British police are prosecuting four motorists for slowing down on a busy highway to take photos of a crash scene. It will be the first time for drivers in Britain to face prosecution for "rubbernecking" – the act of looking back at a grisly scene, usually while driving a car. The four rubberneckers slowed down to snap shots of a crash on the other side of the road. Drivers behind them were forced to brake to avoid hitting the rubberneckers. Police at the scene said the photo-taking motorists had been "acting irresponsibly" in slowing down to use their mobile phones to take photos. They will be charged with driving without due care and attention and without reasonable consideration for other road users.

Police officer Shelley Holloway spoke to journalists about the incident. She said: "Thankfully nobody was injured in the collision. However the actions of several motorists who drove through the scene showed no regard for their own or of other people's safety, as they used their mobile phones to record or video the wreckage as they passed. In doing so, they were not in proper control of their vehicle. They slowed down causing motorists behind them to brake or take evasive action and slow the flow of traffic that was already heavily congested." She added that: "One of the causes of serious injury and fatal collisions is the use of mobile telephones." She urged motorists to lock their phones away when driving.

1. TRUE / FALSE:Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a.British police are taking dozens of motorists to court for taking photos.T / F

b.This will be the first time British police have prosecuted rubberneckers.T / F

c.The rubberneckers caused many cars behind them to crash.T / F

d.The police will charge the rubberneckers for driving too slowly.T / F

e.No one was hurt in the accident that was photographed.T / F

f.A police officer said the rubberneckers weren't in control of their car.T / F

g.Police said it was fortunate there was light traffic at the time.T / F

h.A police officer suggested drivers lock their phones away while driving.T / F

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.On what kind of road did the rubberneckers take the photos?

2.How many times before have British police prosecuted rubberneckers?

3.Where was the crash scene in relation to the rubberneckers?

4.How did the police say the rubberneckers were acting?

5.Who did the police say the rubberneckers did not consider?

6.How many people were hurt in the accident?

7.What did the rubberneckers use to take photos of the crash scene?

8.What did drivers behind the rubberneckers have to do?

9.How was the traffic when the rubberneckers took their photos?

10.What did a police officer say drivers should do with their phones?

答案

TRUE / FALSE

a F b T c F d F e T f T g F h T

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1.A busy highway

2.None

3.The other side of the road

4.Irresponsibly

5.Other road users

6.None

7.Mobile phones

8.Brake

9.Heavy

10.Lock them away