Datasets:

mou3az

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Question-Answering-Generation-Choices

like 5

I still do n't have internet here , which is a bit of a pissoff , but it 'll come . Last couple nights I ' ve been hanging out with the Dutch guys on the 7th floor of Arkham , where the cells are twice as big . It 's the most interesting thing , not being able to understand a language and beginning to .

What may be the reason for not having internet ?

They are n't allowed to use it in jail .

["They do n't know how to use it .", "They did n't pay the bill on time .", 'None of the above choices .']

The only mistake was that I did n't have my high beams on . I had turned them off when I passed another car and had forgotten to turn them back on . That could have bought me another millisecond .

What may be a fact about this person 's situation ?

They made a mistake by not turning their high beams on .

['None of the above choices .', 'Their high beams had blinded another driver .', 'They were racing someone and needed their high beams on .']

Walking is so simple and convenient that it couldn't possibly count as exercise, right? Wrong. Study after study shows that regular walking can help you lose weight and reduce your risk of heart disease. The study published in Diabetes Research in Clinical Practice shows that the blood pressure of the overweight men being tested improved and the amount of body fat greatly decreased. That's good news, because walking has now become the most popular fitness activity in the United States. Convenient, simple, and gentle on the joints, walking is perhaps the easiest form of exercise to maintain. According to a survey, four out of five women who start a walking program continue to walk, while half of women who attempt other types of aerobic exercise , such as swimming, drop out during the first few months. Here are some basics for walking exercise. Walk at a pace that makes you breathe heavily, but still able to talk. Your goal, first and foremost, is to walk five days a week, 30 minutes a walk. Do that, and you are getting the base-level amount of exercise that research says should maintain your health and vigor . Walk for as long as you are comfortable the first week, even if it is just to your mailbox and back. Each following week, increase that amount by no more than 10 percent. Start every walk with five minutes of easy-paced walking, about the same pace at which you do shopping, to get your body warmed up. Then, cool down at the end of each walk with another five minutes of easy-paced walking. This allows your heart rate to gradually speed up and slow down.

What would be the best title for the passage?

Walking for Exercise

['How to Keep Healthy?', 'Different Ways of Exercise', 'Is Walking a Type of Exercise?']

He was once referred to as the _ of poetry. Beloved by Chileans of all classes, he is one of the most widely read and respected poets in history. And this year is the 100th birthday of Pablo Neruda(1904--1973). Born with the name Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basolto, he was a tall, shy and lonely boy. He loved to read and started to write poetry when he was ten. The American poet Walt Whitman, whose framed picture Neruda later kept on his table became a major influence on his work. However, his father did not like the idea of having a poet for a son and tried to discourage him from writing. To cover up the publication of his first poem, he took the pen name Pablo Neruda. In 1924 Neruda gained fame with his most widely read work "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair." Yet his rich experience as a diplomat and exile made him go beyond the theme of love. His work also reflected the political struggle of the left and development of South America. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. Neruda loved the sea which he saw as creative, destructive and forever moving. He found inspiration in the power and freedom of the waves and the seabirds on the coast. "I need the sea because it teaches me," he wrote. "I move in the university of the waves." He loved how the sea forever renewed itself, a renewal echoed in his work.

Which of the following is not the theme of his works?

Social reform.

['Love.', 'Political struggle.', 'Development of South America.']

There’s a story in my Tuscan family of nobility and forbidden love. It’s set in Taranto, Puglia, on Italy’s southern heel and involves my daughter’s great-great-grandmother. The best known version is told by my husband Marco’s uncle, Riccardo, who remembers it being told to him by his elderly Nonna Anna herself. Anna Michela Comasia Maria Calianno. Her long name was a sign of her family’s noble status. She was born in Taranto, Puglia, in 1889, into a wealthy, well-educated Tarantine family of physicians, surgeons and landowners. One day, by chance, young Anna answered the door instead of the butler. There was Nicola Cardellicchio, the postman. He came from a poor family of bricklayers and wool spinners, raised by a single mother. “He was no adonis,” noted Nonna Anna. Nicola was rather short and stocky, but she liked him immediately. She continued answering the door whenever the postman passed. When Anna’s mother, Girolama, noticed her daughter’s growing interest in the postman, she forbid her to see him again, threatening to disown her. So Anna did what any lovesick girl would do: she ran away, eloping with Nicola. The couple had nine children in Taranto — Mario, Marco’s grandfather was born in the middle of the First World War — but times were very hard, and they moved north to Torino to look for work. Nonna Anna was perhaps not an instinctive cook. I wondered whether she ever had the possibility to learn how to cook. Her grandchildren, Angela (my mother in law) and Riccardo, remember her only ever making lesso (boiled meat) and these polpette, which became variously known in the family as “sugo di nonna Anna” and, oddly, “amatriciana” (which is actually a different recipe, a chilli-spiked sauce of fried guanciale and tomato to coat pasta). But these polpette – plump meat balls, cooked slowly in tomato sauce, a very traditional dish from Puglia – were passed down to Anna’s daughter in law, Angela’s Tuscan mother, Lina, who made them so often for her own family that she in turn taught her daughter in law, Franca, Riccardo’s wife, who continues to make them today for her own grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It has become this Tuscan family’s recipe, spread throughout the branches of the family tree, made for guests and special occasions especially (it feeds a crowd wonderfully).

Why did Anna continue answering the door?

Because she liked Nicola

['not enough information', 'Because Girolama threatened to disown her', 'Because she married Nicola']

Jon's back ached. Frost had come early this year and the ground broke like stone. Jon had spent eight seasons breaking this ground to plant spring's crops and every year it got harder. Sweat beaded on his brow and he felt his cotton shirt stick to his skin under his coat. Jon took off his soft-brimmed hat and wiped his forehead. He examined the hat as he let his breath return. The hat had kept the burning sun and beating rain off his head for as long as Jon owned the farm. He wore it every day. It had been a gift given to him on the day he married Alasandra but he could not remember who gave it to him. Jon put it back on his head and pushed the tiller deep into the stubborn earth. Daven ran over the hill and down the cart path leading to their small cobblestone house. The boy had only left a short while ago and he held no sack with the bread and cheese his mother had told him to buy. Jon furrowed his brow. The boy continued to run and soon the wind carried his cry to his father's ears. "Papa! A carriage is coming! Two horses!" Jon's furrowed brow remained. Surely the boy meant a cart from a neighboring farm. No carriage made it out this far. "It's from the city! A soldier drives it!" Jon felt ice water flow over him. He turned to the house. "Sandra! Get the musket out of the pantry!" Jon saw his wife's face appear at one foggy window. Jon gestured wildly at her. "Get it!" They were too late. As Daven reached Jon, the black carriage already approached. A single figure sat on the bench, guiding the two brown horses down Jon's path.

Frost had come:

late this year

['early this year', 'as expected', 'not enough information']

WaterField Designs , a leading maker of custom - fitted computer bags and cases for digital gear , announces Suede Jacket cases for Apple 's upgraded iPod nano 4 G and iPod Touch 2 G announced Tuesday . Each case is custom - fitted to the respective iPod dimensions and can double as a screen cleaner . The ultra - slim cases are designed for scratch protection , accessibility and style . Available for pre - order now .

What may be a plausible fact about the product I am describing ?

I want people to buy the product .

['None of the above choices .', 'I want people to rent the product .', 'I want people to sell the product .']

Welcome every morning with a smile. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail. Starting the day right can give good momentum for the rest of the day. Having a power morning is a key factor for a fruitful day. Here are some tips on getting the most out of the morning. Wake up early. In theory, there's no difference in waking up early or late as long as you get the proper amount of sleep. However, there is a psychological advantage when you wake up earlier than the average person and then you'll have more time to do preparation before engaging in the real world. Exercise. Good health is always a benefit with exercise, but studies have also shown that morning exercise helps you to sleep better at nights. Eat breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day. According to the Mayo Clinic, we should choose three from the following four: fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein. Did you know that you can actually gain weight when you skip breakfast? Take a shower. When you shower, do you do it in the morning or at night? I used to shower in the evenings, but I found that morning showers helped me to be more alert. Prioritize your To-Do list. Leo _ the acronym MIT to mean "most important tasks." Our to-do list might be never ending, but put on top of the list a couple of urgent tasks that will define the day to be a successful one. Check your emails. Only once. Getting a lot of emails can be very distractive. You actually are more productive when you check them only a few times at fixed time of the day. I only do them 2-3 times a day--once in the morning, once at lunch, and one more as it gets toward the end of the day.

The purpose for the author to write this passage is to _ .

offer you the best way to start the day

['tell you to get up early every day', 'give you advice about how to arrange a day', 'advise you to prioritize your to-do list every morning']

At the time, I would go out in the evening with my parents. But this time I had borrowed a bicycle from a friend of mine. I didn't know why, but once I was on my own bicycle, a kind of free feeling flooded through me. The faster I rode, the faster I wanted to go! Far ahead, I rode as if my life depended on it, head down, hands grasping the handbars. I meant to get to Jinghai Bar as fast as I could. . . Oh! My hands! Don't come any closer. . . Don't touch me! That poor doctor just couldn't get my gloves off. Each time he took a step towards me, I broke into painful shouting. Much later, I discovered that I had crashed heavily with another bicycle, and I hadn't spoken one word of sense for at least three hours! After some time, my mother arrived at the hospital, her face as white as a sheet, and gave me a hug , only then did the doctor begin to stitch my head wound, not only did he merrily cut off a long lock of my hair, but used no anaesthetic either! Later, I seemed to hear faraway voices saying that my right hand was broken. I almost burst into tears. How would I ever play the piano again?

What did the writer think of the doctor?

Cruel.

['Friendly.', 'Hard-working.', 'Kind.']

John keeps a record of new words and expressions in English. He usually writes them in a note-book. Then, later in the day, he asks his teacher about them. "Mrs. Thomas, these expressions are new to me. 'She's blue today.', 'You're yellow', 'A little white lie', 'She has green fingers'." After looking at the note-book, Mrs. Thomas says, "In everyday English, John,'blue' sometimes means sad. 'Yellow' means afraid. A person with 'green fingers' grows plants successfully. And 'a white lie' is not a bad lie." "I don't understand. Please give me an example." " For example, I offer you some cake. The truth is that you don't like my cake. You don't say that. Instead, you say, 'No, thanks, I'm not hungry.' That's a white lie." John says, "I see , thanks for the explanation!"

"Blue" sometimes means in spoken English " _ ".

unhappy

['angry', 'lucky', 'glad']

Macy Golong peeked into Mallie Mae's room and was not surprised to see her sleeping. Elmo's mother rarely stayed up past 10:00 PM, and it was nearly 11:00. She closed the door and started to go back to her room across the hall. She was halfway through a romance novel. But Hadley's delicious oatmeal raisin cookies were calling to her. She walked down the stairs to the kitchen and put a few cookies on a plate. Then she poured a glass of milk. She wondered what Elmo was doing. Was he in the Media Room with Carsie? Their Media Room? Before Elmo and Carsie got together, Elmo and Macy used to spend hours almost every night in that room. Some nights he had almost kissed her. She left her milk and cookies on the kitchen counter and went down another flight of stairs, which came out in the Recreation Room. Macy could hear the sound of the TV coming from Media Room. She tiptoed to the open doorway and peeked in. There she was--that conniving slut--sitting where Macy should have been. How could Elmo have replaced her like that? She thought he had been falling in love with her. How could she have been so wrong? But it could still happen--if that woman would just go away. Elmo said, "Yeah. So, beginning Monday there will be two doctors in the office. That should take a little pressure off. If I need to be out for a day or two, Dr. Edwards can fill in for me." "Yeah, or if you need to take off a week for a trip to Hawaii with your beautiful new wife." Carsie gave him a sexy smile. "That's right. Dr. Ernie will take care of everything while I'm gone." "Dr. Ernie?" "Yeah. I asked if he would mind being called 'Dr. Ernie'. His name is Ernest, but I thought 'Dr. Ernie' would fit in well with the Sesame Street theme of my office." "So the two of you are Drs. Elmo and Ernie?" "Yep."

What hppened after Macy poured a glass of milk?

She went downstairs to the recreation room

['She went back to her room', 'not enough information', 'She peeked into Mallie room']

ONE day my 5-year-old daughter, Mini, ran to the window crying: "A Cabuliwallah ! A Cabuliwallah!" In the street below was a Cabuliwallah, passing slowly along. Mini called him loudly but when he looked at her she ran away scared. Shortly after this, the two became friends. They started to hang out together, laughing and talking. Mini's new friend would give her raisins and almonds , spending the little money he had on her. The two of them enjoyed joking together. The Cabuliwallah, who was called Rahmun, would say: "Well, little one, when are you going to the father-in-law's house?" Mini did not understand this and was puzzled. One morning, I heard uproar in the street, and saw Rahmun being led away by the police. There were bloodstains on his clothes. I gathered that a neighbor had owed Rahmun money for a shawl but had falsely denied having bought it, and that in the course of the quarrel Rahmun had struck him. On a charge of murderous assault , Rahmun was sentenced to jail. Time passed, and he was not remembered. Mini grew up and we were making arrangements for her wedding. I was sitting in my study when someone entered. It was Rahmun, the Cabuliwallah, released from prison. Barely recognizable now, he asked to see Mini and said that all those years ago she had reminded him of his own daughter in Kabul. It was his belief that Mini was still the same. He had pictured her running to him calling "Cabuliwallah!". He had imagined that they would laugh and talk together. In fact, he had brought her, wrapped up in paper, a few almonds and grapes. The two were reunited but Mini had grown up. She now understood the meaning of the word "father-in-law," and when he made this joke once more she flushed up at the question. He could not revive their old friendship. When Rahmun left, I gave him a bank note, saying: "Go back to your own daughter, and may the happiness of your meeting bring good fortune to my child!" Having made this present, I had to give up the electric lights and the military band I had intended for the wedding and the ladies in the house were disappointed. But to me the wedding feast was all the brighter for the thought that in a distant land a long-lost father met again with his child. Adapted from Tagore's short novel The Cabuliwallah

Which of the following is TRUE about Mini and Rahmun's friendship?

Though not understanding all Rahmun's jokes, Mini liked hanging out with him.

['They felt close to each other at first sight.', "The author didn't like Mini making friends with Rahmun.", 'Rahmun liked Mini more when the author often bought fruits from him.']

If' you are finding it tough to land a job, try expanding your job-hunting plan to include thefollowing strategies: Set your target While you should always keep your opinions open to compromise, you should also be sure to target exactly what you want in a job. A specific job hunt will be more efficient than a random one . Schedule abundant interviews Use every possible method to get interviews-answering ads, using search firms, contacting companies directly, surfing the Web, and networking. Even if a job is not perfect for you, every interview can make you learn from it. Follow up Even if someone does not hire you, write them a thank-you note for the interview. Then. some weeks later, send another brief letter to explain that you still have not found the perfect position and that you will be available to interview again if the original position you applied for-or any other position, for that matter-is open. Do this with every position you interview for, and you may just catch a break. Make it your full-time job You can't find a job by looking infrequently. You have to make time for it. If you're unemployed and looking for a job, devote as much time as you would to a full-time job. If you have a job while you're looking, figure out an organized schedule to maximize your searching time. Network vertically In the research phase of your job hunt, talk to people who are on a level above you in your desired industry. They'll have some insights that people at your own level won't have, and will be in a good position to hire you or recommend you to be hired. Keep your spirits up Looking for a job is one of the toughest things you will ever have to do. Maintain your confidence, stay persistent, and think positively, and eventually you will get a job that suits you.

According to the author, your job-hunting plan had better be as _ as possible.

clear

['random', 'fixed', 'complex']

What makes the optimistic lines so interesting to me is that I do n't think I was actually thinking about what I meant ; I was probably just trying to reach a satisfactory ( or simply satisfying ) ending . Endings are weird . One of the first plays I wrote -- the first that was actually performed -- builds to an ending that does n't actually arrive . My way of thinking was perhaps ( it 's hard to know , exactly ) that the protagonist got a look at the way the world was going , and saw the consequences of his set of values ( short - term strong morals , long - term ambivalence ) .

What hobby does the narrator seem to have ?

They love theater .

['They love musical theater .', 'None of the above choices .', 'They love movies .']

IELTS: international English language testing system Introduction: The IELTS is jointly managed by the University of Cambridge Local Examination Syndicate , the British Council and IDP Education Australia Why more and more people are taking the IELTS test? The IELTS test is widely recognized by the colleges, universities and other academic institutions of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom. More and more universities and colleges in the US are also accepting an IELTS result as a language requirement for application to degree courses. IELTS is accepted by many important organizations, such as the New Zealand Immigration Bureau, the Australian Immigration and Cultural Department, the Canadian Immigration Bureau, the Australian Medical Council and the British Medical Association . Choice of two test types There are two test models: Academic and General Training. The candidate must select the one suitable to his/here purpose for taking the test. Academic: for candidates who want to apply for undergraduate or postgraduate courses. General Training: for candidates who take IELTS for immigration purpose, training programmes, or work experience. If you have any questions about which type to take, consult the Examinations Services staff at the British Council offices. Content The test is composed of four papers: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The first three papers must be taken at one sitting on one day, and the speaking paper may be taken up to two days later. Usually in China, the Listening paper is taken on a Saturday morning, followed by the Reading paper, and then Writing paper. The Speaking test is usually taken on the Saturday afternoon or on the following Saturday. Candidates must complete all four papers in order to obtain an overall score.

How many organizations is IELTS managed by?

3.

['6.', '5.', '4.']

"Let's go Dutch, shall we?" Jim said after a dinner to his friends in a restaurant. What does Jim mean? Long ago, there was a kind of dinner called Dutch treat . At a Dutch treat, the invited guests were expected to pay for their own share of the food and drink. Now, Dutch treat means when friends go out to have fun, each person pays his or her own share. There are many other expressions related with "Dutch" in American English. However, most of them were first used in England in the 17th century. At that time, the British and the Dutch were war enemies. So when British people talked about something wrong or bad, they would like to use the word "Dutch". A common expression heard a few years ago was in Dutch. A friend may tell you, "You are in Dutch. The teacher is angry with you. Be careful!" When a soldier took Dutch leave, he left the army without permission. Dutch courage was the false courage produced by the effects of drinking wine. There is one expression that did come from the Dutch. That is to talk like a Dutch uncle. The Dutch were known for the strict and serious way they educated their children.

According to the passage, the British in the 17th century _ .

used the word "Dutch" for something bad

['first used the word "Dutch"', 'were mistaken for Dutch people', 'got along well with the Dutch people']

The leading U.S. presidential hopefuls reacted strongly Monday to the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Sunday's incident that left 49 people dead and 53 others wounded was the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. The gunman, Omar Mateen, was a U.S. citizen and the son of Afghan parents. In her first speech since the shooting, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton told supporters in Cleveland, "The Orlando terrorist may be dead, but the virus that poisoned his mind remains very much alive." Clinton laid out a multi-faceted approach to combating terrorism. The plan would disrupt terrorist groups by infiltrating their online networks, enhancing intelligence sharing among local and federal law enforcement agencies, and asking allied nations to help "prevent the radicalization and recruitment" of potential terrorists in the U.S. and Europe. In an apparent response to presumptive Republican Party opponent Donald Trump's charge that President Barack Obama and other Democrats refuse to use the word "radical" to describe terrorists who happen to be Muslim, Clinton said earlier on CNN that she is not afraid to use the term, but says she refuses "to demonize and demagogue and declare war on an entire religion." Doing so, she said, "plays right into the ISIS' hands." ISIS is an acronym for Islamic State, which is also known as IS, ISIL and Daesh. Clinton called for citizens to reach out to Muslims in the United States "to help us defeat this threat." She cited the need for "common sense reform" of gun ownership laws, including a ban on assault weapons. After Obama did not use the term "radical" in his remarks Sunday from the White House, Trump criticized Obama's approach to extremism and said the president "should step down." Trump, meanwhile, renewed a call for a ban on the entry of Muslim immigrants into the United States. "The only reason the killer was in America in the first place was we allowed his family to come here," Trump said in a speech to supporters in Manchester, New Hampshire. Trump said he would lift the ban when the government develops the ability to screen people "perfectly."

who cited the need for common sense reform of gun ownership laws

Clinton

['not enough information', 'Trump', 'Obama']

Green living has become more important than ever and as time goes by, it will only become a more important issue. While it used to be a matter of making an extra effort to save energy and reduce waste in our homes, this has extended to the professional side of things since. Public buildings, such as schools, hospitals and offices, are under an increasing amount of pressure to make the change and go green, even if it's just a step-by-step process that takes a few years to implement completely. There are plenty of reasons for offices to go green and these reasons go beyond the concept that it should be done just for the sake of the environment. While the environment is incredibly important and vital to our survival and quality of life, sustainable office design can also have positive impacts upon employees and people using the building. For example, a report carried out last September revealed that the way an office is designed can significantly impact on the health of the staff there. It was also found to have an effect on productivity and could be a contributory factor to the amount of sick leave and staff turnaround within the business. It's fascinating to think that people can be so sensitive to their environments but it also makes a lot of sense. Even the choice of colour in your office can negatively or positively affect the people working there. Based on this study, it is clear that companies should be making more efforts to improve on the office design while making sure the environment is sustainable and green. There are various little changes that can be made to lead to something bigger, from making sure the lights are turned off at night to recycling the paper your company gets through on a weekly basis. Once these changes are in place, you can start looking at the bigger picture and begin implementing changes to design and construction, like having wood fibre insulation fitted. Along with other sustainable features, insulation can be beneficial in various ways. Not only will an insulated office space be environmentally sound by helping you to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer, reducing the reliance on the thermostat and central heating and saving money, but it can also be an effective form of sound absorption. The study revealed that noise is a contributory factor to productivity problems, and if you work in a particularly busy area, then noise can become a real issue. The aim is to create an environment that is comfortable and calm enough for people to concentrate and work productively. Soundproof walls are an effective and environmentally friendly solution.

According to the author, what is necessary for companies to do?

Make some improvements to their office design.

['Allow enough sick leave to their employees.', 'Paint all the walls of their offices green.', 'Make their staff more productive than before.']

Pete said . I placed the camera on top of the tv and faced it towards Pete then walked over next to him . When I got into the picture Pete had a smirk on his face . I was n't sure what that meant but thought I 'll just ask him later .

Why did I first place the camera on the TV ?

I wanted to film myself and Pete together .

['I wanted to give it to Pete .', 'None of the above choices .', "I wanted to set it down so I 'd have my hands free ."]

A Book Review--The Snake-Stoneby Berlie Doherty The setting: Urban England (the cities), but also rural England (the countryside) including remote English villages. The theme: The main theme is a teenage search of self-discovery, in this case the search for a mother from whom the hero was separated at an early age. Its other concerns are love, getting on with others, being persistent and courageous and trying to deal with doubts, troubles and worries. As the book moves to a close, James' swimming coach says to him: "You are not like a kid obeying instructions any more. You are diving like a young man who knows where he is going." The characters: James is the hero of the story. He is a championship diver, and has a comfortable life with his foster parents . Yet he also has the qualities to take him on a long journey to find his birth mother. The other characters inThe Snake-Stone, James' parents, his diving instructor, best friend, the villagers, people he meets on his journey, are pictured realistically. The turning point: The turning point in the story comes while James' foster parents are away in London, and he wonders about the identity of his birth mother. The only clue he has is a fossil, "the snake stone" which she left behind along with a note on which she had written: "Take good care of Sammie. It was written on a torn envelope with parts of an address still there. The journey: Instead of going to London, James decides to find his birth mother. With help from his geography teacher, James sets out for the remote country village where his mother might be found. James has painful, challenging, but also humorous and happy travels. The mother he finally meets, Anne, has a minor yet powerful voice in the novel. He comes to understand why she left him at a stranger's door fifteen years before. Although the meeting is not long, it leaves him with a feeling of completeness. As a journey of self-discoveryThe Snake-Stonealso provides its readers with a happy ending. Its hero says, on returning to his foster parents, "I was home."

It can be concluded that James' journey is _ .

worthwhile

['boring', 'comfortable', 'disappointing']

Renegade Republicans who are trying to force a vote on immigration reform in the House of Representatives survived an attempt by leaders of their party to block their efforts. The renegades, a group of moderate Republicans, are five signatures short of the 25 needed to bypass leadership and force floor votes on several immigration proposals through a rare procedural tactic known as a discharge petition. Speaker Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, has described the discharge petition as "futile" because it lacks any guarantee that a bill would become law in the face of a threatened presidential veto. But it was House conservatives who defeated the $867 million farm bill Friday when their own move to get an immigration bill to the House floor failed. The House Freedom Caucus — a conservative voting bloc in the U.S. House — had offered to vote for the farm bill in exchange for a promise that one immigration bill would be brought up for a vote. The hope was that the offer would be enough to keep some Republican House members from signing the discharge petition. The immigration bill, known as the Goodlatte Bill, is a conservative approach to immigration that would provide legal status to undocumented young people brought to the U.S. as children in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, but only in addition to changes in the U.S. legal immigration system. The Goodlatte Bill is opposed by many moderate Republicans. For them, the deal offered an opportunity to negotiate on legislation that might win the support of President Donald Trump and resolve the status of DACA recipients. The deal fell through, and the farm bill failed to pass by a 193-213 vote Friday. "It's not a fatal blow — it's just a reorganize," House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows told reporters shortly after the vote, "At this point, we really need to deal with immigration in an effective way." Meadows said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy negotiated in good faith on the immigration issue, but would not elaborate on why a deal was elusive.

What does trump think of the Goodlatte bill?

not enough information

['will be neutral probably', "doesn't approve probably", 'approves probably']

The driver and I went back and forth for about three minutes until Greg started doing these hand motion things . First he motioned like he was eating and then he did the ' make your eyes slanty thing ' like in the picture of the basketball team . I was smacking his arm , thinking ' OMG , I ca n't believe he did that ! ' The cab driver just smiled and said " Oh yes .

Why would Greg make gestures with his eyes ?

He was making a joke .

["He was trying to get the driver 's attention .", 'He was trying to get motion in his hands .', 'He was trying to wake his eyes up .']

Despite my blog name, I’m not actually all that adventurous. Think more suburban adventure rather than skydiving or wild camping. But, over the years I have ended up overcoming a few challenges that I hadn’t precisely expected to be faced with. This blog has always been, and will forever more be a record of my personal adventures. It is a journal of the chaos, delight, opportunities and travails that we encounter all rolled in with an obsession for photography (as far as my skillz extend) and a dash of humour (well, I try anyway). DRIVING IN AMERICA Covering 800 miles of American freeways in less than 10 days is something I never thought I’d do to be honest – an inexperienced driver at best I’ve driven short distances (and through a Florida tropical storm from Cape Canaveral back to our Orlando apartment) – but somehow we survived unscathed driving diagonally the length of Louisiana from New Orleans to Shreveport, through the crazy traffic of Dallas and along the long, undulating motorways of Texas. I’ll be honest, and admit that did we encounter a couple of challenging and scary situations – a truck driver changing lanes not allowing me enough time to enter a motorway (I luckily just popped into a shoulder lane), getting lost in the middle of Dallas skyscrapers (we jammed every device we had onto navigation), accidentally assuming a road was much narrower than it really was (luckily the road was relatively quiet so I just guided her nimbly over to the correct lane) and dodging some of the twits who pulled out in front of us – one with a trailer full of wood – but overall it really was fine. COMMUNICATING IN OTHER LANGUAGES You’ve decided where to go, booked the flight, found a hotel, decided what to do… and then you get to your destination. And, if you’re exploring outside the traditional western world, you probably won’t speak the local language – and the locals may or may not depending on how far outside the tourist traps you venture.

After the blog is over what does the driver think of their driving abilities?

They can no longer claim to be an inexperienced driver.

['not enough information', 'That they drive better than a twit.', 'That they can drive narrow roads.']

(CNN)-China will sometimes say "no" and the world should get used to it. That message came through when China joined Russia in blocking action on Syria. "Do not mistakenly think that because China takes a careful and responsible position on the Syria issue, China will not use its veto power or will always abstain ," said Cui Tiankai, China's vice foreign minister, "When China must use its veto power to say no, it will surely use it." On Saturday, Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, called the vetoes "disgusting and shameful." He Wenping, director of African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the veto shows China's confidence in foreign affairs. "A country expressing its true opinion - that's progress. China opposes the use of threat or force to achieve regime change in other countries. This agrees with China's long-standing diplomacy principle. It is also not acceptable for China to rush a U.N. vote without sufficient discussion." So why did China use its veto this time? China's critics say China's veto of the U.N. draft proposal was in part due to Beijing's fear that allowing a regime change in Syria could encourage the spread of the Arab revolution and eventually threaten China. He Wenping disagrees, "China has a completely different political system and economic development path. If someone in the international community thinks that the Arab Spring will happen in China, then I think they misjudge the situation in China, exaggerate some problems in the Chinese society and underestimate the ability of the Chinese government to control the situation in China."

What can we learn from the passage?

China has a firm stand on international issues.

['The U.N. asks the whole world to get used to China saying no on international issues.', 'CNN believed that China helped Syria to fight against the U.N.', 'All the member countries of the U.N. supported Susan Rice.']

It’s October, which means it’s that time of the year again: flu vaccination time! Back when I worked in a primary care clinic, this is when we made a big push to offer the seasonal flu shot to all of our patients. (And we got ourselves immunized, as well.) Not all of our patients agreed. Many older adults are skeptical of the need to get a yearly vaccination against influenza. They aren’t sure it will help. Or they think that the vaccination will actually give them a mild case of the flu. Or they just don’t like needles. Or maybe they aren’t sure which type of seasonal flu shot to get: the regular one or one of the newer “stronger” versions, designed for older adults? I’m never surprised when people bring up these questions. Vaccination for seasonal influenza can indeed be a confusing topic. But it’s certainly important to consider. Depending on the year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that every year, influenza affects 9-60 million Americans, causes 140,000-710,100 hospitalizations, and results in 12,000-56,000 deaths. (Influenza is more severe in some years than others.) Most people get better without needing hospitalization, but some people get very sick. Older adults are especially likely to get dangerously ill from catching the flu. So I agree with the CDC’s recommendation: everyone over the age of 6 months should get their seasonal flu shot. In fact, I’m about to go get mine. As a healthy woman in her 40s, I’m not that concerned about getting dangerously ill from influenza. Instead, I get my annual flu shot because I want to minimize my chance of getting sick and perhaps exposing my older patients to influenza. This month, you’ll probably be encouraged to get vaccinated too. So in this article, I’ll address some key things to know about influenza and the flu shot, along with some common questions and concerns. Here’s what I’ll cover: * The basics of influenza and vaccination against the flu * What to know about flu shots for older adults * What’s new and resources for the 2017-2018 flu season * Which influenza vaccination is probably best for most older adults * What to do if your older parent or relative is unwilling or unable to get vaccinated

What did the author's co-workers at the primary care clinic probably believe?

They probably believe all adults should get a flu shot.

['not enough information', "They probably believe that flu shots don't help.", 'They probably believe that needles are bad.']

I worked in a jewelry store . Back in grad school and before kids while full - time substitute teaching , to be exact . Let me start by saying I have always loathed working in retail of any kind , but it happened to be one of the things I was pretty good at for some reason . I sold lots of expensive stuff .

Why did the narrator work in the jewelry store ?

Because grad school is very expensive .

['Because they planned to steal the jewelry .', 'Because they enjoyed interacting with customers .', 'Because they enjoyed the sales part .']

Expo 2010 Shanghai China Duration: May 1 to Oct 31, 2010 Welcome to the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China. In order to ensure a safe and orderly visit, the organizer of Expo 2010 has formulated these rules. Operation Time The operation time of the Expo Site shall be 9:00~24:00. The opening hours of the pavilions shall be 9:30 ~ 22:30. Visitors shall enter the Expo Site before 21:00 and leave before 24:00 on the day of admission. Those with evening admission tickets may enter the Expo Site between 17:00 and 21:00. Orderly Entry Visitors shall go through ticket check and security check before entering the Expo Site. Those who refuse to cooperate may be denied entry. Children eligible for free admission and other visitors with walking difficulties may only enter the Expo Site when accompanied by adults. Codes of Conduct Visitors are required to observe public order within the Expo Site, and shall queue up to enter the pavilions or event venues . In the Expo Site, visitors are prohibited from: (1) damaging any buildings, facilities or exhibits. (2) climbing over any buildings or fences (3) conducting any exhibitions or promotional or fundraising activities without permission. Special Management Measures In case of bad weather, too many visitors and technical problems, the organizer may restrict the entry of visitors into the Expo Site, pavilions or event venues. _ Visitors Service Centers are available in the Expo Site, providing visitors with such services as inquiries, rental, lost and found, first aid, mother-baby service, and assistance for lost persons. The centers also accept and process visitors' complaints. Free rental of wheelchairs are available for the disabled.

Which of the following can be filled in the blank in the last part?

Visitor Service

['Visitor Complains', 'Reservation', 'Exhibitions and Performances']

In 1991, Kentucky Fried Chicken announced that it was officially changing its name to "KFC" as well as updating its packaging and logo with a more modern look. The public relations reason was that health-conscious consumers associated the word "fried" with "unhealthy", causing some of them to completely avoid the wide variety of "healthy" menu items. The new title and image were designed to attract customers to a restaurant now offering foods branded as "better for you". It sounded good, but the real reason behind the shift to KFC had nothing to do with critical consumers. In 1990, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, trapped in debt, took the unusual step of trade marking its name. Therefore, anyone using the word "Kentucky" for business reasons would have to obtain permission and pay licensing fees to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It was an unusual and brilliant scheme to lighten government debt, but it was also one that alienated one of the most famous companies ever associated with Kentucky. The Kentucky Fried Chicken chain refused as a matter of principle to pay royalties on a name they had been using for four decades. After a year of fruitless talks, Kentucky Fried Chicken changed their name instead, introducing new packaging and products to hide the real reasons behind the change of the name. Kentucky fried Chicken was not the only one who bravely refused to give in. The name of the most famous horse race in North America, held every year at Churchill Downs, was changed to "The Run for the Roses" for similar reasons. In November 2006, KFC and the State of Kentucky finally reached a settlement over the use of the trademarked word "Kentucky", and the restaurant chain announced it would be reusing its former name of "Kentucky Fried Chicken".

The Commonwealth of Kentucky trademarked its name to _ .

raise money to pay the government debt

['develop American culture', 'be alienated from the famous companies', 'make Kentucky known throughout the world']

Jerome David Salinger was born in Manhattan on New Year s Day,1919.His father was a Jew.His mother was of Irish descent. Never much of a student attended the progressive McBurney School.But he left school after two years and in 1934was packed off to Valley Forge Military Academy.In 1937,after a couple of unenthusiastic weeks at New York University,he traveled with his father to Austraia and Poland,where father s plan for him was to learn the ham business.Deciding that wasn t for him.he returned to America and driturned to America and drifted through a term or so at Ursinus College.His most sustained exposure to higher education was an evening class he took at Columbia in 1939,and under Mr.Burnett s directions he managed to sell a stpry"The Young Folks"to Story magazine.He afterwards sold stories to Esquire,Colliers and The Saturday Evening Post.In 1941,after several rejections,Mr.Salinger finally cracked The New Yorker,with s story"Slight Rebellion Off Madison,"that was an earlu sketch of what became a scene in"The Catcher in the Rye<<>> . "But the magazine then had second thoughts,apparently worried about seeming to encourage young people to run away from school and held the story for five years--a long time even for The New Yorker--before finally pubishing it in 1946,buried in the back of an issus. Meanwhile Mr.Salinger had been drafted and was stationef for a while in Tiverton,Devon,the setting of "For Esme--with Love and Squalor,"probably the most deeply felt of the "Nint Stories".On June,6,1944,he landed at Utah Beach,and he later saw action during the Battle of the Bulge.In 1945 he was hospitalized for"battle breakdown"and after recovering he stayed on in Europe past the end of the war.He married a German woan doctor,very briefly.

The magazine didn't publish one of David Salinger's stories at first because _ .

they thought the story would cause bad effect

['the story was buried in the back of an issue', 'The New Yorker reviewed it for a long time', 'they thought the story would discourage the young']

He moaned himself into consciousness , and began wanking because he knew it was Vince behind him . In exasperation , he screamed to the ceiling , " Get out of my head ! " But for some reason beyond his control , he was willing the day to go quickly so he could experience the night again . He even removed all of the light bulbs in the flat so the darkness would come again earlier . Howard did n't go back to the club - he could n't witness that again .

Why did he remove the light bulbs from the flat ?

He was eager for the blackness

['He was exasperated', 'He was afraid of the darkness', 'None of the above choices .']

It turned the water very deep indigo . When several more rinses failed to show a decrease in the amount of dye loss , I tried a vinegar rinse . That water came up clear , so assuming the problem was arrested , I got one more pan of cool water to rinse some of the vinegar smell from the shawl .

Why was the narrator using vinegar ?

To deal with color loss .

['To deal with the cooking .', 'To make the food item more bitter .', 'None of the above choices .']

I had a great time last night , helping plan my 30 year college reunion at this fall 's Franklin College homecoming . It was great to see some old friends , and talk about lots of other old friends . We have a list , so we wo n't leave anyone out ! And Margee ( our Franklin staff liaison ) was there with good advice , and she brought us presents !

What state may i be attending my reunion ?

Indiana

['Texas', 'Maine', 'None of the above choices .']

Remember those big, colorful books with large pictures of balls or apples when you were a little kid? Those have proven to be helpful, according to a number of studies. Between 1 and 5 years old, introducing books to Children can help greatly because this is usually the age when intellectual capabilities form. At age 1 to 5, a child can decide whether he wants to learn or wants to be a good learner. The road to learning starts here. Their curiosity and imagination are fed with the many pictures, sounds and colors in the books. Children normally began school at 5 years old. But today, they go to school when they are as young as one and a half years old. This is because many parents have recognized that influencing the child's formative years is very important. The fight influence can make the child want to read in the future. Parents should play a part in encouraging children to read. Even just reading them bedtime stories can help children feel the joy and amazement connected to reading. This can help them become better readers and better learners as they grow older. If children are interested in reading books rather than watching television, they can improve many skills besides reading and learning. Books can act as stepping stones to intelligence. However, parents must be very careful not to overpower their children. If they force children to read books that are too hard to understand, they might think reading is boring and lose interest in it.

.Why does introducing books to kids between 1 and 5 years old help them greatly?

Because it is usually the age when intellectual capabilities form.

['Because this is a good way to keep them away from television.', 'Because it makes them become interested in going to school.', 'Because it helps them learn much faster when they are older.']

The sun had gone behind a cloud. I was very tired and wanted nothing in the world so much as to be at home. At last I got to the gate of Hide Park. But this was worse than ever; there were buses there--high and terribly red cars, taxis and still more buses in an endless line. Everywhere there were people hurrying past or waiting to get into the buses, while I stood lost in the middle of them. I was ready to cry. In despair, I crossed the street on to an "island", where I found a policeman. I took my last bit of courage in both hands and said, "Please, sir, where is Addison Road?" He began to explain, but when he saw that I couldn't understand he became helpless, too. "Are you French at school?" A few minutes later, he smiled and raised his hand. How wonderful! The traffic stopped. Even the red buses stood still and waited until I had crossed the road.

In which country do you think the story happened?

England.

['Switzerland.', 'France.', 'A certain non-English speaking country.']

Born in 1983 in Arizona, US, Jessica has learned to live her life with her feet. She was born without arms, and no doctors could figure out why. There were many questions at the time about whether Jessica would be able to live a "normal" life. However, Jessica ' s father said , "I have never shed a tear about her birth condition. " With the support of her parents and family, Jessica became confident in herself as an adult and continued to explore the world with her feet. As a child, Jessica studied dance in her home town. When the first performance arrived, she asked to be put in the back row. Her dance teacher told her there was no back row. Nervously, she took the stage with the other students and performed her routine. When she finished, the applause from the audience gave her encouragement and the confidence to continue dancing for 14 years. After graduating from high school, Jessica attended the University of Arizona, where she earned a bachelor' s degree in Psychology. When talking about her major, she frequently explainsthat psychology has a great effect on her life, helping her out of a physical limitation. During college, Jessica signed up for a club of Taekwondo and learned all of the color1 belt material. The instructors created a course that would be accessible to any future armless students. Jessica became the first armless person to earn a black belt in the club. Jessica' s most famous accomplishment was learning how to fly. It took three states, four airplanes, two flight instructors and a discouraging year to find the right aircraft. She received the Cuinness World Record for being the first person permitted to fly an airplane with only her feet. Now Jessica works as a motivational lecturer. She travels the world sharing her story and encouraging people to be creative with the slogan "Think outside the shoe."

What' s the best title of the passage?

Exploring the world with feet

['A talented girl. Jessica', 'A motivational speaker', 'Being creative as a student']

Jeri Solomon is a morning person but Jim, her husband of 11 years, is not. Early in their life, it caused a problem. "When we were planning our wedding, I wanted to have these big discussions at 8 a. m.,when I had been up for two hours and was fresh, but Jim would just be getting out of bed," says the 46-year-old designer from Melrose, Mass. "We ended up getting into many arguments because I thought he had no interest, when really he was just still half-asleep." The couple learned to work around their differences over the years, but their situation isn't uncommon, says Katherine Sharkey, professor at BrownUniversity. "More women tend to be larks, while men are like night owls ," she says. The question is:Why? The answer lies in each person's body clock. "The body clock is about 24 hours, thanks to Earth's 24-hour light-dark cycle," Sharkey says. "But some people have a longer natural cycle, and some are shorter." If yours is on the long side, you're more likely to be a night owl. If it runs short, you're probably an early riser. But your body clock can change over your lifetime. There's a developmental piece-school-age children are generally early birds, while teenagers tend to be night owls, and then as they age, adults gradually turn back into morning people," Sharkey says. Besides the clear problems with being a night owl if you have fl day job, "night owls tend to be more low-spirited, and have a higher dependence on coffee," Sharkey says. But the news isn't all bad. A recent study in Belgium found that night owls can stay more focused as the day goes on, compared with early risers. Morning people, however, also have advantages. "Larks generally sleep better, have more regular sleep, and have more flexible characters," Sharkey says. They also tend to be happier and feel healthier than night owls, according to a recent study from the University of Toronto.

Jeri Solomon and her husband _ .

got up at different times

["tried to change each other's sleeping habits", 'often argued about small things', 'could not understand each other']

tonight unfortunately is pizza night ( kill me please ) and i dunno if i 'll be able to get out of it . i just wanna drink tea for the rest of my life.oh , and another one of my friends ditched on me today . so , no sleep over . mhm , yay , stuck at home again .

Why is the narrator expressing some resistance to go home ?

The narrator does not want to eat the planned dinner .

['The narrator does not want to see his friends .', 'The narrator does not want to see other people .', 'The narrator does not want to see his family .']

Tales From Animal Hospital David Grant David Grant has become a familiar face to millions of fans of Animal Hospital. Here Dr Grant tells us the very best of his personal stories about the animals he has treated, including familiar patients such as the dogs Snowy and Duchess, the delightful cat Marigold Serendipity Diamond. He also takes the reader behind the scenes at Harmsworth Memorial Animal Hospital as he describes his day, from ordinary medical check-ups to surgery . Tales From Animal Hospital will delight all fans of the program and anyone who has a lively interest in their pet, whether it be cat, dog or snake I ! $ 14.99 Hardback 272 pp Simon Schuster ISBN 0751304417 Isaac Newton: The Last Sorcerer Michael White From the author of Stephen Hawking: A Life in Science, comes this color1ful description of the life of the world's first modern scientist. Interesting yet based on fact, Michael White's learned yet readable new book offers a true picture of Newton completely different from what people commonly know about him. Newton is shown as a gifted scientist with very human weaknesses who stood at the point in history where magic ended and science began. PS8.99 Hardback 320 pp Fourth Estate ISBN 1857024168 Fermat's Last Theorem Simon Singh In 1963 a schoolboy called Andrew Wiles reading in his school library came across the world's greatest mathematical problem: Fermat's Last Theorem . First put forward by the French mathematician Pierre de Fermat in the seventeenth century, the theorem had baffled and beaten the finest mathematical minds, including a French woman scientist who made a major advance in working out the problem, and who had to dress like a man in order to be able to study at the Ecole Polytechnique. Through unbelievable determination Andrew Wiles finally worked out the problem in 1995. An unusual story of human effort over three centuries, Fermat's Last Theorem will delight specialists and general readers alike. PS12.99 Hardback 384 pp Fourth Estate ISBN 1857025210

Which of the following best explains the meaning of the word "baffle" as it is used in the text?

To cause difficulty in understanding.

['To encourage people to raise questions.', 'to provide a person with an explanation.', "To limit people's imagination."]

Kurt Vonnegut, writer and famous speech giver at US university graduation ceremonies, made this point to one group of soon-to-be-non-students: If this isn't nice, I don't know what is. It is the end of a story about his grandpa who, on a summer's afternoon, would find the shade of a tree under which he could rest with a glass of homemade lemonade. The family didn't have a lot of cash, the grandpa worked hard every day of his life, but no matter how relentless the day-to-day was, he would always repeat this phrase as a reminder to those around him that, at the end of the day, this is all still amazing to be part of. This kind of optimism, as you might call it, can often disappear in a flash in the busy-ness of business or school. Things become impossible, hardgoing, relentless(ly difficult). And the reasons we give for that busyness nearly always involve someone or something else - the system, the job, the weather... For many years, people would ask the salutary "how are you?" and my answer was a stock one: "I'm tired." It was my wife who pointed it out to me, presumably because everyone else was too polite to express their boredom with my reply. The fact is, most people feel tired most of the time, until they make a switch in their life. That switch is deciding that the only person who can turn that frown upside down, who can make crazy stuff happen (or attempt to, and enjoy the process), is you. And in Vonnegut's case, that switch came from saying out loud the one phrase that brings us back to the good elements in what we or our team or our family is doing at any given moment: If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.

Who did Kurt Vonnegut tell a story about to soon-to-be-non-students?

his grandpa

['not enough information', 'his father', 'his grandma']

He 'd sat the table and had their plates with food ready too . " After all these years you still remember . " She said . " How can I forget after all today is July 4th our day .

Why was it easy for him to remember ?

It was a holiday .

['None of the above choices .', 'They knew each other a long time .', 'It was the middle of summer .']

She 'd known he was alive , and all right , but she had n't been prepared for seeing him again , this time without his hands or feet tied or a gag in his mouth . He got to his feet and hesitantly took a step towards her . They 'd been through hell together , but there was no protocol for this meeting . They 'd been strangers bound together by the brothers Burrows and Scofield , but she knew every nuance of fear and angst that had ever crossed his soft features . She had grown to love him just as much as she did his uncle .

Why is she scared to meet him again .

Because of all the things thaht happend to them .

['He is an evil person .', 'None of the above choices .', 'She is a shy person .']

I really was n't in the mood for anything . I just wanted to get home but decided to go since she was n't going to take no for an answer . So we basically spent 1 and a half hours waiting for the game to start . Talked , joked , ate junk food and stuff .

What may have happened before they agreed to go ?

Their friend had begged them to come with them .

["They started to feel bad if they did n't go .", 'They had gotten an urge to go with their friend .', 'None of the above choices .']

A headache . Terrific again!Nevertheless I was in a good mood . Do n't know why , I just were . So we decided to finish our tour and found ourselves two hours later back on the camping place where the boats were laying .

Why would the subject be happy despite a major headache ?

The subject is happy about being on vacation .

['The subject is happy about the status of work .', 'None of the above choices .', 'The subject is happy about recent projects he is working on .']

In my early 20s, I was a one-on-one aide for a couple of teenagers with cerebral palsy. With the first one, I was hired by and worked for the family. I picked the teen up from school every day and took care of him until he was in bed for the night. When he passed away, I took a job with the local school district. My client at the school had spastic quadriplegia. He could talk and was actually very smart, but he had no control over his arms or legs. He couldn’t walk. He was never going to walk. The law requires that special education students be put in the least restrictive classroom environment possible. Since this kid was smart and could communicate well, and wasn’t a discipline problem, he had all regular classes. His only accommodation was a one-on-one aide (me), and he was allowed to be late to classes without consequence because we sometimes had to stop in a special room, get him out of his chair, and stretch his legs a little. Basically ten minutes of physical therapy, two or three times per day. Anyway, since this kid was legally required to take all the classes a normal student his age would take, he had to take Physical Education (gym). And, legally, his aide (me) had to accommodate his participation in every class as much as possible, including gym. Most gym classes began with the students doing laps around the track, then participating in a team sport. He couldn’t do the team sport, but, according to the lawyers involved, he should participate in the “laps around the track” part of gym. So I had to push this kid in a wheelchair around the track for about 15 minutes each day, until the other kids were all done and off doing the next activity. Then he and I were able to leave gym class and go do some physical therapy in his own little room just for that. Because, you know… lawyers and rules.

Who is the narrator of the story?

not enough information

['A university student who is gaining experience and skills from helping out clients.', 'Someone that is employed by a school to assist students with disabilities.', 'A paid specialist who assist clients with disabilities.']

Whether you're eating at a fancy restaurant or dining in someone's home. Proper table manners are likely to help you make a good impression. According to a US expert, Emily Post, "All rules of table manners are made to avoid ugliness." While Henry Hitchings of the Los Angeles Times admits that good manners can reduce social conflict, he points out that mostly their purpose is protective - they turn our natural warrior-like selves into more elegant ones. So where did table manners come from? In medieval England, a writer named Petrus Alfonsi took the lead to urge people not to speak with their mouths full. And King David I of Scotland also proposed that any of his people who learned to eat more neatly be given a tax deduction . Disappointingly, that idea never _ . It was during the Renaissance, when there were real technical developments, opinions of correct behavior changed for good. "None of these was more significant than the introduction of the table fork," wrote Hitchings. "Gradually, as forks became popular, they brought the new way of eating, making it possible, for instance, to consume berries without making one's fingers dirty." Forks were introduced to Britain in 1608 and 25 years later, the first table fork reached America. Yet while most of the essentials are the same on both sides of the Atlantic, there are a few clear differences between what's normal in the US and what holds true in the UK. For example, in the US, when food needs cutting with a knife, people generally cut a bite, then lay aside the knife and switch the fork to their right hand. Then they pick up one bite at a time. By contrast, Britons keep the fork in the left hand and don't lay the knife down. Though globalization has developed a new, simpler international standard of table manners, some people still stick with the American cut-and-switch method.The Los Angeles Times noted, "They are hanging on to a form of behavior that favors manners above efficiency."

What can we conclude from the article?

British people's way of using a knife and fork may be more efficient than American people's.

['British and American table manners are completely different from each other.', 'American people pay more attention to their table manners than British people do.', 'With globalization, the American cut-and-switch method has been abandoned in the US.']

On September 22, 2007, 108 Chinese cities took part in Car-Free Day, a global event held every year, for the first time. China became the world's second-largest auto market and third-largest car-maker in 2006. It has also become the second-largest greenhouse gas producer in the world, and is rapidly catching up with the United States. In this sense, China's participation will greatly promote the Car-Free Day movement. The number of cars on the road is going up rapidly in China. In Beijing, about 1,000 new cars are added to the streets on an average day. Cars certainly offer people plenty of freedom to move around. But in many Chinese cities, appearance of too many cars has turned into a major problem. Getting stuck in traffic jams is an everyday experience for drivers. Even worse is the environmental impact caused by cars. According to a national report, on a "smog day", 79 percent of the air pollution is caused by cars. The growing number of traffic accidents is another problem. Over 100,000 people die from traffic accidents every year in China, which is by far the highest number of road deaths in the world. 108 cities' participation in Car-Free Day shows growing public concern about the traffic and environmental problems caused by cars. On this day, all cars were banned from running in selected areas of the participating cities. People were encouraged to walk, cycle and use public transport. According to experts, the carbon monoxide in the atmosphere produced by cars was reduced by 3,000 tons on Car-Free Day. With cleaner air and smoother traffic flow on the day, more cities will hopefully want to join the event next year. And more people might share the hope that Car-Free Day is not just on September 22, but a possibility 365 days of the year.

From the passage, we can know that China _ .

has the world's highest number of road deaths

["has the world's largest auto market", "is the world's largest greenhouse gas producer", "is the world's second-largest car-maker"]

Several years ago, my parents, my wife, my son and I ate at a restaurant. After a wonderful dinner, the waiter set the check in the middle of the table. That's when it happened: my father did not reach for the check. Conversation continued. Finally I realized that I should pick up the check! After hundreds of restaurant meals with my parents, after a lifetime of thinking of my father as the one with dollars, it had all changed. I paid the meal, and my view of myself suddenly changed. I was an adult. I was no longer a kid. Some people mark off their lives in years, I measure mine in small events. I didn't become a young man at a particular age, like 16, but rather when a kid who wandered in the streets called me "mister." These events in my life are called "milestones" . There have been other milestones .The policemen of my youth always seemed huge, and of course they were older than I was. _ The day came when I suddenly realized that all the football players in the game I was watching were younger than I was. They were just big kids. With that milestone gone was the dream that someday, maybe I, too, could be a football player. Without ever having reached the hill ,I was over it. I never thought that I would fall asleep in front of the TV set as my father did. Now it's what I do best. I never thought that I would appreciate opera, but now the combination of voice and orchestra attracts me. I used to think that people who watched birds were strange, but this summer I found myself watching them, and maybe I'll get a book on the subject. I feel a strong desire for a religious belief that I never thought I'd want, and echo my father in arguments with my son. I still lose ... One day I bought a house. One day --what a day!-- I became a father, and not too long after that I picked up the check for my own father. I thought then it was a milestone for me. One day, when I was a little older, I realized it was one for him too, another milestone.

Which of the following best expresses the author's thinking ?

Time and tide wait for no man .

['One day is worth two tomorrows.', 'To save time is to lengthen life.', 'When an opportunity is lost ,it never comes back to you .']

It was at least 6 months ago that I bought super - sweet - seats to see Tom Petty in concert . The show was last night and it was awesome ! ! Our seats were about 20 - 25 feet from the front corner of the stage ..... some of the best seats we have ever had for a stadium concert .

How do I feel about the concert ?

I thought it was nice enough .

['I thought it was boring .', 'None of the above choices .', "I did n't like it ."]

Teenagers who do not get enough of the nutrients commonly found in fruits and fish are easier to have bad lungs, coughing and wheezing .Teens who eat the least of fruit and especially vitamin C have weaker lungs compared to the others. Teens who take in less vitamin E, found in vegetable oil and nuts, are more likely to have asthma , Jane Bums at the Harvard School of Public Health found. Based on these findings.Bums said that current recommended dose of vitamin C, 85 mg a day, may not be enough for teens to have healthy lungs.Teens who eat less fruit and don't take in enough fatty acids are more likely to have asthma and the signs of breathing difficulty. Proper amounts of fatty acids are protective, Bums said, though fish, the best source of fatty acids, is particularly unpopular with teenagers.Fatty acids are also found in some nuts as well as some green vegetables'.Smokers who avoid vitamin C will increase their chances of coughing, wheezing and developing phlegm . More than 80 percent of teens are getting their recommended doses of vitamin C - mainly from fruit drinks."I wouldn't approve of drinking them, but at least they're getting their vitamin C from somewhere," Burns said. Burns added that there are several different ways to get the necessary nutrients."I think vitamin supplements are fine.I think adding vitamin D to orange juice is fine.But I do think there are added benefits that we don't fully understand of eating whole foods like fruits and vegetables and fish," she said.The researchers did not account for poverty and other factors that often distinguish less-healthy eaters and may explain their findings.

According to the passage, what is the problem with teens who don't get enough nutrients?

They are likely to have weaker lungs.

['They are becoming smokers.', "They don't take enough exercise.", 'They eat too much fruit and fish.']

When you see the trailer for Coming Home, Zhang Yimou's latest project, you may not be attracted by it at first, due to the film's senior cast and historic setting. But rest assured, Coming Home will draw you in with its emotionally charged story of love, joy and sorrow. The movie follows a devoted couple, Lu Yanshi (Chen Daoming) and Feng Wanyu (Gong Li), who are separated when Lu is arrested as a political prisoner. Released during the last days of the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), Lu finally returns home only to find that his beloved wife has amnesia and is unable to recognize him. As a stranger in his broken family, Lu decides to resurrect their past together and reawaken his wife's memory. Just like the story suggests, Coming Home is a tearjerker. But different from those movies that make the audience cry by being evocative , such as Feng Xiaogang's Aftershock or Pixar's Toy Story 3, director Zhang's idea of moving the audience is quite special, and makes the most of his delicate skills. In Coming Home, Zhang deals with a dramatic story in such a quiet way that the audience's emotions are drawn out little by little by the main characters, as they struggle in pain while their heroic inner strength shines. So, when you cry -- and very likely you will -- you will understand why: Because you wish a future happiness for the characters, and maybe because you can imagine the story having happened to your grandparents. Another impressive aspect is how Zhang uses "amnesia", a narrative technique that's more common in romantic comedies. For that, he has Gong Li to thank the most. Gong, one of Zhang's longtime collaborators, knows exactly what the director wants. With a limited number of lines throughout the film, Gong is fully committed to her character and touches the audience with great facial expressions and subtle changes of emotion. Maybe now you understand why everyone can relate to the film. Although it reflects on a big era through the story of a small family, the era is only a backdrop. What moves the young audience here is love, and you will leave the cinema with a new understanding of it. Tell us what you think about Zhang Yimou's new film Coming Home.

It can be inferred from the passage that _ .

Gong Li is good at body language

['Feng directs films the same way as Zhang', 'the ages of the actors in the film counts most', 'the film is set in the "cultural revolution"']

Nuclear power's danger to health, safety, and even life itself can be described in one word; radiation . Nuclear radiation has a certain mystery about it, partly because it cannot be detected by human senses. It can't be seen or heard, or touched or tasted, even though it may be all around us. There are other things like that. For example, radio waves are all around us but we can't detect them, sense them, without a radio receiver. Similarly, we can't sense radioactivity without a radiation detector. But unlike common radio waves, nuclear radiation is not harmless to human beings and other living things. At very high levels, radiation can kill an animal or human being completely by killing masses of cells in important organs . But even the lowest levels can do serious damage. There is no level of radiation that is completely safe. If the radiation does not hit anything important, the damage may not be significant. This is the case when only a few cells are hit, and if they are killed completely. Your body will replace the dead cells with healthy ones. But if the few cells are only damaged, and if they reproduce themselves, you may be in trouble. They reproduce themselves in an unusual way. They can grow into cancer. Sometimes this does not show up for many years. This is another reason for some of the mystery about nuclear radiation. Serious damage can be done without the knowledge of the person at the time that damage has occurred. A person can be irradiated and feel fine, then die of cancer five, ten, or twenty years later as a result. Or a child can be born weak or easy to get serious illness as a result of radiation absorbed by its grandparents. Radiation can hurt us. We must know the truth.

Radiation can lead to serious results even at the lowest level _ .

if it damages few cells

['when it kills few cells', 'though the damaged cells can repair themselves', 'unless the damaged cells can reproduce themselves']

However , then I saw someone running after them so we figured out that they had gotten out of the field . Just then they started running towards my car and I did n't have anywhere to go . I was getting a bit nervous because I was n't sure if they were scared enough to attack my car or not . Just as I was getting really scared they all stopped right next to my driver window , stood there and looked at me .

Why did n't they attack us already ?

Because we were n't threatening them .

['Because we were scared of them .', 'Because we outnumbered them .', 'None of the above choices .']

Last night was amazing . I wish you could have been there ... unless you are Amanda , Adam , Lori or Brittany ... then you were there ( sorry K - train ) . Adam had some free cubs tickets fall into his lap , so we saddled up and took half days off work and made a day of it . It was a blast .

What might have happened before last night ?

We received free tickets and then traveled to attend the game .

['Lori invited us to attend a cubs game and we all took a half day off .', 'None of the above choices .', 'Adam bought some cub tickets and invited us all to go to the game .']

I ' m not even sure if I want to go over now , but this kind of nonsense has been happening more and more . I understand 100 % that he has a wife and a kid , but then ... why make plans to call someone who 's sitting there waiting for you in an hour , and not even call me back to say whatever ? I mean , was I wrong to send a text asking basically ' what s going on ? '

Why did the person not text me back ?

Because he has a wife and kids and is very busy

['He lost phone service in the area and was unable to text or call', 'Because he hates using the phone', 'None of the above choices .']

With all the rain that we had this spring and early summer all the crops around here have done great . It 's beautiful driving in the country and looking at all the lusciously green fields of beans , corn , etc . Tonight I picked up Dana from a swimming party and was dropping off her friend and passing by all these lovely fields of corn . Brooke was in the car and pointed out the window and said " Oh my ! That grass is tall ! "

What is captivating the audience in the car ?

The lushness of the corn .

['The abundance of squash .', 'The dying corn products .', 'None of the above choices .']

There was a book tucked in there , but she was n't sure she could afford not to keep an eye on Roy right now . With a sigh , he flopped down on the seat beside her . Riza snuck a glance at his face . He looked defeated and worn out."Hawkeye ? " " Yes , sir ? " " Come here a moment . " He tugged her into his lap , wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face in her shoulder . Riza gently stroked his hair . " Promise me you 'll be careful . " His voice was muffled by her shirt .

Why did she want him to be careful ?

He was going to do something dangerous and could get hurt .

['None of the above choices .', 'She could not afford not to keep and eye on him due to the book .', 'She was afraid that someone would give the book to Roy .']

Rock stars and their money Around the world young people are spending unbelievable sums of money listening to rock music. Forbes reports that at least fifty rock stars have incomes between two million and six million dollars per year. "It doesn't make sense," says Johnny Mathis, one of the older music millionaires, who made a million dollars a year when he was popular in 1950s. "Performers aren't worth this kind of money. In fact, nobody is." But the rock stars' admirers seem to disagree. Those who love rock music spend about two billion dollars a year for records. They pay 150 million to see rock stars in person. Luck is a key word for explaining the success of many. In 1972 one of the luckiest was Kon Mclean, who wrote and sang "American Pie". Mclean writes his own music, so he earns an additional two cents on every single record of the song. Neil Young who performs in torn blue jeans, sometimes sings to an audience of 10,000, each of whom has paid five dollars for a ticket. After paying expenses, Young leaves with about $ 18,000 in his blue jeans at the end of an evening. How do the rock stars use their money? What do they do when the money starts pouring in like water? Most of the young stars simply show the money around. England's Elton John gave someone a $ 38,000 Rolls car and bought himself 5,000 pairs of eyeglasses, then lighted up and spelt :E-L-T-O-N. He also bought himself two cars, "one for each foot". Many rock stars live like Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane. Those performers return from a tour, pay their bills, and buy new toys. Then when they need money again, they do another tour. They save no money and live _ www.zxxk.com In the end the rock stars' life is unrewarding. After two or three years riches and fame are gone. Left with his memories and his tax problems, the lonely star spends his remaining years trying to attract strangers. New stars have arrived to take his place.

How much expense does Neil Young pay for a performance?

$32,000

['$10,000', '$33,000', '$38,000']

It is a monsoon season in Japan which it is raining for whole day , no sunshine . I do nt like it bu t Alex he really love raining . He took me to go shopping whne it was raining .

What will happen after he takes me where he took me ?

We will get wet from the rain .

["We 'll bask in the sunshine .", "We 'll enjoy the sun .", 'We will lay under the sun .']

Luckily a second car was available and my mom 's car has been quickly repaired . My luck with MP3 players continued its usual run on Wednesday , September 10th . When I managed to lose my battered MP3 player at the train station . Despite noticing almost immediately I could not find it on the platform and it has not turned up since .

Why did the train station cause the narrator anxiety ?

They lost their music player .

['They lost their car .', 'They lost their CD player .', 'They lost their vehicle .']

If you see a group of kids hitting and abusing an animal, would you stop them? Would you at least call the police? Again people would walk away. Some people do not believe that animal abuse is a big issue. Every day animals are abused in their homes or on the streets. It seems as if politicians do nothing to stop this issue. Everyone is worried about education and global warming. What about animals? We should not ignore them just because they cannot talk to us. Animals, like us humans, have rights. Every living being has the right to warm shelter and good food, but most importantly, they have the right to be wanted and loved. They have the right to be a special, much loved member of their own family. There are many organizations that deal with abused animals or animals that have no home like ASPCA, PETA, the Humane Society and many more. There are organizations that deal with this issue, but that does not mean that we still shouldn't help. The biggest saying that bothers me is, "I am only one person. I can't make a difference." If everyone thought like that, we wouldn't have the organizations and loving people who help the world every day. By helping one animal, you are making a difference. There are many things you can do right now to help animals around your neighborhood. You can volunteer at your local animal shelter, raise money for animal shelters, inform your community about animal abuse or you can write to your representatives and tell them that animal abuse needs to be taken seriously. As you walk down the street, try to help any animals you see walking around. You can easily buy a cheap box of dry cat or dog food to feed the animals. If we do not help our animals now, we may never have animals again. Always remember that with every step you take, you help save an animal's life and isn't that worth fighting for?

Some people won't stop kids from abusing animals because _ .

they don't take animal abuse seriously

['they are too busy to worry about the animals', 'they just leave it to the police', 'they are afraid of being laughed at']

Lisa was running late. Lisa, 25, had a lot to do at work,plus visitors on the way: her parents were coming in for Thanksgiving from her hometown. But as she hurried down the subway stairs, she started to feel uncomfortably warm. By the time she got to the platform, Lisa felt weak and tired-maybe it hadn't been a good idea to give blood the night before, she thought. She rested herself against a post close to the tracks. Several yards away, Frank, 43, and his girlfriend, Jennifer, found a spot close to where the front of the train would stop. They were deep in discussion about a house they were thinking of buying. But when he heard the scream, followed by someone yelling, "Oh, my God, she fell in!" Frank didn't hesitate. He jumped down to the tracks and ran some 40 feet toward the body lying on the rails. "No! Not you! " his girlfriend screamed after him. She was right to be alarmed. By the time Frank reached Lisa, he could feel the tracks shaking and see the light coming. The train was about 20 seconds from the station. It was hard to lift her. She was just out. But he managed to raise her the four feet to the platform so that bystanders could hold her by the arms and drag her away from the edge. That was where Lisa briefly regained consciousness, felt herself being pulled along the ground, and saw someone else holding her purse. Lisa thought she'd been robbed. A woman held her hand and a man gave his shirt to help stop the blood pouring from her head. And she tried to talk but she couldn't, and that was when she realized how much pain she was in. Police and fire officials soon arrived, and Frank told the story to an officer. Jennifer said her boyfriend was calm on their 40-minute train ride downtown-just as he had been seconds after the rescue, which made her think about her reaction at the time. "I saw the train coming and I was thinking he was going to die." she explained.

The passage is intended to _ .

tell us about a subway rescue

['warn us of the danger in the subway', 'show us how to save people in the subway', 'report a traffic accident']

Psychologists in Britain have said that the last full week of January is the most depressing time of year, and labelled next Monday 'Blue Monday'. Blue is a slang way of saying unhappy. Mondays are generally seen as the worst day of the week because people feel grumpy and tired at having to go back to work after a weekend with a different sleep pattern. There are various reasons why more people feel depressed at this time of year. Many people have unpaid credit card bills for the Christmas presents they bought, and pay day is often not until the end of the month. As the party season is over, people feel stressed because they have to go back to real life - work and commuting; and they may be unhappy with their body image after bingeing on booze, chocolates, and other food at Christmas-time. People may have already failed in their New Year's resolutions, such as giving up smoking. The bad weather in January can also contribute to people feeling fed up. Some companies are taking this quite seriously and offering counselling for any staff who are feeling depressed. They hope that helping people as soon as there are signs of depression will avoid absenteeism . Evidence shows that unreasonable managers who contribute to their staff feeling fed up at this time can expect an uncooperative workforce. However, it's not all bad! Many people feel optimistic at this time, that things can only get better. Psychologists offer suggestions of how to combat feeling blue. These include spending 15 minutes doing a 'gratitude exercise' thinking about and writing down what you are grateful for, such as health, family, friends and so on. Taking up a new hobby, doing some exercise, going to bed earlier, eating a healthy breakfast, and listening to some uplifting music, are all recommended as ways to feel more cheerful. To avoid feeling blue next January, experts say that the best thing to do is to plan better next December. Spend less on presents, eat and drink less over the festive period, and make more realistic New Year's resolutions.

What's the best title of the passage?

Blue Monday.

['A Happy Monday.', "New Year's Resolutions.", 'A Sad Christmas.']

Cotton farmers in some Indian villages are flooding to buy Coca-Cola and Pepsi, believing that the sugar in the fizzy drinks kills pests . Farmers say scientists advised them to mix pesticides with a sugary syrup to control pests, and they found the mixture cheaper and more effective than pure chemicals---- although soft drink makers and scientists dismissed the claims. N. Hamunayya, who has become famous in his village in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, said his crop survived an attack of pests which had resisted other solutions. "We found that all the colas had the same effect on pests. The pests became numb and fell to ground," he said.He said the drinks had all the elements they needed: they were cheaper, sticky, fizzy, and attracted ants, which swallowed the larvae( )of the pests. But Thirupathi Reddy, assistant director of the Regional Agri Research station, Guntur, says tests had denied such claims. " We conducted some field trials on cotton crop at our research station. There were no increases of productivity or deaths of pests," he says. Statements from Pepsi and Coca-Cola said there was " no scientific basis" for this practice. But their sellers are enjoying booming sales. Mantan Wali, who sells soft drinks in 17 villages in the region, said sales increased , thanks to the farmers. " For the 10 days between August and September I had booming business. Instead of just 30 cases ( each containing a dozen one-litre bottles) of cola I started selling almost 200 cases, " he said. " We expected the sales to fall suddenly after the argument over pesticide remains in the cola drinks. Now I have to keep extra stock for the cotton farmers, " he said.

N. Hamunayya has become famous because _ .

He himself successfully used cola to kill pests and saved his crop.

['He is the first farmer to use cola to kill pests.', 'He is strongly against the use of cola to kill pests.', 'He successfully advised farmers to use cola to kill pests.']

One morning, Tina and Wesley both wake up with sore throats and stuffy noses. They have the same symptoms, but they react very differently. While Tina reaches for water and vitamins, her husband, Wesley, reached for the phone. "I'd better make a doctor's appointment," he says. Why do these two Chinese people react to sickness so differently? Tina grew up in the U.S. Wesley grew up in Taiwan. And they have discovered that differences between Chinese and American cultures extend to every area of life. Even sickness and health. When Westerners experience pain, they usually express their discomfort. Most Asians don't. This creates a challenge for American nurses who care for Asian patients in the U.S. How do they know if that calm, quiet patient is really hurting? They have to keep asking their Asian patients how they feel. In addition, Americans usually don't want sickness to slow them down. Unlike Chinese people, Americans often don't take time off work to rest and get well. They'd rather sneeze and cough all day at the office. Americans who get sick in Asia may protest when Chinese friends suggest they go to the hospital. "I'm not that sick!" they may say. In the U.S., only very sick or injured patients go to hospital. People go to a doctor's office for less serious problems. Like Tina, Americans more often turn to vitamins or over-the-counter drugs to help them get well. Chinese people, however, often head straight for the doctor when they get sick, like Wesley did. They want a prescription to treat their sickness before it gets serious. Chinese patients often just trust their doctors to give them the information they need. Most Americans, however, ask their doctors lots of questions and do research. American patients want to know everything they can about their condition. So, are one culture's attitudes toward health better than the other's? Perhaps not. Tina and Wesley will both recover from their colds. And today, doctors all over the world are sharing treatment methods with each other. In health, as in everything else, we can learn a lot from each other.

According to the passage, which of the following might a Chinese not do when he's ill?

Keep silent about it.

["Go to the doctor's.", 'Be absent from work.', 'Accept medical treatment.']

He talks about the stars like he knows , and she just believes him , anything he says she believes because he 's big and strong and as her older brother he would never hurt her . He tells her about the rabbit on the moon that spends all year shaving ice to make snow , and the star people who flash their lights in order to get attention . Dagny loves Tom 's stories almost as much as she loves Tom , and the next night she brings a flash light so they can signal back to the star people . Just like a good older brother , he tells her he 's seen a star wink back , and that it 's clear that they are communicating with a star person , they name their star friend Eddie and talk to him every night .

What may be the reason why she looks up to him so much ?

None of the above choices .

["Because she does n't have a dad .", 'Because she feels sorry for him .', 'Because they are best friends .']

Ok , part 2 of creating the pumpkin - pie masterpiece . First up- the prepping of the gourd . In the past when I used fresh , I cut them into medium - sized cubes and peeled them like that .

What does one need to make this recipe ?

They need pie crust .

['They need some peeled shrimp .', 'They need pies .', 'None of the above choices .']

My truck took a dump on me tonight . I went to lunch and it was running fine ; when I came out to head over to the Tech Center it would barely start and would die if I gave it any gas . After about 20mins of poking around under the hood I found that the Mass Air Flow Sensor took a dump and if I unplugged it the truck goes into a " limp " mode so I could get back on the road . It did n't drive like normal but at least I was moving again .

What may be the reason why their truck broke down ?

The truck is old .

['The truck is new .', "They are n't taking good care of it .", 'None of the above choices .']

American author Mark Twain once noted that "life would be surely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18." Twain's words were only one of many complaints about aging. The ancient Greek poet Homer called old age "hateful", and William Shakespeare termed it "terrible winter". Alexander the Great, who conquered most of the known world before he died around 323 B.C., may have been looking for a river that healed the of age. During the 12th century A.D., a king called Prester John ruled a land that had a river of gold and a fountain of youth. But the name linked most closely to the search for a fountain of youth is 16th-century Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon. He thought it would be found in Florida. In St. Augustine, the oldest city in the U.S., there's a tourist attraction. It is said to be the fountain of youth that Ponce de Leon discovered soon after he arrived in what is now Florida in 1513. However, elderly visitors who drink the spring's water don't turn into teenagers. But the tale of the search for a fountain of youth is so appealing that it survives anyway, says Ryan K. Smith, a professor of history. "People are more attracted by the story of looking and not finding than they are by the idea that the fountain might be out there somewhere." Still, a few grains of truth have helped to support . Kathleen Deagan, a professor of archaeology, says a graveyard and the remains of a Spanish mission dating back to St. Augustine's founding in 1565 have been discovered near the so-called fountain of youth. Michelle Reyna, a spokesperson for the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in St. Augustine, says the fountain has been a tourist attraction since at least 1901 and may have been attracting visitors since 1860.

According to the passage, who searched for a fountain of youth _ ?

Ponce de Leon

['William Shakespeare.', 'Kathleen Deagan', 'Michelle Reyna']

Traffic TV Avoid the jams -- see where tailbacks are before you set off and while on the move. Traffic TV is free to use on your personal computer and only PS4 per month (see below for other network charges) on your mobile. How does it work? Over 7,500 Trafficmaster cameras monitor traffic flow on over 8,000 miles of motorways and roads across the UK keeping you up to date 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Traffic TV on your mobile This downloadable application lets you see where jams are building up, the speed of vehicles at hotspots, and live pictures from thousands of roadside cameras. Traffic TV is PS4 a month for Orange mobile customers, after a 30 day free trial. On other networks Traffic TV is PS5 a month, after a 7 day free trial. Listen to live traffic news Don't want the download? Then simply dial the numbers below from your mobile to hear the latest traffic updates. *Orange mobile users call 177 (calls cost up to 55p a minute) *Other mobile users call 1740 (calls cost up to 59p a minute) Help friends avoid jams Simply enter your friend's email address to send them a link to this service.

What is the purpose of this advertisement?

To attract mobile users to buy Traffic TV service.

['To provide readers with live traffic information.', 'To help Orange customers to avoid traffic jam.', 'To explain how Traffic TV and live traffic news work.']

A baby mermaid was just born in Finland; Justin Bibber is getting married; iphone 6 is going to be released this year...We read rumors every day on the Internet. With the help of social media, rumors -- no matter whether they are true or false -- spread like wildfire, and sometimes we can't be sure what to believe. Now, an international group of researchers might be able to make it easier for us. They are working on a lie detector that could separate online truth from lies, Discovery news reported. Named after the Greek goddess Pheme, famed for spreading bad rumors, the system is far from a traditional lie detector, which works by attaching a machine to a potential liar. Instead, Pheme analyzes the rumor directly. When a rumor comes out, on a micro blog, for example, Pheme can trace the source of information to see if it was released by reliable sources like experts or news agencies. If it wasn't, Pheme then examines the history and background of the account to identify whether it was created just to spread rumors -- whether it's what's called an "Internet bot." After finding the source of the rumor, the system can keep a close eye on how other users react to the rumor -- either confirming or denying it -- to help analyze and further determine the reliability of the information. Some people might find the Pheme system unnecessary based on the idea that false rumors never survive for long and people always get to the truth over time. While that's a fair point, there is a certain class of rumors, such as "a tiger is at large" or "an asteroid is about to hit the Earth", that can cause panic among people and thus lead to serious consequences. These are cases when we need to be able to check for accuracy quickly. "Our system aims to help with that, by tracking and verifying information in real time," lead researcher Kalina Bontcheva, at the University of Sheffield, UK, told the BBC. According to Bontcheva, Pheme is still under development and won't be ready for another 18 months.[:. . ] Until then, there's an old fashioned technique that you can use to protect yourself from false information -- ask questions, check sources and don't believe any claim until you've seen the evidence for it.

What makes Pheme different from a traditional lie detector?

It examines a statement's truthfulness directly.

['It works by attaching a machine to a potential liar.', 'It can identify a rumor and prevent it from spreading.', 'It is controlled by what is called an "Internet bot"']

Anne Frank's life was short and tragic. Yet her brave spirit has survived in her diary. She wrote this diary while hiding from the Nazis during World WarII. Anne's father prepared a hiding place for his family. He sealed off several rooms at the back of his office building, and he covered the entrance with a movable bookcase. In July 1942, Anne, her mother and her father, her sister Margot, and four Jewish friends stepped behind the bookcase into the hidden rooms. The Frank family and their friends stayed shut away in secret for over two years. Brave friends risked their lives to bring them food. But constant fear and loss of freedom were hard to bear. For comfort, Anne started to write a diary. She was very good at expressing her thoughts and feelings in words. Anne was 13 when she stared to write. Her diary shows that, just like other teenagers, she looked forward to adult life. She hoped to have a career as a writer, and she longed to find love. She had high ideal and wished "to be useful or give pleasure to people around me." Throughout her time in hiding, Anne kept her faith in human nature. She wrote, "In spite of everything, I still believe that human beings are really good at heart." In 1944, the Frank family's hiding place was given away to the Gestapo(German secret police). Anne was sent to the Bergen-Belsen prison camp in Germany. She died at the camp in 1945 at the age of 15. Otto, Anne's father, was the only member of the Frank family to survive the war. He published her diary in 1947. Since then it has been published in more than 50 languages. Millions of people have visited the family's hiding place in Amsterdam. Anne Frank's story still inspires people to fight against all kinds of race discrimination.

In Anne's diary, people can read her wishes except_.

punishing Germans

['getting love from others', 'serving others', 'survival from the war']

U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum has met criticism from his Republican allies in Congress, many of whom worry the measures could trigger a trade war that damages U.S. businesses. But the president does have supporters among some Senate Democrats from states where voters are concerned about the long-term loss of American manufacturing jobs. “This welcome action is long overdue for shuttered steel plants across Ohio and steelworkers who live in fear that their jobs will be the next victims of Chinese cheating,” Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, said in a statement released after the plan was announced. “If we fail to stand up for steel jobs today, China will come after other jobs up and down the supply chain tomorrow.” American labor unions have also broadly favored Trump’s proposed tariffs, saying they have been complaining for years that foreign countries frequently subsidize their own steel industries, putting American competitors at a disadvantage. Economists have been mostly critical of the plan, saying that overall it will hurt American manufacturers, some of whom may be targeted by trading partners for retaliatory sanction. They argue that the benefits to steel and aluminum workers are outweighed by job losses among Americans in other industries. A test of how much the issue is resonating with American voters comes next week, when voters in Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district, vote in a special election to fill a vacated seat. Many voters are looking to the president to fulfill his campaign promise of protecting manufacturing jobs in America’s heartland. The race for the seat left vacant by Rep. Tim Murphy’s sex scandal is coming down to the wire between Republican candidate Rick Saccone and Democrat Conor Lamb. Saccone’s campaign endorsed Trump’s tariff plan in a statement, saying “If other countries aren’t playing by the rules and tariffs are needed to protect steel and aluminum jobs in Southwestern Pennsylvania, Rick would support those measures.”Pennsylvania’s Democratic Senator Bob Casey also voiced his support for the president’s plan in a Facebook statement Thursday.

Who is in favor of Pres. Trump's planned tariffs?

American labor unions

['not enough information', 'American steelworkers', 'Some Senate Democrats']

Trying to drive up a very small street with cars parked on both sides so only one car at a time could get by, individual sees me already entered the roadway, got in the car backs out of his driveway, intending to for me to back all the way out. I was about half in. I wait thinking he will realize it was a not so smart action and he will pull back in to let me pass since forward is an easier safer plan. He doesn't do that we sit for anout 30 seconds and he is determined to stay. I was a fairly new driver in my first car. I get irritated and shut my motor off basically saying, buddy I entered the street first you were parked never looked before you hurriedly pulled forward. So he shuts off his motor and smiled good as to say stalemate. I'm thinking I have no place I have to be, I'll wait rather than trying to back up half the block without hitting somebodies car. We wait, he gets out of his car goes into his house, no cell phone back then it was the pager (beepers) era. I wasnt sure why he was going in, but probably nit good outcome for me. So I happened to have a small bottle of Keri Lotion (thick, oily lotion for extremely dry skin) in the cup holder. I jump out of my car run to his squirted the whole bottle all over his windshield ran back to my car and DID manage to back up rapidly without damaging my car or anyone! He ran out of the house and I saw by his facial expression was livid! I was thinking as I drove away I hope he doesn't try to use the wipers, that's going to make a really smear mess. He's not going anyplace for a while. Years later I regretted having done that, letting a stranger provoke me, and second felt guilty about the sheer gleeful triumph of seeing his face. I won!

Whose lotion is used?

The author

["The pedestrian's", "The author's wife", 'not enough information']

Jeremy Wirick, 9, has been back in school for less than two months, but he has already had several asthma attacks. A recent attack happened on October 2, after he pushed himself too hard in gym class. Running, power walking, jogging and push-ups took their toll. When Jeremy got home an hour or two later, he was out of breath. He needed to use a nebulizer, a machine that helps send medicine quickly to the lungs, to get his breathing back to normal. Asthma attacks like Jeremy increase in September and October. More than six times as many asthma sufferers who are elementary-school age need hospital treatment in the fall as in the summer. Experts believe many factors can contribute to back-to-school asthma. Kids get together in close spaces, they start passing viruses around. A viral infection can cause an asthma attack. There are also certain fall allergies that can cause attacks. Exercise is another common cause of an attack. Besides, the stress of school can make asthma worse. Parents can play a big role in helping kids with asthma start the school year right. Dawne Gee's10-year-old son, Alexander, has had asthma since he was a baby. Before the school year starts, she tells school workers in writing about her son's asthma. The Gees live in Kentucky, which has passed laws allowing students to carry their asthma medication with them at school. Alexander's mom makes sure he has his inhaler with him when he goes to school and that he keeps it on hand at all times. In Delaware, where Jeremy lives, kids are allowed to carry their inhalers at school. The American Lung Association says that about 6.2 million American children suffer from asthma. Asthma is the chronic illness that causes students to miss the most days of school. There are many things that schools can do to help students control their asthma

By saying "Running, power walking, jogging and push-ups took their toll.", the writer means that _ .

physical exercise affected their health

['physical exercise gave them a deep thought', 'asthma attacks made them like physical exercise', 'asthma attacks could be cured through physical exercise']

Most teens I meet these days lack basic social courtesy when dealing with people. My own son, who basically grew up with his grandmother, the original manners expert, has perfect table manners. This is partly because he was exposed to manners at a very young age. However, when we eat at home, he would not practice manners. So I asked him why. He said, "I behave the way I am supposed to behave when I'm out, but when I am at home I want to be comfortable." That's when I realized that most parents, myself included, do teach their children the proper way to behave outside the home, but they are also brought up to believe that at home, anything goes. My answer to him was "good behavior has nothing to do with where you are or whom you are with". Then he answered, "But I behave properly when I'm with others so that they think better of me ." And that is when I realized that I was doing things all wrong. I explained to him that it had nothing to do with what people think. This confused him even more. So I went on to explain that behavior, whether in your everyday interaction with people or at the dining table at home, is an expression of who you are. Well, at the age of 13, he got it. So basically, what I am saying is that teaching your children manners comes with the underlying lesson that it is not about what to do or not to do, but rather , who they are. This way it is not mechanical : it comes from within. Teach your teens or children the basic courtesy of greeting their friends' parents and introducing themselves when they go to someone's home. Teach teenage boys to open the door of a car, or any door for that matter, for any girl, whether they are their girlfriends or not. This includes holding elevator doors or letting women step out of the elevator first. Just remember that teenage boys who practice good manners and courtesy grow up to become men who respect people in general.

What do most parents do with their children' manners?

Most parents often stress their children' good manners outside the home.

["Most parents pay more attention to their children' manners at home.", "Most parents pay no attention to their children's good manners.", "Most parents are too busy to be concerned about their children's manners."]

I had a few of their Xbox Cocktails though , and man , that was a poor idea . They were sort of minty and refreshing , so I figured the alcholic content was minimal . NOT THE CASE .

what may be some plausible facts about the Xbox Cocktails I sampled ?

Its alcoholic content exceeds the norm

['It consumption is viewed in an unpleasant light', 'Its consumption should conform to prescription rather , on personal abilities', 'None of the above choices .']

November always dragged around the station, but today was one dead Sunday. Not one car pulled off the interstate all morning. Nothing hit the drive but a thin steady rain, puddling slow rainbows in the oil. Me and Harnie just tilted back our chairs against the cigarette rack, watched the monster movie, and waited for the game to start. The big flying turtle was about set to barbeque downtown Tokyo when the drive bell rang, and up sluiced a car so damn gorgeous it hurt to look at it. A '37 Buick Roadmaster it was, painted a red so rich it was nearly black, that straight eight engine whispering like a lover while teardrops of rain rolled down the chrome grill. Out climbed this tall fellow, dressed like God's grandpa done up for a wedding or a funeral. His skin was brown as a buckwheat cake, with creases deep as drainage ditches. Took a mighty long stretch of sweat and toil, love and birth and dying, to carve a face like that. He flexed his shoulders, then rolled his neck till it cracked. He pulled a pack of Camel straights from inside his vest and flipped one out. "Got a light?" His voice was deep and warm, half gravel, half honey. I tossed him a pack of matches through the open door; he caught it left-handed, then flipped it open, folded over a match, and struck it with his thumb. "This the town with the dead fiddler?" he said after a long drag on the smoke. "You might say so," I said, ignoring the look Harnie gave me. Nobody talked about her; I wondered how this fellow had even heard about her. "Ain't a fiddle, though. It's a cello, like in the symphony." The stranger shrugged. "Close enough." "She ain't d-dead, neither," Harnie said. "M-more sleeping, like." He puffed out a wreath of smoke. Then another. "Let's go wake her up," he said. "You best not try, mister," I said. "She been sleeping for thirty some year."

The conversation probably lasted:

a few minutes

['all day', 'two hours', 'not enough information']

The driver and I went back and forth for about three minutes until Greg started doing these hand motion things . First he motioned like he was eating and then he did the ' make your eyes slanty thing ' like in the picture of the basketball team . I was smacking his arm , thinking ' OMG , I ca n't believe he did that ! ' The cab driver just smiled and said " Oh yes .

Why would Greg make gestures with his eyes ?

He was mocking Asian people .

['He was trying to get motion in his hands .', 'He was trying to wake his eyes up .', "He was trying to get the driver 's attention ."]

President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made history with their summit meeting in Singapore. But beyond the handshakes, casual strolls and shared asides, many analysts and experts are already wondering what exactly the enduring substance of the summit will be and whether it could boost Trump's political rating at home. For Trump, the great political disrupter, it was the most significant foreign policy move of his presidency. It comes at a time when he looks to turn around his often weak polls and bolster his political standing at home in advance of midterm congressional elections in November, where Democrats are poised to make gains. From the images of their historic first handshake to signing an agreement on denuclearization, Trump and Kim took the first steps toward writing a new chapter in relations between their two countries. "People are going to be very impressed, people are going to be very happy, and we are going to take care of a very big and very dangerous problem for the world," Trump said sitting alongside Kim after both men signed the joint agreement. It was Trump's biggest moment on the world stage, and an opportunity he was eager to seize. "We got along really well.We had a great chemistry.You understand how I feel about chemistry.It is very important," Trump told VOA contributor Greta Van Susteren immediately after the summit. "I mean, I know people where there is no chemistry. We had it right from the beginning. We talked about that and I think great things are going to happen for North Korea." It was the first ever meeting between a U.S. president and a North Korean leader. The two men signed an agreement that committed both countries to work toward the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, but the details remain vague. The United States offered unspecified security guarantees and a halt to military exercises with South Korea. Trump also said he raised the issue of human rights with Kim, but added that most of the meeting focused on the nuclear issue.

How long was the summit?

roughly a couple of days

['roughly a couple of years', 'not enough information', 'roughly a couple of months']

I have a neibor who has a wireless router I was connecting to but I had a problem with the signal . I got a lynksys router and upgraded to DD - WRT and put it in bridge mode . it connects to there router and I connect to mine . all works fine untill this weekend .

What subject is the narrator discussing ?

None of the above choices .

['They are talking bridges .', 'They are talking telephone signals .', 'They are talking signals from friends .']

" So , do you have to watch out for kangaroos when you 're driving through Perth ? You 'd need good bumpers . " Oh , i could have smothered her , the same way she wanted to smother that 13 year old who she was treating because he was so emo and whiny about his injuries .

Why would the narrator need to be a vigilant driver in Perth ?

There are a lot of kangaroos .

['None of the above choices .', 'There are a lot of kids on the road .', 'There are a lot of driving injuries there .']

"Looks good, Boys." Billy-Eye knew he had been taking a big chance leaving the final details for his sons to handle. He had not even visited the place all week. It was Friday, 5:30 PM--thirty minutes before the grand opening of Billy-Eye's Arcade and Dance Barn. The arcade room had been arranged nicely--although not the way Billy-Eye would have done it. But still, it was good. The two popcorn machines were ready to go. High school aged workers were ready to hand out bags of the stuff. The first group in the competition was warming up on the bandstand. A stand-alone blackboard to the right side of the drums had the name of the band written across it in white chalk: The Triangulators. Each band would be responsible for putting their name on that board. "Glad you like it, Daddy." Craig beamed. Finally, he had done something right. "So, what do you think? Will we have a full house tonight?" said Billy-Eye. "Sure," said Lenny with a naïve smile. "Hopefully," said Craig. "They get in free, get to hear eleven bands, and get all the free popcorn and coke they want. I'm sure the kids have heard our radio ad." "Maybe we should have made the games free too," said Lenny. "Hey, we can't give everything away," said Billy-Eye. "We're only charging a quarter for the games as it is." He walked back out into the main hall. "Is the refrigerator all stocked up?" "Yes, Sir," said Craig. "It's loaded with frozen pizzas, hot dogs, and condiments. And we've got plenty of hot dogs buns and candy." "And the soda fountains?" "Ready to go." "And I see you got the ice machine set up." Billy-Eye smiled. "Great. I'm proud of you boys."

When Bill-Eye visits the Arcade and Dance Barn

after waiting for one week

['one day after the party', 'one month before his birthday', 'not enough information']

I have a close friend who has a good family tradition, that is, each year after Thanksgiving dinner, all of the people sit around in the living room and each person takes a few minutes and gives thanks for what really matters and what has added value to their life over the last year. This is something I valued and followed. I have thought about a lot in the last year, and I finally came up with two things. The first one is the healthiness of my daughter. She's as healthy as she can be, and her weight and height are in good condition and she has no illnesses or genetic diseases. I am so thankful for having this wonderful baby in my life, and thankful that she has the gift of good health. Secondly, I am thankful for the discovery of the value of writing in my life. A year ago, my website. The simple Dollar was only a few weeks old and was far from popular, but on Thanksgiving Day Last year it had about three score readers who ordered it in advance. The process of writing was bringing me enjoyment, but I hadn't yet realized that I could be successful in it and attract many readers. This past year showed me a lot and I am deeply thankful for it. After thinking for a while, I began to realize that it was a very powerful and wonderful positive exercise. You spend time reflecting deeply on the positive things in your life, and you often realize that even when things are bad, you do have a lot to be thankful for because there is lots of good in your life, and it can shine a bright light even in a dark spot in your life.

The author is thankful for all the following thins EXCEPT _ .

the founding of a magazine

['her success with writing', 'the enjoyment in writing', 'the healthiness of her daughter']

Have you ever tried to pick out fabric that is going to cover a whole couch but is a tiny square ? How do you know what it will really look like . I agonized over this decision because the last couch we bought we have had for 10 years . ( and still have ) .

What may happen during the choosing of furniture material ?

You need to make sure it is what you want .

['It would be too late if you use it to repholster .', 'It may be the wrong design that you were looking for .', 'The fabric may not last for a long time .']

As a young man, Paul Beier hiked in the mountains of California. Since then, he has decided to choose his career as a wildlife protector. He went to school to learn more first of all. After he earned his doctor's degree, he eagerly signed up for a job studying cougars , which once lived throughout the United States, but now live mainly in the Rocky Mountains and westward. They need not only a lot of land to survive but also plenty of food and places to raise their young. But many wild areas have been divided by freeways and taken over by towns. The small wilderness areas of the Santa Ana Mountains in Southern California didn't have much room for them. And yet a few still lived there. How did they do it? Many big animals are disappearing. Those that survive are being trapped in shrinking patches of habitat. A patch may not have enough space or food for a cougar to survive. Scientists wondered if cougars could move from one patch to another. If so, maybe humans could preserve wildlife corridors to connect the patches, providing enough room for the animals. But no one had shown that animals use wildlife corridors in real life. To see if cougars had found corridors through local suburbs and freeways, Paul and his research team studied 32 cougars for five years. They used a drug to make each cat sleep, buckled a radio collar around its neck, and let it go. Every day, Paul used an electrical device that sends and receives radio signals to find cougars, listening for radio beeps from their collars. Once or twice a week, he trailed one of the cougars all night. He traced their travels on a map. Sure enough, some of them had discovered paths from one small park land to the next. One cougar became famous for his travels. He was named M6:"M"for Male, and"6"because he was the sixth one collared in the study. M6's corner of the Santa Ana Mountains wasn't large enough for him. Chino Hills State Park was not far away, but the trip was not safe. After dark, M6 used a paved vehicle underground passage to cross undera busy eight-lane freeway. He slipped by a riding stable, and then picked his way through a golf course and across two sets of busy railroad tracks. Finally, he arrived in the sheltered canyons of 12,000-acre Chino Hills State Park. There, the cougar found deer to hunt. During a year and a half, the scientists recorded M6 making this journey 22 times! Then Paul learned of plans to build houses, gas stations, and a mall that would block M6's path. Paul once said,"The loss of this corridor would guarantee the extinction of the cougar from the Chino Hills and endanger the entire population of lions in the Santa Ana Mountains."A local citizens' group called Hills for Everyone raised money to buy the land and add it to the state park. When the group visited the state capital and showed the map that Paul had made of M6's journeys, the lawmakers saw how important the corridor was. The lawmakers had the passage preserved, with the pavement removed and with native bushes near the openings. While traffic roared above, M6 and other cougars could move safely between the state park and the mountains. Other animals such as deer, foxes, and bobcats could also use the corridor. Paul's research showed that wildlife corridors can save animals. Since his study in the Santa Ana Mountains, scientists around the world have begun restoring and protecting wildlife corridors.

The purpose of the study done by Paul and his team was to .

see how cougars found and used corridors

['draw the regular routine cougars moved', 'prove cougars were better at finding food', 'know how human activities influenced cougars']

As a new year is just around the corner, I, like many of you, am taking stock in my life. What I’ve done and what I’d like to do. How I’ve spent my time and how I want to use it going forward. I have goals for blogging, my Jamberry business, my health, homeschooling, and for my family. As I have pondered where I want things to go and how I can successfully make that happen, I have learned that I need to manage my time and energy differently in order to be successful in each area. The main obstacles standing in my way are, ironically, working from home and having my children with me 24/7. But, that was my choice and I’m sticking to it. My goal is to embrace these obstacles by approaching them in different ways. Work at Home Tips for Success Work at home tips can be implemented or not, depending on my needs. I am sure the same will be true for you. You may not need to get healthier or may not want to homeschool your children. So, your daily routine will be different from mine. However, I think these work at home tips can help any individual out there looking for more guidance. Work at Home Tip #1 Be productive. Well, duh! Of course that’s what we would like to do, but have you ever worked all day and by the end of it, you have no idea what you really did? This likely means you are spending your time on things, but not on the most important things. For example, if your goal is to generate income, you want to be carving out time for income generating activities, not reorganizing a shelf or checking a facebook group for information. If your goal is to write a book, you want to be get ideas on paper or develop the plot, not have coffee to discuss your latest and greatest read with your bestie.

What is probably true about the author's children?

the children probably interrupt the author often during her working at home

["the children probably don't ever interrupt their mother working from home", 'the children probably give the mother space during her work at home ventures', 'not enough information']

"Mum, what does it mean when someone tells you that they have a skeleton in the closet ?" Jessica asked. "A skeleton in the closet?" her mother paused thoughtfully."Well, it's something that you would rather not have anyone else know about. For example, if in the past, someone in Dad's family had been arrested for stealing a horse, it would be 'a skeleton in his family's closet'. He really wouldn't want any neighbor to know about it." "Why pick on my family?" Jessica's father said with anger. "Your family history isn't so good, you know. Wasn't your great-great-grandfather a prisoner who was transported to Australia for his crimes?" "Yes, but people these days say that you are not a real Australian unless your ancestors arrived as prisoners." "Gosh, sorry I asked. I think I understand now," Jessica cut in before things grew worse. After dinner, the house was very quiet. Jessica's parents were still quite angry with each other. Her mother was ironing clothes and every now and then she glared at her husband, who hid behind his newspaper pretending to read. When she finished, she gathered the freshly pressed clothes in her arms and walked to Jessica's closet. Just as she opened the door and reached in to hang a skirt, a bony arm stuck out from the dark depths and a bundle of white bones fell to the floor. Jessica's mother sank in a faint , waking only when Jessica put a cold, wet cloth on her forehead. She looked up to see the worried faces of her husband and daughter. "What happened? Where am I?" she asked."You just destroyed the school's skeleton, Mum," explained Jessica. "I brought it home to help me with my health project. I meant to tell you, but it seemed that as soon as I mentioned skeletons and closets, it caused a problem between you and Dad." Jessica looked in amazement as her parents began to laugh madly."They're both crazy,"she thought.

Jessica's mother fell down into a faint because she was _ .

frightened

['knocked', 'injured', 'surprised']

When I was eight years old, I had a big accident. I get scared even now when I think about that time. There were many people skating near my house, and seeing them skate so wonderfully, I couldn't wait to have a try, just a piece of cake, I thought . I went with a friend who was very skillful. He spent a long time teaching me how to skate , but I still didn't learn much , which made him very angry. Finally , he left me and skated all around. I skated alone and soon got bored because I kept falling down so I took off my skates and just walked around on the ice in my shoes. It was cold and my feet were frozen. Suddenly, I stepped on something that was not hard. What was it ? It was a weak place in the ice . When I stepped there, I sank under the ice. I thought that I was going to die, but I did my best to grab something to get out from under the ice. I would have climbed out myself by grabbing the edge of the ice, but at that time I was only a child of eight . I cried out. Fortunately, someone helped me. He grabbed my arms and pulled me up. Those several minutes seemed a year to me. I thanked him. At that time, my friend came back. I was annoyed at him because he was supposed to take care of me, but he didn't. He was embarrassed. When I took a taxi home, the taxi driver was surprised and asked what had happened. I didn't want to say anything because I was tired and scared. Since then, I have never touched skating.

Why did the writer's friend leave and skate alone? _

He was disappointed at the writer's performance.

['He wanted to show off his skating skill before the writer.', 'He was too tired to go on teaching the writer.', 'He found he had no gift for teaching others to skate.']

I rotate my screen backgrounds depending on the kind of mood I am in or what I am doing . When I am writing for example I do n't want to be distracted by a bright screen . So I change my background to something neutral . When I want to brighten my space or take a virtual walk on the beach I change my background .

What is the narrator describing ?

They are describing a laptop .

['None of the above choices .', 'They are describing a walk on the beach .', 'They are describing a bright day .']

Japanese workers who run secretly out of the office and spend their afternoons hanging around coffee shops may soon be caught out by their bosses. A new cellphonebased tracking device from Hitachi can show, on an employer's computer screen, not only the whereabouts of their workers but also whether they are standing, walking, running--or have fallen over. The system, called Partout, was originally developed as a monitoring device for the families of people with dementia, who may wander off and need to be located. "It's estimated that the number of elderly people with symptoms of dementia will reach 1.5 million in Japan next year," says Hitachi's Keisaku Shibatani. But the high cost of the system--early prices are around PS27,000--has put it out of reach of most families. Indeed, companies with large sales forces and police departments who want to track officers on dangerous patrol duties are interested in the system. Partout uses a multifunction location sensing unit that tracks users through global positioning satellites. The user's body motion is determined by an accelerometer inside the sensing unit: no movement means the subject has stopped, slow movement means they are walking, fast movement means they are running, and strong and unexpectedly sudden movement means the user may have fallen. The date is relayed through the user's cell phone to computer, which displays their position on a map. Graphics record the motion or position of the subject's body.

What would be the best title for the text?

You Can Run, but You Can't Hide

['New Cell phones in Need', 'The Future of Cell phones', 'Modern Technology and Personal Secret']

The White House has announced sanctions against 38 Russian individuals and companies, saying the United States is standing up to ongoing "malign activity" by the Russian government against Western democracies and around the world. At Friday's White House briefing, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the U.S. still wants to work with Russia. "Again, what we would like to see is the totality of the Russian behavior change. We want to continue having conversations and work forward to building a better relationship," Sanders said. The sanctions will be imposed on seven Russian oligarchs — including Oleg Deripaska, an aluminum magnate and close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin — and 12 companies they own or control. Seventeen senior Russian government officials, as well as a state-owned Russian weapons trading company and its subsidiary, a Russian bank, also will be targeted. The group includes key members of Putin's inner circle. Those sanctioned will have their assets blocked in the U.S. and people in the U.S. are barred from doing business with them. Friday, a number of U.S. lawmakers and foreign policy experts welcomed the measure, saying the sanctions are overdue. Representative Adam Schiff of California, ranking Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, said the move is the strongest action taken by the Trump administration to date for Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and "its murder of dissidents at home and abroad." "The sanctioning of oligarchs like Oleg Deripaska, who is linked to Paul Manafort, Alexander Torshin and Putin's son-in-law, will send a strong message to the Kremlin," Schiff said in a statement. Florida's Marco Rubio, a Republican senator and former presidential candidate, also welcomed Friday's announcement. "These new sanctions send a clear message to Vladimir Putin that the illegal occupation of Ukraine, support for … war crimes [under Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime], efforts to undermine Western democracies, and malicious cyberattacks will continue to result in severe consequences for him and those who empower him," Rubio said in a statement.

The White House briefing probably lasted:

30 minutes

['1 day', 'not enough information', 'several hours']

Americans have developed an olive oil habit. Out to dinner recently, I saw a man dipping his white bread in olive oil and then pouring it all over his salad, saying, "Wow, this is so good for me!" But is olive oil the healthiest fat? No, it's not. You might ask, doesn't it lower cholesterol ? Well, only when you substitute olive oil in equivalent amounts for butter or oils that are higher in saturated fat. Olive oil doesn't lower cholesterol; it just doesn't raise it as much. You may be better off with canola oil. The 1999 Lyon Diet Heart Study found that a Mediterranean diet significantly reduced heart attacks and premature deaths. Many people attributed this to eating a lot of olive oil. But it was increased consumption of canola oil that accounted for these improvements. Also, study participants ate more whole-grain bread, vegetables, fish and fruit, and less meat. Butter and cream were replaced with man-made butter made from canola oil, which has more healthy omega-3 fatty acids than olive oil does. Another study found that olive oil reduced blood flow by 31%. Canola oil and fish oil don't. (You want to increase blood flow to all body parts.) I like the taste of olive oil, and I use it sometimes. It's a healthier fat than many others, but it's not nearly as healthy as canola oil -- or fish oil and flaxseed oil, for that matter, which also have lots of omega-3s. And a tablespoon of any oil has 126 calories. Think about that before you pour it on.

It can be inferred that in America _ .

most people think olive oil is healthier than others

['most people prefer canola oil than olive oil', 'people use olive oil to help them lose weight', 'most people choose olive oil for its better taste']

Outside the White House Friday, a media frenzy. And at the center of it all, President Donald Trump. “Can we do one question at a time? Wait! One question at a time," the president scolded reporters. Trump launched a new attack on the Russia probe in the wake of a critical report on the Hillary Clinton email investigation by the inspector general of the Department of Justice. “I did nothing wrong. There was no collusion. There was no obstruction," he said. "The IG (inspector general) report yesterday went a long way to show that, and I think that the Mueller investigation has been totally discredited.” But the report in question only dealt with how the FBI handled the Clinton email controversy. It was critical of the man Trump fired as FBI director, James Comey, but rejected the notion of a politically-directed effort aimed at Trump. “This report did not find any evidence of political bias or improper considerations actually impacting the investigation under review," announced current FBI Director Christopher Wray. Democrats also took note of the report. “Anyone who is hoping to use this report to undermine the Mueller probe or prove the existence of a ‘deep state’ conspiracy against President Trump will be sorely disappointed," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said. During his lengthy encounter with reporters Friday, Trump also defended his recent summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “They are doing so much for us, and now we are well on our way to get denuclearization," he said. "And the agreement says there will be total denuclearization. Nobody wants to report that. I got along with him great. We have a great chemistry together. That is a good thing, not a bad thing." Trump also lashed out at opposition Democrats and tried to blame them for recent administration actions to separate family members caught trying to come across the U.S. border. “The Democrats forced that law upon our nation. I hate it. I hate to see separation of parents and children," Trump said.

At the end of the story, who is going to continue to be under investigation?

President Trump

['The POTUS', 'not enough information', 'The President']

No worries , Ghaz , being the appointed photographer , took some photos & we will load them once they 're ready . However , I still managed to capture some pics of err , bird , tortoise & flowers , which were quite near us . I think this is a seagull ... This is what I called ' unwelcome ' creature .

What may be my profession ?

A photographer

['A artist', 'A sculpter', 'A painter']

Gone with the Wind is a novel written by Margaret Mitchell, first published in 1936. It was popular with American readers from the onset and was the top American fiction bestseller in the year it was published and in 1937 on the row. As of 2014, a Harris poll found it to be the second favorite book of American readers, just behind the Bible. More than 30 million copies have been printed worldwide. The sales of Margaret Mitchell's novel in the summer of 1936, at the virtually unprecedented price of three dollars, reached about one million by the end of December. Because it was released in the era of the Great Depression and Mitchell worried the high $3.00 price would ruin its chance for success. Actually the book was a bestseller by the time reviews began to appear in national magazines. Herschel Brickell, a critic for the New York Evening Post, praised Mitchell for the way she "tosses out the window all the thousands of technical tricks our novelists have been playing with for the past twenty years." One criticism by literary scholar Patricia Yaeger, leveled at Gone with the Wind, is for its portrayal of African Americans in the 19th century South. Former field hands during the early days of Reconstruction are described behaving "as creatures of small intelligence might naturally be expected to do. Like monkeys or small children turned loose among treasured objects whose value is beyond their comprehension, they ran wild~either from wrong pleasure in destruction or simply because of their ignorance." In Gone with the Wind Mitchell is blind to racial oppression and 'the inseparability of race and gender" that defines the southern belle character of Scarlett, according to Patricia Yaeger. Yet there are complexities in the way that Mitchell dealt with racial issues. Scarlett was asked by a Yankee woman for advice on who to appoint as a nurse for her children; Scarlett suggested a "darky", much to the disgust of the Yankee woman who was seeking an Irish maid, a "Bridget". African Americans and Irish Americans are treated "in precisely the same way" in Gone with the Wind, writes David O'Connell in his 1996 book, The Irish Roots of Margaret Mitchells Gone with the Wind. Ethnic slurs on the Irish and Irish stereotypes spread in every part of the novel, O'Connell claims, and Scarlett is not an exception to the insults. And apparently in the novel, the Irish American O'Haras were slaveholders whereas African Americans were held as slaves. Speaking on the subject of whether Gone with the Wind should be taught in schools, James Loewen, author of Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, says the novel should be taught in schools. Students should be told that Gone with the Wind presents the wrong view of slavery, Loewen states. Besides, the main complaint was that the racial slur "nigger" appears repeatedly in the novel. In the same complaint were several other books: The Nigger of the 'Narcissus', Uncle Tom's Cabin, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Another criticism of the novel is that it promotes plantation values. Mitchell biographer Marianne Walker, author of Margaret Mitchell & John Marsh: The Love Story Behind Gone with the Wind, is of the opinion that those who believe Gone with the Wind promotes plantation values have not read the book. Walker states it is the popular 1939 film that "promotes a false notion of the Old South". She goes on to add that Mitchell had no involvement in the production of the film. Perhaps the most enduring legacy of Gone with the Wind is that people worldwide would incorrectly think it was the true story of the Old South and how it was changed by the American Civil War and Reconstruction. The film version of the novel "amplified this effect". Scholars of the period have written in recent years about the negative effects the novel has had on race relations.

David O'Connell's view is different from Patricia Yaeger's in _

Mitchell's ways of dealing with racial problems

["Mitchell's Ethnic slurs in the novel", "Mitchell's description of slave laborers", "Mitchell's attitude towards the Irish people"]

LONDON --- A British judge on Thursday sentenced a businessman who sold fake bomb detectors to 10 years in prison, saying the man hadn't cared about potentially deadly consequences. It is believed that James McCormick got about $77.8 million from the sales of his detectors which were based on a kind of golf ball finder to countries including Iraq, Belgium and Saudi Arabia. McCormick, 57, was convicted of cheats last month and sentenced Thursday at the Old Bailey court in London. "Your cheating conduct in selling a great amount of useless equipment simply for huge profit promoted a false sense of security and in all probability materially contributed to causing death and injury to innocent people," Judge Richard Hone told McCormick. "you have neither regret, nor shame, nor any sense of guilt." The detectors, sold for up to $42,000 each, were said to be able to find such dangerous objects as bombs under water and from the air. But in fact they "lacked any grounding in science" and were of no use. McCormick had told the court that he sold his detectors to the police in Kenya, the prison service in Hong Kong, the army in Egypt and the border control in Thailand. "I never had any bad results from customers," he said. ks5u

According to the judge, what McCormick had done _ .

lowered people's guard against danger

['increased the cost of safeguarding', "changed people's idea of social security", 'caused innocent people to commit crimes']

As the railroads and the highways shaped the American West in the past centuries, a new electrical generating and transmission system for the 21st century will leave a lasting mark on the West, for better or worse. Much of the real significance of railroads and highways is not in their direct physical effect on the scenery, but in the ways that they affect the surrounding community. The same is true of big solar plants and the power lines that will be laid down to move electricity around. The 19 th century saw land grants offered to railroad companies to build the transcontinental railroads, leaving public land in between privately owned land. In much of the West, some of the railroad sections were developed while others remained undeveloped, and in both cases the landownership has presented unique challenges to land management. With the completion of the interstate highway system, many of the small towns, which sprang up as railway stops and developed well, have lost their lifeblood and died. Big solar plants and their power lines will also have effects far beyond their direct footprint in the West. This is not an argument against building them. We need alternative energy badly, and to really take advantage of it we need to be able to move electricity around far more readily than we can now. So trade-offs will have to be made. Some scenic spots will be sacrificed. Some species will be forced to move, or will be carefully moved to special accommodations. Deals will be struck to reduce the immediate effects. The lasting effects of these trade-offs are another matter. The 21st century development of the American West as an ideal place for alternative energy is going to throw off a lot of power and money in the region. There are chances for that power and money to do a lot of good. But it is just as likely that they will be spent wastefully and will leave new problems behind, just like the railroads and the highways. The money set aside in negotiated trade-offs and the institutions that control it will shape the West far beyond the immediate footprint of power plants and transmission lines. So let's remember the effects of the railroads and the highways as we construct these new power plants in the West.

What is the author's attitude towards building solar plants?

Cautious.

['Disapproving.', 'Approving.', 'Doubtful.']

I had food all over the place , like fruit and plucked chickens and bags of sweets . A lot of it was rotting , apart from the sweets , of course . I kept filling up bin bags and taking them outside .

Why was the food rotting ?

Because it had been sitting around for a long time .

['Because there were bags of sweets .', 'None of the above choices .', 'Because the food was all over the place .']

Fortunately , it passed quickly . Once it stopped we headed to the camp general store and got some fire wood and a little hobo grill so we could cook our steaks ( NOTE : Michigan state parks have fire pits , but no rack or grill in them so you 'll need to bring something to cook your food . ) After a very satisfying meal we headed back down to the beach to look at the stars . It was one of those times when you so wanted to be outside and in the dark , but you are also so accustomed to the city and its lights and noise .

Why may a camper have difficulty eating at the camp in Michigan ?

There is no place to cook your food directly on .

['Meat is banned in the park .', 'Starting a fire is banned .', 'Food is banned in the park .']

Almost anyone who has read a travel brochure about Africa has heard of a story ----- that elephants can get drunk by eating the fermented marula fruit rotting on the ground. Books have even been written to prove the truth of the phenomenon. But a study published in the journalPhysiological and Biochemical Zoologytells a very different story. Steve Morris, a biologist at the University of Bristol in England and an author of the study, says there is nothing in the biology of either the African elephant or the marula fruit to support the stories. Morris says, "People just want to believe in drunken elephants." The marula tree, a member of the same family as the mango , grows widely in Africa. Its sweet, yellow fruit is used for making jam, wine and beer. "The first mistake of the drunken-elephant theory is that it's unlikely that an elephant would eat the fruit if it were rotten," Morris says. "Elephants eat the fruit right off the tree, not when it's rotten on the ground," he explains. Other experts add that if an elephant were to eat the fruit on the ground, it wouldn't wait for the fruit to ferment. Michelle Gadd, an African wildlife specialist, says that elephants and many other animals, including birds and monkeys, are too fond of marula fruit to let it rot. If fermented fruit on the ground is out of the question, so is the concept that the fruit could ferment in the stomach of elephants, according to the study authors. Food takes between 12 and 46 hours to pass through an elephant's digestive system, the authors point out, which is not enough for the fruit to ferment. Supposing that _ happened, it's still highly improbable that the food would produce enough alcohol to make an elephant drunk. Through calculations of body weight, elephant digestion rates, and other factors, the authors conclude that it would take about 1.9 litres of alcohol to make an elephant drunk.

We can learn from the text that _ .

marula fruit can be made into food or drinks consumed by people

["African elephants don't like to eat marula fruit at all", 'it is not easy to find marula fruit in the wild in Africa', 'birds and monkeys in Africa like to eat rotten marula fruit']