Question: The rate of incarceration in the U.S. is the world's highest, leading to what many lawmakers and policy analysts say is a nationwide imprisonment epidemic. But the beginning of the end of that epidemic started Tuesday, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, told VOA. A bipartisan prison reform bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a 360-59 vote "strikes an opening blow against the overcriminalization of the nation," Jeffries, one of the bill's co-sponsors, said. U.S. President Donald Trump said "the strong bipartisan vote paces the way for action by the Senate." Last week, Trump endorsed the bill at a White House summit on prison reform, saying, "Our whole nation benefits if former inmates are able to reenter society as productive, law-abiding citizens." If the bill reaches the president's desk for a signature, it would provide $50 million in funding for five years to provide job training, education and substance abuse treatment for prisoners as well as a number of quality-of-life measures aimed at reducing chronically high rates of recidivism among former inmates. But the contentious issue of criminal justice reform has split Democrats and Republicans within their own parties, possibly jeopardizing the bill's chances of passage as it heads to the U.S. Senate. In a letter to colleagues last week, Democratic Senators Kamala Harris, Dick Durbin and Cory Booker joined two House Democratic colleagues, Representatives John Lewis and Sheila Jackson Lee, in saying the bill could not be implemented effectively and could possibly lead to prison privatization. Jeffries told VOA many of the arguments against the First Step Act "were anchored in falsehoods." He added the legislation passed today "is a first step towards eradicating the cancer of mass incarceration" a move also welcomed by many House Republicans. "Rather than allowing the cycle of crime to continue, this legislation takes a practical, intelligent approach to rehabilitation," House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, a Republican... After failing to block passage of the bill in the House, what is most likely still true about what office is held by Democratic Senator Kamala Harris? Pick the correct answer from the following options: A. she has assumed an entirely different role as a top government official B. she maintains her position as a Democratic Senator C. she decides to run for the position of governor in her home state D. not enough information
Answer: B

Question: I have never been a stop-and-smell-the-roses type of person. For me, there's always something that has to be done. In fact, the biggest complaint that my husband and two children have about me is that I'm "always busy." Seventeen years ago, when my oldest son was about a year old, he woke up in a very fussy mood. Instead of being his usual cheerful and compliant self, he just wanted to be cuddled. A mother's dream, right? Well, not for me. There was too much to be done; I didn't have time to hold him. I was well aware that in addition to some projects I was working on, there was laundry to be washed and ironed, breakfast dishes to do, a house that needed cleaning. My usual response would have been to try to coax my son into cheerfulness, or to put him back to bed to sleep it off. But it was clear that he was unwell, so against my usual inclination, I decided that I would just hold him. The chores could wait another day. So I settled into the recliner chair in the lounge room and held my son while he slept. I dozed occasionally too, waking up now and then to enjoy the feeling of snuggling my baby and looking at the world beyond the window. It was a cold day, but clear and sunny. The trees rustled in the gentle breeze, and birds and butterflies flitted about the garden. Inside, my son and I stayed snuggled together under a blanket for most of the day. He slept while I, for one of the few times in my life, just drank in the beauty of the world and the happiness of sharing this time with my son. Better mothers than I am must have done similar things many, many times with their children. But for me, this very small decision, this day of 'laziness', became a treasured memory. What is probably true about the mother? Pick the correct answer from the following options: A. She spends a lot of time with her family. B. not enough information C. She works very hard. D. She does not like spending time with her family.
Answer: C

Question: SEOUL North Korea's sudden threat to pull out of the upcoming summit with the U.S. raises new doubts of whether a denuclearization deal is possible. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed to meet with U.S President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12 to work out an agreement to end the North's nuclear program in exchange for security guarantees and an end to punishing international sanctions. But on Wednesday North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Kwan released a statement through the state-run KCNA news agency that criticized "unbridled remarks" made specifically by the U.S. president's National Security Adviser John Bolton demanding that Pyongyang completely decommission its entire nuclear arsenal, along with its ballistic missile program and chemical weapons stockpile, before receiving any compensation or concessions. He expressed "indignation" at the U.S uncompromising position and said North Korea might pull out of the Trump-Kim summit, unless the Trump administration acts with "sincerity" to improve relations through dialogue. "If the United States is trying to drive us into a corner to force our unilateral nuclear abandonment, we will no longer be interested in such dialogue and cannot but reconsider our proceeding to the North Korea-U.S. summit," the statement said. The vice foreign minister also said it was "absolutely absurd" that Bolton would compare Libya's experience dismantling its relatively rudimentary nuclear program as a model for dealing with the North's more advanced and expansive capabilities. He also denounced the Trump administration for "miscalculating the magnanimity" of Kim Jong Un's decision to suspend further nuclear and missile tests, and his willingness to engage in nuclear talks, as "signs of weakness," that were the result of what the U.S. administration has dubbed its "maximum pressure" campaign that led international efforts to impose punishing sanctions banning 90% of North Korean trade. The vice minister's remarks came shortly after the North abruptly canceled... Who expressed indignation? Pick the correct answer from the following options: A. Kim Jong Un B. Kim Kye Kwan C. John Bolton D. not enough information
Answer:
B