Prevention Is Better Than Cure

    A man visited his friend's house and saw that his kitchen range had a very straight chimney by the side of which was stacked a lot of firewood．The visitor said to his host，“You ought to make the chimney crooked¹ and move the firewood far away from it，or else you will easily have a fire on your hands．”
    His host made no answer．Not long afterwards a fire really broke out．With the help of his neighbours he was fortunate eopugh to putout the fire．Therefore，he kiled his calf² and prepared a feast to ex-press his gratitude³ to his neighbours．Those who had been scorched⁴ by the flames were given the places of honour and the rest were seated according to the amount of service they rendered．But the man who suggested changing the chimney and removing the firewood was not invited．One of the guests said to the host，“If you had listened to your friend，you would not have had a fire and there would have been no need to kill the calf and prepare the feast．Now when you invited your guests because of what they did for you，are you going to pass over the one who advised you to take precautions and merely honour those who were hurt by the flames？”
    The host realized his oversight⁵ and invited his friend．Exercises：
    判断对（T）、错（F）：
    ① A man visited his friend and saw that the kitchen range had a very straight chimney by the side of which was stacked a lot of fire-wood．② The host listened to his advice．③ The host killed his dog to express his thanks to his neighbours．④ The host's friend was invited at last．

1 crooked   

adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him.他弯了弯手指，示意我们到他那儿去。
• You have to drive slowly on these crooked country roads.在这些弯弯曲曲的乡间小路上你得慢慢开车。

2 calf   

n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮

参考例句：

• The cow slinked its calf.那头母牛早产了一头小牛犊。
• The calf blared for its mother.牛犊哞哞地高声叫喊找妈妈。

3 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

4 scorched   

烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦

参考例句：

• I scorched my dress when I was ironing it. 我把自己的连衣裙熨焦了。
• The hot iron scorched the tablecloth. 热熨斗把桌布烫焦了。

5 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。