Today, air travel is far safer than driving a car on a busy motor-way. But still there is a danger that grows every year. Airliners get larger and larger. Some airplanes can carry over 300 passengers. And the air itself becomes more and more crowded. If one large airliner struck into another in midair, 600 lives could be lost.
From the moment an airliner takes off to the moment it lands, every movement is watched on radar screens. Air traffic controllers tell the pilot exactly when to turn, when to climb, and when to come down.
The air traffic controllers around a busy airport like London-Heathrow may deal with 2,500 planes a day. Not all of them actually land at the airport. Any plane that flies near the airport comes under the orders of the controllers there. Even a small mistake on their part could cause a terrible accident.
Recently such a disaster almost happened. Two large jets were flying towards the airport. One was carrying 69 passengers from Toronto, the other 176 passengers from Chicago. An air traffic controller noticed on his radar screen that the two planes were too close to each other. He ordered one to turn to the right and to climb. But he made a mistake. He ordered the wrong plane to do this. So, instead of turning away from the second plane, the first plane turned towards it. Fifteen seconds later it flew directly in front of the second plane. They avoided(避免) each other by the smallest part of a second. The distance between them was less than that of a large swimming pool. This is an example of the danger that grows every year.
1.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Traveling by air is as safe as by car
B. Traveling by air is not as safe as by car
C. Traveling by car is as dangerous as by air
D. Traveling by car is more dangerous than by air
2.The air traffic controllers of an airport .
A. control all the planes flying near the airport
B. give orders to planes leaving the airport
C. only deal with the planes that want to land there
D. are allowed to handle 250 planes a day
3.The danger of air crashes grows every year because .
A. airliners are getting larger and air traffic is becoming heavier
B. a pilot does not always hear a controller's order
C. a controller is likely to make more and more mistakes
D. airports can hardly serve the growing number of airplanes
4.The example in the passage is to show that .
A. air traffic controllers are often careless
B. air traffic controllers should pay much attention to avoiding accidents
C. it is difficult for airplanes to avoid terrible accidents
D. two planes should not fly too close to each other
Phillida Eves and her husband Tedd Hamilton weren't unhappy living in the Galway countryside with their sons, Cian and Oisín, and their daughter, Soracha. "We had a lovely home, a car, lots of friends, and weekends sailing our boat," says Phillida. "But there's a line from a poem that goes: 'Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?' That says it all for me. We felt there was more to life."
So they quit their jobs, took their sons, then aged six and nine, out of school and went to southern Spain where they bought a 15-metre yacht(游艇) and headed up the coast to Barcelona. Soracha was not even three. And they brought along Poppy, the family dog. Now, two and a half years and 10,000 km later, they don't intend to stop. Tedd is a yacht engineer and can find work in ports. But, says Phillida, a supply teacher (代课老师), "Any family could do this."
The children are home-schooled using a correspondence course (函授课程). "My son had a recent project on the weather. The weather is crucial to us. My son knows more than most adults about weather systems, compasses, maps and directions. The weather, for him, means life or death."
Other subjects have become equally vivid. "They're living geography and history all the time. We've sailed round Italy, Sardinia, Sicily, and seen tiny islands we didn't know. The kids learned about ancient Romans by visiting Rome."
But what about social development? Again, Phillida is sanguine. "The children have become much more socially confident since we set out. They play with tons of families of all nationalities on other boats we meet."
Living for the moment, they believe, is a huge life lesson. "Our children never say they're bored." The other day they stopped mid-ocean and the kids swam, 110 km from land. "That's the kind of freedom we want for them," says Phillida. "That's the kind of freedom they've got."
1.The couple quit their jobs and took their children traveling because .
A. their children wanted to make friends of all nationalities
B. they wanted to experience more in their lives
C. their children wanted complete freedom
D. they were unhappy with their lives
2.The underlined word "sanguine" in Paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to " ".
A. patient B. curious
C. excited D. optimistic
3.The author describes the children's home schooling by .
A. using examples
B. making comparisons
C. following the order of importance
D. describing the changes in space order
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Central Park Outside among the trees, watch the wildlife—both the human and animal varieties. Call(212) 360-3465 or (212) 360-2726 for daily events and tours. Central Park stretches from 59th to 110th Sts., and from 5th Ave. to Central Park West. |
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Empire State Building This is among the most striking buildings in the city, the nation, even the world. The observation deck (瞭望台) on the 86th floor is open to the general public, offering a wonderful view of the city. On the second floor you'll find the New York Skyride, a simulate helicopter ride over Manhattan. 5th Ave. at 34th St., Midtown: (212) 736-3100 |
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Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum Five blocks west of Time Square, this museum has hundreds of air, deep-sea and space exhibits. Walk the flight deck of the 900-foot-long aircraft carrier Intrepid, see dozens of old and modern aircraft and ride the Intrepid Navy Flight Simulator. Pier 86, W. 46th St. and 12th Ave.: (212)245-0072 |
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Madison Square Garden If it's big, it probably happens at the Garden. Check out sporting events, concerts and much more. Tours are available. 7th Ave., btwn. 31st and 33rd Sts., Midtown: (212)465-6741 |
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1.The New York Skyride is for .
A. sightseeing B. flight training
C. model plane sports D. city transportation
2.If a visitor is interested in music, he will probably go to .
A. Central Park B. Empire State Building
C. Intrepid Sea-Air-Space museum D. Madison Square Garden
3.What is the purpose of these texts?
A. To provide information of living in New York.
B. To provide directions of city traffic in New York.
C. To give visitors a guide to New York.
D. To give a brief introduction to the history of New York.
I have spent years of my life traveling all over the world. When I arrive in a new country or city, usually I am very __________ and go to bed early. For this __________ my first day or night in any __________ place is always quiet and very little happens. __________ my first night in Algeciras was very different. That night was very __________ and unusual.
At that time __________ in Southern Spain was a dirty and badly looked __________ city. I arrived late in the __________ by boat. As soon as I got off the __________, I went to look for a __________. I found a small one not far from the quay(码头).
This hotel looked __________ and untidy from the outside. I was very tired and did not know my __________ around the city of Algeciras, so I decided to stay in this __________ hotel on the quay. I also decided to stay in this hotel for __________ reason. The moon was full and it was a clear, __________ night. From the hotel I could __________ at the sea. I could see the huge rock of Gibraltar in the bright __________.
The hotel had a narrow __________ and no name. When I __________ this doorway, I had to climb up narrow and dark stairs to the first floor. I __________ a small cup-board with desk in front of it. This was the hotel office.
1.A. unhealthy B. excited C. tired D. careless
2.A. way B. reason C. research D. journey
3.A. big B. new C. old D. small
4.A. So B. Because C. And D. But
5.A. ordinary B. dark C. free D. strange
6.A. Gibraltar B. Algeciras C. Madrid D. New Delhi
7.A. after B. for C. at D. back
8.A. morning B. evening C. afternoon D. spring
9.A. bus B. boat C. plane D. train
10.A. guide B. driver C. hotel D. dinner
11.A. clean B. dirty C. beautiful D. interesting
12.A. friend B. address C. effort D. way
13.A. small B. large C. expensive D. funny-looking
14.A. another B. one C. no D. some
15.A. dark B. cloudy C. bright D. rainy
16.A. look down B. look up C. look after D. look for
17.A. sky B. night C. space D. moonlight
18.A. bedroom B. doorway C. stairs D. door
19.A. went through B. painted C. walked out D. pointed out
20.A. came to B. walked for C. went out of D. escaped from
Five policemen rode past on their motorbikes, then came the television broadcasting car and the runner.
A. at the last B. in the end
C. finally D. to the final
I am to set out as early as possible since time is limited.
A. decided B. determined
C. minded D. suggested
