An American salesman used to go from house to house selling vacuum cleaners. He always took one with him to show the housewives what the machines he was selling can do. One day he went to a house on a farm. The farmer’s wife opened the door, and the salesman went in at once to demonstrate his machine to her. “This powerful vacuum cleaner will remove all
the dust and dirt from your carpets and rugs,” he said, “No more old-fashioned beating with a stick, making more dust than you get out of the carpet."
“It’s no use to me,” the woman said “You’re wasting your time here, young man”. “Just let me show you!” the salesman said. Then he opened a bag he was carrying and threw a great pile of dirt over the carpet. “Good Heavens! What are you doing?” she exclaimed. “Don’t worry,
madam!” he answered, adding some ashes from the fireplace to the pile of dirt. “I’ll eat every bit of dirt that my vacuum cleaner doesn’t pick up.” “Well, in that case I’ll get you a spoon at once,” the woman answered. “I was only trying to tell you that we don’t have electricity on this farm”.

1.What can a vacuum cleaner do?
a) It can remove dirt from floors.  b) It can make the air fresh.
c) It can eat rubbish.   d) It can preserve foods in vacuum bags.
2.The salesman took a vacuum cleaner with him to .................... .
a) clean houses   b) show it to customers
c) clean dust and ashes from streets  d) repair it
3.Why did the housewife seem surprised at the salesman’s behaviour?
a) Because the man was very clever.
b) Because the man talked quickly.
c) Because the man threw dirt and ashes on the ground.
d) Because the vacuum cleaner was effective.
4.Why did the salesman say that he would eat every bit of dirt that the vacuum cleaner didn’t eat?
a) He was confident that the cleaner would work well.
b) He was hungry.
c) He wanted the housewife to bring him a spoon.
d) He was at a farm.
5.The housewife told the salesman that he was wasting his time because ........... .
a) she didn’t have money to buy the vacuum cleaner
b) she wasn’t interested in the vacuum cleaner
c) her husband wasn’t at home
d) the house didn’t have electricity to operate the machine
6.The underlined word “demonstrate” means .................... .
a) watch b) sell c) show d) repair
7.What does the underlined pronoun “It” refer to?
a) The carpet. b) The dirt. c) The vacuum cleaner. d) Electricity.
8.In the end, the salesman must have been .................... .
a) disappointed  b) pleased  c) rewarded  d) excited