High-tech machines have made life easier for millions around the world. However, some people still prefer low-tech ways of doing things. Here's an example of why this is happening. You can microwave a frozen hamburger in 60 seconds. However, it won't taste as good as one you cook on the stove. And if you're in that much of a hurry, you probably won't take time to toast the bun. High-tech cooking saves time, but it doesn't make for better-tasting meals. Most people get their news from high-tech sources like television or the Internet. This has many advantages. For example, electronic news is more up to date than newspapers or magazines. It's also more exciting to see live and videotaped news events than photographs. However, newspapers and magazines have some important advantages. They give more background and details. They also let you read the parts that are important to you and skip the rest. Other high-tech timesavers have similar disadvantages. For examples, most people use the phone or e-mail to stay in touch with friends and family members who live in other places. But when you use the Internet or the phone, you don't always think carefully about what you are saying, and sometimes you forget the important things you want to communicate. Similarly, when you word-process a homework assignment instead of handwriting it, you can check your spelling electronically and put in fancy headings. However, some students are so busy with the computer that they don't pay enough attention to the actual words they are writing. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage? A) The writer likes high-tech cooking. B) Low-tech cooking produces better-tasting meals. C) High-tech news programs always keep you reading what is important to you. D) Handwritten homework is better than word-processed homework.
B


(Question)
The British are very polite and have good manners--they are never tired of saying "Thank you","I am sorry", or "Excuse me." They have good table manners. They enjoy their breakfasts and most of all the traditional tea around 4 or 5 o'clock. The normal working week has five days. Factory workers usually start at 8 am and offices, shops and schools open at 9 am. Workers have 3 weeks' holidays and professional workers(people with higher education ) have usually longer holidays (a month or more). Except these holidays they have public holidays: e.g. New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. An average Englishman like to live in his own house. Houses are made of red bricks, stone and wood. The house usually has from 4 to 6 rooms, two floors, small front and back gardens. On the ground floor there is a hall, a kitchen, a living room with a fireplace and on the first floor there are parents' and children's bedrooms and a bathroom. The prices of houses depend on the area--the most expensive are the houses in London and South England (about 200,000 pounds); smaller houses in other areas may cost about 50,000 pounds. Social Welfare--The National Health Service gives largely free treatment for everyone living in Britain. People can choose their family doctors. In case of emergency you can call the ambulance by dialing 999 from everywhere. Health centres are run by local authorities. About 7 percent of hospitals, dentists and family doctors work as private. There are about 130 daily and Sunday newspapers and a lot of weekly papers and magazines. The oldest newspaper is The Times. Other famous newspapers are Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, Financial Times, etc. If you are a student in Britain, when do you begin to go to school? A) At 6 am . B) At 9 am . C) At 8:00 am . D) At 9:30 am .
(Answer)
C


Ques: Many of us know that fast food is not good for us: it makes us fat and has twice the amount of salt an adult should eat. Moreover, you may not be aware that fast food may have a subliminal   effect on behavior, making people impatient even when they are not short of time, according to a new study published in the journal Psychological Science. "The unconscious goal of saving time embedded   in fast food may have the unexpected consequence of inducing   haste and impatience," the researchers claim. More strikingly, they found that the mere exposure   to fast food symbols "reduced people's willingness to save and led them to prefer immediate gain over greater future return". In the study, student volunteers were shown in rapid succession logos   from fast-food chains including McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and Subway. Participants preferred time-saving products like three-in-one skincare treatments rather than separate versions after seeing the logos. When asked whether they would accept a small sum of money immediately or a larger amount in a week's time, they again chose an instant reward after being exposed to the brands. "Fast food represents a culture of time efficiency   and instant gratification  ," said researcher Sanford DeVoe, professor of organizational behavior at Canada's Toronto University. "It is promoting a general sense of haste whether time is a relevant factor in the context   or not." The research findings suggest that if someone likes eating fast food, he or she will probably approach life   _  . A) in a friendly way B) in a calm way C) in a hurried way D) in a worried way
Ans: C


Ques: Researchers in London and Bristol have found that men are particularly likely to yield to depression if their partners are also depressed. The finding highlights the importance of paying attention to the partners of depressed mothers, as young children themselves are vulnerable   to social problems if both parents are depressed. Researchers in London and at the University of Bristol launched their study to investigate whether family structure affects the likelihood of depression in men around the time their child is born. They looked at men from traditional families, men with children from a previous relationship, men whose partners had children by a former partner, and men who were not living with their partners. All 7,108 participants filled out a questionnaire on depression, and answered questions about their age, education level and employment status. Details about the quality of their relationships with their partners, networks of friends and previous life events were also recorded. About 3.5 percent of the men and 13 percent of their partners suffered depression around the time their child was born. While men in stepfamilies or who were not living with their partners were twice as likely to get depressed as those in traditional families, this could be explained by other factors that are more common in nontraditional families, such as poor education and relationship conflicts. Even allowing for all these factors, however, the partners of women who were suffering from prenatal   depression were significantly more likely to become depressed themselves, the researchers report in an American journal. Ten percent of women who were depressed had depressed partners. For the healthy women, the figure was only 2.6 percent. Previous research suggests that families with two depressed parents may need special attention. A researcher in Atlanta has found that primary school children with two troubled parents have difficulty relating to their peers. "It's extremely important to look at the whole family." she says. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true? A) Ten percent of women who were depressed had depressed partners. B) 2.6 percent of healthy women were depressed. C) Special attention should be paid to families in which both the father and the mother were depressed. D) Primary school children whose parents were both depressed couldn't get along well withtheir peers.
Ans:
B