Mr. Howe worked in an office. He studied（研究）the old things and sometimes bought some for himself. So he got a lot of money. Eight years ago, when he was sixty-five, he retired （退休）. He needn't worry about food or clothes. He was busy before, but now he has enough time to rest. He loves playing ping-pong and spends most of his time on the game. He had never been ill until he had got a headache one day. He was taken to a hospital at once. The doctors looked him over carefully and did their best to save（救）him but he felt worse and worse. He made his son send for a witch（请巫婆来）.

"Do the people in heaven（天堂）play ping-gong, madam?" asked Mr. Howe.

"I'm sorry I don't know, sir. "answered the witch. "Let me go and ask about it for you. "

That evening the witch came and said, " I've just been to heaven, Mr. Howe. I've brought two pieces of news to you. One is good and the other is bad. "

"Tell me the good news first, please. "

"Most of the people in heaven play ping-pong, "said the witch. "But you'll have a game there the day after tomorrow! "

【1】Mr. Howe is seventy-three now.

【2】Mr. Howe has little money, so he is poor.

【3】As he rested very well all the time, Mr. Howe has never been ill.

【4】The doctors didn't do their best to save Mr. Howe, so he felt worse and worse.

【5】The witch could save Mr. Howe's life.

【6】The bad news meant（意味着）Mr. Howe would die（死）in two days.