question: Five years ago, Wang Baoqiang was a nobody to most Chinese people. However, he is now a household film star in China.

Wang is the youngest child of a poor family in Hebei province . Dreaming of becoming an actor, he left home at the age of 8 to study kung fu at Shaolin Temple, since kung-fu actors seemed to appear most often on the big screen.

At 14, he moved to Beijing for his acting career for the first time, with little money in his pocket. He worked at a construction site for 20 to 25 yuan per day, and spent his free time standing in front of the Beijing Film Studio, eager to be chosen as temporary actors.

This was the most difficult time for the boy. His opportunity finally came one day after he went for a role in the movie "Blind Shaft". He was chosen to play a young coal miner. The movie won him three prizes in Thailand, France and Taiwan. But his success didn't make any difference to his life.

That year, he went home for the Spring Festival. He gave his family his earnings from the movie, around US$250 and then returned to Beijing with 500 yuan, the same amount he had when he first set foot in the city. His life was as simple as before.

Thanks to his natural performance in "Blind Shaft," he was invited by the famous director Feng Xiaogang to act in the film "A World Without Thieves" in 2004, which made him famous

immediately. People called him "Shagen," the name of his character in the movie.

Wang's latest work, "Soldiers' Sortie" has made him the most popular actor on the Chinese mainland . For the actor, it's a dream coming true.

"Dreams come true. I think my life is exactly a course of pursuing dreams. No matter how tough one thing is, I can make it as long as I put great effort into it," he said.
1. what made him most famous?
2. what was his first movie?
3. at what age did he move to Beijing?
4. what did he do?
5. for how much pay?
6. how much did he take to his family?
7. which other film did he work in?
8. when?
9. by?
10. how much did he return with?
11. what did people call him?
12. why?
13. what did he do to spend time?
14. why?
15. for what?
16. where did he go after leaving home?
17. at what age?
18. what was he doing there?
19. why?
20. Does he appreciate his fame?
****
answer: 1. Soldiers' Sortie
2. Blind Shaft
3. 14
4. worked at a construction site
5. 20 to 25 yuan
6. around US$250
7. A World Without Thieves
8. 2004
9. Feng Xiaogang
10. 500 yuan
11. Shagen
12. it was the name of his character
13. stood in front of the Beijing Film Studio,
14. to be chosen
15. as temporary actor
16. Shaolin Temple
17. Eight
18. studying kung fu
19. kung-fu actors seemed to appear most on the big screen.
20. Yes

question: CHAPTER XVIII

I

THOUGH he saw them twice daily, though he knew and amply discussed every detail of their expenditures, yet for weeks together Babbitt was no more conscious of his children than of the buttons on his coat-sleeves.

The admiration of Kenneth Escott made him aware of Verona.

She had become secretary to Mr. Gruensberg of the Gruensberg Leather Company; she did her work with the thoroughness of a mind which reveres details and never quite understands them; but she was one of the people who give an agitating impression of being on the point of doing something desperate--of leaving a job or a husband--without ever doing it. Babbitt was so hopeful about Escott's hesitant ardors that he became the playful parent. When he returned from the Elks he peered coyly into the living-room and gurgled, "Has our Kenny been here to-night?" He never credited Verona's protest, "Why, Ken and I are just good friends, and we only talk about Ideas. I won't have all this sentimental nonsense, that would spoil everything."

It was Ted who most worried Babbitt.

With conditions in Latin and English but with a triumphant record in manual training, basket-ball, and the organization of dances, Ted was struggling through his Senior year in the East Side High School. At home he was interested only when he was asked to trace some subtle ill in the ignition system of the car. He repeated to his tut-tutting father that he did not wish to go to college or law-school, and Babbitt was equally disturbed by this "shiftlessness" and by Ted's relations with Eunice Littlefield, next door.
1. How many children does Babbitt have?
2. How often does he see them?
3. Does he have a son?
4. What is his name?
5. How old is he?
6. Is he an adult?
7. Is he still in high school?
8. Which year?
9. Is he doing well?
10. What does he like to work on?
11. Is he good at basketball?
12. Is he planning to continue school after high school?
13. Who's his girlfriend?
14. Does Babbitt have a daughter?
15. What is her name?
16. Is she an adult?
17. Who does she work for?
18. Who is her boss?
19. What is her job?
20. Who is her friend?
****
answer: 1. unknown
2. twice daily
3. yes
4. Ted
5. unknown
6. yes
7. yes
8. Senior
9. no
10. cars
11. yes
12. no
13. Eunice Littlefield
14. yes
15. Verona
16. yes
17. Gruensberg Leather Company
18. Mr. Gruensberg
19. secretary
20. Ken

question: As the forceful king of Macedonia , Alexander the Great overthrew the Persian Empire, becoming a hero that would survive centuries after his death.

Born in 356 B.C., Alexander III was the son of Philip II and Olympias. Alexander's parents wanted him to receive the finest education, and arranged for him to study under Aristotle, regarded as one of the greatest scholars.

Alexander's father was a strong leader. Philip II built an impressive army and established the Macedonian kingdom; he was even planning to attack Persia shortly before his death.

In 336, Philip was murdered by one of his guards. Although it was obvious that the guard had a personal hatred, there are clues that other people were related to it.

After Alexander was cleared as a suspect, he succeeded his father without opposition, and killed those said to be responsible for his father's murder, as well as all rivals. He was then just 20 years old. He then prepared to attack Persia.

In the spring of 334, Alexander led the army made up of nearly 50,000 soldiers into Asia, which is called "the most powerful military expedition ever to leave Greece", He soundly defeated the Persian army at the Granicus River, sending a strong message to Darius III, leader of the Persian Empire.

In 333, Alexander faced Darius at Issus, a mountain pass. The Macedonian army was greatly outnumbered but able to work the narrow mountain passageway to their advantage. Darius managed to escape. Continuing down the Mediterranean Coast, Alexander took every city in his path.

In 332 Alexander declared Egypt to be part of the Greek Empire and was crowned Pharaoh .

When Alexander left Egypt in 331, he defeated the Persians again and was crowned leader of Asia.

In 323, however, Alexander developed a fever on the way back home and died 10 days later at Babylon. He was just 33 years old.
1. What nation did Alexander rule?
****
answer:
1. Evidence: As the forceful king of Macedonia