阅读理解（共15小题；每题2分，共30分。）

阅读下列短文，然后根据短文的内容从每小题的四个选择项中选出最佳的一项，并把它前面的大写字母填入左边的括号里。

A

Jimmywasfiveyearsoldandhisbrother，Billy，wasonlyababy.Onemorninghismotherwaitedforanimportanttelephonecallforhours，butnobodycalled.Therewasnobreadinthehouseandshehadtogoouttobuysome.Jimmystayedathometolookafterthebaby.Whenthemotherwasout，thetelephonerangandJimmyanswered.

Mr.Baker：HelloMayIspeaktoMrs.White？

Jimmy：Sorry，Motherisout.

Mr.Baker：Well，whenshecomesback，saytoher，“Mr.Bakercalled.”

Jimmy：What？

Mr.Baker：Mr.Baker.Writeitdown.B-A-K-E-R.

Jimmy：HowdoyouwriteB？

Mr.Baker：HowdoIwrite…？Listen，littleboy，isthereanybodyelsewithyou？Anybrothersorsisters？

Jimmy：Yes，mybrotherBillyishere.

Mr.Baker：Good.Iwanttotalktohim，please.

Jimmy：Allright.Jimmytookthetelephonetothebaby‘sbedandputitbesideitshead.Notlongafterthathismothercameback.

Mother：Didanybodycall？

Jimmy：Yes，amancalled.ButheonlywantedtotalktoBilly.

（）51.Jimmy‘smotherwaitedfor________.

A.animportantman

B.agoodfriend

C.atelephonecall

D.apieceofgoodnews

（）52.Jimmy‘smotherwentoutbecause________.

A.shewaitedforhours

B.nobodycalled

C.shehadtobuysomebread

D.shehadtobuysomemilk

（）53.Jimmycouldn‘twritedownMr.Baker’snamebecause________.

A.hehadnopenorpaper

B.hecouldn‘treadorwrite

C.hehadtolookafterthebaby

D.hehadtoplaywithhisbrother

（）54.Mr.Bakerwantedtotalkto________.

A.achildolderthanJimmy

B.achildyoungerthanJimmy

C.Jimmy‘sbrotherBilly

D.Jimmy‘ssisterBetty

B

Thecowboyistheheroofmanymovies.Heis，eventoday，asymbolofcourageandadventure.Butwhatwasthelifeofthecowboyreallylike？

Thecowboy‘sjobisclearfromtheword“cowboy”。Cowboysweremenwhotookcareofcowsandothercattle.ThecattlewereintheWestandinTexas.PeopleinthecitiesoftheEastwantedbeeffromthesecattle.Trainscouldtakethecattleeast.Butfirstthecattlehadtogettothetrains.Partofthecowboy’sjobwastotakethecattlehundredsofmilestotherailroadtowns.

Thetripswerecalledcattledrives.Acattledriveusuallytookseveralmonths.Cowboysrodeforsixteenhoursaday.Becausetheyrodesomuch，eachcowboybroughtalongabouteighthorses.Acowboychangedhorsesseveraltimeseachday.

Thecowboyshadtomakesurethatthecattlearrivedsafely.Beforestartingonadrive，thecowboysbrandedthecattle.Theyburnedamakeonthecattletoshowwhotheybelongedto.Butthesemarksdidn‘tstoprustlers，orcattlethieves.Cowboyshadtoprotectthecattlefromrustlers.Rustlersmadethedangeroustripevenmoredangerous.

Eventhoughtheirworkwasverydifficultanddangerous，cowboysdidnotearnmuchmoney.Theywerepaidbally.Yetcowboyslikedtheirwayoflife.Theylivedinawildandopencountry.Theylivedalifeofadventureandfreedom.

（）55.Thecowboy‘sjobwas________.

A.tobeahero

B.totakecareofcattle

C.tobearustler

D.tobeadriver

（）56.Cowboys________.liuxuepaper.com