1. 阅读下面短文，从下面每小题的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。

    Somebody says that it is raining cats and dogs. We know it means it is raining heavily. Here you can know why people say like this.

    There are many large rats (老鼠) in a country. People need cats. But there are many mountains in the country. It's hard for a plane to land. So the cats come down by parachute (降落伞). In another country, the people need dogs to help people to find the people in the snow. Where can they get them? You can guess. The dogs come down by parachute. Both cats and dogs are coming down by parachute, just like the raindrops coming from the sky. So there is the saying "It is raining cats and dogs".

    These cats and dogs help the people. And the people often say it rains cats and dogs. This kind of old saying is very interesting.

1. （1） What does the saying "It is raining cats and dogs" mean?

   A . We put the cats and dogs in the sky. B . People like cats and dogs. C . It is raining hard. D . Cats and dogs help the people.
3. （2） Why do the cats come down by parachute?

   A . Because it is safe to carry cats by parachute. B . Because it is hard for a plane to land in a country with many mountains. C . Because people don't want to get cats by other ways. D . Because people need to get cats quickly.
5. （3） Why does another country need dogs?

   A . Dogs can help the blind people walk. B . Dogs may find the people in the snow. C . Dogs are kind and can live with the people. D . Dogs are cheap and they are very happy.
7. （4） ________ come down by parachute.

   A . Only dogs B . Only cats C . Both cats and dogs D . People
9. （5） We know that the dogs and cats are     from this passage.

   A . bad B . helpful C . funny D . harmful