Federal regulators Wednesday approved a plan to create a nationwide emergency alert (警报) system using text messages delivered to cell phones.

Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years，particularly among young people.The wireless industry’s trade association，CTIA，estimates (估计) more than 48 billion text messages are sent each month.

The plan comes from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act，a 2009 federal law that requires improvement to the nation’s emergency alert system.The act tasked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with coming up with new ways to alert the public about emergencies.

“The ability to deliver accurate and timely warnings and alerts through cell phones and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families before，and during，disasters and other emergencies，” FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan.

Participation in the alert system by carriers－telecommunications companies－is voluntary，but it has received solid support from the wireless industry.

The program would be optional for cell phone users.They also may not be charged for receiving alerts.

There would be three different types of messages，according to the rules.

The first would be a national alert from the president，likely involving a terrorist attack or natural disaster.The second would involve “approaching threats”，which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or storms or even university shootings.The third would be reserved for child abduction (绑架) emergencies，or so?called Amber Alerts.

The service could be in place by 2010.

1．What is the purpose of the approved plan?

A．To warn people of emergencies via messages.

B．To popularize the use of cell phones.

C．To estimate the monthly number of messages.

D．To promote the wireless industry.

 

2．The improvement to the present system is in the charge of________.

A．CTIA　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．the Warning Alert and Response Network

C．FCC　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．federal regulators

3．The carriers’ participation in the system is determined by________.

A．the US federal government　　　　　　 B．mobile phone users

C．the carriers themselves　　　　 　　　 D．the law of the United States

4．Which of the following is TRUE of cell phone users?

A．They must accept the alert service.

B．They may enjoy the alert service for free.

C．They must send the alerts to others.

D．They may choose the types of messages.

5．An alert message will NOT be sent if________.

A．a child loses his way　　　　　　　　 B．a university shooting happens

C．a natural disaster happens　　　　　　 D．a terrorist attack occurs

 

Few of us haven’t read Cinderella, the story of a young woman living in poverty who meets the prince of her dreams. Some might not want to admit it, but there is a hidden Cinderella in everyone’s heart — we all wish we could achieve recognition or success after a period of obscurity (默默无闻) or neglect.

Mary Santiago has that secret dream, too. Her story is featured in Another Cinderella Story, a film set in a US high school.

Mary is shy but loves to dance. Compared with other girls, she is invisible. However, her world changes completely when a famous teenage pop singer, Joey Parker, appears.

Joey is everything the rest of the boys in her class are not — kind, handsome and desirable. Mary and Joey’s paths cross at a ball. They meet and fall in love with each other. But when Mary has to rush back home, she leaves behind her MP3 player, which becomes the only clue Joey has to find the girl of his dreams. Of course, there is a wicked (邪恶的) stepmother, who turns out to be Dominique Blatt and she takes in Mary after her dancer mother dies. Dominique treats Mary like a maid and does everything she can to make sure Mary doesn’t get into the top dance school. Her two daughters are equally determined to stop Joey falling for Mary, even if that means embarrassing her.

The story, though it mostly follows Cinderella, does add a few modern day twists to the classic fairy tale. Refreshingly, the film, unlike many high school films, does not focus on looks, although the actors are all beautiful. There is also a lot less materialism in Another Cinderella Story than in many similar movies.

“The movie takes the Cinderella fairytale as its jumping off point,” writes movie critic Amber Wilkinson. “The focus is firmly on following your dream.”

61. The first paragraph is mainly to _________.

A. build interest and lead us to Mary’s secret dream

B. remind us why Cinderella is popular all the years

C. inform us of the main topic of the whole passage

D. tell us how interesting the fairy tale Cinderella is

62. In the movie, Mary Santiago is the main character who ________.

A. is brave in expressing her love　　　 B. is attended badly by the stepmother

C. has a dream of meeting a prince　　　 D. is embarrassed by the pop singer

63. What can we infer from the passage?

A. Joey is just like other boys in Mary’s class.　　

B. Mary’s mother influences her a lot in singing.

C. Not many people have a dream to be realized.　

D. The MP3 player helps Joey in finding Mary.

64. The passage is mainly _________.

A. an introduction to a film　　　　　　 B. a review about a film

C. an essay about dreams　　　　　 　D. an advertisement of Cinderella

65. According to the passage, Another Cinderella Story __________.

A. follows Cinderella with nothing new　　　　　

B. pays more attention to the looks of the actors

C. encourages young people to follow their dreams　

D. focuses more on materialism than other films

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D），选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

A few years after Mom died, Dad handed me a plastic bag. That evening, I 　36 　 the bag to find dozens of shells, each one 　 37 　 in white tissue paper and having Mom’s handwriting.

The shells were pretty 　　38 　 , but to Mom, they were evidence of her endlessly magical life and 　 39 　 me of the seashore trip with her. She was 61 when she 　40 　 these shells, and already showing 　 41 　 of the lung disease that would kill her the next year. We knew something was 　 42 　 and mom needed an adventure. She suggested a dinner and a movie. But two friends and I had bigger 　　43 　 .

Mom had been to the ocean only twice, but she 　　44 　 the seashore. Her kitchen was decorated with souvenirs from those two trips. I called Mom and told her that we would 　　45　 for Jersey Shore. Mom was so　 46 that she screamed and Amber, her dog, who was sitting on her lap was 　　47 　 to jump onto the floor.

One of my favorite 　 48 　 on the road was a discussion about movies. Mom often got the titles wrong. “Ohhhh,” she said, “what was that movie about a teacher at the boys’ school?” Before anyone could 　 49 　 , she shouted, “I remember! The Dead Man’s Poet!” I looked in the rearview mirror and saw a back seat full of 　 50 　 . “Mom,” I said. “You mean Dead Poets Society?” “That’s it!” Mom yelled. 　 51 　 filled the car.

Once we got to Stone Harbor, she began to 　 52 　 the trip, greeting strangers and spending hours gathering shells.

　 The morning we left, I found her photographing every inch of her bedroom. “I don’t ever want to 　　53 　 this,” she said.

For a long time, Mom’s shells stayed 　 54 　 in a drawer. Last month, I 　 55 them again while searching for something else. I put them in a visible place as a reminder from a mother who never lost her sense of wonder.

36. A received　　 　　 　　　 B. opened　 　　　　 C. checked　　 　 　　　 D. packed

37. A. folded　　 　　 　　　 B. included　　 　 　　　 C. trapped　　　 D. covered

38. A. amazing　　　 B. common　　 C. lucky　　 　　 　　　 D. funny

39. A. reminded　　 　 B. demanded　　 C. informed　　 D. warned

40. A. moved　　　 　 B. protected　　 　　　 C. collected　　 D. examined

41. A. signals　　 　　　　　　 B. scenes　　　 C. signs　　　　 D. sights

42. A. wrong　　 　　 　　　 B. missing　　　 C. strange　　　 　　　 D. boring

43. A. cars　　　 　　 　　　 B. days　 　　　 C. maps　　　　 D. plans

44. A. remembered　　 　　 B. trusted　　 　 　　　 C. loved　　　 　 　　　 D. respected

45. A. wait　　　 　　　　　　 B. head　　　　 C. look　　　 　　 　　　 D. pay

46. A. encouraged　　 B. relaxed　　　 C. surprised　　 　　　 D. excited

47. A. frightened　　 B. embarrassed　 C. disappointed　 D. pleased

48. A. reasons　　　 　 B. thoughts　　 　 　　　 C. memories　　 D. questions

49. A. realize　 　　　　 B. add　　　 　　 　　　 C. advise　　　 D. answer

50. A. confusion　　 　 B. worry　　　 　　　 C. emotion　　 D. peace

51. A. Pride　　 　　　 B. Laughter　　 C. Shouts　　　 D. Challenges

52. A. enjoy　　 　　　 B. organize　　 C. support　　　 D. take

53. A. decide　　 　　 　　　 B. forget　　　 C. believe　　　 D. mean

54. A. unexpected　　 B. stuck　　 　　 　　　 C. unknown　　 　　　 D. buried

55. A. mistook　 　　　　 B. developed　 　 C. discovered　　 　　　 D. prepared