Sixteen years ago, Eileen Doyle’s husband, an engineer, took his four children up for an early morning cup of tea, packed a small case and was never seen or heard from again. Eileen was astonished and in a state of despair. They had been a happy family and, as far as she knew, there had been nothing wrong with their marriage.

Every day of the year a small group of men and women quietly pack a few belongings and, without so much as a note or a good-bye, close the front door for the last time, leaving their debts, their worries and their confused families behind them. Last year, more than 1,200 men and nearly as many women were reported missing from home — the highest in 15 years. Many did return home within a year, but others rejected the past completely and are now living a new life somewhere under a different identity.

To those left behind this form of desertion is a terrible blow to their pride and self-confidence. Even the finality of death might be preferable. At least it does not imply rejection or failure. Worse than that, people can be left with an unfinished marriage, not knowing whether they will have to wait seven years before they are free to start a fresh life.

Clinical psychologist Paul Brown believes most departures of this kind to be well planned rather than impulsive. “It’s typical of the kind of personality which seems able to ignore other people’s pain and difficulties. Running away, like killing yourself, is a highly aggressive act. By creating an absence the people left behind feel guilty, upset and empty.”

1.Eileen Doyle reacted that way after her husband’s leaving, because she__________.

A. failed to hear from him for a long time

B. had no idea what was wrong with their family life

C. blamed herself for something wrong she did

D. wondered why her husband took up all their children

2.According to the passage, those people left their families behind for the following reasons except_________.

A. they couldn’t bear their spouse (配偶)

B. they were afraid of the burden of debts

C. they wanted to forget the past completely

D. they wanted to start a new life somewhere else

3. The man or woman left behind with an unfinished marriage usually ________.

A. admits their responsibility for the situation

B. feels embarrassed and useless

C. will have no legal marriage life for seven years

D. wishes the person who has left were dead

4.Some people would even prefer the death to the running away of their spouse because ________.

A. their spouse would feel greatly relieved

B. their spouse would feel no pain during the death

C. their spouse’s death would contribute to them starting a fresh life

D. their spouse’s death would not bring a feeling of rejection or failure

5.What’s the author’s attitude towards the departures of this kind?

A. Objective. B. Supportive.

C. Negative. D. Positive.

A middle school student from Milton, Wash., stopped a potentially disastrous situation on Monday morning when he guided his school bus safely off the road after the driver had a medical emergency, KOMO News reports.

Thirteen-year-old Jeremy Wuitschick was on the bus to Surprise Lake Middle School when he noticed that something was wrong.

“I knew something was wrong,” the seventh grader said. “The bus driver…looked funny. His eyes were bulging(凸出), he was sitting back and his hands were waving around.”

Immediately, Wuitschick and another seventh grade student -- Johnny Wood -- leapt out of their seats and rushed to the front of the bus. Grabbing the wheel, Wuitschick steered(控制)the vehicle, preventing it from crashing off the road; while Wood, who knows CPR, tried chest compressions on the driver who had become unconscious.

It was pretty scary, said Wuitschick, who then took the key out of the bus, making the bus -- with 15 other middle school students in it -- stop.

Ill tell you, Ill give the kid credit for fast thinking. He did the right thing and we’re going to do something for him. The kid definitely deserves credit,” Milton Police Chief Bill Rhodes said

When asked what made him to come forward to help, Wuitschick said he had acted “on instinct(本能),” adding that a “book about superheroes” had inspired him to turn the vehicle's engine off.

He also said that he knows how to drive because his mother lets him back the car out of the driveway when he washes it -- but that, until now, it had been his little secret.

The 43-year-old bus driver, whose name has not been released, was taken to the hospital. According to ABC News, his condition has been described as grave. No one else was hurt.

1. What happened to the bus driver? (No more than 5 words)

2.How did Wuitschick manage to turn the vehicle’s engine off ?(No more than 8 words)

3.How many students did the bus carry? (No more than 2 words)

4.When did the story happen? (No more than 4 words)

5. What do you think of Wuitschick? (No more than 2 word)

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