James Bowen and a Street Cat

It all started in 2007 when James Bowen, a thirty-something drug addict (吸毒上瘾的人) who survived by playing guitar on the street, found an orange cat sitting in front of the door of his apartment.

Bowen noticed the cat was wounded. Without hesitating, the young man took him to the Humane Society and spent the little money he had on medicine to heal (治疗) him.

Shortly thereafter, the cat, who was healing and feeling much better, began to follow the musician when he left the house. Then one day the cat got on the bus that Bowen took to the place where he worked.

That’s how the cat, who had recently been named Bob, began to accompany his human friend to his musical performances. Bob’s mere presence attracted the attention of passers-by. He and Bowen would finish off each song with a high five. Pretty soon, the images of Bob wearing a scarf while sitting on the musician’s shoulder, or keeping him company while he played the guitar, began to go viral all over the world.

Eventually, the news found out about the pair and did a story for the magazine Islington Tribune. It was not long after that when a book agent appeared in their lives and gave them a chance to tell their story.

By then, Bowen, who had managed to get away from drugs, wrote a novel called A Street Cat Named Bob. He relates in great detail how meeting the cat changed him.

The book soon sold more than six million copies and even spread beyond the borders of the United Kingdom. In fact, it was translated into thirty languages.

Through all of these changing circumstances, Bob has always been with Bowen — on his shoulder. You can’t make up a story like this. But life always gives opportunities to those who know how to get hold of them. So if you are ever in a position where a cat has chosen you, don’t ignore it. You can’t imagine all the good that life may have in store if you decide to accept the proposal (提议).

【小题1】Why did James Bowen keep the cat?

A．The cat would help him get away from drugs.

B．The cat could keep him company.

C．The cat was a lovely performer.

D．The cat needed to be taken care of.

【小题2】What does the underlined phrase “go viral” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Look funny.

B．Create viruses.

C．Spread quickly.

D．Change greatly.

【小题3】What do we know about A Street Cat Named Bob?

A．It was a huge success.	B．It was written by a book agent.
C．It helped Bowen stop taking drugs.	D．It was first published in a magazine.

【小题4】What can we infer about Bowen and Bob?

A．They have traveled all over the world.	B．They are struggling for survival.
C．They healed and saved each other.	D．They no longer perform on the street.