Betty and Harold have been married for years .But one thing still puzzles old Harold .How is it that he can leave Betty and her friend Joan sitting on the sofa ,talking ,go out to a ballgame ,come back three and a half hours later ,and they're still sitting on the sofa ? Talking ? What in the world ,Harold wonders ,do they have to talk about ? Betty shrugs .Talk ? We're friends . Researching this matter called friendship ,psychologist Lillian Rubin spent two years interviewing more than two hundred women and men .No matter what their age ,their job ,their sex ,the results were completely clear :women have more friendships than men ,and the difference in the content and the quality of those friendships is "marked and unmistakable ." More than two -thirds of the single men Rubin interviewed could not name a best friend. Those who could were likely to name a woman .Yet three-quarters of the single women had no problem naming a best friend ,and almost always it was a woman .More married men than women named their wife/husband as a best friend ,most trusted person ,or the one they would turn to in time of emotional distress ."Most women ,"says Rubin ,"identified at least one ,usually more ,trusted friends to whom they could turn in a troubled moment ,and they spoke openly about the importance of these relationships in their lives ." "In general,"writes Rubin in her new book ,"women's friendships with each other rest on shared emotions and support ,but men's relationships are marked by shared activities." For the most part ,Rubin says ,interactions between men are emotionally controlled -a good fit with the social requirements of "manly behavior ." "Even when a man is said to be a best friend ,"Rubin writes ,"the two share little about their innermost feelings .Whereas a woman's closest female friend might be the first to tell her to leave a failing marriage ,it wasn't unusual to hear a man say he didn't know his friend's marriage was in serious trouble until he appeared one night asking if he could sleep on... The research done by psychologist Rubin centers around _ . A) happy and successful marriages B) friendships of men and women C) emotional problems in marriage D) interactions between men and women .
B
According to a survey released by the Nielson Company on Thursday, China has become a global tourist attraction after the Beijing Olympics. The survey said the Olympics not only built up China's image but also served as an advertisement for China's tourism. The online survey was conducted on consumers in 16 countries and regions before Games' opening ceremony and after the closing. About 80 percent of the respondents had not been to China before the events and 50 percent of them expressed hopes of visiting China after the Games. According to the survey, 70 percent of the respondents felt Beijing was more modern and scientific than what they had thought. The most interested respondents were from Singapore, India, Mexico, South Africa and the Republic of Korea, as well as China's Hong Kong and Taiwan. Pan Wen, in charge of Chinese tourism research of the Nielson Company, said the World Tourism Organization predicted that China would become the largest tourist attraction in the world with 137 million foreign tourists every year. "This figure would be realized earlier with the aid of the Beijing Olympics," Pan said. Which country did the World Tourism Organization predict would become the largest tourist attraction in the world? A) China B) Japan C) South Africa D) Hong Kong
A
Q: In Wiltshire, England, volunteers are being sought to visit a nature protection area to count the butterflies living there and on surrounding fields. The project is promoted by an environmental protection organisation,which has contributed to improving the living environment for wild animals. Recently, the organisation has issued an appeal to help it observe environmental changes based on the record of butterflies and protect the environment. In the area, the local people have planted many special flowers with the help of the organisation, aiming to see whether these flowers will interest the rare and beautiful butterflies. The Project officer Sarah Marshall says, "It will be a suitable habitat for butterflies. They are great 'indicator species' as they are easily affected by climate changes so they make a brillian early - warning system for the environment." She also points out that volunteers are needed to recourd the number or species of butterflies,and based on the change happening to the butterflies, the hidden environmental problems in the area can be found out in time. The organisation is seeking volunteers to help monitor butterflies from April through to September. They will walk a fixed route and record the different butterflies they encounter along the way.Each visit should take no more than two hours, and each volunteer is expected to visit once a month to count the wildlife. "Staff will provide back up, so if the weather is poor on the day you are to visit(butterflies don't like to fly in the rain, wind or if it's too cloudy) we can have someone else do your job," Sarah points out. No previous experience is necessary as training and support will be provided,but a keen interest is essential. If you are interested, P1ease contact Sarah on (0l380) 725670,ext 278, email What is the text mainly about? A) Visitors are being trained to identify butterflies. B) Wildlife areas are being protected by butterflies. C) Volunteers are being needed to count butterflies. D) Organisations are being put up to protect butterflies.
A: C
Austin Children's Museum This 7,000-square-foot museum aims to entertain and educate children up to age 9. In its Global City exhibit, they can go grocery shopping, order lunch at a diner, pretend that they are doctors, or construction workers, and more. In other fun exhibits, they learn about Austin's history, explore the world of water, experience life on a large prefix = st1 /Texasfarm.(Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm) Address: 210 Colorado St,Austin,Texas78701 Phone:(512)472-2499 Brooklyn Children's Museum Founded in 1899, this is the world's oldest children's museum, featuring interactive exhibits, workshops, and special events. "The Mystery of Things" teaches children about cultural and scientific objects, and "Music Mix" welcomes young people.(Wed-Fri-2-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm) Address: 145 Brooklyn Ave,Brooklyn,New York11213 Phone:(718)735-4400 Children's Discovery Museum This museum's hand-on exhibits explore the relationships between the natural and the created worlds, and among people of different cultures and times. Exhibits include "Streets", a 5/8-scale copy of an actual city, with street lights, and "waterworks" which allows an operation of pumps to move water through a reservoir system.(Mon-Sat 10 am-5 pm; closed on holidays) Address: 180 Woz Way, Guadalupe River Park,San Jose,California95110 Phone:(408)298-5437 Children's Museum of Indianapolis This museum is the largest of its kind. Exhibits cover science, culture, space, history and exploration. Among them are the Space Quest Planetarium(additional fee), the 33-foot-high Water Clock, the Playscape gallery for preschoolers, and the Dinosphere exhibit, along with hands-on science exhibits. The largest gallery, the Center for Exploration, is designed for ages 12 and up.(Tues-Sun 10 am-5 pm; closed on Thanksgiving, Dec25) Address: 3000N Meridian St,Indianapolis,Indiana46208 Phone:(317)334-3322 If you want to know more information about "The Mystery of Things", you'd better ring _ . A) (521)472-2499 B) (718)735-4400 C) (408)298-5437 D) (317)334-3322
B