You might say that one reason why Barack Obama is president of the US is that he knows how to give a good speech. Since 2004, Obama has written and delivered thousands of speeches. These are usually praised for two reasons: he treats the audiences like intelligent adults, and he is able to express _ ideas in an easy, natural way. Before becoming president, Obama was a lawyer, a college professor, and a successful writer---his two memories have become best-sellers. What's more, he has some secret weapons. Teleprompter: Obama doesn't go anywhere without his Teleprompter. The textbook-sized panes of glass holding the president's prepared remarks follow him wherever he goes to speak. Writing team: Obama has a team of people who write his speeches. The writers chat with Obama for hours about what he wants to say. They listen to recordings of past presidential speeches and seek advice from advisers. Obama usually edits and rewrites the drafts several times. Tricks for lighthearted speeches: Make fun of the guests: Obama starts his speech by gently teasing his guests. His opening lines draw the audience's attention while giving them an opportunity to relax and laugh at themselves and each other. Make fun of yourself: A good rule for speechmakers: If you're going to make a joke about someone else, be sure to make one about yourself, too. Obama mocks his own poor choices for filling the position of Commerce Secretary, saying, "No president in history has ever named three Commerce Secretaries this quickly." In fact, his first two nominees for the position withdrew their names for different reasons. In a process that had otherwise gone smoothly, the Obama Administration found it hard to deal with the problem of filling the Commerce seat. From the passage, we know that Obama's secret weapons are all these EXCEPT _ . A) a writing team B) a teleprompter C) humor D) motivation
D
(Question)
A large number of women in Western European countries wish that they were born men. The number is said as high as 60% in West Germany. "Women often wish that they had the same chance as men have, and believe it is still men's world," said Dr James Holden, one of the scientists who did the study. Anne Harper has a very good job for an international oil company. She also believes in "Women's Liberation". "I don't wish that I were a man," she says. "And I don't think many women do. But I do wish that people would stop looking down upon us women. At work, for example, we often do the work that men do but paid less. There are still a lot of jobs that are usually the best ones and open only to men. If you are a man, you have a much better chance of leading an exciting life. How many women pilots are there... or engineers or scientists?" Anne Harper doesn't wish that she were a man because she _ . A) has got a very B) believes in "Women Liberation" C) does the work a man can't do D) isn't looked down upon by anyone
(Answer)
B
Ques: For most of the 20th century, Asia asked itself what it could learn from the modern, innovating West. Now the question must be reversed. What can the West's overly indebted and sluggish nations learn from a flourishing Asia? Just a few decades ago, Asia's two giants were stagnating under faulty economic ideologies. However, once China began embracing free-market reforms in the 1980s, followed by India in the 1990s, both countries achieved rapid growth. Crucially, as they opened up their markets, they balanced market economy with sensible government direction. As the Indian economist Amartya Sen has wisely said, "The invisible hand of the market has often relied heavily on the visible hand of government." Contrast this middle path with America and Europe, which have each gone ideologically over-board in their own ways. Since the 1980s, America has been increasingly clinging to the ideology of uncontrolled free markets and dismissing the role of government---following Ronald Regan's idea that "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. "Of course, when the markets came crashing down in 2007, it was decisive government intervention that saved the day. Despite this fact, many Americans are still strongly opposed to "big government." If Americans could only free themselves from their antigovernment doctrine(,), they would begin to see that the America's problems are not insoluble. A few sensible federal measures could put the country back on the right path. A simple consumption tax of, say, 5% would significantly reduce the country's huge government deficit without damaging productivity. A small gasoline tax would help free America from its dependence on oil imports and create motivations for green energy development. In the same way, a significant reduction of wasteful agricultural subsidies could also lower the deficit. But in order to take advantage of these common-sense solutions, Americans will have to put aside their own attachment to the idea of smaller government and less... What's the problem with the European Union? A) Lack of resources B) Excessive borrowing. C) Conservative ideology. D) Shrinking market.
Ans: B
(Q).
Does eating a good breakfast improve school study? A study of more than 1,000 pupils in the city of Lawrence suggests it does. Youngsters who took part in the breakfast program improved their scores in the tests much more than those who didn't. Among those who attended the program, fewer were found late for school than those who didn't. And much fewer were found absent from their classes. "Starting the day with a meal appears to be quite helpful," says Amy Sampson, a research professor, who carried out the experiment on the students for a year. Students who miss breakfast may be losing out on important nourishment in fruit, milk, bread and so on. If you are in a hurry in the morning, get you some pieces of bread with some fruit or yogurt. In that case, you won't have to go to the selling machines for some chips or candy bars. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage? A) Breakfast or not? B) 1,000 clever pupils. C) How to keep fit? D) How to become clever?
(A).
A
Ques:Before fridges, homes usually had ice boxes. But another way to keep food cool without electricity is to use an evaporative cooler. It is easy to make and does not even use ice. A common design is a tall box with several shelves inside. The shelves are pieces of metal with many small holes through them. The sides of the box are covered with pieces of thick cloth. Containers of water are placed at the top and bottom of the cooler. The ends of each piece of cloth lie in the water so the cloth stays wet. Put the cooler in the open air but not in the sun. Air will pass through while the inside of the box will stay several degrees cooler than the outside. This can keep foods fresh for a short time. The best way to prepare foods for storage is at harvest time. Place the harvested items on a clean surface, but not on the ground. Fruits and vegetables must be cool from field heat before they are stored. A good idea is to harvest foods either early or late in the day, then leave them to cool naturally. Do not remove outer leaves from fruits and vegetables before storage. Some fruits and vegetables must be stored at zero to four degrees Celsius. Any colder, and they might be damaged. Others need four to eight degrees, and still others above eight degrees. Cover the items in plastic once they reach the right " _ " for storage. Which of the following is NOT a step in storing foods according to the passage? A) Put the harvested items on a clean surface. B) Remove outer leaves from vegetables and fruits. C) Harvest foods either early or late in the day. D) Cool fruits and vegetables before storage.

Ans:
B