Ellen Parker was worried about her health. She could not walk very quickly and it was difficult for her to climb stairs. She was soon out of breath. “I suppose I had better go to the doctor,” she thought. She went to the doctor and told him her problem. “I’m not at all surprised,” he said. “It’s obvious what your problem is.” He examined her and then gave her some advice. “If you don’t do what I say, Mrs. Parker,” he said, “you will have a heart attack. It could kill you.” Ellen was very worried as she left the doctor’s. She knew that she had to take his advice but that it would not be easy and it would take time.

The next day she went shopping. The first shop she went into was a butcher’s shop. “I’d like ten pounds of steak, please,” she said. “Certainly, madam,” the butcher replied and went into the cold room and found a large piece of steak. He brought the huge piece of meat back into the shop and placed it on the scale（天平）. “That’s just under ten pounds,” he said. “That’s big enough.” Mrs. Parker said. The butcher worked out the price. “At $ 4.99 a pound that will be $ 49.50, please. Would you like me to cut it up into smaller pieces for you?” “Oh, I don’t want to buy the meat,” Mrs. Parker said. “If you don’t want to buy it,” the butcher replied angrily, “why did you ask me to get it for you?”

“My doctor told me that I am overweight and have to lose ten pounds. I wanted to see what ten pounds of flesh looked like.”

56. Why did Ellen Parker visit the doctor?

A. She had had a heart attack                      B. She had a problem with her health.

C. She was unhappy about her weight         D. She could not sleep well.

57. What did the doctor advise her to do?

A. To lose weight                                   B. To eat more meat

C. To come and see him again                    D. To look after her heart

58. Why did Ellen Parker ask for ten pounds of steak?

A. She wanted to buy some for dinner.      B. Her doctor had told her to eat steak.

C. She wanted to lose weight.                         

D. She wanted to see what ten pounds of meat looked like.

59. What was Ellen Parker’s real problem?

A. She ate too much steak     .                    B. She weighed too much.

C. The doctor did not know.                    D. She could not walk very quickly.

60. What did the doctor think might happen to Ellen?

A. She might put on more weight.            B. She might stop eating too much.

C. She might have a heart attack.                D. She might go to another doctor