Then a strange blight crept over the area and everything began to change . Some evil spell had settled on the community : mysterious maladies swept the flocks of chickens ; the cattle and sheep sickened and died . Everywhere was a shadow of death. The farmers spoke of much illness among their families. In the town the doctors had become more and more puzzled by new kinds of sickness appearing among their patients . There had been several sudden and unexplained deaths not only among adults but even among children , who would be stricken suddenly while at play and die within a few hours.
There was a strange stillness. The birds, for example ---where had they gone ?Many people spoke of them, puzzled and disturbed. The feeding stations in the backyards were deserted. The few birds seen anywhere were moribund .They trembled violently and could not fly. It was a spring without voices . On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of robins , doves , jays , wrens ,and scores of other bird voices there was now no sound ; only silence lay over the fields and woods and marsh.
On the farms the hens brooded , but no chicks hatched .The farmers complained that they were unable to raise any pigs --the litters were small and the young survived only a few days .The apple trees were coming into bloom but no bees droned among the blossoms, so there was no pollination and there would be no fruit. The roadsides , once so attractive, were now lined with browned and withered vegetation as though swept by fire . There , too, were silent , deserted by all living things .Even the streams were now lifeless. Anglers no longer visited them , for all the fish had died. In the gutters under the eaves and between the shingles of the roofs , a white granular powder still showed a few patches : some weeks before it had fallen like snow upon the roofs and the lawns, the fields and sreams.
上一篇: 高一英语作文 我的父母
下一篇: 高一英语作文:植树节
体坛资讯:Bombs mar celebrations of Iraq soccer win
体坛资讯:China exits AFC Asian Cup
体坛英语资讯:Switzerland beat Hungary 3-2 in World Cup qualifier
体坛英语资讯:Champion stunned but China unbeaten at Magdeburg World Cup
体坛英语资讯:26-year-old Universiade athletics record shattered
体坛资讯:Yis NBA future up to himself - sport official
体坛资讯:Iran tops group of death, beating China 77-68
体坛英语资讯:Torres and Gerrard hand Liverpool win over Shanghai
体坛资讯:Japan beat UAE 3-1 at Asian Cup
体坛英语资讯:Chinas Zheng to miss World Cup qualifier
体坛英语资讯:Landis takes his doping case to CAS
体坛资讯:Yao defends himself following unfair newspaper attack
体坛资讯:Francis returns to Rockets with two-year deal
体坛资讯:Pele warns Beckham to be prepared for U.S. test
体坛资讯:Yao Mings will have special beds to fall on during Olympics
体坛资讯:China leads medals at Asian Athletics Championships
体坛资讯:Liu gets another shot at Robles in 110 hurdles
体坛资讯:Tour reels from latest doping scandal
体坛英语资讯:Yi starts new life in Milwaukee
体坛英语资讯:China surprises world in rowing
体坛英语资讯:Woods ties record with 63, grabs two-shot lead
体坛资讯:Hammam confident of Qatar bid for 2011 Asian Cup
体坛资讯:Chinese road riders taste acceleration through studying abroad
体坛英语资讯:Chinese paddlers start as favorites at mens World Cup
体坛英语资讯:Iraq soccer team returns without captain
体坛资讯:Iran fights back to draw China 2-2
体坛资讯:British tourist dies when climbing Mt.Muztagata in western China
体坛资讯:Bucks more confident after meeting with Yi
体坛英语资讯:Yi debuts for Bucks in win
体坛英语资讯:Bielsa comes back to take charge of Chile