ANXIOUS parents in the areas around Washington, US, accompanied their children to school, or kept them at home, after a middle-school student became victim No.8, in a series of shootings.The shootings started on October 2.
The 13-year-old youth, an eighth-grader, was struck in the chest by a high-powered bullet on October 7.He was hit as he was being dropped off in front of his school by his aunt on October 7.
“I can't stop going to work, the children can't stop going to school, ” said Henry Ollie, 48.He led his 12-year-old son, Charles, to the front door of the school, where the latest shooting happened.Ordinarily, Charles takes the bus.Some buses arrived at schools carrying fewer students than usual.And schools where parents usually line up their cars to drop off youngsters had no traffic problems because so many parents had kept their children at home.The middle school boy is still in bad condition after having about two and a half hours of operation on the night of the shooting.He is the youngest of the nine victims, including one who was shot dead on October 9.
All the victims, seven dead and two wounded, were in public place doing ordinary things.They were working at grass, filling a gas tank or walking into a supermarket.
“All of our victims have been defenseless, but to kill children is one step too far.Our children don't deserve this, ”said police Charles Moose.(From New York Times)
(1)
How many victims had been killed in the series of shootings around Washington before October 7th?
[ ]
A.
Seven.
B.
Six.
C.
Nine.
D.
Eight.
(2)
Why did many parents keep their children at home?
[ ]
A.
Because the shooting made them frightened.
B.
Because the school asked them to do so.
C.
Because the children were afraid of the shooting.
D.
Because the parents were worried about the safety of their children.
(3)
The phrase “drop off” in the passage means ________.