47. What can we infer from this passage?

A. Gingerbread houses are eaten by people only at Christmas.

B. We can book many kinds of gingerbread houses through the Internet,

C. Immigration played an import ant role in the spread of gingerbread houses.

D. The gingerbread house made by Pelcher failed to achieve the Guinness World Records.

C

BASE Jumping

BASE jumping is a very dangerous sport of using a parachute to jump from fixed objects. It has become popular with those individuals who are constantly looking for new and exciting things to do. Because BASE jumping is very dangerous, it is sometimes considered a “stunt”(绝技)or "daredevil activity" rather than a sport.

BASE stands for the four categories of fixed launch points for a BASE jump: building, antennae, span(bridge), and earth(cliff). "BASE numbers" are awarded to those jumpers who have completed at least one jump from each of the categories. A BASE number qualifies a participant as a recognized BASE jumper.

Carl Boenish made the first official BASE jump from the Troll Wall in Norway in 1984. Unfortunately, Carl Boenish was killed two days after that first BASE jump as he tried to make another BASE jump off the Troll Wall. Improvements in equipment have helped reduce BASE jumping deaths. Still, many people, including experienced and skilled jumpers, are still injured or killed every year. There are no reliable statistics on the number of people killed or injured while BASE jumping, but it is certainly more dangerous than skydiving. Because of the high death rate, BASE jumping has not gained widespread acceptance. This is also one of the reasons that it is illegal in many countries, A BASE jumper needs to get permission to use both the place from which the jump starts and the landing area. Some places, like the Troll Wall, are banned because of the high level of danger. However, many sites are still open to jumpers.

BASE jumping is something that teenagers shouldn't do. It can easily injure or kill them. It also requires a lot of time, energy and money. As parents expect their children to have good judgment, they should think hard before they do anything that is really dangerous.

48. What is the author's attitude towards BASE jumping?

A. It should be banned.

B. It should be encouraged.

C. The jumpers should be careful.

D. More sites should be open to jumpers.

49. The author shows his viewpoint by ________.

A. listing the numbers

B. using a famous saying

C. explaining causes and effects

D. showing the facts and examples