Q: Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Most of us spend our lives seeking the natural world. To this end, we walk the dog, play golf, go fishing, sit in the garden, drink outside rather than inside the pub, have a picnic, live in the suburbs, go to the seaside, buy a weekend place in the country. The most popular free time activity in Britain is going for a walk. And when joggers jog, they don't run down the streets. Every one of them automatically heads to the park or the river. It is my firm belief that not only do we all need nature, but we all seek nature, whether we know we are doing so or not. But despite this, our children are growing up nature-deprived . I spent my boyhood climbing trees. These days, children are robbed of these ancient freedoms, due to problems like crime, traffic, the loss of the open spaces and strange new ideas about what is best for children, that is to say, things that can be bought, rather than things that can be found. The truth is to be found elsewhere. A study in the US: families had moved to better housing and the children were assessed for ADHD . Those whose housing had more natural views showed an improvement of 19%; those who had the same improvement in material surroundings but no nice view improved just 4%. A study in Sweden indicated that kindergarten children who could play in a natural environment had less illness and greater physical ability than children used only to a normal playground. A US study suggested that when a school gave children access to a natural environment, the entire school would do better in studies. Another study found that children play differently in a natural environment. In playgrounds, children create a hierarchy based on physical abilities, with the tough ones taking the lead. But when a grassy area was planted with bushes, the children got much more into fantasy play, and the social hierarchy was now based on imagination and creativity. Most bullying is found in schools where there is a tarmac playground; the least bullying is in a natural area that the children are... Question: Children who have chances to explore natural areas _ . Options: A: tend to develop a strong love for science ks5u B: are more likely to dream about wildlife C: tend to be physically tougher in adulthood D: are less likely to be involved in bullying
A: D

Q: Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Last week the manager of an old jeweler's shop received a letter marked "personal", so of course his secretary gave it to him unopened. As he was very busy, the letter lay on his desk till tea-time. Then he opened it and aPS10 note fell out onto his desk. With the note was a short letter. This is what it said: Dear sir, In 1935 I got engaged. But unfortunately at that time there was a lot of unemployment and I lost my job. I was six months without a job and then I got work again. But of course I was very short of money. I came to your shop to buy a wedding ring. The assistant brought some rings for me to look at, but she was called away for a moment, and I put one of the rings in my pocket. When she came back, I said I did not know the size of my girl-friend's finger. So I left the shop without buying a ring. My wife died a short while ago and the fact that I never paid for her ring has been on my conscience all these years. At the time the ring cost PS2 so I reckon that is about PS10 at today's price. And I am sending you that amount. Yours truly, A customer "Well, well, well," said the manager, "life is full of surprises!" Question: Why didn't the secretary open the letter? Because _ . Options: A: he was very busy B: it was a personal letter C: there was a PS10 note in it D: the letter was unimportant
A: B

Q: Read the article and select the best answer. Article: The uninvolved dad, turning up his nose at diapering and too busy to bathe, dress and play with his kids, is mostly a myth , a big government survey suggests. Most American fathers say they are heavily involved in hands-on parenting, the researchers found. The results are encouraging and important " because others have found the more involved dads are, the better the outcomes for their children. " said researcher Jo Jones of the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control Prevention. She co-authored the report released Friday. "Times have changed," said Robert Loftus, 34, of Yonkers, NY. He quit a six-figure sales job a year ago to care for his two young children while his wife works full time. "We are trying to rethink our priorities and family seem to be N0 1 priority while in the past maybe people were more focused on career. " The study involved nearly 4.000 fathers who were interviewed in person between 2009 and 2013. *Key findings among fathers living with children younger than 5 : *9 in 10 bathed, diapered, helped them use the toilet or get dressed at least several times weekly . * Even higher numbers played with them and ate meals with them that often * Almost 2 0ut of 3 read to them at least several times weekly. *Among dads living with kids aged 5-18. * More than 9 0ut of 10 ate meals with them at least several times weekly and talked with them about what happened during the kids' day that often. * Almost 2 0ut of 3 helped with homework several times weekly. * About half took their kids to or from activities that often. Dr. David Hill, a Wilmington, N. C. pediatrician said the survey reflects what he's seen among his patients' fathers. Increasingly, fathers rather than mothers take their kids to the doctor. Some "are anxious about changing a diaper, " he said. Census numbers show that there were almost 190,000 stay-at-home dads nationwide last year versus 93,000 in 2010. Loftus, the New York stay-at-home dad, said, "I feel fortunate to be able... Question: According to the text, Robert Loftus would agree that _ . Options: A: time is important for success B: it is harder to find a job than before C: family is more important than work D: today's people are under much pressure
A: C

Q: Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Earlier this year,my oldest daughter got braces on her teeth,and let's just say she did not go quietly into that dentist's chair.Fear and hate pretty much describe the days leading up to her first appointment. So when she finally walked out with shiny teeth,a sore mouth and a broken spirit,I told her I was proud of her and took her to Ben &Jerry's for an ice cream reward.Two weeks later,we returned to the scene of the crime.The dentist spent about 45 seconds checking her teeth before sending her on her merry way.Before I could start the car, she was placing her ice cream order.She was shocked when I told her that she wasn't going to get a reward every time we get her teeth checked. Clearly,she's not alone.According to some parenting experts,kids are easily addicted to a benefit--producing system of parental rewards and bribes--it's not all ice creams,candies and cool toys.Some parents are offering their children prizes to just let them sit down and behave in a restaurant--or sleep in their own beds--or score a goal in the next soccer game. While the experts agree that occasional awards are okay, the danger lies in the system's overuse.Kids quickly gain a sense of entitlement ,where they come to expect a big reward for every good thing that they do,no matter how small.To keep things in check,experts say parents should reduce the number of rewards they offer,make sure rewards match the behavior and explain the real benefits of behaving for the sake of behaving. Have you used bribery or a reward system with your kids? Was it successful? Do your kids expect more because of that system? Question: The intended readers of the passage are _ . Options: A: children B: teachers C: doctors D: parents
A: D