After death, John went to see God. God looked at him, feeling very unhappy, “You’ve lived in this world for 60 years. Why haven’t you gotten any result at all?” God asked.

John argued, “My God, I couldn’t become a successful person just because you didn’t give me any chance. If you let that magic apple hit on my head, the man who found the law of gravity should be me.”

God said, “OK, we might as well try again.”

God rocked his hands and the time turned back to a few hundred years ago.

God shook the apple tree for the first time, when a red apple fell and happened to drop on John’s head. John picked up the apple, wiped it and ate it up as soon as possible.

God allowed another bigger apple drop on John’s head and John ate it up once again.

God shook the apple tree for the third time, when a much bigger apple fell on John’s head. John got mad, picked up the apple, threw it out heavily. Then he shouted angrily: “The apple annoyed my sweet dream! What a bad luck!”

The apple flew out and happened to fall on Newton’s head. Newton awoke and picked up the apple. After a long time of thinking, he discovered the law of gravity at last.

The time returned once again now.

God said to John, “John, do you understand it now?”

John asked, “My God, please give me another chance…I will …”

God shook his head and said, “No. The chance that the apple drops on the head of everyone is the same, but each person’s ability to catch the chance is different.” 

1.When did John die?

A．At the age of 50.                        B．At the age of 60.

C．At the age of 70.                        D．At the age of 80.

2.How many times was John hit by apples?

A．Once.            B．Twice.            C．Three times.       D．Four times.

3. What did John do after he was hit by the apple for the second time?

A．He ate the apple at once.                 B．He got angry and shouted.

C．He threw the apple out.                  D．He thought something over.

4. Which is the best title of the passage?

A．God’s Words                         B．Annoying Apples

C．John’s Life                           D．Lost Chances

Aunt Polly had told Tom to paint the whole fence (柵欄)in front of the house. He thought of the other boys out for the day enjoying themselves and he felt very unhappy. Then he had an idea! He picked up the brush and started painting slowly and carefully. Soon, his friend Ben Rogers appeared, eating an apple. Tom pretended (假裝) not to see him.
“Tom!” Ben said. “Why are you working?”
“Oh, it’s you, Ben,”Tom said, “I didn’t notice you.”
“I’m gong for a swim,” Ben said, “but you don’t’ want to come. You want to work, don’t you? It’s much nicer!” Ben laughed loudly. Tom looked seriously at Ben and said. “What is work? What do you call work?”
“Isn’t that work?” Ben asked.
“Well, no. Does a boy get the opportunity to paint a fence every day? You’ve never painted a fence, have you? Auntie says I have to do it with great care!’
“Pleas, Tom. Let me do a little,” said Ben.
“No, Ben. If you do, you’ll do it wrong. You can’t paint very well. If it was the back fence wouldn’t mind, but it isn’t.”
“I won’t do it wrong. I’ll be really careful. I’ll give you my apple.” Tom gave him the brush and paint with a sad face, but in his heart he was glad, His trick had worked.
After Ben got tired and left, other boys came along and Tom said the same things to them. Soon, the whole fence was painted white, but not by Tom. He felt very clever because he had discovered something important about the way people are. People only want what they can’t have or want to do what they shouldn’t do.
【小題1】Which of the following has the closest meaning to the underlined word “opportunity” on this passage?

Aunt Polly had told Tom to paint the whole fence (柵欄)in front of the house. He thought of the other boys out for the day enjoying themselves and he felt very unhappy. Then he had an idea! He picked up the brush and started painting slowly and carefully. Soon, his friend Ben Rogers appeared, eating an apple. Tom pretended (假裝) not to see him.

“Tom!” Ben said. “Why are you working?”

“Oh, it’s you, Ben,”Tom said, “I didn’t notice you.”

“I’m gong for a swim,” Ben said, “but you don’t’ want to come. You want to work, don’t you? It’s much nicer!” Ben laughed loudly. Tom looked seriously at Ben and said. “What is work? What do you call work?”

“Isn’t that work?” Ben asked.

“Well, no. Does a boy get the opportunity to paint a fence every day? You’ve never painted a fence, have you? Auntie says I have to do it with great care!’

“Pleas, Tom. Let me do a little,” said Ben.

“No, Ben. If you do, you’ll do it wrong. You can’t paint very well. If it was the back fence wouldn’t mind, but it isn’t.”

“I won’t do it wrong. I’ll be really careful. I’ll give you my apple.” Tom gave him the brush and paint with a sad face, but in his heart he was glad, His trick had worked.

After Ben got tired and left, other boys came along and Tom said the same things to them. Soon, the whole fence was painted white, but not by Tom. He felt very clever because he had discovered something important about the way people are. People only want what they can’t have or want to do what they shouldn’t do.

1.Which of the following has the closest meaning to the underlined word “opportunity” on this passage?

A．Reward           B．Interest.           C．Abilityy.           D．Chance.

2.Why did Tom pretend not to see Ben?

A．Because he wanted Ben to believe that the was enjoying the work.

B．Because he would like to try his best to attract Ben’s attention.

C．Because he did not want Ben to see the fact that he had to work.

D．Because he was afraid that Ben might laugh at him if the saw him.

3.What can we infer (推斷) from the story?

A．Aunt Polly gave Tom a lot of pocket money for what he had done.

B．Ben and the other boys might feel unhappy when they found out the troth.

C．Tom believed that he had discovered how to deal with different people.

D．Everyone thought Tom clever when they realized what had happened.