Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
As young Chinese increasingly forget how to write characters because they don't have to, using keyboards and touch screen technology on mobile phones is changing the trend.

For Yin Liang, a 26-year-old purchasing agent at a company, his embarrassment over forgetting how to write characters has gradually disappeared since he started to use the handwriting input method on his iPhone 4 a month ago.

"When you write on the touch screen, you use your finger, instead of a mouse or keyboard," Yin says.

"Actually, your finger is like a pen, writing the complicated characters that have long been spelled by pinyin, an alphabet-based input system. Whether typing on computers or texting on phones, most users in China type by phonetically spelling out the sounds of the characters and the software then gives a menu of characters that fit the pronunciation, so users only need to recognize the character.

Handwriting technology on a mobile phone touch screen has been around for years and became popular with the iPhone, which recognizes the input and offers a wide selection of characters.

"It's efficient and accurate," Yin says.

Chinese characters are the oldest continuously used system of writing in the world, but as pinyin-based typing has become more widespread, youths have started forgetting how to write out characters. This was one of the main topics for debate at the first Cross-Straits Chinese Character Art Festival, held recently in Beijing, which attracted experts from Taiwan and the mainland.

According to Zhang Zikang, president of the Culture and Art Publishing House, writing with a pen on the touch screen brings handwriting into the digital age. It is even better when you write with your finger, feeling the flow of the cursive script and the grace and art of Chinese characters, he says.

"Smart gadgets don't take life from the square-shaped characters, instead they offer a new and advanced platform to show the charm of Chinese characters, which are always evolving," Zhang says.
1. What is the most ancient and continuously used system of writing?
2. What has become more popular now?
3. What's the effect of that?
4. What gathering just occurred in China?
5. In what city was it held?
6. Were only Chinese invited?
7. Did they discuss the subject of Chinese characters?
8. What technology is beginning to change things back?
9. How does Yin Liang feel about not remembering how to write characters?
10. Is that going away?
11. What kind of phone does he have?
12. Has he been using the touch screen method of writing for over a year now?
13. How long?
14. Does one use a mouse to write on the screen?
15. What do you use then?
16. What object does your finger replicate?
17. How do Chinese normally input their language on a computer?
18. After doing that, what does the software do?
19. Who is the head of the Culture and Art Publishing House?
20. Does he think it is better to use your finger or a writing utensil?

Numbered answers:
1. Chinese characters.
2. pinyin-based typing
3. youths have started forgetting how to write out characters
4. Cross-Straits Chinese Character Art Festival
5. Beijing
6. No.
7. Yes.
8. keyboards and touch screen technology on mobile phones
9. embarrassment
10. Yes.
11. iPhone 4
12. No.
13. A month.
14. No.
15. Finger
16. A pen
17. By phonetically spelling out the sounds of the characters.
18. gives a menu of characters that fit
19. Zhang Zikang
20. Yes.

Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
(CNN) -- Hope Murray thought her prayers had been answered.

Hope Murray, left, was desperate to find affordable health care for her daughter Meredith.

Her daughter, Meredith, desperately needed to see a doctor after suffering a brain injury in a car accident, but health insurance companies wouldn't sell her a policy because of her pre-existing condition.

So Murray was relieved to find Direct Medical Network Solutions Inc. while surfing the Internet. It wasn't insurance but a program that advertised deep discounts at doctors' offices and hospitals.

Murray immediately signed up for the program, which she says advertised $30 doctor visits and $50 visits to specialists.

"It was pretty phenomenal," Murray said. "They promised me everything was included," including doctor visits, vision, dental and hospital stays. "They even mentioned the Mayo Clinic."

Murray paid $314 for the card up front and then $179 each month after that.

Her daughter made an appointment to see Dr. Robert Epsten, a San Diego, California, gastroenterologist, to get treatment for her Crohn's disease.

Epsten was listed on Direct Med's Web site as being part of its network, but when Meredith arrived at Epsten's office, his staff said they didn't accept the Direct Med card. In fact, they said they'd never even heard of Direct Med, Hope Murray says.

According to Murray, this same scene played out with several other doctors and hospitals.

"I have never been more angry, more furious about anything in my life," Murray said. "It is a bogus scam that hurts people. It should be a crime for people to do that."
1. Who fell for a scam?
2. What did she sign up for?
3. What was it called?
4. Is it insurance?
5. Who required medical help?
6. Named?
7. Could she get insurance?
8. Why?
9. What did the program say it offered?
10. For how much?
11. And per month?
12. Who did she try to visit?
13. Why?
14. Did they take it?
15. Did other places take it?
16. Was it legit?

Numbered answers:
1. Hope Murray
2. a program that advertised deep discounts
3. Direct Medical Network Solutions Inc
4. No
5. her daughter
6. Meredith
7. No
8. because of her pre-existing condition
9. $30 doctor visits and $50 visits to specialists
10. $314 for the card
11. $179
12. Dr. Robert Epsten
13. to get treatment for her Crohn's disease
14. No
15. No
16. No

Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
CHAPTER VIII

It was a fine summer evening, and Richard and Carloman were playing at ball on the steps of the Castle-gate, when a voice was heard from beneath, begging for alms from the noble Princes in the name of the blessed Virgin, and the two boys saw a pilgrim standing at the gate, wrapt in a long robe of serge, with a staff in his hand, surmounted by a Cross, a scrip at his girdle, and a broad shady hat, which he had taken off, as he stood, making low obeisances, and asking charity.

"Come in, holy pilgrim," said Carloman. "It is late, and you shall sup and rest here to-night."

"Blessings from Heaven light on you, noble Prince," replied the pilgrim, and at that moment Richard shouted joyfully, "A Norman, a Norman! 'tis my own dear speech! Oh, are you not from Normandy? Osmond, Osmond! he comes from home!"

"My Lord! my own Lord!" exclaimed the pilgrim, and, kneeling on one knee at the foot of the steps, he kissed the hand which his young Duke held out to him--"This is joy unlooked for!"

"Walter!--Walter, the huntsman!" cried Richard. "Is it you? Oh, how is Fru Astrida, and all at home?"

"Well, my Lord, and wearying to know how it is with you--" began Walter--but a very different tone exclaimed from behind the pilgrim, "What is all this? Who is stopping my way? What! Richard would be King, and more, would he? More insolence!" It was Lothaire, returning with his attendants from the chase, in by no means an amiable mood, for he had been disappointed of his game.
1. What season was it?
2. Who was playing ball?
3. Where?
4. Steps of what?
5. Who was standing at the gate?
6. How was he dressed?
7. What did Carloman say to him?
8. Where did the pilgrim think Carloman was from?
9. Whose hand did the pilgrim kiss?
10. What is Walter?
11. Who came back with his attendants?
12. Was he happy?
13. Why?
Numbered answers:
1. summer
2. Richard and Carloman
3. on the steps
4. Castle-gate
5. pilgrim
6. long robe of serge
7. To come in, sup and rest the night
8. Normandy
9. young Duke
10. huntsman
11. Lothaire
12. no
13. disappointed of his game