While he was at work in the grove, the birds came close to pick up the worms(蠕虫) in the fresh earth he dug up. At first, they kept their distance from him, but they soon found he was a kind man, and would not hurt them, but liked to have them near him.

They knew this by his kind eyes and voice, which tell what is in the heart. So, day by day their faith in his love grew in them.

All the birds of the grove were soon his fast friends. They were on the watch for him, and would fly down from the green tree tops to greet him with their chirp(叽叽喳喳叫).

When he had no work to do, he took bread with him, and dropped the pieces on the ground. Down they would dart(俯冲) on his head and feet to catch them as they fell from his hand.

He showed me how they loved him, He put a piece of bread in his mouth, with one end of it out of his lips, Down they came like bees at a flower, and flew off with it piece by piece,

When they thought he slept too long in the morning, they would fly in and_____________.

They went with him to church, and while he sang his hymns in it, they sat in the trees, and sang their praises.
So the love and trust of birds were a joy to the old man all his life long.

    A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms( 习语 ), though my teacher emphasized(强调) the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.

    One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be astonished. Gently shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders, he said, “You don't say!” “You don't say!” I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not an appropriate(合适的) topic. “Well, I'd better change the topic.” So I said to him. “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?” “Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was magnificent(宏伟的).” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it.” Soon I was interrupted again by his words “You don't say!” I couldn't help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?” “Well, I didn't request you to do so,” he answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn't you say ‘you don't say?'” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, “‘You don't say' actually means ‘really!'. It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don't pay attention to English idioms.” Only then did I know I had made a fool of myself. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions(习语表达). Remember -- what the English teachers said is always right to us students.

B

    A crow (乌鸦) wants to drink, but he can't find water. He looks here and there. At last, he cries, "I can see a jar (罐子) and there is some water in it." He tries to get the water, but he can't. "How can I get the water?" he cries, "I can put my break (鸟嘴) quite close it." But still he cannot drink. "What can I do? I want to drink." He looks here and there, then he picks up a small stone (石头) in his break and carries it to the jar of water and drops it into the jar. "Soon the water will be high in the jar, and I can drink," says the crow. So he begins to do that until the water is high (高的) enough to drink.

    "This one's for you," Sergeat(警官)Barstow shouted and left quickly through the back door. I was a little puzzled. I looked out of a window of the Ashfordly Police Station and saw an elderly woman come into the building.

    "Good morning, Madam," I said.

    "Good morning," she said pleasantly." You're new, aren't you?"

    "Yes, Madam."

    "It's about that man who's been annoying me," she said." I've been here about him before."

    "Could I have your name and address, please?"

    "Miss Fraser. Josephine Fraser. I live at 43 Prince Terrace. Now, can you please do something about Jackson?"

    "What's he done, Miss Fraser?"

    "Done? He's thrown garbage all over my stairs again. He must be stopped."

    "Where does he live?"

    "Next door, Number 41," she said.

    "I'll go and see later and warn him off, Miss Fraser."

    "I would be most grateful."  With that she left.

    Half an hour later, I reached Prince Terrace. No. 41 was in a bad state of repair. I knocked. No reply. I entered. The place was deserted. I wondered if the Jackson was a tramp(流浪者). Anyway, it seemed he had left, possibly because of Miss Fraser's threatening police action. I decided to visit her.

    I knocked on her door and it was opened almost immediately." Ah!" she said gladly." You're just in time for coffee." I followed her inside. Miss Fraser told me more about her battle with Jackson. But when I asked specific questions, it clearly showed that she had never seen Jackson. Finally, I managed to leave.

    Sergeant Barstow smiled kindly as I returned." Nick, did you kick(踢出) Jackson, out of that house?"

    "Jackson" I cried." Who is he?"

    "There is no Jackson," he said." Miss Fraser is lonely and she likes company. We always let the new young men deal with Miss Fraser. It gives her deep satisfaction. That's what we are here for, isn't it to satisfy the public?"

    Jenny is a good Canadian girl. She is 1.7 metres tall. She has a round face. Her eyes are very big. She likes vegetables very much，so she is not fat. She likes red，and it's her favourite colour. She looks very nice in red clothes. Jenny studies in China. She likes reading. She borrows books from the library every week. She is good at Chinese. She says Chinese is very interesting. Our classmates all like her very much.

    One day, a little monkey and a little fox(狐狸) went out to play. They saw an apple tree on the other side of the river. There were many big and red apples on it. But there was no bridge over the river. The monkey thought(想) hard and had an idea. They pulled down(推倒) a tree and put it over the river as a bridge.

    The monkey said, "My old friend, you go there first." But after the fox went to the other side, he kicked(踢) the tree into the river and ran to the apple tree. "How can I get there without the tree?" cried the monkey. The fox laughed and said, "You just stand there and watch me eating the apples." The monkey was very angry.

    Suddenly it began to rain. The water level(水位) in the river rose（上涨） and tree flew away with the water.

    "You can eat all the apples. But you can't come back," shouted the monkey.

    The fox stopped eating and looked at the monkey sadly.