Back in 1958, I was crazy about the Norfolk and Western 746. The smooth bullet-nose engine with its orange and yellow lines and shiny streamlined black tender (车厢) seemed to have cast a spell on me.

Together the engine and tender measured a little shy of 2 feet—enormous by the toy train standards of the day. Even better, the 746 had a working headlight and smoker, and its tender sang high.

Unfortunately, the amazing 746 also had an amazing price—$50, equal to about $450 today. That was far more than my grandfather could afford. Instead, I had to be content with his little Lionel plastic, which was SIX INCHES shorter than the 746 and had no headlight, no smoker or no sound! But that was the best that my grandfather could give me at that time.

Years passed, and I was in my 30s. Complicated sound systems and computer controls dominated toy trains. I never gave a look. My interest in toy trains, I firmly believed, had faded, nor did my admiration for the 746, since my grandfather was not with me. The 746 was never called to mind. On an ordinary day, however, I happened to see the 746 outside the window of a train show. Just one look, I could not look away. Childhood memories that I tried to hide in the depths of my heart raced through my mind, happy or sad.

That day I took the 746 home and placed it in the centre of the room, and let my childhood dream sing its way around me. Smoke rose out from the engine and the soft song sounded from its tender. It seemed as if I could see the soft light in grandfather’s eyes and hear his cheerful laughter.

【小题1】Which best describes the 746 in the author’s eyes?

A．It was taller than the author.	B．Its price rose from $50 to $450.
C．It was the largest train in 1958.	D．Its beauty was beyond compare.

【小题2】How did the author feel when receiving his little Lionel plastic?

A．Visibly relieved.	B．Really excited.
C．Terribly shameful.	D．Slightly unsatisfied.

【小题3】What happened to the author in his 30s?

A．He left his grandfather alone.	B．He didn’t favor the 746 at all.
C．He attempted not to recall the past.	D．He admired advanced toy trains.

【小题4】Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Toy Trains: Childhood in History	B．The 746: Childhood Memories of Love
C．Toy Trains: Memories of A Generation	D．The 746: A Perfect Gift from My Grandfather