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Question: A firm handshake could be a sign of a longer life expectancy , according to British researchers. Scientists at the Medical Research Council found that elderly people who could still give a firm handshake and walk at a quick pace were likely to outlive their slower peers. They found simple measures of physical capability like shaking hands, walking, getting up from a chair and balancing on one leg were related to the life expectancy, even after accounting for age, sex and body size. The study is the first to provide a comprehensive view of the existing data from 33 studies. "These measures have been used in population-based research for quite a long time," said Rachel Cooper of the Medical Research Council's Unit for Lifelong Health and Aging. "They may be useful indicators for subsequent health." Cooper, whose study appears in the British Medical Journal, said more studies are needed to clarify whether the measures would be helpful to doctors as a screening tool. "I wouldn't suggest that we roll them out into clinical practice tomorrow, but it is possible that they could be used in the future," she told the media. The researchers examined 33 studies involving tens of thousands of people, most of whom were aged over 60 but living in the community rather than in hospital or care homes. The researchers found that those with the strongest hand grasps tended to live longer than those with weak grips. The death rate over the period of the studies for people with weak handshakes was 67 percent higher than for people with a firm grip. The slowest walkers were nearly three times more likely to die during the study period than swifter walkers. The people who were slowest to get up from a chair had about double the death rate compared to the quick risers. "Those people in the general population who have higher physical capability levels are likely to live longer," Cooper said. What can be inferred from the passage? Options: A. People who walk quickly and shake hands firmly have a lower death rate. B. People with the strongest hand grasp are more outgoing. C. Most of the people who received the study live in the community. D. People who always sit are more likely to die than those who stand. Answer:

A

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Question: Which substance is a compound? Options: A. sodium B. chlorine C. table salt D. salt water Answer:

C

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Question: When Mrs.Joseph Groeger died recently in Vienna,Austria,people asked the obvious question,"Why did she live to be 107?" .Answers were provided by a survey conducted among 148 Viennese men and women who had reached the age of 100.Somewhat surprising was the fact that the majority had lived most of their lives in cities.In spite of the city's image as an unhealthy place,city living often provides benefits that country living can lack.One factor seems to be important to the longevity of those interviewed. This factor is exercise.In the cities it is often faster to walk short distances than to wait for a bus.Even taking public transportation often requires some walking.Smaller apartment houses have no elevators ,and so people must climb stairs.City people can usually walk to local supermarkets. Since parking spaces are hard to find,there is often no alternative to walking. On the other hand,those who live in the country and suburbs do not have to walk every day.In fact,the opposite is often true.To go to school,work,or almost anywhere else,they must ride in cars. To reach the third floor of a building, it would probably be most healthful _ Options: A. to take the elevator B. to walk up the stairs C. to ride in a car D. to find an alternative to walking Answer:

B

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Question: Last night I had the best gift ever. My older son was reading a detective novel while my younger son was reading fairy tales. They were each in different rooms, _ their books with no TV, music or anything else distracting their attention. I read a lot during my childhood, curling up in sofa or lying in bed. Like anyone else, I had lots of other interests, but once I discovered reading, I really enjoyed it. I read everything -- books, magazines, newspapers, even the back of food packages if there was nothing else to read at the moment. I must thank my parents for their love of reading. Longing for more information and knowledge, my parents were always reading a lot. Today's children are provided with a variety of choices. It is so easy for them to become uninterested in reading and to view it as boring, uncool and unnecessary. There are TVs with astonishing choices of programs; there are MP3 players with thousands of songs at their fingertips; there are the Internet and mobile phones. I've told my sons that reading comes with information, understanding and connection, each of which will help them at every stage in their lives now and forever. So when my sons were reading their books last night, I watched them, noticing them put a bookmark into their books. That's the most amazing gift that I have ever received. The best title for this passage is _ . Options: A. My Two Sons B. An Amazing Gift C. My Favorite, Reading D. Let's Read Together Answer:

B

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Question: Listeria can make you Options: A. into raw meat B. tread water C. aroused D. feverish Answer:

D

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Question: Planetary changes which will have an influence on many are drawing near because of the poor ecological state of the planet. Actually change has already begun through climate changes, but most humans haven't noticed this yet. Climate change has begun to influence the world already and will begin to worsen within the next few years. Around 2020 most people will begin to see that the results of climate change will be far more serious than now understood. As the planet is under big geological stresses, which are continuously increasing, it will in the future no longer be able to support its population. Scarcity of resources, over-farming, lack of clean air, not enough clean drinking water and drought are some of the issues that will all play a much greater role in the near future. Humans have caused large ecological devastation . The lifestyles of many people are improving at a fast speed; however, this will finally result in a lack of some precious resources. When this scarcity begins to happen, people will no longer be able to have sustainable lifestyles. It's important to understand that everyone plays a role in the whole process of life. Each person's decision can finally affect the future. These decisions, all combined, can have good effect on what the future will be like for humans. So the future depends on the choices we make at the present moment. While more and more people are becoming aware of climate change and other environmental problems related to global warming, not all are fully understanding how far-reaching its effects will be. Unfortunately, most of the humans are aware that the planet isn't functioning well, but they don't understand that this is creating a major problem for the future survival of humans. So, every person should make the necessary changes to reduce their influence on the environment and help create a more sustainable future. The author's attitude in writing this text is _ . Options: A. indifferent B. negative C. serious D. humorous Answer:

C

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Question: You could have poor eyesight because you didn't spend enough time outdoors as a child, according to the conclusion of some studies on short-sightedness published in the Optometry and Vision Science. Although short-sightedness can easily be corrected with glasses or contact lenses , it's much better to prevent it altogether. This means we should allow the eyes to develop the way they should in childhood. Children need to spend more time outdoors, focusing on distant objects, say the Australian researchers. This gives the eyeballs a chance to develop as they should. According to one study on short-sightedness, the risk of developing short-sightedness is great -- about 60 percent -- in children who get five hours or less per week of outdoor activities. But if they do outdoor activities for 14 hours or more a week, the risk drops to 20 percent. Spending time outdoors can even help people overcome a genetic predisposition to short-sightedness. Children with parents who are short-sighted can bring down their risk by spending a few hours a day outdoors, suggest the findings from another of the studies presented at the conference. It's being in an outdoor environment that seems to be important, not the type of activity. Studies show that both active and passive outdoor activities have the same protective effect. So encourage children to balance the time they spend reading and studying with time outside. Two to three hours a day outside of school hours is the suggested amount by scientists. If it's hard to find that time, then cut the amount of television and reduce the time they spend on computer games and get kids to take frequent breaks outdoors when reading and studying. In which part of a newspaper would you most probably read this passage? Options: A. Society. B. Fashion C. Health. D. Finance. Answer:

C

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Question: You know you have to read "between the lines" to get the most out of anything. I want to persuade you to do something equally important in the course of your reading. You have to "mark between the lines". By marking you can make the most efficient kind of reading. There are two ways in which one can own a book. The first is the property right you have by paying for it, just as you pay for clothes and furniture. While full ownership comes only when you have made it a part of yourself and the best way to make yourself a part of it is by writing marks on it. Why is marking up a book _ to reading? First, it keeps you awake. Second, active reading is thinking, and thinking tends to express itself in words. Finally, marking helps you remember the thoughts you had, or the thoughts the author expressed. Reading a book should be like making a conversation, a conversation between you and the author. Although he knows more about the subject than you do, don't let anybody tell you that a reader is only on the receiving end. Understanding is a two-way operation. Reading doesn't mean being a passive empty receiver, the reader has to question himself and question the author. And marking a book can show his own judgment on author's opinion: agreement or difference. By saying "Understanding is a two-way operation" the author means _ . Options: A. a reader will receive everything the book presents B. the author should understand readers C. a reader should have his own judgment of the author's opinion D. the author should help readers understand better Answer:

C

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Question: Preschool-aged children who can focus on a particular task for an extended period of time have a 50 percent greater chance of graduating from college, according to a new study from Oregon State University. Observing 430 preschoolers, researchers asked parents to rate their children based on social and behavioral skills, such as "plays with a single toy for long periods of time" or "child gives up easily when difficulties are encountered." Additionally, in order to find out the changes happening on them, the children's reading and math skills were assessed at age 7 and again at age 21. What researchers discovered was that the ability to pay attention and follow directions may be more critical than academic abilities to overall academic success. "There is a big push now to teach children early academic skills at the preschool level," said Megan McClelland, an early child development researcher at Oregon State and lead author of the study, in a news release. "Our study shows that the biggest predictor of college completion wasn't math or reading skills, but whether or not they were able to pay attention and finish tasks at age 4." Parents whose children rated higher on attention span and persistence at the age of 4 had a nearly 50 percent greater chance of completing their college degree by age 25, according to the study. Fortunately, as McClelland noted in the news release, these social and behavioral skills can be taught, and the earlier adults step in to guide the student, the greater chances a child has to succeed academically. "Academic ability carries you a long way, but these other skills are also important," McClelland said. "Increasingly, we see that the ability to listen, pay attention, and complete important tasks is _ for success later in life." From the passage we know _ . Options: A. preschool children can focus on things for a long time. B. preschool children's performance can reflect their future. C. the more preschoolers play toys, the more likely they are to succeed. D. hard working preschoolers are more likely to be admitted into college. Answer:

B

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Question: For grown-ups,an afternoon snooze is often easier said than done.But many of us have probably experienced just how simple it can be to catch some sleep in a gently rocking hammock .By examining brain waves in sleeping adults,researchers reported in the June 21issue of Current Biology,a Cell Press publication,that they now have evidence to explain why that is. "It is a common belief that rocking causes sleep:we fall asleep in a rocking chair soon and,since ancient times,we cradle our babies to sleep,"said Sophie Schwartz of the University of Geneva."Yet,how this works had remained a mystery.The goal of our study was made up of two parts:to test whether rocking does indeed improve sleep,and to understand how this might work at the brain level." Schwartz,Michel Muhlethaler,and their colleagues Laurence Bayer and Irina Constantinescu asked twelve adult volunteers to nap on a custom-made bed or"experimental hammock"that could either remain still or rock gently.All participants were good sleepers who didn't typically nap and did not suffer from excessive sleepiness during the day.Each participant took two 45-minute afternoon naps,one with the bed still and one with the bed in motion,while their brain activity was monitored. "We observed a faster transition to sleep in each and every subject in the swinging condition,"Muhlethaler said."Surprisingly,we also observed a dramatic boosting of certain types of sleep-related brain waves." More specifically,rocking increased the length of stage N2sleep,a form of non-rapid eye movement sleep that normally occupies about half of a good night's sleep.The rocking bed also had a lasting effect on brain activity,increasing slow brain waves and bursts of activity known as sleep spindles . Schwartz and Muhlethaler say the next step is to find out whether rocking can improve longer periods of sleep and to find out whether it may be useful for the treatment of sleep disorders,such as insomnia . What can we learn from Sophie Schwartz's words? Options: A. Her team aimed to answer two questions. B. The study is going to benefit babies a lot. C. The study had been kept secret before finished. D. People used to believe rocking was bad for sleep. Answer:

A

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Question: In 1986, when Monty Reed was a member of the Army Rangers ( ), he had an accident. "It was a night jump, and we were jumping low," he recalls. "We were training. Somebody got too close to my parachute ."The parachute below blocked Reed's air and his parachute failed to open. Reed crashed a hundred feet to the ground, breaking his back in five places. The next morning, Reed could not move. "Doctors said it was likely that I would never walk again." Reed stared out of his hospital window, wondering what the future would be like. It was the saddest moment of his life. "The experts are telling me my body doesn't work! What am I supposed to do?" he thought. To distract himself, he picked up a book: Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers. The science-fiction describes a set of man-made muscles that would allow people to carry 2,000 pounds. He thought that if he could build something like that, it might be able to lift him out of his wheelchair. So he began his project and finally succeeded in building a set of robot legs. Several years later, he made an amazing recovery and was able to get up and walk away from his wheelchair. He even jumped out of an airplane again to celebrate. Reed wanted to do something for others with the second chance that life had given him. He has now perfected the robot legs that can get the injured, the elderly and the paralyzed out of their wheelchairs. Now he has started his own company to make the legs. "I've seen them compete in marathons and go swimming and mountain climbing," he said. "So never give up!" Monty started to read Starship Troopers to _ . Options: A. create a new kind of wheelchair for himself B. discover how to make man-made muscles C. learn how to jump out of an airplane D. stop himself from thinking about his pain Answer:

D

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Question: It was the afternoon of December 24, the day before Christmas; and as the newest doctor in our office, I had to work. The only thing that brightened my day was the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in our waiting room and a gift sent to me by a fellow I was dating -- a dozen long-stemmed red roses. As I was cleaning my office, I was told a lady urgently needed to speak with me. As I stepped out, I noticed a young, tired-looking woman with a baby in her arms. Nervously, she explained that her husband -- a prisoner in a nearby prison -- was my next patient. She told me she wasn't allowed to visit her husband in prison and that he had never seen his son. Her request was for me to let the boy's father sit in the waiting room with her as long as possible before I called him for his appointment. Since my schedule wasn't full, I agreed. After all, it was Christmas Eve.[:Zxxk.Com] A short time later, her husband arrived -- with chains on his feet and hands, and two armed guards as bodyguards. The woman's tired face lit up like our little Christmas tree when her husband took a seat beside her. I kept glancing out to watch them laugh, cry and share their child. After almost an hour, I called the prisoner back to my office. The patient seemed like a gentle and modest man. I wondered what he possibly could have done to be held _ . I tried to make him as comfortable as possible. At the end of the appointment, I wished him a Merry Christmas-a difficult thing to say to a man headed back to prison. He smiled and thanked me. He also said he felt saddened by the fact he hadn't been able to get his wife anything for Christmas. On hearing this, I was inspired with a wonderful idea. I'll never forget the look on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful, long-stemmed roses. I'm not sure who experienced the most joy -- the husband in giving, the wife in receiving, or myself in having the opportunity to share in this special moment. What does the writer learn from the story? Options: A. The wife experienced the most joy in receiving B. An act of kindness can mean a lot C. The prisoner was treated with mercy D. Whoever breaks the law should be punished Answer:

B

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Question: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other big cities are great places to live in. There are many interesting things to see and do. You can go to different kinds of museums, see all kinds of plays and films. You can also buy things from all over the world. But there are serious problems in big cities, too. It's expensive to live there, and there are too many people in some places of big cities. Every student can study at good schools and receive good medical care . But sometimes these people can't find work or good places to live in. Also it is hard to keep the cities safe and clean. Some people enjoy living in big cities, others do not. Before they move to a big city, they should think about the problems living there. -- Which is the best title for this passage? -- _ . Options: A. It is cheap to live in big cities. B. Advantages and disadvantages in big cities. C. Good schools in big cities D. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou. Answer:

B

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Question: Today, several of the world's nearly 7,000 languages face a serious risk of extinction. "For example, Ainu, a language in Japan, is now seriously threatened, with only 10 native speakers left," said lead study author Tatsuya Amano at the University of Cambridge in England. The scientists found that 25 percent of the world's languages are threatened. After identifying where the endangered languages were, they looked for any environmental and social or economic factors those languages might have in common, such as rugged terrain or rapid population growth. "We found that at the global scale, language speaker declines are strongly linked to economic growth-that is, declines are particularly occurring in economically developed regions," Amano said. One important implication of this new study "is that languages in the tropics and Himalayan region are likely to be increasingly threatened in the near future, because these regions still have many local indigenous languages with a small number of speakers, and at the same time are experiencing rapid economic growth," Amano said. Economic growth may endanger languages for a variety of reasons. For instance, speakers of endangered languages may view another more dominant language as offering economic opportunities, and thus forego their own languages. There are other important factors that might endanger languages, the researchers said. For instance, policies regarding how languages are used and taught in schools can be very different among countries and even within each country, and these factors may explain more detailed patterns in language endangerment. Amano suggested it could be possible to forecast future threats to linguistic diversity. "There exists detailed information on projected future changes in the environment, economies and climates," Amano said. "Using such information, together with the findings of this study and further analysis, we would like to understand what will happen to the world's languages, where it will happen and which languages will be threatened in particular." What may endanger the languages most according to Amano? Options: A. The diversity of society. B. The decline of the population. C. The development of economy D. The improvement of the environment. Answer:

C

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Question: "This past year has been one of great celebration for many. The enthusiasm which greeted the Diamond Jubilee was, of course, especially memorable for me and my family. It was humbling that so many chose to mark the anniversary of a duty which passed to me 60 years ago. People of all ages took the trouble to take part in various ways and in many nations. But perhaps most striking of all was to witness the strength of fellowship and friendship among those who had gathered together on these occasions. On the barges and the bridges and the banks of the river there were people who had taken their places to cheer through the mist, undaunted by the rain. That day there was a tremendous sense of common determination to celebrate, triumphing over the elements. That same spirit was also in evidence from the moment the Olympic flame arrived on these shores. The flame itself drew hundreds and thousands of people on its journey around the British Isles, and was carried by every kind of deserving individual, many nominated for their own extraordinary service. As London hosted a splendid summer of sport, all those who saw the achievement and courage at the Olympic and Paralympic Games were further inspired by the skill, dedication, training and teamwork of our athletes. In pursuing their own sporting goals, they gave the rest of us the opportunity to share something of the excitement and drama. We were reminded, too, that the success of these great festivals depended to an enormous degree upon the dedication and effort of an army of volunteers. Those public-spirited people came forward in the great tradition of all those who devote themselves to keeping others safe, supported and comforted. For many, Christmas is also a time for coming together. But for others, service will come first. Those serving in our armed forces, in our emergency services and in our hospitals, whose sense of duty takes them away from family and friends, will be missing those they love. At Christmas I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story. A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar. They came with their gifts to worship the Christ child. From that day on he has inspired people to commit themselves to the best interests of others. This is the time of year when we remember that God sent his only son 'to serve, not to be served'. He restored love and service to the centre of our lives in the person of Jesus Christ. It is my prayer this Christmas Day that his example and teaching will continue to bring people together to give the best of themselves in the service of others. I wish you all a very happy Christmas. " Who most probably is the maker of this speech? Options: A. Queen of Great Britain. B. King of Great Britain. C. Prime Minister of Great Britain. D. Mayor of London. Answer:

A

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Question: We walked in so quietly that the nurse at the desk didn't even lift her eyes from the book.Mum pointed at a big chair by the door and I knew she wanted me to sit down.While I watched mouth open in surprise, Mum took off her hat and coat and gave them to me to hold.She walked quietly to the small room by the lift and took out a wet mop .She pushed the mop past the desk and as the nurse looked up, Mum nodded and said, "Very dirty floors." "Yes, I'm glad they've finally decided to clean them," the nurse answered.She looked at Mum strangely and said, "But aren't you working late?" Mum just pushed harder, each swipe of the mop taking her farther and farther down the hall.I watched until she was out of sight and the nurse had turned back to writing in the big book.After a long time Mum came back.Her eyes were shining. She quickly put the mop back and took my hand.As we turned to go out of the door, Mum bowed politely to the nurse and said, "Thank you." Outside, Mum told me "Grandma is fine.No fever." "You saw her, Mum?" "Of course.I told her about the hospital rules, and she will not expect us until tomorrow.Dad will stop worrying as well.It's a fine hospital.But such floors! A mop is not good.You need a brush." After reading the story what can we infer about the hospital? _ Options: A. The nurses and doctors there don't work hard. B. It has strict rules about visiting hours. C. The conditions there aren't very good. D. It is a children's hospital. Answer:

B

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Question: The engineer Camillo Olivetti was 40 years old when he started the company in 1908. At his factory in Ivera, he designed and produced the first Italian typewriter. Today the company's head office is still in Ivrea, near Turin, but the company is much larger than it was in those days and there are offices all around the world. By 1930 there was a staff of 700 and the company turned out 13,000 machines a year. Some went to customers in Italy, but Olivetti exported more typewriters to other countries. Camilllo's son, Adriano, started working for the company in 1924 and later he became the boss. He introduecd a standard speed for the production line and he employed technology and design specialists. The company developed new and better typewriters and the calculators .In 1959 it produced the ELLA computer system. This was the first mainframe computer designed and traded in Italy. After Adriano died in 1960, the company had a period of financial problems. Other companies, especially the Janpanese, made faster progress in electronic technology than the Italian company. In 1978, Carlo de Benedetti became the new boss. Olivetti increased its marking and service networks and made agreements with other companies to design and produce more advanced office equipment. Soon it became one, of the world's leading companies in information technology and communications. There are now five independent companies in the Olivetti group --- one for personal computers,one for other office equipment, one for systerms and services, and two for telecommunications. The best title for the text would be _ . Options: A. The Origin of Olivetti B. The Success of Olivetti C. The History of Olivetti D. The Producich of Olivetti Answer:

C

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Question: When I was a child, my parents often took me to an old house in a thick forest. No other children ever stayed there. I didn't even have the choice of playing with a brother or sister. I could never understand what the attraction of the house was, even for my parents, who enjoyed nothing better than to sit in silence with a good book. The woman in the house, my father's distant cousin, was a terrible cook and her food was _ . One day, when I was wandering around the garden behind the house, I noticed a wooden house which had clearly been abandoned . As I walked towards it, I heard a noise, like an animal moving hurriedly away. Then I saw a man with a long beard standing at the door. I was greatly surprised. "Please don't tell them you saw me," he said. "They never use this place, and I have nowhere else to live." "Don't worry," I said. "I won't tell anyone. But are you all right out here? I mean--do you have enough to eat?" The old man shook his head. The same evening, I took a small plastic bag into the dining room and, while no one was looking, emptied some of the food into it. Later, I got out of the back door secretly and gave the food to the old man, whose name I had discovered was Taff. I had never seen anything else as lovely as the smile of satisfaction on Taff's face when he ate the food. From then on, my visits to the old house had a purpose, and I enjoyed every minute of the rest of my stay. The writer discovered the old man _ the old house. Options: A. near the back door of B. in the dining room of C. in the garden behind D. among the bushes before Answer:

C

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Question: Termites eat wood but cannot digest it. Protozoans live in the termites' stomachs and use enzymes to break down the wood. The digested wood provides nutrition for both the termites and the protozoans. What type of relationship is this? Options: A. mutualism B. parasitism C. predation D. commensalism Answer:

A

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Question: A beer bottle thrown from the stands landed near Usain Bolt in the moments before the 100-meter final Sunday night in London. As Bolt and seven other competitors ducked into their starting crouches, a bottle sailed from the first row of the stands at Olympic Stadium. It harmlessly bounced in the lane belonging to Yohan Blake and didn't appear to cause a distraction to the runners, who started a moment later. The thrower's lack of distance was a blessing. Had he gathered tips from the competitors of the hammer throw competition, which was taking place in the infield at the same time as the 100 final, the bottle could have hit one of the competitors. It ended up landing a few feet from Blake (lane5). Edith Bosch, a female Dutch judoka who won a bronze medal earlier during the Olympics, claimed that the man who threw the bottle was sitting near her and that she "beat" him. Whether that's true or the hyperbole of an aggravated athlete was unclear in the minutes after the incident. Pictures show a group of Dutch athletes sitting behind the starting area. Police took the man into custody . He will appear in court on Monday morning. Neither Bolt nor Blake said they knew of the incident until they were informed by reporters. "I don't know who would have done that," Bolt said. Gatlin was aware of it but implied it was only a slight distraction. "I didn't know what it was," he said, according to the BBC, "but when you're in those blocks, the whole stadium is so quiet that you can hear a pin drop." What's the writer's attitude towards the athletes for the 100-meter final? Options: A. Critical B. Doubtful C. Disapproving D. Positive Answer:

D

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Question: I work at a Care Center where most of the people are elderly. About a year and a half ago a 59-year-old lady came to us who had cancer. She had to have her right leg amputated and she didn't have a family to take care of her after the operation. This lady was a quiet lady who mostly stayed alone. But in the afternoons, when she was feeling well, she would go to visit the other people in the Care Center. She would visit a lady who was blind and read to her. She would go into the room of a young girl with severe cerebral palsy and sing to her. In her quiet and gentle way, she would go about the Care Center doing goods. She passed away last Wednesday and after her passing, stories are coming forward of her quiet acts of kindness in her own hour of sorrow. We never know what _ we have upon others. She had every reason to be bitter, to be angry, or to be swallowed up in her own grief. But she wasn't. She didn't have a family and probably felt forgotten, but her small and quiet acts of service made an impact upon the entire Care Center. Each of us feels better than before for having known her. We have pledged to be more aware of the service that we can offer to others. Why did the old lady live in the Care Center? Options: A. Because she wanted to prove her importance. B. Because she felt very lonely at home. C. Because she was suffering a very serious illness. D. Because she was invited by many patients there. Answer:

C

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Question: I attended a birthday party in 1991. My teacher was then 59 years old. But her fellow teacher said that we were celebrating her 39thbirthday! We were all surprised and puzzled. After the party I was told by the fellow teacher that American women have a special saying about birthdays. If a woman is over 40, or even if she is 80, her birthday is always the 39th. If she is in her thirties, her birthday will be the 29th. And in her twenties, it's the 19th. They usually have their "real" birthday when they are below 20. This shows that American women, especially elderly women, are very sensitive about their ages. But my teacher always says, "We want to be younger," so about the age of Western women, my advice is that if you don't know it, don't ask about it; if you really know it, don't mention it. The writer must be from _ . Options: A. Western countries B. Eastern countries C. China D. the United States Answer:

B

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Question: It came as something of a surprise when Diana, Princess of Wales, made a trip t Angola in 1997, to support the Red Cross's campaign for a total ban on all anti-personnel landmine landmines Within hours of arriving in Angola, television screens around the world were filled with images of her comforting victims injured in explosions caused by landmines. "I knew the statistics," she said. "But putting a face to those figures brought the reality home to me; like when I met Sandra, a 13-year-old girl who had lost her leg, and people like her." The Princess concluded with a simple message: "We must stop landmines". And she used every opportunity during her visit to repeat this message. But, back in London, her views were not shared by some members of the British government, which refused to support a ban on these weapons. Angry politicians launched an attack on the Princess in the press. They described her as "very ill-informed" and a "loose cannon" . The Princess responded by brushing aside the criticisms: "This is a distraction , we do not need. All I'm trying to do is help." Opposition parties, the media and the public immediately voiced their support for the Princess. To make matters worse for the government, it soon emerged that the Princess's trip had been approved by the Foreign Office, and that she was in fact very well-informed about both the situation in Angola and the British government's policy regarding landmines. The result was a severe embarrassment for the government. To try and limit the damage, the Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkidnd, claimed that the Princess's views on landmines were not very different from government policy, and that it was "working towards" a worldwide ban. The Defense Secretary, Michael Portillo, claimed the matter was "a misinterpretation or misunderstanding." For the Princess, the trip to this war-torn country was an excellent opportunity to use her popularity to show the world how much destruction and suffering landmines can cause. She said that the experience had also given her the chance to get closer to people an their problems. How did Diana respond to the criticisms? Options: A. She made more appearances on TV. B. She paid no attention to them. C. She rose to argue with her opponents. D. She met the 13-year-old girl as planned. Answer:

B

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Question: In the 1950s, a family that owned a farm near Beulah, Michigan kept a bull chained to an elm . The bull paced around the tree, dragging the heavy iron chain, which led to a groove in the bark . The groove deepened over the years. Though for whatever reason, it did not kill the tree. After some years, the family took their bull away. They cut the chain, leaving the loop around the tree and one link hanging down. Then one year, agricultural disaster struck Michigan in the form of Dutch Elm Disease. All of the elms lining the road leading to the farm became infected and died. Everyone thought that the old elm would be the next. The farm owners considered doing the safe thing: pulling it out and cutting it up into firewood before it died. But they simply could not bring themselves to do it. It was as if the old tree had become a family friend. So they decided to let nature take its course. Amazingly, the tree did not die. Nobody could understand why it was the only elm still standing in the county! Plant experts from Michigan State University came out to observe the tree. They observed the scar left by the iron chain, now almost completely covered by bark. The experts decided that it was the chain that saved the elm's life. They reasoned that the tree must have absorbed so much iron from the chain that it became immune to the virus. It's said that what doesn't kill you will make you stronger. Or, as Earnest Hemingway put it, "Life breaks us all, but afterwards, many of us are strongest at the broken places." Which of the following statements is TRUE? Options: A. A groove formed because of natural forces. B. The family decided to keep the tree because they had become attached to it. C. All of the elms in Beulah, Michigan died of the disease. D. The plant experts advised the family to chop it down. Answer:

B

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Question: Dogs and cats are not for students who live in the dormitory. Just think about the noise, the smell and all that wild behavior--chewing on whatever they can get their teeth on, or knocking over the trash can. But don't feel sad. There are smaller and less destructive pets to make your dormitory life colorful. Betta fish They make great pets with their big personality and astonishing colors, ranging from bright red, dark blue to lemon yellow. Unlike many fish, most bettas react to their owner's presence and become more active when they are nearby, which is unusual in the fish world. Chinchillas Without bad smell, about the size of a rabbit and with fur so dense that they can't get pests such as fleas , the friendly creature originally from the Andes Mountains in South America makes an ideal indoor pet. Chinchillas are very social animals, so if you only have one, you will become its family. In cold winter days, in a glance at this fury pet in a dorm will bring you a lot of warmth. Land hermit crabs In a society where owners are often asked "Are they tasty?", land hermit crabs are among the most unlucky animals commonly kept as pets. But they are easy to care for, inexpensive and fascinating to watch. And the fact that they don't cause any allergic reactions makes them perfect for college dormitories. Red-eared sliders If you're interested in a lifelong friend, a red-eared slider makes a wonderful pet. If well cared for, they can live for around 40 years. But there are a couple of things you should know. Red-eared can grow to an adult size of up to 30cm! So you may need a larger tank quickly. In addition, you will need to provide UV lighting, water heater, and a swimming area and a basking area. Housing a red eared slider is not easy. If you want to keep the pet as long as possible, you'd better choose _ . Options: A. Betta fish B. Chinchillas C. Land hermit crabs D. Red-eared sliders Answer:

D

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Question: Tomorrow is Saturday. I'm not going to work, and my brother isn't going to school. We are going to play table tennis. We are going to have lunch in a restaurant. We're coming home at five. My parents are going to visit my grandparents. They are going to get home at half past five. We are going to help my mother cook the dinner. After supper, I am going to dance with my friends, and my brother is going to watch TV with my parents. What day is it today? Options: A. Saturday. B. Sunday. C. Friday. D. Monday Answer:

C

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Question: Hello Sandy, We have just returned from our holiday. We went with our friends Edward Smith and his wife Tina to the Yorkshire Moors. This is a beautiful place. It is a natural park. There are lots of places to walk on the tops of the hills, miles of grassland with no people, just sheep and birds. Edward, who had just come out of hospital, could not walk as far as be used to. However this meant that we walked in the mornings, and then stopped at a cafe for lunch each day, before returning to the place we live. Edward and I slept in front of the fire all afternoon, while the ladies went for another walk. Very pleasant! I have taken lots of photos from the place we live, across the valley below us, of the morning sunrise, and the mist in the valley. Also, in England, the old steam powered trains are very popular. I have taken many photos of the train and from it. Yesterday we had the first snow of this winter. It is very early (we usually expect snow in January). It rained all day, then snowed in the evening. Today we have bright sunshine! Both Jenny and I are well I don't know if I told you, in the last e-mail, that Jenny is now working in a hotel. Although she has to work hard, people there are nice and she is enjoying the work. Please write to us to tell us your news. Yours, Victor When did the ladies take a walk? Options: A. Only in the morning. B. Only in the afternoon. C. Both in the morning and in the afternoon. D. In the evening. Answer:

C

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Question: Who do you think are the most important people in your life, your parents, your sisters or your brothers, or your friends? I think your answer must be "my friends". Some teenagers often say their parents don't understand them. In large families, brothers and sisters often argue with each other. So most of us think friends are the most important people in our lives. It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or a group of friends. As for the reason, it may be because we can discuss some private things with friends. Of course we won't tell these thi ngs to our family members. However, parents often try to choose friends for us. They may even stop us from meeting some of our best friends. In fact, they do it just because they care for us too much. But they often neglect our real feeling. How can you solve this problem? I think the best way is to find a right time to talk with parents about our real feelings. It's important for teenagers to have good friends because _ . Options: A. friends are better than family members B. friends can help them with their lessons C. they have the same interests D. they can discuss some private things with friends Answer:

D

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Question: Every year, British newspapers report on the stranger questions asked in Oxbridge (Oxford & Cambridge) interviews. Often, though, these questions are not as strange as they first seem. And they are all designed to give applicants a chance to think. Arriving for her first Oxford interview, my sister Jen saw that there was only one chair in the waiting room. On the chair was a large fork. Jen had heard about the strange things in Oxbridge interviews, and believed that this was a test. "What if they're watching me?" she thought. "If I move the fork, it will show initiative ; if I don't move it, it will show that I can easily fit into new situations." In the end, she sat uncomfortably on the edge of the chair! Applicants must be prepared for the unexpected. Now it was Jen's turn. She was handed a monkey skull and asked to talk about it. At first, this seemed unfair --- what could she say? But she soon calmed down, started thinking, and found that there was plenty to talk about. Oxbridge interviews are designed to find out how you think, not just what you think. And there are no wrong answers. Jen learnt that, and she passed the interview. What advice does she give? " Don't be nervous, and be prepared for the unexpected!" The writer uses a(n) _ to introduce how Oxbridge applicants are interviewed. Options: A. example B. guess C. experiment D. survey Answer:

A

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Question: Which tool is used to measure the diameter of a dime? Options: A. ruler B. beaker C. balance D. compass Answer:

A

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Question: Temperatures below freezing are expected overnight. What might be done to protect plants growing outside? Options: A. trim the leaves B. weed them C. cover them D. give them plant food Answer:

C

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Question: A boy won the grand prize at the 2012 International Science and Engineering Fair, the largest high school science competition in the world. The Maryland teenager Jack Andraka is the youngest winner of the $75,000 prize. He was chosen from among l,500 students in 70 countries. Jack invented a test for pancreatic cancer( ). He started to learn it after losing a close family friend to the disease. "I went on the Internet and I found that 85 percent of all pancreatic cancers are found late, when someone has less than a 2% chance of survival he says. "and I was thinking, 'That's not right and we should be able to do something."' He found that early discovery is important to increase the chances of suryiving the disease. Jack asked to work in a laboratory at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and was allowed. There he developed a simple paper test. which can recognize the disease in a single drop of blood. His test has proven correct 90% of the time. It also is 100 times more sensitive than other tests. "It costs 3 Jack's success wouldn't have been possible without Anirban Maitra . a professor at Johns Hopkins, who was the only person among the 200 researchers Jack wrote to and who showed interest in his project "I was very surprised that it was a 15-year-old who was writing this. I wanted to meet this clever young man and see what he wanted to talked about. so I called for him over for an interview," Maitra said. Jack worked in Professor Maitra's laboratory completing his project in 7 months. The government bas given the Maryland teenager patent rights to the pancreatic cancer test. He is now talking with companies about developing the test into a simple product . Whatever happens, the professor believes that Jack Andraka's name is one we will be hearing again over the next 10 to 20 years. Jack Andraka's research on pancreatic cancer_. Options: A. proved to be very successful B. was 100 times cheaper than other tests C. gave patients a 90% chance of survival D. was finished at the high school in Maryland Answer:

A

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Question: At 9:00 Dick Spivak's bank telephoned and said his payment was late. 'The check is in the post,' Dick replied quickly. At 11:45 Dick left for a 12:00 meeting across town. Arriving late, he explained that traffic had been bad. That evening, Dick's girlfriend wore a new dress. He hated it. 'It looks just great on you,' he said. Three lies in one day! Yet Dick Spivak is just an ordinary man. Each time, he told himself that sometimes the truth causes too many problems. Most of us tell much the same white lies, harmless untruths that help to save trouble. How often do we tell white lies? It depends in part on our age, education, and even where we live. According to one U.S. study, women are more truthful than men, and honesty increases as we get older. While most people use little white lies to make life easier, the majority of Americans care about honesty in both public and personal life. They say that people today are less honest than they were ten years ago. Although it is believed that things are getting worse, lying seems to be an age-old human problem. The French philosopher Vauvenarges, writing in the eighteenth century, touched on the truth when he wrote, 'All men are born truthful and die liars .' When the writer says 'Dick Spivak is just an ordinary man', he means _ . Options: A. it is common that people tell white lies B. Dick could do nothing about bad traffic C. it is common that people move their payment to a later time D. Dick found it hard to deal with everyday problems Answer:

A

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Question: These days, many passers-by always _ a beggar on the Jiaochangkou Street in Yuzhong District of Chongqing in southwest China. The beggar's name is Xia Haibo, and he was born in Meihe Village, Tianmen City of Hubei Province. Being 25 years old, he is quite a special beggar in some ways -- he doesn't beg on his knees, as other beggars do when begging. Rather, he often stands in the crowded street, either reading a book or thinking about something carefully. He also started a blog on the Internet which has been clicked more than 500,000 times. He likes reading -- he has read many classical Chinese poems. He has kept writing and recently, he has planned to publish his writings. In 1998, Xia entered Tianmen Middle School as the best student in his town. However, a year before he took the college entrance examination, he came down with a high fever and was later diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis . In order to treat his disease, his father borrowed 60,000 yuan from relatives and friends. However, with this money, he didn't recover from the disease. He did not want to become a burden to his family any more. So in July, 2006, he left his hometown and went to Wuhan to make a living by begging. Begging has become a job to Xia now. However, he doesn't plan to go on living like this. "By July 24, 2008, when I have been begging for two years, I will stop my begging life. I promise," he said. It is his plan that by using the money he "earns", he will rent a small shop in his hometown and keep on writing in his spare time. Right now, he is trying to finish a book of his own. The book, called Love Is With Me, tells about the people who helped him during his begging life. When did Xia Haibo get the serious illness? Options: A. In 1998. B. In 2001. C. In 2000. D. In 2006. Answer:

C

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Question: For many parents, raising a teenager is like fighting a long war, but years go by without any clear winner. Like a border conflict between neighboring countries, the parent-teen war is about boundaries: Where is the line between what I control and what you do? Both sides want peace, but neither feels it has any power to stop the conflict. In part,this is because neither is willing to admit any responsibility for starting it. From the parents' point of view, the only cause of their fight is their adolescents' complete unreasonableness. And of course, t _ Both feel trapped. In this article, I'll describe three no-win situations that commonly arise between teens and parents and then suggest some ways out of the trap. The first no-win situation is quarrel on unimportant things. Examples include the color of the teen's hair, the cleanness of the bedroom, the preferred style of clothing, the child's failure to eat a good breakfast before school, or his tendency to sleep until noon on the weekends. Second, blaming. The goal of a blaming battle is to make the other admit that his bad attitude is the reason why everything goes wrong. Third, needing to be right. It doesn't matter what the topic is--politics, the laws of physics, or the proper way to break an egg--the point of these arguments is to prove that you are right and the other person is wrong,for both wish to be considered an authority--someone who actually knows something--and therefore to command respect. Unfortunately, as long as parents and teens continue to assume that they know more than the other, they'll continue to fight these battles forever and never make any real progress. Why does the author compare the parent teen war to a border conflict? Options: A. Both can continue for generations. B. Both are about where to draw the line. C. Neither has any clear winner. D. Neither can be put to an end. Answer:

B

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Question: After an extra day in space,the crew of Discovery returned to Earth,landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California early on Tuesday morning.The shuttle and its crew spent two weeks in space,most of it aboard the International Space Station.It was the first flight of NASA's spaceshuttle fleet since February 2003,when the shuttle Columbia came apart while reentering Earth's atmosphere. NASA officials delayed Discovery's return for one day because of cloudy weather in Florida,where the shuttle was supposed to lanD. On Tuesday morning,mission controllers directed Discovery to a landing site in California,where the skies were clear.The crew members will have to wait until Wednesday to see their families when they all meet together in Houston at the Johnson Space Center. Discovery had a very busy mission in space,compared to past missions.The space shuttle docked with the International Space Station most of the journey,delivering badly needed supplies and repairing damaged parts.The crew spent a lot of time testing new repair techniques on their own shuttle,conducting three different spacewalks(where astronauts exit the space shuttle to do work outside).On the third spacewalk,astronaut Steve Robinson went underneath the shuttle to remove material sticking out from between the spacecraft's protective tiles. There were concerns in the last remaining days of Discovery's mission that a torn heat blanket--another shield against overheating in the space shuttle--may pose a problem to crew members. NASA officials and technicians worked on ways that the crew could fix the problem, but later decided it was not a risk. With the shuttle and its crew safely back on firm ground, NASA is hailing this mission, labeled STS114,as a huge success. "I hope this shows people that we're coming back," NASA spaceflight chief Bill Readdy said after Discovery's successful landing. "We've got some more work to do. We know what we need to do and we'll do it. Which of the following isn't included in the jobs of the shuttle Discovery? Options: A. Delivering supplies to the International Space Station. B. Conducting different spacewalks. C. Testing new repair techniques. D. Finding the cause why the shuttle Columbia came apart. Answer:

D

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Question: Since last year, Where Are We Going, Dad? has become one of the most popular TV shows. On the show, the five fathers and their children traveled around China, riding camels through the western desserts , fishing on the east coast, and selling vegetables for their bus fare( )home in southwestern Yunnan Province. One dad doesn't know how to do his daughter's hair, so some people try to help him. Another one must survive with his son for three days in the desert. Because the father can't cook, they only eat instant noodles . Why is Where Are We Going, Dad? so popular? Because it is about how Chinese parents look after their kids. The show makes modern parents think about what they should do with their kids. "In traditional Chinese culture, the father is strict and the mother is kind. But on the show, we see fathers who are much kinder on their kids and more involved in their upbringing ."said Li Minyi, a professor of early childhood education. In the past, children were taught to follow their parents' wishes and look after _ in their old age. But today Chinese parents start to realize that respecting their children's choices may be a better way to be ready for modern society. As they raise their children, parents are growing up at the same time. According to the passage, what didn't the fathers and their children do on the show? Options: A. Rode camels B. Sold vegetables C. Climbed the mountains D. Fished on the east coast Answer:

C

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Question: Ants have a reputation for strength,organization and teamwork.But researchers have now discovered that a key secret to the success of ants is their ability to identify the importance of age in the work place. A study of Gentral American leaf-cutter ants has shown that the younger and stronger members are give the toughest job of cutting therough the leaves they harvest.Their sharp youn teeth do this job effectively,but as they get older their teeth become relatively worn and _ . But rather than being retired or abandoned by the group,the ageing ants are given a new role more suyted to their physical abilities.They become carriers and teansport the leaves back to the kingdom where they are harvested for food. The findings by researchers from the University of Oregon and the Oregong State University support previous research showin the survival of a leaf-cutter kingdom depends on the efficiency of is workers. "Cuting leaves is hard work,"said Dr.Robert Schofield,who led the research team."Much of the cutting is done with a V-shaped blade between teeth on their jaws.This blade starts out as sharp as the sharpest razor blade that humans have developed."But over rime the teeth become blunter and the cutting job slows down.The team estimated that,because of this age-related wear,a colony spent twice the energy cutting leaves than it would if all the ants had sharp blades.Its findings support the idea that wear and break can be significant problems for insects as well as largre animals. Like humans,leaf-cuttre ant recognize that older members of the group can still make a worhwhile contribution to society."This study shows an advantage of social living that we are familiar with,"said Dr.Schofield. The younger and stronger ants do the toughest job because _ . Options: A. they can teansport the leaves effectively B. they have a sharp blade to cut leaves C. other members are busy with other work D. they can finish the job in a better organized way Answer:

B

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Question: Daniel likes to do something to protect the environment in his daily life. Next Sunday is his friend's birthday. He is going to buy some gifts online for his friend. Now he is visiting the following website for some information about gifts. Welcome to Nature Posters - the world's largest collection of nature posters and fine art prints! We make a donation to help the environment when each nature poster is sold through this website! Please tell your friends about us, and remember us when you are gift shopping. Daniel chose the following two beautiful pictures as gifts from the website: Parrots in Blue: $5.99 Sharks: $7.99 Daniel should pay _ for his gifts. Options: A. $5.99 B. $13.98 C. $7.99 D. $2.00 Answer:

B

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Question: Lions are big and strong.They have bright eyes, sharp teeth and black points on their brown bodies.So they look beautiful. Lions can run fast.They are good at catching other animals.Lions like living as a family until baby lions are 2 years old.A lion lives alone during most of its life. Now, many hunters hurt lions for their fur and meat.They sell their meat to people for meals.They use their fur to make clothes and bags.We must stop this.It is wrong for people to kill lions.We can write to newspapers about the danger the lions are facing.We should tell the government and people about the problems.If we do nothing, soon there will be no lions in the world any more! When do baby lions begin to live alone? Options: A. 20 years old B. 12 years old C. 2 years old D. 22 years old Answer:

C

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Question: New Zealand Education Compulsory Education Compulsory education starts at age 5 and ends at age 16. Class Size The number of students in a class is 30 students. Classrooms Students from Years 5-8 stay in the same classroom for most subjects and move to other classrooms only for specific subjects. In Year 9, students take some courses With their homeroom class and some _ classes with students from different classes. Starting from Year 10, students no longer stay in the same classroom most of the time. They go to different classes according to their own choices and abilities. Term Dates A school year starts in January and ends in December. There are four terms in a year. Each term is about 10 weeks. Class Schedule School starts at around 8:30 and ends at 15:15. There are only five periods a day and a period is about an hour long. In the morning, around 10:30, there will be a 20-minute break when students usually have some snacks during this time. There is a lunch period at around 12:40 for about an hour. Teachers Teachers have to teach students of different year level at the same time. Most teachers teach students from at least three to four different year levels. Besides, quite a number of teachers teach more than one subject. This is because the fact that many courses are optional. When you are in your 10th school year, you may. Options: A. choose and take some optional courses with your homeroom class B. stay with your classmates in the same classroom for all the subjects C. have both required and optional classes with the same classmates D. choose different classes according to your own choices and abilities Answer:

D

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Question: Anders conveyed her only parcel of land to Burton by a duly executed and delivered warranty deed, which provided: To have and to hold the described tract of land in fee simple, subject to the understanding that within one year from the date of the instrument said grantee shall construct and thereafter maintain and operate on said premises a public health center. The grantee, Burton, constructed a public health center on the tract within the time specified and operated it for five years. At the end of this period, Burton converted the structure into a senior citizens' recreational facility. It is conceded by all parties in interest that a senior citizens' recreational facility is not a public health center. In an appropriate action, Anders seeks a declaration that the change in the use of the facility has caused the land and structure to revert to her. In this action, Anders should Options: A. win, because the language of the deed created a determinable fee, which leaves a possibility of reverter in the grantor. B. win, because the language of the deed created a fee subject to condition subsequent, which leaves a right of entry or power of termination in the grantor. C. lose, because the language of the deed created only a contractual obligation and did not provide for retention of property interest by the grantor. D. lose, because an equitable charge is enforceable only in equity Answer:

C

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Question: Three years ago, five parrots were set free in a wild place of Arizona, thousands of miles from the Channel Islands in Jersey where they had been looked after by zookeepers. No evolutionary strategies informed them how to behave in this new landscape of mountainous pine forest unoccupied by their kind for 50 years. To the researchers' surprise, they failed to make contact with a group of wild parrots imported from Mexico and set free at the same time. Within 24 hours the reintroducing ended in failure, and the poor birds were back in cages, on their way to the safety of the Arizona reintroduction programme. Ever since then, the programme has enjoyed great success, mainly because the birds now being set free are Mexican birds illegally caught in the wild, confiscated on arrival north of the border, and raised by their parents in the safety of the programme. The experience shows how little we know about the behaviour and psychology of parrots, as Peter Bennett, a bird researcher, points out: "Reintroducing species of high intelligence like parrots is a lot more difficult. People like parrots, always treating them as nothing more than pets or valuable 'collectables'." Now that many species of parrot are in immediate danger of dying out, biologists are working together to study the natural history and the behaviour of this family of birds. Last year was an important turning point: conservationists founded the World Parrot Trust, based at Hayle in Cornwall, to support research into both wild and caged birds. Research on parrots is vital for two reasons. First, as the Arizona programme showed, when reintroducing parrots to the wild, we need to be aware of what the birds must know if they are to survive in their natural home. We also need to learn more about the needs of parrots kept as pets, particularly as the Trust's campaign does not attempt to discourage the practice, but rather urges people who buy parrots as pets to choose birds raised by humans. According to the passage, people are advised _ . Options: A. to treat wild and caged parrots equally B. to set up comfortable homes for parrots C. not to keep wild parrots as pets D. not to let more parrots go to the wild Answer:

C

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Question: David comes from the train station and he doesn't know where to go. This is the first time he comes to this town. He comes to see his good friend, Peter. Peter is a doctor. He works in a hospital. But David doesn't know where the hospital is. He walks in the street. He passes a bank, a post office, a hotel and at last he goes to a school. Some students are coming out, so he asks one of the students, "Excuse me. Which is the way to People's Hospital?" "Well, I know, you can go along this street, take the second turning on the right, and then take the third turning on your left. It's next to a museum." "I'm sorry I can't follow you." "Well, I just live near there, and my mother works in that hospital, too. I'm going home now. Will you go with me? I'll take you there." "That's great! Thank you very much!" "Then, let's go to the bus stop. And we'll take the No.12 bus there." The student's mother works in _ . Options: A. hospital B. the hospital C. a school D. post office Answer:

B

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Question: Looking for a new way to raise money for charity ? Has your school run out of clever and fun ideas? Don't give up. There are several ways to support your favorite charity. How about organizing a car wash? Everybody who has a car sooner or later washes it or has it washed. So why don't you and your classmates do the job? The money the car owners pay for having their cars washed will go towards your charity. When we did it, we had an amazing time! At first, some of us were worried about getting wet or dirty and it's true. But we also had fun, and at the end of the day it was really worth it! On the other hand, if you don't feel like getting wet or messy, but have some musical talent, how about organizing a street concert? Street musicians can make a lot of money, and so can you if you've got the talent and courage it takes to play in front of _ . You just need to find a suitable place, practice for a few hours with your friends first, and give it a try! I hope the above ideas have helped you a bit, and if you've got any other great suggestions, we would love to hear them and practice them, too. Good luck! What does the writer think of car wash? Options: A. It's dirty but fun. B. It's easy but dirty. C. It's easy and fun. D. It's cheap and dirty. Answer:

A

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Question: Still seeking a destination for your long summer holidays? There is a good place which may be your favorite option. Arts of Hope is an overnight performing arts summer camp in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the USA for kids aged 10 and older from around the world. More than just a performing arts camp, Arts of Hope offers participants a unique opportunity to live with kids from other cultures while learning and performing music from many countries. Each summer, up to 75 children venture to Minnesota from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and the US. They arrive as strangers but soon become friends as they learn popular songs and dances from each other's cultures. The lessons learned during these six weeks are profound. The friendships are enduring. And the stories are inspirational. Taking part in the Arts of Hope camp is a life-changing experience. DATES The Arts of Hope 2013 session will run from June 17 to July 30. Because Arts of Hope is a global camp, it is impossible for us to schedule the program to fit all the school schedules of all the schools in the world. Therefore, we understand that some participants may need to arrive late or leave early. Don't let that stop you from applying! We are happy to make special arrangements as needed. Just send us an email to explain your scheduling challenges. We are happy to arrange a special study room for late arrivals to make up for the missed lessons. PARTICIPANT FEE For the 2013 summer, the fee for new, first-time participants is $2,950, subject to the special discounts offered below. SPECIAL DISCOUNTS If you apply before February 28, you can get a special fee reduction of $100. Also, there is a 20% fee discount for additional participants from your family if you have a brother or sister who is a Arts of Hope participant. The discount applies to the second, third, and any other additional siblings attending in the same year from the same family. Apply early to assure your place! Please sign up now! If you leave early or arrive late, what will happen ? Options: A. They will make up for the missed lessons. B. You will have to attend the next year's camp. C. They will give you a special discount. D. You will have to miss some lessons. Answer:

A

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Question: Grandma Moses is among the most famous twentieth-century painters of the United States,yet she did not start painting until she was in her late seventies.As she once said to herself:" I would never sit back in a rocking chair,waiting for someone to help me." No one could have had a more productive old age. She was born Anna Mary Robertson on a farm in New York State,one of five boys and five girls.At twelve she left home and was in domestic service until,at twenty-seven,she married Thomas Moses,the hired hand of one of her employers.They farmed most of their lives,first in Virginia and then in New York State,at Eagle Bridge.She had ten children,of whom five survived;her husband died in 1927. Grandma Moses painted a little as a child and made embroidery pictures as a hobby,but only changed to oils in old age because her hands had become too stiff to sew and she wanted to keep busy and pass the time.Her pictures were first sold at the local drugstore and at a market and were soon noticed by a businessman who bought everything she painted.Three of the pictures exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art,and in 1940 she had her first exhibition in New York.Between the 1930's and her death,she produced some 2,000 pictures:detailed and lively _ of the country life she had known for so long,with a wonderful sense of color and form."I think really hard till I think of something really pretty,and then I paint it" she said. According to the passage,Grandma Moses began to paint because she wanted to _ . Options: A. make herself beautiful B. keep active C. earn more money D. become famous Answer:

B

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Question: Which of the following changes occurs as a solid is heated? Options: A. The kinetic energy of the solid decreases. B. The average density of the solid increases. C. The specific heat capacity of the solid decreases. D. The average molecular speed in the solid increases. Answer:

D

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Question: English words don't stay the same. People need new words for new ideas and new inventions. Some new words come into use, and some old words are used in a new way. English can change by borrowing words from other languages. The word "tomato" was borrowed from Mexico, and "tea" came from China, and so on. Now a great many new space and science words are being borrowed from other countries, too. New words can be created in other ways. For example, some can be created by adding two words together. "Weekend" and "cookbook" are made up of two parts. Sometimes new words are shorter forms of older words. The word "photo" was made from "photograph" by cutting off the end of the longer word. "Plane" was made by cutting off the front part of "airplane". The names of people and products can become new words. Our "sandwich" was named after a man named Sandwich and "sello " was a name given by the company that first made the product. What can we know from the passage? Options: A. New science words are shorter than the old ones. B. The best way to make a new word is adding words together. C. Some new English words are borrowed from other languages. D. Most new English words are the name of a person or a product. Answer:

C

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Question: What are you going to do if you are in a burning house? How will you escape? Do you know how to save yourself? Please read the following passage. Escaping a fire is a serious matter.Knowing what to do during a fire can save your life.It is important to know the ways you can use and show them to everyone in the family,such as stairways and fire escapes,but not lifts. From the lower floors of the buildings,escaping through windows is possible,learn the best way of leaving by windows with the least chance of serious injury. The second floor window is usually not very high from the ground.An average person,hanging by the finger-tips will have a drop of about six feet to the ground.It is about the height of an average man.Of course,it is safer to jump a short way than to stay in a burning building. Windows are also useful when you are waiting for help.Be sure to keep the door closed.Or smoke and fire may be drawn into the room.Keep your head low at the window to be sure you get fresh air rather than smoke that may leaked into the room. On a second or third floor,the best windows for escaping are those that open onto a roof.From the roof a person can drop to the ground more safely.Dropping onto cement might end in injury.Bushes and grass can help to break a fall. Open the window so that _ if the building is on fire. Options: A. you can get fresh air B. you can call for help C. you can easily jump off D. you can be seen first Answer:

A

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Question: LAST week's decision by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to _ Pluto _ its planetary status, held since its discovery in 1930, has made a lot of people sad. "Pluto," American science writer Dava Sobel writes in her book "The Planets", "still has an emotional hold on planethood. People love Pluto. Children identify with its smallness. Adults felt it hard to accept its isolated existence." Many people felt sorry about Pluto's demotion . "I just cannot accept this at this time," says Liu Ming, 29, who runs a small company in prefix = st1 /Shanghai. "I was taught that 'the Nine Great Planets' formed our solar system since primary school. And now they suddenly decrease the planets to eight. This will take some time for most of us to absorb it," says Liu. Ordinary people are simply not used to it, but for some professionals, especially the persons in charge of planetariums and educators, the change has become a real headache. The "eight instead of nine" change will affect thousands of planetariums around the world. Schools will also be greatly affected. InChina, teachers are anxious as outdated textbooks are printed and given out to the remotest corner of the country for school children ready to start a new term soon. According to the Ministry of Education, new textbooks with changed contents will not be available until next year. Zhao Zhiheng, a member of the Astronomy Association from Tianjin, suggested that primary and middle school teachers be trained in the improved knowledge, and that the media carry more stories to let people know about the change as soon as possible. Why did the change affect schools greatly? Options: A. Teachers disagreed with the change and refused to accept it. B. Schools had to spend a lot of money on books. C. Students do not like the change of it. D. New textbooks will not be ready so soon. Answer:

D

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Question: It was on a cold night of December. The rain was pouring on the car roof as Albert and Andy drove through the empty country roads towards their friends' house, the Harrisons,where they were going to attend a party to celebrate the engagement of the Harrisons' daughter,Lisa. When they drove, they listened to the local radio giving a news announcement:The New York police have issued a warning after a man escaped from Shangdi Mental Hospital earlier this morning .The man ,John, is a murderer who killed six people. Andy felt frightened, "A crazy killer is out somewhere." "Don't worry about it ," said her husband. "We're nearly there now. Anyway, we have more important things to worry about. This car is losing power for the engine." As he spoke, the car began to slow down. Finally the engine died completely. "Now we'll have to walk in the rain." "But that'll take us an hour at least," said Andy, "And I have my high-heeled shoes and my nice clothes on, which will be ruined!" "Well, you'll have to wait while I run to the nearest house and call the Harrisons. Someone can come out and pick us up,"said George. "But George! Have you forgotten what the radio said? There's an insane person out there!" "You'll have to hide in the back of the car. Lock all the doors and lie on the floor in the back. When I come back, I'll knock three times on the door. Then you can open it." Albert opened the door and disappeared into the darkness. Some time later she heard the sound of vehicles, running quickly down the road. The three vehicles were all police cars. One of them rushed towards the car as Andy opened the door. A policeman said, "Get out of the car and walk. You're safe now. Just don't look back." something in the way he spoke filled Andy with cold horror. About ten yards from the police car, she stopped , turned and looked back at the empty vehicle. Albert was hanging from the tree, a rope tied to his neck. Why did the policeman tell her not to look back when he brought her out of the car? Options: A. He wouldn't like her to see her husband's body B. A man acting strangely was waiting behind her. C. He wanted her to forget everything that had happened D. He didn't wish her to see the damage done to the car. Answer:

A

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Question: It is exciting to visit different places. As you travel, you will see beautiful sceneries typical of the region. Besides, you can meet and make friends with people of different color1s and races. Finally, you can get to know the customs and living habits of the local people. Today people are so fond of travelling that tourism has become one of the fastest growing industries in most countries. The main reason why people travel is, perhaps, for pleasure. For example, having worked hard throughout the weekdays, people will find a widened trip to the nearby mountains or beaches for a relaxation. For another example, spending an annual holiday travelling abroad is an especially satisfying experience for those who do not have much of an opportunity to be away from their homelands. When people return from their travel, they will generally feel fresh and energetic, ready to work harder. Travelling is also one of the best means for learning. You may have read or heard about something but you can never get an accurate picture of it until you see it for yourself. _ . Furthermore, if you are a careful observer, you can learn much during your travel about the geography, biology, and history of the places you visit. No matter how well educated you are, there is always a lot for you to learn through travelling. The knowledge _ from travel, as you have found in your life, is no less valuable than that from any influential reference books. By saying "Seeing is believing", the author means that _ Options: A. you cannot believe it until you see the real object by yourself B. you will have a clear idea about something when you see it personally C. you will know what has happened to something when you see it D. you will have no doubt when you see something by yourself Answer:

B

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Question: On the first day of the 11th grade, our new math teacher Mr Washington asked me to go to the blackboard to do a math problem. I told him that I couldn't do it. He asked, "Why not?" I paused, and then I said, "Because I'm educable mentally retarded ." He came from behind his desk and looked at me. "Don't ever say that again. Someone's opinion of you does not have to become your reality," he said. It was a very special moment for me. Doctors said that I was educable mentally retarded in the fifth grade, and I was put back into the fourth grade. When I was in the eighth grade, I failed again. But Mr Washington changed my life. This person always gave students the feeling that he had high expectations of them, and then all of the students did their best to live up to what those expectations were. He often said, "You have greatness within you." One day, I caught up with him in the parking place and said, "Mr Washington, is there greatness within me, sir?" He said, "Yes, Mr Brown." "But what about the fact that I failed in English, math and history? What about that, sir? I'm slower than most kids." "It doesn't matter. It just means that you have to work harder. Your grades don't determine who you are or what you can produce in your life." "I want to buy my mother a house." "It is possible, Mr Brown. You can do that." And he turned to walk away. "Mr Washington?" "What do you want now?" "Uh, I'm the one, sir. One day you're going to hear my name. I'm the one, sir." School was a real struggle for me. Mr Washington put many demands on me. He made me believe that I could do it. At the end of that year, I was on the honor roll for the first time in my life. Years later, I produced five programs on public television. When one of my programs was shown on the educational television channel, I had some friends call him. I was sitting by the phone waiting when he called me. He said, "May I speak to Mr Brown, please?" "Oh, Mr Washington, is that you?" "Yes, it's me. You were the one, weren't you?" "Yes, sir, I was." It took the author _ years to finish the tenth grade? Options: A. ten B. eleven C. twelve D. thirteen Answer:

C

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Question: A gas is heated and its temperature increases. What happens to the gas molecules? Options: A. They get bigger. B. They move faster. C. They move slower. D. They increase in number. Answer:

B

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Question: 85-year-old Tu is awarded the Nobel Prize for her contribution to reducing the death rate of malaria , minimizing patients' suffering and promoting mankind's health. This is what science is all about. Tu's name "Youyou", came from the Classic of Poetry. The characters depict the cheerful sounds deer make when calling for mates. Tu's finding has saved millions' lives during the 40 years. This also proves the value of her research product. The moment of joy and satisfaction when she discovered the artemisinin in 1971 after all kinds of failures in experiments is eternal. Tu has won some attention when she got the Lasker Award in 2011. But there is no way to compare her popularity back to the attention she is receiving today. She studied at the Peking University Health Science Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, from 1951 to 1955. Let's backtrack to 40 years ago. Tu finished the findings without using any advanced equipment, communication with outside world and papers to research. Nowadays, Chinese scientists have the passion to invent. As Premiere Li Keqiang mentioned in his letter, "Tu's winning the prize marks China's progress in scientific and technological field". Tu's winning will help people come to realize that all those international publications, whether it is the Nobel Prize, SCI publishing, Nature, or Science, are all just gimmicks of measuring tools. The sole key is to be oneself and try one's best with confidence. There had been doubts about "whether there would be a Chinese national awarded the Nobel Prize." This sort of doubts is unnecessary. The scientific awards are equal to all, as long as the research findings are good enough. The fact that Tu has none of these three backgrounds also reminds us that science should be more accessible to all. One shall be able to become a scientist no matter what kind of background he or she comes from, as long as one devotes into scientific research. They work so hard to prove the wrong way so that the future researcher will be closer to the right one. Artemisinin and science saved lived around the world. Tu saved the confidence of Chinese scientists, who will care less about whether a Chinese scientist be awarded the Nobel Prize in the future. (Translated by Shen Chen and Joanna Law from Commentary << >> , published on People's Daily, Oct.6, 2015) What does the writer think science is? Options: A. Winning the Nobel Prize B. Promoting mankind's health C. Discovering the artemisinin D. Making contribution to the country Answer:

B

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Question: Dear editor, I am writing to ask what has happened to our young people.They are not as polite or hard-working as my generation(I will give you two examples. Last Friday, I got on the underground at 9:15 a.m. It was very crowded so there was no free seat.There were some boys sitting on the seats near me.I didn't know why they were not at school.They were talking and laughing loudly. It was difficult for me to read my newspaper with all the noise.At the next stop, a pregnant woman and her daughter got on with lots of shopping bags.I expected the boys to let them sit down.They saw the woman but they did nothing.I had to ask them to give the woman and her daughter seats. They did so but gave me a rude look. Last Saturday, I had dinner with my friend's family.I was glad to see his children, who I hadn't seen for ten years.During the dinner, I started talking about world politics with the children.It soon became clear that they didn't know much about it.They couldn't tell me the name of the King of Spain or President of Italy.All they knew about was the Internet or which singers were the most beautiful.In my days, students knew the kings, the queens and the presidents of every country in Europe. I worry about the future of Germany.How could these young people become good workers and parents? They sit around McDonald's after school instead of going to the library like I did at their age.Maybe they have too much money.Perhaps some readers can give us some ideas about what to do with this "lost generation". Yours sincerely, Frantz Vogts. Mr Vogts was disappointed at the dinner because _ . Options: A. he was not politely treated B. he had different opinions on the world politics from his friend C. the children cared more about the Internet than he D. the children did not know much about world politics Answer:

D

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Question: All the people know that exercise is important. We all need to exercise. Doctors say it is good for us. It makes your heart and body strong. Children who often exercise are more alert . It is healthy for the mind and the body. This means they do better in tests and schoolwork than those who don't exercise. There are many ways to do exercise. You can walk, run, swim, skate, or play ball games. Make sure you exercise in the following ways: 1. You have to like what you're doing. 2. Exercise enough, but not too much. It's best to exercise twice each week. Thirty minutes each time is enough. 3. Try all kinds of things until you find one, two or even three sports _ for you. Lots of people choose to exercise at fitness centers . Why? Because there are a lot of sports equipment there. The equipment will help exercise your arms, legs and other parts of your body to make you healthy. Some people buy sports equipment for their homes. But it is very expensive. Exercising can be fun. Friends can exercise together at a fitness center, or they can play sports together outside. How do you exercise? Which of the following sports is NOT mentioned in the passage? Options: A. Fishing. B. Running. C. Swimming D. Walking Answer:

A

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Question: We live in an amazing world, reading the following news and you will find it yourself. News 1: Bao Xishun is the tallest man in the world. He is 2.36 metres tall. He Pingping is the shortest man in the world. He is only 0.73 metres tall. They are Chinese. On July 13th, Bao Xishun married a girl and He Pingping took part in their wedding ceremony . News 2: In the USA, a seventh-grader, Aidan Murray Medley went fishing in the sea one morning. The 12-year-old boy caught a 250-kilogram shark! It took Aidan 28 minutes to catch the shark. It was so hard that his body lost all feeling. Aidan now has the Florida record . He beat a 232-kilogram catch from 1981. News 3: A young sheep climbs a tree to feed on leaves in a park in the southern Swedish town of Lund. The sheep climbed to a height of seven metres and spent an hour and a half in the tree before returning to the ground. Where do the tallest man and the shortest man in the world come from? Options: A. China. B. America. C. Sweden. D. Florida. Answer:

A

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Question: If the earth were small enough to put on a plate and serve up for dinner, the being eating it would get mouthfuls of Options: A. stew B. towels C. stone D. corn Answer:

C

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Question: One evening,June Griffith was on her way to pick up her son.Almost immediately,she realized that she had gone the wrong way.She'd driven onto railroad tracks and the underside of her car was caught. As Griffith tried to remove the car,its headlights attracted the attention of a passerby,Jordan Ricks,a college student.He ran over. Ricks,22,tried to appear calm as he instructed Gdmth to remove the car.Both of them could now see the wheel between the rails and the uneven track bed.Ricks put his hands under the front fender and gave it a push.It didn't move. He pushed it again with all his strength,Still,no movement. From about 50 feet away,a group of students from the nearby university watched the scene.Ricks signaled to them,and five of the guys came over. He directed them to different sides of the car,and they all put their hands under the flame. "One,two,three" Ricks yelled.They all pushed. "One,two,three!" he yelled again.The car didn't move. At that moment,they felt the ground begin to shake.Then four dings signaled an on coming train,apd the railroad gates dropped down.In the distance,an unclear line of light appeared,followed by the loud noise of a horn . The guys started yelling,"Get out of the car!Get out of the car!"But Griffith felt _ . When Griffith glanced in the mirror,she saw the train lights approaching.But she worried that the Arthritis in her feet would prevent her from escaping in time and that her car would bedamaged.One of the students,Tommy Stackhouse,20,saw her shocked face and knew he had to act.He reached for the car door and forced it open. The train was just a few hundred feet away.In the last few seconds,Stackhouse grasped Griffith's arm and pulled her from the car.His friend,Frank DiPietrapaul,18,grasped her other arm,and the pair pulled Griffith aside. They watched as the train,crashed into the car,cutting it into half its original size and sending metal pieces flying.Griffith sat crying as the police arrived and sorted through the ruins--and wrote her a ticket for no attention to driving.Eventually,the students went home. A few days later,a reporter asked the young men and Griffith to reunite at a local coffee shop.There a tearful Griffith hugged her rescuers."These boys are heroes,"she would later tell anyone who would listen."They saved my life." Ricks feels only grateful for the outcone."It was one of those moments," he says,"when we could have been gone together.It makes you think how precious life is." According to the passage,which of the following is TRUE? Options: A. The police fined Griffith for her careless driving. B. Griffith was thankf.ul that her car was saved C. It was Stackhouse that grasped Griffith out of the car. D. All the students from nearby college came over to help. Answer:

A

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Question: One of the earth's layer's is it's crust. It can be found Options: A. just above it's mantle B. in the center of the earth C. on top of the moon D. close to the sun Answer:

A

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Question: At most schools, "going green" means generating less trash or making an attempt to recycle.But at New York's Riverdale Country School, it means being encouraged to run and even jump in the hallway. That's because the school was the first to install ( ) the specially-designed Pavegen floor tiles in America. The tiles use kinetic energy expanded by the kids and transform it into electricity that can be used to power classroom lights, science projects and charge electronic devices. The first US installation of Pavegen tiles near the school's student center is thanks to 14-year-old Zach Halem, who managed to convince the officials to purchase them. Besides providing fun green energy, the tiles also serve as a learning tool. Every time a student steps on one, a brightly-lit LED board provides instant feedback on how much energy was generated. Depending on the force, every step results in between one to seven watts-enough power to light an LED street lamp for about 30 seconds. Made largely from rubber and other recycled materials the tiles are invented by the 26-year-old British industrial designer Laurence Kembell-Cook. While new to the US, they have been installed in numerous places in Europe, ranging from a London underground station to a marathon track in Paris. However, it was not until Pavegen started getting popular in London schools that Laurence realized that his invention not only saved energy, but was also fun! Though the young inventor will not give too many details about the technology behind this green tile, he says that it is very different from other kinetic energy harvesting systems. Whatever the secret, let's hope more US schools decide to install these fun tiles. In fact, why stop at schools? These tiles could be installed everywhere, from sidewalks to homes. Then we could all be "green" and have fun! Who knew that was even possible? Which of the following statements is TRUE about Laurence Kembell-Cook? Options: A. His original motive to invent the Pavegen tiles was to save energy. B. He believed his invention would be popular with students. C. He keeps all the technology behind this green tile a secret. D. He persuaded the school to install Pavegen tiles. Answer:

A

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Question: It was a painful 100 hours from the moment the earthquake struck until rescuers pulled Liu Deyun from the ruins of a factory yesterday. When he went to work on Monday morning, he had never thought that he would spend the next week in the ruins of his workplace. "It was a miracle , but that happened through our hard work," said Zhao Hongxing, an army doctor who joined in rescue. "His first words were 'The army is great. '" Chinese troops may have been the ones to physically free Mr Liu, 50, but it was his daughter who didn't give up looking for her father that saved his life at last. On Thursday night, running around the fallen factory, the family search party headed by his daughter, heard a low cry. "Father! Father!" Mr Liu answered in a low voice "Yes". Then, after more than three days buried under the fallen building, came two simple words: "I'm thirsty". The reply was probably not what he was wanting: "Father don't talk! You need your air! I will go and find somebody to rescue you!" The entire first floor of the building fell down, with the second floor completely damaged and pushing the building to one side. The 12-hour rescue operation to save Mr Liu was filled with danger. Mr Liu was freed yesterday at 6:28 p. m. His family had agreed to cut off one of his feet so that he could be pulled out. "I just want him to live," his daughter Yuan, 23, said in tears. Mr Liu, wrapped in a blanket, was welcomed by a large number of people who was concerned about him. And with the latest survivor taken to a waiting ambulance , the rescue workers went back to the ruins where two more factory workers were waiting for their turn to be dug out. Liu Deyun said "The army is great" in order to _ . Options: A. thank the people who helped him out B. show that he can talk C. encourage them to save more people D. get more help from them Answer:

A

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Question: Everyone has got two personalities --the one that is shown to the world and the other that is secret and real . You don't show your secret personality when you're awake because you can control your behavior , but when you're asleep , your sleeping position shows the real you . In a normal night , of course , people frequently change their position . The important position is the one that you go to sleep in . If you go to sleep in your back , you're a very open person ,. You normally trust people and you are easily influenced by fashion or new ideas . You don't like to upset people , so you never express your real feeling . If you sleep on your stomach , you are a rather secretive person . You worry a lot and you're always easily upset . You're very stubborn , but you aren't very ambitious . You usually live for today not for tomorrow . This means that you enjoy having a good time . If you sleep curled up , you are probably a very nervous person . You have a low opinion of yourself so you're often defensive . You're shy and you don't normally like meeting people. You prefer to be on your own . you're easily hurt . If you sleep on your side , you have usually got a well-balanced personality . You know your strengths and weakness . You're usually careful . You have a confident personality . You sometimes feel anxious, but you don't often get depressed . You always say what you think even if it makes people angry . Maybe you don't want to make friends with a person who sleeps cured up. Why? He or she _ Options: A. would rather be alone than communicate with you B. is rarely ready to help C. always makes people angry D. wouldn't like to Answer:

A

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Question: Nobody likes to do chores, especially kids. How can you make your kids get into a good habit of doing their chores? Try making chores fun for them. Play some music:Music makes everything seem like a party, doesn't it? Play your kids' favorite music and let them dance around while they are doing their chores. Make it a treasure hunt : It's a good way when you would like them to clean the house. Let them know that you hide a $5 bill someplace. If they find it, they can keep it. Change often:If your kids keep doing the same chores for months, they may feel bored. Teaching them a new task is fun for both you and the kids. They will feel more grown up when they get a new task. Do it together:It's never fun to be the only one working and watching everyone else relaxing. If everyone takes part in doing chores, you will finish them faster and have more fun. ,. Kids may feel _ if they keep on doing the same chores for months. Options: A. tired B. fun C. interested D. bored Answer:

D

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Question: Booker T. Washington was born in a black slave family in Virginia of the USA in 1856, seven years before slavery was abolished by Abraham Lincoln in January, 1863. He wrote a book about his life called Up From Slavery, which was published in 1901. In the book, he said that he had no choice but to work in a coal mine when he was 16 years old. He had no chance to go to school. He heard two coal miners talking about a school for black children which was called the Hampton Institute. He determined that he would go there. He gave up his job and told other members of his race that he was going to school across the state. The older people had spent their best years as slaves and were poor. However, some gave Booker some pocket money or a handkerchief. Hardly had anyone expected any of their race to leave home to attend a boarding school. He took a train to Richmond, Virginia, where he ran out of money. It was 82 miles from the Hampton Institute. He slept under a wooden sidewalk . He helped unload pigs and iron from a ship for some money and when he had enough, he continued his journey, arriving at school with 50 cents. This diligence pushed him to graduate and become a teacher at the Hampton Institute. When he was 25 years old, he was asked to start a new school for black children in Alabama. called the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute. Thirty-four years later, this school had 1,500 students and 200 teachers and Booker T. Washington became the most influential black leader of his generation. Booker T. Washington didn't go to school early in life because _ . Options: A. there were no schools for slave in America B. blacks were not allowed to receive education C. he had to work as a coal miner D. he was not smart enough to receive education Answer:

C

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Question: The interview had been going on for about 20 minutes and everything seems to be going well.Then, suddenly, the interviewer asks an unexpected question, "Which is more important, law or love?" Job applicants in the west increasingly find themselves asked strange questions like this.And the signs are that this is beginning to happen in China. Employers want people skilled, enthusiastic and devoted.So these are the qualities that any reasonably intelligent job applicants will try to show no matter what his or her actual feelings are.In response, employers are increasingly using questions which try and show the applicant's true personality. The question in the first paragraph comes from a test called Kiersey Personality Sorter.It is an attempt to discover how people solve problems, rather than what they know.This is often called aptitude testing. According to Mark Baldwin of Alliance many job applicants in China are finding this type of questions difficult. When a Chinese person fills out an aptitude test he or she will think there is a right answer and they may fail because they try to guess what the examiner wants to see. This is sometimes called the prisoner's dilemma .Applicants are trying to act cleverly in their own interest.But they fail because they don't understand what the interviewer is looking for.Remember that in an aptitude test, the correct answer is always the honest answer. Why do the interviewers ask such questions? Options: A. they want to discover what the interviewees know. B. they are curious about the answers. C. they try to discover the ability of the interviewees' solving problems. D. they just ask questions without thinking much. Answer:

C

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Question: The researchers used a national long-term survey of adolescent health to investigate the relationship between media use and depression. They based their findings on more than four thousand adolescents who were not depressed when the survey began in 2000. As part of the survey, the young people were asked how many hours of television or videos they watched daily. They were also asked how often they played computer games and listened to the radio. Media use totaled an average of five and one-half hours a day. More than two hours of that was spent watching TV. Seven years later, in 2007, more than seven percent of the young people had signs of depression. The average age at that time was twenty-one. The researchers say they did not find any such relationship with the use of other media such as movies, video games or radio, etc. But the study did find that every extra hour of television meant an eight percent increase in the chances of developing signs of depression. Young men were more likely than young women to develop depression given the same amount of media use. The study didn't explore if watching TV causes depression. But one possibility is that it was taking time away from activities that could help prevent depression. Last December, the journal Social Indicators Research published a study of activities that help lead to happy lives. Sociologists from theprefix = st1 /UniversityofMarylandfound that people who describe themselves as happy spend less time watching television than unhappy people. The study found that happy people are more likely to he socially active, to read, attend religious services and to vote. We can learn from the survey that of all the media use Options: A. computer games are teenagers' favorite B. most teenagers prefer to listen to the radio C. teenagers enjoy watching TV very much D. newspaper is not included in the survey Answer:

C

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Question: Too often we accuse others of not listening, pretending that we ourselves are faultless, yet in our hearts we know that many of the mistakes we make come about because we haven't listened carefully enough. We get things wrong because we haven't listened carefully enough. We get things wrong because we haven't quite understood what someone meant when they were talking to us. Anyone who has ever taken the minutes of a long meeting will know how hard it is to remember-- despite the benefit of notes-- exactly what everyone said. But success depends on getting things right--and that means listening. Listening is not the same thing as hearing; it is not an effort actively. It demands attention and concentration. It may mean quizzing the speaker for additional information or for clarification------ it is always better to ask than to continue regardless and get things wrong. However, if you allow your mind to wander onto something else, even for a few minutes, you'll miss what the speaker is saying------ probably at the very moment when he or she is saying something critical. And not having heard, you won't know you've missed anything until it's too late. The most common bad habit we have is to start thinking of what we are going to say about the subject long before the other speaker has finished. We then stop listening. Even worse, this often adds rudeness to inattentiveness, as once you have decided what to say there is a fair chance you will interrupt to say it. Good listeners don't interrupt. In fact it is often worth explaining the main idea of what you have just been told before going on to make your own points. Nobody is offended by this and it shows that you have listened well. Above all be patient and accept that many people are not very good communicators. It's helpful to remember that the ways people move and position themselves while they are speaking can reveal a great deal about what they are saying. Equally important you should put yourself in the other person's place, both intellectually and emotionally; it will help you to understand what they are getting at and form a response. But don't be too clever. Faced with a know-all, many people keep quiet because they see no point in continuing. Which is the best title for this passage? Options: A. Don't be too clever B. Be a good listener. C. Don't miss anything critical D. Think of the speaker Answer:

B

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Question: A failed plot to kill Barack Obama, uncovered by US federal agents recently, has reminded people of the ideas that some humans associate with simple numbers. Two white American Neo-Nazi racists had planned to kill 88 African Americans, before finally assassinating Obama. The number "88" is equated with "HH", initials for the Nazi greeting, "Heil Hitler". "H" is the eighth letter of the alphabet . Many people were not familiar with the Neo-Nazi importance of 88, but associations attached to other numbers are more well-known, if not always believed. The number 13, for instance, is considered deeply unlucky. In the US, many buildings do not have a floor numbered 13. They instead label it 12A, or use the letter M, which is the 13th letter in the English alphabet. New York's John F. Kennedy International airport does not have a gate number 13. And the popular Irish flight carrier, Ryan Air, has banished row 13 from all its planes. Last year when Brussels Airline put 13 dots in their new logo, the flood of complaints was so vast the airline was forced to change their "unlucky logo" and add an additional dot. The fear comes from a Bible story, which states that Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th to sit at the table in the Last Supper. But the most fascinating fear of the number relates to Friday the 13th. It's a day of double bad luck. In the US, many people would not schedule a wedding for Friday the 13th. According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in the US, an estimated 17 to 21 million Americans are affected by a fear of this day. If you are in the US, you will probably not_. Options: A. live on the 13th floor B. attend a wedding on Saturday the 14th C. see a floor numbered 3 D. have an M floor Answer:

A

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Question: Bluebirds looking secretly from nest boxes. Tadpoles swimming in a pond. Tiger swallowtails flying quickly around a butterfly bush. And over here, a class of students watching it all. A field trip to a nature center? No, it's a schoolyard. With some work on your part, it could even be your schoolyard. Interested in building a schoolyard habitat? Here's how to get started. Gather a Team Students can do a lot on their own, but you'll need adults for a project this big. Get teachers, parents, and even the headmaster interested. Don't forget the maintenance staff--they know more about your school's yard than anyone else and can give you lots of help. Also, ask around your neighborhood for gardeners, naturalists, and others willing to give advice. Map Your Site Which part of the schoolyard can you turn into a habitat? Is there an unused corner of the playground? Part of a lawn or field you could let go wild? You'll need to make a map of the area showing what's there now. Then you can figure out how you want to change it. For that, you need a plan. Plan a Habitat Here's what you'll need to make your area attractive to wildlife. Food: Plant flowers, bushes, and trees. These provide seeds, berries, leaves, flowers, and sweet liquids. And all of these feed birds, and insects. You can also add some feeders for squirrels and birds. Where possible, stick with native plants--wild plants that grow naturally in your area. They need less care, which means less work for you. Water: A small pond, birdbath, or even a shallow dish of clean water in the ground will attract birds. Other small animals like insects may visit as well. Shelter: Bushes and trees make great escapes for birds. Tall grass and "weeds" are home to grasshoppers, garter snakes, and some ground-nesting birds. You can also add stone piles and brush piles. Places to Raise Young: Butterflies need special plants to lay their eggs on. Frogs and toads lay eggs only in shallow water. Many birds use birdhouses; others nest in trees and bushes. In fact, nearly all your shelters may become homes for wild young. Put It on Paper Using the map you made of your area, draw in the changes you want to make. Mark where the plants, nest boxes, and other items will go. Remember, this is a long-term plan--you don't have to do everything this spring. Maybe you could put up a few birdhouses and plant some butterfly bushes now and save the trees and bushes for next year. Even a small start is a big step for wildlife. Reach for Resources To make the habitat happen, you'll need lots of plants, seeds, and other supplies. You'll also need to buy or borrow tools and maybe even some heavy equipment. Now's the time to reach out for donations. Start by asking your parent-teacher organization. Then go to garden clubs, garden stores (they might give you a discount), local government agencies, and businesses. If they can't donate supplies or money, ask if they can donate workers! The workers can help build the habitat. You'll also need people to help maintain it. Some schools ask their students' families to take turns during the summer. Each family maintains the habitat for a couple of weeks. Build Your Design Now you can dig in. Set a date, and get growing! The main purpose for creating a nature habitat at school would be to _ . Options: A. improve the school's appearance B. raise money for other school projects C. teach students more about nature D. convince people to work as volunteers Answer:

C

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Question: A Play: Four Butterflies Characters: Red Butterfly (RB), Green Butterfly (GB), Green Tree (GT), Rose (R), Grandpa Sun (GS) Look! There are four butterflies in the garden. One is red, one is yellow, one is green, and the other one is white. They play games and dance together every day, and they are very happy. One day, it's fine. Four butterflies are playing a game in the garden. Suddenly it is full of dark clouds and it begins to rain hard. 1. GB: Oh, it's raining hard. Green Tree is over there. She can help us. GB: Green Tree, our wings are wet. Please let us stay under your leaves. GT: Green Butterfly, I like you. We have the same color. You can come in, but the other three butterflies must go away. GB: No, thank you. We are good friends. We love each other and must stay together. RB: Rose is over there. She can help us. 2. RB: Rose, our wings are wet. Please let us stay under your leaves. R: Red Butterfly, I like you. We have the same color. You can come in, but the other three butterflies must go away. RB: No, thank you. We are good friends. We love each other and must stay together. 3. GS: What good friends they are! This is a real friendship. I must help them. The sun drives the clouds away and asks the rain to stop. Soon the sun gives off bright light and dries up their wings. 4. Four butterflies: Oh, the sun comes out. Our wings are dry. Let's play and dance again. Whom do the butterflies ask for help? _ Options: A. Green Tree. B. Rose. C. Green Tree and Rose. D. Green Tree, Rose and Grandpa Sun. Answer:

C

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Question: Local businessmen are increasingly facing competition from on line retailers. Larry Pollock, owner of Camera Co/Op on South Congress, said he has been dealing with this kind of problem for years, even before the Internet. The struggle began with mail-order catalogues, which are similar to online retailers in that they have few employees to pay, no sales tax fees and no business venue to lease and manage. "Their overhead is lower, but they don't offer a service like we do," Pollock said. Pollock, however, said providing a valuable service to customers does not always guarantee continued sales. "We spend 30 minutes to an hour with somebody and they go home and buy it online," he said. According to the state comptroller's office, online shopping is developing at a more rapid rate than traditional businesses. In spite of how fair or unfair online shopping may be to the local businessmen, consumers will continue to turn to the Internet for its variety and accessibility, said Mitch Wilson, an online shopper. "You have a larger selection and it's easier to compare prices." Wilson said he built his personal computer and paid a third of the price by shopping online. "Before the Internet, I would have had to go and buy an assembled computer from somebody like Dell," he said. "Before I started shopping online I could never find all the pieces I wanted. No single store had everything needed, so shopping online saved me from having to buy from Dell." Janny Brazeal, a psychology freshman, said online shopping is too impersonal. "I'd rather see it in person, touch it, know that I'm getting it," she said. Brazeal also said she would not give out her credit card number or other personal information online no matter how safe the site claims it is. Why doesn't Jenny Brazeal like to buy things on line? Options: A. She is not sure about the quality of the goods on line B. She doesn't like to give her personal information to others C. She can't use the computer D. She doesn't know what she is going to buy Answer:

B

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Question: It was a sunny night. Jim was having a drink with his friend. He drank too much, and he had to leave at half past eight because he had a ticket for a music festival, which would start at nine o'clock. It was half past an hour's walk from the pub to the theatre. Jim knew a _ that would only take ten minutes, but it meant crossing rails , and was dangerous. He took the shorter way, however, and when he reached the rails, he tripped and fell over. Then he fell asleep with his face down. After a while, a train came. When the driver saw a body lying on the track, he tried hard to stop the train. When it finally stopped, it was several meters before the body. The driver quickly got off and checked. Luckily, he found the man was still alive, but sleeping. Though the driver tried hard to wake him, Jim just kept sleeping. The driver took Jim to the hospital, where he woke up at last. When Jim was told what had happened, he decided to give up drinking. "I'm so lucky that I have a chance to turn my life around,' he said. Jim wanted to _ after drinking with his friends. Options: A. go to bed B. see a movie C. go to the hospital D. take part in a musical festival Answer:

D

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Question: Water enters a cell and waste material leaves a cell through the cell membrane. Based on this information, the cell membrane is Options: A. semi-permeable. B. transparent. C. rigid. D. impermeable. Answer:

A

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Question: A man died and was on his way to another world, either heaven or hell . He saw an extremely grand palace half way and the owner of the palace asked him to stay and live in the palace. The man said, "I have been working hard during my life and now I just want to eat and sleep without any work." The owner of the palace said, "If so, there is nowhere else better than here for you. There is plenty of seafood and delicacies in my palace, and you can eat whatever you like without anyone stopping you. And nothing needs to be done by you." Then, the man settled down in the palace. At the beginning, the man felt very happy at the cycle of eating and sleeping. But gradually, he felt a bit lonely and void. So he went to the palace owner and said, "It is very bored to live by just eating and sleeping every day. Now I show no interest in this kind of life any more. Could you help me find a job?" The owner replied, "Sorry, there is no job here at all." After another several months, the man could not go on with the life and went to the palace owner again, "I really can not stand this kind of life any more. If you do not offer me a job, I would prefer to go to hell instead of living here." The owner of the palace smiled contemptuously , "Do you think it is heaven here? It is actually hell!" ,. (10) Where did the man think he was? Options: A. In heaven. B. In hell. C. At his home. D. On the Earth. Answer:

A

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Question: I wonder whether there is any girl or boy who does not like to see a rainbow in the sky. It is so beautiful. There is a story, saying that whenever you see a rainbow you should run at once to the place where it touches the ground, and there you would find a pot of gold. Of course it is not true. You could not find the pot of gold or its end. No matter how far you run, it always seems far away. A rainbow is not a thing which we can feel with our hands as we can feel a flower. It is only the effect of light shining on raindrops. The raindrops catch the sunlight and break it up into all the wonderful colours which we see. It is called a rainbow perhaps because it is made up of raindrops and looks like a bow . That is why we can never see a rainbow in a clear sky. We see a rainbow only when there is rain in the air and the sun is shining brightly through the clouds. Every rainbow has many colours in the same order. The first or the top colour is always red, and the next comes orange, then yellow, and last of all, blue. A rainbow is indeed one of the wonders of nature. The first colour of a rainbow is always _ . Options: A. yellow B. red C. green D. blue Answer:

B

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Question: The new mayor of Hillsdale, Michigan, is a man of the people, ready to listen to their problems, but only until 6 p.m. Then he has to do his homework. Michael Sessions, 18, beat former mayor Douglas Ingles, 51, by just two votes and became the new mayor of Hillsdale. He is America's youngest mayor. As Sessions was too young to enter the election in the spring of 2005, he registered- to vote on Sept. 22, one day after his 18-year-old birthday. The day after that he started his write-in campaign, which means he should persuade voters to remember his name and write it by hand on the voting ballots . To help get his name known, Sessions earned$700 by selling apples over the summer. He spent the money on posters and put them on the Hillsdale's lawns. Sessions' month-long campaign included going door to door, explaining his ideas of the town's future in the kitchens of his neighbors. "They'd look at me, and say'How old are you again? How much experience do you have?'And I say'I'm still in high school', "he said. Sessions promised Hillsdale's voters he would renew local economy. "I was hopeful the whole time, "he explained. One day he spent so long out on the streets knocking on the doors that he ended up in a hospital emergency room. Sessions said that his schoolwork will not get in the way of his job as a mayor. "From 7:50 a.m. to 2:30p.m., I'11 be a student. From 3 to 6, I'11 be the mayor of Hillsdale," he said. "He did a very brave thing that couldn't have been easy for him to do, "said Jack Vettel, a councilman in Hillsdale, a city of 8,200 about 75 miles southwest of Detroit. "He does care about this town. He's been here all his life. " Sessions will receive$3, 600 a year during his four-year term, and will work out of his bedroom since the town does not provide the mayor with an office. What is TRUE of Sessions' election campaign according to the text? Options: A. Sessions launched his election campaign on Sept. 22. B. Sessions worked so hard that he once tried to persuade people in a hospital. C. Sessions won the election campaign by a very close outcome. D. Sessions felt disappointed when asked about his age and experience. Answer:

C

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Question: The speaker, a teacher from a community college, addressed a sympathetic audience. Heads nodded in agreement when he said, "High school English teachers are not doing their jobs." He described the weaknesses of his students, all high school graduates who can use language only at a grade 9 level. I was unable to determine from his answers to my questions how this grade 9 level had been established. What the speaker was really saying is that he is no longer young; he has been teaching for sixteen years, and is able to think and speak like a mature adult. My point is that the frequent complaint of one generation about the one immediately following it is unavoidable. It is also human nature to look for the reasons for our dissatisfaction. Before English became a school subject in the late nineteenth century, it was difficult to find the target of the blame for language deficiencies . But since then, English teachers have been under constant attack. The complainers think they have hit upon an original idea. As their own command of the language improves, they notice that young people do not have this same ability. Unaware that their own ability has developed through the years, they suppose the new generation of young people must be hopeless in this respect. To the eyes and ears of sensitive adults, the language of the young always seems inadequate . Since this concern about the decline and fall of the English language is not recognized as a generational phenomenon but rather as something new and strange to today's young people, it naturally follows that today's English teachers cannot be doing their jobs. Otherwise, young people would not commit crimes against the language. According to the author, what is human nature? Options: A. Complaining English teachers. B. Complaining the younger generation. C. Seeking for the reasons to meet our satisfaction. D. Seeking for the original ideas of language deficiencies. Answer:

B

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Question: An ancient Egyptian mummy thought to be that of Pharaoh Ramses I has returned home after more than 140 years in North American museums. The body was carried off the plane in Cairo in a box covered in Egypt's flag. The Michael Carlos Museum gave it back after tests showed it was probably that of the man who ruled 3,000 years ago. The US museum acquired it three years ago from a Canadian museum, which in turn is thought to have bought it from Egyptian garve robbers in 1860. The mummy was welcomed back home with songs and military band music during a ceremony at the national museum in Cairo. Zahi Hawass, head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities , traveled from the US with the body and said it would be moved next year to the Luxor Museum in southern Egypt. "We are not 100% sure that mummy is that of Ramses I," said Mr. Hawass. "But we are 100% sure that it is of a king." Atlanta's Michael Carlos Museum acquired the mummy in 1999, but offered to return it after hi-tech scanning equipment indicated it was likely to be that of Ramses I. The museum website said it had been acquired from the Niagara Falls Museum. It is thought a Canadian collector bought the mummy for the Niagara Falls Museum around 1860 from an Egyptian family which had came across a tomb filled with royal mummies at a site near Luxor. Mr. Hawass praised the handover as "a great, civilized gesture". And he appealed to other world museums to return Egypt's antiquities, particularly the Rosetta Stone in the Britain Museum and the Bust of Nefertiti in the Berlin Museum. Where was Ramses mummy kept in just before the handover? Options: A. the Luxor Museum B. the Michael Carlos Museum C. the Niagara Falls Museum D. a Canadian Museum Answer:

B

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Question: Where in the world will a person have the smallest shadow at noon? Options: A. the arctic circle B. the south pole C. the north pole D. near the equator Answer:

D

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Question: Scientists know of more than 1,000 volcanoes on the surface of Venus, Earth's "sister" planet. A big question has been: Are they still active? The scientists say yes. Their evidence for recent volcanic activity on Venus comes from a lava flow in the planet's northern hemisphere. The flow is hotter than the rocks around, which means the lava might still be cooling off. "The flow we studied seems to be very young---it is still warm inside," Nataliya Bondarenko said. Venus is a difficult planet to study from Earth because it is surrounded by thick clouds. Telescopes on Earth can't see through these clouds, so the best information about Venus comes from spacecraft orbiting it. Bondarenko and her colleagues studied the lava flow using data from NASA's Magellan mission. That spacecraft spent four years in orbit around Venus and used radar to make a map of 98 percent of the planet's surface. On October 11th, 1994, the mission ended, and the spacecraft plunged through Venus' heavy cloud cover and crashed onto the planet below. While in orbit, the Magellan craft sent microwaves, which can go through Venus' clouds, to the surface. Microwaves are invisible and can be as long as three feet. These waves are a kind of energy, like light. And like light, they bounce off surfaces. The way the waves bounced off the Venus' surface and back to the craft supplied information that the scientists used to estimate the temperature of various parts of the planet's surface. Bondarenko's team found that the lava flow was hotter than its surroundings---which may mean the lava flow is in the process of cooling. The scientists say the lava flow can't be very old because if it were, it would have cooled off enough that Magellan wouldn't have noticed the difference in microwaves. She adds that the flow appears in a 1978 view of the surface that a craft called the Pioneer Venus Orbiter captured. The best title for the passage may be " _ ". Options: A. Warm lava on Venus B. More volcanic eruptions on Venus C. Venus is just like a big active volcano D. Lava flows are first found on Venus Answer:

A

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Question: Postmen wanted English teachers wanted No experience nec essary but you must be Warm and patient college students. Hard--working. Able to speak standard English, good with children. Free to choose working hours. Time: on weekends Write to No.38 Changehong Rd...Xiangyang E--mail address: [email protected] Taxi drivers wanted Tour guides wanted Full--time taxi drivers. Over five years Two years 'working experience. experience, good knowledge of the city. Good English and good at talking to people. Under 45 years old. Age:20--30 Fore more information, please come to Shunda Go to Friendship Traveling Company to ask the Taxi Company to visit the manager. manager for more information If you want to be a taxi driver,you should _ . Options: A. be over 45years old B. know the city very well C. write to No.38Changhong Rd D. speak English well Answer:

B

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Question: You can't remember who sings a certain song from the 90s. You Google it. You're arguing with a friend about who played Mickey in The Goonies. You solve the problem by Googling it. You don't know the way to that new restaurant. You Google Maps it. We hold the answers to about all of life's questions in our hands today. But that means our brains are feeling free to take some rest. According to the Daily Mail, our growing reliance on the Internet for fact checking is making our memories worse. Scientists at Harvard University found people now regard Google and other search engines as an outside part of their own brains, rather than a tool. Writing in the Journal Scientific American, Harvard psychologists Daniel Wegner and Adrian Ward warn that people who believe their memorable facts that are saved online are much worse at remembering them. "The Internet is also unlike a human memory partner; it knows more and can produce the information more quickly, You can find almost all information today easily through a quick Internet search. It may be that the Internet is taking the place of people's memory." In a series of tests, researchers found it was easy for people to remember information well if they believed it would be deleted. Those who thought it was stored on a computer were more forgetful, even if they were asked to keep the information in mind. According to the passage, if we depend on the Internet for fact checking, _ . Options: A. our brains will become smaller B. our brains will become bigger C. our memories will become worse D. our memories will become better Answer:

C

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Question: Saturday, June 16th In the morning, we went camping along a path in Green Natural Park. We were happy because it was a sunny day. We were expecting an enjoyable two-day holiday. On the way, we kept singing and making jokes. However, in the afternoon, when we finished our picnic at one o'clock, it was dark and windy. Soon, there was a shower. Unluckily, none of us brought an umbrella. We ran about but we could find no place to hide. Twenty minutes passed and it was still raining, There were hours to go before we reached the campsite . It was even worse that our small compass showed that we went to the wrong way. We had lost our way! We had to make a quick decision as it was raining heavily. Chris said we could set up a tent to hide in, so Mary and Tom helped to set up the tent. Chris and I tried to make a fire to keep us warm. But we were unable to light the fire, as everything was wet. We dried ourselves, chatted and waited inside the tent. At about five o'clock, it stopped raining. We decided to give up the camping trip because all of us had been very tired. This camping trip may not be very successful but we know each other better. And the most important thing I've learned from this trip is the importance of team spirit. The writer went camping in Green Natural Park _ . Options: A. in June B. for 2 days C. for 4 hour D. in the afternoon Answer:

A

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Question: What image does the word "Britain" conjure up in your mind? Big Ben,the frequently changing weather, fish and chips... But have you ever wondered what British people think means "Britain"? English playwright William Shakespeare and pop group The Beatles are the icons which inspire a sense of national pride in British people, according to a recent survey. More than 2,000 people were asked what aspect of Britain made them feel most proud. Shakespeare topped the list, followed by the National Trust, a charity which protects places of historical or environmental interest. These beat the British currency, the pound, and the BBC. Surprisingly, the royal family only made it to seventh on the list. "The royal family, while popular, does not inspire widespread pride," said a spokesman for Demos, the think tank which carried out the research. "However, it is certainly the case that -- through their unique capacity to hold and lead national events -- the royal family has a central role to play in developing pride." Terence Blacker, a reporter for The Independent, believes the study shows the nature of new patriotism . "It turns out that modern British patriotism is not really about nationhood at all," he wrote. According to the poll, the most impressive symbols of national pride concerned private conduct and character. Volunteering topped the list, followed by politeness and patience. It can be inferred that _ can make Chinese feel most proud. Options: A. volunteering. B. education. C. Luxun. D. Population. Answer:

C

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Question: John's dog seemed to be getting chubby. He concluded that Options: A. the dog was sleepwalking. B. the dog was getting more exercise C. the dog was overindulging in meals and snacks D. the dog was refusing to eat Answer:

C

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Question: Every day when Cora Castle, 14, from Indiana, US goes back home, she opens her computer and logs into a website called Fuel Up to Play 60. She puts on what she has eaten and what kind of activities she has played that day. Then the site decides whether Castle has eaten healthily and done enough exercise. All the seventh graders in Castle's school have done the same thing since the year started. It's part of their health class. If the site finds her habits are unhealthy, it will give her advice. If she does something good, the website will give her a star. Her health teacher set up a competition to see which student could get the most stars from the website. Castle has got 30 stars so far. Cameron Bartlett said she liked tracking the food and activities. "This is the first year we've done it," she said. "It's really interesting to see all of the different choices that we have." The seventh grade health class is coming to an end. They won't be in health class, but the students all said that they would go on to take part in the Fuel Up to Play 60. "There's lots of bad food out there that we've all been eating," Bartlett said "This really helps all of us eat healthier food." Castle logs into the health website because _ . Options: A. it's part of her health class B. her teacher set up a competition C. she wants to know bad food D. she can get lots of stars from it Answer:

A

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Question: East Hampton Fine Arts Festival Date: July 4-6, 2010 Time: 10:00 am-6:00 pm East Hampton Fine Arts Festival features (...)America's top artists and is one of the highest quality juried show on Long Island. Learn about their inspiration and skills. The Festival offers a full range of arts, including painting, photography, glass, and more. $9.00 Adults / $7.00 Seniors / $4.00 Students / Free for museum members and children under six Where: Montauk Highway (Rt.27), Amagansett, NY 631-421-1590 Winzy Instant Winner Sweepstakes Winzy is a search engine where you can win free prizes -- every search on Winzy is a chance to win immediately! Just use Winzy to search the Web and you will be reminded if you have won an instant prize. Prize: Prizes vary each month -- For example, current prizes include: Apple iPod Nano, Apple iPod Shuffle, $25 Gift Certificate for Amazon.com, $10 Gift Certificate for Amazon.com Female Babysitter Wanted Location: Johannesburg Female babysitter wanted for one child aged 11 years for the following position: Mon-Fri: Fetch child from school (Benmore, Sandton) at 3:30 pm, drop off at my work or drop off at home (Florida Hills) and wait for me to come home at about 5 pm; Babysit for 3-6 hours every alternative week / weekend (Florida Hills)--must be flexible. Must have a driver's license. Coastlife Adventures Learn to surf on soft surfboards on the NSW South Coast. Surf lessons from beginners to advanced with qualified surf instructors and lifesavers. A variety of surf packages are available to suit everyone. Coastlife is famous for its new instructional method and high quality equipment. Surf classes operate daily on beaches between Tathra, Pambula and Merimbula. The beaches we teach on are rated as the safest in the area by Surf Lifesaving Australia. Tel: 02-6494-1122 The person who wants to work as the babysitter described in the third ad must _ . Options: A. have cooking skills B. be a qualified driver C. have childcare experience D. be patient and enthusiastic Answer:

B

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Question: Mr Green has a car. In the morning he takes his children to school in his car. Then he drives to work. Mr Green and his children do not have lunch at home, but Mrs Green does. She does not go to work. She stays at home and does some shopping and cleaning in the morning. In the afternoon she usually goes to see some of her friends, has tea and talks a lot with them. Then she cooks supper for her family. Mr Green comes back home much later than his children. They do not come back in their father's car. They take a bus home. They usually come back home before five. From the passage we can see _ . Options: A. Mr Green can cook a good supper B. Mrs Green has supper only with her children C. Mr Green's family don't live very happily D. Mr Green usually comes back home after five Answer:

B

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Question: Life on-line can be a much richer experience when you aren't restricted to just written words and still pictures.Even if you're new to the Net,you've probably heard about multimedia on-line--listening to audio,watching animations and videos,even playing in three-dimensional space.Sound and movement make information come alive. To experience it,you'll need special pieces of software called plug-ins.The term "plug-in" refers to a small,add-on piece of software which extends the capabilities of your web browser,like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer,turning your computer into a radio or TV. When you arrive at a web page which contains a file requiring a plug-in which you don't have,you will usually receive a message asking if you want to get it by downloading it and installing it into your computer.Most of the time,the installation will be automatic. Occasionally,you'll run into a downloaded file which needs to be decompressed or un-zipped before installation.Once installed,plug-ins run automatically,without you having to do anything. Many multimedia controls still need to be obtained from the developer but are installed automatically. Shockwave is a good example of this.All you need to do is go to the Macromedia site and click on the link to install the ActiveX control.The rest happens automatically.The next time you go to a "Shocked" website,the Shockwave control loads and plays the movie. Most plug-ins and controls can be downloaded for free on the Internet,although not all will work with every system.Some of them,for instance,only work with Windows 95. Most of the time,how can we get a plug-in before automatic installation? Options: A. We have to buy it from the developer. B. We have to borrow it from the developer. C. We have to rent it from the developer. D. We can obtain from the developer without paying. Answer:

D

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Question: A house of cards? Sounds unbelievable, doesn't it? Not if the architect is 31-year-old Bryan Berg. He's made a career out of building fantastic card houses, stadiums, capitols, castles -- and the world's tallest card tower. How does he do it? Bryan's structures are amazing because they are made entirely of perfectly balanced, freestanding playing cards. He never uses glue, tape, or anything else to hold the cards together. Nor does he fold the cards. He's discovered another way to make a strong house of cards, using a trick from nature. To make plants strong, nature builds them with cells that have tough walls. Rows and rows of these cells form a grid that helps leaves and stems keep their shape. Bees use the same kind of repeating pattern to create strong honeycombs, where they live and store honey. Bryan designs similar grids, using cards to create a repeating pattern of cells. He begins with a single cell made by balancing four cards against one another to form a box. Then he repeats the cell over and over, expanding outward to form the grid, which makes a good foundation for a strong card structure. The larger the grid, the more weight it can carry. Sometimes Bryan uses several cards, instead of just one, to construct the cell walls, making the grid even stronger. The trick, he tells kids when he speaks in classrooms, is to place your cards as tightly together as possible when laying out your grid, making sure the cards are not leaning at all. After building this solid base, Bryan lays cards across the top to make the floor for the next "story" of the building. He may add towers, columns, steeples, or domes. Using the principle of repeating cells, Bryan builds structures of amazing strength. In the Cards Not surprisingly, Bryan has always been interested in building things. Growing up on a "big, old farm" in rural Iowa, he had plenty of room to play. "We were in the middle of nowhere," Bryan remembers, "with lots of space to do whatever we wanted. I was always making something, using things like sticks or bales of hay." Bryan's grandfather taught him how to stack cards. Bryan's two interests -- building and card stacking -- soon combined. But stacking in his family's farmhouse was challenging. "Our old house had wood floors that weren't all level," he reports. "And they weren't very firm. When people walked around, it was like 'earthquake action.' It was a challenge to build something that wouldn't fall down immediately." Bryan constructed tower after tower; he went through a lot of trial and error before he built anything taller than himself. When he placed a few decks of cards on top of his grid, he discovered how strong it was. Bryan's towers began to grow taller. How Tall Is Too Tall? Bryan's first Guinness World Record for the world's tallest card tower came in the spring of 1992, when he was in high school. Learning that the world record was 12 feet 10 inches, Bryan built a slim tower that topped out at 14 feet 6 inches. Done as a project for his geometry class, it took him 40 hours and 208 decks of cards. Since then he's gone on to win world records for even taller buildings. His latest winner measured 25 feet 3.5 inches and used about 2,400 decks of cards. _ Why don't these towers fall down? The key is in a good solid base, a repeating pattern of stories, and a tapering top. Bryan likes to point out how card buildings resemble real ones. They are built cell by cell, story by story. The separate parts make one strong whole. The heavier the building, the stronger and more stable it is. But the weight can't all be at the top. After spending so much time building something so cool, Bryan admits it's sometimes painful to see his structures destroyed. But he compares his work to the building of a sandcastle or an ice sculpture. "They wouldn't be as special if they were permanent," he points out. "My buildings are like snowdrifts, or clouds in the sky. They can't last forever. What was Bryan's first world record? Options: A. The tallest card tower. B. The widest card dome. C. The heaviest card house. D. The sturdiest card structure. Answer:

A

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Question: I'm often told how I have a dream job, that I work for a great company, getting to deal with the leaders in social media every day, and especially that I get to work from my home. Usually the people who tell me that working from home is wonderful have never worked fromhome. They spend most of their career working from an office and hate it. In fact, I love being able to work from home and make my own hours. I truly appreciate beingable to drop what I'm doing to attend kids or go shopping, but there's a side to it we don't often talk about, the hard side. No one wants to believe people like me, working from home, have anything tocomplain about. Really, I'm not going to complain, but I do want to share a few things about telecommuting that few home-based people want to tell you, because working from home doesn't look so wonderful. One of the reasons I love my job is the flexibility . I know that I can volunteer for school projects,meet friends for lunch and work out for an hour as long as I get my work done. But did you know telecommuters have to make up the time if they wish to fill their days with fun items? Sowhile my husband and kids are watching a movie, I'm working until midnight. Besides, when youwork from home, you're held to your phone and Skype in case someone wants to talk toyou during business hours. So it's not so easy to be flexible! We learn from the passage that the writer _ . Options: A. can balance her work and family life well B. is quite satisfied with her present work C. presents some unknown facts of working from home D. complains about the disadvantages of working from office Answer:

C

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Question: One upon a time there was a dragon named Jack. He was large and had big scales, but did not have claws or a mean look on his face like other dragons did. He also didn't have wings and couldn't fly. Jack lived near a castle that had a princess trapped in it. This castle looked and was guarded by an evil dragon named Ryan. The castle was old and dirty. It wasn't clean or special like many castles are thought to look. One day Jack thought that he was going to try to save the princess Linda when Ryan was sleeping that night. After sunset, he slowly walked around and climbed over the back wall. After passing many sleeping guards, Jack put his nose near the princess's tower window. She climbed out on to it and they ran off. During their escape, Ryan woke up and started chasing them. However, he was too sleepy to catch them. Jack took the princess to a nearby safe town where she thanked him and said goodbye. What time of day did Jack try to save the princess Options: A. sunrise B. sunset C. night D. day Answer:

B

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Question: Come on! All of us are cutting math. Who wants to take that quiz? We're going to take a walk and get lunch instead. Let's go!" says the coolest kid in your class. Do you do what you know is right and go to math class, take the quiz? Or do you give in and go with them? People who are at your age, like your classmates, are called peers. When they try to influence you how to act, to get you to do something, it's called peer pressure. It's something everyone has to deal with--even adults. Peers influence your life, even if you don't realize _ , just by spending time with you. You learn from them, and they learn from you. It's only human nature to listen to and learn from other people in your age group. Peers can have a positive influence on each other. Maybe another student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember the planets in the solar system. Or you got others excited about your new favorite book, and now everyone is reading it. Sometimes peers influence each other in negative ways. For example, a few kids in school might try to get you to cut class with them. It's difficult to say "no" to peer pressure, but you can do it. Paying attention to your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong can help you know the right thing to do. It can really help to have at least one other peer, or friend, who is willing to say "no" too. If you continue to face peer pressure and you're finding it difficult to handle, talk to someone you trust, a parent, or a teacher. They can help you feel much better and prepare you for the next time you face peer pressure. According to the author, _ . Options: A. peer pressure does kids more harm than good B. math is the most difficult subject for most kids C. kids today are under greater pressure than before D. peer pressure exists among people of all age groups Answer:

D

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Question: Arctic areas are covered with snow and ice for much of the year. Which color rabbits would be safest from foxes there? Options: A. grey B. black C. white D. brown Answer:

C

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Question: Put your car keys away and forget about your travel pass --- it's time to do a bit of walking. National Walking Month is organized every May by Living Streets, an organization that campaigns for the rights and the needs of pedestrians, so the organization is previously known as the Pedestrians' Association. The association's aim is to make streets safe, attractive and enjoyable spaces for people to live, work, shop and play. By putting people (rather than vehicles) first, Living Streets wants to create streets and spaces where people feel happier, healthier and more sociable. The annual campaign gives participants a great opportunity to experience the many virtues of walking. These include the physical health benefits of becoming fitter; the environmental advantages of not using vehicles; the delight of local discoveries --- seeing more of your local areas on foot; the enjoyment of walking with other people, whether family, friends or work colleagues and finally the stress relief that comes from walking --- walking can clear your head. Walk to School Week, 18 to 22 May, is part of the month's activities and its aim is to encourage parents to send children to school on foot, rather than take them in the car or let them use public transport. The movement was started in 1995 with only five participating schools and now two decades later, more than one million children take part. Similarly, there is Walk to Work Week, 11 to 15 May, where grown-ups are encouraged to walk. In the morning, getting off the bus a stop early or parking a few streets away is a good way to add more steps to the daily total. And during the working day, after having lunch at the desks or in the canteen, take a walk and get some fresh air. Walk home with your workmates and chat away about everything under the sun but work! What can we learn from Walk to School Week? Options: A. It is organized by the government. B. It is held before Walk to Work Week. C. It has developed rapidly over the last 20 years. D. It encourages students to walk to school alone. Answer:

C

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Question: My elder brother Steve, in the absence of my father who died when I was six, gave me important lessons in values that helped me grow into an adult. Steve taught me to face the results of my behavior. Once when I returned in tears from a Saturday baseball game, it was Steve who asked me what happened. When I explained that my baseball had soared through Mrs. Holt's basement window, breaking the glass with a crash, Steve encouraged me to admit to her. Although my knees knocked as I explained to Mrs. Holt, I offered to pay for the window from my pocket money if she would return my ball. I also learned from Steve that personal property is a sacred thing. After I found a shiny silver pen in my fifth-grade classroom, I wanted to keep it, but Steve explained that it might be important to someone else in spite of the fact that it had little value. He reminded me of how much I'd hate to lose to someone else the small dog my father made with a piece of cheap wood. I returned the pen to my teacher, Mrs. David, and still remembered the smell of her perfume as she patted me on the shoulder. Yet of all the instructions Steve gave me, his respect for life is the most unforgetful in my mind. When I was twelve I killed an old brown sparrow in the yard with a BB gun. Excited, I screamed at Steve to come and take a look. I shall never forget the way he stood for a long moment and stared at the bird on the ground. Then in a dead, quiet voice, he asked, "Did it hurt you first, Mark?" I didn't know what to answer. He continued with his eyes firm, "The only time you should even think of hurting a living thing is when it hurts you first, and then you think a long, long time." I really felt terrible then, but that moment stands out as the most important lesson my brother taught me. What is the passage mainly about? Options: A. The relationship between Mark and Steve. B. The important lessons Mark learned in school. C. Steve's important role in Mark's growth stage. D. Mark and Steve's respect for living things. Answer:

C

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Question: The vast majority of fitness trackers count your steps and are worn around the wrist, but now there's a device that's designed to be worn like a necklace and monitors tiny movements to improve your posture. The Fineck device aims to address neck pain by tracking tiny movement, spotting bad habits and suggesting exercises via an accompanying app. Made from silicone and titanium , Fineck monitors a wearer's movement, balance, posture and movement thanks to sensors inside. The Mountain View California-based firm says that a high percentage of people suffer from neck pain and associated problems, probably caused by more individuals doing office jobs, which generally involve leaning over computer keyboard. The device contains sensors, several different types of instruments to monitor movement, plus a monitor to shake. It connects to an IOS app via Bluetooth so that wearers can see their bad habits and play "neck training" games. The app warns of health risks and records a user's activity to build up a customer personal health description. The necklace shakes to give smart advice, such as reminding wearers to sit up straight. The app also allows users to set goals, like many other wearables do. "Fineck is the first wearable device for your neck that tracks your neck activity and warn you when you are in a bad posture for too long. You can also exercise your neck with Fineck's interactive games." The company writes on Kickstarter. "No matter where you are and what you are doing at office, on the go, or simply just feeling bored, Fineck will bring you enriched exercise experience through motion sensing games and therapies." It also claims that it is "the world's first titanium wearable device". The metal is widely used in fashion stuff that you can wear or carry to match your clothes because it is lightweight, durable and does not tend to cause allergic reactions. It also offers additional features such as shaking to indicate alerts on a user's smartphone, but it is not currently clear whether it can also be used like bands, to count steps, and so on. The Fineck has a battery life of around seven days and takes one hour to charge. It is available to pre-order via Kickstarter from $69(PS44)and is due to ship in March next year. We can infer from the passage that the Fineck device will _ . Options: A. actually not cause allergic reactions. B. enrich your life by providing "neck training" games C. monitor a wearer's movement due to the material it is made of D. help to correct your improper postures Answer:

D