For more than two days in September 1974, the people of Honduras shut their windows, locked their doors and covered in their homes. Fifi was outside, and they were frightened. By the time Fifi had left, 8,000 people were dead, Fifi wasn't a pet dog as the name suggests. It was a hurricane, one of the most destructive natural phenomena in the world. Why do we give human names to storms and hurricanes? We didn't always. Two hundred years ago, many hurricanes in the Caribbean were named after the saint's day on which the storm occurred. Later, storms were known by the name of the city where they came ashore. Meteorologists then tried naming storms after the latitude and longitude where they occurred. Finally, in 1953, hurricanes started getting people's names --specifically, female names. Male names were added in 1979. There are six sets of names for what the experts call "Atlantic tropical cyclones"( ). Each list is used every six years and consists of 21 names, starting with every letter but Q, U, X, Y ,Z. the names alternate between male and female. A storm won't get a name until its winds reach 39 mph or about 62.4 kph, at which point it becomes a tropical storm. At 74 mph or 118.4 kph it's declared a hurricane. The 126 names on the list are used only for storms that form off the Atlantic coast of the US. There are separate lists for the Pacific. So what happens if a hurricane should cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific? It's happened before. The storm just gets a new name and sometimes a new sex. Max Mayfield is the director of the National Hurricane Centre, headquartered in Miami, Florida. He is in charge of picking new names for storms off the Atlantic coast. He doesn't do it alone, though. His _ in two dozen other countries in the Caribbean, Central America and North America vote on what names will replace retired names. The names for storms and hurricanes, as this passage shows, _ . A) are set for use. B) are all from American English C) are difficult to spell D) are easy to fix
A
(Question)
Every American family has its own traditions on Thanksgiving Day, and mine is no difference. Once the national holiday arrives, my mom rises early to make the meal. She puts a turkey in the oven, chops carrots and bakes pies. I'm sorry to say that the men in the family - my dad, my younger brother and myself - rarely pitch in to help. Our job is to wash the mountain of dirty dishes after the meal is over. Around 2 pm every Thanksgiving Day, family members seat themselves around the kitchen table. Plates of turkey, vegetables, salad, rolls and pies cover it. At this point, we can hardly keep ourselves from drooling all over our fancy clothes, but it's not yet time to eat. First, we must bow our heads, close our eyes and say a prayer of thanks aloud to God for giving us everything we have. Under normal circumstances, I would have no problem making a list of things I am thankful for. I grew up in a loving family. My parents, who aren't wealthy, took out loans to help me pay for university. But, the funny thing is, every time I sit down for Thanksgiving dinner and try to say a prayer of thanks, my mind usually goes blank. I think it has something to do with my growling stomach and all of that food sitting right there under my nose. Eventually, though, we all finish our short prayers and _ . To be sure, the day includes other highlights - visiting with family and watching football. But usually around 6 pm we are all ourselves stuffed like turkeys and thankful to have a nice warm bed to sleep in. The purpose of the text is to _ . A) tell what the family do for Thanksgiving Day B) tell how the family spends Thanksgiving Day C) introduce foods served on Thanksgiving Day D) introduce the American Thanksgiving Day
(Answer)
B
Ques: On a summer day, John was sitting on a beach in Hawaii with his parents. The six-year-old child suddenly said he was so lucky because he had so many toys to play with at home. His surprised parents replied that he was lucky, since a lot of kids didn't have any toys at all. "How can that be?" John said, confused, but then he said that he would like to get toys for those children. His parents naturally thought their son was just kidding. But as soon as they returned home, John began using his pocket money to buy toys for other kids and asking his friends to do the same. His parents responded by organizing pizza suppers for other families interested in helping other children that can't afford to buy toys. John thought that he just wanted to cheer those kids up. John's parents started to find a place that would allow children as young as six and seven to volunteer. They finally find a day care center for disabled children to let John and his friends visit. They went and played with these kids, playing around the room as if they belonged there. John and his friends named their work Kids Cheering Kids. John and his friends visited kids at some childcare centers, helping out with a party they organized. They also prepared a performance for children with disabilities. Their activities have drawn public concern. The spirit of helping is as fresh as it was that day in Hawaii. "The whole purpose," John says, "is to make the kids feel better." What would be the best title for the passage? A) An unforgettable vacation B) A valuable experience C) Let kids cheer kids D) Let kids learn to share
Ans: C
Ques: McGill Comedy Club Important meetings today. Discussion on putting on Blazing Saddles. Union room 302, 3-4pm. New members (both actors and non-actors, living and dead) are welcome. History Students' Association Prof. Michael Cross of Dalhouseie University will be speaking on "Unskilled Labor on Rivers and Canals in Upper Canada, 1820-1850: The beginning of Class Struggle" at 10am. in Peacock 230. Design Mirror Sale All types and sizes of design mirrors priced to please. Sale today in Union room 108. McGill Teaching Assistants' Association A general meeting, for all the Tas will be held at 4pm. in peacock 116. Women's Union Important general meeting at 6pm. Union room 423. Speaker on "Importance of Deciding Basic Goals of the Women's Union." Everyone ----old, new and those interviewed, please attend. Film Society Last meeting of the term for all members. All managers are required to be present at 6pm. sharp, Union room 434. Canadian University Students Overseas CUSO presents "Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast" at 7pm. newman Centre, 3848 Peel. Find out about CUSO here and overseas. Everyone welcome. Where can you probably find this text? A) In a school magazine. B) In a national paper. C) In a guide book. D) In a university daily newspaper.
Ans:
D