第一篇:英语小故事
Passage:
The circumstances surrounding the birth of a female infant in Kosciusko, Mississippi, on Jan.29, 1954,were not promising present was the usual mix that had so often accumulated into a burden too heavy for a single-parent household like the one Oprah Winfrey grew up in.The state in which she was born had laws in place waiting to characterize her as unwelcome, to bar her participation in otherwise acceptable social activities, to shackle her to the residue of slavery and other injustices of the past.The simple truth is that her grandmother, her great-grandmother and all the great-great-grandmothers before them never experienced one day of life free from the harsh decrees of state-sponsored racial repression.In hindsight, it appears that her birth was an uneventful one.But at age three she was reciting speeches from church pulpits.Upon discovering books, the child delved into the written word, turning out weekly book reports for her father.Even during turbulent times, not a moment was wasted.Seeds were being planted, watered, and nurtured.On April 13, 1964, nearly an adolescent and watching television from the linoleum floor of her mother’s walk-up flat in something deep inside of her.She was watching the live broadcast of the Academy Awards ceremony and saw a young African-American actor receiving the film industry’s highest honor.Sharing in that moment and all it implied she later told me, caused her to say softly to herself, “If he can do that, I wonder what I could do?”
The ground had been set.The journey of Oprah Winfrey had begun.The babe, the child, the adolescent, the young woman-all their strengths were harnessed into a force of astonishing power that placed itself in the service of nature and the human family.That the world has changed in meaningful ways since 1954 is beyond question.Oprah and her activities were driving forces in many of those changes.Her enormously influential talk show, her philanthropic work with children in Africa and elsewhere, her popular book club and magazine, her empowering spiritual message, her contribution(by action and example)to improving race relations-all speak to the human family, touching hearts and leaving each one uplifted.Mississippi too seems to be mellowing out into a more congenial place than it was in 1954.that may also be partly due to the very special energy that is Oprah Winfrey-a courageous, funny, compassionate, well-informed, dazzlingly curious person, as down-to-earth and loving as any human being I’ve ever known.参考译文:
故事的详情围绕在1954年六月29日出生于密西西比,科修斯科山的一个女婴。那时,对于像Oprah Winfrey(奥普来.温弗里)这样日常开销负担特别繁重的单亲家庭来说,她的出身并不是那么让人期待。她所在的国家,已经有适当的法律等候着将她列为不受欢迎的对象,阻击她参加其它合理的社交活动,让她背负上了奴隶制度剩余产物的枷锁,还有以往其它一些不公平的待遇。简单的事实就是她的祖母、曾祖母以及更早的一代之前,在政府纵恿的种族镇压法令下,从未经历过一天生命的自由。
之后的迹象表明,她的出生似乎平淡无奇。但是,在她三年的时候,便开始在教堂的讲道坛背诵演说,在发现了书籍的之后,她便钻研上面写过的句子,每周向她的父亲作一次书籍汇报。即使在那个动荡不安的年代,也从不浪费一刻功夫。种子正在播种灌溉。在1964年4月13日,她已成长为一个青少年,在她母亲那间无电梯的公寓的油布地毯上,电视里的一些东西深深地了触动了她。那时她正在看奥斯卡奖项的现场直播,一位年青的美国黑人演员被授予了电影行业中的最高荣誉。在分享那个神圣的时刻之后,她告诉了我所有这一切都在暗暗地促使她轻声地告诉自己“他能做到,难道我就做不到吗?”
道路已经被铺平了,Oprah Winfrey 开始了她的旅程。从婴儿到小孩、到青少年、再到年轻女士——万事俱备,使得她在服务于自然界与人类家庭上迸发出一种惊人的能力。从1954年起,毫无疑问,世界已经以一种积极的方式发生着改变。Oprah和她的脱口秀是其中的很多改变动力。她影响深远的脱口秀、对非洲乃至其它地方的小孩博爱举动、广受欢迎的书籍杂志俱乐部、激动人心的演说辞、以身作则为改善种族关系所作的贡献。这一切都讲给人类家庭,触动了他们的内心,每个人都深受鼓舞。
密西西比也受到了潮流的影响,比1954年看起来适意得多。其中的部分也许同样归功于Oprah Winfrey的非常独特的精神力量——一个勇敢、有趣、富有同情心、见识广博、闪耀着知识光芒的人,是我所知的人中最脚踏实地、让人钟爱的一个
第二篇:英语小故事
“1purple sharpener!” says Max.Clap, clap, clap!
“3 orange notebooks!” says Max.Clap, clap, clap!
And out of his backpack come 1 purple sharpener and three orange notebooks!
Max has a magic backpack.“5 brown rulers!” says Max.Clap, clap, clap!
“9 green pens!” says Max.Clap, clap clap!
And out of his backpack come 5 brown rulers and 9 green pens!Max has a magic backpack.“11 blue markers!”says Max.Clap, clap, clap!
“14 pink erasers!”says Max.And out of his backpack come 11 blue markers and 14 pink erasers!Max has a magic backpack.“16 yellow pencils!” says Max.Clap,clap, clap!
“20 candies!” says Max.Clap,clap,clap
And out of his backpack come 16 yellow pencils and 20 candies!“Candies for everyone!” says Max.Max has a magic backpack.Candies for everyone!
Who want candies?
Here you are!Here you are!
第三篇:英语小故事
The Lion and the Mouse
It once happened that a hungry lion woke to find a mouse just under his paw.He caught the tiny creature, and was about to make a mouthful of him, when the little fellow looked up, and began to beg for his life.In the most piteous tones ,the mouse said: “If you only spare my life now, O lion, I will be sure to repay you.”
The lion laughed scornfully at this, but he lifted his paw, and let his brave prisoner go free.It befell(降临,发生)the great lion, not long afterwards, to be in as evil a case as had been the helpless mouse, and it came about that his life was to be saved by the keeping of the promise he had ridiculed(嘲笑,戏弄).He was caught by some hunters, who bound him with strong rope, while they went away to find means for killing him.Hearing his loud groans(呻吟), the mouse came promptly to his rescue , gnawed(咬,啃)the great rope, and set the royal captive free.“You laughed,” he said, “at the idea of my being able to be of service to you.You little thought I should repay you.But you see it has come to pass that you are as grateful to me as I was once to you.”
The weak have their place in the world as truly as the strong.注释
l.was about to即将,准备,正打算
2.in most piteous tone用极其可怜的声调
3.spare my life饶我一命
4.laugh scornfully at对此轻蔑地一笑置之
5. it befell the great lion...to be in as evil a case as...与……一样倒霉的情形降临到大狮的头上。形式主语it代表后面的不定式短语to be in...6.it came about that...在此it为形式主语,真正的主语是后面的that引导的从句。come about是“发生”意思。
7.came to his rescue来营救他(指遭擒被缚的兽中王狮子)
点评
强者可称王称霸,横行一时,但也有“技不如人”的时候;这时弱者说不定有克敌制胜的法宝、解除危难的“绝招”
Mencius's Mother
Mencius , who lived from 372 to 289 B.C., is regarded as the greatest sage(圣人)next only to Confucius in Chinese history.There are many stories about this great sage.Mencius's father died early.His mother did all she could to make young Mencius to study hard.She moved the family three times in order that her son would be interested in books.Once she moved because her neighbor was a butcher.Young Mencius liked to watch him work and imitate him.Finally the family settled down in the neighborhood of a school.The teacher was a learned man , and the sound of reading could be heard every day.Now young Mencius began to imitate the teacher and liked to read books.Still Mencius wasn't working real hard.Her mother was worried.One day his mother was weaving cotton cloth at home, when she saw her son stop reading his lessons.She took up a knife to cut the cloth on the loom.She told her son that if he didn't work hard at his lessons, his future would be destroyed like the cloth.It is said that from then on Mencius buried himself in books and later became one of the greatest thinkers in the country.Today,the story about the good mother is told and retold throughout the country.注释
l. Mencius(人名)孟子
2.B·C·= Before Christ公元前
3.is regarded as被认为
4.the greatest sage next only to Confucius仅次于孔子的最伟大的圣人
5.settle down定居,住下
6.a leaned man一个有(高深)学问的人
7.1oom织布机
8.buried himself in埋头于
点评
孟母三次迁居目的是为其子营造良好的学习环境,后来又用“断织”,勉励儿子学习成材。
第四篇:英语小故事
The last thing I want to do is hurt you.But it’s still on the list.直译:在这个世界上,我最不愿意做的事就是伤害你,但是这件事仍在我的考虑之列。意译a:我真不想伤害你,但你也别逼我。
意译b:吾虽不杀伯仁,伯仁由我而死。
I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks.曾以为我想要的是职业,结果发现我只是想要工资。
He who smiles in a crisis has found someone to blame.临危忽然微笑的那谁,定是找到替罪羊鸟
Crowded elevators smell different to midgets.直译:你若是挤满人的电梯里的小矮人,肯定能嗅出不同的味儿。
意译:灵感来自于所站的角度与众不同。
1Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.麻烦没来找你,就别去自找麻烦。第一、四个trouble是动词,第二、三个trouble是名词。
2.I think that that that that that student wrote on the blackboard was wrong.我认为那个学生写在黑板上的那个“that”是错误的。
第一个that是连词,引起宾语从句;第二、五个that是指示代词“那个”;第三个that在这儿相当于名词;第四个that是关系代词,引起定语从句。
3.I know.You know.I know that you know.I know that you know that I know.我知道。你知道。我知道你知道。我知道你知道我知道。
6.Was it a bar or a bat I saw? 我看到的是酒吧还是蝙蝠?、7.上联: To China for china, China with china, dinner on china.去中国买瓷器,中国有瓷器,吃饭靠瓷器。
下联:到前门买前门,前门没前门,后门有前门。
这是一副对仗工整、妙趣横生的英汉对联。下联中的第二、四、五个“前门”指“大前门”香烟。
第五篇:英语小故事
Can save itself 自己救自己
A person in the shelter under the eaves,Kuan Yin is to see through umbrella. The man said: “The Goddess of Mercy,Purdue creatures like you,take me for some how?” Yin said: “I am the rain,you no rain,you do not need my degree.” The man immediately jumped out,standing in the rain: “Now I am also the rain,and the degree of me?” Yin said: “You in the rain,I am also the rain,I will not be poured,because there are umbrella; you are the rain,because No umbrella. why is not my own degrees,but my umbrella degrees. you want,the do not have to look for me,please umbrella brought to!”he will go. The next day,this person has encountered difficult for it to Kuan Yin temple. Entering the temple,it was found before as the Kuan Yin is also a person in worship,that the same individual look and Guanyin,no less. The man asked: “You are Guanyin it?” The man replied: “I is Guanyin.” The man asked: “Why do you worship their own?” Guanyin laughed: “I have encountered a difficult,but I know ”
某人在屋檐下躲雨,看见观音正撑伞走过。这人说:“观音菩萨,普度一下众生吧,带我一段如何?”观音说:“我在雨里,你在檐下,而檐下无雨,你不需要我度。”这人立刻跳出檐下,站在雨中:“现在我也在雨中了,该度我了吧?”观音说:“你在雨中,我也在雨中,我不被淋,因为有伞;你被雨淋,因为无伞。所以不是我度自己,而是伞度我。你要想度,不必找我,请自找伞去!”说完便走了。第二天,这人遇到了难事,便去寺庙里求观音。走进庙里,才发现观音的像前也有一个人在拜,那个人长得和观音一模一样,丝毫不差。这人问:“你是观音吗?”那人答道:“我正是观音。”这人又问:“那你为何还拜自己?”观音笑道:“我也遇到了难事,但我知道,求人不如求己。”
Tip: can save itself. 秘诀:自己救自己。下面的这个小故事常常在励志课堂上听到,因为它蕴含了很多的道理。其实生活中又何尝不是这样!
这是一个你可以在很多场合讲述的例子,记牢一点哦!
In Africa, when the antelope wakes up every morning, the first thing that comes to his mind is“, I must be able to run faster than the fastest lion, or I will be killed by a lion.” And at just the same time, the lion wakes out of his dream, and the first thing flashing into his mind is, “I must be able to catch up with the slowest antelope;otherwise I will starve to death.” So,almost at the same moment both the antelope and the lion jump to their feet, and start running toward the rising sun.Such is life — whether you are an antelope or a lion, you ought to dash forward without hesitation when the sun rises.[注释]:
antelope: 羚羊
flash: to cause(light)to appear suddenly or in intermittent bursts 闪现,闪光
hesitation: a pause or faltering in speech 犹豫,踌躇林书豪的突然爆红赤手可热真是一球成名?那是林书豪一直以来的坚持和对梦想的不放弃。这样的励志故事怎么不让球迷热血沸腾。对中国球迷来说,最高兴的莫过于对NBA又有了新的期待~
He is a Harvard graduate playing in the National Basketball Association.He is an Asian-American in a league devoid of them, which makes him doubly anomalous.No team drafted Lin in 2010.Two teams cut him in December, before the Knicks picked him up.他是NBA赛场上少有的名校哈佛毕业生,他是联盟里少见的亚裔美国人,这样双重特殊身份的林书豪,在2010年NBA新秀大会上落选,2011年12月先后被金州勇士队和休斯敦火箭队裁掉,之后纽约尼克斯队宣布签下他。
His contract, potentially worth nearly $800,000, was not even guaranteed until Tuesday afternoon.So for the past six weeks, Lin, 23, has been sleeping in his brother Josh‟s living room, waiting for clarity and career security.尼克斯与他签下的合同价值约为80万美元,也许在这之前他持有的是非保障合同,但到周二下午6点(球队裁员的截至日子)林书豪的的合同自动转为了保障合同,他将安全的留在尼克斯队。事实上在过去的6周里,23岁的林书豪因为不确定自己是否能够继续留在纽约,一直寄居在哥哥家当沙发客,等待职业生涯中保障合同的出现。
On Saturday night, Lin came off the bench and powered the Knicks to a 99-92 victory over the Nets at Madison Square Garden, scoring a career-best 25 points with 7 assists.Two nights later, he made his first N.B.A.start and produced 28 points and 8 assists in a 99-88 win over the Utah Jazz.上周六的晚上,纽约尼克斯在麦迪逊广场花园主场迎战新泽西网队,板凳席上的林书豪临危受命,拿下了职业生涯最高的25分7助攻,帮助尼克斯99比92战胜网队。两天后,林书豪获得NBA的第一次首发机会,在对阵犹他爵士队的比赛中砍下28分8助攻。
Knicks fans now serenade Lin with chants of “Je-re-my!” and “M.V.P.!”.With every game, every precision pass and every clever drive to the basket, Lin is raising expectations, altering the Knicks‟ fate and redefining the word “unlikely.” On Twitter, fans and basketball pundits are using another term to describe the phenomenon: “Linsanity.”
麦迪逊广场花园的球迷们齐声欢呼“Jeremy”和“MVP”。每一场比赛,每一个精准的过人,每一次聪明的突破,林书豪给球迷们带来希望,改变了尼克斯队的命运,也再次重新定义了“不可能”。在推特上,球迷和篮球权威人士用Linsanity “为林疯狂” 这个标签来描述这种林书豪热现象(Linsanity:Lin+insanity)。
Two weeks ago, the 6-foot-3 Lin was not even part of the Knicks‟ point-guard rotation, despite their lack of talent at the position.He played sparingly in a few games, showing just enough promise to keep getting another look— a few more minutes, another quarter.But there was never any hint of what was to come.两周前,这个身高1米91的华裔小个子甚至根本不在尼克斯队的控球后卫轮转名单中,尽管尼克斯目前在控卫的位置缺乏优秀的人才。在此之前他只打过几场比赛,但他的表现足以让教练注意到他。慢慢地,他的上场时间在增加:多了几分钟,再打一节。林书豪的传奇成功不是无迹可寻的。
With 25 points Saturday, Lin set the N.B.A.scoring record for a player from Harvard.For an encore, he became the first player in more than 30 years to record at least 28 points and 8 assists in his first N.B.A.start.The last to do so was Isiah Thomas, the Detroit Pistons‟ Hall of Fame point guard, in October 1981.在周六砍下25分的一球成名战后,林书豪也创下了NBA赛场上哈佛毕业生的得分记录。第二场比赛中,他再次创下记录,成为NBA赛场30多年里首发首秀拿到28分8助攻的第一人。上次拿到这个得分的是在1981年10月,底特律活塞队伊塞亚·托马斯(NBA名人堂球员)。
“I don‟t think anyone, including myself, saw this coming,” Lin said after the game Monday.林书豪在周一比赛后表示,“我相信任何人包括我自己在内,都没有预想到这样的成绩”。
The Herebrained Monkey 浮躁的猴子
The King received news one day that a group outlaws were committing outrages on a distant border of the kingdom.一天,国王得到消息,边境地区有一群不法之徒正在造反。
The news angered of the King.He quickly gathered his army and started off for the distant border, leaving his kingdom unguarded and without a ruler.这个消息激怒了国王,他迅速召集军队,前往边。国家防卫兵力顿时全无,也没有了统治者。On their long march, the King and his army made camp for the night wherever they could.长途行军中,国王和他的军队晚上就地宿营。
One rainy day they stopped in a for6st, seeking shelter under the trees.一个雨天,他们停在一片森林里,在树卞避雨宿营。
They unsaddled their horses and steam8d some peas, which they fed to their steeds in long narrow troughs.他们卸下马鞍,蒸了些豌 豆,放在狭长的饲料糟里喂战马。
A monkey in a tree nearby saw the horses being fed, and he came racing down, fille9d both paws with peas, then scampered nimbly up to a branch and settled down to eat.在附近树上坐着的一只猴子看到马在进食,就从树上跳下来,用爪子抓起两大把豌豆,然后敏捷地爬上树,坐下吃了起来。
But as he opened one paw, a single pea fell to the ground.可就 在它张开一只爪子时,一粒豌豆掉在了地上。
Without hesitation, my monkey jumped dor4tn from his perch to hunt for the lost pea, and in doing so he dropped all the other peas in his paws.它毫不犹豫地跳下来,去找那颗掉落的豆子,而同时,它爪子中所有的豌豆都掉在了地上。The King observed this foolish monkey and was greatly amused.He timed to his counselor and asked: “Friend, what do you think of this monkey who would give up so much to retrieve so little?” 国王看着这只愚蠢的猴子,觉得十分有趣,便转头问军师: ¨朋友,你怎么看这只因小失大的猴子?¨ “That is the way of the foolish,” replied the counselor, “they will give up much that is certain for a little that is uncertain.” 这种做事方式很愚蠢,¨军师回答道“它们会为没有把握的 小利而放弃有把握的大利。¨ Then he added, “And we, great monarch, are we not like the monkey in the trees To garn so little we neglect so much exactly like the monkey with its pea.接着,他又说道:“伟大的君主殿下,我们与树上的这只猴子又 有什么区别呢?为小利而舍大利——这与捡豌豆的猴子一样啊。¨ The King understood the rebuke and realized how very foolish he had been himself to leave his kingdom unguarded.国王这才恍然大悟,他意识到让国家后防空虚是多么愚蠢啊。
He issued orders to his men, and he and his army returned at once to their country.于是,他向军队下达命令,即刻斑师回朝。单词注解
sparse [spɑ:s] ·稀疏的:稀少的 sleek [sli:k] 么健壮的;养的好的 meadow['medəu] 儿草地:牧场 snatch [snætʃ] 抓取,夺得 border ['bɔ:də] 边,边界
counselor ['kaunsələ] 顾问,参事
实用句型
A Monkey in a tree rxwby saw the horses being fed.and he came racing down.filled both paws with peas, then scampered nimbly up to a branch and settled down toeat.在附近树上坐着的一只猴子看到马在进食,就从树上跳下来,用爪子抓起两大把豌豆,然后敏捷地爬上树,坐下吃了起来o Without hesitation, the Monkey jumped down from his perch to hunt for the lost pea, and in doing S0 he dropped all the other peas in his paws.
它毫不犹豫地蔬下来,去找那颗掉落的豆子,而同时,它爪子中所有的豌豆都掉在了地上o 智慧点睛:
It is better to be free and poor than to have everything you want.宇可清贫自乐,不可浊富多忧。Look before you leap. 三思而后行。5 The Greatest Gift of All 最贵重的礼物
At one stopover in a town, a huge banner was written in bold letters: FAMINE IN AFR/CA~ PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO SAVE THE STARVING PEOPLE.在一个镇上的中转站挂着一个巨型横幅,上面用黑体字写着: ¨非洲饥荒,请您慷慨解囊,拯救饥饿的人们。¨在那儿有一大群 人在排队捐赠。A large crowd was queuing to hand over their donations.Near the door of the town hall stood a beautiful young girl, poorly but neatly dressed.市政厅的门旁站着一个漂亮的小姑娘,她的衣服质地很差,却很整洁。她注视着眼前的人们,眼里闪烁着害羞的神情。
With shy glances she watched the people before her.She saw a merchant who laid a bag of 90ld on the table.她看 见一位商人把一袋金子放在了桌上。
Then came a rich lady with haughty looks who offered a variety of jewels;some others handed cash, clothing's and foodstuff, The girl was reluctant to take her turn but at last, summoning up her courage, she stepped forward.接着,一位傲慢的贵夫人拿 出了各种珠宝,其他人也递上了现金、衣服和食物。小姑娘还在犹豫要不要捐,最终她还是鼓起勇气走上前去。”But...it is so small I am ashamed to offer it.It seems worthless, but it is all I have, “she said.¨可是……这太少了,我都不好意思拿出来。它看起来一文不值,但这是我所有的东西了。¨她说道。
”We are grateful for eten the smallest offering,“ the man at the counter replied kindly.”Here it is, I have nothing else to give,“ she added timidly, she drew under her cloak two long thick plaits of her golden hair.¨即使是最少的捐赠,我们也 非常感激,¨柜台旁的人和善地说口¨给,我没有别的可捐了。”她羞怯地补充说。她从披风下拽出两根又长又粗的金色辫子
As she did so, the hood of hercloak fell back, showing the beautifully young head shorn of its golden glory.。这时,披风的风帽掉了下来,露出已失去金色光环的漂亮的小脑袋。
The generosity of this beautiful girl to donate her most priceless possession, her golden locks of hair, overshadowed all the glittering gold or j8wels of the other donors.这个漂亮的小姑娘慷慨地捐出了她最珍贵的财产一一她的 金发,令其他捐赠者的闪闪发光的金子、珠宝等捐赠物都黯然 失色。6 The Proud Oyster 骄傲的牡蛎
An oyster that was very proud was talking with a fish.“Let's be friends and we can look after each other whenever the fisherman's net comes along,”the fish suggested.一只非常骄傲的牡蛎正在和一条鱼说话。“我们做朋友吧,这样,当渔夫的渔网罩过来的时候,我们就可以互相帮助了。”鱼建议说。
The proud oyster replied,“I have a strong shell and I feel safe when I close my shell, for no harm can happen to me.” 骄傲的牡蛎回答说:“我有坚硬的壳。合上壳之后我就安全了,没有任何东西可以伤害到我。” “But when you close your shell, you may not know what is happening.”answered the fish.“可是,当你合上壳时,你怎么知道外面发生了什么事呢?”鱼不解地问。
Still the oyster boasted that he was perfectly safe and he needs no friends to warn him.可是牡蛎还是继续夸耀自己是绝对安全的,根本不需要任何朋友来提醒它。
Suddenly, there was a great splashing sound and the oyster closed his shell and very quickly kept quiet.突然,传来一声巨响,溅起无数水花,牡蛎马上合上壳,不作声了。
“What could the splashing have been? Was it a net, and was the fish caught?”the oyster wondered.When at last the oyster opened his shell, he found himself in a strange place.“溅起水花的声音是怎么回事呢?是渔网吗,鱼被抓住了吗?”牡蛎自问道。可是当牡蛎打开壳的时候,却发现自己在一个陌生的地方。“Where am I?”He looked for the fish but it was no longer around.“我在哪儿?”它找鱼,鱼却不在它旁边。
Sadly, the oyster found he was at a fishmonger's stall.A ticket on his back marked,“For Sale!”
牡蛎悲哀地发现自己正躺在鱼贩子的摊位上,背上还贴着一张写有“出售”字样的标签。The Bad Kangaroo 淘气的袋鼠
There was a small Kangaroo who was bad in school.He put thumbtacks on the teacher's chair.He threw spitballs across the classroom.He set off firecrackers in the lavatory and spread glue on the doorknobs.有这么一只小袋鼠,它在学校里非常淘气。它在老师的椅子上放图钉,在教室里扔纸团,在厕所里放鞭炮,还往门把手上抹胶水。
“Your behavior is impossible!”said the school principal.“I am going to see your parents.I will tell them what a problem you are!”
“你的行为真让人无法忍受!”校长说,“我要去见见你的父母,告诉它们你的问题!” The principal went to visit Mr.and Mrs.Kangaroo.He sat down in a living-room chair.校长去拜访袋鼠夫妇。它坐在客厅的椅子上。
“Ouch!”cried the principal.“There is a thumbtack in this chair!” “哎哟!”校长叫道,“这把椅子上有个图钉!”
“Yes, I know,”said Mr.Kangaroo.“I enjoy putting thumbtacks in chairs.” “是的,我知道,”袋鼠先生说,“我喜欢把图钉放在椅子上。” At the same time, a spitball hit the principal on his nose.就在这时,一个纸团飞过来打在了校长的鼻子上。
“Forgive me,”said Mrs.Kangaroo,“But I can never resist throwing those things.” “请原谅,”袋鼠夫人说,“我总是控制不住想扔那些东西。” Suddenly, there was a loud booming sound from the bathroom.突然,浴室里传来一声巨响。
“Keep calm,”said Mr.Kangaroo to the principal.“The firecrackers that we keep in the medicine chest have just exploded.We love the noise.”
“别紧张,”袋鼠先生对校长说,“我们放在药箱里的鞭炮爆炸了,我们喜欢这种声音。” The principal rushed for the front door.In an instant he was stuck to the doorknob.校长冲向前门,刚要开门,手就被粘在了门把手上。“Pull hard,”said Mrs.Kangaroo.“There are little globs of glue on all of our doorknobs.” “使劲儿拽,”袋鼠夫人说,“我们所有的门把手上都有点儿胶水。”
The principal pulled himself free.He dashed out of the house and ran off down the street.校长挣脱后,冲出屋子,沿着街道跑了。
“Such a nice person,”said Mr.Kangaroo.“I wonder why he left so quickly.” “它真是个好人,”袋鼠先生说,“我不明白它为什么这么快就走了。”
“No doubt he had another appointment,”said Mrs.Kangaroo.“Never mind, supper is ready.”
“它准是还有个约会,”袋鼠夫人说,“没关系,吃晚饭吧。”
Mr.and Mrs.Kangaroo and their son enjoyed their evening meal.After the dessert, they all threw spitballs at each other across the dining-room table.袋鼠夫妇和儿子津津有味地共进了晚餐。吃完甜点后,它们在饭桌旁互相扔起纸团来。单词注解
execution [,eksi'kju:ʃən] n.依法处决;实施 bystander ['baɪstændə] n.旁观者;局外人 principal ['prinsəpəl] n.校长 spitball ['spɪtbɔːl] n.纸团
实用句型
A young man was caught stealing, and sentenced to death three days later.一个小偷在盗窃时被逮了个正着,因此被判处死刑,三天后执行。He set off firecrackers in the lavatory and spread glue on the doorknobs.它在厕所里放鞭炮,还往门把手上抹胶水。
智慧点津
Minor mistakes, if not be corrected, finally result in disastrous consequences.小错起初不惩治,必将酿成大错。Like mother, like daughter.有什么样的父母,就有什么样的孩子。8 伊索寓言故事:一只贪心的狗 A Greedy Dog
A GREedy dog went into a butcher‟s shop and stole a big juicy bone.He ran away so fast that the butcher could not catch him.He ran out into the fields with his bone.He was going to eat it all by himself.一只贪心的狗跑到一家猪肉店偷了一根很大又有髓的骨头.他跑很快,所以那个卖猪肉的人追不到他.他咬著他的大骨头跑到空旷的地方,准备要好好地吃个痛快.the dog came to a stream.There was a narrow bridge across it.The dog walked on to the bridge, and looked into the water.He could see another dog with a big bone in his mouth.这只狗来到一条溪流.有一座窄窄的桥跨在上面.这只狗走到桥上,望水里面看.他看见另一只狗嘴里咬著一跟大骨头.the GREedy dog thought the bone in the water looked much bigger than the one he had stolen from the butcher.这只贪心的狗认为在水里面的那根骨头看起来比他跟卖肉的偷来的这根骨头大多了.the GREedy dog dropped the bone from his mouth.It fell into the water and was lost.He jumped into the water to snatch the bigger bone from the other dog.这只贪心的狗从嘴理丢了那根骨头.它掉到水里而且不见了.他跳进去水里面想从另一只狗那儿抓那跟更大的骨头.the GREedy dog jumped into the water with a big splash.He looked everywhere but he could not see the other dog.His shadow had gone.贪心的狗跳进水里溅起好多水花.他到处看,可是都找不到其他的狗.他的倒影不见了.the silly dog went home hungry.He lost his bone and got nothing because he had been too GREedy.这只笨狗饿著肚子回家.因为太贪心,他弄丢了他的骨头而且一点东西也没拿到.寓意:
贪的太多只会失去更多 9 伊索寓言故事:披着羊皮的狼
A wolf wanted to eat the sheep, but he was afraid of the vigilant shepherd and his dogs.狼想吃羊,但是他害怕警惕的牧羊人和牧羊犬。
One day the wolf found the skin of a sheep.He put it on and walked among the sheep.有一天狼发现了一块羊皮,便披着它混入羊群。
A lamb thought that the wolf was its mother because his skin looked like hers.So it followed the wolf.一只小羊羔把这只披着羊皮的狼误认为自己的妈妈,被领出了羊群。
Soon after they had left the dogs, the wolf came at the lamb and ate it up.For some time he succeeded in deceiving the sheep, and enjoying hearty meals.狼成功地欺骗了羊群,吃掉了小羊羔。
寓意: 事物的外表有时候会掩盖它的本质,所以我们不能只凭表面现象就作判断。10 英语原文:
A Woodman came into a forest to ask the Trees to give him a handle for Ax.It seemed so modest a request that the principal tree at once agreed to it, and it was settled among them that the plain, homely Ash should furnish what was wanted.No sooner had the Woodman fitted the staff to his purpose ,than he began laying about him on all side.felling the whole matter too late, whispered to the Cedar: ”the first concession has lost all;if we has not a sacrificed our humble neighbor, we might have yet stood for ages ourselves.“
中文译文:
有一个樵夫来到森林里,要求树给他一跟斧柄,看来他的请求非常谦虚,立刻得到了树的首领的同意.他们决定由平凡而朴素的白杨树来提供所需要的东西.樵夫刚按好斧柄,就开始到处乱砍,森林里最高的树都砍倒了,树林现在察觉大势已去,就小声对衫树说:”第一次的让步已失去了一切.如果我们不牺牲我们的小小的邻居,我们自己还可以活无数年呢.“ 结论:这故事讽刺忘恩负义的人,也告诉我们对敌人的施舍就是对自己的残忍。英语词汇:
the principal tree 领头树
was settled among them 大家商定 no sooner...than...一……就…… laying about him 向他四周乱砍
might have yet stood for ages 也许还能活几百年Belling the cat(老鼠开会)
Long ago, there was a big cat in the house.He caught many mice while they were stealing food.从前,一所房子里面有一只大猫,他抓住了很多偷东西的老鼠。
One day the mice had a meeting to talk about the way to deal with their common enemy.Some said this, and some said that.一天,老鼠在一起开会商量如何对付他们共同的敌人。会上大家各有各的主张,At last a young mouse got up, and said that he had a good idea.最后,一只小老鼠站出来说他有一个好主意。
”We could tie a bell around the neck of the cat.Then when he comes near, we can hear the sound of the bell, and run away.“ “我们可以在猫的脖子上绑一个铃铛,那么如果他来到附近,我们听到铃声就可以马上逃跑。”
Everyone approved of this proposal, but an old wise mouse got up and said, ”That is all very well, but who will tie the bell to the cat?“ The mice looked at each other, but nobody spoke.大家都赞同这个建议,这时一只聪明的老耗子站出来说:“这的确是个绝妙的主意,但是谁来给猫的脖子上绑铃铛呢?”老鼠们面面相觑,谁也没有说话。he goose with the golden eggs生金蛋的鹅
One morning a countryman went to his goose„s nest, and saw a yellow and glittering egg there.一天早晨,一位农夫发现自家的鹅窝中有一只金灿灿的蛋。
He took the egg home.To his delight, he found that it was an egg of pure gold.他将蛋带回家,惊喜地发现这是一个金蛋。
Every morning the same thing occurred, and he soon became rich by selling his eggs.此后,农夫每天都能得到一个金蛋。从此,他靠卖他的金蛋变得富有起来。
The countryman became more and more greedy.He wanted to get all the gold at once, so he killed the goose, when he looked inside, he found nothing in its body.农夫变得越来越贪婪,他想一下子得到鹅肚子中所有的金蛋。于是他杀死了鹅,但是,鹅肚子中什么也没有。伊索寓言:狐狸与狮子The fox and the lion When the fox first saw the lion he was terribly frightened.He ran away, and hid himself in the woods.狐狸第一次见到狮子时非常害怕,赶紧藏到森林里。
The second time, however, he came near the lion.He stopped at a safe distance, and watched him pass by.当他第二次遇到狮子时,则站在附近看狮子经过。
The third time they came near one another.The fox went straight up to the lion, and stayed the whole day with him.He asked the lion how his family was, and when they would meet again.第三次遇到狮子时,他竟有胆量,走了上去,与狮子进行十分亲切的谈话。
They soon became good friends.不久,他们变成了好朋友。The Wolf and the Lamba 狼和小羊
Wolf, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him, but to find some plea, which should justify to the Lamb himself his right to eat him.He thus addressed him:”Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.“ ”Indeed,“ bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, ”I was not then born.“ Then said the Wolf, ”You feed in my pasture.“ ”No, good sir,“ replied the Lamb, ”I have not yet tasted grass.“ Again said the Wolf, ”You drink of my well.“ ”No,“ exclaimed the Lamb, ”I never yet drank water, for as yet my mother′s milk is both food and drink to me.“ On which the Wolf seized him, and ate him up, saying, ”Well!I won′t remain supperless, even though you refute every one of my imputations.“The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.一只狼瞧见一只迷路失群的小羊,决定暂缓下毒手,想先找一些理由,对小羊证明自己有吃它的权利。它就说:「小鬼!你去年曾经骂过我。」小羊可怜地说:「老实说,我去年还没有出生呢。」狼再说:「你在我的草地上吃过草。」
小羊回答说:「不,好先生,我还未曾尝过草的味道呢。」狼又说:「你喝过我井里的水。」小羊叫道:「不,我从没有喝过水,因为直到今天为止,我都是吃着母亲的奶汁。」狼一听这话,便抓住它,把它吃下去,便说:「好!即使你驳倒我每一句话,我终究要吃晚餐的!」暴君总有他暴行的借口。15 The Lion and the Mouse 狮和鼠
Lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face.Rising up in anger, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: ”If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness.“ The Lion laughed and let him go.It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground.The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came up, and gnawed the rope with his teeth, and setting him free, exclaimed: ”You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favour;but now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion."
一只老鼠从一只狮子面前跑过去,将它从梦中吵醒。狮子生气地跳起来,捉住老鼠,要弄死它。老鼠哀求说:「只要你肯饶恕我这条小生命,我将来一定会报答你的大恩。」狮子便笑着放了它。
后来狮子被几个猎人捉住,用粗绳捆绑倒在地上。老鼠听出是狮子的吼声,走来用牙齿咬断绳索,释放了牠,并大声说:「你当时嘲笑我想帮你的忙,而且也不指望我有什么机会报答。但是你现在知道了,就算是小老鼠,也能向狮子效劳的。」