Catch of a Lifetime
He was 11 years old and often went fishing in a lake. On the day 36 the bass () season opened, he and his father were fishing early in the evening, 37 sunfish. Then he practiced casting. When his pole 38 , he knew something huge was 39 . His father watched 40 as the boy skilfully worked the fish alongside the dock. 41 , he very carefully lifted the 42 fish from the water. It was the largest one he had ever seen, 43 it was a bass. The father lit a match and looked at 44 . It was 10 P.M. ― two hours before the season opened. He looked at the fish, then at the boy.
“You’ll have to 45 , son,” he said.
“Dad!” cried the boy.
“There will be other fish,” said his father.
“Not as big as this one,” cried the boy.
46 no one had seen them, nor could anyone ever know what time he caught the fish, the boy could 47 by his father’s firm voice that the decision was 48 . He obeyed and lowered it into the black 49 . The boy suspected that he would 50 again see such a great fish.
That was 34 years ago. Today, the boy is a successful architect. And he was 51 . He has never again landed such a magnificent fish as the one he 52 that night long ago. But he does see the same fish ― again and again ― 53 he comes up against a question of ethics (道德规范).
For, as his father taught him, ethics are simple matters of right and wrong. It is only the 54 of ethics that is difficult. Do we do 55 when no one is looking?
36. A. until | B. when | C. after | D. before |
37. A. providing | B. catching | C. feeding | D. supplying |
38. A. broke down | B. broke up | C. turned over | D. doubled over |
39. A. on the other end | B. in the dark | C. in the deep water | D. on the other bank |
40. A. with anxiety | B. in surprise | C. with admiration | D. with anger |
41. A. Finally | B. Unfortunately | C. Actually | D. Accordingly |
42. A. active | B. discouraged | C. energetic | D. exhausted |
43. A. and | B. but | C. however | D. yet |
44. A. his watch | B. the bass | C. the sunfish | D. the boy |
45. A. bring it home | B. put it aside | C. put it back | D. pick it up |
46. A. Even though | B. Now that | C. Ever since | D. In case |
47. A. say | B. tell | C. speak | D. talk |
48. A. passed | B. changed | C. fixed | D. refused |
49. A. container | B. sea | C. water | D. river |
50. A. ever | B. once | C. then | D. never |
51. A. wrong | B. right | C. satisfactory | D. pleased |
52. A. caught | B. saw | C. cast | D. threw |
53. A. no time | B. one time | C. a time | D. every time |
54. A. standard | B. concept | C. practice | D. idea |
55. A. wrong | B. right | C. harm | D. good |