I always feel sorry for world leaders busy dealing with fights between nations. When my three children were young, most days it was hard to keep my house from becoming a battlefield. It got worse as they grew older. Three years ago, Zack, then 16, couldn't make it through a day without making his sisters, Alex 11 and Taryn 9, angry. My husband and I tried to be understanding the boy at such an age. We reasoned, punished, and left heartfelt notes on his bed about how he was hurting our family. His answer was "I say it because it's true." I even tried telling the girls to fight back. Bad idea. Now I had three children at war. Whatever I said to them, they paid no attention. When there was no way out, I told everything to my sister in an e-mail. She replied, "Don't e-mail me. E-mail him." Our son was online every day, mailing and talking with his friends. Maybe he would actually hear me this way. I didn't say anything different, but e-mail just took the tension away. There'd be no shouting or door banging. Zack wouldn't feel under attack. Zack didn't reply for days. When he finally did, his entire message was four small words. I smiled when I read them, "You're right. I'm sorry." The children still fought, of course, but Zack changed. Best of all, I now have a better way to talk with not one but three of them. I like it that they don't _ as much as they used to. They like not having to listen to me shouting to them. Or as Alex says, "You're so much nicer online." All I know is that the house is quiet. But we're talking. The writer e-mailed her sister _ . A) to tell her about the family problem B) hoping she'd e-mail the boy C) asking about child-raising D) to reduce the tension
A
Joanne was stuck in a traffic jam in central Birmingham at 5:30 and at 6:30 she was expected to be chairing a meeting of the tennis club. At last, the traffic was moving. She swung quickly racing to her house. As she opened the door , she nearly tripped over Sheba. "Hey, Sheba," she said, "I've got no time for you now, but I'll take you out as soon as I get back from tennis club." Then she noticed Sheba seemed to be coughing or choking. Obviously, she could hardly breathe. Immediately, Joanne realized she would have to take her to the vet . When she got there, the vet was just about to close for the day. Seeing the state of Sheba, Dr. Sterne brought her quickly into his office. "Listen, doctor, I'm really in a rush to get to a meeting, can I leave her with you, and go and get changed? I'll be back in ten minutes to pick her up, and then I'll take her on to the meeting with me. Is that OK?" "Sure." said the doctor. Joanne made the quick trip back to her house in a couple of minutes. As she was once more entering the hallway, the phone by the door began to ring. "This is Dr. Sterne," said an anxious voice. "I want you to get out of that house immediately, "said the doctor's voice. "I'm coming round right away, and the police will be there any time now. Wait outside!" At that moment, a police car screeched to a stop outside the house. Two policemen got out and ran into the house. Joanne was by now completely confused and very frightened. Then the doctor arrived. "Where's Sheba? Is she OK?" shouted Joanne. "She's fine, Joanne. I took out the thing which was choking her, and she's OK now. " Just then, the two policemen reappeared from the house, half-carrying a white--faced man, who could hardly walk. There was blood all over him. "My God, " said Joanne, "how did he get in there? And how did you know he was there?" "I think he must be a burglar." said the doctor. "I knew he was there because when I finally removed what was stuck in Sheba's throat:it turned out to be three human fingers." What was Joanne supposed to do at 6:30? A) To walk her dog. B) To see her doctor. C) To attend a club meeting. D) To play tennis with her friends.
C
Q: Once there was a baby eagle living in a nest on a cliff .The baby eagle loved his nest.It was warm, soft and comfortable.And even better, he had all the food and love that his mother could give.Whenever the baby eagle was hungry, his mother would always come just in time with the delicious food he liked. He was growing happily day after day.But suddenly his world eagle changed.His mother stopped coming to the nest, he was full of sadness and fear.He thought he would die soon.He cried, but nobody heard him. Two days later mother appeared with some nice food.The baby eagle was wild with joy.But his mother put the food at the top of the mountain and then looked down at her baby. The baby eagle cried out, "Mum, why did you do this to me? I'm hungry.Don't you know I will die if I have nothing to eat?" "Here is the Last meal I give you.Come and get it by yourself." his mother said.Then she flew down and pushed the baby eagle out of the nest. The baby eagle fell down, faster and faster.He looked up at his mum." Why do you abandon me?" He looked down at the earth.The ground was much closer.Then something strange happened.The air caught behind his arms and he began to fly! He wasn't moving to the ground any more.Instead, his eyes were pointed up at the sun. You are flying! You can make it!" His mother smiled. We can infer from the story that _ A) The baby eagle lost his mother B) The baby eagle fell down and died C) The baby eagle was still angry with his mother. D) The baby eagle could get food himself.
A: D