Q: Both of Jessica's parents were lawyers and expected her to follow suit. So she went to law school, got a job at a great firm in Washington, DC, and worked as a lawyer for a decade. But her heart was never in it. "I had a big salary but no personal satisfaction," she says. Jessica found pleasure in the same thing that had brought her joy since joining the church choir at the age of 12. "Singing always felt like communicating something real at a spiritual and emotional level," says Jessica. Yet she never considered it a career option. "That seemed like something people did in fairy tales, and I would never let my parents down," she says. It was her mom's diagnosis of brain cancer in 2009 that made Jessica realize she had to write her own happy-ever-after. "Work was busy and my mother was _ . So I was flying back and forth from Washington, DC to Houston to see her," Jessica says. "I finally said, 'Enough!' and quit." While caring for her mom, Jessica made a plan. She would spend her savings and study music for a year, and then open a part-time law practice so she could pursue her passion. Before her mother passed away two years later, she encouraged Jessica to follow her dream. Her song Live This Life was inspired by her mom, and her dad came to watch her perform at clubs. In 2012, Jessica moved to Nashville to try singing and songwriting. A decade of presenting cases in court gave her the confidence to sing for a crowd. "At 20, I would have been too shy to perform," says Jessica. "Doing music is so free," Jessica says. "There's no pressure to be a star. Success, to me, isn't a dollar amount or a record deal; it's doing what I love." What was Jessica's mother's attitude toward her singing? A) Unknown. B) Doubtful. C) Supportive. D) Negative.
A: C


Q: Scientists have found that human eyes are more likely to be damaged by UV rays  while skiing in the snow-covered areas than sitting on the beach, according to a report by the UK newspaper The Telegraph. The researchers at Kanazawa Medical University, Japan and American company Johnson conducted the study together. They looked at the effects of light reflection on newly fallen snow on a ski trail (a rough path) in Ishikawa District, northern Japan. They compared the results with the levels of UV rays on a sand beach in southern Japan's Okinawa District. They found that on the beach, eyes are exposed to a daily 260 kilojoules   of UV a square meter compared to 658 kilojoules in snow-covered areas. The findings are supported by the Japan Meteorological Agency. According to the agency, the reflection rate of UV light on beaches is often between 10 and 25 percent, compared to 80 percent in the new snow areas. The amount of light increased 4 percent with a 300-meter rise in height. Most of us know that UV rays can harm the skin. That's why we wear sunscreen on our skin before we get out in the sun. But many of us may not realize that UV rays are also harmful to the eyes. If your eyes are exposed to large amounts of UV radiation over a short period of time, you may experience a kind of sunburn of the eye, which is harmful. Your eyes will become red and feel a strange feeling. They may be sensitive to light. Fortunately, this is usually temporary and seldom causes permanent damage to the eyes. Long-term exposure to UV radiation, however, can be more serious. Scientific studies and researches have shown that exposure to small amounts of UV radiation over a period of many years increases the chance of eye damage, which could lead to total blindness. What will the passage most probably talk about next? A) Never ski on newly fallen snow in Japan. B) Take some measures to protect your eyes while skiing in new snow areas. C) Wearing a hat can provide protection while skiing in new snow areas. D) Go to hospital to have your eyes examined.
A: B


Q: Many people like the feeling of the gentle wind in spring . Many like to see the falling leaves dancing in the wind in autumn. But sometimes, when the wind becomes a storm, it can be very destructive. A series of such storms struck the US last month and caused very serious damage and human pain. Every year, major storms cause many problems around the world. There is nothing people can do to stop these powerful forces of nature. But new techniques are helping scientists to predict how, when, and where big storms will happen. The more exact scientists' warnings are, the better people can prepare for the storms. Predictions are improving. "We've gotten better over the years, especially the last few years," says Phil Klotzback, a scientist at an American university. How is a storm formed? Even if scientists know where a storm will happen, winds can suddenly change, carrying the storm to a new direction. "For a hurricane to happen, conditions have to be just right," Klotzback says. First, the ocean water needs to be warm enough so that it evaporates and rises into the air. As it rises, the vapor cools and turns back into liquid. This process gives off heat. This produces energy like an engine that causes winds to increase. It drives the formation of a hurricane. If wind speeds reach 40 miles per hour, the system is called a "tropical storm", and it gets a name. At 75 miles per hour, it becomes a hurricane. Hurricanes that hit the US start when a thunderstorm forms off the coast of Africa. Storms also develop over tropical waters in other parts of the world. On average, 60 or 70 storms form off Africa every year. About 10 of them get names. There are usually about six hurricanes. Two tend to be very big, with winds of 115 miles per hour or higher. The hurricane season lasts from June to November. Ninety percent of all hurricanes hit in August, September, and October. vAccording to the passage, hurricanes usually   _  . A) form off the coast of Africa and America B) hit parts of the world in summer and autumn C) travel at 40 miles per hour and get its name D) cause sea winds to rise and blow over the sea
A: C


Q: How did it make you feel when you learned that KFC'S Beijing restaurants pulled three more items from their menus last week? There were fears that the items may have contained the cancer-causing coloring Sudan I.Do you have any desire to take the food provider to court because it feeds you something dangerous? After all,the law supposedly gives people the right to fight for their rights.But some experts have said it might not be so wise to take the company directly to court. Qiu Baochang,a lawyer in Beijing,suggested that consumers not take the company directly to court."In addition to the high costs,consumers'complaints are unlikely to win unless they can prove they have had the banned dye at KFC,"--Qiu explained. One problem for those wanting to take action against the fast food chain is that few customers ask for or keep receipts .And,this must be the first step. If they can prove that their health has been damaged by KFC,they can cue the company.But that would be almost impossible to do so because the Sudan I damage is a long-term effect and is not immediately apparent. A KFC spokesperson said on Monday that the company was confdent of being able to handle customers'complaints,"We will obey legal procedure if We raceive any complaints." The reason why experts suggested not taking the company directly to court is that  _  . A) the costs will be high B) consumers can't prove food contained Sudan I C) consumers can't prove the food at KFC damaged their health D) all of the above

A: D