Argentina's Lionel Messi has won the Golden Ball awarded to the European Footballer of the Year, becoming the sixth Barcelona player to take the award and the first since Brazilian Ronaldinho in 2005. Messi beat last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo into second place while Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez finished third in the poll results released by France Football magazine early Tuesday. Praised by Argentina great Diego Maradona as his successor, Messi won an unprecedented treble in Spain last season with Barcelona as the Catalan side swept the Champions League, the Spanish title and the Copa del Rey. The 22-year-old Messi, the first Argentine to win the world-famous award, was the top scorer in last year's Champions League with nine goals, including his superb header in the 2-0 victory over Manchester United in the final. Messi, who scored 473 of a possible 480 points, largely controlled the voting and won with a record-margin of 240 points. Real Madrid winger Ronaldo had 233 and Xavi had 170. "Honestly, I knew that I was among the favorites because Barcelona had a fruitful year in 2009," Messi was quoted as saying by the magazine. " _ The Golden Ball is very important to me. All the players who won it were great players, and some great players never won it." Barcelona had three players in the Top 5 with Andres Iniesta taking fourth ahead of former Barca player Samuel Eto'o. In an outstanding season, Messi netted(...) 38 goals in 51 games in all competitions, often leaving defenders in his wake(...) with a combination of speed, extraordinary abilities and his effective left-footed strike. Messi, who led Argentina to next year's World Cup in South Africa, recently signed a new contract with Barcelona through 2016. Messi had a good start to this season - already scoring nine goals - and put on a great display to help his club defeat archrival Real Madrid 1-0 last Sunday. "It won't be easy to confirm after a year like the one we just went through," Messi said. "I hope the next one will reach the same... Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A) Xavi Hernandez finished second in the poll. B) Messi treated Maradona as his successor. C) The 22-year-old Messi was the first European Footballer. D) Messi said Barcelona had a fruitful year in 2009.
D
(Question)
Americans love to talk and generally it is OK to talk even to strangers about nearly any subject at any time as long as you are polite.However there are some subjects,like racism,American foreign policy,gun ownership,and religion that are best discussed among friends. In America,it is OK to approach a stranger and start up a conversation with him as long as the subject is not too abstract.In America,it is not considered inappropriate to talk to people you don't know.Talking to a stranger about the weather or the quality of nearby restaurants,or the prices in a grocery store is all perfectly fine.Even complimenting someone on the car they drive or asking them where they bought their clothes are all appropriate topics of conversation with complete strangers. Generally,Americans prefer that people say what they think and they respect frankness.Usually when it comes to personal matters,it's best to accentuate the positive:don't tell someone that their children are ugly or that their cooking is terrible.However;it's OK to tell someone that they are wrong as long as you do so politely and with respect.Americans generally believe that you show someone respect by telling them the truth.Don't be afraid to be honest with Americans,but be appropriate. Most Americans will start a conversation with a person they just met by asking them what they do for a living.This question is not only considered appropriate by Americans,but it's also considered an important way to learn about someone. When you find that an American has made a mistake, you'd better _ . A) point it out directly and politely B) pretend not to see it C) tell his friends about this D) cover it up for him
(Answer)
A
Ques: Close your eyes for a minute and imagine what life would be like if you had a hundred dollars less. Also imagine what it would be like spending the rest of your life with you eyes closed. Imagine having to read this page, not with your eyes but with your finger-tips. With existing medical knowledge and skills, two-thirds of the world's 42 million blind should not have to suffer. Unfortunately, rich countries posses most of this knowledge, while developing countries do not. ORBIS is an international non-profit organization which operates the world's only flying teaching eye hospital. ORBIS intends to help fight blindness worldwide. Inside a DC-8 aircraft, there is a fully-equipped teaching hospital with television studio and classroom. Doctors are taught the latest techniques of bringing sight back to people there. Project ORBIS also aims at promoting peaceful cooperation among countries. ORBIS tries to help developing countries by providing training during three-week medical programs. ORBIS has taught sight-saving techniques to over 35,000 doctors and nurses, who continue to cure tens of thousands of blind people every year. ORBIS has conducted 17 plane programs is China so far. For the seven to ten million blind in China ORBIS is planning to do more for them. At the moment an ORBIS is working on a long-term plan to develop a training center and to provide eye care service to Shanxi Province. ORBIS needs your help to continue their work and free people from blindness. For just US$38,you can help one person see; for $380 you can bring sight to 10 people; $1,300 helps teach a doctor new skills; and for $13,000 you can provide a training programme for a group of doctors who can make thousands of blind people see again. Your money can open their eyes to the world. Please help ORBIS improve the quality of life for so many people less fortunate than ourselves. What can be the best title for the passage? A) ORRIS in China B) Fighting Blindness C) ORRIS Flying Hospital D) Sight-seeing Techniques
Ans: C
Ques: Mark Twain was a famous American writer in his day. He liked to play jokes on his friends. One day one of his friends lost his wallet and asked Mark Twain to pay his train ticket for him. "But I don't have enough money to pay both your ticket and mine," Mark Twain said. The friend didn't know what to do. "We can do this," said Mark Twain." We can get on the train and when the conductor came to check the tickets , you can hide under my seat." Later, however, when the conductor came to check the tickets, Mark Twain gave him two tickets --- one for himself and one for his friend . Then he explained in aloud voice," My friend is a strange man. When he travels on a train, he does not like to sit on the seat." Of course everyone in the train looked at the poor friend under the seat and laughed at him loudly. Why did the friend ask Mark Twain to pay his train ticket for him? A) Because Mark Twain was very rich. B) Because the friend lost his money. C) Because Mark Twain was always ready to help others. D) Because the friend wanted to save his money.
Ans:
B