Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: "The world has never been a better place to live in" says science writer Matt Ridley, "and it will keep on getting better." Read on to see how Ridley makes his case. Right or wrong? You decide. Compared with 50 years ago, when I was just four years old, people now make nearly three times as much money, eat one third more food and expect to live one third longer. In fact, it's hard to find any areas of the world that's worse off  now than it was then, even though the world population has more than doubled over that period. One reason we are richer, healthier, taller, cleverer, longer-lived and freer than ever before is that the four most basic human needs--food, clothing, fuel and shelter--have grown much cheaper. Take one example: In 1800, a candle providing one hour's light cost six hours' work. In the 1880s, the same light from a lamp took 15 minutes' work to pay for. In 1950, it was eight seconds. Today, it's half a second. In these terms, we are 43,200 times better off than in1800. In the United States, rivers, lakes, seas and air are getting cleaner all the time. A car today produces less pollution traveling at full speed than a parked car did from leaks   in 1970. Although the world population is growing, the rate   of increase has been falling for 50 years. Across the world, national birth rates are lower now than in 1960, and in the less developed world, the birth rate has almost halved. According to a research report from the United Nations, population will start falling once it reaches 9.2 billion in 2075. After all, there are already seven billion people on earth, and they are eating better and better. In 1970s, there were 550 billion barrels   of oil reserves   in the world, and in the 20 years that followed the world used up 600 billion. So by 1990, reserves should have been overused by 50 billion barrels. Instead, it is reported there are 900 billion today. They will last for many years and people will find something in place of oil long before they run out. The more we develop, the more we can... Question: Today, providing one hour's light costs   _  . - 6 hours' work - 15 minutes' work - 8 seconds' work - 0.5 second's work
0.5 second's work

Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: Daniel: Hi, Simon. How are you these days? Simon: Not bad. But I just feel a little sad. Daniel: What's wrong? Simon: You see, I bought some goldfish last week. But now they all die. Daniel: I'm afraid you forgot to change water for them. Simon: No.  I just gave them a lot to eat. I think they like eating. Daniel: Oh,I see. It's the food that killed your goldfish. You know goldfish can only remember things for 3 seconds. Simon: So what? Daniel: So they always forget they have already eaten food. They just keep eating if you feed them. Simon: You mean my goldfish die of eating too much? Daniel: That's right. Simon: Oh,my poor goldfish. Daniel: Don't be sad. Why not have a cat or a dog as your pet? Simon: Oh, no. I don't like them. Cats and dogs always make much noise and they will make my room dirty. Besides that I should take good care of them. Daniel: Well,why don't you try an e-pet?  It's modern and cute. And it's easy to look after because they don't need food and water. The most important thing is that you can control it freely. Simon: That's good! I want to have an e-pet. Daniel: That will cost you a lot of money. Simon: Oh, my God! I think I will just have it in my dream. Question: Which isn't the advantage of having an e-pet? - It's modern and cute. - It's expensive. - It's easy to look after. - It can be controlled freely.
It's expensive.

Read the following article and select the best answer. Article: It was a cold winter afternoon before Christmas. My parents and I sat on the bench in Washington, D.C. Union Station, waiting for the train. Inside the waiting hall were many people. A boy sat nearby. His worn jacket, pale face, dirty hands all seemed to tell me that he was homeless. "He must be cold and hungry. Maybe I should help him," I said to myself. Just at that moment, a well-dressed young couple walked towards him. "Excuse me," the man bent down. "My wife and I bought two meal boxes but one was enough for us. We hate to waste good food. Can you help us out and put this to use?" he handed the boy a meal box. The boy thanked them and opened the box with joy and care. Suddenly he stopped. In the direction to which he looked, I saw an old man _ in a worn sweater, worn trousers and open shoes, entering the hall. Putting the meal box aside, the boy stood and helped the old to his seat. He took off his jacket and covered it on the old man's shoulders, saying, "A gentleman brought me this warm meal but I just finished eating. I hate to waste good food. Can you help me out?" He placed the still-warm meal box in the old man's hands without waiting for an answer. "Sure, son, but if only you share that sandwich with me. It's too much for a man at my age. " We were all touched. Dad went away and soon returned with cups of hot chocolate and a big pizza. Mum and dad went up to those rags, "Excuse me..." I rushed into a KFC and took out my pocket money. It was so cold that afternoon but I felt much warmer than I had ever thought possible. Question: Who gave the boy a meal box? - The young man. - The old man. - The young woman. - Mum and Dad.

The young man.