Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Colin walked slowly home from school. He looked across the hills at the little Irish fishing village. It did not seem like Christmas Eve. Perhaps this was because it still had not snowed. But Colin knew there was another reason--a reason he did not dare whisper even in his heart. He looked toward the sea. There was no ship. And seven days ago his father's fishing boat hadn't gone home in time. "I'll bring you a small sheep dog from the Shetland Isles," Colin's father told him the morning he left. But now it was Christmas Eve. Colin looked toward the lighthouse, high on the hill. For seven days, there had been no light to guide his father's ship. Colin pushed open the door of his cottage. "We'll need more peat for the fire, Colin," said his mother as he entered. "It has burned itself out. And it's near time to light the Christmas candle. Everybody in Ireland lights a candle on Christmas Eve, even when there's sadness in the house. It shows that your house and heart are open to strangers. I've two candles, one for each of us. If you gather some peat, we'll be ready for supper soon." Colin nodded and went outside. He led their donkey up the hill. But while he was staring at the lighthouse, Colin had an idea. He came to the lighthouse and knocked on the door. Mr. Duffy, the keeper, opened the door. "What's up, young man?" "Mr. Duffy," said Colin, "what did you use to light the lighthouse?" "Well, we used an oil lamp. But we've no oil to burn." "Maybe kerosene would do," suggested Colin. "Well, I suppose," Mr. Duffy thought. "But you wouldn't find even a little spare kerosene in this village. Everyone is so poor ..." Colin was gone before Mr. Duffy could finish his sentence. He ran back to the cottage. Then he ran out with four buckets. Colin could see candles glowing in nearly every cottage in the valley. A candle on Christmas Eve meant that a stranger would be welcome and given whatever he asked. He didn't stop running until he came to the first house. "Could you spare me just a half cup of kerosene... Question: What Colin dare not whisper even in his heart was that _ . - there was no way to light the lighthouse - his father wouldn't come back home any more - his father didn't return home from the sea as expected - his family couldn't afford any Christmas presents
his father didn't return home from the sea as expected

Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: The US first lady Michlle Obama is among the world's 100 most powerful women in a list topped by German premier Angela Merkel for four years in a row, according to a Forbes ranking released on 19 August. Michelle Obama at No.40, coming in ahead of Talk Show host Oprah Winfrey at 41 and Britain's Queen Elizabeth at 42. Sheila Bair, chair of the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, which insures bank deposits, remained No.2 after debuting on the Forbes list last year. She has gained increased fame as the US recession lasts. The list is based on factors such as politics and economic impact ,media reach and career accomplishments. The chief executives of Dupont and Sunoco are new to the top 10, replacing the Xerox Cop. Chair, who dropped to No. 15, and the former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who fell off the list after leaving office in January. Rice's successor, Hillary Clinton, came in at No.36,dropping from No.28 last year when her presidential bid made her the woman with the highest public profile on the list. Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US House of Representatives, retained No.35. "Woman in power are rising to leadership positions in business, government and philanthropy by making daring and unconventional moves," Forbes said. "Gone are the days of women feeling they have to stick with one employer and patiently wait for promotions." "Highly ambitious women are moving across companies and industries, making big leaps with each change, and repositioning themselves for opportunities that allow them to gain a breadth of experience." The business magazine said. Merkel , 55, became the first female premier of Germany in 2005 and was successful in retaining power in a federal election on September 27. Michelle Obama, 45,has won the support of fans for her down-to-earth personality, her views of healthy eating and the arts, and her fashion sense that has seen her grace several best-dressed lists. Question: 45. What is the author's attitude towards Angela Merkel? - Admiring. - Neutral. - Objective. - Extreme.
Admiring.

Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: All over the world people enjoy sports. Sports help to keep people healthy, happy and help them to live longer. Sports change with the season. People play different games in winter and summer. Games and sports often grow out of people's work and everyday activities. The Arabs use horses or camels in much of their everyday life; they use them in their sports, too. Some sports are so interesting that people everywhere go in for them. Football, for example, has spread around the world. Swimming is popular in all countries near the sea or in those with many rivers. Some sports or games go back thousands of years, like running or jumping. Chinese boxing, for example, has a very long history. But basketball and volleyball are rather new. Neither one is a hundred years old yet. People are inventing new sports or games all the time. People from different countries may not be able to understand each other, but after a game they often become good friends. Sports help to train a person's character . One learns to fight hard but fight fair, to win without pride and to lose with grace . Question: According to this passage we know that _ . - people began to play about one hundred years ago - about 100 years ago people ran or jumped when they played - basketball has a longer history than volleyball - not all the games have long history
not all the games have long history