B
Mike Hayes of Rochelle, Illinois, proved he was smart in his first year at college. In 1987, while he was a student in the first year of the University of Illinois, he had gotten $2,500 from a job working at a store, but that money would not go far to pay the four years of tuition (学费) and college expenses that added up to around $28,000. His middle-class family had already put his older brothers through college. While Mike’s parents would have helped him to pay, Mike decided he did not want his parents going into debt for him. He came up with an idea to solve this problem.
Mike wrote to Chicago Tribune writer Bob Greene. He wanted each of the newspaper’s readers to send him a penny (分). Greene thought the idea sounded fun and agreed to do it. He shared Mike’s letter with his readers on September 6, 1987.
“Just one penny,” Mike said. “A penny doesn’t mean anything to anyone. If everyone who is reading your reports looks around the room right now, there will be a penny on the corner of the desk, or on the floor. That’s all I’m asking. A penny from each of your readers.”
In less than a month, the Many Pennies for Mike fund (基金) had around $23,000. Donations (捐款) were received from every state in the United States, and even Mexico, Canada, and the Bahamas. So, Mike achieved his $28,000 goal and went on to learn food science from the University of Illinois.
In the end, Mike had this to say about the whole thing, “I just want to express my thanks to everyone … right now I’m feeling that the world is a pretty great place.”
24. What troubled Mike when he was in his first year at college?
A. He couldn’t afford his tuition.
B. He failed to find a part-time job.
C. His parents were unwilling to help.
D. His parents had huge debts to pay off.
25. Why did Mike write to Greene?
A. To express his thanks. B. To send his greetings.
C. To ask for help. D. To introduce himself.
26. What can we infer from Paragraph 4 about Mike?
A. His fund needed more donations. B. He became rich and successful.
C. His plan really worked. D. He asked for too much.
27. What’s the best title for the text?
A. Pennies for readers B. The one penny college fund
C. Mike’s business in college D. The value of education
