It was a cold winter day. A woman drove up to the Rainbow Bridge tollbooth . "I'm paying for myself, and for the six cars behind me," she said with a smile, handing over seven tickets. One after another, the next six drivers arriving at the tollbooth were informed, "Some lady up ahead already paid your fare." It turned out that the woman, Natalie Smith, had read something on a friend's refrigerator: "Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty." The phrase impressed her so much that she copied it down. Judy Foreman spotted the same phrase on a warehouse wall far away from home. When it stayed on her mind for days, she gave up and drove all the way back to copy it down. "I thought it was beautiful," she said, explaining why she'd taken to writing it at the bottom of all her letters, "like a message from above." Her husband, Frank, liked the phrase so much that he put it up on the classroom wall for his students, one of whom was the daughter of Alice Johnson, a local news reporter. Alice put it in the newspaper, admitting that though she liked it, she didn't know where it came from or what it really meant. Two days later, Alice got a call from Anne Herbert, a woman living in Marin. It was in a restaurant that Anne wrote the phrase down on a piece of paper, after turning it around in her mind for days. "Here's the idea," Anne says. "Anything you think there should be more of, do it randomly." Her fantasies include painting the classrooms of shabby schools, leaving hot meals on kitchen tables in the poor part of town, and giving money secretly to a proud old lady. Anne says, " _ ." The acts of random kindness spread. If you were one of those drivers who found your fare paid, who knows what you might have been inspired to do for someone else later. Like all great events, kindness begins slowly, with every single act. Let it be yours! Why did Natalie Smith pay for the six cars behind her? A) She knew the car drivers well. B) She wanted to show kindness. C) She hoped to please others. D) She had seven tickets.
B
(Question)
Oscars organizers promised a new progress to this month's Academy Awards to greet this year's nominees . After years of falling view that ended in last year's 80th Oscars recording low view rate,the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has to make a fresh start for Hollywood's yearly show. The coproducers of the February 22 show,Bill Condon and Laurence Mark,have so far kept full details of their planned changes to the Oscars' triedandtested method secret. Oscars organizers have already made sure of one change by announcing Australian actor Hugh Jackman as the host of the show. Among the changes reported to be considered are the decision to leave out the ceremony's opening monologue . The names of the invited on the awards night have also been kept secret while in earlier years the Academy made presenters to the ceremony public before weeks. TheNewYorkTimesreported on Monday that the producers are trying to improve the show by asking studios to provide scenes from films. At the same time Ganis also advised nominees to give some thought to make their acceptance speeches memorable-and short. "As for the acceptance speeches-you know what's required," Ganis said."Be brief,be personal and be heartfelt. _ " This year's Oscars are expected to be a great event. Many films will touch you,"Slumdog Millionaire"has 10 nominations,and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" with 13.In the past the film with the most Oscar nominations is the one that has succeeded in box office. The main idea of the passage should be _ . A) Oscars leaders announce new film B) films with most nominations C) Oscars organizers are waiting for actors D) Oscars leaders promise "brave,fresh"show
(Answer)
D
Picture a library without books? Well, I can't. Ever since I was little I would go to the library and take out numerous books. From picture books to beginning chapter books to YA books, books have always been a part of my life. Unlike many people today, I don't own a Kindle or a Nook or any type of e-reader. I prefer the old-fashioned book. There is something about holding a book and being able to turn the pages that I find comforting. In today's 21st century, books may become _ . For me that's something I find scary. I am a fan of the old TV science-fiction series Twilight Zone. One episode is about a librarian who has become obsolete. _ In fact, in San Antonio, Texas the first-ever bookless library in the country opened. The library is full of iMacs, tablets and iPads which cost a huge $2. 3 million. The library offers around 10,000 e-books. So the question is, is this what the future will soon be? Mary Graham, vice president of South Carolina's Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce states, "This is the future...If you're going to be building new library facilities, this is what you need to be doing." It is our generation that will be the guinea pigs of increasing technology like this. Is this a good or bad thing? Well, digital libraries may help the environment by not using paper; however, I feel like something will always be lacking with a digital book. A digital library is just the beginning. With all of this new technology, people seem to be more absorbed in their own world. One of my biggest complaints is when I am with my friends and they can't seem to get off their smart phone and talk to me. To make plans with a friend and then have them stuck on their phone the whole time is extremely rude. Not only is it disrespectful, but it reflects the direction of where human interactions are heading. Though social media is great, it also is addicting and has negative effects. Often when I go on Facebook it just makes me feel worse about myself. I'll see many of my 800 Facebook friends showing off their newest... Which of the following will the writer probably disagree with _ ? A) Great as social media is, it does have some negative effects. B) With the increasing use of social media, something will actually be lost. C) Through social media, people can develop educational and social skills around. D) As a result of social media, people may communicate less with the people around.
C