.
Al had been working in this factory only eleven months, but he excelled at everything he did. He looked for new tasks-as an opportunity to gain experience. To him, mistakes were not to be denied but considered an opportunity to learn. He was, by far, the most capable man among his workmates, One day, when he was finishing his work of the day, he heard Jack calling him.
“What are you going to do about…?” asked Jack.
“I’ll come off the end rail,” interrupted Al.
“No, I mean about Joe’s promotion?”
“I’m going back to school,” Al said.
“Excuse me!”
“I’m going back to school,” Al repeated.
“You mean you’re quitting!”
Was it that simple? Is this why there was so much misery in men’s lives? “I’m going back to school” was just an excuse, and Al knew it, thought Jack, or Al would not be drunk. It seemed that Al would rather get drunk than fight for his happiness. But why? Jack had no answer.
“Yes, and I’m going back to school. I don’t know what else to do. I can’t believe that this kind of thing can happen. Maybe if I get more education and a better job, it will be different.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“Well, what do you want we to do?” Al was getting angry: “I can’t stay here! I can’t work where the most incapable get the biggest reward! I can’t kill Joe and the boss like…”
Al stopped. They both knew what this meant.
“Like I did?”
Al did not answer.
“Yes, I killed two men with my bare hands; yes, I got punished and lost my job-but I kept my soul!”
Al undertood the hidden statement. Al did not know whether it was his anger, or the beer, or both that made him less cautious in the face. He held his hands firmly. Then be heard Jack: “You’ve got the right idea, Al. You’ve got to fight.”
Al needed to think. Instead of taking the subway, he walked five miles back home. By the time he entered his bedroom, he climbed into bed. Turned off his mind, and fell asleed.
67．Choose from the following a right word to describe Jack.
A．Tough. B．Incapable. C．Lazy. D．Talkative.
68．Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A．Jack was not happy about Joe’s promotion.
B．Al and jack were workmates.
C．The conversation between Al and Jack happened in their workplace.
D．The conversation between Al and Jack happened during the working hours.
69．What can we infer from the underlined part?
A．Jack thinks Al has lost his soul.
B．Jack used to be a killer.
C．Al would be a killer.
D．Don’t be a killer like Jack.
70．Which of the following is true about Al at the end of the story?
A．Al felt so tired from the long walk home and couldn’t help falling asleep.
B．Al and made up his mind and knew what to do.
C．Al forgot all that had happened.
D．Al was too confused to think further.
