Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Speaking two languages can actually help offset some effects of aging on the brain, a new study has found. Researchers tested how long it took participants to switch from one cognitive task to another, something that's known to take longer for older adults, said lead researcher, Brian Gold, a neuroscientist at the University of Kentucky. Gold's team compared task-switching speeds for younger and older adults, knowing they would find slower speeds in the older population because of previous studies. However, they found that older adults who spoke two languages were able to switch mental activities faster than those didn't . The study only looked at life-long bilinguals, defined in study as people who had spoken a second language daily since they were at least 10 years old. Gold and his team asked 30 people, either bilingual or monolingual , to have a series of tests. They found that bilingual people were not only able to switch tasks faster, they had different brain activity than their monolingual peers. Kristina called bilingualism "a beautiful natural experiment", because people grow up speaking two languages,and studies have shown that they get certain cognitive benefits from switching between languages and determining which to respond with based on what's going on around them. Gold said he grew up in Montreal, where he spoke French at school and English at home, prompting relatives to question whether his French language immersion would somehow hinder his ability to learn English. "Until very recently, learning a second language in childhood was thought of as dangerous," he said. "Actually, it's beneficial. " Question: Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Options: A: Older bilinguals can't respond faster in mind. B: Older adults speaking a second language daily since they were at least 10 years old can respond faster than those who don't. C: Young bilinguals can respond faster in mind than those monolinguals. D: Bilingual children respond slower in mind than those monolinguals.
B

Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Venus is known as the Earth' "twin" because the planets are so like each other in size. The diameter of Venus is about 7,520 miles (12,100km), about 400 miles (644km) smaller than that of the earth. No other planet comes closer to the earth than Venus. At its nearest approach it is about 25,000,000 miles (402,000,000km) away. As seen from the earth, Venus is the first planet or star that can be seen in the western sky in the evening. At other times, it is the last planet or star that can be seen in the eastern sky in the morning. When Venus is near its brightest point, it can be seen in the daylight. Early astronomers called the object that appeared in the evening Hesperus, and Phosphorus in the morning. Later they realized these two objects were the same planet. They named it Venus in honor of the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Question: Venus is called the earth's "twin" because _ . Options: A: it's almost as big as the earth B: it's the nearest to the earth C: they are both planets D: they are of the same shape
A

Q: Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Clothes can make phone calls, play music, dial your pal's number, keep you warm during cold weather and operate your computer? This is not a fantasy. A British company, called Electrotextiles, has created a wide range of clothes -- clothes that have minds of their own! Scientists, working for the company, have invented a kind of fabric that can be blended with flexible electronic materials to create intelligent clothing. The result are electronic garments. If you think the wearer has to be wired to different devices, think again. These designer clothes are wire-free, soft to touch and washable!! Like any electronic device, these high-tech clothes have to be powered. Currently, a tiny nine-volt battery serves the purpose. But the researchers hope that in the near future the clothes will generate electricity by using body heat. These clothes are 100 percent shock proof, they say. The Electrotextiles team has also created the world's first cloth keyboard. This keyboard can be sewn into your trousers or skirt. To use this device, you will have to sit down and tap on your lap! These 'lap- tap' gadgets are all set to take over laptop computers! Another useful garment is the shirt-cum-mobile phone. This handy invention enables drivers to chat comfortably with others at the wheel! Other popular electronic wear include the denim jacket with flexible earphones sewn into the hood and the electronic ski jacket with a built-in heater. The ski jacket is also programmed to send signals to a satellite. This technology is known as global positioning system and can be used to track lost skiers and wandering kids. Having completed the cloth keyboard, scientists have already started to work on a new project--a necktie that can be used as a computer mouse. What is the next? Do you have any idea? Question: . How will researchers improve these high-tech clothes? Options: A: Body heat will be used as power. B: The wearer will not get shocked. C: A tiny nine-volt battery will work. D: They will get charged automatically.
A: A

Question: Read the article and select the best answer. Article: London, the capital of England, is political, economic and commercial centre. It stands on the Thames, extending for nearly thirty miles from north to south and for nearly thirty miles from east to west. London is divided into many administrative units. Greater London, the largest unit, cover 1,605 square miles. The heart of this unit is the City of London. It is surrounded by a ring of 12 boroughs called Inner London or Central London, covering 303 square miles, and itself, is again surrounded by a greater ring of 20 boroughs called Outer London with an area of 1,279 square miles. Thus, Greater London is made up of the City and 32 boroughs. Question: From this article, we can see that London _ . Options: A: is made up of the City, the Central London and Outer London. B: is made up of Inner London and Outer London C: includes the City, 32 boroughs and some other units. D: is smaller than Greater London in area.
Answer: C

(Q).
Read the article and select the best answer. Article: There is a Web site called the "World Database of Happiness." It combines and analyzes the results of hundreds of surveys from around the world that have been conducted on life satisfaction. Most of the findings are predictable, but a few are surprising. The database makes it clear that there is not a strong connection between material wealth and general contentment. It is a cliche to say that money can't buy happiness, but the old saying seems to be supported by research. Many people still cling to the belief that gaining riches will be the answer to all their problems, yet they are probably mistaken. Studies have been carried out on people who acquired sudden wealth, such as lottery winners. In most cases, after the initial joy had worn off, people were not left with a sense of lasting happiness. In fact, they tended to revert to the way they felt before they became rich. Previously contented people continue to be contented, while those who were miserable before sink back into misery. If material wealth does not bring happiness, then what does? Perhaps happiness has something to do with where you live. The authorities at the World Database on Happiness have surveyed levels of happiness in different countries. Apparently, people in America, Canada, and Singapore are very happy; people living in India and Russia, not surprisingly, are not happy. Other surveys consistently point to the importance of relationships. Family relationships in particular seem to be the key to long-term contentment. The Web site suggests that falling in love and having children are two of the situations that bring the greatest happiness. Nowadays people look to technology as an alternative source of satisfaction. People increasingly spend more time alone watching TV or surfing the Internet rather than spending time with family. Can technology truly make people happy? It is too difficult to tell, but one thing is sure: If the Web site's research is accurate, time spent with your family is a better investment than time spent making money. Question: Which factor can bring lasting happiness definitely according to the study? Options: A: Sudden wealth. B: Surfing the Internet. C: Family relationship. D: Winning lottery.
(A).
C