“The poor kid might as well go home,” Tucker Mouse said, looking around the station and then looking back at Mario, “Such a pity!”
Far into the night Mario waited. Way down the railway he could see the lights of the train coming toward him. Mario knew most of the conductors (售票员) . They all liked him and came over to talk between trips.
The train stopped. Only nine or ten people got out. Tucker watched worriedly to see if any of them came to buy a paper.
No one stopped, or even looked at him. All evening long he had sold only fifteen papers and four magazines.
Mario’s friend Paul, a conductor on the train, came over to the newsstand (报摊) . “Any luck?” he asked.
“Maybe on the next train.” sighed (叹气) Mario. “I can’t understand it. It’s Saturday night too. Even the Sunday papers aren’t going.”
Paul looked at the newsstand. “You’re awfully late tonight. There’s going to be less and less until morning.”
“Well, I can sleep on Sundays,” said Mario. “Besides, school’s out now. Mom and Dad are picking me up on the way home. They went to visit some friends. Tonight is the only chance they have.”
Over a loudspeaker came a voice saying, “Next train for Grand Central, Gate 2.”
“‘Night, Mario,” Paul said. He started off toward the train. Then he stopped, reached in his pocket, and threw a coin. “I’ll take a Sunday Times,” Paul said.
“Hey wait!” Mario called after him. “It’s only twenty-five cents. You’ve got a quarter coming?”
But Paul was already in the car with a smile. The train moved off slowly, its lights shone through the darkness.
Tucker Mouse smiled, too. He liked Paul. In fact he liked anybody who was nice to Mario. But it was late now—time to get back to his comfortable hole in the wall.
32. Who thought Mario shouldn’t stay so late?
A.Tucker Mouse. | B.Paul. | C.Mario himself. | D.Both Tucker Mouse and Paul. |
33. What does the
underlined part in Paragraph 6 mean?
A.Mario can’t find the Sunday papers now. |
B.The Sunday papers haven’t been sent to Mario yet. |
C.No one buys the Sunday papers that night. |
D.The conductor doesn’t want to buy the Sunday papers. |
34. How did the the conductor help Mario?
A.By offering him a mouse in the wall. | B.By talking with him between trips. |
C.By buying a paper with more money. | D.By lighting up the darkness with train lights. |
35. Which of the following isn’t true according to the passage?
A.Tucker Mouse felt bad about Mario’s newspaper business. |
B.Mario usually worked late on Saturday to get some business. |
C.Mario’s parents might always be busy except Saturday nights. |
D.Tucker Mouse also helped with the family business on weekends. |