Ques: In ancient Greek mythology we learn about a young man named Narcissus. He was so beautiful that he fell in love with his own reflection . He became obsessed , but soon realized that what he loved was not real. As a result, he became sad and died. In the place where he had stood appeared a soft yellow flower -a narcissus. This is where the word "narcissism" came from. Unfortunately, narcissism is often used to show disapproval because it is usually used to mean being self-centered and not caring about others. However, part of the reason that narcissism carries these negative meanings is that many people admire themselves in an unhealthy way. But the truth is that good self-love is necessary for our mental health, scientists say. A study published 10 years ago shows that low self-esteem is responsible for many social problems, and it can affect teenagers seriously. When they feel less confident and not as good as their classmates, teenagers are more likely to suffer from depression, commit suicide, get pregnant and bully others, according to the BBC. The other reason that narcissism is considered an ugly thing is because we are taught that we should care more about others than ourselves and that it's better to give than to receive. Thinking about others is the right thing to do, without question. But psychologists say that the love of others is actually based on self-love. If you see yourself as an unpleasant stranger, how can you be capable of making friends with anyone else? After all, you are closer to yourself than anyone else. After years of study, scientists also found that parents play a big part in building a child's self-belief. Only if the parents approve and accept their children, do they feel loved and learn to love themselves. The next time you look in the mirror, try to tell yourself that you are one of a kind. Pick out your best qualities and be proud of yourself. It is suggested in the article that _ . A) people should admire their reflection in the mirror B) people should be confident and appreciate their good qualities C) people should put others before themselves D) people should be more self-centered
Ans: B

Ques: Bamboo is one of the nature's most surprising plants. Many people call this plant a tree, but it is a kind of grass. Like other kinds of grass, a bamboo plant may be cut very low to the ground, but it will grow back very quickly. A Japanese scientist recorded one bamboo plant that grew almost 1.5 meters in 24 hours! Bamboo grows almost everywhere in the world except Europe . There are more than 1,000 kinds of bamboo that grow around the world on both mountains and plains. Not all bamboo looks the same. Some bamboo plants are very thin. They may only grow to be a few centimeters wide while others may grow to more than 30 centimeters across. This plant also comes in different colors, from yellow to black to green. Many Asian countries have been using bamboo for hundreds of years. They often use bamboo for building new buildings. As a matter of fact, the cables hold up the hanging bridge across the Min River in Sichuan are made of bamboo. The bridge has been in use for more than 1,000 years, and is still holding strong. In Africa, engineers are teaching poor farmers how to find water using bamboo. These African countries need cheap ways to find water because they have no money, and their fields often die from no rain and no water. It seems that bamboo is one of the best things they can use. Bamboo pipes and drills can help to make the poor thirsty fields be watered. Why did the engineers teach the poor farmers in Africa to make use of bamboo? A) Because it is cheap. B) Because it is colorful. C) Because it drills fast. D) Because it is used by Asians.
Ans: A

Ques: I was eight when my neighbors got a TV. It was small and expensive, but that didn't matter. IT WAS WONDERFUL. Everyone in the building came up to the fifth floor to see this latest wonder of the modern world. That was in 1948. Soon, a lot of people got a TV, but not us. My parents didn't think it was good for children. Being a good son, I didn't argue with them. But I secretly watch TV--at my friends' homes. By 1955, televisions weren't so expensive and were much larger. My parents still thought they were not good for us, but my sisters insisted, saying they were the only people in the neighborhood who didn't have one. All their friends talked about certain programs and actors, but they couldn't. Their friends laughed at them, which made them feel very unhappy. My youngest sister cried, saying she was never going back to school and that life without a TV wasn't worth living. Nothing my parents said made her feel better. The next morning, without telling us, they went out and got a new TV. When we were young our parents allowed us to watch TV for two hours a night. And we couldn't watch until our homework was finished. But after a year or two, TV wasn't exciting or new anymore. It became just another part of our lives like shoes or soap. My parents still had fears about TV. We were going to forget how to read, and TV was going to fill our minds with violence, they said. Today people still argue about the value of TV. Nobody can deny the power of TV, which has a powerful influence on our lives. On average, Americans spend 30 hours a week watching TV. Is this influence good or bad? This is an unanswerable question indeed: It is hard enough to measure influence; and it is even harder to decide what is good and what isn't. What is good, I suppose, is that many people are concerned about TV's influence and that we have the power to change what we don't like. The people of Monhegan Island, 18 kilometers away off the coast of Maine, don't have electricity, and they decided; once again, that they liked that way.... The author's parents finally decided to buy a TV because _ . A) they wanted to meet their daughters' needs . B) the children couldn't go to school without a TV C) the sisters would like to be like their friends D) they had to do as the youngest daughter told them to
Ans:
A