8．A. hundred　　　　 B. thousand　　　　　 C. million　　　　　 D. millions

7．A. For　　　　　　 B. As　　　　　　　　 C. Be　　　　　　　 D. To be

6．A. that　　　　　　 B. which　　　　　　 C. whose　　　　　　 D. who

5．A. other　　　　　 B. others　　　　　　 C. the others　　　　 D. another

4．A. finding　　　　 B. saw 　　　　　　　C. found　　　　　　 D. found out

3．A. playing　　　　 B. sitting　　　　　　 C. working　　　　　 D. watching

2．A. hours　　　　　 B. days　　　　　　 C. minute　　　　　　 D. week

1．A. died　　　　　　 B. killed　　　　　　 C. 　hurted　　　　　　 D. dying

15.A. and　　　　　　 B. or　　　　　　　　　 C. so　　　　　　　 D. but

Keys: BCADC　 CACBC　　 BABCB

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 (2)

　Thirty-four miners (矿工) were __1__ in a gas explosion (煤气爆炸) in the early _2_ of yesterday at a State-owned coal mine in Hebi, a city in central China’s Henan province. The accident occurred (发生) at 4:45 am when 53 miners were __3__ underground at the No 38 pit of Mine 2 of the Hebi Coal Industry (Group) Corporation Ltd.

The 34 miners were _4_dead after the gas was ignited, while _5_ 19 scrambled (攀爬) to safety.“ Considering the damage of a gas explosion, the possibility of any survivors(生存者) underground is slim,” said a local official, __6_ only gave his surname, Xiao.

The cause (原因) of the accident remains under investigation (调查).__7__ the largest State-owned coal mine in Hebei, the company consists of (由　 组成) eight production mines and generates (生产) an output of more than 7 __8_ tons (吨) a year. Mine 2 has 3,800 employees(员工).The accident renewed __9__ over the __10__ of coal production in Henan Province. On October 20,2004,a gas explosion in the Daping Coal Mine of Pingmo County in the city of Xinmi _11_ 148 people and injured 32.

_12__ August 31, 17 people ___13_ been killed this year in 13 __14__ in State-owned collieries and small mines in Henan.

The __15_ tragedy (悲剧) came amidst a nation-wide crackdown (腐败) on corruption(严惩) to prevent (阻止) rampant (频繁的) coal mine accidents.

14.A. between　　　　　 B. among　　　　　　　 C. during　　　　　 D. in