During the years of depression(萧条), food and money were very hard to find and people had to trade things with each other.
One day I was 1 some potatoes from Mr Miller. I noticed a small poor boy hungrily __2 a full basket of freshly picked green peas. Then I was _ 3 to see that Mr Miller sold the boy a bag of peas for just a marble (弹球).
Mrs Miller, who had been standing nearby, 4__ and told me that Mr Miller loved to trade with the three boys in the village for peas, tomatoes, and other things _5 he didn’t really need any marbles. I left the stand, smiling to myself, 6 by this man.
Several years went by. One day I learned that Mr Miller had died. I took part in the funeral(葬礼), _ 7__ three young men. They came over to Mrs Miller, hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke with her and moved on, __8__ their eyes.
Our __9__ came to meet Mrs Miller. I mentioned __10_ she had told me about the __11__ . She told me, “Those three young men above were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘_ 12 _ ’with them. Now, at last, they came to pay their debt.”
“We’ve _ 13__ had a great deal of the wealth in this world,” she __14__, “but right now, Jim would consider himself to be the __15__ man.”
Then she gently lifted the _16_ fingers of her husband. Resting underneath were three red marbles.
At that time I realized that we would not be _17 by our words, but by our kind _18 _ . It is said that it takes a minute to find a _19_ person, an hour to appreciate him, a day to love him, but an entire life to _20 him.
1.A.buying B. selling C. borrowing D. hunting
2.A.reaching for B. glancing at C. staring at D. picking up
3.A. astonished B. pleased C. annoyed D. worried
4.A.turned over B. went over C. came over D. looked over
5.A.but B. otherwise C. or D. although
6.A.suspected B. impressed C. regretted D. embarrassed
7.A.discovering B. watching C. finding D. seeing
8.A.closing B. rolling C. cleaning D. wiping
9 A. time B. chance C. turn D. decision
10.A. the story B. the proverb C. the legend D. the joke
11.A. marbles B. men C. debt D. life
12.A. talked B. traded C. shared D. left
13.A. ever B. always C. never D. seldom
14.A. laughed B. cried C. sighed D. added
15.A. honest B. happiest C. coldest D. richest
16.A. lifeless B. regretless C. useless D. hopeless
17.A. thought B. touched C. remembered D. affected
18.A. deeds B. things C. remarks D. rewards
19.A. strict B. honest C. special D. learned
20.A. ignore B. forget C. recognize D. remind