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|---|---|---|
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Some questions about her."
},
"options": [
"Some questions about her.",
"\"How are you feeling now?\"",
"\"What's the trouble with you?\"",
"\"How old are you?\""
],
"question": "What did the doctor first ask the woman?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "The doctor was new here."
},
"options": [
"The doctor was new here.",
"The doctor was very good at his work.",
"The doctor was very clever.",
"The doctor was the head of the hospital."
],
"question": "Which of the following is true?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "He's sixty."
},
"options": [
"He's thirty.",
"He's sixty.",
"He's as double as hers.",
"He's thirty-six."
],
"question": "How old is her husband?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "She's forty-eight."
},
"options": [
"She's eighteen.",
"She's thirty-six.",
"She's forty-eight.",
"She's twice thirty."
],
"question": "How old is the woman, do you know?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "How Old Is She?"
},
"options": [
"A Maths Problem.",
"A Woman and Her husband.",
"How Old Is She?",
"A Clever Doctor."
],
"question": "Which is the best title for the passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | A woman was having some trouble with her heart, so she went to see a doctor. He was a new doctor, and did not know her, so he first asked some questions about her, and one of them was, "How old are you?" "Well," she said, "I don't remember, doctor, but I will try to think." She thought for a moment and said, "Yes, I remember now, doctor! When I married , I was eighteen years old, and my husband was thirty. Now my husband is sixty, I know, and that is twice thirty. So I am twice eighteen. I think I am thirty-six,is it right?" | middle4510.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "give us healthy things"
},
"options": [
"make us fat and clever",
"make us very rich",
"give us healthy things",
"help us keep young"
],
"question": "People need milk because it can _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "sheep and camels provide people with milk too"
},
"options": [
"cows can also produce cheese for people",
"cakes can be made with the powdered milk",
"sheep and camels provide people with milk too",
"milk can make people not only strong but also rich"
],
"question": "From the passage, we can learn that _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "People can use as much as 45 liters of milk a day."
},
"options": [
"People can use as much as 45 liters of milk a day.",
"Milk is a completely good food for people's health",
"Many other foods can be made with the products of milk",
"Mothers' milk is the best food for babies in their early months."
],
"question": "Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Milk is the most complete food in the world. It has many things that we need to help us grow. It can give us energy and good health. Milk is a food enjoyed by people of all ages as we can easily _ it.
Milk is produced by all mother animals to feed their babies after they are born. Some such as cows produce more milk than their young ones need, so the extra milk is used by people. Nowadays, baby cows are often taught to eat solid food earlier, so that we can use most of the cow's milk. A cow can produce as much as 45 liters of milk a day. She will give good milk if she is fed on rich grass. Many products can be made from cow's milk. The simplest is cream, which is made from the fat of the milk. Butter is made from cream. Cream is also used for making cakes and other foods. Another common milk product is cheese. Cow's milk can be also turned into powdered milk.
In countries where cows are not raised, people get milk from other animals. The buffalo gives milk to the people of India. In China, Iran and Turkey, a large number of sheep and goats are kept for their milk. And many Arabs drink camel's milk. For babies, however, the best of all is their mother's milk which is given to them during their first few months of life. | middle7019.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "a father"
},
"options": [
"a grandfather",
"a mother",
"a father",
"a grandmother"
],
"question": "According to the passage we know the boy only had _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "his son"
},
"options": [
"his work",
"his money",
"his son",
"his quilt"
],
"question": "The single father was always worried about _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "He was tired out"
},
"options": [
"His son wasn't at home.",
"He was tired out",
"His son was doing his homework",
"He was very happy."
],
"question": "When the father got home , _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "He hugged his son tightly."
},
"options": [
"He hit his son",
"He was very upset.",
"He hugged his son tightly.",
"He went outside."
],
"question": "When the father knew the truth, _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | He was a single father, raising a 5-year-old boy alone. He worried about his son growing up without a mother to care for him.
One day he went away on business, leaving the child alone. He was worried about the child all the way, not knowing if he had eaten. But his child always told him not to worry. He went home quickly after finishing his work.
When he got home, the child was deep asleep. He was tired out. When he was about to sleep himself, he was surprised to find an overturned bowl of noodles under the quilt. He spanked his sleeping son angrily:"Why are you so naughty, making the quilt dirty? Who will wash it?" It was the first time that he had hit his boy after his wife's death.
"I haven't," the boy explained with tears in his eyes. "This is your supper, Daddy." In order to let his father eat dinner as soon as he got home, the boy cooked two bowls of noodles: one for himself, the other one for his father. He was afraid his father's noodles would get cold, so he placed them under the quilt to keep them hot.
Hearing this, the father hugged his boy tightly without saying a word. | middle1468.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "not the same as"
},
"options": [
"as good as",
"better than",
"the same as",
"not the same as"
],
"question": "An English telephone is _ a Chinese one.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "This is XX"
},
"options": [
"This is XX",
"I am XX",
"That is XX",
"He is XX"
],
"question": "If you want to tell the people who you are, you should say, \" _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Who is that?"
},
"options": [
"Who am I?",
"Who is he?",
"Who are you?",
"Who is that?"
],
"question": "If you want to ask who is answering the phone , you should say, \" _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "May I speak to Mr. XX"
},
"options": [
"May I speak to Mr. XX",
"Please tell Mr. XX to answer the call.",
"I want to talk to Mr. XX?",
"Are you Mr. XX?"
],
"question": "If you want to ask someone to answer the call, you can say, \" _ \".",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "It tells the difference between making a call in Chinese and one in English."
},
"options": [
"We don't understand how we call in English.",
"We know how we call in English.",
"It tells the difference between making a call in Chinese and one in English.",
"It's easy to call in English."
],
"question": "Which is right about the passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Can you make a telephone call? Of course you can make it in Chinese. But a call in English is quite different from one from one in Chinese. If you want to ask somebody to answer the telephone, you can not say, "Please ask Mr. XX to answer the telephone." Instead ,you must say,"May I speak to Mr. XX?" If you want to ask who is answering the phone, you should say,"Who is that?""Is that Mr. XX ( speaking)?"Instead of "Who are you?" If you want to tell the other one who you are, you should say,"This is XX (speaking)"instead of "I am
XX" | middle6307.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the driver was driving too fast"
},
"options": [
"it was an expensive car",
"the driver was a proud lady",
"the driver was driving too fast",
"the driver was going to attack him"
],
"question": "The policeman stopped the car because _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the policeman kept writing the ticket for her"
},
"options": [
"the policeman didn't know her friends",
"the policeman kept writing the ticket for her",
"the policeman refused to accept her offer of money",
"she didn't know the policeman's name"
],
"question": "The woman was getting angrier each moment because _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "failed to stop the policeman writing the ticket"
},
"options": [
"failed to stop the policeman writing the ticket",
"warned the policeman not to move a step further",
"was surprised that the policeman did not know the mayor",
"told the policeman to stay where he was"
],
"question": "The woman driving the expensive car _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "an honest and fair fellow"
},
"options": [
"an honest and fair fellow",
"a foolish and proud fellow",
"a silly and rude fellow",
"a kind-hearted fellow"
],
"question": "The policeman was _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "had a sense of humor"
},
"options": [
"had no sense of humor",
"had a sense of humor",
"had no sense of duty",
"was playing a joke on the woman"
],
"question": "The policeman _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | An expensive car speeding down the main street of a small town was soon over-taken by a young motorcycle policeman. As he started to take out the ticket, the woman in the car said proudly. "Before you go any further, young man, I think you should know that the mayor of this city is a good friend of mine."
The officer did not say a word, but kept writing.
"I am also a friend of Chief of Police Barnes," continued the woman, getting angrier each moment.
Still he kept on writing.
"Young man," she said, "I know Judge Lawson and State Senator Patton."
Handing the ticket to the woman, the officer asked pleasantly. "Tell me, do you know Bill Bronson?"
"No. Why?" she replied.
"Well, this is the man you should have known," he said, going back to his motorcycle, "I am Bill Bronson." | middle842.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "in Taipei, in 2014"
},
"options": [
"in Hong Kong, in 1962",
"in Taipei, in 2014",
"in South China, in 2014",
"in Southeast, in1962"
],
"question": "The 51st Golden Horse Awards Ceremony was held _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Wan Qian"
},
"options": [
"Chen jianbin",
"Chen Shiang-chyi",
"Lou Ye",
"Wan Qian"
],
"question": "_ won the best supporting actress,",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "6"
},
"options": [
"l",
"2",
"6",
"1l"
],
"question": "Lou Ye-directed film Blind Massage won _ awards.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | The 51st Golden Horse Awards Ceremony was held in Taipei, Southeast China's Taiwan, on Nov. 22, 2014.
Actor Chen Jianbin walked away with the best new director, the best actor and best supporting actor awards . Actress Chen Shiang-chyi was awarded the best lead actress and actress Wan Qian won the best supporting actress.
Lou Ye-directed film Blind Massage won best feature film, best new performer, best adapted screenplay, best cinematography, best sound effects and best editing.
The annual Golden Horse Awards are one of the most important film honors in the Chinese-speaking world. It was founded in 1962 and held annually in Taiwan. | middle4276.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "in a poor family"
},
"options": [
"in Guizhou County",
"in a poor family",
"when her parents were out",
"in 1990"
],
"question": ". Peng Jiangya was born _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "she was at an early age"
},
"options": [
"she was 22 years old",
"she was 13 years old",
"when her parents were at home",
"she was at an early age"
],
"question": "PengJiangya lost all her fingers, when _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "use chopsticks by herself"
},
"options": [
"use chopsticks by herself",
"make more money by herself",
"make cross-stitch by herself",
"help her parents hold chopsticks"
],
"question": "When Peng Jiangya was a child, she learned to _ without fingers",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "good cross-stitch works and faster than others"
},
"options": [
"better cross-stitch works and faster than her companions",
"the best cross-stitch works in her hometown",
"good cross-stitch works and faster than others",
"the most beautiful cross-stitch works in his hometown"
],
"question": "Now PengJiangya can make _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "with great efforts"
},
"options": [
"easily",
"hardly",
"with great efforts",
"without any difficulties"
],
"question": "From this passage, we know that PengJiangya learn to make cross-stitch _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Peng Jiangya, a 24-year-old girl, was born in Guizhou Province. She lives in a village of the Yinjiang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County at the foot of the Fanjing Mountains on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau . Twenty-two years ago, One day her parents were out, she fell into a fire stove at home, and the fire burned her fingers badly. The family was too poor at the time to afford the expensive medical treatment ,at last she lost all her fingers.
"When I was a child, I was unable to hold chopsticks. My parents taught me for a long time. It was really difficult, but I tried it over and over again ,and at the age of seven, I overcame it. From then on I knew that one had to put great efforts into what she was doing," said PengJiangya.
As a child , PengJiangya often saw others make cross-stitch and then she decided to learn how to make it herself. " Of course, it took me many years to do that, when I was 18, I got it." Said Peng. Now she can make as good cross-stitch works as her companions ,but she is faster than other people.
Her hometown of Yinjiang Tujia at the foot of the Fanjing Mountains on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateauhas become a tourist attraction. As for her future, Peng Jiangya said: "I will gather a few other people to embroider the beautiful landscape of our hometown as a souvenir and lasting memory for tourists. At the same time, we can make more money." | middle3519.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "no families come for her birthday"
},
"options": [
"her husband died",
"her daughter lives far away",
"no families come for her birthday",
"her son is working"
],
"question": "Mrs. Sato is sad because _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "a company"
},
"options": [
"her daughter",
"her son",
"a company",
"nobody"
],
"question": "She makes a telephone call to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "some people from the company"
},
"options": [
"her daughter's family",
"some people near her house",
"some people from the company",
"her son"
],
"question": "That evening, _ have the birthday party with Mrs. Sato.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Mrs. Sato is sad. It is her birthday, and she has no families with her. Her husband died in 1985. Her daughter doesn't live in the same city. Her son is working. Mrs. Sato goes to the telephone and calls a company in Tokyo, Japan. "Hello", a woman answers. "Hello", Mrs. Sato says. "I'd like to rent a family." "What would you like ?" the woman asks Mrs. Sato. "A son, A daughter ,Some grandchildren. " "I'd like to rent a daughter, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren, "Mrs. Sato says.
At seven o'clock that evening, four actors come to Mrs. Sato's house----a woman, a man, and two children. "Happy Birthday!"the actors say. The actors are with Mrs. Sato for three hours. They talk with her, eat dinner with her, and watch TV with her. Then they go home. Mrs. Sato is happy. | middle2607.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "a quarter"
},
"options": [
"75%",
"a quarter",
"a half",
"15%"
],
"question": "In Michelle's country over _ of the students are too fat.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "To sell healthier foods."
},
"options": [
"To offer gym classes.",
"To plant a vegetable garden.",
"To serve meals with less fat.",
"To sell healthier foods."
],
"question": "What does the lady want the shops to do?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "more vegetables"
},
"options": [
"more vegetables",
"sweet food",
"many cokes",
"much fat"
],
"question": "Michelle encourages fat students to have _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The lady fights obesity in students."
},
"options": [
"The lady introduces healthy drinks.",
"The lady cares about food cost.",
"The lady fights obesity in students.",
"The lady feel worried about the height."
],
"question": "What's the main idea of the passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Michelle, a famous lady, has found that more than 25% students are too fat in her country. It is a very serious problem. So she starts a health program to deal with it. The health program is to reduce the amount of fat students today and in the future.
The program will get families, schools, newspapers, magazines and TVs to join together and deal with the students' obesity so that students will be at a healthier weight. The program includes: Food stores should sell healthier foods. Schools should serve healthier meals with less fat and should also offer gym classes.
The lady is trying to fight the students' obesity all over the country because it can cause illnesses and higher health cost. She wants the students to eat right, exercise more and control their weight. She also wants the students to understand it is important to have less sweet food, and drink water, milk and fresh juices, but not to choose cokes. At the same time she has also set a good example by planting a vegetable garden. She hopes that the garden will encourage more people to plant one, too.
The health program is really helpful to the students today and in the future. As she says, we cannot always build the future for youth, but we can build our youth for the future. | middle5168.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "a teacher"
},
"options": [
"a worker",
"a student",
"a teacher",
"a doctor"
],
"question": "Miss Li is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "48."
},
"options": [
"24.",
"22.",
"46.",
"48."
],
"question": "How many students are there in Miss Li's class?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Betty"
},
"options": [
"Betty",
"Tony",
"Li Daming",
"Miss Li"
],
"question": "_ likes football.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Saturday"
},
"options": [
"Saturday",
"Monday",
"Tuesday",
"Wednesday"
],
"question": "Tony's favourite day is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "spring"
},
"options": [
"summer",
"spring",
"winter",
"autumn"
],
"question": "Li Daming's favourite season is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Good morning, everyone! I'm Miss Li. I am an English teacher. There are 24 boys and 22 girls in my class. This is Betty. She's an American girl. She likes football. This is Tony. He is an English boy. He likes basketball. His favourite day is Saturday and yellow is his favourite colour. He likes spring because it's warm. This is Li Daming. He's Chinese and he likes table tennis. White is his favourite colour. He likes flowers and flying kites in spring, so spring is his favourite season. | middle4262.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "a teacher"
},
"options": [
"a doctor",
"a nurse",
"a driver",
"a teacher"
],
"question": "Alice is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "at 7:45"
},
"options": [
"at 8:15",
"at 7:45",
"at 7:40",
"at 8:00"
],
"question": "Alice gets to school _ a. m.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Alice gets home at 5:00 in the afternoon."
},
"options": [
"Alice lives in China now.",
"Alice likes Coke best.",
"Alice gets home at 5:00 in the afternoon.",
"On weekdays she has a hamburger and an apple for lunch."
],
"question": "Which of the following is NOT true?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Alice is my good friend. She is twenty-two years old. Now she lives in Beijing, China. She teaches English in a junior high school. She loves making friends with the students and they like her very much. Every morning she gets up very early. At about 7:00, she usually has a glass of milk and some bread for breakfast at home. Then she walks to work and gets to school at about a quarter to eight. At 12:00 she eats a hamburger and an apple for lunch. Her favorite drink is Coke. She goes home at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. She likes to have noodles and chicken for dinner. On Sunday, she often comes to see me. Sometimes we go to a Chinese restaurant to have lunch. ,. | middle2613.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The song \"Stay in My Song\" made Wanting Qu popular around China."
},
"options": [
"Wanting Qu didn't get used to her school life in China",
"Wanting Qudreamed of being a musician before going abroad",
"Wanting Qu was taken to Canada because her parents found her a part-time job there",
"The song \"Stay in My Song\" made Wanting Qu popular around China."
],
"question": "From the passage,we know that _ .",
"question_type": "summarization_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "make people in the world know her music and love it."
},
"options": [
"write songs by herself.",
"make people in the world know her music and love it.",
"work together with Zhang Yadong.",
"start her own business company,dreaming of becoming a CEO."
],
"question": "What is Wanting going to do next? She is going to _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Wanting: I want nothing but music
Wanting Qu,born and raised in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China, has become one of the most popular singers in China this year. During the past few months, her name and songs have spread quickly on the Internet, over the radio, and in almost every corner of China. You would be considered totally "out" if you have never heard of her song "Stay in My Song".
She is a girl full of courage. At only 16, Wanting left home and entered a Canadian school to study business, starting her life in a foreign country alone. Soon,she found that her true passion was music. She went on to get her degree , but also tried her hand at songwriting. She did part-time jobs to keep on her study like many Chinese students who study in foreign countries, but never gave up her dream of being a musician. When the chance came, she bravely introduced herself to the CEO of Nettwerk and became the first Chinese singer-songwriter the company signed in 26 years.
Wanting's music career started to _ in 2009 when she worked in Nettwerk. In 2011, after hearing the songs she wrote and recorded, the famous Chinese composer Zhang Yadong called her and would like to work with her.
With all the successes she has achieved in China, Wanting is recording her first English album. She is ready to conquer the world. | middle6475.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "in the same village."
},
"options": [
"brothers",
"in the city",
"not near to each other",
"in the same village."
],
"question": "Mr. White and Mr. Black are_.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "talk"
},
"options": [
"talk",
"have a rest",
"sit at home",
"go out for a walk"
],
"question": "Mr. White and Mr. Black often_together.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "at the door of Mr. White's house"
},
"options": [
"in Mr. Black's house",
"in the street",
"at the door of Mr. White's house",
"happily"
],
"question": "One day Mr. Black talks with Mr. White_.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Mr. Black doesn't hear Mr. White's answer."
},
"options": [
"Mr. White doesn't answer Mr. Black's question.",
"Mr. Black doesn't hear Mr. White's answer.",
"Mr. White is deafer than Mr. Black",
"Mr. White wouldn't like to answer Mr. Black's question"
],
"question": "Which one is right?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "interesting"
},
"options": [
"interesting",
"good",
"bad",
"blind"
],
"question": "Mr. Black and Mr. White are _ men, I think.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | There are two deaf men in a small village. One is Mr. White and the other is Mr. Black. They live near to each other. They are good friends.
Mr. White and Mr. Black often talk together. They talk about all kinds of things. Sometimes they are worried about their hearing. But one thinks the other is much deafer.
One day Mr. Black comes to see Mr. White. Mr. White is sitting on a chair, He is having a rest. Mr. Black stops at the door and asks, "Can you hear me?" There is no answer. Mr. Black goes nearer and asks again, "Can you hear me?" Again he doesn't hear any answer. Mr. Black is quite pleased. Still he goes nearer and asks for the third time, "Can you hear me?" Still there is no answer. At last Mr. Black goes up to Mr. White and calls, "Now I know you are much deafer than me. You don't hear my questions." "I'm much deafer?" says Mr. White. "No, I answer you three times. But you do not hear my answer." | middle16.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "44"
},
"options": [
"18",
"36",
"54",
"44"
],
"question": "There are _ balls in their family.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "doesn't play"
},
"options": [
"don't like",
"like",
"plays",
"doesn't play"
],
"question": "Nancy _ volleyball.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Neal"
},
"options": [
"Leo",
"Neal",
"Nancy",
"his friends"
],
"question": "_ plays soccer every day in Leo's family.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "No, he doesn't."
},
"options": [
"Yes, he does.",
"No, he doesn't.",
"No, he does.",
"We don't know."
],
"question": "Does Leo play sports?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Volleyball."
},
"options": [
"Soccer.",
"Her brother.",
"TV",
"Volleyball."
],
"question": "What does Nancy like ?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | Leo is thirteen years old. He has a brother and a sister. He has 10 tennis bats, 8 baseballs, 6 ping-pong balls, 12 soccer balls and 18 volleyballs, but he never plays sports. His brother, Neal likes soccer . He is a member of the city soccer club. He plays soccer every day with his friends. His sister, Nancy likes volleyball, but she doesn't play it.
,,. | middle6313.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "the pea"
},
"options": [
"the pea",
"the nut",
"both the pea and the nut",
"neither the pea nor the nut"
],
"question": "Although we like eating peanuts, many of us don't know peanuts belong to _ family.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "The peanut was first found in South America."
},
"options": [
"Nomads always stayed in the same place.",
"The peanut was first found in South America.",
"Astronauts ate lots of peanuts to keep healthy.",
"China grows fewer peanuts than the US."
],
"question": "Which of the following is TRUE according to the article?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "To let us know more about peanuts."
},
"options": [
"To show that peanuts belong to the pea family.",
"To advise us to use more peanut products.",
"To tell us some new uses of peanuts.",
"To let us know more about peanuts."
],
"question": "What is the purpose of the article?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Who hasn't enjoyed eating peanuts? Did you know that although peanuts look like nuts and taste like nuts, they aren't nuts at all? They belong to the pea family, so they are called peanuts. The peanut grows flowers above ground, but its "fruit" grows underground. It grows in more countries than most other "nuts".
The peanut is a native South American plant. Scientists believe that it grew wild in Brazil long ago. They think that for several thousand years the early peoples of South America made it a part of their diet. These peoples were nomads who moved on when a natural food could no longer be found in one area. Along the way they probably let fall some peanuts, which got into the ground and grew. This is believed to be the way the plant reached the place where the Incas lived. The Incas, from about 1100 to 1532, thought highly of peanuts. The peanuts were eaten in several forms and used as sacrificial offerings to the Incan Sun God. Later in the 16thcentury, European soldiers had brought peanuts to other parts of the world, including North America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Pacific Islands.
Although peanuts were found native in South America, they are now grown in almost every country that has warm weather. India produces the most peanuts. China's production is next, followed by the United States.
The peanut is special in more ways than one. It can be eaten raw, boiled, roasted, or fried. Hundreds of widely different products have been made from it. Carver, an American scientist, set himself the task of discovering new uses for eating and for many other products.
Peanuts are very highly _ and are also high in protein . Americans use about seven-tenths of their protein in the form of meat. In India, where the poor can't pay for meat or milk, peanut meal and peanut milk have been produced. These have been a great help to the poor.
New products are continually being made from peanuts, among them peanut cheese and a powder that becomes peanut butter when water is added. The fact is that peanuts are so healthy that they were used by astronauts. The unusual nut that isn't a nut is one of nature's most amazing gifts. | middle2175.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "David Roberson"
},
"options": [
"David Roberson",
"Madam",
"Sir",
"The company"
],
"question": "Who wrote the letter?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "At 8:40 a.m."
},
"options": [
"At 8:00 a.m.",
"At 8:40 a.m.",
"At 9:00 a.m.",
"At 9:20 a.m."
],
"question": "When did the train leave Glasgow?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Over 5 hours."
},
"options": [
"40 minutes.",
"30 minutes.",
"70 minutes.",
"Over 5 hours."
],
"question": "How long did David stay on the train?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Soft drinks."
},
"options": [
"Hot dogs.",
"Sandwiches.",
"Soft drinks.",
"Hamburgers."
],
"question": "What could David buy on the train?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "David was very pleased with the trip."
},
"options": [
"David failed catching the plane from London to Frankfurt.",
"David was very pleased with the trip.",
"The service of the company was very poor.",
"There was something wrong with the air conditioning on the train."
],
"question": "Which of the following is NOT true?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Dear Sir or Madam.
Last Thursday. I traveled on the 8:00 a.m. train from Glasgow to London King's Cross and I was quite angry with the service of your company.
The train didn't come on time and it was forty minutes late when it left Glasgow. A man at the station said sorry to us, but he didn't give us any reasons for the delay . We then had further delays on the way and had to wait another thirty minutes. As a result, I missed my plane from London to Frankfurt and had to wait for several hours.
What's more, the service on the train was also very poor. The trip took more than five hours. Unluckily. we could buy nothing but some soft drinks on the train. Worst of all, something was wrong with the air conditioning and it got hotter and hotter in the train. Before we reached King's Cross, the temperature was over 40degC.
Because of your poor service. I feel you should pay me compensation .
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
David Roberson | middle4504.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "water"
},
"options": [
"cola",
"milk",
"water",
"juice"
],
"question": "The best and healthiest drink is _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "There's caffeine in the drinks"
},
"options": [
"There's caffeine in the drinks",
"They taste good",
"The bottles are very beautiful",
"There's acid in the drinks ."
],
"question": "Why can energy drink make children active in sports?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "More than 1,600 ml"
},
"options": [
"No more than 240 ml",
"240 ml",
"about 800 ml",
"More than 1,600 ml"
],
"question": "How much water should we drink every day ?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Milk helps children grow well"
},
"options": [
"All kinds of drinks are cool and healthy",
"Milk helps children grow well",
"Soft drinks are bad for your teeth and make you thin",
"You can drink a bottle of fresh juice for two days"
],
"question": "Which of the following satements is TURE ?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "What Can You Drink"
},
"options": [
"My Favorite Drink",
"I Like Healthy Drinks",
"Say \"No\"to drinks",
"What Can You Drink"
],
"question": "The best title of the passage can be _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | WHAT is your favorite drink ? A bottle of cola ? If so , be careful ! Soft drinks are not all that healthy. They are bad for your teeth and make you fat .
How about energy drink ?Sporty kids like them very much .This kind of drink has caffeine in it .It makes children active in sports . But don't drink too much .Or you will not sleep well ,maybe you'll find it hard to concentrate in class .Energy drinks also have acid .This is bad for your teeth .
So what can you drink ? Don't worry ,here are some cool and healthy drinks .Let's take a look .
Water Water ? That's right . It is the best and bealthiest drink . Water has no sugar or calories .It won't give you bad teeth or make you fat. How much water should you drink every day ? US research group Mayo Clinic suggest at least eight glasses of water a day (240 ml water a glass)
Juice If you don't like fresh fruits and vegetables , 100 percent of juice can be goood .But don't drink too much , no more than 240 ml every day is good for you.Remember : If you open a bottle of fresh juice , please drink it in one go ,or it will go bad .
Milk Milk helps you build a healthy body.Milk is rich in protein , vitamin D and calcium .They are all good for children's bones and teeth. | middle5829.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "A rich but unkind man."
},
"options": [
"A rich and happy man.",
"A rich but unkind man.",
"A poor but happy man.",
"A poor hard-working man."
],
"question": "What kind of man was Scrooge in the past?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "felt lucky to be alive"
},
"options": [
"felt lucky to be alive",
"felt strange about the dream",
"was angry with the Spirit",
"was tired of being alone"
],
"question": "When Scrooge woke up the next morning, he _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "He helped others and others loved him."
},
"options": [
"He had more money than before",
"He made good friends with the Spirit.",
"Other people all came to help him.",
"He helped others and others loved him."
],
"question": "Why was Scrooge happy in the end?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "he saw how he was treated after death"
},
"options": [
"the Spirit of Christmas told him to do so",
"he was saved by the Spirit the next day",
"he saw how he was treated after death",
"he was afraid to see his own grave"
],
"question": "Scrooge became a new man because _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Everybody in London knew Mr. Scrooge. He was very rich but also very mean. The most important thing in his life was money!
At six o'clock Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's clerk, went to Mr. Scrooge. "Excuse me. sir. Tomorrow is Christmas Day, can l stay at home?"
"Stay at home," shouted Scrooge. "I don't pay you to stay at home!" "But it is Christmas," said Cratchit. "Very well," said Scrooge. "but you must work double hours on Boxing Day!" "Yes sir, certainly sir, Merry Christmas, sir." "Get out," shouted Scrooge. "Christmas! Everybody talks about Christmas!" said Scrooge. "It's just an excuse not to work. People want money too. Always money! For doing nothing!" Scrooge put on his hat and coat and left the office.
It was Christmas Eve and everyone was shopping. It was dark and Scrooge was alone. He saw a person dressed in black.
"Are you the Spirit of Christmas to come?" asked Scrooge. The Spirit didn't speak. It pointed to a group of people. The people were talking. "Is he dead?" asked one man. "Yes. No-one will cry for him," said another. "He was a horrible, unkind man. He never gave money to us poor people. He wasn't a happy man." "Who's dead?" asked Scrooge. The Spirit pointed down. It was a grave . There were no flowers and no people there. "Who is it?" asked Scrooge nervously. The Spirit pointed again. "No, I don't want to look, I want to go home." But the Spirit didn't move. Very slowly Scrooge rubbed the snow away. On the grave were the words EBENEZER SCROOGE.
It was morning. Christmas morning. Scrooge was in bed! "I'm alive, I'm alive, how wonderful!" He jumped out of bed, singing and dancing as he went around the room. "What a beautiful day it is. I love Christmas. I love everybody."
He went to the butcher's and said, "Take the biggest turkey you have to Bob Cratchit's house." Scrooge met the two men collecting money for the poor. "Please take this," said Scrooge to the men and gave them a big sum of money for the poor. From that Christmas Scrooge was a new man. He helped the poor and was kind to everyone. He became a happy man and everybody loved him. | middle3280.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the right first and then the left"
},
"options": [
"the right side",
"the left side",
"the left first and then the right",
"the right first and then the left"
],
"question": "Before you cross a street in London, you must look to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "drive on the left"
},
"options": [
"drive on the left",
"drive on the right",
"ignore the traffic lights",
"go very quickly"
],
"question": "When you drive a car in England, you must _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "can go"
},
"options": [
"can go",
"must be careful",
"mustn't cross",
"must stop"
],
"question": "If the traffic lights are green, the traffic _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "with two floors"
},
"options": [
"with two chairs",
"with two rooms",
"with two floors",
"with two drivers"
],
"question": "In England, you can see some buses _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "You must drive cars on the left in England."
},
"options": [
"After you cross the street, you must look to the left first and then the right.",
"If the lights are red, the traffic mustn't stop.",
"You must drive cars on the left in England.",
"In the morning and in the evening when people go to or come back from work, the traffic is not dangerous."
],
"question": "Which of the following is right?",
"question_type": null
}
] | When you are in England, you must be very careful in the streets because the traffic goes on the left. Before you cross the street, you must look to the right first and then the left.
If the traffic lights are red, the traffic must stop . Then the people on foot can cross the road. If the lights are green, the traffic can go and people on foot mustn't cross.
In the morning and in the evening, when people go to or come back from work, the streets are very busy. The traffic is the most dangerous then.
When you go by bus in England, you have to be careful, too. You must always remember the cars drive on the left.
In many English cities, there are big buses with two floors. You can sit on the second floor. From there, you can see the city very well. That'll be very interesting. | middle1497.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Life is Like a Cafeteria in America"
},
"options": [
"From Thailand to America",
"Life is Like a Cafeteria in America",
"How to Eat in a Cafeteria",
"Eating in an American Cafeteria"
],
"question": "Which is the best title of the text?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Thailand"
},
"options": [
"Thailand",
"Australia",
"Canada",
"Manhattan"
],
"question": "My friend's father came from _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "try to get it by yourself"
},
"options": [
"get help from your friends",
"know how a cafeteria works",
"get up again if you fail",
"try to get it by yourself"
],
"question": "From the text, we know if you want to get SUCCESS in America, you should _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The woman didn't know the old man, but she told him how to get food in the cafeteria."
},
"options": [
"The old man sat down opposite the woman so that she could take his order.",
"The woman sat down opposite the old man so that she could serve him.",
"The woman didn't know the old man, but she decided to pay the bill for him.",
"The woman didn't know the old man, but she told him how to get food in the cafeteria."
],
"question": "Which of the following is True?",
"question_type": null
}
] | My friend's grandfather came to America from a farm in Thailand. After arriving in New York, he went into a cafeteria in Manhattan to get something to eat.He sat down at a table and waited for someone to take his order . Of course nobody did. Finally, a woman with a plate full of food sat down opposite him and told him how a cafeteria worked.
"Start out at the end," she said, "Just go along the line and choose what you want. At the other end they'll tell you how much you have to pay."
"I soon learned how everything works in America." the grandfather told my friend. "Life is like a cafeteria here. You can get anything you want only if you are willing to pay the money. You can even get success, but you'll never get _ if you wait for someone to bring it to you. You have to get up and get it by yourself." | middle7780.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Eleven."
},
"options": [
"Nine.",
"Ten.",
"Eleven.",
"We don't know."
],
"question": "How old is Bob?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "On Saturday."
},
"options": [
"On Saturday.",
"On Sunday.",
"On Friday.",
"On Monday."
],
"question": "When was the birthday party?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "On his bike."
},
"options": [
"On foot.",
"By taxi.",
"On his bike.",
"By boat."
],
"question": "How did Bob go to Jenny's house?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Jenny's."
},
"options": [
"Bob's.",
"Bob's mother's.",
"Jenny's mother's.",
"Jenny's."
],
"question": "Whose birthday is it?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Because he wanted some food."
},
"options": [
"Because he wanted others to look at his clean plate.",
"Because he had a nice clean plate.",
"Because he wanted some food.",
"Because his plate was very clean."
],
"question": "Why did Bob take up his plate?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | Bob is eleven years old. One day, his friend Jenny said to him, "I'm going to have a birthday party on Saturday. Bob, can you come?"
Bob asked his mother, and his mother said, "Yes, you can go. " On Saturday afternoon, his mother said to him again, "Now, Bob, when you go to the party, you must be polite , and don't ask for food until someone gives it to you. "
"All right, Mom. " Bob said, and he went to Jenny's house by bike.
There were many children at the party. They played games for about an hour, and then Jenny's mother gave them some food, but she forgot Bob and didn't give him any. After a long time, he took up his plate and said loudly, "Does anyone want a nice clean plate?" | middle5197.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "winter holidays"
},
"options": [
"summer holidays",
"winter holidays",
"May Day",
"Middle-autumn festival"
],
"question": "In winter , you can spend _ with your family together.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Look up the places where to visit."
},
"options": [
"Look up the places where to visit.",
"Think over the way to travel",
"Know the prices",
"Call some travel companies"
],
"question": "If you want to travel in holidays, what should you do at first ?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "by plane."
},
"options": [
"by car",
"by train",
"by bus",
"by plane."
],
"question": "You are now in China. If you want to visit New York, you can get their _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "have a good time"
},
"options": [
"play basketball",
"have good food",
"have a good time",
"make many friends"
],
"question": "With travel company's help, you can _ during travel.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "When you want to travel, you can make the plan online."
},
"options": [
"When you want to travel, you can make the plan online.",
"If you want to travel, you must have a computer at first.",
"If you visit your grandmother, you have to drive you car.",
"The passage mainly tells how to travel online."
],
"question": "Which of the following is RIGHT?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Every year we have many holidays, such as summer holidays. May Day and so on. How do you spend during these holidays? Do you like to travel during them ? Can you book holidays or make travel plans on line?
Now let me tell you how to do it. First,you should look up the places that you want to visit online. Then you can decide on which way to travel according to the prices online. If you go to other countries, you'd better take the plane. If you visit some places of interest near your hometown, you can take the train or bus there. Of course, you can drive a car. Next, you can get in touch with some travel companies ,and talk something about travel with them. And you can find the best place to stay at the best price. Finally, you can enjoy happy holidays with the help of the travel company. | middle4289.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the rings will be thinner on the south side and thicker on the north side"
},
"options": [
"the direction is written on it",
"the rings will be thinner on the south side and thicker on the north side",
"the rings will be thinner on the south",
"its rings can send messages to you"
],
"question": "From a cut tree we can know that _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "five"
},
"options": [
"three",
"four",
"five",
"six"
],
"question": "The passage tells us _ ways of finding the direction in the frorest.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | If someone is lost in a forest( ), he needs only study the trees around him carefully to find his way. On this half of the earth, he will find that the side of the tree with the most leaves and branches( ) is the south side. Also, by checking the tops of the trees, he will find that they lean( ) to the south too.
Another sign( ) for him to know where he is going is found in the bark.( ) That is brighter on the south side.The remanining( ) of a cut tree is also a finder, for its rings can give him another sign. The rings will be thinner on the south side and thicker on the north side.
One more sign: some very small plants grow at the foot of a tree and they point to the north. | middle2820.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "We should do it as gently and slowly as possible ."
},
"options": [
"We should do it as quickly as usual .",
"We should do it as gently and slowly as possible .",
"We should do it as fast as possible .",
"We should do it more quickly than usual ."
],
"question": "How should we start or stop the car on icy roads ?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Thestoppingdistanceoniceisaslongastheusualone."
},
"options": [
"Trafficaccidentstakeplaceeasilyinwinter.",
"Fogandmeltingsnowoftencausecaraccidents.",
"Thestoppingdistanceoniceisaslongastheusualone.",
"Inwinteryoushoulddriveyourcarwithgreatcare."
],
"question": "Which of the following is NOT TRUE?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "How to Drive on the Icy Roads ."
},
"options": [
"Dangerous Winter .",
"Foy and Ice .",
"The Rules of Driving .",
"How to Drive on the Icy Roads ."
],
"question": "What's the best title of the passage ?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Winter is dangerous because it's so difficult to know what is going to happen and traffic accidents take place so easily . Fog can be waiting to meet you over the top of a hill. Ice might be hiding under the melting snow, waiting ahead to send you off the road. The car coming to you may suddenly slip across the road.
Rule Number One for driving on icy roads is to drive smoothly. Sudden movements can make a car very difficult to control. So every time you either start or stop your car, increase or reduce your speed, you must be as gentle and slow as possible. Suppose you are driving with a full cup of hot coffee on the seat next to you. Drive so that you wouldn't spill _ .
Rule Number Two is to pay attention to what might happen. The more ice there is, the further down the road you have to look. Test how long it takes to gently stop your car. Remember that you may be driving more quickly than you think. Generally, allow twice of your usual stopping distance when the road is wet, three times on snow, and even more on ice. Try to stay in control of your car at all times ad you will not get into trouble. | middle2834.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "A movie."
},
"options": [
"A book.",
"A person.",
"A name.",
"A movie."
],
"question": "What is the Goal?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Twenty-nine."
},
"options": [
"The story doesn't tell us.",
"Twenty-nine.",
"Twenty-two.",
"He is not old."
],
"question": "How old is Beckham?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "David."
},
"options": [
"David.",
"Beckham.",
"Goal.",
"We don't know."
],
"question": "What's Beckham's first name?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | Beckham in a Football Movie
Do you like football? You must know David Beckham. But do you know that he will be in a movie? He will be David Beckham in the movie Goal.
Beckham said, "I want to teach kids how to play football when I finally _ ." "I believe that Goal will send a _ message to kids around the world."
Beckham, 29, said, "I think that Goal will make football more popular in America and Asia. I am very happy because I can help do it," he said. | middle7794.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "rocks"
},
"options": [
"earth",
"rocks",
"water",
"metal"
],
"question": "From the passage we know the moon was made of _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "how ideas about the moon have changed over time"
},
"options": [
"why people are interested in the moon",
"how ideas about the moon have changed over time",
"where the moon came from in the past",
"that people have finally learned the truth about the moon."
],
"question": "In the passage the writer wants to tell us _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "a planet caught by the earth's gravity"
},
"options": [
"part of the earth billions of years earlier",
"older than the earth",
"a planet caught by the earth's gravity",
"made of the same things as the earth"
],
"question": "Before 1969 most scientists thought the moon was _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "new information brings new ideas"
},
"options": [
"scientists in the past were not clever",
"the earth was once part of the moon",
"we now know everything about the moon",
"new information brings new ideas"
],
"question": "From this passage we can learn that _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | We have always been interested in the moon. 2000 years ago people already knew it moved around the earth and where it would be in the sky at different times of the year. At that time, everything about the moon was learned by watching it carefully in the sky.
When scientists could use telescopes to study the moon more closely, their ideas began to change. They could see the moon was made of rocks. Most scientists thought moon rocks would be different from those on Earth. This was because they believed the moon had once been a planet that had been caught in the earth's gravity millions of years earlier.
In 1969 moon rocks were finally brought to the earth and studied. Much to their surprise, scientists found that, except for water, the moon and the earth were made of the same things. Once again new ideas were needed for this new information.
After years of study, most scientists now think that the moon was once part of Earth. They believe very early in its history, maybe 4 million years ago, something about the size of Mars hit Earth. This sent billions of rocks into space around our planet. These rocks slowly joined together and after many years became the moon.
In the future, even though our ideas about the moon may change again, we will still be interested in it. | middle671.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "his neighbor's doorbell"
},
"options": [
"his neighbor",
"his neighbor's doorbell",
"some cotton",
"a door with a bell on it"
],
"question": "The thief was trying to get _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "safe"
},
"options": [
"safe",
"difficult",
"dangerous",
"easy"
],
"question": "The thief put some cotton in his ears. He thought it would be _ for him to steal the doorbell.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Both B and C"
},
"options": [
"he knew his doorbell was being stolen",
"he thought someone was eager to visit him",
"He realized something strange happened",
"Both B and C"
],
"question": "The neighbor ran out probably because _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "punish him for stealing"
},
"options": [
"give him lessons",
"punish him for stealing",
"help him with the bell",
"be his teacher"
],
"question": "The neighbor hit the thief to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The thief thought the neighbor could not hear the bell."
},
"options": [
"The thief understood why he was hit on the nose.",
"The thief knew why the neighbor came out.",
"The thief thought the neighbor could not hear the bell.",
"The thief didn't want to know why the neighbor ran out just at the time he stole the doorbell."
],
"question": "Which of the following is TRUE?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Long, long ago there was a very foolish thief. Do you know what he did one day? When he wanted to steal the bell on his neighbor's door, he walked up to the door, took hold of the bell and pulled hard. The bell made a very loud noise. The thief was afraid and went home.
Then he sat down to think, "I must do something about the noise," he said. He thought and thought. At last he had an idea. "Ah, I'll put some cotton in my ears. Then I won't be able to hear the noise." The next day he went to the door of his neighbor, and took hold of the bell. This time he pulled even harder. The bell rang loudly, but the thief did not hear anything. With another hard pull he got the bell out. Just then the neighbor came running out. "Steal my bell? I'll teach you a lesson ,"the angry man shouted. And he hit the thief on the nose.
The foolish thief did not know how the neighbor found out he was stealing the bell. "Why did he come out just then?" he wondered . | middle1483.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Love."
},
"options": [
"Date.",
"Money.",
"Love.",
"Past"
],
"question": "What did Grandma remember?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | Grandma was always forgetting things." What's wrong with her?" Anna asked. "We think she's getting old, and she may be ill. We may have to send her to a nursing home so that she can be taken good care of. But we can go to see her and bring her presents, like strawberry ice cream." Mother said.
One day, they went to see Grandma at the nursing home. Anna hugged Grandma. "Look," she said, "we've brought you strawberry ice cream!" Grandma didn't say anything. She just took it and began eating. "Do you know who I am?" Anna asked. "You're the girl who brings me ice cream." Grandma said. "Yes, but I'm Anna, your granddaughter. Don't you remember me?" she asked, throwing her arms around the old lady. Grandma smiled, "Remember? Sure. You're the girl who brings me ice cream." Suddenly Anna realized that Grandma would never remember her. "Oh, how I love you, Grandma!" she said. Just then she saw a tear roll down Grandma's cheeks . "Love," she said, "I remember love. n "You see, dear, that's what she wants--love!" Mother said. It's more important to remember love than someone's name. | middle117.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "eleven"
},
"options": [
"ten",
"eleven",
"thirteen",
"twelve"
],
"question": "How old is MeiMei?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "a toy"
},
"options": [
"apples",
"oranges",
"a toy",
"a big cake"
],
"question": "What does Lily buy for MeiMei?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "singing"
},
"options": [
"singing",
"dancing",
"playing cards",
"talking"
],
"question": "What is Lily doing at the birthday party?[",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "She takes a bus"
},
"options": [
"She walks home",
"She takes a car",
"She rides a bike",
"She takes a bus"
],
"question": "How does Lily go home?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "apples , oranges, bread and a birthday cake with candles on it"
},
"options": [
"An apple, two oranges and a birthday cake with candles on it",
"apples , oranges, bread and a birthday cake with candles on it",
"some apples , bread and a birthday cake with candles on it",
"some apples , oranges and a birthday cake with candles on it"
],
"question": "What is on the table?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | Lily is ten years old . One morning her good friend MeiMei says to her, " Next Friday is my birthday. Would you like to come to my birthday party?" Lily says " Yes, I would like to".
On Friday, Lily asks her mother, " Can I go to MeiMei's birthday party" "Yes, but you must be polite .and I want you to sing a song for your friend." "Ok. Mum" Lily answers and goes to MeiMei's home on foot. Then she buys a toy for MeiMei.
At the party there are many children. Some are dancing . Some are talking. Some are playing cards. And Lily is singing an English song .There are some apples , oranges , bread , and a big birthday cake with eleven candles on it . The children sit around the cake. MeiMei makes a silent wish, and then blows the candles out in one breath. The children have a good time. Then Lily goes home by bus. | middle3294.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "by air"
},
"options": [
"by boat",
"by ship",
"by air",
"by train"
],
"question": "The writer and his family returned to Alexandria _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "caught fireflies"
},
"options": [
"became good friends",
"moved to Guam",
"rode a bull",
"caught fireflies"
],
"question": "The writer and his cousins _ in the summer two years ago.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "When he was a young man."
},
"options": [
"When he was born.",
"When he was a young man.",
"Two years ago.",
"Last summer."
],
"question": "When did Don know he got cancer?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | I suppose when you grow up in one place, you have friends whom you've known since childhood.But as a child who moved a lot, my oldest friendships are with my cousins.
On our return from Guam, my parents, sisters and I walked off the plane in Alexandria.All my cousins were there to meet us.
I was excited to see them again.The last time I'd seen Don, Sherri and David was two years before.That summer we'd caught fireflies and watched Don and his friends play a game.Some boys acted like a bull with a rope .His friend held the rope and Don rode on it.When Don fell off, he got up and tried again.
Just like riding that bull, Don put his heart into everything he did.As a young man he was told he got cancer .But he fought it and never gave up.Like what he did that summer, he held tight , falling off a few times and trying again.I was excited and proud of my cousin for planning and going after his dream.I wished his ride would have lasted longer. | middle5815.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "he wanted to play a joke on him"
},
"options": [
"he didn't have enough money",
"he wanted to play a joke on him",
"he wanted to save some money",
"he didn't find his wallet, either"
],
"question": "Mark Twain told him he couldn't buy him a ticket because _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "lying under the seat"
},
"options": [
"lying under the seat",
"sitting on the seat",
"lying on the seat",
"standing nearby"
],
"question": "When the conductor came to check the tickets, the friend was _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "he wanted all the people here to know there was a man under the seat"
},
"options": [
"the conductor was standing far away",
"his friend was deaf",
"he enjoyed doing so",
"he wanted all the people here to know there was a man under the seat"
],
"question": "Mark Twain spoke in a loud voice because _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Mark Twain was famous in his days as a public speaker. In his public speeches he always liked to tell funny stories. He also liked to listen to funny stories and play jokes on his friends.
One day one of his friends lost his wallet and asked Mark Twain to pay his train fare for him.
"But I don't have enough money to pay both your fare and mine, "Mark Twain said. The friend didn't know what to do.
"We can do this, "said Mark Twain. "We can get on the train and when the conductor comes to check the tickets,you can hide under my seat. "
Later, however, when the conductor came to check the tickets, Mark Twain gave him two tickets-one for his friend and one for himself . Then he explained in a loud voice. "My friend here is a strange man. When he travels on a train, he doesn't like to sit on the seat. He prefers to lie on the floor under the seat. "Of course everybody in the train looked at the poor friend and laughed at him loudly. | middle881.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "a person has the same kind of car as himself (herself)"
},
"options": [
"a person has the same kind of car as himself (herself)",
"different people have cars of the same kind",
"poor people have large cars",
"artists have black cars"
],
"question": "The writer's grandfather thinks _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "and the passage doesn't tell us why"
},
"options": [
"because she is poor",
"because she is rich",
"because she likes old cars",
"and the passage doesn't tell us why"
],
"question": "Mrs. Bates has an old car _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "he has a large family"
},
"options": [
"he has a dog",
"he has a large family",
"he has no children",
"he has few members in his family"
],
"question": "Though Uncle Joe has a very small car, _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "colorful pictures"
},
"options": [
"pictures in black",
"colorful pictures",
"colorless pictures",
"pictures with only a few colors"
],
"question": "The writer's friend Mike paints _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "a car doesn't say anything about its owner"
},
"options": [
"his grandfather's idea about cars is right",
"cars are often the same as their drivers in many ways",
"artists shouldn't drive black cars",
"a car doesn't say anything about its owner"
],
"question": "The writer thinks _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | There are many kinds of cars in this world. My grandfather thinks this is because cars are like their drivers. He says, "Rich people have expensive cars, big people have large cars, and old people drive old cars." But I don't agree with him.
My neighbor, Mrs. Hill, is 82 years old. She drives only on Tuesday, and then she drives only to the bank. She never drives more than 30 kilometers an hour. Do you think Mrs. Hill has a very old and small car? No! Her car is new. It's very large, and it can go 200 kilometers an hour!
My friend Mike is an artist. He paints beautiful pictures with lots of colors. But his car is black. Mrs. Bates has a very, very old car. It often has some trouble. Does she drive that kind of car because she is poor? No, she has four restaurants and two million dollars in the bank. My uncle Joe has a very small car. Every Sunday, he drives to the country with his wife, his three children, his mother and his dog.
Now, you have read about my friends and their cars. Do you agree with my grandfather? Maybe you have a car. Does it say something about you? | middle659.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because it knows something Mr. Mott doesn't want others know."
},
"options": [
"Because it is invented by others.",
"Because it can talk with Mr. Mott.",
"Because it can remind(;) Mr. Mott of something he forgets.",
"Because it knows something Mr. Mott doesn't want others know."
],
"question": "Why does the writer think Mr. Mott will not always get on well with the robot?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "forgetful"
},
"options": [
"handsome",
"forgetful",
"a scientist",
"kind and friendly"
],
"question": "Mr. Mott is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "doesn't like the robot to follow Mr.Mott all day."
},
"options": [
"doesn't like the robot to follow Mr.Mott all day.",
"thinks it is a good idea to have a robot like Mr Mott's.",
"If we always forget something important,we should have a robot.",
"A notebook is cheaper than a robot but a robot is better than a notebook."
],
"question": "From this passage we know that the writer _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | "Mr. Mott often forgets important meetings. The robot will go after him all the time. It listens to everything he says. It sees everything he does. At night, it watches him sleep. It knows everything about Mr. Mott..."
It sounds like a wonderful idea, doesn't it? But I'm afraid that Mr. Mott will not get on well with the robot, because everyone has something he doesn't want others know. It is privacy. Just imagine that there is a video camera around you all day. How do you feel? When you are taking an exam, a teacher sits in front of you and watches you all the time. How do you feel?
Mr. Mott doesn't lose all his memory. At least he remembers that he always forgets. So why can't he do something for this HIMSELF? He can keep a notebook with him, like most people do. In the notebook he can write down the things he should do, the persons he should meet and the places he should go. Isn't the notebook much cheaper and safer than the robot? | middle895.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "practise English"
},
"options": [
"improve his writing",
"practise English",
"know more historical stories",
"make Ms.Li happy"
],
"question": "Zhao Gang wants to have a pen friend , so he can_.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "P.E."
},
"options": [
"P.E.",
"English",
"History",
"Art"
],
"question": "What subject doesn't Zhao Gang like?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "An American student"
},
"options": [
"Zhao Gang's classmate",
"A middle school student in Zhejiang.",
"An American student",
"Ms Li's student"
],
"question": "Who is Vincent?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "He went to the cinema."
},
"options": [
"He played computer games",
"He wrote a letter to Vincent",
"He talked to Ms. Li about his pen friend",
"He went to the cinema."
],
"question": "What did Zhao Gang do on October 20 ,2011?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "He plays computer games and watches films"
},
"options": [
"He plays computer games and watches films",
"He does sports",
"He reads books",
"He sings and dances"
],
"question": "What does Zhao Gang do in his free time?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | October 21st,2011
Dear Vincent,
I'm a middle school student in Zhejiang , China. My English teacher , Ms.Li gave me your name and address. I want to be your pen friend.
English is my favourite subject.That's why I want to practise English with an American student. I also like art. It's so interesting and useful.I like history, too. Our history teacher always tells us a lot of interesting historical stories. We all have a good time in history classes.
In my free time, I enjoy playing computer games . It's exciting and fun. Do you like it ? I also like to go to the movies. I saw Harry Potter and the DeathlyHallows:Part 1 yesterday. It was a great film.But I don't like sports, so I never enjoy P.E.classes.
How about you? What subjects do you like? What do you look like? What do you want to do when you get older? I hope I can get your letter soon!
Yours,
Zhao Gang | middle7970.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "a website"
},
"options": [
"a radio program",
"a newspaper",
"a TV program",
"a website"
],
"question": "You may read this advertisement in _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "At 4:30 p.m. on May Day"
},
"options": [
"At 9:30 a.m. on October 26th",
"At 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays",
"At 4:30 p.m. on May Day",
"At 4:10 p.m. on New Year's Day"
],
"question": "If you would like to visit the Museum of Transport , when will it be possible?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "$9"
},
"options": [
"$6",
"$9",
"$9.5",
"$12"
],
"question": "If you and your elder brother are both middle school students, your parents take both of you to visit the museum, you should pay at least _ in all.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Museum of Transport at Boylet St , Cheetham, Manchester
Enjoy a trip to the Museum of Transport, a working museum showing the development of road public transport in Manchester. There are over 80 buses from 1890 to 1980. Over 100 shows, from hours-bus to modern train. The museum has small shows describing the history of bus, coach and train. If you are interested in it, welcome to click here and you can see some pictures of them on the screen and get more information about them.
Opening hours and ticket prices
Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
9:00 a.m. ~ 4:00 p.m. (Nov. ~ Feb. )
10:00 a.m. ~ 5:00 p.m. (Mar. ~ Oct.)
Adults $3. 00, Students $1.75, Children under 5 free.
Family ticket ( up to two adults and three children) $ 9.00
E-mail : www. gmts. co. uk | middle2808.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "20"
},
"options": [
"18",
"20",
"22",
"24"
],
"question": "How old was Diana when she got married to Prince Charles?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "mother"
},
"options": [
"sister",
"aunt",
"mother",
"wife"
],
"question": "Diana was the _ of Prince Harry.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "To help people who need help"
},
"options": [
"To help people who need help",
"To collect money for AIDS patients.",
"To provide many houses for patients.",
"To make Diana more beautiful and famous."
],
"question": "What was the aim of setting up the fund?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Blair thought Princess Diana was the People's Princess."
},
"options": [
"Blair was the wife of Prince Charles.",
"Barbara Bush was also an AIDS Patient.",
"Diana thought the patients had no money.",
"Blair thought Princess Diana was the People's Princess."
],
"question": "Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Dianna was born in a rich family on July 1st,1961. On July 29, 1981, Diana married Prince Charles. Later she gave birth to Prince William and Prince Harry.
Dianna enjoyed taking part in international Charities . One day in July 1991, she went to a hospital to see AIDS patients with Barbara Bush, the wife of the president of the United States at the time. Princess Diana talked to an AIDS patient who was unable to stand up. She even hugged him and encouraged him to fight against the illness . The patient was very _ and said, "AIDS patients do need warm hugs." Of course, she made it. Unfortunately, she died in August 1997. British Prime Minister, Tony Blair said in his speech that Diana was the People's Princess.
After her death, people set up a fund to remember Diana and help those who need help. | middle5801.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "She decided to get her car"
},
"options": [
"She took a walk in the rain",
"She argued with her friend",
"She returned to the hotel",
"She decided to get her car"
],
"question": "What did the writer do after she had just had lunch?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "surprised"
},
"options": [
"angry",
"surprised",
"happy",
"sorry"
],
"question": "How did the writer feel when a stranger insisted escorting her?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Good turns worth another"
},
"options": [
"Unforgettable rainy days",
"An unknown man",
"Good turns worth another",
"A beautiful umbrella"
],
"question": "What's the best title for the passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | My friends and I had just finished lunch at a hotel when it started to rain heavily. When it became lighter, I decided to get my car which was parked at my office three streets away.
My friends argued that I shouldn't go, mainly because I was seven months pregnant then. I promised that I'd be very careful. One of them wanted to come with me but I asked her to stay with another friend who needed help with her baby.
I walked out of the hotel and started making my way to the car. At the crossing, a black car stopped and a man came out with an umbrella. Before I knew what was happening, he walked right through me and told me he'd escort me. Although I refused, he insisted that he would.
During our walk, he kept telling me to walk slower, as the ground was wet. When we got to the car-park, I thanked him and he went away. I did not get his name and can hardly recognize him now. Did he stop for me? I'll never know.
So how did I pay it forward? I was at home when I noticed two Indian workers walking in the heavy rain. They were probably on their way to the working place near my home. _
They were surprised by my action. They were very grateful to me, probably wondered why a stranger was offering such kindness. I was so relaxed and happy that day. | middle7541.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "soft drinks"
},
"options": [
"chips",
"ice cream",
"fruit",
"soft drinks"
],
"question": "According to the passage, kids put _ at the end of the snack list in one study of eating habits.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "how to fight overweight"
},
"options": [
"one of the biggest health problems, overweight",
"how to play football",
"the healthy food",
"how to fight overweight"
],
"question": "The passage mainly talks about _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Overweight is one of the biggest health problems now. Being overweight affects more than how you look. Too much fat can kill you. What's worse, overweight children turn into overweight adults . If you're obese now, you probably will grow into an obese adult. But here's good news. You can fight overweight.
Change your eating habits.
You are what you eat, Kids like snacks. Did you list any healthy snacks? One study of eating habits showed that soft drinks are the first in the snack list. Next, kids choose salty snacks, like chips .What's more, the list is full of junk food from No.3 to No.11. Finally, No.12, kids picked a healthy snack--fruit, So, think about your snack choice again.
Get outside to exercise
Jim, a player on his school football team, had a weight problem not long time ago. He could never get anyone to play with him. So his father and he started playing football for a few minutes every night. Ten minutes turned into an hour or more. In just a few years, the heavy kid became athletic, fit and healthy.
More TV means more fat
Nearly every American kid watches TV for 2 hours and 56 minutes every day that adds up to 44 days a year of sitting. More TV (or more Internet surfing, or more computer games) means more fat.
Eat an apple a day, walk around the house, play with your family...Do it today, and do it more tomorrow. It will help you a lot. | middle6887.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "more important than reading and writing"
},
"options": [
"more important than reading and writing",
"not so important as reading and writing",
"as important as reading and writing",
"not so useful in learning English"
],
"question": "For the beginners, listening and speaking is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "it doesn't matter if you make any mistakes"
},
"options": [
"you shouldn't make any mistakes",
"you must speak slowly",
"it doesn't matter if you make any mistakes",
"you had better take a dictionary with you"
],
"question": "When you are speaking, _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "write notes or letters"
},
"options": [
"speak as much as possible",
"write notes or letters",
"ask some Americans to speak with you",
"read more English books"
],
"question": "One of the good ways to find your mistakes in your speaking is to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "interesting to read to yourself"
},
"options": [
"difficult to read aloud",
"easy to read to yourself",
"interesting to read to yourself",
"important to read aloud"
],
"question": "If you want to be fast in speaking, you should choose something _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "stop to look it up"
},
"options": [
"stop to look it up",
"not look it up and just go on reading",
"stop reading at once",
"not stop to look it up"
],
"question": "In reading, if you meet a new word which has something important to do with the sentence, you'd better _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | In learning English, one should first pay attention to listening and speaking.It is the groundwork of reading and writing.You'd better try your best to speak while you do much listening.Don't be afraid of making mistakes.But be careful not to let them stop you from improving your English.While you are doing this, a good way is to write---keep a diary, write notes or letters, and then if you can, ask someone else to go through what you have written and tell you what is wrong.Many mistakes in your speaking will be easily found when you write.Through correcting the mistakes, you can do better in learning English.
If you are slow in speaking, don't worry.One of the helpful ways is reading, either aloud or to yourself.The important thing is to choose something interesting to read.It mustn't be too difficult for you.When you are reading in this way, don't stop to look up the words if you can guess their meanings, or they have nothing important to do with the sentence.You can look them up later. | middle1130.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "in a restaurant"
},
"options": [
"at the airport",
"in a bank",
"in a restaurant",
"in a big supermarket"
],
"question": "Kangkang will meet Peter _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "take a taxi"
},
"options": [
"take a bus",
"take a taxi",
"walk",
"run"
],
"question": "Peter will _ to the restaurant.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "on Renmin Road"
},
"options": [
"on Renmin Road",
"on Songshan Road",
"next to the big supermarket",
"in the airport"
],
"question": "The big bridge is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "on the left of Songshan Road."
},
"options": [
"on the left of Renmin Road",
"on the right of Songshan Road.",
"between Renmin Road and Sonshan Road.",
"on the left of Songshan Road."
],
"question": "Haitian Restaurant is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The restaurant is on Renmin Road."
},
"options": [
"Peter will arrive at the city on Sunday afternoon",
"There's a big supermarket across from Haitian Restaurant.",
"The restaurant is on Renmin Road.",
"Turn right when Peter sees a bank."
],
"question": "Which of the following is NOT RIGHT ?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Dear Peter,
I'm very happy you'll come to my city at 3:00 pm this Sunday. Now let me tell you the way to Haitian Restaurant .Take a taxi from the airport and go down Renmin Road. Go across the big bridge. When you see a bank, turn right and go straight. It's down Songshan Road on the left. It's across from a big supermarket. I'll meet you there.
Have a good trip!
Kangkang | middle5356.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Difficult."
},
"options": [
"Easy.",
"Boring.",
"Difficult.",
"Dangerous."
],
"question": "What does Sue think of learning sailing?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Sue goes sailing every weekend."
},
"options": [
"Sue always sails very far.",
"Sue goes sailing every weekend.",
"Sue goes sailing with her friends.",
"Sue started sailing at the age of 18."
],
"question": "Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Y=100."
},
"options": [
"Y=15.",
"Y=20.",
"Y=50.",
"Y=100."
],
"question": "If you want to learn sailing at the Water Sports Center,how much will you pay?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | Sailing
Welcome to our TV showOn the Go. Today we are going to talk about an exciting sport--sailing. First let's talk to Sue,an 18yearold girl who loves sailing.
Host: When did you start sailing,Sue?
Sue: I started sailing when I was 15 years old.
Host: Is it a difficult sport to learn?
Sue: Yes,it is more difficult than any other sport. For example,you need to learn about the wind directions and how to move the sails in the right way.
Host: How often do you go sailing?
Sue: I go sailing with my father every weekend.
Host: How far do you go sailing?
Sue: It depends on the wind.
Host:OK. Thank you,Sue. Good luck with your sailing.
Are you interested in sailing after hearing the interview?
If you want to learn sailing,here is a chance for you .The Water Sports Center will organize sailing lessons. Each lesson will cost you Y=20 and there are 5 lessons altogether . | middle3727.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Set certain standards."
},
"options": [
"Set certain standards.",
"Learn about the writers",
"Do a survey on books.",
"Take out the bad words."
],
"question": "According to some parents, what should schooIs do before books are put in schooIs?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Whether some books should be in schooI libraries or not."
},
"options": [
"Whether students should read certain books or not.",
"Whether some limits should be set on books or not.",
"Whether some books should be in schooI libraries or not.",
"Whether parents should choose good books for kids or not."
],
"question": "What is the passage mainly about?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Are there Harry Porter books in your schooI library? Many kids all over the world are reading J. K. Rowling's books in school. But some parents think their children shouldn't be able to find those and other books in schooI libraries.
Should schooI Iibraries keep books that some parents don't _ ? Should they take those books off the shelves?
All over the country, schools are trying to find solutions to this problem. Read these arguments. Then decide for yourself.
Yes! Some Books Sould Be Banned from School Libraries!
"We need certain limits ,"said one student. He said some books have no place in school Iibraries.
Books should meet certain standards before they are put in schooIs. Is this a good book for kids to read? Is it fuII of violence ? Does it include bad words or ideas kids shouId not learn about? If a book is not good for all kids, it should not be in a schooI Iibrary.
Most parents know what's good for kids. They have a right to decide which books should or should not be in schooI Iibraries. If parents don't have time to find out everything their kids read, they should trust schooIs to do that for them.
No! Books Should Not Be Banned from School Libraries!
"Parents should decide what their own kids read, "said Natalie Nicol, a student. "But other parents shouldn't make that choice for them. "
Many experts say that it's the parents' job, not the schooI's job, to check out what their kids are reading. If they don't Iike a book, they should not let their kids read it.
Why should a few parents stop kids from reading stories like the Harry Potter series? Kids should be able to check out books their parents think are OK to read it.
Many schooIs Iet kids borrow certain books if they have a signed paper from a parent. That works fine. A parent doesn't sign the paper if he or she doesn't want the child to read the book. Other kids can read the books if they have permission.
Some books are not OK for all kids to read. But if more adults were careful about what their own kids read, they wouldn't have to ban books from the library. | middle4048.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "was a waste of time when the mind was shut off"
},
"options": [
"had something to do with imagination",
"had been misunderstood for a long time",
"was a waste of time when the mind was shut off",
"was a good way to relax and solve problems"
],
"question": ". It was believed that daydreaming _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Daydreaming could improve people's problem-solving abilities."
},
"options": [
"People's minds turned off as they daydreamed.",
"The group that were given hard memory tasks performed best.",
"People who had a break showed improvement in the task.",
"Daydreaming could improve people's problem-solving abilities."
],
"question": ". What did the scientists discover in the experiment?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "By comparing the performances of different groups."
},
"options": [
"By studying brain scan results of the groups.",
"By comparing the performances of different groups.",
"By asking and observing people in different groups.",
"By analyzing the amount of tasks each participant did."
],
"question": ". How did the scientists get their conclusion?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | Have you ever been stuck for hours on a hard math problem? If you sat there for some time you might eventually solve it, but scientists say that daydreaming might be a much better way to tackle difficult tasks.
In fact, daydreaming has long been misunderstood. It's considered to be a bad thing and often associated with laziness. "We're harsh on ourselves if we catch ourselves mind wandering," says Professor Kalina Christoff from the University of British Columbia in Canada.
But the truth is that some of the most important scientific discoveries came about because scientists allowed their minds to wander. For example, Albert Einstein began his theory of relativity when he daydreamed about riding a beam of sunlight to the edge of the universe. And now, research has shown that normal people can also improve their problems solving ability in the same way, reported The Telegraph.
In a study, 145 people aged between 19 and 32 were asked to list as many unusual uses as possible for everyday objects. Some of them were given a 12-minute break while the others were not allowed any break from the task. People on the break did not simply relax--some of them were told to carry out a tiring memory task while others did an easier task.
Scientists found that people who did the easier task were daydreaming a lot. They thought about personal issues in the past or in the future because their mind was at ease.
After the break, all participants were asked to return once again to the task of listing unusual uses for everyday objects. It was found that daydreamers improved their performance by 40 percent, while all the other people, including those who didn't have a break and who did tiring tasks during the break, performed the same as before.
"People think that when the mind wanders away, it just gets turned off--but we show the opposite," explained Christoff."A more playful attitude might allow you to call in more resources ." So when you are struggling to solve complicated problems, it might be better off if you switch to a simpler task and let your mind wander for a while, she suggested.
According to Christoff, people typically spend one-third of their waking time daydreaming. "It's a big part of our lives, but it's been largely ignored by science." | middle3041.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "skiing."
},
"options": [
"skiing.",
"skating",
"swimming",
"shopping"
],
"question": "In winter, _ is the most popular sport for Norwegians to have a good time.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "crossing the deep snow"
},
"options": [
"having fun",
"crossing the deep snow",
"making money",
"exercising"
],
"question": "Long long time ago, Norwegians skied for _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "8"
},
"options": [
"6",
"7",
"8",
"5"
],
"question": "How many activities can you find in the passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the life of Norwegians"
},
"options": [
"skiing",
"the life of Norwegians",
"out-door activities",
"swimming"
],
"question": "The writer wants to tell us about _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Norwegians also like indoor activities."
},
"options": [
"Norwegians like winter, but they don't like summer.",
"Norwegians don't think family life is very important.",
"Norwegians also like indoor activities.",
"Norwegians don't like indoor activities."
],
"question": "Which sentence is right?",
"question_type": null
}
] | For many people of Norway ,skiing is the best way to have fun in winter. Almost everyone can ski. Children learn to ski after they learn to walk. Long long ago in Norway ,there were no buses, trains or cars. People had to find a way to walk over the deep snow. Skis were the right answer!
Although they love winter, the people of Norway are also happy to see summer come. They enjoy the out-door activities at any time of the year. In summer they swim and sunbathe near the beach. Some people go hiking and go mountain climbing. Sail-boating is also very popular during the warm sunny summer months.
The Norwegians , like people everywhere, find many in-door ways to have a good time. During the long winter they also enjoy movies. They like to read books from the libraries in all seasons . Family life is very important to the people of Norway. | middle6139.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "her mother and two daughters"
},
"options": [
"her daughters",
"her husband",
"her mother",
"her mother and two daughters"
],
"question": "The writer visited The Forbidden City with _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "palace"
},
"options": [
"city",
"palace",
"village",
"garden"
],
"question": "The Forbidden City is a _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the emperors' home"
},
"options": [
"a museum",
"the emperor's short-lived home",
"a place of interest for public",
"the emperors' home"
],
"question": "The Forbidden City was used as _ for nearly 500 years until 1912.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The first lady enjoyed all of the art and history in this wonderful place"
},
"options": [
"They had enough time to visit every room",
"The Forbidden City was used as a museum till 1925",
"The first lady enjoyed all of the art and history in this wonderful place",
"There are more than 1,000 buildings and less than 10,000 rooms"
],
"question": "According to the passage, we can infer that _ .",
"question_type": "summarization_questions"
}
] | The First Lady's Travel Journal: Touring the Forbidden City
March 21, 2014
After visiting the Beijing Normal School, Madame Peng took Sasha and Malia, my mother, and me to the Forbidden City, which is right in the heart of Beijing.
For more than 2,000 years (up until 1912), China was ruled by emperors who descended from many different dynasties, or families, who passed ruling positions on from generation to generation -- and for nearly 500 years, the Forbidden City used as the emperor's home.
Like the name suggests, the Forbidden City is large enough to be a city of its own -- it includes nearly 1,000 buildings and nearly 10,000 rooms.
In 1925, the new Chinese government turned the Forbidden City into a museum so that visitors like us from all over the world can stroll through many of the beautiful rooms and outdoor spaces.
The Forbidden City is too large to fully experience in a single visit, but the following: The Hall of Union and Peace has almost 14,000 ornamental dragons. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is where the emperor [:]watched birthday celebrations and coronation ceremonies from his Dragon Throne . And then there are the Imperial Gardens, where you can walk along the paths and pavilions, admiring the beautiful rock arrangements, flowers and cypress trees.
While we loved our visit to the Forbidden City, we only wish we had more time to see everything. But then again, I'm not sure there could ever be enough time to fully enjoy all of the art and history in this wonderful place. | middle7227.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "join in their discussion"
},
"options": [
"join in their discussion",
"have his own discussion",
"get up from his chair",
"go out of school"
],
"question": "When Tyler was talking in class, the teacher advised him to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "having the privilege to decide for himself"
},
"options": [
"shouting at the teacher",
"losing control in class",
"having the privilege to decide for himself",
"helping the teacher manage the class"
],
"question": "Tyler changed after _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "leaving the class for a moment"
},
"options": [
"sitting in the back row",
"leaving the class for a moment",
"stopping a fight between two students",
"not listening to teachers in class"
],
"question": "Tyler did all the following things EXCEPT _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "moved"
},
"options": [
"stressed",
"worried",
"satisfied",
"moved"
],
"question": "Every time the teacher reads the thank-you note, he feels _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "how Tyler changed to be a good student"
},
"options": [
"how Tyler got the punishment",
"how Tyler changed to be a good student",
"how the teacher dealt with Tyler's return",
"how the teacher felt about Tyler's thank-you note"
],
"question": "The passage is mainly about _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Tyler was a troublesome student. He sat in the back row. Every time I called him to answer questions, he'd reply with a flip answer. If he got it wrong, he would get very angry.
Usually kids could sit quietly in class. However, Tyler was just loud. One day, Tyler was talking while I was teaching. I said to him, "Tyler, why not join in our discussion instead of having one of your own?" He got up from his chair, pushed it over, and shouted something I can't remember. I sent him to the office and he received a week's out-of-school punishment.
The week was a wonderful time for me, but when it came to an end, I began to feel worried. So I came up with a plan. On the day of his return, I told him I wanted to start over with him. If he felt like he was going to lose control in class, he could step outside the door for a moment.
From then on, Tyler was a changed student in my classroom. In fact he was a smart child and he even stopped a fight between two students one day. And he never used the privilege to leave the class for a moment. I believe that just letting him decide for himself made all the difference.
When the year was over, he wrote me a thank-you note about how good the year had been for him. I still have it today and find it very moving to reread when I get stressed about teaching. | middle7233.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "a sheep"
},
"options": [
"a sheep",
"a goat",
"a cat",
"an elephant"
],
"question": "According to the passage, we know that the first human-sheep looks like _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "animal organs may be used in human bodies"
},
"options": [
"sheep will be cleverer and stronger in the future",
"sheep are as important as human in the future",
"sheep will take the place of humans in the future",
"animal organs may be used in human bodies"
],
"question": "The appearance of the first human-sheep means _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "the organs may bring animal viruses into human bodies"
},
"options": [
"humans will change into animals",
"There will be fewer and fewer animals in the future",
"the organs may bring animal viruses into human bodies",
"many animals will be dead after they give their organs to humans"
],
"question": "Some people think it's not good to use animal organs because they're afraid that _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "created a new creature"
},
"options": [
"created a new stem cell",
"created a new creature",
"created a new organ",
"created a new food"
],
"question": ". Zanjani put some stem cell from the human body and put them into the sheep while it was still in its mother's body. He \" _ \" .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Zanjani created the world's first human-sheep to make the sheep grows faster"
},
"options": [
"The world's first human-sheep is 15% percent human and 85% sheep",
"The world's first human-sheep has many organs that are part-human",
"Zanjani created the world's first human-sheep to make the sheep grows faster",
"The world's first human-sheep is a sheep with the body of a sheep and half-human organs."
],
"question": "According to the passage, \" _ \" is not true.",
"question_type": "summarization_questions"
}
] | Scientists have made the world's first human-sheep----with the body of a sheep and half-human organs . Amazing, but true. The sheep is15percent human and 85 percent sheep. The breakthrough makes it possible to use animal organs in human bodies in the future. Professor Esmail Zanjani of University of Nevada, US, has spent seven years And over $9 million on the work. Zanjani took stem cells from the human body and put them into the sheep while it was still in its mother's body. The stem cells made other cells that grew into organs. Zanjani believe that in the future such sheep might be used to help humans. Two months later a human-sheep is born, it has a liver , heart, ling and brain that are part-human. These organs could be used to help people in need of them. There are different opinions about his work, however. Some say that scientists don't have the right to create new creature . Using animal organ might bring animal viruses into human bodies. Others are afraid that the work might change sheep. But Professor Anjani has said that this is impossible. | middle3055.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The head teacher."
},
"options": [
"The monitor",
"The students.",
"The head teacher.",
"The parents."
],
"question": "Who made the class rules?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "on time"
},
"options": [
"at seven o'clock",
"by bike",
"very early",
"on time"
],
"question": "The students should go to school _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The seventh rule"
},
"options": [
"The second rule",
"The fourth rule",
"The seventh rule",
"The tenth rule"
],
"question": "_ mentions that the students can't smoke or drink.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "can't ride bikes"
},
"options": [
"can fight with each other",
"can't play games",
"can play cards",
"can't ride bikes"
],
"question": "In the schoolyard, students _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Only a small number of students will obey the rules."
},
"options": [
"Our class was noisy in the past.",
"There are ten class rules listed.",
"Boys can't dye hair or let their hair grow too long.",
"Only a small number of students will obey the rules."
],
"question": "Which of the following is NOT true?",
"question_type": null
}
] | We all know that every class has its own rules, like "No smoking!", "No eating!" and "No sleeping!". Our class used to be noisy, because some students were talking when a student was answering the teacher's questions. So our head teacher made some class rules.
In class, we should observe the rules. Now, I list some rules in our class:
1. No talking when Someone is speaking.
2. No sleeping in class.
3. No eating in class.
4. Students can't arrive late for school. Be always on time.
5. No playing in class.
6. No laughing when someone makes a mistake.
7. No smoking or drinking.
8. Students can't dye hair. Boys can't let their hair grow too long.
9. In the schoolyard , students can't ride bikes.
10. Students can't fight with each other.
Maybe some students don't obey some of the rules. They may smoke, fight and dye hair. But most students think the rules are fine and say they will obey the rules. I think because our class has such rules, we will study better and better. | middle5424.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "He worried that others would know his secret."
},
"options": [
"He left the party too late.",
"He was afraid of the darkness.",
"He didn't know where the black bag was.",
"He worried that others would know his secret."
],
"question": "Why did the man feel nervous?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Excited."
},
"options": [
"Interested.",
"Excited.",
"Tired.",
"Angry."
],
"question": "How would the children feel when they saw the man's work?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | I hid the long black bag in the garage two days ago. Tonight, in the dark, I would finally take it away. If everything went OK, it would be done by morning. But I had to be sure no one, not even my wife, saw me.
It was more difficult to get away from the party than I expected. I said that the children were tired and needed to get to bed. It was partly true. But the main reason for leaving was that I wanted to complete my plan.
First I had to get the kids to sleep. That was never easy at any time and tonight it was even more difficult. The eldest one wanted to know why we left the party early. I told him 10:30 pm was not early. As usual, I read them a bed time story, but I had to stop myself reading too quickly or _ would learn my secret.
Silence finally came, and feeling like a thief in the night, I went out of the house and into the garage. Taking one end, I pulled the bag out from its hiding place and took it into the garden. I was worried that my neighbours might see me and call the police.
It was already eleven o'clock. By the light of the moon I started working, trying to make as little noise as possible. And that was not easy with a saw and a hammer .
After much hard work, I finally completed my work. I looked down at my watch. It was exactly 4:00 am. Then I went inside to have a shower and get a few hours of sleep. It wouldn't be long now before the kids would rush into my room and wake me up to tell me about the new tree-house Father Christmas brought them this year. | middle5342.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Chinese students."
},
"options": [
"Japanese students.",
"Chinese students.",
"American students.",
"South Korean students."
],
"question": "In the report, who studies hardest?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "93% Japanese students like taking notes in class."
},
"options": [
"93% Japanese students like taking notes in class.",
"Most Chinese students do physical exercises after class.",
"38.9% American students talk with friends in class.",
"South Korean students fall asleep in class most often."
],
"question": "Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "5%."
},
"options": [
"45%.",
"32%.",
"21%.",
"5%."
],
"question": "In China, how many students fall asleep in class?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Go out with friends."
},
"options": [
"Do physical exercises.",
"Study or surf the Internet.",
"Watch TV.",
"Go out with friends."
],
"question": "What do American students do in their free time?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "It is an article about the students' study and life in four countries."
},
"options": [
"It is a report about the students' lessons in four countries.",
"It is an article about the students' study and life in four countries.",
"It is a story about students' sports after class.",
"It tells us that American students don't like studying."
],
"question": "What is the article about?",
"question_type": null
}
] | You may feel curious about students in other countries: Do they also have so much homework? What do they do in their free time?
On April 8, a report came out on the life of high school students in China, Japan, South Korea and the US. It surveyed around 6,200 students from the four countries last year. You will find the answers to many of your questions in this report.
Who studies hardest?
Chinese students spend the most time studying. Nearly half of Chinese students spend more than two hours on their homework every day. That's much more than students of the US(26.4%), Japan(8.2%) and South Korea(5.2%).
Who sleeps most often in class?
Japanese students fall asleep in class most often. About 45% of them said they sometimes doze off in class. In South Korea is 32%; in the US, 21%; and 5% in China.
South Korean students don't like taking notes. About 70% said they write down what the teacher says in class, many fewer than in Japan(93%), China(90%) and the US (89%).
Who is the most distracted ?
American students are the most active in class, but also the most distracted: 64.2% said they talk with friends in class; 46.9% said they eat snacks in class; and 38.9% said they send e-mails or read unrelated books in class.
What do they do after school?
In their free time, most Chinese students study or surf the Internet. Most American students go out with their friends. Most Japanese students do physical exercises. Most South Korean students watch TV. | middle3733.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Customers prefer to feel relaxed at a restaurant."
},
"options": [
"Customers prefer to feel relaxed at a restaurant.",
"Unless you order Tim's Hug, he will not hug you.",
"As soon as you enter Tim's Place, you will get a warm hug.",
"Michelle Garth-Jones loves listening to the story in the restaurant."
],
"question": "Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Creative"
},
"options": [
"Humorous",
"Creative",
"Serious",
"Curious"
],
"question": "Which of the following words can best describe Time Harris?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The World's Friendliest Restaurant"
},
"options": [
"Tim's Achievements",
"A Special Experience",
"A Down Syndrome Sufferer",
"The World's Friendliest Restaurant"
],
"question": "What may be the best title for this passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | While it is common for restaurant owners to connect with their customers, a restaurant owner in the U.S. is taking it to a whole new level. Tim Harries gives out free hugs to every customer at the end of each meal. The atmosphere at his restaurant "Tim's Place" is so positive that customers often call it the "World's friendliest restaurant".
"Tim's Hug" is in fact an item on the menu described as a "love" treat. Tim's hugs are doubly special because of everything he has achieved. The 26-year-old is probably the only Down syndrome sufferer in the U.S. to own a restaurant,but he has several other things to be proud of-- he's a skillful special Olympian, an excellent sailor, and all experienced fisherman. He was also chosen as Homecoming King and Student of the Year in high school! So when a man like Tim hugs you,it is sure to be a special and unforgettable experience
When Tim expressed interest in opening a restaurant,Keith,a small businessman himself, supported him. Tim hired other people to manage the place and do the cooking, and he introduced the idea of free hugs. He realized that people want to feel at home at a restaurant. That is why he included "love" as all item on the menu. Customers can order the free hug from Tim,and even if they don't, he'll probably hug them anyway.
The restaurant has been around since 2010,and Tim has given out over 19,000 hugs in the past five years -- he keeps count using a special Hug Counter.Many customers love visiting "Tim's Place". "I've been coming here once a week." said Michelle Garth-Jones, a regular customer. "I love local restaurants, and this special one has a story that stays with you." | middle7555.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "On the bed."
},
"options": [
"Under the sofa.",
"On the desk.",
"On the bed.",
"In the bookcase."
],
"question": "Where is Tommy's Chinese book?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "English"
},
"options": [
"English",
"Math",
"History",
"Chinese"
],
"question": "What's Sally's favorite subject?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "His friends"
},
"options": [
"His parents",
"His brothers",
"His classmates",
"His friends"
],
"question": "Who does Dave play basketball with after school?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Bill"
},
"options": [
"Tommy",
"Bill",
"Dave",
"Sally"
],
"question": "_ lost a jacket.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Sally likes Anna, her English teacher."
},
"options": [
"Tommy's CDs are on the desk.",
"Sally likes Anna, her English teacher.",
"Dave plays baseball after school.",
"Bill finds his jacket."
],
"question": "Which of the following is TRUE?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Hello, I'm Tommy Smith. This is my room. Look! My schoolbag is on the desk. My Chinese book is on the bed. My baseball is under the sofa. And my CDs are in the bookcase.
My name is Sally Hand. I'm a schoolgirl. English is my favorite subject. I like it because it's interesting. Anna is our English teacher. We all like her very much.
I'm a schoolboy. I'm Dave Clark. I like basketball. My friends and I play basketball after school. It's relaxing.
Hi, my name is Bill Hall. Where is my jacket? Please call me if you find it. My phone number is 5283595. Thanks. | middle2405.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "about three months"
},
"options": [
"four weeks",
"about three months",
"two seasons",
"about a year"
],
"question": "Every year, this hotel is only open for _",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "skating."
},
"options": [
"skiing.",
"skating.",
"fishing",
"swimming"
],
"question": "People can go _ in the dining room after breakfast.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | There is a special kind of hotel in Quebec, Canada. It has a bar, a church, a shop and a small theater. These things are not unusual. But this hotel is only open from January till March every year. Why? Because it is made of ice and snow! When the weather gets warm, the hotel melts and closes. Every winter, the hotel owners build the hotel again.
Everything in the Ice Hotel is made of ice and snow. All the furniture, such as the tables and chairs, is made of ice. Even the beds are made of ice! So people use special sleeping bags on the ice beds. Inside the ice hotel, the temperature is about 27degF(-3degC)
When people sleep, the sleeping bags keep them warm. In the morning, they can have a hot breakfast. After breakfast, people can enjoy winter activities. They can go skiing or ice fishing. Or they can go skating in the dining room. At the end of the day, people can relax at the bar. They can have drinks in glasses made of ice.
Many people enjoy the Ice Hotel every year. But they can only enjoy it for a short time before it melts again. | middle498.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Charles Perrault"
},
"options": [
"Jacob Grimm",
"Charles Perrault",
"Wilhelm Grimm",
"Christian Andersen"
],
"question": "The first version of the Cinderella story was written by _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "both Cinderella and the Prince enjoy their marriage life"
},
"options": [
"both Cinderella and the Prince enjoy their marriage life",
"birds and mice help Cinderella meet the Prince at the ball",
"Cinderella wears a gold dress and silver shoes at the festival",
"Cinderella plants a small brunch and waters it with her tears"
],
"question": "The common part in the two versions of Cinderella mentioned in this passage is that _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "there're different ideas from different authors"
},
"options": [
"there're many authors who create stories",
"there're many different kinds of old stories",
"there're different ideas from different authors",
"there're different stories by more than one author"
],
"question": "According to the passage, there can be many versions of the same story because _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Many of you have heard a Cinderella story, but what you may not know is that there are over a hundred different ways to tell the Cinderella story. Each of these stories is written by a different author. The story of Cinderella has many different versions.
The version that most people know is the oldest one written in 1697 by Charles Perrault from France. This is the version where the birds help make Cinderella's dress and the mice turn into carriage men and help Cinderella go to the ball in the pumpkin that turns into a carriage. In this version, many of the animals are Cinderella's friends. They help her meet the Prince, who Cinderella marries, and together they live happily ever after.
In another version of this story, written in the 1850s by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm from Germany, there are birds that help Cinderella throughout the story. Cinderella's mother is not living at the beginning of the story. She visits her mother's grave three times a day to say a prayer for her.
Cinderella's father has given her a brunch when he goes to the festival. She plants the brunch and her tears water the brunch until it grows into a tall tree.
The birds now live in the tree and they give Cinderella a dress of gold and silver and slippers of the same colours. Cinderella goes to the festival to meet and dance with the Prince. Later, Cinderella marries the Prince and they have a nice life ever after.
Have you read other versions of the Cinderella story? More than one author can tell a story in a different way from their viewpoints . That is why there are many versions of the same story. | middle6663.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "the English"
},
"options": [
"the Chinese",
"the French",
"the Japanese",
"the English"
],
"question": "From the survey we know _ like fast food best.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "44%"
},
"options": [
"37%",
"75%",
"44%",
"81%"
],
"question": "The survey shows _ of Americans like fast food.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | A lot of people in the world eat fast food.When you go into a fast food shop, you can see many people are enjoying their meals there.But which country people like fast food best? Do you know?
A survery says : The English people are the biggest fans of fast food in the world, but the French people are the least interested in fast meals.
The survey of thirteen countries shows :45% of the English people say they can't live without fast food, because it's delicious.44% of Americans and 37% of Canadians say the same.
The French people ,they have their own delicious and high-class _ , so thy don't like fast food.81% of them think it is not healthy, and 75% of the Japanese think so too.
How about the Chinese? How often do you have hamburgers or fried chicken?Do you like Western fast food or Chinese food.The most important thing is to keep a healthy diet. | middle6105.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "It's on May 5"
},
"options": [
"It's on June 1",
"It's on May 5",
"It's on March 8",
"It's on June 6"
],
"question": "When is Japanese Boy's Day?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "the Dragon Boat Festival"
},
"options": [
"the Dragon Boat Festival",
"The Spring Festival",
"Thanksgiving Day",
"Children's Day"
],
"question": "Japanese Boy's Day is probably comes from _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Japanese boys eat a special kind of rice cake."
},
"options": [
"only boys don't have to go to school.",
"each family with a child hangs up three flags.",
"Japanese boys eat a special kind of rice cake.",
"boys need to clean their rooms by themselves."
],
"question": "On Boy's Day, _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "the father"
},
"options": [
"the father",
"the mother",
"the son",
"the parents"
],
"question": "Black of the carp-shaped flags stands for _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "All the above."
},
"options": [
"bring their boys good luck",
"give their boys courage.",
"give their boys power",
"All the above."
],
"question": "Japanese parents believe that the carp-shaped flags will _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | May 5
is Japanese Children's Day. In fact, it is usually called Boy's Day because it is mainly celebrated ( ) by boys. The celebration of Boy's Day has a long history. It is said that the festival comes from the Dragon Boat Festival in China.
On Boy's Day, Japanese boys eat a special kind of rice cake. It is covered with a leaf and filled with bean paste ( ). Children love to eat it very much.
On this day, children don't have to go to school. Each family with a boy hangs up huge carp-shaped flag ( ). The flags are usually three colors: black, red and blue. Black stands for the father, red stands for the mother and blue stands for the son. Japanese parents believe that the flags will bring their boys good luck and give them courage and power. | middle8128.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Because he was already late."
},
"options": [
"Because he saw a wallet on the ground.",
"Because he was already late.",
"Because he wanted to have lunch with his friend.",
"Because he was very tired."
],
"question": "Why did the author park the car quickly?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "He didn't know where he had parked his car."
},
"options": [
"He wanted to go back.",
"He didn't know where he had parked his car.",
"He had a telephone call.",
"He found his car."
],
"question": "When he left his friend's office, what happened to him?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "green"
},
"options": [
"green",
"grey",
"blue",
"yellow"
],
"question": "We can infer his car is _ .",
"question_type": "summarization_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "He found his car at last."
},
"options": [
"The friend was his neighbour.",
"He found his car at last.",
"It took him a short time to find a place to park his car.",
"The small green car behind an old truck was his car."
],
"question": "Which of the following sentences is TRUE?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Some time ago, a friend working in a part of the city I did not know very well, invited me to visit him. It took me hours to get there and I drove round and round looking for a place to park my car. At last I found a place in a back street. As I was already half an hour late, I parked my car quickly and hurried off on foot. Making my way rapidly along the street, I could not help thinking that it was much easier to walk than to drive.
At noon, I left my friend's office. It suddenly stuck me that I had no idea where I had parked my car. Walking down street after street, I examined each car closely and was greatly relaxed to see a small green car just behind an old truck. But how _ I was to discover that though the car was very much like my own, it belonged to someone else. Quite tired now, I was ready to give up the search when I turned the corner. I nearly jumped with joy: my car was just in front of me ! | middle4712.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "east"
},
"options": [
"east",
"south",
"west",
"north"
],
"question": "The Chinese Yellow Sea Wetlands are in the _ of China.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "pleasant"
},
"options": [
"hot",
"pleasant",
"cold",
"dry"
],
"question": "Usually the weather in the wetlands is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "February 2"
},
"options": [
"April 22",
"June 25",
"February 2",
"March 22"
],
"question": "The World Wetlands Day is on _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Wetlands--valuable resources of land on the earth"
},
"options": [
"China's wetlands have all entered the world's list",
"Wetlands--home for wildlife and humans",
"Special animals in the Chinese Yellow Sea Wetlands",
"Wetlands--valuable resources of land on the earth"
],
"question": "Which is the best title for the passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | There are many wetlands in China and some of them are the world's important wetlands. The Chinese Yellow Sea Wetlands are among them. They are in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, the east of China. They are homes for many different kinds of birds and animals. The world's largest Milu Deer Nature Reserve is in them. More than 700 milu deer live freely there. There are not many red-crowned cranes in the world, but every winter you can see some in the Red-Crowned Cranes Nature Reserve in the Yellow Sea Wetlands.
The temperature in the wetlands is usually neither too high nor too low. There is a lot of rain and sunshine, too. They are really good places for wildlife. Offering food and home for some special kinds of animals and birds is not the only reason why we need to protect wetlands. Wetlands are important because they also prevent flood. But some people want to change the wetlands to make more space for farms and buildings. This means there will be less and less space for wildlife.
Luckily, more and more people are beginning to realize the importance of wetlands and wildlife. Every year, on February 2, people hold many activities to tell more about wetlands. | middle2363.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "green capital of bikes"
},
"options": [
"fashion capital",
"sleepy city",
"polite city",
"green capital of bikes"
],
"question": "Bicycle rental system can help Paris become a _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "improve the environment"
},
"options": [
"relax travelers",
"improve the environment",
"reduce traffic accidents",
"get money"
],
"question": "Paris built many rental systems to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "four"
},
"options": [
"two",
"three",
"four",
"five"
],
"question": "The machine at a bicycle rental system offers _ language services.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "200,000"
},
"options": [
"1,600",
"20,000",
"24,000",
"200,000"
],
"question": "_ people use bikes a day",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "thinks bicycle rental systems are great"
},
"options": [
"thinks bicycle rental systems are great",
"doesn't agree the idea of bicycle rental system",
"thinks Paris is a bicycle capital",
"thinks bikes are better than cars"
],
"question": "From the passage we can infer that the author _ .",
"question_type": "summarization_questions"
}
] | Bicycle sharing systems are also known as yellow bicycle programs, white bicycle programs, public bikes, or free bikes. They are increasingly popular in Europe now. Paris has the world's largest urban cycle rental system.
This is a bike rental station in Paris. The worker is showing how to use a new self-service bike. They say that Paris will become "a green capital of bikes" and they plan to park 20,000 bicycles at 1,600 stations. Paris created this plan to improve the city traffic environment and reduce the waste gas displacement .
At a rental station, you only have to put your credit card into the machine to rent a bike. It provides French, German, English and Chinese services. If you ride the bike for only 30 minutes to relax, you needn't pay for it. A two-hour bike rent only costs you 4 euros.
These stations work for 24 hours every day, so a bike is rented for 10 to 14 times a day. In this way there are 200,000 people using bikes a day,
In the past few years, Paris has encouraged its people to ride bikes, but something unhappy has happened now and then. Some people break the traffic rules during rush hours. Some park their bikes everywhere. So how to park bikes is a problem that Paris will face. But this project is still a helpful way to improve its traffic environment. Don't you think so? | middle4706.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "In a village."
},
"options": [
"Outside a village.",
"On a farm.",
"In a village.",
"Near a village."
],
"question": "Where did the hunter live?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Twice."
},
"options": [
"Only once.",
"Twice.",
"Three times.",
"Four times."
],
"question": "How many times did the tiger come into the village?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "He threw himself on the ground."
},
"options": [
"He was frightened.",
"He threw himself on the ground.",
"He ran away.",
"He hid himself behind a tree."
],
"question": "What did the old hunter do when he first saw the tiger?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "He saw the tiger run on its two feet."
},
"options": [
"The tiger came to the village only at night.",
"He saw the tiger run on its two feet.",
"The tiger only stole sheep.",
"The tiger could speak."
],
"question": "How did the old hunter know the tiger was a man?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "To help the poor man."
},
"options": [
"To help the poor man.",
"To make himself well hidden.",
"To sell them at the market the next morning.",
"To buy food and clothes on his way home."
],
"question": "Why did the old hunter take some animal skins with him when he was waiting for the \"tiger\" ?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | Once there lived an old man in a mountain village. He was a famous hunter. He often went hunting alone in the mountains. He was not afraid of any wild animals, not even a tiger.
One night, someone saw a tiger come into the village, and stole two sheep away. The next night the tiger came again. The villagers were frightened. They asked the old hunter to catch it so that they could have a safe life.
When the old man heard about the tiger, he thought hard. He wondered why the tiger came at night twice but only stole the sheep. The next night he walked outside the village. Suddenly he saw the tiger coming. He quickly threw himself on the ground. To his surprise, the tiger did not come at him, but went away. He followed it quietly and found it was running on two of its feet just like a man. Then everything was clear.
On the fourth day, when it got dark, the hunter took some animal skins with him and hid himself behind a big tree near the village. He was waiting for the "tiger". As soon as the "tiger" came near the tree, the old hunter jumped out, caught the "tiger" by the "leg" and said, "Don't be afraid. I do not mean to hurt you. You know who I am, don't you?"
The "tiger" said "Yes" and took off the tiger's skin.
"You are poor. But you mustn't steal anything from others. Here are some animal skins for you. You may sell them at the market. With the money, you can buy food and clothes for your family. Work harder and try to make a living. " With tears in his eyes, the poor man thanked the kind-hearted old hunter and walked home. | middle2377.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Fever"
},
"options": [
"Heart disease",
"Cancer",
"Fever",
"Blood pressure"
],
"question": "Which is NOT mentioned as an illness that animals can help with?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "They can teach children to share with each other."
},
"options": [
"They can improve children's memory.",
"They can make children more popular.",
"They can increase children's blood pressure.",
"They can teach children to share with each other."
],
"question": "How can animals help school children according to the passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Get healthy with animal helpers"
},
"options": [
"Be kind to animals",
"Talking to animals",
"The most dangerous diseases",
"Get healthy with animal helpers"
],
"question": "What is the best title of this passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | In today's world of modern science and medicine, a more traditional treatment is once again becoming popular-animal friendship.
It is now well-known that people with problems such as heart disease or cancer live longer and get better more quickly if they have pets. Keeping pets lowers blood pressure and makes people less worried. Animals are increasingly important in treating older people who have memory loss and other brain problems. These people often feel nervous and upset. Activities with animals help them improve their physical condition and also give them joy, entertainment and loving friendship.
Here is a case that shows the benefits of animals. John was a six-year-old _ . He had no physical problems. He just refused to talk. His older cousin, Ned, had a parrot called Sally, and John used to visit it. When he arrived, Net used to say, "Hi, John!" We all know parrots copy what they hear. After a few visits, Sally began saying "Hi, John!" when John came into the room. Then, one day, John turned to the parrot and replied "Hi, Sally!" Staying with the parrot encouraged John to begin talking.
Another use of animal helpers is in schools. In some cases, animals are used to help children with physical or personal problems. In other cases, they are used to teach children to get on and share with others, and even to teach them about animals.
If you want to know more about animal helper programs, you can get in touch with organizations like Riding for the Disabled or do a search under "animal therapy" on the Internet. You don't have to be an animal trainer or a doctor to join in. | middle5418.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Opinions about competition are different among people."
},
"options": [
"Competition helps to set up self-respect.",
"Opinions about competition are different among people.",
"Competition is harmful to personal quality development.",
"Failures are necessary experience in competition."
],
"question": "What does this passage mainly talk about?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "It pushes society forward."
},
"options": [
"It pushes society forward.",
"It builds up a sense of duty.",
"It improves personal abilities.",
"It encourages efforts."
],
"question": "Why do some people favor competition according to the passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "One's worth lies in his performance in the competition."
},
"options": [
"One's worth lies in his performance in the competition.",
"One's success in competition needs great efforts.",
"One's achievement is decided by his special skills.",
"One's success is based on how hard he has tried."
],
"question": "What is the similar belief of the true competitors and those with a desire to fail?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Fear of failure should be removed in competition."
},
"options": [
"Every effort should be paid back.",
"Competition should be encouraged.",
"Winning should be a life-and-death matter.",
"Fear of failure should be removed in competition."
],
"question": "Which point of view may the author agree to?",
"question_type": null
}
] | In modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition. Some value it highly, believing that it is responsible for social progress. Others say that competition is bad; that it sets one person against another; that it leads to unfriendly relationship between people.
I have taught many children who held the belief that their self-worth depended on how well they performed at tennis and other skills. For them, playing well and winning are often life-and-death affairs . The development of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten.
However, while some seem to be lost in the desire to succeed, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only the winner and pays no attention to the common players, they are strongly against competition. Most of them are young people who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society. Teaching these youngsters, I often observe in them a desire to fail. They seem to find failure by not trying to win or achieve success. By not trying, they always have an excuse: " I may have lost, but it doesn't matter because I really didn't try." What is not usually accepted by themselves is the belief that if they had really tried and lost, that would mean a lot. Such a loss would be a measure of their worth. Clearly, this belief is the same as that of true competitors who try to prove themselves. Both are based on the mistaken belief that one's self-worth depends on how well one performs in the competition. Both are afraid of not being valued. We can discover a new meaning in competition only as this kind of fear begins to disappear. | middle6111.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "play is also fit for adults"
},
"options": [
"play is also fit for adults",
"everyone there works hard",
"they have a lot of toys and games",
"it is very famous in the world"
],
"question": "The example of the company Google is given to show that _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "fail to think of a topic for an article"
},
"options": [
"want to make friends with others",
"have to do some homework",
"fail to think of a topic for an article",
"find a job in a big company"
],
"question": "According to the passage, you need to play if you _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The power of play"
},
"options": [
"A maths lesson",
"How children grow",
"The power of play",
"Work hard, play hard"
],
"question": "Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | For many years, scientists have known that laughing is good for the health of our minds and bodies. Now we are learning that it's not just laughter. Having fun and playing are also good for us! Researchers have found that play is good for people of all ages. Play actually leads to the growth of more nerve connections in the brain and gives us more brain power.
Play is necessary during childhood. As children play, they learn how to make friends and relate to others. They develop their imaginations and become more creative. Kids carry these qualities with them as they grow older.
Amy Whitcomb teaches maths at a school in San Francisco. For several years, she has used games to teach maths. In one class, students play a game with small bags of candy to _ how many pieces in the bags are red. When they get the correct answer, they can eat the candy! Amy says, "If it's not fun, they're not going to want to be there. They're not going to want to learn."
The spirit of playfulness continues through the teenage years into adulthood . The famous company Google, for example, keeps a lot of toys and games at different places in their offices and encourages people to use them. Their motto is "Work hard. Play hard." They know that people often get their best ideas when they are just "playing around " and let their imaginations go wild.
So next time you have to solve a difficult maths problem or can't think of a topic for an article, take a short play break. Do a little dance, or play a quick game. Then come back to it. Maybe you'll be surprised at what your brain can do. | middle7569.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "He wanted to get some experience for his future work."
},
"options": [
"He thought he would work there in the future.",
"He wanted to get some skills of treating animals.",
"He wanted to get some money for his schooling.",
"He wanted to get some experience for his future work."
],
"question": "Why did the writer work at the vet hospital?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "How to be a kind person who helps others."
},
"options": [
"How to be a kind person who helps others.",
"The practical experience of the vet job.",
"How to deal with the owners of pets.",
"The knowledge of vet medicine."
],
"question": "What is the most important according to the writer?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The woman"
},
"options": [
"The officer",
"The boy",
"The woman",
"The father"
],
"question": "_ made the writer have the courage to help someone in need.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | In the tenth grade, I began volunteering at a vet hospital in order to get experience for what I thought would be my future job. As it turned out, the experience I got at the hospital taught me the opposite: my future was not in vet medicine. However, there is one particular Saturday morning that taught me something maybe more important.
The hospital was in the middle of one of the poorer sections of the city and we often had people come in who could just only pay for the most basic treatments. This Saturday a man and his young son, who was probably about 7 years old, walked in with a small cat in a cardboard box. I remember the cat had an eye infection but the man could not afford to pay for the cost of the medicine in addition to the exam. When he asked where the nearest the animal shelter was, his son cried and started to argue with his father. _ an older woman who was sitting in the waiting room stood up, walked up to the counter, and told the man that she would pay for anything that he could not afford. The man thanked her and the son got to keep a healthy cat.
I had always thought it was the right thing to help out a needy person, but it was only seen on TV or in movies. The woman in the vet's office taught me that these things do happen in real life, and should happen more often. When I am hesitant to help someone who is in need, I remember that woman, and have the courage to do it. Sometimes other people follow. | middle1118.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Molly's mother."
},
"options": [
"Molly.",
"Molly's father.",
"Molly's mother.",
"We don't know."
],
"question": "Who makes breakfast in Molly's family?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "After the lunch."
},
"options": [
"Before the lunch.",
"During the lunch.",
"After the lunch.",
"After the breakfast."
],
"question": "When did Mr. Jackson open the other bag?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "books"
},
"options": [
"a note",
"model cars",
"pictures",
"books"
],
"question": "We can't see _ in the other bag.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "play them"
},
"options": [
"sell them",
"play them",
"throw them away",
"mend them"
],
"question": "Molly put her toys in the bag because she wanted her father to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Molly Jackson was a happy little girl. She lived with her parents. Her parents loved her very much. Every morning, Mrs. Jackson would get up early to make breakfast. She also made lunch for Mr. Jackson. Then it was Molly's job to put her father's lunch box into a lunch bag. And she would give the lunch bag to her father.
One day, Molly gave two lunch bags to her father. "Why do you give me two bags, Molly?" asked Mr. Jackson.
"There is something else in the other bag," Molly answered.
"What's in it?" Mr. Jackson kept asking. "I can't tell you now. Just open it after your lunch," said Molly.
Time passed quickly, it was lunch time. Mr. Jackson opened his lunch bag and started to eat. Then he saw the other bag from Molly. So he opened this special bag.
In this bag, Mr. Jackson found some toys. There were some small model cars and pictures in the bag. And Mr. Jackson found a note at the bottom of the bag. It wrote, "Dad, here are some of my toys. You can play them in your free time and have a rest. I love you, dad." | middle2411.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "In Jack's house."
},
"options": [
"In the school.",
"In the library.",
"In the classroom.",
"In Jack's house."
],
"question": "Where are they?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "noodles"
},
"options": [
"dumplings",
"noodles",
"fish",
"rice"
],
"question": "Ann's favourite food is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | (Ann goes to Jack's house for supper.)
Jack: Would you like some dumplings, Ann?
Ann: No, thanks.
Jack: Do you like soup?
Ann: Yes, I do. But I don't like fish. My favourite food is noodles.
Jack: I like noodles, too. But my favourite food is dumplings.
Jack's mother: Would you like some rice, Ann?
Ann: Yes, please.
Jack: We often eat rice for supper. I like to put sugar on it. Would you like some?
Ann: Yes. Mmm...It's delicious!
,56-57 | middle4060.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Two weeks."
},
"options": [
"One week.",
"Two weeks.",
"Three weeks.",
"Six days."
],
"question": "How long did Sue stay in Egypt?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Yes,she did."
},
"options": [
"Yes,she did.",
"No,she didn't.",
"She got a lot of exercise.",
"She didn't know what to do."
],
"question": "Did Sue get a lot of exercise in Hawaii?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "6."
},
"options": [
"3.",
"4.",
"5.",
"6."
],
"question": "How many people were there on the trip in Alaska?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "In Egypt."
},
"options": [
"In Egypt.",
"In Hawaii.",
"In Alaska.",
"In Hawaii and Alaska."
],
"question": "Where did Sue stay the longest?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "In Egypt."
},
"options": [
"In Egypt.",
"In Hawaii.",
"In Alaska.",
"In the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge."
],
"question": "Where did Sue learn a lot about desert?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | Sue is a middle school student.Here are her holiday's diaries.
Tuesday July 15 Sunny
I can't believe my trip is over.I arrived in Egypt two weeks ago!I was with a group from a university .We went to the desert and learned a lot.I was tired,but I loved every minute of my trip.
Saturday August 5 Windy
My Hawaiian vacation just ended,and I was very relaxed!I spent five days on traveling there.Every day I took a walk,played basketball and ate good food.I also went swimming and snorkeling .I felt fantastic!
Sunday August 14 Sunny
Alaska is terrific!I was on a trip in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.There were six people on the trip.We hiked for six days.Then we took rafts to the Arctic Ocean.I saw a lot of wildlife .After ten days,I went home. | middle5395.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "from her brother's call"
},
"options": [
"by giving her mother a call",
"when she stayed with her mother",
"from her brother's call",
"by talking with her doctor"
],
"question": "The writer knew there was something wrong with her mother _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "looking after her mother"
},
"options": [
"working hard",
"planning vegetables",
"building a garden",
"looking after her mother"
],
"question": "The writer spent 4 years _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "to say good bye to Mother"
},
"options": [
"to say good bye to Mother",
"to take care fo Mother",
"to help Mother do some housework",
"to have a family get -together"
],
"question": "The writer's family memebers were called _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "the writer was kind and loved her mother"
},
"options": [
"the writer didn't get on well with her sister",
"the writer was kind and loved her mother",
"the writer's mother didn't like her sister",
"the wrter's brother hid her from her mother"
],
"question": "From the passage, we know _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "A special gift"
},
"options": [
"The most important gift",
"A special gift",
"A happy family",
"My dear mother"
],
"question": "What's the best title for this passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | In my life, I have received many gifts from my mother. The most important was my life. However, there's another special gift I will never forget.
When I grew up, I left home and got a job in South America. One day , a call came from my brother, "Something is wrong with Mom. She's forgetful . She thinks we're hiding you from her..."
I got back home at once. It was clear that she would not be able to stay in the house alone.
For nearly 4 years I stayed with my mother and we had fun. We even planted some vegetables together in the garden. It was not easy for me. I had to stop working. When I had to leave , I had to ask someone to look after her or drive her to my brother's.
When it became clear that she was near the end, family memebers were called to come to say their good byes. For 3 weeks my sister and I just sat with Mom, took long walks and spent some real time with each other. My sister and I were both with Mom when she was passing away , holding her hands and telling her how much we loved her. At the end of life, my mother gave me the gift of time with my sister in a way we would never have given ourselves. | middle467.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "record sounds for films"
},
"options": [
"copy actors' voices",
"arrange fight scenes",
"help actors who are hurt",
"record sounds for films"
],
"question": "The writer's job is to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "He enjoys it even more now than at the beginning."
},
"options": [
"He's sad because he wants to be an actor.",
"He enjoys it even more now than at the beginning.",
"He feels happy because he often works with his children.",
"He's angry because computers will make him lose his job."
],
"question": "How does the writer feel about his job?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "use computers for everyday sounds"
},
"options": [
"spend a lot money on computers",
"use a lot of common sound in films",
"use computers for everyday sounds",
"give Foley artists a lot of new ideas"
],
"question": "Most modern studios _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | When I was about eight years old, I decided that I wanted to be a famous film star when I grew up. Well, I'm not a famous film star, but I do work for a film studio, and I do meet famous actors every day. I'm a Foley artist--I make the sounds that are added to films after they have been filmed.
Why does this need to be done? Well, if actors are filming a fight scene, you can't expect them to really hit each other or break each other's bones, so Foley artists have to find suitable sound. If you come into my studio and find me throwing wet towels at the wall and breaking carrots in half, don't worry. I'm just recording a fight scene.
When my kids were little, they loved our Christmas films because we always needed to record the sound of children walking on snow. It doesn't often snow in California, so I had to create the sound in the studio. I used to cover part of studio floor with salt crystals and pour thick flour over the top. Then I brought my kids and their friends to the studio so that I could record them walking in the "snow". After the recording, they never wanted to leave; they stayed and played, they got "snow" in their shoes, on their clothes, even in their hair!
These days studios use computers to create such common sounds as footsteps on snow. Some Foley artists see computers as a threat but I welcome the new technology. A lot of "everyday" sounds used to take a whole day to create, so there was a lot of pressure to get everything done on time. With computers, there's a lot less stress and I can devote more of my time to creating unusual sound effects. As long as people keep coming up with new ideas for films, studios will need Foley artists to come up with the sounds for them. | middle6844.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "an English teacher"
},
"options": [
"a Chinese teacher",
"a math teacher",
"an English teacher",
"a history teacher"
],
"question": "Lucy is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "tells interesting stories to"
},
"options": [
"sings English songs to",
"performs magic tricks for",
"tells interesting stories to",
"plays the piano for"
],
"question": "In her class, Lucy often _ her students.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Some boys always made faces in class."
},
"options": [
"Some boys always didn't listen to her.",
"Some boys always ate snacks in class.",
"Some boys always had fights in class.",
"Some boys always made faces in class."
],
"question": "What did Lucy find yesterday?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Tom didn't think Lucy was beautiful"
},
"options": [
"Tom didn't think Lucy was beautiful",
"Lucy will be happy after hearing Tom's words",
"Lucy's grandmother didn't like Lucy",
"Lucy thought the boys in her class were very ugly"
],
"question": "From the passage, we know _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Lucy Brown teaches English in a junior high school. She loves her students very much, and she works hard. She often tells them some interesting stories in class and her students like her, too.
Yesterday, Lucy found some boys always made faces in class. She didn't want them to do that again, so she got all her students together and said, "Boys and girls, when I was young, I liked making faces in class, too. But one day, my grandmother told me not to do that again. She said, 'If you make faces again, you will be ugly when you grow up.' So you shouldn't do that again."
Some students thought she was right, but some students didn't. One of the boys put up his hand. "Oh, Tom! What do you want to say?" asked Lucy.
The boy stood up and said, "Miss Brown, you must regret listening to your grandmother now." | middle1695.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "In 1795"
},
"options": [
"In 1781",
"In 1789",
"In 1795",
"In 1798"
],
"question": "In which year did George Stephenson start to help his father? _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "by making it to pieces and studying each piece carefully"
},
"options": [
"through reading and writing",
"by making it to pieces and studying each piece carefully",
"at lessons from a young teacher",
"by asking a lot of questions"
],
"question": "He learned about the engine _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "a good worker"
},
"options": [
"a great man",
"a good maker",
"a good worker",
"a good student"
],
"question": "He spent a lot of time learning about engines and soon he became _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "the train"
},
"options": [
"the train",
"the telephone",
"the car",
"the computer"
],
"question": "George Stephenson invented the _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "inventors"
},
"options": [
"workers",
"writers",
"learners",
"inventors"
],
"question": "From the passage we know George Stephenson was one of the greatest _ in the world.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | George Stephenson was born in 1781 in a poor family. He had to start work when he was only eight.When George was fourteen, he became his father's helper.He spent a lot of time learning about engines .And on holidays he often made one engine to pieces and studied each piece carefully.Soon he became a very good worker though he could not read or write.He began to learn English letters when he was seventeen years old.Every day after he did twelve hours of hard work, he walked a long way to have lessons from a young school teacher. On his eighteenth birthday,he wrote his own name for the first time in his life.George invented many things in his life.The train was the greatest one among them.Today when we take trains from one place to another,we'll think of this great man---George Stephenson. | middle301.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Germans like reading books"
},
"options": [
"Germans like reading books",
"Germans like buying books",
"Germans like watching TV",
"Germans like surfing the Internet"
],
"question": "What is the best title of the passage ?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "everywhere"
},
"options": [
"bookshops",
"small towns.",
"on the Internet",
"everywhere"
],
"question": "Where can they buy books?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "reading parties"
},
"options": [
"birthday parties",
"New Year parties",
"Christmas parties",
"reading parties"
],
"question": "What kind of parties do they have according to the passage ?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "eight"
},
"options": [
"six",
"five",
"seven",
"eight"
],
"question": "If there are 10 Germans, _ like reading.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "have good education"
},
"options": [
"have much money",
"have good education",
"have good jobs",
"Have little knowledge"
],
"question": "According to the passage, we can know Germans _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | In Germany , more than 70% of people like reading. They often read. They read in their homes. They read in libraries. They read in parks. They even read in hospitals. Parents often read books for kids .
It is easy to buy books in Germany. There are many bookshops in Germany. They are in big cities and small towns . A bookshop can sell many books every day. Germans also like to buy books on the Internet. More and more people buy books on the Internet.
In Germany, people often have reading parties. They are happy at the parties. | middle4935.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "know why you do and what you do"
},
"options": [
"talk to others",
"know why you do and what you do",
"finish your homework first",
"spend less time on the Internet"
],
"question": "According to the passage, if you want to give up your habits, you have to _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Give up bad habits"
},
"options": [
"A bad habit",
"Change the habit",
"Give up bad habits",
"A good habit"
],
"question": "The best title for this passage is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | A habit is an action that we have acted so often that it becomes something we do almost without thinking. Some of them are not good habits. People spend countless hours and dollars each year trying to give up these bad habits but often fail. Why? Change is hard work and there is no shortcut to get it. However, there is still some advice for you to follow.
First, look at why you do it. In other words, what's the result of doing this thing? If your bad habit is shouting at people when you are unhappy or under pressure , what do you get from it? It may make you feel a little better for the moment. Or maybe you have a bad habit of leaving your homework undone. The result could be that you get more time to spend on the Internet!
Next, take a look on the other hand. What are you losing because of your habit? Shouting at other people is a bad habit because it makes people around you feel bad and unhappy. Leaving your homework undone is a bad habit because you may be punished by your teacher. Having more Internet time means that you are losing the chance to learn the things you need to learn. When you think that way, you'll find that it's not wise to keep your bad habit! Now it is time to make a decision . What will you choose? I'm sure you will choose to do something that is more important. | middle3082.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "All the guests stayed there until the party was over ."
},
"options": [
"All the guests stayed there until the party was over .",
"There were lots of people at the party .",
"There were some drinks at the party .",
"Not all the guests knew each other"
],
"question": "Which sentence is Not true about the party ?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "For 90 minutes ."
},
"options": [
"For an hour .",
"For half an hour .",
"For 90 minutes .",
"For a while"
],
"question": "How long did the small man stay at the party ?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "He wanted to look for the person whose car was in front of his gate ."
},
"options": [
"He was the host's neighbor .",
"He was a friend of the host's .",
"He wanted to say \"Have fun \" to the people at the party",
"He wanted to look for the person whose car was in front of his gate ."
],
"question": "Why did the small man stay at the party ?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "A small Man"
},
"options": [
"A small Man",
"A Strange Guest",
"A Friendly Host",
"A funny Man"
],
"question": "The best title is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | It was Christmas, and there was a big party in the house. Guests came and went, but the party went on. Then the bell rang. Several people shouted, "Come in!"and a small man opened the front door and came in. Nobody knew him. But the host went to meet him, and took him to the bar for a drink. The man sat there happily for an hour and a half and drank.Then suddenly he stopped and looked at the host. "Do you know," he said, "nobody invited me to this party. I don't know you, 'I don't know your wife, and I don't know any of your guests. My wife and I wanted to go out in our car, but one of your guests' cars was in front of our gate, so I came here to find him and my wife is waiting in our car for me to come back. | middle2388.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "55"
},
"options": [
"55",
"20",
"10",
"50"
],
"question": "How many students are there in the class?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "walk"
},
"options": [
"walk",
"by bus",
"ride a bike",
"on foot"
],
"question": "Twenty students _ to school because they live near the school.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "not far from the school"
},
"options": [
"near the school",
"far from the school",
"not far from the school",
"near the river"
],
"question": "Ten students ride the bikes to school because they live _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "there is a river between their houses and the school"
},
"options": [
"they would like to go by boat",
"they live far from the school",
"they have boats",
"there is a river between their houses and the school"
],
"question": "Five students go to school by boat because _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "take a bus"
},
"options": [
"walk",
"ride bike",
"take a bus",
"by boat"
],
"question": "If you live far from the school, you should _ to go to school.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | There are 55 students in my class. They come from different places, so they go to school in different ways. Twenty students go to school on foot because they live near the school. Ten students ride the bikes to school because they live not far from the school. Ten students go to school by bus because they live far from the school. Ten students go to school in their parents' car. The other five students go to school by boat, because there is a river between their houses and the school. | middle4921.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "how Effendi fooled the king"
},
"options": [
"how Effendi fooled the king",
"when the king would die",
"why the Minister died",
"Effendi knew the dates of everyone's death"
],
"question": "This story tells us _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "He fell off the horse"
},
"options": [
"Effendi killed him",
"Effendi said he would die",
"He was badly ill",
"He fell off the horse"
],
"question": "The Prime Minister died because _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Because the wanted to find an excuse to kill Effendi."
},
"options": [
"Because the king wanted to know when he himself would die.",
"Because the wanted to find an excuse to kill Effendi.",
"Because he himself had known the date of Effendi's death.",
"Because he wanted to know when Effendi would die."
],
"question": "Why did the king ask Effendi to tell him the date of Effendi's own death?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "he hoped to live a long life"
},
"options": [
"he hoped to live a long life",
"he was afraid of Effendi",
"he didn't believe Effendi's word",
"He knew he would die two days later"
],
"question": "The king let Effendi go because _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "If the king killed Effendi, he himself would die two days later."
},
"options": [
"Effendi played a joke on the Minister",
"Effendi didn't know when the king would die.",
"The king was afraid of death.",
"If the king killed Effendi, he himself would die two days later."
],
"question": "Which of the following is not true?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Once Effendi had a joke with the Prime Minister . He said that the Minister would die the next day. The next day, the Minister fell to the ground from the horse and really died. When the king learned this, he got angry and sent his men to catch Effendi at once.
When Effendi was brought to him, the king shouted angrily, "Effendi, since you knew when my Minister would die, you must know the date of your own death. Say it out, or you'll die today."
Effendi looked at the king for a while. Then he answered, "But how can I know? I'll die two days earlier than you." The king was afraid that if he killed Effendi, he himself would die after that. He thought he must keep Effendi alive as long as possible, so he let Effendi go. | middle1859.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "interesting"
},
"options": [
"tired",
"dangerous",
"boring",
"interesting"
],
"question": "Ann thinks playing the violin is _ , so she wants to learn it.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "a month"
},
"options": [
"two weeks",
"six weeks",
"a month",
"six months"
],
"question": "Ann wants to learn to play the violin for _ before she plays it for her father.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Ann's father"
},
"options": [
"Ann's father",
"Ann's father's friend",
"Ann's mother",
"Ann's uncle"
],
"question": "_ finds a violin teacher to teach her.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "he loves Ann"
},
"options": [
"Ann plays well",
"the fee is very cheap",
"he loves Ann",
"he 1ikes the violin"
],
"question": "Ann's father wants Ann to have more lessons because _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Ann can have more 1essons"
},
"options": [
"Ann doesn't 1ike playing the violin",
"Ann can have more 1essons",
"Ann doesn't want to have more 1essons",
"Ann's father doesn't have a friend"
],
"question": "From this passage we can see that _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | "Can I learn to play the violin.Daddy?"Ann asks her father.
"That sounds good.But how long can you learn?"
"A month," Ann says."After a month,I can play for you.If I don't play well,I won't play it."
"All right." her father says.
He soon finds a violin teacher and Ann starts her lessons.The fee isn't cheap,but her father doesn't say anything.
A month passes.The time comes for Ann to play for her father.
She says to her father, "I want to play for you,Daddy."
"OK,Ann,"her father says."Start"
She starts to play.She doesn't play well.Her father has a friend with him,and the friend can't stand it.
When Ann stops,her father says, "Great! Ann, you can have more lessons."
Ann runs out of the room.Her father's friend says to him, "I don't think your daughter plays well."
"Well,you're right."her father says."But she's very happy, right?" | middle315.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "MyChineseDream"
},
"options": [
"I would like to be a teacher",
"Dreams need sacrifices",
"MyChineseDream",
"Dreams are very important"
],
"question": "This article mainly tells us that _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "I can play with my students"
},
"options": [
"Learn a lot about the countries around the world",
"Make us happy",
"Get lots of important information",
"I can play with my students"
],
"question": "The reasons for why I want to be a reporter which is wrong _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Hold on dreams to the end , we may need sacrifices"
},
"options": [
"Teachers can help many people out of danger",
"Hold on dreams to the end , we may need sacrifices",
"Reporters can make the world bigger",
"The dreams must be easy to come true"
],
"question": "From the article we know that _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Recently we had a discussion on the topic of My Chinese Dream. Inspired by President Xi's Chinese Dream, everyone talked happily about his understanding of the Chinese Dream.
For me ,I would like to be a teacher when I listen to my teacher carefully. I think I can be a teacher when I grow up. I can help many students learn things well. I can play with my students, too. So we are good friends.I would like to be a doctor when I see many doctors save their _ . Then I can help many people out of danger. I will be the happiest girl in the world. I would like to be a reporter when I watch TV every evening. We can get lots of important information from them. And I can learn a lot about China and the other countries around the world. They make the world smaller and also make us happy.
I have lots of dreams. Hold fast to my dreams, no matter how big or small they are. The dreams may not be smooth and wide, even need some sacrifices , but hold on to the end, you will find there is no greater happiness than making your dream come true. | middle1681.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "At 14."
},
"options": [
"In the 5th grade.",
"In the 9th grade.",
"At 10.",
"At 14."
],
"question": "When did the writer begin to think about her future job?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "work with pupils"
},
"options": [
"learn a lot",
"work with pupils",
"enjoy long vacations",
"work with her mother"
],
"question": "The writer thinks being a teacher is interesting because she can _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "watching English movies"
},
"options": [
"speaking with English people",
"looking through magazines",
"watching English movies",
"reading books"
],
"question": "To improve her English, the writer does the following things every day EXCEPT _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "The writer often went to school with her mother when she was young."
},
"options": [
"The writer has left school and is a good teacher now.",
"The writer often went to school with her mother when she was young.",
"The writer gave an English lesson to the 5th grade pupils one afternoon.",
"The writer's English teacher asked her to give an English lesson to the 5th grade pupils."
],
"question": "Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | I began to think about my future job at the age of fourteen. I was born into a family of teachers. My parents are both teachers and I like the job.
When I was a little girl, I often went to school with my mother. When my mother was in the class I watched her, and I wanted to be popular among (......) pupils like her.
One day in the 9th grade, the head teacher asked me to give an English lesson to the 5th grade pupils because their English teacher caught a cold. When I entered the classroom, many pupils had been at their desks. I said, "Good morning," and began the lesson.[:ZXXK]
I wanted the pupils to like English. We read, wrote, sang songs, asked questions and answered questions. Later, I gave English lessons several times and I was happy teaching the pupils.
Now I know what I am going to do after leaving school. I want to be an English teacher. It's a very interesting but difficult job. It's interesting because I can work with pupils. It's difficult because I have to teach them a foreign language.
To be a good teacher means to know a lot. Every day I improve my English by reading books, reading English newspapers, looking through magazines and speaking with English people.
I like English and I want to be a good teacher. | middle6688.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "neat and quiet"
},
"options": [
"neat and quiet",
"outgoing and messy",
"loud and messy",
"neat and loud"
],
"question": "Victor wants to share the house with a(an) _ person.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "save money"
},
"options": [
"waste money",
"buy a car",
"save money",
"have more time to study"
],
"question": "If Victor finds a roommate, he will _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "a place with convenient traffic"
},
"options": [
"a two bed-room apartment",
"to ask Alan for help",
"to have his own space",
"a place with convenient traffic"
],
"question": "Victor doesn't have a car, so he wants _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Dear Alan,
Guess what? I have a chance to choose my new place to live in! I'm excited and a little nervous. Could you please give me some help?
I'm not sure whether I will live in a house or in an apartment. On the one hand, a house will be too big for just one person, so maybe I should rent an apartment. On the other hand, if I rent a house, I could find someone else to share with me. The only problem is that a house full of people might be too noisy for me. I prefer to have my own space. The city has some nice apartments, but they are also too expensive. However, if I could find a two-bedroom apartment and get a roommate, that would make it more affordable .I just need to search for a roommate who is neat and quiet. You know I can't live with someone who is loud and messy. I don't have a car, so I also need to think carefully about the location. I probably need to look for somewhere near a bus stop or an underground station. That way I will have more time to study and spend less time traveling.
I'm looking forward to your reply.
Love,
Victor | middle7596.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "sunglasses and sun block"
},
"options": [
"warm clothes and sports shoes",
"sunglasses and sun block",
"fashionable clothes and a big bag",
"some fruit and drinks"
],
"question": "If you go to Hainan Island for a trip in summer, you should take _ with you.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "reading a good book"
},
"options": [
"taking a camera",
"reading a good book",
"listening to music",
"sleeping for some time"
],
"question": "According to the passage, _ is a good way to keep away from boredom while you are on a train or a bus.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "his student card"
},
"options": [
"the prices",
"his things",
"his passport",
"his student card"
],
"question": "If a student want to buy some presents at lower prices while traveling, he should show _ to the shop assistant.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Some Advice on Traval
NO.1. Forget Fashion !Always wear your most comfortable clothes when going on long journeys.
NO.2. Traveling on trains and buses can be boring. So take a good book to read.
NO.3. If you're going somewhere cold, remember your warm clothes.
NO.4. Or, if you are going somewhere sunny, remember to wear sun block and sunglasses.
NO.5. Always take a camera with you to capture those special moments.
NO.6. Be careful with your things whenever you go to busy places, like a train station. There are often thieves there.
NO.7. Always leave room in your bag for buying presents.
NO.8. Most countries have lower prices for students. So if you have one, take your student card with you and save money.
NO.9. Bus tours often stop at expensive shops along the way, save your money by buying presents at local shops.
NO.10. If you travel abroad, remember to take your _ Whatever you don't lose it! | middle6850.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "How to Choose A Career"
},
"options": [
"How to Succeed in A Job",
"How to Turn Failure into Success",
"How to Choose A Career",
"How to Be A Successful Worker"
],
"question": "When one wants to change his job, he probably needs to read _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "How to Live on Nothing"
},
"options": [
"How to Live on Nothing",
"How to Love Every Minute of Your Life",
"How to Make Yourself Happy",
"How to Make Yourself Sad"
],
"question": "If you never make enough to feed yourself at all, you can buy a book with the title _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "How to Drive Car"
},
"options": [
"How to Drive Car",
"How to Repair Electrical Writing",
"How to Make Your House Larger",
"How to Make Your Room Look More Beautiful"
],
"question": "Which of the following is not mentioned in this passage ?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because people want to deal with all kinds of problems well."
},
"options": [
"Because life has become so difficult.",
"Because people haven't much free time to use.",
"Because people have more money on books.",
"Because people want to deal with all kinds of problems well."
],
"question": "Why are so many people interested in these books beginning with titles \"How to . . .\" ?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "\"how to\" books are helpful"
},
"options": [
"\"how to\" books are helpful",
"it's a waste of time to read \"how to\" books",
"there's no need to publish so many \"how to\" books",
"people seem to be tired of reading \"how to\" books"
],
"question": "This passage makes us think that .",
"question_type": null
}
] | Books, which give instructions on how to do things, are very popular in the USA today. A lot of books like these begin with titles that start with the words "how to". Many "how to" books give advice on careers. They tell you how to choose a career and how to succeed in it. If you would like to become very rich, you can buy a book How to Make a Million. If you never make any money, you need a book called How to Live on Nothing.
One of the most popular kinds of books is one that helps you with personal problems. If you are unhappy with your life, you can read How to love Every Minute of Your life. If you are tired of books on happiness, you may prefer a book called How to Make Yourself Sad.. Many of these books help people use their free time better. Some people want books which will give them useful information about sports, hobbies and travels.
Other people use their free time to make repairs and improvements in their homes. They like books which give step-by-step instructions on how to repair things like electrical writing, or how to decorate a house or make it larger.
Why have "how to" books become so popular ? Maybe because life has become so popular. Maybe because life has become so complex. Today people have far more free time to use , more choices to make, and more problems to solve. "How to" books help people deal with modern life. ,. | middle3928.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "It's unpleasant."
},
"options": [
"It's everywhere.",
"It carries bad things.",
"It's unpleasant.",
"It fills one's mail box."
],
"question": "What is the main problem with spam?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Five."
},
"options": [
"Three.",
"Four.",
"Five.",
"Six."
],
"question": "How many suggestions are there in the passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Delete it at once."
},
"options": [
"Reply to it quickly.",
"Delete it at once.",
"Click its pictures.",
"Visit its website."
],
"question": "What should you do if you receive a spam email?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Be careful with them."
},
"options": [
"Be careful with them.",
"Don't be afraid of them.",
"Find interest in them.",
"Try to fight against them."
],
"question": "Which of the following is the writer's idea about spam emails?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Spam mail is a fact of Internet life. Some of it carries bad things, but the main problem with spam is that it is unpleasant because it fills your mail box with pointless messages.
Most email programs have built-in filters that will discover unwanted messages and put them into a junk folder . You can make the filter learn what you consider to be spam or block certain senders.
Avoid letting your email address appear on websites--spammers search the Internet for email addresses. Be careful who you give your email address to, and if you need to send out several copies of an email, use blind copy instead to cover the other people's addresses.
Delete spam emails without opening them. Signs of possible spam are bad spelling in email headers, strange sender addresses, or emails sent at unusual hours. If you do open a spam mail, never reply to it or click on any pictures it may have.
If you receive an unexpected email pretending to come from your bank, credit card company or other suppliers, be very careful. If the email asks you to reply, don't do it! Instead, call up these places or visit their websites.
Consider setting up a second email address and keep one address for your personal use and another for your online communication. | middle5381.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "6"
},
"options": [
"21",
"230",
"92.",
"6"
],
"question": "Scientists used to believe how many basic facial expressions that tell others how we feel?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "They studied how people move their facial muscles."
},
"options": [
"They studied how people move their eyes.",
"They studied how people move their mouths.",
"They studied how people move their facial muscles.",
"They studied how people move their eye balls."
],
"question": "How didscientists from Ohio State University find out the number of facial expressions?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "In a science magazine"
},
"options": [
"In a story-book",
"In a travel guide",
"Ina novel",
"In a science magazine"
],
"question": "Where can we probably find the article?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | THE human face doesn't lie. We show sadness and happiness through our expressions. But exactly how many emotions can our face make?Scientists used to believe we had six basic facial expressions that tell others how we feel: sad, happy, surprised, fearful, angry and disgusted .
But a new study shows that our faces can do more than we think. Scientists from Ohio State University found out that humans can actually make 21 different facial expressions after studying how people move their facial muscles.
The scientists took pictures of 230 volunteers making faces in response to different cues .These cues included phrases like "you just got some great unexpected news", which produced a "happily surprised" reaction from volunteers. Other cues included "you smell a bad odor ", which caused "disgusted" faces.
In total, around 5,000 pictures were taken of the volunteers. The scientists then studied similarities of these pictures using a computer expression database. _ helped them to define a facial expression. "That tells us that these 21 emotions are expressed in the same way by nearly everyone," said DrAleix Martinez to The Daily Telegraph. For example, to express surprise, 92 percent of volunteers widened their eyes and opened their mouth. And 99 percent raised their cheeks and smiled to show being happy.
We are not always aware of our facial expressions, which can hold clues to how we really feel. So these results may have a big impact on medical treatment. If doctors were able to recognize more complex emotions, it would help doctors treat patients suffering from certain diseases. | middle6878.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "In Shandong."
},
"options": [
"In Beijing.",
"In Shantou.",
"In Shandong.",
"In Wuhan."
],
"question": "Where is Cathy now?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "A manager."
},
"options": [
"An actor.",
"A manager.",
"A teacher.",
"A driver."
],
"question": "What's Cathy's father's job?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Cathy's mother."
},
"options": [
"Cathy.",
"Sam.",
"Cathy's father.",
"Cathy's mother."
],
"question": "Who likes listening to music?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Four."
},
"options": [
"Two.",
"Three.",
"Five.",
"Four."
],
"question": "How many people are there in Cathy's family?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "My family."
},
"options": [
"My family.",
"A photo of my parents.",
"My favourite sport.",
"My parents' jobs."
],
"question": "The best title is _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | My name is Cathy. I'm English, but I'm in shandong with my family now. Look! This is a photo of my family. This is my father. He is a manager of a theatre. He likes running. My mother is a nurse. She likes listening to music. The boy is my brother, Sam. His favourite sport is basketball. Who is the girl next to him? It's me. I like table tennis very much. | middle3900.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "A musician"
},
"options": [
"A musician",
"A football player",
"An actor",
"A clerk"
],
"question": "What's Dave's job?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "In a club"
},
"options": [
"At home",
"In a school",
"In a club",
"On a bus"
],
"question": "Where does Dave work?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "After seven thirty"
},
"options": [
"At five",
"At seven",
"At eight",
"After seven thirty"
],
"question": "When does he play the violin?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "on weekends"
},
"options": [
"on Monday",
"on Friday",
"from Monday to Friday",
"on weekends"
],
"question": "We can watch Dave's show _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | DaveDean is a great musician. He is an early bird. He usually gets up at six o'clock in the morning. After he gets up, he drinks some water first. Next, he brushes his teeth. Then, he plays football with his friends. At half past seven, he eats his breakfast. After that, he often plays the violin. At about eight o'clock he takes the number 66 bus to work.
Where does he work? Well, he has a music club. He teaches violin and drums in the club. There he helps kids with the violin and the drums from Monday to Friday. On weekends, he has a show. Oh, Dave is very good with kids. Do you love violin and drums? Do you want to join his club? You can call him at 010-6698. | middle4909.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "light"
},
"options": [
"popular",
"light",
"classical",
"dance"
],
"question": "The writer likes _ music.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "at the beginning"
},
"options": [
"now",
"at all",
"at the beginning",
"very much"
],
"question": "The writer didn't like the song called Moon River _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "nothing"
},
"options": [
"everything",
"police",
"dogs",
"nothing"
],
"question": "From the song, we know that the drifters seem afraid of _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "the same feeling of melodies and words"
},
"options": [
"the same feeling of melodies and words",
"different understanding of melodies and words",
"different feelings of melodies and words",
"the same understanding of sound and words"
],
"question": "The writer thinks people who come from different countries have _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "blue"
},
"options": [
"happy",
"excited",
"tired",
"blue"
],
"question": "The writer began to love music when he/she was _ sometime long ago.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | I can't remember when I fell in love with music. Maybe it happened when I was feeling blue sometime long ago. I can't tell you exactly how music makes me feel better. But while listening to music, especially light music, it makes me feel calm and peaceful. Now I am listening to a song named Moon River. It is really a fantastic song. I didn't like this song at the beginning, but later I found its slow melody and beautiful lyrics deeply touching.
"Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker. Wherever you're going I'm going your way. Two drifters are off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see."
Yes. Although there is a long way to go for the drifters and maybe there are many troubles ahead, he seems afraid of nothing. I like music. Music reminds me that human beings have a lot in common even if they come from different countries or backgrounds, because we all have the same feeling or understanding of melodies and words. | middle1871.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Because his mother passed away and his father lost interest in life."
},
"options": [
"Because his father has being recovering from a major lung operation.",
"Because his father can't eat food just after a major lung operation.",
"Because his mother passed away and his father lost interest in life.",
"Because his father was very weak."
],
"question": "Why it was difficult to try the author's father to eat food?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "A simple act of kindness"
},
"options": [
"A Ice Cream",
"A Woman's Unfortunate Life",
"A Warm Hug",
"A simple act of kindness"
],
"question": "Which is the best title of this story?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "The woman had cancer but few people to look after her."
},
"options": [
"One evening the author's father didn't want to eat anything except ice cream.",
"When the author passed the woman's ward, he gave an ice cream to the woman.",
"The woman had cancer but few people to look after her.",
"The author knew the woman a long time ago and they kept in touch with each other."
],
"question": "Which is TRUE according to this passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "It is very easy to make someone happy when they are unlucky."
},
"options": [
"We should look after the old when they suffer some cancer",
"It is very easy to make someone happy when they are unlucky.",
"If we buy some present, we'll get a warm hug at last.",
"If someone has a cancer, he won't eat anything except ice cream."
],
"question": "Form this passage we can learn that _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | About 3 months ago, my father was in hospital recovering from a major lung operation. My mother had recently passed away, and my father had taken the loss of his partner of 58 years very hard and had lost interest in life. It was quite difficult to try to get him to eat each day as he didn't want anything. The one thing, however, that he would ask us to bring him was ice cream.
One evening, to our surprise, he refused to eat the ice cream, so I placed it in a staffroom refrigerator. A little while later, my son said he wanted it, so I fetched it for him. As I passed another ward , a woman asked, "Are there more where that came from?" When I explained, she seemed very disappointed. She then said that she had cancer and could eat very little other than the occasional ice cream.
The next evening, I decided to buy two ice creams. On the way to dad's room, I came into the sick woman's room, and offered her the ice cream I'd bought for her. She was totally astonished that I had thought of her, and accepted the gift with tears in her eyes. I spoke with her for a few minutes, explaining what was happening in my family and listened to her similar story of pain and suffering. It was _ that she did not have many visitors.
I repeated the gesture a few days later, and this time I received a warm hug. I never even thought to ask her name and never saw her again, but it made me realize that a simple act of kindness can bring joy to a person's unfortunate life.
,. | middle3914.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "A modern lift can go up and down with no worker in it."
},
"options": [
"A modern lift has no buttons.",
"A modern lift has a worker to operate it.",
"A modern lift can go up and down with no worker in it.",
"A modern lift knows what floor people want."
],
"question": "Which of the following is true?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "push the right button"
},
"options": [
"ask for help",
"open the door of the lift",
"ring the bell",
"push the right button"
],
"question": "If you want to go to the floor you want, you _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "they have tall buildings"
},
"options": [
"they have tall buildings",
"they can't walk up and down",
"old people and children need them",
"lifts are wonderful"
],
"question": "Why do people have to use lifts? Because _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | A lift is wonderful. It is really only a small room. Rooms usually stay in one place. Lifts travel up and down all day long.
Sometimes a worker stands in the lift. He or she operates it up and down. In modern lifts there is no worker. The people walk in. They know what floor they want. They push a button and the lift goes to that floor. It is all very fast and easy.
Lifts are very important to us. Why? Think about a tall building. Maybe it has twenty floors. Maybe it has fifty or more. Who can walk up all the stairs? Maybe people can climb them one time. Can someone climb thirty floors to an office every day? Can small children walk up to their room on the twenty-fourth floor? Can their mother and father carry food up all those stairs? Of course not.
We can have high buildings because we have lifts. We could not have all the beautiful tall buildings in the world without lifts. They are really wonderful. | middle328.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "both the Germans and the English"
},
"options": [
"only the Germans",
"only the Englishmen",
"only the French",
"both the Germans and the English"
],
"question": "From the passage, we can learn that _ are very quiet.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The Americans"
},
"options": [
"The Germans",
"The French",
"The Englishmen",
"The Americans"
],
"question": "_ are the most outgoing.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "It is very easy to make friends with them."
},
"options": [
"They are more outgoing than the Americans.",
"It is very easy to make friends with them.",
"They like travelling in their own country.",
"They don't like to be too excited and are always hard-working."
],
"question": "What can we learn about the French from the passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Characteristics of the people in different countries."
},
"options": [
"Different people's hobbies.",
"Who are more outgoing?",
"Characteristics of the people in different countries.",
"Working hard is an important part in people's life."
],
"question": "Which is the best title of the article?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Do you have any friends from other countries? Do you know what they are like?
The Germans are very quiet and they don't get excited easily. They don't want to say more words. They look serious , but they like all kinds of amusements . They work hard and like tidiness. Most German women like to keep their houses clean.
In some ways, the English look the same as the Germans. They are also quiet and never talk too much with others. They are really polite, so we often hear "Thank you." or "Sorry." from them.
The French have long holidays. They like travelling and usually spend their long time in other countries. The French are more outgoing than the Germans. It is very easy to make friends with them.
Compared to (......) the French, the Americans are more outgoing. And they are even opener. They don't like to depend on others. So it is very popular that students do part-time jobs. In Americans' eyes, working and success are important. | middle1864.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "English has become one of the most important courses in China."
},
"options": [
"If you want go to some college of Arts, it is needn't learn English.",
"It is easy for most Chinese to learn English.",
"English has become one of the most important courses in China.",
"Chinese student just learn English in the self study classroom"
],
"question": "In China, it is true that _ .",
"question_type": "summarization_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "the most speakers"
},
"options": [
"the most speakers",
"the oldest in history",
"the most popular",
"the most important"
],
"question": "Chinese is/has _ around the world.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "More and more foreigners have enthusiastically learning Chinese."
},
"options": [
"It is necessary for every Chinese to learn English well",
"More and more foreigners have enthusiastically learning Chinese.",
"Confucius Institutions spread all over the world.",
"Learning English is good for Chinese to learn the culture about the English countries."
],
"question": "What we can learn form this passage?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "It's Time to Protect Chinese Language"
},
"options": [
"English Is Very Import in China",
"Chinese Is the Most Popular in the World",
"More and More Foreigners Learn Chinese",
"It's Time to Protect Chinese Language"
],
"question": "Which is the best title for this passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | For Chinese students nowadays, no matter what kind of schools they are going to universities, high schools and even primary schools, they have to face and tackle the problem of learning English. All examinations they want to pass require them to first pass English. English has become the most popular course in tutorial classes and even in the self-study classroom.
When nearly all students' attention is focused on English, looking at the situation of our mother language, even Chinese _ get confused about its use. Not only have many new words and phrases which are very popular on the Internet started to fill in every corner of the society, common use of Chinese is full of mistakes and misunderstandings are all around.
Chinese has the most speakers of any world language and also one of the oldest in history. Around the world, many countries have started enthusiastically learning Chinese and Chinese has become one of the most important foreign languages in some foreign countries.
Besides, there are 282 Confucius Institutions around 88 countries and regions in the world that are teaching Chinese, while more than 260 institutions from 50 countries and regions applied to establish Confucius Institutions. The number of people learning Chinese is about 50 million outside China.
For those foreigners that are so crazy about Chinese language, what kind of attitude should the Chinese have? Frankly speaking, learning English itself shouldn't have been criticized too much, and we need to learn English to communicate with the world to show our culture and society.
,. | middle3915.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "How to get good grades"
},
"options": [
"How to learn from others.",
"How to try tips.",
"How to do your homework",
"How to get good grades"
],
"question": "What's the best title of the passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Grades aren't everything, but if you or your parents are worried about your report cards, try some of these easy tips. | middle1870.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Tom."
},
"options": [
"Victor.",
"Tom.",
"Mary.",
"Mr Wang"
],
"question": "Lucy can dance well. She wants to find a job. Who should she call?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Chess."
},
"options": [
"Chess.",
"Japanese.",
"Basketball.",
"dance"
],
"question": "What does Mr. Wang teach?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "From 2:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. on weekdays"
},
"options": [
"Every Saturday afternoon.",
"Every Sunday afternoon.",
"From 2:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. on weekdays",
"on Friday afternoon"
],
"question": "Alice wants to learn Japanese. When should she go to the club?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "At the Japanese club."
},
"options": [
"At the Japanese club.",
"At the dance club.",
"In school's P.E. Building.",
"at the chess club"
],
"question": "Betty speaks Japanese. She wants to work from Monday to Friday. Where can she work?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | Players Wanted
Are you good at playing basketball? Can you play ping-pong or soccer? Can you swim very well? If so, you are welcome to join our school sports team. Please call Victor at 8863543 or send an email to sports@ yahoo.com.
Dancers Wanted
Can you dance? Do you like kids? Can you help them with dancing on weekends? Come and join us. Call Tom at 3854922 for more information.
Chess Club
Do you like playing chess? Mr. Wang can teach you. He gives lessons here every Friday afternoon.Tel: 8358939 .Add: Room 102 in School's P. E. Building.
Let's Learn Japanese
Can you speak Japanese? Do you want to learn Japanese? Join the Japanese club now. Time: 2:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m.( from Monday to Friday ) Call Mary at 6253928. | middle4908.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "lost their way"
},
"options": [
"had no picnic",
"lost their way",
"couldn't light the fire",
"couldn't know each other"
],
"question": "It was even worse that they _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "We ran about and found a place to hide."
},
"options": [
"They gave up the camping at last.",
"None of them had an umbrella.",
"We know each other better.",
"We ran about and found a place to hide."
],
"question": "Which of the following is NOT true?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "working together"
},
"options": [
"enjoying holidays",
"taking a compass",
"working together",
"making a decision"
],
"question": "The writer has learned the importance of _ from the trip.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | In the morning , we went camping in Green Nature Park. We were happy because it was a sunny day. However, in the afternoon , when we finished our picnic , it was dark and windy. Soon ,there was a shower. Unluckily, none of us brought an umbrella. We ran about but we could find no place to hide .
Twenty minutes passed and it was still raining .There were hours to go before we reached the campsite . It was even worse that our compass showed that we went to the wrong way. We had lost our way!
We had to make a quick decision as it was raining heavily. Chris said we could set up a tent to hide in, so Mary and Tom helped to set up _ . Chris and I tried to make a fire to keep up warm. But we couldn't as everything was wet. We dried ourselves and waited inside the tent. At about five o'clock , it stopped raining. We decided to give up the camping trip because all of us were tired.
This camping trip may not be successful but we know each other better. And the most important thing I've learned from this trip is the importance of team spirit . | middle1680.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "basketball"
},
"options": [
"tabletennis",
"volleyball",
"basketball",
"golf"
],
"question": "The Houston Rockets is the name of a _ team.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "basketballplayers"
},
"options": [
"footballplayers",
"theleaderoftheChineseNationalTeam",
"thecentersofChineseNationalTeam",
"basketballplayers"
],
"question": "Both Yao Ming's father and mother are _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "doeswell"
},
"options": [
"doesbadly",
"isn'tgood",
"isin America",
"doeswell"
],
"question": "Yao Ming _ in CBA during the 2000-2001 seasons.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "becomesamemberof"
},
"options": [
"doeshisbesttojoin",
"isa teacherin",
"becomesamemberof",
"leaves"
],
"question": "Yao Ming _ the Houston Rockets in November, 2002.",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | Yao Ming, the centre of the Chinese National Men's basketball team, joins the Houston Rocket in the 2002 NBA. The 2.2 m, 120kg basketball star becomes the first one to come from a foreign team. Yao Ming was born in Shanghai in September, 1980. His mother is a leader of the Chinese National Women's Team. His father plays basketball, too. Yao Ming is welcome in China. He becomes a very important basketball player in China Basketball Association. It's short for CBA.
During the 2000-2001 seasons, he gets 27.1 scores for the Shanghai Oriental Sharks in every match. Yao Ming joins the Houston Rockets in November, 2002. He says this is a new start in his basketball life. He world do his best to learn from the NBA and improve himself. Sport analyst Bill Walton says, "Yao Ming is very strong. He has the capability of changing the future of basketball." | middle314.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "They cause physical pain."
},
"options": [
"They cause physical pain.",
"They bring comfort to them.",
"They make their vision clearer.",
"They float around and cause trouble."
],
"question": "What effect do tears have on astronauts?",
"question_type": null
}
] | BEING an astronaut sounds cool, doesn't it? In space, they get to do some pretty amazing things, like floating in zero gravity .
However, there are also plenty of things that astronauts can't do because of their weightless environment, and that's very sad. What's worse, they can't even let their sadness show, because it's impossible to cry in zero gravity.
Of course, astronauts can still produce tears . But crying is much more difficult in space, according to The Atlantic in January. Without gravity, tears don't flow down out of the eyes like they do here on Earth. This means that when you cry in space, your tears have nowhere to go -- they just stick to your eyes.
In May 2011, astronaut Andrew Feustel experienced this during one of his spacewalks. "Tears," he said, "don't fall off of your eyes. They just stay there."
Besides making your vision unclear, this can also cause physical pain. Back on Earth, tears are supposed to bring comfort to the eyes. But that's not the case in space. The space environment dries out astronauts' eyes, and when tears suddenly wet the eyes, it can cause pain rather than comfort. "My right eye is stinging like crazy," Feustel told his teammate during the walk.
Since gravity doesn't work in space, astronauts need some extra help to get rid of the tears. Feustel chose to rub his eyes against his helmet to wipe the tears away. Another choice is to just wait -- "When the tears get big enough, they simply break free of the eyes and float around," astronaut Ron Parise told The Atlantic.
There are lots of small things -- things like crying -- that we are so used to on Earth. We usually _ until they become a problem in a totally different environment, like space. There, astronauts can't talk to each other directly. They also can't eat or drink in normal ways. They can't even burp , because there is no gravity to hold the food down in their stomach. If they do burp, they just end up throwing up everything in their stomach, according to the UK National Space Center.
Therefore, perhaps it's only space explorers who can honestly say, "Gravity, you're the best." | middle3097.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because it is nearer to us."
},
"options": [
"Because it is bigger than any other star.",
"Because it is hotter than any other star.",
"Because it is brighter than any other star.",
"Because it is nearer to us."
],
"question": "Why does the sun look bigger than any other star?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "Because the stars are farther away from us."
},
"options": [
"Because the stars are smaller than the moon.",
"Because the stars are nearer to us.",
"Because the stars are farther away from us.",
"Because the stars are bigger than the moon."
],
"question": "Why do the stars look smaller than the moon?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because the sun shines on it."
},
"options": [
"Because it is bright.",
"Because it has light of its own.",
"Because the stars shine on it.",
"Because the sun shines on it."
],
"question": "Why does the moon look bright?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "The moon has light of it's own."
},
"options": [
"The sun looks like a bright plate.",
"Many stars are bigger than the sun.",
"The moon is smaller than the stars.",
"The moon has light of it's own."
],
"question": "Which one is not right?",
"question_type": null
}
] | On sunny days we can see the sun in the sky. It looks like a hot and bright plate. But it is a ball. It is much bigger and hotter than any fire. And it is much brighter than all the lights in the world.
The sun is a star but it looks much bigger and brighter than any other star. Many stars are much bigger than the sun. The sun is much nearer to us, so it looks much bigger.
At night we can see the moon and many stars. The moon is a round ball. It is much smaller than the stars. The stars are much farther away from us; so thy look much smaller than the moon. The moon has no light of its own. When the sun shines on it, it looks bright. When the moon is full. It looks very beautiful. | middle2389.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "30--40."
},
"options": [
"3--10.",
"15--25.",
"30--40.",
"50--60."
],
"question": "What's the age the persons I questioned?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "Because the parents didn't pay enough care for their children's hobbies."
},
"options": [
"Because the person's children didn't have any hobbies.",
"Because most persons didn't have children.",
"Because the children weren't interested in hobbies.",
"Because the parents didn't pay enough care for their children's hobbies."
],
"question": "Why did the writer feel sad?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "Radio collecting."
},
"options": [
"Radio collecting.",
"Coin collecting.",
"Stamp collecting.",
"Baseball cards collecting."
],
"question": "Which was out of the popular hobbies?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "Children need to have a hobby."
},
"options": [
"Many parents don't care about their children's hobbies.",
"Children need to have a hobby.",
"Hobbies help children build self- respect.",
"Children learn skills by working on hobbies."
],
"question": "What's the main idea of this passage?",
"question_type": null
}
] | Not long ago, I asked large mid-aged persons a question. I asked, "How many of you had a hobby when you were children?" Nearly everyone raised a hand. I then asked them to keep their hands in the air if they knew at least one of their children had a hobby. Most of the hands went down. I felt sad. It's terrible if the children don't have a hobby. How I wish all the parents can care their children's hobbies!
Thirty years ago, almost every child in my neighborhood had some kinds of hobbies. Collecting and trading baseball cards was a popular hobby. Others, like coin collecting and stamp collecting, are also popular. One of my friends was collecting photos, another was collecting radios. In fact, hobbies can benefit children in several ways. _ are expressions of personal success and self-discovery . Hobbies also help build self- respect . Hobbies are educational tools, as well. For example, a child who becomes interested in rocketry --one of the most popular hobbies, can explore those skills in many ways. By working on hobbies, children learn to set goals, make decisions, and solve all sorts of problems.
,. | middle3929.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "From the newspaper"
},
"options": [
"From the Internet",
"From the newspaper",
"From the magazine",
"By listening to others"
],
"question": "How does the writer know about the Morning After Robot?",
"question_type": null
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 3,
"answer_text": "studying"
},
"options": [
"working",
"using",
"repairing",
"studying"
],
"question": "The lab at Stanford University is _ the Morning After Robot",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 2,
"answer_text": "It doesn't clean the floor as fast or well as a person does."
},
"options": [
"It doesn't clean the floor as quietly as a person does.",
"It doesn't clean the floor as clean as a person does.",
"It doesn't clean the floor as fast or well as a person does.",
"There is less fun using it."
],
"question": "What's the disadvantage of the Roomba?",
"question_type": "factiod_questions"
}
] | The Morning After Robot
From today's newspaper, I know that in 2014 you might get a Morning After Robot. It will clean your house after a party. The Robot can take picture of your room before the party. After the party, the robot will go around the room, and it will pick up bottles and trash. After that it will compare the room with the picture and put things back according to its original shape. Such robots are being studied in a lab at Stanford University. That sounds pretty cool! If we can see the robot and have enough money, we must buy them.
Robot Roomba
Mothers' Day is coming. You can give Robot Roomba as a gift to your mother. The Roomba is a great gift for two reasons. On the one hand, it's really cool as a useful robot. It can actually clean your floor. Maybe not as fast or well as a person does, but it is a lot more fun cleaning the floor by the Roomba than cleaning the floor yourself. On the other hand, it shows the family life is very modern. | middle6851.txt |
[
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "friend"
},
"options": [
"grandfather",
"friend",
"boss",
"host"
],
"question": "In the story the old man was the boy's _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 1,
"answer_text": "he could really understand his parents"
},
"options": [
"he wanted to fish by himself",
"he could really understand his parents",
"the boy asked for some money",
"the boy had already learnt how to fish"
],
"question": "The old man refused the boy to go fishing with him again because _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
},
{
"answer": {
"answer_index": 0,
"answer_text": "the old man was always full of hope"
},
"options": [
"the old man was always full of hope",
"the boy's parents believed in the old man",
"everyone laughed at the old man's bad luck",
"the boy was worried about the old man's health"
],
"question": "From the story we can know that _ .",
"question_type": "cloze_questions"
}
] | He was an old man who fished alone in a small boat on the sea and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish. In the first forty days a boy had been with him. But after forty days without a fish, the boy's parents had told him that the old man was now salao, which is the worst form of unlucky, and the boy had gone with another boat which caught three good fish the first week. It made the boy sad to see the old man come in each day with his boat empty. The sail looked like the flag of failure forever.
The old man was thin with deep wrinkles in the back of his neck. His face was terribly brown because of the strong sunlight on the sea every day and his hands had the deep scars from dealing with heavy fish on the lines. But none of these scars were fresh. Everything about him was old except his eyes and _ were the same color as the sea and were cheerful.
"Santiago," the boy said to him as they climbed the bank from the sea. "I could go with you again. We've made some money."
The old man had taught the boy to fish and the boy loved him.
"No," the old man said. "You're with a lucky boat. Stay with them."
"But remember how you went eighty-seven days without fish and then we caught big ones every day for three weeks."
"I remember," the old man said.
"It was papa who made me leave. I am a boy and I must follow him."
"I know," the old man said. "It is quite normal."
"He hasn't much faith ."
"No," the old man said. "But we have. Haven't we?"
"Yes," the boy said. "Can I offer you a beer on the Terrace?"
"Why not?" the old man said "Between fishermen." | middle7597.txt |