At a certain time in our lives we consider every place as the possible sites(地點) for a house. I have thus searched the country within a dozen miles of where I live. In imagination I have bought all the farms, one after another, and I knew their prices.

   The nearest thing that I came to actual ownership was when I bought the Hollowell place. But before the owner completed the sale with me, his wife changed her mind and wished to keep it, and he offered me additional dollars to return the farm to him. However, I let him keep the additional dollars and sold him the farm for just what I gave for it.

   The real attractiong of the Hollowell farm to me were its position, being about two miles from the village, half a mile from the nearest neighbor, bounded(相鄰) on one side by the river, and separated from the highway by a wide field. The poor condition fo the house and fences showed that it hadn’t been used for some time. I remembered from my earliest trip up the river that the house used to be hidden behind a forest area, and I was in a hurry to buy it before the owner finished getting out some rocks, cutting down the apples trees, and clearing away some young trees which had grown up in the fields. I wanted to buy it before he made any more of his improvements. But it turned out as I have said.

   I was not really troubled by the loss. I had always had a garden, but I don’t thing I was ready for a large farm. I believe that as long as possible it is better to live free and uncommitted (無牽掛的). It makes but little difference whether you own a farm or not.

What do we know about the author?

   A. He wanted to buy the oldest farm near where he lived.

   B. He made a study of many farms before buying.

   C. He made money by buying and selling farms.

   D. He had the money to buy the best farm in the country.

Why did the author decide to buy the Hollowell place?

   A. It was of good market value.

   B. It was next to the highway.

   C. It was in a good position.

   D. It was behind a nice garden.

Why did the author want to buy the farm in a hurry?

   A. He was afraid the owner might changes his mind.

   B. He hoped to enlarge the forest on the farm.

   C. He wanted to keep the farm as it was.

   D. He was eager to become a farm owner.

The underlined words “the loss” in the last paragraph refer to ___.

A. the money the author lost in buying the farm

B. the sale of the garden in the Hollowell place

C. the removal of the trees around the house

D. the failure to possess the Hollowell place

What does the author believe as important in life?

A. To own a farm                    B. To satisfy his needs

C. To be free from worries             D. To live in the countryside

At a certain time in our lives we consider every place as the possible sites(地點) for a house. I have thus searched the country within a dozen miles of where I live. In imagination I have bought all the farms, one after another, and I knew their prices.
The nearest thing that I came to actual ownership was when I bought the Hollowell place. But before the owner completed the sale with me, his wife changed her mind and wished to keep it, and he offered me additional dollars to return the farm to him. However, I let him keep the additional dollars and sold him the farm for just what I gave for it.
The real attractiong of the Hollowell farm to me were its position, being about two miles from the village, half a mile from the nearest neighbor, bounded(相鄰) on one side by the river, and separated from the highway by a wide field. The poor condition fo the house and fences showed that it hadn’t been used for some time. I remembered from my earliest trip up the river that the house used to be hidden behind a forest area, and I was in a hurry to buy it before the owner finished getting out some rocks, cutting down the apples trees, and clearing away some young trees which had grown up in the fields. I wanted to buy it before he made any more of his improvements. But it turned out as I have said.
I was not really troubled by the loss. I had always had a garden, but I don’t thing I was ready for a large farm. I believe that as long as possible it is better to live free and uncommitted (無牽掛的). It makes but little difference whether you own a farm or not.
【小題1】What do we know about the author?

完形填空

閱讀下列短文，掌握其大意，然后從1-25各題所給的四個選項中，選出一個最佳答案

　A young man went to a car showroom. He was wearing rubber boots and a 　1　 jacket. He needed a haircut 　2　　 　and was unshaven. The young man examined an 　3　　 　car carefully and 　4 　turned to speak to the salesman.

　“　5　　 　does this car cost?”he asked.

　“One thousand two hundred and eighteen pounds,”the salesman said.

　“I'll have　　 　6 　of them, ” the young man said.

　The salesman 　7 　. He found it 　8 　to be polite. “You are joking, 　9 　,”he said. “I'm afraid we 　10　　 　help you. This car is not for sale.”

　The salesman showed his customer the 　11 　and the young man left the shop 　12 　a word. He went to a 　13 　on the other side of the street and 　14 　sixteen cars. The 　15 　salesman was polite and 　16 　. The young man took a bundle of notes 　17 　his pocket and 　18 　the car in cash. He 　19　　 　that the cars were for himself and his fifteen 　20 　. He said that 　21 　and his colleagues（同事）worked on a Norweigian 　22 　boat. “We have all 　23 　a lot of money this season,” the man said, “and we want to buy cars.”

　　　　24 　, the second salesman was 　25　　 　.

At a certain time in our lives we consider every place as the possible sites(地點) for a house. I have thus searched the country within a dozen miles of where I live. In imagination I have bought all the farms, one after another, and I knew their prices.
The nearest thing that I came to actual ownership was when I bought the Hollowell place. But before the owner completed the sale with me, his wife changed her mind and wished to keep it, and he offered me additional dollars to return the farm to him. However, I let him keep the additional dollars and sold him the farm for just what I gave for it.
The real attractiong of the Hollowell farm to me were its position, being about two miles from the village, half a mile from the nearest neighbor, bounded(相鄰) on one side by the river, and separated from the highway by a wide field. The poor condition fo the house and fences showed that it hadn’t been used for some time. I remembered from my earliest trip up the river that the house used to be hidden behind a forest area, and I was in a hurry to buy it before the owner finished getting out some rocks, cutting down the apples trees, and clearing away some young trees which had grown up in the fields. I wanted to buy it before he made any more of his improvements. But it turned out as I have said.
I was not really troubled by the loss. I had always had a garden, but I don’t thing I was ready for a large farm. I believe that as long as possible it is better to live free and uncommitted (無牽掛的). It makes but little difference whether you own a farm or not.

1. 1.

   What do we know about the author?

   1. A.
      He wanted to buy the oldest farm near where he lived.
   2. B.
      He made a study of many farms before buying.
   3. C.
      He made money by buying and selling farms.
   4. D.
      He had the money to buy the best farm in the country.
2. 2.

   Why did the author decide to buy the Hollowell place?

   1. A.
      It was of good market value.
   2. B.
      It was next to the highway.
   3. C.
      It was in a good position.
   4. D.
      It was behind a nice garden.
3. 3.

   Why did the author want to buy the farm in a hurry?

   1. A.
      He was afraid the owner might changes his mind.
   2. B.
      He hoped to enlarge the forest on the farm.
   3. C.
      He wanted to keep the farm as it was.
   4. D.
      He was eager to become a farm owner.
4. 4.

   The underlined words “the loss” in the last paragraph refer to ___.

   1. A.
      the money the author lost in buying the farm
   2. B.
      the sale of the garden in the Hollowell place
   3. C.
      the removal of the trees around the house
   4. D.
      the failure to possess the Hollowell place
5. 5.

   What does the author believe as important in life?

   1. A.
      To own a farm
   2. B.
      To satisfy his needs
   3. C.
      To be free from worries
   4. D.
      To live in the countryside