Everybody may have seen the film "Death on the Nile (n. )", but nobody can imagine that the writer of the story, Agatha Christie, saved a baby in a most unusual way. In June 1977, a baby girl became seriously ill in Deleville. Doctors there were unable to find out the cause of her illness, so she was sent to a famous hospital in London, where there were many excellent doctors. The baby was so seriously ill that a team of doctors hurried to examine the baby without delay. The doctors, too, were puzzled by the baby's illness and they also became discouraged. Just then a nurse asked to speak to them. "I think the baby is suffering from thallium (n. ) poisoning. " said the nurse. "A few days ago, I read a story 'A Pale Horse' written by Agatha Christie. Someone uses thallium poison, and all the symptoms are written in the book. They are exactly the same as the baby's." "You're very good at observing things," said a doctor, "and you may be right. We'll carry out some tests and find out whether the cause is thallium poisoning or not." The tests proved that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium. Once they knew the cause, the doctors were able to give her correct treatment. The baby soon got well and was sent back to Deleville A week later, it was reported that the poison might have come from an insecticide (n. ) used in Deleville. The baby was sent to a hospital in London because _ . A) her parents were living in London then B) the hospitals in Deleville were full at that time C) she was the daughter of a famous doctor in London D) doctors in Deleville were not sure about the cause of her illness
D
(Question)
New findings suggest that brainy card games such as contract bridge may temporarily raise production of a key blood cell including in fighting off illness. After 90 minutes of play, bridge players had increased levels of immune cells, according to the research reported last week. A researcher, Diamond, studied bridge players from a women's bridge club. She chose bridge players because the game includes skills stimulating a part of the brain called the dorsolateral cortex. Earlier animal research suggests that this part of the brain may play a role in the immune system. The findings are based on blood samples drawn from 12 women players. Their blood samples showed a rise in levels of white blood cells called T cells after they played bridge for 90 minutes. T cells are produced by the thymus gland and used by the immune system against diseases. The T cell count jumped significantly in eight of the bridge players, and slightly in the other four. The findings contribute to the field of neuroimmunology , whose name reflects the fact that the nervous system and the immune system are not considered separate and isolated systems. What isn't clear is whether the help to the immune system from an activity like contract bridge is lasting or temporary. It is also not clear whether the increase in T cells could finally be targeted against special illnesses. Which of the following is true according to this article? A) The immune system and the brain system used to be considered separate and isolated systems. B) The help to the immune system that is brought about by playing bridge can last for a long time. C) Cortex is a kind of blood cell. D) The new findings are impossible.
(Answer)
A
Ques: World Book and Copyright Day is a annual event that falls on April 23 and was first celebrated in 1995. The event was organized by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright. The connection between April 23 and books was first made in 1923 by booksellers in Catalonia, prefix = st1 /Spainas a way to honor the author Miguel de Cervantes who died on that day. It became part of the celebrations of theSaint George'sDay (also April 23) in the region, where it has been a tradition since the medieval era for men to give roses to their lovers and since 1925 for women to give a book in exchange. In 1995, UNESCO decided that the World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on April 23 to _ people who have made great contributions to social and cultural progress of mankind. The date is also the anniversary of the birth and death of William Shakespeare, the death of renowned authors Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Josep Pla, the birth of Maurice Druon, Vladimir Nabokov, Manuel Mejia Vallejo and Halldor Laxness. With the success of the World Book and Copyright Day, UNESCO developed the concept of World Book Capital City, selecting Madridas the capital for 2001. After this, UNESCO's General Conference resolved to make the designation of a World Book Capital City an annual event and selected Beirut as this year's capital. How often does World Book and Copyright Day take place? _ . A) Every year B) Every other year C) Every fourth year D) Not referred to
Ans: A
(Q).
Daredevil climber Alain Robert, known as the French Spiderman, stood strong winds and rain to climb the world's tallest skyscraper, Taiper 101, Saturday. Robert, dressed in a red rain jacket, tights and climbing shoes, climbed up ropes hung down the side of the 101-storey, 1,667-foot office tower, reaching the top in around four hours. "It was a very big moment and I felt a lot of satisfaction though I was already so tired and nearly all of my muscles were painful. I felt completely eased," said Robert after taking the ride down in one of the tower's lifts, the world's fastest. Several hundred onlookers and shoppers gathered at the base of the tower watching and cheering Roberts progress through live pictures on a large television screen. At times he disappeared from view as clouds passed by the top of the tower surrounding the upper storeys. The 42-year-old Frenchman has covered scores of well-known structures around the world including the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower-without permission or any safety equipment or ropes. This time Robert was wearing a harness fastened to safety ropes for the entire climb. He used the ropes to pull himself up most of the way, using his hands and feet to climb up the walls for only short sections. He said the management had requested he wear the ropes and safety equipment, which had also become necessary due to the rain making the windows and frames very slippery. Robert said he would not carry his pity the next time. According to the text, we can infer that_. A) Alain Robert spent three hours climbing Taipei 101 B) Alain Robert chose a rainy day on purpose C) Alain Robert will climb Taipei 101 a second time D) Alain Robert got lots of help from onlookers
(A).
C
Mary likes to invent things. She creates a new language and teaches it to her friend, Jean. Mary and Jean like to talk to each other in their own language because they think no one understands them and it is funny. When they go shopping, they say things like: "Look! He is fat." "This CD is awful." "I want to eat free hamburgers." A clerk comes but he can't understand what they say. He asked them: "May I help you?" Mary and Jean just laugh. What fun it is to create something new. Which is Mary's invention? A) Teaching her friend. B) A new language. C) Go shopping. D) Making hamburgers.
B