Q: I'm taking a test and have to guess the right answer to the question after the article. Article: Having a husband means an extra seven hours of housework each week for women, according to a new study. For men, getting married saves an hour of housework a week. "It's a _ ," said lead researcher Frank Stafford at University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research. "Men usually work more outside the home, while women take on more of the housework." He points out that differences among households exist. But in general, marriage means more housework for women and less for men. "And the situation gets worse for women when they have children." Stafford said. Overall, times are changing in the American home. In 1976, women busied themselves with 26 weekly hours of sweeping-and-dusting work, compared with 17 hours in 2005. Men are taking on more housework, more than doubling their housework hours from six in 1976 to 13 in 2005. Single women in their 20s and 30s did the least housework, about 12 weekly hours, while married women in their 60s and 70s did the most - about 21 hours a week. Men showed a somewhat different pattern, with older men picking up the broom more often than younger men. Single men worked the hardest around the house, more than that of all other age groups of married men. Having children increases housework even further. With more than three, for example, wives took on more of the extra work, clocking about 28 hours a week compared with husbands' 10 hours. Question: How many hours of housework did men do every week in the 1970s? Options: A: About 28 B: About 26 C: About 13 D: About 6
A: D

Q: I'm taking a test and have to guess the right answer to the question after the article. Article: When people want to know about the weather, they usually go to there radios, TVs, newspapers, or to the Internet. However, you can also find many weather signs among wildlife, because of their highly developed senses. Drops in air pressure produce an effect on small animals in many ways. Mice and deer are good weather indicators. People who spend a lot of time outdoors have observed that, before a storm, field mice come out of their holes and run around, Deer leave high ground and come down from the mountains. Birds are especially good weather indicators because they also show the effect of a pressure drop in many ways. For example, some birds become irritable and quarrelsome and will fight over a piece of bread. Other birds chirp and sing just before a storm. It seems they know they won't get another chance for an hour or two. Birds also seek safe places before a storm, You will sometimes see birds settling in trees or gathering together on a wire close to a building. Pre-storm low pressure makes the are so thin that birds have difficulty flying. It is unusual to see many birds flying overhead in the summertime, rather than during the periods in the spring or autumn. Watch for other weather signs if you see this. If they fly in the wrong direction, they may be flying ahead of a storm. By paying closer attention to some important signs in nature, we can become better prepared for any kind of weather. Question: How can birds sense the coming of a storm? _ Options: A: By feeling a drop in air temperature. B: By noticing the change of wind directions. C: By feeling a drop in air pressure. D: By noticing the movements of other animals.
A: C

Q: I'm taking a test and have to guess the right answer to the question after the article. Article: Will you be playing some music at work? Music is particularly popular in the medical profession, especially among surgeons . A recent survey shows that 90% of surgeons in the UK put music on the sound system in the _ during operations. Plastic surgeons play the most music; it appears that ear, nose, and throat specialists the least. But it isn't only in surgeries where music is popular. In another recent survey, one-third of the 1,613 people said they listen to music while working. And 79% of them said that humming along improves their job satisfaction or productivity. Is listening to music at work a good idea? Yes, say the experts. Many surgeons say that music helps to create a "calm atmosphere", and a third of them added that it avoids getting bored! Also, listening to music raises the levels of a brain chemical that can help people focus. Office workers say it improves job satisfaction. Several studies suggest that it's also good for hospital patients. Those listening to music through headphones during surgery require less anesthetic , up to 50% less in some cases, and recover more quickly afterwards. "Sure, music reduces anxiety before surgery," says Zeev Kain, an anesthetist at Yale University. So, what type of music should we be listening to? Surgeons from the previous survey preferred rock, pop music and classical. And hip-hop is popular too. However, whatever the kind, it appears that self-selected music is the best choice. Pennsylvania State University research showed that when people chose their own music there was more stress reduction . And other researchers found that when listening to self-selected music, surgeons did the maths faster and more accurately than when they were listening to music chosen for them. Question: The passage is mainly about _ . Options: A: how to choose music wisely B: where to find the best music C: the popularity of music in hospitals D: the benefits of listening to music at work
A: D

Q: I'm taking a test and have to guess the right answer to the question after the article. Article: More students than ever before are taking a gap-year before going to university.It used to be called the "year off" between school and university.The gap-year phenomenon originated with the months left over to Oxbridge applicants between entrance exams in November and the start of the next academic year. This year, 25,310 students who have accepted places in higher education institutions have put off their entry until next year, according to statistics on university entrance provided by University and College Admissions Serbice(UCAS). That is a record 14.7% increase in the number of students taking a gap year. Tony Higgins from UCAS said that the statistics are good news for everyone in higher education. "Students who take a well-planned year out are more likely to be stisfied with, and complete, their chosen course. Students who take a gap year are often more mature and responsible," he said. But not everyone is happy. Owain James, the president of the National Union of Students(NUS), argued that the increase is evidence of student hadship - young people are being forced into earning money before finishing their education. "New students are now aware that they are likely to leave university up to PS15,000 in debt. It is not surprising that more and More students are taking a gap year to earn money to support their study for the degree.NUS statistics show that over 40% of students are forced to work during term time and the figure increases to 90% during vacation periods,"he said. Question: What do we learn about the gap year from the text? Options: A: It is increasingly popular. B: It is flexible in length. C: It is a time for relaxation. D: It is required by universities.
A: A