Long after the 1998 World Cup was won, disappointed fans were still cursing(咒骂) the disputed refereeing (裁判) decisions that denied victory to their team. A researcher was appointed to study the performance of some top referees.
The researcher organized an experimental tournament (锦标赛) involving four youth teams. Each match lasted an hour, divided into three periods of 20 minutes during which different referees were in charge.
Observers noted down the referees’ errors, of which there were 61 over the tournament. Converted to a standard match of 90 minutes, each referee made almost 23 mistakes, a remarkably high number.
The researcher then studied the videotapes to analyse the matches in detail. Surprisingly, he found that errors were more likely when the referees were close to the incident. When the officials got it right, they were, on average, 17 meters away from the action. The average distance in the case of errors was 12 meters. The research shows the optimum (最佳的) distance is about 20 meters.
There also seemed to be an optimum speed. Correct decisions came when the referees were moving at a speed of about 2 meters per second. The average speed for errors was 4 meters per second.
If FIFA, football's international ruling body, wants to improve the standard of refereeing at the next World Cup, it should encourage referees to keep their eyes on the action from a distance, rather than rushing to keep up with the ball, the researcher argues.
He also says that FIFA’s insistence that referees should retire at age 45 may be misguided. If keeping up with the action is not so important, their physical condition is less critical.
1.The experiment conducted by the researcher was meant to _______.
A. reexamine the rules for football refereeing
B. analyse the causes of errors made by football referees
C. set a standard for football refereeing
D. review the decisions of referees at the 1998 World Cup
2.The findings of the experiment show that _______.
A. errors are more likely when a referee keeps close to the ball
B. the farther the referee is from the incident, the fewer the errors
C. the more slowly the referee runs, the more likely will errors occur
D. errors are less likely when a referee stays in one spot
3.The word “officials” (Line 2, Para. 4) most probably refers to _______.
A. the researchers involved in the experiment
B. the inspectors of the football tournament
C. the referees of the football tournament
D. the observers at the site of the experiment
4.What is one of the possible conclusions of the experiment?
A. The ideal retirement age for an experienced football referee is 45.
B. Age should not be the chief consideration in choosing a football referee.
C. A football referee should be as young and energetic as possible.
D. An experienced football referee can do well even when in poor physical condition.
Many trees in the Brackham area were brought down in the terrible storms that March. The town itself lost two great lime trees from the former market square. The disappearance of such striking features had changed the appearance of the town centre entirely, to the annoyance of its more conservative inhabitants(居民).
Among the annoyed, under more normal circumstances, would have been Chief Inspector Douglas Pelham, head of the local police force. But at the height of that week's storm, when the wind brought down even the mature walnut tree in his garden, Pelham had in fact been in no fit state to notice. A large and healthy man, he had for the first time in his life been seriously ill with an attack of bronchitis.
When he first complained of an aching head and tightness in his chest, his wife, Molly, had tried to persuade him to go to the doctor. Convinced that the police force could not do without him, he had, as usual, ignored her and attempted to carry on working. Predictably, though he wouldn't have listened to anyone who tried to tell him so, this had the effect of fogging his memory and shortening his temper.
It was only when his colleague, Sergeant Lloyd, took the initiative and drove him to the doctor's door that he finally gave in. By that time, he didn't have the strength left to argue with her. In no time at all, she was taking him along to the chemist's to get his medicine and then home to his unsurprised wife who sent him straight to bed.
When Molly told him, on the Thursday morning, that the walnut tree had been brought down during the night, Pelham hadn’t been able to take it in. On Thursday evening, he had asked weakly about damage to the house, groaned(含糊不清地说) thankfully when he heard there was none, and pulled the sheets over his head.
It wasn't until Saturday, when the medicine took effect, his temperature dropped and he got up, that he realised with a shock that the loss of the walnut tree had made a permanent difference to the appearance of the living-room. The Pelhams' large house stood in a sizeable garden. It had not come cheap, but even so Pelham had no regrets about buying it. The leafy garden had created an impression of privacy. Now, though, the storm had changed his outlook.
Previously, the view from the living-room had featured the handsome walnut tree. This had not darkened the room because there was also a window on the opposite wall, but it had provided interesting patterns of light and shade that hid the true state of the worn furniture that the family had brought with them from their previous house.
With the tree gone, the room seemed cruelly bright, its worn furnishings exposed in all their shabbiness. And the view from the window didn’t bear looking at. The tall house next door, previously hidden by the tree, was now there, dominating the outlook with its unattractive purple bricks and external pipes. It seemed to have a great many upstairs windows, all of them watching the Pelhams' every movement.
“Doesn’t it look terrible?” Pelham whispered to his wife.
But Molly, standing in the doorway, sounded more pleased than dismayed. “That's what I’ve been telling you ever since we came here. We have to buy a new sofa, whatever it costs.”
1.Why were some people in Brackham annoyed after the storm?
A. No market could be held. B. The police had done little to help.
C. The town looked different. D. Fallen trees had not been removed.
2.In the third paragraph, what do we learn about Chief Inspector Pelham’s general attitude to his work?
A. He finds it extremely annoying. B. Не is sure that he plays an important role.
C. Не considers the systems are not clear enough.
D. He does not trust the decisions made by his superiors.
3.What aspect of the Pelhams’ furniture does “shabbiness” in paragraph 8 describe?
A. its condition. B. its colour. C. its position. D. its design.
4.As a result of the storm, the Pelhams’ living-room _____.
A. was pleasantly lighter B. felt less private
C. had a better view D. was in need of repair
5.Why did Molly sound pleased by her husband’s comment?
A. It proved that he was well again. B. She agreed about the tree.
C. She thought he meant the sofa. D. It was what she expected him to say.
A person named Bernard Jackson today is a free man, but he has many bitter memories. He spent five years in prison after a jury (陪审团) wrongly convicted (判处……有罪) him of raping two women. At Jackson’s trial, although two witnesses testified that Jackson was with them in another location at the time of the crime, he was convicted anyway. Why? The jury believed the testimony (证词) of the two victims, who positively identified Jackson as the man who had attacked them. The court eventually freed Jackson after the police found the real criminal.
Many factors influence the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. For instance, witnesses sometimes see photographs of several suspects before they try to identify the person they saw in a group of people. They can become confused by seeing many photographs of similar faces. The number of people in the group, and whether it is a person or a photograph, may also affect a witness’s decision. People sometimes have difficulty identifying people of other races. The questions the police ask witnesses also have an effect on them.
Many people believe that police officers are more reliable than ordinary people. Psychologists decided to test this idea, and they discovered that it is not true. Two psychologists showed a film of crimes to both police officers and civilians. The psychologists found no difference between the police and the civilians in correctly remembering the details of the crimes.
Despite all the possibilities for inaccuracy, courts cannot leave out eyewitness testimony from a trial. American courts depend almost completely on eyewitness testimony to resolve (决定) court cases. Sometimes it is the only evidence to a crime, such as rape. Furthermore, eyewitness testimony is often correct. Although people do sometimes make mistakes, and convict innocent people, more importantly, eyewitness testimony has rightly convicted a larger number of guilty people.
American courts depend on the ability of the twelve jurors, and not the judges, to determine the accuracy of the witness’s testimony. It is their responsibility to decide if a certain witness could actually see, hear and remember what happened.
1.Bernard Jackson was found guilty and sentenced 5 years’ prison because .
A．the police discovered evidence leading to his guilt
B．he admitted the crime of raping two women
C．the victims insisted that he was the attacker
D．the eyewitness proved the victims’ testimony
2.The following statements may be the reasons for why sometimes the eyewitness’ testimony is not accurate EXCEPT .
A．the eyewitness is confused by the police’s questions
B．the eyewitness is shown photos of many similar faces
C．the eyewitness lacks the professional help from police
D．the eyewitness can’t identify people of other races clearly
3.An inaccurate eyewitness testimony may lead to .
A．the misunderstanding of the case B．the disbelief in the court
C．the disrespect for the eyewitness D．the conviction of an innocent person
4.Eyewitness testimony is important because .
A．it can be relied on to detect criminals in all cases.
B．it is sometimes the only way to resolve court cases.
C．it is sometimes the only clue for police investigation.
D．it is more reliable than physical evidences to a crime.
5.According to the text, we can infer that .
A．police identification is more reliable than that of the ordinary people
B．eyewitness testimony is valuable, though sometimes incorrect.
C．crime victims often fail to give positive identification of the suspects
D．the jury relies on the judge rather than the eyewitness for a decision
Russ was a lovable kid with a variety of communication challenges---a speech impediment (语言障碍), dyslexia (诵读困难), and auditory problems. __41__ today he is walking confidently, standing tall to make an acceptance __42__ for having been chosen one of the “Outstanding Young Citizens” in Ocean County, New Jersey __43__ his remarkable volunteer service in the town of Toms River.
As I listened, I closed my eyes. I found myself __44__ those memorable moments. My mind was full of warm images of Russ as a loving, caring youth, a gentle soul, __45__ his challenges. And now, as he stood at the platform, I knew his heart __46__ be racing. As Russ continued to speak, I thought about the fateful day when he was diagnosed with all those impairments(损伤) and how __47__ his tutors would be if they could see him today. Here he was at twenty-nine, being honored for ten years of service as a volunteer __48__. Russ was __49__ for organizing clothing for the homeless, teaching preschool children about fire safety, and for playing Santa Claus for very sick children by driving up in a fire truck.
Russ thanked his parents for providing him with dignity and for teaching him about morals. Then, pausing for a few seconds, he __50__ us by surprise by touching lovingly on the __51__ of his nephew, Austin. Austin was just three years old when he died from an incurable disease. At that moment, I had to close my eyes again __52__ a different set of tears ran down my cheeks. A silence __53__ the room as Russ owed his volunteer award to Austin. He __54__ his address by lifting the audience up with these words, “Austin taught me how to love.”
I have never thought of this day. __55__, no one had ever thought that Russ would make __56__ as the star of the football team, and he had never been voted “most likely to succeed,” but he __57__ to be a true “star” in his community. Russ became a man of strong character __58__ his unselfish service to others. With so many impairments, Russ now sees and acts __59__ with his heart. His words and deeds inspire everyone who knows him. It is Russ, our son, who has shown us what __60__ is.
1.A. And B. While C. As D. But
2.A. point B. speech C. call D. appeal
3.A. in spite of B. regardless of C. because of D. in face of
4.A. recalling B. recording C. seizing D. expecting
5.A. putting up with B. concerning about C. escaping from D. facing up to
6.A. could B. must C. would D. might
7.A. nervous B. excited C. proud D. surprised
8.A. policeman B. tailor C. fireman D. tutor
9.A. grateful B. responsible C. anxious D. fit
10.A. took B. got C. shocked D. moved
11.A. birth B. achievement C. loss D. disease
12.A. since B. after C. when D. before
13.A. dropped down B. fell over C. took off D. got up
14.A. concluded B. wrote C. delivered D. started
15.A. Generally B. Surprisingly C. Actually D. However
16. A. it B. him C. one D. that
17.A. happened B. rose C. appeared D. reduced
18.A. at B. on C. by D. in
19.A. cautiously B. generously C. closely D. clearly
20.A. sharing B. love C. sacrifice D. confidence
It may be fairly cheap to buy, but you’ve got to ______ the money you’ll spend on repairs.
A. take charge of B. take into account C. take advantage of D. take the place of
If you ____ the bottle and cigarettes, you’ll be much healthier.
A. keep up B. keep on C. keep to D. keep off
