context
stringlengths 20
6.44k
| question
stringlengths 1
318
| answer
stringlengths 1
224
⌀ | distractors
stringlengths 15
463
|
|---|---|---|---|
"If you can answer three questions," the dog said, "you can wear the magic shoes."
Tommy looked up and down the deserted street. "Did you ... say something?"
"That's right. Didn't you hear me?" It was a gruff voice, with just a trace of an English accent, and it was definitely coming out of the dog.
"You're a dog." In fact it was a huge, fat bulldog, with big flaps of skin hanging off the sides of its face. From where it sat, on the front steps of the abandoned motel, it looked Tommy straight in the eye.
"That's correct," the dog said.
Tommy stared hard at the dusty windows of the motel office. "This is a trick, right? There's a TV camera back there and you want to make me look stupid."
"No tricks, Tommy. Just three questions."
"C'mon," Tommy said. He deepened his voice. "Sit up." The dog stared at him. "Roll over. Play dead."
"Cut the crap, Tommy. Do you want the shoes or not?"
"Let me see 'em."
The dog shifted its weight to one side, revealing a battered pair of red Converse All-Stars. "Yuck," Tommy said. "Those are gross."
"Maybe," the dog said, "but they're magic."
"What are the questions?"
"Which of the following presidents died in office? Lincoln, McKinley, F.D.R.?"
"C'mon. They all did. That's the same dumb question they use when they're trying to sell you a free portrait on the telephone."
"Which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of lead?"
"They both weigh a pound. This is stupid. Next you're going to ask me who's buried in Grant's Tomb."
The dog narrowed its eyes. "Have you done this before?"
"Ulysses S. Grant," Tommy said. "Lemme see the shoes."
They were just his size and felt pretty good, even though they were scuffed up and the metal things were gone out of the side vents. "I don't feel any different," Tommy said.
"You need the shoes to look for the treasure," the dog said.
"What treasure?"
"When you're wearing the shoes, you can open the doors of the motel rooms." | How long were the presidents in office? | Until they died | ['not enough information', '7 years', 'six minutes'] |
Restaurants in the USA
_
So many pizza chains compete for the attention of tourists in South Beach, but ask a Miami Beach local where to get the best pizza and they'll tell you about Steve's. This is New York-style pizza, handmade with care and good ingredients . New branches of Steve's are opening elsewhere in Miami, all in non-tourist areas.
Opening hours: 11am-3am
_
This place is 20 miles east of the city, but local folks would probably drive 200 miles to eat here. The food is good, and the scenery is even better. Come early and wander around the grounds of Indian Cliffs Ranch, where you'll see everything from rabbits to buffalo , then catch the sunset either before or after your meal.
Opening hours: 5pm-10pm
_
The screen door is always swinging open at this town hot spot with giant breakfasts. Try the green chili on eggs - it's made from scratch, as are the organic breads. Lunch includes salads, big sandwiches and local grass-fed beef burgers. Don't miss a square of soft, fresh carrot cake.
Opening hours: 7am-2pm
_
Everybody's favorite for fresh fish (some drive in from LA), Walt's packs them in on weekends. You can't make reservations for dinner (though they're accepted for lunch), but it's worth the wait for the tree fire-grilled seafood and steaks in the many-windowed ground floor or upstairs in captain's chairs.
Opening hours: 11am-3:30pm | The new branches of Steve's Pizza are mainly intended for _ . | the locals | ['New Yorkers', 'tourists', 'foreigners'] |
SEOUL — South Korean Foreign Minister Kang, Kyung-wha said on Wednesday that the U.S. and South Korea jointly made the decision to suspend combined military exercises scheduled for August, but would not confirm if her government was given advanced notice before U.S. President Trump announced his intention to cancel the drills, after he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on June 12.
“We have made it clear that this is a goodwill gesture to strengthen the dialogue momentum at this point, but they are not irreversible. They could quickly come back should we see the dialogue momentum losing speed or North Korea not living up to its denuclearization commitment,” said Foreign Minister Kang.
During a press briefing in Seoul, the foreign minister said she was in in close communication with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about the drills directly following the Singapore summit. And while the announcement canceling the exercises came suddenly, Kang said, South Korea was also considering this option to keep diplomatic momentum moving forward following the U.S.-North Korea summit where Kim reaffirmed his commitment to the “complete denuclearization” of North Korea.
The now cancelled Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises normally held in August usually bring in 3,000 more American troops from abroad and involve 50,000 South Korean troops.
No decision has yet been made whether the other large-scale joint exercise held in the spring would be suspended as well.
At the Singapore summit Trump said he would cancel the “war games” that he said were both enormously expensive and “provocative,” as an act of good faith and in response to North Korea’s commitment to denuclearization, its continued suspension of nuclear and missile teats, and the recent closing of its nuclear testing site.
North Korea has long called for the end of these joint military exercises that it says are offensive “rehearsals for war.”
In the past U.S. officials refused to suspend the joint drills, that they defended as defensive in nature and legal under international law, for a pledge from North Korea to freeze its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities that are prohibited by United Nations resolutions. | When did the US and South Korea agree to cancel the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises? | after North Korea agreed to denuclearization | ['before North Korea agreed to denuclearization', 'not enough information', 'during talks of denuclearization'] |
I headed to Utopia 's studio on Saturday afternoon . I was there to view their portfolios as well as to speak with their photographer , Travis . I am considering Utopia as well as Andrew Choi Photography for our pre - wedding photos . | How will the narrator make the decision between Utopia , and Andrew Choi ? | She will interview Andrew Choi after her meeting with Utopia and weigh the pros and cons . | ['None of the above choices .', 'She will look online to see what Utopia serves on their afternoon menu .', 'She will try and make a reservation for her pre - wedding dinner .'] |
Have you ever felt that you want more friends? Have you found that you don't know how to make friends? Don't worry. It's easier than it looks.
Start with small actions. If you're uncomfortable with long conversations with people, start by just saying "hi" and asking what the person is doing. Even if you do more listening than talking in the beginning, people will usually still like you. When it comes to conversations, remember "F.O.R.". It stands for family, occupation and recreation . You are most likely to be asked about these three topics when you meet someone new. Most people feel comfortable talking about the three topics. The great thing is that you also can communicate with someone new in these three areas.
Honesty is the best policy. In friendship, "honesty" is the fundamental quality that one must have. One should always be honest with his or her friends. Don't laugh at people's fault. Praise them honestly and openly. Say you are sorry if you hurt your friend.
Give more than you take. Be there when they need you, encourage them; we all need encouragement now and then. Encourage their dreams. Life seems meaningless without them. Wish your friends good luck. Examine your purpose before you "help out". Love and never forget them. | The author thinks making friends is _ . | easy | ['difficult', 'funny', 'interesting'] |
Cannes will rock to the sound of a cancan dance this year when Moulin Rougeby the Australian director Baz Luhrmann opens the French film festival in May. The musical stars Nicole Kidman as a singer, and John Leguizamo as the artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It will be competing for the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize. The festival runs to May 21.
The American actor Tommy Lee Jones, 54, has married his longtime girlfriend, Dawn Maria Laurel, 36, in a private wedding in prefix = st1 /San Antonio. "It wash' t a big to-do, ' said Fred Biery, a U. S. District Judge who performed the service. He refused to discuss things further. "These are very private people," he said.
Loretta Lynn is being treated for a very bed cold in Tennesseeand will miss several appearances. The country singer, 65, was admitted to a hospital near her home in Hurricane Mills. "She is in good condition, but the doctors are watching her closely," a spokeswoman said.
The French-Algerian singer Enrico Macias was named a United Nations peace messenger. Enrico joins eight other people who act as goodwill envoys for the United Nations, among them are the writer Elie Wiesel and the basketball player Magic Johnson. | We can learn from the text that Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is _ | a figure in a film | ['a dancer in a show', 'a country singer', 'a prize winner'] |
It was a hot summer afternoon; I think I was 12. It was too hot too cook in the kitchen, so Mom decided we’d grill hot dogs & stuff outside. But we needed some things so Dad was elected to go to the grocery store. This turned out to be a big production; Dad was trying remember what all was needed without writing a list, and Mom kept adding things even as he was trying to leave. Finally, he got in the car and drove off. Mom & I had just turned around and sat down at our picnic table when all of sudden here was Dad pulling back into the driveway. He’d apparently just driven around the block & came right back. Mom & I looked at each other and smirked- she was thinking the same thing I was: “what’d he forget this time?”
But then Dad got out of the car.. and on his face was the look.
In my young life, I’d never seen that look before, but it chilled me to the core and I just knew something bad was coming. Mom knew it too; the smirk quickly left her face as Dad came over and said.. “Mom.. I hope I heard this wrong.. but on the radio they said a woman drowned at the lake.. I hope I’m wrong, I barely caught the name, but I think they said it was your sister..” The cookout was forgotten; we went inside & started making phone calls, and unfortunately it was indeed my aunt. She & her family had gone swimming to cool off; apparently she’d gotten a cramp or something and gone under while nobody was looking, and by the time she was missed it was too late.
To this day, my Mom is miffed at some family members that we had to find out that way (she was pretty close to this sister so she feels someone should’ve called before it got on the news) but as for me, I will never forget that look on my Dad’s face. | How long was the speaker grilling out that day? | They never even got started. | ['A very short time.', 'not enough information', 'Only long enough to hear the news on the radio.'] |
Let us say there is something you don't know how to do. In the past if you were determined to learn, you might have called friends or s, taken a night class or walked down to the local library for a research term. But now a host of websites are springing up to provide free practical advice on these subjects and actually anything else you can think of. In one sense, these" how - to" sites represent a part of the growing world of online learning. These FAQs(Frequent Answers and Questions), many of which still circulate(go round continuously), took a special subject and explained it to complete _ . But, "how - to" sites take the FAQ idea in a somewhat different direction by addressing subjects that aren't necessarily associated with discussion forums .These sites take the style of a written tutorial and a tone of friendly advice. Possibly the biggest and best known of these sites is learn 2.com(www. learn2. com)It offers nearly 1, 000 free tutorials and adds new ones frequently for a job interview. At ehow. com(www. ehow.)you can learn how to train for your first marathon, how to buy a vacation home, or how to make a movie in eight steps. | If you have no tent when you decide to go camping, you may _ . | visit www. ehow. com | ['visit www.learn2. com', 'visit some site else', 'go to the tourist company'] |
I spent all of Sunday either retching or feeling wretched , and trying to sleep it all off or watching the Olympics . I ate very little because I was afraid I 'd just puke it up . It 's crazy , I barfed so much that I could n't believe I had any cookies left to toss . That was TMI , sorry . I felt kind of sad that I was alone and sick , but in the condition I was in , I did n't really want anyone around me anyway . | What may be the reason I did n't invite anyone ? | I felt unfit to have company . | ['None of the above choices .', 'I knew no one would show up .', 'I was out of the house on Sunday .'] |
I did n't make a bento for my sister yesterday due to passing out before 7 am , the time which I make her bento . When she came back home , I told her I was sorry I did n't get to make her lunch . I think she pouted and said she went starving , I gasped , then she almost teared up and then she let out a giggle . " It 's okay , I ' m kidding . | What country may I be from ? | Japan | ['Australia', 'United States', 'Canada'] |
A couple of months before Christmas we decided to open up and redecorate our living room . We took down a wall that had separated that area into two rooms . The new larger room , roughly 15x 30 , was fitted with new oak flooring . | What will happen after christmas | The new room will be decorated with furniture to match the floor | ['Expand the room into three separate rooms', 'The new room will be removed from the house', 'The area will be split up again'] |
"Ceci, wake up. It's an earthquake!" That's what Cecilia Wallace heard her mother shouting on the early morning of February 27th.
Cecilia is a 7th-grader. She, her parents and her brother, Sam, were in Chile's capital city, Santiago, the day a big earthquake hit Chile. And like just about everyone else, they were shaken out of their sleep.
"It was so frightening," Sam wrote. "The shaking was so huge that I will never go on a ride again." Cecilia and Sam wrote about their earthquake experiences. Their reports were later posted on the website.
Cecilia, Sam and their parents were staying in an apartment on the 15th floor of a building. They were lucky. Their building stayed standing, because it was built to withstand earthquakes.
Not everyone was as lucky as the Wallace family. More than 800 people died. Many older buildings fell down during the earthquake.
The damage in Santiago wasn't as bad as in other parts of Chile. So the supermarkets were open for business on the morning of the quake. But it wasn't business as usual. "The supermarkets have been crazy with people rushing to buy their food for the next while," Sam wrote.
Not everyone was able to get money to buy food that morning. So Cecilia and Sam made food bags to _ to people who were begging outside the supermarket. "We gave some to a kid of my age. I made sure he got cookies and bread." Sam and Cecilia's mother wrote that the kids also collected money for the Red Cross.
It's certainly an experience Cecilia, Sam and their parents will never forget. Thankfully, they lived to tell their stories. | From the text we can see Cecilia is a _ girl. | kind-hearted | ['humorous', 'brave', 'selfish'] |
=3 Afterwards , I took him to a mexican restaurant my roommates had talked about , where we stuffed our faces of some of the tastiest mexican food I ' ve ever had ! To finish the night , Raku used his birthday money to buy Rock Band , and we played it with one of my roommates until 3 in the morning . It was such a wonderful day . The weather was right and everything just worked out . | What may happen to Raku before 3:00 a.m. ? | Raku got a video game . | ['None of the above choices .', 'Raku ate with my roommates .', "Raku played my roommate 's game ."] |
Send us your joke, anecdote or story, and if we publish it in the magazine, we'll pay as follows:
My Story $ 500
Personal stories beyond the call of daily life. They must be unpublished, original and less than 1,000 words. Click here to read more stories.
Kindness of Strangers up to $ 250
True accounts of good _ inspiring acts for unexpected kindness and generosity, or just something someone did that made your day different or changed your life. 100--500 words. Click here to read more stories.
Anecdotes and Jokes $ 50--$ 250
Funny things can happen at work and at home, especially when kids are around to pass comment. We may run your writing in Life's Like That, All in a Day's Work or As Kids See It, or as a short filler. Got a new joke? Send it in for Laughter, the Best Medicine. Click here to read more jokes.
Send Us Your Punchline
So you think of yourself as a bit of a jokester? See if you can come up with punchline to this month's joke...
You Said It
If you'd like to comment on something you saw in Reader's Digest magazine or on this website, this is the place to do it!
Is It Just Me
Can you be humorous about the trials and mysteries of modern life? Get it off your chest in 500 words. Click here to read more stories. | This passage is written to _ . | encourage people to write something | ['offer some wonderful stories to readers', 'show that making money is not difficult', 'remind people that life is full of joy'] |
Waller was a liked-by-all fellow full of fun who often went to coffee houses to tell people interesting stories, of which some even brought him some money. One day, asked by an office secretary who told Waller that his boss was a never-seen before serious man and he never even smiled. Waller would tell a most funny story. "Well, sir," Waller said before he began the story, "What will be given in return of my success?""$100,"replied the secretary. "I haven't seen him have a bright face since I worked in his office."
"Then _ " Waller went to the man's table and whispered to him, "Please tell your boss that the funny man Waller's hen gave birth to a baby."
Three days later a letter reached Mr. Waller in which were $100 and a piece of yellow paper with the words, "Mr. Waller, you have succeeded--When I repeated your $100-worth sentence, my boss burst into frightening laughter, saying that whoever has managed to make him laugh during the business hours will get dismissed!" | Which sentence can describe the theme of the story? | Things Went Opposite to Wishes | ['Satisfying Both Sides', 'Killing Two Birds with One Stone', 'Either Is in His Proper Place'] |
When table tennis started to become popular here in the office months ago and I 'd rave about it at home , my sister decided to take up the sport as her PE for this semester . Like me , she has thoroughly come to love the sport . So last night , I asked her how she was doing in PE and she animatedly talked about finally being able to smash the ball and winning in the doubles game she played . Suddenly she said , " Let 's buy a table ! " And I said , " Sure , but where would we put it ? " | What type of sport did the narrator 's friend end up playing ? | They went with the game ping pong . | ['They went with lawn tennis .', 'None of the above choices .', 'They went with the game tennis .'] |
A mom in Australia was told by a doctor that her newborn son was "dead",but she helped bring him back to life by holding the baby against her body. She used a method known as "kangaroo care ".The child,named Jamie,was born after only 27 weeks with his twin sister,Emily,at a hospital in Sydney.Her birth went well,but his was a different story.The doctor struggled for 20 minutes to save him before declaring him dead.
"His little arms and legs were just falling down away from his body," Kate Ogg said."I took my coat off and put him on my chest with his head over my arm." She and her husband,David,spoke to the child as she continued to hold him for nearly two hours.During that time,the twopound baby showed signs of life.She said,"I told my mom,who was there,that he was still alive.Then he held out his hand and grabbed my finger."
The doctor at first ignored the baby's movements,but when he put the stethoscope to its chest,his mouth fell wide open and he said,"It's my fault.It's a miracle ."
"The care helps the baby keep body warmth," Dr Pinchi Srinivasan said."It also regulates heart and breathing rates and is believed to help weight gain and improve sleeping habits.Fathers can also use 'kangaroo care'.The key to the method is skintoskin contact."
The practice began in less developed nations.It has become a recognized practice in helping premature _ babies.The technique is good for babies,and is used in many baby care units. | When the baby first showed signs of life,the doctor _ . | didn't believe a miracle had happened | ['was too shocked to do anything', 'was cheered and tried to save the baby at once', 'was moved by what the mother did to the baby'] |
Somewhere out there , people in white coats are gravely analyzing MY PEE . MINE . ) All this completed by 10 AM , I went to back - to - back classes until 5 , then memorized a monologue and went to auditions . I got into an improv class and got called back for a Lorca play , " Five Years Later . " | Why were people in white coats viewing their pee ? | None of the above choices . | ['They helped the lab people do research using their pee .', 'They had donated their pee for research .', 'They needed to get diagnosed for their illness .'] |
I ' m glad that I got to see her one last time . So ... Dad brought Mom over here . I helped Dad apply for unemployment while Mom curled up on my couch . I did n't have much at the house , so I fed them popcorn and cookies for dinner . Sigh . | Why may dad be very stressed at the moment ? | Dad is without a job . | ['None of the above choices .', 'Dad is going to die .', 'Dad is in a fight with mom .'] |
I ordered one set in a size small so that both girls could wear them and the other in the XS just for my younger daughter . As soon as they arrived in the mail there were many ohhs and ahhs and demands to have them put in their hair immediately ! I was thrilled that the barrettes snapped easily into place and STAYED PUT ! | What may be a fact about the barrettes ? | They have glitter on them . | ['They are brown and dull .', 'None of the above choices .', 'They are boy themed .'] |
With regular money now coming in from the Guardian column, my regular contributions to other publications and the modest subscription revenue from The Friday Thing, I had been living something of the high life since arriving in London.
I had started hanging out with the great and the good of the dot com world: attending launch parties for new sites, going to parties to celebrate them staying in business for a whole year, eating their lunches, drinking their booze and learning their secrets while they tried to convince me to write about them in my column. Many of these online entrepreneurs had become my friends and I'd managed to find myself a new girlfriend - Maggie, a Welsh journalist who was a restaurant reviewer for a food and drink website. This was a brilliant blag: it meant we could eat at some of London's best restaurants and never pay a penny. Life was wonderful: The Friday Thing and the Guardian column meant that my plan to use the Internet to become hugely famous and successful was firmly on track, I'd made lots of new friends, and, on top of all that, I was getting laid and eating gourmet food for free. Even Sam Lewis was jealous, and he was rich.
Meanwhile, the people I was writing about were not having such an easy time of it. 2003 was a really strange time to be covering the 'new media' industry - mainly because no one was really sure for how long there would be an industry left to cover.
The dot com boom of 1999 seemed like a millennium ago: a period in history as crazy as the tulip craze or the South Sea Bubble look to us now.
The first signs of trouble for the industry had come in 2000. As the century turned, so had the market and - to use the parlance of analysts - the boom had turned out to be a bubble. And then the bubble had burst. | What was the dot com boom? | Speculative investment bubble that formed around Internet companies | ["Writer's plan to use the internet to become hugely famous and successful", 'Parties to celebrate a year in business.', 'not enough information'] |
The airplane ride was rather uneventful . I sat next to an older Japanese man but we did n't talk and in fact I do n't think we even made eye contact the whole 12 hours of flight . ( I ' ve noticed that people on the trains in Tokyo do n't make eye - contact either and people rarely start up conversations with strangers . ) | What may be the reason people in Japan do nt start conversations ? | They are shy and do nt want to look foolish speaking english . | ['They are worried that the stranger will make fun of their accent .', 'The government will punish them if they speak to a foreigner .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
My three favorites from the group are a girl named Pauli ( mi hermana chilena ) , Rodrigo , y Felipe . There is also a really great girl from Brazil , but I can never remember her name , ha . I go out with them , go to their house parties with them , and they help me with my Spanish . | What must be true of my Spanish ability ? | My spanish skills must be limited . | ['None of the above choices .', 'i must be fluent in Spanish .', 'My spanish skills must be advanced .'] |
The hardest thing was having to give up my three beautiful puppies due to my situation, the environment, and the people in that environment. I've mentioned this in another question.
(Lilo, my best friend)
(Cleveland, the biggest of the litter, he was chill like me)
(Spike, the fluffiest, he was as fluffy as a cat, but clumsy to)
What I did for these puppies was out of this world love. I never loved anything more in this world than these three right here.
I raised them from birth to almost 11 weeks. While my mom wanted money, selling the others to anyone.(there was 11 in the litter) I cared for their safety and happiness and quality of life. They were my everything when I had nothing.
I gave them away to a animal charity organization for free. My mom bitched at me for not getting money for them. At this time I was in severe depression, severe poverty, no chance of a job due to location, and wearing dirty clothes for months in her basement.
I love animals to death, I love animals more than I love humans(but I'm no PETA activist). I loved these puppies, what I did was out of complete love and care for them and was seriously the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life. It gets me very emotional thinking about this, I wish I was in a better position to give them a happy life.
The black puppy, Lilo was my upmost favorite. She had the whine of a angel. She used it to always get my attention to give her more love. She always wanted to sleep with me every night and be with me every second of the day.
Not a day passes that I hope they are getting love from a family in a great environment. I really want to get to see Lilo again. But of course the dog charity people changed their names. But she will also be Lilo to me♥️ | Why did the narrator have to give away the puppies? | He was depressed and in poverty. | ['He needed to sell them for money.', 'He wanted to play with them every day.', 'not enough information'] |
The American tradition of Thanksgiving dates back to colonial times, to the Pilgrims of Plymouth rock Colony. To escape religious persecution in England, the Pilgrims journeyed to the New World on their ship, the Mayflower. After a long journey, they finally arrived at Plymouth Rock in autumn of 1620. They could not finish building the settlement before winter, so many froze to death. They ate most of their food on the journey over, so many also starved. However, the Pilgrims met a Native American named Tisquantum, or Squanto as he was better known, who taught them how to plant corn and catch eel . By the same time next year, the Pilgrims had built a steady settlement, and had a bountiful harvest. To thank the Native Americans for their help and to celebrate the harvest, the Pilgrims held a grand banquet . Together, they feasted on corn, yams, fish, and most importantly: roast turkey, which became the highlight of the modern Thanksgiving feast.
Schools always make a big deal about Thanksgiving, because they feel that it teaches children how to be thankful and to treat others with kindness. I spent the many years of elementary school making paper turkeys, fake cornucopias(a shell filled with food, a symbol of the holiday), and writing lists of what I'm thankful for. When I grew older, I watched movies and read books about the First Thanksgiving, and completed crossword puzzles and word searches filled with holiday themed words. While the idea for Thanksgiving is great, and it is a wonderful opportunity to instill certain values in children, I don't think we should name a special holiday for being thankful. We should be thankful for what we have every day, not just Thanksgiving. | What's the main reason for the English Pilgrims to leave their home country? | Religious beliefs. | ['Political ideas.', 'Hard life.', 'Hopes for fortune.'] |
We chose one that was supposed to be especially challenging and started the climb up to some waterfalls . We went far enough to prove we " could " do it ... but not so far as to actually tire ourselves out . Back in town , we did some touristy things for the rest of the day . | Why did they only climb far enough to prove that they could do it ? | They wanted to be able to say that they had in fact done the climb without going overboard | ['None of the above choices .', 'They were playing a heated game of truth or dare with a friend , and were following through on a dare', 'A local bar was offering a free pitcher of beer to anyone brave enough to attempt the climb'] |
A school was across the street from our home and I would often watch the kids from my window as they played basketball. One day, among the children a girl attracted me. She seemed so small as she muscled her way through the crowd of boys. Running circles around the other kids, she managed to shoot jump shots just over their heads and into the net with no one to stop her. Sometimes, I saw her play alone. She would practice dribbling and shooting over and over again until dark.
One day I asked her why she practiced so much. Without hesitation, she said, "I want to go to college. The only way I can go is that I get a scholarship. If I were good enough, I would get a scholarship. I like basketball. My Daddy told me if the dream is big enough, the facts don't count." Then she smiled and ran towards the court to go on with practice.
I watched her through junior high and into high school. Every week, she led her school team to victory. One day in her senior year, I saw her sitting in the grass, head cradled in her arms. I went over there and sat down beside her. The coach told her that as a player as tall as prefix = st1 /5'5"she would probably never get to play for a top ranked college team -- much less offered a scholarship -- so she should stop dreaming about college.
She was heartbroken and I felt my own throat tighten as I sensed her disappointment. I asked her if she had talked to her dad about it yet. She told me that her father said those coaches were wrong. They did not understand the power of a dream. He told her that if she really wanted to play for a good college and if she truly wanted a scholarship, nothing could stop her except one thing -- her own attitude. He told her again, "If the dream is big enough, the facts don't count."
The next year, as she and her team went to the Northern California Championship game, she was seen by a college recruiter , and was offered a full scholarship, to a NCAA women's basketball team. She was going to college, which she had dreamed of and worked toward for all those years. | Which of the following is true about the girl according to the passage? | She played basketball so well that she could compete against some boys. | ['She sometimes played alone because she was too short.', 'She believed girls had to pay more than boys to succeed.', "She felt sad when her coach didn't allow her to play for a college team."] |
Recently we've observed an increasing request from disadvantaged and regional schools for attending one of our zoo areas at no cost or partly paid some organizations. Zoos Victoria believes that all children should have the opportunity to have an early memory of visiting the zoo, and gain an understanding of the wild and natural world that humans share with animals. Zoos Victoria wins the support of the Ian Potter Foundation to help achieve this goal.
Funding available for schools to enter an educational program at Zoos Victoria in 2012
Applications are open from November 23, 2011 to February 12, 2012.
Children from disadvantaged and originally isolated schools are provided with the opportunity to visit the zoo and attend an interactive education experience at no charge.
The program objectives are:
*To start developing "environmentalists" within low social and economic groups.
*To support the youth from disadvantaged backgrounds to have greater awareness of wildlife and have ongoing opportunities to get relevant information about animals and the environment through the zoos' website.
What is covered under the program?
*Travel to the zoo -- transport costs will be partly or fully paid back to the school on the basis of the number of children applying for the program.
*Student entry to one area of Zoos Victoria and an educational experience.
Which schools are able to take part in the program?
*Open to schools in Victoria.
*Consideration will be given to schools that have not previously been able to enter one of our zoo areas, list as "disadvantaged" ones or come from regionally isolated areas.
*Able to visit an area of Zoos Victoria within the 2012 school year.
*Applications must be supported by the school principal .
*Able to complete a short evaluation of the program.
How to apply for the program?
*Download the application forms.
*Complete all the details, including a signature from your principal and attaching a quote for transport costs.
*Return the application forms to Margaret Harwood at Zoos Victoria by email to mharwood@zoo.org.au or by post to PO Box 74, Parkville, VIC 3052.
*Please contact Margaret Harwood at 03 9285 9462, if there are any further questions. | Zoos Victoria wanted to help students in disadvantaged and regional schools _ . | develop a passion for wildlife and nature | ['take action to protect wildlife in isolated areas', 'raise money for wildlife in the zoo', 'learn more about plants and animals in the wild'] |
I however was a mess . I could not stop thinking about her all day . successfully working the zipper on her school bagThis morning she woke up happy and seemed excited to see her teachers again ( we have been talking about them constantly for weeks . ) | What is the subject 's primary focus at the moment ? | It is school . | ['It is her bag .', 'It is her work life .', 'It is her room .'] |
Princeton University
Location
The University is in Princeton, New Jersey. It is an hour's train ride south of New York City and an hour's train ride north of Philadelphia.
Students
There are 4,600 undergraduates . There are also 1,900 graduate students, but Princeton is unusual among universities in having a student body made up largely of undergraduates.
Faculty
Princeton has about 700 full-time faculty members . There are another 300 or so part-time and visiting faculty. All faculty members at Princeton are expected to teach and research.
Degrees
Princeton offers two undergraduate degrees:the bachelor of arts (A. B. ) degree and the bachelor of science in engineering (B. S. E.) degree.
Academic Year
An academic year runs from September to late May and lasts two terms (fall and spring). A normal course load is four or five courses per term, although many students take extra courses.
Residences
Princeton provides housing for all undergraduate students. Freshmen and second-year students are required to spend their first two years in one of five colleges. Each college has its own dining hall, common rooms and computer centers.
Fees and Expenses (Academic Year 2011-2012)
Tuition : $29,910
Room and board: $ 8,387
Other expenses (books, telephone, etc.): $ 3,083
Total: $ 41,380 | In Princeton University, an undergraduate will have to pay _ for the Academic Year 2011-2012. | $ 41,380 | ['$11,470', '$ 52,850', '$ 8, 387'] |
Starting college can be a difficult experience. You have to deal with new responsibilities and growing independence, a challenging course load and, of course, the social scene. When a roommate is thrown into the mix, it may feel like you're struggling with all that stuff while living in a small box with a stranger.
But having a roommate doesn't need to be one more thing to worry about. When students go into their living situations with realistic expectations and a willingness to compromise, things can work out just fine.
When you first meet your roommate, chances are you'll be on your best behaviour. You want to get along, since this is the person who's going to be sharing your living space for the next year. But try to think ahead to potential worst cases, too.
For example, imagine it's 2 a.m. and you're working on a paper that should be finished in 8 hours. Your roommate comes in from a party and wants to continue the party in your room.
At times like these, you won't be feeling good. That's why talking about problems that might come up ahead of time -- and respecting each other's wishes when the time comes -- is so important.
Talk about the things that are really important to you, and make sure your roommate understands. Then encourage him or her to do the same.
For example, does it make you angry when people take things without asking first? Let your roommate know your feelings about these types of things from the start, so that both of you have a feel for each other's likes, dislikes, and habits. | Which of the following is TRUE according to this passage? | It is very important for you and your roommate to understand each other. | ['It is really a worrying thing to have a roommate.', 'It is difficult to get along well with a roommate.', 'It is your duty to help your roommate in his or her daily life.'] |
Protecting Copyright
Having finished her homework, Ma Li wants some music. As usual, she starts her computer and goes to Baidu.com to download music files. But this time she is surprised when an announcement about protecting songs' copyright bursts onto the screen. The age of free music and movie downloads may have come to an end as Web companies like Baidu are accused of pirating copyright. Lawsuits have been filed against four websites offering free downloads. In September 2005, a Beijing court ordered Baidu to pay recording company Shanghai Push compensation for their losses. Baidu was also told to block the links to the pirated music on the website. This caused a heated discussion on Interact file sharing.
"Baidu's defeat in the lawsuit shows it is not right to get copyrighted songs without paying. Down loaders may face lawsuits or fines," said an official.
Like many teens, Huang Ruoru, an 18-year-old girl from Puning in Guangdong Province, doesn't think that getting music from websites is wrong. She always shares her favourite songs downloaded from Baidu with her friends. When told about the lawsuit, she began to feel a little guilty about obtaining others' work without paying.
However, other teenagers have different ideas. Wang Yafei, a Senior 2 girl from Jinan, Shandong Province pointed out that file sharing is a good way to promote pop singers. "If I download a song and really like it, I will buy the CD," she said. "So what the recording companies really should concentrate on is improving their music, rather than
file-sharers." | It can be inferred from the text that _ . | Teenagers are probably still downloading free music. | ['Web companies are still ignoring the copyright laws.', "Teenagers haven't got money to buy CDs.", 'Teenagers prefer CDs with copyright to pirated music.'] |
Angela Hammerly dedicated her life to becoming District Attorney. At 42, she had never been married, or even seriously dated. All she could think about, night and day, was her ultimate goal. And her dream finally came true, thanks to the death of 74-year-old Porter Strickley.
She could not deny that she had learned the job well, working for that old pain-in-the-butt. He was 57 when she interviewed for the position of Assistant District Attorney. At the time, she thought he was 70.
Two months ago, she had become the District Attorney. She loved seeing her name on the door. And she felt a rush of adrenaline every time a judge referred to her as 'The District Attorney' in open court. The D.A.'s office would be better than ever--now that she was running the show.
There was a soft knock, and Andrea Newly opened the door just enough to peek in.
"Come in, Andrea." Angela sometimes wondered if she had made a mistake two weeks ago when she hired this timid young lady as her assistant. Angela had been impressed with her resume. But in person, Andrea was quiet, and seemed to be rather intimidated by Angela.
But Andrea was enthralled with every word Angela spoke. And the new D.A. couldn't resist the prospect of being god to her assistant. She had hired her on the spot, even though she knew Andrea would stress her patience.
But Angela was confident the 25-year-old could be molded into her mentor's image. And thereby, become a powerful force for justice in the D.A.'s office.
Andrea took a chair across from the D.A. The furniture in the District Attorney's office was similar to that found in most old government offices-largely unchanged since the 1950s. Yet the hardwood chairs and desks were of such good quality that an exact replacement would be cost prohibitive in today's market. Angela planned to upsize her diminutive desk as soon as possible, even if the money came out of her own pocket. | Who's desk did Angela want to upsize? | Hers | ['not enough information', "Andrea's", "Porter's"] |
Carnival does not take place only in Louisiana. There are many celebrations around the world.
In Brazil, the celebration is supposed to go on from the Saturday before Mardi Gras to Mardi Gras Day, but in some Brazilian cities the celebration can last seven or eight days. Just like New Orleans, not many important things are decided in Brazil from New Year's Day to Mardi Gras Day because everyone is preparing for or celebrating carnival. Most Brazilian parades have a subject, which could be political or historical. The parades had to have a subject related to Brazil until 1996. Some cities in Brazil do not have a street carnival, but they might have an indoor party.
Bolivia has carnival parades for children and then more parades for adults. The children dress up in costumes and march in the streets. The adults make traditional dance groups and dance in the streets. But the main part of Bolivia's carnival is getting wet. Almost everyone gets wet from water balloons and water buckets. In Oruru, Bolivia, their carnival is held in the last ten days of the carnival season. People there join in dancing, but their main carnival event is a ceremonial parade that lasts for twenty hours and parades for four kilometers. Over 20,000 dancers are involved as well as 10,000 musicians. This parade attracts at least 400,000 people.
The carnival in Venice, Italy is often regarded as the most carefully prepared carnival and lasts ten days before Lent . Many events are held in the canals including shows, concerts, dances and water processions . The official ending to the celebration is the party held in St. Mark's Square. | From the passage we learn that in Brazil _ . | not all cities have a street carnival | ['all Brazilian cities celebrate carnival for a week', 'the parades should have a subject related to Brazil politics', 'people prepare for or celebrate carnival after Mardi Gras Day'] |
Research at the University of Liverpool, UK, has found that Shakespeare's language stimulates positive brain activity.
Shakespeare uses a linguistic technique known as functional change that involves, for example, using a noun to serve as a verb.Researchers found that this technique allows the brain to understand what a word means before it understands the function of the word within a sentence.This process causes a sudden peak in brain activity and forces the brain to work backwards in order to fully understand what Shakespeare is trying to say.
Professor Philip Davis, from the university's School of English, said: "The brain reacts to reading a phrase such as 'he godded me' from the tragedy of Coriolanus, in a similar way to putting a jigsaw puzzle together.If it is easy to see which pieces fit together you become bored of the game.But if the pieces don't appear to fit, when we know they should, the brain becomes excited.By throwing irregular words into seemingly normal sentences, Shakespeare surprises the brain in a manner that produces a sudden burst of activity -- a sense of drama created out of the simplest of things."
Experts believe that this heightened brain activity may be one of the reasons why Shakespeare's plays have such a dramatic impact on their readers.
Professor Neil Roberts, from the university's Magnetic Resonance and Image Analysis Research Center, and Professor Davis, together with Dr Guillaune Thierry, from the University of Wales, UK, monitored 20 participants using an electroencephalogram (EEG) as they read selected lines from Shakespeare's plays.
"The brain signal is relatively stable when we understand the meaning of a word but when the word changes the grammar of the whole sentence, brain readings suddenly peak.The brain is then forced to retrace its thinking process in order to understand what it is supposed to make of this unusual word," explains Professor Roberts. | Based on the research, Shakespeare's plays have a great effect on their reader lies in _ . | brain activity increased in reading | ['language used in plays', 'characters showed in works', 'thinking process when writing'] |
Nowadays, most of us live a busy life. What do you do to keep yourself relaxed? Besides spending time with family, having a glass of wine with friends or reading a book, how about a hobby?
Personally, I'm a collector. I like blue and white pieces the best---blue and white anything!Plates,jars,vases, cups, bowls---I love them all. Collecting items is like something you can't get enough of. You get one, and you want to have more.
I find collecting to be a fun and inspirational hobby. In many ways, it's like a puzzle I'm never tired of solving. I look high and low for new pieces to add to my collection. I can often be found visiting Marshell's, looking over their inexpensive offerings. In fact, I found one of my favorite pieces there.
I've mixed inexpensive pieces from Marshell's with more expensive finds. A lot of times, it's the piece I'm not looking for that falls into my lap; I find a way to make it part of my blue and white family. What I love about my collection is that when I get inspired, I can move them around the house, mix and match and make things look fresh and new.
Ever since I was a little girl, blue has been my favorite color1. I think I got it from my aunt in Mexico. Some of my earliest memories are visiting her in Mexico and sitting on a chair in her kitchen, which had blue and white tiles from the floor to the ceiling. I would spend countless hours admiring all the beautiful blue and white plates and shiny blue tiles around her kitchen. Once I had a home, I began to build my own blue and white collection. | If something falls into your lap, it means you _ . | get it unexpectedly | ['have been looking for it', "don't know what it is", 'like it very much'] |
In American schools there is something called Homecoming Day.Many high schools and colleges with a football team have a homecoming game. This can be the most important event of the year, except for graduation.Students plan it for many weeks in advance.
Several days before Homecoming,students begin to decorate the school.There are signs to wish luck to the team and many other signs to welcome back the graduates from other years.Many people still come to Homecoming twenty or thirty years after they graduate.
The members of school clubs sell delicious foods and fruits,such as apples and sandwiches.Some clubs even help to welcome visitors.
During the day people like to look for teachers that they remember from long ago.Often they see old friends and they talk together about those happy years in school.
Everyone soon comes to watch the football game. When the game is half over,the band comes onto the field and plays school songs.Another important moment is when the Homecoming Queen appears.All the students vote a most popular student Homecoming Queen or King.It is a great honor to be chosen as the Homecoming Queen or King.
Homecoming is a happy day, but it is not perfect unless the football wins the game.Even if the team loses,the students still enjoy Homecoming.Some stay at the school to dance,and others go to a party.For everyone it is a day to remember for a long,long time. | Students start to plan Homecoming | many weeks before the day | ['several days before it', 'on the early morning of the day', 'the day before the event'] |
but i ca nt help thinking that you did this to me too . and i do nt really know what you did anyways so how am i supposed to think any different . i lost you . i lost her . | What is the cause of the narrator 's sadness ? | The loss of a partner . | ['None of the above choices .', 'The loss of a father .', 'The loss of a friend .'] |
OLD TOWN - the heart and soul of Key West and the place most visitors spend their time - is only one mile by two. The Crew's house by the cemetery was less than half a mile from where they'd last seen Winston. Walking, it might've taken ten minutes to get there, but on Chloe's Vespa it was a hair-raising three-minute ride away. When they got there, Paul saw no sign of either Winston or Lily, so he assumed they were still inside the rundown shack that passed for a gallery. They parked a block away and approached at a brisk walk, Paul almost jogging to keep up with Chloe's excited strides.
Winston was Chloe's mentor in what they referred to as "The Life," this being a euphemism for a whole range of different activities, groups and lifestyles that fell under the general category of living underground and off the information grid. Paul, after defrauding his former partners and then running afoul of the law in a very public way, had been living The Life for almost a year and a half now. Chloe, as near as he could tell, had been doing it for almost a decade. Winston had started in the late '60s as a 16-year-old member of the notorious Weather Underground. He not only led his own Crew, he was also in contact with dozens, maybe scores of other such groups all over the world, including Chloe and Paul's little Crew of four. On top of all that, he'd once taken a couple bullets while helping Paul out, so, like Chloe, Paul had a soft spot in his heart for the old man.
They hadn't seen him since that bloody night, but Chloe had been in communication with him off and on over the last sixteen months. Winston and his Crew were old school and didn't trust much in the way of electronic communications. Mostly it had been encoded, hand-delivered letters and arcane classified ads in various newspapers. Chloe found this particular breed of paranoia on Winston's part annoying, but Paul admired it. | Who was a member of Weather Underground? | Winston | ['Chloe', 'not enough information', 'Paul'] |
Cause she was finally hungry . We just got back from the vet . She thinks it is either an infection from a bug bite or an abscess . If she does n't get better with the medicine we give her in 2 days we have to take her back to get a coagulation test . I really hope she gets better . | What is the next step if this medication does n't help my pet ? | The vet will have to investigate further . | ['The vet will prescribe an experimental drug .', 'The vet will have to put my sick pet down .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
One afternoon last week, I saw three tearful children from my son's school being comforted by teachers. That morning, my 11-year-old had stomach pains, retching into a bowl. Talking to other mothers later, I heard about other children with stomachache or difficult sleeping the night before.
What caused so much pain? Sports day. Sports day might be necessary at a highly-competitive independent school, but not at a village primary school. For the children who can fly like the wind, sports day cause no problem. For those who are overweight or just not good at sport, it is nightmare . Even for those who enjoy running but fall halfway down the track in front of the entire school and their parents, it can prove a disease.
Why do we put our children through this annual suffering? Some may say competition is character building; or it's taking part, not winning, that's important; or that's a tradition of school life. I just felt great pity for those children in tears or in pain.
Team games at the end of sports day produced some close races, wild enthusiasm, lots of shouting -- and were fun to watch. More importantly, the children who were not so fast or quick at passing the ball were hidden a little from everyone's eyes. Some of them also had the thrill of being on the winning side.
I wish that sports day could be abandoned and replaced with some other less competitive event. Perhaps an afternoon of team games, with a few races for those who want them, would be less stressful for the children and a lot more fun to watch. | What is the author's attitude towards sports day? | Critical. | ['Neutral.', 'Positive.', 'Ambiguous.'] |
XD We saw cultural shows and dances , big and colorful temples , the floating marker ( which was kinda dirty ) , monkeys and of course elephants ! But what really got me going was the shopping ! Bangkok has so many trendy stuff and at reasonable prices too ! | Did I enjoy my time in Bangkok ? | Yes , it was fantastic . I will certainly return | ['None of the above choices .', "No , I did n't like it , and I wo n't return .", "No , there were n't enough animals to enjoy it"] |
If cars had wings, they could fly and that just might happen, beginning in 2012.The company Terrafugia, based in Woburn, Massachusetts, says it plans to deliver its carplane, the Transition, to customers by the end of 2012.
" It's the next 'wow' vehicle," said Terrafugia vice president Richard Gersh."Anybody can buy a Ferrari, but as we say, Ferraris don't fly."
The car plane has wings that unfold for flying-a process the company says takes one minute-and fold back up for driving. A runway is still required to take off and land.
The Transition is being marketed more as a plane that drives than a car that flies, although it is both.The company has been working with FAA to meet aircraft regulations, and with the National High way Traffic Safety Administration to meet vehicle safety regulations.
The company is aiming to sell the Transition to private pilots as a more convenient and cheaper way to fly.They say it saves you the trouble of trying to find another mode of transportation to get to and from airports: You drive the car to the airport and then you're good to go.When you land, you fold up the wings and hit the road.There are no expensive parking fees because you don't have to store it at an air port-you park it in the garage at home.
The carplane is designed to fly primarily under 10,000 feet.It has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,430 pounds, including fuel and passengers.Terrafugia says the Transition reduces the potential for an accident by allowing pilots to drive under bad weather instead of flying into marginal conditions.
The Transition's price tag: $ 194,000.But there may be additional charges for options like a radio, transponder or GPS.Another option is a fullplane parachute.
"If you get into a very awful situation, it is the necessary safety option,"Gersh said.
So far, the company has more than 70 0rders with deposits. "We're working very closely with them,
but there are still some remaining steps, " Brown said. | What's the best title for the passage? | Cars With Wings May Be Just Around The Comer | ['Which To Choose: A Ferrari Or A CarPlane?', 'A More Convenient And Cheaper Way To Fly', 'Cars With Wings Can Fly As Fast As Plane'] |
"As sure as you're alive now, Peter Rabbit, some day I will catch you," shouted Reddy Fox, as he put his black nose in the hole between the roots of the Big Hickory-tree which grows close to the Smiling Pool. "It is lucky for you that you were not one jump farther away from this hole."
Peter, safe inside that hole, didn't have a word to say, or, if he did, he didn't have breath enough to say it. It was quite true that if he had been one jump farther from that hole, Reddy Fox would have caught him. As it was, the hairs on Peter's funny white tail actually had tickled Reddy's back as Peter ran wildly through the root-bound entrance to that hole. It had been the narrowest escape Peter had had for a long, long time. You see, Reddy Fox had surprised Peter eating sweet clover on the bank of the Smiling Pond, and it had been a lucky thing for Peter that hole, dug long ago by Johnny Chuck's grandfather, had been right where it was. Also, it was a lucky thing that old Mr. Chuck had been wise enough to make the entrance between the roots of that tree in such a way that it could not be dug any larger.
Reddy Fox was too shrewd to waste any time trying to dig it larger. He knew there wasn't room enough for him to get between those roots. So, after trying to make Peter as uncomfortable as possible by telling him what he, Reddy, would do to him when he did catch him, Reddy walked across the Green Meadows. Peter remained where he was for a long time. When he was quite sure that it was safe to do so, he crawled out and hurried to the Old Orchard. He felt that that would be the safest place for him, because there were ever so many hiding places in the old stone wall along the edge of it. | Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the story? | The hole could be made larger. | ['Reddy Fox might find rabbit hairs on him.', 'Old Mr. Chuck took advantage of the roots to dig the hole.', 'Reddy almost caught Peter this time.'] |
! I 'd love to go visit the botanical garden to take some flower pictures and shoot the building ( the building in both of the gardens , the uni 's and the winter garden are absolutely gorgeous ) but I doubt I 'll have the time this weekend . Hmpf . This is my biggest worry . | What is most likely the authors biggest worry ? | That they are too busy to visit the garden and will not get to do their photography . | ['They are worried that the gardens will not be gorgeous .', 'None of the above choices .', 'They are worried that the building will be shot and they will miss it .'] |
Ever write out your To Do List only to be paralyzed because there 's so much to do ? Sure , you could spend time prioritizing . But what happens when it ALL needs to get done , but the real issue is that you do n't want to do most of it . Or you start one task only to immediately question whether you SHOULD be doing that task and not one of the others . | How might you feel after writing out a to do list ? | You might feel overwhelmed because there are so much things to do . | ['You might feel bored and listless .', 'You might feel excited and happy .', 'You might feel calm and unconcerned .'] |
Benedykt Ossolinsky, age 39, began to grow childish.
On the first day of his midlife crisis, he stood in front of the mirror examining his receding hairline and wrinkles on his face. In that very moment, while staring at his reflection he found in his eyes that mad look he had last seen thirty years ago in a photograph taken at a tethered flying model competition. The photo was taken by Henryk the servant, when his little charge decided he wanted a red biplane model Curtiss Consolidated Skyhawk Cruisader 3A "Bingo Star".
This new look was also noticed by his co-workers, who for the most part, considered him to be an infantile spoiled brat. It fit with their idea of a boss.
And Benedykt was indeed the boss, even though he himself couldn't quite believe it. He was the head of a foundation for the self-promotion of the Ossolinsky family, well-known descendants of Polish-American aristocrats, engaged in business ventures there, and charity work here. The position was highly honorable and very prestigious.
Just as the employees didn't like Benedykt, in equal measure Benedykt didn't like his job. He considered it extremely stressful and felt it forced him to super-human sacrifices. Everything was arranged by the family as a penance for avoiding work. He had to go to the office at least three times a week for two full hours and entertain various smiling journalists, drink coffee with them and listen. He had to sign letters and open gifts from various companies hoping to win favors. And he had to play golf and attend social functions, movie premiers, shows and art exhibits. The family had only planned for three months of vacation time a year. Scandal! As a sign of protest he took to coming to the office wearing a t-shirt with the slogan "Attention, Baby!" on it. | For how long does Benedykt stare in the mirror? | A few minutes | ['A week', 'Eight hours', 'not enough information'] |
I really wanted to post this before I sleep , but the computer was hogged > _ < and shut down afterwards . Because yesterday 's olympics was so good that I stayed up until pretty late . I was enjoying the badminton doubles yesterday . | Is badminton a sport featured in the olympics ? | Yes , but only in summer olympics . | ['Badminton is really not a sport , so it ca nt be featured in the olympics .', 'Badminton doubles are not featured in the summer or any other onlympic games .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
Aquatic Adventures!
Help Us Get Ready for Showtime!
Trainer Program
What does it take to work with seals or sea lions? Find out with Atlantis Marine World's Trainer Program and go behind the scenes with our Marine Mammal staff and:
.Learn how we train our animals and help train our sea lions to learn how to paint
.Go into the seal exhibit with trainers
.Join in a seal training period - and get to pet and feed one of our harbor seals
.Help prepare food for seals
.Attend our Sea Lion Show
.Get a kiss from sea lion, Java - and take home a photo
Summer Adventure Days - Camp! Atlantis Style!
Our camp program adds interactive excitement to your child's summer vacation. Children ages 3 to 14 discover the wonders of the sea environment through age - appropriate activities.
Pirate Snorkel Adventure
Yo-ho-ho, this is a whole lot of fun! Join us this summer for our interactive Pirate Snorkel Adventure and help Captain Poseidon locate missing treasure. While searching our lake, don't miss tropical fish from all around the world. When you're done, you'll walk away with some booty of your own - a $2.00 game card and a pirate eye patch featuring our very own Jolly Poseidon!
Smooth Sailing: Taste Long Island Wine Cruise Now Accepting Reservations!
Experience the magic of Taste Long Island, a Saturday evening wine and cheese cruise aboard the Atlantis Explorer Tour Boat. Featuring local wines, this adventure along the Peconic River is a relaxing way to enjoy both beautiful scenery and fine wines. Guests 21 and older only. Members and Green Key Cardholders enjoy 25%off. | The activities in Summer Adventure Days are divided according to _ . | children's age | ["children's hobby", 'the price', 'the type of sea animals'] |
The USA, New York--Whales and dolphins are facing increasing threats from climate change, according to a new report published by WWF and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS).
The report "Whales in hot water?" draws attention to the growing impacts of climate change on whales.They range from changes in sea temperature and the freshening of the seawater because of the melting of ice and increased rainfalls, to a sea level rise, loss of icy polar habitats and the _ of krill populations in key areas.Krill, a tiny shrimp that is dependent on sea ice, is the main source of food for many of the great whales.
The speeding up of climate change adds greatly to trouble from other human activities, such as chemical and noise pollution, which kills some 1000 whales every day.
"Whales and dolphins have an ability to adapt to their changing environment," said Mark Simmonds, International Director of Science at WDCS."But the climate is now changing at such a fast pace that it is unclear to what extent whales and dolphins will be able to adjust."
Climate change impacts are currently greatest in the Arctic and the Antarctic.According to the report, cetaceans that rely on polar, icy waters for their home and food resources are likely to be greatly affected by the reduction of sea ice cover.
WDCS and WWF are urging governments to cut global production of C02 by at least 50 percent by the middle of this century.The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change showed it was possible to stop global warming if the world's emissions start to decline before 2015. | From the passage, we can learn that whales mainly feed on _ . | krill | ['dolphins', 'sea horses', 'sharks'] |
A friend of mine scored box seat tickets to the Hollywood Bowl last night to see Cat Power , Spiritualized and Nick Cave . Cat Power was far more enjoyable in person than on her albums ( I find her too monotone , her lyrics too indistinguishable . They get lost . ) But in person , she 's got a lot of quiet charisma , a lot of intensity . | What may be a fact about the speaker ? | They prefer the singer 's performance in concert . | ['They prefer a different type of genre .', 'None of the above choices .', 'They prefer the recorded version .'] |
My favorite thing about him is when he flashes his great big smile to show off his one little bottom tooth : ) Thanks you guys for the awesome session , I hope you enjoy your sneak peeks ! : ) She sure does n't look too shy , does she ;) I love watching dads with their kids ... how adorable is this ? Gracie has this natural beauty about her ... | How old was the smiling child ? | He was still a baby . | ['He was not yet born', 'None of the above choices .', 'He was an adult'] |
One month to go .... that 's all . One month to last in this house that seems to attract the scum of the earth . And they struck again . Smashed patio door , one laptop missing , one 32 " plasma screen , one Fendi purse , 5 credit cards , my drivers license , and one jewellry box . Which just happened to contain all my effing jewellry . And yes that includes my wedding ring and engagement ring , not to mention various Valentine 's Day earring gifts and bracelets . I 'm not in a good place right now . | What may be a fact about their situation ? | Their house had gotten robbed . | ['None of the above choices .', "They were n't able to catch the robbers .", 'They were robbed while home .'] |
All schoolchildren should have "happiness" lessons up to the age of 18 to combat growing levels of depression, according to a senior government adviser.
"Pupils should study subjects such as how to manage feelings, attitudes to work and money, channeling negative emotions and even how to take a critical view of the media," said Lord Richard Layard, a Labor peer and professor of economics at the London School of Economics.
The proposal comes only days after the Government said that lessons in manners--including respect for the elderly and how to say "please" and "thank you"--should be taught in secondary schools to combat bad behavior.
Lord Layard, the director of the wellbeing program at the LSE's Center for Economic Performance, said: "Learning hard things takes an enormous amount of practice. To play the violin well takes 10,000 hours of practice. How can we expect people to learn to be happy without large amounts of practice and repetition?"
It is believed that at least two percent of British children under 12 now struggle with significant depression. Among teenagers, the figure rises to five percent. A UNICEF study involving 21 developed countries showed that British children were the least satisfied with their lives, while the World Health Organization predicts that childhood psychiatric disorders will rise by 50 percent by 2020.
In a speech at Cambridge University, Lord Layard said the Government's lessons in manners did not go far enough. "We need a commitment to producing a major specialism in this area, with a serious teacher training program," he said.
However, happiness lessons have been criticized by academics. Frank Furedi, a sociology professor at Kent University and author of Therapy Culture, said: "In pushing emotional literacy, what some teachers are really doing is abandoning teaching. They are giving up and talking about emotions instead, so that children value all this non-discipline-led activity more than maths, English or science. What is amazing about this is that time and time again, research says that it does not work." | Frank Furedi believes that _ . | formal teaching should not give way to happiness lessons | ['happiness lessons should be taught to children', 'happiness lessons are just a waste of time', 'formal teaching can go side by side with happiness lessons'] |
Weddings in the United States vary as much as the people do. There are church weddings with a great deal of fanfare ; there are weddings on mountain tops with guests barefooted; there have been weddings on the ocean floor with oxygen tanks for the guests. But many weddings, no matter where or how they are performed, include certain traditional customs.
Before a couple is married, they become engaged. And then invitations are sent to those who live nearby, their close friends and their relatives who live far away. When everything is ready, then comes the most exciting moment.
The wedding itself usually lasts between 30 and 40 minutes. The wedding party enters the church while the wedding march is played. The bride carrying a bouquet enters last with her father who will "give her away". The groom enters the church from a side door. When the wedding party is gathered by the altar, the bride and groom exchange vows . It is traditional to use the words "to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part." Following the vows, the couple exchange rings. Wearing the wedding rings on the fourth finger of the left hand is an old custom.
After the ceremony, there is often a party, called a "reception" which gives the wedding guests an opportunity to congratulate the new couple.
The car in which the couple leaves the church is decorated with balloons. The words "Just Married" are painted on the trunk or back window. And then the couple go in their honeymoon. | According to the passage, the bride enters the church _ . | carrying a bunch of flower | ['with the groom', 'with the bridesmaid', 'from a side door.'] |
My husband took me to our car and I sat down and after some time everything was good again . Another time I was sitting in class it was a hot day and everything around me was becoming dark . I put my head down on my desk and then my vision came back . | What may be the reason for them losing their vision ? | They are dehydrated from the heat . | ['They passed out from low blood sugar .', 'They were in an accident .', 'They have a form of genetic blindness .'] |
Most city parks are places where you can escape from big, ugly structures of metal and stone. The Manhattan High Line is different. Raised 25 feet above the ground, this large metal structure once supported a rail line. The line opened in 1934 to bring trains directly into factories. It was hardly used after the 1960s, and much of it was torn down. However, one part remained in a region of Manhattan called Chelsea. Chelsea was becoming high-class as restaurants, art galleries and apartments were built, but the ugly railway structure remained as _ . Everyone knew that at some time, it would have to be removed.
But the High Line was not destroyed. In fact, now the old rail line serves as one of the most peaceful places in the city. It holds an elevated park, with beautiful gardens and great views of the city. The idea to turn the rail line into a park came from Joshua David and Robert Hammond. In 1999, they attended a meeting to decide how to deal with the High Line. David and Hammond were the only people at the meeting interested in saving the historical structure. Later on, when they asked railway officials to take them up to look at the High Line, they saw a mile and a half of wild flowers growing in the middle of the city, and they realized that the High Line had potential to become a park. There was growing interest in improving city centers, and so the project quickly developed and money for construction was easily collected.
The first section of the High Line opened in 2009 and immediately became popular with tourists and locals alike. Each part of the park has a different atmosphere. Some areas are like balconies with wonderful city views. Where the rail line goes between buildings, trees are thickly planted. Other sections have wide lawns and walkways planted with wild flowers. Only the final section remains the way it has been for the last fifty years. | What can we learn about the High Line from the text? | Only part of the line remains. | ['It was designed by David and Hammond.', 'It began to be popular in the 1960s.', 'Trains still use the line.'] |
That it is ok to assess and meet your own needs . That if you need some unorthodox ways of dealing with things , then no matter what others think , you should allow yourself to perform those behaviours , as long as they do n't harm others . And there is always a way of coping with yourself , in ways appropriate for your particular situation , you just need to find one that works for you . | What may happen if one does n't pursue safe self - care avenues ? | They might have a mental breakdown . | ['Others might view them as strong and courageous .', 'They might forget about their needs and go on successfully .', 'They might become more open and loving over time .'] |
I have nothing to say about whether or not "A Day Without Immigrants " had a positive or negative effect on the question of how the federal government should deal with the huge population of undocumented illegal immigrants in this country. I'll leave that question to others.
Regardless of how you feel about the event, one conclusion is obvious. Using the theme of "A Day Without" as a way to focus national attention on a particular subject is a great idea, and could serve as a method for increasing public consciousness about other issues that affect daily life in America. Here are my top three examples:
"A Day Without Speeding." How hard could this be? If all drivers would strictly obey every posted speed limit on highways, downtown, on neighborhood streets, and in parking lots for one 24-hour cycle, the benefits would be huge.
"A Day Without Losing Your Temper." A higher degree of difficulty here, and I know that from personal experience. When something goes wrong at home or on the job, there may be brief satisfaction in yelling or kicking the furniture, but bursting into anger usually has nothing to do with the approach to the heart of the matter.
"A Day Without Having All The Answers." I would like to get a break from hearing anyone speak the phrase, "Here's what you're doing wrong." Right now the US is packed with citizens who believe they can point out the cause of every single problem in existence and then solve it in a moment. I believe they need to be quiet sometimes and use their ears instead of their voices.
I wonder how would average Americans react to such a national pause? Would it be a day of reaction against anger, or joyful celebrations? | The writer suggests "a day without having all the answers", because _ . | he thinks the Americans are too proud | ['he wants to have a chance to speak his mind', 'he expects others to keep quiet and calm', 'he hopes to get a break from the problems'] |
Monarch Butterflies
One of the last West Coast homes of the Monarch butterfly,a type of insect ,may soon disappear.Strangely,it is in a town that calls itself Butterfly U.S.A,Pacific Grove, California.
The town of Pacific Grove loves the butterflies.Every year they have a parade and hundreds of children dress up as butterflies.Monarch butterflies are the town _ .Tourism is very important,and many people come to see the butterflies.The butterflies are good for the development of the town.
In 1981 there were so many butterflies it looked like it was raining butterflies.Tens of thousands of Monarchs stayed on tree branches near Pacific Grove.Now there are not so many.
The building goes on a little bit at a time,and you don't notice it day by day.Over time,you can see that there has been a lot of development.As new buildings go up,many trees are cut down.
This reduces the natural homes for the butterflies.
Monarchs travel hundreds of miles each year,returning to the same woods,often to the same trees.The female Monarchs need milkweed to lay their eggs;the males will follow the females.
Millions of Monarchs have traveled regularly along the same path for thousands of years.They start their trip in the mountains of Mexico and travel to the middle part of America.If the woods where the butterflies live are destroyed,the whole species could be lost.There have been Monarch butterflies along the coast of California for as long as man can remember,but no one is sure how much longer they will last. | Where do Monarch butterflies start their trip to Pacific Grove? | From Mexico. | ['From Central America.', 'From the West Coast.', 'From California.'] |
And if it does n't work , well , back to the drawing board . From the moment we became sports fans , we ' ve been conditioned to hate the uniform . It started early with the Dodgers . Being Giants fans , no matter who played for LA , we had to hate them . Take the entire Giants 25-man roster , put them in Dodger Blue and we 'd root against them any day of the week . And while the Giants - Dodgers is a pretty decent rivalry , there are some out there that tear apart families , torch friendships and make you shit blood . | What if their favorite baseball player is traded to the Dodgers ? | They would instantly dislike them | ['They will change favorite teams', 'They will root for just the one player', 'They will still like the player'] |
I was as sad as anyone when Season 2 ended but it was both too late to bring her back and the actual revival was so uninspired that it did n't seen worthwhile . And I did n't hate her having the Human Doctor by any means , but it was just such pure fanservice that I could n't really feel behind it . I mean ... I do n't even read Doctor / Rose fic and I swear I ' ve seen that fic before . Sarah Jane : Is awesome . | Why is the narrator so upset with the recent season of their show ? | They are upset at the treatment of a character . | ['None of the above choices .', 'They are upset at the music .', 'They are upset at the directing .'] |
New rules will let millions of Americans know where more of their food comes from. The law is known as COOL -- Country of Origin Labeling .
American congress first passed the law in 2002. Stores have had to label seafood by country of origin since 2005. But industry pressure delayed other requirements until last week.
Products that must now be labeled include fresh fruits and vegetables, muscle meats and some kinds of nuts. But the rules are complex, and many foods are not included. For example, organ meats are free to be labeled. So are processed foods, including cooked or smoked foods.
The same food may sometimes have to be labeled and other times not. Fresh or frozen peas, for example, have to be labeled but not canned peas. Foods that are mixed with other foods are also excluded. Mixed nuts, for example, do not need to be labeled. The same is true of a salad mix that contains different things like lettuce and carrots. Or a fruit cup that combines different fruits. Also, the law doesn't include restaurants and other food service organizations. Department of Agriculture officials say the law is really meant for larger grocery stores.
The United States has imported more and more food in recent years to save money and expand choices. Country-of-origin labeling has become more common lately but has still been limited in many stores.
Food safety is one reason why some shoppers pay close attention to where foods came from. For example, when a large number of people recently got sick from salmonella , officials blamed peppers from Mexico. Yet the last big food scare involved spinach grown in California. But labeling is also a way for people to know they are getting what they want. Some want to buy local foods or foods from a particular country.
The country-of-origin labeling law gives stores 30 days to correct any violations that are found. Stores and suppliers that are found to be deliberately violating the law could be fined 1,000 dollars per violation. Federal inspectors are not to take action to enforce the law for six months to give time for an education campaign.
Some food safety activists say they are generally pleased with the law. They call it a good step that will give people more useful information. | Which of the following can be inferred from the text? | The government of America will possibly forbid importing peppers from Mexico. | ['Store owners are most likely to be the supporters of the law.', "Federal inspectors couldn't take measures to enforce the law.", 'Most Americans prefer imported vegetables to the vegetables grown in local places.'] |
Three blondes were being trained to become detectives by a policeman. To test their skills in recognizing a suspect , the policeman showed the first blonde a picture for five seconds and then asked how she could recognize him. She thought it easy, for the suspect had only one eye. The policeman felt disappointed at this funny answer. He showed the second lady the picture for five seconds and asked her how she would recognize him. The second blonde giggled, flipped her hair, and said, "Ha! It's easy to find the one-eared person!" Her answer also made the policeman angry. Turning to the third lady, he asked, "This is your suspect, and how would you recognize him?" He added quickly, "Think hard before giving a stupid answer." The third blonde looked at the picture carefully for a moment and said, "HMMMM ... the suspect is wearing contact lenses ." The policeman was surprised and speechless, because he really didn't know himself if the suspect wore contacts or not. "Well, that is a good answer. Wait here for a few minutes while I check his file." He left the room and went to his office, checked the suspect's file in his computer and returned with a beaming smile. "Wow! I can't believe it ... it's TRUE! The suspect does in fact wear contact lenses. Good work! How were you able to make such a wise observation?" "That's easy," the blonde replied, "he can't wear glasses because he only has one eye and one ear!" | What will probably happen to the three blondes after this test? | All of them may be given more training courses or fired. | ['The first blonde may be accepted as a detective at once.', 'The second blonde may be accepted as a detective at once.', "The third blonde is good at thinking and needn't any training."] |
I had a little time on my hands last week and finally made a couple of collages that I ' ve had in my mind for a while now . The idea was to build a collage directly on a piece of 8x10 watercolor paper . The watercolor paper is strong , has a good texture , is a pretty color , and acts as a mat for the collage . | What may I like yo do in my spare time ? | Art | ['Shopping', 'None of the above choices .', 'Partying'] |
Smart lady as I know she will love having these special portraits down the road , and I ' m so glad she chose me to do it ! S family , I loved meeting you and getting to know your little one ! Thanks for trusting me as we went in and out of alleys and all over the place . | What may be a fact about this situation ? | They had taken professional photos of a family . | ['They had taken photos to build their portfolio .', 'None of the above choices .', 'They were taking photos with their family .'] |
Father's Day has a very short history. It was started because there was a Mother's Day. And just because some Americans thought that if we had a Mother's Day, we should also have a Father's Day. Father's Day has become important in North America. And shopkeepers found it was a good way to get people to buy presents for their fathers, presents from their shops.
By the way, very few countries have a Father's Day, though some have Children's Day, or a special day for boys and another for girls. More and more countries are having Mother's Day, so maybe Father's Day will also become popular before too long. Now, what do people in North America do on Father's Day? The newspapers, radios, and TV tell children what they should do-buy a Father's Day present for your father. They even tell a wife to buy a Father's Day present-not for her father but for her husband, even if he is not yet a father. And they tell grandchildren to buy a Father's Day present for their grandfathers.
The important thing to remember about Father's Day is that American children can show their love to their fathers in a more open way. | On Father's Day, shopkeepers always want _ . | people to buy as many presents as possible | ['children to buy presents only for their fathers', 'women to buy presents only for their husbands', "grandchildren to buy a Father's Day present only for their grandfathers"] |
Since four out of five of people have back pain , often lower back pain , sometime in their life , we should know what causes it and how to avoid it . Causes Of Lower Back Pain As we get older , our bodies tend to lose their muscle elasticity and tone , as well as bone strength . The discs in our spine lose fluid and flexibility , and they ca n't cushion the vertebrae as well anymore . | What type of pain or injury is the narrator discussing . | They are discussing back issues . | ['None of the above choices .', 'They are discussing spinal problems .', 'They are discussing bicep problems .'] |
He picked me up at my house, and after getting back on the main road he turned up the volume on the radio.
"Why do you even listen to that stuff?" I asked. It was schlock-rock, simple and unadorned wailing backed by incessantly grating guitars.
"I don't really know."
"You don't actually like it, do you?" I knew he didn't; I knew what he preferred. His apartment walls were lined with recordings of classical, even archaic music, European folk instrumentals. Maybe rock, once in a while, but he had had something amplified and pitch-altered on every time we'd been together lately.
"I think we listen to pop music to punish ourselves," he said. "An aural bed of nails to compensate for our sins."
"Those sins being...?"
"I don't know... sometimes, don't you ever get so sick of everything you just want to cram your ears full of garbage to spite it all?"
This was not normal second-date dialogue, but Phillip and I had known each other for a long time.
"It's like you'd rather inflict pain," he said, "like you want to inflict pain on yourself, just for pure spite against... the stuff around us."
"You'd choke on garbage to get back at a culture who would do it for you anyway?"
"Yeah, kind of. Does that make sense?"
"In a very cliched, pop-psychology sort of way, yes." I turned down the volume, then shut the radio off entirely.
"Don't you ever want to hurt like that?" he asked. "It's why you read some thriller instead of a classic, it's why you watch TV instead of reading a book, it's why you watch a sitcom instead of PBS, it's why you watch Family Guy instead of the Simpsons." (I might have snorted at this point.) "Because you have to do the bad thing." | Phillip turned on the radio: | After getting back on the main road. | ['After they had a conversation about why they listened to bad music.', 'On their first date.', 'not enough information'] |
Rain and cold weather this summer saw honey yields from hives fall by almost three-quarters, the British Beekeepers Association(BBKA)said today. The average crop per hive was down 72% compared to last year, with just 3.6kg (81b) of honey produced compared to an annual average, the annual honey survey by the BBKA revealed.
The survey of 2,712 beekeepers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales found that 88% said this summer's bad weather caused the _ in honey yields. The bad weather made it difficult for bees to excrete ,which led to disease easily, and the bad weather also increased the risk of keeping bees for heavy rain caused the places which bees regularly visited to meet natural disasters. The bad weather also influenced the plants flowering which increased the cost of keeping bees. The BBKA issued a midsummer warning to feed bees if necessary to avoid dying from hunger. But in London, which recorded the worst results with just 2.5kg (5.61b)of honey harvested on average, beekeeping experts said that in addition to the bad weather there was a lack of food for bees in the city.
Angela Woods, secretary of the London Beekeepers Association, said, "Rather than putting beehives on office roofs, we encourage companies in London that want to help to look at different ways of supporting bees and beekeepers. We need more food for the bees and better-educated beekeepers."
Elsewhere, the weather was the main problem. Peter Hutton, a beekeeper in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, said, "It has been the most difficult year I have known in my 53 years of beekeeping. Bad weather in spring prevented bees in many areas from collecting nectar from early-flowering crops such as oilseed rape ,and the rain continued in many places throughout June and July, preventing honeybees from searching for food on later crops."
The BBKA warned that as well as reducing the honey harvest, the bad weather is likely to have a longer-term influence as it will have affected the normal process of breeding for the queens, which mate on the wing on fine, still summer days. As a result they may have mated poorly and be unable to produce enough new babies to see groups through the winter. | What caused the lack of food? | The bad weather in both spring and summer. | ['The bad weather in both autumn and winter.', 'The bad weather in both winter and spring.', 'The bad weather in both summer and autumn.'] |
We gave Tiger swimming lessons in our plastic wading pool. I taught the kitten the way Pa taught me: I threw him into water where he could not stand, and I watched, ready to grab him if he went under. Tiger did not thrash desperately like me. He merely paddled urgently for the edge of the plastic pool with his head high and his thin legs churning. Little Bit said, "Dog paddle," and we all laughed. "Tiger paddle," I said, and we all laughed some more, even Jordy. That was probably when Ma noticed the kitten swimming lessons and stopped them.
Our swimming lessons happened in two places. When Pa took us, we went to Hawkins Springs behind Mrs. DeLyons' Fountain of Youth Motor Hotel. When Ma took us, we drove to Mermaid Springs State Park, where we would sometimes meet Mr. Drake.
I liked Mermaid Springs better because I felt safe there. Ma could not swim, so she never made me jump off a dock into deep water, and she always insisted that I wear an orange styrofoam cylinder on my back like a skindiver or spaceman. Ma usually sat on a towel on the grass near the beach, reading a magazine or a book while tanning her legs. Every now and then she would call to us not to go too far or not to splash each other. When she wore her one-piece red swimming suit, she would come in up to her waist, then lower herself to her shoulders, being careful not to get her hair wet. On the rarest occasions, she would wear a swimming cap and float on her back in the shallow water. Often she stayed in her shorts and shirt, adding sunglasses and removing shoes as her concession to summer and the beach. | When did Ma stop the swimming lessons? | when they laughed | ['when tiger thrashed', 'not enough information', 'when tiger dog paddled'] |
They just dumped me here and left . " This Doctor was different . Charley knew all about regenerations and how they could change him , but this Doctor had sadness written all over his face , a far cry from her Doctor who greeted everyone as if they were old friends , even if they have never met . Something terrible must have happened to him . " The CIA were never the friendliest of people " . | Why does the doctor 's sadness lead the speaker to believe something terrible must have happened to him ? | The speaker has a baseline degree of empathy which indicates to them that the doctor has suffered | ['The speaker is an expert at reading body language and does so towards the doctor', 'The speaker recognizes the doctor from a public hearing about CIA abuses', 'He is verbally communicating how horrible the CIA had treated him'] |
Voting is underway in the southern U.S. state of Alabama in a tightly contested Senate election between Democrat Doug Jones and Republican Roy Moore, a campaign roiled by charges from women who accused Moore of sexual misconduct four decades ago when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s.
Tuesday's special election was being watched nationally, both as an indicator of how midterm congressional elections might play out next November and also as a barometer of President Donald Trump's political clout.
Trump endorsed Moore, who has denied the women's allegations, and called for the defeat of Jones, whom he said would be a political "puppet" of liberal Democratic lawmakers in Washington.
The election winner will serve the last three years of the seat left vacant by Jeff Sessions when he joined Trump's Cabinet as attorney general, the country's top law enforcement position. If Moore wins, Republicans will retain their 52-48 majority in the Senate, but a Jones victory would pare the margin to 51-49, possibly further complicating Trump's efforts to pass his legislative agenda.
Pre-election polls at various times have shown both Moore, 70, and Jones, 63, in the lead, but the history of elections in deeply conservative Alabama runs against Jones.
No Democrat has won a Senate election in the state since Richard Shelby did in 1992, and two years later he switched parties to become a Republican. Still a senator, Shelby said Sunday that he voted absentee for "a distinguished Republican" as a write-in choice, but could not bring himself to vote for Moore after one woman, now in her 50s, said Moore abused her when she was 14.
Moore, twice deposed as a state Supreme Court justice for failing to follow federal court rulings, has accused journalists, Democrats and establishment Republicans in Washington of trying to undermine his campaign. Some Republican lawmakers, a number of whom said Moore should drop out of the contest after the women's allegations surfaced, said they would try to expel him from the Senate if he won. | Trump's rally for Roy Moore probably lasted | A few hours | ['not enough information', 'A few days', 'A few minutes'] |
Why do they want to die ? ! You 'd think I lived on Christmas Island or something , the way crabs recklessly dash out onto the pavement during this time of year . They 're worse than squirrels , seriously . | Why is the narrator having to dodge items while traveling ? | There are many crabs on the road . | ['There are many drivers on the road .', 'None of the above choices .', 'There are many squirrels on the road .'] |
We walked in so quietly that the nurse at the desk didn't even lift her eyes from the book. Mum pointed at a big chair by the door and I knew she wanted me to sit down. Then, Mum took off her hat and coat and gave them to me to hold. She walked quietly to the small room by the lift and took out a wet mop . She pushed the mop past the desk and as the nurse looked up, Mum nodded and said, "Very dirty floors." "Yes, I'm glad they've finally decided to clean them," the nurse answered. She looked at Mum strangely and said, "But aren't you working late?"
Mum just pushed harder, each swipe of the mop taking her farther and farther down the hall. I watched until she was out of sight and the nurse had turned back to writing in the big book. After a long time Mum came back. Her eyes were shining.
She quickly put the mop back and took my hand. As we turned to go out of the door, Mum bowed politely to the nurse and said, "Thank you."
Outside, Mum told me "Grandma is fine. No fever ."
"You saw her, Mum?"
"Of course. I told her about the hospital rules, and she will not expect us until tomorrow. Dad will stop worrying as well. It's a fine hospital. But such floors! A mop is not good. You need a brush." | After reading the story what can we infer about the hospital? _ | It has strict rules about visiting hours. | ["It is a children's hospital.", "The nurses and doctors there don't work hard.", "The conditions there aren't very good."] |
I slept in this morning , all the way till 7:30 . I am not yet on vacation but decided to work from home till the end of the week when my vacation starts . This requires a very short commute , less than a minute to get down the stairs . Getting up at 7:30 gives thus gives me plenty of time to wash , eat and write . | Why did they decide to work from home ? | They wanted to relax before their vacation . | ['They had already taken time off from their main job .', 'None of the above choices .', 'They wanted to work while on their vacation .'] |
I'm a commercial fisherman in prefix = st1 /Alaska. It was an eye-opener to see the destruction and waste popular in the world's fisheries. TheAlaskafishery is very well managed and we do not see the damage occurring elsewhere. Many local people complain of the many restrictive laws in the fishery, but after reading these articles, I'm in favor of even stricter regulation. The sea is the basis for life on Earth, and we must take care of it.
Tom Hagen
Craig, Alaska
Your report presents an overly hopeless future. Here in New England where I have fished commercially for 45 years, we are beginning a recovery from years of over fishing. Under the newly authorized Magnuson-Stevens Act, fishermen are forming partnerships with scientists for the purpose of developing fishing-gear modifications to reduce by-catch and reduce impacts to fish habitat. Additionally, we are collecting information on fish stock abundance, population, and ecosystems. The New England Regional Fishery Management Council is supporting the formation of harvest districts, which enables fishermen to have changing market conditions.
Frank Mirarchi
Scituate,Massachusetts
You described fishing around the world, but not here in the United States. There is no support for the American fisherman who is working under the harshest regulations on Earth and the strictest restrictions. We are fishing in a fashion that is completely suitable as required in the Magnuson-Stevens Act. TheU.S.keeps importing more fish from countries that have no requirements on gear or on their catch.U.S.fishermen cannot compete with foreign prices, so the fishermen's numbers have been reduced. There are no young people who will take our place.
Jeremiah O'Brien
MorroBay,California | How is the situation about fishery in Alaskaaccording to Tom Hagen? | The fishery is balanced well there. | ['There is too much waste in fishery.', 'Many local fishermen liked the fishery laws before.', 'The government is not doing their best to limit fishing.'] |
I come to the United States ten year ago. I would always say that I was trying to study, but there were always things like work and my kids that would not allow me to start.
Now I realized that those were only excuses. What stopped me was that I was afraid to start studying again. I always believed I would learn by myself.
One day, however, my son told me that he was sad because his friends would come over and I didn't understand them because I didn't speak English. He was also sad because I could never help him with his homework. That same day, I told myself, "Rocio, you have to start believing in yourself and you will see you can make it."
The next day, I went downtown to look for a big banner in front of the school which said that they offered classes for adults. I came in to see if I could join, but the classes were closed already. That night I took the kids to the movies, and on the way back, I told them we would take a new route. I ended up getting lost. That's the way I found Chaffey College. The following Monday, I went to ask for information. They told me that summer school was starting that week.
That's how I started studying English last summer. It is difficult, but I have had great rewards. My daughter had to write a story for school. It was about the female they most admired and why . She wrote that I was the person she most admired because I had started going to College. I will never forget this. | How did they find Chaffey College? | They took a new route and got lost. | ['On the way to the movies.', 'Ask a stranger for information.', 'According to the banner.'] |
I did not get up this morning and head directly to my scraproom which by the way looks like a bomb went off in it . Instead I took a ride to the barn to give my Lizzy a nice cool bath . I have to say that I really miss her and I have n't ridden her since Memorial Day weekend . She looks great . | What is Lizzy ? | It 's a horse . | ['None of the above choices .', "It 's a scraperoom .", "It 's a barn ."] |
The other day I went into my favorite coffee - shop around the corner , and saw an ex sitting at the counter . I did not look at his direction , mostly out of annoyance and mistrust . We have not dated in over a year ever since I broke - up with him because he kept lying , cheating , and treating me as though I did n't matter . I grab my coffee and left . | What may have happened before I broke up with my ex ? | He cheated on me . | ['I avoided making eye contact with him .', 'None of the above choices .', 'I felt annoyance by his presence .'] |
Chinese e-commerce websites fail to pay more attention to older consumers, says a news report.
There's been a thought that younger consumers have been the driving force of online buying. That may not be the case. According to a statement from Alipay, the average expenditure of Alipay users born before the 1960s was 31,000 yuan in 2012, much higher than 14,000 yuan of those born after the 1980s. It shows that online shopping has become a key part of people's daily consumption, for both young and old.
Besides shopping, people pay bills such as water bill, electricity bill, and credit card repayment online. The middle-aged and senior consumers are also participating in that consumption revolution.
Liu Chen, 56, said that his online expenditure in 2014 was over 50,000 yuan, about half of the total annual expenditure. He always pays his telephone bill online. Clothes, electrical appliances and kids' snacks are the main items he purchases online.
Liu's shopping strategy is to find something good online first, then go to shops to check it out, and finally buy it online because it is cheaper. As quality concerns him, Liu only buys items that come with a guarantee.
Stories such as those from Liu are representative of millions of middle-aged and older Chinese, which show the great potential of the aged in the Chinese consumption market. Yet, the market seems not to be valued as it should be.
Some Chinese e-commerce websites such as jd. com, dangdang. com and amazon. cn don't have a category for goods for the elderly on their main pages. Alibaba's platform does have one, but the goods in it are not as abundant as other categories. Moreover, Taobao's category is not really designed for elders, but their children.
Despite the seeming lack of commitment to older consumers, the Chinese market for the elderly is clearly huge, and e-commerce websites should take great efforts to develop it. | Liu Chen chooses online shopping mainly because of its _ . | low price | ['convenience', 'great potential', 'quality guarantee'] |
Which are you more likely to have wath you at sny given mement--your cell phone or your wallet? Soon you may be able to throw your wallet away and pay for things with a quick wave of your smart phone over an electroue scannet.
In January, Starbucks announced that customers could start using their phones to buy coffee in 6,800 of its states. This is the first pay-by-phone practice in the U.S., but we're likely to see more witeless payment alternatives as something called ucar field communcation(NFC)GETS IN TO America's consumet electanies. Last Deccmbet some new smart phanes which cantain an NFC chip were introduced to the public.
Already in use in part of Asia and Europe, NFC allows shoppers to wave theie phones a few inchs above a payment terminal-a contact-free system build for speed and convenience. plan a few incees live a payment tetminal a one a few ptaht need to be worked out, like who will get to collect the profitable trunsacian fees. Although some credit card providers have been experimenting with wave and pay systems that use NFC enabled credit cards, cellphone service providers truay try to mused their way into the point of sale (POS)market. Three big cell phone service providers have formed a joinf tenture that will go into opention over the next 15 months. Its goal is"to lead the U.S. payments industry from cards to mobile phone."
The other big NFC sue, apart from how paymeats will be processed, is security, For instance, what's to stop a thief from digitally pickpocketing you? "We're still not at the point where an attacker can just brush against yee in a crowd and steal all the money out of your phone,"says Jimmy Shah. A mobile security rescarcher, "Usera may also be able to set transaction timeits,requiring a password to be enteced for larger putchases.
Bussiness? Keep in mund you lost your smart phone, it can be located on a located on a map and remotely disabled. Plus, your phone can be password protected, Your wallet isn't. | What is predicted to happen in the U.S.? | The boom of pay by phone business. | ['The expansion of cellphone companices.', 'The dissppearanceof credit cards.', 'The increase of Starbucks sales.s'] |
Amongst other reasons not too ... he is just not a good kisser .... nope do nt like his kisses . and yea ... Now jeremy is sweet and kind and a good kisser ... but he lives 2.5 hrs away ! and he is in the army ! | What may happen after she is done talking about all the guys she 's into ? | She may ask for advice . | ['She may ask for more single guys .', "She may give away the guys she does n't like .", 'None of the above choices .'] |
Instead of two yoga sessions per day , I have barely managed to bring myself to the mat once per day . In fact , five times per week is my average , exactly as it was during the school year . Organic , homemade , home - grown dinners every night ? How about ... not at all . | What field is the narrator employed in ? | The narrator is a school teacher . | ['None of the above choices .', 'The narrator works the dinner shift at a restaurant that makes Homestyle meals .', 'The narrator teaches yoga , two sessions per day .'] |
Shundagarh is a village on India's east-facing coast. It is a village of simple mud and grass houses built on the beach just above the waterline. The Khadra Hills rise immediately behind the village, to a height of one hundred and fifty meters. A simple, good-hearted old man, whose name was Jalpur, farmed two small fields on the very edge of these hills. From his fields he could see the fishing boats that traveled up and down the coast. He could see the children playing on the sands; their mothers washing clothes on the flat stones where the Shiva River flowed into the sea; and their fathers landing the latest catch or repairing nets and telling stories that had no end.
All Jalpur owned in the world were the clothes he wore day in and day out, the miserable hut that he slept in at night, a few tools and cooking pots - and his fields. The corn that he grew was all that made life possible. If the weather was kind and the harvest was good, Jalpur could live happily enough - not well, but happily. When the sun was fierce, and there was little or no rain, then he came close to the line between life and death.
Last year the weather had been so kind, and the harvest promised to be so good, that Jalpur had been wondering whether he could sell all that he had and live with his son farther up the coast. He had been thinking about doing this for some years. It was his dearest wish to spend his last days with his son and his wife. But he would go only if he could give; he would not go if it meant taking food out of the mouths of his grandchildren. He would rather die hungry than do this.
On the day when Jalpur decided that he would harvest his corn, sell it, and move up the coast, he looked out to the sea and saw a huge wave, several kilometers out, advancing on the coast and on the village of Shundagarh. Within ten minutes everyone in Shundagarh would be drowned. Jalpur would have shouted, but the people were too far away to hear. He would have run down the hill, but he was too old to run. He was prepared to do anything to save the people of Shundagarh, so he did the only thing that he could do: he set fire to his corn. In a matter of seconds the flames were rising high and smoke was rising higher. Within a minute the people of Shundagarh were racing up the hill to see what had happened. There, in the middle of his blackened cornfield, they found Jalpur; and there they buried him.
On his grave, they wrote the words: Here lies Jalpur, a man who gave, living; a man who died, giving. | Why didn't Jalpur live well? | He only depended on good weather and harvest for survival. | ["He didn't work hard.", 'He had too many children to feed.', 'The villagers kept taking his corn.'] |
It was the most thrilling part of her job , as far as she was concerned , finding each piece and trying her hardest to put the puzzle together in record time . " What the hell did you put in your coffee this morning ? " Lindsay asked , looking down at her speculatively . Cindy just grinned and hopped inside as the elevator doors dinged open . | Why did Lindsay ask Cindy a question ? | Cindy was unusually energetic | ['Cindy was doing a difficult puzzle', 'Cindy was trying her hardest', 'None of the above choices .'] |
I would like to tell you a story about my uncle Theo. He is my oldest uncle, a tall, thin, grey-haired man whose thoughts are always on learning and nothing else. He is quiet, gentle and absent-minded and with about as much sense as a child where money is concerned. Well, he applied a post in Camford University. It was a very good post and there were hundreds of candidates who applied for it, and about fifteen, including Theo, were asked to be interviewed.
Camford is a very small town; there is only one hotel in it, and it was so full that they had to put many of the candidates two in a room. Theo was one of these, and the man who shared the room with him was a self-confident fellow called Adams, about twenty years younger than Theo, with a loud voice, and a laugh that you could hear all over the hotel. But he was a clever fellow all the same and had a good post in Iscaiot College, Narkover. Well, the Dean, who was the head of the department of the University, and the committee interviewed all the candidates; and as a result of this interview, the number of the candidates was reduced to two, Uncle Theo and Adams. The committee couldn't decide which of the two to take, so they decided to make their final choice after each of the candidates had given a public lecture in the college lecture-hall. The subject they had to speak on was "The Civilization of the Ancient Summerians"; and the lecture had to be given in three days' time.
Well, for these three days Uncle Theo never left his room. He worked day and night at that lecture, writing it out and memorizing it, almost without eating or sleeping. Adams didn't seem to do any preparation at all. You could hear his voice and his laughter where he had a crowd of people around him. He came to his room late at night, asked Uncle Theo how he was getting on with his lecture, and then told him how he had spent the evening playing bridge, or at the music hall. He ate like a horse and slept like a log; and Uncle Theo sat up working at his lecture.
The day of the lecture arrived. They all went into the lecture hall and Theo and Adams took their seats on the platform. And then, Theo discovered, to his horror, that typewritten copy of his speech had disappeared! The Dean said they would call on the candidates on the alphabetical order, Adams first; and the despair in his heart, Theo watched Adams calmly take the stolen speech out of pocket and read it to the professors who were gathered to hear it. And how well he read it! Even Uncle Theo had to admit he couldn't have read it nearly so eloquently himself, and when Adams finished there was a great burst of applause. Adams bowed and smiled, and sat down.
Now, it was Theo's turn. But what could he do? He had put everything he knew into the lecture. His mind was too much upset to put the same thoughts in another way. With a burning face he could only repeat, word for word, in a low, dull voice, the lecture that Adams had spoken so eloquently. There was hardly any applause when he sat down.
The Dean and the committee went out to decide who the successful candidate was, but everyone was sure what their decision would be. Adams leaned across to Theo and patted him on the back and said, smilingly, "Hard luck, old fellow, but after all, only one of us could win".
Then the Dean and the committee came back, "Gentlemen", the Dean said, "the candidate we have chosen is Mr. Hobdell." Uncle Theo had won! The audience were completely taken by surprise, and the Dean continued, "I think I ought to tell you how we arrived at the decision. We were all filled with admiration at the learning and eloquence of Mr. Adams. I was greatly impressed. But, you will remember, Mr. Adams read his lecture to us. When Mr. Hobdell's turn came, he repeated that speech, word by word from memory, though, of course, he couldn't have seen a line of it before. Now a fine memory is absolutely necessary for this post; and what a memory Mr. Hobdell must have! This is why we decided that Mr. Hobdell was exactly the man we wanted! "
As they walked out of the room, the Dean came up to Uncle Theo, who was so confused but so happy that he hardly knew whether he was standing on his head or heels; and as he shook Theo's hand he said, "Congratulations, Mr. Hobdell! But, my dear fellow, when you are on our staff, you must be more careful and not leave valuable papers lying about!" | Theo became successful because _ . | the committee knew he was exactly the man they wanted. | ['he had a better memory than Adams.', 'he was more experienced than Adams.', "the committee knew Adams had copied Theo's speech."] |
Contests from the Community
Annual Playwright Challenge
Attention, students! Unleash your creativity and writing skill by submitting an original story for an opportunity to have your entry produced as a full-length musical by the Scripps Performing Arts academy this fall. The winner will also get the opportunity to perform in the show or serve as the assistant director of the production. Also, the winner will attend two playwright workshops with the director to work on the musical together. Entries can be submitted in paragraph, story or script form (1-3 pages) to info@ scrippsperformingarts.com with the subject line: Playwright Challenge Entry. For ages 18 & under. Students are allowed to work individually or as a team of two for each submission. Deadline: April 1.
Kids' Poster Contest
The City of San Diego's Public Utilities Department invites students, grades 1-6, to make a poster with the theme: "Sam Diegans Waste No Water. All Days. All Ways. " Three winners will be selected for each grade level and will receive gift cards and a Certificate of Excellence. Also, winning posters will be on display in the lobby of the City Society's Gallery and the San Diego County Fair's Kids Best Art Exhibit. Open to students in the cities of San Diego, Coronado and Imperial Beach. To enter, go to www.wastenowater.org. Deadline: March 28.
Kohl's Cares Scholarship Program
Outstanding young volunteers, ages 6-18, can be rewarded through this annual program. Regional winners will each receive a $1,000 scholarship for higher education, while national winners will each be rewarded a total of $10, 000 in scholarships plus a $ l, 000 donation from Kohl's to a nonprofit of the student's choice. Nominations are now accepted at www.kohlskids.com. Deadline: March 14.
Dream House Raffle
Enter to win a $ 4 million home in Rancho Santa Fe or $ 2.1 million in cash in this annual raffle that includes more than 1,300 prizes to be given away! In addition to the grand prize drawing on May 17, you can also be part of early bird drawing that offer more chances of winning. Next earlybird drawing is on March 19 (entry deadline: March 7). Proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego. For tickets and the list of prizes, visit www.sdraffle.com or call 888-8254-9939. | What do we know about Annual Playwright Challenge? | The winner will join in the production of the musical. | ['It is intended for students aged 6-18.', "One has to submit one's entry before March 14.", 'Students must work individually for each submission.'] |
Happened to me while visiting Chicago a few weeks ago. A young couple with a baby in a pram boarded a crowded bus. The bus driver would not pull out of the stop until the pram was secured in the wheelchair chocks, however an elderly women wouldn’t give up her seat (seat needed to be folded up in order to make room for the pram in the wheelchair holding apparatus).
We sat there for about 4–5 minutes while the driver, the mother and the elderly lady argued. At the end, my wife and I offered our seats (more like a commanding, cajoling, what-she-wanted-to hear, kind of discourse), and the lady moved into our seats. The young couple locked down their pram, and the bus took off. Meg and I stood for the rest of the trip.
She was really annoyed over having to move, and there was some baggage attached to her situation—I hate to have to mention the racial aspects here but it’s an important aspect of the story. Most of the passengers were younger white folks (bus was heading through a neighborhood where re-gentrification had taken place). The elderly woman was at least 75 years and the only black person in the front of the crowded bus. She was sitting in a designated seat reserved for elderly or handicapped, and obviously she had earned her status to claim that seat. Unfortunately, it was also the one seat that needed to be vacated if the wheelchair equipment got used.
As the bus rode on, her anger simmered. She asked me what I (middle-aged white guy) would do in a spot like that. All I could answer was to offer it up to God. Hot day, no air conditioning on the bus, people just want to get to their destinations. | Where do people with disabilities have priority seating on this bus? | In the front | ['not enough information', 'In the back', 'They are not allowed on the bus because it is not equipped to accommodate them'] |
Nicky Haywood, from Nottingham, was found guilty of travelling on an East Midlands train from Nottingham to Newstead without a ticket.
The 27-year-old, who did not appear for his hearing at Nottingham Magistrates Court , is now being made to pay the price --- which is almost 200 times the original price ---- for the 20 minute journey.
According to the Nottingham Post, Magistrates have ordered Haywood to pay a $ 220 fine, $ 302 in costs, a $ 22 government surcharge and the $ 2.80 fare.
Senior conductor, Yvonne Clay was working on the day of the incident, according to the Nottingham Post.
The newspaper reported that she said Haywood had got on the train without a ticket, though he had the chance to buy one from both vending machines and booking offices on the platform.
She said:"He offered a Solo Electron card but we could not take that on the train. I informed him with a notice to pay. He gave his name and address and had 21 days to pay the fare."
Even though he was given three weeks to pay the $ 2.80, a payment from Haywood was not received. | Nicky Haywood can buy a ticket from _ . | booking offices | ['convenience shops', 'the conductor', 'the court'] |
I always knew this meant my parents wanted me more than life itself . Their love for me left no room to even consider being unwanted , even by my birth mother . I did n't know her circumstances , but somehow I understood that she had made a great sacrifice to give me a better life . There was no room to feel as if she 'd just turned her back and walked away , rather I felt as if she still loved me very much - so much so that she was willing to cut off a part of herself to give me more . | What can be said about the person who wrote this post ? | She has a very healthy outlook on life and decisions made . | ['She is very angry at their birth mother for abandoning her .', 'She will search for her birth mother and ask her why she gave her up .', 'None of the above choices .'] |
Turn is irrelevant , but I bet , he calls . River , a 7 baby ! I bet 10 , he makes it 20 , I make it 30 , and then he makes it 40 , I opted to just call in case he had a bigger full house than me . | What type of game is the narrator playing ? | They 're playing poker . | ["They 're playing river rafting .", "They 're playing street basketball to 20 .", "They 're playing basketball ."] |
Concern with money, and then more money, in order to buy the conveniences and luxuries of modern life, has brought great changes to the lives of most Frenchmen. More people are working harder than ever before in France. In the cities the traditional leisurely midday meal is disappearing. Offices, shops, and factories are discovering the great efficiency of a short lunch hour in company lunch rooms. In almost all lines of work emphasis now falls on ever increasing output. Thus the "typical" Frenchman produces more, earns more, and buys more consumer goods than his counterpart of only a generation ago. He gains in creature comfort and ease of life. What he loses to some extent is his sense of personal uniqueness, or individuality.
Some say that France has been Americanized. This is because the United States is a world symbol of the technological society and its consumer products. The so called Americanization of France has its critics. They fear that "assembly line life" will lead to the disappearance of the pleasures of the more graceful and leisurely (but less productive) old French style. What will happen, they ask, to taste, elegance, and the cultivation of the good things in life to joy in the smell of a freshly picked apple, a stroll by the river, or just happy hours of conversation in a local cafe?
Since the late 1950s life in France has indeed taken on qualities of rush, tension, and the pursuit of material gain. Some of the strongest critics of the new way of life are the young, especially university students. They are concerned with the future, and they fear that France is threatened by the triumph of this competitive, goods-oriented culture. Occasionally, they have reacted against the trend with considerable violence.
In spite of the critics, however, countless Frenchmen are committed to keeping France in the forefront of the modern economic world. They find that the present life brings more rewards, conveniences, and pleasures than that of the past. They believe that a modern, industrial France is preferable to the old. | Which of the following is true about the critics? | Students critics have, on occasion, resorted to violent means against the trend. | ['Critics are greater in number than people enjoying the new way of life.', 'Students critics are greater in number than critics in other fields.', 'Critics are concerned solely with the present and not the future.'] |
She runs down the stairs , checks to see if she 's breathing and leaves . Lauren and Whitney are jeopardized in France when Jason gets caught in the middle of a fight . The french police arrest Jason . Brody is back in Hollywood with Stephanie and they talk things through about their relationship but it just is n't going to work . | What may be the reason for Jason getting arrested ? | He was the one that started the fight . | ['He was the one that shot someone .', 'None of the above choices .', 'He was the one that threw something at someone .'] |
The freezing Northeast hasn't been a terribly fun place to spend time this winter, so when the chance came for a weekend to Sarasota, Florida, my bags were packed before you could say "sunshine". I left for the land of warmth and vitamin C(C), thinking of beaches and orange trees. When we touched down to blue skies and warm air, I sent up a small prayer of gratefulness. Swimming pools, wine tasting, and pink sunsets(at normal evening hours, not 4 in the afternoon) filled the weekend, but the best part- particularly to my taste, dulled by months of cold- weather root vegetables- was a 7 a.m. adventure to the Sarasota farmers' market that proved to be more than worth the early wake-up call.
The market, which was founded in 1979, sets up its tents every Saturday from 7:00 am to 1 p.m, rain or shine, along North Lemon and State streets. Baskets of perfect red strawberries, the red-painted sides of the Java Dawg coffee truck; and most of all, the tomatoes: amazing, large, soft and round red tomatoes.
Disappointed by many a broken, vine-ripened promise, I've refused to buy winter tomatoes for years. No matter how attractive they look in the store, once I get them home they're unfailingly dry, hard, and tasteless. But I homed in, with uncertainty, on one particular table at the Brown's Grove Farm's stand, full of fresh and soft tomatoes the size of my fist. These were the real deal- and at that moment, I realized that the best part of Sarasota in winter was going to be eating things that back home in New York I wouldn't be experiencing again for months.
Delighted as I was by the tomatoes in sight, my happiness deepened when I learned that Brown's Grove Farm is one of the suppliers for Jack Dusty, a newly opened restaurant at the Sarasota Ritz Carlton, where- luckily for me- I was planning to have dinner that very night. Without even seeing the menu, I knew I'd be ordering every tomato on it. | What was the author going to that evening? | Eat in a restaurant. | ['Go to a farm.', 'Check into a hotel.', 'Buy fresh vegetable'] |
Few people would disagree that email makes our lives easier. But misusing email can cause problems. And I'm not talking about hitting the "reply all" button when you didn't mean to.
Answering all those emails and processing all that information can overload the brain,causing stress.
So says the Future Work Centre, a business based in London.This company carries out psychological research on people's experiences in their workplaces.
The centre's Richard MacKinnon was the lead writer of a report on messaging habits. He calls email a double-edged sword. In other works,email can be both good and bad. Americans also use the saying cuts both ways for something like a double-edged sword.
But back to the culture of emailing,Emails provide a useful way to communicate. But they could add to tension in the mind,causing stress. Come rain or shine, some office workers are under pressure to read and answer emails all day long.
Jonathan Rowe has on office job in London. His complaint is a common one:too many emails.
He says reading work emails when you're at home blurs the boundaries between work and leisure.
Psychologists are concemed about the pressure that workers bring on themselves. Dr. Richard MacKinnon spoke with VOA News on Skype.
He says that email can be a valuable, time-saving communication tool. But it can also be a source of stress and even anger for many of us. He adds that the stress does not come from the number of emails you get. The problems result from when and how you deal with them.
According to the study,there are two very stressful email behaviors. One is leaving email on all day-and never signing off. The other is reading and answering emails early in the day and late at night.
Which jobs are most affected by email stress?
But not all jobs are equally stressed by email. The jobs most affected by email stress are:
* marketing,
* public relations,
* media and
* Information Technology
Educational experts have also written several reports on how email overloads are stressing out teachers.
Ways to cut down on your email stress
MacKinnon says bad email behaviors are linked to higher levels of stress in office workers. The Future Work Centre report gives several suggestions on avoiding email stress.
*Use email with a plan. Do not just react to endless email alerts. If you use an email application, or app ,on your device, close it down when you want to be left alone.
*If you need to communicate with a co-worker,call or better still walk to their office and talk about it.
*Be careful with the "reply all" option. For example, if you are accepting an invitation to attend training, just write back to those who need to know. Trust me. Other workers on that mailing list will thank you.
*And accept the fact that if a matter is urgent employers will call you about it.
The Future Work Centre report claims that in 2014, people sent an estimated 196.3 billion emails. The average adult spent more than an hour a day answering emails.
Email is certainly not going anywhere. So, it is important to control your emails and not the other way around. | Dr.Richard MacKinnon holds the idea that _ . | it is the way of processing emails that makes you feel stressed. | ['it is the emails you get daily that puts you under pressure.', 'it is necessary that you read and answer your emails at noon.', 'it is important that you realize where a source of stress comes from.'] |
It's nine o'clock on a Tuesday night.You are trying to finish your maths assignment.
You have only two problems left to go.Almost done!You are looking forward to a nice snack and your favorite TV show.You read the next problem and groan.You don,t have a clue how to do it .You may check your notes from class .Or you may try reading your text-book .But the problem might as well be written in a foreign language.
Does this sound familiar? Most people who have taken any kind of maths class have had this experience.What do you do when you get stuck? Perhaps you call a friend.Or you ask a family member for help.But what if it's late at night?
Years ago there were very few ways to get help if you were stuck on a maths problem. Maths is different from other school subjects.You often cannot find what to do in a book.A dictionary or even an encyclopedia probably won't help you.You need someone to show you the steps.Learning most kinds of maths is something like learning to play a musical instrument.You need a coach to show you what to do.
In many areas there are homework telephone lines.These hot lines have volunteers.They can help you do homework in all subjects.A maths volunteer can explain the steps in a maths problem that has you stumped*
Today you can also get help on the Internet.There are several homework help programs and Web pages .In some,you leave your question on a message board.Or you write it in an e-mail note.In other maths-help programs there are live volunteer teachers.You can wait for a real maths teacher to help you do the problem. | The passage suggests that people who need maths homework help should _ . | try a homework help program on the Internet | ['not take any more maths classes', 'watch some television', 'write an e-mail note to a friend'] |
The last section of Part I answers the most commonly asked questions about laser eye surgery . All readers will find this particularly useful . Part II is for people who require additional information , a behind - the - scenes exploration . It describes what a laser is , the role of the FDA in evaluating the laser procedure , alternatives to laser vision treatment , as well as possible future developments . | What may be a plausible reason for reading the commonly asked questions ? | Someone would want to know more about laser eye surgery . | ['Someone would be interested in performing laser eye surgery .', 'Someone is recruiting participants for laser eye surgery .', 'Someone works at a place that performs laser eye surgery .'] |
hello!andrew over at thinkspace gallery interviewed me a few days ago , right after i returned from my solo show there , Raveled , from august 8th.normally i am not fond of interviews , but i guess i felt comfortable talking to andrew , so i answered them pretty loose and easily.but i did n't know it was going to be posted so fast , and everywhere ( i saw it on juxtapoz too),so i apologize if it sounds too casual and scattered . oops . please read the original version here on their blog , or under the cut below . AN INTERVIEW WITH STELLA IM HULTBERG:1 ) Please give us a lil ' background info on yourself . | Why did Andrew interview the speaker ? | So that he could document what they said and post it online | ['He was interviewing the speaker for a potential job opening', 'None of the above choices .', 'Andrew is romantically interested in the speaker and wants to know if they would be a good partner'] |
The federal government is about to make a huge investment in high school. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Congress has put aside more than $100 billion, including a competitive "Race to the Top" fund that encourages innovation in public schools.
But the real revolution, hidden in the Race to the Top guidelines released by the Department of Education last month, is that high school has a new mission. No longer is it enough just for senior graduate students, or even prepare them for college. Schools must now show how they increase both college enrollment and the number of students who complete at least a year of college. In other words, high schools must now focus on grade 13.
Some states, school districts and nonprofit educational organizations have begun to gather data about how freshmen get along in college after graduation, but they haven't made fast progress. Florida has one of the best systems, but even it can't explain a high school graduate who enrolls in college in another state. The nation is asking principals to deliver students who can succeed in college, without ensuring they know whether what they're doing is working.
The Department of Education has begun to solve this problem by instructing states on how to keep good records of its graduates' progress in college. This gives high schools the two pieces of information they most need: their college enrollment rate and "college proficiency" rate (the speed with which graduates complete a year of college-level coursework).
Race to the Top has finally established a realistic purpose for high school in the 21st century. If principals can now get the support they need to fulfill that purpose, high schools can once again be top producers of American potential . | What does the writer think of the data about how freshmen get along in college? | Slow. | ['Fruitful.', 'Fast.', 'Perfect.'] |