Task 1. Read the passage and answer the questions 1–5 (only one answer is
possible).
THE STORY OF A TEDDY BEAR
Have you ever thought why the popular toy bear is called a teddy bear? Here is the true story. On
November 14, 1902, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the USA wanted to relax after some
hard political debates. He went on a hunting trip to a forest in Mississippi. There he saw a little bear
cub, but he refused to shoot it.
Very soon journalists learned about this and one of them made a political cartoon. It showed the
President and a little bear. The idea of the cartoon was to show that the President is an understanding
and kind person who doesn’t make wrong decisions. The cartoon was printed in all the newspapers and
President Roosevelt’s popularity grew even more. For the rest of his political career little bear was the
symbol of President Roosevelt. It was used during the successful election campaign of 1905.
Shop owner, Mr. Mitchom, had a clever idea. He used the cartoon as a guide to design a toy bear. He
called the toy “Teddy’s Bear” (Teddy is short for Theodore). People liked the toy and bought a lot of
them. It became so popular that in a year Mr. Mitchom closed his shop and founded the Ideal Novelty
and Toy Company, which was the largest bear factory in the United States and still is one of the biggest
toy companies in the world today.
1. Why did the President decide to go hunting?
A He wanted to shoot some animals.
B The President wanted to have a rest.
C Journalists wanted to take a photo of him in the forest.
D He wanted to see a bear cub.
2. Why was the cartoon created?
A to show positive qualities of the President
B to solve political debates
C to entertain people
D to make money
3. What happened when the cartoon with the President was printed?
A Theodore Roosevelt became more popular.
B The journalist lost his job.
C People stopped hunting bears.
D The bear became the symbol of a newspaper.
4. Why did Mr. Mitchom close his shop?
A He decided to start a new business.
B People did not want to buy things in his shop.
C He wanted to become a politician.
D He decided to retire.
5. What is NOT true according to the text?
A The President went hunting in autumn.
B The President didn’t shoot the bear.
C Teddy is short name for Theodore.
D Mr. Mitchom designed the toy bear before the cartoon was printed.