(Question)
When I learned that my 71-year-old mother was playing Scrabble--a word game--against herself, I knew I had to do something. My husband suggested we give her a computer to play against. I wasn't sure my mother was ready for it. After all, it had taken 15 years to persuade her to buy an electric cooker. Even so, we packed up our old computer and delivered it to my parents' home. And so began my mother's adventure in the world of computers. It also marked the beginning of an unusual teaching task for me. I've taught people of all ages, but I never thought I would be teaching my mother how to do anything. She has been the one teaching me all my life; to cook and sew; to enjoy the good times and put up with the bad. Now it was my turn to give something back. It wasn't easy at the beginning. There was so much to explain and to introduce. Slowly but surely, my mother caught on, making notes in a little notebook. After a few months of Scrabble and other games, I decided it was time to introduce her to word processing . This proved to be a bigger challenge  to her, so I gave her some homework. I asked her to write me a letter, using different letter types, colors and spaces. "Are you demanding this with your kindergarten pupils?" she said. "No, of course not," I said. "They already know how to use a computer." My mother isn't the only one experiencing a fast personal growth period. Thanks to the computer, my father has finally got over his phone allergy . For as long as I remember, and time I called, my mother would answer, Dad and I have had more phone conversations in the last two months than we've had in the past 20 years. What does the author do? A) She is a cook. B) She is a teacher. C) She is a housewife D) She is a computer engineer.
(Answer)
B


(Question)
You might say that one reason Barack Obama is president of the US is because he knows how to give a good speech.  Since 2004, Obama has written and delivered thousands of speeches. These are usually praised for two reasons: he treats the audiences like intelligent adults, and he is able to express complicated ideas in a straightforward, natural way. Before becoming president, Obama was a lawyer, a college professor, and a successful writer---his two memories have become best-sellers.  What's more, he has some secret weapons. Teleprompter: Obama doesn't go anywhere without his Teleprompter. The textbook-sized panes of glass holding the president's prepared remarks follow him wherever he goes to speak. Writing team: Obama has a team of people who write his speeches. The writers chat with Obama for hours about what he wants to say. They listen to recordings of past presidential addresses and seek advice from advisers. Obama usually edits and rewrites the drafts several times. Tricks for lighthearted speeches: Make fun of the guests: Obama starts his speech by gently teasing his guests. His opening lines grab the audience's attention while giving them an opportunity to relax and laugh at themselves and each other. Make fun of yourself: A good rule for speechmakers: If you're going to make a joke about someone else, be sure to make one about yourself, too. Obama mocks  his own poor choices for filling the position of Commerce Secretary, saying, "No president in history has ever named three Commerce Secretaries this quickly." In fact, his first two nominees  for the position withdrew  their names for different reasons. In a process that had otherwise gone smoothly, the Obama Administration was tripped up  by the problem of filling the Commerce seat. From the passage, we know that Obama's secret weapons are all these EXCEPT   _  . A) a writing team B) a teleprompter C) humor D) motivation
(Answer)
D


(Question)
The library is one of the most popular places at a western university.Students turn to it for research,conversations about class,and many other services. Compared with Chinese libraries,college libraries in the US and UK tend to offer more resources.A postgraduate at Yale University can borrow as many as 225 books at a time. In addition to borrowing books,there are online and electronic resources.These include a database search of popular and academic material,such as LexisNexis Academic,which offers items from newspapers and magazines. Although books and articles are the items that students ask for most frequently,some libraries provide audio and video recordings,maps and sheet music .At some schools,teachers and tutors put electronic copies of their teaching PPTs on the library web to give easier access for students. Another useful service in western college libraries is the Interlibrary Loan.This allows a student at one school to borrow books from another school.The loan request is made through the student's college library,which gets the book,gives it to the user,and arranges for its return. Technology has brought more services to students and has made libraries attractive.Some universities have services for students to send messages through the computer or mobile texts to ask the library staff for information. Earlier this year,Harvard University introduced a new Scan and Deliver service,allowing students to make requests for parts of books and articles.Requests made through the system are handled by library staff.The student receives an email with an Internet link to the scanned pages.The service is free and all material comes within four days. It used to be that libraries didn't allow food or drinks.But that rule is changing and many of them now contain a cafe so students can spend as much time as they want in the library. Actually,some US university libraries are now allnight affairs,or have at least one study room open all night. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A) Chinese library services are better than western ones. B) Library staff play an important role in college library service. C) Postgraduates can post their own PPTs on the library website. D) 24hour services are adopted in all western libraries nowadays.
(Answer)

B