1. 根据短文内容，选择正确答案。

    George Stephenson was born in 1781 in a poor family. He had to start work when he was only eight. When George was fourteen，he became his father's helper. He spent a lot of time learning about engines. On holidays, he often took one engine into pieces and studied each piece carefully. Soon he became a very good worker though he could not read or write.

    He began to learn the English letters when he was seventeen years old. Every day after he did twelve hours of hard work，he walked a long way to have lessons from a young teacher.

    On his eighteenth birthday, he wrote his own name for the first time in his life. George invented many things in his life. The train was the greatest one among them. Today when we watch or take trains from one place to another, we will think of this great man—George Stephenson.

1. （1） In which year did George Stephenson start to help his father?

   A . In 1781. B . In 1789. C . In 1795. D . In 1798.
3. （2） He learned about the engine        .

   A . through reading and writing B . by taking it to pieces and studying each piece carefully C . at lessons from a young teacher D . by asking a lot of questions
5. （3） He spent a lot of time learning about engines and soon became        .

   A . a great man B . a good maker C . a good worker D . a good student
7. （4） From the passage we know George Stephenson was one of the greatest        in the world.

   A . workers B . writers C . learners D . inventors