Long ago, a young man had to go on a trip. He asked a shopkeeper to keep his iron scale (磅秤) safe. The shopkeeper promised, “I will!”

When the man came back, the shopkeeper said, “Mice ate your scale!” The man was shocked. “Mice can’t eat iron! He is lying!” he thought. But he didn’t say anything.

The next day, the man saw the shopkeeper’s son swimming. He ran to the shopkeeper’s house and shouted, “A big crow (乌鸦) flew away with your son!”

The shopkeeper ran outside. “That’s not true! Crows can’t carry people!”

The man replied, “If mice can eat iron, why can’t crows take boys?”

The shopkeeper looked down, feeling ashamed (羞愧). He went inside and returned with the scale. “I’m sorry. Here it is.”

The man took his scale and left. From that day on, the shopkeeper always told the truth.

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1.1. What did the man ask the shopkeeper to keep?

A A book.

B An iron scale.

C A crow.

D A mouse.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第一段的“He asked a shopkeeper to keep his iron scale safe.”可知，年轻男子让店主保管的是他的铁磅秤。故选B。

2.2. What did the shopkeeper say about the scale?

A A crow took it.

B It was stolen.

C Mice ate it.

D He sold it.

解析：选C。细节理解题。从第二段的“When the man came back, the shopkeeper said, ‘Mice ate your scale!’”可知，店主说老鼠把磅秤吃掉了。故选C。

3.3. What was the shopkeeper’s son doing?

A Singing.

B Laughing.

C Eating.

D Swimming.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据第三段的“The next day, the man saw the shopkeeper’s son swimming.”可知，店主的儿子在游泳。故选D。

4.4. Why did the young man say a crow took the shopkeeper’s son?

A To show the shopkeeper was lying.

B To make the shopkeeper laugh.

C To help the son learn to swim.

D To scare the shopkeeper.

解析：选A。推理判断题。根据倒数第三段的“If mice can eat iron, why can’t crows take boys?”可知，年轻人用“乌鸦带走男孩”的荒唐说法，类比店主“老鼠吃铁秤”的谎言，目的是证明店主的话不可信。故选A。

5.5. How is the shopkeeper now?

A He is funny.

B He is quiet.

C He is honest.

D He is careless.

解析：选C。推理判断题。根据最后一句“From that day on, the shopkeeper always told the truth.”可知，从那天起，店主总是说实话，即店主变得诚实。故选C。