The Seed That Never Grew

A successful businessman was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor（继任者）to take over the business.

   1    choosing one of his children,he decided to do something different.He   2    all the young executives（主管）in his company together,and said,“I will give each one of you a seed today.I want you to plant the seed,water it,and   3   here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed.I will then   4    your plants,and the one I choose will be the next CEO.”

Jim was there that day and he also received a seed.He went home   5    ,and got a pot,some soil and planted the seed. Everyday,he watered it and watched to see if it had grown,   6    nothing ever grew.

Time flew,and it was time to   7   their plants to the boss.When Jim arrived,he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives.They were all   8   -in all shapes and sizes.

When the old CEO arrived,he   9   the room and greeted his young executives.

“My!What great plants,trees,and flowers you have grown.”All of a sudden,the CEO   10   Jim at the back of the room with his   11   pot.He asked him what had happened to his seed-Jim told him his   12   .

The CEO looked at Jim,and then   13    to the young executives,“Now we have the next Chief Executive Officer-his name is Jim!”

Nobody could   14    it,including Jim himself.Then the CEO said,“One year ago the seeds I gave everyone were all boiled seeds;it was not   15   for them to grow.Remember,everyone,if you plant honesty,you will reap（收获）trust.”

1.     A. Because      B. In addition to  C. Apart from    D. Instead of

2.     A. took            B. called         C. left                 D. kept

3.     A. come back B. get off        C. forget about   D. walk around

4.     A. collect        B. buy            C. sell                 D. judge

5.     A. excitedly    B. nervously  C. carefully        D. angrily

6.     A. so                B. since          C. but                 D. if

7.     A. dig out        B. pack up      C. meet with      D. bring back

8.     A. green          B. beautiful    C. depressing     D. dying

9.     A. scanned      B. found         C. searched        D. inspected

10.   A. told             B. spotted       C. praised           D. blamed

11.    A. empty         B. broken       C. big                 D. expensive

12.   A. secret          B. story          C. cause             D. doubt

13.   A. explained    B. suggested  C. announced     D. introduced

14.   A. hear            B. know          C. realize           D. believe

15.   A. necessary    B. important  C. possible         D. practical