No country in the world has more daily newspapers than the USA.　There are almost 2000 of them，as compared with 180 in Japan，164 in Argentina and 111 in Britain.　The quality（质量） of some American papers is quite high and their views are used all over the world.　Excellent newspapers like the Washington Post or the New York Times　have a powerful influence（影响） all over　the country.　However，the Post　and the New York Times　are not national newspapers in the sense that The Times is in Britain of Le Monde is in France，since each American city has its own daily newspaper.　The best of these give detailed（详细的）accounts of national and international news，but many tend to limit themselves to state or city news.?

Like the press（报刊） in most other countries，American newspapers report news from the “exciting” and “relaxing” to the serious.　They try to entertain people as well as give information，for they have to compete with the attraction of television.

Just as American newspapers try to satisfy all tastes，they also try to attract readers of all political parties.　A few news papers support extremist（极端主义者） groups on the far right and on the far left，but most daily newspapers try their best to attract middle-of-the-road Americans who are mainly moderate（温和的）.Many of these papers print materials by well?known journalists of different political and social views，in order to give a balanced picture.?

As in other countries American newspapers can be either responsible（负责任的） or irresponsible，but it is generally accepted that the American press serves its country well and that it has more than once exposed political scandals（丑闻），for example，the Watergate Affair（水门事件）.?

1.Which newspaper in the U.　K.　is national？?

A.?Le Monde.　　　　　　　 B.?Washington Post.?

C.?New York Times.　　　　　　 D.?The Times.?

2.Most American newspapers attract readers by carrying　　　　　 .?

A.　national news　　　　　 B.　local news?

C.　international news　　　　 D.　political news?

3.In order to win the competition with television，American newspapers have to　　　 .

A.　give information　　　 B.　give serious news?

C.　give entertainment news　　 D.　give national news?

4.Most daily newspapers attract moderate Americans by　　　　　 .?

A.　printing articles by well-known journalists of different views?

B.　supporting extremist groups?

C.　exposing political scandals?

D.　serving the country well?

 

Bloodsucking bed bugs (臭虫) have made a comeback in recent years. But as victims of affection have become increasingly desperate to rid their homes of the disturbing pests, many have only done themselves more harm.

Bed bugs do not transmit disease or cause illness — but the insecticides used to make them do. A total of 111 illnesses associated with bed bug-related insecticides were reported in seven states between 2003 and 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Thursday. Most cases of poisoning were not severe, but the data included one death.

That case involved a 65-year-old woman in North Carolina who died in 2011. After she complained to her husband about bed bugs, the CDC report said, he sprayed the inside of their home, including the baseboard, walls, and the area around the bed, with the insecticide Ortho Home Defense Max. He then applied a different product, Ortho Lawn and Garden Insect Killer, to their bedding. Neither insecticide is registered for use against bed bugs, the CDC said. That day, the couple also emptied nine cans of Hot Shot Fogger in their home. Two days later, they reapplied the insecticides and released nine more cans of Hot Shot Bedbug and Insect Killer. The woman then applied the insecticide Hot Shot Bedbug and Insect Killer directly to her arms and chest, and wet her hair with it before covering her head with a plastic cap.

Two days later, her husband found her. She was taken to the hospital where she remained on a ventilator (呼吸器) for nine days until she died. The woman had had a history of health problems, including kidney (肾) failure, heart disease, high blood pressure and, and depression, the CDC report said. She had been taking at least 10 kinds of medicine at the time of her death.

Aside from the one reported death, most other cases of poisoning were mild. Commonly reported symptoms of exposure included headache and dizziness, breathing difficulties.

41. In paragraph one, “many have only done themselves more harm”, the author means that 　　　　.

　 A. the bugs themselves are more harmful to the victims

　 B. there are more and more victims of bed bugs nowadays

　 C. more and more bed bugs have come back recently

　 D. what victims have done is more harmful to themselves

42. The underlined word “insecticide” in Paragraph 3 means 　　　　.

　 A. a kind of bed bug　　　　 B. a kind of insect killer

　 C. a serious illness　　　　 D. a plastic cap

43. Which of the following are the reasons for the woman’s death?

　 ①The couple applied too many insecticides in their home.

②The woman sprayed insecticides not meant for use on humans.

③The woman had a history of health problems.

④Bed bugs transmitted diseases to the old woman.

A.①②③④　　 B.①②　　 C.①②③　 D.②③④

44. The symptoms of insecticide poisoning do NOT include 　　　　.

　 A. kidney failure　　　 B. dizziness

　 C. headache　　　　　 D. difficulty in breathing

45. What can we infer from the passage?

A. There were many deaths caused by the infection of bed bugs.

B. The insecticide the husband sprayed was not for use against bed bugs.

C. A large number of bed bugs were killed by the old couple.

D. Many illnesses related to bed bugs were reported in America.