Motorways are, no doubt the safest roads in Britain. Mile (21) mile, vehicle for ve hicle, you arc much (22) likely to be killed or seriously injured than on an ordinary road. On (23) hand, if you do have a serious accident on a motorway, fatalities are much more likely to (24) than in a comparable accident (25) on the roads. Motorways have no (26) bends, no roundabouts or traffic lights and (27) speeds are much greater than on other roads. Though the 70 mph limit is (28) in force, it is of ten treated with the contempt that most drivers have for the 30 mph limit applying in built up areas in Britain. Added to this is the fact that motorway drivers seem to like traveling in groups with perhaps (29) ten meters between each vehicle. The resulting horrific pile-ups (30) one vehicle stops for some reason--mechanical failure, driver error and so on—have become all (31) familiar through pictures in newspapers or on television. How (32) of these drivers realize that it takes a car about one hundred meters to brake to a stop (33) 70 mph.9 Drivers also seem to think that motorway driving gives them complete protection from the changing weather. (34) wet the road, whatever the visibility in mist or fog, they (35) at ridiculous speeds oblivious of police warnings or speed restrictions (36) their journey comes to a conclusion. Perhaps one remedy (37) this motorway madness would be better driver educa tion. At present, learner drivers are barred (38) motorways and are thus as far as this kind of driving is (39) , thrown in at the deep end. However, much more efficient poli cing is required, (40) it is the duty of the police not only to enforce the law but also to protect the general public from its own foolishness.
A. utterly
B. simply
C. barely
D. purely
3 The blue, mystic Lake Ellsinore lies in an inland California valley, which is teeming and steaming with hot springs. Rimmed by shaggy mountains whose forested crests are re flected in its clear waters, Lake Ellsinore is the very personification of peace—but on it rests the curse of Tondo. The lake had a colorful history. Much of it lies buried in legend, and it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. There have been stories of underground volcanoes on the lake bottom, erupting, killing fish and discoloring the water. There have been stories of a play ful sea serpent that lived in its depths. Long noted for its scenic beauty and health-giving waters, the lake was a famous re sort in the Nineties. But long before the first white man had set foot along the shore of the lake, this part of California had been the home of the Soboba Indians. Their chief was Ton do, a stern and unforgiving man. He had a daughter, Morning Star, who was in love with Palo, son of the chief the Pales, a neighboring tribe. The Sobobas and Pales were sworn enemies. For a time the lov ers met secretly. Then one day they were discovered by Tondo. His rage was terrible to be hold. He forbade the lovers ever to meet again. Morning Star tried in every way to appease her father’s anger, to soften his heart to ward Palo. But in time she saw that it was useless; that he would never give his consent to their marriage. Vowing that they would never be separated, the Indian maid and her lover walked hand in hand into the lake, as the dreary November sun cast long shadows on the land. They were followed by a group of orphan children whom Morning Star had befrien ded. All walked into the lake, singing the mournful death song of their people, while Ton do stood on the shore and cursed the lovers, cursed the blue water into which they all walked to their death. Ever since that day it would see that a jinx has been laid over Lake Ellsinore. Old-tim ers tell of a great upheaval in the lake which caused water to spout into the air like a geyser and turn blood-red. Later, it became known that three hundred springs of boiiing mud and water were born in the valley during that upheaval. The springs reeked with sulphur. For many years after this phenomenon the lake remained peaceful. Then boats were overturned for an apparent reason, and few of their occupants ever returned to tell the story. This continued for several years. At the same time, strong swimmers dived into the lake never to reappear. In 1833 and again in 1846, fish in the lake suddenly died. In the spring of 1850 came the Battle of the Gnats. They bred in the water of the lake and swarmed over the land. They invaded the countryside until the harassed inhabitants called for help. And in July 1951, the sky-blue waters of the lake vanished like mist before a noonday sun. When the bottom was laid bare there was no trace of a volcano, the bottomless pits, or the other disturbances of legend or fact. The copious winter rains of 1951—1952 have replenished the lake. But what menace does its haunting beauty hold today For tomorrow The once mighty Sobobas are few now. But the old men swear that their ancestors still haunt the lake. They nod grizzled head and murmur that the Great Tondo’s curse will for ever remain upon the lake. Only Time, the wise and silent one, can tell. The word "jinx" (Line 1, Par
A. 6) probably means______.A. spell of bad luckB. hot air currentC. strange tranquilityD. storm of unusual duration