We might not be alone in the universe. Actually, it may be confirmed as a very crowded place by new computer models developed to help identify habitable planets.
Estimates of places where life can exist have been based on the possibility of them having surface water. But software recently developed by the Aberdeen University allows researchers to identify planets with underground water kept liquid by heat from planets.
Water is fundamental for life and planets too close to the sun lose water to the atmosphere through evaporation. On the other hand, planets located in distant reaches from their star have their surface water locked away as ice.
Sean McMahon, who is carrying out the work, explained: "Traditionally people have said that if a planet is in this Goldilocks zone--not too hot and not too cold--then it can have liquid water on its surface and be habitable."
But this concept might change when considering that planets can receive two sources of heat--heat direct from the star and heat generated deep inside the planet.
It is easy to observe it in our own planet. As you go down through the crust   of the Earth, the temperature gets higher and higher. Even when the surface is frozen, water can exist below ground.
There could be immense quantities of water in fact--full of primitive life.
Professor John Parnell, also from Aberdeen University said: "There is a significant habitat for microorganisms below the surface of the Earth, extending down several kilometres".
"And some believe that the majority of life on Earth could even reside in this deep biosphere."
So the Aberdeen team are developing models to predict which distant planets might harbour underground reservoirs of liquid water with the possibility of alien life.

Question: What is considered as the symbol of life existence traditionally?

Choices:
- Solid water on its surface.
- Solid water below ground.
- Liquid water below ground.
- Liquid water on its surface.

Question: Why did John Parnell mention the fact about Earth?

Choices:
- To prove that there is majority of life on Earth.
- To prove that life may also exist in other planets.
- To prove that there is primitive life down through Earth.
- To prove that there is a habitat for microorganisms below Earth.

Question: What theory is the Aberdeen team's study based on?

Choices:
- Planets can lose water through evaporation.
- Planets can receive heat direct from the star.
- Planets can have their surface water locked away as ice.
- Planets can receive heat generated deep inside the planet.

Question: What can we know about the computer models?

Choices:
- They will help identify planets where there is life.
- They will help researchers find Goldilocks zones.
- They have helped find some significant discoveries.
- They have already located some habitats for life.


The findings of a new survey have American professors talking about the good old days--when A's were a lot tougher to earn.
Sites like Rate My Professors.com make it easy for students to find a class taught by a professor who is known as an "easy grader".A recent survey by Kaplan Test Prep found that 46 percent of the more than 1,200 students polled admitted to using the site for just such a purpose.
"Our research shows that many of today's college students are looking at multiple factors when picking out courses: overall teacher quality that will result in a good learning experience, but also instructors who don't like to award a lot of C's and D's," said Jeff Olson, vice president of research at Kaplan Test Prep.
"While it makes sense that students would choose kinder graders, it also helps explain the recent popularity of grade inflation ."
Grade inflation is seen by many professors as poisoning the learning environment.Some, like former Duke University professor Stuart Rojstaczer, are righting it head-on.
On his website, Gradelnflation.com, he releases an annual list of schools where grade inflation is the worst.
This year, he decided to name the schools where grades were inflated the least.He praised, for example, Princeton University, as well as Purdue University, where the average GPA has remained around 2.8 for over 30 years.
"Purdue doesn't even seem to know that grade inflation exists in the US," Rojstaczer says."Ignorance is bliss ."

Question: Grade inflation is spreading because    _   .

Choices:
- it's poisoning the learning environment
- instructors intend to improve their overall teaching quality
- many instructors adapt to the students' expectations
- students get easy access to sites like RateMyProfessors.com

Question: The passage suggests that    _   .

Choices:
- universities will employ hard graders
- if we want to be happy, we should be ignorant
- A's are becoming easy to earn at most US universities
- professors and instructors should give students higher grades

Question: The writer tends to    _   .

Choices:
- favor easy graders
- see grade inflation as unavoidable
- oppose Kaplan Test Prep
- miss the days when A's were hard to earn


For years we have been dieting strictly after the year-end overeating, afraid that when summer. comes, the bigger size we have accumulated will betray how we ate. Now scientists say, it's a little bug that causes obesity .
    As the holiday season with its abundant feasting arrives, millions of food lovers are keeping an eye on their figures. But scientists have found that weight gain is not about too much Christmas
turkey or hot chocolates, but some bacteria in your guts .
    Chinese scientists recently discovered a type ofbacteria in guts that may be to blame for obesity.
    A research team led by Zhao Liping, a professor in Shanghai, has identified a precise link
between a particular kind ofbacteria and unusual weight gain.
    "The endotoxin  released by the bacterium can activate  a gene that helps produce fat. And it also deactivates a gene that consumes fat," Zhao says.
    Scientists have long believed that microscopic organisms in the gut, microbiota, may play a very important role in weight gain, but they had never been able to prove it.
    In 2004, American microbiologist Jeffrey Gordon and his colleagues discovered a general link between obesity and gut microbiota in mice.
    While a link was believed to exist, proving it was another matter.
    "The list of diseases that they may play a role in is just growing and growing," says Lita Proctor, director of the US National Institutes of Health. "But the problem is that we're only able to look at associations and aren't yet able to conduct cause-and-effect studies."
     In the clinical study, researchers found a growth of too much endotoxin-producing bacteria,
leading t0 35 percent ofthe gut bacteria, in an obese patient whose initial weight was 175 kg.
     Based on this information, researchers tried to cure the patient by feeding him a specialized
nutritional liquid food to decrease the bacteria in his guts to ignorable amounts.
     After 23 weeks, the patient lost 51.4 kg, with his fatty liver disease having almost disappeared.

Question: We diet strictly after the year-end overeating because  _  .

Choices:
- we won't betray ourselves
- we eat too much turkey
- there are bacteria in our guts
- we don't want to look fat

Question: What can be learned from Zhao's research?

Choices:
- Obesity is related to a kind of bacteria.
- Healthy diet helps reduce your fat.
- Chocolate doesn't cause weight gain.
- Too much food leads to overweight.

Question: Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Choices:
- Scientists didn't try to find out the cause of overweight.
- There is a link between mice's overweight and human's.
- Lita proved the link between bacteria and weight gain.
- Scientists found bacteria may be related to many diseases.

Question: The patient finally lost 51.4 kg of his weight after   _  .

Choices:
- 35 percent of his gut bacteria were killed
- the amount of gut bacteria was decreased
- he had a special kind ofoperation
- his fatty liver had disappeared

Question: What does the passage mainly talk about?

Choices:
- People's eating habits.
- Healthy lifestyles.
- A medical discovery.
- The consequence of obesity.


While elephants are respected by the people of Thailand, they are also used as beasts of burdens  . Today, these majestic animals are extensively used to help carry wood for the logging industry. It is therefore nice to hear that on National Elephant Day the mighty mammals are treated like a king, and served with meals fit for a king.
One of the biggest celebrations took place at the Pattaya Resort in Thailand's Chonburi Province. Fifty-two elephants, some wearing beautiful clothes, arrived bright and early   for the big day. Each was first blessed with holy water by a professional elephant rider and then led to the grand feast, which served an unlimited supply of their favorite treats--bananas, dragon fruits  , pineapples, assorted melons, apples and the list went on and on! The elephants ate till they were satisfied before walking back with their owners for a good night's rest.
Though called National Elephant Day, the celebrations that took place on March 13th this year stretched out for an entire week. Besides providing a well-deserved treat and break for the hard-working animals, the celebrations were also aimed to raise awareness about the mammal's dwindling   population. One smart elephant even helped show the message by painting a dead elephant and the words "Don't kill me", right beside _ .
And horrible as the message may sound, there is a sad ring of truth to it. Since the 1900s the number of elephants in Thailand has gone from over 100,000 to just 3,000-4,000 because of the destruction of their natural habitat and illegal killing. Asian elephants are not the only ones that are in trouble. African elephants are facing the same fate  . Hopefully, the public and officials are now working together to save these mighty animals from disappearing from the world.

Question: Nowadays elephants in Thailand are

Choices:
- still used to help fight battles
- never used as beasts of burdens
- used to do tasks that need strength
- less respected because of the development of the society

Question: The celebrations held at the Pattaya Resort aimed to   _  .

Choices:
- show visitors the elephants' great performance
- honor elephants for their devotion to the country
- encourage people to play with elephants
- show visitors the beautiful scenery in Thailand

Question: What can we learn from the text?

Choices:
- Elephants are protected very well in Thailand.
- Elephants also face the risk of being killed in Thailand.
- The number of elephants is increasing gradually in Thailand.
- Elephants could enjoy a grand feast every week in Thailand.


You've probably heard of the expression "A leopard can't change its spots." This, of course, is true of leopards. But isn't it true of people? Can people change themselves? Are we humans just creatures of habits? Do we not have any control over our actions and habits?
One guy said, "Bad habits are like a comfortable bed. They're easy to get into, but hard to get out of." Someone else said, "The chains of habits are too small to feel until they're too strong to break." So breaking the mould of our bad habits takes effort.
Habits are like the roads we take through our life every day. The problem is that not every road takes us where we need to go. Actually, our routes through life often become our ruts   in life. We end up stuck in them and find it hard to dig ourselves out. That's why we must change our bad habits as soon as possible before they become our second nature. You see, our habits become our character and our character becomes our life. As one wise person said, "First we make our habits, and then our habits make us."
But we humans don't like to change. So we come up with excuses, like "I can't be different; that's just the way I am." And the good excuse is "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." But that's just it: we're not dogs or animals. In fact, we're the only creatures who have the freedom and power to change and choose the kind of person we want to become.

Question: The author's attitude towards changing one's bad habits is  _  .

Choices:
- doubtful
- optimistic
- negative
- indifferent


A news release is a tool of communication,through which information is passed to even the farthest end of the world.It keeps us well informed of the happenings of the world which would otherwise remain unknown.
When writing a news release,keep in mind that the media receive hundreds of releases every day.Try to follow these guidelines:Keep it short and professional.Come up with a _ headline that will grasp someone's attention.Sometimes the title will take more time to come up with than writing the release.That's okay-the headline could be critical for getting an event covered!
Cover the 5 W's in your first paragraph.Those are who you are; what you are doing;where,when you are doing;why you are doing it,which help us understand the details about the event.Besides,any opinions in the news release should be put in quotations from your designated spokesperson.Include things that the media finds newsworthy,which is the most essential.
Make the time on your news release at least half an hour later than the time you have told activists to show up at an event.This will ensure that activists are prepared and in place by the time the media arrive.
Choose a spokesperson for the event who can be quoted in the release and will be available for calls at that number the day before the event.
Have someone proof the release for spelling,grammar and content(determine whether what you are trying to relay is clear and right).Sometimes the person who writes the release may not notice mistakes that a fresh pair of eyes will catch.
Accuracy is the last but not least important in terms of your content and the location and time that you tell the media.If you do make a mistake,it is critical that you call and notify the media of the correction.

Question: What's the main purpose of the passage?

Choices:
- To tell us the importance of the news release.
- To tell us how to avoid mistakes in the news release.
- To make us know how to make the news release.
- To ask us to read news release on the latest events.

Question: What is the most important for a news release according to the passage?

Choices:
- Make sure the 5 W's in your first paragraph.
- Choose a proper spokesperson for the event.
- Make the news release newsworthy and accuracy.
- Ensure activists are prepared for the events in advance.

Question: Which of the following is RIGHT according to the passage?

Choices:
- A news release is more important than any other medium.
- Any opinions in the news release should have quotations.
- The main task of the spokesperson is to correct the mistakes by the writer.
- Lacking experience,the person who writes the release may make mistakes.


Are you a big fan of pirate  stories? Do you know how to talk like a pirate? You can have fun on September 19th. This special holiday is called International Talk Like A Pirate Day. It was invented in 1995 by two young Americans, John Baur and Mark Summers.
These two good friends came up with this idea when they were playing racquetball, and began to talk like pirates. At that moment, they thought, "Young people are interested in pirate, but there is no such a chance for people to get together to share it. Why not have a day when everybody talks like a pirate?" They decided to make September 19th the date. Since then, Baur and Summers have tried hard to promote Talk Like A Pirate Day. As Baur said, "We've talked like pirates, and encouraged several of our friends to do so every September 19th."
At first, this day was only known by a few people. In 2002, Baur and Summers sent a letter about their invented holiday to Dave Barry. This columnist really liked their idea. He promoted the holiday and made it known to more and more people. Now, it has really become an international holiday. On Talk Like A Pirate Day, you need to dress like a pirate. You should wear a big hat or maybe cover one of your eyes. You can pretend to be any kind of pirate that you can find in any story or movie.
Having fun and being relaxed are not the only best things about the holiday. Young people share the same interest and childhood dreams that day. That's why it is welcomed by so many people, especially young people.
Unlike traditional holidays, International Talk Like A Pirate Day is a brand new holiday which is invented by the youth themselves and celebrated by themselves too. Because of Baur and Summers' imagination and creativity, thousands of young people's pirate dream come true. Next time, when you have a good idea, why not share it with your fiends and insist on your belief? Maybe you can create another wonderful holiday for the youth in the future.

Question: How did John Baur and Mark Summers invent the special holiday?

Choices:
- Many young people asked them to do it
- They did it just for pleasure
- They did it in order to honor pirates
- They thought out the idea by chance and imagination

Question: Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

Choices:
- It was Dave Barry who made more people know the holiday.
- Talk Like A Pirate Day is a young, active and lively holiday
- The holiday has been popular since the birth of it.
- Thanks to John Baur and Mark Summers' imagination and creativity, many people realize the pirate dream.

Question: According to the passage, which of the following can show that the holiday is special?

Choices:
- It is a brand new holiday invented and celebrated by the youth themselves.
- It is a wonderful and instructive holiday.
- It has a long history.
- People can make their dream come true on this day.

Question: Which of the following can serve as the best title of the passage in a newspaper?

Choices:
- Young people's pirate dream
- Can you talk like a pirate?
- John Baur and Mark Summers
- September 19th--a traditional day in honor of pirates


Once upon a time a peacock  and a tortoise became great friends. The peacock lived in a tree on the bank of the stream in which the tortoise had his home, and every day the peacock danced near the stream and displayed his gay plumage for the amusement of his friend.
Unfortunately, one day a bird-catcher caught the peacock and was about to take him away to the market. The unhappy bird begged his captor to allow him to say goodbyeto his friend -- the tortoise. The bird-catcher agreed and took the peacock to the tortoise, who was greatly astonished when he saw his friend become a captive. The tortoise asked the bird-catcher to let the peacock go, but the bird-catcher laughed at his request, saying that was his livelihood. The tortoise then said, "If I give you a handsome present, will you let my friend go?" "Certainly," answered the bird-catcher. So the tortoise dived into the water and in a few seconds came up with a handsome pearl. To the bird-catcher's astonishment, the tortoise handed it to him. This was beyond his expectation, and he let the peacock go immediately.
A short time later, the  _ man came back and told the tortoise that he thought he had not been paid enough for the release of his friend, and threatened that unless he received another pearl which matched the first one, he would again catch the peacock. The tortoise, who had already advised his friend to go to a distant place on being set free, was greatly enraged at the greed of this man. "Well," said the tortoise, "if you insist on having another pearl like that one, give it to me and I will fish you out an exact match for it." The cupidity of the bird-catcher prevented his reasoning that "one in the hand is equal to two in the bed of the stream", and he quickly gave the pearl to the wily tortoise, who swam out with it, saying, "I am no fool to take one and give two!" and disappeared immediately, leaving the bird-catcher to be sorry for his greed.

Question: This passage is a   _  .

Choices:
- joke
- fairy tale
- fable
- life story

Question: Why did the bird-catcher come back to the tortoise?

Choices:
- Because he wanted to win a match.
- Because he thought the pearl didn't suit him.
- Because he wanted to thank the tortoise.
- Because he wanted to get one more pearl.

Question: From the story about the peacock and the tortoise, we learn that   _  .

Choices:
- the tortoise was cleverer than the peacock
- a friend in need is a friend indeed
- the peacock was very careless
- the tortoise was a fool

Question: In this passage, the author is telling us that   _  .

Choices:
- human beings shouldn't trust a tortoise
- if we are too greedy, we may get nothing
- human beings shouldn't catch animals
- the bird-catcher shouldn't have asked for another pearl


Welcome to Gold Coast Wax Museum
HIGHLIGHTS
The Gold Wax  Museum is one of the Cold Coast's longest running attractions.  It's a collection of famous figures.  It's Australia's largest museum of its kind, featuring more than 110 life-size wax figures copies of British and Australian History.
The Wax Museum is visited by many thousands of people each year who are shocked at the amazing realism of the life-size figures in authentic costumes. This is your invitation to wander through at your leisure and meet many important and famous people's figures on Queensland's Gold Coast.
Come face to face with such celebrities as Michael Jackson, President Obama, past President  John F. Kennedy, King Hussein, members of the Royal Family, and many others whose lives have all  left an indelible  mark on our world.  Information cards are located alongside each figure.
The Gold Coast Wax Museum contains figures which have been made by leading local and overseas sculptors to international standards, equal in quality to the world's best, as seen in Europe, the United Kingdom, and U. S. A.  The detail in the figures is amazing -and includes hair applied one strand at a time, requiring many working hours for one hand, and the eyes are so real that they seem to follow the viewer around.
Price
Child (1-3yrs) free
Child (4-12yrs) $ 22. 00
Adult  $ 29. 00
Family (2 Adults + I Child) $68.00
Opening hours
Open 7 days a week, 10a. m.  to l0p. m.
Closed at Christmas Day (25 Dec. ) and Anzac Day (25 Apr. )
Location
Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise ( Gold Coast ) QLD
How to get there
You can choose any of the Gold Coast airport transfers, car rentals, shuttles and private transfers to/from your hotel. Many coach  operators also offer Gold  Coast transfers to surrounding attractions, beaches, and the more distant destinations, throughout the day.
What to bring
Bring your sense of adventure and your camera and  see something exciting and quite unique.
For further information, please click here to see more about the Gold Coast Wax Museum.

Question: If you visit the Gold Coast Wax Museum, you can

Choices:
- see many members of the Royal Family in person in the Museum
- enjoy some world-class vivid max-works in the Museum
- meet many leading local and internatioanal sculptors in the Museum
- e at any time of the year except at Christmas Day

Question: If a couple and their l0-year-old son visit the Gold Coast Wax Museum, they may pay  _  .

Choices:
- $87
- $80
- $68
- $58

Question: You will most probably find this passage   _  .

Choices:
- in a guidebook
- in a magazine
- in a text book
- on a webpage


If you want to pay a visit to Iceland, you'll enter a whole new region of experience. You'll discover original nature as you've never seen it before. The freedom to wander  in the city or the wilds as you please is the key to the Iceland experience.
Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, is just a part of the Icelandic experience with its midnight sun or the magical landscapes mixed with ice and fire. Reykjavik has a population of around 170,000 and offers an interesting mix of culture and local village roots.
Old accounts say the ancient gods themselves guided Iceland's first settler to make his home in Reykjavik. He named the place Reykjavik (Steamy Bay)after the geothermal steam he saw, which today heats homes and outdoor swimming pools throughout the city, a pollution-free energy source that leaves the air very fresh, clean and clear.
A beautiful river runs through the city limits, and so do fine parks and even wild outdoor areas. Against this backcloth of nature, Reykjavik has a packed program of familiar city joys too: art museums, several theaters, an opera house, a symphony orchestra and concerts meeting the needs of all ages and tastes.
One must for all visitors is dining out on Icelandic specialties, including delicious seafood, ocean-fresh from the morning' s catch, highland lamb and unusual varieties of game. Its purely natural food is imaginatively served to delight the most discerning of diners. Reykjavik is also famous as one of Europe's hottest nightspots, where the action on the friendly pub and nightlife scene lasts right through the night. In the evening, the downtown area is filled with activity, reaching its peak on Friday or Saturday. The number of pubs, cafe, discos, and other nightspots in the downtown area is astonishing. There is a rich variety of places to go: European-style cafes, nightclubs with live entertainment, dance halls for seniors, sports-theme pubs with big TV screens, cafes that offer over 100 types of beer, an Irish pub, a Spanish cafe, a French wine bar.
Walking distances are short downtown, and everything worth seeing outside the city center can be quickly and conveniently reached by bus. With its long, easy-going main street and large shopping mall, Iceland's capital is a great place to shop too -- with a bonus of tax-free shopping for visitors!
 A full range of accommodations is available in Reykjavik, from international-standard hotels with good conference facilities, through smaller hotels and comfortable guesthouses, to a campsite in the city's biggest park.

Question: It can be learned from the passage the Reykiavik_.

Choices:
- was named by the ancient gods.
- was named by Iceland's first settler.
- got its name from the visitors.
- was named after Iceland's first settler.

Question: It can be inferred from the passage that_.

Choices:
- people living in Reykiavik seldom get heat from coal.
- hotel accommodation is so rare that visitors usually camp in the city's biggest parks.
- all visitors must dine out while visiting Iceland.
- you have to walk a short distance if you want to go sightseeing outside the city.


I grow up in San Pedro. My Dad was a fisherman, and he loved the sea. He had his own boat, but it was hard making a living on the sea. He worked hard and would stay out until he caught enough to feed the family. Not just enough for our family, but also for his Mom and Dad and the other kids that were still at home.
Dad was a big man, and he was strong from pulling the nets and fighting the sea for his catch. When you got close to him, you smelled the ocean.
When the weather was bad he would drive me to school. He would pull right up in front, and it seemed like everybody would be standing around and watching. Then he would lean over and give me a big kiss on the cheek and tell me to be a good boy. It was so embarrassing for me. Here I was twelve years old, and my Dad would lean over and kiss me good-bye!
I remembered the day I thought I was too old for a good-bye kiss. When we got to the school and came to a stop, he had his usual big smile. He started to lean toward me, but  _ It was the first time I had ever talked to him that way, and he had this surprised look on his face.
I said, "Dad, I'm too old for a good-bye kiss. I'm too old for any kind of kiss." My Dad looked at me for the longest time, and his eyes started to tear up. I had never seen him cry. He turned and looked at the windshield . "You're right," he said. "You are a big boy...a man. I won't kiss you any more.
It wasn't long after that when my Dad went to sea and never came back.
Guys, you don't know what I would give to have my Dad give me just one more kiss on the cheek ...  to feel his rough old face ...  to smell the ocean on him ...  to feel his arm around my neck. I wish I had been a man then. If I had been a man, I would be a man. I would never have told my Dad I was too old for a good-bye kiss.

Question: From the passage, we know that the writer's father   _  .

Choices:
- was a successful businessman
- had an accident and died at sea
- was good at driving cars
- drove the writer to school every day

Question: The writher wrote the passage in order to   _  .

Choices:
- .tell readers about his father's love to him
- attract readers to visit his father
- give a brief introduction to himself
- ask readers to love their fathers


Schoolgirls have been wearing such short skirts at Paget High School in Branston that they've been ordered to wear trousers instead. All skirts will be banned from September. Tight-fitting trousers will also be forbidden and Muslim head-dresses will have to be "school blue'' color.
Head teacher Don Smith said, "One of the big problems for us at the school has been the number of girls who have been wearing inappropriately short skirts. This has been an area of particular concern at a time when there has been a lot of material nationally about the sexualisation of young people."
He also said, " It will be impractical to police the length of girls' skirts. A blanket ban will be easier for staff to put into practice. We did not want to arrive at a situation where we were telling girls their skirts could only be a certain number of centimeters above or below the knee. Pupils', parents' and other teachers' opinions were sought before the uniform rules were changed.,,
The new clothing policy has been explained in a letter sent to parents of the school's 1,000 pupils and will come into force after the summer holiday. Support will be given to parents unable to afford the new tie. The school also wants pupils to wear clip-on ties instead of traditional neckties.
But the new uniform rules have not been well received by everyone. One parent, whose teenage daughter attends the school, said, "I completely agree some girls were wearing skirts that were too short. However, I think girls should be allowed to be feminine .Other schools manage to let girls wear skirts while making sure they are not inappropriately dressed. I don't see why Paget can't do the same."

Question: The girls at Paget High School are not allowed to wear skirts in that    _  .

Choices:
- short skirts give people the impression of sexualisation
- short skirts are too expensive for parents to afford
- the headmaster doesn't like girls wearing short skirts
- the girls wearing short skirts will be at the risk of being laughed at

Question: We can learn from the passage that   _

Choices:
- the new uniform rules are well received by everyone
- no schools in Branston allow girls to wear short skirts
- parents unable to afford the new uniform will gain support
- the pupils' parents were informed of the new clothing policy

Question: What's the attitude of Mr. Smith towards the new uniform rules?

Choices:
- Disagreeable.
- Supportive.
- Anxious.
- Curious.

Question: What's the best title for the passage?

Choices:
- New School Rules Set
- Girls' Skirts Forbidden
- Traditional Neckties Gone
- Different Opinions Voiced


One warm September night, Mira had come down to the beach to enjoy the night air. She closed her eyes and listened to the waves. Suddenly, she could hear another sound, so she opened her eyes and looked down at the sand. It was moving! All of a sudden she could see a tiny head coming out. Then a turtle  appeared! One by one they struggled out of their underground nests. Mira looked in surprise at the baby turtles.
Mira knew the turtles should head towards the waves and swim away, so she was puzzled when they began to pull themselves towards the dunes . Suddenly, she remembered something her grandmother had told her.
"Sea turtles bury their eggs on the beach every year in April and in September. Those baby turtles hatch  and head back down to the sea. But some of them never make it. Sometimes they die going across the dunes, trying to find those bright lights on the houses. Every day there are more houses being built on the dunes. That means more and more lights to confuse the sea turtles."
Mira looked out across the dunes at her house. Mira saw her mother and father, sitting on the porch . She could see them because her house had two bright lights that lit up the porch.
Mira began to run to her house and shouted, "The turtles are hatching! We have to help the turtles!" With these words, Mira ran into the house and turned off the bright porch lights.
In a rush she was off running down the dunes with her whole family following her. They reached the beach just in time to see the tiny turtles slipping silently into the waves. Mira watched as the last turtle entered the water. As the turtle swam away, it looked back at Mira. In the moonlight, Mira thought she saw it smile.

Question: Where did the story happen?

Choices:
- On a beach at night
- In a house near the dunes.
- On a front porch in the evening.
- In the shallow water of the ocean.

Question: How did Mira feel when she saw the baby turtles appear?

Choices:
- Proud.
- Sad.
- Confused.
- Surprised.

Question: How did Mira know the lights confused the turtles?

Choices:
- She read it in a book.
- Her grandmother told her.
- She learned about the turtles at school.
- Her parents taught her about the turtles.

Question: Why did Mira run to her house?

Choices:
- To get a flashlight
- To turn off the porch light.
- To communicate with her parents.
- To ask her grandmother about the lights.

Question: This story is mainly about a girl   _  .

Choices:
- enjoying the ocean
- turning lights off at night
- saving the baby turtles
- learning from her grandparents


Trapped on the 37thFloor
Melinda Skaar wasn't expecting any phone calls. Skaar was working late in her office at the First Internet bank of California. By 10:45 that night she was almost ready to go home when the phone rang.
Picking it up, she heard a guard shouting. There is a fire! Get out of there.
Skaar didn't panic. She figured that it was just a small fire. Her office building was huge. There were 62 floors and her desk was on the 37thfloor.
Skaar called out to office mate Stephen Oksas, who also stayed late to work. But when they got out to the hallway, they were met by a cloud of black smoke. Rushing back, Skaar shut the door and filled the space at the bottom of the door with her jacket to keep the smoke out.
Then they called 911. before they could call their families, however, the line went dead. That meant that they were completely cut off from the outside world. All they could do was wait and hope someone would come to rescue them.
Minutes ticked by. Smoke began to float into the office. Soon it became hard for them to breathe.
Looking around, Skaar noticed a small workroom. It seemed to have cleaner air. So they crowed there. That helped for a while, but in time even the workroom was filled with deadly smoke.
Hopeless, they tried to break the windows, but the glass was not breakable. Everything they threw at just bounced back.
Defeated, they struggled back to the workroom. They felt weak and dizzy. Soon Skaar found Oksas had passed out.
Skaar and Oksas knew they were lucky to be alive. Sunday is my birthday, Skaar told a reporter. She would be turning 29. but she knew she had already got the best present possible----the gift of life.

Question: What did Skaar and Oksas do where were stopped by the fire?

Choices:
- they called their families
- they waited where they were
- they tried to run down the stairs
- they rushed back and shut the door

Question: The first sentence of the passage is to  _  .

Choices:
- introduce Skaar
- get the reader's attention
- explain the cause of the event
- tell the background information

Question: The following helped Skaar and Oksas survive the fire except  _  .

Choices:
- calling 911 for help
- breaking the windows to get some fresh air
- crowding in a small workroom for clean air
- shutting the door and keeping the smoke out with a jacket

Question: what can we conclude from Skaar's action in the fire?

Choices:
- she is cleverer than Oksas
- she was trained as a firefighter
- she remained calm in the face of danger
- she had had the experience of being caught in fire.


China, known as the "kingdom of bicycle", will see a quick growth in electric bicycle production in the next five years thanks to the country's efforts to save energy and improve the environment.
The output of electric bikes is expected to maintain an annual growth rate of at least 80 percent in the coming five years. China will _ 30 million electricity-driven bikes in 2020, compared to 9 million bikes last year, according to a report from the Development Research Center under the State Council and other ministries such as the National Development and Reform Commission.
The central government wants to reduce the amount of energy consumption   by as much as 20 percent within the next five years. That would be achieved through the introduction of new sources of energy and encouraging people to save energy, China Daily reported.
The smoke from car exhausts   is a major cause of pollution darkening the sky in Chinese cities, especially Beijing. On Monday, industrial experts called on the government to come up with more preferential   measures to spread the use of electric bikes in China.
Electric bike production in China accounts for about 90 percent of the world's total, making China the world's biggest producer, consumer and exporter of the energy-efficient vehicle, the report said. The country last year sold about 3 million electric bikes to foreign countries, a figure expected to double in five years. By 2020, the production value of the electric bike industry in China is expected to be 70 billion yuan, almost four times of the current level.

Question: Why will there be a quick growth in electric bicycle production in the next five years in China?

Choices:
- Because electric bicycles can save the consumer more money.
- Because the central government encourages people to save energy.
- Because most people in China can't afford cars.
- Because the Chinese government limits the development of bicycle production.

Question: We can learn from the passage that   _  .

Choices:
- China will produce 9 million electricity-driven bikes in 2020
- the central government of China wants to increase the amount of energy consumption
- China is the world's second biggest producer, consumer and exporter of the energy-efficient vehicle
- the output of electric bikes is expected to increase at least 80 percent in the coming five years

Question: What is the best title for the passage?

Choices:
- How to make electric bicycles
- The world's biggest producer of electric bicycles
- China's quick growth in electric bicycle
- How to save energy and improve the environment


A single letter written by Albert Einstein was sold for more than $400, 000. But could an e-mail printout or an electronic file reach similar heights? That's the question facing those who deal in the literary artifacts of public figures, as they struggle to work out how to do business in the electronic world where information can be copied and spread out more easily than ever before.
"Booksellers, collectors and libraries are already trading in digital objects," Joan Winterkorn, a researcher told people. When Emory University Library bought author Slaman Rushdie's archives   in 2006, it received a desktop computer, three laptops, a hard drive and a smart phone along with his paper flies. And the writer John Updike, who died last month, started using computers in the 1980s, Winterkorn pointed out, so his "papers" will include a big store of electronic documents.
So far, however, digital archives have been traded as just a small part of a larger, mainly paper-based archive. Indeed, no one is quite sure how much the digital documents of a historical figure are worth.
 _ " said Gabriel Heaton, a literary manuscript specialist, adding that more tangible   digital objects were easier for auctioneers   to price and sell, "What about a laptop? For example, the one used by J. K. Rowling to write Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in an Edinburgh cafe has real value," he said. "Because she used it." Even if the hard drive had been cloned by a library, the artifact would still be valuable.
Gordon Bell, from Microsoft Research, suggested that prices will actually fall to almost nothing. "Once it's been copied and spread out the value is gone. It's just a piece of memory."

Question: What is the purpose of the example mentioned in Para. 1?

Choices:
- To introduce the topic of the passage.
- To show that some written letter are of great value.
- To get readers interested in electronic documents.
- To tell us to pay attention to public figures, artifacts.

Question: According to the text, the trade in digital archives   _  .

Choices:
- has been well developed
- is still in its early stage
- is enjoying a period of prosperity
- is developing very rapidly

Question: Who doesn't think digital archives are of great value?

Choices:
- Joan Winterkorn.
- Salman Rushdie.
- J. K. Rowling.
- Gordon Bell.

Question: What is the author's attitude towards the trade in electronic documents?

Choices:
- Negative.
- Positive.
- Neutral.
- Hopeful.


There are one billion homeless people living in our world today . The Homeless World Cup exists to end this , so we all have a home , a basic human need .
The Homeless World Cup is an annual , international football tournament  , uniting teams of people who are homeless to take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever . It has inspired and supported over 50 grass roots  football projects around the world working with homeless people throughout the year .
The first tournament took place in Graz 2003 uniting 17 national teams . At the 5th Homeless World Cup in Copenhagen in 2004 , 48 nations , 500 players were united for a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country . 25,000 players were involved in pre-tournament training and trials around the world .
The Homeless World Cup is full of players with courage , spirit and determination . Research shows that 73% of players change their lives for the better after the international tournament by coming off drugs and alcohol , moving into jobs , education , homes , training , reuniting with families and even going on to become players and coaches for professional or semi-professional football teams . David Duke (Scotland) played in 2004 , came off alcohol , passed his coaching qualifications  . He became assistant coach for Scotland 2005 , coach in 2006 and now owns his own home . The best goal scorer in 2004 Yevgen Adamenko(Ukraine) went on to play in a professional club in Ukraine .
The Homeless World Cup supporters include Nike , UN , Manchester United , Real Madrid and international footballers Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand .

Question: The purpose of the Homeless World Cup is to  _  .

Choices:
- find a home for homeless people
- collect money for homeless people
- help the homeless kick bad habits
- help the homeless start a new life

Question: Which of the following statements is true about the Copenhagen Homeless World Cup ?

Choices:
- It took place in early December .
- 25,000 players entered the tournament .
- Nearly 50 teams competed in the tournament .
- David Duke won the best goal scorer in 2004 .


Ladji Doucoure of France beat Olympic champion Liu Xiang of China in the final meters to claim the title of the men's 110 meters hurdles at the 10thworld championships in Helsinki on Friday.
Doucoure, who led the world this season with 12.97 seconds, over took the Chinese to win the race in 13.07 seconds. Liu was second in 13.08. Four-time world champion Allen Johnson of the United States took the third in 13.10.
The 22-year-old Doucoure said after the race, " I can not tell you just how long I have been dreaming of this. This victory is the result of a lot of hard work, and also a lot of support from people who have believed in me. I had a bad start, touched a few hurdles, but after the 4thhurdle I _ and went straight to the finish line."
Liu, who won the Olympic gold with a world record-tying time of 12.91 seconds, said, "I'm very satisfied with the second place. The result could have been worse. I felt quite well and did my best. I' m not tired, I had some clearance problems at the start, so I should practice that some mor. Finally, I didn't lose by much, only by a little bit, but I did think I could win it."
Liu's coach, Sun Haiping said on Friday he was content with Liu's performance.
" Liu Xiang was quite good during his reaction period, but he was a little bit slow in the middle and he finally caught up during the last two hurdles," Sun told Xinhua.
Although satisfied with the silver medal and the clocking of 13.08 seconds, Sun said Liu might have added the world title to the Olympic championship if Liu had run the track neighboring his major rivals  of Doucoure Ladji or Allen Johnson.
" If he had run next to Ladji Doucoure or Allen Johnson, Liu could have kept pace with them and then sprinted  at the last stage. In this case, he could grab the gold," said Sun, who had become a household name for coaching China's first men's Olympic champion in the track.

Question: This passage probably appears  _  .

Choices:
- in a story book
- in a text book
- in a newspaper
- in a fashion magazine

Question: The following statements about Doucoure are true EXCEPT  _  .

Choices:
- He won the gold medal in the men's 110m hurdles in Helsinki.
- He led the world in the men's 110m hurdles with 12.97 seconds this season.
- He did a lot of hard practice before the race in Helsinki.
- He won the world champion title four times.

Question: According to Sun Haiping, Liu Xiang might have won the gold if   _  .

Choices:
- he had done better during his reaction period
- he had run the track next to Ladji Doucoure of Allen Johnson
- he had practiced clearance more before that race
- he hadn't touched a few hurdles in the race


In our daily life, many of us feel stressed more or less. Some like this pressure and work better because of it. Others are not comfortable with any stress at alls they soon become unhappy if they feel stressed. Sometimes stress can lead people to do things they wouldn't usually do, such as overeat, smoke, drink, or use drugs. Streas, however, is a very normal part of life.
It is important to understand that stress doesn't come from an event itself, that is, from the things that are happening in our lives. It comes from the meaning we give to what has happened. For example, a crying baby may be stressful to one person, but it may not bother another person at all, a traffic jam may be stressful to one person while another person may be able to stay calm.
We can experience stress any time we feel we don't have control. It can come from a feeling that we can't do anything about a situation. Basically, it is the body's way of showing anxiety or worry.
Stress is not just caused by our mental or emotional condition. It is also influenced by how tired we are, whether we have a balanced diet with enough vitamins and minerals, whether we get enough physical exercise, and whether we can relax.
The key point of relieving the stress is that we need to find what is causing the stress in our lives. Once we have found it, we should try to change that part of out lives. If we believe that we can control stress, we can begin to control out lives. Then we can start to use stress in positive way.

Question: According to the text,   _   can cause stress.

Choices:
- overeat
- smoke
- a traffic jam
- a hard test.

Question: The author mentions the example of crying baby in order to  _

Choices:
- explain that stress is everywhere
- tell different people react to stress differently
- help people learn that stress comes from an event
- give the definition of stress.

Question: What does the author suggest dealing with stress?

Choices:
- Finding the cause and making changes.
- Controlling the emotions
- Having enough sleep
- Taking some drugs

Question: From the text, we can conclude that  _  .

Choices:
- if someone has stress he will do something wrong unavoidably
- anyone can experience stress when he is out of control
- one will feel no stress at all if he gets enough physical exercise.
- one is sure to work better because of the stress.


One summer day as I was heading to the teaching building I heard someone call my name. I turned around and I saw Philip ,a counselor  at our admissions office , standing with another young man, Philip introduced me to him, Stephen, and reminded me that Stephen would be taking one of my classes.
Stephen looked at me. With a somewhat painful expression, he asked if my class was going to be hard and if he would be able to pass. I introduced all the things that he would be expected to learn. As we talked, I saw Stephen's eyes getting big with fear.
I told him to do all of his assignments, and to hand them in on time. Rather than being overwhelmed  by all of the work, I told him the most successful students made a master calendar of all the assignments so they could plan their workload.
As the fall semester went on, I learned more of Stephen's story. It had taken him longer to finish the assignments than most young people. Family members , including his mother ,kept reminding him that he was a failure. But he kept at it and didn't take them to heart. He told me that before coming to our college, no one believed he could manage it.
Stephen didn't become an A student. Still, he managed to pass all of his courses by being in class every day, turning in all of his assignments on time and breaking down his study into bite-sized parts. By passing course after course he began to gain a measure of self-esteem.
On his graduation day, he walked up to me, and said "Thank you."

Question: According to Stephen's questions to the author, we know that Stephen  _  .

Choices:
- wasn't very confident about himself.
- didn't want to attend the author's class.
- had never been an A student.
- couldn't pass the author's exam.

Question: Compared with other students, Stephen  _  .

Choices:
- arranged his workload better.
- failed fewer times than them.
- spent more time on study.
- handed his work earlier.

Question: According to the passage, the author  _  .

Choices:
- wouldn't have met Stephen without the introduction of Philip
- told Stephen how to deal with his study.
- helped Stephen to get an A in his class.
- didn't believe that Stephen could study in college

Question: What lesson can we learn from the passage?

Choices:
- A good beginning is a half done.
- One bite at a time
- Haste(n.) makes waste
- Look before you leap(v. ).


C.O.P.D  blocks air flow through the lungs. It makes breathing difficult. The leading cause of C.O.P.D. is cigarette smoking. Experts at the National Institutes of Health in the United States say there is no cure to the damage to the lungs.
Dawn Demeo is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. She said, "By 2020, C.O.P.D. may be the third leading cause of death across the world."
C.O.P.D. is a new name for emphysema  and chronic bronchitis . These are the two most common forms of the disease. Many people with C.O.P.D. have both of them. And Doctor Demeo says more women than men now die from the disease.
She is the lead author of a study by a team from Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital and the University of Bergen in Norway. The new study adds to findings that women may be more at risk than men from the damaging effects of smoking.
The team examined results from a Norwegian study of 954 people with C.O.P.D. Inga-Cecilie Soerheim co-wrote the team's findings. Doctor Soerheim says they show that women suffered the same level of C.O.P.D.as men. But the female smokers were younger and had smoked a lot less.
The team also looked at two groups among the people in the study. These were people under the age of 60 and those who had smoked for less than 20 years. In both cases, women had more serious C.O.P.D. and a greater loss of lung function  than men.

Question: It can be known from the study that  _  .

Choices:
- female smokers die faster than male ones.
- women are more likely to suffer from the damaging effects of smoking than men.
- O.P.D than women.
- in the group of people under the age of 60, men suffered more from

Question: In which part of a newspaper would you most probably read this passage?

Choices:
- Science
- Health report
- Education
- Business report


Wild animals seem to have escaped the Indian Ocean tsunami , adding weight to ideas they possess a "sixth sense" for disasters, experts said on Thursday.
Sri Lanka wildlife officials have said the giant waves that killed over 24,000 people along the Indian Ocean island's coast seemingly missed wild beasts, with no dead animals found.
"No elephants are dead, not even a dead hare or rabbit. I think animals can sense disaster. They have a sixth sense. They know when things are happening," H.D. Ratnayake, deputy director of Sri Lanka's Wildlife Department, said on Wednesday.
The waves washed floodwaters up to 3 km (2 miles) inland at Yala National Park in the southeast, Sri Lanka's biggest wildlife reserve and home to hundreds of wild elephants. "There has been a lot of evidence about dogs barking or birds migrating before volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. But it has not been proven," said Matthew van Lierop, an animal behaviour specialist at Johannesburg Zoo.
"There have been no specific studies because you can't really test it in a lab or field setting," he said.
Other authorities agreed with this conclusion.
"Wildlife seem to be able to pick up certain phenomenon, especially birds. There are many reports of birds detecting coming disasters," said Clive Walker, who has written several books on African wildlife.
Animals certainly rely on the known senses such as smell or hearing to avoid danger such as predators .
The idea of an animal "sixth sense" is a lasting one that the evidence on Sri Lanka's damaged coast is likely to add to.

Question: This passage is mainly about  _  .

Choices:
- the damage that was caused in the Indian Ocean tsunami
- why animals can save them from natural disasters
- how to protect the wildlife when disaster happens
- the different opinions about animals' natural power

Question: Which of the following is true according to the text?

Choices:
- It has been proved that animals have a "sixth sense".
- Research has been made on the special movements of animals before disasters.
- It's generally considered that animals can sense the coming of disasters.
- Animals have depended on the known senses to escape the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Question: What does the term "sixth sense" in the text means?

Choices:
- It is the natural ability of animals that can save them from danger.
- It is the animal's imagination in the brain.
- It is some hidden power to say in advance that something will happen.
- It is a kind of sense that is the same as smell or hearing.

Question: Which section does the text most probably appear in a newspaper?

Choices:
- News Report.
- Discovery.
- Science Fiction.
- Culture.


Science isn't something mysterious, only for the few. Every one of us--whether a poet, worker, or physicist has to be able to think scientifically, and to understand some science, such as whether to smoke, what to eat, and what protection to use. Even for decisions that don't depend on some scientific facts, science remains the proven set of best methods for getting exact information about the world.
   Some people will end up as policy-makers in government or business. People such as these make decisions that affect the life of everyone, and most of them know no more about science than does the rest of the general public. Yet they are called upon to decide what to do about nuclear reactors , global warming, environmental toxins , expensive space programs, and biomedical research. It's nonscientists, not scientists, who have the last word on whether the milk we drink can safely come from cows treated with medicine. To make such decisions wisely, the decision makers have to be drawn from a scientifically educated public.
   Even if science is irrelevant  to the lives of ordinary Americans, _ . This requires lots of young people to become excited enough by science that they decide to become professional scientists. This also requires, to some degree, the support and understanding of the general public.
Scientists are not always able to communicate their findings in an easy-to-understand manner. Although the scientists should do a better job of explaining what they have discovered, members of the general public have to make efforts to understand what is being said.

Question: What does the author mean by saying that "a strong scientific spirit is basic to the economy, educational system and society"?

Choices:
- School and society should encourage young people to become professional scientists.
- The school should only teach lessons of economy and education*
- A scientifically educated public is basic to the economy,educational system and society.
- More scientists work in our economy, educational system and society.

Question: The general public is required to   _  .

Choices:
- support and understand the need of scientific education
- check what the scientists are saying
- give help to the policy-makers
- become professional scientists

Question: According to the passage, who can decide whether the milk we drink can safely come from cows treated with medicine?

Choices:
- Scientists
- Young people
- The public
- Policy-makers


In terms of history, Australian cuisine was on the basis of traditional British cooking brought to the country by the first settlers.Modern Australian cuisine,however.has been heavily influenced by Australia' s Asian and Southeast Asian neighbors.The trend,encouraged by long-term government health programs,is towards low-fat healthy cookery including low-fat meat and lightly cooked,colorful,steamed or fried vegetables.Besides,1ike many English families,in many Australian homes,a widespread tradition of having roast turkey,chicken,and ham for Christmas 1unch or dinner still remains.
Generally breakfast is light in most parts of Australia.but in the colder regions porridge or meals similar to the full English breakfast may be consumed.In recent years,however,most Australian people prefer light breakfast in order to control their weight.The 1ight breakfast commonly consists of cereals ,toast and fruit.A heavier breakfast will frequently include fried bacon,eggs,mushrooms,etc.Drinks taken at breakfast include tea,coffee,milk or juice.
The evening meal is the main meal of the day for most Australians,and when consumed at home,it is often eaten with members of the _ .The dishes served will vary widely according to the tastes and background of the family.A typical Australian restaurant might offer sandwiches,chicken or other meat-based dishes and cakes.
In recent years,take--away food is becoming popular in Australia.American-style chain restaurants are common including Subway,KFC,and Mcdonald's.They a11 come from America.Most of these restaurants sell high quality food at reasonable prices.
With the high 1evels of immigration from the Middle East.South and Southeast Asia.Korea.China and other countries from a11 over the world to Australia.many authentic and high-quality restaurants are run by first-and second-generation immigrants from these areas.

Question: From the passage, we learn that  _  .

Choices:
- fewer and fewer immigrants enter Australia every year
- Subway is a chain restaurant and it is from the USA
- home cooking is becoming more and more popular in Australia
- a typical restaurant mainly offers porridge and noodles for supper


How's your relationship with your dad? It can be easy to let walls build up between you during the teen years. But by taking several simple steps, you can help improve the relationship between the two of you--even without great efforts. Here are a few quick tips.
Talk it out. Communication is key to any friendship. Open your mouth and let your dad know what's on your mind. Give him a chance to get to know you.
Listen up. Your dad's lived more life than you have. Believe it or not, he's probably been there and can help you get through the pressures and struggles. Ask how he dealt with school, girls or temptations  . Then pay attention.
Take some time. It can be hard for us kids to talk about what really matters. But spending time together can build the relationship, and create chances to talk. Go for a hike or a game. Work on the car. Whatever you're into, ask your dad to do it together.
Fight fair. Family disagreements are unavoidable.  _ , keep your mouth respectful and cool off before you say something bad. Talk it out when you can do so calmly.
Realize respect. Face it: your dad's been given authority   to help guide you as you know. He's going to make mistakes, but so are you. Forgive him when he blows it, and honor his decisions--even if you don't agree.

Question: The main purpose of the passage is to advise teenagers on how to   _  .

Choices:
- respect and obey their fathers
- communicate with their fathers
- ask their fathers for advice
- get along well with their fathers

Question: According to the writer,   _  .

Choices:
- fathers have the right to guide teenagers
- respect means never fighting with fathers
- disagreements can be avoided through efforts
- always keeping your mouth closed really matters

Question: "When temperatures rise" means  _  .

Choices:
- when it is too hot
- when teenagers have a fever
- when fathers fall ill
- when disagreements get worse

Question: From the passage we can infer that  _  .

Choices:
- fathers play an important role in teenagers' growth
- communication can prevent all the disagreements
- talking everything out at once always helps
- teenagers should never get angry with their fathers


The U.S. Department of Labor statistics  show that there is an oversupply of college trained workers and that this oversupply is increasing. Already there have been more than enough teachers, engineers, physicists, aerospace experts, and other specialists. Yet colleges and graduate schools continue every year to turn out highly trained people to compete for jobs that aren't there. The result is that graduates cannot enter the professions for which they were trained and must take temporary jobs which do not require a college degree.
On the other hand, there is a great need for skilled workers of all sorts: carpenters, electricians, mechanics, plumbers, TV repairmen. These people have more work than they can deal with, and their annual incomes are often higher than those of college graduates. The old gap that white --collar workers make a better living than blue collar workers no longer holds true. The law of supply and demand now favors the skilled workmen.
The reason for this situation is the traditional myth that college degree is a passport to a prosperous future. A large part of American society matches success in life equally with a college degree. Parents begin indoctrinating  their children with this myth before they are out of grade school. High school teachers play their part by acting as if high school education were a preparation for college rather than for life. Under this pressure the kids fall in line. Whether they want to go to college or not doesn't matter. Everybody should go to college, so of course they must go. And every year college enrollments  go up and up, and more and more graduates are overeducated for the kinds of jobs available to them.
One result of this emphasis on a college education is that _ . Of the sixty percent of high school graduates who enter college, half of them do not graduate with their class. Many of them drop out within the first year. Some struggle on for two or three years and then give up.

Question: It's implied but not stated in the passage that   _  .

Choices:
- many other countries are facing the same problem
- white-collar workers in the US used to make more money than blue-collar workers
- fewer students will prefer to go to college in the future
- the law of supply and demand has a strong effect on American higher education

Question: Which of the following is NOT a reason why college enrollments go up every year?

Choices:
- Many people believe that the only way to success is a college education.
- Many parents want their children to go to college.
- High school teachers urge their students to go to college.
- Every young man and woman wants to go to college.

Question: By saying that "many people go to college who do not belong there", the author means that   _  .

Choices:
- many people who are not fit for college education go to college
- many people who do not have enough money go to college
- many people who go to college drop out within the first year
- many people who go to college have their hopes destroyed

Question: We can infer from the passage that the author believes that   _  .

Choices:
- every young man and woman should go to college
- college education is a bad thing
- people with a college education should receive higher pay
- fewer people should go to college while more should be trained for skilled jobs


An English saying goes: " _ " That means we should relax after a day's hard work or we'll be unhealthy.
Many students know that if they want to get ideal jobs with good salaries, they must do well in high school so they can enter good universities. Therefore, they spend all day studying without time to relax.
However, not all students can go to top universities even if they work very hard. Students are pressurized by parents and teachers who are just concerned about their studies and exam scores while ignoring their hobbies and individual differences. As a result, students are forces to work harder and harder. Furthermore, there is pressure coming from students themselves. They realize they have a slim chance of getting into a top university as competition is fierce. So, they put a lot of stress on themselves and stay in a nervous state day after day. If they keep it up,   they'll suffer illnesses; both psychological and physical.
What students need is relaxation. This doesn't mean that they should give up their ambitions and stop studying hard. It means "work while you work, play while you play". If you can do this, you will improve your health greatly. You'll feel yourself suddenly fresh, just like recovering from a terrible illness. You'll find that your studies are not a burden  anymore.

Question: What trouble have both the parents and teachers brought to the students?

Choices:
- They don't know how to let the students relax.
- They give too much burden for them to bear.
- They don't love those who work the hardest.
- They fail to understand what the students need most.

Question: What causes the student' pressure from themselves?

Choices:
- That they don't know how to get top universities.
- That they want to relax but have no chance.
- That they fail to relax themselves during their work.
- That they think too much about the result of their work.

Question: What is the passage mainly about?

Choices:
- What to do to relax yourself.
- The serous situation for the poor students.
- Some problems caused by the misunderstanding of learning.
- How to be a healthy and successful learner.


One of India's great economic advantages is the   youth of its population. To make the most of this advantage, India's children need to be educated. On paper, India is doing well here. The country has a nationwide network of state primary schools funded by a specially designed tax. 96% of children aged 6-14 go to school, even in rural areas. That's well above the average for the developing world and their attendance is good. But the attainment is poor: three quarters of third graders can't read a gradeone text and 53% of grade five kids can't read at the standard they should have achieved at grade two. Levels of achievement are almost as bad in math.
"The main problem in India is not school entry or whether there is a local school; it's the delivery of education, the way teaching is done or not done," says Vinati Sukhdev, the executive director of Pratham, a charity that campaigns for better education in India. And according to Ms. Sukhdev, the country's teachers are the thirdbestpaid in the world but they're poorly trained and are often absent. Teacher attendance at the primary level is only 85%, according to Pratham's research and there's little punishment for those who don't turn up.
The government knows that state schooling needs to improve. In 2009 it passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), a law for the national provision of free, childfriendly education. It says that there should be two teachers for every 60 students and that they should go to work regularly, get there on time, follow the curriculum, assess how well the children are learning and meet regularly with parents.
"What we need to do next is improve accountability ," says Ms. Sukhdev. Schools have management committees that are supposed to include parent and local government representatives. "But they don't work or people don't know they exist." Pratham tries to help local communities and parents drive improvement. "You should see the kind of reaction we get when they realize the teacher is paid but isn't turning up!"says Ms.  Sukhdev. "We can't be everywhere, so we limit ourselves to working in a few districts, where we can create model schools. Then we try to work together with local government to make sure every school in the district or state is raised to that level."
The Read India programme is an example of what targeted help can achieve. Pratham has created an easytouse teaching and assessment pack called Learn to Read. It has trained teachers in how to use the pack at school and showed community health workers, volunteers and parents how it could support learning outside school. The programme has now run across 19 states, involving 450,000 volunteers and training 600,000 teachers and government workers. Among the 33 million children who have participated, the number of those who can read simple sentences has risen by 20%.

Question: Who are to blame for India's poor education according to Vinati Sukhdev?

Choices:
- School teachers.
- Local governments.
- Parents with stereotypes.
- Educational organizations.

Question: What can be inferred about the Read India programme?

Choices:
- It encourages more kids to attend school.
- It improves the quality of India's education.
- It is in the charge of management committees.
- It helps improve the basic facilities of schooling.


When I was 18, I had a motorbike accident that put me in a coma for three months. The doctors said there was little chance of my coming out of it, but my identical twin, Marcus, didn't believe them and carried on talking to me. My first words when I came to myself were, "Hello, Marcus. "Even though I had no memory of my own name, or that the woman crying at my bedside was my mother, I knew Marcus immediately; it was like a genetic memory. just felt close to him.
As weeks went by, I still could remember nothing before the accident. Marcus was the only person I could relate to.
I had to relearn everything, and Marcus helped me. Because of my twin I wasn't scared of having lost my memory; I believed everything he said. He became my memory, telling me about my school, friends, previous girlfriends and holidays, showing me family photographs, and telling me how perfect I was.
With his encouragement I slowly recovered and tried to become the person everyone around me loved. Then years later, when my memories flooded back, I learned that I was anything but perfect--I was troublesome, selfish, and now very angry with Marcus for having lied to me.
But finally I understood. Out of love, Marcus had chosen not to tell me about my dark side. He wanted me to have a fresh start--and in fact I had one. Thanks to him, I was able to get married and have kids. I'm 46 now, and feel as if I'm in the third stage of my life. I know all there is to know, and wouldn't want it any other way.

Question: Which of the following words best describes Marcus?

Choices:
- Dishonest.
- Thoughtful.
- Careful.
- Strict.

Question: According to the text, the author   _   .

Choices:
- felt very close to Marcus when he first woke up
- didn't get his memories back until months later
- had been very popular before the accident
- remembered nothing but his own name when he first woke up

Question: How did the author feel when he first got his memories back?

Choices:
- Angry.
- Excited
- Guilty.
- Lonely.

Question: What was the author's purpose in writing the text?

Choices:
- To tell us the importance of being honest.
- To explain the meaning of success.
- To express his gratitude to his twin.
- To show how he had suffered.

Question: Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

Choices:
- My Twin Rewrote My Childhood
- An Accident Destroyed My Life
- Family Will Always Be with You
- Friends Share Everything


In the 1960s, people asked about your astrological sign . In the 1990s, they wanted to know your website. These days, having a web address is almost as important as a street address. Your website is an electronic meeting place for your family, friends and potentially, millions of people around the world. Best of all, you may not have to spend a cent. The Web is filled with all kinds of free services and all it takes is some time and creativity.
       Think of your home page as the starting point of your website. Like the table of contents of a book or a magazine, the home page is the front door. Your site can have one or more pages, depending on how you design it.
       While web pages vary greatly in their design and content, most use a traditional magazine layout. At the top of the page is a banner  GRAPHIC. Next comes a greeting and a short description of the site. Pictures, texts, and links to other websites follow.
       Before you start building your site, do some planning. Think about whom the site is for and what you want to say. Next, gather up the material that you want to put on the site. Draw a rough layout on a sheet of paper.
       While there are no rules you have to follow, there are a few things to keep in mind:
       Start simply. If you are too ambitious at the beginning, you may never get the site off the ground. You can always add to your site.
Less is better. Most people don't like to read a lot of text online. Break it into small pieces.
       Smaller is better. Most people connect to the Internet with a modem. Since it can take a long time to download large image files, keep the file sizes small.
       Have the rights. Don't put any material on your site unless you are sure you can do it legally. Learn the Net's Copyright Article for more about this.
       Now it's time to roll up your sleeves and start building. Learning the Net Communities provides tools to help you build your site.

Question: The main purpose of the passage is to tell you   _  .

Choices:
- what a website is like
- how to build your own website
- how to meet people online
- what a website is made up of

Question: According to the writer, your website is a place   _  .

Choices:
- where you can meet people all around the world
- where you can buy what you want
- where you can get free services
- where you can meet people on the Internet

Question: The purpose of the home page of your website is   _  .

Choices:
- to give a list of all the contents of your website
- to make it look like a front door
- to direct people to more of your pages
- to design the cover of a book or magazine

Question: The writer thinks that if you are too ambitious at the beginning,   _  .

Choices:
- your website may leave no space for adding new things
- you may never have your website working
- you may have no idea how to build your website
- you may tire yourself out


Then comes July, and with it examinations, but these are soon finished and with them ends the school year. Boys and girls have nearly two months' holiday before them as they leave school by train and car to return home to their fathers and mothers.
The summer holidays are the best part of the year for most children. The weather is usually good, so that one can spend most of one's time playing in the garden or, if one lives in the country, out in the woods and fields. Even if one lives in a big town, one can usually go to a park to play.
The best place for a summer holiday, however, is the seaside. Some children are lucky enough to live near the sea, but for the others who do not, a week or two at one of the big seaside towns is something that they will talk about for the whole of the following year.
In England, it is not only the rich who can take their children to the seaside; if a factory worker or a bus driver, a street cleaner or a waiter wants to take his wife and children to Southend or Margate, Blackpoor or Clacton, he is usually quite able to do so.
Now, what is it that children like so much about the seaside? I think it is the sand, sea and sun more than any other things. Of course, there are lots of new things to see, nice things to eat, and exciting things to do, but it is the feeling of sand under one's feet, of salt water on one's skin, and of the warm sun on one's back that make the seaside what it is.

Question: After the examination, pupils leave for home  _

Choices:
- by train only
- by air
- by bike
- by either train or car

Question: July and August are the brightest months for most children, for they can  _  .

Choices:
- stay with their parents for all the vacation.
- do more reading
- play out-of-door
- meet their old friends

Question: Children like the seaside so much, because they can   _  .

Choices:
- swim in the sea
- play with the sand
- take a sun bath
- do all of the above


Lindsay Morgan Lohan was born on July 2, 1986. She was such a natural beauty that she began modeling at the age of 3, and because of her natural talent, she played parts in over 60 TV commercials for companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Wendy's, the Gap, Pizza Hut, Calvin Klein, and Jell-O, in which she shared the screen with Bill Cosby.
When she was 7, Lohan was required to dress up as garbage for a Halloween short play on the Late Show with David Letterman called "Things You Find on the Bottom of the Subway." It was her first real acting job. In 1996, Lohan got her second big  _ when she was given a role on the long-running NBC soap opera "Another World." For only one season, she became the third actress to act the part Alexandra Alli Fowler.
Shortly after, she hit the highway to fame when Disney sought to remake the hugely successful family comedy "The Parent Trap" (1998). In addition, she also got a three-picture deal with Disney thanks to this movie. Her next move was to appear in the Wonderful World of Disney production of "Life-Size" (2000), a comedy also featuring supermodel Tyra Banks.
In 2003, along with Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan performed in Freaky Friday and played one of the early roles that made Jodie Foster a household name.
In September 2002, Lohan also got a contract with music heavyweight Emilio Estefan Jr who is of great influence in music. She signed a five-album deal with Estefan Enterprises. In 2005, she released her first album, "Speak," followed by "A Little More Personal" the next year.

Question: Which of the following is NOT the job that Lohan has done until now?

Choices:
- A singer.
- An actress.
- A model.
- A dancer.

Question: Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

Choices:
- Lohan has played three films produced by Disney.
- Lohan played the part Bill Cosby in a TV show.
- Lohan has released two albums since 2005.
- Lohan was greatly influenced by Emilio Estefan Jr.


Chocolate soap is supposed to be good for the skin. But it's not so good for the tongue. Unfortunately for the US soldiers of World War II, the chocolate bars the army gave them tasted like they were intended for use in the bath.
In the army's defense, it wasn't trying to win any cooking awards. In fact, it specifically ordered that its chocolate bars not be too delicious, so soldiers wouldn't eat them too quickly. These bars were created for survival, not taste. "They were awful," John Otto, a former army captain in World War II said, "They were big, thick things, and they weren't any good. I tried them, but I had to be awfully hungry after I tried them once."
As unappealing as the chocolate bars were to some, others like them. Samuel Hinkle, the chemist who created the chocolate bars, pointed out that the number of bars made were far greater than the army needed. "It soon became obvious that the generous American soldiers were sharing their valued possessions with their foreign friends, whether soldiers of other countries or local citizens."
The bars turned many hungry Europeans into friends of the United States. "People wanted them," said Otto. "You'd give them to kids. In some places they were very hungry. And they surely helped relax people about American soldiers."
Otto said he never saw a European _ the chocolate. "It was food," he said. "At that time, everyone was very hungry. I saw German kids standing outside the US army kitchen. They weren't begging, just standing there very politely. When we were done, the kids would eat the food out of the garbage. They were so hungry."
Other Europeans did not see chocolate until well after the war ended. "We didn't see any Americans where I was," said Elizabeth Radsma, who was 25 years old when the Germans occupied her country, the Netherlands. "Even after the war, we saw only the British. Maybe the Americans gave out some chocolates in the big cities, but we were only in a small town. Before the British, we saw only German soldiers. But chocolate? Don't make me laugh! Maybe in my dreams!"
A soldier in the field might have responded "Be careful what you wish for"--and then gratefully bit on a chocolate bar, the only food available for miles.

Question: Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

Choices:
- The US soldiers used the chocolate bars as bath soap.
- The US army produced more chocolate bars than necessary for its soldiers.
- The US soldiers did not have enough food during World War II.
- European people regretted eating chocolate bars from the US soldiers.

Question: Why does the author mention the German kids' story?

Choices:
- To tell how friendly the American soldiers were.
- To show how much they were eager for chocolate.
- To prove German kids could be very polite.
- To describe the hunger in Germany during the war.

Question: Elizabeth Radsma never saw chocolate during the war because   _  .

Choices:
- the US soldiers never showed up in the small town she lived in
- the German soldiers kept them all for themselves
- the British soldiers didn't share it with the local people
- the US soldiers handed out all chocolates to people in big cities


As part of an effort to improve treatments for life-threatening illnesses, a team of scientists have created rabbits that glow in the dark.
The efforts have produced two rabbits out of a litter of eight that went from being a normal, soft white to glowing green in the dark. The rabbits were born at the University of Istanbul as part of the cooperation between scientists from universities in Turkey and Hawaii.
The rabbits glow to show that a genetic operation technique can work efficiently. "The green is not important at all--it's just a marker to show the experiment can be done successfully," said University of Hawaii associate professor, Stefan Moisyadi.
To produce the glowing effect, researchers injected jellyfish DNA into a mother rabbit's embryos. Then those embryos were put into the mother. Similar experiments have resulted in glowing cockroaches  and cats.
Eventually, the researchers hope the technique can lead to new ways to produce medicines, Moisyadi said.
"The final goal is to develop animals that are able to produce beneficial molecules in their milk that can be cheaply extracted , especially in countries that cannot afford big factories that make drugs, which usually cost US$1bn to build. Then they will be able to produce their own protein-based medication in animals," Moisyadi said.
The rabbits are expected to live as long as non-glowing rabbits, but Moisyadi said he understands people can object to this kind of experimentation involving live animals. "To the people against, I say: think, what are the benefits and what is the harm?" Moisyadi said. "And if the benefits outweigh the harm, let's go with the benefits."
Moisyadi started developing the project in 2006, and researchers are now waiting to see if pregnant sheep produce similar results.

Question: What do we know about the glowing rabbits?

Choices:
- Their fur became green after the experiment.
- They were chosen from a special species of rabbits.
- The color1 that they glow isn't of interest to scientists.
- They live shorter lives than ordinary rabbits.

Question: According to the passage, the researchers' next goal of the experiment is the creation of a glowing   _  .

Choices:
- cockroach
- cat
- rabbbit
- sheep

Question: Which of the following is TRUE, according to the passage?

Choices:
- The success rate in creating the rabbits is 20%.
- The project is supported by people.
- The project has been conducted for about eight years.
- The project is mainly conducted by Turkish scientists.

Question: What is Moisyadi's attitude towards such experimentation?

Choices:
- Doubtful
- Supportive
- Disapproving
- Indifferent


In the last 500 years nothing about people--not their clothes, ideas, or languages has changed as much as what they eat. Chocolate   drink was first made from the seeds of the cacao   tree by South American Indians. The Spanish introduced it to the rest of the world during the 1500s. And although it was very expensive, it quickly became popular, In London, shops where chocolate drinks were served became important places. Some still exist today. The potato is also from the New World. Around 1600, the Spanish brought it from Peru to Europe, where it soon was widely grown. Ireland became so dependent   on it that thousands of Irish people starved   when the crop failed during the years of 1845--1846, and thousands more were forced to go to live in America.
There are many other foods that have traveled from South America to the Old World. But some others went in the opposite direction. Brazil is now the world's largest grower of coffee, and coffee is an important crop in other South American countries. But it is native to Ethiopia. It was first made into a drink by Arabs during the 1400s. According to an Arabic story, coffee was discovered when a goat keeper named Lakdi noticed that his goats were eating red fruits on a coffee tree. He tried one and experienced the "wide-awake  " feeling that one third of the world's population now starts the day with.

Question: According to the passage, which of the following changed more than others?

Choices:
- Clothes.
- Ideas.
- Languages.
- Foods.

Question: Chocolate drink was first invented in   _  while coffee was first invented in   _  .

Choices:
- Spain; Brazil
- South America; the Old World
- Spain; Ethiopia
- London; Rent

Question: In 1845, thousands of Irish people were forced to live in America mainly because   _  .

Choices:
- Ireland became dependent on the potato
- the potato was brought to Europe from Peru
- they could easily get potato in America
- the production of potatoes reduced

Question: According to the passage, who first made chocolate drink from the seeds of the cacao tree?

Choices:
- People in Peru
- People in Brazil.
- South American Indians.
- People in Ethiopia.

Question: From the passage we can conclude   that millions of people drink coffee   _  .

Choices:
- in the morning
- at noon
- in the afternoon
- in the evening


WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday announced a new plan to renew and expand the nation's roads, railways and runways, in a bid   to restart the _ economy and to help create jobs.
Obama announced the billion-dollar infrastructure  spending program at an event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, marking the Labor Day holiday in the United States.
The proposal calls for investments over six years, including rebuilding and modernizing 150,000 miles (241,350 kilometers) of roads, 4,000 miles (6,430 kilometers) of railways and 150 miles ( 241 kilometers) of runways.
"It sets up an Infrastructure Bank to leverage(;) federal dollars and focus on the smartest investment. All of this will not only create jobs now, but will make our economy run better over the long haul," Obama said.
"This is a plan that will be fully paid for and will not add to the deficit over time," said Obama.
The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 9.6 percent in August, reflecting business reluctance to hire among uncertain economic prospects, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Friday.
The president admitted that new jobs "have not been coming fast enough" in the United States.
"These years would be some of the most difficult in our history. The problems facing working families are nothing new, but they are more serious than ever. And that makes our cause more urgent than ever," he added.

Question: What's the main idea of this passage?

Choices:
- The US president launched a new program aiming at improving the nation's infrastructure.
- The US unemployment rate rose according to the Labor Department.
- These years will be the most difficult in the American history.
- More roads, railways and runways will be rebuilt and modernized.

Question: Which of the following will be changed most in length?

Choices:
- Roads.
- Railways.
- Runways.
- Highways.


I still remember my first day at school in London and I was half-excited and half-frightened. On my way to school I wondered what sort of questions the other boys would ask me and practiced all the answers: "I am nine years old. I was born here but I haven't lived here since I was two. I was living in Farley. It's about thirty miles away. I came back to London two months ago." I also wondered if it was the custom for boys to fight strangers like me, but I was tall for my age. I hoped they would decide not to risk it.
No one took any notice of me before school. I stood in the center of the playground, expecting someone to say "hello", but no one spoke to me. When a teacher called my name and told me where my classroom was, one or two boys looked at me but that was all.
My teacher was called Mr. Jones. There were 42 boys in the class, so _ , either, until the first lesson of the afternoon. Mr. Jones was very fond of Charles Dickens and he had decided to read aloud to us from David Copperfield, but first he asked several boys if they knew Dickens' birthplace, but no one guessed right. A boy called Brian, the biggest in the class, said: "Timbuktu", and Mr. Jones went red in the face. Then he asked me. I said: "Portsmouth", and everyone stared at me because Mr. Jones said I was right. This didn't make me very popular, of course.
"He thinks he's clever," I heard Brian say.
After that, we went out to the playground to play football. I was in Brian's team, and he obviously had Dickens in mind because he told me to go in goal. No one ever wanted to be the goalkeeper.
"He's big enough and useless enough." Brian said when someone asked him why he had chosen me.
I suppose Mr. Jones, who served as the judge, remembered Dickens, too, because when the game was nearly over, Brian pushed one of the players on the other team, and he gave them a penalty  . As the boy kicked the ball to my right, I threw myself down instinctively   and saved it. All my team crowded round me. My bare knees were injured and bleeding. Brian took out a handkerchief and offered it to me.
"Do you want to join my gang  ?" he said.
At the end of the day, I was no longer a stranger.

Question: The writer prepared to answer all of the following questions EXCEPT "  _  ".

Choices:
- How old are you?
- Where are you from?
- Do you want to join my gang?
- When did you come back to London?

Question: We can learn from the passage that  _  .

Choices:
- boys were usually unfriendly to new students
- the writer was not greeted as he expected
- Brian praised the writer for his cleverness
- the writer was glad to be a goalkeeper

Question: The writer was offered a handkerchief because  _  .

Choices:
- he threw himself down and saved the goal
- he pushed a player on the other team
- he was beginning to be accepted
- he was no longer a newcomer


For some reason, it takes constant reminders that weprimates need nurturing.
In a recent study of 46 babychimpanzee orphans, Kim Bard of the University of Portsmouth in England and her colleagues demonstrated that primate babies that have tight relationships with mother figures do much better oncognitive tests than babies who receive only food, shelter, and friendship with peers. But this is not breaking mews. In fact, it's old news.
In the 1950s, Harry Harlow conducted a series of experiments with baby monkeys that showed, without doubt, that lack of love and comfort makes for a crazy monkey.
Harlow constructed a cage that included a wire monkey "mother" topped with a plastic face. In this wire he fixed Mom with a milk bottle. The cage also held another wire mother covered with terry cloth. The baby monkeys spent all their time with the cloth mother and only went to the wire mother to feed, demonstrating that a soft touch beat something to eat any day.
Harlow's monkey work was important because, at the time, child care "experts" and everybody's grandmother had a "no touch, no comfort" policy toward children. They advised parents not to respond to crying babies, felt babies should sleep alone to grow up independent, and for God's sake put those kids down. But Harlow's work changed all that. Mothers were soon permitted to have their newborns next to them in the hospital.
The current chimp research based on Harlow's work shows that mother love not only makes for a psychologically well-adjusted child, but also makes for a smart kid. Bard and her colleagues evaluated the abilities of the chimps when they were 12 months old with standard human tests for children of that age, tests that ask little kids to imitate some action.
The highly raised chimps did better than the ones that were not loved, and what do you know, the well-raised chimps did even better than human kids on this small IQ test.
So we hear it once again. We are primates, social animals which need care and love. We need to be held and talked to and made to feel that at least one person wants to be with us all the time. And if we get that kind of connection, we are sure to be fine, even better than fine.

Question: The study Kim Bard and his colleagues did   _  .

Choices:
- included 46 baby and mother monkeys
- was nothing new to people about the findings
- showed that many chimpanzees lacked love when they were young
- showed that many chimpanzees had good relationships with their mothers

Question: Why was Harlow's monkey work important?

Choices:
- Because the "no touch, no comfort" policy toward children was quite right.
- Because parents were advised not to respond to babies' crying.
- Because Harlow's work changed people's former belief in child care.
- Because mothers were not allowed to have their newborns next to them in the hospital.

Question: Harlow built two "mothers" for baby monkeys to   _  .

Choices:
- make them live comfortably
- let them have more choices
- give them more love
- make a comparison

Question: Which of the following is TURE according to the text?

Choices:
- Well-raised chimps always do even better than human kids.
- A 12-month chimps is far cleverer than a child of that age.
- The newborns were not allowed to be with their mothers in the past in the hospital.
- Constantly touching the baby can make it feel safer.


Harry potter and The Hunger Games haven't been big hits for nothing. Lots of teens still read quite a lot. But a study shows a clear decrease over time. Nearly half of 17-year-olds say they read for pleasure no more than one or two times a year. That's way down from ten years ago.
The digital revolution   means there are more platforms   than ever to read on. Jim Steyer has been studying the effect of technology on children. He has four kids and has seen the trend most with his 16-year-old. "I start to see it in our 10-year-old as well, because he is reading less and less, and more and more attracted to some of the digital media platforms that he has access to, and that he didn't have access to when he was 6 or 7 years old," he says.
The studies don't say that kids are reading less because they're spending more time online. But Steyer is convinced that's at least part of the answer.
"First of all, most children now have access to e-readers, or other smart electronic devices like phones and tablets  ," he says. " And they're spending time on that. Many reports show the increasing use of new technology platforms by kids. It just strikes me as extremely logical that that's a big reason.
Researchers want to know more about how teens are spending their time in the digital age. But Kathryn Zickuhr of the Pew Research Center says it's tricky. If a kid is looking at a book, you may think he or she is reading. But when it comes to looking at a smartphone or tablet, who knows?
"We've heard from middle and high school teachers that sometimes the Internet is wonderful for enthusiastic students to do deep research," says Zickuhr. "But on the other side, obviously there are many distractions on the Internet."
However, Jim Steyer says, "Kids with parents who read, who buy or take books out of the library for their kids, and who then set time aside in their kids' daily schedule for reading, tend to read the most -- whether it's on a book, an e-book or some other devices."

Question: What did Jim Steyer see in his four kids?

Choices:
- They tend to read more on electronic devices.
- They created their own digital media platform.
- They improved their reading on electronic devices.
- They have become more addicted to digital media.

Question: What statement may Kathryn Zickuhr agree to?

Choices:
- Kids are easily distracted on the Internet.
- Most kids pretend to be doing online reading.
- Most kids like to read on a smartphone or tablet.
- Kids rarely use the Internet to do serious research.

Question: What is the main idea of the text?

Choices:
- What books do teens like to read the most?
- Why aren't teens reading like they used to?
- How can teens read on electronic platforms?
- When will teens turn to books for fun again?