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Headed up to Birmingham with my mother to see Santana play . I do n't consider myself a fan but I do enjoy his music , he is a fantastic guitar player . My mother on the other hand is a fan and has been wanting to go and see him for a while , but she needs someone to go with her so I offered . He had Beverly Knight opening for him , never seen anyone ( aside from the kids ) being so energetic , not sure how she managed to do it . | What may happen if we ca n't make it to Birmingham ? | My mother will be most disappointed . | ['None of the above choices .', 'I will be most disappointed .', "Santana wo n't play ."] |
If you take a look at the best-selling books in theprefix = st1 /UKthese days, it is almost certain that there will be a lot of autobiographies in that list. Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela and actor Michael J Fox have all written them.
An autobiography is the story of a person's life, written by that person. It is usually a very famous person who might tell us all about their childhood, how they became famous and any other interesting things that have happened in their lives.
Traditionally, someone would write an autobiography when they were older because they had had a long, successful life. However, these days there are many magazines with stories and photos of the stars which sell very well. Reality TV shows are extremely popular and lots of people become famous very easily just from being on the TV rather than being able to sing or act well. As a result, people become famous very quickly and as soon as they are famous, a lot of money can be made from writing an autobiography, even if they are very young.
So now you can find an autobiography from almost everyone who is in the public eye. Even though we can follow the lives of the stars very closely on TV or in magazines nowadays, we maybe don't know how they live their lives from day to day. Autobiographies often give the information we never knew about the stars. The British public are very curious to find out more so they are very eager to read autobiographies.
Not every star wants to write though. Sometimes stars employ writers to write their life stories for them. The writer will interview the star, listen to everything they want to say, record interviews and then write the book based on their words. David Beckham did this with his book My Side.
Not everyone likes to read books regularly but they might like to read about the lives of stars. Autobiographies are helping to get more British people reading books. About 100 million autobiographies are sold inBritainevery year. More stars depend on them for extra income and as more of these books appear in the shops, more people are sure to keep buying them. | Traditionally, someone would write his autobiography when_. | they were older and had achieved a lot | ['they became famous', 'they wanted to make money', 'they wanted to share their childhood with the readers'] |
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch visited Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday, nine days after what she called a "shattering attack" at a gay nightclub.
Lynch told the city's devastated gay community, "We stand with you in the light." She also announced a $1 million emergency grant to help Florida law enforcement pay for overtime costs related to the shooting, and she met with prosecutors, first responders and victims of the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
Her visit comes as investigators continue to dig into the background of Omar Mateen, the gunman who killed 49 people and injured dozens more on June 12 at the Pulse nightclub.
Lynch said it was a "cruel irony" that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community — one defined almost entirely by love — is so often a target of hate.
She told the LGBTQ community, "We stand with you to say that the good in the world far outweighs the evil; that our common humanity transcends our differences; and that our most effective response to terror and hatred is compassion, unity and love."
Also Tuesday, Orlando police reopened streets near the nightclub and wound down their investigation at the crime scene. A makeshift memorial that went up nearby shortly after the massacre was still standing Tuesday, with chalk messages on the sidewalk and utility poles. Among them are drawings of hearts, the message "God bless'' and the hashtag "#Orlandostrong.''
Lynch declined to answer questions about the investigation and whether authorities are looking to charge anyone else in connection with the case.
She said investigators will "go back ... and see if there's anything we could have missed or anything we could have done better'' in terms of spotting Mateen as a threat.
She said "people often act out of more than one motivation,'' adding that a motive may never be known.
Mateen was shot and killed by police during the attack. | Lynch's speech probably lasted: | about an hour | ['not enough information', 'about a day', 'about a week'] |
Tea vs Coffee
Tea and coffee are two of the most widely consumed drinks in the United States. With popularity and interest in tea continuing to grow in recent years, many consumers have recently considered
making the switch from coffee to tea, if they have not done so already. All the buzz surrounding tea
and coffee may have you wondering, what are the differences? As it turns out, the differences are
many and varied.
In the US, interest in tea ranges from coast to coast with the highest in Hawaii and California
but stretching to the eastern states of Vermont and New York. On the other hand, the highest interest
in coffee tends to be concentrated more in the north and western regions , with the highest
search volumes appearing in the states of Hawaii, Washington and Minnesota.
Differences between tea and coffee also vary in origin and production. All tea comes from the
harvested leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, while there are about 60 different species of coffee
plants. Production of tea is quicker and more efficient: Camellia sinensis plants only need to grow
for three years before they are ready to process; coffee plants take up to five years.
Perhaps the most concerning issue consumers have when considering making the switch to tea
is the question of caffeine. The good news is, when it comes to tea and caffeine, there is something
for everyone. Unlike coffee, which typically only comes in decaffeinated and regular, there are
several varieties of tea available, based on caffeine preference.
From herbal teas that are naturally free of caffeine, to high quality green and black teas that
offer less than half the caffeine of coffee, to high caffeine teas such as our specially formulated
HiCAF(r) blends that contain slightly more caffeine than a cup of coffee, there is a variety sure to
suit your needs. As an added bonus, the lower acidity levels in tea tend to be gentler on the stomach
for a more comforting pick-me-up.
So what is the answer, coffee or tea? If you are looking for the most healthful benefit possible,
tea is probably the winner. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If, like many Americans,
the rising popularity in tea has your interest piqued, the images below will help to clearly spell out
the differences between tea and coffee. | What is the author's attitude towards tea? | Positive. | ['Cautious.', 'Sceptical.', 'Negative.'] |
The Zoo turned out quite well . The rain held off for the most part and the kids were well - behaved . The animals were visible most of the time . My goodness though , there 's a lot of walking . | How will they feel after their trip to the zoo ? | They will feel tired from all of the walking . | ['They will want to go to sleep immediately .', 'They will feel like doing more activities .', 'They will feel like visiting the zoo again .'] |
In the late 1970's,many people in North America turned their attention to environmental problems ,and new steel -- and -- glass skyscrapers were widely criticized. Some ecologists pointed out that a number of tall buildings in a city often overburden public transportation.
Skyscrapers are also _ of electric power and water. In just one recent year, the addition of 17 million square feet of skyscraper office space in New York City itself has already raised the top daily demand for electricity by 120, 000 kw -- enough to supply the entire city of Albany in New York area for a single day.
Glass--walled skyscrapers can also be especially wasteful. The heat loss ,or gain, through a wall of half inch plate glass is more than ten times that through a typical ordinary wall filled with bricks or board. In order to decrease the pressure on heating and air -- conditioning equipment, builders of skyscrapers have begun to use double--layered glass ,and reflective glasses coated with silver or gold mirror films that could reduce glare as well as heat gain. However, mirror -- walled skyscrapers may raise the temperature of the surrounding air and affect neighboring buildings as well.
Skyscrapers put a severe pressure on a city's sanitation facilities, too. If fully occupied, the towers just within the central area of New York would alone produce 2. 25 million gallons of waste water each year^--as much as the city size of Stanford, Connecticut, which has a population of more than 109,000. | When the writer talks about skyscrapers ,his tone sounds _ | negative | ['positive', 'doubtful', 'grateful'] |
The first to the table was a plate of Caprese . However , we had n't ordered the Caprese but had ordered the Carpaccio . We immediately chalked up the mistake to the noise issue and the owner was very quick to replace the dish with the one we ordered . | What may be a fact about their situation ? | They were given the incorrect order . | ['The owner had messed up their order .', 'None of the above choices .', 'The kitchen had messed up their order .'] |
Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm afraid I have some very bad news for you. I have been very naughty and the school master is very angry with me. She is going to write to you. You must come and take me away from here. She does not want me in the school any longer. The trouble started last night when I was smoking a cigarette in bed. As I was smoking, I heard footsteps coming towards the room .I did not want a teacher to catch me smoking, so I threw the cigarette away. Unfortunately, the cigarette fell into the waste--paper basket. It caught fire.
There was a curtain near the waste --paper basket. It caught fire too. Soon the whole room was burning. The master phoned the fire brigade . The school is a long way from the town and before the fire brigade arrived, the whole school was on fire. The master said that the fire was all my fault and I must pay for the damage. She will send you a bill for about a million dollars.
I'm very sorry for this.
Much love
Sarah | Why did Sarah write to his parents? | He told his parents what he had done in school. | ["He missed them very much for they hadn't seen each other for a long time.", 'He thought he was old enough to help them do something.', 'He was tired of studying, and wanted to leave school.'] |
New Yorkers and visitors to the Big Apple will get to ring in the Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year in the U.S., in style with a fireworks display on the Hudson River set to music written by Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun.
The display is part of the second annual "Happy Chinese New Year: Fantastic Art China" festival held in New York on February 5-10, 2016. The China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), the U.S.-China Cultural Institute and the Cultural Associate of the Committee of 100 announced this year's events on November 18 at a press conference at the Lincoln Center.
The "Fantastic Art China" festival will feature a larger and more diverse series of artistic and cultural events across New York's top cultural venues and landmarks, including the Lincoln Center, Empire State Building and Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
This year's theme focuses on exploring the complicated relationship between sound and image, said Professor Yu Ding from CAFA, who is also president of Fantastic Art China and in charge of the festival's design. Lunar New Year, which celebrates the "Year of the Monkey" in 2016, is an opportunity to bring China's modern art to mainstream America, and the festival serves as an innovative approach to establishing cultural exchange between China and New York City, Yu said.
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Tan Dun's music is a new edition that will be featured at several venues, including a major art exhibition at the Javits Center, events at the Lincoln Center and the fireworks display on the Hudson, which will take place on the evening of February 6. Five barges on the river will launch the fireworks designed by CAFA that will tell a story about celebration and conservation.
"We Chinese are fond of nature, so the best way to celebrate the Lunar New Year is to salute with the sounds of nature, such as sounds of water, stone and bamboo," said Tan Dun at the press conference, "And it will be fun to use the music of water during the firework display."
In addition to the fireworks, a special lighting show at the Empire State Building will _ New York City during the holiday.
Chinese New Year is being recognized as a public school holiday for the first time in New York. Children from the National Dance Institute, which represents 75 schools, will perform traditional Chinese dances at the Lincoln Center and the Javits Center. And, in celebration of the "Year of the Monkey" events will feature a conservation message about the endangered golden monkey in China. | This passage is written mainly in order to _ . | report celebration activities for the "Year of the Monkey" in New York | ['compare some traditional festivals in China and America', 'attract visitors to America for the coming new-year celebration', 'strengthen the cultural co-operation between China and America'] |
The Commonwealth games have meant that the eyes of the world have been focused on our fair city--Melbourne. And it would look pretty good, wouldn't it? And what better way to regain our title as world's most liveable city? I'm told that we recently lost the right to say this to foreign friends proudly when the international list was re-examined and we slipped to the fourth place.
It's hard to see how Melbourne could have lost its crown when you look at what it has to offer. 24 hours Coles, free transport for drunks on New Year's Eve, a new freeway, it's all here.
The first focus for the international press will obviously be the endless stadiums dotted around the city. But as well as being full every other weekend, these great places often play host to slightly older kids. At Rod Laver, even the olds get a look-in as the Christian evangelical road show rolls into town once a year for a night of stadium worship .
Another pleasure Melbourne enjoys is that it's very easy to get around. There's a bit of a squeeze during rush hour for sure, but nothing like Bangkok, where the journey home can take longer than growing a beard and parking is barely distinguishable from the drive itself. Driving here is a piece of cake. It must be because the wise people who hand out the taxis seem to actively encourage a career behind the wheel within 24 hours of landing in the country as an educational tool for getting to know the city. No slowing down for learning bends, just go, go, go!
As for the social life, with over 40 million bars in Melbourne's CBD alone, we have plenty of places for spectators to celebrate national victory, making this town as good as any and it happens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
_ . But the rest of the world will know that this is the place to be. The most liveable city in the world. By far the easiest place on earth to cheat death, which is essentially what we're talking about. | What does the author mainly want to show in the passage? | The competitive advantages of Melbourne. | ['The casual life styles of Melbourne.', 'The various social activities in Melbourne.', 'The convenient transportation in Melbourne.'] |
This movie actually made me cry , and it was like a waterfall crying as well , not just a simple tear . After we finished the movie , more people finally showed up and came and the friend came home , and started grilling . Unfortunately , he had not planned this well or even at all , he started to defrost his steaks right then and there , and thank goodness I had eaten at home already , or else I would have been one pissed off person . | What will happen with the barbecue ? | People will have to wait for the steaks to defrost . | ['People will have to eat quickly .', 'People will have to slam food .', 'People will have to wait no time for their food .'] |
He knew better . He knew . All it took to keep him from repeating the pitiful plea for an end was a backhanded slap , the cold rear of her palm striking the side of his face hard enough to silence him temporarily , the werewolf dazed and cowed by the simple blow , one he was all too familiar with , one he knew better than to struggle against . After that , he swallowed down as many of his intimidated , wordless appeals as possible , kept himself from trying to writhe or thrash or buck under her . | What may have been her reason for slapping him ? | She wanted him to stop talking . | ['She wanted him stop talking nonsense .', 'She was scared because he was a werewolf .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
So the morning beach recalls and sits went very well . Linus rules the Dobermans by the way . My gentle Leon is afraid of him when he plays sometimes LOL . | What may be the reason for Leon 's fear ? | The doberman is much larger than the dog . | ['The doberman is big .', 'The doberman is fighting with the dog .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
I have another LJ account that is still active so there 's no need to friend me if you already have the other one . unless you want to . XD I ' m chinese though i was born in Vietnam . I totally love Taiwanese , Korean , and Japanese dramas . | What country may I be possibly living in ? | China | ['Mexico', 'None of the above choices .', 'Canada'] |
I was going on vacation to meet up with family for a week of fun in Denver. I got to the airport, ready to leave my work behind for a few days.
I was comfortably awaiting my flight with a good book to read, when an elderly lady was wheeled to our waiting area. I couldn't help but notice the trouble she was having trying to open a packet of nuts with her shaking hands. I sighed. No one else was willing to meet her gaze so I offered to help.
She was very grateful. It turned out that these nuts were her entire breakfast. We sat and chatted. When the time came to board the plane the attendants were nowhere to be seen. The lady could walk but needed some help, so I volunteered to help her on the plane and carry her bag.
As I helped her get settled I noticed her "seat mate," a businessman, looked a bit horrified at having to make the fight with her. He offered to change seats with me -- and I agreed.
We landed and I needed to change planes, but I helped her disembark first. The wheelchair she ordered was nowhere to be seen so we slowly walked to gate where her daughter was waiting.
We only exchanged first names, and she was so grateful to have my help. I had to run to catch my connection but, as I thought about the experience, I saw her as my airport angel: a chance for me to hope that in the future when I'm in my 80's and traveling, someone will take the time to connect with me. Pay it forward. | Why does the author feel grateful? | He believes he may find help if he is in need later. | ['He was appreciated deeply by everyone nearby.', 'He was looking forward to live up to 80 as the old lady.', 'He can get paid forward later in money.'] |
Actor Fred Crane , best known for playing Stuart Tarleton , one of the Tarleton twins seen at the beginning of the movie , Gone with the Wind . Superman actor George Reeves played his twin in the movie . He was 90 years old . | What may be the reason for the write - up on Fred Crane ? | He has passed away and this is an obituary - type writing . | ['Fred Crane was the brother of popular actor Stuart Tarleton .', 'Fred Crane was known for directing the move Gone with the Wind .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
The political landscape in the United States looks a bit different in the wake of Tuesday's Senate election victory by Democrat Doug Jones in Alabama.
In an outcome few could have imagined several weeks ago, Jones defeated controversial Republican candidate Roy Moore, who had the backing of President Donald Trump. In the wake of Jones' victory, Democrats are more confident about success in next year's congressional midterm elections, and Republicans are looking for a way to rebound.
Late Tuesday, Jones paid tribute to the voters and staffers who supported him in his longshot victory over Moore. "This campaign has been about common courtesy and decency and making sure everyone in this state, regardless of which ZIP code you live in, is going to get a fair shake in life!" he told supporters.
Moore was unable to overcome allegations of sexual misconduct stemming back decades involving several women who were teenagers at the time while Moore was in his 30s.
Moore stopped short of conceding the race, however, saying, "We have been painted in an unfavorable and unfaithful light. We have been put in a hole, if you will, and it reminds me of a [Bible] passage in Psalms 40, 'I waited patiently for the Lord.' That is what we have got to do."
Moore had the full backing of the president in the final days of the campaign after Trump initially held back his endorsement in the wake of the allegations against Moore.
The president responded Wednesday to questions at the White House about the Alabama race and said that he had hoped for a different result.
"I wish we would have gotten the seat. A lot of Republicans feel differently. They are very happy with the way it turned out," he said. "But as the leader of the party, I would have liked to have the seat. I want to endorse the people who are running."
Jones won in large part because of a strong Democratic turnout, especially by African-Americans. Moore was hurt by a depressed Republican turnout and a write-in campaign that drained away votes. | How did the president most likely feel after the Alabama race was over? | He wished the republican party had gotten the seat | ['not enough information', 'He expressed no feeling about the race results', 'He was very happy with outcome'] |
"When I grow up, I want to be..."
Almost all of us have thought about, or been asked to think about, our future careers. Our answers may differ greatly. Even now your aspirations may have changed from when you were in primary school.
However, it seems career options aren't only based on personal taste. In a survey carried out by Teens, doctors, lawyers, and bankers were some of most popular careers that people said they hoped to follow. This is in line with a similar survey carried out in the UK in May 2011 by job website monster. Co.uk, in which medicine was the top choice among UK teenagers aged between 13 and 17.
Medicine and law are two of the oldest and best known professions. Their prestige may come from the fact that doctors and lawyers are some of the most esteemed members of society, and they make good money. Joining these high-profile professions is often seen as a sign of upward social mobility.
It is equally unsurprising that banking is now one of the most common career choices. Youngsters worldwide think of banking and see the money rolling in. Wealth is increasingly becoming one of the most important indicators of a successful career. British young men list the UK tycoon Alan Sugar, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg as their top role models "for their wealth". Just as Chinese teenagers see being a banker as a good and fun pathway to "wealth".
However, not every child has the makings of doctor, lawyer, or banker. They are those who see fulfillment and happiness in other areas, and many teenagers dare to ink more individuality into their career options. As the Teens' survey discovered, a variety of unconventional jobs---coffee shop owner, gourmet ,waiter at a fast food restaurant---are among teenagers' career choices. They can be equally interesting and rewarding jobs.
With every choice comes responsibility and challenge, and all career paths require specific education and training, you have to learn to balance optimism and confidence with being realistic about your particular talents and skills. | According to the article, all of the following are the benefits of being a doctor except _ . | the oldest profession | ['respect from others', 'high pay', 'upward social mobility.'] |
Oh , and he made one kid cry , but it was mostly an accident . ( Plus the kid kinda had it comin ' ... ) Our little Beckham came out of it very splotchy red and sweaty , but had a great time . I guess now we have to get those damned soccer ball stickers for our vehicles .... Ah ... no . That 's not happening . | what may be a plausible fact about little Beckham ? | He would like soccer ball stickers | ['His eye color is normally red', 'He would like riding in vehicles', 'He enjoys crying'] |
It was the first day of second grade, and Sarah had been looking forward to this moment. The night before, she laid out her favorite clothes: a white coat and a bright yellow shirt.
When having breakfast, Sarah dropped some food on her shirt, so she had to change into her second-best clothes, blue jeans and a Jonas Brothers T-shirt.
After breakfast Sarah rushed to catch the school bus and when she was just reaching the door the bus driver opened it. The door hit right in Sarah's face and blood dripped from her nose. The driver wanted to send her home, but she refused, "It is the most important day of the year! I can't miss it!"
Before classes, Sarah went to her favorite swing. When rising high, she saw her best friend little Jack. She let go of the swing and waved to him with one hand. Unfortunately, she flew out of the swing and landed hard on the sand, breaking a leg and an arm. As she lay in the sand, she noticed a shiny thing on the ground beside her. With her good hand she took it.
When Sarah' mother rushed into the ward she was surprised by what she saw: her girl was lying in bed with an arm and a leg in the splint , a broken nose, and blood stains on her second-best clothes. Expecting to see her child crying, she was confused when she saw a big, bright smile on Sarah's face.
"Sarah, look at you!" her mother cried. "You were hurt so badly and why are you smiling?"
"Look, Mommy, I found a diamond!" Sarah laughed.
Life can be like that. It can be tough, even painful sometimes. But there are always treasures that make the pain worth suffering. | Which of the following can be used to describe Sarah's story? | Every cloud has a silver lining. | ['Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.', 'First think, then act.', 'No pains, no gains.'] |
Country-dwellers often say the constant noise, heavy traffic and crowds of the city would drive them mad. Well, they might be right, according to the latest research. City residents are more likely to develop mental illnesses than those who live in villages, a study has found.
Researchers from Cardiff university examined the lifestyles of more than 200,000 people in Sweden and found that those who lived in urban areas were more at risk from mental illnesses than people who lived in villages.
The experts don't know exactly why this is but they suggest that town and city residents are more likely to be ostracized by those around them. They are more likely to experience discrimination if they do not fit in, which can lead to them feeling anxious and even developing mental illnesses.
Dr Stanley Zammit, who led the research said that people living in towns and cities are more likely to develop other mental illnesses that result in personality changes -- a condition known as non-affective psychosis .
Earlier this year an official report found that village-dwellers live an average of two years longer than those living in towns and cities. According to figures from the Office of National Statistics in the UK, men who live in villages are likely to live for between 78 and 79 years, while those in towns and cities can expect to survive to an age of 76. Women on average survive to their 81stbirthday in towns and cities, but live to between 82 and 83 in villages. The small marked town of Wimborne Minster in rural Dorset was named the healthiest place to live in. | It can be inferred that _ . | village-dwellers get along better with their neighbors than city-dwellers. | ['people like living in towns and cities', 'city-dwellers enjoy their peaceful city life', 'village-dwellers are more likely to be looked down upon by others'] |
WASHINGTON — Republicans in the U.S. House of Representative plan to hold a vote next week on an immigration bill despite Trump urging them Friday to abandon efforts to pass legislation until after the mid-term elections.
Even if the Republicans — who have a majority in both the House and Senate — approve a bill, it faces almost certain defeat in the upper chamber where Democrats hold enough seats to prevent Republicans, even if they all vote together, from reaching the 60 votes needed for passage.
Earlier in the week, the president had called for Congress to quickly approve sweeping immigration legislation. But in a Friday tweet the president said, "Republicans should stop wasting their time on Immigration until after we elect more Senators and Congressmen/women in November. Dems are just playing games, have no intention of doing anything to solves this decades old problem. We can pass great legislation after the Red Wave!"
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican representing a majority Hispanic district in the state of Florida, who is not running for re-election, termed the president's tweets "schizoid policy making."
Another retiring lawmaker, Republican Congressman Mark Sanford of South Carolina, a frequent Trump critic who recently lost his primary election, said Trump's reversal sends "a horrifically chilling signal" that "makes immigration reform that much more unlikely."
On Saturday, California Democratic Senator Kamala Harris spoke in Otay Mesa, a community in San Diego, at a rally for revised immigration policies. "This is a fight born out of knowing who we are and fighting for the ideals of our country," she said. Harris spoke after touring a detention facility and speaking with several mothers.
Trump's call for Congress to postpone action came as House Republican leaders failed to garner enough support for two bills that would overhaul U.S. immigration laws and bolster border security.
A hard-line measure authored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte failed to pass on Thursday. The measure would have not guaranteed young undocumented immigrants a way to achieve permanent legal residency and included controversial enforcement measures such as a required worker validation program. | How does Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen feel about President Trumps tweets? | she thinks he is solitary and aloof | ['not enough information', 'she thinks he is on target', 'she is impressed'] |
Sure we have our loud days , our funny days , our crazy days , but it is the quiet days like that , where he seems to know exactly what I need that make me realize how wonderful he is for me . I think about it all the time . How really I only knew him for one week before I agreed to marry him , and then how odd it is that he always seems to know me so well , to understand and read my emotions and completely respond with exactly what I need exactly when I need it . | What will happen to the couple in the future ? | They will stay together . | ['They will break up .', 'They will get a divorce .', 'They will go their separate ways .'] |
Americans like to visit the national parks. In 1996, over 250,000,000 people visited areas which are managed by the National Park Service. Experts say that by 2012, 500,000,000 people per year will visit the parks. As a result, people are trying to think of ways to protect the parks from the crowds.
The crowding of the parks has caused several problems. One is that there is not enough space for all of the people who want to use the parks. To deal with this problem, you may have to book your tickets a few months ahead of time. The Park Service may also raise entrance fees .
Another problem caused by increased park use is pollution. Some garbage and waste can be cleaned up, and the cleanup can be paid for by increased entrance fees. To cut down on noise
pollution and air pollution, the number of cars allowed in parks may be limited. If this happens, people may use buses to travel around the parks. Officials may also limit the use of jet-skis, snow-mobiles, motor-boats, and sightseeing helicopters and planes.
The parks may also be in danger because of development that is going on around them. For example, around Yellow Stone Park, many hotels, golf courses, resorts, and other tourist attractions have been built. Some of these developments have effect on areas that are used by animals. People will have to learn to agree about ways to protect the parks. If they do not, there will soon be no reason to visit these national treasures. | Which of the following is true according to the text? | The parks are not big enough to hold all visitors. | ['Visitors will pay less than before.', 'Visitors may not necessarily buy tickets ahead of time.', 'Only buses are allowed to enter the parks.'] |
Today we have a hot blonde teen who fucks her friends dad ! She comes over to the house looking for Samantha , but only finds her dad in the backyard by the swimming pool . She was kinda upset because on her way over there , she was driving and her air conditioning went out inside of her car ! So she had to stay for a while and cool off by the pool . | Why did she came to the house ? | She wanted to see Samantha . | ["She wanted to talk to Samantha 's dad .", 'None of the above choices .', "She wanted to see Samantha 's dad ."] |
Scout Bassett is often asked if she hopes to have normal legs. Bassett answers, "No. When you lost a leg, it teaches you to appreciate little things - like being able to walk and run."
Born in England, Bassett was left at an orphanage due to terrible burns. Her right leg was cut off above the knee. She felt hungry all the time. When she was old enough to get around, she was forced to clean floors, feed babies and wash dishes. And she had to do all that with an artificial leg that didn't work well.
When she was 7, a family in Michigan adopted her, giving her an improved artificial leg. It was OK for everyday activities, but she couldn't play soccer or basketball.
When she was 14, she got a high-tech leg made for sports. "I remember being terrified because that was my first time," she said. Scout Bassett was waiting nervously for the race to start when the athlete Sarah Reinertsen came up and said, "I've been doing this for a while. Let me help you."
Reinertsen, who lost her leg when she was 7, works with an organization called the Challenged Athletes Foundation to help people like Scout Bassett. She lost that first race, but gained confidence from Reinertsen. Training hard, she improved her strength and skill. She even took up golf and tennis.
Now, living in Califomia, Bassett runs competitively and finds time to share her story with school groups. She said, "Some people think they having nothing in common with me. I want to say everyone has challenges - maybe with homework or friends. No matter what it is, everything you need is inside your heart. Take small steps and you will reach your dream." | How did Bassett feel after she lost her first race? | Confident. | ['Content.', 'Depressed.', 'Worried.'] |
Snatching twenty dollars , a lighter , and a bag of pot , he crept out again , glancing once more at the girl . Maybe she was dead ? With a shrug , he pushed the thought from his mind and left the house , never looking back . The twenty dollars had long since gone . | What may be a fact about the girl ? | She overdosed on some hard drugs . | ['She snuck into the house to steal some money .', 'She has been dead for weeks .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
Here is something about Christmas. Every year just after Christmas the January Sales start. All the shops reduce their prices for two weeks, and they are full of people looking for bargains. My husband and I do not normally go to the sales as we don't like crowds and are short of money as we have to buy lots of Christmas presents.
Last year, however, I took my husband with me to the sales at the large shop in the center of London. We both needed some new clothes and were hoping to find a television set. When we got to Oxford Street, it was so crowded that we decided to split up and meet again at the underground station. So I left my husband and started looking around the shops. Unfortunately all the clothes were in very large sizes and so were not suitable for me. But I did buy a television at a very low price, so I felt quite pleased with myself.
When I arrived at the station, my husband was not there. So I sat down in a nearby cafe to have a cup of tea. I quickly finished my tea when I saw my husband and went out to meet him. He looked very happy. Then I saw he was carrying a large and heavy cardboard box. "Oh, dear!" I thought. Yes, we had no new clothes but two televisions. We shall not go to the sales again. | The husband and the wife in the story _ . | wished to buy a TV | ['went to the sales the year before', 'often went to the sales to buy clothes', 'were usually not short of money after Christmas'] |
I managed to get into two classes at the college , thank God . I am not sure about my financial aid . I probably wo nt get it this semester , but next semester . I was told by the assistant director if i do nt ' get it in the fall , to go and file another petition in the spring , and I will probably get it . | Why is she only taking 2 classes ? | Without financial aid she can not afford more | ['None of the above choices .', 'Her advisor recommended to take only 2', 'She has too much other work to do'] |
In September, a new and widely advertised school opened its doors in the capital city - the Part-time Evening Elementary School. You could read in its beautifully printed brochure that the school was designed to help all those "children of wealthy parents, who are too busy to learn during the day due to the time spent on the difficult task of maintaining our country's high ranking in the very competitive field of computer games."
In other words: when a parent wanted to have some peace and quiet, he or she would leave the kid at home in front of the computer with a bag of chips. When the kid had enough, which normally happened in the evening, he would go to school for about two hours.
The creator of PEES and its first principal was Krzycho Jedynak, a former junior high PE teacher in Potylica, a computer games fan and the winner of, as we could read in the beautifully printer brochure, "a local Amiga gaming championship". Understanding exactly the needs of his future students, he planned to open classes of the following profiles: platform PSP (one group), platform PC (three groups), platform GB (one) and platform Mac (cancelled due to a lack of interest).
The school received an astonishing number of applications (four for each spot), which meant that many kids spent their days playing computer games and that many parents wanted time for themselves. To be accepted, young candidates had to demonstrate their social and psychological maturity and computer instincts, evaluated according to a patented method developed by Mr. Jedynak. The parents, on the other hand, had to pass an exam in using a joystick and provide a proof of income of at least 7000 zloty per month for a young family member.
During the registration process was so competitive, it ended in violence. A disappointed father of a child who didn't get in, shouted that only VIP brats had been accepted, for which he got hit in the face by editor Furtok, in private - a father of a kid who got in to group B2/platform PC. | Why the disappointed father was angry? | Because his child didn't wasn't accepted | ['not enough information', 'Because someone hit his son', 'Because someone insulted him'] |
I killed the mood by saying , " Fine I 'll get knocked up right now ! " It 's pretty funny , though . My mom said she and dad would react the same way Juno 's parents would have . They would have calmly helped me out and they would ' ve let me keep my baby too . | From the passage , how would you guess Juno 's parents reacted ? | They supported their daughter . | ['None of the above choices .', 'They were angry .', 'They ignored the situation .'] |
Sayings are quite common in spoken English. We don't normally put them in a composition or a letter. Sometimes it is helpful if you know what common proverbs mean. Here are a few examples.
" Once bitten, twice shy." If a dog bites me, I shall be twice as careful in future when I see it. This proverb is also used to apply to many things and not only to dogs. For example, if you have been cheated at a shop, you will not go to the same shop again.
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." If I am a hunter, trying to catch birds, it is better to catch one than to see two birds in a bush but not able to catch them. Thus this means that what you have already got is better than the chance of being able to get something bigger in future.
" Don't be a dog in a manger " means " Don't be selfish." In a stable ,the manger is the place where the horse's food is put. Sometimes a dog will sleep in the manger and bark when a horse comes to get its food. The dog doesn't want to eat the horse's food in the manger but it will not let the horse eat it.
" He who pays the piper calls the tune ." A piper is a musician. The man who pays a musician can say what tunes the man will play. Thus this means that if a man provides the money for a plan, he can say how it will be carried out.
"To pour oil on troubled waters" is to try to calm things down. Oil is lighter than water. If a ship is in trouble at sea, another ship may come to help it. The second ship can send small boats to rescue people. However, it may first pour oil on the sea to make the sea less rough. | Mr and Mrs Smith had a quarrel. Their friend, Mr Brown, wanted to talk to them. When he came back, he told his wife that he had been trying to help the Smiths by _ . | pouring oil on the troubled waters | ['getting blood out of a stone', 'being a dog in a manger', 'sitting on the fence'] |
Most of the time , it did n't bother her . The heating bill was minimal , and it was her favorite thing to lie in her bed , reading , with her kids curled up by her with Jacob 's warmth at her back . Ah , bliss ... | Why does the female subject not mind the cold ? | It allows her to be with the kids . | ['It allows her to be with her mom in bed .', 'It allows her to be with her friend in bed .', 'It allows her to be alone in bed .'] |
Have you eaten too much over the holidays? You should try fidgeting for a while. Those around you might not like it, but scratching (moving your nails against a part of your body) and twitching (moving suddenly and quickly when you don't want to) is an important way of burning up calories .
American researchers have found that some people's squirming (continuously turn your body when nervous) and wigging (move in small movements, especially from side to side) equals several miles of slow running each day.
The scientists, based at the National Institute of Health's laboratory in Phenix, Arizona, are studying why some people get fat and other stay slim.
In one study 177 people each spent 24 hours in a room in the institute where the amount of energy is measured by their oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. By the end of the day, some people had burned up 800 calories in toe-tapping, (moving the front part of your foot up and down) finger-drumming (hitting your fingers continuously and lightly against something hard) and other nervous habits. However, others had burned up only 100 calories.
The researchers found that slim women fidget more than fat women, but there was no significant difference in men. Heavy people burn up more energy when they fidget than thin people do. | Scientists think a fidget habit to be _ . | a way to lose fat | ['a nervous habit annoying the people around', 'a better exercise than slow running', 'a habit of thin people'] |
Love, success, happiness, family and freedom----how important are these values to you? Here is one interview which explores the fundamental questions in life.
Question: Could you introduce yourself first?
Answer: My name is Misbah, 27 years old. I was born in a war-torn area. Right now I am a web designer.
Q: What are your great memories?
A: My parents used to take me to hunt birds, climb trees, and play in the fields. For me it was like a holiday because we were going to have fun all day long Those are my great memories.
Q: Does your childhood mean a lot to you?
A: As life was hard, I used to work to help bring money in for the family. I spent my childhood working, with responsibilities beyond my age .However, it taught me to deal with problems _ . I learnt to be independent.
Q: What changes would you like to make in your life?
A: If I could change something in my life, I'd change it so that my childhood could have taken place in another area. I would have loved to live with my family in freedom. Who cares whether we have much money, or whether we have a beautiful house? It doesn't matter as I can live with my family and we are safe.
Q: How do you get along with your parents?
A: My parents supported me until I came of age. I want to give back what I have got. That's my way. But I am working in another city. My only contact with my parents now is through the phone, but I hate using it. It filter out your emotion and leaves your voice only. My deepest feeling should be passed through sight ,hearing and touch. | What did Misbah desire most in his childhood? | Peace and freedom | ['A colorful life', 'A beautiful house', 'Money for his life'] |
Tuesday , 2:08 AM . Fritz and I were awakened by a wild scrambling outside the bedroom in the front hall . There was also a high , piercing squeeking noise . " What 's that ? " from Fritz . | What pitch was the noise that they heard ? | The noise was high and piercing . | ['None of the above choices .', 'The noise was low pitch and rumbling .', 'The noise was medium pitch and loud .'] |
Go through boxes ? Me?Yes , in a minute . I asked my guys at the deli to toast my chocolate chip muffin , and it is divine . They burned the edges just a bit so they 're crispy and burnt - chocolatey . Mmmm . Ugh . | What may happen after eating the muffin ? | None of the above choices . | ['He may have washed it all down the kitchen sink .', 'He may have gone to a dairy and bought a cow to milk .', 'He may have thrown up all over the restaurant table .'] |
It took about two months for us to find a place to rent in Melbourne . We lived at that apartment for a year , and then moved to a house in another suburb . We were there just over a year and a half I think and then we moved to another house in the northern suburbs . We lived at that house for over two years , she went mental in the head and she moved out and I ' ve not heard from her since . | Why did it take so long to find a place to rent in Melbourne ? | Housing is scarce in Melbourne . | ['Housing is cheap in Melbourne .', 'It took to long to save up money for rent .', "They could n't make a decision ."] |
If your dog or cat is eating grass, it means it's going to rain.
False maybe. There' s no evidence that when a dog or cat is eating grass in the front yard, it' s going to rain. But then, there's no evidence that it isn't going to rain, either. Doctors think dogs and cats eat grass to help make their stomach better or maybe just because they like the taste of it.
You'll get sick if you go outside in cold weather with wet hair.
False. You might feel cold, but you can't catch a cold because you were outside with wet hair.
Many churches have prevented people from throwing rice at weddings because the rice grows larger in a bird's stomach when eaten, causing the bird to explode .
True and false. It's true many churches have prevented people from throwing rice, but this is more likely because the rice can become slick on a road or street. There's nothing about rice that will hurt birds. Rice is an important part of many bird's food.
Chocolate is Poisonous to dogs.
True. Chocolate has theobromine, which can make your dog sick. So, if you don't want to put your dog's life at risk, don't feed it with chocolate.
The number of people visiting the hospital goes way up during a full moon.
False. According to researchers, there is no evidence that more people visit the hospital during a full moon, though more people do seem to get caught by the police during that time. The idea that the moon influences behavior has been studied for thousands of years--even the word "lunacy", which means crazy behavior, is based on the word "luna" or "moon". | What's the main purpose of the text? | To provide information about certain stories | ['To give advice on health', 'To test people on their knowledge of animals', 'To report the latest discoveries in science'] |
Most British parents give their teenagers pocket money.Teenagers get betweenPS7 andPS20 a week.They spend it on fast food,designed clothes,the cinema,concert,magazines and mobile phones.
1)Lazy parents?
37%of parents pay teenagers to clean the living room,66%of parents pay teenagers to take the rubbish out.
2)Lazy teens?
51%of teenagers don't make their beds before they leave home.
Only 1 3%of teenagers wash the car for money.
Some parents even pay their teenagers to do their homework.
3)Equality?Not Yet!
Boys get more money than girls for most odd jobs.
For washing the dishes,boys get aboutPS4 and girls get aboutPS1.
4)And if you need some more money?
Teens get an extraPS250 a year out of their parents on top of pocket money!
About 50%of teens get gifts or money from their grandparents.
Go to Mum if you need extra money! She gives more than Dad.
5)Where you live makes a difference!
Parents in Scotland and the North of England give more pocket money.
6)Spending
51%of teenagers spend their money on clothes.
39%of teenagers buy cosmetics ,jewellery and toiletries .
Less than 30%of teenagers save any money.
7)Earnings
Here are some children who tell us about their pocket money:
Emma:I getPS30 a month.I have to take the rubbish out and tidy my room.
James:I getPS10 a week.But I have to clean the car,hoover the house and load and unload the dishwasher.I usually save the money.
Lain:I getPS7.50 a week.I have to be"good"but I don't have to do any jobs for the money.
Richard;I getPS5 a week.But our neighbors go away a lot and they give mePS25 a week for looking after their cats. | We can infer from the passage that _ . | most children spend their pocket money | ['boys earn more money at home than girls', 'girls earn more money at home than boys', 'only rich parents give children pocket money'] |
A typical Chinese Internet user is a young male who prefers instant messaging to e-mail,seldom makes online purchases but favors news,music and games sites.According to a study,about two-thirds of survey participants use the Internet for news--often entertainment-related--or for online games.About half download music and movies.
They also tend to prefer instant messaging to e-mail,and they are depending on the Internet more frequently than before to communicate with others who have the same professions,hobbies and political interests.Online purchases still remain unpopular in China.Three-quarters of users surveyed have never bought anything over the Internet,and only 10 percent make purchases even once a month.Among those who do buy online,most pay for entertainment while others buy phone cards,or computer hardware or software.
"Many people don't trust the quality of goods bought online," Guo said Wednesday."If they buy it in a store and don't like it,they can easily bring it back.''
The survey was done in five major cities:Beijin9,Shanghai,Guangzhou.Chengdu and Changsha.Results do not necessarily project countrywide because Internet use in rural areas is lower than in cities.Guo describes the typical netizen in the five cities surveyed as young,male,richer and more highly educated.Males make up two-thirds of the Internet community,and more than 80 percent of users are under 24.Among people ages 25 to 29,60 percent to 80 percent go online.
China has more than 100 million people online,second in the world to the United States. | A typical Chinese Internet user will be the one who_. | likes the games sites | ['likes to send e-mails', 'likes to buy goods online', 'likes to pay for entertainment'] |
Then he would suddenly be a tall , dark handsome 19yo and leave on a full scholarship to Harvard , having totally bypassed the lanky , awkward and parent - distaining years . That was how I pictured it , anyway . I don;t remember signing up for ten . | What city may be soon be living ? | Boston | ['Concord', 'None of the above choices .', 'New York City'] |
Today I had this weird awakening ... we were climbing this rocky cliff at Acadia when we were in Bar Harbor , and of course , CK was not there . Allison was having a really hard time making it up , she s afraid of heights ... Well so am I ... She had Mitch there right behind her helping her . To me , it was weird , but for once , I was actually okay with the height . Its the highest and steepest I have ever been ... and I was fine . | What may of happened after reaching the top ? | Feeling joy at such an accomplishment . | ['None of the above choices .', 'Feeling happy that I got proposed to .', 'Feeling angry at not doing it faster .'] |
But we tried to hide it and just hang out . The girls tried to start something by whispering in their ears and giggling and stuff like that , but er ... it did n't work . We shrugged it off and watched the waves . | Why is the narrator and their friends ignoring the girls ? | They are captivated by the ocean . | ['They are captivated by each other .', 'None of the above choices .', 'They are captivated by the pettiness of the girls .'] |
A little girl was given so many picture books on her seventh birthday that her father. Who should have run his office and let her mother run the home, thought his daughter should give one or two of her new books to a little neighbor boy named Robert, who had visited their home sometimes.
Now, taking books, or anything else, from a little girl is like taking sweets from a baby, but the father of the little girl had his way and Robert got a couple of her books. "After all, that leaves you with nine," said the father, who thought he was a child psychologist ,and couldn't shout his big stupid mouth on the subject.
A few weeks later, the father went to his library to look up "father" in The Oxford English Dictionary, eager to enjoy the praise of fatherhood through the centuries, but he couldn't find volume F-G and then he discovered that others were missing too. A-B,L-M, V-Z. He looked everywhere for them, and learned what had happened to the four missing volumes.
"A man came to the door this morning" said the little daughter, "and he didn't know how to get from here to Torrington or from Torrington to Wintec, and he was a kind man, much nicer than Robert, and so I gave him four of your books After all, there are thirteen volumes in the Oxford English Dictionary, and that leaves you with nine. | What's still unclear to us in the story? | The exact number of the picture books the girl had received. | ['How many volumes the Oxford English Dictionary includes.', 'Whether each volume of the dictionary includes entries beginning with two letters.', "Whether the father knew his daughter's mind well"] |
Ok , so Day 1 . The ride to Okayama lasted from about 9:30 - 3 , with a few stops in the middle for bathroom breaks and lunch . Once we got into the prefecture , I snapped a couple of pictures of the scenic rural Okayama landscape : Soon we arrived at the school : And students were waving to greet us : They seemed pretty excited , but I knew that they 'd probably clam up and get all shy as soon as we got in . | What might the writer 's group do after arriving in Okayama ? | None of the above choices . | ['They may take the students out sightseeing .', 'They may take a class from the students .', 'They may visit historic venues .'] |
I moved on a few miles and met Mike Myers . He was riding a moped and stopped to talk . He likes to travel too and wanted to know where I was going . I found out that he has traveled all across the US and Canada on his BMW motorcycle . | How may I be feeling right now ? | Happy | ['None of the above choices .', 'Sad', 'Tired'] |
Most of us know about the Nobel Prize, especially the Nobel Peace Prize, but few of us know anything about the man who set them up. His name was Alfred Nobel. He was a great scientist and inventor himself. Besides, he had a big business. His business may surprise you. He made and sold explosives . His companies even made and sold weapons. Isn't this something that surprises you? The man who made money from weapons should set up the Peace Prize?
Though Alfred Nobel had a lot of money from weapons, he hated war. He hoped that there would be no war in the world. He was one of the richest in Europe. When he died in 1896, he left behind him a lot of money and his famous will. According to his will, most of his money was placed in a fund . He wanted the interest from the fund to be used as prizes every year. We know them as the Nobel Prizes. The Nobel Prizes are international. Alfred Nobel wanted the winners to be chosen for their work, not the country they came from.
Alfred Nobel had given his whole life to his studies and work and to the benefits of mankind. He made money all by his own efforts, but he left the world share his wealth. His inventions and wealth stay with the world for ever. | Nobel wanted to set up the Nobel Peace Prize because _ . | he hated war | ['he made enough money', 'he wanted to get more interest from the fund', 'he liked to live in a peaceful world'] |
I slowly walked toward these chocolate hotties and I introduced myself . Since I was a master of tennis way back in college , I offered them a special course in perfecting their forehands and backhands . Monica and Rane were delighted to swing and sweat back at my crib . | What did they say to you ? | None of the above choices . | ['they would show disgust', 'they would say nothing', 'they would walk away'] |
There are many commonly held beliefs about eye glasses and eyesight that are not proven facts. For instance, some people believe that wearing glasses too soon weakens the eyes. But there is no evidence to show that the structure of eyes is changed by wearing glasses at a young age. Wearing the wrong glasses, however, can prove harmful. Studies show that for adults there is no danger, but children can develop loss of vision if they have glasses inappropriate for their eyes.
We have all heard some of the common myths about how eyesight gets bad. Most people believe that reading in dim light causes poor eyesight, but that is untrue. Too little light makes the eyes work harder, so they do get tired and strained. Eyestrain also results from reading a lot, reading in bed, and watching too much television. However, although eyestrain may cause some pain or headaches, it does not permanently damage eyesight.
Another myth about eyes is that they can be replaced, or transferred from one person to another. They are close to one million nerve fibers that connect the eyeball to the brain, so it is impossible to attach them all in a new person. Only certain parts of the eye can be replaced. But if we keep clearing up the myths and learning more about the eyes, some day a full transplant may be possible. | If a child wears appropriate glasses, _ . | the structure of his eyes will keep the same as before | ['it is harmful', 'the structure of his eyes will be changed', 'he will lose sight'] |
I had a very fun and interesting weekend this weekend . Friday was spent being totally lazy . I played a lot of sudoku and watched Mansfield Park , which was cute , and Jane Eyre , which was boring . And now I know that I like Jane Austen , not Charlotte Bronte . When Chris got home we went to Microcenter to switch out the memory we 'd gotten for the new computer . | What may have happened if I had work on Friday ? | None of the above choices . | ["I 'd have time to watch a few shows like Mansfield Park", "I 'd enjoy a totally lazy day", 'Could play my favorite game sudoku'] |
Cara Lang is 13. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts, in the U. S. Last Thursday, she didn't go to school. She went to work with her father instead. Every year, on the fourth Thursday in April, millions of young girls go work. This is Take Our Daughters to Work Day. The girls are between the ages of 9 and 15. They spend the day at work with an adult, usually a mother, father, aunt, or uncle. They go to offices, police stations, laboratories, and other places where their parents or other family members work. Next year, the day will include sons, too.
The Ms. Foundation, an organization for women, started the program about ten years ago. In the U.S., many women work outside the home. The Ms. Foundation wanted girls to find out about many different kinds of jobs. Then, when the girls grow up, they can choose a job they like.
Cara's father is a film director. Cara says, "It was very exciting for me to go to the studio with my dad. I saw a lot of people doing different jobs." Many businesses have special activities for girls on this day. Last year, Cara went to work with her aunt at the University of Massachusetts. In the engineering department, the girls learned to build a bridge with toothpicks and Candy. In the chemistry department, they learned to use scales. They learned about many other kinds of jobs, too.
Right now, Cara does not know what job she will have when she grows up. But because of Take Our Daughters to Work Day, she knows she has many choices. | According to the passage, Take our Daughters to work Day is _ . | a day for girls to know about jobs | ['on every Thursday in Apri', 'a holiday for girls of all ages', 'a day for girls to get a job easily'] |
Today in schools, it's not unusual for students to sit in the same kind of desks in the same kind of classrooms as their parents did.
Schools have made progress by making use of computers and PDAs in the classroom, yet one design company believes that changes are needed, so they describe what a future classroom may look like.
"Kids are being taught to sit at these wooden desks that are basically designed for writing," said Mark Dziersk, the senior vice president of the design. "They're being lectured in a structured environment."
The solution is a "customizable education system" called Gooru that reorganizes the classroom and replaces books, desks, pens, and so on. The three-part technology system consists of an interactive PDA called the GooBall, a backpack and a removable LCD screen for each student. Students can sit, stand or lie down when using the devices, and are not limited to desks.
The idea was presented at last month's South by Southwest Interactive Conference. While some educators think the idea is interesting, they doubt whether schools will pay for the expensive and complicated system.
The GooBall is an interactive communication device with six layers of learning software. The device monitors a student's heart rate and body temperature and uses GPS to track where they are. It includes instant messaging, a compass, a watch, and a topic-specific alert system that directs a student to related articles and books about whatever they are studying. Students can also choose an animal icon to show their personality.
The backpack houses the main power supply for the system and holds some personal items. The pocket keeps items locked tight with a fingerprint security zipper.
The portable screen functions like a laptop, providing wireless Internet access and streaming video. It also has a touch screen interface.
"I think it's an excellent idea," said Gary Tankard, a sixth-grader who has seen the prototype . "I'm sure that 90 percent of kids would really like to have it." | What can the GooBall do? | It tests a student's physical condition. | ['It plays the role of a laptop.', 'It makes students confused about choosing books.', 'It supplies the power to the system.'] |
DBSK : I Think I Like Them ! I have a newfound appreciation for DBSK . Sure , they only have two ... er , actually , there 's only one song that I ' ve been able to listen to more than once , and I ' ve pretty much put that on constant repeat in the last few weeks , but that 's not the point ! The point is , I have a newfound appreciation . | What art does DBSK do ? | They play music . | ['They are podcasters .', 'They are writers .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
The famous English writer, Charles Dickens, is on every British child's school reading list. Though Dickens is one of England's greatest writers, he is not often read. Most people do not read his books because they think they are too long and the language he uses is old-fashioned . Television, however, has rescued this great English writer from disappearing in the modern age.
In the UK for several years, Dickens' novels have been turned into exciting television dramas. His latest book to be filmed is his little known story Little Dorrit. Before the story became a 15-part television drama most Britons were unaware that Dickens had ever written it.
Most of the Dickens television dramas are so well filmed that English students are likely to watch them in class while studying his book. There are, however, some differences between the books and television dramas. The television dramas often give more time to the exciting parts of Dickens' books. For example, there is far more kissing scenes in the television shows than there are in the books.
Some television dramas have also slightly changed Dickens' female characters to make them more acceptable to a modern audience . In Dickens' books his females are often weak and emotional. The TV dramas, however, show them as being fairly independent-minded.
Several TV critics have argued that Dickens' stories are actually better suited to television than they are being read as books. Their reasoning is that Dickens wrote his stories for newspapers. A chapter would appear in the newspaper each week so Dickens ended each chapter at an exciting moment. People then would buy the newspaper the following week to find out what happened later. This makes his stories perfect for being shown on television as 15-part programs. | Which of the following shows the differences between Dickens' books and television dramas? | The television dramas are more exciting than the books. | ['The television dramas are more often used in class for English students than the books.', 'The television dramas are better known than the books.', 'There is far more kissing in the books than there are in the television dramas.'] |
As Paige watched the other kids playing football in her local park she longed to join in. But at nearly nine stone (1stone equals 6.35 kilograms), the 11-year-old was too big to enjoy her favorite sport, she was well on her way to being another overweight member of her family. Mandy, her mum was 17th 10 lb and Anne, her grandma 15th 10 lb.
Mandy, 39, and Anne, 67, both have a sweet tooth and share a love of all things stodgy. Recent figures show that two-thirds of kids will be dangerously fat by 2050, and overweight kids often become obese adults and live shorter lives as they are at higher risk of everything from heart disease to cancer and type-2 diabetes. Mandy says she knew things had to change for her and her family. Mandy's mum Anne had an even greater motivation for wanting to slim down. Last autumn Paige went along to the Slimming World to keep her mum and grand ma company. In the first week on the Slimming World eating plan, Mandy lost a whopping 9.5lb. Mandy asked Paige to join in. They believed the Free2Go plan is balanced and nutritious and doesn't deprive Paige of anything.
Supporting and encouraging each other the whole time, Anne, Mandy and Paige all whittled away their waistlines. Mandy says: "My back problems have cleared up." Anne has also noticed a real difference in her health. She says: "I feel like I've got my old energy back." Paige is almost as delighted with her new wardrobe as she is about her foot balling skills. Mandy adds: "I'm just so proud of Paige. I felt awful because I knew her weight problems were a result of my bad eating habits. But when I see her now it's like she's a different person." | Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? | Paige liked the game of football very much. | ['Overweight people usually live longer.', "Free2Go plan can't make people healthy.", 'Sweet food can make people suffer heart disease.'] |
The possibility that pleasant smells might reduce pain has recently been suggested by new research. In a scientific study, doctors asked 20 men and 20 women to keep their hands in very hot water for as long as possible while breathing in different smells.
As people believe that strong smells can affect the senses, volunteers were asked not to eat or drink for eight hours before the experiment began. During the experiment, volunteers were asked to take in pleasant smells such as vanilla , and unpleasant smells such as durians . The volunteers kept their hands in the water until it became too hot for them. When they could not bear the pain any more, they took their hands out of the water.
Scientists are interested in whether the senses or smell is related to pain and whether men and women have the same senses. Now, the study has proved that for women, pleasant smells reduce pain. For men, there is no change.
Dr Finkelstein has been studying smells since 1999. He says that scientists already have data from 40 volunteers. He adds that this year, scientists will test another 60 volunteers and will be in a better position to explain the results.
One explanation is that women's sense of smell developed long ago, and is linked to recognizing the smell of babies. Scientists used to believe that mothers recognized their children by sight only. Now, they have started to believe that the sense of smell also helps, but why pleasant smells do not reduce pain in men is a question still to be answered by scientists. | Now scientists believe that _ . | smells are helpful for mothers to spot their children | ['mothers recognize their children only by sight', "men's sense of smell developed a long time ago", "strong smells have a great influence on people's senses"] |
Mary Moe may look like an average grandmother.But she is not.She just learned how to fly an airplane,a dream she has had since she was a little girl.But Mary Moe could not find time to make her dream come true.At age 34,she was just too busy to think about flying a plane.Lessons were costly.Everything seemed to be working against Mary.So her dream had to wait.
Mary Moe has done a lot during the past 91 years.For much of that time,she wanted to fly,but never had the chance--until now.
Ms.Moe learned about Wish of a Lifetime, a non-profit organization.Its goal is to change the way our society thinks about aging and older adults.Sally Webster works for the group.She said Ms.Moe's wish is one of hundreds they receive each year.
Wish of a Lifetime helps older people to enjoy a dream.It also sends the message that it is never too late for a dream.But Ms.Webster says it also wants to send another message to society that older Americans can achieve things just like younger Americans can.
Susie Danick also believes in this goal.She founded TAD Relocation,a business that helps senior citizens when they move.Ms.Danick gave $5,000 to the Wish of a Lifetime to help seniors realize a dream.Mary Moe was one of them.
Mary Moe received three flying lessons.And on the big day of her first flight,her family and friends all came to cheer her on.Mary's success made everyone around her excited and proud.It was just a great event,a great day.Flying teacher David Waksberg says she was very calm,which is always important when you're flying.
It is never too late to spread your wings and try something new.You are never too old to try to make your dreams come true. | Why was Mary Moe's dream difficult to come true? | She had no enough time and money in the past. | ['She did nothing for flying lessons.', 'No pilots were willing to help her.', 'Her family did not support her wish.'] |
His father died when he was 15 so he was left a fair share of his fathers money and properties . He chose a beautiful home on the outskirts of Leinster . It had been vacant a few years so Eamon hired laborers to fix it just the way he wanted it . The land had many fruit trees and a big pond with enough fish to last years . | What may happen after he purchase the house ? | He may renovate the house with his inheritance according to his taste . | ['He may move away from the beautiful house on the outskirt of the Leinster .', 'None of the above choices .', 'He may leave the home vacant for a few years .'] |
ok so for the past month now i keep having dreams with the exact same dude in them ! please help me interpret these ! it started off iw as in my backyard riding a horse and doing jumps and stuff then it bucked me off so i went inside and a really cute dude was there ! | Who is the dude from the narrator 's dreams ? | People often dream of ideals , so the dude is an ideal of what she finds attractive in men . | ['People often dream of movie so the dude is the dude from The Big Lebowski .', 'People often incorporate things they saw him passing into dreams , so the dude was the guy who jump started her car .', 'People sometimes dream of their hobbies so the dude was a dude she surfed with .'] |
Gunshots rang out once again on a campus in the United States on Wednesday.
Students and faculty raced out of harm's way, ducked under furniture, barricaded doors and hid in interior rooms, bathrooms and labs. The short-lived nightmare on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles came one day before Wear Orange: National Gun Violence Awareness Day.
Wear Orange was inspired by friends of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old Chicago high school student killed by gunfire in 2013. The group decided to honor her life by wearing orange — the color worn by hunters in the woods to protect themselves and others.
While the idea has been embraced by civic organizations, politicians and celebrities, it has been rejected by gun rights advocates. The National Rifle Association has attacked the campaign as "pointless," and said "participating is an easy way of scoring points for being 'socially conscious.'"
Here is a look at the unique relationship between Americans and their guns.
Any law-abiding citizen in the United States is allowed to own or carry a gun.
That right comes from the U.S. Bill of Rights and the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It says: "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."
The Second Amendment was based partially on English common law, which describes an auxiliary right, supporting the natural rights of self-defense, resistance to oppression, and the civic duty to act in concert in defense of the state.
To purchase a gun in the majority of states, a person needs to be of age, pass the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check and fill out a firearms transaction record.
However, background checks are not currently required for private sales, including those conducted at gun shows.
Certain people are banned from owning weapons, including convicted criminals, people with mental health illnesses or non-U.S. citizens. But the system has major holes in it. | The shooting at UCLA probably lasted: | Less that one hour | ['More than one week', 'More than one day', 'not enough information'] |
Americans get some of their news and entertainment from public television and radio. These public media receive money to operate from private citizens, organizations and government. Many of their programs are educational. But most of the American media are run by businesses for profit. These privately owned media have changed greatly in recent years. Newspapers, magazines and traditional broadcast television organizations have lost some of their popularity. At the same time, online, cable and satellite media have increased in numbers and strength. So have media that serve racial groups and those communicating in foreign languages.
In general, more media than ever now provide Americans with news and entertainment. At the same time, fewer owners control them. Huge companies have many holdings . In some areas, one company controls much of the media. One dramatic change in American media is the increased success of cable television. It comes into most homes over wires. It does not use the public airwaves to present programs, as broadcast television does. Like broadcast television, most cable television programs perform advertisements. This is true although people must pay to see cable television in their homes. Thirty years ago, few people had cable. Today, about sixty-eight percent of American homes have cable television. Television by satellite also is gaining popularity.
Over the years, traditional broadcast organizations have tried to appeal to as many watchers as possible. Many cable companies, however, present programs for one special group of viewers. For example, there are cable stations for people who like books, cooking, travel, golf or comedy. | Which of the following properly shows the change in these privately owned media? | Satellite media is getting more popular. | ['Newspapers are getting more popular.', 'Traditional media also serve racial groups.', 'Some media make their programs in foreign languages'] |
Jonathan Swift said, “Everybody wants to live forever, but nobody wants to grow old.” Wouldn’t it be nice if we could stay healthy and young and live as long as possible? Because that is a deep down desire of the majority, many people are always on a quest to slow down the aging process.
So, our question for today is:
What are the Anti-Aging Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet?
First, we must acknowledge that no diet in the world can halt or slow the aging process. Aging is inevitable and food is not the elixir of life – although the type of food you choose can lengthen or shorten your life.
What has been proven by numerous studies is that the Mediterranean diet lessens your risks of getting certain diseases. It also offers a range of health benefits that will allow you to age in a healthy way. When you whole-heartedly adopt the Mediterranean way of eating, you will reduce your risk of health problems such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, heart diseases, etc.
That alone can be classified as anti-aging. Old age is often associated with health problems. If you can grow old and maintain your health, that would be a fine way to live. The Mediterranean diet can help you do that.
Unfortunately, the standard diet for most Americans is filled with junk food, sugary sodas, fast foods and processed, additive-filled food, etc. – basically empty calories.
Obesity is an epidemic. People eat whatever is the most convenient with little regard for their health. This is very upsetting and dangerous for the population as a whole.
There is a wide assumption that healthy food is not delicious. People believe that to eat healthy they must live on a steady diet of raw carrots and steamed chicken breasts. As a result, they choose not to do so. They would much rather have a fast-food burger and cheese fries – it’s easier and tastier. | What diet did research participants follow before they showed a reduce risk of disease? | the Mediterranean way of eating | ['not enough information', 'the Vegan diet', 'the Paleo diet'] |
When you run, you put force that is equal to three times your body weight on your feet. The human foot contains twenty muscles. This means that there is a lot that can go wrong when you run.
Most sports have some kind of running or jumping So experts at many shoe companies work hard to design good sport shoes. First, a designer enters a plan for a shoe into a computer .Engineers then improve the design. A second computer designs a model for the shoe. Then a few pairs are made. Next, the shoe is tested.
Different kinds of sports shoes are made for different uses. Some are made to help marathon runners save energy during a race. Some are made for the stop-and-go kind of running tennis players. But all sport shoes have one thing in common: they are designed to help people's feet comfortable during sports. Today, nearly every sport has its own special shoe designed for just the kind of running that sport needs. | Different kinds of sport shoes _ . | meet the needs of different sportsmen | ['are made in different shoe companies', 'are designed for people of the different weight', 'are of the same price'] |
There are many theories about how drama came into being in ancient Greece. The one most widely accepted today is based on the assumption that drama developed gradually from ceremonies. The argument for this view goes as follows.
In the beginning, human beings viewed the natural forces of the world as unpredictable, and they sought through various means to control these unknown powers. Those measures which appeared to bring the desired results were then kept and repeated until they hardened into fixed ceremonies. Eventually stories arose which explained the mysteries of the ceremonies. As time passed, some of them were abandoned, but the stories, later called myths , provided materials for art and drama
Those who believe that drama came out of ceremonies also argue that those ceremonies contained the seed of theater because music, dance, and masks were almost always used. In addition, there were performers, and, since considerable importance was attached to avoiding mistakes in the rules of ceremonies, religious leaders usually assumed that task. Wearing masks, they often impersonated other people, animals, or supernatural beings, and performed the desired effect by gestures -- success in hunt or battle, the coming rain, the revival of the Sun -- as an actor might. Eventually such dramatic representations were separated from religious activities.
Another theory finds out the theater came from the human Interest in storytelling. According to this view, tales (about the hunt, war, or other events) are gradually formed, at first through the use of impersonation, action, and dialogue by a speaker and then through the assumption of each of the roles by a different person A closely related theory about drama _ those dances that are primarily rhythmical and gymnastic or that are imitations of animal movements and sounds. | The best title for the text would be _ . | The Origin of Drama | ['The Development of Drama', 'The History of Drama', 'The Popularity of Drama'] |
Technology is changing our lives. Our present aerospace companies are gradually disappearing as private space concerns are being born every day. I'm going to discuss three spacebased businesses that are sure to soon influence us all.
First we have to make space travel cheaply and safely. Engine design is the main challenge. To make money in space, the cost of space travel will have to diminish . This problem will be the most difficult to solve. Liquid fueled rockets are the only way to get out of Earth's orbit. Finding new ways to power the flight to space is also another big challenge.
Finding the key to cheap space travel might be the biggest story of our times. There are a lot of great minds working on this problem. And companies are pouring money into research and development. In the next few years we'll see the first suborbital tourist. And not long after that we should really start to see new and exciting things as competition heats up.
Spacecraft design and production will naturally follow rocket technology. All sorts of crafts will be needed for the wide uses they'll be tasked with. Several companies in the United States have already made small, lowcost test vehicles.
Resources in space will provide great mining profits to those who can afford the cost of setting up such a huge operation. Can you imagine finding a huge asteroid of pure gold? The benefit to mankind is limitless. Mining on other planets, like Mars, also adds CO2 into the very thin atmosphere. Over time this can lead to the formation of an atmosphere similar to Earth's.
Space is going to offer us untold opportunity and wealth. But this is only going to occur if wealthy investors step forward and fund the first steps forward. It is certain that technology will take us to worlds we could never have imagined. | According to the passage mining on other planets might help _ . | form the atmosphere like Earth's there | ['increase the travel benefits there', 'bring some new species there', 'create more job opportunities there'] |
A long time ago, when humans still lived in cities, on a cold morning near the end of a long, cruel winter, in magnificent Central Park in the middle of magnificent New York City, a young squirrel named Patch was awakened very early by the growls of his empty stomach. A squirrel's home is called a drey. Patch's drey was very comfortable. He lived high up an old oak tree, in a hollowed-out stump of a big branch that had long ago been cut off by humans. The entrance was only just big enough for Patch to squeeze in and out, but the drey itself was spacious, for a squirrel. Patch had lined his drey with dry leaves, grasses and bits of newspaper. It was warm and dry, and on that cold morning he would have liked nothing better than to stay home all day and sleep. But he was so hungry. Hunger filled him like water fills a glass. The cherry and maple trees had not yet started to bud; flowers had not yet begun to grow; the juicy grubs and bugs of spring had not yet emerged; and it had been two days since Patch had found a nut. Imagine how hungry you would feel if you went two whole days without eating, and you may have some idea how Patch felt that morning. Patch poked his head out of the drey into the cold air and shivered as he looked around. Clumps of white, crumbly ice still clung to the ground. Gusts of cold wind shook and rustled the trees' bare branches. The pale and distant sun seemed drained of heat. Patch took a moment to satisfy himself that there were no dangers nearby, no hawk circling above or unleashed dog below. Then he emerged from his drey and began to look for acorns. But what marvels, what miracles, what mysteries are hidden inside those simple words! | How often does Patch need to eat to avoid feeling hungry: | not enough information | ['every hour on the hour', 'six times a day', 'twice a day'] |
Study-abroad programs are a great way to learn about different cultures. Sometimes students don't have the money to join in these programs. That is why scholarships for study-abroad programs are starting to become popular.
Study-abroad programs can often be quite expensive. Finding scholarships is not that difficult. Usually, you can just visit the study-abroad office at your educational institution or even the financial services office. They will have a large directory of available scholarships. If your school does not have these offices, you can just quickly have a look on the Internet and find a wide variety of scholarships you might qualify for.
The credentials you need to be considered for a scholarship vary greatly. But, to be a candidate for any scholarship, you generally need to have good grades, be an outstanding person, and be able to take full advantage of the opportunities presented to you. You will be able to show why you are a good candidate through the application process.
The application process for each scholarship varies, which usually includes submitting an academic record, an essay, and sometimes an interview.
Usually, you will have to submit your academic records. The administrators of the scholarship will know that you take your academic studies seriously. Next you usually need to write an essay. This could be on a wide variety of subjects, but they usually focus on something related to 'why you should get this scholarship' to determine how much you want the scholarship and how good of a candidate you would be. After this, the final few applicants may be asked in for an interview to learn about you and why you would be a good recipient of the scholarship.
If you satisfy all these requirements, there is a good chance you will get a scholarship. If you don't have enough money, don't give up but use plenty of scholarship opportunities for you! | To prove whether you take your academic studies seriously, you should _ . | submit your academic records | ['write an essay on why you should get this scholarship', 'be interviewed by the administrators of the scholarship', 'prove you are a good recipient of the scholarship'] |
Alexis was _ and tired. With rage in her voice she shouted, "Pull me up!I give up, I hate this. This is stupid!" It was at that moment when Jason, the adviser on the trip, looked at me and said, "Ed, I'm going to go down and talk with her." I then shouted down to Alexis, "Hold on! You can do this. We know you can!"
Jason grasped another rope, put his climbing harness on and began to repel down the cliff. Within moments Jason was beside Alexis. She had her cheek directly against the face of the rock with her feet barely resting on a small piece of the cliff that jetted outward. Jason said to Alexis, "I know that you have been on this cliff now for what seems like a long time. Your feet and fingers are cramping up and your forearms feel as though they are on fire. But , Alexis, you are strong, look how far up you are already. You have taken one of the more difficult paths up the cliff. Look Alexis, look at the path you have taken."
At that moment, Alexis moved her cheek away from the rock face and looked down. The bright white chalk she used on her hands to give her a better hold, showed the path where her tired hands had moved her upward on the cliff. Jason was right. Alexis had taken the hardest way up the cliff. Jason then looked straight into Alexis' eyes and in a calm voice he said, "You are not alone out here, there are people who care about you, who want to help you and see you succeed. We are going to do this together. Are you ready?" Slowly she shook her head yes and took a deep breath. | Jason went down the cliff because _ . | Alexis didn't believe in herself | ['Alexis took a wrong path', 'Alexis was trapped in rocks', "Alexis' forearms were badly hurt"] |
Whether you will be a doctor or a police officer in the future, there's a teacher in your life. They teach you and help you know who you are? Of course, you want to thank them.
Teachers' Day is the perfect chance for students around the world to thank their teachers. The festival falls on different days in different countries.
In China, Teachers' Day is on September 10. But in the US, teachers have a whole week to celebrate. Teacher Appreciation Week is in the first full week of May every year. Kids used to bring apples for their teachers because apples are healthy. Now, they bring gifts with pictures of apples, such as cups, picture frames and teddy bears. Some students also make DIY gifts for their teachers. During the week, school clubs often offer teachers a free breakfast of coffee and pastries.
The South Korean Teachers' Day is on May 15. Many students offer flowers to their teachers. Another traditional gift is a card. Thousands of students prepare personalized cards and give them to their favorite teachers.
Although different countries have different Teachers' Days, there's one day for the whole world to honor teachers. On October 5 of every year, over 100 countries, such as Canada and the Philippines, express their thanks by celebrating World Teachers' Day. UNESCO started the day in 1994. It wants to remind people of the importance of teaching.
Only you can make a card like this one
A fingerprint card is a good gift on Teachers' Day
You will need:
*Card
*Pen
*Colorful ink
1. Press your ink-covered finger on a clean card.
2. Use a pen to make your fingerprint into an animal or a robot.
3. Write words like "you are a wonderful teacher," or "thank you for teaching me" on the card.
Some thank-you notes for great teachers
1.
2. | During the Teacher Appreciation Week in the US, school clubs often provide teachers with _ . | a free breakfast | ['a movie ticket', 'a beautiful card', 'a free trip'] |
The popularity of lip pencils and crayons is soaring, I suspect it’s because they’re just so easy to use. I’ve been trying out two new ones to see which I prefer. In the red corner we have MAC Patent Polish Lip Pencil and in the blue corner we have NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil. So let’s get ready to rumble while I put them through their paces….
Although the packaging of these two is quite similar the formulation and finish of the lip colours are very different – MAC Patent Polish is a light gloss and NARS Velvet Matte has a stark matte finish. So whether you prefer your lips sheer and glossy or pigmented and matte there should be something for everyone here.
MAC Patent Polish Lip Pencil – this is the first lip pencil that I’ve tried from MAC (apart from lip liner) and I’m really impressed with it. As the name suggests the finish is a very shiny gloss that gives an almost patent shine, it has the feel of a lip gloss but it’s not sticky.
The colour is called Spontaneous, MAC describe it as a ‘soft plum with pearl’. It’s definitely a plummy shade, although I can’t really detect any pearl in there. It looks quite dark as a crayon but as it’s very sheer it appears much more natural once it’s on the lips. It’s a great way to introduce darker lip colours to your make-up bag if you’re not used to them. MAC Patent Polish Lip Pencil is a bit like a fabulous giant tinted lip balm!
The crayon itself is chunky and easy to hold, the nib is quite chunky and not great for precision application, but you could use a lip brush to apply it. I love to apply MAC Patent Polish straight from the crayon, it’s quick and easy, and as it’s very light and sheer it’s easy to wipe away any mistakes and re-apply. | What did the narrator mention about the color of the MAC Patent Polish Lip Pencil? | She noticed that there wasn't any pearl in the plum color like the lip pencil stated | ['She noticed that the color was exactly the way that the lip pencil was supposed to be', 'not enough information', 'She noticed that the plum color was actually a lavender purple'] |
Not everyone can sit around and daydream while twirling hair or worrying about how they are going to style it for school pictures or a special event. Some kids have no hair at all due to illness. Locks of Love is an organization that helps kids deal with their hair loss by providing real hair wigs from donors.
Jessica Moon, a photo editor, donates her hair whenever she cuts it, waiting each time for it to grow the necessary 10 inches.
"I don't miss my hair at all," Moon said. "And it grows really quickly."
At Locks of Love, the focus is on helping kids who have gone bald and feel embarrassed to go out in public to go on with the activities they normally enjoy. Lauren Kukkamaa, who works for the organization, believes that it is important for kids to live out their lives as normally as possible.
"Many times, a lot of children feel embarrassed by their baldness, " she said. "They have low self-confidence, so they may want to stop playing sports or going to summer camps. When they get the hair wigs, they feel confident to start doing these things again."
"For a donor, I think it's a very personal donation," said Kukkamaa. "You're giving of yourself. If you're looking for a way to get involved and give back, I think it's a great opportunity for someone."
Moon, who first donated her hair when she was 15 after she found out her father had cancer, said donating is a good way to make a difference.
"The best part is that it's helpful for someone and it does make a difference for patients who need the hair," she said. | What would be the best title for the text? | Donating your hair | ['You can make a difference', 'Bald kids are very poor', 'Wearing real hair wigs'] |
Tigers are the largest wild cats in the world. They usually go out to hunt for food when it is dark. When a tiger sees an animal, it moves quickly and then jumps on the animals to kill it. Sometimes it can take the tiger several days to finish eating its food. When the tiger is full, it will cover the dead animal with leaves. Later, when the tiger is hungry again, it comes back to eat some more.
Tigers are different from others in the cat family: they like water and often jump into rivers to swim. Some tigers live in very cold places in North Korea, Russia and China. Other tigers live in warmer places--in India and parts of Southeast Asia.
But now all tigers are in danger. Some people kill tigers to use their skins for clothes, and their bodies for medicine. There is also less and less land for tigers to live in.
,. | Tigers are in danger now because _ . | both A and C | ['some people kill them', 'the weather becomes warmer', 'they have less land to live in'] |
The world, in painter Chen Xiao's eyes, is as colorful and sweet as ice cream.
At the opening of his latest exhibition, Colorful World in the Eyes of Sean Chen, at the National Museum of China recently, the artist told his story.
Chen left China for Australia in 1986 to seek artistic freedom, and like many new immigrants then, he had little money in his pocket. To make ends meet, he drew portraits of people in the street.
Every day, he saw people buy ice cream from a shop. Chen couldn't help wondering: "It must taste great, that's why so many people buy it." But he didn't buy one for himself because he had to save money to support his studies. After four months of painting there and watching people eat ice cream, Chen didn't resist the temptation --- he bought an ice cream. "The first bite took me to heaven," Chen recalls while laughing. "You know, as a poor young man in a new country, an ice cream was too expensive then." Since then, he kept the taste of the ice cream in his heart and included the happy feelings in his paintings, which turn out to be colorful and sweet.
His current exhibition is part of his nationwide tour that began at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing in 2011. He plans to take his artworks to 24 cities around China by 2016. The exhibition at the National Art Museum of China will last until April 22. After the exhibition tour, he will sell his works through an auction , and all the money will be donated to protection of the environment in China. "The natural environment of New Zealand has inspired my artwork and brought me enjoyment. I hope people in my home country can enjoy the same beautiful environment as I do," says Chen, who has made New Zealand his home for the last 26 years. | Why did Chen Xiao leave China for Australia in 1986? | To seek artistic freedom. | ['To have an exhibition.', 'To visit his friends.', 'To earn money.'] |
Many times when people hear the words social networking, their brains automatically go to sites such as Twitter or Facebook.However, there are sites for those into social networking and into reading. Sound crazy? It's really not.
If you' ve ever wanted a site where you can receive book recommendations, follow your favorite authors, and keep up with what your friends are reading.then look no further than Goodreads, com.
Goodreads provides useful services for those in the reading world, It is a site where you can win books by going to giveaways and simply entering your information.Some giveaways are even signed by the author.And the books aren't boring, old or torn copies - many of them are ARC's (Advanced Readers Copies), for which you can write a short review on the site.Anyone can post reviews of their favorite books or series so that others may _ to read them as well.
Another function of the site is offering book clubs and interest groups.You can have interactive discussions with groups of people reading the same things, sort of like a blog.You can also make friends with people and post statuses similar to Facebook.Your friends can send you hook recommendations and you can add them to your shelf if you choose.
Shelves are by far one of the best features on the site.You can categorize your entire library and put hooks you want to read on your "to - read" shelf.These virtual shelves allow you to see what you' ve read and also let you keep track of the number of books you' ve read in a year.
You can even read original writing for free because many people post their own writing on the site to gain feedback and advice on how to improve.Anyone can join this site for free and fall in love with not just a hook, but a book site as well. | According to the author, if you want to interact with others about reading, _ . | you'd better go to Goodreads.com | ['you have a lot of websites to log on', 'you should go to bookstores or libraries', 'you can go to Twitter or Facebook'] |
Miguel Diaz-Canel has been named Cuba's next president, marking the first time in 60 years the communist-run country has had a president outside the Castro family.
The 57-year-old Diaz-Canel, the only candidate for the job, won a five-year term, according to state media.
The move was not expected to usher in drastic change. Upon being sworn in Thursday, Diaz-Canel promised to continue the Castros' socialist revolution.
"The mandate given by the people to this house is to give continuity to the Cuban revolution in a crucial historic moment," Diaz-Canel said.
Diaz-Canel, a former first vice president, appears to be socially liberal and is considered an acceptable successor to the retiring elderly leaders who fought in the revolution.
He succeeds 86-year-old Raul Castro, who is resigning after 10 years in office. Raul Castro's late brother, Fidel, served as prime minister and president after the armed Cuban Revolution in 1959 until he became ill in 2006.
While the leadership transition is elevating younger leaders, Raul Castro and other older revolutionaries are expected to retain their power, due to their hold on the Communist Party. Castro will remain party leader.
"Raul Castro, as first secretary of the Communist Party, will lead the decisions about the future of the country,'' Diaz-Canel said in his speech. "Cuba needs him, providing ideas and proposals for the revolutionary cause, orienting and alerting us about any error or deficiency, teaching us, and always ready to confront imperialism.''
Castro told members of the National Assembly that Diaz-Canel could serve two years as president, and that he will likely eventually take his place as head of the Communist Party.
Diaz-Canel will face pressure to bring greater prosperity to the Caribbean country and revitalize its economy, which is weaker than it was in 1985 when it was supported by the former Soviet Union.
Since Fidel and Raul Castro led a guerrilla movement that overthrew a dictatorship and took over the country in 1959, the name Castro has been synonymous with Cuba. The Castros leave behind a history of defiance against the United States, as well as a long record of oppression. | What did Miguel Diaz-Canel think of Fidel Castro? | not enough information | ['He envied him.', 'He hated him.', 'He thought he was a jerk.'] |
she says she works nights , and that anything i want to say , could i send it in a message ? i guess that makes things easier on me , but i was kind of looking forward to seeing her . despite how afraid and anxious i would be.----oh well . | What could be causing the narrator 's anxiety about the female subject ? | The narrator is nervous about romantic events . | ['The narrator has a rocky relationship with her .', 'The narrator is not a fan of her .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
We don't have beds in the space shuttle, but we do have sleeping bags. During the day, when we are working, we leave the bags tied to the wall, out of the way. At bedtime we untie them and take them wherever we've chosen to sleep.
On most space shuttle flights everyone sleeps at the same time. No one has to stay awake to watch over the space plane: the shuttle's computers and the enginers at the Control Office do that. If anything goes wrong. The computers ring a warning bell and the engineers call us on the radio.
On the space shuttle, sleep-time doesn't mean nighttime. During each ninety-minute flight around the earth, the sun "rises" and shines through our windows for about fifty minutes: then it "sets" as our flight takes us around the dark side of the Earth. To keep the sun out of our eyes, we wear black sleep masks.
It is surprisingly easy to get comfortable and fall asleep in space, and we sleep differently. Some sleep upside down, some sideways, some right side up. When it's time to sleep, I take my bag, my sleep mask, and my tape player with earphones and float up to the flight platform. Then I get into the bag, and float into a sitting position just above a seat, right next to a window. Before I pull the mask down over my eyes, I relax for a while, listening to music and watching the Earth go by under me.
When I'm in space I don't need as much sleep as I do on Earth Maybe that's because when I am weightless, I don't feel as tired. Or maybe it's because I'm excited to be in space and don't want to waste time sleeping. | What do we know about people sleeping in the space shuttle? | They sleep in different positions. | ['They sleep while listening to music.', 'They have difficulty falling asleep.', 'They go to sleep when it is dark.'] |
Sometime last week I reserved a carrel in the general library of the University for my studying purposes this year ( or this semester at least ) . I tried to get a carrel on the fifth floor as that is where most of the religion folks have carrels , but the one I requested was already booked . I was going to settle for one with a lesser view , but the helpful woman at the circulation desk scanned the list of available carrels and suggested that a particular one on the seventh floor might be more to my liking . So I went and checked it out . | What may be a plausible fact about me ? | I am a student at a University . | ['None of the above choices .', 'I am a teacher at a Universtity .', 'I am a janitor at a University .'] |
"It's about to come on. Hurry."
"I'm coming."
Nurse Judy delivered Martha's tray just in time. It was a frozen dinner, but Judy always transferred it to a fancy plate and prepared a small salad and a bowl of applesauce to go alongside it.
"Looks great, Judy. Now sit down and let's eat."
Nurse Judy sat down in the recliner next to Martha's bed. The meal she made for herself was similar to Martha's. "Didn't we just see this one a few days ago?"
"I don't remember. But you know it doesn't matter. I love Jessica Fletcher."
It was the only good thing about her failing memory. She could watch reruns of Murder She Wrote over and over again. They were all new to her.
The doorbell rang.
"Whoever it is, just get rid of them. It couldn't be friends or family. They know better than to interrupt my show."
Nurse Judy walked down the hallway to the front door. It was a nurse.
"May I help you?"
"The agency sent me."
"No, there must be some mistake. I've been caring for Mrs. Mason for a couple of months now."
"Oh, great. Why do they keep doing this to me? Mind if I come in and use the phone?"
"Don't you have a cell phone?"
"Yeah, but it's dead. I forgot to charge it last night."
"I hate when I do that. Sure, come on in. What's your name?"
"Carnie."
"Good to meet you, Carnie. I'm Judy. You can use the house phone."
Judy led her to the phone. Carnie picked up the receiver and began to dial. But as Judy turned to walk away, Carnie slammed the phone across the back of her head.
Nurse Judy collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Martha's blaring TV masked the noise. | Why does Martha likely to need assistance. | She is bedridden. | ["She can't cook.", 'She had an excident.', 'not enough information'] |
Her bare feet curled and stretched pleasantly against the cool floor as she measured , sifted , stirred . She was sixteen weeks pregnant and brimful of a delicious , private joy . Her body felt lush and promissory as the dark soil of a river delta . That he would knock on her door now seemed to make an odd sort of sense . | Why is the narrator staring at the woman ? | They are marveling at her pregnancy . | ['They are marveling at the way she is curled up .', 'They are marveling at her feet injury .', 'They are marveling at her being only sixteen .'] |
SINGAPORE — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed Tuesday "to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" during a historic summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, who then unexpectedly said he was suspending military drills with South Korea.
Kim's commitment to denuclearize was included in a document signed after the first-ever meeting between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader.
It calls for the two countries to jointly work on efforts to build a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, to establish new U.S.-North Korea relations and to recover the remains of prisoners of war and military members missing in action. The two sides promised to hold follow-up negotiations.
While the document didn't lay out a specifics regarding denuclearization, Trump said at a news conference "We're starting that process very quickly. Very, very quickly, absolutely."
"We're going to denuke North Korea," Trump also told VOA contributor Greta Van Susteren, adding that U.S. troops stationed in South Korea will remain in place, but announcing one concession long-sought by North Korea not included in the document signed earlier in the day.
"We are going to get out of the war games that cost so much money," he said, referring to the U.S. participation in joint military exercises with South Korea. At his news conference, Trump said the war games were expensive, provocative and inappropriate.
Later, a Pentagon spokesman said Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was "not surprised" by Trump's concession ending the war games and had been consulted, including discussions with Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
"We welcome the outcomes," the defense spokesman said. "We support them."
Trump struck an optimistic tone about his talks with Kim. "My meeting with Chairman Kim was honest, direct and productive. We got to know each other well in a very confined period of time."
The U.S. leader stressed that existing U.S. sanctions will remain in place until North Korean nuclear weapons "are no longer a factor." | What called for both the US and North Korea to work together to build peace on the Korean Peninsula? | the document signed by by both leaders Trump and Kim Jong Un | ['a treaty between North and South Korea', 'not enough information', 'a document published by the Pentagon'] |
nope , guess that plan did n't work out cos , they began blasting the fireworks while we were still furiously cycling our way there . Dang it . Dined at carls ' junior , and i had my beef chilli cheeese fries ! Yummy!when i turned round to get another refill , i noticed someone rather familiar,'mike , is that avinash ? ' | Why was the speaker biking ? | To go see fireworks . | ['None of the above choices .', 'To go see Avinash .', "To go to Carl 's Jr."] |
Advice to "sleep on it" could be well founded, scientists say. After a good night's sleep a problem that couldn't be solved the night before can often appear more manageable. Researchers at the University of Luebek in Germany have designed an experiment that shows a good night's sleep can improve insight and problem-solving ability.
"If you have some newly-got memories in your brain, sleep acts on these memories and restructures them, so that after sleep the insight increases," said Dr Jan Born, a neuroscientist, at the University. To test the discovery, they taught volunteers two simple rules to help them turn a string of numbers into a new order. There was also a third, hidden rule, which could help them increase their speed in solving the problem. The researchers divided the volunteers into two groups: half were allowed to sleep after the training while the rest were forced to stay awake. Dr Jan Born and his team noticed that the group that had slept after the training were twice as likely to figure out the third rule as the other group. "Sleep helped," Born said in a telephone interview . The important thing is that you have to have a memory description of the problem you want to solve in your brain and then you sleep, so it can act on the problem."
But Born admitted that he and his team don't know how restructuring of memories occurs or what controls it. Pierre Maquet and Perrine Ruby of the University of Liege in Belgium said the experimental evidence supports the suggestion that sleep can help develop creative thinking. Although the role of sleep in human creativity will still be a mystery, the research gives people good reasons to fully respect their periods of sleep, they added. | Which of the following is TRUE about the experiments evidence? | It shows people's sleeping well helps a lot. | ['It helps scientists control memories.', 'It explains the role of sleep in human.', 'It shows how to develop creative thinking.'] |
Fun games and activities play all important role in making picnics enjoyable. Here are some examples.
Picnic Games for all Age Groups: Running and jumping races, playing balloons are some of the very popular picnic games for children. Grown ups in the picnic mood often enjoy taking part in children's games too. While organizing picnic games that suit all age groups, think of all those going to the picnic and think of their preferences. Picnic games for grown ups can include playing frisbee , ball games and other sports activities. Prepare playing cards and board games for those who may not be able to take part in active games.
Family picnic games: family picnics are for all the family members to get together and share some priceless moments with each other. When on a family picnics, spend quality time with your family members, chat with them and talk about what you have not spoken about due to your busy lives. Playing together helps you refresh yourself and your relationship with your _ .
Company Picnic Games: Company picnics are team-building events, organized with the purpose of nurturing team spirit in the company and developing in them a sense of belongings towards the organization. You can organize outdoor sports, team games and enjoyable activities for the team members. Make sure that the company picnic turns out to be a refreshing break from work for the team. | Why do companies organize games? | To help their employees build team spirits. | ['To select the strongest teams.', 'To make the organizers more famous.', 'To build a link between work and play.'] |
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. | What is the best title of this passage? | Cougars Use Corridors to Survive | ['How Wildlife Protectors Saved Many Big Animals', 'The Dangers Lie Ahead of Cougars', 'Why We Should Protect Cougars'] |
When I was young, my father used to grow carnations ----- a kind of flower which was red, pink and white. He took care of them with much love and devotion. Every day he came back home from work, he would enjoy watching them. Everyone who saw them admired them for their beauty. And he used to tell us, "No one should touch my flowers."
One day, my younger sister Clemence, who loved dad very much, wanted to help him. So she cut the carnations from their stems one by one and arranged them on the ground. She believed that dad would be very pleased to see them that way.
When mom and I realized what my sister had done, we became completely speechless. However, my sister had no idea why no one showed her any appreciation. When my dad arrived, he went straight to see the flowers as usual. Seeing his flowers lying on the ground like dead animals, he was shocked at first. He looked towards the street to see if it was any of the neighbor's children who could have done it. Then he looked at mom in silence. Finally mom, who always taught us to tell the truth no matter what, said, "No bad neighbors did this great job, only your lovely daughter Clemence."
Dad's face changed into a smile and then he said, "Do I have a better flower than my lovely daughter?" My younger sister smiled and hugged dad strongly. | How did Clemence feel when she had the carnations cut? | Helpful | ['Lucky', 'Upset', 'Worried'] |
Knowing the best way to study will help you to be a better student. By using your time properly, you can do your homework more quickly. Learning to study is not difficult.
The first thing to remember is that you must be willing to learn. It doesn't mean that you must always like the subject. It does mean, however, that you must be willing to do whatever is necessary to learn. Try to understand why it is important and how it will help you now and later to do and learn other things. Knowing mathematics facts will be useful in your whole life. Knowing how to spell makes any kind of writing easier. Sometimes the subject that you think is going to be uninteresting will be exciting when you begin to work at it and understand it more clearly. Learning things can be fun if you are willing to work with them.
Here's some advice for you: have a certain time each day and a quiet place with good lighting for study, so that you can concentrate on your study without interruptions; have everything ready before you sit down to study, a dictionary, paper, a pen and books; be sure you understand what you should learn before you start; read carefully and pay special attention to the most important things; when memorizing, first find out the main parts and then recite the whole thing; check your homework after you finish it; never forget the importance of review and preview.
Don't try to spend a lot of time researching learning methods. There are many students who know many good learning methods but don't study well. They forget that the most useful learning method is to study hard. | From the passage, we can conclude that _ . | No pains, no gains | ['Better late than never', 'Study comes first', 'Good methods, good results.'] |
President Donald Trump suffered a political setback Tuesday when Democrats won easy victories in governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey. In addition, Democrats cheered a turnout that could have major implications for next year's congressional midterm elections, when all 435 House seats and one-third of the Senate will be on the ballot.
Democrats are pointing to exit polls in both Virginia and New Jersey that showed that anger at Trump was a major factor in stimulating Democrats to get to the polls. They also note Democratic gains in the battle for state delegate seats in Virginia, another sign of grass-roots enthusiasm that could help Democrats in races for lower-level offices across the country.
In New Jersey, Governor-elect Phil Murphy, a Democrat, saw his election as a direct rebuke of the Republican president.
"New Jersey sent an unmistakable message to the entire nation. We are better than this!" Murphy told cheering supporters at his victory rally.
In Virginia, Democrat Ralph Northam defeated Republican Ed Gillespie in a campaign that focused, in part, on Trump and his policies, especially on immigration. At a news conference Wednesday, Northam said his victory showed that Virginians had a message for the country and the world.
"The divisiveness, the hatred, the bigotry, the politics that is tearing this country apart, that is not the United States of America that people love and it certainly not the Commonwealth of Virginia that they love," he said.
Political analysts said Democratic enthusiasm and a focus on Trump were clearly on display in both states.
"We have heard for months and months about all this energy on the left. It had not materialized until tonight," said Steve Peoples of the Associated Press. "A big night for Democrats and, really, it was a repudiation of sorts of the Trump nationalist message."
Even some Republicans saw the results as a rejection of the Trump political brand. Representative Scott Taylor of Virginia told the New York Times that he believes the president's "divisive rhetoric" helped the Democrats on Tuesday.
"I do believe this is a referendum on this administration," Taylor said. | Ralph Northam's new conference lasted | One hour | ['not enough information', 'One MOnth', 'One Day'] |
But , I had been out for the last three Fridays , and the Friday before that . Last Friday , I was at Kat 's despedida with Genn , Ella , Emm , and Ronnie , and some other highschool friends . It was something really impromptu , tsk Ella . But it was nice seeing Kat again . | What might be said about the last month ? | I spent a lot of time with high school friends on the weekend nights . | ['None of the above choices .', 'I have been dating a lot more in the last month than I am used to .', "I do n't like Kat as much as I do some of the other people I 've been out with ."] |
Cerberus just stared at me. The dog didn't blink, he didn't pant, he didn't move. He just sat in the passenger seat as I drove, relaxed, mouth hanging slightly open, looking at me the way someone examines a menu but can't decide on the chicken or the veal.
The desert sky was on fire when the city came into view. Cerberus turned away from me and stuck his head out from the side of the jeep, his giant tongue flapping in the eighty mile an hour wind while I dialed Luna's number. The dog pulled his head back in, then rested his chin on top of the overhead roll-bar, his fur blowing back along his head like the spines of a porcupine.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Luna."
"Dingo! Are you there yet?"
"No, not yet. I'm just outside the city." Vegas flashed and blinked under the starless sky. "You get in touch with Mr. Waciejowski?"
"Sure did. He's at the Denny's near the Excalibur. He's trying to stay away from the blackjack tables."
"Yeah, good for him. He has the box?"
I could hear Luna stuffing something disgustingly healthy in her mouth. "Mmm hmm."
"He hasn't opened it, has he?"
She swallowed. "Nah. I told him it was filled with old photos."
Cerberus shifted in the seat and scratched behind his neck with such force that the whole Jeep shook; a rather unsettling motion at 80 miles an hour. "Hey Luna, I've got a question for you."
I looked over to see the dog's nostrils flared out in the wind while his lips blew back and revealed his frightening set of teeth.
"This, uh, this animal spirit guide you had me try to find. Do they ever show up, you know, in person?" | While Dingo is driving | Mr. Waciejowski was at Denny's restaurant | ['Luna was in the car', 'Cerberus was home', 'not enough information'] |
He did n't love waiting his turn , but he loved everything else . The other kids were starting to wilt about five frames in , but he never gave up . I might like bowling too if I could have bumpers up . They also had this really cool ramp that the kids used to roll the ball down the lanes . | What did the man really enjoy about the bowling experience ? | The man liked bowling with his family . | ['The man liked waiting in line .', 'None of the above choices .', 'The man liked having to wait for his turn .'] |
If you want to get rich, leave New York City, Washington D.C. or Los Angeles and head to Plano, Texas;Aurora, Colorado or Omaha, Nebraska, where wages are high and life is good, a new survey showed.
A poll that ranked 69 US cities with populations of more than 250,000 people showed the best places to build personal wealth and raise a family were in cities where some of the nation's largest companies are headquartered.
The No.1 city, Plano, is the ninth largest city in Texas and home to company's headquarters including soft drink company Dr Pepper Snapple Group, PepsiCo's snack foods company FritoLay and movie theater company Cinemark. "The city has a reputation as one of the best places in the country for employers to do business and for families to live and work. Plano has a nationally acclaimed public education system and well-educated, diverse residents."
Aurora, the third most popular city in Colorado, came in second, according to the survey which said its economy is booming and it is a business leader in key growth industries such as biotechnology, aerospace and high technology.
Nebraska's largest city Omaha, home to famous US investor Warren Buffett, nabbed third place. Buffett, who is the richest man in the world according to Forbes magazine, is often called the "Sage of Omaha" for his successful investments .
New York City came in last, behind Washington D.C. and Los Angeles.
"These cities do have some of the highest average wages in the country, but when it comes to increasing your dollar for the future, it is difficult to do in these cities," salary.com said. | How many famous companies are mentioned in this passage? | 3. | ['5.', '6.', '10'] |
I started reading beauty blogs rather than magazines because I loved their honesty. With magazines, I was always a little suspicious that the review wasn't true, that it was more an advertorial than an honest article. Blogs seemed more honest - I never distrusted the review. Plus they went into so much more depth than magazines ever did. I think that the day I discovered beauty blogs was probably also the day my magazine addiction came to an end.
BUT, there is one issue that I do have with blogs and that is editing, or grammar to be more precise. Now, don't get me wrong, it is not all blogs that I have this issue with. In fact, the majority of blogs I do read are very well written. But, I still come across a few that don't know the difference between your & you're; where, we're & were; and their, there & they're and this is a massive pet hate of mine. The odd typo doesn't bother me. We all make them. I know I do as I usually only proof read once but repeatedly writing there instead of their or where instead of were drives me mental. I just want to bust out a red pen and edit the post.
The carton below, which is floating around Facebook at the moment, was my inspiration for writing this post as it really highlights how, by making the slightest grammatical error, the entire meaning of the sentence changes.
I suspect that, if you are a similar grammar fanatic, you are sitting here, nodding your head, thinking 'man, that drives me crazy, too!'. If you are not a grammar fanatic then you might be thinking 'hey, what are you whinging about - it is only a couple of letters out of order'. This is why it annoys me so much - I read a sentence but it doesn't quite make sense, so I have to go back and read it again to get an understanding. As soon as I start doing that, I am no longer reading the content of the post but am instead trying to decipher what is being written. As soon as I have stumbled over a few sentences I give up and stop reading. | What is the one thing that the author finds unsatisfactory about beauty blogs? | English grammar error | ['reviews are honest', 'not enough information', 'placement of Facebook on blog page'] |
I had no number to call , they never gave me one . So that was that . The next day I saw an ad online for labourers . I called the number and talked to Tom who asked if I had any experience and if I had a car . No and no . | What may have happened if i had experience ancd a car ? | I would be making money . | ['None of the above choices .', 'I would be unemployed', 'I would be poor .'] |
When Mrs.Joseph Groeger died recently in Vienna,Austria,people asked the obvious question,"Why did she live to be 107?" .Answers were provided by a survey conducted among 148 Viennese men and women who had reached the age of 100.Somewhat surprising was the fact that the majority had lived most of their lives in cities.In spite of the city's image as an unhealthy place,city living often provides benefits that country living can lack.One factor seems to be important to the longevity of those interviewed.
This factor is exercise.In the cities it is often faster to walk short distances than to wait for a bus.Even taking public transportation often requires some walking.Smaller apartment houses have no elevators ,and so people must climb stairs.City people can usually walk to local supermarkets. Since parking spaces are hard to find,there is often no alternative to walking.
On the other hand,those who live in the country and suburbs do not have to walk every day.In fact,the opposite is often true.To go to school,work,or almost anywhere else,they must ride in cars. | People who live in the country probably do more driving than walking because _ | they don't live near business areas | ["they don't need the exercise", 'they never have parking problems', "they can't afford to take the bus"] |
Simple , Drew takes my hat , and I chase him through the school . Sounds simple enough , but we started at around 2PM and it took us two hours to film 5 minutes of footage . My acting is not that good and I do n't like my recorded voice , so I ' m usually behind the camera . | How does the narrator feel about what they have accomplished ? | They feel it was hard work | ['They are not often behind the camera .', 'They have a good voice and act well .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
Most of the email I got was junk letting me know someone had looked at my profile . So I started poking around the site , changing settings and looking at profiles . The first person I messaged turned out to be someone I 'd already met ! Andrew , one of Aaron 's friends . | What may be a fact about this person 's situation ? | They are on a dating site . | ['They are on Facebook .', 'None of the above choices .', 'They had just made a Facebook profile .'] |
Came back from Taipei a couple days ago . It was a great trip , a fun one too . My wife has been loading up stuff , mostly her skincare stocks while I have been loading up beers . Wide variety at cheap prices ! | Why did I go to Taipei ? | Because I thought it would be an enjoyable trip . | ['Because I have been loading up beers .', 'None of the above choices .', 'Because my wife has been loading up stuff .'] |
Today, many species of animals and plants are endangered. This means they are in danger of becoming extinct and living on only in the pages of history books. The famous dodo is a classic example of a creature that became extinct. A flightless bird that lived on the island of Mauritius, it was discovered by sailors in 1598 but was hunted to extinction by 1681.
Hunting has caused the Bengal tiger and the African elephant to be endangered today but habitat destruction can also lead to extinction. This is equally true for plants. Animals and plants disappear for other reasons too, but the main cause is often a disruption(,) in the natural food chain, whether due to hunting, habitat destruction, or even the introduction of alien species.
The natural food chain is the cycle that governs the existence of all life on this planet. It is a carefully balanced cycle and any imbalance that occurs can cause knock-on effects that have serious consequences. At the beginning of the natural food chain are plants which turn sunlight into energy and draw nutrients from the earth. Plants are called producers.
After the producers come the consumers. There are three tiers of consumers. First are creatures such as plant-eating animals, fish and insects which feed off the producers. These animals that only eat plants are called herbivores. The second tier of consumers are carnivores - animals that live off other animals. The third tier of consumers eats both other animals and plants. These consumers, including most humans, are called omnivores.
After animals and plants die, they become food for other smaller creatures, such as bacteria and some plants, such as fungi. As they feed, these creatures turn the dead bodies back into gases and minerals which are again food for the producers at the beginning of the food chain. And so the cycle continues.
All of nature is connected and governed by hundreds of these delicate food chains and if a single plant in the chain cannot survive, then the insects that live off the plant start to die and the animals that eat the insects also start to die.
When a food chain is disrupted, the consequences can be extremely serious. One estimate suggests that for each plant species that is lost, up to 30 animals and insects may also die out. One wonders how many species were affected by the extinction of the dodo?
Humans can have disastrous effects on food chains. We've already mentioned hunting but now let's look at travel. When people first started to explore the world they took plant and animal species from their home countries and introduced them wherever they went. They didn't realize that by introducing alien species they were disrupting the natural food chains of the areas they discovered. Although there are strict rules in place today controlling the import and export of alien species, some places are still fighting the effects of aliens introduced hundreds of years ago.
For example, Gough Island in the South Atlantic Ocean is a breeding ground for albatrosses that have been nesting there for centuries. But in the 19th century, mice from passing ships were brought to the island. Being a species alien to the island, they had no natural predators and have now grown to such a size that they are attacking and killing albatross chicks. If they are allowed to continue, they will wipe out the albatross population.
With import laws and people's rising awareness of how humans affect the natural environment, hopefully we can learn to fit better into the natural food chains that govern our world. Otherwise we need to accept that the loss of any more plants and animals could eventually mean our own extinction. | What is the best title of the passage? | The link between food chains and extinction. | ['Survival of the fittest.', 'Endangered animals and plants.', 'How to protect the natural environment.'] |