There was once a merchant(商人) who kept a donkey. They 41 all over the countryside, buying and selling different kinds of things. One day the merchant heard that salt was being sold 42 at the seaside. “I can get a fine price for that in the villages in the mountains,” he thought and then he set off with his 43 to buy some. The merchant bought a good supply and loaded it on the donkey’s back. All went well 44 they came to a narrow pass in the mountains with a deep stream flowing through it. The merchant was leading the donkey carefully when 45 the donkey slipped into the stream. As the donkey 46 to swim, the water melted the salt he was carrying and washed it away, leaving only the empty bags. With no 47 to pull him down the donkey easily 48 the bank.
Soon afterwards the merchant decided to buy another load of 49 . Once more he took his donkey to the 50 , loaded him up and set off for the mountains. As soon as they came to the narrow pass the donkey remembered how easily he had 51 his heavy load. This time he slipped into the stream 52 and stayed there until the salt 53 .
The merchant was very 54 . He thought of a way to play a trick on the donkey in return. The next time he went to the seaside he 55 a great load of sponges(海绵). The donkey set off happily. Before long they came to the narrow pass. Once more the donkey rolled himself into the water, 56 for the load to melt away. However, the sponges got 57 . Then he felt himself 58 lower and lower and he yelled, “Help!”
The merchant pulled him out of the water. And he led the 59 donkey on up the mountainside. “Now I have doubled the load I 60 with,” thought the donkey sadly as he walked along the village.
| 41.A. worked | B. rode | C. searched | D. traveled |
| 42. A. cheaply | B. poorly | C. privately | D. directly |
| 43. A. donkey | B. horse | C. camel | D. ox |
| 44. A. because | B. unless | C. when | D. until |
| 45. A. frequently | B. finally | C. suddenly | D. generally |
| 46. A. promised | B. refused | C. struggled | D. learned |
| 47. A. water | B. weight | C. pain | D. fear |
| 48. A. noticed | B. reached | C. found | D. recognized |
| 49. A. salt | B. sugar | C. rice | D. sponge |
| 50. A. seaside | B. stream | C. pass | D. village |
| 51. A. transported | B. transformed | C. lost | D. got |
| 52. A. on time | B. on purpose | C. in turn | D. in order |
| 53. A. broke | B. disappeared | C. fell | D. dropped |
| 54. A. lucky | B. curious | C. worried | D. angry |
| 55. A. bought | B. borrowed | C. sold | D. returned |
| 56. A. preparing | B. waiting | C. looking | D. caring |
| 57. A. cooler | B. softer | C. heavier | D. bigger |
| 58. A. moving | B. running | C. sinking | D. hiding |
| 59. A. proud | B. clever | C. fat | D. wet |
| 60. A. met | B. dealt | C. agreed | D. started |