中國傳統(tǒng)故事31TheSpearandtheShield自相矛盾

中國傳統(tǒng)故事31：TheSpearandtheShield自相矛盾InonetowninoldChina,therelivedaproudmerchant.Heownedasmallstoreinthebusymarket.Ononesideofhisstorewerebeautiful,straightspears.Ontheotherside,werehard,strongshields.Atthistime,Chinawasoftenatwarwithitself.Themerchantknewsoldiersneededspearsforfightingandshieldsforprotectingthemselves.Themarketwasfilledwithshopsandshoppers.Therewererestaurants,fruitstands,clothingstores,andmore.Therewasevenanotherstorethatalsosoldspearsandshields.Theownerofthatstorewastheproudmerchant’srival.Everyweek,themerchantsoldafewspearsandafewshields.Buthewasnothappy.Alltheotherstoreswerebusierthanhisstore.Evenworse,hisrival’sstorehadmorecustomers.Themerchantthoughtlongandhardabouthowtogetmorecustomerstohisstore.Likeasoldier,themerchantknewhehadtobestrongerthanhisrival.Hestaredathisspearsandshields,thinking.Suddenly,hehadanidea.Hepickedupaspearandashieldandmarchedoutintothestreet.Heheldupthespearanddancedaround.“Lookatthisspear!”heyelled.“MyspearisthebestinChina!Itismadefromthebestwoodintheworld!Themetalissostrongthatitcanpierceanything!”Acrowdsoongatheredaroundhim.Evenhisrivalcameovertoseewhatwashappening.“Lookatthisshield!”theproudmerchantcontinued.Heliftedituptocatchthesunlight.“MyshieldisthebestinChina!Itismadefromthestrongestmetalintheworld!Itissosolidthatnothingcanpierceit!”Thecrowdgrewbigger.“Ooh!Aah!”theysaid,admiringthemerchant’sspearandshield.Themerchant’srivalwalkeduptohim.“Yousaythatyourspearcanpierceanything,andthatnothingcanpierceyourshield,”saidhisrival.“Thatiscorrect,”repliedthemerchantconfidently.“WhatwillhappenifIstabyourshieldwithyourspear?”askedhisrival.Thequestionsurprisedthemerchant.Hestoppeddancing.Heloweredhisspear.Heloweredhisshield.Heknewthattheclaimswereuntrue.Therecouldnotbebothaspearthatcanpierceanythingandashieldthatcannotbepiercedbyanything.Themerchantdidn’tknowwhattosay.So,hehunghisheadinshame,closedhisstore,andwenthome.TheEndQuestion:Whydidthemerchantlieabouthisspearsandshields?核心詞匯merchantn.商人spearn.矛shieldn.盾standn.攤rivaln.對手customern.顧客marchv.（快步）行走piercev.刺穿，刺破crowdn.人群solidadj.堅固的admirev.欽佩stabv.刺，戳claimn.聲稱，斷言在舊中國的一個城鎮(zhèn)里，住著一位驕傲的商人。他在繁忙的市場上開了一家小店。在他的商店的一邊是漂亮的直矛。另一邊是堅固的盾牌。在這個時候，中國經(jīng)常與自己交戰(zhàn)。商人知道士兵們需要長矛作戰(zhàn)，需要盾牌保護自己。市場上擠滿了商店和購物者。那里有餐館、水果攤、服裝店等等。甚至還有另外一家商店也出售長矛和盾牌。那家商店的老板是驕傲商人的對手。每個星期，商人都會賣幾支矛和幾塊盾牌。但他并不快樂。其他所有的商店都比他的商店忙。更糟糕的是，他的競爭對手的商店有更多的顧客。這位商人花了很長時間和精力思考如何讓更多的顧客進入他的商店。就像一名士兵一樣，他知道他必須比他的對手更強大。他盯著自己的矛和盾思考。突然，他有了一個主意。他拿起長矛和盾牌，大步走到街上。他舉起長矛，跳起舞來。“看這把矛！”他喊道?！拔业拿侵袊詈玫模∷怯檬澜缟献詈玫哪静闹瞥傻?！這種金屬非常堅固，可以穿透任何東西！”人群很快聚集在他周圍。甚至他的對手也過來看看發(fā)生了什么?！翱催@個盾牌！”驕傲的商人繼續(xù)說。他把它舉起來曬太陽?！拔业亩苁侵袊詈玫?！它是由世界上最堅固的金屬制成的！它是如此堅固，沒有任何東西能穿透它！”人群越來越大。“哦！?。　彼麄冋f，欣賞著商人的矛和盾。商人的對手向他走來。他的對手說：“你說你的矛可以刺穿任何東西，任何東西都不能刺穿你的盾牌。”。“沒錯，”商人自信地回答。“如果我用你的長矛刺穿你的盾牌會怎么樣？”他的對手問道。這個問題使商人大吃一驚。他停止了跳舞。他放下長矛。他放下盾牌。他知道這些說法是不真實的。不可能既有能刺穿任何東西的矛，也有不能被任何東西刺穿的盾。商人不知道該說什么。于是，他羞愧地低下頭，關(guān)了店，回家了。24、Goodorbad？塞翁失馬焉知非福24.Goodorbad？塞翁失馬焉知非福,英語口語,5分鐘Longago,anoldmanandhissonlivedinafarawaytownneartheChineseborder.Theyfarmedthelandandlivedamostlypeacefullife.Onenight,therewasaterriblestorm.Windlashedthetrees.Anoldelmcrashedintothebarndoor.Thefrightenedhorseranoutofthebarn,headingtowardthehills.Theoldmanandhissonlookedalloverforthehorse.Theywalkedthroughthedarkfields,holdingtorches.Theycalledtothehorseandscatteredsweethay.Still,theycouldnotfindhim.Theentiretimetheoldmankeptsaying,“Perhapslosingourhorseisn’tsuchabadthing.”Hissonkeptquiet.Hedidn’tunderstandhisfather.Theyaskedeveryoneaboutthemissinghorse.Thetownspeopleansweredpolitely,sayingthattheyhadn’tseenthehorse,butwouldlookoutforhim.Theyallpitiedtheoldmanandhisson.“Itmustbeterribletolosesuchabeautifulanimal,”theysaid.Buttheoldmaninsistedthatlosingthehorsemightnotbeabadthing.Thetownspeoplegrewquiet.Theydidn’tunderstandtheoldman.Indeed,itturnedouttonotbesuchabadthing.Thehorsereturnedthenextday,bringingwithitabeautifulfemalehorse.Thetownspeoplecongratulatedtheoldman,tellinghimthathehadgoodluck.Theoldman,however,responded,“Perhapsmyhorsereturningisnotsuchagoodthingafterall.”Thetownspeoplegrewquiet.Theydidn’tunderstandtheoldman.Asthedayspassed,theoldman’ssoncametolovethenewhorse.Herodeiteveryday.Whentheyraced,theyflowedlikethewindoverthegrass.Butoneday,astheoldman’ssonwasridingthehorse,alargebirdsuddenlyflewinfrontofthem.Theterrifiedhorsestoodupontwolegs,pawingtheair.Theoldman’ssonreachedforhishorse’smanebutgrabbedonlyair.Heflewoffthehorse’sback.Heslammedintothehardground.Hislegbroke.Theoldmanrantohissonandcarriedhimbacktothehouse.Thetownspeopleexpressedtheirsympathytotheoldman.Theywereallverysorry.Hissonwouldneverbeabletowalkwithoutpainagain.Yetunlikethetownspeople,theoldmansaid,“Maybethisisnotsuchabadthingafterall.”Thetownspeoplegrewquiet.Theydidn’tunderstandtheoldman.Afewmonthslater,theEmperorofChinapassedthroughthetownwithhissoldiers.Therewasawarragingneartheborder.Alltheablebodiedyoungmenhadtojointhearmy.WhattheEmperordidn’tsaywasthatmostoftheyoungmenwoulddieinthefight.However,becausetheoldman’ssonwashandicapped,hecouldnotfight.Hedidn’thavetojointhearmy.Instead,hestayedhome.Hehelpedtendcropsonthefamilyfarm.“See?”theoldmansaidtothetownspeople.“Itallworkedoutintheend.Myhorserunningawaybroughtbackthesecondhorse.Andthatsecondhorsestoppedmysonfromgoingofftohisdeath.So,intheend,itwasgoodandluckythatthesethingshappened.”Thetownspeoplecheeredtheoldman’swisdom.Atlast,theyunderstoodhim.Themoralofthisstoryisthateventheworstthingscanhavepositiveeffects.ThereisasimilaridiominEnglish.Itis“Everycloudhasasilverlining.”TheEndQuestion:Describeatimewhensomethingthatseemedbadactuallyhelpedyouout.核心詞匯bordern.邊境lashv.（風(fēng)、雨）猛烈打擊elmn.榆木barnn.谷倉scatterv.分散hayn.（作飼料用的）干草entireadj.整個的，全部的insistv.堅持femaleadj.女性的，母的terrifyv.使害怕pawv.用爪子抓（或扒）manen.（馬）鬃，（獅）鬣grabv.抓取，攫取slamv.砰地關(guān)上（門或窗）able-bodiedadj.體格健全的，強壯的ragev.（戰(zhàn)爭）激烈進行handicappedadj.殘疾的tendv.照料，照顧cropn.谷物wisdomn.智慧moraln.寓意idiomn.習(xí)語圖片以下翻譯來自百度翻譯：很久以前，一位老人和他的兒子住在中國邊境附近的一個遙遠(yuǎn)的小鎮(zhèn)上。他們耕種土地，過著平靜的生活。一天晚上，有一場可怕的暴風(fēng)雨。風(fēng)猛烈地吹著樹。一棵老榆樹撞上了谷倉的門。那匹受驚的馬跑出谷倉，向山上跑去。老人和他的兒子到處尋找那匹馬。他們手持火把穿過黑暗的田野。他們把馬叫來，撒下甘美的干草。但是，他們還是找不到他。老人一直在說，“也許失去我們的馬不是件壞事?！彼膬鹤颖３殖聊Ｋ焕斫馑母赣H。他們向大家打聽那匹失蹤的馬。鎮(zhèn)上的人禮貌地回答說，他們沒有看到那匹馬，但會注意他的。他們都同情老人和他的兒子。“失去這么漂亮的動物一定很可怕，”他們說。但是老人堅持說，失去這匹馬可能不是一件壞事。鎮(zhèn)上的人都安靜下來了。他們不理解這位老人。事實證明，這并不是一件壞事。第二天，這匹馬回來了，帶來了一匹漂亮的母馬。鎮(zhèn)上的人向老人祝賀，說他運氣好。然而，老人回答說：“也許我的馬回來并不是一件好事。”鎮(zhèn)上的人都安靜了下來。他們不理解這位老人。日子一天天過去，老人的兒子愛上了這匹新馬。他每天都騎著它。當(dāng)他們比賽時，他們像風(fēng)一樣在草地上飛舞。但是有一天，當(dāng)老人的兒子騎馬時，一只大鳥突然飛到他們面前。那匹受驚的馬兩條腿走路站起來，用爪子抓著空氣。老人的兒子伸手去抓馬的鬃毛，但只抓住了空氣。他從馬背上飛走了。他砰地一聲撞在堅硬的地面上。他的腿斷了。老人跑向他的兒子，把他帶回了家。鎮(zhèn)上的人對這位老人表示同情。他們都很抱歉。他的兒子再也不能不痛地走路了。然而，與城里人不同的是，老人說：“也許這畢竟不是件壞事?！背抢锶俗兊冒察o了。他們不理解這位老人。幾個月后，中國皇帝帶著他的士兵穿過了這個城鎮(zhèn)。邊境附近爆發(fā)了一場戰(zhàn)爭。所有有能力的體格健壯的年輕人不得不參軍?；实蹧]有說的是，大多數(shù)年輕人都會在戰(zhàn)斗中死去。然而，由于老人的兒子是殘疾人，他不能戰(zhàn)斗。他不必參軍。相反，他呆在家里。他幫助照料家庭農(nóng)場的莊稼。“看到了嗎？”老人對鎮(zhèn)上的人說?！白詈笠磺卸冀鉀Q了。我跑開的馬帶回了第二匹馬。第二匹馬阻止了我兒子的死亡。因此，最終，這些事情發(fā)生了，真是幸運。”鎮(zhèn)上的人們?yōu)槔先说闹腔蹥g呼。他們終于明白了他的意思。這個故事的寓意是，即使是最糟糕的事情也會產(chǎn)生積極的影響。英語中有一個類似的成語。這是“每一朵云都有一線希望。”25、Frog'sTastyWorld井底之蛙25.Frog'sTastyWorld井底之蛙,英語口語,4分鐘Onceuponatime,therelivedasmallfrogatthebottomofawell.Thisfroghadlivedinthewellhiswholelife.Everydaywasthesame.Hewouldwakeupandeatafewoftheblackbugsflyingaroundinthewell.Whatadeliciousbreakfast!Thenhewouldplayalittleinthewater,splashingandsinging,“ribbit,ribbit!”Whenhegothungry,itwatimeforlunch.Again,hewouldeatsomeoftheblackfliesinthewell.Theywerealwaysasyummyasthebreakfastbugs!Then,hewouldtakealittleafternoonnap,lyinginthewarmsunlightshiningfromabove.Whenhewokeupfromhisnap,hewouldeatdinner.Guesswhatheate?Yes!Bugs!Finally,afterdinner,hewouldstarethroughtheopeningofthewellandwatchthestarsbeforegoingtosleep.Hecalledthestars“fireflies.”Theylookedtasty!Everydaywouldpassinthesameway.Hewasverycontentwithhislife.Tohim,everythingwasperfectinhislittlewell.Onedayafterlunch,ashewassettlingdownforhisnap,abluebirdappearedatthemouthofthewell.“HelloMr.Bird!”shoutedthefrog.“Howareyou?Pleasejoinmedownhereinmyhouse!It’sperfecthere!It’sthebestlifeanyonecouldhave.It’scozy,andIhaveplentytoeat.AtnightIcanseethefireflies,andsometimesIevenseetheshiningcaterpillar.”“Thefirefliesandtheshiningcaterpillar?”saidthebluebird.“Doyoumeanthestarsandthemoon?Mr.Frog,howaboutIshowyoutheoutsideworld?”askedthebird.“No,thankyou,”saidthefrog.“Idon’tneedanythingbesidesmyperfectlittlewell.Nothingouttherecancomparetohere.Anyway,howmuchistheretosee?Itisallhereandinthelittlebluecircleatthetopofmywell.Thecircleturnsblackatnight.Thenthefirefliesandtheshiningcaterpillarcomeout.Atthispoint,thebirddecidedtotakeaction.Heswoopedintothewellandgrabbedthefrog.“Hey!Putmedown!”thefrogprotested.Hestruggledagainstthebluebird’sgrip.Thebirdliftedhimupward.Suddenlythefrogsawaflashofgreenandthenablurofyellow.Hestoppedsquirmingandgrewbigeyed.Whathesawwasunlikeanythinghehadeverseenbefore.Riversandmountainsandlakesandfields!Hesawhundredsoftreesandthousandsofflowers.Hesawmillionsofbugs!Beetlesandbees!Butterfliesanddragonflies!Theworldlookeddelicious!“Whoknewtheworldwasthisbig!”heexclaimed.“Thankyou,Mr.Bird,forshowingmethisbeautifulplace!”Afterseeingtheoutsideworld,thefrogneverwentbacktohiswellagain.Helivedinapondringedwithflowersandbuzzingwithbugs!Beforehemetthebluebird,thefrog’sworldwasverysmall.Hewassurethatnothingcouldbebetterthanthewell.Ifthebirdhadnotflownhimtotheoutsideworld,thefrogwouldhaveneveropenedhismindtolife’spossibilities.Andhewouldhaveneveropenedhismouthtothepossibilitiesofbees,butterflies,beetles,anddragonflies!TheEndQuestion:Whatwasthefrog’slifelikebeforeheleftthewell?A.Hislifewasveryroutine.Everydaywasthesame.B.Helivedinthedarkandlovedfireflies.C.Hislifewasverytiringbecauseheswamallthetime.D.Hetr