Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
How cool can libraries be in an era of iPods and Kindles? More than you think.Only if you know where to go.
Central Library: Seattle, Washington, United States
The Central Library in Seattle is modern and fashionable and has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours.It was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and American designer Joshua Ramus.Tours began in 2006, two years after its opening.The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other events, while visitors can stop by the Chocolate cart for a coffee and scan through the gift shop anytime
Trinity College Library: Dublin, Ireland
The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I.It is the largest single library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which contains more than 200,000 0fthe library's oldest books.The Long Room houses one of the oldest harps  in Ireland.Dating to the 15th century, the old harp is the model for the symbol foreland.
Geisel Library, University of California: San Diego, United States
At first glance, it looks like a spaceship.Architect William Pereira, who helped design actual space launch facilities at Cape Canaveral in Houston, Texas, designed the library in 1970.It has been featured in sci-fi films, short stories and novels.The library hosts "Dinner in the Library," which invites readers for cocktails, and also a special speech from distinguished authors.
TU Delft Library: The Netherlands
The library at the Delft University of Technology was constructed in 1997 and has more than 862,000 books, 16,000 magazine subscriptions and its own museum.The building itself exists beneath the ground, so you can't really see the actual Library.What makes it interesting is the roof, which is a grassy hill.The roof covers 5,500 square meters.And it has become one of the most striking and greenest structures in the area.[:]

<question>:
What makes Geisel Library different from the others is that

<options>:
A famous writers often deliver speeches there
B it has a reoffer grassy hill
C Queen Elizabeth I founded the library
D it is the largest single library in the world

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
How cool can libraries be in an era of iPods and Kindles? More than you think.Only if you know where to go.
Central Library: Seattle, Washington, United States
The Central Library in Seattle is modern and fashionable and has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours.It was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and American designer Joshua Ramus.Tours began in 2006, two years after its opening.The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other events, while visitors can stop by the Chocolate cart for a coffee and scan through the gift shop anytime
Trinity College Library: Dublin, Ireland
The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I.It is the largest single library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which contains more than 200,000 0fthe library's oldest books.The Long Room houses one of the oldest harps  in Ireland.Dating to the 15th century, the old harp is the model for the symbol foreland.
Geisel Library, University of California: San Diego, United States
At first glance, it looks like a spaceship.Architect William Pereira, who helped design actual space launch facilities at Cape Canaveral in Houston, Texas, designed the library in 1970.It has been featured in sci-fi films, short stories and novels.The library hosts "Dinner in the Library," which invites readers for cocktails, and also a special speech from distinguished authors.
TU Delft Library: The Netherlands
The library at the Delft University of Technology was constructed in 1997 and has more than 862,000 books, 16,000 magazine subscriptions and its own museum.The building itself exists beneath the ground, so you can't really see the actual Library.What makes it interesting is the roof, which is a grassy hill.The roof covers 5,500 square meters.And it has become one of the most striking and greenest structures in the area.[:]

<question>:
In Central Library, you can

<options>:
A buy souvenirs
B drink cocktails
C enjoy sci-fi films
D see the old harp

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
The Worst Part
Mom is usually home on Sunday but this week she was going to a big golf game and I was all alone in the house. I was mad at Mom for divorcing Dad.
I kept looking at the telephone until I couldn't stand it any longer. I picked up the receiver and dialed Dad's number over in Bakersfield. I even remembered to dial 1 first because it was long distance. "You promised to phone me this week but you didn't," I said, feeling I had to talk to him.
"Take it easy, kid," he said. "I just didn't get around to it. I was going to call this evening. The week isn't over yet."
I thought about that.www.ks5u.com
"Something on your mind?" he asked.
"I hoped you would call, so I waited and waited." Then I was sorry I said it.
"There was heavy snow in the morning," he said, "I had to chain up on highway 80 and lost time."
I know putting chains on eight big wheels in the snow is no fun.I felt a little better, as long as we were talking. "How is Bandit?" I asked.
There was a funny silence. For a minute I thought the line was dead. Then I knew something must have happened to my dog.
"Well, kid--", he began. "My name is Leigh!" I almost yelled. "I'm not just some kid you met on the street!"
"Keep your shirt on, Leigh," he said. "When I had to stop along with some other truckers to put on chains, I left Bandit out of the cab, I thought he would get back ... I have sent out a call to CB radio, but I didn't get an answer yet." I was about to say I understood when there came the bad part, the really bad part. I heard a boy's voice say, "Hey, Bill, Mom wants to know when we're going out to get the pizza?"www.ks5u.com

<question>:
From the story we know that   _  .

<options>:
A Leigh's dad never had a rest on Sundays
B Leigh's dad lived in another city
C Leigh was a deserted boy
D Leigh's mother often went to golf games

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
The Worst Part
Mom is usually home on Sunday but this week she was going to a big golf game and I was all alone in the house. I was mad at Mom for divorcing Dad.
I kept looking at the telephone until I couldn't stand it any longer. I picked up the receiver and dialed Dad's number over in Bakersfield. I even remembered to dial 1 first because it was long distance. "You promised to phone me this week but you didn't," I said, feeling I had to talk to him.
"Take it easy, kid," he said. "I just didn't get around to it. I was going to call this evening. The week isn't over yet."
I thought about that.www.ks5u.com
"Something on your mind?" he asked.
"I hoped you would call, so I waited and waited." Then I was sorry I said it.
"There was heavy snow in the morning," he said, "I had to chain up on highway 80 and lost time."
I know putting chains on eight big wheels in the snow is no fun.I felt a little better, as long as we were talking. "How is Bandit?" I asked.
There was a funny silence. For a minute I thought the line was dead. Then I knew something must have happened to my dog.
"Well, kid--", he began. "My name is Leigh!" I almost yelled. "I'm not just some kid you met on the street!"
"Keep your shirt on, Leigh," he said. "When I had to stop along with some other truckers to put on chains, I left Bandit out of the cab, I thought he would get back ... I have sent out a call to CB radio, but I didn't get an answer yet." I was about to say I understood when there came the bad part, the really bad part. I heard a boy's voice say, "Hey, Bill, Mom wants to know when we're going out to get the pizza?"www.ks5u.com

<question>:
What happened to Bandit?

<options>:
A It was frozen to death.
B It ran off Highway 80 and into the mountain.
C It was killed by a truck.
D It was let out of the cab and got lost.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
The Worst Part
Mom is usually home on Sunday but this week she was going to a big golf game and I was all alone in the house. I was mad at Mom for divorcing Dad.
I kept looking at the telephone until I couldn't stand it any longer. I picked up the receiver and dialed Dad's number over in Bakersfield. I even remembered to dial 1 first because it was long distance. "You promised to phone me this week but you didn't," I said, feeling I had to talk to him.
"Take it easy, kid," he said. "I just didn't get around to it. I was going to call this evening. The week isn't over yet."
I thought about that.www.ks5u.com
"Something on your mind?" he asked.
"I hoped you would call, so I waited and waited." Then I was sorry I said it.
"There was heavy snow in the morning," he said, "I had to chain up on highway 80 and lost time."
I know putting chains on eight big wheels in the snow is no fun.I felt a little better, as long as we were talking. "How is Bandit?" I asked.
There was a funny silence. For a minute I thought the line was dead. Then I knew something must have happened to my dog.
"Well, kid--", he began. "My name is Leigh!" I almost yelled. "I'm not just some kid you met on the street!"
"Keep your shirt on, Leigh," he said. "When I had to stop along with some other truckers to put on chains, I left Bandit out of the cab, I thought he would get back ... I have sent out a call to CB radio, but I didn't get an answer yet." I was about to say I understood when there came the bad part, the really bad part. I heard a boy's voice say, "Hey, Bill, Mom wants to know when we're going out to get the pizza?"www.ks5u.com

<question>:
The worst part in Leigh's eyes may be that   _  .

<options>:
A his dad didn't love him
B his parents got divorced
C his dad got remarried
D his mom didn't take him to pizza

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Robots that can chat,find misplaced glasses,draw aeroplanes and play with your children are drawing thousands of visitors' attention during an expo in Tokyo as Japan adapts to changes in society.
Robots,such as the soundsensitive Chapit,answer simple questions and even joke with people to help the lonely fight loneliness and stay active in old age.
"Many older people in Japan live alone and have no one to talk to," said Kazuya Kitamura,a representative of the expo organizer."Communication robots accompany people and don't mind listening to the same stories over and over again."
While Chapit,a relatively simple robot,managed to _ a corporate partner,many researchers,such as Kiyoshi Matsumoto,a professor at the University of Tokyo,struggle to interest sponsors for more expensive projects.
Matsumoto's "Personal Mobility Robot",equipped with four cameras and a sensor to recognize the user's centre of gravity,is designed to help the elderly move around without pressing buttons,using joysticks  or rotating  wheels as in traditional wheelchairs.
The robot can also help find misplaced glasses by identifying them with a sensor.
"We have developed a robot that can assist many people,but because of the high cost,we still haven't found a sponsor,"said Matsumoto,who added that the cost of the machine,if massproduced,would be comparable to that of a car.
"In the current economic environment there are few companies willing to invest in such a costly project," he said.
Other robots,such as the awardwinning "DiGRO" can support busy parents who have little time to play with their children.
The robot can use the Internet to find a simple image and then draw pictures,keeping children company while their parents work.
Japan has one of the world's fastestageing societies and the government predicts that by 2050 the proportion of people over 65 will reach 40 percent.

<question>:
Personal Mobility Robot can help people   _  .

<options>:
A find misplaced glasses
B move around with pressing buttons
C use joysticks
D rotate wheels

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Robots that can chat,find misplaced glasses,draw aeroplanes and play with your children are drawing thousands of visitors' attention during an expo in Tokyo as Japan adapts to changes in society.
Robots,such as the soundsensitive Chapit,answer simple questions and even joke with people to help the lonely fight loneliness and stay active in old age.
"Many older people in Japan live alone and have no one to talk to," said Kazuya Kitamura,a representative of the expo organizer."Communication robots accompany people and don't mind listening to the same stories over and over again."
While Chapit,a relatively simple robot,managed to _ a corporate partner,many researchers,such as Kiyoshi Matsumoto,a professor at the University of Tokyo,struggle to interest sponsors for more expensive projects.
Matsumoto's "Personal Mobility Robot",equipped with four cameras and a sensor to recognize the user's centre of gravity,is designed to help the elderly move around without pressing buttons,using joysticks  or rotating  wheels as in traditional wheelchairs.
The robot can also help find misplaced glasses by identifying them with a sensor.
"We have developed a robot that can assist many people,but because of the high cost,we still haven't found a sponsor,"said Matsumoto,who added that the cost of the machine,if massproduced,would be comparable to that of a car.
"In the current economic environment there are few companies willing to invest in such a costly project," he said.
Other robots,such as the awardwinning "DiGRO" can support busy parents who have little time to play with their children.
The robot can use the Internet to find a simple image and then draw pictures,keeping children company while their parents work.
Japan has one of the world's fastestageing societies and the government predicts that by 2050 the proportion of people over 65 will reach 40 percent.

<question>:
It is difficult to find sponsors for the robots because   _  .

<options>:
A Japan is suffering economy depression
B the robots are of poor design
C the production of robots costs a lot
D the future market is worrying

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Robots that can chat,find misplaced glasses,draw aeroplanes and play with your children are drawing thousands of visitors' attention during an expo in Tokyo as Japan adapts to changes in society.
Robots,such as the soundsensitive Chapit,answer simple questions and even joke with people to help the lonely fight loneliness and stay active in old age.
"Many older people in Japan live alone and have no one to talk to," said Kazuya Kitamura,a representative of the expo organizer."Communication robots accompany people and don't mind listening to the same stories over and over again."
While Chapit,a relatively simple robot,managed to _ a corporate partner,many researchers,such as Kiyoshi Matsumoto,a professor at the University of Tokyo,struggle to interest sponsors for more expensive projects.
Matsumoto's "Personal Mobility Robot",equipped with four cameras and a sensor to recognize the user's centre of gravity,is designed to help the elderly move around without pressing buttons,using joysticks  or rotating  wheels as in traditional wheelchairs.
The robot can also help find misplaced glasses by identifying them with a sensor.
"We have developed a robot that can assist many people,but because of the high cost,we still haven't found a sponsor,"said Matsumoto,who added that the cost of the machine,if massproduced,would be comparable to that of a car.
"In the current economic environment there are few companies willing to invest in such a costly project," he said.
Other robots,such as the awardwinning "DiGRO" can support busy parents who have little time to play with their children.
The robot can use the Internet to find a simple image and then draw pictures,keeping children company while their parents work.
Japan has one of the world's fastestageing societies and the government predicts that by 2050 the proportion of people over 65 will reach 40 percent.

<question>:
It can be inferred from the text that   _  .

<options>:
A many children lack love from parents
B robots helpful to the old will be in great demand
C robots are the most useful to children
D robots do better than people in healthcare

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
It would have been a success story if Fullerton High School senior Fernando Rojas, the son of Mexican immigrants whose schooling stopped in the eighth grade, was accepted to college. But the 17-year-o1d achieved a surprising clean sweep--he was accepted to every Ivy League  school.
"I didn't think I could get into any," Rojas told The Orange County Register on Saturday. "When I got all eight, it was a blessing and a curse because I had to choose. I was excited and scared and everything at the same time."
The first call came from Yale University in February. Within weeks calls, emails and letters followed from Dartmouth College, Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, Columbia University, Harvard University and Princeton University. Rojas also was accepted by Stanford University and two nearby schools, the University of California, Irvine, and California State University, Fullerton.
He is one of four children of Raul Rojas and Mafia, who moved to Fullerton from Jalisco, Mexico in the early 1980s.
A national speech and debate champion, Rojas reasoned that if he applied to the eight Ivy League schools, he might get into one. Sal Tinajero, Rojas'speech and debate coach at Fullerton, told the newspaper that Rojas is a hardworking self-starter who thrives   on competition. _ Tinajero said.
After visiting several campuses, he settled on Yale, which costs $64, 000 a year with room and board. He is responsible for $6,000; Yale scholarships and federal grant money cover the rest.
He'll mostly take it easy during the summer before heading to Yale in late August. He's considering majoring in Latin American studies and perhaps a career as a lawyer or in international affairs.

<question>:
How many universities accepted Rojas altogether?

<options>:
A 8.
B 9.
C 10.
D 11.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
It would have been a success story if Fullerton High School senior Fernando Rojas, the son of Mexican immigrants whose schooling stopped in the eighth grade, was accepted to college. But the 17-year-o1d achieved a surprising clean sweep--he was accepted to every Ivy League  school.
"I didn't think I could get into any," Rojas told The Orange County Register on Saturday. "When I got all eight, it was a blessing and a curse because I had to choose. I was excited and scared and everything at the same time."
The first call came from Yale University in February. Within weeks calls, emails and letters followed from Dartmouth College, Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, Columbia University, Harvard University and Princeton University. Rojas also was accepted by Stanford University and two nearby schools, the University of California, Irvine, and California State University, Fullerton.
He is one of four children of Raul Rojas and Mafia, who moved to Fullerton from Jalisco, Mexico in the early 1980s.
A national speech and debate champion, Rojas reasoned that if he applied to the eight Ivy League schools, he might get into one. Sal Tinajero, Rojas'speech and debate coach at Fullerton, told the newspaper that Rojas is a hardworking self-starter who thrives   on competition. _ Tinajero said.
After visiting several campuses, he settled on Yale, which costs $64, 000 a year with room and board. He is responsible for $6,000; Yale scholarships and federal grant money cover the rest.
He'll mostly take it easy during the summer before heading to Yale in late August. He's considering majoring in Latin American studies and perhaps a career as a lawyer or in international affairs.

<question>:
What does the author want to tell?

<options>:
A God blesses the hard-working.
B Detail is the key to success.
C All roads lead to Rome.
D Every dog has its day.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Becoming more popular in North America is Iceberg Water, which is harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
Arthur von Wiesenberger is one of the few water critics in North America.As a boy, he spent time in the larger cities of Italy, France and Switzerland, where bottled water is consumed daily.Even then, he kept a record of the brands he liked best."My dog could tell the difference between bottled and tap water," He says.
But is plain tap water all that bad? Not at all.In fact.New York's drinking water for more than a century was called the champagne of tap water and until recently considered among the best in the world in terms of both taste and purity.Similarly, a magazine in England found that tap water from the Thames River tasted better than several leading brands of bottled water that were 400 times more expensive.
However, soft-drink companies view bottled water as the next battle-ground for market share, as bottlers and restaurateurs are longing for the profits from it.A restaurant's typical mark-up   on wine is 100 to 150 percent, while on bottled water it's often 300 to 500 percent.As a result, some restaurants are trying to sell more bottled water.Some of the more shameless tactics  include putting attractive bottles on the table for a visual sell, listing brands on the menu without prices, and pouring bottled water without even asking the diners whether they want it.
Regardless of how it's sold, the popularity of bottled water taps into our desire for better health, our wish to appear educated, and even a longing for lost purity.

<question>:
By saying "My dog could tell the difference between bottled and tap water", Arthur von Wiesenberger suggests that   _  .

<options>:
A bottled water is superior to tap water
B plain tap water is certainly unfit for drinking
C bottled water often appeals more to dogs' taste
D dogs can usually distinguish a fine difference in taste

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Becoming more popular in North America is Iceberg Water, which is harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
Arthur von Wiesenberger is one of the few water critics in North America.As a boy, he spent time in the larger cities of Italy, France and Switzerland, where bottled water is consumed daily.Even then, he kept a record of the brands he liked best."My dog could tell the difference between bottled and tap water," He says.
But is plain tap water all that bad? Not at all.In fact.New York's drinking water for more than a century was called the champagne of tap water and until recently considered among the best in the world in terms of both taste and purity.Similarly, a magazine in England found that tap water from the Thames River tasted better than several leading brands of bottled water that were 400 times more expensive.
However, soft-drink companies view bottled water as the next battle-ground for market share, as bottlers and restaurateurs are longing for the profits from it.A restaurant's typical mark-up   on wine is 100 to 150 percent, while on bottled water it's often 300 to 500 percent.As a result, some restaurants are trying to sell more bottled water.Some of the more shameless tactics  include putting attractive bottles on the table for a visual sell, listing brands on the menu without prices, and pouring bottled water without even asking the diners whether they want it.
Regardless of how it's sold, the popularity of bottled water taps into our desire for better health, our wish to appear educated, and even a longing for lost purity.

<question>:
According to the passage, why is bottled water so popular?

<options>:
A It is much cheaper than wine.
B It is more widely promoted in the market.
C It appeals to well educated people.
D It is considered healthier.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Becoming more popular in North America is Iceberg Water, which is harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
Arthur von Wiesenberger is one of the few water critics in North America.As a boy, he spent time in the larger cities of Italy, France and Switzerland, where bottled water is consumed daily.Even then, he kept a record of the brands he liked best."My dog could tell the difference between bottled and tap water," He says.
But is plain tap water all that bad? Not at all.In fact.New York's drinking water for more than a century was called the champagne of tap water and until recently considered among the best in the world in terms of both taste and purity.Similarly, a magazine in England found that tap water from the Thames River tasted better than several leading brands of bottled water that were 400 times more expensive.
However, soft-drink companies view bottled water as the next battle-ground for market share, as bottlers and restaurateurs are longing for the profits from it.A restaurant's typical mark-up   on wine is 100 to 150 percent, while on bottled water it's often 300 to 500 percent.As a result, some restaurants are trying to sell more bottled water.Some of the more shameless tactics  include putting attractive bottles on the table for a visual sell, listing brands on the menu without prices, and pouring bottled water without even asking the diners whether they want it.
Regardless of how it's sold, the popularity of bottled water taps into our desire for better health, our wish to appear educated, and even a longing for lost purity.

<question>:
Why are some restaurants willing to sell bottled water?

<options>:
A Bottled water brings in huge profits.
B Competition from the wine industry is fierce.
C Most diners find bottled water affordable.
D Bottled water satisfied diners' desire to be fashionable.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
What will higher education look like in 2050? That was the question addressed Tuesday night by Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University.
"We're at the end of the fourth wave of change in higher education," Crow began, arguing that research universities followed the initial establishment of higher education, public colleges, and land-grant schools in the timeline of America.
In less than a half-century, he said, global market competition will be at its fastest rates of change ever, with several multitrillion-dollar economies worldwide. According to a recent projection, the nation's population could reach 435 million, with a large percentage of those residents economically disadvantaged. In addition, climate change will be "meaningfully uncontrollable" in many parts of the world.
The everyday trends seen today, such as declining performance of students at all levels, particularly in math and science, and declining wages and employment among the less educated, will only continue, Crow maintained, and are, to say the least, not contributing to fulfilling the dream of climbing the social ladder mobility, quality of life, sustainable environment, and longer life spans that most Americans share.
"How is it that we can have these great research universities and have negative-trending outcomes?" Crow said in a talk "I hold the universities accountable. ... We are part of the problem."
Among the "things that we do that make the things that we teach less learnable," Crow said, are the strict separation of disciplines, academic rigidity, and conservatism, the desire of universities to imitate schools at the top of the social ranks, and the lack of the computer system ability that would allow a large number of students to be educated for a small amount of money.
Since 2002, when Crow started being in charge at Arizona State -- which he calls the "new American university" -- he has led more than three dozen initiatives that aim to make the school "inclusive, scalable, fast, adaptive, challenge-focused, and willing to take risks."
Among those initiatives were a restructuring of the engineering and life sciences schools to create more linkages between disciplines; the launch of the School of Earth and Space Exploration and the School of Sustainability; the start of a Teachers College to address K-12 performance and increase the status of the Education Department at the university; and broadened access, increasing the freshman class size by 42 percent and the enrollment of students living below the poverty line by 500 percent.
Universities must start, Crow noted, "by becoming self-reflective _ figuring out what we have and what we actually need instead of what legend tells us we have to be." Research universities today have "run their course," he added. "Now is the time for variety."
During a discussion afterward, Crow clarified and expanded on some of his points. He discussed, for example, the school's distance-learning program. "Nearly 40 percent of undergraduates are taking at least one course online," he said, which helps the school to keep costs down while advancing interactive learning technologies.
He said that Arizona State is working to increase the transfer and completion rates of community-college students, of whom only about 15 percent, historically, complete their later degrees. "We've built a system that will allow them to track into universities," particularly where "culturally complex barriers" beyond finances limit even the most gifted students.

<question>:
The fourth wave of change in America's higher education refers to   _  .

<options>:
A public colleges
B land-grant schools
C research universities
D initial higher education

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
What will higher education look like in 2050? That was the question addressed Tuesday night by Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University.
"We're at the end of the fourth wave of change in higher education," Crow began, arguing that research universities followed the initial establishment of higher education, public colleges, and land-grant schools in the timeline of America.
In less than a half-century, he said, global market competition will be at its fastest rates of change ever, with several multitrillion-dollar economies worldwide. According to a recent projection, the nation's population could reach 435 million, with a large percentage of those residents economically disadvantaged. In addition, climate change will be "meaningfully uncontrollable" in many parts of the world.
The everyday trends seen today, such as declining performance of students at all levels, particularly in math and science, and declining wages and employment among the less educated, will only continue, Crow maintained, and are, to say the least, not contributing to fulfilling the dream of climbing the social ladder mobility, quality of life, sustainable environment, and longer life spans that most Americans share.
"How is it that we can have these great research universities and have negative-trending outcomes?" Crow said in a talk "I hold the universities accountable. ... We are part of the problem."
Among the "things that we do that make the things that we teach less learnable," Crow said, are the strict separation of disciplines, academic rigidity, and conservatism, the desire of universities to imitate schools at the top of the social ranks, and the lack of the computer system ability that would allow a large number of students to be educated for a small amount of money.
Since 2002, when Crow started being in charge at Arizona State -- which he calls the "new American university" -- he has led more than three dozen initiatives that aim to make the school "inclusive, scalable, fast, adaptive, challenge-focused, and willing to take risks."
Among those initiatives were a restructuring of the engineering and life sciences schools to create more linkages between disciplines; the launch of the School of Earth and Space Exploration and the School of Sustainability; the start of a Teachers College to address K-12 performance and increase the status of the Education Department at the university; and broadened access, increasing the freshman class size by 42 percent and the enrollment of students living below the poverty line by 500 percent.
Universities must start, Crow noted, "by becoming self-reflective _ figuring out what we have and what we actually need instead of what legend tells us we have to be." Research universities today have "run their course," he added. "Now is the time for variety."
During a discussion afterward, Crow clarified and expanded on some of his points. He discussed, for example, the school's distance-learning program. "Nearly 40 percent of undergraduates are taking at least one course online," he said, which helps the school to keep costs down while advancing interactive learning technologies.
He said that Arizona State is working to increase the transfer and completion rates of community-college students, of whom only about 15 percent, historically, complete their later degrees. "We've built a system that will allow them to track into universities," particularly where "culturally complex barriers" beyond finances limit even the most gifted students.

<question>:
Which is NOT part of the American dream most people share?

<options>:
A People enjoy a quality life.
B People live longer and longer.
C The freedom to move around.
D An environment that is sustainable.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
What will higher education look like in 2050? That was the question addressed Tuesday night by Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University.
"We're at the end of the fourth wave of change in higher education," Crow began, arguing that research universities followed the initial establishment of higher education, public colleges, and land-grant schools in the timeline of America.
In less than a half-century, he said, global market competition will be at its fastest rates of change ever, with several multitrillion-dollar economies worldwide. According to a recent projection, the nation's population could reach 435 million, with a large percentage of those residents economically disadvantaged. In addition, climate change will be "meaningfully uncontrollable" in many parts of the world.
The everyday trends seen today, such as declining performance of students at all levels, particularly in math and science, and declining wages and employment among the less educated, will only continue, Crow maintained, and are, to say the least, not contributing to fulfilling the dream of climbing the social ladder mobility, quality of life, sustainable environment, and longer life spans that most Americans share.
"How is it that we can have these great research universities and have negative-trending outcomes?" Crow said in a talk "I hold the universities accountable. ... We are part of the problem."
Among the "things that we do that make the things that we teach less learnable," Crow said, are the strict separation of disciplines, academic rigidity, and conservatism, the desire of universities to imitate schools at the top of the social ranks, and the lack of the computer system ability that would allow a large number of students to be educated for a small amount of money.
Since 2002, when Crow started being in charge at Arizona State -- which he calls the "new American university" -- he has led more than three dozen initiatives that aim to make the school "inclusive, scalable, fast, adaptive, challenge-focused, and willing to take risks."
Among those initiatives were a restructuring of the engineering and life sciences schools to create more linkages between disciplines; the launch of the School of Earth and Space Exploration and the School of Sustainability; the start of a Teachers College to address K-12 performance and increase the status of the Education Department at the university; and broadened access, increasing the freshman class size by 42 percent and the enrollment of students living below the poverty line by 500 percent.
Universities must start, Crow noted, "by becoming self-reflective _ figuring out what we have and what we actually need instead of what legend tells us we have to be." Research universities today have "run their course," he added. "Now is the time for variety."
During a discussion afterward, Crow clarified and expanded on some of his points. He discussed, for example, the school's distance-learning program. "Nearly 40 percent of undergraduates are taking at least one course online," he said, which helps the school to keep costs down while advancing interactive learning technologies.
He said that Arizona State is working to increase the transfer and completion rates of community-college students, of whom only about 15 percent, historically, complete their later degrees. "We've built a system that will allow them to track into universities," particularly where "culturally complex barriers" beyond finances limit even the most gifted students.

<question>:
Which is an initiative adopted by Crow at Arizona State University?

<options>:
A Restructuring the teachers College.
B Launching the School of Life Sciences.
C Ignoring the linkages between disciplines.
D Enrolling more students from poor families.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
What will higher education look like in 2050? That was the question addressed Tuesday night by Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University.
"We're at the end of the fourth wave of change in higher education," Crow began, arguing that research universities followed the initial establishment of higher education, public colleges, and land-grant schools in the timeline of America.
In less than a half-century, he said, global market competition will be at its fastest rates of change ever, with several multitrillion-dollar economies worldwide. According to a recent projection, the nation's population could reach 435 million, with a large percentage of those residents economically disadvantaged. In addition, climate change will be "meaningfully uncontrollable" in many parts of the world.
The everyday trends seen today, such as declining performance of students at all levels, particularly in math and science, and declining wages and employment among the less educated, will only continue, Crow maintained, and are, to say the least, not contributing to fulfilling the dream of climbing the social ladder mobility, quality of life, sustainable environment, and longer life spans that most Americans share.
"How is it that we can have these great research universities and have negative-trending outcomes?" Crow said in a talk "I hold the universities accountable. ... We are part of the problem."
Among the "things that we do that make the things that we teach less learnable," Crow said, are the strict separation of disciplines, academic rigidity, and conservatism, the desire of universities to imitate schools at the top of the social ranks, and the lack of the computer system ability that would allow a large number of students to be educated for a small amount of money.
Since 2002, when Crow started being in charge at Arizona State -- which he calls the "new American university" -- he has led more than three dozen initiatives that aim to make the school "inclusive, scalable, fast, adaptive, challenge-focused, and willing to take risks."
Among those initiatives were a restructuring of the engineering and life sciences schools to create more linkages between disciplines; the launch of the School of Earth and Space Exploration and the School of Sustainability; the start of a Teachers College to address K-12 performance and increase the status of the Education Department at the university; and broadened access, increasing the freshman class size by 42 percent and the enrollment of students living below the poverty line by 500 percent.
Universities must start, Crow noted, "by becoming self-reflective _ figuring out what we have and what we actually need instead of what legend tells us we have to be." Research universities today have "run their course," he added. "Now is the time for variety."
During a discussion afterward, Crow clarified and expanded on some of his points. He discussed, for example, the school's distance-learning program. "Nearly 40 percent of undergraduates are taking at least one course online," he said, which helps the school to keep costs down while advancing interactive learning technologies.
He said that Arizona State is working to increase the transfer and completion rates of community-college students, of whom only about 15 percent, historically, complete their later degrees. "We've built a system that will allow them to track into universities," particularly where "culturally complex barriers" beyond finances limit even the most gifted students.

<question>:
With the distance-learning program, Arizona State University is able to   _  .

<options>:
A enroll 40% of its students online
B keep costs down without a loss of quality
C provide an even greater number of courses
D attract the most gifted students all over the world

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Governments all over the world make public reports about the condition of their economies. Most countries, including the United States, have used a measure called the gross national product  or GNP. It includes all goods and services produced by citizens of the country anywhere in the world.
Recently the American Commerce Department has started using a new method to measure production. It is known as the gross domestic product or GDP. It counts only goods and services that have been produced within the nation's borders. Money earned by foreign companies operating in the United States is included in the GDP, but money earned by American companies operating in other countries is not.
Economic experts generally approve of the change. They say that the gross domestic product provides a truer measure of the economy. They also note that most other industrial countries use this method. Therefore it will be easier to study the economies of different countries. Some officials also hope the new system will help them make better economic policy decisions. It will provide them with a clearer understanding of economic activity in the U.S. . The new measure is less likely to be affected by sudden changes in foreign oil prices or in the value of the American dollar in other countries.
Economic experts believe that the change from GNP to GDP will immediately reduce the value of American production by at least 40,000 million dollars a year. But that is really a very small change in the American economy - less than 1% . The Commerce Department reports the unofficial gross domestic product once every three months. The government also continues to report GNP as it has four times a year since 1941.

<question>:
To report the American GNP, the government should not consider goods and services produced   _  .

<options>:
A by American companies at home
B by American companies in China
C by American companies in Singapore
D by Japanese companies in the United States

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Governments all over the world make public reports about the condition of their economies. Most countries, including the United States, have used a measure called the gross national product  or GNP. It includes all goods and services produced by citizens of the country anywhere in the world.
Recently the American Commerce Department has started using a new method to measure production. It is known as the gross domestic product or GDP. It counts only goods and services that have been produced within the nation's borders. Money earned by foreign companies operating in the United States is included in the GDP, but money earned by American companies operating in other countries is not.
Economic experts generally approve of the change. They say that the gross domestic product provides a truer measure of the economy. They also note that most other industrial countries use this method. Therefore it will be easier to study the economies of different countries. Some officials also hope the new system will help them make better economic policy decisions. It will provide them with a clearer understanding of economic activity in the U.S. . The new measure is less likely to be affected by sudden changes in foreign oil prices or in the value of the American dollar in other countries.
Economic experts believe that the change from GNP to GDP will immediately reduce the value of American production by at least 40,000 million dollars a year. But that is really a very small change in the American economy - less than 1% . The Commerce Department reports the unofficial gross domestic product once every three months. The government also continues to report GNP as it has four times a year since 1941.

<question>:
To report the American GDP, the Commerce Department should count money earned   _  .

<options>:
A by both American and foreign companies in America
B by American companies within its own borders
C by foreign companies in the United States
D by American companies in its foreign markets

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Governments all over the world make public reports about the condition of their economies. Most countries, including the United States, have used a measure called the gross national product  or GNP. It includes all goods and services produced by citizens of the country anywhere in the world.
Recently the American Commerce Department has started using a new method to measure production. It is known as the gross domestic product or GDP. It counts only goods and services that have been produced within the nation's borders. Money earned by foreign companies operating in the United States is included in the GDP, but money earned by American companies operating in other countries is not.
Economic experts generally approve of the change. They say that the gross domestic product provides a truer measure of the economy. They also note that most other industrial countries use this method. Therefore it will be easier to study the economies of different countries. Some officials also hope the new system will help them make better economic policy decisions. It will provide them with a clearer understanding of economic activity in the U.S. . The new measure is less likely to be affected by sudden changes in foreign oil prices or in the value of the American dollar in other countries.
Economic experts believe that the change from GNP to GDP will immediately reduce the value of American production by at least 40,000 million dollars a year. But that is really a very small change in the American economy - less than 1% . The Commerce Department reports the unofficial gross domestic product once every three months. The government also continues to report GNP as it has four times a year since 1941.

<question>:
GDP is considered better than GNP by some economists because   _  .

<options>:
A it is something new
B it is used by most countries
C it is easier to calculate
D it is less likely to be affected by the foreign market

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Governments all over the world make public reports about the condition of their economies. Most countries, including the United States, have used a measure called the gross national product  or GNP. It includes all goods and services produced by citizens of the country anywhere in the world.
Recently the American Commerce Department has started using a new method to measure production. It is known as the gross domestic product or GDP. It counts only goods and services that have been produced within the nation's borders. Money earned by foreign companies operating in the United States is included in the GDP, but money earned by American companies operating in other countries is not.
Economic experts generally approve of the change. They say that the gross domestic product provides a truer measure of the economy. They also note that most other industrial countries use this method. Therefore it will be easier to study the economies of different countries. Some officials also hope the new system will help them make better economic policy decisions. It will provide them with a clearer understanding of economic activity in the U.S. . The new measure is less likely to be affected by sudden changes in foreign oil prices or in the value of the American dollar in other countries.
Economic experts believe that the change from GNP to GDP will immediately reduce the value of American production by at least 40,000 million dollars a year. But that is really a very small change in the American economy - less than 1% . The Commerce Department reports the unofficial gross domestic product once every three months. The government also continues to report GNP as it has four times a year since 1941.

<question>:
What will happen to the value of American economy if GDP is used to replace GNP?

<options>:
A It will be seriously affected.
B It will not be affected.
C It will come down a little.
D It will slightly go up.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Governments all over the world make public reports about the condition of their economies. Most countries, including the United States, have used a measure called the gross national product  or GNP. It includes all goods and services produced by citizens of the country anywhere in the world.
Recently the American Commerce Department has started using a new method to measure production. It is known as the gross domestic product or GDP. It counts only goods and services that have been produced within the nation's borders. Money earned by foreign companies operating in the United States is included in the GDP, but money earned by American companies operating in other countries is not.
Economic experts generally approve of the change. They say that the gross domestic product provides a truer measure of the economy. They also note that most other industrial countries use this method. Therefore it will be easier to study the economies of different countries. Some officials also hope the new system will help them make better economic policy decisions. It will provide them with a clearer understanding of economic activity in the U.S. . The new measure is less likely to be affected by sudden changes in foreign oil prices or in the value of the American dollar in other countries.
Economic experts believe that the change from GNP to GDP will immediately reduce the value of American production by at least 40,000 million dollars a year. But that is really a very small change in the American economy - less than 1% . The Commerce Department reports the unofficial gross domestic product once every three months. The government also continues to report GNP as it has four times a year since 1941.

<question>:
How often are the reports of GDP issued by the American Commerce Department?

<options>:
A once every four months
B once every three months
C once every six months
D once a year

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
The movies just wouldn't be the same without the warm buttery taste of popcorn. Amazingly, this delicious treat started its life as a corn kernel   , not just from any corn. Popcorn is a type of sweet corn that was originally grown in Mexico and spread to China, India and elsewhere. It is the only kind of corn that will pop. Today, most of the world's popcorn is grown in the United States.
Every popcorn kernel contains a tiny drop of water,surrounded by soft starch  .  When the popcorn is heated, the water turns into steam. This puts pressure on the surrounding hard kernel, forcing it to explode. The soft starch increases about 40 times in size as the corn kernel turns itself inside out.
In the 1500s popcorn was an important food source for the Aztec Indians of central and southern Mexico.  But it wasn't only food. It was also used in ceremonies or on red dresses and in necklaces. By the time the Europeans arrived in America,popcorn had spread through most of the American Indians.
Some early American settlers ate popcorn with cream and sugar for breakfast. But it wasn't until the late 1800s that popcorn became popular. The demand for popcorn increased and farmers began farming popcorn. The first mobile popping machine was invented in 1885, and popcorn was sold by street sellers much like hot dogs that are sold today.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the popcorn business still _ as people could still afford it. Then in the 1950s television arrived and popcorn consumption decreased. People stayed home and stopped going to the theatre. But the link between movies and popcorn had already existed.  Soon people began making popcorn at home on the stove and, later,microwave popcorn was introduced. Today the movies have regained popularity and popcorn has once again become the favorite.

<question>:
Popcorn was first planted in  _  .

<options>:
A China
B America
C India
D Mexico

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
The movies just wouldn't be the same without the warm buttery taste of popcorn. Amazingly, this delicious treat started its life as a corn kernel   , not just from any corn. Popcorn is a type of sweet corn that was originally grown in Mexico and spread to China, India and elsewhere. It is the only kind of corn that will pop. Today, most of the world's popcorn is grown in the United States.
Every popcorn kernel contains a tiny drop of water,surrounded by soft starch  .  When the popcorn is heated, the water turns into steam. This puts pressure on the surrounding hard kernel, forcing it to explode. The soft starch increases about 40 times in size as the corn kernel turns itself inside out.
In the 1500s popcorn was an important food source for the Aztec Indians of central and southern Mexico.  But it wasn't only food. It was also used in ceremonies or on red dresses and in necklaces. By the time the Europeans arrived in America,popcorn had spread through most of the American Indians.
Some early American settlers ate popcorn with cream and sugar for breakfast. But it wasn't until the late 1800s that popcorn became popular. The demand for popcorn increased and farmers began farming popcorn. The first mobile popping machine was invented in 1885, and popcorn was sold by street sellers much like hot dogs that are sold today.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the popcorn business still _ as people could still afford it. Then in the 1950s television arrived and popcorn consumption decreased. People stayed home and stopped going to the theatre. But the link between movies and popcorn had already existed.  Soon people began making popcorn at home on the stove and, later,microwave popcorn was introduced. Today the movies have regained popularity and popcorn has once again become the favorite.

<question>:
Why does the corn kernel pop when heated?

<options>:
A Because it is covered with soft starch.
B Because the pressure inside is too big.
C Because the starch becomes bigger in size.
D Because there is water inside the kernel.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
The movies just wouldn't be the same without the warm buttery taste of popcorn. Amazingly, this delicious treat started its life as a corn kernel   , not just from any corn. Popcorn is a type of sweet corn that was originally grown in Mexico and spread to China, India and elsewhere. It is the only kind of corn that will pop. Today, most of the world's popcorn is grown in the United States.
Every popcorn kernel contains a tiny drop of water,surrounded by soft starch  .  When the popcorn is heated, the water turns into steam. This puts pressure on the surrounding hard kernel, forcing it to explode. The soft starch increases about 40 times in size as the corn kernel turns itself inside out.
In the 1500s popcorn was an important food source for the Aztec Indians of central and southern Mexico.  But it wasn't only food. It was also used in ceremonies or on red dresses and in necklaces. By the time the Europeans arrived in America,popcorn had spread through most of the American Indians.
Some early American settlers ate popcorn with cream and sugar for breakfast. But it wasn't until the late 1800s that popcorn became popular. The demand for popcorn increased and farmers began farming popcorn. The first mobile popping machine was invented in 1885, and popcorn was sold by street sellers much like hot dogs that are sold today.
During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the popcorn business still _ as people could still afford it. Then in the 1950s television arrived and popcorn consumption decreased. People stayed home and stopped going to the theatre. But the link between movies and popcorn had already existed.  Soon people began making popcorn at home on the stove and, later,microwave popcorn was introduced. Today the movies have regained popularity and popcorn has once again become the favorite.

<question>:
We can know from the passage that  _  .

<options>:
A popcorn began to be farmed in the late 1800s
B popcorn was only a kind of food in the 1500s
C hot dogs used to be sold by street sellers
D people stop eating popcorn while watching movies now

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Gossip moves so quickly that few people have time to cover their ears, even if they want to.
"I hate it when others gossip about me," said Mandy Miraglia, 16, a high school student from California, "but to be honest, gossip about my friends makes me feel I am trusted and belong to the group." Miraglia is not the only person feeling like that.
Gossip has long been looked down on as little more than nonsense and bad manners. But recent research has shown that gossip has many positive effects on your social life.
"There has been a trend among people to dislike gossip," said David Sloan Wilson, Professor from the State University of New York in Binghamton, US, "but gossip appears to be a very important form of behavior in a group of friends, defining their group membership."
For 18 months, Kevin Kniffin, from the University of Wisconsin, US, researched the behavior of 50 people. He found that gossip levels peaked when a sports team included a _ , someone who regularly missed practices or showed up late. Other members of the team would soon start to joke about the slacker's shortcomings behind his back, because they thought they were bad for the whole team.
Gossip about the mistakes of senior members helps newcomers rebuild their confidence after a failure.
It also helps relieve social and professional anxiety. Long-term studies show that people around the world devote from a fifth to two-thirds or more of their daily conversation to gossip, and men appear to be just as eager for gossip as women.
It is hard to judge gossip, but it is more powerful than you think.

<question>:
The author would probably agree that  _  .

<options>:
A gossip is bad manners
B gossip has many good effects
C gossip is somewhat like nonsense
D gossip is more powerful than advice

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Gossip moves so quickly that few people have time to cover their ears, even if they want to.
"I hate it when others gossip about me," said Mandy Miraglia, 16, a high school student from California, "but to be honest, gossip about my friends makes me feel I am trusted and belong to the group." Miraglia is not the only person feeling like that.
Gossip has long been looked down on as little more than nonsense and bad manners. But recent research has shown that gossip has many positive effects on your social life.
"There has been a trend among people to dislike gossip," said David Sloan Wilson, Professor from the State University of New York in Binghamton, US, "but gossip appears to be a very important form of behavior in a group of friends, defining their group membership."
For 18 months, Kevin Kniffin, from the University of Wisconsin, US, researched the behavior of 50 people. He found that gossip levels peaked when a sports team included a _ , someone who regularly missed practices or showed up late. Other members of the team would soon start to joke about the slacker's shortcomings behind his back, because they thought they were bad for the whole team.
Gossip about the mistakes of senior members helps newcomers rebuild their confidence after a failure.
It also helps relieve social and professional anxiety. Long-term studies show that people around the world devote from a fifth to two-thirds or more of their daily conversation to gossip, and men appear to be just as eager for gossip as women.
It is hard to judge gossip, but it is more powerful than you think.

<question>:
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

<options>:
A Gossip is a useful way of building group membership.
B Gossip can possibly make someone confident.
C Generally, women are fonder of gossip than men.
D Actually, everyone gossips to some degree in their daily conversation.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
On a particular Monday morning I was standing waiting for the train and suddenly felt dizzy. I didn't eat much over the weekend because I moved into a new place and was very busy. It looked as if I had drunk too much wine, and suddenly the world began to sway and then went black. All I heard was "Oh my god, she's falling." The next thing I remembered was that the EMT  was asking me my name. I was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. It turned out that I was too tired. The EMT came to check on me before I left.
   He told me that a gentleman at the station waiting for the train saw me fall on the track when the train was coming in. He immediately got to my side and made sure that everyone kept back. He got the conductor's attention and the train stopped, and told others in the station to call 911. I was told that he stayed with me until the ambulance arrived. I asked the EMT if he had the gentleman's name or address but he said no, he said the gentleman left the hospital without a word.
   I don't know who this gentleman is but if he reads this article and remembers a young lady fainting at the train station, I'd like him to get in touch with me and I will say "Thank you" to him to his face. Whenever I meet with such a thing I will do the same as he did for me and I'll pass on the kindness to others.

<question>:
The author fell down because  _  .

<options>:
A she was seriously ill.
B she was full of sadness
C she was hungry and too tired
D she had drunk too much wine

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
On a particular Monday morning I was standing waiting for the train and suddenly felt dizzy. I didn't eat much over the weekend because I moved into a new place and was very busy. It looked as if I had drunk too much wine, and suddenly the world began to sway and then went black. All I heard was "Oh my god, she's falling." The next thing I remembered was that the EMT  was asking me my name. I was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. It turned out that I was too tired. The EMT came to check on me before I left.
   He told me that a gentleman at the station waiting for the train saw me fall on the track when the train was coming in. He immediately got to my side and made sure that everyone kept back. He got the conductor's attention and the train stopped, and told others in the station to call 911. I was told that he stayed with me until the ambulance arrived. I asked the EMT if he had the gentleman's name or address but he said no, he said the gentleman left the hospital without a word.
   I don't know who this gentleman is but if he reads this article and remembers a young lady fainting at the train station, I'd like him to get in touch with me and I will say "Thank you" to him to his face. Whenever I meet with such a thing I will do the same as he did for me and I'll pass on the kindness to others.

<question>:
In which part of the newspaper are you most likely to find this passage?

<options>:
A Real life story.
B Drivers' world
C Health Report.
D School Experience.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
On a particular Monday morning I was standing waiting for the train and suddenly felt dizzy. I didn't eat much over the weekend because I moved into a new place and was very busy. It looked as if I had drunk too much wine, and suddenly the world began to sway and then went black. All I heard was "Oh my god, she's falling." The next thing I remembered was that the EMT  was asking me my name. I was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. It turned out that I was too tired. The EMT came to check on me before I left.
   He told me that a gentleman at the station waiting for the train saw me fall on the track when the train was coming in. He immediately got to my side and made sure that everyone kept back. He got the conductor's attention and the train stopped, and told others in the station to call 911. I was told that he stayed with me until the ambulance arrived. I asked the EMT if he had the gentleman's name or address but he said no, he said the gentleman left the hospital without a word.
   I don't know who this gentleman is but if he reads this article and remembers a young lady fainting at the train station, I'd like him to get in touch with me and I will say "Thank you" to him to his face. Whenever I meet with such a thing I will do the same as he did for me and I'll pass on the kindness to others.

<question>:
All the following are what the author wants to do EXCEPT  _  .

<options>:
A get in touch with the gentleman
B pass on the kindness to other people
C say "Thank you" to the gentleman
D give some money to the gentleman

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
On a particular Monday morning I was standing waiting for the train and suddenly felt dizzy. I didn't eat much over the weekend because I moved into a new place and was very busy. It looked as if I had drunk too much wine, and suddenly the world began to sway and then went black. All I heard was "Oh my god, she's falling." The next thing I remembered was that the EMT  was asking me my name. I was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. It turned out that I was too tired. The EMT came to check on me before I left.
   He told me that a gentleman at the station waiting for the train saw me fall on the track when the train was coming in. He immediately got to my side and made sure that everyone kept back. He got the conductor's attention and the train stopped, and told others in the station to call 911. I was told that he stayed with me until the ambulance arrived. I asked the EMT if he had the gentleman's name or address but he said no, he said the gentleman left the hospital without a word.
   I don't know who this gentleman is but if he reads this article and remembers a young lady fainting at the train station, I'd like him to get in touch with me and I will say "Thank you" to him to his face. Whenever I meet with such a thing I will do the same as he did for me and I'll pass on the kindness to others.

<question>:
We can infer from the passage that  _  .

<options>:
A the author had moved into a beautiful house
B the author won't know the gentleman's name
C the gentleman went to the hospital with the author
D at last the gentleman caught his train

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic   sweeping across America's farmland. It has little to do with the usual challenges, such as flood, rising fuel prices and crop-eating insects. The country's farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place. National agricultural census   figures show that the fastest-growing group of farmers is the part over 65. Merrigan is afraid the average age will be even higher when the 2012 statistics are completed.
Merrigan, a former college professor, is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in agriculture. Aside from trying to stop the graying of America's farmers, her work is made tougher by a recent blog posting that put agriculture at No. 1 on a list of "useless" college degrees. Top federal agriculture officials are talking about the posting, and it has the attention of agricultural organizations across the country.
"There couldn't be anything that's more incorrect," Merrigan said. "We know that there aren't enough qualified graduates to fill the jobs that are out there in American agriculture."
In addition, a growing world population that some experts predict will require 70% more food production by 2050, she said.
"I truly believe we're at a golden age of agriculture. Global demand is at an all-time record high, and global supplies are at all-time record lows," said Matt Rush, director of the Texas Farm Bureau. "Production costs are going to be valuable enough that younger people are going to have the opportunity to be involved in agriculture. "
The Department of Agriculture has programs aimed at developing more farmers and at increasing interest in locally grown food. The National Young Farmers' Coalition has also been pushing for state and federal policy changes to make it easier for new farmers.
Ryan Best, president of Future Farmers of America, has been living out of a suitcase, traveling the country and visiting with high school students about careers in agriculture. The 21-year-old Best hopes his message --that this is a new time in agriculture-- will motivate the next generation
. "Never before have we had the innovations   in technology which have led to agriculture in this country being the most efficient it has ever been," he said. "There's really a place for everybody to fit in. "

<question>:
What is the new challenge to American agriculture?

<options>:
A Fewer and older farmers.
B Higher fuel prices.
C More natural disasters.
D Lower agricultural output.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic   sweeping across America's farmland. It has little to do with the usual challenges, such as flood, rising fuel prices and crop-eating insects. The country's farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place. National agricultural census   figures show that the fastest-growing group of farmers is the part over 65. Merrigan is afraid the average age will be even higher when the 2012 statistics are completed.
Merrigan, a former college professor, is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in agriculture. Aside from trying to stop the graying of America's farmers, her work is made tougher by a recent blog posting that put agriculture at No. 1 on a list of "useless" college degrees. Top federal agriculture officials are talking about the posting, and it has the attention of agricultural organizations across the country.
"There couldn't be anything that's more incorrect," Merrigan said. "We know that there aren't enough qualified graduates to fill the jobs that are out there in American agriculture."
In addition, a growing world population that some experts predict will require 70% more food production by 2050, she said.
"I truly believe we're at a golden age of agriculture. Global demand is at an all-time record high, and global supplies are at all-time record lows," said Matt Rush, director of the Texas Farm Bureau. "Production costs are going to be valuable enough that younger people are going to have the opportunity to be involved in agriculture. "
The Department of Agriculture has programs aimed at developing more farmers and at increasing interest in locally grown food. The National Young Farmers' Coalition has also been pushing for state and federal policy changes to make it easier for new farmers.
Ryan Best, president of Future Farmers of America, has been living out of a suitcase, traveling the country and visiting with high school students about careers in agriculture. The 21-year-old Best hopes his message --that this is a new time in agriculture-- will motivate the next generation
. "Never before have we had the innovations   in technology which have led to agriculture in this country being the most efficient it has ever been," he said. "There's really a place for everybody to fit in. "

<question>:
Why is Merrigan visiting universities across the country?

<options>:
A To draw federal agriculture officials' attention.
B To select qualified agriculture graduates.
C To clarify a recent blog posting.
D To talk more students into farming careers.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Deputy Agriculture Secretary Kathleen Merrigan sees an epidemic   sweeping across America's farmland. It has little to do with the usual challenges, such as flood, rising fuel prices and crop-eating insects. The country's farmers are getting older, and there are fewer people standing in line to take their place. National agricultural census   figures show that the fastest-growing group of farmers is the part over 65. Merrigan is afraid the average age will be even higher when the 2012 statistics are completed.
Merrigan, a former college professor, is making stops at universities across the country in hopes of encouraging more students to think about careers in agriculture. Aside from trying to stop the graying of America's farmers, her work is made tougher by a recent blog posting that put agriculture at No. 1 on a list of "useless" college degrees. Top federal agriculture officials are talking about the posting, and it has the attention of agricultural organizations across the country.
"There couldn't be anything that's more incorrect," Merrigan said. "We know that there aren't enough qualified graduates to fill the jobs that are out there in American agriculture."
In addition, a growing world population that some experts predict will require 70% more food production by 2050, she said.
"I truly believe we're at a golden age of agriculture. Global demand is at an all-time record high, and global supplies are at all-time record lows," said Matt Rush, director of the Texas Farm Bureau. "Production costs are going to be valuable enough that younger people are going to have the opportunity to be involved in agriculture. "
The Department of Agriculture has programs aimed at developing more farmers and at increasing interest in locally grown food. The National Young Farmers' Coalition has also been pushing for state and federal policy changes to make it easier for new farmers.
Ryan Best, president of Future Farmers of America, has been living out of a suitcase, traveling the country and visiting with high school students about careers in agriculture. The 21-year-old Best hopes his message --that this is a new time in agriculture-- will motivate the next generation
. "Never before have we had the innovations   in technology which have led to agriculture in this country being the most efficient it has ever been," he said. "There's really a place for everybody to fit in. "

<question>:
According to Matt Rush, American agriculture will provide opportunities for younger people because    _   .

<options>:
A the government will cover production costs
B global food supplies will be even lower
C investment in agriculture will be profitable
D America will increase its food export

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Are you willing to work for a robot boss? Sorry if your answer is "no", because it will be common in the near future, according to the researchers from the Oxford.
A third of British jobs are at "high risk" of being replaced by robots in the next 20 years, the research by Deloitte, the Oxford Martin School and the University of Oxford found.
Wired magazine went further. "It may be hard to believe, but before the end of this century, 70 percent of today's jobs will be replaced by automation ," said the magazine in 2012.
Of course, people being replaced by robots is not recent news. Robots have been taking over labor work in factories and on farms for some time, lifting heavy boxes and picking fruit and vegetables. Next, cleaning jobs in offices and schools will be taken over by late-night robots, starting with easy-to-do floors and windows and eventually moving to toilets, Wired predicted.
But that's just the beginning. Even white-collar jobs are not safe. Any jobs dealing with sales and services or lots of paperwork could be taken over by robots in the future. For example, in the UK, library assistants have decreased by 48 percent since 2001, sales-related jobs have fallen by 40 percent, and travel agents by 44 percent, the Daily Mail reported.
But that doesn't mean that human beings will have nothing to do in the future. Instead, we need to update our skills. Digital know-how, management and creativity will be in greater need in the future, said British Consulting Company Deloitte.

<question>:
From the passage, we know the following jobs are disappearing except   _  .

<options>:
A workers in factories and farms
B library assistants
C salesmen
D architect

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
For many people, leisure time is an opportunity to get outdoors, have some fun and meet interesting people. Add two pieces of advanced 21stcentury technology -- global positioning system (GPS) devices and the Internet -- to get "geocaching".
The word geocaching comes from "geo" (earth) and "cache" (hidden storage). Geocachers log onto a website to find information about the location of a cache -- usually a waterproof plastic box containing small items such as toys and CDs -- along with a notebook where "finders" can enter comments and learn about the cache "owner", the person who created and hid the cache. Finders may take any of the items in the cache but are expected to replace them with something of similar value. They then visit the website again and write a message to the owner.
Geocaching became possible on May 1, 2000, when a satellite system developed by the U.S. Department of Defense was made public. Using an inexpensive GPS device, anyone on earth can send a signal to the satellites and receive information about their position. This is basically a high-tech version of orienteering, the traditional pastime which uses maps and compasses instead of GPS to determine one's location.
Geocachers are a very considerate group. Owners carefully choose a cache's location to give finders an enjoyable experience, such as a beautiful view or a good campsite. They also consider the environmental impact of their cache since it could result in an increased number of visitors to an area. As for the content of the caches, owners and finders must only use items that are suitable for the whole family, as caches are found by geocachers of all ages.

<question>:
According to the passage, geocaching is   _  .

<options>:
A an outdoor leisure activity
B a new type of technology
C a game used to teach geography
D a program to protect environment

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
For many people, leisure time is an opportunity to get outdoors, have some fun and meet interesting people. Add two pieces of advanced 21stcentury technology -- global positioning system (GPS) devices and the Internet -- to get "geocaching".
The word geocaching comes from "geo" (earth) and "cache" (hidden storage). Geocachers log onto a website to find information about the location of a cache -- usually a waterproof plastic box containing small items such as toys and CDs -- along with a notebook where "finders" can enter comments and learn about the cache "owner", the person who created and hid the cache. Finders may take any of the items in the cache but are expected to replace them with something of similar value. They then visit the website again and write a message to the owner.
Geocaching became possible on May 1, 2000, when a satellite system developed by the U.S. Department of Defense was made public. Using an inexpensive GPS device, anyone on earth can send a signal to the satellites and receive information about their position. This is basically a high-tech version of orienteering, the traditional pastime which uses maps and compasses instead of GPS to determine one's location.
Geocachers are a very considerate group. Owners carefully choose a cache's location to give finders an enjoyable experience, such as a beautiful view or a good campsite. They also consider the environmental impact of their cache since it could result in an increased number of visitors to an area. As for the content of the caches, owners and finders must only use items that are suitable for the whole family, as caches are found by geocachers of all ages.

<question>:
How can finders learn about the cache owners?

<options>:
A By meeting them.
B By going to a website.
C From the notebook.
D From the satellite.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
For many people, leisure time is an opportunity to get outdoors, have some fun and meet interesting people. Add two pieces of advanced 21stcentury technology -- global positioning system (GPS) devices and the Internet -- to get "geocaching".
The word geocaching comes from "geo" (earth) and "cache" (hidden storage). Geocachers log onto a website to find information about the location of a cache -- usually a waterproof plastic box containing small items such as toys and CDs -- along with a notebook where "finders" can enter comments and learn about the cache "owner", the person who created and hid the cache. Finders may take any of the items in the cache but are expected to replace them with something of similar value. They then visit the website again and write a message to the owner.
Geocaching became possible on May 1, 2000, when a satellite system developed by the U.S. Department of Defense was made public. Using an inexpensive GPS device, anyone on earth can send a signal to the satellites and receive information about their position. This is basically a high-tech version of orienteering, the traditional pastime which uses maps and compasses instead of GPS to determine one's location.
Geocachers are a very considerate group. Owners carefully choose a cache's location to give finders an enjoyable experience, such as a beautiful view or a good campsite. They also consider the environmental impact of their cache since it could result in an increased number of visitors to an area. As for the content of the caches, owners and finders must only use items that are suitable for the whole family, as caches are found by geocachers of all ages.

<question>:
Which of the following is NOT used in geocaching?

<options>:
A A GPS device.
B A compass.
C A plastic container.
D The Internet.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
For many people, leisure time is an opportunity to get outdoors, have some fun and meet interesting people. Add two pieces of advanced 21stcentury technology -- global positioning system (GPS) devices and the Internet -- to get "geocaching".
The word geocaching comes from "geo" (earth) and "cache" (hidden storage). Geocachers log onto a website to find information about the location of a cache -- usually a waterproof plastic box containing small items such as toys and CDs -- along with a notebook where "finders" can enter comments and learn about the cache "owner", the person who created and hid the cache. Finders may take any of the items in the cache but are expected to replace them with something of similar value. They then visit the website again and write a message to the owner.
Geocaching became possible on May 1, 2000, when a satellite system developed by the U.S. Department of Defense was made public. Using an inexpensive GPS device, anyone on earth can send a signal to the satellites and receive information about their position. This is basically a high-tech version of orienteering, the traditional pastime which uses maps and compasses instead of GPS to determine one's location.
Geocachers are a very considerate group. Owners carefully choose a cache's location to give finders an enjoyable experience, such as a beautiful view or a good campsite. They also consider the environmental impact of their cache since it could result in an increased number of visitors to an area. As for the content of the caches, owners and finders must only use items that are suitable for the whole family, as caches are found by geocachers of all ages.

<question>:
Which of the following is true according to the passage?

<options>:
A Most geocachers are adults.
B Any item can be placed in the caches.
C The caches should be put in a remote place.
D Geocachers try to avoid damaging the environment.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Lawmakers in the United States have expanded an investigation into the use of location-tracking systems on mobile devices. The action follows recent reports about the storing of information on the Apple iPhone. Some people consider location tracking to be a threat to personal privacy and security.
Allan Friedman, the research director, says, "All wireless companies do some location tracking as part of their networks. This information is usually stored by the companies, not the devices, and there are laws to protect it. Law enforcement  agencies, for example, have to have a fairly high standard before it can access that data. And the phone company is also prohibited from selling that information.
Now, two researchers report that location tracking information is being stored directly on Apple devices. They said Apple's newest operating systems gather global positioning system and timestamp information. The information is stored on the device in a file that is also uploaded   to any computer that the device is connected to. The researchers say the information is available to anyone who has access to the device or computer.
Allan Friedman says, "This raises additional concerns. There's the idea that because it's on my phone and on my computer, rogue applications  that I pay for or that I'm tricked into downloading may be able to access this data and somehow misuse it."
Apple says it is "not tracking the location of your iPhone". It is simply keeping a database of Wi-Fi hotspots and cell phone towers near the user's location. This information is meant to help the iPhone quickly find its location when needed.
Letters have been sent to some of the leading mobile device developers, including Apple and Google. The letters asked for more information about their location tracking systems. Allan Friedman calls this an important start to strengthening privacy laws. He says, "There aren't strong controls over things like location information, what they are doing with it, how long they are keeping it. And perhaps the most important question is, is my location data with other facts about me?"

<question>:
Why did American lawmakers investigate the use of location-tracking systems on cell-phones?

<options>:
A Because the systems can store users' information
B Because many users have suffered loss after using them.
C Because it is thought to threaten users' privacy.
D Because many reporters have shown the problem of the systems.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Lawmakers in the United States have expanded an investigation into the use of location-tracking systems on mobile devices. The action follows recent reports about the storing of information on the Apple iPhone. Some people consider location tracking to be a threat to personal privacy and security.
Allan Friedman, the research director, says, "All wireless companies do some location tracking as part of their networks. This information is usually stored by the companies, not the devices, and there are laws to protect it. Law enforcement  agencies, for example, have to have a fairly high standard before it can access that data. And the phone company is also prohibited from selling that information.
Now, two researchers report that location tracking information is being stored directly on Apple devices. They said Apple's newest operating systems gather global positioning system and timestamp information. The information is stored on the device in a file that is also uploaded   to any computer that the device is connected to. The researchers say the information is available to anyone who has access to the device or computer.
Allan Friedman says, "This raises additional concerns. There's the idea that because it's on my phone and on my computer, rogue applications  that I pay for or that I'm tricked into downloading may be able to access this data and somehow misuse it."
Apple says it is "not tracking the location of your iPhone". It is simply keeping a database of Wi-Fi hotspots and cell phone towers near the user's location. This information is meant to help the iPhone quickly find its location when needed.
Letters have been sent to some of the leading mobile device developers, including Apple and Google. The letters asked for more information about their location tracking systems. Allan Friedman calls this an important start to strengthening privacy laws. He says, "There aren't strong controls over things like location information, what they are doing with it, how long they are keeping it. And perhaps the most important question is, is my location data with other facts about me?"

<question>:
Allan Friedman believes that   _  .

<options>:
A wireless companies focus on personal privacy.
B people are forbidden to get access to private data at will
C phone companies may sell private information secretly
D customers may ask wireless companies to locate their tracking

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Lawmakers in the United States have expanded an investigation into the use of location-tracking systems on mobile devices. The action follows recent reports about the storing of information on the Apple iPhone. Some people consider location tracking to be a threat to personal privacy and security.
Allan Friedman, the research director, says, "All wireless companies do some location tracking as part of their networks. This information is usually stored by the companies, not the devices, and there are laws to protect it. Law enforcement  agencies, for example, have to have a fairly high standard before it can access that data. And the phone company is also prohibited from selling that information.
Now, two researchers report that location tracking information is being stored directly on Apple devices. They said Apple's newest operating systems gather global positioning system and timestamp information. The information is stored on the device in a file that is also uploaded   to any computer that the device is connected to. The researchers say the information is available to anyone who has access to the device or computer.
Allan Friedman says, "This raises additional concerns. There's the idea that because it's on my phone and on my computer, rogue applications  that I pay for or that I'm tricked into downloading may be able to access this data and somehow misuse it."
Apple says it is "not tracking the location of your iPhone". It is simply keeping a database of Wi-Fi hotspots and cell phone towers near the user's location. This information is meant to help the iPhone quickly find its location when needed.
Letters have been sent to some of the leading mobile device developers, including Apple and Google. The letters asked for more information about their location tracking systems. Allan Friedman calls this an important start to strengthening privacy laws. He says, "There aren't strong controls over things like location information, what they are doing with it, how long they are keeping it. And perhaps the most important question is, is my location data with other facts about me?"

<question>:
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

<options>:
A Apple denies that it tracks the location of users.
B The researchers may misunderstand the Apple's systems.
C The global positioning system is to blame for rogue applications.
D The iPhone can quickly find its location by using its user's information.

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Thursday, December 30, 2004 (prefix = st1 /New Delhi):
The international aid agency, Red Cross has warned that the toll  in the tsunami  disaster could go up to 1,00,000.
The official figures of those confirmed  dead is 80,000. Of these Indonesia accounts for the most at 45,268, followed by Sri Lanka with the toll at 22,493.
As many as 6,974 people have been killed in India, with 1,829 dead inThailand, 100 inSomalia, 90 inMyanmar, 67 inMaldives, 65 inMalaysia, 10 inTanzania, three inSeychelles, two inBangladeshand one person killed inKenya.
Rising figures
According to unofficial estimates, the death toll could be over 10,000 in India.
The hardest hit has been the Andaman and Nicobar islands, with over 3,000 dead.
Though the official government figure for Car Nicobar is 124, that number could go up dramatically with thousands more still missing.
In Tamil Nadu, according to official estimates, over 6000 are dead, with 3500 in Nagapattinam alone.

<question>:
According to the news, the second largest number of those confirmed death is in   _   .

<options>:
A Indonesia
B Malaysia
C Sri Lanka
D Thailand

<answer>:


Read the following passage and questions, then choose the right answer from options, the answer should be one of A, B, C, D.

<passage>:
Thursday, December 30, 2004 (prefix = st1 /New Delhi):
The international aid agency, Red Cross has warned that the toll  in the tsunami  disaster could go up to 1,00,000.
The official figures of those confirmed  dead is 80,000. Of these Indonesia accounts for the most at 45,268, followed by Sri Lanka with the toll at 22,493.
As many as 6,974 people have been killed in India, with 1,829 dead inThailand, 100 inSomalia, 90 inMyanmar, 67 inMaldives, 65 inMalaysia, 10 inTanzania, three inSeychelles, two inBangladeshand one person killed inKenya.
Rising figures
According to unofficial estimates, the death toll could be over 10,000 in India.
The hardest hit has been the Andaman and Nicobar islands, with over 3,000 dead.
Though the official government figure for Car Nicobar is 124, that number could go up dramatically with thousands more still missing.
In Tamil Nadu, according to official estimates, over 6000 are dead, with 3500 in Nagapattinam alone.

<question>:
In this report, there are   _   countries suffering from this tsunami disaster.

<options>:
A ten
B eleven
C twelve
D eight

<answer>: