Once there was a man who liked to eat mangoes. One day he decided to get the __(31)___ mango from the very top of the tree. Mangoes which are exposed to the sun the most are the sweetest.
So he climbed up to the __(32)___, where the branches were thin. He managed to pick up a few sweet reddish fruits, but, in a(n) __(33)___ to climb down, he slipped and started falling towards the ground. Fortunately, he caught the branch as he was falling and remained helplessly __(34)___ on the tree. Then he started to call nearby villagers for help. They immediately came with a ladder and sticks, __(35)___ could do little to help him.
Then after some time one calm and __(36)___ person arrived ---- a well-known sage (智者) who lived in a simple hut nearby. People were very __(37)___ to see what he would do, as he was famous in solving many people’s problems in the area and sometimes very __(38)___ ones.
He was __(39)___ for a minute and then picked up a stone and threw it at the hanging man.
Everybody was surprised. The hanging mango lover started to shout: What are you doing?! Are you crazy? Do you want me to break my neck?” The sage was silent. Then he took another stone and threw it at the man. The man was very __(40)___: “If I could just come down, I would show you!”
That’s what everybody wanted ---- that he __(41)___. But how? Now everybody was nervous __(42)___ what would happen next! Some wanted to punish the sage, but they didn’t. The sage picked another stone and threw it again at the man, even more __(43)___. Now the man on the tree was hot under the collar and developed a great determination to come down and take revenge(报仇).
He then used all his skill and strength and somehow reached the __(44)___ which were safe to start going down. And he made it! Everybody was amazed.
However, the rescued man found the sage gone. He stood there, realizing that the man really helped him because he __(45)___ him to try his best and save himself.
“I should be thankful and not angry.”
31. | A. biggest | B. reddest | C. highest | D. sweetest |
32. | A. ladder | B. top | C. tree | D. fruit |
33. | A. decision | B. desire | C. attempt | D. assumption |
34. | A. hanging | B. falling | C. crying | D. begging |
35. | A. and | B. so | C. but | D. while |
36. | A. cold-hearted | B. friendly | C. thoughtful | D. quick-minded |
37. | A. curious | B. excited | C. surprised | D. confused |
38. | A. simple | B. puzzling | C. challenging | D. regular |
39. | A. confident | B. amazed | C. sad | D. silent |
40. | A. frightened | B. angry | C. nervous | D. upset |
41. | A. hung on | B. showed up | C. fell off | D. came down |
42. | A. due to | B. as to | C. linked to | D. leading to |
43. | A. eagerly | B. hopefully | C. silently | D. forcefully |
44. | A. ground | B. branches | C. mangoes | D. trees |
45. | A. cheated | B. convinced | C. told | D. forced |