Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: When it came to role models, Diana Ortiz said her mother, Marcia Dominguez, was the "hero". Ms. Dominguez came to the United States from Cuba in 1979. She went to college and got a job as a social worker --- all the while raising three children in America mostly on her own. "It was always school first," Diana said, "My mom had us in a straight line. If we got out of line, she corrected us. She was a perfect woman. She was beautiful, she had the education and she had everything --- but the illness took over. When I was 11, it frightened me to see how quickly my mother's health was ruined by cancer. A week before I turned 14, my mother died at age 50. I had tried to prepare myself, but on the first morning I woke up without my mother, the sense of loss was painful." Diana had not seen her father for five years, who refused to provide for her. Diana then entered the city's foster care system. She has spent about four years in foster homes. Despite Diana's hard teenage years, the values her mother had planted in her mind inspired her to go after higher education. Since August 2010, she has been a fulltime student majoring in law. A public organization offers her tuition but she has part-time jobs to help people like her and earn more life experience. Her goal is a job in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For now, Diana works 20 hours a week as a cashier at Marshalls, earning $7.25 an hour. In November, she moved into her own public housing studio apartment on the Lower East Side. She pays $236 a month in rent. Although she is out of foster care, Diana has been speaking at workshops for foster youths. She emphasizes that nothing should get in the way of their success, not the trials of their lives or what they may have lost. "I tell the young who have the similar experience like me, 'Why are you going to let what happened to you affect you in the long run?' " Diana said. " 'Why are you going to sit there and feel sorry for yourself? You're wasting precious time.' It is a message my mother would approve of. My... Question: What made Diana go on with her education despite there are so many difficulties? - The sense of loss from her mother's death. - The eagerness to achieve success. - The deep influence of her mother's values. - The wish to win prizes to please her mother.
The deep influence of her mother's values.

Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Thirty years ago not many people would have dreamed of doing the repairs and decorations in their own homes. In those days labor was fairly cheap and most people would have thought it worthwhile to employ a professional painter and decorator, unless of course they were either very hand up or were in the trade themselves. Today, however, it is quite a different story. Men and women in all walks of life turn their hands to all sorts of jobs round the house including painting, papering, putting up shelves and wall units, and tiling walls and floors. Some people with no professional training of any kind have even successfully built their own houses. These jobs have been made easier today by the introduction of prepared materials, which require the minimum amount of skill to use. In every high street throughout Britain nowadays there is at least one "Do-It-Yourself" shop containing a vast range of timber, tiles, paints, wallpapers and floor coverings besides tools of every description including power drills and many accessories. "Do-It-Yourself" is a booming business; all these shops do a roaring trade and look like continuing to do so. Probably the main reason for the craze is the high cost of present-day labor and the shortage of building firms willing to do small jobs. Question: What is the speaker telling us ? - How DIY comes into being. - Changes in building. - Changes in housing. - Great changes in these thirty years.
How DIY comes into being.

Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Many of us are used to hearing stories of people being pickpocketed in busy places. But most of us are aware of the dangers, so we are safe - at least, we think we are. According to a BBC report, a growing number of thieves are trying to "hack our mind's weaknesses" to get their hands on our possessions. "In fact, the key requirement for a successful pickpocket isn't having quick fingers," said the report. By using psychology, some pickpockets are taking advantage of the loopholes in our brains. Our lack of ability to multitask is one of the most important loopholes used by pickpockets, the report explains. While this can often be a good trait , allowing us to focus on the most important details in our surroundings, "a good trickster can use it against you, " said neuroscientist Auzana Martinez-Conde. "It's all about directing people's attention toward something else," said James Brown, who studies the tricks of pickpocketing. Confidence, the power of suggestion, and certain hand movements such as moving your hands in an arc are all said to be things that fool us. Groups of pickpockets use a common trick designed to create a scene and confuse victims. The first gang member, a "blocker", walks in front of the victim and suddenly bumps into them. A second member of the gang then bumps into both of them from behind and stages an argument with the "blocker". In the confusion, both men steal what they can and pass it to a third thief who quickly runs off with the stolen goods. Some thieves go even further to exploit our psychology by hanging out near signs reading "beware of pickpockets". Since this is one of the last places people expect to be robbed, many check where their valuables are, giving away their location to thieves. But according to Brown, as long as we don't daydream in public, we shouldn't be worried. "A street thief will avoid like the plague " people who are demonstrating a very open awareness of their environment," he said. Question: According to James Brown, which of the following types of person is more likely to be pickpocketed? - People who look weak. - People who are walking slowly. - People who are absent-minded. - People who are alert to their surroundings.
People who are absent-minded.

Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: In your opinion,what is the most effective way to deal with pressure?Do you think the measure taken by Tufts University is useful? Tufts University has offered extra help around test time to students. Now they're adopting new stress-fighting methods to help the students, who face a tough job market as well as finishing the term. From free massages to therapy dog visits, students are getting help during those days before turning in final papers and taking final exams. "I think these dogs make me happy and give me a nice break between learning, cutting the learning into small pieces,"19-year-old Tufts student Chloe Wong said. She called her first term "challenging", because she has spent weeks away from family and friends and was afraid she would lose her cool in her first set of final exams. But they now get chances to relax and play with these lovely dogs that head teacher Michael Bliss brought in for them. They can set down their books and laptops for a chance to the pet. Therapy dogs have long been used to cheer the sick and the elderly up. But the university is accepting the idea as a way of relieving stress and comforting students. Brian Van Brunt, president of the American College Counseling Association, said, "College students are very stressed at this point of the year and some are trying to catch up with their peers. Going to events like this allows students to clear the brain and press there set button." Question: Therapy dogs may help the students in the following situations EXCEPT _ . - facing a tough job market - taking final exams. - finishing homework - handing in final papers
finishing homework