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Lori Gonzalez was in the wrong place at the wrong time. At the wheel of her blue Chevrolet Caprice, the 20-year-old college student was leaving the drive-through line at a
Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits restaurant in south Los Angeles last week with a young male friend. Suddenly, a darkly dressed man appeared at the passenger door, with a gun. The friend ducked, and several bullets tore into Gonzalez, wounding her fatally. The shooter, described as a heavyset man in his 20s, vanished into an alley. The quick hit might have become just another statistic - the latest of more than 160 killings reported in L.A. so far this year - except for a horrible irony. Gonzalez’s grandfather is the city's police chief, Bernard Parks.
That made the incident more than just another murder. Detectives from LAPD's elite Robbery-Homicide Division took over the case from local units. Police quickly concluded
that Gonzalez’s killing was a mistake. The killer apparently intended to shoot the friend in the passenger seat, who was not identified. Gonzalez had reportedly known the man as a casual friend for years and was spending time with him while visiting her mother, Felicia Parks - Mena, one of the chief’s daughters. The man was also a gang member with a criminal record, police said, and he had been wounded three weeks earlier in an ambush at another fast-food joint, Johnnie’s Pastrami.
His world seemed a long way from Gonzalez’s. Raised in Los Angeles by her mother, Gonzalez moved to live with her father and stepmother in Orange County two years ago to attend Saddleback College. She also held two jobs, as a drugstore clerk and telephone operator. At Coast Hills Community Church, she taught Sunday school to 15 second and third graders and took church trips to Mexico to build homes for poor families, according to pastor Eric Nachtrieb. “She’s the kind of gal who you’d see with three or four kids in her lap,” says Nachtrieb.
The family tragedy comes at a time when Parks is fighting to prevent the spreading of a scandal caused by a rogue cop who admitted stealing cocaine - and who accused two dozen fellow officers of perjury, shooting unarmed gang members and planting drugs and guns on suspects. It is also possible that the LAPD has to appear in court because of a “pattern and practice” of abuse and racial discrimination which might cause loss of control over the department. Since last fall, judges have decided that 81 criminal cases brought by officers of the Rampart Division alone were not well-founded. Two sergeants and an officer have been charged with perjury and faking police reports, and more accusations are expected.
Chief Parks himself was in seclusion last week, but some of his best cops were asking people in the neighborhood around Popeyes questions. So far, police have complained they were getting little useful informationfrom their chief witness - the friend who ducked.
From: Newsweek June 12, 2000 Slightly adapted
1
Line 1: “Lori Gonzalez was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
This is stated because
A being in that place then almost turned out to be fatal for Lori.
B being in that place then had turned out to be fatal for Lori.
C Lori was warned against going to that place. D Lori was wrong to plan to go to that place.
2
“Suddenly” in line 5 is similar in meaning to the following except
A abruptly. B all at once. C gradually. D unexpectedly.
3
Lines 5 – 6: “Suddenly … gun.”
We learn the following about the man.
A He had a dark color. B He had a weapon.
C He wanted to open the passenger door of the car.
D He wanted to pull the passenger out of the car.
4
The word “ducked” in line 7 is similar in meaning to
A hiding from somebody. B moving downwards. C moving upwards. D preventing something. Line 10: Line 11: Line 19: Line 30: Line 32: Line 34: Line 35: Line 35: Line 36: statistic irony ambush perjury abuse well-founded fake accusation seclusion – – – – – – – – –
a piece of information shown in numbers
the strange aspect of a situation that is very different from what you expect
the act of hiding and waiting for somebody and then making a surprise attack on them
the crime of telling a lie in court
unfair, cruel or violent treatment of somebody
having good reasons or evidence to support something
to make something false appear to be real, especially in order to cheat somebody
a statement saying that you think a person is guilty of doing something wrong, especially of committing a crime
Lines 5 – 8: “Suddenly, a darkly … fatally.”
These lines suggest that
A Lori’s body was ripped to pieces. B Lori’s body was unrecognizable. C Lori was by no means the target. D Lori was the target for sure.
6
The shooter (line 8) must have been
A fat. B lean. C skinny. D tall.
7
The word “hit” (line 9) is similar in meaning to A attempt.
B crime. C murder. D offence.
8
Lines 9 – 12: “The quick … Bernard Parks.”
The irony is that
A Bernard Parks, the city’s police chief, was confronted with more than 160 killings in L.A.
B Bernard Parks, the city’s police chief, was confronted with the killing of his grandchild. C the hit might have become just another statistic.
D the hit was unexpectedly quick.
The word “That” in line 13 refers to the fact that
A Bernard Parks was a high-ranking police officer in L.A.
B Bernard Parks was an influential police officer in the U.S.
C Gonzalez’s grandfather was a courageous police officer.
D Gonzalez’s grandfather was an enterprising police officer.
10
The word “incident” (line 13) is similar in meaning to the following except
A accident. B event. C happening. D occurrence.
11
Lines 13 – 14: “That made … units.” These lines suggest that the incident … special attention. A had to receive B needed to receive C received D should receive 12
Lines 13 – 14: “Detectives … units.”
These lines indicate that the investigation of the murder … where the murder had happened. A could not take place
B did not take place C had to take place D took place
Lines 14 – 15: “Police … mistake.”
These lines indicate that Gonzalez’s murder A could have been avoided.
B could have been prevented. C was meant to happen.
D was not meant to happen.
14
The word “apparently” (line 15) can have the following meaning except
A clearly. B evidently. C mysteriously. D seemingly.
15
Lines 15 – 16: “The killer… identified.” The word “who” refers to
A the attacker. B the friend. C the killer.
D the victim.
16
“reportedly” (line 16) means: according to what was A believed. B said. C suspected. D thought. 17
Lines 16 – 17: “Gonzalez … casual friend … ” These lines tell us that Gonzalez and the man were
A just friends. B just lovers.
C more than just friends. D more than just lovers.
Lines 16 – 18: “Gonzalez … daughters.”
These lines suggest that Gonzalez
A visited her mother only to meet with the man. B visited her mother to spend time with the man. C was chiefly there at special request of her mother.
D was chiefly there to spend time with her mother.
19
Lines 18 – 20: “The man … Pastrami.”
From these lines we may conclude that the man
A had been fatally wounded earlier. B had been seriously wounded earlier. C had escaped death some time before. D had taken part in an ambush before.
20
Line 21: “His world … Gonzalez’s.”
We may say that the man’s life seemed to be A far from abnormal compared to Gonzalez’s. B far from honourable compared to Gonzalez’s. C somewhat different from that of Gonzalez’s. D somewhat similar to that of Gonzalez’s.
21
Lines 21 – 23: “Raised … College.”
These lines suggest that Gonzalez’s parents A did not want to live in the same county. B fought to have her.
C were not on friendly terms. D were separated.
Lines 22 – 23: “… to attend Saddleback College .”
The word “to” expresses the following
except A a cause. B a goal. C a purpose. D an aim. 23
Line 23: “She also … operator.”
This line suggests that Gonzalez
A had difficulties to sit still for a long time. B had no other choice than to work.
C was advised to take two jobs. D was an active young lady.
24
Lines 24 – 27: “At Coast … Nachtrieb.”
We may say that Gonzalez was the following
except A adventurous. B helpful. C loving. D religious. 25
Lines 28 – 29: “The family … cocaine …”
From these lines we may conclude that for Parks, the death of his granddaughter came when he
A could not deal with another scandal. B could not discover the cause of a scandal. C had to deal with difficulties at work. D had to investigate a cocaine theft.
Lines 28 – 31: “The family … suspects.”
Which of the following statements about the cop is not true?
A He had behaved badly causing damage to the police force.
B He had dealt in cocaine for some time. C He had revealed offences by his fellow officers.
D He had said that he had stolen drugs.
27
Line 31: “It is … in court …”
This line indicates that the LAPD … appear in court. A could have to B had to C should D would have to 28
Lines 31 – 32: “… a ‘pattern and practice’ of abuse and racial discrimination …”
This phrase indicates that abuse and racial discrimination occurred … and in the same way. A now and then
B occasionally C regularly D sometimes
29
The word “which” in line 32 refers to A abuse and racial discrimination.
B a pattern and practice of abuse and racial discrimination.
C practice of abuse and racial discrimination. D racial discrimination.
Lines 32 – 33: “… which might … department.”
These lines indicate that an outsider … be put in charge of the department.
A could B should C will D would
31
Lines 33 – 34: “Since last … well-founded.”
These lines indicate that 81 cases were
A dismissed. B postponed. C prepared. D put off.
32
Lines 34 – 35: “Two sergeants … expected.” These lines suggest that the investigation has to …
Which of the following does not fit?
A be carried on. B be completed. C continue. D start.
Line 36: “Chief Parks … last week …”
Chief Parks was probably in seclusion because he
A felt very depressed. B lost power.
C was ashamed. D was very scared.
34
Lines 36 – 37: “… but some … questions.”
We may say the following about the cops
except
A they did not give up easily.
B they did not trust those questioned. C they tried to satisfy their chief. D they tried to solve the case.
35
Lines 37 – 38: “So far … ducked.”
We may say the following about the friend.
A He had little useful information. B He had no useful information.
C He probably held back relevant information. D He simply refused to give any information.
