Andy and Eric were two friends who often played together. One day, on their way back home from school, they rode slowly, talking about the fishing trip that they had planned for the coming summer vacation. While turning a corner, Andy cried out, “A fight near the lake! Let’s go to watch!”
“No,” said Eric. “Let’s go home and not get involved in their quarrel. Stay away from it, or we may get into trouble. What’s more, our parents are waiting for us at home and I don’t want them to worry about me.”
“You are a coward (胆小鬼).” Andy laughed at him. Eric was a little annoyed, but he didn’t say anything, just riding home directly. The next day, he went to school as usual.
However, Andy had told all the class that Eric was too timid to do anything brave. So the whole class laughed at him a lot. And from then on, they looked down on Eric, unwilling to play with him. Eric was very sad but he didn’t blame Andy for his being rude to him, because he learned that true courage is shown most in bearing misunderstanding when it was not deserved, and that he ought to be afraid of nothing but doing wrong. Therefore, he ignored their teasing, studying even harder. What was different was that he had to go home alone.
Several days later, Andy together with his new friends was riding home. They were so absorbed in their conversation that they were unaware of everything else around them.
Suddenly, Andy noticed an unusual buzz of noise. He came to a stop and looked curiously up to the heavens. What he saw shocked and terrified him. A huge swarm of bees filled the sky like a black cloud and the noisy mass seemed to be heading angrily towards them.
“Bees!” someone shouted. The boys were caught in great panic. All of them except Andy rode as fast as possible to escape. Andy was too scared to move.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Andy stopped there, with the buzz louder and louder.
Dragging themselves out of the lake, they struggled up to the shore.
Andy stopped there, with the buzz louder and louder. Just at that moment, Eric rode rapidly towards him like an arrow. He stopped, threw off his clothes and wrapped up their faces. After that, he shouted to Andy, “This way! There is a lake ahead!” With no time to waste, they rode furiously in the direction of the lake, the crazy bees following them. Finally, they made it to the lake. Off their bikes and into the cool water they lived, disappearing below the surface and away from the savage insects. After holding their breath for as long as they could, they came up for air and noticed the bees had gone.
Dragging themselves out of the lake, they struggled up to the shore. Andy looked at Eric gratefully and was ashamed of having called Eric a coward. He realized that Eric had true courage. He hugged Eric, saying “sorry” to Eric repeatedly for his rude behavior and asked for his forgiveness. Eric forgave him happily. He and Andy were friends again and they went home together as usual. From that, Andy learned what true courage was: never be afraid to do good, but always fear to do evil.
