A couple of weeks ago, my husband got a text asking him to help cut down a tree. “This is not the time of year to cut down trees,” I said to my husband, “They are full of birds’ nests. Wait until fall, until the baby birds have flown away.”
The tree didn’t seem like an urgent issue to me or my husband, but it was worrying our neighbor and she wanted it gone. So, with some unwillingness and a chainsaw(链锯), my husband and our sons headed to our neighbor’s house early Saturday morning. About an hour later, I got a phone call from my 14-year-old son. He spoke in a trembling voice, which made me worried. I grabbed my keys, expecting to be told to meet my husband and sons at the emergency room. But no, everyone was safe. My son said that birds’ nests had fallen out of the tree and some baby birds had been hurt. So, I grabbed an old towel and a laundry basket.
I put the birds in the basket and headed for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. The people there are not astounded to see worried people with laundry baskets containing injured animals. They sighed at my story—they had heard many stories like this. They knew exactly how to help these birds. I was relieved that the birds would be fine, but I was still upset they had been needlessly traumatized(使受精神创伤).
A lesson from this experience is that we need to look at the whole picture. We must behave in ways that help meet needs without causing harm to others, Our efforts to move through our lives with more gentleness and care may make a big difference for someone, whether it’s a baby bird or a person.
1. Why did the author disagree with cutting down the tree at first?
A. The tree was growing well. B. The tree caused her no trouble.
C. The tree was home to some baby birds. D. The tree played a part in the ecosystem.
2. The author’s son spoke in a trembling voice because
A. some little lives were hurt B. he worried about his father’s safety
C. someone was sent to the hospital D. he was unwilling to cut down the tree
3. What does the underlined word “astounded” in paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. Frightened. B. Shocked. C. Prepared. D. Relaxed.
4. What might be the best title for the text?
A. Treat Each Life Equally B. Live in Harmony with Nature
C. Give Our Neighbors a Hand in Time D. Help Others without Hurting Anyone
【答案】1. C 2. A 3. B 4. D
