The Water Sprite and the Pearl

（单词翻译:单击）

    A man was sailing in a small boat，and dropped a precious pearl into the sea accidentally．When the man had returned to land，he took a pail，and began to scoop¹ up the water and pour it on the shore．For three days he scooped² and poured unweariedly．On the fourth day a Water Sprite came up out of the sea，and asked，“Why are you scooping³？”
    The man replied，“I am scooping because I have lost a pearl．”
    The Water Sprite asked，“Are you going to stop before long？”
    The man replied，“When I have scooped the sea dry，then I shall stop．”
    Then the Water Sprite returned into the depths，and brought up the very pearl，and gave it back to the man．Exercises：
    回答下列问题：
    ① What did the man drop？
    ② What did the man do to pick up his pearl？
    ③ Why did the Water Sprite help him？