Federal regulators Wednesday approved a plan to create a nationwide emergency alert (警报) system using text messages delivered to cell phones.
Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly among young people. The wireless industry’s trade association, CTIA, estimates (估计) more than 48 billions text messages are sent each month.
The plan comes from the Warning Alter and Response Network Act, a 2006 federal law that requires improvement to the nation’s emergency alter system. The act tasked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with coming up with new ways to alter the public about emergencies.
“The ability to deliver accurate and timely warning and alters through cell phone and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families before, and during, disasters and other emergencies,” FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan.
Participation in the alter system by carriers — telecommunication companies — is voluntary, but it has received solid support from the wireless industry.
The program would be optional for cell phone users. They also may not be charged for receiving alters.
There would be three types of messages, according to the rules.
The first would be a national alter from the president, likely involving a terrorists attack or natural disaster. The second would involve “approaching threats,” which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or storms or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction (绑架)emergencies, or so-called Amber Alerts.
The service could be in place by 2010.
1.What is the purpose of the approval plan?
A. To warn people of emergencies via message.
B. To popularize the use of cell phone.
C. To estimate the monthly number of messages.
D. To promote the wireless industry.
2.The improvement to the present system is in the charge of ______.
A. CTLA. B. the Warning Alert and Response Network
C. FCC D. federal regulators
3.The carriers’ participation in the system is determined by _______.
A. the US federal government B. mobile phone users
C. the carriers themselves D. the law of the United States
4.Which of the following is true of cell phone users?
They must accept the alert service.
B. They may enjoy the alert service for free.
C. They must send the alerts to others.
D. They may choose the types of messages.
5.An alert message will NOT be sent if __________.
A. a child loses his way B. a university shooting happens
C. a natural disaster happens D, a terrorist attack occurs
6.Which of the following would be the best title for the test?
A. Cell Phone Alerts Protecting Students
B. Cell Phone Alerts by Wireless Industry
C. Cell Phone Alerts Natural Disasters
D. Cell Phone Alerts Coming Soon
Young adult filmmakers all hope to show their works in international festivals like Sundance and Toronto. But what about really young filmmakers who aren’t in film school yet and aren’t, strictly speaking, eve adults?
They are at the heart of Wingspan Arts Film Festival tomorrow, in a setting any director might envy: Lincoln center. Complete with “red carpet” interviews and various awards, the festival has much in common with events for more experienced moviemakers, except for the age of the participants: about 8 to 18.
“What’s really exciting is that it’s film for kids by kids,” said Cori Gardner, managing director of Wingspan Arts, a nonprofit organization offering youth arts programs in the New York area. This year the festival will include films not only from Wingspan but also from other city organizations and one from a middle school in Arlington, Virginia. “We want to make this a national event,” Ms. Gardner added.
The nine shorts to b shown range from a Claymation biography of B.B. King to a science fiction adventure set in the year 3005. “Alot of the material is really mature,” Ms. Gardner said, talking about films by the New York branch of Global Action Project, a media arts and leadership-training group. “The choice is about the history of a family and Master Anti-Smoker is about the dangers of secondhand smoke.” Dream of the Invisibles describes young immigrants’ (移民) feelings of both belonging and not belonging in their adopted country.
The festival will end with an open reception at which other films will be shown. These include a music video and a full-length film whose title is Pressure.
1.Wingspan Arts Kids Film Festival _____________.
A. is organized by a middle school
B. is as famous as the Toronto Festival
C. shows films made by children
D. offers awards to film school students
2.Which of the following is true of Wingspan Arts?
A. It helps young filmmakers to make money.
B. It provides arts projects for young people.
C. It’s a media arts and leadership-training group.
D. It’s a national organization for young people.
3.The underlined word “shorts” in Paragraph 4 refers to _________.
A. short trousers B. short kids C. short films D. short stories
4.Movies to be shown in the festival ______________.
A. cover different subjects B. focus on kid’s life
C. are produced by Global Action Project D. are directed by Ms. Gardner
5.At the end of this film festival, there will be __________.
A. various awards B. “red carpet” interviews
C. an open reception D. a concert at Lincoln Cent er
阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,然后从各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
On August 26, 1999, New York City was struck by a terrible rainstorm. The rain caused the streets __1___ and the subway system almost came to a stop.
Unfortunately, this happened during the morning rush hour. Many people who were going to work were __2__ to go home. Some battled to __3__a taxi or to get on a bus. Still others faced the ___4___ bravely, walking miles to get to work.
I ___5__ to be one of people on the way to work that morning. I went from subway line to subway line only to find that most _6__ had stopped. After making my way __7__ crowds of people. I finally found a subway line that was __8___. Unfortunately, there were so many people waiting to __9__ the subway that I could not even get down the stairs to the ___10__. So I took the train going in the opposite direction, and then switched back to the downtown train. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the train __11__ my stop. Then I had to walk several blocks in the increasingly heavy rain. When I got to my office, I was _12___ through, exhausted and __13__.
My co-workers and I spend most of the day drying off. When it was 5:00 pm, I was ready to go home. I was about to turn off my computer __14__I received an email from Garth, my Director:
I would like to thank all of you who made the effort and __15__ reported to work. It is always reassuring (令人欣慰), at times like these, when employees so clearly show their _16__ _to their jobs. Thank you.
Garth’s email was short, but I learned more from that ___17__ message than I ever did from a textbook. The email taught me that a few words of __18__ can make a big difference. The rainstorm and the traffic __19___ had made me tired and upset. But Garth’s words immediately __20____ me and put a smile back on my face.
1.A. break B. flood C. sink D, crash
2.A. forced B. refused C. adjusted D. gathered
3.A. order B. pay C. call D. search
4.A. climate B. scenery C. storm D. burden
5.A. used B. promised C. deserved D. happened
6.practice B. routine C. process D. service
7.A. to B. through C. over D. for
8.A. operating B. cycling C. turning D. rushing
9.A. check B. carry C. find D. board
10.A. street B. ground C. floor D. platform
11.A. paused B. crossed C. reached D. parked
12.A. wet B. weak C. sick D. hurt
13.A. ashamed B. discouraged C. surprised D. puzzled
14.A, while B. when C. where D. after
15.A. hardly B. casually C. absolutely D. eventually
16.A. devotion B. donation C. connection D. reaction
17.A, accurate B. urgent C. brief D. humorous
18.A. promise B. appreciate C. advice D. guidance
19.A. troubles B. signals C. rules D. signs
20.A. corrected B. supported C. amazed D. refreshed
Lucy’s new job paid twice as much as she had made ____ in the restaurant.
A. working B. work C. to work D. worked
I bought a dress for you only 10 dollars in a sale; it was a real _____.
A. exchange B. bargain C. trade D. business
Would it be ____for you to pick me up at four o’clock and take me to the airport?
A. free B. vacant C. handy D. convenient