①Brain-injured boy set for ￡ 1.75m payout

　　A YOUNGSTER who was knocked off his bicycle by a taxi and left with a serious brain injury is set to be awarded ￡ 1.75 million.

　　Fourteen-year-old George Currie, from Dalkeith, was living in country Durham with his parents Allister and Paula at the time of the accident in September 1993.

　　George, who was then three years old, was riding his small tricycle along the pavement when he lost control and swerved on to the road into the path of an on-coming taxi.

　　The driver's insurance company has now ac cepted responsibility for the accident and New Castle County Court is expected to rule on the payout on Monday.

　　②Boating accidents reduce

　　Lee and Collier counties tied at No. 10 for boating accidents in Florida in 2004, an improvement for both.

　　But because the counties remained in the top 10 among Florida's 67 counties, safety continues to be a concern, officials said.

　　③Teens react to new law on driving permit

　　Lawmakers may hope to make teenage drivers drive more safely, but some local teens behind the wheel feel angry following the passing of Senace Bill 36 last week.

　　SB 36 is a law that limits times new teen drivers can drive and the number of passengers

　　④Road accidents take costly toll

　　Traffic accidents kill more than one million people each year, injure tens of millions more and cost developing countries twice as much as they receive in international aid, the leader of a research body said Wednesday.

　　The figures have led experts to form an international road safety network to choose the most important research areas, inform policy makers and help develop ways to prevent accidents, particularly in poor nations.

　　pavement: 人行道

　　swerve: 突然转

　　insurance: 保险.

　　Florida counties with the most accidents in 2004:

　　1．Monroe (98)

　　2．Palm Beach (65)

　　3．Pinellas (64)

　　4．Broward (59)

　　5．Miami-Dade (54)

　　6．Okaloosa (34)

　　7．Orange (24)

　　8．Bay (22)

　　9．Lee (21)

　　10．Collier (21)

(1) What does Passage ① tell us about the boy?

[　　]

A．He was injured in the head when he was 14.

B．He has waited for the payout for a long time.

C．He has lived in the same place since the accident.

D．He was run over by a taxi when riding on the pavement.

(2) What can we learn about Lee and Collier counties from Passage ②?

[　　]

A．They both became safe places.

B．They won the same place in race.

C．They had the same number of accidents.

D．They joined hands in reducing accidents.

(3) Which passage would give more information on the prevention of road accidents?

[　　]

Vans, Keds, Dollies—they sound like the names of rock bands, but if you have teenagers, you’ll know they’re actually the latest in teenage footwear.

　 But experts are now warning that the current shoe fashions will be causing teenagers discomfort in the short term and storing up years of foot, knee and back pain in the future.

　 Here, the experts identify the problems caused by teenagers’ shoe choice.

　 KEDS/VANS

　 Slip-on shoes with elastic (弹性的)sides are particularly popular among teenage boys—with Keds and Vans the most sought-after brands.

　 The main problem is that they are just too flat—so flat that the heel, which strikes the ground first, also becomes damaged and painful.

　 BALLET PUMPS

　 The worst shoes of all are such light and thin dolly shoes. The problem is partly their flatness, as with Keds and Vans. However, ballet pumps, which have no string or heel, have other specific problems.

　 “As the shoe has no fastening device, it relies on the toes to keep the shoe on, causing an awkward gait(步法), which leads to short-and-long-term problems such as calluses(茧子), heel and knee pain. ”

　 WEDGES AND STILETTOS

　 These shoes can also cause problems with gait. They may look good, but the heels on these are so high that they can force the wearer’s body weight forward, making them very unstable.

　 Teens who wear these shoes regularly are also in danger of joining those millions of women with constant back pain.

　 SCHOOL SHOES

　 So what do podiatrists(足科医生)have on their wish list, especially for everyday wear?

　 Something in a natural, breathable fabric, with a string to hold it on, with a small heel and a deep toe-box that does not press the toes, such as Clark’s, Marks & Spencer or Rhino.

　 If your teen insists on wearing “bad” shoes, get them some simple foot orthotics(矫形器) in the shoes. These support and correct the movement of the foot, and properly fitted by a podiatrist, can often transform their walk and halt the damage.

68. Of all the shoes mentioned in the passage, which can cause the worst problems?

A. Marks & Spencer. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Wedges and Stilettos.

C. Keds/Vans. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Ballet Pumps.

69. Which pair of shoes may not be found on the podiatrists’ wish list?

70. The underlined word “halt” in the last paragraph probably means _______ .

A. increase　　　　　　　　　 B. worsen　　　　　　　　　　 C. stop　　　　　　　　 D. cure

71. In which column of Mail Online can you find this passage?

A. Sports. 　　　　　 B. Science. 　　　　 C. Health. 　　 D. Shopping.

Little Bit

"Meow, meow, meow," is what I heard as I walked. I went to the noise and found there was a 36 black and white cat under a piece of wood. I picked him up and 　37 he must be freezing to death. I 　38 home with the cat held in my jacket.

My new best friend, who soon became known as Little Bit, received his name because he was almost 　　39　　 when I held him in my hands. He stood about five inches tall. Little Bit's small size had a great advantage -- he 　40 perfectly in the pocket of my jacket, which made 41 him everywhere very easy. Any time I was home, he wouldn’t leave my 　42 . He was always eager to play with me. When I fell asleep at night, he would always roll up around my head to keep me 　43.

　 Unfortunately, I grew up. My teenage life 　44 my relationship with Little Bit. I lived at such a fast pace (节奏) that I stopped making time for him. My free time was spent with my 　45 　　 instead. I would come in the house on my phone and not 　46 him at all. His meows became an annoyance to me, but it wasn’t his fault that he 　47 his best friend back.

　 With time going by, Little Bit became 48 . His body began shutting down and by the time I realized 　49 was wrong with him, he had already lost his balance. He lay there and looked at me, and 　50 this day I still remember the 　51 look in his bright green eyes. I took him to the vet (兽医), but there was nothing he could do. The last time I 　52 him he wasn’t the same tiny cat I had found ten years before. Little Bit filled my arms and he was put to sleep that day.

Little Bit’ s 　53 made me realize how much he meant to me. He was always there for me when I 　54 him. I regret our last years together and I feel sorry for not always being there for him. I will always 　55 the special memories we made.

36. A. tiny 　　　　　　　　 B. lovely　　　　　　　　　　　 C. pretty 　　　　　 D. friendly

37. A. agreed 　　　　　　　　　　 B. remembered 　　　　　 C. realized　　 　　 D. proved

38. A. left 　　　　　　　　　 B. stayed 　　　　　　　　　 C. drove 　　　　　　　　　　 D. hurried

39. A. useless 　　　　　　 B. weightless 　　　　　　　 C. breathless 　　　 D. hopeless

40. A. fitted 　　　　　　　 B. grew　　　　　　　　 　 C. played 　　　　　　 D. existed

41. A. showing 　　　　　 B. keeping 　　　　　　　　　 C. taking 　　　　　　 D. putting

42. A. pocket 　　　　　　　　　　 B. heart 　　　　　　　　　　 C. mind 　　　　　　　 D. side

43. A. quiet 　　　　　　　　 B. asleep 　　　　　　　　　　 C. safe 　　　　　　　 D. warm

44. A. built 　　　　　　　　 B. weakened　　　　 　 C. deepened 　　　　 D. sharpened

45. A. computer　　　　　 B. friends　　　　　　　　　　 　 C. parents 　　　　　 D. relatives

46. A. find 　　　　　　　　 B. feed 　　　　　　　　　　　 C. notice 　　　　　　 D. hear

47. A. pulled 　　　　　　　 B. won 　　　　　　　　　　　 C. wanted 　　　　　 D. permitted

48. A. weak　　　　　　　　 B. big　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. strong 　　　　　　 D. healthy

49. A. everything 　　　　 B. nothing 　　　　　　　　　 C. anything 　　　　 D. something

50. A. until 　　　　　　　　 B. before 　　　　　　　　　 C. during 　　　　　　 D. for

51. A. shameful 　　　　　 B. serious 　　　　　　　　　 C. long 　　　　　　　 D. sorrowful

52. A. helped 　　　　　　　 B. met 　　　　　　　　　　　 C. held 　　　　　　　 D. doubted

53. A. death 　　　　　　　 B. illness　　　　　　　　　　　 C. sadness 　　　　　 D. story

54. A. caught　　　　 　 B. needed　　　　　　　　　　 　 C. protected 　　　　 D. picked

55. A. admire 　　　　　　 　　B. treasure　　　　　　　　　 C. remind 　　　　　 D. explore