President Barack Obama set out his plans for the nation on January 27. At the top of his to-do list: his jobs for Americans, health care and education. "Although we have our difficulties, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not stop," President Barack Obama told American in his State of the Union speech on January 27. Guests and government officials filled the hall of the House of Representatives . Obama looked back on his first year in office and explained his plan for the future. He dealt with important matters, including health care, the nation' s high unemployment, national security and education. Many times during the 70-minute speech, people in the hall clapped their hands happily. The U.S. law system requires the President to report regularly to government officials. Presidents see the speech as an opportunity to set their goals and encourage the nation. The President devoted much of his speech to the _ of unemployed Americans. "Jobs must be our Number 1 focus in 2010," he said. "People are out of work. They are hurting." Obama also stressed the value of education. "The best way for people to lead a better life is a first-class education." he told the nation. Following the President's speech, the other party always gets the chance to speak. Bob McDonnell, the new governor of Virginia, spoke for Republicans . He agreed with many of Obama's goals, but pointed out policy difference. He tried to persuade both parties to work together. The President had made the same point earlier in the evening. He promised to hold monthly meetings with members of both parties. "Let's show the American people," he said, "that we can do it together." Which of the following things does Obama consider the most important in 2010? A) Health care. B) Jobs. C) Education. D) National security.
B
(Question)
Jeanne Calment, a French woman, became a record breaker on 17 October of 1995, when at the age of 120 years and 238 days, she became the longest-lived human being on record. A Japanese man died in 1986 at the age of 120 years and 237 days. Jeanne Calment lives in a small old people's home in the south of France; her husband, her only child and her grandson have all died. She is nearly blind and deaf and is always in a wheelchair, but her doctor describes her as being more like a 90-year-old in good health than someone of 120. She still has a lively sense of humor. When asked on her 120th birthday what she expected of the future, she replied: A very short one. She also remarked that she thought the good Lord had forgotten all about her. So what is the key to a long life? According to some doctors, diet, exercise and no smoking are the three important factors. Jeanne Calment has followed two of the tips . She has always eaten a healthy diet, and she used to do exercises every day until she broke her leg at the age of 115. However, until recently she drank two glassed of strong red wine a day, and she does smoke (now only a little). Besides, Jeanne Calment might have got very good genes from her parents. Her father lived to the age of 94 and her mother to 86. A local lawyer bought her house when she was 80 under an agreement that he would pay her some money every year until her death. It must have seemed a good move at the time, but so far the lawyer has paid her at least three times the value of the house. Every year on her birthday Jeanne Calment sends him a card saying: Sorry, I'm still alive! Why does Jeanne Calment say "Sorry, I'm still alive" to the local lawyer every year on her birthday? A) Because she had an agreement at 80 with the lawyer which was to her advantage. B) Because she has asked the lawyer to pay her more rent than they first agreed. C) Because the lawyer has paid her much more money than the value of the house. D) Because the house she sold to the lawyer isn't worth the money he has already paid.
(Answer)
C
Ques: Whether you live in Seattle or the Sahara desert, the time has come to invest in a good raincoat or umbrella, a new study suggests. As global temperatures continue to rise, more "extreme rain" events--intense, cats-and-dogs downpours--can be expected, said thestudy, published Monday in the journalNature Climate Change. And that, scientists said, means an increased flood risk, particularly for the world's driest areas. The study challenges the idea that global warming is causingdry areas to become drierand wet areas wetter. "In both wet and dry regions, we see these great increases in heavy precipitation ," lead author Markus Donat, a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales, told Nature. Donat and his team collected data from 1951 to 2010 on extreme precipitation events from 11, 000 weather stations around the world, Nature reported. In that time, the number of days with "extreme precipitation" increased 1 percent to 2 percent per decade. "We found a strong relationship between global warming and an increase in rainfall, particularly in areas outside of the tropics," Donatsaid in a statement. "Importantly, this research suggests we will see these extreme rainfall events increases at regional levels in dry areas, not just as an average across the globe," Donat added. Peter Stott, a senior climate scientist at Met Office, told Climate Central that the study's findings are important, because more violent rainfall and flooding will "challenge our capability to adaptto a rapidly changing climate." As Nature reported, the research aligns witha 2015 study that found global warming has led to a sharp increase in record-breaking precipitation events. Donat told Nature that his study should come as a warning to world governments. The purpose of the study is to _ . A) encourage investors to start business in Seattle or the Sahara desert B) persuade people to take a raincoat or an umbrella with them C) challenge the previous findings of research on climate D) warn world governments to focus on global warming
Ans: D
Question: Well I decided to cut my front lawn today, especially since I live on a main street downtown with lots of traffic. Anyway, I finished mine and decided to cut my neighbor--Jean's grass while I was at it. She is a sweet person who has gone through some _ times in the last year. Her brother passed away of cancer last year; her sister (who lives with her) is mentally challenged--yet so sweet! It was a difficult time with physical and mental challenges that led her employer in our local hospital to let her go after 25 years of service! Lastly, my neighbor Jean, who is a nurse in our local hospital, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in December. She went through radiation and a long recovery--but thankful she is in remission . Anyway, in short I was leaving my house this afternoon and she stopped me to thank me for cutting her grass. She told me her dad passed away on Friday and she just arrived home from the funeral service, so she didn't know when I would have time to cut her grass. So, when she arrived home and saw it cut she was more than happy and grateful! I said to her "You are welcome, just a small act of kindness for a neighbor." I did it for exercise and shared pleasure not knowing it meant more to her than just doing a neighbor a favor! Although a lot of unfortunate matters happened to Jean, she is still _ . A) pessimistic B) optimistic C) depressed D) disappointed
Answer:
B