Ever since he got into the Hong Kong film industry in 1994 with He's a Woman, She's a Man, Hong Kong director, Peter Chan has been one of the industry's most powerful voices. Later in 1996, another milestone Comrades: Almost a Love Story came into being. Chan's latest film, American Dreams in China is a carefully-calculated film with an eye toward opening the mainland cinema market. American Dreams in China is a film purely for Chinese audiences, but how it plays there remains to be seen. It sends the right messages, but whether that's enough to make it a hit is everyone's guess. Mainland audiences aren't quite that easy to "speak" to. The film began during the period of economic reforms in China in the 1980s. The bookish farm boy Cheng Dongqing (Huang Xiaoming), the ambitious and confident boy Meng Xiaojun (Deng Chao) and the poetic Wang Yang(Tong Dawei), were three friends at university in Beijing and preparing for American visa interviews. Wang was the first to be _ the visa but he gave it up for his western girlfriend, and Cheng was repeatedly denied. Only Meng actually got a study visa. As he was leaving, he told his friends that he wouldn't come back. Several years later, Cheng and Wang built a successful school, New Dream, from the ashes of Cheng's misfortune(his girlfriend got a visa too, and Cheng lost his university teaching job) and Wang's ability to connect with students often through Hollywood movies. In America, Meng suffered a lot. Disappointed, he went home and joined his friends at New Dream. Later, the three friends' relationship became worsened, but finally was improved under the weight of their common goals. When the three men made preparations for American visa interviews, how many was/were offered a visa? A) None B) One. C) Three. D) Two
D
Western artist R.V. (Ron) Jahns creates his unique western wildlife paintings by tapping into his vast experience of true life. He had rich western experiences out in the mountains in the great Northwest. Ron paints from the heart and his experience as a cowboy in the west. He has a particular passion for the mountains from Eastern Oregon to Alaska and draws from his many years of mountain adventures as inspiration for his western paintings. Born and raised on a farm, this cowboy artist is well knowledgeable with the subjects of his Western art. Ron struggles for historical accuracy in his western cowboy paintings when an artist gives a false description of the facts about cowboys in the west! Living in Alaska for 17 years added a new factor to Ron's western art. As a hunter and fisherman he observed the wildlife in its natural setting and has conveyed this spirit to his canvas. Ron's western art can be viewed throughout the United States, in Europe and through occasional private showings. You can find western wildlife paintings by Ron at various art shows throughout the year. For a list of art shows the Cowboy Artist will be attending, visit his Art Show page. Although a self-taught western artist, Ron himself has taught painting in colleges and through private lessons. Ron is quite a storyteller and the last of an old kind of cowboy poets and western storytellers. If you've met Ron at the Flea Markets in Sumpter, Oregon then you no doubt have already had a taste of his knack for telling tall tales and sharing his original cowboy poems of true life on the ranch. Which of the following is true? A) Ron's painting focuses on city life. B) Ron learned a lot from his teacher. C) Ron was born and raised on a farm. D) Ron's paintings can't be seen in Europe.
C
Q: Years after throwing a bottle-up note into a lake for a class project and just one year after his death, a man's childhood message was found and returned to his mother. Eleven years ago, a then 10-year-old boy, Joshua Baker, wrote the message, folded and put it in an empty container, his mother, Maggie Holbrook said. He died last February in a motor vehicle accident in California. He had recently returned after a serving in the Middle East as a US marine. "I think he was just letting us know he was OK and keep doing what we are doing." Holbrook said. The message surfaced in White Lake in late April, just days after the 11th anniversary of its being thrown into the lake. It was found by one of Baker's closest friends, Steve Lieder, she said. Lieder and two friends were chatting near the lake when Lieder looked down and saw the bottle. He broke it open and found the note inside. "My name is Joshua Baker. I am 10. If you find this, put it on the news. The date is 4/16/98." They immediately took it to Holbrook, who said she is now having the note preserved and will display it in her home. She can remember when her son wrote the message for the school project. She said she always wondered why he didn't put it in the nearby Wolf River, which has a much stronger current. "I still remember the day he wrote it, " Holbrook said. "I couldn't understand why he threw I in the lake. No one would never see it again. Now I know." What was Joshua Baker when he died in motor vehicle accident in California? A) An official B) A soldier C) A worker D) A teacher
A: B
*Question*
One day,Jack's parents told him that his grandpa would retire after working for forty years.Jack said in surprise, "I'm only seven, so it means Grandpa has been... er ... A really long time!" His parents said, "Yes. That's why we are going to have a surprising party for him. " Jack loved his grandpa and wanted to do something special for him. He remembered the business card his grandpa had given him two years before. He knew that his grandpa would no longer have the position on that card, so he decided to build a new one for his grandpa. When the big day came, Jack was ready. But he didn't want to put his gift together with others'. He carried it around with him the whole evening. When all the other people left, he took his grandpa's hand and brought him over to a chair and gave him the gift. His grandpa smiled, "Well, it must be a beautiful gift. May I open it now?" "Sure!" Jack said excitedly. As Grandpa opened the gift, tears came into his eyes. Jack gave him the greatest gift he had ever got! They were business cards with new position: FULL-TIME GRANDPA! Jack said, "Now your full-time job is my grandpa!" Well, how much do I get paid?" his grandpa asked, smiling. "As many hugs as you want!" With these words, Jack gave Grandpa a hug. " Well, I guess that means I'm the richest man in the world! " said Grandpa. Why were there tears in Grandpa's eyes? A) Because he would lose his position. B) Because he was not cared for. C) Because he was moved by Jack's gift D) Because he was unhappy.
**Answer**
C