The Wild Apple-Tree

    A swarm¹ of bees settled and built hive in the hollow trunk of a wild apple－tree．They soon filled it with the treasures of honey，andthe tree became so proud in consequence，that it despised² all its neighbours．Hereupon a rose－bush thus addressed it：“Miserable pride on ac-count of borrowed sweetness！Does your fruit，therefore，become less bitter？Sweeten it with your honey if you can；for only then will you be prized by mankind！”
    Exercises：
    回答下列问题：
    ① What did the swarm of bees do？
    ② Why did the wild apple-tree become so proud？
    ③ What did the rose-bush mean by saying that？

1 swarm   

n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入

参考例句：

• There is a swarm of bees in the tree.这树上有一窝蜜蜂。
• A swarm of ants are moving busily.一群蚂蚁正在忙碌地搬家。

2 despised   

鄙视，看不起某人（某事）( despise的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She despised gossip in any form. 她对任何形式的流言飞语都嗤之以鼻。
• He despised people who were lavish with their praises. 他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。