Datasets:

AneriThakkar

/

MixEval_and_RACE_combined_mcq_data

like 1

is going to cover China if it proves to be successful

Don't you think your schoolbag is too heavy to bear? The e-schoolbag will free you from the weight. It is said that e-schoolbags are going to be brought into use in Chinese middle schools soon. An experiment with several hundred e-schoolbags will begin in seven cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Taiyuan and Shijiazhuang. And the e-schoolbags are going to cover all over China if the experiment proves to be successful. In fact, the e-schoolbag should perhaps be called an e-notebook. It is a small hand-held computer for school students. Heavy schoolbags have long been a serious problem for school students. The average schoolbag of middle school students weighs up to 5 kilos. But the e-schoolbag will change everything. It is much lighter than a usual schoolbag, weighing under 1 kilo. Also, it is no bigger than a usual book, but it can still hold all the things for study, such as a textbook, a notebook and exercise book. They could be made into chips that are as small as a stamp. The students can read the text page by page on the screen. They can still take notes using a special electronic pen. If they want to know the meaning or the pronunciation of a new word, or even e-mail their teachers, it's just a press of a button. In some foreign countries, it is becoming common. But it is hard to tell when people will receive this new form of study. Some say that e-textbooks can be easily broken, some say that it is not good to students' eyesight to look at the screen for long. But only time will tell.

According to the passage, the e-schoolbag _ .

they are not the same according to different degrees or types of emergency

Environmental health is defined as the control of the factors in the environment that may have harmful effects on people's physical, mental, or social well-being . Because natural disasters expose people to danger by bringing up or threatening their immediate environment, effective management of environmental health after a natural disaster is of great importance. The environmental health measures that must be considered after a natural disaster include the supply of appropriate shelter for individuals or groups of people left homeless, the distribution of safe and accessible water, and the protection and distribution of safe food products and so on. To effectively manage environmental health during and after a disaster, it is important that a state of preparation is in effect before the event actually occurs. During an emergency, success largely depends on making good, rapid judgment and appropriate response measures. High-level decision makers, therefore, must be familiar with sound measures beforehand and should be given an accurate judgment of the disaster's specific effects as quickly as possible. This book is intended to serve as a guide for those who may be called upon to make emergency decisions after disaster strikes. The recommended environmental health measures have been listed in the order of priority in which they should be taken during an emergency. However, each natural disaster is unique in the degree or type of emergency. In response to any given disaster, decision makers may find it necessary to change the priority assigned to any particular measure.

We can't do just as the recommended environmental health measures because _ .

Grey matter makes teens unable to pay attention.

Parents who feel disappointed at their teenagers' failure to pay attention in class, and inability to sit quietly long enough to finish homework or plan ahead, should take _ . Their children are not being lazy or careless, according to new research. The research has found that teenagers' brains continue developing far longer into adulthood than we used to think. Teens may look like young adults but their brain structure is similar to that of much younger children. "It is not always easy for teens to pay attention in class without letting their minds wander, or to ignore distractions from their younger brothers or sisters when trying to solve a maths problem," said Dr Iroise Dumon-theil. "But it's not the fault of teenagers that they can't pay attention and are easily distracted. It's to do with the structure of their brains. Teens simply can't think as well as an adult." The research showed that the brain of a teenager works less effectively than that of an adult. "We knew that the front of the brain of teens functioned in a chaotic way but we didn' t realize it continued until the late 20s or early 30s," said Dr Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, who led the research. Chaotic thought patterns are a result of teenagers' brains containing too much grey matter -- the cell bodies and connections which carry messages within the brain. As we age, the amount of grey matter in our brain reduces. "What our research has shown is that there is simply too much going on in the brains of teens," said Blakemore. "The result is that their brain energy and resources are wasted and their decision-making process is badly influenced. Adults, on the other hand, have less grey matter. This means that the brain works far more effectively."

What's the text mainly about?

scientists

High in the mountains, and deep in the forest, lives a lake with many plants and animals in and around her. The plants and animals have enough food and clean water to keep them healthy. The wind carries air, and the rain comes down clear and clean. But recently, Lucy Lake and her friends haven't been feeling very well. All the plants and animals get together to talk about the problem. "Why are we sick?" "What can we do?" ask all of them. No one has any answers. Just then two hikers appear. The animals tell them about their problems. "Can you help us?" they ask. "Yes," one hiker says. "I think it's because of acid rain." "Acid rain comes from chemicals in the air. The pollution comes from factories, cars and trucks." "So, although I don't want to, I help the pollution travel through the air!" says the wind. "And I carry it to the land!" cries the rain. "If you can help us think of some solutions , we will send a message to tell people how to clean up our environment," one hiker says. With the help of the plants and animals, the two hikers make a list of ideas for saving Lucy Lake and her friends. Time passes, and the forest and lake begin to feel a little better. The next time the hikers climb up the mountains to Lucy Lake, they smile at what they find. "We're glad things have started to change," one hiker says. "And we're glad helped us make a difference," says the other.

The two hikers are most probably _ .

Laila Lalami

From Nigerian science fiction to a time-travelling serial killer, Brittle Paper selects the best works of fiction from the continent to inspire our inner desire to travel. My Life in the Bush of Ghosts - Amos Tutuola Who wouldn't want to get enveloped in a fog of magical delight? The novel describes the adventures of a little boy lost in a forest. His search for the way back home seem to take him deeper and deeper into secret colonies of creatures living in reality. Nigerians in Space - Deji Olukotun Wale is a Nigerian lunar geologist. He is under the spell of a life-long dream to traveling out to the moon when the mysterious Mr Bello offers him the chance to man a Nigerian space-exploration mission. But like most dreams, what starts out as the magical fulfillment of desire quickly slips into the kingdom of nightmare . In novels like this, travelling through space easily becomes a journey into the self. Our Sister Killjoy - Ama Ata Aidoo Ama Ata Aidoo's novel is a tourist adventure set in Germany and London. It charts the journey of Sissie, a bright and self-assured African student who wins a European travel scholarship. Like any good explorer, she is very aware of her surroundings - an awareness that she conveys in a mixture of poetic and prose expressions. The Moor's Account - Laila Lalami In the 16th century, a group of five ships set sail from Spain for the New World. Estabanico, a survivor of the expedition, is our latest guide through the unknown lands and peoples. He lives to tell the story of their following travels heading out to Florida and how their dream of becoming wealthy conquerors becomes a journey in search of self-discovery and redemption .

Which of the following authors writes a story about traveling by sea?

the children like nothing better than junk food: cookies and chips

All right! Enough cookies,cola, and chips! It seems that junk food is all that the children want to eat these days.Television controls their tastes.The kids see well-known personalities eating potato chips, candy and other processed food, and they want to be like their heroes.How do they do it?They eat the same food. I wish there were more characters like old Popeye , the sailor, who ate spinach and not French fries. Now I don't expect my children to eat healthy food because I like brown rice, beans, and fresh vegetables. I'm glad to cook traditional meals of meat and potatoes for them. I really can't be too upset with the kids because most adults aren't careful about what they eat. The other night, my wife and I went to a party where there was plenty to drink but very little for us to eat. They served hot dogs and hamburgers. I can't eat hot dogs, with all those preservatives , and hamburgers are filled with chemicals so that they look better. Besides the meat, they had sugar-filled cookies and cake, and of course, chips. I don't want the world to change because of me, but I think people should realize that there are alternatives to eating meat. They always tell me that I probably don't get my essential proteins. I feel better than ever and I'm sure that it's because I'm a vegetarian . I would really like to see more television advertisements which show the benefits of good, healthy, natural food.

According to the passage, it seems that _ .

worried

"I feel fat." "I hate my hair." "I wish I were taller." Julia Bluhm, 14, was sick of hearing comments like these. Many girls she knew seemed to worry too much about their appearance -- their weight, skin, hair, even the shape of their faces. So Julia decided to do something about it. Her target? Seventeen, a popular girls' magazine. "I look at the pictures, and they just don't look like girls I see walking down the street," the eighth-grader from Maine told The New York Times. Of course they don't. Magazines use programs like Photoshop to remove zits , add shine to hair, and slim waistlines. Often, girls are made to look like Barbie dolls. Julia fears that these impossible standards of beauty make teens feel terrible about their own appearances. After all, even the models aren't as perfect as they look in print! So Julia launched an online petition asking Seventeen to put at least one unaltered photo in each issue. "I want to see regular girls that look like me in a magazine that's supposed to be for me," she wrote. Days later, her petition had thousands of signatures. Julia and her mom traveled to New York City and joined a demonstration in front of Seventeen' s offices. Then they were invited to meet with Seventeen's editor-in-chief, Ann Shoket. A few months later, Shoket announced that the staff of Seventeen had signed a "Body Peace Treaty." They promised to "never change girls' body or face shapes" and only use photos of "real girls and models who are healthy." In addition, they promised to be more open about the ways in which images are changed before publication. Julia's fight against teen self-hate is far from over, but for now it seems she's winning -- and she's thrilled. "This is a huge victory," she wrote in a message on her petition page. "I'm so unbelievably happy."

When Julia heard many girls say something like "I hate my hair", she felt _ .

Liza found a backpack .

Is this your pen?Call Lydia at 224-3638. Lost: My computer game.My name is David.Call 44-2697. Mitchell, Is that your backpack in the lost and found case? Liza Found:ID card.Is this your ID card? Call Ely at 52993.

Which of the following is true?

eleven

Lily is ten years old . One morning her good friend MeiMei says to her, " Next Friday is my birthday. Would you like to come to my birthday party?" Lily says " Yes, I would like to". On Friday, Lily asks her mother, " Can I go to MeiMei's birthday party" "Yes, but you must be polite .and I want you to sing a song for your friend." "Ok. Mum" Lily answers and goes to MeiMei's home on foot. Then she buys a toy for MeiMei. At the party there are many children. Some are dancing . Some are talking. Some are playing cards. And Lily is singing an English song .There are some apples , oranges , bread , and a big birthday cake with eleven candles on it . The children sit around the cake. MeiMei makes a silent wish, and then blows the candles out in one breath. The children have a good time. Then Lily goes home by bus.

How old is MeiMei?

Optimistic.

Visitors to _ and _ , above, helped make New York City the country's favorite tourist destination last year. (Photo By Henny Ray Abrams/Associated Press) ks*5*u Associated Press-----The number of visitors to New York City fell last year for the first time since 2001, but falls in tourism elsewhere across the United States made it the most popular destination in the country for the first time in almost two decades, tourism officials said on Monday. Mayor Michael R. Bloombergpainted the 3.9 percent drop -- an estimated 45.3 million visitors -- as a victory, saying that during the recession the city had expected losing as much as 10 percent of its tourists. The city expects to recover most of the loss this year and remains on track to hit its long-standing goal of 50 million yearly visitors by 2012, the mayor said. "We have made our city cleaner, safer and more exciting than ever," Bloomberg said at a news conference at a Brooklyn restaurant. "I do think we'll continue to see even more tourists on our streets as the economy improves, and I think that we'll continue to develop better than other cities." Though many travelers stayed home simply because money was tight, the reducing number in international visitors could result from swine flu fears and concerns over border security measures, Bloomberg said. Still, the Statue of Liberty, which reopened its crown to tourists, reported a jump in the number of visitors. So did other New York City attractions. And the city's entertainment and hotel industry -- which provides one-tenth of the city's private jobs -- actually grew in 2009. "The lodging industry really is using discounting to motivate demand," he said, adding that the price drops have importantly _ "the city's ability to keep the level of tourism that it's had."

What is Michael R. Bloomberg's attitude towards New York city's tourism industry?

many Americans put on weight after Christmas and New Year's Day

When I walk through the streets, I pass strange rooms where people are doing strange things. Some are biking madly. Others are holding metal bars to keep them from dropping down. Still others are jumping around while someone is shouting at them. It looks like something out of Dante's Inferno (<<>> <<>> ). But what is the most amazing is that people pay for these sufferings! The strange rooms are gyms. It is reported that some 41 million Americans are gym members. 12% of the memberships are born in January, as they are determined to knock off the holiday fat. Maybe it is good to exercise in the gym. However, should they know they can keep in good shape, spending little money, would they still agree with its necessity? At the age of 23, I joined a gym. I lifted weights twice a week in Muscle's Gym. I paid as little as $200 per year. You can't find such gyms in every city any more. Too often, the gym is fancy with lots of equipment. If you ask how much it costs to join it, the person at the front desk often won't tell you straight. Instead, he'll let you meet with a fitness consultant , who will provide you with a great number of reasons and suggestions, such as losing weight and getting healthier, just in order to put pressure on you to spend much money joining the gym and becoming a member there. Working out with the help of equipment at home has problems, too. In the early 2000's, I bought a spinning bike at a cost of $700 for home use. I tried a few times only to find that it brought me a neck problem. Now I'm back to my old way. I do Yoga every morning and evening. Total cost: $60 for an exercise mat . I'm enjoying fitness.

From the text we can infer that _ .

you'd better bring a certain present with you

Some British and American people like to invite friends for a meal at home. You should not be upset if your English friends don't invite you home. It doesn't mean they don't like you! Dinner parties usually start between 7 p. m. and 8 p. m. and end at about 11 p. m. Ask your host what time you should arrive. It's polite to bring flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine as a gift. Usually the evening starts with drinks and snacks. Do you want to be extrapolite? Say how much you like the room, or the pictures on the wall. But remember--it's not polite to ask how much things cost. In many families, the husband sits at one end of the table and the wife sits at the other side. They eat with their guests. You'll probably start the meal with soup or something small, then you'll have meat or fish with vegetables, and then dessert, followed by coffee. It's polite to finish everything on your plate and to take more if you want it. Did you enjoy the evening? Call your hosts the next day, or write them a short"Thank you"letter. British and American people like to say"Thank you, thank you, thank you"all the time!

You are going to attend a dinner party, and _ .

Because they think the education resources should be shared.

New York University (NYU) is one of the best universities in the United States and it has just opened a school in Shanghai in partnership with East China Normal University(ECNU). The arrival of the American university on China mainland is an example of what is being called the "globalization" of education and it is hoped that this trend will influence the quality of education in all of China's universities by raising the standard of teaching. NYU Shanghai's class of 2017(students will graduate in 2017) is made up of 295 students from China, America and other countries. The students will study liberal arts courses for two years before choosing a major and when they graduate, they will receive a degree from NYU and a degree from ECNU. All the classes will be taught in English, using the teaching methods in American universities. Students will be pushed to take risks in the classroom, pushed to speak up and pushed to say things that are not completely correct, which can make them understand that it's OK for them to make mistakes in class. This style of learning will be challenging for many Chinese students, because they will be mixed with the foreign students both in the classroom and in the dormitory. Living and studying with foreigners day to day will provide Chinese students with a cultural as well as academic education and it's hoped that this cross-cultural experience will benefit them when they seek jobs in the competitive global market. China's interest in partnering with foreign universities comes at a time when western universities are trying to expand. They realize that information, technology and business are now borderless; they also realize education should be borderless too. This trend will have a deep effect on bringing the world closer together and the students at NYU Shanghai should be excited to be on the leading edge of this trend.

Why are the western universities trying to expand?

By making comparisons.

Imagine you are in a jumping contest. Animals and insects can also enter this contest. But they might just leave humans in the dust! The first event is the long jump. The human athlete is Mike Powell. In 1991, he jumped nearly 30 feet, which is the world record for the long jump. That is about five times his own height. His competitor in the long-jump contest is a frog named "Rosie the Ribbiter." Rosie set the world record for frogs in 1986 by jumping more than 21 feet. Her record has never been broken by any other frog. Compared to Mike Powell, Rosie's jump is not that amazing. But wait! Rosie is only about 10 inches long when her legs are stretched to their full length. She can jump more than 25 times her size. Rosie, the frog, wins the long-jump event. The next event is the high jump. Javier Sotomayor, the world record holder, can jump a bar 8 feet high. That is about as high as the ceiling in most homes. Looking around for someone to challenge his record, Javier might need a magnifying glass . The next _ is a tiny insect called the spittlebug . The spittlebug can jump 28 inches into the air. It is only a quarter-inch long, less than the width of a pencil. If the spittlebug were the same size as Javier, it would be able to jump 600 feet into the air. That is like a human jumping over a building 55 stories high! Though the humans lose the "jumping contest," their competitors would probably agree that Mike and Javier are still pretty excellent athletes. If only Rosie and the spittlebug could speak!

How does the author develop the text?

his father has promised to wait for him

I walked alongside my father, clutching his right hand.All my clothes were new: the black shoes, the green school uniform, and the red cap.They did not make me happy, however, as tins was the day I was to be thrown into school for the first time.I tried in vain lo convince him that I did nothing wrong all the way, but it didn't help. When we.arrived at the sate we could see the courtyard, vast and full of boys and girls.I hesitated and clung to his hand, but he gently pushed me from him."Be a man, "he said."today you truly begin your life.You will find me waiting for you when it's time to leave." I took a few steps.Then the faces of the boys and girls came into view.I did not know a single one of them, and none of them knew me.I felt I was a stranger who had lost his way.But then some boys began to glance at me in curiosity, and one of them came over and asked, " Who brought you? " "My father," I whispered. ''My father's dead, " he said simply. I did not know what to say.The gate was now closed.Some of the children burst into tears.The bell rang.A lady came along, followed by a group of men.The men began soiling us into ranks.We were formed into an intricate pattern in the great courtyard surrounded by high buildings. Well, it seemed that my misgivings had had no basis.From the first moments I made many friends and fell in love with many girls.I had never imagined school would have this rich variety of experiences. We played all sorts, of games.In the music room we sang our first songs.We also had our first introduction to language.We saw a globe of Earth, which revolved and showed the various continents and countries.We started lean-line numbers, and we were told the story of the Creator of the universe.We ate delicious food, took a little nap, and woke up to go on with friendship and love, playing and learning. Our path, however, was not totally sweet and unclouded.We had to be observant and patient.It was not all a matter of playing and fooling around. Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting.And while the lady would sometimes smile, she would often yell and scold.Even more frequently she would resort to physical punishment. The bell rang, announcing the passing of the day and the end of work.The children rushed toward the gate, which was opened again.I said goodbye to friends and sweethearts and passed through the gate.I looked around but found no trace of my father, who had promised to be there.I stepped aside to wait.

The writer stepped aside after he got out of the school gate because_.

The result of the intelligence and motor skill tests.

Not long ago, many people believed that babies only wanted food and to be kept warm and dry. Some people thought babies were not able to learn things until they were five or six months old. Yet doctors in the United States say babies begin learning on their first day of life. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development is a federal government agency. Its goal is to determine which experiences can influence healthy development in people. Researchers at the institute note that babies are strongly influenced by their environment. They say a baby will smile if her mother does something the baby likes. A baby learns to get the best care possible by smiling to please her mother or other caregiver. This is how babies learn to connect and communicate with other people. The researchers say this ability to learn exists in a baby even before birth. They say newborn babies can recognize and understand sounds they heard while they were still developing inside their mothers. Another study has suggested that low birth weight babies with no evidence of disability may be more likely than other children to have physical and mental problems. American researchers studied almost five hundred boys and girls. They were born in, or admitted to, one of three hospitals in New Jersey between 1984 and 1987. At birth, each child weighed fewer than two thousand grams. The boys and girls had an average age of sixteen at the time of the study. They were asked to complete intelligence and motor skill tests in their homes. Their test results were compared with those of other children their age.

What will be mentioned in the following passage?

Keeping on learning.

Fixed or growth mindset -- which do you have? We live in an uncertain world with all the technological advances we are experiencing, which meanse is a requirement for a change in midset . In order to be on top of our game both personally and organizationally, we need to develop a growth mindset. A fixed mindset supposes that you have native abilities and are naturally clever or skilled in certain areas of life. When you receive infonnation about how you have performed in a test or set of tasks t you may worry about how you are judged. Our parents probably said to us when we were young,"Since you scored really well in the test, you must be clever." However, by being repeatedly told "You arc clever" or "You are really ga*al al your job",a person's self-respect is actually dainagcd. The growlh - mindest persona view life as a series of exciting challenges and want t o constantly learn. Brain activity occurs in this mindset when they receive information about what they could do belter or improve. They do not view their abilities as fixed or us failure. Learning is king and the more they practice , the more they know they will succeed. What is important is giving praise around process and not around ability. For example , instead of saying"Since you got a great score, you must be clever" f say " You got a great score, and you must have tried really hard". This creates challenge in indivicluats and [:Z&xx&k.Com] The meaning of mindsets is massive for business. Fixed-mindset managers are not fans of giving feedback . They do not want to stretch themselves or others because they fear failure. Therefore their business may stand still because there is no risk or innovation occurring. Listen from your own fixed mindset for example ," I can't do that" and answer with a growth-mindset response "I can't do that yet!" Remember there is no such thing as failure and there is s only learning. If you don't fail occasionally ,you will never learn to change and grow.

What do the growth-mindset persons most advocate?

Because farmers moved to cities with their music and it continued to change.

Are you interested in country music? I like it very much !It will take me away for a while after I am tired . The guitars and songs will take me to mountains and fields. Country music usually talks of everyday life and feelings. It's the spirit of America ,easy to understand ,slow and simple. Country music developed in the Southern United States. It was the folk music of American countryside. Many of songs tell about the lives of famers . They talk about love, crops or death. The life of the countryside can be hard, so the words in country music are often sad. At first, people played the music only at family parties. But it became more popular later. In the 1920s,people played country songs on the radio, and they made them into records. When people in the countryside moved to towns and cities to look for work, they took their music with them. Country music continued to change and became popular across America. John Denver was one of America's most famous country singers in the 1970s. His song "Take Me Home, Country Roads" is well-known and people still play it today. ,,. ( ,2,10)

Why did Country music become popular in America?

It mainly surveyed fathers' living with young kids.

The uninvolved dad, turning up his nose at diapering and too busy to bathe, dress and play with his kids, is mostly a myth , a big government survey suggests. Most American fathers say they are heavily involved in hands-on parenting, the researchers found. The results are encouraging and important " because others have found the more involved dads are, the better the outcomes for their children. " said researcher Jo Jones of the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control Prevention. She co-authored the report released Friday. "Times have changed," said Robert Loftus, 34, of Yonkers, NY. He quit a six-figure sales job a year ago to care for his two young children while his wife works full time. "We are trying to rethink our priorities and family seem to be N0 1 priority while in the past maybe people were more focused on career. " The study involved nearly 4.000 fathers who were interviewed in person between 2009 and 2013. *Key findings among fathers living with children younger than 5 : *9 in 10 bathed, diapered, helped them use the toilet or get dressed at least several times weekly . * Even higher numbers played with them and ate meals with them that often * Almost 2 0ut of 3 read to them at least several times weekly. *Among dads living with kids aged 5-18. * More than 9 0ut of 10 ate meals with them at least several times weekly and talked with them about what happened during the kids' day that often. * Almost 2 0ut of 3 helped with homework several times weekly. * About half took their kids to or from activities that often. Dr. David Hill, a Wilmington, N. C. pediatrician said the survey reflects what he's seen among his patients' fathers. Increasingly, fathers rather than mothers take their kids to the doctor. Some "are anxious about changing a diaper, " he said. Census numbers show that there were almost 190,000 stay-at-home dads nationwide last year versus 93,000 in 2010. Loftus, the New York stay-at-home dad, said, "I feel fortunate to be able to be such a hands-on father. I'm doing the most significant occupation in the world. "

What can we learn about the research?

they criticize their employees for what they don't do well

Do you remember the good old days? Innocent times spent sharing documents and executable files without a care in the world. Okay, every month or so you might encounter a boot sector virus -- but they were easy to deal with even if the anti-virus software didn't pick them up. But those long lazy summers disappeared too fast. Macro viruses made Information Technology (IT) administrators grow up fast as they realized there was a type of virus which could spread very quickly throughout an organization. It wasn't unusual to find hundreds of computers within personal company infected by viruses transmitted via email attachments. The IT staff were amongst the fittest departments in your company, running from Personal Computer (PC) to the next cleaning them up. There had to be a better way. Companies now realize that viruses aren't "urban myths", and can have a serious impact on their operations. They invest in anti-virus software on the desktops, servers and email gateways and even put in place procedures to ensure their anti-virus is up-to-date with the very latest detection routines. It sounds like companies have put in place adequate defenses to protect against viruses. But have they? Anti-virus software detects most of the viruses your users are likely to encounter -- often without the user even knowing. However, the software must be updated regularly, preferably daily in any large company. Even then, a very new virus can infect your users. With the rapid transmission of files through networks and the Internet, a virus can spread a considerable distance before it can be identified and protected against. Fortunately, only a few viruses ever do this but the likes of Melissa and the Love Bug can inflict serious damage before their progress is stopped. While employees become suddenly aware during the ensuing media excitement, they soon forget about the virus threat as the stories disappear from the news headlines. This is the danger. Complacency can set in when there is no perceived "action" on the virus front with no global crisis, and the importance of being vigilant about viruses recedes in your users' minds. They forget what the big deal was in the first place -- after all, anti-virus software deals with the viruses, doesn't it? And isn't it the IT department's job to look after this sort of thing? Before you know it your users are opening unsolicited attachments once more, downloading unauthorized software, and putting your company's data and credibility at risk. All because the users think that they are working in a safe environment. Employees see anti-virus software, firewalls and IT departments as guarantees that their computers will work and be safe. Of course, there aren't any guarantees. Anti-virus software plays one, albeit important, part in the defense of your company from malicious attack but the security of your computer system is only as strong as the weakest link. And that, more often than not, is the human factor. No employer wants to come across as a killjoy or an ogre. Most will willingly accept that the happiest employees are those who feel that they are respected and trusted by their employer. Many companies accept that employees will send and receive a certain amount of personal email and make the odd personal telephone call. However, the worry comes when employees start risking company security in pursuit of personal amusement. Funny screensavers and games downloaded from the Internet can seem harmless enough but they could easily be harboring a dangerous virus. Software downloaded from the net is often unlicensed and unsupported, and may cause conflicts with existing software in use at your company. Unlicensed, pirated software is an ideal vector for a computer virus. Virus writers and hackers often use such software as the ideal "kick-start" for their virus distribution. It is vitally important that employees be educated about the virus threat but this cannot be a one-off event. The potential threat should always be in the back of an employee's mind and precautionary measures should be taken as a matter of course. There is no harm in reminding people about what could happen if they let their guard down. In the end, education is the key to a virus-free environment and this is a continual process. It may not be the most exciting thing on the agenda but it works. The lesson is simple. You can have the best software in the world protecting your company's defenses; you can even be the biggest IT company in the world; but without your users practicing safe computing they will always be the weakest link.

Employers are likely to do all of the following except that _ .

If lost in the mountains, you must try to find a way out quickly.

If you are lost in the mountains, stay calm in the face of darkness, loneliness, and the unknown. It will greatly increase your chances of survival. Many people think that preparing necessary equipment and knowing how to use it are very important, but in fact eighty percent of mountain survival is your reaction to fear. Finding a hiding place Unnecessary labor will make you sweat and make you cold. Find a hiding place around you before trying to start your own construction. If you are in a snow-covered area, you may be able to dig a cave in deep snow for protection from the wind. You should try to hide yourself in the middle of the mountain if possible. Stay out of the valleys--- cold air falls, and the valley floor can be the coldest area on the mountain. Signal rescuers for help The best time to signal rescuers is during the day. Signal for help from the highest point possible--- it will be easier for rescuers to see you, and any sound you make will travel farther. If you take a box of matches and a space blanket ( a special blanket for traveling ), build three smoky fires and put your blanket ---gold side facing out --- on the ground. Do not walk away It will make finding you more difficult , as search teams will be trying to follow your path and may miss you if you have gone off in a different direction. Searchers often end up finding a car with no one in it. If you get frostbitten , do not rewarm the affected area until you are out of danger. You can walk on frostbitten feet, but once you warm the area and can feel the pain, you will not want to walk anywhere. Try to protect the frostbitten area and keep it dry until you are rescued.

Which statement is not true according to the passage?

A red and blue painting, with no clear subject.

What do you see when you look at abstract art? Does it make sense to you? Does it look like anything? Abstract art became popular in the early 20th century. Artists did not want to paint, draw, or sculpt things like they looked. They didn't want their art to be realistic . They were more interested in basic shapes and colours. Picasso is probably the most famous of these artists. He painted and drew in many, many styles. Sometimes he used a lot of blue colours (his "blue period"). Later, he used more red and pink colours (his "rose period"). Many of his other paintings are called "cubist " because they are made of painted squares. After a long time, Picasso's paintings became more and more abstract. He painted people and things using strange shapes. His work was so original, many his fellow artists didn't understand it. Kindinsky, another famous artist, used lines, shapes, and patterns to paint his subjects. His paintings also used strong colours to express feelings. Other artists like the surrealists , they were interested in the subconscious . Painters like Breton and Magritte used many symbols in their work. The meaning or subject of their work wasn't always clear. Dai, another artist, painted pictures that looked like dreams. There are still many abstract artists around the world. It's often hard to say what their art is about. That's the way many artists like better. They want each person to look at art and find their own meaning in it.

Which would be most like abstract art?

It crashed.

Two hunters rented a small plane to fly them to a forest. They told the pilot to come back and pick them up in about two weeks. By the end of the two weeks, they had hunted a lot of animals and they wanted to put all of them onto the plane. But the pilot said, "This plane can only take one lamb. You'll have to leave the others behind." Then one hunter said, "But last year, another pilot with the same plane let us take two lambs and some other animals onto the plane." So the new pilot thought about it. Finally he said, "OK, since you did it last year, I think this year we can do it again." Then they put all the animals they had hunted onto the plane, and the plane took off. Five minutes later, it crashed. The three men looked around, and one hunter asked the other one, "Where do you think we are now?" The other hunter looked around and said, "I think we're about one mile away from the place where the plane crashed last year."

This year, what happened to the plane at last?

the only home of man will be the earth for a long time

Man has been to the moon. It has been the first step towards future exploration in space. When compared with the distances between Earth and the other planets, the distance between the Moon and Earth is very short indeed. Mars, the nearest planet to Earth is millions of miles away! Traveling to the planets will be man's next step. Such travels will be more challenging than the trip to the moon and certainly more exciting and dangerous. Recently, two American spaceships, Viking 1 and 2, landed on Mars trying to discover whether that planet has any life on it. So far the signs of life on Mars has neither been confirmed nor ruled out . Russians have discovered that the surface of Venus is so hot that it is almost certain that there is no life there. Also the atmosphere of Venus is extremely dense and the pressure is nearly a hundred times greater than that of the Earth's atmosphere. Scientists believe man may find planets which have the same conditions as those we have on Earth, but man should realize Earth will be his only home for a long time and begin to love and care for it.

Scientists think we should take care of our earth because _ .

moved to America with her family at eleven

Elizabeth Blackwell was born on February 3, 1821 in Bristol, England. Her father was a rich sugar businessman at the time. Because her parents thought boys and girls should be equal, Elizabeth received the same education as her brothers. In 1832, her father's business was destroyed by fire, so her family moved to New York City. But her father's business there failed. Then in 1837, the family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Not long after, her father died. After her father's death, Elizabeth, at the age of 16, had to go to work. When she was 24, she visited her dying friend Mary. Her friend said, "You're young and strong, you should become a doctor." That was nearly impossible for a woman in the middle of the nineteenth century. But she knew this was what she was going to do. After several rejections from medical schools, she finally was accepted by Geneva Medical College. By studying hard, she graduated successfully in 1849. After graduating from medical school, she went to Paris to learn more about medicine. She wanted to be a surgeon, but a serious eye problem forced her to give up the idea. When she returned to America in 1851, she found it difficult to start her own practice because she was a woman. In 1857, Elizabeth and her sister, also a doctor, along with another woman doctor, managed to open a new hospital, the first for women and children. Besides, she also set up the first medical school for women in 1868, where she taught the women students about disease prevention. It was the first time that the idea of preventing disease was taught in a medical school. Elizabeth Blackwell started the British National Health Society in 1871, which helped people learn how to stay healthy. In 1889, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman doctor in the United States. Most importantly, she fought for the admission of women to medical colleges. Elizabeth Blackwell died on May 3, 1910, when she was 89.She opened a world of chances for women. She always fought for what was right in all her life. In 1949 the Blackwell medal was established. It's given to women who have excellent achievements in the field of medicine. She'll always be remembered as a great woman.

According to the passage, Elizabeth Blackwell _ .

Don't be late for school every day.

President Obama is very busy, but he has time to go to the school to visit students. He tells them about his life. He says that he learns a lot from his mother. He also asks students to study hard at school. To help students to be better, President Obama has some good ideas for them. First, go to school on time every day. Second, listen to teachers carefully in class. Third, do their homework every day. Fourth, don't watch too much TV. Please do as President Obama says and you will be successful one day.

Which is TRUE about President Obama's ideas?

Because he is very tired .

A lion is tired very much and sleeps on the ground one day . A cat runs after a little mouse . The mouse runs around and comes to the lion . The mouse sees the lion and he is very afraid . " I' m very sorry . Please let me go . I can help you some day . " The lion sleeps well and feels happy now . He says , "You can help me ? You are too small . But I am happy now . You can go . " The mouse goes . One day , the lion is in a cage . He can't get out . The little mouse sees the sad lion . He bites the cage with his teeth . Soon the lion goes out . "Am I right ? " says the mouse , " A small animal can help a big one sometimes . "

Why does the lion sleep on the ground one day ?

experts are trying to make robots help miners with dangerous work

Why do human beings still risk their lives under ground and doing one of the dirtiest and most dangerous jobs in the world? It's an increasingly urgent question, given the recent mining accidents in Sago. W. Va. and Huntington, Utah. A small group of engineers and robotics experts look forward to a day in the not-too-distant future when robots and other technology do most of the dangerous mining work. Robotic technology, in particular, holds much promise, McAteer says, especially when it comes to mapping mines and rescuing trapped miners--the special operations of the mining industry. One of the first mining robots was developed five years ago at Canegie-Mellon University's Robotics Institute. It was called Groundhog. It used lasers to "see" in dark tunnels and map abandoned mines - some of the most dangerous work in the business The latest design is called Cave Crawler. It's a bit smaller than Grondhog, and even more advanced. It can take photos and video and has more sensors that can discover the presence of dangerous gases. The robot has a real sense of logic, which is hard to believe. If it comes across a thing in the way it gets confused. It has to think through the process and where to go next, and sometimes it _ just like a real person. The greatest problem, though, is cost. The money of the earliest research project was provided by the government, but that money has dried up, and it's not clear where future money will come from. Partly for that reason, and partly because of advances in safely, mining is not nearly as dangerous as it was in the past. Since 1990,fatalities have declined by 67 percent and injuries by 51 percent, according to the National Mining Association. Some experts predict that robots in the mines will serve much of the same function that they do in the automotive industry. The robot do the most boring and dangerous jobs, but don't eliminate the need for human workers.

We can learn from the text that _ .

find out the causes of wildfires in the northern Rocky Mountains region

A wood fire can be handy when you ' re camping. You can roast marshmallows or stay warm, for example. Forest fires that rage out of control, however, are a big problem. Wildfires cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage every year. And the amount of destruction has grown over the last 2 decades,especially in the western United States. To understand better why the northern Rocky Mountains region has been hit especially hard by wildfires, scientists from the University of Arizona in Tucson looked at weather, snow, and fire records from 1970 to 2003. Their study showed that, between 1987 and 2003, fires burned an area 6. 5 times larger than the area burned between 1970 and 1986. The fire season also started earlier-, and its average length increased by 78 days. Warmer spring and summer temperatures appear to be part of the explanation for this change. The average temperature in the study's more recent period was 0.871 higher than it was in the earlier period. And this trend is likely to continue. Experts predict that average summer temperatures may rise between 23/4 and 53/4 by the year 2050 in western North America. Hie timing of snowmelt appears to be another cause of the fire boom. When snow melts early in the season,forests become drier through the summer and catch fire and burn more easily. Western snow packs now typically melt a week to a month earlier than they did 50 years ago, according to recent studies. Some people have blamed the growing fire risk on policies that allow bush and branches to build up on forest floors. But clearing bush by itself won' t help much if changes in climate are largely responsible for increasingly severe forest fires.

The main purpose of studying the records from 1970 to 2003 was to _ .

June

This is a tense time for students in America,with the exam season in full swing and the stress and anxiety being felt across the country.At some universities,students are reviewing their lessons,knowing that in a few weeks the stress will be over once they put pen to paper in that exam hall.For others,however,that stress and anxiety may well last a while longer as lecturers continue to refuse to set exams.No one knows when things will get back to normal. The reason behind this trouble is the ongoing argument in higher education between lecturers and employers over pay.The Association of University Teachers(AUT)are currently taking industrial action because of the fact that lecturers have been underpaid for years.Vice-presidents of the universities,who enjoy six-figure salaries,are not making any noises to suggest that this will change in the near future. The National Union of Students(NUS) ly believes that our lecturers should be better paid,and that the promises made to them during the top-up fees debate about extra income must be kept. It's shameful that 1ecturers have had to take industrial action to achieve better pay and conditions while vice-presidents'own salaries have risen 25%over the past three years.But the students who are suffering as a result of the argument must be put first.We do not agree with the attitude taken by the AUT,which is refusing to set exams.We admit that the decision to take this course of action was democratically reached.However,it is having the biggest effect on our members at this moment in time and we will continue to let the AUT know the results of this. We call on both sides to sort this mess out.Hopefully then our members can get the horrible exam season Out of the way and start planning,and enjoying,their upcoming summer holiday.

We can infer that this article was written most probably in _ .

his student

One day a student went to see his teacher. He had been given an important position and now was coming to say goodbye to his teacher. The old man asked him how he would live among high officials. The student answered, " I will be all right. I have prepared a hundred high hats, one for each official I will meet. I am sure I will succeed." The teacher got angry on hearing this. "What?" he cried. "Is this what ten years of my teaching has made of you? Nothing but flatterer ?" "Excuse me, honored master," the student rose to his feet and apologized hurriedly. "But you have always been absorbed in your studies and don't know how vulgar the world has come to be. There are few men in the world who are above flatterers like you." "There is something true in what you said," the teacher nodded, smiling with one of the student's "high hats" on.

The teacher was angry with _ .

drunk driving didn't receive enough attention before MADD

In 1980,Candy Lightner's 13-year-old daughter Cad was killed by a drunk driver as she walked down a suburban street in California. "I promised myself on the day of my daughter's death that I would fight to make this needless accident count for something positive in the years ahead," Candy Lightener later wrote. The drunk driver received a two-year prison sentence. However, he avoided prison by serving time in a work camp and a halfway house. Ms. Lightner was very angry about that and so organized Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), which later changed to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The aim of her organization was to raise public awareness of the serious nature of drunk driving and to promote tough legislation against the crime. Before Ms. Lightner's MADD, intoxication , including drunk driving, was not taken seriously. Intoxication was often used as an excuse for otherwise unacceptable behavior: "I didn't know what I was doing--I was drunk." Candy Lightner appeared on major television shows, spoke before the US Congress, addressed professional and business, groups, and worked tirelessly for years to change public attitudes, change judicial behaviour, and promote tough new legislation. Ms. Lightner left MADD because the organization that she herself created is changing its focus. "I didn't start MADD to deal with alcohol. I started MADD to deal with the issue of drunk driving." The President of the United States awarded her the President's Volunteer Action Award and she was the subject of the movie "Mothers Against Drunk Drivers: the Candy Lightner Story".

We can learn from the passage that _ .

Car Free Day pushes"green"transport

108 cities in China took part in World Car Free Day on Saturday to promote environmentally-friendly transport and ease increasingly grid-locked city streets.It's a highlight of a nationwide urban public transport week.People were urged to take public transport,ride bikes or walk. To help out,more than 200 new buses took to the streets.And the Beijing Subway laid on 10 more trains for rush hour. A Beijing resident said, "Today is Car Free Day,and I do find the traffic much better and the bus can go much faster." Another resident said,"I spent only half an hour to go to work.It took me twice as long before. And I can find seat on the bus today." But in some areas not signed up for traffic control,endless lines of cars can still be seen. Some people say they just can't do without their cars. Another Beijing resident said,"Some people are willing to give up driving,but on certain days when I have to take my child to school or weekend classes,the public transport is so bad that I can't do it without a car." But the concept of"green"traffic is catching on .People say they believe it's the first and honest step in facing the serious traffic and environmental problems. A driver said,"The Car Free Day has a very important symbolic meaning.It does not mean that we must give up cars.It is to promote a concept,to encourage more people to contribute to the protection of the environment." The Ministry of Construction calculates"Car Free Day"will cut 3000 tons of emissions and save 33 million liters of gasoline.And it's planning more frequent activities to raise public consciousness of energy conservation and environmental protection.

The best title of the passage is possibly"_".

Wooster used to be a quiet and peaceful city surrounded by farmland

In a world today of immense technology, population growth and economic flourish, planning for future residential and commercial developments needs careful analysis with well thought through assumptions about effects on the environment and the people of the community. One example of a growing city is Wooster, Ohio, my place of residency, Wooster in the last five years has grown considerably in population, leading to a growth in commercial business. Surrounded by farmland, Wooster's planning commission chose to extend the community into these farm areas in the form of residential and commercial areas. Picture this--corn fields, old trees, clean air, country roads, and wildlife are all part of the area. Within four years, the people living on this farm step outside on their front porch to view an extensive shopping center containing Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Wendy's, TCBY, and a Cinemark movie theatre. The once quiet road is now a city street with traffic lights, busy with automobiles day and night. The air smells of car exhaust and fast food. Some destruction of farmland is unavoidable when a city expands. Instead of expanding outward, planning commissions should consider interior _ of a city. Tearing down unusable buildings could remodel many areas inside the city. In addition, commercialized buildings could extend upwards to avoid unnecessary use of land. Environmentally, commercial expansion is harmful to the land. Besides forms of pollution, wildlife, including both plants and animals, is put at risk. A planning commission could have realized the benefits of environmental protection. Why not preserve the beauty and naturalness of the land while at the same time allowing for growth? With a steady growth of population and the need for more homes and more workplaces, many problems arise when planning for the future. The hillsides, fields and animal habitats need to be preserved while expanding cities. In the future, a world covered with concrete and asphalt could become reality. Serious research and analysis are needed when planning for the future of our home communities and for the entire globe to avoid such a miserable result.

It can be inferred from the passage that _ .

the father

Movies coming soon The Croods Length of time:1 hour 32 minutes Style: Family, Action Release date : November 22, 2014 Directors: Kirk De Micco, Chris Sanders Starring: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds Summary A prehistoric family are forced to flee their cave after it's destroyed by a disaster that threatens to change their lives forever in this animated film featuring the voices of Nicolas Cage and Emma Stone.As a protective caveman father leads his family out of harm's way, the clan crosses paths with a clever teen named Guy (voice of Ryan Reynolds), who offers to help them reach a distant land where they will be safe from a terrible disaster that will soon change the entire world. Admission Length of time: 1 hour 47 minutes Style: Comedy Release date: November 22, 2014 Director: Paul Weitz Starring: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Nat Wolff Summary Tina Fey and Paul Rudd star in director Paul Weitz's comedy about an honest Princeton admissions officer.The officer meets a teenager who may be her long-lost son while recruiting students from an alternative high school.Years ago, Portia Nathan(Fey) quietly gave her newborn son up for adoption.Now she's got a great career recruiting students for Princeton university.Then, one day, she receives an unexpected call from her close college classmate _ , who runs an alternative high school that is home to some very gifted students.One such student is Jeremiah(Nat Wolff), who John believes could be the son that Portia gave up for adoption back in her youth.Meanwhile, as Portia puts her career in danger by changing Jeremiah's transcript , an unexpected love story begins to happen.

In the movie The Croods, the escaping family is led by _ .

He laid great values on old things.

A man called Greedy Black loved nothing but old things. He was so crazy about everything that was old and out of fashion because he was convinced that the older, the better. Always worried about losing his treasures, he kept all he had collected in an old room. It had no windows, so it was very dark, and of course, it was full of old things. One day Greedy Black went into this room to get a ladder, as he had often practiced, but slipped on something and fell against a big garden fork. The fork hit him on the head and knocked him down. Then it fell on top of him and hit him hard on the left leg. The ends of the fork then went into his long beard. He fought with the fork fiercely, and at last threw it off him, jumped up and ran out of the room. He was very angry. He had an old sword under his bed, and he now ran and got this. Then he ran back to the room, opened the door suddenly and shouted in a terrible voice, "All right, come out and fight, you and all the other forks in the world! I'm not afraid of you!" But there was no response for his challenge. So in great _ , he turned on the electric light, only to find that there was no other fork but the one that had repeatedly troubled him. After reading this story, what reflections have you got for yourself? Do you still think that keeping old things in a private place sounds sound? Or don't you believe that you have to be far away from forks because forks are the most powerful? Or what else.....?

Why did the man keep old things in his room?

SparkNotes.

Whether you're having problems with your homework or you're preparing for your term paper, these student-focused websites can help you with anything you need. The key to getting the most out of these online resources is to know how they can best be used to your advantage. Facebook Although Facebook can be one of your biggest time-wasters and distractions when you are supposed to be getting work done, it can also be one of your most valuable resources. Most of your classmates will probably have a Facebook account, so anyone you need to connect with about a class you missed or about a problem is usually just a few clicks away. SparkNotes With a free library of history timeline, philosophy study guides and library summaries, and essays, SparkNotes has covered just about any reading-related jam you find yourself in, just run a search for the book, play, or short summary of the material you are supposed to read. Amazon.com Do you finish every term with many expensive textbooks you will never open again? Instead of letting the money spent go to waste, get back some of your cash by selling your books on Amazon. Wikipedia While Wikipedia isn't aimed specifically at students, it is difficult to think of another website that does more to reduce the pain of paper writing and researching. Wikipcdia gives you a quick way to find sources and get the details of almost any topic you need to research-----all without walking to the library.

Which of the following will you most probably refer to, if you need brief ideas for class discussion in reading?

Ordinary batteries can't meet the needs of new electronic devices as time goes on.

What do the common cold, the flu, and AIDS have in common? They are all diseases caused by viruses, tiny microorganisms that can pass from person to person. It is no wonder that when most people think about viruses, finding ways to _ them is what is on people's minds. Not everyone runs from the tiny disease carriers, though. In Cambridge, Massachusetts, scientists have discovered that some viruses can be helpful in an unusual way. They are putting viruses to work, teaching them of the world's smallest rechargeable batteries. Viruses and batteries may seem like an unusual pair, but they are not so strange for engineer Angela Belcher, who first came up with idea. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, she and her team bring together different areas of science in new ways. In the case of the virus-built batteries, the scientists combine what they know about biology, technology and production techniques. Belcher's team includes Paula Hammond, who helps put together the tiny batteries, and Yet-Ming Chiang, an expert on how to store energy in the form of a battery. Many batteries are already pretty small. However, every year, new electronic devices like personal music players or cellphones get smaller than the year before. As these devices become smaller, ordinary batteries won't be small enough to fit inside. The ideal battery will store a lot more energy in a smaller package than ordinary batteries. Right now, Belcher's model battery, a metallic disk completely built by viruses, looks like a regular watch battery. But inside, its parts are very small--- so tiny that you can only see them with a powerful microscope. How small are these battery parts? To get some idea of the size, pluck one hair from your head. Place your hair on a piece of white paper and try to see how wide your hair is--- pretty thin, right? Although the width of each person's hair is a bit different, you could probably fit about 10 of these virus--- built battery parts, side by side, across one hair. These microbatteries may change the way we look at viruses.

What do we know from the passage?

On the Internet

How You Can Learn a Language in Only 10 Days Most people recognize the many benefits of learning a foreign language: You can travel to foreign countries and feel comfortable, be a more productive and attractive employee in today's competitive job market, and immerse yourself in the vast cultures around the world. In addition, scientific studies have shown that learning a new language helps to keep memories sharp and naturally improves brain function. But do you know that you can learn a new language in as little as 10 days? The Pimsleur Approach to learning new languages help users pick up new languages quickly .Even the FBI and National Security Agency have purchased the Pimsleur Approach. The Pimsleur Languag Programs The entire Pimsleur Approach is what language learning should be : quick, fun and easy. You will learn a new language effortlessly without any reading, writing or computer use. The Pimsleur Approach has a 100 percent guarantee : speak in 10 days or you don't pay. Who is Dr. Pimsleur? Pimsleur Approach is a language educator. He noticed that children have an amazing ability to learn new languages quickly. He spent his life developing this course to let you , as an adult , learn a new language as easily as a child would .You might not realize it , but you have already learned one language using the Pimsleur Approach. Limited availability of special offers The company is currently offering new customers a special offer of 50 % discount on tuition fees.The programs which normally cost $100 are now available for just %50. Better yet ,they are also offering a money-back guarantee. So ,if you find you are not learning as fast as they said , simply return it for a full payment . For more information , please click here.

Where can we most probably find the passage ?

Opposed.

When my mother was alive, she used to tell me again and again about the value of just being nice. "Never underestimate the power of a smile," she would say. I fear she would be very disappointed looking at the world today. A lot of people don't smile and when it comes to service today, they're just not nice. Now don't give me wrong, not all service workers but a good many. I was on the phone the other day with a computer help desk. First a man, then later a woman, who couldn't have been ruder. And this to a customer, who didn't know his way around a PC. But no matter, I could tell they thought I was a bother, The woman, in fact, seemed to be chewing gum as she unemotionally clicked off a series of commands for me to perform. The next day I heard from a friend of mine who got a performance review without his boss once looking up at him. Not once. You see it everywhere. Gone are the days when people cared about you. It's a sign of the time, I suspect. But that makes me sad -- for them and for us all. People who aren't happy, who don't smile, who don't kid, who don't joke or make light of even bad situations, make for an even worse situation. And it spreads like a cancer. Someone's rude to you, you're rude to them and to the next fellow you meet, and on and on. Smiles are contagious but so annoyances. The boss who can't be bothered with his workers. The celebrity who can't be bothered with her annoying fans. You know, my mom used to judge presidential candidates by how they smiled. I would say, "But mom, you don't know if that smile is real." "Oh, yes I do," she would tell me. "I can feel it." It's in their eyes, she would say. And it's in their smile. The rest just kind of falls into place.

What is the author's attitude towards the boss of his friend?

Smith

Hello! I'm Mark Smith. I'm an American boy. I'm 12 years old. This is my little sister, Ann . She is five. My family are in China now. Because my father and my mother work in China. They are English teachers. They work hard. The students all like them. Now I'm a middle school student. I have a friend at school. He's a Chinese boy. He's very good. His name is Huang Long. His English name is Bill. But I don't know his family name. Can you tell me?

What's Ann' s last name?

avoid making electricity shortages even worse

Strong earthquakes hit the east of Japan in the afternoon of March 11, causing several meter-high tsunami , which killed more than 10,000 people in areas along the coast. Several nuclear plants at the coast were broken by the earthquake and tsunami. People living near the plants have been asked to move away. People living within 30 kilometers of the first plant are asked to stay indoors and close all windows. The breaking of the nuclear plants is causing electricity shortages in Eastern Japan. As a result, electricity is cut off for 3-hour periods in the area of Tokyo and some other areas during daytime. In order to save electricity, some shops, restaurants and tourist places in the areas are closed for some time every day. But all major airports and train lines are still open and operating. For the above reasons, tourists are _ not to visit the eastern areas in the near future. Visits to Western Japan are not affected by the event. People who plan to travel over the coming weeks and months are advised to pay attention to the situation for a few more days before making decisions.

They closed some shops and restaurants for some time every day to _

Show your talents

To learn an instrument such as the violin or accordion takes years. The job opportunities for musicians are scarce and competition is fierce. Then why are more people than ever before paying a lot of good cash to get their children the best music teaching they can afford? The secret lies in the influence of music on the whole person. It has been found that learning a musical instrument actually increases a person's IQ over time. Different instruments and different trypes of music have varying effect, with classical music and the string family coming out on top, potentially increasing you IQ by up to 12 points! When is a good time to start learning music? Experts have found that even the fetus can benefit from listening to classical music. Surround yourself and your family with good music from the first. The Suzuki Piano Method teaches children from the age of 3 years piano, with two lessons per week. From preschool, children can learn to read music and play from sheet music. Progress in learning your instrument is directly proportional to the amount of practicing. Is there such a thing as an unmusical child? Shinichi Suzuki proposes that music is the native home language of all human beings and therefore nobody can be "unmusical". Of course there are exceptional talents, compared to which others may seem to be slower learners. Is there any benefit for adults in starting an instrument? Apart from the purely relaxing aspect, yes. Learning an instrument can earn even adults additional IQ points, and as an added benefit in improves your health by reducing your stress levels. Your social life may benefit too, if you are prepared to come out of your box and join occasions such as Ceilidhs (musical get-togethers) or arrange house concerts. It has been established that people who play instruments tend to be more emotionally balanced and more patient with themselves, others and life in general. So go ahead, sign up for that amateur orchestra, dust off your old trombone or take your first real six-string down from the attic ; get out there and play!

There are many benefits for the adult to learn instruments, which of the following is NOT RIGHT?

She drove her away.

My 18-month-old son, Adam, called from the front door. "Look, Mama! Doggie!" I dropped what I was doing and stuck my head out the door. Brandy, our next-door neighbor's 11-year-old dog, was over again. "Go away!" I shouted. Brandy's owner had died about a month earlier. The woman's family had emptied the house and stuck a "For Sale" sign in the front yard, but the family had left old Brandy behind. For weeks, she'd been wandering around the neighborhood. It wasn't that I disliked dogs or anything like that. I just didn't think about them very much. I never had a dog growing up and had never thought to get one. Brandy went away and I stayed outside with Adam. Then the phone rang. I went inside to take the call. When I came back, Adam was gone. I searched the yard, front and back, then the basketball court and public pool. No trace of him. I was so nervous that I ran home and called the police, then my husband. Police searched the neighborhood. Suddenly I heard another sound: a dog barking. "It's coming from the woods," one of my neighbors said. We followed the barking to a wooded cliff . There we found my son, and he was just inches away from the edges of the cliff, fast asleep. Brandy was beside him, leaning against him to keep him away from the edge. When I picked Adam up, Brandy sank down on her side, breathing quickly. She must have been holding Adam there for hours! I thanked the police and brought Adam and Brandy back to our house. She hesitated a moment on our doorstep, no doubt remembering the time I'd driven her away. "Come on, girl," I said. "This is your home now." Brandy stepped in, and once she saw she was really welcome, she relaxed and lay down on the floor just inside the door. She'd done a great thing, and I wondered if she knew it . She'd certainly touched me in a way that no animal ever had. What a pity a dog like Brandy had been left behind!

What did the woman do when she first saw Brandy?

Send an e-mail.

Musicians wanted We want four good musicians for our rock band. Are you a musician? Can you sing? Can you play the piano, the guitar or the drums? Do you want to be the best musician? If you want to join us, please send an e-mail. Our e-mail address is rockband2009@pep. corn.cn. Or you can call Mr. Liu at 790 -4566. Teachers needed Are you an art teacher? Can you paint( ) or draw well? Are you good with children? We need two teachers for our art club. Please find Mrs. Wang for more information or call 628 -1183.

What should you do if you want to join the rock band?

His depression in middle age.

Everyone dreams of seeing the world. But some people take that dream to the extreme. In 2000, Canadian Jean Beliveau was suffering from a mid-life crisis . He thought a good walk might help. So, he decided to go for one... around the whole world. It took him 11 years and 54 pairs of shoes. He ate insects in Africa, survived a puma attack in South America, and fell in love for nine days in Mexico. Jean has successfully overcome his mid-life crisis and is now writing a book about his 75,000- kilometre journey. A Russian man, Vladislav Ketov, is currently cycling around the globe. So far he's ridden through 93 countries. And he's been at it for 20 years. Why so long? Two reasons. Firstly, he's not just going through countries, he's actually riding along the coast of every continent. Secondly, he set off without any money. He has to draw portraits of the people he meets along the way to carry on with his trip. Of course, he is planning to write a book on his eventual return, too. Then there's Ezra Cooley. He set out in 2006 with the idea of riding his horse around the world. Why? "I've always wanted to accomplish something," Ezra said. So far he's only ridden across the United States and part of Australia. He recently took a year off to write a book about his trip. Circling the globe has a long history. In 1901, Captain Voss (from Canada) set off around the world in a 12-metre dugout canoe . Even more impressive, the canoe, which Voss bought from a Native American woman, was built in the early 19th century. He armed the canoe with a Spanish cannon for protection. The journey took three years and, of course, Voss wrote about his trip in a book.

What led Jean Beliveau to travel around the world?

he didn't know English well

A young man called Jack has visited many countries. He knows few foreign languages, but he can always find someone who knows enough English to understand what he says. Last summer he went to China. He enjoyed himself in China and liked Chinese food very much. One day he went into a restaurant in a small village. He knew the Chinese word 'rice', so he ordered some rice. The village was famous for its mushrooms, and Jack thought they must be very fresh and delicious. He asked the waiter in English. However, the waiter couldn't understand at all, so he could do nothing for Jack. Jack thought hard. When he saw a piece of paper on the table, he had a good idea. He took out a pencil and drew a picture of a mushroom carefully. The waiter looked at the picture for a long time, then he smiled and left. A few minutes later, he came back with a black umbrella in his hand.

The waiter didn't help Jack because _ .

walk or run in space

Astronauts, people who fly into space, need special training. First they go to Houston, Texas. That is the home of the Johnson Space Centre. There they are tested to see how strong and smart they are. One of the first tests is for the heart. The people walk or run, then the space doctors see how fast their hearts are beating. Another important test is performed. In this test the person must curl his body up in a ball. When he is in that position, he is put into a round cloth bag. The doctors give him no idea how long he will have to stay in the bag. If a spaceship broke down in space, the astronauts would get into bags like this. Then they would have to wait and curl up in darkness, until help could arrive. You can see that an astronaut must not be afraid of tight space or darkness. After the tests, only the best people are chosen to start astronaut training in a training centre. The astronauts in training learn many other things. They learn how to jump out of a moving airplane. They learn to how to blow up a lifeboat and get into it while they are in the ocean. The astronauts also have to learn how to get lifted out of the ocean by helicopter . That may look fun, but it can be dangerous. After they finish training, the astronauts continue to work. They stay in good shape by running and doing exercise. They read about their special jobs. In that way they can learn new facts about space travel. Then the big day comes. The astronaut is told to go to work on a flight into space. The crew members get to know each other first. Then they can learn which job each will do.

The astronauts don't learn how to _ in the training centre.

to work for long hours

On Thursday October 3, Adam Harper decided to stop drinking coffee. Adam is a MBA student at Harvard University. He studies long hours, gets very little sleep and as a result, he drinks a lot of coffee---anywhere from five to six cups a day. Recently, Adam felt that drinking thus much coffee was making it hard for him to sleep at all. He also began having problems with his concentration , and complained of stomachaches. Adam's doctor made this suggestions: stop drinking coffee altogether. When Adam got up on October 3, he began his day without his morning coffee. By 11:00 a.m., Adam was in a terrible mood . He was tired and had a headache. At 11:30, he had a meeting with his student advisor. In the meeting, he found it almost impossible to continue. What was going on? Caffeine, a chemical found in coffee, was most likely the reason for how Adam felt. Caffeine is a stimulant that boosts energy levels and improves concentration- but only for a short time. Lowering caffeine consumption often causes a drop in blood pressure and the result is a "coffee headache", People who stop drinking coffee often say they feel tired and moody, and find it hard to focus. The good news is that these feeling usually pass after four and five days. During this time, doctors suggested taking some aspirin for the headache. So, if Adam can wait, in less than a week, he may be feeling much better.

In fact, coffee can really help us _ .

Long periods in space will affect the health of astronauts.

Human beings have a natural desire to explore the unknown. People with a strong interest in space like to say it is the last place left to explore. But scientists are warning that space exploration for long periods is not going to be easy. They say the human body is not designed to stay in space over an extended period. The New York Times recently published a report about scientists who are preparing astronauts for a trip to the Moon. The newspaper said the scientists want to make sure that their crews return home in good health. But there are many problems to be solved before people are ready for long trips to the Moon, an asteroid or even the planet Mars. Humans developed on a planet with a surface that is more than 70 percent water. Our bodies are also about 70 percent water. When there is no gravity that water moves up toward the head, raising pressure in the skull. Arms and legs grow weaker at what is called zero gravity because they no longer need to push against the force of gravity. Five years ago, astronauts who spent weeks in space reported a change in their eyesight. These astronauts were members of the crew on the International Space Station. Research showed a change in the shape of their eyes. Normally-round eyeballs had become flat during time in space. The research also showed that the right eye was affected more than the left, and that men were more affected than women. Scientists could not find an explanation for the differences. Bone loss was one of the problems first reported by astronauts returning to Earth after longer stays in space. So scientists designed exercise machines to use on the space station. Tests showed that the exercise equipment helped space travelers keep their bones almost as strong as when they left Earth. There are other health issues for astronauts who spend a long time in space. They may have problems eating and sleeping. But the biggest health issue is exposure to radiation. On Earth, human beings are protected by the atmosphere and the planet's magnetic field. In outer space, there is no such protection.

What is the main idea of the passage?

Katie was not a native of Glasgow.

This was the first day of Katie Daglish's new job as the new manager of the Glasgow Underground Lost Property Department. She was really nervous. There were already hundreds of items in the room, including umbrellas, coats, shopping bags, toys and bears. At 9:30 a.m., a worker came in with a box full of new lost property . Katie heard a mobile phone ring and jumped. She looked over to the box. There were over 20 phones there. She found the phone that was ringing but it stopped just when she picked it up. Ten seconds later, it rang again. " Hello." " Hello, who is this?" said a man. It wasn't easy to hear him. " This is Katie Daglish. I work for the Glasgow Underground Lost Property Department." " Do you have my bag?" " What does it look like?" " It has green and white stripes . It says'Celtic'on both sides." " Let me see. Yes! Yes! I've got it." ks5u " Great! My sister will come to your office in the afternoon to get it. Thanks." Katie gave the address to the man. She hoped it would always be this simple. At 2p.m., a lady came into her office. She described the green and white bag and said her cousin had lost it. " I thought it was your brother," said Katie. " No, it's my cousin." Katie thought that there couldn't be many bags like this and the man wasn't easy to hear. He probably said cousin. Katie gave the lady the bag. One hour later, another lady came in. " Hello. You spoke to my brother this morning. You have his Celtic bag. He's so happy because it has PS10,000 in it. He was worried because there are hundreds of Celtic bags in Glasgow." " Ten thousand pounds..." said Katie nervously. She quickly looked in the bag again. She found another Celtic bag with some clothes but nothing else. Katie told the lady what had happened. She was very angry and called the police. Katie thought she would only have this job for one day. A policeman came quickly. She told Katie, who didn't come from Glasgow, that, because Celtic is a popular football team in Glasgow, many people have green and white bags. Katie was just about to describe the first lady to the policeman when the first lady stepped in. she had looked in the bag and found the money. The second lady thanked the first lady and gave her PS500. The policeman told Katie to be more careful and keep the names of people who took lost property. The next day, the man came to thank Katie. He told her to find out more about Glasgow. He then gave her two tickets to the next Celtic football game.

Which of the following is right?

Things may never return once they are gone.

I grew up in the 1950s with very practical parents. My mother washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, and then she reused it. She was the earliest recycle queen before people had a name for it. My father was no different. He preferred getting old shoes fixed to -buying new ones. Their marriage was good and their dreams were focused .Their best friends lived just a wave away. Though my parents have passed away, I can see them now - Dad in trousers, a T-shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawnmower in one hand and dishtowel in the other. It was the time to fix things -a curtain rod ,the kitchen radio, the screen door, the oven door, and so on. They fixed all things we had. It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing and renewing made me want to scream.1 wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant being rich. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more. I often thought like that. But then my mother died, and on that clear summer night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I learned that sometimes there isn't any more. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away and it will never return. So, while we have it, it is the best that we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken and cure it when it's sick. This is true for marriage, old cars, children with bad report cards, dogs with bad hips and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it and because we are worth it.

What did the writer realize afier her mother's death?

59 BC

The first newspapers were written by hand and put up on walls in public place. The earliest daily newspaper was started in Rome in 59 BC. In the 700's the world's first printed newspaper was published. Europe didn't have a regularly published newspaper until 1609, when one was started in Germany. The first regularly published newspaper in the English language was printed in Amsterdam in 1620. In 1621, an English newspaper was started in London and was published once a week. The first daily English newspaper was the Daily Courant . It came out in March 1702. In 1690, Benjamin Harris printed the first American newspaper in Boston. But not long after it was first published, the government stopped the paper. In 1704, John Campbell started The Boston Newsletter , the first newspaper published in the American colonies. By 1760, the colonies had more than thirty daily newspapers. There are now about 1,800 daily papers in the United States. Today, as a group, English language newspapers have the largest circulation in the world. But the largest circulation for a newspaper is that of the Japanese newspaper Asahi Dhimbun . It sells more than eleven million copies every day.

The first daily newspaper came out in _ .

The homeless man bought food for the dog with all of his money

I want to let you know about an event that changed my life many years ago. We were living in College Station, Texas and my wife and I were on our way home from Houston, Texas one Sunday morning. We decided to stop at a local gas station to get something to eat since we had enough time. When we finished, we got back into our car and before I started it, we noticed a homeless man standing in front of the building. His clothes were worn and it looked as if he didn't have any money. It was cold and I was sure he wanted something to drink. However, it was not this that moved me. A dog was also walking up to the front of the building. Being a dog lover, I noticed that the dog was a mother and that she had just had some puppies . She was hungry and weak and I felt so bad for her. I knew if she didn't eat soon, she and her puppies would not live on. People walking by didn't even notice her. She might not have been as pretty and clean as most, but she still deserved better. But we still did not do anything, someone else did. The homeless man, who I thought could not afford anything to eat, went back into a store and bought dog food with all the money he had. I know that this story isn't as inspirational as most stories, but it plays a great part in our lives. You see, that was Mother's Day weekend. And a lot of people forget that some animals are parents too.

Which of the following moved the author?

The writer suggests we should listen to our intuition.

Because, like most of you, I began college in my teens, but after a year, I was offered my dream job at Universal Studios, so I dropped out. Well, I left college because I knew exactly what I wanted to do and some of you know, too -- but some of you don't. Or maybe you thought you knew but are now questioning that choice. Maybe you're sitting there trying to find out how to tell your parents that you want to be a doctor and not a writer. I told my parents if my movie career didn't go well, I'd re-enroll . It went all right. But finally, I returned for one big reason. Most people go to college for an education, and some go for their parents, but I went for my kids. I'm the father of seven, and I kept insisting on the importance of going to college, but I hadn't walked the walk. So, in my fifties, I re-enrolled at Cal State-Long Beach, and I earned my degree. Well, what you choose to do next is what we call in the movies the 'character-defining moment'. Life is one strong, long string of character-defining moments. And I was lucky that at 18 I knew what I exactly wanted to do. But I didn't know who I was. How could I? And how could any of us? Because for the first 25 years of our lives, we are trained to listen to voices that are not our own. Parents and professors fill our heads with wisdom and information, and then employers and tutors take their place and explain how this world really works. And I want to be clear that your intuition is different from your conscience. Here's the difference: Your conscience shouts, 'here's what you should do,' while your intuition whispers, 'here's what you could do.' Listen to that voice that tells you what you could do. Nothing will define your character more than that. Sticking to your character requires a lot of courage. And to be courageous, you're going to need a lot of support. And if you're lucky, you have parents like mine. I consider my mom my lucky charm. But look, if your family's not always available, there's backup. Do you remember that movie? It's a Wonderful Life? There's an actor's line in it: No man is a failure who has friends." And I hope you hold on to the friendships you're made here at Harvard. And among your friends, I hope you find someone you want to share your life with.

According to the passage, which of the following is true?

They are uncertain about their identity.

Perfect grades, perfect bodies, perfect friends. Welcome to Generation Supergirl - the young women who are supposed to have everything. Unlike their grandmothers, they don't have to fight for their right to be heard. Unlike their mothers, they are confident they can have the career without sacrificing the home life. Record numbers of them are achieving top grades, heading to the best universities and on to great jobs. But are all these opportunities making them happy? According to a new book, Supergirls Speak Out: Inside the Secret Crisis of Over-Achieving Girls, the answer is no. As the book's 21-year-old author, Liz Funk, explains: Their search for perfection has turned them into stressed-out women who are at risk of eating disorders, depression and even suicide . So why have so many teenage girls come to the conclusion that anything short of perfection is failure? Stephen Hinshaw, professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, believes that they are suffering from the weight of expectations: society's, their parents', and most crucially , their own. They are constantly bombarded by "perfect" celebrity(, ). Articles about how to have the perfect career and perfect life appear to be everywhere. So it is hardly surprising that increasing numbers of young women are unable to cope and are unsure of just who they are. "Many teenage girls have no intrinsic sense of their own worth," says Funk. "Instead, they see themselves in terms of how they look, how they are seen, what they've achieved." Teenage girls believe that they must be all things to all people. They must be good at "girl" stuff-cultivating relationships and being beautiful - as well as being good at "guy" stuff - competing aggressively both at college and in the workplace. According to Funk, teenage girls need to recognize that "you don't have to be successful at everything." "Young women should take time for themselves and think about what matters to them, or enjoy life for what it is," she said.

Why do teenage girls try to be excellent, according to Funk?

If used well, social media can create opportunities for teenagers to develop themselves.

Social media is one of the fastest-growing industries in today's world. A study conducted by the US think tank Pew Research Center showed that 92 percent of teenagers go online daily. The wide spread of social media has changed nearly all parts of teenagers' lives. Changing relationships High school student Elly Cooper from Illinois said social media often reduces face-to-face communication. "It makes in-person relationships harder because people give attention to their phones instead of their boyfriends or girlfriends," Cooper said. There's also a greater possibility of things getting lost in translation over social media. "If half of your relationship is over social media, you don't really know how the other person is reacting," Sienna Schulte, a junior student from Illinois, said. Yet, some people believe social media has made it easier to start relationships with anyone from anywhere. Beth Kaplan from Illinois met her long-distance friend through social media. He currently lives in Scotland, but they're still able to frequently communicate with one another. "I can feel close to someone that I'm talking to via FaceTime," Kaplan said. Wanting to be "liked" The rise of social media has changed the way teenagers see themselves. The 19-year-old Essena O'Neill announced on the social networking service Instagram that she was quitting social media because it made her obsessed with appearing perfect online. Negative comments also can do great damage to a teenager's self-esteem . In particular, anonymous social media apps such as Yik Yak may provide opportunities for cyber bullying . The app allows users within 5 miles (8 km) to create and add comments to everything. Teenagers who get negative comments on these sites can't help but feel hurt. Opening new doors However, Armin Korsos, a student from Illinois, takes advantage of the comments he receives over social media to improve his videos on the social networking site Youtube. "Social media can help people show themselves and their talents to the world in a way that was never possible before," Korsos said. But Korsos recognizes that social media has become a distraction . "Social media, though it helps people connect with their friends and stay updated, is not all necessary."

Which statement about the use of social media would Armin Korsos probably agree with?

It offers Internet service to make extra profits.

The Universal Autograph Collectors Club(UACC) has been serving the collector for over 25 years. Founded in 1965, the UACC began as a small group of Long Island. New York autograph collectors and has grown to be the largest collector's organization of its kind. The UACC by its purpose is primarily an educational fellowship where knowledge and resources are shared with not only the membership, but also the public at large. By joining the UACC, you will be introduced to the fastest growing hobby in the world today. Autographs have been called "frozen moment in time" by some people. Probably the most personal thing that one person can give is his or her signature. In 1843, former President James Madison sent an autograph for a collection which the Princess Victoria was making. The future British Queen was only 15 years old at the time. Financier J.P. Morgan, Sr. began collecting when he was 16, and his son continued adding to the father's collection. As the daughter of the Mayor of Boston, Rose Fitzgerald collected autographs, as did her son, John F. Kennedy. Franklin Roosevelt, Malcolm Forbes and Glenn Ford are a few more well-known autograph collectors. By collecting autographs, you become a curator of history. Here are some of the best reasons to join the UACC. The UACC publishes The Pen and Quill, the highly regarded 64-page bimonthly journal with articles and news in all fields of autograph collecting. UACC members may place free ads in The Pen and Quill to express their wants or just _ with other members. Writing for autographs to famous living people can also be interesting. The more interesting the letter, the better chance for an interesting reply. The UACC also offers its members the opportunity to buy uncommon autographic materials at low prices. Meanwhile, it publishes low-cost reference works for its members. Once you join the UACC, you will be added to our mailing list and will receive catalogs of autographs for sale by dealer members. The UACC has nearly 200 of the world's most professional dealers as members. Each member provides contact information on our website, including mailing address, telephone numbers, e-mail-addresses, website address, etc. We always try to promote our dealer program and encourage collectors to always buy from these dealers.

Which of the following about the service offered by the UACC is NOT right?

We can say to ourselves that we are pleased when we feel bad.

Sometimes we feel good, such as when we get good grades or when something good happens. Sometimes we feel bad, such as when we argue with our classmates or when the teachers criticize us. Both kinds of feelings are common. Of course, we all enjoy good feelings, but when we feel unhappy, sometimes we don't know what to do about it. Here is a plan that will help you when your feelings are bothering you. 1. ACCEPT your feelings. Say to yourself, "I am sad. " "I am scared. " "I am angry. " "I am embarrassed. " It's all right to have these feelings. 2. RELAX and have a rest before you act. Take slow deep breaths and relax your body. Imagine that you are in a safe place. You can listen to some music or sing a beautiful song ! 3. THINK about ways to help yourself. Thinking helps you do something smart instead of hurting yourself or making things worse. 4. DO something to help yourself. Maybe you can talk to someone, or do something you enjoy. _ , go back to Step 3.

Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?

grave

Pure Brightness Festival, also known as Tomb-sweeping Day in China, falls on the 4thor 5thof April each year. It was started in the Han Dynasty. On this day, whole families, young and old, with flowers visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects. Following the custom, tomb sweepers clean and tidy the graves, decorate them with flowers. They burn paper money made for the dead, set off firecrackers and bow before their ancestors' tombstones. On this day, they don't cook. Only cold food is served. However, tomb sweeping is not the only activity during Pure Brightness Festival. This day is also a time for people to enjoy themselves. Other activities include spring outing, flying kites, planting trees, tasting tea and so on. In April, everything in nature takes on a new look. Trees turn green, flowers come out and the sun shines brightly. So it is a good time to be out to appreciate the beauty of nature. People fly kites not only in the daytime but at night. In the dark, some people fly kites with lanterns, which are called "God's lanterns". They plant trees because young trees which are planted during this period are easy to grow up. And they enjoy tea because the tea produced around the festival is said to have good quality.

The word "tomb" probably means the same as the word " _ " in the passage.

He should have a specific aim in life.

"Dad," I say one day, "let's take a trip. Why don't you fly out and meet me?" My father had just retired after 27 years as a manager for IBM. His job filled his day, his thought, his life. While he woke up and took a warm shower, I screamed under a freezing waterfall in Peru. While he tied a tie and put on the same Swiss watch, I rowed a boat across Lake of the Ozarks. My father sees me drifting aimlessly, nothing to show for my 33 years but a passport full of funny stamps. He wants me to settle down, but now I want him to find an adventure. He agrees to travel with me through the national parks. We meet four weeks later in Rapid City. " What is our first stop?" asks my father. "What time is it?" "Still don't have a watch?" Less than an hour away is Mount Rushmore. As he stares up at the four Presidents carved in granite , his mouth and eyes open slowly, like those of a little boy. "Unbelievable," he says, "How was this done?" A film in the information center shows sculptor Gutzon Borglum devoted 14 years to the sculpture and then left the final touches to his son. We stare up and I ask myself, Would I ever devote my life to anything? No directions, no goals. I always used to hear those words in my father's voice. Now I hear them in my own. The next day we're at Yellowstone National Park, where we have a picnic. "Did you ever travel with your dad?" I ask. "Only once," he says. "I never spoke much with my father. We loved each other--but never said it. Whatever he could give me, he gave." _ In Glacier National Park, my father says, "I've never seen water so blue." I have, in several places of the world, I can keep traveling, I realize--- and maybe a regular job won't be as dull as I feared. Weeks after our trip, I call my father. "The photos from the trip are wonderful," he says. "We've got to take another trip like that sometime." I tell him I've decided to settle down, and I'm wearing a watch.

What does the author realize at Mount Rushmore?

Suggestions on growing mushrooms

Growing mushrooms is probably the easiest thing you can do even if you are new to mushroom growing. It is becoming more common because restaurants are starting to create more dishes that include mushrooms. Mushroom growing is easy. To start, you need to have a space where you are going to grow these mushrooms. It does not have to be a huge space but just enough for you to grow as many mushrooms as you need. When you have found the space perfect for you, you can start researching what kind of mushrooms you want to grow. There are a lot of mushrooms to choose from and not all of them are suitable to eat. When you decide what kind of mushrooms you want to grow, you can start getting ready to plant the mushrooms. Sometimes you may want to hire some workers to help if you have a large mushroom farm, or if you are trying to start a professional mushroom growing business. Trying to have a business by yourself can be stressful. If you don't have enough time to spend taking care of everything yourself, dome helpers may be the best choice. After you have started the mushroom growing, you should regularly check that your mushrooms grow properly and that they are not being attacked by any pesticides or any other animals or something that could be dangerous to them. That is the worst part of mushroom developing. Protect your mushroom farm well with a fence or a gate so that only you and your workers can get in and out. Mushroom growing is not difficult and it is easy to get stared in the world of farming. You will soon possibly be able to provide some of the great cooks of the world with high quality mushrooms that will be enjoyed by thousands of people all over the world.

The best title of the passage is _ .

We can answer a phone no matter where we are.

Theater managers will often ask people to turn off their phones before a play or other live shows, but sometimes people forget. Broadway shows have come to a stop when a phone has rung in the audience. It is not uncommon to hear phones ring in movie theatres, libraries and even places of worship. Can you think of anything more annoying than trying to watch a movie while the lady behind you tells the babysitter where to find the baby lotion . The right thing to do would be to take the call in the rest-room, and turn off the phone before returning to your seat. When did every call become so urgent that we can't wait to answer it, no matter where we are, who we are with or what we are doing? Why do cell phones bring out the worst manners in normally thoughtful people? Lew Friedland, a communications professor at the prefix = st1 /UniversityofWisconsin- Madison, told CNN Reporter Amy Cox that this lack of manners is because people might be unaware of what they are doing or of the other people around them. He said that this unconscious rudeness has caused even public space to be divided up into small private space. Places like bus stops are public spaces. But when we are there while someone has a private conversation on the phone, we feel like we are _ .What can we do?

Which one of the following is Wrongaccording to this passage?

To appeal to it to set air quality standards in the future.

The Beijing International Marathon has acquired a new name among some disappointed participants: Smogathon. About 30,000 runners, many from other parts of China or abroad, awoke in the Chinese capital on Sunday to an orange sun glowing weakly through a dirty haze . _ . But no one cancelled on the advice of the organizers, the Chinese Athletic Association and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports, because those organizations did not call it off. That has made participants call the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which has approved the 26-mile, or 42-kilometer race, to set air quality standards in the future to avoid damaging the runners' health. The association could not be reached by telephone on Sunday. "Does the IAAF have guidelines?" asked Chas Pope, a British engineer who took part in the marathon on Sunday. "If they don't, they should consider it," said Mr. Pope, who has lived in Beijing for 11 years and runs several long-distance races each year. "It's meant to be fun and good for your health," Mr. Pope said of the marathon. "But in such air, it's just ridiculous to be running," he said. He abandoned the course. "Most of my overseas friends pulled out," he said. "And quite a few of my Chinese friends too, but a lot didn't. I think they don't know as much about the health impact." Images on Twitter and Chinese social media showed Chinese runners wearing a variety of face protections, from light cloth masks to World War I-style gas masks. Still many completed the race without masks. "Today's race should definitely have been called off or rescheduled," said Zhang Kai, Beijing-based campaigner with Greenpeace East Asia. "What happened today to this sports even is just another reminder to the government that much remains to be done to China's energy and industrial structure to solve pollution," said Mr. Zhang. "If the battle against pollution is a marathon, it is now time to catch up on speed." In the end, the race was won by two Ethiopians: Girmay Birhanu Gebru won the men's race in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 42 seconds while Fatuma Sado Dergo won the women's in 2 hours, 30 minutes and 3 seconds, breaking Chinese women's advantage of the race for the last 22 years. The favored Chinese woman runner, Gong Lihua, told China News Net that the smog didn't affect her too much but it interfered with many people's ability to sweat, affecting their performance.

Why did participants call the IAAF?

the bad minister hated the kind minister and wanted to kill him

Once there was a king. He had two old ministers. One was kind and the other was bad. The bad minister often said bad words about the kind minister before the king. The king was very angry. One day the king said to the bad minister, "Write two words on two pieces of paper. Write 'live' on one piece and 'die' on the other. Then put them in a jar and tell him to choose. If he takes out the paper with 'live' on it, I'll let him go. If he takes out the paper with 'die' on it, I'll kill him at once. " The bad minister was quite happy. He got two pieces of paper ready. He wrote 'die' on each piece of paper. The kind old man came. He knew the bad minister wanted to kill him. He also knew the words on the two pieces were both "die". But he knew what to do. Later the king had to keep his word and let the old minister go. Do you know what the kind man did about this at that time? He chose a piece of paper and ate it, When they saw the word "die" on the other piece, the king and other ministers thought the word on the piece that the kind man had eaten must be "live", so he saved his own life by his cleverness .

There is no "live" on both pieces of paper because _ .

The website: below.tongabezi.com.

If you are tired of common hotel rooms, maybe it's time to climb into a tree. A new generation of tree houses are appearing across the world, and designer Roderick Romero says he knows why and he said "They're magical. I've never seen someone climb into a tree house and not smile." Edisto River Canadys, S. C. Before you can stay in one of the wilderness tree houses, you first have to canoe down the Edisto River. The paddle-in homes offer a cooking gear and comfortable sleeping bed. "It's a really good place to get back to nature," Romero says. The lofts have gas stoves and are lit by lanterns. The website: caneosc.com Treehotel Romero was astonished when he first saw the buildings at this hotel 40 miles south of the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden. "It blew my mind. I couldn't believe what I was seeing." he says. The hotel rooms draws heavily on spare Scandinavian design. "Architecturally this is one of the coolest ideas for a tree house.'' The website: treehotel.se Hideaway Cafe While most treehouses are found in the woods, this coffee shop and inn turns the idea on its head with a location in downtown Tokyo. The building itself stands on stilts with a tree growing through the center of it. The cafe was the first treehouse designed by Kobayashi Takashi, who has since created more than 120 homes. "He's one of my heroes." Romero says, "In the treehouse community, he's who we talk about the most." The website: treehouse.jp/ hideaway/. Tongabezi One of the world's most stylish treehouses perches in a tree alongside the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls. The large pine deck holds a bed and Turkish carpets. Guests can go on safati, or simply stay in their perch and watch for hippos playing in the river. The website: below.tongabezi.com.

If people want to know the treehouse with Turkish carpets, they should visit _ .

It's pollution and traffic jams.

What's a big problem in Shenzhen today, do you think? Besides pollution, traffic is, of course. There are too many people, too many cars but too little space so the roads are always busy. You can almost see traffic jams everywhere. It is even worse when everyone is going to school or to work. What's more, cars need fuel to move, so they let out a lot of dirty smoke and pollute the air. However, the government is trying many ways to solve the problem. We can see more roads and footbridges over the main streets. And the workers are making some roads wider. It is said every car will have a computer. The computer can study the latest traffic news. Then it will look over its own map for the best way to drive and they won't get into traffic jams.

What's a big problem in Shenzhen today?

her charm

Betty is not traditional American beauty. She is unfashionable, has thick red glasses, untidy hair and large metal braces on her teeth. But this hasn't stopped her from becoming one of American's favorite TV characters. So how did she manage to do it? The answer is that charm can be more attractive than beauty. Betty is the main character in a TV show Ugly Betty. The show is about her life as a n office worker at a fashion magazine in New York. The TV show has just started. Betty has many exciting experiences and romantic stories. Betty is often looked down on and laughed at by the people around. But she manages to do better than others with her hard work, charm and wisdom. The show tells us about how a girl goes from an ugly young duck into a beautiful swan. Though you may know the ending of the show from the beginning and the story is familiar to many of us, it has still been a big success in the USA. It has attracted a large number of viewers and won two Golden Globes awards, one of the highest honors for a television program in the USA." I think you can see a bit of Betty in all of us, and I mean men as well, because it's about the underdog ",says Ashley Jensen, who plays one of the characters on the show. The program is so popular because of the performance of the 23-year-old actress America Ferrera who plays the role of Betty. She brings the character alive on the screen.

Betty is popular because of _ .

reduction in the number of employees

Henry Ford, the famous U.S. inventor and car manufacturer, once said, "The business of America is business." By this he meant that the U.S. way of life is based on the values of the business world. Few would argue with Ford's statement. A brief glimpse at a daily newspaper vividly shows how much people in the United States think about business. For example, nearly every newspaper has a business section, in which the deals and projects, finances and management, stock prices and labor problems of corporations are reported daily. In addition, business news can appear in every other section. Most national news has an important financial aspect to it. Welfare, foreign aid, the federal budget, and the policies of the Federal Reserve Bank are all heavily affected by business. Moreover, business news appears in some of the unlikeliest places. The world of arts and entertainment is often referred to as"the entertainment industry"or"show business." The positive side of Henry Ford's statement can be seen in the prosperity that business has brought to U.S. life. One of the most important reasons so many people from all over the world come to live in the United States is the dream of a better job. Jobs are produced in abundance because the U.S. economic system is driven by competition. People believe that this system creates more wealth, more jobs, and a materially better way of life. The negative side of Henry Ford's statement, however, can be seen when the word business is taken to mean big business. And the term big business--referring to the biggest companies, is seen in opposition to labor. Throughout U.S. history working people have had to fight hard for higher wages, better working conditions, and the fight to form unions. Today, many of the old labor disputes are over, but there is still some employee anxiety. Downsizing--the laying off of thousands of workers to keep expenses low and profits high--creates feelings of insecurity for many.

A company's efforts to keep expenses low and profits high may result in _ .

Mrs. Peterson, Mr. Peterson and Mary.

Mary is from the U.S.A. She has two brothers. Now her family are in China. Her father, Mr. Peterson teaches English in Xihu Middle School. And her mother works in the same school. She teaches English, too. Mary likes red clothes very much. Her mother likes red clothes a lot, too. Mary is a nice girl student. She is in Xihu Middle School .She can speak Chinese. She has many Chinese friends. She teaches them English, and they teach her Chinese. Her two brothers are twins. One is Bob, the other is Bill. They look the same. They are only three. So their grandparents look after them at home. Mrs. Peterson has many toys for the twins. Bob likes toy cars, but Bill likes toy bears. They are happy every day.

Who is in Xihu Middle school ?.

early Chinese sailors

London's Chinese community dates back to the 18th century, when a small number of Chinese sailors moved to the city to work in Lime house, east London. As time went on, other Chinese people came to this area and Lime house began to be known as "Chinatown". At the start of the 20th century, there were just 545 Chinese people in Britain. However, this situation changed greatly after the Second World War. At this time, many farmers in Hong Kong lost their jobs, and decided to move to London. In the 1950s, a small Chinese restaurant opened in central London. Many British people visited it and said that Chinese food was wonderful. Suddenly, Chinese restaurants started opening in every part of the city. Instead of too little work, the new Chinese immigrants now found that they had too much. Most of the new immigrants enjoyed their life and the chances they were offered. Many asked their friends and relatives to join them from their hometowns, and a lot of families were reunited again at this time. As time went by, London's Chinese community became more and more successful. The sons and daughters of the first restaurant workers, encouraged by their parents, studied very hard at school and university. And most of them could get highly-paid jobs. As a result, increasing numbers of Chinese families left Chinatown and moved to the more expensive places. Chinatown, however, is still as lively as ever, and a must see place for every visitor to London.

From the passage, we can learn that the first members of "China town" were _ .

Peter Finch.

Illustrated Talks at London Canal Museum Illustrated talks are held at 7:30 pm, on the first Thursday of each month except August. Admission to talks and museum is charged at the usual museum admission charges. 3rd September: Protecting our Waterway Heritage by Nigel Crowe. Nigel is the Conservation Adviser to the Canal and River Trust . He undertook a comprehensive survey of the heritage of the waterways when first appointed, and now advises the CRT on its protection. 1st October: The Canal and River Trust by John Dodwell. Founding trustee and long standing waterways enthusiast John Dodwell will detail the Trust's progress to date. He will explain the issues they face and the limits under which they work. 5th November: The work of the Thames Ironworks Heritage Trust by Gavin Redknap. Gavin was one of the founders of the Trust that is working to save and restore some of the few surviving craft built at the Thames Ironworks Yard at the mouth of Bow Creek. The Trust plans to use the fleet of restored one-hundred-year-old lifeboats for community projects on the Lower Lee. 3rd December: The River Thames Society and the River Thames by Peter Finch. Peter, who is Chairman of the River Thames Society, will explain the role and function of the society and then go on to talk about London's river and some of the issues it faces.

_ will give the talk on the River Thames society.

Many schools have realized the problem and taken measures.

The Ministry of Health has called for more awareness from the public on the mental health of the young,as part of efforts to mark World Mental Health Day. More than 15 percent of the Chinese youth have been found with mental problems,and about 30 million young people under 17 are suffering from depression,the Shanghai-based Wenhui Daily reported. The World Health Organization estimated that before 2020,the rate of children with mental problems will increase to 50 percent,and mental problems will become a major factor behind death and illness in the young worldwide. Deng Xiaohong,the spokesperson for the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau,said rapid social change is one of the reasons behind the rising number of youngsters with psychological problems. If these mental diseases are not _ on time,occurrence of crime,drugtaking and other dangerous behavior are expected to rise. Experts said mental disease could be caused by many factors,such as the inability to handle interpersonal relations well,unstable emotions and pressure from the overload of study. A number of experts have also said the one-child policy is another reason leading to poor mental health in the young. Children were said to be too "spoiled" and "selfish" in one-child families. Schools in many cities were reported to roll out measures to help students maintain their mental well-being. Yin Jingmiao,a teacher of the Beijing No. 105 Middle School,told China Daily that the school invites psychologists to provide counseling to students three times a month. "Students can be arranged to have 40-minute counseling sessions," Yin said. The school also gives lectures on mental health to senior grade students before they take the national college entrance exams,to help ease any anxiety arising from the tests.

Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

people in different countries use different body language

Did you know that about 55% of communication is unspoken, so in fact, our bodies are actually saying more than our words. I find that the key to a successful conversation in any language is to speak to people not only in their spoken language but also with the body language they know best. Britain, along with much of Northern Europe, has a non-touch culture, so personal space is very important. In a formal situation, we would usually greet each other with a handshake. Informally, but not so often, my British friends and I would greet with a hug. Hardly ever would we greet with a kiss on the cheek, let alone a hug and two kisses on the cheek![:||] Here in the south of Italy, and in many different parts of the world, both men and women greet with two kisses on the cheek, use a lot of hand signs and often touch each other. In other words, little personal space is left between people when communicating. At university, I have learnt to successfully communicate in spoken Italian. And since I moved to live with the local people, I have also started to pick up their body language. Sometimes, I find myself not knowing what hand signs to use when expressing myself. However, what I know for sure is that I would miss the opportunity to fully put myself in the Italian culture if I keep my personal space unbroken. Here are 5 body language tips in Italy; * Use different signs; head, arms and hands. * Use facial expressions. Always smile at people! It is said that smiling is the most powerful unspoken way to communicate friendliness. * Use eye contact , because "the eyes are the window to the soul." * Don't worry about personal space. Italians are a people who like to use the sense of touch, so moving away or keeping your distance may be considered as being unfriendly. * Touch. When meeting and leaving, always shake hands.

The writer uses Britain and Italy as examples to show _ .

We cannot do out-of-class activities from 4:50 to 5:50 p.m.

Good morning, class! We know that there are too many net bars around us. The Internet is popular and it makes our lives colorful. Many of us like going online very much because we can learn how to use the computer and get more information from the Internet. We can learn English. We can read some good newspapers and magazines. It can make us clever in playing computer games. We can send E-mails to our friends quickly. We can chat freely online with our friends. It can help us get in touch with people from all over the world. But some students spend too much time in playing computer game and some stay in the net bars all day and all night. Teenagers even get to have boyfriends or girlfriends online. They write too many letters to each other. It takes them to much time to chat online so they do worse and worse in their lessons and they don't study well any more. I think we mustn't get online when it is time for us to study. We can do it in summer or winter holidays. We should get online with adults --our teacher or parents. At the same time, if we have lots of free time, we can do some out-of-class activities at school. We usually have activities from 4:50 to 5:50 in the afternoon. We have different kinds of activities. If you are interested in sports, you can play basketball or football. We can go to the English Corner. We can practice talking in English there. We hope we can spend more time on our subjects or on such activities that we can learn a lot from and less time on the Internet. Thank you for listening to me. That's all.

Which of the following is NOT right?

The writer is a teacher now.

Though my career as a banker was financially rewarding, I was never content with the work. I was annoyed by my workmates' coldness and endless counting. Gradually, I began to envy my wife Julie's teaching career, which was full of passion and challenges. However, I admitted that leaving a secure(, ) position and going to school needed courage. One winter evening I heard Julie complaining about a student's bad academic performance. She said, "Baxter used to do his homework very well, but it has dropped recently." The next evening when I arrived home, Julie asked, "Will you drive me to Baxter's house? I want to talk with his family about his homework." After an hour, a hut stood before us. Baxter was busy gathering firewood in the front yard. Seeing us, Baxter was surprised, but greeted us happily. Julie asked, "Where are your parents?" Baxter said they were not in. We found that it was dark in the hut. On our way home, Julie cried, "His work was good in the early autumn when the days were longer. But now, in the dark, he can't do his homework." Then she decided to help him so that he could focus on his studies. I was moved by her kindness and I wanted to help poor students. At the end of the month, I said goodbye to the bank. Now I am teaching the students and I love my job.

What can we infer from the text?

ruler

This is my room. What's this? It's a blue pen. What's that? It's a ruler. And it is blue, too. What's this in English? It's a quilt. It's red. It's my quilt. And this is my jacket. What color is it? It's black and white. What's that on the wall? It's a map. ,.

The _ is on the wall.

No, they don't.

In a small village, there is a teacher, a doctor, a driver, and a policeman. The four men are good friends. What are their names?One is Tom, one is Jack, one is Mike and one is John. Mike's, Jack's and Tom's children are classmates. John has no children. He teaches his friends' children at a middle school. Mike works at a police station. He loves his job very much. Jack has a car. He often drives his car to go to work or visit his friends. The doctor's house is next to the driver's, so the children often play together.

Do they all have a child?

53

A man fell out of his plane and fell back into it again. Two people rowed a small boat from New York to England in 56 days. One person was so big that he wouldn't fit in any hospital room. Would you believe these stories? Well, they may sound strange, but they did happen. James Cornell has more strange but true stories like these in a book called Very Strange People. Here is part of the contents of Very Strange People. The contents lists the names of the chapters or parts of the book. It also tells on what page each chapter begins. Chapter Page One A Dog's Life ..........................................3 Two A Lucky Pilot ................... ..............14 Three High Wire Act .................... .............33 Four Fat Men ............................................... 41 Five Over the Falls .........................................43 Six A House without an end ................... .............53 Seven Row, Row, Row Your Boat ................. ..............60 Eight The Tower Builder ....................... ..............85

Sarah thought she would die as soon as her house was finished. So she kept on adding more and more rooms. Her story may appear on Page _ .

The great noise is made by the cat

Once there were two mice. They were friends. One mouse lived in the country; the other mouse lived in the city. After many years the Country mouse saw the City mouse; he said, "Do come and see me at my house in the country." So the City mouse went. The City mouse said, "This food is not good, and your house is not good. Why do you live in a hole in the field? You should come and live in the city. You would live in a nice house made of stone. You would have nice food to eat. You must come and see me at my house in the city." The Country mouse went to the house of the City mouse. It was a very good house. Nice food was set ready for them to eat. But just as they began to eat they heard a great noise. The City mouse cried, "Run! Run! The cat is coming!" They ran away quickly and hid. After some time they came out. When they came out, the Country mouse said, "I do not like living in the city. I like living in my hole in the field. For it is nicer to be poor and happy than to be rich and afraid."

From the passage, we know that _ .

Airport travel tips

Plan to get to the airport at least an hour early, or two during holidays and other busy times; this will reduce the stress of the flight. If all goes well, you will have time to relax, shop for last-minute items, or have a meal My before the flight. Flight Delays Find out why your flight is delayed. Call the free call numbers. Find out if other airlines are experiencing similar delays. If you believe the delay is due to something other than weather or air traffic problems, then mention your suspicion and ask the airline agent to book you on the next available flight, either on the same air-line or a competing one. This is called "Rule 240", and all airlines are required to do it. Flight Cancellations If your flight is canceled, then make a reservation on the next flight to your destination. Usually, air-line personnel will try to book everyone on their next flight. Often they will put you on a competitor's next flight only if you request it. If on-time arrival is important to you, when you check flights through our reservation system you can rate your choices based on their on-time arrival records. Be sure to also check the weather conditions, as they often affect flight schedules.

What would be the best title for the passage?

The old man doesn't answer the young man's question.

One day , a young man goes to an old man. The old man is _ and he knows everything. He looks up into the old man's eyes and says, "I know you're a very wise man. I'd like to know the secret of life." The old man looks at the young man and answers, "I am thinking about that all my life. The secret is four words. The first word is think .Think about what you want to get from life. The second is believe. Believe in yourself, and don't care too much about what other people say. Just do your best. The third is dream. Dream about the things you love. Hold on to your dream, and never give up when you meet difficulties. The last is dare. Dare to make your dream come true. " The young man nods his head and leaves happily.

Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

368-5778

*Teachers Wanted Are you a teacher? Do you like kids? Can you help them with Chinese? Come to join us. Call John at 378-5788. *Ping-pong Club Do you like to play ping-pong? Do you want to play ping-pong well? Mr. Cai can teach you. You can come here every Saturday afternoon. Tel: 368-5778 Add: Room 212 in School's P.E. Buliding.

Bob wants to play ping-pong, he can at _ .

life and works

Unconventional in every way, Edward Estlin Cummings made striking use of grammar. His arts were poetry, painting, and drama, and in all of them he was an experimenter. The poetry -- for which he is best remembered -- was marked by strange combinations of words and expressions and produced in very strange print. The unusual techniques that Cummings used served to present his ideas more forcefully and effectively than would have been the case with more ordinary styles. Cummings was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Oct. 14, 1894. He graduated from Harvard College in 1915 and received a master's degree in 1916. During World War I he served as an ambulance driver in France. He spent six months in prison because of his friendship with another American who had supposedly criticized the countries that fought against Germany in the First World War. This experience increased his distrust of all officialdom , a distrust that showed itself in many of his later poems as well as in his first book, "The Enormous Room", published in 1922. Between the two world wars Cummings divided his time between Paris and New York City. His first book of poetry was "Tulips and Chimneys" (1923). The poems in the book were collected in "Complete Poems" (1968). The strangeness of his style was criticized by some, but others found it meaningful. Among Cummings' plays were "Him", first performed in 1927, and "Tom" (1935), a work based on "Uncle Tom's Cabin". An experimental prose book, "Eimi" (1933), recorded a 36-day visit to the Soviet Union. Cummings died at his home in North Conway, N.H., on Sept. 3, 1962. He was the second most widely read poet in the United States, after Robert Frost. He was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts.

The text is mainly about Edward Estlin Cummings' _ .

They are expected to be dancers and singers.

Cheerleaders arc part of athletic competitions throughout the United States. As their name says they lead the crowd in cheering for the team it likes best. About five years ago. cheerleaders were considered to be simply entertainers. Today there is much more Cheerleading in America which has become another form of athletic competition. Cheerleaders today are expected to be gymnasts and dancers. They 'are expected to be quick and strong. Many . cheerleaders are better athletes than the boys and girls on sports teams. High school cheerleading especially has become more difficult. The students must be in top physical shape. They must be able to jump high, turn circles in the air and lift each other. Teachers say this is the result of the influence of college cheerleaders. High school students watch college football and basketball games on TV. They see how the cheerleaders throw each other into the air and perform difficult athletic movements. They want to do the same thing. There is one big difference between the two groups. however. College cheerleaders in America are young men and women. The men do most of the lifting. At most high schools only girls are cheerleaders. It's very difficult for them to hold others on their shoulders and throw them into the air. There are a number of ways high school cheerleaders are improving their skills. They are exercising and lifting weights to increase their strength. And they are attending camps during the summer holidays to learn new techniques. Cheerleaders test their skills by taking part in competitions against cheerleaders from other schools. just like other athletes. Coaches at some high schools say this new kind of athletic cheer leading has caused some problems . They say girls who were soccer and basketball players are now competing for places on a cheer leading team. As more girls attempt to become cheerleaders, sports teams suffer from a lack of good players.

Which of the following sentences is NOT true about cheerleaders?

American High School Life

In America, after middle school comes high school, which includes grades 9 through 12. Students are required to take compulsory subjects like English, social studies, math, science, and physical education. In addition, they choose among elective subjects to complete their high school education. Electives include subjects in technology, music, art, and foreign languages. Each student in the school has their own locker for books and personal items. This convenience saves students from carrying textbooks, and allows students a small space they can decorate with(......)posters and favorite objects. Cheating in any form is strictly prohibited in American schools. And in fact, high school students usually don't cheat. If they are caught cheating, they will have to face severe punishment. Each school holds certain yearly activities for all school students, such as homecoming , prom night , holiday celebrations, etc. Most high schools have at least one sports team that competes in local games, and all students are encouraged to take part in athletics. Schools often offer football, baseball and softball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and soccer. Some may even have sports like golf, swimming, gymnastics and cross-country skiing. Many high school students have part-time jobs by the age of 15 or 16, some even earlier. Their first jobs are often babysitting or cutting lawns , but later they will likely get a job at a fast-food restaurant, video store, or clothing shop. Sixteen years old is legal driving age in most states, and students usually want to own a car as soon as they can. Some parents allow their children to drive a family car, and may even buy a car as a graduation present. Others prefer that their sons and daughters earn enough to buy a used car. Many teenagers feel it's necessary to own a car, and will do whatever it takes to be able to drive.

Which is the best title of this passage?

changing weight

On Nov.18th,1908,three men went up in a balloon .They started early in London. The headman was Auguste Gaudron,and the other two men were Tannar and Maitland. They had a big balloon and they were ready for a long way. Soon they heard the sea. They were carrying the usual rope ,and it was hanging down from the basket of the balloon. At the end of the rope they had tied a metal box. This could hold water, or it could be empty. So they were able to change its weight .It was for use over the sea. They were also carrying some bags of sand. After the sun rose, the balloon went higher. It went up to 3,000 metres, and the air was very cold. The water in the balloon became ice. Snow fell past the men's basket, and they could see more snow on the ground. The men tried to throw out some more sand; but it was hard. They tried to break the icy sand with their knives, but it was not easy. The work was slow and they were still falling, so they had to drop some whole bags of sand. One of them fell on an icy lake and made a black hole in the ice. At last they pulled the box into the basket. It was still snowing; so they climbed to get away from the snow. They rose to 5,100 metres! Everything became icy. They were so cold that they decided to land. They came down in Poland heavily but safely. They had traveled 1,797 kilometers from London!

The metal box was used for _ .

A break in the food chain.

Planet Earth would be a scary place for humans if dinosaurs still ruled the world. Though there are still some traces of life from the Jurassic Period, the Age of Dinosaurs more than 65 million years ago. This mass extinction is believed to be the result of an asteriod hitting Earth. A new report by the journal Biological Reviews called " The Extinction of Dinosaurs" concludes that this impact was, indeed, the cause of the dinosaurs' _ . But the space blast wasn't the only reason these creatures aren't still around today. Dinosaurs need food to survive. Meat-eating monsters like the Tyrannosaurus Rex were at the top of the food chain, and fed off plant eaters like the horned Triceratops . These herbivores were decreasing in population after the asteroid hit Earth, which left the meat-eating species less food to survive on. "In any ecosystem where you remove links to key species, that community has problems," Richard Butler, one of the review's authors, told National Ceographic. While the herbivore population was going down, Earth's temperatures were rising when volcanoes erupted. Hot vapors and gases began wiping out some of the dinosaur population and weakening the survivors. These changes made the asteroid's impact especially powerful. It caused more volcanoes to erupt, heated up Earth's atmosphere, and led to a sharp drop in the level of oxygen in the oceans. With the dinosaurs gone, mammals began to evolve into bigger and more diverse species. Many animals we see today, like birds, sharks, and even some cats and dogs, appeared after the asteroid hit Earth. But none rule Earth quite like the dinosaurs did..

According to what Richard Butler said, what caused dinosaurs to die out?

(412) 396-6752

Riding School: You can start horse-riding at any age. Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9 a. m.and 8:30 p.m.(3:30 p.m.on Saturdays). There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country. You will need a riding hat. Opening Hours: Monday through Friday:9:00 a.m.--8:30 p.m. Phone:( 412)396--6644 FaxL412) 396-6752 Sailing Club: Our Young Sailor's Course leads to the Stage 1 Sailing qualification. You'll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid. Have fun with other course member, afterwards in the clubroom. There are 10 weekly two-hour lessons (Tuesday 6:00 p.m--8:00p.m) Opening Hours:Tuesdays:6:00p.m--8:00 p.m. Phone: (412)396--6644 Fax: (412)396--6644 Diving Center: Our experienced instructors offer one-month courses in deep-sea diving for beginners. There are two evening lessons a week, in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely. You only need a swimming costume and towel. Reduced rates for couples. Opening Hours: Monday and Friday:6:30p.m-8:30p.m. Phone: (412)396-6312 Fax: (412)396-6706 Medical Center: The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university. The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems. Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation. Also, all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores. Opening Hours: 24 hours from Monday to Sunday Phone:(412)396--6649 Fax:(412) 396--6648 Watersports Club: We use a two-kilometer length of river for speedboat racing and water-skiing.A beginners' course consists of ten 20-minute lessons. You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently, but must be able to swim. The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9 a. m to 4 p.m, with lessons all through the day. Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00a.m.--4:00 p.m. Phone: (412)39606899 Fax: (412) 396-6890

If you want to experience a new activity in the countryside in the mornings, you may fax _ .

Visiting a local farmer's market.

The freezing Northeast hasn't been a terribly fun place to spend time this winter, so when the chance came for a weekend to Sarasota, Florida, my bags were packed before you could say "sunshine". I left for the land of warmth and vitamin C(C), thinking of beaches and orange trees. When we touched down to blue skies and warm air, I sent up a small prayer of gratefulness. Swimming pools, wine tasting, and pink sunsets(at normal evening hours, not 4 in the afternoon) filled the weekend, but the best part- particularly to my taste, dulled by months of cold- weather root vegetables- was a 7 a.m. adventure to the Sarasota farmers' market that proved to be more than worth the early wake-up call. The market, which was founded in 1979, sets up its tents every Saturday from 7:00 am to 1 p.m, rain or shine, along North Lemon and State streets. Baskets of perfect red strawberries, the red-painted sides of the Java Dawg coffee truck; and most of all, the tomatoes: amazing, large, soft and round red tomatoes. Disappointed by many a broken, vine-ripened promise, I've refused to buy winter tomatoes for years. No matter how attractive they look in the store, once I get them home they're unfailingly dry, hard, and tasteless. But I homed in, with uncertainty, on one particular table at the Brown's Grove Farm's stand, full of fresh and soft tomatoes the size of my fist. These were the real deal- and at that moment, I realized that the best part of Sarasota in winter was going to be eating things that back home in New York I wouldn't be experiencing again for months. Delighted as I was by the tomatoes in sight, my happiness deepened when I learned that Brown's Grove Farm is one of the suppliers for Jack Dusty, a newly opened restaurant at the Sarasota Ritz Carlton, where- luckily for me- I was planning to have dinner that very night. Without even seeing the menu, I knew I'd be ordering every tomato on it.

What made the author's getting up late early worthwhile?

fat

There is a nice girl in our class. She is twelve. She is not tall and is not short. She is a little fat . She has a round face like an apple. She has big black eyes and a small nose. Her mouth is small, but her ears are big. Her hair is short and black. She likes red. She is often in a red skirt. But today she is in a yellow T-shirt, blue pants and brown shoes. She has a toy dog. It's her friend. ,.

The girl is _ .

quiet

It was an exciting moment for Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, a retired married _ from Harbin, China. It was also a great moment for China because it was the country's first gold medal in the pairs figure skating competition at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. Everyone was very quiet when Shen and Zhao were skating onto the ice. They were expecting something wonderful to happen. As soon as the music started, Shen and Zhao skated around the field quickly with beautiful style; every move was perfect. When the music stopped, all the people cheered. In the end Shen and Zhao won the Olympic gold medal. In China, winter sports are not as popular as they are in America and Northern European countries. So China sent only 90 athletes to Vancouver to take in a few, carefully chosen sports. Such a good decision also led to Wang Meng and Zhao Yang winning gold medals in the little known, but exciting sports of short track speed skating. China did not win a lot of medals at these Winter Games. Most of the events are still very new to China and need to be developed. But Chinese athletes learn very quickly. For example, China's women's curling team only began in 2003, but they were No. 1 at the 2009 World Women's Curling Championship. This means that with hard work and a bit of luck, China's winter stars could soon shine on the world stage.

The people were _ when Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo started skating at the games.

a magazine

The passport photographs of the future could turn out to be more than just another pretty picture if a new computer technique developed by Israeli scientists catches on. Researchers at Ben-Gurion University, in Israel, have invented a way to hide information such as a fingerprint or signature in color images. They believe this could improve passport safety or be used to produce product bar codes or designs that cannot be seen. "The papers can be faxed, scanned and reprinted without hidden data disappearing," New Scientist magazine said last week. Joseph Rosen and a team of scientists worked out the new instrument by creating a mathematical model. The model turns a fingerprint or signature into a series of numbers which are used to shape the dots that make up a color picture. "Each dot can be forced out of the usual place slightly without noticeably changing the final appearance of the image," the magazine said. Several images that can be hidden in a single picture are scanned into a computer which does the work. The hidden images or fingerprints cannot be shown until the picture is scanned again. The computer rebuilds the fingerprint by measuring the displacement of the dots in the picture. The magazine said that if he model is used for passport checkpoints the picture can be unscrambled to show the fingerprint or signature and checked against the person holding the passport. The researchers are now working on a handheld, and instrument which could make unscrambling the hidden information easier.

The writer probably got the information about the new passport photos from _ .

It could advertise for his company for free.

Albert was an ordinary worker in an oil company in America. His workmates gave a nickname "Four dollars a bucket " to him, for he was always used to leaving an advertisement of his company "Four dollars a bucket of oil" below his name whenever and wherever he wrote down his name. As time went by, people forgot his real name. Later, when Rockefeller, the board chairman of the oil company, heard of it, he was very surprised, so he invited Albert to come to his office. "Some people give you a nickname for 'Four dollars a bucket'. Why aren't you angry?" asked Rockefeller with some puzzlement in his eyes. "Oh! Mr. Rockefeller! I like this nickname very much, because 'Four dollars a bucket' is our company's advertisement. As long as someone calls me 'Four dollars a bucket' once, I think it's a free advertisement for our company. I have no reason to get angry. Don't you think so, Mr. Rockefeller?" "Oh! What a fantastic man!" Rockefeller said excitedly when hearing Albert's words. "Young man, work harder! You must succeed in the future! I believe in you!" Five years later, Albert became the second board chairman after Rockefeller. Later Albert said in one of his reports, "I don't think we should feel frustrated when we have no way to do the world-shaking things. We should treat every thing actively because maybe our future success will begin from a small thing!"

Why wasn't Albert angry at his nickname?

it might be Dad's last birthday

We always celebrated Dad's birthday on Thanksgiving Day, even after he entered a nursing home. When we knew it might be his last birthday, the whole family decided to get together for a huge birthday celebration at the nursing home. Dad was a good storyteller and we were always his listeners. During a quiet moment, I announced it was now Dad's turn to listen to stories for a change. I wanted everyone to tell Dad what we loved about him. The room became quiet. Then one after another, people told stories from their hearts, while Dad listened with tears in eyes. Everyone seemed to have more than one story. Even the little grandchildren couldn't wait to tell Dad why they loved him. For a man who had been kind to so many hundreds of people in his life, here was our chance to tell him how much we love him. A few months later, at Dad's memorial service, we more fully realized what we had given to Dad that night. Those are the stories people normally tell at a funeral after a loved one is no longer alive to hear the words. They tell stories, full of tears. But we had given those memories to Dad in his life, and we had told them through laughter, together with hugs and joy. He had them to hold and enjoyed them from time to time in his mind during his last days and months. Words do matter, and they are enough. We just need to say them or to speak them publicly the ones we love. That's the ways to give back love and that's our chance to celebrate a person in his or her life.

The writer's family decided to have a huge birthday celebration because _ .

a lot of wild animals have been killed for products

As we enjoy the summer ocean waves along the beaches, we may think nervously about Steven Spielberg's Jaws and the great fear that sharks inspire in us. Yet we are happy to see global efforts to protect the declining number of sharks. The world has realized that we need the species, like sharks, to keep a balanced ecosystem. Sharks, in particular, are "in" these days. Thanks to good public policy and famous stars such as Jackie Chan and Ang Lee, killing sharks for fin soup is no longer cool. The demand for shark fins has been rising for decades, threatening sharks with extinction -- up to 100 million sharks are killed each year just for their fins. But we have started to _ the trend, particularly in many areas of the United States and overseas where restaurants once proudly provided delicious shark fins on the menu. In California, a ban on the sale and possession of shark fin soup has gone into effect this year through the efforts of Wild Aid and other organizations. Overseas marketing and public efforts featuring posters on public transportation systems and TV ads have been underway for the past few years. These efforts all show signs of success, on both the supply side and the demand side of trade in shark fins. Actually, stopping the killing of sharks is part of a broader movement to stop the killing of wild animals and the buying and selling of wildlife products. These products come from hunting elephants, tigers and rhinos, besides killing marine life. Whether it is shark fin soup or ivory piano keys, killing animals is big business. The hunting of elephants in search of ivory tusks for luxury goods has become a full-scale war. The decrease of African elephant populations is alarming. Together with international partners, the United States is leading the worldwide effort to reduce demand for high-end products that rely on killing animals.

From the passage, we know _ .

Mr Baker didn't think him blind in both eyes

Mr Baker worked in a big factory. He was busy all the time and had little time to rest. One summer, he decided to go to the sea to spend his holidays. One afternoon, it was very hot. Mr Baker came into a restaurant, sat at a table and wanted to drink. Just then, an old man came up to him and said, "How do you do, sir?" "How do you do?" Mr Baker asked the old man to sit next to him. "Have you been here before?" "No, I haven't." "You look lonely, don't you?" said the old man. "Let's have a bet, shall we?" It interested Mr Baker, "But what shall we bet on?" "I can bite my left eyeball," said the old man, "I can bet you five dollars." Mr Baker didn't believe and passed $5 on the table. The old man took out his glass eyeball, put it into his mouth and bite it. Mr Baker had to give his money. "It doesn't matter young man," the old man said. "I'll give you a chance to win the money back. I can also bite my right eye. I'll bet you $10." "I'm sure he's able to see. And I must win his money," he thought. So he took out ten dollars from his wallet. But he was very surprised, the old man took out his false teeth and bit his right eye with it. Then he put the money into his pocket and went away quickly.

As _ , he bet the old man ten dollars.

Visiting patients in the morning.

Hello, Listeners. Welcome to Henton Hospital Radio. Before our music programme at four, I'm going to repeat some of our hospital rules. The hospital can sleep 800 patients. There're 8 beds in each ward . The visiting hours are in the afternoon from 2:30 to 3:30 and in the evening from 7:00 to 8:00. But remember only two people can see you at the same time. Sorry about that, but you can see what would happen if we didn't have these rules. The other rules are about our hours. We start quite early---you might not be used to that. We wake you at 6 o'clock, and breakfast is at 8 o'clock, lunch is at noon. There's tea at 3:30 and supper is at 6 o'clock. You can see the non-smoking sign---we don't allow smoking in the wards. I'm sure you understand why. However, if you do need to smoke, there are some smoking rooms where it is allowed. You will find the radio switch on the wall near your bed, with your own headphones, if you want to listen. It's our own hospital radio wishing you a quick recovery.

Which is Not allowed in the hospital?

Two Important Tests on Airplane

Before a new type airplane goes service, every part of it is tested again and again. But there are two tests that are more of into important than the others. The first is called the "tank test". A modern airplane must fly very high in the sky. Air must be pumped into the plane so that the passengers can breathe. The metal structure of the plane has to be very strong for this reason. When the plane is filled with air, the air presses against the skin of the plane inside. The pressure on a small window is like a huge foot that is trying to get out. If a small part of the plane were to fail, the plane would explode in the sky. To test the structure of the plane, the plane is lowered into a huge tank or container of water. Then it is filled with air. The pressure inside the plane is greater than it ever will be when it is high up in the air. Finally, there is an explosion. This does not cause so much damage inside the water tank as it would anywhere else. Engineers can discover which part of the plane has broken. Then that part is made stronger. The most dangerous test happens when the new plane is going through test flights in the air. The test must find out exactly what happens when the engines are all shut off at once. The plane begins to fall like a stone. It is the pilot's job to find out how he can get control of the plane again. These two tests are examples of how planes are made safe before they ever carry passengers.

What might be the most suitable title for the text?

their personal documents were used by their former neighbor

I hate nosy neighbors and it's very unlucky that I had one for myself. They moved in a couple of months back and although I never felt that they were a strange family, I've always hated the way they get "too close" to me, my house, my garden, and even my garbage cans. One day, my neighbors were mowing their lawn . My garbage cans were near their lawn. For some strange reason, I found the wife looking through my garbage cans. I felt angry but since they were from a different culture, I thought that maybe it was "normal" from their ideas. That afternoon, the couple knocked on my front door. When I opened, they gave me a plastic bag. Inside were my old daily bills, credit cards and bank statements, and an old birthday card that my old uncle sent. They said that they were returning them to me because these documents contained very private information that may be used by others. I've heard it before. I asked them how those documents can be used by others and they started telling me their very own experience, which forced them to leave their home and move next door to us. The wife told me that she never destroyed the bills. They also had a "nosy neighbor" who looked through their garbage cans which they actually thought was pretty strange. Little did they know that this "nosy neighbor" was collecting their personal information from their rubbish. Then all their money was taken out from the bank by their neighbor. It was a very painful experience for all of them and they wanted to leave them all behind so they left. I was very thankful. They were not nosy neighbors. They simply didn't want us to experience the same thing that they did.

The neighbors came to live next door to the author because _ .