Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Why Are Pig Farmers Still Using Growth-Promoting Drugs? It's one of the most controversial practices in agriculture: feeding small amounts of antibiotics to animals in order to make them grow faster. But what if the drugs don't even work very well? There's some good evidence that they don't, at least in pigs. They used to deliver a boost in growth, but that effect has disappeared in recent years or declined greatly. The reason for this is interesting and even paradoxical. Researchers think the antibiotics used to work by suppressing low-grade infections. In recent years, however, pork producers found other ways to accomplish the same thing through improved hygiene . As a result, the drugs have become largely superfluous -- yet many farmers still use them. To understand how this happened, you have to step back in time, says Steve Dritz, a specialist in pig nutrition at Kansas State University. Sixty years ago, when antibiotics were new, "people started treating animals, and feeding [the antibiotics], and finding that they had increased growth rates and feed efficiencies," he says. Nursery-age pigs, for instance, grew 12 to 15 percent faster with antibiotics. The animals also needed less feed to reach full weight. Other studies showed similar results in chickens and cattle. In the 1980s, a new set of studies found similar effects. So the growth-promoting effects of antibiotics became standard practice among meat producers. Fast forward to the 1990s. Dritz was starting his career as a scientist at Kansas State University, and pork production was changing dramatically. Previously, pigs were born and raised in one barn or in several barns close together. This meant infections could easily pass from one generation to the next, the way that kids share germs between their friends on the playground and their parents at home. Under the new system, when piglets are weaned, they move to a whole different place. That new site is carefully scrubbed and free of disease. Craig Rowles, who runs a large swine operation in... Question: One of the advantages of using antibiotics in the past is that it _ . - helped animals grow faster - decreased the death rate of animals - helped animals have a better appetite - increased animal reproduction
helped animals grow faster

Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: The Man was very sad. He knew that the Cat's days were numbered. The doctor had said there wasn't anything more that could be done, and that he should take the Cat home and make him as comfortable as possible. A tear rolled down the Man's cheek and landed on the Cat's forehead, The Cat gave him a slightly annoyed look. "Why do you cry, Man?" the Cat asked. "Because you can't bear the thought of losing me? Because you think you can never replace me?" The Man nodded "yes". "Pick up that piece of string from the floor. There, my 'toy'. The Man reached over and picked up the string. It was about two feet long and the Cat had been able to entertain himself for hours with it. "Now take each end of the string in one hand," the Cat ordered. The Man did so. "The end in your left hand is my birth and the end in your right hand is my death. Now bring the two ends together," the Cat said. The man did so. Then the Cat continued, "You have made a continuous circle. Does any point along the string appear to be different, worse or better than any other part of the string?" The Man inspected the string and then shook his head. "Close your eyes." the Cat said. "Now lick your hand." The Man widened his eyes in surprise. "Just do it," the Cat said. "Lick your hand, think of me in all my familiar places, and think about all the pieces of string." Licking his hand, he discovered what a cat must know, that licking a paw is very calming and allows one to think more clearly. He continued licking and the corners of his mouth turned upward into the first smile he had shown in days. He waited for the Cat to tell him to stop, and when he didn't, he opened his eyes. The Cat's eyes were closed. The Man stroked the warm, brown fur, but the Cat was gone. One day, not long after, there was a new cat on his lap. She was a lovely white cat. It is very different from his earlier beloved Cat and very much the same. Question: Why did the Cat give the man a slightly annoyed look? - Because the man's tears made the Cat really anxious. - Because the Cat didn't know what made the man burst into tears. - Because the Cat couldn't go to sleep when the man was in low spirits. - Because the man didn't have to be so sad and concerned.
Because the man didn't have to be so sad and concerned.

Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: It is widely acknowledged that it is by no means an easy task to bring up a child well.And our ancestors already understood it well."It takes an entire village to raise a child."That's an old proverb that is being quoted more and more often these days.And I'm pleased about that. Today,more and more schools are reaching out to involve parents, community members and businesses to help shape a child's future. Parents need to be involved in their children's education in many ways.Helping children with homework and studying,going on a field trip,teaching a craft or coaching a child's sports team are all great ways to be involved with your child's education.And don't forget to communicate with teachers -- they need and respect your input.Studies show that children learn more and schools function better when parents and schools work together.It's important to stay in touch with your child's education all through his or her school career. Communities can help children create and achieve new goals.Help with homework, read to a child,coach a children's team,or provide emotional support.Help solve problems and build self-esteem .Kids need role models and advisers can be role models by sharing their experiences and wisdom. Businesses can also help shape our children's future.invite a class from your local school to visit your workplace.You may be providing a glimpse that opens a new world of possibilities.Show students what goes on during a typical day.Give a mini course for students:how to use a computer;how products are made;how machinery works.You may have a developing electrician,teacher,nurse,or even a newspaper reporter on your hands. It really does take an entire village to raise a child.So share the responsibility-- and the joy-- of bringing a child to his or her full potential. Question: The text was written mainly for _ . - newspaper reporters and developing electricians - school teachers and students - parents and members in organizations - education experts and government officials
parents and members in organizations