discipline in the classroom when our hands are tied and we can hardly do anything with naughty students?
Teachers would love to be able to turn education around and improve student performance.,However, unlike private school businesses.public schools cannot turn away "customers".A private school business serves customers who walk through the door of their own free will,while public schools have to educate students who only attend school because laws say they must.
She says those teachers who are uninspired by a lack of a cost of living increases should give up teaching.Is this the message that she thinks should be sent to the students whose academic performance she claims to care so much about? I think supporting teachers can make teachers teach children how to stand up for themselves. | high19387.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "He was angry that his friend did not agree with him about something."
},
"options": [
"he was angry that his friend took him to the desert by mistake.",
"He was angry that his friend did not agree with him about something.",
... | The story goes that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: "Today my best friend slapped me in the face." They kept on walking until they found an oasis , where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning , but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: "Today my best friend saved my life." The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now you write on a stone. Why?"
The other friend replied: _ can erase it away. But when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."
You have to learn to write your hurts in the sand and to carve your benefits in the stone. | high21618.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "In 1967."
},
"options": [
"In 1955.",
"In 1961.",
"In 1967.",
"In 1980."
],
"question": "When did Steven Jobs first get the chance to catch sight of a computer?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
... | Steven Jobs was born on February 24,1955,in San Francisco,California,and was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs.In 1961 the family moved to Mountain View, California.At that time people started to refer to the area as "Silicon Valley".
As a child, Jobs preferred doing things by himself, not interested in team sports or other group activities.He enrolled in the HewlettPackard Explorer Club. There he saw his first computer at the age of twelve. He was very impressed, and knew right away that he wanted to work with computers.
At that time almost all computers were so large that one could fill a room, and so costly that individuals could not afford to buy them.Advances in electronics, however, meant that the parts of a computer were getting smaller and the power of the computer was increasing.
By 1980 the personal computer era was well underway.Apple was continually forced to improve its products to remain ahead, as more competitors entered the marketplace. Apple introduced the Apple III, but the new model suffered technical and marketing problems.It was removed from the market.
Early in 1983 Jobs unveiled the Lisa.It did not sell well,however, because it was more expensive than personal computers sold by competitors.Apple's biggest competitor was International Business Machines (IBM). By 1983 it was estimated that Apple had lost half of its market share ( part of an industry's sales that a specific company has) to IBM.
In 1984 Apple introduced a revolutionary new model, the Macintosh.The Macintosh did not sell well to businesses,however.It lacked features other personal computers had, such as a corresponding high quality printer. The failure of the Macintosh signaled the beginning of Jobs's downfall at Apple.
Late in 1988 the NeXT computer was introduced, aimed at the educational market.The product was very userfriendly,and had a fast processing speed, excellent graphics displays,and an outstanding sound system.Despite the warm reception,however, the NeXT machine never caught on. It was too costly, had a blackandwhite screen, and could not be linked to other computers or run common software. | high5835.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "wanted to live peacefully"
},
"options": [
"caught a disease",
"wanted to live peacefully",
"was not qualified for the job",
"was afraid to break up with Joe"
],
"question": "The author decided to change her job... | Working hard comes naturally to me. The medical billing company I work for hired me as a claims researcher and in one year promoted me to head of the Northeast Region Follow-Up Team.
"When are you going to finish?" My husband Joe said as he climbed into bed. "In a few minutes," I replied. My track record offered Joe little reason to believe me. Finishing was always just a moment or two away. Then after I knew he was sound asleep, I'd gather my paperwork and move to the kitchen table and work for a few more hours.
Somewhere along the way , I found my enthusiasm for living was replaced with hard boring work that robbed me of both peace and pleasure. As the company expanded, my responsibility grew heavier every day.
Resigning would end the madness and Joe encouraged me to do so daily "Just do it, Annie. Quit . You're heading for a break down."
One day an email appeared on my computer screen. When I opened it the words "Administrative assistant for senior vice president" caught my eye .No , I thought . They'd think I was crazy . Who in their right mind would stop back to a secretarial position from a management position?
At home that evening my interest in the job persisted. I had ten years of experience as an executive secretary long before I ever arrived at the company.
The next morning I told my boss I intended to apply for the job. "You're in for a huge salary cut, and you'll lose your bonus," he said, "You're a leader, Annmarie, not a follower. How is it that you think this makes any kind of sense? You're crazy."
"Not yet," I said "But if I stay in this position much longer , I'm pretty sure I'll end up that way."
Admittedly the manager of human resources was shocked too, but from a budgetary standpoint it's hard to say no to someone who's asking for a salary cut and a decrease in benefits. That's pretty much a novelty you don't run into every day.
I brought to the table a skill set, which included a working knowledge of every department in the operations areas of the company . Though I negotiated to a salary I felt was reasonable for what I was offering , the lost bonus and salary cut brought me to a twenty percent decrease in my income.
I closed the door to my office that last day with very few regrets about leaving my management position. By the end of my first day in the new position I knew I had made the right decision.
No office, staff, salary , or bonus check can ever replace this new feeling of waking up every morning and actually wanting to go to work. The tasks I perform aid one vice president in particular. When I leave at the end of the day, I take nothing with me but my desire to come back tomorrow knowing that I am respected and appreciated.
My husband always tells me I can't put a price on peace of mind, but divorce attorneys are plenty expensive. It looks like my path to peace turned up none too soon! | high18927.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Yoga is softer than dancing."
},
"options": [
"Bai does not like dancing.",
"Yoga is softer than dancing.",
"Students study hard for credits.",
"The elective courses are easy."
],
"question": "What can be inferr... | Try and see inside your mind a wide open blue sky and a wide green sea far away. Breathe in as you circle your hands high above your head, then bend back a little. Breathe out as you circle your arms back down to your sides..."
Following the yoga teacher's gentle instructions, Bai Yunuo,15, from the High School attached to Beijing Normal University tried to get each of her poses correct.
Bai's school offered 24 elective courses for Senor 1 students this term and she chose two. It was her first yoga class.
"I'm happy that I can learn yoga at school. I love dancing but I had some injuries on my knees when I was a kid. So I decide to try something soft. Simply stretching into different poses makes me feel free and quiet. And the music is quite comforting. The class is relaxing after a whole day's work," Bai said.
Liu Zehao,15, found his interest was Junior Achievement . The course brought students into the real world of business. In their first class, Liu and his group members named their company "Vision". Liu was elected as CEO of the company.
"Here we learn to think like an adult. We have to make our company get more money. It's new and different from other courses," he said.
Liu and Bai take their elective courses twice a week with students from other classes who share the same interest. The students will get two credits from each course at the end of this term. They have to achieve eight credit points from electives to graduate from high school.
If you are interested in more about elective courses, please CLICK HERE to register for general elective courses. | high20260.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "he would learn something new and different by trying"
},
"options": [
"he had never travelled abroad before",
"he hardly knew any foreign languages",
"he was familiar with any other country in Europe",
"he would learn s... | Some years ago I was offered a writing assignment that would require three months of travel through Europe. I had been abroad a couple of times,but I could hardly claim to know my way around the continent. Moreover, my knowledge of foreign languages was limited to a little college French.
I hesitated. How would I, unable to speak the language, totally unfamiliar with local geography or transportation systems, set up interviews and do research? It seemed impossible, and with considerable regret. I sat down to write a letter begging off. Halfway through, a thought ran through my mind: you can't learn if you don't try. So I accepted the assignment.
There were some bad moments. But by the time I had finished the trip I was an experienced traveler. And ever since,I have never hesitated to head for even the most remote of places,without guides or even advanced bookings, confident that somehow I will manage.
The point is that the new, the different, is almost scary by definition. But each time you try something, you learn, and as the learning piles up, the world opens to you.
I've learned to ski at 40, and flown up the Rhine River in a balloon. And I know I'll go on doing such things. It's not because I'm braver or more daring than others. I'm not. But I'll accept anxiety as another name for challenge and I believe I can accomplish wonders. | high679.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Janet Gaynor's recognition as Best Actress"
},
"options": [
"Douglas Fairbanks' first winning of an Academy Award",
"the first time Oscar got its name",
"the first time the Awards were kept secret",
"Janet Gaynor's reco... | The yearly Academy Awards ceremony was once a private affair. Now, because of television, it is very much a public affair. Hundreds of people gather in Hollywood to see the Oscars presented to outstanding actors, and others involved in the motion picture industry. Millions more watch on television.
It all began on May 16, 1929, when 270 men and women sat down to dinner at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. There was no secret about the winners. The names of the winners had been known for months. Janet Gaynor, for example, had won as Best Actress. Douglas Fairbanks presented her with the famous gold statue . The little statue was not then called Oscar. Like a new actor, Oscar was unknown. About six years later, it somehow got that renowned name. A number of explanations have been offered for its origin, but nobody knows the true story for certain.
Nowadays the results of the Oscar voting are kept secret. Only two people know the winners before the names are announced at the ceremony. The counting of votes is not done by one group of people but by different groups. Nobody except two members of an accounting company sees the final results.
The information is not kept in open files. Winners' names are placed in closed envelopes. The accountants each carry a complete set of envelopes to the ceremony. One set is simply a spare to be used in case something happens to the other one. | high24006.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "About 2.7%of registered nurses were men."
},
"options": [
"The number of male nurses doubled.",
"About 2.7%of registered nurses were men.",
"There were about 330,000 male nurses,",
"About 9.6%of employed nurses were men... | More men are finding their calling as nurses.
A new study from the United States Census Bureau reports the number of male nurses has doubled since the l970s.Back then,about 2.7 percent of registered nurses were men.The new study,which tracked data through 2011,finds that men now make up 9.6 percent of all employed nurses in the United States about 330,000 men in total.Recent years of shortages have led to increased efforts,according to report,which included recruiting men into the field.
Men,in fact,had been largely kept out of nursing in past decades because nursing schools often refused to admit men.The Supreme Court ruled that practice unconstitutional in l981 after a case involving a state nursing school.
"The ly high wages and expanding Job opportunities makes this field attractive,offering stability even during recessions ,"wrote the report's author,Liana Christin Landivar of the U.S.Census Bureau,"And because of high demand,nursing has low unemployment rates compared to other fields.''
Men were found to be more likely to become nurse anesthetists ,which is the highest paid nursing occupation,and were found least likely to become licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses,the lowest paid types of nursin9.Nurse anesthetists are required to get graduate education,and are certified to give anesthetists and monitor patients recovering from anesthesia.1Acensed practical and licensed vocational nurses provide patient care and may work under the supervision of a registered nurse.Registered nurses assess patient health problems and needs,develop and carry Out nursing care plans,maintain medical records,and administer care.
For all types of nursing,men earned,on average,$60,700 per year,while women earned$51,100 per year."Even among men and women in the same nursing occupations,men outlearn women,"wrote Landivar. | high23769.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "farmers's feelings"
},
"options": [
"everyday life and feelings",
"farmers's feelings",
"the lives of workers",
"the lives of students"
],
"question": "Country music is usually about _ .",
"question_type"... | Are you interested in country music?I like it very much !It will take me away for a while after I am tired .The guitars and songs will take me to mountains and fields.
Country music usually talks of everyday life and feelings.It's the spirit of America ,easy to understand ,slow and simple.
Country music developed in the Southern United States.It was the folk music of American countryside.Many of songs tell about the lives of farmers .They talk about love,crops or death.
The life of the countryside can be hard,so the words in country music are often sad.At first,people played the music only at family parties.But it became more popular later. In the 1920s,people played country songs on the radio,and they made them into records.
When people in the countryside moved to towns and cities to look for work,they took their music with them.Country music continued to change and became popular across America.
John Denver was one of America's most famous country singers in the 1970s.His song "Take Me home,Country Roads"is well-known and people still play it today. | high6482.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Various."
},
"options": [
"Rainy.",
"Hot.",
"Various.",
"Cold."
],
"question": "Which of the following word best describe the weather in Morocco?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answe... | Morocco, a North African kingdom, is on the south of the Mediterranean Sea and on the east of the Atlantic Ocean, between Algeria and Western Sahara. Morocco became independent from France in 1956.
People in Morocco speak Arabic, which is the official language. Some people speak French and Spanish. 98.7% of the people believe in Islam. The capital city of Morocco is Rabat. Casablanca, in the north of this country, is the largest city. The famous movie Casablanca tells a story which happened in this city.
It seldom rains in Morocco. The coastal cities are not cold in winter (around 16degC) and not hot in summer (around 22degC). In the inland areas, winters are colder and summers warmer. High up in the mountains the temperature can be as cold as -17.8degCin winter, and mountain tops are covered with snow most of the year.
The population of Morocco is about 31,000,000. Most children in Morocco go to primary school, but only about 39% of them go to secondary school. However, this country has one of the oldest universities in the world, hundreds of years older than Oxford University. It is Al Qarawiyin University in Northern Morocco, which was founded in AD 859. | high22477.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "in 2022"
},
"options": [
"in 2024",
"in 2022",
"in 2026",
"in 2028"
],
"question": "If the next Summer Games will be held in 2024, when will the Winter Games be held?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
... | The modern Olympic Games happened in the year 1896. The Games are held every four years. There are two main sets of Games. The Winter Olympics are held two years before the Summer Games. Many countries want to host the Olympic Games for it's a great honor to be chosen.
The Olympic Games are organized and controlled by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It sets the general program, chooses the city where the games are to be held, and determines the standards of what is an amateur athlete.
Besides, each participating country has a National Olympic Committee that is responsible for arranging the participation of the nation's athletes in the games. | high13872.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "They are the necessities of bio-printing."
},
"options": [
"They are the necessities of bio-printing.",
"They only contain proteins and glucose.",
"They can be placed in the traditional printers.",
"They are available i... | Three-dimensional printers are fast becoming everyday devices in the United States. Three-D printers are used to make everything from automobile parts to bone replacements for human patients. American research scientists are now working on creating replacements for living tissue.
Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina have been working on creating and manufacturing living tissue since 2003.This process is called biofabrication . It requires special printing equipment and a special kind of ink.
Traditional printers require ink to produce an image or design on a piece of paper. For their three-D printer, the South Carolina researchers prepare complex nutritious solutions they call bio-inks. Bio-inks are made of proteins and glucose , which normally provides energy for most cells of the body. The researchers also add living cells taken from the animal that will receive the new, printed tissue. The bio-inks are then added to a device that researchers call the Palmetto bio-printer.
Sarah Grace Dennis is one of the researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina. She says new technology, like the Palmetto bio-printer, is a great help to the biofabrication process.
The bio-inks are placed in three dispensers , containers, inside the printer. Lasers control both the position of the printing surface and the places where the bio-ink is released.
Michael Yost is a leader of the research team. He says the printing process is fully automated-- machine-operated. He says that the Palmetto bio-printer makes it possible to create complex tissue types.
The researchers say bio-printing is still experimental. But they hope in a few years they may be able to print tissue to replace damaged human organs.
But there are still some problems which need to be solved. Some scientists worry about how to get blood to the replacement tissue. The flow of blood is important to keep the printed tissue alive.
Michael Yost hopes that more people will believe in the benefits of biofabrication.
"Tissue biofabrication is a reality, and it is a reality now, and if you come here and you get to see it. You will get to see it. You can't touch it, but you will see it and think this is real. And this is really human." | high9969.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the development of photography"
},
"options": [
"the invention of cameras",
"a kind of new art -- photography",
"the development of photography",
"the different uses of cameras in history"
],
"question": "The pa... | 1826, a Frenchman named Niepce needed pictures for his business .But he was not a good artist.So he invented a very simple camera .He put it in a window of his house and took a picture of his garden .That was the first photo.
The next important date in the history of photography was 1837. That year, Daguerre, another Frenchman, took a picture of his studio. He used a new kind of camera and a different processs. In his pictures, you could see everything very clearly, even the smallest details. This kind of photograph was called a daguerreotype.
Soon, other people began to use Daguerre's process. Travellers brought back daguerreotypes from all around the world. People photographed famous buildings, cities and mountains.
In about 1840, the process was improved. Now photographers could take pictures of people and moving things. The process was not simple. The photographers had to carry lots of film and processing equipment. But this did not stop the photographers, especially in the United States, where from the 1840s daguerreotype artists were popular in most cities.
Mathew Brady was a well-known American photographer. He took many pictures of famous people. The pictures were unusual because they were very life-like and full of personality.
Brady was also the first person to take pictures of war. His 1862 Civil War pictures showed dead soldiers and ruined cities. They made the war seem more real and more terrible
In the 1880s, new inventions began to change photography. Photographers could buy film readymade in rolls. So they did not have to make the film immediately. They could bring it back to their studios and develop it later, meaning that they did not have to carry lots of equipment. And finally, the invention of the small handheld camera made photography less expensive.
With the small camera, anyone could be a photographer. People began to use cameras just for fun. They took pictures of their families, friends and favourite places. They called these pictures "snapshots".
Photographs became very popular in newspapers in the 1890s. Soon magazines and books also used documentary photographs. These pictures showed true events and people. They were much more real than drawings.
Photography had turned into a form of art by the beginning of the 20th century. Some photographs were not just copies of the real world. They showed ideas and feelings, like other art forms. | high2814.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the influence of Wu Huifei and her posthumous honor."
},
"options": [
"the life story of Wu Huifei.",
"the reason why Wu Huifei was favoured by Tang Xuanzong",
"the scientific, historical and artistic value of the recovered s... | Although Wu Huifei was only a concubine of Tang Xuanzong (AD 685-762), the sixth emperor of the Tang Dynasty, her influence was far greater than most in her position.
Historians say that the ruler loved her so much that, in AD 724, he _ his wife and made Wu a royal concubine.
"Although she was only a concubine, she was treated as an empress with palace etiquette ," explained Shi Xiaoqun, director of relics collection for Shaanxi History Museum. "Tang Xuanzong even wanted to make her his empress but was opposed by the ministers."
The emperor had thousands of concubines in his palace in Chang'an (now called Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province) but, according to Shi, he only loved Wu, the mother of seven of his children.
Wu died in the December of AD 737 at the age of 38 and was buried in Jingling Mausoleum. She was given the title Empress Zhenshun after her death.
"It's rare for a concubine to be given so much posthumous honor in the history of Chinese feudal society," said Liu Daiyun, research director at the Shaanxi Archaeological Research Institute.
Her tomb ---53 meters wide by 56 meters long --- is located in the west of Pangliu village, which is part of Xi'an's Chang'an district.
The recovered sarcophagus is 4 meters long, 2 meters wide and 2 meters tall and is decorated with flowers and maiden figures, which archaeologists say is a rare cultural relic of high scientific, historical and artistic value. In ancient times, a sarcophagus was used to house wood coffins in order to preserve the body of the noble person.
"I knew it was precious but I didn't know it was so beautiful," said Han Qinglong, who headed the team that brought the relic back to China four years after it was stolen and sold abroad by tomb raiders . | high21156.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "from culture to culture"
},
"options": [
"from culture to culture",
"from year to year",
"from time to time",
"from person to person"
],
"question": "Body language varies _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_ques... | When you don't speak, you may be still communicating. It is true that you may not wish to say anything. But your very silence may show your wish to be left alone or to stay uninvolved, which is the message you want to send.
So it has been said that while we speak with our vocal organs, we _ with our whole bodies. All of us communicate with one anther nonverbally , as well as with words. Sometimes we know what we are doing with the use of gestures such as the thumbs-up sign to indicate that we approve. But most of the time we are not aware that we are doing it.
Body language serves a variety of purpose. Firstly it can replace verbal communication, as with the use of gesture. Secondly, it can modify verbal communication. Loudness and tone of voice is an example here. Thirdly it regulates social interaction: turn taking is largely governed by non-verbal signals. Fourthly it conveys our emotions. Finally it conveys our attitude towards ourselves and towards the people we are communicating with. _ is particularly important for successful cross-cultural communications.
Every culture has its own body language. So in order to achieve a more successful cross-cultural communications, we heed not only what to say but also how to say it appropriately. Observation shows that a truly bilingual person switches his body language at the same time he switches language. | high20248.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "chatting networks"
},
"options": [
"chatting groups",
"group channels",
"computer massages",
"chatting networks"
],
"question": "According to the passage, 'EF-Net', 'Under-Net', and 'DAL-Net' stand for _ .",
... | What is IRC? IRC is Internet Relay Chat. It is a group of networked server computers that let users connect and pass their messages among the networked servers in almost real time. In other words, it is a big chatting server, once you join a group, you are able to talk in an open forum type environment or just one on one.
What IRC Networks are out there? There are about fifty really mainstream IRC networks (groups of servers) you can connect to. The most common ones found are typically, 'EF-Net', 'Under-Net', and 'DAL-Net'.
What is a Channel? A channel is the name for the 'group' you are joining, or the 'forum' in which you want to talk. On IRC, channels are denoted as # Channel Name. For instance, say if you are interested in MP3 music, you may want to go to # MP3.
How do I get on IRC? To get on IRC, you will need to get a client program. I personally suggest using 'mIRC', if you are in the windows environment. I have used the program for many years faithfully. It is a shareware program that doesn't disable after a given time period.
What are the basic commands once I am on? Join # channel -- this will make you enter a channel. Part # channel -- this will make you exit a channel you are in. Nick new name -- this will change your current screen name.
A note as a warning about IRC. IRC is a wonderful forum for idea exchange, and a fun place to chat and learn. However you must keep in mind that you don't know who is on the other end. That someone says they are 16 doesn't mean they aren't 45. Keep an eye on yourself and make sure not to give out any personal information on IRC before you know those on the other end of the line thoroughly. Attention! Safe IRCing everyone! | high16922.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "handling budget cuts"
},
"options": [
"supporting research jobs",
"encouraging medical innovations",
"improving health and productivity",
"handling budget cuts"
],
"question": "The following are all the ways of ... | Wisconsin has long been home to incredibly successful research and innovation thanks to our famous academic research institutions and some of the brightest scientific minds. From discovering how Vitamin D can best be absorbed, to unlocking the potential of stem cells, Wisconsin has pioneered remarkable breakthroughs in science that have improved health, saved lives and created jobs. These scientific breakthroughs have not only led to life-saving medical technologies but also have fostered a strong power in Wisconsin economy.
Across America, groundbreaking research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) alone adds millions of dollars to our economy every year. In fact, NIH funding generated an estimated $58 billion in economic output nationwide in 2014. NIH funding spurs economic growth by supporting jobs in research and by generating biomedical innovations that are turned into new products. NIH-supported innovations also influence improvements in health that can bolster the economy, improve productivity, and reduce illness and disability at home and across the globe. But, budget cuts and inadequate funding for NIH in the past decade have put both medical innovation and our next generation of researchers at risk.
Today, too many of our talented young scientists are deciding to do something else, or are leaving the country to pursue their research. Simply put, scientific and medical innovation depends on our ability to foster, support and invest in these new researchers.
That is why I have worked across party lines with Senator Susan Collins of Maine and introduced the Next Generation (NextGen) Researchers Act. Our act builds opportunities for new researchers, helps address the debt burden that young scientists face today, and invests in the future of research, science, and innovation. This commonsense proposal would create the "Next Generation Researchers Initiative" within the NIH Office of the Director to coordinate all current and new NIH policies. The legislation also directs the NIH to consider recommendations from a National Academy of Sciences (NAS) comprehensive study and report on fostering the next generation of researchers.
Finally, we must demonstrate a commitment to our future scientists who, like so many of their peers pursuing other fields, are struggling with crushing student loan debt. Our plan would also increase the amount of loans that can be forgiven through the NIH's loan repayment programs to better account for the current debt load of new scientists. Higher education should be a path to prosperity, not suffocating debt, and this provision not only helps make higher education more affordable, but can help give new researchers a fair shot at pursuing their dreams.
The Next Gen Researchers Act will help to empower our next generation of researchers from Maine to Wisconsin, and across our country, with the resources they need to continue to lead the world in groundbreaking biomedical research and development. I'm proud to have earned the support of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and many others, for my bipartisan work supporting Wisconsin's leadership in science, research and innovation.
At a time when America's young researchers are facing the worst funding in decades, our best and brightest minds deserve to know that our country stands with them and is committed to building a stronger future. | high13682.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "adventurous but meaningful"
},
"options": [
"adventurous but meaningful",
"scary but necessary",
"impossible and unnecessary",
"dangerous but urgent"
],
"question": "To Rampino, being close to active volcanoes i... | Getting close to active or erupting volcanoes can be dangerous. But for Michael Rampino, it's all in a day's work. Rampino is a volcanologist, a scientist who studies volcanoes and how they affect our planet. Rampino has been close to red-hot lava flows in Hawaii and explosive volcanoes in Indonesia. He knows when to get close to an active volcano and when to back away.
Rampino wasn't always a volcanologist. He worked for NASA for seven years. He studied rocks until he began to research climate change and the effects that volcanoes have on climate. He became interested in the subject. "Once I started working with volcanoes," Rampino said, "I was _ ."
Rampino is a professor at New York University. As part of his job, he travels to areas where volcanoes have been active. "Active" means they have erupted within the past few centuries and probably will erupt again. Rampino studies the deposits of ash and other materials from the eruptions. The ash may hold clues to what happened to the Earth in the distant past. It may also help scientists predict what could happen to Earth's climate in the future.
Rampino doesn't work alone. He works with a team of scientists who use computers to stimulate the effects volcanoes have on Earth's atmosphere.
Being a volcanologist may be hard work, but it's also fun. "It's cool traveling the world studying volcanoes," Rampino says. When he talks to students about his work, he tells them that his goal is "to understand the events that have shaped Earth's history." | high651.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "hypnosis is effective in helping people lose weight"
},
"options": [
"hypnosis works immediately after being used",
"hypnosis is effective in helping people lose weight",
"people will gain weight if stopping using hypnosis",
... | There are many differing thoughts on the effectiveness of hypnosis as a kind of treatment. However, scientific studies seem to have concluded that hypnosis is not only a true kind of treatment but also highly effective. There have been a number of controlled studies in recent decades and they all seem to agree hypnosis most definitely does work. Within this essay I will discuss just two of many studies about hypnosis and how they show that hypnosis works.
In a study released in the Journal of Clinical Psychology to test the helpfulness of hypnosis in losing weight, 109 volunteers (ranging from the age of 17 to 67) completed a behavioral treatment either with or without the addition of hypnosis. The treatment took nine weeks and during return check-ups both eight months and two years after the treatment the people who used hypnosis showed a continued weight loss rate much higher than the people who didn't. Those who used hypnosis were much better at achieving their ideal weight goals.
In 2009, researchers at Hull University found that hypnosis had an influence on brain scans. This shows that hypnosis had an influence on brain activity that can be picked up on brain scans. This shows that hypnosis is not just a placebo treatment as some doubters claim it is. "Our study shows hypnosis is real," said British psychologist Dr. Michael Heap who was involved in the study. This piece of research shows that hypnosis works and also exactly how it works.
There are also studies proving that hypnosis works for pain relief, improving skin quality, improving confidence as well as helping with many other problems. If you've ever thought about using hypnosis but were not sure whether it would work for you, you should now have all the proof you need to use hypnosis with confidence. | high23741.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the Castle is a good place to go in Scotland"
},
"options": [
"the Queen is rich in tour experience",
"tasting whisky is better than going fishing",
"the Castle is a good place to go in Scotland",
"1873 is a special yea... | You cannot find a better way to enjoy Scottish traditions than going fishing and tasting a little bit of whisky at a quiet place like the Inverlochy Castle. When Queen Victoria visited the castle in 1873, she wrote in her diary, "I never saw a lovelier spot ," And she didn't even go fishing.
Scotland is not easily defined. In certain moments, this quiet land of lakes and grasses and mountains changes before your very eyes. When evening gently sweeps the hillside into orange light ,the rivers, teeming with fish, can turn into streams of gold . As you settle down with just a fishing pole and a basket on the bank of River Orchy, near the Inverlochy castle , any frustration will float away as gently as the circling water. It's just you and purple , pink ,white flowers, seeking a perfect harmony . If you are a new comer to fishing, learning the basics from a fishing guide may leave you with a lifetime's fun. For many, fishing is more than a sport, it is an art.
Scotland offers interesting place where you can rest after a long day's fishing. Set against a wild mountain and hidden behind woodland , the beautiful Inverlochy Castle Hotel below the Nevis is a perfect place to see the beauty of Scotland's mountains . Ben Nevis is the highest of all British mountains , and reaching its 1342-metre top is a challenge . But it's not just what goes up that matters; what comes down is unique . More than 900 metres high, on the mountain's north face, lies an all-important source of pure water. Its name comes form the Gaelic language "usqueb" or "water of life", and it is the single most important ingredient in Scotland's best-known drink: whisky. | high8487.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "she was not satisfied with her job at all"
},
"options": [
"she didn't have enough money to support her family",
"her boss criticized her for what she had done",
"she was not satisfied with her job at all",
"her work wa... | Once there was a young woman who didn't like her job. Everyday when she came home from work, she told her husband how terrible her day had been, how tiring the work and how unreasonable her boss. "Leave that job," her husband told her.
"Oh, I will," she said. "But not yet. I have too many friends there for me to leave." And so she remained unhappy at work until the years became decades and her children had children. "Leave that job," her grandchildren told her. "Oh, I will," she said. "But not yet. There are only seven more years until I reach thirty years of service and can retire. So I can't just yet."
I know this woman. And her story reminds me of an old dog half asleep on the porch of a general store, moaning and groaning in the sun. "Why is your dog acting that way?" a customer asked the store owner. "Oh," answered the man. "He's lying on a nail." "Well, why doesn't he move?" "Because it's not hurting him bad enough."
That's true for people, too. We convince ourselves the pain is not bad enough to leave the workplace we know. But we're wrong. _ work pain is continuing. Some work pain damages our self-esteem, kills our passion or destroys our dreams.
Wilbur Wright once commented, "We could hardly wait to get up in the morning. I know that exhilarating feeling of being so passionate about something I was working on that I couldn't wait to get back to work. And people who are winning at working know that kind of passion, too."
They get excited about work. They offer their unique gifts and talents eagerly. And when things don't change as they sometimes will, they refuse to let environment hijack their self-esteem, passion or dreams. | high889.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "To pass Professor Canaves' class."
},
"options": [
"To go across the lake to school.",
"To test their balance on the water.",
"To pass Professor Canaves' class.",
"To win the prize money of $ 500."
],
"question"... | Students from Florida International University in Miami walked on water Thursday for a class assignment.To do it,they wore aquatic shoes they designed and created.
Alex Quinones was the first to make it to the other side of a 175-foot lake on campus in record time--just over a minute.Quinones,who wore oversized boat-like shoes,also won last year and will receive $ 500.Students had to wear the aquatic shoes and make it across the lake in order to earn an "A" on the assignment for Architecture Professor Jaime Canaves,Materials and Methods Construction Class."It's traditional in a school of architecture to do boats out of cardboard for a boat race.I thought our students were a little bit more special than that," Canaves said." We decided to do the walk on water event to take it to the next level."
A total of 79 students competed in the race this year in 41 teams.Only 10 teams failed to cross the lake.Others who fell got back up and made it to the end.The race is open to all students and anyone in the community.The youngest person to ever participate was a 9-year-old girl who competed in place of her mother,while the oldest was a 67-year-old female.
A large crowd on campus joined Canaves as he cheered on the racers.He shouted encouraging words,but also laughed as some unsteadily made their way to the end.
"A part of this is for them to have more understanding of designing and make it work better," he said.It is also a lesson in life for the students.
"Anything,including walking on water,is possible,if you do the research,test it and go through the design process seriously." | high9941.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "their trouble is caused by global warming"
},
"options": [
"they are the first places sinking into the sea",
"they are both sinking into the mud where they stand",
"they will disappear in the future",
"their trouble is ... | Tuvalu, a tiny country in the Pacific Ocean, has asked for help as it fears it will be swallowed up by the sea.
Storms and huge waves are a constant threat and none of Tuvalu's nine little islands is more than five metres above sea level. Salt water is already entering the country's drinking water supply, as well as damaging plants that produce fruit and vegetable. Without urgent help, the country's days are numbered.
But Tuvalu is not the first place to face sinking into the sea. Venice, a historic city in Italy best known for its canals, has sunk about 24 cm over the past 100 years. Experts say that it will have sunk another 24 cm by 2050. A century ago, St. Mark's Square, the lowest point in the city, flooded about nine times a year. Nowadays, it happens more than 100 times. While Venice is slowly sinking into the mud on which it stands, Tuvalu's rising sea level is caused by global warming.
The average global temperature has increased by almost 0. 5 centigrade degrees over the past century, scientists expect it to rise by extra 1.3 degrees over the next 100 years.
Warmer weather makes glaciers melt, adding more water to the ocean. The warmer temperatures also make water expand, so it takes up more space, causing the sea level to rise. The sea level has risen 10.25 cm in the last 100 years.
The main cause of global warming is human pollution. Through burning coal, oil and gas, people have been increasing the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as CO2. This adds to the power of the greenhouse effect, making the planet even warmer.
Many scientists believe that, if the warming is not stopped, there will be huge climate changes. The sea level could rise by one meter this century.
Should this come true, the sea will swallow up millions of homes and the world will be flooded with " _ " looking for somewhere to live. | high14853.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The Importance of Chinese Food"
},
"options": [
"Eating Food in China",
"How Do Chinese People Eat Food",
"The Importance of Chinese Food",
"Different Foods for Different Chinese Food"
],
"question": "What is th... | Chinese people take their food and eat it extremely seriously .Eating is a communal ,social, human experience in China .Sharing a meal is a sign of friendship,and trust , Eating plays a central role in friendship ,business ,medicine ,family and love. In short, food is life.
When eating, the rice is separated into your own personal bowl, but the dishes are placed in communal bowls in the center of the table and everybody help themselves with chopsticks .It's considered polite, and sign of respect and friendship, to encourage other people to eat plenty of the good bits, even to pick up food with your chopsticks and drop it into their rice bowls for them.
Food is an important component of weddings, funerals and almost all Chinese festivals. New Year is the time for dumplings, the Dragon Boat Festival is the time for sticky rice Zongzi wrapped in leaves, and Mid -Autumn Day is the time for Moon Cakes. The dinner table is the best for forum to close business deals ,and it's the number one thing to do with friends.
Chinese women express their admiration for the opposite sex by cooking delicious meals of many courses, and these days it's the other way round too.
In short, if you want to get to know Chinese people, understand Chinese culture and thinking and get into Chinese life, you have to eat and appreciate Chinese food. | high15595.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "To persuade reader to buy his Air purifier."
},
"options": [
"To tell us to protect us from flu virus.",
"To explain how his Air Purifier works.",
"To introduce the benefits of his Air Purifier.",
"To persuade reader to... | It's flu season.
What are you doing about it?
David Oreck, Founder
My Oreck Air Purifier captures and destroys viruses, bacteria and germs.
2005 ORECK HOLDINGS,LLC. All Rights Reserved. All word marks, logos, product configurations and registered trademarks are owned and used under the authority of Oreck Holdings, LLC.
For the very young and the very old and virtually everyone in between, the flu is nothing to sneeze at. So here's what you can do. Check with your doctor to see if a flu shot is right for you. Wash your hands frequently. Maintain a healthy diet and regimen of exercise. And because you're spending most of your time indoors, it makes sense that the air in your home is as fresh, clean and pure as it can be.
My Oreck XL(tm) Professional Air Purifier captures and destroys viruses, bacteria and germs. It removes mold spores, pollen, pet dander, household odors and other airborne particulates as small as 0.1 microns. (The flu virus measures 0.3 microns.)
The Oreck Professional Air Purifier uses the same advanced technology as the prefix = st1 /U.S.submarine fleet where mariners are submerged for up to six months at a time. Because the permanent electronic filter never needs replacing, you can rinse it off as often as you like and it's as good as new. My Oreck Professional Air Purifier will literally pay for itself in what you pay for costly HEPA replacement filters that other manufacturers require. Besides HEPA filters don't destroy germs. They can only capture and hold them.
So this flu season, take the Oreck Challenge and try my Oreck Professional Air Purifier risk-free for three full months. Then decide. CALL NOW AND RECEIVE A $100 GIFT-FREE.
Just for trying an Oreck Air Purifier risk-free for 90 days, we'll send you our $100 Oreck Cord-Free Electric Broom ly free. It's a floor vac and a hand vac in one. If you don't feel the difference simply send the Air Purifier back--but keep the Electric Broom--there's no obligation. The shipping is free. Call 1-800-522-5961 ext. CR589 or visit www. oreck. com/decairNothing gets by an Oreck. | high23027.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "for the boy to observe"
},
"options": [
"for the ants to live in",
"to get sun light in",
"to keep the sand clean",
"for the boy to observe"
],
"question": "The family created an ant farm in a glass box because ... | I learned about life from an ant farm.When I was seven years old, my family created one.First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box, and then we waited for the live ants to arrive.Shortly after the chilly ants were dropped into the glass structure, they got to work making tunnels.I was amazed that each one knew exactly what to do.After hours of staring, I realized that the ants had assigned jobs.With my mom ' s help, I kept a diary of what happened each day and named the ants.
One day a tragedy struck the ant farm.The pages of the diary, still wrinkled where tear drops fell, indicate the depth of the tragedy.'I had put my face so close to the structure that I accidentally tipped it over, caving in all the tunnels.Although the ants survived their earthquake, one by one they began to die.I was terrified as I watched them give up their tunnel-building to carry the bodies to a comer of the farm.My mother reported that the ants were dying of "frustration." They simply could not stand the reality that their tunnels had been destroyed.
Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm.Mom had hoped it would teach me about the natural world, but it taught me much more.Over the years, I came to realize the ants were a study in the benefits of teamwork.Working together, they were able to create an amazing world for themselves.I also learned that they should be admired for their hard work.Day in and day out, each labored at their task.The ant farm showed that teamwork and perseverance are indeed two key ingredients to success.But there was an even larger lesson that I did not realize until recently: Adversity (, ) is a natural part of life,and must be accepted.Unlike the ants, humans cannot give up when they face disappointment.Unlike the ants, we have to realize that if a tunnel caves in, we just have to build another.Giving up, I say, is not a choice. | high137.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "didn't believe it"
},
"options": [
"didn't believe it",
"took no notice of it",
"called the police at once",
"had a joke with the person"
],
"question": "At first when receiving the message for help, Sean _ ."... | One day,when 12-year-old Sean Redden went to a popular chat room on the Internet, he saw the name of someone he'd never seen there before, Susan Hicks. Her message was " Would someone help me? I can't breathe. Help me! I can't feel my left side."
At first, Sean thought it was a bad joke and he told his mother Sharon Redden. But she asked, " It's not just some game, is it?
The message was not a joke. " Susan Hicks" was actually 20-year-old Taija Laitinen, a student working late at night at a college library near Helsinki, Finland---almost 7,000 miles away from Sean's home in Texas. While searching the Internet, she began to feel terrible pain all through her body. The library was empty and the nearest phone was outside in the hallway. She couldn't move that far because any movement caused the pain to get worse. Then as the pain became worse, she began typing her message for help in the chat room.
"I don't think it's a joke, mom," Sean said. He typed, " Where are you? The letters appeared, "Finland." Sean and Sharon couldn't believe it. Not knowing what else to do, Sharon called the local police and explained the situation to officer Amy Schmidt. Schmidt told Sharon to try to get the sick girl's phone number and address.
Meanwhile, the Texas police called the international telephone operator and asked to be connected to the proper agency in Finland. The Texas police explained the situation and gave Susan's address to the Finnish operator. When Sean heard that, he typed, "Help is on the way."
In the few minutes, the library door opened. Doctors and three policemen ran in. Taija turned once more to the computer, " They are here. Thanks. Bye-bye." | high17382.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "signing \"classmate notes\" in China"
},
"options": [
"making a plan for the next year",
"signing names on your belongings",
"signing \"classmate notes\" in China",
"saying goodbye to each other"
],
"question": ... | The last exams finished on Thursday, June 3, although I completed my final one on Monday morning. This allowed several days of rest* after which the seniors had their yearbook signing party, signing yearbooks. Every year US high schools put together yearbooks made up of pictures and words that record the lives of the students.
On Friday the seniors had dinner with invited teachers. The dinner was formal, which meant we couldn't wear T-shirts or jeans. Both the food and the conversation were very good. At the end, everyone received a blue Andover Class of 2004 cup as a souvenir.
Most of the graduation activities were packed into Commencement Weekend--June 5 and 6. Friends and families of students arrived to see the Senior Talent Show and the Baccalaureate Service in the school hall. Several students, parents and teachers of several religious faiths spoke during the service. Then the lights were turned off and students lit candles held by audience members. I held my candle high, and watched the soft light reach every corner of the hall; it was an almost sacred scene.
On Sunday, we had our Commencement, held outside on the lawn . All the girls were required to wear white dresses and the guys black suits. It was only 9 degrees Centigrade and I was freezing cold. There were speeches from the head of school, the president of the board and by a student representative. Then the seniors lined up in a circle, while the head of school handed out the diplomas . Each one was passed
around the circle, until it reached its rightful owner. When all the diplomas had been awarded, the circle broke up -- our graduation was complete, | high21630.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "are good at digging holes in the ground."
},
"options": [
"look like big cats.",
"are similar to foxes in size.",
"give people a sense of weakness.",
"are good at digging holes in the ground."
],
"question": "Ac... | The wombat is in trouble. Some are dying in bushfires, or being shot by farmers. Others are scratching themselves to death because of a mite infection. Only 115 of one species - the northern hairy-nosed wombat - remain alive in the wild.
Wombats are endemic to Australia. They are found nowhere else. A wombat looks like an overgrown, stocky guinea pig, covered with thick grey fur and with a wide, flat, broad forehead. Fully-grown adults are about a meter long and about half a meter tall. They weigh about 40kg.
But while their looks are pretty straightforward, people throughout history have found it less easy to understand their behavior. The Aborigines seem to have mixed feelings about them, According to one story, the wombat once said he was more powerful than the sun. After a competition, however, the wombat lost, and so today hides from shame, deep down in a hole. But another Aboriginal story tells of how wise the wombat can be. He comforts the other animals in the forest, after their friend, a cockatoo, has died, explaining to them all about forest spirits.
Wombats are strong diggers, with very powerful front legs and sharp claws, usually used to dig winding holes in the ground for their homes. Yet despite their strong appearance, these animals are struggling to survive.
Many have been suffering a lot from a foreign mite, from foreign foxes, introduced for hunting by the early English settlers of Australia. Because of scratching, scars form over the wombats' eyes and ears, and infections occur, finally causing their death. Its population is so small that the group is becoming inbred . Competition with cattle and sheep for grass to eat, drought, bushfires, as well as dingo and feral dog attacks have all whittled away wombat numbers.
But fortunately, a group of committed volunteers and scientists, working with the local government, has now put up fences to protect the wombats from meat-eating animals, made holes for extra shelter, and is working with zoos to create developing programs. These conservationists are well aware they have little time left. | high17396.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Increase Your Brain Power through Writing"
},
"options": [
"A Way on How to Write",
"Increase Your Brain Power through Writing",
"Brain Power Helps Improve Your Writing",
"How to Start Your Writing"
],
"question... | Have you ever noticed what happens to an idea once you express it? Just talking about it or writing it down causes you to make it clear in your own mind.How can you use this to increase your brain power? Start writing.
By putting thoughts into words, you are telling yourself the logic behind what you think, feel, or only partly understand.Often, explaining a thought is the process of understanding.In other words, you increase your brain power by exercising your "explain power."
Try this experiment.Explain how you'll increase your brain power, even if you have no idea how right now.Just start with anything, and create an explanation.For example, start with "I'll learn chess," or "I'll read an article on the mind every week." Explain how that will help.You'll be surprised how often this becomes a workable plan, and if you actually do this, you'll have a better understanding of your brain twenty minutes from now.
Another benefit of writing is that it helps you remember.Many, if not most, highly productive people are always taking notes.You can try keeping it all in your head, but if you keep a journal of your ideas the next time you're working on a big project, you'll probably have more success.
Want to understand a topic? Write a book about it.That's an extreme example, but if you are learning something new, write a letter to a friend about it, and you will understand it better.Want to invent something? Write an explanation of the problem, why you want to solve it, and why it is worth solving, and you're half-way there.
Writers don't always write because they clearly understand something beforehand.Often, they write about something because they want to understand it.You can do the same.Writing will help bring you to an understanding.Give it a try. | high16088.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "In Italy women are completely employed in services."
},
"options": [
"There are more women than men in Italy.",
"In Italy women are completely employed in services.",
"In Italy women are still at a disadvantage in employment.... | Tourists were surprised to see a woman driving a huge orange tractor down one of Rome's main avenues. Italy's political leaders are said to have been even more puzzled to see that the tractor was followed by about 200,000 women in a parading procession that took more than three hours _ . Shouting slogans, waving flags and dancing to drumbeats, the women had come to the capital from all over Italy to demonstrate for 'a job for each of us, a different type of job'.
Women, who make up 52 % of Italy's population, today represent only 35% of Italy's total workforce and 33% of the total number of Italian with jobs. However, their presence in the workplace is increasing. The employment of women is expanding considerably in services, next to the public administration and commerce as their principle workplace. Official statistics also show that women have also made significant progress in self-employment. More and more women are going into business for themselves. Many young women are turning to business. It is also a fact that today many prejudices have disappeared, so that banks and other financial institutes make judgments on purely business considerations without caring if it is a man or woman. Such changes are occurring in other professions too. The number of women doctors, dentists, lawyers, engineers and university professors has increased. Some of the changes are immediately visible. For example, women have appeared on the scene for the first time as state police, railway workers and street cleaners.
However, the present situation is far from satisfactory though some progress has been made. A breakthrough in equal opportunities for women is now demanded. | high21624.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "To bring Europe together again."
},
"options": [
"To bring Europe together again.",
"To honor heroes of World War II.",
"To introduce young theatre groups.",
"To attract great artists from Europe."
],
"question"... | (2013*II,B)In 1947 a group of famous people from the art world headed by an Austrian conductor decided to hold an international festival of music,dance and theatre in Edinburgh.The idea was to reunite Europe after the Second World War.
It quickly attracted famous names such as Alec Guinness,Richard Burton,Dame Margot Fonteyn and Marlene Dietrich as well as the big symphony orchestras .It became a fixed event every August and now attracts 400,000 people yearly.
At the same time,the "Fringe" appeared as a challenge to the official festival.Eight theatre groups turned up uninvited in 1947,in the belief that everyone should have the right to perform,and they did so in a public house disused for years.
Soon,groups of students firstly from Edinburgh University,and later from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge,Durham and Birmingham were making the journey to the Scottish capital each summer to perform theatre by littleknown writers of plays in small church halls to the people of Edinburgh.
Today the"Fringe",once less recognized,has far outgrown the festival with around 1,500 performances of theatre,music and dance on every one of the 21 days it lasts.And yet as early as 1959,with only 19 theatre groups performing,some said it was getting too big.
A paid administrator was first employed only in 1971,and today there are eight administrators working all year round and the number rises to 150 during August itself.In 2004 there were 200 places housing 1,695 shows by over 600 different groups from 50 different countries.More than 1.25 million tickets were sold. | high5809.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "She felt much better than before."
},
"options": [
"She felt even worse than ever.",
"She felt quite proud of herself.",
"She felt very sorry for her kids.",
"She felt much better than before."
],
"question": "H... | "You're leaving again?" asked my daughter as she saw me packing my carry-on.
More than her words, it was her face that pierced my heart ---I could see how _ she was.
"It's only for two nights, "I explained.
But that didn't matter to her. It was just one more trip after barely being home for five days. I decided in that moment to travel less whenever possible and I managed to avoid flying altogether for most of the summer. As a result, it was a summer full of discoveries. I realized that my kids really were proud of me. In their time away from me they had learned lessons I couldn't have imagined.
Recently I began traveling a lot again. But this time it was different, mainly due to the fact that I had seen firsthand that my children value strong female role models. They realize that hard work pays off. Being away from them even for a day at a time in many ways had done them a lot of good.
In particular, being a working mom is teaching my daughter how important it is to be independent and that you can follow your dreams. In many ways, her idea of a professional woman is much more realistic than what I imagined when I was her age. I think that even at nine years old she already knows that for all the success you might achieve, there is a price to pay, whether it's long hours, spending time away from those you love, or simply not having the energy to have fun at times. I know the wishes I would devote all of my time to her, but honestly, even if I didn't work I would rather she learned not to depend on me for everything, She needs to realize that she can fly on her own --- and that isn't possible if I am hovering over her every single second of the day .
I have also realized that having a career sets a good example for my son. He is not afraid of a strong woman, and has a great respect for them. When he's older, this will help him build healthier relationship.
Therefore, for all the working moms out there who work long hours, remember to value the positive lessons you might be teaching your kids. | high14847.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "women have so much to share"
},
"options": [
"he is treated as an outsider rather than a husband",
"women show little interest in ballgames",
"women have so much to share",
"he finds his wife difficult to talk to"
]... | Betty and Harold have been married for years.But one thing still puzzles old Harold.How is it that he can leave Betty and her friend Joan sitting on the sofa,talking,go out to a ballgame,come back three and a half hours later,and they're still sitting on the sofa?Talking?
What in the world,Harold wonders,do they have to talk about?
Betty shrugs.Talk?We're friends.
Researching this matter called friendship,psychologist Lilian Rubin spent two years interviewing more than two hundred women and men.No matter what their age,their job,their sex,the results were completely clear:women have more friendships than men,and the difference in the content and the quality of those friendships is "marked and unmistakable."
More than two-thirds of the single men Rubin interviewed could not name a best friend.Those who could were likely to name a woman.Yet three-quarters of the single women had no problem naming a best friend,and almost always it was a woman.More married men than women named their wife/husband as a best friend,most trusted person,or the one they would turn to in time of emotional distress ."Most women,"says Rubin,"identified at least one,usually more,trusted friends to whom they could turn in a troubled moment,and they spoke openly about the importance of these relationships in their lives."
"In general,"writes Rubin in her new book,"women's friendships with each other rest on shared emotions and support,but men's relationships are marked by shared activities."For the most part,Rubin says,interactions between men are emotionally controlled-a good fit with the social requirements of "manly behavior."
"Even when a man is said to be a best friend,"Robin writes,"the two share little about their innermost feelings.Whereas a woman's closest female friend might be the first to tell her to leave a failing marriage, it wasn't unusual to hear a man say he didn't know his friend's marriage was in serious trouble until he appeared one night asking if he could sleep on the sofa." | high15581.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "give an inspiration"
},
"options": [
"send a gift",
"find a specialist",
"tell a truth",
"give an inspiration"
],
"question": "Probably the Dig In section can _ to kids about the three topics.",
"question_... | Welcome to the Kids' Science Challenge!
Do you like science projects and winning some awesome gifts? This is the challenge for you. What's even better is that you don't have to build anything -- Simply come up with an original idea or design that relates to one of three topics given below.
Wonderful Sounds
Ready for Wonderful Sounds? Click on Science Secrets to meet our sound specialist. And be sure to download fun activities with crazy new sounds and musical instruments in the Dig In section! Now what kind of new musical instrument can you invent?
Super Material for Sports
Ready for Super Material for Sports? You'll discover the amazing world of Materials Science, where scientists and engineers develop new materials for everyday functions--like sports! Click on Science Secrets for information about our scientist. And don't forget to download the fun activities in the Dig In section! Now can you come up with a new sports material that would help you play your favorite sport?
Magical Microbes
Ready to discover Magical Microbes, the tiniest living things on earth? Click on Science Secrets for information about our scientists. And be sure to download all the fun activities in the Dig In section! Now can you think of a brand new way that microbes can help people? | high23033.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "He ignored him."
},
"options": [
"He talked with somebody else.",
"He was attracted by a dog.",
"He greeted him politely.",
"He ignored him."
],
"question": "What did the author do when he met Mr. Lee?",
"qu... | When I was about ten years old, I was walking down the street with my mother. She stopped to speak to Mr. Lee. I knew I could see Mr. Lee any time around the neighborhood, so I didn't pay any attention to him. After we passed Mr. Lee, my mother stopped me and said something that has stuck with me from that day until now. She said seriously, "You let that be the last time you've ever walked by somebody and not opened up your mouth to speak, because even a dog will wag its tail when it passes you on the street." Mother's words sound simple, but it's been a guidepost for me and the foundation of who I am.
It's not just something I believe in; it's a way of life. I believe that every person deserves to feel someone acknowledge their presence, no matter how humble they may be.
At work, I always said hello to the founder of the company and ask him how our business was doing. But I also spoke to the people who cleaned the buildings and asked how their children were doing. After a few years of greeting the founder, I had the courage to ask him for a meeting. We had a great talk. At a certain point I asked him how far he thought I could go in his company. He said, "If you want to, you can get all the way to this seat."
I've become vice president, but it hasn't changed the way I approach people. I still follow my mother's advice. I speak to everyone I see, no matter where I am. I've learned that speaking to people creates a pathway into their world, and it allows them to come into mine, too. | high13696.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "To research them."
},
"options": [
"To catch them.",
"To research them.",
"To kill them.",
"To protect them."
],
"question": "Why do the researchers place small markers on many marine creatures?",
"question_... | Researchers in over 80 nations are taking part in a project to conduct a decade-long census of sea life. Scientists presented some of their findings at a recent conference as the project neared its completion.
In deep icy waters under Antarctica, scientists found bulbous tunicates, an underground animal, and many newly-discovered creatures believed to be related to starfish and other marine creatures.
Elsewhere in the world's oceans, they have recently discovered many kinds of underwater life forms new to science. It is all part of a research effort called the Census of Marine Life.
"There are about 2,000 scientists worldwide involved," said Bob Gagosian, President, CEO of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership. Gagosian helps manage the project. "Everywhere they've gone they've found new things," he says. "The ocean basically is unexplored from the point of view of marine living things."
Researchers have placed small markers on hundreds of fish and marine animals to track by satellite their migration routes and to discover places where sea life gathers.
According to Ron O'Dor, a senior scientist with the Census of Marine Life, knowledge of life on the ocean floor is especially limited. "90% of all the information we have is from the top hundred meters of the ocean," O'Dor states.
And he says the sea floor is, on average, at a depth of 4, 000 meters. And so, as some machines dive far below what people have previously seen, scientists are discovering new species of plants, animals and living things.
Since the census project began, more than 5,300 new marine animals have been found. Ocean researchers say they hope to catalogue 230,000 species during the census --which some say is only a small part of all the creatures living in the sea. | high645.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Medical researchers who tried to explain autoimmune disorders."
},
"options": [
"A professor of ecology and evolutionary biology.",
"A professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston.",
"Medical researchers who tried to explain... | A new study suggests that early exposure to germs strengthens the immune system. That means letting children get a little dirty might be good for their health later in life.
The study involved laboratory mice. It found that adult mice raised in a germ-free environment were more likely to develop allergies, asthma and other autoimmune disorders. There are more than eighty disorders where cells that normally defend the body instead attack tissues and organs.
Richard Blumberg,who led the study,is a professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston,Massachusetts. He says,in 1989,medical researchers who sought to explain these diseases, first discovered that the increasing use of antibacterial soaps and other products, especially early in life, could weaken immune systems.
Now, Dr. Blumberg and his team have what is the first biological evidence to link early exposure to germs to stronger adult immune systems. They say this exposure could prevent the development of some autoimmune diseases.
In the adult germ-free mice, they found that inflammation in the lungs and colon was caused by so-called killer T cells. These normally fight infection. But they became overactive and targeted healthy tissue--an autoimmune condition seen in asthma and a disease called ulcerative colitis .
Dr. Blumberg says the mice raised in a normal environment did not have the same reaction. He says their immune systems had been "educated" by early exposure to germs.
Rates of autoimmune disorders are rising worldwide, but mostly in wealthier, industrialized countries. According to Dr. Blumberg, it might be high time that people were warned to be more careful with the early use of antibiotics and the prescription from their doctors.
Rob Dunn is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He says the new study does not mean people should stop washing. "Wash your hands , but don't do it with antibacterial soap. Let your kids play in a reasonable amount of dirt and get outside and get exposed to a diversity of things", says Rob Dunn. | high23755.txt |
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