
Farmer John and
Farmer Bob were neighbours. For more than 30 years, they had been getting along
very well.
Then their good
relationship broke. It began with a small thing, then bitter words, and then
weeks of silence. One morning Farmer John woke up to find a stream between the
two farms. “It must be Bob,” John thought.
Then one day there
was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a carpenter(木匠) standing at the doorway.
“I’m looking for a
few days’ work,” the carpenter said.
“I do have a
job for you,” John said. “Look across the stream at that farm. That’s my
neighbour Bob. He dug a stream between the two farms. I want you to build a
fence—an 8-foot fence. I don’t want to see his place or his face any more. I
don’t have such a neighbour!”The carpenter said, “I think I know what to do,
sir, and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.” Farmer John helped the
carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. About sunset
when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer’s
eyes opened wide. There was no fence there at all!
It was a bridge! And the neighbour, Bob, was coming across, with his hand
outstretched(伸出). “Hi,
John! You’re quite a fellow to build this bridge!”
Then they
met in the middle, taking each other’s hands. “I’m terribly sorry for what I
have said and done. We should be good to each other.” said Farmer Bob. Then
they turned to see the carpenter, who was ready to go. “No, wait! Stay a few
days. I have a lot of other jobs for you,” said Farmer John. “I’d love to
stay,” the carpenter said, “but I have more bridges to build.”
1.What does the
sentence “You’re quite a fellow to build this bridge!” mean?
A. John was great
to build this bridge.
B. John was not
good at building bridges.
C. John was
foolish to build such a bridge.
D. John should build
the bridge earlier.
2.What do you
think of the carpenter?
A.
Shy. B.
Wise. C.
Proud. D. Careless.
3.What is the best
title for the passage?
A. What a
Big Fence! B.
A Strong Bridge.
C. Three Kind
Men D.
A Fence or a Bridge
?