The cowboy is the hero of many movies. He is， even today， a symbol of courage and adventure. But what was the life of the cowboy really like?

　　The cowboy‘s job is clear from the word “cowboy”。 Cowboys were men who took care of cows and other cattle. The cattle were in the West and in Texas. People in the cities of the East wanted beef from these cattle. Trains could take the cattle east. But first the cattle had to get to the trains. Part of the cowboy’s job was to take the cattle hundreds of miles to the railroad towns.

　　The trips were called cattle drives. A cattle drive usually took several months. Cowboys rode for sixteen hours a day. Because they rode so much， each cowboy brought along about eight horses. A cowboy changed horses several times each day.

　　The cowboys had to make sure that the cattle arrived safely. Before starting on a drive， the cowboys branded the cattle. They burned a make on the cattle to show who they belonged to. But these marks didn‘t stop rustlers， or cattle thieves. Cowboys had to protect the cattle from rustlers. Rustlers made the dangerous trip even more dangerous.

　　Even though their work was very difficult and dangerous， cowboys did not earn much money. They were paid bally. Yet cowboys liked their way of life. They lived in a wild and open country. They lived a life of adventure and freedom.

　　( )5. The cowboy‘s job was ________.

　　A. to be a hero B. to take care of cattle

　　C. to be a rustler D. to be a driver

　　( )6. Cowboys ________.

　　A. made a lot of money B. had a difficult job

　　C. did not like their way of life D. were rich

　　( )7. When you do something new exciting， you have ________.

　　A. a symbol B. an adventure C. a job D. a trip

　　( )8. The cowboy was the most important person in the movie. He was the ________.

　　A. chief B. rustler C. hero D. president