I never mention money in front of our mechanical equipment. But if this article is published and I am paid for, the word processor（文字信息处理机）is going to go for sure. It'll know.

1. What went wrong first as the writer's?

A. The refrigerator B. The stove

C. The TV set D. The engine of the car

2. What has been repaired and still remains all right?

A. The car B. The color TV set

C. The stove D. The hot water heater

3. Which statement is wrong according to the passage?

A. There are many pieces of modern equipment in the writer's home

B. The writer often discusses with his wife on how to spend their money.

C. The writer has gone into a lot of trouble to repair his things

D. The writer's refrigerator can overhear him

Although man has known about asbestos for many hundreds of years, it was not until 160 years ago that it was mined for the first time on the North American continent. H. W. Johns, owner of a New York City Supply Shop for roofers, was responsible for （对......负责）the opening of that first mine.

Mr. Johns was given a piece of asbestos which had been found in Italy. He experimented with the material and then showed its surprising powers to his customers. After putting a pair of asbestos gloves, which looked much like ordinary work gloves, he took red-hot coals from the fireplace and played with them in his hands. How astonished the customers were to discover that he was not burned at all. You can well imagine that he had increasing business in asbestos roofing materials. However, because it was very expensive to transport(carry) them from Italy to the United States, Mr. Johns sent out a young scientist to seek a source nearer home. This young man found great vein（岩脉）

in the province of Quebec in Canada.