Benjamin Banneker was a largely self-educated astronomer，author and scientist.This was a very important accomplishment for an African-American living during the American Revolution and the early history of the United States.Many people consider him to be the first African-American scientist.
    Benjamin Banneker was born in Baltimore County on November 9，1731.Unlike most black children of his day in America，Benjamin was born a freeman and not a slave.He grew up on his family's farm where he worked hard even as a child.He helped with the tobacco crops，cut wood，and did all sorts of chores around the farm.
    Growing up，Benjamin had little opportunity for school.He did attend a small Quaker school for a time where he discovered an interest in science and mathematics.Even when he couldn't attend school Benjamin borrowed many books so he could continue to learn.He became known in the area as an intelligent young man who could fix machines and work out math problems.
    Benjamin's legend（傳奇故事）continued to grow when he built his own clock.Clocks were very rare in America at that time.The story goes that Benjamin met a businessman with a watch.He made detailed drawings of the internal（內(nèi)部的） pieces of the watch and studied how it worked.Then，over several years，Benjamin built a larger version of the watch out of wood，which became his own working clock.
    As Benjamin grew older，he began to take an interest in the stars.He read books on astronomy and used math to calculate the movement of the stars.He even accurately predicted an eclipse（日食） of the sun.After the Revolutionary War，Benjamin began to use his skills as a surveyor.He got a job working on surveying Washington，D.C.，the new capital city of the United States.
    Benjamin Banneker died on October 9，1806.Although he didn't see an end to slavery in his lifetime，his life and accomplishments were used as an example by abolitionists to show what a free black man could do.

（1）What can we infer about Benjamin Banneker's childhood？

C

C

A．He was a son of a black slave.
B．He was laughed at for being black.
C．He was helpful with the farm work.
D．He was not allowed to go to school.
（2）When did he become interested in science and mathematics？

B

B

A．When he helped to do all sorts of chores.
B．When he studied in a small Quaker school.
C．After he read all the books he had borrowed.
D．After he constructed his wooden working clock.
（3）What can we learn from the passage？

A

A

A．Mathematics helped Benjamin a lot.
B．Benjamin Banneker didn't have the practical ability.
C．Benjamin Banneker did what he could to end slavery.
D．Washington，D.C.was set up by Benjamin Banneker.
（4）What's the probable meaning of the underlined word "abolitionists"？

A

A

A．Those who want to end slavery.
B．Those who want to end their own life.
C．Those who want to end American law.
D．Those who want to end a sad childhood.