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After graduatingfrom college,I workedas asalesman for a piano company.Weadvertised ourpianos in small townnewspapers andthen,when wehad receivedmanyreplies,we wouldload ourlittle trucks,and driveinto thearea andsell thepianos tothosewho hadreplied.Every timewe advertised,we wouldreceive areply ona postcardwhich said,“Pleasebring mea new piano formy littlegranddaughter.It mustbe red mahogany红木.I canpay$10a monthwith myegg money.^^Of course,we could not sell a new piano for$10amonth.No finance company wouldcarry a contract withpayments thatsmall,so wcignoredher postcards.One day,however,I happenedto bein thatarea callingon otherreplies,and outofcuriosityI decidedtolooktheoldladyup.Ifoundprettymuch whatIexpected:Theoldladylived in a one-room cabinin themiddle ofa cottonfield.The cabinhad adirt floorand therewerechickens in the house.Obviously,the old lady couldnot havequalified topurchaseanything oncredit-no car,no phone,no realjob,nothing buta roof over her head andnot averygood oneat that.I couldsee daylightthrough itin severalplaces.Her littlegranddaughter wasabout1,barefootandwearinga feedsack麻布袋dress.Iexplainedtotheoldladythatwecouldnotsell a new pianofor$10a monthand thatshe shouldstop writingto usevery timeshe sawourad.I droveaway heartsick,but myadvice hadno effect—she stillsent usthe samepostcard everysix weeks.Always wantinga new piano,redmahogany,please,and swearingshewould nevermiss a$10payment.It wassad.Several years later,I ownedmy ownpianocompany,and whenI advertisedin thatarea,the postcardsstarted comingto me.For months,I ignored them一what elsecould Ido【阅读理解•训练部分】
1.What isthe mainmessage of the passageAAdvertising pianosis difficultinsmalltowns.B The old ladywas persistentin herdesire for a piano.C The salesman couldnot sellpianos for$10a month.D The old ladysliving conditionswere poor.Answer:BExplanation:The passagefocuses onthe old ladys persistencein herdesire for a piano,despite the salesmans explanationthat itwas notpossible.
2.Why didthe salesmanignore the old ladys postcardsA Hedid notthink shewas seriousabout buyinga piano.B Hedid notwant towaste histime visitingher.C Thefinancecompanywould notapprove her for credit.D Hecouldnot sella new pianofor$10a month.Answer:DExplanation:The salesmanignored the old ladys postcards becausehe knewhe couldnotsell a newpianofor$10a month.
3.Why didthe old lady livein aone-room cabinAShe did not haveenough moneyto livein alarger house.B Shepreferred thesimple lifeof livingin acabin.C Sheenjoyed livinginthemiddle ofa cottonfield.D Herliving conditionswere poordue tofinancial difficulties.Answer:DExplanation:The passagestatesthattheoldladylived inaone-room cabininthemiddleofacottonfieldbecauseshe couldnotqualifytopurchaseanything oncreditandhadnothingbutaroofoverher head.
4.What didthe salesmanfind whenhe visited the old ladyA The old ladyhad ajob anda car.B Theold ladylived ina mansion.C Theold ladysliving conditionswere poor.D Theold ladydidnotwant apiano anymore.Answer:CExplanation:The salesmanfoundthatthe oldladylivedina one-roomcabininthemiddleofa cottonfield withpoor living conditions.
5.What didthe old lady wantinapianoA Ithad tobe madeof redmahogany.B Ithad tobe new.C Ithad tobe smallenough tofit inher cabin.D Ithad tobe affordable.Answer:AExplanation:Theold ladyspostcardsalways requesteda newpiano madeof redmahogany.
6.Why didtheold lady sendpostcards everysix weeksAShe wanted to annoythe salesman.B Shewanted a newpiano.C Shewanted tokeep intouch withthe salesman.D Shewantedtonegotiate abetter deal.Answer:BExplanation:Theold lady sentpostcards everysix weeksbecause shewanted anewpiano,despite the salesmans explanationthat itwas notpossible tosell onefor$10a month.
7.What didthe salesmando whenhe receivedtheold ladyspostcardsagain yearslaterA Hevisitedtheold ladyand soldher apiano.B Heignored thepostcards.C Hecalled theold ladyto discussher request.D Hewrote backto theoldladyexplaining thesituation.Answer:BExplanation:The passagestates thatthe salesmanignored thepostcards whenhe receivedthemyearslater.A HumorousBSympatheticC CriticalDSarcasticAnswer:BExplanation:The passagehas asympathetic tone towards theoldladyand herpersistence inwantinganewpiano despiteher difficultlivingconditions.【问答题难度较高】
1.Why didthesalesmanignore theoldladyspostcards asking for anew redmahoganypianoAnswer:Thesalesmanignoredtheoldladyspostcards asking foranew redmahoganypianobecausethepaymentssheofferedwereonly$10a month,whichwastoosmallforanyfinance companyto carryacontracton.
2.What didthesalesmanfind whenhe lookedup theoldladywho keptsending postcardsasking foranew pianoAnswer:When thesalesman lookedup theoldladywho keptsending postcardsaskingfor anewpiano,he foundthatshelived inaone-room cabininthemiddleof acottonfield,withadirt floorand chickensinside.She hadno car,no phone,andno realjob,and onlyhada roofoverherhead.
3.Why didtheoldlady keepsending postcardsaskingforanewpiano,even thoughsheknew thesalesman couldnotsellonetoherfor$10a monthAnswer:Theoldlady keptsending postcardsaskingforanewpiano,even thoughshe knewthesalesmancouldnotsellonetoherfor$10amonth,becauseshereallywantedoneforherlittle granddaughterand wasdetermined tomake thepayments,even ifthey weresmall.
4.What wasthe salesmansreaction whenhe startedreceiving postcardsfrom theold ladyagainseveral yearslaterAnswer:When thesalesman startedreceiving postcardsfrom theoldladyagain severalyearslater,he ignoredthem formonths becausehe didnot knowwhat elsehecoulddo.
5.What lessoncan belearned fromthe storyof theoldladywho keptsending postcardsaskingforanew pianoAnswer:The storyoftheoldladywho keptsending postcardsaskingforanewpianoteaches usthat peoplecan havestrong desiresand drcams,even ifthey seemimpossible toachieve.Italsoshowsthe importanceofempathyandunderstanding inbusinessdealings,aswell asthe importanceof perseveranceand determinationin achievingones goals.【文章翻译】大学毕业后,我在一家钢琴公司做推销员我们在小镇的报纸上为钢琴做广告,然后,当我们收到很多回复时,我们就把我们的小卡车装上,开进那个地区,把钢琴卖给那些回复我们的人每次做广告,我们都会收到一张明信片上的回复,上面写着“请给我的小孙女送一架新钢琴一定是红木的我可以用卖鸡蛋的钱每月支付10美元”当然,我们不可能以每月10美元的价格出售一架新钢琴没有一家金融公司会接受这么小的付款合同,所以我们没有理睬她的明信片然而,有一天,我碰巧在那个地区寻找其他人的回复,出于好奇,我决定去看看这位老太太我的发现和我预料的差不多:这位老太太住在棉花田中央的一间只有一个房间的小木屋里小屋的地板是土的,房子里有鸡显然,这位老妇人不可能有资格用信用卡购买任何东西一一没有车,没有电话,没有真正的工作,除了一个不太好的屋顶以外,什么都没有我可以透过它看到好儿个地方的日光她的小孙女大约1岁,光着脚,穿着一件饲料袋连衣裙我向那位老太太解释说,我们不能以每月10美元的价格出售一架新钢琴,她不应该每次看到我们的广告就给我们写信我伤心地开车离开了,但我的建议没有奏效一一她仍然每六个星期给我们寄一张同样的明信片总是想要一架新钢琴,要红木的,还发誓永远不会错过10美元的付款这是悲伤的儿年后,我拥有了自己的钢琴公司,当我在那个地区做广告时,我开始收到明信片几个月来,我一直无视他们一一我还能做什么呢?。