NEW DELHI—Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday inspected the bridge collapse site in the western state of Gujarat, where more than 100 people were killed, officials said. Ahead of the visit, Modi chaired a high-level meeting on Monday night during which he was briefed about rescue efforts.
The century-old British-era pedestrian suspension bridge (吊桥) collapsed on Sunday evening, with hundreds of people falling into Machchhu River in Morbi town, about 241 km west of the capital city, Gandhinagar. Reports said that 177 people were rescued and over 100 people were undergoing treatment at the Morbi civil hospital.
Soon after the bridge visit, Modi reached the civil hospital in Morbi to meet the injured. The prime minister was seen asking the survivors about their health. According to officials, search and rescue operations, carried out by teams of the State Disaster Response Force and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Indian navy, the Indian air force and the Indian army, were called off (取消) on Monday evening and began again on Tuesday morning. Officials said Modi also met with those involved in rescue and relief operations.
The local government of Gujarat has already ordered an investigation into the deadly collapse of the bridge. The bridge is a popular tourist attraction in the area. It was shut for renovation (整修) for seven months and was open for the public on Oct 26, the Gujarati New Year.
Reports said that around 500 people, much beyond its capacity, were on the suspension bridge at the time when it crashed into the river.
Police have arrested nine people including officials of Oreva, the company that carried out the repair work, ticket sellers and security men. However, the owners of the company have not been arrested. Oreva group is actually a Gujarat-based watchmaker company. Reports said that the watchmaker reportedly outsourced (转包) the “technical aspect of the renovation” to a smaller construction company, Devprakash Solutions.
Oreva has been accused of violating multiple safety rules, leading to the huge tragedy just four days after the bridge reopened to the public. Questions have been raised over why Oreva with no experience in construction was given responsibility for maintaining a bridge.
1. What did Modi first do after hearing the bridge collapse?| A．He paid a visit to the bridge. |
| B．He held and took charge of a meeting. |
| C．He went to see the injured in the hospital. |
| D．He met with those involved in rescue and relief operations. |
| A．It was too old to repair well. |
| B．It was maintained very well. |
| C．It had a safety risk. |
| D．It was solid enough. |
| A．Making. | B．Obeying. | C．Breaking. | D．Replacing. |
| A．Indian PM inspects site of deadly bridge collapse |
| B．Police arrest security men after bridge collapse |
| C．Modi is briefed about rescue efforts after bridge collapse |
| D．Around 500 people are on suspension bridge when it collapses |
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【推荐1】On a rainy winter day, several decades ago, a British artist named Christopher got on a train in Oxford to go to London. When he began his journey, he never knew that it was the beginning of almost 40 years of accidents and near death experiences.
During the journey, the train fell into an icy river, killing 12 passengers. Christopher managed to swim back to the river bank. He only had a broken leg.
Two years later, Christopher was on a plane from London to Manchester when a door suddenly opened and he fell out. A few minutes later, the plane crashed; 27 people were killed. Christopher was so lucky that he landed in a haystack (干草堆).
A few years later, he was hit by a bus, but again had no serious injuries. Then a year after that, he was driving on a mountain road when he saw a truck coming straight at him. He drove the car off the road, jumped out, landed in a tree — and watched his car fall 100 meters down the mountain.
''There are two ways you can look at it, '' Christopher said. ''I'm either the worlds unluckiest man, or the world's luckiest. '' When a reporter asked Christopher what he thought, he chose the ''luckiest'' one.
Two years ago, aged 71, Christopher bought his first lottery ticket (彩票) in 50 years and won more than 2 million. After this, a TV company in America said they wanted him to make an advertisement. At first he accepted, but then he changed his mind. Christopher said he would not fly to Los Angeles for the filming, because he did not want to push his luck. Who knows? If he had accepted the invitation, maybe he would have had another accident. But Mr. Christopher is a lucky man. If he had had another accident, he probably would have survived that too!
1. What happened in the plane accident from London to Manchester?| A．Christopher fell out of the plane. |
| B．Christopher fell into an icy water. |
| C．Christopher landed in a tree. |
| D．Christopher was the only passenger to survive |
| A．worried | B．confused |
| C．doubtful | D．fortunate |
| A．Because he was not good at filming. |
| B．Because he had enough money. |
| C．Because he was sure of another accident. |
| D．Because he didn't want to risk his life. |
| A．A man with nine lives |
| B．The unluckiest man in the world |
| C．A man who traveled around the world |
| D．A man who earned ￡2 million in a lottery |
【推荐2】Mr. Peter Johnson, aged twenty-three, fought for half an hour to escape from his trapped car yesterday when it landed upside down in three feet of water. Mr. Johnson took the only escape way — through the boot(行李箱).
Mr. Johnson’s car had finished up in a ditch(沟渠) at Romney, Kentucky, after skidding on ice and hitting a bank. “Fortunately, the water began to come in only slowly,” Mr. Johnson said, “I couldn’t force the doors because they were jammed against the walls of the ditch and dared not open the windows because I knew water would come flooding in.”
Mr. Johnson, first tried to attract the attention of other motorists by sounding the horn(喇叭) and hammering on the roof and boot but failed. Then he began to use his own efforts to escape.
Later he said, “It was really a half penny that saved my life. It was the only coin I had in my pocket and I used it to unscrew(旋松) the back seat to get into the boot. I hammered hard with a hammer trying to make someone hear, but no help came.”
It took ten minutes to unscrew the seat, and a further five minutes to clear the boot. Then Mr. Johnson found a wrench(扳手) and began to work on the boot lock. Fifteen minutes passed by. “It was the only chance I had. Finally it gave, but as soon as I unlocked the boot, the water and mud poured in.
His hands and arms cut and hurt，Mr. Johnson got to Beckett Farm nearby, where he was looked after by the farmer’s wife, Mrs. Lucy Bates. Trembling in a blanket, he said, “That thirty minutes seemed like hours.” Only the car wheels could be seen, the police said last night. The vehicle had sunk into two feet of mud at the bottom of the ditch.
1. What happened to Mr. Johnson in the story?| A．He was lost in the ditch. | B．He was rescued by the police. |
| C．Water came flooding into his car. | D．His car was trapped in the ditch. |
| A．luckily the door was taken away in the end | B．at last the wrench went broken |
| C．the lock came open after all his efforts | D．the chance was lost at the last minute |
| A．the ditch was along a quiet country road |
| B．the accident happened on a clear warm day |
| C．the police helped Mr. Johnson get out of the ditch |
| D．Mr. Johnson had a tender wife and was well attended |
【推荐3】As Rena was driving home in the rain. “I can hardly see!” She worried. Just a few miles more, an electrical pole in front of her car was getting bigger and bigger. The car shot forward. Crash! Rena felt the force tear her from the seat. She felt a sharp pain in her lap. “I went through the windshield but I’m alive!” She realized.
Then she heard a sharp crack, looked up and saw the pole had broken in half and was plunging (下落) toward her! But luckily, the pole landed three feet from her head. The broken pole had torn down electrical wires and they were dangling (悬垂) just inches away from her, trapping her in between them! “An electric current... water... if those cables touch me, I’m dead!”
Less than a mile away, New York State highway officer Juan Diaz saw a flash in the sky followed by a loud crack. “Lightning must have hit,” he thought turning his car around. A few minutes later, he saw Rena’s crumpled car. “I’ve got to help this young woman!”
“Are those footsteps?” Rena thought, hope rising as she lay there. Through the cocoon of wires, she saw a blue uniform. “Please help me!” she cried weakly. “Don’t move!” Diaz shouted, “I’m going to get you out!” But how? He worried.
Suddenly, the base of the pole burst into flames! Diaz felt a chill of fear. He knew it carried thousands of volts. He thought of his wife and five-year-old son at home. “But I can’t leave her here,” he thought. In a flash he swallowed his fear and stepped toward Rena. As he did, the powerful current stung his feet. But he didn’t stop.
At that moment, one of the wires jumped, leaving a three-foot opening in the cables around Rena. “Maybe I can drag her through there. It’s the only chance we have.” Cables hissed (发出嘶嘶声) inches from his feet, but Diaz just kept on walking, four steps, then five... finally he was by her side.
“Don’t worry,” he said gently, “We’ll make it.” Diaz grabbed Rena’s ankles, then dragged her through the narrow opening in the tangle of wires. “We’re almost there,” he said over and over. The sureness of his voice checked Rena’s terror.
Suddenly, Diaz took her up in his arms and ran 20 feet more, taking shelter behind the patrol car. “We did it!” he shouted. Just then the transformer exploded, engulfing the area in flames. They both realized: We didn’t have a second to spare.
1. What happened to Rena when driving home?| A．Her car hit an electrical pole. |
| B．An electrical pole fell onto her car. |
| C．Her car turned over because of the wet road. |
| D．Lightning hit her car and threw her onto the ground. |
| A．She saw a police car nearby. |
| B．She heard someone was coming. |
| C．She realized that the pole hadn’t hit her. |
| D．She knew the wires didn’t carry electricity. |
| A．Rena looked like his wife. |
| B．He missed his wife and his son. |
| C．He thought it worthless to save Rena. |
| D．He knew it might cost him his life to save Rena. |
| A．Diaz’s courage and the strong transformer. |
| B．Diaz’s boldness and the weak electrical current. |
| C．Diaz’s carefulness and his electricity-proof uniform. |
| D．Diaz’s bravery and the narrow opening left by a wire. |
【推荐1】The entire country struggled with the unprecedented heat of the July 2022 heatwave, but for the disabled, the heat hit even harder. The climate crisis is a threat to everyone’s health, but according to a report in 2021, people with disabilities are more delicate to the extreme weather events and natural disasters that result from the climate crisis.
Professor Kristie Ebi of the Centre for Health and the Global at the University of Washington, described the topic of heatwaves and disabled people as being an important issue. “Groups at higher risk during periods of high temperature include people with chronic (慢性的) medical conditions, people who take certain medications that can reduce the ability of the body to sweat, and the “disabled”, notes Ebi, going on to describe the different threats that heatwaves pose for different types of disabilities. Ebi notes the difficulty people with mobility issues or blindness may have with accessing services, such as cooling shelters, Ebi also comments on the importance of making messaging on the dangers of high temperatures accessible to those with learning disabilities or to deaf people. “Some studies suggest higher rates of suicide and other mental health issues during heatwaves, requiring targeted help for those with mental disabilities,” she added.
Ailsa Speak, a disability and lifestyle blogger, experiences uncontrollable movements in the heat due to her cerebral palsy (脑瘫). “As you can imagine, when my involuntary movements increase, I get even hotter. It’s just a painful circle really.”
In the absence of a concrete set of plans for people with disabilities during the climate crisis and extreme weather events, people with disabilities continue to be at increased risk of heat-related disease.
To prevent future death and destruction, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), an independent organization tackling climate change, advocates for adaptation planning, as the temperature is set to rise further due to the climate crisis and global warming. The CCC’s 2022 report on the health risks of overheating offers adaptation options to the government to ensure that buildings are fit for future climate change. Nevertheless, the publication does not offer specific advice about people with disabilities and overheating, which thus remains to be discussed promptly and thoroughly.
1. Which of the following would Professor Ebi most probably agree with?| A．Heatwaves make people with chronic diseases suffer most |
| B．The mentally disabled have no access to cooling shelter |
| C．Mobility disability contributes to higher risk of suicide in the heatwaves |
| D．Some disabled people are ill-informed about the risks of heatwaves |
| A．To share a disabled blogger’s painful life |
| B．To show what a terrible disease cerebral palsy is |
| C．To illustrate the trouble the disabled have in the heat |
| D．To prove the never-before-seen highs in temperature |
| A．suggest methods of helping the disabled in heatwaves |
| B．stress the urgent need to care for the disabled in the heat |
| C．tell readers how severe the July 2022 heatwave was |
| D．introduce adaptation alternatives for future buildings |
| A．The newspaper. | B．A fiction novel | C．A biography | D．A chemical paper |
【推荐2】David Almond, the children’s fiction writer, once said that a good bookshop is not only one that sells books, but it also reaches out into the world and makes a difference. For one bookshop in Ramsgate, it was the other way around.
Sapphire Bates, the owner, feared that she would have to close her doors, after rising costs and customers short of cash left her £800 in the red. However, an appeal on Twitter to help her Ramsgate store grabbed the attention of more than five million people, including authors who have sold millions of copies between them.
“We need your help,” Bates wrote in the tweet. “I run Book Bodega, a bookshop in Ramsgate. Winter is killing us. It’s so quiet and we need to make £800 by Tuesday to pay our bills.” Alongside the tweet, Bates posted a photo of her shop with no customers inside. Since reaching out to her followers for support, she had been surprised by the response.
“We had people coming in all day, even people who weren’t in a position to buy were coming in just to say, ‘We really love what you’re doing, we like your shop and we want to see independent bookshops do well.’ There’s been a lot of love.” Bates and her partner, Nicholas Turner, said the response had been “a massive motivational boost”. They struggled to get authors in the door previously, because Ramsgate is usually not on publisher’s radars for book launches. The bestseller author, Adam Kay saw the tweet and offered to do a free event in the shop. Other influential figures also shared Bates’s appeal and got in touch to offer words of support.
Now the shop came to life. People began filling up and more than 300 messages asked after books and £1000 worth of online orders. John Westwood, the business’s managing partner, said, “Book lovers are a very special people, and everyone has been so supportive. Books are special things and nothing beats going into a bookstore. Seeing them, touching them, smelling them—it is a special place.”
1. What do we know about Bates’ shop according to the first three paragraphs?| A．It enjoyed high popularity. | B．It fell into financial difficulties. |
| C．It sold many books on Twitter. | D．It made contributions to the public. |
| A．A necessary comfort. | B．A new milestone. |
| C．A great encouragement. | D．A promising prospect. |
| A．Bookstores are loyal to the books. | B．Book lovers never fail bookstores. |
| C．Books are a thing, and virtue is another. | D．Everything is inferior, but reading is high. |
| A．A cornered bookshop, a happy story | B．Bates braves challenges on hard times |
| C．Bates’ tweet reaches out into the world | D．A struggling bookstore, hope on the way |
【推荐3】August 24, 2023 may be imprinted in history as the day of disaster for the marine environment. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has asked Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, to release nuclear wastewater into the ocean from Thursday, ignoring strong objections from both home and abroad.
It will be a public crime if the discharge goes through and the decision will prove to be extremely unrewarding. The international community can hold Japan accountable indefinitely.
According to Paris-based French TV network France 24, some 1.34 million tonnes of nuclear wastewater, equivalent to almost the water in 540 Olympic pools, will be released into the ocean off Japan’s northeast coast, at a maximum rate of 500 cubic meters per day. The whole process is expected to take 30 to 40 years and cost around eight trillion yen (55 billion USD).
Junichi Matsumoto, the TEPCO executive in charge of the water release, told the Associated Press in July that the company plans to release 7,800 tonnes of treated water for 17 days in the first round. By the end of March 2024, the aim is to release 31,200 tonnes. The pace is expected to pick up later.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong asked the Japanese ambassador to China Hideo Tarumi on August 22 to meet him and make serious representations over the Japanese government’s announcement that it would start releasing nuclear-contaminated water on August 24.
Sun said the Fukushima nuclear accident is one of the world’s most serious nuclear accidents to date, resulting in the release of a large amount of radioactive material, which has far-reaching implications for the marine environment, food safety, and human health.
“The ocean is the blue home that all humanity depends on for survival, and the Japanese side should not dump nuclear-contaminated water at will,” Sun said.
1. Who did Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ask to release nuclear wastewater into the ocean?| A．Spokesperson Wang Wenbin. |
| B．The TEPCO executive Junichi Matsumoto. |
| C．Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong. |
| D．The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. |
| A．1.34 million tonnes. | B．7,800 tonnes. | C．2,3400 tonnes. | D．31,200 tonnes. |
| A．It has no implications for the marine environment. |
| B．Has no implications for food safety and human health. |
| C．It is one of the most serious nuclear accidents in history. |
| D．It resulted in the release of a small amount of radioactive material. |
| A．A research paper. | B．A newspaper report. |
| C．A business report. | D．A geography textbook. |
【推荐1】Medieval (中世纪) castles were built from the 11th century CE for rulers to show their wealth and power to the local people, to provide a place of defence and safe retreat in the case of attack, defend strategically important sites like river crossings, passages through hills and mountains, and as a place to live in. Whether a permanent home for a local lord or a temporary one for a ruler starting a tour of their kingdom, castles were changed from wood into stone and became ever more impressive structures with more and more defensive features such as round towers and fortified (防御性的) gates.
A good location for a castle was on a natural rise, near a cliff, on the bend of a river, or where older fortifications such as Roman walls could be reused. Castles needed their own water and food supplies and usually a permanent defensive force, which are additional factors to be considered when choosing a location.
Walls around the castle present a challenge to attackers. If the foundations were not of rock then they had to be specially prepared to bear the weight. The most common method was to dig a trench (沟) wider than the width of the wall and fill it with little stones. Alternatively, oak piles (橡木堆) could be driven into the soil to make it more stable. Walls varied in thickness, but an average seems to have been around 2.5 metres.
The main gate of a castle was potentially one of its weakest points, and for this reason, gates gained more and more protective features over time. Twin towers were built from the end of the 12th century CE with the gate between them. The gate itself was protected by a heavy wooden door and a metal and wooden door which could be lowered to block enemies’ road. There might be a drawbridge (链桥), too, which could be raised by chains or, swung 90 degrees. This meant the enemy had to cross a ditch before they got to the actual doorway. Other defensive measures included “murder holes”(machicolations)—through which missiles or burning liquid could be thrown above the entrance gate.
From the 15th century CE, when battles were largely fought in the open and castle warfare declined, castles continued to keep their traditional defensive features, but these were now largely symbolic and for show only. Impressive towers became easily recognizable symbols of power and so were added to large country houses and even to such peaceful institutional buildings as churches and universities.
1. Which one of the following is NOT the function of Medieval castles?| A．To attack the enemy. | B．To show their authority to its people. |
| C．To serve as a symbol of a time. | D．To protect its main areas. |
| A．Near river crossings where there are hills. | B．The place where there is enough food supply. |
| C．The place that is hard and dangerous to get to. | D．The natural world with scenery like the cliff. |
| A．Walls with a trench. | B．A big gate of a castle. |
| C．Walls about 3 metres in thickness. | D．A gate with towers and a drawbridge. |
| A．Medieval times. | B．The structure of Medieval castles. |
| C．Walls and gates of Medieval castles. | D．Defence against the enemies. |
【推荐2】Even as e-readers become common, nothing will ever compete with a good old-fashioned book. Explore some amazing bookstores and libraries around the world that make reading a truly artful experience.
Boekhandel Selexyz Dominicanen
The Boekhandel Selexyz Dominicanen in Maastricht, the Netherlands, is a bookstore built in a church. Instead of allowing this old Gotliic church to fall into disrepair, it was purchased by a bookseller and restored to its original glory. It might be the world’s most beautiful bookstore. The walls, arches and ceilings of the original building are restored, while the bookstore rises from its center.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid
A historical theater in Buenos Aires is now one of the city’s most exciting bookstores, the El Ateneo Grand Splendid. While it no longer houses performances of Argentina’s national dance, the tango, it is now home to thousands of books. The character of the original architecture remains while the red theater curtains still hang at stage left and right. It keeps a strong sense of Argentina’s history while still selling culture, book-by-book.
Liyuan Library
In a village outside of Beijing, China, a small library hides amongst the trees in a quiet setting. The Liyuan Library is wrapped in recycled branches. Indoors, three levels of books and reading spaces are available for the occasional guests. Perhaps the most impressive thing is the open design that allows in light from nearby every direction.
A47 Mobile Library
Why will you go to the library when it can come to you? The A47 Mobile Library is a library on wheels that travels around Mexico City bringing books to the public. Just keep your eye on the late fees, as this is one library that can actually track you down for late payments.
1. What can you do at El Ateneo Grand Splendid besides buying books?| A．Experience how books are recycled. |
| B．Enjoy the original architecture. |
| C．Watch a live performance of tango. |
| D．Get a knowledge of the national dance. |
| A．It has traditional design. |
| B．The light is a bit weak. |
| C．It is very close to nature. |
| D．Readers frequently visit it. |
| A．Boekhandel Selexyz Dominicanen. |
| B．El Ateneo Grand Splendid. |
| C．Liyuan Library. |
| D．A47 Mobile Library. |
【推荐3】The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is the first large-scale sea crossing transportation project under China’s “One Country, Two Systems” policy. Jointly constructed by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, the bridge is a mega sea crossing system linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macao.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is the longest, most difficult to construct, and the highest- standard cross-sea transportation project in China’s history. It is regarded as the “Qomolangma” of the bridge industry. The bridge is also part of the C4 Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway and G94 Pearl River Delta Ring Expressway within China’s national expressway network.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge starts at Lantau Island in Hong Kong, passes through Tai O, crosses the Pearl River Estuary(河口), and its Y-shaped section at the end connects Zhuhai and Macao. The total length of the bridge is 55 km. Its sea section is around 35.578 km long while its underwater tunnel stretches 6.75 km. The construction cost of the bridge exceeded 100 billion yuan. It was jointly funded by the central government and the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, which will collect tolls on the bridge for 50 years.
There were many updated technologies in the construction and installation of the Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macao Bridge. The project also made multiple breakthroughs in infrastructure(基础设施)construction in which the government cooperated with domestic and foreign companies. These experiences will be useful for the Chinese government in the construction of future large - scale engineering projects.
As China continues to advance the Belt and Road Initiative, the Hong Kong – Zhuhai - Macao Bridge will offer new force to the economy of the region. The bridge will increase the attractiveness and influence of Zhuhai, promote the cooperation of Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macao in logistics, tourism, and other industries, and drive the economic and social integration of Hong Kong, Macao, and Zhuhai. It will also help strengthen the ties between the three places and facilitate the development of the Guangdong - Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area, which is strategically important to the Belt and Road Initiative.
1. What is the meaning of the underlined word “mega” in Paragraph 1?| A．diverse | B．great | C．broad | D．rare |
| A．It shows the bridge is very famous in the world. |
| B．It indicates the bridge is very high above the sea. |
| C．It suggests the difficulties in constructing the bridge. |
| D．It stresses its importance in the national development. |
| A．It has the longest underwater part of the bridge in the world. |
| B．It strengthens the development and bond of these three places. |
| C．It has helped the government earn over 100 billion yuan so far. |
| D．It is the only one of the large-scale engineering projects by China. |
