I guess I was a pretty conservative person and definitely an overly protective mother to my daughters, Kimberley, now 17, and Cassie, now 16.

　 I worked as a director nursing at a private hospital. Then after my husband and I divorced (離婚), I started my own typesetting business, working long hours at home. I hardly ever went out, even though my girls were always going somewhere. Finally, about a year ago, I thought, “What am I doing with my life?”

　 My life changed after I went with Terri, a girl friend who was buying a motorbike. Before I knew it, I had bought one, too— a Yamaha Verago 250.

　 It was totally on impulse (沖動(dòng)), but the best decision I ever made, I booked into a training school and was taught to ride by a rough-looking Harley rider. Then I bought all the leather gear(傳動(dòng)裝置).

　 Motorcycle riding has given me a sense of freedom and so much personal satisfaction. It also is a great alternative form of transport, and an activity that enables you to make new friends.

　 Terri and I ride mostly on weekends, to places such as Bateau Bay (on the New South Wales central coast). That ride is one of my favorites, because we stop at Mt White Caf, a bikers’ caf, on the way, to watch everyone strut their stuff (大顯身手). It’s just wonderful —men and women bikers get to meet, admire and complain about each other’s bikes.

　 I also joined WIMA (Women’s International Motorcycle Association), and we go on long, organized rides.

　 Bikers can look like a rough and violent group, but they can be anything from professional people to engineers. The guys are really very good and think it is great that women ride. All bike riders wave or nod to each other on the road— it is also different from driving a car. There is such close friendship and I have never had so much fun.

1．The writer’s life changed after ________.

　 A. she got to know Terri　　　　　　　　 B. she bought her motorbike

　 C. she got divorced　　　　　　　　　　　 D. she started her own business

2.From the statement “It was totally on impulse”, we can infer that ________.

A.    the writer suddenly decided to change her life

B.    the writer’s impulse beat faster when she made the decision

C.    the writer suddenly thought of buying a motorbike as her friend did

D.    the writer had planned to buy a motorbike before she went with Terri

3.Which of the following is NOT true as to the writer’s activities with her motorbike?

A.The writer went to a motorbike-training school.

B.The writer mostly goes to work on her motorbike.

C.The writer has made some new friends by riding together with others.

D.The writer joined an organization and she could go on long and organized rides.

4.The bikers the writer meets on her rides are ________.

A. rough-looking people without jobs　　　 B. mostly professors and engineers

C. women of her own age　　　　　　 D. people of different professions