People all over the world write to Big Ben. They even send birthday presents to it. One of the presents was a bottle of oil—to help keep Big Ben running. Big Ben isn’t a person. It is a famous bell in a clock in London. Big Ben’s story began in 1834. In that year , the old Parliament Building (议会大厦) was destroyed (被破坏) by fire. Its clock tower fell to the ground. There had to be a new building and a new clock.

   Plans were made. The clock had to be the biggest in the world and it had to keep good time. The big clock was made in two years. Five years later, a tower was build and the bells were put in place in it. The clock rang out for the first time in July, 1859.

1. Big Ben is ______.

A. a clock in London    B. a man in London   C. the name of a shop   D. a street

2. In 1834, the old Parliament Building________.

A. was built

B. was put up

C. was destroyed by fire

D. was pulled down by a man

3. People planned to make the clock________.

A. the biggest all over the world   B. keep good time 

C. the most beautiful                   D. both A and B

4. The big clock was made in ________.

A. five years      B. two years     C. three years     D. more than five years

5. The clock rang out for the first time in ________.

A. June, 1899     B. July, 1859     C. June, 1958      D. July, 1958