The nuclear talks between the two superpowers have been going on for years, and people have begun to wonder if anything will （) it.

For decades, arms-control talks centered on nuclear weapons. This is hardly surprising, since a single nuclear bomb can destroy an entire city. Yet, unlike smaller arms, these immensely powerful weapons have not been used in war in over 50 years.

Historian John Keegan writes: “Nuclear weapons have, since August 9, 1945, killed no one. The 50,000,000 who have died in war since that date have for the most part, been killed by cheap, mass-produced weapons and small ammunition, costing little more than the transistor radios which have flooded the world in the same period. Because small weapons have disrupted life very little in the advanced world, outside the restricted localities where drug-dealing and political terrorism flourish, the populations of the rich states have been slow to recognize the horror that this pollution has brought in its train.

Why have small arms become the weapons of choice in recent wars？ Part of the reason lies in the relationship between conflict and poverty. Most of the wars fought during the 1990s took place in countries that are poor----too poor to buy sophisticated weapon systems. Small arms and light weapons are a bargain. For example, 50 million dollars, which is approximately the cost of a single modern jet fighter, can equip an army with 200,000 assault rifles.

Another reason why small weapons are so popular is that they are lethal. A single rapid-fire assault rifle can fire hundreds of rounds a minute. They are also easy to use and maintain. A child of ten can be taught to strip and reassemble a typical assault rifle. A child can also quickly learn to aim and fire that rifle into a crowd of people.

The global traffic in guns is complex. The illegal trade of small arms is big. In some African wars, paramilitary groups have bought billions of dollars’ worth of small arms and light weapons, not with money, but with diamonds seized from diamond-mining areas.

Weapons are also linked to the illegal trade in drugs. It is not unusual for criminal organizations to use the same routes to smuggle drugs in one direction and to smuggle guns in the other.

11. It is implied in the passage that _____.

A、the nuclear arms-control talks can never reach an agreement

B、small arms-control is more important than nuclear arms-control

C、the power of nuclear weapons to kill people has been diminished

D、unclear weapons were the topic of arms-control talks 50 years ago

12. The advanced world neglect the problems of small arms because ____.

A、They have to deal with drug-dealing and political terrorism.

B、They have no such problems as are caused by small weapons.

C、They face other more important problems such as pollution.

D、They have not recognized the seriousness of the problems in time.

13. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as the reason for the prevalence of small arms？

A、Small arms are cheap.

B、Small arms are powerful.

C、Small arms are easier to use.

D、Small arms are easier to get.

14. We can conclude from the passage that _____.

A、small arms are not expensive in the black-market

B、it is unfair to exchange small arms for diamond

C、criminals use the same passage to smuggle drugs and small arms

D、where there are drugs, there are small arms

15. The best title for this passage is _____.

A、Small Arms Talks, Not Nuclear Arms Talks.

B、Neglect of Small Arms Control.

C、Global Traffic in Small Arms.

D、Small Arms, Big Problems.

听力原文： New York City

Commuters in New York City face another day of trying to figure out how to get around because strike by subway and bus workers is on its second day. Yesterday, a state judge ruled that the strike was illegal and imposed a-million-dollar-a-day fine on the transit union. The union called the fine excessive and promised to appeal. The strike has made it much harder for people to get around in the city, and city officials the New York's economy could take a big hit. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the strike could end up costing the city about 400 million dollars a day, about a third of its daily output.

Hong Kong

Global trade resumes today in Hong Kong. Protesters scuffled with police, and the U.S. and the E.U. exchanged barbs over whose policies are most in need of reform. Delegates from some African countries say there is one change they like to see right away. They want the U. S. to stop paying its farmers to grow cotton. Because of the subsidies, the Africans are the ones in trouble. U.S. over-production has driven down global price by nearly 20%, according to the World Bank, to the point where even the Africans can't make money. U.S. trade representative Robert Zoellick says the U.S. hopes to eventually eliminate the subsidies, but he says cotton has to be part of a broader agricultural deal.

Baghdad

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein faces a new phase of trial in Iraq today. Witnesses will be heavily guarded at Saddam's trial. Defense lawyers will also be in the court. They had threatened to boycott the trial after two defense lawyers were shot dead. Now U. S. officials say lawyers for Saddam Hussein and his seven co-defendants have been offered and the, quote, most robust security possible. The Iraq tribunal expects at least one attorney for each defendant to appear at Monday's session.

Paris

Riots that have been raging in immigrant communities in the suburbs of Paris for twelve days have now spread to some three hundred cities about the country. And today the first fatality, a man who was in a coma after being beaten, died of his injuries. The rioters have torched thousands of cars and buses, also commuter trams, businesses, schools. The riots started after two teenagers were electrocuted in the Paris suburbs. The young men apparently thought they were being chased by police and hid in a power sub-station.

Tehran

Iran says it's expecting more talks with the Europeans about its nuclear activities in the coming weeks. Negotiations would resume sometime after tomorrow's meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. Iran's nuclear program will also be on the agenda at the meeting. Under heavy U. S. pressure in September, the IAEA took a step towards referring the matter to the UN Security Council, which has the power to impose economic sanctions. But for the moment, the action has been put off. Diplomats are exploring a new idea from Russia that would permit nuclear power in Iran but protect against its acquisition of nuclear weapons.

Questions：

6. Which of the following statements is NOT true about the strike in New York City？

7.What is the main purpose of African delegates in their talks with U. S. representatives？

8.What is the main concern of the defense lawyers for Saddam Hussein in his trail？

9.What triggered the riots in many cities in France？

10.Which of the following statements is TRUE about Iran's nuclear issue？

(26)

A．Commuters found it harder than usual to get around in the city.

B．The transit union thought the strike was illegal and imposed a large amount of fine onto the subways and bus workers.

C．The transit union believed that the fine was too much and decided to appeal.

D．The mayor said that the strike could cost New York City a considerable portion of its daily output.

A.pre-head

B.head

C.nuclear tail

D.nucleus

个别会谈法(individual talks)

A.irritation

B.genetic engineering

C.nuclear weapon

D.nuclear power