Microsoft founder Bill Gates has opened up about being a parent, stating that 13 is an appropriate age for a child's first cell phone. The 57-year-old, father-of-three, revealed on the Today Show that his children Jennifer and Rory were not allowed phones until their thirteenth birthday and his youngest daughter Phoebe is still waiting for one. "We've chosen in our family that it's 13 where you get a phone," the self-made billionaire explained. He said as a result his children often return home from school complaining: "All the other kids have it.I'm the only one without it, and it's so embarrassing." Asked if he keeps passwords to his son and daughters' email and Facebook accounts, Mr Gates said that he doesn't for Jennifer, 16, who he describes as "independent". He admitted that monitoring online activity is "a very tricky is sue for parents now." Despite their vast wealth Mr and Mrs Gates, who live in Lake Medina, just outside Seattle, Washington, have said they want to give their children as normal an upbringing as possible. It was previously reported that their youngsters have to complete household chores and are given a modest smount of pocket money. And in 2010 Mr Cates said that he intends to give most of his $ 61 billion fortune away rather than hand it down." _ wouldn't be good either for my kids or society," he said. Also during the Today Interview with host Matt Lauer, Mr Gates, who stepped down from Microsoft in 2008 to concentrate on philanthropy , said that helping others gives him same excitement as creating software. " What you really feel is what you've achieved.If a piece of software gets out there and lots of people love it-it lets them get their work done in better ways-that's exciting," he explained. Which of the following is true about Bill Gates' children? A) All his children now have cell phones. B) Phoebe has her own cell phone. C) They are not given any pocket money. D) Jennifer can use the Internet freely.
D
A new system that scans customers' fingerprints and subtracts the grocery bill from their bank accounts has taken supermarkets in Germany to use the new system. "Almost a quarter of our customers pay with their fingers," said an employee at the headquarters. Edeka has tried the system at 70 of its supermarkets. It says it will introduce it at 200 others because customers like it. "At first we thought that only the young who really keep up with the latest technology would be interested, but we were wrong," said Stefan Sewoester from IT Werke. "Almost two-thirds of the people who use the system are 40 and older," he said. IT Werke, a computer company, is one of the pioneers of fingerprint payment software in Germany. It has helped about 150 shops, canteens and bars to put in the fingerprint scanning machines. Each costs about 2,000 euros. To sign up for the service, customers must have their fingerprints taken and leave their addresses and banking details with the shop. The shop then takes the cost of goods directly out of the customer's bank account. "It is especially a good thing for elderly people. Now they do not have to remember their pin to pay with their bank cards, or to scratch around for their glasses or cash." Sewoester said. The stores benefit from the system too. It saves more than time in the check-out line. It also cuts out the hidden costs of accepting electronic card payments. According to the passage, the fingerprint system _ . A) was invented by the Edeka supermarket chain B) has caused payment revolution in Germany C) is more popular with young people D) is preferred by most American customers
B
Q: What makes a house a home? Not size, of course. I've been in some of the grandest houses in prefix = st1 /America, and it's clear no one lives there. Earlier this year, I had dinner in a mud hut inEthiopia, where we sat on chairs next to the hostess' bed -- a home that had more warmth than any house I've been in since. Now John Edwards is exploring what makes a house a home in his just-released Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives. There Edwards writes, "This isn't a book about houses; it's a book about homes. About the values they rest on, the dreams they are filled with, and the people they have shaped," Edwards writes. "The houses and circumstances are different, but much of what you find inside will be familiar." Whether you're sitting in an airport flight now, waiting to fly to your childhood home for Thanksgiving, or in your own home waiting for the s to arrive, you know what he's talking about. We've lived in our townhouse for 21 years. It's home now. The loose windows that shake in the wind. The fireplace so shallow it holds only one log. The kitchen window that offers a view of the world passing by. It's where friends sit on the kitchen counter drinking wine while dinner is being fixed. I lived there for only 18, but it will always be my true home. Even the lamp in the west living room window, which I could see far down the road when driving home late at night, still shines. While all this talk about childhood memories can be warm and comforting, home is whom you're with, not where you are. As Edwards writes, "Home is family. Home is safety. Home is faith." Happy homecoming. According to the author, what makes a house a home? A) All the belongings in the house. B) Feelings of warmth and comfort. C) The houses and circumstances. D) Drinking with friends on the kitchen counter.
A: B
Joe is interested in getting exercise and competing on a team. He reads about the events at the local pool and finds the perfect activity. Swimming Programs Summer Swim Team Join a Summer Swim Team and compete with other swimmers! The program is offered at eight different local pools for youths to 17 years old. The season runs June 21--August 21. Practices are daily (Monday through Friday) throughout the summer. The championship meet is August 21. Cost: $50.00 Pools & Practice Times Buckman 2-3 P.M. Montavilla 8-9 A.M. Creston 7-9 A.M. Peninsula 4-7 P.M. Dishman 8-9 A.M. Pier noon-1 P.M. Grant 8-10 A.M. Sellwood 7-9 A.M. Junior Swim Instructor Two weeks, 20 hours of instruction, two hours per day for children 11-14 years old. Pre-training for youths interested in becoming swim instructors($45 per child) Two weeks, 30 hours of instruction, three hours per day for children 11-14 years old. Pre-training in lifeguarding, and customer service ($45 per child) Junior Swim Instructor & Junior Lifeguard Training Dates June 28-July 9 August 9-August 20 June 12-July 23 August 23-September 3 June 26-August 6 Special Offer Anyone who takes part in both junior swim instructor and junior lifeguard programs at the same time need only spend $75 instead of $90 for 50 hours of training. Register Online You can now register online! Visit our website at http://www.example.com You can choose an area of town, a specific local center, a program, or search for classes which can meet the needs of students of different ages. Just visit our website, and you're on your way! What's the main purpose of this text? A) To introduce Joe' s hobbies. B) To introduce a new website. C) To introduce several swimming pools D) To introduce some swimming activities.
D