At 17, Mark Merwitzer might be Florida’s youngest lobbyist (游说者). The Miami high school junior appeals to authorities to keep drivers from texting behind the wheel.
Over the past year, the teen has met with county officials and state legislators (立法者)to argue that the police should be able to pull drivers over just for using their phones. Efforts in past years have struggled to advance, but recently, the bill got full support from the Senate Transportation Committee (参议院交通委员会).
Like many US people, Merwitzer has seen countless drivers texting behind the wheel. But last spring, while he was riding in the passenger seat of a vehicle, he saw drivers using smartphones in almost every car. A few drivers even appeared to lose control of their cars as they sped along. It dawned on (突然想到) Merwitzer that no one was doing anything to fix the problem.
We need to teach drivers how to properly and safely use technology behind the wheel which is not using it at all,” said Merwitzer.
For the 17-year-old teenager, advocating a new state law has been a crazy experience.
In order to carry out his plan，he put his focus on drumming up (争取)local support by starting an online petition (请愿)and speaking to village councils,
Merwitzer said the first time he spoke at a council meeting “was a complete stutter fest (口吃表演)，” but he quickly adapted to it.
“It really creates some standards that help everybody realize the importance of keeping their eyes on the road,” said Miami-Dade Commissioner (专员)Levine Cava.
The commissioner has been so impressed with Merwitzer’s understanding of the political process. “He really learned very quickly how to be an effective citizen lobbyist,” she said.
So far, opposition to the bill has come mainly from police departments. Some are worried about the possibility of lawsuits (诉讼)if officers are accused of racially profiling (按种族形象定性) drivers when accusing them of texting and driving，Merwitzer said. The bill also has critics in the House, where lawmakers have yet to make plans for a hearing.
Merwitzer said he would one day like to be a state legislator, but in the meantime he has a few short-term goals, like finishing school and going to college. Once the legislative session (期间) is over, Merwitzer plans to turn his attention to another local problem: public transportation. “I’d like to focus on that，” Merwitzer said. “It seems like it’s a giant mess,”
1.What can we learn about Mark from the passage?
A. His struggle has succeeded.
B. He wants to go into politics.
C. He is crazy and determined.
D. He focuses on transportation.
2.Over the past year, Mark has done all the following EXCEPT ,
A. meeting with county officials
B. starting an online petition
C. speaking at council meetings
D. making plans for a hearing
3.Which of the following may be the best title of the passage?
A. Text drive ban in trouble
B. Text drive ban under way
C. Florida’s future legislator
D. Teen on text drive ban mission
Things a Bright Girl Can Do by Sally Nicholls, UK.
A hundred years ago, women had very few opportunities. Their role was to marry and raise children. Sally Nicholls, new novel is set in that time. Her main characters are three young London women. Evelyn is from a wealthy family, May is from a religious background, and Nell is a woman from a much poorer community. Though they are from, different backgrounds, they all become involved in the women’s suffrage(选举权)movement during World War 1(1914-1918).
Far From the Tree by Robin Benway, US
The New York Times reviewer called the book a “brilliant exercise in empathy (感同身受) It’s an unusual novel. It begins with a troubling event for the main character, Grace, a 16-year-old who loves chemistry and cross-country running. But when she finds that she has become pregnant, she chooses to give up her baby for adoption and has to deal with the pain that this causes her.
The situation is __________for her because Grace was once an orphan(孤儿)herself. She feels that she cannot turn to her adoptive parents for comfort and advice. Instead, she turns to her blood siblings (兄弟姐妹). But Grace soon finds that they are as troubled as she is, and that they are also keeping things to themselves that hurt too much to speak about.
Readers can expect to be moved by the characters and their situations, but also gain insight (理解)into modem family life in America.
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green, US
This novel has two principal teenage characters. Aza Holmes has a mental illness, which is a condition where a person does the same thing over and over, without being able to stop. Aza narrates (叙述)the novel, so we learn all about her from the inside out.
The second main character is Daisy, Aza’s friend. The two start an adventure to find a billionaire who has gone missing.
“This is my first attempt to write directly about the kind of mental illness that has affected my life since childhood, so while the story is fictional (虚构的)，it is also quite personal, ” said Green in a statement.
1.The writer uses this passage to .
A. introduce the books to readers
B. tell readers some stories
C. comment on the books
D. advertise the books
2.Which word can be filled in the blank in the passage?
A. positive B. dangerous
C. common D. complicated
3.Which of the following is NOT true about the three books?
A. The leading characters in the three novels are all young females.
B. John Green has suffered from mental illness since he was a child.
C. Things a Bright Girl Can Do mainly introduces World War I.
D. Far From the Tree reveals modern family life in America.
A 17-year-old girl was heading abroad, with her close relatives sending her off at the airport. She had six suitcases. All the relatives were __to see such a young child carry the heavy luggage alone. But they knew she would have to__ it all by herself when transferring in California to New York, so it was better for her to get used to it now.
For her worried parents, the two-hour wait seemed endless. They were extremely careful about their words____a single question might induce (引起)tears. The mother kept silent while the father____small talks with his daughter now and then.
“ Have you forgotten anything?”
“No, Daddy, why don’t you trust my ability to __ to a new life?”
A 17-year-old who speaks fluent English is much like a horse galloping out of the gate during a race. They think everyone will stand up and clap for them. This child didn’t even __ when passing the boarding gate.
The father repeated, “She is __ of cutting her own hair, so what do you have to worry about?”
Just then, the mother suddenly ran __the French window of the lounge (候机室). She wanted to be closer to see her child board the plane and __ catch a final glance of her daughter. As expected, the girl __ when boarding. She even walked down several steps and looked in the ___of the lounge. The mother __ desperately knocked at the reflection glass curtain wall and almost drew the security guards attention. The seemingly hard-hearted child dashed into the cabin and disappeared from sight.
Two minutes later, the father received a __ from his daughter. He read it to all the family members, 4iDear mommy and daddy, although I am faced with __ and possible difficulties, I have learned how to wash, cook，etc.; I’ve also cut your hair,___ awkwardly. I will cope with all the ___difficulties with my skills. Please send me a happy face, I need ___but encouragement.”
Before a child sets out on her own, ail the family members suffer from this spiritual separation. The process is hard and __, However,____，this day will come. When it comes, try your best to __ and don’t cry.
1.A. unwilling B. determined C. disappointed D. satisfied
2.A. control B. operate C. deal D. handle
3.A. on condition that B. for fear that C. provided that D. so that
4.A. exchanged B. chatted C. arranged D. communicated
5.A. accustom B. adopt C. apply D. adapt
6.A. turn over B. turn down C. turn up D. turn around
7.A. aware B. free C. capable D. careful
8.A. from B. alongside C. through D. into
9.A. hopefully B. cheerfully C. eventually D. initially
10.A. bothered B. shook C. hesitated D. trembled
11.A. way B. direction C. angle D. comer
12.A. even B. yet C. also D. still
13.A. text B. call C. letter D. notice
14.A. barriers B. anxieties C. uncertainties D. experiences
15.A. while B. as C. though D. if
16.A. worldwide B. imaginary C. ongoing D. upcoming
17.A. something B. everything C. anything D. nothing
18.A. troublesome B. sudden C. painful D. annoying
19.A. more or less B. sooner or later C. now and then D. once and again
20.A. laugh B. smile C. calm D. comfort
—Going to Bookuu this weekend?
— ! Would you like to go with me?
A. You bet. B. You know better C. You got me D. You there
We all think he is , who is not enthusiastic about anything we do.
A. a black sheep B. a dark horse C. a green hand D. a wet blanket
Nobody expected there so many changes in our life in the 1970s.
A. having B. to have C. being D. to be
