Once upon a time, there were no rivers and lakes on earth, but only the Eastern Sea, in which lived four dragons: the Long Dragon, the Yellow Dragon, the Black Dragon and the Pearl Dragon.

One day the four dragons flew from the sea into the sky. They played games in the clouds. “Come over here quickly!” the Pearl Dragon cried out suddenly. “What’s up?” asked the other three, looking down in the direction where the Pearl Dragon pointed.

On the earth they saw many people putting out fruits and cakes, and burning incense (香) sticks. They were praying because there had been no rain for a long time. The crops dried up and died, the grass turned yellow and fields cracked under the hot sun.

“How poor the people are!” said the Yellow Dragon. “And they will die if it doesn’t rain soon.” The Long Dragon nodded. Then he suggested, “Let’s go and beg the Jade Emperor for rain.” So saying, he leapt into the clouds. The others followed closely and flew towards the Heavenly Palace.

Being in charge of all the affairs in heaven, on earth and in the sea, the Jade Emperor was very powerful. He was not pleased to see the dragons rushing in. “Why do you come here instead of staying in the sea and behaving yourselves?” The Long Dragon stepped forward and said, “The crops on earth are withering, Your Majesty. I beg you to send rain down quickly!” “All right. You go back first. I’ll send some rain down tomorrow.” The Jade Emperor pretended to agree. “Thanks, Your Majesty!” The four dragons went back merrily.

But ten days passed, and not a drop of rain came down.     ▲    : some eating bark (树皮), some grass roots, and some were forced to eat white clay when they ran out of bark and grass roots. Seeing all this, the four dragons felt very sorry. They could only rely on themselves to help people. But how to do it?

1.Why did the four dragons beg the Jade Emperor?

A Because they wanted more fruits and cakes.

B Because there were no rivers and lakes on earth.

C Because there had been no rain for a long time.

D Because they wanted to play with rain.

解析：选C。C细节理解题。根据第三段第二句的“They were praying because there had been no rain for a long time.”可知，因为好久没有下雨了，他们去求玉帝下雨。故选C。

2.What does the underlined word “withering” mean?

A Dying.

B Growing.

C Missing.

D Hiding.

解析：选A。A词义猜测题。根据第三段中的“The crops dried up and died...”以及后文的“I beg you to send rain down quickly!”可知，庄稼都枯萎了，即要死了。故选A。

3.What can be put back into the “ ▲ ”?

A The others clapped their hands

B They will do anything to save the people

C The crops will be saved

D The people suffered more

解析：选D。D推理判断题。该段空格处后面的“some eating bark, some grass roots, and some were forced to eat white clay when they ran out of bark and grass roots”可知，十天过去了，一滴雨也没有降下来，人们有些吃树皮，有些吃草根，有些在树皮和草根用完后被迫吃白粘土。由此可知，人们遭受了更多的痛苦。故选D。

4.What will the next paragraph most probably talk about?

A How the four dragons were punished by the Jade Emperor.

B What the four dragons did to save people.

C What the people ate because of little rain.

D Where the Jade Emperor sent them.

解析：选B。B推理判断题。根据最后一段最后两句“They could only rely on themselves to help people. But how to do it?”可知，玉帝并没有降雨，四条龙只能依靠自己来减轻人民的痛苦。但是怎么做呢？由此可知，接下来将讨论四条龙将如何降雨来帮助痛苦的人们。故选B。