A Boy with A Mission
一个男孩的使命
Reuben, a 12-year-old boy, saw something in a shop window. But the price ---five dollars--- was far beyond his means. He couldn't ask his parents' for the money. His father made a living through fishing in Bay Roberts. His mother, Dora, tried hard to feed and clothe their five children.
Hesitating（犹豫) for a few seconds, he opened the door and talked to the shopkeeper.“…I don't have the money right now. Can you please keep it for me?" "I'll try," the shopkeeper smiled.
Reuben respectfully touched his worn cap and walked out. Hearing the sound of hammering from a side street, he suddenly had an idea. He ran towards the sound and stopped at a construction site (建筑工地). Reuben knew he could collect the discarded nails(被丢弃的钉子) and sell them to the factory for five cents each.
He looked for nails until sunset. Then he ran to the factory and sold them. Reuben tightly clutched（握紧）the five-cent pieces and ran home. He found a rusty iron can and dropped his money inside. Then he rushed into the barn (谷仓) near his house and hid it. It was dinner time when Reuben got home. His father sat at the big kitchen table, working on a fishnet. Dora was at the kitchen stove,ready to serve dinner as Reuben took his place at the table. Looking at his mother, Reuben smiled.
Every day after school, Reuben searched the town, keeping to his secret task. Finally, the time had come! He ran into the bam, uncovered the can, poured the coins out, and began to count.
He still needed 20 cents! He had to sell four nails before the day ended. Rushing to the town, Reuben searched every comer. The shadows were lengthening（影子拉长）when Reuben arrived at the factory. The man at the factory was about to leave.
"Please, Mister. I have to sell these nails now - please."
'Why do you need this money so badly?"
"It's a secret."
The man took the nails, reached into his pocket and put four coins in Reuben's hand.
Clutching the can tightly, Reuben headed for the shop.
"I have the money," he solemnly told the owner.
Back home, his mother was cleaning the kitchen. "Here, Mum! Here!" Reuben shouted as he ran to her. He placed a small box in her roughened hand. She unwrapped it carefully. A blue-velvet jewel boxappeared. Dora lifted the lid（盖子）.Tears began to blur（模糊）her vision. In gold lettering on a small, almond-shaped brooch(胸针) was the word Mother.
It was Mother's Day, 1946.
译文
一个12岁的小男孩，鲁本在商店的橱窗里看到了一样东西。但是价格—5美元，他根本付不起。他不能向他的父母要钱。他的爸爸靠在罗伯茨湾捕鱼赚钱。他的妈妈多拉辛苦地解决五个孩子的吃穿问题。
犹豫了一会，他打开商店的门，对老板说道：“……我现在还没有钱呢。能请您为我保留一段时间吗？”“我尽力吧。”老板笑着说道。
鲁本尊敬地碰了碰他破旧的帽子，走了出去。听到小巷传来的铁锤声，他突然有了主意。他朝着声音跑去，在一个建筑工地停了下来。鲁本知道他可以收集被丢掉的钉子，然后五分钱一个再卖给工厂。
鲁本一直找钉子直到太阳下山。然后他跑去工厂卖掉他们。鲁本紧紧地握着一把五分钱的硬币，往家跑。他发现了一个生锈的罐子，把他的钱放到了里面。然后他跑向他家附近的谷仓，把罐子藏了起来。当鲁本到家的时候已经是晚饭时分了。他的爸爸坐在厨房大餐桌边摆弄渔网。多拉在厨灶边，准备开饭。鲁本在桌子旁边坐了下来，看着他的妈妈，他笑了。
每天放学之后，鲁本就在镇上搜寻，继续着他秘密的任务。时候终于到了！他跑进谷仓，翻出铁管，把硬币都倒出来，开始数。
他还需要20美分！他必须在今天结束前再卖掉四个钉子。他跑到镇上，搜寻着每个角落。当他赶到工厂时，影子被拉得好长。工厂的人正要离开呢。
“先生，麻烦你，我现在必须卖掉这些钉子，拜托！”
“你为什么这么急需这钱呢？”
“这是个秘密。”
那人拿过钉子，从口袋里拿出来四个硬币放到了鲁本的手里。
他紧紧地搂着铁罐，奔向那家商店。
“我有钱了！”他一本正经地告诉店主。
回到家中，他的妈妈正在打扫厨房。“给你，妈妈，给！”鲁本一边跑一边喊。他把一个小盒子放到了妈妈粗糙的手上。她仔细的打开它。一个蓝天鹅绒首饰盒出现在了眼前。多拉打开了盖子，泪水模糊了她的视线。在一个小小的杏仁状的胸针上用金字刻着母亲。
那一天是1946年母亲节。
拓展训练
Reuben, a 12-year-old boy, saw something in a shop window. But the price ---five dollars--- was far beyond his means. He couldn't ask his parents' for the money. His father made a living through ____35____ in Bay Roberts. His mother, Dora, tried hard to feed and clothe their five children.
Hesitating（犹豫) for a few seconds, he opened the ____36____ and talked to the shopkeeper.“…I don't have the money right now. Can you please ____37____ it for me?" "I'll try," the shopkeeper smiled.
Reuben respectfully touched his worn cap and walked out. Hearing the sound of hammering from a side street, he suddenly had an idea. He ran towards the sound and stopped at a construction site (建筑工地). Reuben knew he could collect the discarded nails(被丢弃的钉子) and sell them to the factory for five cents ____38____ .
He looked for nails until sunset. Then he ran to the factory and sold them. Reuben tightly clutched（握紧）the five-cent pieces and ran home. He found a rusty iron can and dropped his ____39____inside. Then he rushed into the barn (谷仓) near his house and hid it. It was dinner time when Reuben got home. His father sat at the big kitchen table, working on a fishnet. Dora was at the kitchen stove, ready to ____40____ dinner as Reuben took his place at the table. Looking at his mother, Reuben smiled.
Every day after school, Reuben searched the town, keeping to his ____41____ task. Finally, the time had come! He ran into the bam, uncovered the can, poured the coins out, began to count. .
He still needed 20 cents! He had to sell four nails ____42____ the day ended. Rushing to the town, Reuben searched every comer. The shadows were lengthening（影子拉长）when Reuben arrived at the factory. The man at the factory was about to ____43____ .
"Please, Mister. I have to sell these nails now - please."
'Why do you need this money so ____44____ ?"
"It's a secret."
The man took the nails, reached into his pocket and put four coins in Reuben's hand.
Clutching the can tightly, Reuben ____45____ for the shop.
"I have the money," he solemnly told the owner.
Back home, his mother was cleaning the kitchen. "Here, Mum! Here!" Reuben shouted as he ran to her. He placed a small box in her roughened hand. She unwrapped it carefully. A blue-velvet jewel box appeared. Dora ____46____ the lid（盖子）.Tears began to blur（模糊）her vision. In gold lettering on a small, almond-shaped brooch(胸针) was the word Mother.
It was Mother's Day, 1946.
35. A. farming B. driving C. fishing D. cleaning
36.A. door B. shop C. window D. box
37.A.wrap B. watch C. take D. hold
38. A. each B. any C. either D. all
39.A. nails B. cans C. coins D. dollars
40. A. have B. serve C. give D. help
41. A. basic B. secret C. exciting D. surprising
42. A. before B. after C. when D. while
43.A.call up B. lock up C .clear up D. turn up
44. A. immediately B. hurriedly C. badly D. hardly
45. A. went B. looked C. paid D. headed
46.A. moved B. pulled C. broke D. lifted
答案：35.C 36.A 37..D 38.A 39.C 40.B 41.B 42.A 43.B 44.C 45.D 46.D