questions list | article stringlengths 9 6.44k | id stringlengths 9 14 |
|---|---|---|
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Tips On First Days At a New Job"
},
"options": [
"Tips On First Days At a New Job",
"How to Do a Job Well",
"Be the Last to Leave",
"Ways to Find a New Job"
],
"question": "Which is the best title for the passag... | No one wants to look silly or do the wrong thing at a new job. It's important to make the right impression from the first day. You will face new people. You will be in a new place. It may be difficult to know what to do. Here are seven tips to help you make it through the first days at a new job:
1. First impression is important. Make sure you make a good one. Before your first day, find out if your new job has _ . If so, be sure to follow it. No matter what you wear, always be neat and clean.
2. Get to work on time. Employers value workers who come to work on time. Give yourself an extra 15 minutes to make sure you arrive on time.
3. Pay attention to introduction. One of the first things that your supervisor may do is to introduce you to co-workers. These co-workers will be important to you. They are the ones who will answer your questions when the boss isn't around.
4. Ask plenty of questions. Make sure that your supervisor has told you what your are expected to do. If he or she has not told you your job duties, ask for a list. Set daily and weekly goals for yourself.
5. Don't make personal phone calls. You should never make personal phone calls to your friends and family unless it's an emergency.
6. Don't take too long for lunch. What's the lunch-hour policy at your new job? You can find out from your supervisor or your company's personnel department . For example, do people eat at their desks or does everyone take a full hour outside the workplace?
7. Never be the first one to leave. Observe how your co-workers behave around quitting time. It does no good for you to be eager to leave. | high2541.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "will increase much faster in China than in France"
},
"options": [
"is bigger in developed countries than in developing countries",
"is oneseventh of the population in developing countries",
"will increase much faster in Chin... | There are many older people in the world and there will be many more.A limeknown fact is that over 60 percent of the older people live in developing countries.According to the World Health Organization,by 2020 there will be 1 billion,with over 700 million living in developing countries.
It is a surprising fact that the population ageing is particularly rapid in developing countries.For example,it took France 115 years for the proportion of older people to double from 7 percent to 14 percent.It is estimated to take China a mere 27 years to achieve this same increase.
What are the implications of these increased numbers of older folk?One of the biggest worries for governments is that the longer people live,the more likelihood there is for diseases and for disability.Attention is being paid to the need to keep people as healthy as possible,including during old age,to lessen the financial burden on the state.
Another significant problem is the need for the younger generations to understand and value the older people in their society.In some African countries,certainly in Asia,older people are respected and regarded as the ones with special knowledge.Yet traditions are fading away daily,which does not ensure the continued high regard of older people.As society changes,attitudes will change.
Much needs to be done to get rid of age discrimination in employment.Lifelong learning programs need to be provided to enable older people to be active members in a country's development.
Social security policies need to be established to provide adequate income protection for older people.Both public and private schemes are vital in order to build a suitable safety net.
To achieve equality in such matters will take considerable time and effort.One thing is sure:there is no time to be lost. | high6727.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "foreign language study is popular in UK"
},
"options": [
"foreign language study is popular in UK",
"foreign language study is a must for people of all ages",
"it is especially easy for British people to study foreign languag... | "Seven out of ten people have tried to learn a language at some point in their life and most wish they could speak one more fluently," a survey found. "And nine out of ten people want their children to learn foreign languages at primary school," said the poll for the OCR Examing Board .Languages are no longer compulsory for pupils aged 14 and over. But the government wants all primary school pupils in England to learn a language by the end of the decade.
A survey of 1000 people was carried out, which is organised by the National Centre of Language .The study suggested people in London were the most likely(78%) to have studied another language, Scots were next at 74%, followed by the northeast of England (71%).In the west of England, more than six in ten have knowledge of another language.
Barrie Hunt from OCR said, "People are often very negative about Britain,s grasp of foreign languages but in reality the number of people who can speak a second language is impressive. The great joke is that many of these people will have no formal qualification to show their family, friends and employers what they can do. Whether they are fluent or just able to hold a short conversation in another language is unknown."
He said OCR had set a new language scheme called Asset Languages to encourage people of all ages to learn languages in bite-sized amounts and get a qualification.
The scheme also provides assessment for community languages spoken at home, such as Chinese, Urdu and Punjabi.
Isabella Moore from the National Centre of Languages said, "Employers want evidence of good communication skills, confidence and outward-looking attitudes, so a language qualification is an important addition to anyone,s resume." | high7439.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "have a shorter lifespan"
},
"options": [
"have better kidney funtciton",
"have a shorter lifespan",
"have a higher level of the protein in his/her body",
"suffer from some cognitive disease"
],
"question": "If a... | One in five people carry a 'smart gene' variant linked to long lifespan, bigger forebrains and enhanced mental ability, researchers have found.
'We've known for a long time that people lose cognitive abilities as they age, but now we're beginning to understand that factors like KLOTHO can give people a boost in aging. Genetic variation in KLOTHO could help us predict brain health and find ways to protect people from the diseases that happen to us as we grow old, like Alzheimer's disease ," said senior author, Dena Dubal of University of California.
The KLOTHO gene affects a protein found in the kidneys and the brain that regulates many different body processes. About one in five people carry a single copy of the varian, known as KL-VS,which boosts levels of the protein and is associated with a longer lifespan and improved heart and kidney function. A small minority, 3% of the population, has two copies, which is linked to a shorter lifespan.
In the new study scientists scanned the brains of 422 men and women aged 53 and over who were also tested for the KLOTHO gene. They found that participants with a single copy of the gene variant also had a larger brain region known as RDLPFC, which is especially likely to shrink with age. Loss of neurons in this area may be one reason why older people are sometimes easily distracted and find it difficult to do more than one task at the same time.
Researcher Dr Jennifer Yokoyama said, " The brain region enhanced by genetic variation in KLOTHO is vulnerable in aging and some mental disease. In this case, bigger size means better function. It will be important to determine whether the structure increase associated with carrying one copy of KL-VS can _ the cognitive shortage caused by disease."[:]
People who have one copy of a variant KL-VS tend to live longer and have lower chances of suffering a stroke ,whereas people who have two copies may live shorter lives and have a higher risk of stroke. | high12611.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "11"
},
"options": [
"19",
"8",
"11",
"15"
],
"question": "How many Germans were killed in the stampede at \"Love Parade 2010\"?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_i... | Angry survivors demanded answers on Sunday after a terrible accident at "Love Parade 2010", a music festival in Germany, killed 19 people and left hundreds hurt.
The German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her shock over Saturday's tragedy in the western city of Duisburg., "This was a very sad day," Merkel said.
Witnesses said that people pushed into the narrow tunnel, the only entrance to the Love Parade festival, from both sides until it was dangerously overcrowded. The panic began as festival-goers began to lose consciousness as they were crushed against the walls and each other. The dead included eight foreigners, from Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, China, Bosnia and Spain. More than 340 people were injured.
After the panic, a lot of emergency vehicles , including helicopters, could be seen carrying away the injured people. The festival itself, however, went on. Police were afraid that ending the music altogether could cause further unrest among the crowd.
"The event was a real mess," Patrick Guenter, a 22-year-old baker, said. "Although the festival was full, they kept letting people in," he added. "It seems the organizers didn't plan the route. And no one knew what was going on." said Taggart Bowen-Gaddy, 20, an American from Philadelphia.
Officials said 4,000 police officers and 1,000 security guards provided security for the event, which attracted up to 1.4 million people.
"I warned one year ago that Duisburg was not a suitable place for the Love Parade. The city is too small and narrow for such events. It is a pity that..." German police union chief Rainer Wendt said.
The chief organizer, Rainer Schaller, said the popular event would never be held again, "out of respect for the victims and their families". | high12177.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "tell people to enjoy themselves sometimes"
},
"options": [
"prove that cutting out fatty foods is difficult",
"tell people to enjoy themselves sometimes",
"encourage people to stick to regular daily things",
"tell us th... | Too many people put off things that could bring them joy just because they haven't thought about them, don't have them on their schedules or are too stubborn to leave from their regular daily things.
One day I thought about all those women on the Titanic who refused sweet foods at dinner that fateful night to cut out fatty foods. From then on, I've tried to be a little more changeable.
I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, "How about going to lunch in half an hour?" She would stammer ,"I can't , I have clothes to wash. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday. I had a late breakfast. It looks like rain." She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.
We live on promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect. We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get our baby, Stevie, toilet-trained. We'll enjoy when we replace the living room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.
Life has a way _ as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we wake up, and all we have to show for our lives is a long list of "I'm going to", "I plan on" and "Someday, when things settle down a bit".
I love ice cream. But my lips had not touched ice cream in 10 years. The other day I stopped the car and bought an ice cream. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.
Now, go have a nice day. Do something you want to. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you say? And why are you waiting? | high9372.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Mr. Dong is in favor of the digital hongbao"
},
"options": [
"it will bring us trouble in holiday reunion",
"it will be out of fashion soon in future",
"Mr. Dong is in favor of the digital hongbao",
"lots of people will... | The Spring Festival is supposed to be a period of time entirely for family reunion. However, as people's enthusiasm for digital hongbao increased, the amount of the time they spend with family members during the holiday decreases. There has been widespread criticism over digital hongbao that it has _ family reunion.
"I used to discuss programs in the Spring Festival Gala with my family members, but this year, I hardly had the time to watch the gala because I was staring at my cellphone all the time," said Kang, a 30-year old radio station editor. "I went to Karaoke with my cousins during the holiday, and I was grasping digital hongbao the whole time, even when I was singing Karaoke."
"On the last day of the holiday, I started to regret spending too much time on these digital hongbao. Therefore, instead of fighting for hongbao, I watched TV with my mom that night. I left home feeling sorry! I should have spent more time with my parents."
But Kang said regret came with a sense of achievement when he managed to bring classmates together.
"Next year, I will still play the game, but with less money and for a smaller amount of time," Kang said.
Dong Chenyu, a teacher from Beijing Foreign Studies University, said it unfair to blame hongbao for destroying family reunion.
"When television was invented, people accused it of standing in the way of face-to-face human communication. The same accusation came up on telephone and text message services when they were first invented. The same goes with digital hongbao," Dong said.
"It does nothing but offers a new way of human communication. The rest is people's choice. As long as no one expects to earn money from this and takes this as a means of gambling , it's a good way to improve human connections," Dong said. | high14506.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "guarantee people's basic residential needs"
},
"options": [
"guarantee people's basic residential needs",
"handle the roles of government and housing market",
"improve land and financial policies",
"punish illegal occup... | BEIJING---Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed the need to promote the country's housing security and supply to guarantee people's basic residential needs
On Tuesday, Xi said that pushing the construction of the housing supply system is a solid project that benefits all people.
''Solving the housing issue is a long-term task," the president said "China still faces problems such as insufficient affordable housing and imbalances in housing distribution"
Xi said future work will sick to market-oriented reform.and properly handle the roles of government and the market, economic and social functions of housing development,relations of necessity and possibility and the difference between housing security and welfare trap
Meanwhile,he vowed the government shall meet the basic housing needs of the group troubled by inadaptable labor skills, lack of job opportunities or low income
Xi pointed out that the general scheme of building China's housing supply system is that the government realizes most of the basic needs while leaving other diversified demands for the market rules
"China will spare no effort to increase housing supply while pursuing affordable, environmentally friendly and safe living standards in accordance with the country's practical situation,"he said
According to the country's 12th five-year plan,China will increase its quantity of affordable housing go that it covers 20 percent of all residential areas by 2015 through construction of 36 million affordable housing units,including renovation of run-down neighborhoods
Xi said the government will first ensure the quality and safety of these buildings and strive to accomplish the goal while speeding up the construction of public rental and low--rent housing as well as the renovation of run-down neighborhoods
Land and financial policies will be further improved to support the project,Xi said,adding the government will explore and encourage ways for non-profit institutions to participate in the construction and management of affordable housing.
The top leader also stressed that China shall strengthen supervision,establish standard management system and punish illegal occupation of affordable housing units. | high6041.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "How to get a good night's sleep."
},
"options": [
"When to start a sound sleep.",
"How to get a good night's sleep.",
"What to do with sleep problems",
"Why to form a good habit of sleeping."
],
"question": "Wha... | A Good Night's Steep
Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life.
While you're sleeping, your brain is forming new pathways to help you learn and remember information. Although we all know the importance of getting a good night's sleep, not all of us know the best way of getting it. A sleep expert, Phil Atherton, gave some top tips for getting the most out of the night, which will leave you ready for action in the morning.
According to Phil Atherton, not eating a large meal before bedtime is important for getting a good night's sleep. The time difference between eating and sleeping should be at least three hours. So you'd better avoid eating any food three hours before bed, as it will lower your blood sugar during sleep and help minimize damage from too much sugar floating around.
It's also important to find ways to prepare your body for sleep. You can follow a routine like trying not to expose yourself to too much artificial light within 1 hour before bed, as your brain uses light to help set internal "body clock". Although it might seem unnatural to schedule your sleep, the purpose is to send a signal to your body and mind that it's time to sleep.
Another way to prepare your body for sleep is to get into a relaxed state by taking a bath or listening to soft music. Both of them will help to take the mind off the daytime pressures.
Having a suitable bed, especially a suitable mattress , is necessary for a good night's sleep. Sleep is a personalized activity, and we all adopt different sleeping positions. Finding the mattress that suits you will reduce back pains that can result from a poor sleeping position. The bed should be four to six inches longer than its tallest user, allowing for space to move
around.
The recent research is pretty clear that a good night's sleep in a major component of good health. Since the start of the 21st century, studies have linked a lack of sleep to many diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. Taking action now will lead to long-term benefits for you and those around you. | high13269.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the influence of weboholism"
},
"options": [
"the cause of weboholism",
"the advantage of weboholism",
"the popularity of weboholism",
"the influence of weboholism"
],
"question": "The main idea of the passage i... | A new generation addiction is quickly spreading all over the world. Weboholism , a twentieth century disease, affects people from different ages. They surf the net, use e-mail and speak in chat rooms. They spend many hours on the computer, and it becomes a compulsive habit. They cannot stop, and it affects their lives.
Ten years ago, no one thought that using computers could become compulsive behavior that could affect the social and physical life of computer users. This _ behavior has affected teenagers and college students. They are likely to log on computers and spend long hours at different websites.
They become hooked on computers and gradually their social and school life is affected by this situation. They spend all free time surfing and don't concentrate on homework, so this addiction influences their grades and success at schools. Because they can find everything on the websites, they hang out there. Moreover, this addiction to websites influences their social life.
They spend more time in front of computers than with their friends. The relation with their friends changes. The virtual life becomes more important than their real life. They have a new language that they speak in the chat rooms and it causes cultural changes in society.
Because of the change in their behavior, they begin to isolate( themselves from the society and live with their virtual friends. They share their emotions and feelings with friends who they have never met in their life. Although they feel confident on the computer, they are not confident with real live friends they have known all their life. It is a problem for the future. This addictive behavior is beginning to affect the whole world. | high2227.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "their parents are making a living in other cities"
},
"options": [
"they are poor and in rural areas",
"they are brought up by their grandparents",
"their parents are making a living in other cities",
"their parents don... | Many Chinese kids, known as "left-behind" children, hardly ever see their parents, because their parents are migrant workers.
Li Ling, 11, is a left-behind child. Her parents have been working in Zhejiang for 10 years, while she lives with her grandparents in Guangdong. She was reunited with her parents last Spring Festival. As the number of migrant workers in China increases, the number of left-behind children is rising fast. Li is one of the 61. 02 million left-behind children under 17. They account for 37. 7 percent of rural children and 21. 88 percent of all Chinese children
The large number of left-behind children has already become a social issue. If left unsolved, it will cause serious problems, Wang Zhenyao, director of the China Philanthropy Research Institute, told China Daily. The education level of adults supervising these children is generally not that high. They can only take care of the children's personal safety and daily living, being unable to care for their educational and spiritual needs. Meanwhile, the absence of parental support will make some left-behind children lack self-confidence. They may be slower in physical and emotional growth than their peers. Others may even become "problem youths".
To solve this problem, the government is taking action. For instance, 30 provinces and cities have allowed certain children to attend school and take the college entrance exam in the city where their parents are. However, Wang suggested that the country do more, such as making policies encouraging migrant workers to work in their hometowns. He also said that a well-balanced child welfare system is needed. "These children are the future of the nation, so they deserve our loving care and protection," Wang said. | high5548.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "takes delight in doing his job"
},
"options": [
"seldom treats his work seriously",
"takes delight in doing his job",
"compares his work to dancing lesson",
"regards work as a great challenge"
],
"question": "Wh... | Like my friend Warren Buffett, I feel particularly lucky to do something every day that I love to do. He calls it "tap-dancing to work". My job at Microsoft is as challenging as ever, but what makes me "tap-dance to work" is when we show people something new, like a computer that can recognize your handwriting or your speech, or one that can store a lifetime's worth of photos, and they say, "I didn't know you could do that with a PC!"
But for all the cool things that a person can do with a PC, there are lots of other ways we can put our creativity and intelligence to work to improve our world. There are still far too many people in the world whose most basic needs go unmet. I believe that my own good fortune brings with it a responsibility to give back to the world. My wife, Melinda, and I have committed to improving health and education in a way that can help as many people as possible. As a father, I believe that the death of a child in Africa is no less poignant or tragic than the death of a child anywhere else. And that it doesn't take much to make an immense difference in these children's lives.
I'm still very much an optimist, and I believe that progress on even the world's toughest problems is possible -- and it's happening every day. We're seeing new drugs for deadly diseases, new diagnostic tools, and new attention paid to the health problems in the developing world. I'm excited by the possibilities I see for medicine, for education and, of course, for technology. And I believe that through our natural inventiveness, creativity and willingness to solve tough problems, we're going to make some amazing achievements in all these areas in my lifetime. | high19022.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "air"
},
"options": [
"food",
"air",
"clothes",
"touching"
],
"question": "The spread of the TB is through _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
... | People who breathe infected air from a TB patient can become infected with the tuberculosis bacteria . However, most people with active tuberculosis do not expel (,)very many TB bacteria. So, the spread of the disease usually does not happen unless a person spends a large amount of time with a TB patient. Those most at risk are family members, friends and people who live or work closely with a patient.
Tuberculosis can attack any part of the body. However, the lungs are the most common targets of the bacteria. People with the disease show several signs. They may expel air from the lungs suddenly with an explosive noise. This kind of cough continues for a long period of time. People with a more severe case of tuberculosis also may cough up blood.
People with the disease often have high body temperatures. They suffer what are called night sweats, during which their bodies release large amounts of water through the skin. TB victims also are tired all the time. They are not interested in eating. So their bodies lose weight.
One thing that is especially dangerous about TB is that people with moderate signs of the disease may not know they have had it. They may spread the disease to others without even knowing it. So, it is very important for people to get tested for tuberculosis. | high16311.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "To have a free mind, we need to throw away unneeded items at times."
},
"options": [
"Changing the position of staff frequently will help to build up a clear mind.",
"A tidy office will lead to a success in your business affairs in... | Forget hard work and perseverance. Getting ahead is as simple as tidying your desk.
According to a leading expert, having a cluttered environment reflects a cluttered mind, but the act of tidying up can help you be more successful. The advice comes from Jayne Morris, the resident"life coach" for NHS Online, who said it is no good just moving the mess around. In order to clear the mind, unwanted items must be thrown away to free your "inner world", she said.
Ms Morris, who claims to have coached celebrities to major business figures, said:"Clearing clutter from your desk has the power to transform your business. " How? Because clutter in your outer environment is the physical sign of all the clutter going on inside of you. " Clearing clutter has a chain effect across your entire life, including your work. Having an untidy desk covered in clutter could be stopping you achieving the business success you want. " She is sure cleaning up will be helpful even though some of history's biggest achievers lived and worked in messy conditions.
Churchill was considered untidy from a boy throughout his life, from his office to his artist's studio,and the lab where Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin was famously untidy.
Among the recommendations is that simply tidying a desk at work and an overflowing filing cabinet will instantly have a positive impact on "your inner world. " Anything that is no longer used should not be put into storage but thrown away completely.
Keeping something in the loft, garage or other part of the house, does not help because it is still connected to the person "by tiny energetic li.nes", Ms Morris. claims.
She said, "The things in your life that are useful to you, that add value to your life, that serve a current purpose are charged with positive energy that refreshes you and enriches your life. But the things that you don't ever use and don't need anymore have the opposite effect on your energy.
Things that no longer fit or serve you, use up your energy. " | high3139.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The blocking of solar radiation"
},
"options": [
"The lack of trees",
"The demand for refrigeration",
"The blocking of solar radiation",
"The construction of infrastructure."
],
"question": "Which of the followi... | On warm summer days with little or no wind, the air temperature in cities can be up to ten degrees higher than that of the surrounding countryside. This is a phenomenon commonly referred to as the "urban heat island" effect.
This phenomenon happens when pavement, buildings, and other infrastructure replace natural land cover. _ Unlike soil, paved areas contribute to runoff, which means that as paved areas increase, the amount of water available for evaporation decreases. Moreover, urban areas have fewer trees and less natural vegetation which help to control the heat by providing shade and blocking solar radiation. The surfaces of leaves also provide water for evaporation which cools the air, further worsening the heat island effect.
In particular, during summer, more energy is required to cool the insides of building and for refrigeration, thereby creating additional heat output. This in turn leads to higher ambient air temperatures, which can also significantly increase the formation of urban smog in an area, _ local air quality. Such a situation may directly affect public health with individuals more likely to suffer from heat exhaustion and the effects of asthma . | high8044.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "VolP,voice over internet protocol"
},
"options": [
"VolP,voice over internet protocol",
"Switching telephone",
"New technology",
"letters"
],
"question": "Which one of the following if you call others?",
"qu... | Switching telephone providers used to be the only way homeowners could save money on telephone bills. Now thanks to new technology, comsumers have another choice-making phone calls over the internet. And this can be completely free if you call another person with an internet phone set-up.
The technology is called voice over internet protocol , or VoIP. In 2005, consumer demand for VoIP dramatically grew. In the US, where popularity has grown faster than here in the UK, 8.4 million are predicted to subscribe this year. For the past couple years, VoIP pioneers such as Skype have accounted for the majority of internet phone subscribers.
VoIP is attractive to consumers because it's cheaper than traditional phone services. With the basic equipment of PC, microphone and headset, and VoIP software and broadband internet for optimum voice quality, consumers can save a fortune chatting for free to other internet phone owners and save money calling regular landlines . But, as the saying goes,
. Many of these services suffer from uncontinuous lapses in quality. While some users may tolerate echoes or a dropped call, improved quality is needed to attract more customers.
Computing has examined the benefits of using a PC as a telephone with VoIP in how easy they were to set up, how effective they were and the range of their features.
Skype(www. skype.com) came top for its bother-free approach, easy set-up and exceptional voice clarity. Sipgate (www. sipgate. co. uk), MSN(www. messenger. msn. co. uk) and Yahoo! Messenger (uk. messenger. yahoo. com) provide an audio "wizard" that improves sound levels. Google Talk (www. google. com/ talk) was less helpful and Babble. net (www. babble. net) was let down by its poor help files. Yahoo! Messenger provides some of the best features, including the option of landline calls, webcam chats, instant messaging, voice-mail and conference calls. | high15630.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Africa."
},
"options": [
"the American South.",
"Africa.",
"Chicago.",
"Asia."
],
"question": "The \"field holler\" is a kind of music that came from _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
... | During the 1800s, African Americans worked long days in the fields of the American South.To ease their labor, they sang "field hollers" that they had brought from Africa.One person sang a line.Then a group of workers repeated it.The songs' words told of the hardships that people suffered.African Americans sang "shout spirituals", or joyous religious songs.They clapped their hands and stomped their feet to the music.
After the Civil War, the music changed dramatically.African American music, from ballads to church music, took new forms.It also adapted dance music, called "jump-ups".which had great rhythm. Banjos became popular.A blues singer usually played a call and response with the banjo.By the early 1900s, the guitar had replaced the banjo as the main blues instrument.
Northern Mississippi - called the Delta - was the center of the blues tradition.By the 1920s, the Delta had many clubs, so-called juke joints.African Americans listened and danced to music in these clubs.Some of the greatest blues men and women performed there.
Blues have a soulful sound that is easy to recognize.The musical notes are often "bent".That is, they are changed slightly to give a song more strength.Whatever their origin, these bent notes most often define the blues.
Lyrics are the words of a song.Blues lyrics describe everyday life.The lyrics, often about relationships between men and women, are often very intense and personal.They tell about sorrow and overwork.They tell about finding or losing love, having money or being broke, being happy or sad and lonely.The lyrics may use humor to describe life's trials and joys.They almost always use the rhythms of everyday speech.A typical blues stanza, or group of lyrics, has three lines.The second line repeats the first line.The third line has different words.
By the 1940s, large numbers of African Americans had left the Delta and moved north to work. Many settled in Chicago.There, a new kind of "electric", or "Chicago" blues began.Many of its themes were the same, but these blues had "wailing" electric guitars and harmonicas.The music had a steady, strong drumbeat.The loud, driving Chicago blues was excellent dance music.Chicago blues led to the birth of a new music style-rock and roll. | high6069.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Compared to the female's, the male jobless rate becomes higher."
},
"options": [
"Compared to the female's, the male jobless rate becomes higher.",
"The US recession has brought heavy burden on many households.",
"The female ... | The US recession has opened up the biggest gap between male and female unemployment rates since records began in 1948, as men bear the blow of the economy's decline.
Men have lost almost 80% of the 5.1 million jobs since the recession started, pushing the male unemployment rate to 8.8%. The female jobless rate has hit 7%.
This is a dramatic change of the trend over the past few years, where the rates of male and female unemployment barely differed, at about 5%. It also means that women could soon overtake men as the majority of the prefix = st1 /USlabour force.
Men have been badly hurt because they dominate those industries that have been affected: 9 in every 10 construction workers are male, as are 7 in every 10 manufacturing workers. These two sectors alone have lost almost 2.5 million jobs. Women, in contrast, tend to hold more stable jobs and make up 75% of the most unaffected sectors of all: education and healthcare.
"It protects them a little bit and softens the blow," said Francine Blau, a labour market economist at CornellUniversity. "I think we are going to see this pattern until the recovery."
The widening gap between male and female joblessness means many US families are totally reliant on the income the woman brings in. Since women earn on average 20% less than men, that is putting extra stress on many households. | high23382.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "people can become more and mature and wiser."
},
"options": [
"people can celebrate their birthdays.",
"people can become more and mature and wiser.",
"people can receive many presents.",
"people will feel younger at he... | Happy birthday! Do birthday really make people happy? Of course they do. _ Birthdays celebrate the day when we were born. Besides, that extra candle on the cake suggests another year of growth and maturity --or so we hope.We all like to imagine that we are getting wiser and not just older.Most of us enjoy seeing the wonder of growth in others, as well.For instance, seeing our children develop and learn new things makes us feel proud.For Americans, like people in most cultures, growing up is a wonderful process.But growing old? _ That is a different story.
Growing old is not exactly for people in youth-oriented American culture.Most Americans like to look young, act young and feel young. As the old saying goes, "You're young as you feel." Older people joke about how many years young they are, rather than how many years old.People in some countries value the aged as a source of experience and wisdom.But Americans seem to favor those who are young, or at least "young at heart".
_ Economically, "senior citizens" often try just to get by.Retirement at the age of 65 brings a sharp decrease in personal income.Social security benefits usually cannot make up the difference.Older people may suffer from poor nutrition , medical care, and housing. Some even have the experience of age discrimination . American sociologist Pat Moore once dressed up like an older person and wandered city streets.She was often treated rudely--even cheated and robbed.However, dressed as a young person, she received much more respect.
Unfortunately, the elderly population in America is increasing fast.Why? People are living longer.Fewer babies are being born.And middle-aged "baby boomers" are rapidly entering the group of the elderly.America may soon be a place where wrinkles are "in".Marketing experts are already noticing this growing group of consumers. | high13241.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Her record-setting string of seven Number One singles."
},
"options": [
"Selling more than 170 million albums worldwide.",
"Her 400 career awards.",
"Her vocal talent.",
"Her record-setting string of seven Number One si... | Whitney Houston, who died on February 11, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California, is being remembered across the globe as a trailblazer . Among all of Houston's outstanding achievements, including a total of more than 400 career a wards , her most significant achievement was her record-setting string of seven Number One singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart . It broke the previous record of six set by The Bee Gees and The Beatles. The string began on October 26 , 1985 with her Grammy-winning hit "Saving All My Love For You," and ended on April 23, 1988 with her R&B ballad "Where Do Broken Hearts Go." It was the fourth single from her album"Whitney"to go to Number One, also a record for a female artist. She sold more than 170 million albums worldwide and co-produced and recorded songs for one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time,The Bodyguard.
Whitney Houston was born the daughter of famed gospel singer Cissy Houston in Newak , New Jersey. Dionne Warwick was her cousin and Aretha Franklin her godmother. She began as a gospel singer and pianist in her mother's church and sometimes performed alongside her in nightclubs. At age 15 , Whitney sang backup on Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman," a tune she later performed on The Bodyguard soundtrack.
Whitney signed with Arista in 1983 and released her self-titied debut album two years later. The New York Times called her first effort, "an impressive, musically conservative showcase for an exceptional vocal talent ." She continued to achieve similar praise for subsequent albums, while her fast-growing fan base put her into the world-class entertainer. In 1998, she released her most musically-diverse album to date, "My Love Is Your Love." The title track became her third best-selling single ever.
The past 10 years were filled with highs and lows. While Whitney's contract at Arista Records was renewed for $100 million, album sales began to slide. Her 14-year marriage to singer Bobby Brown ended in 2007 , she canceled concerts and interviews , and accusation arose of drug abuse. Her final album "I Look To you," sold more than two million copies and reached the Number One spot in 2009. | high292.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Foreign countries."
},
"options": [
"The northwestern Chinese regions.",
"The northern Chinese regions.",
"The western part of China.",
"Foreign countries."
],
"question": "Where do most of the sandstorms in Chi... | Most of the sandstorms that had swept China last year came from foreign land,a Chinese official in charge of desertification control said on Monday. And the invasions could partly explain the frequent sandstorms in the country in recent years despite its achievements in desertification control.
Since the start of last spring,the north and northwestern Chinese regions had been hit by 17 sandstorms,of which,a dozen came from foreign land.
Situated in the centralAsia sandstorm region,one of the world's four largest sandstorm sources,China also suffers from sandstorms from outside the country while being blamed as a sand source to northeast Asia. The other three major sources are in Africa,North America and Australia.
The land suffering from desertification has been _ by 7,585 square kilometres annually in China,and the area of sandy land has also been falling by 1,284 square kilometres a year.
The shrinkage forms a clear contrast to the fact that the land suffering from desertification and sandy feature was added by 10,400 square kilometres and 3,436 square kilometres late last century,respectively.
Currently,the desertification land in China makes up 2.64 million square kilometres,accounting for 27.46 percent of the nation's land,and its sandy land totals 1.74 million square kilometres,accounting for 18.1 percent of the country's total. | high10748.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "he led the people to end slavery and united the nation"
},
"options": [
"he led the people to end slavery and united the nation",
"he caused the Civil War and fought against slavery",
"he was the only president to join in a c... | Recently, another study has been carried out about who is the greatest American president. Sixty-five presidential historians took part in it and they judged the past forty-two American leaders based on ten qualities of leadership, which include public persuasion, crisis leadership, the management of economy, moral leadership and international relations. The historians also looked at administrative ability, relations with Congress, goal setting and pursuit of equal justice for all. Finally, the experts considered performance based on the historical period in which the president lived.
The historians chose Abraham Lincoln as America's greatest president. He had also been named best president in a similar study in 2000. Abraham Lincoln was the only president in American history to lead the nation during the Civil War in the 1860s. He united the nation at last. And he took the first steps that destroyed the institution of slavery in America.
Edna Medford is a professor of history at Howard University in Washington, D.C. She was an adviser on this study and the earlier one. She says Abraham Lincoln is seen to represent the values that the nation most honors like truthfulness, moderation and respect for human rights.
The historians named America's first president, George Washington, as second on the list of greatest presidents. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt and Harry Truman are next in that order. John F. Kennedy, the country's first Roman Catholic president, is sixth on the list. Like Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy was murdered while in office.
Among recent presidents, Ronald Reagan was named the tenth best president. Bill Clinton was rated fifteenth. And the historians rated former president George W. Bush as number thirty-six. His father, George H.W. Bush, did much better. He was rated as number eighteen. | high17027.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "what they can get for their holidays"
},
"options": [
"where to spend their holidays",
"how to spend their holidays",
"what they can get for their holidays",
"who they should go to visit"
],
"question": "64. Acc... | Think back to this time last year. What was on your mind?
Most likely, you were thinking about finals or the holidays, although in this city I've noticed that thinking about the holiday is a fancy way of saying how much stuff will I get.
Now reflect on your thoughts for this holiday season. Most people are still thinking about the holidays, but I say that with a grain of salt. Everybody with a functioning brain and the ability to communicate knows that this holioday season comes with a pretty large price tag: the debt of all the hardships, both domestic and foreign, that we've faced over the past 12months.
Let's face it: some of us will get everything we want over the holidays. But there are others whose parents have lost their jobs or who have lost jobs themselves because of the current economic situation. As much as we try to ignore it, there is still economic unrest in the blue and gold suburb.
In this situation, we have three options. One: We ignore the situation, like we seem to do for every bad thing that happens around us, because by God, it's the American Way! Two: We recognize that our economy is shot, feel bad about it and spend our time wishing for the good old days. Three: We recognize that our economy is shot, but instead of moping, reflect on every good thing that we have going for us. Now, which option sounds best to you?
I spent a week this summer working in and around New York City with the city's homeless population. Or so I thought. Although a lot of the people I served were in fact homeless, a significant number of them had a job or a home or both. The truth of the importance of this situation is that they and thousands of others across the country can't afford even the most basic things of life, even while working two jobs. Yet no one that I met complained about their hardships. Instead, they took whatever I happened to give them(which was, more often than enough, not enough) and were genuinely grateful for what they had.
Wrap your heads around that statement for a second. These people worked their butts off to stay alive with minimal results, yet were overjoyed by a flimsy paper plate with donated green beans on it. Although I am ashamed to admit it( both as a girthy figure and an affluent citizen), I have taken for granted most of my meals, let alone green beans, and I know for a fact that I am not alone. | high16339.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "how dissimilar the twins were in appearanee"
},
"options": [
"how dissimilar the twins were in appearanee",
"why Christine could win the art competition",
"who was the most popular girl at school",
"what the twins chara... | I was hurrying to our basketball game one morning when Hillary Barnes,the most popular girl,in school,stopped me."Are you the twin who won the art competition?"she asked.
"No,that's Christine.I'm Katie."I said.
We were not identical twins;we looked quite different.She could defeat Snow White in a beauty contest!Compared to Christine,I felt like one of Cinderella's stepsisters.
One Saturday Christine gave me a painting lesson because I was always attempting to be artistic too.But I knocked over the vase of flowers,spilling water onto Christine's painting.Instead of becoming angry,though,she turned the whole mess into a dreamy masterpiece .You could look at it five different ways and see five different things.With this brilliant creation,she won First Prize in the art competition.I really envied her,but I knew it wasn't her fault and I was the one with wild,unmanageable hair and no talent.
Joining Christine's basketball team was my latest effort to be like her.
On the way to the gym,I'd made up my mind to give my best performance in that day's game.I made preparations with great enthusiasm."Christine,here!"I tossed her a ball.But it was too high,she leapt for it,it slipped through her fingers and crashed into the tape recorder that was used to play the national anthem before each game.
I muttered apologies as I picked up the broken pieces of the recorder.Coach looked at the mess and asked,"How are we going to play the song now?"
Christine suggested,"Let Katie sing it!She's always singing at home."
Coach asked."Would you?"I found myself nodding.
Coach announced the national anthem and everyone stood.Standing before a microphone,I looked up to the flag.The notes seemed to flow from deep inside me,and my voice was steady and clear.When I finished,the gym was silent Then it was filled with applause.As the game started.teammates patted my back and gave me the"thumbs up"sign.Laura Jamison said."You should try out for the school musical!"I Nodded and said that I might.
The next morning Hillary Barnes stopped me in the hallway and asked,"Are you the twin who sings?"
"Yes,that's me,"I answered,grining as I walked to class. | high21595.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the life and cause of John Denver"
},
"options": [
"a book written by John Denver",
"the life and cause of John Denver",
"how to write pop songs",
"what Los Angeles was like"
],
"question": "This passage is prob... | John Denver has got international fame as a pop star, songwriter, actor and environmental activist ( ). Songs like Take Me Home, Country Road, Rocky
Mountain High and Annie's Song have become very popular. But less than thirty years ago, John Denver was a young man with little more than a fine voice, a guitar, and a dream. Growing up in conservative family, he was not believed to drop out of college and head to Los Angeles, where the music scene was flowering. Nor was he believed to succeed.
In Take Me Home, John Denver talked about the story that shaped his life, with the story of the rich inner journey of a shy Midwestern boy. With honesty and cleverness, he wrote about his childhood, the feeling of moving to Los Angeles as the 60s came, his first lucky breaks, his first songwriting success with leaving on a Jet Plane and finally got a world fame.
He also wrote about his relationship with his first and second wife, as well as his parents, his children, his partners through his life and his friends.
Honest and rich in the book that only a natural-born storyteller could write so well, Take Me Home is very good from the beginning to the end. It's like spending a few days with a good friend. | high10990.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Sixteen"
},
"options": [
"Four",
"Sixteen",
"Eight",
"Six"
],
"question": "How many students get their scholarships each year according to the Straightforward Teacher Program ?",
"question_type": "factiod_qu... | Becoming a teacher is one of the best ways to make a difference in the life of a child and even older students. Here are some great scholarships and grant opportunities to get the ball rolling on your dreams of becoming a teacher.
Straightforward Teacher Program
This is one of the most popular and unique scholarships available for students working towards becoming teachers. The foundation offers their scholarships every three months as opposed to each year. During each payment, four students receive a $500 scholarship.
Prezell Robinson Scholarship Program
While this scholarship is available only to students in the state of North Carolina, it is so incredibly helpful that many students choose to study in the state for the only purpose of receiving it. It is offered to college students who come from low-income high schools or families that are interested in pursuing a long term career in education at any level.
New York State Scholarship Program
Officials in the state of New York founded this program to award students who want to give back to their community through their ability to teach. The catch for this scholarship is that the students must be pursuing a teaching career in mathematics or science at the secondary level.
Also, because the program was designed to improve the education system in New York, the candidates must sign a service contract agreeing to work full time within the state for at least five years after graduation.
Coca-Cola Scholarships
You may have many opportunities for grants and scholarships through The Coca Cola Foundation. There is the Coca Cola Teaching Foundation that will provide free money for students pursuing an education in the teaching field. This is the most obvious for teachers, but do not be afraid to check out their other offers.
Funds For Teachers
Not all scholarships or grants are for students entering or already in college. The Funds for Teachers scholarships are for graduates who are already working in the field, but want to improve their possibilities, skills and education in an effort to increase their ability to teach the students that cross their path more effectively. Teachers in PreK through 12th grade are applicable no matter where they teach or what subject they specialize in. | high20853.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Part 4"
},
"options": [
"Part 1",
"Part 2",
"Part 3",
"Part 4"
],
"question": "We can find the introduction to a product in _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_i... | Reading is very important to help you learn English. To learn as much as you can from reading, you need to read different kinds of English. This book provides not only different kinds of English but also a good way to check your reading ability.
There are four parts in the book :
Part 1 is Messages : In this part somebody wants to send information in writing to somebody else. There is a test on timetables and a test on text messages .
Part 2 is People : In this part all the tests are about people . For example, there is an informal letter between friends . There is formal English in biography . There is a job application as a model to help with your writing, as well as testing your reading .
Part 3 is Places : In this part , too many different kinds of English are shown , some informal and some formal . There is the informal English of a holiday postcard . There is also the formal English in a letter of complaint .
Part 4 is Things : You will find some descriptive writing in this part . There are descriptions of clothes and of a computer .
You can do these tests in any order you like , or you can do all the tests with a formal or informal text .
I enjoyed writing this book and I hope you enjoy using it . | high3111.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "It's no use dreaming."
},
"options": [
"You'll certainly get what you want.",
"It's no use dreaming.",
"You should be dissatisfied with what you have.",
"It's essential to set a goal for yourself."
],
"question"... | Tight-lipped elders used to say, "It's not what you want in this world, but what you get."
Psychology teaches that you do get what you want if you know what you want and want the right things.
You can make a mental blueprint of a desire as you would make a blueprint of a house, and each of us is continually making these blueprints in the general routine of everyday living.If we intend to have friends to dinner, we plan the menu, make a shopping list, decide which food to cook first, and such planning is an essential for any type of meal to be served.
Similarly, If you want to find a job, take a sheet of paper, and write a brief account of yourself.In making a blueprint for a job, begin with yourself, for when you know exactly what you have to offer, you can intelligently plan where to sell your services.
This account of yourself is actually a general description of your working life and should include education, experience and references.Such an account is valuable.It can be referred to in filling out standard application blanks and is extremely helpful in personal interviews.While talking to you, your could-be employer is deciding whether your education, your experience, and other qualifications will pay him to employ you and your abilities must be displayed in an orderly and reasonably connected manner.
When you have carefully prepared a blueprint of your abilities and desires, you have something _ to sell.Then you are ready to look for a job.Get all the possible information about your could-be job.Make inquiries about the details concerning the job and the firm.Keep your eyes and ears open, and use your own judgment.Spend a certain amount of time each day seeking the position you wish for, and keep in mind: Obtaining a job is your job now. | high11456.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "seek safety from any hurt"
},
"options": [
"keep herself from the cold",
"wait for the boy to come",
"want to be left alone",
"seek safety from any hurt"
],
"question": "The girl was hiding in the tree at deep n... | Her frozen fingers touched the flame trying to feel alive. She could feel the warmth but it was a cold heat, as if the candle was rejecting her.
Her arms turned red because of the cold, her short sleeved shirt not giving her enough warmth. The winter air grabbed at her arms, causing her pain, but she didn't mind. She knew she should put her jacket on, it was winter in Connecticut, but that would be giving up. Up here, in this tree she felt safe.
She looked at the candle, surrounded by hardening wax . She placed her fingers gently on the warm green wax. This candle was a reminder of her life inside that house, a life she would have to return to eventually.
As a child, she had gotten this candle. She spent all she had on it. The beautiful crystal box had caught her eye. Five whole nickels had brought her that candle.
She gave it to her mother for Mother's Day. Her mother had managed a smile and put it on a shelf. "It's very pretty, honey! I will put it right here." Since then that candle had never been moved, never been lighted, sitting dusty on a cluttered shelf that no one could see. Later on, her parents got divorced.
By now the candle was colder than the air and the darkness was complete. The snow on the ground made the night lighter and less satisfying than it had been before the first snowfall. She liked the darkness because she felt safe in it. From the glances of her friends who liked the girl she used to be. From the boys who could never figure out who she was. From her guidance counselor whose endless worried looks never made her feel any better.
No one was outside at this time of night. She was alone in the world, just how she liked _ Just as she was about to lean back against the branch, she heard a sound.
She heard footsteps breaking the ice in the snow, heading toward her. He was making his way toward the white fence at the edge of the building, right against the road. Normally she would have ignored this person and stayed on her branch faraway from human contact, but this figure had something with him. He trudged toward the white fence carrying a case. The figure reached the fence, opened the case and took out a shiny object.
She took her eyes off this figure only long enough to climb down the tree to get a better view of him. She reached the bottom and saw that the person had turned to face the street, sitting on the white fence that she and her friends once sat on. She stepped carefully on the ice, making her way toward him.
And then a beautiful sound of music came from the shiny object. She stopped and listened to it. She started walking towards the guy again. Just as she was about to step onto the snow banks, she slipped on the ice crashing to the ground. The figure turned around in surprise and a sudden recognition fell upon them both. | high3677.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "in case of an orange alert, we had better not go outside"
},
"options": [
"in case of an orange alert, we had better not go outside",
"the case of the girl with lung cancer was little' linked to air pollution",
"cancer levels... | Leaders of the World Health Organization say they are concerned about the air quality and
health efiects on citizens during a recent outbreak of heavy pollution in Beijing.Still,they said they
were unsure of the exact amount the air pollution takes on any person's body,casting doubts on
local reports tying the area's dirty air to particular cases of illness.
Speaking at a briefing on Tuesday,the WHO's Western Pacific regional director,
Shin Young--Soo,cited reports about poor air quality causing lung cancer in recent weeks.
"The WHO is skeptical of the information,"she said."We're cautious of whether the illness is related
to air po11ution. We know it has an impact on health,but we don't know how much."
The officials didn't cite particular reports.The comments follow a number of articles since late
last year connecting some cases of diseases like lung cancer with pollution,.including one in
November regarding an 8-year-old girl.
The health impact of Beijing's gray skies has been on the minds of many over the past week. Local
authorities on Tuesday preserved an orange alert the city's second highest pollution-warning
level--and again warned people to stay indoors.Experts widely agree that small particulates
known as PM2.5 carry significant short-and long-term health risks,particularly with children.Other
studies find a certain link between pollution and shorter life spans.
Chinese state media have noted a rise in cancer levels in Beijing,without specifying
whether the new cases are the main result of pollution,smoking,other sources or some combination.
Bernhard Schwartlander,the organization's China chief,said he is concerned and has been in
contact with national authorities."There is no easy solution,"Dr. Schwartlainder said,adding that
solving the problem requires managing industry and the economy.WHO leaders advised citizens.to
stay indoors and limit exposure to the harmful particulates.When asked if wearing a face mask has
any proven efficacy in preventing health effects of air pollution,Dr. Schwartlainder said,"Whatever
you do,it's better than nothing." | high17999.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "important novels"
},
"options": [
"thrillers",
"boys' books",
"romances",
"important novels"
],
"question": "According to the passage, the railroad played a significant role in literature in all of the following... | Nineteenth-century writers in the United States, whether they wrote novels, short stories, poems or plays, were powerfully drawn to the railroad in its golden years. In fact, writers responded to the railroads as soon as the first were built in the 1830's. By the 1850's, the railroad was a major presence in the life of the nation. Writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David saw the railroad both as a boon to democracy and as an object of suspicion. The railroad could be and was a despoiler of nature, furthermore, in its manifestation of speed and noise. _ might be a despoiler of human nature as well. By the 1850's and 1860's, there was a great distrust among writer and intellectuals of the rapid industrialization of which the railroad was a leading force. Deeply philosophical historians such as Henry Adams lamented the role that the new frenzy for business was playing in eroding traditional values. A distrust of industry and business continued among writers throughout the rest of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth.
For the most part, the literature in which the railroad plays and important role belong to popular culture rather than to the realm of serious art. One thinks of melodramas, boys' books, thrillers, romances, and the like rather than novels of the _ . In the railroads' prime years, between 1890 and 1920, there were a few individuals in the United States, most of them with solid railroading experience behind them, who made a profession of writing about railroading--works offering the ambience of stations, yards, and locomotive cabs. These writers, who can genuinely be said to have created a genre, the "railroad novel", are now mostly forgotten, their names having faded from memory. But anyone who takes the time to consult their fertile writings will still find a treasure trove of information about the place of the railroad in the life of the United States. | high11330.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "prove the limitations of visualization"
},
"options": [
"tell the results of setting goals",
"prove the limitations of visualization",
"draw the readers' attention to the topic",
"stress the importance of visualization"... | It's almost impossible to go through life without experiencing some kind of failure. If you have a fear of failure, you might be uncomfortable setting goals. But goals help us decide where we want to go in life. Without goals, we have no sure destination.
Many experts recommend visualization as a powerful tool for goal setting. Imagining how life will be after you've reached your goal is a great motivator to keep you moving forward. However, visualization might produce the opposite results in people who have a fear of failure. In his article, researcher Thomas Langens showed that people who have a fear of failure were often left in a strong negative mood after being asked to visualize goals and goal attainment.
So, what can you do instead?
Start by setting a few small goals. These should be goals that are slightly, but not overwhelmingly, challenging. Think of these goals as "early wins" that are designed to help improve your confidence. For example, if you've been too afraid to talk to the new department head (who has the power to give you the promotion you want), then make this your first goal: Plan to stop by her office during the next week to introduce yourself. Or, imagine that you've dreamed of returning to school to get your MBA , but you're convinced that you're not smart enough to be accepted into business school. Set a goal to talk with a school counselor or admissions officer to see what's required for admission.
Try to make your goals tiny steps on the route to much bigger goals. Don't focus on the end picture: getting the promotion, or graduating with an MBA. Just focus on the next step: introducing yourself to the department head, and talking to an admissions officer. That's it.
Taking one small step at a time will help build your confidence, keep you moving forward, and prevent you from getting overwhelmed with visions of your final goal. | high17741.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "a young writer--Gao Can"
},
"options": [
"some popular young writers",
"how to write poems well",
"a young writer--Gao Can",
"the reason why teenagers rarely write poems"
],
"question": "The passage is mainly ab... | Writing has become a fashion among today's teenagers. Look at how popular young writers like Han Han and Guo Jingming are.
Gao Can is a writer. Actually, the 18-year-old is the youngest member of the Association of Writers of Shanxi.
So far, the second grader in the Senior High School Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University has published several books. She writes fairy tales, short essays, and most of all, poems.
Gao said she began poem writing when she was in primary school. Once her teacher asked the class to write composition called "If I were". Gao had an idea--"Why not make it a poem?" Since then, she has written hundreds of poems and published three books of them.
"I don't have too much life experience," said Gao. "I write about nature, about things I feel inside and my spiritual world."
However, teenagers these days rarely write poems, or read them. Exams want "any style but poetry".
But like Gao, there are those who still read and write poems. Hu Jingzhi is one of them. The 19-year-old boy said that poems inspire them.
"But it's annoying that I can't find many poem collections in nearby bookstores," he said.
Gao agreed with Hu. She said that today's bookstores were filled with books on "how to make money quickly" or "how to give a successful speech".
"Poems won't teach you how to make money," said Gao, " but the beautiful words clear your mind and stimulate your imagination."
"Writing poems is not at all difficult. Just express yourself. And read poems-for their beautiful style....and for the pure things in life." | high18472.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "being addicted to computer games"
},
"options": [
"using the web at midnight",
"keeping up with friends online",
"spending too much time online",
"being addicted to computer games"
],
"question": "The author use... | I was appreciating my family photos on my computer, admiring my two beautiful babies, when I found a disturbing trend: my laptop was in almost all the pictures. There was my daughter, 8 months old, playing at my feet while I was typing away on the couch. There was me and my son, with the laptop at my side as I held him in my arms.
I'd heard about the Internet addiction before, but always assumed I was something limited to socially challenged guys who played too much World of Warcraft (a computer game). Now it seemed my Internet "habit" is slowly but surely crossing the line. Sometimes I find myself up at midnight, surfing the Web while my family are sleeping. I read news, keep up with friends and write my blog ... just for something to do.
It turns out that I'm not the only mama who is addicted to the computer. These moms are contributing to a growing global addiction. There's a movement among psychiatrists (doctors who specialize in mental diseases) to recognize the Internet addiction as an official mental disorder. And a recent Stanford University national survey found that 14 percent of Internet users find it hard to stay away from it for several days at a time; 9 percent try to hide their "unnecessary Internet use" from their loved ones; 8 percent admit they use the Web as a way to escape problems.
You're likely not the kind of addict who doesn't bathe and abuses drugs to help her stay "up" for more online time. You may have noticed, though, that going online has become a necessary part of your life, which, at least, means a load of clothes go unwashed.
It may also mean you're missing much time with you baby - something you probably do care about. | high5206.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "always made troubles with his schoolmates"
},
"options": [
"never did his lessons",
"dropped out",
"always made troubles with his schoolmates",
"he was full of new ideas"
],
"question": "Steven Jobs was not a go... | Steven Jobs, the designer of Apple Computer, was not clever when he was in school. At that time, he was not a good student and he always made troubles with his schoolmates. When he went into college, he didn't change a lot. Then he dropped out . But he was full of new ideas.
After he left college, Steven Jobs worked as a video game designer. He worked there for only several months and then he went to India. He hoped that the trip would give him some new ideas and give him a change in his life.
Steven Jobs lived on a farm in California for a year after he returned from India.
In 1975, he began to make a new type of computer. He designed the Apple Computer with his friend in his garage. He chose the name "Apple" just because it could help him to remember a happy summer he once spent in an apple tree garden.
His Apple Computer was so successful that Steven Jobs soon became famous all over the world.
He often said, "I live in order to change the world, there aren't any other reasons. The only way to have a great achievement is to love your own career. If you can't find your favorite career, go on looking for it and never give up."
This is Steven Jobs, though he is dead, his spirit and achievements still influence our lives. | high2569.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "No boring CDs."
},
"options": [
"No boring CDs.",
"No meaningless rules.",
"25-hours of teaching.",
"Free lessons for 30 days."
],
"question": "What does the ad promise?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions... | _ Pass for a native.
Pimsleur courses help people who need to speak another language quickly. Our courses took 40 years to develop and are now used by the FBI, CIA, and business professionals everywhere. They are so effective that you have nothing to lose!
You will get everything in 10 days:
* Language instruction that is proven effective
* No boring charts or meaningless rules
*8 fluency-oriented lessons on 4 audio CDs (or cassettes)
* Audio teaching with a 25-year history of success.
*Full 30-day money-back guarantee
*Special offers on our more advanced courses
There are so many reasons to learn a new language with the Pimsleur approach :
* Speak without an accent so you sound like a native.
*Form new sentences that sound right and make sense. Practice what is natural to you in English.
*Feel safe and confident. You will know how to deal with any situation.
*Protect your busy life. 30-minute lessons are perfect for your lunch break or workout.
*Remember without trying. Material is scientifically arranged so you remember without pain.
*Join 25 million people who have graduated with success since 1980.
The purpose of the course ;
The entire Pimsleur approach is what language learning should be : quick, fun and easy J Many foreign language students have difficulty in learning. Their textbooks teach boring drills, grammar rules and lists of words. But textbooks alone can never bring it all together.
Your only real goal in taking any language course is to speak naturally with others.
You will keep building on what you have learned. Best of all,Pimsleur courses do not waste your time by cramming grammar down your throat. You learn to recognize what sounds right through practice. | high13527.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "seek certain materials to make electricity"
},
"options": [
"help farmers make full use of waste",
"seek certain materials to make electricity",
"persuade farmers to grow more coconuts",
"find a suitable place to carry ... | Seth DeBolt is a plant scientist at the University of Kentucky US. He and other scientists wanted to find a source of fuel that poor people in rural areas of developing countries could use to make electricity.
The United Nations Development Program says a billion and a half people have no electricity. A billion others have an undependable supply.
Professor DeBolt went on a study trip to rural Indonesia. He saw that there was very little waste in the use of agricultural products. Everything that farmers grew was used for something. Even the remains of fruit that people did not eat were fed to chickens.
Little waste meant there was little that could be used for fuel. Growing a separate fuel crop would take land away from food crops. That was something Professor DeBolt did not want to do.
DeBOLT said, "The people at most risk with respect to energy poverty, typically they're the same people who have food insecurity issues as it is. And then any change in availability would be most damaging to that group of people."
But he found one item that was in plentiful supply and would not create competition between food and fuel. Coconut shells are generally thrown out. Yet Professor DeBolt says it has an "excellent" heating value. All someone needs is a way to release that energy.
DeBolt says he and his team see possibilities for coconut power. "Coconuts are growing here and these are the areas where there is possibility for energy poverty to be eased at least in part by these small-scale production systems."
The researchers say these systems could provide as much as thirteen percent of the energy needs of a country like Indonesia. Other tropical countries with large crops of coconuts and similar fruit could benefit, as well.
But DeBolt says this is not a perfect solution. There are technical questions, like how to safely deal with the dangerous waste produced in the process. And there needs to be money to get these projects started. | high1060.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "To collect money for Central Africa"
},
"options": [
"To film a new Planet of the Apes",
"To collect money for Central Africa",
"To make a study of the origin of man",
"To enjoy famous senic spots in London"
],
... | On Saturday 17 September 2016, you may catch sight of hundreds of apes running around the streets of London. They'll have been filming a new Planet of the Apes movie, you'll probably think. But in fact, when the starter's pistol sounds for the Great Gorilla Run next year, this highly popular event will have been raising money for thirteen years. People from all over the world will run, jog or walk 8km in gorilla costumes through the capital's streets, passing such iconic landmarks as The Tower of London and St Paul's Cathedral. By the time the last ape crosses the finishing line, the runners will have raised millions for endangered species and education projects in Central Africa.
Unusual charity events such as these are a huge trend for raising money for worthwhile causes. If, however, you're looking to really like the idea of running through mud and freezing cold ice, then The Tough Mudder is perhaps what you've been searching for. In this difficult and tiring team event, participants finish a 10 to 12-mile barrier course that tests physical strength and mental courage. It's more about friendship than winning. Over 150 such events worldwide have raised PS5 million.
But fundraising doesn't have to involve physical effort. Students at a school in Illinois played Justin Bieber's song 'Baby' over loudspeakers and urged fellow students to pay to stop the song. They needed to raise $1,000 in one week to achieve this. Beyond expectations, they exceeded the goal within three days. Even teachers _
If you want to join the ranks of gorillas next September, you only have to pay PS60 to register. This includes the gorilla suit, which you can keep. If you take part, not only will you have been helping the gorillas and people who depend on their habitat, you'll never have to buy another set of fancy clothes again! | high14248.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "nervous"
},
"options": [
"excited",
"nervous",
"lonely",
"disappointed"
],
"question": "According to the text, most students feel _ when entering the high school.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}... | In America, when the eighth graders leave the middle school, they are often worried about moving to the high school. It is a hard time for them, but it can be an exciting one as well. To make it easier, students need to get familiar with their school.
Even though they've done this already in the middle school, it's still important to find where their classrooms are. Most schools take students to the high school for a visit at the end of their eighth grade year. And, most schools also have a freshman speech for parents and students before the first year begins. Sometimes the main office will give away a map of the school. This can help students and parents to find different places in the school.
One way to know your high school more and make new friends is to join a club or play a sport. Schools often offer chances to join different clubs and sports. Fall activities begin in August before the first day of school. If you are not interested in sports, there are clubs for any interest, such as drama, dance, chess, photography, community service, etc. These clubs allow students from different grades. By joining an activity, students can find new friendships, not to mention improving their chances in future college applications . The school office will have a list of activities offered at the school and information on how to join them.
What's more, to have a great start to a high school year, students can write down some of their worries, and ask for help from teachers and school workers. | high8722.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "We should always be aware of our manners."
},
"options": [
"Parents should be responsible for their children's good habits.",
"The actress is well known for her beautiful posture.",
"We should always be aware of our manners."... | We would probably all be amazed if we watched a videotape of ourselves performing basically unconscious acts as we go about the business of the day. These unconscious acts consist of all the little personal habits that we don't even think about, but definitely should. These are some of the things that present an image of who we are to others, and if we are careless in performing them, this image may well be other than we would like it to be.
Parents who insist that their children practice good manners and habits at home are doing them a great service, for these habits then become lifelong and the natural way they do things. It proves true that their unconscious actions will reflect a well-mannered person.
People who, for example, eat with both arms on the table at home will likely do so when out. Those who are lazy and slow in private will certainly be so in public. Children who are permitted to be disrespectful to their parents will follow suit with other adults, and will, most likely, become adults who are disrespectful of others. This is an area where the saying "practice makes perfect" may be applied.
There is an article about the actress, Audrey Hepburn, known for her beautiful carriage and posture. According to her biographer, her grandmother tied her neck to the back of her chair, at table, so that she would not drop down suddenly over her food, but rather would learn to put only small amounts of food on her spoon or fork and bring them to her mouth. This is a rather extreme "at home" method for the development of erect posture, but it does illustrate the effectiveness of practicing good habits so that, when in public, they are instinctive. | high15156.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Negative"
},
"options": [
"Negative",
"grateful",
"Doubtful",
"Interested"
],
"question": "What attitude does the author have towards most quotes he has read?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {... | I am sure we've all come across inspiring quotes that made us nod in agreement or made us think, "Wow, that's good quote".But we end up going back to procrastinating on whatever it was we were procrastinating on.So are these inspirational quotes even worth reading? Well, that depends.
Quotes, books, articles, audio programs... all of these things are just tools and they're only effective when you use them.I don't know about you but most quotes I read don't do anything for me.However, every now and then, I will come across one that will positively affect me in some way such as reminding me to be grateful, getting me to work out extra hard at the gym without being pressed by my wife, or never give up when things get tough.
From my experience, reading quotes is more effective when you're actually trying to motivate yourself rather than just reading them for the sake of reading them.The second you feel the urge to take action, you'd better immediately get up off your chair and take action.
These quotes aren't for everyone.If you have read tons of them and have never been motivated or had a positive change in the way you look at life or how you treat others, or these quotes don't help you to insist on doing something when you feel like giving up on it, then it's probably not worth your time reading more of them.If you have done something a bunch of times and it's not giving you the results you want, don't keep doing it.Try something else.
Now if you've found some value in reading these quotes in the past, continue to make them more effective by letting them guide your life.
I'll end this text with one of my favorite quotes, which reminds me to constantly examine my habits."We are what we repeatedly do.Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."---- Aristotle | high12639.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "habitat protection"
},
"options": [
"federal laws",
"the dusky seaside sparrow",
"habitat protection",
"artificial reefs"
],
"question": "This passage is concerned with _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questi... | Worms,antis,and flowers live in soil.Fish,crabs,and seaweeds live in oceans.Birds,insects,and moss live in trees.soil,oceans,and trees are habitatsplaces where animals and plants live .Besides offering food and shelter, habitats allow for growth and reproduction.
Humans, however,have destroyed many habitats.We change forests into parking lots. We turn grasslands into neighborhoods.We turn beach land into resorts.We turn 0ceans into chemical dumps.Some plants and animals adapt and survive.Others,however die.The changes are too much,too fast.Sometimes the death rate becomes greater than the birth rate.then the extinction occurs.An example of this happened on Florida's east coast,the habitat of the dusky seaside sparrow.This habitat changed suddenly as land was developed. And the sparrows were not able to adapt. More sparrows died than were born. In 1987 the dusky seaside sparrow became extinct.None exist in the world today.
Fortunately,conservation efforts are underway.Many states have set aside land for nature preserves. Here,plants and animals live in their natural habitats.Some states have created man-made habitats .Artificial reefs,for example,have been put in ocean waters. The artificial reefs are habitats for hundreds of fish and other marine life.In 1970 the federal government passed a law to protect habitats.'Ibis~that the efforts of development must be studied.A highway,dam,or power plant may not be built if plants and animals,endangered.We were too late to save the dusky sparrow.Hopefully,however,these new efforts will save other plants and animals. | high22936.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the author's car broke down on the road"
},
"options": [
"the Mexican man couldn't speak English",
"the author's car broke down on the road",
"the Mexican family came to Oregon for a visit",
"$20 was a small amount for ... | I still clearly remember that day. I was on the side of the road for close to four hours with my big Jeep. I put signs in the windows that said, "NEED A JACK ".
Right as I was about to give up, a truck stopped and a man got off. He sized up the situation and went back to take a jack. After about two hours, we finished the job with sweats. We were both dirty. His wife produced a large water jug for us to wash our hands in.
I tried to put $20 in the man's hand, but he wouldn't take it, so instead I went up and gave it to his wife as quietly as I could. I thanked them up one side and down the other. I asked the little girl, their daughter, where they lived, thinking maybe I'd send them a gift. She said they lived in Mexico. They were in Oregon now so Mommy and Daddy could pick cherries for the next few weeks. After that, they were going to pick peaches, and then go back home.
After I said my goodbyes and started walking back to the Jeep, the girl called out and asked if I'd had lunch. When I told her no, she ran up and handed me a tamale . I thanked them again and walked back to my car. When I opened the tamale, what did I find inside? My $20 bill! I ran to the van and the guy rolled down his window. He saw the $20 in my hand, started shaking his head smiling, and with what looked like great concentration said in English: "Today you, tomorrow me." Then he rolled up his window and drove away, with his daughter waving to me from the back.
This family, working on a seasonal basis where time is money, took a couple of hours to help a stranger while others passed by quietly.
Since then I've helped many people like the Mexican family. I didn't accept money. But every time I was able to help, I felt as if I was putting something in the bank. | high1074.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "probably intended to make money"
},
"options": [
"are from the rival sides for sure",
"probably intended to make money",
"are involved in gambling",
"knew a winning mentality for a team is important"
],
"questio... | There are many sorts of spies. There are those employed by governments to protect their countries' interests; there are those we find in fiction and film, like the famous James Bond; and then there are the spies of the business world. But now there is a new form of espionage : sports spying. It may be a profitable job - if the spy can find a buyer for the information.
Last week, British newspapers reported that the England national team had been secretly recorded by an unknown group of individuals.
Media suggested that _ had picked up a discussion of team tactics , as well as playful talk about athletes' affairs and possible rewards for players if they manage to win the World Cup.
England officials immediately filed a suit to stop media from publishing the contents of the recordings. Little is known about the identities of the spies, but authorities doubt they have any connection to rival sides preparing for this summer's competition in South Africa. Rather, it appears that the people who bugged the hotel meeting room are just after money. If they find the right buyer, they could get a lot of it.
Gambling in major sports, like football, involves much more than picking the winner of a particular match. People can also place bets on starting line-ups, the timing of substitutions and goals scored. Knowing a team's tactics for a particular game, or for a series of games, can help gamblers to increase their chances of winning big money.
England manager Fabio Capello tried to play down the importance of game tactics. He argued that a team's psychological preparation is the most vital. "It's more important to train the mind, to find confidence, create a group and a winning mentality," he said.
Perhaps of more interest to the casual fan are the discussions of the players' relationships with wives and girlfriends. UK newspapers may be prevented from publishing the details, but some Britons might say, the chances of the recordings never being heard are about as good as those of England winning this year's competition: slim to none. | high9428.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "she takes pride in what she can do herself"
},
"options": [
"servants in American are hard to get",
"she takes pride in what she can do herself",
"she can hardly afford servants",
"It is easy to prepare a meal with cann... | A characteristic of American culture that has become almost a tradition is to respect the self-made man -- the man who has risen to the top through his own efforts, usually beginning by working with his hands. While the leader in business or industry or the college professor occupies a higher social position and commands greater respect in the community than the common laborer or even the skilled factory worker, he may take pains to point out that his father started life in America as a farmer or laborer of some sort.
This attitude toward manual labor is now still seen in many aspects of American life. One is invited to dinner at a home that is not only comfortably but even luxuriously furnished and in which there is every evidence of the fact that the family has been able to afford foreign travel, expensive hobbies, and college education for the children; yet the hostess probably will cook the dinner herself, will serve it herself and will wash dishes afterward, furthermore the dinner will not consist merely of something quickly and easily assembled from contents of various cans and a cake or a pie bought at the nearby bakery. On the contrary, the hostess usually takes pride in careful preparation of special dishes. A professional man may talk about washing the car, digging in his flowerbeds, painting the house. His wife may even help with these things, just as he often helps her with the dishwashing. The son who is away at college may wait on table and wash dishes for his living, or during the summer he may work with a construction gang on a highway in order to pay for his education. | high7405.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "hold the uniform in such high regard"
},
"options": [
"still judge a man by his clothes",
"hold the uniform in such high regard",
"enjoy having a professional identity",
"will respect an elevator operator as much as a g... | Americans are proud of their variety and individuality,yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform,whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a fivestar general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?
Among the arguments for uniforms,one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian clothes. People have become conditioned to expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears a uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse,a policeman,a barber,or a waiter to lose professional identity than to step out of uniform?
Uniforms also have many practical benefits. They save on other clothes. They save on laundry bills. They are taxdeductible .They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.
Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms,the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it,without change,until retirement. When people look alike,they tend to think,speak,and act similarly,on the job at least.
Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are longlasting,often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain(,),requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes. | high15142.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "to introduce some tours that they can explore the history of India"
},
"options": [
"to report some important events in the history of India",
"to introduce some tours that they can explore the history of India",
"to help stu... | India has a very vast history and heritage. The country has witnessed some of the most important events in the past and every event has an effect of its own on the culture, religion, lifestyle, and economy of the country. This is one of the leading reasons why tourists prefer India to travel and explore. Historical tours in India provide everything that a traveler expects from his/her journey. These historical tours give an opportunity to study and explore Indian history.
Historical tours of India generally consisted of four phases: ancient, medieval , modern India and contemporary India. Some of the historical travel packages are:
Forts and Palaces
The rich cultural past of India is reflected in the countless forts and palaces across the country. Most of the forts were constructed as a defense device to keep the enemy away and palaces were made on the names of the kings and queens. Some of the famous forts and palaces are: Agra Fort (Agra), Fatehpur Sikri (Agra), Hawa Mahal (Jaipur), Amber Fort (Jaipur), City Palace (Jaipur), Gwalior Fort (Gwalior), Mysore Palace (Mysore), Red Fort (Delhi), etc.
India Heritage Tours
The main purpose of India Heritage tours is to make Indians as well as tourists familiar with the rich Indian legacy . The heritage of the country is at least 5000 years. Some of the heritage tours are: medieval heritage, Rajput heritage, Golden Triangle, splendid Gujarat, etc.
South India Historical Tours
The Southern India is known for its diversity and there are many places, which attract tourists, not only from the country but also from all around the world. The famous tourists' destinations in South India include Goa, Cochin, Kerala, Munnar, Periyar, Kottayam and the list goes on and on. | high3663.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "What to do to understand other cultures"
},
"options": [
"Why there are differences between people",
"What to do to understand other cultures",
"How people feel when they meet people from other cultures",
"The differenc... | Did you ever think someone was scary because they looked different or ate strange food? Well, they might think the same about you! One of the things we all need to do is to _ variety.We shouldn't think badly of people from other cultures because they behave differently from us.
Sometimes we treat people from other countries unfairly, because one person from that culture did something bad.Well, has your class ever been punished just because a few kids were causing trouble? Has your whole family ever been blamed for something your little sister did? It doesn't seem fair, does it? It's just equally unfair to blame a whole culture for what two or three people have done.
So here are some things that you can do to help yourself understand other cultures:
1Find common ground!
Just remember that even though some people look different on the outside, that doesn't change how they are on the inside.They still have the exact same feelings!
2 _
Because someone from another culture has been mean to you, you decide to avoid everyone from that culture.Well think about it.Why are you blaming them for something they didn't have anything to do with? Put yourself in their shoes.How would you feel? Putting yourself inside someone else's head can be a very powerful way to understand WHY they are acting the way they are.
3Try to make friends with people from other cultures!
You could ask them about their culture, or what it is like in their country, if they can remember, or if they have ever lived there.Try foods from their culture, or ask them about words in their language.You might be surprised at how interesting other cultures can be! You can join great discussion groups, participate in projects, and have lots of fun doing new things.
4Be aware that you've judged other people
If you know what you have done, it helps to make things better.Pay attention to what you think about other people.It helps. | high11324.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The greater need for farmland"
},
"options": [
"The growing demand for energy to make ethanol",
"The increasing carbon dioxide in the air",
"The greater need for farmland",
"The big change in weather."
],
"quest... | All too often, a choice that seems sustainable turns out on closer examination to be problematic. Probably the best example is the rush to produce ethanol for fuel from corn. Corn is a renewable resource --you can harvest it and grow more, almost limitlessly. So replacing gas with corn ethanol seems like a great idea.
One might get a bit more energy out of the ethanol than that used to make it, which could still make ethanol more sustainable than gas generally, but that's not the end of the problem. Using corn to make ethanol means less corn is left to feed animals and people, which drives up the cost of food. That result leads to turning the fallow land -including, in some cases, rain forest in places such as Brazil--into farmland, which in turn gives off lots of carbon dioxide (CO) into the air. Finally, over many years, the energy benefit from burning ethanol would make up for the forest loss. But by then, climate change would have progressed so far that _ might not help.
You cannot really declare any practice "sustainable" until you have done a complete life-cycle analysis of its environmental costs. Even then, technology and public keep developing, and that development can lead to unforeseen and undesired results. The admirable goal of living sustainably requires plenty of thought on an ongoing basis. | high5212.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the batteries"
},
"options": [
"the developing",
"the speed",
"the appearance",
"the batteries"
],
"question": "The passage mainly talks about_of a new car",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"... | Car companies are developing vehicles that will plug into electric sockets,just like many laptops,digital cameras,cell phones and Mp4 do.Called"plug-in vehicles",these cars will get most of their power from electricity. Their drivers won't have to stop at gas stations as often as usual.
The technology is more than just cool. In our car-filled world,plug-in vehicles could reduce the amount of gas we use,which keeps rising in cost now and then. Besides,driving around in these vehicles may even help the environment.Gas-burning cars produce a lot of greenhouse gas,which causes globe warming.
The first company-produced plug-in vehicles could hit the roads by 2010. But engineers still have a lot of work to do to make the technology practical and inexpensive.
Batteries are the biggest challenge. In the plug-in-vehicle world,Li-ion batteries are getting the most attention.These batteries can store a large amount of energy in a small package,and they last a longer time between charges.Li-ion batteries can fit laptops,cell phones,heart instruments and other similar pocket ones.
But because cars are so big and heavy, it would still require a suitcase-sized Li-ion batteries to power about 12km of driving.What's more,the batteries are much expensive.
"A car filled with batteries could go a long distance,"says Ted Bohn, an electrical engineer in Chicago."But it couldn't pull any people.and it would cost $100,000."
So researchers need to work out how to make batteries smaller and cheaper,among other questions.
"The answers don't exist yet,"Bohn says,"As a kid,I thought someone someplace knows the answer to everything.All of these questions haven't been decided.That's what engineering is about-making a guess,running tests and getting fine results." | high18466.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Some people build unlawful construction"
},
"options": [
"The fast development of the city",
"Some people build unlawful construction",
"Population growing",
"Pollution"
],
"question": "What made Beijing's histo... | Beijing's historic hutong are in danger of disappearing. That's the warning from residents and historians, who have called on authorities to do more to protect this unique part of the capital's culture.
In 2000, Beijing still had 1,300 hutong, according to amateur historian Zhang Wei. But he estimates that since then, at least half of them have disappeared.
According to regulations, people can report illegal buildings to urban patrol officers, known as chengguan, and buildings found to be illegal will be demolished by force.
However, a China Daily reporter found that it was not an easy task, and lots of additional structures built by their owners were found in hutong. Many owners added a second floor or even more floors to their houses, especially in buildings near main streets, in order to rent more apartments and make more money.
Zhang, the historian, said that to better protect the hutong, the government should offer more compensation to residents willing to move away. Guo Dazhi, a photojournalist in Beijing, lived in a hutong for nearly 30 years before moving to eastern Chaoyang district. Guo hopes that the government can solve the problem by moving residents out of hutong with policies such as public renting programs.
However, the Beijing Commission of Urban Planning said in a report in July that the relocation of residents from old areas was very expensive.According to the report, allocating 10,000 residents costs 1.5 billion yuan . | high17033.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Snowden is in fact a hypocrite."
},
"options": [
"Snowden's action started a heated debate.",
"It isn't clear who and what Snowden is.",
"Snowden exposed secret documents.",
"Snowden is in fact a hypocrite."
],
... | Edward Snowden's removal of thousands of highly classified documents from the National Security Agency and his decision to turn them over to journalists for publication started a fierce debate about who and what he is. On one side are those who consider Snowden a whistleblower, someone who has done his country a great service. Others regard him as a criminal.
Snowden, meanwhile, says that his "task's already accomplished," that he has given Americans a "say in how they are governed" and that he has succeeded in exposing the workings of what he has called the uncontrolled "surveillance state."
But one must ask: Are Snowden's actions in consistent with his words?
Snowden has taken sanctuary in Russia, a country that, under the guidance of President Vladimir Putin, a former Soviet KGB officer, has been sliding ever deeper back into dictatorship . The Federal Security Service (FSB) has invested in technology that allows it to monitor telephone and Internet communications and to collect and store not just metadata -- information about call destinations and lengths -- but also the content of communications. The Russian state uses that technology to engage in essentially unchecked surveillance of telephone calls, e-mail traffic, blogs, and Web sites. Over the past two years "the Kremlin has transformed Russia into a surveillance state -- at a level that would have made the KGB envious."
If Snowden's objective is to give people a voice in how they are governed, and to expose massive uncontrolled surveillance, he could speak out about practices of the Russian government that go far beyond anything ever undertaken by the U.S. government.
For better or for worse, Snowden has a large number of supporters around the world. His words are listened to by millions -- so he could make a difference where it counts. Yet he has been silent about the surveillance surrounding him. Why? Is he being polite to his hosts? Does he have concerns about what the FSB might do in response to what he might say?
Whatever the answer, Snowden's silence about the dictatorship where he has taken sanctuary is telling. It is yet more evidence, if evidence were needed, that he is not a whistleblower at all. It suggests that, instead of being a brave speaker of truths, he is a hypocrite , with principles that he applies selectively against the justice he has betrayed . | high18300.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "is more than four hours a day."
},
"options": [
"is more than four hours a day.",
"is less than four hours a day.",
"doubled in the last twenty years.",
"is more than on any other activities."
],
"question": "Ac... | Less TV Reduce Kids Weight
PALO AITO, California--"Switching off the television may help prevent children from getting fatter--even if they do not change their diet or increase the amount they exercise," US researchers said last week.
A study of 192 third and fourth grades, generally aged eight and nine, found that children who cut the number of hours spent watching television gained nearly two pounds (0.91 kg) less over a one-year period than those who did not change their television diet.
"The findings are important because they show that weight loss can only be the result of a reduction in television viewing and not any other activity," said Thomas Robinson, a pediatrician at Stanford University.
" American children spend an average of more than four hours per day watching television and videos or playing games, and rates of childhood being very fat have doubled over the past 20 years," Robinson said.
In the study, presented this week to the Pediatric Academic Societies' annual meeting in San Francisco, the researchers persuaded about 100 of the students to reduce their television viewing by one-quarter to one-third.
Children watching fewer hours of television showed a significantly smaller increase in waist size and had less body fat than other students who continue their normal television viewing, even though neither group ate a special diet nor took part in any extra exercise.
"One explanation for the weight loss could be the children unstuck to the television may simply have been moving around and burning off calories," Robinson said.
"Another reason might be due to eating fewer meals in front of the television. Some studies have suggested that eating in front of the TV encourages people to eat more," Robinson added. | high10984.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "dreamers while they dream"
},
"options": [
"contents of dreams",
"dreamers while they dream",
"the meaning of dreams",
"the progress of sleeping"
],
"question": "According to the passage, researchers at the Univ... | A special laboratory at the University of Chicago is busy only at night. It is a dream laboratory where researchers are at work studying dreamers. Their findings have discovered that everyone dreams from three to seven times a night, although in ordinary life a person may remember none or only one of his dreams.
While the subjects--usually students--sleep, special machines record their brain waves and eye movements as well as the body movements that signal the end of a dream. Surprisingly, all subjects sleep soundly.
Observers report that a person usually fidgets before a dream. Once the dream has started, his body relaxes and his eyes become more active, as if the curtain had gone up on a show. As soon as the machine shows that the dream is over, a buzzer wakens the sleeper. He sits up, records his dream, and goes back to sleep--perhaps to dream some more.
Researchers have found that if the dreamer is wakened immediately after his dream, he can usually recall the entire dream. If he is allowed to sleep even five more minutes, his memory of the dream will have disappeared. | high3105.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Nobody"
},
"options": [
"One",
"Anyone",
"Nobody",
"Someone"
],
"question": "_ knows when the custom of April Fool's Day started.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_... | April Fool's Day , was a day of laughing and jokes. This day is kept in many countries, not only in Britain and the USA. This is a day to play jokes and make people laugh. Nobody knows when was the beginning of this custom. Some people connect it with the end of winter and the return of spring which make people merry and ready to play jokes.
In Scotland young people were sent for hen's teeth or bird's milk and everybody laughed when they could find such things. In the USA and Britain some people could place a sign on a person's back with the words "push me!" Children often tell a grown-up that his sock is torn or he has something black on his face, and then shout "April Fool!" There is also the old purse trick. A purse is left lying in the street, but when someone wants to take it, it is quickly pulled back by a string which the hidden joker holds in his hand. Or the purse may be filled with stones. Sometimes invitations are sent to people, asking them to come and visit somebody, but when they come they see that nobody expects them. Some people like to telephone to the zoo on the day and ask for Mr. Fish, Miss Fox or Mrs. Cat. All these jokes are very old but still they make people laugh. | high11442.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "chocolate"
},
"options": [
"treats",
"coffee",
"chocolate",
"cigarettes"
],
"question": "The cacao bean is the main ingredient in _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
... | What would life be like without rich, creamy, mouthwatering, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate?
Life would be bitter for most Americans. They spend about $13 billion a year buying all sorts of chocolate treats.
However, for the African children who toil under slavelike conditions on cacao plantations, life is not sweet. The cacao bean is the main ingredient in the chocolate. According to a 2002 survey by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the US Agency for International Development, about 284,000 children work in dangerous conditions on cacao farms in western Africa.
More than half those children are younger than 14. Many were sold into forced labor to work 12 hours or more a day on the cacao plantations.
A number of international organizations, including several African governments, recently began a program to eliminate child labor on cacao plantations. Under the program, government officials will remove children from abusive working situations while teaching farmers about child labor issues.
The program will also make borrowing money easier for cacao farmers. Officials hope farmers will use the money to invest in their farms and hire paid laborers. | high15624.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Women"
},
"options": [
"Book writers",
"Women",
"Men",
"Fashion designers"
],
"question": "Who is the text intended for?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": ... | Undoubtedly there are a few positive characters who are able to "rise above" their environment, who are able to impress the people with whom they come in contact in spite of their clothes.
Sometimes we read of some learned woman, who has "made good in her profession," who says that she has not looked in a mirror for years; but such a woman is a rare exception, and one is not safe in gambling with one's chances of success by following her. It is not the positive characters with whom we are concerned, however, for they are few and somehow manage to take care of themselves. The vast majority of the race are not so blessed, and we need to observe but little to realize that with them the reaction of clothes is an important factor.
School girls should know that clothes may make a career; happiness and leadership in all the years of high school and college life may be affected by the story a Freshman's clothes tell. Many a girl with a keen mind, who has a natural disregard for clothes, perhaps, or who has not been trained in the appreciation of beauty in clothes, has lost her opportunities for leadership and self-expression which by right her brain power should have given her.
One of the mental capacities which we all exercise and yet exercise most unconsciously is that of passing judgment on the people we meet. In a majority of cases the judgment is superficial and inaccurate; but the estimate is made. Some people may not get their final judgment till they hear one talk and will judge one by the tone of voice and by what is said as the true index; but the vast majority will form an opinion based largely, if not entirely, on appearance. One tells the world daily of one's ideals, ambitions or good breeding through dress; and it is told so plainly that "he who runs may read" and, perhaps, he who reads may run. | high8050.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "declaring war on Japan without a moment's delay"
},
"options": [
"holding diplomatic talks with the Japanese",
"moving the islands to the mainland of China",
"declaring war on Japan without a moment's delay",
"turning t... | The summer has seen a series of marine disputes involving China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines. This week there were more anti-Japanese riots in cities across China because of a dispute over a group of uninhabited islands known to the Japanese as the Senkakus and to the Chinese as the Diaoyu Islands. One Chinese newspaper has helpfully suggested skipping the pointless diplomacy and moving straight to the main course by serving up Japan with an atom bomb.
The government in Beijing is trying to play down the dispute, aware of the economic interests in keeping the peace. China is re-emerging after what it sees as 150 years of humiliation, surrounded by anxious neighbours, many of them allied to America. In that context, disputes about _ could become very significant.
Whatever the legality of Japan's claim to the islands, its roots lie in empire-building. China's leaders now face sharp criticism if they do not fight their country's corner. A recent poll suggested that over half of China's citizens thought the next few years would see a "military dispute" with Japan.
The islands matter, therefore, less because of fishing, oil or gas than as counters in the high-stakes game for Asia's future. Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines fear that if they give in, China will sense weakness and prepare the next demand. China fears that if it fails to press its case, America and others will conclude that they are free to scheme against it.
Asia's inability to deal with the islands raises doubts about how it would cope with a genuine crisis, on the Korean peninsula, say, or across the Strait of Taiwan. And the tendency for the slightest quarrel to turn into a full-blown conflict presents problems for America, which both aims to reassure China that it welcomes its rise, and also uses the threat of military force to guarantee that the Pacific is worthy of the name. | high22088.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "History and characteristics of the Christmas cards."
},
"options": [
"The famous British painter and director.",
"Pictures and greetings on Christmas cards.",
"Invention and design of the first Christmas cards.",
"Histo... | Today, we send millions of Christmas cards every year. But in fact the Christmas card is a ly modern invention.
In the Middle Ages, European wood engravers produced prints with religious themes. But the first real Christmas card, as we understand the term today, was designed in London, England in 1840. It went on sale in 1843. The designer was John Callott Horsley, a well- known British painter and member of the Royal Academy. He designed the card at the suggestion of his friend Sir Henry Cole, who was the first director of the Victoria & Albert Museum. Horsley produced 1,000 cards and offered them for sale at 1s (one shilling) each. They were printed on stiff card and coloured by hand, with the greeting: "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You". The card shows three pictures: in the center, a family party; to one side the hungry receiving food; to the other side the poor being clothed. Puritans immediately _ the card, since it showed people drinking in the family party. But with most people the idea was a great success and the Christmas card quickly became very popular.
Christmas cards were not the first greetings cards. Since 1796, with improvements in printing, merchants had been sending cards to their customers offering "best wishes" for the new year. In many countries, Christmas cards gradually became even more popular than New Year's cards.
As Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ, cards often show scenes of His nativity. Others show images connected with Christmas such as wintry scenes of snow-laden pine, Father Christmas card is "Merry Christmas", but many other greetings are also used, such as "Happy Xmas" or "Happy Noel". | high23396.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "remember his mother"
},
"options": [
"help the charity",
"remember his mother",
"make an exploration",
"fulfill a wish of his mum"
],
"question": "The author set the starting date on December 15 to _ .",
"... | Yesterday I started the Year of Giving, my first day of a year-long journey into exploring the act of giving and the meaning of charity. I chose December 15 as the starting date, which marked three years since my mother died from heart disease. She was one of the most generous people that I have ever known. She always thought of others first and certainly serves as an inspiration to me.
I had a rather busy day yesterday, ironic for someone who is unemployed right now. In the morning I went to the gym, and unsuccessfully got the phone call from the unemployment office for some job searching. Before I knew it, it was noon. I grabbed a quick lunch and rushed down to a meeting. On my way to Connecticut, I wondered if I would see someone that I would feel forced to give my first $10 to. I was running late and decided to do it afterwards.
After the meeting I had about half an hour to find the first person of my Year of Giving! I decided to check out Dupont Circle. I had met a guy there named Jerry once and thought he would willingly accept my first $10. He wasn't there, but I did see a man sitting by himself who looked really lonely, so I approached him. Now I had to figure out what I was going to say. I think I said something like, "Hi, can I sit down here?" "I would like to know if I could give you $10?" He asked me to repeat what I had said. I did, then he looked at me funny, got up and left.
I then started walking south where I spotted a man standing by the bus stop on Connecticut Ave. He appeared to be in his 60s. I don't know what drew me to him, but I thought I would make my second attempt. I was a bit nervous and asked him which bus came by that stop. Then I explained that I was starting a year-long project to give $10 to someone every day and that I wanted to give my $10 for today to him. The gentleman, I later found out that his name was Ed, responded without hesitation that he could not accept my offer and that there were many people more deserving the money than him. This was exactly one of the things that I hoped would happen. People would think of others before themselves! | high13255.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "It was carried out in two periods of time."
},
"options": [
"The participants were from all over the world.",
"It was carried out in two periods of time.",
"The participants were mostly old people.",
"The participants h... | Moving to a new town or even a new neighborhood is stressful at any age, but a new study shows that frequent moves in childhood are related to poorer well-being in adulthood, especially among people who are more introverted or neurotic .
The researchers tested the relationship between the number of childhood moves and well-being in a sample of 7108 American adults who were followed for 10 years.
"We know that children who move frequently are more likely to perform poorly in school and have more behavioral problems," said the study's lead author Shigehiro Oishi. "However, the long-term effects of moving on well-being in adulthood have been overlooked by researchers."
The study's participants, who were between the ages of 20 and 75, were contacted in 1994 and 1995 and were surveyed again 10 years later. They were asked how many times they had moved as children, as well as about their psychological well-being, personality type and social relationships.
The researchers found that the more times people moved as children, the more likely they were to report lower life satisfaction and psychological well-being at the time they were surveyed. The research also showed that those who moved frequently as children had fewer quality social relationships as adults.
The researchers also looked to see if different personality types affected frequent movers' well-being. Among introverts, the more moves participants reported as children, the worse off they were as adults. "Moving a lot makes it difficult for people to keep long-term close relationships." Said Oishi. "This might not be a serious problem for outgoing people who can make friends quickly and easily."
The findings showed neurotic people who moved frequently reported less life satisfaction and poorer psychological well-being than people who did not move as much and people who were not neurotic. However, the number and quality of neurotic people's relationships had no effect on their well-being, no matter how often they had moved as children. In the article, Oishi thinks this may be because neurotic people have more negative reactions to stressful life events in general.
"We can guess that moving often creates more stress," Oishi said. "But we need more research on this link before we can conclude that moving often in childhood can, in fact, be dangerous to your health in the long-term." | high1712.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "walking on the road made of wood"
},
"options": [
"walking on the road made of wood",
"joining the nightspots",
"having interesting rides",
"skiing in the sea"
],
"question": "When coming to Virginia Beach,child... | In America,Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort:brilliant beaches,a lively boardwalk,plenty of restaurants and nightspots,and amusement rides sure to appeal to kids.Many believe Virginia Beach is at its best in the off-season,when the town is less crowded but the weather is still mild.
Meanwhile,some safety tips should be followed,enjoying the happiness and excitement the beach offers.
The number l safety tip concerns ocean safety:pay attention to Flag conditions posted on the lifeguard stands.Lifeguards post a red flag to warn when the ocean water is dangerous.Take them seriously! Tourists from land-locked regions are particularly easily attracted by the magic of the waves.However,a calm ocean can become risky without warning.Make sure you swim near a lifeguard.Swimming without lifeguard protection is almost five times as great as drowning at a beach with lifeguards.
Never swim alone.Many drownings involve single swimmers.When you swim with someone else,if one of you has a problem,the other may be able to get help,including signaling for assistance from others.
Don't fight the current.The facts show that some 80% of rescues by lifeguards at ocean beaches are caused by currents.These currents are formed by surf and gravity,because once surf pushes water up the slope of a beach,gravity pulls it back.This can create concentrated rivers of water moving offshore.If you are caught in a rip current,don't fight it by trying to swim directly to shore.Instead,swim parallel to shore until you feel the current relax,then swim to shore.Most rip currents are narrow and a short swim parallel to shore will help bring you to safety. | high286.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "she could only sing one song in the small farm"
},
"options": [
"it was too cold and quiet",
"she could only sing one song in the small farm",
"there was nothing more that could make her excited",
"The place was rustic,... | Four years ago my sweet mom went to be with her Lord.She did it her way.
I got the call at work, and 1 headed home quickly.Mom and Dad lived on a small farm that they had owned since I was seven.I hated going there every weekend.There was nothing for a young girl to do but watch the one station on the old TV set, if the weather allowed reception.
My mom, on the other hand, loved the peace and quiet of the land and loved to work in the garden among her flowers and vegetables.The place was rustic , with no indoor heat.We had a big wood stove in the kitchen that did its best to heat the little farmhouse, but it always seemed cold and too quiet to me.
In the evenings, my mom and I would sit for hours singing in the little kitchen.I sang the melody and Mom larmonized.Her favorite song was "Moon River" and we sang it over and over. Momtold me stones about how when I was a little girl, I could sing before I could talk.She loved to tell how my playpen sat in the kitchen next to the radio and there was one song I particularly loved called "Ivory Tower".
As time passed, I had my own children and went to visit them every week or two.The kids loved the farm and the tractor rides with my dad.But I still hated the silence of the farm.While my mom loved to sit at her kitchen table and look out at her garden and flowers and retell all the old stories, I missed the hustle and bustle of my life at home.But I sat there listening quietly as she
.
Now, I sat back in the silence and the silence was deafening so I finally leaned over to turn on an old radio.Music always comforted me,
My heart skipped a beat."Moon River" was playing on the radio.I sat there, with a tear running down my cheek, as I listened to every familiar note.
Then the radio announcer of this old station came on." Here's one we haven't heard in a while," and an unfamiliar song began.I began to cry harder as I heard the words sung over the airwaves."Come down; come down from your Ivory Tower..." | high15817.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "should be able to take care of himself"
},
"options": [
"will have little time playing",
"has to be successful in finding a job",
"can still ask for help in time of trouble",
"should be able to take care of himself"
... | How often one hears children wishing they were grown-ups and old people wishing they were young again. Each age has its pleasures and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age gives him without wasting his time in useless regrets.
Childhood is a time when there are few _ to make life difficult. If a child has good parents, he is fed, looked after and loved, whatever he may do. It is impossible that he will ever again in his life be given so much without having to do anything in return. What's more, life is always presenting new things to the child -- things that have lost their interest for older people because they are too well-known. But a child has his parents. He is not so free to do what he wishes to do; he is continually being told not to do things or being punished for what he has done wrong.
When the young man starts to earn his own living, he can no longer expect others to pay for his food, his clothes, and his room, but has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry. And if he breaks the laws of society as he used to break the laws of his parents, he may go to prison. If, however, he works hard, keeps out of trouble and has good health, he can have the great happiness of building up for himself his own position in society. | high1921.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "both children in China and the US carry too heavy school bags"
},
"options": [
"only children in China carry too heavy school bags",
"children in other countries don't carry too heavy school bags",
"both children in China and... | Are you carrying too much on your back to school? I'm sure lots of your age will say "Yes". Not only the students in China have this problem, but children in the United States also have heavy school bags.
Doctors are starting to worry about that younger and younger students are having problems as a result of school bags being too heavy for them.
"It's hard for me to go upstairs with my bag because it's so heavy," said Rich Hammond, an 11-year-old student in the US.
Rich is among students who have common school bags with two straps to carry them, but many other choose rolling bags. But even with rolling bags, getting up stairs and houses is still a problem for children. Many of them have hurt backs and necks because of the heavy school bags.
But how much is too much? Doctors say students should carry no more than 10% to 15% of their own body weight. Scott Bautch, a black doctor, said children under Grade 4 should stay with 10%. But it is also important that older children don't stay with over 15%, because their bodies are still growing. "Children are losing their balance and falling down with their school bags," he said.
Parents and teachers are starting to tell children to only take home library books that they will be reading at night. Some teachers are using pieces of paper or thin workbooks for students to take home.
One of the best answers is, as some children said, to have no homework at all. | high22063.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the Russian astronauts worked in space for a long time"
},
"options": [
"they only cared for the Russian astronauts",
"they were not interested in their own astronauts",
"the Russian government invited them to do their resear... | Space travel is definitely bad for astronauts' bones, reducing their bone density after only a month of weightlessness, according to French research published on Friday.
Laurence Vico and his fellow workers at St Etienne University called for more research into the effects of microgravity, after their study of 15 astronauts from the Russian MIR station showed bone loss continued throughout space flights.
"Bone loss was especially striking in four astronauts, " the scientists reported in the Lancet Medical Journal.
They measured the bone mineral density (BMD) of bones in the forearm and lower leg of the astronauts who had spent one to six months in space.
The BMD loss was significant in the tibia of the lower leg, a weight-bearing bone, but barely changed in the radius of the forearm. "Our results indicate the need to investigate not only different bones, but also different areas of the same bone since not all sites of the skeleton are similarly affected by space conditions, " they added.
Without gravity the body isn't bearing any weight so there is no need for calcium which makes bones strong, and it becomes empty into the bloodstream.
The research team suggested in future scientists should try to determine if the loss of bone density was only on weight-bearing bones on longer flights, also the possible recovery after returning to Earth. | high7388.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "has lighter green leaves"
},
"options": [
"has lighter green leaves",
"contains more minerals",
"is better for medical use",
"is more suitable for eating raw"
],
"question": "Compared with older watercress, youn... | Watercress is positively packed with healthy vitamins and minerals. The writings of both the Romans and the Ancient Greeks record the consumption of watercress by all classes. Hippocrates, "the father of medicine", was so convinced that watercress was a great healer that he built his first hospital next to a stream so that he could grow a plentiful supply of the shiny green leaves for his patients. The Romans chewed watercress in large quantities, believing that it would cure baldness. They, too, looked with favor on watercress as a salad.
Watercress sandwiches were traditionally a breakfast item in nineteenth-century Europe. The most basic type of watercress sandwich has two pieces of white bread with a mixture of butter and watercress greens . A nickname for the vegetable, in fact, was "poor man's bread", because watercress was often eaten on its own for breakfast by families that could not afford the bread to go with _ .
Watercress is a member of the mustard family. It contains vitamins C(66mg per 100g), K and A, and is also a valuable source of minerals such as iron, potassium, copper and calcium. The mustard oils in its silky leaves and stems contain an ingredient known as PEITC. Recent research has proved that PEITC can prevent the growth of cancer cells and, in some cases, actually destroy them.
The best watercress has silky green leaves without any marks and has undamaged stems, The older the plant, the darker are its leaves and the thicker its stems. This means a higher concentration of oils and vitamins. Young watercress, on the other hand, may be harvested after only twenty-eight days growth and has a milder taste. It is best to eat watercress fresh and raw , to keep more of its valuable nutrients, but it can be lightly cooked and used as an alternative to spinach--another dark green vegetable--in various recipes. From soups to salads, watercress is now considered around the world as a natural and healthy super food. | high4681.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "put forward the topic of the text"
},
"options": [
"introduce his invention",
"put forward the topic of the text",
"praise the inventor",
"show the way to success"
],
"question": "The writer refers to Thomas Edi... | How many times do you have to fail at something in order to succeed? Did you know that Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times while trying to invent the light bulb? He certainly had a "learn and do" attitude! He was able to turn each failed experiment into a successful way to invent the light bulb. So what can we learn from this? You can adopt the "fail forward" strategy too.
In reality, none of us are failures. It's true that we will experience times of defeat, problems, and disasters, but remember, each one of us is meant to succeed in life. However, we must choose our fate. Henry David Thoreau said, "Men are born to succeed, not to fail."
We can never be forced into having a happy and successful life. Whether or not you experience success or failure is completely controlled by what you think and do. You are the only one who can choose the thoughts that will keep you from achieving the abundant life and joy that you are meant to have. No matter how difficult things may seem, say to yourself, "I choose to be a happy and successful person."
Why do some people get what they want and others fail? I believe that getting what you desire in life takes planning, and it doesn't just happen by luck. So how do we plan for success?
It has been proven that successful people do things more differently than unsuccessful people. They recognize the patterns of success and follow them; one of those patterns is planning. They plan what they think and do, which sets them apart. They know exactly what they desire, have an intelligent plan for getting it, and then work their plan. They know what success will cost them in terms of time, energy, and results, and they devote the right resources toward making their plans happen. | high4859.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "He appreciates it"
},
"options": [
"He appreciates it",
"He gives no personal opinion",
"He thinks it is artificial",
"He thinks it goes too far."
],
"question": "What is the author's attitude towards English po... | It's really true what people say about English politeness: it's everywhere.When squeezing past someone in a narrow aisle, people say "sorry".When getting off a bus, English passengers say "thank you" rather than the driver.In Germany, people would never dream of doing these things.
After all, squeezing past others sometimes can't be avoided.and the bus driver is merely doing his job.I used lo think the same way, without questioning it, until I started traveling to the British Isles and came to appreciate some more polite ways of communicating with people.
People thank each other everywhere in England, all the time.When people buy something in a shop, customer and retail assistant in most cases thank each other twice or more.In Germany, it would be exceptional to hear more than one thank you in such a conversation.British students thank their lecturers when leaving the room.English employers thank their employees for doing their jobs as opposed to Germans, who would normally think that paying their workers money is already enough.
Another thing I observed during my stay was that English people rarely criticize others.Even when I was working and mistakes were pointed out to me.my employers stressed several times but none of their explanations were intended as criticism.It has been my impression that by avoiding criticism, English people are making an effort to make others feel comfortable.This also is shown in other ways.British men still open doors for women, and British men are more likely to treat women to a meal than German men.However, 1 do need to point out here that this applies to English men a bit more than it would to Scottish men' Yes, the latter are a bit tightfisted. | high20674.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the second place"
},
"options": [
"the \"Best Woman Sailor\" award",
"the second place",
"the \"Young Sailor of the Year\" award",
"a gold medal"
],
"question": "In the Vendee Globe race,Ellen won _ .",
"... | Britain's Solo Sailor
Ellen MacArthur started sailing with her aunt when she was eight. She loved it so much that she saved her money for three years to buy her first small sailing boat.When she was 18,she sailed alone around Britain and won the "Young Sailor of the Year" award.
But Ellen really became famous in 2001.Aged only 24,she was one of only two women who entered the Vendee Globe round the world solo race,which lasted 100 days.Despite many problems,she came second in the race out of 24 competitors and she was given a very warm welcome when she returned.
Ambition and determination have always been a big part of Ellen's personality.When she was younger,she lived in a kind of hut for three years while she was trying to get sponsorship to compete in a transatlantic race.Then she took a one-way ticket to France,bought a tiny seven-meter Class Mini yacht,slept under it while she was repairing it,and then she raced it 4,000 kilometers across the Atlantic in 1997,alone for 33 days.
Ellen has had to learn many things,because sailing single-handed means that she has to be her own captain,electrician,sail maker,engineer,doctor,journalist,cameraman and cook.She also has to be very fit,and because of the dangers of sleeping for long periods of time when she's in the middle of the ocean, she has trained herself to sleep for about 20 minutes at a time.
And she needs courage.Once,in the middle of the ocean,she had to climb the mast of a boat to repair the sails at four o'clock in the morning with 100 kph winds blowing around her.It took her many hours to make the repairs.Ellen says,"I was exhausted when I came down.It's hard to describe how it feels to be up there.It's like trying to hold onto a big pole,which for me is just too big to get my arms around,with someone kicking you all the time and trying to shake you off." But in her diary,Ellen also describes moments which make it all worthwhile: "A beautiful sunrise started the day,with black clouds slowly lit by the bright yellow sun.I have a very strong feeling of pleasure,being out here on the ocean and having the chance to live this.I just feel lucky to be here." | high20112.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "How can people be successful?"
},
"options": [
"How do people live their life on purpose?",
"How can people be successful?",
"How do people make plans?",
"How do people do business?"
],
"question": "Which of the... | How do successful people think? What drives them? Interviews and investigations show that there are several keys to success that successful people share.
First of all, successful people never blame someone or something outside of themselves for their failure to go ahead. They realize that their future lies in their own hands. They understand that they cannot control things in life, such as nature, the past and other people. But in the meantime, they are well aware that they can control their own thoughts and actions. They take responsibility for their life and regard this as one of the most empowering things they can do .Perhaps what most separates successful people from others is that they live life "on purpose"---they are doing what they believe they are put here to do .In their opinion, having a purpose in their life is the most important fact that enables them to become fully functioning people. They hold that when they live their life on purpose ,their main concern is to do the job right .They love what they do ---and _ shows people want to do business with them because of their devotion to their jobs.
To live their life on purpose, successful people find a cause they believe in and create a business around it. Besides, they never easily give up. Once they have set up goals in their life, they are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. Top achievers always keep in mind that they don't have forever. Rather than seeing it negative or depressing, they use the knowledge to encourage themselves to move on and go after what they want energetically and passionately. | high3688.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Mother was impressed by his boyish charm and humor."
},
"options": [
"She didn't have a chance to tell her mother.",
"Her mother disliked Rich's freckled face.",
"Mother was impressed by his boyish charm and humor.",
"S... | After much thought,I came up with a brilliant plan.I worked out a way for Rich to meet my mother and win her over.In fact,I arranged it so my mother would want to cook a meal especially for him.
Rich was not only not Chinese and he was a few years younger than I was.And unfortunately,he looked much younger with his curly red hair,smooth pale skin,and the splash of orange freckles across his nose.He was a bit on the short side,compactly built.In his dark business suits,he looked nice but easily forgettable,which was why I didn't notice him the first year we worked together at the firm.But my mother noticed everything.
"So what do you think of Rich?"I finally asked,holding my breath.
She tossed the eggplant in the hot oil,angry hissing sound."So many spots on his face,"she said.
"They are freckles.Freckles are good luck."I said a bit too heatedly in trying to raise my voice above the noise of the kitchen.
"Oh?"She said innocently.
"Yes,the more spots the better."
She considered this a moment and then smiled and spoke in Chinese:"When you were young,you got the chicken pox.So many spots,you had to stay home for ten days.So lucky,you thought."
I couldn't save Rich in the kitchen.And I couldn't save him later at the dinner table.
When I offered Rich a fork,he insisted on using the slippery ivory chopsticks.Halfway between his plate and his open mouth,a large chunk of redcooked eggplant fell on his brand new white shirt.
And then he helped himself to big portions of the shrimp and snow peas,not realizing he should have taken only a polite spoonful.
He declined the new greens,the tender and expensive leaves of bean plants.He thought he was being polite by refusing seconds,when he should have followed my father's example,who made a big show of taking small portions of seconds,thirds and even fourths,always saying he couldn't resist another bite and then groaning he was so full he thought he would burst.
But the worst was when Rich criticized my mother's cooking and he didn't even know what he had done.As is the Chinese cook's custom,my mother always made modest remarks about her own cooking.That night she chose to direct it toward her famous steamed pork and preserved vegetable dish,which she always served with special pride.
"Ai!This dish not salty enough,no flavor,"she complained,after tasting a small bite.
This was our family's cue to eat more and proclaim it the best she had ever made.But before we could do so,Rich said,"You know,all it needs is a little soy sauce."And he proceeded to pour a riverful of the salty black stuff on the china plate,right before my mother's horrified eyes.
And even though I was hoping throughout the dinner that my mother would somehow see Rich's kindness,his sense of humor and boyish charm.I knew he had failed miserably in her eyes.
Rich obviously had a different opinion on how the evening had gone.When we got home,I was still shuddering, _ remembering how Rich had firmly shaken both my parents'hands with that same easy familiarity he used with nervous new clients."Linda,Tim,"he said,"we'll see you again."My parents'names are Lindo and Tin Jong,and nobody except a few older family friends ever calls them by their first names.
"What did she say when you told her?"I knew he was referring to our getting married.
"I never had a chance,"I said,which was true.How could I have told my mother I was getting married,when at every possible moment we were alone,she seemed to remark on how pale and ill he looked.
Rich was smiling."How long does it take to say,Mom,Dad,I am getting married?"
"You don't understand.You don't understand my mother." | high19793.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Happy"
},
"options": [
"Regretful",
"Annoyed",
"Calm",
"Happy"
],
"question": "How will Eric, a regular coffee drinker, probably feel _ after reading the passage?",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}... | Your morning cup of coffee may start to taste even better after a major government study found that frequent coffee drinkers have a lower risk of dying from a variety of diseases, compared with people who drink little or no coffee.
The report, published online in The New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday, analyzed the coffee-drinking habits of more thatn 400,000 men and women from 50 to 71 years old, making it the largest-ever study of the relationship between coffee consumption and health.
Previous studies have offered conflicting results on the benefits, or harm associated with regular coffee consumption. While coffee contains caffeine, which may temporarily increase heart rate and blood pressure in some people, coffee also contains hundreds of unique compounds that may do good to health. Further confusing much of the research into coffee is the fact that many coffee drinkers are also smokers, and it has been difficult to untangle the health effects of coffee and cigarettes.
To learn more, researchers from the National Institutes of Health analyzed diet and health information collected from questionnaires filled out by 229,119 men and 173,141 women, who were members of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) between 1995 and 1996. They were followed until 2008, by which point 52,000 had died.
As expected, the researchers found that the regular coffee drinkers in the group were also more likely to be smokers. They are more red meat and fewer fruits and vegetables, exercised less and drank more alcohol -- all behaviors associated with poor health.
But once the researchers were able to separate the risks, the data showed that the more coffee a person consumed, the less likely he or she was to die from a number of health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, infections and even injuries and accidents. | high22705.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "any country in Western Europe"
},
"options": [
"any other Western European countries",
"any other country in Western Europe",
"any country in Western Europe",
"every country in Europe"
],
"question": "From the p... | For years, business people in Western Europe were worried. They knew they could not compete against business from the U.S. The United States is much larger and had many more resources than any Western European countries.
Some European people realized that the European nations need to join together to help each other. If they could forget their language differences and the differences in customs, they might become strong competition against other countries.
In 1958, six of the European countries --- Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany and Italy got together and decided to cooperate. They called their group the European Economic Community, or the Common Market. These countries agreed to join their resources together.
Within a few years, the European Economic Community had worked so well that its members were more prosperous than many other European nations. Soon, other nations began to realize the advantage of the Common Market. Today the Common Market includes most of the important countries in Western Europe. It is helping Western Europe to again take its place as a leader among the industrial nations of the world. | high6928.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Ma Shwe was holding the calf against the rushing water"
},
"options": [
"the calf was about to fall into the river",
"Ma Shwe was placing the calf on the rock",
"the calf was washed away by the rising water",
"Ma Shwe w... | I suddenly heard an elephant crying as though frightened. Looking down, I immediately recognized that something was wrong, and ran down to the edge of the near bank. There I saw Ma Shwe with her three-month-old calf struggling in the fast-rising water, and it was a life-and-death struggle. Her calf was floating and screaming with fear. Ma Shwe was as near to the far bank as she could get, holding her whole body against the rushing water, and keeping the calf pressed against her huge body. Every now and then the rushing water would sweep the calf away. There was a sudden rise in the water and the calf was washed clean over the mother's body and was gone. Ma Shwe turned quickly to reach it and pressed the calf with her head and trunk against the rocky bank. Then with a huge effort, she picked it up in her trunk and tried until she was able to place it on a narrow shelf of rock.
Just at this moment, she felt back into the river. If she were carried down, it would be certain death. I knew, as well as she did, that there was one spot where she could get up the bank, but it was on the other side from where she had put her calf. While I was wondering what I could do next,I heard the sound of a mother's love.Ma Shwe had crossed the river and got up the bank and was making her way back as fast as she could,roaring all the time,but to her calf it was music. | high8905.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "So Aunt Bet would not know she was there"
},
"options": [
"So he could look Aunt Bet in the eye",
"So Aunt Bet would not know she was there",
"Because the candle was shining in his eyes",
"Because he did not want to app... | Wide awake in Aunt Bet's Southern house, Annie Van Lew shivered at the sounds of distant guns. It was bad enough that America was at war, but the young Virginia girl was not used to battles being fought this close. _ .Annie sat up in bed and listened.Had a stranger broken in? Earlier, the family had heard that captured officers recently escaped from a prison nearby.
Quietly opening her bedroom door, Annie walked out. A figure in a black gown was walking down the hall. It was Aunt Bet, carrying a candle in one hand and a plate of fried chicken in the other.
Annie followed her aunt to a stairway at the far end of the house. Aunt Bet climbed to the top, and opened a door leading to the attic . Annie followed closely behind.
In the attic, Aunt Bet stopped at a chest of drawers, moved it aside, and felt along the wall behind it. Slowly a door sprang open, revealing a hidden room. A thin man stepped out of the opening. As Aunt Bet handed him the plate of food, the young man saw Annie in the doorway and froze.
Desperately shaking her head "no", the girl raised one finger to her lips. The officer understood and shifted his look. Quickly Annie went back downstairs and hid, waiting until after Aunt Bet left to return. Back inside the attic,Annie called softly to the man inside, who told her where to find the hidden spring.
Soon the young officer stood in the open doorway. A small candle burned on a table behind him and, in its soft light, Annie studied his face. Clear eyes reflected the calm of one who faced death bravely.
Smiling, he said,"What trouble you should have gotten into if your aunt had turned around!" That night, Annie learned Aunt Bet was one of many daring Southerners whose hatred of slavery drove them to risk their lives by spying for the North. The girl chatted as she dared, wishing her new friend luck when he said he would leave at dawn.
Back in her room, Annie felt proud and was determined to guard her family's secret to the end. | high22711.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "It will be the Games of the 30th Olympiad."
},
"options": [
"It will be the first time for the Olympics to come to South America.",
"It will be the Games of the 30th Olympiad.",
"They will be held in the host country's winter... | The 2016 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, is a major international multi-sport event. The host city of the Games will be Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as announced at the 121st IOC Session held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on October 2, 2009. They are scheduled to be held from August 5 to 21, 2016, making them the first Summer Olympics to be held during the host city's wintertime. This will mark the first time a South American city hosts the event, and also the first time a Portuguese-speaking country hosts the event.
"The world has recognized that the time has come for Brazil," said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
There have been questions about Rio's bid because of the high level of violence which so often scars the city's image, but in one glorious moment that was all set to one side for a truly Brazilian party.
In his speech earlier, President Lula had promised, "Rio will deliver an unforgettable Games. You will see for yourselves the passion, the energy and the creativity of the Brazilian people."
"It will not be just Brazil's Games but South America's. It will serve to inspire the 180 million young people on the continent. It is time to redress the balance. It is time to light the Olympic flame in a tropical country."
Rio plants to stage all the competitions inside the city, bringing "dynamics to the Games and facilitating the athletes' interaction," according to the bid website. The 2016 Summer Olympic programme features 28 sports and a total of 42 disciplines. | high18499.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the direction of the wind"
},
"options": [
"the size of the lake",
"the direction of the wind",
"the temperature of the lake",
"the strength of the wind"
],
"question": "The level of the snowfall depends on _ ... | The south and east of the Great Lakes is famous for the huge amounts of snow it receives. When the snow starts to fall every year, people start discussing the phrase "lake-effect snow".
Lake-effect snow which is influenced by the movement of cold air over the relatively warm water of the Great Lakes often comes in late autumn and early winter. Because of the at least 20 degrees' difference between the lake water and the overrunning air, it's easy to form huge amounts of snow.
As the cool air crosses the water of Great Lakes, the lowest levels of the atmosphere begin to warm and pick up moisture. This newly warmed atmosphere is lighter than the cold air above it, so it starts rising. As the changed air continues to climb higher and higher, it finally meets much colder atmosphere which changes the moisture into water drops and ice, forming clouds. After this course repeats a number of times, the clouds become heavier and heavier, and then they are changed into snow and fall down.
The most important point that decides the amount of snowfall is the direction of the wind. If the wind runs perpendicularly across the lake, there won't be plenty of time for clouds to develop. However, if the wind runs in the opposite direction, clouds will form easily. The longer the cold air travels over the lake, the more moisture it is able to produce, which leads to a greater amount of snow.
The largest amount of the lake-effect snow was found across the U.P. of Michigan, the northwestern Pennsylvania and the far southwestern and northwestern New York, which are all along the south or east of the Great Lakes. It has been over 100 inches of snowfall in a winter season. | high3844.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "They played before a baseball game."
},
"options": [
"They performed at a football game.",
"They won wsbtv.com's tournament.",
"They played before a baseball game.",
"They got a sum of money as a reward."
],
"qu... | Best High School Band Plays Turner Field
The North Cobb High School Band routinely takes the field every Friday night during football season. The band plays at North Cobb football games.
This week, the band had to get ready a little earlier in the week. That's because they played before the Atlanta Braves baseball game at Turner Field.
North Cobb won wsbtv.com's Best High School Band Tournament last season. The prize for winning was a chance to play on the field at Turner Field before a Major League Baseball game. Tuesday night, the band collected the prize.
"We were excited," North Cobb High School Band drum major Madison Hall said. "Growing up in Atlanta, the Braves have always been such a famous figure in Atlanta, so we were really exited to have the opportunity to perform in front of a lot of people and in front of our community."
The tournament featured 64 high school bands from across Georgia. Wsbtv.com users determined the top four bands through voting with the Atlanta Braves entertainment staff selecting the winner from the final four. They selected North Cobb.
"We have a number of great students at North Cobb," director Greg Williams said.
"We've got the best parents in the world," he said. "The kids are so amazing, they are really bright, talented, and they work hard. They do anything we ask them to do and I really think that's a lot of keys to our success."
Under the leadership of Williams and assistant band director Scott Pannell, the band made its way onto the outfield grass just as Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann was warming up.
"It was amazing," said Pannell. "Just going out in the tunnel and going into the stadium. And just looking at the Braves players on the left and seeing them over by our kids, it's just unbelievable."
The Atlanta Braves have once again partnered with wsbtv.com to reward this year's winner of the Best High School Band Tournament a chance to play at Turner Field. | high20106.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "to recommend a website to veterans and people concerned"
},
"options": [
"to introduce some methods to cure PTSD",
"to instruct PTSD patients to return to civilian life",
"to recommend a website to veterans and people concern... | After successfully serving their terms for 4 years, military service men and women are given the choice to stay in the military or return to civilian life.
For some, having to readjust to civilian life is one of the most challenging assignments our returning soldiers and marines will ever to undertake. While people may think readjusting should be simple, they must take into consideration all physical and mental stress our servicemen went through.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder , or PTSD, is a mental disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat .
Most survivors of trauma return to normal given a little time. In the military, the marines are given a two-week course on how to return to civilian life.
Unfortunately, some will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own, or may even get worse over time. These individual may develop PTSD.
People who suffer from PTSD have difficulty sleeping because they are often reliving the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, and feel deserted or often stand off, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly damage the person's daily life.
Fullerton College, like most colleges, has its own Veteran's Office. Ray Bustos has been running the office for 3 years. Bustos acts as a liaison for the school and the veteran students. He makes sure the veterans returning to school get the right benefits. There are various types of financial aid for soldiers and marines. He strongly encourages the use of the Veteran Affairs website.
The website is very informative and extremely helpful for veterans as well as for friends and relatives of veterans who want to learn more. | high2582.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "a toll booth"
},
"options": [
"his own car",
"other cars",
"a concert",
"a toll booth"
],
"question": "The writer heard music from _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"... | Late one morning in 20 1 2,headed for lunch in San Francisco,I drove towards one of the toll booths .I heard loud music.It sounded like a party,or a Michael Jackson concert.I looked around.No other cars with their windows open.I looked at the toll booth.Inside it,a young man was dancing.
"What are you doing?"I asked.
"I'm having a party,"he said.
"What about the rest of the people?"I looked over at other booths:nothing moving there.
"They're not invited."
I had a dozen other questions for him,but somebody in a big hurry to get somewhere started punching his horn behind me and I drove off.But I made a note to myself'.Find this guy again.There's something in his eyes that says there's magic in his toll booth.
Months later I did find him again,still with the loud music,still having a party.
Again I asked."What are you doing?"
He said."I remember you from the last time.I'm still dancing.I'm having the same party."
I said."Look.What about the rest of the people"
He said."Stop.Do you see other people there?"He pointed down the row of toll booths."Everyday, they just get in the booths,stay for eight hours,do the same motions.Brain is on hold,dead on the job.But I am enjoying my life and I'm going to be a dancer someday."
Sixteen people are dead on the j ob,and the seventeenth,in nearly the same situation,finds out another way to live.He and I did have lunch later, and he said. "I don't understand why anybody would think my job is boring.I have a comer office,glass on all sides.I can see the Golden Gate,San Francisco.the Berkeley hills.Half of the western people have vacations here while I can stay here every day and practise dancing for the future success.'' | high17972.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "About 1.9 million."
},
"options": [
"About 3.5 million.",
"About 3 million.",
"About 1.9 million.",
"About 0.96 million."
],
"question": "How many people are very careful not to let their partner know their inco... | Do you usually go Dutch(AA) when you take someone out to dinner? Do you expect your date to pay for the whole meal?
Many people say that as long as there's love, money doesn't matter much. But this might change when the relationship gets serious and it is related to the money borrowed from the bank, the family present accounts and debt.
A survey among 8 million couples in the UK suggested that 44% of married couples don't know exactly what their partner earns. An astonishing 23% actively try to keep their finances secret from their partners. About 38% of them are open to each other. Another 12% refuses to tell the truth.
British relationship expert Russell says: "It's very difficult to talk about money. Often there's guilt, there's shame. To start those conversations is difficult. Money can be about how we value ourselves, how we feel valued. It's not just a simple case of talking about hard cash."
So if you are in a couple, it might be a good idea to check if you both are on the same page about money before bills pile up on the kitchen table and love flies out of the window. When moving in together, couples should not only talk about their personal habits but also about their financial ones.
Russell has a word of advice: "Accept the fact that in your relationship you might do money differently - there might be a spender or a saver. It's very attractive if your partner does things differently to say they're wrong. Do it differently but plan it well."
And now, back to that date. Would you be bored with someone who was attractive but expected you to pay the bill by yourself? There's food for thought. | high19787.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Because other people's peace and quiet is more important."
},
"options": [
"Because hundreds of people can hear them talk.",
"Because they are asked to turn off their mobiles.",
"Because other people's peace and quiet is more... | While they were almost unknown twenty years ago, it seems that mobile phones these days are part of everyone's life. However, as with other inventions such as the television and the computer, they are a double-edged sword, inviting both supporters and opponents, especially in regard to their use in public places like restaurants and cinemas.
One of the strongest arguments in favor of forbidding mobiles in public places is the trouble they cause to other people. For example, although we are often asked to turn off our phones when in a cinema, the film that we are watching is often interrupted by the sound of at least five rings. To make it even worse, some people insist on continuing their conversation, even though hundreds of people can hear what they say, which often drowns out the voice from the film. As a result, many people would welcome a ban on mobile phones in places where they might disturb other people.
On the other hand, there are a number of arguments against such a ban. It is difficult to stop people bringing with them their mobile phones in public places, making it almost impossible to call for a ban. Some people would see this as an infringement of their rights, while other people would say they need them in case of an emergency. Despite being asked to silence their phones, some people insist on leaving them on.
It seems to me that a ban on mobile phones would not have any result in the end. People will find a way to escape a ban. Nevertheless, people should be discouraged from using them in public places, unless it is highly necessary. They should be made to know that it is bad manners to use them in certain places or at certain times. Of course, there will always be someone who thinks their call is more important than others' peace and quiet! | high21218.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "best friends"
},
"options": [
"mothers",
"best friends",
"acquaintances",
"romantic partners"
],
"question": "According to the passage, college students felt closest to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_ques... | How Many Lies Do the Children Tell You?
Mothers who feel their children don' t appreciate them can add another _ to the list: half the time, their children are lying to them. A study designed to expose the truth about lying shows that undergraduates lie to their mothers in 46% of their conversations. Still, mums should feel better than total strangers, who are told lies an astonishing 77 % of the time.
Bella Depaulo and a team of psychologists from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, asked 77 undergraduates to keep a record of all their conversations for a week, and write down whether they lied at any time. DePaulo named lying broadly, as "when you intentionally try to mislead someone", so she would catch the smallest of lies.
The students told an average of two lies a day. They said they had been studying when they had been out drinking. One told his parents that a textbook cost $50 rather than $20 so that they would send him extra money. Female students constantly told their plain-looking roommates that they were pretty. "They are everyday lies," says DePaulo.
DePaulo and her colleagues conclude that people tend to tell fewer lies to those they feel closest to. College students lied to their best friends 28% of the time but lied to acquaintances 48% of the time. In close relationships, people were more likely to tell "kind-hearted" lies, designed to protect feelings, rather than self-serving lies.
Romantic partners lie somewhere between close friends and acquaintances. Students lied to romantic partners about a third of the time. DePaulo thinks that unmarried lovers can expect less honesty than best friends because of the insecurity that comes with romance.
Mothers can take heart from one other finding. They may have been lied to, but at least their children talked to them. The students were recorded telling few lies to their fathers because they had little interaction with them. | high4695.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "in order to set a record"
},
"options": [
"in order to set a record",
"for they were good friends",
"for they had a lot to say to each other",
"to train their thumbs"
],
"question": "The two young men sent so ma... | Their thumbs sure must be sore.
Two central prefix = st1 /Pennsylvaniafriends spent most of March in a text - messaging record attempt, exchanging a thumbs-flying total of 217,000.
For one of the two, that meant an inches-thick itemized bill for $ 26,000.
Nick Andes, 29, and Doug Klinger, 30, were relying on their unlimited text messaging plans to get them through the escapade , so Andes didn't expect such a big bill.
" It came in a box that cost $ 27.55 to send to me." he said. He said he "panicked" and called T-Mobile, which said it would investigate the charges.
The two Lancaster-area residents have been practically non-stop texters for about a decade since they attended Berks Technical Institute together.
That led Andes to searching for the largest monthly text message total he could find posted online: 182,000 sent in 2005 by Deepak Sharma in India.
Andes and Klinger were able to set up their phones to send multiple messages. During a February test run they found they could send 6,000 or 7,000 messages on some days, prompting the March messaging marathon.
" Most were either short phrases or one word, 'LOL' or 'Hello', things like that , with tons and tons of repeats," said Andes, reached by phone.
Andes sent more than 140,000 messages, and Klinger sent more than 70,000 to end the month with a total of just over 217,000, he said.
A spokesman for Guinness World Records didn't immediately return messages asking whether it would be certified as a record.
April came as a relief to Andes' wife , Julie, who had found his phone tied up with texting when she tried to call him on lunch breaks.
" She was tired of it the first few days into it, "Andes said. | high23369.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "be responsible for a well-organized class"
},
"options": [
"free students from outside pressures",
"set the standards and rules on his own",
"be responsible for a well-organized class",
"focus more on instruction and ev... | Teaching is more than leadership. Some of the teacher's time and effort is directed toward instruction, some toward evaluation. But it is the teacher as a group leader who creates an effective organizational structure and good working environment so that instruction and evaluation activities can take place. A group that is totally disorganized, unclear about its goals, or constantly fighting among its members will not be a good learning group. The leadership pattern includes helping to form and _ a positive learning environment so that instruction and evaluation activities can take place.
On the first day of class, the teacher faces a room filled with individuals. Perhaps a few closely united groups and friendships already exist. But there is no sense of group unity, no set of rules for conduct in the group, no feeling of belonging. If teachers are successful leaders, they will help students develop a system of relationships that encourages working together.
Standards and rules must be set to keep order, make sure of justice and protect individual rights, but do not contradict school policy. What happens when one student hurts another's individual rights? Without clear regulations agreeable to the students and teachers, the classroom can become chaotic. Students may break rules they did not know existed. If standards are set without participation from the class, students may spend a great deal of creative energy in destroying the class environment or finding ways to break rules.
No matter how skillful the teacher is in uniting students and creating a positive atmosphere, the task is never complete. Regular maintenance is necessary. Conflicts arise. The needs of individual members change. A new kind of learning task requires a new organizational structure. Sometimes outside pressures such as holidays, upcoming tests or sport competitions, or family troubles cause stress in the classroom. One task for the teacher is to recreate a positive environment by helping students deal with conflict, change, and stress. | high6082.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Teenagers shouldn't talk with strangers in public."
},
"options": [
"Teenagers should give up their seats to the old.",
"Teenagers shouldn't talk with strangers in public.",
"Teenagers mustn't use aggressive language in publi... | Teenagers will be told to "stand up for their elders" on public transport -- or risk losing their right to free travel.
London Mayor Boris Johnson will declare plans today to make youngsters sign a "courtesy pledge" to promise to behave in a respectful manner when travelling in the capital. The three-point pledge states that they will give up their seats to the elderly, pregnant and disabled; keep from using offensive or threatening language; and be courteous and polite to fellow passengers and staff.
Those who refuse, or are caught behaving in a _ manner, will have their free travel passes removed. The plan -- a key part of Mr. Johnson's re-election bid-- will initially affect the 400,000 ll-to-15-year-olds in London who qualify for free travel cards, but Tory sources believe the idea could be used across the country.
A Conservative insider said: "The plan corresponds perfectly with the push to create a Big Society. It is about changing culture and expectations around behavior to improve the atmosphere on buses and trains for everyone."
Speaking before today's launch, Mr. Johnson said he was determined to deal with the anti-social behavior of a "minority of youngsters" on public transport. "When I was a boy, I was taught to stand up for those less able to, "he said. "Youngsters enjoy the privilege of free travel, which is paid for by Londoners, but they have to understand that with that privilege comes responsibility. Anyone who abuses this privilege will have it taken away, and will have to earn that right bach ."
Teenagers found guilty of a serious violation of the new behavior rules will lose their travel passes, and will have to carry out unpaid community work to earn them back.
Mr. Johnson is also introducing a "two strikes and you're out" policy to deal with repeat offenders, under which those committing a second serious violation of the rules will lose their travel rights permanently. | high279.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "They were treated unfairly."
},
"options": [
"They were treated equally.",
"They were treated unfairly.",
"They had no rights to take a bus.",
"They were not allowed to take the same bus with the white."
],
"que... | The Beginning of the Civil Rights Movement
In 1955,bus seats for African Americans and whites were separated in parts of the U.S.. On December 1,1955,in the city of Montgomery,Alabama,a conflict,or disagreement,started when an African American woman named Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white man and go to the back of the bus. The police took 42yearold Parks to jail.
The African American community was extremely angry. They had a meeting and decided to work together to protest discrimination. They agreed to boycott the buses on the day that Parks went to court. The day was a success. Empty buses drove through the streets. The city lost money. The community decided to continue the boycott. They elected a man named Martin Luther King,Jr. to be the leader.
The boycott continued. It was difficult for African Americans to get to work without buses,but they didn't stop the boycott. The city continued to lose money. Finally,the U.S. Supreme Court decided that Montgomery's bus laws were unfair and gave the African American community equal right. On December 21,1956,the bus boycott ended.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. The movement eventually led to the Civil Rights Act in 1964,a set of laws that made discrimination a crime. During the Montgomery Bus Boycott,people worked together to change the government. Today,people in the U.S. continue to work together for a change. Now hundreds of organizations and community groups work to protect the rights of U.S. citizens and residents. | high1935.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "They are suitable for teenagers."
},
"options": [
"They are expected to help parents to better direct their children in the summer vacation.",
"They include five RPG, forty chess games and one educational game.",
"They are su... | China's Ministry of Culture has recommended 10 cyber games that are suitable for minors to play as part of its drive to purify the on-line environment for the young.
The 10 cyber games were selected by the ministry's on-line games censorship committee from scores of games recommended by the Chinese public.l
The games are all domestic products. They include five role playing games (RPG), four recreation and chess games, and one educational game, such as "Warring States II Online," "Rainbow Island Online," and "Wonderlands of learning and games."
These games have made their way into the final recommendation list because they are considered "healthy" and can "enhance intelligence," according to the ministry.
The ministry hoped the list could serve a a guidance for parents to better direct their children in the winter vacation, which usually lasts nearly two months from January to February each year.
This was the third time for the ministry to publish recommended cyber games list. The previous two were made public respectively in January 2006 and August 2005 with a total of 25 games inlisted.
In the past few years, on- line games have become the favorite pastime of young people. However, it is argued that such social problems as game addiction, juvenile delinquency and perversion among minors by on-line violence and pornography have come from an inadequately regulated Internet.
About 9.72 percent of Chinese netizens between the ages of 13 and 30 suffer Internet addiction, said a report issued last month by the China Youth Association for Network Development (CYAND).
According to the China Internet Network Information Center (CINIC), the main Internet watchdog, China had 210million Internet users at the end of 2007 and its online population is on course to become the world's largest at the beginning of this year.
Net users between 18 and 30 accounted for 49.9percent of the total users. Although the CINIC did not give the figure of those below 18, teenagers and youths have obviously taken up more than half of the total number of net users. And the number of users under age 18 increased rapidly last year, the CINIC noted. | high10953.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "It is far from beneficial for those academically inexperienced students."
},
"options": [
"Students take passive part in small discussion classes.",
"The professors need more room to present their talents.",
"Lectures are mai... | My friend Fowkes, tells a story of a class he took in 1930s, when books were short and expensive. On the first day the professor marched up to the blackboard, looked through his notes, cleared his throat, and began. Fowkes was the only student in the course. Once Fowkes fell ill and missed a class. When he returned, to Fowkes' s astonishment, the professor began to deliver not the next lecture in the sequence but the one after. Had he lectured to an empty hall in the absence of his only student? It was perfectly possible.
Today, professors continue to lecture and students to listen much as they did. It' s time for us to abandon the lecture system and turn to methods that really work.
Attending lectures is passive learning ,at least for inexperienced listeners. Active learning, in which students write essays or perform experiments and then have their work evaluated by an instructor, is far more beneficial for those who have not yet fully learned how to learn. Most students learn best by engaging in debate. They need small discussion classes that demand a joint effort of teacher and students rather than classes in which one person, however learned, expresses his or her own ideas.
The lecture system harms professors as well. It reduces feedback to a minimum, so that the lecturer can neither judge how well students understand the material nor benefit from their questions or comments. Questions that require the speaker to clarify unclear points and comments that challenge inadequately constructed arguments are indispensable to scholarship. Without them, the liveliest mind becomes dull.
If lectures make so little sense, why have they been allowed to continue? The truth is that lectures are easier on everyone than debates. Lectures give some students an opportunity to sit back and let the professor run the show. In a classroom where everyone contributes, students are less able to hide and professors have less room to show off how smart they are.
Worse still, the lectures too frequently come at the wrong end of the students' educational careers -- during the first two years, when they most need close, even individual, instruction. If lecture classes were restricted to junior and senior undergraduates and to graduate students, who are more academically independent and more capable of working on their own, they would be far less destructive of students' interests and enthusiasms. After all ,students must learn to listen before they can listen to learn. | high20890.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "all the above"
},
"options": [
"taxis were too expensive",
"they could go sightseeing on foot",
"the underground made the wife feel sick",
"all the above"
],
"question": "The couple chose a small hotel in the We... | My wife and I spent two weeks in London last year. We went there in the autumn. We think it is the best season to visit England. The weather is usually good and there aren't too many tourists in October.
We stayed in a small hotel in the West End. It was convenient as we did most of our sightseeing on foot. Taxis were too expensive, we couldn't understand the bus routes, and my wife didn't like traveling under the ground. She said it made her feel sick.
We went to look at the places which all tourists visit. We saw Buckingham Palace. We went shopping in Oxford Street and spent too much money. What we liked most, though, was going to the theatre. We didn't have the chance to see such wonderful plays at home. A lot of people say English food is bad. We didn't think so. It is true that most of the restaurants are French or Italian or Chinese, but we had some very good meals.
In fact, we enjoyed our holiday so much that we have already booked again for this year. We are going to take our umbrellas, though. I'm sure we'll need them sometimes. | high11495.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Communication styles"
},
"options": [
"Communication styles",
"Features of Western culture",
"Communication skills",
"Politeness in communication"
],
"question": "What is the subject of the passage?",
"quest... | The way Westerners communicate tends to be ly explicit and direct. In other words, Westerners tend to put most of their ideas and feelings into words, and then state these ideas and feelings clearly and openly. It is generally considered a good thing to "get to the point "and "say what you mean," and it is largely the speaker's responsibility to ensure that his/her message is stated in a way that is clear and easy to understand.
In contrast , Chinese people tend to communicate in a way that is more indirect and subtle. They often view direct, explicit communication as unsophisticated or even rude. They are more likely to preserve good feelings and relationships by not saying something that might upset or offend another person. If a Westerner makes a request and a Chinese person responds by saying something like "I'll think it over", the Westerner may assume that there is a good chance that the answer will be "yes". In fact, there is a better chance that the implied answer is "no".
One interesting example of the Western preference for very direct communication can be seen in what Western students are taught about how they should organize their writing. Writers are generally expected to state their point as clearly as possible, generally right at the beginning. Students are taught to begin paragraphs with a "topic sentence" that states the point of the paragraph. Also, articles should generally begin with a brief statement of the points to be made -and also conclude with a review of those same points. In contrast, in Chinese writing it is more acceptable to build up to the point rather announcing it right form the start, although it is also acceptable to state the point up front.
It is important to note that Westerners are not all equally direct in their communication styles. For example, the direct communication style is more typical of Western men than of Western women. Furthermore, even in Western culture it is generally not considered good to communicate so directly that you hurt other people's feelings, offend them, or create conflict. | high20648.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the industrial structure needed reforming"
},
"options": [
"the place was too large to manage",
"nothing good could be produced there",
"the industrial structure needed reforming",
"the place was intended for other purp... | There is a unique place where deserted factories have been transformed into a lively artistic zone - where the city's tradition and heritage meet with cutting-edge art and fashion. This is Redtory.
Located at Yuancun Si Heng Lu, not far from the Pearl River of Guangzhou city, Redtory is a creative cultural and industrial zone made up of more than 30 old buildings - mostly red-brick ones. Back in 1956, it used to be the biggest canning factory in China. The factory produced the Can Dace with Black Bean Sauce, an iconic food product in the last century, well-known throughout south-east Asia. After the local government's industrial structure reformations, the canning factory moved away and the workshops were left deserted. There was nothing left but memories in well-preserved Soviet-style buildings.
Not long after the noise of the running machines was gone, posters of advertisement and art were found hanging on the wall in the area. To enrich the cultural and artistic life of the people in Guangzhou, the abandoned factories reopened in 2009 - displaying art, fashion and culture of different forms. Redtory is home to more than 40 establishments including art galleries, themed restaurants and design studios. Large international cultural exchange activities, art exhibitions and seminars are often held here, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Meanwhile, waste materials have been used wisely instead of being thrown away. For instance, some installations standing around the area are made up of the rusty machines or components from the old canning factory.
The shabby and nostalgic appearance combined with fashionable and artistic features makes Redtory uniquely attractive. That may be the reason that Redtory is considered the holy land for young art-lovers in Guangzhou.
Add.: No.128 Yuancun Si Heng Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
Bus: Yuancun Er Heng Rd Stop - 40,44,140,284,293,299,401,504,540,542,583,882;Yuancun Stop Terminal (Meilin Garden) - B11,243;Pazhou Bridge (North) Stop - 137,304,564,B7,B25
Metro: Exit B, Yuancun Station, Line 5 | high23341.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "He only depended on good weather and harvest for survival."
},
"options": [
"He didn't work hard.",
"He had too many children to feed.",
"The villagers kept taking his corn.",
"He only depended on good weather and harve... | Shundagarh is a village on India's east-facing coast. It is a village of simple mud and grass houses built on the beach just above the waterline. The Khadra Hills rise immediately behind the village, to a height of one hundred and fifty meters. A simple, good-hearted old man, whose name was Jalpur, farmed two small fields on the very edge of these hills. From his fields he could see the fishing boats that traveled up and down the coast. He could see the children playing on the sands; their mothers washing clothes on the flat stones where the Shiva River flowed into the sea; and their fathers landing the latest catch or repairing nets and telling stories that had no end.
All Jalpur owned in the world were the clothes he wore day in and day out, the miserable hut that he slept in at night, a few tools and cooking pots - and his fields. The corn that he grew was all that made life possible. If the weather was kind and the harvest was good, Jalpur could live happily enough - not well, but happily. When the sun was fierce, and there was little or no rain, then he came close to the line between life and death.
Last year the weather had been so kind, and the harvest promised to be so good, that Jalpur had been wondering whether he could sell all that he had and live with his son farther up the coast. He had been thinking about doing this for some years. It was his dearest wish to spend his last days with his son and his wife. But he would go only if he could give; he would not go if it meant taking food out of the mouths of his grandchildren. He would rather die hungry than do this.
On the day when Jalpur decided that he would harvest his corn, sell it, and move up the coast, he looked out to the sea and saw a huge wave, several kilometers out, advancing on the coast and on the village of Shundagarh. Within ten minutes everyone in Shundagarh would be drowned. Jalpur would have shouted, but the people were too far away to hear. He would have run down the hill, but he was too old to run. He was prepared to do anything to save the people of Shundagarh, so he did the only thing that he could do: he set fire to his corn. In a matter of seconds the flames were rising high and smoke was rising higher. Within a minute the people of Shundagarh were racing up the hill to see what had happened. There, in the middle of his blackened cornfield, they found Jalpur; and there they buried him.
On his grave, they wrote the words: Here lies Jalpur, a man who gave, living; a man who died, giving. | high13282.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "bad effects of global warming"
},
"options": [
"rapid changes in earth's temperature",
"bad effects of global warming",
"moving of a country to a new place",
"reasons for lowland flooding"
],
"question": "The te... | You might think that "global warming" means nothing more than a rise in the world's temperature But rising sea levels caused by it have resulted in the first evacuation of an island nation--the citizens of Tuvalu will have to leave their homeland.
During the 20th century , sea level rose 8--12 inches. As a result ,Tuvalu has experienced lowland flooding of salt water which has polluted the country's drinking water.
Paani Laupepa , a Tuvaluan government official ,reported to the Earth Policy Institute that the nation suffered an unusually high number of fierce storms in the past ten years .Many scientists connect higher surface water temperatures resulting from global warming to greater and more damaging storms.
Laupepa expressed dissatisfaction with the United States for refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement calling for industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions ,which are a main cause of global warming . "By refusing to sign the agreement ,the US has effectively taken away the freedom of future generations of Tuvaluans to live where their forefathers have lived for thousands of years," Laupepa told the BBC.
Tuvalu has asked Australia and New Zealand to allow the gradual move of its people to both countries .
Tuvalu is not the only country that is vulnerable to rising sea levels .Maumoon Gayoon ,president of the Maldives ,told the United Nations that global warming has made his country of 311,000 an "endangered nation". | high251.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "began to realize the importance of food"
},
"options": [
"found people were crazy about bread",
"began to realize the importance of food",
"thought that cutting bread was amazing",
"learned people hardly baked their own... | I believe that my country, Poland, is a perfect example for a place where food is particularly important. When we were little children, we began to understand how much a loaf of bread meant to our parents--to some it might sound silly but for me the custom of kissing bread before you started cutting it was simply amazing. It's not so common nowadays to treat food that way, since you hardly ever bake your own bread. Besides, everyone would call you crazy if you tried to kiss every bread roll before you ate them! But though we no longer make our food from scratch , some customs have been kept--that's why I feel so sorry every time I have to throw any food away--even though I no longer live with my parents and nobody would blame me for this anymore!
Many people of our nation are still working as farmers, eating what they grow and harvest and therefore enjoying everything more. It's widely known that you value more anything that needs your effort in the first place. In most homes in Poland, especially those of farmers, the whole family would try and have their meals together--extremely difficult now, but so rewarding ! You can share other members' troubles and successes, give your children some attention, or just sit down for a moment instead of rushing through life aimlessly. Furthermore, your body, and stomach in particular will be very grateful for such a time!
In Poland, a wedding, Christmas or even a birthday is celebrated with a great meal. Women in the house get together and cook, sometimes for a few days before the event, and the extremely good or unusual food will be remembered and widely talked about.
You cannot over-value the importance of food in the country. What's more, almost everyone in Poland will be as interested in the topic as I am. | high8087.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "did not know the hole was very deep"
},
"options": [
"were going too fast to stop their cars",
"did not see the hole ahead of them",
"did not know the hole was very deep",
"liked very much driving through water"
],
... | There was once a farmer who lived near a road. It was not a busy road,but from time to time,cars passed the farm.
Near the farm gate, there was a large hole in the road. this hole was always full of water, and the drivers of the cars could not see how deep the hole was. They thought it was probably not deep.So when they drove into the hole, they could not drive out because it was so deep.
The farmer did not spend much time working on his farm. He spent most time watching the hole. Whenever a car drove into it, he would pull the car out with his tractor and he would charge the drivers for much more money than they had expected.
One day, a driver of a car said to him, "You must have made a lot of money pulling cars out of this hole night and day."
"Oh no," the farmer said, "I don't pull cars out of the hole at night. At night I fill the hole with water." | high15195.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "all travellers to Hong Kong"
},
"options": [
"all citizens in Hong Kong",
"all travellers to Hong Kong",
"all persons going to Hong Kong from Kowloon",
"all people travelling in the world"
],
"question": "The no... | During your stay outside Hong Kong, you may have been exposed to certain infectious diseases without your knowledge.
In case you develop any symptom such as fever, chills, skin troubles or vomiting within 14 days of your arrival in Hong Kong, you should consult a doctor or attend an accident & emergency department/general out-patient clinic.
Please bring along this card.
CHIEF PORT HEALTH OFFICER
The Port Health Office
Their staff(clerks) are glad to answer your questions about travel health.
Please enquire at : --prefix = st1 /Hong KongIsland18/F Wuchung House,213 Queen's
Rd. East, Wanchai.
Tel :2938840Fax: 29318848
-- Kowloon
Room 905, Government Offices, Canton Road
Tel :23683361 Fax :23683363 | high22739.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Critical."
},
"options": [
"Critical.",
"Approving",
"uncaring",
"Unclear"
],
"question": "What is the author's attitude towards Plato and Aristotle's theory?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {... | Why do we laugh and get amusement from so many different things,from puns to pratfalls? Why are some things funny to some people and not to others? How is that while a successful joke can cause pleasure,a sick one can cause serious harm?
Over the centuries,various scholars have attempted to produce a universally agreed-upon theory of humor.Plato and Aristotle introduced the superiority theory,the idea that people laugh at the misfortune of others.Their theory seems to explain teasing,but it doesn't work well for knock-knock jokes.Sigmund Freud argued for his relief theory,the concept that humor is a way for people to release psychological tension and reveal their inner fears and desires.His theory works well for dirty jokes,less well for most puns.
The majority of humor expels today agree with the incongruity theory,the idea that humor arises when there's a gap between what people expect to happen and what actually happens.Incongruity has a lot going for it -- jokes with unexpected funny lines,for example,fit well.But scientists have found that in comedy,unexpectedness is overvalued.
With the goal of developing a new,more satisfactory explanation,I produced "the gentle violation theory",the idea that humor arises when something seems wrong or threatening,but is actually OK or safe.A dirty joke,for example,trades on moral or social violations,but it's only going to get a laugh if the person listening is open enough to consider the subject OK to talk about.Similarly,puns can be seen as linguistic violations that still make grammatical sense.
And while most humor theories have struggled to account for tickling ,or just avoided the phenomenon altogether,my theory accounts for even this kind of laughter.Tickling involves violating someone's physical space in a gentle way.People can't tickle themselves -- because it isn't a violation. | high6914.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "To practice English every day and make a record of your achievements."
},
"options": [
"To read English every day.",
"To make a record of your mistakes.",
"To buy a dictionary.",
"To practice English every day and make ... | Some people learn a second language easily. Other people have trouble learning a new language. How can you help yourself learn a new language,such as English? There are several ways to make learning English a little easier and more interesting.
The first step is to feel confident about learning English. If you believe that you can learn,you will learn. Be patient. You do not have to understand everything all at once. It is natural to make mistakes when you learn something new. We can learn from our mistakes.
The second step is to practice your English. For example,write a journal every day. You will get used to writing in English,and you will feel comfortable expressing your ideas in English. After several weeks,you will see that your writing is improving. Besides,you must speak English every day. You can practice with your classmates outside class. You will all make mistakes,but gradually you will become comfortable communicating in English.
The third step is to keep a record of your language learning. You can write this in your journal. After each class,think about what you did. Did you answer a question correctly? Did you understand something the teacher explained? Perhaps the lesson was difficult,but you tried to understand it. Write these achievements in your journal.
You must be positive about learning English and believe that you can do it. It is important to practice every day and make a record of your achievements. You will enjoy learning English,and you will have more confidence in yourself. | high8939.txt |
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