An old man who lived in a small street in the city of Mumbai had to put up 1 the nuisanceof having——青夏教育精英家教网—

An old man who lived in a small street in the city of Mumbai had to put up 1 the nuisanceof having boys play cricket outside his house at night. One evening when the boys were 2 noisy,he went out to talk to them.He explained that he was happiest 3 he could see or hear boys playing his favourite game,cricket.He said he would give them 25 rupeeseach week to play in the street at night. The boys were thrilled.They were being paid to do something they enjoyed! At the end of the first week they 4 at the old man?s door and asked him to pay them,and so he did. The second week when they asked for 5 (pay)he said he had run out of money and sent them away with only 15 rupees.The third week the man said he had not 6 received his pension and gave them only 10 rupees.The boys were very 7 but there was not much they could do about 8 .The fourth week the man said he could not afford to pay them 25 rupees 9 he had promised,but would give them 5 rupees each week without fail. This was too much for the boys.“You expect us to play seven days 10 week for a merely 5 rupees! they yelled.“Go to blazes. They stormed away and never played on the street again. 【查看更多】

The bicycle is the common sight in our daily life, as a great many Chinese use one every day. But you may not know its role in strengthening international relations, as it did in the case of US President George W. Bush’s visit to China .

President Bush arrived in Beijing on November 19, 2005 after he finished the APEC meeting in South Korea.He met with Chinese top leaders and achieved agreements on trade, Taiwan issue and more.

Although Bush’s trip was short as 40 hours, he managed to spare a moment to do some cycling. On November 20, he rode up and down a steep path at Laoshan Olympic Mountain Bike Course in Beijing’s suburbs.

Six young Chinese cyclists accompanied the president, who was dressed in a Chinese training uniform with the “Beijing 2008” logo (标志). He did not go along the arranged route and chose a more zigzag(曲折的) hiking path.

“How do you say, ‘take it easy on the old man’?” Bush joked to his partners before setting out.

“Compared with my bike path on the Crawford ranch (农场) , this one is greater and really difficult,” said Bush when his 45-minute ride ended. He said he will come to Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games.

This is not Bush’s first cycle ride in Beijing. In 1975 at the age of 29, he visited the Chinese capital for the first time, when his father was head of the US liaison office (联络处) in Beijing, which Bush described as “fantastic”.

However, observers said Bush’s ride is much more than just his favorite pastime. It expressed friendliness with people in China, where the bicycle is an important part of life and culture.

According to the Washington Post, one of the major newspapers in the US, this was a specially arranged activity by the US Government, for they want to send the Chinese a sign of friendship. “The president is by no means hostile (有敌意的) to China,” it said.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A. Every Chinese has at least one bicycle

B. The bicycle is the common sight in our daily life

C. Bicycle can play a role in improving relationship between nations

D. President George W. Bush is fond of cycling

2. President George W. Bush went cycling ______.

A. wearing a T-shirt with the “Beijing 2008” logo

B. up and down a path on Laoshan Mountain

C. accompanied by six young Chinese policemen

D. along a more challenging way without arrangement

3. Bush said “take it easy on the old man” to his partners probably because ______.

A. he wanted to make them easy

B. he wanted to make a joke about them

C. he wanted to tell them it would be a more zigzag hiking path

D. he wanted to show them it would be a easy task for an old man

4. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Bush’s first cycle ride was in 1975.

B. Bush’s ride was specially arranged by the Washington Post.

C. Bush’s ride is more a sign of friendship than just his favorite pastime.

D. Bush will come to Beijing to take part in the Olympic cycling games in 2008.

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