It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, carrier, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of the dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories fleshed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
“Jack, did you hear me?”
“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. it’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.
“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce (回忆) about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it, ” Mom told him.
“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said.
“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,” she said.
“He’s the one who taught me carpentry. I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral.” Jack said.
Busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time, which was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture … Jack stopped suddenly.
“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.
“The box is gone,” he said.
“What box?” Mom asked.
“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most’,” Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
“Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said sadly.
Returning to his office the next day, he found a package on his desk. The return address caught his attention.
“Mr. Harold Belser” it read.
Jack tore open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside,
“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bernett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes. Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the fine cover, he opened it.
Inside he found these words carved: “Jack. Thanks for your time! Harold Belser.”
“Oh. My God! This is the thing he valued most …”
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his assistant and cleared his appointments for the next two days. “Why?” his assistant asked.
“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.
【小题1】Why did Jack think Mr. Belser died years ago?

A.College and career prevented him from remembering Mr. Belser.
B.Jack was too busy with his business and family to think about Mr. Belser.
C.Jack was too busy realizing his dreams to think about Mr. Belser.
D.His present busy life washed away his children memories.
【小题2】 Jack’s mother told him on the phone about Mr. Belser EXCEPT that _________.
A.Mr. Belser often asked how Jack was doing
B.Mr. Belser’s funeral would take place on Wednesday
C.Mr. Belser had asked for Jack’s mailing address
D.Mr. Belser had pleasant memories of their time together
【小题3】Why did Belser send Jack his gold watch?
A.Because he was grateful for Jack’s time with him.
B.Because he had no children or relatives.
C.Because he thought he had to keep his word.
D.Because Jack had always wanted it during his childhood.
【小题4】Why did Jack say he needed some time to spend with his son?
A.He was very tired of his work and wanted to have a good rest.
B.He had promised to spare more time to stay with his son.
C.He had missed his son and his family for days.
D.He came to realize the importance of the time with his family.
【小题5】Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?
A.The Good Old TimesB.What He Valued Most
C.An Old Gold WatchD.The Lost Childhood Days

A farmer had some puppies to sell. He painted a sign advertising them on the edge of his yard.

One day, a little boy came to buy one of the puppies. With a whistle(口哨), the farmer called, “Here, Dolly!” Out from the doghouse ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy stood against the fence(栅栏). His eyes danced with happiness.

As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared, something wrong with its legs, doing its best to catch up.

“I want that one,” the little boy said.

The farmer knelt(跪下)down at the boy's side and said, “Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would.”

With that, the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so, he showed a steel brace(固定器)running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, “You see, sir, I don’t run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.”

1.How did the farmer advertise his puppies?

A.Advertise them in the newspaper.           B.Put up a sign in his yard.

C.Show them to his neighbors.               D.Send pictures to a magazine.

2.The underlined words “four little balls of fur” refer to “_________”.

A.four toy balls                           B.four balls made of fur

C.four lovely dogs                        D.four puppies with no fur

3.Why did the boy choose the last dog?

A.Because they have something in common.

B.Because he didn't have enough money.

C.Because it was the most lovely one.

D.Because the farmer wouldn't sell other dogs.

4.According to the story, we know that the boy _________.

A.didn't like dogs at all                     B.needed a dog to help him

C.could run as fast as others                 D.had an artificial leg

5.Which of the following words best describes the boy?

A.clever            B.lovely            C.warm–hearted     D.strange

 

Work is a part of living —my grandparents understood that. They lived and worked on a farm that has been in my family for 150 years. They raised chickens for eggs , pigs and cattle for meat . Cows were kept for milk and the cream, from which Grandma made butter and cheese. What little yard they had became a garden.

The Depression, therefore, didn’t make much change in their lives. But it did bring an unending flow of men out of work, drifting from job to job, to the farm. The first to show up at the door of the kitchen was a man in rags. He took off his hat and quietly explained that he hadn’t eaten for a while. Grandpa stood watching him a bit , then said , “There’s a stack of firewood against the fence behind the barn (谷仓). I’ve been needing to get it moved to the other side of the fence . You have just about enough time to finish the job before lunch .”

Grandma said a surprising thing happened. The man got a shine in his eyes and he hurried to the barn at once. She set another place at the table and made an apple pie. During lunch, the stranger didn’t say much, but when he left, his shoulders had straightened. “Nothing ruins a man like losing his self-respect,” Grandpa later told me.

Soon after, another man showed up asking for a meal. This one was dressed in a suit and carried a small old suitcase. Grandpa came out when he heard voices. He looked at the man and then offered a handshake.” There is a stack of firewood along the fence down behind the barn I’ve been meaning to get it moved. It’d sure be a help to me . And we’d be pleased to have you stay for lunch.” The fellow set his suitcase aside and neatly laid his coat on top. Then he set off to work.

Grandma says she doesn’t remember how many strangers they shared a meal with during those Depression days-or how many times that stack of wood got moved.

1.When he was asked to move a stack of firewood, the first man who asked for a meal got a shine in his eyes for he was glad that         .

A.he had found a good job

B.he would have something to eat

C.he would no longer suffer from the Depression

D.he would get what he wanted without losing his self-respect

2.The writer’s grandfather asked those jobless men to move the stack of firewood because     .

A.he didn’t want them to have a meal free of charge

B.he had been needing to get it moved

C.he wanted to help them in his own way

D.he wanted to show them his kindness and respect

3.The writer’s grandfather was all of the following but         .

A.kind

B.thoughtful

C.wealthy

D.sympathetic

4.The best title for the story would be         .

A.The Depression

B.The Pleasure of Helping Others

C.No Pains, No Gains

D.Work-A Part of Living

 

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