A rich man was once riding along the road and saw an old man digging in his garden. On the ground lay a(n) 1 tree, ready to be planted. The rich man called out to the old man, "What kind of 2 are you planting there, my good man?" "This is a fig (无花果) tree, sir." He said. "A fig tree?" the rich man was very surprised, "Why, 3 are you, may I ask?" "I am ninety years old." "What!" cried the rich man, "You are ninety years old. You are planting a very young tree now and it"ll 4 years to give fruit. You certainly don"t hope 5 long enough to get any fruit from this tree." The old man looked around the garden. Then he said 6 a smile, "Tell me, sir. Did you eat figs 7 you were a boy?" "Sure," the man did not know why he asked this question. "Then tell me this," he said, "Who 8 the fig trees?" "Why-why? I don"t know." "You see, sir." the old man 9 , "Our forefathers (祖先) planted trees for us to enjoy 10 I am doing the same for the people after men." |