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.

15（）

A.Therefore
B.However
C.Besides
D.Otherwise

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.