"Oh boys, don't throw stones at the poor bird," said an old gray-headed man, "Sir." said a little fellow, "she makes such a loud noise that we can't suffer from her" "Yes, but she uses the voice which1gave her, and I am afraid the stone will rebound (弹回), and2you as long as you live!" "Rebound! We don't understand you, sir!" "Well, come and I will tell you a story.
"Fifty years ago, I was a boy like you. I used to throw stones3I became very skilled. One day I went to work for an old couple. They were very kind to everybody and everything.4had so many birds making their nests under the roofs of their houses. The birds seemed to5the couple. One of the birds got used to building her nest in the same place and6her young chicks there. She and her mate had just returned when I went there to work and the couple welcomed them heartily. The bird hopped about as if she was glad to be back. During the day, I thought I would try my7upon her. She sat on a pole and looked at me trustfully. I found a nice stone, and I threw it with my greatest skill. It struck the bird on the head and she drooped dead! "
"I was sorry when I saw her8. But the deed was done. I said9to the old couple about it. But one of their grandchildren told them what I had done. Though the couple10said a word to me. I knew that they were deeply saddened by my bad behavior. I could never11them in the face afterwards. Oh, that I should have told them how sorry I was!"
"They have been12many years and so has the poor bird; but don't you see13that stone rebounded, and hit me? How much the14of it has hurt me! For fifty years I have remembered it. I have never spoken of it before; but if what I have said will15you from throwing a stone that may rebound I will be happy. "
A long time ago, there was a seed and because he was only a seed, nobody noticed him. Thus, feeling inferior（低等的）the seed gave no importance to his existence（存在）.
Then one day, a wind picked him up and threw him on an open field under the sun. Later, he was given rain.
Years later he saw a traveler sitting by his side. "Thank God for this. I really need some rest," he heard the traveler say.
"What are you talking about", the seed quickly asked. He thought the man was making fun of him. No one ever spoke to him like that.
"Who just spoke?" the shocked man asked. "It is me. A seed.,"
"A seed?" The man looked at the big tree. "Are you joking? You are not a seed. You are a big tree!"
"Really?"
"Yes! Why else do you think people come here?" "What do they come here for?"
"To feel your shade（树荫）! Don't tell me you didn't know you had grown over time." A moment passed before the traveler's words brought him pride. The seed thought and smiled for the first time in his life. The years of torture（折磨）by the sun and the rain finally helped him grow up.
"Oh! That means I'm not a little seed anymore! I was actually born to make people feel comfortable. Wow! That's great!"
For both musicians and their fans, it's hard to say no to the excitement of a live concert. For fans, staying with others who share the same hobby and seeing their favorite musicians face to face are so exciting. For musicians, concert tours allow them to connect with their listeners and make big money.
So what happens when live tours are no longer possible? In early 2020, governments stopped people from traveling and staying together because of COVID-19(新冠病毒). Tours and concerts were cancelled, leaving both musicians and fans disappointed.
But musicians are creative, and technology can bring people together in ways that were impossible just ten years ago. And so one performer after another began to offer online concerts.
These online concerts were simple. Musicians just filmed themselves playing in their houses. They livestreamed (直播) their songs and listeners loved these online events. Online concerts are a great way for musicians to connect with their fans during a difficult time. In addition, they are a great way to bring people together. Although some online concerts require payment, most of them are free. And this raises questions about whether they will continue when live concerts come back.
It is easy for artists to offer free music online when no one can leave their homes. But long-term, it can stop them from selling CDS or tickets to live shows. However, free online concerts may be a good way for bands to win new fans. People who might not normally listen to an artist's music may meet an online concert accidentally. This increases the number of people buying a musician's music. Free concerts can be a good business decision after all.
Yu Boya was a famous music master who played the qin. He had been learning from nature to create beautiful melodies(歌曲).
Once, Yu took a boat trip to the state(国) of Chu. Along the way, the river water rushed towards the east, leaving the high mountains behind. The beautiful scenery inspired Yu. He took out his qin and began to play. After a while, he noticed a woodsman(樵夫) standing on the riverbank, enjoying his music quietly.
Yu happily invited the man into the boat. The woodsman introduced himself, "My name is Zhong Ziqi." After that, Yu played the qin for Zhong. He played music that described the high mountains. Zhong said, "How wonderful it is! I seem to see the magnificent(壮丽的) Mount Tai." Yu played music that described the flowing water. Zhong said, "What a beautiful melody! I seem to see the rushing river."
Yu was surprised by the woodsman's words. "You really understand my music!" So the musician and the woodsman became good friends. They decided to meet each other again at the same place the following year.
When that time came, Yu arrived on time, but did not see Zhong. He visited the village where Zhong lived and heard that his friend had died of an illness. Yu felt very sad. He took out his qin and once again played the music of High Mountains and Flowing Water.
"My best friend has passed away," he said. "No one in the world understands my music anymore." He then broke his qin and never played it again.
Danny is a little pig. He is unhappy because he wants to leave home to see the world.
It's a sunny day. Danny goes away when his parents are sleeping. On his way he meets an elephant, a peacock（孔雀）and a rabbit. At last, he gets to a lake. He looks at his reflection in the water and says, "I wish I have an elephant's nose, a peacock's tail and a rabbit's ears." After a while, Danny's wish comes true. He runs back excitedly.
But his parents can't recognize Danny, "Go away, you are not our son." Danny goes to the lake again. "I just want to be a pig." He says sadly. Danny waits and waits. He becomes a pig again. Danny runs back quickly. His parents hug him and say, "This is our lovely baby."
A: Do you often watch TV, Henry?
B: My parents can't stand it, but my brother and I love it.
A: What shows do you like?
B: I don't like talk shows. I think they're not interesting. Do you like them?
A: Do you like Go Fighting (极限挑战)?
B: Yes, and my favorite game is Running Man.
A: Yes, it's good.
B: Soap operas? They are terrible! I can't stand them!
A: Yes, I love them. They are really interesting.
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A. What do you think of soap operas? B. I don't mind them, but I really like game shows. C. Yes, I do. D. Do you like them? E. Well, I like sports shows and sitcoms. F. I don't like watching TV. |
