Tens of thousands of couples across the United States are racing to get married by April 30．This is the result of a new law that makes illegal(不合法的)immigrants(移民) legal(合法的)if they marry by then．

　　The law has sent marriages rising by 50 percent to 300 percent this year in immigrant-rich Los Angeles, Houston and New York．The new law, passed in the last days of the Clinton administration(任期)，contains a large number of measures to help immigrants and their loved ones become legal．

　　Critics(批評家)say it also brings many marriage frauds(詐騙)．A key aspect allows immigrants to look for houses while remaining in the USA－if they are married to a citizen or legal resident and hand in applications by April 30．After the date, applicants will have to return to their native countries to deal with their paperwork－a requirement that could take as long as 10 years．

　　Demand for marriage licenses in Manhattan this year jumped from 100 a day to more than 300．The Los Angeles County registrar(戶籍員)recorder's office supplied 12 997 marriage licences during January and February, and 59 percent increase over last year．

　　Critics say the new law encourages false marriage．There are a lot of frauds as people rush to make use of this window．In the past cases citizens or legal residents were paid US ＄10 000 or more to marry illegal immigrants in which immigration is concluded may be investigated for as long as the years after the vows．

　　“It's not worth the risk to attempt an illegal marriage, ”says INS spokesman Bill Strassberger．

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閱讀理解

閱讀下列短文，從每篇短文后所給各題的四個選項(A、B、C和D)中，選出最佳選項。

　　An “apple polisher” is one who gives gifts to win friendship or special treatment．It is not exactly a bribe(賄賂),but is close to it．

　　All sorts of people are apple polishers, including politicians and people in high offices－just about everybody．Oliver Cromwell, the great English leader, offered many gifts to win the support of George Fox and his party, but failed．

　　There are other phrases meaning the same thing as “apple-polishing”－“soft-soaping” or “butter-up”．A gift is just one way to “soft-soap” somebody, or to “butter him up”．Another that is just as effective is flattery, giving someone high praise－telling him how good he looks, or how well he speaks, or how talented and wise he is．

　　Endless are the ways of flattery．Who does not love or hear it ? Only an unusual man can resist the thrill of being told how wonderful he is．In truth, flattery is good medicine for most of us, who gets so little of it．

　　We need it to be more sure of ourselves．It cannot hurt unless we get carried away by it．But we just lap it up for its food value and nourishment, as a cat laps up milk, then we can still remain true to ourselves．

　　Sometimes, however, flattery will get you nothing from one who has had too much of it．A good example is the famous 12 th century legend of King Canute of Denmark and England．The king got tired of listening to the endless sickening flattery of his courtiers(朝臣)．They overpraised him to the skies, as a man of limitless power．

　　He decided to teach them a lesson．He took them to the seashore and sat down．Then he ordered the waves to stop coming in．The tide was too busy to listen to him．The king was satisfied．This might show his followers how weak his power was and how empty their flattery．

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閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的四個選項(A、B、C和D)中，選出最佳選項。

　　Saturday, March 24 ^th

　　We have arrived in the hot, wet city of Bangkok．This is our first trip to Thailand．All the different smells make us want to try the food．We are going to eat something special for dinner tonight．The hotel we are staying in is cheap, and very clean．We plan to stay here for a few days, visit some places in the city, and then travel to Chiang Mai in the North．

　　Tuesday, March 27 ^th

　　Bangkok is wonderful and surprising! The places are interesting．We visited the famous market which was on the water, and saw a lot of fruits and vegetables．Everything is so colorful, and we have taken hundreds of photos already! Later today we will leave for Chiang Mai．We will take the train north, stay in Chiang Mai for two days, and then catch a bus to Chiang Rai．

　　Friday, March 30 ^th

　　Our trip to Chiang Rai was long and boring．We visited a small village in the mountains．The village people here love the quiet life－no computers or phones．They are the kindest people I have ever met．

　　They always smile and say “hello” ．Kathy and I can only speak a few words of Thai, so smiling is the best way to show our kindness．I feel good here and hope to be able to come back next year．

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