Question

D.Answer the questions （根據以下內容回答問題）

“Oh boys, don’t throw stones at the poor bird,” said an old grey-headed man, “Sir,” said a little fellow, “she makes such a loud noise that we can’t suffer from her.” “Yes, but she uses the voice which nature gave her, and I am afraid the stone will rebound（彈回）, and hurt you as long as you live!” “Rebound! We don’t understand you, sir!” “Well, come and I will tell you a story.”

“Fifty years ago, I was a boy like you. I used to throw stones until I became very accurate. One day I went to work for an old couple. They were very kind to everybody and everything. Few had so many birds making their nests under the roofs of their houses. The birds seemed to love the couple. For seven years a bird had come, after the long winter was over, and built her nest in the same place, and raised her young chicks there. She and her mate had just returned when I went there to work, and the couple welcomed them heartily. The bird hopped hopped about as if glad to be back. During the day, I thought I would try my skill upon her. She sat on a pole and looked at me trustfully. I found a nice stone, and I threw it with my utmost skill. It struck the bird on the head and she droped dead!”

“I was sorry when I saw her fall. But the deed was done. I said nothing to the old couple about it. But one of their grandchildren told them what I had done. Though the couple never said a word to me, I knew that they were deeply saddened by my cruelty. I could never look at them in the face afterwards. Oh, that I should have told them how sorry I was!”

“They have been dead many years, and so has the poor bird; but don’t you see how that stone rebounded, and hit me? How much the memory of it has hurt me! My dear boys, I would pay a great deal today if I could release from my present feeling! For fifty years I have remembered it. I have never spoken of it before; but if what my words will prevent you from throwing a stone that may rebound, I will be happy.”

1.What kind of skill did the author get when he was a boy?

2.How can we know that the bird was happy to meet the couple again?

3.Why couldn’t the author look at the couple in the face afterwards?

4.According to the author, what would hurt the boy for lifetime if he threw stones at the bird?

5.Why did the author tell his story to the boy?

6.What would the boy probably do after hearing the author’s words? (At least two things)

Answer 1