As the population grows and temperatures rise, it will become more difficult to grow enough food for everyone. So, scientists are exploring the planet for plants that do not need as much water as today's crops. The Mojave Desert in the US state of California is home to some of these plants. Scientist Heather Rose Kates of the University of Florida is in that desert. She is searching along roads for a plant called coyote melon which is a kind of squash .Coyote melon may not taste good, but it can be grown in places that have little rainfall. The desert where it grows gets just 15 to 20 centimeters of rain per year, or less. Other kinds of squash need at least two and a half centimeters per week to grow. Scientists are considering combining wild coyote melon with regular squash to see if they can make a tasty vegetable that doesn't need as much water to grow. That could be useful on a planet growing warmer and more crowded every day. Andy Jarvis works at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture. He says farmers will need to produce 50 to 70 percent more food by 2050 to feed the world. So, he says, researchers are studying the wild versions of farm-grown crops. But he says there is a problem. He says many wild versions of farmed plants are disappearing. He says they are threatened and scientists have not collected their seeds for future use. Scientist Kates is part of an international effort to gather these plants and save their seeds while it is still possible. Workers are collecting wild potatoes in Argentina and wild peppers in Para-guav. The plants and seeds will be sent for storage to the Global Seed Vault in Norwav and at Kew gardens in Britain. Ms Kates spends most of her time in a laboratory. She says gathering plants has helped her understand more about them. Which of the following can be inferred from the text? A) All the plants' seeds need to be stored. B) Ms Kates never goes outside to do research. C) Coyote melon can be planted everywhere. D) Ms Kates benefits a lot from gathering plants
D
Now let me tell you a story. It started two years ago, when I hit my head and got a concussion . The concussion didn't heal properly, and after 30 days I was left with symptoms like nonstop headaches, sickness, memory loss, mental fog . My doctor told me that in order to heal my brain, I had to rest it. So I had to avoid everything that caused my symptoms. For me that meant no reading, no writing, no video games, no work or e-mail, no running, no alcohol, no caffeine. In other words -- and I think you see where this is going -- no reason to live. Of course it's meant to be funny, but to be honest, suicidal idea is quite common with traumatic brain injuries. It happens to one in three, and it happened to me. My brain started telling me: "Jane, you want to die." It said: "You're never going to get better." It said: "The pain will never end." And these voices became so persistent and so persuasive that I started to reasonably fear for my life, which is the time that I said to myself after 34 days -- and I will never forget this moment -- I said, I am either going to kill myself or I'm going to turn this into a game. Now, why a game? I knew from researching the psychology of games for more than a decade that when we play a game -- and this is in the scientific works -- we deal with tough challenges with more creativity, more determination, more optimism, and we're more likely to reach out to others for help. And I wanted to bring these gamer characters to my real-life challenge, so I created a role-playing recovery game called Jane the Concussion Killer. The game was that simple: adopt a secret identity, recruit your allies , battle the bad guys, activate the power-ups . But even with a game so simple, within just a couple days of starting to play, that fog of depression and anxiety went away. It just vanished. It felt like a miracle. It wasn't a miracle cure for the headaches or the cognitive symptoms. Those lasted for more than a year, and it was the hardest year of my life by far. But even when I... Which of the following is TRUE about Jane? A) To completely heal her brain, Jane began to research the psychology of games. B) Jane suffered from unbearable pain and depression after she got the concussion. C) Like most people with traumatic brain injuries, Jane wanted to commit suicide. D) Not following her doctor's advice, Jane was left with traumatic brain injuries.
B
(Q).
The Happiest Cities On Earth If you're looking for a cheery destination for your next vacation, consider these four spots and get ready to take notes on how to really live the good life. Singapore With one of the highest population densities in the world and residents known for being workaholics, it's hard to imagine the city-state of Singapore having one of the happiest populations on earth. And yet in a recent survey, 95% of them said they were either very happy or quite happy. They give their city high marks for cleanliness and safety--subways are pristine and unfailingly arrive on time, and police are seen as helpful and good at their jobs. What's more, they feel they can count on their neighbours--all 5.1 million of them. Arhus, Denmark The residents of Arhus cheerfully part with 68% of their income in taxes, knowing that in return they will be guaranteed free healthcare, free daycare, and a top-notch education for their children. An energetic city of 300,000 with a lively cultural scene and a diverse number of religions represented, _ (the range in incomes is narrow), as well as easy access to the nearby sea and surrounding countryside, make Arhus seem more like a small town. San Luis Obispo, CA According to a 2008 Gallup-Healthways study, people who live in San Luis Obispo are more likely than residents of other U.S. cities to smile and experience joy and are less likely to experience pain or depression. About 64,000 of the 260,000 people in the greater metropolitan area , located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, volunteer at over 11,000 non-profit organizations. Few journeys to work are longer than 10 minutes (one reason its members rank in the upper third for job satisfaction), so "it's easy to be involved," resident Pierre Rademaker said. Business signs are unobtrusive by law, fewer than 11% of residents smoke--the lower rate in the U.S.--there are lots of bike lanes, and the city's plaza draws crowds of people for free concerts on summer Fridays. What's not to love? Monterrey,... According to the passage, what do the residents in the four cities have in common? A) All the residents can make great fortunes by working hard. B) The residents there are mostly educators. C) All the residents enjoy enough material wealth. D) The majority of the residents are satisfied with their current life.
(A).
D