“We are holding the gun industry responsible(有责任) because they have refused to design, advertise and market their products to save the lives of children,” said Arlene Locicero. Locicero, whose daughter was one of the six people killed in a 1993 shooting on a Long Island train, was among 150 people protesting outside Smith & Wesson.

    Shoes Used in Protest

    The protest was one of several planned to be held Saturday outside the country’s largest gun- makers in Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts and Virginia.

    Protesters laid out 5,285 pairs of shoes to show the number of young people aged 19 and under who died from gun shots in 1995.

    The protesters wanted gun makers to make guns childproof(防儿童的), put on clear warning on guns, reduce production and raise prices.

    Congress Considering Bill

    Congress(议会) is now considering a bill to educate parents about proper gun storage.

    Ed Shults, Smith & Wesson’s President, said his company already sells guns with locks and takes many of the measures suggested by the protesters.

    However, “There is no proper training of those who are using handguns.” He said gun owners must learn the importance of safe storage that keeps away from children.

1. This piece of news is mainly about ________.

A．what people demanded in reducing deaths caused by guns

B．the protest held against owning guns

C．a bill how gun owners should store their guns

D．why children should not have guns

2. According to the protesters, who should be blamed most for the great number of gun deaths?

A．The government.

B．Children.

C．Gunowners.

D．Gunn makers.

3. From the news report we can see that on May2 ________.

A．only people in Massachusetts held a protest

B．protests were held at least in five states

C．gun companies promised to do what pro- testers had required

D．people saw the shoes of all those who died of gun shots in 1995

4. What Ed Shults said suggest that ________.

A．people should not have guns before they have some training

B．they will set up training centers for gun owners

C．gun owner should learn to use their guns properly

D．they have done enough to prevent gun deaths

    Springfield, Mass, May 2——Protesters (抗议者) marched outside America’s largest handgun maker Saturday to demand safeguards (保护) cut down on the thousands of gun deaths that happen each year.

    “We are holding the gun industry responsible(有责任) because they have refused to design, advertise and market their products to save the lives of children,” said Arlene Locicero. Locicero, whose daughter was one of the six people killed in a 1993 shooting on a Long Island train, was among 150 people protesting outside Smith & Wesson.

    Shoes Used in Protest

    The protest was one of several planned to be held Saturday outside the country’s largest gun- makers in Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts and Virginia.

    Protesters laid out 5,285 pairs of shoes to show the number of young people aged 19 and under who died from gun shots in 1995.

    The protesters wanted gun makers to make guns childproof(防儿童的), put on clear warning on guns, reduce production and raise prices.

    Congress Considering Bill

    Congress(议会) is now considering a bill to educate parents about proper gun storage.

    Ed Shults, Smith & Wesson’s President, said his company already sells guns with locks and takes many of the measures suggested by the protesters.

    However, “There is no proper training of those who are using handguns.” He said gun owners must learn the importance of safe storage that keeps away from children.

1. This piece of news is mainly about ________.

A．what people demanded in reducing deaths caused by guns

B．the protest held against owning guns

C．a bill how gun owners should store their guns

D．why children should not have guns

2. According to the protesters, who should be blamed most for the great number of gun deaths?

A．The government.

B．Children.

C．Gunowners.

D．Gunn makers.

3. From the news report we can see that on May2 ________.

A．only people in Massachusetts held a protest

B．protests were held at least in five states

C．gun companies promised to do what pro- testers had required

D．people saw the shoes of all those who died of gun shots in 1995

4. What Ed Shults said suggest that ________.

A．people should not have guns before they have some training

B．they will set up training centers for gun owners

C．gun owner should learn to use their guns properly

D．they have done enough to prevent gun deaths

假如你是某报社记者，请根据下面提供的信息写一篇英文稿，简要地报道中国开发西部的有关情况。

　　注意：a）短文须包括所有提示要点；适当增加细节，使内容连贯;

　　　　  b）短文的开头已经给出；c）词数100左右。

　　　　　　　　  New Development for Central and Western China

　　The Chinese government has recently decided to develop central and western China.

　　___________________________________________________________________________

　　___________________________________________________________________________

　　___________________________________________________________________________

　　___________________________________________________________________________

　　注意：a）短文须包括所有提示要点；适当增加细节，使内容连贯;

　　　　  b）短文的开头已经给出；c）词数100左右。

　　　　　　　　  New Development for Central and Western China

　　The Chinese government has recently decided to develop central and western China.

　　___________________________________________________________________________

　　___________________________________________________________________________

　　___________________________________________________________________________

　　___________________________________________________________________________

下面这篇短文节选自科幻小说The Space Invaders（太空入侵者），阅读这篇短文按照要求回答短文后面的问题：

　　Varon pushed his way through the thick, wet grass of the swamp. Behind him, he heard the sound of loud voices. He tried to go faster, but the thick grass held him back. He had to push his way through it step by step. Varon had come about three kilometres from the Zeron strongroom(保险库) and was very tired.

　　The first part of Varon's plan had beer successful. He had got into the strongroom deep under the ground－he had found the crystal(水晶)－and he had got out again. He had succeeded in stealing one of the most valuable crystals in the Universe. And no one had seen him.

　　But the second part of his plan had gone completely wrong. The guards on the planet Zeron had found his spaceship. Varon had been told that only the strongroom on Zeron was guarded. But now he knew that was wrong. There were guards all over the planet. The guards had been waiting for him when he got back to the spaceship. And now they were chasing(追赶) him and there was no way he could escape.

　　Varon pulled himself slowly to his feet. His face, hands and overalls(防护服)were covered in thick green mud. Varon wiped his hands on his overalls and felt in his pocket. The small, square box was still there. And in the box, there was the Zeron crystal. The crystal would make him rich－very, very rich. But first, he had to get back inside his ship. There was no other way he could escape from Zeron.

　　He now moved out of the long, thick grass. He was standing on harder, drier ground. There were some thick bushes in front of him. Behind him, there was the swamp and the guards who were chasing him. Varon hurried towards the thick bushes.

　　“I must get back to the spaceship.” Varon thought. “I'll have to find some way of tricking the guards. I can't escape from Zeron if I can't get back to the spaceship.”

　　Varon took two steps forward into the bushes. Suddenly he stopped. He knew he was not alone. He dropped down on one knee. There was somebody near him. His hand reached for the laser gun on his belt.

　　“Do not touch your weapon(武器).” said a soft voice.

　　The voice spoke from behind a bush. Varon turned towards the voice and pulled his gun from his belt. He pointed the laser gun at the bush and pressed the trigger(扳机). Nothing happened. Varon pressed the trigger again. Again, nothing happened.

　　The quiet voice spoke once more. “Your gun cannot be used. Put it back in your belt. You will not be harmed.”

　　Varon lowered his hand, but did not put the gun back in his belt. He rose slowly and took a step towards the bush.

　　“You are not permitted to move any nearer,” said the soft, quiet voice. It was a strange voice －neither friendly nor unfriendly.

　　Varon raised his foot to take another step towards the bush. But he could not move his leg forward. He tried and tried to move his leg, but it would not move. He could move backwards, but he could not go nearer the bush.

　　“Who are you?” Varon asked. “What do you want from me?” “I want to help you, Stefan Varon,” said the voice. “You know my name!” said Varon in surprise. No one on Zeron knew him. “Yes, I know your name. And I know what you do. And where you come from. And why you are here. I know every thing. I am Omega.”

　　The leaves of the bush were moved slowly to one side. A tall figure stood in front of Varon. The figure was made of metal. Its face was neither friendly nor unfriendly. It did not have a nose, mouth, eyes and ears like a human. It was a robot!

　　Varon was very surprised. He knew that the guards on Zeron did not use robots. He knew there were no robots on Zeron. Or was he wrong again? A robot was standing here in front of him. “What do you want from me?” Varon asked once again.

　　The robot did not reply. It seemed to be listening to something. Its head moved round to the right. Varon heard the voices of the Zeron guards.

　　“He's over there,” a voice shouted. “Near those bushes!” Varon turned to the left and began to run. Omega raised one arm and pointed it at Varon. A bright, red light came from the metal arm and covered Varon's body. The red light quickly fade

D．When the Zeron guards reached the bushes, they found nothing. Varon and Omega had disappeared.

1．What had Varon stolen?

________________________________

2．Why could Varon not get back into his spaceship?

________________________________

3．A tall figure stood in front of Varon.

(a) What was the tall figure?

________________________________

(b) What was its name?

________________________________

(c) Why was Varon surprised?

________________________________

4．When the Zeron guards reached the bushes, they found nothing. What had happened to Varon?