Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
The tz database is a collaborative compilation of information about the world's time zones, primarily intended for use with computer programs and operating systems. Paul Eggert is its current editor and maintainer, with the organizational backing of ICANN. The tz database is also known as tzdata, the zoneinfo database or IANA time zone database. It is sometimes called the Olson database, referring to the founding contributor, Arthur David Olson.

Its uniform naming convention for time zones, such as "America/New_York" and "Europe/Paris", was designed by Paul Eggert. The database attempts to record historical time zones and all civil changes since 1970, the Unix time epoch. It also includes transitions such as daylight saving time, and also records leap seconds.

The database, as well as some reference source code, is in the public domain. New editions of the database and code are published as changes warrant, usually several times per year.

The tz database is published as a set of text files which list the rules and zone transitions in a human-readable format. For use, these text files are compiled into a set of platform-independent binary filesone per time zone. The reference source code includes such a compiler called zic (zone information compiler), as well as code to read those files and use them in standard application programming interfaces such as codice_1 and codice_2.
1. What database is this article talking about?
2. Who designed its uniform naming convention for time zones?
3. It is intended to be used on what devices?
4. Give me another name for the database?
5. Is it also called Oslon database?
6. named after who?
7. And who was he?
8. What does the database record?
9. Is the database in the public domain?
10. Are new editions published as the changes warrant?

Numbered answers:
1. The tz database
2. Paul Eggert.
3. platform-independent binary files
4. tzdata
5. sometimes
6. Arthur David Olson.
7. the founding contributor
8. information about the world's time zones
9. yes
10. yes

Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
Su Hua is studying at Cambridge, UK. She has bought a bicycle and is worried about security. Her friend, Kate, found this article and sent it to her. www.zxxk.com

Introduction

A lot of crime is against bicycles. About 150,000 bicycles are stolen every year and most are never found. You can prevent this happening by following a few careful steps.

Basic Security

Do not leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places. Always lock your bicycle when you leave. Secure it to lampposts or trees. Take off smaller parts and take them with you, for example lights and saddles .

Locks

Get a good lock. There are many different types in the shop. Buy one that has been tested against attack. Ask for a recommendation from a bike shop.

Marking

Security marking your bike can act as a deterrent to a thief. It can also help the police find your bicycle. It should be clearly written and include your postcode and your house or flat number. This will provide a simple way to identify your bicycle.

Registration

There are a number of companies who will mark your bicycle for you. They will then put your registration number and personal details on their computer database. Then if your bicycle is found it will be easy to contact you.

Finally

Keep a record of the bicycle yourself: its make, model and registration number. You can even take a photograph of it, this will prove the bicycle belongs to you.
1. where does Su Hua go to school?
2. what did she buy?
3. what worry does she have?
4. who gave her some information?
5. is Kate her friend?
6. where did she find the information?
7. how many bikes are taken every year?
8. are most of them found again?
9. what should you do with little pieces from a bike?
10. like what pieces?
11. what else can you do?
12. what kind should you buy?
13. where can you get help choosing one?
14. how does marking help?
15. who can mark it for you?
16. what else will they do?
17. what else should you record?

Numbered answers:
1. Cambridge.
2. bicycle .
3. Security.
4. \Kate.
5. Yes.
6. www.zxxk.com
7. About 150,000.
8. No.
9. Take them with you.
10. Lights.
11. Get a good lock.
12. One that's been tested against attack.
13. Bike shop.
14. Act as a deterrent to a thief.
15. A number of companies.
16. Put your registration number in their database.
17. Registration number.

Question:
Read the text and answer the questions.
CHAPTER II.

When Brant returned to his hotel there was an augmented respect in the voice of the clerk as he handed him a note with the remark that it had been left by Senator Boompointer's coachman. He had no difficulty in recognizing Susy's peculiarly Brobdingnagian school-girl hand.

"Kla'uns, I call it real mean! I believe you just HOPED I wouldn't know you. If you're a bit like your old self you'll come right off here--this very night! I've got a big party on--but we can talk somewhere between the acts! Haven't I growed? Tell me! And my! what a gloomy swell the young brigadier is! The carriage will come for you--so you have no excuse."

The effect of this childish note upon Brant was strangely out of proportion to its triviality. But then it was Susy's very triviality--so expressive of her characteristic irresponsibility--which had always affected him at such moments. Again, as at Robles, he felt it react against his own ethics. Was she not right in her delightful materialism? Was she not happier than if she had been consistently true to Mrs. Peyton, to the convent, to the episode of her theatrical career, to Jim Hooker--even to himself? And did he conscientiously believe that Hooker or himself had suffered from her inconsistency? No! From all that he had heard, she was a suitable helpmate to the senator, in her social attractiveness, her charming ostentations, her engaging vanity that disarmed suspicion, and her lack of responsibility even in her partisanship. Nobody ever dared to hold the senator responsible for her promises, even while enjoying the fellowship of both, and it is said that the worthy man singularly profited by it. Looking upon the invitation as a possible distraction to his gloomy thoughts, Brant resolved to go.
1. Who handed Brant the message?
2. Who gave it to him?
3. Who wrote it?
4. What was different about the clerk when he gave it to him?
5. How did he know it was Susy that sent it?
6. How did did it embody her?
7. What did she want from him?
8. Where would they meet?
9. How would he get there?
10. Did he plan to go?
11. What was her occupation?
12. Whom did she assist?
13. What aspect of her personality deflected criticism?
14. Was she effective?
Numbered answers:
1. hotel clerk
2. Senator Boompointer's coachman
3. Susy
4. he had more respect
5. recognized her handwriting
6. childish and trivial
7. to go and see her
8. unknown
9. Shell sent a carriage
10. Yes
11. a theatrical career,
12. the senator
13. vanity
14. yes