Lesson 8 Ralph Wick
Ralph Wick was seven years old. In most things he was a fine boy, but he was too apt① to cry.
When he could not have what he wanted, he would cry for it and say, “I will have it.”
If he was told that it would hurt him, and he could not have it, he would begin to tease and cry.
One day, he went with his mother into the fields. The sun shone. The grass was cut. The flowers were in bloom②.
Ralph thought he was, for once, a good boy. A smile was on his face. He wished to do as he was told.
He said, “Mother, I will be good now. I will do as you bid me. Please let me toss③ this hay④.”
“That I will,” said his mother. So they threw the hay, as Ralph wished, and he was very happy.
“Now you must be tired,” said his mother. “Sit down here, and I will get a nice red rose for you.”
“I would like to have one,” said Ralph. So his mother brought the red rose to him.
“Thank you, mother,” he said. “But you have a white one, also. Please give me that.”
“No, my dear,” said his mother. “See how many thorns⑤ it has on its stem⑥. You must not touch it. If you should try to pluck⑦ a rose like this, you would be sure to hurt your hand.”
When Ralph found that he could not have the white rose, he began to scream⑧, and snatched⑨ it. But he was soon very sorry. The thorns tore his hand. It was so sore he could not use it for some time.
Ralph did not soon forget this. When he wanted what he should not have, his mother would point to his sore hand. He at last learned to do as he was told.
(324 words)
Notes
① apt [æpt] adj. 恰当的；有…倾向的；易于…的
② bloom [bluːm] n.（常指供观赏的）花；开花期；最盛期
vi. 开花；发光，闪亮
③ toss [tɒs] vt.& vi.（轻轻或漫不经心地）扔；（使）摇荡；摇匀
④ hay [heɪ] n. 干草
⑤ thorn [θɔːn] n. 刺；棘刺，荆棘；带刺的植物
⑥ stem [stem] n.（花草的）茎
⑦ pluck [plʌk] vt. 采，摘；拔掉
⑧ scream [skriːm] vt. 尖声喊叫；喊叫着说出
vi. 尖叫
⑨ snatch [snætʃ] vt. 抢夺，夺得；及时救助
Exercises
Ⅰ. How well did you read?
1. [Grasp the main idea] What is the passage about?
A. How did Ralph fi nd a white rose?
B. How did Ralph play with his mother?
C. How did Ralph learn to do as he was told?
2. [See the result] What would Ralph do when he didn’t have what he wanted?
A. Nothing. B. Cry. C. Go away.
3. [Give the reason] Why did Ralph want to have a white rose?
A. Because he saw his mother had one.
B. Because he liked it very much.
C. Because he had never seen it.
4. [Check the details] How did Ralph feel in the beginning when he went to the fields with his mom?
A. Sad. B. Happy. C. Sorry.
5. [Draw a conclusion] What helped Ralph learn to do as he was told?
A. The white rose.
B. The red rose.
C. His sore hand.
Ⅱ. Read for words.
Choose the best paraphrase or Chinese meaning for the underlined words or expressions.
1. Ralph Wick was seven years old. In most things he was a fine boy, but he was too apt to cry. (Para. 1, Line 2)
A. suitable B. be likely to do C. clever, smart
2. He said, “Mother, I will be good now. I will do as you bid me.” (Para. 6, Line 1)
A. try to do B. pay money C. tell; say
3. But he was soon very sorry. (Para. 12, Line 2)
A.对不起 B.遗憾 C.不好意思
4. If you should try to pluck a rose like this, you would be sure to hurt your hand.(Para.11, Line 2)
A.摘玫瑰花 B.种玫瑰花 C. 送玫瑰花
Ⅲ. Writing practice.
Answer these questions in note form to get your points.
1. Where did Ralph and his mother go?
2. What did Ralph and his mother do?
3. What did Ralph do when he saw a white rose?
4. What did the mother tell him?
5. What lesson did Ralph get?
_________________________________________________