Problem: Passage 1 

The information Highway is the road that links computer users to a large number of on-line services; the Web, e-mail, and software, to mention just a few. Not long ago, the information Highway was a new road, with not many users. Now, everyone seems to want to take a drive, with over 30 million families connected worldwide. Not surprisingly, this well-traveled highway is starting to look like a well-traveled highway. Traffic jams can cause many serious problems, forcing the system to close down for repair. Naturally, accidents will happen on such a crowed road, and usually victims are some files, gone forever. Then, of course, there's Mr. Cool, with his new broad-band connection, who speeds down the highway faster than most of us can go. But don't trick yourself; he pays for that speeding. 

Passage 2 

Want to know more about global warming and how you can help prevent it? Doctor Herman Friedman, who is considered a leading expert on the subject, will speak at Grayson Hall next Friday. Friedman studied environmental science at three well-known universities around the world before becoming a professor in the subject. He has also traveled around the world observing environmental concerns. The gradual bleaching of the Grate Barrier Reef, which came into the public eye in 2002, in his latest interest. Signed copies of his colorful book, which was published just last month, will be on sale after his talk.
1. How many families are connected to this roadway?
2. Who has a new broad-band connection?
3. Is he going a lot quicker than we are?
4. But does that come with a cost?
5. Does is seem like everybody wants to travel this road?
6. Does the road need to shut down for repair sometimes?
7. Due to minor or major problems?
8. When wrecks occur, who vanishes?
9. When was the road new?
10. Who's giving a talk at Grayson Hall next Friday?
11. What's the main idea of the talk?
12. How many schools did that guy attend?
13. What did he major in?
14. Did he travel far?
15. What was he watching on those trips?
16. How long has his new book been on the shelves?
17. Is it plain and drab?
18. What's happening to the reef?
19. When did that hit the news?
20. Is that his newest worry?
Answer: 1. over 30 million
2. Mr. Cool
3. Yes
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. Yes
7. Major problems
8. usually some files
9. Not long ago
10. Doctor Herman Friedman
11. global warming and how you can help prevent it
12. three
13. environmental science
14. Yes
15. He was observing environmental concerns
16. It was published just last month
17. No
18. gradual bleaching
19. in 2002
20. Yes

Problem: CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

MOUNTAINEERING IN GENERAL. 

A week passed away, during which Nita was confined to bed, and the Count waited on her with the most tender solicitude. As their meals were sent to their rooms, it was not necessary for the latter to appear in the _salle-a-manger_ or the _salon_. He kept himself carefully out of sight, and intelligence of the invalid's progress was carried to their friends by Susan Quick, who was allowed to remain as sick-nurse, and who rejoiced in filling that office to one so amiable and uncomplaining as Nita. 

Of course, Lewis was almost irresistibly tempted to talk with Susan about her charge, but he felt the impropriety of such a proceeding, and refrained. Not so Gillie White. That sapient blue spider, sitting in his wonted chair, resplendent with brass buttons and brazen impudence, availed himself of every opportunity to perform an operation which he styled "pumping;" but Susan, although ready enough to converse freely on things in general, was judicious in regard to things particular. Whatever might have passed in the sick-room, the pumping only brought up such facts as that the Count was a splendid nurse as well as a loving father, and that he and his daughter were tenderly attached to each other. 

"Well, Susan," observed Gillie, with an approving nod, "I'm glad to hear wot you say, for it's my b'lief that tender attachments is the right sort o' thing. I've got one or two myself." 

"Indeed!" said Susan, "who for, I wonder?" 
1. Who is an invalid?
2. Where is she stuck?
3. How long has she been there?
4. Who is Susan Quick?
5. For who?
6. Where have they been eating?
7. Are there places the Count doesn't need to be?
8. Where?
9. Where did he stay?
10. Did they have friends?
11. How did they find out if Nita was getting better?
12. Who really wanted to ask about her?
13. Did he think that was proper?
14. So did he ask?
15. Is Nita easy to work with?
16. How does Susan feel about her job?
17. How is Gilie White described?
18. How often does he ask about Nita?
19. What did he call it?
20. Did Susan spill all the beans?
Answer: 1. Nita
2. bed
3. A week
4. sick-nurse
5. Nita
6. their rooms
7. Yes
8. _salle-a-manger_ or the _salon
9. He kept himself carefully out of sight,
10. Yes
11. by Susan Quick
12. Lewis
13. No
14. No
15. Yes
16. She rejoiced
17. sapient blue spider,
18. availed himself of every opportunity
19. pumping
20. No

Problem: Rome (CNN) -- The captain of the Costa Concordia did not "fall" into a lifeboat after the ship hit rocks, as he contends, a crew member testified. Instead, Francesco Schettino "jumped into the lifeboat," Stefano Iannelli said. 

Schettino is on trial in Grosseto on charges of manslaughter and abandoning ship after 32 people died in the shipwreck off the Tuscan island of Giglio on January 13, 2012. 

Iannelli, who was on the bridge when the ship hit the outcropping, testified that Schettino's reaction was, "What have I done?!" 

As part of his defense for the abandoning ship charge, Schettino has maintained that by the time he left the crippled vessel, the inclination made it impossible to stay on the ship. He told the court at a hearing in October that the ship was literally falling on top of him and he fell into the lifeboat. The ship ended up lying on its side. 

INTERACTIVE: How ill-fated cruise liner was raised from Italian seabed 

Iannelli, who followed Schettino off the ship, testified Monday that he did not see passengers when they left the vessel, even though more than 1,000 people were later rescued from the ship. In a taped conversation between the captain and the port authority in Livorno, the port authority ordered Schettino to "get back on board" while passengers were still being rescued from the other side of the ship. 

Schettino, who admits that he was in command when the ship veered off course and hit the rocks, also blames a malfunction of the ship's watertight doors for making the situation worse. His defense lawyers say that created a new emergency after the initial accident. 
1. who followed Schettino off the ship?
2. who was the captain?
3. when did the ship sink?
4. where did it sink?
5. how many died?
6. did Schettino fall into the lifeboat?
7. how did he get there?
8. did Stefano Iannelli see anyone when they left the vessel?
9. what did the ship hit?
10. of what?
11. was it an outcropping of bananas?
12. who was supposed to be in command?
13. did the ship hit soft sand after it veered off course?
14. what did it contact?
15. what possibly malfunctioned?
Answer:
1. Iannelli
2. Francesco Schettino
3. January 13, 2012
4. off the Tuscan island of Giglio
5. 32
6. no
7. jumped into it
8. no
9. an outcropping
10. of the Tuscan island of Giglio
11. no
12. Schettino
13. no
14. rocks
15. the ship's watertight doors