user: *Question*
Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: In a living statue, just as the name implies, somebody transforms himself or herself into a statue. Last year, I came across an article in a magazine describing living statues in the streets of some Australian cities. The article was vividly written, except that there was not even a single picture; one could only imagine what a scene it would have been! All the harder, then, to believe that I ran into the "wonder" in prefix = st1 /Barcelonathis year. The performers - the living statues - were street artists at Las Ramblas. Las Ramblas is the most famous street in Barcelona. Especially in summer, thousands of tourists go to the seaside by passing through this street, making it a center of shops and bazaars. Not only can you find tourists there, but also thieves, cheats, cops...among whom the living statue artists are the most special group. They were covered with greasepaint in different color1s, wearing season - disproportional  clothes, standing on a pedestal for several hours without making even a single move. Are they real or _ , the guests were wondering...and then suddenly the statues came to life, just for a few seconds to shift positions. But the movement of the statues seemed like someone just had breathed life into them. They really do look like statues, and that's how they got their name. Usually there is a jar or a hat in front of them. They would change to another pose whenever some tourist puts a coin in the hat. You may take photos after giving a Euro, or even less, but be careful not to touch the statues, unless you want yourself to be covered in paint. It's a really special experience, don't you think? Question: We can infer from this passage that Las Ramblas is_. - very famous in Barcelona - near the seaside - a shopping center - the writer's "wonder"
**Answer**
near the seaside

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Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Food for Italians isn't a trend; it's a way of life. Italians live to eat, and the importance of food in family life is absolutely important and deep-rooted in everyday routines. In Italy, kids are encouraged to be part of every social occasion that revolves around food -- it's not about dividing the children from the adults, giving them separate meals or putting them to bed early. In Britain, by contrast, my sister and I often see children eating separate meals from their parents. Letting children experience food like an Italian will develop not just their palate  but also their social skills, manners, teaching them new and mature ways to interact. Here are some food customs that are part of every Italian child's upbringing. One of the most celebrated Italian food customs is the morning coffee. Coffee shops and bars have customers streaming in and out of them each morning as the Italians get their daily dose-and this habit is just as much about the social setting as it is about the coffee. While the morning is all about coffee, pre-lunch or dinner, it's all about the local snacks. Most often, Italian city centres and squares are jam packed with locals who come out with their kids to enjoy this pre-dinner treat, and children are encouraged to enjoy snacks available. This is a brilliant way to get kids to try new tastes without the pressures of meal times. It's important to note that "kids' menus" do not exist in Italian restaurants--children are treated like adults and are offered plates from the main menu -- in smaller amounts, if they're young. Post-lunch, most cities can seem quite deserted. But by 4 p.m. onwards, the crowds start to re-emerge. One by one, families spill out and the streets liven up. Everyone begins their afternoon stroll, enjoying the afternoon snacks, like ice-cream, which turns over a huge trade in Italy. Question: What do we know about the pre-dinner treat in Italy? - It is most often about coffee. - It can get children to experience new foods with ease. - It is unavailable in city centres and squares. - It can reduce the pressure of meal times.
**Answer**
It can get children to experience new foods with ease.

*Question*
Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Neddine Parker is up by 7 in the morning. After her morning exercises and some housework, she drives to the local hospital, where she volunteers once a week. What makes Parker's routine so extraordinary is that she is 104 years old. "I don't know why I'm still here," she said. Dr. Thomas Perls of the Boston University Medical Center is trying to figure that out. As the director of the New England Centenarian   Study, he studies there "super humans", those age 100 years and older. "It's like winning the lottery", he said. "You've got to choose the right numbers and the right combination." Researchers believe about 30 percent of aging is genetic. For those who get to extremely old ages, family history may play an even more important role. Reuben Landau's mother lived to 100, and three of his brothers and sisters into their 90s. Landau is nearly 102, and he still practices law a few hours every day. Both Landau and Parker are remarkably healthy. They take few medications and have no major illness. Perls has found that many centenarians lack a type of gene -- E4 -- that is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. One study found the gene is in 29 percent of young men, but only 15 percent of centenarians. Perls also believes they may have a "protective gene", one that helps them survive what might kill others. Parker, for example, smoked until she was 100 and had a stroke at 89. However, living into your 100s isn't just genetics. Aging successfully has much to do with environment and behavior. Landau watches what he eats and exercises his body and mind every day. He's convinced it's why he's still in good health. "People still have to do the right things to get to very old age," said Perls. So it's not just the cards you're dealt, but how you play the hand. Question: Why are Landau and Parker remarkably healthy according to the research? - Because they are remarkably active in mind. - Because they lack a gene linked to illness. - Because they are fond of social work. - Because they enjoy sports and housework.
**Answer**


assistant: Because they lack a gene linked to illness.