閱讀理解。
One of the best-loved American writers was William Sydney Porter, or O.Henry. From 1893 he lived with
his family in a house in Austin, Texas, which is now a museum. Visitors to Austin can see the house. It was
saved from destruction (破壞) and turned into a museum in1934. The museum is a good way to learn about
the interesting life of the American writer.
William Porter rented this house in Austin and lived there with his wife Athol and daughter Margaret for
about two years. Many objects in the museum belonged to the Porters. Others did not. An important piece in
the room is the original photograph over here. It was taken there in the house about 1895. The piano there goes
back to the 1860s. His wife took lessons on it when she first moved to Austin.
Porter did not start his career as a successful writer. He worked at a farm, land office and bank. He also
loved words and writing. The museum has a special proof (證明) of Porter's love of language- his dictionary.
It is said that he had read every word in that dictionary.
Later William Porter was forced to leave Austin because he was charged (指控) with financial wrongdoing
at the bank and lost his job. Because he was afraid of a trail (審判), he left the country secretly. But he
returned because his wife was dying. After her death, he faced the trial and became a criminal. He served three
and a half years in a prison in Ohio.
William Porter would keep his time in prison a secret. But there was one good thing about it. It provided
him with time to write. By the time he was freed, he had published 14 stories and became well known as
O.Henry.
Porter later moved to New York City and found great success there. He published over 180 stories in the
last eight years of his life.
1. O.Henry's house in Austin has been well kept up till now so that ____.
A. Americans can explore their history
B more visitors will be attracted to Austin
C. visitors can learn about O.Henry's life
D. it can show the way of life in the 1860s
2. What do we know about the piano in the house?
A. It was hated by Porter's daughter.
B. It has a long history of about 150 years.
C. Porter's wife gave music lessons on it.
D. Porter usually created music on it.
3. How does the museum prove (證明) Porter was fond of language?
A. With a dictionary he used.
B. With the records they keep.
C. Using the books they wrote.
D. Using the photograph they keep.
4. Why did Porter escape from Austin?
A. He didn't want to lose his job.
B. He didn't want to make trouble.
C. He meant to save his wife's life.
D. He was charged with a crime.
5. From the last two paragraphs we know that _____.
A. Porter became famous suddenly
B. Porter spent his time in prison writing
C. Porter suffered (遭罪) a lot from his time in prison
D. life in prison provided what he could write for Porter
