17．A group of swans flew down to a beach where a crow （乌鸦） was jumping around．The crow watched them with disdain （鄙视）．
"You have no flying skills at all!"he said to the swans．"All you can do is to move your wings．Can you turn over in the air？No，that's beyond you．Let's have a flying competition．I'll show you what real flying is!"
One of the swans，a strong young male，took up the challenge （挑战）．The crow flew up and began to show his skills．He flew in circles，performed other flying tricks，and then came down and looked proudly at the swan．
Now it was the swan's turn．He flew up，and began flying over the sea．The crow flew after him，making all kinds of comments （评价） about his flying．They flew on and on till they couldn't see the land and there was nothing but water on all sides．The crow was making fewer and fewer comments．He was now so exhausted that he found it hard to stay in the air，and had to struggle to keep himself from falling into the water．
The swan pretended （假装） not to notice，and said，"Why do you keep touching the water，brother？Is that another trick？"
"No，"said the crow．He knew he had lost the competition．"I'm in trouble because of my pride （自大）!If you don't help me，I'll lose my life…"
The swan took pity on him，and took him on his shoulders and flew back to the beach．
21．What's the correct order of the following eventsC？
a．The crow followed the swan and got into trouble．
b．The swan felt pity for the crow and saved it．
c．The crow had to ask the swan for help．
d．The swan accepted a challenge of performing flying tricks．
A．a，d，b，c
B．a，b，d，c
C．d，a，c，b
D．d，c，a，b
22．What does the underlined word"exhausted"in Paragraph 4 meanA？
A．Tired．
B．Bored．
C．Nervous．
D．Frightened．
23．What do we learn from the passageD？
A．Practice makes perfect．
B．The early bird catches the worm．
C．No pains，no gains．
D．Pride goes before a fall．
分析 短文大意：这篇短文中骄傲的乌鸦瞧不起天鹅，向天鹅发起挑战．结果在挑战中失败，不得不向天鹅求救，最后被天鹅救了命．从而告诉我们骄傲使人落后的道理．
一群天鹅飞到海滩正巧有一只乌鸦正在到处乱蹦．乌鸦轻蔑地看了他们一眼．"你们根本没有飞行技巧"他说．"你们所能做的就是煽动你们的翅膀．你能在空中翻滚吗？不，你不行．让我们来一个飞行竞赛．我将向你说明什么是真正的飞行！"一只强壮年轻的公天鹅接受了挑战．那只乌鸦飞起来，开始表现出他的飞行能力．他空中盘旋，表现出其他飞行技巧，然后下来，自豪地打量了这只天鹅．
现在轮到天鹅了．他飞起来，并开始飞过大海．那只乌鸦飞在他后面，对他进行各种各样的评价．他们一直飞，直到他们不能看见陆地，什么都没有了，只有水．乌鸦越来越少地评论天鹅．他现在太累了，他发现很难在空中停留，要很努力不让自己掉进水里．
天鹅假装没有看见，说，"你为什么一直贴着水飞，兄弟？那是另一种技巧吗？""不，"乌鸦说．他知道他已经输了比赛．他说："我因为我的骄傲遇到了麻烦，如果你不帮我，我将会失去我的生命…"那只天鹅觉得他很可怜，就把他背在自己的肩膀上，飞回了海滩．
解答 21：答案C 排序题：根据故事发展的经过可知先是天鹅接受挑战，然后乌鸦跟着天鹅，有了麻烦，再后来乌鸦向天鹅求救，最后天鹅救了乌鸦．故选C
22：答案A 词义猜测题：根据后面的he found it hard to stay in the air，and had to struggle to keep himself from falling into the water．可知他发现很难在空中停留，要很努力不让自己掉进了水里，猜测出乌鸦很累．故选A．
23：答案D 从这篇文章可知讲的是乌鸦骄傲自满不自量力和天鹅比赛，后来却以失败告终的故事，即骄兵必败，故选D
点评 本文是一篇非常好的阅读理解，读后让人受益匪浅．本文较为简单，只要理解文章意思，仔细阅读，从文中寻找答案，即可轻松解答．
