Charlie，a master carpenter(木匠)，was very well respected in his community．Everyone knew that if they wanted the best，they would call on him．Of course that meant that Charlie would never be rich．Other carpenters always told him that if he used inferior(劣质的)materials and cheap labor then he could make a lot of money．Charlie would not take their advice．
One day，John，the richest man in town came to Charlie．He said that he had just bought the best piece of land in town. He was going to Europe for 4 months and wanted Charlie to build him the best house in town．“Spare no expense and give me the best．”
Charlie thought about this and decided finally he would make some money．He did not get his usual great carpenters and fine materials from his normal suppliers．He built the house and covered up the flaws(瑕疵)．After 4 months he had spent about 50％of what he usually spends on a house．
John came back from Europe and immediately called Charlie and asked him to meet him at the house．When they met，John asked him if he had used the finest materials and spared no expense．Charlie said absolutely(绝对地)．John said that he was glad．He paid Charlie，then told him that he wanted to reward Charlie for all of his years of service to the community by giving Charlie this house．
There are many times in our lives where we let down a little bit. When you do，you never know what is going to happen．
【小题1】What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

It was Mother's Day. John was so busy with his work that he had ___1___time to return home. When he passed by a flower shop in the evening, he got an idea. "I'll send Mum some roses ."
___2___John was picking his flowers, another young man went inside. "How many roses can I get for only five dollars, Madam?" he asked. The assistant Nancy was trying to tell him roses were as ___3___as forty dollars a dozen . Maybe he would only buy some carnations.
"No, I have to have red roses. " He said, "My mum was badly ill last year and I didn't spend much time with her. Now I want to get something special, it has to be roses ___4___rose is her favorite. "
After hearing it, John said he would pay the rest of the money for the young man. When the young man took the roses, he almost jumped into the air and ran out of the shop. John was quite excited to see that. Then John took out his money and___5___his roses and asked the assistant to send them to his mother.
As he walked out, he saw the young man crossing the street and going into a___6___. But soon he found it was not a park but a cemetery. Crying, the young man___7___put down the roses," Mum, oh, Mum, why didn't I tell you how much I loved you? God, please help ___8___find my mum and tell her I love her..."
___9___thinking anything, John turned and quickly walked back to the shop. He would take the __10____home himself.

0ur village carpenter(木匠)，John Hill, came one day and made a dining table for my wife.  He made it just the right size to fill the space between the two window.  When I got home that evening, John was drinking a cup of tea and writing out his bill( 账单) for his job.
My wife said to me quietly, “That’s his ninth cup of tea today. ”But she said in a loud voice, “It’s a beautiful table, dear, isn’t it?” “I’ll decide about that when I see the bill,” I said.  John laughed and gave me his bill for the work.  I read:
One dining table                 10^th November, 2011
Cost of wood                    $ 17:00
Paint                           $1. 50
Work, 8 hours($1 an hour)          $8. 00
Total                           $36. 50
When I was looking at the bill, John said,” It’s been a fine day, hasn’t it? Quite sunny. ”
“Yes,” I said.  “I’m glad it’s only the 10^th of November. ”
“Me, too,” said John, “you wait—it will be a lot colder by the end of the month. ”
“Yes, colder—and more expensive! Dining table will be $20 more expensive on November 30^th, won’t they, John?”
John looked hard at me for half a minute.  Was there a little smile in his two blue eyes? I gave his bill back to him.
“If it’s not too much trouble, John,” I said,“Please add(加) it up again, You can forget the date-------”
I paid him $26. 50 and he was happy to get it.
【小题1】Why did John talk about the weather when the writer was looking at the bill?