阅读理解
Poor little Tom walks to the gates. He looks into the palace garden and watches the laughing prince(王子). The prince looks like Tom. Suddenly, the soldier(士兵) puts Tom onto the ground.
The young prince turns around and sees Tom on the ground. He shouts:
"Stop. Open the gates. The boy can come in."
Then the prince takes Tom into the palace and asks his servant (仆人) to bring Tom some food. As Tom eats, the prince asks him questions.
"What is your name, boy?"
"Tom Canty, sir."
"Where do you live?"
"In the city, sir."
And Tom tells the prince everything. The prince listens in surprise to his story. Then the prince tells Tom about his life. Tom also listens in surprise to the prince's story.
The boys then decide to exchange clothes. The prince wears Tom's clothes and Tom wears the prince's clothes.
"Now I am the prince and you are apauper," says Tom to the prince.
Then Edward sees a cut on Tom's hand.
"The soldier hurt you." cries Edward. "Wait here! I will punish(惩罚)him."
Edward runs out of the palace. He forgets about his clothes. He is wearing Tom's dirty old clothes. He runs to the gates and shouts, "Open the gates!"
The soldier laughs at Edward. He throws him out of the gates into the road.
He closes the gates behind Edward.
"I am Edward, the Prince and I ask you to open the gates for me!" Edward shouts. But the soldier laughs. More and more people are laughing at the boy.
Prince Edward shouts and shouts, "I am the Prince!" But nobody listens to him.