Theprofessor’shousebiganduntidystoodaloneatoneendofahugegarden.Theplacewastotallyuncaredforquite　41andovergrownwithallsortsofuselessthings.I42mywaythroughbushesandtallweedstothefrontdoorandrangthebell.

IwasgladthatIhadfoundhim.Intwentyminuteshe　43merightonallthe　44thathadpuzzledme.Iwasonthe　45ofleavingwhenIlookedoutofhisstudywindowandsaid“You’reveryfondofgardening，Isee.”

“No，I’mnot，”hesaid.“46，Ilovethisgarden，though.It’s　47Ialwayswantedittobe.Inevertouchitatall.”

“Itcouldbemadelovely.It　48apitytoletallthisgroundgotowaste.Butperhapsyoudon’t　49thatway?”saidI.

“Idon’t.IlivedherewhenIwasachild，andIhad　50ofgardeningthen.Itwasmyfather’shobbyyousee.Unfortunately，hewasn’t　51enoughtodoithimself.MybrotherandIdidallofitbetweenusyearafteryear.Therewasonerightwayandmanywrongways.Eachbladeofgrasswasanenemytobe　52byhandnotjustcutoff.I’vespentagoodpartoflifeatworkhere.”

“Isee.Youtookadisliketoitandnowyou’regettingeven！”

“Idislikeit.ThenofcourseIdidn’tunderstandthe　53ithad.Itusedto　54me.Itappearedinmydreams—amistakeheresomethingnotquitestraightheretheenemyshowingitsheadinaplaceIwas　55tohavecleaned.Theworkwastoomuch.Itseemedendless.Thesizeoftheplacewasitselfafighttoaboy.”

“Andnowit’syours，you’rejustlettingitgoto...”

“56?”hesaid.“No，Idon’tagreewiththat.ThisgardenandIarenowthebestfriends.Ilike57itgrow58itsownway.Imakenodemandsonit.Ineverdisturbitanditneverdisturbsme.Ithas59atlastandsohaveI.”

“Butthepathisovergrown.It’sinconvenientforyou，isn’tit?”

“That’spartofmy　60”helaughed.“Youcangooutthebackway.Theweedsareshortertherebecausetheydon’tgetthesun.”

41.A.wildB.crazyC.largeD.nice

42.A.lostB.felt　C.tookD.made

43.A.letB.putC.taughtD.explained

44.A.gardeningB.plantsC.problems　D.solution

45.A.timeB.pointC.permissionD.request

46.A.EvenifB.SoC.Asthough　D.Evenso

47.A.asB.whereC.why　D.whether

48.A.seems　B.is　C.proves　D.sounds