A thief entered the bedroom of the 30^th President of the United States, who met him and helped him escape punishment.
The event happened in the early morning hours on one of the first days when Calvin Coolidge came into power, late in August,1923. He and his family were living in the same third-floor suite (套房) at the Willard Hotel in Washington that they had moved in several years before. The former President’s wife was still living in the White House.
Coolidge woke up to see a stranger go through his clothes, remove a wallet and a watch chain.
Coolidge spoke, “I wish you wouldn’t take that.”
The thief, gaining his voice, said, “Why?”
“I don’t mean the watch and chain, only the charm (表墜). Take it near the window and read the words on its back, ” the president said.
The thief read, “Presented to Calvin Coolidge.”
“Are you President Coolidge?” he asked.
The president answered, “ Yes, and the House of Representatives（眾議院）gave me the watch charm. I’m fond of it. It would do you no good. You want money. Let’s talk this over.”
Holding up the wallet, the young man said in a low voice, “I’ll take this and leave everything else.”
Coolidge, knowing there was 80 dollars in it, asked the young man to sit down and talk. He told the President he and his college roommate had overspent during their holiday and did not have enough money to pay their hotel bill.
Coolidge added up the roommate two rail tickets back to the college. Then he counted out 32 dollars and said it was a loan (借款).
He then told the young man, “There is a guard in the corridor(走廊).” The young man nodded and left through the same window as he had entered.
【小題1】What caused the thief to meet the President?

A thief entered the bedroom of the 30^th President of the United States, who met him and helped him escape punishment.

The event happened in the early morning hours on one of the first days when Calvin Coolidge came into power, late in August,1923. He and his family were living in the same third-floor suite (套房) at the Willard Hotel in Washington that they had moved in several years before. The former President’s wife was still living in the White House.

Coolidge woke up to see a stranger go through his clothes, remove a wallet and a watch chain.

Coolidge spoke, “I wish you wouldn’t take that.”

The thief, gaining his voice, said, “Why?”

“I don’t mean the watch and chain, only the charm (表墜). Take it near the window and read the words on its back, ” the president said.

The thief read, “Presented to Calvin Coolidge.”

“Are you President Coolidge?” he asked.

The president answered, “ Yes, and the House of Representatives（眾議院）gave me the watch charm. I’m fond of it. It would do you no good. You want money. Let’s talk this over.”

Holding up the wallet, the young man said in a low voice, “I’ll take this and leave everything else.”

Coolidge, knowing there was 80 dollars in it, asked the young man to sit down and talk. He told the President he and his college roommate had overspent during their holiday and did not have enough money to pay their hotel bill.

Coolidge added up the roommate two rail tickets back to the college. Then he counted out 32 dollars and said it was a loan (借款).

He then told the young man, “There is a guard in the corridor(走廊).” The young man nodded and left through the same window as he had entered.

1.What caused the thief to meet the President?

A. He knew the president had lots of money.

B. He knew the president lived in the suite.

C. He wanted to be a rich businessman.

D. He wanted to steal some money.

2.Why did Calvin Coolidge live at the Willard Hotel in those days?

A. Because the former president was still in the White House.

B. Because the former First Lady hadn’t left the White House.

C. Because the hotel was suitable for the First Family to live.

D. Because the First lady liked to live there.

3.Coolidge counted out 32 dollars______.

A. in order to be out of danger

B. to make more money from the loan

C. in order not to be killed by the thief

D. so that the student could overcome his difficulty

4.The young man’s roommate went back to college _____.

A. by bus           B. by water         C. by train     D. by air

5.Which of the following might happen afterwards?

A. The thief was put into prison.

B. The young man repaid the 32 dollars.

C. The President told many reporters the thief’s name.

D. The President ordered the young man to repay the money.

Many people go to school for an education. They learn languages, history, politics, geography, physics, chemistry and mathematics. Others go to school to learn a skill so that they can make a living.
School education is very important and useful. Yet, no one can learn everything from school. A teacher, no matter how much he knows, can not teach his students everything they want to know. The teacher’s job is to show his students how to learn. He teaches them how to read and how to think. So, much more is to be learned outside school by the students themselves.
It is always more important to know how to study by oneself than to memorize some facts or a formula（公式）. It is actually quite easy to learn a certain fact in history or a formula in math. But it is very difficult to use a formula in working out a math problem.
Great scientists before us didn’t get everything from school. Their teachers only showed them the way. Edison didn’t even finish primary school. But they were all so successful. They invented so many things for mankind. The reason for their success is that they knew how to study. They read books that were not taught at school. They would ask many questions as they read. They did thousands of experiments. They worked hard all their lives, wasting not a single moment. Above all, they knew how to use their brain.
【小題1】 People go to school to _________.