Once Louis the Twelfth，the King of France，happened to walk into the kitchen of his palace．There he found a small boy busy at work and singing happily．

The boy had bright eyes，and a happy，sunny face，and his looks and manners pleased the king．With a smile Louis asked him his name．He replied that his name was Simon．In answer to further questions，the king learnt that the boy was an orphan； both his father and mother were dead．

"Are you content（满足的）to do this kind of work？"the king asked，pointing at the bowls which the boy was washing．"Are you willing to spend your time in the kitchen when so many of the others work upstairs？"

"Why not？"answered the boy，with a twinkle in his eye．"I am doing as well as the best of them．The king himself can do no better．"

"Indeed!" said the king，no little surprised at the boy's words．"How do you know that？"

"Well，sir，the king lives，and so do I．I am content with my life．Can the king say that he is content with his life？"

Louis walked away，his mind full of strange，sad thoughts．No one knew better than he did that kings seldom feel content．

The next day，much to Simon's surprise，he was called before the king．He was still more surprised when he found that his visitor of the day before was Louis himself．The king talked with him about many things，and found him to be a very quick and clever boy．

After that Simon was made to serve the king directly．Step by step，he rose from one important task to another，until he became one of the best soldiers of that time．He is known in history as General La Roche，and considered as one of the greatest men of France．

If Simon had not，early in life，learnt to be content with his life，he might never have been given those chances．The king did not want people who were always unhappy because they did not have as good a place as some others．You cannot too soon learn that only those who are content are happy．

42．What did Simon do before he met the king？　　

A．He sang in the king's palace．

B．He served in the king's army．

C．He worked in the king's kitchen．

D．He guarded the king's palace．

43．Simon was made to serve the king directly because he　　．

A．knew what the king thought             

B．was content with his life

C．did as well as the best of others       

D．had bright eyes，and a happy，sunny face

44．Which of the following is the correct order about Simon？　　

①He served the king directly．

②He found the visitor was the king．

③He became one of the best soldiers．

④He had a chat with a visitor in the kitchen．

⑤He is a well﹣known man in French history．

A．①②⑤③④

B．④②⑤①③

C．③④②①⑤

D．④②①③⑤

45．We can learn from the story that　　．

A．being content makes us happy            

B．working hard can lead to success

C．it's important to be kind to others       

D．children are always more honest．