Federal regulators (管理者) Wednesday approved a plan to create a nationwide emergence alert (警报) system using text messages delivered to cell phones.

    Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly among young people. The wireless industry's trade association, CTIA, estimates（估计） more than 48 billion text messages are sent each month.

    The plan comes from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act, a 2009 federal law that requires improvements to the nation's emergency alert system. The act tasked(派给…工作) the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with coming up with new ways to alert the public about emergencies.

    "The ability to deliver accurate and timely warnings and alerts through cell phones and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families before, and during, disasters and other emergencies," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan.

    Participation in the alert system by carriers –telecommunications companies is voluntary, but it has received solid support from the wireless industry.

    The program would be optional for cell phone users. They also may not be charged for receiving alerts.

    There would be three different types of messages, according to the rules.

    The first would be a national alert from the president, likely involving a terrorist attack or natural disaster. The second would involve "approaching threats," which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or storms or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction (绑架) emergencies, or so-called Amber Alerts.

    The service could be in place by 2012.

1.What is the purpose of the approved plan?

A. To warn people of emergencies through messages.

B. To popularize the use of cell phones.

C. To estimate the monthly number of messages.

D. To promote the wireless industry.

2.The improvement to the present system is in the charge of ____.

A. CTIA B. the Warning Alert and Response Network       C. FCC  D. federal regulators

3.The carriers’ participation in the system is determined by _____.

  A. the US federal government      B. mobile phone users

  C. the carriers themselves            D. the law of the United States

4.Which of the following is true of cell phone users?

A. They must accept the alert service.     B. They may enjoy the alert service for free.

  C. They must send the alerts to others     D. They may choose the types of messages

5.An alert message will NOT be sent if _____

  A. a child loses his way.         B. a university shooting happens

  C. a natural disaster happens                             D. a terrorist attack occurs

Outside her shabby cottage, old Mrs. Tailor was hanging out laundry on a wire line, unaware that some children lay hidden in the leaves of a nearby tree watching her every move. They were determined to find out if she really was a witch.
They watched as she took a broomstick to clean the dirt from her stone steps. But, much to their disappointment, she did not mount the broomstick and take flight. Suddenly, the old lady’s work was interrupted by the cackling of her hen—a signal that an egg had been laid in the warm nest on top of the haystack.
The old broomstick was put aside as she hobbled off towards the haystack followed by Sooty, a black cat she had rescued from a fox trap some time back. With only three legs, it was hard for Sooty to keep up with the old lady. The cat provided proof—the children were sure that only a witch could own a black cat with three legs.
There, standing on a wooden box, was Mrs. Tailor, stretching out to gather her precious egg. Taking the egg in one of her hands, she began to climb down when, without warning, the box broke and the old lady fell.
“We have to got and help her,” whispered Amy.
“What if it is a trick?” replied Ben.
“Don’t be silly, Ben. If she were a witch, she would have turned us into frogs already,” reasoned Meg. “Come on Amy, let’s go.” The girls climbed down the tree and ran all the way to the haystack.
Approaching carefully, they could see a wound on the old lady’s face. She had knocked her head on a stone and her ankle was definitely broken. “Go and get Dad,” Amy yelled to her brother. “Tell him about the accident.”
The boys did not need another excuse to leave. They ran as fast as they could for help, hoping that Mrs. Tailor would not wake and turn the girls into frogs.
【小题1】. Why were the children hiding in the tree?

It was time for Mr. Rocco to shut up shop when I hurried into the florist’s. “Now, what is it you want?” Mr. Rocco turned to me. “I want the most beautiful flower you have.” I replied. “And just how much do you have to pay for this most beautiful flower?” I held out a wet hand showing a quarter and dime. He nodded, and then showed me a plant on the counter. “I can give you this one for 35 cents.” he said. “Aw, gee,” I protested, “it looks like a weed!” About 18 inches high, the plant was in a small pot covered with faded red paper. “Now trust me, boy—I promise that tomorrow morning when you get up, you will find your most beautiful flower.” said Mr. Rocco. I knew him to be a good honest man, so I agreed to take it.

It was almost midnight when I arrived home. Mom was seriously sick and using the front bedroom. I looked in to see if she was asleep, and then quietly tiptoed in and set the plant on the table beside her bed. I wanted her to be surprised when she woke on Mother’s Day.

The next morning, I dressed and hurried downstairs. The sun was shining through kitchen window as I looked into Mom’s room. She motioned for me to come in, then glanced over at the table where the plant was. Holy mackerel! There were three big yellow trumpet-shaped（喇叭状的）blooms. It was just like Mr. Rocco said—the most beautiful flower I ever saw! When I looked at Mom, she was smiling as tears streamed down her cheeks. She held out her hand for me to come near, then pulled me close and hugged till it hurt. Then, remembering her contagious condition and that she wasn’t supposed to touch me, she quickly let me go.

My dear mom died the next night. The moment she hugged me turned out to be the most wonderful moment of my life. Not only had that beautiful plant helped show just how much I loved her, but I’d always know how much she loved me.

1.  The author didn’t like the plant recommended by Mr. Rocco at first because ______.

A. the packing of the plant was shabby

B. the plant was more a weed than a flower         

C. the plant appeared too ordinary to be the most beautiful

D. he thought Mr. Rocco was reluctant to do the deal with him

2.  Mother’s condition was contagious (Line 6, Para.3) for ______.

A. she was at the death’s door         B. she suffered from the illness

C. others were sick of her appearance   D. virus might spread from her to others 

3. When mother hugged the author tightly, she was showing that ______.

A. she liked being given gifts             

B. she valued what the author had done for her

C. she was aware of the approaching of death   

D. she was touched by the beauty of the flower

4. The story is mainly developed by______________.

A. time        B. logic            C. comparison       D. cause and result

5.Which may be the best title of the passage?

A. Flowers of Love                          B. A Son’s Love for Mother

C. Low Price, High Value              D. A Special Mother’s Day 

_______ the Town Hall, we saw a stone statue of about 10 meters in height.

   A. Approached                        B. Approaching    

C. To approach                     D. To be approached

完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入的最佳选项。

    It was a cold winter morning. Half asleep at the train station, I stared into the distance,   31   for the train to take me to my   32   in Boston. The world was quiet. The very few people on the street kept to themselves,   33   their steaming cups of coffee.

Reaching into my pocket as the   34   was approaching, my numb hand searched for the $ 20 bill to pay my fare. The pocket was   35  ! I searched through my bag and then I felt   36  . Unless the money dropped from the sky, I’d be   37   there.

“What’s the matter?” A short, elderly man stood before me.

“Oh, nothing…Well, I   38   my money and now I can’t pay for the ticket. I’m going to   39   my math class and the train is leaving.”

“Here, use this.”

The man held a $ 20 bill. I looked up,   40  . People just didn’t do that any more. Everyone worried about their own   41  , rarely stopping to think about others, especially teenage strangers.

“Thank you, but no, I can’t.”

“  42   it—go!” The man pushed me   43   the train. I bought a round-trip ticket, and he refused the change I   44   to give him back. I did not know what to say — a million thoughts raced through my mind, yet I stood   45  .

For the train ride I was silent. I began to see the world through   46   eyes. That man made a difference with such a simple   47  .

A week later I was at the train station again, with an extra $20   48   I saw the man. And there he was.

“Excuse me, sir, I believe I owe you this.” I   49   the money into his hand.

Failing to refuse, he said, “Just remember to do the same for someone in your shoes some day.” I smiled,   50  .

The elderly man is my hero. For many, heroes are famous, but my hero is a giving stranger who taught me a lesson in life. I will never forget his kindness.

1.A. watching           B. looking          C. reaching         D. arranging

2.A. home               B. class            C. office           D. factory

3.A. serving            B. carrying         C. minding          D. making

4.A. chance             B. crowd            C. driver           D. train

5.A. deep               B. empty            C. messy            D. tight

6.A. hopeless           B. useless          C. relieved         D. dissatisfied

7.A. blocked            B. drawn            C. stuck            D. tied

8.A. wasted             B. counted          C. spent            D. lost

9.A. miss               B. skip             C. fail             D. stop

10.A. frightened        B. disturbed        C. surprised        D. concerned

11.A. problems          B. complaints       C. positions        D. challenges

12.A. Seize             B. Get              C. Catch            D. Take

13.A. in                B. beyond           C. toward           D. on

14.A. offered           B. managed          C. happened         D. attempted

15.A. unconsciously     B. silently         C. seriously        D. uncomfortably

16.A. curious           B. changed          C. bright           D. widened

17.A. task              B. act              C. example          D. performance

18.A. so that           B. even if          C. now that         D. in case

19.A. dropped           B. pushed           C. pressed          D. placed

20.A. content           B. scared           C. annoyed          D. numb