阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。

　　A

　　She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. Outside, it was pouring so heavily.

　　We all stood there just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others annoyed because nature messed up their hurried day. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world.

　　Her voice was so sweet that it broke the hypnotic trance (昏昏欲睡) we were all caught in. “Mom, let’s run through the rain,” she said.

　　“No, honey. We’ll wait until it slows down a bit,” Mom replied.

　　This young child waited about another minute and repeated: “Mom, let’s run through the rain. ”

　　“We’ll get soaked if we do,” Mom said.

　　“No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,” the young girl said as she tore at her Mom’s arm.

　　“This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”

　　“Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said if God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!”

　　The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I dare say you couldn’t hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.

　　Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s lifetime when innocent trust can be developed so that it will bloom into faith. “ Honey, you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If get wet, well maybe we just need washing, ” Mom said. Then off they ran.

　　We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they rushed past the cars and they held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

　　You may lose your material possessions, your money and even your health, but no one can ever take away your precious memories. So don’t forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories.

　　1. Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word “ affirmation” ?

　　A. happiness B. approval C. disagreement D. love

　　2. What do we know about the mother in the story?

　　A. Her husband was cured of his cancer.

　　B. She was strong-willed and considerate.

　　C. She was in despair and pretended to forget what she said.

　　D. Her daughter completely understood the situation her family was in

　　3. Which of the following may the author agree with?

　　A. The mother should not tell her child about the family misfortune.

　　B. Parents should act more bravely than their children.

　　C. Parents should grasp every opportunity to influence their children to grow well.

　　D. Children should learn to show gratitude and understanding to their parents.

　　4. The best title for the passage might be _ .

　　A. Run Through the Rain B. Be a Determined Mother

　　C. Wait in the Rain D. Have a wonderful experience

　　B

　　From the health point of view we are living in an amazing age. We are free from many of the most dangerous diseases. A large number of once deadly illnesses can now be cured by modern medicine. It is almost certain that one day medicines will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases. The expectation of life has increased greatly. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the unbelievable killing of men, women and children on the roads. Man vs the motor-car! It is a never-ending battle which man is losing.

　　Thousands of people all over the world are killed or horribly killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen.

　　It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel (方向盘), his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a man’s very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind a steering-wheel. They say, they are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-year-olds and completely selfish. Their hidden angers and disappointments seem to be brought to the surface by the act of driving.

　　The surprising thing is that society smiles so gently on the motorist and seems to forgive his behavior. Everything is done for his convenience. Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable because of heavy traffic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is ruined by road networks; and the deaths become nothing more than a number every year, to be easily forgotten.

　　It is high time a world rule was created to reduce this senseless waste of human life. With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are unbelievable lenient (宽容的) and even the strictest are not strict enough. A rule which was universally accepted could only have an obviously beneficial effect on the accident rate. Here are a few examples of some of the things that might be done. The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so; the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should be put through strict tests for safety each year. Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can damage a person’s driving ability. Present drinking and driving laws (where they exist) should be made much stricter. Speed limits should be required on all roads. Governments should lay down safety specifications for car factories, as has been done in the USA. All advertising stress power and performance should be banned. These measures may not sound good enough. But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the number of deaths. After all, the world is for human beings, not motor-cars.

　　5. What is the main idea of this passage?

　　A. Traffic accidents are mainly caused by motorists.

　　B. Thousands of people all over the world are killed each year.

　　C. The laws of some countries about driving are to lenient.

　　D. Only stricter traffic laws can prevent accidents.

　　6. What does the author think of society toward motorists?

　　A. Society laughs at the motorists. B. Huge car parks are build in the cities and towns.

　　C. Victims of accidents are nothing. D. Society forgives their rude driving

　　7. What does the author mean by saying “his car becomes the extension of his personality” in

　　Paragraph 2?

　　A. Driving can show his hidden qualities B. Driving can show the other part of his personality

　　C. Driving can bring out his character D. Driving can represent his manners

　　8. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a way against traffic accidents?

　　A. Perfect the road network B. Stricter driving tests

　　C. Test drivers every three years D. Raise age limit and lay down safety specifications.

　　9. The author’s attitude towards the traffic situation is ______.

　　A. confused B. discontented C. appealing D. doubtful