听力原文： As testimony ended in the trial of four police officers accused of beating a black motorist, Los Angeles authorities tried to calm widespread fears that the verdict in the case could trigger new riots. Across the United State, major cities were awaiting the outcome of the Los Angeles trial. In San Francisco, Las Vegas, Seattle and Atlanta--all hit by riots, looting or vandalism after last year's verdict--authorities were putting into place plans to counter any potential violence. In Washington, President Bill Clinton's housing secretary underscored the nationwide concern, saying scores of US cities were sitting on the 'red hot coals' of racism and poverty and could again explode. In the southern city of Atlanta, Georgia, where more than 300 people were arrested and at least 21 injured in riots which followed last year's verdict, a spokeswoman for the police department said the force was 'prepared to respond as we always do' if anything happened when the trial ended. ______ was not hit by riots last year according to the news.