It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, carrier, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of the dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories fleshed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

“Jack, did you hear me?”

“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. it’s been so long since I thought of him. I’m sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.

“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisce (回忆) about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it, ” Mom told him.

“I loved that old house he lived in,” Jack said.

“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man’s influence in your life,” she said.

“He’s the one who taught me carpentry. I wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, I’ll be there for the funeral.” Jack said.

Busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser’s funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time, which was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture … Jack stopped suddenly.

“What’s wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.

“The box is gone,” he said.

“What box?” Mom asked.

“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he’d ever tell me was ‘the thing I value most’,” Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

“Now I’ll never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said sadly.

Returning to his office the next day, he found a package on his desk. The return address caught his attention.

“Mr. Harold Belser” it read.

Jack tore open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack’s hands shook as he read the note inside,

“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bernett. It’s the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes. Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the fine cover, he opened it.

Inside he found these words carved: “Jack. Thanks for your time! Harold Belser.”

“Oh. My God! This is the thing he valued most …”

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his assistant and cleared his appointments for the next two days. “Why?” his assistant asked.

“I need some time to spend with my son,” he said.

66. Why did Jack think Mr. Belser died years ago?

   A. College and career prevented him from remembering Mr. Belser.

   B. Jack was too busy with his business and family to think about Mr. Belser.

   C. Jack was too busy realizing his dreams to think about Mr. Belser.

   D. His present busy life washed away his children memories.

67. Jack’s mother told him on the phone about Mr. Belser EXCEPT that _________.

   A. Mr. Belser often asked how Jack was doing

   B. Mr. Belser’s funeral would take place on Wednesday

   C. Mr. Belser had asked for Jack’s mailing address

   D. Mr. Belser had pleasant memories of their time together

68. Why did Belser send Jack his gold watch?

   A. Because he was grateful for Jack’s time with him.

   B. Because he had no children or relatives.

   C. Because he thought he had to keep his word.

   D. Because Jack had always wanted it during his childhood.

69. Why did Jack say he needed some time to spend with his son?

   A. He was very tired of his work and wanted to have a good rest.

   B. He had promised to spare more time to stay with his son.

   C. He had missed his son and his family for days.

   D. He came to realize the importance of the time with his family.

70. Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?

   A. The Good Old Times   B. What He Valued Most

   C. An Old Gold Watch     D. The Lost Childhood Days

A car drew up outside the Swan Hotel and a young man got out．Pausing only for a moment to see that he had come to the right place，he went into the hotel and rang the bell on the counter of the bar．

Mrs．Crump，the landlady，who was busy in the kitchen at the time，hurried out，wiping her hands．The young man raised his hat．

“Excuse me，”he said．“I’m looking for my uncle，Mr．White．I believe he is staying here．”

“He was staying here．”Mrs．Crump corrected him．“But I’m afraid that he went back to London yesterday．”

“Oh，dear，”said the young man，looking disappointed．“I understood that he was going to stay here until the end of the month．At least that is what his servant told me when I rang up his house．”

“Quite right，”said Mrs，Cramp．“He planned to stay here the whole of July，as he always does． But yesterday he got a telegram to say that his relative was ill．So he caught the train back to London immediately．”

“I wish he had let me know, ”The young man said．“I wrote him a letter saying that I was coming．I’ve had all this trouble for nothing．Well，since he isn’t here，there’s no point in waiting．”

He thanked Mrs．Grump and went out．Mrs．Grump went to the window and watched him drive off．When his car was out of sight，she called out：“You can come out now, Mr．White. He’s gone．”

Mr．White came out of the kitchen，where he had been waiting．

“Many thanks，Mrs．Grump，”he said，laughing，“you did that very well．These nephews of mine never gave me any peace．That young man is the worst of them all．As you see，when he needs money, he even follows me into the country．Well，perhaps next time he won’t warn me by writing a letter!”

1.This story is about a man         ．

2.When his nephew came to the hotel，Mr．White            ．

3.Mr. White didn’t like his nephews because         ．

When I was a teenager, my dad did everything he could to advise me against becoming a brewer（酿酒人）. He’d　 36　 his life brewing beer for local breweries only to make a living, 37  were his father and grandfather before him. He didn’t want me　 38　 near a vat （酿酒用的桶）of beer.
　　So I did as he asked. I got good　 39　 , went to Harvard and in 1971 was accepted into a graduate program there that　 40　 me to study law and business at the same time.
　　In my second year of grade school, I began to realize that I’d　 41　 done anything but go to school. So, at 24 I decided to drop out.　 42　 , my parents didn’t think this was a great idea. But I felt strongly that you can’t 43 till you’re 65 to do what you want in life.
　　I packed my stuff into a bus and headed to Colorado to become an instructor at Outward Bound. Three years later, I was ready to go back to　 44　 . I finished Harvard and got a highly paid job at the Boston Consulting Group. Still, after working there five years, I　 45　 . Is this what I want to be doing when I’m 50? At that time, Americans paid　 46　 money of beer in low quality. Why not make good beer for　 47　 ? I thought.
　　I decided to give up my job to become　 48　. When I told Dad, he was　 49　 , but in the end he　 50　 me. I called my beer Samuel Adams,　 51　 the brewer and patriot who helped to start the Boston Tea party.　 52　 I sold the beer direct to beer drinkers to get 53　out. Six weeks later, at the Great American Beer Festival, Samuel Adams Boston Lager won the top prize for American beer. In the end I was destined to be a brewer. My 54　to the young is simple: Life is very　 55　 , so don’t rush to make decisions. Life doesn’t let you plan.

A car drew up outside the Swan Hotel and a young man got out.Pausing only for a moment to see that he had come to the right place，he went into the hotel and rang the bell on the counter of the bar.
Mrs.Crump，the landlady，who was busy in the kitchen at the time，hurried out，wiping her hands.The young man raised his hat.
“Excuse me，”he said.“I’m looking for my uncle，Mr.White.I believe he is staying here.”
“He was staying here.”Mrs.Crump corrected him.“But I’m afraid that he went back to London yesterday.”
“Oh，dear，”said the young man，looking disappointed.“I understood that he was going to stay here until the end of the month.At least that is what his servant told me when I rang up his house.”
“Quite right，”said Mrs，Cramp.“He planned to stay here the whole of July，as he always does. But yesterday he got a telegram to say that his relative was ill.So he caught the train back to London immediately.”
“I wish he had let me know, ”The young man said.“I wrote him a letter saying that I was coming.I’ve had all this trouble for nothing.Well，since he isn’t here，there’s no point in waiting.”
He thanked Mrs.Grump and went out.Mrs.Grump went to the window and watched him drive off.When his car was out of sight，she called out：“You can come out now, Mr.White. He’s gone.”
Mr.White came out of the kitchen，where he had been waiting.
“Many thanks，Mrs.Grump，”he said，laughing，“you did that very well.These nephews of mine never gave me any peace.That young man is the worst of them all.As you see，when he needs money, he even follows me into the country.Well，perhaps next time he won’t warn me by writing a letter!”

1. 1.

   This story is about a man         .

   1. A.
      who was very much loved by his nephews
   2. B.
      whose nephew went to visit him at the hotel
   3. C.
      who was not willing to meet his nephew
   4. D.
      whose nephew is always asking him for help
2. 2.

   When his nephew came to the hotel，Mr.White            .

   1. A.
      took the train back to London
   2. B.
      left to visit a sick relative
   3. C.
      went to pick up a telegram
   4. D.
      hid himself in the kitchen
3. 3.

   Mr. White didn’t like his nephews because         .

   1. A.
      they always follow him around
   2. B.
      they frequently disturb their relatives
   3. C.
      they won’t write to him often
   4. D.
      they usually visit him in hotels

When I was a teenager, my dad did everything he could do to advise me against becoming a brewer (造酒人). He’d   36  his life brewing beer for local breweries only to make a living, 37   had his father and grandfather before him. He didn’t want me   38  near a vat (酿酒用的桶) of beer. So I did as he asked. I got good   39 , went to Harvard and in 1971 was accepted into a graduate program there that   40  me to study law and business at the same time.

In my second year of graduate school, I began to realize that I’d   41  done anything but go to school. So, at 24 I decided to drop out.   42 , my parents didn’t think this was a great idea. But I felt strongly that you can’t   43  till you’re 65 to do what you want in life.

I packed my stuff into a bus and headed for Colorado to become an instructor at Outward Bound. Three years later, I was ready to go back to   44 . I finished Harvard and got a highly-paid job at the Boston Consulting Group Still, after working there five years, I   45 , “Is this what I want to be doing when I’m 50?”  At that time, Americans spent good money on beer in   46   quality. Why not make good beer for   47 ? I thought.

I decided to give up my job to become   48 . When I told Dad, he was   49 , but in the end he   50  me. I called my beer Samuel Adams,   51  the brewer and patriot (爱国者) who helped to start the Boston Tea Party.   52  I sold the beer direct to beer drinkers to get  the   53  out. Six weeks later, at the Great American Beer Festival, Sam Adams Boston Lager (淡啤酒) won the top prize for American beer. In the end I was destined (注定) to be a brewer. My   54  to the young is simple: Life is very   55 , so don’t rush to make decisions. Life doesn’t let you plan.