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My dog had a heart attack tonight . He died within minutes of mom taking him to the animal emergency room . I was on my way to meet her there . I did n't get there in time . | Why is the narrator likely crying and downtrodden ? | Their pet passed away . | ['Their mom is dead .', 'None of the above choices .', 'Their mom passed away .'] |
It is true that shyness can be a disadvantage socially for those who suffer from it seriously. I mean real shyness, not somebody who is simply quiet. Quiet people could be shy, but on the other hand, they may just be observing because they are unsure of you or others in your company. They may be capable of being extrovert and sociable, but on some particular occasions, they are quiet.
I have learnt from my experience that those who observe and listen more and talk less can gain a position of strength. This means that even a very shy person, the type who is reluctant to talk in company , especially new company, can become a strong person in just about anything they choose. Remember, knowledge is power, and a shy introvert is in a better position to gain knowledge than an extrovert. Introverted people can give great attention to learning, and as good listeners they can take in an enormous amount from others. Over time, people can come to respect them far more than the extrovert who speaks a lot. Usually about themselves.
What does it take , then for a very shy person to be that successful person they have always wanted to be ? They may only need one more thing to push themselves on their way. They need to dare themselves to take the leap; and when they do , they will probably find all the knowledge they have gained over the years will help them on their way to the top in their chosen field. | According to the author, introverted people can be successful because they usually _ . | learn more than extroverts | ['have a strong will', 'talk less and show off less', 'have a good attitude to learning'] |
As U.S. political candidates make their final appeals, voters in 35 states will decide policy issues Tuesday that include legalizing recreational use of marijuana and restricting access to guns and ammunition, voting yes or no on nearly 160 state ballot initiatives.
California's Proposition 64, which is leading in the polls, could create a multibillion-dollar marijuana industry by legalizing the recreational use the drug for adults in the state. Similar measures are on the ballot in Arizona, Nevada, Maine and Massachusetts.
Marijuana could be legalized for medical use in Florida and three other states. Medical marijuana is already permitted in half the 50 U.S. states, and recreational use is allowed in Alaska, Colorado, Washington state, Oregon and the District of Columbia.
Marijuana is banned under federal law, but U.S. officials have taken a hands-off approach on the issue.
Voters in Maine and Nevada are considering measures that would expand background checks for gun purchases, which is already required for buying guns from dealers, by extending the provision to private sales.
Californians will consider measures requiring background checks for buyers of ammunition and banning high-capacity ammunition magazines.
Washington state has a measure that would allow the courts to bar the sale of guns to individuals deemed an extreme risk to themselves or others.
Californians are considering whether to eliminate the death penalty with Proposition 62, or to maintain capital punishment and make the process more efficient with Proposition 66, which supporters say makes it more fair to victims of violent crimes.
Twenty states and the District of Columbia have abolished or overturned capital punishment on the grounds that it is unequally applied to minority populations and that innocent people are sometimes convicted.
South Dakotans will decide whether to make statewide offices nonpartisan and create a citizens commission to redraw voting districts after each 10-year national census, removing the task from legislators, said by critics to be self-interested. | who will legalize marijuana next? | not enough information | ['Nevada', 'Arizona', 'Maine'] |
Security would n't have stopped you , you know . " " Oh , " I said , suddenly at a loss for words . Truthfully , Becca and I had remained in the green room like good little girls , not even attempting to leave . I felt stupid . | Why might have I and Becca remained in the green room ? | Because we were afraid of getting stopped by the security . | ['Because we were sure of stopping the security .', 'Because we were sure of getting by the security .', 'Because we were afraid stopping the security .'] |
When we think of Hollywood, we think of films and famous film stars. They are part of Hollywood' s history. Today people make films in other places, too. Not all famous film stars live in Hollywood. But Hollywood is still a very special part in Los Angeles, California.
You can easily see where Hollywood is in Los Angeles. There is a big sign on the hills. It says "HOLLYWOOD". The white letters are fifty feet tall. You can see the sign from far away. The Hollywood sign is a famous Hollywood landmark in Los Angeles. Many postcards show this famous Hollywood landmark.
In the hills of Hollywood, there is also the Hollywood Bowl. This is an open-air theatre. It is one of the biggest open-air theatres in the world. It has seventeen thousand seats and a very different stage . The design of the stage was by a great American called Fran Lioyd Wright. You can listen to all kinds of concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. | We learn from the reading that _ . | Hollywood is one part of Los Angeles | ['"HOLLYWOOD" can just be seen from far away', 'Hollywood is now a place only for travelers', 'All the films are made In Hollywood'] |
Are you nervous about climbing because you think it's too dangerous? Do you feel you're not fit enough to climb? Do you know how to start climbing?
Let's consider the idea that climbing is dangerous. Being afraid is natural, but if you use suitable ropes and other climbing equipments you will feel completely safe. Climbers are usually very careful because they know what they are doing is dangerous. Accidents happen, but when they do, they tend to attract a lot of publicity. As a result, people think there are many more accidents than there are in reality.
You cannot expect to start climbing straight away. Climbing is a challenge and challenges take time. It is necessary first of all that you achieve a good level of fitness. Begin as soon as you become interested in climbing--go to the gym, go swimming, take up jogging and continue to do so throughout your training period.
Discover as much as you can about climbing. Visit the library and find books especially for beginners or buy climbing magazines and look for articles which describe your situation. Look up information on the Internet. Find out about equipment, methods and places to go.
Next, take a course on a climbing wall. There are plenty of climbing walls all over the country which have trained and qualified people as instructors. Call your local leisure centre to find out if there is one in your area. These training sessions are a quick way to get experience and you are likely to meet other beginners. After this, you can do an outside course or join a club where you can meet climbers of all abilities and eventually join in group-climbing events.
At first you may not understand the importance of a good training period, but after you have completed your first climb and you are standing safely at the top of a rock feeling thrilled, then you will know
was the right thing to do. | By climbing walls you can _ . | gain controlled experience | ['join a club you like', 'become qualified instructors', 'take part in group-climbing events'] |
The China Daily newspaper group is hunting for English-language senior business editors, senior copy editors, copy editors and graphic designers to strengthen its international team. We offer a competitive salary package, free accommodation with utilities paid for, 90 per cent medical reimbursement, a seven-day paid leave, eleven day public holidays and a return ticket to the country of residence.
Senior Business Editor
You must:
Assist the Business editor in setting goals and working on achieving them;
Be an excellent team person who can generate ideas and think creatively and be able to rewrite totally if needed and mentor junior staff;
Ideally have been working or have worked in a position of responsibility and understand what leadership entails;
Have had at least five year's editing experience working on editing the Business Desk and be familiar with industry software.
Senior Copy Editor
You must:
Work on shifts in the Business Desk and usually have the last word before the page is sent to print;
Edit or rewrite copy and give snappy headlines and captions;
Have had at least two years' editing experience working on editing desks and be familiar with industry software.
CopyEditor
You must:
Be good at editing or rewriting copy and writing snappy headlines and captions;
Be able to work on shifts for different pages, and usually have the last word before the page is sent to print;
Have two years of editing experience working on copy desks, and be familiar with industry software.
Graphic Designer
You must:
Have excellent skills in information graphics;
Be good at illustrations and freehand drawings;
Be experienced in newspaper or magazine layouts;
Have a good sense of typography;
Have good news judgment;
Be wellversed with Macintosh software, including in Design, Illustrator and Photoshop;
Be fluent in English.
For enquiries or to apply, write [email protected]. | Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? | The employees have the right to enjoy eleven day public holidays. | ['Free accommodtions are available to the workers.', 'The workers there can enjoy a seven-day leave without pay.', "The senior business editor's only job is to help the business editor to set goals."] |
We had a light bulb that stopped working and when a new bulb was placed it wouldn’t light up. We eventually had a technician from John Moore come out to fix this problem. He was nice enough and took the time to explain to me why it had stopped working and how he would fix this. After about 30 minutes he had completed this and then offered as a free service to inspect the electrical parts of the house. He went out back to the fuse box to look and then after inspection offered to show me what he had found. It was mid to late afternoon in the back yard and that’s when the sun is aiming straight to my back yard. I should mention we live in Texas. He went over ever single fuse and wire that we had and explained about the piping and all the other things that go with it and that what we have isn’t what is recommended anymore. Our house was about 9 years old at the time. We were back there for more than 90 minutes. I started getting very restless because I wanted to work on dinner, the sun was blazing hot and I needed to do many other things. It was coming up on 5 o’clock. He then went to his truck to write up an estimate. After 20 minutes or so he comes back and tells me it will be about $10,000 to fix our fuse box system. So what started out for changing a light bulb was going to end up costing 10K. We did later get it looked at by someone else that is qualified in this field,m who was there working on some other project and he said there was nothing wrong with what we had. | What sort of neighborhood was the author's house in? | not enough information | ['A very poor neighborhood', 'A very wealthy neighborhood', 'A middle class neighborhood'] |
However , she is handling it well , she is still in classes and does n't want to quit or even make a decision where she is going after this till she is done . I am proud of her . She helps out a lot around here . | What may be the reason they are proud of her ? | Because she is doing well in school . | ['None of the above choices .', 'Because she is failing .', 'Because she is useful .'] |
Findings from a new study were presented at a recent meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society. Researchers in the United States studied 100,000 women during an eight-year period, beginning in 1994. All of the women were fifty or older. The study was part of the Women's Health Initiative organized by the National Institutes of Health.
The women were asked questions measuring their beliefs or ideas about the future. The researchers attempted to identify each woman's personality eight years after gathering the information.
The study found that hopeful individuals were 14% less likely than other woman to have died from any cause. The hopeful women were also 30 less likely to have died from heart disease after the eight years, Hilary Tinkle from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania was the lead author of the report. She said the study confirmed earlier research that linked optimistic feelings to longer life.
The researchers also gathered information about people's education, financial earnings, physical activity and use of alcohol or cigarettes. Independent of those things, the findings still showed that optimists had less of a chance of dying during the eight-year period.
Some women who answered the questions were found to be hostile , or highly untrusting of others. These women were 16% more likely to die than the others. They also were 23% more likely to die of cancer.
The study also found women who were not optimistic were more likely to smoke and have high blood pressure or diabetes. They were also more likely mot to exercise.
Tindle says the study did not confirm whether optimism leads to healthier choices, or if it actually affects a person's physical health. She also says the study does not prove that negative emotions or distrust lead to bad health effects and shorter life. Yet there does appear to be a link that calls for more research. | In which part of a newspaper can you read the above passage? | Science. | ['Nation.', 'Opinion.', 'Business.'] |
So I ' m not sure how to even write this post because the weekend ? Wow . There was a lazy afternoon of hanging out in my hotel room after I arrived , and then a yummy Italian dinner and walking around Dupont Circle . There was fro - yo and hanging out at Jess and Torsten 's apartment . | Why did they have a lazy afternoon ? | They had been traveling beforehand . | ['They were unable to sleep the night before .', 'None of the above choices .', 'They were feeling full from their meal .'] |
That and she was able to explain to us why she had it , and hear us perfectly fine . So anyway she eventually got kicked outta the Frost bank building and last time I saw er she was scowering the streets like Mike Burniger on a really good buzz at night . So lo an behold here I was IN HOUSTON and that woman from Galveston is on the same elevator . | What state may I be in ? | Texas | ['California', 'Oklahoma', 'Louisiana'] |
Nine years ago, after Leo had died, people said to me. "I never knew he was your stepfather." You see, I never called him that. At first, he was no one special in my life. Then he became my friend. In time, I felt he was also my father.
Leo married my mother when I was eleven. Two years later we moved into a house in a new suburban development, where we put down roots. At first our lawn was just a mud with wild grass, but Leo saw bright possibilities. "We'll plant trees there to give us shade as well as some flowers," he said. And just these little touches made our house different from all the others. More important, a real family was forming. Leo was becoming a full-time parent, and I was learning what it meant to have a father.
Weekday mornings when the weather was bad, Leo often drove me to school. Having a father drop you off may have been something my classmates took for granted, but I always thought it was wonderful. Saturday mornings, we went to the hardware shop, then stepped into the five-and-ten, buying a sports magazine or something else. Some people might think that doing shopping together is nothing special, but I, who had ever before spent my childhood watching other families do their everyday activities, experienced them now with extreme delight. Looking back, I realized that Leo gave me what I needed most--the experience of doing ordinary things together as a family.
Soon after we moved to the suburbs, one of our new neighbors introduced herself to me. She had already met my mother and Leo. "You know," she said, "you look just like your father." I knew she was just making conversation--but even so... "Thank you", I said. Why tell her anything different? | The last sentence "Why tell her anything different?"means that _ . | he wouldn't tell her the truth | ['he should have told the truth', 'he wanted to tell her something that had nothing to do with Leo', 'he wanted to keep silence whenever he met the neighbors'] |
One Sunday, my family had gathered at my parents' house to feast upon Mom's wonderful cooking. During the normal dinner chatter , I noticed that my father was slurring his words. No one mentioned this during dinner, but I felt compelled to discuss it with my mother afterward.
We decided that there was something seriously wrong and that Dad needed to see the doctor.
Mom phoned me two days later. "The doctor found a brain tumor . It's too large at this point to operate. Maybe they can do something then, but _ ."
Even with the treatment, my father's condition worsened, and the doctor finally informed us that this condition was terminal . During one of his stays in the hospital, we brought our baby daughter Chelsey with us when we visited him. By this time he had great difficulty speaking. I finally figured out that he wanted Chelsey to sit on his stomach so he could make faces at her.
Watching the two of them together, I realized I was living an experience that would stay with me forever. Though grateful for the times they could share, I couldn't shake the feeling of a clock ticking in the background.
On the visit to my parents' home during what we all know was my father's last days, my mother took Chelsey from my arms and announced, "Your father would like to see you alone for a minute."
I entered the bedroom where my father lay on a rented hospital bed. He appeared even weaker than the day before.
"How are you feeling, Dad?" I asked. "Can I do anything for you?"
He tried to speak, but he couldn't make out a word.
"I'm sorry, but I can't understand you," I said.
With great difficulty he said, "I love you."
We don't learn courage from heroes on the evening news. We learn true courage from watching ordinary people rise above hopeless situations. In many ways my father was a strict, uncommunicative man. He found it difficult to show emotion. The bravest thing I ever saw him do was overcome that barrier to open his heart to his son and family at the end of his life. | The father had never said "I love you" to the writer before because _ . | he was not used to openly showing his emotions | ['he believed in strictness and punishment', 'he was not so attached to the writer', 'he thought there was no need to tell the writer'] |
The Dangers of Dieting
Thanks to our modern lifestyle, with more and more time spent sitting down in front of computers than ever before, the number of overweight people is at a new high. As people crazily search for a solution to this problem, they often try some of the popular fad diets being offered. Many people see fad diets as harmless ways of losing weight, and they are grateful to have them. Unfortunately, not only don't fad diets usually do the trick, but they can actually be dangerous for your health.
Although permanent weight loss is the goal, few are able to achieve it. Experts estimate that 95 percent of dieters return to their starting weight, or even add weight. While the irresponsible or unwise use of fad diets can bring some initial results, long-term results are very rare.[:**]
Nonetheless, people who are bored with the difficulties of changing their eating habits often turn to fad diets. Rather than being moderate, fad diets involve extreme dietary changes. They advise eating only one type of food, or they prohibit other types of foods entirely. This results in a situation where a person's body doesn't get all the vitamins and other things that it needs to stay healthy.
One popular fad diet recommends eating lots of meat and animal products, while nearly eliminating carbohydrates . A scientific study from Britain found that this diet is very high in fat. According to the study, the increase of damaging fats in the blood can lead to heart disease and, in extreme cases, kidney failure. Furthermore, diets that are too low in carbohydrates can cause the body to use its own muscle for energy. The less muscle you have, the less food you use up, and the result is slower weight loss.
Veteran dieters may well ask at this point, "What is the ideal diet?" Well, to some extent, it depends on the individual. A United States government agency has determined that to change your eating habits requires changing your psychology of eating, and everyone has a different psychology. That being said, the British study quoted above recommends a diet that is high in carbohydrates and high in fiber, with portions of fatty foods kept low. According to the study, such a diet is the best for people who want to stay healthy, lose weight, and keep that weight off. And, any dieting program is best undertaken with a doctor's supervision. | Which is not mentioned as an effect of the meat and animal product diet? | Psychological changes. | ['Heart disease.', 'Slower weight loss.', 'Kidney failure.'] |
From hitting the mall with your girl friends on a Saturday afternoon, to holiday spending on gifts that go under the tree, shopping could be called one of America's favorite pastimes. For most people, it means some new clothes for work or a small trinket for a friend. For others, however, shopping is much more than an enjoyable pastime, and in some cases, it is a real and destructive addiction that can turn into a financial disaster. Compulsive shopping and spending are defined as inappropriate, excessive, and out of control. Like other addictions, it basically has something to do with impulsiveness and lack of control over one's impulses. In America, shopping is embedded in our culture; so often, the impulsiveness comes out as excessive shopping. Sometimes this is referred to as "shopholism". Shopping addiction can damage a person's life, family, and finances. "No one knows what causes addictive behaviors, like shopping, alcoholism, drug abuse, and gambling", says a professor of applied health science. Some of the new evidence suggests that some people, maybe 10%-15%, may have a genetic predisposition to an addictive behavior, coupled with an environment in which the particular behavior is triggered, but no one really knows why." Individuals will get some kind of high from an addictive behavior like shopping.
What are the telltale signs that shopping has crossed the line and become and addiction? What should a concerned family member or friend look out for when they think shopping has become a problem? The behaviors can signal a serious problem:
*Shopping or spending money as a result of feeling angry, depressed, anxious, or lonely
*Having arguments with others about one's shopping habits
*Feeling lost without credit cards -- actually going into withdrawal without them
*Buying items on credit, rather than with cash
*Describing a rush or a feeling of euphoria with spending
*Feeling guilty, ashamed, or embarrassed after a spending spree
*Thinking obsessively about money
*Spending a lot time juggling accounts or bills to accommodate spending
"If someone identifies four or more of any of these behaviors, there may be a problem", experts say. Treating a shopping addiction requires a multifaceted approach. There are no standard treatments for shopping addiction. Medications have been used, but with mixed results. Therapists also focus on cognitive-behavioral treatment programs. There is no quick and easy answer that will immediately cure a shopping addiction, and while treatment is a necessary part of solving the problem, so is behavior change on the part of the addict.
Some basic changes in behavior that will have a big impact on breaking a shopping addiction are recommended:
*Admit that you are a compulsive spender, which is half the battle.
*Get rid of checkbooks and credit cards, which fuel the problem.
*Don't shop by yourself because most compulsive shoppers shop alone and if you are with someone you are much less likely to append more.
*Find other meaningful ways to spend time.
And keep in mind that while behavior change is clearly important to recovery, so is reaching out for professional help.(509) | The most important way to get rid of the addiction is _ . | change one's behavior as well as seek professional advice | ['use credit card instead of checkbooks', 'find somebody else to shopfor you', 'go to a doctor for a standard treatment'] |
Puerto Rico may be part of the USA but its music and dance is a mixture of both Spanish and American rhythms . The country, as a result, is a mixture of the new and the old. It exhibits the open American way of life yet remains the more formal Spanish influences . This is showed in the buildings, not just the difference between the old and the modern in urban areas but also in the countryside, where older buildings sit side by side with schools and houses. It is found in the cooking, too many fast food restaurants together with local cooking which has its roots in the mixture of culture of all the Caribbean and in the music --- rock music is played in beach holiday centers but in the hilly center, Puerto Rican music can be heard. Old volcanic mountains, long motionless, take up a large part of the center, with the highest peak, Cerro de Punta, at 1,338 metre in the Cordillera Central. The mountains are surrounded by a coastal plain with the Atlantic shore beaches cooled all the year round by trade winds.
The population is 3.8 million, of which about 1.5 million live in San Juan, although about another two million Puerto Ricans live in the prefix = st1 /USA. The average life is 73.8 years and GDP per person is US$12, 212, the highest in Latin America, although not up to the level of mainlandUSA. The people are largely a mixture of Amerindian, Taino-Arawak, Spanish and African. Most Puerto Ricans do not speak English and less than 30% speak it well. The people are very friendly and _ but there is law-breaking action, linked to drugs and unemployment. | It can be learned from the passage that _ . | Puerto Rico belongs to the USA | ['Puerto Rico is part of Spain', 'Puerto Rico is an independent country', 'Puerto Rico has the highest peak in Latin America'] |
Singles' Day, also called Double Eleven, began as a day for unmarried or uncoupled people to celebrate their lives on November 11, 1993. In China, however, Singles' Day has become the biggest online shopping day in the world, which was created in 2009 by Alibaba's CEO Daniel Zhang to increase online sales. Since then, it has grown into a cultural phenomenon.
China Singles' Day, as a shopping day, takes place on November 11 each year. There are sharp _ and other promotions designed by Alibaba to attract online customers. In 2015, E-commerce giant Alibaba broke records with sales of $14.3 billion on China Singles' Day, with online sales increasing 60 percent from last year, according to Alibaba. "Most people shop on mobile phones or ipads and online shopping has become a comfortable channel for most consumers", said Kitty Fok, China manager for market research. "China is a big market with close to one billion smart, connected device users. It is good news for both Alibaba and their competitors," she said.
The company is focusing on international e-commerce for future Singles' Days, reported Reuters. "Within the next five years, we expect China will become the world's largest e-commerce market for imported products," President Michael Evans told reporters on Wednesday. Alibaba Chief Executive Daniel Zhang said in a statement that Singles' Day would mean that "the whole world will see the power of Chinese consumption." Over 130 million users visited Alibaba's marketplace app, Taobao, reported the BBC. | What attitude does President Michael Evans hold toward the future of China Singles' Day? | optimistic | ['doubtful', 'negative', 'uncertain'] |
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is also the most neglect . Common reasons for not eating breakfast include having no time, not feeling hungry, traditional dislike and dieting.
Breakfast simply means "break the fast''. Your body spends at least 6 to 12 hours each night in a fasting state. In the morning your body needs energy for the day's work ahead.
A good breakfast should provide 1/3 of your total calorie needs for the day. On average, we eat 400 less calories for breakfast than for dinner. If breakfast doesn't appeal to you in the morning, try eating a lighter dinner earlier in the evening or save half of your dinner for breakfast in the morning.
If you still aren't hungry in the morning, start with something small like juice or toast or have a nutritious mid-morning snack later when you are hungry.
So, you say you are on a diet. Some people fear that eating breakfast will make them hungrier during the day and they will eat more. It is true that eating breakfast is likely to make you feel hungry throughout the day. That is because your body is working correctly. Although you may feel as if you are eating more all day long, in reality you are probably not.
Not eating breakfast can also cause you overeat, since a fall in blood sugar often makes you feel very hungry later. To make matters worse, since your body is in a slow state, it will not be able to burn those extra calories very efficiently . If you feed your body healthy snacks and meals throughout the day, you are less likely to become hungry and stuff yourself as soon as you begin to eat.
Since breakfast is the first and most important meal of the day, choosing the right food is important. The best breakfast foods are fruits, juice, lean meat and grain products such as bread, rice, noodles and cereals. | What is the meaning of the word "fast" in the phrase "break the fast"? | going without food | ['movement', 'quickness', 'certain kind of food'] |
Indonesia's coral reefs are in trouble. Coral mining, Industrial pollution and poisonous agricultural runoff all play a role in their destruction, but the fishermen have been the worst offenders. They not only bomb fish but also poison them with cyanide, an equally destructive practice. The fishermen are also among the biggest potential victims . Two thirds of Indonesia's 7, 000 coastal villages are close to coral reefs and thus depend for their livelihood on the harvest of reef fish. The disappearing reefs are already leading to a dramatic decline in the productivity of coastal fisheries and to increasing fights among fishermen.
Indonesia's reefs are vast - they cover 51, 000 square kilometers, surround 17, 500 islands and stretch 3,500 kilometers - but they are not infinite. Many foreign experts and Indonesians fear that the region's entire marine environment could be seriously damaged if the reefs keep dying at their present rate. "The overall picture is depressing," says Ian Dutton, Indonesian director of an environmental group.
Depressing, but not hopeless. Despite the destruction, environmentalists have in recent years made significant progress in changing the hearts and minds of the fishermen. Working closely with local Indonesian authorities in North Sulawesi and less populated eastern Indonesia, where most of the country's reefs are located, they have succeeded in preventing destructive fishing practices and coral mining from overwhelming the reefs.
Increasing numbers of fishermen are waking up to the threat and protecting the life-sustaining coral before it's too late. Nuhung, a 56-year-old fisherman, says, "I always knew blast fishing was harmful. Then I suddenly realized that by bombing the reefs I was destroying not only my own but my children's future." | This passage may be taken from _ . | a newspaper | ['a magazine', 'a novel', 'a storybook'] |
Diane's heart felt leaden as she prepared to leave. Each face she looked at, she knew she was seeing for the last time. As if she were dying and they all were going to live on. Oh, why must I leave? Now, when all of you are about to put on the martyr's crown, how can you cast me out? I want to die with you. I do not want to go on, stumbling through this world alone.
For years these people had been her only family. When she was a child, her faith was preached and practiced openly all over the south of France. The crusade was already twenty years old then, but the perfecti still taught crowds of people in the streets of great cities like Toulouse and Beziers, still won converts away from the Church of Rome. From the lords and ladies in their castles to the peasants on the mountainsides, over half the people were Cathars. Now this year, one thousand two hundred forty-four, might come to be remembered as the year Catharism in France disappeared. From now on there would be nothing but a remnant in hiding, having to sneak about. No, she didn't want to live that way. She longed to throw herself down and beg Bishop Bertran once again to let her stay. But duty pressed down upon her like a mail shirt. It was burdensome, but it protected her from error. She quietly made ready.
Before long, Diane and Roland were standing on the northeast wall amid a group of perfecti. From a family that had taken refuge on Mont Segur had come a red and green costume for Diane, the tunic and hose of a well-to-do boy, an equerry. They had cut her hair short and tucked it under a cap topped with a long partridge feather. They had sewn the red cross back on Roland's black surcoat, and had made one for Diane's tunic from a gentlewoman's crimson scarf. A rope to form a sling was tied around her waist and another around her knees. Roland was similarly tied. | What is true about Diane? | She has no biological family. | ['She lives with her parents', 'She has 3 children', 'not enough information'] |
England became England, the land of English-speaking people, at the beginning of the Middle Ages. Before that it had been the home of Iron Age tribes known as Celts, and for a time, part of the Roman Empire. Then beginning in the 400s AD, tribes from the north, known as the Engles, the Saxons, and the Jutes, moved in.
The most famous leader of this time period in England was Alfred the Great. Alfred lived in Wessex, the kingdom of the West Saxons, which was in the southern part of England. He was a good leader who made his kingdom stronger. He created a system of defenses , called burhs, across the country. He reorganized the army so that his men had time to fight and time to farm. Alfred's efforts protected his people from the Vikings and allowed Wessex to grow. Eventually the rulers of Wessex would rule all of England.
Alfred also made other improvements. He made laws for his people. He encouraged learning and translated several important books into his Saxon language. This was the beginning of the language we call English today.
Two important pieces of literature from that time period are the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Beowulf, both written in Old English. Old English lasted through most of the Middle Ages. Middle English came in during the late Middle Ages, and Modern English began about the time of the Renaissance.
England and English got their names, not from the Saxons, but from one of the other tribes, and Angles. The original name of England must have been something like Angle-land(only in old English of course). | Which of the following is NOT an achievements of Alfred the Great? | Defeating the Roman Empire. | ['Making laws for the Saxons.', 'Building burhs across the country.', 'Translating books into the Saxon language.'] |
She was born March 8th 2007 and is 3 quarters American Pit Bull Terrier & 1 quarter Labrador Retriever . If you have room in your heart for one more please ADOPT DIOR . She s great with any other dogs and children , she loves to go hiking and to dog beach . | Who or what was born on March 8th ? | A dog | ['A child', 'A lab', 'None of the above choices .'] |
As the richest country in the world, you'd expect that Qatar would also be the happiest. And you'd also expect Japanese people to be extremely positive, seeing as though they have the highest life expectancy. But clearly wealth and good health do not guarantee happiness after both countries failed to make the top ten most positive countries.
The poll ( ) of nearly 150,000 people around the world found that seven of the world's 10 countries with the most upbeat attitudes are in Latin America. _ asked about 1,000 people in each of 148 countries if they were wellrested, had been treated with respect, smiled or laughed a lot, learned or did something interesting and felt feelings of enjoyment the previous day.
In Panama and Paraguay, 85 percent of those polled said yes to all five, putting those countries at the top of the list. They were followed closely by El Salvador, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, Guatemala, the Philippines, Ecuador and Costa Rica.
The people least likely to report positive emotions lived in Singapore, the wealthy and orderly citystate that ranks among the most developed in the world. Other wealthy countries also sat surprisingly low on the list. Germany and France tied with the poor African state of Somaliland for 47th place.
Many of the seven countries which were most positive do poorly in traditional measures of wellbeing, like Guatemala, a country torn by decades of civil war followed by waves of gangdriven criminality that give it one of the highest killing rates in the world. Guatemala sits just above Iraq on the United Nations' Human Development Index, a composite of life expectancy, education and per capital income. But it ranks seventh in positive emotions.
In Guatemala, it's a culture of friendly people who are always smiling, said Luz Castillo, a 30yearold surfing instructor. Despite all the problems that we're facing, we're surrounded by natural beauty that lets us get away from it all.
The poll shows that prosperous nations can also be deeply unhappy ones. And povertystricken ones are often positive, or at least a close approximation of it. | _ may feel the most unhappy according to the poll. | People from Singapore | ['People from Qatar', 'People from Thailand', 'People from Japan'] |
Humans have been keeping animals as pets for tens of thousands of years, but Dr Jean-Loup Rault, an animal scientist at the University of Melbourne in Australia, believes new companions are coming: robot pets.
"Technology is moving very fast," Rault told ABC News, "The Tamagotchi in the early 1990s was really the first robotic pet, and now Sony and other big companies have improved them a lot."
This may not _ pet lovers. After all, who would choose a plastic toy over a lovely puppy? But Rault argues that the robotic kind has a lot going for it: "You don't have to feed it, you don't have to walk it, it won't make a mess in your house, and you can go on a holiday without feeling guilty." The technology also benefits those who are allergic to pets, short on space, or fearful of real animals.
It's not clear whether robot pets can replace real ones. But studies do suggest that we can bond with these smart machines. People give their cars names and kids give their toy animals life stories. It's the same with robots. When Sony stopped its repair service for its robot dog Aibo in March 2014, owners in Japan held funerals.
As an animal welfare researcher, Rault is concerned about how robotic pets could affect our attitudes towards live animals. "If we become used to a robotic companion that doesn't need food, water or exercises, perhaps it will change how humans care about other living beings," he said.
So are dogs and cats a thing of the past, as Rault predicts? For those who grew up with living and breathing pets, the mechanical kind might not do. But for our next generation who are in constant touch with smart technology, a future in which lovely pets needn't have a heartbeat might not be a far-fetched dream. | The passage mainly tells us _ . | robot pets are coming | ['the advantages of robot toys', 'the popularity of robot pets', 'living pets are dying out'] |
An allergy is a strong reaction to a substance. Many things can cause allergies. The most common cause is pollen , which is usually produced by trees in the spring, grasses in the summer and weeds in the fall, as part of their reproductive process.
Other causes include organisms, chemicals, plants and dead skin particles from dogs and cats can also cause allergic reactions. So can insect stings and some food.
The most common kind of allergic reactions is itchy , watery eyes and a blocked or watery nose. Allergies can also cause red, itchy skin. Some reactions can be life-threatening, for example, when breathing passages become blocked.
It is not always easy to avoid allergies. Drugs may offer an effective treatment. Another treatment used in some cases is called immunotherapy. A patient is injected with small amounts of the allergy-causing substance. The idea is that larger and larger amounts are given over time until the patient develops resistance in his body.
In the United States, experts estimate that up to 8% of young children have food allergies. Every year these allergies cause about 30,000 cases with severe reactions that require immediate treatment. It can result in breathing trouble and in some cases death. It is said that about 100 to 200 people will die. It is said that most of the reactions are caused by peanuts and tree nuts like walnuts.
People can also be allergic to medicines. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says about 10% of bad reactions to commonly used medicines are allergic. In other words, a person's immune system overreacts and produces an allergic reaction. The most common reactions include skin rashes, itching, breathing problems and swelling in areas such as the face. | Allergies seldom occur in winter because _ . | plants don't usually flower in cold weather | ['people usually wear thick clothes', 'pollen is active below freezing point', 'the weather is too cold for viruses'] |
I fell asleep before I could post these last night . The collage ( see below ) took up more time than I had been planning on . ( Fun to use though , even with the learning curve . ) | How did I made the collage ? | By using a software on my computer . | ['By handcrafting all the materials .', 'In a workshop near my home .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
It was not entirely true that Patch knew there was food in the mountains. He had never been to the mountains. No squirrel in all the Center Kingdom, as far as he knew, had ever been to the mountains. For between the kingdom and the mountains, surrounding it on all sides like a moat around a castle, there lay a blasted concrete wasteland, as wide as fifty squirrels laid nose to tail, and horrific death machines roared up and down this wasteland at terrifying speeds, all day and night. What's more, humans and dogs often crossed between the mountains and the kingdoms. And sometimes the dogs were not leashed. A squirrel would have to be very desperate indeed to dare the wastelands.
It was Toro who had told Patch about the food in the mountains. Toro was Patch's friend. And that itself was extraordinary.
Patch had always talked to birds. The drey he had grown up in -- Silver's old drey, before she became leader of the Seeker clan -- had been only a few branches away from a nest of robins. Once, in early spring when he was still a baby, Patch had crawled out of Silver's drey and into the robin's nest, and had spent a whole day among the chicks before Silver returned home and retrieved him. The robin mother had been unamused by Silver's profound apologies, and even less amused when Patch had returned to her nest the very next day.
Eventually Silver taught Patch to leave the robins alone, but not before he had learned how to speak Bird. Most squirrels of the Center Kingdom could say and understand a few simple things in Bird, but Patch could actually hold conversations. And so, one autumn day when a bluejay swooped past and stole an acorn out of Patch's paws, Patch shouted angrily at the thief in Bird to bring it back; and the thief, intrigued, wheeled around in midair, perched on a branch above Patch, and looked curiously down at the irate squirrel.
"Thieving feather-brained no-nose hawkbait!" Patch shouted up.
"Stupid blind furry groundworm!" the bluejay retorted, and began to peck at the acorn. | Where has no squirrel ever been? | The mountains | ['The Center Kingdom', 'not enough information', "Silver's Drey"] |
Bored? Don't know what to do with your time? Get your friends or family together, go to the park or go hiking, do something fun --just don't turn on your TV.
The 10th annual TV-Turnoff Week starts on Monday. The TV-Turnoff Network, a nonprofit organization, began the program in 1994 to get children and adults to watch less television so that their time is spent doing more productive things. This year, millions of people will participate and find much more interesting things to do besides sitting in front of the television.
Experts are convinced that watching too much TV keeps kids from participating in healthy physical activities. The average household has a television on for 7 hours and 40 minutes a day! Kids spend more time watching TV than they spend in school. Turning off the TV gives you a chance to be with your family and friends. Going without it frees up valuable time that could be spent reading a good book, writing, drawing, or discovering something else that may interest you.
There are many organizations that support TV-Turnoff Week, including The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, YMCA, Girl Scouts USA, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America.Even First Lady Laura Bush is a supporter. "Television is no substitute for a parent. It doesn't help develop language skills; it's simply background noise," says Mrs. Bush.
Even kids who may not have liked going without TV have discovered the benefits. "I really didn't like TV-Turnoff Week except I did notice that my grades went up and I was in a good mood all week," said Drew Henderson, a student in Donora, Pennsylvania. | Laura Bush must be _ . | the wife of American President | ['the first woman to support TV-Turnoff Week', 'the first woman to organize TV-Turnoff Week', 'the first lady in the Boys and Girls Clubs of America'] |
It was their first official date. Greg Tenorly and Cynthia Blockerman had been through quite an ordeal together--being hunted by police for the murder of her abusive husband while they ran from the real killer.
But all that was behind them now. All charges against them had been dropped, and Cynthia's husband had been buried. And the rumors would have died down eventually if they had gone their separate ways.
They could feel the stares as they walked to their table. Greg had requested the most private booth, way in the back. Coreyville Pasta House was the oldest Italian restaurant in town. And still the best. Mama Castilla had run the place for over thirty years. She had taken over for her grandfather in 1973. A sign on the wall said so.
Cynthia ordered the Fettuccini Alfredo. Greg went with his favorite, the Chicken Parmesan. Both ordered iced tea and salad. The bread and olive oil with roasted garlic and pepper came with every meal. Greg could not resist great bread. And this was the best. He tore off a chunk as soon as the waitress delivered it. Cynthia would wait for the salad.
"So we're finally on a real date," said Greg.
"Yeah. So how does it feel?"
"Kinda weird and scary and...wonderful."
Cynthia smiled and Greg momentarily forgot all about the amazing aroma in the restaurant. All he wanted to do was kiss her. But that would have to wait. So, his hunger came rushing back.
Cynthia's mood turned serious. "I don't want to spoil our date, but I've got to tell you something."
Greg wondered if he had done something wrong. He could fix it--whatever it was.
"I've asked Mom to move in with me."
"Why? I thought she was happy living in Marshall."
"She was."
"What do you mean? What happened?"
"The other night a friend of hers was murdered. And the woman lived on her street. They killed her nurse too." | What is probably true about Greg? | He likes Italian food | ["He doesn't like Cynthia's mother", 'not enough information', 'He gets nervous on dates'] |
B It was a hot, humid day, and my brother Walt and I had decided that the only way to survive it would be to go swimming in a deep swimming hole across Mr.Blickez's pasture and through some woods.
The only problem with our plan was that this pasture was guarded by a huge, mean Hereford bull.Mr.Blickez had told us that Elsie was the meanest bull in the township, maybe even the county, and we believed him.But the hotter it got, the more we thought there was something fishy about his claim.For one thing, we remembered Mr.Blickez liked telling tall tales; for another, Elsie seemed like an odd name for a bull.
Finally, I talked Mom into asking permission for us to walk through the pasture, but then another problem surfaced.Mom said she would talk to Mr.Blickez if we would take our cousin Joanie along with us.Joanie was almost two years older than me and a head taller.If her teasing ever got around my grade school, it would be all over for me.In fact, I still had a headache from a quarrel with her that morning."I'm not going swimming with that dumb girl cousin." I told my mom.
"Either Joanie goes with, or you stay home alone," Mom said in her serious tone.I gave in and we set out.On our way across the pasture, Walt yelled suddenly.Elsie had approached him quietly and was licking his back.Joanie and I dove under the wire fence, but while I was on the ground I looked up and saw that Elsie wasn't a big mean bull after all.She was going to keep licking my brother's back as long as he stood still.
We had many good days growing up and visiting our secret swimming hole guarded by the so-called "big mean bull".And as it turned out, for a girl cousin, Joanie hasn't been too bad.She's been one of my best friends over the years. | What's the second problem the author has to face? | His mother insisted on his cousin going with him. | ['His cousin made jokes on him in his grade school.', 'He quarreled with his cousin and had a headache.', 'His mother failed to ask permission for him.'] |
Terry Thomas has a very boring job ,although it pays very well .What Terry does is sitting in a rowboat all day long .He makes $ 16.37 an hour ,which is certainly an excellent wage for sitting in a little boat and doing nothing.
The boat stays all day under a bridge that is being rebuilt. There is a distance of about 100 feet between the boat and the workers on the bridge overhead. The rest of Terry's fellow workers are up on the bridge working. Terry's job is to rescue anyone who falls off the bridge into the water. So far, no one has given him anything to do .Although he's delighted that none of his companions has fallen into the water, he also admits that the job is very boring because there is nothing to do.
No one on the work crew really wants duty on the boat. But the job is a union requirement, and it must be filled. To quality for the job, a person must be an excellent swimmer and have training in lifesaving skills. Only a few men on the work crew meet those standards. Before Terry took the boat job, several others had it and gave up because they found it so tedious.
What does Terry do in his little boat all day? He spends a good bit of time making sure that his suntan lotion is adequate for the job of protecting his skin. He reads and listens to the radio .Each day he looks forward to lunch and then to quitting time. | Terry uses the suntan lotion because _ . | he is out in the sun all day | ['he likes the smell', 'his shirt is torn', 'it keeps the fly away'] |
You hear the voices of people when you work so you know its worth it Because you are drawing for the people . Its so relaxing . When I draw usually I panic about the smallest things : " How is this comic going to succeed , " " Will I live my whole life like this ? " Now all of those voices are gone . | What will the narrator do the next time they are stressed ? | They would draw . | ['None of the above choices .', 'They would have a beer .', 'They would take photographs .'] |
Greece today is a small country in southeastern Europe. The population is about nine million, and the capital city is Athens.
High mountains with rich, fertile land between them cover northern Greece. The hilly southern part is a peninsula called the Peloponnesus. Hundreds of islands surround the mainland. The largest island is Crete.
No part of the nation is far from water. The Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea _ deep bays and gulfs into the long coastline. Greece has been a seafaring nation for centuries, and Greece is very well known for its shipping industry.
More than three thousand years ago, the Greek people developed a very sophisticated society. They have a great civilization, one of the greatest that the Western would have ever seen. Greek architecture, thinking and art influenced other languages, including English. For example, the English words alphabet, democracy, and arithmetic come from Greek.
Today Greece is one of the most popular nations with the tourists who visit Europe. Thousands of people are attracted to the country because of its beautiful scenery, magnificent ancient buildings, and its excellent summer weather. | Hills can be found _ . | both A and B | ['in the southern part', 'on the Peloponnesus', 'in the Aegean Sea'] |
The last picture I took on my first gawking venture down Highway 11 . It was about a week before they were letting people back into New Orleans . There was a marina , called Tites , at the end of Hwy . 11 before the bridge . | What 's the most likely reason people were n't being let back into the city ? | There was lots of flooding . | ['There was a terrorist attack .', 'None of the above choices .', 'There was a tornado .'] |
I am right handed and that made things difficult . The setting of the broken wrist was botched and they had to rebreak , taking a piece of bone from my hip and graft it into my wrist , missed 2 days . Hip hurt so much I practically had to be carried into my desk . Once I was in that chair there was just no way I was able to get out . | Why is the narrator struggling so much at work ? | They are injured . | ['They are depressed .', 'They are distracted .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
The French word renaissance means rebirth. It was first used in 1855 by the historian Jules Michelet in his History of France,then adopted by historians of culture,by art historians,and eventually by music historians,all of whom applied it to European culture during the 150 years spanning 1450-1600.The concept of rebirth was appropriate to this period of European history because of the renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman culture that began in Italy and then spread throughout Europe. Scholars and artists of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries wanted to restore the learning and ideals of the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome. To these scholars this meant a return to human--as opposed to spiritual values. Fulfillment in life--as opposed to concern about an afterlife--became a desirable goal,and expressing the entire range of human emotions and enjoying the pleasures of the senses were no longer frowned on. Artists and writers _ turned to secular as well as religious subject matter and sought to make their works understandable and appealing.
These changes in outlook deeply affected the musical culture of the Renaissance period--how people thought about music as well as the way music was composed,experienced,discussed,and circulated. They could see the architectural monuments,sculptures ,plays,and poems that were being rediscovered,but they could not actually hear ancient music--although they could read the writings of classical philosophers,poets,essayists,and music theorists that were becoming available in translation. They learned about the power of ancient music to move the listener and wondered why modern music did not have the same effect. For example,the influential religious leader Bernardino Cirillo expressed disappointment with the learned music of his time. He urged musicians to follow the example of the sculptors,painters,architects,and scholars who had rediscovered ancient art and literature.
The musical Renaissance in Europe was more a general cultural movement and state of mind than a specific set of musical techniques. Furthermore,music changed so rapidly during this century and a half--though at different rates in different countries--that we cannot define a single Renaissance style. | According to the passage,why was Bernardino Cirillo disappointed with the music of his time? | It had little emotional impact on audiences. | ['It did not contain enough religious themes.', 'It was not complex enough to appeal to musicians.', 'It was too dependent on the art and literature of his time.'] |
We do n't really like iTunes . Why ? Well for one thing it only works on Macs , and PCs with XP or newer . Up until recently we did n't use XP or newer . | Which of the following is true of the narrator ? | They are a windows user . | ['The will not use XP .', 'They only work on macs with itunes preinstalled .', 'They regularly use itunes on their devices .'] |
She is not one for medication so we did not find anything else . But the point is that this highly educated scholar and author found herself in an embarrassing situation because she had a bottle in her cabinet with a label she did not understand and no obvious visible warning on the possible hazards . With billions of dollars of sales of pharmaceuticals , drugs have to be kept somewhere and that somewhere is usually the medicine cabinet . Benzos , opiates , stimulants - What 's In Your Medicine Cabinet ? | What may be worrying the narrator about their friend 's behavior ? | They are addicted to drugs . | ['They are addicted to alcohol .', 'None of the above choices .', 'They are addicted to drugs like cocaine .'] |
GENEVA, Feb.11 (Xinhua) --The current La Nina weather phenomenon may just be a partial cause of south prefix = st1 /China's freeze-up at the start of 2008, said the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Monday.
The latest La Nina pattern, which began in the third quarter of 2007, has picked up strength in the past three months, with sea surface temperatures now about 1. 5 to 2 degrees Celsius colder than average over large parts of the eastern and central equatorial Pacific Ocean, said the latest report issued by the WMO.
Presenting the Geneva-based body's report, Rupa Kumar Killi, a WMO climate expert, said the recent month-long snow and ice-storms in China's central, southern and eastern regions could be connected with the La Nina phenomenon, the climatic opposite of El Nino .
However, he said China's freeze-up was a result of several causes combined and was partly caused by a cold surge from the north and west.
He also said the present La Nina cycle may last at least until mid-2008 and it is also possible, if less likely, that the cycle could stretch into the third quarter.
La Nina is a large pool of unusually cold water in the equatorial Pacific that develops every few years and influences global weather. It is the climatic opposite of El Nino, a warming of the Pacific, and both have been associated with extreme weather around the globe.
Since Jan. 10, snow, sleet and low temperatures have swept China's southern regions, a rare occurrence for the area. | What is the best title of the passage? | La Nina May Be a Partial Cause of China's Freeze-Up. | ['La Nina and El Nino.', 'What Causes the La Nina Weather Phenomenon?', "How La Nina Destroys the Whole World's Weather?"] |
Is been a dream for 30 years but now the world's first flying car is set to hit the roads this year.
Ever since the"Back to the Future"movies lit up our screens in the 1980s,designers have dreamt of cars that could take to the sky at the push of a button. And now pilots can order their own "roadable"plane for just PS 127,000.
The plane,which has fold-out wings that span 17. 5 ft,has a range of flying distance of 460 miles and can be up to 115 mph. Back on the land,it can also travel at"highway speeds"
in car mode .
Fuelling the 19 ft long plane couldn't be simpler--you just drive it into a petrol station and fill it up.
A spokeswoman said,"You can keep you 'light-sport airplane'in your garage. But because _ needs a short runway to take to the air,you will have to drive to your local airport,fly up to 460 miles,land,and drive directly to your destination. You will always be ready to drive or fly. "
The spokeswoman added,"Never let bad weather change your trip. You call simply divert and continue on the ground until the weather clears. "
There's no risk to you--This is only the chance for you to be the first at your home field to unfold your wings and fly into the future. | According to the text,the"roadable"plane_. | is a kind of car with fold-out wings | ['can fly at"highway speeds"in car mode', 'is 19ft long and 17. 5 ft wide inside', 'can only travel on the highway'] |
Sondra arrived at 1:00 PM sharp. Billy-Eye's Arcade and Dance Barn was located on Highway 87, north of town. She was not impressed. It was nothing but a huge commercial metal building with the name painted in big lettering across the front. There were about fifteen cars in the small gravel parking lot--mostly older models like hers.
She walked in, and saw a line of people standing at a closed office door. Clearly, they were band members waiting to register for an audition. A couple of the guys had their electric guitars strapped on their backs.
Sondra was quite familiar with Billy-Eye and his two sons. She'd eaten her share of Buttard Biscuits growing up. And she still remembered the time in high school when Craig walked up to her in the hallway and asked her for a date. She had nearly laughed in his face. He was just a kid--three grades below her.
A couple of years later, when she found out about his reputation as a stud, she wished she had accepted his offer. She would have given the little punk the ride of his life.
While she was still thinking about Craig, the office door opened, and he walked out.
He glanced at the long line of rockers. "Okay, we're about to get started, Guys." Then he spotted Sondra at the back of the line. The blonde six-footer was not easy to miss.
"Sondra Crench? Is that you?" He walked up to her.
"How are you, Craig?"
"Well, I'm impressed that you remember me. So, you're here to sign up?"
"Yeah."
He checked out the young men standing in front of her. "Are these guys with you?"
"No."
"Well, where's your band?"
"I'm working on it."
"Follow me."
She hesitated. There were at least thirty people in front of her in line.
"Come on," he insisted.
She followed him into the office. | Why was Craig impressed? | Because Sondra remembered who he was | ['not enough information', 'Because he had gone on a date with Sondra', 'Because he had a reputation as a stud'] |
It is important to learn business English if you are going to be successful in another country where English is the primary language. It will also be a great idea to practice speaking and writing in business English. If a university offers a course on business English, it will be a good idea to take the class. Reading, writing and speaking English is necessary to start a business.
Business English is different from asking where to find the nearest hotel. There are classes you can take to help you but there are things that you can learn on your own. Vocabulary and grammar are a good place to start with. You need to know what words mean. Later, try to pronounce the words and then look them up in the dictionary. Try using them in a sentence and ask someone who is good at English to help you. Once you have an understanding of English, you can use it in business English.
In business you will have to learn such things as taking messages, answering the phones with proper words and communicating with your co-workers. You may have to learn how to make travel plans. Business English is very different than spoken English. Grammar is the same but you have to learn things like expressing yourself in a proper manner or maybe making a report in your office.
If you are working in the customer service sector , you really have to learn business English. Dealing with the public is sometimes more important than asking your boss for a raise . Most businesses offer training classes and some companies offer classes on how to do the job with proper business English. | Why do people learn business English? | They want successful communication. | ['They want to ask the boss for a raise.', 'They want to have their own company.', 'They will have a chance to get a better job.'] |
A cancer-stricken British teenage girl said Thursday she had been moved by messages of support from around the world after writing an online "Bucket List" of things she wanted to do before dying.
Alice Pyne, l5, created an Internet blog in which she described her fight against a cancer of the white blood cells. " I've been fighting cancer for almost four years and now l know that the cancer is gaining on me and it doesn't look like I'm going to win this one," she wrote.
For her list, the teenager took inspiration from the 2007 film "The Bucket List", in which two terminally ill men, played by Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, draw up a list of things they wish to do before they die.
On her list, at the site www. alicepyne. blogspot. com, she has included making everyone sign up to be a bone marrow donor , swimming with sharks, meeting boy band Take That and getting a purple iPad computer.
Messages of support and offers of help quickly flooded her webpage and it became one of the most talked about subjects on Twitter.
"Oh dear and I thought that I was just doing a little blog for a few friends!" she wrote after her site attracted huge attention. "Thank you so much for all your lovely messages to me."
Pyne, who lives with her family in the northwest English town of Ulverston, revealed the management of Take That had arranged for her to see the band after reading her blog. A group of local lawmakers have also joined forces with the Anthony Nolan blood cancer charity to encourage people to join its stem cell register. | Alice Pyne wrote her "Bucket List" to _ . | express her last few wishes | ['say goodbye to a few friends', 'give comfort to two terminally ill men', "catch people's attention"] |
The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.
She said, "Hi, girl! My name is Rose. I'm 87 years old. Can give you a hug?"
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may! "and she gave me a giant squeeze.
"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age ?"I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel!"
"No seriously "I said. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" "she told me.
Over the course of the year, Rose because a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went .She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us.
"We do not stop playing because we are old"; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only two secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success/You have to laugh and find humor everyday. Your've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die!" she said.
"The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change." Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."
She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Song of Rose". She challenged each of us study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.
At the year's end, Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. | Rose delivered the speech _ . | ended with "The Song of Rose" | ['at the graduation', 'which she prepared carefully', 'to challenge all the other speakers'] |
#United States Capitol
It serves as the seat of government for the US Congress. It is located in Washington, D. C., on top of Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall. Officially, both the east and west sides of the Capitol are referred to as "fronts". Historically, however, the east front was initially the side of the building intended for the arrival of visitors and famous guests.
Phone: (202) 225-6827
Official website: www.aoc.gov
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
#International Spy Museum
It is a privately owned museum dedicated to the field of espionage located in Washington. D. C., The museum was built by The Malrite Company at a cost of US $ 40 million. Despite being one of the few museums in Washington that charges admission fees, it has been popular since its opening in July 2002.
Phone: (202) 393-7798
Official website: www.spymuseum.org
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
#National Museum of Natural History
It is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year. The museum's collections total over 125 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites ,and human cultural artifacts, making it the largest such museum anywhere. It is the second most popular of all of the Smithsonian museums and is also home to about 185 professional natural history scientists--the largest group of scientists dedicated to the study of the natural and cultural history in the world.
Phone: (202) 633-1000
Official website: www.mnh.si.edu
#Jefferson Memorial
It is a presidential memorial in Washington, D. C., dedicated to Thomas Jefferson, an American Founding Father and the third president of the United States. The neoclassical building was designed by John Russell Pope. It was built by Philadelphia contractor John Mc. Shain. Construction began in 1939, the building was completed in 1942, and the bronze statue of Jefferson was added in 1947. When completed, the memorial occupied one of the last significant sites left in the city.
Phone: (202) 426-6821
Official website: www.mps.gov/thje | Where does this text probably come from? | A tourist guide | ['A science textbook', 'A museum guide', 'A history report'] |
Stacey Hillman, who is 10 years old, was reading a magazine about police dogs needing bulletproof vests . She thought that someone should start raising money for the police dogs.
After she got permission from Chief LaBrusciano, she went to the County Sheriff Don Eslinger. She got busy visiting all the police dogs and telling the departments about her new charity. She made "collection boxes" by using bottles and put a picture of her with a police dog on it. She put these bottles in vet's offices and pet stores.
The Chief from her hometown police department helped make Stacey's idea an official charity -- Pennies to Protect Police Dogs. The more money she collected, the more popular she became, and the more people offered to donate and help her with her goal of giving every police dog effective protection.
Stacey travels all around her state to raise money and tell people how important the police dogs are. She speaks at schools, and they donate to her charity, too. Since Stacey started her charity, she has bought bulletproof vests for the police dogs with all the 140 thousand dollars she has raised. But she has many more K-9 friends that still need to be protected and she promises to keep doing her charity until every police dog in the whole country has a bulletproof vest.
Each vest costs $700, and every police dog should have one. There are not always tax dollars to provide K-9s with these vests, and very few departments have them. The police dogs save lives just like police officers do, and often the police dogs are the first to go in. Stacey depends on donations from everyone to provide the dogs with bulletproof vests. | What made Stacey begin to consider doing something for the police dogs? | An article about police dogs' problem. | ["Chief LaBrusciano's permission.", 'The suggestion from a charity.', 'A call from the local police department.'] |
Maurice Sendak's children's book,Where the Wild Things Are,published in 1963,has become very successful throughout the years and was made into a movie earlier this year.
The book's main character is a boy named Max who gets into trouble with his mother and is sent to bed without any supper.Before long,Max's room magically becomes a forest,and he sails away to a land where monsters live.Max isn't scared,though,and becomes king of the wild things,but after a while,he begins feeling homesick.Max sails back home and his supper is still hot when he arrives in his bedroom.
Many teachers and professors like this story and use it to help children develop creativity and imagination. Melina Davis,an education professor,said she likes how the book contains a couple of pages that have only pictures on them. "This allows children to shape the story themselves," she said.
The book contains a few of larger words that some parents worry may confuse children,but experts say those words help improve children's reading skills and challenge them.
Davis said the book is well written which helps kids get involved in the story. "The book talks about what all children go through,like 'I was naughty but my mommy still loves me'" Davis said.
The book also encourages children to face their fears."I think it's really good to show that Max is friends with the monsters," Davis said."Kids can find out monsters aren't always the thing under the bed that's going to scare them.I think this is good because it shows that the children can go to scary places but still have a positive experience."
Since the book has been successful throughout the years,a movie was recently made and many people are excited to see it.Davis said she thinks the movie will be wonderful but it might be a little scary for younger children."You don't want bad dreams over a book that's extremely wonderful'" Davis said. | What's the author's purpose in writing the passage? | To comment on a famous children's book. | ["To suggest ways to improve children's reading.", 'To encourage children to read scary stories.', "To introduce a movie based on a children's book."] |
He wore it well ! Before the parade started , I passed out a flyer with the church hours and web site on it to folks lining the street in front of the church on the corner of 200 South and 200 East . Many welcomed the information and a couple asked if our church is " gay friendly . " I said " yes " , of course . I was thinking that a better answer for our church is that we are " people " friendly . | Why would the passerby on the street ask the man about their church ? | They wanted to know if it gay friendly . | ['They wanted to know if it was close by .', 'They wanted to know if it was located on 200 South .', 'They wanted to know if it was located on 200 East .'] |
Dear Cara , You turned 4 months old on Friday ! We had a very busy day with playgroup , the doctor and a long walk with Daddy , so I expected to write your letter in the evening . This plan did not take into account your 4 month shots that afternoon . Those nasty , mean , vile shots made you very upset so my whole evening was spent comforting you . | How many years old is Cara ? | Cara is less than a year old . | ['None of the above choices .', 'Cara just turned a year old .', 'Cara is almost three years old .'] |
Classes for foreign students at all levels
3 months, 6 months, 9 months and one year course Open all year
Small class (maximum 12 students)
Library, language laboratory and listening center
Accommodation with selected families 25 minutes from London
Course fees for English for one year are PS1, 380, with reduction for shorter periods of study. | While you stay there, _ will take care of you. | the family you have chosen | ['the school where you study', 'your classmates', 'your own parents'] |
Before we got married my husband and I lived in 4 different apartments all within the span of one year. The worst one of all of them was actually a great apartment, but our upstairs neighbors drove us positively insane. A list of their common antics:
Blasting movies/music with the bass turned all the way up into the small hours of the morning, in their bedroom, which was directly above our bedroom
Stomping, all day, every day, no matter what, always stomping. Sometimes running full speed around their apartment.
It was a 1 bedroom and they had at least 4 adults (two couples) and at least 2 kids living there.
They also always had company over.
It was a nonsmoking complex but they smoked on their porch and tossed their butts over their balcony, which would leave them landing in our little porch. Constantly came out to find butts and trash in our potted plants and all over the ground.
We had to call the sheriff on them once because one of the couples living there got in a very loud, very obvious domestic violence situation. We heard them screaming and throwing each other around. At one point the man smashed her head through the wall.
The kicker was when they brought home one of those mini motorcycles and put it out on their porch. Their porch was made of slatted wood so there were gaps between the boards. The damn bike started leaking fuel (racing fuel no less) through the slats and on our porch (and all over our stuff). Ruined a table, some laundry I had air-drying out there and killed a few of our plants. Not only that but while this was happening they were throwing their butts down onto our porch too. Could have started a fire.
Then there was the spitting. They would spit over the edge of their balcony and we complained so they started spitting THROUGH the floor boards so it was definitely intentional.
I have never experienced a more trashy group of people. So glad to be out of that apartment and away from them now. | What were the worst actions committed by the neighbors who lived in the apartment upstairs? | not enough information | ['Being extremely noisy all of the time', 'Leaking racing gasoline through the floorboards onto plants, laundry, and table', 'Spitting through the floorboards on the porch'] |
Ballet NY
Dancing can provide an outstanding cardiovascular workout, but this week the members of Ballet NY come to Pittshurgh to dance for people whose hearts need help. The performance will benefit the Artificial Heart Program of the Heart, Lung and Esophageal Surgery Institute of UPMC. Ballet NY was founded 10 years ago by former New York City Ballet principal ballerina Judith Fugate and internationally famous dancer Medhi Bahiri, and former members of top dance companies. The performance starts at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Byham Theater, Downtown.
Admission: $35~$125.
The top price includes post-concert coffee and dessert reception with the dancers.
Details: 412-453-7777.
Classic rock, literally
Mannheim Steamroller will bring a breath of "Fresh Air" to the Benedum Center, Downtown, Monday. The band, which blends classical and rock influences with electronic and ancient instruments, is on the road in its "Fresh Air" tour. The name comes from a series of eight albums with that title. Music begins at 8 p.m.
Admission: $40, &50 or $60.
Details: 412-456-6666.
Expansive endeavors
Outdoors adventure goes beyond fun. It is a way of encountering the weakness of our existence and seeing ourselves as rather small creatures after all. The Banff Mountain Film Festival helps us see that with movies that also are just downright good. Sponsored here by Venture Outdoors, the festival will be at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Byham Theatre, Downtown, with different films each night.
Admission: $10, or $15 for both nights, in advance; $15 at the door.
Details: 412-255-0564.
In bloom
Children with spring fever can find an outlet on Saturday at the Frick Art& Historical Center, which is hosting "Green Kids--What's up?" The program brings children aged 4-8 into the garden on Frick's Point Breeze grounds, so that they can see what flowers are coming up in the early spring. The program, which runs 11-11:45 a.m., is free and includes an interactive tour and take-home activity. Meet in the Visitors' Center at the Frick, 7227 Reynolds St., Point Breeze.
Details: 412-371-0600. | Where can you enjoy a program free of charge? | In bloom. | ['Classical rock, literally.', 'Expansive endeavors.', 'Ballet NY.'] |
A funeral for Zbigniew Brzezinski, the national security adviser to President Jimmy Carter and a noted foreign policy expert and thinker, will be held Friday at St. Matthew's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Brzezinski died May 26 in Virginia. He was 86.
In a statement, Carter called Brzezinski “a superb public servant” as well as “brilliant, dedicated and loyal.” Along with Henry Kissinger, Brzezinski helped shape U.S. foreign policy with a lasting impact, while also serving as an adviser to Presidents Lyndon Johnson and John F. Kennedy.
One of his most well-known accomplishments came in 1978, when Brzezinski helped President Carter reach an agreement between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to secure the Camp David peace accords between the two countries.
He also was involved in making other major U.S. foreign policy decisions during the Carter administration, including negotiating the Panama Canal Treaty, arming mujahedin in Afghanistan to fight the Soviet invaders and planning a failed mission to rescue 52 American hostages held in Iran.
Alexander Vershbow, a former deputy secretary general of NATO and former U.S. ambassador to Russia, told VOA Brzezinski's wisdom also guided U.S. and NATO policy in the post-Cold War period.
“On one hand, listening to the appeals of countries like Poland, like Czechoslovakia, like Hungary, to become part of the Western family, which they were denied 70 years ago ... but also reaching out to Russia, and trying to help Russia become an integral part of the European family, the common European house, as [former Soviet leader Mikhail] Gorbachev described it,” Vershbow said.
Following his work in the White House, Brzezinski continued to be an influential voice on foreign policy matters. He served as a counselor and trustee at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a professor at Johns Hopkins University.
Brzezinski went on to ruffle the feathers of Washington's power elite with his 1983 book, "Power and Principle," which was hailed and reviled as a kiss-and-tell memoir.
“I have never believed in flattery or lying as a way of making it,” he told The Washington Post that year. “I have made it on my own terms.” | Brzezinski's carreer lasted: | many decades | ['not enough information', 'two years', 'for one presidency'] |
At the beginning of my 8:00 a.m. class one Monday at UNLV , I cheerfully asked my students how their weekend had been. One young man said that his weekend had not been very good. The young man then proceeded to ask me why I always seemed to be so cheerful.
His question reminded me of something I'd read somewhere before: "Every morning when you get up, you have a choice about how you want to approach life that day," I said to the young man. "I choose to be cheerful."
"Let me give you an example," I continued. "In addition to teaching here at UNLV, I also teach out at the community college in Henderson. One day a few weeks ago I drove to Henderson. I exited the freeway and turned onto College Drive. But just then my car died. I tried to start it again, but the engine wouldn't _ . So I put my flashers on, grabbed my books, and marched down the road to the college."
"As soon as I got there, the secretary in the Provost's office asked me what had happened. 'This is my lucky day', I replied, smiling."
"Your car breaks down and today is your lucky day?" She was puzzled, "What do you mean?"
"I live seventeen miles from here. I replied. My car could have broken down anywhere along the freeway. It didn't. Instead, it broke down in the perfect place: off the freeway, within walking distance of here. I'm still able to teach my class, and I've been able to arrange for the tow truck to meet me after class. If my car was meant to break down today, it couldn't have been arranged in a more convenient fashion." | According to this passage we can infer that the teacher's car broke down _ . | near Henderson | ['near UNLV', 'along the highway', 'at the community college'] |
It was a secret Eli kept until he was 8 years old.
"He would scream, like we were hurting him when we tried to put a dress on him." recalled Grace, his mother. That was when Eli was an 18-month-old baby girl already rejecting anything female.
Now, Eli's mother and Eli are sharing their story with CBS New York. Eli still remembers being a baby, and rejecting putting on a dress. "Oh, I remember that," he said. "It was like torture." Now Eli is 11 years old. He is, by all accounts, a happy, active boy who never doubted he was born the wrong sex. Eli said to CBS New York. It was hard to keep that secret for 8 years though, "It was kind of hard because I hadn't really told anyone ever," he said.
"He said, 'I have a secret, and the secret is I don't want to be a girl. I think I'm a boy,'"Grace recalled. "...I thought, 'I don't know what we're going to do, but we're going to figure it out."'
CBS New York reports that it was a less clear path for Ryan, now a 21-year-old man. He, too, was born female, but never felt like one.
He didn't understand his feelings at the time. Then he learned about what it meant to be transgender on the Internet, and it began to make sense. "It was a relief to know what exactly I was or am," he said.
Ryan's mother said at first it was hard to accept. "It's a scary thing to think about," she said. But she came around. "I was glad my son is able to become the person he needed to be," she said.
Experts say the kind of family support both Ryan and Eli are getting is of great significance. Without it, many transgender kids suffer from anxiety, depression and high rates of suicide.
"We see a lot of kids with a lot of mental health concerns, and we also see that those mental health concerns really reduced when the family is on board," said Jean Malpas of Ackerman Institute for the Family, a non-profit research organization to CBS New York.
Grace said for her it went from a situation that felt really confusing and difficult to one that she now celebrates. "We feel so lucky to have him." she said. | This passage is probably taken from _ . | a news report | ['a scientific journal', 'a survey report', 'an academic essay'] |
Imagine a picnic dinner held at a location only made known hours before the meal, where guests are invited to decorate tables and chairs, bring their favorite dishes and wear white to reflect the simplicity of the event.
This was the scene at a PopUp dinner held on June 13 in Brooklyn, New York's Prospect Park. PopUp dinners are popping up nationwide -- not just in Brooklyn. Garrett Sathre and his wife and business partner, Nicole Benjamin-Sathre are the team behind Hand Made Events and the creators and hosts of PopUp dinners. Sathre, a former restaurateur and head chef with Bubba's Diner and Kitchen 39, both located in the Bay Area, came up with the concept of the flash dinner after he was inspired by the annual Diner en Blanc held in Paris.
In 2011, Hand Made Events used the power of social media to get the word out and soon, enough interest was attracted. In October 2011, it held its first flash dinner, calling the evening Le Diner a San Francisco at Golden Gate Park's outdoor Music Pavilion. He described it as a picnic dinner for 3,500 people."I thought we would have anywhere between 300-500 people to attend. Two articles ran a week later about my crazy idea and we got 15,000 emails within three days,"Sathre said.
After the success of the San Francisco dinner, Sathre decided to expand his"crazy idea"and hold dinners across the country in major markets such as Brooklyn, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Sathre says their Brooklyn PopUp on June 13 sold 5,000 tickets in just four days with 5,000 on the waiting list raising over $160,000 in ticket sales. Those are some big numbers. Hand Made Events partners with the Prospect Park Alliance and gives all of their proceeds to the non-profit group. In total, the Brooklyn PopUp dinner raised over $60,000 for the Prospect Park Alliance. Hand Made Events sees the same interest in their smaller city locations."We have seen a 30 percent increase in our smaller markets -- Minneapolis, San Diego, Charleston, and Miami every year,"Sathre said.
Hand Made Events has eight more dinners planned nationwide this year, and six already scheduled for next year. The popularity is not just here in the states. Sathre says he sees photos of other groups holding similar events everywhere through social media. Just last year, Hand Made Events helped a woman in Kenya plan her own flash dinner via Skype."This event crosses and appeals to all cultures. There are not many events, if any, that bring all people together like the PopUp,"he said. | We can learn from the passage that Hand Made Events . | has already held several dinners in some smaller cities | ['is an organization which helps the homeless and the poor', 'is made up of about 500 volunteers around the world', 'intends to collect money for non-profit groups'] |
At the U.S. Open championships in Flushing Meadows, New York last week, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) held an unusual youth press conference . I say "unusual" because the main idea wasn't to promote the sport for young children. Yes, there was a youth tennis exhibition in which a group of fresh-faced kids from the area showed off their well developed skills. They used junior racquets and larger, low-pressure balls on a half-size tennis court-a way the organization supports as a means to help children have early success and stick with the game.
But the event's real purpose was to help parents realize the importance of introducing kids to all kinds of athletic programs rather than focusing specially on one. _ may sound like something easy to do, but it's not. In today's achievement-oriented ( ) environment, children are being pushed to specialize in a single sport-whether it's tennis, hockey, soccer, or gymnastics - at ever-younger ages. Tom Farrey, executive director of the nonprofit Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program, says year-round sports programs are now offered down to age 5, too early an age for a child to limit himself or herself to a single activity. While parents naturally want the best for their child, they are being pressured by coaches to let him or her stick with one thing.
The result: More kids under age 12 are suffering injuries or, worse, burnout. According to the Aspen Institute's report, Project Play, fewer kids today are staying involved with sports than five years ago, partly because of forced specialization. Today's children are already on track to live shorter, less healthy lives than their parents because of obesity and related diseases, and this trend is only worsening matters.
Multi-sport participation, however, leads to better performance (because kids get a chance to develop different sets of skills ) and greater enjoyment of the game, says Farrey. The headlining athletes at the event repeated the idea that having kids do more than one sport is a plus (good for them). | Fewer kids are staying involved with sports now than five years ago partly because they _ . | are pushed into specialized sport too hard | ['become too fat to take part in sports', 'have too much school work to complete', 'get too many injuries when they do sports'] |
New sexual harassment and racial discrimination lawsuits are rocking the already scandal riddled Fox News Channel.
Three new lawsuits were filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Two allege racial harassment at Fox News, while a third alleges sexual harassment at Fox News Radio.
The cases increase to 23 the number of past or present Fox employees represented by attorney Doug Wigdor, the majority having cases alleging racial hostility by a since-fired financial executive. Fox said Monday that the lawsuits have no legal basis.
Kathleen Lee, a Fox News Radio employee of more than 10 years, alleges that radio anchor Ron Flatter subjected her to “unrelenting sexual harassment” after the network hired him in 2013.
A former Fox employee, Adasa Blanco, said she alerted Fox executives about racially hostile behavior on the part of former Fox controller Judith Slater more than eight years before the executive was let go. Slater has denied charges of racially hostile conduct. Blanco, who is Hispanic, said that Slater made fun of her accent.
In the lawsuit, Wigdor said Fox “knowingly harbored and protected” a racist employee for more than eight years and misrepresented to the public that it fired Slater quickly upon learning of her behavior.
Naima Farrow, another former Fox employee who worked for Slater, said she was fired without warning or explanation in 2015, less than three days after telling superiors she was pregnant. Farrow, who is black, said Slater mockingly referred to her as “girlfriend.”
Fox News said in a statement that it is committed to a diverse workplace free from discrimination, and takes any complaint seriously. In these cases, Fox “took prompt, effective and, when necessary, strong remedial action,” the network said. “We believe these latest claims are without legal basis and look forward to proving that the company at all times has acted appropriately, and lawfully, in connection with these matters.”
The new legal claims come as Fox News is battling a series of lawsuits that led to the resignations of former chief executive Roger Ailes, who died last week, star anchor Bill O'Reilly and network co-president Bill Shine. | After the end of this story, Wignor is probably | fighting these cases for months | ['passing the work to another lawyer', 'retiring', 'not enough information'] |
A California man who was feeling sick almost died recently from a shocking cause.
26-year-old Luis Ortiz went to a hospital because of a headache and nausea(,). When doctors examined him, they were shocked to find a tapeworm larva in his brain. The story gets stranger. The larva was still alive.
The creature had caused a cyst to form inside his head. The cyst was restricting the flow of liquids to different areas of his brain. The situation was so serious that doctors said they had to perform an emergency operation to remove the larva.
A doctor who operated on Ortiz told him he had only 30 minutes to live. When the doctor pulled the worm out of his head, it was still moving.
Luis Ortiz was a student at California State University in Sacramento. He began experiencing headaches in late August. But Ortiz said he did not think the headaches were serious.
In September, he visited a friend and his parents in another city. That is when the pain got worse. His mother saw Ortiz throwing up and took him to a hospital emergency room.
The doctors saved Ortiz's life. However, the surgery also affected him. Ortiz had to drop out of school and move back home. For now, he is not permitted to work or drive a vehicle.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the U.S. has about 1,000 reported cases of tapeworms each year. The CDC adds that tapeworms are more common in developing countries with poor public health systems.
The best way to avoid a tapeworm infection is to wash fruits and vegetables. Also, make sure meat is cooked thoroughly. The CDC suggests cooking all meats to an internal temperature of at least 63 degrees Celsius. | How should people avoid infecting tapeworms? | By washing fruits and vegetable. | ['By boiling plates and bowls before meals.', 'By cooking meats to at least 63 degC outside,', 'By improving the development of economy.'] |
About 15 years ago I met Stuart ‘Aq’ Langridge when he walked into the new Wolverhampton Linux Users Group I had just started with his trademark bombastic personality and humor. Ever since those first interactions we have become really close friends.
Today Stuart turns 40 and I just wanted to share a few words about how remarkable a human being he is.
Many of you who have listened to Stuart on Bad Voltage, seen him speak, worked with him, or socialized with him will know him for his larger than life personality. He is funny, warm, and passionate about his family, friends, and technology. He is opinionated, and many of you will know him for the amusing, insightful, and tremendously articulate way in which he expresses his views.
He is remarkably talented and has an incredible level of insight and perspective. He is not just a brilliant programmer and software architect, but he has a deft knowledge and understanding of people, how they work together, and the driving forces behind human interaction. What I have always admired is that while bombastic in his views, he is always open to fresh ideas and new perspectives. For him life is a journey and new ways of looking at the road are truly thrilling for him.
As I have grown as a person in my career, with my family, and particularly when moving to America, he has always supported yet challenged me. He is one of those rare friends that can enthusiastically validate great steps forward yet, with the same enthusiasm, illustrate mistakes too. I love the fact that we have a relationship that can be so open and honest, yet underlined with respect. It is his personality, understanding, humor, thoughtfulness, care, and mentorship that will always make him one of my favorite people in the world. | The writer met stuart | during the users group | ['after the users group', 'not enough information', 'before the users group'] |
Well things have been getting better lately I 'd say . And one thing that is probably making me say this is the fact that it is nice outside and I have my balcony doors opened ! BOY OH BOY ! I need to start looking into Patio Furniture ! | What may I do the next time I go shopping ? | None of the above choices . | ['I will look at the facts .', 'I will look for another boy .', 'I will look for things to get better .'] |
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.
Most people know this joke. But recently, some people have been much more worried about how the grizzly bear and mountain lion can cross the road.
"Millions of animals die each year on U.S. roads," the Federal Highway Administration reports. In fact, only about 80 ocelots, an endangered wild cat, exist in the U.S. today. The main reason? Roadkill.
"Eco-passages" may help animals cross the road without being hit by cars. They are paths both over and under roads. "These eco-passages can be extremely useful, so that wildlife can avoid road accidents," said Jodi Hilty of the Wildlife Protection Society.
But do animals actually use the eco-passages? The answer is yes. Paul Beier of Northern Arizona University found foot marks left by mountain lions on an eco-passage that went under a highway. This showed that the lions used the passage.
Builders of eco-passages try to make them look like a natural part of an area by planting trees on and around them. Animals seem to be catching on. Animals as different as salamanders and grizzly bears are using the bridges and underpasses.
The next time you visit a park or drive through an area with a lot of wildlife, look around. You might see an animal overpass! | The writer uses the example of "ocelots" to show that _ . | an increasing number of animals are killed in road accidents | ['wild animals have become more dangerous', 'the driving condition has improved greatly', 'the measure for protecting wildlife fails to work'] |
Five weeks ago , when he was born , he weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces and after that dipped down to 7 pounds 9 ounces . He has certainly been doing a lot of growing and all that eating has paid off for him . He also gained 2 inches and is now 23 inches long . | What may be a reason why he gained weight ? | He has an appetite now . | ['He is taller now .', 'He eats more sweets now .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
Jason had been sitting alone at his table, staring at the tall, platinum blonde for an hour. His imagination ran wild with thoughts of kissing her full lips while his hands explored her lean, muscled body. Tonight he didn't need the whiskey to warm him up. But he kept drinking it anyway. She stepped away from the mike, sat her acoustic guitar on its stand, and walked down from the small stage. Jason beat all the other losers to the bar and sat down beside her. "You must be pretty thirsty after all that beautiful singing." How many times had she heard that line? But at age 33, she'd probably heard every pickup line known to man. "Yeah," she said, giving him a quick glance. He wasn't a bad looking guy. Probably a couple of inches shorter than her. At six-foot-two, she was accustomed to that. But a lot of men couldn't deal with her height. They liked to be the tall one in the relationship. Not that she'd had many relationships. Mostly one-nighters. Without her saying a word, the bartender sat a glass of ice down in front of her, and poured her a can of Diet Coke. "Thanks, Joe." She took a sip as he walked away. "I'm Jason." "Sondra," she said, looking straight ahead as she took another sip. "I really enjoyed your music--especially that last song. Did you write it yourself?" "Yeah." "Wow. It was sad, but moving. You've got talent." Here we go, she thought. And I suppose you're a talent agent or a record producer, or you've got a friend in the business. And you'd be more than happy to get me a record deal--assuming I'd be willing to go with you right now to some sleazy motel. "I'm sick of this business. In fact, you just heard my last performance. First thing Monday morning I'm going out to find me a real job. One that will pay the bills." | What is probably true about Jason? | he wants to date Sondra | ['not enough information', 'he wants to sign a record deal with Sondra', 'he wants to hire Sondra'] |
It was a lovely day at the park and Stella Bianchi was enjoying the sunshine with her two children when a young boy, aged about four, approached her two-year-old son and pushed him to the ground.
"I'd watched him for a little while and my son was the fourth or fifth child he'd pushed," she says. "I went over to them, picked up my son, turned to the boy and said, firmly, 'No, we don't push.'" What happened next was unexpected.
"The boy's mother ran toward me from across the park," Stella says, "I thought she was coming over to apologize, but instead she started shouting at me for blaming her child. All I did was let him know his behavior was unacceptable. Was I supposed to sit back while her kid did whatever he wanted and hurt other children?"
Getting your own children to play nice is difficult enough. Dealing with other people's children has become a hidden danger.
In my house, jumping on the sofa is not allowed. In my sister's house it's encouraged. I find myself saying "no" a lot when her kids are over at mine. That's OK between sisters but becomes dangerous when you're talking to the children of friends or acquaintances.
"Kids aren't all raised the same," agrees Professor Naomi White of Monash University." But there is still an idea that they're the property of the parent. We see our children as a mirror of ourselves, so if you're saying that my child is behaving improperly, then that's somehow a criticism of me."
In those situations, it's difficult to know whether to approach the child directly or the parent first. There are two opinions.
"I'd go to the child first," says Andrew Fuller, author of Tricky Kids. "Usually a quiet reminder that 'we don't do that here' is enough. Kids have antennae for how to behave in different settings."
He points out bringing it up with the parent first may make them feel careless, which could cause problems. Of course, approaching the child first can bring its own headaches, too.
This is why White recommends that you approach the parents first. Raise your concerns with the parents and ask them to deal with it," she says.
Asked how to approach a parent in this situation, psychologist Meredith Fuller answers: "Explain your needs as well as stressing the importance of the friendship. Start with something like: 'I know you'll think I'm silly but in my house I don't want...'" | What should one do when seeing other people's kids misbehave according to Andrew Fuller? | Talk to them directly in a mild way | ['Complain to their parents politely', 'Simply leave them alone', 'Punish them lightly'] |
WASHINGTON -- It is announced Friday that White House visitor records will be opened up on a regular basis for the first time in modern history, providing the public an unusually detailed look at who gets the opportunity to help shape American policy at the highest levels.
"Americans have a right to know whose voices are being heard in the policymaking process," the president said in a written statement issued by the White House while he vacationed with his family at Camp David.
By the end of the year, the White House will begin posting online every month the names of the people who visited in the last 90 to 120 days. Each person's full name will be listed, along with the date and time they entered and left and the name of the person they visited. About 70,000 to 100,000 people visit the White House each month, and the records will include tourists as well as people conducting business.
The White House pointed out several exceptions to the policy: "purely personal guests" of the Obama family; those cases in which the disclosure of visitors' names "would threaten national safety interests"; and those who come for "particularly sensitive meetings," like candidates for a Supreme Court nomination . Officials said only a "small number" will fit in the latter category , and their names would eventually be disclosed after they are no longer secret, like after a nomination is publicly announced. Moreover, they said, the number of undisclosed visitors will be disclosed, to make clear how few they are. | From the passage we can learn that _ . | Some visitors' names can be found online until they're not secret | ["All the visitors' names will be posted online soon after their visits", 'Not all visitors are allowed to visit the White House', 'The records of the visitors will be kept for at least 4 months'] |
Its easier to remain objective . Some may disagree , but I find that without romantic love I can be more logical in my dealings with other people . Love , while a wonderful emotion , can also " fog the brain . " Try and think of some of the foolish and embarrassing things you might have done out of love . | What does the narrator believe causes the brain to become foggy ? | Being in love . | ['Falling in love with a job .', 'Falling in love at work .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
Makino 's English was still horrendous ( her " Help me " made me laughed non stop ) . An interesting fact of Abe Tsuyoshi , he was from China and he can speak both Japanese and Chinese fluently ! I wonder if I were to go to Japan , can I blend in with the Japanese and talk fluent Japanese too ? | What do you know about the speaker ? | The speaker can speak several Asian languages . | ['The speaker can not speak Chinese', 'None of the above choices .', 'The speaker speaks all Asian languages .'] |
Part-time jobs for 15 and 16 years olds
Waiter / Waitress
A job as a waiter or waitress is a good choice for 16-year-olds. Not only can one earn $9-$12 an hour, but they can also get the tips . Most people that visit a restaurant don't just have good food. They come here to relax and have a good time. Besides serving food quickly, a young waiter who talks to them politely with a smile on his face will make the diners enjoy their time at the restaurant.
Work in a library
If one is fond of books, working in a library is another suitable choice. Besides the pay is good, it offers a lot of free time when students can actually sit down and finish their homework. So on returning home, they would have time to hang around with friends or just relax. So working in a library is an excellent part-time job for teens, especially for school students.
Internet jobs
There are many ways of making money through online jobs like clicking on advertisements, visiting sites and signing up with them. However, such online jobs don't pay well. A better Internet job for teens is to complete online surveys. These are quite simple surveys that usually ask one about his/ her opinions and ideas. Many companies use these ideas to make products designed for teenagers. | What does the writer think of the job as a waiter/waitress? | Making diners comfortable is part of the job. | ['It needs a period of training.', 'It pays much more than other jobs.', "It can improve one's leadership skills."] |
" You should probably come in with us , just to make sure you 're ok . " " No , " I said firmly , watching T - shirt guy talking to the camera guy . " Are you sure ? " Dave asked . " Yes , I ' m sure . I just got freaked out for a second . | What will the narrator do next with the various people standing about ? | They will keep doing what they 're doing . | ['None of the above choices .', 'They will look for safety inside .', 'They will go inside .'] |
SHE moved through the crowded streets like she owned the place. Hell, if things went as planned in the coming months, she might in fact own the place. Or some other place if that's what she wanted. If things went as planned, there was no limit to what she could have. She smiled to herself as a crowd of sunburned, middle-aged men broke ranks to let her pass on her way toward Mallory Square. They had no idea who she was, but she liked to think that they could sense her strength and that it intimidated them. Not enough to stop them from staring openly at her chest of course, but what did she expect? They were still men.
Duval Street, Key West's main tourist drag, buzzed with early evening activity. The sun had set less than an hour ago, and the throngs moving up from the nightly sunset ritual in Mallory Square now wandered about, trying to choose between the dozens of bars and restaurants vying for their attention. She moved against the general flow and seemed to know exactly where she was going. She knew these streets well and had planned out her route ahead of time.
But something bothered her. That nagging feeling in the back of her brain that she'd long ago learned to heed even though it was wrong as often as it was right. You couldn't survive in her world without learning to pay attention to such feelings, and she'd more than survived - she'd prospered beyond the dreams of any young hacker or con artist. Heeding the subliminal warning, she changed plans and stepped out into the crawling Duval Street traffic. A purple taxi honked angrily but she just smiled as she strode across the street and stared intently at a display of cheap, tasteless T-shirts in a storefront window. | After the sun set where was she heading? | not enough information | ['grab a drink', 'out to eat', 'meet a friend'] |
He comes after her and bites her , beginning to drink from her . He makes Kei watch him sire her . She lays there , near death , but comes to and kills him before he can finish him off . | What may happen after Kei kills him ? | Kei 's friend will be saved . | ['None of the above choices .', "Kei 's friend will begin to drink from her .", "Kei 's friend will come after her ."] |
I know now that the man who sat with me on the old wooden stairs that hot summer night over thirty-five years ago was not a tall man. But to a five-year old, he was a giant.
Once again, I was caught in the middle of circumstances. The fourth born of six children, it was not uncommon that I was either too young or too old for something. This night I was both. While my two baby brothers slept inside the house, my three older siblings played with friends around the corner, where I was not allowed to go. I stayed with Grandpa, and that was okay with me. I was where I wanted to be.
"Thirsty?" Grandpa asked. "Yes" was my reply.
"Would you like to run over to the gas station there and get yourself a bottle of Coke?" I couldn't believe my ears. On my family's modest income, Coke was not a part of our budge or diet. A few sips were all I had ever had, and certainly never my own bottle.
"Okay," I replied shyly.
Opening his fist, Grandpa instructed me to pick out a dime.
"Okay," he said, " I'm going to stay here and I'll tell you when It's safe to cross. You go over to the Coke machine, get your Coke and come back out. Wait for me to tell you when it's safe to cross back."
My heart pounded. Grandpa held my hand tightly. When he told me it was safe to cross, I ran faster than I had ever run before.
Reaching the other side, I turned to find Grandpa. There he was, standing exactly where I had left him, smiling proudly. I waved. "Go on, hurry up," he yelled.
Coke in hand, I proudly marched back out into the early evening dusk. Grandpa was waiting patiently. He smiled. "Come on, now," he said, "run." I did."
"Don't ever do that alone, he warned. I held the Coke bottle tightly, fearful he would make me pour it into a cup, ruining my dream. He didn't. One lone swallow of the cold drink cooled my sweating body. I don't think I ever felt so proud. | It can be inferred from the passage that _ . | the author lived in a big but not wealthy family | ['the author never drank Coke before the hot summer night', 'the author was badly treated in his family', 'Grandpa was the only family member who attended him'] |
Dear March - Come in -
How glad I am -
I hoped for you before ...
Who knocks? That April -
Lock the Door -
I will not be pursued -
He stayed away a year to call -
When I am occupied -
But trifles look so trivial -
As soon as you have come ...
This lovely poem was written by Emily Dickinson, who is considered a major American poet, though she was not accorded this honor until well after her death.
Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830, in Amherst, Massachusetts. She attended school for only one year. Throughout her life, she seldom left her home and visitors were few. She lived in almost complete isolation from the outside world.
She admired the poetry of Robert and Elizabeth Barren Browning, as well as John Keats. Though she was dissuaded from reading the poetry of her contemporary Walt Whitman by rumors of its disgracefulness, the two poets are now connected by the distinguished place they hold as the founders of a uniquely American poetic voice.
While Dickinson was extremely prolific as a poet, she was not publicly recognized during her lifetime. Upon her death, Dickinson's family discovered forty hand-bound volumes of nearly 1,800 poems. Her younger sister began to share the enormous body of work that Emily left behind.
Emily's odd punctuation, capitalization , and formatting did not meet with standard publishing "approval" for earlier editions. There is a whimsical nature to many other poems, as the subject of death was the most frequent theme. | In the poem, the poetess was speaking to _ . | a nice season | ['a little girl', 'a long-lost family member', 'a cute animal'] |
Celtic art - beauty displayed on a canvas ! The Internet might not be the first place where you would think to start searching for oil paintings but the truth is that there is some fine work to be found online . Ireland art is offered to interested customers , with hand - painted oil canvas and each painting is of the highest quality possible . With top - quality Celtic art paintings and superior customer services , these companies have definitely found the recipe for success . | What may I look up after I go online ? | I will look at Celtic art . | ['I will look for the truth .', 'I will look for the first place .', 'I will look at recipes .'] |
Travis loves you , Patrick . He just thinks you 're too good for him , so why risk the rejection of coming crawling back . " he said . " And I know you feel the same way , so I ' m saying it now , you both love each other . You both think the other is too good for you . | Why does Travis not feel he is good enough for Patrick ? | Travis has a case of depression . | ['Travis has a case of the flu .', 'Travis has a case of narcissism .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
The drive up to Rick's place in the hills always made me sick. Just after he bought the house with his ill gotten gains from his band's over-hyped, over-marketed, and over-bought sophomore Disc, he drove me out to see it in his beautiful but nauseating '70 Datsun 240 Z. All the smog combined with the pinball effects of winding up the hill at teeth-numbing speeds had me puking for an hour after we got there.
I took the last turn at the top of the hill and watched the rising sun crest over the black blocks of the city, her angel wings soiled and cheapened with the soot of 12 million get-away drivers. Rick's house came into view out of the fog, its large glass panes sparkling like the last clean surface of an oversized ashtray.
I parked between a blue hatchback and Rick's favorite toy: a 350 horsepower Impreza he had smuggled here from Japan. All his more expensive rides were in the garage, collecting dust and gaining vintage resale value.
I rang the bell. I waited and watched a couple of squirrels fight over a small treasure in the bushes. The door opened.
"Dingo."
"Hey, Luna."
Her job as Rick's assistant was to take care of his place while he was out being a rock star. She made sure all his bills were paid, his animals were fed, and that the subsequent fallout from any parties she might have in his absence didn't leave any lasting damage.
She was pretty by most standards, gorgeous by others. Short with a tight schoolgirl body and raven hair that teased her avian shoulders. But by whatever standard, her beauty was like a rare and exotic bird she kept caged behind the bars of her perfect teeth. As soon as she opened her mouth it flew away. | Who is Rick? | not enough information | ["Dingo's brother.", "Luna's best friend", 'manager of the banf'] |
I got a tip that the Serena sister 's look alikes were going to hit the local tennis court . I headed straight to the hot spot with my best bud . They were foxes even from afar . | What may be the reason their look alikes were there ? | It was a charity event organized by the tennis club . | ['They were scam artists looking to make lots of money .', 'None of the above choices .', 'They were the real sisters that people just mistook for fakes .'] |
Online Money Earning
Yes, you can earn money online without any investment or without anytime limit. There is no need to stop any other work. Here I tell you the complete method for online earning.
The Method
You can earn money through "Bux.to" by clicking on ads on "Bux. to" site. First you need to open an account at "Bux. to". "Bux. to" is a new international and FREE English based service that allows advertisers to reach thousands of potential customers by displaying their ads on our "Surf Ads" page. An exact calculated percentage of all advertising income is paid to our members. "Bux. to" makes money through advertising.
How you make money
You view websites in 30 seconds through the "Surf Ads" page. Once the 30 seconds is up, you'll either get a green tick sign or a red "x". The green tick sign means you've earned $0.01and the "x" means you have not earned money for the visit. You'll get red x's when you have more than one website from the "Surf Ads" page open. When this happens, you get no credit.
Earnings example
You click 10 ads per day =$0.10
20 referrals click 10 ads per day =$2.00
Your daily earnings =$2.10
Your weekly earnings =$14.70
How to get paid
At present, it only makes payments through "AlertPay". AlertPay is the payment processing solution that we use to pay members. Your AlertPay address is the e-mail address you use to register with AlertPay. You can get a free AlertPay account at http:// alertpay. com. | What can we know from the passage? | You can get your payments through AlertPay. | ["You'll earn $0.10 if you click 1 ad.", "You'll get many green ticks if you have many websites open.", 'Your AlertPay account is not for free.'] |
I guess I could have used more coffee , but eeeeuch . It 's watery and awful . I used to use that thing all the time when I lived alone , but maybe I ' m out of practice . We always make our coffee with a French press pot now and it 's AWESOME . | Why did the narrator stop drinking the coffee ? | The coffee was poor . | ['The coffee was too sugary .', 'The coffee was too strong .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
Proudly reading my words, I glanced around the room, only to find my classmates with big smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. Confused, I glanced toward my stone-faced teacher. Having no choice, I slowly raised the report I had worked on, hoping to hide myself. "What could be causing everyone to act this way?"
Quickly, I flashed back to the day Miss Lancelot gave me the task. This was the first real task I received in my new school. It seemed simple: go on the Internet and find information about a man named George Washington. Since my idea of history came from an ancient teacher in my home country, I had never heard of that name before. As I searched for the name of this fellow, it became obvious that there were two people with the same name who looked completely different! One invented hundreds of uses for peanuts, while the other led army across America. I stared at the screen, wondering which one my teacher meant. I called my grandfather for a golden piece of advice: flip a coin. Heads--the commander, and tails--the peanuts guy. Ah! Tails, my report would be about the great man who invented peanut butter, George Washington Carver.Weeks later, standing before this unfriendly mass, I was totally lost. Oh well, I lowered the paper and sat down at my desk, burning to find out what I had done wrong. As a classmate began his report, it all became clear, "My report is on George Washington, the man who started the American Revolution." The whole world became quiet! How could I know that she meant that George Washington?
Obviously, my grade was terrible. Heartbroken but fearless, I decided to turn this around. I talked to Miss Lancelot, but she insisted: No re-dos; no new grade. I felt that the punishment was not justified, and I believed I deserved a second chance. At last, I worked very hard for the rest of the school year.
Ten months later, that chance came as I found myself sitting in the headmaster's office with my grandfather, now having a completely different conversation. I smiled and flashed back to the embarrassing moment at the beginning of the year as the headmaster informed me of my chance to skip the sixth grade. Justice is sweet! | Why was the author confused about the task? | He was unfamiliar with American history. | ['He followed the advice and flipped a coin.', "He forgot his teacher's instruction.", "He didn't know why the teacher gave such a task."] |
Junelle Lynch knocked on more than 200 doors in the Gayln Manor neighborhood of Brunswick in recent weeks. Her aim is to collect hundreds of pounds of food for the Brunswick Food Bank.
"I like helping people a lot,"said Junelle,who celebrated her 11th birthday in June.
With the support of her parents Isabella and Robert,Junelle walked along the streets with an orange grocery bag .Isabella always accompanies her daughter. Isabella helps her daughter by car,so Junelle can empty her grocery bag when it becomes heavy. Junelle's friend,Destiny Williams,helped the first night,but he didn't turn up the rest of the time.
Neighbor Lynda Mallory donated food to Junelle. Mallory dropped noodles,canned soup,vegetables and fruits into Junelle's bag. After visiting the last house and looking at what she collected,Junelle said she felt good about what she achieved with the help of her neighbors.
Working an hour a night three times per week,she has collected more than 400 pounds of canned and boxed food. This isn't the first year she's collected food. Junelle started nearly three years ago when,at 8 years old,she saw a collection box at a grocery store and decided to become involved. In her first year,she collected 80 pounds of food in the mostly undeveloped neighborhood,and 214 pounds the next year. The food helped feed many families.
When she isn't helping,Junelle is a straightA student who snowboards,plays the trumpet,sings with the Brunswick Chorus,plays basketball and writes poems. She plans on spending her summer vacation attending a basketball camp. | According to the passage,we know Junelle Lynch _ . | has many hobbies in school life | ['always helps her neighbors', 'is too busy to do well in her study', "is worried about her parents' health"] |
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill Thursday that would protect from arbitrary dismissal the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.
The measure, backed by 10 Democrats and four Republicans, would codify Justice Department regulations that the special counsel can only be fired by the attorney general or a designee for "misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest, or other good cause."
The proposal would give the special counsel 10 days to challenge a dismissal in court. If a court determines the firing was not for "good cause," the special counsel would be reinstated. The measure would also require the Justice Department to notify Congress when a special counsel is appointed and to report the findings of an investigation.
While marking a strong show of support for Special Counsel Robert Mueller who is under frequent attack by President Donald Trump and some Republicans, the bill is unlikely to become law in the face of Republican opposition.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said last week that Trump will not fire Mueller and that there was no need to bring the measure to the Senate floor for a vote. House Speaker Paul Ryan has also opposed the idea.
The legislation was introduced by four Senators earlier this month after Trump's sharp criticism of an FBI raid on his personal lawyer's home and office rekindled fears that Trump may fire Mueller and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who supervises Mueller.
Mueller is heading the federal investigation into Russia's electoral interference and possible collusion with the Trump presidential campaign. Trump has said there was no collusion and repeatedly denounced the probe as a "witch hunt."
Despite his harsh criticism of the Special Counsel and the Justice Department, Trump has dismissed reports that he's privately talked about firing Mueller. He told the cable show Fox and Friends on Thursday that he'll "try and stay away" from the Justice Department, but "at some point, I won't."
Supporters of the Special Counsel bill hailed it as a victory for the rule of law and said it would send a message that the president doesn't have unfettered authority. | After the story, Mueller is probably? | still special counsel | ['deputy attorney general', 'promoted to attorney general', 'not enough information'] |
Frogmore House has been a royal place since the 18th century and is today used by the Royal Family for private entertaining. It is especially linked with Queen Charlotte, The wife of George III, and her daughters, whose love of botany and art is reflected throughout the house.
Unfortunately, parts of a visit to Frogmore are unsuitable for wheelchair-users. For information about access, please telephone 020 7766 7324.
_
18, 19, 20 May 10:00 - 17:30 (last admission 16:00)
28, 29, 30 August 10:00 -17:30 (last admission 16:00)
Please telephone 020 7766 7305 for admission prices.
_
3 August - 30 September every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10:00- 15:00.
Adult: PS 10.50 0ver 60/Student (with valid ID) : PS 8. 80
Child ( under 17) : PS5. 80 Child ( under 5) : Free
Price includes a guided tour of the house.
_
17:30 - 19:00. ~ 25. 00 per person. Price includes a guided tour, a copy of the official guidebook and a glass of champagne.
The maximum group size for all visits is 10 people.
Please note that there is no access for private cars.
To make a group booking, please telephone 020 7766 7315.
For more information including BSL (British Sign Language) interpretation, please telephone 020 7766 7326. | If a visitor to Frogmore knows little about English Sign Language, he or she can dial _ for help. | 020 7766 7326 | ['020 7766 7324', '020 7766 7305', '020 7766 7315'] |
BC powder only works a good 6 hours . It really did nt do shit for the hangover . I was supposed to go out tonight but she was being slightly avoiding and since it was about to be put off for another week i just canceled . I got the crazy idea that eating ice cream would get rid of the headache . It 's not working , so I guess i 'll just eat the rest of it to see if i was right or not . | Why does the speaker have a headache ? | They are experiencing a hangover . | ['None of the above choices .', 'They are having low blood sugar .', 'They hit their head .'] |
Have you ever wondered whether it’s worth your while to encourage an older person to start exercising?
In 2014, the top-notch journal JAMA published the results of a fantastic research project: a study in which 1635 sedentary older adults (aged 70-89) were assigned to get either a structured exercise program, or a program of “successful aging” health education. The researchers called it the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) study. (You can read the full study here.)
During the LIFE study, the two groups were followed for a little over 2.5 years. And by the end of the study, guess which group of volunteers was more likely to still walk a quarter of a mile (without a walker)?
That’s right. When it came to avoiding “major mobility disability” — which the researchers defined as becoming unable to walk 400 meters or more — a structured exercise program was better than a program of healthy aging education.
Specifically, the researchers found that 30% of the exercisers experienced a period of major disability, compared to 35.5% of the seniors enrolled in the healthy aging education program.
This is a very encouraging finding! That said, it’s also a bit sobering to realize that even with exercise, almost 1 in 3 older adults experienced a period of limited mobility, of which half lasted 6 months or more.
In this post, I’ll share some more details on this study, because the results provide a wonderful wealth of information that can be helpful to older adults, family caregivers, and even geriatricians such as myself.
Want to know how often the exercisers experienced “adverse events”? (Hint: often!) Wondering just what the structured exercise program involved? (Hint: more than walking!)
Let’s dig into the details! At the end of this post, I’ll share my list of key take-home points for older adults and family caregivers.
Who were the study volunteers? Whenever you read about a research study, it’s important to understand how the study volunteers compare to the older adults in *your* life. One of the many things I love about this study is that they purposefully enrolled older adults who were sedentary, and physically vulnerable. | How many of the researchers were considered elderly people? | not enough information | ['None', 'Several', 'Few'] |
Conflict is on the menu tonight at the cafe La Chope. This evening, as on every Thursday night, psychologist Maud Lehanne is leading two of France's favorite pastimes, coffee drinking and the "talking cure". Here they are learning to get in touch with their true feelings. It isn't always easy. They customers-some thirty Parisians who pay just under $2 (plus drinks) per session-care quick to intellectualize ,slow to open up and connect. "You are forbidden to say 'one feels,' or 'people think',"Lehane told them. "Say 'I think,' 'Think me'."
A cafe society where no intellectualizing is allowed? It couldn't seem more un-French. But Lehanne's psychology cafe is about more than knowing oneself: It's trying to help the city's troubled neighborhood cafes. Over the years, Parisian cafes have fallen victim to changes in the French lifestyle-longer working hours, a fast food boom and a younger generation's desire to spend more time at home. Dozens of new theme cafes appear to change the situation. Cafes focused around psychology, history, and engineering are catching on, filling tables well into the evening.
The city's "psychology cafes",which offer great comfort,are among the most popular places.Middle-aged homemakers,retirees,and the unemployed come to such cafes to talk about love,anger,and dreams with a psychologist.And they come to Lehanne's group just to learn to say what they feel."There's a strong need in Paris for communication,"says Maurice Frisch,a cafe La Chope regular who works as a religious instructor in a nearby church."People have few real friends.And they need to open up."Lehanne says she'd like to see psychology cafes all over France."If people had normal lives,these cafes wouldn't exist,"she says."If life weren't a battle,people wouldn't need a special place just to speak."But then,it wouldn't be France. | What are theme cafes expected to do? | Save the cafe business. | ['Create more jobs.', 'Supply better drinks.', 'Serve the neighborhood.'] |
So our cute Japanese cousin came to spend a vacation for a week . Of course , being a fan of Japanese animation and manga , I was so excited to see a genuine Japanese kid . Before they fly back to Japan at 4 am the day after , my sis decided to tour him around MOA . My sis , who has spent days with him , said that he does n't talk too much probably because of the language barrier . | What may be a plausible fact about me ? | I have an Oriental cousin . | ['None of the above choices .', 'I am related to aliens .', 'I am related to Russians .'] |
"To be real honest, Jeffrey, you're not making much progress," said Greg. "Are you practicing at all?"
"Well, yeah. Mom makes me. She sits there watching to make sure I'm getting the right fingering and phrasing."
"Hmm. I might need to talk to her about that." Greg hated when kids were forced into musicianship. He had been teaching private music lessons for more than ten years, and had seen it often. Parents made their kids miserable. It rarely worked anyway. "You don't really want to take piano, do you?"
"No, Sir."
"Well... "
"I wish my mom would let me take guitar lessons. That would be cool."
"You know you'd get calluses like this." Greg held out left hand and showed Jeffrey his fingertips.
"Yeah! My friend, Zach, has calluses. They're hard like plastic."
"Well, you know, it hurts for a while--until you build them up."
"I don't care. I love the guitar. I've been begging Mom to switch me from piano to guitar."
"I'll talk to her."
"Great! I already have a guitar and--"
"--don't get too excited yet. We'll see what she says."
"Thanks, Mr. Tenorly." He jumped up and ran for the front door. Then he stopped, rushed back over to grab his piano books, and raced out the door.
Greg's 3:30 lesson had been cancelled, so he now had a thirty minute break. Oftentimes, during a break, he would step outside and wander down the sidewalk, observing the townspeople going in and out of the shops around Coreyville Square.
But something was bugging him. His dad's birthday party was only a few days away. He hoped he wouldn't regret letting Cynthia talk him into going. | Whose mom is forcing the child to take piano lessons? | Jeffrey's mom. | ['not enough information', "Greg's mom.", "Zach's mom."] |
When I was two years old, something happened which I have never forgotten. It was early spring, and there was a light mist over the trees and fields. The other young fellows and I were feeding at the lower end of the field when we heard the distant cry of dogs.
The oldest among us lifted his head to listen. "There are the hounds ", he said, and immediately raced off. The rest of us followed him to the top of the field where we could see several fields beyond.
Soon the dogs were all racing down the field next to ours, making a loud "yoyoyoyo" sound. After then came men on horses, some in green coats. Suddenly, the dogs became silent and ran around with their noses to the ground.
"They've lost the smell of the hare." said the old horse. "Perhaps it will escape." But the dogs began their "yoyoyoyo" again and came at full speed towards our field. Just then a hare, wild with fear, ran towards the trees. The dogs jumped over the stream and ran across the field, followed by the huntsmen. Six or eight jumped their horses over the stream, close behind the dogs. Before the hare could get away, the dogs were upon her with wild cries. We heard a terrible scream, and that was the end of the hare. One of the men picked her up and held her by the leg. She was covered in blood, but all the huntsmen seemed pleased.
I was so greatly surprised that at first I did not see what was happening by the stream but when I did look, I saw a sad sight. Two fine horses were down, one in the stream struggling to stand up and the other on the grass with one of his legs broken. One rider, who seemed unhurt, was climbing out of the water, but the other lay quite still. "His neck is broken," said my mother. "I can't understand why men are so fond of this sport. They often hurt themselves and ruin good horses, all for one hare that they could get more easily in other ways. But we are only horses, and don't know why men do these things."
They carried the dead rider to our master's house, and then came back to the black horse on the grass. The animal was in great pain and one of his legs was broken. Someone ran to our master's house and came back to the horse with a gun. Soon after there was a loud bang and a terrible cry, and the black horse did not move any more. | Which word can be used to describe my true feeling at the scene of the hunting? | Sad. | ['Pleased.', 'Angry.', 'Delighted.'] |
A few years ago, a company called Space Marketing came up with a plan to send a mile-long advertisement into space. To advertising agencies , it would have been "a dream come true". However, advertising standards agencies finally decided not to allow Space Marketing to go ahead with their plans and they were forced to give them up.
Space may indeed be the final place for advertisers, because on Earth we are already surrounded by advertising wherever we are and whatever we are doing. Apart from the obvious adverts that we see every day on TV, and in newspapers and magazines, there is a whole ' _ ' of advertising messages for our attention. There are ads that we see on the side of the bus we catch to work, for example. And what about the logos we see on the clothing of the people we walk past in the streets?
Most of the time, we are probably not even aware of these less obvious advertising methods, but that doesn't mean that they don't work. Take 'product placement', for example. You are in a cinema, watching the latest Hollywood movie. Look carefully at the make of car your favorite actor is driving. And what about his watch? Can you see what brand it is? Chances are, you can, and the company that owns the brand is likely to have paid thousands for it to appear in the film.
So, whether Space Marketing finally succeeds in sending ads into space or not is perhaps less important than it might seem. This would not change a thing. Our everyday lives are already strongly influenced by advertising whether we realize it or not. | What happened to the plan of sending an ad into space? | It came to nothing. | ['It was a dream come true.', 'It had to wait a few years before it was carried out.', 'It was supported by the advertising standards agencies.'] |
Once upon a time, a doting mother asked Albert Einstein what she should read to her son to help him grow up as brilliant and intelligent as the famous scientist.
"Fairy-tales," he said, wisely nodding his head.
Why? Why would Albert Einstein -- the Nobel Prizes winning physicist recommend reading fairy-tales? Was he joking? All the evidence suggests he was deadly serious. He also said, "When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking."
Childhood is one of the factors that blur the distinctions between the self and other objects. Thus fantasy stories appeal to children and appear to make sense to them.
There are several commonly accepted genres of fantasy, "Animal Fantasy" which centers around the lives of lovable talking animals and "Modern Fantasy" which focuses on adventures in other worlds and magical events. I am inclined to add a third genre "Human and Animal Fantasy", which mixes human and animal characters. Another genre of fantasy may be "High Fantasy" which features heroes who combat evil and save the world from destruction.
Fantasy feeds a child's imagination and encourages creativity. The enjoyment that the genre engenders promotes reading and enhances literacy. Moreover, the fantasy genre may be used for teaching purposes. For example: A story about cruelty to animals would limit appeal to a child; however a fantasy celebration of closeness between the children and their pets may give an element of excitement as the children are able to save animals from someone with cruel intentions.
Children love the Harry Potter series, and if they only see the movies they miss a great opportunity to develop their reading skills by spending time with the lovable young wizards and witches of the Hogwarts community. | A student who likes reading about heroes will probably read _ . | High Fantasy | ['Animal Fantasy', 'Modern Fantasy', 'Human and Animal Fantasy'] |
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 would happen after the talks? | getting rid of nukes in North Korea | ['not enough information', 'a news conference', 'fact checking a document'] |
They knew not what we had done , but felt no shame or anger . Rather they were glad for us , and blessed us , as would he , who loved all men . And after three long , lonely days , like years , in which I roamed the gardens of my grief seeking for him , my one friend who had gone from me , he rose from sleep , at dawn , and showed himself to me before all others . And took me to him with the love that now forever dares to speak its name . | Why is the narrator meandering around the area ? | They are looking for their friend . | ['They are looking for an animal before dawn hits .', 'They are looking for their pet before dawn hits .', 'They are looking for an escape .'] |
We have a strange and strong belief in the idea of perfection. Driven by our culture, we struggle for an unattainable ideal: If I have the perfect parents, perfect grades, perfect..., then I would be happy. We seek what we can't have without remembering that we don't actually need to be perfect. Imperfection allows us to be human.
Parents, teachers and other high-achieving peers will have us believe that we must be perfect if we wish to remain competitive. However, what job or school requires you to develop a cure for some form of cancer by the age of 18? Although these grades would be admirable achievements, are they worth losing sleep over? We feel like we need the perfect grades to get into the perfect college that will provide us with the perfect education necessary to obtain the perfect job. Making use of our thirst for perfection, the whole college and career industries have emerged claiming to help us reach our goals.
Truth is, you only need to be good enough to get into the conversation. It is what you do afterwards that sets you apart. Focus more on your passions. Don't worry about anything secondary to your passions. You don't become an expert at anything if you spent your time trying to succeed in everything you do. You only become an expert when you devote your time to that one project that truly brings you joy.
As members of this society, we have a responsibility to be excellent in what we do, not perfect. Although perfection can be a goal, it should not be the only goal. We only have 24 hours in a day and seven days in a week. Thus, we need to plan what we want to do and cut out the activities we cannot do.
With everything, though, make sure you're doing enough. Pursuing your passions is not enough of a reason to completely give up on everything else. Try as hard as you can and let your future worry about itself. Worry about your task at hand and you will be successful in achieving your dreams. Most of all, remember that you're going to be okay. | According to the author, we should _ . | deal with what we hope to do first | ['see becoming perfect as our responsibility', 'set a goal of perfection in our life', 'worry about our future dreams'] |
One spring it stopped raining in early March and didn't start again.
There was one very well-off bunny in the village who had a large burrow and lots of food saved up. He wasn't worried about the drought at all. The other bunnies, though, looked at the purple-red nettles withering in the fields and the mayweed that hadn't even flowered and wondered if they were going to have enough food to get them through the next winter.
The very well-off bunny was named Albertus, but everybody called him Big Al--at least they called him that when they were sure he couldn't hear them. Big Al was in fact a very large bunny with long, white, silky fur. He had lots of land that his parents had left to him, and he never let any of the other bunnies gather food there. The story was that Big Al had sat on the one bunny who tried to make off with some of his carrots until the small bunny begged for mercy. After Big Al let him up, the small bunny moved to another village.
One morning a dozen or more bunnies sat around the village square, licking the dew off the dried and wrinkled clover to quench their thirsts, and talking about the drought. There was still a bit of a cool breeze from Possum Creek, a mile or so away. Sophie Bunny, who was large and sleek, with a black circle around one eye, was there with her husband Lenny and their youngest, Ralph, who still lived at home with them.
"I don't mind telling you," Lenny said, "I'm getting a little scared by all this." Lenny was a small, tan bunny with buck teeth and big cheeks like a chipmunk.
"No need to be afraid," said the short, overweight Reverend Billy Bunny, the village's spiritual leader. "The Easter Bunny will provide." He sat, as he usually did, by the thick green hawthorn bush in the middle of the square--although the bush was neither as thick nor as green as it had once been. | What did the small bunny do after Big Al let him up? | He moved to another settlement. | ['He moved to another burrow.', 'He moved to another bush.', 'not enough information'] |
Scratchy throats, stuffy noses and body aches all spell misery, but being able to tell if the cause is a cold or flu may make a difference in how long the misery lasts.
The American Lung Association (ALA) has issued new guidelines on combating colds and the flu , and one of the keys is being able to quickly tell the two apart. That's because the prescription drugs available for the flu need to be taken soon after the illness sets in. As for colds, the sooner a person starts taking over-the-counter remedy, the sooner relief will come.
The common cold and the flu are both caused by viruses. More than 200 viruses can cause cold symptoms, while the flu is caused by three viruses - flu A, B and C. There is no cure for either illness , but the flu can be prevented by the flu vaccine, which is, for most people, the best way to fight the flu, according to the ALA. But if the flu does strike, quick action can help. Although the flu and common cold have many similarities , there are some obvious signs to look for.
Cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, runny nose and scratchy throat typically develop gradually, and adults and teens often do not get a fever. On the other hand, fever is one of the characteristic features of the flu for all ages. And in general, flu symptoms including fever and chills, sore throat and body aches come on suddenly and are more severe than cold symptoms.
The ALA notes that it may be particularly difficult to tell when infants and preschool age children have the flu. It advises parents to call the doctor if their small children have flu-like symptoms.
Both cold and flu symptoms can be eased with over-the-counter medications as well. However, children and teens with a cold or flu should not take aspirin for pain relief because of the risk of Reye syndrome ,a rare but serious condition of the liver and central nervous system.
There is, of course, no vaccine for the common cold. But frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with people who have colds can reduce the likelihood of catching one. | According to the author, knowing the cause of the misery will help _ . | shorten the duration of the illness | ['the patient buy medicine over the counter', 'the patient obtain cheaper prescription drugs', 'prevent people from catching colds and the flu'] |
We got in a huge fight over it one night a few months ago and he said it 's my fault because I put so much pressure on him to do well at everything . I think he 's making excuses and we did n't speak to each other for almost 3 weeks . What can I do so that we can reconnect ? | What may be a plausible fact about him ? | He is my son . | ['None of the above choices .', 'He is my parent .', 'He is my nephew .'] |
There was a bazaar at NIE and the usual game store aunty came to set up her stall again She sells a variety of board games ( i.e. twister , scrabble , monopoly , intelligent games etc ) at a low price . There was this item that caught our eyes . Our mean REENA , CAILING & I. | What may happen after the aunty 's stall is set up ? | She will sell many types of games . | ['No one will buy any of her games .', 'The games will be too expensive .', 'She will go home early .'] |