TIJUANA, Mexico – A powerful earthquake swayed （摇动） buildings from Los Angeles to Tijuana, killing two people in Mexico, blacking out cities and forcing the evacuation （疏散） of hospitals and nursing homes．One California city closed off its downtown due to unstable buildings．
The 7．2-magnitude quake centered just south of the US border near Mexicali was one of the strongest earthquakes to hit region in decades．
"It sounds like it's felt by at least 20 million people," USGS seismologist Lucy Jones said．"Most of Southern California felt this earthquake．"
Sunday afternoon's earthquake hit hardest in Mexicali, a commerce center along Mexico's border with California, where authorities said the quake was followed by at least 20 smaller aftershocks, including ones of magnitudes 5．1, 4．5 and 4．3．
"It has not stopped trembling in Mexicali," said Baja California state Civil Protection Director Alfredo Escobedo on Monday．
Escobedo said one man was killed when his home collapsed just outside of Mexicali and another died when he rushed into the street in panic and was struck by a car．At least 100 people were injured in the city, most of them struck by falling objects．Power was out in virtually the entire city．
Susan Warmbier was putting away groceries in the San Diego suburb of Chula Vista when her husband asked, "Is the house moving?"
Elsewhere in San Diego, there were reports of shattered windows, broken pipes and water main breaks in private buildings, but no reports of injuries, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman Maurice Luque said．Coronado Bridge over San Diego Bay was briefly closed as a precaution．
Across the border in Tijuana, Mexico, the quake caused buildings to sway and knocked out power in some areas．No tsunami warning was issued, but hundreds of people on Tijuana's crowded beach feared the worst and fled when they felt the ground shake．
【小题1】What's the best title of the passage?

A．A strong quake in Mexico, but no tsunami

B．A strong quake kills 2 in Mexico, frightens US states

C．A strong quake, downtowns closed off

D．A strong quake, buildings collapses

【小题2】The 7．2-magnitude quake         ．

A．centered just south of the Mexico

B．was felt by 20 million people in Mexico

C．was felt by most of Southern California

D．was the strongest earthquakes to hit region in centuries

【小题3】Which is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Some cities had power failure after the quake．

B．One of the cities closed off its downtown because of the swaying buildings．

C．Many smaller quakes happened after the 7．2-magnitude one．

D．Hundreds of people on the beach died because of the tsunami．

【小题4】People got injured mostly         ．

A．because they were in panic

B．because the power was out in the whole city

C．because of the falling objects

D．because they were buried under the falling objects

【小题5】Coronado Bridge over San Diego Bay was briefly closed         ．

A．to avoid further dangers

B．by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department

C．as a reminding of the quake

D．to prevent the bridge from destroying

As I sat beside the window of our classroom that afternoon, my heart sank further with each passing car. This was a day I’d looked forward to for weeks: Miss Pace’s fourth-grade, end-of-the-year party. I had happily volunteered my mother when Miss Pace looked for cookie volunteers. Mom’s chocolate chips were well-known, and I knew they’d be a hit with my classmates. But two o’clock passed, and there was no sign of her. Most of the other mothers had already come and gone, dropping off their sweet offerings. The three o’clock bell soon took me away from my thoughts and I took my book bag from my desk. I decided I would slam the front door, and refuse to return her hug.
But when I arrived, she wasn’t at home. I was lying face-down on my bed upstairs when I heard her come through the front door. “Robbie,” she called out a bit urgently. “Where are you?” I could then hear her rushing anxiously from room to room, wondering where I could be. I remained silent. Coming through the door, she said: “I’m so sorry, honey,” she said. “I just forgot. I got busy and forgot.” Then my mother did something completely unexpected. She began to laugh! How could she laugh at a time like this? I rolled over and faced her, ready to let her see my rage (愤怒). But my mother wasn’t laughing at all. She was crying. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I let you down. I let my little boy down.”
I was moved by her tears. I tried to remember her kind words from times past when I’d skinned knees or cut myself, times when she knew just the right thing to say. “It’s okay, Mom. We didn’t even need those cookies. There was plenty of stuff to eat. Don’t cry. It’s all right. Really.” We didn’t say another word. We just held each other. When we came to the point where I would usually pull away, I decided that, this time, I could hold on, perhaps, just a little bit longer.
【小题1】The author was pretty down because ________.

A．he couldn’t go to the party he had been looking forward to

B．his mother didn’t turn up at the party as she had promised

C．his mother had refused to make chocolate chips for the party

D．the cookies his mom made was not popular at the party

【小题2】When the author returned home, ________.

A．he was so angry that he slammed the front door.

B．he was silent and refused to return his mother’s hug.

C．he rushed from room to room looking for his mother.

D．he was so disappointed that he couldn’t express his anger to his mother.

【小题3】We can tell from the story that _______.

A．the mother didn’t get to the party because of the traffic jam

B．the mother was sorry for her absence and laughed at herself

C．the author was a caring and thoughtful boy

D．the author was overcome with anger

【小题4】The article conveys the message that _______.

A．it is silly to be angry with your family

B．everybody should keep his or her promises

C．true love is based on understanding

D．understanding how to comfort people in low spirits is a true skill

In 1989 an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened America, killing over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. A father rushed to the school where his son was supposed to be, only to discover that the building was as flat as a pancake.

After the shock, he remembered the promise he had made to his son: “No matter what happened, I’ll always be there for you!” And tears began to fill his eyes. As he looked at the pile of ruins that once was the school, it looked hopeless, but he kept remembering his promise to his son.

Remembering his son’s classroom would be in the back right corner of the building, he rushed there and started digging.

Other parents tried to pull him off the ruins, saying: “It’s too late! They’re all dead! You can’t help!” He replied, “Are you going to help me now?” The fire chief showed up and tried to pull him off the school’s ruins saying, “Fires are breaking out, explosions are happening everywhere. You’re in danger. We’ll take care of it. Go home.” This loving, caring American father asked, “Are you going to help me now?”

The police came and said, “You’re, anxious and it’s over. Go home. We’ll handle it!” He replied, “Are you going to help me now?” No one helped.

Courageously he went on alone. He dug for eight hours...12 hours...24 hours...36 hours...then, in the 38th hour, he heard his son’s voice. He screamed his son’s name, “ARMAND!” He heard back, “Dad! It’s me, Dad! You promised no matter what happened, you would always be there for me! You did it, Dad!” “What’s going on in there? How is it?” the father asked.

“There are 14 of us left out of 33, Dad. ”

“Come out, boy!”

“No, Dad! Let the other kids out first, because I know you’ll get me! No matter what happens, I know you’ll always be there for me!”

1. Why did the father keep digging?

A. Because he promised his wife he would take care of their son.

B. Because others persuaded him to do so.

C. Because he promised his son that he would be with him whatever happened.

D. Because his son was his only child.

2. Many people came up and tried to persuade the father to stop digging except ______.

A. the police                                                   B. the fire chief

C. some kind parents                                   D. the medical officer

3.Which of the following best describes the son?

A. Calm, hopeful and strong-minded.

B. Careful, helpful and absent-minded.

C. Frightened, hopeless and thankful.

D. Cold-hearted, honest and faithful.

4.What does the underlined word “they” in the fourth paragraph refer to?

A. those parents      B.     the students

C. the teachers                  D. The fire officers

5.We can learn from the passage that ______.

A. sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand

B. you cannot go on well in life until you forget your past failures

C. love can set us free from all fear and overcome the difficulties

D. we have enough happiness to make us sweet and enough sorrow to keep us human

 

       Andy rode slowly on his way to school, day-dreaming about the fishing trip that his father had promised him. He was so busy dreaming about all the fish he would catch that he was unaware of everything else around him.

       He rode along until a strange sound drew him to the present. He came to a stop and looked curiously up to the heavens. What he saw shocked and terrified him. A huge swarm of bees filled the sky like a black cloud and the buzzing mass seemed to be heading angrily towards him.

       With no time to waste, Andy sped off in the opposite direction, riding furiously — but without knowing how to escape the swarm. With a rapidly beating heart and his legs pumping furiously, he sped down the rough road. As the bees came closer, his panic increased. Andy knew that he was sensitive to bee stings (蜇). The last sting had landed him in hospital — and that was only one bee sting! He had been forced to stay in bed for two whole days. Suddenly, his father’s words came to him. “When you are in a tight situation, don’t panic. Use your brain and think your way out of it.”

       On a nearby hill, he could see smoke waving slowly skywards from the chimney of the Nelson family home. “Bees don’t like smoke,” he thought. “They couldn’t get into the house.” Andy raced towards the Nelson house, but the bees were gaining ground. Andy knew he could not reach the house in time. He estimated that the bees would catch up with him soon.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted a small dam used by Mr. Nelson to irrigate his vegetable garden. Off his bike and into the cool water he dived, disappearing below the surface and away from the savage insects. After holding his breath for as long as he could, Andy came up for air and noticed the bees had gone. Dragging himself out of the dam, he struggled up the hilly slope and rang the doorbell. Mrs. Nelson took him inside and rang his mother.

“You’ll really need that fishing break to help you recover,” laughed his mother with relief. “Thank goodness you didn’t panic!” But Andy did not hear her. He was dreaming once again of the fish he would catch tomorrow.”

Why did Andy fail to notice the swarm of bees earlier?

A. He was lost in the thought of the fishing trip.

B. He was listening to a strange sound.

C. He was going fishing with his father.                    

       D. He was riding to school.  

Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the swarm of bees in the passage?

A. They made Andy stay in hospital for two days.

B. They shocked and terrified Andy.

C. They tried to attack Andy in a mass.              

       D. They crowded like a black cloud.    

How did Andy avoid the bees in the end?

A. He rode off in the opposite direction.             B. He hid himself under the water.

C. He rushed into the Nelson house.                   D. He asked Mr. Nelson for help.

Which of the following can best describe Andy’s escape from the bees?

A. In time of danger, one’s mind works fast.              B. Once bitten, twice shy.

C. Where there is a will, there is a way.                     D. No pains, no gains.

Hearing the news, he rushed out, ______ the book ______ on the table and disappeared into the distance.

A．left; lain open                          B．leaving; lying open

C．leaving; lie opened                      D．left; lay opened