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C
    Great news! It came from a neighboring state, where the family’s only surviving relative lived. It was Boris’ relative — a distant relative by the name of Edgar, seventy and single. Edgar now wrote to Boris, saying he should shortly die, and should leave him thirty thousand dollars, cash; not for love, but because money had given him most of his troubles, and he wished to place it where there was good hope that it would continue its evil work. The bequest(遗产) would be found in his will, and would be officially handed over provided that Bois should be able to prove to the executors (遗嘱执行人).
    As soon as Jody had partially recovered from the strong emotions created by the letter, she sent someone to the relative’s home and subscribed for the local paper.
For the rest of the day Boris made confusion with his books, and Jody could not keep her mind on her affairs, not even take up a flower-pot or book or a stick of wood without forgetting what she had intended to do with it. For both were dreaming.
“Thirty thousand dollars!”
All day long Jody was absorbed in planning how to invest it, Boris in planning how to spend it.
There was no romance-reading that night. The children took themselves away early, for their parents were silent, disturbed, and strangely unentertaining. Two pencils had been busy during that hour — note-making; in the way of plans. It was Boris who broke the stillness at last. He said, with excitement, “Ah, it’ll be grand, Jody! Out of the first thousand we’ll have a horse and a small car for summer, and a small boat and a skin lap-robe for winter.”
    Jody responded with decision and calmness.
    “You can spend a part of it. But the whole of the capital must be put right to work.
    “Why, yes. Yes, of course. Have you got it invested yet?”
    “No, there’s no hurry about that; I must look around first, and think, er…, I’ve turned it over twice; once in oil and once in wheat.”
    “Why, Jody, it’s splendid! What does it amount to?”
    “I think — well, to be on the safe side, about a hundred and eighty thousand clear, though it will probably be more.”      
“My! Isn’t it wonderful? Good heaven! Luck has come our way at last, Jody!”
    Then they went up to bed, but they left the candle burning in the sitting room. They did not remember until they were undressed; then Boris was so calm that just watched it burn; he said they could afford it, if it was a thousand. But Jody went down and put it out.
    A good job, too; for on her way back she hit on a plan that would turn the hundred and eighty thousand into half a million before it had had time to get cold. 
28. Why would Edgar like to give all his money to Boris?
A. Because Boris was Edgar’s only relative alive.
B. Because Boris and his wife are good at investing.
C. Because Edgar loved Boris and his family deeply.
D. Because Edgar wanted his money to continue its function.
29. What do we know about Boris and Jody after receiving the letter?
A. They had a big ambition to spend money and invest the money
B. They cared little about the bequest and lived their life as usual.
C. They paid a visit to Edgar to confirm the truth of the letter.
D. They were in deep sorrow and stayed up all night long.
30. What does the underlined word “capital” in the passage probably mean?
A. a letter from Edgar  
B. a large amount of money
C. a proof of Boris’ identity
D. an important city of a country 
31. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. Thrilling News
B. The $30,000 Bequest
C. A Wise Investment
D. A Rich Distant Relative
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