I began to skate ________.

[　　]

A．for three and a half years

B．since three years and a half

C．three and a half years ago

D．three years and a half before

　　America is a very large country, but traveling there is really very quick and easy. When you are paying a visit to the USA and want to see as much of the (1) as possible, you'd better travel by bus. There is fast 2 service between cities, for example, the Greyhound Bus Service. All of its buses have a picture of a dog on the side. Some buses have two storeys（层）. The top covering of the bus is often made of glass. In the summer time, the heat of the sun will get in (3) the glass and you may (4) too hot. Although the buses are cooled by air-conditioner（空调）, it doesn't (5) work well because the sunshine on the top storey is too (6) . The seats are very soft. Over each seat there is a reading light. On the long-distance journey, stops are made for meals at roadside (7) . You can have enough time to stretch your legs and have a good taste of food. It takes about three and a half (8) to cross America by bus with short stops for meals. Many people, especially tourists, like to (9) a bus around the country. If you have chances to visit America, don't (10) to try a bus.

阅读理解

　　At noon on June 3 three men bought some ice cream from me. They sat in front of the bank (银行) . This happened on June 4 and 5 . They were trying to look and do like travelers, but I could see they were not. They never smiled. They were not enjoying themselves. The men carefully watched the movements of each one working in the bank, and even when and where I moved my ice cream cart(手推车).

　　On June 5 at 12: 00, when the four gatekeepers were out for lunch, the three men moved towards the entrance of the bank. I wanted to be able to stop them from leaving the place.

　　One of the men stood at the door of the bank, the other two entered the bank and stood in line. When they went up to the working men in the bank, they took knives out of paper bags. Most of the people in the bank didn't know what was happening. I could see this through the window of the bank.

　　Then, the other non-uniformed (便衣) policemen arrived. We wanted to wait until they had the money in their hands. Then we got them. It was all over in twenty seconds.

　　I never stopped selling ice cream although I gave one man too much change (零钱).

1．The three men stayed in front of the bank for about ________.

[　　]

2．The three men went into the bank ________.

[　　]

A．when there were no people in the bank

B．when the four gatekeepers were out

C．as soon as it was lunch time

D．as soon as it was quiet and dark

3．“It was all over in twenty seconds.”means________.

[　　]

A．The gatekeepers got back very quickly.

B．The policemen went into the bank very quickly.

C．The ice cream seller sold out his ice cream in a short time.

D．The three men were caught very quickly.

4．We can know from the passage that the story teller was really ________.

[　　]

5．Which of the following is true?

[　　]

A．The three men were not enjoying themselves because they were traveling.

B．The bank had only four gatekeepers.

C．The police knew nothing about what the three were going to do.

D．The three men were caught before they had time to run away.