Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: When I was a boy my father told me that he could do anything he wanted to.Dad said that he wanted to be the first to develop color prints in our city, and so he did. When I was 16,dad looked closely at the violin I played and said that he wanted to make one.He read about violinmaking,and then became a violinmaker at the age of 43.He bought the tools and materials,opened a small store and set Mom up as the shopkeeper,while he worked at a local company.He retired from the company 17 years later and continued to make violins and other instruments. Dad often guessed why the Stradivarius violins sounded so beautiful.Some experts told him that it was the special varnish that gave the instruments their beautiful sound.Dad argued that chemists could analyze the varnish--if that was the answer. One of Dad's friends asked him which kind of wood was used to make violins.When dad explained that the top was made of spruce ,his friend said that he had all old piece of spruce which dad might be interested in. He worked for the next 12 months making a violin from the wood that his friend had given him.It proved to be an excellent violin and it would become Dad's masterpiece.He believed that the secret of the Stradivarius sound was in the wood itself. Later, the instrument was stolen. _ But he kept the music shop until he was 80 years old,selling guitars and violins. The violin has been missing for more than 25 years.Somewhere a musician is playing a late-20th-century violin with an excellent tone.The owner today may never understand why this Ordinary-looking violin sounds so much like Stradivarius. Question: What did the writer's father think about Stradivarius violins? - They were made by experts. - The wood of the violins was special. - The way of making them was unusual. - The varnish was different from the others.
The wood of the violins was special.

(Question)
Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: America's greatest technological achievement, the Hoover Dam, now has a companion piece, a bridge held up by the longest arch in the Western Hemisphere . The Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, which opened this month and connects the U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada, crosses the vast chasm 890 feet above the Colorado River that is controlled by the dam. The striking 1,900-foot-long structure will improve traffic in the region and help protect the dam from being destroyed. It is the seventh highest bridge in the world, behind four in China, one in Papua New Guinea and one in the US state of Colorado. "The Hoover Dam is the greatest civil engineering achievement in America's history," said the bridge project manager Dave Zanatell. "Our goal was not to outdo or outshine it. Our goal was to, in a respectful way, do something that would be great for our generation and that would stand besides Hoover Dam in a respectful and quality way that would become a part of Hoover's legacy ." Just as the Hoover Dam was built in the heart of the Great Depression and was seen as an example of the nation's can-do spirit, some hope this project can also provide some _ . The bridge is surprising: at 1,050 feet, its support arch holds up a roadway that lies on 300-foot-long concrete pillars , some of the tallest in the world. It contains 16 million pounds of steel. The idea of the bridge came into being in the 1960s because the top of the Hoover Dam has been a narrow two-lane road that is the fastest route from Arizona to Las Vegas and then the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Access to the dam from each direction is a dangerously winding route, but massive trucks and passenger vehicles shared it for decades. During the day, when thousands of tourists travel to the dam from Las Vegas three times as many accidents as on a normal road will happen. The bridge has a sidewalk on the side facing the dam. The wall on both sides is 54 inches high, so walkers can take photos there. Question: Which of the following is true of the Hoover Dam? - It was completed recently. - It was built during the hard times. - It has the longest arch. - It's the seventh highest dam in the world.
(Answer)
It was built during the hard times.

Ques: Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Special Bridges Help Animals Cross the Road ----Reported by Sheila Carrick Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side. Most people know this joke.But recently, some people have been much more worried about how the grizzly bear and mountain lion can cross the road. "Millions of animals die each year on U.S.roads," the Federal Highway Administration reports.In fact, only about 80 _ , an endangered wild cat, exist in the U.S.today.The main reason? Roadkill. "Ecopassages" may help animals cross the road without being hit by cars.They are paths both over and under roads."These ecopassages can be extremely useful, so that wildlife can avoid road accidents," said Jodi Hilty of the Wildlife Protection Society. But do animals actually use the ecopassages? The answer is yes.Paul Beier of Northern Arizona University found foot marks left by mountain lions on an ecopassage that went under a highway.This showed that the lions used the passage. Builders of ecopassages try to make them look like a natural part of an area by planting trees on and around them.Animals seem _ .Animals as different as salamanders and grizzly bears are using the bridges and underpasses. The next time you visit a park or drive through an area with a lot of wildlife, look around.You might see an animals overpass! Question: From the news story, we know an ecopassage is _ . - an underground path for cars - a fence built for the safety of the area - a bridge for animals to get over a river - a pass for animals to cross the road
Ans: a pass for animals to cross the road

Question: Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Here are some famous romantic places in the world that you can't miss. Paris The ranking for the "most romantic city" quite rightly leads to Paris. The city of light has long been famous as a city of love. This is definitely the best place for love, wine and food. Paris is rich with history; you can take a walk through the Louvre, go to a cafe across the Champs Elysees, have dinner at the Eiffel Tower or visit the Palace of Versailles. Venice Undoubtedly, Venice is the most romantic city of Italy. From the amazing architecture of San Marco Square to the gondolas there, Venice talks about love, romance and passion. The best time to visit Venice is during the annual carnival . A gondola trip through the most magical city in Europe remains unforgettable for everyone. Vienna Vienna may well be called the cradle of European culture. The baroque architecture, the historic city opera and typical restaurants create a romantic mood and memorable atmosphere. During the ball season in Vienna, one can enjoy the city's past, the masked waltz and romance. Prague Prague is called the heart of Europe. The city, dating from the 9thcentury, is indeed a real architectural wonder. Prague's famous castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, built early in 1257. For a more romantic experience, take your loved ones to the top of the 60-foot observatory and watch the slow sunset over Prague. Maldives There are quiet islands, warm, clear water with excellent visibility, a huge amount of reefs and an incredible diversity of marine life. The Maldives is the place to shoot all those beautiful postcard pictures of couples on a desert beach. Most islands are not more than 1 km in area, with makes them particularly suitable for privacy, honeymoons and love. Question: In Vienna, visitors can _ . - go to the annual carnival. - admire the typical French architecture. - see the waltz in the ball season. - take beautiful pictures of reefs.
Answer:
see the waltz in the ball season.