IX. Reading comprehension: (24分) A. Choose the best answer: (6分) ★ Most great inventors often met with much trouble in their work. Before they could succeed, they had to overcome thousands of difficulties which were put in their way. The following is one of such examples. George Stephenson (1781~1848), a famous British inventor, made the first train in 1825, using a steam engine. When he was experimenting with the engine on the train, he met with trouble from the government in the country. They said that the noise and the smoke would kill cows, horses and sheep and the engine would burst or the hot coals from it would set fire to their houses. People believed what they said. George Stephenson told the people that the train could go on small rails, could pull carriages full of goods and passengers and there was no great er to them. It was a very difficult matter for him to make them believe. However, after some time, he was able to do it, and the first train that was driven by George Stephenson himself proved what he had said. On the train there was a new steam engine. It was invented by him, and was proved a complete success. The first day when the train ran on the rails, people along the way heard the noise of the train in the distance, and saw it running quickly to them. They thought it was a genie(妖怪). They ran quickly back home for fear and closed their doors tightly. They did not dare to come out until it had passed. A week later an old woman still said that her hen had been so frightened that it hadn’t laid any eggs for three days. ( ) 53. The story tells us something about ______.