阅读下面短文，从各题A、B、C、D中选出一个能填入文章中相应空白处的最佳答案。

Once, a king showed two men a large basket in the garden. He told them to fill it with water from a well. After they __1__ their work, he left them, saying, “When the sun is down, I will come and see your work.”

At last one of them said, “What’s the use of doing this foolish work? We can __2__ fill the basket.” __3__ man answered, “That is none of your business.” The first man said. “You may do as you like, but I am not going to work at __4__ so foolish.” He __5__ his bucket and went away. The other man said no word, and kept on carrying __6__. At last the well was almost __7__.

As he poured the last bucket of water into the basket, he saw a bright thing in it. He picked it up. It was a beautiful gold ring. Just then the king came. __8__ he saw the ring, he knew that he had found the kind of man he wanted. He told him to keep the ring for himself. “You __9__ so well in this little thing,” he said, “ __10__ now I know I can believe you with many things.”

1. A. finished B. did C. began D. had

2. A. ever B. never C. easily D. no

3. A. The other B. Another C. One D. A second

4. A. anything B. something C. nothing D. everything

5. A. picked up B. put away C. took away D. threw away

6. A. water B. basket C. well D. work

7. A. full B. empty C. filled D. clean

8. A. While B. As soon as C. Before D. Since

9. A. have done B. will do C. do D. are doing

10. A. what B. why C. when D. that

【名师点评】

本文讲述了一个国王为了考验两个人，让他们往篮子里打水，忠诚的人不遗余力地往空篮子里打水，直到国王归来。结果不仅获得了一枚金戒指，而且得到了国王的信任。

【答案简析】

1.C。这里did和finished都表示完成了这项工作，而给篮子装满水是不可能的，国王应在两人开始打水后不久离开，所以应选began。

2.B。往篮子里盛满水是永远不可能的，故选择never。

3.A。两者中的另一个用the other加名词来表示。

4.C。the first man想离开，因为他觉得自己干的是无用功，故选择nothing意为“从事某项工作”。

5.D。pick up意为“捡起”，pick away意为“放好”，take away意为“取走”，而throw down意为“扔掉、丢弃”，比较贴近文意，为正确选项。

6.A。根据文意，另一个人一直在打水，故选water。

7.B。不停地打水必然会导致井空，故选empty。

8.B。while引导从句时，从句应用延续性动词，before和since不符合文意，as soon as…表示“一……就”为正确选项。

9.A。国王是因为这个诚实的人所做过的事情而表扬他，所以应用完成时态have done。

10.D。国王讲的最后一句话是含有 “so……that”结构的复合句，意为“如此……以致”故选that。