1 . School starting times in America vary from an average of 7:48 am in go-getting Mississippi to 8:31 am in late-rising Connecticut. According to a survey, only in two states — Alaska and Connecticut — do schools tend to start after 8.30 am, the earliest recommended by many medical organizations. That may soon change. On October 13th California’s governor signed a law which cuts 2.7 million of the state’s schoolchildren some slack, setting a limit on starting times of half past eight for high-schoolers and eight o'clock for middle schoolers, in the hope that pupils will benefit from the extra time in bed.
There is plenty of reason to think they will. During puberty (发育期), adolescents are more alert in the afternoon and require more sleep in the morning. A research finds that later school starting times are in line with improved attendance, less tardiness (迟延), less falling asleep in class, better grades. It is estimated that moving to a half-past eight start across the country would boost the economy by more than $80 billion within a decade.
In response to the evidence, school districts across the country have begun to move start times back, but California is the first state to take the leap. Parents and unions are often bitterly opposed. The California Teachers Association fiercely resisted the change, citing the financial burden on schools as they adjust to the new hours, as well as the burden on parents who work as laborers or in the service industry. Last year the former governor, Jerry Brown, refused similar legislation (立法), saying the decision should be left to school destricts.
Supporters argue that it is appropriate for the state to set a minimum health-and-welfare standard. Anthony Portanino, who introduced the legislation, believes evidence of the change’s benefits will soon win over opponents in rural areas. “There really is no significant reason not to do this,” he says, “other than an overwhelming resistance to change from adults.” Which is an attitude many teenagers will be wearily familiar with.
1. What is the purpose of the law California’s governor signed On October 13th?| A．To make sure students get enough sleep. |
| B．To reduce the financial burden on schools. |
| C．To ensure that parents go to work on time. |
| D．To relieve traffic pressure during rush hours. |
| A．Many medical organizations recommend school should start before 8:30am. |
| B．Moving start times forward benefits the country greatly in the long run. |
| C．Teachers are optimistic about the change which can relieve their burden. |
| D．Later school starting times make a difference to students’ performance. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Supportive. | C．Unconcerned. | D．Opposed. |
2 . Too many deaths and injuries occur while mobile phones are being held. Tougher new laws will come into force in a further severe action on using a mobile phone behind the wheel from next year.
It is already illegal to text or make a phone call, other than in an emergency, using a hand-held device while driving. From 2022, laws will go further to ban drivers from using their phones to take photos or videos, or play games. This will mean anyone caught using their hand-held device while driving will face a 
fixed penalty notice and six points on their license. Drivers will still be able to continue using a device “hands-free” while driving, if it’s secured in a cradle (支架).
The government will also revise The Highway Code to explain the new measures. It will also be more precise about some facts, making it clear that hand-held mobile phone use at traffic lights or in motorway jams is illegal except in very limited circumstances.
There will be an exemption (豁免) to the new law for drivers making a contactless payment using their mobile phone. This will cover, for example, places like a drive-through restaurant or a road toll, and will only apply when payment is being made with a card reader. Anyway, it will not allow drivers to make general online payments while driving.
Mary Williams, chief executive of Brake — the road safety charity, said, “If drivers take their attention away from driving, this can be deadly. Using a hand-held phone at the wheel is never worth the risk. This important road safety decision by government, along with Road Safety Week, is very welcomed. The theme for Road Safety Week is road safety heroes — we can all be road safety heroes by giving driving our full attention.”
1. The purpose of the passage is mainly to ________.| A．present some new findings about using a mobile phone behind the wheel |
| B．describe the relationship between road safety and driving with full attention |
| C．report new problems caused by drivers who use mobile phones while driving |
| D．introduce new laws that will go further to ban drivers from using mobile phones |
| A．Hand-held mobile phone use at traffic lights is always illegal. |
| B．Those using their hand-held devices while driving will be fined. |
| C．Younger drivers are more likely to use hand-held devices at the wheel. |
| D．Using phones to take photos or videos while driving will not be allowed. |
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. | C．Uninterested. | D．Objective. |
3 . Thirty-two cases of illegal hunting or trading wild animals have been uncovered involving 33 suspects since a crackdown against illegal wildlife trade was launched on April 10.
Beijing police seized 74 wild animals grouped in China into the first-grade and second-grade state protected animals, including African grey parrots and cockatoos, as well as nearly 50 wild birds and 21 pangolin scales.
On April 16, police in the capital city’s Chaoyang district caught two suspects, who were respectively identified as Liu and Wang, for buying wild animals, and recovered more than 40 wild birds, including one cockatoo and one African grey parrot, at their homes, the statement said, adding the two suspects have been detained (拘留).
In another case, a 35-year-old man surnamed Hu was also sentenced to imprisonment in Daxing district after he was found selling wild animals through QQ, a popular instant messaging tool in the country. He was caught on April 14.
The bureau highlighted the importance of protecting the wildlife, noting Chinese laws and a new decision adopted by the nation’s top legislature (立法机关) have also shown the country’s determination against illegal trade of wild animals.
The Chinese Criminal Law clarifies that those illegally hunting, buying, selling or transporting wild animals on the state protection list, endangered animals or the wildlife-related products will face an imprisonment of more than 10 years and fines if their behaviors are identified as “extremely serious”.
On Feb 24, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislative body, also passed the decision that clearly states all wildlife on the protection list of the existing Wild Animal Protect Law or other laws, and all wild animals, including those artificially bred and farmed, are not permitted to be hunted or traded.
With the strict crackdown campaign against illegal trade of wild animals on the go in Beijing, the whole nation is attaching great importance to wild life protection.
1. The author mentions the cases at the very beginning of the passage to ______ .| A．explain the new laws on wildlife protection |
| B．show the present situation of wildlife extinction |
| C．highlight the problem of illegal trade of wild animals |
| D．introduce Beijing’s campaign against illegal wildlife trade |
| A．The number of wild animals is decreasing sharply. |
| B．Hunting and trading wildlife has become a nationwide concern. |
| C．Effective actions have been taken to prevent wildlife from illegal trade. |
| D．The strong action to stop trading illegal wild animals has a long way to go. |
| A．serious actions of trading wild animals will face fierce punishment |
| B．people risk heavy fines but no imprisonment for trade of wildlife |
| C．the trade of wildlife-related products will receive no punishment |
| D．those who hunt illegally may face 10 years of imprisonment |
| A．Determined. | B．Hopeful. | C．Unconcerned. | D．Doubtful. |
