Even now, almost a year after their astonishing act of group heroism, the dozens of people who risked their lives to save two boys from drowning in Panama City Beach, are still remembered.
The story began on July 8, 2017. Members of the Ursrey family, eight in total, were enjoying an evening together at the beach. As the sun sank lower on the horizon(地平线), the two boys—Noah, 11, and Stephen, 8—took their skateboards and walked into the waves without the grownups noticing. When the boys were about 70 yards from shore, they realized that the ocean pulled them out to sea. After trying and failing to paddle(涉水)back, they started waving and screaming for help. But the lifeguards had clocked out for the evening.
The boys had been struggling for several minutes when Brittany and Tabatha Monroe, a married couple from Georgia, wandered by. They didn't see the boys at first, but they heard them.
They jumped into the water and easily reached the brothers, who were still in fairly shallow water. The woman reassured the frightened boys and seized their skateboards, telling them they would be safe and then discovered that they, too, were now in a world of trouble. They couldn't get back to shore and could barely and only occasionally hit the sandy bottom with their feet. After a few minutes, it was clear to the woman that they were all trapped in a terrible whirlpool.
Then scores of tourists were walking to them, hand in hand, forming a line. Soon the first person held the woman's hand. In turn, her husband and the two boys joined her. The long line moved slowly until they were back to the safety of the beach.
The rescuers call it the Human Chain. But it was the deeply “human” aspect of the rescuers' cooperation(合作)that made it so astonishing and successful.
本文是一篇记叙文。文章叙述的是两个男孩在海上遇到危险，一对年轻的夫妇Brittany和Tabatha Monroe跳进水里去救人，告诉男孩他们将是安全的，然后发现水流的很快，他们自己也被困。最后其他游客一起组成“人链”把这四个人拉到岸上。
1．What happened to the two boys?
A．They got into deep sea by chance.
B．They couldn't be seen in the sea.
C．They went out without supper.
D．They met with danger in the sea.
答案：D
解析：推理判断题。根据第二段中After trying and failing to paddle(涉水)back, they started waving and screaming for help.和第三段中The boys had been struggling for several minutes when Brittany and Tabatha Monroe, a married couple from Georgia, wandered by.可知，这两个男孩在海上遇到了危险。故选D。
2．What does the underlined word “reassured” in Paragraph 4 mean?
A．Saved. B．Comforted.
C．Congratulated. D．Accompanied.
答案：B
解析：词义猜测题。根据第四段中The woman reassured the frightened boys and seized their skateboards, telling them they would be safe and then discovered that they, too, were now in a world of trouble. 可知，这名女子向受惊的男孩们保证，并抓住他们的滑板，告诉他们他们将是安全的，然后发现他们自己也有了麻烦。由此推知画线词的意思是“使放心的”，故选B。
3．Which of the following best describes the water the young couple stayed in?
A．It appeared calm on the surface.
B．It was very deep.
C．It was mixed with sand.
D．It moved fast.
答案：D
解析：推理判断题。根据第四段中They couldn't get back to shore and could barely and only occasionally hit the sandy bottom with their feet. After a few minutes, it was clear to the woman that they were all trapped in a terrible whirlpool.可知，没多久，这对夫妇就被困住了，这说明水流的速度很快。故选D。
4．What made the four persons in the sea escape the risky situation?
A．Team spirit. B．Confidence.
C．Good luck. D．Bravery.
答案：A
解析：推理判断题。根据最后一段The rescuers call it the Human Chain. But it was the deeply “human” aspect of the rescuers' cooperation(合作)that made it so astonishing and successful.可知，“团队精神”使这四个人在海上逃脱了危险的处境。故选A。
