Buying insurance (保险) is a way in which people can protect themselves against large losses. Protection against fire is one kind of insurance. Large numbers of people pay small sums of money to an insurance company. Although thousands of people have paid for fire insurance, only a few will lose their homes by fire. The insurance company will pay for these homes out of the small sums of money it has collected.
The first modern fire insurance company was formed in London, England, in the 1760s. A great fire had just destroyed most of the city, and people wanted protection against further losses. The first company grew rapidly. Soon other companies were founded in other areas.
Benjamin Franklin helped form the first fire insurance company in America in 1752, and then a new kind of insurance for farmers was suggested. The new insurance would provide protection against the loss of crops from storms.
Later on another new insurance company was started in America. This company, which offered life insurance, collected small sums of money regularly from many different men. If a man died, his family was given a large sum of money.
Over the years, insurance companies have offered new kinds of insurance protection. The new kinds of insurance cover losses from such accidents as car and plane crashes. Today, most people have some kind of insurance.
1.Who helped set up the first company in America?
A. Benjamin Franklin. B. Businessmen.
C. The first insurance company in London. D. Farmers.
2.Insurance means ____.
A. Protection against the losses from the storms
B. protection against illness
C. Protection against accidents
D. all of the above
3.The first modern insurance company offered ____.
A. life insurance B. fire insurance C. a new kind of insurance D. both A and B
4.Why do most people buy some kind of insurance today?
A. Insurance will keep their homes from burning.
B. People can protect themselves against large losses.
C. Insurance will pay for safety.
D. The insurance companies grow rapidly.
Michel is a young girl who works for the police ____ a handwriting expert. She has helped ____ many criminals (罪犯) by using her special talents.
When she was fourteen, Michel was already ____ interested in the differences in her friends' ____ that she would spend hours ____ them. After ____ college she went to France for a ____ two-year class in handwriting at the School of Police Science.
Michel says that it is ____ for people to hide their handwriting. She can discover ____ of what she needs to know simply ____ looking at the writing with her own eyes, ____ she also has machines ____ help her make ____ different kinds of paper and ink. This knowledge is often ____ great help to the police.
Michel believes that handwriting is a good ____ of what kind of person the ____ is. "I wouldn't go out with a fellow ____ I didn't like his handwriting." She says. But she ____ she fell in love with her future husband, a young policeman ____ she studied his handwriting. It is later proved to be ____, however.
1.A. with B. by C. like D. as
2.A. search B. follow C. catch D. judge
3.A. so B. too C. quite D. extra
4.A. books B. letter C. tongues D. handwriting
5.A. writing B. studying C. settling D. uncovering
6.A. attending B. finishing C. starting D. stepping into
7.A. powerful B. natural C. special D. common
8.A. main B. safe C. easy D. impossible
9.A. most B. nothing C. little D. sight
10.A. with B. by C. of D. about
11.A. so B. for C. thus D. but
12.A. they B. in which C. that D. those
13.A. up B. out C. for D. into
14.A. of B. to C. with D. for
15.A. test B. sign C. means D. habit
16.A. thief B. criminal C. writer D. policeman
17.A. whether B. unless C. if D. after
18.A. adds B. tells C. repeats D. cries
19.A. before B. after C. shyly D. and
20.A. necessary B. all right C. important D. quite easy
—If people make small changes, like taking buses instead of driving cars, it will make a big difference.
—_____. Then the traffic will be much better.
A. That’s all right B. You are right
C. I don’t quite agree D. Oh, come off it
The thieves ran away as soon as the alarm _____.
A. gave off B. put off C. showed off D. went off
All the athletes competed _____ each other for gold medals in the Olympic Games.
A. against B. for C. between D. over
All his free time is _____ by charity work, but he feels it meaningful.
A. put up B. given up C. picked up D. taken up
