Article: Editor's notes: AWL is well known for its dictionaries and English language teaching materials. Some readers have written in to ask us for the latest information on high quality books on English, so here we introduce two texts that aim to improve spoken English fluency. Let's speak (Beginner) By Bev Dusuya, Naoko Ozeki and Kevin Bergman ISBN: 962001359X Speak Up(Pre-Intermediate) By Bev Kusuya, Nako Zeki ISBN: 0583338050 "Teach the students about your culture and help them talk about their own." How often are these worthy goals kept from being achieved by the limitations of your beginner level learners? Students at all levels want to talk about culture. Topics include food, shopping, sports, fashion, the roles of men and women, health, music, and many more. These are all chosen from surveys of over 15,000 students about their own interests in cross-cultural communication. "Let's Speak" and "Speak Up" share a special but excellent way that allows all students to take part in. The series has questions which start thinking and then help collect opinions about personal topics. Conversation practice is provided by ready to use models of basic exchanges on the topic. Also, the cultural information presented in the series comes in the form of interesting, relevant facts and ideas from other countries through listening tasks and Culture Quiz exercises. Team activities in books provide lively problem solving games to enable sharing and comparison of cultural values. "Let's Speak" is fit for entry level students of all ages. "Speak Up" provides for the needs of higher level beginners, offering the same careful listening and speaking help, but with slightly more open ended discussion. For any information about AWL's books, please get in touch with the following addresses: prefix = st1 /Beijing AddisonWesleyLongmanInformationCenter Room 2306, FLTRP Beijing 19 Xi San Huan Beilu, Beijing100081 Tel: (010)68917488 (010) 68917788 Fax: (010) 68917499 E-mail: zrh@public.bat.net.cn Question: The passage above is probably taken from the_section in a newspaper. Yes or no, is the answer "BOOKSHELF"?
Yes

Article: Sixteen years ago, Eileen Doyle's husband, an engineer, took his four children up for an early morning cup of tea, packed a small case and was never seen or heard from again. Eileen was astonished and in a state of despair. They had been a happy family and, as far as she knew, there had been nothing wrong with their marriage. Every day of the year a small group of men and women quietly pack a few belongings and, without so much as a note or a good-bye, close the front door for the last time, leaving their debts, their worries and their confused families behind them. Last year, more than 1,200 men and nearly as many women were reported missing from home -- the highest in 15 years. Many did return home within a year, but others rejected the past completely and are now living a new life somewhere under a different identity. To those left behind this form of desertion is a terrible blow to their pride and self-confidence. Even the finality of death might be preferable. At least it does not imply rejection or failure. Worse than that, people can be left with an unfinished marriage, not knowing whether they will have to wait seven years before they are free to start a fresh life. Clinical psychologist Paul Brown believes most departures of this kind to be well planned rather than impulsive. "It's typical of the kind of personality which seems able to ignore other people's pain and difficulties. Running away, like killing yourself, is a highly aggressive act. By creating an absence the people left behind feel guilty, upset and empty." Question: The man or woman left behind with an unfinished marriage usually _ . Yes or no, is the answer "feels embarrassed and useless"?
No

Article: I've been asked a million times why I've chosen to put up with all the inconvenience of working the road all these years when I could have easily written songs for a living, and enjoyed a peaceful and comfortable existence.My reply is:Nobody applauds when you write a song. What else would cause a person to pack his belongings and ride away from his family in order to lead such a nomadic existence? I mean,entertainers don't cure cancer or anything. I once rode all night and half a day through a snowstorm only to arrive in a town where we were booked to perform to find our concert had been canceled because of the weather.A handful of people hadn't heard the news,however,and had managed somehow to make their way to the concert hall. We were cold, tired and hungry. But there was something in the eyes of those few fans who had shown up that told us how badly they wanted to hear the music they knew we could play if only we would. There was certainly no place else for us to go. _ Why not drink some coffee and pick a little country music? When our show was over,an elderly lady approached the stage."You don't know how much this evening has meant to me," she said."Thank you for playing and singing for such a small crowd.Today is the first time I've smiled since my husband died.Your music has helped me to forget my problems for a while." Okay,so entertainers don't cure cancer.But maybe, every once in a while, we cure some other things that are almost as important. Question: Which of the following opinions will the author probably agree with? Yes or no, is the answer "Music is powerful."?
No

Article: I took my 9-year-old daughter,Suzan and 5-year-old son,Robbie to the shopping centre.As we got there,we saw a big sign that said,"Petting Zoo".The kids jumped up and asked,"Daddy,can we go?" Both my wife and I were out of work.However,I said,"Sure",giving them a quarter each. They went away, leaving only fifty cents left in my pocket. A petting zoo is made up of a hundred of little baby animals of all kinds.Kids pay their money and stay in the enclosure pleased with the little animals while their parents shop. A few minutes later,I saw Suzan walking along behind me.I was surprised and asked what was wrong. She said sadly,"Well,Daddy,a ticket for Petting Zoo costs fifty cents.So I gave Robbie my quarter." Then she said _ I ever heard.She repeated the family motto ,which is "Love is Action!" I knew clearly no one loves little animals more than Suzan. She had watched both my wife and me do and say "Love is Action!" for years,and now she had put it into her lifestyle.It had become part of her,because she knew the whole family motto.It's not only "Love is Action";it's "Love is SACRIFICAL Action!" Love always pays a price. I was moved.We went back to the Petting Zoo.Suzan stood with her hands and chin resting on the fence and just watched Robbie go crazy petting and feeding the animals.I had fifty cents burning a hole in my pocket. I put my hand into my pocket and took out the money.Sure,I must do that ! Question: What might happen next according to the story? Yes or no, is the answer "Suzan would play happily with the little animals."?
No