6．The United States of America was founded in 1776after the 13independent American states rose up against the ruling British，defeated them in the American Revolutionary War，and signed the Declaration of Independence，the document which declared the creation of the new country．
The men who led the revolution，drafted the Declaration of Independence，and wrote the first American laws are known as"founding fathers"．Benjamin Franklin，whose picture is on the US 100-dollar note，was appointed to prepare the Declaration that was eventually signed by the other founding fathers．
Franklin was born in 1706in Boston to a soap maker named Josiah Franklin．His father could not afford full schooling for all his children，but Benjamin loved books and worked in his elder brother's printing business before starting a newspaper called the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1729．He wrote and drew cartoons for the newspaper．In addition，he worked to improve living conditions in the city：introducing street lights，cleaning the roads and building libraries．In the 1740s，Franklin retired from his newspaper and turned to science with great success．He was a very smart man and his work on electricity，including the"kite experiment"which confirmed the nature of lightning，made him famous throughout the world．
Franklin earned the title of the"First American"for his efforts to unite the 13American states，and to win their independence．This part of the story starts in London．He was sent to the city to persuade the British to treat the American states more fairly．It was here that he began interacting with important political thinkers and activists of the time and developing his own political ideas．
Following his return to America in 1761he became much more active in American politics and in the battle against British rule．
After the United States of America was established，Franklin held several important positions such as the first United States Postmaster General，Ambassador to France and President of Pennsylvania．He is also famous today for his wise sayings，including"a penny saved is a penny earned"and"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"．
24．What is the article mainly about？B
A．The American Declaration of Independence．
B．Franklin's contributions to American society．
C．The American War of Independence．
D．Benjamin Franklin's early life．
25．How did Franklin begin developing his own political thinking？A
A．By discussing ideas with political activists in Britain．
B．By persuading the 13American states to unite．
C．By fighting against British rule in America．
D．By writing articles for his own newspaper．
26．What can be inferred about Franklin from the article？C
A．His most important contribution was in science．
B．He was th e leader of the"founding fathers"．
C．He was successful in many different areas．
D．He came from a very wealthy family．
27．What is the correct order for the following events from Franklin's life？B
a．He started a newspaper business．
b．He carried out the kite experience on electricity．
c．He worked for his brother in a printing company．
d．He was appointed the Ambassador to France．
e．He helped write the Declaration of Independence．
f．He visited England to discuss independence．
A．e，c，a，b，f，d B．c，a，b，f，e，d
C．a，c，f，b，d，e D．f，d，a，b，c，e．
