Today is Sarah's birthday. She is seventy-five. We asked a few old friends to dinner. Like most elderly people, I suppose, we spent most of the evening talking about old times. Thirty years ago, the village used to be a quiet place. Now it has changed. Every Sunday hundreds of cars pass through the village at what I think a dangerous speed. They make the village almost as noisy as the streets of a large town. As a boy I enjoyed riding on the backs of the farm horses. Things are different now. Today there are very few horses working on the farms. The farm workers today drive tractors, not horses. A man is not of much use on a farm unless he knows all about machines. Now almost every house in the village has a TV set. Is it a good thing for children to spend the evening sitting in front of a TV set? When I was young I did not waste my time indoors. I would spend the long summer evenings outdoors. I would play with my friends, go fishing or walk by the river. When my grandchildren asked me the reason why I haven't bought a TV set, I tell them there are many books I still want to read. I can't find time for both reading and watching TV. I would rather   _   than   _  . A) watch TV; do some reading B) play with friends; go fishing C) do some reading; watch TV D) go fishing; play with friends
C


(Question)
Visitor's Guide KL HOP-ON HOP-OFF gives you an easy city tour that has 22 stops, which cover more than 40 attractions. All buses are equipped with 9 different languages to choose from and a friendly customer service officer will help you on the bus. KL HOP-ON HOP-OFF City Tour offers you a convenient way to discover Kuala Lumpur where tourists can either stay on the bus for the full tour circuit  , or get on or get off at any of the attractions. 2. The interval   between buses is around 20 to 30 minutes. 3. We operate 365 days per year including school holidays and public holidays. 4. Tickets can be bought from the bus itself, authorized   agents, authorized hotels and KL Hop-On Hop-Off counters. 5. Our counters are located at Jalan Bukit Bintang (main counter at stop number 6), Malaysian Tourism Centre at Jalan Ampang, at KL Sentral (arrival hall) and at Central Market. 6. We have 24-hour and 48-hour tickets to choose from. 7. Children below 5 years old do not have to pay any fees. 8. A child below the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. 9. The Do's & Don'ts: * No littering on the bus * No food and drink allowed inside the bus * Visitors are not allowed to exchange tickets * Visitors are welcome to take pictures * Please use electronic devices   with care * No smoking allowed 10. Advice: * Please avoid changing from one bus to another on during peak   hours usually from 4 PM to 6 PM. During that time you could take a rest and walk around the attractions. * The weather is unpredictable in Kuala Lumpur. Delays may occur because of bad weather. * Please buy _ only from authorized agents. Ticket Ticket Type: STANDARD ADULT TICKET Price: RM45.00 Validity: 24 Hours Price: RM79.00 Validity: 48 Hours Ticket Type: CHILD, STUDENT & DISABLE TICKET Price: RM24.00 Validity: 24 Hours Price: RM43.00 Validity: 48 Hours For 5 to 12 years old The text is mainly aimed at   _  . A) students B) tourists C) local people D) foreign families
(Answer)
B


Ques: A recent study suggests that teens' relationship with parents, friends and teachers may have a lot to do with why they don't get a good night's sleep. David Maume, a sociologist and sleep researcher, analyzed federal health data, which interviewed 974 teenagers when they were 12, and then again at 15. He found that family dynamics   have much to do with how well kids sleep. Teens, who had warm relations with their parents and felt like they could talk to them or their parents were supportive of them, tended to sleep better. However, families that were going through a divorce or a remarriage tended to affect teens' sleep. And problems at school also affected teens' sleep. Feeling safe at school and having good relations with teachers tended to promote better sleep. As did good relationships with friends. Kids who took part in sports or other positive social activities or shared similar academic goals with their friends were also more likely to get a good night's sleep. These add up to what makes lots of sense: a general feeling of well-being helps teens sleep. If we're happy and contented, we're much more likely to sleep better than if we're sad and anxious. Now, of course, teens can hardly resist being drawn to their computers and social networking. Maume also found that when parents were strict not only about bedtime, but also about limiting technology, kids slept better. It's a finding that seems obvious, but parents really do matter when it comes to health habits of their teenagers. Clearly, teenagers aren't getting 9 to 10 hours a night, which puts them at risk for all the consequences of lack of sleep, including poor academic performance, colds and stress. What is the passage mainly about? A) Teens' sleep is linked to their relationship with people around them. B) Lack of adequate sleep puts teens at risk of many bad consequences. C) Modern technology has something to do with teens' sleep problems. D) It is necessary for teens to join in sports and positive social activities.
Ans: A


Ques: It was the Year from Hell - the dog died, my marriage of 24 years ended, and my house burned down. I had moved into a new rented house with my youngest son after my husband and I divorced. We'd been in the house just six weeks. I went to a dinner party one night, and as I drove home near, I saw smoke rising into the sky. I wondered whether it was my house. Then I turned the corner, and sure enough, it was my house. My son and I stayed with a friend for a couple of nights. Then my friend Gail heard about the fire, called me up, and said, "Come and move into my house. I have seven bedrooms and five bathrooms - plenty of space for you and your son." Gail had three kids at home, but there was still plenty of room for me and my son, Sutton. Little did I know that her offer of a temporary place to stay would turn into a living arrangement that lasted two and a half years. We were two single mothers. Gail and I spent the next couple of years sorting out a lot of things together. After we moved in, I soon began to look for a permanent place to live in. Gail said, "Please don't leave. I've never had so much freedom!" Having me in the house meant someone to help take care of her kids, someone to share cooking and gardening, and someone to share day-to-day life. She loved having me there, and I loved being there. So we stayed. It was an important chapter in my life. We both needed time to heal from our divorces. It was a time of deeper insight and spiritual growth for both of us. Gail's generosity was more than anyone could expect from a friend. I am eternally grateful to have a friend like Gail. I'm also grateful for the lessons I learned from the fire and the other losses that came so suddenly, so fast. Much to my surprise, I found gratitude among the ashes. I was tested serious trial by fire. But, like a phoenix, I rose from the ashes strong and whole. I would not be the person I am today if not for that Year from Hell. After suffering a lot, the author eventually became more   _  . A) strong-minded B) simple--minded C) out-going D) kind-hearted
Ans:
A