A
There was once a captain who loved money so much that he cheated his sailors at the end of every voyage and took their wages(工资)．
On the last day of one voyage, the ship was in a small port. It was winter time, and the sea was very cold, so the captain said to his sailors, “If one of you stays in the water during the whole night, I will give him my ship. But if he comes out before the sun appears, I shall get his wages.”
The sailors had heard about the captain's cheating, so they didn't trust him. But then one of them, who thought that he was cleverer than the captain, said that he would do it. He got into the water and, though it was very cold, he stayed in it. When it was nearly morning, some fishermen lit a fire on the shore about half a mile away.
“You are cheating，” the captain said to the sailor. “The fire's warming you.”
“But it's half a mile away，” said the sailor.
“A fire is fire，” answered the captain.
“Perhaps you think that you are clever because you have won my wages, but you can't cook a chicken，” said the sailor.
“I can，” answered the captain.
“If you cook this chicken，” said the sailor, “I shall work for you without wages for seven years, but if you can't, you will give me your ship.”
The captain agreed, took the chicken and said, “Where's the fire？”
“There it is，” answered the sailor, “On the shore.”
“But it's half a mile away，” said the captain angrily.
“‘A fire's fire’， you said，” answered the sailor. “If it is enough to warm me in the water, it is enough to cook your chicken.”
21．The captain got the sailors' wages ________.
A．to buy a chicken for himself
B．and kept the money for future use
C．by cheating them
D．and said he would return the money soon
答案：C
解析：细节理解题。由第一段中的“he cheated his sailors at the end of every voyage and took their wages(工资)”可知这位船长是通过欺骗的手段获取水手们的工资的。
22．The captain insisted that the fire was warming the sailor because he ________.
A．didn't want to lose the bet
B．didn't believe the sailor's success
C．wanted to keep his promise
D．wanted to show his cleverness
答案：A
解析：推理判断题。由短文中船长和水手之间的辩论可知，船长之所以坚持自己的说法，是怕输给水手。
23．Which of the following is the best title?
A．How a Captain Cheated His Sailor
B．How a Sailor Got a ship
C．A Brave Sailor
D．A Fire is Fire
答案：D
解析：主旨大意题。本文主要讲述的是船长与水手之间关于渔民点起的火的辩论。故选择D项。
