13．Under the extreme conditions of a disaster，human beings display the best and worst they are capable of．In the midst of chaos，"women and children first"is the traditional way of doing
things．
When the Titanic sank，the stories of the courage mainly shown in the face of death moved the world．Sixty years before that，the passengers of another ship had shown even greater discipline and nobility（高尚的品格）in a terrible situation．
The ship was the Birkenhead，a steam-powered troopship transporting British troops to South Africa．On 26 February，1852，the ship hit an uncharted rock while rounding the Cape of Good Hope．There were about six hundred and eighty on board，of whom fifty were women and children．The remainders were soldiers and officers of the 74th Highlanders，led by Major Alexander Sexton．In addition，the ship was loaded with horses．
The collision（磋撞）had already caused dozens of the troops to drown as they slept below the deck．Major Sexton ordered the survivors on deck，and in one of the more remarkable displays of courage seen，the soldiers stood silently to attention as the women and children were loaded into the life-boats．The ship was sinking rapidly and leaning，but they continued to stand until all the women and horses were driven over-board to give them a chance．Only then，at the order from Major Sexton，did they break ranks and try to save their own lives．But the ship broke up，and four hundred and eighty-eight of the soldiers died．
In complete opposition to this bravery，was the occasion when nearly all the casualties were women and children．This happened on l April，1873．The White Star liner Atlantic，under the command of the incompetent Captain Williams，was wrecked on rocks off the coast of Nova Scotia．Williams，who knew the dangers of the area，had refused to consult charts or maps and had become utterly lost in the bad weather．In the panic，the male passengers deserted their families and tried to escape ashore．Their behavior was shocking．There were five hundred and sixty deaths．Of the four hundred survivors，not one was a woman．
78．What is the correct time order of the three disasters？C
A．The White Star Liner Atlantic，the Birkenhead，the Titanic．
B．The Birkenhead，the Titanic，the White Star Liner Atlantic．
C．The Birkenhead，the White Star Liner Atlantic，the Titanic．
D．The Titanic，the Birkenhead，the White Star Liner Atlantic．
79．Which of the following is true about the Birkenhead？B
A．She hit a rock and sank immediately．
B．The crew escaped after the women and children．
C．All the survivors were soldiers，officers and horses．
D．Half of the people on board were women and children．
80．What does the underlined word"casualties"probably mean？D
A．Survivors．B．Soldiers，C．Crew．D．Deaths．
81．What caused the White Star Liner Atlantic's collision？A
A．The bad weather．
B．The uncharted rock，
C．The people on board．
D．The inexperienced captain．
82．What is the best title of this passage？A
A．The Best and the Worst
B．The Meaning of Nobility
C．"Lady First"Rule
D．Ship Collision．
分析 这篇文章主要讲述了在面对极其恶劣的灾难面前，列举两个事例分别展示了人们所表现出来的截然不同的两种选择．
解答 78题 C．细节理解题．Birkenhead，On 26 February，1852；The White Star liner Atlantic，l April，1873；以及第二段，Sixty years before that；可知正确顺序为C．
79题 B 细节理解题．第三段the ship hit an uncharted rock while rounding the Cape of Good Hope以及后来营救可知船并没有立即沉没；第三段得知幸存者有妇女儿童，并非都是 soldiers，officers and horses，C错误；第三段可知，There were about six hundred and eighty on board，of whom fifty were women and children D错误；第四段Major Sexton ordered the survivors on deck，and in one of the more remarkable displays of courage seen，the soldiers stood silently to attention as the women and children were loaded into the life-boats可知B正确．
80题 D．猜测词意题．根据第五段In complete opposition to this bravery，was the occasion when nearly all the casualties were women and children．可知，和Birkenhea沉船事件相反的是，这次事件死亡的全部都是妇女儿童．推断casualties为死亡的意思．
81题 A．细节理解题．根据最后一段…had refused to consult charts or maps and had become utterly lost in the bad weather，可知天气恶劣是这次事故主要原因．
82题 A．主旨概括题．根据全文所列举的三次事例，以及人们在面对灾难面前所表现的不同选择带来不同的结果，可以判断最好的标题为"The Best and the Worst"．
点评 本文为故事类阅读理解，难度不大，考查学生对文章细节的理解力，以及根据文章内容概括总结能力．
写作内容
