A
In November 1965, New York was blacked out by an electricity failure.The government officials promised that it would not happen again.Pessimists(悲观者) were certain that it would occur again within five years at the latest.In July 1977, there was a repeat performance which produced different degrees of disorder throughout the city of 8,000,000 people.In 1965, the failure occurred in the cool autumn and at a time of peace and good situation.In 1977, the failure was much more serious because it came when the number of people out of work was large and the city was suffering from one of its worst heat waves.
In 1965 there was little stealing during the darkness, and fewer than 100 people were caught by the police.In 1977, hundreds of stores were broken into and stolen.They broke shop windows and helped themselves to jewellery, clothes or television sets, nearly 400 people were sent to the police but far more disappeared into the darkness of the night.The number of policemen at hand was far from enough and they were wisely stopped from using their guns against the mobs(暴徒) that were far more than them and that included armed men.
Hospitals had to treat hundreds of people cut by glass from shop windows.Banks and most businesses remained closed the next day.The blackout started at 9:33 p.m., when lightning hit and knocked out vital cables(关键的电缆).Many stores were thus caught by surprise.
The vast majority of New Yorkers, however, tried to help strangers, handed out candles, and tried to get through the dark world without traffic lights, refrigerators, water and electrical power.For 24 hours, New York realized how helpless it was without electricity.
1.Look at the first paragraph.Who were right, the government officials or the pessimists?
A.The government officials B.The pessimists
C.Both D.Neither.
2.In what way was the blackout of 1977 different from that of 1965?
A.There was much more disorder B.This time the electricity supply failed.
C.It was quite unexpected D.It came in the cool autumn.
3.Why did many persons manage to escape the police?
A.Because the police could not see them in the darkness.
B.Many of them carried guns.
C.There were not enough policemen to catch them all
D.They were hidden inside big buildings.
4.The 1977 New York electricity failure lasted______.
A.a whole week B.twenty-four hours
C.three days D.a whole night.
