Each year on February 2nd, there is special festival called Groundhog Day ( )' forecasting event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. When it comes, people from around the world, including 5,000 in the small town today, watch this tongue-twisting small town for a sign from one groundhog that supposedly predicts when that years' spring will arrive. If it's a cloudy day outside when the groundhog _ from its cave, then spring will arrive early that year. However, if it is sunny outside, the groundhog will supposedly be scared by its own shadow, hiding underground for six more weeks of cold weather. Of course, Punxsutawney Phil's prediction is no more able to guarantee the extended forecast than your local weatherman. ABC News reports that an analysis by the National Climate Data Center found that Phil's predictions are more often wrong than right. Philis is also found to have made some unpleasant predictions. Ever since 1887, he has predicted 99 extended winters and just 16 early springs .Nine of the years' predictions were unavailable, according to ABC. The holiday began as a German tradition in 18th century and became even more of a cultural phenomenon after the 1993 film Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray. Punxsutawney Phil has become a celebrity in his own right. Each year, the fatter animal with long teeth is watched by millions as he emerges from a cave in the town he is named after. Phil has become so beloved by the town that he actually lives in the local library with his "wife" Phyllis. Taking inspiration from the hard state of Bill Murray's character in the classic film, Yahoo contributor Owen Rust says Groundhog Day is a good time to reflect on one's routines. Which does this passage mainly talk about? A) The National Climate Data Center B) A German tradition C) A tongue-twisting small town D) Groundhog Day weather forecasting
D
(Question)
Japanese students work very hard but many are very unhappy. They feel great pressure from their parents to do well in school and in college. Most students are always being told by their parents to study harder so that they can have successful future. Although this may be good advice for those who are very bright, it can have very bad results for many students who are not quick enough at learning. Unfortunately, a number of students actually kill themselves. Others are after comfort in using drugs. Some students, however, do bad things with groups of bad people and turn to crime. Many of them have tried very hard at school but, in spite of all their tries, have failed in certain examinations and have disappointed their parents. Such students feel that they are less important than everyone else they meet and leave school before they finish their study. It is surprising that although most Japanese parents are anxious for their children to do well at school, they do not help them in any way. Many parents feel that they are unable to help their children with their lessons and that it is the teachers' job to help their children. To make matter worse, a lot of parents send their children to special schools called juku-cram schools. These schools are open during the evenings and on weekends, and their only purpose is to prepare students to pass exams; they do not try to educate students in any real sense of the world. Thus comes a shock to realize that almost three quarters of the junior high school students attend these cram schools. Ordinary Japanese schools usually have rules about everything from the length of students' hair to their clothes and things in their school bags. Child psychologists now think that such strict rules often lead to a feeling of being unsafe and being unable to fit into society. They believe that no sense of moral values is developed and that students are given neither guidance nor training in becoming good citizens. What's some experts' opinion about Japanese school rules? A) They are a set of effective rules. B) They can help the students to be useful persons. C) They are bad for the development of each student. D) They stress the importance of sense of moral values.
(Answer)
C
Ques: Americans are buying more products and services than ever before through the Internet.And experts say the popularity of online sales is likely to spread to other countries.Online sales now represent as much as one-tenth of all retail sales in the United States.This has led traditional stores to seek new ways to keep their customers loyal. Lynne Shaner used the Internet to buy everything she needed.Other than food,90%of her purchases were made on her home computer.She said."I find that.by being able to go online and choose the things that I need to choose,and have them delivered to me right at my doorstep,I _ all the driving,all the crowds,all the noise of that,and I usually get a better selection. " There are a lot of people like her.57%of Americans have bought something electronically in the past few months.Store owners worry that this growing amount of online sales will hurt their business. Cornell University marketing professor says traditional stores can keep their customers by selling goods like clothing,which buyers may want to see and try on before purchasing.He says the stores could also offer things that are difficult to ship.He also says some stores can please customers by offering to set up or repair electronic products. Bill Martin is the founder of ShopperTrak which helps stores learn about their customers.He says that traditional stores offer a social experience that some people enjoy and the experience and emotion in the buying decision before they're ready to part with money can't be gotten on--line.It's a rather cold process.Bill Martin says traditional stores can provide goods to buyers more quickly than online stores. While e-commerce worries some business owners,the worry for delivery services like FedEx and UPS is keeping up with the number of packages.UPS Manager Dana Kline says her company is very busy at this time of year. What can we learn about Bill Martin? A) He assists traditional stores in selling products. B) He founded a delivery company. C) He is in favor of online shopping. D) He thinks online sales are quicker than retail sales.
Ans: A
Most American students go to traditional public schools.There are about 88, 000 public schools, all over the US.Some students attend about 3000 independent public schools called charter schools. Charter schools are self-governing.Private companies operate some charter schools.They are similar in some ways to traditional public schools.They receive tax money just as other public schools do.Charter schools must prove to local or state governments that their students are learning.These governments provide the schools with the agreement called a charter that permits them to operate. Charter schools are different because they do not have to obey most laws governing traditional public schools.Local, state, or federal governments cannot tell them what to teach.Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to reach them.Class size is usually smaller than in traditional public schools. The Bush Administration strongly supports charter schools as a way to re-organize public schools that are failing to educate students.But some education agencies and unions oppose charter schools.One teachers' union has just made public the results of the first national study comparing the progress of students in traditional schools and charter schools. The American Federation of Teachers criticized the government's delay in releasing the results of the study, which is called the National Assessment of Educational Progress.Union education experts say the study shows that charter school students performed worse on math and reading tests than students in regular public schools. Some experts say the study is not a fair look at charter schools because students in those schools have more problems than students in traditional schools.Other education experts say the study results should make charter school officials demand improved student progress. What's the government's attitude toward charter schools? A) Doubtful B) Supportive. C) Subjective. D) Optimistic.
B