1 . It seems that some people go out of their way to get into trouble. That’s more or less what happened on the night when Nashville Police Officer Floyd Hyde was on duty.
“I was on the way to a personal-injury accident in West Nashville. As I got onto Highway40, blue lights and sirens (警笛) going, I fell in behind a gold Pontiac Firebird that suddenly seemed to take off quickly down the highway. The driver somehow panicked at the sight of me. He was going more than a hundred miles an hour and began passing cars on the shoulder (路肩).”
But Hyde couldn’t go after him. Taking care of the injured people is always more important than worrying about speeders, so the officer had to stay on his way to the accident. But he did try to keep the Firebird in sight as he drove, hoping another nearby unit would be able to step in and stop the speeding car. As it turned out, keeping the Firebird in sight was not that difficult. Every turn the Pontiac made was the very turn the officer needed to get to the accident scene.
Hyde followed the Pontiac all the way to his destination. At that point he found another unit had already arrived at the accident scene. His help wasn't needed. Now he was free to try to stop the driver of the Firebird, who by this time had developed something new to panic about.
“Just about that time,” Hyde says, “I saw fire coming out from under that car, with blue smoke and oil going everywhere. He’d blown his engine. Now he had to stop.”
“After I arrested him, I asked him why he was running. He told me he didn't have a driver’s license.”
That accident cost the driver of the Firebird plenty — a thousand dollars for the new engine — not to mention the charges for driving without a license, attempting to run away, and dangerous driving.
1. Why did Floyd Hyde drive the car before he got onto Highway 40?| A．To arrest a criminal. | B．To catch up with a car. |
| C．To go to the police station. | D．To deal with an accident. |
| A．Another nearby unit could stop the speeding car. |
| B．The driver of the Firebird would turn his car around. |
| C．Another nearby unit could take care of the injured people. |
| D．The driver of the Firebird would show him his identity card. |
| A．Something was wrong with the wheel. | B．Something was wrong with the engine. |
| C．The car crashed into another one. | D．The car turned upside down. |
| A．The driver had to face the music. | B．The driver was finally under control. |
| C．The driver was actually in a dilemma. | D．The driver had to turn to others for help. |
2 . It was reported last week that developers could take photos from Apple mobile and Google Android devices without the phone owners knowing that the pictures were being taken. In Apple’s case, developers can also obtain the location information for each photo.
Senator(参议员) Charles Schumer said in a telephone interview that his office had spoken with officials at both Apple and Google on Monday. “We asked them if they could find a way on their own to prevent Apple from having access to private(私人的) information,” Mr. Schumer said. “They were friendly and open to the idea that this ought to be changed.”
On Sunday, Mr. Schumer said that he planned to send a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking the agency to investigate Apple and Google after the privacy concerns came to light. Claudia Bourne Farrell, an F.T.C. spokeswoman, said the agency had received the letter but she could not comment further.
“It worries people to think that one’s personal photos, address book, and who knows what else can be obtained and even posted online without permission,” Mr. Schumer wrote in his letter to the F.T.C. “If the technology exists to open the door to this kind of privacy invasion（侵犯）, then surely technology exists to close it, and that’s exactly what must happen.”
Mr. Schumer said if Apple and Google could not come to an agreement to fix the problem, then he would be forced to take the issue further.
He said other companies had been willing to work with his office to deal with problems. “I’m optimistic that we can get this changed without any regulation,” he said. “If it’s not changed, then we’ll turn to the F.T.C., and if that doesn’t work then we’ll consider law ways.”
The F.T.C. has warned companies to try to be more vigilant(警醒的) in their efforts to protect consumers when it comes to privacy.
1. The senators spoke with officials at both Apple and Google___________.| A．to stop them from developing the technology of taking photos |
| B．to discuss whether it is illegal to have access to private information |
| C．to ask them not to invade consumers’ privacy |
| D．to keep them from obtaining the location information for each photo |
| A．causes privacy invasion to happen frequently |
| B．causes people to worry about the safety of their personal information |
| C．can be used if permitted |
| D．causes personal information to be posted online without permission |
| A．The senators will turn to law ways |
| B．The companies will be closed |
| C．The companies will be fined |
| D．The senators will force the companies not to invade privacy |
| A．In a travel brochure. | B．In a newspaper. |
| C．In a science report. | D．In a textbook. |
3 . A couple from Miami , Bill and Simone Butler , spent sixty-six days in a life-raft (救生艇)in the seas of Central America after their boat sank.
Twenty-one days after they left Panama in their boat, Simony, they met some whales(鲸鱼). “They started to hit the side of the boat, ” said Bill, “and then suddenly we heard water. ”Two minutes later , the boat was sinking. They jumped into the life-raft and watched the boat go under the water.
For twenty days they had tins of food , biscuits , and bottles of water. They also had a fishing-line and a machine to make salt water into drinking water-two things which saved their lives. They caught eight to ten fish a day and ate them raw(生的). Then the line broke. “So we had no more fish until something very strange happened. Some sharks(鲨鱼) came to feed , and the fish under the raft were afraid and came to the surface. I caught them with my hands. ”
About twenty ships passed them, but no one saw them. After fifty days at sea, their life- raft was beginning to break up. Then suddenly it was all over. A fishing boat saw them and picked them up. They couldn't stand up. So the captain carried them onto his boat and took them to Costa Rica. Their two months at sea was over.
1. Bill and Simone were traveling________ when they met some whales.| A．in a life-raft . | B．in Miami . | C．in Simony | D．in Panama |
| A．the boat was sinking | B．they bit the boat |
| C．they pulled the boat | D．they bit the couple |
| A．jumped into the life-raft | B．heard water |
| C．watched the boat go under water | D．stayed in the life-raft |
| A．They were too excited to stand up. |
| B．They knew their two months at sea would end. |
| C．They couldn’t wait to climb onto the boat. |
| D．Their life-raft was beginning to break up. |
4 . There was ice on the road, and the doctor’s car hit a tree and turned over three times. To his surprise, he was not hurt. He got out of the car and walked to the nearest house. He wanted to telephone the garage (汽车修理站) for help. The door was opened by one of his patients.
“Oh, Doctor.” she said, “I have only just telephoned you. You must have a very fast car. You have got here very quickly indeed. There has been a very bad accident (事故) in the road outside. I saw it through the window. I am sure the driver will need your help.”
1. Where was the doctor going in his car?| A．We don’t know. | B．To a patient’s home. |
| C．To a garage. | D．To his own home. |
| A．Careless driving. | B．A tree had fallen across the road. |
| C．A slippery (滑) road. | D．There was a thick fog. |
| A．he knew one of his patients lived there |
| B．he had received a call to go there |
| C．he wanted to use the telephone |
| D．he was injured (受伤) and could walk no further |
| A．She needed medical treatment. |
| B．She believed somebody else needed a doctor. |
| C．To ask how quickly the doctor could come. |
| D．To ask whether the doctor was coming on his regular visit. |
| A．She had been expecting the doctor, but was surprised that he had come so quickly. |
| B．She had not expected the doctor and wondered why he had come. |
| C．She felt glad that the doctor was not hurt in the accident. |
| D．She was alarmed (惊慌) at seeing the doctor in a bad state after the accident. |
5 . A Virginia family whose home was destroyed by a fire last week recently received the gift of some old-fashioned Christmas cheer from “Santa Claus” (圣诞老人).
In the spirit of Christmas, the Ferrum Volunteer Fire Department delivered presents to the family who lost their home and belongings in a house fire on Thursday.
“It was a working structure fire and unfortunately the family lost everything. We as volunteers knew that we couldn’t let this mom and her three kids go through Christmas without anything,” the fire station wrote on Facebook. “Yes, they’re OK but it’s Christmas, right?”
The fire station officials delivered Christmas gifts to the mother and her three children the following day at the local church shelter they were staying at, and in photos posted on the site, the children appeared joyful.
“We brought gifts and more gifts! The kids were overjoyed and very grateful.” the station said on its post.
“They were very happy to see all the gifts and the fire trucks that we brought the gifts in,” the department told USA TODAY. The kids received Barbies, Pokémon, artworks, remote control cars, blankets, clothes and shoes. The mother also received a gift card.
The Facebook post was flooded with what seemed to be comments from community members touched by the generosity. “The best Christmas gifts are the ones you give! Thank you all for your wonderful service and your big hearts!” one user commented.
“So thankful they are alright! We are truly blessed to live in such a giving and helping community, and our fire department and rescue teams are amazing! Great job! So proud!” another user wrote.
1. What can we learn from the text?| A．The Fire Department provided the family with shelter. |
| B．The volunteers saved some belongings for the family. |
| C．The family went through Christmas in sorrow. |
| D．Receiving a Christmas gift is a traditional joy. |
| A．Ambiguous. | B．Unconcerned. | C．Appreciative. | D．Sympathetic. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By using quotation. |
| C．By making comments. | D．By analysing causes. |
| A．Firefighters or Santa Claus? | B．Firefighters Safeguarded Us |
| C．A Fire Brought Gifts | D．Love Can Cure |
6 . An abandoned car in Chicago worth about $600 has been issued more than $100, 000 in parking tickets (罚单) over the past three years. Now Jennifer Fitzgerald, 31, is stuck with the bill but says the 1999 Chevy Monte Carlo actually belongs to an ex-boyfriend who registered (登记注册) the car in her name without informing her.
The Expired Meter ( 停车计时器) reports that from May 23, 2009 to April 30, 2012, the Chicago Department of Finance (DOF) issued 678 tickets against the car, totaling $105, 761.80. It set a Chicago record both for the total number and amount of parking fines issued. In fact, it blew past the previous record holder, which was $65,000 from about 400 tickets.
But Fitzgerald says she doesn’t owe the city a dime (10 分硬币) and has filed a lawsuit (诉讼 ) in Cook County Circuit Court against the city of Chicago, United Airlines and the ex-boyfriend. Fitzgerald has two main arguments in her case. First, she says her ex-boyfriend, Brandon Preveau, is the actual owner of the car, having bought it from her uncle for $600 in 2008. In fact, Brandon paid for the car’s title (所有权), registration and insurance, but it was registered in Fitzgerald’s name. “Brandon used his 2007 income tax refund ( 退 款 ) to pay Patrick $600 for the car,” reads Fitzgerald’s complaint. “For reasons not recalled by Patrick, however, Patrick signed the title to the car over to Fitzgerald.”
Second, Fitzgerald’s lawyer is arguing that the city should have simply towed (拖走) the car after 30 days from O’Hare Airport, where it was parked and where Brandon worked at the time. According to Fitzgerald’s complaint, on or before November 17, 2009, Brandon drove the car into the parking lot and never drove it out again. And as the Expired Meter reports, Chicago law does state exactly that an abandoned vehicle is to be towed 30 days after being illegally parked.
1. After the Chicago Department of Finance noticed the car, it _______.| A．wanted to break a record |
| B．tried its best to find its owner |
| C．kept issuing tickets against the car |
| D．decided to play a joke on its owner |
| A．sold the car to her ex-boyfriend long ago |
| B．received the car from her ex-boyfriend |
| C．didn’t know anything about the car |
| D．wasn’t the real owner of the car |
| A．didn’t inform her as soon as it found the missing car |
| B．didn’t tow the vehicle after 30 days from O’Hare Airport |
| C．didn’t state exactly that an abandoned vehicle was to be towed |
| D．didn’t help her find the car when it was missing in the beginning |
| A．doesn’t want to pay any money |
| B．thinks Patrick should pay the fines |
| C．isn’t trying to find her ex-boyfriend |
| D．has never been to O’Hare Airport |
7 . “Calling tower,” the pilot’s voice crackled. “This is an emergency!” The radio operator in the control tower looked at his watch. It was 3:15 p.m. Lieutenant Charles Taylor and five Navy bombers (轰炸机) were in trouble. “We are off course. We cannot see land … repeat … we cannot see land.”
The control tower grew silent. The operator garbed (戴上) his microphone. “What is your position?” “We are not sure of our position,” Lieutenant Taylor replied. “We seem to be lost.” Taylor had over 2,500 hours of flight time. What was happening?
The tower called back: “Assume bearing (方位) due west.” “We don't know which way is west,” Taylor replied. “Everything is wrong…strange… We cannot be sure of any direction…Even the ocean looks odd…” The radio operator told Taylor to fly north “with the sun on the left” until he reached a Naval Air Station. Anyone could find the sun, especially a good pilot like Taylor. Soon the radio crackled again. “We have just passed over a small island,” said the pilot. “No other land in sight.” That was the last message Flight 19 sent to the radio tower. Five Navy bombers were lost. They had left the Naval Air Station for a routine training flight at 2:00 p.m., December 5, 1945. Each plane had enough fuel to fly more than a thousand miles. The weather was sunny and mild. Pilots from other flights had not seen anything strange there. So what happened? How could five Navy bombers and their crews just disappear?
The search for the five bombers covered 380,000 square miles of land and sea.
Hundreds of boats and planes searched large areas of the Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, the mainland of Florida, and many neighboring islands. Some of the boats were aircraft carriers, destroyers, and submarines. They searched the area for weeks. Nothing was ever found. No life rafts. No wreckage (残骸). Not even an oil slick (油层). Oil from the engines should float on the surface, even if everything else had sunk.
1. The pilot knew that they were in trouble when ______.| A．The radio operator warned him. |
| B．He couldn't be sure of his flying route. |
| C．The engine failed to work. |
| D．The emergency light was suddenly on. |
a. The control tower grew silent.
b. The bombers had a lot of fuel.
c. The weather was good.
d. No strange happening was reported by other flights.
| A．(b) (c) (d) | B．(a) (b) (d) | C．(a) (c) (d) | D．(a) (b) (c) |
| A．There was no life raft. |
| B．There was no wreckage. |
| C．There was no oil slick. |
| D．There was no "SOS" call. |
| A．they went for a very important mission. |
| B．they went to some very important places. |
| C．they went out of earth. |
| D．they went somewhere no one knew. |
8 . An 8-year-old southeast Kansas girl is being praised for her quick, calm thinking. She grabbed the steering wheel(方向盘) and drove the family’s SUV when her mother fell unconscious on their highway ride to school.
Abby Porter and her mom, Shelly, were heading for her school in Riverton when Shelly had a medical emergency. She passed out(昏倒) behind the wheel.
Abby is a second-grader whose father sometimes lets her drive their tractor. With her mother falling down heavily, Abby leaned over and took the wheel. At some point, Abby even successfully performed a U-turn on the four-lane highway, because she was going home to her daddy, according to Galena Police Chief Larry Delmont.
“That was at 8:37 in the morning, and there was a lot of traffic,” Delmont said. Officer Jimmy Hamilton noticed the SUV going about 20 mph and weaving a bit between the two lanes. He suspected someone was driving under the influence. As he got closer, he noticed the woman fell over in the driver’s seat and saw Abby at the wheel.
Hamilton tried to get in front of Abby’s car to slow her down, but she kept switching lanes to avoid bumping into his car. Hamilton got alongside her and told Abby to stop the vehicle, but she didn’t know how. He then told her she needed to bump into him to stop the car, but Abby said she didn’t want to because she was afraid. He convinced Abby bumping into his car was OK.
‘‘I never saw her cry,” Hamilton said. “From just the expression on her face and the tone of her voice, you could tell she was scared. But she stayed with it.”
Emergency crews got Abby’s mother to the hospital, but Delmont said he didn’t know what caused her to lose consciousness.
The police department in Galena, a town of about 3,000 residents about 150 miles south of Kansas City, planned to present Abby with a plaque(匾牌) for “outstanding bravery in a life-threatening situation”.
1. People praise Abby Porter mainly because at such a young age, she can ______.| A．drive an SUV |
| B．go to school regularly |
| C．take good care of her mother |
| D．react quickly and calmly in an emergency |
a. Abby leaned over and took the wheel.
b. Shelly fell over in the driver’s seat.
c. Abby bumped into Hamilton’s car.
d. Hamilton noticed the SUV.
e. Shelly drove Abby to school.
| A．b, a, d, e, c | B．c, b, a, d, e |
| C．e, a, b, c, d | D．e, b, a, d, c |
| A．Jimmy Hamilton was telling her what to do． |
| B．She had learned to drive her father’s tractor before. |
| C．Her mother had told her how to drive a car before. |
| D．She was clever enough to do some unexpected things. |
9 . House fires cause many deaths each year.
A smoke alarm greatly reduces your chances of being hurt in a fire, especially when you are in your dream.
A smoke alarm warns you of the danger. When you hear it, take action immediately. When you come to a closed door, check it with the back of your hand. If it feels hot, there may be smoke or fire behind the door, so take care.
| A．Once you are out of your house |
| B．Make sure of working hours of fire fighters |
| C．A large number of these fires are set by kids |
| D．Although your friends know how to put out fire |
| E．So you should have a smoke alarm outside your bedroom |
| F．But remember, the alarm can work only if it has enough power |
| G．Actually most of them can be avoided with working smoke alarms |
The fire started on Sunday morning in the house of the King's baker in Pudding Lane. The baker, with his wife and family, was able to get out through a window in the roof. A strong wind blew the fire from the bakery into a small hotel next door. Then it spread quickly into Thames Street. That was the beginning.
By eight o'clock three hundred houses were on fire. On Monday nearly a kilometer of the city was burning along the River Thames. Tuesday was the worst day. The fire destroyed many well-known buildings, old St Paul's and the Guildhall among them.
Samuel Pepys, the famous writer, wrote about the fire. People threw their things into the river. Many poor people stayed in their houses until the last moment. Birds fell out of the air because of the heat.
The fire stopped only when the King finally ordered people to destroy hundreds of buildings in the path of the fire. With nothing left to burn, the fire became weak and finally died out.
After the fire, Christopher Wren, the architect, wanted a city with wider streets and fine new houses of stone. In fact, the streets are still narrow; but he did build more than fifty churches, among them was new St Paul's.
The fire caused great pain and loss, but after it London was a better place: a city for the future and not just of the past.
1. It seems that the writer of the text was most sorry for the fact that ______.
| A．many famous buildings were destroyed |
| B．the birds in the sky were killed by the fire |
| C．some people lost their lives |
| D．the King's bakery was burned down |
| A．Because Pepys was among those putting out the fire. |
| B．Because Pepys also wrote about the fire. |
| C．To give the reader a clearer picture of the fire. |
| D．To show that poor people suffered most. |
| A．Houses standing in the direction of the fire were pulled down. |
| B．All the wooden houses in the city were destroyed. |
| C．People managed to get enough water from the river. |
| D．The king and his soldiers came to help. |
(a) There was a strong wind.
(b) The streets were very narrow.
(c) Many houses were made of wood.
(d) There was not enough water in the city.
(e) People did not discover the fire earlier.
| A．(a) and (b) | B．(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) |
| C．(a), (b), (c) and (d) | D．(a), (b) and (c) |
