MONTREAL (Reuters) – Crossing the US-Canada border(边界)to go to church on a Sunday cost a US citizen $10,000 for breaking Washington’s strict new security(安全)rules.
The expensive trip to church was a surprise for Richard Albert, who lives right on the Canadian border. Like the other half-dozen people of Township 15, crossing the border is a daily occurrence for Albert. The nearby Quebec village of St. Pamphile is where they shop, eat and go to church.
There are many such situations in these areas along the largely unguarded 5,530-mile border between Canada and the US-which in some cases actually runs down the middle of streets or through buildings.
As a result, Albert says he did not expect any problems three weeks ago when he returned home to the US after attending church in Canada, as usual. The US customs(海关)station in this
are is closed on Sundays, so be just drove around the locked gate, as he had done every weekend since the gate appeared last May, following a tightening of border security. Two days later. Albert was told to go to the customs office, where an officer told him be had been caught on camera crossing the border illegally(非法).
Ottawa has given out special passes to some 300 US citizens in that area so they can enter the country when Canadian customs stations are closed, but the US stopped a similar program last May. That forces the people to a 200-mile detour along hilly roads to get home through another border checkpoint.
Albert has requested that the customs office change their decisions on the fine, but he has not attended a Sunday church since. “I feel like I’m living in a prison,” he said.
1.We learn from the text that Richard Albert is .
A. an American living in Township 15
B. a Canadian living in a Quebec village
C. a Canadian working in a customs station
D. an American working in a Canadian church
2.Albert was fined because he .
A. failed to obey traffic rules B. broke the American security rules
C. worked in St. Pamphile without a pass D. damaged the gate of the customs office
3.The underlined word “detour” in paragraph 5 means .
A. a drive through the town B. a race across the fields
C. a roundabout way of travelling D. a journey in the mountain area
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A. A Cross-country Trip B. A Special Border Pass
C. An Unguarded Border D. An Expensive Church Visit
Pet owners are being encouraged to take their animals to work, a move scientists say can be good for productivity , workplace morale (士气), and the well-being of animals .
A study found that 25% of Australian women would like to keep an office pet. Sue Chaseling of Petcare information Service said the practice of keeping office pets was good both for the people and the pets. “On the pets’ side, they are not left on their own and won’t feel lonely and unhappy,” she said. A study of major US companies showed that 73% found office pets beneficial (有益的) , while 27% experienced a drop in absenteeism (缺勤).
Xarni Riggs has two cats walking around her Global Hair Salon in Paddington. “My customers love them. They are their favorites,” she said. “They are not troublesome. They know when to go and have a sleep in the sun.”
Little black BJ has spent nearly all his two years “working” at Punch Gallery in Balmain. Owner Iain Powell said he had had cats at the gallery for 15 years. “BJ often lies in the shop window and people walking past tap on the glass,” he said.
Ms Chaseling said cats were popular in service industries because they enabled a point of conversation. But she said owners had to make sure both their co-workers and the cats were comfortable.
1.The percentage of American companies that are in favor of keeping office pets is .
A. 73% B. 27% C. 25% D. 15%
2.We know from the text that “BJ”
A. works in the Global Hair Salon B. often greets the passers-by
C. likes to sleep in the sun D. is a two-year-old cat
3.The best title for this text would be .
A. Pets Help Attract Customers B. Your Favorite Office Pets
C. Pets Join the Workforce D. Busy Life for Pets
阅读下面短文,撑握其大意,然后从各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项
One afternoon I was sitting at my favorite table in a restaurant, waiting for the food I had ordered to arrive. Suddenly I 1that a man sitting at a table near the window kept glancing in my direction, 2he knew me. The man had a newspaper 3in front of him, which he was 4to read, but I could 5that he was keeping an eye on me . when the waiter brought my 6the man was clearly puzzled (困惑) by the 7way in which the waiter and I 8each other . He seemed even more puzzled as 9went on and it became 10that all the waiters in the restaurant knew me. Finally he got up and went into the 11. When he came out, he paid his bill and 12without another glance in my direction.
I called the owner of the restaurant and asked what the man had 13. “Well,” he said , “that man was a detective (侦探) . He 14you here because he thought you were the man he 15.” “What?” I said, showing my 16. The owner continued, “He came into the kitchen and showed me a photo of the wanted man. I 17say he looked very much like you! Of course, since we know you, we told him that he had made a 18.” “Well, it’s really 19I came to a restaurant where I’m known,” I said. “ 20, I might have been in trouble .”
1.A. knew B. understood C. noticed D. recognized
2.A. since B. even if C. though D. as if
3.A. flat B. open C. cut D. fixed
4.A. hoping B. thinking C. pretending D. continuing
5.A. see B. find C. guess D. learn
6.A. menu B. bill C. paper D. food
7.A. direct B. familiar C. strange D. funny
8.A. chatted with B. looked at C. laughed at D. talked about
9.A. the waiter B. time C. I D. the dinner
10.A. true B. hopeful C. clear D. possible
11.A. restaurant B. washroom C. office D. kitchen
12.A. left B. acted C. sat down D. calmed down
13.A. wanted B. tried C. ordered D. wished
14.A. met B. caught C. followed D. discovered
15.A. was to beat B. was dealing with C. was to meet D. was looking for
16.A. care B. surprise C. worry D. regret
17.A. must B. can C. need D. may
18.A. discovery B. mistake C. decision D. fortune
19.A. a pity B. natural C. a chance D. lucky
20.A. Thus B. However C. Otherwise D. Therefore
The chairman thought necessary to invite Professor Smith to speak at the meeting.
A. that B. it C. this D. him
The coffee is wonderful! It doesn’t taste like anything I before.
A. was having B. have C. have ever had D. had ever had
The hero’s story differently in the newspapers.
A. was reported B. was reporting C. reports D. reported