Jones, a hardworking blacksmith, used to work all day in his shop. So hard working was he that at times he would make the sparks fly from his 1 .
The son of Mr. Smith, a rich 2 , would come to see the blacksmith every day and for hours and hours he would enjoy himself 3 how the tradesman worked.
"Young man, why don't you 4 your hand to learn to make shoe tacks, 5 it is only to pass the time?" said the blacksmith. " 6 knows, one day, it may be of use to you."
The lazy boy began to see what he could do. But after a little 7 he found that he was becoming very 8 and soon he was making some of the finest tacks.
Old Mr. Smith died and the son 9 the war lost all his goods. He had to leave home and was forced to 10 residence in another country. It so 11 that in this village there were numerous shoemakers who were spending a lot of money 12 tacks for their shoes and even 13 when they paid high prices they were 14 able to get what they wanted, because in that part of the country there was a high demand for soldiers' shoes.
Our young Mr. Smith, who was finding it difficult to 15 his daily bread, remembered that once upon a time he had learned the art of making tacks and had the sudden idea of making a 16 with the shoemakers. He told them that he 17 make the tacks if they could help him to 18 a workshop. The shoemakers were 19 willing to do so. And after a while, Mr. Smith found that he was soon making the finest tacks in the village.
"How funny it seems," he used to say, "even making tacks can bring a 20 .My trade is more useful to me than all my former riches."
1．A．hand B．finger C．gun D．hammer
2． A．classmate B．neighbor C．blacksmith D．workmate
3． A．observing B．noticing C．watching D．finding
4． A．put B．raise C．tie D．try
5． A．even if B．whether or not C．only if D．in that
6． A．He B．Somebody C．Who D．Nobody
7． A．advice B．practice C．knowledge D．training
8． A．serious B．caution C．devoted D．skilled
9． A．on account of B．regardless of C．instead of D．in need of
10．A．take in B．take up C．take off D．take on
11．A．occurred B．took place C．happened D．appeared
12．A．selling B．buying C．making D．promoting
13．A．at times B．at a time C．at one time D．at the time
14．A．never B．ever C．often D．not always
15．A．eat B．cook C．earn D．make
16．A．living B．bargain C．mistake D．sense
17．A．would B．used to C．should D．dared
18．A．set down B．set out C．set up D．set to
19．A．much too B．too much C．only too D．not too
20．A．fortune B． fame C．profit D．welcome