Chilean rescued miner Edison Pena ran the New York City Marathon on November 7th , less than a month after he was rescued from a collapsed (坍塌的) mine that trapped him and the other 32 miners for 69 days. Pena ran 10 km daily through the mine’s tunnels (巷道) to beat the anxiety, wearing cut-down boots until rescuers sent him a pair of sports shoes through a narrow hole that served as the miners’ “lifeline” to the surface.
“When I ran in the darkness, I was running for life,” Pena told a news conference in New York. “I was running to show that I wasn’t just waiting around. I also wanted God to see that I really wanted to live.” The miners were discovered alive on August 22---17 days after the mine collapsed, but it took many more days for rescuers to dig a hole big enough to bring them out.
The New York Road Runners, which organizes the marathon, had invited Edison Pena to the event after hearing his story. They thought he could ride in the lead vehicle or hold the finish line tape, but Pena said last week he did not want to watch, he wanted to run. “I was very eager to take on this big challenge,” he said. “I wanted to show the world I could run.” He hoped to run the 26.2-mile race in about six hours. “I have a knee injury, but I am eager to cross the finish line,” he said.
An Elvis Presley fan who asked rescuers to send the singer’s music down into the mine, Pena broke into song at the news conference with the Presley hit Return to Sender.
On the morning of November 7th, Pena, known as “the runner” by fellow miners trapped with him, set out to cover the course along with thousands of other runners and completed the race in five hours and 40 minutes.
1.When trapped underground, Pena ran a long way every day to _______.
A. find a way to get out B. dig a lifeline to the ground
C. keep himself from coldness D. get rid of his uneasy feelings
2. According to the passage, Pena _______.
A. was not expected to run the marathon at first
B. failed to achieve the goal he had set for the marathon
C. wore sports shoes while working underground
D. was asked to sing a Presley’s song at a news conference
3. During the rescue of the Chilean trapped miners, the digging of the escape hole lasted about _________.
A. 17 days B. 22 days C. 52 days D. 69 days
4.Pena can be best described as _________.
A. smart-minded B. strong-willed C. hard-working D. warm-hearted
While most students in the USA are worrying about getting into their dream universities, others worry about a bigger problem. Students brought to the USA illegally, who have to leave a 36 on applications that need their Social Security number, know they will not be accepted 37 their outstanding grades and performance. The young immigrants 38 from the U.S. school system, but only up through high school. Their education often 39 there due to a 1996 federal law that bans states from offering in-state tuition rate(学费) to illegal immigrants 40 the state also offers it to all U.S. citizens. However, there may be some hope because of the DREAM Act, which will be voted on in Congress (国会).
The DREAM Act is a/an 41 aid program for the young illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. before they were 16. Those who apply for this program can get 42 and temporary residing (居住) status, which can be changed, once 43 , to a green card after six years. These immigrants can then use their newly acquired status to seek green cards for their 44 . In this way, it can also provide citizenship for the illegal foreigners who brought their children to the US.
“I don’t live in fear of being driven out of this 45 ,” says Juan, a high school junior born in Mexico. “I live a normal life here 46 that now everyone is getting their driver’s license, and I can’t.”
Juan came to the U.S. with his mother and older brother at eight. He is hoping for the DREAM Act to be 47 . While he admits that there is no obvious prejudice in high school, Juan 48 faces unfair racial treatment.
“It 49 me when people joke around and ask me for my green card,” Juan explains. “I 50 , but deep down I know they are offending me for 51 I have no control over. I was born in Mexico, but my 52 is here.”
His brother now attends a community (社区) college and plans to enter a university. Juan hopes to take a 53 path. “For long, I have no 54 that I can go to university” Juan says. “I know it’s going to be hard, but as long as I stay in this country, I have a/an 55 .”
1. A. blank B. track C. name D. message
2. A. because of B. instead of C. in terms of D. regardless of
3. A. suffer B. benefit C. learn D. graduate
4. A. stops B. begins C. continues D. changes
5. A. if B. until C. unless D. after
6.A. legal B. international C. seasonal D. educational
7. A. low B. conditional C. stable D. regular
8. A. denied B. lost C. bought D. earned
9.A. children B. parents C. friends D. relatives
10. A. school B. program C. system D. country
11.A. with B. in C. except D. now
12.A. introduced B. discussed C. passed D. corrected
13.A. almost B. still C. even D. only
14. A. bothers B. worries C. confuses D. surprises
15. A. laugh B. cry C. shout D. sigh
16. A. everything B. nothing C. something D. anything
17. A. success B. origin C. life D. experience
18. A. similar B. right C. different D. direct
19. A. confidence B. idea C. interest D. doubt
20. A. attempt B. chance C. dream D.choice
—Next Monday is my birthday.
—Is that so? ________
A. I can’t believe my ears. B. I’m so glad to hear that. C. What presents do you want? D. Many happy returns of the day!
On July 1st, 1921, the red boat on South Lake in Jiaxing ________ the birth of the Communist Party of China,
which marked a new start for Chinese people.
A. witnessed B. gave C. experienced D. founded
Scientists have discovered amazing evidence showing how the human body rebuilds _______ while we sleep.
A. us B. ourselves C. it D. itself
—Why didn’t you remind him of the possible danger?
—But what _______ otherwise? He never listens to me.
A. could I do B. could I have done C. should I do D. must I have done
