Linking the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean,the blue waters of the Gulf of Aden near Somalia are one of the most important trading routes in the world.But they are also the most feared.

Pirates(海盜)whose targets are ships and their crew often show up there.On September 25,a Ukrainian ship carrying 30 tanks became another victim.

The pirates have reportedly killed one of the crewmen and are now surrounded by the US Navy.But they are still demanding $20 million for the release of the ship.

This year alone,more than 50 ships have been attacked,25 hijacked(劫持),and 14 are currently being held.

Of course this is nothing new el[her.Ever since there has been water and ships there have been pirates.The earliest documented history of pirates dates back to the 13th century in the Mediterranean Sea.Even the famous Roman emperor Julius Caesar was kidnapped(綁架)by pirates at one time.

Piracy reached its peak in the early 1700s, especially in the Caribbean and off the coast of Africa.In the mid-20th-century,most pirates were common thieves.They used hooks to steal on board commercial ships,and took all that they could find.These pirates were more likely to flee than fight if met by the crew.

However,nowadays piracy has become a multi-million dollar business attracting many in poor countries such as Somalia.“The pirates are well funded and have all the latest equipment,including satellite phones,”said a top UN representative in Somalia.

In Asia,however,a trend started where pirates didn't just want to kidnap the stuff, they also wanted to control the ship.They would kill the crewmembers or kidnap them for ransom(贖金). After the recent kidnapping of Ukrainian ship,people are also worrying that tanks and arms on board would fall into hands of terrorists.

Last week the UN called a meeting from all affected countries to fight piracy. “The international community is determined to stop these pirates who are weakening efforts to bring peace to Somalia. This cannot and will not be allowed to continue,” a representative said.

 

71.From the first four paragraphs,we can conclude that____________.

A.where there's fortune,there's greed

B.pirates in Somalia only attack ships that carry tanks

C.the pirates issue has become serious in recent year

D.navies have been effective in getting rid of pirates

72.Which of the following is T R U E about piracy?

A.It was recorded that pirates started to attack ships in Somalia in the 13th century.

B.Back in the mid-20th century pirates did not appear so harmful as today's.

C.Once a ship is attacked,it will be hijacked by pirates.

D.In the 13th century,pirates only targeted famous or important persons.

73.Unlike before. piracy nowadays_____________.

A.has spread to all corners of the world

B.is more like terrorism and disturbs,regional peace

C.has become a key business for some poor countries

D.has become the UN's top concern

74.We can infer from the passage that__________________.

A.it is impossible to fight with piracy

B.no country has the determination to fight with pirates

C.no ships will be found in the Somalia area before the disappearance of pirates

D.more measures will be taken to fight with pirates

75.The article is written to._________________.

A.draw your attention to the history of piracy

B.a(chǎn)nalyze how piracy has changed these years

C.give you a description of the development of piracy

D.inform you of the importance and necessity to fight piracy

 

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One of the most important inventions is the invention of the telephone. The idea behind the telephone is simple. a system which changes sound into a series of electrical impulses of differing frequencies (頻率), and then reverses this procedure to recreate the sound.

As early as 1831, Mickael Faraday proved that vibrations (震動(dòng)) of metal could be changed into electrical impulses. This was the basic principle of the telephone, but no one made us of such technology until 1861, when German inventor, Johann Reis, successfully built some equipment that changed sound to electricity and back again. The equipment had built some equipment that changed sound to electricity and back again. The equipment had many flaws, unable to transmit many frequencies and therefore was never fully developed.

Two men in the United States Elisa Gray and Alexander Graham Bell (a Scottish inventor), both worked hard to create what would be known as the telephone almost at the same time, and amazingly both filed for a patent within hours of one another, Bell beating his rival by merely two hours on February 14 th, 1876.

The first comprehensible telephone conversation was said to have taken place between Bell and his assistant, who was sitting in another room. Bell said, “Come here, Watson, I want you”, which Watson successful heard via the receiver and the invention of the telephone was complete. The Bell Telephone Company (AT&T) was soon established and grew to be the largest telephone company in existence.

The following year, in 1877, the first telephone system was put in place in Hartford, Connecticut, while the first exchange linking two cities was established between Boston and New York in 1883. London hosted the first exchange put into practice outside the US in 1879.

The invention of the telephone is a hot topic within the inventor circle. Many believe it to be Alexander Grabam Bell, while others believe it to be Antonio Meucci, Philip Reis, or Elisha Gray.

1.We know from the passage that         .

       A.it took almost thirty years for Michael Faradmy’s discovery to be put into use

       B.two Americans worked independently and invented the telephone at the same time

       C.the first telephone conversation was between Elisha Gray and Alexander Bell

       D.London was the first city to put the first exchange into practice in the world

2.The underlined word “flaws” is closest in meaning to          

       A.a(chǎn)dvantages          B.parts                   C.disadvantages      D.usages

3.Which is the correct order of the following events?

     a. Michael Faraday proved the basic principle of the telephone.

       b. The first telephone system was put on place in Hartford.

       c. Alexander Graham Bell invented what is called the telephone.

       d. The first exchange was built between Boston and New York.

       e. The Bell Telephone Company (AT& T) was established.

       A.a(chǎn), c, b, d, e          B.a(chǎn), c, e, b, d          C.c, d, a, b, e          D.c, a, e, b, d

4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

       A.Many inventors worked together to invent the first telephone.

       B.The inventors talked a lot over the telephone when it was invented.

       C.Alexander Graham Bell was the only man to have invented the telephone.

       D.Many can’t agree on who the inventor of the telephone should be.

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