Ques: Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: If a noisy neighbor is blasting music at all hours of the day and night, drowning out your phone conversations and interrupting your sleep, you can call the police. But what is a whale to do? Natural noise from waves, wind, rain and even earthquakes is common in oceans. Unfortunately, man-made noise from oil and gas drilling, sonar, and ships is also present. Low frequency noise has doubled off the California coast every decade since the nineteen sixties. The main reasons are ships' propellers . They not only generate continuous low frequency sound, some propellers cavitate , which means they create air bubbles that collapse, creating loud popping sounds. Whales use low frequency calls to communicate across thousands of miles of ocean. They are threatened by noise pollution because it can prevent them from contacting each other and from locating their foods. Endangered humpback and right whales, which use fibrous baleen to strain food from the water, are the most at risk. Scientists studying right whales off Canada's east coast have discovered that whales are sending louder calls through the water to make themselves heard. Because they invest more energy in making calls, they have less energy available for finding food and mating. Other scientists measuring whale calls against background noise pollution have discovered that right whales have lost about eighty percent of their normal communication area. This could seriously affect survival of this already threatened species. Scientists don't have badges and guns, but they are trying to correct the noise pollution problem. By tracking ships and marine mammals and understanding how noise travels, they are creating sound maps. They hope to get shipping lanes moved so that the noise pollution ships create will not overlap with areas most important to the whales. Question: What does the passage mainly talk about? - Whales are in danger because of the noise. - Noise pollution is affecting whales. - Natural noise is good for whales. - How to protect whales endangered.
Ans: Noise pollution is affecting whales.

Ques: Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: When I was seven years old my mom was diagnosed with cancer. For this type of cancer the survival rate was low. My family was extremely upset and shocked. I was too young to understand. I had no idea that everyday with my mom had to be the absolute best because we didn't know if it would be our last. I didn't understand why everyone was suddenly taking time out of their busy lives to come over and sit on our couch. The doctors told us my mom might survive with surgery . But it could also kill her. She agreed to have it. The surgery was scheduled for the day after the Columbus Day. The day before the surgery I had off from school, and my mom planned the best day of my life. The day began with her waking me up saying, "Kate, I have a surprise for you. Come see." The surprise was a doll I had wanted for the longest time. Throughout the day, she told me everything that she thought I would need to know to grow up and be a good person; she told me to be the best I could be and that I would always make her proud. The day was filled with laughter. For the first time in a long time I could see she was happy. Really happy. The day passed and the next day, it was time for the surgery. There were no tears; I think I understood that I could lose my mom, because they did tell me she could die. We waited all day for news from the doctor. Everyone jumped when a door opened or anyone walked into the waiting room. Finally the doctor came in, and the news was what we had prayed for. I will never forget that day together, and how her illness pulled our family closer. I understand now how lucky we were. I truly appreciate life and honor my mom for being so strong. Question: After the author's mother fell ill, people _ . - took turns to look after the author - tried to spend more time on their work - spared more time to stay with the mother - asked the doctors to operate on the mother at once
Ans: spared more time to stay with the mother

Ques: Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: The last school bell rings and your kids are off for the summer.For most kids, those thoughts of schoolwork and lessons are a distant memory that they won't be thinking about again until fall.So it's important for them to continue some learning. Have Your Kids Hit the Library Encourage your kids to read by taking them to the library during the summer.If they don't have a library card, get them one.Many local libraries sponsor summer reading clubs that keep your kids wanting to read.Be sure to let your kids pick their own books out; summer is for fun reading. Have Your Kids Read Every Day Ask your kids to read outside in the sun.join in with them, and read aloud their favorite books, no matter how many times you have read them.Pick a time every day when you all stop and read as a family together.Nothing will stimulate a child to read than to have adults reading with them. Find Other Ways to Encourage the Kids If you are planning a family trip, have them check out the map.Let your kids go online and research where you are going.Have your kids check the weather report in the newspaper or what big event is happening and then have them report back on them at dinnertime.Have your kids check out magazines or websites for recipes that can be prepared. Learning to express your thoughts in writing in a logical manner is a skill that is often lost.To help your kids, have them write about things during the summer.If your kids love something such as animals, have them write a short report about them to share with the family.If you are going on a trip, have your kids keep a travel journal Question: In the writer's opinion, when in a library, parents should _ . - keep a close eye on what their kids read - help their kids find useful books - only let their kids read books on subjects - let their kids choose what they like reading
Ans: let their kids choose what they like reading

Ques: Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: To many basketball fans in Taiwan, the William Jones Cup or the Basketball Association may be their sweetest memory. But if you ask them, "What's the hottest basketball event now?" There is the only answer: HBL, the High School Basketball League. Founded in 1988, the HBLwas at first just a high school basketball tournament. After the Taipei School Sport Federation took charge in 1996 and renamed it HBL, everything changed. The Federation decided to co-operated with Nike, the well-known sportswear manufacturer, and use its experience in marketing to promote the game. The HBL started with 129 teams; today there are more than 250. no longer just of interest to the players, it's now Taiwan's biggest basketball event. Fellow students, alumni (,), and sports fans all over Taiwan cheer for their favorite teams. At last year's finals, Taipei and Kaohsiung mayors came to cheer for their teams. The HBL starts in September with qualifying and preliminary(,) rounds and continues through April of the following year, when the finals are held. Broadcasting the games on television has helped make the HBL a wildly popular event. It's become the place to spot young basketball talent. Today's HBL players are tomorrow's professionals. Recent HBL tournaments have been very competitive, with no one school taking the advantage. This wide-open quality of the tournament makes it more exciting. Everyone wants to see how this year's games will come out. HBL fever just keeps getting hotter. Question: What is the hottest event in the eyes of most basketball fans in Taiwan? - HBL - The William Jones Cup - The Basketball Association - NBA
Ans:
HBL