A study by St.. Louis University has found that a lovable dog named Sparky and a robotic dog, AIBO, were about equally effective at reducing the loneliness of nursing home residents. The study confirmed previous findings that dogs have a good effect on nursing home residents.
Dr. Andrew Smith led the Stanford University team that built a home-assistance robot. “If humans can feel an emotional tie with robots, some day they could be not just our assistants, but also our companions,” he said.
To test whether residents responded better to Sparky, a trained dog, or the Sony-made robotic dog, researchers divided 38 nursing home residents into three groups at three long-term care centers in St. Louis.
One group had weekly 30-minute one-on-one visits with Sparky; another group had similar visits with AIBO; a control group had no contact with either dog. The groups’ respective levels of loneliness were tested by having them answer a number of questions at the beginning and near the end of the visits.
After two months, both groups that had contact with the dogs were less lonely and more attached. Most of the elderly regarded Sparky, a 9-year-old dog, as an audience for their life stories, said investigator Marian Banks.
“He listened attentively, wagged his tail, and allowed them to pet him,” said Banks, who adopted and trained Sparky after finding him in a street behind her home seven years ago.
Those who were together with AIBO took a little longer to warm to the robotic creature. Over time, however, they grew comfortable with him, and petted and talked to him. He would respond by wagging his tail, vocalizing, and blinking his lights..
“AIBO is charming once you start to interact with him,” said the study’s author, Dr. William Banks, “He’s an attractive sort of guy. He gives a feeling of being personal, not just a robot.”
小題1:Before the new study, it was known that ____.
A．robots were effective at reducing people’s loneliness
B．robots could build close connection with humans
C．dogs could help get rid of old people’s loneliness
D．dogs and robots were equally effective at reducing loneliness
小題2:Those who had contact with the robotic dog found that ___.
A．they didn’t feel comfortable with it
B．it was hard for them to interact with it
C．they weren’t comfortable with it at first
D．the robot’s vocalizing and blinking confused them
小題3:The findings of the researchers tell us that___.
A．robots are better at caring for old people than nurses
B．robots can to some degree replace dogs as companions for old people
C．it’s easy for people to become close with robots
D．every home will have a robot assistant one day
小題4:What would be the best title for the passage?
A．Robots Serve People Better Than Thought
B．No More Lonely Old Age with Emotional Robots
C．Advanced Technology Used to cheer up the Elderly
D．Robots and Dogs Can Equally Cheer up the Elderly

小題1:C
小題2:C
小題3:B
小題4:D

試題分析： 本文主要講解了研究人員對(duì)機(jī)器狗和真實(shí)的狗是否一樣能夠排遣孤獨(dú)進(jìn)行了實(shí)驗(yàn)，表明機(jī)器狗和真實(shí)的狗都能夠給老人帶來歡樂，排遣孤獨(dú)感。
小題1:細(xì)節(jié)題。從文章The study confirmed previous findings that dogs have a good effect on nursing home residents.可知先前的報(bào)道發(fā)現(xiàn)狗對(duì)于療養(yǎng)院里的人排遣孤獨(dú)有益處，故選C
小題2:細(xì)節(jié)題。從Those who were together with AIBO took a little longer to warm to the robotic creature.可知他們要花費(fèi)更長(zhǎng)的時(shí)間來和這些機(jī)器狗進(jìn)行溝通，產(chǎn)生共鳴，故選C
小題3:推斷題。從A study by St.. Louis University has found that a lovable dog named Sparky and a robotic dog, AIBO, were about equally effective at reducing the loneliness of nursing home residents.及He’s an attractive sort of guy. He gives a feeling of being personal, not just a robot.可知機(jī)器狗在某種程度上可以取代狗而成為老人的伴侶，故選B
小題4:主旨題。從文章第一段及最后一段可知，機(jī)器狗和真實(shí)的狗都能夠給老人帶來歡樂，排遣孤獨(dú)感，故選D
點(diǎn)評(píng)：日常生活類說明文比較好理解，本文的文脈清晰，結(jié)構(gòu)也很好把握。對(duì)于本文把握好作者所敘述的有關(guān)機(jī)器狗和真實(shí)的狗一樣對(duì)老人有幫助，同時(shí)，此類文章推斷題居多，在對(duì)文章看懂了的基礎(chǔ)上深刻理解作者的寫作目的和情感是做好本文的關(guān)鍵。
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Many people think that listening is a passive business. It is just the opposite. Listening well is an active exercise of our attention and hard work. It is because they do not realize this, or because they are not willing to do the work, that most people do not listen well.
Listening well also requires total concentration upon someone else. An essential part of listening well is the rule known as ‘bracketing’. Bracketing includes the temporary giving up or setting aside of your own prejudices and desires, to experience as far as possible someone else’s world from the inside, stepping into his or her shoes. Moreover, since listening well involves bracketing, it also involves a temporary acceptance of the other person. Sensing this acceptance, the speaker will seem quite willing to open up the inner part of his or her mind to the listener. True communication is under way and the energy required for listening well is so great that it can be accomplished only by the will to extend oneself for mutual growth.
Most of the time we lack this energy. Even though we may feel in our business dealings or social relationships that we are listening well, what we are usually doing is listening selectively. Often we have a prepared list in mind and wonder, as we listen, how we can achieve certain desired results to get the conversation over as quickly as possible or redirected in ways more satisfactory to us. Many of us are far more interested in talking than in listening, or we simply refuse to listen to what we don’t want to hear.
It wasn’t until toward the end of my doctor career that I have found the knowledge that one is being truly listened to is frequently therapeutic(有療效的) In about a quarter of the patients I saw, surprising improvement was shown during the first few months of psychotherapy(心理療法), before any of the roots of problems had been uncovered or explained. There are several reasons for this phenomenon, but chief among them, I believe, was the patient’s sense that he or she was being truly listened to, often for the first time in years, and for some, perhaps for the first time ever.
小題1:The phrase “stepping into his or her shoes” in paragraph 2 probably means _______.
A．preparing a topic list firstB．focusing on one’s own mind
C．directing the talk to the desired resultsD．experiencing the speaker’s inside world
小題2:What is mainly discussed in Paragraph 2?
A．How to listen well.B．What to listen to.
C．Benefits of listening.D．Problems in listening
小題3:According to the author, in communication people tend to ________.
A．listen activelyB．listen purposefully
C．set aside their prejudicesD．open up their inner mind
小題4:According to the author, the patients improved mainly because _______.
A．they were taken good care of.B．they knew they were truly listened to.
C．they had partners to talk to.D．they knew the roots of problems.
小題5:What type of writing the article likely to be?
A．Science fictionB．A news report.C．A medical report.D．Popular science

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Should e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) be a new choice for the smokers trying to get rid of the habit? Reactions from Americans are mixed. More than half of the people questioned in a survey think e-cigarettes should be controlled by the US Food and Drug Administration, but 47 percent believe the e-cigarettes should be available to the smokers who want to quit.
“In the hunt for a safter cigarette, e-cigarettes are becoming a popular choice among those either trying to quit.”or looking to replace standard tobacco smoke with an alternative that manufacturers claim to be safer, ”Zogby International, which conducted the survey, said in a statement.
About half of the 4,611 adults who took part in the survey had heard about e-cigarettes, which are battery-powered, or rechargeable cigarettes that vaporize a liquid nicotine solution. They do not produce smoke but a water vapor without smell. Sold mostly on the Internet, e-cigarettes were first made in China.
Last year the World Health Organization (WHO) warned against using e-cigarettes, saying there was no evidence to prove they were safe or helped smokers break the habit. The WHO said people who smoke e-cigarettes breathe in a fine fog of nicotine into the lungs.
Nearly a third of people questioned in the survey think that e-cigarettes should be allowed in places where smoking is forbidden, because they don’t produce smoke, but 46 percent disagree. Men who were aware of the availability of e-cigarettes were more likely than woman to say they should be a choice available to smokers who want to quit. Young people, aged 18-29, and singles were the groups most open to trying e-cigarettes. Smoking is the single largest cause of preventable death worldwide, according to the WHO.
小題1:What can we learn from Paragraph 1?
A．American smokers ought to try e-cigarettes.
B．Americans have different opinions about e-cigarettes.
C．Every kind of cigarettes should be forbidden in America.
D．Most of the Americans don’t like e-cigarettes.
小題2:According to Zogby International, e-cigarettes        .
A．a(chǎn)re much safer than common cigarettes
B．a(chǎn)re popular among people who want to quit smoking
C．will take the place of traditional cigarettes
D．a(chǎn)re produced in a safer way by manufacturers
小題3:What do we know about e-cigarettes from the passage?
A．Most Americans are familiar with them.
B．They are a good choice as there is no nicotine.
C．They produce a water vapor that can’t be seen.
D．Most people buy them on the Internet.
小題4:What’s the attitude of the WHO towards e-cigarettes?
A．NegativeB．SupportiveC．Doubtful.D．Indifferent

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

完形填空（共20小題：每小題1分，滿分20分）
The Healing
Jim and his wife, Connie, were shocked by the loss of their four-month-old son—Joshua, whose life was taken by SIDS—sudden infant death syndrome.
Thirty hours ago Jim drove to the baby-sitter’s home to  1  Joshua. It was a  2  trip, like the one he made five days every week. He arrived, and little Joshua could not be   3   from his nap. The next few hours were a time of life and death: the racing ambulance, swift-moving doctors and nurses….but 12 hours later, at children’s Hospital,   4  the doctors had exhausted all  5 , little Joshua was gone. Yes, they wanted   6  of Joshua’s usable organs to be donated. That was not a   7  decision for Jim and Connie, a loving and   8  couple.
The next morning dawned and many things had to be arranged. Telephone calls and funeral plans.   9  one point Jim realized he needed a  10 .When Jim settled into the chair   11   the barber’s, he began to   12   the past hours, trying to   13  some sense of it all.   14  had Joshua, their first-born, the child they had waited so long for, been taken so soon….he had   15  begun his life….The question kept coming, and the pain in Jim’s heart just   16  him.
While talking with the barber, Jim mentioned the organ donations, looking at his watch: “They are transplanting one of his heart valves(瓣膜) right now.”
The  17  stopped and stood motionless. Finally she spoke, but it was only a whisper. “You’re not going to believe this….but about an hour ago the customer sitting in this chair wanted me to hurry   18  she could get to Children’s Hospital. She  19  here so full of joy….her prayers had been answered. Today her baby granddaughter is receiving a  20  needed transplant—a heart valve.”
Jim’s healing began.
小題1:
A．pick outB．pick upC．set out D．set up
小題2:
A．routineB．a(chǎn)nnualC．a(chǎn)verageD．difficult
小題3:
A．conveyedB．transplanted C．a(chǎn)wakenedD．convinced
小題4:
A．thoughB．sinceC．becauseD．a(chǎn)s
小題5:
A．medicineB．strengthC．a(chǎn)ttemptsD．spirits
小題6:
A．partB．few C．someD．a(chǎn)ll
小題7:
A．goodB．difficultC．stupidD．wise
小題8:
A．givingB．tiringC．boringD．thinking
小題9:
A．OfB．InC．OnD．At
小題10:
A．haircutB．breakC．donationD．decision
小題11:
A．withB．a(chǎn)tC．byD．near
小題12:
A．decide onB．reflect onC．keep onD．focus on
小題13:
A．getB．takeC．hold D．make
小題14:
A．HowB．WhyC．WhetherD．If
小題15:
A．barelyB．nearlyC．seldomD．a(chǎn)lmost
小題16:
A．coveredB．drewC．enveloped D．choked
小題17:
A．hairdresserB．customerC．fatherD．parent
小題18:
A．sinceB．a(chǎn)sC．soD．a(chǎn)nd
小題19:
A．a(chǎn)rrivedB．leftC．stayedD．sat
小題20:
A．desperatelyB．disappointedly C．clearlyD．obviously

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

I live in north Celebes which is near Philippines. Since early December 2010 most tropical regions have been frequently hit by rain. Just like my hometown, tropical regions only have two seasons, including the dry season that usually starts from April to September and the wet or rainy season which usually happens from October to March. But, it could be indeterminate. Sometimes the rainy season can come a month earlier or later. It can be prolonged even more than 4 months and so can the dry season. Even during the dry season, rain can occur several times in certain areas.
The prolonged dry season in tropical areas usually causes a lot of losses. It will be very harmful to local farmers, because most of the tropical areas sre regions of the developing countries. Sometimes agricultural and plantation crops will be damaged because of so much dry land and the fact that the river used to flow the water for rice fields are also dry. Rain is very important for plants because rain contains many nutrients that plants are in great need of.
What’s more, if the prolonged rainy season arrives and then floods usually occur in certain areas of low lands. Even for the capital city of Jakarta floods have struck several times during the prolonged rainy season. In addition to floods, the rainy season can cause many diseases. During the dry season, diseases are usually caused by mosquitoes such as dengue fever. While in the rainy season, people who have the weak immune will be more easily attacked by some diseases such as flu, fever, diarrhea, and much more.
If you live in the other places and want to travel to the tropical regions, make sure that you have known much about the season and the effect for these months in which you want to travel as tourists. Only in that way, can you at least prepare to deal with tropical weather.
小題1:The underlined word “indeterminate” in paragraph 1 can be replaced by “ _____”
A．uncertainB．unknownC．untrueD．unbelievable
小題2:The second paragraph mainly tells us something about _____.
A．the effects of the dry season.B．the benefits of the rainy season.
C．the growth of dry landD．the diseases in the dry season
小題3:We can learn from the passage that in the wet season, _____
A．the capital of Jakarta is flooded every year
B．more crops will die after being flooded for so long.
C．mosquitoes will spread more diseases among the crowd.
D．people with weak immune might be attacked by some diseases
小題4:The main purpose of this passage is to introduce _____.
A．some interesting facts of tropical regions
B．some knowledge about tropical regions to travelers
C．some knowledge about how to live well in different regions.
D．some differences between dry and wet seasons in tropical regions.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Becoming a fireman is a challenging and competitive job today. A fireman’s main duty is being scheduled according to the fighting and extinguishment(熄滅) of fire which definitely requires being a strong man, both mentally and physically.
The duty of a fireman involves protection of life and property of the public. They are the servicemen who are decisively selected by an organization to deal with situations like fire. The duty of a fireman intentionally consists of helping innocent people in their time of need. Such type of jobs is one of those few jobs where service is provided for people when they need help immediately. This may include rescuing people from a building at fire, providing them with medical facilities, extinguishing fire in a house or in a large commercial building. Serving people is the main intention of these professionals. The satisfaction which a fireman gets from this type of job cannot be compared to any other profession in the world.
Such profession demands top-level commitment and professionalism from .those who have chosen it as a career. Fireman should possess the highest level of courage and patience to put their lives in danger for the sake of others. They undergo lessons of maintaining patience for long hours and go through complete preparation to become successful and well-organized professional firemen. There are certain tests that are recommended before becoming a fireman.
It’s not that easy to become a fireman nowadays. A fireman is supposed to deal with unexpected situations, and they should be skilled at communicating with others and be self-disciplined at the same time.
In order to be a good fireman, one must undergo（經(jīng)歷、接受） strict local fire department’s training program after passing all the tests. All the fire departments conclude a two-to-four-month course, including classroom training and practical training that cover firefighting techniques, fire avoidance, dangerous materials and urgent situation medical actions. Completing this training, trainees go through the department’s trial period of service that can last from three to six months, depending on the methods of selection.
Firemen usually work both indoors and outdoors. They have to be on duty at all times and mostly work in shifts of at least 8 hours. They are also provided with several benefits which include medical aid plan, pension fund, annual leave and many more.
Title: Fireman
Definition
The servicemen decisively selected by an organization to 小題1:_______ situations like fire.
小題2:      
● Helping innocent people 小題3:        they need help.
● Rescuing people from a building at-fire and providing them with medical facilities.
●小題4:       out fire in a house or in a large commercial building.
Requirements
● Having top-level commitment and professionalism.
● Being courageous and 小題5:        .
● Being strong both in body and 小題6: _________.
● Having good 小題7:       skills.
● Being self-disciplined.
小題8:       
● Firefighting techniques, fire avoidance, dangerous materials and urgent situation medical actions.
● The department’s trial period of service which possibly 小題9:_________ 3～6 months.
小題10:       
Medical aid plans, pension fund, annual leave and many more.
 

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

It is not a secret that these are turbulent times that put everyone on edge all the time and it makes people angry with their families, co-workers, friends and relatives, frustrated (沮喪的)and highly annoyed just for the noise of the neighbors or the music coming from the opposite house. Anger and negative energy have a strong influence on everyone’s life, even when they don’t realize it.
Being in a calm state of mind is simply wonderful. Results of this can be seen when parents no longer shout at their children over any small thing and when one can keep him cool when bad things happen and doesn’t let the situation become worse by his negative influence.
Also results can be seen on a larger scale. In 1993 a very interesting scientific experiment called The US Transcendental Meditation experiment was conducted in Washington. A company called TM got 4,000 calm and relaxed people to simply sit and meditate (冥想) in a central Washington convention center. The results of this experiment showed that during those particular 8 weeks, violent crimes, such as murder, rape, assaults, clearly decreased by as much as 23%.
This is evident proof that meditation can change the state of mind, bring back peace of mind and collective meditation is contagious (蔓延的), just as anything done collectively is contagious. For example, a person has the urge to become aggressive (while in normal circumstances that person is very calm and normal), just because he is sitting at a stadium watching a football game and everyone around is shouting and is aggressive.
Isn’t increasing the quality of life worth spending 20 minutes of time on meditation? Yes, very few people follow through with a meditation method that should be a joy to do. Many start and leave it after only a few sessions.
So if collective meditation has proven that meditation works, that it calms people down and that it brings their levels of stress down, why not employ it in everyday life?
小題1:The underlined word “turbulent” in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to “     ”.
A．changelessB．disorderlyC．perfectD．expected
小題2:According to Paragraph 3, the scientific experiment      .
A．was to test whether meditation is useful
B．was conducted throughout America
C．a(chǎn)sked the participants to do a lot of sports
D．had no particular requirements on the participants
小題3:Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A．Violent crimes are closely related to aggressive characters.
B．People are sometimes easily annoyed by small things.
C．Many people fail to carry out a meditation method.
D．Meditation can cure people of many illnesses.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Millions of people all over the world spend their holidays travelling. They travel to visit other countries, modern cities and ancient towns. They travel to enjoy these special places, or just to relax. It is always interesting to discover new things and different ways of life, such as by meeting different people, trying different food, and listening to different music.
People who live in the country like to go to big cities. They like to spend their time visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at restaurants. People who live in the city usually like a quiet holiday by the sea or in the mountains, with nothing to do but walk and bathe in the sun.
Most travellers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them. Then, perhaps years later, they can look at the photos and be reminded of the happy time they once had.
People often travel by train, by boat or by car. All means of travelling have their advantages and disadvantages and people choose one according to their plans and the places they are going.
If we travel a lot, we will see and discover a lot of things that we could never see or experience at home, though we may read about them in books and newspapers. The best way to study geography is to travel, and the best way to get to know and understand people is to meet them in their own homes.
小題1:What is interesting to do when people travel?
A．To find the advantages and the disadvantages of travelling.
B．To listen to different music and take pictures.
C．To discover new things and different ways of life.
D．To go to big cities and meet different people.
小題2:How do people usually spend a quiet holiday by the sea or in the mountains?
A．They spend their time visiting museums and art galleries.
B．They do nothing but walk and bathe in the sun.
C．They do nothing but sleep outdoors.
D．They go to look at shop windows and eat at restaurants.
小題3:Why do many travellers take pictures of everything they like?
A．Because they like taking all kinds of pictures.
B．Because they all take a camera with them while travelling.
C．Because the pictures are beautiful to look at.
D．Because the pictures can remind them of the happy time.
小題4:What’s the best way to study geography?
A．To travel a lot and experience more.
B．To meet some more people in their homes.
C．To learn in books or in newspapers.
D．To see and experience at home.
小題5:What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A．We’d better go the countryside for a holiday.
B．Taking photos in a trip is unnecessary.
C．It’s good for us to travel more if possible.
D．Cities are the best choice of all the travellers.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Peter and his seven-year-old sister ,Kate , were at the same school. Not long after his tenth birthday Peter was entrusted to take her to school.
It was only two stops down the road , but the way his parents kept going on about it , you might have thought Peter was taking Kate to the North Pole . He was given instructions the night before. When he woke up , he had to listen to them over and over again. He was to keep hold of Kate’s hand at all times , sit close to the front nearest the window , and tell the bus driver the name of his stop.
Peter repeated all this back to his mother and set out for the bus stop with his sister. They held hands all the way. Actually he didn’t mind this but simply hoped that none of his friends would see him holding a girl’s hand. The bus came. They got on and sat close to the front. It was ridiculous sitting there holding hands and there were some boys from school there, so they let go of each other.
Peter was feeling proud of himself. He could take care of his sister anywhere. If they were alone tighter on a mountain pass and came face to face with a pack of hungry wolves, he could know exactly what to do. Taking care and not to make sudden movement, he would move away with Kate until they had their backs to a large rock. That way the wolves would not be able to surround them.
Then he takes from his pocket two important things—his hunting knife and a box of matches. He takes the knife from its sheath(鞘) and sets it down on the grass, ready in case the wolves attack. They’re coming close now. They’re so hungry and are watering and growling (咆哮). Kate is crying, but he cannot comfort her. He knows he has to concentrate on his plan. Right at their feet are some dry leaves and twigs. Quickly and skillfully, Peter gathers them into a small pile. The wolves are edging closer. He has to get this right. There’s only one match left in the box. He bends down, cups his hand and lights the match. There’s strong rush of wind. The flame flickers, but Peter holds it close to the pile and then first one leaf, then another, then the end of a twig catch fire, and soon the little pile is burning. He piles on more leaves and twigs and larger sticks. The wolves are backing off. Wild animals are terrified of fire. The flames are leaping higher and the wind is carrying the smoke right into their jaws. Now Peter takes holds of the hunting knife and …
Ridiculous! A daydream like this could make him miss his stop if he wasn’t careful. The bus had come to a halt. The kids from his school were already getting off. Peter leaped to his feet and just managed to jump to the pavement as the bus was starting off again. It was more than fifty yards down the road when he realized he had forgotten something. Was it his backpack ? No. It was his sister. He had saved her from the wolves and left her sitting there. For a moment, he couldn’t move. He stood watching the bus pull away up the road. “Come back,” he murmured, “Come back.”
小題1:Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A．Kate didn’t know their destination at all.
B．Peter and Kate missed their stop in the end.
C．Peter is thought to take Kate to the North Pole.
D．Mother asked Peter to hold Kate’s hand all the way.
小題2:Before getting on the bus, ________.
A．Peter and Kate let go of each other
B．Peter was told instructions twice
C．Peter recited the instructions to his mother
D．Peter managed to avoid meeting his friends
小題3:Which of the following shows the right order of Peter fighting against the wolves?
a. gather dry leaves and twigs into a small pile
b. take out his hunting knife and matches
c. light the leaves and twigs
d. move carefully with back to a rock
e. attack wolves with knife
f. strike a match
g. pile more leaves and sticks
A．d-b-f-c-a-e-gB．d-b-a-f-c-g-eC．B-f-a-g-c-e-dD．A-g-b-c-f-e-d
小題4:What can we infer from the passage?
A．Peter felt anxious and helpless when the bus left.
B．Peter succeeded in fighting against wolves.
C．Kate would be absent from school that day.
D．Peter brought hunting knife and matches with him.

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