How Great Love Is
爱有多伟大
Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, and all of the others including Love.
One day it was said that the island would sink, so all repaired their boats and left. Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to stay until the last possible moment. When the water was getting high by the inch and the island was almost sinking, Love decided to ask for help.
Wealth was passing by Love in a boat. Love said, “Wealth, can you take me with you?” Wealth answered, “No, I can’t. There is plenty of gold and silver in my boat. I don’t dare let you on or we will sink to the bottom.”
Love decided to ask Vanity, who was also passing by in a beautiful boat, “Vanity, please help me!” Vanity answered with an excuse, “I can’t help you, Love. I can’t allow you on. You are all wet and might hurt my boat.”
Sadness was close by in the other direction and Love asked for help, “Sadness let me go with you. Lend me some help.” “Oh…Love, Do not disturb me. I am so sad that I need to be alone!”
Happiness passed by Love too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her! Happiness did not even make an effort, and dismissed Love.
All of a sudden, there was a voice, “Come Love, I will take you.” It was an elder who brought Love over the smooth surface of the water to safety. Love became very happy that she even forgot to ask the elder his name.
When they arrived at dry land, the elder went on his own way. Love, realizing how much she owned the elder, asked Knowledge, another elder, “Who helped me in this final moment? Who made this great gesture and treated me so well?”
“It was time”, Knowledge answered.
“Time?” asked Love “But why did Time help me?”
Knowledge smiled, with a deep, wise voice, answered, “Because only Time is able to understand how great Love is.”
译文
从前在一座小岛上住着快乐、悲伤以及其它所有的一切感情。当然也包括爱。
有一天，他们知道小岛将要下沉了，所以都修好了自己的小舟，离开了小岛。只有爱留了下来，她想待到小岛真的要下沉了才肯离开。当水位一英寸一英寸升高，小岛快要下沉的时候，爱决定向其他感觉寻求帮助。
财富划着一艘漂亮的小船从旁边经过。爱就问她：“财富啊，可以带着我一起走吗？”财富说：“不能，我的船上装满了金银珠宝，我不敢再让你上来了，否则我们都会沉底的。”
虚荣这个时候也从旁边划着一艘漂亮的小船经过，爱于是决定去问她：“虚荣，请带上我一起走吧！”虚荣找了一个借口回答说：“不可以，我不能让你上来。你的浑身都湿透了，你会弄坏我的小船的。”
刚好悲伤也从别的地方经过，爱向她求助，“让我和你一起走吧悲伤，帮帮我吧！”悲伤回答说：“哦，爱，不要打扰我。我太悲伤了，我还是一个人走好。”
快乐也从爱身旁经过，但是她太高兴了，根本就没有听见爱在叫她！快乐还没来得及做任何努力，就不理爱了。
突然，一个声音叫到：“来吧，爱，我带你走。”说话的是一位老者，他带着爱穿越平滑的水面去往安全的地方。爱高兴得甚至忘了问他叫什么名字。
在他们到达了干燥的陆地后，老者就独自走了。爱意识到了自己亏欠老者很多，就问另一个老者知识：“在这紧要关头，是谁帮助我的啊？为什么他会做出这么伟大的举动，对我这么好啊？”
知识回答说：“他是时间。”
“时间？”爱问道，“可是他为什么要帮助我呢？”
知识微微笑了，用深沉而富于智慧的声音回答道：“因为只有爱才能懂得爱有多伟大。”
拓展训练
Once upon a time all feelings went to an island for a vacation, and each was having a good time. Suddenly, a warning of a strong storm was announced, so all rushed to their boats. Yet, Love did not wish to run away quickly. There was so much to do. But as the clouds darkened, Love realized it was time to leave. But there were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope.
Just then Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love shouted, "Richness, can you take me with you?" Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."
Love decided to ask Vanity(虚荣) who was also passing by in a beautiful boat for help, But Vanity said with a cold voice, “No, I can’t take you with me. My boat will get dirty with your feet.”
Sorrow passed by after some time. Again, Love asked for help. But it was useless. “No, I can’t take you with me. I am so sad. I want to be by myself.”
When Happiness passed by a few minutes later, Love again called for help. But Happiness was so happy that it hardly concerned about anyone else.
Love was growing restless and hopeless. Just then somebody called out, “Come, Love, I will take you with me.” Love did not know who was being so kind, but jumped onto the boat happily.
After getting off the boat, Love met Knowledge. Love asked, “Knowledge, do you know who was so kind to give me a lift when no one else wished to help?”
Knowledge smiled, "Oh, that was Time,"
"Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?" Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how valuable Love is."
46. According to the passage, which one did not go to an island for a vacation?
A. Love. B. Richness. C. Vanity D. Knowledge
47. Which word has the same meaning as “Sorrow”?
A. Worry B. Anger C. Sadness D. Smile
48. Other feelings passed by Love in their boats one by one. Which is the right order according to the passage?
A. Richness→ Vanity→ Sorrow→ Happiness→ Time
B. Richness→ Happiness→ Sorrow→ Vanity→ Time
C. Time → Richness→ Vanity→ Sorrow→ Happiness
D. Richness→ Happiness→ Vanity→ Sorrow→ Time
49. What can we learn from the passage?
A. When we are rich, we may pay more attention to Love.
B. All the feelings are important in our life except Love.
C. As time goes by, we can realize the importance of Love.
D. When we are in happiness and sorrow, we shouldn’t remember Love.
50. What’s the best title for the passage?
A. the Importance of Love. B. Feelings on the Island.
C. Helpless Love. D. Helpful Time.
答案：DCACA