Problem: Tiger Mom, You've been criticized a lot since your book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, came out. One problem is that some people don't get your humor. They think you're serious about all things and Lulu and I are suffering a lot from such a strict mother. That is not true. But for real, it's not their fault. No outsider can know what our family is really like. They don't hear us laughing over each other's jokes. They don't see us eating our hamburgers with fried rice. They don't know how much fun we have when the six of us dogs included squeeze into one bed and argue about what movies to download from Netflix. I admit it: Having you as a mother was no tea party. There were some play dates I wish I'd gone to and some piano camps I wish I'd got away from. But now that I'm 18 and about to leave the tiger den , I'm glad you and Daddy raised me the way you did. A lot of people have accused you of producing robot kids who can't think for themselves. Well, I came to the opposite conclusion: your strict parenting made me more independent . Everybody's talking about the birthday cards we once made for you, which you refused to take because they weren't good enough. Funny how some people believe that Lulu and I will feel hurt for life. But let's face it: It took me 30 second; I didn't put my heart into it. That's why, when you rejected it, I didn't feel hurt at all. There's one more thing: I have come to understand what it really means to live a meaningful life to the fullest. To me, it's about knowing that you've tried your best, body and mind. You feel _ when the piano piece you've practiced for days and hours finally comes to life beneath your fingertips. You feel _ when you do something on your own that you never thought you could. And for that, Tiger Mom, thank you. Yours, Sophia
1. What kind of mother does Lulu have?
2. How many people and dogs pile into a bed?
3. What does the narrator call her household?
4. What is the narrator's name?
5. What does she call her mom?
6. Who wrote a book?
7. What is her book called?
8. How long did Sophia spend making her mom's card?
9. What occasion was the card for?
10. True or False: Tiger Mom loved the card.
11. Why not?
12. What instrument does Sophia play?
Answer: 1. a strict mother
2. six
3. Tiger
4. Sophia
5. Tiger Mom
6. Tiger Mom
7. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
8. 30 second;
9. birthday
10. no
11. because Sophia didn't put her heart into it
12. piano

Problem: Pet owners are being encouraged to take their animals to work , a move scientists say can be good for productivity , workplace morale , and the well-being of animals .

A study found that 25% of Australian women would like to keep an office pet . Sue Chaseling of Petcare Information Service said the practice of keeping office pets was good both for the people and the pets . "On the pets' side , they are not left on their own and won't feel lonely and unhappy," she said . A study of major US companies showed that 73% found office pets beneficial , while 27% experienced a drop in absenteeism .

Xarni Riggs has two cats walking around her Global Hair Salon in Paddington . "My customers love them. They are their favorites ," she said . "They are not troublesome . They know when to go and have a sleep in the sun ."

Little black BJ has spent nearly all his two years "working" at Punch Gallery in Balmain . Owner Iain Powell said he had had cats at the gallery for 15 years . "BJ often lies in the shop window and people walking past tap on the glass ," he said .

Ms Chaseling said cats were popular in service industries because they enabled a point of conversation . But she said owners had to make sure both their co-workers and the cats were comfortable .
1. Who is encouraged to bring companions to work?
2. Why?
3. How can it help the animals?
4. Have any studies been done?
5. Where?
6. Anywhere else?
7. Any notable stats in that one?
8. Any anecdotal evidence?
9. WHat seeems to be a popular animal un businesses according to these stories?
10. DO the patrons like them as much as the business owners?
11. Why?
12. Are the kitties well behaved?
13. But are there any concerns about pets in business places?
14. Who brought up that point?
15. Who is she?
16. IS she in favor of pets at work?
Answer: 1. Pet owners
2. its's good for productivity , workplace morale , and the well-being of animals .
3. they won't feel lonely and unhappy
4. yes
5. Australia
6. the US
7. for companies 73% found office pets beneficial , while 27% experienced a drop in absenteeism .
8. yes
9. cats
10. yes
11. because they enabled a point of conversation
12. yes
13. both their co-workers and the cats were comfortable .
14. Sue Chaseling
15. She works for Petcare Information Service
16. yes

Problem: Our village carpenter ,John Hill, came one day and made a dining table for my wife. He made it just the right size to fill the space between the two windows. When I got home that evening, John was drinking a cup of tea and writing out his bill for his job. My wife said to me quietly, "That's his ninth cup of tea today." But she said in a loud voice, "It's a beautiful table, dear, isn't it?" "I'll decide about that when I see the bill." I said. John laughed and gave me his bill. It said: One dining table 10thNovember,2014 Cost of wood $17.00 Paint $1.50 Work,8 hour( $1.00 an hour) $ 8.00 Total $ 36.50 When I was looking at the bill,John said,"It's been a fine day,hasn't it? Quite sunny." "Yes," I said."I'm glad it's only the 10thof November." "Me too." said John, "You wait--it'll be a lot colder by the end of the month." "Yes, colder--and more expensive! Dining tables will be $20 more expensive on November 30th, won't they, John?" John looked hard at me for half a minute. I gave his bill back to him. "If it isn't too much trouble, John," I said,"please add it up again. You can forget the date..." I paid him $26.50 and he was happy to get it.
1. Who was the carpenter?
2. What did he drink to excess?
3. What was he there to make?
4. Did it have to fit a certain dimension?
5. Did it have to fit next to the bed?
6. Where did it have to fit between?
7. How many line items did he charge?
8. What did he think it added up to?
9. Was that the difference between that and the real total?
10. Who called the woodwork beautiful?
11. Did they all live in the same bustling city?
12. What day was the woodwork completed on?
13. When would the woodwork be more expensive according to the man's joke?
14. Did they wind up paying the wrong amount?
15. Was the woodworker unhappy with that?
16. How many drinks had he had according to the woman?
17. Was it a rainy day?
Answer:
1. John Hill
2. tea
3. a table
4. yes
5. no
6. the space between the two windows
7. Three
8. $36.50
9. $10
10. the wife
11. unknown
12. November 10, 2014
13. November 30th
14. no
15. no
16. Nine
17. no