The Water Sprite and the Pearl

    A man was sailing in a small boat，and dropped a precious pearl into the sea accidentally．When the man had returned to land，he took a pail，and began to scoop¹ up the water and pour it on the shore．For three days he scooped² and poured unweariedly．On the fourth day a Water Sprite came up out of the sea，and asked，“Why are you scooping³？”
    The man replied，“I am scooping because I have lost a pearl．”
    The Water Sprite asked，“Are you going to stop before long？”
    The man replied，“When I have scooped the sea dry，then I shall stop．”
    Then the Water Sprite returned into the depths，and brought up the very pearl，and gave it back to the man．Exercises：
    回答下列问题：
    ① What did the man drop？
    ② What did the man do to pick up his pearl？
    ③ Why did the Water Sprite help him？

1 scoop   

n.铲子，舀取，独家新闻；v.汲取，舀取，抢先登出

参考例句：

• In the morning he must get his boy to scoop it out.早上一定得叫佣人把它剜出来。
• Uh,one scoop of coffee and one scoop of chocolate for me.我要一勺咖啡的和一勺巧克力的。

2 scooped   

v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等）

参考例句：

• They scooped the other newspapers by revealing the matter. 他们抢先报道了这件事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The wheels scooped up stones which hammered ominously under the car. 车轮搅起的石块，在车身下发出不吉祥的锤击声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 scooping   

n.捞球v.抢先报道( scoop的现在分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等）

参考例句：

• Heated ice cream scoop is used for scooping really cold ice cream. 加热的冰淇淋勺是用来舀非常凉的冰淇淋的。 来自互联网
• The scoop-up was the key phase during a scooping cycle. 3个区间中，铲取区间是整个作业循环的关键。 来自互联网