Ques: For most city people, the elevator is an unremarkable machine that inspires none of the enthusiasm or interest that Americans afford trains, jets,and even bicycles. Dr. Christopher Wilk is a member of a small group of elevator experts who consider _ a misunderstanding. Without the elevator, they point out, there could be no downtown skyscrapers or tall buildings, and city life as we know it would be impossible. In that sense, they argue,the elevator's role in American history has been no less significant than that of cars. In fact, according to Wilk?the car and the elevator have been locked in a "secret war" for over a century, with cars making it possible for people to spread horizontally  ,and elevators pushing them toward life in close groups of towering vertical  columns. If we tend to ignore the significance of elevators, it might be because riding in them tends to be such a brief, boring, and even awkward experience^one that can involve unexpectedly meeting people with whom we have nothing in common, and an unpleasant awareness of the fact that we're hanging from a cable in a long passage. In a new book, Lifted, German journalist and cultural studies professor Andreas Bernard directed all his attention to this experience, studying the origins of elevator and its relationship to humankind and finding that riding in an elevator has never been a totally comfortable experience. "After 150 years, we are still not used to it", Bernard said. "We still have not exactly learned to cope with the mixture of closeness and displeasure." That mixture, according to Bernard, sets the elevator ride apart from just about every other situation we find ourselves in as we go about our lives. Today,as the world's urban population explodes,and cities become more crowded, taller, and more crowded, America's total number of elevators--900,000 at last count, according to Elevator World magazine's "2012 Vertical Transportation Industry"are a force that's becoming more important than ever. And for the people who really, really... According to Prof. Bernard, what has made the elevator ride different from other life experiences? A) Vertical direction. B) Lack of excitement. C) Little physical space. D) Uncomfortable conditions.
Ans: C

Ques: Only if you don't have a fear of heights do you want to visit the CN Tower. And if you can take a trip to the top of it will surely be worth it. The CN tower is Canada's most famous symbol and the centre of tourism in Toronto. Over 550 meters, it is one of the tallest building in the world; on a clear day the view is wonderful. Each year, around 2 million people take the elevator ride to the top of the tower to take in the breath-taking view at the top of the world. Once you are at the top, see if you have the courage to walk across the see-through glass floor . If you are hungry, plan to eat at the revolving restaurant at the top of the tower. The floor in the 360-degree restaurant rotates once every 72 minutes allowing everyone a complete view of the city below. The CN tower has broken record many times, winning such titles as World's Longest Metal staircase ,World's Tallest building and , most recently , World's Highest Wine Cellar. In 1995, the CN tower was considered as one of the seven wonders of the Modern World. Today, the top of the tower, more than 333m in the air, serves as the year-round workplace for more than 550 people. The tower's workers help to make the world-class attractions and food there. While at the CN tower, you'll also have the chance to visit gift shops. You will find the CN Tower in the heart of downtown, on Front Street. On the north shore of Lake Ontario, the CN Tower is open 364 days a year(closed on Christmas Day). Which of the following number is Not agree with its description? A) 333 --- the height of the tower B) 550 --- the number of people who work at the top of the tower C) 364 --- the days that the tower is open each year D) 360--- the degree of the restaurant revolves.
Ans: A

Ques: How long you live has a lot to do with your environment and lifestyle, but exceptional long life may have even more to do with your genes. For the first time, researchers have discovered a genetic recipe that accurately predicts who may live to 100 and beyond. Analysis shows that 90% of the participants who lived to 100 had at least one of the signature genetic clusters . Dr. Thomas Perls at the Boston University School of Medicine said, "We realize this is a complex genetic puzzle. There is a long way for us to go to understand how the integration of these genes--not just with themselves but with environmental factors--is playing a role in this long life puzzle." Perls has studied many factors that contribute to long life, and he is the first to acknowledge that living longer isn't likely to be simply a matter of genes. His previous work has shown, for example, that among most elderly people who live into their 70s and 80s, about 70% can owe their long life to environmental factors such as not smoking; eating a healthy, low-fat, low-calorie diet; and remaining socially engaged and mentally active throughout life. It seems clear that those who live extremely long are benefiting from a special DNA. In fact, Perls believes that the older a person gets, the more likely it is that his or her genes are contributing to those extended years. Perls may most likely agree that  _  . A) most people living extremely long benefit from not smoking B) living longer just depends on certain genetic recipes C) environmental factors play an important role in long-living D) being mentally active has nothing to do with living an old age
Ans: C

Ques: Ali is from a Middle Eastern country. He now stays in the USA. He smokes a lot of cigarettes   every day. He has smoked for nine years. Ali says, " I tried to quit   smoking in my hometown, but it was impossible. My brothers smoke. All my friends smoke. At parties and at meetings, almost all the men smoke. Here in the United States, not as many people smoke. It will be easier to change my habit here." Many smokers are like Ali: they want to stop smoking. The smokers know that smoking is bad for their health. They know it can cause cancer and heart disease. But it is difficult for them to give up smoking because cigarettes have a drug in them. The drug is nicotine  . People who smoke a lot need nicotine. When a person first begins to smoke, he usually feels terrible. The nicotine makes him sick. In a few days, the smoker's body is used to the nicotine, and he feels fine. Later, the smoker needs nicotine to keep feeling fine. Without nicotine, he feels bad. It is very hard to quit smoking, and many people who quit will soon smoke again. At a party or at work they will decide to smoke "just one" cigarette. Then they will smoke another cigarette, and another. Soon they become smokers again. Maybe there is only one easy way to quit smoking: never start. For some people,it is difficult to give up smoking because A) cigarettes have a nicotine  in them B) they don't want to give up. C) The nicotine makes them sick. D) They needs nicotine to keep feeling fine.
Ans:
D