An Ancient Story About Jade Emperor

曲中宇

Once upon a time, rain stopped falling in China. The people prayed (祈禱) for rain to the Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝). But rain did not fall.

Four dragons lived in the East China Sea in those days. They swam to the coast to see what was happening, and saw people eating nothing but grass.

“We must do something to help the people,” they have decided.

They thought hard and then had an idea. They started swimming, scooping up(汲取) water with their bodies. Then all four flew into the sky all over the country. They let the water fall from their mouths, arms, legs, and even their tails at the same time.

The people could not see the dragons, but only see the rain falling from the sky. All the people and animals ran out into the rain and started to dance.

When the Jade Emperor saw the rain, he was angry. “Who dares to tamper with(干预) my world?” and then saw the four dragons swooping around in the sky. He summoned (召集) Mountain God and ordered him to kill the dragons.

Mountain God sent four mountains tumbling (翻动) after the dragons. The moment the dragons landed, the four mountains landed on top of them. Then a strange thing happened. Suddenly four rivers jumped out from under the mountains across the whole country—the Yellow, the Pearl and the Heilongjiang, the four great dragons once saved the people of China.

根据短文内容，选择最佳答案。

1. What did the people pray to the Jade Emperor for?

A. Food.                  B. Clothes.             C. Rain.

2. How did the four dragons make the rain fall?

A. They swam, scooping up water with their bodies.

B. They flew into the sky and let the water fall from the parts of their bodies.

C. A and B.

3. How was the Jade Emperor when he saw the rain falling?

A. Angry.             B. Happy.                C. Surprised.

4. What happened when the four mountains landed on top of the dragons?

A. It rained.           B. It was dark.           C. Four rivers jumped out.

5. Where did four dragons live in those days?

A. In the East China Sea. B. In the Yellow.          C. In the West China Sea.