The term "to extend an olive branch" means to make an offer of peace or reconciliation . This term has Biblical origins, coming from the section of the Old Testament that deals with the flood; the sign that the flood is over is an olive branch brought back to the ark by a dove. Olive branches were also symbols of peace in Ancient Greece and Rome, and they continue to be used in various works of art that are meant to suggest peace. Some people have suggested that the olive was a very deliberate and well-considered choice as a metaphor for peace, because olive trees famously take years to mature. War is typically very, hard on the trees because people cannot take the time to nurture them and plant new ones. Therefore, the offer of an olive branch would suggest that someone is tired of war, whether it be an actual war or a falling out between friends. In Ancient Greek and Roman times, people would offer actual olive branches. In Rome, for example, defeated armies traditionally carried olive branches to indicate that they were giving in, and the Greeks used them into weddings and other ceremonies. In the modem era, the branch is usually metaphorical, rather than actual, not least because the plants can be a bit difficult to obtain. Many people agree that peace negotiations at all levels of society are a good idea. Between nations, obviously, it is important to extend an olive branch to ensure mutual safety and to help the world run more smoothly. This act can also be important on a personal level, as resolving conflict and learning to get along with others is viewed as an important life skill in many cultures. At some point m their lives, many people will be advised to extend an olive branch to settle a dispute or resolve an issue. Some people believe that it takes an immense amount of courage to take this action, as it often comes with an admission of wrongdoing and regret. It can be learned from the text that to extend an olive branch _ A) is not important on a personal level B) is only important between nations. C) takes a lot of courage. D) is an important life skill m many cultures.
C
Which boy hasn't dreamed of being a cool secret agent ? The wonderful fighting and the world-saving adventures are much more colourful than most people's everyday lives. Well, Cody Banks is just like any other boy, except that he is not just dreaming. He has a big secret his friends never know about. He was trained to be a spy by a special CIA programme, which was made to look like a summer camp. He learned high-speed driving, hand-to-hand fighting and the use of high-tech tools. After proving he could become a young hero by saving a baby from a runaway car, Banks gets his first real task. He must make friends with a popular girl at school, Natalie Connors. Then, he must spy on her father, a scientist who has developed a dangerous technology . Banks must stop a group of bad people from forcing Natalie's father into using the technology to endanger the world. The CIA may have taught him first-class self-defence moves, but they didn't show him how to talk to girls. Banks has zero ability when it comes to dealing with girls. How can he get around his problem and get an invitation to the girl's upcoming birthday party? Will he finally become Natalie's boyfriend and find out whatever he can do about her father's work? Agent Cody Banks has everything that young people are interested in: big explosions, breath-taking performances and funny girl-dating experiences. It was listed in No.2 in the American box office last week. "This story is interesting and fun for the whole family to enjoy, and especially cool for young boys." said Paul Perkins, a film reviewer in the US. Banks wanted to go to Natalie's birthday party to _ . A) meet her father B) know more people C) make friends with her D) steal some information
C
Q: Too many people put off things that could bring them joy just because they haven't thought about them, don't have them on their schedules or are too stubborn to leave from their regular daily things. One day I thought about all those women on the Titanic who refused sweet foods at dinner that fateful night to cut out fatty foods. From then on, I've tried to be a little more changeable. I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, "How about going to lunch in half an hour?" She would stammer ,"I can't , I have clothes to wash. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday. I had a late breakfast. It looks like rain." She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together. We live on promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect. We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get our baby, Stevie, toilet-trained. We'll enjoy when we replace the living room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college. Life has a way _ as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we wake up, and all we have to show for our lives is a long list of "I'm going to", "I plan on" and "Someday, when things settle down a bit". I love ice cream. But my lips had not touched ice cream in 10 years. The other day I stopped the car and bought an ice cream. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy. Now, go have a nice day. Do something you want to. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you say? And why are you waiting? The author mentioned the women on the Titanic to _ . A) prove that cutting out fatty foods is difficult B) tell people to enjoy themselves sometimes C) encourage people to stick to regular daily things D) tell us the importance of refusing unhealthy foods like sweet foods
A: B
Q: Great speakers are not born but made. You too can become a good orator by taking up the public speaking courses. Those who are incapable of speaking in front of the public can' t come up in their life. The art of public speaking must be practiced by everybody who wants to reach great heights in their career. A lot of public speaking courses are available on the Internet. Choosing the best course that is right for you may be difficult but not impossible. The basic motive of public speaking courses should be to train you to become a public speaker and improve your skills of _ a public speech. The course should first educate you with the principles of public speaking and tell you how to overcome stress and anxiety. By overcoming fear, you will be able to deliver your presentation clearly to your audience. A speaker can have a great influence on the audience with his body language and your public speaking course should tell you the gestures on stage that can attract the audience. Non-verbal communication also has a major role to play in delivering a speech effectively to a group. Though body language is important, the content and the natural use of words are what the audience are closely caring about. Public speaking courses should give tips in using the right words at the right time. Even though you have prepared well, the real success of public speaking lies in the way your speech is delivered. Public speaking courses will train you to present the contents in a lively manner impressing the audience. Your presentation should be professional and stylish. You can add humor or interactive sessions to your presentation to gain the audience attraction. Which of the following can be the best title for this passage? A) What to look for in the public speaking courses. B) Some golden rules of giving a good speech. C) It is easy to find the speaking courses online. D) Some useful tips of delivering a public speech.
A: A