【www.gbppp.com--爱情故事】
A fox and a goat
An unlucky fox fell into a well, It was quite deep, so he could not get out by himself.
A goat came. He asked the fox:”what are you doing? The fox said : "There will be no water, so I jumped down to get some water. Why don’t you jump down, too?" The goat jumped into the well.
But the fox jumped on the goat’s back and out of the well. "Good-bye, friend," said the fox. "Remember next time don’t trust the advice of a man in difficulties."
Thank you!
狐狸和山羊
一只不走运的狐狸，失足掉到了井里。井很深，他无法跳出来。
一只山羊经过这里，便问狐狸在井下做什么。狐狸说：“哦，你没有听说吗？这里将要大旱，因此我跳进来取水，为什么你不下来一起喝呢？”
山羊相信了狐狸的话，就真的跳进井里。狐狸立即跳上山羊的背，又一跳，跳上了井沿。 “再见，朋友，”狐狸说，“记住，不要相信一个身陷麻烦的人的建议。”
坐井观天
Look at the Sky from the Bottom of a Well
There is a frog. He lives in a well and he never goes out of the well. He thinks the sky is as big as the mouth of the well.
有一只青蛙住在井底，他从来没有去过井外面。他以为天空就和井口一样大。
One day a crow comes to the well. He sees the frog and says, “Frog, let’s have a talk.” 一天， 一只乌鸦飞到井边，看见青蛙，就对它说：“青蛙，咱们聊聊吧。”
Then the frog asks, “Where are you from?”
青蛙就问他：“你从哪里来?”
“I fly from the sky,” the crow says.
“我从天上上来。”乌鸦说。
The frog feels surprised and says, “The sky is only as big as the mouth of the well. How do you fly from the sky?”
青蛙惊讶地说：“天空就只有这井口这么大，你怎么会从天上来? ”
The crow says, “The sky is very big. You always stay in the well, so you don’t know the world is big.”
乌鸦说：“天空很大。只不过你一直呆在井里，所有不知道世界很大。”
The frog says, “I don’t believe.”
青蛙说：“我不相信。”
But the crow says, “You can come out and have a look by yourself.”
乌鸦说：“你可以出来，自己看看嘛。”
So the frog comes out from the well. He is very surprised. How big the world is!
于是青蛙来到井外。他十分惊讶，原来世界这么大!
词义解析：
1.frog：青蛙
2.bottom：底部
3.well：井
4.mouth：口
5.crow：乌鸦
6.surprised：感到惊讶的
7.believe：相信
8.world：世界
9.go out of：从……出来
10.as…as：和……一样
猫咪钓鱼
猫咪钓鱼A Cat Is Fishing
A cat goes to a river every day. He wants to go fishing. But he can’t catch any fish.
一只猫每天去河边，他想去钓鱼，但是他去钓不到一条。
One day, he goes to the river as usual. Suddenly a fish comes out. He catches the fish. He is very happy. He forgets to put the fish in the basket. He dances and sings. He shouts, “I have a fish! I have a fish!” All his friends come to see him.
一天，他像往常一样去了河边。突然一条鱼浮出了水面。他捉到了那条鱼。他非常开心。他忘记把鱼放到篮子里去了。他又唱又跳，叫道：“我捉到一条鱼!我捉到一条鱼!”他所有的朋友都过来看。
“Where is your fish? Let us have a look at it. ” his friends say. “你的鱼在哪儿?让我们看一看。”他的朋友们说。
“It’s there, near the bank.” the cat answers. But he can’t find the fish. When he sings and dances, the fish jumps back into the river.
“在那儿，河岸附近。”猫回答道。但是他找不到那条鱼。当他又唱又跳的时候，鱼跳回了河里。
老鼠开会
Belling the cat
Long ago, there was a big cat in the house. He caught many mice while they were stealing food.
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.
At last a young mouse got up, and said that he had a good idea.
"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."
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. 老鼠开会
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。
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，最后，一只小老鼠站出来说他有一个好主意。
“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。” 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。
寓意: 有些事情说起来容易，做起来却很难。
1 Dogs
People often say that a dog is man's best friend. Over thousands of years, man has taught his dogs to do many kinds of work besides guarding the home. For example, sheepdogs are famous for their ability to control a flock of hundreds of sheep.
Dogs have been used to aid disabled people for centuries. A guide dog can lead its blind owner. Nowadays, dogs can be taught to turn on light switches, open refrigerator doors and dial the telephone for their disabled owners. For the majority of people, however, dogs are simply pets and friends for both young and old members of the family.
guard 看守，看护 sheepdog 牧羊犬 flock 群 aid 帮助
disabled 残疾人 century 世纪 guide dog 导盲犬 dial 拨 majority 大多数
狗
人们总是说狗是人类最好的朋友。几千年来，除了看家外，人类还教会了狗去做许多其他的事，例如，牧羊犬就因其可以控制数百只羊的羊群而出名。
狗用来帮助残疾人已有好几个世纪了。导盲犬可以为盲主人引路。现在，人们还教狗为残疾主人打开电灯、开冰箱和拨电话。然而，对于
大多数人来说，狗只是家里老人和孩子们的宠物和朋友。
Who is man's best friend?
2 Detective Work
A bank robber stole a lot of money. He was caught and sent to prison, but the money was never found. When he came out of prison, they watched him to see what he would do. Here is the detective, reporting to the inspector. "Yes, sir, I found Johnny . I followed him all around the town, but frankly, I couldn't make anything out of what he bought. Here's the list."
shirt , heavy crowbar, box of chocolates , shovel, heavy hammer, bunch of flowers .The inspector said, "Good. That helps me a lot. Do you remember how we watched him helping his neighbour, old Mrs. Judson to cover her backyard with cement?
detective 侦探的侦探 robber 强盗，盗贼 prison 监狱
inspector 检察官 frankly 坦白地，真诚地 crowbar 铁撬，撬棒
shovel 铲，铁铲 hammer 铁锤，锤子 backyard 后院
cement 水泥
侦探工作
一个盗贼从银行偷了很多钱。他被抓住送到监狱，但是钱没找到。 当他从监狱出来时，他被监视，看他会做什么。这不，侦探正向检察官报告：“是的，先生，我发现了强尼•阿米塔基，我跟着他转遍了全镇，但坦白说，我不能从他买的东西中推断出什么。这里是清单。” 衬衫、大铁撬、一盒巧克力铁铲、大铁锤、一束花 。
检察官说：“好，这对我很有帮助。你还记得我们看到他是怎么帮他的邻居，贾德森老太太用水泥铺院子的吗？”
I cannot infer from what he bought what?
3 What is Time? （Nursery Rhyme）
Time is grain for peasants.
Time is wealth for workers.
Time is life for doctors.
Time is victory for soldiers.
Time is knowledge for students.
Time is speed for scientists.【简单英语故事短文】
Time is money for businessmen.
Time is everything for all of us.
Therefore, seize the time of today!
grain 粮食 wealth 财富 victory 胜利 seize 抓住，把握
时间是什么（童谣一首）
对农民来说，时间就是粮食。对工人来说，时间就是财富。对医生来说，时间就是生命。
对士兵来说，时间就是胜利。对学生来说，时间就是知识。对科学家来说，时间就是速度。
对企业家来说，时间就是金钱。对我们大家来说，时间就是一切。因此，把握今天!
For farmers, what time is it?
4 Perfect Match
A rich woman is so proud of a valuable antique vase that she decides to have her bedroom painted the same colour as the vase. Several painters try to mix the colour right, but none comes close enough to satisfy the woman.
Eventually, a painter comes. He is confident that he can mix the proper colour. The woman is pleased with the result, and the painter becomes famous. Years later, he retires and turns the business over to his son. "Dad,"asks the son, "there's something I've got to know. How did you get those walls to match the vase so perfectly?"
"Son,” the father replies, "I painted the vase."
proud of 自豪 valuable 值钱的 antique vase 古董花瓶 paint 用油漆漆
satisfy 满意 eventually 最终 confident 有信心的 retire 退休
match 和„„相配
绝配
一个有钱的妇人感到非常骄傲，因为她有一只值钱的古董花瓶，她决定把她的卧室漆成和花瓶一样的颜色。好几个油漆匠试图调出正确的颜色，但是没有一个人调出的颜色能让妇人满意。
最后，来了一个油漆匠。他很有信心可以调出合适的颜色。果然妇人对最终的效果感到满意，漆匠也因此成名。
几年后，漆匠退休了，他把生意交给了儿子。“爸爸，”儿子问，“有件事我想知道。你是如何调配出和花瓶一样的颜色的？” “儿子，”父亲回答，“我把花瓶也一起漆了。”
超简单的英语小故事
A Good Boy
Little Roben asked his mother for two cents. What did you do with the money I gave you yesterday?"
一gave it to a poor old woman." he answered.
"You're a good boy." said the mother proudly. "Here are two cents more. But why are you so
interested in the old woman?"
"She is the one who sells the candy."
好孩子
小罗们特向妈妈要两分钱.
“昨天给你的钱干什么了?
“找给了一个可怜的老太婆，”他回答说。“你真是个好孩了，”妈妈骄傲地说。“再给你两
分钱。可你为什么对那位老太太那么感兴趣呢?’
因为她是个卖糖果的。”
The Thirsty Pigeon 饥渴的鸽
A PIGEON, oppressed by excessive thirst, saw a goblet of water painted on a signboard. Not
supposing it to be only a picture, she flew towards it with a loud whir and unwittingly dashed
against the signboard, jarring herself terribly. Having broken her wings by the blow, she fell to the
ground, and was caught by one of the hystan山rs.
Zeal should not outrun discretion
有只鸽子口渴得很难受，看见画板上几画着一个水瓶，以为是真的。他立刻呼呼地猛飞过去
不料一头碰掩在画板上，折断了翅膀，摔在地上，被人轻易地捉住了.
这是说，有些人想急于得到所斋的东西，一时冲动，草率从事，就会身遭不幸。
The Raven and the Swan乌鸦和大鹅
A RAVEN saw a Swan and desired to secure for himself the same beautiful plumage. Supposing
that the Swan's splendid white color arose from his washing in the water in which he swam, the
Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his living, and took up residence in【简单英语故事短文】
the lakes and pools. But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not change their
color, while through want of food he perished.
Change of habit cannot alter Nature.
乌鸦非常羡慕天鹅洁白的羽毛。他猜想天鹅一定是经常洗澡。羽毛才变得如
此洁白无瑕。
于是，他毅然离开了他赖以生存的祭坛，来到江湖边。他天天洗刷自己的羽毛，不但一点都没洗白，反而因缺少食物饥饿而死。
这故事是说.人的本性不会随着生活方式的改变而改变.
The Goat and the Goatherd ti山羊与牧羊人
A goatherd had sough to bring back a stray goat to his flock. He whistled and sounded his
horn in vain; the straggler paid no attention to the summons. At last the Goathcrd threw a stone,
and tweaking its horn, begged the Goat not to tell his master. The Goat replied. "Why, you silly
fellow, the horn will speak though I be silent."
Do not attempt to hide things which cannot he hid.
很多山羊被牧羊人赶到羊圈里.有一只山羊不知it吃什么好东西，单独落在后面.牧羊人
拿起一块石头扔了过去，正巧打断了山羊的一只角。牧羊人吓M请求山羊不要告诉主人.山
羊说:“即使找不说.又怎能隐瞒卜去昵?找的角已断了.这是十分明显的事实。” 这故事说明.明显的罪状是无法险眺的。
The Miser守则奴
A MISER sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold. which he buried in a hole in the ground
by the side of an old wall and went to look at daily. One of his workmen observed his frequent
visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. He soon discovered the secret of the hidden
treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole it. The Miser, on his next visit.
found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to make loud lamentations. A neighbor. seeing
him overcome with grief and learning the cause, said. "Pray do not grieve so: but go and take a
stone, and place it in the hole, and fancy that the gold is still lying there. It will do you quite the
same service; for when the gold was there, you had it not, as you did not make the slightest use of it.
有个守财奴变卖了他所有的家产，换网了金块，并秘密地埋在一个地方。他t天走去行行
他的宝藏。有个在附近放羊的牧人留心观察，知道了真情，趁他走后.挖出金块拿走了。守
财奴再来时，发现洞的金块没有了，便捶胸痛哭。有个人见他如此悲痛，问明原
因后，说:“喂，朋友，别再难过了，那块金子虽是你买来的，但并不是你真正拥有的。去拿一块
石头来，代替金块放在洞里，只要你心里想着那是块金子，你就会很高兴。这样与你拥有真
正的金块效果没什么不同。依我之见，你拥有那金块时，也从没用过。” 这故事说明，一切财物如不使用等于没有。
The Wolf and the Lamb狼与小羊
WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him, but to
find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolfs 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, "1 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." Upon
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.
一只小羊在河边喝水，狼见到后，便想找一个名正言顺的借口吃掉他。于是他跑到_L游，恶
狠狠地说小羊把河水搅浑浊了，使他喝不到洁水。小羊回答说，他仅仅站在河边喝水，并且
又在下游，根本不可能把上游的水搅浑。狼见此计不成，又说通:“我父亲去年被你骂过。”
小羊说，那时他还没有出生。狠对他说“:不管你怎样辩解，反正我不会放过你。” 这说明，对恶人做任何正当的辩解也是无效的。
The Bat and the Weasels蝙蚜与黄鼠狼
A BAT who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The
Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he
was not a bit氏but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the
ground and was caught by another Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel
said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a
mouse, but a bat.
and thus a second time escaped.
It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.
编蝠落在地上，被黄鼠狼叼去，他请求饶命。黄鼠狼说绝不会放过他，自己生来痛恨鸟类.
编蝠说他是老鼠，不是鸟。使被放了。后来蝙蝠又掉落了下来，被另一只黄鼠狼叼住，他再
三请求不要吃他。这只黄鼠狼说他恨一切鼠类。蝙蝠改口说自己是鸟类.并非老鼠，又被
放了。这样，编蝠两次改变了自己的名字，终于死里逃生。
这故事说明，我们遇事要随机应变方能避免危险。
短篇英语故事
1：
There was a guy who went into a shop to buy a parrot. There werethree parrots in the shop. One was $5,000; another one, $10,000; and the third one, $30,000. The customer asked the owner, “How come this guy is $5,000? That‟s so expensive for this kindof parrot.” The owner said, “Because I have trained him and he can talk.” So the customer asked him, “How about this guy? What can he do that makes him so expensive?” The owner said, “Well, apart from talking, he can also do some amusing actions,like dancing and so on. That‟s why he‟s so expensive.” Then the customer said, “How about the third one? What canhe do that makes him so expensive?” The owner of the shopsaid, “I don‟t know. Normally, I have never heard him talk, nor dance, nor whistle, nor sing, nothing at all! But the other two call him „The Boss.‟”
老板最大 有个人到一间商店买鹦鹉。店里有三只鹦鹉，其中一只卖五千元，另一只卖一万元，还有一只卖三万元。顾客问老板：「为什么这只要卖五千元？这个价钱对这种鹦鹉来说太贵了！」老板说：「因为我有训练他讲话。」顾客又问：「那这只呢？他会做什么？为什么要卖这么贵？」老板说：「他除了会说话之外，还会表演一些有趣的动作，好比说跳舞等等，所以才卖这么贵。」顾客接着又问：「那第三只呢？他会做什么？为什么要卖这么贵？」老板说：「我不知道。我从没听过他讲话、吹口哨或唱歌，也没看过他跳舞，什么都没有！不过另外两只叫他：『老板！』」
2. Where is the egg?
Teacher:Can you make a sentence with the word "egg"?
Student:Yes.I ate a piece of cake yesterday.
Teacher:Then where is the “egg"?
Student:In the cake,Sir.
鸡蛋在哪里？
老师：你能用“鸡蛋”一词造句吗？
学生：可以。我昨天吃了一块蛋糕。
老师：“鸡蛋”在哪？
学生：在蛋糕里，先生
3. Tom is a little boy, and he is only seven years old. Once he goes to a cinema. It is the first time for him to do that. He buys a ticket and goes in. But after two or three minutes he comes out, and buys the second ticket and goes in again. After a few minutes he comes out again and buys the third ticket. Two or three minutes after that he comes out and asks for another ticket. But a girl asks him,“Why do you buy so many tickets? How many friends do you meet?” “No, I have no friends here, but a big woman always stops me at the door and cuts up my ticket.”
汤姆是个小孩， 他才7岁。 当他去电影院的时候。那时他第一次去。他买了张票进去了。 但没过两三分钟他就出来了，然后买了第二张票又进去了。 几分钟后他又出来买了第三张票。 接着两三分钟后他又出来买票。 一个女的问她，“你为什么要买那么多票啊? 你见到了几个朋友？" "没有， 我里面没朋友， 但是每当我进门的时候一位大的女人老把我的票给剪了"
4. Child:My uncle has 1000 men under him.
Man:He is really somebody.What does do?
Child:A maintenance man in a cemetery
他真是一个大人物
小孩：我叔叔下面有1000个人。
男人：他真是一个大人物。他是干什么的？
小孩：墓地守墓人。
Teacher: Would Shakespeare be a great man if he were still alive today?
Student: Of course. He must be a great man, for so far nobody has lived to over 400 years.
一名伟人
老师：如果莎士比亚还活着，他会是一名伟人吗？
学生：当然。因为到目前为止，还没有人活到400多岁。
Mr. Smith: Waiter, there's a dead fly in my soup.
Waiter: Yes, sir, I know---it's the heat that kills it.
史密斯先生：服务员，我的汤里有一只死苍蝇．
服务员：是的，先生，我知道了，它是被烫死的．
Son: Dad, give me a dime.
Father: Son, don't you think you're getting too big to be forever begging for dimes? Son: I guess you're right, Dad, Give me a dollar, will you?
儿子：爸爸，给我一角钱。
父亲：儿子，你不认为你已经长大了，不该再老是一角一角地要钱了(该自立了)，不是吗？
儿子：爸爸，我想你是对的，那给我一块钱行吗？
A little kid fell in love with another little kid, a school mate. Sometimes the kids think they fall in love when they have a crush on someone else in the class, when they‟re eight or ten years old or something like that. So the eight-year-oldkid came back home and asked his father, “Father, is it expensive to be married?” And the father said, “Yes, son, it is very expensive.” So the son asked, “How much does it cost?” And the father said, “I don‟t know, son. I‟m still paying.”
有个小孩爱上了另一个小孩，对方是学校的同学。八岁或十岁左右的孩子有时会迷恋班上某个人，然后就以为自己恋爱了。因此这个八岁的小孩回家问他爸爸：
「爸爸，结婚很花钱吗？」爸爸说：「是啊，儿子，非常花钱。」儿子又问：「要花多少钱呢？」爸爸说：「我不知道，儿子，我到现在还一直在付钱啊！」
"Boy, why have you got cotton-wool in your ear? Is it infected?" "No, sir, but you said yesterday that everything you told me went in one ear and out the other , so I am trying to stop it."
“孩子，你为什么用棉花塞住耳朵？它感染了吗？”
“没有，老师。可是你昨天说你告诉我的知识都是一个耳朵里进，一个耳朵里出，所以我要把它堵在里面。”
“I'm sorry ，Madam ，but I shall have to charge you twenty dollars for pulling your boy's tooth .”
“Twenty d ollars! Why ，I understand you to say that you charged only four dollars for such work!”
“Yes，but this youngster yelled so terribly that he scared four other patients out of the office .”
“对不起，夫人，为您孩子拔牙我要收取20美元。”
“20美元！为什么？不是说好只要4美元。”
“是的，但是你的孩子大喊大叫，把另外四个病人吓跑了。”
TWO： Teacher：We all know that beat causes an object to expand an cold cauese it to contract. Now，can anyone give me a good example?
John：Well ，in the summer the days are long，and in the winter the days are short. 老师：我们都知道热胀冷缩的道理。现在，谁给我举个例子？
约翰：嗯，在夏天天都长，在冬天天都短。
The lecturer on evolution had been going on for nearly two hours. then he started
again, and said he:"Let me ask the evolutionist a question --- if we had tails like a baboon, where are they?"
"I'll venture an answer, " said an old lady. "We have worn them off sitting here so long.".
教进化论的老师已经滔滔不绝地讲了快两个小时，他的话题又来了：“让我向进化论者提个问题——如果我们曾经像狒狒那样长着尾巴，那么现在尾巴到哪里去了？”
“我来试试看，”一位老太太说。
“该是我们在这里坐这么久把它们磨掉了吧。”
A man was going to the house of some rich person. As he went along the road, he saw a box of good apples at the side of the road. He said, "I do not want to eat those apples; for the rich man will give me much food; he will give me very nice food to eat." Then he took the apples and threw them away into the dust. He went on and came to a river. The river had become very big; so he could not go over it. He waited for some time; then he said, "I cannot go to the rich man's house today, for I cannot get over the river." He began to go home. He had eaten no food that day. He began to want food. He came to the apples, and he was glad to take them out of the dust and eat them. Do not throw good things away; you may be glad to have them at some other time.
【译文】 一个人正朝着一个富人的房子走去，当他沿着路走时，在路的一边他发现一箱好苹果，他说：“我不打算吃那些苹果，因为富人会给我更多的食物，他会给我很好吃的东西。”然后他拿起苹果，一把扔到土里去。 他继续走，来到河边，河涨水了，因此，他到不了河对岸，他等了一会儿，然后他说：“今天我去不了富人家了，因为我不能渡过河。” 他开始回家，那天他没有吃东西。他就开始去找吃的，他找到苹果，很高兴地把它们从尘土中翻出来吃了。 不要把好东西扔掉，换个时候你会觉得它们大有用处。
A Good Boy
Little Robert asked his mother for two cents. "What did you do with the money I gave
超简单的英语小故事
A Good Boy
Little Robert asked his mother for two cents. "What did you do with the money I gave you yesterday?"
"I gave it to a poor old woman," he answered.
"You're a good boy," said the mother proudly. "Here are two cents more. But why are you so interested in the old woman?"
"She is the one who sells the candy."
好孩子
小罗伯特向妈妈要两分钱。
“昨天给你的钱干什么了？”
“我给了一个可怜的老太婆，”他回答说。 “你真是个好孩子，”妈妈骄傲地说。“再给你两分钱。可你为什么对那位老太太那么感兴趣呢？”
“她是个卖糖果的。”
The Thirsty Pigeon口渴的鸽子
A PIGEON, oppressed by excessive thirst, saw a goblet of water painted on a signboard. Not supposing it to be only a picture, she flew towards it with a loud whir and unwittingly dashed against the signboard, jarring herself terribly. Having broken her wings by the blow, she fell to the ground, and was caught by one of the bystanders.
Zeal should not outrun discretion.
有只鸽子口渴得很难受，看见画板上画着一个水瓶，以为是真的。他立刻呼呼地猛飞过 去，不料一头碰撞在画板上，折断了翅膀，摔在地上，被人轻易地捉住了。 这是说，有些人想急于得到所需的东西，一时冲动，草率从事，就会身遭不幸。
The Raven and the Swan乌鸦和天鹅
A RAVEN saw a Swan and desired to secure for himself the same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan's splendid white color arose from his washing in the water in which he swam, the Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his living, and took up residence in the lakes and pools. But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not change their color, while through want of food he perished.
Change of habit cannot alter Nature.
乌鸦非常羡慕天鹅洁白的羽毛。他猜想天鹅一定是经常洗澡，羽毛才变得如此洁白无 瑕。于是，他毅然离开了他赖以生存的祭坛，来到江湖边。他天天洗刷自己的羽毛，不但一 点都没洗白，反而因缺少食物饥饿而死。
这故事是说，人的本性不会随着生活方式的改变而改变。
The Goat and the Goatherd 山羊与牧羊人
A GOATHERD had sought to bring back a stray goat to his flock. He whistled and sounded his horn in vain; the straggler paid no attention to the summons. At last the Goatherd threw a stone, and breaking its horn, begged the Goat not to tell his master. The Goat replied, "Why, you silly fellow, the horn will speak though I be silent."
Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hid.
很多山羊被牧羊人赶到羊圈里。有一只山羊不知在吃什么好东西，单独落在后面。牧羊 人拿起一块石头扔了过去，正巧打断了山羊的一只角。牧羊人吓得请求山羊不要告诉主人， 山羊说：“即使我不说，又怎能隐瞒下去呢？我的角已断了，这是十分明显的事实。” 这故事说明，明显的罪状是无法隐瞒的。
The Miser守财奴
A MISER sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried in a hole in the ground by the side of an old wall and went to look at daily. One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. He soon discovered the secret of the hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole it. The Miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to make loud lamentations. A neighbor, seeing him overcome with grief and learning the cause, said, "Pray do not grieve so; but go and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and fancy that the gold is still lying there. It will do you quite the same service; for when the gold was there, you had it not, as you did not make the slightest use of it."
有个守财奴变卖了他所有的家产，换回了金块，并秘密地埋在一个地方。他每天走去看 看他的宝藏。有个在附近放羊的牧人留心观察，知道了真情，趁他走后，挖出金块拿走了。 守财奴再来时，发现洞中的金块没有了，便捶胸痛哭。有个人见他如此悲痛，问明原因后， 说道：“喂，朋友，别再难过了，那块金子虽是你买来的，但并不是你真正拥有的。去拿一 块石头来，代替金块放在洞里，只要你心里想着那是块金子，你就会很高兴。这样与你拥有 真正的金块效果没什么不同。依我之见，你拥有那金块时，也从没用过。”
这故事说明，一切财物如不使用等于没有。
The Wolf and the Lamb 狼与小羊
WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to lay violent hands on him, but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf's 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." Upon 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.
一只小羊在河边喝水，狼见到后，便想找一个名正言顺的借口吃掉他。于是他跑到上游，恶狠狠地说小羊把河水搅浑浊了，使他喝不到清水。小羊回答说，他仅仅站在河边喝水，并且又在下游，根本不可能把上游的水搅浑。狼见此计不成，又说道：“我父亲去年被你骂过。”小羊说，那时他还没有出生。狼对他说：“不管你怎样辩解，反正我不会放过 你。” 这说明，对恶人做任何正当的辩解也是无效的。
The Bat and the Weasels蝙蝠与黄鼠狼
A BAT who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus a second time escaped.
It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.
蝙蝠掉落在地上，被黄鼠狼叼去，他请求饶命。黄鼠狼说绝不会放过他，自己生来痛恨鸟类。蝙蝠说他是老鼠，不是鸟，便被放了。后来蝙蝠又掉落了下来，被另一只黄鼠狼叼住，他再三请求不要吃他。这只黄鼠狼说他恨一切鼠类。蝙蝠改口说自己是鸟类，并非老 鼠，又被放了。这样，蝙蝠两次改变了自己的名字，终于死里逃生。
这故事说明，我们遇事要随机应变方能避免危险。
本文来源：http://www.gbppp.com/qg/436443/
推荐访问:简单英语对话短文 简单的英语小短文