Each year millions of babies are born too soon and too small. Premature or preterm births are defined as births at less than thirty-seven weeks. Prematurity is the leading cause of death in newborn babies. More than one-fourth of the four million newborns who die each year around the world were born too early. Preterm babies that survive can suffer a lifetime of serious health conditions. The examples include cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing problems and learning disabilities. Families and communities face emotional, physical and financial costs. Christopher Howson is the vice president for global programs at the March of Dimes, a nonprofit group. His group and the World Health Organization recently published a report called "The Global and Regional Toll of Preterm Birth." CHRISTOPHER HOWSON: "Frankly the crisis of preterm birth is under-recognized, undercounted, undervalued and under-funded. I mean, this report shows that thirteen million babies are born every year preterm, and that over a million of those babies die as a result of being born too early." And these are just estimates; the true numbers could be even higher. More than eighty-five percent of preterm births happen in Africa and Asia. Africa has the highest rate, with about four million cases each year. Chris Howson says many of the causes of preterm births are related to poverty and weak health-care systems. CHRISTOPHER HOWSON: "For example, the poor overall health and nutritional status of women. A high burden of infectious diseases. Lack of provision of family planning - allowing a woman to decide when to start and end having children and how to space her children. And also the lack of good prenatal care programs that might identify problems early on in pregnancy." Preterm births are a problem not just in the developing world. The combined rate in the United States and Canada is the second highest in the world. Preterm birth rates in the United States have increased thirty-six percent in the last twenty-five... Which of the following is a true statement according to the passage? A) Preterm birth rates in developing countries are dropping and they are increasing in some developed countries like the US and Canada. B) The increase in pregnancies among women over age thirty-five and the increase in the use of reproductive therapies result in the increase of preterm birth rates. C) Fortunately, many people have already realized the seriousness of the problem of preterm births. D) Preterm births must be a problem for only poor areas because of poverty.
B
Please read and discuss the following information.We ask for your support in making 2008~2009 the best school year for everyone!If you have questions,please call us. STUDENT IDENTIFICATION BADGES Please remind your child to have his/her school ID badge on every school day from 8:00 a.m.~2:40 p.m..Each student is given an ID badge at the beginning of the school year. NO PHONE MESSAGES FOR STUDENTS Only calls about Extreme Emergencies such as death or serious illness will be taken for students.A question about where something is at home or other messages about picking up brother/sister will be given to the student after school. STUDENT ABSENCES Parents must telephone the school,6538100,BEFORE,OR THE DAY OF,the student's absence.Notes from parents are NOT accepted.An answering machine is on before and after school hours for you. OPEN HOUSE We hope you will come to our Open House at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday,September 11th.We will have a meeting in the Auditorium,and after the meeting,parents will follow your child's schedule. PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES Please attend the Parent/Teacher Conferences on November 5th & 6th (3:30~6:30 p.m.).Teachers will discuss your child's behavior and grades with you. DATES TO REMEMBER Aug.18.............................First Day of School Sep.1...............................Labor Day (NO SCHOOL) Sep.11..............................Open House Nov.5 & 6...........................Parent/Teacher Conferences Nov.26~28.........................Thanksgiving Holiday (NO SCHOOL) Dec.22 through Jan.4...............Winter Break (NO SCHOOL) Jan.5....................................Return to School Mar.23~29............................Spring Break (NO SCHOOL) Mar.30..................................Return to School May.29..................................Last Day of School According to the passage,students will not go to school on _ . A) September 1 B) September 11 C) December 5 D) March 30
A
*Question*
My friend Jim was a well-known radio host, who worked at a radio station all his life. All his colleagues knew him about one characteristic: If he's on-air, he is always wearing a suit and a tie. They laughed at him, saying, "No one ever sees you. Why do you dress like that?" But he always turned that into a joke. One day Jim was invited to appear on the TV. There was a show for the oldest radio employees. For the first time his fans, who only knew Jim by his voice, would see him. Before the recording of the show, the director came to Jim and asked, "Usually you arrive on time, but today you are 10 minutes late. It's not terrible, but I still want to know why." "You see," Jim answered, "at the last moment when I was already dressed up, I noticed that I didn't have new socks. For the first time I was invited to the television, and I thought that simply wearing clean socks was not enough. So I needed to go to the store for new socks." The director was surprised. He asked, "Why do you need new socks? You could have come without the socks because we will be filming you only over the waist." " You see, to be perfect, I need to feel myself perfect in everything, starting with the shirt and finishing with the pen in my pocket," Jim said. "And if my socks have holes in them or my shoes are dirty, I'm not spotless anymore. And it may make me less confident." From Para. 1 we can learn that when Jim is on-air, he _ . A) likes telling jokes B) behaves strangely C) always wears the same clothes D) is careful about his dress
**Answer**
D