Linking the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, the blue waters of the Gulf of Aden near Somalia are one of the most important trading routes in the world. But they are also the most feared. Pirates whose targets are ships and their crew often show up there. On September 25, a Ukrainian ship carrying 30 tanks became another victim. The pirates have reportedly killed one of the crewmen and are now surrounded by the US Navy. But they are still demanding $ 20 million for the release of the ship. This year alone, more than 50 ships have been attacked, 25 hijacked , and 14 are currently being held. Of course this is nothing new either. Ever since there has been water and ships there have been pirates. The earliest documented history of pirates dates back to the 13th century in the Mediterranean Sea. Even the famous Roman emperor Julius Caesar was kidnapped by pirates at one time. Piracy reached its peak in the early l700s, especially in the Caribbean and off the coast of Africa. In the mid-20th-century, most pirates we're common thieves. They used hooks to steal on board commercial ships, and took all that they could find. These pirates were more likely to flee than fight if met by the crew. However, nowadays piracy has become a multi-million dollar business attracting many in poor countries such as Somalia. "The pirates are well funded and have all the latest equipment, including satellite phones," said a top UN representative in Somalia. In Asia, however, a trend started where pirates didn't just want to kidnap the stuff, they also wanted to control the ship. They would kill the crewmembers or kidnap them for ransom . After the recent kidnapping of Ukrainian ship, people are also worrying that tanks and arms on board would fall into hands of terrorists. Last week the UN called a meeting from all affected countries to fight piracy. "The international community is determined to stop these pirates who are weakening efforts to bring peace to Somalia. This cannot and will not... We can infer from the passage that A) it is impossible to fight with piracy B) no country has the determination to fight with pirates C) no ships will be found in the Somalia area before the disappearance of pirates D) more measures will be taken to fight with pirates
D
World Book and Copyright Day is a annual event that falls on April 23 and was first celebrated in 1995. The event was organized by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright. The connection between April 23 and books was first made in 1923 by booksellers in Catalonia, prefix = st1 /Spainas a way to honor the author Miguel de Cervantes who died on that day. It became part of the celebrations of theSaint George'sDay (also April 23) in the region, where it has been a tradition since the medieval era for men to give roses to their lovers and since 1925 for women to give a book in exchange. In 1995, UNESCO decided that the World Book and Copyright Day would be celebrated on April 23 to _ people who have made great contributions to social and cultural progress of mankind. The date is also the anniversary of the birth and death of William Shakespeare, the death of renowned authors Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Josep Pla, the birth of Maurice Druon, Vladimir Nabokov, Manuel Mejia Vallejo and Halldor Laxness. With the success of the World Book and Copyright Day, UNESCO developed the concept of World Book Capital City, selecting Madridas the capital for 2001. After this, UNESCO's General Conference resolved to make the designation of a World Book Capital City an annual event and selected Beirut as this year's capital. How often does World Book and Copyright Day take place? _ . A) Every year B) Every other year C) Every fourth year D) Not referred to
A
Q: Officials say the islands of Tokelau in the South Pacific Ocean have become the world's first territory totally powered by the sun.The move is expected to save money and ease the environmental burden of depending on imported fossil fuels. Tokelau's three main atolls ,or islands,now have enough solar capacity to meet all of their electricity needs.Until now.Tokelau has been 100%dependent on diesel for producing electricity.That has burdened the country with heavy economic and environmental costs. The three atolls of Tokelau are about halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii and are administered by New Zealand. Each atoll received its own solar power grid system.New Zealand officials estimated the cost of the project to build the three solar grids at around seven million dollars.The last of the grids has been completed. It is estimated that oil imports make up to 30%of national income in some parts of the Pacific.The move to solar power could save Tokelau about one million dollars a year.Tokelau will now be able to spend more on social programs to help its citizens. Other South Pacific islands are attempting similar projects.The island nations of Samoa and Tuvalu are aiming to get all of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020.The Cook Islands plans to start moving to solar panels and wind turbines.And most houses in the South Pacific groups of islands will begin to use solar water heaters. East Timor's government has promised that no households in the capital,Dili,would be using firewood for cooking by 2015.It also says 50%of the country's electricity will come from renewable sources by the end of the decade. New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says the country will hold a Pacific energy summit in March this year.He said the meeting would build on the success of clean and affordable energy solutions for Tokelau,Tonga,and the Cook Islands. All the island nations except _ will get all of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. A) Samoa B) Tuvalu C) Tokelau D) East Timor
A: D
*Question*
When I was in my first year of high-school I tried out for my school's basketball team. Although I was very successful in other sports, particularly soccer and baseball, I was only a mediocre basketball player. I remember walking into the gymnasium and feeling shocked when I saw how many people were also trying out. I knew I was a good athlete, but I didn't know if my skill would be as good as the other participants. Try-outs lasted for four long days. At the end of each day, the basketball coach had a short discussion with each player. He told some of the players to come back for the next day, and told other players that they had not made the team. This is called getting cut. All of us were afraid of getting cut at the end of each practice. On the fourth day of try-outs there were only twenty kids left. I was one of them, but we all knew only eighteen students would make the team. This day was the most intense day of them all. There were many opportunities to impress the coach but there were so few people that the pressure was very high. I was not one of the best players on the team, so I was especially worried on this last day. At the end of practice the coach told every player to take one shot from the same spot. Many kids missed their shot but mine went in the basket. After practice we waited as the coach talked to each player. When my turn finally came my heart skipped a beat when I walked towards the coach. My head was spinning when the coach started speaking and I was almost shaking because I was anxious. The coach told me that I had done very well and that he was impressed. However, the team only eighteen spots and unfortunately none of these would be mine. What does "getting cut" mean? A) When the coach tells you that you cannot join the team. B) When scissors hurt you and make you bleed. C) When you join the basketball team. D) When the coach criticizes you.
**Answer**
A