Mr. Black was over fifty years old. He sometimes made some mistakes in his work, and he lost his work. So he had 1 time every day to do something. Then he often met his old friends under a big tree. They had a drink there and 2 anything they liked.

    One day, some old men were sitting together again and talking about young people in this world. They all agreed that the old people were 3 than young people. Then one of the old 4 said that young men were stronger than old men.

    5of them agreed that this was true, 6 Mr. Black didn't. He said, "No, I am as strong now as when I was a young man." His friends were surprised 7 what he said.

    "Well," said Mr Black. "Near my house there is a big stone. When I was a young man, I used 8 to move it. But I couldn't because I was not 9. I am an old man now, and when I try to move it, I still 10. So I am as strong as when I was young. "

    “My dear lady，”says Holmes．“You're shivering．Are you cold? Do you want a cup of hot tea?”

    “I'm not cold，”the woman replies，“I fear for my life!”

    “We are here to help you．Don't worry about anything．I don't know you．But I know many things about you．For example，I know how you traveled．You came to London by train．You also rode to the train station on a horse—drawn wagon．''

    “Why，yes．You‘re right.But how do you know these things?”

    “I see a return ticket in your glove．I see fresh mud on the left arm of your dress. Now tell us your problem．''

    “My name is Helen Stoner，”she states，“My mother and father are dead．I am living with my stepfather．Dr．Grimsby Roylott．He comes from a rich family．But they are no longer rich．They have nothing except a small piece of land and a huge old house．We are living in the house. Dr．Roylott is using my mother's mone37 for expenses．Part of it was for my sister and me. It was for our marriages．”

    Holmes is sitting in his chair．His eyes are closed．He is listening carefully to Helen's story．He hears every detail.

    Helen continues. “My stepfather has no friends．He fights with everyone．He is strong and gets angry quickly. Everyone is afraid of him．”

    “He has no friends at all?”asks Holmes．

    “No．He talks to no one except the gypsies(吉普赛人)．They are poor people who travel from place to place．A band of gypsies is staying on our land right now．''

    “Are you and your sister afraid of the gypsies?”

    “My dear Mr．Holmes．You are making me so sad．My sister is dead．That is why I am standing here in this room．”    ，  .

阅读下面短文，掌握大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项中选出一个最佳选项。

    It was a cold winter's night when I stopped for gas on my way home from work. I felt 1and had a slight headache.

    I worked in a 2 doctor's office. During those days, the office was often 3  people who had a cold, which made me even busier than usual. It seemed I was going to be late 4home and my husband would be ready to pronounce me late once again. But maybe 5  I hurried, I could still make it.

    I was heading inside to 6  for my gas when I noticed an old couple（夫妻）at the counter. I heard them asking the 7  to the nearest hospital. It was the hospital that I had just 8a few minutes ago.

    The young man at the counter was trying to be 9 by explaining how to get there. But the fact was that he was telling them a whole 10  route. So I walked over to the couple and said, “Would you like to 11  me to the hospital?” Then I saw a look of relief（轻松）over their faces. “I'm going there, too,” I said, which wasn't a lie since I had just 12 up my mind to do it perfectly.

    I got in my car and began to drive 13  . I looked back several times to be 14  they were right behind me. It took us only fifteen 15 to get there as rush hour traffic was beginning to die down. I felt better than I did all day and my headache was nearly gone.

    One day, a farmer took a bag of wheat（小麦） to town. He didn't know what to do when the bag fell off his horse. The bag was too heavy for him to lift. He hoped that someone would come and help him.

    Before long a man came over. But the farmer's heart sank when he saw the man, because he was the famous judge（法官） in town. The farmer was afraid to ask him for help.

    As soon as he came up to the farmer, the judge got off his horse and said, “You need my help, don't you? Let me help you，” Then he took one end of the bag, the farmer took the other. They lifted the bag of wheat onto the horse.

    “Sir” asked the farmer, “how can I pay you?”

    “Well,” the judge replied, “if you see anyone in need of help, do the same for him,”

    Last summer, we had a volunteer activity in a village school. In the school. I saw a name Feng Aiguo on a list. This man offered much money to the school. I thought he must be a1 man.

    One day, on my way home from school, my bike was broken. Luckily I found a repairing stand(修车摊)across from the street. An old man was 2 a bike. He was wearing a clean suit. He looked energetic(精力充沛的). While waiting. I knew 3 about him from the old men chatting there. He was Lao Feng and 4to repair bikes after he repaired(退休). Two months ago, his family moved to a new house. His son didn't want him to repair bikes any longer. He bought him suits and asked him to 5 them and rest at home. But it didn't work. The old man continued his repairing work in his suits.

    After a while, the old man got my bike repaired. 6 I was leaving an old lady came and called him "Aiguo". 7 the name on the list of the village school came into my mind. But how could such a common repairman 8so much money? I asked him if he knew that village. He told me it was his hometown and the 9there still needed help. So he always saved money by repairing bikes to help them. Then I was sure that he was the person on the 10.