The law says women should have the chance of doing the same jobs as men and earn the same as them. The reality is very different. Women lose because, 25 years after the Equal Pay Act, many of them still get paid less than men. They lose because they do lower-paid jobs which men just won't consider. And they lose because they are the ones who interrupt a career to have children. All this is reported in an independent study ordered by the Government's women's unit. The biggest problem isn't equal pay in workplaces such as factories. It is the sort of work women do. Make a list of low-paid-jobs, then consider who does them. Try nurses, secretaries, cleaners, clerks, teachers in primary schools, dinner ladies and child-care helpers. Not a lot of men among that group, are there? Yet some of those jobs are really important. Surely no one would deny that about nurses and teachers, for a start. So why do we reward the people who do them so poorly? There can be only one answer--because they are women. This is not going to be put right overnight. But the government, which employs a lot of them, and other bosses have to make a start. It is disgraceful that we have gone into the 21st century still treating women like second-class citizens. Women should have the chance of doing the same jobs and getting the same pay as men _ . A) after 25 years B) according to the law C) as a result of those important jobs D) because women are as strong as men
B
Doing well in high school prepare students for life in college and beyond, so achieving student success is important. High school students learn valuable information form class lectures and homework, and by asking for help when it is needed. Being prepared for tests and engaging in school activities can help a student to achieve success in high school. Complete any homework you are assigned on time. Then, if you need help understanding a concept you will have plenty of time to get help. Create a study area in your home. This can be a quiet bench outside or a seating area in your room. If you like to listen to music while studying, listen to classical or reading music. Be sure to have plenty of lighting in the area to read your textbook or notes. Keep a schedule. If you have extra-curricular activities like sports or school meetings, make sure to schedule your homework and study time around them. Keeping a schedule will allow you to get better grades while having fun in high school. Eat breakfast. Having breakfast each morning before school will give you energy and brain function to pay better attention in class. Eat snacks during study sessions to keep alert and focused on your work. Create a study group to help fellow high school students and get help if you need it. Studying with others will help reinforce concepts and information, and if you need help there will always be someone there to help you before you get behind in your studies. Set up after-school hours with your teacher if you need extra tutoring . Visiting a teacher for one-on-one time before a test will help you nail down those last few concepts you need help with. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? A) Doing well in high school prepares students for life in college only. B) Completing most of the homework on time will help a student to succeed. C) The students shouldn't listen to any music to create a quiet study area. D) The study area should be bright enough for the students to read the textbook.
D
Q: How did your friendships begin? Most start with a short conversation on a random day. Asking about a homework assignment in class or complaining about your painful legs after playing in a soccer game, you found your best pal by accident. "Small talk is where all your relationships begin," Forbes magazine summed up. The following is a five-step guide to making small talk from Bernardo J. Carducci, the director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast, US. Let's have a look. Getting started Begin by talking about the setting, such as the weather outside or the room you are in ("It's cold in here, isn't it?"). The purpose of talking about the setting is to show the other person that you are willing to make a conversation. 2The personal introduction You should mention something about yourself, such as your name. A good personal introduction helps move the conversation forward. 3Looking for topics At this point, you and your conversation partner need to find common ground. This is a good time to ask questions or to refer back to things you've said or heard earlier. Don't worry if it gets quiet. The other person is probably just thinking of something to say. 4Expanding the topic The goal is to keep the conversation going. At every stage, you should be careful not to talk too much. But don't let the other person _ the conversation either. If that starts to happen, mention something about yourself when he or she takes a breath. 5A polite ending When ending a conversation, let the person know you'll be leaving soon, express gratitude for the conversation and set the stage for a future conversation. For example, you could say, "I really must be going soon, but I had a great time chatting with you. I really liked hearing your opinion about that new movie. Here's my phone number. Call or text me if you know of any other movies you think I might enjoy." According to the article, starting by talking about the setting is meant to _ . A) find common ground B) impress the other person C) make a conversation D) make the room warmer
A: C
*Question*
Education cuts have become routine over the past few years, which has made it difficult for students to learn. The results of a survey of 1,850 Los Angeles County high school students show just how much the cuts are affecting students. Because of teacher layoffs , class sizes at some high schools have risen to 50 students -- even in math and English classes. Some 37 percent of students report that they sometimes don't have a desk to sit at. Sixty-seven percent say crowded classrooms make them feel the teachers don't have enough time to teach, and 30 percent say they've not been able to join in a program because it's no longer offered at their school. At a time when technology is an important skill, 52 percent of students say there aren't enough computers. Or they're often broken, and there's no one to fix them. Fifty-one percent say they've had to share textbooks with a classmate because there aren't enough copies to go around. Fifty-seven percent say they've had to copy information because their school doesn't have enough paper to make copies. "We have only one science teacher for the entire high school," writes Felix Ruano, a 16-year-old student. He goes on to describe how that teacher, who is only _ to teach chemistry, is teaching physics -- or, at least, is trying to do so. "He shows physics videos and we teach ourselves from our textbook," says Ruano. And, as has been seen elsewhere, "all but one of the restrooms" at Ruano's school "have been closed because we don't have enough people to clean them." Ruano notes that though faced with the challenges, 97 percent of students say they plan to go to college. But without "properly trained teachers and the best resources," says Ruano, it's not likely that every student will achieve that goal. "Unless schools fix these problems," he says, "students could lose hope." What would be the best title for the text? A) What caused education cuts? B) Education cuts, right or wrong? C) Education cuts have hurt students D) How to deal with education cuts
**Answer**
C