Passage 1Digital Cameras[00:]① According to a standard definition, /[00:]a digital camera is a camera that produces digital images / [00:]that can be stored in a computer, displayed on a screen and printed. /[01:]② Years ago people used to possess two different devices / [01:] in order to take pictures and make videos. /[01:]③ The creation of digital cameras was motivated mainly by two factors. /[01:]④ First, need to spare space. /[01:]⑤ Second, make it more comfortable for people[01:]to do both things with higher quality results. /[01:]⑥ The multi-functionalism of digital cameras[01:]and the combination of several devices in one /[01:]make it a popular choice for a modern man. /[01:]⑦ For years a digital camera has been unaffordable for many families. /[01:]⑧However, the variety of digital cameras and various prices nowadays /[01:]make it possible for almost every single family to buy a digital camera. /[01:]⑨ With increasingly fierce competition, /[01:] the digital camera manufacturers satisfy customers[02:]with lower prices but best quality standards.Passage 2The Migration of Birds[00:]① The most obvious feature of birds is that they can fly. / [00:]② This facility gives them great mobility and control over their movements. /[00:]③Many species can travel quickly and economically over long distances— /[01:]up to thousands of kilometers, /[01:]if necessary, crossing seas, deserts or other inhospitable areas. /[01:]④ They also have great orientation and navigational skills, / [01:]and are able to remember and re-find[01:]remote places they have previously visited. /[01:]⑤ Birds can thereby occupy widely separated areas at different seasons, /[01:]returning repeatedly to the same localities from year to year. / [01:]⑥ Although migration is evident in other animal groups, / [01:]including insects, mammals, and fish, /[01:]in none is it as widely and well developed as in birds. / [01:]⑦ The collective travel routes of birds span almost the entire planet. /[01:]⑧ As a result of migration, bird distributions are continually changing— /[02:]on regular seasonal patterns, and on local, regional or global scales.Passage 3Benefits of Becoming a Teacher[00:]① Becoming a teacher gives you a chance /[00:]to spend a major portion of your day with children or youngsters. /[00:]② With kids around,[00:]you are a part of their world of innocence and purity. / [01:]③ It indeed creates a healthy work environment for you. / [01:]④ On becoming a teacher, /[01:]you get a chance to be with children,[01:]laugh with them, think their way /[01:]and enjoy their innocently silly and healthily naughty behavior. / [01:]⑤ Apart from this, the nature of your job is that /[01:]you do not work on weekends and you get your share of holidays. / [01:]⑥ Becoming a teacher entitles you /[01:]for receiving private scholarships and sponsorships[01:]for teaching programs. /[01:]⑦ However, one of the most important benefits[01:]of becoming a teacher is that /[01:]teachers contribute to the shaping of the future generations. / [01:]⑧ They make a difference to society /[01:]by playing a vital role in nurturing young minds.Passage 4Computer[00:]① With the development of computer technology, /[00:]computers are becoming increasingly popular all over the world. / [00:]② The computer is being used in many fields. /[00:]③ In industry, business, education, medicine,[01:]nearly all walks of life, /[01:]computers have made their appearance,[01:]providing great speed and accuracy for our work. /[01:]④ Computers have been used in the home, offices,[01:]laboratories and research institutions, /[01:]acting as the most efficient and multifunctional instruments / [01:]for calculating, sorting, filing, recording and distributing. / [01:]⑤ And they have also become a window[01:]through which we can understand the world better. /[01:]⑥ During the past fifty years,[01:]the computer has been rapidly advanced. /[01:]⑦ Ever since the computer came into being,[01:]it has experienced the development of several generations. / [01:]⑧ The earliest computers were of great size, /[01:]and had no match for the latest electronic computers[02:]in speed and accuracy. /[02:]⑨ Now efforts are being made[02:]not only to bring the hardware to perfection, /[02:]but also to improve the quality of the software.Passage 5Computer Addiction[00:]① Nowadays, computer users have started developing[00:]some bad habits regarding using computers, /[00:]which have led to significant problems in their lives. / [00:]② The negative consequences from computer addiction /[01:]are similar to those of many other known addictive disorders / [01:]that cause mental and physical disturbances. /[01:]③ As a result, the term “computer or Internet addiction”[01:] has come into use. /[01:]④ It is also known as cyberspace addiction[01:]and Internet addiction disorder. /[01:]⑤ It's not an easy task[01:]to identify which type of computer addiction[01:]is responsible for most computer addicts, /[01:]as there are many types of computer addictions, /[01:]such as online games, chat, e-mail, online shopping,[01:]online gambling and so on. /[01:]⑥ No one knows in the future, /[01:]which technology would attract more people[01:]to become computer addicts. /[01:]⑦ However, there are various organizations /[01:]that specifically deal with computer addiction /[01:]and have helped many thousands of people[01:]to get rid of this damaging addiction.Passage 6Listening Skills[00:]① Communication with others involves learning listening skills. / [00:]② It's a good feeling when someone listens to you /[00:]when you're talking to them. /[00:]③ It makes you feel like they care about you[01:]and what you're saying. /[01:]④ The same respect should be given to people[01:]that are speaking to you. /[01:]⑤ Controlling the conversation or interrupting constantly [01:]with your views or suggestions /[01:]is not listening to the other person. /[01:]⑥ Listening closely and then responding at the appropriate time [01:]makes a good conversation. /[01:]⑦ Making comments at the correct time[01:]lets the speaker know you're interested /[01:]and can help you stay centered on the conversation. /[01:]⑧ Asking good questions about the subject[01:]will show you want to know more about it. /[01:]⑨ Try not to ask too many questions with the word “why”. / [01:]⑩ People might not know the answer[01:]and won't be able to respond to the question. /[01:]⑪ Always, let people finish what they're saying /[01:]before you talk about something else.Passage 7Book Review[00:]① The determination of the book review[00:]is to communicate to the readers’ mind /[00:]the ideas and sensations book reviewer experienced /[00:] while researching the content. /[01:]② Professional book reviews are important in all professions. / [01:]③ But they are especially important in the sciences, /[01:]which define the specialization of the book reviewer. /[01:]④ That is because the basic unit of scientific communication, [01:]the primary research paper, /[01:]is typically five to eight printed pages in most fields, / [01:]which is short and narrowly specific. /[01:]⑤ Therefore, to provide a general overview[01:]of a significant slice of science, /[01:]professional writers of scientific books have to[01:]organize and join the reported knowledge in a field /[01:]into a much larger, more meaningful package. /[01:]⑥ In other words, new scientific knowledge is made meaningful / [01:]by sorting the bits and pieces into book reviews[02:]to provide a larger picture. /[02:]⑦ Thus, the individual plants and flowers,[02:]and even the weeds, become a landscape.Passage 8Television Advertisements[00:]① A television advertisement or television commercial[00:]is a span of television programming /[00:]produced and paid for by an organization[00:]that conveys a message. /[01:]② Advertisement revenue provides[01:]a significant portion of the funding /[01:]for most privately owned television networks. /[01:]③ The vast majority of television advertisements today[01:]consist of brief advertising spots, /[01:]ranging in length from a few seconds to several minutes. / [01:]④ Advertisements of this sort have been used to[01:]sell every product imaginable over the years, /[01:]from household products to goods and services,[01:]to political campaigns. /[01:]⑤ The effect of television advertisements upon the viewing public /[01:]has been greatly successful and pervasive. /[01:]⑥ In some countries, like the United States, /[01:]it is considered impossible for a politician[01:]to wage a successful election campaign /[01:]without the purchase of television advertising. /[02:]⑦ In other countries, such as France,[02:]political advertising is strictly limited on television. / [02:]⑧ Some countries, like Norway, even completely ban it.Passage 9Waste[00:]① Waste is sometimes a subjective concept, /[00:]because items that some people discard may have value to others. / [00:]② It is widely recognized that waste materials[01:]are a valuable resource, /[01:]while there is debate as to how this value is best realized. / [01:]③ Governments need to define what waste is /[01:]in order that it can be safely and legally managed. /[01:]④ Different definitions need to be combined /[01:]in order to ensure the safe and legal disposal of the waste. / [01:]⑤ The European Union has started a discussion /[01:]that will end in an End-of-Waste directive. /[01:]⑥ It will clarify the distinction between waste[01:]that shall be treated for disposal /[01:]and raw materials that can be reused for other purposes. / [01:]⑦ All over the world, America generates more waste[01:]than any other nation in the world, /[01:]with 4. 5 pounds of municipal solid waste per person per day, / [02:]55 percent of which is contributed as residential garbage.Passage 10Getting Paid to Shop[00:]① Advertising in our days has joined our lives quite well. / [00:]② Getting paid to shop is another form of advertising. / [00:]③ A contractor evaluates products and services[01:]offered by various companies /[01:]in order to become known to the public /[01:]with the main purpose to increase their sales. /[01:]④ Getting paid to shop,[01:]users have the opportunity to shop favorite products /[01:]like jewelry, handbags, clothes, shoes and other things, / [01:]and create an income[01:] that might later lead them to financial freedom. /[01:]⑤ To be more clear and specific, /[01:] anyone who joins a getting paid to shop program /[01:]will have the opportunity to shop things that you wish for free / [01:]while at the end of the campaign[01:]might those things become yours. /[01:]⑥ In addition, those companies that offer such opportunity [01:]will pay their members to do that. /[01:]⑦ Getting paid to shop is certainly the ideal solution / [01:]that fits perfectly with most women[02:]who like to shop often or see shopping as a hobby.Passage 11Negative Effects of Television[00:]① Spending too many hours watching television[00:]wastes the precious time /[00:]that can rather be spent in fruitful and healthy activities [01:]like exercise or reading. /[01:]② It also uses up the time /[01:]that you can rather spend with your family and friends. / [01:]③ Chatting with your near ones,[01:]spending time with your close ones /[01:]is a better way of spending time than watching TV. /[01:]④ People watching television,[01:]especially children and youngsters, /[01:]start identifying with what is shown on TV. /[01:]⑤ They relate to television shows and films to such an extent / [01:]that they get bored of living a normal and simple life. / [01:]⑥ They are eager for fame and money; /[01:]they long for living the lives of their favorite TV characters. / [01:]⑦ This may lead to a high amount of dissatisfaction[01:]for the real world. /[01:]⑧ As real life is the contrast of the life shown on TV, / [01:]such TV addicts become hungry for power, money and status.Passage 12Culture Shock[00:]① Culture shock isn’t a clinical term or medical condition. / [00:]② It’s simply a common way to describe[00:]the confusing and nervous feelings a person may have /[00:]after leaving a familiar culture[00:]to live in a new and different culture. /[01:]③ When you move to a new place, /[01:]you’re bound to face a lot of changes. /[01:]④ That can be exciting and stimulating, /[01:]but it can also be overwhelming. /[01:]⑤ You may feel sad, anxious, frustrated, and want to go home. / [01:]⑥ It’s natural to have difficulty adjusting to a new culture. / [01:]⑦ People from other cultures may have grown up[01:]with values and beliefs that differ from yours. /[01:]⑧ Because of these differences, /[01:]the things they talk about, the ways they express themselves, / [01:]and the importance of various ideas /[01:]may be very different from what you are used to. /[01:]⑨ But the good news is that culture shock is usually temporary.Passage 13Environmentally Friendly Cars[00:]① Environmentally friendly cars are supposed to be [00:]the vehicles of future generations. /[00:]② Nevertheless, such cars exist now /[00:]and are becoming more popular in the modern car market [01:]than traditional vehicles /[01:]which work on fossil fuels. /[01:]③ The advantages of such cars[01:]are not only in their lower harmfulness[01:]for the environment and people’ s health /[01:]but also in the lower fuel costs. /[01:]④ However, their production is rather expensive, / [01:]so it is still a controversial point /[01:]both for the customers and the automobile manufacturers. / [01:]⑤ Although they are more expensive to buy, /[01:]they pay for themselves in a period of about 5 years / [01:]because they consume less expensive fuels. /[01:]⑥ The common types of environmentally friendly cars [01:]include electric cars, fuel-cell-powered cars,[01:]crossbreed cars and solar cars. /[01:]⑦ And environmentally friendly cars[01:]have become the choice of many people /[01:]who decided to reduce the influence[02:]of burning fossil fuels on the nature.Passage 14The Earth Day[00:]① Our Planet Earth has so much to give us. /[00:]② From the beautiful natural surroundings[00:]to the rich types of creatures, /[00:]Planet Earth has loads of things to offer /[00:]that only make the life more beautiful. /[01:]③ However, have you given a thought to[01:]how many individuals actually respect this planet /[01:]④ April 22nd is known the world over as Earth Day. /[01:]⑤ It is celebrated to create more awareness about our planet / [01:]and situations that we need to take care of /[01:]to ensure our Planet Earth is well loved and cared for. / [01:]⑥ As things are, we need to celebrate it on one day /[01:]to remind us of the responsibilities[01:]we need to handle in the coming years. /[01:]⑦ The importance of Planet Earth is something /[01:]that should be taught to children in their early years, [01:]at home and in the school. /[01:]⑧ Only then will the young and old alike,[01:]understand the issues /[01:]such as global warming, energy conservation[01:]and the importance of recycling.Passage 15Differences Between Chinese and Western Eating Habits[00:]① There are great differences[00:]between Chinese and Western eating habits. /[00:]② Unlike the West, where everyone has their own plate of food, / [01:]in China the dishes are placed on the table and everybody shares. /[01:]③ If you are being treated by a Chinese host, /[01:]be prepared for a ton of food. /[01:]④ Chinese are very proud of their culture of cuisine /[01:]and will do their best to show their hospitality. /[01:]⑤ And sometimes the Chinese hosts use their chopsticks[01:]to put food in your bowl or plate. /[01:]⑥ This is a sign of politeness. /[01:]⑦ The appropriate thing to do would be to eat whatever-it-is / [01:]and say how tasty it is. /[01:]⑧ If you feel uncomfortable with this, /[01:]you can just say a polite thank-you and leave the food there. / [01:]⑨ And you should never tap on your bowl with your chopsticks, / [01:]which can be very insulting to the host.Passage 16Artificial Intelligence[00:]① Artificial Intelligence is the intelligence of machines [00:]and the branch of computer science[00:]which aims to create it. /[00:]② Textbooks define it[00:]as the study and design of intelligent agents, /[01:]where an intelligent agent is a system[01:]that perceives its environment /[01:]and takes actions which maximize its chances of success. / [01:]③ The field was founded on the claim that[01:]human intelligence can be so precisely described /[01:]that it can be simulated by a machine. /[01:]④ The discipline of Artificial Intelligence was born[01:]in the summer of 1956. /[01:]⑤ Half of a century has passed, /[01:]and Artificial Intelligence has come a long way[01:]since its beginning. /[01:]⑥ It has turned into an important field, /[01:]whose influence on our daily lives[01:]can hardly be underestimated. /[01:]⑦ Many specialized Artificial Intelligence systems[01:]exist that are at work in our cars, /[01:]in our laptop computers,[01:]and in our personal and commercial technologies. /[01:]⑧ There is no doubt that the impact of Artificial Intelligence [02:]on our lives in the future /[02:]will become even more general and universal.Passage 17Idioms[00:]① An idiom is defined as a group of words /[00:]whose meaning must be known as a whole, /[00:]because it cannot be learned from the meaning[00:]of the same words used separately. /[00:]② Obviously, there is a problem /[01:]when you cannot look up individual words in a dictionary [01:]and find the meaning, /[01:]the usual strategy we all employ[01:]when we come across a word or words that are unfamiliar. / [01:]③ With idioms, however, we must learn the group of words. / [01:]④ In everyday English, idioms are in common use. /[01:]⑤ In fact, idioms are so common /[01:]that most native speakers do not even realize[01:]that they are using idioms. /[01:]⑥ It is particularly important to recognize idioms /[01:]when you hear them or read them. /[01:]⑦ When you are able to use them comfortably[01:]in your own speech and writing, /[01:]then you have achieved a higher level of mastery /[01:]and fluency in the language.Passage 18Children’s Health[00:]① It seems we have developed[00:]such a fast paced society of convenience /[00:]that kids today don’t play outside much anymore. /[00:]② They would rather stay inside and have things done for them. / [01:]③ They spend too much time inside on the sofa /[01:]and neglect any kind of physical activity, /[01:]which causes a state of being inactive and unhealthy. /[01:]④ Inactive kids have a higher risk of becoming obese, / [01:]having high blood pressure and a higher risk of heart disease. / [01:]⑤ Along with being inactive, /[01:]kids today don’t get enough personal interaction with other kids, /[01:]causing them to have a lack of interpersonal skills. /[01:]⑥ Besides, their parents and grandparents[01:]allow children to have everything they want. /[01:]⑦ Parents’ spoiling only makes for an attitude of selfishness. / [01:]⑧ To avoid this situation, parents should encourage their kids [01:]to spend more time out of the house, /[01:]such as playing basketball in a community basketball team.Passage 19Customer Service[00:]① Good customer service is the lifeblood of any business. / [00:]② You can offer promotions and slash prices[00:]to bring in as many new customers as you want. /[01:]③ But unless you can get some of those customers to come back, / [01:]your business won’ t be profitable for long. /[01:]④ Good customer service is all about bringing customers back / [01:]and about sending them away happy, /[01:]happy enough to pass positive feedback[01:]about your business along to others, /[01:]who may then try the product or service you offer for themselves / [01:]and in their turn become repeat customers. /[01:]⑤ If you’ re a good salesperson, /[01:]you can sell anything to anyone once. /[01:]⑥ But it will be your approach to customer service that determines /[01:]whether or not you’ ll ever be able to sell that person anything else. /[01:]⑦ The essence of good customer service[01:]is forming a relationship with customers, /[01:]a relationship that the individual customer feels[02:]that he would like to pursue.Passage 20AIDS[00:]① When AIDS first emerged, /[00:]no one could have predicted[00:]how the epidemic would spread across the world /[00:]and how many millions of lives it would change. /[00:]② There was no real idea what caused it /[01:]and consequently no real idea how to protect against it. / [01:]③ Now we know from bitter experience /[01:]that AIDS is caused by the virus HIV, /[01:]and that it can destroy families,[01:]communities and whole continents. /[01:]④ However, experience has also shown us[01:]that the right approaches can[01:]and do result in lower national HIV infection rates /[01:]and less suffering for those affected by the epidemic. /[01:]⑤ Already, more than twenty-five million people[01:]around the world have died of AIDS-related diseases. /[01:]⑥ 33 million people around the world are now living with HIV, / [01:]and most of these are likely to die over the next decade or so. / [01:]⑦ It is disappointing that the global numbers of people [02:]infected with HIV continue to rise, /[02:]despite the fact that effective prevention strategies already exist.Passage 21[00:]Homeschooling[00:]① More and more parents are feeling /[00:]that the schools are not up to a suitable standard[00:]required to meet their children’s needs. /[00:]② Therefore, homeschooling becomes[00:]an appealing prospect for parents /[01:]who want to rema in in control of their children’s learning. / [01:]③ There are both benefits and drawbacks[01:]to homeschooling a child, /[01:]but the positives seem to outweigh the negatives[01:]in the minds of parents. /[01:]④ In UK homeschooling has increased in recent years[01:]as the gap between the best-[01:]and worst-performing schools has grown. /[01:]⑤ Parents increasingly feel excluded from[01:]their children’s education, /[01:]for schools have turned into examination factories. /[01:]⑥ In schools, teaching to the test is the norm, /[01:]instead of allowing children to explore their own creativity. / [01:]⑦ Schools need to achieve good examination results[01:]in order to have their higher status recognized, /[01:]which obviously has implications[01:]for the level of funding they receive. /[01:]⑧ Hence, it would almost seem that[01:]students are seen as a means to an end, /[02:]rather than as the whole reason for a school’s existence.Passage 22Mail Fraud[00:]① Mail fraud occurs when someone asks for[00:]something of value to be sent through the mail, /[00:]promising something in return, then fails to deliver. / [01:]② Fraud can also be committed by wire, phone, or e-mail, / [01:]but is only considered mail fraud /[01:]when it involves things being sent by mail. /[01:]③ This fraud can take the form of[01:]offering a product or service /[01:]which is then not provided or offering employment[01:]that turns out to be a scam. /[01:]④ It can also be offering a product or service for a price / [01:]that is already provided for free by the government. /[01:]⑤ Sometimes, you may receive an advertisement[01:]for something designed to look like an invoice. /[01:]⑥ Some Internet domain registration providers[01:]are known for sending mail to owners of domains / [01:]registered through competing companies, /[01:]urging them to renew their domains. /[01:]⑦ But in the process of renewing, /[01:]the domain registration would be transferred[01:]to the provider sending the mail, /[02:]often at a higher cost.Passage 23Online Shopping[00:]① With just a click of the mouse, /[00:]shoppers can buy nearly any product online, /[00:]from groceries to cars, /[00:]from insurance policies to home loans. /[01:]② The world of electronic commerce,[01:]also known as e-commerce, /[01:]enables consumers to shop at thousands of online stores [01:]and pay for their purchases /[01:]without leaving the comfort of home. /[01:]③ For many, the Internet has taken the place of [01:]Saturday afternoon window shopping at the mall. / [01:]④ Consumers expect merchants to[01:]not only make their products available on the Web, / [01:]but to make payments a simple and secure process. / [01:]⑤ However, the same things can go wrong[01:]in cyberspace as in the real world. /[01:]⑥ Sometimes it is simply a case of a computer bug[01:]or poor customer service. /[01:]⑦ Other times, shoppers are cheated by clever scam artists. / [01:]⑧ Therefore, online shoppers need to[01:]take sensible precautions /[01:]to make their online shopping experiences enjoyable and safe.Passage 24Aliens[00:]① For a long time, aliens have often been in the news. / [00:]② They have always been surrounded by mystery /[00:]and interest of people all around the world. /[00:]③ People have claimed to have been abducted by aliens. / [01:]④ Some have claimed to have actually seen them. /[01:]⑤ But is there a sound proof that can prove aliens to be real / [01:]⑥ Alien sightings have mostly been accompanied by[01:]sightings of lights in the night sky. /[01:]⑦ Some of them have also believed /[01:]that the lights came from the spaceships used by the aliens. / [01:]⑧ Disk-like objects traveling across the sky /[01:]have often be en taken as aliens’ vehicles. /[01:]⑨ At times, people have found blood or hair at the locations / [01:]where aliens were sighted. /[01:]⑩ Researchers say alien sightings could have probably been [01:]a result of human imagination accompanied by fear, /[01:]and some of these sightings might have been[01:]a result of certain astronomical phenomena.Passage 25Traditional Brazilian Clothing[00:]① Brazil is known internationally for its stylish[00:]and sophisticated clothing. /[00:]② Brazilian clothes are comfortable, vivid, beautifully crafted [01:]and decorated with attractive laces. /[01:]③ Traditional Brazilian clothing is influenced by[01:]a combination of different races and immigrants[01:]from all over the world. /[01:]④ A true traditional Brazilian clothing[01:]can be seen in the countryside, /[01:]where men’s clothing includes shirt, jeans[01:]and dresses made from inexpensive cotton. /[01:]⑤ In the south of Brazil, the cowboys wear a distinctive dress [01:]including loose-fitting trousers, /[01:]while in the northeast region they wear coat,[01:]hat and leather trousers. /[01:]⑥ In the urban areas of Brazil,[01:]most people prefer modern clothing. /[01:]⑦ Young men wear jeans and T-shirts. /[01:]⑧ Short skirts and dresses are very popular among women. / [01:]⑨ Brazilian jeans are very common /[01:]and they come in a wide variety of styles and textures. / [02:]⑩ Jeans made for women are tight-fitting[02:]and loose-fitting near the feet. /[02:]⑪ Due to abundance of beautiful beaches, /[02:]beachwear is a very popular clothing in Brazil.。