Whichissafer-stayingathome，travelingtoworkonpublictransport，orworkingintheoffice?Surprisingly，eachofthesecarriesthesamerisk，whichisverylow.However，whataboutflyingcomparedtoworkinginthechemicalindustry?Unfortunately，theformeris65timesriskierthanthelatter!Infact，theaccidentrateofworkersinthechemicalindustryislessthanthatofalmostanyofhumanactivity，andalmostassafeasstayingathome.

Thetroublewiththechemicalindustryisthatwhenthingsgowrongtheyoftencausedeathtothoselivingnearby.Itisthiswhichmakeschemicalaccidentssonewsworthy.Fortunately，theyareextremelyrare.ThemostfamousoneshappenedatTexasCity(1947)，Flixborough(1974)，Seveso(1976)，Pemex(1984)andBhopal(1984)。

Someofthesearealwaysinthemindsofthepeopleeventhoughthelossoflifewassmall.NoonediedatSeveso，andonly28workersatFlixborough.TheworstaccidentofallwasBhopal，whereupto3，000werekilled.TheTexasCityexplosionoffertilizerkilled552.ThePemexfireatastorageplantfornaturalgasinthesuburbsofMexicoCitytook542lives，justamonthbeforetheunfortunateeventatBhopal.

Someexpertshavediscussedtheseaccidentsandusedeachaccidenttoillustrateaparticulardanger.ThustheTexasCityexplosionwascausedbytonsofammoniumnitrate(硝酸铵)，whichissafeunlessstoredingreatquantity.TheFlixboroughfireballwasthefaultofmanagement，whichtookriskstokeepproductiongoingduringessentialrepairs.TheSevesoaccidentshowswhathappensifthelocalauthoritieslackknowledgeofthedangerontheirdoorstep.Whenthepoisonousgasdriftedoverthetown，localleaderswereincapableoftakingeffectiveaction.ThePemexfirewasmadeworsebyanoverloadedsiteinanovercrowdedsuburb.Thefiresetoffachainreactionosexplodingstoragetanks.Yet，byamiracle，thetwolargesttanksdidnotexplode.Hadthesecaughtfire，then3，000strongrescueteamandfirefighterswouldallhavedied.

1.Chemicalaccidentsareusuallyimportantenoughtobereportedasnewsbecause____.

A.theyareveryrare

B.theyoftencauselossoflife

C.theyalwaysoccurinbigcities

D.theyarousetheinterestofallthereaders

2.Whichofthefollowingstatementsistrue?

A.Workingattheofficeissaferthanstayingathome.

B.Traverllingtoworkonpublictransportissaferthanworkingattheoffice.

C.Stayingathomeissaferthanworkinginthechemicalindustry.

D.Workinginthechemicalindustryissaferthantravelingbyair.

3.Accordingtopassage，thechemicalaccidentthatcausedbythefaultofmanagementhappenedat____.

A.TexascityB.FlixboroughC.SevesoD.MexicoCity

4.Fromthediscussionamongsomeexpertswemaycocludethat____.

A.toavoidanyaccidentsweshouldnotrepairthefacilitiesinchemicalindustry

B.thelocalauthoritiesshouldnotbeconcernedwiththeproductionofthechemicalindustry

C.alltheseaccidentscouldhavebeenavoidedorcontrolledifeffectivemeasurehadbeentaken

D.naturalgasstoredinverylargetanksisalwayssafe

5.Fromthepassageweknowthatammoniumnitrateisakindof____.

A.naturalgas，whichcaneasilycatchfire

B.fertilizer，whichcan'tbestoredinagreatquantity

C.poisonoussubstance，whichcan'tbeusedinovercrowdedareas

D.fuel，whichisstoredinlargetanks

Letchildrenlearntojudgetheirownwork.Achildlearningtotalkdoesnotlearnbybeingcorrectedallthetime;ifcorrectedtoomuch,hewillstoptalking.Henoticesathousandtimesadaythedifferencebetweenthelanguagesheusesandthelanguagethosearoundhimuse.Bitbybit,hemakesthenecessarychangestomakehislanguagelikeotherpeople.Inthesameway,whenchildrenlearntodoalltheotherthingstheylearntodowithoutbeingtaught-towalk,run,climb,whistle,rideabicycle-comparethoseperformanceswiththoseofmoreskilledpeople,andslowlymaketheneededchanges.Butinschoolwenevergiveachildachancetofindouthisownmistakesforhimself,letalonecorrectthem.Wedoitallforhim.Weactasifwethoughtthathewouldnevernoticeamistakeunlessitwaspointedouttohim,orcorrectitunlesshewasmadeto.Soonhebecomesdependentontheteacher.Lethimdoithimself.Lethimworkout,withthehelpofotherchildrenifhewantsit,whatthiswordsays,whatansweristothatproblem,whetherthisisagoodwayofsayingordoingthisornot.

Ifitisamatterofrightanswers,asitmaybeinmathematicsorscience,givehimtheanswerbook.Lethimcorrecthisownpapers.Whyshouldweteacherswastetimeonsuchroutinework?Ourjobshouldbetohelpthechildwhenhetellsusthathecan’tfindthewaytogettherightanswer.Let’sendthisnonsenseofgrades,exams,marks,Letusthrowthemallout,andletthechildrenlearnwhatalleducatedpersonsmustsomedaylearn,howtomeasuretheirownunderstanding,howtoknowwhattheyknowordonotknow.

Letthemgetonwiththisjobinthewaythatseemssensibletothem.Withourhelpasschoolteachersiftheyaskforit.Theideathatthereisabodyofknowledgetobelearntatschoolandusedfortherestofone’slifeisnonsenseinaworldascomplicatedandrapidlychangingasours.Anxiousparentsandteacherssay,“Butsupposetheyfailtolearnsomethingessentialtheywillneedtogetintheworld?”Don’tworry!Ifitisessential,theywillgooutintotheworldandlearnit.

1.Whatdoestheauthorthinkisthebestwayforchildrentolearnthings?

A.bycopyingwhatotherpeopledo.

B.bymakingmistakesandhavingthemcorrected.

C.bylisteningtoexplanationsfromskilledpeople.

D.byaskingagreatmanyquestions.

2.Whatdoestheauthorthinkteachersdowhichtheyshouldnotdo?

A.Theygivechildrencorrectanswers.

B.Theypointoutchildren’smistakestothem.

C.Theyallowchildrentomarktheirownwork.

D.Theyencouragechildrentomarktocopyfromoneanother.

3.Thepassagesuggeststhatlearningtospeakandlearningtorideabicycleare___.

A.notreallyimportantskills.

B.moreimportantthanotherskills.

C.basicallydifferentfromlearningadultskills.

D.basicallythesameaslearningotherskills.

4.Exams,grades,andmarksshouldbeabolishedbecausechildren’sprogressshouldonlybeestimatedby___.

A.educatedpersons.

B.thechildrenthemselves.

C.teachers.

D.parents.

5.Theauthorfearsthatchildrenwillgrowupintoadultswhilebeing___.

A.tooindependentofothers.

B.toocriticalofthemselves.

C.incapabletothinkforthemselves.

D.incapabletousebasicskills.

Inthelast12yearstotalemploymentintheUnitedStatesgrewfasterthanatanytimeinthepeacetimehistoryofanycountry–from82to110millionbetween1973and1985–thatis,byafullonethird.Theentiregrowth,however,wasinmanufacturing,andespeciallyinno–blue-collarjobs…

Thistrendisthesameinalldevelopedcountries,andis,indeed,evenmorepronouncedinJapan.Itisthereforehighlyprobablethatin25yearsdevelopedcountriessuchastheUnitedStatesandJapanwillemploynolargeraproportionofthelaborforceInmanufacturingthandevelopedcountriesnowemployinfarming–atmost,10percent.TodaytheUnitedStatesemploysaround18millionpeopleinblue-collarjobsinmanufacturingindustries.By2010,thenumberislikelytobenomorethan12million.Insomemajorindustriesthedropwillbeevensharper.Itisquiteunrealistic,forinstance,toexpectthattheAmericanautomobileindustrywillemploymorethanone–thirdofitspresentblue-collarforce25yearshence,eventhoughproductionmightbe50percenthigher.

Ifacompany,anindustryoracountrydoesnotinthenextquartercenturysharplyincreasemanufacturingproductionandatthesametimesharplyreducetheblue-collarworkforce,itcannothopetoremaincompetitive–oreventoremain“developed.”Theattempttopreservesuchblue–collarjobsisactuallyaprescriptionforunemployment…

ThisisnotaconclusionthatAmericanpoliticians,laborleadersorindeedthegeneralpubliccaneasilyunderstandoraccept.WhatconfusestheissueevenmoreitthattheUnitedStatesisexperiencingseveralseparateanddifferentshiftsinthemanufacturingeconomy.Oneistheaccelerationofthesubstitutionofknowledgeandcapitalformanuallabor.Wherewespokeofmechanizationafewdecadesago,wenowspeakof“robotization“or“automation.”Thisisactuallymoreachangeinterminologythanachangeinreality.WhenHenryFordintroducedtheassemblylinein1909,hecutthenumberofman–hoursrequiredtoproduceamotorcarbysome80percentintwoorthreeyears–farmorethananyoneexpectstoresultfromeventhemostcompleterobotization.Butthereisnodoubtthatwearefacinganew,sharpaccelerationinthereplacementofmanualworkersbymachines–thatis,bytheproductsofknowledge.

1.Accordingtotheauthor,theshrinkageinthemanufacturinglaborforcedemonstrates______.

A.thedegreetowhichacountry’sproductionisrobotized

B.areductioninacountry’smanufacturingindustries

C.aworseningrelationshipbetweenlaborandmanagement

D.thedifferencebetweenadevelopedcountryandadevelopingcountry

2.Accordingtotheauthor,incoming25years,adevelopedcountryorindustry,inordertremaincompetitive,oughtto______.

A.reducethepercentageoftheblue-collarworkforce

B.preserveblue–collarjobsforinternationalcompetition

C.acceleratemotor–canmanufacturinginHenryFord’sstyle

D.solvetheproblemofunemployment

3.Americanpoliticiansandlaborleaderstendtodislike_____.

A.confusioninmanufacturingeconomy

B.anincreaseinblue–collarworkforce

C.internalcompetitioninmanufacturingproduction

D.adropintheblue–collarjobopportunities

4.Theword“prescription”in“aprescriptionforunemployment”maybetheequivalentto______

A.somethingrecommendedasmedicaltreatment

B.awaysuggestedtoovercomesomedifficulty

C.somemeasurestakeninadvance

D.adevicetodire

5.Thispassagemayhavebeenexceptedfrom________

A.amagazineaboutcapitalinvestment

B.anarticleonautomation

C.amotor-carmagazine

D.anarticleonglobaleconomy

PartIIVocabularyandStructure

Directions:Inthisparttherearefortyincompletesentences.Eachsentenceisfollowedbyfourchoices.ChoosetheonethatbestcompletesthesentenceandthenmarkyouranswerontheAnswerSheet.

21.Agreatmanycancerscanbecuredbutonlyifbeforetheyhavebeguntospreadorcolonizeinotherpartsofthebody.

A.properlytreat

B.properlytreating

C.beingproperlytreated

D.properlytreated

22.sheisalikeablegirl,sheisverydifficulttoworkwith.

A.SinceB.HoweverC.AsfarasD.While

23.Allthetouristsgavetherobbertheirmoney.

A.frightenedB.frighteningC.frightenD.frightful

24.herage,shereallydidagoodjobinsuchashorttime.

A.GivingB.GivesC.GiveD.Given

25.Thesoldierwaswithneglectinghisduty.

A.chargedB.conductedC.chargedD.committed

26.Thereasonwhythecarstoppedwas.

A.becausetheroadwasnotgoodB.thattheroadwasnotgood

C.duetothebadroadD.becauseofthebadroad

27.You’dbetterhurry,youmightbelateforclass.

A.orB.andC.unlessD.but

28.,heperformedthetaskwithsuccess.

A.ItwasexpectedB.Whichwasexpected

C.AswasexpectedD.Thatwasexpected

29.ThedoctorfeltJohn’sarmtoifthebonewasbroken.

A.workoutB.findoutC.lookatD.seeout

30.Hejustmysuggestionatthemeetingyesterday.

A.putawayB.shutdownC.showedoffD.brushedaside

31.Thequestionatthenextmeetingremainasecret.

A.discussedB.todiscussC.tobediscussedD.beingdiscussed

32.Hislazinesshisfailureinthefinalexam.

A.gaveupB.contributedC.resultedinD.distributed

33.Theteacher’stomystatementaboutthispoetledmetoreadwidelyaboutpoems.

A.changeB.chargeC.challengeD.chance

34.Onmostofthenights,Janereadinglettersfromherboyfriend.

A.stayedoffB.stayedonC.stayedoutD.stayedup

35.Thefirst-yearstudentswerelearningformthearmyinMiyun,asuburbofBeijingnearIlived.

A.whatB.whereC.thatD.which

36.Lyndaandhundredsofyoungpeoplelikehimthepostoftypist.

A.approachedB.appliedforC.appealedtoD.approvedof

37.Anybodyisentitledtosuchbenefitofageorsex.

A.regardlessB.whetherC.inspiteD.incase

38.Inthisbuildingeachapartmentcouldafamilyofsix.

A.houseB.coverC.makeD.include

39.Itriedtogetoutofthebusiness,Ifoundimpossible.

A.whoB.whichC.thatD.what

40.Whenheexplaineditagainandagain,thestudent’spatience.

A.ranoverB.ranonC.ranoutD.ranoff

41.WhenherneighborGrandmaWangbecameill,thegirloften.

A.fittedinB.workedoutC.heldbackD.helpedout

42.Ifyoureallywanttoapplyforthedangerousjob,Iwon’t,thoughtIthinkit’sacrazyidea.

A.stoodinyourwayB.standontheway

C.standinyourwayD.standbytheway

43.Hewastryingtoread;,thephonekeptringing.

A.meanwhileB.thenC.laterD.afterwards

44.Iamoutofthosepeoplewholikeastrenuous(费力的)holiday;Ibelievein.

A.tookiteasyB.takeniteasy

C.takingiteasyD.takingiteasily

45.Thepolicematchedthefingerprintsandfoundtheywere.

A.equivalentB.identicalC.similarD.equal

46.Formally,intheUnitedStates,manynursesworkedasprivatedutynursesinhospitals.

A.otherthanB.morethanC.lessthanD.ratherthan

47.Ifyoudon’tmind.Idomyhomeworkthanplaycardswithyou.

A.hadbetterB.preferC.wouldratherD.wouldlike

48.Theirideawastogetustothestrikeatonce.

A.callatB.calloffC.callinD.callfor

49.MycarsoIhadtocomebybus.

A.felldownB.brokedownC.felloverD.turnedaway

50.Icouldtellhewassurprisedfromtheonhisface.

A.appearanceB.sightC.expressionD.explanation

51.Whichis,NorthAmericaorSouthAmerica?

A.biggestB.thebiggestC.morebiggestD.bigger

52.Youshouldobservecarefullyhowtheaudiencehisspeech.

A.reachtoB.refertoC.reacttoD.relateto

53.Thesefarmersgotagoodharvestlastyear,sotheyabigsumofmoneyfornewfarmmachines.

A.setasideB.setaboutC.setupD.setback

54.Oneofmysayingsis“wherethereisawill,thereisaway.”

A.likelyB.favorableC.alikeD.favorite

55.Allisacontinuoussupplyoffueloil.

A.whatisneededB.thatisneeded

C.thethingisneededD.fortheirneeds

56.Thehighincometaxisharmfulitmaydiscouragepeoplefromtryingtoearnmore.

A.inthatB.thatC.inwhichD.which

57.Anewtechniqueout,theyieldincreasesby20%.

A.havingworkingB.havingbeenworked

C.atalossD.forgood

58.Thebirdflewintotheairandwassoon.

A.outofsightB.inahurryC.atalossD.forgood

59.ItisdecidedthatheforabustomeettheguestsfromBeijing.

A.callB.callsC.arrangeD.arranges

60.Iknowit’snotimportantbutIcan’thelpaboutit.

A.tothinkB.thinkingC.andthinkD.beingthought

Urbancongestionwouldgreatlyberelievedifthe____chargedonpublictransportweremorereasonable.