Reading (Item 1-2)

     MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- Passengers said they saw flames and then heard an explosion moments before a Spanair jet crashed on takeoff Wednesday at Madrid's Barajas Airport, killing 153 people, according to local media.
     The Spanair Flight JK5022 was carrying 172 people. There were 19 survivors, including two infants, Development Minister Magdalena Alvarez said. The 19 were being treated at a hospital, Alvaraez said. The severity of the injuries varies, but many of the injured have been treated for burns, Spanish Red Cross spokeswoman Olivia Acosa said.
     The flight was bound for Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, two hours away. Local officials said one of the engines caught fire. The aircraft, an MD-82, has two jet engines, both at the rear.
     The crash sent up a plume of smoke visible from several kilometers away. At the time of the crash, weather conditions were hot and clear. A survivor told Spain's ABC newspaper that she and other passengers heard an explosion as the plane was taking off.
What was the cause of the plane explosion?

Which of the following is correct?

Reading (Item 3-6)
     The tireless tongue already controls taste and speech, helps kiss and swallow and fights germs. Now scientists hope to add one more ability to the mouthy muscle, and turn it into a computer control pad.
     Georgia Tech researchers believe a magnetic, tonguepowered system could transform a disabled person's mouth into a virtual computer, teeth into a keyboard — and tongue into the key that manipulates it all.
     "You could have full control over your environment by just being able to move your tongue," said Maysam Ghovanloo, a Georgia Tech assistant professor who leads the team's research.
     The group's Tongue Drive System turns the tongue into a joystick of sorts, allowing the disabled to manipulate wheelchairs, manage home appliances and control computers. The work still has a ways to go - one potential user called the design "grotesque" - but early tests are encouraging.
     And while newer innovations that track eye movement are promising, they can be costly, slow and susceptible to mixed signals.
     The tongue, though, is a more flexible, sensitive and tireless option. And like other facial muscles, its functions tend to be spared in accidents that can paralyze most of the rest of the body, because the tongue is attached to the brain, not the spinal cord.
     The tongue's promise has long enticed scientists. In the 1960s, research work focused on turning the tongue into a primitive lens by attaching electrodes to the tissue. More recent studies have connected a camera that activates tongue electrodes in the shape of an object, helping blind people sense images.
     Ghovanloo's work, however, centers on creating a virtual keyboard instead of a physical one. He does that through a magnet about 3 millimeters wide that's placed under the tip of the tongue.
     The magnet's movement is tracked by sensors on the side of each cheek, which sends data to a receiver atop a rather bulky set of headgear. It is then processed by software that converts the movement into commands for a wheelchair or other electronics.
     After turning the system on, users are asked to establish six commands: Left, right, forward, backward, single-click and double-click. A graduate student who tested the technology was cruising the lab at will in a wheelchair, tongue firmly in cheek.
     It's an impressive display, and Ghovanloo said he hopes he could one day add dozens more commands that turn teeth into keyboards and cheeks into computer consoles. For example, "Left-up could be turning lights on, right-down could be turning off the TV," Ghovanloo said.
     But plenty of challenges await. Researchers must pare down the bulky headgear, which looks like a prop from a 1980s movie, into a dental retainer. The team also must improve the software, tinker with the size of the magnet and boost the wireless battery's charge.
     Above all, they must find a way to keep costs in between the "sip and puff" systems, which can cost hundreds of dollars, to more sophisticated eye-tracking systems, which cost thousands.
Source: http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1835777,00.html
What is the idea of tongue drive system?

Why tongue drive system is better than the new innovation of track eyes movement?

What does “grotesque” mean?

What are the issues that tongue drive system have to develop in the future?

Reading (Item 7-11)

     Over a million people have become new home owners through Habitat for Humanity.
     For those living in poverty housing, Habitat is not just an opportunity for a simple, decent home. It has clean water and sanitation for better health. It’s a safe place to do homework and business. It’s a way to move out of the poverty circle.
     Go to www.habitat.org/ap to see how you can help turn hope into homes.
What kind of organization of Habitat for Humanity is?

It is said that Habitat is not just an opportunity for a simple, decent home.
What else does Habit provide?

Should you have more information for Habitat for Humanity, you can ………………. .

It’s a way to move out of poverty circle. What does “it” refer to?

The word “decent” can be best replaced by ………………

Reading (Item 12-16)
Shoot First Think later

     Whether you’re enjoying the city sights at street level of from the sky, you need a camera that thinks fast. Relax. The cybershot W170 is here to help. Face detection captures portraits beautifully. Smile Shutter makes sure the camera goes ‘click’ when they’re smiling, while Intelligent Scene Recognition automatically adjusts the setting for different shooting scenarios. And thanks to Double Anti-Blur, your subject is always in focus no matter how fast they run…or fly. All this, plus 10.1 Mega Pixels with wide angle lens in an ultra-compact body. Don’t fall for anything less.
How many special features does this ad mention about?

According to the ad, this model comes in ultra-compact body.
What it can be implied?

Smile Shutter makes sure the camera goes ‘click’ when they’re smiling. What does “they” refer to?

In what function that helps the photographer to adjust the setting for different places.

If you have a problem of finding the focus of moving photos, which function can be applied?

Reading (Item 17-19)
“Love and Time”
     Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness,Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others, including Love. One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all constructed boats and left. Except for Love.
     When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help.
     Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?"
     Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you." It was an elder. So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way. Realizing how much was owed the elder, Love asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who helped me?"
     "It was Time," Knowledge answered.
     "Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?" Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is."
Why did Love ask for help?

Who was in a grand boat?

Why did Time help Love?