There is always something that happens in the world that everyone fears will happen to their town, city or country: natural disasters. The scariest part of it is that no one will ever see it coming. Though technology helps us prepare, but it never actually tells the people when it's going to hit. It is always estimated but the result is never 100% accurate.

However, that is not the point of this article. Two different natural disasters in two different parts of the world have happened in the past few weeks. One was a major flood that has hit Louisiana in the United States. The other was an earthquake that hit Amatrice, Italy. However, there is a major difference in the news coverage of the two tragedies.

As for the flooding in Louisiana, it is reported that this disaster is the worst to hit the United States since Super-storm Sandy and it'll cost at least $30 million. In only the first couple of weeks, 13 people had died. However, like me, many people did not hear about this tragic event. I did not learn about it until about three weeks after it happened.

In Italy, however, it covered all media instantly. The earthquake in Italy happened on Tuesday morning. That same day, I was on Twitter and that was all that was over the news feed. Every other post was about the earthquake. Some would have the opinion that Amatrice, Italy was one of the most beautiful towns in that country. I got in deep sorrow because there were more people killed in this quake than the flooding. So far, they have a total of 73 dead and over one hundred missing.

I understand that technically the earthquake in Italy was worse than the floods in Louisiana. However, I believe that if a natural disaster happens, they all should be equally covered and taken equally seriously. We are one world united and should be there for all of the people who are in need of help. We may not be able to accurately predict disasters but, we can surely lend a hand out for the needy.

1.What really concerns the author about the two natural disasters?

A. The death and the injured. B. The media report.

C. The government's responsibility. D. Their economic loss.

2.Why did the author learn about the flood so late?

A. He didn’t care about the flood.

B. He felt nervous about the news.

C. The media didn’t cover it in time.

D. The flood frightened the author a lot.

3.What can be inferred from the passage?

A. Italy isn't good at predicting the natural disasters.

B. All natural disasters should be covered equally.

C. The world should be united into one instantly.

D. America should help Italy predict natural disasters.

4.How is the text mainly developed?

A. By making a comparison. B. By following the time order.

C. By listing some examples. D. By analyzing the causes.

I was 17 when I walked into Carley's bookstore in Ashland. As I was looking at_______on the shelves, the shop owner asked if I'd like_______. I needed to start________for college, so I said yes. I worked after school, and the job helped________my yearly tuition. I would work many other jobs: making coffee in the Students Union; a hotel maid and______ making maps for a company. But selling books was one of the most_______.

One day a woman asked me for books on cancer. She seemed fearful. I showed her almost everything_______ and found other books we could order. She left the store less______. I've always remembered the________I felt in having helped her.

Years later, as a _______in Los Angles, I heard about an immigrant child born ______his fingers connected. His family couldn't afford a corrective operation, and the boy lived in ______, hiding his hand in his pocket.

I_______ my boss to let me do the story. After the story was broadcast, a doctor and a nurse called, offering to perform the_______ for free.

I visited the boy soon after the operation. The first thing he did was to hold up his _______hand and said, "Thank you." I felt a sense of_______

In the past, while I was_______, I always sensed I was working for the customers, not the store. Today it's the________ Fox pays my salary,________I feel as if I work for the_______, helping them make sense of the world.

1.A. maps B. articles C. reports D. titles

2.A. a book B. some tea C. a job D. any help

3.A. planning B. saving C. preparing D. studying

4.A. pay for B. fit for C. run for D. enter for

5.A. so B. yet C. even D. still

6.A. boring B. satisfying C. surprising D. disappointing

7.A. in need B. in all C. in order D. in store

8.A. worried B. satisfied C. interested D. puzzled

9.A. surprise B. failure C. regret D. pride

10.A. doctor B. TV reporter C. bookseller D. store owner

11.A. with B. in C. by D. for

12.A. horror B. honor C. shame D. danger

13.A. advised B. persuaded C. forced D. permitted

14.A. action B. program C. treatment D. operation

15.A. repaired B. connected C. injured D. improved

16.A. humor B. interest C. pleasure D. excitement

17.A. at the TV station B. in the Students Union C. at the US Forest Service D. at Carley's bookstore

18.A. opposite B. same C. different D. right

19.A. so B. and C. but D. because

20.A. viewers B. readers C. customers D. passengers

La Tomatina, Spain

Tomato juice flows through the streets of Bunol on the last Wednesday of August as the world’s largest tomato fight happens. Festivities begin in the town square where there is a huge pole covered in soap and with a leg of ham at the top. Participants try to climb up the pole to get the ham as watchers throw buckets of water to them. After a gun is fired to signal the beginning of the fight, people catch the tomatoes and throw each other in the streets until the gun sounds again, marking the end of the event.

Holi, India

This spring festival is celebrated throughout the country in late February or early March. The two-day event celebrates the legend of Prahlad, who escaped unharmed from the fire of the evil Holika Dahan. People mark the event by lighting fires and throwing colored powder on one another. Children load colored water into toy pistols called pichkari and take aim at passers-by. Holi is known as a happy celebration of the triumph of good over evil.

Burning Man, Nevada

This infamous festival began in 1986 with the burning of a large figure to mark the summer solstice(夏至). It’s since grown into a week-long annual event that draws more than 48,000 people to the Black Rock Dessert. It is held during the week before Labor Day. Participants set up camp in the desert to celebrate art.

Songkran, Thailand

This festival marks the Thai New Year, which is celebrated in the second week of April. This is the hottest time of the year in Thailand, so it makes sense that the biggest Songkran tradition is to throw water on people. Thais of all ages join in water fights, using buckets, hoses and water guns to celebrate the event.

1.The following celebrations are related to water EXCEPT_________.

A. La Tomatina B. Burning Man

C. Holi D. Songkran

2.The underlined word “pichkari” is probably_______.

A. a kind of gun B. a bad man

C. fire D. powder

3.If you want to experience the hottest season in a country, you can choose to visit______.

A. Spain B. Nevada

C. India D. Thailand

4.The text is written mainly to ______.

A. encourage people to travel

B. introduce some interesting festivals

C. advertise the world’s biggest parties

D. show the most famous performances

Many people write to newspaper and magazines to express their opinions. Letters to the editor must carry the writer’s full name, address and telephone number, although the information is not necessary for publication. This requirement to provide personal particulars is a clear indication that writers are held responsible for what they say. When a writer wants his voice heard, he needs to claim ownership of his voice. Responsibility is the name of the game.

“People today prefer living together to putting their signatures on a marriage certificate because they refuse to accept responsibility for the relationship,” said social worker Ken Yip, “and this is what is causing a lot of family problems.” When we sign a paper, for example, a business contract or a bank document, the signature is a seal of consent, an agreement to take the matter seriously. Most governments and many organizations will not process written complaints if they do not bear the writer’s signature. The absence of a signature, they explain, tells us that the writer cannot be too serious and therefore does not deserve a reply.

There are people who wish to remain anonymous(匿名的)for various reasons. Multi-billionaire Mr. King donates generously to charity several times a year. He gives simply because he wants to help but not for the publicity his donations may bring, and he does not want his good deeds to make news. In other cases, people insist on anonymity because they are afraid of the consequences of revealing their identity. Crime witnesses may be willing to assist the police, but most are unwilling to give their names when reporting a crime.

Name or no name? The answer is very personal and lies in how much we want to get involved. We all have a name. It is a matter of responsibility to use it when we make a statement, a claim or an accusation. We all want to honour our own name, and it is only by stamping our expression of an opinion with our own name that we honour what we say.

1.What does the writer mean by saying “Responsibility is the name of the game”?

A. Writers need to provide their personal information in the game.

B. Publication must bear the writer’s full name, address and phone number.

C. Writers should be responsible for their names.

D. Names are required to indicate writers’ responsibility for what they say.

2.The second paragraph suggests that a paper without a signature may _______.

A. help to end a relationship B. not get a reply

C. be accepted all the same D. become a family problem

3.Some people don’t want their names known because they are ________.

A. hesitant to make a donation B. unwilling to draw public attention

C. afraid of an accusation D. ready for involvement

4.The passage is mainly about _______.

A. honour and writers B. identity and signature

C. signature and responsibility D. anonymity and signature

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