Federal regulators Wednesday approved a plan to create a nationwide emergency 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 improvement to the nation’s emergency alert system.The act tasked 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 2010.

1．What is the purpose of the approved plan?

A．To warn people of emergencies via 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

阅读理解

　　Black Americans make up eleven and a half percent of the total population of the United States. They are the descendants(后裔) of Africans who had been brought to America as slaves in the 17th and 18th centuries. During the Civil War (1861-1865) between the Northern States of the U.S. and the slave holding Southern States, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which ended slavery in the United States.

　　For a few years after the war, the freed slaves had the same rights as all White Americans--according to the law. Actually, however, many, perhaps most, could not exercise their rights to the full, as they were uneducated and ignorant (无知的); moreover, they had no land or other means of production. So they were largely at the mercy of their former masters. Black Americans continued to be treated unfairly despite their liberation. It was not long before the former slave-owners got back political power in the Southern States and began to pass state laws to push the black people into slavery again. Besides effectively taking away the black people's right to vote, they passed laws to keep white and black people separated and to prevent blacks from getting certain jobs.

　　It was not until almost a century later that blacks began to demand their rights as American citizens. They struggled against racism and all of the state discrimination(歧视) laws. The Civil Rights Movement was at its height in the early 1960's and in 1964，the Civil Rights Act was passed，making discrimination in all public places illegal. Today legal discrimination is ended but social discrimination is still widespread. Black Americans and all other minority peoples in the United States will never be free and equal until they have economic freedom and cultural equality.

1．What is the main idea about the text?

[　　]

A．Black Americans' life in the United States.

B．The ending of legal discrimination against Black Americans.

C．The history of slavery and racial discrimination and the black people's struggles against them.

D．Black Americans' eagerness to have their equal rights.

2．Which of the following is NOT a reason why most black people could not fully exercise their rights?

[　　]

A．The law did not provide as many rights as possible for them.

B．They received little education and were lack of knowledge.

C．They had no land and could not work.

D．They were economically dependent on others and could make livings on their own.

3．What does the underlined word“illegal”mean in Paragraph 3?

[　　]

A．stopped　　　　B．lawless

C．allowed　　　　D．ended

4．Which of the following is the most important for people who want to get real freedom?

[　　]

A．Political power.

B．Power of economy and culture.

C．Weapons in their hands for struggle.

D．The help of White Americans.

阅读理解

　　Black Americans make up eleven and a half percent of the total population of the United States. They are the descendants(后裔) of Africans who had been brought to America as slaves in the 17th and 18th centuries. During the Civil War (1861-1865) between the Northern States of the U.S. and the slave holding Southern States, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which ended slavery in the United States.

　　For a few years after the war, the freed slaves had the same rights as all White Americans--according to the law. Actually, however, many, perhaps most, could not exercise their rights to the full, as they were uneducated and ignorant (无知的); moreover, they had no land or other means of production. So they were largely at the mercy of their former masters. Black Americans continued to be treated unfairly despite their liberation. It was not long before the former slave-owners got back political power in the Southern States and began to pass state laws to push the black people into slavery again. Besides effectively taking away the black people's right to vote, they passed laws to keep white and black people separated and to prevent blacks from getting certain jobs.

　　It was not until almost a century later that blacks began to demand their rights as American citizens. They struggled against racism and all of the state discrimination(歧视) laws. The Civil Rights Movement was at its height in the early 1960's and in 1964，the Civil Rights Act was passed，making discrimination in all public places illegal. Today legal discrimination is ended but social discrimination is still widespread. Black Americans and all other minority peoples in the United States will never be free and equal until they have economic freedom and cultural equality.

1．What is the main idea about the text?

[　　]

A．Black Americans' life in the United States.

B．The ending of legal discrimination against Black Americans.

C．The history of slavery and racial discrimination and the black people's struggles against them.

D．Black Americans' eagerness to have their equal rights.

2．Which of the following is NOT a reason why most black people could not fully exercise their rights?

[　　]

A．The law did not provide as many rights as possible for them.

B．They received little education and were lack of knowledge.

C．They had no land and could not work.

D．They were economically dependent on others and could make livings on their own.

3．What does the underlined word“illegal”mean in Paragraph 3?

[　　]

A．stopped　　　　B．lawless

C．allowed　　　　D．ended

4．Which of the following is the most important for people who want to get real freedom?

[　　]

A．Political power.

B．Power of economy and culture.

C．Weapons in their hands for struggle.

D．The help of White Americans.