A massive earthquake and tsunamis killed 350 people in one Chilean coastal town, doubling the total death number on Sunday as the government tried to get aid to hungry survivors and stop looting(抢劫).
President Michelle Bachelet said at least 708 people had been killed and called for calm as people desperate for food and water looted stores in some areas worst hit by Saturday’s 8.8-magnitude quake, one of the world’s biggest in a century. The earthquake that shook Chile on Saturday morning was “50 times bigger than the one of Haiti.” The earthquake in Chile was far stronger than the one that struck Haiti last month - yet the death number in Haiti, a Caribbean nation, was much higher.
The reasons are simple. Chile is wealthier and infinitely better prepared, with strict building codes, robust emergency response and a long history of handling seismic catastrophes. No living Haitian had experienced a quake at home when the Jan. 12 disaster crumbled their poorly constructed buildings.
Television images showed houses washed away by swirling waters, cars tossed into shattered buildings and boats lifted into the streets in coastal towns including Pelluhue and Constitucion, where 350 deaths alone were reported.
“It’s an enormous disaster ... there’s a growing number of missing people,” Bachelet said, adding that food and medical aid was being sent to help the roughly 2 million people affected by the quake. Chile is making great efforts to deal with a formidable task caused by the earthquake how to provide temporary shelter for so many people.
A lack of water, food and fuel sharpened the hardship for the hundreds of thousands of people left homeless, and widespread disruption to the power supply threatened to hamper (妨碍) Chilean industry’s recovery. In the hard-hit city of Concepcion, about 310 miles south of Santiago, the government imposed a night-time curfew (宵禁令) in Concepcion and the Maule region on Sunday in a bid to stop looting.
Police used tear gas and water blast guns to disperse a crowd of looters carrying off food and electrical appliances from one supermarket in Concepcion. Television images showed people stuffing groceries and other goods into shopping trolleys. “People have gone days without eating,” said Orlando Salazar, one of the looters at the supermarket. “The only option is to come here and get stuff for ourselves.” On the second day of the most serious natural disaster to hit Chile in decades, rescuing survivors from the ruins had been quickly replaced by the hard challenge of helping them. People overseas have been deeply impressed by earthquake relief efforts by the Chilean government.
1. There are several reasons why the loss of lives in the Chile earthquake was comparatively low EXCEPT __________.
A. improvements had been made in the constructed buildings.
B. Chile is always well prepared for the coming earthquake.
C. large number of Chile residents had gone oat for a holiday.
D Chile has rich experience in dealing with this disaster.
2. The underlined word “formidable” in the fifth paragraph probably means ________.
A. difficult B. glorious C. light D. original
3. According to the passage, what is the most pressing task in the earthquake-hit areas?
A. rescuing survivors
B. providing temporary shelter and food for the victims
C. burying dead bodies
D. clearing away the ruins
4. The author’s main purpose in writing the passage is to ____________.
A. call on international aid agencies to go to Chile to help.
B. tell us how to deal with the coming disaster.
C. show how the people of Chile rebuild their country after the big disaster.
D. tell us something about the enormous earthquake in Chile.
On Saturday August 12, 2000, during Northern Fleet training exercises in the Barents Sea, the Russian nuclear submarine(潜水艇) Kursk sank in about 100 meters of water with some 118 sailors aboard. It's known later that several officers were also aboard, observing the training exercises. The Kursk is lying on the ocean floor in the Barents Sea. The Russian Navy said that it was listing 30 degrees to port. Other sources reported it was listing as much 60 as degrees. According to a Russian newspaper, when the submarine Kursk failed to make contact with the naval command at the right time later that day, Northern Fleet Commander Admiral Vyachesav Popov ordered rescue ships into the area. It took hours to find the submarine, as it didn't launch(发射) a marking buoy(浮) before sinking.
Russian Navy Chief insisted that the submarine Kursk had been involved(卷入) in a major collision(碰撞), but a great deal of information shows that this is not true. Up till now, it's believed that an explosion in the torpedo compartment(鱼雷舱) in the nose of the Kursk was the likely cause. Now Russian government officially asked Norway for help in recovering of sailors' bodies first of all, and Norway has agreed to offer all help. But Russian insisted that only Russians work inside the submarine Kursk and that the work last for about 10～18 working days. It is expected to recover only 25～35 bodies from the Kursk.
It was not until October 25, when a team of Russian divers entered the submarine Kursk, some 350 feet below the surface, that truth became clear. On November 7, in the morning, owing to(由于) the icy and the cold weather, a special rescue meeting held on Murmansk decided to stop the whole bodies recovering operation.
1. From the text we can infer that _______ led to the sinking of the submarine Kursk.
A. a small fighting with another foreign submarine
B. an explosion inside the submarine Kursk
C. a great collision inside the submarine Kursk
D. an attack from another foreign submarine
2. After Kursk accident occurred, Northern Fleet Commander Popov _______.
A. decided to recover all the sailors' bodies immediately
B. went to apply to Norway for help at once
C. decided to find out the real cause of sinking at once
D. sent several rescue ships into the Barents Sea
3. Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?
A. The Norwegians were willing to offer all help.
A. If the rescue work did within 10～18 days, there would be about 30 sailors to be recovered.
B. It was not believed that there were many unclear weapons inside the Kursk.
C. A team of divers from Norway entered the submarine Kursk successfully on Oct. 25
D. It's reported that a major collision was unlikely to cause the sinking of the Kursk.
4. Why did Russia insist that only Russian divers can work inside the submarine Kursk?
A. Because the Barents Sea is very icy and the weather is too cold.
B. Because Russia feared that the top secrets inside the Kursk will be let out.
C. Because Russian divers are much more skilled than those from Norway.
D. Because Russian government wants to bring the cost down to the lowest degree.
5. The underlined words “make contact with” in the first paragraph refers to the idea that the submarine Kursk can't_______.
A. get in touch after much effort with the naval command
B. send up the nuclear weapons in the training exercises
C. get the naval officers to return to the Northern Fleet
D. get in touch after much effort with Russian government
The United States will introduce a new and comprehensive(综合的) exam for students who seek to study in American and other English-speaking countries, Xinhua News Agency reported from New York.
The exam, which stands for a great change from the current English level test, was disclosed by Theresa Chang Wei Jen, associate director of the International Service of the US College Board, America’s leading educational organization.
The Advanced Placement International English Language (APIEL) will be offered for the first time throughout the world on May 10, 2002, said Jen.
However, the APIEL is a strange title to most Chinese students, and it is unlikely to soon gain the similarity of other already existing exams, such as the TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language), the GRE(Graduate Record Examination), or the IELTS(International English Language Testing System).
“I have never heard of such a test and I would prefer the IELTS if I need another exam,” said Xu Jingyan, a graduating student from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, who wants to study in England and has already taken the TOEFL.
Most of Xu’s classmates have never heard of the APIEL. “The APIEL is designed for international students who wish to get university studies in English-speaking countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada, and Australia.” said Jen.
The APIEL has been adopted, said Jen, because the TOEFL can no longer accurately reflect the abilities of students of using the English language comprehensively in an academic environment. Xinhua reported that a fairly large number of foreign students who earned high scores in TOEFL exam turned out to be very ordinary educational performers after admission.
Compared with the TOEFL, the APIEL measures a student’s ability to read, write, speak and understand English through testing his or her skills in listening comprehension, speaking with accuracy(精确) and resourcefulness, and writing with clarity and fluency(流畅), Jen said.
1. The United States will introduce a new exam because _______.
A. more and more students want to get further education in the USA
B. the Chinese people pay special attention to English studies with China’s entry into the WTO
C. the already existing exam systems seem to be far from perfect
D. it will bring the US government quite a lot of money
2. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the selection？
A. It will take quite a period of time for people to accept the APIEL.
B. The TOEFL is more popular with the Chinese than the IELTS.
C. A student will have to take the APIEL if he or she wants to study in English—speaking countries from 2002.
D. Chinese students will prefer the IELTS rather than the APIEL even in the future.
3. The underlined word current in the second paragraph means _______.
A. modern B. present C. standard D. formal
4. Please decide which of the following would be the best title for this news report.
A. The Key to English-speaking Countries
B. The Four Skills in Learning English
C. TOEFL, IELTS and GRE to be Out of Date
D. New Exam Designed for Students
A senior United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF) official on May 29 praised China for its remarkable achievements in children’s welfare(福利).
A. H. M. Farook, UNICEF’s operations area officer for China and Mongolia said that China “can be very satisfied to tell the whole world what can be done with limited resources to help its children to grow healthily and happily.”
China’s child population makes up one-fifth of the world’s total. “The reason behind the tremendous(巨大的) achievement is China’s long tradition of caring for children both at home and in society,” he said.
“What’s more is that Chinese people have always given special attention to children who are in special need.” The UN official made the remarks when addressing a group of 50 children and staff from the Beijing Children’s Welfare Home at the Shangri-la Hotel, Beijing.
The hotel invited the orphans to share snacks(小吃), sing, dance and play games at a park inside the hotel for a “Share the Sunshine” party, as a prelude(前奏) to celebrations to mark the Children’s Day.
The Beijing children’s Welfare Home, set up soon after New China was founded in 1949, has at present more than 400 children.
A leading official of the welfare institution said that the children live a happy life and that the agency(机构) spends 400—500 yuan a month for an average orphan. An average Chinese workers earned 440 yuan a month during the first quarter this year.
Gu Xiaojin, deputy secretary-general of the China Youth Development Foundation(CYDF), said people from all walks of life have contributed to the welfare of the Chinese children.
She said that CYDF set up the Project Hope in 1989, which calls on people across the country to donate money to help poor children to continue their schooling.
By the end of last year, she said, CYDF had collected nearly 700 million yuan in donations, which has helped the establishment(建立) of 2, 074 Hope primary schools and enabled more than 1. 25 million dropouts to return to school classrooms.
Three “Hope Stars” also attended the party. They were model teenagers chosen among students who are economically supported by the Project Hope to further their nine-year compulsory(义务) studies in the poverty-stricken regions. They will be torchbearers(火炬接力者) for the Chinese Team for the up coming Atlanta Olympic Games this year.
1. Children can grow healthily and happily as long as _______.
A. parents take good care of them both at home and in society
B. the whole society care for children as well as their parents
C. Schools and teachers pay much attention to the growth of children
D. Chinese people always give special attention to children who are in special need
2. Every year the Beijing Children’s Welfare Home spends _______ on the orphans
A. 1, 920, 000 yuan B. 2, 160, 000 yuan
C. Over 2, 400, 000 yuan D. 2, 200, 000 yuan or so
3. CYDF collected 700 million yuan with the purpose of _______.
A. reducing dropouts
B. helping homeless orphans
C. supporting the Chinese Team for the coming Atlanta Olympic Games
D. establishing 2, 074 Hope primary schools all over the country
4. We can infer from the text that _______.
A. Every Chinese child has its own special need, so we should pay special attention to each.
B. All the children in the poverty-stricken regions of China are too poor to go to school.
C. Ever since liberation. the Chinese Communist Party has been concerned (关心) about the growth of the younger generation.
D. With the help of UNICEF officials, there are no more dropouts in China.
5. It is possible that this passage was written in _______.
A. 1992 B. 1996 C. 1998 D. 2000
June 26, 2000 — the Human Genome(基因组) Project, a great $3 billion, 15-year task aimed at drawing the genetic(遗传的) map of humans, is now more than 90 percent completed. The scientific and medical communities(团体) are very excited about the chances genetic research provides for getting rid of diseases and prolonging(延长) human life. But those communities and policy(政策) makers also are careful about the scientific door they are opening as the project uncovers the mysteries of life.
For the last few years, the genetic advances in the developing field of biotechnology(生物技术) have provides material for all kinds of work, but the developments of modern science in unlocking the secrets of the human genetic code(密码) have opened a world of possibilities for human health, as well as for the popular imagination.
While European and Japanese researchers are making rapid progress in decoding(解码) human DNA, the leading organization for genetic research is in the United States, which began in 1990, is “unlocking the code” of the human body to learn how to defeat fatal(致命的)diseases. Already, the Human Genome Project has become widely known and praised for finding the genes(基因) connected with terrible diseases as yet(迄今), and making progress toward separating the genes that show a sign of breast cancer or AIDS.
Once these genes are found and studied, researchers can develop new ways to attack infections(传染), and genetic diseases. Medical companies are very interested in mapping the human genome, as they expect to develop a lot of new drugs for these illnesses.
1. Why did the scientists work hard at mapping the human genome?
A. Because the human genome can destroy many illnesses.
B. Because the human genome's completion can help them get rid of many diseases.
C. Because they wanted to be better known than others.
D. Because the human genome can provide a lot of chances of work.
2. Which country studied the genes most rapidly in the world?
A. Japan. B. Germany. C. The United States. D. China.
3. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. If the genes can be found, scientists can study many new ways to cure illnesses.
B. The scientists have made great progress in connecting the genes with the cancers.
C. Many medical companies show great interest in drawing the human genome map.
D. The United States began the Genes Study early in the 19th century.
4. The author suggests that the Human Genome Project can cause _______.
A. the policy makers to feel very worried and careful
B. the scientists to work harder
C. many people to find work easily
D. a lot of companies to produce many new drugs
5. The main idea of this article is about _______.
A. unlocking genetic code
B. the genes' discovery
C. the great human genome
D. the genes and the scientists
Visiting U.S. President George W. Bush said in Beijing Friday that both China and the United States should encourage bilateral(双边的) contacts and exchanges to promote mutual(相互) understanding.
“It’s important for our political leaders to come to China,” said Bush, who gave a speech Friday morning at Qinghua University, one of the most prestigious universities in China.
His working visit to China and discussions with Oinghua students “help promote” Sino-U.S.(中美) relations, Bush said in response to a student’s question about what he would do to promote Sino-U.S. relations.
“Many people in my country are very interested in China,” he said, adding that these Americans have learned more about China’s culture and the Chinese people.
He said that he would keep encouraging such contacts and exchanges between the two countries.
Bush said that he would describe back home what he has seen here and that China as a great nation not only has a “great history” but also an “unbelievably exciting future.”
The president said that the 2008 Olympic Games would make a significant opportunity for the rest of the world to understand China, which enables more people to come to China and feel the modernization taking place, and many more people will see it on the television.
Bush arrived in Beijing Thursday for a two-day working visit to China.
1. What the word “prestigious” in the second paragraph probably means?
A. great B. famous C. honorable D. modest
2. Which of the sentence is NOT true?
A. Bush think bilateral contacts and mutual understanding will promote Sino-U.S. relations.
B. Many Americans are interested in China.
C. Bush and the students of Qinghua discussed something about how to make China richer and stronger.
D. The 2008’s Olympic Games is a great change for China been known by the world.
3. Many Americans are interested in China because _______.
A. they want to come here to take part in the 2008 Olympic Games
B. they have learned something of China and they want to learn more
C. China has been taking place great change
D. China has a “great history” and “unbelievably exciting future”
4. The narrator(叙述者) of the passage was most probably _____.
A. a reporter B. a psychologist C. a politician D. a sociologist