阅读理解。
On Nov.18th, 1908, three men went up in a balloon (气球). They started early in London. The headman
was Augusta Gaudron, and the other two men were Tannar and Maitland. They had a big balloon and they
were ready for a long way.
Soon they heard the sea. They were carrying the usual rope (绳子), and it was hanging down from the
basket of the balloon. At the end of the rope they had tied a metal box. This could hold water, or it could be
empty. So they were able to change its weight (重量). It was for use over the sea. They were also carrying
some bags of sand. After the sun rose, the balloon went higher. It went up to 3,000 metres, and the air was
very cold. The water in the balloon became ice. Snow fell past the men's basket, and they could see more
snow on the ground. The men tried to throw out some more sand; but it was hard. They tried to break the
icy sand with their knives, but it was not easy. The work was slow and they were still falling, so they had to
drop some whole bags of sand. One of them fell on an icy lake and made a black hole in the ice.
At last they pulled the box into the basket. It was still snowing; so they climbed to get away from the
snow. They rose to 5,100 metres! Everything became icy. They were so cold that they decided to land.
They came down in Poland heavily but safely. They had travelled 1,797 kilometers from London!
1. Three men flew in balloon ______.
A. for nearly 1,800 kilometers
B. to another city
C. to visit Poland
D. more than a century ago
2. The metal box was used for ______.
A. carrying the bags of sand
B. keeping drinking-water
C. carrying ropes of the basket
D. changing weight
3. When the balloon went up higher, ______.
A. the temperature of the balloon began to fall
B. They saw the sun go down
C. They made a hole in the basket with their knives
D. They could see a black hole on the ground
4. The balloon landed ______.
A. in London
B. on the sea
C. on a lake
D. in a foreign country
5. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. The three men started their journey before the sun rose.
B. The balloon began to go up when they threw bags of sand out of the basket.
C. When they pulled the box into the basket, the balloon began to climb up.
D. The three men had to land because they felt cold.
