The Dancing Bear

    A bear who had for a long time earned his living by dancing，at length escaped from his master，and returned to his former companions in the woods．His brethren welcomed him with their most friendly growls¹．The traveller then related what he had seen and heard of in foreign countries，told a long history of his adventures，and，to exhibit his feats² of agility，began to dance the Polonaise in an erect³ position． His brethren，who were spectators of the performance，were astonished at his grace，and endeavoured to imitate his ballet steps．It was in vain；no sooner were they raised on two legs than they fell again upon all fours．Seeing their awkwardness，the bruin proceeded to ex-hibit some more skilled displays of his art，which，at length，rendered the others so envious⁴ of his extraordinary feats that they drove him out of their society．Exercises：
    判断对（T）、错（F）：
    ① The bear who had for a long time earned his living by dancing，at length escaped from his master because his master was cruel to him．② His brothers we loomed⁵ him with their most friendly growls．③ At last，he was driven away because they were envious of his extraordinary feats．

1 growls   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• The dog growls at me. 狗向我狂吠。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The loudest growls have echoed around emerging markets and commodities. 熊嚎之声响彻新兴的市场与商品。 来自互联网

2 feats   

功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He used to astound his friends with feats of physical endurance. 过去，他表现出来的惊人耐力常让朋友们大吃一惊。
• His heroic feats made him a legend in his own time. 他的英雄业绩使他成了他那个时代的传奇人物。

3 erect   

n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的

参考例句：

• She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头，把背挺得笔直。
• Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。

4 envious   

adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的

参考例句：

• I don't think I'm envious of your success.我想我并不嫉妒你的成功。
• She is envious of Jane's good looks and covetous of her car.她既忌妒简的美貌又垂涎她的汽车。

5 loomed   

v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• A dark shape loomed up ahead of us. 一个黑糊糊的影子隐隐出现在我们的前面。
• The prospect of war loomed large in everyone's mind. 战事将起的庞大阴影占据每个人的心。 来自《简明英汉词典》