A thief entered the bedroom of the 30th 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 (表坠). 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（众议院）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.
【小题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. |
【小题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. |
【小题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 |
【小题4】The young man’s roommate went back to college _____.
| A．by bus | B．by water | C．by train | D．by air |
【小题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. |
