There lived a poor farmer. He had a beautiful white horse. Many people offered him much money to buy the horse. But he wouldn’t 21 it. The villagers told him, “You are so 　22 . You have such a precious horse.” The farmer said, “It is true that my horse may bring me a 　 23 . But we can’t say it is good luck or bad luck because nobody knows what will happen tomorrow.” The villagers didn’t like his 24 .

One day the horse just 　25 . They searched everywhere. But the horse was not found. The villagers told the farmer, “You should have sold that horse. It is such bad luck that the horse was stolen.” The farmer replied, “It is true that my horse is 　26 . But we can’t say it is good luck or bad luck because nobody knows what will happen tomorrow.” The villagers still didn’t like his answer.

After a few days, to the great 　27 of all the villagers, the horse came back to the farmer and 　28 a dozen white horses from the forest with it. The villagers all gathered 　29 the farmer and said he was so lucky. The farmer offered the same reply. The villagers thought the man was 30 .

One day the farmer’s youthful son was riding one of the horses. 　31 he fell off the horse and seriously broke his legs. The villagers came to 32 the farmer, “We are really sorry for you. It’s such bad luck that your only son has become disabled now.” The farmer 33 replied with the same word. The villagers really got mad and they didn’t 　34 him.

A few months later, suddenly the king of a neighboring country 35 the farmer’s own country. In order to win the war the king of the farmer made a(n) 36 that all the youth of the country should 37 the army, except 　38 people. The villagers were all in 　39 . They came to the farmer and said, “You are a lucky man. 40 you can see your son alive.” The wise farmer kept on giving the same reply. And the story never ended.

21. A. raise　　　　　 B. sell　　　 C. have　　　　　 D. control(控制)

22. A. right　　　　　 B. fine　　　 C. lucky　　　　 D. careful

23. A. fight　　　　　 B. faith(信念) C. failure(失败)　 D. fortune(财富)

24. A. result　　　　 B. reply　　　 C. horse　　 　　 D. excuse

25. A. died　　　　　 B. deserted(遗弃)C. walked　　　 D. disappeared

26. A. missing　　　 B. losing　　　 C. taken　　　　 D. left

27. A. disappointment B. happy　　　 C. surprise　　　 D. sadness

28. A. accepted　　　 B. brought　　 C. got　　　　 D. received

29. A. around　　　　 B. in　　　　　 C. to　　　　　 D. of

30. A. excited　　　　 B. puzzled　　 C. crazy　　　　 D. proud

31. A. Luckily　　　 B. Suddenly　　 C. Immediately　 D. Gradually

32. A. comfort　　　 B. talk　　　 C. remind　　　 D. warn

33. A. never　　　　 B. already　　　 C. seldom　　　 D. still

34. A. enjoy　　　　 B. understand　 C. help　　　　 D. tell

35. A. treated　　　　 B. cheated　　　 C. blocked　　　 D. attacked

36. A. announcement　 B. debate　　　 C. appointment　 D. expression

37 .A. Attend(参加)　 B. take part　　 C. serve　　　　 D. join

38. A. young　　　　 B. old　　　　 C. disabled　　　 D. perfect(完美的)

39. A. sorrow(悲伤)　 B. happiness　 C. trouble　　　 D. joy(高兴)

40. A. At last　　　　 B. At most　　 C. At first　　　 D. At least