阅读理解。
In 1909 an English newspaper offered ￡1,000 to the first man to fly across the English Channel in an
aeroplane. Today, modern jets cross it in minutes. But at that time it still seemed a good distance. The race
to win the money soon became a race between two men. Both were very colourful.
One was Louis Bleriot. He owned a factory in France that made motor car lamps. He was already well
known as a pilot because he had had accidents several times. Some people laughed at him. One man said,
"He may not be the first to fly across the Channel but he will certainly be the first to die in an accident!"
But Bleriot was really a good and brave pilot. He also had many good ideas about aeroplane design.
The other man was Hubert Latham. He was half French and half English. He took up flying when his
doctors told him he had only a year to live. "Oh, well," he said, "if I' m going to die soon, I think I shall
have a dangerous and interesting life now." Latham was the first to try the flight across the Channel. Ten
kilometres from the French coast, his plane had some trouble. It fell down into the water and began to sink
under the water. A boat reached Latham just in time. He was sitting calmly on the wing and was coolly
lighting a cigarette. Bleriot took off six days later. He flew into some very bad weather and very low cloud.
He somehow got to the English side and landed in a farmer's field. When he did so, a customs (海关) officer
rushed up to his plane. Planes have changed since then, but customs officers have not. "Have you anything
to declare (报关)?" The officer demanded.
1. Bleriot was well known as a pilot because _____. [ ]
A. he was unusually brave
B. he was quite rich
C. he had many good ideas about aeroplane design
D. he had had a few accidents
2. Why did Hubert Latham want to fly across the Channel? [ ]
A. He thought he could manage it easily.
B. He wanted to be the first one to cross the Channel.
C. He knew he only had a year to live.
D. He had always been interested in flying.
3. Which of the following is NOT true?[ ]
A. Latham became a pilot on the doctor's advice.
B. He was told he could live another year.
C. His plane had some trouble.
D. He was saved by a boat when his plane was sinking.
