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For many people, particularly immigrants, the American Dream is that talent and hard work can take you from log cabin to the White House. Tony Trivisonno did not rise as high as the White House, yet he managed to make his own dream come true.

He came from a farm in Italy. One evening I found him standing behind my garage.

"I mow (割草) your lawn," he said. It was hard to comprehend his broken English.

I asked him his name. "Tony Trivisonno," he replied. "I mow your lawn." I told Tony that I couldn't afford a gardener.

"I mow your lawn," he said again, then walked away. Yes, these Depression days were difficult, But how could I refuse a person who had come to me for help?

When I got home from work the next evening, the lawn had been mowed and the walks swept. I asked my wife what had happened.

"A man had worked on the yard," she answered. "I thought you had hired him."

I told her of my experience the night before. We thought it strange that Tony had not asked for pay.

The next Friday, I saw Tony again, behind the garage. I praised him for the work he had done.

"I mow your lawn," he said.

I managed to give him some kind of small weekly pay, and each day Tony cleaned up the yard and took care of any little tasks. My wife said he was very helpful whenever there were anything heavy to lift or things to fix.

Summer passed into fall, and winds blew cold. "Mr. Craw, snow pretty soon," Tony told me one evening. "When winter comes, you give me job clearing snow at the factory."

Well, how do you deal with such determination and hope? Of course, Tony got his job at the factory.

One day I found Tony at our meeting place behind the garage. "I want to be apprentice (学徒)" he said.

We had a pretty good apprentice school that trained workers. But I doubted whether Tony were able to read blueprints or do precision work. Still, how could I turn him down?

Tony took a cut in pay to become an apprentice. Months later, I got a report that he had graduated as a skilled grinder (磨工). My wife and I were delighted with what Tony had achieved.

A year or two passed, and again I found Tony in his usual waiting place. "Mr. Craw," he said, "I like to buy a house." In the town, he had found a completely old house for sale.

I called on a banker friend. "Do you ever loan money on character?" I asked. "No," he said.

"Now, wait a minute," I replied. "Here is a hard-working man, a man of character, I can promise you that. He's got a good job. And he will pay your interest."

Unwillingly, the banker loaned Tony $2,000 and helped him buy the house. Tony was delighted. From then on, it was interesting to see that any abandoned odds and ends around our place were gathered and taken home by Tony.

After about two years, I found Tony in our familiar meeting spot. He seemed to stand a little straighter and looked confident.

"Mr. Craw, I sell the house and buy a farm."

We sat down and talked. He told me that he had persuaded his childhood friend to move to America. With a satisfied look in his eye, he told me that when they came to his little farm, his friend stood in amazement and said, "Tony, you are a millionaire!"

Then, during the World WarⅡ , news came from my company that Tony had passed away.

When my people came to visit his family, they found the farm green with vegetables, the little house comfortable and homey. The children were educated and working, and Tony didn't owe a cent.

Tony, as well as all the greatest American businessmen, had reached their success in the same way and by the same values: vision, determination, optimism, self-respect and, above all, honesty.

Tony Trivisonno came to America seeking the American Dream. But he didn't find it — he created it for himself. All he had were 24 precious hours a day, and he wasted none of them.

65. Why did Tony repeat “I mow your lawn”?

A. He was determined to get a chance to work.

B. He asked for pay for his excellent garden work.

C. He thought he was good at garden work.

D. He was ready to help others out.

66. Which of the following sentences brought out Tony’s character of honesty?

A. Tony was very helpful whenever there were anything heavy to lift or things to fix.

B. Tony persuaded his childhood friend to move to America.

C. Any abandoned odds and ends around our place were gathered and taken home by Tony.

D. The children were educated and working, and Tony didn't owe a cent.

67. What did the author mean by saying “Do you ever loan money on character”?

A. He was asking the banker the way the banks loan money to people.