Paul and Jason were brothers who lived and worked on neighbouring farms．For 35 years they farmed side by side，sharing machinery and goods as needed，without a single problem．
However，one autumn，things changed．It began with a tiny disagreement about a horse，which grew into a major difference．The difference led to angry words，followed by weeks of silence between the two brothers．
One morning there was a knock on Paul’s door．He opened it and saw a builder holding his toolbox．“I’m looking for a few days’work，”the builder said．“Are there any jobs here I could help with?”
“Yes，”answered Paul，extremely pleased to see the builder．“I do have a job for you．Look at that farm across the creek(小溪)．That’s my brother’s farm.That creek used to be a grass field，but last week my brother dug a path from the fiver and made the creek．But I’ll go him one better．See that pile of wood?1 want you to build me a fence，two metres tall，so 1 won’t need to see him anymore．”
The builder said thoughtfully．“I think I understand the situation and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you．”
Paul had business in town that day and left the builder to his work．When he returned，the builder had just finished his job．Paul was shocked．Instead of a fence there was a bridge，stretching from one side of the creek to the other．
As Paul stood on the bridge，staring in amazement，his younger brother Jason，came across，and took Paul’s hand．“You are a good man to have built this bridge after a11 I've done，”said Jason．
Then，Paul，with tears in his eyes，said to the builder who was packing his bag to go，“Thank you so much。Please stay．I have much more for you to do．”
“I’d love to．”the builder said quietly，“but，I have many more bridges to build.”
【小题1】What was the cause of the disagreement between the two brothers?

Paul and Jason were brothers who lived and worked on neighbouring farms．For 35 years they farmed side by side，sharing machinery and goods as needed，without a single problem．

    However，one autumn，things changed．It began with a tiny disagreement about a horse，which grew into a major difference．The difference led to angry words，followed by weeks of silence between the two brothers．

    One morning there was a knock on Paul’s door．He opened it and saw a builder holding his toolbox．“I’m looking for a few days’work，”the builder said．“Are there any jobs here I could help with?”

   “Yes，”answered Paul，extremely pleased to see the builder．“I do have a job for you．Look at that farm across the creek(小溪)．That’s my brother’s farm.That creek used to be a grass field，but last week my brother dug a path from the fiver and made the creek．But I’ll go him one better．See that pile of wood?1 want you to build me a fence，two metres tall，so 1 won’t need to see him anymore．”

    The builder said thoughtfully．“I think I understand the situation and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you．”

    Paul had business in town that day and left the builder to his work．When he returned，the builder had just finished his job．Paul was shocked．Instead of a fence there was a bridge，stretching from one side of the creek to the other．

    As Paul stood on the bridge，staring in amazement，his younger brother Jason，came across，and took Paul’s hand．“You are a good man to have built this bridge after a11 I've done，”said Jason．

    Then，Paul，with tears in his eyes，said to the builder who was packing his bag to go，“Thank you so much。Please stay．I have much more for you to do．”

    “I’d love to．”the builder said quietly，“but，I have many more bridges to build.”

1.What was the cause of the disagreement between the two brothers?

  A．The digging of the creek．

  B．A problem about a farm animal．

  C．Who owned the field between the farms．

  D．Who would pay for building the fence．

2.The underlined expression“go him one better”in paragraph 4 means          ·

  A．do something even worse    B.improve the situation

  C．point out his mistake      D．help him out

3.What do we know about the brothers?

    A．They had been fighting for many years．

B．Their farms were not very successful．

    C．They finally realized their mistakes．

    D．They liked building bridges．

4.Why did the builder build the bridge?

    A．He needed a way to get across the river．

    B．There was not enough wood for the fence．

    C．He misunderstood Paul’s instructions．

    D．He wanted to bring the brothers together．

5.In what order did the following take place in the story?

    a．The brothers stood on the bridge．

    b．Jason dug the creek．

    C．The brothers became angry with each other,

    d．The builder asked for work．

    e．Paul went into town．

    A．b，c，e，d，a    B．c，b，d，e，a

C．b，e，c，a，d    D．c，d，b，a，e

Paul and Jason were brothers who lived and worked on neighbouring farms.For 35 years they farmed side by side，sharing machinery and goods as needed，without a single problem.
However，one autumn，things changed.It began with a tiny disagreement about a horse，which grew into a major difference.The difference led to angry words，followed by weeks of silence between the two brothers.
One morning there was a knock on Paul’s door.He opened it and saw a builder holding his toolbox.“I’m looking for a few days’work，”the builder said.“Are there any jobs here I could help with?”
“Yes，”answered Paul，extremely pleased to see the builder.“I do have a job for you.Look at that farm across the creek(小溪).That’s my brother’s farm.That creek used to be a grass field，but last week my brother dug a path from the fiver and made the creek.But I’ll go him one better.See that pile of wood?1 want you to build me a fence，two metres tall，so 1 won’t need to see him anymore.”
The builder said thoughtfully.“I think I understand the situation and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you.”
Paul had business in town that day and left the builder to his work.When he returned，the builder had just finished his job.Paul was shocked.Instead of a fence there was a bridge，stretching from one side of the creek to the other.
As Paul stood on the bridge，staring in amazement，his younger brother Jason，came across，and took Paul’s hand.“You are a good man to have built this bridge after a11 I've done，”said Jason.
Then，Paul，with tears in his eyes，said to the builder who was packing his bag to go，“Thank you so much。Please stay.I have much more for you to do.”
“I’d love to.”the builder said quietly，“but，I have many more bridges to build.”

1. 1.

   What was the cause of the disagreement between the two brothers?

   1. A.
      The digging of the creek.
   2. B.
      A problem about a farm animal.
   3. C.
      Who owned the field between the farms.
   4. D.
      Who would pay for building the fence.
2. 2.

   The underlined expression“go him one better”in paragraph 4 means         ·

   1. A.
      do something even worse
   2. B.
      improve the situation
   3. C.
      point out his mistake
   4. D.
      help him out
3. 3.

   What do we know about the brothers?

   1. A.
      They had been fighting for many years.
   2. B.
      Their farms were not very successful.
   3. C.
      They finally realized their mistakes.
   4. D.
      They liked building bridges.
4. 4.

   Why did the builder build the bridge?

   1. A.
      He needed a way to get across the river.
   2. B.
      There was not enough wood for the fence.
   3. C.
      He misunderstood Paul’s instructions.
   4. D.
      He wanted to bring the brothers together.
5. 5.

   In what order did the following take place in the story?
   a.The brothers stood on the bridge.
   b.Jason dug the creek.
   C.The brothers became angry with each other,
   d.The builder asked for work.
   e.Paul went into town.
   

   1. A.
      b，c，e，d，a   
   2. B.
      c，b，d，e，a
   3. C.
      b，e，c，a，d   
   4. D.
      c，d，b，a，e

“Happy Birthday!” David awoke to the voice of his mother. “It’s time to get up and drive out to 35  grandfather’s farm.”  
“Why do we have to go there? And how long is the drive?” he asked with a sad look in his eyes.
“About two hours…and don’t worry, we’ ll bring your birthday   36  with us.” His mother walked away and left him to get ready. 
In less than an hour, David and his parents were on their way.   37  of what the colorful birthday packages had inside filled his head. He was   38  that one had the baseball glove he wanted, while others would have amazing things that he had dreamed about. Thinking of his grandfather, David   39  what his birthday present from him might be. 
“Since my grandfather has a large farm, he must have a lot of money, and the bigger his present for me will be,” David said to himself.
Finally they   40 . Hugging his grandfather, David excitedly shouted, “I’ve missed you! You know, today’s my birthday. Did you get me a present?”
“I have missed you, too. And I have a very   41  present for you.”
Placing a small box in David’s hand, he quietly said, “This is a very important gift. I hope you will treasure it as   42  as I have.”  
David looked at the small box, thinking money or jewels might be inside…. When he opened the box, David was   43  to see only a stone. It was a very beautiful stone, but was it valuable?
Grandfather spoke more slowly than before, “David, when your grandma and I were first married, we had very little money. She wanted to give me something special for my birthday, so she found this beautiful rock and polished(打磨)it day and night   44  it shined. It was the greatest gift I ever   45  because it came from your grandma’s heart. Now, I want you to have it because it comes from my heart.” 
David held the stone in his hand and   46  the love of his grandfather. “This is a wonderful gift…thank you, Grandfather.” He knew he had received the best gift ever. 

During his college years, Sherman Rogers spent a summer in logging(伐木) camp. When the boss had to leave for   41  days, he put Rogers in charge(掌管).

“What shall I do if the men   42  to follow my orders?” Rogers asked. He thought of Tony, a worker who complained all day, gave the other men a   43  time.

“Fire（解雇） them,” the boss said. Then, as if reading Rogers’ mind, he added, “I suppose you are going to fire Tony if you get the   44 . I’d feel badly about that. I have been logging for 40 years. Tony is one of the best workers I’ve ever had. I know he hates everybody and   45 . But he comes in first and leaves last. There has not been an   46  for eight years on the hill where he works.”

The next day, Rogers went to Tony, “Tony, do you know I’m in charge here today?” Tony said yes. “I was going to fire you the first time we quarreled,   47  I want you to know I’m not,” he told Tony, adding   48  the boss had said.

When he finished, Tony dropped the things in his hand and tears went down his   49 .

“Why didn’t he tell me that eight years   50  ?”

That day Tony worked   51  than ever before – and he smiled!

Rogers went back to   52  after that summer. Twelve years later he met Tony again who was now boss for one of the largest logging companies in the West. Rogers asked him how he came to California and happened to be so   53 .

Tony replied, “Were it not for the one minute you talk to me back that day, I would kill somebody some day. One minute   54  my whole life.”

Have you got one minute to thank someone? One minute to appreciate(欣赏) her or him? One minute. It can make a   55  for a lifetime.