武太白·白话英语·总目录合集（2016-2020）
The Alligator s Secret 鳄鱼的秘密 - 英语故事听读说0008
Introduction
To find light for their night concert, the animal band sends Dan the Mouse out. He asks and climbs, and finds light.
上图是用Word 2019检测出来的本故事文本适用年级信息。2.9年级+4，相当于国内使用人教版统编英语教材的七年级学生。上海地区的小朋友五年级即可试读本故事。
In Search of the Missing Light
Dan the mouse loves music. His best friends, Rabbit and Frog, are music lovers, too. The three friends want to hold a special musical concert. Dan writes the music, and they all plan the performance. But then they discover a problem.
“It will be dark tonight. And we can't hold a concert in the dark.” They worry. “What are we going to do about lighting for the concert?”
The friends talk for a long time but they can't think where to find any light. They all feel very disappointed.
“Let's not give up,” says Dan. “I'll go and ask around in the woods. Maybe someone will know where to find some light.”
“Take the violin with you,” suggests Rabbit. “It might be useful.”
So Dan sets off for the woods. On his way to the woods, Dan sees some fat caterpillars munching leaves.
“Excuse me,” he begins politely. “Do you know where I can find some light? It's for a special musical performance.”
“No. We've never seen any light that would be useful for your concert,” say the caterpillars thoughtfully. “We've never been anywhere.”
Then one of them has an idea. “Why don't you ask the squirrel? He's been all over the woods. He's bound to know.”
Dan continues onto the woods. He soon finds the squirrels scurrying up and down a tree.
“Hello, Mr. Squirrel,” he says. “I'm looking for some light for a musical performance. Do you know where I can find it, sir?”
“Sorry. I don't know,” says the squirrel. “Why don't you ask the big yellow bird? He flies everywhere. So he's bound to know.” The squirrel offers to lend down his acorn basket to carry the light.
Dan thanks the squirrel and goes on his way.
At the edge of the woods, Dan finds the big yellow bird and tells him about his search for light. The yellow bird is very wise. He sees many things as he flies through the sky.
“I think you should climb the far mountain.” He suggests, “It's always very light up there, perhaps then you will find what you are searching for.”
Dan looks over at the mountain. It seems a long, long way to the top.
The mountain is very steep. Dan carefully climbs over the huge rocks and slowly makes his way to the summit. He soon starts to feel very tired, but then he remembers his friends back home, waiting for him to find the light for their performance. He is determined to get to the top. “I must hurry.” He keeps telling himself. At last, as night is falling, Dan reaches the summit. He sets down the basket, takes out his music, and starts to play the violin. The beautiful music floats up clearly into the night sky.
Then something strange happens. Dan sees, a shooting star with a long, bright tail traveling across the sky. It's going to fly right over him. Ding, ding, ding. A shower of small sparkling stars begins to rain down on the summit. It seems that the sky is thanking Dan for his lovely music.
Dan runs back and forth, catching the pieces of light in the basket. “This is wonderful.” He tells himself. “These pieces of light will be perfect for lighting up our concert.”
When Dan has filled his basket with the twinkling pieces of light, he looks up to the sky.
“Thank you. Shooting Star, for coming to hear my music.” He says.
Then Dan sets off back down the mountain to return to his friends. On the way he passes the squirrel’s tree.
“Look, Mr. Squirrel,” he says. “look at these wonderful, bright lights I collected in your basket. Now, we can go ahead with our performance.”
The squirrel looks into the basket.
“Would you like to join me and come to listen to our concert?” Ask Dan.
“I’d love to,” replies the squirrel.
On the way back, Dan and the squirrel passed a group of butterflies. The caterpillars that Dan saw earlier have now become beautiful butterflies.
“Hello, butterflies,” he says. “Thank you for your advice earlier. Would you like to come to our music concert?”
Just then the wise yellow bird flies up behind them.
“So you found your light!” He says happily. Dan thanks him for his advice and invites him to the concert, too. The animals all return home together. As they arrive they are greeted by Dan's friends, Rabbit and Frog. They are delighted to see the bright, shining pieces of light.
“Now we can start our performance,” they say.
At last, Dan and his friends are ready to begin the concert. The twinkling stars give just the right amount of light. Everything is perfect. Beautiful music fills the air. Dan conducts while Rabbit plays the violin and Frog blows on the saxophone.
The concert is a great success. The yellow bird flaps his wings in appreciation of the music. The butterflies flutter through the air, the squirrel dances with glee. “Well,” thinks Dan. “It really was worth all that effort to find the missing light.”
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