Farmer John and Farmer Bob were neighbors. For more than 30 years, they had been getting along very well.
Then their good relationship broke. It began with a small thing, then bitter words, and then weeks of silence. One morning Farmer John woke up to find a stream between the two farms. “It must be Bob,” John thought.
Then one day there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a carpenter(木匠) standing at the doorway.
“I’m looking for a few days’ work,” the carpenter said.
“I do have a job for you,” John said. “Look across the stream at that farm. That’s my neighbor Bob. He dug a stream between the two farms. I want you to build a fence—an 8-foot fence. I don’t want to see his place or his face any more. I don’t have such a neighbor!”
The carpenter said, “I think I know what to do, sir, and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.”
Farmer John helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.
About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer’s eyes opened wide. There was no fence there at all!
It was a bridge! And the neighbor, Bob, was coming across, with his hand outstretched(伸出). “Hi, John! You’re quite a fellow to build this bridge!”
Then they met in the middle, taking each other’s hands. “I’m terribly sorry for what I have said and done. We should be good to each other,” said Farmer Bob.
Then they turned to see the carpenter, who was ready to go. “No, wait! Stay a few days. I have a lot of other jobs for you,” said Farmer John. “I’d love to stay,” the carpenter said, “but I have more bridges to build.”
小题1:Just before the carpenter came, John and Bob each other.A.didn’t speak toB.were friendly toC.often fought withD.never had bitter words with小题2:Farmer John asked the carpenter to build a fence because .A.he wanted to protect his farmB.he didn’t want to do it himself C.he wouldn’t like to see BobD.he wanted to find him something to do小题3:What does the sentence “You’re quite a fellow to build this bridge!” mean?A.John was great to build this bridge.B.John was not good at building bridges.C.John was foolish to build such a bridge.D.John should build the bridge earlier.小题4:What do you think of the carpenter?A.Shy.B.Wise.C.Proud.D.Careless.小题5:What is the best title for the passage?A.What a Big Fence!B.Farmer and BridgeC.Three Kind MenD.A Fence or a Bridge?