A lady who was very lonesome bought a parrot from a pet store，complete with cage。Before purchasing it she got a guarantee that the parrot would talk。She took the parrot home。In a week and a half she returned to the store very disappointed。“The parrot doesn't talk。”“Did you buy a mirror？”“No。”“Every parrot needs a mirror。”So she bought a mirror and installed it in the parrot's cage。Another week and a half went by and she returned。“The parrot still doesn't talk。”“Did you buy a ladder？”“No。”“Every parrot needs a ladder。”So she bought a ladder and installed it in the cage。Another week and a half passed and she returned。“The parrot still doesn't talk。”“Did you buy a swing？”“No。”“Every parrot needs a swing。”So she bought a swing and installed it in the cage。A week and a half later she returned。She was furious！The store owner asked，“Did the parrot talk？”“No，he died。”“Oh，that's terrible。Did he say anything before he died？”“Yes。”“What？”“He gasped‘Don't they have any food down at that store？’”
一位非常寂寞的夫人从宠物店买了只鹦鹉，还带着笼子。买之前她被确保鹦鹉一定会说话。于是就把鹦鹉带回了家。十天之后她很失望地回到了宠物店，她说：“这只鹦鹉不会说话。”有人问：“你买镜子了没？”“没有。”“每只鹦鹉都需要一面镜子。”之后她买了面镜子安在鹦鹉的笼子里。又过了十天她又回到了宠物店，她说：“这只鹦鹉不说话。”店主问：“你买梯子了没？”“没有。”“每只鹦鹉都需要一个梯子。”之后她买了梯子安在鹦鹉的笼子里。又过了十天她又回到宠物店，她说：“这只鹦鹉还是不说话。”有人问：“你买秋千了没？”“没有。”“每只鹦鹉都需要一个秋千。”所以她买了秋千安在鹦鹉的笼子里。又过了十天，这位夫人怒气冲冲地又回到了宠物店。店主问：“鹦鹉说话了吗？”“没有，鹦鹉死了。”“鹦鹉死之前说了什么没？”“说了。”“说了什么？”“它吐着气儿说楼下的店里就没有卖吃的吗？”
1.lonesome adj。寂寞的，孤单的
She was lonesome while her husband was away on business。（当丈夫因事外出时，她感到孤单寂寞。）
2.guarantee n。保证，商品保证，保证书
The TV set has a year's guarantee。（这架电视机有一年的保修期。）
3.install v。任命，安装，安顿
install the washer and dryer（安置洗衣机和干衣机。）
4.furious adj。狂怒的
He is furious at being kept in the dark。（他因为被瞒着而大发雷霆。）
5.gasp v。喘气，上气不接下气
He was gasping for air。（他气喘吁吁。）
自我测验12：
1.Ito have supperhe returned。
A。was about；whileB。am about；when
C。was just about；whenD。was going；while
2.—Oh，dear。The ticket isin the hotel。
—Wait here。Let meit for you。
A。gone；takeB。missing；bring
C。lost；carryD。left；fetch
3.—How soon will the building of a large modern hospital in this town be agreed on？
—。
A。In a few week's timeB。After 4 o'clock
C。Several hour'laterD。This time yesterday
4.The heavy rainus going outside，so we had to stay at home。
A。stoppedB。keptC。madeD。had
5.—We haven't heard from Diana for a long time。
—What do you thinkto her？
A。has happenedB。to happen
C。having happenedD。was happening
6.—Why didn't he come to the meeting？
—The reasonthis washe forgot。
A。about；whyB。for；thatC。for；不填D。about；that
7.On Saturday afternoon，Mrs Green went to the market，some bananas and visited her sister。
A。boughtB。buyingC。to buyD。buy
8.miss the game，they set out early after supper。
A。So as not toB。In order that
C。So thatD。In order not to
key：1-56-8