there was a proud teapot, proud of being made of porcelain, proud of its long spout and its broad handle. it had something in front of it and behind it; the spout was in front, and the handle behind, and that was what it talked about. but it didn't mention its lid, for it was cracked and it was riveted and full of defects, and we don't talk about our defects - other people do that. the cups, the cream pitcher, the sugar bowl - in fact, the whole tea service - thought much more about the defects in the lid and talked more about it than about the sound handle and the distinguished spout. the teapot knew this.

"i know them," it told itself. "and i also know my imperfections, and i realize that in that very knowledge is my humility and my modesty. we all have many defects, but then we also have virtues. the cups have a handle, the sugar bowl has a lid, but of course i have both, and one thing more, one thing they can never have; i have a spout, and that makes me the queen of the tea table. the sugar bowl and the cream pitcher are permitted to be serving maids of delicacies, but i am the one who gives forth, the adviser. i spread blessings abroad among thirsty mankind. inside of me the chinese leaves give flavor to boiling, tasteless water."

this was the way the teapot talked in its fresh young life. it stood on the table that was prepared for tea and it was lifted up by the most delicate hand. but that most delicate hand was very awkward. the teapot was dropped; the spout broke off, and the handle broke off; the lid is not worth talking about; enough has been said about that. the teapot lay in a faint on the floor, while the boiling water ran out of it. it was a great shock it got, but the worst thing of all was that the others laughed at it - and not at the awkward hand.

编辑:Liuxuepaper.Com

作文地带知识拓展:

• 英语（English）属于印欧语系日耳曼语族西日耳曼语支，最早被中世纪的英国使用，并因其广阔的殖民地而成为世界使用面积最广的语言。英国人的祖先盎格鲁部落是后来迁移到大不列颠岛地区的日耳曼部落之一，称为英格兰。这两个名字都来自波罗地海半岛的Anglia。该语言与弗里斯兰语和下撒克森语密切相关，其词汇受到其他日耳曼语族语言的影响，尤其是北欧语（北日耳曼语），并在很大程度上由拉丁文和法文撰写。

  英语的英文释义：

  English 名词 uk  /ˈɪŋ.ɡlɪʃ/ us  /ˈɪŋ.ɡlɪʃ/

  the language that is spoken in the UK, the US, and in many other countries

  英语

  American/British English

  美式／英式英语

  Do you speak English?

  你会说英语吗？

  English   形容词 adjective   uk  /ˈɪŋ.ɡlɪʃ/ us  /ˈɪŋ.ɡlɪʃ/

  in or relating to the English language

  英语的

  an English teacher

  英语老师

  relating to or from England

  英格兰的;英国的

  English films/food/people

  英国电影／食品／人

  English law

  英格兰法律