Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Pet owners are being encouraged to take their animals to work , a move scientists say can be good for productivity , workplace morale , and the well-being of animals . A study found that 25% of Australian women would like to keep an office pet . Sue Chaseling of Petcare Information Service said the practice of keeping office pets was good both for the people and the pets . "On the pets' side , they are not left on their own and won't feel lonely and unhappy," she said . A study of major US companies showed that 73% found office pets beneficial , while 27% experienced a drop in absenteeism . Xarni Riggs has two cats walking around her Global Hair Salon in Paddington . "My customers love them. They are their favorites ," she said . "They are not troublesome . They know when to go and have a sleep in the sun ." Little black BJ has spent nearly all his two years "working" at Punch Gallery in Balmain . Owner Iain Powell said he had had cats at the gallery for 15 years . "BJ often lies in the shop window and people walking past tap on the glass ," he said . Ms Chaseling said cats were popular in service industries because they enabled a point of conversation . But she said owners had to make sure both their co-workers and the cats were comfortable . Question: The percentage of American companies that are in favor of keeping office pets is Options: A: 73% B: 27% C: 25% D: 15%
A

Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Growing up on a tobacco farm, Emma Avery was used to hard times. When she was seven, her family's farmhouse burned to the ground. Her father made a temporary shelter, where eight people had to sleep in two beds. As soon as Emma and her four brothers and two sisters were big enough, they were out in the fields. Emma would find her comfort in school, even as a C student, thanks to one teacher. When she moved on to middle school, Emma was alarmingly far behind her classmates. She kept her head down, trying not to be noticed, struggling to catch up, and feeling like an outsider. Then one day, when Emma was 16, a teacher named Mr. Potts changed everything. Looking his students in the eye, Mr. Potts said, "Being a C student does not mean you do not have a valuable contribution to make. Some of you have to work in the fields in the evening and do not have time to study. But if you do your best, you have a gift to give." The teacher's words made Emma believe she could do well, and she worked harder. In the end she won a scholarship to St. Paul's College, graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1967, and got a job in the public-school system. Then, at George Washington University, she received a master's in education in 1970, and afterwards in the same year she married Ron Smothers. Over the next six years, Emma taught in public schools in Miami. In 1976, after saving $10,000, she opened her first restaurant in Los Angeles. Eventually Emma stopped teaching, and her business expanded to six restaurants. In gratitude for what she has been able to achieve, Emma donates a lot. She has no idea how much money she's given away. She says, "Those I want to help are the C students who just need help, direction and confidence." Question: From the text we learn that Emma _ . Options: A: won a scholarship to George Washington University B: was unsuccessful as a businesswoman C: was thankful to Mr. Potts D: disliked teaching, and gave up the job
C

Read the article and select the best answer. Article: Leaders of the World Health Organization say they are concerned about the air quality and health efiects on citizens during a recent outbreak of heavy pollution in Beijing.Still,they said they were unsure of the exact amount the air pollution takes on any person's body,casting doubts on local reports tying the area's dirty air to particular cases of illness. Speaking at a briefing on Tuesday,the WHO's Western Pacific regional director, Shin Young--Soo,cited reports about poor air quality causing lung cancer in recent weeks. "The WHO is skeptical of the information,"she said."We're cautious of whether the illness is related to air po11ution. We know it has an impact on health,but we don't know how much." The officials didn't cite particular reports.The comments follow a number of articles since late last year connecting some cases of diseases like lung cancer with pollution,.including one in November regarding an 8-year-old girl. The health impact of Beijing's gray skies has been on the minds of many over the past week. Local authorities on Tuesday preserved an orange alert the city's second highest pollution-warning level--and again warned people to stay indoors.Experts widely agree that small particulates known as PM2.5 carry significant short-and long-term health risks,particularly with children.Other studies find a certain link between pollution and shorter life spans. Chinese state media have noted a rise in cancer levels in Beijing,without specifying whether the new cases are the main result of pollution,smoking,other sources or some combination. Bernhard Schwartlander,the organization's China chief,said he is concerned and has been in contact with national authorities."There is no easy solution,"Dr. Schwartlainder said,adding that solving the problem requires managing industry and the economy.WHO leaders advised citizens.to stay indoors and limit exposure to the harmful particulates.When asked if wearing a face mask has any proven efficacy in preventing health effects of air pollution,Dr.... Question: We can learn from the passage that_. Options: A: in case of an orange alert, we had better not go outside B: the case of the girl with lung cancer was little' linked to air pollution C: cancer levels in Beijing are rising due to heavy air pollution D: it is widely agreed that pollution shortens life spans very slightly
A

Read the article and select the best answer. Article: There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is water between his feet and his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop. It's never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they'll never speak to him again . The boy puts his head down and prays, "Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! I'm dead meat ."He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered. As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and throws the bowl of water on the boy's legs. The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, "Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!" Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of _ , the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants are dried out. All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his goes to someone else - Susie. She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You've done enough, you klutz!' Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, 'You did that on purpose, didn't you?' Susie whispers back, 'I wet my pants once too.' Question: Susie throws water on the boy because she _ . Options: A: intends to save the boy from trouble. B: likes playing tricks on her classmates C: is too careless with the goldfish bowl D: wants the teacher to know the truth
A