During the Tang Dynasty more than 1,000 years ago, people had to send gifts to the emperor(皇帝). Once, a man called Mian ____ to take some swans(鹅) in cages to the emperor.____ he was passing a lake, he found that the swans were hot and dirty. He wanted to let the swans loose so they ___ have a bath in the lake._____the swans flew away as soon as they were let out. Only a few feathers(羽毛) were left. ___ frightened the man was when he saw that. Suddenly, he got_____idea. He picked up a feather from the ground and left for the capital.

The emperor was accepting valuable gifts from officials. Everyone was surprised when Mian ____ his feather. Mian then began to sing, “I’ve come a thousand li____ you the gift. But I lost my swans at a lake. My gift is not __, but my love and respect for you are true.” The emperor was pleased at Mian’s wit(智慧). Instead _____punishing him, he gave him a big reward.

People then drew the idiom（典故）“a swan feather sent from a thousand li away.”

【1】A.was asked B.asks C.were asked D.was asking

【2】A.Before B.After C.Until D.When

【3】A.should B.may C.need D.could

【4】A.And B.So C.But D.Though

【5】A.What B.How C.What a D.How an

【6】A./ B.an C.a D.the

【7】A.present B.was presented C.has presented D.presented

【8】A.sending B.sent C.to send D.send

【9】A.heavier B.heaviest C.heavily D.heavy

【10】A.of B.in C.with D.to