Where Did All the Ships Go

The Bermuda Triangle (三角区) is one (1) the greatest mysteries of the sea. In this triangular area between Florida, Puerto Rico and Bermuda in Atlantic, ships and airplanes (2) to disappear more often than in (3) parts of the ocean. And they do so (4) leaving any sign of an accident or any dead bodies.
It is (5) that Christopher Columbus was the first person to record strange happenings in the area. His compass stopped working, a flame came down from the sky, and a wave 100 to 200-feet-high carried his ship about a mile away.
The most famous disappearance in the Bermuda Triangle was the U. S. Naval (海军的) Air Flight 19. (6) December 5, 1945, five bomber planes carrying 14 men (7) on a training mission from the Florida coast. Later that day, all communications with Flight 19 were lost. They just disappeared without a trace. The next morning, 242 planes and 19 ships took part in the largest air-sea search in history. But they found nothing.
Some people blame the disappearances (8) supernatural (超自然的) forces. It is suggested the (9) ships and planes were either transported to other times and places, kidnapped (绑架) by aliens (外星人) (10) attacked by sea creatures.
There are (11) natural explanations, though. The U. S. Navy says that the Bermuda Triangle is one of two places on earth (12) a magnetic compass (指南针) points towards true north (13) magnetic north. (14) , planes and ships can lose their way if they don’t make adjustments.
The area also has changing weather and is known (15) its high waves. Storms can turn up suddenly and destroy a plane or ship. Fast currents could then sweep away any trace of an accident.

2（）

A few years ago, I asked the same question about hitchhiking in a column on a newspaper. (5) of people from all over the world responded with their view on the state of hitchhiking.
"If there is a hitchhiker’s (6) it must be Iran," came one reply. Rural Ireland was recommended as a friendly place for hitchhiking, (7) was Quebec, Canada-"if you don’t mind being berated (严厉指责) for not speaking French.
But while hitchhiking was clearly still alive and well in many parts of the world, the (8) feeling was that throughout much of the west it was doomed (消亡).
With so much news about crime in the media, people assumed that anyone on the open road without the money for even a bus ticket must present a danger. But do we (9) to be so wary both to hitchhike and to give a lift
In Poland in the 1960s, (10) a Polish woman who e-mailed me, "the authorities introduced the Hitchhiker’s Booklet. The booklet contained coupons for drivers, so each time a driver (11) somebody, he or she received a coupon. At the end of the season, (12) who had picked up the most hikers were rewarded with various prizes. Everybody was hitchhiking then. "
Surely this is a good idea for society. Hitchhiking would increase respect by breaking down (13) between strangers. It would help fight (14) warming by cutting down on fuel consumption as hitchhikers would be using existing fuels. It would also improve educational standards by delivering instant (15) in geography, history, politics and sociology.

American public education has changed in recent years. One change is that increasing numbers of American parents and teachers are starting independent public schools (1) charter schools (特许学校).
In 1991, there were no charter schools in the United States. Today, more than 2,300 charter schools (2) in 34 states and the District of Columbia. 575,000 students (3) these schools. The students are from 5 years of age through 18 or older.A charter school is (4) by groups of parents, teachers and community (社区) members. It is similar in some ways (5) a traditional public school. It receives tax money to operate just as other public schools do. The (6) it receives depends on the number of students. The charter school must prove to local or state governments that its students are learning. These governments (7) the school with the agreement, or charter that permits it to operate.
Unlike a traditional public school, (8) , the charter school does not have to obey most laws governing public schools. Local, state or federal governments cannot tell it what to (9) .
Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to (10) those goals. Class sizes usually are smaller than in many traditional public schools. Many students and parents say (11) in charter schools can be more creative.
However, state education agencies, local education-governing committees and unions often (12) charter schools. They say these schools may receive money badly (13) by traditional public schools. Experts say some charter schools are doing well while others are struggling.
Congress provided 200 million dollars for (14) charter schools in the 2002 federal budget (预算). But, often the schools say they lack enough money for their (15) . Many also lack needed space.