阅读理解。
Patricia asked for the cheapest car available at Acme Car Rental. She needed a car for 48
hours. Because it was the weekend,there was only one car available at the moment-an SUV.
Patricia was an environmentalist. SUVs,which are big cars consuming a lot of gasoline,offended
her greatly.
But she needed something to get to Baker,a town that was 100 miles from the small airport.
So she went, RentMe instead. "I need a car for 48 hours," she said," and I don't want an SUV.
I want something cheap. "They told her they had just the vehicle for her,a 1998Toyota. Thirty
dollars a day,including insurance and other incidental fees. All she had to do was to pay forher
own gasoline. Patricia was very pleased. Thirty dollars a day was a good rate even for a weekday.
She signed all the paperwork,and they gave her the keys.
The Toyota was a 4-speed,4-cylinder,2-door beauty,the paint,tires,and the interior were like
the new. It was comfortable, even though the air-conditioner was not the frostiest(结霜的) . She
got in and drove north. It was a two-lane road all the way to Baker,with only one town between
the airport and Baker. That town was Noms,40 miles from Baker.
Patricia didn't make it to Norris. The car refused to run 30 minutes after she had been driving
it. Fortunately,her cell phone was able to connect back to the RentMe desk. "My car stopped
running. and I'm out here in the middle of nowhere in the hot sun! " she said.
"That doesn't make any sense," said the clerk."You did put gas in the car before you left town,
didn't you? "
"No. Of course not ! " yelled Patricia. " Why would Iput gas in the car before I even got out
of town?" "Well,why do you think you got such a good
rate-we save money by having the customer gas up instead of us having to put gas in the car. "
"I was in a hurry,"said Patricia.
"Well,sometimes you pay a price for being in a hurry," said the clerk. " We'II send a man out
with some spare gas for you:if you'd like. ,,"
Of course l'd like , " said Patria.ia. " How long willit be?"
The clerk told her it would be within the hour. He didn't tell her that there would be a $ 50
service charge for delivering the gas,or that the 3 gallons of fuel would cost her $ 7 a gallon. She
would get that bad news when she retumed the car to the airport.
1. Why didn't Patricia want to rent an SUV?
A. Because it was a big car that would need a lot of gasoline.
B. Because she failed to carry enough money with her.
C. Because she was not used to driving suc, h a big car.
D. Because it was not easy to drive since it was so old.
2. How much would Patricia have to pay at least when she returned the car to the airport?
A. $ 161.
B. $ 60.
C. $ 131.
D. $ 80.
3. Which of the following is true?
A. Patricia did put gas in the car before she left town.
B. The air-conditioner of the Toyota was functioning perfectly.
C. The car broke down halfway there and needed repairing.
D. Patricia was quite satisfied with the price at first.
4.The underlined word "offended" in the first paragraph means " "
A. hurt the feelings of
B. excited
C. amused
D. suited
