When the earthquake hit Japan on March 11,workers in a supermarket in Japan didn't run away when they felt the shaking. Instead, they held on to the shelves and tried to stop the goods from falling down. Reporters from NHK, the country's largest TV station, stayed calm in front of cameras during the earthquake, even though some were facing real danger. The earthquake was the most powerful one to hit Japan in the country's history. But Japan's reaction to the accident has shown that it is the most earthquake-prepared country in the world. The calm the Japanese showed during and after the quake has impressed the world. This is because Japan has "an earthquake culture".Japanese people are taught how to prepare for and react to earthquakes from a young age. Schools in Japan organize earthquake practices every month. They make students become familiar with being in an earthquake. Japan also has a good earthquake warning system .Warnings were broadcast on television, radio and mobile phones nine seconds after experts first knew about the quake on March 11. The warning system is unable to predict earthquakes. But it can usually _ people about 15 seconds before they feel the effects. Even 15 or 20 seconds can be enough time to save people's lives. .After experts first knew about the quake on March 11,warnings were not broadcast _ . A) on radio B) on the movie C) on television D) on mobile phones
B

An astronaut's work may sound exciting, but living in space isn't as fun as you think. The website www.space.com lists the disadvantages of living in space. Here are some of them. When astronauts work outside the station during spacewalks, they have to wear special gloves. The gloves are very tight. They can hurt the astronauts' fingernails and even make them fall off. In space, you don't have many choices in what you eat. It's hard to get fresh fruits and vegetables. It is not OK to eat bread because it leaves crumbs . Crumbs could fly around everywhere. In space, it is impossible to have a good shower because water can fly all over the ship and break the machines. Astronauts have to use a special water-shooting gun and a washcloth. Astronauts lose their bone strength quickly during their stay in space. So far, there is no way to solve this problem. They do exercise while they're in space to try to keep their bones strong as long as possible. Perhaps the hardest part of life in space is the feeling of loneliness. Astronauts sometimes have to spend weeks and even months away from Earth. They miss their friends and families. What's the hardest part of life for astronauts in space? A) They feel very lonely. B) They have to stay alone in space. C) They have no friends. D) They have no families.
A

What do you call a school with no tests, no grades, no classes, and no teachers? Students of the Met School and their parents think it to be the best school in the world. The school is in Rhode Island, USA. Dennis Littky opened it in 1996. He was fired from two other schools, because many parents of the school students were happy with his unusual ideas. The school takes poor kids who are failing at schools. Nearly everybody has already given up these students and their parents want to try anything. The Met School gives Littky a great place to try out his new ideas. "The word that most kids use when they talk about high school is 'boring'," says Littky. "But no one would say the Met was boring." Advisors (not teachers) work with small groups of students for four years. Students spend almost half of their school time learning real-life skills , such as working for business , spending time with government people, and helping teach younger children. Instead of tests, the students give shows about their work outside school. In fact, students work harder here than in other schools. All the students from the Met graduate and can choose to go to a good university . Now, Bill Gates is starting schools like this one around the USA. According to the passage, which of the following if TRUE? A) Life at the Met School is very easy because there are no tests. B) Teachers at the Met School give students much more homework than at normal school. C) Students can choose to go to a good university. D) Students at the Met School spend all their time working outside school.
C