questions list | article stringlengths 9 6.44k | id stringlengths 9 14 |
|---|---|---|
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "clean the school toilets"
},
"options": [
"do homework only",
"finish homework at school",
"clean the playground",
"clean the school toilets"
],
"question": "A primary school in Fuzhou required the students to ... | Students at a primary school in Fuzhou, Hast China's Fujian Province were required to clean the school toilets to help them develop good habits. But some parents are strongly against the idea. They can't see the advantages of students doing such chores . They think that the school should provide students with a proper education, not the chance to be school cleaners.
In fact, parents, schools and society play an equally important role in developing the character of students. It is good for schools to give students such tasks,because few of the students will do them at home. Their parents want them to do homework only.
In recent years, some parents will _ when students are asked to do some chores in schools. Some complain about the teachers if their kids get hurt in schools; some even challenge the schools' teaching methods and management. As a result, many primary schools, especially those in big cities, do not let students join in outdoor activities during breaks, fearing that they might get hurt. This is bad for the development of students' best qualities.
What the primary school in Fuzhou is doing is worth praising. Doing chores can put a sense of responsibility into students' minds and teach them the spirit of rules as well as teamwork. Also, it can make students' in-school experiences more meaningful. | middle7349.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "reality TV programs"
},
"options": [
"reality TV programs",
"original stories",
"legends",
"novels"
],
"question": "The three movies are from _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer"... | This year's lunar New Year holiday season is likely to see the fierce competitions at the country's box office among three movies that come from reality TV programs instead of legends, novels and original stories.
The Chinese movies Running Man, Where are We Going, Dad? II and Emperor's Holidays are all based on South Korean TV shows.
Where are We Going, Dad? hit an amazing box-office run of 700 million yuan in 2014, and it was one of the most popular Chinese-language movies last year. And this year's Where are We Going, Dad? II shows four famous fathers trying to "survive" with their children on an island of the Republic of Fiji .
Running Man was also one of the most well-known shows from last October to this January. It has got 227 million yuan at the box office in the first three days after it was on in the cinema. It's reported that people laughed 86 times while watching the 88-minute movie.
Emperor's Holidays is directed by Wang Yuelun, who was a celebrity father in the fatherhood series' first season. The movie was screened in Chinese theaters on Feb 19, the same day as Dad II and also the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year.
For these kinds of movies, different people have different opinions. Some may think it is not worth spending money watching them, because the producers just want to make money. However, others may think whatever the producers' aim is, these movies can inspire people to live more healthily and make them keep laughing and happy. So they choose to enjoy them in the cinema. | middle4640.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "We will use cell phones as remote controls in the future."
},
"options": [
"In the future we will all need air conditioners.",
"Business people need to use computers.",
"Some people like to make phone calls to machines.",
... | Cell phones _ are all around us.We use cell phones to call our friends,send text messages,play games,and even take photographs. Now imagine using your cell phone to call your air conditioner . If this were possible you could tell your air conditioner to rum on before you got home.Does this sound impossible to you? Well,it could become possible sooner than you think.In the near future,we might use cell phones as remote controls for the electrical devices in our homes.People are already working to develop different ways to communicate wirelessly with devices we use every day.For example,it is already possible for cell phones to communicate with laptop computers.Business people using laptops during meetings Call use their cell phones as remote controls.They can use their cell phones to send instructions to computers to turn on,change pictures,and turn off.
With the same technology ,people can use their cell phones to control other devices.You can call your stereo to play music automatically .You can call your lights to turn on when you enter a room.Maybe even by next summer you will be able to call your air conditioner ! | middle4898.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Peter Qwen: A wigmaker to the stars"
},
"options": [
"How Peter Qwen's wigs change people",
"Peter Qwen: A wigmaker to the stars",
"Peter Qwen: Making real and expensive wigs",
"Peter Qwen's wigs are important in a movi... | Peter Qwen has been making wigs since the 1980s . He has made wigs for the stars of more than seventy movies ,including Tom Hanks in Philadelphia, Johnny Depp in Sleepy Hollow and Nicole Kidman in The Others. One of his biggest jobs so far has designed the hair and makeup for the three Lord o f the Ring movies . He had just six weeks to design and make more than a hundred wigs, each one a different style, color, shape and length.
The hair and makeup in a movie are just as important as the costumes or the sets. Over the years, Peter has made actors look older, younger, healthy and sick. For one movie he even made a female actor look like a man! "What people don't realize about wigs is that we are not always making people more beautiful," he says. "Often we are covering up beauty and making them look ordinary."
All Peter's wigs are handmade using human hair, so they look as real as possible. This also makes them very expensive -between US $ 4,500 and US $12,500 each! He knows he's done a good job when people don't realize the star of the movie is wearing a wig. So he was pleased when one newspaper said that Nicole Kidman had dyed her hair dark brown for a movie. "It was a wig and no one knew that9" he said. | middle2231.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "A hospital."
},
"options": [
"A post office.",
"A hospital.",
"A bank.",
"A hotel."
],
"question": "Where did I go last month?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_in... | Last month I had a health problem and had to see a doctor. After examining me,
The doctor said to me, "The result isn't too bad ." But you must excise often and have healthy food every day. In fact, I'm a lazy person. I never get up early to exercise. And I often have junk food because I like it. In order to be healthy, I decided to change my lifestyle. Now I get up at 6:00 am every day. Then I go out to run for about an hour. I go to a gym on Wednesday and Saturday afternoon. And I hardly have junk food. I have healthy food, like milk and fish. I often eat vegetables and I have an apple every day. You know, " An apple a day keeps the doctor away " I also have about eight glasses of water. And I usually go to bed by ten. All these things make me healthy. | middle4654.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "12"
},
"options": [
"12",
"13",
"14",
"15"
],
"question": "The girl is _ years old.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "fat"
},... | There is a nice girl in our class. She is twelve. She is not tall and is not short. She is a little fat . She has a round face like an apple. She has big black eyes and a small nose. Her mouth is small, but her ears are big. Her hair is short and black. She likes red. She is often in a red skirt. But today she is in a yellow T-shirt, blue pants and brown shoes. She has a toy dog. It's her friend.
,. | middle6043.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "6"
},
"options": [
"4",
"5",
"6",
"7"
],
"question": "How many Disneyland parks can people visit in the world now?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
... | Disneyland in Shanghai
Built from 2011, Shanghai Disney Resort is the sixth Disneyland park in the world, and the first one on the Chinese mainland. Like other Disneyland parks, the one in Shanghai will have classic Disney characters and stories. But it will also have new attractions designed for Chinese people. It is open to the public now in 2016.
Enchanted Storybook Castle
Located at the heart of the theme park, the Enchanted Storybook Castle will be the tallest and largest Disney castle yet. Inside the castle, there are spaces for entertainment, dining and performance. There you can meet all the Disney princesses.
Treasure Cove
This is the first pirates-themed land in a Disney park. The land will have a major attraction, which is a high-technology boat ride attraction. The attraction will bring visitors along a pirate adventure. Are you ready to jump on the boat?
Garden of the Twelve Friends
In almost every other Disneyland park around the world, there is a "Main Street, USA" at the entrance. But Shanghai Disneyland park is the first without that attraction. Instead, it has the Garden of the Twelve Friends. Each friend stands for the 12 animal signs using popular Disney characters.
Toy Story Hotel
Living experience is also fun inside the park. Toy Story Hotel features the characters of the film Toy Story. There are about 800 rooms for visitors to stay. In the restaurant of the hotel, you may even see characters walking around and take photos with them. | middle6725.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "New York"
},
"options": [
"New York",
"London",
"Paris",
"Beijing"
],
"question": "Cathy's family went to _ for their summer vacation.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
... | Last summer, Cathy's family went to New York City for their summer vacation. They stay there for two weeks. New York City has about seven and a half million people. _ is the largest city in the United States.
First they visited the Statue of Liberty. It is one of New York's most well-known historical sites . Millions of people visit it every year. On the second day, they went to the Empire State Building. From the top of the building, they saw most parts of New York. On the third day, they visited the Metropolitan Museum. In this museum, they saw a lot of famous paintings. During the rest time of the week, Cathy went to Bronx Zoo with her younger brother and sister.
In the second week, the family visited Long Island. They all had a good time. | middle2543.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "It can travel back in time."
},
"options": [
"It can walk and talk.",
"It can help me with my homework.",
"It can send me message.",
"It can travel back in time."
],
"question": "An e-friend can do the following... | Life in the year 3044 is very different from life in the 21st century . We still do many of the things you did, but we do them differently. For example, we now have e-friends to help us and keep us company. An e-friend is a machine that looks just like a human being. It can walk and talk like humans and can do almost the same things as we human beings do. My e-friend is a lot like me and we have much fun together. She helps me with my homework and we often go swimming. She is computerized to take care of me in case anything happens, so I always feel safe when we are together. She can also send me messages, just like old-fashioned e-mail, and I can download information from her memory chip. It's so great to have an e-friend - I feel never lonely and I always have someone to talk to.
Actually, I would plan to tell you more about life in the year 3044, I have to send my e-friend to clean up my room, though. Maybe one day I will be able to fly back in time rocket and visit you and old friends. Looking forward to! | middle3885.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "a waiter or waitress"
},
"options": [
"a secretary",
"a waiter or waitress",
"an accountant",
"a salesclerk"
],
"question": "If you don't know how to use a computer, you can just apply for the position as _ .... | Want to find a job? Now read the following advertisements.
FAIRMONT HOTEL
Five Waiters and Ten Waitresses
-- Aged under 22
-- At least high school graduate
-- Good-looking; men at least 1.72 meters tall and women at least 1.65
-- Those knowing foreign languages favoured
-- Paid 1 600--2 200 dollars per month
One Secretary
-- Aged under 30
-- Female favoured
-- Good at writing and skilled at computer
If interested, call 465-4768 or write to:
Mr. Jack Hundris
Room 0825, Fairmont Hotel
567 Wood Street, San Markers, 78003
Fax: 6954828
WILSON BOOKSTORE
Accountant
-- Aged between 25 and 40
-- With an experience of at least two years
-- With a degree and an accountant certificate
-- Paid 3 000--4 000 dollars monthly
-- With a practical knowledge of computer
Salesclerk
-- Basic education of 12 years or more
-- Good at computer
-- Paid 1 800--2 200 dollars monthly
Tel: 447-4398
Fax: 3485269 | high11303.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "keep the first artist's painting a secret."
},
"options": [
"help them concentrate on their work.",
"keep the first artist's painting a secret.",
"prevent their painting from being seen.",
"make it hare for them exchang... | There lived a king who liked art. One day an artist offered to paint the most
beautiful picture in the world on the wall of his palace.
So the king said, "All right, you may work on one of the walls in the new hall." Just then, another artist said, " Please allow me to work on the opposite wall. I shall make exactly what that man will make on the opposite wall. Moreover, I shall do so without looking at his work. I would even request you to have a thick curtain put up between the two walls so the either of us cann't see the other."
Everyone in the king's court, including the king and the first artist was surprised. So the king decided to give the man a chance.
The following day a thick curtain was put into place and both the artists got to work. The first artist brought in a regular supply of paint, oil and water. But the second one would come with a cloth and a bucket of water every day.
A month later the first artist said that his work was completed and invited the king to come.
So the king sent the message to the second artist, saying he was coming to see their works that evening.
After seeing the first artist's wall, the king was very impressed with the painting and gave him a huge sum of money as a reward. He then asked for the curtain to be opened up.
The same painting was seen on the opposite wall too! It was exactly like the one on the first wall. But this man had not seen what was going on, on the other side of the curtain.
The man said simply, "It's very easy I just polished the wall every day!"
It was a wall made of white marble. The fellow polished it till it shone like a mirror.
The reflection of the painting across the room showed up in it! | high3644.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "pretending to be coughing"
},
"options": [
"pretending to be coughing",
"having an unforced smile",
"blowing a kiss",
"showing your teeth"
],
"question": "The mouth may make your weakness known by _ according... | Most good interviewers will make an effort to establish and keep eye contact. Make sure that you do not find yourself looking down or away. If you wear glasses, be sure to buy the non-glare lenses. Do not stare.
Rapidly nodding your head can leave the impression that you are impatient and too eager to add something to the conversation -- if only the interviewer would let you. Slower nodding, on the other hand, emphasizes interest, shows that you are validating the comments of your interviewer, and encourages him to continue. Tilting the head slightly, when combined with eye contact and a natural smile, shows friendliness and approachability .
Your smile is one of the most powerful positive body signals. Everybody looks better when they smile. Offer an unforced, confident smile. Avoid at all costs the technique that some applicants use: grinning idiotically for the length of the interview, no matter what. This will only communicate that you are insincere .
It's worth remembering that the mouth provides a seemingly limitless supply of opportunities to convey weakness. This may be done by touching the mouth frequently; "faking" a cough when confused with a difficult question; and /or gnawing on one's lips absentmindedly . Employing any of these "insincerity signs" when you are asked about say, why you lost your last job, will confirm or instill _ about your honesty. | high19987.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Because it had a sign of dying away."
},
"options": [
"Because it was difficult to take care of.",
"Because it had a sign of dying away.",
"Because it grew in a wrong place.",
"Because its leaves were always falling."
... | I lost both of my parents in a tragic car accident when I was five. Fortunately, at that age a child doesn't understand the finality of such an event.
Many years later, at the age of twenty-three, I was planning my wedding to Sheldon, who came from a complete loving family, the type I expect. Sheldon and I had already bought our first home with a large, beautifully landscaped yard. As the date grew closer and we took ownership of the home, we began to clean, arrange inside and out.
The day before our wedding we were putting the final touches to the yard. We were so pleased with the neatness of it all. But one plant puzzled us. A rosebush located just outside our front door, was completely barren of leaves or buds. It looked liked it might be dead, but since neither of us could be sure, we reluctantly decided to keep it for the time being.
That same evening, after the dinner, I was too excited to sleep. Instead I decided I needed some quiet time to reflect on the wedding the next day. I went to the backyard and sat in the warm, clear, star-filled night. It was there that I realized the only thing missing from my wedding day would be my parents. There had been no time to think of this until now and the thought filled me with sadness. After all, every girl dreams of having her father walk her down the aisle and her mother there to comfort her anxiety. Alone in the yard, I began speaking to my mom and dad, just as if I had known they were listening.
"Give me a sign on my wedding day to let me know you're with me."
The next day Sheldon's excited voice repeatedly called my name. I rushed to join him at the front door.
"I can't believe what I'm about to show you!"
He stood aside. The barren rosebush had two huge roses in full bloom.
There was no doubt in my mind that we were witnessing a miracle...a miracle of love. | high18441.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "To work is a blessing"
},
"options": [
"Inspiration from a woman",
"My chosen way of life",
"Why should I work",
"To work is a blessing"
],
"question": "Which can be the best title of the text?",
"question_t... | When I was 12, I got a part-time job on a dairy farm, milking cows. We milked 65 cows twice a day. One day, I complained to my father about having to go milk those cows, saying it was tiring. He said, you know, boy, to work is a blessing. I looked at the men who'd worked harder. I had a feeling I had been told something really important, but it took many years before it sank in.
Back then, going to college was a rare privilege. My father told me if I'd picked something to study that I liked doing, I'd always look forward to my work. But he also added, even having a job you hate is better than not having a job at all. I wanted to be a farmer, but I joined a military program to help pay for college. And what started out as an obligation to the Army became a way of life that I had been devoted to for 37 years.
In the late 1980s, during a visit to Bangladesh, I saw a woman with her baby on her back, breaking bricks with a hammer. I asked a local officer why they weren't using a machine to make the work easier. He told me a machine would put that lady out of work. And as bad as that woman's job was, it was enough to keep a small family alive. It reminded me of my father's words: to work is a blessing.
After seeing a lot of people like that woman in Bangladesh, I've come to believe that people without jobs are not free. They're victims of crime, poor health, and depression. People who have jobs can have a home, send their kids to school, develop a sense of pride, contribute to the good of the community and even help others. When we can work, we are free. We are blessed. | high17772.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Pay & 2.5 for an e - book version."
},
"options": [
"Order it from the local bookstores.",
"Download it from the Internet for free.",
"Send emails to King.",
"Pay & 2.5 for an e - book version."
],
"question": "... | Best-selling horror writer Stephen has another hit on his hands - but don't go looking for it at our bookstore. King's new ghost story, Riding the Bullet is only available on the Internet. The story - which King wrote while he was recovering from serious injuries which happened to him in a hit - and - run accident near his summer home in Maine last year - produced instant traffic blocks on the Web the moment it became published and availed online at 12:01 a. m. Tuesday.
King gave out a statement saying "he is curious to see what sort of reaction there is and whether or not this is the future of publishing." He is not the first author to make his work available wholly online, but he is the first among the top ranks of writers to take that step.
King told Time magazine that his experiment with putting his story Riding the Bullet on the Internet has been so successful that he is considering putting a fulllength book online. "The new way of publishing", said King, "could exactly change the way people regard reading." The story was put out fully over the Web and it will only be available on the Internet, as an "e - book". It was given away for free the first 24 hours. After that readers could download it for $ 2.50. As of Sunday, more than 5,000,000 people had downloaded the piece.
Simon & Schuster, which is electronically publishing the e - book, says 4,000,000 readers ordered it in the first 24 hours during which it was available. The company is now in talks with other authors about publishing more e - books. Publishers say King's decision to publish the story fully online shows that the e - book format is here to stay. King himself says the Internet has great promise as a way to share our literature, but he doesn't think "anything will take the place of the printed word and the book with a cover." | high22911.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "We don't pay enough attention to home accidents"
},
"options": [
"we take the same degree of care in our homes",
"We don't care much about the accidents in large hospitals",
"We don't pay enough attention to home accidents",
... | Now we're always hearing about road accident, and when we're in a car we try to drive carefully, but how many of us take the same degree of care in our homes? Any large hospital will tell you the number of the accidents that happen in the home is almost the same as those on the road.
One of the commonest and most dangerous causes of home accidents is wrong and careless use of electrical equipment. People will continue to use a loose plug or pull out a plug without first turning off the power. In spite of warnings, one will carry an electric heater into the bathroom when he is going to have a bath. Sometimes one forgets to cut off the power before mending a lamp or something else. All this will cause accidents. So the rule about anything that work by electricity is:Switch off before you touch anything and don't pretend you know when you actually don't.
If you've got children in the house, it's always best to keep medicines of any kind out of their reach. Otherwise, they may be taken for candies or a new kind of drink. When there are older people living with you, you have to take particular care in a number of ways in order to make them safe and happy.
Fire, of course, is always a risk. So, remember not to dry clothes in front of fires, or leave stoves in the middle of rooms where they can easily be knocked over. And don't forget to keep the children away from fire. Smoking, too, may cause fire. So you'd better give it up. Safety first may mean a little more time and care, but it may save you a lot of trouble. | high1053.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Some of the national palace had fallen to the ground."
},
"options": [
"The headquarters of the UN mission was totally destroyed.",
"Some of the national palace had fallen to the ground.",
"A hospital was partly ruined in Pet... | A fierce earthquake struck HaitionJanuary 12, 2010, causing a crowded hospital to fall down and countless houses and buildings were destroyed.
The earthquake, the worst in the region in more than 200 years, with a magnitude estimated at 7.0, struck just before 5 p.m. about 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, leaving the region nearly in ruins. As night fell in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, fires burned near the shoreline downtown, but otherwise the city fell into darkness. The electricity was out, telephones were not working and relief workers struggled to make their way through blocked streets.
In this earthquake, it was not possible for officials to determine how many people had been killed and injured. It was reported that the headquarters of the United Nations mission was seriously damaged and many employees were missing. Part of the national palace had fallen to the ground. A hospital was totally ruined in Petionville, which is home to many diplomats and wealthy Haitians. A New York reporter said that a wall at the front of the Hotel Oloffson had fallen, killing a passer-by. A number of nearby buildings was badly damaged, trapping people. People were screaming, calling for help from every corner.
Haiti sits on a large fault between the much larger North American plate to the north and the Caribbean plate to the south. The earthquake on Tuesday happened when what appears to be part of the southern fault zone broke. With many poor people living in tin-roof shacks and with many of the buildings in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere in the country of questionable quality, it was expected that the quake caused major damage to buildings and great loss of life. | high8711.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "He used letters in a special way in them"
},
"options": [
"Their titles are all written with capital letters.",
"A special capital letter is used in them to refer to the writer.",
"He used \"Y\" to refer to \"you\".",
"... | Edward Estlin Cummings was a poet well-known for how he wrote his poems He wrote his poems with capital letters in the words . For example, the title of one of his poems is "The little horse is newlY" The "Y" is a capital letter. He also used "i" instead of "I" to refer to himself in the poems.
Edward was born on October14, 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Edward's father was also named Edward. Young Edward's mother was named Rebecca. She loved to spend time with her children. She also taught Edward Jr how to write poems. Edward's sister was born 1896 and her name was Elizabeth. Edward's father was the first professor of Sociology at Harvard University. He later became the minister of one of Boston's respected churches. He was the one who taught his son to use his hands as well as his mind. Edward Jr used his hands to paint abstract art.
E.E.Cummings was a very smart boy. Edward was 12 when he became a freshman in high school. He loved circuses, ballets, music and amusement parks.
Edward graduated from Harvard in 1916. During World War I , he joined the army and was sent to France where he drove an ambulance. He and his friend from Harvard were arrested because people thought they were German spies. They were kept in one room where they slept , ate , talked and tried to deal with their fears and boredom. Edward wrote his first book, published in 1922, called The Enormous Room, based on his wartime experiences.
E.E.Cummings was a poet that made his own rules in poetry. He was one of the most popular poets of the 20th century. | high15165.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "How to teach a child about money."
},
"options": [
"How to develop a child's initiative.",
"How to work up an amount of pocket money.",
"How to teach a child to save money.",
"How to teach a child about money."
],
... | An allowance is an important tool for teaching kids how to budget, save and make their own decisions. Children remember and learn from mistakes when their own dollars are lost or spent foolishly.
How large an allowance is appropriate? Experts say there is not right amount. Actual amounts differ from region to region, and from family to family.
To set an appropriate allowance for your child, work up a weekly budget. Allow for entertainment expenditures such as movies and snacks. Next, include everyday expenses such as lunch money, bus fare, school supplies. "If you make the child responsible for these ' ills'," says Josephine Swanson, a consumer specialist, " he or she will learn to budget for necessary expenditures."
Finally, add some extra money to make saving possible. If you can, keep your child's allowance in line with that of his friends. A child whose purchasing power falls away below his peers' can feel left out.
It can be tough, but avoid excusing your children when they make a mistake with their allowance. When Brooke Stephens was ten and growing up in Jacksonville, her mother gave her $5 a week, $1.75 of which was for bus fare and lunch." If you lose your money," Brooke's mother told her, "you walk home."
One week the girl spent all her allowance in a candy store, then she called home for a ride. " Mom made me walk home," recalls Stephens, now a financial planner in Brooklyn. " At first I was angry. But I finally realized that she was trying to teach me an important lesson. "
Experts advise that an allowance should not be tied directly to a child's daily chores. Kids should help around the house not because they get paid for it but because they share responsibilities as members of a family. You might, however, pay a child for doing extra jobs at home, which can develop his or her initiative. | high7422.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "can be used to benefit humans"
},
"options": [
"may cause oil to spill",
"can be used to benefit humans",
"are the major causes of infection",
"are more likely to be found on ships"
],
"question": "We learn from... | Scientists from England's Newcastle University have discovered that bacteria have the ability to detect smells, according to a study by the university on Sunday.
The team of scientists, led by Dr. Reindert Nijland, discovered that bacteria can detect certain types of smell- producing chemicals, including ammonia that is produced by other bacteria. Once they sense the smells from other kinds of bacteria, the bacteria will gather together to form a colony and form a layer of slime in order to force the competitors out of their area. The response decreases as the distance between the two bacterial colonies increases.
That slime, also known as biofilm, is one of the primary causes of infection on many medical implants . Biofilms also slow down ships and are believed to cost the marine industry millions of dollars annually. However, they can also be used to clean up spilled oil floating on the sea, as they grow strong on it.
"This is the first evidence of a bacterial 'nose'able to detect potential competitors," Dr. Nijland said in the August 15 statement, which confirms that bacteria possess qualities similar to four of the five senses that humans enjoy (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell), the others being touch, taste, and sight.
"The fact that bacteria formed slime when exposed to ammonia has important significance for understanding how biofilms are formed and how we might be able to use them to our advantage," he added.
Their findings were published in Sunday's edition of biotechnology journal, and could change the way scientists look at how each of the senses developed over time.
"It was thought for a long time that smell existed only in complex living creatures," Dr. Nijland said. "Now we see that bacteria are able to do the same, so the indication is that the ability may have developed even earlier." | high8077.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Missy."
},
"options": [
"Marty.",
"Missy.",
"Fletcher.",
"Charlie"
],
"question": "Which of the following is probably the name of a dog?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index":... | Back to the Future
With the help of a local inventor's time machine, Marty travels back to the 1950s. There his 80s hipness stands out, and he inadvertently interferes with the fledgling romance of his parents-to-be. Can Marty keep them together? He'd better, or his own future will fade away. Featuring: Christopher Lloyd, Michael J.Fox. A universal Pictures release, 1 hr. 55 min.
Beethoven's 2nd
In this sequel to the popular Beethoven, our canine hero falls for Missy, who soon has puppies. Missy's greedy owner, Regina, who sees only money in the little purebreds, separates mom and pups from Beethoven. His owners rescue the puppies, but Regina still has Missy. Featuring: Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt. A Universal Pictures release, 1 hr. 26 min.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Despite the popularity of his treats, candy maker Willy Wonka shuts himself inside his factory. But then Willy holds a contest, offering five lucky children the chance to see his company. Poor but pleasant Charlie Bucket finds a ticket, as do four less-deserving children. Featuring:
Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore. A Warner Bros. Release, 1 hr. 56 min.
Cinderella Man
Based on actual events, this film follows the life of Jim Braddock, a boxer in New York City during the Great Depression. After a series of losses, Braddock is forced into retirement. But he never gives up his boxing dream, and neither does his manager. Featuring: Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger. A Universal Pictures release, 2 hr. 14 min.
Liar Liar
Lawyer Fletcher Reede has never told the truth in his life. Then his son makes a birthday wish that his dad would stop lying for 24 hours. Suddenly, Fletcher's mouth spouts everything he thinks. His compulsion brings disaster to courtroom, where he must defend a client whose case was built on lies. Featuring: Jim Carrey, Justin Cooper. A Universal Pictures release, 1 hr. 25 min. | high7344.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "collect information about owls"
},
"options": [
"catch owls",
"collect information about owls",
"record the call of owls",
"carry out an experiment on owls"
],
"question": "Annie and her father went to the state... | Annie slept in the front of the seat with her father drove through the darkness. "We're almost there!" Dad announced cheerfully. "Soon well be observing and counting owls at the state park." Yawning, Annie nodded and smiled. The time was 4:30 a.m. Looking out into the darkness, Annie remembered learning in school that most owls are active at night, when they hunt for food. During the day they sleep in hard-to-find spots.
"Dad, why do you need to count owls?" she asked. "It's important for the scientists to have current information about bird populations," he explained. "We want to know which birds have decreased in number and whether any new kinds of birds are coming into a certain area. You and I will write down the kinds of birds that we see today and keep a record of how many times we see each kind. The we'll send out a report to a scientific organization that is collecting about birds from people all over the county."
Dad pulled into the parking lot of the state park. Then, with flashing in hand, they began their hike into the woods. Annie zipped up her coat and tried to keep from trembling. She had not expected the morning to be so frigid. Luckily her gloves were in her pocket.
Suddenly Annie's father stooped and gestured for her to be still. Obeying, Annie did not take another step. She thought she heard a low crying up head. "That's certainly a screech owl," her father whispered. "Let's get a look at it." After looking more closely, Annie could see that it was a small owl. Sensing danger, the owl narrowed its eyes and pulled its feathers tightly against its body. Annie carefully wrote down in her notebook that they had seen a screech owl.
Walking a little farther, they came to a tall oak tree. "This looks like a perfect spot to attract owls," Dad said. "I'm going to play a recording of common call of the barred owl. Maybe we can get one to answer.' Annie could hardly believe her ear. The recorded all sounded as if the bird were asking, "who cooks for you?" Moments later Annie thought she heard a return call in distance. She held her breath and waited. Suddenly a huge bird landed very quietly on a branch above them.
Annie had long forgotten how cold it was. She stood in wonder, shining her flashlight on the bird and studying it carefully. The barred owl was nearly tow feet tall. Gray feathers surrounded its dark eyes. The bird did not matter. Annie would never forge the image of the powerful barred owl. | high13272.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "to have his meal"
},
"options": [
"for his bag",
"to see the runner",
"to have his meal",
"for his pen"
],
"question": "Tom Brown went to the restaurant _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
... | Once a great boxer , Tom Brown, went to a restaurant for dinner. He put his bag near the door, but he was afraid that someone would take it. So he got out a pen and a piece of paper and wrote on it: "The great boxer, Tom Brown, left his bag here. He'll come back in a few minutes. " He put the paper on his bag and went to have his dinner. When he came back, his bag wasn't there. But he found a piece of paper on the ground. It said: "A great runner took away your bag, and he will not come back. " | high5553.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Step Ahead"
},
"options": [
"Tree House",
"Theme-based and Honors Courses",
"Step Ahead",
"Jump Into English, Kids World, Kids Club"
],
"question": "A child who hasn't learned English before can choose _ to ... | Tree House
The Tree House program is for students with an English or bilingual preschool background. Foreign teachers further develop students' natural English speaking skills from 1st through 6th grades in a total immersion environment. The program is theme-based with different units or themes per semester. Each unit includes a theme-related storybook, song, dialogue, writing and phonic exercises, grammar component, poem, and integrated activities.
Step Ahead
Step Ahead is a standalone course that takes children in 3rd grade with no prior English knowledge and by 6th grade, transforms them into confident, near-fluent English communicators. Our program has a strategic balance of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Regular lessons are broken into phonics, reading, grammar patterns, conversation, songs, and homework preview
Jump Into English, Kids World, Kids Club
Our Jump Into English, Kids World, and Kids Club courses are a great way to develop good English habits at younger ages. Jump Into English is for 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds and is a cost-effective alternative to English preschool. Kids Club and Kids World are for students in 1st and 2nd grades and are full of singing, dancing, games, and fun activities to help young children learn English more easily.
Theme-based and Honors Courses
We have theme-based courses to help learners prepare for specific areas of the General English Proficiency Test (GEPT) and to develop the performance skills they will need in some of our exciting activities. When learners graduate from our Tree House and Step Ahead programs, they can continue to excel in English through our Honors programs. | high4895.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "The History of Magic"
},
"options": [
"Magical Tricks",
"The History of Magic",
"Magic as Entertainment",
"A Great Magician"
],
"question": "What would be the best title for the passage?",
"question_type": n... | Magic is believed to have begun with the Egyptians, in 1700 BC. A magician named Dedi of Dedsnefu was reported to have performed for the pharaoh, or the king. He was also known to have entertained the slaves who built the pyramids. The "Cups and Balls" trick which he was particularly good at is still performed by magicians all over the world today.
The ancient Greeks and Romans were also fascinated by the idea of magic. Actually, one of their main interests was the art of deception . This explains why at that time the priests even built magic devices into their temples. These devices made it possible for doors to open by themselves and wine to flow magically out of statues' mouths. This was done mainly to convince people that the priests were powerful.
Magic, however, was not well accepted before the 1800s. Magicians were thought of as freaks and were only allowed to perform in a circus . It was in the 19th century that the magician Robert Houdin came along and changed people's views and attitudes about magic. It was also because of Robert Houdin that many magicians were able to add Dr. or MD to their names. Today magicians try hard to find new ways to show their practiced skills. Magic is now entertainment for families all over the world. | high11465.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the inability of dealing with relationships"
},
"options": [
"parents not understanding their children",
"the rising levels of stress and anxiety among young people",
"the inability of dealing with relationships",
"incr... | A recent survey shows that the alarming rate of child suicide in Hong Kong, raising levels of stress and anxiety among young people, increasing conflicts between children and teachers, and children's complaints that their parents do not understand their problems--all point to a drop in "emotional quotient" (EQ) , the ability to handle relationships.
EQ is defined as the ability to deal with oneself and others effectively. High EQ, psychologists say, is easy to spot. Some of the greatest humanitarian leaders have high EQ, along with successful managers and inspirational and respected teachers. The problem is not how to spot high EQ but to improve on low EQ, so society as a whole can benefit.
In the United States, declining EQ among young people is seen as one of the factors behind rising young people's crime because youths fail to understand others' feelings--one of the key components of EQ. While the situation in Hong Kong is not so bad, there are warning signs that the levels of anxiety among youth may become critical. Declining EQ among Hong Kong teenagers has been acknowledged by several studies including a key study by the education concern group, the Learning-Teacher Association, which found a high degree of anxiety among students over the future and also that young people lacked confidence in dealing with problems. Parents and teachers will also need to develop their own EQ skills in order to deal with them effectively.
Daniel Goleman cites a number of basic elements of high EQ: first, awareness of your feelings as you experience them which is very important to making good decisions in life; second, feeling or awareness of what others are feeling. "90% of emotional information is expressed non-verbally and people vary in their ability to pick it up," Dr. Goleman says in his book.
Dr. Goleman argues that without high EQ even highly-educated, highly-intelligent people will not find success in life. Or those with low EQ, even though they may be brilliant, tend to lack feeling and impulse control. They fail easily, and they are easily intolerant and often aggressive in interpersonal relations. Some educational psychologists believe work on EQ may be important in Hong Kong with _ high rate of suicide among school children. EQ test may be able to help predict those most at risk, and those least able to deal with their own emotions or unable to deal with others, including parents and teachers. | high3122.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Boys are held back by women teachers."
},
"options": [
"Boys are less clever than girls in school.",
"The best way to deal with naughty boys.",
"Women teachers should be patient to boys.",
"Boys are held back by women t... | Women teachers are holding back boy students by blaming them for typically male behavior, according to a new study.
Women teachers are always saying that boys are "silly" in class. They refuse to "sit nicely like girls" and are more likely to be addicted to "schoolboy tricks".Women teachers may also keep low expectations of boys' academic achievement and encourage girls to work harder by letting them think they are cleverer than boys. The study suggests that under-performance among boys in most national exams could be linked to lower expectations of their women teachers.
The researchers did their research mainly on women teachers, since nearly 90 percent of primary school teachers are female. According to the research, women teachers said they often found boys' play in the classroom or in the playground, such as playing with toy guns. The researcher also found that boys were often punished and urged to follow a more feminine style of play instead of being taught how to play responsibly with their favorite toys by their women teachers.
Bonny Hartley, the study's lead author, said, "By seven or eight years old, children of both boys and girls believe that boys are less focused, less able, and less successful than girls -- and think that adults admit this idea. There are signs that these expectations have the potential to become self-fulfilling in influencing children's achievement. Boys are really held back by their women teachers." | high19039.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the feasibility of sending a Venus Being to Earth"
},
"options": [
"the feasibility of landing a satellite on Earth",
"the possibility of making a first-rate flying saucer",
"the feasibility of sending a Venus Being to Earth"... | There was great excitement on the planet of Venus . Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth, and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since.
The satellite was directed into an area known as Manhattan, named after the great Venusian astronomer Professor. Manhattan, who first discovered it with his telescope 20000 light years ago.
Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals, Venusian scientists were able to get valuable information as to feasibility of a manned flying saucer landing on Earth. A press conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology.
"We have come to the conclusion, based on last week's satellite landing," Prof. Zog said, "that there is no life on Earth."
"How do you know this?" the science reporter of the Venus Evening Star asked.
"For one thing, Earth's surface in the area of Manhattan is made up of solid concrete and nothing can grow there. For another, the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide and other deadly gases and nobody could possibly breathe this air and survive."
"What does this mean as far as our flying saucer program is concerned?"
"We shall have to take our own oxygen with us, which means a much heavier flying saucer than originally planned."
"Are there any other dangers that you discovered in your studies?"
"Take a look at this photo. You see this dark black cloud hovering over the surface of Earth? We don't know what it is made of, but it could give us a lot of trouble and we shall have further tests before we send a Venus Being there."
"Over here you will notice what seems to be a river, but the satellite findings indicates it is polluted and the water is unfit to drink. This means we shall have to carry our own water, which will add even greater weight to the saucer."
"If all you say is true, won't this set back the flying saucer program several years?"
"Yes, but we shall continue as soon as the Grubstart gives us the added funds ." Profession. Zog replied. | high5547.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "the mother was happy to have dinner with her son"
},
"options": [
"the mother was happy to have dinner with her son",
"the author doesn't like his work and his three children",
"the author and his mother went to a high-class ... | After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. The other woman my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it impossible to visit her often.
That Friday after work, when I arrived at her house, my mother waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary.
We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and comfortable. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady.
During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation, nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie.
As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you." I agreed.
A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her.
Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place Mother and I had dined. An attached note said "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but, nevertheless, I paid for two plates--one for you and the other for your wife. You w ill never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son."
At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time 'I love YOU' and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve.
Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve because these things cannot be put off till some "other" time. | high18333.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "to gain experience as a parent"
},
"options": [
"to take a doll home for fun",
"to gain experience as a parent",
"to learn to be a good baby-sitter",
"to learn to better care for others"
],
"question": "The chil... | Last year in my high school child-development class,each student had to take the "Think-It-Over" baby home for a night to get a taste of parenthood.
It was a Friday night when my turn came to take the 10-pound plastic doll home. The doll really did look like a live baby from a distance. It even had a pleasant baby powder smell. I took the baby home and named him Tyler.
My friends and I went out for supper that night. As it was rather cold, I decided to wrap prefix = st1 /Tylerin a blanket and carry him in that way. When I walked into the restaurant, I noticed some very strange looks and quite a few raised eyebrows. My friends and I decided to make a game out of the whole situation. I stood in the Gorner pretending to rockTylerto while my friends kept looking into the blanket and said, "Oh, how lovely. " I could not but laugh. And although it was funny to my friends and me, some of the people did think it was so funny that I had a baby. I overheard one couple say,"Why would she g a baby here?" These people were giving me rude looks and forming judgments about because they thought I was a teenage mom. Others just smiled at me pathetically and felt sorry for me because I was only a child with a child. In our meal,my friends and I received strange looks from the others in the restaurant. S so glad to finally go home.
I learned a lot through my experience with the "Think-It-Over" baby. The dollly strengthened my thinking I was not ready to be a parent, but it also made me e aware of the larger picture. It opened my eyes to the judgments people make about rs. People do not realize that some things are not the way they seem. I was only ying it around for a class project. The people in the restaurant were so quick to judge because they thought I was a teenage mom. I sometimes catch myself judging people I not know, just because of the first impression they give. In reality, I have no idea about real stories. We should all be slower to judge others,and realize that some things are as they seem. | high17000.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "arteries turning narrower"
},
"options": [
"brains becoming cleverer",
"faces having fewer wrinkles",
"arteries turning narrower",
"genes being changed"
],
"question": "In the author's opinion, when you exercise... | Life is to be enjoyed. There's no point in giving up something you enjoy unless you get something back that's even better. When people eat more healthfully, exercise, quit smoking, and manage stress better, they find that they feel so much better that it reconstructs the reason for making these changes from fear of dying to joy of living. The latest studies show that when you exercise and eat right:
YOUR BRAIN receives more blood flow and oxygen, so you become smarter, think more clearly, have more energy, and need less sleep. Two studies showed that just walking for three hours per week for only three months caused so many new neurons to grow that it actually increased the size of people's brains!
YOUR FACE receives more blood flow, so your skin glows more and wrinkles less. You look younger and more attractive. In contrast, an unhealthy diet, chronic emotional stress and smoking reduce blood flow to your face so you age more quickly. Smoking accelerates aging because nicotine causes your arteries to narrow down, which decreases blood flow to your face and makes it wrinkle earlier. This is why smokers look years older than they really are.
YOUR GENES change. In May, a study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showing that changing your lifestyle changes your genes.
YOUR TELOMERES get longer. Telomeres are the ends of our chromosomes that control how long we live. As telomeres become shorter, then cells age more quickly, thus shortening your life.
Besides, one of the most interesting findings in the study was that the mothers' awareness of stress was more important than what was really occurring in their lives. The researchers gave the women a questionnaire and asked them to rate on a three-point scale how stressed they felt each day, and how out of control their lives felt to them. The women who were aware that they were under heavy stress had significantly shortened and damaged telomeres compared with those who felt more relaxed. On the contrary, some of the women who felt relaxed despite raising a disabled child had more normal-appearing telomeres.
In other words, if you feel stressed, you are stressed; if you feel fine, you are fine. | high4881.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Because his parents wanted him to do better in his math."
},
"options": [
"Because he could eat well there.",
"Because he could learn more about nuns.",
"Because his parents wanted him to do better in his math.",
"Becau... | 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 paper 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 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 mother 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." | high11471.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Nancy's office gathers used clothes from women"
},
"options": [
"Nancy's grandfather lent her the money to set up the office.",
"Nancy's office gathers used clothes from women",
"Low-income women can get jobs at \"Dress for S... | When Nancy Lublin received $5,000 from her grandfather, she never once considered taking a vacation or paying off student loans .Instead, the 24-year-old New York University law student began thinking about helping low-income women get better jobs. "If a woman goes for a job interview poorly dressed, she won't get the job, "Lublin says."But without a job, she can't afford suitable clothes."
So, with the money Lublin founded "Dress for Success' and began collecting women's clothes which were still in good condition but which their owners no longer needed." So many women have clothes lying around that they will never wear again," one of Lublin's assistants says, "Nancy's idea is so simple and yet so important to women."
Many women come to Lublin's office before going to a job interview. Here, they receive a suit, shoes and any other things they need, Since it was set up, more than 1,000 women have turned to "Dress for Success" for help. Many of them have won job. Some have round jobs after being out of work for many years. Jenny, a 32-year-old woman who was recently hired as a law-firm office manager says, "I made a good impression because of 'Dress for Success'." | high20874.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because he thinks the dog is treated extremely well."
},
"options": [
"Because he is always in poor health and falls ill.",
"Because a Maltese dog lives longer than a human being.",
"Because his grandparents left him a large ... | If you want to know how crazy people can be about their pets, you might remember that Helmsley left $12 million to her little Maltese dog when she died last year.
The dog's name is Trouble. And apparendy Trouble is still alive. Of course, I would hang on,too, if someone left me $12 million. Look! Top-shelf dog food, soft pillows everywhere, drivers walking me in nice leafy parks. I would live to be 110 in dog years.
The dog's story is still fresh in my mind the other night when I leave a steak house after a superb meal. Then I notice a woman carrying a small bag out of the door behind me.
Once outside, she walks over to where a man is holding a tiny dog hke it's a baby. The dog looks like a Maltese, too, barking and annoying, with a cute haircut,
And now I am treated to an absolute astonishing sight. Because now the woman reaches into the bag and begins pulling out little pieces of meat, which she puts on a plastic spoon and feeds to the dog.
This is no cheap steak house. It's actually, way out of my league --I'm there only because it's a special occasion. I can tell you this: if I walked out of the place with any leftover steak, it sure wouldn't go to a dog. Not at those prices.
So now the woman is Spoon-feeding the dog and the man is just standing there, holding this dog and looking as if this is the most normal thing in the world. And the dog is calmly chewing these pieces of steak as if he's a little king. And this dog is in no hurry. He's having a great time.
A few minutes go by, and now the dog finishes all of his steak. At this point, I hear the woman say to the man "Think he's still hungry?" And she glances behind her at the restaurant, as if she might go back in there to get more steak for the dog.
Watching all this, I'm afraid I'm going to shout, "Are you out of your mind? Feeding all that pricey steak to that little dog? Did you see what our American life is like today? We're all going to be eating dog food if this keeps up!" | high3136.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "The coin is of high quality and worth collecting."
},
"options": [
"The coin is of high quality and worth collecting.",
"The coin can be circulated as a currency.",
"Limited supplies guarantee a stable price of the coin.",
... | This is What a REAL Silver Dollar Looks Like
If you trust in the yen, the euro, and the dollar... stop reading. Because this is a story about the silver coin EVERYBODY wants.
You read the headlines. You know that troubled economic times have put global currency on a rollercoasterride. But millions have found a smarter way to build long-term value with high-grade collectable silver. And right now, those people are lining up to secure some of the last 2012 U. S. Mint Silver Eagles, America's Newest Silver Eagle Dollars. Today, you can graduate to the front of that line. Buy now and you can own these brilliant uncirculated Silver Dollars for only $38.95!
You Can't Afford to Lose
Why are we releasing this silver dollar for such a remarkable price? Because we want to introduce you to what hundreds of thousands of smart collectors and satisfied customers have known since 1984--New York Mint is the place to find the world's finest hige-grade coins. That's why we're offering you this Brilliant Uncirculated 2012 U.S. Silver Eagle for as little as $37.45(plus s/h).
Timing is Everything
Our advice? Keep this to yourself. Because the more people who know about this offer, the worse it is for you. Demand for Silver Eagles in 2011 broke records. Experts predict that 2012 Silver Eagles may break them all over again. Due to rapid changes in the price of silver, prices may be higher or lower and are subject to change without notice. Supplies are limited. Call immediately to add these Silver Eagles to your holdings before it's too late.
Offer Limited to 40 per household 2012 American Silver Eagle Coin
Your cost 1-4 Coins $38.95 each + s/h
5-9 Coins $38.45each + s/h
10-19 Coins $37. 95 each + s/h
20-40 Coins $37.45 each + s/h
Note: $10 s/h (shipping and handling) for each purchaseFor fastest service, call toll-free 24 hours a day 1-888-201-7143 Offer Code ASE177-04 Please mention this code when you call.
New York Mint 14101 Southcross Drive W.,Dept. ASE177-04
Burnsville, Minnesota 55337
www. NewYorkMint. com | high4659.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "parent fans swore and fought outside the pitch"
},
"options": [
"players abused spectators in the matches",
"parent fans swore and fought outside the pitch",
"school teachers persuaded the government to call them off",
... | Parent fans, both dads and mums, are shaming British football with their bad behaviour. Hundreds of junior soccer matches had to be abandoned last season because parent fans were swearing or even fighting on the touchline. At schools and clubs across the UK, hundreds of more matches also had to be called off for the same reason.
Reports tell of abuse at referees , players and coaches and fight breaking out on the touchline.
Enough is enough Peter Wright, a keen referee of junior soccer, finally hung up his boots last season. He decided to walk away for good. He said "Every week I have had to take abuse and I've had enough of it."
"Parents' behaviour is reducing many school teachers, referees, coaches and volunteers to despair."
The kids are suffering Jim Peter, a referee, said, "We are getting desperate and the kids are suffering." He described the way spectators behave as
and getting worse year by year. The big question is why so many parents shame their children in this way. Aggressive Behavior Contracts may have to be introduced to stop the violence and abuse. If not, the game will suffer.
Sign up to good conduct Last season players and parents were made to sign a new good behavior contract. "If a parent breaks the contract, I take his or her child off the pitch and get him or her to explain why I have done so to the child," said Marc Nash, Wallsend's assistant leader.
"The next step is to ban both the parent and the child, but happily, so far this has not been necessary." | high15617.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "American people's health is threatened by automobiles"
},
"options": [
"Americans are used to travelling by cars",
"American public transportation is growing worse",
"American car industry caused disastrous road accidents",
... | Three Yale University professors agreed in a discussion that the automobile was what one of them called "Public Health Enemy No. 1 in this century". Besides polluting the air and overcrowding the cities, cars are involved in more than half the disastrous accidents, and they contribute to heart disease "because we won't walk anywhere any more," said Richard Weeinaman, professor of medicine and public health.
Speaking of many of those man-made dangers of the automobile, Arthur W. Galson, professor of biology, said it was possible to make a kerosene-burning turbine car that would "lessensmog by a very large factor". But he expressed doubt whether Americans were willing to give up moving about the countryside at 90 miles per hour in a large vehicle. "America seems wedded to the motor car--every family has to have at least two, and one has to be a convertible with 300 horsepower," professor Galson continued. "Is this the way of life that we choose because we treasure these values?"
For professor Sears, part of the blame lies with "a society that regards profit as a supreme value, under the illusion that anything that's technically possible is, therefore, morally justified". Professor Sears also called the country's dependence on its modern automobiles "terrible economics" because of the large horsepower used simply "moving one individual to work". But he admitted that Americans have painted themselves into a corner by allowing the national economy to become so dependent on the automobile industry.
"The solution," Dr Weeinerman said, "is not finding a less dangerous fuel but a different system of inner city transportation. Because of the increasing use of cars, public transportation has been allowed to wither and grow worse, so that if you can't walk to where you want to go, you have to have a car in most cities," he declared. This, in turn, Dr Weeinerman contended, is responsible for the "arteriosclerosis " of public roads, for the pollution of the inner city and for the middle-class movement to the suburbs. | high8063.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "make sure they mean no harm"
},
"options": [
"make sure they mean no harm",
"read them again and again",
"say something good to hear",
"repeat them later to his face"
],
"question": "When you send short messages... | Thanks to the Internet, a whole new online world has been opened up for us to meet, chat and go where we've never been before.
But just as in face to face communication, there are some rules of behavior that should be followed when on line. The basic rule is simple: treat others in the same way you would want to be treated. Imagine how you'd feel if you were in the other person's shoes.
For anything you're about to send: ask yourself, "Would I say this to the person's face?" if the answer is no, rewrite and reread. Repeat the process till you feel sure that you'd feel comfortable saying words to a person's face.
If someone in the chat room is rude to you, your instinct is to fire back in the same manner. But try not to do so. Just pay no attention to it, or block his message. If it was caused by a disagreement with another member, try to fix the situation by politely discussing it. Remember to respect the beliefs and opinions of others in the chat room.
Everyone was new to the network once. Offer advice when asked by newcomers, as they may not be sure what to do or how to communicate. When someone makes a mistake, whether it's a stupid question or an unnecessarily long answer, be kind about it. If it's a small mistake, you may not need to say anything. Even if you feel strongly about it, think twice before saying anything. Having good manners yourself doesn't give you license to correct everyone else.
If you do decide to tell someone about a mistake, point it out politely At the same time, if you find you are wrong, be sure to correct yourself and apologize to those that you have offended.
It is not polite to ask others personal questions such as their age, sex and marital status. Unless you know the person very well, and you are both comfortable with sharing personal information, don't ask such questions. | high1721.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "he could pay more attention to his study"
},
"options": [
"he could finish his homework on time",
"he couldn't bother the author",
"he could pay more attention to his study",
"he could keep silent in the room"
],
... | I am a strong believer that if a child is raised with approval he learns to love himself and will be successful in his own way.
Several weeks ago, I was doing homework with my son in the third grade and he kept standing up from his chair. I kept asking him to sit down, telling him that he would concentrate better. He sat but seconds later, as if he didn't even notice he was doing it, he got up again. I was getting annoyed, but then it hit me: I started noticing his answers were much quicker and right when he stood up. Could he be focused while standing up?
This made me start questioning myself and what I had been raised to believe. I was raised to believe that a quiet child was more likely to succeed. This child would have the discipline to study hard, get good grades and become someone important in life. Kids that were active and loud would only be objects of stares.
Now people perhaps come to realize that their kids are born with their own sets of DNA and personality features, and all they can do is loving and accepting them. As parents, throughout their growing years and beyond that, we need to be our kids' best cheerleaders, guiding them and helping them find their way.
I have stopped asking my son to sit down and concentrate. Obviously, he is concentrating, just in his own way and not mine. We need to accept our kids, and their ways of doing things. This way may have worked for me but doesn't mean we need to carry it through generations. There is nothing sweeter than seeing our children being individual . It makes us happy and that's just the way I want my kids to live life. | high13266.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Boys are going feminine."
},
"options": [
"Girls are growing like boys.",
"Boys are going feminine.",
"There are really time-traveling beings.",
"Alien movies are popular with children."
],
"question": "What is ... | I have two kids, a boy and a girl. I don't worry about my girl; I'm sure she'll be well trained in mixed martial arts. I worry about my son. I'm pretty sure he's going to be feminine . Sorry to say that, but let's face it. No dad wants his son to go feminine.
At the rate we're moving in a couple of years you won't be able to tell the difference between boys and girls. Sound extreme? Think about this. In every movie where advanced time-traveling beings come to our planet, there's one constant: You can't tell the male aliens from the female aliens!
But that's the future. Kids today are soft and fat. People ask why. Is it junk food? No. Junk food has been around for fifty years. Is it video games? No. Video games have been around for thirty years. None of the kids playing them back in the day were terribly obese. We're all scratching our heads trying to figure out what we've introduced to society to ruin our kids. But it's not anything we've added that has ruined our kids. It's stuff we've gotten rid of.
Take the gym rope for example. Remember that thing that stretched from the floor to the ceiling in your gym class that you could never climb? Most of the kids couldn't make it to the top. But that wasn't the point; the point was you had to try while some middle-aged guy who couldn't make it up a flight of stairs shouted at you. We should have put our son on that rope, and given him a head start. But we didn't want to shame the boy, so we took it down.
Taking down the rope would be a good idea if there were no ropes in life. But they're everywhere. You just can't see them. They're in every goal unrealized and expectation not met. The point everyone missed about the rope is you weren't supposed to make it to the top. It was there to create a fire that burned in the oversize belly of every kid. | high14509.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "It is similar to the sports like football or running."
},
"options": [
"It is a type of exercise which benefits the body and mind.",
"It makes muscles and joints stronger by stretching.",
"It contains exercise,breathing and m... | There was a sweet smell of incense in the air as the wellmuscled man moved his legs into a position well behind his head.It was something that the human body really should not be able to do.But what else would you expect at the First World Yoga Championships?
On September 25,the world's leading yoga experts arrived in the US to find out who was the best.But the real prize was to turn yoga into a proper Olympic event.
"Yoga is a combination of bodybuilding,Miss World,Mr Universe and gymnastics," said championship organizer Bikram Choudhury."There are some 70 people from more than 20 countries competing in this event.Why not have yoga at the Olympics?"
The public cannot decide whether or not Choudhury's dream will come true.But he is right about one thing:yoga has become popular with young and old people all over the world.In the US alone,15 million people practise yoga.Everyone is at it,including Madonna and Ricky Martin.
Yoga started in India more than 5,000 years ago.The name means "to join together".That is to bring the body and mind together into one pleasing experience.The whole system of yoga is built on three things:exercise,breathing and meditation .
The yoga that we know today is mostly physical yoga.It's seen as a type of exercise,but is different from sports like football or running.When we do yoga,we move our body into positions that stretch the muscles and joints,making them stronger.
One of the best things about yoga is the fact that everyone can do it.To women,it means a flat stomach,more shapely legs and a graceful body.To men,it is a way of becoming stronger and more athletic.
There are also speciallydesigned yoga classes for pregnant women or children suffering from mental disabilities,such as autism .As for teenagers,meditation and simple breathing exercises can help them learn to calm down,relax and concentrate better.But teenagers under 16 are not supposed to do the body exercises as it could have a bad effect on their natural growth. | high6728.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "written in \"The Dump\""
},
"options": [
"first published on a newspaper",
"awarded ten Academy Awards",
"written in \"The Dump\"",
"adapted from a movie"
],
"question": "The bookGone with the Wind was _ .",
... | The writer Margaret Mitchell is best known for writingGone with the Wind, first published in 1936. Her book and the movie based on it, tell a story of love and survival during the American Civil War. Visitors to the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta, Georgia, can go where she lived when she started composing the story and learn more about her life.
Our first stop at the Margaret Mitchell House is an exhibit area telling about the writer's life. She was born in Atlanta in 1900. She started writing stories when she was a child. She started working as a reporter for theAtlanta Journalnewspaper in 1922. One photograph of Ms. Mitchell, called Peggy, shows her talking to a group of young college boys. She was only about one and a half meters tall. The young men _ her, but she seems very happy and sure of herself. The tour guide explains: "Now in this picture Peggy is interviewing some boys from Georgia Tech, asking them such questions as 'Would you really marry a woman who works?' And today it'd be 'Would you marry one who doesn't?' "
The Margaret Mitchell House is a building that once contained several apartments. Now we enter the first floor apartment where Ms. Mitchell lived with her husband, John Marsh. They made fun of the small apartment by calling it "The Dump " .
Around 1926, Margaret Mitchell had stopped working as a reporter and was at home healing after an injury. Her husband brought her books to read from the library. She read so many books that he bought her a typewriter and said it was time for her to write her own book. Our guide saysGone with the Windbecame a huge success. Margaret Mitchell received the Pulitzer Prize for the book. In 1939 the film version was released. It won ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture. | high1047.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "roller-skating in big cities"
},
"options": [
"places and streets for roller-skating",
"roller-skating in big cities",
"London Skate Event",
"roller skaters in different countries"
],
"question": "This article m... | You are standing under the most famous neon lights in the centre of prefix = st1 /London, waiting to cross the road. Suddenly the traffic stops. You hear the distant sounds of cheering, clapping and shouting. Then, like a multi-color1ed train, 2, 000 people with wheels on their feet zoom past you. You have just witnessed the London Skate, a twice weekly roller-skate event that attracts people in their hundreds and thousands London Skate is a completely free tour of the streets ofLondon--the only condition is that you go along on roller-skates. It lasts between two and three hours and by the end of it you have skated between 10 and 12 miles.
The skate snakes sound the streets of Londonalong several different routes. Many of the routes pass by tourist attractions such asBuckinghamPalaceand Big Ben.
Marshals go ahead of the group, stopping the traffic so that people can skate as safely as possible. Everyone is welcome to take part and people from the age of 4 to 63 years old join the fun. "I love it very much, it is amazing. It feels just like a carnival .", said Celeste Beverage regular skater.
Roller-skating is really _ across Europe andAmerica. It is a very good way to keep fit and can be practised anywhere there is a smooth surface. Many big cities in Western Europe and in theUSnow have a regular group skating event.
The biggest skates take place in Paris and Munichand tens of thousands of fans show up on warm evenings. "Roller-skating is taking over the world," said Julian Grenoble, a 25-year-old ski shop employee fromLondon. Grenoble went to the Paris-Roller(Paris skate) regularly until he moved toBritain.
"It's so exciting to skate in Pairs. Everyone skates so fast and puts in their best efforts!" he said. The Paris Roller is well known because of the huge attendance, the presence of marshals and the police protection. Parisis a great city for roller-skating because of its long wide streets and smooth surfaces. Roller-skating is also becoming more popular inChinaamong young people and children. Skating fans' favorite places to practice inChinaare big squares. | high22905.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because they have internal temperature regulating systems."
},
"options": [
"Because their bodies are unusually efficient.",
"Because they experience different climates.",
"Because they can adjust to cultural patterns and tec... | Humans and many other mammals have unusually efficient internal temperature regulating systems that automatically maintain stable core body temperatures in cold winters and warm summers. In addition, people have developed cultural patterns and technologies that help them adjust to extremes of temperature and humidity .
In very cold climates, there is a constant danger of developing hypothermia , which is a life threatening drop in core body temperature to below normal levels. The normal temperature for humans is about 37.0degC. However, differences in persons and even the time of day can cause it to be as much as 6degC higher or lower in healthy individuals. It is also normal for core body temperature to be lower in elderly people. Hypothermia begins to occur when the core body temperature drops to 34.4degC. Below 29.4degC, the body cools more rapidly because its natural temperature regulating system usually fails. The rapid decline in core body temperature is likely to result in death. However, there have been rare cases in which people have been saved after their temperatures had dropped to 13.9-15.6degC. This happened in 1999 to a Swedish woman who was trapped under an ice sheet in freezing water for 80 minutes. She was found unconscious, not breathing, and her heart had stopped beating, yet she was eventually saved despite the fact that her temperature had dropped to 13.7degC.
In extremely hot climates or as a result of uncontrollable infections, core body temperatures can rise to equally dangerous levels. This is hyperthermia. Life threatening hyperthermia typically starts in humans when their temperatures rise to 40.6-41.7degC. Only a few days at this extraordinarily high temperature level is likely to result in the worsening of internal organs and death. | high13500.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "teacher"
},
"options": [
"poet",
"painter",
"teacher",
"student"
],
"question": "The writer of the passage is probably a _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_ind... | In a recent class I was asked "What is a short story?" My first answer was that it was something that could be read in one sitting and brought an illumination to the reader, sudden and golden like sunlight cracking(, ) through a heavy cloud. I went on to say that in my opinion a "real" short story was closer to poetry than to a novel.
Here are some definitions of the short story. My favorite is Benet's: "something that can be read in an hour and remembered for a lifetime". One writer said, "The theme of a novel won't fit into the framework of a short story; It's like trying to squeeze a large painting done on a wall into the frame of a miniature . And as in a miniature painting, the details need to be sharp. "
The short story is an example of one aspect of human nature. Often a character _ some event, something that offers him or her change. This is why it's said that short stories usually "say something ", often a small something, but sometimes delivered with such accuracy that the effect is strongly felt, even a life-moment for some readers, something similar to a religious experience or to witnessing a never-to-be-repeated scene in nature.
Ok, let's form a definition here: A short story is an account, rarely over 10, 000 words or below 500 words-more commonly 1, 500 to 5, 000 words-a single-sitting read, but with enough time and weight to move the reader. It is narrow and focused to produce an effect through the story, most commonly through events affecting some change in an individual.
Writer Isabelle Allende once wrote: "Novels are, for me, adding up details, just work, work, work, then you're done. Short stories are more difficult-they have to be perfect, complete in themselves. " | high15171.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "\"You shouldn't have wasted money on repairing your dryer.\""
},
"options": [
"\"Continue to use it even if it is old.\"",
"\"You should have taken better care of your dryer.\"",
"\"You shouldn't have wasted money on repairin... | Only after the straight-talking repairman handed me the bill and waved goodbye did I finally acknowledge the painful truth: Our 20-year-old clothes dryer was not going to last.
I turned to my husband. "He says we're throwing good money after bad," I sighed. "I think he's right."
"When do you want to go shopping for a new one?" my husband asked.
I glanced out the window, admiring the sunlight dancing on the big-leaf maples in our backyard. Perfect drying weather. Suddenly, I recalled my mother hanging laundry on a clothesline during my childhood. My sister and I had played hide-and-seek among the sweet-smelling sheets waving in the wind.
I suddenly had a plan. After the wash cycle, we covered the maples with damp blue jeans, shirts, socks and towels. The only things that didn't go outside were my underpants. And I persuaded my shameless husband to let his big boxer shorts stay indoors, too.
There is a secret pleasure to hanging laundry outdoors. It is the perfect excuse to get up from the computer. While checking on the laundry in the backyard, I could commune not only with cotton T-shirts, but also my cats. I could watch cautious deer run through the yard with their young, listen to nervous squirrels in trees and observe a family of wild turkeys by the road. I returned to my desk refreshed.
And, except for the sandpaper feel of sun-dried bath towels, the drying method was a complete success. When autumn came, I'd scan the horizon each day to evaluate the chances of sun-drying. One morning I saw rain clouds. I had a load of wet clothes in my arms and no place to put them.
I found my husband. Together we hung laundry throughout the house.
Then my husband gave me a hug and a smile. "I think it's time to buy a dryer..." he said, "... like, today."
"Good idea," I said, just as the infamous Oregon rain started.
Our sun-dried laundry habit was finished for the season. | high8705.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "seem extremely worrying"
},
"options": [
"are rare before 2001",
"seem extremely worrying",
"cause kids to lose interest in sports",
"are mostly caused by wearing no helmets"
],
"question": "Concussions among yo... | In many sports, physical contact is part of the game. But when athletes hit their heads, the hit can cause concussions .
Concussions have long been a concern for professional athletes, but they've become more common among young players too. Between 2001 and 2009, the number of kids under 19 visiting doctors for concussions each year increased by 62 percent.
Engineers are developing new helmets , and new rules are limiting physical contact in some sports. But are these efforts enough to protect kids' brains?
Concussions can happen during many types of activities. But sports like football and soccer are especially risky. When you run or jump, your body is moving at an increased speed. A sudden hit causes you to move faster in a different direction.
"It's like when you're in a bus and it makes a sudden stop," says Dr. Kevin Crutchfield, an expert at a sports concussion center in Baltimore, Maryland. "You hit the inside of the bus."
This hit damages the brain. It affects the way the brain functions. So some sports require athletes to wear helmets. Helmets help reduce the force of a hit. The hard outer shell spreads the force of larger area. Inside a helmet, a plastic or air-filled lining also helps soften the blow.
Steve Rowson is an engineer at Virginia Tech. In his lab, he tests how helmets hold up against different types of hits. No helmet can prevent concussions completely, says Rowson. But he's found that when wearing a newer football helmet, the player's head doesn't gain speed as much after a hit. That lowers the risk of concussions.
Many youth sports teams have set limits on physical contact to reduce the risk of concussions. In soccer, most concussions happen as a result of headers--shots or passes made with the head. That's why many people think kids shouldn't head the ball until high school.
These efforts should help, says Crutchfield. But the best way to prevent long-term brain injuries, he says, is to stop playing immediately if you suffer concussion. "Protect yourself today so you can play again tomorrow." | high11317.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "doubted by some professionals"
},
"options": [
"well received",
"rejected by native people",
"doubted by some professionals",
"intended for teaching English"
],
"question": "At the beginning, Special English pro... | On October 19, 1959, the first Special English program was broadcast on the Voice of America. It was an experiment. The goal was to communicate by radio in clear and simple English with people whose native language is not English. Experts said the goal was admirable, but the method would not work. They were proved wrong. The Special English programs quickly became some of the most popular on VOA. And they still are.
Forty years later, Special English continues to communicate with people who are not fluent in English. But during the years its role has expanded. It also helps people learn American English. And it provides listeners, even those who are native English speakers, with information they cannot find elsewhere.
Today, Special English broadcasts around the world seven days a week, five times a day. Each half-hour broadcast begins with ten minutes of the latest news followed by 20 minutes of feature programming. There is a different short feature every weekday about science, development, agriculture and environment, and on the weekend, about news events and American idioms.
Three elements make Special English unique. It has a limited vocabulary of 1500 words. Most are simple words that describe objects, actions or emotions. Some are more difficult. They are used for reporting world events and describing discoveries in medicine and science. Special English is written in short, simple sentences that contain only one idea. No idioms are used. And Special English is spoken at a slower pace, about two-thirds the speed of Standard English. This helps people learning English hear each word clearly. It also helps people who are English speakers understand complex subjects.
Through the years, Special English has become a very popular tool for teaching English, even though it was not designed as teaching program. It succeeds in helping people learn English in a non-traditional way. Individuals record the programs and play them over and over to practice their listening skills. In countries around the world, English teachers assign Special English to their students. They praise it for improving their students' ability to understand American English and for the content of the programs. Universities and private companies in many countries produce packages of Special English materials for student use. | high3650.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "The celebrations in IYA 2009."
},
"options": [
"The celebrations in IYA 2009.",
"The activities on the 400thanniversary of Galileo.",
"The event of 100 Hours of Astronomy.",
"How to spread knowledge of astronomy."
]... | 2009 is the year of what? Yes, it's the year of the Ox. But do you know that 2009 is also the year of the telescope? This year the world celebrates the 400thanniversary of Galileo's observations of the universe through an astronomical telescope . In 1609, the Italian scientist first pointed a "Dutch perspective glass" at the night sky and made discoveries that changed mankind's conceptions of the universe.
In honor of Galileo's discoveries, the United Nations and the International Astronomical Union have declared 2009 to be the International Year of Astronomy (IYA 2009).
IYA 2009 is a yearlong celebration of astronomy. Its goal is to spread knowledge of astronomy's contributions to society and culture and to inspire more interest in astronomy and science, especially among young people. The theme of the celebration is "The Universe, Yours to Discover."
One interesting aim of the IYA is to encourage more diversity in the field of astronomy and physics. IYA organizers hope that the yearlong celebration of astronomy will inspire more females and underrepresented minorities to pursue careers in science. An event that will help further that goal is 100 Hours of Astronomy (100 HA) that will fall on April. This event aims to have as many people as possible look through a telescope. From April 2ndto 5th, millions of people worldwide will peer through telescopes to catch their first glimpse of the universe, just as Galileo's did 400 years ago. Sidewalk astronomy events will give city-dwellers an excellent opportunity to see the moon, the planet Saturn, and other objects in position for early evening observations.
Organizers hope that the activities of IYA will "promote a greater appreciation of the astronomy." So join the fun. Look through a telescope this year! | high19993.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "while he was in Paris"
},
"options": [
"when he was a little boy",
"while he was in Paris",
"because his parents told him so",
"from books"
],
"question": "The passage tells us that Jefferson was a President who... | People have strange ideas about food. For example, the tomato is a kind of very delicious vegetable. It is one of useful plants that can be prepared in many ways. It has rich nutrition and vitamin in it. But in the 18thcentury, Americans never ate tomatoes. They grew them in their gardens because tomato plants are so pretty. But they thought the vegetable was poisonous . They called tomatoes "poison apples."
President Thomas Jefferson, however, knew that tomatoes were good to eat. He was a learned man. He had been to Paris, where he learned to love the taste of tomatoes. He grew many kinds of tomatoes in his garden. The President taught his cook a way for a cream of tomato soup. This beautiful pink soup was served at the President's party. The guests thought the soup tasted really good. They never thought their president would serve his honored guests poison apples.
Jefferson never spoke to his honored guests about the fact. | high10009.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Definition 2"
},
"options": [
"Definition 1",
"Definition 2",
"Definition 3",
"Definition 4"
],
"question": "Which meaning of the word javelin is used in the sentence below?",
"question_type": "factiod_que... | The information below is taken from a dictionary page.
jaguar: n. a type of large, yellow-colored cat with black markings found in the southwestern region of the U. S. and in Central and South America.
jargon: 1. n. speech that doesn't make sense.
2. n. an unknown language that seems strange or impossible to understand.
3. n. a language made up of two or more other languages: His jargon was a mixture of French and English.
4. n. the special vocabulary of a field or profession: Her report on computers was filled with jargon.
jaunt: 1. n. a trip taken for fun.
2. v. to go on a brief pleasant trip: We jaunted to the country last Saturday.
javelin: 1. n.. a spear most commonly used as weapon or in hunting.
2. n. a light metal or wooden spear that is thrown in track-and-field sport events.
3. n. the event in which a javelin is thrown.
4. v. to strike, as with a javelin.
jazz: 1. n. a type of music that originated in New Orleans and is characterized by rhythmic beats.
2. n. popular dance music influenced by jazz.
3. n. empty talk.
4. ad. of or like jazz: a jazz band, jazz records.
Jennet: n. a small Spanish horse.
jest: 1.n. thing said or done to cause amusement; joke.
2. (idiom) in jest: as a joke ; in fun; not seriously.
3.v.make jokes | high5221.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "deep feeling"
},
"options": [
"sad regret",
"amusement",
"deep feeling",
"happiness"
],
"question": "The tone established in the passage is one of .",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"an... | Several years ago, my parents, my wife, my son and I ate at a restaurant. After a wonderful dinner, the waiter set the check in the middle of the table. That's when it happened: my father did not reach for the check. Conversation continued. Finally I realized that I should pick up the check! After hundreds of restaurant meals with my parents, after a lifetime of thinking of my father as the one with dollars, it had all changed. I paid the meal, and my view of myself suddenly changed. I was an adult. I was no longer a kid.
Some people mark off their lives in years, I measure mine in small events. I didn't become a young man at a particular age, like 16, but rather when a kid who wandered in the streets called me "mister." These events in my life are called "milestones" .
There have been other milestones .The policemen of my youth always seemed huge, and of course they were older than I was. _ The day came when I suddenly realized that all the football players in the game I was watching were younger than I was. They were just big kids. With that milestone gone was the dream that someday, maybe I, too, could be a football player. Without ever having reached the hill ,I was over it.
I never thought that I would fall asleep in front of the TV set as my father did. Now it's what I do best. I never thought that I would appreciate opera, but now the combination of voice and orchestra attracts me. I used to think that people who watched birds were strange, but this summer I found myself watching them, and maybe I'll get a book on the subject. I feel a strong desire for a religious belief that I never thought I'd want, and echo my father in arguments with my son. I still lose ...
One day I bought a house. One day --what a day!-- I became a father, and not too long after that I picked up the check for my own father. I thought then it was a milestone for me. One day, when I was a little older, I realized it was one for him too, another milestone. | high18455.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Four."
},
"options": [
"One.",
"Two.",
"Three.",
"Four."
],
"question": "How many kinds of animal dads does this text mention?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_in... | Father's Day may be over in the United States, but animal dads are still hard at work. From penguins to catfish , some animal fathers play a big part in raising their babies.
"Seahorses are possibly the best example of fathers caring for their young in the animal world," said Heather Masonjones, a biologist at the University of Tampa in Florida. Human mothers carry their babies in their bodies for nine months. But seahorses are different. A female seahorse lays eggs and then puts them in a pouch on a male seahorse's belly , where the eggs stay until they hatch.
Male seahorses aren't the only animal dads caring for eggs. The male hardhead catfish carries up to 48 marble-
size eggs in his mouth for 60 days! He doesn't eat for the entire time. "You'd think it would be hard for them to give up a meal," said Ed Matheson, a fish expert at the Florida Marine Research Institute.
Emperor penguins sit on eggs to hatch them during Antarctica's freezing winter. The males have to gather closely together for warmth and can lose half of their weight in the two months that it takes the baby penguins to hatch.
Even mammal dads play a role in raising their young. The male South American marmoset takes care of the baby in place of the mother a few weeks after she gives birth.
So next Father's Day, remember the millions of dads hard at work in the animal kingdom! | high17766.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Unfairly."
},
"options": [
"Kindly.",
"Unfairly.",
"Normally.",
"Cruelly."
],
"question": "How do you think Elizabeth was treated in the medical school?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"a... | Years ago people could hardly accept the ideas of a woman's being a doctor.In order to get into medical school in 1847,Elizabeth Blackwell was asked to keep it a secret that she was a woman.This was _ to her beliefs,and she refused to do it.After entering medical school,Elizabeth often had to summon all her courage to free the unkindness of teachers and classmates.By her great efforts,she was able to complete her studies.Many people came to her graduation just to have a look at a woman doctor.Doctor Blackwell soon found that most people were not as ready as to go to a woman doctor.She had to struggle to make a living.Then came the great day when she was offered a job as a doctor in a hospital.She did so well that she was asked to organize a new hospital and medical college.The United States can now be proud of thousands of women doctors. | high3888.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Things she carried with"
},
"options": [
"Things she carried with",
"Her self-charm",
"Her diplomatic measures",
"Her support to her husband"
],
"question": "What's the meaning of the underline word \"parapherna... | Liyuan style
Peng Liyuan,wife of President Xi Jinping, has drawn extensive attention from people both at home and abroad for her charisma and grace. Accompanying her husband on his first overseas trip after becoming president, Peng Liyuan exhibited graceful demeanor, a pleasant personality and well-chosen dress, prompting people to coin the term "Liyuan style".
Peng Liyuan, as one of China's best-known singers, was popular among Chinese people long before her husband became the president. Loved by her fans, she has been in touch with the people for years.
"Liyuan style" is not only representative of a fashion idol, but also overpass cultural and diplomatic barriers. The beautiful handbags Peng has carried, and the plain but elegant and delicate dresses she has worn have become popular. Her choice of clothing, made-in-China instead of luxurious foreign brands, shows her belief in domestic dress designs.
But "Liyuan style" is not only about clothing and a woman's _ . It is also about diplomacy and promoting, China's soft power. In Moscow, Peng visited a boarding school for orphans and children estranged from their parents, encouraging them to strive for a better life, which brought out the maternal side of her character. In Tanzania, she donated sewing machines and school bags to women and children. And as a World Health Organization ambassador in the fight against AIDS, Peng is devoted to many public causes, including those relating to charity and healthcare.
Some observers have already started saying that Peng's activities have become part of public diplomacy in China.
Also, "Liyuan style" has boosted the confidence of the Chinese people. Modern but not flashy, elegant but not arrogant, Peng has all the virtues of a Chinese woman and carries them to the international stage.
Since the 18th Party Congress and the annual sessions of the NPC and CPPCC, the country's new leadership has vowed to adopt a down-to-earth work style to connect with the people. Peng's plain but elegant style shows that thriftiness and an earthy style need not be drab and boring.
So it can be said that Peng's first appearance on the international stage has kicked off well. | high6700.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Warn drivers about potholes."
},
"options": [
"Warn drivers about potholes.",
"Help drivers obey traffic rules.",
"Stop drivers using mobile phones.",
"Tell drivers to avoid red lights."
],
"question": "What is ... | Chokwe Selassie, aged 13, is working hard to help drivers avoid potholes . The eighth-grader was inspired to kick off his creation on a recent morning, when his mother was driving him to school. Their car was damaged as it went over a huge pothole in the middle of the street in their hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. He decided to do something about the pothole problem in his city.
Chokwe developed the app with his friends Rodriguez Ratliff and Emmanuel Brooks. When the app detects a pothole, it is highlighted in red. And if you get close to the pothole, your phone will warn you with a beep. Drivers can also use the app to report any potholes and look for other routes they can take to avoid roads that have them.
The app relies on current available information about the streets of Jackson, already stored in a database of the city's 311 call system. Through the call system, citizens dial 3-1-1 to report non-emergency problems which include potholes. Chokwe and his friends determined that focusing on the 10 busiest streets in Jackson would give them a large enough sample size to test the prototype.
While developing the app, the boys took part in a Minority Male Makers Program sponsored by Verizon and held at Jackson State University. They learned 3D printing and design, and how to create apps. Through the program Chokwe and his friends received encouragement and guidance.
Although the app isn't yet available for sale, Chokwe is already looking for ways to improve the app. He hopes to add more to it until it spreads all over the country. | high14247.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "To indicate that the word has become very popular."
},
"options": [
"To inform readers where to find the meaning of the word.",
"To recommend the dictionary to readers.",
"To show that the online dictionary is widely used.",
... | Many of us enjoy doing it: you turn on the camera on your mobile phone and hold it at a high angle--- making your eyes look bigger and your cheekbones more defined. You turn to your best side and click.
There it is - your selfie.
Over the past year, "selfie" has become a well-known term across the globe. This August the Oxford dictionary added the word to their online dictionary and define it as: "A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website."
Today it's not difficult to find social networking pages full of photos people have taken of themselves and their friends. And selfie culture has become especially relevant for young people. As many as 91 percent of teenagers have posted photos of themselves online, according to a recent survey by the US Pew Research Center.
So what are the reasons for the rise of selfie culture?
"The craziness about the selfie celebrates regular people," Pamela Rutledge, a professor at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, told Vogue magazine. "There are many more photographs available now of real people than models."
Posting selfies also allows you to control your image online. "I like having the power to choose how I look, even if I'm making a funny face:' Samantha Barks, 19, a high school student in the US, told Vogue.
In addition to self-expression and documentation , selfies "allow for a close friendship for long-distance friends, because you can see each other's faces every day", wrote Casey Miller at The Huffington Post.
But US psychologist Jill Weber is concerned that selfies might lead to social problems. "There's a danger that your self-esteem may start to be tied to the comments and '1ikes' you get when you post a selfie, and they aren't based on who you are - they're based on what you look like," Weber told Vogue. "When you get nothing or a negative response, your confidence can decrease." | high9433.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Because she behaved in an unusual way."
},
"options": [
"Because she was dying very soon.",
"Because she was not good at singing,",
"Because she behaved in an unusual way.",
"Because she was usually dressed poorly."
... | The first Ml choir rehearsal of the school year took place in the school hall. All the students joined together to sing. I watched as my elder sister and her grade came in and took their places next to us on the stage. Meanwhile, I could hear laughing. Some students were pointing at a girl standing next to my sister. I'd never seen this girl before. A girl whispered in my ear, " Did you know she's wearing diapers ?"
After school that evening, I asked my sister about the girl I'd seen. She told me her name was Theresa and that she was a very nice girL ." Why were those kids being mean to her? I asked, "Because they're stupid," she said.
One day, I was walking home from school when I heard voices behind me. "There's the little idiot's sister. Does your sister wet her pants too?" I walked a little faster and then I felt a atone hit me in the back. When I got home, I ran down to my sister's room.
I pushed my way into her room, screaming at her. "Why do you have to be that giri's friend? I don't see anyone else being nice to her, " Janelle yelled back, Because she is a wonderful person and she is dying!" I will remember those words as long as I live. Theresa wet her pants because she had an illness, which was killing her. My sister was the only one nice enough to be her friend and stick up for her. A few months later, Hieresa passed away.
I felt proud that Janelle was my sister. Throughout the years I watched her, and she always made friends with everyone. It didn't matter if they ware fat, thin, brilliant or not. She never left anyone feeling isolated or alone. It was she who changed me and taught me to never look at anyone in the same way again. | high13528.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "about half of them are for it and the other half against it"
},
"options": [
"a lot more of them are for it",
"a lot more of them are against it",
"very few of them are willing to tell their opinions",
"about half of th... | Every pet owner loves his pet. There is no argument here.
But when we asked our readers whether they would clone (, )their beloved animals, the responses were split almost down the middle. Of the 228 readers who answered it, 108 would clone, 111 would not and nine weighed each side without offering an opinion.
Clearly, from readers' response, this is an issue that reaches deeply into both the joy and _ . It speaks, as well, to people's widely differing expectations over the developing scientific procedure.
Most of the respondents who favored the idea strongly believed it would produce at least a close copy of the original; many felt the process would actually return an exact copy. Those on the other side, however, held little hope a clone could never truly recreate a pet, many simply didn't wish to go against the natural law of life and death.
Both sides expressed equal love for their animals. More than a few respondents owned "the best dog/cat in the world". They thought of their pets as their "best friend", "a member of the family,""the light of my life." They told moving stories of pets' heroism, intelligence and selfless devotion.
Then the loss is so disturbing---and the cloning so attractive. "People become very close to their animals, and the loss can be just as hard to bear as when a friend or family member dies," says Gary Kowalski, author of Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet. "For me, cloning feels like an attempt to turn death away...It's understandable. Death is always painful. It's difficult to deal with. It's hard to accept."
But would cloning reduce the blow? This question seemed to be at the heart of this problem. | high15159.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "he didn't expect the writer to recognize him instantly"
},
"options": [
"they were good friends",
"he had a very important letter to post",
"he saw somebody he could turn to at last",
"he didn't expect the writer to rec... | "I say, I'm pleased to see you," said the little man standing by the letter-box.
"Oh, hello," I said, remembering he was a new neighbor. "Simpson, isn't it?"
"Yes, that's right." He seemed quite pleased by my ready recognition.
"I wonder if you could lend me some money," he continued. "My wife gave me a letter to post, and I've just noticed it isn't stamped."
"yes, they never are," I said, sympathetically .
"It must go tonight--it really must! I'd get stamps out of the machine," explained Simpson," Only I find I have no small change about me."
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I haven't either," I said.
"Oh, dear, dear," he said.
"Yes, well," I said, intending to move off. But he looked so unhappy standing there with the blue unstamped envelope that I really hadn't the heart to desert him.
So I took him to my house and found some pennies and gave them to him, who, in the most business like way, made a note of the loan in his pocket-book, and left. But soon he turned up again.
"I'm sorry I am a stranger round here and --well, I'm rather lost..."
It took me several minutes to explain to him where the post office was. In the end I felt as lost as Simpson and had to accompany him to the post office, but, only to find the automatic stamp-machine was empty!
"Oh!" Simpson was so desperate that he dropped the letter on the ground and when he picked it up there was a large black spot on its face.
"Dear me," he said, "My wife told me to post it tonight. I'd better post it, if you know what I mean."
I did know. Or, at least, I knew Mrs Simpson.
Then I got a good idea, "Post the letter unstamped--let the other man pay double postage on it in the morning. " And he had to agree.
Finishing off our job, I took him home.
"I'm so grateful to you, really," he said when we reached his home. "That letter--it's only an invitation to dinner to Mr... Dear me!"
"Why, what's the matter?"
"Nothing. Just something I've remembered."
"What?"
But he didn't tell me. He just opened his eyes and his mouth at me like a wounded gold- fish, murmured a "Good-night", and went inside.
All the way home I was wondering what it was that he had remembered.
But I stopped wondering the next morning, when I had to pay the postman double postage for a blue envelope with a large black spot on its face. | high16450.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "three special genes"
},
"options": [
"a magical medicine",
"three special genes",
"good living habits",
"longevity proteins"
],
"question": "Some people are able to live to 100 years because of _ .",
"que... | A super drug that could remove Alzheimer's ,heart disease and diabetes and help people live to 100 is being developed by scientists. Their research is based on the identification of three genes that help prolong lives and prevent diseases which occur in old age. Medically controlling the proteins made by the " longevity genes" will allow millions to live longer, predicts Dr Nir Barzilai.
Those whose DNA strongly features the three genes are 80 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's. The genes also fight against the deadly impact of smoking, poor diet, obesity and lack of exercise.
Already, several laboratories are working on a pill to imitate the benefits of the genes and Dr Barzilai thinks it could be tested within three years. The pill could remove some diseases that damage old age. " The advantage of finding a gene that involves longevity is that we can develop a drug that will imitate exactly what this gene is doing," he said.
Of the three longevity genes, two genes increase the production of so-called good cholesterol , which reduces the risk of heart disease. The third prevents diabetes. They were discovered by Dr Barzilai's team while studying the DNA of 500 Ashkenazi Jews with an average age of 100. The chances of living that long are one in 10,000 but the group, which shared relatively few common ancestors, was 20 times more likely to hit the entury. Dr Barzilai said: " 30 percent of them were obese or overweight and 30 percent smoked two acks of cigarettes a day for more than 40 years, however they can live to 100."
But Andrew Ketteringham of the Alzheimer's Society said: "Alzheimer's disease, a most common disease, is likely to be caused by a combination of genetic disosition , lifestyles and life events. Many genes are probably involved. | high4117.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "It was written by more than one author."
},
"options": [
"It was written by more than one author.",
"It thinks the computer affects students' studies.",
"It introduces a new scientific technology to readers.",
"It has b... | Computers have been used in teaching for more than twenty years. But a new book says that only now are they changing education. And it predicts that a lot more is about to happen.
The book is called "Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns." "Disruptive Innovation" is a theory developed by lead author Clayton Christensen, a professor at the prefix = st1 /HarvardBusinessSchool. He says organizations almost always use new, creative technology only to continue what they already do.
New technology should change organizations, he says, and disrupt them in a good way. They should use the technology to do things differently--for example, to serve more needs. The book says the needed disruptive force in education is computer-based learning.
Michael Horn, another author of "Disrupting Class", told us about a Bostonpublic that he visited. Every student at Lilla G. Frederick Middle School inDorchester,Massachusetts, has a laptop computer. One class was learning about storms. Michael Horn says the laptops made it possible to truly individualize the lessons, to divide materials by ability level and learning style. At the end of the class, the students all took part in a discussion led by the teacher.
Computer-based learning offers a way for students to take advanced courses not offered at their school, or to retake classes they failed. It also serves those who cannot physically attend school, and students who receive home schooling.
Computer-based learning includes online courses. Enrollments in online courses have grown sharply. In 2007, the United Stateshad about one million enrollments, not including college courses. Students could be enrolled in more than one course, through schools or education companies. High school students make up about seventy percent of the enrollment. Still, nationally, only about one percent of all high school courses last year were taught online.
But the authors of "Disrupting Class"predict it will be ten percent in about six years. And their research suggests that the number will be about fifty percent by 2019. And Michael Horn says the future of online learning could be even greater in developing countries. | high17996.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "both tea and food"
},
"options": [
"tea only",
"both tea and food",
"tea, food and vegetables",
"the same things as other meals"
],
"question": "A real English afternoon tea has_.",
"question_type": "cloze_q... | In England, afternoon tea is the most informal meal of a day. It is taken between four and five. If you are a friend of the family, you may come for tea at any time. Very often it is not taken at a table. The members of the family and visitors take the tea in the sitting room. Each person has a cup and saucer , a spoon and a small plate for bread and butter and cakes. By the way, do not help yourself to cakes first, bread and butter first, and then cake. Do remember: Though you can eat as much as you want, do not put more than one piece of bread or cake on your plate each time. | high2566.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "avoid an unhealthy diet"
},
"options": [
"keep taking exercises every day",
"avoid an unhealthy diet",
"try to lose weight",
"make a diet plan"
],
"question": "In the author's opinion, if you want to feel better... | When it comes to feeling better about yourself,nothing will help you like healthy eating.Controlling what you eat is a big factor in how you look and feel.If you think about it,so much of how we behave,how we feel,and how our bodies perform is based on what we put into them.
The old saying "You Are What You Eat" is actually true.The problem is that a lot of mainstream diet books you might find in your local bookstore or online are trying to sell you diet plans that don't work and that might even make you sick.
Healthy eating is great for your body.It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out.Many people don't realize just how good healthy food is for them.By eating great foods that are natural and healthy,you can lose weight.You can also have a lot more energy.So you shouldn't just think of healthy eating as a way to burn fat,but you should also think of it as a way to get your life back in order.
You can spend more time with your family and get more work done because you will have more energy.You will be impressed by how much better you'll feel by putting nutritious,natural foods into your body.Your look will be better.You'll have more energy,and you'll be happier.
The important thing to remember when it comes to eating healthy is to not fall for any tricks.There are a lot of people out there looking to make quick money.They will tell you just something so they can sell a book or a video.What you need is to trust a diet plan that is right for your body.Educate yourself about your own body type.Find out what kinds of foods are best for you.If the diet book you trust doesn't teach you these important factors,then you might be reading bad information. | high10021.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Parents."
},
"options": [
"Children.",
"Teachers.",
"Parents.",
"helmet producers."
],
"question": "Who is this passage mainly written for?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_inde... | Good Housekeeping has discovered that even if a child wear a helmet when she bikes, or skates, it may not protect her from a serious head injury.
Every year, 390,000 children under age 15 go to hospital emergency rooms with bike-related injuries. Of that number, about one third children suffer head injuries and an estimated 200 die. By wearing a helmet, a child can reduce her risk of injury by as much as 85 percent. But remember ---- a bicycle helmet must fit properly to be safe. Here are five steps to making sure your child's helmet fits properly.
1) If you haven't bought your child's helmet already, you might want to consider one with a rear stabilizer . A rear stabilizer holds the back of the head gently and helps the helmet stay correctly positioned.
2) The helmet should fit closely and shouldn't slide from side to side or front to back. If your child can put two fingers on both temples inside the helmet, it's too big. Try a smaller size. But if the next size down is too small, use the fit pads . Fit pads come in different sizes and attach to the helmet with Velcro.
3) Tell your child to open her mouth widely and ask if she can feel the helmet push down onto the top of her head. If she can't, you need to readjust her helmet.
4) To prevent strap slippage, wind a rubber band around the strap where it meets the fastener.
5) Recheck the fit regularly.
You should replace the bicycle helmet:
If she has been in an accident with it.
If the buckle breaks or if a piece breaks off.
If it doesn't have a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, American Society for Testing and Materials, or Snell Memorial Foundation sticker.
If it doesn't fit correctly. Even if the helmet fit perfectly two years ago, it might be too small now. | high5209.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "miracles are predestined and they can happen anywhere"
},
"options": [
"miracles are predestined and they can happen anywhere",
"whoever helps you in trouble will get a reward one day",
"God will help those who give others a ... | Some say everyday miracles are predestined ----the right time for the appointed meeting. And it can happen anywhere.
In 2001, 11-year-old Kevin Stephan was a bat boy for his younger brother's Little League team in Lancaster, New York. It was an early evening in late July. Kevin was standing on the grass away from the plate, where another youngster was warming up for the next game. Swinging his bat back and forth, giving it all the power an elementary school kid could give. The boy brought the bat back hard and hit Kevin in the chest. His heart stopped.
When Kevin fell to the ground, the mother of one of the players rushed out of the stands to his aid. Penny Brown hadn't planned to be there that day, but at the last minute, her shift at the hospital had been changed to see her son's performance. She was given the night off. Penny bent over the senseless boy, his face already starting to turn blue, and giving CPR, breathing into his mouth and giving chest compressions. And he _ in the end.
After his recovery, he became a volunteer junior firefighter, learning some of the emergency first-aid techniques that had saved his life. He studied hard in school and was saving money for college by working as a dishwasher in a local restaurant in his spare time.
Kevin, now 18, was working in the kitchen when he heard people screaming, customers in confusion, employees rushing toward a table. He hurried into the main room and saw a woman there, her face turning blue, her hands at her throat. She was choking.
Quickly Kevin stepped behind her, wrapped his arms around her and clasped his hands. Then, using skills he'd first learned in Scouts. The food that was trapped in the woman's throat was freed. The color1 began to return to her face.
"The food was stuck. I couldn't breathe," she said. She thought she was dying. "I was very frightened."
Who was the woman?
Penny Brown. | high20684.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "show you how to take an active role in planning your career"
},
"options": [
"tell you how to gain more control over your life",
"give you a better understanding of yourself",
"show you how to take an active role in planning ... | Career building is an ongoing activity. Planning and goal setting are part of career building, but so is adjusting and taking advantage of things that happen in an unplanned way. Our dreams and desires, as well as the opportunities open to us, are changing all the time. Sometimes, they can change dramatically over a short period of time.
Dealing with change often requires taking your career in a different direction. Therefore, most people's career paths wind up looking more like a forest path or the course of a river than a straight flight path from point A to Point B. Career paths tend to _ . Just as a river must take an indirect path to get round hills and other obstacles , we often have to do a little meandering to get round barries. We also meander simply to explore various career posibilities.
This doesn't mean that you should wander aimlessly for the rest of your life! It doesn't mean that, although career building gives you an overall sense of direction, it is responsible to expect that you'll have to take some meandering along the way.
Career building involves maneuvering as well as meandering. To maneuver is to be focused and strategic , to decide what you want and how you are going to get there. Believe it or not, you can maneuver and meander at the same time. In fact, you have probably already done so. For example, if you have ever sent in an application form for an education program or job before you are really sure you want your application to be accepted, you have taken action on a plan while you are still exploring other posibilities. In other words, you are maneuvering and meandering at the same time. | high17028.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "chicken, apples, cereal, cabbages"
},
"options": [
"chicken, apples, cereal, cabbages",
"potatoes, carrots, rice, bread",
"oranges, bananas, fish, tomatoes",
"beef, pork, fish, milk"
],
"question": "According to... | Paragraph 1
Scientists have learned a lot about the kinds of food people need. They say that there are several kinds of food that people should eat every day. They are: (1) green and yellow vegetables of all kinds. (2) citrus fruits and tomatoes; (3) potatoes and other fruits and vegetables; (4) meat of all kinds, fish and eggs; (5) milk and foods made from milk; (6) bread or cereal , rice is also in this kind of food; (7) butter, or something like butter.
Paragraph 2
People in different countries and different places of the world eat different kinds of things. Foods are cooked and eaten in many different kinds of ways. People in different countries eat at different times of the day. In some places people eat once or twice a day; in other countries people eat three or four times a day. Scientists say that none of the differences is really important. It doesn't matter whether foods are eaten raw or cooked, canned or frozen. It doesn't matter if a person eats dinner at 4 o'clock in the afternoon or at eleven o'clock at night. The important thing is what you eat every day.
Paragraph 3
There are two problems, then, in feeding the large number of people on earth. The first is to find some ways to feed the world's population so that no one is hungry.
The second is to make sure that people everywhere have the right kinds of food to make them grow to be strong and healthy. | high2200.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the history and culture of Washington"
},
"options": [
"Washington",
"the history of Washington",
"buildings and sights in Washington",
"the history and culture of Washington"
],
"question": "The writer mainly t... | Washington D.C.is the capital of the United States. It's the center of the national government. It's a busy,working city with a large population. But what is more,Washington is also a city of history and culture.
Washington was created in 1790,when Congress decided to place the nation's new capital in the east of the country. It was built halfway between the northern and the southern states of the America. And of course it was named after George Washington,the first President of the United States.
There are many tourist sights in Washington. One of them is the White House. This is the home and office of the President of the United States. Most visitors are,however,surprised by how small the White House actually is.
Washington is also a great culture city. The Library of Congress contains one of the largest library collections in the world. The Smithsonian Museum holds the nation's largest collection of cultural materials. And John F.Kennedy Center is a famous center of art and culture. It has many great musical and theatre performances throughout the year. | high10747.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "e-waste is sent to developing countries under the excuse of reuse"
},
"options": [
"developing countries are facing serious environmental problems",
"e-waste is sent to developing countries under the excuse of reuse",
"develo... | Reduce, reuse, and recycle. This familiar environmentalist slogan tells us how to reduce the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfills and waterways. The concept is being used to deal with one possibly dangerous form of waste -- electronic junk , such as old computers, cell phones, and televisions. But this process for managing e-waste may be used in an
way more often than not used, a recent report suggests.
"A lot of these materials are being sent to developing nations under the excuse of reuse -- to bridge the digital divide," said Richard Gutierrez, a policy researcher.
One of the problems is that no one proves whether these old machines work before they hit the seaways. Because of this, the report says, e-waste is a growing problem in Lagos, Nigeria, and elsewhere in the developing world. Much of the waste ends up being thrown away along rivers and roads. Often it's picked apart by poor people, who may face dangerous exposure to poisonous chemicals in the equipment.
Businessmen also pay workers a little money to get back materials such as gold and copper. This low-tech recovery process could expose workers and the local environment to many dangerous materials used to build electronics. According to Gutierrez, this shadow economy exists because the excuse of recycling and reusing electronics gives businessmen "a green passport" to ship waste around the globe. "Developing nations must take upon some of the responsibility themselves," Gutierrez said. But, he added, "A greater portion of this responsibility should fall on the exporting state."
China, for example, has become a dumping place for large amounts of e-waste. The nation is beginning to take action to stop the flow of dangerous materials across its borders. The Chinese government, after many years of denial is finally beginning to take the lead. | high16336.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "National Museum of Natural History"
},
"options": [
"United States Capitol",
"Jefferson Memorial",
"International Spy Museum",
"National Museum of Natural History"
],
"question": "Which admission is free?",
... | #United States Capitol
It serves as the seat of government for the US Congress. It is located in Washington, D. C., on top of Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall. Officially, both the east and west sides of the Capitol are referred to as "fronts". Historically, however, the east front was initially the side of the building intended for the arrival of visitors and famous guests.
Phone: (202) 225-6827
Official website: www.aoc.gov
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
#International Spy Museum
It is a privately owned museum dedicated to the field of espionage located in Washington. D. C., The museum was built by The Malrite Company at a cost of US $ 40 million. Despite being one of the few museums in Washington that charges admission fees, it has been popular since its opening in July 2002.
Phone: (202) 393-7798
Official website: www.spymuseum.org
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
#National Museum of Natural History
It is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year. The museum's collections total over 125 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites ,and human cultural artifacts, making it the largest such museum anywhere. It is the second most popular of all of the Smithsonian museums and is also home to about 185 professional natural history scientists--the largest group of scientists dedicated to the study of the natural and cultural history in the world.
Phone: (202) 633-1000
Official website: www.mnh.si.edu
#Jefferson Memorial
It is a presidential memorial in Washington, D. C., dedicated to Thomas Jefferson, an American Founding Father and the third president of the United States. The neoclassical building was designed by John Russell Pope. It was built by Philadelphia contractor John Mc. Shain. Construction began in 1939, the building was completed in 1942, and the bronze statue of Jefferson was added in 1947. When completed, the memorial occupied one of the last significant sites left in the city.
Phone: (202) 426-6821
Official website: www.mps.gov/thje | high4671.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Happy"
},
"options": [
"Surprised",
"Happy",
"Shy",
"Excited"
],
"question": "When a friend kissed the writer that day , how did the writer feel?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer":... | I saw a friend one day that I hadn't seen for quite a while. I greeted him with a hug and a big smile. He kissed me on the cheek in a very gentle way. Somehow this friendly kiss really made my day . I thought about his gentle kiss and appreciated the love. It's just a nice gift.
Yesterday, I was on the telephone with my brother, and we spoke about our dad. He told me that one day, my dad was real sad. My brother had kissed his small child in front of my dad. Then with a tear in his eye, my daddy said to him, "I wished I had more often kissed you all." My brother told him that it wasn't too late, and that he could start that day. Now my dad greets each of us with a kiss and we know what he's trying to say.
One day, sitting with my 82-year-old dad, I noticed that he seemed to be a little bit in upset. The words he shared with me indicated that he was in a spiritual trouble, so I got up, kissed him on the cheek and hugged him from behind. I said Dad, 'you are good.' And he agreed that he was blessed ( ). He has a wonderful family given by God. As I looked into his eyes, I noticed that they began to be filled with tears of love and joy.
That evening I grabbed my mom one day when my mom was busy in her usual way, I stopped her for a while, kissed her on the cheek and said "Mom thank you for everything, " and she said "Oh, it's okay". She seemed to pull me back towards her as I pulled away. Thank you for that show of love is what she seemed to say.
They are some people that I wish I would have kissed more, like my grandma in heaven that I can not hug anymore. So show your love, for gentle moments won't come once they have gone | high19005.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Amy Chun's experience in parenting"
},
"options": [
"how to teach children to learn music",
"how to change the ways of parenting",
"Amy Chun's experience in parenting",
"Amy Chun's reflection of her family life"
],
... | Some American parents might think their children need better education to compete with China and other countries' children. But how much do the parents themselves need to change?
A new book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother written by Amy Chua has caused a debate about cultural differences in parenting. Ms. Chua is a professor at the Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut, and a mother of two daughters. She was raised in America by immigrant Chinese parents. In her book, Ms. Chua wrote about how she demanded excellence from her daughters. For example, she threatened to burn her daughter's dolls unless she played a piece of music perfectly. She would scold her daughters if they failed to meet her expectations.
Ms. Chua had a clear list of what her daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were not permitted to do: "Attend a sleepover, have a play date, watch TV or play computer games, be in a school play, get any grade less than an A." Many people criticize Amy Chua, saying her parenting methods were cruel and violent. She even admits that her husband, who is not Chinese, sometimes objected to her parenting style. But she says that is the way her parents raised her and her three sisters.
Ms. Chua says she eased some of the pressure after her younger daughter _ and shouted "I hate my life! I hate you!" But she also says American parents often have low expectations of their children's abilities. Amy Chua thinks one of the biggest differences between Western and Chinese parents is that Chinese parents take on strength rather than fragility."
Stacy DeBroff, who has written four books on parenting, says: "Parents should rethink, what does it mean to be a successful parent and what does it mean to be a successful child?" She says Amy Chua's parenting style is not limited to Chinese families. It represents a traditional way of parenting among immigrants seeking a better future for their children. But she also sees a risk. When children have no time to be social or to follow their own interests, they might not develop other skills that they need to succeed in life. Stacey DeBroff advises parents to develop their own style of parenting and not just repeat the way they were raised. | high1709.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "He felt guilty in his mind for not helping the old man out"
},
"options": [
"He was regretful that didn't give the old man any money.",
"He was exhausted while he was working at his office.",
"He felt guilty in his mind for n... | While going to the office, I found an old man lying by the side of the bus stop.He seemed very sick and poor.Instinctively.I gave him some money.After a few minutes, I realized that he was probably too sick to get up and buy something with that money.I was thinking about how to help him when my bus arrived, halting my brainstorm.I quickly got on and rode off.
However, that night I couldn't sleep.I felt very angry at my own heartless and selfish behavior.How could I just walk away from that man without a thought for his suffering? I felt restless and very upset. The next morning, while waiting at the bus stop, I hoped to run into him again.But he wasn't there.I thought he may have gone to the sidewalk to sleep for the night.I looked around for him, but he had disappeared.Disappointed, I decided to check for him again on my way back.
While returning from work that day, I came back to the bus stop and resumed my search for him. Thankfully, he was there.I quickly went to a nearby store and got him a blanket, some bread, and biscuits. When I handed them to him, he seemed very grateful."Now I will be safe from the cold," he smiled. I also gave him some more money and told him to keep it safely.After being able to help him, I felt very at peace. | high6066.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "To set up a permanent space station."
},
"options": [
"To improve its launching ability.",
"To show off its space progress.",
"To set up a permanent space station.",
"To replace the space lab Tiankong-2."
],
"qu... | BEIJING -- The launch of a new manned space mission brings China closer to the establishment of a permanent space station, international experts say.
Chinese taikonauts, Jing Haipeng, 50, and Chen Dong, 37, were _ into space onboard Shenzhou-11 at 7:30 am Monday and will spend 30 days in the Chinese space laboratory Tiangong-2.The launch marks a key step toward China's plan to eventually operate a permanent space station. The successful launch of the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft is another step forward to put China among leading players in space technology, said Alexander Zheleznyakov, a Russian expert on history of space flights. China's experimental space lab will help provide solutions for spacecraft of different functions to approach and anchor, and for a long-term operation of life support system, said Zheleznyakov. Shenzhou-11 is scheduled to anchor on Wednesday with Tiangong-2, which is part of China's plan to build a permanent space station by 2022.
China can now test technologies for cargo spacecraft anchoring, life support system operation and water recycling to ensure a long-term continuous operation of its space station in the future with less dependence on renewal from the Earth, he said. If all goes well, China will launch the unpiloted Tianzhou-1 cargo ship next spring to autonomously tie up with Tiangong-2. Tianzhou-1 will be capable of automatically transferring rocket fuels, a vital requirement for space station grouping and maintenance, according to a report by Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS).
"That will further their anchoring abilities needed for the larger space station," Johnson Freese was quoted." Tiangong-2 is supposed to be able to stay in orbit for two years or longer, so that's taking them (Chinese) really close to 2019 or so. I think this will be their last big technology test phase before going to their large space station," said Freese. | high14521.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because the successful characters in the books she read were attractive."
},
"options": [
"Because she wanted to be one of the characters in the book.",
"Because she wanted to get higher scores in the job interviews.",
"Becau... | I once thought that outer beauty is the only factor to become a great person.When I was young,I read many kinds of books,most of which described characters who are handsome or beautiful. So I think that being beautiful is the only way to become a success.
As I grew up,the story of my best friend made me realize that outer beauty was not so important to make a person successful.She as so beautiful a girl that every classmate liked to chat with her,but she was very arrogant.In her opinion,she could get all she wanted because of her beauty, but all of her friends left her one by one! Only then did she come to know the importance of the beauty in a person's heart,which changed her attitude and she made friends again.
Turning on TV,we can see many advertisements,most of which seem to give us a feeling that,physical attractiveness is the most important thing.T _ .It is surprising that more and more people,especially girls and women, try it like the first man-made beauty in China, Hao Lulu.It is a common sense that attractive people can easily find work.Most good looking guys,usually get higher scores in the job interviews. But, what is real beauty? I want to say that is inner beauty because those who have beauty in their soul are really beautiful persons.
As is known, the beauty judged with eyes is temporary,so we should concentrate on inner beauty. And if we make the efforts to make our minds beautiful,we'll live a happier life. | high22087.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "By looking purposefully at him."
},
"options": [
"By talking to him directly.",
"By pointing angrily at him.",
"By looking purposefully at him.",
"By making fun of him continuously."
],
"question": "How will you... | (Q =" Question;" A = Answer)
Situation I
Q: If someone sits right next to me in an empty movie theater, is it rude to move?
A: Maybe, but nobody will fault you for it. Chances are that the close sitter doesn't realize he disturbs you, so he may miss your annoyance. You undoubtedly aren't the first person he's met who needs enough room. Forgive his bad judgment, move quietly and enjoy the show.
Situation II
Q: If I use the bathroom at a store, do I need to buy something?
A: Consider frequency and urgency. Is this a one-time thing or an emergency? If so, you don't have to buy anything, but it would be kind if you did. However, if you regularly use the bathroom at this place, then you are a customer, and you should act like one.
Situation III
Q: If someone is talking loudly on the bus, is there a nice way to ask him to keep it down?
A: No. Try other means: 1) Stare at him until he gets aware of it and quiets down. 2) Lift your finger in a silence motion and smile. 3) Put on earphones and ignore him.
Situation IV
Q: If I remember my friend's birthday a day late, should I apologize or just wish her a happy birthday like nothing happened?
A: This is the reason why the word _ was invented. "Happy belated birthday!" is short for: "Well, I know I forgot, but then I remembered. Forgive me and happy birthday."
Situation V
Q: Can I lie about seeing a text because I was loo busy or lazy to respond to it?
A: Don't lie. Receiving a text does not mean you need to respond to it. Why waste a perfectly good lie when the truth will serve? "Yes," you can say if ever asked, "I saw it." No explanation is needed as to why you don't respond. | high12144.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "they are suffering from the effects of stress"
},
"options": [
"they are working harder than they used to",
"they are often too busy to find the time",
"they are not clear of how to relax by themselves",
"they are suffe... | How often do you sit still and do absolutely nothing.The usual answer these days is"never".or"hardly ever".As the pace of life continues to increase,we are fast losing the art of relaxation.Once you are in the habit of rushing through life,being on the go from morning till night,it is hard to slow down.But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body.
Stress is fl natural part of everyday life.There is no way to avoid it, since it takes many and varied forms-driving in traffic,problems with personal relationships are all different forms of stress. _ .A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life.It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to poor performance and ill health.
The amount of stress a person can withstand depends very much on the individual.Some people are not afraid of stress,and such characters are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities.Others lose heart at the first sight of unusual difficulties.When exposed to stress,in whatever form,we react both chemically and physically.In fact we make a choice between "fight" or "fright" and in more primitive days the choice made the difference between life and death.The crisis we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme,but however little the stress,it involves the same response.All the energy is shifted to cope with the stress.It is when such a reaction lasts long,through continued exposure to stress,that health becomes endangered.Such serious conditions as high blood pressure and heart disease have established links with stress.
Stress in some people produces stomach disorders,while others experience tension headaches.Since we cannot remove stress from our 1ires,We need to find ways to cope with it. | high289.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "take naps to add to their regular sleep"
},
"options": [
"do not have regular sleep",
"have occasional sleep as well as naps every day",
"take naps to add to their regular sleep",
"take naps when they are not happy"
... | Cats are creatures of habit. They like to go to sleep about the same time every day and for a certain length of time. They seem to have a natural clock inside them that tells them when to sleep. Cats increase their regular sleep with occasional cat naps . Some experts feel that humans could also benefit from this habit. Cat naps help to build up energy in the body. They are also a good way to get rid of trouble! Since cats have the same moods as humans, some experts believe that people can improve their moods. People might become happier.
A number of famous people have copied cats by taking cat naps during the day. The naps would usually last from 15 to 30 minutes. Winston Churchill took cat naps. So did Presidents Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson. These famous men were known for their energy. They were also able to work long hours, often into the night. Napping was their secret. | high23399.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "rent a bike"
},
"options": [
"buy a bike",
"borrow a bike",
"steal a bike",
"rent a bike"
],
"question": "If you are traveling in Beijing you'd better _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
... | Traveling by bicycle is a very popular means of transportation throughout China. China has a huge population, and it is said that there is at least one bicycle for every two people within the country. Of course, many people in China ride bicycles purely for sport or exercise, but it's also a much more commonly accepted means of everyday transportation, as compared to countries such as the United States.
If you are living for a long period of time in China, chances are you will want to purchase your own bicycle so that you can use it whenever you want for transportation or just for the enjoyment of riding. Even if you don't use a bicycle for everyday transportation, owning one can be a great way of enjoying some of the trails in the rural areas, just for fun. However, if you are just visiting China, renting a bicycle can be a more convenient choice.
It is important to choose the correct bicycle for your use. You'll find that in China, the one-speed style of bicycle is extremely popular. These bicycles are great if you want to ride around in the city to see the sights. They are quite comfortable and easy to ride. You can often rent a bicycle for an entire day for around $15.
However, if you wish to ride on some of the rural paths, a mountain bike style would be a better choice. They are great for different kinds of road surfaces, providing for a safer ride. If you are planning to have a desire to tour and still be able to carry packages with you, then a touring bike would be the best choice. These are generally the most expensive to rent, but are extremely handy for carrying packages and even some of your luggage along with you. | high14535.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Love messages may appear in newspapers."
},
"options": [
"Gifts are a must for the holiday.",
"Girls send cards with their names.",
"Lovers usually buy roses for each other.",
"Love messages may appear in newspapers."
... | Valentine's Day is named for Saint Valentine, an early Christian churchman who reportedly helped young lovers.Valentine was killed for his Christian beliefs on February 14 more than 1,700 years ago, but the day that has his name is even earlier than that.
More than 2,000 years ago, the ancient Romans celebrated a holiday for lovers.As part of the celebration, girls wrote their names on pieces of paper and put them in a large container.Boys reached into the container and pulled one out.The girl whose name was written on the paper became his lover or sweet heart for a year.
Lovers still put their names on pieces of paper and they send each other Valentine' s Day cards that tell of their love.Sometimes they also send gifts, like flowers or chocolate candy.Americans usually send these gifts and cards through the mail system.But some used another way to send this message.They have it printed in a newspaper.The cost is usually a few dollars.Some of the messages are simple and short, "Jane, I love you very much." Others say more.This one, for example, "Don, roses are red.Violets are blue.I hope you love me as much as I love you.Forever, Mary."
Most of the newspapers that print such messages are local, but USA Today is sold throughout the United States and 90 other countries as well.This means someone can send a Valentine message to a lover in a far-away city or town almost anywhere in the world.These messages cost 80 dollars and more.An employee of USA Today says readers can have a small heart or rose printed along with their messages this year.Will this kind of Valentine' s Day message reach the one you love?
Well, just make sure he or she reads the newspaper. | high20690.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Anne was adopted by Matthew and Marilla."
},
"options": [
"To be a teacher was one of Annes' dreams.",
"Both Anne and Diana studied hard for the special examination.",
"Matthew and Marilla were Anne's parents.",
"Anne w... | One day Marilla said, "Anne, your new teacher, Miss Stacy, spoke to me yesterday. She says you must study for the examinations for Queen's College in two years' time. Then if you do well, you can study at Queen's in Charlottetown for a year, and after that you'll be a teacher!"
"That doesn't matter, Anne. When Matthew and I adopted you three years ago, we decided to look after you as well as we could. Of course we'll pay for you to study."So in the afternoons Anne and some of her friends stayed late at school, and Miss Stacy helped them with the special examination work. Diana didn't want to go to Queen's, so she went home early, but Gilbert stayed. He and Anne still never spoke and everybody knew that they were enemies, because they both wanted to be first in the examination. Secretly, Anne was sorry that she and Gilbert weren't friends, but it was too late now.
For two years, Anne studied hard at school. She enjoyed learning, and Miss Stacy was pleased with her. But she didn't study all the time. In the evenings and at weekends she visited her friends, or walked through the fields with Diana, or sat talking to Matthew.
"Your Anne is a big girl now. She's taller than you," Rachel Lynde told Marilla one day.
"You're right, Rachel!" said Marilla in surprise.
"And she's a very good girl now, isn't she? She doesn't get into trouble these days. I'm sure she helps you a lot with the housework, Marilla."
"Yes, I don't know what I'd do without her," said Marilla, smiling.
"And look at her! Those beautiful grey eyes, and that red-brown hair! You know, Marilla, I thought you and Matthew made a mistake when you adopted her. But now I see I was wrong. You've looked after her very well."
"Well, thank you, Rachel," replied Marilla, pleased.
That evening, when Matthew came into the kitchen, he saw that his sister was crying.
"What's the matter?" he asked, surprised. "You haven't cried since... well, I can't remember when."
"It's just... well, I was thinking about Anne," said Marilla. "I'll...I'll miss her when she goes away."
"When she goes to Queen's, you mean? Yes, but she can come home at weekends, on the train."
"I'll still miss her," said Marilla sadly."
In June the Avonlea boys and girls had to go to Charlottetown to take their examinations.
"Oh, I do hope that I've done well," Anne told Diana when she arrived back at Green Gables. "The examinations were very difficult. And I've got to wait for three weeks before I know! Three weeks! I'll die!"
Anne wanted to do better than Gilbert. But she also wanted to do well for Matthew and Marilla. That was very important to her.
Diana was the first to hear the news, she ran into the kitchen at Green Gables and shouted, "Look, Anne! It's in Father's newspaper! You're first... with Gilbert... out of all the students on the island! Oh, how wonderful!" Anne took the paper with shaking hands, and saw her name, at the top of the list of two hundred. She could not speak.
"Well, now, I knew it," said Matthew with a warm smile.
"You've done well, I must say, Anne," said Marilla, who was secretly very pleased.
For the next three weeks Anne and Marilla were very busy. Anne needs new dresses to take to Charlottetown. | high2214.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "It caused the largest number of casualties ."
},
"options": [
"It was attacked by Russian torpedoes .",
"Most of its passengers were frozen to death .",
"Its victims were mostly women and children .",
"It caused the lar... | It's the worst event in human being's nautical history , six times more deadly than the Titanic . When the German cruise ship Wilhelm Gustloff was hit by torpedoes fired from a Russian submarine in the final winter of World War II , more than 10,000 people - mostly women , children and old people fleeing the final Red Army push into Nazi Germany - were packed aboard .
An ice storm had turned the decks into frozen sheets that sent hundreds of families sliding into the sea as the ship tilted and began to go down . Others desperately tried to put lifeboats down . Some who succeeded fought off those in the water who had the strength to try to claw their way aboard . Most people froze immediately . " I'll never forget the screams , " says Christa Ntitzmann , 87 , one of the 1,200 survivors . She recalls watching the ship , brightly lit , slipping into its dark grave-and into seeming nothingness , rarely mentioned for more than half a century .
Now Germany's Nobel Prize-winning author Gtinter Grass has revived the memory of the 9,000 dead , including more than 4,000 children-with his latest novel Crab Walk , published last month . The book ,which will be out in English next year , doesn't dwell on the sinking : its heroine is a pregnant young woman who survives the catastrophe only to say later : " Nobody wanted to hear about it , not here in the West ( of Germany ) and not at all in the East . "
The reason was obvious . As Grass put in a recent interview with the weekly Die Woche : " Because the crimes we Germans are responsible for were and are so dominant , we didn't have the energy left to tell of our own sufferings . " The long silence about the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff was probably unavoidable - and necessary .
By unreservedly owning up to their country's monstrous crimes in the Second World War , Germans have managed to win acceptance abroad , _ the neo-Nazis at home and make peace with their neighbors .
Today's unified Germany is more prosperous and stable than at any time in its long , troubled history . For that , a half century of willful forgetting about painful memories like the German Titanic was perhaps a reasonable price to pay . But even the most politically correct Germans believe that they've now earned the right to discuss the full historical record . Not to equate German suffering with that of its victims , but simply to acknowledge a terrible tragedy . | high10753.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "They offered low quality food."
},
"options": [
". They refused to have volunteers.",
"They offered low quality food.",
"They provided customers with a good environment.",
"They closed down because of poor managem... | Inside the pleasingly fragrant cafe, So All May Eat(SAME) in downtown Denver ,the spirit of generosity is instantly noticeable :A donation box stands in place of a cash register. Customers here pay only what they can afford, no questions asked. A risky business plan, perhaps, but SAME Cafe has done one unchangeable thing in the Mile High City for six years: Open only at midday, the restaurant provides poor local can instead volunteer as waiters and waitresses, and dishwashers, or took after the buildings and equipment for the cafe.
"It's based on trust, and it's working all right" , says co-owner Brad Birky , who started the cafe in 2006. With his wife Libby. Previously volunteering at soup kitchens, the Birkys were dissatisfied with the often unhealthy meals they served there. "We wanted to offer quality food in a restaurant where everyone felt comfortable ,regardless of their circumstances," Birky says. SAME's special lunch menu changes daily and most food materials are natural and grown by local farmers. The cafe now averages 65 to 70 customers (and eight volunteers) a day. And the spirit of generosity behind the project appears to be spreading. In early 2007,one volunteer who had cleared snow for his meals during the long winter said goodbye to the Birkys," He said he was going to New Orleans to help with the hurricane clear up," says Birky. 68.What can we learn about the soup kitchens the Birkys previously worked for? | high20848.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "6"
},
"options": [
"4",
"5",
"6",
"7"
],
"question": "Altogether how many astronauts have made successful spaceflight by Shenzhou spaceship by now?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer... | Looking back on China's road to outer space, people can easily find it has not been very smooth. In the past years, Chinese people have made hard and determined efforts to realize the dream their ancestors had for thousands of years.
After China's first satellite into the Earth's orbit in 1970 came four flights of unmanned Shenzhou missions from 1999 to 2002. The country carried out its first one-piloted space flight in October, 2003, making China the third country in the world to have independent human spaceflight ability after the Soviet Union and the United States. Then came another breakthrough on October 12, 2005, when Shenzhou 6, China's second human spaceflight, was launched, with a crew of two astronauts. What's more, the landmark spacewalk done by Zhai Zhigang, one of the three boarding Shenzhou 7, launched on Sept. 25, 2008, leads the country further in its space exploration.
Meanwhile, China's moon exploration project, started in 2004, has also been progressing satisfactorily. Fifty years after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world's first man-made satellite, China's first circumlunar satellite Chang'e 1 took off on Oct.24, 2007, which became another milestone in China's space achievements after the above-mentioned manned flights. Chang'e 1 was expected to fulfill four scientific goals, one of which was to probe mineral elements on the moon, especially those not existent on Earth. It's said that the lunar regolith is abundant in helium-3, a clean fuel that may support the Earth's energy demands for more than a century. Nearly 3 years later, Oct. 1, 2010 witnessed the blasting off of Chang'e 2, China's 2nd unmanned lunar probe, marking another step forward in moon exploration. This time the aim is to test the key techniques of Chang'e 3 and Chang'e 4, as a preparation for a soft lunar landing in the future.
With great expectations, people all over the world are looking forward to China's greater space achievements. | high4665.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Because they lacked confidence of making a difference in the world"
},
"options": [
"Because they were scolded by their teachers",
"Because they lacked confidence of making a difference in the world",
"Because they didn't hav... | Today, as I was relaxing at the beach, I couldn't help but eavesdrop(,) on a conversation four high school kids were having on the beach blanket next to me. Their conversation was about making a positive difference in the world. And it went something like this...
"It's impossible to make a difference unless you're a huge company or someone with lots of money and power," one of them said.
"Yeah man," another replied. "My mom keeps telling me to move mountains - to speak up and stand up for what I believe. But what I say and do doesn't even get noticed. I just keep answering to 'the man' and then I get slapped back in place by him when I step out of line."
"Repression..." another snickered.
I smiled because I knew exactly how they felt. When I was their age, I was certain I was being repressed and couldn't possibly make a difference in this world. And I actually almost got fired from school once because I openly expressed how repressed I felt in the middle of the principals' office.
I Have A Dream.
Suddenly, one of the kids noticed me eavesdropping and smiling. He sat up, looked at me and said, "What? Do you disagree?" Then as he waited for a response, the other three kids turned around too.
Rather than arguing with them, I took an old receipt out of my wallet , tore it into four pieces, and wrote a different word on each piece. Then I crumbled the pieces into little paper balls and handed a different piece to each one of them.
"Look at the word on the paper I just gave you and don't show it to anyone else." The kids looked at the single word I had handed each of them and appeared confused. "You have two choices," I told them. "If your word inspired you to make a difference in this world, then hold onto it. If not, give it back to me so I can recycle the paper." They all returned their words.
I walked over quickly , sat down on the sand next to their beach blanket and laid out the four words that the students had returned to me so that the words combined to form the simple sentence, "I have a dream."
"Dude, that's Martin Luther King Jr.," one of the kids said.
"How did you know that?" I asked.
"Everyone knows Martin Luther King Jr." the kid snarled. "He has his own national holiday, and we all had to memorize his speech in school a few years ago."
"Why do you think your teachers had you memorize his speech?" I asked.
"I don't really care!" the kid replied. His three friends shook their heads in agreement. "What does this have to do with us and our situation?"
"Your teachers asked you to memorize those words, just like thousands of teachers around the world have asked students to memorize those words, because they have inspired millions of repressed people to dream of a better world and take action to make their dreams come true. Do you see where I'm going with this?"
"Man, I know exactly what you're trying to do and it's not going to work, alright?" the fourth kid said, who hadn't spoken a word until now. "We're not going to get all inspired and emotional about something some dude said thirty years ago. Our world is different now. And it's more screwed up than any us can even begin to imagine, and there's little you or I can do about it. We're too small, we're nobody."
Together
I smiled again because I once believed and used to say similar things. Then after holding the smile for a few seconds I said, "On their own, 'I' or 'have' or 'a' or 'dream' are just words. Not very compelling or inspiring. But when you put them together in a certain order, they create a phrase that has been powerful enough to move millions of people to take action - action that changed laws, perceptions, and lives. You don't need to be inspired or emotional to agree with this, do you?"
The four kids shrugged and struggled to appear totally indifferent, but I could tell they were listening intently. "And what's true for words is also true for people," I continued. "One person without help from anyone else can't do much to make a big difference in this crazy world - or to overcome all of the various forms of repression that exist today. But when people get together and unite to form something more powerful and meaningful then themselves, the possibilities are endless. | high16444.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Sports."
},
"options": [
"Sports.",
"Watching TV.",
"Sleeping.",
"Singing and dancing."
],
"question": "Which is the most popular form of recreation according to this text?",
"question_type": "factiod_questi... | In the world today, all of the people need recreation . We cannot work all the time if we are going to keep healthy and enjoy life.
Everyone has his own way of relaxing. Perhaps the most popular form is to take part in sports. There are team sports, such as basketball and football; There are also individual sports, such as swimming and running. Skating and mountain climbing are the most popular recreation for people who like to be outdoor.
Not everyone who enjoys sports likes to take part in them. Many people like watching them on TV or listening to them on the radio. So many people like some forms of indoor recreation, such as watching TV, singing and dancing.
It doesn't matter whether we like indoor recreation or take part in outdoor sports. It is important for everyone to relax from time to time, and enjoy some forms of recreation. | high19777.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "they may appear to be well-behaved"
},
"options": [
"they may lose interest in their work",
"they may appear to be well-behaved",
"they may change to another person",
"the results will be worse than usual"
],
"q... | For many years there's been a debate about rewarding our children. Does it work? Is it effective?
Some people think we should establish a standard with our kids and give them something for meeting this standard as a reward. Punishment is given out in much the same way, but it's used when certain standards of performance, behavior, etc. have not been met. Kids will often become more dutiful when threatened with punishment, and work harder when promised a valuable reward. The problem is what happens when you aren't around.
To develop responsible, self-disciplined kids, parents need to promote certain ideas. One of these ideas is that everyone pitches in and helps in your family, even if someone is not crazy about helping. Another idea is that there can be enjoyment in doing any task if we choose to make it so. When a task is for a worthy cause (our family can enjoy the house more because I have helped clean it), and when parents are cheerful about their chores, this message can have a big impact.
This is how we help our kids develop a sense of responsibility. When our children develop this responsibility, they'll be more disciplined, and they'll control their emotions better. When we give rewards to our kids, we reduce the sense of responsibility. We also create children who may temporarily perform to a certain standard, but who aren't likely to continue the performance without the carrot hanging in front of them.
"Rewards and punishment can change behavior for a while, but they cannot change the person who engages in the behavior, at least in the way we want," said Alfie Kohn, author of Punished by Rewards. "Good values have to be grown from the inside out." Parents can help give their children a sense of shared responsibility and discipline which can last a lifetime. The real rewards that your children receive will be their readiness for the complex and demanding world that waits for them-- a world that rewards those who have learned the secrets of discipline and responsibility. So keep those shiny rewarding to yourself, and _ . | high17982.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "they want to take refuge on December 21,2012"
},
"options": [
"they want to take refuge on December 21,2012",
"they want to meet aliens with spaceships to save humans",
"they want to visit the scenery of the mountain",
... | FRANCE has destroyed the hopes of those who had planned to take refuge in one of the few places on Earth which some believe will be spared when the world ends on December 21 .Local officials banned access to the Pic de Bugarach,a mountain in the southwest where rumor has it that the hilltop will open on the last day and aliens will appear with spaceships to save nearby humans.
Eric Freysselinard,the state's top representative in the area,said he was blocking access to the mountain for public safety reasons to avoid a rush of New Age fanatics ,sight-seers and media crews. Believers say the world will end on December 21,2012,the end date of the ancient Mayan calendar,and they see Bugarach as one of a few sacred mountains sheltered from the cataclysm .
Mr Freysselinard said the 100 police and firefighters will also control approaches to the tiny village of the same name at the foot of the mountain,and if too many people turn up,they will block access there too."We are expecting a few people who believe in this end of the world,but in extremely limited numbers," he said in the. nearby city of Carcassonne."We are expecting greater numbers of people who are just curious,but in numbers we cannot determine. Above all,we are expecting lots of journalists,"he said.
Films,documentaries and websites have promoted the idea that the ancient Mayan calendar predicts that doomsday is on December 21.The culture ministry in Guatemala-where half the population are of Mayan descent-is hosting a massive event in the capital just in case the world actually does end,while tour groups are promoting doomsday-themed getaways. | high2572.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "He is on his country's national debating team."
},
"options": [
"He started debating at the age of ten.",
"He is on his country's national debating team.",
"He argues only on the topics that he believes in.",
"He is uns... | Speak confidently and think logically. Year 13 schoolboy Arunabh Prakash can't agree more. Anmabh is one of the five students that will represent New Zealand at the 26th World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) to be held in Thailand from August 5 to l5 this year.
"You've got to be persuasive, regardless of the fact that you believe in a topic or not," says the 17-year-old.
"There are a lot of speakers who are eloquent but find it difficult to think logically and then there are those who have a good argument but can't deliver."
Endurance is another quality he says one must have in the heated arena of expressing opinions and ideas.
"There are times when you have to debate for five hours at a go and are completely exhausted. It's quite intense. You must have the energy to debate for long hours," says Arunabh, who began debating in year 10.
The WSDC is a debating competition in the world for high school students from different countries. It involves four prepared debates and four impromptu debates -- debates without specific preparations.
To gain selection for the national team for the global final, Arunabh had to compete with regional teams. Despite the mounting pressure, he says he was confident of winning.
"We didn't loose a debate in the first two days. And we had a very strong team. We were confident of our ability to win," he says. | high10035.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "it was an agreement with his brothers to keep up the family bond."
},
"options": [
"people were fond of drinking beers in this pub.",
"he missed his two brothers living abroad very much.",
"this would help him become a local ... | A man walked into a small Irish pub and ordered three beers. Bartender was surprised, but he served that man three beers. One hour later the man ordered three beers again. The very next day that man ordered three beers again and drank quietly at a table. This repeated several times and shortly after the people of the town were whispering about the man, who was ordering three beers at once.
A couple of weeks later, the bartender decided to clear this out and inquired: "I do not want to pry, but could you explain, why do you order three beers all the time?" The man replied: "It seems strange, isn't it? You see, my two brothers live abroad at the moment, one - in France and another - in Italy. We have made an agreement, that every time we go to pub each of us will order extra two beers and it will help keeping up the family bond ".
Soon all the town have heard about the man's answer and liked it a lot. The man became a local celebrity. Residents of the town were telling this story to newcomers or tourists and even invited them to that pub to look at Three Beer Man.
However, one day the man came to pub and ordered only two beers, not three as usual. The bartender served him with bad feeling. All that evening the man ordered and drank only two beers. The very next day all the town was talking about this news, some people pray for the soul of one of the brothers, others quietly grieve.
When the man came to pub the next time and ordered two beers again, the bartender asked him: "I would like to offer _ to you, due to the death of your dear brother". The man considered this for a moment and then replied: "Oh, you are probably surprised that I order only two beers now? Well, my two brothers are alive and well. It's just because of my decision. I promised myself to give up drinking." | high14253.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "a university in America"
},
"options": [
"one of the states in America",
"the name of a Web site",
"another name for \"Columbus, Ohio\"",
"a university in America"
],
"question": "According to this passage, \"O... | Earlier, we explained how to begin a search for schools by going to one of the American educational advising centers around the world. We also discussed the rules for entering in the prefix = st1 /United States. And we talked about programs that can be completed online.
But if your goal is to come to the United Statesto study, then it is time to make a list of colleges or universities that interest you. Be sure to choose more than one. Directors of foreign student admissions say students should apply to at least three schools.
Some students want to attend a small college. Others want to go to a big university. If a really big university appeals to you, then there are ones like _ State. That university in Columbus, Ohio, in the Midwest, has almost fifty - two thousand students. There are students this year from around one hundred fifty countries.
Ohio State provides international students with an application on its Web site. You can pay the application charge online with a credit card. Or you can print the forms and mail them with the payment.
Many colleges and universities have their applications and also their catalogs online.
You should start on your applications at least two years before you want to begin studies.
Completing a college application can take some time. But answering all the questions is not enough. Another important step is taking admissions tests. The SAT is the college entry test that American high school students most commonly take. Another one is the ACT.
Colleges and universities may also require international students to take the TOEFL - the Test of English as a Foreign Language.
If you have a general question for our Foreign Student Series, write, to special @ voanews. com. | high22939.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "The Country Bear Playhouse will be closed."
},
"options": [
"The Country Bear Playhouse will be closed.",
"There will be a new attraction for our guests at Disneyland.",
"The number of visitors to the Country Bear Playhouse i... | Allen: I've never been in big fan of the bears, especially the vacation show. On my last trip to Disneyland (1999) we passed it by, because we didn't want to spend the time on something we didn't really enjoy. If we'd known it would be closed by our next visit, I'm sure we would have watched it one more time. I was just making the point that it wasn't until Disney announced the closing that this feeling suddenly sprang up for the Country Bear Show at Disneyland. But I think the idea of keeping some attractions open forever regardless of the number of visitors it gets is a mistake. We all have great memories of the Bears, but clearly very few kids today (or I should say families today) are making those same memories from this show. That may be a sad fact, but it's a fact. Isn't it right to use the Country Bear space to bring in a more popular attraction so that more kids today can make those magic memories of an attraction they like? Otherwise aren't we just telling kids today that they "have to" make great memories of the Bears, when it's obvious that the kids themselves are not enjoying the Bears like we did?
Roger: I am very disappointed that they have decided to retire the Country Bear Playhouse. I remember going to the show as a child, and still enjoyed it as a teenager, and now young adult. It is true that there aren't a lot of shows left at DL and with this one closing even less. Being at DL does require a lot of walking, and it is nice to have a few attractions that are a place to sit and enjoy a good show. I understand that DL has to develop, but there has to be some history to the Disneyland that Walt Disney first designed. There should be some parts of DL that just never go away, and this is one of them. By the time I have children it looks like there won't be any attractions that I can say I went to as a child at the rate they are going.
Now the Bears are leaving, What I want to say is: stop trying to compete with everyone! DL is the best, because of attractions like the Country Bears. If DL insists on destroying all of its magic to make way for the latest, well, then it might as well be just another theme park. | high12622.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "dislike"
},
"options": [
"dislike",
"surprise",
"puzzle",
"interest"
],
"question": "What attitude did the children show to the doorman at first?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer":... | On the way to California, my family stopped for lunch. As we walked toward the entrance to the restaurant, a man with a dirty face jumped up from a chair, opened the door for us and greeted us in a friendly way.
Once inside, my daughters said in a low voice, "Mom, he smells." After we ordered our lunch, I explained, telling the kids to look beyond the dirt. Seeing this rudeness truly upset me, I wanted to set a good example to my children, but sometimes being a good example was difficult. When our meal arrived, I realized I had left the car-sick pills in the truck. With the windiest trip ahead, the kids needed them, so Iwent back to the car for them.
Just then, the "doorman" was opening the door for me, I said a loud "thank you" to him as I exited.
When I returned, we talked a bit. He said he was not allowed inside unless he bought food. I went back and told my family his situation. Then I asked our waitress to add one soup and sandwich. The kids looked puzzled, but when I said the order was for the "doorman", they smiled. When it was time to continue our trip, I noticed the "doorman" enjoying his meal. Upon seeing me, he stood up and thanked me heartily. He then lifted his hand for a handshake and I gratefully accepted. I suddenly noticed the tears in his eyes-tears of gratitude . What happened next drew great astonishment: I gave the "doorman" a hug.
Back in truck, I fell into deep thought. While we can't choose many things in life, we can choose when to show gratitude. I said thanks to a man who had simply helped open a door for me, and also said thanks for that opportunity to teach my children by example. | high8739.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "is unhappy with the life they are living"
},
"options": [
"is easy to get along with",
"is unhappy with the life they are living",
"is good at observing and understanding",
"is never pleased with her neighbors"
],
... | My husband and children think they are very lucky that they are living and that it's Christmas again. We live on a dirty street in a dirty house among people who aren't much good. But Johnny and children can't see this,never can they see! What a pity it is that our neighbors have to make happiness out of all this dirt. I decided that my children must get out of this. The money that we've saved isn't nearly enough.
The McGaritys have money but they are so proud. They look down upon the poor. The McGarity girl just yesterday stood out there in the street eating from a bag of candy while a ring of hungry children watched her. I saw those children looking at her and crying in their hearts; and when she couldn't eat any more she threw the rest down the sewer . Why, is it only because they have money? There is more to happiness than money in the world, isn't there?
Miss Jackson who teaches at the Settlement House isn't rich, but she knows things. She understands people. Her eyes look straight into yours when she talks with you. She can read your mind. I'd like to see the children be like Miss Jackson when they grow up. | high6927.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "it is time for our government to encourage people to use electric cars"
},
"options": [
"it is time for our government to encourage people to use electric cars",
"it can sell electric cars in large numbers now",
"consumers ar... | "Particulate Matter 2.5(PM2.5 for short)"is now ,it seems, officially an enemy of the people.The harmful,tiny pieces of matter,up to 2.5 microns in diameter, are too small to be seen by the naked eye.So they can be easily breathed into the lungs of people and do harm to people's health.With the issue of pollution so heatedly discussed,some people are wondering what possible solutions might be on the way. _ might very well be a renewed effort to kick-start the electric car industry.Some reports suggest that the use of bakery cars should be expanded from the present five cities to 20 more.
But so far no country in the world has succeeded in making the dream of emission.free driving a reality.Despite the lofty ideal,the electric car has so far been a disappointment, accounting for only a fraction of l%of global car sales.And the same is true in China.There is an existing target to put five million on the road by 2020 but the Chinese consumer is so far very much unconvinced.
BYD Auto Company in the southern city of Shenzhen is just one electric vehicle maker hoping that the time is now ripe for the government to step up its efforts.BYD is making electric cars but as yet not selling in great numbers.Electric cars are not cheap.It would still leave more than$40,000 to be paid before you could drive away in a BYD e6.And buyers have worries other than price.
"I think that when you talk to a regular Joe about electric vehicles he is excited, but when you ask Mr. Joe to buy one,he's nervous,"said Isbrand Ho from BYD's Auto Export Trade Division."We call that 'range anxiety'.How far will my vehicle go?" The answer for an e6 is well in excess of 300 kms(190 miles)on one charge.That is the sort of number that might just start looking attractive to less price-sensitive customers but China still doesn't have anything like enough charging stations to make the car a practical choice.
Last year, BYD sold only l,700 electric cars in China.Isbrand Ho tells me that at that volume the car is naturally expensive,due to the economy of scale.What they need, he says, is for production to get above a certain threshold(,),and then costs will come down. | high23414.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Relationships"
},
"options": [
"Relationships",
"Money",
"Challenges",
"Successful careers"
],
"question": "What brings career women more joy and happiness according to the passage?",
"question_type": null
... | Many independent Chinese women like to earn their own bread, even if their husbands are already bringing home the bacon. But a recent survey suggests that such women find more joy from relationships, rather than successful careers.
About 73 percent of the 7,000 women surveyed in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou said they would choose to work even if their husbands earned enough for the family. The survey also found that 77 percent define happiness as "enjoying a relationship".
But striking a balance between career and family can bring challenges to the woman's career advancement.
"In my company, women usually have an equal or even a higher starting salary than men," said Li Hua, general manager of Beijing Chuangjiashe Book Circulation Company. "However, as they begin to climb up the career ladder, women often meet problems along the way, while men can climb the ladder more easily."
Both physical and emotional differences can prevent some women from taking tough positions, Li said. But family life is often the main difficulty for Chinese career women.
Despite these challenges, however, some experts believe it's reasonable for some women to want to be breadwinners.
"In this way, the roles of a family are decided by the parents' abilities rather than their gender ," said Gu Donghui, a sociology professor at Fudan University.
Gu says women should have the freedom to decide if they want to stay at home or work to support the family. "Everyone has a different interpretation of what it means to find self-worth".
Wang Haibin, an economic expert from Renmin University shares that view: "Traditionally, we tend to regard the family as the cell unit of society. Some members have always been expected to make sacrifices for it. But, it really doesn't matter who earns more. Economic independence and personal choice is essential for both sexes in the family." | high12811.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Hollywood films"
},
"options": [
"Chinese female film stars",
"Chinese male film stars",
"Hollywood films",
"Film stars in Hong Kong"
],
"question": "In some American women's eyes, Chinese men's images are bad b... | Chinese female film stars, like Gong Li and Zhang Ziyi, due to the charm of their films, have set a good image for Chinese women in the world. Compared with Chinese women, the image of Chinese men is not so good in the eyes of Western women, the Shanghai Evening Post reported.
In March 2006, Zhang Jiehai, a doctorate holder at the Sociology Institute of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, led a research team to investigate how Western women look at Chinese men. The survey shows that many Western women think Chinese men are mostly known for their care for the family. Chinese men, as the Western women say, are willing to spend money for women. As to their shortcomings, Western women think that Chinese men do not have good manners and that some Chinese men have the habit of spitting everywhere, keeping nails and hair long, picking their noses and ears in public places, and not cleaning their teeth thoroughly. These bad habits make many Western women think that Chinese men are unwilling to take care of their personal image.
The survey was carried out in two ways, by questionnaires and interviews. All the respondents agreed that Chinese men show much tender loving care for the family and that many Chinese men do know how to respect women. They open the door for women and carry their handbags for them. For some American women, the bad image of Chinese men in the world is largely because of Hollywood films. In many Hollywood films, Chinese men usually do not have a good image. But this has been changed by Hong Kong film star Chow Yun-Fat. After the Chinese filmCrouching Tiger,Hidden Dragon was shown in cinemas in the United States in 2002, many Westerners began to change their impression of Chinese men. | high504.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "friends should share happiness as well as problems"
},
"options": [
"we must be careful when we choose our friends",
"friends should share happiness as well as problems",
"keeping long friendship is not easy",
"everyone... | One of the most important things in the world is friendship. In order to have friends, youhave to be a friend. You have to be with them in both good and bad times. In return, they will be there for you. But how can you be a good friend?
Listen. Listen when they are talking. Keep eye contact. Don't say anything unless they ask you a question. Sometimes you're not required to have anything to say; they just need someone to talk to about their feelings.
Help them. If your friends are ever in need of something, be there to help them. You should try to put them first, but make sure you don't become their slave . Try to take an extra pencil or pen with you to classes as they may forget to take one. Have a few extra dollars in your pocket in case they forget something they need.
Be there for them. Try to make something for your friends to help make them feel better in hard times. Making cards and baking things are among the nicest things you can do for a friend when they are in hard times. Marilyn Monroe once said, "I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, and I am out of control and at times hard to deal with. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you surely don't deserve me at my best. " Always remember this! If you don't want to deal with your friends when they'redepressed, then you don't deserve to be with them during those parties where you have a good time!
Try to make plans with your friends. Go shopping, go for an ice cream, have a party, go to a movie and so on. Make time to know each other even better by doing something you both enjoy. These are the things you'll remember once you're all long graduated when looking back on your life ! | high19944.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "designed"
},
"options": [
"built",
"be put",
"designed",
"cut down"
],
"question": "In the second sentence of the passage, \"laid out\" means _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer"... | It is easy to find your way about in New York. It is _ so regularly. Instead of streets winding and twisting as they do in London, they are all regular and well planned. The streets running north and south are called "avenues" and are numbered, e.g. 1stAvenue, 2ndAvenue, etc. The streets going east and west are called "streets" and are also numbered, e.g. 51stStreet, 63rdStreet. It is all much more logical than London's street names. But I couldn't help thinking how much more interesting than these dull cold numbers are London's illogical but colorful names of streets, e.g. "Bishopgate" (which is not a gate and hasn't a Bishop in it); "Haymarket" or "Corn market" (where you won't see any hey or corn) or "Poultry" (without a living chicken anywhere in sight) or "Thread needle Street" (where you won't find little girls learning to sew). | high2599.txt |
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