Once upon a time, there was a small village. This village had a strange _36__. Each spring, any boy that had reached the age of majority(成年年龄)was given land and money to __37__ a home. The boy had to _38_ his home before winter. If his home failed to survive the winter weather, the villagers could not help him in any way.
One spring, Paul and Marc reached the age of majority. They _39__ their land and money and decided to search nearby villages for __40__ on building their homes. In each village, they found the nicest __41__ and talked to the owners. Each owner gladly offered __42__.
After Marc saw several homes, he _43__ the best ideas and went back to his own land. Paul, __44__, continued collecting more ideas. Soon he had so many great ideas that he began to __45__ some of them. But he always believed he could find even better ideas in the next village.
Marc began building his home. He had several __46__ starts, but his home gradually rose from his land. By fall, Marc finished his home. It wasn’t __47_, but it was strong and he would improve it later.
The first snow came and Paul, realizing he was running out of __48__, rushed back to his land. He built the best home he could in the time he had, but it was __49__. The first winter snowstorm damaged his home and he __50__ to death. The villagers felt pity for his loss.
Marc __51__ the winter. He became a leader in the village, raised a family, and lived a ___52__ life.
Knowledge is only __53__ power. It becomes __54__ only when it is organized into definite(明确的) plans of __55__ and directed to a definite end.
36. A. festival B. tradition C. atmosphere D. person
37. A. repair B. build C. paint D. visit
38. A. complete B. abandon C. find D. leave
39. A. lost B. hid C. received D. earned
40. A. places B. tools C. chances D. ideas
41. A. homes B. parks C. shops D. shelters
42. A. money B. advice C. rewards D. jobs
43. A. supported B. encouraged C. produced D. gathered
44. A. otherwise B. anyway C. however D. therefore
45. A. produce B. sell C. replace D. forget
46. A. slow B. false C. smooth D. successful
47. A. small B. perfect C. clean D. bright
48. A. time B. energy C. food D. oil
49. A. amazing B. funny C. weak D. ugly
50. A. was burnt B. was scared C. starved D. froze
51. A. survived B. hated C. liked D. avoided
52. A. hard B. contented C. dull D. fast
53. A. legal B. dangerous C. popular D. potential
54. A. thought B. imagination C. power D. courage
55. A. point B. promise C. action D. duty