My name is Ben. I am 13, and I live in Chantilly, VA. Just yesterday, June 24, I was at home watching my sister, who is mentally handicapped (弱智的). My father was at work while my mother and younger sister were at my mother’s office.

I had noticed the clouds growing darker and the ones to the east were turning green. At first I thought nothing of it, but then on TV, the weather reporter was announcing a big thunderstorm warning, one that usually brings hail (冰雹) and heavy rain.

After seeing that, I called my mother and told her about it. She told me I should not be worried because it was just a thunderstorm so we hung up. Then I looked outside and noticed it was almost pitch black at 4：30. I took a flashlight (手电筒) because I was sure the power was going to go out any second.   Then no sooner had I gotten back from getting the flashlight than the weather reporter announced a Tornado Warning! I had never been in an actual tornado before, but I had seen some funnel clouds before in Montana.

Suddenly I realised I had no time to lose and I had to try to get my sister down the stairs to the basement in a matter of minutes. I surprisingly got her down there with no trouble at all and I raced back up the stairs to get the cordless phone. When I got back downstairs my dad called and told me to get downstairs immediately. I told him I was already down there! He said OK and we talked for a few seconds and then we hung up. Then_through the basement windows, the only thing_I_could_see_was_lightning.

I do not recall hearing of any deaths, or too many injuries so I guess everyone got a good head start to run to their basements. Either that or we are all lucky.

【小题1】Ben took a flashlight because ________.

A．he wanted to look for something	B．it was not bright enough in the room
C．he wanted to take care of his sister	D．he was prepared for the power off

【小题2】How did Ben save himself and his sister?

A．By staying upstairs at home.	B．By running out of the house.
C．By hiding in the basement.	D．By using the cordless phone.

【小题3】How did Ben’s father feel when he called Ben?

A．Worried.

B．Excited.

C．Disappointed.

D．Encouraged.

【小题4】What can we infer from the underlined sentence?

A．It was completely dark outside.	B．They were scared.
C．The flashlight was broken.	D．It was at midnight.