A wealthy Persian Prince loved good stories. The older he grew，the fonder he became of them. But he always regretted they had to have an end. So he decided to give half his wealth and his beautiful daughter to the man who could tell him a story without an end. Anybody who failed would be sent to prison for life. The risk was so great that nobody came to the palace to tell the Prince a story for a whole year. Then one day a tall, handsome young

　　man came and said he wanted to tell a story that would go on forever. The prince agreed but warned him what would happen if he failed. “The risk is worth the head of your fair daughter,” the young man replied poetically(得体地). He then began this well-known story:

　　“Once upon a time there was a certain King who feared famine. So he ordered his men to build an enormous storehouse, which he filled with corn. Then, when it was up, made water-proof and made fire-proof, the King felt happy. But one day he noticed a small hole in the roof and as he looked at it, a locust came out with a grain of corn. A minute later, another locust came out with another grain of corn. Then a third locust with another grain of corn. Then a fourth locust, flying at great speed, pushed through the hole and came out with two grains of corn. Then a fifth locust came and …”

　　“Stop,” shouted the Prince. “I can’t,” answered the young man. “I must go on until I tell you what happened to each grain of the corn.” “But that will go on for ever.” The Prince protested. “Exactly,” the young man replied, and he smiled as he turned towards the Prince’s beautiful young daughter.

　　1. The Prince always felt regretted about story because _________.

　　A. he had too much wealth

　　B. there was terrible famine

　　C. all stories have ends

　　D. there was no story-teller

　　2. The young man risked to tell an endless story to the Prince for _________.

　　A. a great sum of money

　　B. the prince’s beautiful daughter

　　C. showing his bravery

　　D. Both A and C

　　3. The young man would be sent to prison _________ if he failed to tell a story without an end.

　　A. forever

　　B. for some time

　　C. for a while

　　D. for a year

　　4.In order to prevent famine, the King asked to build _________.

　　A. a huge storehouse

　　B. a large farm

　　C. a beautiful palace

　　D. a waterproof kitchen

　　5. The thing the king noticed first in the roof was _________.

　　A. a loaf

　　B. a small hole

　　C. a grain of corn

　　D. a locust

　　参考答案：

　　C B A A B

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