The American cowboy

The cowboy is the hero in many films. He is, even today, a symbol (象征) of courage and adventure. But what was the life of the cowboy really like?

Cowboys were men who took care of cows and cattle. The cattle were in the West. People in the cities of the East wanted beef from these cattle. Trains could take the cattle to the East. But first the cattle had to get to the trains. Part of the cowboy’s job was to take the cattle hundreds of miles to the railroad towns.

The trips were called cattle drives. A cattle drive usually took several months. Cowboys rode for sixteen hours a day. Because they rode so much, each cowboy brought along about eight horses. A cowboy changed horses several times each day.

The cowboys had to make sure that the cattle arrived safely. Before starting on a drive, the cowboys branded (打烙印) the cattle. They burned a mark on the cattle to show who they belonged to. But these marks didn’t stop rustlers (偷牛賊), or cattle thieves. Cowboys had to protect the cattle from rustlers. Rustlers made the dangerous trip even more dangerous.

Even though their work was very difficult and dangerous, cowboys did not earn much money. They were paid badly. Yet cowboys liked their way of life. They lived in a wild and open country. They lived a life of adventure and freedom.

Choose the best answer according to the passage.

1. A cowboy is ________.

A. a symbol of courage and adventure

B. not really a symbol

C. a symbol of films

2. The cowboy’s job was to ________.

A. be a hero B. take care of the cattle

C. be a rustler

3. Cowboys ________.

A. made a lot of money

B. had a difficult job

C. did not like their way of life

【答案】（反白可見）:ABB