At Japan's Studio Ghibli, which has produced extraordinary animated films since 1985, the best-known figure has always been one of the company's founders, Hayao Miyazaki. But an equally key figure is co-founder Isao Takahata, who has recently made a new feature, The Tale of Princess Kagnya. It is an unforgettable feature with an unusual hand-drawn aesthetic . The title character is a tiny baby girl who appears in a bamboo plant. She is found by a woodcutter, who takes her home and brings her up. He believes the little girl is a princess, and sets about preparing what he regards as a suitable world for her. This original story is the oldest work of fiction in Japan; every child knows it in its simplified folktale form. "It is a fascinating story with elements of wonder, humour, and sorrow,'' Takahata says, "but these three elements are scattered about." The chief challenge for anyone trying to adapt it is that "we are completely unable to comprehend what was in the heart of Princess Kaguya. Because of this, despite its being well known, few people consider it interesting. There have been several attempts at making a film out of the story, but they ended up being abandoned." He was connected with one of these attempts, but no one paid any attention to his concept. "Fifty-five years later, I thought my concept was still appealing, and used it as a basis for turning the story into a feature film." His concept involves the princess's origins, her expectations and her access to "the full range of human emotions". To realize his vision, Takahata says, "I needed to take the extremely individualistic brushwork and key designs of Osamu Tanabe and Kazuo Oga, two brilliantly talented artists, and have them permeate throughout the film. The two of them drew many pictures, but they weren't nearly enough. The most challenging part was to have all the other animation staff copy their styles in a free and easy way." The Tale of Princess Kaguya has been released, and people are saying that the two founders, now in their... Why is it challenging to adapt the original story to a feature film according to the passage? A) Because people are in the dark about the feelings of Princess Kaguya. B) Because the story itself offers a combination of wonder, humour and sorrow. C) Because the story is too old to appeal to the audience nowadays. D) Because every Japanese has been familiar with the story ever since childhood
A


(Question)
For a while, I wrote a "Tuesday tip" on my blog Lyonsdenmom.com. It was about easy week-night dinners, organizing parties or perhaps finding time out for friends. About a year ago, I ran out of tips. The truth? As a busy working mom with five busy kids, I probably do have a few tips to share. But honestly, the bar is set pretty low---on a recent day when I was walking our dog, a stranger who knew I had five kids said, "Wow! You have a dog, too?! And it even looks like you showered today!" Yes, it's true, I shower. Not every day, but most days. See, I'm telling the truth. Honestly, in this cold winter, I'm probably taking a shower more to warm up than to clean up. Other funny truths? I'm tired. In fact, for the past year, I've been too tired to type up any update on our life here in Lyons Den. It's hard to arrange a career with all these kids. Although folks just believe that it must be so much easier now since all the kids are in school, I'm here to tell you, it's not. It's really not. When I get home from work, I'm often tearfully greeted by five kids and five homework folders filled with math facts, invitations, notices and artwork. All those happy smiling faces I share on Facebook are real. We are a happy family---thank God for that! But we're not always smiling, and even in those rare best times when I can get all five kids looking at the camera, the odds would be that one of them isn't wearing underwear, one is pinching   someone behind the scenes and one is just perfectly pronouncing "Damn!" So, less perfectly-posed pictures, but more telling the truth. Even if only on Tuesday. Which of the following is true about the author? A) She can't get along well with her neighbors. B) She's living a happy life with her family C) She likes to have a shower every day. D) She has already closed her blog now.
(Answer)
B


Ques: Thanksgiving Day is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It is the most traditional American holiday. The first Thanksgiving Day was held in Massachusetts in 1621. After a year of great hardship, the colonist wanted to give thanks to God for their first harvest. They invited their Indian thanks. But it wasn't a regular national holiday until President Lincoln declared that the last Thursday in November would be there after Thanksgiving Day in 1863. It is a day of family reunion and it is customary to invite friends to share the meal. In some large cities, there are important football games that are played on Thanksgiving Day. For Americans, Thanksgiving Day is one of the few days of the year when the entire family gets together. Everyone is glad to see everyone else and there is a very busy exchange of greetings. The women soon disappear into the kitchen to help prepare the dinner. The men, meanwhile, settle down to watch a football game on television, or to discuss business or polities. If weather permits, some of the more athletic men go outside to play ball games with the children. Then everyone will sit down to dinner, in which traditional Thanksgiving foods such as stuffed turkey, sweet potatoes, chestnuts, and pumpkin pies are served. After dinner, people will sit around and talk. Which of the following statements about Thanksgiving Day is NOT true? A) It falls on the same day in November every year. B) It is the most traditional American holiday C) It is a regular national holiday. D) It is a day of family reunion.
Ans: A


A young woman carrying a three-year-old child got on a bus. The conductor hurried to give her a warm welcome and then kindly asked the other passengers to make more room for the woman and her child. On seeing this, people began to talk. "You know this conductor used to be very rude. Now suddenly he has changed his bad behavior , "said a middle-aged man. "Yes, he should be praised and we must write a letter to the company," said a second passenger. "That's right," another lady said, "I wish a newspaper reporter were here so that more people could learn from this conductor. " Just then a gentleman who looked like a teacher turned to the conductor and said , "Excuse me, but can I know your name, please? Your excellent service must be praised..." Before he could open his mouth, the three-year-old child sitting on the young woman's lap interrupted, "I know his name. I call Dad." It is clear from the story that the conductor    _   . A) has changed his attitude towards his work B) has now been kind and polite to all passengers C) has not changed his rude behavior to passengers D) has now been kind and polite to women with children

C