It isn’t hard to figure out when the U.S. World Cup team is heading to practice.

Shortly before its arrival at Sao Paulo FC’s sprawling training center, the U.S. team’s temporary home in Brazil, a group of at least 10 camouflage-clad(穿迷彩服的) soldiers carrying shotguns and automatic weapons line both sides of the six-lane Avenida Marques de Sao Vicente.

A helicopter hovers overhead, following the team bus as it runs on the narrow, traffic-jammed streets between the hotel and the Barra Funda district in the center of the city. State Department personnel(工作人员) walk back and forth, whispering into the tiny wireless devices hidden in their sleeves.

The Brazilian Intelligence Agency says it has provided its highest level of protection to seven of the 32 teams in the World Cup, including the U.S. That’s helped make this the most heavily policed World Cup in history, with a security force of 170,000 — almost as large as Britain’s armed forces — having been deployed(部署) around the Europe-sized country.

And that, like the tournament itself, is proving costly: Brazil is spending an estimated $840 million on security, nearly five times what South Africa spent during the last World Cup four years ago.

The BIA did not name the other six teams selected for special attention but security has been especially tight around the teams from Brazil, Argentina and England.

The English, who are based in Rio de Janeiro, have been practicing at a military facility, with submarines occasionally surfacing in the channel behind it. When the team arrived in Brazil this month, it was greeted by dozens of regular army soldiers and serious-looking police, well armed and carrying protective plastic shields(塑料防护盾牌).

Spokesman Buethe said U.S. Soccer is confident the security that has been provided for its team is more than adequate.

“We work closely with the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security to ensure that appropriate measures are put in place for the World Cup,” he said. “We are confident Brazilian authorities are preparing well for the World Cup and will be able to handle security challenges.”

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1.Why did the helicopter fly over the bus?

A To greet the American players.

B To guide the way for the team.

C To provide protection service.

D To watch the road for the bus.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据文章二三段可知，直升机在执行安保任务，与地面巡逻人员相互协助，排查安全隐患。

2.How much did the South African World Cup spend on security?

A ＄170 million.

B ＄420 million.

C ＄1700 million.

D ＄840 million.

解析：选A。细节理解题。巴西世界杯的安保费用是840百万（8亿4千万）美元，差不多是南非世界杯安保费用的5倍，840÷5=168，因此南非世界杯的安保费用是170百万（1亿7千万）美元左右。

3.What security measures were taken when the English team arrived?

A A helicopter flew over the bus they were in.

B A submarine came out of the surface in the channel.

C Some well-armed soldiers and policemen greeted them.

D Britain’s armed forces were deployed to guard them.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据文章第七段it was greeted by dozens of regular army soldiers and serious-looking police, well armed and carrying protective plastic shields可知，英国队到达后由军人及警察提供了安保服务。

4.What can we infer from the passage?

A The English team also has the highest level of protection.

B There will be no security problems in the Brazilian World Cup.

C Brazil is a country as big as Europe.

D World Cup 2014 proves to be the most costly in history.

解析：选A。推理判断题。结合文章第六段(tight)与第七段(submarines)可以判断，英国队与阿根廷队、美国队一样，也在最高级别的安保服务之列。

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

A A Most Costly World Cup

B A Well-guarded World Cup

C Security Measures for Some Teams

D Faced with Security Challenges

解析：选C。主旨大意题。通读全文可知，本文主要内容为巴西世界杯的安保布置情况，侧重介绍了美国英国等享受的高级别安全保护措施，故选C。