At 2:30 on December 5, 1945, five US Navy training planes took off in clear weather from the base Lauderdale, Florida．The planes flew east over the coast… and disappeared．The group was Flight 19, on a run between Florida and Bahamas. Tailor was the group leader.  At about3∶40, Tailor reported that his compasses were not reading properly. The other planes followed their leaders aimlessly, first east, then west, then northeast over the ocean, as Tailor tried to make sure of the direction by radio. Then, suddenly Tailor was heard to give orders to dive…

Quickly, Two giant Martin seaplanes were sent up to search for Flight 19. Several hours later, the wind became strong and visibility (能见度) dropped．A return to base was ordered．But only one of the Martin seaplanes landed．Fore days later, the Navy and Coast Guard combed a100, 000 square miles area with more than 100 planes and ships. No sign was ever shown of the missing planes.

Today, people have noted the disappearance of many ships and planes in the southwest part of the North Atlantic and began to call this area the Bermuda Triangle(百慕大三角区).

The points of the triangle are Bermuda, Puerto Rico and a spot in the Gulf of Mexico, west of Florida．It is a twofaced water world of tiny islands, bright beaches and beautiful waters. Yet thick fogs, powerful currents (激流) and sudden storms are hidden behind this smiling surface.

1. Why did Flight 19 disappear?

A．Because the wind became strong and visibility dropped

B．Because Tailor was given wrong orders to dive.

C．Because Tailor couldn’t reed his compasses correctly.

D．Because something unknown made the compasses unable to work as usual.

2. In what position did Flight 19 disappear?

A．In the southeast part of the Atlantic Ocean.

B．In the northeast part of the Atlantic Ocean.

C．To the southwest of Bermuda in the Atlantic Ocean.

D．To the northeast of Bermuda in the Atlantic Ocean.

3. How many planes disappeared altogether that day?

A．Five.

B．Six.

C．Two.

D．Only one.

4. The word “ comb” in the passage means________.

A．cover with  

B．fly over

C．do up one’s hair with a comb

D．search all over

5. Which of the following shows the correct position of the Bermuda Triangle?

(F = Florida, Bm = Bermuda, PR = Puerto Rico, Bh= Barhamas, MG = the Gulf of Mexico, Atl= the Atlantic Ocean, B= Base)

Quickly, Two giant Martin seaplanes were sent up to search for Flight 19. Several hours later, the wind became strong and visibility (能见度) dropped．A return to base was ordered．But only one of the Martin seaplanes landed．Fore days later, the Navy and Coast Guard combed a100, 000 square miles area with more than 100 planes and ships. No sign was ever shown of the missing planes.

Today, people have noted the disappearance of many ships and planes in the southwest part of the North Atlantic and began to call this area the Bermuda Triangle(百慕大三角区).

The points of the triangle are Bermuda, Puerto Rico and a spot in the Gulf of Mexico, west of Florida．It is a twofaced water world of tiny islands, bright beaches and beautiful waters. Yet thick fogs, powerful currents (激流) and sudden storms are hidden behind this smiling surface.

1. Why did Flight 19 disappear?

A．Because the wind became strong and visibility dropped

B．Because Tailor was given wrong orders to dive.

C．Because Tailor couldn’t reed his compasses correctly.

D．Because something unknown made the compasses unable to work as usual.

2. In what position did Flight 19 disappear?

A．In the southeast part of the Atlantic Ocean.

B．In the northeast part of the Atlantic Ocean.

C．To the southwest of Bermuda in the Atlantic Ocean.

D．To the northeast of Bermuda in the Atlantic Ocean.

3. How many planes disappeared altogether that day?

A．Five.

B．Six.

C．Two.

D．Only one.

4. The word “ comb” in the passage means________.

A．cover with  

B．fly over

C．do up one’s hair with a comb

D．search all over

5. Which of the following shows the correct position of the Bermuda Triangle?

(F = Florida, Bm = Bermuda, PR = Puerto Rico, Bh= Barhamas, MG = the Gulf of Mexico, Atl= the Atlantic Ocean, B= Base)．two primary means of transportation

The right to die

It was 3:45 in the morning when the vote was finally taken. After six months of arguing and final 16 hours of hot parliamentary(议会的) debates, Australia’s northern Territory became the first legal authority in the world to allow doctors to take the lives of incurably sick patients who wish to die.

The measure passed by the convincing vote of 15 to 10. Almost immediately word flashed on the Internet and was picked up, half a world away, by John Hofsess, executive director of the Right to Die Society of Canada. He sent it on via the group's on line service, Death NET. Says Hofsess: "We posted bulletins all day long, because of course this isn't just something that happened in Australia. It's world history."

The NT Rights of the Terminally III law has left physicians and citizens alike trying to deal with its moral and practical implications. Some have breathed sighs of relief, others, including churches, right to life groups and the Australian Medical Association, bitterly attacked the bill and the haste of its passage（通过）.

But the tide is unlikely to turn back. In Australia - where an aging population, life extending technology and changing community attitudes have all played their part, other states are going to consider making a similar law to deal with euthanasia(安乐死). In the US and Canada, where the right to die movement is gathering strength, observers are waiting for the dominoes to start falling.

Under the new Northern Territory law, an adult patient can request death, probably by a deadly injection or pill, to put an end to suffering. The patient must be diagnosed(诊断) as terminally ill by two doctors. After a "cooling off" period of seven days, the patient can sign a certificate of request. After 48 hours the wish for death can be met. For Lloyd Nickson, a 54-year-old Darwin resident suffering from lung cancer, the NT Rights of Terminally III law means he can get on with living without the haunting fear of his suffering: a terrifying death from his breathing condition. "I'm not afraid of dying from a spiritual point of view, but what I was afraid of was how I'd go, because I've watched people die in the hospital fighting for oxygen and clawing at their masks," he says.

1.This passage is mainly about ________.

A．the development and function of euthanasia

B．the passage（通过）of a law on euthanasia and its worldwide influence.

C．some successful examples about euthanasia

D．conditions and procedures to perform euthanasia in Australia.

2.What does “observers are waiting for the dominoes to start falling” mean?

A．Observers are taking a wait-and –see attitude towards the future of euthanasia.

B．There is a possibility of similar bills being passed in the US and Canada.

C．Observers are waiting to see the movement end up in failure.

D．The process of the bill taking effect may finally come to a stop.

3. During a “cooling off” period, a patient will _________.

A．wait for two doctors’ diagnosis

B．sign a certificate of request

C．think over his decision of euthanasia

D．turn to his doctors for more advice

4.What’s the author’s attitude towards euthanasia?

A．Hostile           B．doubtful           C．Favorable         D．Indifferent