Every day 25 million U.S. children ride school buses. The safety record for these buses is much better than for passenger cars; but nevertheless, about 10 children are killed each year riding on large school buses, and nearly four times that number are killed outside buses in the loading zones. By and large, however, the nation’s school children are transported to and from school safely.
Even though the number of school bus accidents is not large, the safety of children is always of intense public concern. While everyone wants to see children transported safely, people are divided about what needs to be done-particularly whether seat belts should be compulsory.
People in favor of seat belts on school buses-many of them parents and medical organizations-argue that seat belts are necessary not only to reduce fatality and injury, but also to teach children lessons about the importance of using them routinely in any moving vehicle. A side benefit, they point out, is that seat belts help keep children in their seats, away from the bus driver.
People who object to seat belt installation suggest that children are already well protected by the school buses that follow the Nation Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) safety requirements set in 1977. They also believe that many children won’t wear seat belts anyway, and that may damage the belts or use them as weapons to hurt other children.
A new research council report on school bus safety suggest that there are alternate safety devices and procedures that may be more effective and less expensive. For example, the study committee suggested that raising seat backs four inches may have the same safety effectiveness as seat belts.
The report sponsored by the Department of transportation at the request of Congress, reviews seat belts extensively while taking a broader look at safety in and around school buses.
1.According to the passage, the “school bus” is _________.
A.the bus offered by the school and different from the public bus
B.the bus that has no difference from the public bus
C.the bus that is driven by the students
D.the bus that is not safe
2.According to the passage, who has the greatest degree of control of the school buses “safety”?
A.A new Research Council.
B.The Department of Transportation.
C.The Medical Organization.
D.National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
3.It may be inferred from this passage that __________.
A.many of the opponents(反对者) of seat belt installation are parents and officials of the Department of Transportation
B.proposals of seat belts on school buses would be seriously considered
C.an alternate safety device (raising seat backs four inches) may be taken into consideration
D.The Department of Transportation may either take the idea of seat belts or other measures when it reviews the whole situation
4.The title below which best expresses the idea of the passage is“_______”.
A.Making School Buses Even Safer for Children
B.Seat Belts Needed on School Buses
C.Alternate Safety Devices and Procedures
D.Safety in and around School Buses
5.What is the writer’ s attitude towards the safety of the school bus is _______.
A.Critical B.Negative C.Objective D.Indifferent
Stephen Hawking, one of the world’s smartest physicists, once said: “I’m obsessed by time.”Many of us are, and the popularity of time travel TV series has just proved that.
After Palace and Startling by Each Step 《步步惊心》achieved startling ratings last year, Palace 2 aired on January 20, attracting time travel fans back to TV.“It’s fun to watch characters travel back in time and deal with the conflicts between modernity and ancient times,” Xia Xiaoyan, who works for a foreign-owned enterprise in Shanghai, told China Daily. “Time travel series connect both today and the past, thus offering room for imagination,” said Cai Yinong, the producer of Startling by Each Step.
“I’m hooked by the shows because they are characterized by dramatic and poetic love and have eye-pleasing actors,” Xia explained her love for time travel TV series.Her comment echoes a 2011 survey by Great Marketing Research Co Ltd in China. When asked about what’s so appealing about time travel TV series, 21 percent of respondents answered: “Those attractive characters.”
A bigger reason behind the popularity of time travel stories, however, is the relaxation they offer, according to the survey.Cai Yinong agrees. “Many people are facing tremendous pressures in their fast-paced lives, so this genre is more relaxing than other shows as it provides people with a terrific outlet to escape reality,” Cai told China Daily.
The love for time traveling is universal.Woody Allen’s latest movie Midnight in Paris, which has been nominated for Best Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay and Art Direction for the 2012 Academy Awards, features modernity versus cultural nostalgia.
1.Which might be the best title for this passage ?
A.Time travel is universal B.Time travel TV series
C.A introduction to Startling by Each Step D.Time travel wins fans
2.The reasons why people like time travel are as followings except______.
A.It’s fun to watch characters travel back and deal with the conflicts between modernity and ancient times.
B.Time travel series offer room for imagination.
C.The characters are attractive.
D.After watching time travel series, you can escape reality.
3.Which word can replace the underlined word “hooked” in the third paragraph.
A.pleased B.moved C.attracted D.surprised
4.It can be inferred from the passage that________.
A.Stephen Hawking likes time travel TV series.
B.A bigger reason behind the popularity of time travel stories, however, is the relaxation they offer.
C.Not only Chinese audience but also foreigners like watching time travel stories.
D.Startling by Each Step has been nominated for Best Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay and Art Direction for the 2012 Academy Awards.
5.We can learn form what Cai Yinong said in the fourth paragraph that ________.
A.Everyone likes watching time travel stories.
B.Many people want to escape reality because of the pressures in their fast-paced lives.
C.Many people want to go back to the ancient times.
D.People can get more relaxation in the ancient times.
A boy was walking home from school when he saw a large, tempting (诱人的)apple on one of the branches of an apple tree hanging out over a tall fence. The boy wasn’t much of a fruit-eater, 41 a bar of chocolate if given the choice, 42 , as they say, the forbidden fruit can be tempting. Seeing the apple, the boy wanted it. The more he looked at it, the 43 he felt and the more he wanted that apple.
44 as high as he could , but even at his tallest 45 he was unable to touch it. He began to 46 up and down , as high as he could, at the 47 of each jump stretching his arms to get the apple . Still it remained out of 48 .
Not giving up , he thought , if only he had something to 49 on . His school bag wouldn’t give enough height and he didn’t want to 50 the things inside , like his lunch box , pencil case , and Game boy . Looking 51 , he hoped he might find an old box , a rock , or , 52 luck , even a ladder , but it was a tidy neighborhood and there was nothing he could use .
He had tried everything he could think to do . 53 seeing any other choices , he gave up and started to walk 54 . At first he felt angry and disappointed thinking about how hungry he had become from his 55 , and how he really wanted that apple . The more he 56 like this , the more unhappy he became.
57 ,the boy of our story was a pretty smart guy, even if he couldn’t always get what get he wanted .He started to say to himself .,This isn’t 58 , I don’t have the apple and I’m feeling miserable as well. There’s 59 more I can do to get the apple_that is unchangeable-but we are supposed to be able to 60 our feelings. If that’s the case, what can I do to feel better?
1. A.preferring B.offering C.receiving D.allowing
2. A.so B.then C.but D.or
3. A.sadder B.angrier C.hungrier D.tastier
4. A.expanding B.stretching C.swinging D.pulling
5. A.strength B.length C. range D.height
6. A.jump B.look C.walk D.glance
7. A.tip B.stage C.top D.level
8. A.hope B.hand C. sight D.reach
9. A.put B.stand C.get D.hold
10. A.break B. shake C.take D.strike
11. A.up B.forward C.down D.around
12. A.for B.with C.on D.of
13. A.After B.Through C.Without D.Upon
14. A.back B. away C.up D.down
15. A.wishes B. beliefs C.efforts D.goals
16. A.thought B. imagined C.tried D.claimed
17. A.Therefore B.However C.Moreover D.Otherwise
18. A.skillful B.cheerful C.harmful D.helpful
19. A.something B.anything C.everything D.nothing
20. A.change B.express C.forget D.describe
---What’s the matter with Della?
--- Well, her parents wouldn’t allow her to go to the party, but she still ______.
A.hopes to B.hopes so C.hopes not D.hopes for
---Linda didn’t invite us to the party.
— ______? I don’t care.
A.For what B.So what C.What’s on D.What’s up
There was such a long queue for coffee at the interval that we ________ gave up.
A.eventually B.unfortunately
C.generously D.purposefully