小学英语安徒生童话系列（二）TheTopandBall阅读素材.docx

theTopandBallbyHansChristianAndersen（1838）WHIPPINGTOPandalittleballlaytogetherinabox，amongothertoys，andthetopsaidtotheball， “Shallwebemarried，asweliveinthesamebox？”Buttheball，whichworeadressofmoroccoleather，andthoughtasmuchofherselfasanyotheryounglady，wouldnotevencondescendtoreply.thenextdaycamethelittleboytowhomtheplaythingsbelonged，andhepaintedthetopredandyellow，anddroveabrass-headednailintothemiddle，sothatwhilethetopwasspinningrounditlookedsplendid.“Lookatme，”saidthetoptotheball. “Whatdoyousaynow？Shallwebeengagedtoeachother？Weshouldsuitsowell；youspring，andIdance.Noonecouldbehappierthanweshouldbe.”“Indeed！doyouthinkso？Perhapsyoudonotknowthatmyfatherandmotherweremoroccoslippers，andthatIhaveaSpanishcorkinmybody.”“Yes；butIammadeofmahogany，”saidthetop. “Themajorhimselfturnedme.Hehasaturninglatheofhisown，anditisaGREatamusementtohim.”“CanIbelieveit？”askedtheball.“MayIneverbewhippedagain，”saidthetop， “ifIamnottellingyouthetruth.”“Youcertainlyknowhowtospeakforyourselfverywell，”saidtheball； “butIcannotacceptyourproposal.Iamalmostengagedtoaswallow.EverytimeIflyupintheair，heputshisheadoutofthenest，andsays，Willyou？andIhavesaid，Yes，tomyselfsilently，andthatisasgoodasbeinghalfengaged；butIwillpromisenevertoforgetyou.”“Muchgoodthatwillbetome，”saidthetop；andtheyspoketoeachothernomore.Nextdaytheballwastakenoutbytheboy.Thetopsawitflyinghighintheair，likeabird，tillitwouldgoquiteoutofsight.Eachtimeitcameback，asittouchedtheearth，itgaveahigherleapthanbefore，eitherbecauseitlongedtoflyupwards，orfromhavingaSpanishcorkinitsbody.Buttheninthtimeitroseintheair，itremainedaway，anddidnotreturn.Theboysearchedeverywhereforit，buthesearchedinvain，foritcouldnotbefound；itwasgone.“Iknowverywellwheresheis，”sighedthetop； “sheisintheswallowsnest，andhasmarriedtheswallow.”themorethetopthoughtofthis，themorehelongedfortheball.Hisloveincreasedthemore，justbecausehecouldnotgether；andthatsheshouldhavebeenwonbyanother，wastheworstofall.Thetopstilltwirledaboutandhummed，buthecontinuedtothinkoftheball；andthemorehethoughtofher，themorebeautifulsheseemedtohisfancy.Thusseveralyearspassedby，andhislovebecamequiteold.thetop，also，wasnolongeryoung；buttherecameadaywhenhelookedhandsomerthanever；forhewasgildedallover.Hewasnowagoldentop，andwhirledanddancedabouttillhehummedquiteloud，andwassomethingworthlookingat；butonedayheleapedtoohigh，andthenhe，also，wasgone.Theysearchedeverywhere，eveninthecellar，buthewasnowheretobefound.Wherecouldhebe？Hehadjumpedintothedust-bin，whereallsortsofrubbishwerelying：cabbage-stalks，dust，andrain-droppingsthathadfallendownfromthegutterundertheroof.“NowIaminaniceplace，”saidhe； “mygildingwillsoonbewashedoffhere.Ohdear，whatasetofrabbleIhavegotamongst！”Andthenheglancedatacuriousroundthinglikeanoldapple，whichlaynearalong，leaflesscabbage-stalk.Itwas，however，notanapple，butanoldball，whichhadlainforyearsinthegutter，andwassoakedthroughwithwater.“Thankgoodness，herecomesoneofmyownclass，withwhomIcantalk，”saidtheball，examiningthegildedtop. “Iammadeofmorocco，”shesaid. “Iwassewntogetherbyayounglady，andIhaveaSpanishcorkinmybody；butnoonewouldthinkit，tolookatmenow.Iwasonceengagedtoaswallow；butIfellinherefromthegutterundertheroof，andIhavelainheremorethanfiveyears，andhavebeenthoroughlydrenched.Believeme，itisalongtimeforayoungmaiden.”thetopsaidnothing，buthethoughtofhisoldlove；andthemoreshesaid，themoreclearitbecametohimthatthiswasthesameball.theservantthencametocleanoutthedust-bin.“Ah，”sheexclaimed， “hereisagilttop.”Sothetopwasbroughtagaintonoticeandhonor，butnothingmorewasheardofthelittleball.Hespok