I never wanted a dog, but now I’m so glad I have one.

About two years ago, my wife, Cathy, got a dog with a face only a mother could have. We named her Gertie.

Gertie is a kind of dog that has to grow on you. So I decided that the dog would be trained. This didn’t quite go as planned. At 15 weeks old, she was nearly made to leave the Petsmart Training School. She spent every night lying in our bed——snoring(打鼾)so loudly that I hardly got a good night’s sleep.

Then, about six months after she arrived, I felt that something in my heart was taking place, and I was unable to stop it. My behavior began to change. I began to smile at people when passing them in a street.

I was returned from neighbors. I started calling my kids, and to my surprise, they started calling me. I even tried to speak to my grandchildren over the phone once. I even was glad to listen to laughter from a 10-month-old granddaughter. The point is that I was changing.

My wife and I both agree that it is Gertie who has changed my behavior.

Gertie is now nearly two years old and almost fully grown. I have come to like the pet little by little, thought she is my wife's dog.

1. What did the man think of the dog at the beginning?

  A. It looks very beautiful.                       B. It wasn't very lovely.

  C. It wasn't necessary to be trained.        D. It could change his life.

2. When did the man's behavior began to change?

  A. About two years ago.

  B. When Gertie was nearly two years ago.

  C. When Gertie was 15 weeks old.               

  D. About six months after Gertie arrived.

3. Which of the following is not mentioned about the man’s change?

  A. He began to smile at the people.

  B. He liked helping his neighbors.

  C. He started calling his kids.

  D. He spoke to his grandchildren over the phone.

4. According to the passage which of the following is right?

  A. The dog has been trained very well.

  B. The man has become more confident.                    

  C. The man has become friendlier.

  D. The man likes the dog better than his wife.

5. From the passage, what do you think of pets?

  A. Pets are not useful to people.

  B. Keeping pets is dangerous.

  C. Sometimes pets can change someone’s life.

  D. Pets need to be looked after well.

I never wanted a dog, but now I'm so glad I have one. About two years ago, my wife, Cathy, got a little dog with a face only a mother could love. We named her Gertie.
Gertie is the kind of dog that has to grow on you. So I dicided that the dog would be trained. This didn't quite go as planned. At 15 weeks old, she was nearly made to leave the Petsmart Training School. She spent every night lying in our bed-snoring (打鼾)so loudly that I hardly got a good night's sleep.
Then, about six months after she arrived, I felt that something in my heart was taking place, and I was unable to stop it. My behaviour(行為方式)began to change. I began to smile at people when passing them in a street. I returned(招手)from neighbours. I started calling my kids, and to my surprise, they started calling me. I even tried to speak to my grandchildren over the phone once. I even was glad to listen to laughter from a 10-month-old granddaughter. The point is that I was changing.
My wife and I both agree that it is Gertie who has changed my behaviour. Gertie is now nearly two years old and almost fully grown.I have come to like the pet little by little, though she is my wife's dog.
【小題1】What did the man think of the dog at the beginning?