1 . After more than 2 months trapped in a collapsed copper (铜) and gold mine in the desert, all of 33 Chilean miners (矿工) were rescued Wednesday. With ingenuity and cutting-edge technology, the men have survived for 69 days, some 700 meters underground fending off hunger, anxiety and illness in a record-setting feat of survival. How did they survive the ordeal? Have a close look.
Before the miners were reached, they survived for 17 days on food already stored in the emergency shelter. They rationed themselves to 2 spoonfuls of tuna, half a cookie and a half-full glass of milk every 48 hours. Then a 6-inch diameter bore hole allowed food and water supplies to be sent down to the mine. Doctors then put the men on a solid diet of meat and rice, with a strict 2,200-calorie limit to keep them slim enough to fit in the evacuation shaft, which is just 66cm in diameter.
Yonny Barrios Rojas, 50, used knowledge gained on a nursing course he attended to administer medicine to the group and perform daily health checks.
“I was with God and I was with the devil. They fought and God won,” Mario Sepulveda, the second to be rescued, told CNN. He said he grabbed God’s hand and never doubted that he would be rescued.
1. What can we learn about the miners from the passage?| A．The miners were trapped in the mine in the desert on Wednesday. |
| B．The miners survived for 69 days on the food stored in the emergency shelter. |
| C．The miners were rescued after more than two months trapped. |
| D．Doctor Yonny Barrios Rojas administered medicine to the group and made daily health checks. |
| A．Because the food was limited. |
| B．Because the food had been eaten up already. |
| C．Because the miners couldn’t eat too much due to their bad condition. |
| D．Because the miners must be slim enough to get into the evacuation shaft. |
| A．Intelligence and advanced technology. | B．Luck and Persistence. |
| C．Courage and wisdom. | D．Experiences and bravery. |
| A．Miners trapped in a mine | B．Miners survival miracle |
| C．A collapsed copper and gold mine | D．A rescue mission |
2 . I was in seat 10F next to the emergency exit. A few minutes after take-off there was a loud explosion. Everybody gasped (倒抽气) and there were a few screams. Then, surprisingly, it went very quiet — everyone was assessing the situation.
It soon became obvious we weren’t going back to LaGuardia Airport and that we were heading for the water. I started thinking this was it. Then I heard the announcement, ‘This is the captain, brace for impact,’ and everything suddenly got clear. I had to stop thinking about death, and instead, about what I should do once the pilot landed in the water. ‘You sat in this seat,’ I thought, ‘you’ve got to get this door open.’
At about 300 feet (91.5 meters), I started reading the instructions. There were six steps, and I had just read them two or three times when we hit the water. It felt like the worst car crash you could imagine. Fortunately, I’d just read the instructions and managed to get the door open. The wing was sinking lower and lower. I walked out onto it and walked as far along as I could to make room for other people. It was freezing, and nobody had a jacket. Some people were underwater to their waists.
It felt like half an hour before we saw the first ferry, though it could have been only five or ten minutes. I was fourth onto the ferry, and I started helping people onto the boat. To our relief, everyone had survived the crash.
I got through the whole incident by taking it one step at a time: get the door open, throw the door out, figure out if you’re sinking. I just kept on doing that until I reached solid ground. Only then did I go into the men’s room and cry for a few minutes.
1. After hearing a loud explosion, what did passengers, including the writer, do?| A．They put on life jackets as instructed. |
| B．They tried to figure what had happened. |
| C．They couldn’t help shouting for help on end. |
| D．They asked the pilot to fly to LaGuardia Airport. |
| A．He sat by the emergency exit. | B．He had an experienced neighbor. |
| C．He was once taught how to open it. | D．He read and understood the instructions. |
| A．Humorous. | B．Aggressive. | C．Organized. | D．Expressive. |
| A．No one got killed in it. | B．It happened at the end of the trip. |
| C．The pilot managed to land the plane safely. | D．A ferry came to the rescue the moment it happened. |
3 . All seven people have been rescued from a stricken cable car high above a remote Pakistan valley, a spokesman for the state-run emergency services said.
Pakistani authorities said army commandos (突击队), with the help of civilians, made the final rescues after an operation lasting hours. Floodlights were installed and a ground-based operation reached the remaining two people late on Tuesday more than 12 hours after their cable car was damaged, leaving it hanging unsteadily at an angle.
A helicopter had earlier plucked two children to safety before darkness. High winds meant the air rescue had to be called off. Rescuers used the cable keeping the cable car from plunging (突然向下冲) into the valley as a zip line to rescue three more children. Relatives of those trapped prayed while watching the operation and anxious crowds gathered on both sides of the valley, which is in a mountainous area of Battagram, about 125 miles (200km) north of Islamabad.
Several military helicopters had earlier in the day flown sorties and an airman was lowered by a set of bands to deliver food, water and medicine. Commandos could be seen on local TV trying to lower themselves on ropes from the helicopters to the cable car. An expert confirmed that the rescue was delicate because the wind created by the helicopters’ blades could further weaken cables holding the car up in the sky.
The children trapped were teenage boys studying at the government high school. The school is located in a mountainous area and there are no safe crossings, so it’s common to use the chairlift. People who live in the northern mountainous regions of Pakistan often use chairlifts for transport from one village to another. In 2017, 10 people were killed when a chairlift cable broke sending passengers plunging into a valley in a mountain hamlet near the capital, Islamabad.
1. How many people were saved 12 hours after cable car was trapped?| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Seven. | D．Five. |
| A．By cable car. | B．By helicopter. | C．By floodlights. | D．By a zip line. |
| A．The weather condition was tough with heavy rain. |
| B．The cable was left hanging at a dangerous angle. |
| C．The air rescue staff were incompetent. |
| D．The wind created by the helicopters’ blades is strong. |
| A．To inform the underlying accident. | B．To provide background information. |
| C．To indicate the following settlement. | D．To public the rescuing result. |
4 . Leah Brown aged 36 fell several hundred feet from Oregon’s highest mountain right before the eyes of a group of volunteer rescue workers who rushed to her aid and helped save her life.
The woman was coming down a popular path (小路) on Mt. Hood, about 70 miles east of Portland, on Saturday morning, according to the local police. Mt. Hood is the highest in Oregon, standing at around11.240 feet.
The fall was seen by members of Portland Mountain Rescue (PMR), a volunteer organization focused on helping people in mountainous areas. The group called 911 and rushed to the woman, providing medical care. They helped keep the woman warm for seven hours as the police worked to get her off the mountain safely. Finally, the woman was evacuated (转移) to a parking lot at 9:30 pm and taken to a hospital.
The climber, Leah Brown, said she didn’t know what caused her fall. “I can only guess it was either an ice tool or a crampon (冰爪) that didn’t land and stick like it should have, so I became detached from the mountain,” Brown said. “The thing I’d like to most stress is my appreciation for the members of PMR who evacuated me and took good care of me the whole time,” Brown added. “They saved my life. ”
In a statement after the rescue, PMR warned of the dangerous winter conditions at the mountain. “The short days and lower temperatures mean that the snow tends to be very hard and icy, and the conditions tend to be much steeper. Climbing the mountain in icy conditions is much more difficult,” the group said.
1. What happened to Brown on Saturday morning?| A．She lost her way in a forest. | B．She hurt her eye unexpectedly. |
| C．She failed to call her family. | D．She fell down on a downhill path. |
| A．Different. | B．Hidden. | C．Separated. | D．Tired. |
| A．Thankful. | B．Regretful. | C．Surprised. | D．Concerned. |
| A．Climbing requires teamwork. | B．Climbing in winter is too risky. |
| C．We must remain positive in hard times. | D．We can admire the view on sunny days. |
5 . Apple, a 34-year-old doctor, had been on call(待命) at Atlanta Medical Center for more than two days, with only a few hours’ sleep. And now tiredness was clouding her eyes as she drove to a meeting in Kentucky, nearly seven hours away. She tried turning on her CB radio (无线电，对讲机), which enthusiasts used to war none another about road conditions, but the airwaves (广播频道)were silent. Soon Apple’s car started to weave (迂回前进).
A 41-year-old trucker named Woody Key found a car ahead, drifting (漂移)off the road. Key shouted into his CB microphone, “Four-wheeler, are you all right?”
Apple woke up. She talked on her CB radio. “I’m tired, and I’m lucky I’m still alive driving this tired. Thanks!”
“Call me Woodpecker, my CB nickname,” the trucker said. “I’m going to Kentucky. And you?
“Kentucky.”
“I’ll travel behind and help keep you awake. What’s your CB nickname?”
“Dr. Froot Loops,” she told him. As they drove, they shared stories, and the time passed quickly. They parted near the Kentucky state line. She thanked him for keeping her awake and safe on the long, dark road.
Years later, Apple found several doctors checking a person brought in from an accident. His head was badly hurt. She put both hands on his head, hoping to calm him. “It’s not your time to die!” she said.
Then, he asked for her name.
“Dr. Sherry Apple,” she replied.
“No...your CB nickname.”
“How did you guess I have a CB?”
“...I know your voice...”
“My nickname is Dr. Froot Loops.”
“Oh...It’s me...Woodpecker!”
It was her truck driver! She said, “It’s not your time, Woodpecker!” Then Key was rushed into the operating room.
The first days out of the operating room were very painful for Key. Often Apple would get home and find her phone ringing. Nurses, unable to calm Key, asked her to return. She always did.
About two months after his accident, Key was ready to leave the hospital. As she was leaving, he told Apple, “I don’t think I could have made it without you.” Apple’s eyes welled up. “And I wouldn’t have made it without you.”
1. What happened to Apple on her way to Kentucky?| A．She was called back to hospital halfway. |
| B．She was disconnected from her friend. |
| C．She fell asleep as she drove. |
| D．She met with a car accident. |
| A．By giving her a lift. | B．By driving her car instead. |
| C．By talking with her by phone. | D．By keeping her eyes on the road. |
| A．By her appearance. | B．By her nickname. |
| C．By her name. | D．By her voice. |
| A．He fought to survive. | B．He returned home quickly. |
| C．He stayed quite calm in the hospital. | D．He was looked after by Apple every day. |
| A．It was heart-breaking. | B．It was life-saving. |
| C．It was serious. | D．It was strange. |
6 . Recently, research on how a new virtual (虚拟的) reality (VR) experience educated primary children about the fire disasters was done. It was developed by the University of South Australia, aiming to educate children to learn how to be safer in a fire.
Focusing on children aged 10-12 years old, the new VR experience presents a situation where children are tasked to look after a friend’s dog just before a fire event begins to spread. They participate in a series of problem-solving activities to help save and protect themselves and the dog.
The findings showed that more than 80 percent of children reported that they felt more confident to calmly assess the situation and make wise decisions to protect themselves from a fire. This isl especially important considering that 91 percent of participants originally lacked any knowledge of fires, and that 67 percent had said that they were too young to make safety decisions in a fire.
The researchers believed such immersive (沉浸式的) VR experiences had real potential (潜力) to attract and educate the young. “As children born in digital times, they are interested in such technology and they can experience events realistically yet within the safe environment.” said Delene Weber, one of the researchers. “Well-designed VR can provide a chance for children to apply newly-acquired knowledge, strengthen their learnt concepts, and enable immediate reaction—all incredibly valuable learning tools.”
Meanwhile, because children have fewer life experiences, aren’t as physically strong, and are less likely to have learned much about fire safety, they’re often most at risk. Yet the ability for children to contribute to fire safety at their household should not be underestimated (低估).
“Children do not need to be passively attacked by disasters and with purpose-built virtual reality experiences such as these, we can help children understand the risks and realize they can help,” said Weber.
1. How does the new VR experience try to educate children?| A．By introducing a virtual friend to them. | B．By finding the causes of a fire event. |
| C．By letting them solve virtual problems. | D．By guiding them to ask a dog for help. |
| A．Many children found it hard to adapt to them. |
| B．They helped children deal with fire postively. |
| C．They benefited children with knowledge of animals. |
| D．Most children had a misunderstanding about them. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Indifferent. | C．Disapproving. | D．Supportive. |
| A．VR experiences educate kids to survive a fire | B．VR experiences make learning easier for kids |
| C．VR education appeals to the young generation | D．VR technology makes no sense in fighting a fire. |
7 . About 50 cars derailed (脱轨) in East Palestine, Ohio at about 9 p. m. EST Friday as a train was carrying a variety of products from Madison, Illinois, to Conway, Pennsylvania, rail operator Norfolk Southern said Saturday. There was no immediate information about what caused the derailment, No injuries or damage to structures were reported.
“The post-derailment fire spanned about the length of the derailed train cars,” Michael Graham, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, told reporters Saturday evening. “The fire has since reduced in intensity, but remains active and the two main tracks are still blocked.”
Norfolk Southern said 20 of the more than 100 cars were classified as carrying dangerous materials “including flammables, combustibles, or environmental risks.” Graham said 14 cars carrying vinyl chloride (氯乙烯) were involved in the derailment “and have been exposed to fire,” and at least one “is releasing the contents of the car through a pressure release device as designed.”
“At this time we are working to confirm which dangerous materials cars, if any, have been breached,” he said. The Environmental Protection Agency and Norfolk Southern were continuing to monitor air quality, and investigators would begin their on-scene work “once the scene is safe and secure,” he said.
Vinyl chloride, used to make the polyvinyl chloride hard plastic resin used in a variety of plastic products, is associated with increased risk of liver cancer and other cancers, according to the federal government’s National Cancer Institute. Federal officials said they were also concerned about other possibly dangerous materials.
Fire Chief Keith Drabick said officials were most concerned about the vinyl chloride and referenced one car containing that chemical but said safety features on that car were still functioning. Emergency crews would keep their distance until Norfolk Southern officials told them it was safe to approach, Drabick said. Firefighters were pulled from the immediate area and unmanned streams were used to protect some areas including businesses that might also have contained materials of concern, officials said.
1. What do we know about the derailment from the first two paragraphs?| A．It was caused by a severe fire. | B．It led to a cut-off on the railway. |
| C．Passengers were trapped in the train. | D．Relevant details were released immediately. |
| A．Broken. | B．Rescued. | C．Repaired. | D．Removed. |
| A．It should be used with caution. | B．It has disadvantages as well as advantages. |
| C．It is important for the plastic industry. | D．It can greatly harm people’s health. |
| A．Guarding the cars. | B．Calling in firefighters. | C．Checking air quality. | D．Investigating the scene. |
8 . A fire swallowed a warehouse (仓库) on San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, threatening to spread to a historic World War II-era ship before firefighters controlled it. One firefighter got a hand injury while battling the fire.
After the fire, investigators searched the building to determine whether homeless people were inside. “We’re trying to confirm if anybody is in this building,” San Francisco Fire Lt. Jonathan Baxter said. “Nobody is supposed to be in the building and we are hoping that there is no victim.”
However, at least two workers were inside the warehouse when the fire broke out before dawn. Alejandro Arellano was cleaning out a fish storage locker when the fire began shortly after 4 a.m. “I saw a lot of smoke. A few minutes later, fire was everywhere,” he said. “It was very scary. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
More than 130 firefighters fought the fire, some using ladder trucks to drench (浸湿) the warehouse from above. A fireboat was used to protect a ship that stormed Normandy on D-Day in 1944. The ship is among numerous tourist attractions on the wharf. Coast Guard crewmembers and police assisted by keeping other ships away.
Shops and restaurants on the wharf have been shut in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus (冠状病毒) and were expected to reopen on May 31. Fishing companies said the fire worsened an already tough business climate. Kenny Belov, owner of the seafood wholesaler TwoXSea, said his building near the warehouse was not damaged but he worried the fish in his freezer could be ruined. Fire investigators were still assessing the damage and were looking into the cause.
1. Why did investigators search the building after the fire?| A．To search for valuable things. |
| B．To make sure the fire was really out. |
| C．To make sure nobody was trapped in the fire. |
| D．To look for the person who caused the fire. |
| A．They kept other ships away. | B．They protected tourist attraction. |
| C．They carried ladder trucks. | D．They sent the injured to hospital. |
| A．The cause of the fire was still unknown. |
| B．The fire helped slow the spread of the disease. |
| C．Kenny Belov’s building was damaged in the fire. |
| D．Shops and restaurants were closed because of the fire. |
| A．A Big Fire Was Put out by Firefighters |
| B．A Big Fire Broke out Early in the Morning. |
| C．Firefighters Are Looking for Victims of a Big Fire |
| D．Investigators Are Looking for the Cause of Big Fire |
9 . Tears of relief and shouts of joy rang out at the San Jose Mine in northern Chile when 33 miners were lifted to freedom, one by one. The men, ranging from 19 to 63 years old, have been buried alive since a cave in the copper and gold mine they were working collapsed on August 5, 2010. It is the longest time anyone has ever survived being trapped underground.
After the collapse, the men found an emergency shelter off one of the mine’s tunnels. The temperature in the dark shelter was around 90 degrees Fahrenheit. For more than two weeks, the miners’ water came from the tanks on their work vehicles. They shared a supply of food that was meant to last for only 48 hours.
The miners were totally isolated until rescue teams made contact with the men on August 22. They sent a note to the surface explaining their situation. Rescuers drilled small holes to reach the cave and sent down supply tubes containing food, water, clothes, medicine, fresh air and other supplies. They also received letters from their families, a television set and games.
Additional collapses slowed down rescue efforts. Finally, a tunnel was built that could fit a 13—foot rescue capsule (救生舱), called the Pheonix. The escape hole measures 28 inches across, a tight fit for the twisting 20 minutes, 2, 041—foot ride. The first miner reached the surface just after midnight on October, 13. The rescue mission was faster than expected, and all 33 men had been brought to safety by late the same day.
The miners were met by family members who were waiting at Camp Hope, a settlement of tents near the mine. Chile’s president, Sebastian Pinera, cheered at the scene and hugged the miners. “We made a promise never to give up, and we kept it,” he said. After an immediate medical exam, the men were airlifted to the nearest hospital for 48 hours of observation.
1. How long were the rescued miners trapped in the mine?| A．About 48 hours. | B．About two weeks. |
| C．One month and a half. | D．More than two months. |
| A．The water from the tanks. |
| B．Small holes drilled to reach the cave. |
| C．A tunnel built to fix a rescue capsule. |
| D．Letters, games and a TV from the surface. |
| A．All miners reached the surface just after midnight on October 13. |
| B．The loss of the mine collapse. |
| C．The health condition of the trapped miners. |
| D．The concern of Chile’s president about the mine collapse. |
| A．received medical examination in a hospital at first |
| B．could go home immediately they got out of the mine |
| C．had to stay in a hospital for two days before going home |
| D．felt relieved to see their family members taken good care of |
| A．Disaster at the Mine | B．A Miracle at the Mine |
| C．Efforts of Great Chileans | D．Miserable Life of Chilean Miners |
10 . Dorothy Lee and her husband were driving home from a study group one night when their car suddenly hit something. Mrs. Lee looked at her husband, who was driving, and saw his head move down and up several times and fall. In the next minutes Mrs Lee managed to avoid a serious accident while stopping the car, called 911 on her cellphone and tried to make her husband come back to life before an ambulance arrived. But at the hospital, soon after learning her husband had died of sudden heart trouble, Dorothy’s heart appeared to give out as well. She experienced sudden sharp pains in her chest (胸腔), lost senses and knew nothing.
Doctor’s of that hospital were surprised at finding: There wasn’t any evidence of heart trouble. Finally, doctors thought that Mrs. Lee had suffered from a broken-heart syndrome (伤心综合症). The disease looks like heart trouble, but appears to have little connection with heart trouble. It is caused mainly by stress and other strong feelings. The disease is uncommon, making up for about 1% to 2% of people — and about 6% of women — who are likely to suffer such sudden heart trouble. It can be very dangerous sometimes, but for the most part patients recover quickly, with no lasting damage to their hearts.
If patients are hospitalized with the broken-heart syndrome, their hearts might be beating as little as 20% of what it should work. But within 48 to 72 hours, many recover to the 60% level that is considered healthy. It is uncommon.
Mrs. Lee’s heart was so weakened by her husband’s death that she nearly died. The 63-year-old woman needed a special balloon pump (球囊泵) during the first days in the hospital. But in spite of warnings by her doctors, she attended her husband’s funeral (葬礼) five days later.
1. What can we learn about the accident?| A．The husband died in it. | B．The wife died later in the hospital. |
| C．The husband died because time was wasted. | D．The husband died of heart trouble after it. |
| A．Her bad health. | B．Worry, anxiety and sadness. |
| C．Her seriously damaged heart. | D．The aging of the heart. |
| A．She was calm in case of emergencies. | B．She was unhealthy but strong minded. |
| C．She was easily hurt and moody. | D．She was caring and generous. |
| A．The broken-heart syndrome is less common among women. |
| B．Patients with the broken-heart syndrome can recover by themselves. |
| C．The broken-heart syndrome could come and go both quickly. |
| D．Most people may suffer from the broken-heart syndrome. |
