One morning a few years ago, Harvard President Neil Rudenstine overslept. For this busy man, it was a sort of alarm: after years of non-stop hard work, he might wear himself out and die an early death. Only after a week's leave---- during which he read novels, listened to music and walked with his wife on a beach---- was Rudenstine able to return to work. In our modern life, we have lost the rhythm between action and rest. Amazingly, within this world there is a universal but silly saying: "I am so busy." We say this to one another as if our tireless efforts were a talent by nature and an ability to successfully deal with stress. The busier we are, the more important we seem to ourselves and, we imagine, to others. To be unavailable to our friends and family, and to be unable to find time to relax---- this has become the model of a successful life. Because we do not rest, we lose our way. We miss the guide telling us where to go, the food providing us with strength, the quiet giving us wisdom. How have we allowed this to happen? I believe it is this: we have forgotten the Sabbath, the day of the week---- for followers of some religions---- for rest and praying. It is a day when we are not supposed to work, a time when we devote ourselves to enjoying and celebrating what is beautiful. It is a good time to bless our children and loved ones, give thanks, share meals, walk and sleep. It is a time for us to take a rest, to put our work aside, trusting that there are larger forces at work taking care of the world. Rest is a spiritual and biological need; however, in our strong ambition to be successful and care for our many responsibilities, we may feel terribly guilty when we take time to rest. The Sabbath gives us permission to stop work. In fact, "Remember the Sabbath" is more than simply permission to rest; it is a rule to obey and a principle to follow. What is the main idea of this passage? A) We should balance work with rest. B) The Sabbath gives us permission to rest. C) It is silly for anyone to say "I am busy." D) We should be available to our family and friends.
A
(Question)
WASHINGTON The head of the World Bank says for the first time in human history, it is possible to end poverty around the world. Jim Yong Kim told a Washington audience Tuesday, he wants to make ending world poverty by 2030 a top goal for the bank and governments around the world. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim says that the problems of poverty, hunger and inequality are wide, urgent and a matter of survival of millions. "We know that despite the great successes of the last decade, there are still about 1.3 billion people living in extreme poverty, 870 million who go hungry every day, and 6.9 million children under five dying every year," he said. But Kim told a Washington audience that the previous successful efforts to cut the number of people living in extreme poverty by half give them hope. "We are at an moment in history, when the successes of past decades and an increasingly favourable economic outlook combine to give developing countries a chance-for the first time ever-to end extreme poverty within a generation," he said in a speech at Georgetown University. "Our duty now must be to ensure that these favourable circumstances are matched with deliberate decisions to realize this historic opportunity." Kim says success will require increasing the speed of economic growth, particularly in South Africa and South Asia. But he warned that civil unrest could happen if economic growth does not help people at all income levels, and also include women and youth. Kim says that the World Bank and other development agencies will have more resources to get this job done right. "Meeting this 2030 goal will take extraordinary effort," he said. However, Kim warned that all the progress in fighting poverty could be destroyed by climate disasters unless the nations of the world do more to prevent climate change. What's the passage mainly about? A) The key of ending world poverty is preventing climate change. B) A top goal-ending world poverty will possibly be achieved by 2030. C) The success of ending poverty-economic growth. D) The progress in fighting poverty.
(Answer)
B
Ques: Kitty is a little black-and-brown Australian dog. It's not a particularly bright dog. While Dad can make my sister and me afraid just by the tone of his voice, I have never heard him raise his voice at Kitty. In fact, one look from Kitty at the biscuit tin is enough to send my dad flying to get him a snack. Whenever we protest about the unfair treatment, Dad has a sorry smile on his face. It's become a long-standing family joke that Kitty is the closest thing to a son Dad will ever have. Then, five years ago, our lives were turned upside down when Dad suffered two major strokes within a month. For four long months, mentally he was non-responsive. We had to take turns standing by his bedside to protect him. We were exhausted after every "shift" but grateful that he was still alive. As the months went by, I couldn't help but talk about Kitty constantly, often hoping that Dad could show some awareness of what I said. Then one day, without even realizing it, I blurted out , "Is Kitty a tiger?" Dad began to smile. It was the first sign in four months that Dad had showed any awareness of what I said. Seeing this, the whole family felt a huge weight lift from our shoulders. Over the next nine months, Dad had to learn all the basic things we take for granted. Dad, who was an independent man with a successful career before all this happened, found it increasingly frustrating . The only thing that ever brought a smile to his face was talk of Kitty. When we massaged Dad's arms and legs to prevent his muscles from weakening, I would always say: "Now all you need is Kitty to give you a 'lick-lick' foot massage!" No matter how many times I repeated this comment, the whole family would laugh. During the next nine months, Dad _ . A) felt discouraged while learning the basic things B) enjoyed being massaged by three women C) often needed the stories of Kitty D) would like Kitty to accompany him
Ans: A
Harry is eighteen now. He studies in a middle school.His parents like him very much and hope he can become a famous man. So they often tell him to study hard and they do almost everything for him. They wakes him up at six in the morning, after breakfast his father takes him to school in a car and in the afternoon, as soon as the young man comes back, the supper is ready. Of course, he never washes his clothes or goes to buy anything in the shops. Once Harry's father was sent to London on business. He would stay there for half a year. Upon leaving, he told his wife to take good care of their son. The woman had to get up eatlier and did all that her husband did before. And two months later she was so tired that she was ill in bed. Now the young man got into trouble. He couldn't do any housework. He had to do as his mother told him. He didn't even know where to get on the bus! One day Harry's mother found his shoes were worn out and told him to buy a pair in the shop. But he didn't know how to choose The woman had a sigh and give him a shoe patten and told him to buy a pair of.shoes himself. With a policeman's help, Harry found a shop. The shopkeeper was friendly to him. The man brought a lot of shoes and asked him to choose. When he was trying on a pair, suddenly he remembered something and took them off. The man was surprised and asked, "What's the matter, young man?" "I'm sorry. I've left the shoe pattern at home!" When his father was in London, _ . A) Harry had to stay at home B) Harry couldn't even find the bus stop C) Harry fell behind in his class D) Harry wouldn't go to school
B