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Nearing the end， John is surrounded (包圍) by the loved ones. As the final moment approaches (臨近)， he gathers all his strength and whispers (低聲說)， “I must tell you my greatest secret.” His family urges (催促) him to go on.

“Before I got married， I had it all，” John says， “Fast cars， cute girls， and plenty of money. But a good friend warned me， ‘Get married and start a family. Otherwise (否則)， no one will be there to give you a glass of water to drink when you’re on your deathbed (臨死之時(shí)).’ So I took his advice. I traded the girls for a wife， beer for baby food. I sold my Ferrari (法拉利) and invested in college funds (基金). And now here we are. And you know what?” “What?” “I’m not even thirsty!”

閱讀短文，回答下列問題。

1. How is John?

_____________________________________

2. Why did John get married and start a

family?

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3. What is John’s greatest secret?

_____________________________________

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A man was selling medicine at a fair (集市). At first， he sold some cold medicine (感冒通) at just a dollar a bottle.

Many people wanted to buy it and the man’s young assistant (助手) moved quickly through the crowd collecting money and handing out the medicine.

Then， when a big crowd (一大堆人) had gathered， the man held up a very small bottle. “And now， ladies and gentlemen，” he shouted， “here is the medicine you have been waiting for. Take just one bottle of this and you will live forever. And I’m going to charge you just ten dollars a bottle. Only ten dollars can make you live forever.”

Most of the people in the crowd did not believe this. One person shouted， “If this medicine can make people live forever， why don’t you eat it?” Then another person shouted， “Yes， you look as if you’re at least sixty years old.” “Thank you， sir. I’m so glad you said that. My real age is three hundred and twenty-nine，” the man said.

The crowd laughed at this， but there were a few people who believed him. One of them spoke to the man’s assistant. “Is he three hundred and twenty-nine?” “Don’t ask me，” the assistant said. “I don’t know， because I only worked for him for one hundred and fifty years.”

閱讀短文，選擇正確答案填空。

( )4. What did the man sell at the fair at first?

A. A kind of medicine that can help people live forever.

B. Drinks.

C. Cold medicine.