1 . The Million Pound Bank Note

Narrator: Two rich brothers, Roderick and Oliverhave made a bet. Oliver believes that with a million-pound bank note a mancould live a month in London. His brother Roderick doubts it. They see a poor young man walking outside their house. It is Henry Adams.
Roderick: Young man, would you step inside amoment, please?
Henry: Who? Me, sir?
Roderick: Yes, you.
Servant: (opening a door) Good morning, sir. Would you please come in?
(Henry enters the house.)
Roderick: How do you do, Mr ... er ...?
Henry: Adams. Henry Adams.
Oliver: Come and sit down, Mr Adams.
Henry: Thank you.
Roderick: You're an American?
Henry: That's right, from San Francisco.
Roderick: May we ask what you're doing in this country and what your plans are?
Henry: Well, I can't say that I have any plans.As a matter of fact, I landed in Britain by accident.
Oliver: How is that possible?
Henry: Well, I had my own boat. About a month ago, I was sailing, and towards night. I found myself carried out to sea by astrong wind. The next morning I was spotted by a ship.
Oliver: And it was the ship that brought you to England.
Henry: Yes, I went to the American consulate to seek help, but ... Anyway, I didn't dare to try again. (The brothers smile at eachother;)
Roderick: Well, you mustn't worry about that. It's an advantage.
Henry: I'm afraid I don't quite follow you, sir.
Roderick: Tell us, what sort of work did you do in America?
Henry: I worked for a mining company. Could you offer me work here?
Roderick: Patience. lf you don't mind, may I ask youhow much money you have?
Henry: Well, to be honest, I have none.
Oliver: (happily) What luck! Brother, what luck!
Henry:Well, it may seem lucky to you but not to me! If this is your idea of some kind of joke, I don't think it's very funny. Now if you'll excuse me, I ought to be on myway.
Roderick: Please don't go. You mustn't think we don't care about you. Oliver, give him the letter.
Oliver: Yes, I was about to go get the letter. Wait! (getting it from a desk and giving it to Henry) The letter.
Henry: (taking it carefully) For me?
Roderick: For you. (Henry starts to open it.) Oh, no, you'd better not open it. You can't open ituntil two o'clock.
Henry: Oh, this is silly.
Roderick: Not silly. There's money in it.
Henry: Oh, no. I don't want your charity. I just want a job that earns an honest income.
Roderick: We know you're hard-working. That's why we've given you the letter. (to the servant) Show Mr Adams out.
Henry: Well, why don't you explain what this is all about?
Roderick: You'll soon know. In exactly an hour and a half.
Servant: This way, sir.
Roderick: Not until 2 o'clock. Promise?
Henry: Promise. Goodbye.
1. Identify True or False
(1)Henry opened the letter before 2 o’clock._________
(2)Henry felt unhappy when the two brothers gave him the letter. _________
(3)Roderick believed that with a million pound bank note a man could survive a month. _________
(4)Henry only wanted a job because he was penniless in London. _________
(5)The two brothers would like to offer him a job. _________
2. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Two rich gentlemen made a bet on a million pound bank note.

B．How did Henry Adams land in London?

C．Henry Adams was puzzled about the note.

D．Why did the two rich gentlemen choose Henry Adams?

3. What happened to Henry when he was sailing out of the bay?

A．His boat sank in a storm at sea.

B．He was carried out to sea by a strong wind.

C．He was attacked by some bad men at sea.

D．He jumped into the sea to kill himself.

4. After reading the text, we can find that _________.

A．Henry Adams owned a large mining company

B．Henry Adams paid nothing for the trip to Britain

C．Henry Adams opened the letter at once

D．Henry Adams was an American who lived in New York

2 . Look at the picture and the title,and then predict what the text is about.

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