2 . To be born in a duck’s nest, in a farmyard, is of no consequence to a bird, if it is hatched from a swan’s egg.
It was lovely summer weather in the country. Here sat a duck on her nest, watching for her young babies to hatch. After a hard time, one shell cracked, and then another, and from each egg came a living creature. But still one egg was not hatched yet. “I have no doubt it is a turkey’s egg as it is very big. Take my advice and leave it where it is,” said an old duck. But the mother duck insisted on sitting on it as a few days would be nothing after sitting so long already. Finally, the large egg broke, and a young one crept forth. It was very large and ugly.
Because of his look, this poor duckling, who had crept out of his shell last of all, was often bitten, pushed and made fun of, not only by the ducks, but by all the poultry. Even his mother, who once spoke highly of his good characters and excellent swimming skills, said she wished he had never been born, so the duckling left his families. And soon he found water on which it could swim and dive, but was avoided by all other animals, because of his ugly appearance.
Autumn came. One evening, there came a large flock of beautiful birds. The duckling had never seen any like them before. But he felt towards them and determined to fly to those royal birds. He spoke to himself it would be better killed by them than pecked by ducks or starved with hunger in the winter. Then he flew towards the beautiful swans. But what he saw in the clear stream below is his own image; no longer a dark, gray bird, ugly and disagreeable to look at, but a graceful and beautiful swan. He was so happy but not at all proud. Unfairly treated for his ugliness, now he heard others said he was the most beautiful of all the birds.
1. Why did the old duck persuade the mother duck to leave the egg there?
| A．Because it was a turkey’s egg. |
| B．Because its shell has not cracked. |
| C．Because the old duck had the same experience. |
| D．Because the old duck thought it was not her duckling. |
2. What is mainly talked about in Paragraph 3?
| A．What the duckling looks like. |
| B．How other animals treat the duckling. |
| C．What makes the duckling’s mother regret. |
| D．Why the duckling avoids all other animals. |
3. What does the writer probably intend to tell us?
| A．Be yourself and always hopes. | B．Pride hurts but honesty benefits. |
| C．He that respects not is not respected. | D．No gains without pains. |
4. Which of the following words can best describe the character of the duckling?
| A．gentle and considerate | B．determined and conservative |
| C．modest and brave | D．stubborn and ambitious |
