You want to run across the street to catch the bus which is leaving soon ? But wait ! You'd better not .
If a policeman sees you , you'll have to pay a fine (罚款).
         New traffic laws (交通法) say that if people cross the street when the light is red , they can be fined as
much as 50 yuan .
         Traffic accidents killed more than 104,000 people in China last year . Chinese cities have more cars than
ever . Drivers and pedestrians (行人) must work together to make the streets safer .
         The law has new rules for drivers and pedestrians . Divers have to slow down when they are close to
crosswalks . If people are in a crosswalk , cars must stop to let them walk .
         There are rules for bus drivers , too . If bus drivers smoke , drink or make phone calls while driving, they
can be fined . Buses that carry too many people are also against the law .
         Pedestrians will have to walk more safely under the new law . They must cross streets at crosswalks .
Also , they shouldn't climb over the fences (栅栏) along streets .
         Do you bike to school ? It's not a good idea to carry classmates on the back . You could be fined 50
yuan .
         And stay in the bike lane (车道) when you're riding . The big roads are for cars and buses .
         Do you like to ride your uncle's motorbike ? When you put on your helmet (头盔), ask him to put one
on , too . People on motorbikes must wear helmets , the new law says . If they don't , they'll have to pay 200
yuan .
         Do you ride in cars often ? Don't forget to put on your seat belt (安全带), even if you're going for a
short taxi ride . It could save your life .
         If you see a hit-and-run (肇事逃逸), tell the police . They may give you a reward (奖赏).
         And don't be afraid to help people to the hospital if they are hurt in an accident . Don't worry about
money . The new law says that doctors must take care of them even if they can't pay right away .

1. Don't go across the road when            .

A. the light is green
B. the light is red
C. the bus is leaving
D. traffic is busy

2. What does the word "crosswalk" mean in Chinese ?

3. If you are a bus driver,           while you are driving , according to (根据) the new traffic laws .

A. you can make a phone call
B. you can't talk to others
C. you can't smoke
D. you can drink

4. When you ride in a car, the first thing you must do is            .

A. to put on the helmet
B. to pay the driver
C. to put on the seat belt
D. to see if it carries too many people

5. You should not            .

A. carry your classmate on the back when you're riding a bike to school
B. phone the police when you see a hit-and-run
C. help people to the hospital if they are hurt in an accident
D. wear your helmet while riding a motorbike

     A few minutes ago, walking back from lunch, I started to cross the street when I heard the sound of a
coin dropping. It wasn't much but, as I turned, my eyes caught the heads of several other people turning too.
A woman had dropped what seemed to be a dime (十美分硬币).
     The sound of a coin dropping on the street catches everybody's attention. Whatever the coin is, no one
ignores (忽视) the sound of it. It got me thinking about sounds again.
     There are so many sounds that catch the most attention. People in New York City seldom turn to look
when they hear the siren (警报) of a police car or an ambulance (救护车).
     When I'm in New York, I'm a New Yorker. I don't turn either. I hardly hear a siren there.
     At home in my little town in Connecticut, it's different. The faraway high sound of a police car, an
ambulance or a fire siren brings me to my feet if I'm sitting and brings me to the window if I'm in bed.
     It's the quietest sounds that catch our attention most easily, not the loudest. In the middle of the night, I
can hear water dropping a hundred yards away through three closed doors. I've been hearing little creaking
(吱嘎) noises and sounds in the middle of the night for twenty-five years in our house. Why do I never hear
those sounds in the daytime?

1. The sound of a coin dropping made people ______.

A. think of money
B. shout aloud
C. pay attention to it
D. look at each other

2. People in New York ______.

A. are used to sirens
B. don't hear loud noises
C. are interested in sounds
D. don't care about quiet sounds

3. The writer ______.

A. has a bad hearing
B. stays up late at night
C. comes from a little town
D. sleeps next to the window

4. The last paragraph (段落) tells us that ______.

A. the writer thinks a lot at night
B. water should be turned off at night
C. the sounds at night make the writer afraid
D. the quietest sounds at night are easily heard