questions list | article stringlengths 9 6.44k | id stringlengths 9 14 |
|---|---|---|
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "He Has It All, but Still Has Regrets."
},
"options": [
"Finish Your Study First.",
"Life Is Full of Ups and Downs.",
"He Has It All, but Still Has Regrets.",
"The Key to Success."
],
"question": "Which of the fo... | Perhaps Joe Cheng has become popular with thousands of fans and has been chased by girls and middles students. But do you know his resume ?
Yes. Joe Cheng, who plays the most popular boy in high school in the popular Taiwanese drama "It Started with a Kiss."
Although thousands of girls have fallen in love with him for his cute smile and strong body, Cheng, 27, doesn't want to rest on his good looks. He made the move from modeling to acting six years ago, and now he is trying another career-this time, to be a singer. Cheng worked on his first album, "Joe Cheng's Day", for a year. It came out on September 7.
Apart from recording his CD, Cheng has been practicing dance moves for his music video. Given his height, 188cm, this was not an easy job. "I had bad dreams about dancing," he said.
Cheng's life has had many ups and downs. His parents divorced when he was in primary school and he has lived with his father ever since. After dropping out of high school, he took on all kinds of jobs before being spotted by a scout for a modeling agency. Cheng said his key to life is "keeping a positive _ and making the most out of life."
Cheng admitted that he got bad grades when he was in high school. But he was still very popular at school. "Being very active in the students union, I was elected president. I liked to organize parties and field trips, so many teachers and students knew me," he said.
Cheng once dreamed of becoming a cartoonist, and he regrets that he never did it. Now he hopes his teenage fans can learn from his life. "When you are in school, just focus on studies," Cheng said. "Every young heart is eager to explore the world outside. But take your time. Finish your studies first." | high12553.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "superstorm Sandy's destruction in America"
},
"options": [
"New York's extensive transit system",
"when and why superstorm formed",
"the latest information about Sandy",
"superstorm Sandy's destruction in America"
]... | Superstorm Sandy's march of destruction claimed at least 43 lives and left more than eight million people without electricity by late Tuesday, in one of the largest storms ever to strike the East Coast.
Less violent but still dangerous, the storm swept across Pennsylvania on Tuesday and the northeastern US began its slow process of recovery. As dawn broke Tuesday on the storm's trail of destruction, it began exposing stories of heroism and tragedy, bad decisions and lucky breaks.
In Broad Channel in New York City, a 29-year-old mother was forced to dive and swim out of her house's front window with her 8-year-old daughter. And in Freeport, N.Y., Nicole Smith returned home --- to find a boat on her lawn. She asked passers-by for $5 to take a snapshot. A 13-year-old girl was found dead, in her pajamas, a block from her washed-out Staten Island home. On Monday night, Sandy's waves ripped out the entire deck of Jeffrey Ratner's home, along with the back wall. Still, Mr. Ratner said, he remains optimistic about the future. "We are going to rebuild it," he said.
The official warnings to evacuate were clear, a couple said. But staying home just seemed easier. "It's not their fault; it's ours," said Mary Norton, 88, head in her hands. "We did not leave."
New York's extensive transit system, a lifeline for millions of commuters , suffered the greatest damage as floodwaters drowned all seven subway tunnels connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. Jseph Lhota, Chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, described it as the most destroying in the 108-year history of the New York subway.
Forecaster said Sandy, which had maximum continuing winds of 45 miles an hour Tuesday afternoon, would cross western Pennsylvania on Tuesday night before moving into Canada on Wednesday as it meets cold air fronts. Another inch of rain was expected from the eastern Great Lakes across the mid-Atlantic and into southern New England. | high8448.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Their living condition was quite poor."
},
"options": [
"They led a thrifty and simple life.",
"They were invited to another city.",
"Their living condition was quite poor.",
"They had missed a bus to Birmingham."
]... | A light drizzle was falling as my sister Jill and I ran out of the Methodist Church, eager to get home and play with the presents that Santa had left for us and our baby sister, Sharon. Across the street from the church was a Pan American gas station where the Greyhound bus stopped.It was closed for Christmas, but I noticed a family standing outside the locked door, huddled under the narrow overhang in an attempt to keep dry. I wondered briefly why they were there but then forgot about them as I raced to keep up with Jill.
Once we got home, there was barely time to enjoy our presents. We had to go off to our grandparents' house for our annual Christmas dinner. As we drove down the highway through town,I noticed that the family were still there, standing outside the closed gas station.
My father was driving very slowly down the highway. The closer we got to the turnoff for my grandparents' house, the slower the car went. Suddenly, my father U-turned in the middle of the road and said, ''I can't stand it!" ''What?" asked my mother. ''They've got children. It's Christmas. I can't stand _ ." When my father pulled into the service station, I saw that there were five of them: the parents and three children--two girls and a small boy. My father rolled down his window. "Merry Christmas," he said.
"Howdy ,''the man replied.
''You are waiting for the bus?'' my father asked.
The man said that they were. They were going to Birmingham, where he had a brother and prospects of a job.
"Well, that bus isn't going to come along for several hours, and you're getting wet standing here. Winborn is just a couple miles up the road. They've got a shed with a cover there and some benches". My father said. ''Why don't you all get in the car and I'll run you up there."
The man thought about it for a moment, and then he beckoned to his family. They climbed into the car. They had no luggage, only the clothes they were wearing.
Once they settled in, my father looked back over his shoulder and asked the children if Santa had found them yet. Three gloomy faces gave him his answer.
"Well I didn't think so," my father said, winking at my mother,"because when I saw Santa this morning, he told me that he was having trouble finding all, and he asked me if he could leave your toys at my house. We'll just go to get them before I take you to the bus stop."
All at once, the three children's faces lit up, and they began to bounce around in the back seat, laughing and chattering.
When we got out of the car at our house, the three children ran through the front door and straight to the toys that were spread out under our Christmas tree. One of the girls spied Jill's doll and immediately hugged it to her breast. I remember that the little boy grabbed Sharon's ball. And the other girl picked up something of mine.
All this happened a long time ago, but the memory of it remains clear. That was the Christmas when my sisters and I learned the joy of making others happy. | high22490.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Something on its cover caught her eye."
},
"options": [
"It was a thick enough book.",
"Something on its cover caught her eye.",
"Her mother was reading it with interest.",
"It has a meaningful title."
],
"quest... | One early morning, I went into the living room to find my mother reading a thick book called Best Loved Poems to Read Again and Again. My interest was aroused only by the fact that the word "Poems" appeared in big, hot pink letters.
"Is it good?" I asked her.
"Yeah," she answered. "There's one I really like and you'll like it, too." I leaned forward.
"'Patty Poem,'" she read the title. Who is Patty? I wondered. The poem began:
She never puts her toys away,
Just leaves them scattered1where they lay,...1
The poem was just three short sections. The final one came quickly:
When she grows and gathers poise2,2
I'll miss her harum-scarum3noise,3
And look in vain4for scattered toys.4
And I'll be sad.
A terrible sorrow washed over me. Whoever Patty was, she was a mean girl. Then, the shock.
"It's you, honey," My mother said sadly.
To my mother, the poem revealed a parent's affection when her child grows up and leaves. To me, the "she" in the poem was horror. It was my mama who would be sad. It was so terrible I burst out crying.
"What's wrong?" my mother asked.
"Oh Mama," I cried. "I don't want to grow up ever!"
She smiled. "Honey, it's okay. You're not growing up anytime soon. And when you do, I'll still love you, okay?"
"Okay," I was still weeping. My panic has gone. But I could not help thinking about that silly poem. After what seemed like a safe amount of time, I read the poem again and was confused. It all fit so well together, like a puzzle. The language was simple, so simple I could plainly understand its meaning, yet it was still beautiful. I was now fascinated by the idea of poetry, words that had the power to make or break a person's world.
I have since fallen in love with other poems, but "Patty Poem" remains my poem. After all, "Patty Poem" gave me my love for poetry not because it was the poem that lifted my spirits, but because it was the one that hurt me the most. | high13895.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "$17.00"
},
"options": [
"$17.00",
"$ 0.77",
"$7.02",
"$15.11"
],
"question": "If you buy Chicco Red Bullet Balance Training Bike now, you can save _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"an... | Chicco Red Bullet Balance Training Bike
Price: $32.99 & FREE Shipping($49.99)
Soft tires & Help the child gain balance.
Recommended for ages 3+years.
Seat Pets Car Seat Toy
Price: $19.97 & FREE Shipping on orders over $35($19. 99)
Seat Pets are seat belt attachments that provide comfort and support to your child's neck and head. Each Seat Pet has three pockets, designed to store all of the things that kids need when they're in the car. Seat Pets are 21'' long and are made of high-quality machine-washable material. Easily attaches to seat belts.
Fisher-Price Infant to Toddler Swing in Red
Price: $19.97 & FREE Shipping on orders over $35($26. 99)
The Infant to Toddler Swing is an outdoor swing that spans the development of a child from infant to toddler. The tray holds toys or snacks and lifts up out of the way for easy in and out.
This swing is as friendly to parents as it is to kids and now it can be reclined for use with infants as young as six months.
Laugh & Learn Crawl Around Car
Price: $44. 88 & FREE Shipping (You Save:$59. 99)
The Laugh & Learn Crawl Around Car helps your little ones develop gross motor skills by encouraging babies to crawl around the car. In addition, babies will enjoy busy activities and sing-along songs.
Stationary car encourages babies to sit up, crawl, pull up, stand and move all around. Introduce babies to letters, numbers, colors, first words, greetings & more. For ages 6-36 months old. | high14122.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "video games"
},
"options": [
"computers",
"smart phones",
"video games",
"tablets PCs"
],
"question": "Parents have more negative than positive feelings about media consumption like _ .",
"question_type": ... | Most parents of kids under age 8 don't worry about how much time they spend watching TV or using other media, from computers to smart phones to tablets PCs, according to a new survey that found a child's use of media often reflects how much time parents spend in the similar way.
We generally found that media use is not a source of conflict in the home" for families with young children, Ellen Wartella, a researcher from Northwestem University, told USA Today. She led a survey of 2,326 parents who have children 8 and younger.It found that in 80 percent of families, children's media use was not a problem, with 55 percent "not too" or" not at all" concerned about it. It also showed parents have more positive than negative feelings about how media consumption affects a child's learning and the development of creativity.The exception is video games, which are viewed more negatively than TV, computers or mobile devices."Parents rated video games as more likely to have a negative effect on children's school performance, attention time, creativity, social skills, behavior and sleep than any other medium," the researchers said in a news conference about the survey.
The findings exposes a generational shift in parental attitudes about technology's role in young children's lives," said Wartella."Today's parents grew up with technology as a central pact of their lives, so they think about it differently than earlier generations of parents, instead of a battle with kids on one side and parents on the other, the use of media and technology has become a family affair. "
The researchers identified three media environments created by parents: media-centric (39 percent of families) , media-moderate (45%)and media-light (16%). Children in media-centric families spend at least three hours more each day watching TV or using computers, video games and tablet PCs don't make parenting easier.And 88 percent of parents say they are most likely to turn to toys or activities to keep their children occupied.Slightly fewer turn to books (79%) and TV(78%).
The survey didn't look at how media affects children. That's a topic that the American Academy of Pediatrics has handled a number of times. The AAP says studies have found too much media use can lead to attention- problems, school difficulties, sleep and eating disorders and being fat. In addition, the Internet and cell phones can provide platforms for illegal and risky behaviors. By limiting screen time and offering educational media and non-electronic formats such as books, newspapers and board games, and watching television with their children, parents can help guide their children's media experience. Putting questionable content into context and teaching kids a700ut advertising contributes to their media literacy ," it says.
The pediatricians' group says parents should have "screen-free zones" and TV should be turned off during dinner. At most, it recommends children and teens engage with entertainment media for no more than two hours a day and that should be high-quality content. It is important for kids to spend time on outdoor play, reading, hobbies and using their imaginations in free play." Kids under 2 should not use television and other entertainment media because their brains are developing quickly and they learn best from direct human interaction," the group says.
An article on screen time by t.he Mayo Clinic also notes problems linked t.o over screen time, including being fat, irregular sleep , behavioral problems , weak school performance , violence and less time for active and creative play. | high6465.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Psychology book"
},
"options": [
"science newspaper",
"novel",
"health magazine",
"Psychology book"
],
"question": "The text is most probably taken from a _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
... | Life affects friendships. As we grow, marry, fight in wars, move across the country or change jobs, old friendships fall away and new ones form. As long as we live, the things around us change, and as long as things change, friendships are affected.
When we were children we had best friends. No matter what happened we were still friends. We live our lives, however, and do what life calls for us to do, and as we get older, memories fade , faces blur , and even friends' names from childhood are forgotten.
Do you have a question about friendship? Do you wonder what to do with a friend who is no longer friendly? Perhaps you will see that you can't control others. If someone wants to be your friend, it is their choice. All you can do is treat them well and do the best for them when you are with them. Then you wish them well when they leave.
You can talk to _ and they will tell you that life is full of incredible joy and incredible sorrow, and that what bothers you today will one day become a memory and the sting will be gone. Seniors might tell you that you will learn more as you get older. They will tell you that friendships come and friendships go.Sometimes when they go it will hurt, but you will be okay with it.It's the way life works, after all. | high9030.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "something that makes people understand what they read"
},
"options": [
"a strong passion for reading",
"the latest information in reading",
"the most important factor behind the reading",
"something that makes people un... | Reading is the key to success. Apparently every successful person develops a passion for reading. This is because reading is a key element to obtain the information required to understand something. For instance, lawyers have to study and learn every established law on their specific branches. Sometimes the law changes according to people's needs. A good lawyer has to be informed about the latest news in the court. A doctor has to be informed of the latest advances in medicine.
Reading is very important for all mankind. Everything is relative in this world, especially reading. Reading can open any doors and it can lead you into a path of success. Studies have confirmed that reading to your unborn child is very good. This way your child will develop a passion for reading.
How do you develop a passion for reading? There is only one way you can boost your passion for reading. Let me explain this to you. If you want to learn how to ride a bike, you have to get on the bike as many times as possible until you have learned. It works the same way with reading. If you want to boost your reading, take a book and read it all the way through. When you finish reading your first book, take another book and do the same. Try to read as much as you can. If you are going out, grab a magazine, a book, an article or something to read.
There is a very important factor behind the reading--reading comprehension. It's what makes you understand the meaning behind the text. Let's assume that you read a document and you are supposed to explain the meaning of the document. How would you explain the document if you couldn't capture the message of the author? | high14644.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Love is a telephone"
},
"options": [
"Love is transient",
"Love is permanent",
"Love is a telephone",
"What's love in life"
],
"question": "What is the best title of the passage?",
"question_type": null
},... | Love is a telephone which always keeps silent when you are longing for a call, but rings when you are not ready for it. As a result, we often miss the sweetness from the other end.
Love is a telephone which is seldom program-controlled or directly dialed. You cannot get an immediate answer by a mere "hello", let alone go deep into your lover's heart by one call. Usually it had to be relayed by an operator, and you have to be patient in waiting. _
Love is a telephone which is always busy, When you are ready to die for love, you only find, to your disappointment, the line is already occupied by someone else, and you are greeted only by a busy line. This is an eternal regret handed down from generation to generation and you are only one of those who languish for(...) followers.
Love is telephone, but it is difficult to seize the center time for dialing, and you will let the opportunity slip if your call is either too early or too late.
Love is a telephone which is not always associated with happiness. Honeyed words are transmitted by sound waves, but when the lovers are brought together, the phone serves no purpose that many lovers observe that marriage is the _ of love.
Love is a telephone which, when you use it for the first time, makes you so nervous and excited that you either hold the receiver upside down or dial the wrong number. By the time you've calmed down, you will beat a loss to whom you should make the call.
Love is a telephone which often has crossed lines. And this usually happens to you unexpectedly. Your time will either cross or be crossed. Both cases are referred to as "triangle". Fortunately, all such occurrences are transient . | high6303.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "A person afraid of height"
},
"options": [
"Someone who has heart attack.",
"An old man who has got flu.",
"A person afraid of height",
"A woman having high blood."
],
"question": "Who can't visit the CN tower?"... | Only if you don't have a fear of heights do you want to visit the CN Tower. And if you can take a trip to the top of it will surely be worth it. The CN tower is Canada's most famous symbol and the centre of tourism in Toronto.
Over 550 meters, it is one of the tallest building in the world; on a clear day the view is wonderful. Each year, around 2 million people take the elevator ride to the top of the tower to take in the breath-taking view at the top of the world. Once you are at the top, see if you have the courage to walk across the see-through glass floor .
If you are hungry, plan to eat at the revolving restaurant at the top of the tower. The floor in the 360-degree restaurant rotates once every 72 minutes allowing everyone a complete view of the city below. The CN tower has broken record many times, winning such titles as World's Longest Metal staircase ,World's Tallest building and , most recently , World's Highest Wine Cellar. In 1995, the CN tower was considered as one of the seven wonders of the Modern World.
Today, the top of the tower, more than 333m in the air, serves as the year-round workplace for more than 550 people. The tower's workers help to make the world-class attractions and food there.
While at the CN tower, you'll also have the chance to visit gift shops. You will find the CN Tower in the heart of downtown, on Front Street. On the north shore of Lake Ontario, the CN Tower is open 364 days a year(closed on Christmas Day). | high12235.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "To support the opinion above"
},
"options": [
"To indicate the disadvantage of mobile phone.",
"To scold the misusage of mobile phone.",
"To provide an excuse for Richard's offence.",
"To support the opinion above"
... | The unwanted disturbing of a mobile phone ringing at a critical moment has led to some famously strong reactions
British actor Richard Grif-fiths,stopped a performance at the National Theatre and ordered The offending party to leave
Judge Robert Restaino went considerably further.He was hearing a session of domestic violence offenders in a court when proceedings were interrupted by rings of a phone.
"Everyone is going to jail unless I get that instrument now," he shouted.
Over the next two hours,the judge entered a period of "incredible madness".He began by ordering the doors of the court locked,and set the officers to searching for the phone.
When that failed to find the offending item he ordered each of the defendants present in the room up to his bench and in turn asked them if they had no idea, he sent each in turn to jail .
All 46 of them.
When a defendant protested the judge's actions were not fair to those who didn't possess the phone,Restaino replied:"I know it isn't.
Judge's actions caused chaos.Extra officers had to be drafted into the court to control the crowd.and booking officers at the city jail were at full stretch." _ ", one said at the time.
Fourteen of the defendants were shackled( )in irons and sent to the county jail.
The judge cooled off and later that afternoon released all 46.
The "two hours of viral lunacy ", has probably cost Restaino his job.The commission ruled that he should be removed from his $14,000 job.Restaino now has 30 days to appeal .
His lawyer pointed out that until that moment he had served 11 years as a judge without any disciplinary issues."With the exception of two hours.his record is spotless." | high4514.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "his mother kept him warm by her clothes and arms"
},
"options": [
"the peasant helped his mother when he was born",
"the bridge protected him from the cold and snow",
"his mother kept him warm by her clothes and arms",
... | On a cold Christmas Eve in 1952, when the country was in the civil war, a young woman struggled along a village street, soon to give birth to a child. She pleaded with passers-by ,"Help me! Please, My baby." But no one helped her.
A middle-aged couple walked by. The pushed away the young mother and asked," Where's the father?" The couple laughed and went on. The young woman almost cried as she watched them go. "Please..." she pleaded. But they didn't return.
Shaking and in pain, she struggled over the frozen countryside. But the night was so cold. Snow began to fall. She had to go under a bridge. There, alone, her, baby was born on Christmas Eve. Worried about her newborn son, she took off her own clothes, wrapped them around the baby and held him close in the warm circle of her arms.
The next day, as a peasant walked along, he heard the cry of a baby. He followed the sound to a bridge. Under it, he found a young mother frozen to death. She was still carrying her newborn son. The peasant tenderly lifted the baby out of her arms.
When the baby grew up, the peasant told him the story of his mother's death on the Christmas Eve. The young boy cried, realizing what his mother had _ for him. Later every year the young man went to the bridge where his mother had died to remember her. | high21827.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "can throw the waste into rubbish can"
},
"options": [
"can throw away the waste freely",
"had better take along the waste",
"can throw the waste into rubbish can",
"should put the waste in your domestic rubbish can"
... | Many people are concerned about the state of the earth in terms of its energy supplies and changing climate.The clear message broadcast by all responsible governments is that every person has a part to play.Here are some detailed instructions.
1.Prevent pollution by disposing of all your litter and waste in the correct,legal way,such as using onstreet waste receptacles when you are out and about,or putting it in your domestic rubbish can when you're at home.Follow local procedures for normal waste disposal.Contact your local authority for advice on disposing of unusual waste items,such as paint and computer parts.
2.Recycle all materials that can be processed by your local authority.Place plastics,metals,paper and glass in the correct collection receptacles.Donate unwanted items to the charities that are happy to accept good condition clothing,furniture and even automobiles.
3.Look after reserves of water by making sure you turn off the tap after use and by repairing leaks and drips.Purchase waterefficient appliances.Take showers instead of baths.Gather rainwater for garden use and use your lawn sprinkler less often or not at all.
4.Save energy by choosing Energy Star products.Turn these off,as well as lights,when you don't need them to be on.Use air condition and heating less often.Make sure your home is insulated correctly to maintain a steady temperature.
5.Reduce the amount of the material you use.Print emails occasionally or not at all rather than printing them every time.You buy new things when you actually need them rather than on a whim .Organize a car pool with friends to use fuel efficiently.
In a word,we should try to use the world's resources efficiently to protect the environment. | high5795.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "it is quite unusual to be a centenarian"
},
"options": [
"it is quite unusual to be a centenarian",
"it is very difficult to find \"super humans\"",
"it is a tough job investigating the aging process",
"it takes a long ... | Neddine Parker is up by 7 in the morning. After her morning exercises and some housework, she drives to the local hospital, where she volunteers once a week. What makes Parker's routine so extraordinary is that she is 104 years old.
"I don't know why I'm still here," she said.
Dr. Thomas Perls of the Boston University Medical Center is trying to figure that out. As the director of the New England Centenarian Study, he studies there "super humans", those age 100 years and older.
"It's like winning the lottery", he said. "You've got to choose the right numbers and the right combination."
Researchers believe about 30 percent of aging is genetic. For those who get to extremely old ages, family history may play an even more important role.
Reuben Landau's mother lived to 100, and three of his brothers and sisters into their 90s. Landau is nearly 102, and he still practices law a few hours every day. Both Landau and Parker are remarkably healthy. They take few medications and have no major illness.
Perls has found that many centenarians lack a type of gene -- E4 -- that is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. One study found the gene is in 29 percent of young men, but only 15 percent of centenarians. Perls also believes they may have a "protective gene", one that helps them survive what might kill others. Parker, for example, smoked until she was 100 and had a stroke at 89.
However, living into your 100s isn't just genetics. Aging successfully has much to do with environment and behavior. Landau watches what he eats and exercises his body and mind every day. He's convinced it's why he's still in good health. "People still have to do the right things to get to very old age," said Perls. So it's not just the cards you're dealt, but how you play the hand. | high23177.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the ways to spend time with children"
},
"options": [
"the importance of spending time with children",
"the ways to spend time with children",
"the reasons to spend time with children",
"the activities children like to ... | Nowadays, with the busy working hours, parents have no time left to spend with their children. However, spending time with children is of extreme importance. Giving some time for children will play an important role in their development. Therefore, it is a must for parents to spend time with children. Here are some tips for parents which will help them spend time with their little wonder.
Having Dinner with Children
Even if you are not there at home for a whole day, you should make sure that you have dinner with your children. Moreover, you should make it a point that you are having dinner with your entire family. Also, you should avoid watching TV when you are having dinner with your family.
Helping Child Comlete Homework
Helping your child complete homework will help you know how he/she is at studies. It is not that you have to spend hours regularly helping your child with homework. But, sometimes you can help your child solve some questions. In this way, you will get to spend time with your child as well as get to know about his or her studies.
Fun Activities
During weekends you can _ your child in fun activities like gardening, painting etc. However, do not force your child to do so. You can also spend some time in teaching your child finger painting, vegetable painting and craft work. You may even help your child complete his or her art and craft assignments. These activities will help you improve creativity of your child as well as the interaction between you and your child. | high7182.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "how to treat our life"
},
"options": [
"what to do in our life",
"where to go with other persons",
"how to treat our life",
"how to get on well with other persons"
],
"question": "In this passage, the writer wan... | Maybe it is true that we do not know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we do not know what we have been missing until it arrives.
It takes an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Do not expect love in return; but if it does not, be content it has grown in yours. Do not rely on one's appearance; it can trick you. Do not rely on wealth; even that fades away. Rely on someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.
There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them. Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.
The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past. You cannot go on well in life until you let your past failures and heartaches go off. May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people do not necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. Happiness waits for those who cry, those appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives. Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.
When you were born , you were crying and everyone around you was smiling . Live your life so that when you die , you are the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying . | high22269.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "love is what we need"
},
"options": [
"love can really cause people active",
"love has effect on songs and books",
"love is linked with emotion",
"love is what we need"
],
"question": "The main idea of this pass... | Many songs, poems, and books have been written on love's strong effect on people. The state of being in love has even been compared to being sick or mad. A study by Professor Semir Zeki of University College London has found that love does affect people's brains by making them feel great.
Zeki studied young men and women who had recently fallen in love. He found that, when they were looking at photos of their loved ones, there was heightened activity in four areas of their brains. These areas deal with emotions, and one of them, in particular, is known to respond to drugs that cause feelings of great joy and excitement.
Interestingly, the study also found a lack of activity in two other areas of the brain when the volunteers looked at their lovers' photographs. One of these areas is linked to feelings of sadness, while the other is often active in people suffering from depression. It seems love really can be _ .
The state of being in love, according to some scientists, may actually be good for your health. Although scientists know that being in love can make a person feel great, the exact influence of love on a person's health is harder to determine. However, scientists say that people do need love in order to live healthy lives.
According to Dr. Thomas Lewis, people need to be in relationships because that is how we are designed. He says the brain can only maintain the overall stability of a person's immune system, bodily rhythms, and heart if it receives input from outside the body in the form of emotional connections with others.
Professor Antonio Damasio has a similar view. He says that love enriches a person's imagination and creativity, and makes a person's body work better. He also believes that love can even improve the body's ability to fight against disease. Damasio's wise words of advice are " Choose love and you will live longer." | high9811.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "at Central Park on Saturday"
},
"options": [
"at the front entrance of City Hall",
"at the Ballgame",
"at 5:00 p.m.",
"at Central Park on Saturday"
],
"question": "You can probably eat Chinese, Italian, and Arab... | Captain Goodfellow
Do your children enjoy interesting stories, funny games, and exciting dances? Captain Goodfellow will be ready to teach all these things to children of all ages at the City Theatre on Saturday morning at 10:00, free.
Walking Tour of the Town
Forget your worries on Saturday morning. Take a beautiful walk and learn about local history. Meet at the front entrance of City Hall at 9:30. Wear comfortable shoes!
Films at the Museum
Two European films will be shown on Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theatre. See Broken Window at 1:30. The Workers will be at 3:45. For further information, call 4987898.
International Picnic
Are you tired of eating the same food every day? Come to Central Park on Saturday and enjoy food from all over the world. Delicious and not expensive. Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Take Me out to the Ballgame
It's October, and tonight is your last chance to see the Redbirds this year. Get your tickets at the gate. It might be cold... Don't forget sweaters and jackets.
Do you want to hear "The Zoo"?
"The Zoo, a popular group from Australia, will give their first U.S. concert tomorrow night at 8 at Rose Hall, City College. | high701.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "24"
},
"options": [
"18",
"20",
"24",
"26"
],
"question": "How many people died on the spot ?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "sa... | One of its worst ever mass shootings in America occurred on Friday when 20 children and six adults were shot dead by a gunman who opened fire at an elementary school in Connecticut.
The gunshot at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, about 65 miles north-east of New York, is understood to have been carried out by a gunman, who was later found dead at the scene.
State policeman Paul Vance said 18 children died at the scene and two more died in hospital Six adults were found dead at the school, Vance said.The bodies of the victims remain inside the school.
In an emotional press conference at the White House, Barack Obama suggested that he may take action.Fighting back tears, he said: "We've tolerate too many of these tragedies in the past few years.And each time ] learn the news I react not as a president, but as anybody else would as a parent.And that was especially true today.I know there's not a parent in America who isn't in the same overwhelming sorrow that I am."
Referring to a number of major shootings this year alone, Obama continued: "Whether it's an elementary school in Newtown, or a shopping mall in Oregon, or a temple in Wisconsin, or a movie theater in Aurora, or a street comer in Chicago - these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children.And we're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics." | high23611.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "A Surprise Christmas Gift"
},
"options": [
"A Piece of Lucky Feather",
"A Surprise Christmas Gift",
"The Boring Shopping Experience",
"The Unforgettable Big Hug"
],
"question": "Which of the following could be t... | On Christmas morning, I went to the Cockhedge Mall. People there were all busy buying their last minute requirements. I needed to buy a birthday card for my son-in-law whose birthday is the 29th of December. Picking up a few more things as well as my cared I went to join the line for the express checkout which was for people who only had a few items in a basket and not a trolley load. This line was next to the Customer Service desk.
Seemingly waiting quite a long time, I was jogged out of my thoughts by a voice behind me making comments on the things I bought.
It was so funny when I realized that she was describing the contents of my basket. The owner of the voice was a very pretty young lady. I said to her that I was going to buy a box of Christmas cookies but the only ones left were not to my liking. The lady told me that just opposite Cockhedge in Superdrug they had lots of cookies. I said, "I'm not going to bother now. I had enough of shops and I'm going home."
The assistant from the Customer Service came across at this time saying "If there is anyone in the line with a few items in their basket, none of which needed to be weighed, I will check out their groceries at the desk." Because I had the sprouts which needed to be weighted, the young lady accepted the offer and walked away waving goodbye.
Eventually my turn came at the checkout. I was walking away when I met my new friend once again who handed me a beautiful box of Christmas cookies. With a big hug she said "Hope you have a lovely Christmas." She had been into Superdrug to buy me the cookies while I was still queuing in Cockhedge.
What a generosity to a stranger! I was so surprised you could have knocked me down with a feather. My Good Samaritan would never know what a joyful Christmas day I had with my family. Telling them this story, as we ate around the table, kept everyone _ | high20318.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "In a popular magazine"
},
"options": [
"In a popular magazine",
"On the front page of a newspaper.",
"In a science textbook",
"In an encyclopedia."
],
"question": "Where would this article probably appear?",
... | Nearly everyone is shy in some ways.If shyness is making you uncomfortable,it may be time for a few lessons in self-confidence.You can build your confidence by following some suggestions from doctors and psychologists.
Make a decision not to hold back in conversations,What you have to say is just as important as what other people say.And don't turn down party invitations just because of your shyness.
Prepare yourself for being with others in groups.Make a list of the good qualities you have.Then make a list of ideas,experiences,and skills you would like to share with other people.
Think about what you would like to say in advance.Then say it.
If you start feeling self-conscious in a group,take a deep breath and focus your attention on other people.Remember, you are not alone.Other people are concerned about the impression they are making,too.
No one ever gets over being shy completely, but most people do learn to live with their shyness. Even entertainers admit that they often feel shy.They work at fighting their shy feelings so that they can face the cameras and the public.Just making the effort to control shyness can have many rewards.But perhaps the best reason to fight shyness is to give other people a chance to know more about you. | high18687.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Teenagers' TV time may affect their diets later"
},
"options": [
"People should keep away from TV to keep healthy",
"Teenagers' TV time may affect their diets later",
"Why do teenagers like TV?",
"Parents' own habits ma... | Teenagers who spend hours in front of the television may have a poorer diet as young adults.
A study, which included nearly 1,400 high school students, found that those who watched TV for five hours or more per day had less healthy diets than their peers five years later. Why does this happen? Should the parents take any measures?
On the one hand, people who spend a lot of time in front of the TV, especially teenagers may snack more, and that may affect their long-term diet quality.
On the other hand, TV ads for fast food, sweets and snacks tempt teenagers to eat more of those foods. And TV time might also replace exercise time for some kids.
Lead researcher Dr. Daheia J. BarrAnderson, of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, told Reuters Health a clear correlation between TV time during high school and diet quality in young adulthood . While the heaviest TV viewers were eating the most junk food five years later, those who'd watched less than two hours per day had the highest intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and high-calcium food. In her opinion, parents should limit and monitor TV viewing.
I think children should watch no more than two hours of television per day. And parents should set a good example by eating right, being physical active and curbing their own TV time. | high16872.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "His bone marrow was chosen as a match for a patient from Fujian."
},
"options": [
"He was born on March 26, 1993.",
"He donated bone marrow at a hospital in Xiangyang.",
"He is the first university student to donate bone marr... | Zhang Wenchi is a 19-year-old student of Hubei Xiangyang No.1 High School. He is very brave and always helps others in need.
On March 26, 2012, Zhang donated bone marrow at the Navy General Hospital of Beijing. He is the youngest and the first high school student to do it. Last April, Zhang became a blood donor on his 18th birthday. He also joined the China Marrow Donor Program that day. Six months later, his bone marrow was chosen as a match for a 4-year-old leukemia patient from Fujian.
Zhang was studying for the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) when the call from the Chinese Bone Marrow Donors came. He found out that the patient could not wait, or things might get worse. With the support of his family and school, Zhang arrived at the hospital in Beijing the very next day.
"Saving a life is more important than taking an exam, and having the chance to help cure a patient does not allow for more thought," Zhang said.
The transplant operation was a success. After that, Zhang Wenchi was in good health and he came back to school soon. Zhang said then the most important task for him was the exam. He hoped that his dream of becoming a pilot could come true.
Now the NCEE has been over for more than a month, and what about Zhang Wenchi's marks? To our great relief, it's known that he has earned 540 points, which means he can be admitted into Beihang University (formerly Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics). Therefore he can realize his dream of flying in the sky.
Zhang's deed has earned him nationwide respect, and some have given him the nickname, "the most beautiful post-90s student". | high3482.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Americans combine community involvement with study while studying abroad."
},
"options": [
"How non-profit groups work in South Africa.",
"How to take part in study abroad programs.",
"Americans studying abroad pay more atten... | Each year about a quarter of a million Americans study abroad. For many of them, a summer or a semester in a foreign country now involves more than just sitting in classrooms and hanging out with other American students. Instead, they are encouraged and sometimes required to be involved in the local communities they are studying in.
"It's ly important that they know something about how people in other parts of the world live and think, and how they behave," says William Finlay, head of the sociology department at the University of Georgia. In 2008, he co-founded a study abroad program with South Africa's Stellenbosch University. It combines traditional academic in-class learning with community involvement.
"We've been working with a non-government organization in the township. Our students typically either work with little children in day care centers or work in the library and teach very basic computer skills to young children," says Finlay.
The three-week program proved to be an unforgettable experience for Hillary Kinsey. She says, "It was interesting to learn the history of the area and then talk to these people and see what the social dynamics were, and how certain groups felt about other groups."
When Hillary Kinsey returned home from South Africa, she and other students in the program established a non-profit group. Kinsey says the group wants to contribute to advancing education and development in South Africa. "One of the purposes of the group is that we hope to raise money and awareness about the situation where those people live and help to promote any sort of educational development that we can, " Kinsey added.
While many study abroad programs focus on helping Americans to learn foreign languages, others take a more intensive approach. "In all of our locations, we place students with local roommates," says Mark Lenhart, director of CEF Academic Programs, which sends more than a thousand students to China, Korea and other countries each year.
He says American students benefit from such one-on-one interactions, in spite of the challenges they face. Lenhart says, "They have to adjust to the local life. This will enable students to become more employable when they graduate." | high21006.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "By changing its body colors"
},
"options": [
"By changing its body colors",
"By hanging out over a pond.",
"By sleeping with half their brain.",
"By making beds with branches."
],
"question": "How does a chamele... | How Do Animals Catch their ZZZ's ?
Different creatures have developed some pretty creative ways to get their rest and stay safe. The lizard likes to sleep at the far end of small branches hanging out over a pond or lake in the rain forest. If a snake tries to slither up the branch to eat it, it will shake the branch and knock the lizard off, and the lizard will fall safely into the water. Chameleons can change color to match their surroundings in order to hide even while sleeping.
Gorillas like to sleep high in the trees. They build a new bed every night, sometimes taking up to half an hour to pile branches, twigs, and leaves into a comfortable bed. Birds also find it safe to sleep in the trees, but unless they have eggs or young chicks, they don't use a nest. They just lock their feet around a branch and hang on. A special tendon in their legs is automatically tight when they are at rest, so they won't let go and fall.
Dolphins live underwater, but must come to the surface to breathe. Scientists now believe that dolphins may sleep with only half their brain, while the other half stays awake to keep them safe and breathing. Seals also do this, lying on their sides on the surface of the water with one flipper underwater paddling to keep their noses above the surface. Some ducks may also have this ability, and actually sleep with one eye closed and one eye open. | high2944.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "She wanted to recover."
},
"options": [
"She couldn't join in other active sports.",
"She had no other choice.",
"She wanted to continue her dream.",
"She wanted to recover."
],
"question": "Why did Oliver decid... | Twenty years ago, Oliver's back injury ruined her childhood dream of becoming a ballet dancer. But the injury led her to t'ai chi when Oliver saw a poster for a t'ai chi class and decided to try the mysterious Chinese sport."I was active and could not bear resting in bed and I thought I had to find some way to recover,"she recalls.
She was struck by the beautiful movements and the"nice, patient instructor--Nelson", who later became her husband. The couple opened a t'ai chi school in the UK. But they soon found themselves in a bottleneck. So the couple decided to move to China. They taught English in universities and learned t'ai chi under various masters. After years of practice, Oliver found her occasional backaches had disappeared.
But three years after moving to China to pursue their dream, Nelson died, bringing her much pain. She thought of quitting, but considering the career in which her husband took pride, she stuck to it. She says her t'ai chi"family"-- the masters and students -- also provided great support, including her then tutor Dong Bing.
She speaks of their first meeting:"I had been told that his skill was of a very high level and for some reason I had a mental image of a powerful, big man. But my fellow pointed to a small, thin old gentleman, sitting on the ground. Then a sudden feeling of pleasure hit me. Of course this was exactly the kind of person who would be a t'ai chi master -- the last person you could imagine. His idea is that one should not pursue wealth and fame but should endeavor to be happy and share one's knowledge and wisdom with others."
Following the master, Oliver now learns to live a simple life -- one perhaps more traditional than many Chinese. She does t'ai chi in the morning , makes kung fu tea for guests and draws ink-wash bamboo paintings. She spends her time outside t'ai chi attending cultural exchange events. | high19599.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "her mother talked to her friend"
},
"options": [
"the evening arrived",
"they got to the concert hall",
"her mother talked to her friend",
"the spotlight came on"
],
"question": "The little boy slipped onto the ... | A mother wanted to encourage her son's progress at the piano. She bought tickets to a performance by a great pianist. When the evening arrived,they found their seats near the front of the concert hall and looked at the big piano waiting on the stage. Soon the mother found a friend to talk to,and the boy slipped away.
At 8 o'clock,the lights in the hall became weak. The spotlights came on. Only then did they notice the boy up on the piano bench,playing Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star. His mother was shocked,but before she could get her son back,the master himself was 0n the stage and quickly moving to the piano.
He went up to the boy and said gently,"Don't stop. Keep playing. "Then he leaned over and reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his fight arm reached around the other side and played a delightful piece of music. Together,the old master and the little boy carried the crowd away with their beautiful music.
In all our lives,we receive helping hands--some we notice,some we don't. Equally we ourselves have a great many chances to give a helping hand to others--sometimes we like our help to be noticed,sometimes we don't. Little of what we a11 achieve comes without learning or support from others. What we receive we should give back. | high18693.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "learning more"
},
"options": [
"watching live Olympic matches",
"learning more",
"meeting his favorite sports stars",
"making money"
],
"question": "Xue Bai is willing to be a volunteer for the Beijing Olympics ... | XUE Bai, a 21-year-old university student, hopes to volunteer for Beijing's 2008 Olympics. "I want to do something for the Olympics. It is also a kind of learning for me," said the fourth-year student at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Now it is time for Xue to act on her plan. The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the 2008 Olympiad will start to recruit volunteers on August 28.
The Olympics will need around 70,000 volunteers and the Paralympic Games will need another 30,000. University students like Xue will make up the majority of the volunteers. But the Olympics also need other volunteers - ordinary citizens and foreigners, for example. Students in Beijing should apply through their universities. Other volunteers may apply online or submit a written application. The online application system and a hotline will be open next Monday. For applicants outside Beijing, the application process begins in December. There is plenty of work for volunteers to do. For example, there will be chances to help publicize the games over the next two years. During the games themselves, volunteers will clean, serve food, marshal or offer language help.
The Sydney Olympics in 2000 was the first that placed special emphasis on the role of volunteers. It used more than 45,000 volunteers in different roles. In the 2004 Athens Olympics, around 45,000 volunteers were used. More than 70,000 volunteers will be needed for the Olympic games and Paralympic Games in 2012, the London Olympic Organizing Committee has said. | high2788.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "How adoption created a happy family."
},
"options": [
"How a couple first met at college.",
"Where you can adopt a child.",
"The benefits of adoption to the community.",
"How adoption created a happy family."
],
... | Ellen and prefix = st1 /BillCountyare both teachers. They met in college and became good friends because of their shared love for children. Two years after the couple got married; Ellen saw a huge change in the life of one of her students, a 9-year-old girl. Three years earlier both of the little girl's parents had died and there was no one to take care of her. She was taken away to live in a government office. But finally she was taken in and adopted by a family and became their daughter. Ellen said that she noticed the difference in the child's life after she was placed in a permanent home and thought that maybe she and her husband could help a child in a similar way.
They decided to become temporary parents and to take a child into their home on the weekends when the real parents could not take care of him or her. The pair planned to have their own children in a few years, but decided that this would be a way to give to the community in the meantime.
The couple quickly grew to love one of the children they looked after. When he became legally available, Billy became the first child they took in permanently. Six months after adopting Billy, Ellen was told by her doctor that she was unable to have children naturally. Ellen says she knew then that adoption was the way she was meant to have a family.
Since adopting Billy, now 17, Ellen and Bill have adopted five more children --Rose, 16; Albert, 11; Joshua, 5 and in June 2003, they added biological brother and sister Tyler and Rylee to the County family.
The County family has been recognized for their work on adoption, and has received many awards for their efforts. Last June, the family was even interviewed on the television show, "Adoption Stories".
Ellen says she would like to encourage other families to adopt children. She adds that the best part of being a mother of six is: "Giving Josh a bath, putting a braid-aid on a cut knee or just the everyday Mom things, which makes motherhood such an honor and a privilege." | high16866.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Overcrowding."
},
"options": [
"Poor housing.",
"Overcrowding.",
"Environmental pollution.",
"Traffic jams."
],
"question": "What do some people think is the main problem of the future city like?",
"question... | What will city life be like in the future? Some people think that life in the cities is going to be horrible. They say that cities will become more and more crowded. As the number of people increases, there will be less space for each person. This overcrowding will cause other problems -- more crime, dirtier streets , and worse problems with traffic than we have now. How will people find enough drinking water, energy (such as gas and electricity ), and housing? Because life will be hard, people who live in cities will worry more, and they may become sick. For these reasons, some say that nobody will want to live in city areas.
How can we deal with such problems as overcrowding, crime, and traffic? In some cities, thousands of people are already sleeping in the streets because there is little suitable housing -- and because houses are too expensive. The crime rate isn't going down. Instead, it is increasing so fast that many people are afraid to go out at night. Traffic is also getting worse. More and more often, traffic jams are so bad that cars don't move at all for several streets. These problems have been getting worse, not better, so many people see no hope for the future of the city.
Los Angeles, California, for example, has no subway system and buses are slow. Instead, many commuters (, ) drive many miles from their homes to work. Many of these drivers spend several hours each day on busy freeways. New York, however, has a big transport system -- buses, commuter trains, and subways. Because the public transportation is crowded and dirty, many people drive private cars, and the traffic jams are worse than that in Los Angeles. A taxi driver complains, "I was driving home, but in forty-five minutes I moved only two miles! Finally, I turned off the engine and just sat there. A lot of people left their cars where they were in the middle of the street and went into a bar for a few beers!"
On the other hand, some cities have clean, fast and pleasant public transportation systems. In Paris, France, and Toronto, Canada, for example, anyone can use buses or subways to move quickly from one part of the city to another. | high2950.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "difficult to get the matching pearl"
},
"options": [
"possible to find an exact one like that pearl",
"difficult to get the matching pearl",
"impossible to advertise in the newspapers",
"easy to buy a similar pearl"
... | A well-dressed man came into a famous jewellery shop. He explained that he wished
to buy a pearl for his wife's birthday and that the price didn't matter since business
had been very good for him that year. After examining a number of beautiful and valuable
pearls, he chose a nice black one that cost $5,000. He paid for the pearl, shook hands with
the jeweller and left.
A few days later the man returned and said his wife had liked the pearl so much that
she wanted another one just like it. It had to be exactly the same size and quality as she
wanted a pair of earrings made. "Can you give me any advice on how to get such a
pearl?" said the man. The jeweller replied, "I would say it's nearly impossible to find an
exact one like that pearl."
The rich man asked the jeweller to advertise in the newspapers, and
offered $25,000 for the matching pearl. Many people answered the ad , but nobody
had a pearl that was just right. Just when the jeweller had given up hope, a little old lady
came in. To his surprise, she pulled the wonderful pearl from her handbag. "I don't like to
sell it," she said sadly. "I inherited it from my mother, and my mother inherited
from hers. But now I really need the money."
The jeweller was quick to pay her before she changed her mind. Then he called the
rich man's hotel to tell him the good news. The rich man, however, was nowhere to be
found. | high21012.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "The impact of language on mathematics."
},
"options": [
"The impact of language on mathematics.",
"Children's ability to learn languages.",
"How basic ideas of physics are learned?",
"Maths-learning strategies for babie... | Watch a baby between six and nine months old,and you will observe the basic idea of geometry being learned.Once the baby has mastered the idea that space is three dimensional ,it reaches out and begins grasping various things,that the ideas of sets and numbers are formed.So far,so good.But now an _ development takes place.The nerver fibers in the brain separate themselves in such a way that the baby begins to hear sounds very exactly.Soon it picks up language.And it is then brought into direct communication with grown-ups.From this point on,it is usually downhill all the way for mathematics,because the child now becomes exposed to all the rubbish words and beliefs of the born.Nature,having done very well by the child to this point,having permitted it the luxury of thinking for itself for eighteen months,now gives it up to the unreasonable conventions and beliefs of society.But at least the child knows something of geometry and peaceful days,no matter what vicissitudes it may suffer later on.The main reservoir of mathematical ability in any society is thus possessed by children who are about two years old,children who have just learned to speak freely. | high7828.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "it is an interesting place"
},
"options": [
"most people there are Chinese",
"it is not far away from Hong Kong",
"it is very fast and cheap by sea",
"it is an interesting place"
],
"question": "Macao is easy to... | Macao is only forty miles from Hong Kong and it is easy to reach. You can get there by sea. It is an interesting place and it had a long history. Macao is part of China and most people living there are Chinese.
The first Europeans to go to Macao came from Portugal . More than four hundred years ago the Portuguese went there to trade with China. Some settled and made their homes there. They built strong forts(,) to guard the city and the harbor. They also built churches, schools, hospitals and other places. Slowly the city grew. People from many countries came to live and work in Macao.
Today many people visit Macao. Some only go there to watch dog-racing or motor-racing or to gamble with their money. But Macao is a quiet and peaceful place. It is pleasant just to walk around and look at old buildings and forts. You feel you are back in the old days. Of course, some of the buildings are now in ruins. The Church of St. Paul has only the front wall with many steps leading up to it. But it is still interesting to see.
When you are hot and tired, there are small cool gardens to rest in. when you are hungry, there are good restaurants with many kinds of food. Nearby there are some islands, which are also nice and are easy to get to. There is certainly a lot to do in Macao. | high715.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "By using sign language."
},
"options": [
"By spealding.",
"By using sign language.",
"By reading lips.",
"By making loud noises."
],
"question": "How did Adrian communicate with other children in the special sch... | Adrian's "Amazing Race started early when his parents realized that he, as a baby, couldn't hear a thing, not even loud noises.In a special school for the hearing.impaired , he learned sign language and got to mix with other disabled childRn. However, the sight of all the disabled children communicating with one another upset his mother. She wanted him to lead a normal life. So after speaking to an advisor, she sent him to private classes where he learned to read lips and pronounce words.
Later OHg Adrian's paRnts decided to send him to a regular school. But the headmaster tried to prevent them from doing so, saying regular schools couldn-t take care of a special-needs student His parents were determined to take the risk and push him hard to go through his work every day because they want to prove that, given the opportunity, he could do anything.Adrian made the grade and got accepted.lt was a big challenge. The pace was faster so he had to sit at the front of the class and really pay attention to the teacher, which wasn' t always easy. But he stuck to it and did a lot of extra work after schooL
The effort made by Adrian and his parents paid off. Adrian graduated with good grades and got into a top high school. He also achieved a lot in life outside school. He developed a love for the outdoors and went to Nepal to climb mountains. He even entered the World Yacht Race 05/06-being the first hearing-impaired Asian to do so.
But none of these achievements would have been possible without one of the most important lessons from his mother. "If you believe in yourself and work hard, you can achieve great result, she often said. | high23605.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "They both liked a novel, The Little Prince."
},
"options": [
"They both were interested in children's education.",
"They both liked a novel, The Little Prince.",
"They often chatted together about their families.",
"The... | It is really a happy thing to look back on the days I spent with Jennie. We met in night school. After Jennie and I had completed the required courses, we started teaching in the same school. For a time we were just casual friends, but one day, when I was telling Jennie about my problem son, we discovered we were kindred spirits. "He's a difficult little character," I explained. Jennie looked thoughtful. "Maybe you're only seeing him with your eyes." She was silent for a moment and then added softly, "It is only with the heart that one sees rightly." I stared at her. "You're quoting that! It's from The Little Prince, Saint-Exupery's book for children, one of my favorites. You know it, too?" Jennie nodded. "I love it. I've read it so often. I've practically memorized it."
Now, when I think of Jennie, I recall that book because Jennie --more than anyone I know --possessed the gift of seeing with the heart.
From that moment of a treasured book shared, our friendship grew steadily. It wasn't that I didn't have an excellent relationship with my husband and son, but my mother had died shortly after my marriage, and I had neither sisters nor daughters. I realize, now, how I needed someone to share those little, seemingly unimportant things that add so much to life --things that must be shared to be fully appreciated.
And it was Jennie who helped me with my fourth-grade problem child. One day I was at my wit's end. "What he needs is a good beating!" I exploded.
"He's probably had plenty of those," Jennie said. "Maybe he just needs sincere praise for anything he does right, and a hug or two each day." I followed this suggestion, and eventually, because of Jennie, I discovered a lovable little boy.
Looking back, I have to admit that she taught me so much. The days I spent with her has become one of my happiest memories. | high6288.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "a thief"
},
"options": [
"Nick's friend",
"a thief",
"the bus driver",
"a postman"
],
"question": "The man who suddenly gave Nick an envelope was most probably _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}... | While Nick was on the bus, reading his newspaper, the man sitting next to him suddenly pushed a large envelope into his hands. "Here, take this!" the man said, stood up and got off the bus before Nick could say a word.
Nick sat there, holding the envelope. It felt heavy. There were papers inside, or money perhaps. "I'd better hand it over to the police," he thought. There was a police station close to his office. But, as he got off the bus, a man came to him. He seemed to be waiting for something. "He wants the envelope," Nick thought. Nick began to walk quickly, and the man hurried after him. Nick started to run, and the man began to run, too. But then, just before he got to the police station, Nick managed to lose the man in the crowds. When he entered the police station, the man was no longer in sight.
Inside the police station, Nick handed over the envelope to a policeman in charge. The man opened it. The envelope was full of money, false money. "Clearly the man made a mistake," the policeman said. "He thought you were one of the gang !"
Nick felt like a hero. He could already see his name in all the papers. He could imagine an interview on television.
"However," the policeman went on, "I'm afraid I must ask you to keep quiet about all this. We're trying to catch some very clever thieves, and we don't want them to know that we have some of the money. So you mustn't say a word to anyone -- not even your boss!" | high23163.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "she saw the old man had some difficulty moving and taking a seat"
},
"options": [
"the old man was the boss of the restaurant",
"she was worried that the old man might cause trouble to the restaurant",
"she saw the old man ha... | The old man walked with a cane slowly into the restaurant. His poor jacket, patched trousers, and worn-out shoes made him stand out from the usual Saturday morning breakfast crowd.
He walked toward a table by the window. A young waitress watched him and ran over to him, saying, "Here, Sir. Let me give you a hand with that chair."
Without a word, he smiled and nodded a thank you. She pulled the chair away from the table. Supporting him with one arm, she helped him move in front of the chair, and get comfortably seated. Then she pushed the table up close to him, and leaned his cane against the table where he could reach it.
In a soft, clear voice he said, "Thank you, Miss."
"You're welcome, Sir." She replied. "My name is Mary. I'll be back in a moment. If you need anything, just wave at me."
After he had finished a hearty meal of pancakes, bacon, and hot lemon tea, Mary brought him the change, helping him up from his chair and out from behind the table. She handed him his cane, and walked with him to the front door. Holding the door open for him, she said, "Come back and see us, Sir!"
He nodded a thank you and said softly with a smile, "You are very kind!"
When Mary went to clean his table, she was shocked. Under his plate she found a business card and a note written on the napkin, under which was a $ 100 bill.
The note on the napkin read, "Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself, too. It shows by the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness. Your kind gestures will shine through those who meet you."
The man she had served was the owner of the restaurant. This was the first time that she, or any of his employees, had seen him in person. | high7196.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "who appear cool and unusual"
},
"options": [
"who are fans of pop music",
"who study in different colleges",
"who appear cool and unusual",
"who try to attract others"
],
"question": "In the passage, hipsters re... | They can be seen more frequently than ever before on college campuses, wearing flannel and thickframed glasses while listening to music. One might find them playing unusual musical instruments, shopping at secondhand stores or expressing themselves in other unique ways.
They call themselves hipsters. Being "hip" used to mean following the latest fashion. But gradually the word has become a sign of "being cool, unique and unusual".
Hipsters value independent thinking, progressive politics, an appreciation of creativity and intelligence. Hipsters take pains and pride in not being mainstream. However, their culture has become quite trendy. This irony is central to their culture and offers an interesting conflict.
"I do take things in the mainstream with a positive attitude," says Ben Polson, a college student at Brown University. "But sometimes I also question what determines popularity, especially regarding music." Polson represents many hipsters.
When lessknown bands become popular, they often lose their former fan base in exchange for a new one. There is a famous hipster saying that goes, "I used to like that band before it got popular," Polson quoted.
According to Polson, bands' music changes when they go mainstream. They become less experimental, doing things just to save popularity and fans. The original elements that we were drawn to slowly disappear for the sake of popularity.
Many young adults have started to view hipsters' outlook as cool and they are adopting hipsters' antimainstream culture mind to themselves. This has led to specialized brands, stores and music for the hipster consumers. But on the other hand, some such stores, including clothing labels Urban Outfitters and American Apparel, have gained mainstream popularity. This has seemingly made the antimainstream culture become weaker.
"A lot of people that are selfdefined hipsters aren't really hipsters. They're just trying to act as hipsters to seem cooler," says Amanda Leopold, a college student from Oberlin College, US. Although Leopold has many unusual tastes and seems quite individualist, she refuses to classify herself as a hipster. | high5959.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "determination and courage"
},
"options": [
"patience and confidence",
"honesty and curiosity",
"flexibility and creativity",
"determination and courage"
],
"question": "Marie Colvin's story suggests some of the ... | After spending a year in Brazil on a student exchange program,her mother recalled,Marie Colvin returned home to find that her classmates had narrowed down their college choices."Everyone else was already admitted to college," her mother,Rosemarie Colvin,said from the family home."So she took our car and drove up to Yale and said,' _ '"
"Impressed--she was a National Merit finalist who had picked up Portuguese in Brazil--Yale did, admitting her to the class of 1978,where she started writing for the Yale Daily News and decided to be a journalist," her mother said.
On Wednesday,Marie Colvin,56,an experienced journalist for The Sunday Times of London,was killed as Syrian forces shelled the city of Homs.She was working in a temporary media center that was destroyed in the attack.
"She was supposed to leave Syria on Wednesday",Mrs.Colvin said."Her editor told me he called her yesterday and said it was getting too dangerous and they wanted to take her out.She said she was doing a story and she wanted to finish it."
Mrs.Colvin said it was pointless to try to prevent her daughter from going to conflict zones."If you knew my daughter," she said,"it would have been such a waste of words.She was determined,she was enthusiastic about what she did,it was her life.There was no saying 'Don't do this.' This is who she was,absolutely who she was and what she believed in:cover the story,not just have pictures of it,but bring it to life in the deepest way you could.""So it was not a surprise when she took an interest in journalism," her mother said. | high5781.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "start their new day"
},
"options": [
"go for a walk",
"get along well",
"leave home early",
"start their new day"
],
"question": "\"They need this cup of coffee to get going in the morning.\" In this sentence \"... | All over the world people began their exciting day by drinking a cup or several cups of coffee. People have always said that a cup of coffee in the morning helps them begin their day on the right foot. They need this cup of coffee to get going in the morning.
It is not the coffee but something in the coffee that activates our bodies and brains. It is a material called caffeine. Caffeine may increase a person's mental and physical abilities. For example, two cups of coffee will _ blood flow, breathing, and body heat production by 10% to 20%. All of this make your heart beat faster and doctors warn that this may be somewhat dangerous.
Caffeine is found in tea, coffee, chocolate, and many other common foods. A little caffeine is probably helpful. But too much caffeine can result in nervousness and sleeplessness. | high9193.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "made her dad worry"
},
"options": [
"made her dad worry",
"ruined the car",
"broke the law",
"didn't tell her mom about the car incident"
],
"question": "The writer feels guilty because she _ .",
"questio... | First,you ought to know that I'm "only" fourteen.My mother points this out often.I can make my own decisions when I'm old enough to vote,she says.Second,I should tell you that she's right -- I'm not always responsible.I sometimes take the prize for grade-A dork .Take last weekend for instance.I was staying at Dad's,and I decided it was time I learned to drive.It was Sunday morning,7 A.M.,and I hadn't slept well.I'd been up thinking about an argument,which I'll tell you about in a minute.Well,nobody was up yet in the neighborhood,so I thought it couldn't hurt to back the car out of the garage and drive around the block.But Dad has a clutch car.The "R" on the shift handle was up on the left side,right next to first gear .I guess you can guess the rest.
Dad's always been understanding.He didn't say,"Okay,little Miss Know-It-All,you can just spend the rest of the year paying this off," which is what Mom would have said.Instead,Dad worried about what might have happened to me.And that made me feel more guilty than anything.I think he'd be a better number-one caregiver,but I can't say things like that to Mom.To her,I have to say,"But Mom,Dad's place is closer to school.I could ride my bike," to which she replies,"Amy Lynn,you don't own a bike.Remember? You left it in the yard,and it was stolen.And you haven't got the patience to earn the money to replace it." | high13088.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "$1300."
},
"options": [
"$500.",
"$1000.",
"$1200.",
"$1300."
],
"question": "How much fine will a hand-held cell phone user receive if he has been caught using it four times while driving after November?",
... | New York State has passed the USA's first state law banning motorists talking on hand-held cell phones. The ban will begin November 1, although drivers caught using hand-held cell phones will be given only warnings during the first month.
First-time violators will face a $100 fine. A second time call for a $200 fine and every violation after that will cost$500.
At least a dozen localities have established bans, starting in 1999; and 40 states have had bans proposed but not passed.At least 23 countries, including the Great Britain, Italy, Israel and Japan, ban drivers from using hand-held cell phones.
There are about 115 million cell phones in use in the United States and more than 6 million in New York State.
"To think that I'm not going to use cell phone when at the same time I can still use my laptop, I still can read a paper, I can still change my pants while driving 65 mph. I think there's just something wrong," an official said.
Other critics noted that other things like eating, drinking coffee and applying make-up while driving posed at least as much of a concern. They suggested that the ban include a broader range of things. | high12396.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Keeping holes on teeth from forming."
},
"options": [
"Making the surface on teeth much cleaner.",
"Protecting gums from being infected.",
"Keeping holes on teeth from forming.",
"Slowing down bacterial growth and acid ... | Bad teeth can be painful and even be deadly. Infections of the gums and teeth can release bacteria into the blood system. Those bacteria can increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke and worsen the effects of other diseases. And adults are not the only ones at risk. For example, a 12yearold boy died when a tooth infection spread to his brain in 2007 in Washington. Experts said it might have been prevented had he received the dental care he needed.
Experts say good dental care starts at birth. Breast milk, they say, is the best food for the healthy development of teeth. Breast milk can help slow bacterial growth and acid production in the mouth. But dentists say a baby's gums and early teeth should be cleaned after each feeding by using a cloth with a little warm water. Experts say if you decide to put your baby to sleep with a bottle, give only water.
When baby teeth begin to appear, you can clean them with a wet toothbrush. Dentists say it is important to find soft toothbrushes made especially for babies and to use them very gently. The use of fluoride to protect teeth is common in many parts of the world. For example, it is often added to drinking water supplies. The fluoride mixes with enamel , the hard surface on teeth, to help prevent holes from forming.
But young children often swallow toothpaste when they brush their teeth. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry notes that swallowing fluoridated toothpaste can cause problems. So young children should be carefully watched when they brush their teeth. And only a small amount of fluoridated toothpaste, the size of a pea, should be used.
Parents often wonder what effect finger sucking might have on their baby's teeth. Dental experts generally agree that this is fine early in life. Most children stop sucking their fingers by the age of four. If it continues, experts advise parents to talk to their children's dentists or doctors. Because it could _ the correct development of permanent teeth.
Dentists say children should have their first dental visit at least by the time they are one year old. They say babies should be examined when their first teeth appear--usually at around six months. | high5971.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "helping a person avoid sudden illness or injury"
},
"options": [
"saving a victim's life",
"preventing a victim's condition from getting worse.",
"relieving a victim from pain",
"helping a person avoid sudden illness or... | First aid is emergency care for a victim of sudden illness or injury until more skillful medical treatment is available. It may save a life or improve certain vital signs including pulse, temperature, a clear airway, and breathing. In minor emergencies, first aid may prevent a victim's condition from turning worse and provide relief from pain. First aid must be done as quickly as possible. In the case of the seriously injured, a few minutes can make the difference between complete recovery and loss of life.
First-aid measures depend upon a victim's needs and the provider's level of knowledge and skill. Knowing what not to do in an emergency is as important as knowing what to do. Improperly moving a person with a neck injury, for example, can lead to permanent spinal injury and paralysis .
Despite the variety of injuries possible, several principles of first aid apply to all emergencies. The first step is to call for professional medical help. The victim, if conscious, should be reassured that medical aid has been requested, and asked for permission to provide any first aid. Next, assess the scene, asking other people or the injured person's family or friends about details of the injury or illness, any care that may have already been given, and pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or heart trouble. The victim should be checked for a medical card that describes special medical conditions. Unless the accident scene becomes unsafe or the victim may suffer further injury, do not move the victim.
First aid requires rapid assessment of victims to determine whether life-threatening conditions exist. One method for evaluating a victim's condition is known by the acronym ABC, which stands for:
A---Airway: is it open and clear?
B---Breathing: is the person breathing? Look, listen, and feel for breathing.
C---Circulation: is there a pulse? Is the person bleeding extremely? Check skin color and temperature for additional indications of circulation problems. | high11847.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Teacher of the Year 2004 in the United States"
},
"options": [
"Teacher of the Year 2004 in the United States",
"Ms Mellor's English teaching instruction",
"Ms Mellor's teaching skills of learning English",
"praises to ... | A teacher of English as a second language is the 2004 Teacher of the Year in the United States .Kathy Mellor of Rhode Island will spend the next year as an international spokeswoman for education. President Bush and his wife, Laura ,honored her during a ceremony at the White House last week.
For the past nineteen years ,Kathy Mellor has taught English as a second language at Davisville Middle School in North Kingstown, Rhode Island ,in the northeastern United States .She redesigned the program for E.S.L students at her school to provide each student with one to three periods per day in classes for English learners .How much instruction the students get depends on their level of skill in listening ,speaking ,reading and writing. The amount of time they spend in these classes in reduced as their level of English increases.
A teacher describes this as the most successful E.S.L. program in North Kingstown. She also praises Kathy Mellor for providing help to students and their families by forming a local parents group for speakers of other languages .This improved their ability to help their children.
Kathy Mellor earned a master's degree in education from Rhode Island College. She studied teaching English as a second language.
She was chosen for the national honor of Teacher of the Year from among top teachers in each of the fifty states .As Teacher of the Year ,Kathy Mellor will travel around the United States and to other countries .She will talk about the importance of education and the work of teachers. | high20442.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "China's position m the international stage in the world today"
},
"options": [
"the influence of Western countries on China.",
"the relationship in economy between China and Western countries",
"China's position m the interna... | After achieving a 9 percent GDP growth, hosting a successful Olympic Games and carrying out its first space walk last year, you'd think China would be happy.Yet China is not pleased. That, at least, is the opinion of a new book written by a group of Chinese authors.
China Is Not Happy was published in March, 2009.It is a follow-up to the 1996 work China Can Say No, a bestseller that complained about the influence of the West, and the US in particular, on China.Thirteen years later, the authors of China Is Not Happy list their dissatisfaction with how China is being treated in the world today.They argue that China needs to use its growing power and economic resources to build its own position. "From looking at the history of human civilization, we are most qualified to lead this world." the book says.
The authors, single out the US for special scorn , and say their book's message has been helped by the economic crisis ," This economic problem has shown the Chinese people that America does have problems, that what we've been saying is right." said Wang Xiaodong, one of the aulhors in an interview with The Wall Street.
Since being released on March 13, the book has become a bestseller in many Chinese bookstores.The publisher has printed 270,000 copies, and says sales are far better than expected.
Yet much of the response to the book has been negative.Several reviews in the Chinese media have criticized the book's radical opinions. The book is a way to "fish money from the pockets of the angry youth and angry elderly," wrote one critic in the China Youth Daily.Meanwhile, a well-known sociologists Li Yinhe, has said that China needs patriotism , but there is a limit.
Wang Xiaodong admitted in an interview that the book's title is a bit of a trick." Those words in the title are just for the purpose of promoting the book in tine marketplace," he says."We didn't choose them.It was the people selling the book who chose the title " | high20324.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Drive at a speed that is seldom changed."
},
"options": [
"Drive as fast as you can.",
"Accelerate quickly to get to the speed you want.",
"Drive fast a little now and slowly a little then.",
"Drive at a speed that is s... | The price of gas has been going up. We do not know when it will end. Many people want to know how they can save fuel . The best way to save fuel is to change driving habits.
The accelerator , or gas pedal,has a lot to do with how much gas you use.The faster you drive, the more gas you use. Drivers should slow down a bit to save fuel. Driving at a steady speed helps to save much gas you use.Accelerating slowly to get to the speed you want helps save gas, too.
The more you drive your car.the more gas you use.Think about the places you need to go before leaving your home. _ ) that you need to do as you can in one trip.Always try to pick the shortest route when going somewhere.
Cars that are in good working condition use less fuel. Take care of your car. Make sure the engine is running well and is tuned-up often. Have a mechanic check if something seems wrong.
Tires are important, too. Keep the tires inflated properly on a car. It will help the car roll better. If a car's tires are worn, then they should be replaced.
Finally,think about using your car less.Walk or ride a bike if you do not have to go far.Carpool or take public transportation when you can.Leaving your car at home really saves gas. | high18863.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "graduates of technical schools"
},
"options": [
"experienced architects",
"architectural designers",
"high school graduates",
"graduates of technical schools"
],
"question": "According to the passage, career dra... | If you try to explain to someone, without using pictures, how to build the building that you have designed, it would take an enormous amount of writing and might end up with a very funny-looking building. The architect uses pictures called details to show how many hundreds of parts go together to form a complete building. This type of drawing is called drafting and is done by people called draftsmen.
Draftsmen make up the largest group of the architectural offices' work force. Because of the wide range of duties they perform, draftsmen are sometimes called architectural technicians. In a typical office, there are not only career draftsmen but also architectural graduates working as junior draftsmen to learn the trade. Career draftsmen are usually graduates from a two-year junior college called technical school. There was a time when architectural office used young people right out of high school as tracers. Their job was to trace over the other people's details while learning to be a draftsman. This is no longer possible with the fast-pace of architects' offices today although a junior draftsman is given guides by the more experienced employees.
So a good comprehensive architectural drafting course is a must before anyone seeks a job with an architectural firm. The job of the draftsmen is to translate the ideas and directions of architects, designers and engineers into complete and accurate working drawings. These become the plans and details used in the actual construction of a building. The project must be shown in great detail and drawn very clearly, so there is no chance for misunderstanding by the contractors . Every line and figure has an effect on the finished product.
As you can see, the draftsman is a key member of the architectural team. Of course, a junior draftsman is not expected to produce a complete set of working drawings. Depending on the size of the office and difficulty of the project, draftsmen may work in groups. The group leader coordinates the group and works closely with the project architect while the drawings are being produced.
Working conditions are mostly very pleasant as draftsmen's work is intense and many people depend on accurate work. Each draftsman has a large combination drawing board and desk with various drawing aids. Almost without exception, members of the architectural team have at one time in their careers worked as draftsmen. This is essential to an architect education and most architects never get very far away from the drafting board. | high16696.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Michelle Obama's inaugural ball dress."
},
"options": [
"Michelle Obama's inaugural ball dress.",
"Wu, a great designer.",
"The First Lady's secrets.",
"Mrs Obama's 2013 decision."
],
"question": "What does the ... | Michelle Obama made a daring decision to return to the same designer who created her Inaugural Ball dress four years ago --- and the risk paid off.
The First Lady looked extremely attractive in a thin, sweeping, and ruby-colored dress by designer Jason Wu. She teamed the dramatic dress with heels by Jimmy Choo and a diamond ring by Kimberly McDonald.
She surprised the fashion establishment by returning to a Wu design which had been the custom made for her.
Four years ago at her first Inauguration Ball, Michelle shimmered in an off-white, one-shouldered floor-length dress by the designer.
Wu, who was 26 at the time and had only been working in fashion for three years, saw his career take off after the First Lady's surprise decision to wear one of his dresses.
He said at the time that he was unaware she had chosen the dress and had been watching at home on his couch and eating pizza when she appeared.
After her 2013 decision, Wu told Women's Wear Daily: "Mrs Obama likes to keep her secrets. She fooled me again."
Wu released a women's clothing and accessories collection at Target last year and continues to be popular with the First Lady for official engagements.
The sleeveless, cross-halter neck dress with low-cut back flattered 49-year-old Michelle's arms and neat waist.
It had been created especially for her by Wu and was a departure from the dark and plain colour tone she stuck to at earlier inauguration events.
Mrs Obama's new hairstyle -- she had bangs cut on her birthday last week had been loosely tousled for the special night.
Vice-President Joe Biden's wife Jill also looked attractive in a blue silk dress by Vera Wang at the Inauguration Ball. | high2978.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "August"
},
"options": [
"September",
"August",
"October",
"November"
],
"question": "Mike Perham returned to Britain in _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_inde... | LONDON, England(CNN)-- The youngest person to sail solo around the world returned home Thursday from his 30,000-mile, 282-day ocean journey.
Mike Perham, 17, sailed into Lizard Point in Cornwall, the southernmost point in Britain, at 9:47 a.m., his race team said.
"It feels ly brilliant," Mike told CNN by phone hours before crossing the finish line. "I'm really, really excited to be going across the line at last. It doesn't feel like long since I crossed it first."
Mike set off on his round-the-world trip on November 18, 2008. He has been sailing his yacht, TotallyMoney.com, single-handedly, though a support team has been sailing next to him along the way. ks5u
The teen has now achieved the title of Youngest Sailor to Circumnavigate the Globe Solo, according to the Guinness World Records.
Mike learned how to sail when he was seven years old from his father, Peter and at age 14, he sailed across the Atlantic alone.
The teenager's school -- which Mike describes as "highly supportive" of his trip -- has redesigned his coursework to fit in with his trip. It also gave him some coursework to do during "quiet moments," according to Mike's Website.
There haven't been many of those quiet moments. Repeated autopilot failures forced him to stop for repairs in Portugal, the Canary Islands, South Africa, and twice in Australia, according to his Web site.
Bad weather in the Southern Ocean -- between Australia and Antarctica -- forced Mike to battle 50ft waves and 57 mph winds. He said at one point, a "freak wave" picked up the boat and turned it on its side. "My feet were on the ceiling at the time," he told CNN. "That was a really hairy moment, and I was certainly thinking, 'Why am I here?' But we took the sails off and the day after I thought, 'This is brilliant!'"
Mike describes his father as his biggest hero, always supportive of what he wanted to achieve. Peter Perham said he wasn't too worried about his son facing dangerous situations at sea, as long as he knew what to do and stayed safe. | high22533.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Christmas traditions in Middleburg"
},
"options": [
"Middleburg Christmas parade",
"A small town known for horses",
"Christmas traditions in Middleburg",
"Newer traditions at Christmastime"
],
"question": "Which... | Christmas in the United States is traditionally a time of gift-giving and family gatherings.But small towns across the country have their own traditions.
Middleburg,a small town in the state of Virginia,is known for its horses.For more than 50 years,Middleburg has organized a yearly Christmas parade .Men and women ride horses through the woods and fields.They follow hunting dogs as they search for a wild fox.But first,these hunters ride in the yearly parade,wearing their bright red hunting clothes and hats.
John Hale,a citizen of Middleburg says many city people visit his town."We have a lot of people from an urban area that come to visit,but it incorporates a lot of the o1d traditions." The nighttime hay ride is one such tradition.Small groups gather under the moonlight on an open wagon filled with hay.The passengers sing as farm horses pull the wagon slowly across the fields.
There are some newer traditions,too.Trey Matheu works at the nearby Salamander Resort.He says a visit to Middleburg is a chance to slow down for a day.He says Middleburg can be a calming,peaceful place without tension.
"Middleburg is an opportunity to take a step back,to take a deep breath,and understand that even though life is moving on at a very fast pace,there's really an opportunity where you're allowed to step off for a little bit."
Parade organizers say more than 13,000 people attend even in below-freezing weather. But if you ask,you will hear many different reasons why people come to watch the parade:
"I come here because I'm from a small town. I like how everybody comes together.""I live right down that street;right there.And that's my dog."
Middleburg looks its best at Christmastime.That may be why so many people return each year. | high13936.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Planning is of great importance to tourism."
},
"options": [
"It is extremely important to develop tourism.",
"Building roads and hotels is essential.",
"Support facilities are highly necessary.",
"Planning is of great ... | Without proper planning, tourism can cause problems. For example, too many tourists can crowd public places that are also enjoyed by the inhabitants of a country. If tourists create too much traffic, the inhabitants become annoyed and unhappy. They begin to dislike tourists and to treat them impolitely. They forget how much tourism can help the country's economy. It is important to think about the people of a destination country and how tourism affects them. Tourism should help a country, keep the customs and beauty that attract tourists. Tourism should also advance the wealth and happiness of local inhabitants.
Too much tourism can be a problem. If tourism grows too quickly, people must leave other jobs to work in the tourism industry. This means that other parts of the country's economy can suffer.
On the other hand, if there is not enough tourism, people can lose jobs. Businesses can also lose money. It costs a great deal of money to build large hotels, airports, air terminals, first- class roads, and other support facilities needed by tourist attractions. For example, a major international class tourism hotel can cost as much as 50 thousand dollars per room to build. If this room is not used most of the time, the owners of the hotel lose money.
Building a hotel is just a beginning. There must be many support facilities as well, including roads to get to the hotel, electricity, sewers to handle waste, and water. All of these support facilities cost money. If they are not used because there are not enough tourists , jobs and money are lost. | high7800.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "few friends came to visit them in winter."
},
"options": [
"a lot of friends came to visit them in winter",
"few friends came to visit them in winter.",
"Friends came to visit them only for drinks and meals",
"Norah was... | Norah has a cottage on a cliff above a big bay. In winter it could be very nasty because of strong winds and sea _ In fact, when a gale was blowing, Norah and her husband got used to sleeping in a small room downstairs, because their bedroom upstairs, which faced the gales, had a very big window, and they were afraid that an extra violent gust might break it and blow pieces of broken glass over them.
Also, the salt spray from the sea put an end to many of the colorful plants Norah planted in the garden. She tried putting up a fence to protect them, but the wind just hit it, went up over the top and then down the other side, so in the end she filled the garden with trees and bushes that liked salt.
But most of the summer Norah enjoyed her cottage and garden very much. At weekends she could sit out-of-doors in the sun, looking at the beautiful view, with interesting ships and boats passing by, and she could very easily cycle down to the sea for a swim.
Now, Norah and her husband had plenty of friends and relations. In the summer most of them used to come to enjoy the beautiful place, and in the end it really became quite annoying for Norah and her husband. When they were at home, they found friends and relations arriving, expecting to be given unlimited drinks and meals, and to sit in the sun for hours, talking as if Norah and her husband had nothing else to do but entertain and listen to them.
This went on for several years. Norah did not wish to appear rude by refusing to let her friends and relations in, but on the other hand, she was getting tired every summer.
Then one day Norah was complaining about this to her hairdresser while she was doing her hair. "You're disturbed by too many uninvited guests, are you?" said the hairdresser. "Why don't you try my way of escaping?"
"What's that?" asked Norah.
"Well," the hairdresser answered, "when the bell rings, I put on my coat and take my shopping bag. If it's someone I don't want to see, I say innocently, 'I'm sorry, but I've got to go out. But...'" | high14081.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "She is a writer."
},
"options": [
"She is a traveler.",
"She is an actress.",
"She is a writer.",
"She is a college student."
],
"question": "What does Liz do?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{... | Liz isn't happy. Her husband, Stephen, frequently changes jobs, and is unsure of what he wants to do. The new house they bought just a year ago seems like a prison to Liz, and Stephen says he wants to go back to college, she decides that it's the end of her patience with him. Now, since this happens quickly in the film, it's kind of like she just gives up on her husband without much of a fight. She's done, he still loves her, but she quickly moves on to a much younger actor who's starring in a play she wrote. She sees him on stage, and thinks he's saying the words only to her. They are in a relationship. But soon after, she decides that he's not for her. She's unhappy and feels dead inside, and the only way to fix herself is to take a year off and travel.
Liz has three specific destinations in mind for her journey of self-discovery. First, it's Italy, where she can enjoy a lot of pasta and sees all the historical sites. Next, she'll head to India to spend time with her young boyfriend's favorite guru . And then she will finish her year off with a visit to Bali where she will reunite with a wise man who told her on a previous trip that she would have two marriages, lose her money, and then gain it back again.
With no worries about money or work or responsibilities, she goes off, passing through the lives of various interesting people while telling anyone willing to listen that she's trying to find herself and get over the end of her marriage, which she gave up and immediately turned to another man to get over, who she then gave up on fairly quickly for no apparent reason. So says the film. By the end of the movie, she believes that she has healed herself and discovered what she needed to find out. | high22527.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Because he didn't know what to do."
},
"options": [
"Because he didn't know what to do.",
"Because he wanted to try his luck there.",
"Because he wanted to get some money.",
"Because he hoped to see what he could get."
... | Bobby was sitting out in his back yard in the snow. The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them. Try as he might, he could not come up with an idea for his mother's Christmas gift.
Ever since his father had passed away three years ago, his mother worked nights at the hospital, but the small wage could only be stretched so far.
What the family lacked in money and material things, they more than made up for in love and family unity. They ran the household in their mother's absence. All three of his sisters had already made beautiful gifts for their mother.
It was Christmas Eve already, and he had nothing. Bobby started to walk down to the street. He walked from shop to shop. Everything seemed so beautiful and so out of reach. It was starting to get dark, then suddenly his eyes caught a shiny dime. Never has anyone felt so wealthy as Bobby did at that moment.
He went inside a flower shop. When the owner asked if he could help him, Bobby presented the dime and asked if he could buy one flower. The shop owner looked at Bobby, then said, "You just wait here and I'll see what I can do for you."
The shop owner returned holding red roses all tied together with a big silver bow. Bobby's heart sank as the owner placed them gently into a long white box. "That will be ten cents, young man," said the shop owner, reaching out his hand for the dime. Slowly, Bobby moved his hand to give the man his dime.
Then the shopkeeper's wife appeared. "Where are the roses you were fixing?"
The shop owner replied, "A strange thing happened to me this morning. I thought I heard a voice telling me to set aside a dozen of my best roses for a special gift. I wasn't sure at the time whether I had lost my mind or what, but I set them aside anyway. When I saw that little boy tonight, I knew who that voice was." | high729.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Because the children may hit people as a solution to problems."
},
"options": [
"Because the children will learn their behavior is wrong in time.",
"Because the children may hit people as a solution to problems.",
"Because it... | Time out, extra chores and taking away privileges are more useful forms of disciplining naughty children than spanking or hitting, according to a study on Wednesday.
About 94 percent of parents use some form of physical punishment to teach their two-year-olds right from wrong, according to research studies. But psychologists say it could lead to later emotional and behavioral problems.
Even children who were only spanked some of time are more likely to show signs of sadness or have less confidence.
"The key is to be fair and do the same thing each time. Doing something like hitting a child that seems cruel at best doesn't help and can put a child at risk for problems," said Dr Paul Frick, of theprefix = st1 /UniversityofNew Orleansin Louisians.
"It is better to use other punishments," he added.
The use of physical punishment to teach children has long been debated. In countries such asAustria,Finland,GermanyandSweden, it is illegal to use physical punishment at home or in schools.
Frick and his team, who studied the effects of physical punishment on 98 children, said they couldn't find any positive effects. Some children learned more from the hitting than what the parent was trying to teach them.
"The key is to have a lot of different forms of punishment depending on the age of the child," said Frick, who reported his findings in the Journal of Applied Child Psychology.
He recommended time out for younger children and taking away television and electronic toys for older children. Giving extra chores can also get the message across.
Other measures are at least as effective as physical punishment and have less harmful potential consequences.
The researchers kept children whom they thought were at risk of later conduct problems out of the test and an equal number of other children who acted as a control group, to study what measures would be most helpful.
They questioned the parents and the children about positive and negative parenting behavior including the use of physical punishment.
"We got it from both viewpoints," said Frick.
He added that children on the receiving end of a hit can learn that when they are upset and angry they hit, rather than understanding their behavior was wrong and that they need to do better. | high24156.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Drinking wine in a reasonable amount raises the IQ of old people."
},
"options": [
"Drinking wine in a large amount improves the IQ of old people.",
"Drinking wine in a reasonable amount raises the IQ of old people.",
"Drinki... | Drinking wine in moderation improves the IQ and may boost mental agility in old people,according to Japanese researchers.
A study of the effects of alcohol on the middle aged and elderly found the average IQ of men who drink wine (whether made from grapes or rice) was 3.3 points higher than that of men who do not imbibe.
Similarly,the IQ of women drinkers showed an improvement of 2.5 points over their teetotal sisters.The findings are part of an ongoing study by Japan's National Institute for Longevity into the links between human intelligence and what we eat and drink.
The tests measured general knowledge,powers of judgment and concentration in drinkers and non-drinkers over 40,all living in Aichi prefecture,central Japan,and sharing the same income level-roughlyPS50 000 a year--and educational background.All were university graduates.
But while wine-drinkers appeared to be brighter,the same was not true of those who drank deer,shochu (a local gin) and whisky.
"The benefits of wine and sake (rice wine) in raising IQ could be due to substances they contain,such as polyphenol,which are believed to slow the ageing process," Hiroshi Shimokata,head of epidemiology research,said.
It was premature to conclude,he added,that drinking wine or sake slowed the deterioration of brain functions in the elderly,or warded off senility.The research does,however,suggest that this is one way to stay mentally alert longer.
But there is a sobering caveat:drinking too much may make you dimmer."People who drink more than 540 milli-litres (a little over a pint) of sake or wine a day had lower intelligence quotients than those who did not drink at all,"Hiroshi Shimokata said."Moderation is very important." | high7814.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "operating ways"
},
"options": [
"performing time",
"operating ways",
"producing material",
"decorating characters"
],
"question": "The biggest difference between puppets in Britain and puppets in Belgium is thei... | In most parts of the world, as far back as anyone can remember , there has been a puppet tradition. Although some of us think of puppets as children's entertainment, they were----and oftenstill are used to tell serious stories to adult audiences. Even in these days of special effects, the puppettheatre still has a special place in many cultures.
The best known puppet characters in Britain are Punch and Judy, glove puppets with woodenheads. In summer, one basic play of about half an hour is performed on beaches all around Britain .Mr. Punch, who has an enormous nose and wears a curved hat, gets into trouble and has argumentswith his wife, Judy. A policeman , a crocodile, and a hangman, and all of them run after Mr. Punch .He ,of course, _ manages to survive to fight another day .
In Belgium wooden puppets first appeared in the 1820s in cities like liege . The liege puppetsare in fact string puppets without strings!They have a single rod attached to their heads, whichmeans the puppeteers aren't able to raise the arms and legs, but can move the body up and down and the head from side to side. Many of the stories used to be historical or religious but it is Tchantches,a comic character wit patched trousers and a big black hat, who is the best loved character today. LikeMr. Punch, he is a simple man who is also greedy, quarrelsome and lazy. He makes fun of everyone, but is often warm--hearted and tender. | high14095.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "6,664,000"
},
"options": [
"5,984,000",
"6,664,000",
"6,800,000",
"6,936,000"
],
"question": "The number of visitors to Hawaii in 2009 is expected to be about _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},... | The Hawaiian Islands are in the Pacific Ocean almost 4,000, kilometres west of California. Tourism is very important to Hawaii. The tropical weather and beaches bring people from all over the world. But Hawaii is also experiencing problems from the downturn .
Last year was the first year since 2004 that Hawaii has had fewer than seven million visitors. The state had 6,800,000 arrivals in 2008. That was a decrease of 10% from the year before. State officials expect a decrease this year of another 2%. And they expect no growth in the economy through most of the year.
The Hawaiian Islands were formed millions of years ago by hot liquid rock flowing from undersea volcanoes. Visitors can still watch the process take place on the largest island, which like the state is named Hawaii. People usually just call it the Big Island.
Experts say Polynesian people first sailed to Hawaii about 2,000 years ago. A king ruled the islands when the 18th century British explorer James Cook arrived. At first, Hawaiians treated Captain Cook like a god. But in the end, he was killed on the Big Island in 1779.
Britain gave the islands their independence in 1843. Then, fifty years later, a group of American businessmen ousted the ruler and founded the Republic of Hawaii. It became an American territory in 1900.
That was three years after the United States set up a naval base at Pearl Harbor, on the island of Oahu, which served as the command base for American operations in the Pacific during World War Two.
After the war, most Hawaiians required that Hawaii should be an independent state. In Congress , though, there was resistance from southern states because of Hawaii's non-white native population. But Congress passed the Hawaii Statehood Bill in 1959. Hawaiians accepted it, and on August 21st, President Eisenhower declared Hawaii the fiftieth state. | high20330.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "How long a nap should last."
},
"options": [
"People who need a nap.",
"How long a nap should last.",
"When people should take a nap.",
"The reason why people need a nap."
],
"question": "What does the text main... | Air traffic controllers in the US have been advised to take 26-minute naps , after a series of accidents involving workers falling asleep. Now the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling for "controlled naps" during nightshifts . NTSB member Mark Rosekind said that a 26-minute nap would improve performance by 34%. He believes that beyond the aviation industry, other professions, such as motoring and machinery, also carry obvious risks.
But other experts doubt whether 26 minutes is the appropriate napping time. It's a bit too long and risks you falling into a deep sleep, says Jim Horne, director of the Sleep Research Council. He said, "A nap of about 15 minutes is best; once you get beyond 20 minutes, you risk a deep sleep and you can be much more tired when you wake up. Therefore, we suggest that a nap be combined with a cup of coffee so that you can enjoy an effective sleep before the caffeine takes effect in 20 minutes. However, this method only works on those who have had a poor night's sleep. If you haven't had a sleep the night before, this method won't be enough to make you fresh."
Health writer, Linda Wasmer Andrews, also believes that 26 minutes is too long. She says a nap between 10 and 20 minutes is enough, and the timing of the nap is also important. Putting your head down too early means your body may not be ready to sleep yet, but a nap that is too late in a day might make it harder to fall asleep. Early afternoon is often the best time, between l pm to 3pm, when people experience a post-lunch decrease in energy. | high18877.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "you sleep for hours after dinner"
},
"options": [
"you get the habit of staying up late",
"you haven't taken sleeping pills",
"you sleep for hours after dinner",
"you fail to do some exercises"
],
"question": "A... | I don't think there is anything wrong with your blood. The key to your problem is that long nap after dinner. If you didn't sleep for hours during the early part of the evening, you would be more ready to sleep at bedtime. If you didn't nap after dinner, you would not want to stay up so late, and you would not feel the need to take a sleeping pill. The pill is still working in your system when you get up in the morning. This helps account for the fact that you feel tired all day.
You should get out of the habit of sleeping during the early evening. Right after your evening meal, engage in some sort of physical activity-a sport such as bowling, perhaps. Or get together with friends for an evening of cards and conversation. Then go to bed at your usual time or a little earlier, and you should be able to get a good night's rest without taking a pill.
If you can get into the habit of spending your evenings this way, I am sure you will feel less tired during the day. At first it may be hard for you to go to sleep without taking a pill. If so, get up and watch television or do some jobs around your house until you feel sleepy. If you fall asleep and then wake up a few hours later, get up but do not take a sleeping pill. Read a while or listen to the radio, and make yourself a few hours' sleep that night, you will feel better in the morning than you usually feel after taking a pill. The next night you will be ready to sleep at an earlier hour.
The most important thing is to avoid taking that nap right after dinner and avoid taking pills. | high16682.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "He tried to go back to his normal life."
},
"options": [
"He gave up the chance to go back to college.",
"He tried to go back to his normal life.",
"He picked up his things and left again.",
"He found what he had dreame... | Bill Robinson is on trial for murder .He grew up in a small town in Ohio and then went to Kent State University for one year. When he was nineteen years old ,he was asked to join the army and was soon sent to fight in Vietnam. He was very unhappy there as he hated the war and he hated killing people. Two years later he returned home and tried to pick up where he had left off, but things were never quite the same again for the young black man. For one thing, he always had terrible dreams about the war. He could not concentrate on his studies and soon he had to leave school. Then he was fired from one job after another. He wanted to meet someone nice and get married , but he just couldn't seem to get close to anyone. He become angry easily and people avoided him. He was always lonely. Finally one day, while eating at a restaurant, Bill lost control of himself and shot someone for no reason at all. Bill's lawyer hopes that he will not be held responsible for the shooting. He hopes that the judge and the jury will understand that Bill was "temporarily insane" and did not really choose to kill anyone. | high21748.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "support his own viewpoint"
},
"options": [
"show his admiration for her",
"make an argument with her",
"support his own viewpoint",
"build up his fame"
],
"question": "The author quoted Yang Yudan in the text to... | We chat with our colleagues all the time when we have lunch, gossip in the tearoom, or leave work together. Sharing your personal life brings you closer to your coworkers and builds trust within your team. But revealing too much about yourself to colleagues, managers or human resources staff can cause difficulties and even endanger your work.
It's important to keep the right balance between getting along with colleagues and maintaining your privacy. "Communication in the office is tricky and complicated. You can neither spread chatter, nor be too silent and shut yourself off from others," said Yang Yudan, deputy HR director at P&G.
According to her, there are several safe topics to talk about with colleagues during the break, such as the weather or movies. Women like to talk about makeup and clothing, while men are fond of sports and online games. But discussing your private life, such as relationship, habits or health conditions, is a potential minefield.
Liang Kun, 26, had to resign from his job at a trading company in Guangzhou last week after discussing his income with colleagues during a lunch break. "I didn't realize it was such a serious issue until a senior member of staff went to find the boss, asking why I got a higher salary than her," said Liang. "Then our HR told me that according to the employee handbook it is forbidden to talk about salary in the office." HR expert Yang also reminds us that paychecks are your own business. It is unwise to share this information with others, no matter how close you are.
To summarize, Yang advises office workers to be more aware of the image they project when talking to colleagues, "When you share your personal life, it will be recorded on your invisible resume and may slow down your career progressing." | high5965.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "realize her grandma's influence on her"
},
"options": [
"realize her grandma's influence on her",
"become a person like her grandma",
"write to her grandma regularly",
"like her grandma very much"
],
"question":... | Dear Grandma,
It was nice seeing you at Christmas.You looked so happy!
After losing two grandparents within the past year, I have taken some time to reflect on what is most important.I want to let you know what a positive influence you have been on me.I am the person I am because of you.
I remember being on your farm a lot when I was younger.I remember the projects you planned for us.We painted rocks to represent our family members.We made doll clothes out of colorful socks.We made many "playhouses" in the woods.
We learned that if you left a bucket of soybeans in the rain, you would soon have a bucket of growing beans.We learned that if we helped pick the strawberries in the morning, we'd have them on our ice cream in the afternoon.We learned that some plants have funny names, like the elephant ear plant.We learned that you could make do with what you had.We learned that making things out of paper and cardboard was more fun than what came inside the packaging.We learned it was OK to get dirty, but Grandma would wash us up before Mom came.
You once made models of everyone's houses, which made me want to be an architect.Another time, you made quilts for all of the grandkids.I still use mine every night.The edge has worn out.
But you taught me how to fix it.
I love and respect you.You are always patient, with a quiet determination.
Grandma, thank you for everything you have taught me.I hope that I am able to pass on all these memories and skills to my children and grandchildren.
Love always,
Kelly | high10595.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Residential heating emissions cause two thirds of air pollution-related deaths worldwide."
},
"options": [
"Residential heating emissions cause two thirds of air pollution-related deaths worldwide.",
"7 million deaths occur annuall... | Outdoor air pollution leads to more than 3 million premature deaths each year, and more than two thirds of them occur in China and India, according to new research. The authors estimate that without government intervention, the total number of deaths could double by 2050.
The study, published in the journal Nature, identifies particulate matter as the prime pollutant leading to premature mortality. Particulate matter, a substance formed as a combination of different materials released into the air, is thought to be harmful to human health once it exceeds 2.5 micrometers in diameter. Researchers also identified ozone as a contributor to dangerous air quality.
The causes of air pollution vary dramatically from place to place. In India and China, the study says, emissions from residential heating and cooking drive air pollution by creating unhealthy quantities of smoke. Overall, residential heating emissions cause one third of air pollution-related deaths worldwide.
In highly regulated areas, like the United States, Europe and Japan, emissions from agriculture tend to be primary contributors to air pollution. Fertilizer used in agriculture releases ammonia into the atmosphere, a process that creates harmful particulate matter. Globally, air pollution from agriculture kills more than 600,000 people annually, the study finds.
The findings are consistent with a 2014 report from the World Health Organization that suggested that 7 million deaths occur annually due to both indoor and outdoor air pollution.
The study's conclusions give a sense of urgency to efforts to reduce air pollution but present challenges because of difficulty regulating heating activity in people's homes, according to study author Jos Lelieveld. People who live in the most affected areas should be provided with information about less toxic heating methods, he said.
"It's important to reduce emissions from residential energy use," Lelieveld said on a conference call for journalists. "You can't ask people to stop eating and cooking, but you can provide better technologies."
Air pollution contributes to a variety of ailments that eventually lead to premature mortality like lung cancer, stroke and heart failure, according to the study. Another study published this week in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives reached similar conclusions showing the devastating effects of pollution on individual health. Researchers found that chronic exposure to particulate matter increases the chance of early death by 3%. That risk is especially high for heart disease; the chance a person will die of heart disease increases by around 10% with chronic exposure to particulate matter.
Researchers found that the number of deaths is expected to double by 2050 without new government policies. Nearly all of the increase will occur in Asia, according to the report. | high11853.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "it's difficult to learn English well"
},
"options": [
"it's important to speak fluent English",
"many immigrants attend English classes",
"it's difficult to learn English well",
"many immigrants can't speak English in E... | How many hours does it take to be fluent in English?
There are plenty of people in the UK for whom even basic English is a problem. According to the survey, 726,000 people in England and Wales said they could not speak English well, and another 138,000 said they did not speak it at all.
Ling, 40,who arrived five years ago from China, found it difficult to learn English. " When I came here l was pregnant and so I was at home for the next three years. It took me longer to learn as l was very busy with the children." Eventually she was able to begin taking classes and now speaks good conversational English. But even with classes, it can be a long process to pick up the language.
Age is the most important factor in language acquisition, says Mila Vulchanova, professor of linguistics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. "There is a sensitive period in language learning, which is biologically determined, with an onset at birth and a decline around puberty. So the younger the immigrant, the better. Since this decline is only gradual, teenagers are at an advantage over adults." he says.
There are a number of systems for grading English. The government expects immigrants to reach "ESOL Entry 3" or "B1 level" in Scotland, before they can be granted citizenship. It's equivalent to being able to hold a confident conversation and-it might take 360 hours of study to achieve.
George Osborne said in June following the spending review that welfare claimants who don't speak English will have their benefits cut if they fail to attend language courses.
Huan Japes, deputy chief executive of English UK, a trade body for language colleges, says a rule of thumb is 360 hours-120 hours for each of three stages-to get to the standard the government expects benefit claimants to reach.
But many of the people who attend courses are visiting students rather than people settling in the UK. Immigrants tend to have very varied levels of education.
" Using 120 hours( for each stage of English fluency) is a rather traditional approach to course book learning," says Dr Elaine Boyd, head of English language at Trinity College London. "If someone is really highly motivated, they can learn really quickly. It's common for children under the age of 11 to be very immersed and be fluent in about six months. " | high12382.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "work better and bring pleasure to themselves"
},
"options": [
"make themselves realize the importance of health",
"work better and bring pleasure to themselves",
"make themselves become much stronger",
"reduce the time ... | Exercise is an important part of a healthy life. It reduces your risk of heart attack and is a good way to control body weight. It is also something you can do with other people, which can be great fun. So, it is important to find time to exercise and be healthier. As well as making time to exercises, another way is to build it into the natural rhythm of your day.
* Go for a walk on your lunch break.
Try to find at least three different ways and change them throughout the week. It
might even be possible to find a place to walk inside, for those bad weather days.
* Talk to your employers about improving health at work.
Encourage your workers to cycle to and from work. You might also be able to
encourage them to set up a gymnasium. Sell the idea by pointing out that doing so
will improve productivity , and make workers happy.
* If you are a student.
Go for walks with friends to talk about your studies. Spend some time in the learning
resource centre reading about sport, exercise and health. The more you know, the
more choices you will have about how to be physically active. Most colleges have
sport and exercise programs that students can take part in. Find out which activities
are being held, and try those you think you might enjoy. | high12369.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "contributes to the release of endorphins"
},
"options": [
"is regarded as the best way to fight depression",
"contributes to the release of endorphins",
"can't help the seriously depressed students",
"improve people's a... | Roughly half of college students will have some degree of depression at some point during their time in school . Even more startling , 6.2 percent of college students surveyed in 2012 considered suicide and 1.3 percent attempted it , according to an American College Health Association study released this spring . If you're feeling depressed on campus , you may find the following tips helpful .
Exercise : Physical activity releases endorphins - chemicals that produce an overall positive feeling within the body , which fight depression naturally . Mental health experts claim that exercise is a solution to those feeling mild or moderate depression . However , for those severely depressed , simply doing sports is not enough .
Use school counseling services : Campuses don't employ mental health experts simply to throw thousands of dollars down the drain . Their job is to help students , so experts recommend you use them . Most students , however , are hesitant to take a trip to their college's counseling center , fearing being laughed at by peers . As a result , some schools like Texas Christian University , are testing students for mental health problems when they get sick and visit the campus health clinic .
Take advantage of technology : Staying in touch with family members and friends from childhood and high school has become easier than ever with the coming of Facebook and video chat services like Skype . While mental health experts insist that it's important to make friends in your new environment and be involved in the college community , it's also significant to keep in touch with the people you knew before college .
Go to sleep : Following a fairly regular sleep pattern can defend you against depression . In college , many students' sleep patterns are irregular thanks to late-night studying and partying , which is harmful to their mental health . Research strongly suggests that sleep is the key to learning and memory formation . | high7141.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "To tell Jenny she doesn't want to be friends with her any longer."
},
"options": [
"To tell Jenny that she is really sorry for what happened yesterday.",
"To tell Jenny she doesn't want to be friends with her any longer.",
"T... | Jenny,
I often think if I am as important to you as you are to me.
We had an unhappy time yesterday. I really felt sad after it and almost apologized to you. However,you could still laugh and talk with others like nothing had happened. I suddenly realized that I was not that important to you. You didn't even realize that I was angry and sad. What's more,you even forgot my birthday this year.
Goodbye,my friend. I have closed my feeling toward you. It is sad to say goodbye,my friend. But it is meaningless for us to be friends any longer.
Lucy
Dear Lucy,
I'm sorry that I hurt you so much yesterday. But here is something I really need to tell you. I never thought the quarrel we had yesterday was as serious as you thought. I just felt tired and didn't feel like going shopping. Susan and Lily are also my good friends. I couldn't pretend not seeing them when they passed by. I also couldn't let them know I was blue because of the quarrel. I didn't want them to feel sad just because I was sad. I'm your best friend,but I don't want to be your only friend. I don't want to be with you all the time because sometimes I need to have my own time. I want to spend some time with my other friends and my brother. Please try to make more friends. You will feel much happier if you have more friends. And remember,I'm your best friend forever!
Jenny | high15406.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Martin was the first person that described the flying object as a plate."
},
"options": [
"People named the flying object UFO in the 19th century.",
"The UFOs Martin and Kenneth Arnold saw were in different shapes.",
"Kenneth... | UFO stands for "unidentified flying object" . Many people reported having seen UFOs in the sky. A lot of countries tried to research them and in 1952 they got the name of UFO.
There were several reports published in the 19th century which were related to UFOs. Denison Daily News in its report of 25th January, 1878 wrote that a farmer, Martin, saw a flying object in the sky and it was just like a plate. This was the first time that the word plate had been related to the UFOs.
The first reports on UFOs came during World War II. In 1947 pilot Kenneth Arnold said while he was flying near the Mount Rainer he saw a very bright object in the sky. He said that it was like a plate too. The information given by Kenneth got lots of attention from the media and people.
Several research organizations gave their reports on the UFOs. They showed direct or indirect physical evidence of the UFOs, and sometimes UFOs'appearance was found on the radar screen. Many people tried to take video tapes or photos of the UFOs as _ Most UFOs are in saucer shape while many UFOs are like a cigarette or a half ball.
Many films and TV shows are made about UFOs. There are two famous movies which are created on the theme of UFOs and aliens, War of the Worldand Star Wars. UFOs have created a new field in science which is known as Ufology . | high8272.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Because they spent time on computers and so on."
},
"options": [
"Because their parents prevent them from going out.",
"Because they spent time on computers and so on.",
"Because their parents want to make them indoors.",
... | Many of today's parents fondly remember childhood days spent playing outdoors. When children make mud pies and observe ants, it may seem like just fun and games, but the truth is the outdoor play is an important part of growing up healthily. The National Association for the Education of Young Children reports that outdoor play reduces (make...less) stress and restlessness in children and improves their attention.
Outdoor play is the perfect way to fight against the childhood's obesity(being fat).Research shows that children who play outdoors are more fit and thin, according to the National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play. Children who spend time outside on a regular basis also have healthier immune systems. And playing outdoors is a good way to get enough vitamin D.
Playing outside enables children to relax , reduces tension and helps them solve problems. When children play outdoors, they learn to share and cooperate (work together) with one another. Kids who feel confident outdoors are likely to become able clever adults.
The outdoors is a giant laboratory for learning that improves creative thinking and problem solving. Researchers have found that children learn best when their body, mind and spirit are involved , and this appears in outdoor play. Outside activities develop all five senses, which create a powerful learning environment. The outdoors also lets children have the chance to explore , experiment, form questions and create their own ideas about how the world works.
Although there are the many advantages of outdoor play, time spent outside has been reduced for many of today's children. Kids today spend much more time in front of electronic media than children a generation ago. The lack of outdoor play is tied to the childhood widespread obesity. And experts predict that the situation is so serious that this generation will have much trouble when they grow up. To get kids involved with the outdoors, encourage them to collect rocks, fly kites, climb trees, garden, camp, swim, go fishing, watch birds and butterflies or play games with other children. | high14718.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "a scientific journal"
},
"options": [
"a story book",
"an advertisement",
"a scientific journal",
"a textbook"
],
"question": "The text is most likely to be published in _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_quest... | Vegetable may aid the brain
A study suggests certain vegetables such as broccoli and spinach might help older women keep their minds sharp.
Researchers have discovered that women in their 60s who eat more green leafy vegetables show less signs of mental decline over time, reported Wednesday's CRI online.
They gave participants a bundle of tests measuring memory, oral ability and attention. The study didn't include men, but researchers say a similar diet would likely have the same results.
Eating fish can cut risk of heart rhythm disorder .
US scientists have found that eating fish can reduce the risk of deadly heartbeat disorders. They say baked fish can effectively reduce the risk of atria fibrillation among older men and women, reported Tuesday's CRI online.
Researchers say in their 12 years of research among 4,800 people over the age of 65,they found those who ate fish one to four times per week had a about 30 percent lower risk compared with those who ate fish less than once a month. They say the pmega-3 fatty acids in fish can reduce the risk of a range of heart disorders and is _ to brain development and function.
More than 2 million Americans are affected by atria fibrillation, a chronic condition that causes shortness of breath and an inability to exercise.
Red wine may extend life
US scientists have found that a mixture that makes red wine a healthy drink may also hold the secret to a longer life. They say antioxidant in wine acted on fruit flies and worms in the same way as a method known to extend the life of many animals, which is by sharply limiting how much they eat.CRIENGLISH.com reported Thursday.
Limiting calories has been shown to make animals such as dogs and monkeys live longer, but they are often tired and lose productivity.
The researchers will begin testing the mixture in mice, which are considerably closer to humans biologically. | high13077.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "can be washed"
},
"options": [
"don't fit you",
"don't last long",
"need to be dry cleaned",
"can be washed"
],
"question": "If you want to save money, you had better buy clothes that _ .",
"question_type... | When you want to go shopping, decide how much money you can spend on new clothes.Think about the kind of clothes you really need.Then look for those clothes you really need.Then look for those clothes on sale.
There are labels inside all new clothes.The labels tell you how to take care of your clothes.The label for a shirt may tell you to wash it in warm water.A sweater label may tell you to wash in cold water.The label on a coat may say "dry clean only", for washing may ruin this coat.If you do as the directions on the label, you can keep your clothes looking their best for a long time.
Many clothes today must be dry cleaned.Dry cleaning is expensive.When buying new clothes, check to see if they will need to be dry cleaned.You will save money if you buy clothes that can be washed.
You can save money if you buy clothes that are well made. Well-made clothes last longer.They look good even after they have been washed many times.Clothes that cost more money are not necessarily better made.They do not always fit better.Sometimes less expensive clothes look and fit better than more expensive clothes. | high1530.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Noises at a certain level may hurt them."
},
"options": [
"They are deaf to noises.",
"Noises at a certain level may hurt them.",
"They are easily confused by noises.",
"Noises will limit their ability to reproduce."
... | Some scientists say that animals in the ocean are increasingly threatened by noise pollution caused by human beings. The noise that affects sea creatures comes from a number of human activities. It is caused mainly by industrial underwater explosions, ocean drilling, and ship engines. Such noises are added to natural sounds. These sounds include the breaking of ice fields, underwater earthquakes, and sounds made by animals themselves.
Decibels measured in water are different from those measured on land. A noise of 120 decibels on land causes pain to human ears. In water, a decible level of 195 would have the same effect.
Some scientists have suggested setting a noise limit of 120 decibles in oceans. They have observed that noises above that level can frighten and confuse whales.
A team of American and Canadian scientists discovered that loud noises could seriously injure some animals. The research team found that powerful underwater explosions were causing whales in the area to lose their hearing, which seriously affected the whales' ability to exchange information and find their way. Some of the whales even died. The explosions had caused their ears to bleed and become infected .
Many researches whose work depends on ocean sounds disagree with a limit of 120 decibels. They say such a limit would mean an end to important industrial and scientific research.
Scientists do not know how many and what kinds of noises are harmful to ocean animals. However, many scientists suspect that noise is a greater danger than they previously believed. They want to prevent noises from harming creatures in the ocean. | high2039.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "is a \"revolutionary\" product between a laptop and a smart phone"
},
"options": [
"is a standard computer",
"is better than a laptop in any function",
"is a \"revolutionary\" product between a laptop and a smart phone",
... | In modern society, people can hardly do without mobile phone or computer. The youth of today are even more looking forward to Apple Corp's products.
The iPad is an Apple tablet computer. The device sits somewhere between a laptop and a smart phone, according to Apple's chief executive, Steven P. Jobs, and does certain things better than both of them, like surfing the Web, reading e-books and playing videos. The iPad went on sale on April 3, 2010, and Apple said it had shipped 500,000 units in the first week. The handheld device puts Apple on a direct collision course with the Kindle from Amazon, which Mr. Jobs ever considered as pioneering the category.
It is common knowledge that media companies hope the iPad will finally lead to available ways for them to charge for news, books and other materials. The half-inch thick, 1.5-pound device features a 9.7-inch multi-touch screen and is powered by a customized Apple microchip, which is called A4. It has been designed with an exposed screen and without a camera or separate keyboard. The iPad has the same operating system as the iPhone and also has access to its 140,000 applications.
The price of the device starts at $499 for the most basic model, with a Wi-Fi wireless connection. More expensive models with more memory and with 3G wireless access will cost $629 to $829, depending on storage size. Because Apple is attempting to popularize a new kind of computing device, acceptance among consumers is expected to be slower than with previous Apple devices. Critics assume that some buyers are waiting for future versions of the iPad to appear, perhaps with a camera or USB ports .
On its first day on sale, iPad users downloaded more than one million applications from the company's AppStore and more than 250,000 electronic books from its iBookstore. A new wave of apps is expected in response to the iPad. For an application developer, having an application accepted for a highly desired Apple product means reaching a passionate group of consumers. The potential income is huge: the apps market for the iPhone and iPod Touch alone is already worth a billion dollars a year in sales. | high18122.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "to protect and promote the public health"
},
"options": [
"to protect and promote the public health",
"to help those sickened recover",
"to research on food safety measures",
"to deal with water pollution"
],
"q... | FDA proposed the most sweeping food safety rules in decades, requiring farmers and food companies to be more cautious in the wake of deadly outbreaks in peanuts, cantaloupe ,and leafy greens.
The long-overdue regulations are aimed at reducing the estimated 3,000 deaths a year from foodbome illness. Just since last summer, outbreaks of listeria in cheese and salmonella in peanut butter, cantaloupe and mangoes have been linked to more than 400 illnesses and as many as seven deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The actual number of those sickened is likely much higher.
The FDA's proposed rules would require farmers to take new precautions against contamination ,to include making sure workers5 hands are washed, irrigation water is clean, and that animals stay out of fields. Food manufacturers will have to submit food safety plans to the government to show _ are keeping their operations clean.
Many responsible food companies and farmers are already following the steps that the FDA would now require them to take. But officials say the requirements could have saved lives and prevented illnesses in some of the large-scale outbreaks that have hit the country in recent years.
In a 2011 outbreak of listeria in cantaloupe that claimed 33 lives ,for example, FDA inspectors found pools of dirty water on the floor and old, dirty processing equipment at the Colorado farm where the cantaloupes were grown. In a peanut butter outbreak this year linked to 42 salmonella illnesses ,inspectors found samples of salmonella throughout a New Mexico peanut processing plant and multiple obvious safety problems ,such as birds flying over uncovered trucks of peanuts and employees not washing their hands.
Under the new rules, companies would have to lay out plans for preventing those sorts of problems and how they would correct them.
"The rules go very directly to preventing the types of outbreaks we have seen/,said Michael Taylor, FDA's deputy commissioner for foods. | high4448.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "through online shopping"
},
"options": [
"from the tickets sellers along the Strip",
"through online shopping",
"at the Tix 4 Tonight locations",
"on the day of the performance"
],
"question": "If you want to se... | There are many places around the city and online to buy Las Vegas show tickets. With dozens of websites you can find at home, ticket box offices, Tix 4 Tonight (one of the two half-price ticket sellers) locations, and ticket sellers along the Las Vegas trip, you might wonder where you could find your best deal.
Major Shows
If you want to see one of the top shows in Las Vegas, you could buy your tickets online before your trip. Many of these shows sell out months ahead of time, so make sure you do your research.
Best Place to Buy Discounted Tickets
If you want discounted tickets for Las Vegas shows, you should go to one of the four Tix 4 Tonight locations. These locations get tickets early in the morning or throughout the day if shows are not sold out. Do not expect to find discounted tickets here for the hottest shows in town such as one-night concerts or shows like Celine Dion's. These seldom make their way to Tix 4 Tonight.
Coupon books
As you walk along the Las Vegas Strip, you are going to come across people handing out the Vegas Values coupon books or other coupons. These may help you find discounted coupons for various shows around town. Tickets bought with coupons have to be bought at the box office for the show. These are usually located near the theater used for the show.
On-Strip Sellers
If you see people standing on the Strip selling show tickets, make sure you avoid them. While a few of these sellers might be legitimate ,they often cheat people by selling counterfeit tickets.
Catching a show in Las Vegas is one of the various activities people take part in every single day. While there is not one set place to be the best to buy tickets, make sure you get to see the show you want. | high3327.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "by studying the region they can make predictions about the future impact of global warming"
},
"options": [
"the climate in the Arctic doesn't change much",
"global warming effects are most serious in the Arctic region",
"the... | The temperature is rising again in the Arctic. The sea ice area has dropped to one of the lowest levels on record, climate scientists reported last week.
"The new Arctic Report Card tells a story of widespread and continued effects of a warming Arctic," said Jackie Richter-Menge of the US's Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory.
"This isn't just a climatological effect. It impacts the people that live there," she added.
Scientists concerned about global warming focus on the Arctic because that is a region where the effects are expected to be felt first, and that has been the case in recent years.
There was a slowdown in Arctic warming in 2009, but in the first half of 2010 warming was near a record pace. The monthly readings were over 4 degrees Celsius above normal in northern Canada, according to the report card. The report card was prepared by 69 researchers in eight countries.
Researchers said last winter's big snow storms that struck some Northern countries were tied to higher Arctic temperatures.
"Normally the cold air is bottled up in the Arctic," said Jim Overland of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "But last December and February, winds that normally blow west to east across the Arctic were instead bringing the colder air south," he said.
"As we lose more sea ice... warming in the atmosphere can create more of these winter storms," Overland said.
There is a powerful connection between ice cover and air temperatures, Richter-Menge explained. When temperatures warm, ice melts. When ice melts it shows darker surfaces underneath , which absorb more heat. "That, in turn, causes more melting and on the cycle goes," she said.
In September the Arctic sea ice extent was the third smallest in the last 30 years, added Don Perovich of the US Army Laboratory. He said the three smallest ice covers have occurred in the last four years. | high11660.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "to search for signals from intelligent life in space"
},
"options": [
"to serve for the research of weather predication",
"to prepare for the wars against life from the universe",
"to search for signals from intelligent life ... | The search for life in the universe took a step forward last month with the opening of the Allen Telescope Array in Hat Creek, California. The telescopes were partly made possible by a gift of twenty-five million dollars from Paul Allen. The total cost of the project is already fifty million dollars.
At present, there are 42 radio telescopes working at the Hat Creek observatory. The signals they receive are combined to create what is equal to a single, very large telescope. The telescope will be used to observe objects like exploding stars, black holes and other objects that are predicted but have not yet been observed. Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute says this is the first telescope whose main purpose is to search for signals from intelligent life in space. The SETI Institute is based in Mountain View, California. The organization supports the search for other life forms in the universe.
What makes the Allen Telescope Array unusual is that it can collect and study information from a wide area of the sky. In addition, the 42 telescopes can study information about several projects at the same time. That means studies of large areas of the sky can be made faster than ever before.
Some officials think the Allen Telescope Array will be completed in three more years. 350 individual radio telescopes are planned. The new abilities of the Allen Telescope Array will make searching for stars similar to the sun much faster.
An earlier search by SETI, Project Phoenix, studied about 800 stars to a distance of 240 light years. The project ended in 2004. With the Allen Telescope Array, astronomers hope to gather thousands of times more information in the search for life beyond our planet. | high3441.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "get away from the farm"
},
"options": [
"earn more money for his family",
"learn something from a salesman",
"get away from the farm",
"get enough to eat."
],
"question": "Frank took a short business course in o... | Frank Woolworth was born in Rodman, New York, in 1852. His family were very poor farmers, and there was never enough to eat. Frank decided he did not want to be a farmer. He took a short business course, and went to work as a salesman in a large city.
Woolworth realized he had a natural skill for showing goods to attract people's interest, but he soon learned something more important. One day his boss told him to sell some odds and ends ( ) for as much as he could get. Frank put all these things on one table with a sign which said FIVE CENTS EACH. People fought and pushed to buy the things and the table was soon cleared.
Soon afterwards, Woolworth opened his own store, selling goods at five and ten cents. But he had another lesson to learn before he became successful. That is, if you want to make money by selling low-price goods, you have to buy them in large quantities directly from the factories. Once, for example, Woolworth went to Germany and placed an order for knives. The order was so large that the factory had to keep running 24 hours a day for a whole year. In this way, the price of the knives was cut down by half.
By 1919, Woolworth had over 1000 stores in the US and Canada, and opened his first store in London. He made many millions and his name became famous throughout the world. He always runs his business according to strict rules, of which the most important was: "THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT."www.ks5u.com | high16669.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "she will go on with her work about cultural exchange"
},
"options": [
"she can do nothing hut practice Tai chi",
"She feels physically and mentally challenged",
"she will go on with her work about cultural exchange",
"s... | Twenty years ago,Oliver's back injury destroyed her childhood dream of becoming a ballet
dancer.The 49--year--old recalls the injury that left her bedridden for six months when she was 21
years old and with constant pain for decades. However,the injury did lead her to tai chi,a martial
art typically practiced in slow motion .Her initial hope was to improve her health.
She later married her instructor,Rey Nelson,and founded a school with him,teaching the
martial art to more than 10,000 students over eight years .But they found themselves in a bottleneck So the couple moved to shanghai in 2000 They taught English in universities and happily learned tai chi under various masers.After years of practice,Oliver found her occasional backaches had disappeared.
But her greatest pain came when her husband died in 2003 She thought of giving up But she carried on to honor her husband She founded the Double Dragon Alliance in 2005. The organization
enables Chinese kung fu masters to teach martial arts to Westerners and organizes seminars and events for them to experience Chinese massage,acupuncture,traditional medicine calligraphy and tea ceremonies
"I learned a lot from many mentors They did not only teach me physically the tai chi
but also the philosophy of how to he a better person,how to keep going when you felt you were tired".
Because of her contribution to cultural exchange,Oliver was given the Shang hai Magnolia Award on Sept 30,2013.The award.named after Shang hai's city flower.is given to foreigners who have made significant contributions to the city.And she has been admitted as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2011 by Britain's Queen ElizabethII--one of the hightest rewards to a citizen.
"She (the Queen) asked me some questions about China (at the ceremony),"she recalls.
"We talked about the cultural exchange in building friendship.And she said:"This is very
Important work. You must keep it up'.And I said OK."
"You see,"jokingly she says,"now I have no other choice." | high17577.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Chile"
},
"options": [
"Tokyo",
"the United States",
"Chile",
"Japan"
],
"question": "The largest earthquake happened in _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_ind... | The earthquake that shook Japan with historic strength on March 11th, 2011 created a _ wave ten meters high. The water washed away boats, cars and houses in coastal areas north of Tokyo. It also led to tsunami warnings across the Pacific.
Scientists recorded the magnitude of the earthquake at 8.9.The United States Geological Survey says it was the fifth largest earthquake since nineteen hundred. The largest, with a 9.5 magnitude, shook Chile in nineteen sixty.
The quake struck near the east coast of Honshu, Japan's main island. It was centered under the sea about one hundred thirty kilometers east of Sendai.The tsunami washed away whole neighborhoods in Sendai.
So far (April 4th), the tsunami has taken 12, 0009 people's life away.
Now Japanese are all trying to rebuild their hometown, but there are too many difficulties.
The first, Japan is the world's third largest importer of oil. The shortage of oil makes it almost impossible to carry the food, medicine and water to the quake area by cars.
The second, the Fukushima nuclear power station was damaged by the March eleventh earthquake and tsunami. The extent of the problems is still not clear. Japan's nuclear crisis may mean greater need of imported food. | high5030.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "The automated way to motivation."
},
"options": [
"The development of Autom.",
"The automated way to motivation.",
"The working principle of robots.",
"The way to change the lifestyle habits."
],
"question": "Wh... | Ask anyone what is the most difficult part of changing their lifestyle habits and they are most likely to say, "Staying motivated." But a 36-year-old professor from Carnegie Mellon University claims it may have the answer in the form of robot weight loss coach that dishes out daily health advice and encouragement.
Autom is the work of Intuitive Automata, a company based in Sha Tin which claims to be a pioneer in commercial socially-interactive robots.
The robot, which stands around 38 centimeters tall, has a head that swivels , blue eyes, and a touch screen which allows the user to input information daily about exercise and diet Its creators say Autom will have a daily conversation with its user lasting up to five minutes, giving feedback and encouragement.Over time, it will interact more with the user as it gathers more information about them.
Cory Krdd, a research team manager with the Federal Emergency Management Agency claims research has shown that people find robots a more reliable source of information than on-screen-based character.
In a controlled study in Pittsburgh City Council, 15 dieters were given Autom for six weeks. Another 15 received a touch-screen computer with identical software and 15 were given a paper log.The study found, people using the robot are more likely to stick with their diets longer, in fact twice as long as those using just a paper log.
"While not one person among the computer or paper groups continued past six weeks, most who had Autom did not want to give her back at the conclusion of the study," he said.
The bottom line is that a robot creates a more powerful and long-lasting relationship with the user than a character on the screen.
Autom is expected to go on sale later this year in the United States for around $500.A robot which speaks and understands Cantonese and Mandarin in addition to English according to the demands is also being developed. | high10218.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "change the way we make many products"
},
"options": [
"enable people to make better purchases online",
"change the way we make many products",
"be applied as widely in our daily life as computers",
"shorten the time it ... | See a cellphone cover that you like on Taobao? Forget about placing an order, paying the bill online and waiting for days for it to be delivered to you. In the near future, you'll be able to get it in minutes just by hitting "print" on your computer.
You might find it hard to believe that you could actually "print" an object like you would a picture. But it is not that hard to understand how it would work. Just as a traditional printer sprays ink onto paper line by line, modern 3D printers spread material onto a surface layer by layer, from the bottom to the top, gradually building up a shape.
Instead of ink, the materials the 3D printer uses are mainly plastic, resin and certain metals. The thinner each layer is--from a millimetre to less than the width of a hair--the smoother and finer the object will be.
This may sound like a completely new technology, but the truth is that 3D printing has been around since the late 1980s. Back then, it was barely affordable for most people, so few knew about it.
Last year, though, saw a big change in the 3D printing industry--printers became much cheaper. For example, 10 years ago a desktop 3D printer might have cost PS20,000, while now they cost only about PS1,000, according to the BBC.
Taken out of the factory and introduced to more diverse and common uses, 3D printing can create just about anything you can think of--flutes , bikinis, jewelry, aircraft parts and even human organs. In fact, scientists from Cornell University in New York have just made an artificial ear using a 3D printer, according to Science Daily. The fake ear looks and acts exactly like a natural one.
However, as 3D printing becomes more common, it may bring about certain problems--such as piracy. "Once you can download a coffee maker, or print out a new set of kitchen utensils on your personal 3D printer, who will visit a retail store again?" an expert in 3D printing told Forbes News. Even more frightening, what if anyone in the world could use a 3D printer to print out a fully functioning gun? | high13711.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The importance of confidence to success"
},
"options": [
"The influence of confidence on one's life.",
"The difference of people's confidence..",
"The importance of confidence to success",
"The judgment on one's confide... | When it comes to success in business and success in life, there are few qualities as important as confidence.
People naturally have different levels of confidence.Some have a higher level of confidence than others do, but even those whose confidence is lacking can learn to build their level of confidence and reach their most important goals.Increasing self confidence is one of the most common reasons people give for seeking the help of psychologists and other professionals.
One of the many places where a greater level of confidence is useful is in the workplace.We all know how difficult it can be, for instance, to ask the boss for a raise.This process can be extremely difficult for those who lack confidence in their own abilities.After all, if you are unsure about your own abilities, how will you ever convince your boss that you deserve more money for the work you do?
Even if you are not asking for that big raise, having plenty of confidence in your abilities is important to success.If you are certain of your abilities, chances are that those around you, whether they are your coworkers, your colleagues or your superiors, will see that confidence, and that will help to assure them that you are the best at what you do.
Being thought of as the person to go to, and being seen as an expert in your chosen field, is naturally very important to success on the job.If you can make yourself the person people go to for guidance and advice, you will help to protect yourself from the ever present danger of downsizing .After all, if you are a recognized expert at the office, you will be regarded as an indispensable member of the team.
Having a high level of confidence, after all, does not mean overlooking the places where you could improve.Knowing what you do well and where you need help will help you enjoy increased success and confidence. | high1256.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "She had weak ankles and eyesight."
},
"options": [
"She had weak ankles and eyesight.",
"Her glasses couldn't cover up her face.",
"She couldn't get along well with them.",
"She looked like an overweight elephant."
... | Every school has an ugly girl. In my primary school, it was me.
From first grade through fourth, I had to wear heavy orthopedic shoes because of my weak ankles. I sounded like overweight elephant wearing bricks whenever I took a single step.
"Hey, Bigfoot!"
"Geez, you're going to start an earthquake!"
Then in sixth grade I had to start wear glasses. Mom asked for the least expensive ones and that made me look like a fool.
"Four eyes!"
"Couldn't you cover up more of your faces? Why stop at the eyes?"
In Seventh, I started competing on the city swim team, thinking that if I got a killer body, nobody would notice my face. Wrong again. I loved being fast and winning ribbons now and then, but now I had red, wet eyes from the chlorine in the pool. I also did not develop a killer body.
I changed my strategy at Eighth grade, the last year of middle school. I offered my help to anyone who needs. I worked for other girls, so they could hang out with their friends. My new program began to work. People who would never have acknowledged my existence before were suddenly seeking me out.
I'd been feeling pretty good until one day I went to Christine's house to help her fill envelopes. Going into each envelope was invitation to Christine's birthday party; it was a big event at a fancy hotel. Complete with dinner. She asked me to help her address these envelopes. There was no envelope for me.
My heart was broken. I tried to escape from all the eyes. High school had to be better, right? Yes and no. Now that I'm here, I know there are still lots of shallow people judging you on what you're wearing or how cool your hair is , but there are also kids who talk to you because they liked your answers or just as you're kind, honest, and a good friend.
I still do kind things because I like the feeling I get when I am helping people. I, with my friends, went to Children's hospital, playing games and reading to the sick kids.
I still had wet red and not a smart look, but you cannot tell me I am not beautiful. Every time I visit hospital, five-year-old Terry grasps my hand, "Morri, you are so nice. I want to grow up to be just like you." | high6539.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "anxious"
},
"options": [
"angry",
"calm",
"nervous",
"anxious"
],
"question": "After a week's waiting,the moneylender's feeling became _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
... | A prosperous moneylender bought a house located right next door to the house of a tanner .From morning till evening the tanner change hide into leather by treating it with tannin .From day one the moneylender was put off by the unpleasant smells of the tannery.
So,he visited the tanner's house and offered to buy his house."I would love to sell the house if you buy it," said the tanner.He didn't want to do any such thing but he liked to play tricks."Give me a week or so to deal with some things,will you?"The moneylender agreed and went away.
A week later,the overpowering smell coming from the tannery brought the moneylender to the tanner's doorstep again."I understand sir," said the tanner with wideeyed sympathy."But my mother is visiting me this week.I can't sell the house until she goes away.Please wait for a month."
The moneylender agreed with great reluctance.He began to wait eagerly for the guest's departure.In the beginning he counted each day,impatiently waiting for one to finish and the other to begin.After a while,he found he was no longer so interested in the month coming to an end.He had simply forgotten about it.
He did not ask the tanner to leave when they met next,either.You see,by then the moneylender had become accustomed to the tanyard's smell."What have you done to drive away that terrible smell?" he asked the tanner."Have you reduced the solution?"
The tanner smiled and nodded.He had been waiting for the day the moneylender would get used to the smells from the tannery and stop bothering him.That was why he had asked the moneylender to wait in the first place. | high7627.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "There is a very limited supply of the beans."
},
"options": [
"There is a very limited supply of the beans.",
"The coffee trees that grow the beans are scarce.",
"It takes a long time for the coffee beans to ripen.",
"O... | Coffee experts are willing to pay large sums of money for high-quality coffee beans. The high-end beans, such as Kona or Blue Mountain, are known to cost extraordinary sums of money. Then there is Kopi Lowak (translated as "Civet Coffee"), the world's most expensive coffee, which sells for as much as US $50 per quarter-pound.
This isn't particularly surprising, because approximately 500 pounds a year of Kopi Lowak make up the entire world supply. What is surprising is why this particular coffee is so rare. In fact, it's not the plants that are rare. It's the civet droppings. That's right, the civet droppings--the body waste of the palm civet. Coffee beans aren't Kopi Lowak until they've been digested and come out in the body waste of the palm civet.
Palm civets are tree-dwelling, raccoon-like little animals, native to Southeast Asia and the Indonesian islands. They also have a love for coffee cherries. According to Kopi Lowak suppliers, palm civets eat the fruit whole, but only digest the outer fruit, leaving the beans intact . While the beans are not destroyed, they undergo a transformation in the animal's body. A chemical substance in the digestive system of the palm civet causes some changes to the beans to give them a unique flavor . However, this is not the only explanation why coffee beans retrieved from civet droppings have a special flavor all their own. Another possible reason is that palm civets have an unfailing instinct for picking the coffee cherries at the peak of their ripeness.
Kopi Lowak is reported to have a character in taste unlike any other coffee, complex with caramel undertones and an earthy flavor. Currently, most of the world's supply of Kopi Lowak is sold in Japan, though a few US markets are also starting to stock up on Kopi Lowak. | high15360.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "It helps the air around them slightly wet."
},
"options": [
"It provides owners good company.",
"It makes it convenient to look after them.",
"It helps the air around them slightly wet.",
"It allows owners to draw a ple... | As with any house guests, indoor plants require a certain amount of basic, regular attention if they are going to feel at home. The first consideration when purchasing plants is to make reasonably sure that they are suitable for the condition in which they are going to be housed.
A general rule for most plants being brought indoors for the first time is to ensure that they have reasonable temperature of not less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit, a position out of cold air, safe from pets and not exposed to strong sunlight.
Plants love company. When plants are growing together, they create an atmosphere of damp around themselves which is far more beneficial than hot dry conditions. A group of plants will also present a more pleasing picture and provide an opportunity for a creative arrangement. There is no secret to this. Just rely on your natural feeling for harmony.
Watering and feeding plants are probably the two areas of care that are the least well understood, but, again, if you follow a few simple rules, your plants should do well. Cold slightly warm water is therefore the answer. It is usually better to pour water on to the soil on the surface of the pot rather than put the water into the pot holder at the bottom. Avoid giving small amount of water at regular intervals- it is much better to wet the soil right through the pot in one go and then to allow it to dry noticeably before giving it a further watering.
The majority of indoor plants will be in active growth from March until October, and during this time, the established ones will benefit from regular feeding. This may mean feeding with a weak liquid fertilizer at each watering or at intervals of a week or ten days with fertilizer at a standard strength. It is important, however, to ensure that plants are not fed when growth is inactive, when the soil in the pot is dry, or too soon after the plants has been potted up. | high13705.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "It is below ice."
},
"options": [
"It is below ice.",
"It lies under the sea",
"It is the largest volcano",
"It is lava affects the airlines"
],
"question": "What makes Grimsvom different from other volcanoes?",... | A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports.
Grimsvom is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes Grimsvom different is that it lies under a huge glacier of ice up to 12 maters thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer of water between the glacier and the volcano This layer of water puts pressure on the volcano, keeping it stable, As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what happened today.
Now, airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. according to KLM, one of Europe's biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane's engines, causing damage to the plane.
The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp. Glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them from eating ash--covered grass to the sharp object. | high1242.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "They intended to help the victims in the quake-hit areas."
},
"options": [
"They intended to help the victims in the quake-hit areas.",
"They were on the way to a pleasant journey in Sichuan.",
"They were told to do something... | When computer salesman Li Guang and his girlfriend Huang Minxia saw on TV the destruction caused by the unexpected earthquake,they quickly filled their car with bottled water and instant noodles and drove more than 160 miles to lend a hand.
"It's a small car,but we just wanted to help," said Li,from Chongqing,a city next to the hardest-hit Sichuan province.
Donations are flooding in,more money than charities in China collected all of last year,and so are volunteers.
In the week since the quake,donations have totaled $1.3 billion--85 percent raised within China.
Many,like Li,are taking advantage of growing private car ownership and a new,expanding highway system to join the line of government and army assistance toward the epicenter.
Across the disaster region,thousands of cars decorated with large handwritten signs--"Hardship comes from one direction,help comes from everywhere" and "For the people,for the Beijing Olympics"--were coming from as far as the capital,Beijing,more than 900 miles away.
Private cars crowded so thickly on roads that the police set up donation drop-off points outside cities and towns to clear the way for army and government assistance.People living in tents along the roads posted handwritten signs asking for urgently needed items--water,rice,vegetables.Cars paused to hand out a box or two and then drove on.
Instead of waiting for government-organized charity drives,people quickly acted on their own.Bank account numbers for making earthquake donations flashed on Web logs and mobile phones.Blood donation centers were overwhelmed by offers and began asking citizens to register in advance.
"People are really united this time,and they're acting on their own without waiting to be asked.It sounds _ ,but we're taught in schools and from our parents about helping others," said Ge Jian,the company's general manager. | high7633.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "mother"
},
"options": [
"mother",
"parents",
"aunt",
"relatives"
],
"question": "The baby traveled on the Titanic with his _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_... | He was the baby with no name. Found and taken from the north Atlantic 6 days after the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, his tiny body so moved the salvage workers that they called him "Our baby". In their home port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, people collected money for a headstone in front of the baby's grave, carved with the words: "To the memory of an unknown child." He has rested there ever since.
But history has a way of uncovering its secrets. On November 5 , this year, three members of a family from Finland arrived at Halifax and laid fresh flowers at the grave. "This is our baby," says Magda Schleifer,68,a banker. She grew up hearing stories about a great-aunt named Maria Panula, 42, who had sailed on the Titanic for America to be reunited with her husband. According to the information Mrs Schleifer had gathered, Panula gave up her seat on a lifeboat to search for her five children----including a 13-month-old boy named Eino--from whom she had become separated during the final minutes of the crossing. "We thought they were all lost in the sea." says Schleifer.
Now, using teeth and bone pieces taken from the baby's grave, scientists have compared the DNA from the Unknown Child with those collected from members of five families who lost relatives on the Titanic and never recovered the bodies. The result of the test points only to one possible person: young Eino. Now the family see no need for a new grave. "he belongs to the people of Halifax," says Schleifer. " They've taken care of him for 90 years."
Adapted from
,November 25 ,2002 | high15374.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Rising prices of food have led to the world food crisis."
},
"options": [
"Vietnam has banned rice exports to other countries.",
"Thailand is the largest rice exporter in the world.",
"Some families are too poor to afford eno... | Poor families in some countries spend as much as eighty percent of their money on food. Rising prices in recent months have created the worst food crisis in more than thirty years. The United Nations World Food Program says high food prices could push one hundred million people into hunger.
Nathan Childs is an expert on rice markets. He notes that the harvest for the latest growing season was the largest on record. But India, Vietnam and others have restricted exports to keep prices down at home and protect supplies.
Thailand's agriculture minister says his country will never restrict rice exports. He told the Reuters news agency Thursday that Thailand has enough supplies to meet demand at home and for export.
Thailand is the world's largest rice exporter. Recent signs of an increase in supplies have helped ease record prices for Thai rice. Prices rose last week above one thousand dollars a ton.
Vietnam, the second biggest exporter, has banned exports until June. And Vietnamese officials have now warned that non-food traders who buy rice for speculation will be severely punished.
Some experts say speculation is a necessary part of market activity. But the head of the U.N. Environment Program blames it for the high food prices. "We have enough food on this planet today to feed everyone." Achim Steiner told the Associated Press.
Earlier, a member of the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission didn't accept the idea that speculators are the main cause. Bart Chilton blamed reduced harvests and grain supplies and the falling value of the dollar.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called heads of major international agencies to a meeting this week in the Swiss capital, Bern. He says high food prices could harm world trade, economic growth, social progress and political security. | high3455.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "raise the temperature of the earth's surface"
},
"options": [
"mean a warming-up in the Arctic",
"raise the temperature of the earth's surface",
"prevent the sun's rays from reaching the earth's surface",
"explain the c... | In the atmosphere, carbon dioxide acts rather like a one-way mirror or the glass in the roof of a greenhouse which allows the sun's rays to enter but prevents the heat from escaping
According to a weather expert's prediction , the atmosphere will be 3degC warmer in the year 2050 than it is today, if man continues to burn fuels at the present rate.If this warming up took place.the ice caps in the poles would begin to inch,thus raising sea level several meters and severely flooding coastal cities.Also.the increase in atmospheric temperature would lead to great changes in the climate of the northern hemisphere ,possibly resulting in an alteration of the earth's chief food growing zones.
In the past,concern about a man-made warming of the earth has concentrated on the Arctic because the Antarctic is much colder and has a much thicker ice sheet.But the weather experts are now paying more attention to West Antarctic.which may be affected by only a few degrees of warming,in other words,by a warming on the scale that will possibly take place in the next fifty years from the burning of fuels.
Satellite pictures show that large areas of Antarctic ice are already disappearing.The evidence available suggests that a warming has taken place.This fits the theory that carbon dioxide warms the earth.
However, most of the fuel is burnt in the northern hemisphere,where temperatures seem to be falling.Scientists conclude,therefore ,that up to now natural influences on the weather have gone beyond those caused by man.The question is:Which natural cause has most effect on the weather?
One possibility is the variable behavior of the sun.Astronomers at one research station have studied the hot spots and 'cold' spots (that is, the ly less hot spots)on the sun.As the sun rotates ,every 27.5 days,it presents hotter or colder faces to the earth,and different aspects to different parts of the earth.This seems to have a considerable effect on the distribution of the earth atmospheric pressure,and consequently on wind circulation.The sun is also changeable over a long term:its heat output goes up and down in cycles,the latest trend being downward. '
Scientists are now finding shared relations between models of solar weather interactions and the actual climate over many thousands of years,including the last ice Age.The problem is that the models are predicting that the world should be entering a new Ice Age and it is not.One way of solving this theoretical difficulty is to assume a delay of thousands of years while the solar effects overcome the inertia of the earth's climate.If this is right, the warming effect of carbon dioxide might thus be serving as a useful opposed balance to the sun's fading heat. | high17563.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "introducing some of WFP's projects"
},
"options": [
"seeking solutions to some hot issues",
"introducing some of WFP's projects",
"raising money for the people in need",
"calling readers' attention to the poor"
],
... | The creative projects of World Food Program (WFP) focused on preventing hunger from taking hold in the future and breaking the cycle of hunger. Here are some of the ways in which we work to prevent hunger in the future:
School Meals
As well as directly addressing hunger, School Meals projects encourage families to keep their children in school and help them build better futures. If children aren't hungry they will concentrate on their lessons. With a solid education growing children have a better chance of finding their own way out of hunger. These projects benefit girls especially. For more information: www.wfp.org/schools meals.
Food for Assets
WFP's Food for Assets projects provide the hungry with food to lay the foundation for a better tomorrow. When poor farmers no longer have to worry about the next meal, they have the time and energy to build irrigation systems that can increase production. Similarly, Food for Training projects allow the poor to devote time to learning skills that will sustain them economically in the future. For more information: www.wfp.org/food-assets.
HIV/AIDS
WFP uses its food rations to reduce the blow of HIV and AIDS. The agency distributes its rations to people living with HIV and AIDS, so they can keep providing for their families for longer and have time to transfer vital knowledge and skills to the growing number of AIDS children--the next generation of food providers in developing countries. For more information: www.wfp.org/hiv-aids.
Purchase for Progress
WFP buys large amounts of food in developing countries. It has this purchasing power and uses it to help poor farmers contact reliable markets where they can get competitive prices for their produce. With secure markets, farmers will be encouraged to produce more and innovate .The knock-on effect is producing more food for everyone. For more information: www.wfp.ofp/purchase-progress. | high18650.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "He was afraid of being laughed at."
},
"options": [
"He wanted to give his girlfriend a surprise.",
"His girlfriend did not allow him to do this.",
"He was afraid of being laughed at.",
"He had no talent for acting."
... | Bobby Moresco grew up in New York's Hell's Kitchen, a poor working-class neighborhood on Manhattan's West Side. But Hell's Kitchen lies right next door to Broadway, and the bright lights attracted Bobby from the time he was a teen. Being stage-struck was hardly what a street kid could admit to his partners. Fearing their making fun of him, he told no one, not even his girlfriend, when he started taking acting lessons at age 17. If you were a kid from the neighborhood, you became a cop, construction worker, longshoreman or criminal. Not an actor.
Moresco struggled to make that long walk a few blocks east. He studied acting, turned out for all the cattle calls -- and during the decade of the 1970s made a total of $2,000. "I wasn't a good actor, but I had a driving need to do something different with my life," he says.
He moved to Hollywood, where he drove a cab and worked as a waiter. " My father said, 'Stop this craziness and get a job; you have a wife and daughter.' "But Moresco kept working at his chosen career.
Then in 1983 his younger brother Thomas was murdered in a killing. Moresco moved back to his old neighborhood and started writing as a way to explore the pain of Hell's Kitchen. Half-Deserted Streets, based on his brother's killing, opened at a small Off-Broadway theater in 1988. A Hollywood producer saw it and asked him to work on a screenplay.
His reputation grew, and he got enough assignments to move back to Hollywood. By 2003, he was again out of work and out of cash when he got a call from Paul Haggis, a director who had befriended him. Haggis wanted help writing a film about the country after September 11. The two worked on the writing Crash, but every studio in town turned it down. They kept trying. Studio executives, however, thought no one wanted to see hard lives in modern America.
Crash slipped into the theaters in May 2005, and quietly became both a hit and a critical success. It was nominated for six Academy Awards and won three -- Best Picture, Best Film Editing and Best Writing (Original Screenplay) by Paul Haggis and the kid from Hell's Kitchen.
At age 54, Bobby Moresco became an overnight success. "If you have something you want to do in life, don't think about the problems," he says, "think about other ways to get it done." | high5024.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The tradition of Christmas trees in America."
},
"options": [
"The customs of Christmas in America.",
"The decoration of Christmas trees.",
"The tradition of Christmas trees in America.",
"The history of Christmas in Am... | An evergreen tree is a Christmas tradition in many American homes. The tree is usually a pine or fir dressed with lights and other color1ful decorations.
Families might buy a cut tree or go to a tree farm and cut one down themselves. Some people bring a live tree in a pot into their home for the holidays and then put it back outdoors. Some people rent a Christmas tree. Companies might bring the same live tree to the same family year after year. Or the tree might get planted in a park or someplace else where it could help the environment.
There are some trees that can be reused year after year because they are made of plastic or metal. Or, instead of a tree, some people have a small, sweet-smelling rosemary plant, cut to look like a little Christmas tree.
Another plant that many people connect with Christmas is the poinsettia . Poinsettias are native to Mexico. They can be white or pink, but most are bright red. They are named after the first American ambassador to Mexico. Joel Poinsett liked them enough to send some back to the United States. Babies or pets that chew on poinsettias might get sick. But experts say the plant is not as poisonous as some people think.
Like millions of other houses, the home of America's first president is decorated for Christmas. George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate is in Virginia. Visitors can hear stories about what Christmas was like at Mount Vernon in the eighteenth century. The museum where visitors begin their tour is decorated with Christmas trees. | high18136.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Robert Frost wrote his poems mostly in the first person"
},
"options": [
"Robert Frost had been a famous writer before he started teaching",
"Robert Frost wrote his poems mostly in the first person",
"Robert Frost was very fa... | Robert Frost was at heart a mean-spirited human being, not the kind of man one would expect to write poetry. He was born in San Francisco. Frost entered Dartmouth University in 1893, but dropped out, and switched to Harvard, which he attended for two years. He started a brief teaching career, where he was inspired to become a poet by some of his students' work. Frost stopped teaching and became a farmer. During this time he wrote numerous poems, and a couple of short stories. While he was a farmer he started to think seriously about becoming a famous poet.
In almost all of his poems, Frost wrote in the first person. The first widely-read poem that he published was called My Butterfly. At first his audience was very small, but with his Collected Poems he became famous. Robert Frost received almost all the awards that there were for poetry. His poetry describes the forces of nature, and the violence and deep emotional needs of human beings, which reflect the experiences of his childhood.
Robert Frost will always be known as one of the best poets in history. His way of putting emotion and violence into words is remarkable . His talent for poetry is natural-born and he had discovered this when he started to farm. Even though he treated his wife and children terribly, he still became one of the best-known poets of his and our day. | high5742.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Bring the leftover soap for later use."
},
"options": [
"Use different towels every day.",
"Obtain information in the morning.",
"Bring the leftover soap for later use.",
"Keep your tablet, phone or computer on."
],... | Here's how you can take action and make sure you are doing what you can to reduce your personal carbon footprint when traveling this year.
Before you go
Turn off and unplug all of your non-essential electronic appliances. Experts say that 5-10 percent of the average family's electric bill is from electronic appliances that are plugged in 24 hours a day. Televisions, computers, coffeemakers, toasters and even lamps can suck up power. If you are gone for any extended period, consider turning down the temperature on your water heater since there is no sense in keeping that water hot if you are not going to be around to use it.
Choose a different way
If you have a little extras time to spare, driving or taking a train to your destination might be an option. And there are always the long-haul options like Megabus. If you do have to take a plane, fly non-stop. If you want to have a lower carbon footprint, avoid private jets even if you can afford them.
At the hotel
Utilize every conservation program that the hotel offers. Reuse your towels and turn off your air conditioning or heat before you leave for the day. Bring your own soap, shampoo and moisturizer, or at least take whatever is left of the hotel-supplied notions home with you to finish using there. Skip the morning printed newspaper and read it on your Tablet PC, phone or computer.
Drinking
Carry a water bottle with you so that you don't have to buy plastic bottles. Travel to certain parts of the world and you will understand why. There's nothing more disturbing than seeing something made up of plastic bottles and bags. Halong Bay in Vietnam is a great example where this kind man-made pollution is clearly visible. | high19228.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The health problems caused by fragrance"
},
"options": [
"The world trend of using fragrance.",
"The benefits of using non-fragranced products.",
"The health problems caused by fragrance",
"The ways of removing allergy.... | The smell of fresh air is becoming something of a distant memory, thanks to our increasing use of fragrance . From air fresheners to scented candles, we live in a world of scent.
Recent figures show seven in ten people use air fresheners or scented candles to keep our homes smelling sweet. Yet recent records suggest that perfumed products could affect our health, causing problems including allergies , headaches and asthma .
One leading expert believes nearly a third of people suffer health effects from being exposed to scents. A major problem is so-called "contact" allergy--where perfumes and scented products cause eczema when they come into contact with the skin. About one in 20 is thought to be affected by fragrance allergy.
"Often it may not be immediately obvious that you have developed a fragrance allergy," says Dr. Baron. "You don't react immediately. Gradually, as you are exposed more and more, the body increases its reaction, until it becomes noticeable to you."
People with pre-existing eczema are particularly vulnerable . "The eczema worsens in areas in contact with perfumes," says Dr. Baron. "But even those without allergies can be at risk of fragrance allergy." You can become suddenly allergic to perfumes and personal care products that you have been using for years. "Even if you know which fragrance causes a problem, it can be difficult to avoid, as most personal care products -soap, shampoo, sun cream and washing powder--contain fragrances," says Dr. Baron.
And strong scents can also cause headaches. Fragrances activate the nose's nerve cells, stimulating the nerve system associated with head pain. To minimize risk, sufferers are advised to minimize the contact.
"Fragrance suggest cleanliness - yet people are smelling a potentially dangerous chemical mixture," says Anne Steinemann, professor of the University of Washington. "We often use them to mask one problem - as with air fresheners - but create a greater one - adding poisonous chemicals to the air." | high3333.txt |
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