Read the article and select the best answer. Article: In fall 2006,the National Basketball Association (NBA)started using basketballs made with synthetic ,or man-made ,material instead of leather .They made the change be- cause they wanted every basketball they use to feel and bounce the same.Not all leather balls are exactly alike in weight or how they bounce,but the synthetic balls are. However,some players complained right away that the new balls bounced differently and were actually harder to control than the leather ones. Physics helped answer questions about why the new balls felt different.For example,the scientists studied friction ,which in this case affects the ability of a player to hold onto a ball."The greater the friction,the better it will stick to his hand,"explains a scientist. Tests on both wet and dry balls showed that while the synthetic ball was easier to hold onto when dry,it had less friction and became much harder to hold onto when wet.That's because _ stays on the surface of the synthetic balls but gets taken into the leather balls. The scientists also tested bounce and found that the logo printed on the new balls made their surface uneven and caused them to bounce a little strangely com- pared with the leather balls. In January,the NBA went back to using the leather balls.They aren't perfect,but for now,that's just the way the ball bounces. Question: The ball is easier to hold on to _ Options: A: when friction is greater B: when friction is less C: when it is heavier D: when it bounces strangely
A

Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you. Well, ni-hao. (Laughter) It is such a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you at this great university, so thank you so much for having me. I'm here today because I know that our future depends on connections like these among young people like you across the world. That's why when my husband and I travel abroad, we don't just visit palaces and parliaments and meet with heads of countries. We also come to schools like this one to meet with students like you, because we believe that relationships between countries aren't just about relationships between governments or leaders -- they're about relationships between people, particularly young people. So we view study abroad programs not just as an educational chance for students, but also as an active part of America's foreign policy . Through the wonders of modern technology, our world is more connected than ever before. Ideas can cross oceans with the click of a mouse. Companies can do business and _ with companies across the world. And we can text, email, Skype with people in the world. So studying abroad isn't just a fun way to spend a time of learning; it is quickly becoming the key to success in our times. Because getting ahead in today's workplaces isn't just about getting good grades or test scores in school, which are important. It's also about having real experience with the world beyond your borders -- experience with languages, cultures and societies very different from your own. Or, as the Chinese saying goes: "It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books." Question: Where did the speaker probably give the talk to the audience? Options: A: In a university. B: In the Parliament Hall. C: On the Internet. D: In a tourist attraction.
A

Q: Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Is there a difference in meaning between "It's too late to telephone. Mary is asleep now." and "It's too late to telephone. Mary will be asleep now."? Yes. The difference is in the reason given for it being too late to telephone. In the first sentence "Mary is asleep now", the speaker is stating a fact. In the second sentence "Mary will be asleep now", the speaker is saying what Mary usually does. In fact, it's possible that Mary isn't asleep, but she is usually asleep at this time. So let's take two situations. In the first case, imagine Mary's mother answers the telephone. You: "May I speak to Mary, please?" Mother: "No. It's too late. Mary is asleep now." You: "Are you sure? It's only 10 0'clock." Mother: "Yes. I went to her room and she was asleep." The mother knows that Mary is asleep because she went into her room and saw her. Here is another case. Two friends decide to telephone Mary. Jack: "Let's telephone Mary. It's 10 0'clock." Jill: "No. It's too late. She will be asleep now." Jill knows that Mary always goes to bed before 10 o'clock, so now she'll probably be asleep. But it is also possible that she is staying up late. Question: In which situation do you think the word "will" is used in the same way Jill uses it? Options: A: Will you please lend me a hand? B: It's too heavy, I think. I'll help you. C: Don't get into his office. He will be angry now. D: You won't have to come to my office. I will send it to you.
A: C

Question: Read the article and select the best answer. Article: One day in summer, little Jack was playing on the beach with his father. Suddenly, he saw a little tortoise moving slowly on the sand. He started to look at it carefully and began to touch it with his hand. To his surprise, the tortoise stopped moving. It pulled in its head and legs, and closed its shell tightly. He touched it again but the tortoise didn't move at all. Jack became angry. He used a stick and tried to make it open. When his father saw this, he stopped him and said, "No, son, you mustn't do that! You will kill the tortoise. You won't get it open with a stick." Jack asked, "Why?" "Just wait and see," his father answered. Then he picked up the tortoise and put it in a bag. After they came back home, the father took the tortoise out of the bag. He put it near the fireplace . After a few minutes, the tortoise began to move a little. Then the tortoise stretched out its head and legs. At last, the tortoise began to move across the room. How excited Jack was when he saw this! "Son, now you see," said his father, "sometimes, you can't make someone do things he doesn't like. But if you get him warm first, he will do what you want him to do." Question: The writer may want to tell us that _ . Options: A: people will do things we want them to do B: people won't do things we want them to do C: we can make people do things they don't like D: we can't make people do things they don't like
Answer: D

Q: Read the article and select the best answer. Article: We call the Chinese New Year the Spring Festival. There is a name for each Chinese year. We may call it the year of the sheep, the monkey, the snake, the tiger, the rabbit, the horse or the year of the pig. And this year is the year of the Sheep. Before New Year's Day, people are busy shopping and cleaning their houses. They are busy buying new clothes, new shoes, and candies. On New Year's Eve, there is a big family dinner. After the dinner, all the family members stay up late to welcome the New Year. On the first day of the New Year, people put on their new clothes and go to visit their friends. They say "Happy New Year" and some other greetings to each other. And on that day, children can get money in red packets. Besides, children have a lot of candies to eat. People wear new clothes and shoes. People usually have a very good time during the Festival. Question: How do Chinese people usually spend New Year's Eve? Options: A: They put on new clothes and go to the park. B: They visit their friends and talk about the New Year. C: They are busy shopping and cleaning their houses. D: They have a big dinner and stay up late to welcome the New Year.
A: D