People sometimes like to read stories of dogs very much. They think that dogs are much cleverer than cats, sheep, cows or other animals in their homes.
　One of my best friends, Bob, has a dog named Jack. Every Sunday afternoon, Bob and Jack have a walk in the park nearby. Jack likes these walks very much. One Sunday afternoon, I stayed in Bob’s home for a long time and we talked happily. Soon it was time for them to take a walk in the park. Jack was worried about it. He walked around the room several times and then sat down in front of me and looked at me. But I still paid no attention (注意) to him. I went on talking with my friend. At last, Jack could not wait any longer. He went out of the room and came back a few minutes later. He sat down in front of me again. But this time, he held my hat in his mouth. Suddenly, I understood what Jack meant.
【小题1】How many people are there in this story?     ______.

　　When a group of children politely stop a conversation with you, saying: “We have to go to work now,” you're left feeling surprised and certainly uneasy. After all, this is the 1990s and the idea of children working is just unthinkable. That is, until you are told that they are all pupils of stage schools and that the work “they go off” is to go on the stage in a theater.

　　Stage schools often act as agencies (代理机构) to supply children for stage and television work. More worthy of the name “stage school” are those few places where children attend full time, with training for the theatre and a general education. A visit to such schools will leave you in no doubt that the children enjoy themselves. After all, what lively children wouldn't settle for spending only half the day doing ordinary school work, and acting, singing or dancing their way through the other half of the day?

　　Then of course there is time for the children to make a name and make a little money in some big shows. Some stage schools give their children too much professional work at such a young age. But the law is very tight on the amount they can do. Those under 13 are limited to 40 days in the year and those over 13 to 40 days.

　　The schools themselves admit that not all children will be successful in the profession for which they are being trained. So what happens to those who don't make it? While all the leading schools say they place great importance on children getting good study results, the facts seem to suggest this is not always the case.

(1) People would stop feeling uneasy when realizing that the children they're talking to ________.

[　　]

A．attend stage school

B．are going to the theatre

C．have got some work to do

D．love singing and dancing

(2) In the writer's opinion, a good stage school should ________.

[　　]

A．produce star performers

B．help pupils improve their study skills

C．train pupils in language and performing arts

D．provide a general education and training

(3) “Professional work” used in the text means ________.

[　　]

A．ordinary school work

B．money-making performances

C．stage training at school

D．acting, singing, or dancing after class

(4) Which of the following best describes how the writer feels about stage schools?

[　　]

A．He thinks highly of hat they have to offer.

B．He favors an early start in the training of performing arts.

C．He feels uncomfortable about children putting on night shows.

D．He doubts the standard of ordinary education they have reached.

(5) The word “unthinkable” in the first paragraph means: ________.

[　　]

Linda and David have traveled by air from London to Sydney, Australia. Linda has promised (应答.) her mother that she will ring her to let her know that they have arrived safely. This is something she had done ever since she was a child. David thinks it is not a good idea to ring so far, to spend too much, and to say so little.

    "If there were an accident." He says, "They'd know soon enough. Bad news travels fast. "

    But Linda has promised that she would ring. "However," she says, "it doesn't cost much when you just think that it's the other side of the world. It's only six pence per second (每秒六便士)。"

    "If you're on that telephone for less than one minute, I'll eat my hat," David says, "And one minute's nearly four pounds(英镑). "

    "That's no more than you'd pay for a new hat," Linda answers.

    She has asked the: man at the hotel (旅馆) desk to get her the number. The telephone rings. Linda picks it up.

    "Hello, Mum. Is that you?" She says.

    "Six pence per second," David reminds(提醒) her.

  "Hello, love." It is Mrs. Lee, Linda's mother, speaking from London." I can hear you very clearly just like you are in the next room. It's a better line than when you called me from your office. Do you remember? I shouted at that time, and still you couldn't hear me sometimes."

    "Yes, Mum." Linda puts in..."I just wanted to ring to...."

    "I remember how you rang when you went to Betty's house to eat, when you were a little girl. And then when you ..." Mrs. Lee is a great talker

    "Nearly four pounds." says David.

    Linda tries to tell her mother that it is time to say goodbye.

    "Yes, all right," says Mrs. Lee," But you will write, won't you, as you did when you were at work ..."

    Once again, Mrs. Lee talks about the past. And there is no stopping her. 

"Four pounds fifty," says David.

At last, Linda cuts her mother short, promises to write, and rings off.

"There! That wasn't long, was it?"

    "Four pounds, ninety pence." David answers. "And you didn't even say that we've arrived."

1. Linda is telephoning home to_______.

  A. tell her mother some bad news.

  B. say that she and David have arrived safely

C. report an accident to her mother

  D. say that she and David have left London

2. Linda does not think it expensive to ring, because_______.

A. it only costs four pounds and ninety pence

  B. it is even more expensive to buy a new hat

  C. she had telephoned home since she was a child

D. she will speak from one side of the word to the other

3. David says, 'Nearly four pounds', because _______.

  A. he wants to remind Linda of the cost of the call

B. he wants to buy himself a new hat

  C. Linda has not told her mother they have arrived

  D. he wants Mrs. Lee to know how much the call costs

4. Mrs. Lee goes on talking for so long because _______.

A. she likes to hear all about the past.

  B. Linda had not told her that she has arrived

C. she likes talking

  D. she is going to pay for the telephone call

5. Linda tries to stop her mother by_______.

  A. telling her how much the call is costing.

B. writing a letter as she has promised to do

C. telling her that they have arrived safely

D. promising to write, and ringing off