2016年江西成考英语阅读练习二

　　I was 14 when Mr. Ingram knocked on our farmhouse door in Sacred Heart，Okla. The old farmer lived about a mile down the road and needed help cutting grass. It was the first time I was actually paid for work- about 12 cents an hour，not bad when you consider it was 1939，a time when there was little business activity.

　　Mr. Ingram liked the job I did and ended up hiring me to dig potatoes. I even helped when a baby cow was being born.

　　One day he found an old truck that was stuck in the soft，sandy soil of the melon（瓜）field. It was full of melons that someone had tried to steal before their truck got stuck.

　　Mr. Ingram explained that the truck's owner would be returning soon，and he wanted me to watch and lean. It wasn't long before a man from a nearby village，who had a terrible reputation（名声）for fighting and stealing，showed up with his two full-grown sons. They looked very angry.

　　Calmly Mr. Ingram said，“Well，I see you want to buy some watermelons.”

　　There was a long silen