閱读理解

A

Most of what we call nightmares are simple extreme reactions and fear that go with uncomfortable dreams. Often we are awoken by a nightmare and there can be a strong feeling of sadness， anger or guilt， but usually fear and anxiety.

Nightmares may have several causes， including drugs， medicine， illness， trauma or they may have no related cause. Often they occur when there is pressure in ones waking life， and when major life changes are occurring.

The Association for the Study of Dreams notes， “It really depends on the source of the nightmare. To rule out drugs， medicine or illness as a cause， discussion with a doctor is suggested. It is useful to encourage children to discuss their nightmares with their parents or other adults， but they generally do not need treatment. If a child is suffering from repeated or very disturbing nightmares， the help of a therapist may be required. The therapist may have the child draw the nightmare， talk about the frightening characters， or imagine changes in the nightmare， in order to help the child feel safe and less frightened.”

Nightmares also offer the same chance that other dreams do to study the symbols for life improvement. In some American schools， children are taught coping methods that allow the children to come into relationship with the dream monsters and fears in a story. Researchers find that those who have “thin” personalities or are sensitive are more likely to have nightmares than those with “thick” personalities. They are teaching people to take control of their dreams and have the results they wish rather than becoming the dreams victims.

1. According to the study， if a child has nightmares， ___ .

A. he must receive special treatment

B. he neednt pay much attention to them

C. he should ask for the help of an expert

D. hed better talk with his parents about them

2. What does the underlined word “therapist” in Paragraph 3 probably mean？

A. Parent. B. Doctor.

C. Scientist. D. Researcher.

3. What can we learn about nightmares？

A. They have their own causes.

B. They are not bad and can be controlled.

C. They have the same causes as other dreams.

D. They are more likely to appear for sensitive people.

4. What is the passage mainly about？

A. The causes of nightmares.

B. Suffering from nightmares.

C. How to deal with nightmares.

D. What to come about in nightmares.

B

Criminals are using technology to steal PIN numbers from check-out card readers. Criminals have come up with a new fraud（詐骗）aimed at getting the chip and PIN cards used by shop and petrol station customers across the country. They are stealing card-reading machines， taking them apart and fixing equipment which records card numbers and PINs， before returning them to the stores. The equipment is so hi-tech that it can send customers card information to a mobile phone. Cards are then copied and used abroad in countries including the United States， Italy and Australia where cash machines do not have to read the special microchip fixed in British cards.

Police have given a warning about the fraud after arresting two men at a card-faking factory in Birmingham. A sudden visit to a house found stolen chip and PIN machines， account numbers， card readers and unreal magnetic stripe cards.

The criminals aim at shops by threatening or bribing（收买） shop assistants to give them the card machines or getting a job there themselves. In some cases， they pretended to be engineers and took the machines away for an “upgrade”.

Card fraud abroad has increased by 77 percent ─ and cost ￡207.6 million in the past year. Fraudsters used to put pinhole cameras above the chip and PIN equipment to get hold of the number， but they now use the chip and PIN terminal to get that basic information. They are getting hold of the PIN from the inside of the reader. Police said the Birmingham factory had stolen card machines from 30 shops， supermarkets and petrol stations across the country. The arrest is a big development in the fight against the organized criminal groups responsible for this type of fraud.

5. How do the criminals get card information in the new card fraud？

A. By stealing card-reading machines.

B. By taking away the customers cards.

C. By making fake cards without microchip in them.

D. By putting hi-tech equipment in card-reading machines.

6. What does the underlined part suggest when we talk about the card fraud？

A. It took police 207.6 million.

B. It cost 207.6 million to make fake cards.

C. They stole 207.6 million from the customers.

D. They spent 207.6 on the new chip and PIN terminal.

7. In fighting against the fraud the police ___ .

A. spent a lot of time

B. met much difficulty

C. have made great progress

D. failed to destroy the card-making factories

8. What is the best title for the passage？

A. Fighting Against Card Fraud

B. Card Fraud Has Increased Greatly

C. Police Arrested Some Card Fraudsters

D. Criminals Steal PIN Numbers of Cards