Read the article and select the best answer. Article: My l4-year-old son, John, and I spotted the coat at the same time in a second-hand clothing store. It stood out among big and old coats. It had beautiful tailoring and an unbelievable price: $28. I looked at my son and we both said nothing, but John's eyes shone. Dark, woolen topcoats were popular with teenage boys, but they could cost several hundred dollars new. This coat was even better. John tried it on and turned from side to side, eyeing himself in the mirror. The fit was perfect. John wore the coat to school the next day and came home with a big _ "Did the kids like your coat?" I asked. "They loved it," he said. Over the next few weeks, John changed. He was polite, less argumentative, more thoughtful, and on the whole much happier. "Good dinner, mom," he would say every evening. Without a word of objection he would carry in wood for the stove. One day when I suggested that he might start on his homework before dinner, John, who always put things off, said: "You're right. I guess I will." When I mentioned this incident to one of his teachers, she joked that the coat must have changed him. John and I both know we should never mistake a person's clothes for the real person within them. But there is something to be said for wearing a standard of excellence for the world to see, for practicing standards of excellence in thought, speech, and behavior, and for matching what is on the inside to what is on the outside. Question: What message does the author intend to deliver in the article? Options: A: We should not judge people by their appearance. B: Life is full of possibilities when we are young. C: It's beneficial to try different things in our lives. D: What we wear could help shape who we are inside.
D

Read the article and select the best answer. Article: The OM Man and the Sea ,for which Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, is one of the most influential novels of the literary treasure of the world. Famously known for his brief and short sentences ,Hemingway created ah interesting and unique style of writing that still appeal to readers today. Santiago was an aged Cuban fisherman, and many thought that he could no longer fish. For eighty-four days ,he set out to sea and returned empty-handed. So unlucky was he that the parents of his young, devoted apprentice and friend , Manolin , forced the boy to leave the old man in order to fish in a more profitable boat On the eighty-fifth day ,the fisherman set out into the open sea to go fishing. At noon ,a big Marlin took hold of one of the lines, but the fish was far too big for him to handle. Santiago let the fish have enough line, so that it wouIdn9t break his pole; but he and his boat were dragged out to sea for three days. Finally ,the fish grew tired. Santiago killed it Even this final victory didn't end his journey. He was still far, far out to sea. To make matters worse, Santiago dragged the Marlin behind the boat and the fish blood attracted sharks. Santiago did his best to beat the sharks away ,but his efforts were not enough, The sharks ate the flesh off the Marlin ,and Santiago was left with only the bones. Santiago was tired out He got back home with nothing to show for his pains but the skeletal remains of a large Marlin. Even with just the bare remains of the fish, the experience changed him, and charged the opinions others had of him. Manolin , who had been worried over the old man's absence, was moved to tears when he found Santiago safe in his bed, When the old man woke ,the two agreed to fish as partners once more. With Santiago5S struggle to catch the Marlin and his journey home ,Santiago's courage was obvious as he faced challenges that just didn't seem to end. He didn't give up and even though he felt he had been very unlucky, there was hope to keep going on. He was destroyed... Question: Through the story, Hemingway wants to show us that _ . Options: A: life can be smooth and hardship can be avoided B: challenges in life often bring great misfortunes C: to keep going is the spirit we should have in life D: a man needs devoted friends in time of misfortune
C

(Q).
Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Connie Lau hates smoking. "It smells awful, and it's so bad for you. It breaks my heart to see my friends smoking. I try to get them to give up smoking." She says. So why does Connie walk into convenience stores and try to buy cigarettes? She is testing to see if stores will sell cigarettes to a kid who is younger than 18. "You have to be 18 to purchase cigarettes, and I'm 16, so if they sell to me, they're breaking the law," Connie says. Connie isn't a vigilante ; She works with local police in her town of Castro Valley, California. Officers drive her to stores, and she goes in alone to try to buy cigarettes. If the person behind the counter sells her a pack, an officer comes in and writes the business a ticket for breaking the law. Most stores obey the law and don't sell her cigarettes. The law requires that customers show ID if store employees ask them to. "When they ask your age, you can't lie," Connie says. "Most stores don't sell to me. In a year, we've visited almost 150 stores and had only 15 sales." Working undercover can be scary, even with police nearby. Connie said one cashier refused to sell her cigarettes and then got angry when he found out her age. He threatened to call the authorities. "To calm him down, the police went in to explain that I was undercover," she says. Most teens wouldn't think of going undercover for the police. What's Connie's motivation ? For starters, she can't stand smoking. But she also believes it's important for young people like her to try to make a real impact in their communities. In her view, teens can do more than get good grades in school, do chores at home, and do well in out-of-class activities. Every time she stops the sale of cigarettes to children, she's helping to uphold the law. "A single teenager can make a big difference," Connie says. "For the most part, when stores get caught, they learn their lesson and don't do it again." Question: According to the law what age of person can the store be allowed to sell cigarettes to? Options: A: Under 18. B: More than 18. C: 16. D: More than 16.
(A).
B