Out in the woods stood a nice little Fir Tree. It was the sun shining on him and the fresh air surrounding him that made him gorgeous. In summer, children often came and sat down near him and said, “What a nice little fir!” In winter, when the snow lay glittering on the ground, a hare hopped over the little tree. But he never felt any pleasure. What the little Fir wanted so much was to grow into a big tree as his neighbors.
“Oh! Were I but such a high tree as the others are,” thought he. “Then I should be able to spread out my branches, and with the tops to look into the wide world!”
When Christmas came, quite young trees with the finest looking were cut down. And so was the Fir Tree. He found himself, in the middle of the living-room, stuck upright in a bucket that was filled with sand and decorated with the most splendid things-apples, colorful lights and at the very top a large golden star, which made him incomparably beautiful.
“What a splendor!” thought the Fir Tree, believing he would take root here and forever stand covered with decorations!
However, the splendor never came back again. After the Christmas, the servant dragged him out of the room, and up the stairs into the loft in a dark corner, where no daylight could enter.
“If it only were not so dark here, and so terribly lonely. Not even a hare!” he sighed. “They surely stored me here for the next Christmas.”
One day, the tree was pulled out and a man drew him towards the stairs, where the daylight shone. Feeling the fresh air and the first sunbeam, now he was out in the courtyard. Seeing all the beauty of the flowers and the freshness in the garden, he firmly believed he would be replanted there.
“Now a merry life will begin again,” thought the tree, spreading out his branches only to find they were all withered and yellow!When seeing the gardener getting close with an axe (斧头), he recalled his first youth in the wood and sighed so deeply! Each sigh was like a shot.
4. What can we know about the Fir Tree?
A.He was willing to be a small tree. |
B.He was satisfied to be a Christmas tree. |
C.He was mad at the hare jumping over him. |
D.He was eager to be the tallest tree in the woods. |
5. Which word can best describe the Fir’s feeling when pulled out into the courtyard?
A.Hopeful. | B.Lonely. | C.Free. | D.Anxious. |
6. What can be inferred about the Fir’s fate?
A.He would be treated as firewood. |
B.He would be replanted in the garden. |
C.He would be taken back to the forest. |
D.He would be stored for the next Christmas. |
7. What can we conclude from this story?
A.If you’re failing to plan, then you’re planning to fail. |
B.Live for today because tomorrow is not promised. |
C.Life is not about falling down but getting back up. |
D.If you dream and believe it, then you can achieve it. |