Track 52

Tom was a poor boy，he made a living by cleaning leather shoes for others in the street. Tom was also a clever boy.
One day，a very rich man with the name Miser appeared in front of Tom. He watched his dirty shoes for a while and then looked at Tom. Tom knew this kind of people well：they love money very much and hate to spend it.
“Let me clean your shoes，sir，”said Tom
“For nothing？”asked the rich man.
“Only two pence，sir.”
Mr. Miser shook his head and then walked away.
Tom thought for a second and then called out，“I’d like to clean it for nothing！”This time Mr. Miser agreed. And soon one of his shoes was shining brightly.
When the rich man put his other shoe on the stool，Tom said he wouldn’t clean it for him unless he was paid two pence for his work. Mr. Miser was very angry. He refused to pay anything and went away，with a smile on his face.
But to his surprise，the well-cleaned shoe was so bright that it made the other one look even dirtier. Mr. Miser took a look round. The people in the street were laughing at him. He couldn’t walk on any further.
Finally the rich man returned and gave Tom two pence. In a very short time his two shoes shone brightly.
生词
leather
/ˈleðə(r)
/ n.皮革：I always buy shoes made of leather. 我总是买皮鞋。
miser
/ˈmaɪzə(r)
/ n.守财奴，吝啬鬼：Soon she discovered she had married a miser. 很快她发现自己嫁给了一个吝啬鬼。
for nothing不花钱地，免费地：I got the picture for nothing from a friend. 我从一位朋友那里免费得到了这幅画。
stool
/stuːl
/ n.凳子：He was sitting on a stool at the bar drinking beer. 他正坐在酒吧的柜台边的凳子上喝啤酒。
❶ The story happened _.
A. in a shoe shop
B. in the street
C. at the rich man’s house
D. near the boy’s home
❷ Why did the boy call the man back and agree to clean it for nothing？
A. Because he was afraid of the rich man.
B. Because he liked to clean shoes for rich men.
C. Because he wanted to get something else instead of money.
D. Because he was sure he could get his pay from Mr. Miser.
❸ Why did Mr. Miser smile when he couldn’t have his other shoe cleaned？
A. Because he liked to walk with only one shoe cleaned.B. Because he had one of his shoes cleaned without paying for it.
C. Because he thought his other shoe needn’t to be cleaned at all.
D. Because he thought he wouldn’t be laughed at by the people in the street.
❹ Which of the following is true？
A. The boy was waiting for the rich man that day.
B. Mr. Miser didn’t want to have his shoes cleaned.
C. The rich man won at last.D. The rich man had to pay the boy for his work.
❺ From the passage we know _.
A. Mr. Miser was a generous man
B. the boy was fooled by the rich man
C. the boy was clever enough to have his work paid
D. it is good manners to have one’s shoes cleaned before he or she goes out
参考译文
汤姆是个穷孩子，他靠在街头给别人擦皮鞋为生。汤姆也是个聪明孩子。
一天，一个名叫“吝啬鬼”的大富豪出现在汤姆面前。他看了一会儿自己的脏鞋子，又看了看汤姆。汤姆很了解这种人：他们酷爱钱财，但讨厌花钱。
“让我给你擦鞋子吧，先生。”汤姆说。
“免费的吗？”富人问道。
“只要两便士，先生。”
“吝啬鬼”先生摇摇头，走开了。
汤姆想了片刻，然后喊道：“我愿意为你无偿擦鞋子！”这次“吝啬鬼”先生同意了。很快，他的一只鞋子变得锃亮。
当这位富人把另一只脚放到凳子上时，汤姆说自己不会为他擦鞋子了，除非他付两便士的工钱。“吝啬鬼”先生非常生气。他拒绝支付任何费用，然后面带微笑离开了。
可令他惊讶的是，那只经过仔细清洁的鞋子是如此光亮，使得另一只鞋子看上去更脏了。“吝啬鬼”先生四下望望，街上的人都在笑话他呢。他无法再前进一步。
最后，这位富人返回来，给了汤姆两便士。很快，他的两只鞋都变得闪闪发亮了。