(Question)
Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: One day a lawyer's wife fell ill, and he went to get a doctor. The doctor willingly came to see the woman and to do what he could for her, but before he went into the house, he made a short stop. He knew that the lawyer was famous for not paying his bills, even if they were due .He therefore said to the man."But if I save your wife, I am afraid you may not pay me." "Sir,"replied the lawyer. "Here I have$500,,whether you cure my wife or you kill her. I'll give you all this." The doctor was reassured and went into the house. When he reached the woman's bedside, it soon became clear to him that he could do little. She was seriously ill, and though he prescribed her medicine, she soon died. He told the lawyer he was very sorry, and then asked for the money which he had promised. "Did you kill my wife?"asked the lawyer. "Of course I didn't," said the doctor. "Well! Did you cure my wife?" asked the man. "I'm afraid that was impossible," replied the doctor."Well, then since you neither killed my wife nor cured her, I have nothing to pay you." Question: Because the lawyer's wife was seriously ill, the doctor _ . - couldn' t do much and didn't save her life - tried his best and saved her at last - had to do everything he could for her - had to spend a lot of time to cure her
(Answer)
couldn' t do much and didn't save her life

(Question)
Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Americans often plan social gatherings on short notice, so don't be surprised if you get invited to someone's home or to see a movie or baseball game without much warning. If the time is convenient for you, surely accept their invitation. But if you're busy, don't be afraid to _ the invitation, perhaps suggesting a time that would be better. Your host won't be shamed. Invitations are usually sent in person or over the telephone. The main exception is for some formal occasions, in which case a written invitation will be mailed. You would normally receive a written invitation to a wedding . For a casual dinner invitation, don't arrive more than 5 minutes early, because your host may still be preparing for your visit. Arriving more than 10 minutes late is considered rude if very few people were invited. If many people were invited, it's OK to arrive a little late, even as much as half an hour late. For example, it's OK to arrive late for a party, for a potluck dinner or for a social gathering inviting a large group of people. If you're invited for dinner, it's proper to bring the host a bottle of wine, a gift basket of fruit, a box of candy , or a bouquet of flowers. Don't bring roses, as men often give roses to women on a date . If you wish to thank the host for his or her hospitality , it's right to call or send a brief written thank-you note the next day. Question: The passage is to tell us _ . - how to accept Americans' invitations. - something about American social visits. - something about American business visits. - how to make a living in America.
(Answer)
something about American social visits.

(Question)
Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: A person steps on what seems like solid ground but discovers with horror that the ground is giving way underfoot. The person struggles desperately but is trapped. There is no escape. Slowly the person sinks deeper and at last is gone. The solid ground was solid only in appearance. It was actually quicksand, which is a deep mass of fine sand mixed with water. How is quicksand formed? Water pushes up from below the surface and is held by the sand. The grains of sand are forced apart by the water. They cannot hold any weight. The subsurface water may have come from a spring, a river, or a stream. Sometimes pools of water near beaches become filled with sand. When the soil under these pools does not allow for good drainage , the sand can become stretches of quicksand. Is it true that a person who steps into quicksand is doomed to die? No, for people have fought their way from quicksand to firm land again. It is panic that creates the condition that can result in death, for the more a person struggles, the worse matters become. Quick movements will make the sand yield for a time, but then it rushes back and settles solidly around the body. People trapped in quicksand should either lie back with arms outstretched, or not move at all. When the weight of the sand around his body has displaced equals that person's weight, the victim will stop sinking. With feet held still, and with slow movements of the arms, as in the backstroke in swimming, people have managed to roll to safety and reach firm ground. Question: The passage mainly tells about _ . - what solid ground looks like - the nature of quicksand - stepping into quicksand - escaping from quicksand
(Answer)
the nature of quicksand