in California. Since then, they have been trying to find out how the fire began. Forest fire are often caused by brok en glass or by cigarette ends which people carelessly throw away. Yesterday the firemen examined the ground carefully, but were not able to find any broken glass. They were also quite sure that a cigarette end did not start the fire. This morning, however, a fireman accidentally discovered the cause. He noticed the remains of a snake which was wound round the electric wires of a 16,000-volt power line. In this way, he was able to solve the mystery. The explanation was simple but very unusual. A bird had snatched up the snae from the ground and then dropped it on to the wires. The snae then wound itself round the wires. When it did so, it sent sparks down to the ground and these immediately started a fire. Lesson54 Sty fingers 粘糊的手指 After breakfast, I sent the children to school and then I went to market. It was still early when I returned home. The children were at school, my husband was at work and the house was quiet. So I decided to mae some tarts for tea. In a short time I was busy mixing butter and flour and my hands were soon covered with stick pastry. At exactly that moment, the telephone rang. Nothing could have been more annoying. I picked up the receiver between two stic fingers and was dismayed when I recognized the voice of Mrs Bates. It too me ten minutes to persuade her to ring backlater. At last I hung up the receiver. What a mess! There was pastry on my fingers, on the telephone, and on the door-nobs. I had no sooner got backto the kitchen than the door-bell rang loud enough to wae the dead. This time it was the postman ...
