Lesson 10 Tell the Truth

1、There was once a little boy whose name was George, and his father one day gave him a small axe to play with.

2、George was greatly pleased with it, and took it with him to the garden. He roamed about, trying it upon nearly everything that came in his way.

3、At last he came to a young cherry-tree , and began to try the axe on it. He soon made some deep cuts in the tree. And then he walked away to another part of the garden.

4、This cherry-tree was greatly prized by his father; but George forgot all about that.

5、By-and-by his father came to that part of the garden where the tree stood. He was very sorry when he found his fine cherry-tree almost ruined.

6、“George!” said he sternly to his son, “Who has done this?”

7、Did George answer, “I don’t know, father”? O no. Did he lay the blame on any one else? O no.

8、With tears in his eyes he looked up to his father’s face. “Father,” said he, “I can’t tell a lie—I did it.”

9、Noble boy! He was not afraid to tell the truth; and his father at once forgavehim.

10、Boys are often tempted to speak what is not the truth. When that happens let each one think of George, and try like him to say, “I can’t tell a lie.” Come what may boys,speak the truth.

“Speak the truth, and speak it ever,Cost it what it will;He who hides the wrong he did Does the wrong thing still.”

11、The boy of this story became one of the greatest men that ever lived. He wasGEORGE WASHINGTON.

(288 words)

Exercises

Ⅰ. How well did you read?

1. [Note the fact] What did George get from his father?

A. A cherry-tree. B. A poem. C. An axe.

2. [Note the fact] When George’s father found his fine cherry cherry-tree almost ruined, ________________________.

A. he was afraid

B. he was sorry

C. he was noble

3. [Draw a conclusion] Which of the following statement is true?

A. George made some deep cuts in the young cherry-tree.

B. George was not brave enough to tell the truth.

C. George’s father gave him a lesson on honesty.

4. [Note the reason] Why did the writer write this passage? The writer wanted to tell us ______.

A. we should tell the truth

B. we should protect the trees

C. we should obey our parents

Ⅱ. Read for words.

Choose one best paraphrase for the underlined words or expressions.

1. He roamed about, trying it upon nearly everything that came in his way. (Para. 2,line 1)

A. turned around B. showed around C.walked around

2. This cherry-tree was greatly prized by his father; but George forgot all about that.(Para. 4, line 1)

A. loved B. planted C. watered

3. (1) By-and-by his father came to that part of the garden where the tree stood. He was very sorry when he found his fine cherry-tree almost ruined. (Para. 5, line 1;Para. 5, line 2)

(1) A. At the moment B. In the future C. Later

(2) A. cut down B. cut out C. cut up

4. “George!” said he sternly to his son, “Who has done this?” (Para. 6, line 1)A. angrily B. lovely C. quickly

Ⅲ. Writing practice.

1. What did George get from his father?

2. What did he try it upon?

3. What did he at last injure very much in?

4. Whom did this make very sorry?

5. What did his father say to him?

6. What did George answer?

7. Who was the boy?