(Question)
When it comes to film, people usually favor good over evil, focus on the main characters and ignore the supporting characters. But when it comes to the Minions  , these conventions go right out of the window. Originally comedic background characters in the Despicable Me series, these yellow pill-shaped screwballs  have totally stolen the show. This summer the characters appeared in their own self-titled movie in theaters abroad, having the second biggest opening weekend of all time for an animated film, according to USA Today. Recently, McDonald's has been including Minion toys with kids' meals in some regions, causing loyal fans to go to the restaurant to collect them all. Related video games, clothing, toys and other merchandise are sweeping the world. The movie's huge popularity even surprised its writers. "We never knew the Minions were going to be so popular. It just became a force of nature," the film's co-writer, Cinco Paul, told the Los Angeles Times. So, what makes the banana-loving Minions a big hit? For many, the most attractive is obviously their cuteness. Their simple, graphic   nature can easily transcend cultures and age groups. "Even children can draw them", Los Angeles Times reporter, Rebecca Keegan, wrote. But there's more than just cuteness. US entertainment website, HitFix, explains that their way of communicating makes the creatures infectious   as well. They largely speak in nonsense words. But it seems everyone can understand them through their exaggerated movements and expressions. They desire nothing more than to serve their most despicable master, Felonious Gru. And this evil characteristic strikes a chord   with humans. "Perhaps we love Minions because they remind us of ourselves," Huffington Post associate Web editor, Sara Boboltz, wrote. What has McDonald's done to attract customers? A) It has made its food look like Minions. B) It has made Minion video games to show to customers. C) It is giving some Minion clothes to customers as gifts. D) It is offering Minion toys to attract fans.
(Answer)
D


(Question)
Many years ago,a French naturalist,the Count de Buffon,wrote some books about natural history.The books were a great success even though some critics did not like them.Some critics said,"Count Buffon is more of a poet than a scientist." Thomas Jefferson did not like what the Count had said about the natural wonders of the New World.It seemed to Jefferson that the Count had spoken of natural wonders in America as if they were unimportant. This troubled Thomas Jefferson.He too was a naturalist,as well as a farmer,inventor,historian,writer and politician.He had seen the natural wonders of Europe.To him,they were no more important than those of the New World. In 1788,Thomas Jefferson wrote about his home state,Virginia.While writing,he thought of its natural beauty and then of the words of the Count de Buffon.At that moment.Jefferson created a new word--belittle.He said."The Count de Buffon believes that nature belittles her productions on this side of the Atlantic." Noah Webster,the American word expert,liked this word.He put it in this English language dictionary in 1806,"Belittle--to make small,unimportant." Americans had already accepted Jefferson's word and started to use it.In 1797,the Independent Chronicle newspaper used the word to describe a politician the paper supported."He is an honorable man,"the paper wrote,"so let the opposition try to belittle him as much as they please." In 1872,a famous American word expert decided that the time had come to kill this word.He said,"Belittle has no chance of becoming English.And as more critical writers of America,like those of Britain,feel no need of it,the sooner it is forgotten,the better." This expert failed to kill the word.Today.belittle is used where the English language is spoken. Why did Thomas Jefferson disagree with the Count de Buffon? A) The Count said something silly about the Atlantic. B) The Count wasn't a true scientist in natural history. C) The Count was a poet from a different country. D) The Count belittled the natural wonders in America.
(Answer)
D


(Question)
At Denver there was an crowd of passengers into the coaches  on the eastbound B. & M. express. In one coach there sat a very pretty young woman dressed in elegant taste and surrounded by all the luxurious comforts of an experienced traveler. Among the newcomers were two young men, one of handsome presence with a bold, frank face expression and manner; the other a ruffled, glum-faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. The two were handcuffed  together. As they passed down the aisle of the coach the only available seat offered was a reversed one facing the attractive young woman. Here the linked couple seated themselves. The young woman's glance fell upon them with a distant, swift disinterest; then with a lovely smile brightening her face and a tender pink tingeing(,) her rounded cheeks, she held out a little gray-gloved hand. When she spoke her voice, full, sweet, and deliberate, proclaimed that its owner was accustomed to speak and be heard. "Well, Mr. Easton, if you will make me speak first, I suppose I must. Don't you ever recognize old friends when you meet them in the West?" The younger man aroused himself sharply at the sound of her voice, seemed to struggle with a slight embarrassment which he threw off instantly, and then clasped her fingers with his left hand. "It's Miss Fairchild," he said, with a smile. "I'll ask you to excuse the other hand; "it's otherwise engaged just at present." He slightly raised his right hand, bound at the wrist by the shining "bracelet" to the left one of his companion. The glad look in the girl's eyes slowly changed to a bewildered horror. The glow faded from her cheeks. Her lips parted in a vague(,), relaxing distress. Easton, with a little laugh, as if amused, was about to speak again when the other forestalled him. The glum-faced man had been watching the girl's face expression with veiled glances from his keen, shrewd eyes. "You'll excuse me for speaking, miss, but, I see you're acquainted with(,) the officer here. If you'll ask him to speak a word for me when... Which of the following can NOT be inferred from the passage? A) Miss Fairchild was an ambassador B) Easton was an officer with his prisoner C) the glum-faced was considerate and careful D) Easton had been trying to make a big fortune in the West
(Answer)

B