Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: It is obvious that television brings us not only advantages but also disadvantages . At first, television is both a convenient channel of amusement, and a ly cheap one. If we have a TV set in the family, we are not necessary to go to the cinema or theatre to enjoy programme with expensive tickets. All that they have to do is press a button with a finger, and they can watch all the programmes they like, such as TV talk shows , movies, opera and so on. But some people think of it as a danger. When we watch TV, we don't need to do anything . We do not even have to leave our sofa because we have a remote control in our hand. We don't need to make any judgment or statement about it. We are totally passive and don't use our head to think hard about some matters. As we all know, television keeps us informed about world events--including all the events in society, science and politics .We can get a good idea of the most remote countries and the strangest customs in their country. Of course the radio performs this service too, but the effect of the programme is not better than on the television. Everything we enjoy on the television is much more vivid and realistic. However, in turn there is a great danger. Usually we cannot resist the television screen, because it has a great harm for us. We have been so accustomed to enjoying the screen, so dependent on its pictures. But when our TV sets are out of order, we are surprised to find that we have much more time to do things. And at this time we actually begin to have a talk to each other again. It is really worth thinking. Of course the arguments about the advantages and disadvantages of television are on the go.We can not simply say television itself is good or bad. The truth is that how we use it determines its true value to our society. Question: Television , as a channel of amusement , is _ . - not very convenient - ly cheap - quite dangerous - very expensive
ly cheap

Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: A trip across the Pacific will guarantee you a different experience with a tipping culture you've never come across in China. In the US, giving a little extra money to service workers on top of your bill is a common practice. Though US national law requires that businesses pay workers at least $7.25 (45 yuan) per hour, employees receiving tips--often waiters and waitresses--are the exceptions. They usually only receive at least $2.13 an hour, and tips make up the difference. As theWall Street Journalput it, "The American system of tipping holds the promise of great rewards for waiting staff." So how should you tip if you are in the US. Normally you pay tips as a percentage of the bill. Offering an extra 15 percent of the bill to the waiter or waitress in a restaurant and to the delivery man or woman is customary and expected. You can offer more for great service and less for poor service. Yet there is an exception. For take-out food, you don't have to provide tips, though some people say that filling an order still requires work and time that deserve a little extra--but maybe a little less. Tips are not expected at fast food restaurants, cafes or ice cream shops either, though a tip jar might be right by the cash register . Don't feel _ to throw some money in, but also remember that it doesn't hurt. Those workers do not rely on tips. Other service workers also receive tips. For taxi drivers, 15 percent is the norm , more if they help with your bags. Hairdressers often receive about 15 percent of the bill. The same goes for spa therapists and tour guides. Today, you can even pay tips on a credit card. When receiving a copy of the bill to sign, you are free to fill in how much you'd like to tip. Though thinking about when to tip and how much you should tip causes a big headache for many Chinese people, it's important to bear in mind that as long as you show respect and use your reasoning, things will be just fine. Question: What is the article mainly about? - How tipping culture started in the US. - How to giving tips properly in the US. - New ways to give tips in the US. - The different attitudes that Chinese people and Americans have toward tipping.
How to giving tips properly in the US.

Q: Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Speaking and Reading In learning a foreign language, one should first pay attention to speaking. It is the groundwork of reading and writing. You'd better try your best to speak. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. While you are doing this, a good exercise is to write --keep a diary, write notes or letters and so on. Many mistakes in your speaking will be easily found when you write. Through correcting the mistakes, you can do better in learning a language. If you are slow in speaking, don't worry. One of the helpful ways is to improve your English by reading, either aloud or low to yourself. The important thing is to choose something interesting to read. It mustn't be too difficult for. When you are reading in this way, don't stop to look up the words if you can guess their meaning of if they are not important to the sentence. You can do that some other time. Question: Which is the groundwork while you are learning a foreign language? - Spelling - Speaking - Reading - Writing
A: Speaking

*Question*
Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: One day, I happened to talk to a stranger on the bus. When he found out that I was from Chicago, he told me that one of his good friends lived there and he wondered if I happened to know him. At first I wanted to say that it was foolish to think like that, for from all the millions of people in Chicago, I could not possibly know his friend. But, instead, I just smiled and said that Chicago was a very big city. He was quiet for a few minutes, and then he began to tell me all about his friend. He told me that his friend was an excellent tennis player and that he even had his own tennis court . He added that he knew a lot of people with swimming pools, but that he only knew two people in the country who had their own tennis courts. And his friend in Chicago was one of them. I told him that I knew several people like that, for example, my brother and my next-door neighbor. I told him that my brother was a doctor and he lived in California. Then he asked where my brother lived in California. When I said Sacramento, he said that last year his friend spent the summer in Sacramento and lived next door to a doctor. The doctor had a tennis court. I said that my next-door went to Sacramento last summer and lived in the house next to my brother's. For a moment, we looked at each other, but we did not say anything. "Would your friend's name happen to be Roland Kirkwood?" I asked finally. He laughed and said, "Would your brother's name happen to be Dr. Ray Hunter?" It was my turn to laugh. Question: The writer said that Chicago was a very big city. That means _ . - it was possible for him to happen to know the stranger's friend - he didn't want to look for the stranger's friend - he didn't know the stranger's friend - it was impossible to find the stranger's friend
**Answer**
he didn't know the stranger's friend