American author Mark Twain once noted that "life would be surely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18." Twain's words were only one of many complaints about aging. The ancient Greek poet Homer called old age "hateful", and William Shakespeare termed it "terrible winter". Alexander the Great, who conquered most of the known world before he died around 323 B.C., may have been looking for a river that healed the of age. During the 12th century A.D., a king called Prester John ruled a land that had a river of gold and a fountain of youth. But the name linked most closely to the search for a fountain of youth is 16th-century Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon. He thought it would be found in Florida. In St. Augustine, the oldest city in the U.S., there's a tourist attraction. It is said to be the fountain of youth that Ponce de Leon discovered soon after he arrived in what is now Florida in 1513. However, elderly visitors who drink the spring's water don't turn into teenagers. But the tale of the search for a fountain of youth is so appealing that it survives anyway, says Ryan K. Smith, a professor of history. "People are more attracted by the story of looking and not finding than they are by the idea that the fountain might be out there somewhere." Still, a few grains of truth have helped to support . Kathleen Deagan, a professor of archaeology, says a graveyard and the remains of a Spanish mission dating back to St. Augustine's founding in 1565 have been discovered near the so-called fountain of youth. Michelle Reyna, a spokesperson for the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in St. Augustine, says the fountain has been a tourist attraction since at least 1901 and may have been attracting visitors since 1860. According to the passage, who searched for a fountain of youth _ ? A) Ponce de Leon B) William Shakespeare. C) Kathleen Deagan D) Michelle Reyna
A
Yasuda is 95 years old. Looking for easier ways to search the Web and send email, he bought Apple's iPad. The company has sold 3.27 million iPads since they entered the market in April. Although it's impossible to know with certainty how many seniors are buying them, evidence suggests that it's a hit with seniors. The iPad's intuitive interface makes it attractive to seniors around the world, says Takahiro Miura, a researcher at the University of Tokyou. "The iPad is a good tool for seniors because it's very easy to use," he says. "Unlike the PC, it doesn't require former knowledge." James Cordwell, a researcher in London, says the iPad's popularity with seniors is helping Apple reach beyond its traditional base of young customers. "The world's population, especially in developed markets, is getting older. It's probably a market where Apple has least entered, " Cordwell says. Senior users are "a key source of growth for them in the future." Seniors make up about 22 percent of the population in Japan. They may prove that seniors are willing to accept the iPad. Besides the customer group under 30, they spend more than any other group in the country, according to a report. Motoo Kitamura, 78, a former gas salesman, bought an iPad to help him communicate with his 2-year-old grandson and prevent him from experiencing some of the mental problems that sometimes come with getting older. "Trying new things like that is good mental exercise," he says. What can we learn from the text? A) People above thirty are Apple's largest customer group in Japan. B) The traditional customers of Apple's products are usually the young. C) Seniors will soon grow into Apple's largest customer group. D) Seniors in Japan are fond of buying latest hi-tech products.
B
(Q).
One girl decided to study judo although she had lost her left arm in a car accident. The girl began lessons with an old Japanese judo instructor. The girl was doing well. So she couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the instructor had taught her only one move. "Instructor," the girl finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?" "This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the instructor replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in her teacher, the girl kept training. Several months later, the instructor took the girl to her first tournament. Surprising herself, the girl easily won her first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, her opponent became impatient and charged. The girl skillfully used her one move to win the match. Still amazed by her success, the girl was now in the finals. This time, her opponent was bigger, stronger and more experienced. For a while, the girl appeared to be _ . Concerned that the girl might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. She was about to stop the match when the instructor intervened . "No," the instructor insisted, "Let her continue." Soon after the match restarted, her opponent made a serious mistake: she dropped her guard. Instantly, the girl used her move to pin her opponent. The girl had won the match and the tournament. She was the champion. On the way home, the girl and her teacher reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the girl gathered the courage to ask what was really on her mind. "Instructor, how did I win the tournament with only one move?" "You won for two reasons," the teacher answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. Second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm." The girl's biggest weakness had become her biggest strength. The girl won the championship because of _ . A) her bravery B) her skills C) her tricks D) her strength
(A).
B