CAIRO, Egypt (Reuters) April 24, 2006—Three explosions shook the Egyptian Sinai resort of Dahab on Monday, killing 23 people and wounding dozens of others, rescue and security officials said.

Witnesses said smoke billowed^① up from the town’s tourist bazaar, and residents said they saw body parts and debris^② on the street after an explosion at a restaurant.

People in the small beach and diving resort, which is popular with backpackers, described scenes of carnage^③ and chaos^④.

A cafe worker who was about 200 meters (yards) from the scene said: “We saw many dead people. People were screaming. People were being taken to hospital. Egyptians went to give blood. There were body parts. There’s police everywhere.”

“There are ambulances and cars taking people to hospital,” said another resident, who also did not want to be named.

The explosions took place at the Nelson Restaurant, the Aladdin Cafeteria and the Ghazala Supermarket, the Interior Ministry said.

The explosions took place in quick succession at about 7.15 p.m. (1715 GMT). “There is smoke coming from the area and there are people running everywhere,” said one witness, who heard the blasts.

An official with the local ambulance service said many of the dead appeared to be foreigners.

Israeli divers often stay in the resort but with the Passover holiday over it is unlikely many were there. The Israeli ambassador in Cairo and Israeli authorities said they did not know of any Israeli casualties^⑤.

One visitor said police were stopping cars and buses leaving the resort and had imposed restrictions on movements in and out of backpacker camps in the area.

It was the third set of three explosions on the eastern coast of the Sinai peninsula since October 2004, when a group attacked the Hilton hotel in the border resort of Taba and two other resorts on the northeast coast, killing 34 people.

Notes:

① billow  v.  翻騰

② debris  n.  殘骸

③ carnage  n.  殘殺，流血

④ chaos  n.  混亂

⑤ casualty  n. （人員）傷亡

What’s the result of the explosions in Dahab?

        A. 34 people were killed.

        B. There were many Israeli casualties.

        C. 23 people were killed and dozens of others were injured.

        D. Many houses were burned to the ground.

How many places did the explosions take place in?

        A. Two      B. Three      C. Six      D. Eight

What does the underlined word “resort” mean?

        A. popular holiday centre      B. hotel or guest-house for holidaymakers

        C. visiting some place         D. Making use of something for help

Which of the following statements is right?

        A. Many of the dead appeared to be residents.

        B. The first set of three explosions took place in October 2004.

        C. Police couldn’t know what to do.

        D. Israeli divers stayed in the resort with the Passover holiday over.

閱讀理解

　　By the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 the United States bought from France a vast area of some 828 000 square miles. This was one of the biggest land purchases in history. The area stretches from the Mississippi River in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the west and from the Gulf of Mexico in the south to the United States--Canadian border in the north. This territory(領(lǐng)土)makes up a third of the United States. It included, before territorial adjustment, all or parts of what were to become 15 States.

　　This huge region was explored in the 16th century by the Spaniard. A Frenchman, in 1682, named it Louisiana in honor of his king, Louis ⅩⅣ(1638-1715). Early in the 18th century the French founded settlements along the Mississippi River. The most important one. New Orleans, was founded in 1718 on the east bank of the river, 90 miles from its mouth. In 1732 the French Government took control of Louisiana.

　　At the end of the French and Indian War(1754-1763) in North America, French lost its lands east of the Mississippi to the Britain. In an agreement France gave up Louisiana--the French lands west of the Mississippi, and New Orleans--to Spain.

　　In the late 18th century Napoleon Bonaparte(1769-1821) rose to become the first emperor of France. He dreamed of creating a new French colonial empire in North America. In 1800 he persuaded the Spanish rulers to sign the secret Treaty of San Ildefonso. This treaty transferred Louisiana back to France. On October 15, 1802, the king of Spain finally gave the order transferring Louisiana to France.

　　When President Thomas Jefferson(1743-1826) learnt of the secret agreement, he was very worried. He did not welcome the idea of having a strong France as a neighbour in the west in place of the weak Spain. Jefferson was also afraid that when the French controlled New Orleans they would close the Mississippi to America trade.

　　Jefferson ordered Robert R. Livingston (1746-1813), the America minister to France, to explore the possibility of purchasing New Orleans and part of West Florida near the mouth of the Mississippi. Jefferson used psychology to force Napoleon's hand. He permitted to fall into the hands of the French Emperor some false secret letters, saying that the United States would join Britain for all attack on Louisiana. In March, 1830, James Monroe(1758-1831) went to Paris, who was empowered to offer Napoleon up to $10000000 for New Orleans and a tract of land on the Gulf of Mexico.

1．What is the main idea of the text?

[　　]

A．The history of Louisiana.

B．The purchase of a piece of land.

C．The wars between different countries for Louisiana.

D．The great wisdom of Thomas Jefferson in winning Louisiana for the United States.

2．The author is most likely to agree with which of the following statements?

[　　]

A．Louisiana was by far the largest state of the United Stares at that time.

B．The name Louisiana was most commonly seen in Spain.

C．France lost its control of Louisiana to Britain after losing the French and Indian War.

D．Thomas Jefferson wanted to have Louisiana because he felt that with such a vast region in his hand. France could be a threat to the United States.

3．What is the main reason that made Napoleon sell Louisiana to the United States?

[　　]

A．Louisiana was too big for France to control.

B．Thomas Jefferson was so clever that Napoleon could not match his wisdom.

C．Napoleon was deceived by the false letters and was afraid of the attack by Britain and the United States.

D．The native people in Louisiana would not be ruled by foreign rulers.

4．What will the paragraph immediately following the last paragraph discuss?

[　　]

A．How did France sell Louisiana to the United States.

B．What happened to Louisiana after it was purchased by the United States.

C．How Thomas Jefferson was respected by his people for the important purchase he made.

D．What was the effects of the purchase on American developments.

CAIRO, Egypt (Reuters) April 24, 2006—Three explosions shook the Egyptian Sinai resort of Dahab on Monday, killing 23 people and wounding dozens of others, rescue and security officials said.
Witnesses said smoke billowed^①up from the town’s tourist bazaar, and residents said they saw body parts and debris^②on the street after an explosion at a restaurant.
People in the small beach and diving resort, which is popular with backpackers, described scenes of carnage^③and chaos^④.
A cafe worker who was about 200 meters (yards) from the scene said: “We saw many dead people. People were screaming. People were being taken to hospital. Egyptians went to give blood. There were body parts. There’s police everywhere.”
“There are ambulances and cars taking people to hospital,” said another resident, who also did not want to be named.
The explosions took place at the Nelson Restaurant, the Aladdin Cafeteria and the Ghazala Supermarket, the Interior Ministry said.
The explosions took place in quick succession at about 7.15 p.m. (1715 GMT). “There is smoke coming from the area and there are people running everywhere,” said one witness, who heard the blasts.
An official with the local ambulance service said many of the dead appeared to be foreigners.
Israeli divers often stay in the resort but with the Passover holiday over it is unlikely many were there. The Israeli ambassador in Cairo and Israeli authorities said they did not know of any Israeli casualties^⑤.
One visitor said police were stopping cars and buses leaving the resort and had imposed restrictions on movements in and out of backpacker camps in the area.
It was the third set of three explosions on the eastern coast of the Sinai peninsula since October 2004, when a group attacked the Hilton hotel in the border resort of Taba and two other resorts on the northeast coast, killing 34 people.
Notes:
① billow  v. 翻騰
② debris  n. 殘骸
③ carnage  n. 殘殺，流血
④ chaos  n. 混亂
⑤ casualty  n. （人員）傷亡

1. 1.

   What’s the result of the explosions in Dahab?

   1. A.
      34 people were killed.
   2. B.
      There were many Israeli casualties.
   3. C.
      23 people were killed and dozens of others were injured.
   4. D.
      Many houses were burned to the ground.
2. 2.

   How many places did the explosions take place in?

   1. A.
      Two
   2. B.
      Three
   3. C.
      Six
   4. D.
      Eight
3. 3.

   What does the underlined word “resort” mean?

   1. A.
      popular holiday centre
   2. B.
      hotel or guest-house for holidaymakers
   3. C.
      visiting some place
   4. D.
      Making use of something for help
4. 4.

   Which of the following statements is right?

   1. A.
      Many of the dead appeared to be residents.
   2. B.
      The first set of three explosions took place in October 2004.
   3. C.
      Police couldn’t know what to do.
   4. D.
      Israeli divers stayed in the resort with the Passover holiday over.