I was six when I joined my father and two brothers at sunrise in the hayfields of Eufaula,Oklahoma.By the time I was eight I was helping Dad fix up low-income rent properties.He gave me a penny for every nail I pulled out of old boards.

I got my first real job,at JM’s restaurant in town,when I was 12.My main responsibilities were cleaning tables and washing dishes,but sometimes I helped cook.

Every day after school I would head to JM’s and work until ten.On Saturdays I worked from two until eleven.At that age it was unlucky going to work and watching my friends run off to swim or play.I didn’t necessarily like work,but I love what working allowed me to have.Because of my job I was always the one buying when my friends and I went to the local bar Tastee Freez.This made me proud.

Word that I was honest and hard-working got around town.A local clothing store offered credit to me although I was only in the seventh grade.I immediately charged a $68 sports coat and a $22 pair of trousers.I was making only 65 cents an hour,and I was already $90 in debt!So I learned early the danger of easy credit.I paid it off as soon as I could.

My first job taught me discipline,responsibility and brought me a level of personal satisfaction few of my friends had experienced.As by father,who worked three jobs,once told me,“If you understand sacrifice and commitment,there are not many things in life you can’t have.”How right he was!

When the author was a child,he was made to help his father work because_________.

A.the retaurant was short for hands

B.his family belonged to the low-income group

C.he wanted to earn some money

D.he was stronger than his two brothers

At the age of 12,the author got a job at a restaurant and often worked till late at night because_________.

A.he liked that work

B.he didn’t like playing

C.he was hard-working

D.he felt rewarded by doing that work

When the author was in the seventh grade,he was in debt because_________.

A.he did not work any more

B.he bought clothes on credit

C.he was charged too much for the sports coat

D.he made little money at that time

What does the author want to tell the reader by this text?

A.If you know sacrifice and responsibility,you can have many things in life.

B.Children from poor families usually have a very unhappy childhood.

C.Children could be made to work and earn some money by themselves.

D.You will learn discipline and responsibity by working early in life.

I was six when I joined my father and two brothers at sunrise in the hayfields of Eufaula,Oklahoma.By the time I was eight I was helping Dad fix up low-income rent properties.He gave me a penny for every nail I pulled out of old boards.
I got my first real job,at JM’s restaurant in town,when I was 12.My main responsibilities were cleaning tables and washing dishes,but sometimes I helped cook.
Every day after school I would head to JM’s and work until ten.On Saturdays I worked from two until eleven.At that age it was unlucky going to work and watching my friends run off to swim or play.I didn’t necessarily like work,but I love what working allowed me to have.Because of my job I was always the one buying when my friends and I went to the local bar Tastee Freez.This made me proud.
Word that I was honest and hard-working got around town.A local clothing store offered credit to me although I was only in the seventh grade.I immediately charged a $68 sports coat and a $22 pair of trousers.I was making only 65 cents an hour,and I was already $90 in debt!So I learned early the danger of easy credit.I paid it off as soon as I could.
My first job taught me discipline,responsibility and brought me a level of personal satisfaction few of my friends had experienced.As by father,who worked three jobs,once told me,“If you understand sacrifice and commitment,there are not many things in life you can’t have.”How right he was!

1. 1.

   When the author was a child,he was made to help his father work because_________.

   1. A.
      the retaurant was short for hands
   2. B.
      his family belonged to the low-income group
   3. C.
      he wanted to earn some money
   4. D.
      he was stronger than his two brothers
2. 2.

   At the age of 12,the author got a job at a restaurant and often worked till late at night because_________.

   1. A.
      he liked that work
   2. B.
      he didn’t like playing
   3. C.
      he was hard-working
   4. D.
      he felt rewarded by doing that work
3. 3.

   When the author was in the seventh grade,he was in debt because_________.

   1. A.
      he did not work any more
   2. B.
      he bought clothes on credit
   3. C.
      he was charged too much for the sports coat
   4. D.
      he made little money at that time
4. 4.

   What does the author want to tell the reader by this text?

   1. A.
      If you know sacrifice and responsibility,you can have many things in life.
   2. B.
      Children from poor families usually have a very unhappy childhood.
   3. C.
      Children could be made to work and earn some money by themselves.
   4. D.
      You will learn discipline and responsibity by working early in life.

When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers. I went at once to a shop where they sold toys for children. Being charmed with the sound of a whistle that I had seen by the way, in the hands of another boy, I handed over all my money for one. I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. My brothers and sisters and cousins, when I told of the bargain I had made, said I had given four times as much as the whistle was worth. They put me in mind of what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money, and laughed at me so much for my folly that I cried with vexation(煩惱). Thinking about the matter gave me more chargrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.
This, however, was afterwards of use to me, for the impression continued on my mind, so that often, when I was tempted to buy something I did not need, I said to myself, “Don’t give too much for the whistle, ” and I saved my money. As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I thought I met with many, very many, who “gave too much for the whistle.” When I saw some men too eager for court favor, wasting his time at court gatherings, giving up his rest, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, for royal favor, I said to myself---“This man gives too much for the whistle.” When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly taking part in political affairs, neglecting his own business, and ruining it by neglect, “He says, indeed,” said I, “too dear for his whistle.”
If I knew a miser（守財奴） who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow citizens and the joys of friendship, for the sake of gathering and keeping wealth--- “Poor man,” said I, “ you pay too dear for your whistle.” When I met a man of pleasure, who did not try to improve his mind or his fortune but merely devoted himself to having a good time, perhaps neglecting his health, “ Mistaken man, you are providing pain for yourself, instead of pleasure; you are paying too dear for your whistle.” If I saw someone fond of appearance who has fine clothes, fine houses, fine furniture, fine earrings, all above his fortune, and for which he had run into debt, and ends his career in a prison. “Alas,” said I, “he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle.” In short the miseries of mankind are largely due to their puffing a false value on things --- to giving “too much for their whistle.”

1. 1.

   How did the author get the whistle?

   1. A.
      He bought it in a toy shop for children.
   2. B.
      He got it as a birthday present.
   3. C.
      He exchanged all his coppers for it from another boy.
   4. D.
      He got it from his brothers, sisters and cousins.
2. 2.

   When the author recalled(回憶) the whistle, he felt______________.

   1. A.
      pleased
   2. B.
      charmed
   3. C.
      chagrin
   4. D.
      worth
3. 3.

   Which situation would not the author say “ too dear for the whistle?”

   1. A.
      People were tempted to buy something they did not need.
   2. B.
      Men were too eager for court favor, wasting his time.
   3. C.
      People were fond of popularity, constantly taking part in political affairs.
   4. D.
      People were devoted to a career he loved so much.
4. 4.

   Which Chinese equivalent can best describe “ too dear for the whistle”?

   1. A.
      得不償失
   2. B.
      皆大歡喜
   3. C.
      物超所值
   4. D.
      名副其實
5. 5.

   What’s the best title of the passage?

   1. A.
      A story in my childhood.
   2. B.
      Too dear for whistle.
   3. C.
      A lesson from a whistle.
   4. D.
      We should have a right attitude towards temptation（誘惑）.