I met him first in 1936. I rushed into his ugly little shop to have the heels of my shoes repaired. I waited when he did it. He greeted me with a cheerful smile. “You’re new in this neighborbood, aren’t you?”

    I said I was. I had moved into a house at the end of the street only a week before.

    “This is a fine neighborhood,” he said. “You’ll be happy here.” He looked at the leather covering the heel sadly. It was worn through because I had failed to have the repair done a month before. I grew impatient, for I was rushing to meet a friend. “Please hurry,” I begged.

    He looked at me over his spectacles. “Now, lady, we won’t be long. I want to do a good job. You see, I have a tradition to live up to.”

    A tradition? In this ugly little shop that was no different from so many other shoe repair shops on the side streets of New York?

    He must have felt my surprise, for he smiled as he went on. “Yes, lady, I inherited a tradition. My father and my grandfather were shoemakers in Italy, and they were the best. My father always told me, ‘Son, do the best job on every shoe that comes into the shop, and be proud of your fine work. Do that always, and you’ll have both happiness and money enough to live on.’”

    As he handed me the finished shoes, he said: “These will last a long time. I’ve used good leather.”

    I left in a hurry. But I had a warm and grateful feeling. On my way home I passed the little shop again. There he was, still working. He saw me, and to my surprise he waved and smiled. This was the beginning of our friendship. It was a friendship that came to mean more and more to me as time passed.

    Every day I passed his shop, we waved to each other in friendly greeting. At first I went in only when I had repair work to be done. Then I found myself going in every few days just to talk with him.

    He was the happiest man I’ve ever known. Often, as he stood in his shopwindow, working at a pair of shoes, he sang in a high, clear Italian voice. The Italians in our neighborhood called him la luce alla finestra—“the light in the window”.

    One day I was disappointed and angry because of poor jobs some painters had done for me. I went into his shop for comfort. He let me go on talking angrily about the poor work and carelessness of present-day workmen. “They had no pride in their work,” I said. “They just wanted to collect their money for doing nothing.”

    He agreed. “There’s a lot of that kind around, but maybe we should not blame them. Maybe their fathers had no pride in their work. That’s hard on a boy. It keeps him from learning something important.” He waited a minute and said “Every man or woman who hasn’t inherited a prideful tradition must start building one.”

    “In this country, our freedom lets each of us make his own contribution. We must make it a good contribution. No matter what sort of work a man does, if he gives it his best each day, he’s starting a tradition for his children to live up to. And he is making lots of happiness for himself.”

    I went to Europe for a few months. When I returned, there was no “light in the window”. The door was closed. There was a little sign: “Call for shoes at shop next door.” I learned the old man had suddenly got sick and died two weeks before

    I went away with a heavy heart. I would miss him. But he had left me something—an important piece of wisdom I shall always remember: “If you inherited a prideful tradition, you must carry it on; if you haven’t, start building one now.”                                            

1.The shoemaker looked sadly at the shoes because __________

A. they were of poor quality.

B. he didn’t have the right kind of leather

C. he thought they were too worn to be repaired

D. the author hadn’t taken good care of them.

2.The author was surprised when she heard that the shop had a tradition because the shop ________.

A. looked no different from other shoe repair shops        

B. had a light in the window

C. was at the end of a street

D. was quite an ugly and dirty one

3.What does the underlined word “inherit” mean in paragraph 6 mean?

A. develop                             B. receive                           C. learn                                  D. appreciate

4.The author later frequently went into the little shop __________.

A. to repair her worn shoes

B. only to chat with the shoemaker

C. to look at the new shoes there

D. only to get comfort from the shoemaker

5.Why was the shoemaker called “the light in the window” by his neighbors?

A. Because he always worked late at night.

B. Because he always put a light in the window.

C. Because he was always guiding the others.

D. Because he was always happy and cheerful.

6.What’s the best title of this passage?

A. A Proud Shoemaker                                                     B. A Prideful Tradition

C. The Light in the Window                                             D. Treasure Your Shoes

 

                                 

From:	<joseph_yana@orange.net>
IP Address:	193.252.22.118 (originates from France)
Date:	Mon, 02-Feb-2011 09:37:04am
Attachment:	(No attachment)
Subject:	[G-Spam] PLEASE REPLY BACK.
Message:
CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL. FROM THE DESK OF: MR. JOSEPH YANA. AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB) BURKINA-FASO. Dear Sir / Madam, I am the Bill and Exchange (assistant) Manager of the African Development Bank, MR. JOSEPH YANA. In my department I discovered an abandoned sum of USD$9.900.000 in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers who died along with his wife and two children in July 2002 in a plane crash. Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin(近亲属) to come over and claim his money, but unfortunately we learnt that all his supposed next of kin or relation died alongside with him in the plane crash leaving nobody behind for the claim. It is therefore upon this discovery that I in my department now decided to make this business proposal to you and release the money to you as next of kin or relation since nobody is coming for it and we don't want this money to go into the bank treasury as unclaimed fund. The banking law and guidelines here says that if such money remains unclaimed after ten years, the money will be transferred into the bank treasury as unclaimed fund. The request of the foreigner in this transaction（办理） is necessary because our late customer was a foreigner. We agree that 30% of this money will be for you as foreigner partner, 5% will be set aside for expenses incurred during the business and 65% would be for me, after which I shall visit your country for disbursement(开支) according to the percentages indicated. Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to you as arranged, you must apply first to the bank, and send your account number, your private telephone and fax number for easy and effective communication and location where the money will be sent. Upon receiving your reply, I will send to you by fax or e-mail the text of the application which you shall retype and fax to us. Trusting to receive your urgent reply through my alternative Email : jyana96 @ yahoo.com.id Best regards. MR. JOSEPH YANA.

【小题1】 A foreigner who receives this letter should ________.

A．be a close relative of the dead.

B．send hundreds of dollars to Africa

C．go to African Development Bank for the wealth

D．not take it seriously.

【小题2】Which of the following is true according to the text?

A．Many millionaires died in the plane crash.

B．Any money unclaimed will be given to a poor foreigner.

C．the division of the money seems quite reasonable.

D．AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK doesn’t exist at all.

【小题3】 A person who believes “__________” will fall into it.

A．Nothing ventured, nothing gained.	B．There's no such thing as a free lunch.
C．All rivers run into the sea	D．A short cut is often a wrong cut

                                  

From:	<joseph_yana@orange.net>
IP Address:	193.252.22.118 (originates from France)
Date:	Mon, 02-Feb-2011 09:37:04am
Attachment:	(No attachment)
Subject:	[G-Spam] PLEASE REPLY BACK.
Message:
CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL. FROM THE DESK OF: MR. JOSEPH YANA. AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB) BURKINA-FASO. Dear Sir / Madam,     I am the Bill and Exchange (assistant) Manager of the African Development Bank, MR. JOSEPH YANA.     In my department I discovered an abandoned sum of USD$9.900.000 in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers who died along with his wife and two children in July 2002 in a plane crash. Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin(近亲属) to come over and claim his money, but unfortunately we learnt that all his supposed next of kin or relation died alongside with him in the plane crash leaving nobody behind for the claim.     It is therefore upon this discovery that I in my department now decided to make this business proposal to you and release the money to you as next of kin or relation since nobody is coming for it and we don't want this money to go into the bank treasury as unclaimed fund. The banking law and guidelines here says that if such money remains unclaimed after ten years, the money will be transferred into the bank treasury as unclaimed fund.     The request of the foreigner in this transaction（办理） is necessary because our late customer was a foreigner. We agree that 30% of this money will be for you as foreigner partner, 5% will be set aside for expenses incurred during the business and 65% would be for me, after which I shall visit your country for disbursement(开支) according to the percentages indicated. Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to you as arranged, you must apply first to the bank, and send your account number, your private telephone and fax number for easy and effective communication and location where the money will be sent.     Upon receiving your reply, I will send to you by fax or e-mail the text of the application which you shall retype and fax to us. Trusting to receive your urgent reply through my alternative Email : jyana96 @ yahoo.com.id     Best regards.     MR. JOSEPH YANA.

1. A foreigner who receives this letter should ________.

A. be a close relative of the dead.

B. send hundreds of dollars to Africa

C. go to African Development Bank for the wealth

D. not take it seriously.

2.Which of the following is true according to the text?

A. Many millionaires died in the plane crash.

B. Any money unclaimed will be given to a poor foreigner.

C. the division of the money seems quite reasonable.

D. AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK doesn’t exist at all.

3. A person who believes “__________” will fall into it.

A. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.               B. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

C. All rivers run into the sea                      D. A short cut is often a wrong cut

 

 

                                 

From:	<joseph_yana@orange.net>
IP Address:	193.252.22.118 (originates from France)
Date:	Mon, 02-Feb-2011 09:37:04am
Attachment:	(No attachment)
Subject:	[G-Spam] PLEASE REPLY BACK.
Message:
CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL. FROM THE DESK OF: MR. JOSEPH YANA. AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB) BURKINA-FASO. Dear Sir / Madam,     I am the Bill and Exchange (assistant) Manager of the African Development Bank, MR. JOSEPH YANA.     In my department I discovered an abandoned sum of USD$9.900.000 in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customers who died along with his wife and two children in July 2002 in a plane crash. Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin(近亲属) to come over and claim his money, but unfortunately we learnt that all his supposed next of kin or relation died alongside with him in the plane crash leaving nobody behind for the claim.     It is therefore upon this discovery that I in my department now decided to make this business proposal to you and release the money to you as next of kin or relation since nobody is coming for it and we don't want this money to go into the bank treasury as unclaimed fund. The banking law and guidelines here says that if such money remains unclaimed after ten years, the money will be transferred into the bank treasury as unclaimed fund.     The request of the foreigner in this transaction（办理） is necessary because our late customer was a foreigner. We agree that 30% of this money will be for you as foreigner partner, 5% will be set aside for expenses incurred during the business and 65% would be for me, after which I shall visit your country for disbursement(开支) according to the percentages indicated. Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to you as arranged, you must apply first to the bank, and send your account number, your private telephone and fax number for easy and effective communication and location where the money will be sent.     Upon receiving your reply, I will send to you by fax or e-mail the text of the application which you shall retype and fax to us. Trusting to receive your urgent reply through my alternative Email : jyana96 @ yahoo.com.id     Best regards.     MR. JOSEPH YANA.

A foreigner who receives this letter should ________.

A. be a close relative of the dead.

B. send hundreds of dollars to Africa

C. go to African Development Bank for the wealth

D. not take it seriously.

Which of the following is true according to the text?

A. Many millionaires died in the plane crash.

B. Any money unclaimed will be given to a poor foreigner.

C. the division of the money seems quite reasonable.

D. AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK doesn’t exist at all.

A person who believes “__________” will fall into it.

A. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.           B. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

C. All rivers run into the sea                  D. A short cut is often a wrong cut

From:	<joseph_yana@orange.net>
IP Address:	193.252.22.118 (originates from France)
Date:	Mon, 02-Feb-2009 09:37:04am
Attachment:	(No attachment)
Subject:	[G-Spam] PLEASE REPLY BACK.
Message:
CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS PROPOSAL. FROM THE DESK OF: MR. JOSEPH YANA. AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB) BURKINA-FASO. Dear Sir / Madam, I am the Bill and Exchange (assistant) Manager of the Africa development Bank, MR. JOSEPH YANA. In my department I discovered an abandoned sum of USD$9.900.000 in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customer who died along with his wife and two children in July 2000 in a plane crash. Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin(近亲属) to come over and claim his money, but unfortunately we learnt that all his supposed next of kin or relation died alongside with him in the plane crash leaving nobody behind for the claim. It is therefore upon this discovery that I in my department now decided to make this business proposals to you and release the money to you as next of kin or relation since nobody is coming for it and we don't want this money to go into the bank treasury as unclaimed fund. The banking law and guidelines here says that if such money remains unclaimed after ten years, the money will be transferred into the bank treasury. The request of foreigner in this transaction is necessary because our late customer was a foreigner. We agree that 30% of this money will be for you as foreigner partner, 5% will be set aside for expenses incurred during the business and 65% would be for me, after which I shall visit your country for disbursement(开支) according to the percentages indicated. Therefore to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to you as arranged, you must apply first to the bank, and send your account number, your private telephone and fax number for easy and effective communication and location where the money will be sent. Upon receiving your reply, I will send to you by fax or e-mail the text of the application which you shall retype and fax to us. Trusting to receive your urgent reply through my alternative Email : jyana96 @ yahoo.co.id Best regards. MR. JOSEPY YANA.

1. A foreigner who receives this letter should ________.
A. be a close relative of the dead.               B. send hundreds of dollars to Africa
C. go to African Development Bank for the wealth  D. not take it seriously.
2. Which of the following is true according to the text?
A. Many millionaires died in the plane crash.    B. Any money unclaimed will be given to a poor foreigner.
C. the division of the money seems quite reasonable. D. AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK doesn’t exist at all.
3. A person who believes “__________” will fall into it.
A. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.      B. There's no such thing as a free lunch.
C. All rivers run into the sea             D. A short cut is often a wrong cut