1 . 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 |
2 . It’s not common that a grandmother aged 89 is crowned Queen of Icebergs in north America, but when it does happen it’s quite the sight.
On a recent trip to Iceland, Judith Streng became that grandma after her son attempted to take a photograph of her sitting on an ice structure that looks like a throne (宝座) at Diamond Beach in Jokul. Shortly after Streng sat down to pose, the piece of ice broke off and floated into the water.
“I thought it was safe. One girl had been on it and then two girls at the same time, and it was very secure with them. When I got on it, it started to shake and a wave was coming in. A very large wave came in and made the throne kind of shake, and I could tell that I was slipping off,” Streng told ABC News.
Streng’s story went hot after her 24-year-old granddaughter Catherine tweeted a text message exchange she had with her father about the incident. “My grandmother almost got lost at sea in Iceland today!”
Catherine, who teaches English in Seoul, South Korea, explained via Twitter that her father described the scene vividly. He has a PhD in English, and described the event in the following words, “She climbed to the throne after a wave had pulled back and left it briefly exposed on the beach. Then a wave washed in and removed the ice throne, rocking it from side to side. When the wave left, it lifted the throne and carried her out into the sea with the tide.”
Luckily for the Streng family, Randy, a licensed boat captain from Florida with knowledge of water rescue strategies witnessed the whole thing, and was able to save the day.
1. Where was the grandma when her son was taking a picture for her?A.On a crown. | B.In an iceboat. |
C.At a throne beach. | D.On an iceberg. |
A.By drawing a vivid picture. |
B.By exchanging tweeter account. |
C.By talking with her father in Seoul. |
D.By posting the text message exchange with her father. |
A.Catherine. | B.Streng. |
C.Randy. | D.Judith. |
A.Taking Pictures Must be Very Dangerous |
B.A Grandma Floated out to the Sea on an Iceberg |
C.An Optimistic Family Who Love Iceberg |
D.The Licensed Boat Captain Went Hot Slowly |