If you have been joining in chat room conversations, or trading email with web pals   , you have become one of the millions who write in a peculiarly short form of English.
And you've got a sense of humor about short forms like SOHF (=" sense" of humor failure) to describe Internet newcomers who don't understand you.
Across the globe, every night teenagers and their elders are "talking online", many of them all talking at the same time.
It's fast: try talking to six people at once.It's brief: three or four words per exchange.It takes wit, concentration, and quick fingers.
And it requires tremendous linguistic economy  .There's neither time nor space for explanations.Why consume precious key-strokes   telling six friends you have to leave for a moment to take care of your little brother when BRB( =" be" right back) will do?
Want to enter a conversation? Just type PMFJI (=" pardon" me for jumping in).
Interested in whom you are talking to? Type A/S/L, the nearly universal request to know your pal's age, sex and location.You may get 15/M/NY as a response from your pal.
If something makes you laugh, say you are OTF (=" on" the floor), or LOL (=" laughing" out loud), or combing the two into ROTFL ( =" rolling" on the floor laughing) .
And when it is time to get back to work or go to bed, you type GTG (=" got" to go) or TTYL (="talk" to you later).
People want to write as fast as possible, and they want to get their ideas across as quickly as they can.Capital letters are left in the dust, except when expressing emotion, as it takes, more time to hold down the "shift" key and capitals.Punctuation   is going, too.

Question: Many people talk on the Internet    _   .

Choices:
- by sending short emails
- by using a particular short form of English
- by using peculiar English words and expression
- in a funny way

Question: In order to talk to several people at the same time on the Internet    _   .

Choices:
- you have to speak fast and fluently
- you should speak with wit and humor
- you have to express your ideas in a brief way
- one should pay much attention to the accuracy of words

Question: If you get 17/F/NY as an answer to your A/S/L, it means   _   .

Choices:
- the person on the other end is 17 from New York and he is fine
- you are talking to a girl who is 17 and lives in New York
- you are talking to 17 girls who are from New York
- the person who you are talking to is a 17-foot tall New York girl

Question: To save time on the Internet,    _   .

Choices:
- some people leave their letters in the dustbin
- some people never use "shift" in their writing
- many people leave the capital and punctuation
- people seldom use capital letters or punctuation


Europe is now the biggest market for organic food in the world, having grown by 25 percent a year over the past 10 years. Denmark's agriculture minister is herself an organic farmer. The UK market for organic food grew by 55 percent in 2000, while the food market as a whole grew by only one percent. Yet only seven percent of British shoppers account for nearly 60 percent of organic sales. However popular the idea of organic farming may be, it is still an interest for only a few people.
So what makes the idea of organic farming popular? Organic farming means farming with natural materials, rather than with man-made fertilizers or pesticides . Organic farmers rely on many methods -- such as crop rotation   and the use of resistant varieties, because they are necessary for organic farmers to _ the shortage of man-made chemicals.
Organic farming is often supposed to be safer than traditional farming for the environment. Yet after a long research on organic farming worldwide for a number of years, science continues to be against this opinion. The House of Commons committee on agriculture stated that, even with complete research work, it would fail to find any scientific evidence to prove "that any of claims made for organic farming is always true".
However, the talk about the benefits of organic farming is going on. This is partly because many people depend on their individual farm, the soil, the weather, and so on.

Question: What can we know about organic farming?

Choices:
- It refers to farming with natural materials, instead of chemical fertilizers.
- It refers to farming with chemical fertilizers rather than natural fertilizers.
- It refers to farming with soil rather than any other thing.
- It refers to growing crops with man-made fertilizers and pesticides.

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

Choices:
- The UK's agriculture minister is an organic farmer.
- Organic farming is popular with young people.
- Farmers try every means to improve the organic sales system.
- Ninety-three percent of British shoppers don't buy organic products.


Throughout life,change is the only thing that seems constant.Change has come to my 1ife many ways,in myself,and in my surroundings.At the same time,some things stay the same.This is when traditions are formed.I am often reminded of this by the photograph that sits by my bed.
It all began with a kiss on my very first day of school.I remember dancing around the mirror,watching as my dark blue dress created a teacup around my waist.I admired the little ruffle of my shirt collar and how it matched perfectly with the trim at the bottom of my dress.I knew I would be the envy of all my classmates.
    But somehow,something was missing.I reached under my bed for the large box of bows ,in every color1 imaginable,that I was famous for.I picked out a white one that would match my shirt and carefully ran to my mom.She fastened the finishing touch to my short brown hair and I was ready for my very first day of school.
    After admiring myself in the mirror,I heard my mom yell,"picture time!" I dashed downstairs where my mum led to the spot.I  ly loved getting my picture taken.
After several individual shots and some with my older sister,Katherine,my dad came for a picture with us together.As I climbed onto my dad's lap,he wrapped his arms around Katherine and me and we both leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.At that moment,mum snapped the shot and our tradition began.
From them on,every year when the first day of school rolled around,we continued our tradition of pictures in the yard.The picture grew with my family;when my two younger sisters began school,our tradition expanded from 15 minutes to 45.The mass chaos was directed by my mom when my dad was already off to work or away on a business trip.

Question: What's the author's family tradition?

Choices:
- Photographs must be put in bedroom.
- Taking family pictures on a child's first day of school.
- Dad always drove children to their school.
- Each girl of the family has a large box of bows.

Question: Why did the author look for bows according to Paras 2 and 3 ?

Choices:
- Because her mother liked bows very much.
- Because she was famous for making bows.
- Because her favorite bow was missing.
- Because she wanted to look perfect.

Question: How did the author feel when she dressed herself up?

Choices:
- Disappointed
- Excited
- Nervous
- Embarrassed

Question: What's the author's purpose of writing such a passage?

Choices:
- To prove change is the only thing that seems constant.
- To show what a skilled photographer her mother was.
- To recall a family tradition on their first day of school.
- To display her beautiful look on the first day of school.


Boxing was long viewed sickly. Generally forbidden by law in earlier days, the fighting was usually done with bare fists, and matches often lasted forty or fifty rounds.
In 1882 John L. Sullivan, a fighter of great power, won the world heavyweight championship from Paddy Ryan in a bare fisted battle marked by hitting, scratching, and biting without any rule. Five years later, while fighting Patsy Cardiff at Minneapolis, Sullivan broke his right arm in the third round, but he continued fighting to the sixth round and won. In 1889, Sullivan defeated Jade Kilrain with his bare fists in another championship fight, winning twenty thousand dollars and a diamond prize medal. His admirers talked then of running him for the next governor, but he traveled to Australia for a boxing tour instead, coming back only to lose his title in a twenty-one-round match with a young Californian named James J. Corbett.
"Gentleman James" victory in this match marked a turning point, for it showed scientific boxing was over strength. But Corbett's title ended in 1897, when another boxer, Bob Fitzsimmons, in less than three seconds, achieved his feats and then Fitzsimmons knocked out an Irishman, won the heavyweight championship of the world, and invented the terrible "solar plexus punch."

Question: Boxing matches in the early days were   _  .

Choices:
- short and bloody
- usually spare-time competitions
- governed by strict rules
- cruel

Question: Sullivan held the world's heavyweight title for   _  .

Choices:
- at least seven years
- only a year
- five years
- twenty-one years

Question: Sullivan's fight with Kilrain was   _  .

Choices:
- the first boxing championship match
- a bare-fisted championship fight
- the last boxing match to be fought bare-fisted
- a six-round match

Question: Sullivan was so popular that his admirers   _  .

Choices:
- encouraged him to be a governor
- raised twenty thousand dollars for him
- advised him to take boxing tour of Australia
- refused to believe he could be defeated


Nigel received a reward for his excellence in study. It began when he was selected to help the teachers in the computer laboratories.
The peak of his school career came not when he topped the school but when he was selected for the nationwide competition. Unlike everyone else, Nigel wanted to join the contest because he liked making something out of the Lego sets. Nigel spent the next two months rebuilding the robot. It was during the time that Nigel found out about the prizes for the competition as well as another competitor, Alicia, from a neighboring school. His early intentions were forgotten. Getting the thousand-dollar prize was more important than anything else. Nigel decided to befriend Alicia. Unaware of his intentions, she told him all about the robot that she had been building for the competition. He even helped her to put the finishing branches to her robot. He was glad with the way things had progressed. His robot was able to become a ball with its arms, which Alicia had failed to do.
Everything didn't dawn on her until she saw him among the competition. She stared at him, puzzled at first, then angry and finally a look of helplessness came over her.
The flashbulbs of the camera exploded in Nigel's try. The robot bird performed actions so unique that the specialist judgments were the same. Nigel was so personal with himself that he did not even notice the girl standing a few feet away from him. Without her, he would never win the competition.

Question: Nigel's original intention of joining the contest was to   _  .

Choices:
- be the top student of the school
- constructs a robot with the Lego sets
- being great honor to his school
- wins the thousand-dollar prize

Question: What reward did Nigel receive for doing well in his school work?

Choices:
- He helped in the computer laboratories
- He was honored with a scholarship
- He helped his teacher construct a robot
- He was offered a part-time job

Question: Why did Nigel help Alicia finish her robot?

Choices:
- He tried to make friends with her
- He was fond of building robots
- He intended to help her
- He didn't want her to suspect him

Question: What is the author's attitude towards Nigel's actions?

Choices:
- ambiguous
- defensive
- supportive
- critical


From a very early age, some children show better self-control than others. Now, a new study that began with about 1,000 children in New Zealand has tracked how a child's low self-control can predict poor health, money troubles and even a criminal record in their adult years.
Researchers have been studying this group of children for decades now. They observed the level of self-control the youngsters displayed. Parents, teachers, even the kids themselves, scored the youngsters on measures like "acting before thinking" and "Persistence in reaching goals."
The study led  by Moffitt of Duke University and colleagues followed 1,000 children from birth to age 32 in Dunedin, New Zealand.
"The children who had the lowest self-control when they were age three to ten, later on had the most health problems in their 30s," Moffitt said,"and they had the worst financial situation. They were more likely to have a criminal record and to be raising a child as a single parent on a very low income." Moffitt explained that self-control problems were widely observed, and weren't just a feature of a small group of misbehaving kids.
Moffitt said it's still unclear why some children have better self-control than others, though she said other researchers have found that it's mostly a learned behavior, with relatively little genetic influence. But good self-control can be set to run in families because children with good self-control are more likely to grow up to be healthy and prosperous parents. But the good news, Moffitt said, is that self-control can be taught by parents, and through school curricula that have been shown to be effective.

Question: Children with low self-control are more likely to_.

Choices:
- become wealthy in later life
- get good school performance
- have better financial planning
- adopt negative behaviors

Question: According to Moffitt,_.

Choices:
- only good genetic factors can shape their lives in the future
- scientists know well why some children have better self-control
- self-control in childhood has nothing to do with criminal activity
- willpower as a child really influences people's chances of adulthood

Question: What can be inferred from the passage?

Choices:
- Self-control cannot be taught in schools.
- The study is restricted within few participants.
- It's never too late to deal with self-control problems.
- Good parenting can improve self-control and life success.

Question: Which of the following might be the best title of the  passage?

Choices:
- Child's self-control predicts future health and success
- Kids are encouraged to take risks at an early age
- Children's development cannot be changed by teachers
- How to teach the kids a bit of self-control in schools


Bicycles are a great way to get around. They're fun to ride, especially down hills. And, as you speed along the road, you might also think of ways in which you could improve your bike-- make it safer, more efficient, or more comfortable. In fact, the two-wheeled machines make for some cool science projects.
This year's Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held last May in Cleveland, featured(had)three bicycle projects from three countries. Like many of the other experiments presented at ISEF, the bike projects showed that some of the most interesting scientific research often begins by taking a closer look at things you care about.
Renato Angulo Chu had even grander ambitions. The 12th-grader from Lima, Peru, wanted to _ some of his country's economic troubles.
"I see a problem in my country," Renato said. "If you go to the forests in Peru, in some places you cannot find electricity. If you go with my bicycle, you can turn on the lights."
Renato, 16, spent 3 years designing his special Multibike. The device looks like a fixed exercise bike. It has wires fixed along the frame and a blender strapped (fastened) to the back. Turning the pedals operates the blender. The same principle can be used to sharpen knives or sweep city streets.
The Multibike can work either as a fixed bike or as a bicycle able to travel city streets and country roads. It's made from inexpensive materials, and the user gets exercise while pedaling to operate a machine.
"You pedal the bike, and you can mix any drink you want," Renato said. More importantly, he added, the same concept could be used to bring light to houses in remote regions of the rainforest.

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

Choices:
- ISEF is an exhibiton displaying bicycle experiments designed by students.
- Looking closely at things you are concerned about can lead to scientific research.
- Renato's improvement of the bicycle has solved the country's great problem.
- Renato's special bicycle will soon be put into use in remote areas.'

Question: Renato's special Multibike has all the following  EXCEPT    _  .

Choices:
- making knives sharp
- mixing any kind of drinks
- producing electricity
- operating a machine with its own electricity

Question: It can be inferred that Renato's special bicycle is mainly designed for   _  .

Choices:
- distant areas in the rainforest without electricity.
- the use of his own family to make life easier.
- the competition of ISEF to win money to support remote rainforests
- enough exercise by pedaling it


Active vacations are often the most relaxing of all. But Wait! It's all in defining what an active vacation is. We don't expect you to take up jogging, backpacking, or hang gliding. we ask the sedentary vacationers to spend two to four hours a day doing things, such as walking the city streets, exploring a nature preserve, or taking a leisurely rowboat ride.
These kinds of activities aren't just good for your physical health. They improve your mental health, even your spiritual health. And they make vacations memorable and worthwhile. Here are some fresh ideas for active and healthy vacation.
Make the morning your activity time. At that time it is most likely that the weather will be friendlier, your energy level higher, and your schedule emptier than later in the day.
Have a walk at dawn or dusk. Such activity is called rejuvenation . Try to make this a daily routine of life away from home, and you will guarantee yourself both physical and spiritual youth.
Get into the water as much as you can. Don't allow yourself to spend your entire time sitting in front of the water. Whether it is the ocean, a swimming pool, or a tree-lined lake, make sure you get into the water for swimming or games or even walking. Merely standing in waist-high water is a good workout, thanks to the action of the water. And you'll feel so much more alive!
Choose a cruise for your trip. It's amazing how active you can be being stuck on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic. Most cruise ships offer numerous options for seaworthy exercise. During your sea and land trips you can burn calories as you swim, hike, dive, and horseback ride.
Get out of the car every two hours. Many of us spend a large part of our vacations on the road, either getting to and from our destinations, or using the car for sightseeing. But no matter how beautiful the scenery is, great and memorable vacations don't happen in a car seat. Don't wait for tiredness or nature's call to get you to pull over. Frequently get out and stretch, walk, picnic, shop, visit, and have fun. It's important for your health and energy, and it makes traveling a lot more active and interesting.

Question: How many tips does the writer give in the passage?

Choices:
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six

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

Choices:
- Usually the weather in the morning is better.
- You can have a memorable vacation in a car.
- Swimming can make you feel much more alive.
- Don't drive your car very often to go sightseeing.

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

Choices:
- Driving Tips
- How to Relax Without cars
- Give up Your Car and Walk
- Make your Vacation Healthy


Do you feel embarrassed when your mum tries to use slang  or when she calls you by your childhood nickname in front of your friends? And how about searching for the nearest exit when your father dances with joy when he finds his favorite CD in the shop? Loving them dearly doesn't prevent you from feeling uncomfortable around them.
And parents have to accept that Adam Gopnick, a writer for the New Yorker magazine, said in an article published by the BBC: ''The one thing that is written into the human genome   is that exactly at the age of 13, your child... will discover that you are now the most embarrassing, ridiculous and annoying person on the planet.''
A survey by the site YoungPoll.com in 2010 suggested that one in three youngsters is so  _ by their parents that they refuse to be seen with them in public; and seven in ten children are humiliated   by their mum and dad's behavior, like kissing them in front of friends and holding their hands.
Part of going through adolescence is a sudden feeling that we are wise and self-sufficient and we are embarrassed when treated like vulnerable babies. But we are bound to lose this discomfort when we reach our 20s.
Gopnick reminds us of writer William Blake's comment: ''When I was 14, my dad seemed to be so silly that I wouldn't even walk down the street with him. By the time I was 21, I was amazed how much he'd learnt.''
In any case, dissatisfied parents might feel comforted in the thought that their grandchildren are likely to end up enjoying their company. Then the uncool   ones will be the grandchildren's parents!

Question: According to the passage, which of the following deeds will make a teenager feel bad?

Choices:
- His parents ask him to do housework.
- His parents show up in the public.
- His parents hold his hands before his friends.
- A child reaches the age of 13.

Question: Why do some children feel humiliated when their parents kiss them in front of friends?

Choices:
- Because they don't show enough love for their parents.
- Because they don't want to be treated like children.
- Because their parents are embarrassing, ridiculous and annoying.
- Because they want to grow up.

Question: What does William Blake's comment suggest?

Choices:
- His father had learnt a lot about parenting when he was 21.
- His father changed a lot since he was 21.
- He began to appreciate his father when he was 21.
- His father stopped doing the embarrassing things to him.

Question: What is the main idea of the passage?

Choices:
- The situations on which parents embarrass their children.
- Parents should be careful not to embarrass their children.
- It is normal for teenagers to feel embarrassed with their parents sometimes.
- The generation gap between children and parents is growing.


Street art can be found on buildings, sidewalks, street signs and even trash cans from Tokyo to Paris to New York City. This special kind of art can take the form of paintings, sculptures, cloth or even stickers. Street art has become part of a global visual culture. Now, even art museums and galleries are collecting the work of street artists.
It is not easy to provide an exact history of the street art movement. This kind of art has developed in many kinds of ways in places all over the world. Also, because it is illegal to paint public and private property without permission, street artists usually work secretly. This secretive nature of street art and its countless forms make it hard to define exactly. And people have different opinions about the movement. Some think street art is a crime and destroys property. But others see this art as a rich form of non-traditional cultural expression.  Many experts say the movement began in New York City in the nineteen sixties. Young adults would use paint in special cans to spray their TAG on walls and train cars around the city. This tag was a name they created to identify themselves and their artwork. This colorful style of writing is also called graffiti. It is visually exciting and energetic.
Graffiti also became a separate movement expressing the street culture of young people living in big cities. Graffiti art represented social and political rebellion. These artists could travel around areas of the city making creative paintings for everyone to see. Sometimes this street art created a dispute between artists and city officials. Graffiti artists created their images and city officials quickly painted over them. During the 1980s, two famous New York painters--Keith Haring and Jean Michel began showing their work in art galleries and museums. This is when street art started to become part of the more general popular culture.

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

Choices:
- TAG was a word created by people to distinguish street artists and the other artists.
- There are three reasons to explain why it is hard to define the history of street art.
- The movement of street art began in the 1980s in New York City.
- Not all the people think that the street art is a rich form of cultural expression.

Question: The city officials used to do away with graffiti probably because  _  .

Choices:
- they caused arguments between people
- they were ugly in someone's eyes
- they were not painted under proper guidance
- they didn't express good traditional culture.

Question: They best title of the passage is  _  .

Choices:
- The way to become a street artist.
- What does Graffiti art stand for?
- The history of an art movement.
- The work of street artists.


Jack was born without eyes. He's very lucky with his timing. He grew up having other kittens to play and socialize with, and was used to people from the moment he was born since there are always kids hanging around the barn. He was a favorite amongst the students at the barn. However, when it came time to find the kittens homes, no one knew where Jack would end up. That's when I got an e-mail from my friend. All she asked was "Do you still want one of the kittens? There's one here with no eyes and no one can take him." Without thinking I told her that I did want the kitten.
When we first brought him home Jack walked cautiously around, sniffing everything. He went through a time when he could climb the stairs, but couldn't get down. He would sit at the top and cry until someone came and got him. Every now and then when he gets disoriented he'll stop and cry. But we just call his name and talk to him and it isn't long before he finds his way back to us.
Also, a few weeks after getting Jack, we got a new barn cat named Bear. I always take Jack outside at that time for some fresh air and exercise. He loves to run (at top speed!) around the backyard and gardens. Bear and Jack have become best friends. Jack always knows when Bear is around. He'll run across the yard straight to Bear and wrap his front legs around his neck in a big hug. When they're tired they'll lie down in the grass together.
Jack is truly an inspiration. I've owned a lot of kittens in my life, but Jack is the happiest, most playful of them all. People who know Jack don't feel sorry for him. They cherish him for the treasure that he is. I have talked to a few people who haven't met him personally and tend to pity him, but they just don't understand. Jack doesn't need pity. I think that cats like him don't have disabilities; they have adaptabilities.

Question: When Jack first came to the author's house, he   _  .

Choices:
- would cry when he felt lonely
- was very happy and played wildly in the room
- had difficulty getting down the stairs
- always needed someone to guide him


In the 19thcentury, Americans from the eastern states moved out west to settle in the rich new lands along the Pacific Coast. The most difficult part of their trip was crossing "the Great American Desert" in the western part of the United States by horse and wagon.
The western desert can be very dangerous. There is little water and there are few trees. But the desert also has scenery of great beauty. Tall towers of red and yellow stone rise sharply from the flat, sandy valley floor. The scene has been photographed many times and appears in movies and on TV.
In Arizona, man-made dams across the Colorado River have made two large lakes in the middle of the dry desert country. At Lake Powell, the red stone arch of Rainbow Bridge rises high above the blue lake.
There are few roads. Many areas of Lake Powell's shore can only be reached by boat or on foot. But hikers in this empty desert land sometimes find very old native American pictures, painted on the rocks.
In Death Valley, California, the summer temperature rises to 130degF--165degF. There is less than inches of rain each year. Death Valley is the lowest place in America---925 metres below sea level. In the 1800s, many travelers died when they tried to cross this waterless valley in the terrible heat.
Although the desert is dry and seems empty, there is plenty of life if you look closely. Snakes and rats have learned how to live in the desert heat. They live underground and come out at night, when it is cool. Plants such as cacti need very little water. When it does rain in the desert (sometimes only once or twice a year), plants grow quickly, and flowers open in a single day. For a short time, the desert is covered with brilliant (very bright) colours.

Question: In the 19thcentury, Americans moved from east to west because they  _  .

Choices:
- enjoyed the trip
- wanted to make their home there
- wanted to find new grassland there
- had no water to drink

Question: From this passage. we can conclude that  _  .

Choices:
- the western desert is a good place for people to live in
- there is little water but there are many trees in the desert
- the desert is dangerous but it is full of beauty
- till now, people know little about the desert

Question: In the 1800s, many travelers died in Death Valley because of  _  .

Choices:
- illness
- high temperature
- cold weather
- poisonous water

Question: In the desert, animals will die  _  .

Choices:
- if they move about
- if they can't make holes underground
- if they come out at night
- if they drink much water


It is amazing to note that the Internet is still such a new device, and yet it is one of the fastest and most powerful media tools. But think about it for a moment. On the Internet, a big online company can be run by two guys out of their garage. So it is only reasonable that people shopping on the Net would be a little _ of the security levels.
Internet giants such as Microsoft knew consumer confidence was the key to getting virtual shopping off the ground, and they work hard to make people feel safe to shop online.
Credit card companies, too, quickly saw the potential for Internet shopping, and have installed things like online shopping insurance for people. If you ever have a problem with your online credit purchases, many credit card companies will happily refund  your money and then set their claws on the company that wronged you. Now that's buying power!
There are other bonuses for online shoppers, of course. No line-ups, for one. No annoying mall shopping carts with broken wheels and kids crying because their parents won't get them what they want.
When shopping online, consumers can sit down, have a coffee, and wear their slippers, not have to worry about their hair or parking and just click through sale after sale. Comparison shopping couldn't be any easier. And thanks to courier companies getting in on the act, you never need wait longer than a day or two to get those all important purchases delivered right to your door.
No wonder so many companies are shaking their heads at traditional advertising and instead looking to the "virtual" world to attract online shoppers.

Question: _  leads to consumers' trust in online shopping.

Choices:
- Shopping law
- Shopping convenience
- Internet access
- Shopping security

Question: Which group of words would the writer use to describe current Internet shopping?

Choices:
- Adventurous, enjoyable, fast, unreal.
- Unsafe, cheap, slow, convenient.
- Reliable, popular, convenient, slow.
- Safe, convenient, fast, comfortable.

Question: The following are thought to have made contributions to the popularity of online shoppingEXCEPT  _  .

Choices:
- internet companies
- courier companies
- advertising companies
- credit card companies


There has been much discussion recently about reducing the weight of English in China's high-stake tests such as the national college entrance examination. It is argued by some applauding the recent change to reduce the importance of English in tests so that it will lead students to focus more on learning Chinese. The TV program Writing in Chinese has exposed the problem that students and the general public cannot write in Chinese as they used to do.
Some blame the design of the curriculum for giving English an equal or greater amount of emphasis, which might have contributed to the failure in teaching Chinese. But this is probably not a fair accusation since children in English speaking countries cannot spell either.
I doubt that studying English in itself hurts the study of Chinese. In fact, high achievers in English or another foreign language are more likely to be high achievers in Chinese. It has been proved many times in recent Chinese history that those capable of using a foreign language are also masters in their mother tongue. Qian Zhongshu, Lu Xun and Lin Yutang are just a few examples.
Another trend of thought for curriculum reform is related to the perception of "worth". It is true that English is one of the subjects that students do spend too much time on, with pitiful results. This makes some doubt if it is worth giving it priority. But this is not a sound argument either as students still need to study things that matter more to their future in spite of challenges learning English presents to them.
Improvements in Chinese language education should not be achieved by sacrificing another important subject. There should be a robust  foreign language education program, as a foreign language improves a student's future job prospects. Bashing  English education as a waste of time or using it as a goat for failures in Chinese education are both harmful tendencies.
To be constructive, we ought to start a dialogue on ways to make improvements in learning outcomes so that students' time learning English is spent more effectively. There are a few things that could improve English education, such as assessment design,learner motivation and teaching style,
I am sure there are many other areas where changes can greatly improve the effectiveness and efficiency of English learning. The public discourse at present is a little oversimplified. People are arguing for or against English having less weight in major tests, when the dialogue should be taken a step further, to the improvement of learning or teaching methods that may benefit the teaching of other subjects as well, Chinese included.

Question: According to the passage, which of the following statements is right?

Choices:
- The TV program Writing in Chinese is very popular at present.
- Good results of learning English are not worth so much time.
- Some are in favor of attaching less importance to English in exams.
- Sacrificing English can improve Chinese language education.

Question: In the writer's opinion, what should be done to solve the argument?

Choices:
- Increasing time spent in learning Chinese.
- Increasing time spent in learning English.
- Reducing the weight of English in examinations.
- Improving the learning outcomes effectively.

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

Choices:
- English education is still important in China.
- Chinese education is more important in China.
- English contributes to the failure in teaching Chinese
- Ways to make improvements in learning Chinese.


In the past ten years, America's National Basketball Association (NBA) has grown increasingly dependent on the rest of the world to supply players.
When Michael Jordan and Larry Bird won gold in Barcelona in 1992, the Americans were praised for teaching the world how to play basketball. This season, however, 20 percent of NBA rosters  will be filled by non-Americans. NBA commissioner David Stem happily embraces the trend. On a visit to Paris in October, Stern outlined his vision for the future, which is likely to see Europe hosting NBA games by 2010.
The NBA is now planning to _ .
"Our experience in China has been that it is going to be explosive in its growth,"said Stem. The strategy (,)in China is television."We've made 14 deals in China with local and national networks on cable and satellite." The success of Chinese centre Yao Ming has paved the way for the NBA marketing blitz in China. The NBA, which is broadcasted in more than 200 countries in 42 languages, will put that to the test in October 2004 when the Houston Rockets play two pre-season games against the Sacramento Kings in Beijing and Shanghai. The NBA knows that it needs a global market to condensate for tough times on _ soil.
"It doesn't matter where the players come from, all the NBA teams now know that they have to scout(,) internationally," said Terry Lyons, the NBA's vice-president of international public relations. "It has increased the level of competition here." As Frenchman Tony Parker and Argentine Emanuel Ginobili showed in winning championship rings with the San Antonio Spurs last season, many people can earn the respect of their American peers. Others, such as the Houston Rockets' Chinese centre Yao Ming -- number one draft pick in 2002 -- and the Detroit Pistons' 18-year-old Serb Darko Milicic -- number two overall in this year's draft -- are icons in-waiting. It is the ultimate(,) revolution -- the rest of the world teaching the US how to play basketball.

Question: According to the report,  _  .

Choices:
- Michael Jordan is still playing a very important role in NBA
- the part played by the foreign players in NBA will be great
- Yao Ming is to play two pre-season games in NBA
- European countries will host the 2004 NBA games

Question: When the writer talked of "home soil", he was referring to  _  .

Choices:
- farms in the States
- native Americans
- the NBA training center
- the USA

Question: Which of the following can be used as the best title for the passage?

Choices:
- The Non-American Basketball Players
- NBA Is Coming to China
- The Foreign Ties That Bind the NBA
- NBA Is Making Big Progress


With five breakout   games, Jeremy Lin has become the NBA's newest star.
In the New York Knicks' 92-85 won over the Los Angles Lakers last Saturday, Lin had a career-high 38 points.A day later, he led the Knicks to their fifth victory, 100-98 to Minnesota Timberwolves.In his previous games, Lin, 23, had 23 points against the Washington, 25 points against New Jersey and 28 against Utah in his first start.
Lin is smart.Before graduating from high school in California, he had sent his application to all the Ivy League Schools  .He only got into Harvard and Brown, and he chose Harvard.In 2010, Lin graduated with a degree in economics.
Lin is the first Chinese-American player in the NBA.He was born in the US and his family is Asian.Although not born in China, Lin has attracted nearly all Yao Ming's old fans, who see him as a powerful role model.
He started off on the Golden State Warriors.Lin first signed with the Warriors in July, 2010, but seldom played in games before the start of the fourth quarter.His first time on the court for the Warriors earned him seven points, three rebounds   and two assists in just 11 minutes.
He is really perfect for the Knicks.The New York Knicks has been in need of a reliable point guard and to Mike D'Antoni, the Knicks coach who's going through a difficult season, Lin is a most unexpected figure."Lin just does everything easy and the rest of the guys around him are playing the way we want to," D'Antoni said."I think it's for real, and it can only get better."

Question: In which team did Lin start his career in NBA?

Choices:
- the New York Knicks.
- The Golden State Warriors.
- Minnesota Timberwolves.
- The Los Angles Lakers.

Question: From the passage, we learn that    _   .

Choices:
- the New York Knicks has never been defeated
- Lin is an American-Chinese basketball player
- most of Yao Ming's fans take Lin as a great role model
- after graduation from Harvard, Lin signed with the Knicks

Question: From the passage, it can be inferred that    _   .

Choices:
- Lin is the team leader of the Knicks
- the Knicks' success only depends on Lin
- the Knicks'coach puts strong hopes on Lin
- the Knicks is sure to win the season this year

Question: The author's purpose of writing the report is    _   .

Choices:
- to show his support for the Knicks
- to express his love for Jeremy Lin
- to report the progress of the Knicks
- to introduce a newest rising NBA star


Phyllis Lee of prefix = st1 /Singaporeknew something wasn't right. Her younger son, Alex, then six years old, was getting good grades in his private kindergarten classes. But Lee realized something was wrong when Alex came home one day, crying, with "zeroes" on his Chinese spelling test. Lee decided to investigate. According to Lee, the teacher would frequently describe Alex's Chinese writing as 'ghost writings' and made him a laughing stock in class instead of helping him out.
Lee, 46, spent the next 12 months teaching Alex and still helps him when necessary. She not only taught him the formation of the Chinese words but also their origin so that he could understand better, often taking more than an hour to read a simple paragraph. Visits to the library and surfing the Internet kept her up to speed on teaching materials. Alex's grades improved and by the end of Year One, he had become one of the top students in Chinese in his class.
Alex is keeping an A - plus average in all subjects, and his mother's involvement is a big reason behind it. Alex, now 11, recently wrote a book recording his struggles with Chinese, which an international education center has published to inspire its students. He sometimes writes for local student magazines as well.
Lee has always had input into the education of Alex. She reads to him "all the time." As a result, he is an eager reader who regularly visit the library.
To Lee, one of the most valuable things she does is to take turns with her husband to drive Alex to school. "We'd talk along the way. Talking enables me to have a better understanding of my child and reminds me of changes every now and then so that I know when to get involved, she says."

Question: Alex arrived home with tears because_.

Choices:
- he failed in the Chinese exam
- his teacher punished him
- he didn't want to learn Chinese
- his classmates did him wrong

Question: Alex succeeded in learning Chinese with_.

Choices:
- his teacher's guide
- his classmates' help
- his father's influence
- his mother's instruction

Question: For Alex the great achievement recently is that_.

Choices:
- he gets A's in some subjects
- he wrote a book
- he earns some money
- he understands Chinese better

Question: Lee's education method succeeds mainly because of her_.

Choices:
- involvement
- communication
- tolerance
- encouragement


It seems that men are under more stress when stuck in a traffic jam than women. British researchers for the GPS company TomTom used saliva  to decide the stress levels. Levels for women were far lower than levels for men. Most of the people taking part in the research, men and women, reported that they didn't feel any stress at all. Even with that report, their saliva told a different story. In fact, people are under stress while in traffic and not even realizing it. That does not mean good things for health. People can only do something about their health if they know something is wrong.
Men are more likely to have much less patience than women. That is why their stress levels are much higher than women when they are sitting still in traffic. Men want to get where they are going now.
72% of people taking part in the research drove every day. Of course, 86% believed that traffic affected their lives in a bad way. Being stuck in traffic after a stressful day at work could raise the level to an even higher level. The more likely they are to get further stressed.
Stress from being stuck in traffic is also related to a higher chance of getting into car accidents. It is wise to avoid driving when already feeling stressed. Calm down for a few minutes, take a deep breath and drive as safely as possible. Driving with too much stress could cost you or someone else their life. It is not worth the danger. Reduce the amount of stress that you are experiencing before getting into the car and find ways to relax more when stuck in traffic. One way to relax is to have soothing music to play during these times.

Question: What people reported were different from the research findings because  _  .

Choices:
- they didn't know they were stressed
- they didn't know how to describe their feelings
- they didn't want to share their true feelings with others
- they didn't want to admit something was wrong with themselves

Question: Why are men under more stress than women when stuck in a traffic jam?

Choices:
- Because they drive more than women.
- Because they are less patient than women.
- Because they face more stress than women at work.
- Because they are less clear about where to go than women.

Question: What can we learn about the research?

Choices:
- 14% of people taking part in it were not affected by traffic jams.
- Researchers used saliva to decide whether people told the truth.
- It was carried out by a GPS company.
- Only British people took part in it.


Trees should only be pruned when there is a good and clear reason for doing so and , fortunately, the number of such reasons is small.
First, pruning may be done to make sure that trees have a desired shape or size.The object may be to get a tree of the right height, and at the same time to help the growth of small side branches which will thicken its appearance or give it a special shape.Secondly, pruning may be done to make the tree healthier.You may cut diseased or dead wood, or branches that are rubbing against each other and thus cause wounds.The health of a tree may be encouraged by removing branches that are blocking up the centre and so preventing the free movement of air.
One result of pruning is that an open wound is left on the tree and this provides an easy entry for disease, but it is a wound that will heal .Often there is a race between the healing and the disease as to whether the tree will live or die.It should be the aim of every gardener to reduce the risk as far as possible.It is necessary to make the area which has been pruned, smooth and clean, for healing will be slowed down by roughness .You should allow the cut surface to dry for a few hours and then paint it with one of the substances available from garden shops produced especially for this purpose.Pruning is usually done in winter, "From then you can see the shape of the tree clearly and it is, too, very unlikely that the cuts you make will bleed.If this does happen, it is, of course, impossible to paint them properly.

Question: Pruning should be done to   _  .

Choices:
- make the tree grow taller
- improve the shape of the tree
- get rid of the small branches
- make the tree grow taller

Question: Trees become unhealthy if the gardener   _  .

Choices:
- allows too many branches to grow in the middle
- does not protect them from wind
- forces them to grow too quickly
- damages some of the small side branches

Question: Why is a special substance painted on the tree?

Choices:
- To make a wound smooth and clean.
- To prevent disease entering a wound.
- To cover a rough surface.
- To help a wound to dry.

Question: What is the passage mainly about?

Choices:
- The history of tree pruning.
- The reasons for tree pruning.
- Some directions for tree pruning.
- Some results of tree pruning.


Japan Earthquake and Tsunami :How to Help
For readers interested in contributing to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan and the Pacific region,here is a list of contact information and links for some agencies that plan to provide relief.
THE JAPAN CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE
The Japan Center for International Exchange has set up the Japan NGO Earthquake Relief and Recovery Fund.Half of the money raised will go to support six Japanese NGOs currently at work in the disaster area and half will be retained to support the longer term recovery.
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Red Cross officials say donors can text REDCROSS to 90999 and a $10 donation will automatically be charged to donors' phone bill,or donations can be made directly on its Web site.
B'NAI B'RITH INTERNATIONAL
To help the victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami,donate online on the group's secure Web site.
Or,by mail to:B'nai B'rith International Disaster Relief Fund,Attn:Japan Earthquake,2020 K Street,NW,7th Floor,Washington,D.C.,20006.
Or by phone:8005739057
CARE
CARE is one of the world's largest private international humanitarian organizations.Their offices in Asia are on high alert  and have ensured that staff are informed of the tsunami warnings and other related developments.(Updated information on CARE's work in Japan is available here.)
GLOBALGIVING.ORG
GlobalGiving is working with International Medical Corps,Save the Children,and other organizations on the ground to disburse  funds to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami.Donors can text JAPAN to 50555 to give$10,and larger donations can be submitted on GlobalGiving's Web site.
THE SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army has been providing food and shelter to Tokyo commuters  who were _ when public transportation was interrupted by the earthquake.They are to send a team to Sendai,a city about 250 miles away from Tokyo,to assess the situation there.Text JAPAN or QUAKE to 80888 to make a $10 donation.(Make sure to respond "YES" to the thankyou message you receive.) Donations can also be made on the organization's Web site or by calling 1800SALARMY.

Question: If you want to make donations to the victims by phone,you can text REDCROSS to   _  .

Choices:
- 90999
- 80888
- 50555
- 20006

Question: What do we know about CARE from the text?

Choices:
- It opened a Person Finder Page online.
- It is the world's largest humanitarian organization.
- It raised much money to support six Japanese NGOs.
- It warned its staff in Asia of the danger of tsunami.

Question: Which group can provide food and shelter?

Choices:
- THE SALVATION ARMY.
- GLOBALGIVING.ORG.
- B'NAI B'RITH INTERNATIONAL.
- AMERICAN RED CROSS.


Mars is the planet most like Earth.Flying to Mars is a difficult task for humans.
There is an experiment with the name "Mars 500" in Russia.Six volunteers take part in the experiment.They come from China, Russia, France and Italy.They won't go to outer space.They will stay in small modules   on the ground for 520 days.It's just like a real journey
In the modules, they will experience a lot: flying to Mars, flying back and working on Mars.During the long "journey", the volunteers can only eat space food.They can shower every 10 days.They can call their friends or families.Anyone of them can _ if he doesn't feel well.This experiment helps scientists know how well humans will be on a long journey to Mars.
Wangyue, 26, from China, is the youngest of the volunteers.He is a teacher at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center   in Beijing.

Question: Which of the statement is Not True?

Choices:
- The volunteers are not going to move to outer space.
- The volunteers will stay on the Mars for more than 17 months.
- The volunteers can make video calls to their friends and families
- The name of the experiment is "Mars 500".

Question: How often can the volunteers take a shower?

Choices:
- three times a month
- three times a day
- ten days a month
- ten times a month

Question: Where can you read the article?

Choices:
- story book
- geography magazines
- science magazines
- magazines about ET


(Reuters)The Thunderbird is one of the most readily recognized creatures of American Indian mythology.While the vast majority of biologists believe the Thunderbird myth to be nothing more than a spiritual symbol, some zoologists believe that the hard may actually exist.
I still vividly recall seeing an impossibly large raptor when I was five years old, which a few people have said might be the Thunderbird.Standing in my grandmother's back yard in Alabama, I recall watching an enormous black bird with a swallow - like tail flying directly over me from an oak tree. Its wingspan seemed to be at least three times my height, which would have made it at least fourteen feet across.
While the early childhood memory is often unreliable, I clearly remember the details of the  "Thunderbird".To this very day, I sometimes stand on my grandmother' s yard, eyeballing the old oak tree, but I have not yet seen another bird that resembles the giant bird.I have seen eagles, and hawks - but never another Thunderbird.
Other modern sightings of what may have been thunderbirds have also occurred.In 1977, three boys were playing in a neighborhood in Illinois.They reported that two large birds chased after  them.One of the boys was attacked and suffered somewhat serious injuries, He was carried a few  feet off the ground, before the bird dropped him and disappeared into the wilderness.
Several people interviewed the boys and their story remained the same, even under the pressure.the description of the birds somewhat matched the Andean condor ; however, these  massive condors have never been known to exist in the United States.
Another sighting came in 2002, in Alaska, when many people reported seeing a bird with a fourteen - foot wingspan.After being investigated, it was finally concluded that the bird was most likely a particularly large sea eagle, which typically has a wingspan of six to eight fickle.
I will probably never know what the strange -looking giant bird from the oak tree was, and biologists will probably never be able to fully confirm the identity of the giant raptors spotted in Illinois and Alaska.If the Thunderbird does indeed exist, it will probably continue to remain mysterious.

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

Choices:
- A massive bird spotted in America
- Could the thunderbird actually exist?
- Some strange birds sighed by people
- Sea eagle, condor, raptor or thunderbird?

Question: What can be leant from the passage?

Choices:
- Three Thunderbirds have been witnessed so far.
- The Thunderbird are similar to sea eagles in size.
- Three boys were injured by the Thunderbird in 1977.
- The huge bird left a deep impression upon the author.

Question: How is the passage mainly organized?

Choices:
- By giving examples.
- By following time order
- By making comparisons.
- By presenting a general idea.


People with disabilities make up a large part of the population. It is estimated  that over 35 million Americans have physical, mental, or other disabilities. About half of these disabilities are "developmental", i.e., they occur before the individual's twenty-second birthday, often from genetic conditions, and are severe enough to affect three or more areas of development, such as mobility, communication, employment, etc. Most other disabilities are considered "adventitious", i.e., accidental or caused by outside forces.
Prior to the 20th century, only a small percentage of people with disabilities survived for long. Medical treatment for these disabilities was unavailable. Advancements in medicine and social services have created a climate in which people with disabilities can expect to have such basic needs as food, shelter, and medical treatment. Unfortunately, these basics are often not available. Civil liberties such as the right to vote, marry, get an education, and gain employment have historically been denied on the basis of disability.
In recent decades, the disability rights movement has been organized to fight against these infringements(;)of civil rights. Congress responded by passing major legislation recognizing people with disabilities as a protected class under civil rights statutes.
Still today, people with disabilities must fight to live their lives independently. It is estimated that more than half of qualified Americans with disabilities are unemployed, and a majority of those who do work are underemployed. About two-thirds live at or below the official poverty level.
Significant barriers, especially in transportation and public awareness, prevent disabled people from taking part in society. For example, while no longer prohibited by law from marrying, a person with no access to transportation is effectively excluded from community and social activities which might lead to the development of long-term relationships.
Only when public attitudes advance as far as laws have will disabled people be fully able to take their rightful place in society.

Question: A "developmental" disability   _  .

Choices:
- develops very slowly over time
- is caused by forces
- occurs in youth and affects development
- is getting more and more severe

Question: Most disabled people used to die early because   _  .

Choices:
- disabilities destroyed major bodily functions
- they were not very well looked after
- medical techniques were not available
- they were too poor to get proper treatment

Question: In the author's opinion, to enable the disabled people to take their rightful place in society,   _  .

Choices:
- more laws should be passed
- public attitudes should be changed
- government should provide more aids
- more public facilities should be set up

Question: Which of the following cannot be inferred from the passage ?

Choices:
- Many disabled people may remain single for their whole life.
- The public tends to look down upon the disabled people.
- The disabled people feel inferior to those surrounding them.
- Discriminatory laws prevent the disabled from mixing with others.

Question: The best title for this passage might be   _  .

Choices:
- Handicaps of People with Disabilities
- The physical difficulties of the Disabled
- The Causes for Disabilities
- Medical Treatments for Disabilities


In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits . Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent - controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.
Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low - paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. The price, which is the wage that employers must pay, increases. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.

Question: There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may_.

Choices:
- cause a shortage of apartments
- worry those who rent apartments as homes
- increase the profits of landlords
- encourage landlords to invest in building apartment

Question: According to the critics, rent control_.

Choices:
- will always benefit those who rent apartments
- is unnecessary
- will bring negative effects in the long run
- is very necessary

Question: The problem of unemployment will happen_.

Choices:
- if the minimum wage is set too high
- if the minimum wage is set too low
- if the workers are unskilled
- if the maximum wage is set

Question: The passage tells us_.

Choices:
- the relationship between supply and demand
- the possible results of government controls
- the necessity of government control
- the urgency of getting rid of government controls


Willie Stewart still remembers his first day of kayaking through the grand Canyon. He was getting bounced around in the roughest white water he had ever seen. There was nothing the river threw at him.
   There he was in a 40-pound boat, with only a few months of training and one arm. Tied to his left shoulder was a prosthetic limb that he'd had for just about a week. The plan was to paddle  for 20 days over 227 miles of the roughest white water in the United States. It was one of the most remarkable adventures that the Grand Canyon had ever seen.
  It started with a casual phone call in the spring of 2005. A good friend, Mike Crenshaw, finally got a permit from the National Park Service to lead a private party of 16 boaters down the Colorado River that coming August. He had a slot  open for Willie, "Was he interested ?"
  "It was the chance of a lifetime," Stewart said. He had been waiting years for this trip to happen. "How could I refuse ?"
   But before they set off, Stewart had a couple of things to take care of. He had to get a white-water kayak, learn how to use it, and get an arm.
   For most of his life, the _ 45-year-old man has lived with only his right arm. He lost his left arm in a horrible accident when he was 18.Stewart was doing a summer construction job inprefix = st1 /Washington,D.C.The trailing end of rope he was carrying got twisted in an industrial fan. Before he could react, the fan reeled in the rope tight and cut his arm just above the elbow.
   He became a bitter young man, angry at the unfairness of what had happened ,and often got into fights. In time, he learned to channel his rage into sports. He joined a rugby team, established a reputation as a fearless player and eventually was elected captain. His days of rage long gone, he found peace and purpose in his life.

Question: What had urged Willie Stewart to paddle down the Colorado River ?

Choices:
- His family's support
- His great determination
- His curiosity
- His dream

Question: From the passage we can know that   _  .

Choices:
- Stewart was depressed at one time
- Stewart lost his left arm 22 years ago
- Stewart never complained about the unfairness of life
- Stewart was persuaded to kayak through the Grand Canyon

Question: What can we learn form the story ?

Choices:
- An optimist sees the rose ; a pessimist sees the thorn
- Nothing is too difficult if you put your heart into it
- A change of self is needed more than a change of scene
- If winter comes, can spring be far away ?


Iceland, an island just south of the Arctic Circle, has fairly mild winters,  thanks to warm ocean currents. Time your vacation here during the winter months to take advantage of off-season deals.
Off-season means good deals on flights, hotels and tours. You may also find that the locals are a bit friendlier and more welcoming when tourists aren't arriving in crowds.
In the winter months, there are less than seven hours of daylight; thus, chances are good you'll catch sight of the northern lights. Sunsets are also beautiful at this time, making for some great photo opportunities.
In Iceland, winter is the perfect time to hike glaciers, go ice climbing, explore caves made out of hardened lava  and much more. One of the most popular activities is off-roading  in a specially-equipped "super jeep".
Before booking your trip, be sure to check for volcano alerts. There are about 130 volcanoes on or around Iceland. Thirty-five of them are active. In 2010, a volcano named Eyjaallajokull exploded, sending clouds of ash up to four kilometers into the atmosphere. The ash drifted toward the UK and Europe. Because the ask could damage aircraft engines, airlines operating in the region were forced to cancel flights for six days. As a result, thousands of people were stuck in airports.
Recently, another volcano named Bardarbunga has become active, erupting ash into the air. Such events, if large enough, could prevent your trip from going ahead. So check the latest volcano news prior to making your reservations.

Question: According to this article, why are you more likely to see the northern lights in the winter?

Choices:
- They move from rural areas to cities.
- The weather is more stable at that time.
- They're a special feature of many festivals.
- The sky is dark for longer periods then.

Question: According to the article, how do visitors to Iceland have fun in the winter?

Choices:
- They learn how to ski down the mountains.
- They photograph famous historic sites..
- They explore the countryside in well made vehicles..
- They spend a week at one of the seaside resorts.

Question: What is true about the volcanoes of Iceland?

Choices:
- The majority of them are quiet.
- Their age hasn't been determined.
- All but one of them are extinct.
- Citizens aren't affected by them.

Question: What does this article explain?.

Choices:
- Some of Iceland's urban cultural attractions.
- A way t reduce the cost of a trip to Iceland.
- Reasons for visiting Iceland in June and July.
- The average price for a short tour of Iceland.


When American inventor Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, it was a revolution in communication. For the first time, people could talk to each other over great distances. Over the last two decades a new means of spoken communication has appeared: the mobile phone.
 The mobile phone is like a two-way radio. But the two-way radio is a limited means of communication. As soon as the users move out of range of each other's broadcast area, the signal is lost. In the 1940s, researchers experimented with the idea of using a number of radio masts   to pick up signals from two-way radios. A caller would always be within range of one of the masts. When he or she moved too far away from one mast, the next mast would pick up the signal. (Scientists referred to each mast's reception area as being a "cell". This is why in many countries mobile phones are called "cellphones".)
However, 1940s' technology was just at the beginning. The "mobile phones" were huge boxes. They had to be moved by car.
The first real mobile telephone call was made in 1973 by Dr Martin Cooper. As soon as his invention was complete, he tested it by calling a rival   scientist to announce his success. Within a decade, mobile phones became available to the public.
They have changed the way we do a lot of things. One powerful feature is: the short message service (SMS) or text message. It's the perfect communication method for the busy modern lifestyle. The text message has changed the way we write in English. The language construction became more lax  . Traditional rules of grammar and spelling are much less important.
Over the last few years mobiles have become more and more advanced. We have seen the introduction of cameras, global positioning system and Internet access.
Alexander Graham Bell would be surprised if he could see how far the science of the telephone has developed in less than 150 years. If he were around today, he might say: '''That's gr8! But I'm v busy rite now. Will call U 2nite.'

Question: The article is intended to  _  .

Choices:
- warn people of the possible risks in using mobile phones
- inform readers of the history and benefits of mobile phones
- convince people of the uses of mobile phones
- predict the applications of mobile phones

Question: The last sentence of the whole passage ''That's gr8!  But I'm v busy rite now. Will call U 2nite." May probably means  _  .

Choices:
- That's great! But I'm very busy right now. (I) Will call you tonight
- It's eight now. I'm very busy. (I) Will call you tonight
- That's great! But I'm busy writing now. (I) Will call you at two tonight
- "8" is great! But I'm very busy right now. (I) Will call it "U" tonight


"Hitler and the Germans," an exhibition in Berlin's German Historical Museum which aims to investigate the society that created Hitler, has seen more than 10,000 visitors walk through its doors since opening on Friday.
Rudolf Trabold, a spokesman for the museum, said there were 4,000 visitors to the exhibition on the first day alone. People visiting the exhibition said they had waited as long as one and a half hours to get in. Ravi Nair, a 73-year-old Indian visitor, said: "I had to queue for about an hour but it was worth it. The exhibition should help people in democratic countries realize that their vote is very valuable."
Trabold said "Hitler and the Germans" was so popular because it was the first exhibition to explain how a man who lived on the margins of society for 30 years, in Vienna's men's hostels, could become an almost mythical leader of the German people. "We are all affected by Hitler, so it speaks to all of us and helps Germans and foreigners to come to terms with the past." Inge Lonning, a 72-year-old tourist from Norway said: "I thought the exhibition was very impressive. I wanted to see it because I experienced the German occupation of Norway as a small child, so it's not just history for me." But not everyone was convinced there was something new to be learned from the exhibition. "So much has been done about this period over the years, it was like, I knew this and I knew that," said Canadian Julien Cayer, aged 28. "I thought I'd find something new but I didn't."
There has been widespread concern in the German media that the exhibition could become a magnet for neo-Nazi admirers of Hitler, but Trabold said that although there had been some right-wing extremist visitors, they had not caused any problems.

Question: What is the main idea of the passage?

Choices:
- People have different attitudes to "Hitler and the Germans".
- "Hitler and the Germans" attracts plenty of people.
- What effect "Hitler and the Germans" has on history.
- What people should learn from "Hitler and the Germans".

Question: "Hitler and the Germans" is open to   _  .

Choices:
- remind people not to forget history.
- show how Hitler was hated by people
- study the society that created Hitler
- save money for economy growth

Question: Trabold thought "Hitler and the Germans" was so popular because   _  .

Choices:
- help people in democratic countries realize that their vote is very valuable
- it was the first exhibition to explain how a man from the bottom of society becomes a leader
- people can learn a lot from the exhibition
- people have been affected by Hitler

Question: Who experienced the German occupation according to the passage?

Choices:
- Inge Lonning.
- Ravi Nair.
- Rudolf Trabold.
- Julien Cayer

Question: What can we learn from the passage?

Choices:
- The visitors coming to "Hitler and the Germans" are all old people.
- "Hitler and the Germans" has made an impression on every visitor.
- Some neo-Nazi admirers of Hitler have caused a lot of trouble.
- People visit "Hitler and the Germans" with variety of purposes.


One day, I was studying at home . Suddenly, there was a loud noise.  I went out of my house to see what had happened .
What I saw made me scared. A building in my neighborhood was on fire. Some people were using water to put out the fire; others were rushing towards the building to help put out the fire. The building had three floors. The fire started on the first floor. Soon, it spread   to the second floor. There were some people on the second floor at that time. Their lives were in danger. A few people jumped out of the window. Luckily, they only got small injuries. Those who were still on the second floor were just crying for help. The people outside didn't know how to help the people inside to get out.
Firefighters   arrived at last. They fought the fire bravely. Water pipes   were used and a ladder was put near the second-floor window. Then the people inside were taken out by the firefighters. They were seriously injured and were taken to the hospital at once.
Thanks to the firefighters, the people inside were saved and the fire was put out in the end, but many things, such as desk, pictures and clothes, were damaged.

Question: _  was on fire.

Choices:
- The author's room
- A ladder
- A building in the author's neighborhood
- Only the second floor of the building

Question: _  put out the fire in the end.

Choices:
- The firefighters and the people inside the building
- The people on the second floor
- The people in the street
- The firefighters

Question: The people who jumped out of the window  _  .

Choices:
- were seriously injured
- died
- were taken to the hospital
- got small injuries

Question: How did the people who didn't jump out of the window get out of the building?

Choices:
- They were taken out by the firefighters.
- They climbed down a ladder by themselves.
- They walked out of the building after the fire was put out.
- They were taken out by doctors


My dad is a wonderful man.He worked hard all his life and has never let me down.if one person influenced me to go to college and become a better person, it's him.
  Every morning my dad would wake up at 4 am.He would do some writing and then Ieave for work.He would get off work at 5 pm and spend the remaining day with his family.Any time I  needed him,he was there.He was a great role model.My dad is a typical family man.He supports us financially and emotionally.He bends over backward to support his family.
    My dad is the reason why I try to support my son as much as I can.He is
 also the reason why I have decided to spend less time with friends and more time
 with family.Now I'm a much better woman.I once worked hard at my studies in
 school and now do well in my work.My dad became a manager in less than three
 years and I hope to do the same.I have had the same job for one and a half years
 now.I have gotten two raises and become a shift leader.    -
    I remember 1 worked extremely hard in schoo1.I never missed a day and I never went to school late.I graduated two years ago.It is something for me to be proud of, and it is the first step towards becoming a psychologist.My father is more than 2,000 miles away, but I never forget what he did for us.Every day my work gets really hard,I think of my dad.Every time I feel like giving up,I think of him.

Question: With the example of two raises,the author shows us that   _   .

Choices:
- she worked very hard in her company
- she spent less time with her son
- she has a talent for leadership
- she can be a good psychologist.

Question: We can infer from this passage that  _  .

Choices:
- the author is proud of his father very much
- the author's husband has become a manager
- the author's father was too busy to be with her
- the author has moved back and lived with her father


Farmer John and Farmer Bob were neighbors. For more than 30 years, they had been getting along very well.
Then their good relationship broke. It began with a small thing, then bitter words, and then weeks of silence. One morning Farmer John woke up to find a stream between the two farms. "It must be Bob," John thought.
Then one day there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a carpenter  standing at the doorway.
"I'm looking for a few days' work," the carpenter said.
"I do have a job for you," John said. "Look across the stream at that farm. That's my neighbor Bob. He dug a stream between the two farms. I want you to build a fence--an 8-foot fence. I don't want to see his place or his face any more. I don't have such a neighbor!"
The carpenter said, "I think I know what to do, sir, and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."
Farmer John helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.
About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide. There was no fence there at all!
It was a bridge! And the neighbor, Bob, was coming across, with his hand outstretched . "Hi, John! _
Then they met in the middle, taking each other's hands. "I'm terribly sorry for what I have said and done. We should be good to each other," said Farmer Bob.
Then they turned to see the carpenter, who was ready to go. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I have a lot of other jobs for you," said Farmer John. "I'd love to stay," the carpenter said, "but I have more bridges to build."

Question: Just before the carpenter came, John and Bob  _  each other.

Choices:
- didn't speak to
- were friendly to
- often fought with
- never had bitter words with

Question: Farmer John asked the carpenter to build a fence because  _  .

Choices:
- he wanted to protect his farm
- he didn't want to do it himself
- he wouldn't like to see Bob
- he wanted to find him something to do

Question: What does the sentence "You're quite a fellow to build this bridge!" mean?

Choices:
- John was great to build this bridge.
- John was not good at building bridges.
- John was foolish to build such a bridge.
- John should build the bridge earlier.

Question: What do you think of the carpenter?

Choices:
- Shy.
- Wise.
- Proud.
- Careless.

Question: What is the best title for the passage?

Choices:
- What a Big Fence!
- Farmer and Bridge
- Three Kind Men
- A Fence or a Bridge?


New rules for pubs and clubs, including a ban   on drinking games like the awful "dentist's chair", will be introduced in Britain this year to prevent the heavy drinking culture, which costs the country billions of pounds a year.
Other activities like "all you can drink for 10 pounds ", "women drink free" nights and speed drinking competitions will also be banned.
But, on the other hand, offers of cheap alcohol in supermarkets will not be affected, which is widely regarded as one of the main sources of Britain's problems with under-age and over-drinking.
Doctors and health experts argue that the government has failed to use its most effective weapon, the taxation  of minimum price controls on alcohol.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said that the government and the industry had a duty to act on heavy drinking." These bans have a real impact on society, not to mention the lives of those who just want to enjoy a good night out," he said.
"The dentist's chair", where drinks are poured directly into the mouth by others, was made famous by the celebrations of footballer Paul Gascoigne at Euro '96. That game and others that promote large consumption will be banned from April and publicans   will have to ensure free tap water is made available to the drinkers.
The government says over-drinking costs Britain up to 12 billion pounds a year and has announced that any pubs that go against the new mandatory code   will face severe punishment. For instance, publicans and vendors   could lose their licenses, be fined up to 20,000 pounds ($32,750) or face six months in prison.

Question: New rules for pubs and clubs will be introduced in Britain to ban heavy drinking because   _  .

Choices:
- people drink too much without paying taxes
- drinking games are infamous
- drinking competitions are very crazy
- drinking in the country costs too much

Question: Some people believe when the tough new rules come into effect,   _  .

Choices:
- supermarkets will stop selling alcohol in low prices
- "women drink free" nights will not be closed
- over-drinking will still not be stopped
- under-age people will not continue drinking

Question: What is probably the most effective way to control alcohol?

Choices:
- bans
- education
- force
- taxation

Question: According to the passage, "the dentist's chair" is   _  .

Choices:
- a chair for the patient whose teeth should be treated
- a drinking game made famous by the celebrations of footballers
- a way to advertise different types of alcohol
- to be banned in October this year

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

Choices:
- Heavy drinking will be banned in Britain.
- Over-drinking will be taxed.
- Drinking in Britain will be banned.
- 12 billion pounds is spent on drinking.


Tayka Hotel De Sal
Where: Tahua, Bolivia
How much: About $95 a night
Why it's cool: You've stayed at hotels made of brick or wood, but salt? That's something few can claim. Tayka Hotel de Sal is made totally of salt -- including the beds (though you'll sleep on regular mattresses   and blankets). The hotel sits on the Salar de Uyuni, a prehistoric dried-up lake that's the world's biggest salt flat. Builders use the salt from the 4,633-square-mile flat to make the bricks, and glue them together with a paste of wet salt that hardens when it dries. When rain starts to dissolve the hotel, the owners just mix up more salt paste to strengthen the bricks.
Green Magic Nature Resort
Where: Vythiri, India
How much: About $240 a night
Why it's cool: Riding a pulley -operated lift 86 feet to your treetop room is just the start of your adventure. As you look out of your open window -- there is no glass! -- you watch monkeys and birds in the rain forest canopy. Later you might test your fear of heights by crossing the handmade rope bridge to the main part of the hotel, or just sit on your bamboo bed and read. You don't even have to come down for breakfast -- the hotel will send it up on the pulley-drawn "elevator".
Dog Bark Park Inn B&B
Where: Cottonwood, Idaho
How much: $92 a night
Why it's cool: This doghouse isn't just for the family pet. Sweet Willy is a 30-foot-tall dog with guest rooms in his belly. Climb the wooden stairs beside his hind leg to enter the door in his side. You can relax in the main bedroom, go up a few steps to the loft in Willy's head, or hang out inside his nose. Although you have a full private bathroom in your quarters, there is also a toilet in the 12-foot-tall fire hydrant outside.
Gamirasu Cave Hotel
Where: Ayvali, Turkey
How much: Between $130 and $475 a night.
Why it's cool: This is caveman cool! Experience what it was like 5,000 years ago, when people lived in these mountain caves formed by volcanic ash. But your stay will be much more modern. Bathrooms and electricity provide what you expect from a modern hotel, and the white volcanic ash, called tufa, keeps the rooms cool, about 65degFin summer. (Don't worry -- there is heat in winter.)

Question: Which of the following about Tayka Hotel de Sal is true?

Choices:
- The hotel is the cheapest among the four mentioned.
- Everything in the hotel is made of salt.
- The glue can prevent the rain from dissolving the hotel.
- It is located on a prehistoric dried-up lake.

Question: Which of the hotel makes you have a feeling of living in the far past?

Choices:
- Tayka Hotel De Sal
- Green Magic Nature Resort
- Dog Bark Park Inn B&B
- Gamirasu Cave Hotel

Question: What is the similarity of the four hotels?

Choices:
- Being expensive.
- Being unique.
- Being beautiful.
- Being natural.


Life is too short to waste a moment, so while you still have time, let your hair down, remove that "boring" tag in your so-called life and start making it worthwhile. Below are some tips that will help you live a wonderful life.
1. Keep a Positive Attitude. Enjoy what you have and work on getting the things you desire. Psychologists believe that optimism   is a good defense against unhappiness, so it is better to keep your optimism alive. Feeling sad about your life will only make you sadder, so be happy.
2. Don't Be Afraid to Take Risks. Life is all about taking risks, and that's the exciting part of it. Challenges and failure are part of life. Once you learn how to take risks, you'll soon realize how good it feels not to let moments pass you by.
3. You only have one life, so make it worthwhile. Being unwilling to let the past go just keeps you away from the things you should be enjoying at the present.
4. List the Things You Want to Do. Stop lazing around and give yourself something to be busy with. Write down a list of all the things you want to do and make a timeline, not to stress you out, but to remind you of your goals. So don't put limits to yourself because you'll never know what may happen.
5. Try Out Something New. Getting into something or trying something unfamiliar to you may seem scary, but nothing can make you feel happier than being able to overcome your fear. Who knows? You might enjoy it! The world is a big place and there are still lots of things waiting to be explored by you. Go to a foreign place where you know no one.

Question: From Tip One we know that we should   _   .

Choices:
- never be afraid to take risks
- try something new every day
- focus on the good things in life
- get rid of all our former habits

Question: What's the best title for the third tip?

Choices:
- Enjoy Today and Let Go of the Past.
- Never Think of Tomorrow.
- Remember You Are the Best.
- Never Change Your Mind.

Question: The writer may NOT agree that   _  .

Choices:
- feeling sad about your life does you no good
- it's good to keep yourself busy doing something
- you shouldn't go to a new place where you have no friends
- you should enjoy the present instead of always thinking of the past

Question: What is the writer's attitude toward life?

Choices:
- Positive.
- Negative.
- Doubtful.
- Indifferent.


Little Tom down the street calls our dog "The keep dog".Zip is a sheep dog. But when Tom tries to say" Seep", it comes out "keep". And in a way Tom is right. Zip is always bringing things home for us to keep! I'll tell you about some of them.
Zip's first present was a shoe. It was made of green silk.
We didn't know how Zip found the shoe. But after a moment Mary, my big sister, told me the shoe had a strange smell. I nodded and held my nose. "What do you think it is?"
"It smells like something for cleaning. I think someone tried to clean a spot   off the shoe. Then he put it at the door to dry."
"Along came Zip. And good-bye shoe!" I said."We should take it back."
"We can't ".said my sistter.
"Maybe little Tom is right," Mary said. "Maybe Zip is a keep dog!"

Question: The writer and Mary didn't know  _  .

Choices:
- what Zip's first present was
- how Zip carried its first present home
- who owned Zip's first present
- what Zip's first present was made of

Question: Tom calls Zip "the keep dog" because   _  .

Choices:
- the dog likes keeping things
- the dog likes playing with shoes
- he doesn't know the dog's name
- he can't pronounce the word " sheep" well

Question: What made the shoe strange was   _  .

Choices:
- its colour
- its smell
- its size
- that it was a silk one

Question: The word "keep" in the last sentence means "  _  "

Choices:
- keeping things for itself
- bringing things for other to keep
- not letting it run about
- taking care of a small child

Question: We can know from the reading that the dog   _  .

Choices:
- likes to give presents to people
- has been kept in at the writer's home
- has brought some trouble
- likes to be called "the keep dog"


Since the 1950s, most of the stars of pop music have come from Britain and America. Howver, in the last ten years, when many different kinds of music have established themselves on the pop scene, more and more stars have come from other countries.
Pop music changes all the time and new stars appear and become famous. For a musician to stay popular and still produced good, original music over a long period of time, is a sign of true star.
Most stars start their careers in a simple way---- playing in unknown night clubs or dance-hall where people want to dance to the music, not listen to it. They may have continued doing this for many years untill they get a "break"---- a chance to perform in a well -known place or get a recording contract. To become a star is the aim of every singer or musician and the dream of many a pop-crazy teenager.
However a group or star makes it to the top, they can be sure that their lives will change once they are successful. Ordinary teenagers living at home with their parents may suddenly find themselves rich enough to buy their own houses. An established superstar may be able to buy several.
Despite the large amount of money that are earned, life at the top is not easy for many stars.. The pop scene is hard work and many stars need to spend a lot of time away from home. For a lot of them, this means they have no home life and their personal relationships suffer. Despite great public success, life at the top can be very lonely.

Question: Since the 1950s,most of the stars of pop music have come from  _  .

Choices:
- America
- America and Britain
- America and Europe
- other countries

Question: According to the passage, a "break" may mean a chance to   _  .

Choices:
- perform in a well-known concert
- get a recording contract
- play in dance-halls
- meet a lot of pop-crazy teenagers

Question: If a star becomes successful,.he   _   according to the passage.

Choices:
- will live at home with their parents
- will have an easy life because of the larger amount of money earned
- may have a happy home life and good person relationships
- may have a lonely life


Women love shoes! They will sometimes go to look for the perfect pair of shoes to wear only once with the perfect outfit or the fashion of the day. Once worn, these fashionable designer shoes may spend weeks, months, or years in the closet without being worn again until another special occasion comes up. With that said, are expensive designer shoes really worth their cost?
Historically, shoes were invented to free feet from sharp rocks, hot sands, and blisters. Shoes were made to be simple and functional, with tough leather soles and straps. As society became more sophisticated  , the role of shoes changed; shoes were made to add status to the wearer.
Shoe designers began to work on the production of fashion shoes for the wealthy; shoes meant more for show than for practical use or simplicity. Good shoemakers became well known and printed symbols on their shoes, so people could recognize the maker of that particular design. Designer shoes were thus born.
Many women develop serious problems with their feet after wearing these designer shoes during the workday and the medical costs for dealing with these problems can get very high. Some popular makers of designer shoes have been working towards combining comfort and practical use into their shoes, but it has been noted that women still go for style, beauty and uniqueness above everything else.
So to answer the question as to whether or not designer shoes are worth the cost, the answer is certainly yes, but be smart and invest in a pair of comfortable, not so stylish shoes for the days when you stay outdoors for hours! They can also be very expensive, but I can surely say that they are worth the cost.

Question: When shoes were first made, their main use was to   _  .

Choices:
- increase the wearer's image
- protect the wearer from discomfort
- make the wearer more noticeable
- show the simplicity of life

Question: From the passage, we can learn that   _  .

Choices:
- women like to wear designer shoes only during the workday
- designer shoes are more practical and beautiful than common shoes
- shoemakers won fame for their shoes' prices
- shoemakers printed symbols on their shoes for being recognized

Question: Designer shoes will remain on the market because they   _  .

Choices:
- make a lot of money for shoemakers
- meet women's demand for being special
- will become increasingly comfortable
- offer the wearer a chance to show off their wealth

Question: In this passage, the author wants to  _  .

Choices:
- explain why expensive designer shoes are worth the money
- talk about the necessity of owning comfortable shoes
- warn women of the danger of wearing designer shoes
- talk about the history and development of shoes


One of the best-known American writers of children's books is Alfred Strong, or Doctor Strong, as he is better known to readers everywhere. Now, an art show called "Doctor Strong From Then to Now" is travelling around the United States. The pictures and drawings show the history of Doctor Strong.
Doctor Strong first became famous almost fifty years ago when his first children's book was published. Since then, he has written forty-five books that have sold more than one hundred million copies around the world.
Doctor Strong's books are known for their easy use of words and colorful, hand-drawn pictures. These drawings bring life to his imaginary creatures. The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and hundreds of others.
The San Diego Museum, in California, organized the art show. It included about three hundred Doctor Strong's original  drawings and some of his writings.
Most of Doctor Strong's books, although written in a funny way, have serious messages. For example, in Mc Elligot's Pool, he describes the danger of pollution. He discusses the arms race in The Butter Battle Book, written in nineteen eighty-four.
Doctor Strong is almost eighty-four years old now. He says he never planned to write stories just for children. He says he writes stories that interest people of all ages. He says he uses easy words so that everyone, even a child, can understand.

Question: Alfred Strong is a famous   _   in the United States.

Choices:
- doctor
- artist
- writer
- reader

Question: Doctor Strong first became famous in   _  .

Choices:
- his eighties when an art show was travelling around the United States
- his fifties when his drawings and writings were published
- nineteen eighty-four when his book MeEligot's Pool was published
- his thirties when his first book was published

Question: Doctor Strong's books are very popular in America because   _  .

Choices:
- they are stories about animals such as cats, elephants and so on
- they are written in easy words with colourful pictures
- he organized the art show in California
- they are written in a funny way


My mother, Marisol Torres, came with her family to Australia in the early 1960s. Then my parents' marriage ended and Mum began the study of precious stones. Her interest in opals   took her to the New South Wales remote town of Lightning Ridge. There were no luxuries  , but she was closer to nature and had a chance to find black opals and make some money.
My mother was beautiful with dark hair and brown eyes, but she was also quiet and shy. Early in the Ridge years, she kept to herself, but later, she started going to the neighbourhood centre to make friends.
It was her dream to mine, but her get-rich-quick thinking was unrealistic. She was cheated and she was never very successful. But she kept a sense of humour and a charming smile.
Then, just as friendships began to blossom, she was diagnosed with cancer and had to return south for treatment. She had the intention of cooking Spanish food as special treat for her Ridge friends, but died too soon. In her honour, my aunt, Marisa, and I fulfilled her desire when we visited the Ridge in March last year.
People who mine the Ridge come from a cross section of society, from lawyers to travels. Looks don't mean much: it can be hard to tell who is millionaire and who is poor. Opals attracted Sebastian and Hanna Deisenberger to Lightning Ridge. They planned a two-year stay, but became permanent residents.
Then there's Neil Schellnegger, 45, who moved to the area with his parents when he was a child. He lives with his son, Luke. Luke is a shy 19-year-old boy who enjoys helping his dad. They haven't had much luck over the past couple of years, but their passion for opals conquers disappointment. They love the peaceful lifestyle.
Danny Hatcher, 38, is a second-generation miner and president of the Lightning Ridge Miners' Association. He is an optimistic man, driven by the desire to find the perfect opal. "It's magic," he explains. "Once you start opal mining you don't want to do anything else... There is always the potential for finding a million dollars. Nothing beats it."
It's a place where dreams --- spiritual or material --- can be fulfilled; a place, for one last bet in life.

Question: What made the author's mother go to Lightning Ridge?

Choices:
- The luxurious life there.
- Her new marriage there.
- Her interest in opals.
- Her passion for nature. .

Question: After the author's mother died, she fulfilled her desire by   _  .

Choices:
- treating her mother's Ridge friends with Spanish food
- writing a biography about her whole life
- decorating her house in Lightning Ridge
- finding a lot of black opals in Lightning Ridge

Question: We know from the passage that   _  .

Choices:
- the rich and the poor can be distinguished by their looks
- Luke is a successful miner, just like his father
- Sebastian is planning to leave Lightning Ridge
- Danny Hatcher's parents were miners in Lightning Ridge

Question: Lightning Ridge is a place where dreams can be fulfilled because   _  .

Choices:
- there are precious stones and life is peaceful
- there are people from all walks of life
- there are rich people who can help poor people
- there is a lot of gold hidden in the ground

Question: What is the author's purpose of giving Neil Schellnegger and Danny Hatcher as examples?

Choices:
- To show the magic power of opal mining.
- To tell people it isn't always hard to mine opals.
- To warn people not to take up this kind of job.
- To persuade people to look for more resources for the country.