Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Zoo elephants don't live as long as those in the wild, according to a study sure to cause debate about keeping the giant animals on display. Researchers compared the life spans of elephants in European zoos with those living in Amboseli National Park in Kenya and others working on a timber enterprise in Buma. Animals in the wild or in natural working conditions had life expectancies twice than or more of their relatives in zoos. Animal care activists have urged in recent years to discourage keeping elephants in zoos, largely because of the lack of space and small numbers of animals that can be kept in a group. The researchers found that the _ life span for African elephants in European zoos was 16.9 years, compared with 56 years for elephants who died of natural causes in Kenya's Amboseli Park. Adding in those elephants killed by people in Africa lowered the median life expectancy there to 35.9 years. For the more endangered Asian elephants, the median life span in European zoos was 18.9 years, compared with 41.7 years for those working in the Burma Timber Enterprise. Median means half died younger than that age and half lived longer. There is some good news, though. The life expectancies of zoo elephants have improved in recent years, suggesting an improvement in their care and raising, but "Protecting elephants in Africa and Asia is far more successful than protecting them in Western zoos." There are about 1,200 elephants in zoos, half in Europe, researchers concentrated on female elephants, which make up 80 percent of the zoo population. One amazing thing was that Asian elephants born in zoos had shorter life spans that those brought to the zoos from the wild. Zoos usually lack large areas that elephants are used to in the wild, and that zoo animals often are alone or with one or two other unrelated animals, while in the wild they tend to live in related groups of 8 to 12 animals. In Asian elephants, baby death rates are two to three times higher in zoos than in the Burmese logging camps, and then, in... Question: Which of the following is Not the disadvantage of keeping elephants in zoos? - Limited number of relatives. - Lack of space. - Shorter life expectancy. - Less attention.
Less attention.
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Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: About a year ago, a couple with three children moved into the apartment next door to mine. I never heard any noise from the children, but the parents were always yelling at the kids. We often met in the hallway when we were coming or going. I always spoke, but the only answer I got was a "Hello" from the four-year-old girl. One afternoon when I returned, they were just coming out of their apartment and the little girl was holding the door open for the others. I remained in the car doing unnecessary things. But when I looked up I saw the little girl was still holding the door open, waiting for me. I hurried as much as I could and thanked her. I was really touched by her act of kindness. That afternoon I was at the K-Mart and I bought a white Teddy bear for her. The next day, there was a knock on the door and it was the little girl and her father. She was very proud of the bear and thanked me like I had never been thanked before. Now when we meet in the hall, we all speak in a friendly manner. As time passes, I don't hear that yelling as often as before. Last night we had about four inches of snow. I looked out at my car and wondered how I was going to keep my doctor's appointment. I went out to remove the snow. But when I opened my front door, I found my car was there with all the snow removed. You couldn't imagine how I felt at that moment. I thanked that family in my heart. Isn't it amazing that a small kind act of a four-year-old girl could change so many things for the better? My guardian angel says that good things come from small acts. Question: Which of the following is CORRECT according to the passage? - The children were very naughty and often made their parents angry. - Life must be very hard for the parents next door as they had a large family to support. - The writer put off the appointment with his doctor because of the heavy snow. - The little girl's kind act changed the relationship between the writer and her family.
The little girl's kind act changed the relationship between the writer and her family.
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Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Personality is, to large extent, inherent --A-type parents usually bring about A-type offspring. But the environment must also have a profound effect, since if competition is important to the parents, it is likely to become a major factor lives of their children. One place where children _ A characteristics is school, which is, by its very nature, a highly competitive institution. Too many schools adopt the "win at all costs" moral standard and measure their success by sporting achievements. The current passion for making children compete against their classmates or against the clock produces a two-layer system, in which competitive A types seem in some way better than their B-type fellows. Being too keen to win can have dangerous consequences: remember that Pheidippides, the first marathon runner, dropped dead seconds after saying,"Rejoice, we conquer!". By far the worst form of competition in school is the disproportionate emphasis on examinations. It is a rare school that allows pupils to concentrate on those things they do well. The merits of competition by examination are somewhat questionable, but competition in the certain knowledge of failure is positively harmful. Obviously, it is neither practical nor desirable that all A youngsters change into Bs. The world needs types, and schools have an important duty to try to fit a child's personality to his possible future employment. It is top management. Question: The phrase "soak up" is closest in meaning to _ . - pull up - take up - take in - pull in
take in
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Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: All of us love music; we just differ in the kind of music we like to play and listen to. Music plays a huge part in our life. Even when we were still inside our mother, we heard music. Babies easily fall asleep when they hear lullabies and most mothers believe that making their child listen to music at an early age can develop their musical skills. Aside from improving sleep quality and making us feel relaxed, music also helps develop our brain. Studies have proven that musical education or training helps develop the left side of the brain which is responsible for processing language. We easily remember things when we link them to a particular song and this can help them get good grades especially in math since they can link the songs they sing to the elements of math. Music can also cure people. These days music is used to help treat depression , high blood pressure, brain injuries and many other problems. Most of all, according to researchers, music can help improve people's memory, if not totally bring it back. Doctors play the favorite songs of their patients to help them recall things. Music is also used to reduce pain after a person receives a surgery. Music also affects the way we live and get along with other people. Creating music together with people in a band can help a person learn how to communicate well with other people. Music activities provide enjoyment for children and adults alike. They have fun making music together with friends and at the same time learn how to sing or play a musical instrument. Music really has amazing effects on us; it may be physical, emotional, social, or psychological . Make sure to enjoy life by listening to your favorite music along with your family and friends. Question: What does the passage mainly talk about? - The effects of music on us. - The importance of music teaching. - How to create music by ourselves. - How to teach children music.
The effects of music on us.
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