"The world's oceans are slowly getting more acidic." say scientists. The researchers from California report that the change is taking place in response to higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  The lowering of the waters' PH value is not great at the moment but could cause a serious threat to current ocean life if it continues, they warn. Ken Caldeira and Michael Wickett, from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, report their concerns in the journal Nature. Increasing use of oil fuels means more carbon dioxide is going into the air, and most of it will eventually be absorbed by seawater. Once in the water, it reacts to form carbonic acid. Scientists believe that the oceans have already become slightly more acidic over the last century.  These researchers have tried to predict what will happen in the future by combining what we know about the history of the oceans with computer models of climate change. "This level of acidity will get much more extreme in the future if we continue releasing CO2into the atmosphere," said Dr Caldeira. "And we predict the amount of future acidity will exceed   anything we have seen over the last several hundred million years."  However, it is not  ly clear what that means for ocean life. Most organisms live near the surface, where the greatest PH change would be expected to occur, but deep-ocean life forms may be more sensitive to PH changes.Coral reefs and other organisms whose shells contain calcium carbonate   may be affected if the water's acidity levels keep going up, the team predict.  In recent years some people have suggested storing carbon dioxide from power stations in the deep ocean as a way of dealing with global warming.But Dr Caldeira said that such a strategy should now be re-considered. "Previously, most experts had looked at ocean absorption of carbon dioxide as a good thingbecause in releasing CO2into the atmosphere we warm the planet, and when CO2, is absorbed by the ocean, it reduces the amount of greenhouse warming." Most experts once believed storing carbon dioxide in the ocean would reduce   _  . A) the CO2absorbed by the ocean B) the amount of greenhouse warming C) the acidity of the ocean D) the gradual release of CO2
B


(Question)
Brief News Report Huiyin fire Huiyin Household Appliances Store on West Wenchang Road was damaged in a fire last night. The fire, which was discovered at about 11 o'clock, spread very quickly. Nobody was injured but tens of people had to be rescued from an upstairs room. A number of household appliances are believed to have been destroyed. It isn't known how the fire started. Road delays  Repair work started yesterday on the Grand Canal Road. The road is being resurfaced and there will be long delays. Drivers are asked to choose another way if possible. The work is expected to last two weeks. Next Sunday the road will be closed and traffic will be diverted  . Accident A woman was taken to hospital after her car collided   with a truck near Jiangdu Hotel yesterday. She was allowed home later after treatment. The road was blocked for an hour after the accident and the traffic had to be diverted. A policeman said afterwards, "The woman was lucky. She could have been killed." The woman injured in the traffic accident   _  . A) was still being questioned by the police B) is being controlled by the police C) had escaped in a car earlier in the day D) had a narrow escape
(Answer)
D


Ques: Old Behrman was a painter who lived on the ground floor of the apartment building. For years, he had always been planning to paint a work of art, but had never yet begun it. He earned a little money by serving as a model to artists who could not pay for a professional model. He was a fierce, little, old man who protected the two young women in the studio apartment above him.  Sue found Behrman in his room. In one area was a blank canvas   that had been waiting twenty-five years for the first line of paint. Sue told him about Johnsy and how she feared that her friend would float away like a leaf on the old ivy vine  climbing hopelessly up the outside block wall.  Old Behrman was angered at such an idea. "Are there people in the world with the foolishness to die because leaves drop off a vine? Why do you let that silly business come in her brain?" "She is very sick and weak," said Sue, "and the disease has left her mind full of strange ideas."  "This is not any place in which one so good as Miss Johnsy shall lie sick," yelled Behrman. "Some day I will paint a masterpiece, and we shall all go away."  Johnsy was sleeping when they went upstairs. Sue pulled the shade down to cover the window. She and Behrman went into the other room. They looked out a window fearfully at the ivy vine. Then they looked at each other without speaking. A cold rain was falling, mixed with snow.  The next morning, Sue awoke after an hour's sleep. She found Johnsy with wide-open eyes staring at the covered window. "Pull up the shade; I want to see," she ordered, quietly. Sue obeyed.  After the beating rain and fierce wind that blew through the night, there yet stood against the wall one ivy leaf. It was the last one on the vine. It was still dark green at the center. But its edges were color1ed with the yellow. It hung bravely from the branch about seven meters above the ground.  "It is the last one," said Johnsy. "I thought it would surely fail during the night. I heard the wind. It will fall today and I shall die at the same time."... Which of the following is the best title for this passage? A) Behrman's Masterpiece B) The Last Ivy Leaf C) Kind-hearted Behrman D) A Life-saving Painting
Ans: B


Here's an unusual story: a diamond ring was recently found in an egg. The magician , Liu Qian, discovered it, in front of an audience of millions at CCTV's Spring Festival Gala. Liu's magic tricks have made the centuries old art of magic fashionable once again, and made him the hottest magician in China. As a _ young magician from Taiwan, Liu is popular worldwide for his magic shows. Countries he has performed in include the United States, Japan, South Korea and the UK. Witnessing something impossible happen right before your eyes is the root of people's love for magic. Liu is known for his interaction  with his audiences. He has a unique understanding of showmanship  . "It is actually thinking, rather than one's manipulation skills, that is more important to achieving a successful magic show. We think carefully about how to design the shows creatively, to make them appear more intriguing ,"Liu said. Liu Qian's success dates back to his childhood. Born in 1976 in Taiwan, he found himself attracted to a magic toy in a shop when he was seven years old. At the age of 12, he won Taiwan's Youth Magic Contest, which was judged by the great American magician, David Copperfield. Yet, Liu never planned on becoming a professional magician. He studied Japanese literature at university and only hoped to be an amateur  magician in his spare time. However, his failure to find a decent job after graduation pushed him towards magic as a career. To refine  his performing skills, he has performed on streets, roads and fields, for pedestrians , policemen and farmers. "Street shows are the biggest challenge for us magicians. We have to deal with unexpected situations and tough crowds," Liu said. What is the key reason that Liu Qian decided to make magic his career? A) He was good at magic when he was young. B) He had won Taiwan's Youth Magic Contest. C) He couldn't find a decent job after graduation. D) He became an amateur magician in his spare time.

C