It's killed at least two dozen people, damaged hundreds of homes, cost some 22 billion Yuan in direct economic losses so far and has left thousands of family-bound travelers stranded. The massive snow and ice storm that has swept through the southern part of China has put this country into full disaster management mode. Tens of thousands of soldiers have been activated and the government has already provided 126 million Yuan in aide to six provinces in the south slammed by the unexpected winter blast. But is enough being done? And what else can be done to ensure that the effects of natural disasters like the one in southern China are minimized in the future?
"Ni hao, you're listening to People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at www.crienglish.com here on China Radio International. In this edition of the show, we'll be talking about the southern China snow and ice storm. So let's get started.
First, let's get a Chinese perspective of how well the ice and snow storm in southern China is being handled from a logistical point of view. For this we're joined on the line by Professor Peng Xizhe, Dean of the School of Social Development and Public Policy at Fudan University in Shanghai.
(Dialogue with Peng)
And after a short break, we'll talk about the broader view of disaster management."
"Ni hao, you're listening to People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at www.crienglish.com here on China Radio International. I'm Paul James in Beijing. In this edition of the show, we're talking about the massive winter storm that has ravaged southern China. For a broader look at disaster management, we're joined on the line now by Mr. Aloysius Rego and Ms. Jiang Lingling, both with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in Thailand.
(Dialogue with Jiang and Rego)
And with that we close out this edition of People In the Know, online at www.crienglish.com here on China Radio International. Though it may seem small consolation now for the thousands who remain stranded because of the storm, it's important to remember that as long as patience prevails, you will get home. Questions or comments for us can be sent to crieng@crifm.com. For Executive Director Wang Lei and Producers Yang Jingjie and Xu Yang, I'm Paul James in Beijing. Take care."

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

Choices:
- Tell the stories about the snow storm in the southern part of China
- Tell us some facts about the people in the disaster.
- What have been done or will be done to rescue the people in the disaster.
- Let's know the measures about the disaster.

Question: How many people died from the snow disaster before this report?

Choices:
- more than 30
- more than 24
- many
- 50


A recent online poll   asked kids what they hated most about school. "Classes are boring" came in first. "Too much homework" was a close second. Since all activities remain interesting for only so long, too much homework can lead to ennui. So, why are some kids getting homework overload? Teachers give two reasons. First, they say, the government now requires schools to meet higher-than-ever achievement goals for students. If students don' t succeed, the school faces punishment. Second, many parents want their children to be able to get into the best colleges and universities. These parents believe homework is a way to ensure that students are learning as much as possible.
People who favor homework argue that it can have many beneficial effects. They claim it can help students develop good study habits. Homework can help students recognize that learning can occur at home as well as at school. It can help develop their independent learning and responsible character traits .
But studies show that middle school students doing 60 to 90 minutes of homework a night are doing just as well in school as those doing more than 90 minutes. And homework can have negative effects. Homework can deny students access to leisure  activities that also teach important skills. For example, sports teams teach cooperation and leadership, in addition to helping kids stay physically active. Another problem with too much homework is that parents can get too involved. They can put too much pressure on their kids.
So what should be done? Good homework assignments in the proper amount will have positive effects. Too much homework, however, will have negative effects. The bottom line: Students in grades three through six should do no more than 30 to 60 minutes of homework each night.

Question: Those who are in favor of homework think that   _  .

Choices:
- homework helps students to succeed
- it's good for kids to help each other in learning
- parents are a great help when kids do homework at home
- homework helps children to learn independently

Question: Which of the following is NOT a negative effect of too much homework?

Choices:
- Kids have little time to do leisure activities.
- There is a lack of sleeping time.
- The chances of learning other skills are lost.
- Kids are under pressure from their parents.

Question: The author's purpose in writing the passage is   _  .

Choices:
- to criticize the school teachers
- to attract public attention to kids' study
- to offer more help to today's kids
- to call for proper amounts of homework


Runners in a relay  race pass a stick in one direction. However, merchants passed silk, gold, fruit, and glass along the Silk Road in more than one direction. They earned their living by traveling the famous Silk Road.
The Silk Road was not a simple trading network. It passed through thousands of citied and towns. It started from eastern China, across Central Asia and the Middle East, and ended in the Mediterranean Sea. It was used from about 200 B, C, to about A, D, 1300, when sea travel offered new routes  , It was sometimes called the world's longest highway. However, the Silk Road was made up of many routes, not one smooth path. They passed through what are now 18 countries. The routes crossed mountains and deserts and had many dangers of hot sun, deep snow and even battles. Only experienced traders could return safe.
The Silk Road got its name from its most prized product. Silk could be used like money to pay taxes or buy goods. But the traders carried more than just silk. Gold, silver, and glass from Europe were much found in the Middle East and Asia. Horses traded from other areas changed farming practices in China. Indian merchants traded salt and other valuable goods. Chinese merchants traded paper, which produced an immediate effect on the West. Apples traveled from central Asia to Rome. The Chinese had learned to graft  different trees together to make new kinds of fruit. They passed this science on to others, including the Romans. The Romans used grafting to grow the apple. Trading along the Silk Road led to world-wide business 2,000 years before the World Wide Web.
The people along the Silk Road did not share just goods. They also shared their beliefs. The Silk Road provided pathways for learning, diplomacy , and religion

Question: It's probable that traders along the Silk Road needed  _  .

Choices:
- to remember the entire trade route
- to know the making of products
- to receive certain special training
- to deal with a lot of difficulties

Question: The Silk Road became less important because  _  .

Choices:
- it was made up of different routes
- silk trading became less popular
- sea travel provided easier routes
- people needed fewer foreign goods

Question: New technologies could travel along the Silk Road because people  _  .

Choices:
- learned from one another
- shared each other's beliefs
- traded goods along the route
- earned their living by traveling

Question: What is the best title for the passage?

Choices:
- The Silk Road ; Past and Present
- The Silk Road; East Meets West
- The Silk Road; Routes Full of Dangers
- The Silk Road; Pathways for Learning


Are you having too much salt? You might not think so, but people in China eat on average   about 12 grams of salt each day, that is much higher than the 6 grams suggested by the World Health Organization. You could be eating too much without realizing it, because about 75% of the salt we eat is already in the food we buy, such as bread, sauces, soups and sausages.
What problems can eating too much salt cause? To answer that question, first let's take a look at what salt is.
Salt is a chemical compound. It is made of sodium   and chloride  . Salt is used to keep and flavor foods. A small amount of salt is important for good health because our bodies need sodium and chloride to work.
But past studies have found that people who eat more salt than they need tend to have high blood pressure. Eating too much salt has also been connected with other conditions, such as heart and kidney   problems.
If you want to cut down on salt, the good news is, there are plenty of simple things to do. Here are some tips:
*Cut back on high salt foods.
Most foods contain some salt. But some foods such as cheese, bacon, pickles  , smoked fish and chips are almost always high in salt because of the way they are made. You can still enjoy them, but try to have these in smaller amounts, or eat them less often.
*Choose reduced salt bread and breakfast cereals.
Bread and breakfast cereals   are major source of salt in the diet, not that they're necessarily high in salt but because we eat a lot of them. For these foods, there can be a really big difference between different types and brands. So next time you're shopping, take the time to compare the salt levels on a few similar products. And always try to choose the ones lower in salt.
*Avoid adding salt to cooking and at table. Instead, you could use herbs and spices   such as garlic   and lemon juice to add flavor to meals.

Question: Many people in China don't realize they are eating too much salt because   _  .

Choices:
- salty food tasted better than reduced salt food
- they do not calculate the amount of salt they eat
- about 3/4 of the salt we eat is already in the food we buy
- few people experience problems from eating too much salt

Question: For a healthier life, the author's suggestion is to   _  .

Choices:
- cut back on food with less salt
- eat less heavily salted food
- eat as much reduced salt bread as is wanted
- stop eating bread and breakfast cereals

Question: What is the purpose of the article?

Choices:
- To warn people of food containing too much salt.
- To inform people of the right amount of salt taken each day.
- To advise people to be careful about the amount of salt they eat.
- To promote   the right way to make reduced salt food.


A new study warns that about thirty percent of the world's people may not have enough water by the year 2025.
An American organization called Population Action International did the new study. It was more than three hundred and thirty-five million people lack enough water now. The people live in twenty-eight countries. Most of the countries are in Africa or in the Middle East.
Population Action International researcher Robert Engelman says by the year 2025, about three thousand million people lack water. At least 18 more countries are expected to have serious water problems. The demand for water keeps increasing. Yet the amount of water on the earth the same. Mr Engelman says the population in countries that lack water is growing in these countries will continue to increase.
The report says lack of water in the future may result several problems. It may increase health problems. Lack of water often means drinking water is not safe. Mr Engelman says there are problems all over the world because of diseases such as cholera that are carried in water.
Lack of water also may result in more international conflict. Countries may have to fight for water in the future. Some countries, such as Syria, Sudan, Cambodia, and so on, now get sixty percent of their fresh water from other countries. And the report says lack of water would affect the ability to improve their economies. This is because industries often need a large amount of water.
The Population Action International study gives several ways to solve the water problem. One way is to find ways to use water for more than one purpose. Another way is to teach people to be careful not to waste water. A third is to use less water for agriculture. The report also says long-term solutions to the water problem must include controls on population growth.

Question: According to the report, how many countries will lack water by the year 2025?

Choices:
- More than eighteen
- About twenty-eight
- Less than forty
- At least forty-six

Question: _    million will lack water by the year 2025?

Choices:
- 335
- 3,000
- 3,305
- 355

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

Choices:
- The amount of the water on earth will always stay the same.
- The report gives three solutions to water problem.
- M ost of the countries that lack water belong to the developing ones.
- There's only one long-term solution to solve the water problem, that is we must try our best to control the population growth.

Question: The passage mainly tells us that   _   .

Choices:
- water is very important for any people
- PAI did a lot of study about water shortage
- water shortage will be a serious problem facing us in the near future
- controlling the population is the best way to solve the problem of water shortage


Two studies are suggesting that some overweight people do not face an increased risk of developing heart disease. Researchers also found that some individuals of normal body weight have an increased risk of the disease.
Being overweight does increase your risk of medical problems, but the studies found that not all heavy people are less healthy than thin people.
In one study, American researchers examined medical records from over 5000 men and women. Each person had taken part in a separate study from 1999 to 2004. The searchers found that about 51% of them were overweight or obese. About 32% were obese, but considered metabolically healthy. This means they had no evidence of problems in tests for high blood pressure or other factors linked to heart disease. However, more than 23% of people who were at a healthy weight were unhealthy in two or more aspects Judith WylieRosett helped carry out the American study. She says the finding show that all obese person can still be healthy. She believes that having body fat is not as important as where the fat is found on body. It's reported that twothirds of Americans are considered overweight or obese.
A second study is suggesting that fat in the liver may be an important health risk. Norbert Stefan and his team closely examined 314 people.They measured how much body fat each person had, and where it was on the body. To do this ,they used medical imaging tests. They discovered that obese people could have healthy hearts. Their results suggest that fat in the liver is more dangerous than fat in other areas.
The results of both studies were published recently in the Archives of Internal Medicine.Professor WylieRosett says the findings don't mean that people shouldn't be concerned about obesity.  Experts say there are several diseases linked to obesity that make it more dangerous to be fat than thin. They say people should see their doctor to learn what health risks they may be facing and what behaviours should be changed to improve health.

Question: What was found in 23% of the healthy people examined?

Choices:
- No factors linked to heart disease.
- They were unhealthy in two or more aspects.
- High blood pressure.
- No evidence of problems.

Question: Professor WylieRosett agrees that people should  _  .

Choices:
- avoid becoming obese
- not worry about becoming obese
- worry about becoming thin
- not be afraid of several diseases

Question: The text is mainly about evidence that some people can  _  .

Choices:
- be both fat and healthy
- develop heart disease
- increase weight
- have too much fat in the liver


It was 11 pm. Donald Lubeck was lying in bed. Outside, lightning lit up the sky, and thunder shook the house. Suddenly he heard the smoke alarm sounding. Lubeck walked down to see what happened; he opened the door to the kitchen, and flames  just went out. The sudden strong wind from the doorway immediately created a large fire from a small one, probably caused by lightning. Lubeck went back to his bedroom to call 911. "I felt safe because the room had a separate stairway," he explains. The phone didn't work, and when Lubeck tried to go down the stairway, he was stopped by a wall of flames. Lubeck realized he was in trouble. His daughter and granddaughters, who lived with him, were away for the night.
Up a hill lived Lubeck's neighbors, Jeremie Wentworth and his wife. From his house, Wentworth saw the black smoke. He rushed out, and headed towards Lubeck's house. He knew Lubeck lived in the house. He dialed 911. On the phone, the 911 worker warned Wentworth not to enter the house. "But I told the worker, "Sorry, but I'm going in. I can hear Lubeck shouting "Help me!" I can't let myself do nothing in this situation," /he says. "I went in and shouted, "Donald, where are you?" Then I had to run outside to catch my breath." After one more try inside the house, he gave up. Then the wind parted the smoke just enough for him to see Lubeck on the second-floor bedroom. But there was no way to get to him."I finally noticed a ladder," says Wentworth. He set it against the wall and pulled Lubeck down. Just seconds later the floor fell down.
Within the year, Lubeck and his family built a new two-story house at the place. Wentworth and Lubeck don't run into each other often, but Lubeck now knows that if he ever needs help, Wentworth will be there.

Question: Why did Lubeck feel safe at the beginning?

Choices:
- Because he knew how to fight fire.
- Because he thought it was a small fire.
- Because he thought he could get out easily.
- Because he knew his neighbor would help him.

Question: How did Lubeck get out of the house?

Choices:
- He went down a separate stairway.
- 911 workers found him and helped him out.
- He climbed out of a window by himself.
- He climbed down a ladder found by Wentworth.

Question: Which of the following words can best describe Jeremie Wentworth?

Choices:
- Patient and creative.
- Calm and brave.
- Careful and clever.
- Simple and generous.

Question: We can learn from the text that Donald Lubeck  _  .

Choices:
- was living alone
- trusts Jeremie Wentworth
- got in touch with 911
- sounded the smoke alarm himself


Yueyang Tower   lies in the west of Yueyang City, near the Dongting Lake. It was first built for soldiers to rest on and watch out. In the Three Kingdoms Period, Lu Su, General of Wu State, trained his soldiers here.
In 716, Kaiyuan of Tang Dynasty, General Zhang Shuo was sent to defend at Yuezhou and he rebuilt it into a tower named South Tower, and then Yueyang Tower. In 1044, Song Dynasty, Teng Zijing was stationed at Baling Jun, the ancient name of Yueyang City. In the second year, he had the Yueyang Tower repaired and had poems by famous poets written on the walls of the tower. Fan Zhongyan, a great artist and poet, was invited to write the well-known poem about Yueyang Tower. In his A Panegyric of the Yueyang Tower (<<>> ), Fan writes: "Be the first to worry about the troubles across the land, the last to enjoy universal happiness." His words have been well-known for thousands of years and made the tower even better known than before.
The style of Yueyang Tower is quite special. The main tower is 21.35 meters high with 3 stories, flying eave   and wood construction, the helmet-roof of such a large size is a rarity   among the ancient architectures in China.
Entering the tower, you'll see "Dongting is the water of the world, Yueyang is the tower of the world". Moving on, there is a platform that once used as the training ground for the navy of Three-Kingdom Period general Lu Su. To its south is the Huaifu Pavilion  in honor of Du Fu. Stepping out of the Xiaoxiang Door, the Xianmei Pavilion and the Sanzui Pavilion can be seen standing on two sides. In the garden to the north of the tower is the tomb of Xiaoqiao, the wife of Zhou Yu.

Question: The passage mainly tells us   _  .

Choices:
- the history of Yueyang Tower
- some information about Yueyang Tower
- the architecture style of Yueyang Tower
- Yueyang Tower is a good place to see

Question: In Three-Kingdom Period, Yueyang Tower was used as   _  .

Choices:
- a place where rich people enjoyed themselves
- the symbol of the Three Kingdoms
- a place where educated people often met
- an army-training place

Question: Yueyang Tower was once named   _  .

Choices:
- South Tower
- Xianmei Tower
- Sanzui Tower
- Baling Tower

Question: When did Yueyang Tower become more famous?

Choices:
- In 1045.
- In 716.
- In the Three-Kingdom Period.
- In the Tang Dynasty.

Question: Which of the following has nothing to do with Yueyang Tower?

Choices:
- Huaifu Pavilion.
- Xiaoxiang Door.
- Tomb of Du Fu.
- Tomb of Xiaoqiao.


Introductory Chemistry was taught at Duke University for many years by Professor Bonk.One year, two guys took the class and did pretty well on all the quizzes and midterms.They each had a solid A.These two friends were so confident in going into the final that the weekend before the final week, despite the Chemistry final being on Monday, they decided to go to the prefix = st1 /UniversityofVirginiato party with some friends.
       They had a great time there.However, with their hangovers   and tiredness, they overslept all day Sunday and didn't make it back to Duke until early Monday morning.Rather than taking the final then, they found Professor Bonk after the final and explained to him how they missed the final.They told him they went up to the University of Virginia for the weekend and had planned to come back in time to study, but they had a flat tire on the way back and didn't have a spare.So they were late getting back to campus.
       Bonk thought this over and agreed that they could take the final the following day. The two guys, happy and relieved, studied that night and went in the next day at the time that Bonk had told them.He placed them in separate rooms and handed each of them a test booklet.He told them to begin.
      They looked at the first problem which was something simple about solution .It was worth 5 points."Cool," they thought, "this is going to be an easy final".
       They then turned the page.They were unprepared, however, for what they saw on it.
       The question contained only two words:(95 points) Which tire?

Question: The two guys decided to go to the University of Virginia because   _  .

Choices:
- they were afraid of the final
- there was a big party there
- the final would be held there
- they thought they could pass the final easily

Question: It can be inferred from the passage that   _  .

Choices:
- Bonk wasn't strict with the two guys
- Bonk didn't believe the two guys' explanation
- the two guys came back to campus late on purpose
- repairing the flat tire took the two guys a lot of time

Question: After the final, the two guys would probably   _  .

Choices:
- apologize to Professor Bonk
- get the same high marks
- lose interest in their Chemistry
- feel happy and relieved

Question: We can learn from the passage that   _  .

Choices:
- honesty is the best policy
- you should think twice before you jump
- one never loses anything by politeness
- he who makes no mistakes makes nothing


Elena Kagan has reached a lifelong goal:becoming a Justice on the United States Supreme Court.The U.S. Senate confirmed Kagan on Thursday by a vote of 6337.She replaces Justice John Paul Stevens,who retired in June.
Kagan will take a sacred oath  to uphold the Constitution of the United States on Saturday at a swearingin ceremony.The new Justice will bring the number of women sitting on the nation's highest court to three.Kagan joins Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor--all three New Yorkers.
Kagan is the fourth woman in history to sit on the Supreme Court.Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was the first female Justice.She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and served from 1981 to 2006.
Kagan,who is 50 years old,is the second Justice appointed by President Barack Obama.(He appointed Justice Sotomayor in 2009.) Obama told reporters on Thursday that Kagan will make an "outstanding Justice who understands that her rulings affect people." He also noted that the addition of another woman to the Supreme Court marks a sign of progress for the country.Obama and Kagan will celebrate her confirmation with a ceremony at the White House today.
Kagan has spent most of her adult life working with the law.She served in President Clinton's administration as a legal adviser,was the head of Harvard Law School,and until her confirmation Thursday,was the U.S. Solicitor General--one of the most powerful lawyers in the federal government.Kagan was born in New York City.She grew up in an apartment on the Upper West side of Manhattan,the strongwilled,independent middle sister sandwiched between two brothers.
Kagan's mother was a public school teacher who taught fifth and sixth grades.Her father was a lawyer.
The new Justice once wore a judge's robe in a picture for her highschool yearbook.Now she'll be wearing real ones as she and the other eight Justices decide some of the most important legal cases.

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

Choices:
- To take the place of an old Justice,a Justice was elected by the Senate.
- There will be four women working in the United States Supreme Court.
- Kagan will take a sacred oath before taking part in the election.
- No one but a New Yorker can be a Justice of the Supreme Court.

Question: This text must be taken from   _  .

Choices:
- a storybook
- a textbook
- a newspaper
- a biography of famous people


Mo Yan, whose primitive name is Guan Moye, was awarded the Nobel Literature Prize on October 11, 2012."Chinese author Mo Yan today won the Nobel Literature Prize for writing that mixes folk tales, history and the contemporary," the Swedish Academy announced."Through a mixture of fantasy and reality,  historical and social perspectives,  Mo Yan has created a world reminiscent in its complexity of those in the writing of William Faulkner and Gabriel Garcia Marques,  at the same time finding a departure point in old Chinese literature and in oral tradition,"  the Swedish Academy said
Mo Yan began writing in 1981 and he has published novels, short stories and essays on various topic,  and despite his social criticism is seen in his homeland as one of the foremost contemporary authors, the Nobel Committee noted,  In his writing Mo Yan draws on his youthful experiences and on settings in the province of his birth. He is the first Chinese resident to win the prize,  who is a novelist and a short story writer, born on 17th February 1955, in Gaomi County, Shandong Province.His novel The Frog won the Mao Dun Literature Prize in 2011.  His works are deeply impacted by the magic realism that he creates unique subject feeling world by fantastical narration in bus novels.Some people may not know who Mo Yan is before,  but they must know some of his works.For example, a famous film directed by Zhang Yimou that won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 1988  was adapted from his novel Red Sorghum which was a tale of the brutal violence in the eastern China  countryside, where he grew up, during the 1920s and 1930s.

Question: Which novel of Mo Yan won the Mao Dun Literature Prize in 2011?

Choices:
- The Mangrove.
- Red Sorghum.
- The Frog.
- History and the contemporary

Question: Why was Mo Yan awarded the Nobel Literature Prize of 2012?

Choices:
- Because of his work The Frog.
- Because of his works with the contemporary.
- Because of his works with history.
- Because his writing mixes folk tales, history and the contemporary.

Question: Mo Yan is his  _  name.

Choices:
- primitive
- pen
- real
- family


EDGEWOOD-Every morning at Dixie Heights High School, customers pour into a special experiment: the district's first coffee shop run mostly by students with special learning needs.
Well before classes start, students and teachers order Lattes, Cappuccinos and Hot Chocolates. Then, during the first period, teachers call in orders on their room phones, and students make deliveries. By closing time at 9.20 a.m., the shop usually sells 90 drinks.
"Whoever made the chi tea, Ms. Schatzman says it was good," Christy McKinley, a second year student, announced recently, after hanging up with the teacher.
The shop is called the Dixie PIT, which stands for Power in Transition. Although some of the students are not disabled, many are, and the PIT helps them prepare for life after high school.
They learn not only how to run a coffee shop but also how to deal with their affairs. They keep a timecard and receive paychecks, which they keep in check registers.
Special-education teachers Kim Chevalier and Sue Casey introduced the Dixie PIT from a similar  program at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Georgia.
Not that it was easy. Chevalier's first problem to overcome was product-related. Should schools be selling coffee? What about sugar content?
Kenton County Food Service Director Ginger Gray helped. She made sure all the drinks, which use non-fat milk, fell within nutrition   guidelines.
The whole school has joined in to help.
Teachers agreed to give up their l ounge   in the mornings. Art students painted the name of the shop on the wall. Business students designed the paychecks. The basketball team helped pay for cups.

Question: What is the text mainly about?

Choices:
- A best-selling coffee.
- A special educational program.
- Government support for schools.
- A new type of teacher-student relationship.

Question: The Dixie PIT program was introduced in order to   _  .

Choices:
- raise money for school affairs
- do some research on nutrition
- develop students' practical skills
- supply teachers with drinks

Question: How did Christy McKinley know Ms. Schatzman's opinion of the chi tea?

Choices:
- She met her in the shop.
- She heard her telling others.
- She talked to her on the phone.
- She went to her office to deliver the tea.

Question: We know from the text that Ginger Gray   _  .

Choices:
- manages the Dixie P1T program in Kenton County
- sees that the drinks meet health standards
- teaches at Dixie Heights High School
- owns the school's coffee shop

Question: Where can we usually read this passage?

Choices:
- In a novel.
- In a newspaper.
- In an instant message.
- In a school report.


The USA
Well, imagine how my sister felt when she went off for the first time to New York for a business trip. After a few days she was still amazed at how friendly everyone was to her until she took a taxi back to her hotel one night. First she gave just the name of the hotel, but when asked she said the address too. Then she was asked how to get there, but of course she didn't know. Imagine how frightened she was when the driver started shouting at her for not knowing the way.
The UK
A friend was in London for a conference. He took a taxi and there were no problems: the driver knew the way and was very cheerful. The problem started when he realized he had stupidly left his laptop on the back seat! He called the company up and, in a panic, went straightaway to their Lost and Found office. He was _ to find the laptop waiting for him, and then very surprised that it was one of 2,900 left in taxis over the past six months!
Tunisia
Well, my brother took a Mediterranean cruise  one summer and had a day in Tunis. He spent most of the afternoon in the Medina buying presents when he suddenly realized he'd completely lost track of time and there was only half an hour before the ship left the port. There had been loads of yellow taxis in the centre so he wasn't too bothered until he stood on the pavement and waited for one to appear----and of course there wasn't a single one in sight! Nothing! He questioned a passer-by who explained that the cost for the taxi ride goes up in the evening so the taxi drivers disappear until they can charge higher prices! Luckily for my brother the man then offered to give him a lift and he caught the boat on time!

Question: What was the author's sister's trip by taxi in the US like?

Choices:
- Unpleasing and scary.
- Tiring but impressive.
- Relaxing and exciting.
- Interesting but strange

Question: Why couldn't the author's brother find a taxi in Tunis?

Choices:
- Because it was too late.
- Because the weather was bad.
- Because he didn't know how to call a taxi.
- Because the taxi drivers disappeared on purpose.

Question: What do the three stories have in common?

Choices:
- They are all about taking a taxi.
- They are all about business trips.
- They are all about great services.
- They are all about the author's family.


Culture helps human societies survive in changing natural environment.For example, the end of the last Ice Age, beginning about 15,000 years ago, brought a big challenge to which humans had to adapt.Before this time, large parts of the northern hemisphere were covered in great sheets of ice that contained much of the earth' s water.In North America, large animals that wandered the vast tundra   provided people with food and materials for clothing and simple shelters.When the earth became warm, large Ice Age animals disappeared, and many land areas were covered by rising sea levels from melting ice.But people survived, they developed new technologies and learned how to survive on new plant and animal species. Finally some people settled into permanent villages, durable houses and farms.
Cultural adaptation has made humans one of the most successful species on the planet. Through history, major developments in technology, medicine, and nutrition have allowed people to reproduce and survive in ever-increasing numbers.The global population has risen from 8 million during the Ice Age to about 6 billion today.
However, the successes of culture adaptation can also create problems in the long run.Over the last 200 years, people have begun to use large quantities of natural resources and energy and to produce a great amount of material and chemical wastes.The global population now consumes some important natural resources--such as petroleum, wood, and minerals--faster than nature can produce them.Many scientists believe that in the process of burning fuels and producing wastes, people may be changing the global climate in unpredictable and possibly harmful ways.Thus, the adaptive success of the present-day global culture of production and trade may be temporary.

Question: To deal with the problems, human beings should   _  according to the passage.

Choices:
- stop developing any longer
- reduce the overuse of natural resources
- stop the global warming and using natural resources
- save more animals in case they all die out

Question: Which of the following is the problem caused by cultural adaptation according to the passage?

Choices:
- A very developed culture came into being.
- New technologies have been developed.
- Natural resources have been used up.
- Human activities have done damage to the balance of nature.

Question: Which of the following can be the best tide of the passage?

Choices:
- Natural Environment Should Be Protected.
- The Success of Cultural Adaptation Is Not Permanent.
- The Global Population Is Increasing Since Ice Age.
- Human Beings Are Capable of Surviving on Earth.


Opportunity knocked on my door last January when I was given a chance to work in another country. At first, it seemed really scary for me to live on my own. But I had to overcome the true challenge!
    Luckily, I met seven new friends, six boys and one girl. They were really nice and I loved their company. We hung out most weekends. We cooked, watched movies, chatted and shared jokes! It was amazing -- until something unexpected happened !
    One of my friends was diagnosed with kidney   stones which needed to be removed as soon as possible. But our friend could not afford the surgery. He tried to get help from our other friends but they refused him. My heart cried for him! Our friends abandoned him just when he needed them most.
    I didn't know how to help him because I didn't have any money either. But I never lost hope. Instead I tried to think of other options. I told him not to worry because he might find a way somehow and everything would be all right.
    So I went to the hospital with him. I talked to the surgeon, asking him to do the surgery for him and promising to pay the expenses the next day (As if I had that money). I must have been convincing because the surgeon agreed to do it! Now, how was I going to get that much money?
    All I knew was that I needed to help my friend! I tried to borrow money from other friends but I failed. I tried selling my things but no one wanted them. Then I had to talk to my boss. I asked him if I could have my next two months salary in advance -- without even thinking on how I would survive for two months without money.
    He was surprised and asked me why. I told him that I had a friend who was really in need.  Luckily, he gave my two months salary without hesitation! As soon as I had the money I ran to the hospital and paid all the bills.
    Friendship may not only be found in happy moments. Sometimes you can find it on the toughest time in your life!

Question: Why did the author go to the hospital with his friend?

Choices:
- To find free medical treatment for his friend.
- To have his friend admitted into the hospital.
- To pay the expenses of treatment for his friend.
- To keep him company during the operation.

Question: Which of the following words can be used to describe the author?

Choices:
- Warm - hearted.
- Adventurous.
- Open-minded.
- Clever.

Question: What does the author intend to tell us by sharing his story?

Choices:
- We should not judge a person by his look.
- Trouble can put one's qualities to the test.
- True friends should share in joys and sorrows alike.
- We can't depend on friends when in trouble.


Sheep, like turkeys and ostriches, are not considered the cleverest animals. British scientists said last Wednesday human may have underestimated  the woolly creatures. They could be much smarter than we think.
Researchers at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, southern. England, have shown that animals have a good memory system and are extremely good at recognizing faces--which they think is a sure sign of intelligence.
Behavioral scientist Keith Kendrick and his friends trained 20 sheep to recognize and distinguish  25 pairs of sheep faces and used electrodes  to measure their brain activity, which showed they could remember 50 faces for up to two years.
"If they can do that with faces, the fact is that they have to have reasonable intelligence, otherwise, what is the point of having a system for remembering anything else," Kendrick said in an interview.
So hours of seemingly mindless eating grass may not be so mindless after all.
Kendrick believes sheep got their reputation as dumb animals because they live in large groups and do not appear to have much ind
ividuality and are frightened of just about everything.
All animals, including humans, once they are frightened don't tend to show signs of intelligent action," he explained.
In research reported in the science journal Nature, Kendrick and his team showed that sheep, like humans, have a specialized system in the brain, which allows them to distinguish between many different faces that look extremely similar.
"The most important findings of the study is that they are able, both from a behavioral point of view and from looking at the way the brain is organized, to remember a large number of faces of individuals for a very long time," said Kendrick. "It is a very strange system. They are showing similar abilities in many ways to humans. "

Question: From what Kendrick said in the interview we learn that   _  .

Choices:
- scientists have learned a lot about sheep's intelligence
- scientists have learned little about sheep's intelligence
- scientists can't do anything more about sheep's memory
- scientists don't have to research animals' memory

Question: As is shown in the passage   _  .

Choices:
- sheep are among the weak animals
- it is not right for people to raise sheep in groups
- when sheep eat grass in the fields their minds may be active
- if people feel frightened, they may become more brave

Question: When scientists found that sheep show similar abilities in many ways to humans they may think it   _  .

Choices:
- worrying
- moving
- frightening
- interesting


In 1955, a man named Raymond Kroc entered a partnership with two brothers named Mcdonald. They operated a popular restaurant in California which sold food that was easy to prepare and serve quickly. Hamburgers, French fries, and cold drinks were the main foods on the limited menu. Kroc opened similar eating places under the same name, "McDonald's" and they were a quick success. He later took over the company and today it is one of the most famous and successful "fast-food" chains  in America and the world.
Why was his idea so successful? Probably the most important reason was that his timing was right. In the 1950s, most married women stayed home to keep house and take care of their children. During the 1960s, the movement for equality  between men and women and an economy  that needed more families to have two money-earners resulted in many women returning to the workplace. This meant that they had less time and energy to do housework, so they depended more on fast-food restaurants.
Single parents also have little time to spend in the kitchen. People living alone because of divorce  or a preference for a "single lifestyle" also depend on this type of food, since cooking for one is often more trouble than it is worth.
Fast food is not part of the diet of all Americans. Another of the 1960s was called back-to-nature movement. More and more Americans based their diets on natural foods. This preference for natural foods continues to this day. These products can now be found not only in the special health food store but also in many supermarkets.

Question: The passage is mainly about   _  .

Choices:
- how and why "McDonald's" became successful
- the effect social and economic changes have on people's eating habits
- why Americans prefer natural food
- American eating habits

Question: Which of the following was NOT a reason for Raymond Kroc's success?

Choices:
- His partnership with the McDonald brothers.
- A changing economy.
- The back-to-nature movement.
- Women's equality movement.

Question: We can infer from the passage that   _  .

Choices:
- natural foods can also be found in McDonald's
- many married women in America returned to work in the 1960s
- McDonald's fast food is popular among the young
- divorce caused people to change their eating habits


There are three main forms of public transport in Singapore--trains,buses and taxis.
TRAINS
Trains run from 6:00 am to midnight. Single trip tickets start at 80 cents. If you buy an EZ-Link card for $ 15,you can ride the trains and buses as you like. If you need more infor-mation, just call Train Station at 6222 5165.
BUSES
There are several bus services in Singapore and fares start at 80 cents. Be sure always to ask the driver the cost of your ticket as he can't give change. If you need help,just call Tran-sit Link at 1800 767 4333.
TAXIS
There are three main taxi companies--City Cab (6552 2222),Comfort (6552 1111) and Tibs (6552 8888). Booking can also be easy by calling the numbers listed above.
RENTAL CARS
Driving in Singapore is a pleasure and if you like to travel at your own pace,renting a car is a good choice.Renting takes away the hassle of getting to places around Singapore.Just sit back and enjoy the city. It also means you'll get to see a lot more that a train or a bus won't let you see. For car rental? call Avis at + 65 6737 1668.

Question: With an EZ-Link card, you can take_.

Choices:
- only trains
- both buses and trains
- only rental cars
- both buses and taxis

Question: If you need the bus service? you had better call_.

Choices:
- 6552 1111
- 1800 767 4333
- 6552 5165
- + 65 6737 1668

Question: What do we know about traveling in Singapore from the text?

Choices:
- A foreigner has no trouble finding his way around.
- It's much cheaper to go around by bus than by train.
- To see a lot in Singapore we have to rent a car.
- It's very easy for visitors to travel in Singapore.


Read the following reviews for movies that are showing at the moment. And then answer questions.
Happiness(Romance)
Happinesstells the story of two people (Lisa Turbot and Danny Roy) who work for different advertising companies. They talk on the phone all the time and don't like each other. But then they _ by e-mail and fall in love. This movie will be very popular with teenagers and people who like romances. It also has beautiful music.
I Scream(Thriller)
InI Scream, Paul (Colin Jacks) is a young man who joins a thriller club. Each of the members tries to frighten the others. Paul is told to stay in an old house for the night. Everyone who has tried to stay in the house before has died. This movie is very frightening but also quite silly. It doesn't make sense for Paul to stay in the house when things start to go wrong. Only for people who like thrillers.
Paul's Heroes(Comedy)
This is a very funny war movie set in World War Two. Six soldiers (including Sammy Turblow) have to get to Italy to take secret messages to the American army there. During the movie, they dressup as women and fight with Italian workers. You can guess the ending, but it's great fun getting there.
 _  (Drama)
This is a very good drama with Jack Ross, who plays a hard-working truck driver. His wife becomes ill and he has to find a doctor who can help her. In his travels he meets Dr. Lloyd (Phil Driver) who has found the cure for the illness, but Jack Ross has only twelve hours to get the medicine back to his wife on the other side of America. This is an excellent movie, which is very exciting.

Question: Which of the four movies is the least popular with people?

Choices:
- The 1st one.
- The 2nd one.
- The 3rd one.
- The 4th one.

Question: A thriller is most probably a film which tells something   _  .

Choices:
- instructive
- frightening
- humorous
- interesting

Question: Which of the following is the best title for the fourth film?

Choices:
- A Hard-working Trick Driver
- Medicine
- A Strange Illness
- Twelve Hours


Dear Ms Morris,
We have come to know of an unfortunate incident you had with our customer service department and we would like to deeply apologize for the inconvenience caused to you by the customer service manager's behavior. We have noted down your complaint (number 797329SA) and would like to let you know that strict action will be taken against the employee. He is a new employee with little experience and so his attitude towards his job was over enthusiastic and he lacked proper judgment.
We are by no means excusing his behavior but I would like to request you not to take any legal action against the company as we are very sorry for what happened. To express our appreciation, please accept the offer of free servicing of all products of our company that you own for up to three years. We will also make sure that the faulty  air conditioner is replaced by us at no extra cost so that you do not face any further problem.
Once again, we are very sorry for the incident. Please contact us if you have any questions.
                                                           Yours sincerely,
                                                              Nate Borges
Dear sir,
I should like to apologize for the inconvenience caused to you due to poor Internet connectivity. I understand that you require the Internet all through the day as all your business deals are done online and since last week your work has been affected a great deal.
We are continually working towards providing the best possible services to our customers. You have been using our service for the last three years and are aware of the excellent quality of service offered by us. However, this time due to some major technical fault the Internet service was interrupted and our customers in your part of the city are facing our poor Internet connectivity problems.
The issue is likely to be solved within the next two days; kindly bear with us until then. Once again I apologize for the poor service.
                                                           Yours faithfully,
                                                              David Johns

Question: What is Ms Morris's attitude towards the customer service manager?

Choices:
- Thankful.
- Dissatisfied.
- Doubtful.
- Worried.

Question: Which is most likely to happen according to the first letter?

Choices:
- The new employee will be punished.
- Ms Morris will get her air conditioner repaired.
- Nate Borges will take legal action against Ms Morris.
- Ms Morris will get all products of the company for free.

Question: Why does David Johns mention their level of service in the past?

Choices:
- To increase the service prices.
- To express thanks to the customer.
- To preserve the customer's confidence.
- To explain the causes of the poor service.

Question: What do the two letters have in common?

Choices:
- Both complain about poor services.
- Both are written to make an apology.
- Both explain how to use the product.
- Both discuss how to make up for the loss.


Some mothers in Senegal are learning a new way to save the lives of babies born too soon. The idea is borrowed from the way mother kangaroos carry their young in front in a pouch. The baby kangaroo stays in this built-in baby carrier until it can survive independently.
Kangaroo mother care is also known as the skin-to-skin method for premature  babies. The direct contact with the mother keeps the baby warm. It also lets the baby breastfeed  at any time. The mother's heartbeat also helps control the baby's breathing rate.
Every year, seven thousand babies are born at the health center where Ousmane Ndiaye works in Guediaway, outside Dakar. One in five is underweight. But Senegal has few incubators  in which to keep premature babies warm. In Africa, one newborn in twenty dies. A major reason is prematurity, so the death rates are among the highest in the world.
Doctor Ndiaye says babies who weigh less than two kilos get special attention from _ who assist with the births. They teach the mother how to keep the baby wrapped to her chest. The health center has a Kangaroo Clinic, a special area for teaching this method.
Doctor Ndiaye says they plan to expand the program throughout Senegal. But he believes the best way to get more people to use the kangaroo method is for mothers who have used the method to tell others about it.

Question: Which of the following is NOT the advantage of the kangaroo method?

Choices:
- The babies can get warmth from their mothers
- It is convenient for mothers to feed their babies
- The direct skin contact reduce the risk of failing ill
- The mother's heartbeat helps the baby breathe normally

Question: What is the major reason for the high death rates of newborns in Africa?

Choices:
- They are not fed with nutritious food
- Most hospitals don't have incubators
- The newborns are not taken good care of
- They are born before the usual time

Question: What is the passage mainly about ?

Choices:
- advantages of kangaroo mother care
- new ways to take care of newborn babies
- medical conditions in Senegal need improving
- saving premature babies with an idea from nature


It's a fact that we all dream. Some dreams seem to last for hours, others only for seconds. Some of us have strange dreams, some have interesting dreams, and some of us have unpleasant dreams. Tests in the 1980s showed that these dreams occur within 90-minute cycles, each cycle made up of six stages. In the last stage people experience rapid eye movement, known as REM, and it is in this stage that dreaming takes place. Eighty percent of people who were woken during this sixth stage could easily remember their dreams. On the other hand, when during the first five stages (NREM), only seven percent could describe a dream.
However, of these same people woken during the first five stages, 74% were able to remember thinking activity, although they would not call it a dream. NerysDee, who has written about dreams in a book called "Your Dreams and What They Mean" says: "Perhaps during NREM sleep we are sorting out our outer mundane problems, but in REM sleep we are dealing with inside matters." She also makes the following statement about 90-minute cycle: It may also prove the reason why _ who wake in the middle of the night find it impossible to get to sleep again for at least an hour and a half. In other words, until they have missed out one complete 90-minute sleep period.

Question: Which of the following statements about dreams is TRUE?

Choices:
- Everyone dreams but very few can recall what they dream.
- Some people have long dreams and others have very short ones.
- People can only remember unpleasant dreams.
- More than eighty percent of people can remember their dreams.

Question: According to the tests in the 1980s, dreaming takes place  _  .

Choices:
- between each 90-minute cycle
- at any time during 90-minute cycles
- during the first five stages of 90-minute cycles
- in the last stage of 90-minute cycles

Question: People woken during REM sleep can  _  .

Choices:
- hardly remember their dreams
- easily remember their dreams
- only remember their dreams
- partly remember their thinking activity

Question: "Insomniacs" are persons who  _  .

Choices:
- can always remember their dreams
- have trouble getting into sleep at night
- experience rapid eye movement
- usually wake after each 90-minute sleep period


In most of the time, I am devoted to my research in the lab with my friend Dave, who loves traveling very much. To make our life colorful and relax ourselves, in July, my friend and I are taking a camping trip. We will travel for four weeks and will tour the United States and part of Canada. We have decided to camp because it does not cost as much as vacationing   in hotels.
We have to plan very carefully in advance. First, the car we are going to drive is very small, so we have decided to take only one small suitcase each and as few camping things as possible. We will take some medicine with us to prevent insects   from hurting us, and also food for picnics. Second, there is a lot to see in the United States and Canada, so we have to decide on the direction   we want to drive.
The date we are leaving is July 2, from which day we will have two months off.  We want to see and do many things on our camping tour. We want to climb in the mountains, visit famous caves, and swim in cool mountain rivers. We want to visit many cities and talk to many people, which I am sure can enrich our experience greatly. We also want to find a hotel room if it rains at night. We expect to have an exciting trip.

Question: The two friends are going to take a camping trip   _  .

Choices:
- if they have four weeks' time off
- though it will be a long trip
- so that they can save money
- because it will be warm enough in July

Question: Which of the following statements is possibly true?

Choices:
- They are now on the trip
- They are going to make a tour all over the U.S and Canada.
- They are quite rich.
- July is drawing near.

Question: It is quite clear that   _  .

Choices:
- there will be no insects at all.
- they are sure to take some medicine on the trip.
- the two friends will take turns to drive.
- the two friends will share a suitcase.

Question: If they are caught in the rain , they will   _  .

Choices:
- talk to their families while it rains.
- ask others for help.
- have to stop climbing.
- have to stay in a hotel for the night.


Poet William Stafford once said that we are defined more by the detours   in life than by the narrow road toward goals.I like this image.But it was quite by accident that I discovered the deep meaning of his words.
For years we made the long drive from our home in Seattle to my parents' home in Boise in nine hours.We traveled the way most people do:the fastest,shortest,easiest road,especially when I was alone with four noisy,restless kids who hate confinement   and have strong opinions about everything.
Road trips felt risky,so I would drive fast,stopping only when I had to.We would stick to the freeways and arrive tired.
But then Banner,our lamb was born.He was rejected by his mama days before our planned trip to Boise.I had two choices:leave Banner with my husband,or take him with me.My husband made the decision for me.
That is how I found myself on the road with four kids,a baby lamb and nothing but my everlasting optimism to see me through.We took the country roads out of necessity.We had to stop every hour,let Banner shake out his legs and feed him.The kids chased him and one another.They'd get back in the car breathless and energized,smelling fresh from the cold air.
We explored side roads,catching grasshoppers in waisthigh grass.Even if we simply looked out of the car windows at baby pigs following their mother,or fish leaping out of the water,it was better than the best ride down the freeway.Here was life.And new horizons  .
We eventually arrived at my parents' doorstep astonishingly fresh and full of stories.
I grew brave with the trip back home and creative with my disciplining technique.On an empty section of road,everyone started quarreling.I stopped the car,ordered all kids out and told them to meet me up ahead.I parked my car half a mile away and read my book in sweet silence.
Some road trips are by necessity fast and straight.But that trip with Banner opened our eyes to a world available to anyone adventurous enough to wander around and made me realize that a detour may uncover the best part of a journey-and the best part of yourself.

Question: Why did the author use to take freeways to her parents'home?

Choices:
- It was less tiring.
- It would be faster and safer.
- Her kids would feel less confined.
- She felt better with other drivers nearby.

Question: The author stopped regularly on the country roads to  _  .

Choices:
- relax in the fresh air
- take a deep breath
- take care of the lamb
- let the kids play with Banner

Question: Why did the author ask the kids to get out of the car on their way back home?

Choices:
- To give herself some time to read.
- To order some food for them.
- To play a game with them.
- To let them cool down.

Question: What could be the best title for the passage?

Choices:
- Charm of the Detour
- The Road to Bravery
- Creativity out of Necessity
- Road Trip and Country Life


STRANGERS parties go wild these days. The main idea of them is to never let the people know who their matches are until the last minute. These are some popular practices that are storming the world's youth on this V-day.
Speed dating
It's exactly what the name implies. Complete with a timer, a whistle and 50 willing singles, speed dating is not the traditional dinner and a movie type of first date. Singles pay US $35 for three minutes with more than two dozen future dates. They ask questions and try to get to know each other. At the sound of a whistle, they do the same thing all over again--25 times in all.
Lock and key party
Women are given a lock and men are given a key, upon arriving at the party. Each key and lock has several matches. One can hunt for his/her later-to-be sweetheart in various groups, and try out the key or lock. Each time a lock and key match the pair are entered into a ballot  for top prizes!
Dinner in the dark
Waiters wearing night vision glasses guide the guests through the pitch-black dining room. They are seated at the table and familiarized with the wine glass and plate. Food is handled with the fingers. People will not see the food they are eating or the guests at their table until the dessert course. At that moment, dining partners will appear.
Message party
Have A Cocktail, Leave A Message! When you arrive, you get a tag with a number and a pad of post-it notes. If you see someone you like, write a message on the message board. But wait... You've got a message... Go and collect it! You can make new friends and win lots of gifts. The more messages you leave on the bulletin board, the more chances you have of winning prizes.

Question: What do you think the similarities of these parties are?

Choices:
- All the parties have very strict rules for their members.
- If you want to go to any of the parties, you have to buy a ticket.
- All the parties are aimed at strangers who want to be lovers.
- All the parties are suitable not only for the young but for the old.

Question: In which party does a participant have to be careful with the time?

Choices:
- Speed dating.
- Lock and key party.
- Dinner in the dark.
- Message party.

Question: If you go to the Dinner in the dark,   _  .

Choices:
- you have to wear night vision glasses
- you have to eat with your hands
- guests eat all the courses in the darkness
- your dining partners will help you choose the food

Question: How many of the parties offer gifts or prizes?

Choices:
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.


No matter where he lives, 16-year-old Danny Lopez feels like an outsider: he is half-Mexican and half-white.
At his private high school in wealthy northern San Diego, California, US, Lopez is too brown to fit in, whereas for the Mexican side of his family in National City, just a dozen miles from the border, he is too white to belong.
Different from both sides, Lopez is silent in school. He focuses on his passion for baseball and working hard to improve the pitches   that have kept him off the school team.
Mexican Whiteboy, by Matt de la Pena, is about a teenager's search for identity. It was named as one of the Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults in 2009 by the US Young Adult Library Services Association.
When Lopez's mother decides to go to live with her wealthy white boyfriend in San Francisco, he chooses to spend the summer with his father's family in San Diego. It's a trip to explore roots and self-identity, filled with unexpected friendship.
There he meets Uno, of mixed heritage   like himself, also with a divorced mom. Uno understands Danny's split background and helps him improve his baseball skills. Both boys have big league dreams, but they both have to learn to come to terms with their mixed heritages before they can achieve their goals.
Aside from discussions of racism, Mexican Whiteboy takes on other issues, such as the importance of family and the negative influence of hiding the truth. It also shows how sports can draw cultures together.

Question: The reason why Lopez feels like an outsider lies in the fact that   _  .

Choices:
- he is a Mexican
- he lives in San Diego
- he is half-white and half-Mexican
- he studies in a private school

Question: Most probably "Mexican Whiteboy" is a   _  .

Choices:
- book
- club
- newspaper
- organization

Question: When Lopez found it is hard for him to fit in, he   _  .

Choices:
- starts writing a book about himself
- begins to look for identity with the help of Mexican Whiteboy
- loses his interest in baseball
- works in the fields in which he was kept off the school team

Question: Lopez and Uno have a lot in common except that   _  .

Choices:
- they both have a divorced mom
- they both have mixed heritage
- they were both in the school baseball team
- both of them have big league dreams


Sir Steven Redgrave
Winner of 5 Olympic Gold Medals
"In 1997 I was found to have developed diabetes . Believing my career was over, I felt extremely low. Then one of the specialists said there was no reason why I should stop training and competing. That was it -- the encouragement I needed. I could still be a winner if I believed in myself. I am not saying that it isn't difficult sometimes. But I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn't finished yet. Nothing is to stand in my way."
Karen Pickering
Swimming World Champion
"I swim 4 hours a day, 6 days a week. I manage that sort of workload by putting it on top of my diary. This is the key to success -- you can't follow a career in any field without being well-organized. List what you believe you can achieve. Trust yourself, write down your goals for the day, however small they are, and you'll be a step closer to achieving them."
Kirsten Best
Poet & Writer
"When things are getting hard, a voice inside my head tells me that I can't achieve something. Then, there are other _ , such as family or hobbies. The key is to concentrate. When I feel tense, it helps a lot to repeat words such as 'calm', 'peace' or 'focus', either out loud or silently in my mind. It makes me feel more in control and increases my confidence. This is a habit that can become second nature quite easily and is a powerful psychological  tool"

Question: What does Sir Steven Redgrave mainly talk about?

Choices:
- He overcame the bad influence of illness to win.
- Specialists offered him medical advice.
- Training helped him defeat his disease.
- Difficulties influenced his career.

Question: What does Karen Pickering put on top of her diary?

Choices:
- Her daily happenings.
- Her training schedule.
- Her achievements.
- Her sports career.

Question: According to the passage, what do the three people have in common?

Choices:
- Courage.
- Self-confidence.
- Devotion.
- Hard work.


Educating Girls Is a Real Lifesaver
Clare Short knows it. Every developing economist knows it. The World Bank knows it. The education of girls is the surest way to reduce poverty.
The reason is simple. All the evidence shows that taking girls out of the fields and homes, and putting them behind desks, raises economic productivity, lowers infant and maternal  death rates, reduces birth rates, and improves environmental management.
Why, then, are 90 million primary school-age girls around the world not in school? For the same reason that when Charles Dickens was writing David Copperfield 150 years ago girls were absent from the British education system: Men in power mostly prefer _ that way, or are not interested enough in changing the situation to commit energy and money to doing so.
The countries with the poorest record for having women in positions of power or influence have the worst figures for girls' education. High-profile intervention  by organizations such as the World Bank has begun successfully with several countries, and more of the same will probably be needed to bring change in conservative, male-run states.
Even if there were no development payoff from gender equality in schools, the education of girls would still be a cause worth fighting for. Education is a human right, and the denial of it to girls is a scar on the community in the twenty-first century.
To be born a girl in a rural area in Nepal, Pakistan, Indonesia, Morocco, Togo, or Sudan -- half a dozen of the most shameful performers -- means being condemned to a life without school, education, or clean water, marriage and babies coming too early, too many births, children who die of preventable diseases, backbreaking work in the fields, subordination  to husband and his family, and an early death.
Every year, almost 12 million children under the age of five needlessly die of infectious diseases associated with poverty. But each additional year spent by their mothers in primary school lowers the risk of premature child deaths by about 8 percent. In Pakistan, an extra year of school for 1,000 girls could prevent sixty infant deaths.
With women and girls being the main farmers in Africa and southern Asia, their education offers a chance to develop more efficient farming practices, improve output, and raise awareness of the ecological needs of the land with tree planting and farming. Therefore, the world community cannot afford to ignore this avenue of change.

Question: Which is Not the reason why educating girls reduces poverty?

Choices:
- It improves environmental management.
- It raises economic productivity.
- It creates more children.
- It lowers maternal death rates.

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

Choices:
- The countries where women have great influence and are in power always do worse in girls' education.
- Some organizations such as the World Bank haven't taken the lead in girls' education.
- Some girls in Sudan and Indonesia are bound to live a life without education when they are born.
- Each extra year of school for girls has nothing to do with the birthrate and maternal deaths.

Question: How many more infants will survive when 100 girls stay in school for another year?

Choices:
- 5
- 6
- 8
- 12

Question: What does the author think of girls' education?

Choices:
- essential
- terrible
- indifferent
- helpless


My parents knew their wealth: each other, their six children, and their faith. They tried to live simple lives so that they could have time for what was most important.
They didn't busy themselves buying a bigger house, because that would mean working harder to pay the monthly mortgage ,working overtime or taking second job. Who would go running with me then? Who would read stories to me?
They didn't burden themselves with buying an expensive car because that would mean worrying about installment  bills. Besides, walking to the shopping centre every Saturday afternoon with me gave my dad his needed exercise, and made me feel so special.
One of my heart's delights was seeing Dad and Mom in their bedroom at night, after our nightly family prayer. The lights were turned off, and I'd see the figure of my father seated on his old chair and Mom standing behind him, gently massaging  his shoulders. I'd hear them talk about what happened during their day. Even as a child, I sensed their quiet pleasure in being together.
My question today: Could they have done this rich ritual  each night and nourished  their marriage if they had been busy paying for expensive clothes for themselves or their kids, or if they had been worrying about monthly bills for new hi-tech equipment? I don't think so. And I've made a choice: I don't want that of life either.

Question: Which of the following is TRUE about the author's family?

Choices:
- There were six people in the family.
- They decided to buy a bigger house.
- They lived an easy and happy life.
- They had a second-hand car.

Question: What did the parents regularly do with the author?

Choices:
- They wrote stories together.
- They read newspapers together.
- They regularly took exercise together.
- They went shopping together each day.

Question: The author believed that his/her parents' happiness was due to(, )

Choices:
- their attitude towards life
- their love for each other
- their common interests
- their ability to communicate with each other


"Mama, when I grow up, I'm going to be one of those!" I said this after seeing the Capital Dancing Company perform when I was three. It was the first time that my dream took on a vivid form and acted as something important to start my training. As I grew older and was exposed to more, my interests in the world of dance certainly varied but that little girl's dream of someday becoming a dancer in the company never left me. In the summer of 2005 when I was 18, I received the phone call which made that dream a reality: I became a member of the company dating back to 1925.
As I look back on that day now, it surely lacks any sense of reality. I believe I stayed in a state of pleasant disbelief until I was halfway through rehearsals   on my first day. I never actually expect to get the job. After being offered the position, I was completely astonished. I remember shaking with excitement.
 _ . Through the strict rehearsal period of dancing six days a week, I found it vital to pick up the material fast with every last bit of concentration. It is that extreme attention to detail   and stress on practice that set us apart. To then follow those high-energy rehearsals with a busy show schedule of up to five performances a day, I discovered a new meaning of the words "hard work." What I thought were my physical boundaries were pushed much further than I thought possible. I learned to make each performance better than the last.
Today, when I look at the unbelievable company that I have the great honor of being a part of, not only as a member, but as a dance captain, I see a tradition that has inspired not only generations of little girls but a splendid company that continues to develop and grow-and inspires people every day to follow their dreams.

Question: How many years has the Capital Dancing Company existed when the author received the phone call from it?

Choices:
- 180
- 1925
- 2005
- 80

Question: How did the author feel when she look back on that day now?

Choices:
- strange
- unrealistic
- indifferent
- lucky

Question: What conclusion could be drawn from the passage?

Choices:
- The company values practice most.
- The company extremely focus on intelligence.
- The company has an inherited tradition of inspiring its members break their limits.
- The company sets the members apart in order to extremely stress detail and practice.


Is there anything more important than health?I don't think so.You can't be good at your studies or work when you are ill.
If you have a headache,or a bad cough,if you run a high temperature and have a bad cold,I think you should go to the doctor.
The doctor will examine your throat,feel your pulse,take your temperature,sound your heart and lungs.After that he will advise some treatment,or some medicine.The only thing you have to do is to follow his advice.
Speaking of doctor's advice,I can't help telling you a funny story.
An old man came to see the doctor.The man was very ill.He told the doctor about his weakness,memory loss and serious problems with his heart and lungs.The doctor examined him and said there was no medicine for his disease.
He told his patient to go to a quiet place for a month and have a good rest.He also advised him to eat a lot of meat,drink two glasses of red wine every day and take long walks.In other words,the doctor advised him to follow the rule:"Eat at pleasure,drink with measure and enjoy life as it is."The doctor also said that if the man wanted to be well again,he shouldn't smoke more than one cigarette a day.
A month later the gentleman came into the doctor's office.He looked cheerful and happy.
He thanked the doctor and said that _
"But you know,doctor,"he said,"it's not easy to begin smoking at my age."

Question: The writer thinks that   _  .

Choices:
- health is more important than wealth
- work is as important as studies
- medicine is more important than pleasure
- nothing is more important than money

Question: The doctor usually tells his patient what to do   _  .

Choices:
- without examining the patient
- after he has examined the patient
- if the patient doesn't take medicine
- unless the patient feels pain

Question: From the last sentence of the passage,we learn the man   _   before the doctor told him not to smoke more than one cigarette a day.

Choices:
- was a heavy smoker
- didn't smoke so much
- didn't smoke
- began to learn to smoke


British newspapers are among the oldest and most famous in the world. But recently big changes have seen these traditional publications try to fit the modern world. After 221 years, The Times has changed its size to become much smaller. In fact, the paper has cut its size in half from a broadsheet to tabloid .
In prefix = st1 /Britainthe newspaper market is divided between the larger broadsheets and the smaller tabloids. These terms refer to the size of the papers' pages but there is also a clear difference in content. Broadsheets such as The Times, the Guardian and Daily Telegraph are serious papers. They cover a broad range of political, economic and international issues. Their stories are also reasonably long and use quite formal language.
Tabloids have far more stories about less serious issues such as celebrities' love lives. Their stories are shorter and use more simple language. Tabloids often have bigger pictures. Britain's best-selling newspaper, the Sun, is a tabloid and has a naked girl on Page Three every day.
By changing to the size of a tabloid, The Times is following in the footsteps of a less famous broadsheet paper the Independent . It changed to tabloid last year and saw its sales increase greatly. Although both papers have switched to the smaller size the content of the papers has remained the same. They are both still serious papers.
The two papers claim that people find the smaller size easier to handle when they travel to work on the bus or the train in the morning. Instead of calling the new style of their paper tabloid, the paper says its new size is "compact" .

Question: In which year was The Times born?

Choices:
- 1782
- 1785
- 1788
- 1786

Question: Which of the following statements can best describe broadsheets and tabloid?

Choices:
- Broadsheets are larger in size while tabloids are smaller.
- Tabloids are less serious than broadsheets.
- Broadsheets contain more news than tabloids.
- They are different in size, content and the style of language.

Question: Which of the following newspapers would you read if you are interested in lives of film stars?

Choices:
- The Sun
- The Times
- The Independent
- The Guardian

Question: According to the passage we can infer the main reason for The Times' changing into the tabloid is that  _  .

Choices:
- it wants to become convenient for people to carry
- it wants to increase its circulation
- it intends to copy what The Independent has done
- it is unlikely to stay in business if it does not change

Question: Which of the following statements is true according to the given information?

Choices:
- There are more tabloids than broadsheets in Britainat present.
- After the change, there will be no differences between The Sun and The Times.
- Although The Times has cut its size, it remains a serious paper.
- All the papers will tend to have the same style in the future.


In the US and Britain, the slogan around colleges was "Save water. Shower with a friend." Now, Wuhan University has come up with another system for the campus bathhouse. It charges students for the amount of time in a shower. Before entering the bathhouse, students pay for the amount of time they want in the shower with cash or their student ID card. The clock starts ticking the minute the tape is turned on. It pauses when a button is pressed for soap. An integrated circuit (IC) card reader at each tap shows the time. No money, no water. The benefits of the new system can be seen with the old system, which charged 1 Yuan for each person regardless of time in the shower. The university used about 320 tons of water daily under the old system, but only 160 tons now.
Many students use the new system but opinions on it are divided. Some students say it is bad because bathing had become a sort of race. Many people using it for the first time are not sure how long they need to shower. Some might be embarrassed if their time is up and they're still covered in soap. They have to ask the bathhouse worker to help them buy extra time.
"It's a _ in the system that you can not buy extra time on the ID card," said Ren, a freshman in Wuhan University. The university is also considering some students' suggestions that they be allowed to pay after they've finished the shower. Not surprisingly, some are complaining about losing the hour shower. But many students say the move helps them develop a water-saving sense.
Without the time limits, most students tended to shower for 30 to an hour in the bathhouse.
Some even used the hot water to wash their clothes. "In my experience, 10--20 minutes is enough," said Dai Zhihua, a third-year student who usually takes 8 minutes.
A similar system has been installed in other universities. Shanghai Normal University introduced it at its Fengxiang Campus in September. The bathing fee there is 0.2 Yuan per minute. One male student responded by setting a record with a two-minute shower.

Question: According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

Choices:
- Students buy the time of their showers.
- The clock times the student's bathing except when the bather pauses for soap.
- If money runs out, there will be no water.
- Having finished bathing, the student has to pay for it.

Question: Since the new system has performed,   _   of water can be saved.

Choices:
- a quarter
- one third
- one half
- two thirds

Question: It can be inferred from the passage that   _  .

Choices:
- the new operation can raise students' environmental awareness
- the new operation can solve the water crisis
- a similar operation has been set in other universities
- the university has saved a lot of water by using the new system

Question: In which column can you find this passage?

Choices:
- Culture.
- Society.
- Campus Life.
- Lifestyle.


When people who are nature lovers worldwide wish all humans to realize the importance of their natural surroundings, many Australians are turning caring for the environment into a way of life.
Julie, an Australian housewife in Brisbane is one such example. Even though autumn is approaching Australia's Brisbane in April, one can still watch colorful blooming   flowers in Julie's little garden, as she tells that in her community,"Each of us has a beautiful yard. The whole community, from children to elderly people, takes care of the environment as if they are taking care of their own garden."
"Gardening is the most popular club in our community," she says. "A lot of retired people don't just regularly organize gardening lectures, but also personally visit families in the community to provide gardening training. So you can see that flowers continue to blossom  in our gardens throughout the year."
Talking about her people's sense of caring for the environment, Julie says when people in the community take along their dog, they always carry a garbage bag to deal with the dog's waste. "In our community, you will never experience the embarrassment of stepping on the dirty waste while you are walking on the grass," says Julie with a smile. "Taking care of the dog's waste can also help to develop children's sense of responsibility!"
As to protecting water resources, the Australian government has made strict rules for families. Julie says, "We certainly would not use tap water to water the flowers!" She says almost every family in her community has a huge tank used to store rainwater, which is later used as the resource of all outdoor water use, including car washing and watering the garden. This year, they also asked people to connect the water tank with their toilets.

Question: Why can flowers be seen all year round in Julie's community?

Choices:
- Families are taught how to take care of their gardens.
- Gardening lessons are often given by professors.
- The local government provides free gardening training.
- There is enough rainwater to water the flowers regularly.

Question: What do we know about Julie from the passage?

Choices:
- She finds it embarrassing to walk on the grass.
- She once stepped on a dog's waste.
- She is quite in favor of raising a dog.
- She takes pride in her community.

Question: What would be the best title for the text?

Choices:
- How Australians save resources
- Love nature, the Australian way
- How Australians lead their life
- Protect nature, a must of life


As people have accurately observed,smiles are absent from early photographs. In 1852,for instance,a girl sat for her Daguerrotype,her head slightly turned,giving the camera an unsmiling look. She is preserved forever as a very serious girl indeed. Charles Darwin,a loving and playful parent,looks frozen in photographs. Why did our ancestors,from unknown sitters for family portraits  to the great and famous,because so sad in front of the camera?
The severity is everywhere in Victorian photographs. However,you don't have to look very long at these unsmiling old photos to see how incomplete the seemingly obvious answer is-that they are freezing their faces in order to keep still for the long exposure times. In Julia Margaret Cameron's Portrait of Tennyson,the poet dreams,his face a shadowed mask of genius. This is not simply a technique. It's an emotional choice.
People in the past did not go around in a continual state of sorrow. In fact,the Victorians had a sense of humor even about the darkest aspects of their society. Laughter was not just common in the past but accepted by society far more than it is today,from medieval carnivals  to Georgian print shops,where people gathered to look at the latest funnies. Far from preventing festivals and fun,the Victorians,who invented photography,also created Christmas as a celebration as it is today. So the severity of people in the 19th-century photographs cannot be the evidence of generalized sadness. This was not a society in permanent desperation. Instead,the true answer has to do with attitudes to portraiture itself.
People who sat for early photographs understood it as a significant moment. Sitting for the camera was cheaper,quicker and meant that people who never had a chance to be painted could now be photographed; but people seemed to have taken it seriously in the same way they would be a painted portrait. Like a portrait painting,it was intended as a timeless record of a person.
To me those unsmiling people probably had as much fun as we do,if not more. But they felt no need to prove it with pictures. Instead,when whey sat for a photograph,they thought about time,death and memory. Perhaps we should stop smiling sometimes,too.

Question: What do we know about the people in Victorian times?

Choices:
- They laid importance on religious events.
- They were skillful at portrait painting.
- They valued their family life.
- They enjoyed themselves.

Question: The author thinks early people look frozen in old photos because  _  .

Choices:
- they lived in a traditional society
- they had to stay still for a long time
- they regarded photography important
- they held negative views about painting

Question: What is the author's attitude towards people not smiling in old photos?

Choices:
- Skeptical.
- Critical.
- Neutral.
- Positive.


The Healthy Habits Survey shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits.Here are some findings and expert advice.
1.How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday?
*Finding:A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day.
*Step:Remove the 300 types of bacteria in your mouth each morning with a batteryoperated toothbrush.Brush gently for 2 minutes,at least twice a day.
2.How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday?
*Finding:Seniors,on average,bathe fewer than 3 days a week.And nearly 30%wash their hands only 4 times a day-half of the number doctors recommend.
*Step:We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day-often inviting germs to enter our mouth,nose,and eyes.Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle.And,most important,wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds.
3.How often do you think about fighting germs?
*Finding:Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should.
*Step:Be aware of germs.Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge that can carry more germs than anything else?To kill these germs,keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds.

Question: What is found out about American seniors?

Choices:
- Most of them have good habits.
- Nearly 30% of them bathe three days a week.
- All of them are fighting germs better than expected.
- About one third of them brush their teeth only once a day.

Question: Doctors suggest that people should wash their hands   _  .

Choices:
- twice a day
- three times a day
- four times a day
- eight times a day

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

Choices:
- We should keep from touching our faces.
- There are less than 300 types of bacteria in the mouth.
- A kitchen sponge can carry more germs than a toilet.
- We should wash our hands before touching a door handle.

Question: The text probably comes from   _  .

Choices:
- a guide book
- a popular magazine
- a book review
- an official document


Earthquakes are something that people fear. There are some places that have few or no earthquakes. Most places in the world, however, have them regularly  . Countries that have a lot of earthquakes are usually quite mountainous.
         The most talked about earthquake in the United States was in San Francisco in 1906. Over 700 people died in it. The strongest one in North America was in 1964. It happened in Alaska.
         Strong earthquakes are not always the ones that kill the most people. In 1755, one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded was felt in Portugal. Around 2,000 people died. In 1923, a very strong earthquake hit Tokyo, the Yokohama area of Japan. A hundred and forty thousand people died. Most of them died in fires which followed the earthquake.
         One of the worst earthquakes ever was in China in 1976. It killed a large number of people. The worst earthquake ever recorded was also in China, in which 400,000 people were killed or injured. This earthquake happened in 1556.
         Earthquakes worry people a lot. The reason is that we often do not know when they are coming. People can not prepare for it. Although we cannot stop earthquakes, there are things which can be done to protect ourselves during an earthquake.

Question: Earthquakes happen  _  .

Choices:
- only in a few places along the mountains
- regularly in most places in the world
- in all the places in the world
- only in the countries that have a lot of mountains

Question: How many people died in the earthquake which happened in Portugal in 1755?

Choices:
- 500.
- 140,000.
- 400,000.
- 2,000.

Question: When and where was the worst earthquake ever recorded?

Choices:
- 1964; Alaska.
- 1923; Japan.
- 1976; China.
- 1556; China.

Question: According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

Choices:
- People still don't know exactly when an earthquake will come.
- The stronger the earthquake is, the more people are killed.
- Earthquakes can cause fires.
- Earthquakes often come unexpectedly.


I was dirty smelly hungry and some somewhere beneath all that, suntanned .It was the end of an Inter-Rail holiday.My body couldn't take any more punishment. My mind couldn't deal with any more foreign timetables, currencies or languages.
" _ ," I said, as I stepped onto home ground.I said exactly the same thing the following year.And the next, all I had to do was buy one train ticket and, because I was under twenty--five years old,I could spend a whole month going anywhere I wanted in Europe. Ordinary beds are never the same once you've learnt to sleep, in the passage of a train, the rhythm rocking you into a deep sleep.
Carrying all your possessions on your back  in a tucksack  makes you have a vefy basic approach to travel,and encourages incredible wastefulness that can lead  to burning socks that have become too anti-social ,and getting rid of books when finished.On the other hand, _ is entirely in the spirit of Inter--Rail,for common sense and reasoning can be thrown out of the window along with the paperback book and the socks.All it takes to achieve this carefree attitude is one of those tickets in your hand.
Any system that enables young people to travef through countries at a rate of more than one a day must be pretty social on that first trip,my friehds mad I were at first unaware of the possibilities of this type of train ticket,thinking it was just an inexpensive way of getting to and from our chosen camp-site in southern France.But the idea of non-stop travel proved too attractive,for there was always just one more country over the border,always that little bit further to go.And what did the extra miles cost us? Nothing.
We were not completely uninterested in culture.But this was a first holiday without parents,as it was for most other Inter-Railers,and in organizing our own timetable  we left out everything except the most available sights.This was the chance to escape the guided tour,an opportunity to do something different.I took great pride in the fact that.in many places,all I could be bothered to see was the view from the station.We were just there to get by,and to have good time doing so.In this we were not different from most of the other Inter-Raiders with whom we shared passage  floors,food and water,money and music.
The excitement of travel comes from the sudden reality of somewhere that was previously just a name.It is as if the city in which you arrive never actually existed until the train pulls in at the station and you are able to see it with your own tired eyes for the first time.

Question: At the end of his first trip, the writer said"Never again"because

Choices:
- He fell ill
- he disliked trains
- he was tired from the journey
- he had lost money

Question: Why did the writer originally buy an Inter--Rail ticket?

Choices:
- To get to one place cheaply.
- To meet other young people.
- To see a lot of famous places
- To go on a tour of  Europe.

Question: What the writer liked about traveling without his parents was that

Choices:
- he could see more interesting places
- he could spend more time sightseeing
- he could stay away from home longer
- he could make his own decisions


Lee Ann Laraway has polio   and is not able to move very much. Most things are out of reach for her. Jeannie, a Labrador retriever, acts as her arms and legs. Jeannie understands 72 or more different commands. On a shopping trip, she can get money for Lee Ann at the bank or candies at the store. She can pay the cashier   and get change back. Jeannie brings things to Lee Ann and puts them in her lap.
Jeannie was trained at a place called Canine Companions for Independence, located on twelve acres of land in Santa Rosa (California). The land was donated   by the cartoonist Charles Shultz. "We train four different types of dogs here," said Ken Kirsh, a dog trainer there. "Hearing dogs, service dogs, skilled companion dogs, and facility dogs."
Trainers work with Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers for hours a day, but not every dog is good enough to be a working dog.
The work is a serious business. Hearing dogs warn their owners of sounds like ringing telephones and doorbells. Other dogs work with disabled patients like eight-year-old Noah Habib who communicates with a special computer. He likes it when people come to ask him about his dog. His father says, "People are really interested in the dog and will come over and ask to pet her and play with her, and ask about what she does, and these are people that normally might not approach us and want to talk to Noah."
When Lee Ann Laraway comes home with Jeannie and her goods, Jeannie helps her open the door. "You can train a dog to do a lot of things." said Lee Ann.

Question: According to this passage, we can know that Jeannie is Lee Ann's  _  .

Choices:
- servant
- daughter
- dog
- mother

Question: Jeannie can help Lee Ann do all the following things EXCEPT  _  .

Choices:
- go to the bank to get money
- pay for what Lee Ann buys in the shop
- bring things home
- do some cooking at home

Question: People want to talk to Noah mainly because  _  .

Choices:
- he is good at training dogs
- he is not only honest but also lovely
- they want to play with his dog
- they want to ask him for help

Question: Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

Choices:
- Dogs are helpful to people
- Four kinds of dogs
- Jeannie, a very clever dog
- How to train working dogs

Question: What kind of dogs are not trained in the center?

Choices:
- Dogs that warn their owners of sounds like doorbells.
- Dogs that help their blind owners cross over a road.
- Dogs that open the door for their owners.
- Dogs that work with children who have polio.


Many people have influence on my life, based on their personal characteristics, achievements, and values. I have been lucky to have had a great many teachers and professors who I respect for their patience and intelligence. There are artists who have encouraged me by their talents and creativity. I value many political leaders, who have inspired me by their contributions to society, and their ability to change our futures. But of all the people I have known in my life, the person I admire most is my father.
As the youngest girl in my family, I always considered myself to be "Daddy's little girl". While I grew up, it always made me sad to see so many of my friends and neighbors without a father or father-like figure around. This helped me appreciate how my father always takes an interest in his children's lives. In every aspect of my life, my father continuously pushes me to _ , so I could finish my work excellently among my people. Whenever I feel like giving up, or have a question or a concern, I know I can always turn to him for advice. From him I have also learned that sometimes _ . His strength seems to be unbreakable during hard times, and he is extremely determined to do anything he sets his mind on, no matter how small it is. I highly respect him for how he stands up for what he believes in, and will never back down. I have always admired his open mind, sympathy for people, and sense of understanding. He is a very strict man, but in our daily life, he has a great sense of humor, and always knows how to put a smile on the faces of his wife, his children and his friends.
Living in his love and instruction, I am very proud of my father. He also professes how proud he is of his children, and is still there to support us in whatever we are doing in.

Question: Which of the following could NOT be used to describe the author's father?

Choices:
- Caring and humorous.
- Knowledgeable and sociable.
- Sympathetic and open-minded.
- Energetic and helpful.

Question: What can we infer  about the author?

Choices:
- She appreciated her father because he could solve all the problems.
- She considered her father strict and had no smile to her.
- She was outstanding because her father forced her to do so.
- She felt pity for those children without the father.