Ques:How to describe the rising philosophy of the day ? I'd say it is data-ism . We now have the ability to gather huge amounts of data . This ability seems to carry with it certain cultural assumptions--that everything that can be measured should be measured ; that data is a transparent and reliable lens that allows us to filter out emotionalism and ideology ; that data will help us do remarkable things--like foretell the future . At the outset let me celebrate two things data does really well . First , it's really good at exposing when our intuitive view of reality is wrong . For example , nearly every person who runs for political office has an intuitive sense that they can powerfully influence their odds of winning the election if they can just raise and spend more money . But this is largely wrong . After the 2006 election , Sean Trende constructed a graph comparing the incumbent campaign spending advantages with their eventual victory . There was barely any relationship between more spending and a bigger victory . Likewise , many teachers have an intuitive sense that different students have different learning styles : some are verbal and some are visual , some focus on details and some on whole . Teachers imagine they will improve outcomes if they tailor their presentations to each student . But there's no evidence to support this either . Second , data can clarify patterns of behavior we haven't yet noticed . For example , I've always assumed people who frequently use words like " I , " " me , " and " mine " are probably more self-centered than people who don't . But as James Pennebaker of the University of Texas notes in his book , The Secret Life of Pronouns , when people are feeling confident , they are focused on the task at hand , not on themselves . High-status , confident people use fewer " I " words , not more . In sum , the data revolution is giving us wonderful ways to understand the present and the past . Will it transform our ability to predict and make decisions about the future ? We'll see . What does James Pennebaker reveal in The Secret Life of Pronouns ? A) The importance of using pronouns properly . B) Repeated use of first-person pronouns by self-centered people . C) Frequent use of pronouns and future tense by young people . D) A pattern in confident people's use of pronouns .

Ans:D
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Ques:Hiring a self-drive car really adds to the enjoyment of your holiday. There are so many interesting places to visit, and if you enjoy seeing more than just the city center, there's no better way to explore than by car.          HIRE CHARGES: What's included    (a)Unlimited mileage.    (b)Expenses on oil, maintenance and repairs, which will be repaid on production of receipts.    (c)Full insurance cover but exclusive of personal accident(see below)and contents. What's not included (a)Personal accident insurance.     (b)Garaging, petrol, parking            One bitterly cold day, a snowstorm blew into our area. Needing firewood, quickly set out with my best friend, Bruce, to look for a tree to cut down. I was glad to have Bruce along. Cutting down a tree in a snowstorm can be dangerous. So it was important to have a friend who could warn me of dangers.          When I chose a big 23-meter-tall tree and prepared to cut it down, my best friend suddenly warned me,"Don't cut down that tree! It's too close to the power line!"I wasn't sure about it. So I becided to  _ his warning. I wanted to finish the job quickly and go home. So I began cutting down the tree. When the tree fell, there was no longer any doubt whether my friend was right.          The tree caught the power line, bringing it to the ground. I considered cutting the tree off the line. After all, electricity can't travel through wood, so I could safely remove the tree. As I reached out my finger to touch the tree, pain ran up my arm and through my head. I had been shocked!          After I returned home and told my mother what happened, she quickly called the power company. Workers from the power company soon arrived on the scene. One of them asked if I had touched the tree, and when I told him I had, his face turned pale.          "You should have been killed,"he said.          So why am I still alive? It was my boots that saved my life.          Within two hours, the workers removed the tree. Soon  _ --but not my mother.          Even though she was... The Underlined sentence"the snowstorm calmed down--but not my mother"means"_". A) my mother was still angry with me for not listening to my friend's warning B) my mother was still in fear of the terrible accident C) my mother was still comforting me D) my mother was still worried about my safety

Ans:A
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Ques:Nowadays the problem of the generation gap is becoming more and more serious. Poor relationship between parents and their children are very common. Whether we like it or not, our parents are responsible for us at least until we're out of high school. So rather than get upset about that fact, maybe we should focus on some ways to make our relationship better. The best way, in my opinion, is to learn to really communicate with my parents. When I find myself arguing with my mom and dad, I try to stop. If I can manage to stop myself from talking, I usually find that I can calm down quickly. I guess I'm usually acting out of emotion rather than logic . But if I can stop arguing for a minute, it seems that my opinion changes and I start to realize that I'm a bit childish. Emotionally I may still be upset, but logically I understand that yelling  and fighting surely won't make things better. Once I've stopped arguing, I look at my parents in the eye. You'd be amazed at how much easier it is to communicate with your parents when you've actually looking at them. Looking away doesn't do much of anything except for giving them the impression that I'm not listening or that I don't care. It's much easier to see things eye to eye when you're physically seeing them eye to eye. Finally, I listen to what they're saying (or at least I try). Communication can't happen unless both sides hear and listen to each other. There is nothing wrong with my hearing, but that doesn't mean I always listen to the sounds that people are making. When I argue with my parents, I can physically hear what they're saying without mentally listening to it. Whether I admit it or not, my parents' experience can actually help them give me some pretty sound advice at times. I don't always agree with them, but I think it's safe to say that it has truly helped our relationship in the long run. Parents and children can communicate only when  _  . A) both sides stop yelling and fighting B) both sides start thinking what to say next C) both sides agree with each other D) both sides can listen to each other

Ans:
D
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