2 . You get an e-mail from your friend. It says Bill Gates will send you cash if you just click on a certain Web page. Your friend swears this is official, and that his friend says it _______. Will you believe it?
Stories like that are known as urban legends (传说). They are called this _______ they are like old country folk tales, but told in a modern city context.
Why do people tell urban legends? Why do listeners believe them? _______ is true of many legends, there is usually a grain of truth in an urban legend that seems to confirm it. That small seed of truth helps keep the story alive. _______, many urban legends are meant to serve as warnings to children and teens. This fact could explain why a lot of urban legends are _______: Do not take candy from strangers, because it might have poison in it.
Some urban legends, however, reflect what people want to believe. After the disastrous Asian tsunami (海啸) of 2004, for example, one heart-warming tale spread around the world.
_______ the story, elephants near a Thai resort sensed that the huge waves were coming. They led people to high ground and went back into the floodwaters _______ other people. The Denver Post was one of many newspapers to _______ this story: “Elephants became superheroes, raising people with their trunks and pulling them from harm’s way.” There were elephants near the resort, and they did move to higher ground as the waves came ashore — but that is all that _______ be confirmed. The rest is wishful thinking.
With quick access to the Internet today, it is easy to spread urban legends, but it is also easy to fight them. Remember your friend’s e-mail mentioned earlier? __________ to Snopes.com, the Internet headquarters for sorting out truth from fiction, and you will find it is false. Next time you hear what sounds like an urban legend, take some time to stop and think and maybe even do some research. The story may be true, but it might just be an urban legend.
1. A.rises | B.works | C.survives | D.improves |
2. A.because | B.once | C.until | D.unless |
3. 4. A.Personally | B.Suddenly | C.Previously | D.Actually |
5. A.interesting | B.boring | C.frightening | D.confusing |
6. A.According to | B.In spite of | C.Due to | D.In case of |
7. A.rescued | B.to rescue | C.having rescued | D.to be rescuing |
8. A.hold up | B.pick up | C.give up | D.look up |
9. 10. A.Heading | B.To head | C.Head | D.Headed |