Farmer John and Farmer Bob were neighbors. 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 neighbor 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 neighbor!”
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(材料) 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 neighbor, 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.”
【小题1】Just before the carpenter came, John and Bob             each other.

Teamwork Is the Key to Business Success

Today most businesses are looking for people who are good team players. The ability to work with and get on with other people is so important that many large organizations spend millions of dollars on finding the right people for their business.

At the recent Success in Business Conference, some of Europe’s most successful businessmen told us how they found good team players.

“A good team needs people with different skills and talents. It is good to bring new ideas into the organization. The best people can work with other people and develop ideas with a team. It is important that everyone uses their talents in the business. I look for people who have the skills and talents my business needs, but they must be able to work in a team.”(John Brown, Design Works)

“At interviews I like to bring a group together and look for people who work well in a group. A good team player is usually friendly and easy to talk to. They are also good at listening to other people. They are generous and happy to share their ideas. ”(Lee Chung, Computer World.)

“Most teams need a mixture of people. It is great to have people with ideas but you also need people who get things done on time. A team made up of people that all have the same skills would not work. You need to know what you are looking for.”(Jane Lin, Lin Electricals)

“I look for people who can bring out the best in other people. In a group you can see the people that know how to get a team working together. They understand teams and they can make them work. A good team is the key to success.”(Jim Khan, Northern Bank)

Everyone agreed that teamwork is the key to business success!

____66___ Is the Key to a Business Success

Farmer John and Farmer Bob were neighbors. 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 neighbor 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 neighbor!”
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(材料) 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 neighbor, 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. 1.

   Just before the carpenter came, John and Bob             each other

   1. A.
      didn’t speak to
   2. B.
      were friendly to
   3. C.
      often fought with
   4. D.
      never had bitter words with
2. 2.

   Farmer John asked the carpenter to build a fence because            

   1. A.
      he wanted to protect his farm
   2. B.
      he didn’t want to do it himself
   3. C.
      he wouldn’t like to see Bob
   4. D.
      he wanted to find him something to do
3. 3.

   What does the sentence “You’re quite a fellow to build this bridge!” mean?

   1. A.
      John was great to build this bridge
   2. B.
      John was not good at building bridges
   3. C.
      John was foolish to build such a bridge
   4. D.
      John should build the bridge earlier
4. 4.

   What is the best title for the passage?

   1. A.
      What a Big Fence!
   2. B.
      A Strong Bridge
   3. C.
      Three Kind Men
   4. D.
      A Fence or a Bridge?