Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Why do so many Americans distrust what they read in their newspapers? The American Society of Newspaper Editors is trying to answer this painful question. The organization is deep into a long self-analysis known as the journalism credibility project. Sad to say, this project has turned out to be mostly low-level findings about factual errors and spelling and grammar mistakes, combined with lots of head-scratching puzzlement about what in the world those readers really want. But the sources of distrust go way deeper. Most journalists learn to see the world through a set of standard patterns into which they plug each day's events. In other words, there is a conventional story line in the newsroom culture that provides a backbone and a ready-made narrative structure for otherwise confusing news. There exists a social and cultural disconnect between journalists and their readers, which helps explain why the "standard patterns" of the newsroom seem alien to many readers. In a recent survey, questionnaires were sent to reporters in five middle-size cities around the country, plus one large metropolitan area. Then residents in these communities were phoned at random and asked the same questions. Replies show that compared with other Americans, journalists are more likely to live in upscale neighborhoods, have maids, own Mercedes, and trade stocks, and they're less likely to go to church, do volunteer work, or put down roots in a community. Reporters tend to be part of a broadly defined social and cultural elite, so their work tends to reflect the conventional values of this elite. The surprising distrust of the news media isn't rooted in inaccuracy or poor reportorial skills but in the daily clash of world views between reporters and their readers. This is an explosive situation for any industry, particularly a declining one. Here is a troubled business that keeps hiring employees whose attitudes vastly annoy the customers. Then it sponsors lots of symposiums and a credibility project dedicated to wondering why... Question: The results of the journalism credibility project turned out to be _ . Options: A: quite trustworthy B: somewhat contradictory C: very instructive D: rather superficial
D

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Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Playing with toy blocks may lead to improved language development in young children, a new study reported. Early childhood is an important period in the development of young minds. The newborn brain grows three times in size between birth and age 2. Scientists have said that certain activities during this important period may promote healthy development while others may hold it back, and development of memory and language may especially be helped by imaginative play. After six months, language scores among half of the 175 children aged 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 who were sent plastic blocks were 15 percent higher than a matched group that did not receive the free blocks, according to the study by researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle. Parents were given ideas about how to help their children play with the blocks, then were told to keep diaries of their children's activities over four days. Finally, all the parents filled out questionnaires that judged their children's vocabulary, grammar, and other language abilities. Study author Dimitri Christakis said unstructured play with blocks motivated children's thinking, memory and physical skills at a time when a child's brain is growing rapidly. "They are the foundation of thought and language," he wrote of the skills learned from building blocks. "Older children begin to make up stories for these objects ." Such play may also take the place of less helpful activities such as watching TV, he said, adding parents ought to have doubts about some toy-makers' words. "An increasing number of media-based products are making ungrounded claims that they can make children smarter, more literate, and more musical," Christakis said. Question: Building blocks helps kids gain language skills because _ . Options: A: young children always talk to themselves while building blocks B: their parents can teach them when they are playing with blocks C: their parents are given ideas on how to develop their brains D: it can help them improve thinking, memory and physical skills
(Answer)
D

Ques: Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Celebrating soccer THIS summer is exciting for many people on the planet--- the World Cup take place in Brazil from June 12 to July 13. Among the world's most widely watched sporting events, the World Cup makes the world turn around a moving ball. Many businesses, including banks and shops in some countries, change their hours according to the games so that people don't miss any of the action. But why is this sporting event so popular? Soccer can be played by anybody almost anywhere, without too much and expensive equipment. The universal attraction of the sport is down to being simple, according to Kevin Alavy from a sports research organization. FIFA , which has organized the World Cup since 1930, has helped make the event more popular. FIFA makes a habit of taking the World Cup to many new markets, such as South Korea and Japan in 2002 and South Africa in 2010. This has expanded the sport's reach beyond Europe and South America, according to CNN. Brazil is seen by many as the home of soccer, so it is a bit surprising that this is just the second time that the World Cup is held in the country after the fourth one was held there back in 1950. Soccer writer Jonsthan Wilson believes that the challenge of achieving success at the World Cup has also increased its magical attraction. Although FIFA has more than 200 member states --- it's an organization with more members than the United Nations --- only eight countries have ever won the competition. These countries are Brazil (five wins), Italy and Germany (four each); Uruguay and Argentina (twice each); and England, France and Spain (once each). The 2014 World Cup has seen different teams compete in 12 different cities, more than any other Cup on record. Spreading from south to north, some cities have different scenes, which surely make the World Cup more inspiring. Question: In which year did Brazil host the World Cup for the first time? Options: A: 1930 B: 1950 C: 2002 D: 2010
Ans: B

Question: Read the article and select the best answer. Article: A Special Appointment Years ago I moved to Woodland Hills to take a job in a small hospital's emergency department.No one wanted to work on Christmas Eve, so the shift went to me.I kissed my family goodbye and went off to spend the night in the hospital.It was a thankless job. At 9 pm, the ambulance brought in a man in his 60s who was having a heart attack.His face was pale, and he was frightened. The whole night I did my best to save his life.Before I left in the morning to spend Christmas with my family, I stopped by to see how he was doing.It was still tough, but he had survived the night and was sleeping. The following year I got Christmas Eve duty again.At 9 pm sharp, the ward clerk told me there was a couple who wanted to speak with me.When I approached them, the man introduced himself as Mr.Lee and said, "You probably don't remember me, but last Christmas Eve you saved my life.Thank you for the year you gave me." He and his wife hugged me, handed me a small gift, and left. The following year a new doctor had joined the group, but I wanted to see if Mr.and Mrs.Lee would return.This time, I volunteered for the shift.I kept an eye on the door.Once again, at exactly 9 pm, the Lees appeared, carrying a warmly wrapped bundle.It was their new grandchild. Mr.Lee, his family and I spent 13 Christmas Eves together.In the later years the staff all knew about the story and would work to give me time with him in the break room, where we spent a half-hour each Christmas Eve. The last year I saw him, he brought me a gift.I carefully opened the package and found a crystal bell inside.It was engraved with a single word: Friendship.Now, my family, friends and I ring that bell every Christmas Eve at exactly 9 pm and offer our best wishes to the man who we won't forget. Question: When the author left the hospital the next morning, Mr.Lee _ . Options: A: was really angry with her B: was still in a state of danger C: got ready to leave the hospital D: recovered from his heart attack
Answer:
B