英语100篇精读荟萃(基础篇)16
Passage Sixteen (Mules)
Although the top men in
smuggling business must work together, most of a syndicate’s small fry,
especially the mules, know only their immediate contacts. If caught
there is little they can give away. A mule probably will not even know
the name of the person who gives him his instructions, nor how to get
in touch with him. Usually he even does not know the person to whom he
has to make delivery. He will be told just to sit tight in a certain
hotel or bar until someone contacts him. In this way if he is blown,
coming through airport customs he cannot unwittingly lead agents to the
next link in the chain. All the persons at the receiving end do is to
hang around the airport among the waiting crowd, and see that the mule
comes through safely. If he does not, he is dimply written off as a
loss. To make identification of mules easier, several syndicates have
devised their own “club ties” so that a mule wearing one can
immediately be picked out.
Mules often receive careful
training before embarking on their first journey. One Beirut
organization, for example, uses a room with three airline seats in it.
There the trainee mules sit for hours on end wearing weighted smuggling
vests beneath their clothes, so that they become accustomed to standing
up after a long flight in a natural way, and without revealing what
they are carrying. An outfit in Brussels maintained a comfortable
apartment where the mules could relax and get a firm grip on themselves
on the night before their first journey; they were helped to dress
before setting out for the airport in the morning. More often than not
a courier will not know precisely where he is going or what flight
number is until he is actually handed his tickets at the airport. This
prevents the careless boast in some bar or to a girl friend the night
before.
Mules occasionally run off with the goods to keep the
profit themselves. As insurance against this, a syndicate often sends a
high-up on the same plane to keep a wary eye on couriers, particularly
new ones. Even then things can go badly wrong. One international
currency smuggler who was having trouble getting money out of Britain
was offered help by a group of men who said they were in a position to
“fix thing” - for a fee of course. Foolishly, the smuggler agreed to
accept their help. When he got to London’s Heathrow Airport, he handed
over to one of the men a black suitcase containing nearly $90,000 in
cash, destined for Frankfurt. Just to keep an eye on things, the
smuggler went along on the same plane. When they landed at Frankfurt he
was handed back his suitcase. He beat a straight path to the men’s
toilet, opened the case, and found only old clothes. The courier had
switched suitcase en route, but the smuggler could hardly run to the
police and complain that “the man who was smuggling money out of
England for me has stolen it.”
1. What is a “mule”?
[A] A person who sends smuggling goods for a syndicate is called mule.
[B] A person in charge of smuggling goods is called mule.
[C] A person who makes delivery for a syndicate is called mule.
[D] A person who receives instructions from a smuggler is called mule.
2. The sentence “if he is blown” in line (6) is closest in meaning to
[A] if he is arrested.
[B] if he is recognized, but not necessarily arrested.
[C] if he is recognized and arrested.
[D] if he runs away.
3. Why does the author give an example in the last paragraph?
[A] To show how a smuggler is caught.
[B] To show a smuggler is afraid of the police.
[C] To show to keep a wary eye on couriers is useless.
[D] To show mules may keep the profit for themselves.
4. how does a mule work?
[A] Jointly.
[B] Independently.
[C] consciously.
[D] Separately.