A couple John and Mary had a nice family and two lovely children．John had just been asked to go on a business trip to another city and would be gone for several days．It was decided that Mary needed an outing and would go along too．They hired a reliable woman to care for the children and made the trip，returning home a little earlier than they had planned．
   As they drove into their home town happily，they noticed smoke，and they went off their usual route to see what it was．They found a home in flames．Mary said， "Oh well it isn't our fire，let's go home．" But John drove closer and exclaimed， "That home belongs to Fred Jones who works at the plant．He wouldn't be off work yet，maybe there is something we could do．" "It has nothing to do with us．" protested Mary． "You have your good clothes on，let's not get any closer．" But John drove up and stopped and they were both horror stricken to see the whole house in flames．A woman on the lawn was in hysterics screaming， "The children!Get the children!" sobbed the woman， "down the hall and to the left，they are in the basement．"
   In spite of Mary's protests John grabbed the water hose and soaked his clothes，put his wet handkerchief on his head and bolted for the basement full of smoke and scorching hot．He found the door and grabbed two children，holding one under each arm．As he left，he could hear some more whimpering．He delivered the two badly frightened and nearly suffocated children into waiting arms and filled his lungs with fresh air and started back asking how many more children were down there．They told him two more and Mary grabbed his arm and screamed， "John!Don't go back!It's suicide!That house will cave in any second!"
   But he shook her off and went back．It seemed an eternity before he found the two children．As he stumbled up the endless steps，the thought went through his mind that there was something strangely familiar about the little bodies clinging to him，and at last when they came out into the sunlight and fresh air，he found that he had just rescued his own children．
   The baby-sitter had left them at this home while she did some shopping．

（1）What did the couple find first when they went back？

B

B

A．Their home caught fire．
B．Fred John's home caught fire．
C．The baby-sitter's leaving．
D．The woman's screaming．
（2）Why was Mary against John's rescue at the beginning？

A

A

A．Because it's none of their business．
B．Because she was eager to see her children．
C．Because it would burn his good clothes．
D．Because Fred didn't work at the plant．
（3）Which of the following can best describe John？

A

A

A．Warm-hearted and brave．
B．Clumsy but cautious．
C．Generous and humourous．
D．Determined but sensitive
（4）What can we learn from the text？

B

B

A．Helping others is a god virtue．
B．A good act will be well rewarded．
C．Misfortune tastes the sincerity of friends．
D．Roses given to others，fragrance left in your hand．