questions list | article stringlengths 9 6.44k | id stringlengths 9 14 |
|---|---|---|
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "She kept Dewey, an abandoned cat at home."
},
"options": [
"She worked as a librarian in the Spencer Public Library.",
"Her husband was addicted to drinking.",
"She kept Dewey, an abandoned cat at home.",
"It was she th... | Dewey is the true story of an abandoned kitten who went on to live an extraordinary life, inspiring a struggling single mother , transforming a sleepy library and the local people of Lowa farm town, and eventually getting hold of the hearts of animal lovers around the world.
Vicki Myron was a single mom ,who , after surviving the loss of her family farm and an alcoholic husband ,went back to school and became a librarian .As the director of the Spencer Public Library, her biggest challenge was to raise the spirits of the residents of a remote town affected deeply by the farm crisis of the 1980s .Her solution came when Vicki found a tiny kitten almost frozen to death in the library's night drop box.Recognizing the extraordinary strength and uniqueness of this kitten , Vivki received approval from the library board to adopt him as Spencer's resident cat.From that moment on, her life ---and the town of Spencer--- would change forever.
Dewey, as the townspeople named the kitten, grew into a friendly cat whose funny behavior kept people laughing and whose sixth sense about those in need created hundreds of deep and loving friendships.As his fame grew, people drove hundreds of miles to meet Dewey, and he even became a subject of a hit documentary in Japan !Through it all, Dewey remained a loyal companion , a beacon of hope not just for Vicki Myron, but for the entire town of Spencer as it slowly pulled itself up from the worst financial crisis in its long history.
When Dewey died in 2006 at the age of 19, his _ appeared in over 250 newspapers , including the New York Times and USA Today , and was announced on the national television evening news. | high8869.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Temporary shopping concept."
},
"options": [
"Long-terra benefits.",
"Lower prices.",
"Quick service.",
"Temporary shopping concept."
],
"question": "What nature of the pop-up shops appeals many small companies?... | Do you like somewhere a little bit different to the usual types of places you find on the high street? I do,so I'm glad to see new ones popping up everywhere in London.
The so called pop-up shop is a temporary arrangement.In the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2008,many businesses had to shut down.Shops,warehouses and offices were left vacant when they stopped trading.Pop-up enterprisers occupied some of them quickly. For them the appeal of this temporary shopping concept is clear:they can start a business with much 1ower risk.The temporary nature of a pop-up shop gives the opportunity to test a product and develop a customer base,without being tied in to a long-term renting contract. Being small makes it much easier for pop-ups to expand if they are successful*
Pop-up shops first appeared in the UK in the early 2000s,with the economy booming. They were originally a way for small companies to rent retail space in great locations. This was while landlords who owned these spaces looked for permanent renters.
Pop-up shops can take a number of different forms.They might be temporary shops in the high street or a shopping centre.They might be simple market stalls . They could be based in some kind of transport,like a food truck.Or they could be run by people who visit different establishments,like travelling chefs who take over pub and restaurant kitchens temporarily.
According to a report by the Centre of Economic and Business Research,the pop-up industry was worthPS2.1bn and is expected to grow by 8.4%this year.Almost anything that can be on a high street can also be a pop-up.There have been pop-up shops,art galleries,theatres and restaurants among others.In an age of fast-changing habits,the pop-up idea might be here to stay. | high12972.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "English teachers should be responsible for the students' poor command of English"
},
"options": [
"the language of the younger generation is usually better than that of the older generation",
"students had a poor command of English... | The audience nodded in agreement when the speaker, a teacher from a community college, said, "High school English teachers are not doing their jobs." He described the shortcomings of his students, all high school graduates who can use language only at Grade 9 level. I was unable to determine from his answers to my questions ho. w this grade 9 level had been raised.
My topic is neither standards nor its decline . What the speaker was really saying is that he is no longer young; he has been teaching for sixteen years, and is able to think and speak like an adult.
My point is that the frequent complaint of one generation about the next is unavoidable. It is also human nature to look for the reason for our dissatisfaction. Before English became a school subject in the late nineteenth century, it was difficult to find the target of the blame for language limitation. But since then, English teachers have been under constant attack.
The complainers think they have hit upon an original idea. As their own command of the language improves, they notice that young people do not have this same ability. Unaware that their own ability has developed through the years, they take as true the new generation of young people must be hopeless in this respect. To the eyes and ears of adults the language of the young never seems enough.
Since this concern about the fall of the English language is not taken as a generation phenomenon but rather as something new to today's young people, it naturally follows that today's English teachers cannot be doing their jobs. Otherwise, young people would not make mistakes of the language. | high23577.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "New Rules to Control Internet Publishing."
},
"options": [
"The Increases of Blogs and Webcasts.",
"New Rules to Control Internet Publishing.",
"Technologies Challenge the Government.",
"The Popularity of Online Video B... | prefix = st1 /Chinawill plan to make new rules to give more controls over the growing number of blogs and webcasts.
Nowadays, advanced network technologies, such as Hogging and webcasting, are being improved to challenge the government's ability to watch over the Internet.
Chinese government was in the middle of making new rules over Internet publishing, and blogs and websites that publishing webcasts would fall under these rules.
Government officials hope the new rules would ensure a more healthy and active Internet environment and would fully respect and protect Chinese citizens' freedom of speech. Specific details on what kind of rules would be carried out are still unknown to the public.
Despite the growing popularity, bloggers and webcasters have been unpopular with publication institutions.
In 2006, a series of cases involving bloggers who had dived into other people's privacy and written materials ruining other's fame urged the government to consider whether to require bloggers to use their real names when they login in.
Webcasting without copyright and illegally "copying" products from copyrighted materials have also led government officials to consider starting a nationwide check of online video broadcasting, and allow only qualified websites to continue offering webcasts. | high22669.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Internet companies have rediscovered the benefits of low technology"
},
"options": [
"Twitter is having a hard time",
"old cottages are in need of protection",
"early settlers once suffered from a dry climate in Montana",
... | Last summer, two nineteenth-century cottages were rescued from remote farm fields in Montana, to be moved to an Art Deco building in San Francisco. The houses were made of wood. These cottages once housed early settlers as they worked the dry Montana soil; now they hold Twitter engineers.
The cottages could be an example of the industry' s odd love affair with "low technology," a concept associated with the natural world, and with old-school craftsmanship that exists long before the Internet era. Low technology is not virtual --so, to take advantage of it, Internet companies have had to get creative. The rescued wood cottages, fitted by hand in the late eighteen-hundreds, are an obvious example, but Twitter's designs lie on the extreme end. Other companies are using a broader interpretation of low technology that focuses on nature.
Amazon is building three glass spheres filled with trees, so that employees can "work and socialize in a more natural, park-like setting." At Google's office, an entire floor is carpeted in glass. Facebook's second Menlo Park campus will have a rooftop park with a walking trail.
Olle Lundberg, the founder of Lundberg Design, has worked with many tech companies over the years. "We have lost the connection to the maker in our lives, and our tech engineers are the ones who feel impoverished , because they're surrounded by the digital world," he says. "They're looking for a way to regain their individual identity, and we've found that introducing real crafts is one way to do that."
This craft based theory is rooted in history, William Morris, the English artist and writer, turned back to pre-industrial arts in the eighteen-sixties, just after the Industrial Revolution. The Arts and Crafts movement defined itself against machines. "Without creative human occupation, people became disconnected from life," Morris said.
Research has shown that natural environments can restore our mental capacities. In Japan, patients are encouraged to "forest-bathe," taking walks through woods to lower their blood pressure.
These health benefits apply to the workplace as well. Rachel Kaplvin, a professor of environmental psychology, has spent years researching the restorative effects of natural environment. Her research found that workers with access to nature at the office--even simple views of trees and flowers--felt their jobs were less stressful and more satisfying. If low-tech offices can potentially nourish the brains and improve the mental health of employees then, fine, bring on the cottages. | high6844.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "he has satisfied his hunger"
},
"options": [
"he has saved up enough money",
"he has grown dissatisfied with his simple shelter",
"he has satisfied his hunger",
"he has learned to build houses"
],
"question": "A... | Human wants seem endless, When a starving man gets a meal, he begins to think about an overcoat; when a manager gets a new sports car, he dreams of country clubs and pleasure boats dance into view.
The many wants of mankind might be regarded as making up several levels. When there is money enough to satisfy one level of wants, another level appears.
The first and most basic level of wants is food. Once this want is satisfied, a second level of wants appears: clothing and some sort of shelter. By the end of World War II these wants were satisfied for a great majority of Americans. Then a third level appeared. It included such items as cars and new houses.
By 1957 or 1958 this third level of wants was fairly well satisfied. Then in the late 1950s a fourth level of wants appeared: the "life-enriching" level. While the other levels mean physical satisfaction--the feeding, comfort, safety and transportation of the human body--this level means mental needs for recognition, achievement and happiness, It includes a variety of goods and services many of which could be called "luxury" items. Among them are vacation trips, the best medical care and entertainment. Also included here are fancy foods and the latest styles in clothing.
On the fourth level, a greater percentage of consumers spending goes to services, while on the first three levels more is spent on goods. Will consumers raise their sights to a fifth level of wants as their income increases, or will they continue to demand luxuries and personal services on the fourth level?
A fifth level probably would be wants that can be achieved by community action. Consumers may be spending more on taxes and crime. After filling our stomachs, our garages, and our minds, we now may seek to ensure the health and safety to enjoy more fully the good things on the first three levels. | high1695.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "are unconfident about yourself"
},
"options": [
"dare to challenge yourself",
"feel it hard to change yourself",
"are unconfident about yourself",
"have a high opinion of yourself"
],
"question": "You need to bu... | Sometimes you'll hear people say that you can't love others until you love yourself. Sometimes you'll hear people say that you can't expect someone else to love you until you love yourself. Either way, you've got to love yourself first and this can be tricky. Sure we all know that we're the apple of our parent's eyes, and that our Grandmas think we're great talents and our Uncle Roberts think that we will go to the Olympics. But sometimes it's a lot harder to think such nice thoughts about ourselves. If you find that believing in yourself is a challenge. It is time you built a positive self-image and learn to love yourself.
Self-image is your own mind's picture of yourself. This image includes the way you look, the way you act, the way you talk and the way you think. Interestingly, our self-images are often quite different from the images others hold about us. Unfortunately, most of these images are more negative than they should be. Thus changing the way you think about yourself is the key to changing your self-image and your whole world.
The best way to defeat a passive self-image is to step back and decide to stress your successes. That is, make a list of you need to, but write down all of the great things you do every day. Don't allow doubts to occur in it.
It very well might be that you are experiencing a negative self-image because you can't move past one flaw or weakness that you see about yourself. Well, roll up your sleeves and make a change of it as your primary task. If you think you're silly because you aren't good at math, find a tutor. If you think you're weak because you can't run a mile, get to the track and practice. If you think you're dull because you think it doesn't mean it's true.
The best way to get rid of a negative self-image is to realize that your image is far from objective, and to actively convince yourself of your positive qualities. Changing the way you think and working on those you need to improve will go a long way towards promoting a positive self-image. When you can pat yourself on the back, you'll know you're well on your way. Good luck! | high301.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Thank you so much for the gift! I just love it!"
},
"options": [
"I am determined to go and nothing will stop me.",
"A good idea, without action, is worth nothing.",
"Those who complain the most, accomplish the least.",
... | All parents tell their children little white lies from time to time. "Of course Father Christmas comes down the chimney!" "Eat your spinach -- you'll get as strong as Popeye.". . . and so on. However, there's one fib that's bigger than all the others. It's "I don't have a favorite child."
In his fascinating new book, The Sibling Effect: What Bonds Among Brothers and Sisters Reveal About Us, Jeffrey Kluger, a father of two daughters, aged eight and ten, claims that " 95 percent of parents in the world have a favorite child -- and the other 5 percent are lying."
Kluger may be exaggerating the figures for dramatic effect -- but despite every parent's vehement denial that they have a favorite child -- scientific research shows that he is not far off the truth.
According to one recent study by researchers from the University of California -- which followed 384 _ pairs and their parents for three years -- 65 percent of the mothers and 70 percent of fathers exhibited a preference for one child. As this was among families that knew they were being monitored, there's a strong possibility the true figures could be significantly higher.
Favoritism is certainly a controversial topic. When raised as a subject for discussion on parenting websites, it always arouses a stream of angry denials.
But interestingly, a lot of personal anecdotes appear from parents who say they were overshadowed by a favored sibling, or were, indeed, their mother or father's favorite. It seems everyone knows favoritism exists -- but nobody wants to put their hand up and say they're guilty of it themselves.
Another research, where siblings have been asked to say who their mother and father favor, suggests that mothers do tend to a show a preference for their first-born son, but fathers often dote on their youngest daughters.
Parents will often be drawn to the child who is easiest to get along with -- or the child that shares similar traits to them. For example, mum will have a special bond with her sensitive, arty son, while dad lavishes attention on his sporty daughter.
Professor Scott says being least favored in a family can color1 our behavior as adults. "Children who feel they are less loved within their family are more likely to develop low self-esteem, anxiety and depression."
But some experts believe being less favored can have positive consequences. Professor Scott agrees that favored children can sometimes find life difficult when they have to rub along in the real world. | high21406.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "to be motivated to read"
},
"options": [
"to read millions of books",
"not to learn grammar rules",
"to be motivated to read",
"to read easy things"
],
"question": "The key to effective reading is _ .",
"... | Reading is a great way to improve your English. You'll learn new words, revise previously-taught structures and absorb thousands of useful expressions and phrases... without any effort. By reading, you are receiving valuable language input. And this is how you learn! Remember, language learning is a combination of input + practice. As you're reading, you're taking in language naturally, and you're seeing how it all fits together. This is _ to your learning.
The great thing about reading is that learning takes place subconsciously. There are no exercises to do, no grammar rules to learn, no tasks to complete... it's all natural. The language flows in through your eyes, and gets recorded in your brain. What could be easier?
The key to effective reading is to read things that you want to read. There are millions of books, magazines and websites out there. You couldn't possibly read them all. So, the important thing is to find things that you like reading. Then, you'll be motivated to read. And then the reading won't be difficult. It'll be easy! And then you'll learn. It's simple.
Remember: read what you want to read. What you like reading. What motivates and inspires you. But where can you start? Well, you could read a book that you've already read in your own language. Simply find a translated version of a book that you have read and enjoyed. This will make processing the content in the target language much easier as you'll already know what the book is about! You could also read the news. This is great as you can read the news in your own language first, then in English. You'll see that it won't be too difficult as you'll be familiar with the topics and stories. Magazines are also great. Find one that covers a topic you're interested in: business, clothing, guns, horses, houses, housekeeping, stocks and shares, sports, computers, electronics, designing, cooking... you name it, they'll have it. If not, look for information on the internet. There are also websites for every topic under the sun! Why not join a forum? They're a great source of English input as the language is often written in a simple, spoken style. Go to Google Groups, which has discussion groups based on common interests. Just type in the topic that interests you and join the chat.
Finally, how you read is also important. The best thing is to read without using a dictionary. Let the words flow over you. Just skip the parts you don't understand. If you make your reading feel too much like work, it'll stop being fun. Of course, you could make a note of any new words and phrases that you like or see repeated frequently, but try not to break your concentration too much. Also, set yourself mini-objectives. For example, if you're reading a novel, read 20 pages a day. Very soon, you'll have been exposed to thousands of useful phrases and words. Have fun reading! You'll learn so much! | high10803.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Because it can make young people and working people be included in the festival's activities."
},
"options": [
"Because they want to honor their ancestors.",
"Because it can make young people and working people be included in the f... | This Friday is TombSweeping Day, one of the three traditional festivals that are included as the Chinese mainland's public holidays starting this year. Together with the Dragon Boat Festival in June and MidAutumn Festival in September, the authorities say observing these days is aimed at protecting folk culture and customs.
Chinese nationwide should thank Chen Jing, a 68yearold folk artist and professor from Nanjing University for the move. "It is certainly a favorable gesture for the promotion and preservation of folk culture and customs," Chen said. In 2006, Chen proposed to the authorities to make TombSweeping Day, also known as Qingming Festival, a public holiday. His suggestion received wide support from other folk artists. "TombSweeping Day means a lot to the Chinese," Chen said. It is a day for people to honour their ancestors.
Two years ago, on his trip to honour his ancestor in Taizhou, Jiangsu province, he found the train full of people, most of whom were the elderly. From the conversation with them, he found the elderly thought it necessary to include young family members in the festival's activities, while working people also wanted the chance to honor their ancestors. Among those he spoke to was an elderly man from Hongkong, who told Chen TombSweeping Day is a holiday in Hongkong for paying tribute to ancestors. Chen was inspired by the experience and insight from these people and put forward the suggestion for the holiday during an interview by mainstream media.
"If we do not take immediate action, our traditional folk customs will be forgotten by the younger generation," he said. His idea soon spread all over the country and was echoed by many scholars and experts. | high19199.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "develop their own interests"
},
"options": [
"grow as the educated",
"be responsible for their future",
"develop their own interests",
"discover subjects outside class"
],
"question": "Open education allows the ... | There are some very good things about open education. This way of teaching allows the students to grow as people, and to develop their own interests in many subjects. Open education allows students to be responsible for their own education, as they are responsible for what they do in life.
Some students do badly in a traditional classroom. The open classroom may allow them to enjoy learning. Some students will be happier in an open education school. They will not have to worry about grades or rules. For students who worry about these things a lot, it is a good idea to be in an open classroom. But many students will not do well in an open classroom. For some students, there are too few rules. These students will do little in school. They will not make good use of open education. Because open education is so different from traditional education, these students may have a problem getting used to making so many choices. For many students it is important to have some rules in the classroom. They worry about the rules even when there are no rules. Even a few rules will help this kind of students. The last point about open education is that some traditional teachers do not like it. Many teachers do not believe in open education. Teachers who want to have an open classroom may have many problems at their schools. You now know what open education is.
Some of its good points and bad points have been explained. You may have your own opinion about open education. The writer thinks that open education is a good idea, but only in theory. In actual fact, it may not work very well in a real class or school. The writer believes that most students, but of course not all students, want some structure in their classes. They want and need to have rules. In some cases, they must be made to study some subjects. Many students are pleased to find subjects they have to study interesting. They would not study some subjects if they did not have to. | high3082.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "many people wear masks in the street"
},
"options": [
"the patients are treated in the open air",
"some doctors work in the street",
"people speak little to each other in the street",
"many people wear masks in the stre... | If you were on the street in Mexico today you might think you were in an operating room, surrounded by doctors. You could see many concerned people with masks trying their best to stop the swine flu . And the masks aren't only being used in Mexico. A friend of mine traveling from New York City to Florida was given a mask and a pair of gloves just after he reached the airport. And another friend went to get a haircut only to be faced with a hairdresser wearing a mask!
But do the masks really work? Is covering your nose and mouth the key to stopping the swine flu? To find out the truth, ABC's reporter Sharyn Alfonsi talked with germ expert Dr. Elaine Larsen. It turns out that when you sneeze the air coming out of your mouth at a speed of one hundred miles per hour carries germs which can travel anywhere around you and make people around you infected .
However, whether you become infected actually depends on the weather. As Sharyn reported, when you sneeze, the germs leave your body in small drops of water coming out of your mouth. If the weather is wet, the wet air will make the small drops bigger and heavier and they drop down towards our feet. If this happens, we won't become infected. But if the air is dry, those small drops can float higher up, making it possible for them to touch someone else's nose, mouth or their mask.
Larsen says the masks can stop the germs well but after a few hours, they start to get wet, holding a lot of germs they come across and causing you to breathe them in. The masks do work, but the key to stopping the germs is changing your masks often. | high4921.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "transformed some American values."
},
"options": [
"destroyed the United States.",
"transformed some American values.",
"was not important in the United States.",
"brought people more leisure time with their families."
... | Once it was possible to define male and female roles easily by the division of labor. Men worked outside the home and earned the income to support their families, while women cooked the meals and took care of the home and the children. These roles were firmly fixed for most people, and there was not much opportunity for women to exchange their roles. But by the middle of last century, men's and women's roles were becoming less firmly fixed.
In the 1950s, economic and social success was the goal of the typical American. But in the 1960s a new force developed called the counterculture. The people involved in this movement did not value the middle-class American goals. The counterculture presented men and women with new role choices. Taking more interest in childcare, men began to share child-raising tasks with their wives. In fact, some young men and women moved to communal homes or farms where the economic and childcare responsibilities were shared equally by both sexes. In addition, many Americans did not value the traditional male role of soldier. Some young men refused to be drafted as soldiers to fight in the war in Vietnam.
In terms of numbers, the counterculture was not a very large group of people. But its influence spread to many parts of American society. Working men of all classes began to change their economic and social patterns. Industrial workers and business executives alike cut down on "overtime" work so that they could spend more leisure time with their families. Some doctors, lawyers, and teachers turned away from high paying situations to practice their professions in poorer neighborhoods.
In the 1970s, the feminist movement, or women's liberation, produced additional economic and social changes. Women of all ages and at all levels of society were entering the work force in greater numbers. Most of them still took traditional women's jobs as public school teaching, nursing, and secretarial work. But some women began to enter traditionally male occupations: police work, banking, dentistry, and construction work. Women were asking for equal work, and equal opportunities for promotion.
Today the experts generally agree that important changes are taking place in the roles of men and women. Naturally,there are difficulties in adjusting to these transformations. | high18293.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "editor"
},
"options": [
"teacher",
"editor",
"doctor",
"broadcaster"
],
"question": "We can learn from the passage that Wilson is most probably a(n) _ .",
"question_type": "summarization_questions"
},
... | Wilson,
At college, when I try speaking with anyone, I just feel very nervous. I have no trouble talking when I'm alone. However, when I talk with others, my voice sounds different, and sometimes there is a pause between each word I pronounce. Sometimes I can't pronounce a word even with my own family members. My voice becomes deeper and sounds totally different than it usually does. Can you please give me some good advice?
John
John,
If you have trouble pronouncing words, simply accept the fact. Many other readers have such experiences, and so do I. You don't need to get stressed about it.
You are apparently getting nervous because you feel like you are under some pressure when speaking to other people. Take your time and don't worry about pauses. Speak slowly, opening your mouth to enunciate your words clearly. Listen to powerful leaders on the television and note that they speak slowly and carefully and learn to master their speaking techniques.
When you speak to others in college, try to ask questions that will get the other person to talk. Listening carefully and then filling in during the conversation takes the pressure off you and you will feel more relaxed when you talk. You make more of an impression when you are interested in what the other person is saying than when you try to lead a conversation.
Remember that the more you worry about how your voice sounds, about pronouncing words and about pauses, the worse it gets. So accept the way you speak now and relax in your conversations.
I hope these ideas can help take the pressure off you when you talk to other people.
Wilson | high21412.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Paris"
},
"options": [
"Paris",
"Venice",
"Prague",
"Vienna"
],
"question": "The city of light refers to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"an... | Here are some famous romantic places in the world that you can't miss.
Paris
The ranking for the "most romantic city" quite rightly leads to Paris. The city of light has long been famous as a city of love. This is definitely the best place for love, wine and food. Paris is rich with history; you can take a walk through the Louvre, go to a cafe across the Champs Elysees, have dinner at the Eiffel Tower or visit the Palace of Versailles.
Venice
Undoubtedly, Venice is the most romantic city of Italy. From the amazing architecture of San Marco Square to the gondolas there, Venice talks about love, romance and passion. The best time to visit Venice is during the annual carnival . A gondola trip through the most magical city in Europe remains unforgettable for everyone.
Vienna
Vienna may well be called the cradle of European culture. The baroque architecture, the historic city opera and typical restaurants create a romantic mood and memorable atmosphere. During the ball season in Vienna, one can enjoy the city's past, the masked waltz and romance.
Prague
Prague is called the heart of Europe. The city, dating from the 9thcentury, is indeed a real architectural wonder. Prague's famous castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, built early in 1257. For a more romantic experience, take your loved ones to the top of the 60-foot observatory and watch the slow sunset over Prague.
Maldives
There are quiet islands, warm, clear water with excellent visibility, a huge amount of reefs and an incredible diversity of marine life. The Maldives is the place to shoot all those beautiful postcard pictures of couples on a desert beach. Most islands are not more than 1 km in area, with makes them particularly suitable for privacy, honeymoons and love. | high10817.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Rosa C admitted what she did because she was sorry for her guilt."
},
"options": [
"To find his wife' affair, Antonio C looked through an old drawer.",
"Rosa C' lover may be Bertie.",
"Rosa C admitted what she did because she... | An Italian couple are to become the world's oldest divorcees, after the 99 - year - old husband found that his 96 - year - old wife had an affair in the 1940s.
The Italian man, called by lawyers in the case as Antonio C, was looking through an old drawer when he made the discovery a few days before Christmas.
In spite of the time that had passed since the affair, he was so upset that he immediately asked his wife of 77years, named as Rosa C, whether it was true, and demanded a divorce.
Stricken by the guilt, she reportedly admitted everything but was unable to persuade her husband to reconsider his decision, though her children also did much more work.
She wrote the letters to her lover during a secret affair in the 1940s, according to court papers _ in Rome this week, which made people know the truth.
The couple are now preparing to split; though the marriage they built has lasted over nearly eight decades- they have five children, a dozen grandchildren and one great - grand child.
The discovery of the letters was the final problem for their marriage which had already run into difficulty-10 years ago the husband briefly left their house in Rome and moved in with one of his sons, only to return a few weeks later.
The Italian thought the fierce split resulted from the couple's southern blood he is originally from Olbia in Sardinia: while his wife was born in Naples. The couple met during the 1930s when Antonio served as a young officer.
The case appears to set a new record, at least for the age of the oldest figures - the previous oldest couple to divorce were Bertie and Jessie Wood, both aged 98, from the UK.
That pair ended their 36 - year marriage in 2009 when they were both two years away from their l00th birthdays.They got married in Elstree, Hertfordshire, in 1972, having both ended previous marriages, before moving to Falmouth, Cornwall four years later. | high3096.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Some expressions related to clothes."
},
"options": [
"What pants mean in English.",
"Some special English expressions.",
"Some funny English expressions.",
"Some expressions related to clothes."
],
"question": ... | Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes? Let's have a look.
People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies.We sometimes say that people who are nervous have ants in their pants.Sometimes,people may get caught with their pants down.They are found doing something they should not be doing.And,in every family,one person takes contro1.Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do.Then we say she wears the pants in the family.
Pants usually have pockets to hold things.Money that is likely to be spent quickly can bum a hole in your pocket.Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants.If you have less money than usual,you may have to tighten your belt.
I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much. l really take my hat off to them. Yet, when it comes to my own money, I spend it at the drop of a hat, which means I immediately spend it.
Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes. People who are too big for their boots think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people.
My father is an important person. He runs a big company. He wears a suit and tie, and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him will think he is too serious and never shows his feelings openly. But I know that my father wears his heart on his sleeve. | high1859.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "wrong decisions could lead to poor health"
},
"options": [
"it helps cure most illnesses",
"it helps raise the level of our medical knowledge",
"it is essential to personal freedom in American society",
"wrong decisions... | The concept of personal choice in relation to health behaviors is an important one. An estimated 90 percent of all illnesses may be preventable if individuals would make sound personal health choices based upon current medical knowledge. We all enjoy our freedom of choice and do not like to see it restricted when it is within the legal and moral boundaries of society. The structure of American society allows us to make almost all our own personal decisions that may concern our health. If we do desire, we can smoke, drink much, refuse to wear seat belts, eat whatever foods we want, and _ without any exercise. The freedom to make such personal decisions is a fundamental aspect of our society, although the wisdom of these decisions can be questioned. Personal choices to health often cause a difficulty. As one example, teenager may know the facts to smoking cigarettes and health but may be pressured by friends into believing it is a socially accepted thing to do.
A majority of factors, both inherited and environmental, influence the development of health-related behaviors, and it is beyond the scope of this text to discuss all these factors as they may affect any given individual. However, the decision to adopt a particular health related behavior is usually one of personal choices. There are healthy choices and there are unhealthy choices. In discussing the morals of personal choice, Fries and Crapo, drew a comparison. They suggest that to knowingly give oneself over to a behavior that has a statistical probability of shortening life is similar to attempting suicide. Thus, for those individuals who are interested in preserving both the quality and quantity of life, personal health choices should reflect those behaviors that are associated with a statistical probability of increased vitality and longevity . | high23205.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "bring about the subject of the passage"
},
"options": [
"make it easier to understand the passage",
"draw readers' attention to Greek culture",
"show Greek people enjoyed being busy",
"bring about the subject of the pas... | In Greek mythology , the gods punished Sisyphus by forcing him to roll a rock up a steep hill for eternity . But he was probably better off than if they'd forced him to sit and stare into space until the end of time, conclude the authors of a new study on keeping busy. They found that people who have something to do, even something pointless, are happier than people who sit around.
"The general phenomenon I'm interested in is why people are too busy doing what they are doing in modern society," says Christopher K. Hsee, of the University of Chicago. "People are running around, working hard, the way beyond the basic level." Sure, there are reasons, like making a living, earning money, and so on. But, Hsee says, "I think there's something deeper: We have extra energy and we want to avoid idleness."
In a study 98 students were asked to complete two surveys. After they had completed the first they were made to wait 15 minutes to receive the next one. They were given a choice of either handing in the first survey nearby or at a more distant location they had to walk to. Whichever option they chose, they received a chocolate bar. Not everyone chose to go to the faraway location. Two-thirds chose the lazy option. Yet those who chose to stay busy by going to the faraway location were found to be happier than those who had _ .
But if the chocolate bars offered at the two locations were different, they were more likely to choose the far location--because they could make up a good and acceptable reason for the trip, Hsee and his colleagues say.
Hsee thinks it may be possible to use this principle--people like being busy, and they like being able to show being busy right or reasonable--to benefit society. "If we can find a way for idle people to engage in activity that is at least not harmful, I think it is better than destructive business," he says. Hsee himself has been known to give a research assistant a useless task when he doesn't have anything to do, so he isn't sitting around the office getting bored and depressed. | high315.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "encouraging positive thinking may actually discourage people"
},
"options": [
"positive thinking is not as powerful as negative thinking",
"encouraging positive thinking may actually discourage people",
"happy people can thin... | The $11 billion self-help industry is built on the idea that you should turn negative thoughts like "I never do anything right" into positive ones like "I can succeed." But was positive thinking advocate Norman Vincent Peale right? Is there power in positive thinking?
Researchers in Canada just published a study in the journal Psychological Science that says trying to get people to think more positively can actually have the opposite effect: it can simply highlight how unhappy they are.
The study's authors, Joanne Wood and John Lee of the University of Waterloo and Elaine Perunovic of the University of New Brunswick, begin by citing older research showing that when people get feedback which they believe is overly positive, they actually feel worse, not better. If you tell your friend who is slow to learn that he has the potential of an Einstein, _ . In one 1990s experiment, a team including psychologist Joel Cooper of Princeton asked participants to write essays opposing funding for the disabled. When the essayists were later praised for their sympathy, they felt even worse about what they had written.
In this experiment, Wood, Lee and Perunovic measured 68 students' self-esteem. The participants were then asked to write down their thoughts and feelings for four minutes. Every 15 seconds, one group of students heard a bell. When it rang, they were supposed to tell themselves, "I am lovable."
Those with low self-esteem didn't feel better after the forced self-affirmation . In fact, their moods turned significantly darker than those of members of the control group, who weren't urged to think positive thoughts.
The paper provides support for newer forms of psychotherapy that urge people to accept their negative thoughts and feelings rather than fight them. In the fighting, we not only often fail but can make things worse. Meditation techniques, in contrast, can teach people to put their shortcomings into a larger, more realistic viewpoint. Call it the power of negative thinking. | high1681.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "heart problems and air quality"
},
"options": [
"heart problems and air quality",
"heart problems and exercising",
"heart problems and smoking",
"heart problems and fatty food"
],
"question": "The text mainly di... | Eating too much fatty food, exercising too little and smoking can raise your future risk of heart disease. But there is another factor that can cause your heart problems more immediately: the air you breathe.
Previous studies have linked high exposure to environmental pollution to an increased risk of heart problem, but two analyses now show that poor air quality can lead to heart attack or stroke within as little as a few hours after exposure. In one review of the research, scientists found that people exposed to high levels of pollutants were up to 5% more likely to suffer a heart attack within days of exposure than those with lower exposure. A separate study of stroke patients showed that even air that the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers to be of "moderate" quality and relatively safe for our health can raise the risk of stroke as much as 34% within 12 to 14 hours of exposure.
The authors of both studies stress that these risks are relatively small for healthy people and certainly modest compared with other risk factors such as smoking and high blood pressure. However, it is important to be aware of these dangers because everyone is exposed to air pollution regardless of lifestyle choices. So stricter regulation by the EPA of pollutants may not only improve environmental air quality but could also become necessary to protect public health. | high473.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "To prove that people can make a living out of playing video games."
},
"options": [
"To memorize his past.",
"To offer an exciting movie.",
"To prove that people can make life better with playing video games.",
"To prov... | "If you have not played video games, your childhood should be called 'incomplete'." That's from Zhan Zaozao, 29, the screenwriter of Play to Grow Up, a 40-minute short movie.
It tells the story of two men growing up fans of video games and how they find happiness in games. While people think playing games makes one lazy and is a waste of time, Zhan tries to prove that one can make a living out of it. In the movie, the two heroes, Dunzi and Yanjing, who are in middle school, visit a video games room on the street each day after school.
But why make a short movie about video games, since there are lots to write about childhood, such as puppy love, sports and study? "Playing games is so important to everyone's childhood from little kids to teenagers, though it's a bittersweet experience," said Zhan. According to him, his teachers and parents didn't allow video games, but they played games "under their noses " anyway.
In the movie, the two playmates follow different paths after school. Dunzi opens a small store selling gaming products. Yanjing works as a manager in his father's company, After years of working and facing various problems in life, they get together again, build a video game machine and play on the street. Free, simple and happy. They rediscover the carefree childhood, which they have lost in the adult world.
Many consider playing games as a bad influence, but it isn't all true, according to Zhan. "It can change your attitude toward life," said Zhan. "On the other hand, the movie also tells you that, although the world of video games is fun, you must face real life at the end of the day. " | high6688.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "They have stronger sense of health and like nutritious foods."
},
"options": [
"They have stronger sense of health and like nutritious foods.",
"They think organic foods help remove fat in their bodies.",
"They find organic f... | It is the preferred choice of millions of health-conscious Britons. But eating organic food could make you fat, experts have warned. A studyhas shown that people tend to believe that organic foods contain fewer calories, so buy and eat more. But people who decide to "go organic" could soon find themselves piling on the pounds.
The warning comes from American researchers who studied whether the sight of an organic label was enough to influence a person's choice. For example, if people believe organic foods, produced without using pesticides and artificial fertilizers , have fewer calories, they may end up eating far too much and spending less time on sports activities and put on weight. Cornell University researchers said: " Some people mistakenly think that these foods are more nutritious , just because they carry an organic label."
"The growing popularity of organic foods has led to some concern, as these foods may not necessarily be healthier than non-organic ones, but still may lead consumers to nutritional mis-judgments. If people feel a food to be more nutritious, they tend to let their guard down when it comes to counting calories---in the end leading them to overeat."
Although a small number of differences in nutrient content were found to exist between organically-produced crops and traditionally-produced ones, these are of little health importance. It shows that there is no proof to support the choice of organically over traditionally-produced foods because of nutritional advantage. | high23563.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Nervous but optimistic."
},
"options": [
"Worried and negative.",
"Anxious and helpless.",
"Nervous but optimistic.",
"Relaxed and positive."
],
"question": "Before the surgery, which of the following words can ... | My parents have certainly had their troubles, and as their child I'll never know how they made it to 38 years of marriage. They loved each other, but they didn't seem to like each other very much. Dad was too fond of his beer, and he talked down to Mom a lot. When she tried to stand up to him, a fight would unavoidably follow.
It was my dad's disease that began to change things. The year 1998 was the beginning of a remarkable transformation for my family. My father, Jim Dineen, the always healthy, weightlifting, never-missed-a-day-of-work kind of dad, discovered he had kidney disease.
The decision to go ahead with a transplant for my father was a long and tough one, mostly because he had liver damage too. One physician's assistant told him, "According to your file, you're supposed to be dead." And for a while, doctors mistakenly thought that he would need not just a kidney transplant, but a liver transplant too. _
When the donor testing process finally began in the spring of 2003, numerous people, including me, my uncle Tom, and my mom, came back as matches of varying degree. But Mom was the one who insisted on going further. She decided to donate a kidney to my father. She said she was not scared, and it was the right thing to do. We all stepped back in amazement.
At last a date was chosen - November 11, 2003. All of a sudden, the only thing that seemed to matter Dad was telling the world what a wonderful thing Mom was doing for him. A month before the surgery, he sent her birthday flowers with a note that read, "I love you and I love your kidney! Thank you!"
Financially, the disease was upsetting to them. So my sister and I were humbled and surprised when, shortly before his surgery day, Dad handed us a diamond jewelry that we were to give to Mom after the operation. He'd accumulated his spare dollars to buy it.
At the hospital on the day of the transplant, all our relatives and friends gathered in the waiting room and became involved in a mean euchre tournament. My family has always handled things with a lot of laughter, and even though we were all tense, everybody was taking bets on how long this "change of conduct" would last in my parents.
We would inform Dad that if he chose to act like a real pain on any particular day after the operation, he wasn't allowed to blame it on PMS just because he'd now have a female kidney.
The surgeries went well, and not long afterward, my sister and I were allowed to go in to visit. Dad was in a great deal of pain but again, all he could talk about was Mom. Was she okay? How was she feeling? Then the nurses let us do something unconventional. As they were wheeling Mom out of recovery room, they rolled her into a separate position to visit Dad. It was strange to see both my parents hooked up to IVs and machines and trying to talk to each other through tears. The nurses allowed us to present the diamond jewelry to Mom so that Dad could watch her open it. Everyone was crying, even the nurses.
As I stood with digital camera in hand, I tried to keep the presence of mind to document the moment. My dad was having a hard time fighting back emotion, and suddenly my parents unexpectedly reached out to hold each other's hands.
In my nearly 35 years of existence, I'd never seen my parents do that, and I was spellbound. I snapped a picture and later rushed home to make sure I'd captured that enormous, life-defining moment. After so many years of disagreement, it was apparent to me that they finally understood how much each loved the other. | high7596.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "People living around Niagara Falls are poorer than those around Iguazu Falls."
},
"options": [
"Iguazu Falls is well worth visiting.",
"Iguazu Falls is in the northern province of Misiones, Argentina on the Iguazu River.",
"P... | The Wonder of Argentina Iguazu Falls
Missing the sun? Well, down in Argentina, its summertime and beautiful destinations like Iguazu Falls are waiting to be discovered. Lots to do and see, this is one place everyone needs to visit at least once in their lifetime.
Located in the northern province of Misiones, Argentina on the Iguazu River (iguazu being the Guarani word for "great water"), Iguazu Falls is known as one of the world's largest and most attractive waterfalls. Upon former US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to the Falls, she said, "Poor Niagara!" The Falls divide the river in half, making the upper and lower Iguazu. The largest of the 275 falls that swallow the river is "Devil's Throat", and with a height of an astonishing 80 meters, it's a fairly impressive sight to view!
The Park
In order to see the Falls in all its glory, you'll need to visit the Park, which was created in 1934 to preserve the biological diversity of the subtropical rainforest and the breathtaking scenery surrounding the Falls. It was declared a Natural Heritage in 1984 and covers an area of approximately 660 square meters. Approximately 400 species of birds, 2000 species of plants and a world of insects call the Park their home. You'll especially love the butterflies that constantly surround and play with you!
The Devil's Throat
The "Garganta del Diablo" (means Devil's Throat) is the reason for this trip! Once in the Park, you can enjoy walking along the scenic 1100-meter-long path that starts from Garganta station and takes you to the viewing balcony , where you'll be able to get an overall view of one of the most beautiful sights you'll ever see! However, be prepared to be wet through by the powerful spray coming off the Falls.
Don't Miss
Take a boat ride that place you right under the falls----but be prepared to get totally _ !---- and walk along more stunning paths; enjoy a photo safari through the forest, or view the Falls at night under the light of the full moon! | high21374.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Ethical rules to limit humanised animals."
},
"options": [
"Ethical rules to limit humanised animals.",
"The potential results of humanised apes.",
"The possibility of humanised animals.",
"The danger of human-like anim... | A new report said scientists may not be far from giving apes the ability to think and talk like humans. The report is about experiments which transplant human cells into animals for medical purposes.
It claimed that concerns about the creation of talking apes should be taken seriously. It should also draw people's attention to the possibility that the medical research about creating "humanised" animals is going to generate monsters.
A regulatory body is needed to closely monitor any experiments that many risk creating animals with human-like consciousness or giving them any appearance or behavioural traits that too closely resemble humans, the report said.
Scientists would, for example, be prevented from replacing a large number of an ape's brain cells with human brain cells until more is known about the potential risks. This has already been done in simpler animals like mice, which is judged to be less risky.
Under the new UK guidelines, the power to regulate tests on animals containing human material would be transferred to a body with wider responsibility for animal testing in the Home Office.
While there is no risk from experiments currently being carried out in Britain, it is possible that ethical boundaries could be crossed within the next few years if scientists are not careful, the experts said.
Professor Thomas Baldwin, a member of the Academy of Medical Sciences working group that produced the report, said the possibility of humanised apes should be taken seriously.
He said, "The fear is that if you start putting very large numbers of human brain cells into the brains of primates you might transform the primates into something that has some of the abilities that we regard as distinctly human, such as speech, or other ways of being able to _ or relate to us."
Professor Martin Bobrow, chair of the academy working group that produced the report, said, "The very great majority of experiments present no issues beyond the general use of animals in research and these should continue to proceed under the current regulations."
Lord Willis, chair of the Association of Medical Research Charities, said, "AMRC only supports research that is absolutely necessary and where no suitable alternative methods are available." | high3928.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The language usually contains complicated words and terms."
},
"options": [
"The language can't explain scientific ideas clearly.",
"Scientists are always boring and difficult to communicate with.",
"The language usually cont... | The language used by scientists to explain complex ideas can be difficult and sometimes even boring. The language, with its Latin words and long scientific terms, could be one reason some people avoid learning about science, especially children.
American Danielle Dixson is a marine biologist. She wants to make science fun for children. Dixson has turned that idea into a series of children's books. The nine books are written so that her research is easy to understand.
"I just don't really think kids should be left out of it and I thought that story books may be one of the easiest ways to sort of captivate them and have them understand."
Danielle Dixson is an assistant professor at the University of Delaware. Dixson says another goal of her science writing is to help increase understanding of the ocean environment.
She spent almost two years in the South Pacific working on her post-doctoral research. She went to the island nation of Fiji to investigate coral reefs that are collapsing or, as she says, degrading.
The goal of her research is to identify why some healthy coral reefs are breaking down. She also wants to find out how this degradation affects fish that live in and around the reefs.
"A number of the reefs are converting from being, you know, these beautiful coral reef systems that have a lot of holes for animals to hide in, into reefs that the coral's degrading and collapsing and then there is not as much hiding spaces for fishes and things like that."
Early in her research, Dixson made some videos for people in Fiji. The videos explained her work to the local community. She says she wanted them to understand how her research would help them.
For the local children, Dixson started making books explaining her work. This helped to keep them from walking through her "laboratory" - baby pools filled with water she was using for her experiments. "I was living, actually, in the village with some of the locals. It was a lot easier to get research done if they understood what I was doing and how it would help them. And one of the ways that I was able to connect with the adults was I would make these videos for them. And then I started making children's books for the kids so that they would have a better idea of why I was there, so that when I ask them not to walk through the baby pools I was using for experiments or something like that, that that would actually happen." she added.
When Dixson returned to the United States, she started doing the same thing for children in this country. She uses color1ful story books to capture the imagination of children. While she has their attention, she provides very useful information about science.
As a marine scientist, Dixson wants her stories to be both educational and inspirational, serving as an agent for change. She also includes in her books "a call to action," asking readers what they can do to make a difference.
"One of the things I do in those story books is I have a last page. And the last page talks about what you can do to help. You know, there is a lot of things that even a 6-year-old is able to do, whether it's shutting your lights off when you leave a room, or riding your bike to your friend's house instead of having your parents drive you. There is a lot of stuff that they can do and still feel they're making a difference."
Danielle Dixson's books shine a light on the environmental problems facing our world's oceans. They also make science fun and understandable for children. But her books may have an unintended consequence, something she may not have planned on. | high19833.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "chose the right hand side"
},
"options": [
"gave the correct answer",
"chose the right hand side",
"chose the left hand side",
"remembered the patterns of dots"
],
"question": "Volunteers can get more money when... | People are more likely to lie or cheat during the afternoon because self control reduces during the day, according to researchers.
Volunteers taking part in two experiments where they could benefit by cheating were more likely to do so if the tests took place after midday, researchers found.
The findings back up previous studies which have shown that our capacity for self-control declines during the day, due to tiredness and repeatedly making decisions.
Psychologists from Harvard University first showed a group of volunteers various patterns of dots on a computer screen, asking them to decide whether there were more dots on the left or the right hand side.
Instead of being rewarded for getting the answer right, the participants were paid based on which side they chose, earning ten times as much for choosing the right hand side as the left.
People who were tested after midday were significantly more likely to select the right hand side, even if there were clearly more dots on the left, than those who took part during the morning.
In a second test, participants were shown a series of word fragments , such as "--ral" and "e--c--" and asked which words they associated with them.
In morning experiments, participants were more likely to form the words "moral" and "ethical" while during the afternoon the words "coral" and "effects" were most common.
Further tests conducted online showed that people were more likely to send dishonest messages or claim to have solved an unsolvable problem in the afternoon than in the morning.
Writing the Psychological Science journal, the researchers said the difference was particularly _ in people with higher ethical standards, who always behaved morally during the morning but slipped during the afternoon.
In contrast, those who were able to "morally disengage", or behave unethically without feeling guilty, tended to cheat whatever the time of day.
Dr. Maryam Kouchaki, one of the lead authors, said "Unfortunately, the most honest people, such as those less likely to morally disengage, may be the most susceptible to the negative consequences associated with the morning morality effect."
The findings could be relevant to organizations that should be more alert about the behavior of customers and employees during the afternoon, she added. "Our findings suggest that mere time of day can lead to a systematic failure of good people to act morally." | high8855.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "The doctor gets more active professional support from the primary nurse."
},
"options": [
"The doctor gets more active professional support from the primary nurse.",
"Each patient is taken care of by a primary nurse day and night",... | Nursing at prefix = st1 /BethIsraelHospitalproduces the best patient care possible. If we are to solve the nursing shortage, hospital administration and doctors everywhere would do well to follow Beth Israel's example.
At Beth Israel each patient is assigned to primary nurse who visits at length with the patient and constructs a full-scale health account that covers everything from his medical history to his motional state. Then he writes a care plan centered on the patient's illness but which also includes everything else that is necessary.
The primary nurse stays with the patient through his hospitalization, keeping track with his progress and seeking further advice from his doctor. If a patient at Beth Israel is not responding to treatment, it is not uncommon for his nurse to propose another approach to the doctor. What the doctor at Beth Israel has in the primary nurse is a true colleague.
Nursing at Beth Israel also involves a decentralized nursing administration; every floor, every unit is a self-contained organization. There are nurse managers instead of head nurses; in addition to their medical duties they do all their own hiring and dismissing, employee advising, and they make salary recommendations. Each unit's nurses decide among themselves who will work what shifts and when.
Beth Israel's nurse-in-chief ranks as an equal with other vice presidents of the hospital. She is also a member of the Medical Executive Committee, which in most hospitals includes only doctors. | high24224.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Prohibiting residents from dying early."
},
"options": [
"Ban on building a new cemetery.",
"Ban on parking in certain zones.",
"Forbidding buried grounds in preservation.",
"Prohibiting residents from dying early."
... | Generally speaking, government regulations normally ban anything from smoking in public places to parking in certain zones. But officials in the Brazilian town of Biritiba Mirim, 70km (45miles) east of Sao Paulo, _ . They plan to prohibit residents from dying early because the local cemetery has reached full capacity.
There's no more room to bury the dead, they can't be cremated and laws forbid a new cemetery. So the mayor has proposed a strange solution: outlaw death. Mayor Roberto Pereira says the bill is meant as a protest against federal regulations that prohibit new or expanded cemeteries in preservation areas. "They have not taken local demands into consideration", he claims.
A 2003 decree by Brazil's National Environment Council forbids burial grounds in protected areas. Mr. Pereira wants to build a new cemetery, but the project has been stopped because 98% of Biritiba Mirim is considered as a preservation area.
Biritiba Mirim, a town of 28,000 inhabitants, not only wants to prohibit residents from passing away. The bill also calls on people to take care of their health in order to avoid death. "I haven't got a job, nor am I healthy. And now they say I can't die. That's ridiculous," Amarido do Prado, an unemployed resident said.
The city council is expected to vote on the regulation next week. "Of course the bill is laughable, illegal, and will never be approved," said Gilson Soares de Campos, an assistant of the mayor. "But can you think of a better resolution to persuade the government to change the environmental decree that is prohibiting us from building a new cemetery?" The bill states that "offenders will be held responsible for their acts." However, it does not say what the punishment will be. | high13488.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Russia declares the design for its first space hotel"
},
"options": [
"Russia declares the design for its first space hotel",
"The first space hotel is under construction now",
"The astronauts will have a second home in space... | If you're tired of the Mediterranean and don't want to head to Disney again, perhaps it's time for a summer holiday in space. Russia has declared plans for its first floating hotel, 217 miles above earth, and it is something of an offering with good service.
Hosting just seven guests in a four cabins, the accommodation will boast huge windows with views back to earth and tasty microwave meals will be served instead of the ones often used by astronauts.
Just getting there will be an adventure in itself--it will take two days aboard a Soyuz rocket--and it won't exactly be a _ holiday: A five-day stay will cost youPS100, 000 toPS500, 000 for your journey. The hotel is due to open by 2016 and, according to those behind it, will be far more comfortable than the International Space Station (ISS) used by astronauts and cosmonauts.
In the weightlessness of space, visitors can choose to have beds that are either vertical or horizontal. Tourists, who will be accompanied by experienced crew, will dine on food prepared on Earth and sent up on the rocket, to be reheated in microwave ovens. Many kinds of delicacies will be available.
Iced tea, mineral water and fruit juices will be available, but alcohol will be strictly prohibited. Toilets will use flowing air instead of water to move waste through the system. Waste water will be recycled.
Sergei Kostenko, chief executive of Orbital Technologies which will construct the hotel, said: "Our planned module inside will not remind you of the International Space Station. A hotel should be comfortable inside, and it will be possible to look at the Earth. The hotel will be aimed at wealthy individuals and people working for private companies who want to do research in space." The hotel can also be used as an emergency bolthole for astronauts aboard the International Space Station if there is a crisis. | high9593.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Certain vegetables."
},
"options": [
"Brain-shaped foods",
"Uncooked eggs.",
"Fat of any kind",
"Certain vegetables."
],
"question": "Which of the following is needed if people want to strengthen their brain pow... | The bumpy structure of walnuts is similar to the brain.Some Chinese believe eating walnuts will make them smarter because of that.By the same logic,they believe eating pig brains will increase their intelligence.This kind of food myth is true to Americans,too. Some Americans regularly eat uncooked eggs to keep their minds sharp.
Most doctors don't recommend eating either raw eggs or animal brains.Then, what food is good for your brain? Scientists have found a relationship between diet and a healthy brain.It's becoming pretty clear that the right food can increase brain power--help you pay attention, keep you motivated,improve memory, and _ stress.Perhaps even prevent brain aging.
The health of your brain depends not only on how much(or little)fat you eat but on what kind it is.Intellectual performance requires the specific type of fat found most commonly in certain fish.Besides oily fish,you should introduce lots of dark green leafy vegetables and color1ful fruits into your diet.Most people lack the special vitamins that these brain foods provide.
But you won't do well on your test just because you ate fish the night before. You must eat brain foods regularly. | high22655.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "personal suffering"
},
"options": [
"death",
"happiness",
"teaching life",
"personal suffering"
],
"question": "The theme of Gabriela Mistral's early works is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
... | Gabriela Mistral was born on April 6, 1889, at Vicuna, a small town in northern Chile. Her parents were schoolteachers, but her father abandoned the family when she was 3. Taught by her mother, she began instructing in 1904, achieving success in many high schools. In 1909, her first love died. Shortly afterward her second love married someone else. In 1922 the Mexican minister of education, Jose Vasconcelos, invited her to assist in his reform program, and the peak of this career came the following year, when she was awarded the Chilean title "Teacher of the Nation". In 1925 she retired but remained active.
Gabriela Mistral devoted much time to diplomatic activity, serving as honorary consul in Madrid, Lisbon, Nice, and Los Angeles. She also served as a representative to the United Nations. In fulfillment of these responsibilities, she visited nearly every major country in Europe and Latin America. She also continued her early literary pursuits.
In 1922 Gabriela Mistral's first book, Desolation, a collection of poems previously published in newspapers and magazines, was released through the efforts of Federico de Onis, Director of the Hispanic Institute of New York. It reflected personal sorrow.
Two years later her second book, Tenderness, appeared; it contained some of the poems from Desolation and several new ones. Fourteen years passed before the next, Felling, appeared. It was much happier in tone.
Her last book, Wine Press, in 1954, dealt with most of the subjects previously treated but in a different manner. The winning of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1945 did not assuage the loss of her nephew. Furthermore, by 1944 she had developed diabetes .
Gabriela Mistral went to the United States for medical aid in 1946, living in various places and, after her appointment to the United Nations, moving to Long Island. It was there that she died of cancer on Jan. 10, 1957. | high12796.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "has a bad effect on their studies."
},
"options": [
"helps to improve their grades.",
"contributed to their poor grades.",
"has a bad effect on their studies.",
"determines their jobs in the future."
],
"questio... | The rise in smartphones among young people may be having a direct effect on how successful they become as adults.
Research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has discovered the average university student checks their phones 11 times per lesson, and more than 80 percent believe this tech addiction is interfering with their learning.
A quarter of students across five U.S states also blamed poor grades in exams specifically on the fact they used mobile devices when they should have been concentrating and revising - and these grades could determine the jobs they end up going into.
Barney McCoy, an associate professor of broadcasting at the university, surveyed 777 students at six universities across five states about how they used digital devices in the classroom.
The students were from UNL and the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Nebraska, Morningside College in Iowa, the University of North Carolina, the University of Kansas and the University of Mississippi.
Around two thirds said they used phones, tablets and laptops for "non-classroom purposes" up to ten times during a typical university day, while 15 percent admitted this figure was closer to 30 times.
Among the top reasons why students checked their devices so regularly were staying connected and fighting boredom, at 55 percent. Less than half said the devices were used for classwork.
Texting was the most popular distraction technique at 86 percent, while 68 percent said they used their phones to check personal emails. Two thirds used social networks, 38 percent surfed the web and eight percent admitted to playing games when they should have been studying.
Despite eight out of ten students admitting their devices were distracting, fewer than five percent considered it to be a "very big" distraction.
"I don't think students necessarily think it's a big problem," said McCoy said. "They think it's part of their lives."
"It's become automatic behavior on the part of so many people - they do it without even thinking about it."
He continued, "They've got their laptops open, but they're not always taking notes. Some might have two screens open -- Facebook and their notes." | high6878.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "how to keep their kids learning during the summer"
},
"options": [
"why kids don't like studying during the summer",
"how to keep their kids learning during the summer",
"how to help their kids go over schoolwork and lessons"... | The last school bell rings and your kids are off for the summer.For most kids, those thoughts of schoolwork and lessons are a distant memory that they won't be thinking about again until fall.So it's important for them to continue some learning.
Have Your Kids Hit the Library
Encourage your kids to read by taking them to the library during the summer.If they don't have a library card, get them one.Many local libraries sponsor summer reading clubs that keep your kids wanting to read.Be sure to let your kids pick their own books out; summer is for fun reading.
Have Your Kids Read Every Day
Ask your kids to read outside in the sun.join in with them, and read aloud their favorite books, no matter how many times you have read them.Pick a time every day when you all stop and read as a family together.Nothing will stimulate a child to read than to have adults reading with them.
Find Other Ways to Encourage the Kids
If you are planning a family trip, have them check out the map.Let your kids go online and research where you are going.Have your kids check the weather report in the newspaper or what big event is happening and then have them report back on them at dinnertime.Have your kids check out magazines or websites for recipes that can be prepared.
Learning to express your thoughts in writing in a logical manner is a skill that is often lost.To help your kids, have them write about things during the summer.If your kids love something such as animals, have them write a short report about them to share with the family.If you are going on a trip, have your kids keep a travel journal | high17836.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "angry"
},
"options": [
"excited",
"calm",
"satisfied",
"angry"
],
"question": "Hearing Elizabeth's words about the letter from Yale, Emily felt _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answe... | "Lizzie, there's a letter for you!" Emily called up the stairs to her sister. Elizabeth looked down. "Is it from Harvard? They refused my application once." Emily answered, "No, it's from Yale." Quickly, Elizabeth walked downstairs. She took the letter and opened it. "Rejected again," Elizabeth said unhappily. "Who says women can't be doctors?"
"They are fools not to accept you. You can't let them stop you, Lizzie," Emily said.
"I won't. I'll apply to Geneva Medical College," Elizabeth told her sister. As it turned out, the professors at Geneva Medical College were not fools. They allowed Elizabeth Blackwell to study medicine.
In 1848, a year before Elizabeth would graduate, a typhoid epidemic broke out in New York. Elizabeth wrote to Emily. "There's an outbreak of typhoid, and I am going to help. It is dangerous, so if I should not survive, please do me the honor of studying medicine yourself."
Emily replied, "Encouraged by your dream and success, I have decided to study in medical school, as well."
Having survived the disease, Elizabeth tried to set up a private medical practice. "I graduated first in my class but no one believes a woman can be a good doctor," she said to Emily one day. "All I hear is that doctors should be men, while women should stay home to cook and clean."
Emily said worriedly, "I will graduate in June with my medical degree. What shall we do?" Elizabeth thought for a while and replied, "There's a big house in the poor part of our town. We can practice medicine there for people who couldn't afford care."
Soon with the help of some friends, Elizabeth and Emily bought the house and opened a hospital for poor women and children. "We'll have an all-women staff ," Elizabeth said. "And later, we'll add a medical college for women!" Emily added. At last, Elizabeth realized her dream of being a doctor. | high3900.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "appeals to a large number of users"
},
"options": [
"is free from traffic accidents",
"is crowded with car drivers",
"offers just a few on-line services",
"appeals to a large number of users"
],
"question": "The... | Passage 1
The Information Highway is the road that links computer users to a large number of on-line services: the Web,e-mail,and software,to mention just a few. Not long ago,the Information Highway was a new road,with not many users. Now,everyone seems to want to take a drive, with over 30 million families connected worldwide. Not surprisingly, this well-traveled highway is starting to look like a well-traveled highway. Traffic jams can cause many serious problems,forcing the system to close down for repair. Naturally,accidents will happen on such a crowded road,and usually victims are some files,gone forever. Then,of course,there' s Mr. Cool,with his new broad-band connection,who speeds down the highway faster than most of us can go. But don' t trick yourself:he pays for that speeding.
Passage 2
Want to know more about global warming and how you can help prevent it?Doctor Herman Friedman,who is considered a leading expert on the subject,will speak at Grayson Hall next Friday. Friedman studied environmental science at three well-known universities around the world before becoming a professor in the subject. He has also traveled around the world observing environmental concerns. The gradual bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef,which came into the public eye in 2002,is his latest interest. Signed copies of his color1ful book,which was p ublished just last month,will be on sale after his talk. | high20042.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the country has very rich natural resources"
},
"options": [
"the people in Australia are very lucky",
"Australia has a large number of industries",
"there is the biggest oil fields of the world",
"the country has very ... | Australia is sometimes called "the lucky country". One reason is the wonderful riches under the earth: gold, silver, iron, coal and many other precious metals. Oil and natural gas have helped to build big industries. Victoria, the southeastern state, has a large number of industries. Oil is no problem for them. The Bass Strait, off the coast of Victoria, has been one of the country's biggest oil fields for many years.
South Australia is the driest of all the states, but it does have the Murray River. The river brings greenness and life to the state's southeast corner. In the early days of Australian history, the Murray River was South Australia's main road. Before real roads and railways came, the river carried people and goods from the coast up into the country. Some towns on the Murray still keep the old riverboats, and visitors can ride on them. | high4909.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Back in the mid-20th century pirates did not appear so harmful as today's."
},
"options": [
"It was recorded that pirates started to attack ships in Somalia in the 13th century.",
"Back in the mid-20th century pirates did not appea... | Linking the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, the blue waters of the Gulf of Aden near Somalia are one of the most important trading routes in the world. But they are also the most feared.
Pirates whose targets are ships and their crew often show up there. On September 25, a Ukrainian ship carrying 30 tanks became another victim.
The pirates have reportedly killed one of the crewmen and are now surrounded by the US Navy. But they are still demanding $ 20 million for the release of the ship.
This year alone, more than 50 ships have been attacked, 25 hijacked , and 14 are currently being held.
Of course this is nothing new either. Ever since there has been water and ships there have been pirates. The earliest documented history of pirates dates back to the 13th century in the Mediterranean Sea. Even the famous Roman emperor Julius Caesar was kidnapped by pirates at one time.
Piracy reached its peak in the early l700s, especially in the Caribbean and off the coast of Africa. In the mid-20th-century, most pirates we're common thieves. They used hooks to steal on board commercial ships, and took all that they could find. These pirates were more likely to flee than fight if met by the crew.
However, nowadays piracy has become a multi-million dollar business attracting many in poor countries such as Somalia. "The pirates are well funded and have all the latest equipment, including satellite phones," said a top UN representative in Somalia.
In Asia, however, a trend started where pirates didn't just want to kidnap the stuff, they also wanted to control the ship. They would kill the crewmembers or kidnap them for ransom . After the recent kidnapping of Ukrainian ship, people are also worrying that tanks and arms on board would fall into hands of terrorists.
Last week the UN called a meeting from all affected countries to fight piracy. "The international community is determined to stop these pirates who are weakening efforts to bring peace to Somalia. This cannot and will not be allowed to continue," a representative said. | high20724.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "They won't bother to cook themselves."
},
"options": [
"They have no time to cook at home.",
"They get up too late.",
"They won't bother to cook themselves.",
"They will go to church."
],
"question": "Many Brito... | Go to church, then have a big lunch, then go out to play while mum does the housework. That was a typical British Sunday in the 1960s. But things now could not be more different.
Some British sociologists recently studied the typical British Sunday. They found that people get up later and do less housework than they did 40 years ago. They are far more likely to be out shopping or enjoying themselves than cooking Sunday lunch.
Sunday mornings were busy 40 years ago. Most women caught up on their weekly housework and cooked a nice lunch. They seldom allowed themselves any "leisure" until afternoon, after the dishes were cleaned. Then there would be another rush to the table between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm for tea.
But now, Britons can have brunch at the restaurant. Fewer people bother to cook themselves.
"You only have two free days a week. You don't want to have to waste one because there is nothing to do but watch boring TV," said Elizabeth Biggs, 25, a producer in London.
"On Saturday you are recovering from the week," Biggs added. "Sundays are the last chance for the weekend -- you want to get as much as you can out of the day before you have to go back to work."
In the past, British women usually did their shopping during the week, while the husband was at work. "Now men seem to do that as much as women," said Jonathan Gershuny, a professor who took part in the study.
Men also do more housework now on Sundays. Back in the 1960s, men were far more likely to spend Sundays out of the house -- at the pub or playing football -- before lunch. | high17188.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the darkened sky at daytime"
},
"options": [
"the pink color of the sun",
"the darkened sky at daytime",
"the Last Judgment on Friday",
"the American War of Independence"
],
"question": "New Englanderscrowded in... | At dawn on Friday, May 19, 1780, farmers in New England stopped to wonder at the pink color of the sun. By noon the sky had darkened to midnight blackness, causing Americans, still in the painful struggle of a prolonged war of independence, to light candles and tremble at thoughts of the Last Judgment. As the birds quieted and no storm accompanied the darkness, men and women crowded into churches, where one minister commented that "The people were very attentive." John Greenleaf Whittier later wrote that "Men prayed, and women wept; all ears grew sharp . . ."
A recent study of researchers, led by Richard Guyette from the University of Missouri's Tree Ring Laboratory, has shown that vast forest fires in the Algonquin Highlands of southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada brought this event upon New England. The scientists have discovered "fire scars" on the rings for that year, left when the heat of a wildfire has killed a part of a tree's cambium . Evidence collected also points to a drought that year. An easterly wind and low barometric pressure helped force smoke into the upper atmosphere. "The record fits pretty close," says Guyette. "We had the right fuel, the drought. The conditions were all there."
Lacking the ability to communicate quickly over long distances, Americans in 1780 remained in the dark about the event, which had disappeared by the next day. Over the next several months, the papers carried heated debates about what brought the darkness. Some were the voices of angry prediction, such as one Massachusetts farmer who wrote, "Oh! Backsliding New-England, attend now to the things which belong to your peace before they are forever hid from your eyes." Others gave different answers. One stated that a "flaming star" had passed between the earth and the sun. Ash, argued another commentator. The debate, carried on throughout New England, where there were no scientific journals or academies yet, reflected an unfolding culture of scientific enquiry already sweeping the Western world, a revolution nearly as influential as the war for independence from the English.
New Englanders would not soon forget that dark day; it lived on in folklore, poems, and sermons for generations. | high16296.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "people may appear more trustworthy and cooperative"
},
"options": [
"people can become good at speaking and listening",
"people will become the centre of attention",
"people will become more confident in themselves",
"p... | What would we do without humour? How would we enjoy speaking with others if we did not use humour to invite a smile or a laugh? And how would we manage in times when we feel sad and lonely?
Using humour we lighten up each day, and we find common ground with others. We build healthy relationships with others by knowing what to say and what to do. When our use of humour is successful, we build trust and cooperation. We discover that we are not alone, we learn to accept our mistakes, and we look for the good in others and in ourselves. Most importantly, we create common ground, as humour is an essential skill needed to communicate well with others. A few well-chosen words get the attention of others and make a serious point without their getting defensive . Whether we prefer to be the centre of attention or to be shy and quiet, humour can be adjusted to suit our personality.
However, when we lose our sense of humour, we often get critical or defensive, and we blame others or ourselves for what was said, and how it was said.
To ensure that our humour is welcomed by others, we need to combine our humour with speaking clearly and listening effectively.
Have you ever noticed that successful individuals often use self-depreciating humour to humble themselves, without putting themselves down? These individuals understand that every person has strengths and weaknesses and that self-depreciating humour invites others to feel more confident and equal. In this way, humour is the shortest distance between two people.
Humour is the spice of life, as it brings happiness, numbs pain and it makes us speak and listen well. | high22133.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "his memory is not often used"
},
"options": [
"his father or mother may have a poor memory",
"he does not use his arm or legs for some time",
"his memory is not often used",
"he can't read or write"
],
"question... | If you do not use your arm or your legs for some time, they become weak; when you start using them again, they slowly become strong again. Everybody knows that. Yet many people do not seem to know that memory works in the same way. When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice by using it. When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong. If a friend says that his arms and legs are weak, we know that it is his own fault . But if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents are to blame , and few of us know that it is just his own fault. Have you ever found that some people can't read or write but usually they have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write and they have to remember things they cannot write down in a little notebook. They have to remember days, names, songs and stories; so their memory is the whole time being exercised. So if you want to have a good memory, learn from the people: Practice remembering. | high1871.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "America"
},
"options": [
"Asia",
"Africa",
"Europe",
"America"
],
"question": "Tobacco first appeared in _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"a... | People have smoked cigarettes for a long time now. The tobacco which is used to make cigarettes was first grown in what is now part of the United States. Christopher Columbus, who discovered America, saw the Indians smoking. Soon the dried leaves were transported to Europe. In the late 1800s, the Turks made cigarettes popular.
Cigarette smoke contains at least two harmful substances, tar and nicotine. Tar, which forms as the tobacco burns, damages the lungs and therefore affects breathing. Nicotine, which is found in the leaves, causes the heart to beat faster and increases the breathing rate. Nicotine in large can kill a person by stopping a person's breathing muscles. Smokers usually take in small amounts that the body can quickly break down.
Nicotine can make new smokers feel dizzy or sick to their stomachs. The heart rate for young smokers increases 2 to 3 beats per minute. Nicotine also lowers skin temperature and reduces blood flow in the legs and feet. It plays an important role in increasing smokers' risk of heart disease and stroke.
Smoking cigarettes is dangerous. Cigarette smoking was the cause of lung cancer and several other deadly diseases. | high14481.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "He has founded the Fifteen London."
},
"options": [
"He is a well-known American cook.",
"He is invited to attend the G20 summit.",
"He has founded the Fifteen London.",
"He is one of the apprentices serving leaders of ... | Jamie Oliver has been invited by Gordon Brown to prepare a banquet at No.10 for President Barack Obama and other leaders of the G20, offering a cut-price menu to reflect times when trade and industry are far from prosperous and the rate of employment is decreasing.
Downing Street sources say Oliver, the well-known chef, will cook using "honest high-street products" and avoid expensive or "fancy" ingredients.
The prime minister is trying to avoid a repeat of the embarrassment last year when he sat down to an 18-course banquet at a Japanese summit to discuss world food shortages.
Obama, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and other leaders will be served by apprentices from Fifteen, the London restaurant Oliver founded to help train young people in poverty in order to make a living by mastering a skill.
Brown wants the dinner to reflect the emphasis of the London summit, which he hopes will lead to an agreement to lift the world out of recession."To be invited to cook for such an important group of people, who are trying to solve some of the world's major problems, is really a privilege," said Oliver.
"I'm hoping the menu I'm working on will show British food and produce is some of the best in the world, but also show we have pioneered a high-quality apprentice scheme at Fifteen London that is giving young people a skill to be proud of."
The chef has not yet finalized me menu, but is expected to draw inspiration from his latest book, Jamie's Ministry of Food, which has budget recipes for beef and ale stew and "impressive" chocolate fudge cake. (
) | high15947.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "humankind has experienced a generalization rather than specialization in ability"
},
"options": [
"humankind is very important to earlier species, such as the primate group",
"human beings are limited by the environment while anima... | Now let's look ourselves as a species in relation to ecosystem balance.Modern scientists believe that humankind, like other animals, evolved through millions of years of changes and adaptations to the environment and that our most direct evolutionary ancestor was probably an earlier species of the primate(monkey, ape) group. Despite this similarity with other creatures, however, the evolution of humankind differs from that of other species in one important and unique way.
In other species, evolution has led to specialization, both in the species abilities and in its place within the environmental structure. For example, the giraffe is much adapted to feeding on treetops, but it is also specialized and thus limited to feeding on trees and shrubs. Only with great difficulty can it bend down to graze on the ground. Similarly, the anteater is extremely well adapted to eating ants but is unable to catch or eat other animals. The same is true for countless other species.
For humankind it is opposite. Our evolution had led to a very generalized ability. Our highly developed intelligence and ability to make and handle tools mean that we can do almost anything. Humans evolved in such a way that we are able to move into every environment on Earth and even into space. No natural competitor offers great resistance, and other natural enemies such as disease have been controlled.
Said another way, we see in humankind a great imbalance between biological potential and environmental resistance. The result is the rapidly increasing world population, frequently referred to as the population explosion. Further, to support our growing population, natural ecosystems are being increasingly displaced by human habitations, agriculture, and other human supporting activities. | high1865.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Wednesday"
},
"options": [
"Wednesday",
"Monday",
"Friday",
"Saturday"
],
"question": "It can be inferred that the Russian hostage crisis began on _ .",
"question_type": "summarization_questions"
},
{... | MOSCOW, Sept. 4 (Xinhuanet) --- At least 335 people including 155 children, were killed in the three-day hostage crisis in a southern Russian school, Russia's Deputy Prosecutor General Sergei Fridinsky said on Saturday.
"We are still identifying the bodies. We have recovered 322 bodies, and 155 of them are children," Fridinsky was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.
The prosecutor said the death toll would probably grow as the clean-up operation is continuing at the site, but it will not rise considerably.
Emergency workers pulled the bodies out of the school on Saturday, after Russian special forces rescued more than 400 children and adults hostages in a special operation that has suppressed the hostage -taking standoff by Friday night.
Valery Andreyev, regional chief of the Federal Security Service (FSS), said Friday that over 30 armed militants took part in the hostage-taking crisis and Russian troops captured three of them alive on Friday, according to the Interfax news agency.
He said people of Russian origin and foreign nationals were among the killed hostage-takers. Earlier official information showed that ten Arab militants were killed in Friday's raid .
Andreyev said a large amount of explosives and mines planted by hostage-takers in the school have been found.
Rusian Presidnet Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit early Saturday to the southern Russian town of Beslan where commandos stormed the school to end the hostage crisis. He accused the attackers of trying to _ an racial conflict that would engulf Russia's troubled Caucasus Mountains region. | high22127.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because they are proud of their own food."
},
"options": [
"Because they will spend many hours in McDonald's.",
"Because French food culture is very impressive.",
"Because they also have the fast-food habit.",
"Because ... | French people pride themselves on their delicious foods, such as cheese, baguettes and croissants(two kinds of food). In fact, food is an important part of French culture. Families and friends spend hours over the dinner table each night. It is the opposite of the fast-food habit common in other parts of the West.
It's the reason why the French are very angry that a McDonald's is opening beneath Paris's most famous museum: the Louvre . The new restaurant will be the 1,142nd McDonald's in France, and will open in the underground approach to the museum. But many French people can't understand why this American chain is opening in the heart of French culture.
However, McDonald's is paying no notice to the complaint. McDonald's now has 31,000 chains worldwide. Tourists are hungry, and opening chains in tourist spots pays well.
There is another chain threatening France's heritage. This time it is coffee rather than burgers. As more and more Starbucks open in Paris, traditional French cafes are forced to close.
The trouble with American companies opening chains throughout the world is the destructive effect they can have on a country's culture. How can a small, independent coffee shop compete with the multi-billion dollar chain? You can go to a Starbucks in any city in the world, but you can only go to a Parisian cafe in France.
Responsibility is with the tourists. A McDonald's wouldn't open so near the Louvre if it weren't not going to make money. Similarly, a Pizza Hut wouldn't overlook Egypt's Great Pyramid if no one wants to sit in it. Maybe next time you visit the Great Wall, you should think twice before ordering a Cappuccino in the Starbucks. | high23239.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "people can become more mature and wiser"
},
"options": [
"people can celebrate their birthday",
"people can receive many presents",
"people can become more mature and wiser",
"people will feel younger at heart"
],
... | Happy birthday! Do birthday really make people happy? Of course they do. Birthday celebrate the day when we were born. Besides, that extra candle on the cake suggest another year of growth and maturity--or so we hope. We all like to imagine that we are getting wiser and not just older. Most of us enjoy seeing the wonder of growth in others, as well. For instance, seeing our children develop and learn new things makes us feel proud. For Americans, like people in most cultures, growing up is a wonderful process. But growing old? That is a different story.
Growing old is not exactly for people in youth-oriented American culture. Most Americans like to look young, act young and feel young. As the old saying goes, "You're young as you feel." Older people joke about how many years young they are, rather than how many years old. People in some countries value the aged as a source of experience and wisdom. But Americans seem to favor those that are young, or at least "young at heart".
Many older Americans find the "golden years" to be anything but golden. Economically, "senior citizens" often struggle just to get by. Retirement at the age of 65 brings a sharp decrease in personal income. Social security benefits usually cannot make up the difference. Older people may suffer from poor nutrition, medical care, and housing. Some even experience age discrimination. American sociologist Pat Moore once dressed up like an older person and wandered city streets. She was often treated rudely--even cheated and robbed. However, dressed as a young person, she received much more respect.
Unfortunately, the elderly population in America is increasing fast. Why? People are living longer. Fewer babies are being born. And middle-aged "baby boomers" are rapidly entering the group of the elderly. America may soon be a place where wrinkles are
. Marketing experts are ready noticing this growing group of consumer. | high15953.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "system"
},
"options": [
"system",
"man",
"ghost",
"servant"
],
"question": "In the kitchen of the future, there is a _ helping you.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"an... | You are standing in the kitchen and a voice says, "Add a little more salt to that soup." Yes, it's always nice to have someone help you when you're cooking. But this voice is not from a man. You are alone! Then where does it come from? Is it from a ghost? No, this isn't a ghost kitchen--it's the kitchen of the future.
Scientists are working to improve everything in the kitchen, from fridges to tables, and even the ways we cook. They are making a system. It will help a person cook a meal. You don't need cookbooks. You can hear how to cook food.
The fridge of the smart kitchen has a scanner. It looks at the foods in the fridge. It will order more milk from the store when your milk has gone bad or there is no more in the fridge. The gloves will test the temperature of everything they touch and say, "Need to cook longer" or "Hot and ready to eat". If you leave them on the stove by mistake, they'll say, "Fire!" Even the knives and spoons will speak. For example, if your food is bad, the knives and spoons will tell you not to eat it.
The future kitchen may look wonderful, but it's not cheap. The multimedia fridge costs about 8,000 dollars. So even though high-tech kitchens are no longer a dream, not everyone can afford one. | high20730.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The iPads may be unavailable for some traditional courses."
},
"options": [
"Some students wouldn't like to have iPads in schools.",
"The iPads are too expensive for school students to buy.",
"Most experts oppose the idea tha... | For incoming freshmen at western Connecticut's suburban Brookfield High School, lifting a backpack weighed down with textbooks is about to give way to tapping out notes and touching electronic pages on an iPad, A few hours away, every student at Burlington High School near Boston.will also start the year with new school-issued iPads, each loaded with electronic textbooks and other online resources in place of traditional texts.Apple officials say they know of more than 600 districts that have launched what are called "one-to-one" programs.
At Burlington High in suburban Boston, Principal Patrick Larkin says the $500 iPads is better than textbooks in the long term, though he said the school will still use traditional texts in some courses if suitable electronic programs aren't yet available." Lark/n said of textbooks, "but
But some experts warn that the districts need to ensure they can support the wireless infrastructure , repairs and other costs that accompany a switch to such a tech-heavy approach. Mark Warschauer, an education and informatics professor said, "I think people will like it. I really don't know anybody in high school that wouldn't want to get an iPad," he said. "We're always using technology at home, then when you're at school it's textbooks.so it's a good way to put all of that together." Districts are varied in their policies on how they police students' use.
And the nation's textbook publishing industry, accounting for $ 5.5 billion in yearly sales to secondary schools, is taking notice of the trend with its own shift in a competitive race toward developing curriculum specifically for iPads. Jay Diskey, executive director of the Association of American Publishers' schools division, said all of the major textbook publishers are moving toward electronic offerings, but at least in the short term, traditional bound textbooks are here to stay."I think one of the real key questions that will be answered over the next several years is what sort of things work best in print for students and what smt of things work best digitally, " | high16282.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Her fiance's sudden death."
},
"options": [
"Her fiance's sudden death.",
"Constant heavy snow.",
"Her fiance abandoning her.",
"Her job being refused again."
],
"question": "What made the author feel sad?",
... | The day my fiance fell to his death, it started to snow, just like the bottom hadn't fallen out of my world when he fell off the roof. His body, when I found it, was lightly covered with snow. It snowed almost every day for the next four months, while I sat on the couch and watched it pile up.
One morning, I shuffled downstairs and was surprised to see a snowplow clearing my driveway and the bent back of a woman shoveling my walk. I dropped to my knees, crawled through the living room, and back upstairs so those good Samaritans would not see me. I was _ . My first thought was, how would I ever repay them? I didn't have the strength to brush my hair, let alone shovel someone's walk.
Before Jon's death, I took pride in the fact that I rarely asked for help or favors. I defined myself by my competence and independence. How could I respect myself if all I did was sit on the couch everyday and watch the snow fall?
Learning how to receive the love and support that came my way wasn't easy. Friends cooked for me and I cried because I couldn't even help them set the table. "I'm not usually this lazy," I swept. Finally, my friend Kathy sat down with me and said, "Mary, cooking for you is not a burden. It makes me feel good to be able to do something for you."
Over and over, I heard similar words of comfort from the people who supported me during those dark days. One very wise man told me, "You are not doing nothing. Being fully open to your grief may be the hardest work you will ever do."
In many ways I have changed for the better. I have been surprised to learn that there is incredible freedom that comes from facing one's worst fear and walking away whole. | high21348.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The cost of living is on the rise."
},
"options": [
"More Americans are dong it for fun.",
"The price of oil is lower than before.",
"There' s a growing need for fruits.",
"The cost of living is on the rise."
],
... | Cassandra Feeley finds it hard to manage on her husband' s income. So this year she did something more than a hobby: She planted vegetables in her yard. For her fist garden, Ms Feeley has put in 15 tomato plants, and five rows of a variety of vegetables. The family' s old farm house has become a chicke n house, its residents arriving next month. Last year, Ms. Rita Gartin kept a small garden. This year she has made it much larger because, she said,"The cost of everything is going up and I was looking to lose a few pounds too; so it' s a win-win situation all around."
They are among the growing number of Americans who, driven by higher living costs and a falling economy , have taken up vegetable gardening for the first time. Others have increased the size of their existing gardens. Seed companies and garden shops say that not since the 1970s has there been such an increase in interest in growing food at home. Now many gardens across the country have been sold out for several months. In Austin, Tex, some of the gardens have a three-year waiting list.
George C. Ball Jr, owner of a company, said sales of vegetable seeds and plants are up by 40%, over last year, double the averag e growth of last five years. Mr. Ball argues that some of the reasons have been building for the last few years. The big one is striking rise in the cost of food like bread and milk, together with the increases in the price of fruit and vegetables. Food prices have increase of higher oil price. People are driving less, taking fewer vacations, so there more time to garden. | high20056.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "provides convenience for American students to study in China"
},
"options": [
"provides convenience for American students to study in China",
"was made by First Lady Michelle Obama in 2009",
"got little support from the Chine... | First lady Michelle Obama urged students to visit China at the "100,000 Strong" China Study Abroad Forum at Howard University.
President Barack Obama announced the "100,000 Strong" Initiative during his 2009 visit to China. The program aims to increase the number of American students studying in China by making study abroad more affordable.
During the event at Howard, Mrs. Obama spoke about the importance of studying abroad. "Studying in a country like China is about so much more than just improving your own prospects in the global market. The fact is that with every friendship you make and every bond of trust you establish you are shaping an image of America projected to the rest of the world and making America known better." she said.
Mrs. Obama encouraged students to set aside the opinion that studying abroad is for "rich kids only" or for those attending "certain schools". The first lady also announced that the Chinese government is giving 10,000 "Bridge Scholarships" to cover costs for American students studying in China.
Some students who had studied in China shared their experiences. David Marzban from Pepperdine University recalled a time when he formed a cross-cultural bond with a complete stranger at a restaurant near Fudan University in Shanghai. He noticed a young chef signaling him to come over. "He pressed the play button on his media player and started singing California Dreaming and wanted me to sing along with him," Marzban said. "At that time I knew a great friendship had started during my first two weeks in China."
Nicole Baden from Howard University recalled how her time in China really helped her master the language. "You have to experience the culture while learning the language to really master it to understand why things are how they are compared to your own culture," Baden said.
12-year-old Sarah Davis, who studied in China last summer, said she was very excited to hear Michelle Obama talk about the country. "I love Chinese. Out of all the languages I've learned, Chinese is the most difficult and interesting." She said. | high3914.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "give them the reason for the decision of the school"
},
"options": [
"analyze the test results of the students",
"suggest students'reading at their own pace and playing",
"tell them about the conclusion of the research",
... | A public primary school in New York City has stopped giving its students homework.
P.S.116 Principal Jane Hsu wrote a letter to parents last month explaining that after more than a year of analyzing studies,the school had concluded that students'after-school time would be better spent on activities like reading at their own pace and playing rather than working on homework.
Hsu's letter says that many studies indicate that there is no connection between homework and academic success.Indeed,there are some studies that show that the link between homework and success is doubtful at the primary school level.
An important 1989 study on homework by Professor Cooper found that doing homework led students to perform better in school as they grew older.In later grades,students who did homework performed increasingly better than students who did not.In 2006,Cooper published a study that analyzed 15 years'worth of data on the effectiveness of homework.He found that homework had a more positive impact on students as they aged,and identified stronger relations between homework and achievement for students in grades seven through 12 than for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
A 2012 study from the Indiana University School of Education on 10th-graders found little relation between time spent on homework and better course grades,although it did find a positive relation between homework time and standardized test performance.
Some parents of P.S.116 students are not happy with the decision to _ homework.
"I think they should have homework--some of it is about discipline.I want(my daughter)to have fun,but I also want her to be working towards a goal,"Daniel Tasman,the father of a second--grader at the schoo1.
"You have to do homework in order to gain;you have to do homework because they may not be able to comprehend everything in school,"Sharon Blake,a grandmother of a P.S.116 student. | high10195.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "They are very high and beautiful in this area."
},
"options": [
"They are on the west of the Hudson River.",
"They are very high and beautiful in this area.",
"They can be seen from the Appalachian family.",
"They gathe... | Whoever has made a voyage up the Hudson River must remember the Catskill Mountains. They are a branch of the great Appalachian family, and can be seen to the west rising up to a noble height and towering over the surrounding country. When the weather is fair and settled, they are clothed in blue and purple, and print their beautiful shapes on the clear evening sky, but sometimes when it is cloudless, gray steam gathers around the top of the mountains which, in the last rays of the setting sun, will shine and light up like a crown of glory.
At the foot of these mountains, a traveler may see light smoke going up from a village, In that village, and in one of the houses (which, to tell the exact truth, was sadly timeworn and weather-beaten), there lived many years ago, a simple, good-natured fellow by the name of Rip Van Winkle.
Rip's great weakness was a natural dislike of all kinds of money-making labor. It could not be from lack of diligence ,for he could sit all day on a wet rock and fish without saying a word, even though he was not encouraged by a single bite. He would carry a gun on his shoulder for hours, walking through woods and fields to shoot a few birds or squirrels. He would never refuse to help a neighbor, even in the roughest work. The women of the village, too, used to employ him to do such little jobs as their less helpful husbands would not do for them. In a word. Rip was ready to attend to everybody's business but his own.
If left to himself, he would have whistled life away in perfect satisfaction but his wife was always mad at him for his idleness . Morning, noon, and night, her tongue was endlessly going, so that he was forced to escape to the outside of the house , the only side which, in truth, belongs to a _ | high8841.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Their RV couldn't move in the snow."
},
"options": [
"They ran short of fuel.",
"It snowed heavily.",
"They couldn't find their way.",
"Their RV couldn't move in the snow."
],
"question": "What is the main cause... | Rescue workers found a family in their RV on Tuesday after 17 days in the mountains near the prefix = st1 /Oregoncoast.
Peter Stivers, Marlo Hill-Stivers, their two children Sabastyan, 9, and Gabrayell, 8, and Hill-Stivers's mother and stepfather, Elbert and Becky Higginbotham, were in the vehicle. On their way home from a trip to the coast, the family got lost in the mountains at an elevation of about 3,800 feet. What's worse, they were trapped in four feet of snow.
"We had fuel and food, but we were running short," said Elbert Higginbotham. "We were rationing ."
When the family was reported missing, rescue teams from Oregon and Californiasearched likely routes to the coast. But with no leads and no idea where the family was heading, those conducting the unsuccessful search eventually called it off.
In the evenings, Sabastyan and Gabrayell entertained the adults by reading jokes from Reader's Digest aloud. The family members survived mostly on dehydrated food .
On Monday, Hill-Stivers and her husband decided to go for help. They packed a tent, wool blankets, tuna fish, honey, and hand-warmers to take into the wilderness with them. The children stayed safe in the RV with their grandparents.
The couple were found the following day by a US Bureau of Land Management worker. A rescue team in a helicopter located the rest of the family. The family was driven out of the snowbound area on snow machines. Parents and children were happily reunited.
"They enjoyed it," Peter Stivers said of his children's experience. "They didn't know we were in trouble." For the adults, it was quite an ordeal . They had to worry about survival and rescue, and about keeping everyone calm. "I'm so proud of my family," said Elbert Higginbotham. "They stuck together, they didn't lose it." | high22899.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "is crazy about reading e-books"
},
"options": [
"likes playing video games",
"has great love for literature",
"seldom uses e-books at home",
"is crazy about reading e-books"
],
"question": "According to the text... | Julianna Huth, a second grader at Green Primary School, in Green, Ohio, is a fan of the digital world. The 8-year-old enjoys e-books at home and at school. "It's just cool that you can read on your IPad," said Julianna, who started using e-books when she was 6. "It's more fun and you learn more from it."
Children would say that books on e-readers are fun. They include music, cartoons and other interactive functions that make reading a book feel like playing a video game. But is it better than a book?
Julianna's teacher, Kourtney Denning, thinks highly of e-books. "Traditional books aren't good enough anymore," she said. "We have to transform our learning as we know it."
Julianna's mother, Cathy Ivancic, said that electronic devices like the IPad were new and fun and gave children the motivation to read, including those who didn't like reading.
Some people, however, are suggesting a closer look, especially for younger children learning to read. "Read traditional books with your child. We don't have any evidence that any kind of electronic device is better than a parent," said Julia Parish-Morris, who has studied e-books and how children interact with them.
Ms. Parish-Morris and educators are concerned that children can be distracted by the cartoons and gamelike features within e-books. Keeping a focus on the story is important in developing reading and writing skills.
"The most important thing is sitting and talking with your children," said Gabrille Strouse, a professor who has studied e-books. "Whether you're reading a book or an e-book, co-interacting, co-viewing is the best way for them to learn."
Lisa Guernsey, director of the early education initiative at the New America Foundation, says conversations about how events of a story relate to(......) the child's own life, or asking open-ended questions about what happened, are examples of natural dialogue. But this kind of interaction is often different with e-books , she said, and in some cases, disappears.
"We are seeing some evidence that parents expect the e-books to do it all and are stepping back from communicating with their children," she said. | high24230.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "He acted quickly."
},
"options": [
"He was sad.",
"He acted quickly.",
"He panicked.",
"He felt helpless."
],
"question": "How did the science teacher react to the accident?",
"question_type": "factiod_quest... | Although in 1947 we were still very new to the atomic age, we knew about mushroom clouds. A huge crack spread across the library wall upstairs, sending teachers and students screaming down the hall.
Had a new world war started? Pale-faced, our young science teacher quickly organized us for a fire drill. We huddled in little groups on the beach side of the school grounds and watched the spreading cloud darken the bright spring sky.
Rumors flew every which way, although two hours would pass before we got the full story.One rumor we heard was that the Texas City Monsanto Chemical plant had blown up; children whose parents worked there began to weep.
I froze--that was where my father was working that day.
The school bell called us back inside, and we were dismissed to find our way home the best way we could. I-d walked a quarter of the three-mile trip to my home when a car horn startled me to attention. My Uncle Barney pulled up alongside me in his old Ford. The instant I saw him, I knew my father was gone. Otherwise, Papa would have come for me himself.
As if in slow motion from a great distance, Uncle Barney motioned for me to get in. Numb with grief, I crawled into the back seat. I barely took notice of the man sitting there, and didn't recognize him until he reached for me. When Papa put his strong arms around me, I forgot for a moment that Cherokees aren't supposed to cry.
Many of my fellow students lost their parents in the explosion. Tragedy would one day come to our family, as it inevitably comes to all, but on the day Texas City blew up, it miraculously passed us by. Because he lost his keys on that April morning, as he explained, my father lived for another 32 years-we were to have a second lifetime forever. | high9587.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "help kids keep healthy"
},
"options": [
"help kids keep healthy",
"train more young reporters",
"encourage kids to eat more eggs",
"invite kids to visit the White House"
],
"question": "The purpose of the \"Let'... | More than 30,000 people went to the White House on Monday for the 136th Easter Egg Roll . President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama held the event by inviting thousands of kids to color and look for eggs. The theme of the day was "Hop Into Healthy, Swing Into Shape." It was part of the First Lady's "Let's Move!" program to reduce obesity rates among American kids. Mrs. Obama spoke to young reporters about her goal to get children to eat right and keep moving.
"We are working to make sure that kids born today grow up healthy, learn how to have balanced meals, and get more physical activity into their lives," she said.
Mrs. Obama said she wants children across the nation to understand that "exercise isn't just hard work, it's play. If you're running around with your dog, you're getting exercise. If you walk up the stairs, that's exercise, But if you're sitting in front of the TV or on a computer game, you're not exercising."
The First Lady said that for kids who have balanced meals most of the time, having a special snack, like chocolate, will not hurt." And if you are active, you can splurge a little more," she said. Mrs. Obama's favorite "splurge food" is French fries. But she balances her splurging by exercising almost every day. She loves to play tennis and she practices yoga.
"A lot of kids look up to athletes, and I think it's important for athletes to share their good habits," Mrs. Obama said. "Kids aren't just going to wake up and be LeBron James. He's practicing and eating right and working out and training. Our athletes can be really good messengers to kids who look up to them--they can say to kids, 'If you really want to be like me, then you really do need to eat your vegetables.'" | high8699.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "The decrease of grey matter in the ACC affects emotion ."
},
"options": [
"Watching the TV for a long time can reduce grey matter .",
"The decrease of grey matter in the ACC affects emotion .",
"People with less grey matter p... | A study made by University of Sussex found that men and women who frequently used several types of technology at the same time had less grey matter in a key part of the brain . The researchers said : " Simultaneously , using mobile phones , laptops and other media devices could change the structure of our brains . " Worryingly , the part of the brain that shrinks is involved in processing emotion . The finding has linked multi-tasking with a shortened attention span , depression , anxiety and lower grades at school .
The researchers began by asking 75 healthy men and women how often they divided their attention between different types of technology . This could mean sending a text message while listening to music and checking email , or speaking on the phone while watching TV and surfing the web . The volunteers were then given brain scans which showed they had less grey matter in a region called the anterior cingulated cortex ( ACC ) . The findings held even when differences in personality were taken into account . The study , published in the journal PLOS ONE , is the first to make a link between multi-tasking and the structure of the brain .
Researcher KepKeeLoh said : " Media multi-tasking is become more popular in our lives today and there is growing concern about its impacts on our cognition and social-emotional well-being . " He added that more researches are needed to prove that multi-tasking shrinks the brain . This is because it is also possible that people with less grey matter in the ACC are more likely to use lots of devices simultaneously .
Scientists have previously described brain structure can be altered on prolonged exposure to new environments and experience . Other studies have shown that training - such as learning magic or taxi drivers learning the map of London - can increase grey matter densities in certain parts . | high12782.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Spain"
},
"options": [
"Egypt",
"Persia",
"Spain",
"Italy"
],
"question": "According to most experts, the guitar developed into a modern form like today in _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
... | Probably no other musical instrument is as popular as the guitar around the world. Musicians use the guitar for almost all kinds of music. Country and western music would not be the same without a guitar. The traditional Spanish folk music called Flamenco could not exist without a guitar. The sound of American blues music would not be the same without the sad cry of the guitar. And rock and roll music would almost be impossible without this instrument.
Music experts do not agree about where the guitar was first played. Most agree it is ancient. Some experts say an instrument very much like a guitar was played in Egypt more than 1,000 years ago. Most experts say that the ancestor of the modern guitar was brought to Spain from Persia sometime in the 12thcentury. The guitar continued to develop in Spain. In the 1700s it became similar to the instrument we know today.
Many famous musicians played the instrument. The famous Italian violins Niccole Paganism played and wrote music for the guitar in the early 1800s. Franz Schubert used the guitar to write some of his famous works. In modern times Spanish guitarist Andres Segovia helped make the instrument extremely popular.
In the 1930s, Les Paul began experimenting to make an electric guitar. He invented the solid-bodied electric guitar in 1946. The Gibson Guitar Company began producing its famous Les Paul Guitar in 1952. It became a powerful influence on popular music. The instrument has the same shape and the same six strings as the traditional guitar, but it sounds very different. Les Paul produced a series of extremely popular recordings that introduced the public to this music. Listen to this Les Paul recording. It was the fifth most popular song in the United States in 1952. It is called "Meet Mister Callaghan." | high14494.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "After he had thought about the two wrong ways."
},
"options": [
"After he had thought about the two wrong ways.",
"Long before he moved into the street.",
"When the other boys came down to the playground.",
"As soon as ... | Robert had just moved into the street and he felt strange that he was not wanted. He knew that perhaps the other boy students were trying to get an idea of what kind of a boy he was. This did not help to make him less lonely. He was new and he had to be tested. Still, proving himself would not be all that easy. He did not want to run with bad boys or get into something against the law to prove that he was strong. No! He must show what he was made of in a more helpful way. That would be better when he got the idea.
The next day was Saturday. He knew that most of the boys would be down on the playground and choose up sides for the Saturday game. Robert knew he could play well and that just might be enough to prove he was strong and to make friends with them. He arrived early and did his step exercises. He shot the ball several times and did some other exercises--the most difficult and most wonderful in basketball. Then the boys came. Robert went through what he had done before the game and showed what he could do.
No one said a word. The boys just looked at each other and thought about it. In the end, when it was all over, the biggest of the group just smiled and shook his head. Robert knew he had made it. | high22126.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "to be helped out of the prison"
},
"options": [
"to be excused",
"to go away freely with his family",
"to be a free man in the prison",
"to be helped out of the prison"
],
"question": "The prisoner had a wish _... | The prisoner had waited many months for help, but none had come. Now he felt he would do something to gain his freedom, to be free again to go about the world as he wished. But he could think of no way to run away.
He spent many hours thinking of his life before he was captured, regretting the mistakes he had made and dreaming of the joys he had known. And over and over he said to himself that he was being punished for no reason. He was guilty of no crime, but he had not been given a chance to explain the events which made him guilty.
Then one night the guard who sat outside the prisoner's door fell asleep. When he noticed this, the prisoner was struck by a feeling of hope. Perhaps he could steal the keys while the guard was sleeping.
Silently the prisoner moved toward the guard. Very gently he lifted the ring of keys from the guard's belt. Then he turned and crawled toward the door. Could he work the lock from the inside? The key turned and the door was opened. Within two minutes he had crossed the yard and climbed the wall. Then he ran across the field, free at last, a smile of joy beginning to spread across his face. | high12783.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "different foods or sometimes none"
},
"options": [
"no breakfast at all",
"very rich breakfast",
"different foods or sometimes none",
"little food for breakfast"
],
"question": "During the test, the people were ... | Having Breakfast Or Not
Will it matter if you don't take your breakfast? A short time ago, a test was given in the United States. People of different ages, from 12 to 83, were asked to have a test. During the test, these people were given all kinds of breakfast, and sometimes they got no breakfast at all. Scientists wanted to see how well their bodies worked when they had eaten different kinds of breakfast.
The results show that if a person eats a right breakfast, he or she will work better than if he or she has no breakfast. If a student has fruit, eggs, bread and milk before going to school, he or she will learn more quickly and listen more carefully in class. The result is opposite to what some people think. Having no breakfast will not help you lose weight . This is because people become so hungry at noon that they eat too much for lunch. They will gain weight instead of losing it. You will lose more weight if you reduce your other meals. | high8698.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "stop the noodles from sticking together"
},
"options": [
"make the instant noodles more delicious",
"stop the noodles from sticking together",
"help keep the noodles from going bad",
"make it easy to cook the instant no... | It is very easy to cook instant noodles in a short time by putting the noodles into the boiling water. However, have you ever thought whether it is the right way of cooking instant noodles?
When we first took out the noodles, we can notice that the noodles are joined together nicely as a piece. However, few people know that when the instant noodles are made, wax coating will be put on the noodles. The wax coating on the instant noodles is used to prevent the noodles from sticking together. It makes the noodles look very nice.
Researches have shown that the wax coating on the noodles is quite harmful to our health. If you eat the instant noodles today, you'd better wait for several days before you eat instant noodles next time since our bodies need about 3 days to clear the wax coating away from our bodies. Do you know the consequence of having too much wax coating in our bodies? It will lead to cancer if the wax coating is stored in our bodies for a long time.
So it is very important to wash away the wax coating on the instant noodles if we don't want our bodies to be in danger. You can do like this: 1. Wash the instant noodles with warm water first, and then pour away the water containing the wax coating. 2. Repeat Step 1 and try to stir the noodles to wash away the wax coating on the noodles before cooking it in a new pot of water.
I hope this passage will make those who enjoy eating instant noodles and eat the instant noodles often know about the hidden danger of instant noodles. Although the instant noodles are very easy to cook and help us save a lot of time, I still don't think it healthy to eat them too often or too much. Why not say "No" to instant noodles and have some healthy food? | high22640.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "spent much time outdoor"
},
"options": [
"became disabled",
"spent much time outdoor",
"always stayed at home",
"was ignored by his parents"
],
"question": "When he was a child, the writer _ .",
"question... | Bicycles, roller skates and skateboards are dangerous. I still have scars on my knees from my childhood run-ins with various wheeled devices. Admittedly, I was a foolish kid, but I'm glad I didn't spend my childhood trapped indoors to protect me from any injury.
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." But parents can't handle it when teenagers put this theory into practice. And now technology has become the new field for the age-old battle between adults and their freedom-seeking kids.
Locked indoors, unable to get on their bicycles and hang out with their friends, teens have turned to social media and their mobile phones to gossip and socialize with their friends. What they do online often mirrors what they might otherwise do if their mobility weren't so heavily restricted in the age of helicopter parenting. Social media and smartphones have become so popular in recent years because teens need a place to call their own. They want the freedom to explore their identity and the world around them. Instead of climbing out of windows, they jump online.
As teens have moved online, parents have projected their fears onto the Internet, imagining all the potential dangers that youth might face.
Rather than helping teens develop strategies to deal with public life and the potential risks of interacting with others, fearful parents have focused on tracking, monitoring and blocking. These approaches don't help teens develop the skills they need to manage complex social situations. "Protecting" kids may feel like the right thing to do, but it denies teens the chances of learning as they come of age in a technology-soaked world.
The key to helping youth in the modern digital life isn't more restrictions. It's freedom -- plus communication. Urban theorist Jane Jacobs used to argue that the safest neighborhoods were those where communities collectively took interest in and paid attention to what happened on the streets. Safety didn't come from surveillance cameras or keeping everyone indoors but from a collective willingness to watch out for one another and be present as people struggled. The same is true online.
What makes the digital street safe is when teens and adults collectively agree to open their eyes and pay attention, communicate and work together to deal with difficult situations. Teens need the freedom to wander the digital street, but they also need to know that caring adults are behind them and supporting them wherever they go. The first step is to turn off the tracking software. Then ask your kids what they're doing when they're online -- and why it's so important to them. | high9586.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Emergency Exercise in London"
},
"options": [
"Possible Damages Caused by Floods",
"Emergency Exercise in London",
"Flood Emergency in London",
"London Floods in History"
],
"question": "What topic is treated in... | A few months ago, millions of people in London heard alarms all over the town. The Emergency Services, the Fire Departments, the Police, hospitals, and ambulances stood by, ready to go into action. In railway underground stations, people read notices and maps that told them where to go and what to do in the emergency. This was Exercise Flood Call, to prepare people for a flood emergency. London wasn't flooded. In 1928, people living in Westminster, the heart of London, drowned in floods. And in 1953, one hundred people, living on the eastern edge of the London suburbs were killed, again, in the floods. At last, Greater London Council took actions to prevent this disaster from happening again. Though a flood wall was built in the 1960s, Londoners still must be prepared for the possible disaster. If it happens, 50 underground stations will be under water. Electricity, gas and phone services will be out of action. Roads will be drowned. It will be impossible to cross any of the bridges between north and south London. Imagine: London will look like the famous Italian city, Venice. But this Exercise Flood Call didn't cause panic among Londoners. Most people knew it was just a warning. One lady said, "It's a flood warning, isn't it. ? The water doesn't look high to me." | high8840.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "will produced results which can be predicted"
},
"options": [
"would surprise the brightest minds of the 18th century.",
"will help people to make the right choice in advance.",
"will produced results which can be predicted"... | It is hard to predict how science is going to turn out , and if it is really good science, it is impossible to predict. If the things to be found are actually new, they must be unknown in advance You cannot make choices on this matter. You either have science or you don't and if you have it you have to accept the surprising and disturbing pieces of information, along with the neat and useful bits.
The only solid piece of scientific truth about which I feel totally confident is that we don't know enough about nature. Indeed, I regard this as the major discovery of the past hundred years of biology. It is, in its way, a clear piece of news. It would have amazed the brightest minds of the 18th century to be told by any of us how little we know and how strange seems the way ahead . In earlier times, they either pretended to understand how things worked or simply made up stones to give answers. Now that we have begun exploring seriously, we are catching sight of how huge the questions are, and how far from being answered. Because of this, we are sorry. It is not so bad being ignorant if you are totally ignorant; the hard thing is knowing in some detail the reality of ignorance, the worst spots and here and there the not-so-bad spots, but no true light at the end of the tunnel nor even any tunnels that can yet be trusted.
But we are making a beginning, and there ought to he some satisfaction. There are probably no questions we can think up that can't he answered, sooner or later. Within our limits, we should be able to work our way through to all our answers, if we keep at it long enough, arid pay attention. | high22898.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Four."
},
"options": [
"Two.",
"Three.",
"Four.",
"Five."
],
"question": "To celebrate the World Food Day, how many kinds of activities are mentioned in the passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"ans... | October sixteenth is World Food Day.This day is also the anniversary of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization(F.A.O.).The UN agency leads international efforts to defeat world hunger.It was created in 1945.
The F.A.O.says more than one hundred fifty countries are to hold special events to celebrate World Food Day.At F.A.O.headquarters in Rome,for example,runners will compete in a five-kilometer race through the city's historical area.Events in other countries include discussions among experts,press conferences and musical programs.
The message of this year's World Food Day is"investing in agriculture for food security".The F.A.O.says,"During the early 1990s,the foreign aid for agriculture was nine thousand million dollars each year.But now, it has declined to less than five thousand million dollars a year."Yet, the F.A.O.estimates that more than eight hundred and fifty million people around the world do not get enough food.
The UN agency notes that seventy percent of the world's hungry lies in the farmers who grow small amount of food.Many also face problems of feeding themselves.The F.A.O.says agricultural aid could help small farmers make a profit from their crops.Farmers would also be able to feed their families throughout the year and re-invest in their farms.They could buy better seeds,equipment and chemical fertilizers to help their crops grow.
Muhammad Yunis.the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to improve the lives of poor people,as well as his Bangladesh microfinance organization,the Grameen Bank,has lent small amount of money to poor people who are unable to get traditional loans,especially women.Minister Yunis says that he plans to give his share of the one million three hundred thousand dollars Nobel award to good causes.He says he wants to establish an eye hospital and start a project to produce low-cost food for the poor. | high10194.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "My father--the person I admire most"
},
"options": [
"How my father loved me",
"My father--the person I admire most",
"I am the apple of my father's eye",
"My father--the one who influenced me most"
],
"question... | Many people influenced various aspects of my life, based on their personal characteristics, accomplishments, and values. I have been fortunate to have had numerous teachers and professors who I respect for their patience and intelligence. There are artists that have inspired me by their natural talents and original creativity. I value many political leaders, who have inspired me by their contributions to society, and their ability to change our futures. But of all the people I have known in my life, the person I admire most is my father.
As the youngest girl in my family, I always considered myself to be"Daddy's little girl". While I grew up, it always made me sad to see so many of my friends and neighbors without a father or father-like figure around. This helped me appreciate how my father always takes an interest in his children's lives. In every aspect of my life my father continuously pushes me to _ , so I could accomplish my work outstandingly among my people. Whenever I feel like giving up, or have a question or a concern, I know I can always call on him for advice. _ His strength seems to be unbreakable during hard times, and he is extremely determined to accomplish anything he sets his mind on, no matter how tiny it is. I highly respect him for how he stands up for what he believes in, and will never back down. I have always admired his open mind, compassion for people, and sense of understanding. He is a very reserved man, but to everybody's surprise, he has a great sense of humor, and always knows how to put a smile on the faces of his wife, his children and his friends.
Living in his affection and instruction, I am very proud of my father. He also professes how proud he is of his children, and is still there to support us in whatever we are involved in. | high3915.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Depression--Heart Disease Risk Factor."
},
"options": [
"Depression--Heart Disease Risk Factor.",
"Heart Disease--Health Killer.",
"Depression--Mental Health Enemy.",
"Heart Disease--Depression Factor."
],
"ques... | In one of the strongest indications of the power of the mind to influence the body, a growing collection of evidence finds that people who are depressed have a greatly higher risk of developing heart disease.
In a study of almost 3, 000 men and 5, 000 women, depressed men were 70 per cent more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who weren't depressed. While depressed women were just 12 per cent more likely to develop heart disease, those who were severely depressed were 78 per cent more likely. In fact, a 1998 study found that women who are depressed have a risk of dying from heart disease equal to that of women who smoke or who have high blood pressure.
The link works the other way around, too: While about 1 in 20 American adults experience major depression in a given year, that number jumps to about one in three among those who have survived a heart attack.
The more severe the depression, the more dangerous it is to your health. But some studies suggest that even mild depression, including feelings of hopelessness experienced over many years, may damage the heart. Other studies suggest depression may affect how well heart disease medications work.
Researchers are n' t sure what the connection between depression and heart disease is, but theories exist. One is that people who are depressed tend not to take very good care of themselves. They' re more likely to eat high-fat, high-calorie "comfort" foods, less likely to exercise, and more likely to smoke. But beyond lifestyle, there is probably also a physiological link between depression and heart disease. Recent studies found that people with severe depression tended to have a lack of heart-healthy 0-3 fatty acids. People who are depressed also often have high levels of stress hormones . These keep the body primed for fight or flight, raising blood pressure and causing the heart to beat faster, all of which put additional stress on coronary arteries and prevent the body' s natural healing mechanisms from working properly.
A whole branch of medicine is devoted to the complex links between mental health, the nervous system, the hormone system and so on. This science is gradually sorting out how the mind-body connection affects us, or defenses against heart disease.
Generally, an estimated 10 per cent of American adults experience some form of depression every year. Although available treatments can ease symptoms in more than 80 per cent of people treated, less than half of those with depression get the help they need. | high20057.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "many schools asked the students to study English"
},
"options": [
"the U.K. and the US were both developed countries",
"the British once colonized large parts of the world",
"English-speaking people worked in many countries",... | English has gained status as a world language. About 1/3 of the world's population has English as its mother tongue. 75% of the world's mail is in English.
English is the official language or is widely used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, United Arab Ernirates, Canada, the United States, Panama, Surinam, South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. English is the language that is most often studied as a foreign language in the European Union (by 89% of schoolchildren), followed by French (32%), German (l8%), and Spanish (8%). It is also the most studied in China, Japan, and South Korea. Books, magazines, and newspapers are written in English in many countries around the world. English is also the widest used language in science. In 1997, the Science Citation Index reported that 95% of its articles were written in English, but only half of their authors came from English-speaking countries.
Why has English become a world language? The British colonized (......) large parts of the world, spreading their language to new areas. The United Kingdom and the United States are both important nations in the world. When doing business with these nations, knowing English is an advantage. As non-English-speaking countries realized that, industry and business hired people who spoke English, or required their workers to attend language courses. English is the international language of technology.
With English being so widespread, it can make those who come from English-speaking countries already feel that they don't need to learn a foreign language. This is not good because one learns to understand a culture better if one knows the language, and one may also enjoy reading original books. | high21349.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "About 10.22 million of them hadn't received CT scans."
},
"options": [
"They came from both Australia and Europe.",
"Most of them are between 10 to 17 years old.",
"Some of them had developed cancer at the age of 19.",
... | Between 1996 and 2010, according to a study published in 2012, the use of computed tomography (CT) scans nearly increased by three times as much, from 52 scans per 1,000 patients to 149 scans per 1,000 patients. And those images certainly provided valuable information to help doctors diagnose hidden conditions that wouldn't have been possible without the added insight. But CT scans produce those detailed images using small amounts of radiation, and while the risk of that exposure is small, on a population level, increased reliance on the scans could drive a slight bump in cancer risk from CT.
That's exactly what the latest study, published in the British Medical Journal, found. It's the largest study to date -- involving 10.9 million Australians born between 1985 and 2005. A team of researchers from Australia and Europe studied the cancer rates of Australian patients from birth to 19 years old who had CT scans in early childhood, and compared them to those who did not receive the scans.
Most of the cases were followed for 10 to 17 years, and by the end of the study period, 3,150 of the 680,000 patients exposed to CT scans during childhood and young adulthood developed cancer and 57,542 of the remaining participants, who were not exposed, developed cancer. Those who were scanned had a 24% greater risk of cancer than those who did not receive them, with the risk increasing by 16% for each additional CT. The risk was highest for children who received scans before age five; they showed a 35% increased chance of developing a cancer during the study period than those who weren't scanned at this age.
That research is still ongoing, however, and in the meantime, doctors and patients are left to find the delicate balance between how necessary scans are to diagnose disease, and their potential risk of causing cancer, which, most experts say, is still very small. "All parties, including patients and families, need to work together to make sure that CT scans are limited to situations where there is a definite clinical indication," the authors write. Only then will the benefits, they say, outweigh the risks of exposure. | high17823.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "who have a drinking habit"
},
"options": [
"who produce wine",
"who are eager to lose weight",
"who go on a diet",
"who have a drinking habit"
],
"question": "The passage is mainly for those _ .",
"questi... | A glass a day keeps obesity at bay. Alcohol has always been thought to cause weight gain because of its high sugar content, but new research suggests a glass a day could form part of a diet. Looking at past studies they found that, while heavy drinkers do put on weight, those who drink _ can actually lose weight.
A spokesman for the research team at Navarro University in Spain says, "Light to moderate alcohol intake, especially of wine, may be more likely to protect against, rather than promote, weight gain". The International Scientific Forum on Alcohol Research reviewed the findings and agreed with most of the conclusions, particularly that current data do not clearly indicate if moderate drinking increases weight.
Boston University's Dr. Harvey Finkel found that the biologic mechanisms relating alcohol to changes in body weight are not properly understood. His team pointed out the strong protective effects of moderate drinking on the risk of getting conditions like diabetes ,which relate to increasing obesity. Some studies suggest that even very obese people may be at lower risk of diabetes if they are moderate drinkers.
The group says alcohol provides calories that are quickly absorbed into the body and are not stored in fat, and that this process could explain the differences in its effects from those of other foods. They agree that future research should be directed towards assessing the roles of different types of alcoholic drinks, taking into consideration drinking patterns and including the past tendency of participants to gain weight.
For now there is little evidence that consuming small to moderate amounts of alcohol on a regular basis increases one's risk of becoming obese. What's more, a study three years ago suggested that resveratrol, a compound present in grapes and red wine, destroys fat cells. | high10180.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "a family secret"
},
"options": [
"a family honor",
"a family secret",
"a family story",
"a family treasure"
],
"question": "According to Jessica' s mother ,\" a skeleton in the closet\" means _ .",
"questi... | "Mum,what does it mean when someone tells you that they have a skeleton in the closet ?"Jessica asked. "A skeleton in the closet?"her mother paused thoughtfully. "Well, it' s something that you would rather not have anyone else know about. For example,if in the past,someone in Dad' s family had been arrested for stealing a horse,it would be 'a skeleton in his family' s closet'.He really wouldn' t want any neighbor to know about it."
"Why pick on my family?" Jessica' s father said with anger. "Your family history isn' t so good,you know. Wasn' t your great-great-grandfather a prisoner who was transported to Australia for his crimes?" "Yes,but people these days say that you are not a real Australian unless your ancestors arrived as prisoners." "Gosh,sorry I asked. I think I understand now," Jessica cut in before things grew worse.
After dinner,the house was very quiet. Jessica' s parents were still quite angry with each other. Her mother was ironing clothes and every now and then she glared at her husband,who hid behind his newspaper pretending to read. When she finished, she gathered the freshly pressed clothes in her arms and walked to Jessica' s closet. Just as she opened the door and reached in to hang a skirt,a bony arm stuck out from the dark depths and a bundle of white bones fell to the floor. Jessica' s mother sank into a faint ,waking only when Jessica put a cold, wet cloth on her forehead. She looked up to see the worried faces of her husband and daughter.
"What happened?Where am I?" she asked. "You just destroyed the school' s skeleton,Mum," explained Jessica. "I brought it home to help me with my health project. I meant to tell you,but it seemed that as soon as I mentioned skeletons and closets,it caused a problem between you and Dad." Jessica looked in amazement as her parents began to laugh madly. "They' re both crazy," she thought. | high20043.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Computer helps produce more crops."
},
"options": [
"Computer helps find the best program for mixing plants.",
"Computer helps produce more crops.",
"Computer helps protect against insects and diseases.",
"Computer help... | Farmers can produce more by planting several different crops in the same field.But their success depends on which crops they plant together and how they mix them in the filed.In the past, the only way the farmers could learn which crops grow best together is to plant them and wait for the results.Now, however, a computer can give them answers.A new computer program written by Dr John Vanderwell of Michigan University can tell a farmer which plants grow well together and which do not.It can tell him how to plant the different crops; if he should plant each in a separate row, or mix the crops in the same row.It can tell the farmer how changes in planting each of the crops will affect the production of all of them.And it can tell him which plants can help reduce losses from diseases. | high3901.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "why bronze medal winners are happier than silver medalists"
},
"options": [
"who the happiest among the Olympics medal winners is",
"why the prize-awarding moments are unforgettable",
"what to pay attention to when watching t... | The emotions of the athletes in the prize-awarding moments are often some of the most unforgettable images of the Olympics.Yet, a number of people have noticed some strange things.Yes, the gold medal winner is filled with pride and excitement, which is to be expected.Yet often, it seems the bronze medal winner is happier than the silver medalist.It is strange that the 3rd place contestant might be happier than someone who did better (the 2nd place).How can this be so? "What if reasoning can help to explain this interesting effect.
In order to understand our world and our choices, we often imagine how things could have been different.A wife may ask, " Would I be happier today if I had married someone else?" Likewise, a student may think, "If 1 had chosen another major, maybe I would have a better shot at getting into graduate school." In short, " what if thinking allows us to mentally create alternative to our reality.
In the Olympics, the "what ifs" of the winners are different.Clearly, the "what ifs" for the gold medalist involve not being No.1--this thought makes this athlete realize how fortunate he or she is.For the bronze medalist, the "what ifs" involve not being on the medal list at all, producing positive feelings.However, for the silver medalist, the "what ifs" can easily make the athlete ponder how things could have been different if he or she has won the gold medal (e.g.what if I practiced harder, and what if I had not made the small error in my routine).Thus, the "what ifs" that come to mind of the 1st and 3rd place finishers are positive, but the 2nd place finishers have a number of dissatisfying alternatives to reality that can make them feel less happy. | high17837.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "recreate ancient Israel"
},
"options": [
"earn some money",
"recreate ancient Israel",
"learn more about local plants",
"discover the ancient civilizations"
],
"question": "Prof. Finkelstein conducted the new po... | A new pollen study showed that drought was responsible for the extinction of civilizations more than 3,000 years ago during the Bronze Age.
The reason behind why the civilizations in and around modern-day Israel suddenly broke down more than 3,000 years ago has remained a mystery up until now. A new pollen study by Tel Aviv University researchers finally solved this Bronze Age mystery.
Prof. Israel Finkelstein showed that owing to serious climate changes, the entire world of the Bronze Age _ in a short period of time. The discovery was made on the basis of a high-resolution analysis of pollen grains taken from sediments beneath the Sea of Galilee and the western shore of the Dead Sea.
Prof. Finkelstein received support from the European Research Council to conduct research aimed at reconstructing ancient Israel. Researchers of the part of the project that dealt with climate change extracted about 60 feet of samples of gray muddy sediment from the center of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. They had to drill through 1,000 feet of water and into 65 feet of the lake bed and were able to recover evidence dating over the past 9,000 years.
"Pollen is the most enduring organic material in nature," explained Dr. Dafna Langgut, a pollen researcher who carried out the actual work of sampling. "These grains tell us about the plants that grew near the lake in the past and therefore prove the climatic conditions in the region."
Researchers noted a sharp decrease in Mediterranean trees like oaks and pines in the Late Bronze Age. According to study experts, this could be because of repeated periods of drought. The droughts may have resulted in long famines, forcing people to migrate from north to south. | high12797.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "immediately after the exam by means of the same computer"
},
"options": [
"immediately on a central computer for scoring test papers",
"a few minutes after the exam with the help of a test center worker",
"on the next day aft... | Just the mention of the TOEFL, GRE and GAMT exams brings a thought of long hours of dull paper work. But that idea is becoming increasingly out of date. As planned, computerized tests will begin next year which will bring a series of changes from test psychology to scoring techniques.
From computer - equipped rooms, examinees will answer the questions on a computer. If they are sure about their choices, they can pass to the next question by pressing the entry "next". Then another question will be randomly selected from a vast test item bank and appear on the screen. After answering all the questions, examinees can choose the entry "quit" if they are not satisfied with their performance, or "score" if they want to see the result. Scores will be calculated immediately and appear on the screen. By that point, student's marks are official--there is no going back.
Since they greatly shorten the painful waiting process-which used to be two or three months, computerized tests have won worldwide popularity. Besides, there will be no rushing to the registration offices( )for these exams. Computerized tests will be given every workday in an exam center with all three kinds of tests being held in the same room. All test takers need to do is to call the exam center and book their seats for a particular day.
In addition it will become technically possible to apply new testing procedures. In the past,each examinee had the same set of test items despite differences in their ability. Under a computerized system, however, if the computer judges an answer is right, a question of a relatively difficult nature will follow. But if an examinee continues to give wrong answers and is judged as un-qualified by the computer system, he will be automatically _ the chance to go further in the test. | high6879.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "since the time of Cardinal Richelieu"
},
"options": [
"since the time of Charles V",
"since the time of Cardinal Richelieu",
"before the seventeenth century",
"since 1370"
],
"question": "The Bastille had been a... | Why was Bastille important to the citizens of Paris? The building of the Bastille had been started in 1370 under Charles V. By the seventeenth century, it had stopped to be important for defense. Cardinal Richelieu turned it into a prison. It was not an ordinary prison to punish common crimes. Its huge doors closed only on enemies of the King. The Bastille's workings were secret. Prisoners were taken to it in closed vehicles. Soldiers on guard duty had to stand with their faces to the wall. No talking was allowed. Worst of all, a prisoner never knew if he would be there a day, a week, a year, or forever. Only the King's letter could set him free.
Over the years, the number of arrests by King's letter had become fewer. By the time of its fall, most of the prisoners were writers who had written against the corruptions of the government. Voltaire, the famous French writer, spent a year there in 1717-1718, and another 12 days in 1726.
For those who believed in free speech and free thinking, the Bastille stood for everything evil. The day it was captured, only seven prisoners were found inside. Still, the Bastille was hated by the people. It was a symbol of the King's complete power. | high9592.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Problems of harmful waste."
},
"options": [
"The effect of every chemical.",
"Problems of harmful waste.",
"Chemicals used for industrial processes.",
"Events related to waste chemicals."
],
"question": "What is... | Chemicals used for industrial processes often create dangerous forms of waste. The amount of these chemicals has risen heavily in the past few years, as more areas of the world industrialize and new products are produced. Over 80,000 different chemicals are used in industries world wide. Around the world hundreds of millions of tons of harmful waste are produced each year. Often, it is difficult and expensive to get rid of these chemicals or to store them in a way that does not endanger human life and the environment.
Every year, major health problems result from harmful waste. Sadly, it is often when someone has died or, become seriously ill that governments will take action and reduce levels of dumped harmful waste. In 1989, a school inprefix = st1 /New Jerseyhad to be closed because students there had suffered too much exposure to chromium. It was later learned that large amounts of chromium had been dumped nearby and blown over to the school area.
Research has been done to provide information on the effects of every chemical. Because waste chemicals often mix together, it will also be necessary to learn how the combinations of these chemicals affect human health.
Some governments have realized how serous the problem is and are making laws to get rid of harmful waste. They are also trying to limit the amount of waste industries are allowed to produce.
Not only governments but the public as well must form part of the solution. They can choose not to buy those products which require the production of harmful waste, attempt to affect policymakers, and produce less harmful waste themselves. Many scientists think that waste production can be cut. The waste can be reduced by at least one-third using existing technologies and methods. | high24225.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "more important"
},
"options": [
"more important",
"less needed",
"less essential",
"more looked down upon"
],
"question": "For models, their good looks and tight figures are _ , compared with their intelligen... | Turning on the TV, a wonderful scene comes to your eyes -- a group of men, tall, strong and handsome, and women, young, beautiful and attractive, too. Together they eat in the finest restaurants, traveling everywhere around the world by luxurious planes and pleasure ships. They are models.
Do you envy them? What sort of life are models leading? Is it a wonderful life for a young lady or a young man?
A few models are well-known actors or actresses who can make a lot of money only by showing themselves off in commercials. But the majority of them are just curious to see what it is like. They'd like to be models just because they are attracted by what they imagine -- models earn a lot of money and lead a glorious life. This is true for those who are very successful. However, most models find it difficult to get work. Very few can earn enough to live on, and for all models their expenses are high. Their agents claim about 20% of the earnings, and no model will get very far without a clever agent. Besides, they have to buy good clothing. They also have to pay to travel to interviews and reach the places where the work is to be done.
Interviews for a model job are known as cattle-markets in the modeling world, and not without a good reason. A top model can choose his or her work, demand and receive high fees and has his or her expenses paid. But for most models, the situation is quite different. And agent or employer inspects each model much as a farmer inspects cattle at a market. Intelligence, qualifications and personal characteristics count for little against good looks and tight figures. For all except the very few lucky ones, the life of a model is a continual search for work, trying to sell himself or herself in the face of fierce competition and, sometimes, not particularly moral standards on the part of some employers.
Immigration officials at airport look suspiciously at a girl whose passport shows her occupation as "Model", and these are men and women of considerable experience of the world. It comes no surprise to find that some models prefer to put "Secretary" or "Businessman" as their jobs in their passports.
Modeling is a changeable world with great rewards for a tiny minority but not for the majority. | high8854.txt |
[] | Why should I teach my children history? That sounds like a stupid question to even ask. But, as I hear different home schooling teachers discuss history, I get the idea that there may be different reasons for teaching history. Let me briefly explain the three good reasons for studying history and two bad reasons for studying history.
The major reason I see for studying history is that we can learn from the past. I am convinced that the world would be a much better place if more people understood the successes and failures of the past and the things that made these successes and failures. However, as the unfortunately true statement goes "
". Perhaps at least in teaching history, to my children I can do a small part in changing this.
A second major reason for studying history is that it is hard to understand the current political climate in the absence of an understanding of its historical context. We can not even understand who we are and where we are without history, much less try to figure out where we are going or how we should get where we want to be.
I teach my children history, for one more reason. I purchased a set of historical audio tapes for our children. My seven-year-old son listened to them over and over. It was my hope that he would become inspired by the accomplishments of people like the Wright brothers to accomplish things by himself. I think that it is good that we celebrate the accomplishments of people like Martin Luther King Jr. In doing so, young people are called on to stand for the principles that he stood for and accomplish what he accomplished. I also think that by studying people like Adolph Hitler, people can learn to stand against the things that he stood for.(
) | high15946.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "To build a highspeed train network."
},
"options": [
"To buy some doubledecker trains.",
"To take passengers to Manchester from London.",
"To build a highspeed train network.",
"To collect PS33 billion for the highspeed... | Superfast doubledecker trains will be taking passengers from London to six big cities in the UK by 2033. The first phase linking London to the West Midlands with a connection to HS1 is expected to open in 2026, and the second phase to Manchester and Leeds in 2032.
The government set out a plan for the highspeed rail network in 2012. When the project is finished, it will take less time to get to London from major cities like Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. Traveling at a speed of up to 250 mph, passengers will be able to come and go from Birmingham to London in 49 minutes, reducing the journey time by almost half from one hour and 24 minutes.
A journey from Birmingham to Leeds will be reduced from two hours to 57 minutes and a journey from Manchester to London will be reduced from two hours and 8 minutes to one hour and 8 minutes.
"HS2 is an important part of transport's lowcarbon future," Transport Secretary Justine Greening said. Some people aren't happy about the plan, though. HS2 will cost around PS33 billion. It will also be built near some towns and villages, disturbing the people that live there.
But the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne thinks it will help build the future for Britain. "It's a longterm decision," he said.
HS2 is designed for everything around the needs of the passengers. It will provide a new and exciting travel experience. There will be plenty of room, intelligent ticketing, a good service and high quality comfort and access to trains. This is a transport network for the new century and beyond. | high14480.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because he was afraid Miss Fairchild would find the truth."
},
"options": [
"Because he needed a drink and tobacco badly.",
"Because he was angry that Miss Fairchild did not say any good words for him",
"Because he was bored ... | At Denver there was an crowd of passengers into the coaches on the eastbound B. & M. express. In one coach there sat a very pretty young woman dressed in elegant taste and surrounded by all the luxurious comforts of an experienced traveler. Among the newcomers were two young men, one of handsome presence with a bold, frank face expression and manner; the other a ruffled, glum-faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. The two were handcuffed together.
As they passed down the aisle of the coach the only available seat offered was a reversed one facing the attractive young woman. Here the linked couple seated themselves. The young woman's glance fell upon them with a distant, swift disinterest; then with a lovely smile brightening her face and a tender pink tingeing(,) her rounded cheeks, she held out a little gray-gloved hand. When she spoke her voice, full, sweet, and deliberate, proclaimed that its owner was accustomed to speak and be heard.
"Well, Mr. Easton, if you will make me speak first, I suppose I must. Don't you ever recognize old friends when you meet them in the West?"
The younger man aroused himself sharply at the sound of her voice, seemed to struggle with a slight embarrassment which he threw off instantly, and then clasped her fingers with his left hand.
"It's Miss Fairchild," he said, with a smile. "I'll ask you to excuse the other hand; "it's otherwise engaged just at present."
He slightly raised his right hand, bound at the wrist by the shining "bracelet" to the left one of his companion. The glad look in the girl's eyes slowly changed to a bewildered horror. The glow faded from her cheeks. Her lips parted in a vague(,), relaxing distress. Easton, with a little laugh, as if amused, was about to speak again when the other forestalled him. The glum-faced man had been watching the girl's face expression with veiled glances from his keen, shrewd eyes.
"You'll excuse me for speaking, miss, but, I see you're acquainted with(,) the officer here. If you'll ask him to speak a word for me when we get to the pen(,) he'll do it, and it'll make things easier for me there. He's taking me to Leavenworth prison. It's seven years for cheating."
"Oh!" said the girl, with a deep breath and returning color. "So that is what you are doing out here? An officer!"
"My dear Miss Fairchild," said Easton, calmly, "I had to do something. Money has a way of taking wings with itself, and you know it takes money to keep step with our crowd in Washington. I saw this opening in the West,
and
well, an officer isn't quite as high a position as that of ambassador, but--"
"The ambassador," said the girl, warmly, "doesn't call any more. I needn't ever have done so. You ought to know that. And so now you are one of these brave Western heroes, and you ride and shoot and go into all kinds of dangers. That's different from the Washington life. You have been missed from the old crowd."
The girl's eyes, fascinated, went back, widening a little, to rest upon the glittering handcuffs.
"Don't you worry about them, miss," said the other man. "All officers handcuff themselves to their prisoners to keep them from getting away. Mr. Easton knows his business."
"Will we see you again soon in Washington?" asked the girl.
"Not soon, I think," said Easton.
."
"I love the West," said the girl irrelevantly. Her eyes were shining softly. She looked away out the car window. She began to speak truly and simply without the gloss of style and manner: "Mamma and I spent the summer in Denver. She went home a week ago because father was slightly ill. I could live and be happy in the West. I think the air here agrees with me. Money isn't everything. But people always misunderstand things and remain stupid--"
"Say, officer," shouted the glum-faced man. "This isn't quite fair. I'm needing a drink, and haven't had a smoke all day. Haven't you talked long enough? Take me in the smoker now, won't you? I'm half dead for a pipe."
The bound travelers rose to their feet, Easton with the same slow smile on his face.
"I can't deny a require for tobacco," he said, lightly. "It's the one friend of the unfortunate. Good-bye, Miss Fairchild. Duty calls, you know." He held out his hand for a farewell.
"It's too bad you are not going East," she said, reclothing herself with manner and style. "But you must go on to Leavenworth, I suppose?"
"Yes," said Easton, "I must go on to Leavenworth."
The two men sidled down the aisle into the smoker.
The two passengers in a seat near by had heard most of the conversation. Said one of them: "That officer is a good sort of man. Some of these Western fellows are all right."
"Pretty young to hold an office like that, isn't he?" asked the other.
"Young!" exclaimed the first speaker, "why--Oh! Didn't you catch on? Say--did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand?" | high16297.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "They had not much money to spend"
},
"options": [
"They had not much money to spend",
"They had free time to while away",
"They often met in teenage coffee bars and discos",
"They had an easy life"
],
"question"... | Life used to be fun for "teenagers". They used to have money to spend, and free time to while away. They used to wear teenage clothes, and meet in teenage coffee bars and discos. Some of them still do. But for many young people, life is harder now. Jobs are difficult to find. There's not so much money around. Things are more expensive, and it's hard to find a place to live in. Teachers say that students work harder than they used to. They are less interested in politics, and more interested in passing exams. They know that good exam results may bring them better jobs.
Most young people worry more about money than their parents did twenty years ago. They try to spend less and save more. They want to be able to get homes of their own one day.
For some, the answer to unemployment is to leave home and look for jobs in one of Britain's big cities. Every day hundreds of young people arrive in London from other parts of Britain, looking for jobs. Some find jobs, and stay. Others don't, and go home again, or join the unemployed in London.
When you read the newspapers and watch the news on television, it's easy to get the idea that British young people are all unemployed, angry and in trouble. But that's not true. Three quarters of them do more or less what their parents did. They do their best at school, find some kinds of jobs in the end, and get married in their early twenties. They get on well with their parents, and enjoy their family life. After all, if they don't, they won't be British, will they? | high20725.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "his family couldn't support him"
},
"options": [
"his father told him to make more friends",
"he wanted to become a rich man",
"his family couldn't support him",
"he had nothing to do at home."
],
"question": "B... | Bob was a clever college student, but his family was poor, so he had to work after class and during his holidays to get enough money for his studies.
One summer he got a job in a butcher's shop during the day time, and another in a hospital at night. In the shop, he learned to cut and sell meat. He did so well that the butcher went into a room behind the shop to do all the accounts ( ) .In the hospital, of course, Bob was told to do only the easiest jobs. He helped to lift people and carry them from one part of the hospital to another. Both in the butcher's shop and in the hospital, Bob had to wear white clothes.
One evening in the hospital, Bob had to help to carry a woman from her bed to the operating - room. The woman already felt frightened when she thought about the operation. When she saw Bob coming to get her, she felt even more frightened.
"No! No!" she cried. "Not a butcher! I won't let a butcher operate on me!" with these words ,she fainted away. | high4908.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "to pay attention to details of one's work"
},
"options": [
"to realize the quality of the work",
"to pay attention to details of one's work",
"to do as many jobs as possible",
"to form the habit of doing things ahead of... | Have you heard of the saying, "If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well"? The proverb is a piece of advice to make effects towards perfection in whichever job one does. It could be a small task like folding up your clothes, or a major one like organizing a business meeting in your later life.
Perfection just needs paying attention to details. If it is your job to dust the furniture at home, dust it so that not a single spot of dirt shows from any direction. If your task is to make the beds, make them so that not a single crease shows on the bed-covers.
There are only two ways to do a job: either sloppily, or well. If you choose the latter, you need to realize that any job that qualifies as (...)"your" work deserves your best. Perfection is an attitude that can be developed with just a little effect. It is a habit that is helpful to a person in later life. Let us prove with an example: you may be asked to turn in an essay on, for example, wildlife, for a school project. Instead of writing carelessly a few facts that you already know, you could make the project more effective by looking up a reference books, encyclopedias or websites for additional information. You could then go over the finished essay for slips and errors, and provide pictures where necessary. If you make it a habit to put in extra effort in your school homework, will it not help you to handle more difficult projects at the college or university level?
As Michelangelo, the famous 16th century sculptor and painter, once put it: Trifles go to make perfection, and perfection is no trifle. | high1680.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "He revolutionized technology and made it enjoyable."
},
"options": [
"He was very courageous in the face of cancer.",
"He became very rich though dropping out college.",
"He released a new iPhone version before death.",
... | Steve Jobs made technology fun.The co-founder of Apple died last Wednesday at the age of fifty-six He had fought for years against cancer.Mourners gathered outside his house in Palo Alto, California, and Apple stores around the world.
Tim Bajarin, president of a high-tech research and consulting company, said "If you actually look at a tech leader, they're really happy if they have one hit in their life.Steve Jobs has the Apple II, the Mac, the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad and Pixar."
Steve Jobs was a college dropout.He was adopted by a machinist and his wife, an accountant.They supported his early interest in electronics.
He and his friend Steve Wozniak started Apple Computer--now just called Apple--in nineteen seventy-six.They stayed at the company until nineteen eighty-five.That year, Steve Wozniak returned to college and Steve Jobs left in a dispute with the chief executive.
Mr.Jobs then formed his own company, called NeXT Computer.He rejoined Apple in nineteen ninety-seven after it bought NeXT.He helped remake Apple from a business that was in bad shape then to one of the most valuable companies in the world today.
Steve Wozniak, speaking on CNN, remembered his longtime friend as a "great visionary and leader'' and a "marketing genius ".
President Obama said in a statement: "By building one of the planet's most successful companies from his garage, _ .By making computers personal and putting the Internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun."
David Carroll is a professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City.He says Steve Jobs not only revolutionized technology, he also revolutionized American business.
"The fact that he was able to redesign American commerce top to bottom and across is really stunning .He probably will be considered an industrial giant on the scale of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, so one of the great[s] of all time." David Carroll said.
Steve Jobs stepped down as Apple's chief executive in August because of his health.He died a day after the company released a new iPhone version that met with limited excitement.Apple's new chief, Tim Cook, will also have to deal with the new Kindle Fire tablet computer from Amazon.com.It costs less than half as much as an iPad but also does less. | high314.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Liquid is convenient to use in space."
},
"options": [
"Liquid doesn't spoil.",
"Liquid is convenient to use in space.",
"Liquid is lightweight.",
"Astronauts are in great need of water."
],
"question": "Why do ... | Going to outer space is a little like going camping. You have to carry with you all the food and equipment you need for your trip, so your food can't be too heavy or hard to prepare. Plus, there are no refrigerators to keep food cold and fresh.
Food with all the water dried out is lightweight and doesn't spoil. So, many space foods are dried on Earth and stored in special packets. Some taste good right out of the packet.
On earth, gravity is the force that keeps your feet on the ground and your sandwich on your plate. But there's no gravity in space. To keep food from floating away, astronauts on the Space Shuttle attach the packets to a special tray. The tray can be fixed to a wall or to the astronaut's lap. To prepare their food, astronauts use liquid forms of salt and pepper. The liquid sticks to the food better. Regular salt and pepper would float away, maybe up an astronaut's nose.
Liquids float right out of cups and glasses, though. So astronauts drink everything from a small bag with a straw that can be closed. Astronauts say that most space foods taste pretty good. Some, such as apples and pudding, are the same as the foods you eat on Earth.
Astronauts eat tortillas instead of bread because they make fewer crumbs . Floating crumbs could get stuck in equipment or an astronaut's eye.
Your body used food in space the same way it does on Earth. Your body must deal with waste in space too. During takeoff the landing, astronauts can't leave their seats to go to the bathroom. They wear diapers under their spacesuits instead.
The Space Shuttle has a bathroom the size of a small closet. The toilet has bars that keep astronauts from floating away. A strong flow of air is used instead of water to flush waste down the toilet. Back on Earth it's flushed away-or sometimes studied by scientists. | high23204.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "lose his job"
},
"options": [
"be punished",
"be offered another job",
"put off the training class",
"lose his job"
],
"question": "If the older man did not have the proper clothes, he would _",
"question_... | My friend Robert started a new job this week and he's been in the training class for two days. The employer has a very strict dress code--dark blue shirts and pants.
On the first day, an older gentleman in his class did not have the proper clothes and he was strictly told that he would be fired if he didn't have the right clothes the next day. He explained, "Sir, I had not been told about this. Because of my larger size, it's sometimes difficult to find the right clothing for a price I can afford."
Last night, Robert and I decided that this old man shouldn't lose the chance of work simply because he couldn't afford the clothes. I had some cash on hand and Robert took it with him this morning just in case it was needed.
When training started this morning, the trainer was ready to fire the older gentleman. "You have 10 minutes to be in proper clothes," he was told. At this point, Robert spoke up and asked if he could have 10 minutes to get him the clothes. He then ran out to the store and bought the proper-sized pants and a shirt; he returned with both and gave them to the older man.
The older gentleman began to cry and told him that he couldn't accept such a gift from a stranger. Robert told him he had to because he had lost the receipt and couldn't return them--a little white lie. The pants were a perfect fit, the shirt was a bit tight but he was able to keep his job.
"My wife and I tried to gather together some money last night, but we didn't have enough to buy the clothes," he told Robert. "It's unbelievable to me that anybody would do such a thing for only knowing me a day!"
More unbelievable is how good it has made Robert and me feel to do this. | high1858.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "the brain grows at its fastest rate during the first three years of life."
},
"options": [
"the brain grows at its fastest rate during the first three years of life.",
"those children with a \"healthier\" diet must get an IQ improv... | Children brought up on healthy diets are more intelligent compared with their junk food eating partners, a new research suggests.
Kids fed a diet packed high in fats, sugars, and processed foods had lower IQs than those fed pasta , salads and fruit, it was found.
The effect is so great that researchers from the University of Bristol said those children with a "healthier" diet may get an IQ improvement.
Scientists stressed good diet was essential in a child's early life as the brain grows at its fastest rate during the first three years of life.
This indicated head growth at this time is linked to intellectual ability and "it is possible that good nutrition during this period may encourage excellent brain growth" .
Scientists tracked the long term health and happiness of around 14,000 children born in 1991 and 1992 as part of the West Country's Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children ( ALSPAC) .
Parents were questioned about the types and frequency of the food and drink their children consumed when they were three, four, seven and eight and a half years old. According to their different changing form, these children were marked and given grades which ranged from minus two for the most healthy to10 for the most unhealthy.
In the research, IQ was measured of 4,000 children when they were eight and half years old, using a validated test-the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.
The results found after taking account of some influential factors, a leading processed food diet at the age of three was associated with a lower IQ at the age of eight and a half , whether the diet was improved after that age.
Every l point increase in dietary pattern score was associated with a l.67 fall in IQ. | high3097.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "qualities of a good group leader."
},
"options": [
"choosing a good leader for a group.",
"assessing the performance of a leader.",
"qualities of a good group leader.",
"team members' appreciation of a leader."
],
... | Anyone can try to lead a group, but not every individual is cut out for leadership. The better leaders possess a few qualities that can mean the difference between the success and failure of the group. These aret he qualities the leader of higher rank will look for when choosing a leader for a group, or when evaluating the performance of a leader. They're also the qualities team members want in a group leader, and appreciate when they find them.
Take Responsibility
Group leaders might share tasks around a group as necessary, but eventually a group leader needs to be able to accept that responsibility lies on her shoulders. That means that if things go wrong in a group project, she's the one who must accept the consequences and work out what mistakes were made. The group leader won't always have the power to control everything group members do, but she should be ready to admit any mistakes the group has made as a result of her leadership.
Concern for Members
The group leader has a commitment to the task or project at hand, but perhaps more importantly, he has a real concern for each and every person who is part of his group. This means getting to know the strengths, weaknesses and goals of team members, as well as making time to build the group through collective activities. The group leader should make sure that everyone is included, even if an individual is new to a group.
Good Listener
The group leader needs to be able to listen to the suggestions, complaints and ideas of group members. Not only will this allow complaints to be addressed and potentially suitable ideas to be put into practice, but a leader who listens will also encourage group members to share their concerns and thoughts,creating an atmosphere of free speech and productivity. | high10816.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Bedroom TVs are not good for teenagers."
},
"options": [
"Researchers found watching TV is harmful.",
"Bedroom TVs are not good for teenagers.",
"The disadvantages of watching TV.",
"Watching TV in the bedroom harms tee... | Teenagers with a bedroom television tend to have poorer diet and exercise habits and lower grades in school than those without one, US researchers said on Monday.
While many studies have examined TV viewing habits of young people, researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health said little had been known about the effects in particular for older teenagers of having a bedroom TV.
They questioned 781 teenagers, aged 15 to 18, in the Minneapolis area in 2003 and 2004. Of them, 62 % reported having a television in their bedroom.
Not surprisingly, those with a bedroom TV were more likely to watch it a lot, clocking four to five more hours in front of a television per week, the researchers said. Many more teens with a bedroom TV were classified as heavy TV watchers than those without one.
Girls with a bedroom television reported getting less exercise -- 1.8 hours per week compared to 2.5 hours for girls without a TV. They also ate fewer vegetables, drank more sweetened drinks and ate meals with their family less often.
Boys with a bedroom TV reported having a lower grade point average than boys without one, as well as eating less fruit and having fewer family meals.
"It is clearly important not to allow your child to have a TV in the bedroom," said Daheia Barr-Anderson, one of the researchers.
"When you upgrade your TV in the living room and you have this smaller TV that's out of date but still usable, you should really resist putting it in one of your children's bedrooms," she said in a telephone interview. | high21413.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Mark talked too much in class"
},
"options": [
"Mark didn't do well in his lessons",
"Mark talked too much in class",
"Mark was badly dressed",
"Mark was often late for class"
],
"question": "What troubles the t... | Mark Eklund was in the first third grade class I taught at Saint Mary's School in Morris, Minn. He was neat in appearance, but had that happy-to-be-alive attitude that made even his occasional mischievousness delightful. Mark liked talking. I had to remind him again and again that talking without permission was not acceptable. What impressed me so much, though, was his sincere response every time I had to correct him for misbehaving: "Thank you for correcting me, sister!"
One day in class, I asked pupils to list the names of the other students on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. That Saturday, I wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and I listed what everyone else had said about that student. On Monday I gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling.
Several years later, after I returned from vacation, my father met me at the airport.
"Mark was killed in the war," he said." The funeral is tomorrow, and his parents would like it if you could attend."
I had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. As I stood there, Mark's father said, "We want to show you something. They found this on Mark when he was killed." He took a wallet out of his pocket.
Opening the billfold , he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.
"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."
That's when I finally sat down and cried. I cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again. | high18292.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "angry and worried"
},
"options": [
"confused but happy",
"sleepy and tired",
"excited but tired",
"angry and worried"
],
"question": "When the author drove behind the slow-moving truck, he felt _ .",
"que... | Last night I drove a long way (about 500 km) to return home. It was late and I was driving fast because I wanted to get home as soon as possible. So several times when I was driving behind a slow-moving truck on a narrow road, I wanted to shout at the driver ahead.
Then I came to a crossroad with a traffic light. As I drove near, it turned red. I stopped my car at once. I looked left,right and behind. I found no cars or persons -- I was alone on the road. The person who would come to the crossroad was at least a mile away in any direction. Certainly going through the light would cause no danger. I could pass the traffic light. But strangely enough, I just stopped there, waiting for several minutes until the light went green. I asked myself why I refused to run the light. Surely it was unnecessary for me to be afraid of danger or being fined , because there were no cars or police around at all. But I remained waiting until the light changed.
When I finally got home, it was near midnight. My wife had fallen asleep. The question of why I stopped for that light came back to me again, because I stopped another two times for the red lights as "special" as the first one. I stopped, not because of the law, but because it was a good habit I had developed. In fact, we were used to doing something right just because we have made obeying the rules a good habit. We do it just because we should do it. I thought if another man met with the same thing, he would make the same choice. I believed so. And I could be trusted by others. I believed that everyone would and could control himself/herself well. It was amazing that we trusted each other to do the right things, wasn't it? | high4920.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "heavy work"
},
"options": [
"violent activities",
"disease attack",
"moving a lot",
"heavy work"
],
"question": "Homeless people suffer from all the following except _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_question... | Homelessness is a huge problem all over the world. It's said that each day there are about 1 million people living on the streets in the US. It is a serious problem which should be dealt with effectively.
There are two main reasons for people leaving their homes: poverty and less affordable houses due to bad economic conditions. Other reasons include: domestic violence, divorce, and mental illness. Living without a home makes people main targets of violence activities and besides, these homeless people have to face the following difficulties on a daily basis.
They have to move about, carrying their belongings, which makes it difficult for the charity and the government to help them. They have limited access to bathrooms and restrooms and are forced to live in dirty conditions, making them easy to be attacked by diseases. They have limited access to health-care facilities in case of emergency, and almost no access to education as they have no money. They are often ill-treated by society, which makes them unfriendly, often ending up being involved in activities connected with crime like selling drugs or guns.
Homelessness is not something that happened overnight --- it has been in the country for decades. The society usually believes those living on the street to be mentally unstable. This belief is partially true. Most of them are normal people just like you and me.
The federal government is doing all it can to help but it is not enough, so the ordinary citizens have to stand up and try to help whenever it's possible. There are various organizations, such as charity organizations that are working constantly to make sure that homeless people find a shelter to live in. the united efforts have helped millions of people return to their normal lifestyle. However, there is still a long way to go before a better situation is created for all the homeless. | high2389.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "534RMB"
},
"options": [
"1,600 RMB",
"4,800 RMB",
"534RMB",
"246 RMB"
],
"question": "What's the official price of Shanghai Disney park ticket?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {... | As the Chinese mainland's first Disney park kicks off ticket sales on Monday, Chinese scalpers are already running a thriving trade in tickets, some of which are being hawked at 1,600 yuan ($246), triple the official price.
A rough search for Shanghai Disneyland tickets on Chinese e-commerce giant Taobao on Sunday yielded some 250 results, with prices ranging from 1 yuan to 1,600 yuan.
"We began to sell tickets about one month ago. You can prepay for tickets which will be delivered by the end of March," one Taobao shop owner told the Global Times on Sunday, claiming that over 1,000 tickets have been sold. Another shop owner claimed that tickets for the coming June, July and August are sold out.
Tourists can book tickets on Shanghai Disneyland Park's official website, its official WeChat account and at authorized online shops beginning at 12 am on Monday.
Several Taobao shop owners reached by the Global Times on Sunday pledged their tickets' authenticity. While some explained that they will help customers book tickets when official sales begin, others claimed that they were selling coin certificates that will be exchanged for tickets.
While an ID card check is required for entry to the park, one Taobao shop owner claimed that their tickets will only require a check of visitors' cell phone numbers and names.
The park has denied selling tickets for "trial operations," after some netizens tried to sell tickets for early access to the park, thepaper.cn reported.
As the first Disney park in the Chinese mainland, Shanghai Disneyland Park is expected to receive a huge number of tourists when it opens to the public on June 16. Many Net users have expressed their hopes to visit the park, which they expect will be cheaper than a trip to Hong Kong, where China's first Disney park was built. | high19832.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "To check his distance from the boys"
},
"options": [
"to take in enough fresh air",
"To consider turning back to not.",
"To check his distance from the boys",
"To ask the boys to take down the umbrella"
],
"ques... | One sunny day last September, Tim heard some shouting. Looking out to the sea carefully, he saw a couple of kids in a rowboat were being pulled out to sea.
Two 12-year-old boys, Christian and Jack, rowed out a boat to search for a football. Once they'd rowed beyond the calm waters, a beach umbrella tied to the boat caught the wind and pulled the boat into open water. The pair panicked and tried to row back to shore. But they were no match for _ and the boat was out of control.
Tim knew it would soon be swallowed by the waves. "Everything went quiet in my head," Tim recalls . "I was trying to figure out how to swim to the boys in a straight line."
Tim took off his clothes and jumped into the water. Every 500 yards or so, he raised his head to judge his progress. "At one point, I considered turning back," he says. "I wondered if I was putting my life at risk." After 30 minutes of struggling, he was close enough to yell to the boys, "Take down the umbrella!"
Christian made much effort to take down the umbrella. Then Tim was able to catch up and climb aboard the boat. He took over rowing, but the waves were almost too strong for him.
"Let's aim for the pier ," Jack said. Tim turned the boat toward it. Soon afterward, waves crashed over the boat, and it began to sink. "Can you guys swim?" he cried. "A little bit," the boys said.
Once the were in the water, Tim decided it would he safer and faster for him to pull the boys toward the pier. Christian and Jack were wearing life jackets and floated on their backs. Tim swan toward land as water washed over the boys' faces.
"Are we almost there?" they asked again and again. "Yes," Tim told them each time.
After 30minutes, they reached the pier. | high5380.txt |
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