Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: The United States will introduce a new exam system for students who seek to study in the USA and other English-speaking countries, Xinhua News Agency reported from New York. The exam, which means a great change from the English level test, was introduced by Theresa Jen, associate director of the International Service of the USA College Board, America's leading educational organization. "The Advanced Placement International English Language (APIEL) will be offered for the first time all over the world on May 10, 2012," said Jen. However, the APIEL is a strange title to most Chinese students, and it is unlikely to soon gain the similarity of other already existing exams, such as the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). "I have never heard of such a test and I would prefer the IELTS if I need another exam," said Xu Jingyan, a graduating student from Beijing University, who wants to study in England and has already taken the TOEFL. Most of Xu's classmates have never heard of the APIEL."The APIEL is made for international students who wish to get university studies in English-speaking countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia." Jen said. "The APIEL will be used," said Jen, "because the TOEFL can no longer perfectly show the students' abilities of using English." Xinhua reported that a large number of foreign students who had high scores in TOEFL exam turned out to be very ordinary educational performers after being admitted. "Compared with the TOEFL, the APIEL measures a student's ability to read, write, speak and understand 'English through testing his or her skills in listening comprehension, speaking with fluency, and writing in an organized way." Jen said. Question: The APIEL is designed for students who want to study in English-speaking countries, such as _ . - the United States and Canada - Canada and Ireland - Australia and India - Britain and France
the United States and Canada

Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: The practice of students endlessly copying letters and sentences from a blackboard is a thing of the past. With the coming of new technologies like computers and smartphone, writing by hand has become something of nostalgic skill. However, while today's educators are using more and more technology in their teaching, many believe basic handwriting skills are still necessary for students to be successful---both in school and in life. Virginia Berninger, professor of educational psychology at the University of Washington, says it's important to continue teaching handwriting and help children acquire the skill of writing by hand. Berninger and her colleagues conducted a study that looked at the ability of students to complete various writing tasks---both on a computer and by hand. The study, published in 2009, found that when writing with a pen and paper, participants wrote longer essays and more complete sentences and had a faster word production rate. In a more recent study, Berninger looked at what role spelling plays in a student's writing skills and found that how well children spell is tied to know well they can write. "Spelling makes some of the thinking parts of the brain active which helps us access our vocabulary, word meaning and concepts. It is allowing our written language to connect with ideas." Berninger said. Spelling helps students translate ideas into words in their mind first and then to transcribe "those words in the mind written symbols on paper or keyboard and screen," the study said. Seeing the words in the "mind's eye" helps children not only to turn their ideas into words, says Berninger, but also to spot spelling mistakes when they write the words down and to correct then over time. "In our computer age, some people believe that we don't have to teach spelling because we have spell checks," she said. "But until a child has a functional spelling ability of about a fifth grade level, they won't have the knowledge to choose the correct spelling among the options given by the computer." Question: What conclusion could be drawn from the passage? - Computers can help people with their choice of words. - Spell checks can take the place of spelling teaching. - Handwriting still has a place in today's classrooms. - Functional spelling ability develops fast in the fifth grade.
Handwriting still has a place in today's classrooms.

Q: Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Win $ 50 in the Coolest Gadget of the Week Look at what's the coolest gadget (vote for a chance to win $ 50). Cryo S: A Cool Netbook Cooler Like the other devices of NZXT, the Cryo S was designed to provide a competitive advantage at PC gaming. It has two adjustable 120mm fans that provide powerful cooling. The full post can be found on Trends Updates. Starry Night Bed Are you having trouble getting that good nights sleep that you're needing? Well, not any more. Why not take a look at the Starry Night Bed? The Starry Night Bed is a great new invention which will revolutionize the way in which you sleep. Not only is this bed fashionable and comfortable but it's also a gadget heaven. With this bed you get many added gadgets including anti-snore technology, movie projector with speakers, temperature control and many more. The full post can be found on Tech Styling. Fugoo--talking gadgets Fugoo gets all your appliances(,) talking to each other so your alarm clock could first wake you up and then tell the coffee machine to start working while checking traffic conditions online to tell you how long it will take you to get to work. The full post can be found on Decide What to Buy. Vote What is this week's coolest gadget? 0 A Cool Netbook Cooler 0 Starry Night Bed 0 Fugoo--talking gadgets Question: Where does this advertisement probably come from? - A magazine. - A website. - A newspaper. - A textbook.
A: A website.

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Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: The Friday after the American holiday of Thanksgiving is called Black Friday. It's said that it's the day that store ledgers move into the black and companies become profitable. On that day, retailers slash prices to get consumers to buy. It is also a time when many Americans start their Christmas shopping. VOA's Elizabeth Lee tells us how the economy may affect consumers on that bargain day. This day should be a shopper's dream. "It's just the deals, the sales and everything you can get for a lesser price," said Sandy Thomas, a shopper. But it's a nightmare for others. "I think it's crazy. I've done all of my shopping throughout the week so I don't have to go out on Friday," she said. It's called Black Friday, the start of the traditional Christmas shopping season in the United States. Every year it's the day after the Thanksgiving holiday. Stores open before sunrise and there are deep discounts everywhere you look. Last year a crowd of bargain-hunters killed a Wal-mart worker in a New York suburb. This year, many stores are increasing security while they slash prices. "This is a huge time for the retail stores," said Fred Joutz from George Washington University. "This is when they begin making their profits for the year." Economics professor Fred Joutz says how Americans spend the weekend after Thanksgiving is a good indication of how consumers feel about the future. With the unemployment rate above 10 percent, Joutz says Americans are saving more and spending less. Some retailers are attracting consumers by opening on Thanksgiving Day, when shops are traditionally closed. Other stores open their doors anywhere from midnight to four in the morning. And shoppers will be lining up in front of the doors in order to be one of the first ones to walk through and get a big discount. Electronics like flat screen TVs are usually the first items to go. Sandy Thomas says it's an annual family tradition and well worth it. "I just save maybe half of what I would have spent on a regular, you know, shopping trip," she... Question: From the passage we know that _ . - Christmas shopping is traditional time and this year it is no exception. - Electronics like flat screen TVs are usually least discounted. - The economy only affects consumers on that bargain day. - Thanksgiving is a good indication of how consumers feel about the future.
(A).
Christmas shopping is traditional time and this year it is no exception.