Lesson 6 The Travellers and the Bear

1、Two men were going through a forest.

2、“I am afraid,” said one, “that we may meet with wild beasts; I see the tracks of their paws on the ground.”

3、“Fear nothing, friend Quickwit,” cried the other, whose name was Braggart. “In case of an attack we shall stand by one another like men. I have a strong arm, a stout heart, and—”

4、“Hark!” cried the first in alarm, as a low growl was heard from a thicket near. In an instant Braggart, who was light and nimble, climbed up a tree like a squirrel, leaving his friend, who was not so active, to face the danger alone!

5、But Quickwit’s presence of mind did not fail him. He could not fight, he could not fly; but he laid himself flat on the ground; and held his breath, so as to appear quite dead. Out of the thicket rushed a huge bear, and at once made up to poor Quickwit;while Braggart looked down, trembling, from his perch in the tree.

6、One may guess what were the feelings of Quickwit when the bear snuffed all round him, coming so near that he could feel its warm breath, when its muzzle was close to his ear! But Quickwit did not wince or move; and the bear, thinking him dead,plunged again into the thicket, leaving him quite unharmed!

7、When Braggart saw that the danger was over, he came down from the tree. Somewhat ashamed of his cowardly conduct, he tried to pass off the matter with a joke.

8、“Well, my friend Quickwit,” he said, “what did the bear say to you when he whispered into your ear?”

9、“He told me,” replied Quickwit, “never again to trust a boaster like you!”

10、The hour of danger often shows that the greatest boasters are the greatest cowards.Let courage be proved by deeds, not by words.

(311 words)

Exercises

Ⅰ. How well did you read?

1. [check the details] What were the names of the two friends?

A. Quickwit & Braggart.

B. Quickwit & Humbleman.

C. Slowman & Braggart.

2. [make an inference] Which of the two friends appeared to be braver, from his way of speaking?

A. Quickwit. B. Braggart. C. Slowman.

3. [note the fact] What did Braggart do when the growl of the bear was heard?

A. He laid himself on the ground.

B. He climbed up a tree.

C. He stood by his friend and protected him.

4. [note the fact] What did Quickwit do when a growl of a bear was heard?

A. He climbed up a tree.

B. He fought with the bear.

C. He laid himself on the ground.

5. [check the details] What did the bear do to Quickwit?

A. The bear ate him.

B. The bear left him unharmed.

C. The bear smelled him and gave him one bite.

6. [evaluate the information] How did Braggart feel about his act when the danger was over?

A. Proud. B. Relaxed. C. Ashamed.

7. [grasp the main idea] What does the story want to tell us?

A. Courage is proved by deeds, not by words.

B. We can’t trust any friends when in danger.

C. A bear doesn’t eat a dead person.

Ⅱ. Read for words.

1. Choose one best paraphrase or Chinese meaning for the underlined words.

(1) I have a strong arm, a stout heart. (Para. 3, Line 2)

A. brave B. weak C. fat

(2) Braggart looked down, trembling, from his perch in the tree. (Para. 5, Line 4)

A. a high seat

B. the branch where the man hid himself

C. a telescope

(3) The bear snuffed all around him, coming so near that he could feel its warm breath. (Para. 6, Line 1)

A. touched B. walked C. smelt

(4) He told me never again to trust a boaster like you!

A. 言而无信者 B. 夸夸其谈者 C. 虚张声势者

2. Choose one best paraphrase or Chinese meaning for the underlined expressions.

(1) In case of an attack we shall stand by one another like men. (Para. 3, Line 2)

A. to stand and pass by

B. to help others even in difficult situations

C. to stand there and do nothing

(2) Out of the thicket rushed a huge bear and at once made up to poor Quickwit.

(Para. 5, Line 3)

A. 讨好 B. 弥补 C. 冲向

(3) Somewhat ashamed of his cowardly conduct, he tried to pass off the matter with a joke. (Para. 7, Line 2)

A. to finish an event in a particular way

B. to ignore or avoid

C. to give something to someone else

Ⅲ. Summary writing.

In no more than 80 words, summarize the whole text according to the following questions. Do not include anything that is not in the passage.

1. What were the names of the two friends?

2. Which appeared to be the braver, from his way of speaking?