The Boy and the Nettle

    A boy playing in the fields got stung by a nettle¹．He ran home to his mother，telling her that he had but touched that nasty weed，and it had stung him．“It is just your touching² it，my boy，”said his mother，“that caused it to sting you；the next time you meddle³ with a nettle，grasp it tightly，and it will do you no hurt．”
    Do boldly what you do at all．Exercises：
    判断对（T）、错（F）：
    ① When a boy was playing in the fields，he got stung by the net－tle．② The boy ran home and told his sister．③ The boy's mother said that the boy got stung by the nettle be－cause he was just touching it．④If the boy had grasped the nettle tightly，he wouldn't have been stung．回答下列问题：
    ①What happened when the boy was playing in the fields？
    ② From his mother's words，what will you learn？

1 nettle   

n.荨麻；v.烦忧，激恼

参考例句：

• We need a government that will grasp the nettle.我们需要一个敢于大刀阔斧地处理问题的政府。
• She mightn't be inhaled as a rose,but she might be grasped as a nettle.她不是一朵香气扑鼻的玫瑰花，但至少是可以握在手里的荨麻。

2 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

3 meddle   

v.干预，干涉，插手

参考例句：

• I hope he doesn't try to meddle in my affairs.我希望他不来干预我的事情。
• Do not meddle in things that do not concern you.别参与和自己无关的事。