New York State has passed the USA's first state law banning motorists talking on hand-held cell phones. The ban will begin November 1, although drivers caught using hand-held cell phones will be given only warnings during the first month. First-time violators will face a $100 fine. A second time call for a $200 fine and every violation after that will cost$500. At least a dozen localities have established bans, starting in 1999; and 40 states have had bans proposed but not passed.At least 23 countries, including the Great Britain, Italy, Israel and Japan, ban drivers from using hand-held cell phones. There are about 115 million cell phones in use in the United States and more than 6 million in New York State. "To think that I'm not going to use cell phone when at the same time I can still use my laptop, I still can read a paper, I can still change my pants while driving 65 mph. I think there's just something wrong," an official said. Other critics noted that other things like eating, drinking coffee and applying make-up while driving posed at least as much of a concern. They suggested that the ban include a broader range of things. This article is most probably taken from _ . A) a newspaper article B) an advertisement C) a personal diary D) a letter
A
(Question)
As we all know, children are our future, and it's up to us to arm them with the tools to succeed. Sadly, today's children are sometimes being armed with more dangerous tools like weapons, drugs and gangs in the USA. Once a relatively peaceful environment, many schoolyards of today are becoming unsafe for both students and teachers. Home schools are available to give you choices. Home schooling provides top-quality education, flexibility and freedom to create your own schedule. At Sunny Home School we believe the choice should be yours. Thanks to modern technology, home schooling information is becoming readily available across the nation. A recent study by the ITBS (Iowa Tests of Basic Skills) and TAP (Tests of Achievement and Proficiency) shows us that students of home schools do particularly well when compared with the nationwide average. In every subject at every grade level, students of home schooling scored obviously higher than those in public and private schools. If you're new to home schooling, you may be asking yourself, "Will home schools really work for my children?" Fact: A nationwide study using a random selection of 1,516 families found students of home schooling to be scoring, on average, at or above the 80thpercentile (80) in all areas, on standardized achievement test. (Note: The national average on standardized achievement test is the 50thpercentile.) Collectively, the staff at Sunny Home School brings 65 years of experience in home schooling curriculum. We've placed students in the top 2% of the nation in math and many are successfully moving on to college. One study found that of the home schooled students, 94% said home education prepared them to be independent persons. For more home schooling information, call us today toll free at (1800)542-8668. All of the following are true of home schools EXCEPT _ . A) students are free to choose their courses B) students do well in their important courses C) they help students find jobs D) they help students to be independent
(Answer)
C
Ques: She was returning from teaching out in a small community . It was a moonless night, and a heavy snow was falling. She remembered back to when she had first started teaching out in small communities. In those days she had always picked up hitchhikers , until the day her sister told her of a friend who had been shot in the head by a hitchhiker, all because she had stopped out of kindness to help him during a storm. Her family didn't become concerned about her safety over the hitchhikers until the family heard the promise: "No more hitchhikers!" The snow that night was making her think back to this. Then she saw a man waving. She slowed down for him, but now as he ran toward the car in the dark she shook with fear. Yet she thought that if he was truly in need she couldn't leave him here in this storm. The stranger explained that his car was dead, and she told him to get in. They drove for an hour into the next city and she took him to a telephone booth . She waited until he had made a call. When he reported back to her that a family member would soon come for him, she wished him well and left. _ "I hope they'll understand why I had to break my promise," she thought. What can we learn about the woman? A) She was a taxi driver. B) She used to be a hitchhiker. C) She taught in small communities. D) She seldom picked up strangers.
Ans: C
(Q).
Clay is 13 years old, and he lives in Miami, the United States. On the morning of Feb.23, when Clay is waiting for school bus, a man kidnaps him.The man takes him to a tree. He puts a stock in Clay's mouth. Then he asks for money from Clay's family. Clay is very scared . But he remembers there is a safety pin in his pocket. He takes out the pin and cuts through the rope . Finally he gets free. Clay calls his mother with a farmer's cell phone. Soon the police comes and Clay is safe. The police thinks highly of Clay. "This man kidnaps the wrong boy," Charly Wells, a policeman says. "This boy notices things. And he's very brave ." The man kidnaps Clay _ . A) on Clay's way home B) on Clay's way to school C) when Clay is shopping D) in a park
(A).
D
My House My mother moved a lot when she was growing up on account of Grandpa being in the army. She hated having to adjust to new schools and make new friends. That's why I thought she was joking when she put forward the idea of moving. But she was completely serious. "For just the two of us," my mother said, "an apartment in the city will suit our needs much better." Personally, I think she's lost her mind. I guess I can understand why she would want to move, but what about me and what this house means to me? I suppose if you looked at my house, you might think it was just another country house. But to me it is anything but standard. I moved into this house with my parents ten years ago. I can still remember that first day like it was yesterday. The first thing I noticed was the big front yard. To me it seemed like an ocean of grass--I couldn't wait to dive in. The backyard was full of gnarled (, ) and scary trees that talk on windy nights. But I grew to like them and the shadows they cast in my room. My father and I even built a small tree house, where I often go to remember all the wonderful times we had before Father's death. This house is special--maybe only to me--but special nevertheless. It's the little seemingly insignificant things that make this house so special to me: the ice-cold tile floors that make me tremble on midnight snack runs; the smell of my father's pipe that still exists; the towering bookcases of my mother; the view outside my bedroom window. This house holds too many memories, memories which would be lost if we gave it up. Why did the author's mother decide to move? A) Because she hated the countryside. B) Because Grandpa was on constant move. C) Because Dad's death made her lose her mind. D) Because she thought a city flat more fit for them.
D