The teacher was leaving the village, and everybody seemed sorry. The miller lent him the small cart and horse to carry his goods to Christminster, the city of his destination. Such a vehicle proved of quite enough size of the teacher’s belongings, for his only article, in addition to the packing-case of books, was a piano that he had bought when he thought of learning instrumental music. But the eagerness having faded, he had never acquired the skill of playing, and the purchased article had been a permanent trouble to him.
The headmaster had gone away for the day, being a man who disliked the sight of changes. He didn’t mean to return till the evening, when the new teacher would have arrived, and everything would be smooth again.
The blacksmith, the carpenter and the teacher were standing in confused attitudes in the sitting room before the instrument. The teacher had remarked that even if he got it into the cart he should not know what to do with it on his arrival at Christminster, since he was only going into a temporary place just at first.
A little boy of eleven, who had been assisting in the packing, joined the group of men, and said, “Aunt has got a fuel-house, and it could be put there, perhaps, till you’ve found a place to settle in, sir.”
“Good idea,” said the blacksmith. The smith and the carpenter started to see about possibility of the suggested shelter, and the boy and the teacher were left standing alone.
“Sorry I am going, Jude?” asked the latter kindly.
Tears rose into the boy’s eyes. He admitted that he was sorry.
“So am I,” said the teacher. He continued, “Well---don’t speak of this everywhere. You know what a university is, and a university degree? It is the necessary hallmark(標志) of a man who want to do anything in teaching. My plan, or dream, is to be a university graduate. By going to Christminster, I shall be at headquarters(總部), so to speak, and if my plan is practical at all, I consider that being on the spot will afford me a better chance.”
The smith and his companion returned. Old Miss Fawly’s fuel-house was big enough, and she seemed willing to give the instrument standing-room there. So it was left in the school till the evening, when more hands would be available for removing it; and the teacher gave a final glance round.
小題1:The teacher purchased the instrument to ___________________.
| A．teach his students instrumental music |
| B．better equip the village school |
| C．learn to play it himself |
| D．let students appreciate elegant art of music |
小題2: It seemed that the teacher __________________.
| A．was not getting on well with the headmaster |
| B．had lived a rather simple life in the village |
| C．was likely to continue to practise playing the piano |
| D．was tired of teaching |
小題3: Why did the teacher leave for Christminster?
| A．Because he was admitted to a university there. |
| B．Because he was offered a temporary job with better pay there. |
| C．Because he preferred the life in a big city to that in a village. |
| D．Because he thought he had better chance to attend university there. |
小題4:Which of the following can be inferred from the text?
| A．The teacher was torn between the eagerness to go to the city and his love for the village. |
| B．The teacher was going into a temporary place in Christminster at first. |
| C．The teacher moved his piano into the fuel-house with the help of some other people. |
| D．The teacher had so much belongings that he had to borrow a cart. |
小題5:The motivation of the teacher’s moving lay in his ___________.
| A．devotion | B．a(chǎn)dmiration | C．inspiration | D．a(chǎn)mbition |
