People who object to seat belt installation suggest that children are already well protected by the school buses that follow the Nation Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) safety requirements set in 1977. They also believe that many children won’t wear seat belts anyway, and that may damage the belts or use them as weapons to hurt other children.

A new Research council report on school bus safety suggest that there are alternate safety devices and procedures that may be more effective and less expensive . For example, the study committee suggested that raising seat backs four inches may have the same safety effectiveness as seat belts.

   The report sponsored by the Department of transportation at the request of Congress, reviews seat belts extensively while taking a broader look at safety in and around school buses.

63.The author’s attitude towards the coming space weapon development is _______.

   A. optimistic     B. critical     C. excited     D. indifferent

C

Every day 25 million US children ride school buses. The safety record for these buses is much better than for passenger cars: but nevertheless, about 10 children are killed each year riding on large school buses, and nearly four times that number are killed outside buses in the loading zones. By and large, however, the nation’s school children are transported to and from school safety.

Even though the number of school bus accidents is not large, the safety of children is always of intense public concern. While everyone wants to see children transported safely, people are divided about what needs to be done- particularly whether seat belts should be compulsory.

People in favor of seat belts on school buses- many of them parents and medical organizations -argue that seat belts are necessary not only to reduce fatality and injury, but also to teach children lessons about the importance of using them routinely in any moving vehicle. A side benefit, they point out, is that seat belts help keep children in their seats, away from the bus driver.

62.After reading this passage, it can be inferred that “___________ “.

   A. George W. Bush’s directive to be issued will be against global opinions

   B. The White House is right in explaining that US new space policy aims to protect satellites

   C.US government has little difficulty in developing new space weapons

   D. President George W. Bush and Bill Clinton share a lot in common

61.According to this passage, which of the following is NOT true?

   A. President George W. Bush supports space weapon development.

   B. The space weapon program will threaten world peace

   C. Clinton government was poorer than Bush government.

   D. The US space weapon project is very expensive.

60.Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?

A.      US Military Plans                  B. The Global Arms Race

   C. A Comparison between Two Presidents  D. President George W. Bush and the World Peace

59.The text probably comes from _______.

   A. a guide book   B. an ad. on newspaper    C. a website      D. a magazine

B.

United States President George W. Bush is expected to issue a directive in the next few weeks. It will give the US Air Force a green light for the development of space weapons, US media reported last week.

This would potentially start a new global arms race, some experts have warned.

To keep that from happening, last Wednesday the White House explained that it was not considering putting weapons in space. It said it was making a shift in US space policy to allow for protection of satellites.

But some defense analysts and arms control advocates argue that the policy will pave the way for the US to put both defensive and offensive ( 攻击性的) weapons in space.

“No one should be fooled,” said Theresa Hitchens, an American weapons expert.

The US is now restricted by a 1996 directive  signed by President Bill Clinton. Plans for space weapons were vetoed ( 否决) by the Clinton cabinet. The directive emphasized the peaceful use of space , in agreement with almost unanimous (一致的 ) global opinion.

The US military has placed importance on space and has sent up numberous satellites for troop communications and to provide intelligence and data to guide bombs to their targets.

The US Air Force wants to develop space- based weapons that could strike targets anywhere in the world within 90 minutes of receiving the order to open fire.

These new weapons under development cover a wide range. They include hunter- killer satellites and orbiting weapons. And they use lasers, radio waves, or even dense metal tubes, known as “ Rods from God”, dropped from space to do the damage.

There are many barriers to the setting up of this kind of program, experts say.

First is the coast. It is estimated that the budget may be US $220 billion to US $ 1 trillion ( 万亿).

The technical difficulties of developing reliable space weapons are also a problem.

And, the program will draw strong criticism from around the world. Experts worry about starting a space arms race.

58.Which activity is NOT included in the voyage?

   A. Having singles cocktail parties.         B. Having private access to our singles chat site.

   C.Mixers, games, single- mingle dining etc.  D. Finding a roommate.

57.What can Match Program do for travelers according to the text?

   A.To match a single man with a proper woman

   B. To match a single woman with a proper man

   C. To have a match between same- *** singles in one room.

   D. To pair a willing person with a same- *** single in one room.

56. The voyage which is strongly recommended in the text is for _______.

 A. young singles   B. singles of all ages who want to meet people and make friends

 C. single travelers  D. singles who intend to go to the world’s greatest destinations