There was once a man from the city who was visiting a small farm，and during this visit he saw a farmer feeding pigs in a most extraordinary manner。The farmer would lift a pig up to a nearby apple tree and the pig would eat the apples off the tree directly。The farmer would move the pig from one apple to another until the pig was satisfied，then he would start again with another pig。The city man watched this activity for some time with great astonishment。
Finally，he could not resist saying to the farmer，“This is the most inefficient method of feeding pigs that I can imagine。Just think of the time that would be saved if you simply shook the apples off the tree and let the pigs eat them on the ground！”The farmer looked puzzled and replied，“What's time to a pig？”
从前，一个城里人去参观一个小农场。在参观中他看到，农民喂猪的方式非常奇怪。农民把猪举到苹果树上，猪直接吃树上掉下来的苹果。农民把猪从一棵树挪到另一棵树，直到猪吃饱了。然后他接着喂下一头猪吃。城里人惊讶地看了好一会儿。
终于，他按耐不住了，对农民说：“这是我能想象的最费时间的喂猪方法。你把苹果从树上摇下来，直接让猪在地上吃，这样多省时！”农民十分不解地答道：“时间对猪来说有什么意义呢？”
1.extraordinary adj。特别的，非凡的，特派的，离奇的
Her strength of will is extraordinary。（她意志的力量是不平常的。）
2.resist v。抵抗，抗拒，忍耐
I could not resist the temptation。（我抵抗不住那种诱惑。）
3.inefficient adj。无效率的，效率低的，无能的
For instance，it becomes a burden to our inefficient transportation system。（例如，它增长了我国原先效率不高的运输体系的负担。）
自我测验19：
1.—What have we got for supper？
—I gothuge fish atmarket opposite our school for only five pounds。
A。the；theB。a；theC。the；aD。a；a
2.—Oh！What a pretty bag！Would you be kind enough to getfor me？
—What？Didn't I buyfor you as a birthday present？
A。this；thatB。that；itC。one；thisD。it；one
3.—Kate is complaining again。
—She has a good job and plenty of money。Whatdoes she want？
A。bestB。betterC。mostD。more
4.—Is Mr。Li familiar with London？
—Yes。He works in Beijing but knows it very well，for hethere for years。
A。had livedB。livesC。has livedD。lived
5.—My brotherin MIT。He is graduating this year。
—That's wonderful。Ithere for four years in the 1990s。
A。has studied；have studied
B。has been studying；had studied
C。has been studying；studied
D。studies；had been studying
6.—Mum，it's time for us to go to the party！
—I see。Tony，mind your manners！Don'twhile others are talking。
A。cut inB。cut offC。cut downD。cut up
7.—Howthe advertisement is！
—What do you think we canto make it more attractive and interesting？
A。amusing；bring upB。bothering；bring in
C。bothered；bring aboutD。amused；bring down
key：1-56-7