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Where we live, on the eastern shore of Maryland, the gentle waters run in and out like fingers slimming at the tips.
The Canada geese know this place, as do the white swans and the ducks.In autumn, they come home
for the winter.Once or twice each year, snow and frozen rain move into the area.When this happens, if the river is at its narrowest, there is a freeze which hardens the water to ice.
One morning, a friend of mine set the breakfast table beside the huge window, which overlooked the
Tred Avon River.Suddenly she leaned forward and cried out, "There is a goose out there."
We saw the figure of a large Canada goose, very still, its wings folded tight to its sides, its feet frozen
into the ice.
Then from the dark skies, she saw a line of swans.They floated from the top of the sky downward
and at last landed on the ice.My friend was on her feet now, with one hand against her mouth, unbelieving.As the swans surrounded the frozen goose, she feared that life it still had might be pecked(啄) out by
those great swan bills.
Instead, those bills began to work on the ice.The long necks were lifted and curved down, again and
again.It went on for a long time.At last, the goose's head was lifted.Its body was pulled.Then the goose
was free and stood on the ice.And the swans stood in the air watching.Then, as if it had cried, "I cannot
fly."Four of the swans came down around it.Their powerful beaks chipped off the ice held in the feathers.
Slowly, the goose spread its wings as far as they would go, and moved slowly into the sky.
This is a true story.I just think of it in the bad moment, and from it comes only one hopeful question:If
so for birds, why not for man?
1. Which would be the best title for the passage?
A. Why Not for Man?
B. Graceful Swans
C. Swans' Brave Act
D. I Just Couldn't Believe It!
2. What happened to the Canada goose?
A. It was deserted by other geese.
B. It was stuck in the ice.
C. It was wounded and couldn't fly.
D. It was lost in the water.
3. At first the author's friend was worried that________.
A. the swans would not help the Canada goose
B. she didn't care about this matter any more
C. the swans wouldn't identify with the Canada goose
D. the swans would peck the Canada goose to death
4. What did the swans do when they saw the Canada goose couldn't fly?
A. They chipped off the ice held in its feathers.
B. They waited patiently for the ice held in its feathers to melt.
C. They came down and lifted it up to the sky together.
D. They stayed with it and protected it.
