Q: Many people like the feeling of the gentle wind in spring. Many like to see the falling leaves dancing in the wind in autumn. But sometimes, when the wind becomes a storm, it can be very destructive . A series of such storms struck the US last month and caused very serious damage and human pain. Every year, major storms cause many problems around the world. There is nothing people can do to stop these powerful forces of nature. But new techniques are helping scientists to predict how, when, and where big storms will happen. The more exact scientists' warnings are, the better people can prepare for the storms. Predictions are improving. "We've gotten better over the years, especially the last few years," says Phil Klotzback, a scientist at an American university. How is a storm formed? Even if scientists know where a storm will happen, winds can suddenly change, carrying the storm to a new direction. "For a hurricane to happen, conditions have to be just right," Klotzback says. First, the ocean water needs to be warm enough so that it _ and rises into the air. As it rises, the air containing drops of water cools and turns back into liquid. This process gives off heat. This produces energy like an engine that causes winds to increase. It drives the formation of a hurricane. If wind speeds reach 40 miles per hour, the system is called a " tropical storm", and it gets a name. At 75 miles per hour, it becomes a hurricane. Hurricanes that hit the US start when a thunderstorm forms off the coast Africa. Storms also develop over tropical waters in other parts of the world. On average, 60 or 70 storms form off Africa every year. About 10 of them get names. There are usually about six hurricanes. Two tend to be very big, with winds of 115 miles per hour or a bit higher. The hurricane season lasts from June to November. Ninety percent of all hurricanes hit in August, September and October. According to the text, hurricanes usually _ . A) form off the coast of Africa and America B) hit parts of the world in summer and autumn C) cause sea winds to rise and blow over the sea D) strike the US but cause no damage
A: B

Q: We were going to play against a team from a country school. They didn't come until the last minute. They looked worse than we had thought. They were wearing dirty blue trousers and looked like farm boys. We sat down for a rest. We felt that we didn't need any practice against a team like that. The game began. One of us got the ball and he shot a long pass to our forward . From out of nowhere a boy in an old T-shirt stopped the ball and with beautiful style he shot and got two points. Then another two points in a minute. Soon the game was all over. We were beaten by the country team. After that, we thought a lot. We certainly learned that even though your team is very good, you can't look down upon the others and still need to do you best. And the most important lesson we learned was: One can't judge a person or a team only by their clothes. The team from the country were in old clothes so the writer's team _ . A) looked down upon them B) couldn't win C) didn't like the city boy D) were afraid of them
A: A

Q: Having spring around makes you feel different after such a long winter journey. The power of sunshine brings us a lot of comfort, optimism, self-confidence and of course a smile. Imagine how great it will be if we are so positive all year round! Living like this is possible if you really think about it. In order to exist in such a state of happiness, we must have sunshine radiating from within ourselves, shining from our hearts, minds and souls. Actually,that's your choice, and if you think that way then your own life will reflect that attitude of yours! In order to make "sunshine" or rather, "light" part of our being, it is so important that you watch your thoughts, your words and your actions so that you will accept what you really feel you'd like to create in your own life. Watch your thoughts and really become aware of how many negative thoughts pass through your mind about yourself and other people around you. Watch to see how often you gossip about other people, which is actually often attached with feelings of jealousy and insecurity about yourself. You are also supposed to take a close look at your "intention". How many of you do something for another person without expecting to receive something in return? It might not even have to be a material or physical thing you expect; expecting to be recognized for what you have done is enough to create conditions on Having spring around makes you feel differentyour intention. Think about it! Putting all of these together, it seems that most of us are creating monsters inside us just by simply talking, thinking and not putting our heart out with the right intention towards helping someone else. If you take all your negative attitudes in one hand and measure your need to feel "sunshine" in the other, you will see how both these elements really contradict each other. Be brave and break your patterns and your habits this spring, and by doing so,you will allow the true sunshine to take place by radiating out from your heart and into your life and the lives of... According to the writer, you don t feel secure about yourself when you _ . A) gossip about other people B) take a close look at your intention C) expect to be recognized for what you've done D) become aware of your negative thoughts
A: A

Q: Below is adapted from an English dictionary. Use the dictionary to answer the following questions. figure / fig@ / noun, verb * noun 1. a number representing a particular amount, especially one given in official information: the trade / sales figures 2. a symbol rather than a word representing one of the numbers between 0 and 9: a six-figure salary 3. (informal) the area of mathematics that deals with adding, multiplying, etc. numbers 4. a person of the type mentioned: Gandhi was both a political and a religious figure in Indian history. 5. the shape of a person seen from a distance or not clearly 6. a person or an animal as shown in art or a story: a wall with five carved figures in it 7. the human shape, considered from the point of view of being attractively thin: doing exercise to improve one's figure 8. a pattern or series of movements performed on ice: figure-skating * be / become a figure of fun: be / become sb. that others laugh at * cut a...figure: sb with a particular appearance: He cut a striking figure in his dinner jacket. * put a figure on sth: to say the exact price or number of sth. * a fine figure of man / woman: a tall, strong-looking and well-shaped person * figure of speech: a word or phrase used in a different way from its usual meanings in order to create a particular mental image or effect * figurehead: someone who is the head or chief in name only (with no real power or authority) * verb 1. to think or decide that sth. will happen or is true: I figured that if I took the night train, I could be in Scotland by morning. 2. to be part of a process, situation, etc. especially an important part: My opinion of the matter didn't seem to figure at all. 3. to calculate an amount or the cost of sth: We figured that attendance at 150,000. * figure in: to include (in a sum): Have you figured in the cost of hotel? * figure on: to plan on; to expect sth. to happen: I haven't figured on his getting home so late. * figure out: to work out; understand by thinking: Have you figured out how much the... The phrase "watch my figure" in the sentence "Don't tempt me with chocolate; I am watching my figure." means " _ ". A) add the numbers B) have sports C) try not to get fat D) watch games
A: C