Linda and David have traveled by air from London to Sydney, Australia. Linda has promised (答应) her
mother that she will ring her to let her know that they have arrived safely. This is something she had done ever
since she was a child. David thinks it is not a good idea to ring so far, to spend too much, and to say so little. 
     "If there were an accident." He says, "they'd know soon enough. Bad news travels fast."
     But Linda has promised that she would ring. "However,"she says, "it doesn't cost much when you just think
that it's the other side of the world .It's only six pence per second (每秒六便士)".
     If you're on that telephone for less than one minute, I'll eat my hat, David says, "And one minute's nearly four
pounds (英磅)." 
     "That's no more than you'd pay for a new hat," Linda answers.
     She has asked the man at the hotel (旅馆) desk to get her the number. The telephone rings. Linda picks it up.
     "Hello, Mum. It that you?" She says.
     "Six pence per second," David reminds (提醒) her.
     "Hello, love." It is Mrs. Lee, Linda's mother, speaking from London. "I can hear you very clearly just like you
are in the next room. It's a better line than when you called me from your office. Do you remember? I shouted
at that time, and still you couldn't hear me sometimes."
     "Yes, Mum." Linda puts in. "I Just wanted to ring to…" 
     "I remember how you rang when you went to Betty's house to eat, when you were a little girl. And then
when you…" Mrs . Lee is a great talker.
     "Nearly four pounds." says David.
     "Yes, all right," says Mrs. Lee, "But you will write, won't you, as you did when you were at work…"
     Once again, Mrs. Lee talks about the pass, and there is no stopping her.
     Four pounds fifty, says David.
     At last , Linda cuts her mother short, promises to write, and rings off.
     "There ! That wasn't long, was it?"
     "Four pounds, ninety pence." David answers. "And you didn't even say that we've arrived."

1. Linda is telephoning home to ________.

A. tell her mother some bad news
B. say that she and David have arrived safely
C. report an accident to her mother

2. Linda does not think it expensive to ring, because ________.

A. it only costs four pounds and ninety pence
B. it is even more expensive to buy a new hat
C. she will speak from one side of the world to the other

3. David says, "Nearly four pounds", because ________.

A. he wants to remind Linda of the cost of the call
B. he wants to buy himself a new hat
C. Linda has not told her mother they have arrived

4. Mrs . Lee goes on talking for so long because ________.

A. she likes to hear all about the past
B. she likes talking
C. Linda had not told her that she has arrived

5. Lina tries to stop her mother by ________.

A. telling her how much the call is costing
B. writing a letter as she has promised to do
C. promising to write, and ringing off