鳄鱼和乌鸦
The Crocodile and the Crow
Along a warm,winding river there once lived a giantcrocodile.This animal was huge for two reasons:one,it lovedto eat;two,it loved to sleep.In fact,it even managed to doboth at the same time.It slept in the Shallows with its hugemouth open.If a fish or a turtle swam between those jaws,snap!The crocodile would eat it without even waking up.Therewasn't a bigger,hungrier,lazier crocodile on the whole river.
从前,在一条温暖而弯曲的河里住着一只大鳄鱼。这家伙长得这么巨大有两个原因:一、它爱吃;二、它爱睡。事实上,它甚至还可以同时做这两件事。它把大嘴张着,在浅滩里睡觉。一旦有鱼或是乌龟游进它的两颚之间,喀嚓!大鳄鱼连醒都不醒就把它给吃掉。在这整条河,再也找不到比它更大、更饿、更懒的鳄鱼了。
High in a dead tree near the river lived a shiny blackcrow.From his perch,the crow carefully watched life below.whatever happened,from sunup to sundown,the crow would shoutthe news as loudly as he could."Caw! Six elephants are comingto the river!Caw!They're drinking from the river!Caw!Caw!Nowthey're going back into the forest.Caw!Caw!Caw!"When he hadreally important news to share,he'd fly in circles,squawking.
靠近河边一棵枯树的高处,住着一只黑得发亮的乌鸦。乌鸦从它那高高在上的位置,很注意地观察着下面的生活。从日出到日落,不论发生了什么事,乌鸦总是会把刚发生的新闻以它最大的声音昭告众人。“嘎!六只大象正向河边迈进。嘎!它们正在河边喝水。嘎!它们要回森林去了。嘎!嘎!嘎!”如果真有非常重要的消息要告诉大家,它就会绕着圈子一边飞一边叫。
Most animals along the river were thankful for thisservice.The crow reported what was going on in the area andtold everyone of approaching danger.The crocodile,however,hated the crow.The bird's constant racket disturbed his sleep.Besides that,the crow often warned prey that the crocodilewas coming,making it harder to hunt.Worst of all,the crowteased the crocodile.He would land close to where the beastwas sleeping and cry out in a very loud voice.
河岸边大部分的动物都很感激这项服务。乌鸦会报告这一带发生的事情,和即将发生的危险。不过,大鳄鱼却很厌恶这只乌鸦。那只鸟儿不断的聒噪声打扰了它的睡眠。此外,乌鸦还时常警告鳄鱼的猎物,告诉它们鳄鱼来了,这使得它较难猎取食物。更糟的是,乌鸦很喜欢戏弄鳄鱼。它会停在靠近鳄鱼睡觉的地方,然后用很大的声音喊叫。
"Oh,I hurt my wing,"he would shout."I can't fly.Help!Help!"When the crocodile lunged to eat the bird,the crow wouldquickly flutter out of reach.
“喔!我的翅膀受伤了!”它会这样喊,“我不能飞了。救命啊!救命啊!”而当鳄鱼冲上前去要吃它时,乌鸦就会很快地鼓翅飞走,让鳄鱼抓不到它。
"Why do you keep teasing me like this?"the crocodilewould complain.
“你为什么一直这样戏弄我?”鳄鱼报怨道。
"I can't help it,"the crow would laugh."It's so much fun.Besides,you need to discipline yourself.You need to exercisemore and eat less.So,it's actually good for you to chase mewithout catching me.You should thank me!Ha,ha!"
“我就是忍不住。”乌鸦大笑,“实在太好玩了。而且,你需要自律。你需要多运动少吃东西。所以呢,让你追我扑个空,实在是对你有好处。你该感谢我才对!哈!哈!”
The crocodile finally realized that the crow was right.Heneeded to discipline himself.So he went on a diet.He ate lessand avoided fatty foods like wild piglets.He went for longswims in the river.He lost weight.He began to move veryquickly.But the crow didn't notice what was happening.
鳄鱼终于想通了,乌鸦说得对。它需要训练自己。所以它开始节食。它不但吃得少,它还避开像小野猪这类的高脂肪食物。它在河里游长程的泳。它的体重减轻了,它的动作变得很敏捷。但是乌鸦并没有注意到这些事情。
One day,the crow came closer than usual."Ow,my wing!"heteased.
有一天,乌鸦又像往常一样地靠近过来。“喔!我的翅膀!”它戏弄着鳄鱼。
The crocodile lunged and caught the crow."Well,crow,"hesaid,"I do want to thank you for your good advice.Self-discipline is indeed the best way to reach your goals."Andhe ate him.
鳄鱼冲上前并抓住乌鸦。“嗯,乌鸦先生,”它说,“我还真得谢谢你给我的好建议。自律确实是达到目标的最佳方式。”然后它就把乌鸦给吃了。
More Information
crocodile(n)鳄鱼
Crocodiles have many sharp teeth.
crow(n)乌鸦
That big black bird is a crow.
from sunup to sundown(adv phr)从日出到日落
The farmer works from sunup to sundown.
squawk(v)嘎嘎地叫
Birds squawking loudly woke me up this morning.
racket(n)喧哗
Our neighbors made a loud racket last night.
piglet(n)小猪
The mother pig has seven piglets.
Word Bank
shallows(n pl)浅滩
Little fish swim in the shallows of the river.
jaw(n)颚
The man opened his jaws and bit the apple.
perch(n)栖枝;高而安全的位置
The guard watched from his perch on top of the building.
prey(n)被捕食之动物
The lion chased its prey.
beast(n)兽
A hungry bear is a dangerous beast.
lunge(v)向前冲
The football player lunged for the ball.
flutter(v)拍翅;鼓翼
Three birds fluttered past my window.
fatty(adj)多脂肪的
French fries and potato chips are fatty foods
《空中英语教室》长春G381中学外语教与学by John Ryan/ILLUSTRATIONS BY VIVIAN YU20012001林文英A Story About Self-discipline 作者:《空中英语教室》长春G381中学外语教与学by John Ryan/ILLUSTRATIONS BY VIVIAN YU20012001
网载 2013-09-10 21:40:52