Ques: I'm taking a test and have to guess the right answer to the question after the article. Article: Although American children still spend part of their days reading, they are spending less time doing it for pleasure than years ago, with large gaps in proficiency ,according to a recent report. "It raises an alarm," said Vicky Rideout, the lead author of the report. "We're witnessing a really large drop in reading among teenagers and the speed of that drop is getting faster and faster." The report found that the percentage of nine-year-old children reading for pleasure once or more per week had dropped from 81 percent in 1984 to 76 percent in 2013, based on government studies. About a third of 13-year-olds and almost half of 17-year-olds reported in one study that they read for pleasure less than twice a year. Of those who read or are read to, children often spend on average between 30 minutes and an hour daily with that activity, the report found. Older children and teenagers tend to read for pleasure for an equally long time each day. Rideout warned that there may be differences in how people come across texts and the included studies may not take into account stories read on line or on social media. The report also found that many young children are struggling with literacy . Only about one-third of fourth grade students are "proficient" in reading and another one-third scored below "basic" in reading skills. Despite the large percentage of children with below-basic reading skills, reading scores among young children have improved since the 1970s, according to one test that measures reading ability. The reading scores among 17-year-olds, however, reminded relatively unchanged since the 1790s. About 46 percent of white children are considered "proficient" in reading, compared with 18 percent of black children and 20 percent of Hispanic kids. Those gap remained relatively unchanged over the past 20 years, according to the report. "To go 20 years with no progress in that area is shameful", Rideout said. The report stresses some behaviors that have been tied to children being more frequent readers. Those... Question: To make children frequent readers, parents should _ . Options: A: improve their reading skills. B: read as many books as possible. C: set a good example to their children. D: spend more time with their children.
Ans: C

Ques: I'm taking a test and have to guess the right answer to the question after the article. Article: A mother's love I'M a New York City firefighter. Every day, I see terror -- sometimes even death. But the day I found Scarlett was different. That day I saw life. And love. We were responding to a call about a burning garage. Outside, I heard the sound of cats crying. I couldn't stop -- I would have to look for the cats after the fire was put out. It took a long time to finally bring the big fire under control, but we did it. No one inside was hurt. At that point I was free to investigate the cat noises. There was still a lot of smoke and heat coming from the building. I followed the meowing to a spot on the sidewalk near the front of the garage. There, crying and huddled together, were five terrified kittens. They must have been inside the building, as their fur was badly singed . I left the five kittens in a box on a neighbor's porch . I wanted to find the mother. It was obvious that she had gone into the burning garage and carried out all of her babies, one by one -- unbelievable. We finally found her. She was badly burnt: her eyes were blistered , her paws were blackened, and her fur was singed all over. You could even see her reddened skin beneath the burned fur. She could barely move. I picked her up, and she relaxed in my arms as much as her pain would allow. Sensing her trust, I shed a tear. I was determined to save this brave little cat and her family. The vet told me they would observe the kittens and their mother overnight, but they weren't optimistic about the mother's changes. About a week later, I found out she was going to live. One of the technicians suggested we name her Scarlett, because of her reddened skin. Knowing what Scarlett endured for her kittens, it melted my heart to see her reunited with them. She touched each of them again, nose to nose, to make sure they were all safe. She had risked her life five separate times -- and it had paid off. All of her babies had survived. As a firefighter, I see heroism every day. But what Scarlett showed me that day was the kind of bravery... Question: Why was the author determined to save the cats? Options: A: He refused to watch someone else die in his work. B: He was impressed by the mother's strong love and courage. C: The cat's story had made many people concerned. D: It had taken much time and effort for him to save them.
Ans: B

Ques: I'm taking a test and have to guess the right answer to the question after the article. Article: Technology and the present generation of kids go hand in hand. Taking advantage of this factor, Lim Hojoon, the designer from South Korea, has come up with an educational gadget especially for children. Kidget, as the name suggests, is a combination of two words - kid and gadget. This kid-friendly gadget has various uses. When your child is in a mood to read, it takes the form of a storybook. When the mood is to draw and color this wonder gadget turns into a perfect canvas . Your child can freely give color to all his/her imaginations. Should he or she wish to have some fun, see this device change into a musical instrument. You too would enjoy doing activities with your loved one using this gadget. This touch screen device will definitely prove to be an ideal friend. As many parents agree, in this age of technological advancements it is much easier to introduce children to new gadgets than adults. While many adults refrain from trying out something new, kids are more than prepared to take the leap. Keeping this fact in mind, Kidget is the perfect gift for the child of the 21st century. You will be surprised to see how fast your little one gets acquainted with the device. You might even find yourself lagging behind at times. Kidget has another hidden advantage. It helps take the load off young shoulders. With three things rolled into one, a child has much less books, stationary items and related goods to carry. It comes with a promise to make life simpler for kids. Not only is it simple to use but also easy to carry along. The stylish protective case comes with a belt attached to it. Children up to 14 years of age, the targeted audience, enjoy the freedom that comes with it. Question: We can infer from the text that Kidget _ . Options: A: has both advantages and disadvantages B: hasn't been put into use C: needs to be further improved D: is a perfect gift for kids
Ans:
D