15．Benjy and I were working in the yard together one afternoon．It was during a summer between college terms，a time of uncertainty for my son．Benjy wanted to follow in my footsteps as a musician，but he was impatient for success．I ached for him and wished I could say something．
Taking a break，Benjy looked around our 15acres with its stream，its trees，and its rolling grass．"This place is beautiful，"he said．"How did you get it？"
"I wondered when you'd ask，"I replied．We tend to take things for granted until we're about to leave or lose them．I told Benjy the story．
Our first child，Suzanne，had just been born．Gloria and I were teaching in a town where I had grown up．We wanted land so we could build a house．
I noticed a parcel south of town where cattle grazed（吃草）．It belonged to a 92-year-old retired banker named Mr．Yule．He owned a lot of land in the area，but was selling none of it．He gave the same speech to everyone who inquired．"I promised the farmers they could use it for their cattle．"
Nevertheless，Gloria and I visited him at the bank，where he still spent his days．We made our way past a forbidding mahogany（红木） door and into a dim office．Mr．Yule sat behind a desk，reading The Wall Street Journal．He barely moved，looking at us over the top of his bifocals．
"Not selling，"he said pleasantly，when I told him we were interested in the piece of land．"Promised it to a farmer for grazing．"
"I know，"I replied nervously．"But we teach school here，and we thought that maybe you would sell it to someone planning to settle．"
He pursed his lips and stared．"What'd you say your name was？"
"Gaither．Bill Gaither．"
"H'm．Any relation to Grover Gaither？"
"Yes，sir．He was my granddad．"
Mr．Yule put down his paper and removed his glasses．Then he pointed to a couple of chairs，and we sat down．
"Grover Gaither was the best worker I ever had on my farm，"he said．"Showed up early，stayed late，did whatever needed doing and never had to be told．"
The old man leaned forward．"I found him in the barn one night an hour after quitting time．He told me the tractor needed fixing and he wouldn't feel right about leaving it undone．"Mr．Yule squinted，his eyes distant with the memory．"What'd you say you wanted，Gaither？"
I told him again．
"Let me do some thinking on it，then come back and see me．"
I was in his office again within a week．Mr．Yule told me he had thought about it．I held my breath．
"How does 3，800sound？"heasked．At3，800per acre，I would have to come up with nearly 60，000!Wasthisjustawayofputtingmeoff？"Thirty-eighthundred？"Irepeated，withacatchinmythroat．"Yup．Fifteenacresfor3，800．"The land had to be worth at least three times that!I gratefully accepted．
Nearly three decades later，my son and I strolled the green property that had once been pasture．"Benjy，"I said，"you've had this wonderful place to grow up on all because of the good name of a man you never met．"
At Granddad's funeral，many people had come up to me to say，"Your grandfather was a good man．"He was praised for his compassion，his ability to forgive，his tenderness，his generosity---and，most of all，his integrity．He had been a simple farmer，but his character made him a leader．
A good man．A wonderful phrase---one that has almost been lost in our culture．It reminds me of a verse from Proverbs that I was raised on："A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches，and loving favor rather than silver and gold．"
A good name is the legacy（遗产） Granddad Gaither left me．It is what I hope to leave Benjy，along with a story he can tell his son as they walk this gentle land．
55．When the writer was asked by his son how he got the land，heD．
A．felt very surprised
B．didn't know how to reply
C．wondered if it was the right time to tell him the story
D．had expected his son to ask this question for a long time
56．According to the text，Mr．YuleC．
A．grazed cattle on his farm
B．rented the land to farmers for grazing
C．had previously sold none of the land he owned
D．charged a very high price for his land
57．What was Mr．Yule's reaction when the writer requested to buy his land for the first time？A
A．He refused to sell it at first as usual．
B．He agreed as soon as he learned the writer's relation with Grover Gaither．
C．He asked a price that the writer couldn't afford．
D．He said it had already been sold to a farmer for grazing．
58．Why did the writer eventually get the land from Mr．Yule？C
A．Because he had a good name．
B．Because he offered a reasonable price．
C．Because he was the grandson of Grover Gaither．
D．Because he planned to settle．
59．Which of the following statements is true about Granddad Gaither？B
A．He was made a leader among the farmers．
B．He was seen by Mr．Yule as the best worker on his farm．
C．He earned a living by being a tractor driver．
D．He died before the writer was born．
60．Which of the following can be the best title？D
A．A good man
B．A kind banker
C．The land
D．The legacy．
分析 本文属于故事类短文阅读．文章介绍了自己给儿子介绍了自己这片土地的由来．有一位银行家Mr．Yule拥有一块土地，本来不打算卖掉，但是当作者表明自己的爷爷是Grover Gaither后，由于爷爷的好名声而使得他改变了主意，最后表明，爷爷的好名声是留给自己最好的财富．
解答 55-60 DCACBD
55．D．细节理解题．根据第三段内容"I wondered when you'd ask，"I replied．可知，作者说不知道你何时会问这个问题，说明他期待儿子问这个问题已经好久了；故选D．
56．C．推理判断题．根据第五段内容It belonged to a 92-year-old retired banker named Mr．Yule．可知，Mr．Yule是一位退休的银行家，自己不放牧，A项错误；．"I promised the farmers they could use it for their cattle．"一句说明农场主可以使用他的土地但没说租给他们，也没有收费，所以B、D两项错误；由该段He owned a lot of land in the area，but was selling none of it可知，选项中C项表述与之相吻合；故选C．
57．A．细节理解题．根据第七段"Not selling，"he said pleasantly，when I told him we were interested in the piece of land可知，在我们一开始说要买他的地时，和往常一样他是坚决不卖的；故选A．
58．C．细节理解题．第11和12段说作者是Grover Gaither的孙子，而接下来Mr．Yule对Grover Gaither给予了高度评价，最后基于这个原因而考虑并最终卖给他；故选C．
59．B．推理判断题．第14段中Grover Gaither was the best worker I ever had on my farm，可知，Mr．Yule对Grover Gaither的评价是很高的，其他三个选项中的信息短文中并没有提及；故选B．
60．D．标题归纳题．根据文章最后一句A good name is the legacy（遗产） Granddad Gaither left me及文中内容可知，本文主要是表达自己爷爷的好名声是带给自己终身受益的最宝贵的遗产；所以The legacy最能表达本文的主题．故选D．
点评 在做故事类阅读文章时首先迅速浏览全文内容，掌握文章的大意，了解所介绍人物的事迹，再结合题干要求，再次阅读文章相关内容，做出有针对性的选择
