Virginia is set to begin enforcing the toughest drunken-driving punishment, one that will require thousands of first-time offenders­­—whether they were highly drunk or slightly over the limit – to install (安装) in their cars blood-alcohol testing devices that can lock the ignition. The devices work like this-A driver must blow into a blood alcohol device linked to the car’s ignition. If the result is higher than the legal limit, the car will not start. The device also requires random “rolling retests” once the driver is on the road.
Virginia’s current law requires only repeat drunken-driving offenders or those with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher to have an ignition interlock device in their car.
The new law, which takes effect in July, will roughly increase the number of people required to use ignition interlock devices four times, and offenders will have to pay about $ 480 for a typical six-month installation.
The measure has caused a debate between groups battling drunken driving and those representing offenders. Such groups as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Washington Regional Alcohol Program say that Virginia’s 274 alcohol-related road deaths and more than 5,500 injuries in 2010 remained unacceptably high despite years of cracking down on drunken driving. Ignition interlock devices, they say, reduce repeat offenses. But some public defenders and lawyers argue that the devices are too severe a punishment for offenders at the legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08, and that the court system will be burdened by more cases going to trial and lower-income drivers will be affected by the fees.
Del. Sal R. laquinto, who sponsored the bill, had a simple reply for concerns about the costs of the interlock devices: “How much does a life cost?” “Blowing into a tube for six months, you will remember that, ” Iaquinto said, “ and you are not likely to offend again. ”
【小题1】The ignition probably refers to the part in a car where ______.

A.the alarm goes off B.the car is fueled
C.the key is placed D.the engine starts
【小题2】Who are required to install the blood-alcohol devices according to the current law?
A.The repeat drunken-driving offenders.
B.The first time drunken-driving offenders.
C.Drivers whose blood alcohol level is below 0.15.
D.The drivers who are not able to pay offence fees.
【小题3】Some groups support the new law because ______.
A.the government can be financed to build roads
B.some traffic deaths and injuries may be avoided
C.lower-income drivers will not afford to drink again
D.the court system is forced to work more effectively
【小题4】The debate aroused by the measure suggests that ______.
A.justice has long arms
B.punishment is the key to all
C.no law is absolutely perfect
D.prevention is better than cure


Virginia is set to begin enforcing the toughest drunken-driving punishment, one that will require thousands of first-time offenders—whether they were highly drunk or slightly over the limit—to install in their cars blood- alcohol testing devices that can lock the ignition. The devices work like this—A driver must blow into a blood alcohol device linked to the car’s ignition. If the result is higher than the legal limit, the car will not start. The device also requires random “rolling retests” once the driver is on the road.
Virginia’s current law requires only repeated offenders or those with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher to have an ignition interlock device in their cars.
The new law, which takes effect in July, will roughly increase the number of people required to use ignition interlock devices four times, and offenders will have to pay about $ 480 for a typical six-month installation.
The measure has caused a debate between groups battling drunken driving and those representing offenders. Such groups as Mother Against Drunken Driving and The Washington Regional Alcohol Program say that Virginia’s 274 alcohol-related road deaths and more than 5,500 injuries in 2010 remained unacceptably high despite years of cracking down on drunken driving. Ignition interlock devices, they say, reduce repeat offenses. But some public defenders and lawyers argue that the devices are too severe a punishment for offenders at the legal blood alcohol limit 0.08, and that the court system will be burdened by more cases going to trial and lower-income drivers will be affected by the fees.
Del. Sal R. Iaquinto, who sponsored the bill, had a simple reply for concerns about the costs of the interlock devises: “How much does a life cost?” “Blowing into a tube for six months, you will remember that,” Iaquinto said, “And you’re not likely to offend again.”
【小题1】The underlined word “ignition” in Paragraph 1probably refers to the part in a car where ___________.

A.the alarm goes offB.the engine startsC.the door opensD.the car is fueled
【小题2】Who are required to install the blood alcohol devices according to the current law?
A.The first time drunken-driving offenders.
B.The drivers who are not able to pay offence fees.
C.The repeat drunken-driving offenders.
D.Drivers whose blood alcohol level is below 0.15.
【小题3】The reason why some defenders and lawyers oppose the new law is that ____________.
A.fewer cases go to trial
B.lower-income drivers will not afford to drink again
C.interlock devices increase repeat offenses
D.the devices are too severe a punishment for offenders
【小题4】The debate aroused by the measure implies that ___________.
A.prevention is better than cureB.no law is absolutely perfect
C.punishment is the key to allD.justice has long arms
【小题5】What is Del. Sal R. Iaquinto’s attitude towards the new law?
A.Negative.B.Indifferent.C.flexible.D.workable.

The secret of carrier pigeons' unbelievable ability to find their way home has been discovered by scientists: the feathered navigators follow the roads just like we do.

Scientists now believe the phrase "as the crow (乌鸦) flies" no longer means the shortest most direct route between two points. They say it is likely that crows and other day birds also choose AA-suggested routes, even though it makes their journeys longer.

Scientists at Oxford University spent 10 years studying homing pigeons using global positioning satellite (GPS) and got a surprising result. The birds often don't use the sun to decide their directions.

Instead they fly along motorways, turn at crossing and even go around roundabouts (绕道) , adding miles to their journeys.

"It really has knocked our research team sideways to find that after a decade-long international study, pigeons appear to ignore their inbuilt directional instincts (本能) and follow the road system," said Prof Tim Guilford, reader in animal behavior at Oxford University's Department of Zoology.

Guilford said pigeons use their own navigational system (导航系统) when doing long distance trips or when a bird does a journey for the first time.

"But once homing pigeons have flown a journey more than once, they can fly home on a habitual route, much as we do when we are driving or walking home from work," said Guilford.

"In short, it looks like it is mentally easier for a bird to fly down a road. They are just making their journey as simple as possible."

1.What would be the best title of the passage?

A. How Pigeons Find Their Ways Home?   B. Why Pigeons Can Fly long Distance?

C. Birds Follow Roads as We Do.             D. Why Crows Fly the Shortest D stance?

2.What does the words "the feathered navigators" refer to?

A. The crows.       B. The pigeons.     C. Day birds.       D. Animals that can fly.

3.Scientists used to think that homing pigeons often find their directions ____.

A. by global positioning satellite              B. by the sun

C. by the road system                  D. by following other birds

4.Why do homing pigeons tend to follow the road system daring the r journey?

A. Because they don't have their inbuilt directional instincts now.

B. Because their own navigational system doesn't work.

C. Because it is too hard to use their own navigational system.

D. Because it is easier to make journey simple by following road system.

 

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