When I was a kid in Minnesota, watermelon was expensive. One of my father’s friends, Bernie, was a rich businessman, who owned a large store in St. Paul.
Every summer, when the first watermelons arrived, Bernie would call. Dad and I would go to Bernie’s place. We’d sit on the edge of the dock(码头), feet dangling(摇晃), and got ready for a big meal.
Bernie would take his knife, cut our first watermelon, hand us both a big piece and sit down next to us. Then we’d bury our faces in watermelon, eating only the heart—the reddest, juiciest, firmest, sweetest, most seed-free part—and throw away the rest.
Bernie was my father’s idea of a rich man. I always thought it was because he was such a successful businessman. Years later, I realized that it was not Bernie’s wealth itself but his way of dealing with it that my father liked. Bernie knew how to stop working, get together with friends and eat only the heart of the watermelon.
What I learned from Bernie is that being rich is a state of mind. Some of us, no matter how much money we have, will never be free enough to eat only the heart of the watermelon. If you don’t take the time to dangle your feet over the dock and enjoy life’s small pleasure, your work is probably hurting your life.
For many years, I forgot that lesson I’d learned as a kid on the loading dock. I was too busy making all the money I could.
Well, I’ve relearned it. I hope I have time left to enjoy the success of others and to take pleasure in the day. That’s the heart of the watermelon. I have learned again to throw the rest away.
【小题1】 We learned from the second paragraph that the writer and his father were feeling ______.
A.relaxedB.worriedC.hungryD.proud
【小题2】How did the writer and his father eat the watermelon?
A.They ate it in a polite way.B.They only ate its best part.
C.They ate every part of it.D.They shared only one piece.
【小题3】 In the eyes of the writer’s father, Bernie ______.
A.was just a rich businessmanB.worked hard all the time
C.lived a rich but healthy lifeD.knew how to make money
【小题4】The underlined part “the heart of the watermelon” in the last paragraph refers to ______.
A.the best part of the watermelonB.the writer’s busy life
C.the writer’s decision of making moneyD.the writer’s hope of enjoying life
【小题5】It can be learned from the passage that ______.
A.one has to work hard to reach his goalB.a friend in need is a friend in deed
C.watermelon is the healthiest fruitD.one should keep work-life balance



The clock in the old building in front of Max showed six o'clock. As the clock began   1  , he noticed a tall man with a bag walking to him. 2 turned around, looked at the clock, and then moved his steps   3  . Max walked faster as well. Miss Fritz invited him for dinner. He didn't want to be  4 .
"I’m glad you can come," Miss Fritz said. "I've  5  a lovely cake for us. " She pointed Max to a chair. "Good thing I prepared just now. A surprise visitor just left. " "Who  6  you?" Max asked.
"A teacher  7 a school for the deaf. He was totally deaf (耳聋的)himself. What a poor man! But he could  8  the shape of my mouth perfectly. He wrote down   9   he wanted to tell me." "Why was he here?"
"Well, the   10  needs more money. I was glad to help out. I got    11   money from the bank so I was able to give him five hundred   12  ." "Did he just leave? Was he a   13  man with a bag?"
"Yes."
"We'd better 14  the police. I don't think that man is honest. I know for sure   15   was not totally deaf," How did Max find it out?

【小题1】
A.to goB.to work C.to run D.to ring
【小题2】
A.Max B.A teacherC.The manD.Miss Fritz
【小题3】
A.fartherB.closerC.slower D.faster
【小题4】
A.lateB.earlyC.polite D.tired
【小题5】
A.passed B.givenC.madeD.sold
【小题6】
A.helpedB.decided C.visitedD.traveled
【小题7】
A.byB.behindC.around D.from
【小题8】
A.fit B.takeC.readD.find
【小题9】
A.what B.whoC.whomD.which
【小题10】
A.factoryB.schoolC.policeD.bank
【小题11】
A.littleB.someC.no D.less
【小题12】
A.chairsB.bagsC.clocks D.dollars
【小题13】
A.fatB.thin C.tall D.short
【小题14】
A.beatB.callC.catch D.save
【小题15】
A.IB.itC.heD.she

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