Like most cultures around the world, the Zulu people of Africa tell stories that have animals as heroes. These stories are meant to have fun, but they are also used to teach important lessons to children. This is one of those stories.

One hot afternoon, Jackal was walking along the rocky road sniffing (嗅) the ground. He was hoping to smell a mouse or a lizard (蜥蜴), or something else that would be good to eat. He was so much lost in sniffing that he wasn’t really paying attention to what was around himself.

Suddenly, Jackal looked up to see his neighbor, Lion, walking straight toward him. He did not have enough time to run way. Jackal had played many tricks on Lion over the years, so he knew he would be in trouble if he was caught. Jackal needed to think of something quickly.

“Help! Help!” cried Jackal as he quickly jumped upon a large rock hanging over the road. “The rocks are falling down, and I can’t hold them much longer. We shall both be crushed (压碎) if you do not do your best to hold these rocks back, Lion”

At once, Lion pushed his strong shoulder against the rocks to keep them from moving any further. “I’ll just run over here to get something to stop the rocks.” shouted Jackal as he ran way to safety. Lion stayed leaning against the unmoving rocks for quite a long time before he realized that Jackal had tricked him yet again!

1. Why was Jackal sniffing the ground?

A. To play with Lion.                              B. To push a rock

C. To run after a mouse                            D. To look for something to eat.

2.What does the underlined word ‘leaning’ mean?

A. supporting          B. sleeping       C. running         D. sitting

3. Why did Jackal cry for help?

A. Because Lion was rushing to him.

B. Because he was caught under a rock.

C. Because he got an idea to get away from Lion.

D. Because he saw a large rock moving toward him.

4. What lesson does the story teach us?

 A. Trust(信任) your friend, trust yourself

B. Work hard, and you’ll succeed.

C. Help others when they are in trouble.

D. Try to find a quick way out when in trouble.

5.Which words can describe Jackal’s characteristics?

A. selfish and stubborn      B. silly and unkind       C. clever and creative       D. impolite and dishonest

 

David Moore taught science at the City School. He needed some expensive books, and so he bought them. He put the books in his car in a quiet street. Then he went to other shops to buy something else. At six he came back to the car. One door was open – and the books were not there! David drove home to Fry Road.

On Friday people read this in the newspaper:

Books: Have you any old books? I buy old and modern books.

Open all day on Saturdays. David Moore, 26 Fry Road.

David stayed at home on Saturday. The first man came at eight. David took him to the kitchen. At half past nine another man arrived. He had a bag under his arm.

“Mr Moore?” the man asked.

“That’s right,” David said. “Can I help you?”

“I’ve got some good books. You buy books, don’t you?”

“Yes. Bring them in. Let me have a look.”

Soon the books were on the dining-table. “Come in now,” David called, “and bring the list.”

A policeman came into the dining-room. He read the names on the books and the names on the list in his hand. They were the same.

“Come with me, sir,” the policeman said to the man.

1.Mr Moore was a _________.

A.doctor            B.bookseller         C.teacher           D.musician

2.Mr Moore lived _________.

A.at No. 26 Fry Road                       B.in a quiet street

C.close to the police station                 D.at the City School

3.Mr Moore probably bought the books on _________.

A.Wednesday        B.Friday            C.Saturday          D.Sunday

4.Mr Moore wrote a letter to a newspaper in order to_________.

A.tell people that he had lost some books      B.tell the police station

C.buy the expensive books                  D.find who had stolen the books

5.Mr Moore stayed at home that Saturday because_________.

A.he didn’t like to go out on Saturday

B.he didn’t need to go to school that day

C.he was waiting for the thief to come

D.he was busy with his shop

 

Saturday morning was bright and fresh. There was a song in every heart, cheer on every face, and a spring in every step.

Tom appeared with a bucket(桶)of white paint in one hand and a brush in the other. His Aunt Polly told him to paint the fence(篱笆)around the garden. It was ninety feet long and nine feet high. He felt very blue.

Then he had a wonderful idea. He picked up his brush and started to work.

Soon Ben came along the road. He was happily eating an apple. He stopped to look at Tom. Tom went on painting and pretended(假装)not to see Ben.

“I’m going swimming,” said Ben. “Do you want to go swimming, Tom? But I guess you can’t. You have to stay and work, don’t you?”       

“Work?” Tom said. “This isn’t work. I’m enjoying myself. Does a boy get a chance to paint a fence like this every day?”

Ben thought about this. Tom continued painting carefully. Sometimes he stopped, stood back to look at the fence like an artist, and then added(增加)a bit more paint in just the right place. Ben was watching Tom paint with great interest. He was getting more and more eager(渴望的)to have a try himself.

After a while, Ben asked Tom if he would let him paint a little. Tom thought about it, and said, “No, Ben, I can’t. You see. Aunt Polly wants it to be done well. Aunt Polly said that I must paint it with great care.”

“Oh, please, Tom,” begged Ben. “I can do it. I’ll be really careful. Just let me try. I’ll give you half of my apple. Well, I’ll give you all of it!”

“Well, all right, Ben,” said Tom. “You must be very careful.”

He gave Ben his brush with worry on his face but joy in his heart. He sat down under the tree, and started to eat Ben’s apple. All day, boys came to make fun of Tom, but they ended up staying to paint. When Ben got tired, Billy was waiting. He gave Tom a kite for a chance to paint. Then Johnny offered him a basketball, and so on.

By late afternoon Tom had got all kinds of toys, and the fence had got three coats of paint. Later Aunt Polly came to look at the painted fence. She was so pleased with Tom’s work that she gave Tom a large cake!

1.Why did Tom pretend not to see Ben when he came and watched him painting?

    A. He saw Ben eating an apple happily.

    B. He tried to make Ben interested in it.

    C. He didn’t want to go swimming with Ben at all.

    D. He didn’t want Ben to share the chance to paint the fence.

2.What does the underlined word “spring” probably mean in Chinese?

    A. 春天             B. 弹簧           C. 泉                 D. 活力

3.What do you think of Tom?

    A. Honest.          B. Smart.         C. Shy.               D. Stubborn.

 

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