The head of the Secret Service has resigned after a series of security lapses（疏忽）allowed a man with a knife to run through the halls of the White House and a convicted（有前科的）guard with a gun to follow President Barack Obama into a lift.

Julia Pierson’s resignation was announced hours after it was found that a security guard with previous convictions for assault（袭击）was allowed to ride in a lift with Mr Obama during a visit to Atlanta last month. Agents stopped the man after he started taking photographs of Mr Obama and only realized while questioning him that he had been carrying a gun just feet away from the President.

Ms Pierson’s position became difficult after the Atlanta incident was exposed by the Washington Post, but her leadership was already under fire for a September 19 incident when Omar Gonzalez, climbed the White House fence and ran through the unlocked door of the office building.

The Secret Service initially claimed that he was unarmed and had been stopped just inside the White House. It was later uncovered that he was carrying a three-inch knife and ran through much of the first floor before finally being controlled.

Ms Pierson admitted earlier this week that her agents had twice interviewed and released Gonzalez in the weeks before he climbed the White House fence.

On July 21, police in Virginia pulled Gonzalez over and searched his car. Inside were 11 guns, including high-powered rifles with scopes and shotguns, and “one map of Washington DC with writing and a line drawn to the White House”.

He was interviewed by Secret Service agents after the arrest, who determined that he was suffering mental health issues but did not consider him to be a threat. He was released and not kept under observation.

On August 25, he was found hanging around at the southern fence of the White House with a hatchet inserted into the waistband of his trousers. Gonzalez said he was carrying the hatchet because he had been on a camping trip.

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1. Why did Ms Pierson announce her resignation after the security guard incident?

A They allowed a dangerous person to ride in a lift with the president.

B The security guard was allowed to take pictures of the president.

C The security guard was allowed to stay too close to the president.

D The security guard was taking a gun when he kept close to the president.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据文章第二段…a security guard with previous convictions for assault was allowed to ride in a lift with Mr Obama可知，曾有犯罪前科的人员在奥巴马总统访问亚特兰大时当保安，并携带枪支，对总统的安全带来了潜在的危险。让有前科的人当总统保安是特勤处用人不察所致。

2.What does the underlined phrase most probably mean in the third paragraph?

A Setting fire to.

B Burning down with fire.

C Receiving severe criticism.

D With great anxiety.

解析：选C。C 猜测词义题。根据前文的difficult，结合后面发生的冈萨雷斯翻越墙门进入白宫事件，判断，皮尔森的领导能力饱受诟病，岌岌可危。under fire此处意为“遭到批评”。

3.What can we infer from the passage?

A Gonzalez was brave enough to break into the White House.

B Gonzalez broke into the White House in hope of attacking someone.

C The White House is the most secure place in the world.

D The Secret Service wanted to cover the truth at the beginning.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。根据文章第四段…initially claimed that…与It was later uncovered that…可知，特勤处的解释与调查结果出入很大，由此判断，特勤部在掩盖事实，在极力为自己开脱。

4.Why was Gonzalez released at last?

A He took weapons but didn’t attack anyone.

B He was a sick man and was not dangerous.

C The Secret Service agents knew him well.

D He had been on a camping trip.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据文章第七段…suffering mental health issues but did not consider him to be a threat. He was released…可知，特勤处工作人员了解到冈萨雷斯是一个精神病患者，不认为他构成威胁，所以将其释放。

5.What can be the best title of the passage?

A Former Criminal Worked as Security Guard of President Obama.

B The White House Was Broken into by Man of Mental Illness.

C Secret Service Chief Resigned for a serial of Lapses.

D Lapses of Secret Service Brought Danger to the President.

解析：选C。C 主旨大意题。通读全文可知，本文主要内容为：特勤处处长因为白宫安保连续出现失误而宣布辞职。故选C。