The Goose

（单词翻译:单击）

    The pure white feathers of a goose put even the newly-fallen snow to blush．Proud of this dazzling gift of nature，she considered herself intended for a swan，rather than for that which she was．Accordingly，separating herself from her companions，she swam，solitarily and majestically，round the pond．She now stretched her neck，the treacherous¹ shortness of which she endeavoured to obviate² with all her might．Then she tried to give it the graceful³ bend，which designates the beautiful swan the bird of Apollo．But in vain，it was toostiff，and with all her pains，she remained a ridiculous goose，without inspiring a single beholder⁴ with the least idea of her resemblance to a swan．How many geese are there，without wings，who，for similar as-sumption，become laughing-stocks to their neighbours！
    Exercises：
    判断对（T）、错（F）：
    ① The goose became so proud because of her feathers．② She wanted to be a swan，rather than to be that which she was．③ At last she succeeded through her great efforts．④ She became a laughing-stock to her neighbours．