I have forgotten the name of an old lady who was a customer on my paper route when I was a twelve-year-old boy back in 1954. Yet it seems like just yesterday that she taught me a lesson in forgiveness that I can only hope to pass on to someone else someday. On a Saturday afternoon, a friend and I were throwing rocks onto the roof of the old lady's house. I found a smooth rock and sent it. The stone headed straight for a small window on the old lady's back door. At the sound of broken glass, we took off from the old lady's yard. I was too scared about getting caught that first night. However, a few days later when I was sure that I hadn't been discovered, I started to feel guilty for her misfortune. I decided to save my paper delivery money, and in three weeks I had the seven dollars that I thought would cover the cost of her window. I put the money in an envelope with a note explaining that I was sorry for breaking her window. Then I put the envelope through the letter slot in her door. My soul felt redeemed and I couldn't wait for the freedom of, once again, looking straight into the old lady's eyes. The next day, I. handed the old lady her paper. She thanked me for the paper and said, "Here, I have something for you. " It was a bag of cookies. I thanked her and ate the cookies as I continued my route. After several cookies, I felt an envelope and pulled it out of the bag. When I opened the envelope, I was shocked. Inside was the seven dollars and a short note that said, "I'm proud of you. " Why did the author and his friend escape from the old lady's yard? A) They broke the old lady's back door. B) They broke the old lady's window. C) They heard the old lady shouting. D) They were seen by the old lady.
B
(Question)
Nowadays,the Internet,with its ability to connect people throughout the world,is changing the way people learn languages.There is still no way to avoid the hard work through vocabulary lists and grammar rules,but the books,tapes and even CDs are being replaced by email, video chat and social networks. Livemocha, a Seattle company, has created a website devoted to helping people learn more than 38 languages by exchanging messages over the Internet and then correcting each other's messages. The lessons,whether they are flashcards,quizzes,audio recordings or written and spoken essays,are delivered through the Intemet. Michael Schutzler, Livemocha's chief executive , says the website's advantage is the ability to practicel with a real person. "The great irony is that even if you have learned a foreign language in the classroom for years,you don't have confidefice to go into a restaurant and have a conversation with a foreigner,"he said.The casual connection with real people throughout the world, however brief, are not just fun and surprising but show more about how the language is really used. Livemocha is now experimenting with a variety of ways that resemble the games on other social websites to motivate people.The flashcard exercises,for instance,are scored, and the totals earned by studying and teaching appear on the users'front page. Besides,each person can set up a profile which includes a short description of his age,location and what language he would like to learn.Therefore,if you want to study one language,you will easily find many people who are fluent in it.Andl an email or two is all it takes to find a study partner. There are more and more companies like Livemocha offeritig online language learning to students throughout the world. And instead of merely helping people practice different languages,they also enable people to share interests and make new friends. For what purpose did Livemocha create the website? A) To offer new ways of language learning. B) To make an advertisement for their company. C) To share interests and make new friends. D) To tell his inspiring story to more people.
(Answer)
A
Ques: The first night in Yosemite had been awfid.I hadn't been able to sleep and I was stuck in a too small tent with my wife and two kids."Things haven't worked out."I said to myself.But,like so many other things I complain before my morning coffee,this one was extremely off-key. Things weren't bad;they were good. A hundred yards away was Summit Lake.It was beautiful.We fired up the camp stove and boiled up a cup of coffee.Half an hour later,my 6-year-old daughter and I were in the parking lot of the Lassen Peak Trail,getting ready to hike.We wouldn't make it all the way--young legs get pretty tired on a steep mountain path--but it didn't matter.We would see great views spread out below us,the volcanic ash that layered on the earth turning the melting snow a mysterious pink as the sun struck it.Later,during the hike,I felt stupid about my morning complaints.Everything had been worthwhile.It gave me great satisfaction to see my daughter so excited about the view from the mountain. Yes,camping is uncomfortable.But there's also something wonderful about being so close to nature.Just as importantly,there's something about getting young children out of their increasingly technology-filled comfort zones and forcing them to experience the non-cyber world around them.It's a good thing to reconnect every so often with the Great Outdoors. With the article,the writer tries to send the message that _ . A) it's great to walk outdoors and get close to nature B) it's advisable to be well prepared before going camping C) technology causes much harm to human society D) we should not break the balance of nature
Ans: A
"Success begins with belief and ends with doubt."--Larina Kase I remember reading through a book and the author was writing about being a reverse paranoid. In that particular section he mentions how he has a belief that the world he's living in is out to give him everything he absolutely wants and desires. There are times when I think to myself,"Wow,the world is out to get me and make me miserable." Then I thought,why can't I believe that the world is out to make me a better conversationalist. Then I started adapting to the belief of the reverse paranoia. When I started talking to people,I truly believed that I was the most interesting person in the room. I believed that everything I said added value to the conversation. I believed that people stayed behind and chatted with me because they found me _ . As a matter of fact, for about five months I wrote down on my bathroom mirror the following affirmation:"People love me and respect me. It is a privilege to talk to me. People find me interesting and charming and always want to get to know me better!" I would say the affirmation after I brushed my teeth. And I would continue to say it until I felt completely great about myself. There were days that I just wouldn't feel like saying it,because it would feel like a lie to me. But that's the trouble,like the quote says,success ends when there's doubt. And that's why I continued until I had no doubt in my mind. Then strange things happened,I noticed that people did find me more interesting,and that I gained more confidence in talking with people. I was more assertive at work. I was able to control politics and gossip at work to minimal levels,and became a much better manager,and developed better customer relations to the point that sales were up by 20% compared to the year before,on my best month sales were up by 39%,and this was a year that a recession was happening. Sometimes the author didn't feel like saying his affirmation because _ . A) it didn't work as he had expected B) he had become enthusiastic about conversations C) he had felt great about himself D) it didn't sound true to himself
D