While children are dogs---loyal and affectionate --teenagers are cats. It's so easy to be a dog owner. You feed it, train it, and boss it around. It puts its head on your knee and gazes at you as if you were a Rembrandt painting. It bounds indoors with enthusiasm when you call it. Then around age 13, your adoring little puppy turns into a big old cat. When you tell it to come inside, it looks amazed, as if wondering who died and made you emperor. Instead of dogging your doorsteps, it disappears. You won't see it again until it gets hungry--then it pauses on its sprint through the kitchen long enough to turn its nose up at whatever you're serving. when you reach out to ruffle its head, in that old affectionate gesture, it twists away from you, then gives you a blank stare, as if trying to remember where it has seen you before. You, not realizing that the dog is now a cat, think something must be desperately wrong with it. It seems so antisocial, so distant, sort of depressed. It won't go on family outings. Since you are the one who raised it, taught it to fetch and stay and sit on command, you assume that you did something wrong. Flooded with guilt and fear, you redouble your efforts to make your pet behave. Only now you're dealing with a cat, so everything that worked before now produces the opposite of the desired result. Call it, and it runs away. Tell it to sit, and it jumps on the counter. The more you go toward it, wringing your hands, the more it moves away. Put a dish of food near the door, and let it come to you. But remember that a cat needs your help and your affection too. Sit still, and it will come, seeking that warm, comforting lap it has not entirely forgotten. Be there to open the door for it. One day your grown-up child will walk into the kitchen, give you a big kiss and say, "You've been on your feet all day. Let me get those dishes for you. " Then you'll realize your cat is a dog again. What is the chief purpose of writing this passage? A) To tell us how to raise pets like cats and dogs. B) To tell us how a dog changes into a cat. C) To tell us the similarities between pets and children. D) To tell us how to deal with teenagers aged 13 or so.
D
(Question)
My teenage son Karl became withdrawn after his father died . As a single parent . I tried to do my best to talk to him . But the more I tried , the more he pulled away . When his report card arrived during his junior year , it said that he had been absent 95 times from classes and had six falling grades for the year . At this rate he would never graduate . I sent him to the school adviser , and I even begged him . Nothing worked . One night I felt so powerless that I got down on my knees and pleaded for help . "Please God ,I can't do anything more for my son . I'm at the end of my rope . I'm giving the whole thing up to you ." I was at work when I got a phone call . A man introduced himself as the headmaster . "I want to talk to you about Karl's absences ." Before he could say another word , I choked up and all my disappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of this stranger . "I love my son but I just don't know what to do . I've tried everything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked . It's out of my hands . "For a moment there was silence on the other end of the line . The headmaster seriously said , "Thank you for your time", and hung up . Karl's next report card showed a marked improvement in his grades . Finally , he even made the honor roll .In his fourth year , I attended a parent-teacher meeting with Karl . I noticed that his teachers were astonished at the way he had turned himself around . On our way home , he said , "Mum, remember that call from the headmaster last year ?" I nodded . "That was me . I thought I'd play a joke but when I heard what you said , it really hit me how much I was hurting you . That's when I knew I had to make you proud ." There was silence on the other end of the line because_. A) the speaker was too moved to say anything to the mother B) the speaker waited for the mother to finish speaking C) the speaker didn't want the mother to recognize his voice D) the speaker was unable to interrupt the mother
(Answer)
A
Question: Five Things You Should Know About Adult Asthma About 44 million people in Asia Pacific suffer from asthma. The numbers are on the rise especially in China and India where there is rapid industrialization and urbanization. Dr Mariko Koh, Director of the Pulmonary Function Laboratory and Asthma Programme at Singapore General Hospital, tells us more about adult asthma: 1. Chronic inflammation of the airways When the airways are inflamed, mucus forms, blocking airflow, causing breathlessness, wheezing and tightness in the chest. 2. Common triggers Exposure to allergens such as mites, cockroaches, pets and pollen can trigger asthma. Tobacco smoke, respiratory infections, exercise and some medications like aspirin and beta blockers are also possible triggers. 3. Effective treatment Asthma can be controlled with medication. The main treatment of asthma is inhaled corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and block of the airways. Reliever medications may be used to treat acute symptoms. Take note: it is not too late to take medication after an asthma attack. 4. Take medication daily To ensure good control over asthma, medication must be taken daily on a long term basis to prevent attacks. Also, go to your doctor for regular checkups. 5. Quality of life Asthma sufferers can lead normal active lives as long as the symptoms are well controlled. Taking medication as directed and avoiding triggers can make a big difference to the quality of life. What can be inferred from the passage? A) There is no possible cure for allergic asthma. B) Asthma is caused by acute inflammation of the airways. C) China and India have the largest number of asthma sufferers in the world. D) Regular checkups and exercise can ensure you a life free from asthma symptoms.
Answer:
A