Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Charles Dickens is often thought of as one of the greatest British writers. February 7 marked the 200th anniversary of his birthday. Yet for many, his language is old-fashioned and his stories often improbable. So why do so many people know and read Dickens today?

One reason is the British government's insistence that every child studies a Dickens novel at school. Alongside William Shakespeare, Dickens is on every English literature school reading list.

His stories, though often long by today's standards, are great moral tales. They are filled with colorful characters.

Earlier this month, a ceremony was held in Portsmouth, where Dickens was born. Prince Charles said at the ceremony, "Dickens used his creative genius to campaign passionately for social justice... His characterization is as fresh today as on the day it was written."

His books stand out from many other writers because of his insight into human nature. Dickens, like Shakespeare, tells us truths about human behavior. They are as true in the 21st century as they were to his readers in the 19th century.

Readers have returned to Dickens' books again and again over the years to see what he has to say about their own times.

No surprise then that it was Dickens whom Britons turned to during the economic crisis in the last couple of years. Dickens helped them make sense of a world that was rapidly falling apart. The BBC adapted one of his less well-known novels, Little Dorrit, into a popular television drama that introduced many Brits to the novel for the first time. A dark story about greed and money, it was the perfect illustration of bad times.

As long as Dickens's novels have something to say to modern audiences, it seems likely that he will remain one of Britain's best-loved writers.

1. who is the story about?
2. was he alive 300 years ago?
3. Was his birth in the month that follows January?
4. on what day?
5. where was he born?
6. what happened there recently?
7. did anyone prominent attend?
8. who?
9. was one of his works mentioned?
10. which one?
11. does it have an upbeat plot?
12. what is it about?
13. has it recently been reinterpreted?
14. by who?
15. in what medium?
16. was it a dark comedy?
17. what was it?
18. where is the Dickens from?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. Charles Dickens
2. No
3. Yes
4. the 7th
5. Portsmouth
6. a ceremony was held
7. Yes
8. Prince Charles
9. Yes
10. Little Dorrit
11. No
12. greed and money
13. Yes
14. The BBC
15. television
16. No
17. a drama
18. England

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Chad walked to the pet store. He saw puppies. There was a black and white puppy. Chad liked the puppy. Chad walked the puppy home on a leash. He took the puppy in the yard to play. He found a ball to play fetch with the puppy. Chad threw the ball and the puppy chased it across the yard. After they were done playing, Chad fed and watered the puppy. He found two bowls in the kitchen. He filled one with water. He filled the other bowl with dog food. The puppy ran to the bowls to eat and drink. When the puppy was finished eating it became tired. Chad made the puppy a bed out of an old pillow. The puppy curled up on the pillow and went to sleep.

1. What animal did Chad see in a store?
2. How did Chad feel about those?
3. What did the animal look like?
4. Did he decide to keep it?
5. What did he do with it after he left the store?
6. What else did they do?
7. How?
8. What did he eat?
9. Was the dog thirsty as well?
10. That's a lot of activity for one afternoon, what happened next?
11. Did it go to sleep then?
12. Where did it do that?
13. Where did that come from?

Numbered answers:

A: 1. puppies
2. He liked one.
3. It was black and white.
4. yes
5. They played.
6. It ate.
7. with bowls
8. dog food
9. yes
10. It was tired.
11. Yes
12. On a pillow.
13. From Chad.

Answer the questions at the end based on the text.

Doha, Qatar (CNN) -- An international donors' conference on Darfur kicked off Sunday in Doha with the hope of raising $7.25 billion to bring aid and sustainable development to the troubled region in Sudan.

"There is an opportunity to assist the people of Darfur through massive generosity," said Ali Al-Zatari, the representative of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Sudan.

"Darfur still needs stability," Al-Zatari added. He said 3.5 million people need humanitarian assistance, and 1.5 million of them live in camps.

The conference, whose participants include the UN, the governments of Qatar and Sudan, and the World Bank, seeks to "to mobilize financial support for the recovery and development needs in Darfur."

Reactions to the conference, however, are mixed.

"The conference is a strong message to the Darfurian people that they are not forgotten," said Abdullah Adam Khatir, a Darfurian writer. "It will take time, it's a process,."

Al-Baqir Afifi, a civil society activist, on the other hand, disagreed with the conference's approach.

"Those who are going to pledge money want to know if the money is going to reach Darfur or not," he said. "It is still insecure in Darfur; there is chaos," he added.

Protests against the conference took place in some camps in Darfur last week.

"What are they going to do with this money when there is no security?" an activist who preferred not to be named said, according to AFP.

Violence broke out in Darfur in 2003 when non-Arab rebel groups took up arms against the central government in Khartoum, accusing it of neglect and discrimination.

1. How much money does the conference want to gather?
2. True or False: Attitudes toward the conference are all positive.
3. How many Dafurians need help?
4. Do all of them live in camps?
5. Who is Al-Baqir Afifi?
6. Did he agree with the conference's plan?
7. What does Al-Zatari thinks Darfur needs?
8. Who is Al-Zatari?
9. True or False: The UN took part in the conference.
10. Which governments took part?

Numbered answers:

A:
1. $7.25 billion
2. unknown
3. 3.5 million
4. 1.5 million of them live in camps
5. a civil society activist
6. disagreed with the conference's approach.
7. humanitarian assistance
8. representative of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Sudan
9. unknown
10. unknown