HOUSTON (AP) --- A 10-year-old boy fatally shot his father Friday, striking him several times as he sat in the front seat of a SUV to pick up the boy from his mother's home for a weekend visit.
The incident happened about 3pm on a cul-desac（死胡同）in the 1700 block of Cedar Cove Court, said Sgt. Williams of the Harris County Sheriff's Department.
An investigation found that Rick James Lohstroh, 41, was shot by his son, who was sitting in the back seat of the man's Toyota 4-Runner, said Sgt. Williams. The shooting took place outside the home of Lohstroh's ex-wife, where the boy lives with his mother and a 7-year-old brother.
"We're not certain of anything until we finish our investigation," Williams said. "The information we have at this time is that the 10-year-old did fire the weapon."
The mother and the 7-year-old were inside the house when the shooting occurred, said Williams.
Williams said the gun belonged to the boy's mother. After firing shots through the back seat, the boy exited the back of the vehicle and continued to fire at the car.
The man died on the way to Memorial Herman Hospital.
Lohstroh was a doctor at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
The man and woman shared custody（监护）of the children.
Williams said the mother and the boy were still in the home talking to investigators Friday night.
Neighbors described the family as being quiet and keeping to themselves.
Justin Gray, 17, was walking in the neighborhood when he heard gunshots. "We've had a suicide in this neighborhood once, but never anything like this," Gray said

1. 1.

   The best title for the news should be __________

   1. A.
      A Boy Shot His Father
   2. B.
      Shooting Kill a Father
   3. C.
      An Unbelievable Tragedy
      A Ten-Year-Old Boy's Cruelty
2. 2.

   Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the news?

   1. A.
      The father is not responsible for the boy
   2. B.
      The family don't like being linked to their neighbors
   3. C.
      The boy lives with Rick James Lohstroh
   4. D.
      The boy has no brother or sister
3. 3.

   What can we infer from the text?

   1. A.
      The tragedy happened because the boy had seen too many films showing violence
   2. B.
      The boy killed his father because he hated it that he deserted his mother
   3. C.
      Such things often occurred in this neighbourhood
   4. D.
      The boy's parents got divorced(="separated)."
4. 4.

   The reason why the boy shot his father __________

   1. A.
      is clear
   2. B.
      can't be made out
   3. C.
      is unknown
   4. D.
      is quite simple
5. 5.

   The underlined word "suicide" most probably means __________

   1. A.
      the act of killing the lives of a whole family
   2. B.
      an instance of deliberately killing oneself
   3. C.
      the situation of getting on smoothly with others
   4. D.
      the peaceful surroundings

    The US’s largest newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, refer to the Iraqi leader as Hussein. Hussein is the name he inherited（继承）from his father, so some people use it as a surname. By contrast, USA Today is sticking with his first name Saddam, as is The Associated Press (AP), which sets style rules for 1700 US newspapers and 5000 television and radio outlets across the US.

    CNN splits the difference（折中）using neither Saddam nor Hussein on second reference, but rather Saddam Hussein, or “the Iraqi president”.

    The AP recently reminded papers of the Saddam-on-second-reference rule. Although AP style is not binding on member papers, its rulings tend to be respected, if only because changing the name in every story sent by AP could be time-consuming（费时的）and could lead to errors.

    One reason some newspapers adopted the Saddam usage for the last war is that King Hussein of Jordan (he had one name only, like Queen Elizabeth), was still alive, and there was concern about confusing the two.

But the king died in 1999, and now what binds Saddam to US readers and listeners is more habit than anything else.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    (From Los Angeles Times)

1. In the first paragraph, “weigh” probably means ________.

    A.consider　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B.value

C.understand　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D.wish

2. This report mainly talks about ________.

   A. how to fight the war against Iraq

   B.how to call the Iraqi president

   C.Why Saddam Hussein has been a familiar name

   D.the difference between first name and surname

3. It can be inferred that the writer tends to call the Iraqi president ________.

    A.Hussein　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B.Saddam

    C.Saddam Hussein　　　　　　　　　　   D.the Iraqi president

Saddam Hussein has been a familiar name since the Persian Gulf War in 1991.But, as the US again weighs the prospect（前景）of war with Iraq, the question of what to call the Iraqi president is becoming a bit of a media problem.

    The US’s largest newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, refer to the Iraqi leader as Hussein. Hussein is the name he inherited（继承）from his father, so some people use it as a surname. By contrast, USA Today is sticking with his first name Saddam, as is The Associated Press (AP), which sets style rules for 1700 US newspapers and 5000 television and radio outlets across the US.

    CNN splits the difference（折中）using neither Saddam nor Hussein on second reference, but rather Saddam Hussein, or “the Iraqi president”.

    The AP recently reminded papers of the Saddam-on-second-reference rule. Although AP style is not binding on member papers, its rulings tend to be respected, if only because changing the name in every story sent by AP could be time-consuming（费时的）and could lead to errors.

    One reason some newspapers adopted the Saddam usage for the last war is that King Hussein of Jordan (he had one name only, like Queen Elizabeth), was still alive, and there was concern about confusing the two.

But the king died in 1999, and now what binds Saddam to US readers and listeners is more habit than anything else.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    (From Los Angeles Times)

1. In the first paragraph, “weigh” probably means ________.

    A.consider　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B.value

C.understand　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D.wish

2. This report mainly talks about ________.

   A. how to fight the war against Iraq

   B.how to call the Iraqi president

   C.Why Saddam Hussein has been a familiar name

   D.the difference between first name and surname

3. It can be inferred that the writer tends to call the Iraqi president ________.

    A.Hussein　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B.Saddam

    C.Saddam Hussein　　　　　　　　　　   D.the Iraqi president

Howard Dill is a giant among giant pumpkin(南瓜) growers. He grew world champion pumpkins for four years running，from 1979 to 1982, and missed winning the fifth year by only 5 pounds. Today, his Dill Atlantic Giant seeds are sold worldwide to more than 50 seed companies. The pumpkins grown from his Dill Atlantic Giant seeds commonly weigh in at over 1,000 pounds. “I don’t have any training in genetics(遗传学); it was all trial and error,” Dill says. He got his love of pumpkins from his father and has enjoyed growing them for years.
Dill still grows giant pumpkins, but not for competition. In the fall, visitors come to enjoy the pumpkins on his 90-acre farm in Nova Scotia, Canada. He plants ten acres of pumpkins for Halloween and two acres of giant pumpkins. One of giant pumpkins was recently baked into 442 pumpkin pies and sold at $5 each for charity.
It you want to try growing a giant pumpkin, Dill recommends starting with a soil test and then adding fertilizer(农药) as needed. Plant the giant pumpkin seed. A giant pumpkin can gain 15 to 20 pounds a day, so careful watering—every day or two—is necessary. You should wait about 130 days until the pumpkin matures and then you can harvest it.
Dill’s favorite pumpkin set the Guinness Book record in 1981. It weighted 493.5 pounds. “I’ve grown them larger since, but that one meant a lot,” he remembers. “I never would have imagined ten
years ago that there would be a 1,000-pounder, but there are many of them now,” says Dill. The 2006 world record holder is Larry Checkon of Pennsylvania. He grew a 1,469 pounder. Dill says, “These world champions are grown from my seeds, so I feel like a winner right along with them.”
【小题1】What can we learn about the world champion pumpkin of 1983?

Britain’s oldest man made his first visit to London yesterday at the age of 101. Mr John Evans had never found the time or money to make the trip from his home in Forest – fach, near Swansea. But, when British Rail offered him an all – expense – paid birthday treat to the capital he just could not refuse.
He arrived at Paddington Station and smartly turned out in his best suit, favorite Panama hat and a red rose in his buttonhole. “It’s very exciting. There’s no doubt about it,” he said.
Until yesterday he had never been far from home, except for one trip to Aberdeen. “But I’ve been on the seas to that faraway land called Ilfracombe 21 miles from home,” he joked.
Mr Evans, who spent 60 years working as a miner in South Wales, almost made the journey to London once before, at the turn of the century. “There was a trip to the White City but it was ten shillings return from Swansea – too much I thought. All my money went to the family then,” he said.
During the next two days Mr Evans will be taken on a short tour of London to see the sights. Top of his list is a visit to the House of Parliament organized by his MP, Mr Gareth Wardell.
The only arrangement he does not care for is the wheelchair provided for him if he gets tired. “I don’t like the chair – people will think I am getting old,” he said. His secret for a long and healthy life has been well publicized – no wine, no tobacco and no anger.
Before setting off from Swansea with his 76 – year – old son, Amwell, he said jokingly, “I’m glad to see they’ve given me a return ticket.”
【小题1】The very reason that Mr. Evans didn’t go to see the world is that                .