3. Which of the following is true according to the four pieces of news?

A. Tong Liqing from Chongqing was wrongly jailed for nearly 7 years before a local lawyer proved his innocence.

B.　　　 The quake in Tokyo was not a moderate one.

C.　 Girls from Chinese mainland intend to marry to a man whoever is a Hong Kong resident.

D. The columnist, Sheng Dalin, thinks that the teachers should knee down before the kid’s mother.

专题一　 时事新闻练习答案及详解

Passage　 1　　　 1. C　　 2. B　　 3. A　　 4. D

中国载人航天飞行取得圆满成功，这一消息令国人振奋。

2. Which of the following will be the best heading for News Item 3 ?

　 A. Women married to Hong Kong　　　　　 B. Mr. Right in Hong Kong

　 C. Match girls 　　　　　　　　　　　　D. A Hong Kong matchmaking agency

1. “Excessive Apology” may be a good title for _______.

A. News item 1　　 B. News item 2　　 C. News item 3　　 D. News item 4

3.What’s the main purpose of writing this passage?

A. To tell people what terrorism is.

B. To report the recent rampancy of terrorists.

C. To warn people to be highly aware of the new threat of terrorism.

D. To explain the danger of weapons of mass destruction.

Passage 10　 　Four pieces of News

News item 1

ChongQing ---- A man has received compensation of more than 130,000 yuan (US&15,662) for being wrongly convicted of murder and serving nearly seven years in jail. Tong Liqing, who is now 41, was jailed for killing his brother’s maid. At his trial, Tong said he had admitted to the crime to escape further police beatings. His case attracted the attention of a local lawyer who spent six years finding evidence to prove Tong’s innocence.

News Item 2

Tokyo ---- An earthquake shook Tokyo on Wednesday but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. National broadcaster NHK said there was no danger of tidal waves. The earthquake measured a moderate 6.5 on the Richter scale. NHK said the epicenter was off the coast of the Kii peninsula in western Japan.

News Item 3

Hong Kong ---- More women from the Chinese mainland intend to visit Hong Kong in search of Mr. Right after restrictions on travel to Hong Kong were eased. In the first seven months of this year, some 18,000 couples registered for marriage in Hong Kong. For one third of these newly married couples, husbands or wives were from Chinese mainland. According to the China News Service, local matchmaking agencies have recently received more inquiries from women who are from the mainland, wanting to meet well educated men with a relatively good income.

News Item 4

NanJing---- A report that three kindergarten teachers knelt down before a South Korean couple to apologize, in Nanjing, of East China’s Jiangsu Province, has triggered wide criticism.

At a local kindergarten, a Chinese teacher frightened a South Korean child by saying she would cut off his fingers if he continued to make mischief. Although the kindergarten had apologized to the couple and dismissed the teacher surnamed Yang, the mother insisted that Yang should kneel down before her.

Sheng Dalin, a columnist, wrote in the XINXI SHIBAO that it was enough to fire the teacher and make an apology to the couple, but the mother’s request was beyond all reason.

2. Weapons of mass destruction include all of the following except ________.

A. tear bombs

B. nuclear weapons

C. biological weapons

D. atomic bombs

1. What’s the main idea of the extract ?

A. Terrorism is not a new phenomenon

　 B. Terrorists attacked on America’s embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in August

　 C. Long part of the Hollywood and Tom Clancy repertory of nightmarish scenarios will surely happen next month.

D. Today’s terrorists may gain access to weapons of mass destruction and the US is not yet well prepared for the new threat of catastrophic terrorism.

1. What is the main idea of the story？ 　 A. Arafat was in danger again after Israel's decision to remove him. 　 B. Arafat faced dangers without fear. 　 C. Arafat was one of the most legendary leaders in the world. 　 D. Arafat may have used up the last of his nine lives. 2. Which is not one of the reasons that Arafat managed to live through countless dangers? 　 A. Luck. 　 B. He was very careful. 　 C. He kept a clear head in danger. 　 D. He had mysterious powers. 3. What does the boldfaced word “scared” in the last paragraph but three mean? 　 A. Glad. 　 B. Frightened. 　 C. Feeling lucky. 　 D. Worried. 4. Arafat's answer to Israeli decision showed ______. 　 A. that he wasn't afraid of danger 　 B. his determination to stay in his own country 　 C. that he has belief in himself 　 D. both A and B

Passage　 9　 Imagining the transforming event

Terrorism is not a new phenomenon. But today's terrorists, be they international cults like Aum Shinrikyo or individual nihilists like the Unabomber, act on a greater variety of motives than ever before. More ominously, terrorists may gain access to weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear devices, germ dispensers, poison gas weapons, and even computer viruses. Also new is the world's dependence on a nearly invisible and fragile network for distributing energy and information. Long part of the Hollywood and Tom Clancy repertory of nightmarish scenarios, catastrophic terrorism has moved from far-fetched horror to a contingency that could happen next month. Although the United States still takes conventional terrorism seriously, as demonstrated by the response to the attacks on its embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in August, it is not yet prepared for the new threat of catastrophic terrorism.

American military superiority on the conventional battlefield pushes its adversaries toward unconventional alternatives. The United States has already destroyed one facility in Sudan in its attempt to target chemical weapons. Russia, storehouse of tens of thousands of weapons and material to make tens of thousands more, may be descending into turmoil. Meanwhile, the combination of new technology and lethal force has made biological weapons at least as deadly as chemical and nuclear alternatives. Technology is more accessible, and society is more vulnerable. Elaborate international networks have developed among organized criminals, drug traffickers, arms dealers, and money launderers, creating an infrastructure for catastrophic terrorism around the world.

The bombings in East Africa killed hundreds. A successful attack with weapons of mass destruction could certainly take thousands, or tens of thousands, of lives. If the device that exploded in 1993 under the World Trade Center had been nuclear, or had effectively dispersed a deadly pathogen, the resulting horror and chaos would have exceeded our ability to describe it. Such an act of catastrophic terrorism would be a watershed event in American history. It could involve loss of life and property unprecedented in peacetime and undermine America's fundamental sense of security, as did the Soviet atomic bomb test in 1949. Like Pearl Harbor, this event would divide our past and future into a before and after. The United States might respond with draconian measures, scaling back civil liberties, allowing wider surveillance of citizens, detention of suspects, and use of deadly force. More violence could follow, either further terrorist attacks or U.S. counterattacks. Belatedly, Americans would judge their leaders negligent for not addressing terrorism more urgently.

The danger of weapons of mass destruction being used against America and its allies is greater now than at any time since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. It is a national security problem that deserves the kind of attention the Defense Department devotes to threats of military nuclear attack or regional aggression. The first obstacle to imagination is resignation. The prospects may seem so dreadful that some officials despair of doing anything useful. Some are fatalistic, as if contemplating the possibility of a supernova. Many thinkers reacted the same ...

1.What is the main point of this story? 　A. The fighting between Israel and Palestine. 　B. The long process (进程) for Israel and Palestine to achieve peace. 　C. New chance and plan for peace in the Middle East. 　D. International efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. 2. What lies at the root of the conflicts (冲突) between Israel and Palestine? 　A. Israelis and Palestinians have different beliefs. 　B. Israelis live on land that once belonged to Palestinians. 　C. The founding of Israel. 　D. Disagreement on how to bring about peace. 3. Which of the following is not true? 　A. Israel and Palestine haven’t taken steps to work for peace at the same time. 　B. A new leader in Palestine has brought new hope. 　C. Part of the “road map” is to settle the disagreement between Israel and Palestine. 　D. Israel and Palestine have different views about the new plan. 4. Which side do you think the writer is on? 　A. Israel’s. 　B. Palestine’s. 　C. Analysts’. 　D. None of the above.

Passage 　8　 　Trapping the cat?

He has lived through countless dangers but time may be running out for the Palestinian (巴勒斯坦) leader, Yasser Arafat. 　　 On September 11, Israel (以色列) announced its decision to remove him, following several Palestinian suicide bomb attacks on Israel. "He should take some responsibility for the killings," an Israeli official said. "He has done nothing to stop the terrorist groups." 　　 But the decision has angered many other countries. China said that Arafat is the true leader, elected by the Palestinian people, and removing him would harm the peace in the Middle East. This view is shared by other governments. 　　 Arafat himself said: "They can kill me, but never get me out of my country." He has spent most of his life in danger as the chief target (目标) of Israel. But, just like a cat with nine lives, Arafat escaped every time. 　　 For years he has made a practice of sleeping in a different bed each night, thinking a moving target is harder to hit. 　　 In 1985, Israel sent fighter planes to kill Arafat. The wild bombing destroyed his old headquarters (总部) in Tunis but Arafat himself was unhurt. 　　 In 1992, the aircraft in which he was flying over north Africa broke in two during a crash landing. The crew was killed but he managed to remain alive. 　　 What is so unbelievable is that he always remains calm in great danger. 　　 Israeli tanks and helicopters attacked his headquarters in Ramallah in December, 2001. When they saw the attackers coming, Arafat's bodyguards ignored his orders to stay still and carried him to safety underground. Seconds later, several bombs exploded nearby. Though safe, his bodyguards were so scared they were soaked in sweat. 　　 But Arafat, with Israeli tanks only 200 metres away, showed no fear at all. He stayed in the damaged office, contacting foreign leaders in hope of preventing further attacks from Israel.

All these experiences have made him a mysterious man, and one of the world's most legendary (传奇式的) leaders. 　　 But has he used up the last of his nine lives? Only time will tell.

1.Which of the following is NOT one of the disagreements over rebuilding Iraq? 　A. Whether the US occupation has been a success. 　B. Setting a clear date for the handover of power to Iraq. 　C. Whether the UN should take the leading role in rebuilding Iraq rather than the US. 　D. Removing the rebel forces that still support Saddam. 2. What is the main idea of this story? 　A. Baghdad saw the bloodiest day since peace was declared on May 1. 　B. The US occupation has not been a success. 　C. The rebuilding of Iraq mainly depended on UN’s decision. 　D. There are still many disagreements over how to rebuild Iraq. 3. Which shows the war is still going on? 　A. The number of US soldiers who have died in Iraq. 　B. The attack on the International Red Cross headquarters. 　C. The US troops are still in Iraq. 　D. All the above. 4. The writer of this story is ____. 　A. on the American side 　B. on the French side 　C. on the Iraqi side 　D. very objective (客观的)

Passage　 7　　 New road for peace? It seems that nothing is ever easy in the Middle East, and the road to peace for Israel and Palestine is no different. 　 But, with a new Palestinian prime minister in place on April 23, the US has seen a new chance to put into place its "road map" for peace. 　 By May 5, the Palestinians had accepted the plan, but Israel still wanted major changes to be made. 　 The latest fighting between the two states began in September 2000. Over the past 31 months, thousands of Palestinians and Israelis have been killed and injured. Israel and Palestine have fought against each other since Israel created its own state in 1948. When Israel won the 1967 war, it gained control of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Since then, the Palestinians have demanded these three areas be part of their state. 　 Mahmoud Abbas became Palestine's new prime minister after Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat was forced to agree to share his power. Both the US and Israel had refused to enter into peace talks with Arafat, whom they consider unreliable (不可靠的). 　 The road map for peace leads in two directions: the safety of Israel and a state for the Palestinians. Three-step plan 　 The plan was written last December by the US, the United Nations, the European Union (欧盟), and Russia. 　 *The first step is to stop the violence (暴力) on both sides. Palestinians would draw up a constitution (宪法) for their government. And Israelis living on land that was once Palestine would not build new homes. 　 *The second step calls for an international conference that draws up the creation of a Palestinian state. 　 *The final step aims for a lasting agreement between Israel and the Palestine, and the support of neighbouring Arab states (阿拉伯国家). Uncertainty 　 US officials hope that both sides will follow the road to peace by 2005. 　 But to take the first step will be no easy task. Hours before the plan was announced, a suicide bomber (自杀爆炸者) killed himself and three others in Tel Aviv, Israel. The next day, 12 Palestinians were killed and 15 others were injured in an attack by the Israeli army on Gaza City. In other recent fighting in Gaza City on May 8, four more Palestinians were killed.

The Palestinians say that the two sides should be taking steps at the same time. But Israel demands the first step must be an end to Palestinian violence. 　　 In the face of such disagreement, many analysts (分析家) don't believe the plan can ensure a peaceful future in the Middle East.

3.　　　 Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage?

A.　　 During the peak of the SARS outbreak, life of Beijingers was greatly affected.

B.　　　 Most provinces and cities put a two-week quarantine (隔离) on travellers from Beijing.

C.　　　 In Beijing and Shanghai, public spitters were forced to pay a fine of 50 yuan.

D.　　 The number of cases in Beijing's hospitals fell below 60 by June 24.

Passage　 6 　Peace problem

Six months have passed since Saddam Hussein's rule of Iraq was declared over, but in many ways the war is still being fought. 　　 Groups opposed to American control of Baghdad have launched a series of suicide bombings across the city. Last Monday around 40 people were killed and more than 200 injured in the bloodiest day since peace was announced on May 1. One bomb even attacked the headquarters (总部) of the International Red Cross. 　　 Dr Jalal F Massa, a doctor whose daughter was injured in the attack on the Red Cross, said: "We, the Iraqi people, who have suffered so much, feel helpless when we see these things. The US occupation has not been a success." 　　 In the last three months, there have been several attacks in Iraq causing heavy damage. Not only were US troops targeted, but also UN buildings and workers, religious (宗教的) leaders, foreign officials and members of Iraq's new government. 　　 On October 28, the number of US soldiers who have died in Iraq since May 1 rose to 139, one more than the number who died during the war itself. 　　 Paul Bremer, the US chief administrator (行政长官) in Iraq, told the Iraqi people the US didn't like being an occupying power and promised they would only stay as long as is necessary. 　　 Although, there is transitory government in Iraq, it is controlled by the US and there is no timetable for handing over power to the Iraqis. Many other countries, including France, Germany and Russia, see this as a key part to rebuilding the country. 　　 "Only in this way can it be made clear that the present political situation in Iraq is a temporary (暂时的) one," said Gunter Pleuger, Germany's Ambassador (大使) to the UN. Although the UN has agreed to help rebuild the country, it remains divided over what its role should be. While the likes of France and Germany want to see a quick hand-over of power, the US and Britain focus more on removing rebel forces still supporting Saddam.

Rosemary Hollis, of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, said that whatever the US-led troops choose to do, they must act quickly. "If they do not move soon, they will lose control and there will not be any new government to put in power," she warned. "They will be stuck, as happened to America after the war in Viet Nam (越南)."