Problem: Long ago, there was a rich man who had two sons. The older brother, who was called Nolbu, was greedy and lazy. However, his younger brother Hungbu was hard-working and kind-hearted. When their father died, Nolbu inherited his house and land, but Hungbu received nothing. One day when Hungbu was working in the fields, he found a bird which had broken its leg. He took the bird home and looked after it carefully. The bird gradually became stronger, and when summer came, it flew away to a warm place. A year later the bird flew back and gave Hungbu a seed . Hungbu sowed the seed and it soon grew into a plant which produced many gourds . When Hungbu opened one of the gourds, he was amazed to see that it was full of treasure. He wanted to use the treasure to do something useful. The next day he bought a big house and moved there with his family. When Nolbu heard about his brother's good luck, he was very jealous and decided to do the same as his brother. He also found a bird, but he broke its leg and looked after it until it became strong. The bird also gave him a seed, which produced several gourds. However, when Nolbu opened one of the gourds, goblins ( ) quickly came out of it and stole all his money. After that Nolbu went to his brother to ask for help. Hungbu was sorry for him and so he invited him to share his house. Both brothers and their families lived happily ever after.
1. How many sons are in the story?
2. Was their father poor?
3. What was the name of the son with positive character traits?
4. What were those traits?
5. Was he the older or younger brother?
6. What was the other brother's name?
7. How is he described?
8. What did Hungbu come across while working?
9. Was the bird healthy?
10. Did it ever get better?
11. Where did it go in the summer?
12. Did Hungbu see the bird again?
13. When?
14. What did the bird give him?
15. What did he do with it?
16. What grew from it?
17. Did he eat it?
18. What did he do instead?
19. Did he brother also buy a house?
20. Why not?
Answer: 1. two
2. No
3. Hungbu
4. he was hard-working and kind-hearted.
5. younger
6. Nolbu
7. greedy and lazy
8. a bird
9. No
10. Yes
11. to a warm place.
12. Yes
13. A year later
14. a seed
15. Hungbu sowed the seed
16. a plant
17. No
18. he bought a big house
19. No
20. he invited him to share his house

Problem: The domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris or Canis familiaris) is a domesticated canid which has been selectively bred for millennia for various behaviors, sensory capabilities, and physical attributes.

Although initially thought to have originated as a manmade variant of an extant canid species (variously supposed as being the dhole, golden jackal, or gray wolf), extensive genetic studies undertaken during the 2010s indicate that dogs diverged from an extinct wolf-like canid in Eurasia 40,000 years ago. Being the oldest domesticated animal, their long association with people has allowed dogs to be uniquely attuned to human behavior, as well as thrive on a starch-rich diet which would be inadequate for other canid species.

Dogs perform many roles for people, such as hunting, herding, pulling loads, protection, assisting police and military, companionship, and, more recently, aiding handicapped individuals. This impact on human society has given them the nickname "man's best friend" in the Western world. In some cultures, however, dogs are a source of meat.
1. How long has the domestic dog been bred?
2. Do dogs perform a lot of roles for people?
3. What's an example of one?
4. How about another example?
5. Do dogs get along with law enforcement?
6. What about with the military?
7. Are they better friends to women or men, according to their nickname?
8. Can you eat a dog, according to some cultures?
9. When were extensive genetic studies conducted?
10. How long ago did the dog diverge from a wolf-like ancestor?
11. Where?
12. Is the dog the oldest domesticated animal?
13. Would they be able to thrive by eating stuff like pasta, potatoes, and other starchy foods?
14. Would such foods be good for other canid species?
15. What does a dog do to handicapped invididuals?
16. How many attributes have dogs been bred for?
17. Are dogs actually related to the golden jackal or gray wolf?
18. Can a dog pull a load like a sleigh?
19. Have dogs had any impact on human society?
20. How many roles do dogs perform for people?
Answer: 1. for millennia
2. yes
3. hunting
4. herding
5. yes
6. yes
7. men
8. yes
9. during the 2010s
10. 40,000 years ago
11. Eurasia
12. yes
13. yes
14. no
15. aid them
16. various
17. no
18. yes
19. yes
20. Dogs perform many roles for people, such as hunting, herding, pulling loads, protection, assisting police and military, companionship, and, more recently, aiding handicapped individuals

Problem: Fifty-three years ago Barbie Millicent Roberts first appeared in the world of toys. Since then, Barbie doll, as everyone called her, has become the most successful toy doll in history. Her parent, the Mattel Company, said that 90% of all American girls between 3 and 10 have at least one Barbie at home. However, Barbie is facing some trouble at present . There are many similar dolls on the market in competition with her. Another doll named Bratz, for example, came to life thirteen years ago. She looks more like today's pop stars with heavy makeup and miniskirts. And her company offers more kinds of clothes too. It seems that Barbie has lost her magic among older girls. 'For younger girls, playing with a Barbie is much fun. But when you get older, you want something smarter and more modern,' says Vera Shepherd, a shop assistant in a New York toy store. It is good news that on the international market, Barbie is still No. 1. Although Mattel is selling fewer barbie in the United States these years, sales in other countries are still going up. In January 2009, Mattel opened its first Barbie store in Shanghai, where girls can shop, eat, drink or even become _ for their own Barbies. Mattel is planning big celebrations for Barbie's 53rd birthday. She has called Fashion designers from all over the world to make new dresses for Barbie. How long will Barbie stay popular in the world of toy dolls? It is hard to say, but 53 is surely not the age to retire .
1. Who makes the doll?
2. What is her full name?
3. How old is she?
4. Is she still popular in the United States?
5. Is she still popular elsewhere?
6. What did Mattel do in response to her international popularity?
7. When did they open it?
8. What can girls do there?
9. Is the company planning anything for Barbie's birthday?
10. Who have they invited?
11. What did they ask them to do?
12. Who does Mattel say own the most dolls?
13. Does Barbie have competition?
Answer:
1. Mattel
2. Barbie Millicent Roberts
3. Fifty-three
4. yes
5. yes
6. opened a store in Shanghai
7. January 2009
8. shop, eat, drink or become _ for their own Barbies
9. planning big celebrations
10. Fashion designers from all over the world
11. make new dresses for Barbie
12. American girls between 3 and 10
13. yes