The Raven and the Swan

    A raven¹ envied a swan the whiteness of her plumage；and，thinking that her beauty was owing to the water in which she lived，deserted the altars where he used to find his livelihood，and betook him-self to the pools and streams．There he plumed² and dressed himself and washed his coat，but all to no purpose，for his plumage remained as black as ever，and he himself soon perished for want of his usual food．Change of scene is not change of nature．Exercises：
    回答下列问题：
    ① According to the raven，why did the swan look beautiful？
    ② Where did the raven want to betake himself？
    ③ Did the raven's plumage change？
    ④ What can we learn from the fable³？

1 raven   

n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的

参考例句：

• We know the raven will never leave the man's room.我们知道了乌鸦再也不会离开那个男人的房间。
• Her charming face was framed with raven hair.她迷人的脸上垂落着乌亮的黑发。

2 plumed   

饰有羽毛的

参考例句：

• The knight plumed his helmet with brilliant red feathers. 骑士用鲜红的羽毛装饰他的头盔。
• The eagle plumed its wing. 这只鹰整理它的翅膀。

3 fable   

n.寓言；童话；神话

参考例句：

• The fable is given on the next page. 这篇寓言登在下一页上。
• He had some motive in telling this fable. 他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。