China's top labor official said the country is planning to push back the age at which workers can retire. Yin Weimin, minister of human resources and social security, demonstrated that we did not put a timetable on the move when he spoke about it during a forum at the weekend. "Delaying the retirement age is a very complicated issue and we will study it according to the situations of population and employment and consider different groups of people," Yin said. He noted that _ in the retirement age have been brought in by many countries and can be a good way to deal with an aging population and ensure the healthy and stable development of social security. The life expectancy of Chinese people is now 73 years and is expected to rise to 74 during the next five years, he said. Nearly three out of 10 Chinese people will be older than 60 by 2040, according to a United Nations forecast. The retirement age in China currently is 60 for men and 55 for female civil servants and 50 for female workers. The idea of delaying the retirement age is being widely supported by government officials, while many laborers and non-government employees were less enthusiastic about the prospect of working for longer. Currently, they have to pay into their pension plans for at least 15 years before they can retire. Chen Xianlian, a female worker at a motorcycle parts manufacturer in Chongqing municipality is among those who would like to see the retirement age left as it is. "I have to do lots of tough and repetitive work every day and I feel very tired after my working day," the 41-year-old said. "All my colleagues are discussing the government's possible move to lift the retirement age. None of us wants to work any extra years." University graduates also fear that any rise in the retirement age could limit their employment opportunities. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A) All the Chinese people support the new policy. B) The life expectancy of Chinese people is expected to rise to 73 during the next five years. C) The retirement age in China will be 60 for men and 55 for female civil servants and 50 for female workers. D) The government did not set a fixed timetable on the new policy.
D
If English is not your first language, it is a good idea to take English language classes to improve your written and spoken communication skills. There are many ways to learn English. You can learn from a book, a DVD, on the Internet or by attending classes. One of the most successful ways to improve your English is to join a course in a country where English is widely spoken. The more you practice, the more you will learn. But why learn the English language? English is an important language for anyone who is planning to travel or become involved in business. Many people love travelling, but if their English is poor, it can be difficult to understand signs, read directions and make themselves understood. Before travelling, it is important to understand the culture and customs of the places you visit. Learning basic English before you travel will help you to understand these customs and avoid mistakes that could be embarrassing. When you are travelling, you will also enjoy meeting new people. If you can speak English, you will have a better chance of being able to communicate with the people you meet. Many of your new friends will speak English and others will have English as a second language. Without English, your friendships will be limited as you travel around the world. If you are involved in business, it is important to be able to communicate in English. The Internet, world travel and modern communication systems have made the world seem like a much smaller place. These days business people interact with customers and other business people from all over the world. That makes your English language skills more important than ever. There are many English language courses that major in business communications. Improving your English skills is one of the best things you could ever do to increase your chances of business success. What kind of people is English important to according to the passage? A) Travelers. B) Teachers. C) Students. D) Language experts.
A
Q: Going Zero Waste means more than dealing with the rubbish we create. It means reducing _ , too. People who go Zero Waste are careful about what they do. They never take more than they need, they reuse plastic bags, and they make good plans not to buy more than necessary before going shopping. Kamikatsu, a Japanese village, has already gone Zero Waste. The 2,000 villagers recycle everything possible. There are 34 different boxes at the recycling center! The villagers sometimes just feel unhappy about what they have to do, but they also see the good side. Let's think about how to enjoy a Zero Waste Christmas. By sending recyclable cards, we can help our friends and family reduce waste. And wouldn't it be better to enjoy the spirit of Christmas with a real tree that can be re-planted in spring? Going Zero Waste requires us to think more about what happens before and after we act. It is not always easy. But just think how good it would be, both for ourselves and for the earth we live on, if we never had to waste anything. How is the passage developed? A) Topic--Examples--Discussion B) Examples--Argument--Topic C) Topic--explanation--Argument D) Examples--Explanation--Discussion
A: A
(Question)
My son and I were trying to sell the house we had repaired, but in the barn there were bats and they would not leave. The barn was their home. They told us so in their own way they hung for the season. "Don't worry about it, Dad." Patrick said. "They keep down the mosquitoes ." Unfortunately they also kept the buyers away. When we had asked a person to sell the house for us he had refused to show it because of the bats. "Bats are popular," Patrick comforted me. "They are ecological." "Isn't there a machine you can buy that produces high-frequency sounds to keep bats away?" " I don't know," said Patrick. "But I like bats, and whoever buys this house will probably like them too.' "Probably?" I hated that word. "How many bats are there, anyway?" "I counted about 90 last night," said Patrick. "They were dropping out from under the edge of the roof." "You mean there are more------outside?" "They're everywhere, Dad. But look at it this way. When the cold weather comes, they'll be off to Mexico. Maybe in the spring we can keep them out. Don't worry about it," he said for the the hundredth time. "It's not a problem." The bat expert I called was even more active than Patrick. "I think you've got a large number there," he said in wonder. "I've been trying to attract bats to our house for 25 years. A single bat ears up his weight in mosquitoes and black flies three times every night. You've a very lucky man." I offered to share my luck with him. He could take them away. "Bats have a remarkable homing instinct ," he said. "They'd fly straight back even if I transported them 100 miles. Once they have settled, you can't stop them from coming back." I was silent. Finally we managed to rent the house to a young family, who were also interested in buying it. "What about the bats?" I said to Patrick. "Oh, they love the bats," he said. "No mosquitoes. No black flies. It's one of the things that attracted them." "Do you think they will really buy the house?" "Probably? Well, if they do, I suppose I'll have to admit that I was... Why did the author think he might have to "eat his words"? A) He felt sorry for the bats. B) He was happy about selling the house. C) He realized they might be wrong about the bats' actions D) He might be mistaken about being unable to sell the house.
(Answer)
D