More than 30,000 drivers and passengers who sit in the front of the vehicles are killed or seriously injured each year. At a speed of only 30 miles per hour it is the same as falling from a third floor building. Wearing a seat belt saves lives:it reduces your chance of death or serious injury by more than a half.
Therefore drivers or front seat passengers over 14 in most vehicles must wear a seat belt. If you do not, you will be fined up to £50. It will not be up to the drivers to make sure you wear your belt. But it will be the driver's responsibility to make sure that children under 14 do not ride in the front unless they are wearing a seat belt of some kind.
However, when you're reversing your car, you do not have to wear a seat belt;or when you are making a local delivery or collection using a special vehicle ; or if you have a valid medical certificate which excuses you from wearing it. Make sure these circumstances apply to you before you decide not to wear your seat belt. Remember that you may be taken to court for not doing so, and you may be fined if you cannot prove that you have been excused from wearing it.
46. How many people in the front of the vehicles are killed or seriously injured every year?
A．30,000.
B．60,000.
C．Approximately 30,000.
D．Above 30,000
47. Wearing a seat belt in a vehicle
A．reduces road accidents to more than a half.
B．saves lives while driving at a speed up to 30 miles per hour.
C．reduces the death rate in traffic accidents.
D．saves more than 15,000 lives each year.
48. It is the driver's responsibility to
A．make the front seat passengers wear a seat belt.
B．make the front seat children under 14 wear a seat belt.
C．stop children riding in the front seat.
D．wear a seat belt each time he drives.
49. According to the text, which of the following people riding in the front does NOT have to wear a seat belt?
A．Someone who is backing into a parking space.
B．Someone who is picking up the children from the local school.
C．Someone who is delivering invitation letters.
D．Someone who is under 14.
50. For some people, it may be better
A．to wear a seat belt for health reasons.
B．not to wear a seat belt for health reasons.
C．to get a valid medical certificate before wearing a seat belt.
D．to pay a fine rather than wear a seat belt.
参考译文
新世界最初为航行照明的灯光大概来自挂在港口入口处的灯笼。第一座灯塔是马萨诸塞海湾殖民地于1716年建立的，位于波士顿港口入口处的小布鲁斯特岛上。最初的灯塔通过从过往船只征收的“灯塔费”支付其服务和维护费用，它于l776年被炸毁。到那时为止在这些殖民地只有大约十几座真正的灯塔。仅仅一个世纪以后，就有了700座灯塔。
19世纪50年代竖立在西海岸的最早的8个灯笼是以新英格兰的基本设计样式为特色的：高塔被建立在科德角半岛的中心或紧靠中心的位置。而在新英格兰和其他地区，灯塔设计却反映出各种各样的建筑风格。因为东北部大多数灯塔站都建在不平稳的高处，巨大的塔身可不符合这个规则。有的用石块和砖瓦建造，也有的用木头或金属建造。有的立在堆积物上或用桩子支撑；有的用铁棍固定在岩石上。再往南，从马里兰到佛罗里达群岛，海岸低矮而且被沙子覆盖。这里通常需要建高塔，就像于1870年点燃的处于北卡罗林纳州哈特勒斯角灯塔一样有巨大的塔身结构。此塔高190英尺，是这个国家最高的用砖建成的灯塔。
尽管建筑外观不同，大多数美国灯塔有几个共同特征：都有一盏灯。居住区，有的还有铃铛(或者晚些时候出现的雾角)。它们还都有营房和另一个共同的东西：负责看管灯塔的人，通常还有他的家人。他的基本任务是修剪灯芯以保证有稳定明亮的灯火。最早的看护人来自各个行业，有海员、农民、技师或粗野的工人，而且这个职位是作为行政工作由海关长官来分派的。1852年美国灯塔委员会和财政部办事处接手负责灯塔的管理后，看护人的队伍就逐渐变得高度专业化了。
责任编辑：sealion1986
