Goodwill welcomes the proven talent of retired soldiers and military family members to its workforce. As Goodwill expands its social enterprise and life-changing mission services, America's heroes and their families are helping us strengthen communities. Goodwill is uniquely intended to connect retired soldiers and military family members with their next careers. Goodwill links retired soldiers and their families with a broad array of career and financial fitness services as they transition from the military into hometowns and careers across the country. Services include but are not limited to financial education, housing assistance, primary health care, meal service, transportation, and connection to rehabilitation services . In 2011, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr Jill Biden carried out the Joining Forces plan to connect service men and women retired soldiers and their husbands or wives with the resources they need to find jobs. In April of that year, Goodwill set a new plan going, Goodwill for America's Heroes and Their Families, to expand its face-to-face career and family strengthening services. From April 2011 through March 2013, Goodwill has employed 1,856 retired soldiers and their families, and provided services to 99,386 retired soldiers and their families. And our commitment continues. With the support of the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Goodwill launched Vested in Retired Soldiers in the communities of Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles and San Antonio to help military retired soldiers and their families connect with the education, training and support services they need to succeed on the homefront. Goodwill also launched an initiative known as Operation: GoodJobs, as funded by the Walmart Foundation, which provides a complete career assessment and an individualized development plan that include a range of family needs, from basic needs like nutrition, shelter and child care, to specific job training identified in the assessment process for participants and their families. The initiative... Michelle Obama is mentioned in the text to . A) emphasis Michelle Obama's being generous B) tell readers that Goodwill gets a lot of attention C) illustrate the achievements that Goodwill has made D) inform readers of the difficulty that Goodwill met
B
A spirit of adventure, curiosity about different cultures and the desire for a challenge can be found in young people everywhere. More and more students inprefix = st1 /Chinaare backpacking around the country. According to the China Youth Travel Service, Hainan, Dalian, Zhangjiajie andQingdaowere among the most popular spots for young Chinese backpackers last year. Backpacking allows the traveler a greater sense of independence. "I can no longer put up with the instructions of a tourist guide," said Huang Ye, a 19-year-old college student inBeijing. "They are always driving you to places that you do not want to go to and trying to make you buy local souvenirs." Huang likes to travel as a backpacker. She prefers an independent trip that she took with two friends to Jiuzhaigou inSichuanProvince. There, they chose some scenic spots to visit and avoided the masses of tourists. Backpackers see the difficulties of such travel as a challenge. Living on bread and water for days on end, wearing the same clothes over and over again and carrying a heavy bag on their backs while climbing a mountain are all character-building experiences. But perhaps the greatest challenge that a backpacker faces is not a physical one, but mental. They may face loneliness if they travel alone. Chen Xuewei, 21, suffered when he took off aroundChinalast year."I felt very lonely at the beginning of my journey. A walkman didn't make me feel better, but rather heightened the sense of loneliness I felt. I even called up my friends to tell them that I wanted to give up and go back toBeijing," he recalled. But he kept going. He started to make friends and appreciate the local customs. He took lots of photos to record his trip and now he is glad he stuck it out. Backpackers generally find themselves to be mature after their experiences. "Their travel logs track their development as people." "When I feel _ , I read my travel log again," said Tang Weifeng, a postgraduate atPekingUniversity. "By reading... Which of the following is NOT mentioned as one of the advantages of backpacking according to the story? A) It builds up your character. B) Through the experience, you learn to live in a tent. C) Through the experience, you learn to rely on yourself. D) Through the experience, you learn to cope with loneliness.
B
Q: Music died here last spring, or rather, it was killed by members of the school committee who ignored the importance of music and drama as part of the high-school curriculum. The committee decided that teaching students how to take a standardized test is more important than a curriculum in which students can explore their interests in the arts as well as academics. Because the school system is running out of funding, it needs to make sure that students pass the mastery test or even more money will be lost. If students fail the state standardized test, it is not the fault of drama and music classes-- they are failing because the " academic" classes are not sufficient. It is painful to think of how many students will be discouraged from singing, acting, and playing instruments because school programs are no longer offered. Many families cannot afford private music lessons, and many potential musicians and artists may not find their calling if they are not exposed to it in school. The fact that the school committee thinks the arts are not worth the investment will certainly make some students believe the arts are not worth their time or support and the cycle will continue. Teaching for a test does not shape students into complete, well rounded people. It blocks the natural sense to create and express feelings through art-- there is more to life than the analytical thinking that math and English provide. What happens after a test? Sure, a student might graduate, but they will have limited knowledge -- certainly not a good preparation for the real world. We can learn that music and art can _ . A) make students round-shaped people in future B) provide students with analytical thinking C) motivate students in creativity and expression D) prevent students graduating from high school
A: C
Q: Bantham Beach, Devon The South Devon coast is knee deep in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Bantham is a golden bank of sand. There are rock pools for younger children and for their elders. This is one of the county's favourite surfing beaches. The 14th-century Sloop Inn (01548 560489, sloopatbantham.co.uk) has summer doubles from PS145 per night (and it's only a couple of hundred yards to the beach). Camber Sands, East Sussex Head to the western end of the overflow car park and then it ,s a pleasant walk through dunes to your own private area on the endless sands. If you haven't bought a picnic, the village's Rye Bay Cafe is good for lunch and the nearby Rye Bay Nature Reserve provides walking, cycling and bird watching options. Charming double rooms at The Galivant (01797 225057, thegalivant.co.uk) start at PS115 per night. Aberdour Silver Sands, Fife This small, rural, sandy beach is beside woodland and offers dreamy views out to the islands of Inchmickery and Inchcolm. The Fife coastal path passes through and there's a good walking road following the cliff top to Hawkcraig with views across the river Forth to Edinburgh. Lunch at Sands beachfront cafe and book a room at Forth View Hotel (01383 860402,forthviewhotel.co.uk), where doubles cost from PS85 per night. Druridge Bay, Northumberland Druridge Bay has 99 acres of golden, sweeping sands. The kids can explore the towering grassland dunes that shelter the bay, and just 300 yards from the beach is the Druridge Bay County Park and Visitor Centre with wildlife displays and play areas. Food can be had at the Widdrington Inn (eight miles away) while Eshott Hall (01670 787 454, eshotthall.co.uk) has doubles from PS120 per night. If you want to watch wild life displays, you can go to_. A) Bantham Beach, Devon B) Camber Sands, East Sussex C) Aberdour Silver Sands, Fife D) Druridge Bay, Northumberland
A: D