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     At a certain time in our lives we consider every place as the possihle site(地点) for a house. I have

thus searched the country within a dozen miles of where I live. In imagination I have bought all the farms,

one after another, and I knew their prices.

     The nearest thing that I came to actual ownership was when l bought the Hollowell place. But before

the owner completed the sale with me. his wife changed her mind and wished to keep it, and he offered

me additional dollars to return the farm to him. However,l let him keep the additional dollars and sold him

the farm for just what I gave for it.

     The real attractions of the Hollowell farm to me were its position,being about two miles from the

village, half a mile from the nearest neighbor , bounded(相邻)  on one side  by  the river , and  separated

from the highway by a wide field. The poor condition of the house and fences showed that it hadn't been

used for some time. I remembered from my earliest trip up the river that the house used to be hidden

behind a forest area, and I was in a hurry to buy it before the owner finished getting out some rocks,

cutting down the apple trees, and clearing away some young trees which had grown up in the fields. I

wanted to buy it before he made any more of his improvements. But it turned out as I have said.

      I was not really troubled by the loss. I had always had a garden,but I don't think I was ready for a

large farm. I believe that as long as possible it is better to live free and uncommitted (无牵挂的) . It

makes but little difference whether you own a farm or not.

1. What do we know about the author?   

A. He wanted to buy the oldest farm near where he lived.

B. He made a study of many farms before buying.

C. He made money by buying and selling farms.

D. He had the money to buy the best farm in the country.

2. Why did the author decide to buy the Hollowell place?   

A. It was of good market value.

B. It was next to the highway.

C. It was in a good position.

D. It was behind a nice garden.

3. Why did the author want to buy the farm in a hurry?   

A. He was afraid the owner might change his mind.

B. He hoped to enlarge the forest on the farm.

C. He wanted to keep the farm as it was.

D. He was eager to become a farm owner.

4. The underlined words "the loss"  in the last paragraph refer to __________.

A. the money the author lost in buying the farm

B. the sale of the garden in the Hollowell place

C. the removal of the trees around the house

D. the failure to possess the Hollowell place