_id
stringlengths 9
15
| article
stringlengths 9
6.44k
| question
stringlengths 1
380
| option
listlengths 4
4
| answer
stringclasses 4
values |
|---|---|---|---|---|
devhigh11838
|
Bark
Cover Price: $19.80 Price: $15.00($2.50 / issue )
You save: $4.80 (24%) Review: By Pat Kane
I absolutely love Bark magazine! I love the "smiling" pages and the tips on every issue. I am a dog lover and have saved all of my dogs from either death row or from people who were going to put them down. Everyone should have a chance to live and Bark stresses that with its articles. This magazine is a MUST HAVE for any dog lover!!
Dog Fancy
Cover Price: $54.00 Price: $14.99 ($1.25 / issue)
You save: $39.01 (72%) Review: By Berner Mom
Don't waste your money on this magazine. 60-70 percent of it are advertisements, and the articles offer little useful information. It might be suitable for children, but not adults who are serious about educating themselves about dogs.
Dog World
Cover Price: $48.88 Price: $14.99 ($1.25 / issue)
You save: $33.89 (69%) Review: By one critic
Dog World has many very interesting and thought-provoking articles for people involved in dog showing, breeding , performance events, etc. However,over half of the magazine is devoted to breeder ads, which is boring. Still, as a whole, I recommend it for the articles. Good articles, but tons of ads.
Modern Dog
Cover Price: $45.00 Price: $15.00 ($3.75 / issue)
You save: $30.00 (24%) Review: By Dinah
My new favorite magazine! Beautiful photos, smart and amusing articles, fashion, art, interviews with famous people... all with a dog focus!Cover models range from Paris Hilton and Tinkerbell to Virginia Madsen and her dogs. Thanks to Modern Dog I now know how to give a dog-friendly cocktail party and how to actually get my dog to come when she's called. Surely worth checking out.
|
The purpose of the text is to introduce _ .
|
[
"some cheap magazines",
"different magazines for different readers",
"some magazines about dogs",
"information on raising dogs"
] |
C
|
devhigh11882
|
Jack lay, quiet and unmoving, for thirty minutes while a stranger repeatedly stabbed him with sharp needles, causing blood to pour steadily out of his leg. Jack was getting a tattoo. His friend Tony had recently gotten a tattoo, and Jack was so impressed by it that he decided to get one too. Peer pressure, media influence, and personal expression are some of the common reasons for wearing tattoos today.
The desire to be accepted by one's friends or peers can have a great influence on what a person does. Sometimes, wearing a tattoo can be a sign that you belong to a certain group. Gangs often use special clothes and tattoos to identify their particular group. Some of these groups wear only brand-name clothes. Others wear tattoos. When a person's friends are all doing something, that person is more likely to do the same thing.
The media is another big influence behind the popularity of tattoos in North America. A wide variety of media images show tattoos--people appearing in commercials selling expensive cars, famous sports heroes with tattoos in magazines, fashion models wearing designer clothes that show their bodies tattooed with detailed and colorful patterns. These media images link tattoos to ideas of wealth, success, and status. As a result, many people decide to get a tattoo for its fashion and status value.
Many people decide to wear tattoos in order to express their artistic nature, their beliefs, or their feelings-in other words, to show their individuality . A musician in a rock band may get a tattoo of a guitar on the arm. Some environmentalists may tattoo pictures of endangered animals on their shoulders. A tattoo can be a public sign to show what is important in a person's life.
As you can see, there are many reasons why young North Americans get tattoos. A tattoo can be part of a group's uniform, a sign of fashion, or an expression of individuality. The decision to get a tattoo is most often a result of the influence of friends or media or the desire to express oneself. For Jack, it was a mixture of all three.
|
Jack has got tattoos in order to _ .
|
[
"show his great bravery",
"gain a special experience",
"make himself more healthy",
"be different from others"
] |
D
|
devhigh11882
|
Jack lay, quiet and unmoving, for thirty minutes while a stranger repeatedly stabbed him with sharp needles, causing blood to pour steadily out of his leg. Jack was getting a tattoo. His friend Tony had recently gotten a tattoo, and Jack was so impressed by it that he decided to get one too. Peer pressure, media influence, and personal expression are some of the common reasons for wearing tattoos today.
The desire to be accepted by one's friends or peers can have a great influence on what a person does. Sometimes, wearing a tattoo can be a sign that you belong to a certain group. Gangs often use special clothes and tattoos to identify their particular group. Some of these groups wear only brand-name clothes. Others wear tattoos. When a person's friends are all doing something, that person is more likely to do the same thing.
The media is another big influence behind the popularity of tattoos in North America. A wide variety of media images show tattoos--people appearing in commercials selling expensive cars, famous sports heroes with tattoos in magazines, fashion models wearing designer clothes that show their bodies tattooed with detailed and colorful patterns. These media images link tattoos to ideas of wealth, success, and status. As a result, many people decide to get a tattoo for its fashion and status value.
Many people decide to wear tattoos in order to express their artistic nature, their beliefs, or their feelings-in other words, to show their individuality . A musician in a rock band may get a tattoo of a guitar on the arm. Some environmentalists may tattoo pictures of endangered animals on their shoulders. A tattoo can be a public sign to show what is important in a person's life.
As you can see, there are many reasons why young North Americans get tattoos. A tattoo can be part of a group's uniform, a sign of fashion, or an expression of individuality. The decision to get a tattoo is most often a result of the influence of friends or media or the desire to express oneself. For Jack, it was a mixture of all three.
|
According to the passage, media images are linked to _ .
|
[
"traditional lifestyle",
"social position",
"cultural background",
"public interest"
] |
B
|
devhigh11882
|
Jack lay, quiet and unmoving, for thirty minutes while a stranger repeatedly stabbed him with sharp needles, causing blood to pour steadily out of his leg. Jack was getting a tattoo. His friend Tony had recently gotten a tattoo, and Jack was so impressed by it that he decided to get one too. Peer pressure, media influence, and personal expression are some of the common reasons for wearing tattoos today.
The desire to be accepted by one's friends or peers can have a great influence on what a person does. Sometimes, wearing a tattoo can be a sign that you belong to a certain group. Gangs often use special clothes and tattoos to identify their particular group. Some of these groups wear only brand-name clothes. Others wear tattoos. When a person's friends are all doing something, that person is more likely to do the same thing.
The media is another big influence behind the popularity of tattoos in North America. A wide variety of media images show tattoos--people appearing in commercials selling expensive cars, famous sports heroes with tattoos in magazines, fashion models wearing designer clothes that show their bodies tattooed with detailed and colorful patterns. These media images link tattoos to ideas of wealth, success, and status. As a result, many people decide to get a tattoo for its fashion and status value.
Many people decide to wear tattoos in order to express their artistic nature, their beliefs, or their feelings-in other words, to show their individuality . A musician in a rock band may get a tattoo of a guitar on the arm. Some environmentalists may tattoo pictures of endangered animals on their shoulders. A tattoo can be a public sign to show what is important in a person's life.
As you can see, there are many reasons why young North Americans get tattoos. A tattoo can be part of a group's uniform, a sign of fashion, or an expression of individuality. The decision to get a tattoo is most often a result of the influence of friends or media or the desire to express oneself. For Jack, it was a mixture of all three.
|
We can infer from the passage that _ .
|
[
"some people get tattoos out of pressure",
"tattoo is related to religious belief",
"getting tattoos costs a lot of money",
"most people with tattoos are artists"
] |
A
|
devhigh11904
|
One cold January evening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, America, I went with my father on an oil burner service call. My father was in his forties at that time and I was about twelve years old. He was always working hard trying to support us seven kids. I enjoyed hanging out with him whenever I could -- he taught me so much.
We arrived at the call and after walking over snow and ice, we knocked on the customer's door. A senior citizen opened the door and let us into her very cold home. She was wearing an old, worn-out brown coat that went down to her knees. On her head, covering her gray hair, was an old and worn hat. The home wasn't furnished very well and was quite dark, except for a single light bulb over the dining room table. Below the light was an older man counting change from several old coffee cans. He looked up at us as we passed by to get to the kitchen where my dad would fix the oil burner. He didn't say anything. He just looked up at us. He couldn't speak English, nor could his wife. She only pointed to the kitchen and smiled at us.
After a short while, my father had the heater up and running, and it began to heat their cold home. The lady asked my dad in poor English how much she owed him for fixing the heater. My dad looked around the house and said that he had to go out to the truck and write the bill.
Once in the truck he marked the bill "no answer at home, no charge", so they wouldn't be charged for his work. He looked over at me and said, "He was counting his change to pay me. They need their money more than I do."
As usual, my father taught me something important that time, which was to be kind to the poor.
|
What can we infer from the passage?
|
[
"The old couple had no children in America.",
"The old man didn't plan to pay money.",
"The old woman felt very embarrassed all the time.",
"The old couple were not native Americans."
] |
D
|
devhigh11904
|
One cold January evening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, America, I went with my father on an oil burner service call. My father was in his forties at that time and I was about twelve years old. He was always working hard trying to support us seven kids. I enjoyed hanging out with him whenever I could -- he taught me so much.
We arrived at the call and after walking over snow and ice, we knocked on the customer's door. A senior citizen opened the door and let us into her very cold home. She was wearing an old, worn-out brown coat that went down to her knees. On her head, covering her gray hair, was an old and worn hat. The home wasn't furnished very well and was quite dark, except for a single light bulb over the dining room table. Below the light was an older man counting change from several old coffee cans. He looked up at us as we passed by to get to the kitchen where my dad would fix the oil burner. He didn't say anything. He just looked up at us. He couldn't speak English, nor could his wife. She only pointed to the kitchen and smiled at us.
After a short while, my father had the heater up and running, and it began to heat their cold home. The lady asked my dad in poor English how much she owed him for fixing the heater. My dad looked around the house and said that he had to go out to the truck and write the bill.
Once in the truck he marked the bill "no answer at home, no charge", so they wouldn't be charged for his work. He looked over at me and said, "He was counting his change to pay me. They need their money more than I do."
As usual, my father taught me something important that time, which was to be kind to the poor.
|
The writer's father didn't charge for his work because_.
|
[
"he didn't need that money",
"he felt pity for the old couple",
"he was not satisfied with his work",
"he wanted to set a good example to others"
] |
B
|
devhigh11920
|
Having parked near the car wash beside the supermarket, I came away to wait for my wife to come from work. Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum . From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered . This was one of those "don't want to be bothered times."
"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought. He didn't. He came and sat on the seat by the bus stop but he didn't look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke, "That's a very pretty car". He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. I said, "thanks," without taking a look at him.
He sat there quietly for a moment. The expected begging for money never came. As the silence between us widened something inside said, "Ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes". So I asked, "Do you need any help?" He answered in three simple words that I shall never forget. The three words shook me. "Don't we all?" he said.
I was feeling successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me. Don't we all? I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, you need help too. However, no matter how little you have, you can give help too.
|
The author walked away from the car wash to _ .
|
[
"go to work",
"wash his car",
"go shopping",
"meet his wife"
] |
D
|
devhigh11920
|
Having parked near the car wash beside the supermarket, I came away to wait for my wife to come from work. Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum . From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered . This was one of those "don't want to be bothered times."
"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought. He didn't. He came and sat on the seat by the bus stop but he didn't look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke, "That's a very pretty car". He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. I said, "thanks," without taking a look at him.
He sat there quietly for a moment. The expected begging for money never came. As the silence between us widened something inside said, "Ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes". So I asked, "Do you need any help?" He answered in three simple words that I shall never forget. The three words shook me. "Don't we all?" he said.
I was feeling successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me. Don't we all? I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, you need help too. However, no matter how little you have, you can give help too.
|
When the author first saw the bum, he planned to _ .
|
[
"ignore his difficulty",
"give him a lesson",
"offer him some help",
"make friends with him"
] |
A
|
devhigh11920
|
Having parked near the car wash beside the supermarket, I came away to wait for my wife to come from work. Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum . From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered . This was one of those "don't want to be bothered times."
"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought. He didn't. He came and sat on the seat by the bus stop but he didn't look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke, "That's a very pretty car". He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. I said, "thanks," without taking a look at him.
He sat there quietly for a moment. The expected begging for money never came. As the silence between us widened something inside said, "Ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes". So I asked, "Do you need any help?" He answered in three simple words that I shall never forget. The three words shook me. "Don't we all?" he said.
I was feeling successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me. Don't we all? I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, you need help too. However, no matter how little you have, you can give help too.
|
When the bum said "Don't we all?", the author felt _ .
|
[
"satisfied",
"shy",
"sad",
"shocked"
] |
D
|
devhigh11920
|
Having parked near the car wash beside the supermarket, I came away to wait for my wife to come from work. Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum . From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered . This was one of those "don't want to be bothered times."
"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought. He didn't. He came and sat on the seat by the bus stop but he didn't look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus. After a few minutes he spoke, "That's a very pretty car". He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. I said, "thanks," without taking a look at him.
He sat there quietly for a moment. The expected begging for money never came. As the silence between us widened something inside said, "Ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes". So I asked, "Do you need any help?" He answered in three simple words that I shall never forget. The three words shook me. "Don't we all?" he said.
I was feeling successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me. Don't we all? I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, you need help too. However, no matter how little you have, you can give help too.
|
What is the best title for the text?
|
[
"The clever bum",
"Never lose your dignity",
"Don't we all need help?",
"To give or not?"
] |
C
|
devhigh11938
|
Witchcraft was not made a capital offence in Britain until 1563 though it was disapproved by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484. From 1484 until around 1750, some 200,000 witches were burnt or hanged in Western Europe.
Most supposed witches were usually old women, and always poor. Any who were unfortunate enough to be an old woman with broken teeth, sunken cheeks and sockets and a hairy lip were assumed to possess the "Evil Eye". It was more the case if they also had a cat. Many unfortunate women were taken away on this sort of evidence and hanged.
Witch fever held East Anglia for 14 terrible months between 1645--1646. A man called Matthew Hopkins, an unsuccessful lawyer, contributed a lot! He became known as the "Witchfinder General". He had 68 people put to death in Bury St. Edmunds alone, and 19 hanged at Chelmsfor in a single day. After Chelmsford he set off for other countries. Much of Matthew Hopkins theories of telling a witch were based on Devil's Marks. He took a small mark to be a Devil's Mark and he used his "needle" to see if these marks were insensitive to pain. His "needle" was basically a trick so the unfortunate women never felt any pain.
There were other tests for witches. Mary Sutton of Bedford was put to the swimming test. With her thumbs tied to opposite big toes she was thrown into the river. If she floated she was guilty; if she sank, innocent. Poor Mary floated!
Though many of the acts againsts witchcraft were put to an end in 1736, witch hunting still went on. In 1863, a suspected male witch was drowned in a pond in Headingham, Essex and 1945 the body of an elderly farm laborer was found near the village of Meon Hill in Warwickshire. His throat had been cut and his body was pinned to the earth. The murder remains unsolved; however, the man was said, locally, to be a male witch. It seems that belief in witchcraft has not entirely died out.
|
A female witch was often found to be _
|
[
"a young lady",
"a lucky woman",
"an ugly woman",
"a blind girl"
] |
C
|
devhigh11938
|
Witchcraft was not made a capital offence in Britain until 1563 though it was disapproved by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484. From 1484 until around 1750, some 200,000 witches were burnt or hanged in Western Europe.
Most supposed witches were usually old women, and always poor. Any who were unfortunate enough to be an old woman with broken teeth, sunken cheeks and sockets and a hairy lip were assumed to possess the "Evil Eye". It was more the case if they also had a cat. Many unfortunate women were taken away on this sort of evidence and hanged.
Witch fever held East Anglia for 14 terrible months between 1645--1646. A man called Matthew Hopkins, an unsuccessful lawyer, contributed a lot! He became known as the "Witchfinder General". He had 68 people put to death in Bury St. Edmunds alone, and 19 hanged at Chelmsfor in a single day. After Chelmsford he set off for other countries. Much of Matthew Hopkins theories of telling a witch were based on Devil's Marks. He took a small mark to be a Devil's Mark and he used his "needle" to see if these marks were insensitive to pain. His "needle" was basically a trick so the unfortunate women never felt any pain.
There were other tests for witches. Mary Sutton of Bedford was put to the swimming test. With her thumbs tied to opposite big toes she was thrown into the river. If she floated she was guilty; if she sank, innocent. Poor Mary floated!
Though many of the acts againsts witchcraft were put to an end in 1736, witch hunting still went on. In 1863, a suspected male witch was drowned in a pond in Headingham, Essex and 1945 the body of an elderly farm laborer was found near the village of Meon Hill in Warwickshire. His throat had been cut and his body was pinned to the earth. The murder remains unsolved; however, the man was said, locally, to be a male witch. It seems that belief in witchcraft has not entirely died out.
|
Matthew Hopkins can be best described as _
|
[
"kind and smart",
"tricky and merciless",
"successful and nice",
"famous and fortunate"
] |
B
|
devhigh11938
|
Witchcraft was not made a capital offence in Britain until 1563 though it was disapproved by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484. From 1484 until around 1750, some 200,000 witches were burnt or hanged in Western Europe.
Most supposed witches were usually old women, and always poor. Any who were unfortunate enough to be an old woman with broken teeth, sunken cheeks and sockets and a hairy lip were assumed to possess the "Evil Eye". It was more the case if they also had a cat. Many unfortunate women were taken away on this sort of evidence and hanged.
Witch fever held East Anglia for 14 terrible months between 1645--1646. A man called Matthew Hopkins, an unsuccessful lawyer, contributed a lot! He became known as the "Witchfinder General". He had 68 people put to death in Bury St. Edmunds alone, and 19 hanged at Chelmsfor in a single day. After Chelmsford he set off for other countries. Much of Matthew Hopkins theories of telling a witch were based on Devil's Marks. He took a small mark to be a Devil's Mark and he used his "needle" to see if these marks were insensitive to pain. His "needle" was basically a trick so the unfortunate women never felt any pain.
There were other tests for witches. Mary Sutton of Bedford was put to the swimming test. With her thumbs tied to opposite big toes she was thrown into the river. If she floated she was guilty; if she sank, innocent. Poor Mary floated!
Though many of the acts againsts witchcraft were put to an end in 1736, witch hunting still went on. In 1863, a suspected male witch was drowned in a pond in Headingham, Essex and 1945 the body of an elderly farm laborer was found near the village of Meon Hill in Warwickshire. His throat had been cut and his body was pinned to the earth. The murder remains unsolved; however, the man was said, locally, to be a male witch. It seems that belief in witchcraft has not entirely died out.
|
Why did people throw Mary into the river?
|
[
"To take her life.",
"To tell if she was a witch",
"To test her swimming skills.",
"To prove that she was guilty"
] |
B
|
devhigh11964
|
A long time before I was born, my grandma and grandpa had a young family of four little girls. During the Great Depression , work was hard to find, so Grandpa did whatever jobs he could. On weekends he and Grandma dug a garden to grow some of their own food.
Everybody worked to keep the garden growing. All summer long, the family ate food and enjoyed flowers from the garden. Grandma put up strawberry jam, tomatoes, beans, peppers, pears and peaches in canning jars. They were good to eat through the long winter.
The family grew up, and grandparents grew old. It became hard to keep up the garden, so they made it a little smaller. There was still plenty to eat from the garden and lovely flowers to enjoy.
Then one summer when Grandpa was eighty-nine years old, all he could do was watch from his lawn chair as the vegetables grew and the roses bloomed. Summer slowly faded, and Grandpa died before it was time to bring in the harvest.
It was a lonely winter for Grandma. She sat near the window, looking out at the yard and wondering if she could plant a garden in the spring. When spring came, she planted only a little garden.
One sunny day in the early summer, Grandma heard a commotion in the front yard and looked out the window to see a frightening sight. A huge swarm of bees filled the air between two tall trees. The buzzing sound was very loud.
The bees made their way into a hole up in one of the trees. Before long, every one of those bees had disappeared into its new home. During the next few days, the bees were busy minding their own business. Grandma could always see a few bees buzzing in and out around the opening high in the tree. Before long, she decided the bees weren't bothering anyone, so she didn't give them another thought.
That summer, Grandma's little garden grew and grew. _
One day, Grandma's brother Frank visited from Arizona. As Grandma made Frank a delicious lunch of squash cakes and homemade applesauce, she told him the story about the swarm of bees. Frank said, "In Arizona, the farmers often hired beekeepers to set up beehives near their fields. The bees pollinated the crops and helped them to grow."
That was when Grandma realized that her bees had helped with her garden all summer. "So that's why my little garden had such a big crop!" she exclaimed.
From that time on, Grandma always believed that since Grandpa couldn't be there to help her that summer, he had sent the bees to take his place and make Grandma's little garden grow and grow.
|
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
|
[
"The garden was dug by Grandparents during the Great Depression.",
"The garden provided enough food and flowers for the family.",
"The garden was made smaller as Grandparents grew older.",
"The garden once lay in waste after Grandpa passed away."
] |
D
|
devhigh11964
|
A long time before I was born, my grandma and grandpa had a young family of four little girls. During the Great Depression , work was hard to find, so Grandpa did whatever jobs he could. On weekends he and Grandma dug a garden to grow some of their own food.
Everybody worked to keep the garden growing. All summer long, the family ate food and enjoyed flowers from the garden. Grandma put up strawberry jam, tomatoes, beans, peppers, pears and peaches in canning jars. They were good to eat through the long winter.
The family grew up, and grandparents grew old. It became hard to keep up the garden, so they made it a little smaller. There was still plenty to eat from the garden and lovely flowers to enjoy.
Then one summer when Grandpa was eighty-nine years old, all he could do was watch from his lawn chair as the vegetables grew and the roses bloomed. Summer slowly faded, and Grandpa died before it was time to bring in the harvest.
It was a lonely winter for Grandma. She sat near the window, looking out at the yard and wondering if she could plant a garden in the spring. When spring came, she planted only a little garden.
One sunny day in the early summer, Grandma heard a commotion in the front yard and looked out the window to see a frightening sight. A huge swarm of bees filled the air between two tall trees. The buzzing sound was very loud.
The bees made their way into a hole up in one of the trees. Before long, every one of those bees had disappeared into its new home. During the next few days, the bees were busy minding their own business. Grandma could always see a few bees buzzing in and out around the opening high in the tree. Before long, she decided the bees weren't bothering anyone, so she didn't give them another thought.
That summer, Grandma's little garden grew and grew. _
One day, Grandma's brother Frank visited from Arizona. As Grandma made Frank a delicious lunch of squash cakes and homemade applesauce, she told him the story about the swarm of bees. Frank said, "In Arizona, the farmers often hired beekeepers to set up beehives near their fields. The bees pollinated the crops and helped them to grow."
That was when Grandma realized that her bees had helped with her garden all summer. "So that's why my little garden had such a big crop!" she exclaimed.
From that time on, Grandma always believed that since Grandpa couldn't be there to help her that summer, he had sent the bees to take his place and make Grandma's little garden grow and grow.
|
It can be inferred from the passage that _ .
|
[
"Grandma was too busy to hire someone to deal with the bees.",
"Grandma felt very lonely and helpless when Grandpa passed away.",
"Frank hired beekeepers to help Grandma keep the garden growing.",
"Grandpa turned into bees to help Grandma keep up the garden."
] |
B
|
devhigh11964
|
A long time before I was born, my grandma and grandpa had a young family of four little girls. During the Great Depression , work was hard to find, so Grandpa did whatever jobs he could. On weekends he and Grandma dug a garden to grow some of their own food.
Everybody worked to keep the garden growing. All summer long, the family ate food and enjoyed flowers from the garden. Grandma put up strawberry jam, tomatoes, beans, peppers, pears and peaches in canning jars. They were good to eat through the long winter.
The family grew up, and grandparents grew old. It became hard to keep up the garden, so they made it a little smaller. There was still plenty to eat from the garden and lovely flowers to enjoy.
Then one summer when Grandpa was eighty-nine years old, all he could do was watch from his lawn chair as the vegetables grew and the roses bloomed. Summer slowly faded, and Grandpa died before it was time to bring in the harvest.
It was a lonely winter for Grandma. She sat near the window, looking out at the yard and wondering if she could plant a garden in the spring. When spring came, she planted only a little garden.
One sunny day in the early summer, Grandma heard a commotion in the front yard and looked out the window to see a frightening sight. A huge swarm of bees filled the air between two tall trees. The buzzing sound was very loud.
The bees made their way into a hole up in one of the trees. Before long, every one of those bees had disappeared into its new home. During the next few days, the bees were busy minding their own business. Grandma could always see a few bees buzzing in and out around the opening high in the tree. Before long, she decided the bees weren't bothering anyone, so she didn't give them another thought.
That summer, Grandma's little garden grew and grew. _
One day, Grandma's brother Frank visited from Arizona. As Grandma made Frank a delicious lunch of squash cakes and homemade applesauce, she told him the story about the swarm of bees. Frank said, "In Arizona, the farmers often hired beekeepers to set up beehives near their fields. The bees pollinated the crops and helped them to grow."
That was when Grandma realized that her bees had helped with her garden all summer. "So that's why my little garden had such a big crop!" she exclaimed.
From that time on, Grandma always believed that since Grandpa couldn't be there to help her that summer, he had sent the bees to take his place and make Grandma's little garden grow and grow.
|
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
|
[
"Grandpa's Bees",
"Grandparents' Garden",
"The Harvest of Summer",
"The Secret of the Garden"
] |
A
|
devhigh11991
|
Listening, really listening, can improve communication and build respect with others. Communication begins by listening and then suggesting that you hear what the person is saying.
This can be recognized by focus or eye contact, body language, and reflective listening.
Focus (Eye Contact)--Focus means that you are looking directly at the person speaking and not looking off to one side or continuing to do something else. You are focused on what is being said; the speaker is the center of attention. Listening attentively is essential for positive communication.
Listening Without Interrupting--Does your body acknowledge that you are listening? Use smiles, nods, and expressions of understanding to communicate to the speaker that you are listening. It is not necessary that you agree or disagree at this time. It is more important for the person speaking to know that his or her words are respected. This strengthens communication.
Reflective Listening--Reflective listening involves hearing the feelings and meanings of the speaker. It is a re-statement (in different words) of what the speaker said. You, in essence, mirror the words of the speaker and rephrase them back to the speaker, checking for accuracy of understanding. This process affirms the speaker, indicates a respect of the person, and shows that you understand the speaker's message. Through careful reflection of the speaker's words, you can make clear the message and build mutual understanding. Through reflective listening and the careful exchange of words, we learn that other people have important feelings and opinions which we need to consider. Learning to understand the importance of all ideas, not just our own, can lead to successful resolution of problems and mutual respect.
|
The best way to build respect with others is _ .
|
[
"to look directly at the person speaking",
"to listen to the speaker attentively",
"to interrupt the speaker when necessary",
"to use expressions of understanding"
] |
B
|
devhigh11991
|
Listening, really listening, can improve communication and build respect with others. Communication begins by listening and then suggesting that you hear what the person is saying.
This can be recognized by focus or eye contact, body language, and reflective listening.
Focus (Eye Contact)--Focus means that you are looking directly at the person speaking and not looking off to one side or continuing to do something else. You are focused on what is being said; the speaker is the center of attention. Listening attentively is essential for positive communication.
Listening Without Interrupting--Does your body acknowledge that you are listening? Use smiles, nods, and expressions of understanding to communicate to the speaker that you are listening. It is not necessary that you agree or disagree at this time. It is more important for the person speaking to know that his or her words are respected. This strengthens communication.
Reflective Listening--Reflective listening involves hearing the feelings and meanings of the speaker. It is a re-statement (in different words) of what the speaker said. You, in essence, mirror the words of the speaker and rephrase them back to the speaker, checking for accuracy of understanding. This process affirms the speaker, indicates a respect of the person, and shows that you understand the speaker's message. Through careful reflection of the speaker's words, you can make clear the message and build mutual understanding. Through reflective listening and the careful exchange of words, we learn that other people have important feelings and opinions which we need to consider. Learning to understand the importance of all ideas, not just our own, can lead to successful resolution of problems and mutual respect.
|
What strengthens communication with the person speaking?
|
[
"Making him or her know that his or her words are respected.",
"Expressing agreement or disagreement in time when listening.",
"Repeating his or her words from time to time.",
"Listening instead of saying anything."
] |
A
|
devhigh11991
|
Listening, really listening, can improve communication and build respect with others. Communication begins by listening and then suggesting that you hear what the person is saying.
This can be recognized by focus or eye contact, body language, and reflective listening.
Focus (Eye Contact)--Focus means that you are looking directly at the person speaking and not looking off to one side or continuing to do something else. You are focused on what is being said; the speaker is the center of attention. Listening attentively is essential for positive communication.
Listening Without Interrupting--Does your body acknowledge that you are listening? Use smiles, nods, and expressions of understanding to communicate to the speaker that you are listening. It is not necessary that you agree or disagree at this time. It is more important for the person speaking to know that his or her words are respected. This strengthens communication.
Reflective Listening--Reflective listening involves hearing the feelings and meanings of the speaker. It is a re-statement (in different words) of what the speaker said. You, in essence, mirror the words of the speaker and rephrase them back to the speaker, checking for accuracy of understanding. This process affirms the speaker, indicates a respect of the person, and shows that you understand the speaker's message. Through careful reflection of the speaker's words, you can make clear the message and build mutual understanding. Through reflective listening and the careful exchange of words, we learn that other people have important feelings and opinions which we need to consider. Learning to understand the importance of all ideas, not just our own, can lead to successful resolution of problems and mutual respect.
|
Reflective Listening is aimed to _ .
|
[
"show you are not absent in mind",
"make sure the speaker's words are correct",
"checking for accuracy of understanding",
"express your own ideas without delay"
] |
C
|
devhigh12009
|
Our oldest daughter is having trouble letting go of an old red sofA.
It's not the sofa she's having trouble letting go of as much as the memories.It was their first sofA. It has been loaded and unloaded onto moving trucks seven times.Three kids have eaten on it,dripped on it,and jumped on it.
Yet she's having a hard time letting go and asked if I thought that was strange.
"Completely," I saiD. "You get it from me."
When we were ready to get rid of our baby things,I sold our crib at the neighborhood garage sale.I had pieces of it in the garage and the other pieces of it still in the house.A young woman said she wanted to buy it.
My throat tightened and the tears began to well.She pulled out cash and I cheered up.
But by the time I returned with the other pieces to the crib,I was all sobbing."Have you considered that maybe you're not ready to sell it?" the woman askeD.
"No-o-o-o," I crieD. "It's fine,really," I saiD. "Take it."
Our attachment to stuff grows in direct relationship to the amount of time it has sat in one place.The longer it sits,the harder it is to get rid of it.You think: "Hey,we've hung onto it this long - it must be valuable!" As though yellowing and a layer of dust increase value.
People who find it extremely hard to part with things have been made into entertainment in a television show called Hoarders.If an episode of that isn't depressing enough for you,producers now offer Extreme Hoarders.Both of which are not to be outdone by Storage Wars,a show about aggressive people who bid on other people's storage units.
Let the sofa go,I told my daughter.It served its purpose.You can get a new one.Give the kids some crackers and juice and it will be like the old one in six weeks.
|
When the writer was selling the crib, _ .
|
[
"she felt relieved that there was someone willing to buy it",
"she showed a strong attachment to the old item",
"she couldn't decide whether or not to sell it in the end",
"she changed her mind in hopes of keeping it and increasing its value"
] |
B
|
devhigh12009
|
Our oldest daughter is having trouble letting go of an old red sofA.
It's not the sofa she's having trouble letting go of as much as the memories.It was their first sofA. It has been loaded and unloaded onto moving trucks seven times.Three kids have eaten on it,dripped on it,and jumped on it.
Yet she's having a hard time letting go and asked if I thought that was strange.
"Completely," I saiD. "You get it from me."
When we were ready to get rid of our baby things,I sold our crib at the neighborhood garage sale.I had pieces of it in the garage and the other pieces of it still in the house.A young woman said she wanted to buy it.
My throat tightened and the tears began to well.She pulled out cash and I cheered up.
But by the time I returned with the other pieces to the crib,I was all sobbing."Have you considered that maybe you're not ready to sell it?" the woman askeD.
"No-o-o-o," I crieD. "It's fine,really," I saiD. "Take it."
Our attachment to stuff grows in direct relationship to the amount of time it has sat in one place.The longer it sits,the harder it is to get rid of it.You think: "Hey,we've hung onto it this long - it must be valuable!" As though yellowing and a layer of dust increase value.
People who find it extremely hard to part with things have been made into entertainment in a television show called Hoarders.If an episode of that isn't depressing enough for you,producers now offer Extreme Hoarders.Both of which are not to be outdone by Storage Wars,a show about aggressive people who bid on other people's storage units.
Let the sofa go,I told my daughter.It served its purpose.You can get a new one.Give the kids some crackers and juice and it will be like the old one in six weeks.
|
The writer refers to the television shows to _ .
|
[
"prove that it's depressing to get attached to old stuff",
"explain what contributes to people's attachment to old stuff",
"show that people in TV shows live the same lives as ordinary people do",
"prove that it's actually common for people to find it hard to get rid of old stuff"
] |
D
|
devhigh12009
|
Our oldest daughter is having trouble letting go of an old red sofA.
It's not the sofa she's having trouble letting go of as much as the memories.It was their first sofA. It has been loaded and unloaded onto moving trucks seven times.Three kids have eaten on it,dripped on it,and jumped on it.
Yet she's having a hard time letting go and asked if I thought that was strange.
"Completely," I saiD. "You get it from me."
When we were ready to get rid of our baby things,I sold our crib at the neighborhood garage sale.I had pieces of it in the garage and the other pieces of it still in the house.A young woman said she wanted to buy it.
My throat tightened and the tears began to well.She pulled out cash and I cheered up.
But by the time I returned with the other pieces to the crib,I was all sobbing."Have you considered that maybe you're not ready to sell it?" the woman askeD.
"No-o-o-o," I crieD. "It's fine,really," I saiD. "Take it."
Our attachment to stuff grows in direct relationship to the amount of time it has sat in one place.The longer it sits,the harder it is to get rid of it.You think: "Hey,we've hung onto it this long - it must be valuable!" As though yellowing and a layer of dust increase value.
People who find it extremely hard to part with things have been made into entertainment in a television show called Hoarders.If an episode of that isn't depressing enough for you,producers now offer Extreme Hoarders.Both of which are not to be outdone by Storage Wars,a show about aggressive people who bid on other people's storage units.
Let the sofa go,I told my daughter.It served its purpose.You can get a new one.Give the kids some crackers and juice and it will be like the old one in six weeks.
|
Which opinion might the writer agree with according to the article?
|
[
"If you give away old stuff regularly,you are wasteful.",
"If the old stuff has done what it was supposed to,then let it go.",
"Nothing is more valuable than your love for your old stuff.",
"The older your stuff is,the less trouble you have getting rid of it."
] |
B
|
devhigh12016
|
I am 26. I'm clear that I'm never going to catch up with Mother Teresa. But I want to do something to help people every single day like her.
Everybody thinks we just serve food and soda. The safety training is serious and stressful. Caring for 49 people in a business class in 90 minutes is not easy. I had a roommate who was a waitress; she just left a candle and a table cloth burning, and I used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. If something goes bad at her job, she calls the police. But if something happens up in the air, it's up to us.
I'm single and have no kids. I've flown every Christmas since 1995. If I fly, someone else can be with their kids. Christmas in an airport can be depressing, but it's the little things that make a difference.
_ . It's hard to put on a smile and just pretend everything is great when it isn't. I've seen co-workers lose a family member the day before a trip and just pull themselves together (take control of their feelings and believe in a calm way). At the end of a 14-hour flight, it's like, "It was really nice to help you, but I'm ready for you to get off the plane." Those last 15 minutes can be the longest 15 minutes of your life. You can't wait to turn off the flight attendant's voice and get something to eat without anyone saying "Excuse me."
Sometimes I go all day and never hear a "please" or a "thank you." When you say thank you, it's huge. It makes us feel like you actually see us as fellow humans. We're up there together at a height of 30,000 feet, enjoying the miracle of the modern flight.
|
What's the author's attitude towards Mother Teresa?
|
[
"Grateful",
"Fearful",
"Doubtful",
"Admiring"
] |
D
|
devhigh12016
|
I am 26. I'm clear that I'm never going to catch up with Mother Teresa. But I want to do something to help people every single day like her.
Everybody thinks we just serve food and soda. The safety training is serious and stressful. Caring for 49 people in a business class in 90 minutes is not easy. I had a roommate who was a waitress; she just left a candle and a table cloth burning, and I used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. If something goes bad at her job, she calls the police. But if something happens up in the air, it's up to us.
I'm single and have no kids. I've flown every Christmas since 1995. If I fly, someone else can be with their kids. Christmas in an airport can be depressing, but it's the little things that make a difference.
_ . It's hard to put on a smile and just pretend everything is great when it isn't. I've seen co-workers lose a family member the day before a trip and just pull themselves together (take control of their feelings and believe in a calm way). At the end of a 14-hour flight, it's like, "It was really nice to help you, but I'm ready for you to get off the plane." Those last 15 minutes can be the longest 15 minutes of your life. You can't wait to turn off the flight attendant's voice and get something to eat without anyone saying "Excuse me."
Sometimes I go all day and never hear a "please" or a "thank you." When you say thank you, it's huge. It makes us feel like you actually see us as fellow humans. We're up there together at a height of 30,000 feet, enjoying the miracle of the modern flight.
|
How did the author like her roommate's job?
|
[
"It was the same as hers",
"It was more interesting than hers",
"It was easier than hers",
"It was more serious than hers"
] |
C
|
devhigh12016
|
I am 26. I'm clear that I'm never going to catch up with Mother Teresa. But I want to do something to help people every single day like her.
Everybody thinks we just serve food and soda. The safety training is serious and stressful. Caring for 49 people in a business class in 90 minutes is not easy. I had a roommate who was a waitress; she just left a candle and a table cloth burning, and I used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. If something goes bad at her job, she calls the police. But if something happens up in the air, it's up to us.
I'm single and have no kids. I've flown every Christmas since 1995. If I fly, someone else can be with their kids. Christmas in an airport can be depressing, but it's the little things that make a difference.
_ . It's hard to put on a smile and just pretend everything is great when it isn't. I've seen co-workers lose a family member the day before a trip and just pull themselves together (take control of their feelings and believe in a calm way). At the end of a 14-hour flight, it's like, "It was really nice to help you, but I'm ready for you to get off the plane." Those last 15 minutes can be the longest 15 minutes of your life. You can't wait to turn off the flight attendant's voice and get something to eat without anyone saying "Excuse me."
Sometimes I go all day and never hear a "please" or a "thank you." When you say thank you, it's huge. It makes us feel like you actually see us as fellow humans. We're up there together at a height of 30,000 feet, enjoying the miracle of the modern flight.
|
Why does the author fly every Christmas?
|
[
"Because she has nowhere to go.",
"Because she's trying to be a helpful co-worker.",
"Because she owes her co-workers some favors.",
"Because she'd like to earn more money."
] |
B
|
devhigh12024
|
"Is there anything else you need, honey?" my dad asked me as he put three twenty dollar bills in my hand. I was traveling back home from a family visit, and after treating me to breakfast and filling my car with gas, it was obvious that my dad wanted to make sure that I would be okay on the road.
"No, Dad. You've done so much already. Thank you!" I was overwhelmed once again by his kind acts of providing everything I needed, although I turned 40. Yet I realize that in my father's eyes, I will always be his little girl. He takes deep pleasure in knowing his children are all right. Now that he has enough money, he loves to give whenever he sees a need.
But this was not always the case. Divorced from my mother when I was 11, my dad couldn't be around his kids as often as he would have liked. Money was also tight; even weekend visits were rare. However, my dad stayed in constant communication with us and made sure he was involved in our lives. Though he couldn't always be there in person, I knew he was only a phone call away. I could always make sure of that.
Even now, almost 30 years later, I treasure knowing that I can pick up the phone and call Dad, and he'll be there for me. I have a wonderful husband, but that hasn't changed how Dad sees me. I'm still his child and he loves to see that my needs are met.
I remember a time when I was shopping in a hardware store with Dad. I mentioned my plans to paint one wall in my house. Well, that's all it took for Dad to take action. By the time I got to the checkout line, all the supplies I picked out were put out of my hands and placed with things he bought.
Then there was the time when I took him with me to do some grocery shopping for just a few " items". By the time we were finished, my shopping cart was full of groceries from every shelf in the store! My sister and I joke that if you don't want Dad to buy it for you, avoid even mentioning you want something.
|
What's the best title for the passage?
|
[
"Father's generosity",
"Father's considerate love",
"The love for children",
"Love's power"
] |
B
|
devhigh12024
|
"Is there anything else you need, honey?" my dad asked me as he put three twenty dollar bills in my hand. I was traveling back home from a family visit, and after treating me to breakfast and filling my car with gas, it was obvious that my dad wanted to make sure that I would be okay on the road.
"No, Dad. You've done so much already. Thank you!" I was overwhelmed once again by his kind acts of providing everything I needed, although I turned 40. Yet I realize that in my father's eyes, I will always be his little girl. He takes deep pleasure in knowing his children are all right. Now that he has enough money, he loves to give whenever he sees a need.
But this was not always the case. Divorced from my mother when I was 11, my dad couldn't be around his kids as often as he would have liked. Money was also tight; even weekend visits were rare. However, my dad stayed in constant communication with us and made sure he was involved in our lives. Though he couldn't always be there in person, I knew he was only a phone call away. I could always make sure of that.
Even now, almost 30 years later, I treasure knowing that I can pick up the phone and call Dad, and he'll be there for me. I have a wonderful husband, but that hasn't changed how Dad sees me. I'm still his child and he loves to see that my needs are met.
I remember a time when I was shopping in a hardware store with Dad. I mentioned my plans to paint one wall in my house. Well, that's all it took for Dad to take action. By the time I got to the checkout line, all the supplies I picked out were put out of my hands and placed with things he bought.
Then there was the time when I took him with me to do some grocery shopping for just a few " items". By the time we were finished, my shopping cart was full of groceries from every shelf in the store! My sister and I joke that if you don't want Dad to buy it for you, avoid even mentioning you want something.
|
The author demonstrates her father's love for her mainly by _ .
|
[
"suggestion",
"reasoning",
"examples",
"argument"
] |
C
|
devhigh12024
|
"Is there anything else you need, honey?" my dad asked me as he put three twenty dollar bills in my hand. I was traveling back home from a family visit, and after treating me to breakfast and filling my car with gas, it was obvious that my dad wanted to make sure that I would be okay on the road.
"No, Dad. You've done so much already. Thank you!" I was overwhelmed once again by his kind acts of providing everything I needed, although I turned 40. Yet I realize that in my father's eyes, I will always be his little girl. He takes deep pleasure in knowing his children are all right. Now that he has enough money, he loves to give whenever he sees a need.
But this was not always the case. Divorced from my mother when I was 11, my dad couldn't be around his kids as often as he would have liked. Money was also tight; even weekend visits were rare. However, my dad stayed in constant communication with us and made sure he was involved in our lives. Though he couldn't always be there in person, I knew he was only a phone call away. I could always make sure of that.
Even now, almost 30 years later, I treasure knowing that I can pick up the phone and call Dad, and he'll be there for me. I have a wonderful husband, but that hasn't changed how Dad sees me. I'm still his child and he loves to see that my needs are met.
I remember a time when I was shopping in a hardware store with Dad. I mentioned my plans to paint one wall in my house. Well, that's all it took for Dad to take action. By the time I got to the checkout line, all the supplies I picked out were put out of my hands and placed with things he bought.
Then there was the time when I took him with me to do some grocery shopping for just a few " items". By the time we were finished, my shopping cart was full of groceries from every shelf in the store! My sister and I joke that if you don't want Dad to buy it for you, avoid even mentioning you want something.
|
Which of the following is not TRUE?
|
[
"After the author got married, her father no longer get himself involved in her life.",
"Now the father's economic condition is satisfying.",
"The author's father was divorced when she was 11.",
"The father has a great sense of responsibility."
] |
A
|
devhigh12024
|
"Is there anything else you need, honey?" my dad asked me as he put three twenty dollar bills in my hand. I was traveling back home from a family visit, and after treating me to breakfast and filling my car with gas, it was obvious that my dad wanted to make sure that I would be okay on the road.
"No, Dad. You've done so much already. Thank you!" I was overwhelmed once again by his kind acts of providing everything I needed, although I turned 40. Yet I realize that in my father's eyes, I will always be his little girl. He takes deep pleasure in knowing his children are all right. Now that he has enough money, he loves to give whenever he sees a need.
But this was not always the case. Divorced from my mother when I was 11, my dad couldn't be around his kids as often as he would have liked. Money was also tight; even weekend visits were rare. However, my dad stayed in constant communication with us and made sure he was involved in our lives. Though he couldn't always be there in person, I knew he was only a phone call away. I could always make sure of that.
Even now, almost 30 years later, I treasure knowing that I can pick up the phone and call Dad, and he'll be there for me. I have a wonderful husband, but that hasn't changed how Dad sees me. I'm still his child and he loves to see that my needs are met.
I remember a time when I was shopping in a hardware store with Dad. I mentioned my plans to paint one wall in my house. Well, that's all it took for Dad to take action. By the time I got to the checkout line, all the supplies I picked out were put out of my hands and placed with things he bought.
Then there was the time when I took him with me to do some grocery shopping for just a few " items". By the time we were finished, my shopping cart was full of groceries from every shelf in the store! My sister and I joke that if you don't want Dad to buy it for you, avoid even mentioning you want something.
|
The authors' two shopping experiences with father show _ .
|
[
"father paid little attention to money",
"father was quick in action",
"father loved going shopping very much",
"father paid great attention to his children's needs"
] |
D
|
devhigh12034
|
Knowing that Mrs. Mallard suffered from a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death.
It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences. Her husband's friend Richards was there, too. It was he who had been in the newspaper office when news of the railroad disaster was received, with Brently Mallard's name leading the list of "killed." He had only taken the time to assure himself of its truth by a second telegram, and hurried to send the sad message.
She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same. She wept at once, with wild abandonment, in her sister's arms. When the storm of sadness had spent itself she went away to her room alone.
There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable armchair. Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that held her body and seemed to reach into her soul.
She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. The notes of a distant song which someone was singing reached her, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves .
There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? It was too hard to name. But she felt it, coming out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the smells, the color that filled the air.
Now her chest rose and fell violently. She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and _ When she gave up trying a little whispered word escaped her lips. She said it over and over under the breath: "free, free, free!"
She did not stop to ask if it was extreme joy that held her. She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, gentle hands folded in death; the face that had never looked at her except with love, fixed and gray and dead. But she saw beyond that bitter moment many years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome.
There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers.
And yet she had loved him--sometimes. What did it matter! What could love count for in the face of her realization.
"Free! Body and soul free!" she kept whispering.
Josephine was kneeling before the closed door with her lips to the keyhole. "Louise, open the door! I beg; open the door--you will make yourself ill."
"Go away. I am not making myself ill."
Her fancy was running wild along those days ahead of her, all sorts of days that would be her own. She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shake that life might be long.
She arose after a long time and opened the door to her sister's begging. She carried herself unknowingly like a goddess of Victory. She held her sister's waist, and together they walked down the stairs.
Someone was opening the front door with a key. It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, calmly carrying his suitcase and umbrella. He had been far from the scene of the accident, and did not even know there had been one. He stood amazed at Josephine's sharp cry; at Richards' quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife.
When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills.
|
What can we infer about Mr. Mallard?
|
[
"He was killed in a railroad disaster.",
"He survived the railroad accident.",
"He was unaware of what was going on.",
"He hurried back to comfort his wife."
] |
C
|
devhigh12034
|
Knowing that Mrs. Mallard suffered from a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death.
It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences. Her husband's friend Richards was there, too. It was he who had been in the newspaper office when news of the railroad disaster was received, with Brently Mallard's name leading the list of "killed." He had only taken the time to assure himself of its truth by a second telegram, and hurried to send the sad message.
She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same. She wept at once, with wild abandonment, in her sister's arms. When the storm of sadness had spent itself she went away to her room alone.
There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable armchair. Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that held her body and seemed to reach into her soul.
She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. The notes of a distant song which someone was singing reached her, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves .
There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? It was too hard to name. But she felt it, coming out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the smells, the color that filled the air.
Now her chest rose and fell violently. She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and _ When she gave up trying a little whispered word escaped her lips. She said it over and over under the breath: "free, free, free!"
She did not stop to ask if it was extreme joy that held her. She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, gentle hands folded in death; the face that had never looked at her except with love, fixed and gray and dead. But she saw beyond that bitter moment many years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome.
There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers.
And yet she had loved him--sometimes. What did it matter! What could love count for in the face of her realization.
"Free! Body and soul free!" she kept whispering.
Josephine was kneeling before the closed door with her lips to the keyhole. "Louise, open the door! I beg; open the door--you will make yourself ill."
"Go away. I am not making myself ill."
Her fancy was running wild along those days ahead of her, all sorts of days that would be her own. She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had thought with a shake that life might be long.
She arose after a long time and opened the door to her sister's begging. She carried herself unknowingly like a goddess of Victory. She held her sister's waist, and together they walked down the stairs.
Someone was opening the front door with a key. It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, calmly carrying his suitcase and umbrella. He had been far from the scene of the accident, and did not even know there had been one. He stood amazed at Josephine's sharp cry; at Richards' quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife.
When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease--of the joy that kills.
|
What really killed Mrs. Mallard?
|
[
"The joy of seeing her husband coming back alive.",
"The shock of losing her coming freedom.",
"The fear of seeing the ghost of her husband.",
"The sadness of losing her husband suddenly."
] |
B
|
devhigh12072
|
If man's best friend is a dog, then who is a dog's best friend? That would be Rover, Glow, Ivan or Raina. They recently donated blood to other dogs. And they did it without having to travel far from home: they visited an animal bloodmobile.
Like the Red Cross vehicles for humans, the University of Pennsylvania's traveling vet lab goes to where the donors are to make it easier to give. The bloodmobile makes weekly rounds through Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Like humans, not every dog is qualified to donate blood. The dogs are examined for health first. Dogs must have the correct blood type, weigh at least 55 pounds and be under 8 year old. About 150 dogs take part in the program. Each donates three or four pints a year, which can help animals suffering from illness like cancer or an accident like being hit by a car.
Sandy Lucas brought her 7-year-old dog, Raina, to the bloodmobile last week. She said she wouldn't have taken the dog to Penn Vet's animal hospital in downtown Philadelphia, which is twice as far from her home. "I was very, very excited that she had the right blood that was needed to help another dog out," said Lucas. "We'll surely do it again."
Just like people, the donors get a snack and a heart-shaped sticker immediately after giving. What's more, they receive dog food to take home.
If dogs are doing what they can to save other dogs, why can't we do it to save other people? Next time you hesitate over whether to donate blood or not, think of the dogs.
|
The writer mentions Rover, Glow, Ivan and Raina in Para. 1 mainly because _ .
|
[
"they are man's best friends.",
"they are common names for dogs.",
"they get along well with other dogs.",
"they have donated blood to other dogs."
] |
D
|
devhigh12072
|
If man's best friend is a dog, then who is a dog's best friend? That would be Rover, Glow, Ivan or Raina. They recently donated blood to other dogs. And they did it without having to travel far from home: they visited an animal bloodmobile.
Like the Red Cross vehicles for humans, the University of Pennsylvania's traveling vet lab goes to where the donors are to make it easier to give. The bloodmobile makes weekly rounds through Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Like humans, not every dog is qualified to donate blood. The dogs are examined for health first. Dogs must have the correct blood type, weigh at least 55 pounds and be under 8 year old. About 150 dogs take part in the program. Each donates three or four pints a year, which can help animals suffering from illness like cancer or an accident like being hit by a car.
Sandy Lucas brought her 7-year-old dog, Raina, to the bloodmobile last week. She said she wouldn't have taken the dog to Penn Vet's animal hospital in downtown Philadelphia, which is twice as far from her home. "I was very, very excited that she had the right blood that was needed to help another dog out," said Lucas. "We'll surely do it again."
Just like people, the donors get a snack and a heart-shaped sticker immediately after giving. What's more, they receive dog food to take home.
If dogs are doing what they can to save other dogs, why can't we do it to save other people? Next time you hesitate over whether to donate blood or not, think of the dogs.
|
What do we know about the traveling vet lab?
|
[
"It is a Red Cross vehicle.",
"It collects dogs' blood for other dogs.",
"It travels through Philadelphia every day.",
"It was donated by the University of Pennsylvania."
] |
B
|
devhigh12072
|
If man's best friend is a dog, then who is a dog's best friend? That would be Rover, Glow, Ivan or Raina. They recently donated blood to other dogs. And they did it without having to travel far from home: they visited an animal bloodmobile.
Like the Red Cross vehicles for humans, the University of Pennsylvania's traveling vet lab goes to where the donors are to make it easier to give. The bloodmobile makes weekly rounds through Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Like humans, not every dog is qualified to donate blood. The dogs are examined for health first. Dogs must have the correct blood type, weigh at least 55 pounds and be under 8 year old. About 150 dogs take part in the program. Each donates three or four pints a year, which can help animals suffering from illness like cancer or an accident like being hit by a car.
Sandy Lucas brought her 7-year-old dog, Raina, to the bloodmobile last week. She said she wouldn't have taken the dog to Penn Vet's animal hospital in downtown Philadelphia, which is twice as far from her home. "I was very, very excited that she had the right blood that was needed to help another dog out," said Lucas. "We'll surely do it again."
Just like people, the donors get a snack and a heart-shaped sticker immediately after giving. What's more, they receive dog food to take home.
If dogs are doing what they can to save other dogs, why can't we do it to save other people? Next time you hesitate over whether to donate blood or not, think of the dogs.
|
What can we learn from Para.4?
|
[
"Sandy Lucas is unwilling to let her dog donate blood.",
"The bloodmobile welcomes dogs from anywhere in the city.",
"Penn Vet's animal hospital in downtown Philadelphia is popular.",
"The animal bloodmobile has made it easier for dogs to donate blood."
] |
D
|
devhigh12105
|
Tu Youyou together with William Campbell and Satoshi Omura won the 2015 Nobel Prize for their work against parasitic diseases. Irish-born Campbell and Japanese Omura won half of the prize for discovering a new drug, avermectin, that has helped the battle against river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, as well as showing effectiveness against other parasitic diseases. The Chinese scientist Tu Youyou, an 85-year-old female scientist, was awarded the other half of the prize for the discovery of artemisinin , a drug cure for malaria that has saved millions of lives all over the world, especially in the developing world.
When the news broke that Tu won the Nobel Prize, there were cheers as well as doubts. It also has highlighted differences in prize-awarding practices between China and the West. Some said the achievement was the result of collective efforts by lots of Chinese scientists, so it was unfair to award the prize only to Tu. Indeed, Chinese science awards are mainly presented to projects, instead of individual scientists. But Western awards tend to honor individual scientists who are the first to come up with a new idea or method. Li Zhenzhen, a researcher of the China Academy of Sciences said that the West believes that the advancement of science comes from individuals' creative minds.
In 1969, Tu started to hold a government project aimed at eliminating malaria. Tu and her teammates experimented with 380 extracts in 2,000 candidate recipes before they finally succeeded in getting the pure substance qinghaosu, later known as artemisinin. In 2011, Tu was awarded the Lasker Debakey Clinical Medical Research Award, commonly referred to as "America's Nobel Prize". (278 words)
|
Why Tu Youyou could be awarded the Nobel Prize for ?
|
[
"Because she discovered the avermectin, a drug cure for malaria",
"Because she contributed to the traditional Chinese medicine",
"Because she discovered the artemisinin which shows effectiveness against other parasitic diseases",
"Because she has saved millions of lives for the discovery of artemisinin."
] |
D
|
devhigh12105
|
Tu Youyou together with William Campbell and Satoshi Omura won the 2015 Nobel Prize for their work against parasitic diseases. Irish-born Campbell and Japanese Omura won half of the prize for discovering a new drug, avermectin, that has helped the battle against river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, as well as showing effectiveness against other parasitic diseases. The Chinese scientist Tu Youyou, an 85-year-old female scientist, was awarded the other half of the prize for the discovery of artemisinin , a drug cure for malaria that has saved millions of lives all over the world, especially in the developing world.
When the news broke that Tu won the Nobel Prize, there were cheers as well as doubts. It also has highlighted differences in prize-awarding practices between China and the West. Some said the achievement was the result of collective efforts by lots of Chinese scientists, so it was unfair to award the prize only to Tu. Indeed, Chinese science awards are mainly presented to projects, instead of individual scientists. But Western awards tend to honor individual scientists who are the first to come up with a new idea or method. Li Zhenzhen, a researcher of the China Academy of Sciences said that the West believes that the advancement of science comes from individuals' creative minds.
In 1969, Tu started to hold a government project aimed at eliminating malaria. Tu and her teammates experimented with 380 extracts in 2,000 candidate recipes before they finally succeeded in getting the pure substance qinghaosu, later known as artemisinin. In 2011, Tu was awarded the Lasker Debakey Clinical Medical Research Award, commonly referred to as "America's Nobel Prize". (278 words)
|
What is the difference in prize-awarding practices between China and the West?
|
[
"Chinese science awards are mainly presented to individual scientists, instead of projects",
"Chinese believes that the advancement of science comes from individuals' creative minds",
"Western awards tend to honor individual scientists who are the first to come up with a new idea or method",
"Western awards are presented to both individual scientists and projects"
] |
C
|
devhigh12105
|
Tu Youyou together with William Campbell and Satoshi Omura won the 2015 Nobel Prize for their work against parasitic diseases. Irish-born Campbell and Japanese Omura won half of the prize for discovering a new drug, avermectin, that has helped the battle against river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, as well as showing effectiveness against other parasitic diseases. The Chinese scientist Tu Youyou, an 85-year-old female scientist, was awarded the other half of the prize for the discovery of artemisinin , a drug cure for malaria that has saved millions of lives all over the world, especially in the developing world.
When the news broke that Tu won the Nobel Prize, there were cheers as well as doubts. It also has highlighted differences in prize-awarding practices between China and the West. Some said the achievement was the result of collective efforts by lots of Chinese scientists, so it was unfair to award the prize only to Tu. Indeed, Chinese science awards are mainly presented to projects, instead of individual scientists. But Western awards tend to honor individual scientists who are the first to come up with a new idea or method. Li Zhenzhen, a researcher of the China Academy of Sciences said that the West believes that the advancement of science comes from individuals' creative minds.
In 1969, Tu started to hold a government project aimed at eliminating malaria. Tu and her teammates experimented with 380 extracts in 2,000 candidate recipes before they finally succeeded in getting the pure substance qinghaosu, later known as artemisinin. In 2011, Tu was awarded the Lasker Debakey Clinical Medical Research Award, commonly referred to as "America's Nobel Prize". (278 words)
|
How old was Tu Youyou when she was awarded the "America's Nobel Prize".
|
[
"85",
"81",
"46",
"39"
] |
B
|
devhigh12105
|
Tu Youyou together with William Campbell and Satoshi Omura won the 2015 Nobel Prize for their work against parasitic diseases. Irish-born Campbell and Japanese Omura won half of the prize for discovering a new drug, avermectin, that has helped the battle against river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, as well as showing effectiveness against other parasitic diseases. The Chinese scientist Tu Youyou, an 85-year-old female scientist, was awarded the other half of the prize for the discovery of artemisinin , a drug cure for malaria that has saved millions of lives all over the world, especially in the developing world.
When the news broke that Tu won the Nobel Prize, there were cheers as well as doubts. It also has highlighted differences in prize-awarding practices between China and the West. Some said the achievement was the result of collective efforts by lots of Chinese scientists, so it was unfair to award the prize only to Tu. Indeed, Chinese science awards are mainly presented to projects, instead of individual scientists. But Western awards tend to honor individual scientists who are the first to come up with a new idea or method. Li Zhenzhen, a researcher of the China Academy of Sciences said that the West believes that the advancement of science comes from individuals' creative minds.
In 1969, Tu started to hold a government project aimed at eliminating malaria. Tu and her teammates experimented with 380 extracts in 2,000 candidate recipes before they finally succeeded in getting the pure substance qinghaosu, later known as artemisinin. In 2011, Tu was awarded the Lasker Debakey Clinical Medical Research Award, commonly referred to as "America's Nobel Prize". (278 words)
|
What is the best title of the passage?
|
[
"Why Tu Youyou could be awarded the 2015 Nobel prize",
"Why Tu received the \"America's Nobel Prize\".",
"Tu Youyou won the 2015 Nobel Prize for the discovery of artemisinin",
"The difference in prize-awarding practices between China and the West"
] |
C
|
devhigh12109
|
Lots of people like a good fright at Halloween . Yet, the most frightening thing of all about the night is that twice as many children are killed while out and about on Halloween compared to any other day of the year, according to a study by Safe Kids Worldwide. It can also be a worrying time for others, especially elderly people living alone. But many people think it's just harmless fun.
But is it harmless fun?
Police forces across Britain are giving warnings about Halloween night. They are asking all those wishing to celebrate Halloween this year to respect those who don't want to join in.
Some forces, like West Mercia Police, have produced "Sorry, No Trick or Treat"posters which can be downloaded from their website, and put up in windows. They want people to send them to the old or anyone who may be frightened by ghosts knocking on their doors.
A spokesman said: "Children should not call on houses where the posters are put up, neither should they call on strangers, as this can put young people at risk and also make some house owners anxious, especially those who are elderly or living alone."
The police want all trick or treaters to remember that disturbing other people or throwing objects at their homes or cars are all criminal offences . "What may start off as a bit of fun could end up with someone getting a criminal record," they warn. "Parents may want to consider having a Halloween party at home, instead."
Kent Police are warning young people never to go into the home of someone they don't know--and to remember not to frighten people.
Warwickshire Police are also warning that tricks may seem like harmless fun but can cause trouble to others. They say behaviour such as throwing eggs can quickly cross the line between being anti-social and causing criminal damage. This can result in fines of PS2,500 for small offences.
|
The study made by Safe kids Worldwide has found that _ .
|
[
"kids are afraid of Halloween",
"Halloween brings people no fun",
"kids are involved in criminal offences",
"Halloween night puts some kids at risk"
] |
D
|
devhigh12109
|
Lots of people like a good fright at Halloween . Yet, the most frightening thing of all about the night is that twice as many children are killed while out and about on Halloween compared to any other day of the year, according to a study by Safe Kids Worldwide. It can also be a worrying time for others, especially elderly people living alone. But many people think it's just harmless fun.
But is it harmless fun?
Police forces across Britain are giving warnings about Halloween night. They are asking all those wishing to celebrate Halloween this year to respect those who don't want to join in.
Some forces, like West Mercia Police, have produced "Sorry, No Trick or Treat"posters which can be downloaded from their website, and put up in windows. They want people to send them to the old or anyone who may be frightened by ghosts knocking on their doors.
A spokesman said: "Children should not call on houses where the posters are put up, neither should they call on strangers, as this can put young people at risk and also make some house owners anxious, especially those who are elderly or living alone."
The police want all trick or treaters to remember that disturbing other people or throwing objects at their homes or cars are all criminal offences . "What may start off as a bit of fun could end up with someone getting a criminal record," they warn. "Parents may want to consider having a Halloween party at home, instead."
Kent Police are warning young people never to go into the home of someone they don't know--and to remember not to frighten people.
Warwickshire Police are also warning that tricks may seem like harmless fun but can cause trouble to others. They say behaviour such as throwing eggs can quickly cross the line between being anti-social and causing criminal damage. This can result in fines of PS2,500 for small offences.
|
British police forces are making efforts to _ .
|
[
"put an end to trick or treat",
"control anti-social behaviours",
"punish those who frighten others",
"make Halloween safe trouble-free"
] |
D
|
devhigh12109
|
Lots of people like a good fright at Halloween . Yet, the most frightening thing of all about the night is that twice as many children are killed while out and about on Halloween compared to any other day of the year, according to a study by Safe Kids Worldwide. It can also be a worrying time for others, especially elderly people living alone. But many people think it's just harmless fun.
But is it harmless fun?
Police forces across Britain are giving warnings about Halloween night. They are asking all those wishing to celebrate Halloween this year to respect those who don't want to join in.
Some forces, like West Mercia Police, have produced "Sorry, No Trick or Treat"posters which can be downloaded from their website, and put up in windows. They want people to send them to the old or anyone who may be frightened by ghosts knocking on their doors.
A spokesman said: "Children should not call on houses where the posters are put up, neither should they call on strangers, as this can put young people at risk and also make some house owners anxious, especially those who are elderly or living alone."
The police want all trick or treaters to remember that disturbing other people or throwing objects at their homes or cars are all criminal offences . "What may start off as a bit of fun could end up with someone getting a criminal record," they warn. "Parents may want to consider having a Halloween party at home, instead."
Kent Police are warning young people never to go into the home of someone they don't know--and to remember not to frighten people.
Warwickshire Police are also warning that tricks may seem like harmless fun but can cause trouble to others. They say behaviour such as throwing eggs can quickly cross the line between being anti-social and causing criminal damage. This can result in fines of PS2,500 for small offences.
|
"Sorry, No Trick or Treat " posters are designed to _ .
|
[
"ask people to respect the elderly.",
"make some people free from harm",
"warn little kids to behave themselves",
"express disagreement with Halloween"
] |
B
|
devhigh12110
|
I was in a shopping mall recently, and I decided to go and get a cup of tea. As I was making my way to the coffee shop, I noticed an old gentleman rather poorly dressed sitting on a bench nearby. I knew from the first sight that he was in need of some kind of help. He had a little lunch in front of him and was wholeheartedly enjoying it.
There was a young man in front of me in the line also waiting to be served. The young man handed the servant a twenty-dollar bill and asked for an orange juice as well as a _ . The servant looked at the young man with a little surprise, not fully understanding him. The young man asked her to give the juice to the old gentleman eating his lunch outside on the bench. The young man also told her that he would be watching every second so that she would be completely safe at all times. Later, there was a wonderful exchange between the waitress and the old man. I only wished I had taken a photo of the smiles on both of their faces.
As I was thinking about this event later on, I wondered why the young man didn't just perform this act of kindness himself. I thought he was hoping that this act of kindness might inspire others to do something for the old man as well. Thinking of the happy smiles on the old man's face, I felt how worthwhile it is to help others.
|
Which of the following can be used to describe the young man?
|
[
"Kind and considerate",
"Generous and proud.",
"Rich and friendly.",
"Humorous and helpful."
] |
A
|
devhigh12110
|
I was in a shopping mall recently, and I decided to go and get a cup of tea. As I was making my way to the coffee shop, I noticed an old gentleman rather poorly dressed sitting on a bench nearby. I knew from the first sight that he was in need of some kind of help. He had a little lunch in front of him and was wholeheartedly enjoying it.
There was a young man in front of me in the line also waiting to be served. The young man handed the servant a twenty-dollar bill and asked for an orange juice as well as a _ . The servant looked at the young man with a little surprise, not fully understanding him. The young man asked her to give the juice to the old gentleman eating his lunch outside on the bench. The young man also told her that he would be watching every second so that she would be completely safe at all times. Later, there was a wonderful exchange between the waitress and the old man. I only wished I had taken a photo of the smiles on both of their faces.
As I was thinking about this event later on, I wondered why the young man didn't just perform this act of kindness himself. I thought he was hoping that this act of kindness might inspire others to do something for the old man as well. Thinking of the happy smiles on the old man's face, I felt how worthwhile it is to help others.
|
In the author's opinion, the young man asked the servant to take the juice to the old man so that _ .
|
[
"the old man could probably accept it",
"he would become famous for his good deed",
"more people would be inspired to do good deeds",
"he would become a friend of the servant"
] |
C
|
devhigh12131
|
Grandparents might be known for spoiling grandchildren, but a new study says they might also be helping the kids improve their social skills and behavior.
Spending time with grandma and grandpa especially appears to help children from single-parent, divorced/separated or stepfamily households, according to the report, published in the February Journal of Family Psychology.
"Grandparents are a positive force for all families but play a significant role in families undergoing difficulties," the study's lead author, Shalhevet Attar-Schwartz, of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said in an American Psychological Association news release. "They can reduce the negative influence of parents separating and be a resource for children who are going through these family changes."
In interviewing 11- to 16-year olds from England and Wales, Attar-Schwartz and her team found that the more conversations the youths had with a grandparent, including asking for advice or even money, the better they got along with their peers and the fewer problems they had, such as hyperactivity and disruptive behavior.
"This was found across all three family structures," she said. "But adolescents in single-parent households and stepfamilies benefited the most. The effect of their grandparents' involvement was stronger compared to children from two biological parent families."
The study did not look at children who lived solely with their grandparents, though.
The findings have great implications for people in the United States, the authors said, because American grandparents are increasingly sharing living space with their grandchildren. A 2004 U.S. Census Bureau survey found that more than 5 million households include a grandparent and a grandchild under 18, up 30 percent since 1990, according to background information in the news release.
|
It is generally believed that a grandmother _ .
|
[
"can help a child through hard times",
"can help kids develop social skills",
"can spoil a child",
"is a positive force for all families"
] |
C
|
devhigh12131
|
Grandparents might be known for spoiling grandchildren, but a new study says they might also be helping the kids improve their social skills and behavior.
Spending time with grandma and grandpa especially appears to help children from single-parent, divorced/separated or stepfamily households, according to the report, published in the February Journal of Family Psychology.
"Grandparents are a positive force for all families but play a significant role in families undergoing difficulties," the study's lead author, Shalhevet Attar-Schwartz, of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said in an American Psychological Association news release. "They can reduce the negative influence of parents separating and be a resource for children who are going through these family changes."
In interviewing 11- to 16-year olds from England and Wales, Attar-Schwartz and her team found that the more conversations the youths had with a grandparent, including asking for advice or even money, the better they got along with their peers and the fewer problems they had, such as hyperactivity and disruptive behavior.
"This was found across all three family structures," she said. "But adolescents in single-parent households and stepfamilies benefited the most. The effect of their grandparents' involvement was stronger compared to children from two biological parent families."
The study did not look at children who lived solely with their grandparents, though.
The findings have great implications for people in the United States, the authors said, because American grandparents are increasingly sharing living space with their grandchildren. A 2004 U.S. Census Bureau survey found that more than 5 million households include a grandparent and a grandchild under 18, up 30 percent since 1990, according to background information in the news release.
|
According to the passage, grandparents will be of least benefit to a child _ .
|
[
"from two biological parent families",
"from a single--parent household",
"from a divorced household",
"from a stepfamily household"
] |
A
|
devhigh12131
|
Grandparents might be known for spoiling grandchildren, but a new study says they might also be helping the kids improve their social skills and behavior.
Spending time with grandma and grandpa especially appears to help children from single-parent, divorced/separated or stepfamily households, according to the report, published in the February Journal of Family Psychology.
"Grandparents are a positive force for all families but play a significant role in families undergoing difficulties," the study's lead author, Shalhevet Attar-Schwartz, of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said in an American Psychological Association news release. "They can reduce the negative influence of parents separating and be a resource for children who are going through these family changes."
In interviewing 11- to 16-year olds from England and Wales, Attar-Schwartz and her team found that the more conversations the youths had with a grandparent, including asking for advice or even money, the better they got along with their peers and the fewer problems they had, such as hyperactivity and disruptive behavior.
"This was found across all three family structures," she said. "But adolescents in single-parent households and stepfamilies benefited the most. The effect of their grandparents' involvement was stronger compared to children from two biological parent families."
The study did not look at children who lived solely with their grandparents, though.
The findings have great implications for people in the United States, the authors said, because American grandparents are increasingly sharing living space with their grandchildren. A 2004 U.S. Census Bureau survey found that more than 5 million households include a grandparent and a grandchild under 18, up 30 percent since 1990, according to background information in the news release.
|
A child who asks his grandmother for money will _ .
|
[
"have difficulty in getting along with his peers",
"still get along well with his peers",
"be easier to be spoiled than his peers",
"not be popular with peers"
] |
B
|
devhigh12131
|
Grandparents might be known for spoiling grandchildren, but a new study says they might also be helping the kids improve their social skills and behavior.
Spending time with grandma and grandpa especially appears to help children from single-parent, divorced/separated or stepfamily households, according to the report, published in the February Journal of Family Psychology.
"Grandparents are a positive force for all families but play a significant role in families undergoing difficulties," the study's lead author, Shalhevet Attar-Schwartz, of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said in an American Psychological Association news release. "They can reduce the negative influence of parents separating and be a resource for children who are going through these family changes."
In interviewing 11- to 16-year olds from England and Wales, Attar-Schwartz and her team found that the more conversations the youths had with a grandparent, including asking for advice or even money, the better they got along with their peers and the fewer problems they had, such as hyperactivity and disruptive behavior.
"This was found across all three family structures," she said. "But adolescents in single-parent households and stepfamilies benefited the most. The effect of their grandparents' involvement was stronger compared to children from two biological parent families."
The study did not look at children who lived solely with their grandparents, though.
The findings have great implications for people in the United States, the authors said, because American grandparents are increasingly sharing living space with their grandchildren. A 2004 U.S. Census Bureau survey found that more than 5 million households include a grandparent and a grandchild under 18, up 30 percent since 1990, according to background information in the news release.
|
The passage implies that _ .
|
[
"children who live solely with their grandparents may benefit the most",
"grandparents are a source of comfort to children from families undergoing difficulties",
"grandparents play a more positive role than parents in children's growth",
"all families should leave their children to be brought up by grandparents"
] |
B
|
devhigh12132
|
The next morning Alex was waiting in the FMA president's suite when Jerome Patterton arrived. Alex filled him in quickly on the Jax report. Then he said, "I want you to give an order to the trust department to sell every share of Supranational we're holding."
"I won't!" Patterton's voice rose. "Who do you think you are, giving orders-----" "I'll tell you who I am, Jerome. I'm the guy who warned the board against in-depth involvement with SuNatCo. I fought against heavy trust department buying of the stock, but no one-----including you -----would listen. Now Supranational is caving in." Alex leaned across the desk and slammed a fist down hard. "Don't you understand? Supranational can bring this bank down with it."
Patterton was shaken. "But is SuNatCo in real trouble? Are you sure?"
"If I weren't, do you think I'd be here? I'm giving you a chance to salvage something at least." He pointed to his wristwatch. "It's an hour since the New York stock market opened. Jerome, get on the phone and give that order!"
Muscles around the bank president's mouth twitched nervously. Never decisive, strong influence often swayed him. He hesitated, then picked up the telephone.
"Get me Mitchell in the trust department... Mitch? This is Jerome. Listen carefully. I want you to give a sell order immediately on all the Supranational stock we hold... Yes, sell every share." Patterton listened, then said impatiently, "Yes, I know what it'll do to the market. And I know it's irregular." His eyes sought Alex's for reassurance. The hand holding the telephone trembled as he said, "There's no time to hold meetings. So do it! Yes, I accept responsibility."
He hung up and reached for a glass of water. "The stock is already down. Our selling will depress it more. We'll be taking a big beating."
"It's our clients-----people who trusted us-----who will take the beating. And they'd have taken a bigger one still, if we'd waited. Even now we're not out of the woods. A week from now the SEC may disallow those sales. They may rule we had inside knowledge that Supranational was about to be bankrupt, which we should have reported and which would have halted trading in the stock.
|
Alex filled him in quickly on the Jax report. The sentence means:
|
[
"He filled his name on the Jax report quickly.",
"Alex signed his name to the Jax report quickly.",
"He offered the FMA president the Jax report smartly.",
"He prepared the Jax report for Patterton to sign smartly."
] |
C
|
devhigh12132
|
The next morning Alex was waiting in the FMA president's suite when Jerome Patterton arrived. Alex filled him in quickly on the Jax report. Then he said, "I want you to give an order to the trust department to sell every share of Supranational we're holding."
"I won't!" Patterton's voice rose. "Who do you think you are, giving orders-----" "I'll tell you who I am, Jerome. I'm the guy who warned the board against in-depth involvement with SuNatCo. I fought against heavy trust department buying of the stock, but no one-----including you -----would listen. Now Supranational is caving in." Alex leaned across the desk and slammed a fist down hard. "Don't you understand? Supranational can bring this bank down with it."
Patterton was shaken. "But is SuNatCo in real trouble? Are you sure?"
"If I weren't, do you think I'd be here? I'm giving you a chance to salvage something at least." He pointed to his wristwatch. "It's an hour since the New York stock market opened. Jerome, get on the phone and give that order!"
Muscles around the bank president's mouth twitched nervously. Never decisive, strong influence often swayed him. He hesitated, then picked up the telephone.
"Get me Mitchell in the trust department... Mitch? This is Jerome. Listen carefully. I want you to give a sell order immediately on all the Supranational stock we hold... Yes, sell every share." Patterton listened, then said impatiently, "Yes, I know what it'll do to the market. And I know it's irregular." His eyes sought Alex's for reassurance. The hand holding the telephone trembled as he said, "There's no time to hold meetings. So do it! Yes, I accept responsibility."
He hung up and reached for a glass of water. "The stock is already down. Our selling will depress it more. We'll be taking a big beating."
"It's our clients-----people who trusted us-----who will take the beating. And they'd have taken a bigger one still, if we'd waited. Even now we're not out of the woods. A week from now the SEC may disallow those sales. They may rule we had inside knowledge that Supranational was about to be bankrupt, which we should have reported and which would have halted trading in the stock.
|
From the context we can infer that _ .
|
[
"SuNatCo would bring the stock market down if it sold all the Supranational stock they held.",
"The president was stubborn and would never listen to others.",
"Alex will take the place of Patterton in the future.",
"the clients would take a bigger beating than the bank"
] |
D
|
devhigh12132
|
The next morning Alex was waiting in the FMA president's suite when Jerome Patterton arrived. Alex filled him in quickly on the Jax report. Then he said, "I want you to give an order to the trust department to sell every share of Supranational we're holding."
"I won't!" Patterton's voice rose. "Who do you think you are, giving orders-----" "I'll tell you who I am, Jerome. I'm the guy who warned the board against in-depth involvement with SuNatCo. I fought against heavy trust department buying of the stock, but no one-----including you -----would listen. Now Supranational is caving in." Alex leaned across the desk and slammed a fist down hard. "Don't you understand? Supranational can bring this bank down with it."
Patterton was shaken. "But is SuNatCo in real trouble? Are you sure?"
"If I weren't, do you think I'd be here? I'm giving you a chance to salvage something at least." He pointed to his wristwatch. "It's an hour since the New York stock market opened. Jerome, get on the phone and give that order!"
Muscles around the bank president's mouth twitched nervously. Never decisive, strong influence often swayed him. He hesitated, then picked up the telephone.
"Get me Mitchell in the trust department... Mitch? This is Jerome. Listen carefully. I want you to give a sell order immediately on all the Supranational stock we hold... Yes, sell every share." Patterton listened, then said impatiently, "Yes, I know what it'll do to the market. And I know it's irregular." His eyes sought Alex's for reassurance. The hand holding the telephone trembled as he said, "There's no time to hold meetings. So do it! Yes, I accept responsibility."
He hung up and reached for a glass of water. "The stock is already down. Our selling will depress it more. We'll be taking a big beating."
"It's our clients-----people who trusted us-----who will take the beating. And they'd have taken a bigger one still, if we'd waited. Even now we're not out of the woods. A week from now the SEC may disallow those sales. They may rule we had inside knowledge that Supranational was about to be bankrupt, which we should have reported and which would have halted trading in the stock.
|
The New York stock market is the place where _ .
|
[
"the old stock can be bought and sold",
"shares can be bought and sold",
"paper stock can be bought and sold",
"some of the stock can be taken without being paid for"
] |
B
|
devhigh12132
|
The next morning Alex was waiting in the FMA president's suite when Jerome Patterton arrived. Alex filled him in quickly on the Jax report. Then he said, "I want you to give an order to the trust department to sell every share of Supranational we're holding."
"I won't!" Patterton's voice rose. "Who do you think you are, giving orders-----" "I'll tell you who I am, Jerome. I'm the guy who warned the board against in-depth involvement with SuNatCo. I fought against heavy trust department buying of the stock, but no one-----including you -----would listen. Now Supranational is caving in." Alex leaned across the desk and slammed a fist down hard. "Don't you understand? Supranational can bring this bank down with it."
Patterton was shaken. "But is SuNatCo in real trouble? Are you sure?"
"If I weren't, do you think I'd be here? I'm giving you a chance to salvage something at least." He pointed to his wristwatch. "It's an hour since the New York stock market opened. Jerome, get on the phone and give that order!"
Muscles around the bank president's mouth twitched nervously. Never decisive, strong influence often swayed him. He hesitated, then picked up the telephone.
"Get me Mitchell in the trust department... Mitch? This is Jerome. Listen carefully. I want you to give a sell order immediately on all the Supranational stock we hold... Yes, sell every share." Patterton listened, then said impatiently, "Yes, I know what it'll do to the market. And I know it's irregular." His eyes sought Alex's for reassurance. The hand holding the telephone trembled as he said, "There's no time to hold meetings. So do it! Yes, I accept responsibility."
He hung up and reached for a glass of water. "The stock is already down. Our selling will depress it more. We'll be taking a big beating."
"It's our clients-----people who trusted us-----who will take the beating. And they'd have taken a bigger one still, if we'd waited. Even now we're not out of the woods. A week from now the SEC may disallow those sales. They may rule we had inside knowledge that Supranational was about to be bankrupt, which we should have reported and which would have halted trading in the stock.
|
In the sentence "Even now we're not out the woods." The phrase "out of the woods" means _ .
|
[
"free from danger",
"short of wood",
"running out of wood",
"set free"
] |
A
|
devhigh12132
|
The next morning Alex was waiting in the FMA president's suite when Jerome Patterton arrived. Alex filled him in quickly on the Jax report. Then he said, "I want you to give an order to the trust department to sell every share of Supranational we're holding."
"I won't!" Patterton's voice rose. "Who do you think you are, giving orders-----" "I'll tell you who I am, Jerome. I'm the guy who warned the board against in-depth involvement with SuNatCo. I fought against heavy trust department buying of the stock, but no one-----including you -----would listen. Now Supranational is caving in." Alex leaned across the desk and slammed a fist down hard. "Don't you understand? Supranational can bring this bank down with it."
Patterton was shaken. "But is SuNatCo in real trouble? Are you sure?"
"If I weren't, do you think I'd be here? I'm giving you a chance to salvage something at least." He pointed to his wristwatch. "It's an hour since the New York stock market opened. Jerome, get on the phone and give that order!"
Muscles around the bank president's mouth twitched nervously. Never decisive, strong influence often swayed him. He hesitated, then picked up the telephone.
"Get me Mitchell in the trust department... Mitch? This is Jerome. Listen carefully. I want you to give a sell order immediately on all the Supranational stock we hold... Yes, sell every share." Patterton listened, then said impatiently, "Yes, I know what it'll do to the market. And I know it's irregular." His eyes sought Alex's for reassurance. The hand holding the telephone trembled as he said, "There's no time to hold meetings. So do it! Yes, I accept responsibility."
He hung up and reached for a glass of water. "The stock is already down. Our selling will depress it more. We'll be taking a big beating."
"It's our clients-----people who trusted us-----who will take the beating. And they'd have taken a bigger one still, if we'd waited. Even now we're not out of the woods. A week from now the SEC may disallow those sales. They may rule we had inside knowledge that Supranational was about to be bankrupt, which we should have reported and which would have halted trading in the stock.
|
In the writer's opinion, the president is _ .
|
[
"good leader of the U.S.A",
"a good manager of a company",
"headmaster",
"banker, an indecisive sort of person"
] |
D
|
devhigh12134
|
Scientists have long understood the key role that oceans play in controlling the Earth's climate. Oceans cover 70 per cent of the surface of the globe and store a thousand times more heat than the atmosphere does. What's newer is the understanding of how this key component of our climate system responds to global warming.
A brake on global warming--for now
One of the oceans' most important climate functions is absorbing heat and carbon dioxide(CO2), one of the gases that causes global warming. Acting as something absorbing heat, the oceans have absorbed huge amounts of heat and CO2 in the last forty years.
Fujita explains, "the oceans are saving us from faster climate change--they are putting a brake on the climate system."
"That's the good news," he adds. "The bad news is that the oceans only slow the atmospheric warming. Once the oceans come to balance with a greenhouse-gas warmed earth, the extreme heat will remain in the atmosphere and things will get much hotter." But where and how the oceans release this slowly increased heat is uncertain. And as the ocean stores heat, fragile underwater ecosystems are struggling.
The most recent scientific report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) also notes with concern that the ocean is acidifying because of increased absorption of atmospheric CO2. and thus causing a threat to shell-forming species. Sharp increase in CO2 levels will cause further acidification of the ocean.
Currents distributing heat
Another important role the oceans play is that of distributor . Oceans deliver heat and life-sustaining nutrition around the globe. Just as blood tube bring oxygen and nutrition to cells in the human body, the ocean's currents carry oxygen, nutrients and heat throughout the Earth. The ocean distributes 25 to 50 per cent of energy the planet receives from the sun. For example, the Gulf Stream carries heat across the Atlantic. This warm current gives northwestern European a milder climate that it would normally have so far north. A change to the ocean's circulation patterns could throw Europe into a colder period, even as the rest of the world is experiencing warmer temperatures.
|
We can infer from the passage that _ .
|
[
"the oceans cause global warming",
"the oceans stop global warming",
"the oceans release nutrients and heat",
"the ocean ecosystems face more dangers"
] |
D
|
devhigh12134
|
Scientists have long understood the key role that oceans play in controlling the Earth's climate. Oceans cover 70 per cent of the surface of the globe and store a thousand times more heat than the atmosphere does. What's newer is the understanding of how this key component of our climate system responds to global warming.
A brake on global warming--for now
One of the oceans' most important climate functions is absorbing heat and carbon dioxide(CO2), one of the gases that causes global warming. Acting as something absorbing heat, the oceans have absorbed huge amounts of heat and CO2 in the last forty years.
Fujita explains, "the oceans are saving us from faster climate change--they are putting a brake on the climate system."
"That's the good news," he adds. "The bad news is that the oceans only slow the atmospheric warming. Once the oceans come to balance with a greenhouse-gas warmed earth, the extreme heat will remain in the atmosphere and things will get much hotter." But where and how the oceans release this slowly increased heat is uncertain. And as the ocean stores heat, fragile underwater ecosystems are struggling.
The most recent scientific report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) also notes with concern that the ocean is acidifying because of increased absorption of atmospheric CO2. and thus causing a threat to shell-forming species. Sharp increase in CO2 levels will cause further acidification of the ocean.
Currents distributing heat
Another important role the oceans play is that of distributor . Oceans deliver heat and life-sustaining nutrition around the globe. Just as blood tube bring oxygen and nutrition to cells in the human body, the ocean's currents carry oxygen, nutrients and heat throughout the Earth. The ocean distributes 25 to 50 per cent of energy the planet receives from the sun. For example, the Gulf Stream carries heat across the Atlantic. This warm current gives northwestern European a milder climate that it would normally have so far north. A change to the ocean's circulation patterns could throw Europe into a colder period, even as the rest of the world is experiencing warmer temperatures.
|
If the ocean's circulation pattern changed, _ .
|
[
"Asia would suffer a hotter climate.",
"Europe would become hotter",
"the rest of the world would become warmer.",
"the climate of Europe would become colder."
] |
D
|
devhigh12141
|
The pupils of the remote Beau-Roc primary school in Haiti are chanting (singing the same words again and again).One of them plays a guitar made from an empty oil tin.Their headmistress, Emile Jean-Noel, is one of the few women school headteachers in the country.
Today, over 70% of Haitian population live without proper food, water, schools, or housing. To reduce the hunger that prevents learning and to encourage parents to send their children to school, meals are provided by the World Food Programme.
"We are so cut off that we have many difficulties," comments Emile, adding that finding chalk, school books and other materials is practically impossible.Emile tries to encourage people around her to make use of available resources.Her efforts are bearing fruit.One of her successes was convincing local women to contribute to their children' s schooling and increase their income by selling embroidery and other handicrafts.
Recent political instability has meant that the country has not invested in education for ten years.Only 44% of children go to school and less than half of them finish primary school. Less than a third of these children go on to secondary school.In rural areas it is not rare to find 17 and 18 year olds in primary school- Beau-Roc has only 4 teachers for 260 pupils.Emile works constantly to improve her pupils' environment.Under her direction, a local worker is now constructing a store house for the food delivered regularly by the WFP.
Not only is Emile' s salary small, but she receives it irregularly.For her, transport is a real headache.She lives five kilometers away and has to take the tap tap, a privately-owned bus, costing more than she can afford.
"The decision to be a rural teacher in Haiti should not be taken lightly" , Emile comments. "With all the sacrifices and risks it requires, only _ should do it." However, Emile loves her job."I always feel at home with the children and, because the parents understand what I'm doing, I try to give my best."
|
Which of the following is extremely difficult for Beau-Roc primary school?
|
[
"Teaching the women how to make embroidery and other handicrafts.",
"Persuading local women to care about their children' s education.",
"Encouraging people around to use those available resources.",
"Finding chalk, school books and other materials."
] |
D
|
devhigh12141
|
The pupils of the remote Beau-Roc primary school in Haiti are chanting (singing the same words again and again).One of them plays a guitar made from an empty oil tin.Their headmistress, Emile Jean-Noel, is one of the few women school headteachers in the country.
Today, over 70% of Haitian population live without proper food, water, schools, or housing. To reduce the hunger that prevents learning and to encourage parents to send their children to school, meals are provided by the World Food Programme.
"We are so cut off that we have many difficulties," comments Emile, adding that finding chalk, school books and other materials is practically impossible.Emile tries to encourage people around her to make use of available resources.Her efforts are bearing fruit.One of her successes was convincing local women to contribute to their children' s schooling and increase their income by selling embroidery and other handicrafts.
Recent political instability has meant that the country has not invested in education for ten years.Only 44% of children go to school and less than half of them finish primary school. Less than a third of these children go on to secondary school.In rural areas it is not rare to find 17 and 18 year olds in primary school- Beau-Roc has only 4 teachers for 260 pupils.Emile works constantly to improve her pupils' environment.Under her direction, a local worker is now constructing a store house for the food delivered regularly by the WFP.
Not only is Emile' s salary small, but she receives it irregularly.For her, transport is a real headache.She lives five kilometers away and has to take the tap tap, a privately-owned bus, costing more than she can afford.
"The decision to be a rural teacher in Haiti should not be taken lightly" , Emile comments. "With all the sacrifices and risks it requires, only _ should do it." However, Emile loves her job."I always feel at home with the children and, because the parents understand what I'm doing, I try to give my best."
|
What topic is presented in this passage?
|
[
"Hardship for teachers.",
"Devotion to education.",
"Politics and children.",
"Love and beauty."
] |
B
|
devhigh12142
|
Weekends are normally a time for shopping and last Saturday was no exception. My son Henry and I were shopping in a neighborhood market. Henry was busy weighing each new bag of vegetables I selected. I gave him a bag of potatoes and he walked over to the scale and waited in line. Suddenly, a man rushed over from behind, and stepped before him, hitting him out of the way. Henry looked shocked and scared. Seeing this I left my shopping cart and walked over to Henry, saying loudly, "Are you OK, honey? I saw what that man did to you. That was very, very wrong."
When the man finished weighing his bag, his sudden turning around made all his onions fall to the ground. The three of us stood there, frozen for a moment. And then I bent down on my hands and knees and started collecting onions. After I handed the onions to the man, he accepted them and put them into his bag. After Henry and I picked up all the onions, the man walked away without saying anything. We didn't discuss the event until we got back in the car.
On the way back home, Henry said through tears, "Mommy, I've a frustrating day. That man cut right in front of me. And we had to help him pick up his onions! Why did we do that? That didn't make any sense!"
I took a deep breath and said, "Henry, that man seemed to have a very bad mood today. We should forgive him. I was also angry with the man for treating you rudely. I really wanted to kick him. But doing that doesn't make any sense. If we hadn't helped him, we might have felt good for a moment, but then I bet we would have felt really sorry for a long time. You and I have a lot of love to share. Maybe that man doesn't have much. People who behave badly still need love."
A cheerful smile appeared on Henry's face. It was a smile of promise kept. It was the best smile I had ever seen. It was a good moment. It may have been my best mommy moment ever.
|
What did the man do?
|
[
"He cut in the line.",
"He hit Henry on the head.",
"He hurried away without paying.",
"He ran into Henry suddenly."
] |
A
|
devhigh12142
|
Weekends are normally a time for shopping and last Saturday was no exception. My son Henry and I were shopping in a neighborhood market. Henry was busy weighing each new bag of vegetables I selected. I gave him a bag of potatoes and he walked over to the scale and waited in line. Suddenly, a man rushed over from behind, and stepped before him, hitting him out of the way. Henry looked shocked and scared. Seeing this I left my shopping cart and walked over to Henry, saying loudly, "Are you OK, honey? I saw what that man did to you. That was very, very wrong."
When the man finished weighing his bag, his sudden turning around made all his onions fall to the ground. The three of us stood there, frozen for a moment. And then I bent down on my hands and knees and started collecting onions. After I handed the onions to the man, he accepted them and put them into his bag. After Henry and I picked up all the onions, the man walked away without saying anything. We didn't discuss the event until we got back in the car.
On the way back home, Henry said through tears, "Mommy, I've a frustrating day. That man cut right in front of me. And we had to help him pick up his onions! Why did we do that? That didn't make any sense!"
I took a deep breath and said, "Henry, that man seemed to have a very bad mood today. We should forgive him. I was also angry with the man for treating you rudely. I really wanted to kick him. But doing that doesn't make any sense. If we hadn't helped him, we might have felt good for a moment, but then I bet we would have felt really sorry for a long time. You and I have a lot of love to share. Maybe that man doesn't have much. People who behave badly still need love."
A cheerful smile appeared on Henry's face. It was a smile of promise kept. It was the best smile I had ever seen. It was a good moment. It may have been my best mommy moment ever.
|
What can we infer from the passage?
|
[
"The author was not angry at all with what the man had done.",
"The man was very sorry for what he had done to Henry.",
"At last, Henry learned a very valuable life lesson from the event.",
"Henry didn't help the author pick up the onions for the man."
] |
C
|
devhigh12142
|
Weekends are normally a time for shopping and last Saturday was no exception. My son Henry and I were shopping in a neighborhood market. Henry was busy weighing each new bag of vegetables I selected. I gave him a bag of potatoes and he walked over to the scale and waited in line. Suddenly, a man rushed over from behind, and stepped before him, hitting him out of the way. Henry looked shocked and scared. Seeing this I left my shopping cart and walked over to Henry, saying loudly, "Are you OK, honey? I saw what that man did to you. That was very, very wrong."
When the man finished weighing his bag, his sudden turning around made all his onions fall to the ground. The three of us stood there, frozen for a moment. And then I bent down on my hands and knees and started collecting onions. After I handed the onions to the man, he accepted them and put them into his bag. After Henry and I picked up all the onions, the man walked away without saying anything. We didn't discuss the event until we got back in the car.
On the way back home, Henry said through tears, "Mommy, I've a frustrating day. That man cut right in front of me. And we had to help him pick up his onions! Why did we do that? That didn't make any sense!"
I took a deep breath and said, "Henry, that man seemed to have a very bad mood today. We should forgive him. I was also angry with the man for treating you rudely. I really wanted to kick him. But doing that doesn't make any sense. If we hadn't helped him, we might have felt good for a moment, but then I bet we would have felt really sorry for a long time. You and I have a lot of love to share. Maybe that man doesn't have much. People who behave badly still need love."
A cheerful smile appeared on Henry's face. It was a smile of promise kept. It was the best smile I had ever seen. It was a good moment. It may have been my best mommy moment ever.
|
Which of the following word can best describe the author?
|
[
"Narrow-minded.",
"Broad-minded.",
"Strong-willed.",
"Bad-tempered."
] |
B
|
devhigh12221
|
Four million children are caught up in the war in Syria. Thirteen-year-old Rabia is one of them. Tall and thin, she sits shaking in a yellow T-shirt at the Al Marj settlement, close to the Lebanese-Syrian border.
Home for Rabia was once a two-story house near Damascus. Now it is a tent shared with her nine family members.
Rabia's face is covered with dirt, and she is tired and cold. She has just finished work, picking up potatoes that fell from a truck. Her typical day starts at 4 a.m., and she works a double _ that lasts about 16 hours, putting potatoes into bags. The only choice for her is that she can choose the first eight hours or the second eight hours. For this, she gets paid about $8 a day.
Working means Rabia misses school. Back in her village, she was the best in her class and good at everything. Her favorite subjects were Arabic literature and math. But, like many children now living in the settlements -- there are no official refugee camps in Lebanon -- that was Rabia's old life. Life before war, before her family moved five times to escape the bombs, before leaving behind her bedroom, her toys and her friends without packing a bag, before "half the people I know" were dead.
The old life was full of laughter with her sister, Wala. But Wala, 14, got married two days ago to an 18-year-old Lebanese. Rabia is happy for her sister. Life in the settlement is tough -- the children have nowhere to play, the bathing is poor and sexual abuse is out of control. You can't blame parents -- often confused, illiterate and poor -- who want to marry off their daughters. They fear for their safety.
Increasing numbers of Rabia's girlfriends are getting married. Once in rural Syria, a girl got married at 16. According to UNICEF, the age is now dropping to 12 or 13. It is no secret that Lebanese men want to marry Syrian refugee girls, who work hard and don't ask for anything.
|
Where is the passage most likely to have been taken from?
|
[
"A news report.",
"A book review.",
"A history book.",
"A travel magazine."
] |
A
|
devhigh12221
|
Four million children are caught up in the war in Syria. Thirteen-year-old Rabia is one of them. Tall and thin, she sits shaking in a yellow T-shirt at the Al Marj settlement, close to the Lebanese-Syrian border.
Home for Rabia was once a two-story house near Damascus. Now it is a tent shared with her nine family members.
Rabia's face is covered with dirt, and she is tired and cold. She has just finished work, picking up potatoes that fell from a truck. Her typical day starts at 4 a.m., and she works a double _ that lasts about 16 hours, putting potatoes into bags. The only choice for her is that she can choose the first eight hours or the second eight hours. For this, she gets paid about $8 a day.
Working means Rabia misses school. Back in her village, she was the best in her class and good at everything. Her favorite subjects were Arabic literature and math. But, like many children now living in the settlements -- there are no official refugee camps in Lebanon -- that was Rabia's old life. Life before war, before her family moved five times to escape the bombs, before leaving behind her bedroom, her toys and her friends without packing a bag, before "half the people I know" were dead.
The old life was full of laughter with her sister, Wala. But Wala, 14, got married two days ago to an 18-year-old Lebanese. Rabia is happy for her sister. Life in the settlement is tough -- the children have nowhere to play, the bathing is poor and sexual abuse is out of control. You can't blame parents -- often confused, illiterate and poor -- who want to marry off their daughters. They fear for their safety.
Increasing numbers of Rabia's girlfriends are getting married. Once in rural Syria, a girl got married at 16. According to UNICEF, the age is now dropping to 12 or 13. It is no secret that Lebanese men want to marry Syrian refugee girls, who work hard and don't ask for anything.
|
The writer's purpose for writing Para. 4 is to _ .
|
[
"present the dream of Rabia",
"show the damage of the war",
"predict the future of Syrian girls",
"compare the life before war and now"
] |
B
|
devhigh12262
|
A rat looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package. What food might it contain? He was alarmed to discover that it was a rat trap .
Going back to the farmyard the rat gave a warning: "There is a rat trap in the house, a rat trap in the house!" The chicken raised her head and said: "Excuse me, Mr Rat, I can tell this is a big concern to you, but it is of no business to me. I cannot be bothered with it."
The rat turned to the pig and told him: "There is a rat trap in the house, a rat trap in the house!""I am so very sorry, Mr. Rat," sympathized the pig, "but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. I will make sure that you are in my prayers."
The rat turned to the cow. She said, "Like wow, Mr. Rat. A rat trap. I am in grave danger. Duh?"
So the rat returned to the house, head down and _ , to face the farmer's rat trap alone.
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a rat trap catching its prey . The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see that it was a poisonous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife.
The farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.
His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them the farmer killed the pig.
The farmer's wife did not get well. She died, and so many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow killed to provide meat for all of them to eat.
So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when there is a rat trap in the house, the whole farmyard is at risk.
|
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the article?
|
[
"The chicken showed great concern for the rat.",
"The pig helped the rat get rid of the trap.",
"The cow didn't care about what the rat said.",
"The snake was killed after being caught in the trap."
] |
C
|
devhigh12262
|
A rat looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package. What food might it contain? He was alarmed to discover that it was a rat trap .
Going back to the farmyard the rat gave a warning: "There is a rat trap in the house, a rat trap in the house!" The chicken raised her head and said: "Excuse me, Mr Rat, I can tell this is a big concern to you, but it is of no business to me. I cannot be bothered with it."
The rat turned to the pig and told him: "There is a rat trap in the house, a rat trap in the house!""I am so very sorry, Mr. Rat," sympathized the pig, "but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. I will make sure that you are in my prayers."
The rat turned to the cow. She said, "Like wow, Mr. Rat. A rat trap. I am in grave danger. Duh?"
So the rat returned to the house, head down and _ , to face the farmer's rat trap alone.
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a rat trap catching its prey . The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see that it was a poisonous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife.
The farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.
His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them the farmer killed the pig.
The farmer's wife did not get well. She died, and so many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow killed to provide meat for all of them to eat.
So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when there is a rat trap in the house, the whole farmyard is at risk.
|
We can conclude from the article that _ .
|
[
"the farmer's wife got good treatment in the hospital",
"the farmer regretted setting up the rat trap",
"the rat was very wise in avoiding the trap",
"none of the other animals felt threatened by the rat trap"
] |
D
|
devhigh12262
|
A rat looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package. What food might it contain? He was alarmed to discover that it was a rat trap .
Going back to the farmyard the rat gave a warning: "There is a rat trap in the house, a rat trap in the house!" The chicken raised her head and said: "Excuse me, Mr Rat, I can tell this is a big concern to you, but it is of no business to me. I cannot be bothered with it."
The rat turned to the pig and told him: "There is a rat trap in the house, a rat trap in the house!""I am so very sorry, Mr. Rat," sympathized the pig, "but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. I will make sure that you are in my prayers."
The rat turned to the cow. She said, "Like wow, Mr. Rat. A rat trap. I am in grave danger. Duh?"
So the rat returned to the house, head down and _ , to face the farmer's rat trap alone.
That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a rat trap catching its prey . The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see that it was a poisonous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife.
The farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.
His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them the farmer killed the pig.
The farmer's wife did not get well. She died, and so many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow killed to provide meat for all of them to eat.
So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when there is a rat trap in the house, the whole farmyard is at risk.
|
What message does the story intend to convey?
|
[
"We should mind our own business.",
"Everything is related to something else.",
"Helping others is always a virtue.",
"We should treat animals in a friendly way."
] |
B
|
devhigh1227
|
Cholesterol Dr, Arlene Donar, Medical
Watchers Director SPECIAL PURCHASE
ALERT-JULY 2008
"BEST PRODUCT WE VE EVER SEEN"--THIS REALLY-WORKS--ON SALE NOW
Need to ler your cho1esterol ? We strongly recommend
CholesterolblockTM, This really works, and how is the best time to buy, because of a special offer for the first 250 customers only for a limited time.
*Takes cholesterol out of food, no matter what you eat.
*Clinically demonstrated effective in university and hospital testing,.
*Lowers cholesterol absorption up to 42% or more.
*NO SIEDE EFFCTS unlike LiptorR, ZocorR, CrestorR& other commonly prescribed medications safe and effective.
*Outsells all other brands on Internet every month.
LIMITED TIME ONLY---Try Cholesterol Watchers free with purchase.
|
If you happen to be the 200thcustomer to buy Cholesterolblock, you will _ .
|
[
"be able to buy it at a low price",
"be the luckiest one online",
"try it free of charge",
"change your diet"
] |
A
|
devhigh1227
|
Cholesterol Dr, Arlene Donar, Medical
Watchers Director SPECIAL PURCHASE
ALERT-JULY 2008
"BEST PRODUCT WE VE EVER SEEN"--THIS REALLY-WORKS--ON SALE NOW
Need to ler your cho1esterol ? We strongly recommend
CholesterolblockTM, This really works, and how is the best time to buy, because of a special offer for the first 250 customers only for a limited time.
*Takes cholesterol out of food, no matter what you eat.
*Clinically demonstrated effective in university and hospital testing,.
*Lowers cholesterol absorption up to 42% or more.
*NO SIEDE EFFCTS unlike LiptorR, ZocorR, CrestorR& other commonly prescribed medications safe and effective.
*Outsells all other brands on Internet every month.
LIMITED TIME ONLY---Try Cholesterol Watchers free with purchase.
|
LiptorR, ZocorR,CrestorRare _ .
|
[
"diseases",
"side effects",
"medicines",
"cholesterol"
] |
C
|
devhigh1227
|
Cholesterol Dr, Arlene Donar, Medical
Watchers Director SPECIAL PURCHASE
ALERT-JULY 2008
"BEST PRODUCT WE VE EVER SEEN"--THIS REALLY-WORKS--ON SALE NOW
Need to ler your cho1esterol ? We strongly recommend
CholesterolblockTM, This really works, and how is the best time to buy, because of a special offer for the first 250 customers only for a limited time.
*Takes cholesterol out of food, no matter what you eat.
*Clinically demonstrated effective in university and hospital testing,.
*Lowers cholesterol absorption up to 42% or more.
*NO SIEDE EFFCTS unlike LiptorR, ZocorR, CrestorR& other commonly prescribed medications safe and effective.
*Outsells all other brands on Internet every month.
LIMITED TIME ONLY---Try Cholesterol Watchers free with purchase.
|
CholesterolblackTM has the following advantages EXCEPT that _ .
|
[
"it helps take cholesterol out of whatever food you eat",
"it has been proved useful in hospital testing",
"it helps people absorb at least 42% cholesterol",
"it sells best on Internet every month"
] |
C
|
devhigh1227
|
Cholesterol Dr, Arlene Donar, Medical
Watchers Director SPECIAL PURCHASE
ALERT-JULY 2008
"BEST PRODUCT WE VE EVER SEEN"--THIS REALLY-WORKS--ON SALE NOW
Need to ler your cho1esterol ? We strongly recommend
CholesterolblockTM, This really works, and how is the best time to buy, because of a special offer for the first 250 customers only for a limited time.
*Takes cholesterol out of food, no matter what you eat.
*Clinically demonstrated effective in university and hospital testing,.
*Lowers cholesterol absorption up to 42% or more.
*NO SIEDE EFFCTS unlike LiptorR, ZocorR, CrestorR& other commonly prescribed medications safe and effective.
*Outsells all other brands on Internet every month.
LIMITED TIME ONLY---Try Cholesterol Watchers free with purchase.
|
Where can you most probably read this passage?
|
[
"In a travel guide book.",
"On a university bulletin board.",
"In a health magazine.",
"In a doctor's prescription."
] |
C
|
devhigh12282
|
In a movie, a woman reads a storybook to her friend's daughter. As they approach the last page, she reads, "... and Cinderella and the prince lived happily ever after." She closes the book and looks at the young girl, adding, " You know, things don't always happen like this in real life, I just think you should know that now."
We were all raised on fairy tales with glass slippers, brave princes and magic! It didn't take too long to realize that stories like that aren't necessarily true. In real life, you learn that glass slippers are really uncomfortable, no prince is perfect and magic doesn't always work.
So what do you do when the way you planned things is not the way they turned out?
Know that parts of your fairy tale have already been written, and sadly, there's not much you can do about those first few chapters. You didn't get the best start. Your trust was unexpectedly betrayed . You didn't get the job. Whatever falls and failures happened in your past, there's still more to the story.
Your life has a lot of contributors , and you are the editor-in-chief. You take what's there and create the masterpiece . All the good pages and the bad can come together to make a beautiful adventure.
When you find yourself wishing your life was more like the fairy tales, remember that in some ways it already is. There will be dragons, bad witches, great romances, winding roads and friends to help you along the way. Live your life carefully and positively as if you are writing a long story. Whether it's a comedy, tragedy or a little of both, the pen is in your hand. How it ends is all up to you.
|
Which of the following may NOT often appear in fairy tales?
|
[
"Glass slippers",
"Winding roads",
"Sad endings",
"Bad witches."
] |
C
|
devhigh12282
|
In a movie, a woman reads a storybook to her friend's daughter. As they approach the last page, she reads, "... and Cinderella and the prince lived happily ever after." She closes the book and looks at the young girl, adding, " You know, things don't always happen like this in real life, I just think you should know that now."
We were all raised on fairy tales with glass slippers, brave princes and magic! It didn't take too long to realize that stories like that aren't necessarily true. In real life, you learn that glass slippers are really uncomfortable, no prince is perfect and magic doesn't always work.
So what do you do when the way you planned things is not the way they turned out?
Know that parts of your fairy tale have already been written, and sadly, there's not much you can do about those first few chapters. You didn't get the best start. Your trust was unexpectedly betrayed . You didn't get the job. Whatever falls and failures happened in your past, there's still more to the story.
Your life has a lot of contributors , and you are the editor-in-chief. You take what's there and create the masterpiece . All the good pages and the bad can come together to make a beautiful adventure.
When you find yourself wishing your life was more like the fairy tales, remember that in some ways it already is. There will be dragons, bad witches, great romances, winding roads and friends to help you along the way. Live your life carefully and positively as if you are writing a long story. Whether it's a comedy, tragedy or a little of both, the pen is in your hand. How it ends is all up to you.
|
What is the message expressed in the passage?
|
[
"Be positive about life",
"Write your own stories.",
"Parents should tell fairy tales to their kids",
"There are many problems in school education"
] |
A
|
devhigh12285
|
Location: Worlds of Fun is located off Highway 435 in Kansas City, Missouri.
History: Worlds of Fun was opened on May 26, 1973, at a cost of 25 million dollars. Loosely themed around the Jules Verne book, Around the World in Eighty Days, the park was founded by Hunt Midwest Company. In 1982, Hunt Midwest bought a nearby waterpark, Oceans of Fun. In 2013, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun were combined to a one-ticket admission, providing all guests with access to 235 acres of amusement and water rides.
Hours: Worlds of Fun is open from April through Halloween.
Tickets: Buy and print online. Always try to buy your tickets in advance, to save time when you get to the park.
Reservations: World of Fun sells " Fast Lane" cards that save rides' time by allowing them to avoid the majority of wait for most of rides and attractions including Mamba, Plowler, and Patriot. Ride as many times as you want all day long.
Strategy : Most visitors tend to begin in the day with Prowler, the hottest attraction in the park. Use that tendency to your advantage and head to the Patriot first. After that, try the Dragons. Then work your way back to the Prowler. After riding the Prowler, there is only one roller coaster, Mamba. Hit it next. If the park is not very crowded, you can ride Boomerang on the way to Mamba. After riding Mamba, head back for a ride on the Wolf. By then you will have tried most of the popular rides and attractions in the shortest possible time.
News: In 2014, Worlds of Fun is adding Steel Hawk, a ride that will take guests up 301 feet in the air and spin them at a 45-degree angle for a 60-second flight. Wait to have a try.
|
When did Hunt Midwest's two parks start to share one ticket?
|
[
"In 1973",
"In 1982",
"In 2014",
"In 2013"
] |
D
|
devhigh12285
|
Location: Worlds of Fun is located off Highway 435 in Kansas City, Missouri.
History: Worlds of Fun was opened on May 26, 1973, at a cost of 25 million dollars. Loosely themed around the Jules Verne book, Around the World in Eighty Days, the park was founded by Hunt Midwest Company. In 1982, Hunt Midwest bought a nearby waterpark, Oceans of Fun. In 2013, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun were combined to a one-ticket admission, providing all guests with access to 235 acres of amusement and water rides.
Hours: Worlds of Fun is open from April through Halloween.
Tickets: Buy and print online. Always try to buy your tickets in advance, to save time when you get to the park.
Reservations: World of Fun sells " Fast Lane" cards that save rides' time by allowing them to avoid the majority of wait for most of rides and attractions including Mamba, Plowler, and Patriot. Ride as many times as you want all day long.
Strategy : Most visitors tend to begin in the day with Prowler, the hottest attraction in the park. Use that tendency to your advantage and head to the Patriot first. After that, try the Dragons. Then work your way back to the Prowler. After riding the Prowler, there is only one roller coaster, Mamba. Hit it next. If the park is not very crowded, you can ride Boomerang on the way to Mamba. After riding Mamba, head back for a ride on the Wolf. By then you will have tried most of the popular rides and attractions in the shortest possible time.
News: In 2014, Worlds of Fun is adding Steel Hawk, a ride that will take guests up 301 feet in the air and spin them at a 45-degree angle for a 60-second flight. Wait to have a try.
|
With a "Fast Lane" card, visitors can _ .
|
[
"save some money",
"avoid lining up for long",
"buy tickets online",
"enjoy all the rides for free."
] |
B
|
devhigh12285
|
Location: Worlds of Fun is located off Highway 435 in Kansas City, Missouri.
History: Worlds of Fun was opened on May 26, 1973, at a cost of 25 million dollars. Loosely themed around the Jules Verne book, Around the World in Eighty Days, the park was founded by Hunt Midwest Company. In 1982, Hunt Midwest bought a nearby waterpark, Oceans of Fun. In 2013, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun were combined to a one-ticket admission, providing all guests with access to 235 acres of amusement and water rides.
Hours: Worlds of Fun is open from April through Halloween.
Tickets: Buy and print online. Always try to buy your tickets in advance, to save time when you get to the park.
Reservations: World of Fun sells " Fast Lane" cards that save rides' time by allowing them to avoid the majority of wait for most of rides and attractions including Mamba, Plowler, and Patriot. Ride as many times as you want all day long.
Strategy : Most visitors tend to begin in the day with Prowler, the hottest attraction in the park. Use that tendency to your advantage and head to the Patriot first. After that, try the Dragons. Then work your way back to the Prowler. After riding the Prowler, there is only one roller coaster, Mamba. Hit it next. If the park is not very crowded, you can ride Boomerang on the way to Mamba. After riding Mamba, head back for a ride on the Wolf. By then you will have tried most of the popular rides and attractions in the shortest possible time.
News: In 2014, Worlds of Fun is adding Steel Hawk, a ride that will take guests up 301 feet in the air and spin them at a 45-degree angle for a 60-second flight. Wait to have a try.
|
What is talked about in the part of Strategy?
|
[
"The most popular tour season.",
"The highest ride in the park.",
"The best visiting route.",
"The hottest attractions in the park."
] |
C
|
devhigh12290
|
"Chances are we have all experienced shyness in our lives, and shyness has been associated with negative outcomes--characteristics like difficulty maintaining eye contact, and feelings of humiliation are known to be part of a shy person's characters. It's these traits that tend to affect some shy individuals' ability to connect," says C. Barr Taylor, a professor of psychology at Stanford University.
"But while shyness can often be seen as a bad thing, there are ways to use the personality trait to your advantage," Taylor says. Below are some common shy habits and how you can learn to make them benefit you:
Shy people usually reflect inwardly a lot. But according to Taylor,all that thinking may not always be a bad thing and it should be viewed as a way you can think actively as you go into a situation. So, for shy people who feel worried about facing a particular challenge or event, Taylor advises slowly approaching the fearful situation if you start to feel anxious. By facing what you are not feeling secure about, Taylor says, you will feel less anxious. "Our brains are amazing--they can become well adapted," he says. "If you put yourself in a fearful situation, you will get a sense that you are going to do it." What's more, shy individuals care deeply about what others think of them, and if it is addressed healthily, they can use it to their advantage to form social connections.
Shy people are observant and often pick up on parts of their conversation or surroundings that others may not. "Just because you are shy, that does not mean you are not used to social situations," Taylor says. "It can actually become a source of strength as you are the observer in the room." In a study out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, researchers found an association between college-age adults who were shy and the ability to better identify expressions of sadness and fear compared with those who weren't shy. In addition, a shy person has a born drive to absorb a conversation, so they can be great at conversation.
|
In the opinion of C. Barr Taylor, we should _ .
|
[
"think positively of shyness",
"try to get rid of shyness",
"attempt to be a little shy",
"often help those shy people"
] |
A
|
devhigh12290
|
"Chances are we have all experienced shyness in our lives, and shyness has been associated with negative outcomes--characteristics like difficulty maintaining eye contact, and feelings of humiliation are known to be part of a shy person's characters. It's these traits that tend to affect some shy individuals' ability to connect," says C. Barr Taylor, a professor of psychology at Stanford University.
"But while shyness can often be seen as a bad thing, there are ways to use the personality trait to your advantage," Taylor says. Below are some common shy habits and how you can learn to make them benefit you:
Shy people usually reflect inwardly a lot. But according to Taylor,all that thinking may not always be a bad thing and it should be viewed as a way you can think actively as you go into a situation. So, for shy people who feel worried about facing a particular challenge or event, Taylor advises slowly approaching the fearful situation if you start to feel anxious. By facing what you are not feeling secure about, Taylor says, you will feel less anxious. "Our brains are amazing--they can become well adapted," he says. "If you put yourself in a fearful situation, you will get a sense that you are going to do it." What's more, shy individuals care deeply about what others think of them, and if it is addressed healthily, they can use it to their advantage to form social connections.
Shy people are observant and often pick up on parts of their conversation or surroundings that others may not. "Just because you are shy, that does not mean you are not used to social situations," Taylor says. "It can actually become a source of strength as you are the observer in the room." In a study out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, researchers found an association between college-age adults who were shy and the ability to better identify expressions of sadness and fear compared with those who weren't shy. In addition, a shy person has a born drive to absorb a conversation, so they can be great at conversation.
|
The passage mentions the study by Southern Illinois University just to show that _ .
|
[
"shy people use rich facial expressions",
"shy people are good at observing others",
"shyness can be used to reduce anxiety",
"shyness can be used in social connections"
] |
B
|
devhigh12290
|
"Chances are we have all experienced shyness in our lives, and shyness has been associated with negative outcomes--characteristics like difficulty maintaining eye contact, and feelings of humiliation are known to be part of a shy person's characters. It's these traits that tend to affect some shy individuals' ability to connect," says C. Barr Taylor, a professor of psychology at Stanford University.
"But while shyness can often be seen as a bad thing, there are ways to use the personality trait to your advantage," Taylor says. Below are some common shy habits and how you can learn to make them benefit you:
Shy people usually reflect inwardly a lot. But according to Taylor,all that thinking may not always be a bad thing and it should be viewed as a way you can think actively as you go into a situation. So, for shy people who feel worried about facing a particular challenge or event, Taylor advises slowly approaching the fearful situation if you start to feel anxious. By facing what you are not feeling secure about, Taylor says, you will feel less anxious. "Our brains are amazing--they can become well adapted," he says. "If you put yourself in a fearful situation, you will get a sense that you are going to do it." What's more, shy individuals care deeply about what others think of them, and if it is addressed healthily, they can use it to their advantage to form social connections.
Shy people are observant and often pick up on parts of their conversation or surroundings that others may not. "Just because you are shy, that does not mean you are not used to social situations," Taylor says. "It can actually become a source of strength as you are the observer in the room." In a study out of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, researchers found an association between college-age adults who were shy and the ability to better identify expressions of sadness and fear compared with those who weren't shy. In addition, a shy person has a born drive to absorb a conversation, so they can be great at conversation.
|
We can know from the passage that shy people _ .
|
[
"are good at getting used to a new environment",
"often attach much importance to others' opinions",
"hate to think a lot before taking an action",
"are good at overcoming their feeling of insecurity"
] |
B
|
devhigh12300
|
Do you blank out, freeze up or feel so nervous in exams that you have trouble writing answers to questions that you knew just last night? If so, you likely have a case of test anxiety.
But, don't panic. By recognizing the problem, you are taking the first step towards overcoming it.
Believe it or not, a touch of nervousness can sharpen your mind, allowing you to perform more quickly. This is because under stress, the body releases the hormone adrenaline , which prepares it for something important that will happen. However, too much anxiety can result in sleeplessness, loss of appetite before tests, and poor performances. Some people might feel shaky, hot, or even sick.
If you worry a lot or are a perfectionist, you are more likely to have trouble with test anxiety. Those who have prepared poorly for a test or have had negative experiences taking tests may also experience test anxiety.
When you feel a storm of anxiety coming on, stop what you are doing and make your mind a blank. If possible, actually tell yourself to "STOP". This will get your mind off the stress.
Then think of being at a place of comfort and let your body relax. As you continue the test, find questions you know the answers to and answer them first. This will help restore your confidence.
Talk to yourself using positive language. Make it a habit to replace each negative thought with a logical reason. For example:" I've studied hard and I know the material, so I'm ready to do the best I can."
Another thing you can do is to learn to accept mistakes. In fact, they can be valuable learning opportunities.
Last but not least, start test preparation early---three to five days ahead of the quiz or test. After all, good study habits and skills ---for example, time management and note-taking - will give you the feeling that your are in control.
|
_ are more likely to feel very nervous in tests.
|
[
"People who feel a touch of nervousness in tests.",
"People who haven't prepared very well.",
"People who require that everything must be perfect.",
"People who have recognized their problems."
] |
C
|
devhigh12309
|
The sound of a mosquito can mean trouble in many parts of the world. The bite of the mosquito can be deadly. The insects carry serious diseases like malaria . It is estimated that almost 630,000 people died from malaria and malariarelated causes in 2012, and most of these cases were in African countries.
In the United States, a group of California scientists are working to develop a more effective and less costly substance to protect people from mosquitoes. The researchers are investigating the sense of smell in mosquitoes. They found the insects use the same _ for identifying carbon dioxide in human breath as they do for the smell of our skin. Anandasankar Ray, who is leading the investigation, says scientists tested more than a million chemical compounds until they found a substance called Ethyl Pyruvate. He says Ethyl Pyruvate makes the mosquitoes' receptors inactive. "When we apply Ethyl Pyruvate to a human arm and offer it to hungry mosquitoes in a cage, very few of the mosquitoes are attracted to the human arm because only a few of them are able to smell it out," said Ray.
Genevieve Tauxe, a member of the research team, says it was not easy to find the neurons of noble cells that recognize both the smell of human breath and skin. "With the device used to examine the mosquito, we are able to insert a very small electrode into the part of the mosquito's nose, where its smelling neurons are and where the smell is happening," said Tauxe.
Anandasankar Ray says a product based on Ethyl Pyruvate may cost less to produce than DEFT, the most effective chemical treatment now in use. He says DEFT is too costly for most people who live in areas affected by malaria.
"Perhaps by finding smells that can attack other target receptors, we will be able to improve upon DEFT and finally have the next generation of insect behaviour control products," said Ray.
|
According to the passage, Ethyl Pyruvate can _ .
|
[
"kill the mosquitoes' smelling neurons",
"cause the mosquitoes to lose their senses of smell",
"result in the inactiveness of the mosquitoes' receptors",
"make the mosquitoes uninterested in human breath and skin smell"
] |
C
|
devhigh12309
|
The sound of a mosquito can mean trouble in many parts of the world. The bite of the mosquito can be deadly. The insects carry serious diseases like malaria . It is estimated that almost 630,000 people died from malaria and malariarelated causes in 2012, and most of these cases were in African countries.
In the United States, a group of California scientists are working to develop a more effective and less costly substance to protect people from mosquitoes. The researchers are investigating the sense of smell in mosquitoes. They found the insects use the same _ for identifying carbon dioxide in human breath as they do for the smell of our skin. Anandasankar Ray, who is leading the investigation, says scientists tested more than a million chemical compounds until they found a substance called Ethyl Pyruvate. He says Ethyl Pyruvate makes the mosquitoes' receptors inactive. "When we apply Ethyl Pyruvate to a human arm and offer it to hungry mosquitoes in a cage, very few of the mosquitoes are attracted to the human arm because only a few of them are able to smell it out," said Ray.
Genevieve Tauxe, a member of the research team, says it was not easy to find the neurons of noble cells that recognize both the smell of human breath and skin. "With the device used to examine the mosquito, we are able to insert a very small electrode into the part of the mosquito's nose, where its smelling neurons are and where the smell is happening," said Tauxe.
Anandasankar Ray says a product based on Ethyl Pyruvate may cost less to produce than DEFT, the most effective chemical treatment now in use. He says DEFT is too costly for most people who live in areas affected by malaria.
"Perhaps by finding smells that can attack other target receptors, we will be able to improve upon DEFT and finally have the next generation of insect behaviour control products," said Ray.
|
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
|
[
"Ethyl Pyruvate--an Insect Behaviour Control Product",
"Malaria--a Serious Disease Causing 630,000 Deaths",
"Scientists Find a New Substance to Fight Mosquitoes",
"A New Generation of DEET Has Been Developed to Kill Mosquitoes"
] |
C
|
devhigh12309
|
The sound of a mosquito can mean trouble in many parts of the world. The bite of the mosquito can be deadly. The insects carry serious diseases like malaria . It is estimated that almost 630,000 people died from malaria and malariarelated causes in 2012, and most of these cases were in African countries.
In the United States, a group of California scientists are working to develop a more effective and less costly substance to protect people from mosquitoes. The researchers are investigating the sense of smell in mosquitoes. They found the insects use the same _ for identifying carbon dioxide in human breath as they do for the smell of our skin. Anandasankar Ray, who is leading the investigation, says scientists tested more than a million chemical compounds until they found a substance called Ethyl Pyruvate. He says Ethyl Pyruvate makes the mosquitoes' receptors inactive. "When we apply Ethyl Pyruvate to a human arm and offer it to hungry mosquitoes in a cage, very few of the mosquitoes are attracted to the human arm because only a few of them are able to smell it out," said Ray.
Genevieve Tauxe, a member of the research team, says it was not easy to find the neurons of noble cells that recognize both the smell of human breath and skin. "With the device used to examine the mosquito, we are able to insert a very small electrode into the part of the mosquito's nose, where its smelling neurons are and where the smell is happening," said Tauxe.
Anandasankar Ray says a product based on Ethyl Pyruvate may cost less to produce than DEFT, the most effective chemical treatment now in use. He says DEFT is too costly for most people who live in areas affected by malaria.
"Perhaps by finding smells that can attack other target receptors, we will be able to improve upon DEFT and finally have the next generation of insect behaviour control products," said Ray.
|
This passage most probably appears in _ .
|
[
"a textbook of medical schools",
"a collection of doctors' essays",
"the column of newspaper ads",
"the health column of a magazine"
] |
D
|
devhigh12317
|
*The Big Cake Show comes to the WestPoint Arena in Exeter, England, March 21-22. Hopefully, cakes of all sizes will be on sale and on show. An impressive list of famous people sharing their great knowledge and skill includes Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood and Gregg Wallace. Tickets, from PS12, are available online (bigcakeshow.com).
*From January 17 to March 8, RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, England has some special guests to brighten the winter: beautiful butterflies. Butterflies in the Glasshouse introduces a group of butterflies from other countries feeding on fruit and the juice-rich plants of the Exotic Zone, Tickets for adults are PS13.20, for children are PS6.60. For a family with 2 adults and 2 children, they should pay PS32.75 in total. For groups of more than 10 adults, each should pay PS10.80 (rhs. org.uk/wisley).
*The week-long London Wine Week starts from May 18. Buy a PS5 wristband to qualify for a pocket-sized guidebook and discounted wine around the capital. Partnering with London' s best bars and restaurants, we will be organizing events such as master classes and meet-the -maker time, plus offering discounts to wristband wearers ( londonwineweek.com ).
*The World Shakespeare Festival begins in April, with everything from foreign productions of Shakespearean plays at Shakespeare's Globe to Shakespearean plays at the Royal Opera House. Plays will run until the end of the year in London, Birmingham, Newcastle and Gateshead. And there' s a programme of events such as director talks and family workshops, Prices start from PS60 (worldshakespearefestival.org. uk).
|
We can infer that Paul Hollywood is most likely to be _ .
|
[
"a ticket dealer",
"a professional cook",
"the event organizer",
"the cake show host"
] |
B
|
devhigh12317
|
*The Big Cake Show comes to the WestPoint Arena in Exeter, England, March 21-22. Hopefully, cakes of all sizes will be on sale and on show. An impressive list of famous people sharing their great knowledge and skill includes Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood and Gregg Wallace. Tickets, from PS12, are available online (bigcakeshow.com).
*From January 17 to March 8, RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey, England has some special guests to brighten the winter: beautiful butterflies. Butterflies in the Glasshouse introduces a group of butterflies from other countries feeding on fruit and the juice-rich plants of the Exotic Zone, Tickets for adults are PS13.20, for children are PS6.60. For a family with 2 adults and 2 children, they should pay PS32.75 in total. For groups of more than 10 adults, each should pay PS10.80 (rhs. org.uk/wisley).
*The week-long London Wine Week starts from May 18. Buy a PS5 wristband to qualify for a pocket-sized guidebook and discounted wine around the capital. Partnering with London' s best bars and restaurants, we will be organizing events such as master classes and meet-the -maker time, plus offering discounts to wristband wearers ( londonwineweek.com ).
*The World Shakespeare Festival begins in April, with everything from foreign productions of Shakespearean plays at Shakespeare's Globe to Shakespearean plays at the Royal Opera House. Plays will run until the end of the year in London, Birmingham, Newcastle and Gateshead. And there' s a programme of events such as director talks and family workshops, Prices start from PS60 (worldshakespearefestival.org. uk).
|
Which of the following activities lasts for the longest time?
|
[
"The Big Cake Show.",
"The London Wine Week.",
"Butterflies in the Glasshouse.",
"The World Shakespeare Festival."
] |
D
|
devhigh12321
|
The world was mysterious when I was a child, so miracles were welcome wonders. Now, there doesn't seem to be space for them in this world I so intelligently understand.
Perhaps it's from years of working around sick and often dying children, watching time and time again as a child slips away from the arms of a begging mother. I have stopped hoping as the parents around me hope.
I recently cared for a patient near the end of his life. Medically speaking, his situation was hopeless, which made me feel helpless and defeated.
His mother came in to see him. I had prepared myself to support her, imagining she would crumble into a pile of tears.
"Our God is faithful," she said, with a smile on her face and the sunshine of hope in her eyes.
"Cancer is faithful," I muttered in my mind.
"We still believe he can heal him," she continued, as if she had heard what I was thinking.
I provided updates on his body. In a laundry list of updates, perhaps two things were positive. She thanked me for the information, repeating back the minor positive notes I had given.
I brcame kind of angry. And I wanted to sak, "Do you really not understand the gravity of this illness?"
And then, yet again, as if she had heard me, she replied with this: A positive attitude gives us power over our circumstances, rather than allowing our circumstances to have power over us.
I was shocked. Here I was, judging her positive attitude as a fault. I completely disregarded the choice to believe in something more powerful than me, more healing than the doctors on our team. It wasn't blind faith. It was strength and devotion.
When I came out of the room, tears welling in my eyes, I sat at my computer and looked
down at a small plate of candies she must have left for me on her way into the room. A hand
written note was laid above them: Kate, your devotion is so appreciated, S.
S, it is your devotion that I am appreciating today. Because of you, I am begging again to
believe in miracles.
|
The author is probably a _ .
|
[
"nurse",
"patient",
"teacher",
"mother"
] |
A
|
devhigh12321
|
The world was mysterious when I was a child, so miracles were welcome wonders. Now, there doesn't seem to be space for them in this world I so intelligently understand.
Perhaps it's from years of working around sick and often dying children, watching time and time again as a child slips away from the arms of a begging mother. I have stopped hoping as the parents around me hope.
I recently cared for a patient near the end of his life. Medically speaking, his situation was hopeless, which made me feel helpless and defeated.
His mother came in to see him. I had prepared myself to support her, imagining she would crumble into a pile of tears.
"Our God is faithful," she said, with a smile on her face and the sunshine of hope in her eyes.
"Cancer is faithful," I muttered in my mind.
"We still believe he can heal him," she continued, as if she had heard what I was thinking.
I provided updates on his body. In a laundry list of updates, perhaps two things were positive. She thanked me for the information, repeating back the minor positive notes I had given.
I brcame kind of angry. And I wanted to sak, "Do you really not understand the gravity of this illness?"
And then, yet again, as if she had heard me, she replied with this: A positive attitude gives us power over our circumstances, rather than allowing our circumstances to have power over us.
I was shocked. Here I was, judging her positive attitude as a fault. I completely disregarded the choice to believe in something more powerful than me, more healing than the doctors on our team. It wasn't blind faith. It was strength and devotion.
When I came out of the room, tears welling in my eyes, I sat at my computer and looked
down at a small plate of candies she must have left for me on her way into the room. A hand
written note was laid above them: Kate, your devotion is so appreciated, S.
S, it is your devotion that I am appreciating today. Because of you, I am begging again to
believe in miracles.
|
Before seeing the patient's mother, the author thought that the patient _ .
|
[
"would recover soon",
"had got much better",
"was going to die of cancer",
"might make a miraculous recovery"
] |
C
|
devhigh12321
|
The world was mysterious when I was a child, so miracles were welcome wonders. Now, there doesn't seem to be space for them in this world I so intelligently understand.
Perhaps it's from years of working around sick and often dying children, watching time and time again as a child slips away from the arms of a begging mother. I have stopped hoping as the parents around me hope.
I recently cared for a patient near the end of his life. Medically speaking, his situation was hopeless, which made me feel helpless and defeated.
His mother came in to see him. I had prepared myself to support her, imagining she would crumble into a pile of tears.
"Our God is faithful," she said, with a smile on her face and the sunshine of hope in her eyes.
"Cancer is faithful," I muttered in my mind.
"We still believe he can heal him," she continued, as if she had heard what I was thinking.
I provided updates on his body. In a laundry list of updates, perhaps two things were positive. She thanked me for the information, repeating back the minor positive notes I had given.
I brcame kind of angry. And I wanted to sak, "Do you really not understand the gravity of this illness?"
And then, yet again, as if she had heard me, she replied with this: A positive attitude gives us power over our circumstances, rather than allowing our circumstances to have power over us.
I was shocked. Here I was, judging her positive attitude as a fault. I completely disregarded the choice to believe in something more powerful than me, more healing than the doctors on our team. It wasn't blind faith. It was strength and devotion.
When I came out of the room, tears welling in my eyes, I sat at my computer and looked
down at a small plate of candies she must have left for me on her way into the room. A hand
written note was laid above them: Kate, your devotion is so appreciated, S.
S, it is your devotion that I am appreciating today. Because of you, I am begging again to
believe in miracles.
|
Why was the author angry with the patient's mother?
|
[
"Because of her optimism.",
"Because of her impoliteness.",
"Because she couldn't stop crying.",
"Because she was always complaining."
] |
A
|
devhigh12321
|
The world was mysterious when I was a child, so miracles were welcome wonders. Now, there doesn't seem to be space for them in this world I so intelligently understand.
Perhaps it's from years of working around sick and often dying children, watching time and time again as a child slips away from the arms of a begging mother. I have stopped hoping as the parents around me hope.
I recently cared for a patient near the end of his life. Medically speaking, his situation was hopeless, which made me feel helpless and defeated.
His mother came in to see him. I had prepared myself to support her, imagining she would crumble into a pile of tears.
"Our God is faithful," she said, with a smile on her face and the sunshine of hope in her eyes.
"Cancer is faithful," I muttered in my mind.
"We still believe he can heal him," she continued, as if she had heard what I was thinking.
I provided updates on his body. In a laundry list of updates, perhaps two things were positive. She thanked me for the information, repeating back the minor positive notes I had given.
I brcame kind of angry. And I wanted to sak, "Do you really not understand the gravity of this illness?"
And then, yet again, as if she had heard me, she replied with this: A positive attitude gives us power over our circumstances, rather than allowing our circumstances to have power over us.
I was shocked. Here I was, judging her positive attitude as a fault. I completely disregarded the choice to believe in something more powerful than me, more healing than the doctors on our team. It wasn't blind faith. It was strength and devotion.
When I came out of the room, tears welling in my eyes, I sat at my computer and looked
down at a small plate of candies she must have left for me on her way into the room. A hand
written note was laid above them: Kate, your devotion is so appreciated, S.
S, it is your devotion that I am appreciating today. Because of you, I am begging again to
believe in miracles.
|
Finally, the patient's mother made the author become _ .
|
[
"more patient",
"more positive",
"more aggressive",
"more sympathetic"
] |
B
|
devhigh12331
|
When I first arrived in Taiwan to teach English, I had already taken several courses in university on Mandarin Chinese. I had done well in those courses and enjoyed them very much. I thought I would be able to have a conversation with Chinese speakers and improve my Chinese in the process.
However, as soon as I settled in Taiwan I became afraid to speak. Seeing all of the signs written in Chinese, constantly overhearing long streams of spoken Chinese, and seeing the effortless fluency of some foreigners who had been there for a while, I began to doubt my own ability to speak Chinese. It's proved that things were different outside of the classroom.
What really happened to me was what happens every day to Chinese language learners. I became afraid and nervous at the foreignness of the language. Something happened a few weeks later. I tried to spend a lot of time in public, and the sound of spoken Chinese was becoming more ordinary to me. Despite the fact that I had not been practicing my Chinese and I had not consulted my vocabulary flashcards. I begin to notice some words that I recognized from my courses in university. At first, I heard only one word. "dianhua"- telephone. After that, I begin hearing other words. Sometimes, I would hear a couple of words in one sentence.
More and more words began to stand out to me. I started studying Chinese characters and began to be able to read small blocks of text in the advertisements. When I really began speaking in Chinese to Chinese people I met, I began to learn Chinese fast and the smiles that I received in return were a fantastic reward for the work that I had done in learning the language. It was a great feeling to order food from a restaurant in Chinese, or to make a comment about the weather to the lady who works at the bank.
|
What can we conclude from the passage?
|
[
"The author is sharing his Spoken Chinese experience.",
"The author is a fearful and cautious man.",
"The author didn't get good grades at university.",
"The author couldn't adjust to the life of Taiwan."
] |
A
|
devhigh12331
|
When I first arrived in Taiwan to teach English, I had already taken several courses in university on Mandarin Chinese. I had done well in those courses and enjoyed them very much. I thought I would be able to have a conversation with Chinese speakers and improve my Chinese in the process.
However, as soon as I settled in Taiwan I became afraid to speak. Seeing all of the signs written in Chinese, constantly overhearing long streams of spoken Chinese, and seeing the effortless fluency of some foreigners who had been there for a while, I began to doubt my own ability to speak Chinese. It's proved that things were different outside of the classroom.
What really happened to me was what happens every day to Chinese language learners. I became afraid and nervous at the foreignness of the language. Something happened a few weeks later. I tried to spend a lot of time in public, and the sound of spoken Chinese was becoming more ordinary to me. Despite the fact that I had not been practicing my Chinese and I had not consulted my vocabulary flashcards. I begin to notice some words that I recognized from my courses in university. At first, I heard only one word. "dianhua"- telephone. After that, I begin hearing other words. Sometimes, I would hear a couple of words in one sentence.
More and more words began to stand out to me. I started studying Chinese characters and began to be able to read small blocks of text in the advertisements. When I really began speaking in Chinese to Chinese people I met, I began to learn Chinese fast and the smiles that I received in return were a fantastic reward for the work that I had done in learning the language. It was a great feeling to order food from a restaurant in Chinese, or to make a comment about the weather to the lady who works at the bank.
|
According to the passage we know that _ .
|
[
"Chinese dishes and weather attract the author deeply.",
"the author thought he could talk with Chinese in mandarin before he arrived in Taiwan.",
"the author failed to improve his spoken Chinese.",
"the language in reality is just the same as that taught in classroom."
] |
B
|
devhigh12331
|
When I first arrived in Taiwan to teach English, I had already taken several courses in university on Mandarin Chinese. I had done well in those courses and enjoyed them very much. I thought I would be able to have a conversation with Chinese speakers and improve my Chinese in the process.
However, as soon as I settled in Taiwan I became afraid to speak. Seeing all of the signs written in Chinese, constantly overhearing long streams of spoken Chinese, and seeing the effortless fluency of some foreigners who had been there for a while, I began to doubt my own ability to speak Chinese. It's proved that things were different outside of the classroom.
What really happened to me was what happens every day to Chinese language learners. I became afraid and nervous at the foreignness of the language. Something happened a few weeks later. I tried to spend a lot of time in public, and the sound of spoken Chinese was becoming more ordinary to me. Despite the fact that I had not been practicing my Chinese and I had not consulted my vocabulary flashcards. I begin to notice some words that I recognized from my courses in university. At first, I heard only one word. "dianhua"- telephone. After that, I begin hearing other words. Sometimes, I would hear a couple of words in one sentence.
More and more words began to stand out to me. I started studying Chinese characters and began to be able to read small blocks of text in the advertisements. When I really began speaking in Chinese to Chinese people I met, I began to learn Chinese fast and the smiles that I received in return were a fantastic reward for the work that I had done in learning the language. It was a great feeling to order food from a restaurant in Chinese, or to make a comment about the weather to the lady who works at the bank.
|
Why does the author doubt his ability to speak Chinese at first?
|
[
"Everything in Taiwan is different from that in America.",
"People often misunderstand the author on purpose.",
"Other foreigners can't communicate with him.",
"He has difficulty understanding the native language."
] |
D
|
devhigh12331
|
When I first arrived in Taiwan to teach English, I had already taken several courses in university on Mandarin Chinese. I had done well in those courses and enjoyed them very much. I thought I would be able to have a conversation with Chinese speakers and improve my Chinese in the process.
However, as soon as I settled in Taiwan I became afraid to speak. Seeing all of the signs written in Chinese, constantly overhearing long streams of spoken Chinese, and seeing the effortless fluency of some foreigners who had been there for a while, I began to doubt my own ability to speak Chinese. It's proved that things were different outside of the classroom.
What really happened to me was what happens every day to Chinese language learners. I became afraid and nervous at the foreignness of the language. Something happened a few weeks later. I tried to spend a lot of time in public, and the sound of spoken Chinese was becoming more ordinary to me. Despite the fact that I had not been practicing my Chinese and I had not consulted my vocabulary flashcards. I begin to notice some words that I recognized from my courses in university. At first, I heard only one word. "dianhua"- telephone. After that, I begin hearing other words. Sometimes, I would hear a couple of words in one sentence.
More and more words began to stand out to me. I started studying Chinese characters and began to be able to read small blocks of text in the advertisements. When I really began speaking in Chinese to Chinese people I met, I began to learn Chinese fast and the smiles that I received in return were a fantastic reward for the work that I had done in learning the language. It was a great feeling to order food from a restaurant in Chinese, or to make a comment about the weather to the lady who works at the bank.
|
What do you know about the author in the passage?
|
[
"He only enjoys talking with the local people in Chinese.",
"He can speak fluent Chinese when ordering meals at last.",
"He loves to make a comment on woman.",
"He has been rewarded for speaking Chinese."
] |
B
|
devhigh12393
|
Soon Tommy's parents, who had recently separated, would arrive for a conference on his failing schoolwork and bad behavior. Neither parent knew that I had called the other.
Tommy, an only child, had always been happy, cooperative and an excellent student. How could I convince his father and mother that his recent failing grades represented a broken-hearted child's reaction to his parents' separation and pending divorce?
Tommy's mother entered and took one of the chairs. Soon the father arrived. Good! At least they were concerned enough to be here in time. They ignored each other.
As I gave a detailed account of Tommy's behavior and schoolwork, I prayed for the right words to bring these two together to help them see what they were doing to their son. But somehow the words wouldn't come. Perhaps if they saw one of his dirty, carelessly done papers?
I found a sheet in the back of his desk. Writing covered both sides: not the assignment, but a single sentence scribbled over and over.
Silently I gave it to Tommy's mother. She read it and then handed it to her husband. Then his face softened.
At last he folded the paper carefully, placed it in his pocket, and reached for his wife's hand. She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled up at him. He helped her with her coat and they left together.
In his own way God had given me the words to reunite that family. He had guided me to the sheet of yellow copy paper covered with the pain out pouring of a small boy's troubled heart.
The words are "Dear Mom...Dear Daddy... I love you..."
|
The author called Tommy's parents in order to _ .
|
[
"solve the couple's problem",
"scold them for their divorce",
"help them realize their influence on Tommy",
"blame Tommy for his failing grades"
] |
C
|
devhigh12393
|
Soon Tommy's parents, who had recently separated, would arrive for a conference on his failing schoolwork and bad behavior. Neither parent knew that I had called the other.
Tommy, an only child, had always been happy, cooperative and an excellent student. How could I convince his father and mother that his recent failing grades represented a broken-hearted child's reaction to his parents' separation and pending divorce?
Tommy's mother entered and took one of the chairs. Soon the father arrived. Good! At least they were concerned enough to be here in time. They ignored each other.
As I gave a detailed account of Tommy's behavior and schoolwork, I prayed for the right words to bring these two together to help them see what they were doing to their son. But somehow the words wouldn't come. Perhaps if they saw one of his dirty, carelessly done papers?
I found a sheet in the back of his desk. Writing covered both sides: not the assignment, but a single sentence scribbled over and over.
Silently I gave it to Tommy's mother. She read it and then handed it to her husband. Then his face softened.
At last he folded the paper carefully, placed it in his pocket, and reached for his wife's hand. She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled up at him. He helped her with her coat and they left together.
In his own way God had given me the words to reunite that family. He had guided me to the sheet of yellow copy paper covered with the pain out pouring of a small boy's troubled heart.
The words are "Dear Mom...Dear Daddy... I love you..."
|
This passage is most probably written by _ .
|
[
"a teacher",
"a journalist",
"a lawyer",
"a doctor"
] |
A
|
devhigh12393
|
Soon Tommy's parents, who had recently separated, would arrive for a conference on his failing schoolwork and bad behavior. Neither parent knew that I had called the other.
Tommy, an only child, had always been happy, cooperative and an excellent student. How could I convince his father and mother that his recent failing grades represented a broken-hearted child's reaction to his parents' separation and pending divorce?
Tommy's mother entered and took one of the chairs. Soon the father arrived. Good! At least they were concerned enough to be here in time. They ignored each other.
As I gave a detailed account of Tommy's behavior and schoolwork, I prayed for the right words to bring these two together to help them see what they were doing to their son. But somehow the words wouldn't come. Perhaps if they saw one of his dirty, carelessly done papers?
I found a sheet in the back of his desk. Writing covered both sides: not the assignment, but a single sentence scribbled over and over.
Silently I gave it to Tommy's mother. She read it and then handed it to her husband. Then his face softened.
At last he folded the paper carefully, placed it in his pocket, and reached for his wife's hand. She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled up at him. He helped her with her coat and they left together.
In his own way God had given me the words to reunite that family. He had guided me to the sheet of yellow copy paper covered with the pain out pouring of a small boy's troubled heart.
The words are "Dear Mom...Dear Daddy... I love you..."
|
How did Tommy's parents feel after seeing the words?
|
[
"Satisfied.",
"Troubled.",
"Depressed",
"Moved"
] |
D
|
devhigh12393
|
Soon Tommy's parents, who had recently separated, would arrive for a conference on his failing schoolwork and bad behavior. Neither parent knew that I had called the other.
Tommy, an only child, had always been happy, cooperative and an excellent student. How could I convince his father and mother that his recent failing grades represented a broken-hearted child's reaction to his parents' separation and pending divorce?
Tommy's mother entered and took one of the chairs. Soon the father arrived. Good! At least they were concerned enough to be here in time. They ignored each other.
As I gave a detailed account of Tommy's behavior and schoolwork, I prayed for the right words to bring these two together to help them see what they were doing to their son. But somehow the words wouldn't come. Perhaps if they saw one of his dirty, carelessly done papers?
I found a sheet in the back of his desk. Writing covered both sides: not the assignment, but a single sentence scribbled over and over.
Silently I gave it to Tommy's mother. She read it and then handed it to her husband. Then his face softened.
At last he folded the paper carefully, placed it in his pocket, and reached for his wife's hand. She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled up at him. He helped her with her coat and they left together.
In his own way God had given me the words to reunite that family. He had guided me to the sheet of yellow copy paper covered with the pain out pouring of a small boy's troubled heart.
The words are "Dear Mom...Dear Daddy... I love you..."
|
We can learn from the passage that _ .
|
[
"the author knew Tommy often wrote to his parents",
"the author said a lot to make Tommy's parents reunite",
"Tommy hated his parents divorcing",
"Tommy was greatly influenced by his parents"
] |
D
|
devhigh12393
|
Soon Tommy's parents, who had recently separated, would arrive for a conference on his failing schoolwork and bad behavior. Neither parent knew that I had called the other.
Tommy, an only child, had always been happy, cooperative and an excellent student. How could I convince his father and mother that his recent failing grades represented a broken-hearted child's reaction to his parents' separation and pending divorce?
Tommy's mother entered and took one of the chairs. Soon the father arrived. Good! At least they were concerned enough to be here in time. They ignored each other.
As I gave a detailed account of Tommy's behavior and schoolwork, I prayed for the right words to bring these two together to help them see what they were doing to their son. But somehow the words wouldn't come. Perhaps if they saw one of his dirty, carelessly done papers?
I found a sheet in the back of his desk. Writing covered both sides: not the assignment, but a single sentence scribbled over and over.
Silently I gave it to Tommy's mother. She read it and then handed it to her husband. Then his face softened.
At last he folded the paper carefully, placed it in his pocket, and reached for his wife's hand. She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled up at him. He helped her with her coat and they left together.
In his own way God had given me the words to reunite that family. He had guided me to the sheet of yellow copy paper covered with the pain out pouring of a small boy's troubled heart.
The words are "Dear Mom...Dear Daddy... I love you..."
|
What would be the best title for this passage?
|
[
"A separate family",
"Tommy's essay",
"Never divorce",
"A good teacher"
] |
B
|
devhigh12398
|
"S. H.E. is going to sing at the CCTV annual Spring Festival Evening Party, is that true?" cried out Peng Weiye, a Senior 2 girl in Shanghai and die-hard S. H.E. fan.
After checking it on the Internet, Peng quickly phoned friends to spread the news. For fans like her, S. H. E. 's performance is perhaps the only part of the old fashioned evening to get excited about.
The Taiwanese band is made up of Selina, Hebe and Ella. Their name comes from the first letter of each of the singers' English names.
Last week S. H. E. announced they would perform in Las Vegas, US, over Christmas and then in Guangzhou on January 15.
At their Shanghai show on October 30, hundreds of parents waited outside the Hongkou Stadium. Inside, thousands of teenagers sang, cried and shouted as the band performed.
"I love their music, healthy image and everything related to them. Thank God that, although my parents don't understand why I love them so much, they still bought me a ticket for that show," said Peng about the Shanghai performance.
It is not just on the mainland that the three girls have made audiences much excited. In the past year the band has passed through Taiwan, Hong Kong and even Singapore and Malaysia.
When the three high school girls entered a singing contest in Taiwan in 2000, none of them ever dreamed of being a superstar. "We had never met before, and we didn't talk at all at the beginning," recalled Ella.
When asked about the secret of their success, she said, "Our average looks and not-so-expensive clothes keep us close to our fans. We are happy to be the girls next door, your singing sisters."
"It's really a magical journey, from day-dreaming high school girls to singers performing on the same stage as our idols . Nothing but magical," she said.
|
Why was Peng Weiye, a Senior 2 girl, so excited?
|
[
"S.H.E. band will get the old fashioned evening exciting.",
"S. H.E. will perform in Las Vegas over Christmas.",
"Her parents bought her a ticket for S. H. E. Is Shanghai show.",
"S. H.E. will perform on the CCTV Spring Festival Evening Party."
] |
D
|
devhigh12398
|
"S. H.E. is going to sing at the CCTV annual Spring Festival Evening Party, is that true?" cried out Peng Weiye, a Senior 2 girl in Shanghai and die-hard S. H.E. fan.
After checking it on the Internet, Peng quickly phoned friends to spread the news. For fans like her, S. H. E. 's performance is perhaps the only part of the old fashioned evening to get excited about.
The Taiwanese band is made up of Selina, Hebe and Ella. Their name comes from the first letter of each of the singers' English names.
Last week S. H. E. announced they would perform in Las Vegas, US, over Christmas and then in Guangzhou on January 15.
At their Shanghai show on October 30, hundreds of parents waited outside the Hongkou Stadium. Inside, thousands of teenagers sang, cried and shouted as the band performed.
"I love their music, healthy image and everything related to them. Thank God that, although my parents don't understand why I love them so much, they still bought me a ticket for that show," said Peng about the Shanghai performance.
It is not just on the mainland that the three girls have made audiences much excited. In the past year the band has passed through Taiwan, Hong Kong and even Singapore and Malaysia.
When the three high school girls entered a singing contest in Taiwan in 2000, none of them ever dreamed of being a superstar. "We had never met before, and we didn't talk at all at the beginning," recalled Ella.
When asked about the secret of their success, she said, "Our average looks and not-so-expensive clothes keep us close to our fans. We are happy to be the girls next door, your singing sisters."
"It's really a magical journey, from day-dreaming high school girls to singers performing on the same stage as our idols . Nothing but magical," she said.
|
How did the Taiwanese band get the name?
|
[
"Their fans gave the name to them.",
"Their idols had a deep influence on them.",
"A singing contest gave their idea of the band name.",
"The first letters of Selina, Hebe and Ella form the band name."
] |
D
|
devhigh12398
|
"S. H.E. is going to sing at the CCTV annual Spring Festival Evening Party, is that true?" cried out Peng Weiye, a Senior 2 girl in Shanghai and die-hard S. H.E. fan.
After checking it on the Internet, Peng quickly phoned friends to spread the news. For fans like her, S. H. E. 's performance is perhaps the only part of the old fashioned evening to get excited about.
The Taiwanese band is made up of Selina, Hebe and Ella. Their name comes from the first letter of each of the singers' English names.
Last week S. H. E. announced they would perform in Las Vegas, US, over Christmas and then in Guangzhou on January 15.
At their Shanghai show on October 30, hundreds of parents waited outside the Hongkou Stadium. Inside, thousands of teenagers sang, cried and shouted as the band performed.
"I love their music, healthy image and everything related to them. Thank God that, although my parents don't understand why I love them so much, they still bought me a ticket for that show," said Peng about the Shanghai performance.
It is not just on the mainland that the three girls have made audiences much excited. In the past year the band has passed through Taiwan, Hong Kong and even Singapore and Malaysia.
When the three high school girls entered a singing contest in Taiwan in 2000, none of them ever dreamed of being a superstar. "We had never met before, and we didn't talk at all at the beginning," recalled Ella.
When asked about the secret of their success, she said, "Our average looks and not-so-expensive clothes keep us close to our fans. We are happy to be the girls next door, your singing sisters."
"It's really a magical journey, from day-dreaming high school girls to singers performing on the same stage as our idols . Nothing but magical," she said.
|
What do you know about Peng Weiye?
|
[
"She stayed outside the Hongkou Stadium to listen to S. H. E. 's performance.",
"She will watch the performance in Guangzhou on January 15.",
"She pays close attention to everything about S. H. E.",
"She was grateful that her parents understood and supported her."
] |
C
|
devhigh12398
|
"S. H.E. is going to sing at the CCTV annual Spring Festival Evening Party, is that true?" cried out Peng Weiye, a Senior 2 girl in Shanghai and die-hard S. H.E. fan.
After checking it on the Internet, Peng quickly phoned friends to spread the news. For fans like her, S. H. E. 's performance is perhaps the only part of the old fashioned evening to get excited about.
The Taiwanese band is made up of Selina, Hebe and Ella. Their name comes from the first letter of each of the singers' English names.
Last week S. H. E. announced they would perform in Las Vegas, US, over Christmas and then in Guangzhou on January 15.
At their Shanghai show on October 30, hundreds of parents waited outside the Hongkou Stadium. Inside, thousands of teenagers sang, cried and shouted as the band performed.
"I love their music, healthy image and everything related to them. Thank God that, although my parents don't understand why I love them so much, they still bought me a ticket for that show," said Peng about the Shanghai performance.
It is not just on the mainland that the three girls have made audiences much excited. In the past year the band has passed through Taiwan, Hong Kong and even Singapore and Malaysia.
When the three high school girls entered a singing contest in Taiwan in 2000, none of them ever dreamed of being a superstar. "We had never met before, and we didn't talk at all at the beginning," recalled Ella.
When asked about the secret of their success, she said, "Our average looks and not-so-expensive clothes keep us close to our fans. We are happy to be the girls next door, your singing sisters."
"It's really a magical journey, from day-dreaming high school girls to singers performing on the same stage as our idols . Nothing but magical," she said.
|
Which is true about S. H. E. ?
|
[
"The secret to their success is their pretty faces and lovely clothes.",
"They were close friends when they entered a singing contest.",
"They caused a storm of excitement in Southeast Asia.",
"They have well prepared to perform with their idols."
] |
C
|
devhigh12398
|
"S. H.E. is going to sing at the CCTV annual Spring Festival Evening Party, is that true?" cried out Peng Weiye, a Senior 2 girl in Shanghai and die-hard S. H.E. fan.
After checking it on the Internet, Peng quickly phoned friends to spread the news. For fans like her, S. H. E. 's performance is perhaps the only part of the old fashioned evening to get excited about.
The Taiwanese band is made up of Selina, Hebe and Ella. Their name comes from the first letter of each of the singers' English names.
Last week S. H. E. announced they would perform in Las Vegas, US, over Christmas and then in Guangzhou on January 15.
At their Shanghai show on October 30, hundreds of parents waited outside the Hongkou Stadium. Inside, thousands of teenagers sang, cried and shouted as the band performed.
"I love their music, healthy image and everything related to them. Thank God that, although my parents don't understand why I love them so much, they still bought me a ticket for that show," said Peng about the Shanghai performance.
It is not just on the mainland that the three girls have made audiences much excited. In the past year the band has passed through Taiwan, Hong Kong and even Singapore and Malaysia.
When the three high school girls entered a singing contest in Taiwan in 2000, none of them ever dreamed of being a superstar. "We had never met before, and we didn't talk at all at the beginning," recalled Ella.
When asked about the secret of their success, she said, "Our average looks and not-so-expensive clothes keep us close to our fans. We are happy to be the girls next door, your singing sisters."
"It's really a magical journey, from day-dreaming high school girls to singers performing on the same stage as our idols . Nothing but magical," she said.
|
Which do you think is NOT the reason for S. H. E's popularity among their fans?
|
[
"Their music and their healthy image.",
"Their success meets their fans' day dream of becoming others' idols.",
"They can make audience much excited",
"Their average looks and not-so-expensive clothes keep them close to their fans."
] |
B
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.