Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)

　　Part A?

　　Directions:?

　　Read the following three texts. Answer the questions on each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answer on the ANSWER SHEET by drawing a thick line across the corresponding letter in the brackets.?

　　Text 1?

　　The dog, called Prince, was an intelligent animal and a slave to Williams. From morning till night, when Williams was at home, Prince never left his sight, practically ignoring all other members of the family. The dog had a number of clearly defined duties, for which Williams had patiently trained him and, like the good pupil he was, Prince lived for the chance to demonstrate his abilities.

　　When Williams wanted to put on his boots, he would murmur “Boots” and within seconds the dog would drop them at his feet. At nine every morning, Prince ran off to the general store in the village, returning shortly not only with Williams' daily paper but with a half?ounce packet of Williams' favorite tobacco, John Rhiney's Mixed. A gun?dog by breed, Prince possessed a large soft mouth specially evolved for the safe carrying of hunted creatures, so the paper and the tobacco came to no harm, never even showing a tooth mark.?

　　Williams was a railwayman, an engine driver, and he wore a blue uniform which smelled of oil and oil fuel. He had to work at odd times —“days”, “l(fā)ate days” or “nights”. Over the years Prince got to know these periods of work and rest, knew when his master would leave the house and return, and the dog did not waste this knowledge. If Williams overslept, as he often did, Prince barked at the bedroom door until he woke, much to the annoyance of the family. On his return, Williams' slippers were brought to him, the paper and tobacco too if previously undelivered.?

　　A curious thing happened to Williams during the snow and ice of last winter. One evening he slipped and fell on the icy pavement somewhere between the village and his home. He was so badly shaken that he stayed in bed for three days; and not until he got up and dressed again did he discover that he had lost his wallet containing over fifty pounds. The house was turned upside down in the search, but the wallet was not found. However, two days later—that was five days after the fall—Prince dropped the wallet into William's hand. Very muddy, stained and wet through, the little case still contained fifty?three pounds, Williams' driving license and a few other papers. Where the dog had found it no one could tell, but found it he had and recognized it probably by the faint oily smell on the worn leather.?

　　46. How did the dog perform his duties??

　　[A] He was delighted to show them off.?

　　[B] He did his best but was not often successful.?

　　[C] He did them quickly to get them over.?

　　[D] He had few opportunities to do them. ??

　　47. What does the passage tell us about gun dogs??

　　[A] They are the fastest runners of all dogs.?

　　[B] Their teeth are removed when they are young.?

　　[C] They can carry birds, etc. without hurting them.?

　　[D] They breed well, producing many young dogs. ??

　　48. As a result of Williams' work .?

　　[A] he did not get enough sleep?

　　[B] there was an oily smell from his clothes?

　　[C] the dog grew accustomed to travelling by train?

　　[D] the dog was confused about the time of the day??

　　49. It upset Williams' wife and family when .?

　　[A] Williams had to go to work at night?

　　[B] the dog made too much noise in the house?

　　[C] Williams made them all get up early?

　　[D] the dog would not let them see the newspaper??

　　50. Williams did not realise his loss for several days because .?

　　[A] he trusted the dog to find the wallet?

　　[B] he was unconscious all that time?

　　[C] he thought the wallet was in the house?

　　[D] he had no occasion to feel in his pockets?