questions list | article stringlengths 9 6.44k | id stringlengths 9 14 |
|---|---|---|
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "The country's reform and opening-up policy."
},
"options": [
"Selling the dried sweet potato slices.",
"The country's reform and opening-up policy.",
"Escaping from his poor hometown.",
"Working harder than any other cl... | I am a Chinese. I've always been making drams from time to time. Those dreams made by each average Chinese like me are certainly Chinese dreams. Dreams vary from person to person, an d also from time to time. But in a certain time, people share the similar dreams here I'd like to share my Chinese dreams with you.
When I was a child in 1970s, poverty kept hovering over my family, just as it did with other average families in the countryside. The unfit second-hand clothes, rain leaking roof of old adobe house became part of my memory. However, the worse impression is that I was feeling hungry all the time. Sometimes hunger bit me so severely that I regarded dried sweet potato slices as a delicious snack. The sharp cracks of chewing are still echoing in my dream. At that time, my dram was getting enough to fill my cooing empty belly.
In the early years of 1980s, as the reform and opening-up policy was carried out, the child dream came true. And then another dream became clearer and clearer in my mind. I must try my best to escape out of my poor and backward hometown. I worked harder at my study than most of my classmates, and, after luckily succeeding in the national college entrance examination, my dream became reality again: after graduation, I became a citizen working in a city. As the first college graduate out of a remote village, my success set an example for my folks. They came to realize that schooling is a good way to change one's fate . In the following years, there were less drop-outs and more college graduates in my village, of which I am proud even today.
Afterwards, I got accustomed to the life of citizens and I began to dream the same things as other peers: a comfortable home, my own car and a big house. Based on my hard-work, more than ten years passed, all of these dreams have been fulfilled. Of course, new dreams will come true sooner or later only if my motherland keeps advancing with current(,)pace.
My Chinese dreams are also ones of other Chinese people. If every individual's dreams come true, the dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will be sure to come true. "The Chinese dream, after all, is the dream of the people," as the Chairman Xi Jingping said. | high8694.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "To explain why The Sound of Music is one of the best movies."
},
"options": [
"To tell people what makes a good movie.",
"To tell people how to enjoy the humor in The Sound of Music.",
"To explain why The Sound of Music is on... | While many people agree that The Sound of Music is one of the best films of all time, some are at a loss to explain why. Well, I'll tell you why it's one of the best movies ever. The Sound of Music simply has everything one could want in a movie.
First of all, it has a real romance--one where you can watch the _ slowly fall in love.
Secondly, it has humor, clever and sarcastic humor. When Schraeder said, " Bye, Maria, I'm sure you'll make a fine nun ." You just want to slap her across the face after hearing that.
Thirdly, it's got adventure. The Nazis are the worst "bad guys" in any movie, so it's great to see Maria, the Captain and the kids outwit them.
Fourthly, it's got great music. The songs of the film are popular all over the world.
Fifthly, it's got great scenery. The plot and dialogue are also amazing. I find new things to admire each time I watch.
Finally, is there a greater scene in any movie than the nuns showing the stolen Nazi car parts? In short, the film doesn't just succeed because it cheers people up with a beautiful love story or songs. It also succeeds because it's a wonderfully-constructed, wonderfully-written, and wonderfully-acted movie. | high6861.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "both put their education in the first place"
},
"options": [
"both put their education in the first place",
"they graduated from the same university",
"the two actresses wrote best-selling books",
"both of them will aba... | Below are Top 10 Scholarly Stars in America in 2011.
It's not always about fame and fortune for these celebs - education is a priority in their lives. Find out what scholarly stars have earned degrees and diplomas or are returning to the classroom as you head back to school.
No. 10: James Franco
James has attended FOUR prestigious universities in his life: UCLA, New York University, Columbia University and Yale University. We hear he's is so serious about school, he missed the Oscar nominations to attend class!
No. 9: Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman is so Ivy League: she graduated from Harvard University in 2003, thanks to her parents, who she says always made sure she put her studies before her acting.
No. 8: Haley Joel Osment
When students at NYU heard Haley Joel would be joining them as a freshman in 2006, they chalked the campus' sidewalks with his famous Sixth Sense movie line: "I see dead people."
No. 7: Emma Watson
Although Emma Watson put her education on hold to wrap up the Harry Potter film series, in July 2011 she announced that she was going back to school at Brown University to complete her degree.
No. 6: Dakota and Elle Fanning
Celeb sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning are stars on screen and in class. Dakota was her high school's homecoming queen two years in a row while Elle, who still attends middle school, somehow manages to balance her acting career with math tests and gym class.
No. 5: Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson graduated from NYU in 2009. Mara, who played the adorable Nattie in Mrs. Doubtfire, eventually grew up and headed to New York to attend NYU's Tisch School of the Arts; she graduated in 2009.
No. 4: Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks is known for being a savvy businesswoman, but even the best could use some formal training. She enrolled in Harvard Business School in 2011 and even went so far as to live in a dorm with her fellow classmates!
"We live in dorms," confirmed the TV star. "I have my own room but we share a kitchen, living room and study area. It's mandatory dorms. I freaked out. In the beginning I was like, 'Oh yes, I'm going to Harvard and I'll be at the Four Seasons down the street.' And they were like, 'Girl, you're living in dorms!'"
No. 3: Shakira
Singer Shakira is resting her hips and giving her brain a workout at UCLA, attending classes on the history of western civilization so she could "learn from the best".
No. 2: Steven Spielberg
Director Steven skipped getting a formal education to be an unpaid intern at Universal Studios, where he learned his tricks of the _ . But eventually he did go back and earned his film degree in 2002.
No. 1: Danica McKellar
Danica McKellar is a math whiz. She used to be known for starring as Winnie Cooper in the Wonder Years, but Danica is also a UCLA graduate, math whiz and education advocate who's written three best-selling books encouraging middle-school girls to have confidence and succeed in mathematics. | high442.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "find out the causes of wildfires in the northern Rocky Mountains region"
},
"options": [
"find out solutions to forest fires",
"prevent wildfires from happening frequently -",
"know more about the climate changes in the pa... | A wood fire can be handy when you ' re camping. You can roast marshmallows or stay warm, for example. Forest fires that rage out of control, however, are a big problem.
Wildfires cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage every year. And the amount of destruction has grown over the last 2 decades,especially in the western United States.
To understand better why the northern Rocky Mountains region has been hit especially hard by wildfires, scientists from the University of Arizona in Tucson looked at weather, snow, and fire records from 1970 to 2003.
Their study showed that, between 1987 and 2003, fires burned an area 6. 5 times larger than the area burned between 1970 and 1986. The fire season also started earlier-, and its average length increased by 78 days.
Warmer spring and summer temperatures appear to be part of the explanation for this change. The average temperature in the study's more recent period was 0.871 higher than it was in the earlier period. And this trend is likely to continue. Experts predict that average summer temperatures may rise between 23/4 and 53/4 by the year 2050 in western North America.
Hie timing of snowmelt appears to be another cause of the fire boom. When snow melts early in the season,forests become drier through the summer and catch fire and burn more easily. Western snow packs now typically melt a week to a month earlier than they did 50 years ago, according to recent studies.
Some people have blamed the growing fire risk on policies that allow bush and branches to build up on forest floors. But clearing bush by itself won' t help much if changes in climate are largely responsible for increasingly severe forest fires. | high22894.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "The safety of skydivers."
},
"options": [
"The safety of skydivers.",
"The success of beginners.",
"Free videos for skydivers.",
"Free skydive courses."
],
"question": "What is the advantage of Skydive Byron Bay... | Why jump with us?
We are the only skydive centre in Byron Bay - Australia's most easterly point. Get a bird's-eye view and experience the magic of Byron Bay from 14,000 feet! With Skydive Byron Bay.
We have the most experienced staff and the best safety record in Australia. We welcome fun jumpers from around the world. We offer the AFF (Accelerated Freefall) course for people who want to learn to skydive solo .
We have the best videos, the best views over Byron Bay and the best prices.
Owner and chief instructor, Ray Palmer, has done over 11,500 jumps and has represented Australia in the world championships 7 times! He was the original skydiver from the Coca Cola Skysurfing commercial in 1991.
So for Byron's original and most experienced skydive centre, come and see us!
Tyagarah Airport Phone: (02) 6684 1323
PO Box 1615 Fax: (02) 6684 6323
Byron Bay NSW 2481 Free call: 1800 800 840
Australia info@skydivebyronbay.com
JUMP THE BAY
Incredible! Words can never describe how brilliant it is! The staff were great, easy to talk to and made it more awesome than I could have imagined. Thank you for the BEST experience of my life!--Kylie, UK
Make sure you go with these guys at Byron Bay. The whole experience was FANTASTIC! The sky was awesome! The staff were tremendous! The view was incredible and the video, something to treasure!--Grace, Australia | high13491.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "$75"
},
"options": [
"$25",
"$75",
"$80",
"$2000"
],
"question": "How much did Myers' students pay for the rain forest they bought?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answ... | Mike Myers is a teacher at Chauncey Rose High School in Terre Haute, Indiana. Last year, he taught his students about the world's rain forests. They learned that rain forests are important because the plants and animals of the rain forest give us food, wood, and medicine.
Destruction of the world's rain forests is a serious problem. Unluckily, rain forests are disappearing at a rate of 80 acres per minute! As part of a class project, Myers' students bought three acres of rain forest in Costa Rica. They paid $25 per acre. The students hope that the land they bought will be protected and not destroyed. The students became so interested in rain forests that they decided to get a closer look at a real rain forest.
So last June, Myers and four of his students took a boat ride down a river. They saw alligators and crocodiles. In the middle of the week, a guide took Myers and his students into the rain forest. "The monkeys were not happy that we were in their forest. They broke small branches off the trees and threw them at us," one of the students said, "It was a great learning experience for all of us," said Myers.
Each student chose something specific about Costa Rica to study involving the plants, animals, food, and culture. During the last few days the group had time to do fun activities. They went whitewater rafting and horseback riding, and visited Costa Rica's active volcano.
Myers hopes to make the trip every year with a different group of kids. | high12957.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "She helped end school segregation in New Orleans."
},
"options": [
"She served on the U.S. federal court.",
"She got along well with the U.S. marshals.",
"She helped end school segregation in New Orleans.",
"She brought... | Fifty-two years ago in the USA, a little black girl named Ruby Bridges arrived at her new primary school. The school was in New Orleans, Louisiana.
As she walked toward the school's front door, an angry crowd of people shouted at her. United States marshals walked with her. A marshal is a police officer. They were there to protect the first grader. That's because the people didn't want Ruby to go inside the school. But the 6-year-old walked into the school anyway. As she did, she marched into history books.
The day was Nov. 14, 1960. On that morning, little Ruby became one of the first African Americans to attend an all-white primary school in the South.
Before then, the law in many states said that black children could not attend the same schools as white children. People of different races also had to use separate public restrooms. It was called segregation. That is when people of different races are kept separate.
U.S. leaders worked to end segregation. They helped bring civil rights to all Americans. Those are the rights mean that all people should be treated equally. A few months before Ruby started school, a federal court had just ordered an end to school segregation in New Orleans.
By the time Ruby started the second grade, there were no more angry people outside her school. There were other African American students in her class. Today, children of all races go to school together.
Bridges said she was never scared to go to school during the first grade. She wasn't really afraid and she didn't really know what was going on at the time. | high3931.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "constant exercise"
},
"options": [
"constant exercise",
"strict coaches",
"high speed",
"good techniques"
],
"question": "According to the text, confidence comes from _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questi... | Don't you just love ice skating every winter? I am sure, that since winter is approaching, your skates are set to come out, just waiting to be used. Impress your friends with your new trick on how to ice-skate backwards with the help of these tips. Skating backwards on ice is a bit difficult but once you master the basic, there' s nothing like it. Follow the steps given below and you will be able to skate backwards in no time.
Stand Straight
The first thing that you need to do is, stand straight. If you feel that you are falling backwards, then just put your chin up and slightly bend your knees. Don't worry; this happens to all.
Confidence is What You Need
The most important step while learning how to skate backwards, is having enough confidence in yourself and in what you are doing. How can you achieve this? By practice. Just practice rolling backwards down a gentle slope every single day or just by pushing off from a wall or something of that sort. But before you do that, make sure that the place where you are practicing is free from any kind of debris because otherwise, you could end up in the hospital due to some accident. While going backwards, just get used to the feeling of moving backwards. One of the important ice skating tips and techniques is that if you feel that you are losing your balance, then scissor your skates. Keep practicing this till you are confident about it.
Maintain Speed
Confident now? Great! Now the next step is to maintain your speed. While rolling in a straight line with one skate, with the other try sculling , that is, keep pushing yourself backwards with an outwards stroke . Now bring the skate which you were using to scull, and then again, repeat the same process. Make sure that you put most of your weight on the skate which is moving straight and not the one with which you are sculling. Now, try the same thing using the other foot. Again keep doing this till you are confident enough.
Increase Your Speed Now
Once you are confident that you can scull with either foot, the next thing that you have to do is increase your speed. Try some of your own tricks now. Scull with either foot or with both at the same time.
Scull and Be Aware
While you keep one foot straight, keep sculling with the other. You can do that simultaneously with both feet. Concentrate on what you are doing but don't get so involved that you don't see where you are going. If you are not watching your back, you might just bang against something or someone. | high5398.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "The Dodo lacked the ability to protect itself from other animals"
},
"options": [
"The Dodo lacked the ability to protect itself from other animals",
"Sailors to the prefix = st1 /IslandofMauritiuslived mainly on the Dodo",
"... | Many animal and plant species have become extinct and many more are in critical danger. Finding ways to protect the earth's wildlife and conserve the natural world they inhabit is now more important than ever.
Dodo
The Dodo is a classic example of how human caused damage to the earth's biology. The flightless Dodo was native to the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It lived off fruit fallen from the island's trees and lived unthreatened until humans arrived in 1505. The easily controlled bird became a source of food for sailors and was attacked by animals introduced to the island by humans such as pigs, monkeys and rats. The population of Dodos rapidly decreased and last one was killed in 1681.
Rhinos
The Rhino horn is a highly priced item for Asian medicine. This has led to the animal being hunted in its natural habitat. Once widespread in Africa and Eurasia, most rhinos now live in protected natural parks and reserves . Their numbers have rapidly decreased in the last 50 years, and the animals remain under constant threat from poachers .
The Giant Panda
The future of the World Wildlife Fund's symbol is far from certain. As few as 1000 remain in the wild. The Chinese government has set up 33 panda reserves to protect these beautiful animals and made poaching them punishable with 20 years in prison. However, The panda's distinct black and white patched coat fetches a high price on the black market and determined poachers still pose one of the most serious threats to the animals continued existence.
Whales
The International Whaling Commission is fighting to ensure the survival of the whale species. Despite the fact that one-third the world's oceans have been declared whale sanctuaries , 7 out of 13 whale species remain endangered. Hunted for their rich supply of oil, their numbers have decreased to just 300. Collisions with ships, poisonous pollution and being caught in fishing nets are other major causes of whale deaths.
Tigers
The last 100 years has seen a 95% reduction in the numbers of remaining tigers to between 5000 and 7000 and the Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers are already extinct. The South China tiger is precariously close to disappearing, with only 20 to 30 still alive. Like the Rhino horn, tigers' bones and organs are sought after for traditional Chinese medicines. These items are traded illegally along with tiger skins. | high17807.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Animals were a good means of transport."
},
"options": [
"Few knew how to use transport wheels.",
"Humans carried farming tools just as well.",
"Animals were a good means of transport.",
"The existence of transport whee... | Almost every machine with moving parts has wheels, yet no one knows exactly when the first wheel was invented or what it was used for. We do know, however, that they existed over 5,500 years ago in ancient Asia.
The oldest known transport wheel was discovered in 2002 in Slovenia. It is over 5,100 years old. Evidence suggests that wheels for transport didn't become popular for a while, though. This could be because animals did a perfectly good job of carrying farming tools and humans around.
But it could also be because of a difficult situation. While wheels need to roll on smooth surfaces, roads with smooth surfaces weren't going to be constructed until there was plenty of demand for them. Eventually, road surfaces did become smoother, but this difficult situation appeared again a few centuries later. There had been no important changes in wheel and vehicle design before the arrival of modem road design.
In the mid-1700s, a Frenchman came up with a new design of road--a base layer of large stones covered with a thin layer of smaller stones. A Scotsman improved on this design in the 1820s and a strong, lasting road surface became a reality. At around the same lime, metal hubs (the central part of a wheel) came into being, followed by the pneumatic tyre in 1846. Alloy wheels were invented in 1967, sixty years after the appearance of tarmacked roads . As wheel design took off, vehicles got faster and faster. | high4086.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "To help newly developing countries to develop."
},
"options": [
"To help increase the economy of the world.",
"To help emphasize the importance of the economic field.",
"To help newly developing countries to develop.",
... | In the social and economic fields the UN increased its efforts to fight against poverty, ignorance, hunger, and disease and to help raise the standards of living in the newly developing countries.
The sixteenth General Assembly placed considerable emphasis on the idea of economic development by planning the current decade as the United Nations Decade of Economic Development. The agreement called upon UN members to help the newly developing countries achieve a minimum rate of growth of 5% by the end of the decade. It also emphasized the need for industrial development and encouraged cooperation with respect to regional-development programs.
In the past the organs and agencies of the UN in the economic field have concentrated largely on economic development. Increased attention was directed towards the need for balance and integration in economic and social development. It was emphasized at various UN meetings that particular attention must be given in the new nations to such problems as urbanization, housing, community development, and child welfare.
The Assembly has also offered a $100,000,000 world food program designed to use surplus food to encourage the development of needy countries. The program would improve upon the present unsatisfactory method of disposing of surplus food supplies and would enable the poorer nations to use more of their resources for development purposes.
Many of the UN specialized agencies increased their budgets. This means that such agencies as the Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, the World Health Organization, and the International Labor Organization will be pushing ahead at an increasing rate to deal with problems in their respective fields.
The Assembly again set $150,000,000 as the target figure for the work of the UN Technical Assistance Program and the Special Fund. If funds are available, technical assistance will move ahead at a faster speed. | high22664.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "determine one's behavior"
},
"options": [
"determine one's behavior",
"reflect one's taste",
"influence one's surroundings",
"result from one's habits"
],
"question": "According to the passage, personalities and... | It's generally believed that people act the way they do because of their personalities and attitudes. They recycle their garbage because they care about the environment. They pay $5 for a caramel brulee latte because they like expensive coffee drinks.
It's undeniable that behavior comes from our inner dispositions , but in many instances we also draw inferences about who we are, as suggested by the social psychologist Daryl Bern, by observing our own behavior. We can be strangers to ourselves. If we knew our own minds, why should we need to guess what our preferences are from our behavior? If our minds were an open book, we would know exactly how much we care about the environment or like lattes. Actually, we often need to look to our behavior to figure out who we are.
Moreover, we don't just use our behavior to learn about our particular types of character --- we infer characters that weren't there before. Our behavior is often shaped by little pressures around us, which we fail to recognize. _ Maybe we buy lattes in order to impress the people around us. We should not mistakenly believe that we always behave as a result of some inner disposition.
Whatever pressures there can be or inferences one can make, people become what they do, though it may not be in compliance with their true desires. Therefore, we should all bear in mind Kurt Vonnegut's advice: "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." | high6849.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "there are a number of colleges"
},
"options": [
"there is only one college",
"there is only one top college",
"there are only top universities",
"there are a number of colleges"
],
"question": "In South Korean_.... | The terrible college entrance exam is not only a big challenge for Chinese high school students,but also a very important exam in the lives of South Korean students.Although the long,cold winter has already started in South Korea.the annual national exams have made the atmosphere very heated.
More than 675,000 South Korean high school graduates took the college entrance exam last Wednesday.They usually take exams in Korean,maths,sociology,history and foreign languages.
Officially there is one college place for every 1.33 students.But because all the students want to go to the top universities in the country,the competition can reach one place for 10 students.The students want to attend these colleges for both their famous names and better job opportunities.
Because students face fierce competition,they have to study very hard to realize their dreams.park Seung said he and his classmates often go to school before 7:30 in the morning.After school has finished at 6:30 P.m,most of them go to the library to continue their study instead of returning home.Since many libraries in South Korea are open 24 hours a day,they often stay long into the night Many of the Senior 3 students only sleep for three to four hours a day.
"I feel a lot of pressure.but I have to study very hard in order to make my dream come true.This is my lifetime goal and it will be a turning point in my life which could decide my future,"Park said.
The exam day is a very serious day for the whole of South Korea.Vehicles are not allowed within a 200-metre radius of all the test sites to make sure the students have quiet surroundings.Noises are forbidden,even airplanes are ordered to avoid landing and take-off near the test sites during listening comprehension test hours.
Students are told their scores in December before they apply for college.This is followed by face-to-face oral tests.There are public and private universities in South Korea .Many private universities are well-known, but their fees can be 18,000 yuan each term.This has made a lot of students think again. | high24215.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Taking photographs of objects ruins one's memory of them."
},
"options": [
"Some unhappy events may impair the effects of photos.",
"Taking photographs of objects ruins one's memory of them.",
"The effects of photos are stron... | Taking photographs at a birthday or a wedding has become as natural as blowing out candles or cutting the cake. But our obsession with recording every detail of our happiest moments could be damaging our ability to remember _ , according to new research. A study has shown that taking pictures rather than concentrating fully on the events in front of us prevents memories taking hold.
Dr. Linda Henkel, from Fairfield University, Connecticut, described it as the "photo-taking impairment effect". She said: "People so often pull out their cameras almost mindlessly to capture a moment, to the point where they are missing what is happening right in front of them. When people rely on technology to remember for them--counting on the camera to record the event and thus not needing to attend to it fully themselves--it can have a negative impact on how well they remember their experiences."
Dr Henkel and her team carried out an experiment in a museum, to learn if taking pictures of the exhibits was hindering the ability of visitors to remember what they had seen.
A group of university students were led on a tour at the Bellarmine Museum of Art at Fairfield University and were asked to either photograph or try and remember objects on display. The next day their memory was tested. The results showed that people were less accurate in recognizing the objects they had photographed than those they had only looked at. It was found that their memory for the details of the objects they had photographed was poorer.
Henkel's lab is currently investigating whether the content of a photo, such as whether you are in it, affects later memory. She is also researching whether actively choosing what to photograph might influence what we remember.
Previous research suggests that reviewing photos we have taken does help us remember the objects, but only if we take the time.
"Research has suggested that the sheer volume and lack of organization of digital photos for personal memories discourages many people from accessing and recalling them. In order to remember, we have to access and interact with the photos, rather than just collect them," said Dr Henkel. | high8864.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "hammer a nail into the back of the fence"
},
"options": [
"break some plates and glasses",
"pull out one nail of the back of the fence",
"hammer a nail into the back of the fence",
"tell his anger to others."
],
... | Nails in the Fence
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper . His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day he had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually _ . He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.
The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said," You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say thing in anger, they have a scar just like these holes. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say 'I am sorry ', the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as physical one."
The little boy then understood how powerful his words were. He looked at his father and said " I hope you can forgive me ,father, for the holes I put in you."
"of course I can," said the father. | high6691.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "with the powerful sunlight the writer's daughter would have got a suntan"
},
"options": [
"they thought it shameful for a girl only to wear a swimsuit",
"the writer's daughter was wearing very little while out in the sun",
"i... | I received pictures of my daughter floating on a lake in California. Right there under the sun during the hottest time of the day, she has only her swimsuit to cover her.
When I showed it to my students, it was as if I had shown them scenes from a horror movie.
"But she will get dark," they said.
"That's what she wants," I told them. "We think darker skin is beautiful."
They looked at me in disbelief. It was as if I came from the moon.
For years, American girls spend their summer trying to get as tanned as possible. In China, on the other hand, girls use umbrellas all year round.
What in the world is going on?
The pale skin we think looks unattractive is what Asian women want. Both groups want to meet their culture's standard of beauty.
In the US, if you can afford to go on vacation in the summer, you head for a river, a lake or a beach, where you try to get as much sun as possible. If you are rich you take a winter vacation in some sunny spot. Your winter tan shows your wealth.
In China, once upon a time, the few wealthy were the ones who didn't have to work out in the hot sun. So the whiter the skin, the richer the woman. The folk opera performers who play these ladies wore lots of white makeup . The tradition survives to this day.
So it comes naturally that none of my students wishes to follow the Western ways in this regard.
But now I am noticing that a new business - the tanning booth - started up in China. I admire those brave enough to define(...)their own idea of beauty, but I do wonder what their grandmothers would have to say to them about it! | high15976.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "To persuade people to care for old men"
},
"options": [
"To introduce how he taught an old man to fish",
"To show how he behaved to an old man",
"To persuade people to care for old men",
"To advise people to go fishing ... | Years ago, I worked for a trucking company as a driver. It was my habit to go to company on Saturday and spend a couple hours maintaining my truck. As I was under the truck, I noticed the owner's elderly father making his way over to his grandson's truck next to mine.
The old man asked the kid to take him fishing. But the grandson told him all about how much he'd love to, but he couldn't due to the prior promises. The old man then walked away. Some minutes later, the father came out and asked his son what the old man had wanted. After telling the story, the kid ended it with saying, "I'm not taking that old man fishing. It's worse than taking a kid."
That just broke my heart.
I quit working immediately and headed home. I loaded up something like a lawn chair, a pole , and headed back to the yard. On the way I bought a big bobber and some worms. When I got there, I knocked on the door and invited him fishing. If I was like taking a kid fishing, I had determined to take him where I'd take a kid.
When we got there I put him in the lawn chair beside the water, baited and cast the line, and handed him the pole. Soon that big old bobber started to dance; he set the hook, drew the fish in skillfully. And handed the pole to me. I unhooked the fish, re-baited and cast, and again handed it to him. This went on for about half an hour at which point he informed me he was tired and needed to go home. Then I got home. When I got him home I gave the fish to his daughter-in-law with instructions to make sure he got them for dinner and then left.
Two weeks later, the old man died. His family told me later all he talked about during that time was his fishing trip. While I get the satisfaction of knowing I took an old man on his last fishing trip, his family has to live with the knowledge that a stranger took their grandpa on his last fishing trip.
Whenever you get the chance, don't forget about taking grandpa fishing, you may be in the same place and you'll want your family to care about you too. | high22102.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Nurse Maitlan"
},
"options": [
"a doctor in Qatar",
"Dr. Brown",
"Nurse Maitlan",
"Agatha Christie"
],
"question": "The one who first suggested the correct cause of the baby's illness was _ .",
"question_... | In 1977, a dead author of detective stories saved the life of a 19-month-old baby in a most unusual way. The author was Agatha Christie, one of the most successful writers of detective stories in the world.
In June 1977, a baby girl became seriously ill in Qatar, near Saudi Arabia. Doctors were unable to find out the cause of her illness with confidence, so she was sent to Hammersmith Hospital in London. She was then only semi-conscious and on the "Dangerously Ill" list. A team of doctors hurried to examine the baby only to discover that they, too, were confused by the very unusual symptoms . While they were discussing the baby's case, a nurse asked to speak to them. "Excuse me," said Nurse Marsha Maitlan, "but I think the baby is suffering from thallium poisoning."
"What makes you think that?" Dr. Brown asked. "Thallium poisoning is extremely rare."
"A few days ago, I was reading a novel called A Pale Horse by Agatha Christie," Nurse Maitlan explained. "In the book, somebody uses thallium poison, and all the symptoms are described. They're exactly the same as the baby's."
"You're very thoughtful and you may be right," another doctor said. "We'll carry out some tests and find out whether it's thallium or not."
Tests showed that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium, a rare metallic substance used in making special glass. Once they knew the cause of the illness, the doctors were able to give the baby the correct treatment. She soon recovered and was sent back to Qatar. Later it was reported that the poison might have come from an insecticide used in Qatar. | high1840.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "thought the elephant was in good condition"
},
"options": [
"knew the elephant was injured",
"found the elephant acted violently",
"tried their best to save the elephant",
"thought the elephant was in good condition"
... | Recently I went to the Tsavo National Park in northern Kenya for a film. We set off early for a distant water hole. A huge elephant,covered with dry mud,drank calmly and deeply. He might have traveled 50 km to reach the water. He wasn-t going to hurry now. He-d drink a while and then rest in the shade, and then drink again-or so we thought. What actually happened was that he drank deeply and stepped away. Then he suddenly fell down. Within minutes he was dead.
We called animal doctor Jeremiah Poghon immediately. He removed the head of a poisoned arrow from the eLephant s body,and let out over 100 litters of pus -the result of the elephants meeting with a poacher months before.
Today's poacher shoots from a blind. He fires an arrow,covered with poison,into the body of an elephant. If the poacher is lucky,the elephant might die in an hour or two; if not,he might have to follow the elephant for days before it dies. Often the arrow head fails to kill the elephant at once-it doesn't mean the poison won't finally kill the elephant,but it will be a slow death. Living in Tsavo through these times,l could see the results of poaching from time to time.
When I think about the death of that elephant,what stays with me is the extraordinary silence after the shocking sound of his body hitting the ground. I took some comfort from the knowledge that as the dead body returned to the soil,some animals would benefit-but I couldn't escape the feeling that with the death of such a large animal,the world seemed a poorer and emptier place. | high19194.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "get relaxed"
},
"options": [
"avoid criticism",
"show his ability",
"get relaxed",
"show his advantage over the former presidents"
],
"question": "According to Obama, he plays golf to _ .",
"question_type... | President Barack Obama has complained about the loss of privacy that comes with being leader of the United States, regretting the loss of simple pleasures such as a long walk or a trip to the car wash or supermarket.
"I just miss - I miss being unknown," he said. "I miss Saturday morning, rolling out of bed, not shaving, getting into my car with my girls, driving to the supermarket, squeezing the fruit, getting my car washed, taking walks. I can't take a walk."
His dream, he said, was to "go through Central Park and watch folks passing by ... spend the day watching people - I miss that".
Faced with criticism for playing more golf than most previous occupants of the White House, he explained that the sport was simply the best way of getting relaxed.
" _ 's the only excuse I have to get outside for four hours," he toldHearstmagazines.
Though he said he enjoyed his life in the White House, he felt disillusioned(,) with the some of the ways of Washington, which he has failed to change, such as the "kabuki dance " among political parties before serious policy discussions begin. His comments may be seen as excuse by critics who have accused him of appearing too detached , and being slow to engage in important issues such as Libya and the near shutdown of the US government last week.
Since arriving at the White House in January 2009, Mr Obama has already racked up 60 rounds of golf in office, more than George W Bush did in his eight years.
In terms of ability,Golf Digestmagazine has ranked Mr Obama eighth out of the 18 presidents who played the game since it became established in the early 20th century. | high2391.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "is a nice and clever spider"
},
"options": [
"is a nice and clever spider",
"often teaches her friends good lessons",
"always sacrifices herself for her friends",
"is disliked by many animals around her"
],
"que... | Charlotte's Web by E.B. White is a children's book.
As the story opens,eight-year-old farm girl Fern Arable stops her father from killing a baby pig who is weaker than his brothers and sisters.The little pig,Wilbur,becomes one of the main characters in the story.Later he will be treated as a friend by Charlotte,a wise and loving spider living on the same farm.Wilbur slowly realizes that the farmer will kill him for his meat in a few months ,and Charlotte decides to help him out.She tries many things to keep Wilbur alive.She writes words in her web describing how wonderful Wilbur is and this makes the farm famous.
White creates a sort of modern animal fable ,in which animals can speak both with each other and with Fern.Also there are many great characters in this book.
The society of animals has many lessons to teach children and adults:friendship,sacrifice ,hope,determination,love,duty,fairness,respect,and many more.
Part of this novel's success is the fact that the author makes a heroine out of a spider,a creature that many people probably dislike.Unlike a lovely little pig or other creatures,a spider is a creature greatly different from humans.White's Charlotte is a truly wonderful character.He tells the story of Charlotte and her friends in a special way.This is a book that no one could ever dislike.It has much to offer to children as well as to older teens and adult readers. | high4938.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "communication is more important than intelligence"
},
"options": [
"communication is more important than intelligence",
"human beings are always more intelligent than animals",
"humans should have the sense of protecting anim... | The world has changed and being intelligent isn't normally equal to being a successful person. Look at the example of the blue whale: it has a huge brain, but it still doesn't know how to avoid whalers or use its large size and weight to deal with those who try to use their body for profit. Scientists hold an opinion that the blue whale is just like some highly intelligent people who fail to succeed. Those highly intelligent people can't succeed in life because they can't communicate well with the world around them.
Intelligence is a word in life that makes you think you are better than others. Intelligence can blind these very people from how others view them. These people also think that the route to power and success results purely from intelligence and they sometimes live in a fantasy world that they create by their supposed brain power.
This is a distance that develops whether or not they realize it and sometimes, a person can be disliked simply because of his or her intelligence. This distance is sometimes so far apart that it gets to the position where they can't listen to each other. One side thinks the other is stupid and the other thinks he/she is haughty . And most of the time it is the intelligent people who lose themselves in this situation. They become unpopular with most of the people around them. This affects them in whatever they do and sooner or later they will lose their confidence.
It doesn't help that they get a culture shock --- especially when they leave college and realize success and richness don't always and sometimes never come naturally with intelligence. While some might think this is a dramatic picture to paint, it is sometimes the end result of some people. | high20715.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Chinese audience long for and cherish his own superhero"
},
"options": [
"Chinese audience long for and cherish his own superhero",
"the film is based on the household legend of the Monkey King",
"the Chinese need a hero to l... | Just three days after hitting the screen across China, the Chinese animation film "Monkey King: Hero is Back" aroused enthusiasm among audience and ticket sales have exceeded 100 million yuan ($16.11 million).Web celebrities and many fans even posted topics about the film on China's Twitter-like Weibo, at which heated discussion are sparked.
"Monkey King: Hero is Back" is based on the household legend of the Monkey King, but tells a not-so familiar story. However, it's still a Chinese style heroic legend and an exciting adventure against evil and darkness in troubled times, according to Lu Wei, the producer.
"Monkey King is China's super hero. It is so popular among Chinese audience because they long for and cherish our own superhero," said Tian Xiaopeng, the director.
Some media also put on a lot of comments from foreigners.
"He's never dead, he's just fallen asleep. We all need a hero to look up to, to give us hope and courage when it is needed. We grew up listening to his tales, his great adventures and heroic deeds. What makes a true hero is not just helping people when one has the power, but having the courage to stand up against the evil even without power. And this is what the film is about. When the hero loses his power and armor, when he is nothing more than an ordinary monkey, what would he do to protect the one he loves? This is also about a group of Chinese dream chasers trying to keep the beacon of hope lit even though being in the most unfavorable situations" from Tumblr.
"Though the film was injected with a little bit of Hollywood, its and creative story has attracted several Chinese cinema aficionados." from Yibada.
One netizen posted after watching the film: "The film sets a new high-bar for the domestic animation film, when I walked out of the theater, I was crying." | high19180.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "report that smoking rate among American teenagers dropped"
},
"options": [
"help the teenagers to keep off the drugs",
"explain the relationship between smoking and diseases",
"report that smoking rate among American teenager... | Drug Use Report
A new study examines drug use by young people in t he United States. The study found that cigarette smoking among American teenagers dropped during t he past years. The drop continues a general decrease in teenager smoking rates that started in 1996.
American health officials praised the decrease as good news in the nation's battle against smoking. They note that smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease. Smoking rates among American teenagers increased in the first half of the 1990's. However, teenage smoking rates have been decreasing in recent years.
The University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research supervised the latest study. The Department of Health and Human Services reported the findings.
The study involved more than forty-four-thousand students in more than four-hundred schools across the United States. They were asked about past and daily use of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs.
The youngest students questioned were thirteen years old. The study also involved fifteen-year-old students and seventeen-year-olds.
The most notable change in the study was a continuation of the decrease in cigarette use among thirteen and fifteen-year-olds. For example, about twelve percent of thirteen-year-old students questioned reported smoking at least one cigarette during the past month. Six years ago, the rate was twenty-one percent. Among fifteen-year-olds, the rate dropped from thirty percent in 1996 to twenty-one percent last year.
Tommy Thompson is the secretary of Health and Human Services. He praised the findings. He said more teenagers are making correct choices that will help them avoid health problems caused by tobacco.
The study found that use of alcoholic drinks and illegal drugs among American teenagers remained the same or dropped during the past year. However, the use of one illegal drug known as Ecstasy continued to increase. Yet the rate of increase was not as great as in recent years.
American health officials said they will continue to give teenagers scientific information about the serious health risks of Ecstasy and other illegal drugs. The goal is to further reduce the use of these drugs. | high20701.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "look for gold in California"
},
"options": [
"explore the mystery of the valley",
"find an area with plants for animals",
"experience the terrible heat of summer",
"look for gold in California"
],
"question": "T... | Death Valley is a land of beautiful yet dangerous extremes. Death Valley can be dangerously cold during the winter months. Storms in the mountains can produce sudden flooding on the floor of the Valley.
The air temperature during the summer has been as high as fifty- seven degrees Celsius. The sun can heat the ground so that the temperature of the rocks and soil can be as high as seventy -four degrees Celsius.
Death Valley contains evidence of several ancient volcanoes that caused huge explosions. Evidence of one of these explosions is called Ubehebe Crater. The explosion left a huge hole in the ground almost a kilometer and a half wide. In many areas of Death Valley it is easy to see where the ground has been pushed up violently by movement deep in the Earth. This movement has created unusual and beautiful rock formations. Some are red. Others are dark brown, gray, yellow or black.
The area was named by a woman in 1849. Thousands of people from other parts of the ountry traveled to the gold mining areas in California. They were in a hurry to get there before other people did. One group trying to reach California decided to take a path called the Old Spanish Trail. By December they had reached Death Valley. They did not have to survive the terrible heat of summer, but there was still an extreme lack of water. There were few plants for their work animals to eat.
The people could not find a pass through the tall mountains to the west of the Valley, Slowly, they began co suffer from a lack of food. To survive, they killed their work animals for food and began to walk out of the Valley. As they left, one woman looked back and said, "Good -bye, death valley. " The name has never been changed.
Almost everyone who visits Death Valley visits a huge house called Scotty' s Castle. The building design is Spanish, with high thick walls to provide protection from the fierce heat.
The castle is named for Walter Scott , called Scotty. by his friends. He was a gold miner. He told everyone that he built the house with money he made from his gold mine. Many people believed him. But it was not really the truth. | high1854.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "different cultures have different meanings of facial expressions"
},
"options": [
"different cultures have different meanings of facial expressions",
"people of different backgrounds share similar facial expressions",
"Easter... | Several decades ago, US sociologists developed a series of universal facial images supposed to represent the seven basic human emotions: happiness, sadness, surprise, fear, disgust, anger and neutrality . But now, a new study by researchers at the University of Glasgow indicates that these standardized facial images aren't so universal at all.
For the study, the Scottish researchers found 13 Western Caucasians (mainly Europeans) and 13 East Asians (mostly Chinese students). The volunteers were shown the standardized facial images and asked to identify the emotions being expressed. At the same time, the researchers electrically monitored the eye movements of the volunteers.
According to the results, published in the journal Current Biology, the Asian participants had a harder time than the Caucasians telling the difference between a face meant to look fearful compared with one showing surprise, and a face supposedly expressing disgusting compared with one displaying anger. "This strongly suggests that the meanings of facial expressions are different across cultures," says Rachael Jack, who led the study.
The study also showed that the volunteers focused on different parts of the face in their efforts to understand the underlying emotions. "Westerners look at both the eyes and the mouth to the same degree, yet Easterners favor the eyes and overlook the mouth. This means that Easterners has difficulty distinguishing facial expressions that are similar around the eyes," Ms Jack says. The faces representing fear and surprise" both have big, wide open eyes, while the mouths are very different," she notes. "It would be difficult to distinguish between the two if you didn't look at the mouth."
So why would different cultures express emotions in different ways? Ms Jack thinks it may be considered impolite in some Asian cultures to display certain emotions in an obvious manners, and that they use more subtle ways to express them. In particular, muscle movements around their eyes could be more important for expressing feelings than over-expressive mouth movement, explaining why the Asian participants focused on the eyes. | high22116.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "a natural history museum"
},
"options": [
"a hands-on science museum",
"an art museum",
"a Youtheater",
"a natural history museum"
],
"question": "If a child is interested in the universe, he probably will visit... | Are you looking for some new and exciting places to take your kids to? Try some of these places:
*Visit art museums. They offer a variety of activities to excite your kids' interest. Many offer workshops for making hand-made pieces, traveling exhibits, book signings by children' s favorite writers, and even musical performances and other arts.
*Head to a natural history museum. This is where kids can discover the past from dinosaur models to rock collections and pictures of stars in the sky. Also, ask what kind of workshops and educational programs are prepared for kids and any special events that are coming up.
*Go to a Youtheater. Look for one in your area offering plays for child and family visitors. Pre-show play shops are conducted by area artists and educators where kids can discover the secret about performing arts. Puppet making and stage make-up are just a couple of the special offerings you might find.
*Try hands-on science. Visit one of the many hands-on science museums around the country. These science play-lands are great fun for kids and grown-ups alike. They'll keep your child mentally and physically active the whole day through while pushing buttons, experimenting, and building. When everyone is tired, enjoy a fun family science show, commonly found in these museums. X | high24201.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "a common complaint"
},
"options": [
"a rare problem",
"a sign of illness",
"a common complaint",
"a modern disease"
],
"question": "According to the writer, insomnia is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_quest... | Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or sleep restfully.It is a problem to nearly everyone at some time .A person may be awake for an hour in the middle of the night and then , next morning, feel that he hardly sleep all night Normally, worry about not getting enough sleep is the worst aspect of most insomnia.If insomnia is recurrent, however, it is important to find its causes and try to correct them, with the help of a doctor if necessary.
Any of a large number of simple factors may take it difficult for someone to fall asleep or remain asleep.His matters may be too soft or too hard.If there are too many blankets on a hot night, he may be too warm; if the bedclothes are too light he may feel cold during the night.If it is not dark enough, or too noisy, this may cause difficulty in sleeping.Eating shortly before going to bed also be responsible for insomnia.Stimulating drinks, such as tea or coffee, can also keep people awake.
Inability to fall asleep is sometimes a symptom of emotional or mental disorders.Insomnia may also be caused by pain and, very rarely, it can be a symptom of a physical disease.
The cause of insomnia may be easy to correct.The sufferer should check the mattress, bedclothes and bedroom temperature, and make any necessary changes.An eye mask keeps out the night and ear-plugs shut out sound.He should relax for an hour or two before bedtime, perhaps by reading a book; watching TV, or taking a warm bath.If he wakes during the night he should try turning on the light and reading for a while.Taking warm milk and a biscuit or two may be helpful.Above all, he should try not to worry about sleeplessness when someone is tired enough he nearly always falls asleep.
If necessary, a doctor may prescribe tranquillizers or sleeping pills.Take only the dosage he prescribes; any more is dangerous. | high8870.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Cyclists may raise more money than last year."
},
"options": [
"It is the world's largest charity cycling event.",
"Cyclists may raise more money than last year.",
"The first event was held by the BHF in 1980.",
"The ro... | More than 27,000 people from around the UK set off at dawn from London to begin the cycle route through Surrey to the Sussex coast.
The annual 54-mile ride raises money for the British Heart Foundation(BHF) and is Europe's largest charity cycling event. Cyclists began the exhausting journey at Clapham Common at 6 a. m. , hoping to reach Brighton seafront within an average of six hours.
Money from today's event will help the charity to continue its vital work through heart research and the development of its care and support services. Among those taking part was BBC Breakfast's resident Dr Rosemary Leonard and several colleagues.
BHF spokeswoman Gemma Cloke said, "It was quite cold this morning, but everyone set off without any problems." Those taking part range in age from 14 to those in their 70s. Last year cyclists raisedPS4. 1 million for the charity, and have raised more thanPS50 million since the BHF became involved in the event in 1980. The first ride was held in 1976. It is hoped this year's fund raising total could reachPS4. 5 million. She added : "We have a lot of people taking part, from the more experienced cyclists to those cycling with friends and family in memory of someone and to raise money through sponsorship."
"People are always pleased knowing the money is going to a good cause. There is so much support along the route, with local residents watching the ride. "
"One of the highlights for participants is coming along the seafront while people are clapping, which can really help when they've been in the saddle for a long time. " | high6685.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Hobby is one's regular activity in his spare time."
},
"options": [
"Hobby is one's regular activity in his office.",
"Hobby is one's regular activity in his spare time.",
"Hobby is a kind of activity only for old people.",
... | A hobby can be almost anything a person likes to do in his spare time. Hobbyists raise pets,build model ships,weave baskets,watch birds,hunt animals,climb mountains,raise flowers,fish,ski,skate and swim. Hobbyists also paint pictures,attend concerts and plays,and perform on musical instruments. They collect everything from books to butterflies and from shells to stamps.
People take up hobbies because these activities offer enjoyment,friendship,knowledge,and relaxation. Sometimes they even give financial profits.Hobbies help people relax after periods of hard work,and provide a balance between work and play. Hobbies also offer interesting activities for persons who have retired. Anyone,rich or poor,old or young,sick or well,can follow a satisfying hobby,regardless of his age,position,or income.
Hobbies can help a person's mental and physical health. Doctors have found that hobbies are valuable in helping patients _ physical or mental illness. Hobbies give bedridden or wheelchair patients something to do,and provide interests that keep them from thinking about themselves. Many hospitals treat patients by having them take up interesting hobbies or pastimes .
In early times,most people were too busy making a living to have many hobbies. But some persons who had spare time did enjoy hobbies. The ancient Egyptians played games with balls made of wood,pottery .
People today have more time than ever before for hobbies. Machines have reduced the amount of time they must spend on their jobs. Hobbies provide variety for workers who do the same unchanging tasks all day long. More people are retiring than ever before,and at an earlier age. Those who have developed hobbies never need to worry about what to do with their newly found spare time hours.
Sir William Osier,a famous Canadian doctor expressed the value of hobbies by saying,"No man is really happy or safe without a hobby". | high20067.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Travelers."
},
"options": [
"Travelers.",
"Teachers.",
"Students.",
"Language experts."
],
"question": "What kind of people is English important to according to the passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
... | If English is not your first language, it is a good idea to take English language classes to improve your written and spoken communication skills. There are many ways to learn English. You can learn from a book, a DVD, on the Internet or by attending classes. One of the most successful ways to improve your English is to join a course in a country where English is widely spoken. The more you practice, the more you will learn. But why learn the English language? English is an important language for anyone who is planning to travel or become involved in business.
Many people love travelling, but if their English is poor, it can be difficult to understand signs, read directions and make themselves understood. Before travelling, it is important to understand the culture and customs of the places you visit. Learning basic English before you travel will help you to understand these customs and avoid mistakes that could be embarrassing. When you are travelling, you will also enjoy meeting new people. If you can speak English, you will have a better chance of being able to communicate with the people you meet. Many of your new friends will speak English and others will have English as a second language. Without English, your friendships will be limited as you travel around the world.
If you are involved in business, it is important to be able to communicate in English. The Internet, world travel and modern communication systems have made the world seem like a much smaller place. These days business people interact with customers and other business people from all over the world. That makes your English language skills more important than ever. There are many English language courses that major in business communications. Improving your English skills is one of the best things you could ever do to increase your chances of business success. | high3925.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "how birds learn songs"
},
"options": [
"bird language",
"how birds learn songs",
"human brain diseases",
"how birds create new songs"
],
"question": "The subject discussed in the passage is _ .",
"questio... | For poets, bird song is a beautiful expression of nature in full bloom. But for scientists, the chirps of birds are far more meaningful than just pretty sounds. Latest studies show the way that young birds learn to sing is similar to that of a human baby learning to speak.
"The question we're trying to answer is how a young bird learns its song," says Professor Michale Fee of MIT. Bird's creative, trial-and-error type of learning provides an ideal model for studying similar processes in humans. An example is how a baby's babble turns into the recognizable syllables of mama and papa.
Also the part of the brain that is involved in bird song is very similar to that of a human. So birds may have something to teach us about our own brains, Fee said.
The study shows that young birds like to create new and imperfect songs. Gradually, the youngsters' songs become less different and more similar to the sound of their parents. Scientists disabled part of a young finch's brain and stopped the learning in midstream. The bird still sings. But never learns the right songs.
Fee's team found that the part of the brain involved is called the anterior forebrain pathway. Its neurons produce random bursts that make the young bird make new sounds and compared it with that of their parents. They also find out that once a bird is old enough that part of the brain will be less active.
The study does not enable us to really understand the meaning of bird language. But Fee believes it will eventually be applied to human brain diseases, such as Parkinson's disease. | high17813.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "sacrifice some plants and keep semi-decayed plant matter as food for slugs"
},
"options": [
"apply as many kinds of commercial repellents as possible to the plant roots",
"sacrifice some plants and keep semi-decayed plant matter as... | Many people believe that the common garden slug[ is nothing more than a pest that should be wiped out. In attempts to beautify their yards, people employ various poisons, strategically chosen plants, and gardening techniques. Success is attained when no trace of slugs can be found, although the worn-out gardener still watches and waits for their return, as completely ridding a garden of slugs is almost impossible.
Experts, however, have discovered that the slug's evil reputation as an enemy of home gardeners may, in fact, be groundless to some degree. Although it is true that a slug can devour[ garden plants from the roots up in amazing quantities, it also produces nutrients for the soil, which help other plants grow. The diet of a slug consists of plant waste and mould, as well as living plants, making it a sort of natural recycling center. The unique structure of a slug digestive system enables it to take these discarded products, transform them into the nutrients that plants need, and then release those nutrients harmlessly as wastes.
To some, this situation is unacceptable. No gardener wants to sacrifice his or her plants just to gain a few nutrients that could easily be provided by fertilizers In order to achieve a balance, both slug and gardener may have to compromise some things. One ly easy step is to separate plants with high slug appeal from those with low appeal. That way, the sections of the garden spared for plants with high slug appeal can contain plants that the gardener is willing to sacrifice so as to protect those plants that have a lower slug appeal . Another possibility is to leave some ground-covering plants in a less tidy state, since slugs particularly enjoy semi-decayed plant matter. The slugs will then be drawn toward this decaying matter instead of toward the living plants.
These measures may seem slow and difficult but they are still preferable to commercial slug repellents for several reasons. The topsoil of a garden is often highly lacking in nutrients, due to chemical damage caused by just such products. The fertilizer industry sells millions of pounds of dirt mixed with the nutrients necessary for a healthy garden every year. Yet these are the very same minerals that a healthy slug population would provide at no cost. Moreover, since slugs find newly dead slugs highly appetizing. the slug population is unlikely to decrease significantly as a result of these severe measures. | high21379.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "A dog."
},
"options": [
"A dog.",
"A child.",
"A dog's owner.",
"A dog trainer."
],
"question": "Who tells this story?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,... | When I was a baby, I entertained you and made you laugh.Whenever I was "bad", you'd shake your finger at me and ask, "How could you?"--but then you'd give up, and roll me over for a belly scratch and I believed that life could not be any more perfect.
My housetraining was a long process, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. We went for long walks, runs in the park and car rides. We stopped for ice cream. I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.
Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate.Eventually, you fell in love.She, now your wife, is not a dog person, but I still welcomed her into our home.I was happy because you were happy.Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement, I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them too.
Your wife was afraid I would bite them.But nevertheless, as they began to grow, I became their friend.Now, you have a new job in another city and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets.You've made the right decision for your "family", but there was a time when I was your only family.
I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the dog pound.It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness.You filled out the paperwork and said, "I know you will find a good home for her".They shrugged and gave you a pained look.The children were in tears as they waved me goodbye.And "How could you?" were the only three words that swept over my mind.
Is it better to live with hope or without hope? At first, whenever anyone passed my pen , I rushed to the front, hoping it was you, that you had changed your mind and that this was all a bad dream.
My beloved master, I will think of you and wait for you forever.I hope you receive more faithfulness from your family than you showed to me. | high4092.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the deveopment of the word bug"
},
"options": [
"the misunderstanding of thr word bug",
"the deveopment of the word bug",
"the public views of the word bug",
"the special characteristics of the word bug"
],
"que... | "Indeed"George Washington wrote in his diary in 1785, "some kind of fly,or bug,had begun to eat the leaves before I left home." But the father of America was not the father of bug.When Washington wrote that, Englishmen had been referring to insects as bugs for more than a century, and Americans had already created lightning-bug . But the Enlish were soon to stop using the bugs in their language, leaving it to be the Americans to call a bug a bug in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
The American bug could also be a person, referring to someone who was crazy about a particular activity.Although fan became the usual term, sports fans used to be called racing bugs, baseball bugs and the like.
Or the bug could be a small machine or object, for example, a bug-shaped car. The bug could also be a burlar alarm, from which comes the expression to bug, that is, "to install an alarm". Now it means a small piece of equipment that people use for listening secretly to others' conversations.Since the 1840s,to bug has long meant "to cheat",and since the 1994s it has been annoying.
We also know the bug as a _ n a computer program or other design.That meaning dates back to the time of Tomas Edison.In 1878 he explained bugs as "little problems and difficulties" that required months of stdy and labor to overcome in developing a successful product. In 1889 it was recorded that Edison "had been up the two previous nights discovering'a bug' in his invented record player." | high4079.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Because he thought she was just making fun of him."
},
"options": [
"Because he thought she was just making fun of him.",
"Because he was not hungry and wanted to be left alone.",
"Because he thought rich people made him poor... | One day a woman spotted a beggar sitting on the corner. The man was elderly, unshaven and ragged. Passers-by wanted nothing to do with him. But the woman smiled. "Are you hungry?" she asked. The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly used to the finer things in life. Her coat was new. She looked like that she had never missed a meal in her life. "No, " he answered sarcastically . "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away. "To his surprise, the woman continued standing. And her smile became even broader.
"What are you doing, lady?" he asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone. "
Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" He asked.
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"
The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" She asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold. "
"Are you crazy, lady? I don't want to go in there!" Then the homeless felt strong hands lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."
"This is a good deal for you, Jack, "the officer answered. "Don't blow it. "
Finally, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. The woman turned to the officer, "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"
"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice. "
Then, she sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him. "Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face. "I think so --I mean you do look familiar. "
"I'm Penelope Eddy. I'm a little older perhaps, "she said. "In my younger days when you worked here, I came through that very door, cold and hungry. "
"I was just out of college, "the woman continued. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally _ and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked down the streets, saw this place and came in to see if I could get something to eat. "
Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. "
"You made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen and you paid for it out of your own money. "
"I got a job that very afternoon. Eventually I started my own business. "She pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to meet the personnel director of my company. I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office. "
There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you, "he said.
"Don't thank me. "the woman answered. "Thank the Universe. It led me to you. " ks5u
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways. "Thank you for all your help, officer, "she said.
"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And thank you for the coffee. "
She frowned. "I forgot to ask you whether you take sugar. That's black. "
"Yes. I do. "the officer said. "But I don't need it now. I'm sure the coffee you bought me is going to taste as sweet as sugar. " | high21392.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "William Faulkner died one hundred years ago."
},
"options": [
"William Faulkner's work focuses on several troubled problems of southern America.",
"William Faulkner died one hundred years ago.",
"Although William Faulkner did... | The centenary of the birth of William Faulkner, one of the great modern novelists, was celebrated in September 1997. Faulkner wrote about the southern states of the United States of America where he grew up, and where his family had an important part to play in the history of that region. His work became a touchstone for insights into the troubled issues of southern American identity, race relations, and the family interrelationships of the old time southern gentry .
Faulkner was born in New Albany, Mississippi on September 25, 1897. Despite his interest in writing, he left Oxford High School, Mississippi, without graduating. After World War I, he entered the University of Mississippi as a special student, a right to study which was granted to retired soldiers, although Faulkner had only finished training with the Air Force in Canada, and not entered combat .
Faulkner began to write poems, a verse play, short stories and finished his first novel Sartoris in 1928. His fiction was centered for 14 of the 19 novels published during his lifetime in a fictional region called Yoknapatawpha County. The name is said to come from the Indian Chickasaw word meaning split land.
In December 1950, Faulkner was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. When he accepted it in Stockholm, his speech emphasized that he wished to continue writing, but in a positive way that affirmed the power of humanity to prevail over adverse circumstances. As he said in his speech, he still felt that, despite the threat of nuclear war then hanging over the world, the central concern of the writer should be "the problems of the human heart in conflict with itself". He wanted the tensions and problems that he had cast the spotlight on in the southern states of America to be resolved by the life-affirming attitudes and action of his characters. Like playwright Tennessee Williams, Faulkner was a major voice who spoke for the troubled heart of the southern states of America. His achievement is all the more remarkable because, as a schoolboy, he was not only a frequent absentee but also reportedly failed to reach pass grades in English class. His collected short stories, novels, poems, and other writings form a legacy( ) of literature which casts profound illumination on the special culture of the South, a culture which developed from a history and social circumstances that were always unique.
From the focus on a fictional county, and by remaining true to his view of a close-knit but real society that reflected the greater world around him, Faulkner in the end fashioned a legend of the Deep South that is one of the major achievements of the 20th century literature. | high5367.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "act with much freedom"
},
"options": [
"are boring in some way",
"act with much freedom",
"can live without a mobile phone",
"rely much on a mobile phone in life"
],
"question": "The \"spontaneous individuals\" ... | We may all like to consider ourselves free spirits. But a study of the tracks left by 50,000 mobile phone users over three months has finally proved that the truth is otherwise.
"We are all in one way or another boring," says Albert-Laszlo Barabasi at the Center for Complex Network Research at Northeastern University in Boston, who co-wrote the study. "Spontaneous individuals are largely absent from the population,"
Barabasi and colleagues used three months' worth of data from a mobile phone network to track the mobile phone towers each person's phone connected to each hour of the day, showing their general location. They conclude that regardless of whether a person typically remains close to home or wanders far and wide, their movements are probably predictable as much as 93 percent of the time.
Surprisingly, the mobile phone data showed that individuals' movements were more or less as predictable at weekends as on weekdays, suggesting that routine is rooted in human nature rather than being an effect of work patterns.
The mobile phone records were handled to make out the most visited locations for each user. Then the probability of finding a given user at his most visited locations at each hour through the day was calculated.
People were to be found in their most visited location for any given hour 70 percent of the time. Not surprisingly, the figure increased at night, and decreased at lunchtime and in the early evening, when most people were returning home from work.
The team analyzed the randomness of people's traces to show it was possible in theory to predict the average person's places as much as 93 percent of the time.
"Say your routine movement is from home to the coffee shop to work: if you are at home and then go to the coffee shop it's easy for me to predict that you are going to work," says co-author Nicholas Blumm.
This predictability was not much affected by differences in age, gender, language spoken or whether a person lived in a rural or urban setting. | high18513.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Mark Twain based Tom Sawyer on his friend's name"
},
"options": [
"Tom Sawyer is a popular character in Mark Twain's work",
"Mark Twain based Tom Sawyer on his friend's name",
"Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer are childhood friends"... | Tom Sawyer is known as one of the most beloved characters in American literature , but new research found that Mark Twain based this character on his friend named Tom Sawyer. He admired his firefighting friend so much that he gave the character his name.
Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer had many adventures together, gambling in Nevada and drinking in pubs. Tom Sawyer once worked as a volunteer firefighter, policeman and customs officer. Before making his way out West, Tom Sawyer used his strength to save 90 people from a burning ship. Mark Twain was particularly moved by this story because his own brother died in a fire while working on a similar steamboat.
The two men became friends immediately after meeting in 1863, with Tom Sawyer traveling to Virginia City, while Mark Twain was working as a reporter there.
After one night they returned to San Francisco, Mark Twain told his friend that he would base a character in his yet-unwritten book on him. Tom Sawyer said, "One day he said to me, 'I'm going to put you between the covers of a book, Tom.' 'Go ahead, Sam,' I Said, 'but don't disgrace my name.'"
Besides their fondness of drinking, the two men also shared a hobby for storytelling. Tom sawyer believed that it was his anecdotes about his own childhood that inspired Mark Twain to create a book on him.
Finally Mark Twain said that the character of Tom sawyer was based on a mix of three real people---John B. Briggs, William Bowen and himself. In spite of this, the historical evidence shows that there might be a fourth, more prominent influencer. | high17620.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "China's boom, the students' desire and foreign universities' commercial motive"
},
"options": [
"that China has become one of the largest exporters of the students aiming to study abroad",
"that the students in China are becoming r... | Competition between international universities is heating up, as China grows as one of the largest exporters of students aiming to study abroad. "Lots of universities are becoming more and more aggressive to attract Chinese students. Every day I receive contacts from universities in the US expressing the desire to come to China to recruit students," said Frank Joseph, a commercial officer from embassy of the United States.
One key reason why more Chinese students are able to study abroad is the economy: With China's boom within the past decade, more families have the financial wherewithal to send their children to international universities. There will be a total of 200,000 family-funded Chinese students studying overseas in 2009, up 20 percent from last year, said Wu Zaofeng, deputy secretary general of China Education Association for International Exchange.
International institutions, Joseph said, are also facing increasingly tough financial situation with a shortage of domestic students and a drop in government subsidies . Students, especially in the US are paying high tuition fees and living expenses. Chinese students with money to spend, according to experts, can fill up the gap. Students on average spend 150,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan every year studying in US, according to statistics from the US Institute of International Education. During 2007-2008, there were approximately 81,000 Chinese students studying in the US, up 19.8 percent from 2006.
Representatives from approximately 60 universities from the United States are planning to arrive in Beijing this weekend to attract more Chinese students at this year's fair. Besides the US, many other countries are also vying to enroll Chinese students.
Post-study work visa put out by British government allows all international students completing a UK degree qualification to apply for a visa to stay on and look for work in UK for up to 2 years. Being the third most popular destination for international students next to the US and the UK, France has set up two types of scholarships and has handed out an increase of 26 percent in scholarship funds to Chinese students in recent years. | high2408.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the wave caused by Chinese uncivilized behavior"
},
"options": [
"Chinese tour in Egypt",
"the wave caused by Chinese uncivilized behavior",
"the discussion on Chinese education",
"the importance of Weibo"
],
"q... | In May, 2014, some Chinese tourists found a Chinese-character message "Ding Jinhao once visited here" on a statue of god in a 3500-year-old Egyptian temple. An angry tourist took the photograph of the scrawl and posted it on social media Sina Weibo. It was quickly spread and there were more than 100,000 comments during two weeks. Later, a 15-year-old Chinese boy was searched out as the person who caved this message. Many netizens expressed their anger and disappointment for the uncivilized behavior. They searched and identified the boy and then posted his personal information including the address and pictures online.
Over the weekend, his school's website was hacked, and reporters flooded into his home in the city of Nanjing. Besieged by reporters, the child's mother offered a formal apology for her son's behavior. "We want to apologize to the Egyptian people and to people who have paid attention to this case across China." the boy's mother told the local newspaper.
With China's economy booming over the past decades, a growing number of the country's residents have become global tourists. Earlier this month, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang addressed: "Uncivilized behavior of some of tourists is giving this country a bad reputation abroad." The discussion about Chinese quality was carried out on many media.
On the bright side, Egypt government described the damage to the temple as superficial and could be restored and they would forgive the boy. While the act of Ding Jinhao symbolizes a national shame, meanwhile, many people concern about the child's development and wish he could return to anonymity once more. "The boy has known his mistake and cried all night. He has to be moved around because reporters rushes to his house for interviews." said a reporter who talked with the parents. | high13446.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Combining the two ways to treat depression."
},
"options": [
"Adopting a way of meaningful talk.",
"Combining the two ways to treat depression.",
"Treating depression with special medicine.",
"Comparing the depressed wi... | A new study has discovered that meditation and oxygen sport together reduce depression .The Rutgers University study found that this mind and body combination, done twice a week for only two months,reduced the symptoms for a group of students by 40 percent.
"We are excited by the findings because we saw such a meaningful improvement in both clinically depressed and non--depressed students,"said lead author Dr.Brandon Alderman."It is the first time that both of these two behavioral ways have been looked at together for dealing with depression."
Researchers believe the two activities have an interactive effect in _ depression.Alderman and Dr.Tracey Shors discovered that a combination of mental and physical training (MAP)enabled students with major depressive disorder not to let problems or negative thoughts defeat them.
Rutgers researchers say those who participated in the study began with 30 minutes of focused attention meditation followed by 30 minutes of oxygen sport.They were told that if their thoughts drifted to the past or the future they should refocus on their breathing,enabling those with depression to accept moment-to-moment changes in attention.
Shors,who studies the production of new brain cells in the hippocampus--part of the brain involved in memory and learning--says scientists have shown in animal models that oxygen sport exercise keeps a large number of certain cells alive.
The idea for the human intervention came from her laboratory studies,she says,with the main goal of helping individuals acquire new skills so that they can learn to recover from stressful life events.
By learning to focus their attention and exercise,people who are fighting depression can acquire new learning skills that can help them process information and reduce the overwhelming recollection of memories from the past,Shors says.
"We know these treatments can be practiced over a lifetime and that they will be effective in improving mental health."said Alderman."The good news is that this intervention can be practiced by anyone at any time and at no cost." | high14329.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "behaviors can be learned and involve no emotions"
},
"options": [
"it is an inborn ability for adults to look after the young",
"behaviors can be learned and involve no emotions",
"emotions are of great importance for surviva... | What are feelings for? Most nonscientists will find it a strange question. Feelings justify themselves. Emotions give meaning and depth to life. They exist without serving any other purposes. On the other hand, many evolutionary biologists acknowledge some emotions primarily for their survival function. For both animals and humans, fear motivates the avoidance of danger, love is necessary to care for the young, and anger prepares one to hold ground. But the fact that a behavior functions to serve survival need not mean that. Other scientists have regarded the same behavior as conditioning and learned responses. Certainly reflexes and fixed action patterns can occur without feeling or conscious thought. A baby seagull pecks at a red spot on the bill of its parent. The seagull parent feeds its baby when pecked on the bill and the baby gets fed. The interaction need have no emotional content.
At the same time, there is no reason why such actions cannot have emotional content. In mammals that have given birth including humans, milk is often released automatically when a new baby cries. This is not under intended control but it is reflex. Yet this does not mean that feeding a new baby is exclusively reflex and expresses no feeling like love. Humans have feelings about their behavior even if it is conditioned or reflexive. Yet since reflexes exist and conditioned behavior is widespread, measurable, and observable, most scientists try to explain animal behavior by using only these concepts. It is simpler.
Preferring to explain behavior in ways that fit science's methods most easily, scientists have refused to consider any causes for animal behavior other than reflexive and conditioned ones. Scientific orthodoxy holds that what cannot be readily measured or tested cannot exist, or is unworthy of serious attention. But emotional explanations for animal behavior need not be impossibly complex or unstable. They are just more difficult for the scientific method to check on in the usual ways, so cleverer and more skillful approaches are called for. Most branches of science are more willing to make successive evaluation of what may prove ultimately unknowable, rather than ignoring it altogether. | high23585.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "They were the first animal to be kept as pets"
},
"options": [
"They originally were used as farm animal",
"They evolved from wolves found in Europe",
"They helped the development of agriculture",
"They were the first a... | Have you ever wondered when dogs first became "man's best friend" and the world's favourite pet? If you have then you're not alone. When and where dogs first began living side-side with humans are questions that have stirred hot debate among scientists. There are a few hard facts that all agree on. These include that dogs were once wolves and they were the first animal to be domesticated by humans. They came into lives some 15000 years ago, before the dawn of agriculture.
Beyond that, there is little agreement. The earliest bones found that are unquestionable dogs and not wolves date from 14,000 years ago. However, 30,000-year-old skulls have been discovered in France and Belgium that are not pure wolf and some scientists think could be dogs.
With such puzzling evidence, many scientists are now turning to DNA to find out when and where dogs were first domesticated. In one research project, tens of thousands of blood samples have been taken from street dogs around the world. The plan is to compare them with those of wolves. It's even possible to analyse DNA from ancient bones. Tiny pieces of the 30,000-year-old skulls mentioned earlier are currently being studied, and another DNA study has already shown that ancient dogs preserved in the Alaskan ice-fields evolved from Asian wolves, not American ones.
Indeed, the ancient DNA may turn out to be more informative than the DNA of living dogs. Because dogs have accompanied humans around the world for thousands of years, their current distribution may tell us very little of their origins. This is why different groups of scientists believe that dogs variously originated in eastern Asia, Mongolia, Siberia, Europe or Africa.
But why were the animals domesticated in the first place? The most recent theory is that dogs domesticated themselves, initially living in and around our ancient villages to eat any food thrown out. Today, this is a way of life still shared by three -quarters of a billion unowned dogs worldwide. | high15037.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "The Eiffel Tower was almost torn down."
},
"options": [
"The Eiffel Tower was almost torn down.",
"Gustave Eiffel was more than an engineer.",
"It took great efforts to build the Eiffel Tower.",
"The Eiffel Tower has se... | Close your eyes and picture the city of Paris.Now imagine the city without its most famous landmark:the Eiffel Tower.
The unthinkable almost happened.
When French engineer Gustave Eiffel built this tower for the Paris World's Fair of 1889,it was controversial.The iron structure contrasted sharply with the historic stone buildings of Paris.Eiffel's four-legged iron archway was supposed to last only 20 years.That's when Eiffel's permit to operate the building would expire and the city could choose to tear it down.
Yet from the beginning.Eiffel had a strategy to save his building.If the Tower was linked to important research,he reasoned,no one would dare to take it down.So he would make it a grand laboratory for science.
Scientific research began just one day after the Tower opened to the public on May 6,1889.Eiffel installed a weather station on the Tower's third(and highest)floor.He connected instruments by wire to the French weather bureau in Paris.With these,he measured wind speed and air pressure.
In 1903,still worried that his building might be torn down,Eiffel got a clever idea.He asked the French military to conduct its own research on radio communications at the Tower.He even paid the army's costs.
French army captain Gustave Ferrie worked from a little wooden house at the base of the Tower's southern pillar.From there,he made radio contact with forts around Paris.Convinced of the importance of radio communications,the army set up a permanent radio station at the Tower.In 1910,the city of Paris renewed the structure's permit for another 70 years.
This year marks the iconic structure's 125th birthday.Over the years,research conducted there has brought dramatic and unexpected payoffs.During World War I,for instance,the French army used the Tower as a giant ear to receive radio messages.It even led to the arrest of one of the war's most famous spies. | high8643.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "It helps the air around them slightly wet."
},
"options": [
"It provides owners good company.",
"It helps the air around them slightly wet.",
"It makes it convenient to look after them.",
"It allows owners to draw a ple... | Indoor Plants
As with any house guests,indoor plants require a certain amount of basic,regular attention if they are going to feel at home. The first consideration when purchasing plants is to make reasonably sure that they are suitable for the condition in which they are going to be housed.
A general rule for most plans being brought indoors for the first time is to ensure that they have reasonable temperature of not less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit,a position out of cold air,safe from pets and not exposed to strong sunlight.
Plants love company. When plants are growing together,they create an atmosphere of damp around themselves which is far more beneficial than hot dry conditions. A group of plants will also present a more pleasing picture and provide an opportunity for a creative arrangement. There is no secret to this. Just rely on your natural feeling for harmony.
Watering and feeding plants are probably the two areas of care that are the least well understood,but,again,if you follow a few simple rules,your plants should do well. Cold Slightly warm water is therefore the answer. It is usually better to pour water on to the soil on the surface of the pot rather than put the water into the pot holder at the bottom. Avoid giving small amount of water at regular intervals- it is much better to wet the soil right through the pot in one go and then to allow it to dry noticeably before giving it a further watering.
The majority of indoor plants will be in active growth from March until October,and during this time,the established ones will benefit from regular feeding. This may mean feeding with a weak liquid fertilizer at each watering or at intervals of a week or ten days with fertilizer at a standard strength. It is important,however,to ensure that plants are not fed when growth is inactive,when the soil in the pot is dry,or too soon after the plants has been potted up. | high12758.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "something about an endangered animal"
},
"options": [
"something about an endangered animal",
"how green turtles got extinct",
"how heavy a green turtle is",
"how long a green turtle can live"
],
"question": "Th... | The green turtle is listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973, the green turtle was listed as threatened except for the breeding populations in Florida and on the Pacific coast of Mexico, where it is listed as endangered.
Green turtles continue to be caught for money by humans, and the destruction and loss of nesting and foraging sites is a serious problem. Humans have already caused the decrease of large green turtle populations, including those that once nested in Bermuda and Cayman Islands. The situation of green turtle populations is difficult to determine because of our lack of knowledge about their life cycles. The number of nests in Florida appears to be increasing, but we don't know whether this is due to an increase in the number of nests or because we have started to monitor nesting beaches more closely.
The green turtle is the largest hardshelled sea turtle. Adults of this species commonly reach 100 cm in length and 150 kg in mass. The average size of a female nesting in Florida is 101.5 cm straight in length, with an average body mass of 136 kg.
Growth rates of green turtles have not been measured under natural conditions. Green turtles grow slowly.
In the southern Bahamas, green turtles grow from 30 to 75 cm in 17 years, and according to Bjorndal and Bolten, growth rates decrease with increasing length. Growth rates measured in green turtles from Florida and Puerto Rico fall within the range of growth rates measured in the southern Bahamas. Based on growth rate studies of wild green turtles, the researchers Balazs, Frazer and Ehrhart estimate the age of sexual maturity can range anywhere from 20 to 50 years. | high15751.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "remembered happier times of writing stories and acting them out"
},
"options": [
"played the piano with Pasha for the first time",
"listened to Pasha tell her story about the princess",
"remembered happier times of writing st... | When I heard the piano, I walked to Mrs. Windsor's house and waited outside as I always did. That meant she was working with another student, and I was not supposed to bother them by ringing the bell. I stood against the wall and daydreamed what I'd rather be doing. "Almost anything", I sighed _ . I had been tutored enough to read, understand, and even write some musical compositions, but I just didn't have a gift for it. It didn't come to me naturally. I thought back to happier times when I was writing stories and acting them out with my friends, cutting up old clothes to make dresses that performers wear in plays, and building scenery out of old things we found. But Mrs. Windsor had offered to give me the lessons for free, so I felt my duty to try.
The door opened and Wendy Barton came out. I walked in, sat down on the piano bench and began to sort through my sheet music.
"Hello," I heard a voice behind me say softly. I turned around to see a little girl standing behind me, eating an apple. But before I could make any response, Mrs. Windsor walked into the room in her usual urgent manner and announced,"Jennifer, this is my niece, Pasha. Pasha, this is Jennifer. Pasha will be giving you your lesson today. I'm up to my ears in something else!" she then exited to the kitchen.
Pasha set her apple down on the side table and slid beside me on the piano bench.
"What piece do you like best?"she asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked. "They're all the same to me. I don't know.
"You mean you don't have a favorite?"
"No, not really."
Pasha looked at me, rather puzzled, then opened my sheet music to the beginning page and asked me to play. I arranged my fingers on the keys and studied the notes on the page for a moment. Then I frowned and concentrated to make the notes on the page match the finger movements. I have to admit I was a rather mechanical pianist.
After about a page or two, Pasha gently put her hand on top of mine as if to calm my fingers. There was a long pause. "What are you hearing in the music?" I looked at her rather strangely and admitted I didn't know what she meant.
"Like a story. What story is being playing out within the music?"
"I guess I've never thought about it before. I don't know."
"Here, let me try and you listen," Pasha advised.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting her fingers dance lightly over the keys. Then, she began to play. "See, it begins here beside some kind of river. Hear the water flowing beside you?"
Her fingers rose and fell gently on the keys."Now the princess appears and she's picking flowers from the water's edge."A carefree, happy piece of music filled the air in time to Pasha's dancing fingers. "Oh, but she slips!"The music changed. "And our princess is being carried off by the fast-flowing stream. Quickly, the princess's horse sees her plight ," Pasha continued, and races to the river's edge where he swims out to let her catch hold of him. They make it to the bank and she hugs her faithful horse and swears she will never again wear princess skirts that weigh her down. She will only wear jeans and T-shirt from now on." Pasha finished with a big smile and then looked at me.
"Aren't you the girl who tells the stories?" she asked.
"I guess. I do tell a lot of stories."
"Oh, yes! All the kids talk about them. I've heard about you. Well, all you have to do is learn to hear the stories in the music. That's all there is to it."
"I've never thought it that way."
"Let's try another one, shall we?"Pasha smiled and together we played that afternoon, finding the stories in the music and learning that sometimes it takes a friend to pull you out of the river onto dry land again. | high8125.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "offer real help to poor deaf children"
},
"options": [
"build schools for deaf children",
"research deaf children's behavior",
"protect deaf children from being ignored",
"offer real help to poor deaf children"
],
... | As many as 4 out of every 1,000 infants born today have permanent hearing loss. When parents learn that their child has hearing loss, they are faced with many difficult decisions. These decisions can include choosing therapies and schools, as well as finding financial help for hearing aids or cochlear implants .
Help Me Hear Foundation is a public charity that gives the gift of hearing to deaf children from families existing on very low incomes around the world.
Help Me Hear Foundation believes that a child's first years of development are critical. Being able to hear is vital to human, and Help Me Hear Foundation seeks to provide a positive lasting impression on society through its programs.
Recipients of Help Me Hear Foundation's benefits receive state-of-the-art hearing devices that otherwise would cost thousands of dollars per child over the course of their lifetime. The Foundation raises money through donations for hearing aids and cochlear implants, which saves recipients and their families on average over $50,000 on related expenses.
The Foundation tries to be a transparent charity, and wants to be a catalyst for allowing deaf and hearing-impaired children to develop in a typical fashion alongside their peers.
Needy families can obtain information on specific services, and find out about deafness education by visiting the Help Me Hear Foundation's website. The website offers helpful information on how hearing aids work, and how hearing aids ease many of the learning and language challenges that hearing-impaired children deal with on a daily basis. | high7216.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "71%"
},
"options": [
"40%",
"58%",
"71%",
"83%"
],
"question": "Compared with ten years ago, the percentage of passengers last year increased by _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answe... | The Lunar New Year, which starts in late January this year, is the most important festival for Chinese people as most of them drop any business at hand to go back to their hometown to see their families. It is a tradition that has been cherished since ancient times, but as social mobility increases in modern times, the road to family reunions has become very uneasy.
It is not the higher travel costs, nor the expected big spending on gifts and other festival items, but the train ticket that has driven many travelers mad. I've heard some colleagues complain that they have tried every means to secure a train ticket, only to find it a mission impossible. Some of them have turned to the latest software to aid online booking; others have sought help from friends to increase the possibility of successful booking.
No doubt chunyun, the Spring Festival travel season, is the largest-scale annual human migration in the world. Last year, 220 million passengers traveled by train during the Spring Festival season, which usually lasts 40 days. It is a huge jump from 10 years ago, when the number was 128 million.
With the big sudden increase in demand, the railway company has increased investment in railway construction; still, it cannot bridge the supply gap, leading to fierce public complaints and criticism.
Admittedly, it is almost impossible for the railway company to suddenly improve its capacity to meet the explosive demand during the Spring Festival holiday. Moreover, any temporary increase in capacity would become unnecessary after the holiday and mean great commercial losses during the off season.
What the company can reasonably do is gradually improve its capacity while focusing on better distribution of its existing resources during the special peak season. At any rate, however, the problem cannot be solved overnight. | high6108.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "sound advice provided in Anthony. Trollope's autobiography"
},
"options": [
"the difficulties and risks of making a career of words",
"the uselessness of instructions contained in writing guidebooks",
"the autobiography of th... | Writing being largely a self-taught occupation, texts on how to get about it -though great in number- seldom are of much use.
You try, and fail. Then try again. Until at last, if you have some gift for it, the failures become less frequent, or at any rate less apparantly.
It is this ability to cover up one's defects that is finally regarded as accomplishment or achievement.
Along the way there are the discouragements of unkind criticism, outright rejection, troublesome insecurity and irregular inability to meet debts.
It is uncommon, therefore, to come across a book containing advice of much practical value for anyone toying with the dangerous idea of staring on a writing life.
A friend recently lent me such a book, however - one I wish I'd had the luck to read years ago, and which I would recommend to any young person devoted to making a career of words. It is the autobiography of the English novelist Anthony Trollope, first published in 1883, the year after his death.
Needing some means to support himself, Trollope at age 19 worked as a junior clerk in the British postal service. He was at his desk at 5:30 each morning to write for three hours. And he remained in the mail service 33 years, long after reputation and prosperity had come to him.
Now, what of his advice in his works?
1. For safety's sake, arm yourself with some other skills, some other line of work to fall back on . That way, failure at writing, though the disappointment may appear, will not mean ruin.
2. Do not depend too much on inspiration. Writing is a craft, which Trollope compared to the craft of shoemaking. The shoemaker who has just turned out one pair of his work sets to work immediately on the next pair.
3. Have a story to tell, but, more important than that, people with characters who will speak and move as living creatures in the reader's mind. Without memorable characters, story alone is nothing.
4. Meet your deadlines. Life is endlessly "painful and troublesome" for writers who can't finish their work on time.
5. Do not be carried away by praise. And, above all, do not be injured by criticism.
6. Understand the risks of writing for a living. "The career, when successful, is pleasant enough certainly; but when unsuccessful, it is of all careers the most painful." | high1667.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "To show students the problems in real marriage life."
},
"options": [
"To tell students how to find a good partner.",
"To teach students how to manage their money.",
"To help students act as wives and husbands well.",
"... | In a very special course at Knnet School, the social-science teacher Adam Smith guides his students through the "married life". Unlike the traditional course, Adam makes his students experience the real problems married ones may face like housing and child care. "No one tells kids about money-managing problems," says Adam.
Each student should act out in ten weeks what normally takes couples ten years to finish. In the first week, one member of each couple is asked to get an after school job -- a real one. During the term, the income rules their life-style. In the third week, the couples must find an apartment they can afford.
In the fifth week, the couples "have a baby" and then struggle to cover the costs of baby clothes and furniture. In week eight, the marriage comes to the breaking point by such disaster as a mother-in-law's moving in or death. It's all over by week ten (the tenth year of marriage). After serious discussion with lawyers about alimony and child support, the students get divorced .
Adam's course, which has "married" 1,000 students since its beginning six years ago, is widely supported by parents and students. Some of the students have found the experience making them realize their real life marry plans are wrong. Marianne Baldrica, 16, who tried "marriage" last term with her boyfriend Eric Zook, 15, said, " Eric and I used to get along pretty well before we took the course together. But I wanted to live in the city, he wanted the country. He wanted lots of kids, I wanted no kids. It's been four weeks since the course ended and Eric and I are just starting to talk to each other again." | high13320.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "by constantly changing the fashions in women's clothing"
},
"options": [
"by mercilessly exploiting women workers in the clothing industry",
"because they are capable of predicting new fashions",
"by constantly changing the f... | If women are mercilessly exploited year after year,they have only themselves to blame.Because they tremble at the thought of being seen in public in clothes that are out of fashion,they are always taken advantage of by the designers and the big stores.Clothes which have been worn only a few times have to be put aside because of the change of fashion.When you come to think of it,only a woman is capable of standing in front of a wardrobe packed full of clothes and announcing sadly that she has nothing to wear.
Changing fashions are nothing more than the intentional creation of waste.Many women spend vast sums of money each year to replace clothes that have hardly been worn.Women who cannot afford to throw away clothing in this way,waste hours of their time altering the dresses they have.Skirts are lengthened or shortened;neck-lines are lowered or raised,and so on.No one can claim that the fashion industry contributes anything really important to society.Fashion designers are rarely concerned with vital things like warmth,comfort and durability .They are only interested in outward appearance and they take advantage of the fact that women will put up with any amount of discomfort,as long as they look right.There can hardly be a man who hasn't at some time in his life smiled at the sight of a woman shaking in a thin dress on a winter day,or delicately picking her way through deep snow in high-heeled shoes.
When comparing men and women in the matter of fashion,the conclusions to be drawn are obvious.Do the constantly changing fashions of women's clothes,one wonders,reflect basic qualities of inconstancy and instability?Men are too clever to let themselves be cheated by fashion designers.Do their unchanging styles of dress reflect basic qualities of stability and reliability?That is for you to decide. | high10629.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "teachers should be careful not to hurt those sensitive students"
},
"options": [
"teachers should set aside some time to grade students' papers",
"the Supreme Court should do more research on students grading",
"teachers shou... | Should students do the grading?
The Supreme Court says the practice doesn't violate a student's right to privacy, but is it right for students to grade one another?
Walter Potenza, California
The Supreme Court was absolutely correct to say it's OK for students to grade one another's homework, quizzes, and tests: in fact, it's a great idea.
By grading one another's papers and seeing the problems their classmates have, students double their exposure to the troubles that they may meet on future exams and tests. Grading one another's papers may be one of the best ways for students to _ within themselves the ways to master the most difficult parts of what they are learning.
Teachers are underappreciated and underpaid for the number of hours they have to work to be able to teach really well. Grading all their students' papers can take hours. Some of that time and energy can be saved by spending a few minutes in class, while providing an extremely valuable learning experience.
I understand that some individuals are sensitive to their classmates seeing their work or grades. Any good teacher would be considerate of students who don't want their classmates to grade their assignments.
Winston Smith, North Carolina
A girl moves back as her classmate announces her failing test grade and hands her the paper. The quiet classroom heats up.
With the increase in student grading over the past few years, scenes like this have become a bitter reality in schools across the nation. Teachers and schools should not advocate student grading and public announcement of grades because it provides a violation of privacy for students and causes unfair judgments and treatment by their classmates.
Since 1974, a law known as the Buckley Amendment has forbidden the release of education records in order to protect the privacy of students and their families. I strongly disagree with the Court's ruling that this law does not include student grading.
I can think of no greater violation of privacy than the exposure of one's personal information to a group of peers . This can be very embarrassing. Releasing this sort of personal information should be avoided, especially by institutions that seek to provide a supportive environment during essential years of human development. | high5401.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "express sorrow at the death"
},
"options": [
"express sorrow at the death",
"search for the hunter",
"clean their trunks and feet",
"call for other elephants"
],
"question": "Elephants touch the bones of their o... | Elephants are the only species on the earth known to have death ritual besides man.
They show a strong interest in the bones of their own kind.They are often seen gently touching the bones with their trunks and feet while remaining very quiet.Sometimes elephants completely unrelated to the dead will still visit their graves.
Elephant researcher Meredith recalls something in his book about a typical elephant death ritual.The entire family of a dead elephant,including her young baby,were all gently touching her body with their trunks,trying to lift her. The elephant herd were all rumbling :The baby elephant was even observed to be weeping and made sounds that sounded like a scream,but then the entire herd fell incredibly silent.Then they began to throw leaves and dirt over the body and broke off tree branches to cover her.They spent the next two days quietly standing over her body.They sometimes had to leave to get water or food,but they would always return.
Events of elephants behaving this way around human beings are common throughout Africa. On many occasions,they have buried dead or sleeping humans or helped them when they are hurt. An old woman fell asleep under a tree.When she woke up,there was an elephant standing over her,gently touching her.She kept very still because she was frightened.As other elephants arrived,they began to scream loudly and buried her under branches.She was found the next morning by the local people,unharmed.
George Adamson also recalls when he shot all elephant from a herd that kept breaking into the farmers'gardens.George gave the:elephant's meat to 1ocal men and then dragged the rest of the body miles away.That night,the other elephants found the body,took the leg bones,returned them to the exact spot the elephant was killed,and made the death ritual. | high18275.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Child Identity Theft"
},
"options": [
"Child Identity Theft",
"How to Avoid Identity Theft",
"Recover My Identity",
"Look out for Family Members"
],
"question": "Which of the following is the best title of the p... | Seventeen-year-old Randy Waldron, Jr., was shocked when he applied for his first credit card and was denied. He was even more shocked by the reason: He failed to repay thousands of dollars in debt.
Waldron's identity had been stolen by his father, who left when Randy was learning to walk. From 1982 to 1999, Randy Waldron, Sr., used his son's Social Security number to obtain credit from various merchants and lenders, then racked up tens of thousands of dollars in debts. He declared bankruptcy in his son's name, which resulted in default judgments against the younger Waldron. It has taken Randy Jr., now a 24-year-old flight attendant, years to untangle the mess.
Waldron isn't alone. Identity theft is this country's fastest-growing crime -- and, increasingly, ID thieves are targeting children. Their clean credit and absence of criminal histories make them ideal victims.
Linda Foley, co-executive director of the Identity Theft Resource Center inprefix = st1 /San Diego, estimates that at least 400,000 children had their identities stolen in 2005, more than double the number in 2003. Waldron's case is typical: The resource center estimates that two-thirds of child ID thefts are committed by family members.
Some dishonest persons use children's names and Social Security numbers to ring up massive debts; others use children's identities in place of their own when caught committing other crimes; still others sell identification information on the black market to illegal immigrants, fellow criminals or even terrorists. The theft brings its victims enormous financial and emotional trauma, in part because the identity abuse often goes undetected for years.
Dealing with child identity theft after it happens is extremely difficult. Laws in many states are insufficient to handle the crime's complexity, and financial institutions are often less than helpful. Randy Waldron, Jr., has worked tirelessly for eight years to straighten out his credit record, and he continues to deal with the fallout. "It's been a very long and arduous battle," he says. "Recovering my identity was really the hardest part. I think a lot of victims assume the problem will go away." | high17146.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "how \"The Law of Patient Acceptance\" works"
},
"options": [
"how \"The Law of Patient Acceptance\" works",
"what the meaning of \"The Law of Patient Acceptance\" is",
"why greed and selfishness exist",
"when we should ... | Isn't it interesting how we expect others to behave in a certain way so we can feel good about ourselves? And then when people don't behave as we want them to, we feel so disappointed and angry --- when really, most times, we're not actually surprised at their actions? We just want those actions to be different --- actions we'd be more comfortable with.
This week I shared a friend a wonderful home-cooked meal and a bottle of wine. About the time we got to the freshly-baked cookies, the conversation turned to her somewhat crazy sister. I had to smile, just a little, since her sister-stories had had much the same theme for the last two decades.When her frustration was just about to peak over her sister's latest unbelievably selfish act, I suggested she begin trying "The Law of Patient Acceptance." "How can I possibly accept her behavior?" my friend asked. "Acceptance doesn't necessarily mean tolerance," I shared. "It just means that you accept the person for who they are and you stop knocking yourself out trying to change them."
Everyone has these difficult people in their lives from time to time. "Think of it this way," I said. "If you were to go out and buy an ottoman today, thinking you were buying a chair, you'd be really angry that the ottoman was such a pathetic chair. But once you realize what you're dealing with, once you accept the ottoman for what it is and you stop trying to turn it into a chair, your anger largely goes away."
You have to accept people for who they are. Even when you've had high hopes that they might have been able to be someone else. "You can't change people," my Mother always said. And she was right. The best we can do is to see people as clearly and objectively as possible. For they rarely change. | high16258.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "leave an impression on the interviewer"
},
"options": [
"make your interviewer angry",
"please your interviewer",
"leave an impression on the interviewer",
"leave the interviewer indifferent to you"
],
"question... | Smart job-seekers need to rid themselves of several standard myths about interviewing before they start looking for a job. What follows is a list of some of these untruths and some tips to help you do your best at your next interview.
Myth 1: The aim of interviewing is to obtain (means "get") a job offer.
Only half true. The real aim of an interview is to obtain the job you want. That often means rejecting job offers you don't want! So before you please an employer, be sure you want the job.
Myth 2: Always please the interviewer
Not true. Try to please yourself. Of course, don't be hostile--nobody wants to hire someone disagreeable. But there is plainly a muddle ground between being too ingratiating and being hostile.
Myth 3: Try to control the interview
Nobody "controls" an interview. When someone tries to control us, we resent it. When we try to control others, they resent us. Remember you can't control what an employer thinks of you, just as he can't control what you think of him. So he is ready to give and take when being interviewed; never control the interview.
Myth 4: Never interrupt the interviewer
Study the style of the effective conversationalists: they interrupt and are interrupted! An exciting conversation always makes us feel free--free to interrupt, to disagree, to agree enthusiastically. Just _ Try being yourself for a change. Employers will either like or dislike you, but at least you'll have made an impression. Leaving an employer indifferent is the worst impression you can make. | high11537.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "hearing aids"
},
"options": [
"remote controls",
"hearing aids",
"wearable robot legs",
"superman suits"
],
"question": "Products resulting from this wearable robotics technology do not include _ .",
"que... | Just put your special clothes on in the morning and you could jump 3 meters into the air and even carry more than 60 kilograms without getting tired. The walk to school would be very, very easy. Such _ clothing is one of the products that could be created using "wearable robotics" technology.
Designed to improve a person's senses and skills, the device could be as simple as a hearing aid. Or it could be a full-body suit that senses what you're going to do, then helps you do it better.
"A superman suit would be the final result in wearable robot i cs ",s a id Francois Pin, head of robotics and energy systems at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory , US. While these suits are at least ten years away, in some areas the technology is already in use.
Researchers are developing artificial- arms and legs that allow old,disabled or injured people to move freely. Thus US Army is interested in using wearable robot legs to help soldiers run faster, carry more equipment and be stronger in battle. Jobs that involve lifting heavy loads or saving lives from the rubble of an earthquake could also become much easier.
A robot is a device that responds to a command. You're probably with simple robots, such as toy cars or airplanes that respond to buttons you push on a remote control.
Wearable robotics goes further. Instead of just receiving information through a wire or remotecontrol- the robotic device can send information back to its controller.
Suppose you wore a sleeve that has sensors where your joints are. Every time you move your arm, the sleeve senses your movements and sends the information to a robot, which then moves its arm just as you did. When the robot hits or touches something, it sends a signal back to the sleeve and you sense the action.
In this way,scientists are working to wrap the robot around the person. Their goal is to make the sleeve, shoe or suit help you do what you want to do. | high3070.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Because she was suffering a very serious illness."
},
"options": [
"Because she wanted to prove her importance.",
"Because she felt very lonely at home.",
"Because she was suffering a very serious illness.",
"Because sh... | I work at a Care Center where most of the people are elderly. About a year and a half ago a 59-year-old lady came to us who had cancer. She had to have her right leg amputated and she didn't have a family to take care of her after the operation.
This lady was a quiet lady who mostly stayed alone. But in the afternoons, when she was feeling well, she would go to visit the other people in the Care Center. She would visit a lady who was blind and read to her. She would go into the room of a young girl with severe cerebral palsy and sing to her. In her quiet and gentle way, she would go about the Care Center doing goods.
She passed away last Wednesday and after her passing, stories are coming forward of her quiet acts of kindness in her own hour of sorrow.
We never know what _ we have upon others. She had every reason to be bitter, to be angry, or to be swallowed up in her own grief. But she wasn't. She didn't have a family and probably felt forgotten, but her small and quiet acts of service made an impact upon the entire Care Center.
Each of us feels better than before for having known her. We have pledged to be more aware of the service that we can offer to others. | high20932.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the boy seemed not to be a fan of the Beatles"
},
"options": [
"the agency was in urgent need of helping hands",
"the Beatles wanted to help poor young men",
"the boy seemed not to be a fan of the Beatles",
"the poor bo... | When I came home to London at the end of my first term at university in December 1968, I was flat broke, and more broke because it was Christmas, so I went to an employment agency for a job.
"Would you like to work for the Beatles? " they asked.
"Don't you have anything better?" I asked.
Fifteen minutes later I got the job. When I asked why they accepted me when millions would have done the job for free, the answer was "That's just the problem." Yes. I owed the job to the fact that I was not a crazy fan.
But of course I was a fan. It was difficult not to be. I worked over the winter holiday in 1968 and also during Easter 1969. I had to take a taxi in the days to deliver papers sealed in envelopes to the Beatles' house. I took the envelopes to the address, handed them over to whoever answered the door and lift. Who would entrust such papers to an unknown student today - the envelopes would be opened and the contents of the papers copied and sold to the Press. It never occurred to me to do that. Much has been lost in 40 years!
I am always asked how many autographs I collected, and the answer is none. How uncool would it have been to ask for an autograph? Far better just to hear the Beatles' s greets--"Hi, boy." How's it going?"
More than 40 years later, this remains the best job I have ever had. It met my immediate material need and provides a memory that can be my life treasure. For a child of the 60s, this was its peak. If some details of the memory are not so fresh, it's because they weren't important then. At 19, you take the things that happen for granted. At 61, they become gold dust. If I had known that then, I would have kept a diary. | high18261.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "They can earn money."
},
"options": [
"They depend on the government.",
"They are controlled by the government",
"They are free",
"They can earn money."
],
"question": "Which of the following is true about Ameri... | Americans get some of their news and entertainment from public television and radio. These public media receive money to operate from private citizens, organizations and government. Many of their programs are educational. But most of the American media are run by businesses for profit. These privately owned media have changed greatly in recent years. Newspapers, magazines and traditional broadcast television organizations have lost some of their popularity. At the same time, online, cable and satellite media have increased in numbers and strength. So have media that serve racial groups and those communicating in foreign languages.
In general, more media than ever now provide Americans with news and entertainment. At the same time, fewer owners control them. Huge companies have many holdings . In some areas, one company controls much of the media. One dramatic change in American media is the increased success of cable television. It comes into most homes over wires. It does not use the public airwaves to present programs, as broadcast television does. Like broadcast television, most cable television programs perform advertisements. This is true although people must pay to see cable television in their homes. Thirty years ago, few people had cable. Today, about sixty-eight percent of American homes have cable television. Television by satellite also is gaining popularity.
Over the years, traditional broadcast organizations have tried to appeal to as many watchers as possible. Many cable companies, however, present programs for one special group of viewers. For example, there are cable stations for people who like books, cooking, travel, golf or comedy. | high11523.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Jiangsu province"
},
"options": [
"Zhejiang province",
"Anhui province",
"Shanghai",
"Jiangsu province"
],
"question": "According to this passage, the most cases of H7N9 bird flu virus have been detected in _ ... | Two more cases of H7N9 bird flu virus have been detected in Zhejiang province, including a man who died last week, authorities said on Wednesday.
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that a 38-year-old patient surnamed Hong from Hangzhou, the provincial capital, who died in hospital on March 27, had the virus.
Hong was infected on March 7 while working in neighboring Jiangsu province. He returned home on March 18, according to the Zhejiang health department.
The other patient, surnamed Yang, is a 67-year-old man. He developed a cough and fever on March 25 and was admitted to hospital on Tuesday.
None of the people who came into close contact with the patients have developed symptoms of the flu, the health department said.
On Sunday, two men in Shanghai died from H7N9. A woman in Anhui province and four men in Jiangsu province remain in _ condition, which makes a large number of people scared to death.
All patients had fevers and coughs in the early stages before developing pneumonia and breathing difficulties, China's health authorities said.
Experts say genetic analysis shows that the H7N9 virus can be treated with Tamiflu, an antiviral drug that may slow the spread of influenza(,) in the body.
Wang Xianjun, head of the Shandong provincial center of disease control, said H7N9 is sensitive to neuraminidase-inhibiting medicine such as Tamiflu, Qilu Evening News reported on Wednesday.
There are no effective vaccines for H7N9 as yet, Wang said, but using Tamiflu may be effective in the early stages. | high3064.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "a cruise ship"
},
"options": [
"a traveling city",
"a cruise ship",
"a deserted island",
"an ocean park"
],
"question": "In the passage, Oasis of the Seas refers to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions... | The amazing image shows the world's largest ever cruise ship, complete with beach pool, shopping mall, rock-climbing walls, outdoor amphitheater and New York-style loft suites .The "traveling city" is being built on dry-docks in Finland by Royal Caribbean International, and she is named Oasis of the Seas.
Almost 1,200 feet long, 154 feet wide and rising 213 feet above the water line, the Oasis of the Seas will be able to host 3,000 crew to service every passenger's need.In addition to the size, the Oasis of the Seas will also be the first ship that attracts people by the cruise line's new neighborhood concept: 7 distinct themed areas, including Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.Of all these areas, the excellent zone will be "Central Park".
Protected from the weather by a clear screen to let in the light, the Central Park area will be themed on Caribbean plants and leaves reflecting the area which the ship will eventually cruise in.And the park zone will have different restaurants, bars and boutique shops, bringing the idea of "floating city" to reality.
In addition, Oasis of the Seas will also include a rock wall, over 15 restaurants and bars, a casino , a theatre, two night-clubs and the largest freshwater pool on any cruise liner.
"Royal Caribbean is proud to introduce a number of 'firsts' that the world has never seen before," said Adam Goldstein, "Oasis of the Seas is the ultimate expression of the creativity and imagination found on all of our ships, providing guests with a collection of experiences that will offer an incredible cruise vacation." | high8131.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Face-to-face communication, the best way of communicating"
},
"options": [
"How to communicate more effectively",
"The importance of using body language in communication",
"Face-to-face communication, the best way of communic... | While many modern forms of communication like phone calls, e-mail, and letters, are extremely convenient. In my opinion, nothing beats speaking to another person face to face.
The first and most obvious advantage that a face communication has over a letter and e-mail is that there is the ability to interactively converse. If the sender of a letter or an email does not write clearly, then much time must be spent to clear up the misunderstanding. In a face-to-face conversation, misunderstandings are easily dealt with because of the interactive nature of it.
I would still argue that the face-to-face conversation is better because you can see the other person. Not all communication is verbal ; the meaning of much of what we say depends on our body language and the tone of voice. Joking and irony are particularly difficult to express and enjoy without seeing the expression on someone's face, or watching the movements of their body.
Finally, if the goal of communication is to maintain or deepen the relationship with someone, the face-to-face communication offers the choice of communication by touch even if we could communicate by the video. Trust and respect between business partners can be established with a firm handshake. No amount of body language can convey the excitement of a high five between friends, and no number of words can communicate the comforting embrace of a loved one. Touch is the first basic method of our human relationships, before spoken language, and it is only available when people communicate face to face. | high1673.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "this is the second time that Abraham Lincoln has been chosen as America's greatest president"
},
"options": [
"this is the second time that Abraham Lincoln has been chosen as America's greatest president",
"Edna Medford didn't take... | Recently, a study was carried out to determine who was the greatest American president.Sixty-five presidential historians took part in it, and they judged the past forty-two American leaders based on ten leadership qualities, including public persuasiveness , crisis leadership, management of the economy, moral leadership, and conduct of international relations.The historians also looked at administrative ability , relations with Congress, ability to set goals, and the pursuit of equal justice for all.Finally, the experts took into consideration the historical period in which the president lived.
The historians chose Abraham Lincoln as American's greatest president.He had also been named best president in a similar study in 2000.Abraham Lincoln was the president who led the nation through the Civil War in the 1860s, and was able to unite it in the end.He also took the first steps to abolish slavery in America.
Edna Medford, a professor of history at Howard University in Washington, D.C., was an adviser on this study and the earlier one.She says Abraham Lincoln is seen to represent the values the nation most honors, such as truthfulness, moderation, and respect for human rights.
The historians put American's first president, George Washington, second on the list, while Franklin D.Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, and Harry Truman follow in that order.John F.Kennedy, the country's first Roman Catholic president, is sixth on the list.Like Lincoln, Kennedy was murdered while in office.
Among recent presidents, Ronald Reagan was named the tenth best and Bill Clinton rated fifteenth, while the historians put former president George W.Bush at number thirty-six.His father, George H.W.Bush, did much better, being placed at number eighteen. | high1115.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "He is a professor teaching at Soochow University."
},
"options": [
"He is working for Soochow University in Taipei Taiwan as a cleaner.",
"He has nothing to do with Soochow University.",
"He is a professor teaching at Soochow... | Dear Sir,
I recently found your website of Chinese Culture a very good source. I am a professor teaching at Soochow University in Taipei Taiwan, and I would plan to quite often use some articles on your website for my course of Introduction to Chinese Culture. Therefore, I'd like to inform you of my use for educational purposes and hopefully to have your permission. Meanwhile, I do wish I could have more materials from your service. Much grateful to you.
Yours sincerely,
Byron Gong
Dear Mr. Byron Gong,
It is a pleasure to know that our website has been of help for you to introduce Chinese culture in your class. Sharing the same mission in promoting Chinese culture, we are glad to grant you the permission in using the sources of our website for your educational purposes, under the condition that all the sources are credited. However, if the pictures or articles are to be used for publications, you can mail us and further discuss on that.
We are happy to provide you some further material, but we would like to know what kind of information would be of interest to you.
Thank you again for attention to our website. Any suggestion is welcome, and we would very appreciate your help if you could tell us what contents in our website are of most interest and significance to you and what parts should be given more attention.
Sincerely yours,
Chinaculture.org | high22857.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "He set a new record for \"Fastest 100 m running on all fours\"."
},
"options": [
"He set a good example to all Japanese.",
"He made record attempts in 15 different countries.",
"He set a new record for \"Fastest 100 m running... | Below is a selection about Guinness World Records.
Top 6 Unusual Guinness World Records
Fastest 100 m running on all fours
The 2008 Guinness World Records Day was, according to CWR, their biggest day of record-breaking ever, I- h more than 290.000 people taking put in record attempts in 15 different countries. Kenichi Ito's record attempt was port of this special day. He is just another example of Japanese with "super powers". His "super power" is to run with great speed on all fours. Kenichi Ito ran 100 m on all fours in 18.58 seconds. The Japanese set this record at Setagaya Kuritsu Sogo Undojyo, Tokyo, in 2008.
Most people inside a soap bubble
The Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, Califomia celebrated this year the 15th anniversary of the Bubble Festival. A bubble's math principles and science were presented and demonstrated at the three-week-long exhibition. The intriguing Bubble Show was also part of the program. Fan Yang and Deni Yang impressed the audience with their awesome skills for bubble making. The Yang family cooperated with the Discovery Science Center to set a new Guinness World Record for mow people inside a scup bubble and they succeeded.
The family that has been working with soap bubbles for 27 years created a huge soap bubble and got 118 people inside it. The record was set or. April 4, 2011.
Longest ears on a dog
A bloodhound from Illinois has the longest ears ever measured a dog. The right ear is 13.75 inches long and the left one 13.5 inches. The dog named Tigger earned this title in 2004 and is owned by Christina and Bryan Flessner.
Mr. Jeffries is the previous record holder of this title. Each of his ears measured approximately 11. 5 inches long. His grandfather used to hold this amazing world record, but when he died Mr.Jeffries look over.
Most living generations
Did you ever wonder what is the Guinness World Record for most living generation in one family? Seven is the answer.
The ultimate authority on record-breaking mentions on the website that the youngest great-great- great-great grandparent of this family was Augusta Bung "aged 109 years 97 days, followed by her daughter aged 89, her granddaughter aged 70, her great grand-daughter aged 52, her great-great grand-daughter aged 33 and her great-great-great granddaughter aged 15 on the birth of her great-great-great-great grandson on January 21, 1989".
Most T shirts worn at once
Believe it or not, there is a record also for this category. Krunoslav Budiseli set a new world record on May 22, 2010 for wearing 245 T-shirts at the same time. The nun from Croatia was officially recognized as the new record bolder by Guinness World Records after he managed to put on 245 different T-shirts in 1ess than two hours. . The T-shirts weighted 68 KG and Budiseli said he began struggling around T-shirt No. 120. He dethroned the Swedish Guinness record holder who wore 238 T-shirts.
Heaviest pumpkin
Guinness World Records confirmed on October 9. 2010 that a gigantic pumpkin grown in Wisconcin was officially the world's heaviest. It weighed 1,810 pounds 8 ounces and was unveiled by Chris Stevens at the Stillwater Harvest Festival in Minnesota. Stevens' pumpkin was 85 pounds Javier than the previous re I, another huge pumpkin grown in Ohio. The proud farmer said his secret is a precise of rain, cow mature, good soil, sea grass and fish emulsion. Some of the world's heaviest pumpkins, including the record bolder, were on public display at the Bronx Botanical Gardens in New Yost for a dozen days. | high481.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Its design"
},
"options": [
"Its position",
"Its design",
"Its height",
"Its price"
],
"question": "What made Treehotel impressive?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answ... | If you are tired of common hotel rooms, maybe it's time to climb into a tree. A new generation of tree houses are appearing across the world, and designer Roderick Romero says he knows why and he said "They're magical. I've never seen someone climb into a tree house and not smile."
Edisto River Canadys, S. C.
Before you can stay in one of the wilderness tree houses, you first have to canoe down the Edisto River. The paddle-in homes offer a cooking gear and comfortable sleeping bed. "It's a really good place to get back to nature," Romero says. The lofts have gas stoves and are lit by lanterns. The website: caneosc.com
Treehotel
Romero was astonished when he first saw the buildings at this hotel 40 miles south of the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden. "It blew my mind. I couldn't believe what I was seeing." he says. The hotel rooms draws heavily on spare Scandinavian design. "Architecturally this is one of the coolest ideas for a tree house.'' The website: treehotel.se
Hideaway Cafe
While most treehouses are found in the woods, this coffee shop and inn turns the idea on its head with a location in downtown Tokyo. The building itself stands on stilts with a tree growing through the center of it. The cafe was the first treehouse designed by Kobayashi Takashi, who has since created more than 120 homes. "He's one of my heroes." Romero says, "In the treehouse community, he's who we talk about the most." The website: treehouse.jp/ hideaway/.
Tongabezi
One of the world's most stylish treehouses perches in a tree alongside the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls. The large pine deck holds a bed and Turkish carpets. Guests can go on safati, or simply stay in their perch and watch for hippos playing in the river. The website: below.tongabezi.com. | high13452.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "By giving an example."
},
"options": [
"By making comparisons,",
"By giving an example.",
"By raising questions.",
"By providing data."
],
"question": "How did the author introduce the topic of the text?",
"... | Rae and Bruce Hostetler not only work very hard,they also relax just as well. Numerous vacations help the couple to maintain their health and emotional well-being-and it's no surprise to health care professionals.
"Rest,relaxation, and stress reduction are very important for people's weLl-being and health. This can be accomplished through daily activities,such as exercise and meditation,but vacation is an important part of this as well," said primary care physician Natasha Withers from One Medical Group in New York. Withers lists a decreased risk of heart disease and improved reaction time as some of the benefits from taking some time off. "We also know that the mind is very powerful and can help with healing,so a rested,relaxed mind is able to help the body heal better," said Withers.
Psychologists confirm the value of vacations for the mind. " The impact that taking a vacation has on one's mental health is great," said Francine Lederer,a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles who specializes in stress and relationship management. " Most people have better life perspective and are more motivated to achieve their goals after a vacation,even if it is a 24- hour time-out. " The trips could be good for their health,good for their family and good for their .businesses.
The online travel agency Expedia conducted a survey about vacation time in 2010,and according to their data the average American eamed 18 vacation days-but only used 14 0f them. France topped the list,with the average worker earning 37 vacation days and using all but two of them. Americans' responses may not be surprising in a culture where long hours on the job often are valued,but that's not always good for the individual,the family or the employer.
Psychologists have also found that people who don't take enough time to relax may find it harder to relax in the future. "Without time and opportunity to do this,the nerve connections that produce feelings of calm and peacefulness become weaker,making it actually more difficult to shift into less-stressed states," Mulhern said. | high23591.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "gives birth to a baby for another woman"
},
"options": [
"acts as a baby-sitter",
"nurses another woman's baby",
"offers service to a new mother",
"gives birth to a baby for another woman"
],
"question": "\"A su... | Tang Zhou and his wife are planning to have their second child, a test-tube baby. His wife had a natural delivery when she was 34 and their first child, a boy, is now 7. The couple are now hoping to have a daughter through _ in the US. "My wife couldn't bear another delivery because of her heart condition and her age. Surrogacy helps avoid the risks to older mothers," Tang said, "Moreover, our second child will be born in the US and become a citizen there. That is not a bad choice."
The couple spent weeks researching their move, looking for a reliable agency that provides surrogacy services overseas. Surrogacy is still illegal in many countries, including China. "We will be taking much higher risks by relying on a surrogate mother in China because we are not protected by any regulation or law. You pay a lot of money but may meet with many problems," Tang said. "You might not even get your baby back."
Tang and his wife are part of an increasing number of Chinese couples who are turning to surrogacy services. Tang also considered surrogacy in Thailand but dropped the idea after recent reports about a baby with Down Syndrome who was delivered through surrogacy and said to have been deserted in Thailand by the biological parents from Australia. Instead, Tang chose the California Surrogacy Center agency as his first option after reading the detailed introduction on its website. Compared with many other agencies that he could contact only via e-mail, the center has a consulting office in Beijing, Tang said.
The center is in San Diego, California, and has satellite offices in Los Angeles and Beijing. According to Liu, the center has been operating for more than eight years, and about 100 surrogate mothers live in California. | high9549.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "http:// www.lionsclub.org"
},
"options": [
"http:// www.lionsclub.org",
"http:// www.communitygifts.com",
"http:// www.nationwidesmokes.com",
"http:// bodynaturalsalonandspa.com"
],
"question": "Which website sh... | Below are some classified ads from the Internet.
_
V2 cigs is undeniably the leader in the electronic cigarette industry.
If you are a smoker who wants to quit soon, we will illustrate just some of the most important features and benefits of V2 e-cigarettes:
Effectively satisfy the desire for tobacco smoking with V2 Cigs
V2 Cigs is more affordable than its competitors
Enjoy smoking without the unpleasant _ of tobacco smoking: No ash, smoke or bad breath.
Why not have a try! http:// www.nationwidesmokes.com
Welcome to Day Spa& Beauty Salon
Our beauty salon has been offering professional beauty treatments since 1997. We provide beauty therapy and offer beauty treatments to both men and women at competitive prices.
Company staff discount available for up to 30%. Ring 860-868-0710 for an introductory letter.
We now offer a 10% discount for students and over 65's.
Please visit our website http:// bodynaturalsalonandspa.com
_
City Market is committed to helping our communities grow and prosper. Each year, we assist hundreds of local nonprofit organizations, schools and churches working to make the communities we share better places to live and work. It's easier than ever to request a donation for your nonprofit organization with our online form.
Go to our website at http:// www.communitygifts.com
More Volunteers Doing More Community Work
In over 200 countries, Lions are doing community volunteer work, helping, leading, planning and supporting.
We want everyone to see a better tomorrow. We believe everyone deserves a healthy life. From providing health programs that focus on hearing loss to supporting efforts to control and prevent diabetes , Lions volunteers are working to improve the health of children and adults around the world.
There are many ways to get involved: community projects, group volunteer opportunities, or global health programs.
Please call 630-571-5466
http:// www.lionsclub.org
_
Liquor Store For Sale
Full equipment, located in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, U.S. Serious inquiries only. Call 302-393-3126
Cafe/Restaurant Business For Sale
Busy location. Unbelievable price, $30,000. Call 302-650-4724 | high12994.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The auto industry has been forced to develop new models which are more expensive."
},
"options": [
"More people prefer to travel on public transportation which costs less than driving cars.",
"People return to the traditional exerc... | In recent years, the price of gas has been rising sharply, and people have made many adjustments.
There was, for a time, considerable unemployment in the auto industry, and three quarters of the garages and service stations have gone out of business. However; the bicycle and motor-scooter business has flourished ; and many people have found employment there: Now that Federal Motors has brought out its new Lilliput, which travels forty miles on a gallon, the auto business is picking up again. The factories that haven't switched over to two-wheel transportation are working on their new smaller models. There is talk, too, about bringing out new steam and electric automobiles that will be just as economical as the old cars.
In the meantime, streetcars are gradually replacing buses all over the country because of the greater economy of electric power. And many people who have seldom used public transportation are now riding the streetcars while their automobiles rust in their garages. There's no market at all for their big, luxurious cars, for only the wealthy can now afford to operate them. Many people are now shopping in their own neighborhood, and small businesses are thriving.
Ministers, educators, and editorial writers are pointing out that there has been a great improvement in family life. Families now stay at home more for their fun, and children and parents are becoming better acquainted. The stores report a booming business in parlor games, hobby materials, books, musical instruments and albums.
People have lost their pale indoor look. The revival of the lost art of walking has brought a healthy pink back to many a cheek. This return to the heels has revolutionized the clothing styles; people now need to be ready for all kinds of weather:
These conditions, however, may not last. Already our clever chemists are at work on new synthetic fuels which, they say, will put us right back where we wereon wheels. Shall we wish them success or not? | high8657.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Wants do not always correspond to needs in gift-giving."
},
"options": [
"Price is nothing but the factor when you give gifts.",
"Chocolates will be blamed when people receive them as gifts.",
"The receivers often overestimat... | Is any economist so dull as to criticise Christmas? At first glance,the holiday season in western economies seems a treat for those concerned with such vagaries as GDP growth.After all,everyone is spending;in America,retailers make 25% of their yearly sales and 60% of their profits between Thanksgiving and Christmas.Even so,economiwsts find something to worry about in the nature of the purchases being made.
Much of the holiday spending is on gifts for others.At the simplest level,giving gifts involves the giver thinking of something that the recipient would like-he tries to guess her preferences,as economists say-and then buying the gift and delivering it.Yet this guessing of preferences is not easy;indeed,it is often done badly.Every year,ties go unworn and books unread.And even if a gift is enjoyed,it may not be what the recipient would have bought if they had spent the money themselves.
Interested in this mismatch between wants and gifts,in 1993 Joel Waldfogel,then an economist at Yale University,sought to estimate the difference in dollar terms.In a research,he asked students two questions at the end of a holiday season:first,estimate the total amount paid (by the givers) for all the holiday gifts you received;second,apart from the sentimental value of the items,if you did not have them,how much would you be willing to pay to get them? His results were gloomy:on average,a gift was valued by the recipient well below the price paid by the giver.
In addition,recipients may not know their own preferences very well.Some of the best gifts,after all,are unexpected items that you would never have thought of buying,but which turn out to be especially well picked.And preference can change.So by giving a jazz CD,for example,the giver may be encouraging the recipient to enjoy something that was ignored before.This,a desire to build skills,is possibly the hope held by many parents who ignore their children's desires for video games and buy them books instead.
Finally,there are items that a recipient would like to receive but not purchase.If someone else buys them,however,they can be enjoyed guilt-free.This might explain the high volume of chocolate that changes over the holidays.Thus,the lesson for gift-givers is that you should try hard to guess the preference of each person on your list and then choose a gift that will have a high sentimental value. | high15023.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "You have your own plate of food in West while in China everyone shares the dishes."
},
"options": [
"On Chinese dinner table, chopsticks replace knife and fork.",
"The host will do the best to give you a taste of many different typ... | Of course, the main difference on the Chinese dinner table is chopsticks instead of knife and fork, but that's only superficial. Besides, in decent restaurants, you can always ask for a pair of knife and fork, if you find the chopsticks not helpful enough. The real difference is that in the West, you have your own plate of food, while in China the dishes are placed on the table and everyone shares. If you are being treated to a formal dinner and particularly if the host thinks you're in the country for the first time, he will do the best to give you a taste of many different types of dishes.
The meal usually begins with a set of at least four cold dishes, to be followed by the main courses of hot meat and vegetable dishes. Soup then will be served (unless in Guangdong style restaurants) to be followed by staple food ranging from rice, noodles to dumplings. If you wish to have your rice to go with other dishes, you should say so in good time, for most of the Chinese choose to have the staple food at last or have none of them at all.
Perhaps one of the things that surprise a western visitor most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their guests. In formal dinners, there are always "public" chopsticks and spoons for this purpose, but some hosts may use their own chopsticks. This is a sign of genuine friendship and politeness. It is always polite to eat the food. If you do not eat it, just leave the food in the plate.
People in China tend to over-order food, for they will find it embarrassing if all the food is consumed. When you have had enough, just say so. Or you will always overeat! | high3702.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "They were not born in the ocean."
},
"options": [
"They have acoustic tags attached to them.",
"They have better hearing than normal seals.",
"They have been trained to recognize acoustic tags.",
"They were not born in ... | Tiny monitoring devices have become an increasingly common way for scientists to study elusive animals that are difficult to track on a day-to-day basis. However, now it seems that smart. seals have caught on to the trick and are using it to their advantage to catch fish!
To find out if that is true, a team of researchers from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland selected a group often young grey seals that had neither encountered the ocean nor been exposed to any kind of acoustic tags. The researchers then placed the seals one at a time, inside a pool that contained 20 foraging boxes, only two of which housed fish -- one with tags and the other without.
Each seal was allowed to explore the boxes twenty separate times. In order to ensure that mammal was not depending on its memory, the fish were moved to different boxes each time. At first, there was no difference in the amount of time it took the seals to discover the tagged and untagged fish. However, after they had been in the pool a few times, they started locating the tagged fish much faster.
To confirm that this indeed was the case, there searchers conducted a second experiment using two boxes -- one with pieces of fish and the other with just acoustic tags. Sure enough, the seals were all attracted to the one that was sending out signals.
While this experiment involved only seals, the researchers believe that other marine mammals may also be using the information to catch prey. Sadly, predators like sharks that have been tagged by scientists may be negatively affected, as pings they emit could warn their prey of their presence. Besides potentially messing up nature's food chain, the "dinner bell" effect of the acoustic tags could also mean that the conclusions reached by previous fish studies may not be correct. Now that the secret is out, scientists will have to come up with another way to conduct their studies -- one that is not detectable by the crafty marine animals. | high19619.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the higher level of CO2in the air"
},
"options": [
"the lower water PH value",
"the warming atmosphere",
"the higher level of CO2in the air",
"the increasing use of fuels"
],
"question": "The ocean is becoming m... | "The world's oceans are slowly getting more acidic." say scientists. The researchers from California report that the change is taking place in response to higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The lowering of the waters' PH value is not great at the moment but could cause a serious threat to current ocean life if it continues, they warn. Ken Caldeira and Michael Wickett, from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, report their concerns in the journal Nature.
Increasing use of oil fuels means more carbon dioxide is going into the air, and most of it will eventually be absorbed by seawater. Once in the water, it reacts to form carbonic acid. Scientists believe that the oceans have already become slightly more acidic over the last century.
These researchers have tried to predict what will happen in the future by combining what we know about the history of the oceans with computer models of climate change. "This level of acidity will get much more extreme in the future if we continue releasing CO2into the atmosphere," said Dr Caldeira. "And we predict the amount of future acidity will exceed anything we have seen over the last several hundred million years."
However, it is not ly clear what that means for ocean life. Most organisms live near the surface, where the greatest PH change would be expected to occur, but deep-ocean life forms may be more sensitive to PH changes.Coral reefs and other organisms whose shells contain calcium carbonate may be affected if the water's acidity levels keep going up, the team predict.
In recent years some people have suggested storing carbon dioxide from power stations in the deep ocean as a way of dealing with global warming.But Dr Caldeira said that such a strategy should now be re-considered. "Previously, most experts had looked at ocean absorption of carbon dioxide as a good thingbecause in releasing CO2into the atmosphere we warm the planet, and when CO2, is absorbed by the ocean, it reduces the amount of greenhouse warming." | high21386.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Sweet Dreams"
},
"options": [
"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry",
"Sweet Dreams",
"Coat of Many Colors",
"Ring of Fire"
],
"question": "If you are interested in Pasty Cline's , emotional music style, you can listen ... | What would make it to your list of top 10 country songs? This article talks about the classic songs that make the cut...
Ring of fire
Sung by Johnny Cash, Ring of Fire remains as powerful a song today as it was when it was written and sung in the 1960's. Johnny Cash's singing, together with June Carter's lyrics , makes it on any list of top 10 country songs.
Sweet Dreams
Sweet Dreams was released after Patsy Cline's death in a plane crash. It reflects her emotional style. The song is a good sample of one of the most successful and talented musicians of the 20th century. Written by Don Gibson, this country song is an all-time classic, and one of the most popular country songs around.
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Sung by Hand Williams, this soul stirring country song is still loved by millions of fans worldwide, because of the spirit its lyrics convey and Williams' beautiful voice.
Many artists have recorded their own versions, but nothing comes close to the magical original .
Coat of Many Colors
Dolly Parton's single from the album of the same name, describing the poverty of her youth, is widely regarded as one of her best works, and also one of the best country songs ever. Coat of Many Colors made it to Time Magazine's "100 Greatest Albums of All Time" list.
Calypso
Although John Denver's Country Roads, Annie's Song and Rocky Mountain High are perhaps more famous. Calypso with its powerful notes and lyrics remains my favorite John Denver country song of all time.
The kiss
Faith Hill's foot tapper make it to the number one slot on the Country Charts in both the US and Canada. Although her single Breathe is also amazing, This Kiss may well be one of the top 10 country songs of all time. | high18507.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "some native English teachers to work in Shanghai"
},
"options": [
"some language teachers to work in Shanghai",
"some native English teachers to work in Suzhou",
"some language teachers to work in Suzhou",
"some native ... | We're one of the biggest ESL professional organizations in Shanghai, China and we have 10 primary schools, 2 middle schools, and 5 kindergartens in Shanghai and 1 in Suzhou. For these schools, we only need oral English teachers.
We also own an international school whose name is Shanghai World Foreign Language Primary and Middle School. For this school, we need classroom teachers and subject teachers to teach Science, PE, and Music in English.
We prefer to hire experienced teachers with TESOL or Teacher's Certificate. If you want to know more about us, please visit our website at http://www.shyulun.com/.
*Dates and Durations
We need 1 teacher for every position as below:
1. Classroom Teacher Position in Shanghai World Foreign Language Primary School (From 17th Feb 2009, 12 months)
2. Subject Teacher Position in Shanghai World Foreign Language Middle School (From 1st Sep 2009, 10 months)
3. Oral English teachers in Shanghai Changning Experimental Primary School (From 3rd March 2009, 3 months)
*Basic requirements for the Positions
1. Native English speakers for all of the above positions
2. Bachelor Degree at least (Position 1 and 2) with related teaching experience
3. TESOL or related certificate (Position 3)
*Working Conditions and Environment www.zxxk.com
The schools are the top schools in Shanghai with libraries and public computer rooms. Every teacher will have the office desk, free access to the Internet. We provide teaching materials and teaching guidelines.
*Salary, International Travel Allowance and Bonus
The salary ranges from 6,000 RMB to 10,000 RMB per month according to the position you apply for, which can ensure you have a comfortable life in Shanghai.
We will offer you part or full international travel allowances depending on how long you will work for us. Generally, we will pay you a return ticket for one year contract. | high5373.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Children are likely to mistake it for reality."
},
"options": [
"It is especially used in advertising toys.",
"Children are likely to mistake it for reality.",
"Young children are quite aware of its tricks,",
"It makes ... | Young children are trusting of commercial advertisements in the media, and advertisers have sometimes been accused of taking advantage of this trusting outlook The Independent Television Commission,regulator of television advertising, has criticized advertisers for "misleadingness",in an effort to control advertisers,use of techniques that make it difficult for children to judge the true size, action ,performance, or construction of a toy.
Fantasy is one of the common techniques in advertising that could mislead young audience.In children's advertising, advertisers are more likely to include fantasy than advertisements aimed at adults.In a content analysis of Canadian television, the author Stephen Kline observed that nearly all commercials for character toys featured fantasy play.Children have strong imaginations and the use of fantasy brings their ideas to life, but children may not be adept enough to realize that what they are viewing is unreal Fantasy situations are frequently used to attract children's attention, particularly in food advertising.Advertisements for breakfast have been found to be especially fond of fantasy " techniques.Generally, there is uncertainty as to whether very young children can distinguish between fantasy and reality in advertising.
The use of pop stars such as singers and movie stars is common in advertising.The intention is for the positive qualities of the popular to be transferred to the advertised product and for the two to become linked in audience's mind.In children's advertising ,the pop stars are often vivid figures from popular cartoons.In recent years- the role of pop stars in advertising to children has often been combined with the concept of host selling.Host selling involves advertisements with regular programming in a way that makes it difficult to distinguish one from the other.Host selling occurs ,for example, when a children's show about a cartoon lion contains an advertisement in which the same lion promotes a breakfast.The psychologist Dale Kunkel shows that the practice of host selling has reduced children's ability to distinguish between advertising and the program material.Meanwhile,he also shows some other tricky advertisements. | high17634.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "are widely used now"
},
"options": [
"are cheaper than those in developed countries",
"are developing slowly",
"are widely used now",
"are better than those in developed countries"
],
"question": "The mobile net... | Since 2005, the number of Internet users worldwide has doubled to more than one and a half billion. At least two billion are expected to be online by the end of this year. The ITU(International Telecommunicaiton Union) says more than 70% of new Internet users this year will be in developing countries. However, only 21% of the population of the developing world is online -- compared to 71% in developed countries.
There are still very huge divides when it comes to connecting to the Internet. In developing countries, there are only one out of five people using the Internet. In Africa, only 10% of the population is using the Internet. Less than 16% of homes in developing countries are connected to the Internet. But, on the other hand, mobile phone usage has reached 68% in developing countries.
The world has almost seven billion people. Nine out of ten are connected to mobile networks. The ITU says that mobile users will reach five billion three hundred million this year. Most of them are in the developing world. More and more people in developing countries are using their mobile phones to connect to the Internet.
Mobile technology is already improving lives in developing countries. People can bank by phone, enjoy e-health services and so on. And people can enjoy more as broadband, or high-speed connections become more widely available.
ITU Secretary General Hamadoun Toure believes broadband is the most powerful tool available in the race to meet the Development Goals by 2015. | high20098.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "I scared away a thief trying to steal"
},
"options": [
"I came across a skillful thief.",
"I bravely caught a thief trying to steal",
"The thief successfully stole my purse",
"I scared away a thief trying to steal"
... | I was going to Paris, which I'd always wanted to see. But now I was frightened to travel alone. I arrived at the train station in Paris. I hadn't spoken my college French for twenty years. On my first metro ride, I came across an incompetent thief. I just stared at him, and he stopped his hand from my purse and disappeared into the crowd. Somewhere in this confusing city was my hotel hidden, but the directions suddenly weren't easy to find. When I finally found the hotel, my heart was beating heavily, and I was sweating like a basketball player. I couldn't stay. Could I? The wallpaper looked like it had been through a fire. The bathroom was downstairs, and the window looked out onto the brick wall of another building. Welcome to Paris. I sincerely wanted to die. I missed my friends. I was entering my third week away from home and my kids, and I had arrived in the most romantic city in the world, alone, lonely and frightened.
The most important thing I did in Paris happened at that moment. I knew that if I didn't go out, right then, and find a place to have dinner, I would hide in this small room my entire time in Paris. I might never learn to enjoy the world as a single individual. So I went out. Evening in Paris was light and pleasant. I walked along a path, listening to birds sing, watching children float toy boats in a huge fountain. No one seemed to be in a hurry. Paris was beautiful. And I was here alone and suddenly not lonely. My sense of accomplishment overcoming my fear and weakness had left me feeling free. I wore out two pairs of shoes during my week's stay in Paris. I did everything there was to do, and it was the greatest week of my European vacation. I returned home, becoming a believer in the power of traveling alone. Now when I meet difficulties I just say to myself, "If I can go to Paris, I can go anywhere." | high9561.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Students who are left out on the playground."
},
"options": [
"Students who love games and activities.",
"Students who want and continue to be kind.",
"Students who are left out on the playground.",
"Students who are in... | A group of kids at McIntyre Elementary School, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have created a special bench to make sure their fellow classmates aren't left out on the playground. Called the "Buddy Bench", students can use the seat as a safe and supportive place to let others know they'd like to be included in playtime, but may be too shy to ask.
The concept of the Buddy Bench is simple: Students who want to partake in playground games and activities, but may feel hesitant, can take a seat, which signifies to other children on the playground that they may need something extra to encourage them to participate.
The idea for the bench came about last year, when Farrell, school counselor at McIntyre Elementary, was conducting a leadership group to help students overcome shyness and gain confidence. Four fourth-grade students came up with the idea for the Buddy Bench in this workshop, and worked with Farrell to draft a letter to present to the Parent Teacher Staff Organization to make the bench a reality. The PTSO approved the students' proposal, and installed a bright metal bench with a cheerful sign that reads "Buddy Bench" on the school's playground.
Since it was installed on Nov. 16, the bench has been effective. The simple concept has resonated with the students, and already has created a better environment within the school community.
"Each day, I go to see the buddy bench working," Farrell said. "The lessons _ are learning now will benefit them their entire lives. It is simply a beautiful example of kids wanting to be kind and continue to be kind every day." | high14315.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "he needed President Yapha's help in carrying out a secret plan"
},
"options": [
"he had a stomachache",
"he needed President Yapha's help in carrying out a secret plan",
"he did not want to be seen by the press",
"he wo... | We arranged that Kissinger would fly to Vietnam early in July and then stop in Pakistan on the way back. There he would develop a stomachache that would require him to stay in bed and not be seen by the press. Then, with President Yapha's help, he would be taken to the airport where a Pakistani jet would fly him over the mountains to China.
Kissinger's trip was given the name Polo after Marco Polo, another Western traveler who made history by journey in China. Everything went quite smoothly. His slight illness in Islamabad received only small attention from reporters covering him. They accepted the story that he would be kept shut up for at least a few days and began making arrangements for their own activities.
Because of the need for complete secrecy and the lack of any direct communication facilities between Beijing and Washington, I knew that we would have no word from Kissinger while he was in China. Even after he had returned to Pakistan, it would still be important to keep it secret, so before Kissinger left, we agreed on a single code word - Eureka - which he would use if his missions were successful and the presidential trip had been arranged. On July 11, Al Haig, who knew our code work, phoned to say that a cable from Kissinger had arrived.
"What's the message?" I asked. "Eureka". he replied. | high12764.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "It stores the energy from the sun."
},
"options": [
"It Burns merely plant matter.",
"It keeps producing electricity.",
"It stores the energy from the sun.",
"It produces zero carBon dioxide."
],
"question": "Wh... | The oldest and most common source of renewaBle energy known to man, Biomass is one of the most important forms energy production in the United States and elsewhere. Since such a wide variety of Biomass materials is everywhere ---- from trees and grasses to agricultural and city ---- life wastes ----Biomass promises to play a continuing role in providing power and heat for millions of people around the world.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists(UCS), Biomass is a kind of renewaBle energy source that produces no carBon dioxide , Because the energy it contains comes from the sun. When plant matter is Burned, it gives off the sun's energy. In this way, Biomass serves as a sort of natural Battery for storing the sun's energy. As long as Biomass is produced continuously ----with only as much grown as is used--- the "Battery" lasts forever.
According to the Energy Information Administration, Biomass has Been one of the leading renewaBle energy sources in the United States for several years running through 2007, making up Between 0.5 and 0.9 percent of the nation's total electricity supply. In 2008----although the numBers aren't all in yet----wind power proBaBly took over first place Because of the rapid development of wind farms across the country.
Producing power from Biomass helps reduce some 11 million tons of carBon dioxide each year. Some homeowners also try to make their own heat By using Biomass materials. Such practice may save homeowner's money, But it also produces a lot of pollution. So, the Best way is to encourage power plants to use it. | high16502.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "get back down early"
},
"options": [
"finish your hiking in a day",
"enjoy your hiking completely",
"avoid getting tired",
"get back down early"
],
"question": "You are advised to start hiking early in order to ... | Hiking can be a pleasant as well as a not so pleasant adventure. You will have to take a number of measures so that your hike is a pleasant experience.
Hiking Tip 1 -- Start Early
Most hiking experts hold the opinion that it is rather sensible to start hiking at 3 or 4 in the morning, even if it is a full-day hike. Since most hikes are conducted at high altitudes, starting off early will make sure that you are back down during the afternoon hours.
Hiking Tip 2 -- Be Light
Since we are anyway talking about the load you will carry, another important hiking tip is to carry fewer loads. If you are going on a hiking trail on a familiar path, you will need reduced survival items, as chance that you will get lost or hurt yourself on these hiking trails is little.
Hiking Tip 3 -- Reduce the Number of Breaks
Once you start your hike, you should make sure you do not take too many breaks. You will need to maintain a consistent speed and minimize the number of stops which you take. Speed and rest stops help distinguish an inexperienced hiker from an expert hiker. An inexperienced hiker will have bursts of speed and energy and it will be followed by rest stops. This results in slowing down the general speed.
Hiking Tip 4 -- Tip for Children
Do you plan to take your kids along with you on the hiking trail? Well, then you must be looking for hiking tips for kids! You will have to educate them about nature and also get them into an exercise routine before taking them on a hike. Kids have a tendency to run in the beginning. This exhausts them and they have to be carried, which is certainly not the best of ideas. | high19631.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "doesn't burn up oxygen"
},
"options": [
"doesn't burn up oxygen",
"runs without any noise",
"makes people get sleepy",
"is unsuitable for children and pets"
],
"question": "From the passage, we can learn that th... | EP Portable Heater
We all know that the cost of heating our homes will continue to be a significant burden on the family budget. Now millions of people are saving on their heating bills with the EP Portable Heater. With over one million satisfied customers around the world, the new EP heats better and faster, saves more on heating bills, and runs almost silent.
The EP has no exposed heating parts that can cause a fire. The outside of EP only gets warm to the touch so that it will not burn children or pets.
The EP will not reduce oxygen in the room. With other heaters, you'll notice that you get sleepy when the heat comes on because they are burning up oxygen.
The advanced EP also heats the room evenly, wall to wall and floor to ceiling. it comfortably covers an area up to 350 square feet. Other heaters heat rooms unevenly with most of the heat concentrated to the center of the room. And they only heat an area a few feet around the heater. With the EP, the temperature will not vary in any part of the room.
The EP comes with a 3-year warranty and a 60-day. no questions asked. Satisfaction guarantee. If you are not totally satisfied, return it to our expertise and your money will be given back to you.
Now, we have a special offer for 10 days, during which you can enjoy a half price discount and a free delivery. if you order that, we reserve the right to either accept or reject order requests at the discounted price.
Take action right now! | high4045.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Those who want to achieve success can't expect to live an easy life."
},
"options": [
"Climbing hills on bicycles is the best way to take exercise.",
"People are wise to pay to go to the gym.",
"Those who want to achieve succ... | I told my friend Graham that I often cycle two miles from my house to the town centre but unfortunately there is a big hill on the route. He replied, "You mean fortunately." He explained that I should be glad of the extra exercise that the hill provided.
My attitude to the hill has now changed. I used to _ as I approached it but now I tell myself the following. This hill will exercise my heart and lungs. It will help me to lose weight and get fit. It will mean that I live longer. This hill is my friend. Finally I comfort myself with the thought of all those silly people who pay money to go to a gym and sit on stationery exercise bicycles when I can get the same value for free. I have a smile of satisfaction as I reach the top of the hill.
Problems are there to be faced and overcome. We cannot achieve anything with an easy life. Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person to gain a university degree. Her activism and writing proved inspirational. She wrote, "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can vision be cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved."
One of the key factors of success in life is our attitude towards adversity . From time to time we all face hardships, problems, accidents, afflictions and difficulties. Some are of our making but many confront us through no fault of our own. While we cannot choose the adversity we can choose our attitude towards it.
Douglas Bader was 21 when in 1931 he had both legs cut off following a flying accident. He was determined to fly again and went on to become one of the leading flying aces in the Battle of Britain with 22 aerial victories over the Germans. He was an inspiration to others during the war. He said, "Don't listen to anyone who tells you that you can't do this or that. That's nonsense. Make up your mind, and you'll never use crutches or a stick, and then have a go at evening. Go to school, and join in all the games you can. Go anywhere you want to. But never, never let them persuade you that things are too difficult or impossible."
The biographies of great people are full of examples of how they took steps to overcome the difficulties they faced. The common thread is that they did not become depressed. They chose their attitude. They chose to be positive. They took on the challenge. They won.
Nevertheless, there is still the problem of how you change your attitude towards adversity. | high2434.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "There is only one way to reach the forests in South Africa."
},
"options": [
"How Nina died towards the end of the journey.",
"What effects earthquakes and volcanoes have on the earth.",
"India is a country that has a long hi... | Film 1 -- The environmental problems in South Africa
This film will take you on a wonderful trip deep into the South African forests and across four decades of research to experience the changes in the environment in South Africa. With no roads or airstrips nearby, the waterways are the only choice for reaching the great forests. This unbelievable journey invites you to be among the few humans who have dared to go to the South African forests to examine the different disappearing creatures and plants of South Africa.
Place: Cheerful Theatre
Admission Fees: Front Stalls $30, Stalls $38 (Standard)
Front Stalls $15, Stalls $19 (Concession)
Note: 1. Concessions are applicable to senior citizens aged 60 or above.
2. Children under 3 years old will not be admitted.
Duration: 50 minutes
Show Dates: April1 - May 31
Discount: With the cash coupons offered by K&S Ltd., you can now enjoy a 50% discount on the $38 ticket and pay only $19 per head.
Film 2 -- The climatic changes in India
This film will take you to the mysterious land of India. This film features a scientist, Nina, who set out alone on a five-year journey across the country. Along the way, Nina experiences the harshness of India's land, which contains every type of natural environment on Earth -- from the freezing temperatures of the Himalayas to the extremely hot deserts, and to dense tropical rainforests. The film shows how she survives the tough journey in India.
Place: Glorious Theatre
Admission Fees: Front Stalls $50, Stalls $70 (Standard)
Note: Children under 3 years old will not be admitted.
Duration: 120 minutes
Show Dates: May 15 - May 31, only one show every day from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Not on show at weekends.
Special Feature: Good news for those who are interested in India! With the purchase of any two tickets at $70 each, you can join our prize-winning competition to win 2 round-trip tickets to India!
Film 3 -- The power of nature
This film features inspiring and frightening atmospheric and geological events. It shows how we can help increase our chances of surviving these events. The great earthquakes, exploding mountains, the sky turning black and violent -- natural forces that helped create life on our green planet but can also _ it. Experience our planet's strongest powers as this film delivers the amazing sights of earthquakes, volcanoes and hurricanes. From volcanic eruptions and trembling fault lines in Turkey to the hurricanes striking America, modern-day disasters are witnessed in eye-popping enormity on the giant screen.
Place: Spectacular Theatre
Admission Fees: Front Stalls $34, Stalls $42 (Standard)
Front Stalls $17, Stalls $21 (Concession)
Notes: 1. Concessions are applicable to full-time students, people with disabilities and senior citizens aged 60 or above.
2. Children under 6 years old will not be admitted.
Duration: 150 minutes
Show Dates: May 5 - June 30, only at weekends.
Discount: A 3rd ticket is given free for every 2 tickets bought at whatever price. | high10173.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "will have a well-planned ride time"
},
"options": [
"can get discounts on tickets",
"will have a well-planned ride time",
"will often be checked at the exit",
"have to pay more for their tickets"
],
"question": ... | As for visiting Walt Disney World. People usually have trouble in arranging. The following will give you some practical suggestions on paying a valuable visit to the famous park.
When to go?
While it's always busy, Disney World is slightly slower between mid-January and March. It's summer when the visitors , combined with the heat and humidity , are crowded. Your best choice is either early in the morning or late in the day--- often you can enjoy more rides in the first or last two hours of the day than you can the entire rest of the day combined.
Where to stay?
The question: to stay on Disney World Resort property or not. Disney World offers three resort pricing: Deluxe , Moderate, and Value, with good facilities and in-hotel attractions. That said, they all offer "Extra Magic Hours"(early access to the theme parks), guaranteed entry when the parks are over-crowded, and frequent shuttle service to the many attractions. Off-property hotels will have shuttle transfers, but often at less regular intervals ,wasting more time in transport. You'll also need a rental car, which adds to the expense, making up for saving in the hotel rate. The "Magic Your Way Package" is a good value if you have a large family.
What to do?
Make use of the "Fast Pass" , which , for no extra cost, allow you to insert your entrance ticket into a particular machine at the attraction and receive a schedule ride time a little later on. For example, use your Fast Pass ticket at a ride just before getting lunch. Once you're done eating, you can return to the ride and jump right on during the busiest time of day. At the Animal Kingdom, the animals are most active either early or late in the day, so plan accordingly. Thankfully _ is fit for the least busy times of day in the park. Study the map of the park the night before to plan your visit. You'll save time by knowing where things are and where you're headed. | high2352.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Historic Centre of Siena"
},
"options": [
"Uffizi Gallery.",
"Valley of the Temples.",
"Grand Canal.",
"Historic Centre of Siena"
],
"question": "Which of the following would be better to visit in summer?",
... | From Rome and Venice to the rolling hills of Tuscany and the charm of Milan, Italy is a bottomless well of attractions. It is a motherland of artists and scientists that changed the shape of the world. Here are some places you should see on your vacations to Italy.
Valley of the Temples
Welcome to Sicily and one of its most amazing attractions. The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is an extensive archaeological site containing the well-preserved remains of various Doric temples dating from the 5thcentury B.C. In accord with standard criteria for both Greek and Roman temples, all structures face east so that the statue of the god housed inside will be illuminated by the rising sun. The site being located on a ridge overlooking the town, the term "valley" is obviously a misnomer ,but it quite captures the vastness of the place.
Uffizi Gallery
The reputation for being one of the finest universally acclaimed museums of all time comes courtesy of masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo and Rubens. Their timeless works are proudly displayed on the top floor of the palace in Florence.
Historic Centre of Siena
Siena may not equal Florence in overall artistic achievement, but its charm makes it a place that no other can compare to. Centered on Piazza del Campo, the historic district is a container of 12th-century Gothic, and a mirror of the Middle Ages. Full of pearls of architecture and cultural highlights, the historic centre of Siena is an excellent trip back in time, ideally to be taken in summer.
Grand Canal
Taking the water bus along the Canal Grande is like going back through centuries of history. The famous Venetian waterway runs more than 3.5 km through all six districts of the historic center. The impressive Renaissance palaces rub shoulders with Gothic arches and marble mixes with gold. Numerous landmarks never cease to provoke admirable sighs on the way. | high10615.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "To treat the soldiers stationed there."
},
"options": [
"To do medical research there.",
"To treat the civilians in the war-torn area.",
"To treat the soldiers stationed there.",
"To help the suffering people there."
... | Boy Scout is sending 69 boxes of clothes to prefix = st1 /Afghanistan, in a project inspired by his father's employment to the war-torn region.
Nick Shawen decided to begin a clothing drive after receiving e-mails from his father. His mother said they learned of children coming into the hospital and losing their belongings."They had to cut the clothes off because, you know, they were completely damaged," she said.
When her 16-year-old son decided to start a collection, it quickly became a family affair. Even Nick's 4-year-old sister wanted to give her help. "I'm going to Afghanistanbecause there are kids who need help there," Maren Shawen said.
The Shawens started asking people at their school, church and community to send them clothes. "I've collected 69 boxes of clothes and toys to send down there," Nick said. "I'd never imagined I'd end up doing something like this."
The boxes will be shipped from Gaithersburg to Afghanistan, where Nick's dad, Major Scott Shawen, is stationed as an army doctor. He was sent to thedesertofAfghanistanto treat soldiers but spent much of his tour helping civilians.
"Being able to have my son's Eagle project help out with what I'm doing makes me very happy," Scott Shawn said.
The Shawens have sent 300 pairs of shoes, 1,000 shirts, 25 soccer balls and medicine to Afghanistan. One recipient said he accepted items for his son and was very happy.
"We tend to have extra of almost everything," Nick Shawen said. "But in a lot of places, people don't have enough and I think it's kind of important that people give up a little bit and try to help people who need it more than they do." | high18249.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "College education costs them too much."
},
"options": [
"It's harder and harder for them to get a degree.",
"The credit crisis has great influnce on their families' income.",
"College education costs them too much.",
"T... | Every year, it costs British students more and more to attend university. Students are graduating with larger and larger debts. So is a college degree really worth it?
In 2006, the UK government started to allow universities in England and Wales to charge British students tuition fees. As a result, more than 80 percent of students in England and Wales now take out a student loan in order to go to university.
They use the loan to pay for tuition fees and living expenses. Although the interest on student loans is quite low, it begins as soon as the student receives the loan.
The average student in England and Wales now graduates from university with a debt of around PS12,000 (122,952 yuan). It means graduates have to struggle to pay rent on a flat, because they have to start paying back the student loan when they reach April after graduating. If you start to earn over PS15,000 (153,630 yuan) a year, the government takes repayments directly from your monthly salary.
You might think that a person with a degree would find it easy to get a well-paid job. However, most people in "white collar jobs" seem to have a degree, so there is a lot of competition. Also, British companies tend to value work experience over
.
All of the above is beginning to make British people question whether a university degree is really worth the money. Even before the credit crisis started, the BBC stated: "The number of British students at UK universities has fallen for the first time in recent history, from 1.97 million in 2007 to 1.96 million last year."
Meanwhile, the British universities offer more and more of the available places to richer international students rather than poorer British students. What does the future hold for British higher education? | high16264.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "worked hard but said little"
},
"options": [
"was still the same as usual",
"worked hard but said little",
"kissed her hello after school",
"ate so much at dinner"
],
"question": "Tommy's mother felt surprised t... | Little Tommy was doing very badly in math. His parents had tried everything--tutors , cards, special learning centers--in short, everything they could think of. Finally they took Tommy to a catholic school.
After the first day, little Tommy came home with a very serious look on his face. He didn't kiss his mother hello. Instead,he went straight to his room and started studying. Books and papers were spread out all over the room and little Tommy was hard at work. His mother was surprised. She called him down to dinner and as soon as he finished eating, he went back to his room, without a word. In no time he was back hitting the books as hard as before. This went on for some time,day after day while the mother tried to understand what was happening.
Finally,little Tommy brought home his report card. He quietly put it on the table and went up to his room and hit the books. His mom looked at it and to her surprise,little Tommy got an A in math. She could no longer hold her curiosity .She went to his room and asked, "Son, what was it? Was it the nuns ? "
Little Tommy looked at her and shook his head, "No. "
"Well then," she asked again. "WHAT was it? "
Little Tommy looked at her and said, "Well, on the first day of school, when I saw that man nailed to the plus sign ,I knew they weren't joking. " | high19157.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Health"
},
"options": [
"Culture",
"Health",
"Advertisement",
"Technology"
],
"question": "In which part of a newspaper can you most probably find this passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer":... | In the rush to get to school, you drop a piece of toast on the floor. Do you throw it away or dec ide it' s still OK to eat? If you're like most people, you eat it. Maybe you follow the "5-second rule", which claims foods are safe to eat if you pick them up within 5 seconds after dropping them. But you might want to think again. Scientists now say that 5 seconds is all it takes for foods to become polluted with enough bacteria to make you sick.
Bacteria can cause many kinds of illnesses. Some kinds of bacteria can grow on food. If you eat foods on which these bacteria are growing, you can become sick.
One of these food-borne bacteria is Salmonella. It makes 1.4 million people sick every year. Salmonella is often found in raw eggs and chicken. Cooking kills these bacteria, which is why it is so important to cook eggs, chicken, and other foods thoroughly.
But how long does it take these bacteria to pollute food? A team of scientists in South Carolina did an experiment. First, they placed an amount of Salmonella on three surfaces; wood, tile , and carpet. They placed a piece of bread and a piece of bologna on each surface for 5,30, or 60 seconds. After just 5 seconds, both the bread and the bologna picked up enough bacteria to make you sick.
So forget the 5-second rule. If your toast drops on the floor, throw it away and get another piece of clean toast. This time, be careful not to drop it! | high4723.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "prevent the heat giving off soon"
},
"options": [
"make the cup smell delicious",
"prevent the heat giving off soon",
"help the cup look beautiful",
"keep the biscuit tasting soft"
],
"question": "The cup is lin... | If you're not a fan of KFC's famous Double Down hot dog, don't worry! KFC in the UK is developing a new treat: an edible coffee cup.
The product is still in the trial stage and not yet available for purchase, but according to a KFC news report, the treat is made from a unique biscuit, wrapped in sugar paper, and lined with a layer of heat-resistant white chocolate, which helps keep the coffee hot. As you drink the coffee in the cup, the white chocolate lining will begin to melt slowly, and the biscuit begins to soften.
But it doesn't end there --- the cups are not only edible, they also have a pleasant smell. KFC partnered with The Robin Collective, an experimental food company, to make the cups with coconut sun cream, freshly cut grass and wild flowers scents. According to the news report, that's because the scents arouse the positive memories we associate with warm weather, sunshine and summer holidays. Sounds ... delicious?
A manager at KFC said, "We have been experimenting with the edible packaging in limited quantities to see if it could be a popular product in the market. We believe if our customers occasionally like to have their cake and eat it, why wouldn't they want to have their cup and eat it instead! "
The edible cups will only be available in the UK when it comes out. According to a spokesperson for KFC, there are at present no plans to bring it to the U.S. yet. | high12002.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "a judge"
},
"options": [
"a judge",
"a teacher",
"a writer",
"a doctor"
],
"question": "When the author went to Howard University, her dream was to be _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
... | In the fall of 1985, I was a bright-eyed girl going to Howard University, aiming at a law career and dreaming of sitting on a Supreme Court bench somewhere. Twenty-one years later I am still a bright-eyed dreamer and one with quite a different story to tell.
My grandma, an amazing woman, graduated from college at the age of 65. She was the first in our family to reach that goal. But one year after I started college, she developed cancer. I made the choice to leave college to care for her. It meant that school and my personal dream would have to wait.
Then I got married with another dream: building my family with a mix of adopted and biological children. In 1999, we adopted our first son. To put eyes on him was wonderful---and very emotional. A year later came our second adopted boy then followed son No.3. in 2003, I gave birth to another boy.
You can imagine how engaged I became, raising four boys under the age of 8! Our home was a complete zoo---a joyous zoo. Not surprising, I never did make it back to college full-time. But I never gave up on the dream either. I had only one choice: to find a way. That meant taking as few as one class each term
The hardest part was feeling sorry about the time I spent away from the boys. They often wanted me to stay home with them. There certainly were times I wanted to give up, but I knew I should set an example for them to follow through the rest of their lives.
In 2007, I graduated from the University of North Carolina. It took me over 21 years to get my college degree!
I am not special, just single-minded. It always struck me that when you are looking at a big challenge from the outside it looks huge, but when you are in the middle of it, it just seems normal. Everything you want won't arrive in your life on one day. It's a process . Remember: little steps add up to big dreams. | high8119.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "A broken satellite."
},
"options": [
"A camera.",
"A tool kit.",
"A fuel tank.",
"A broken satellite."
],
"question": "What was the first piece of man-made space trash?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"... | Space is where our future is -- trips to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Most people would think that aside from comets and stars, there is little else out there. But, since our space journey started we have left so much trash there that scientists are now concerned that if we don't clean it up, we may all be in mortal danger.
The first piece of space junk was created in 1964, when the American satellite Vanguard I stopped operating and lost its connection with the ground center. However, since it kept orbiting around the Earth without any consequences, scientists became increasingly comfortable abandoning things that no longer served any useful purpose in space.
It is estimated that there are now over 500,000 pieces of man-made trash orbiting the Earth at speeds of up to 17,500 miles per hour. The junk varies from tiny pieces of paint chipped off rockets to cameras, huge fuel tanks, and even odd items like the million-dollar tool kit that astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn Piper lost during a spacewalk.
The major problem with the space trash is that it may hit working satellites and damage traveling spacecraft . Moreover, pieces of junk may collide with each other and break into pieces which fall back to the Earth. To avoid this, scientists have invented several ways for clearing the sky. Ground stations have been built to monitor larger pieces of space trash to prevent them from crashing into working satellites or space shuttles. Future plans include a cooperative effort among many nations to stop littering in space and to clean up the trash already there. | high6134.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The rich who find no class to belong to."
},
"options": [
"The rich who like iPhone made of gold.",
"The people who have power in the countryside.",
"The people who spend money reasonably.",
"The rich who find no class ... | China's new buzzword, tuhao, may be in next year's Oxford English Dictionary.
"If its influence continues, it is very likely to appear on our updated list of words, " said Julie Kleeman, project manager with the editing team.
In Chinese, tu means uncouth and hao means rich. It has traditionally been referred to rich people who throw their weight around in China's rural areas. In recent years, people borrowed the term to describe those who spend money in an unreasonable manner. The word gained acceptance in September with the launch of Apple's new gold-colored iPhone, an item loved by China's rich people. The color became known as "tuhao gold". The word is now often used by the online community to refer to people who have the cash but lack the class to go with it.
Kleeman also mentioned two other Chinese words--dama and hukou--which may also be taken in the dictionary. Hukou means household registration in Chinese and has been widely used.
Dama, meaning middle-aged women, was first used in the Western media by the Wall Street Journal in May when thousands of Chinese women were buying up record number of gold. They were the driving force in the global gold market between April and June when the gold prices had gone down.
"We have nearly 120 Chinese-linked words now in Oxford English Dictionary, " she said. Some of them are: Guanxi, literally meaning "connection", is the system of social networks and influential relationships which promote business and other dealings. Taikonaut is a mix of taikong, meaning outer space, and astronaut.
The new words will be first uploaded on the official website before the dictionaries arrive. The online version is also renewed every three months. "It at least broke our old rules. It used to take 10 years to include a new word but now we keep the pace with the era, " according to John Simpson. | high9207.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The city really deserves the honor."
},
"options": [
"It's easy for the city to win the honor.",
"The honor will bring the city a better future.",
"It won't be long before the city takes off.",
"The city really deserves... | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is America's fifth largest city. Once a major American colonial city, it is the home of America's first library, its first hospital, and its first zoo. Now it is also the first US city to be named a World Heritage City. On November 6, 2015, Philadelphia joined more than 260 other cities that have been recognized for their influence on the world. These cities include Paris, France, Florence, Italy, and Cairo, Egypt.
"Today marks the start of a new and exciting chapter in the history of Philadelphia," remarked Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter when the announcement was made. "As a World Heritage City, Philadelphia is being officially recognized on the global stage for its wealth of contributions to the world.
To be named a World Heritage City, a city must be home to a UNESCO World Heritage site. UNESCO World Heritage sites are selected for their universal value and significance. For Philadelphia, the site is Independence Hall.
Independence Hall is where two of the most important documents in US history--the Declaration of Independenceand theUS Constitution--were adopted. TheDeclaration of Independence, approved on July 4, 1776, united the 13 former British colonies and declared them independent from British rule. TheUS Constitution, signed in 1787, established the American democratic system of government. A democracy is a system of government in which the people elect their leaders. TheConstitutionlater spelled out the basic freedoms American citizens have.
Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Alan Greenberger says the city's selection as a World Heritage City also reflects its educational, cultural, and economic achievements. The city is home to dozens of colleges and universities, and many museums, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art. "Philadelphia has rightfully earned its place as one of the greatest cities in the world." Greenberger says. | high14473.txt |
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