Big Ben is the great clock high up in the tower of the Parliament building.Big Ben'

Big Ben is the great clock high up in the tower of the Parliament building.Big Ben's story started in 1834.In that year the old parliament building burned down.Its clock tower crashed to the ground.There had to be a new building and a new clock.

Plans were made.They called for a "King of Clocks, the biggest and best in the world？ So the clock had to be big.And it had to keep very good time.The big clock was made in two years.But it couldn't be put in the tower.The tower wasn't even built! Five more years went by before the clock tower was finished.Then the giant hour bell was put in place.It rang out for the first time on July 11, 1859.

The great bell had to have a name.A meeting of Parliament was called to pick one.The clock is the King of Clocks？one man said."Why not call the Queen of Bells？"

"Then why not Victoria？"said another.(Victoria was the British queen at that time.)

The talk about names went on and on.Then Benjamin Hall got up to speak.He was a big man whom the others liked.By this time they were all tired.Someone shouted."Why not call it Big Ben？"

Everybody laughed, and the meeting broke up.But Big Ben it was from then on.Not just the bell, but the whole clock.

(1) The new clock began striking years after the old clock had crashed down.

A.2

B.5

C.15

D.25

(2) The plans said that the new clock had to.

A.be named at a parliament meeting

B.be called Big Ben

C.be made in two years

D.be big and keep good time

(3) The clock tower was built five years after.

A.the clock was made

B.the hour bell was made

C.the old Parliament building burned down

D.the new Parliament building was completed

(4) Originally, the British Parliament called the meeting in order to name.

A.the clock

B.the bell

C.the clock tower

D.the whole building

(5) Big Ben was named after.

A.the king of England

B.the British queen

C.a man in Parliament

D.the clock maker