阅读下面短文，掌握大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项中选出一个最佳选项。

Once there was a rich man named Chulong.

Oneday, he was walking in his garden when he saw a strange 1 with beautiful features(特征) and sweet voice in a tree. Chulong 2 went near the tree and caught the bird, which he thought he could 3and get lots of money.

“Don't think about making money through me!" said the bird, “4 will buy me, because, in imprisonment (监禁), I lose my beauty and sweet voice.”Chulong's hope of making money was shattered. He became angry and wanted to5the bird for the meat.

Then the 6bird suggested, “Well, set me free. In return I shall teach you7simple but useful rules, which can do good to you.”

Chulong didn't believe the bird 8 and he was afraid that the bird would fly away. However, the bird9 it would keep its word(守信). Chulong wanted to take a risk. He set the bird free and it sat on the branch of a tree. It became10 again.

Chulong asked, “Now teach me the rules.”"Certainly,”said the bird.

Then thebird taught Chulong the11 The first rule is Never believe everything others say. The second rule is Never be sad about something you don't have. The third rule is Never throw away what you have in your hand.

“You silly bird,”shouted Chulong, “These rules are known to everyone. You12 me.”

But the bird said, "Today, you had me in your hand, but you threw me away. You believed all that I said. And you are sad about not having me.13the rules are simple, you have never followed them. Now have you got the14of the rules? Just sit down and think for a while.” With these words, the bird 15and disappeared from his sight.

    Mike and Dick work in the same office. They don't like the cold weather. And one day they decided 1 their holiday in Australia. Their plane 2 Sydney at nine in the morning. They had a good rest in a hotel. The next morning they 3 a car in the city and began their travel. A few hours later the sun 4 in the sky and there were no shade trees beside. It was so hot that they could hardly go on driving. They had to stop 5 around. Mike found a river was about half a kilometer away from them. They were both very happy and drove the car 6.

    there. Soon they got to the river. Before they jumped into the water, Dick saw a boy 7 under a big tree. He asked, "Are there any sharks in the river, boy?" "No, there aren't." answered the boy. So they began 8 in the river. After a while, Dick felt something hit 9 his leg. He told Mike about it. They were afraid and stopped swimming. Dick asked 10, "Is it true that there aren't any sharks in the river?"

    "Yes, sir," said the boy, "There're a lot of crocodiles(鳄鱼)in the water. All the sharks（鲨鱼） have swum away!"

    A rabbit named Bunny lived in a village near a forest. He was very clever and he never gave up 1. He chose a dead tree and made a home in the trunk. People 2him singing in the morning every day. As soon as the sun shone on his door, he left his home and went across a bridge to the3. He looked for some food there.

    One morning, while he was getting ready to sing as usual, a big storm began. It rained 4. What was worse, the bridge was 5. Bunny was very hungry, but there was no food in his home. He needed to 6 to find some food. He couldn't swim, so how could he find food in such a storm?

    After thinking for a long time, he finally came up with a good idea. He thought he would solve the 7 successfully. He decided to 8 a boat with some lotus leaves. Here is his plan:

    First: Search for some lotus leaves by the pond. If necessary, ask the frogs for help.

    Second: Tie the lotus leaves together to make a little boat.

    At last: Get into the boat. Be 9 in the storm and don't be afraid at all.

    So, Bunny, the wise rabbit, crossed the river in the boat carefully. His plan was so successful that he arrived at the forest after only an hour. There he found some food and then he went home happily. He had a big meal and began to sing as 10.

    I was in a hurry as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn't be late for! A PhD student without a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers.

    I found myself at a checkout counter 1 an elderly woman who was going to pay for her groceries. The woman stopped emptying her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile-warm and comforting-and I smiled back.

    "It must be a special lady to get those beautiful flowers," she said.

    "Yes, she's special," I said, and then to my surprise, the words kept 2 

    "It's only our second date to meet, but somehow I am just having the feeling she's the one'. " Jokingly, I added, "The only problem is that I can't figure out 3 she'd want to date a guy like me. "

    "Well, I think she's very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is clearly in love with her," the woman said, " My husband used to bring me flowers every week-even when times were 4 and we didn't have much money. Those were unforgettable days; he was very romantic and-of course-I miss him since he's passed away,"

    I paid for my flowers as she was5her groceries. Almost immediately, I walked up to her and said," You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady. " I handed her the flowers and thanked her for such a nice talk.

    It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just bought. " You have a wonderful evening," I said. I left her with a big smile and my heart6as I saw her smelling at the beautiful flowers.

    I was a it late for my date that night and told my girlfriend the above story. She smiled. Two years later she told me it was that night that I won her heart.

    Peter and Mike are very good friends. They are in the same class at school. They often go to school and play t{#blank#}1{#/blank#}, and they often visit each other's home at weekends, too.

    Now they are b{#blank#}2{#/blank#} eight years old. Peter's mother has got a new baby. Peter is very glad to have a little brother, so he is always talking about his younger brother to Mike.

    At first Mike is very interested in the new baby because he doesn't have any sisters or brothers. But after some time he begins to get tired of Peter's endless talking about it. He also feels a little jealous (嫉妒) of his friend.

    One morning before class, when the two boys m{#blank#}3{#/blank#} at the school gate, Peter says to Mike cheerfully, "Do you know, Mike, my little brother, has put on nearly half a pound in weight this week."

    "That's not much at all," answers Mike. "I know a baby who can put on more than ten pounds a day."

    "Oh, that can't be t{#blank#}4{#/blank#}," answers Peter. "W{#blank#}5{#/blank#} baby is it?"

    "An elephant's," says Mike.