The winds had finally died down,and the rains stopped.Paige and her parents were inside their house,sitting in the living room,which was dark except for a single candlelight. "Let's find out what's going on outside,"Paige's mom suggested as she turned on the small radio. "...has moved out of the area,"an announcer's voice boomed. "Winds reaching nearly 100 miles an hour passed through our town this morning. But,the worst is over,and it is safe to go outside.In fact,the sun is now peeking out from behind the..." Suddenly,the radio went dead.The house was quiet again. "Well,"Paige's dad said, "at least we heard some good news,even if it was cut short.Let's look out of the window and survey the damage." Paige ran to the window and looked outside.She saw tree branches lie on the lawn.The mailbox was broken,and some of the address letters and numbers on the mailbox were missing. "The wind must have ripped them off," Paige's father noted.As he read the remaining letters he began to laugh. The mailbox dispalyed " _ _ RAIN." "It says "rain","Paige said. "That's appropriate for a day like today!" The family's last name could have been _ . A) Germain B) Crain C) Syrain D) Rain
A
Dear friends, The recent success of children's books has made the general public aware that there's a huge market out there. And there's a growing need for new writers trained to create the $3 billion worth of children's books bought each year... plus stories and articles needed by over 650 publishers of magazines for children and teenagers. Who are these needed writers? They're ordinary people like you and me. But am I good enough? I was once where you might be now. My thoughts of writing had been pushed down by self-doubt, and I didn't know where to turn for help. Then, I accepted a free offer from the Institute to test my writing ability, and it turned out to be the inspiration I needed. The promise that paid off The Institute made the same promise to me that they will make to you, if you show basic writing ability: you will complete at least one manuscript suitable to hand in to a publisher by the time you finish our course. I really didn't expect any publication before I finished the course, but that happened. I sold three stories. And I soon discovered that was not unusual at the Institute. Since graduation, I have written 34 nationally published children's books and over 300 stories and articles. Free test and brochure We offer a free ability test and will send you a copy of our brochure describing our recognized home-study courses on the basis of one-on-one training. Realize your writing dream today. There's nothing sadder than a dream delayed until it disappears forever. Sincerely, Kristi Hill Institute of Children's Literature Why does Kristi Hill mention her own experience of attending the courses? A) To introduce the home-study courses. B) To show she has realized her dream. C) To prove she is a qualified writer. D) To promote the writing program.
D
Q: Writer: Ralph Ellison Novel : Invisible Man Invisible Man is Ellison's best known work, most likely because it was the only novel he ever published during his lifetime and because it won him the National Book Award in 1953. Ellison, originally from Oklahoma worked hard to match his earlier success but felt that he could not make any progress on his next novel that eventually came to include well over 2000 pages. It was not until Ellison's death that this novel was condensed ,edited and published under the title Juneteenth. Writer: Margaret Mitchell Novel: Gone with the wind Margaret Mitchell, born in Georgia, never wanted to seek out literary success and wrote this expansive work in secret, only sending to publishers after she was mocked by a colleague who didn't believe she was capable of writing a novel. She turned out to be more than capable, and the book won a Pulitzer Prize and was adapted into one of the best-known and loved films of all time. Mitchell would not get a chance to write another novel, as she was struck and killed by a car on her way to the cinema at only 49 years of age. Writer: Anna Sewell Novel: Black Beauty Sewell didn't start off her life intending to be a novelist, she didn't begin writing Black Beauty until she was 51 years old, motivated by the need to create a work that encouraged people to treat horses ( and humans) humanely and it took her six years to complete it. Upon publication it was an immediate bestseller, rocketing Sewell into success. Unfortunately, she would not live to enjoy but a little of it as she died of hepatitis five months after her book was released. What might the novel Black Beauty be about? A) It's about a beautiful black woman. B) It's a success story about Sewell, C) It's about how to treat horses with medicine. D) It's about a beautiful black horse.
A: D
In many homes, divorce is caused by the "battle between the sexes." To understand the problem, one must remember that the modern American woman is freed. During childhood and adolescence , the American girl is given freedom and education which is equal to a boy's. After completing school, she is able to get a job and support herself. She doesn't have to marry for financial security. She considers herself an independent, self-sufficient person. She wants a husband whom she can respect, but she doesn't want to be dominated by him. She wants a democratic household in which she has a voice in making decisions. When a husband and wife are able to share decisionmaking, their marriage is probably closer, stronger, and more satisfying. Otherwise, the couple is likely to wind up in the divorce court. When a couple gets divorced, the court usually requires the man to pay his former wife a monthly sum of money. If the couple has children, they usually remain with the mother, and the father is expected to pay for their support. Although divorce is quite common in the United States, 80 percent of those who get divorced remarry. The remarriages allow thousands of people, especially children, to enjoy family life again, but at the same time many troubles have arisen. A well-known American joke tells of a wife calling to her second husband, "Quick, John! Come here and help me! Your children are beating up our chidlren!" What happens when a couple is divorced, according to the passage? A) The children become homeless. B) The man is still responsible for the welfare of his children. C) Life becomes difficult for the woman and her children. D) The man, rather than the woman, remarries soon.
D