Mr Brown looks worried these days. Something is wrong with John's head. He took the little boy
to a hospital. The doctor looked over him and said that the boy needed an operation or he would die.
John's mother is often ill and she can't work. John's two sisters are at school. Sometimes his family has
little food to eat and Mf Brown has no money to pay for the operation.
      "Why not go and borrow some money from M r Green?" said M r s Brown. "You helped him
before."
     Mr Green has much money. But he never helps anybody. So he has few friends in the village and
nobody likes him. M r Brown was afraid that his friends would know about it. So he went to the man's
house at night.
     "I want to ask you for some help, but can you keep a secret for me?"
      "Of course ! "
     "My son needs an operation, Mr Green," said M r Brown." Or he will die. Will you please lend
me some money?"
     "Don't worry, M r Brown," said the rich man." I will take it as if(好像) I didn't hear you! "

1. What's M r Brown afraid?
     He is afraid that John _____.
2. How many people are there in John's family?
     There _____.
3. Why can't M r Brown pay for the operation?
     Because he is _____.
4. Why did M r Brown go to M r Green's house in the evening?
      He was afraid that his friends would see _____ M r Green's house.
5. What did M r Green's words mean?
     Mr Green didn't want to _____ money to M r Brown.

M－Mr Smith; L－Li Gang
M: How are (1)___________________ your English study, Li Gang?
L: I have some difficulties in spelling and pronunciation, especially in speaking. (2) ___________________,
    I become nervous and make a lot of mistakes. Sometimes I wonder if I can learn English well.
M: Don't give up. But do you often speak English.
L: I'm afraid not.
M: That's the trouble. Just as (3) ___________________ without jumping into the water, so you can't learn
      to speak English if you don't speak it.
L: You're right. But I'm afraid of (4) ___________________.
M: You really should not. Everybody makes mistakes, especially at the beginning. It's part of the learning.
L: Mm…I see.
M: Very good. I hope you'll take every chance (5) ___________________. You know, "Practice makes
     perfect."
L: Yes, I will. Thanks.