阅读理解。
One August afternoon, Richard Allen dropped off his last passenger, Mrs. Carey. Lifting two grocery
bags, he followed her across the yard and stood on the step of her house. Glancing up, he saw a large
wasp (黄蜂) nest under the roof. Allen had heard that wasps can become more likely to sting (sting, sting,
stung 蜇) in summer. He mentioned this to Mrs. Carey, who had opened the door.
"Oh, they don't bother me," she said lightly. "I go in and out all the time."
Anxiously, Allen looked at the nest again-to see the wasps flying straight at him. "Hurry!" he shouted to
Mrs. Carey. "Get in!"
She stepped quickly inside. Allen ran for his mini-bus. Too late; they were upon him. Just as he jumped
aboard, half a dozen red spots showed on his arm, and he felt more on his back and shoulders.
As he was driving down the road, Allen felt as if something was burning at the back of his neck, and the
"fire" was spreading forward toward his face. And immediate anxiety took hold of him. Allen knew that stings
could cause some persons to die. But he had been stung the previous summer and the after-effects soon
passed. However, what he didn't know what that the first sting had turned his body into a time bomb waiting
for the next to set off an explosion.
Miles from the nearest medical assistance, Allen began to feel his tongue thick and heavy and his heartbeat
louder. Most frightening, he felt his breathing more and more difficult. He reached for the radio mike (话筒),
trying to call the mini-bus center, but his words were hardly understandable. Signals were also poor that far
out. He knew a rescue team was on 24-hour duty at the Amherst Fire Department's north station. So his best
chance was to make a run for it.
Rushing down the mountain, Allen tried not to panic, focusing his mind on each sharp turn. He was almos
through the last of them when he felt sure he was going into shock (休克). Just then he reached for the radio
mike again.
"Call fire station," he shouted, concentrating to form the words. "Emergency. Bee sting. Emergency. There
in ten minutes."
"Five-ten," the center replied.
Hold on, Allen thought. Keep your eyes open. Breathe. Keep awake.
At last he reached the station. Two firemen ran out. Allen felt their hands grasp him before he hit the ground. You made it, he thought.
1. It is mentioned in the passage that wasps are more likely to attack when _______.
A. there are huge noises
B. strangers are approaching
C. the air is filled with food smell
D. the hottest season comes around
2. Allen didn't know that if stung by wasps again, he would _______.
A. have no after-effects
B. suffer from sharper pain
C. surely lose his life
D. become more sensitive
3. Allen failed at his first attempt to send his message to the mini-bus center because _______.
A. he was unable to speak clearly
B. his radio equipment was poor
C. he was in a state of shock
D. no one was on duty
4. Which would be the best title for the passage?
A. Allen, A Helpless Driver
B. Wasps, Bloody Killers
C. A Race Against Death
D. War Against Wasps
