Most of the 20th century has been a development on the Industrial Revolution taken to an extreme: people now own more products than ever before; there are enough nuclear weapons to destroy the earth several times over; there is hardly any forest left and pollution has got to the point where we buy water. Within a few years I predict you will be able to buy air (There once was a time when you didn't need to buy food or shelter either.). Important developments in the last century are the breaking down of the class structures left over from the Industrial Revolution stage, bringing with it the empowerment of the "common man": the working day is set by law to only 8 hours a day, everyone has the vote, the media has less obvious government control, people have landed on the moon, sent spacecrafts to Mars and so on. Families have also shrunk drastically ; the nuclear family came about, and especially in the last half of the 20th century, one-parent families are becoming more common. This shrinking in the size of the family shows the increased independence of people--once upon a time people had to live in large groups to survive. As humans have "become the gods", they have realized their individuality and independence and taken their control of the world to an extreme. In many countries the land is almost completely used in the production of food and as living space and they live in small cities which are entirely human constructed, made from materials which are also entirely human constructed(concrete, bricks) with hardly any remains of nature. Weeds are poisoned because they are messy; even parks have trees grown in tidy lines; grass is mowed to keep it short and so on. I think the massive drug "problem" troubling people is a result of too much of this influence, humans needing to escape the stark world they have created by entering fantasy worlds. Over the last 100 years, the 20th century consciousness has spread throughout the world; most of Asia has been thoroughly "Westernized", and most of the Third World is... What is the author's attitude towards the changes of the 20th century? A) Objective. B) Tolerant. C) Positive. D) Negative.
D
(Question)
Of all the websites, one that has attracted attention recently is myspace.com. Most of this attention has come from the media and tells every reason why the website should be shut down. The danger of internet predators is indeed a tough reality, but shutting down the site is not the answer. If myspace.com were shut down, another site would quickly take its place. Therefore, the right way is to teach teens how to use the site safely and educate them about who may be predators and how to avoid them. The key to staying safe on the Internet is to make sure that your profile is secure. The simplest way is to change the privacy setting on your profile to "private", which protects your information so that only the people on your friend list can view it. Although this is effective, it is not perfect. Predators can find ways to view your profile if they really want to, whether through hacking in or figuring out their way onto your friend list. Thus, you should never post too much personal information. Some people actually post their home and school addresses, date of birth, and other personal information, often letting predators know exactly where they will be and when. The safest information is your first name and province. Anything more is basically inviting a predator into your life. Another big problem is photos. I suggest completely skipping photos and never posting a photo of a friend online without asking permission. Most importantly, never, under any circumstances, agree to a real-life meeting with anyone you meet online. No matter how well you think you know this person, there are no guarantees that they have told the truth. But you could feel free to chat with people you meet on the site, but just remember that not everyone is who they say they are. Hopefully, the next time you edit your profile, you'll be more informed about the dangers of Internet predators and take the steps to defend yourself. Lastly, do not send money to anyone you meet online. A common _ among Internet criminals is to request to pay... What could be the best title of this passage? A) Personal Safety. B) Web Safety for Teens. C) Web Hackers in the past. D) Predators' Tricks.
(Answer)
B
Ques: What would life be like without rich, creamy, mouthwatering, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate? Life would be bitter for most Americans. They spend about $13 billion a year buying all sorts of chocolate treats. However, for the African children who toil under slavelike conditions on cacao plantations, life is not sweet. The cacao bean is the main ingredient in the chocolate. According to a 2002 survey by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the US Agency for International Development, about 284,000 children work in dangerous conditions on cacao farms in western Africa. More than half those children are younger than 14. Many were sold into forced labor to work 12 hours or more a day on the cacao plantations. A number of international organizations, including several African governments, recently began a program to eliminate child labor on cacao plantations. Under the program, government officials will remove children from abusive working situations while teaching farmers about child labor issues. The program will also make borrowing money easier for cacao farmers. Officials hope farmers will use the money to invest in their farms and hire paid laborers. How many children under 14 work on cacao farms in western Africa? A) About 284,000. B) About 142,000. C) About 467,000. D) About 876,000.
Ans: B
Why do people buy art? To answer this question, ask yourself what your reasons are for thinking of getting a piece of art. An artwork can cost a large amount of money, but if it meets your needs, it's worth every penny. People buy art for many reasons. Many people buy an artwork simply because they like it, even if it is by an unknown artist. Art, as long as you enjoy it, is never a waste of money. Art is for enjoyment. Art is meant to be shown. Don't ever feel pressured into buying something you won't enjoy looking at day after day, no matter what other people may say. Don't buy something that doesn't attract you just because it is trendy, or because the artist is famous, or because you have been advised that the artwork will make a good investment. If you don't like the artwork at all, don't buy it! Art improves your environment. Have you ever noticed that all beautiful homes have art as an integral part of the decoration? Art lends life and color to otherwise plain and ordinary walls. A well thought--out art collection will help create a unique atmosphere in your home and make it more attractive. Art makes a statement. The kind of art you surround yourself with says much about your personality tastes and values. _ . Art enriches your life. Love--even the love of a work of art--contributes to healthier living and a longer lifespan . Art should enrich your life. Otherwise, why do you spend precious time and resources on it? Just remember to select something which will appeal to your tastes, and keep to a sensible budget. Good art needn't cost an arm and a leg. Happy art collecting! What's the purpose of the passage? A) To advise us to buy an expensive artwork. B) To remind us to be sensible when buying an artwork. C) To teach us how to choose works of art. D) To explain the benefit of art to people.
D