Uncle Erlang squints all three eyes and frowns. He points his spear at my stomach. Then he advances toward me along the narrow path carved into the side of the cliff. I back away from him and the path becomes even narrower.Uncle Erlang jabs the spear at my stomach! I swing my stone axe. Our weapons clash against each other with a loud clang. I lose my balance.My left foot hangs over nothingness. I swing my axe into the mountainside. It pierces the rocky cliff, and I hang for a moment. Then I scramble and regain my footing.I pull my stone axe from the cliff. Then I flip it into the air, spinning it toward my uncle. Its sharp blade makes a wicked hiss as it reaches for him. He jerks to the side, dodging my attack. I crook my finger and the axe flips back toward me. I catch it in one hand.Uncle Erlang puts his spear in his teeth and crawls up the cliff. I spin the axe over my head, just missing him. I hear his dog on the path ahead of me. Erlang hits the boulders above me with his spear.I duck under an overhang as huge stones tumble past.“You never thanked me!” he yells. “I gave you birthday gifts!” Then his third eye shoots at me! It burns my elbow before I crouch under the overhang.“Really?” I yell back. “That’s what has you upset? Birthday gifts?” It’s true. I never thanked him. So, shoot me! Preferably not with a third eye.My elbow stings!You might wonder how I, Chen Xiang, came to be fighting my uncle on the most dangerous path in the world. I once lived in a heavenly palace on Kunlun Mountain with my great-uncle and aunt. My great-uncle is the Jade Emperor and my great-aunt is the Queen Mother of the West. It sounds fabulous, but it was actually pretty boring. Maybe I would have enjoyed the luxe life more if I hadn’t been so lonely. Those two had many noble duties, which didn’t leave much time for me.My dad lived in the woods near Kunlun Mountain. I rarely saw him. My mom? I wasn’t sure where my mom was. When I asked my great-aunt and uncle, they said, “She’s far away. But I know she’d be very happy to have such a hardworking son!” and other weird compliments relatives say when they want you to stop asking questions.But all that changed one evening a few years ago. Uncle Erlang was over for dinner and brought his dog with him. They were never apart, which would have been fine if the dog didn’t growl at everyone else.It had a tail like a whip and a very bad case of doggy breath. While we ate, the dog whined outside. To quiet him, I tossed him a bite of my dessert—peaches with cloud topping.Then I took a deep breath and turned to Uncle Erlang. “What was my mom like when she was my age?” I asked.My great-uncle coughed. My great-aunt loudly blew her nose. Sparks flew off Uncle Erlang’s third eye. (Just in case you’re wondering—a sparking eyeball looks very uncomfortable. Yee-ouch!)“She was rude!” roared Uncle Erlang. “She laughed during your greataunt’s birthday party. Laughed!” The way he said it, you would think it was the worst thing in the world. He turned back to me. “After your mom was sent to the human world in punishment—”“Erlang Shen!” whispered my great-aunt fiercely, using his full name.“After she went to the human world, she fell in love with one of them,” shouted Uncle Erlang. “A human!” He banged the table with his fist.“Oh, here we go,” sighed my great-uncle. “Again.” He rolled his eyes at Uncle Erlang.“I’ll explain the rest, dear,” said my great-aunt, patting Erlang on the arm. She turned to me. “You’re almost fifteen, you’re old enough to know the truth about your mother.”I leaned in. The End
Question: What do you think Chen Xiang’s great-aunt will tell him?
核心词汇
squint v. 患斜视
jab v. 刺，捅，戳
clang n. （金属相击的）锵锵声
scramble v. 爬，争夺，仓促行动
flip v. 转动，使翻转
spin v. 使旋转
blade n. 刀身，刀片
hiss n. 嘶嘶声，（表示嘲弄、厌恶等的）嘘声
jerk v. 急拉，急推
dodge v. 躲避
crook v. （使）弯曲
crawl v. 爬，匍匐前进
boulder n. （由于气候或水侵蚀而形成的）卵石
duck v. 忽地低下头，忽地弯下身
overhang n. 悬垂物
tumble v. 滚下，坠落
crouch v. 蹲，蹲伏
preferably adv. 更可取地，更好地，更合意地
Jade Emperor 玉帝
Queen Mother of the West 西王母
fabulous adj. 难以置信的，（口）极好的
luxe adj. 富丽堂皇的，奢华的
weird adj. 奇特的，怪诞的
compliment n. 赞美
growl v. 发低沉的怒声，咆哮
whip n. 鞭子
whine v. 发哀叫（或哀诉）声，哼哼唧唧地诉说
toss v. 扔，抛，掷
topping n. 构成顶部的东西
punishment n. 惩罚
bang v. （砰砰）猛击
lean v. 屈身，靠，倚
Maybe I would have enjoyed the luxe life more if I hadn’t beenso lonely.如果我不是这么孤独，也许我将会更加享受我的奢侈生活。本句使用虚拟语气，用过去完成时表示对于过去情况的虚拟。other weird compliments relatives say when they want you tostop asking questions 当亲戚们想让你停止提问时候说的其他的奇怪赞语。本句中 relatives say when they want you stop asking questions 是定语从句，修饰前边的 compliments。They were never apart, which would have been fine if the dog didn’t growl at everyone else.他们从来没分开过，如果这只狗不是对着每个人咆哮的话，这还好。本句使用过去时表示对于过去情况的虚拟。“Oh, here we go,” sighed my great-uncle. “Again.” “哦，咱们又开始了”我的叔祖父说。本句中 again 补充修饰前面的 here we go，表示又一次开始，表达了说话者的不耐烦。
Some families have topics that everyone avoids talking about. Maybe it’s the time Grandpa’s fake teeth fell into the noodles or when the baby walked around wearing Dad’s underwear on her head. In my family, it was more serious. Nobody wanted to talk about my mom. But I was sick of not knowing what had happened to her. I finally got some answers at family dinner one night.“Chen Xiang,” my great-aunt, The Queen Mother of the West, said. “To make a long story short, your mom’s an immortal. But she fell in love and got married to your dad, who is human. That’s against the rules of heaven. Then she gave birth to you. That’s doubly against the rules of heaven.”“What do you mean I’m against the rules!” I yelled.My great-aunt said, “Gods and immortals aren’t supposed to have children with--” “Humans!” roared Uncle Erlang. “So I put her under Mount Hua Shan!”“What?” I stood and clenched my fists. “You killed my mom because she’s my mom? Because she had me?”“No, Chen Xiang,” said the Jade Emperor, my great-uncle. “Uncle Erlang didn’t kill her. He just locked her up.” He waved his hand as though this were nothing. “He also took the magic Lotus Lamp. But that was ours.He was just returning it to us. You remember the lamp, don’t you?”“I, I think so,” I said haltingly. A memory came flashing back. “My mom and I were on a boat. Uncle Erlang attacked her and took the lamp!” I stood up as the truth dawned on me. My mom was alive! I had to rescue her!“But we don’t have the Lotus Lamp anymore,” said my great-aunt. “That thief of a monkey took it!” She turned to me. “Of course you remember the lamp, Chen Xiang. It’s very powerful. It’s lovely, and also priceless.”“So is my mom,” I said. I crossed to the door.“Chen Xiang,” cried my great-aunt, reaching toward me. “Don’t go.”“What? Is leaving against the rules?” I sneered. I hated Uncle Erlang. He had stolen my mother from me. I hated them all. They had let it happen.I slipped through the door, shut it, and ran down the hall.My great-uncle yelled, “Chen Xiang! Come back here!”I pushed through a door, then another, then a third. Unlike the rest of the palace, this hall did not have silk wall hangings and paintings of picnics under peach trees. I was heading the right way! I hurried toward the back exit in the servants’ quarters. I bet none of my high and mighty relatives had ever been there.“Chen Xiang!” yelled Uncle Erlang. “I should put you under the mountain next to your mom!”“Erlang,” I heard my great-uncle scold. “That attitude is not helping!”I entered the servants’ quarters. No one was there. Someone had left his sword by the door. I grabbed it and ran outside.Kunlun Mountain was a maze of pathways hidden by fog. I chose one that would lead to Dad’s house. He would be overjoyed to find out that Mom was alive!I ran for hours. When I finally arrived, it was just as I remembered it. I knew that Erlang would surely think to look for me at Dad’s house, so I didn’t knock on the door. I stood in the woods nearby and hooted like an owl six times, hoping Dad would remember our secret call and come to meet me. Yes, I sounded and felt like an idiot.For a long time, nothing happened. Had he forgotten? Then I saw Dad come running into the woods toward me. “Chen Xiang!” he cried, hugging me.“Dad, Mom’s alive! Uncle Erlang has trapped her inside Hua Shan Mountain. We have to rescue her!”“Son, about that . . .” He looked down, not wanting to meet my eyes. “Dad, you knew!” I accused him. “Why didn’t you tell me! Why haven’t we tried to save her! Erlang did a terrible thing. He’s the worst!”“Son, this is not the first time something like this has happened,” he said, hugging me again. “I don’t want her to die or to see you broken as Erlang was broken.”I pulled away. “What are you talking about?” The End
Question: Why does Chen Xiang think that his father already knew that
Chen Xiang’s mother is alive?
1. Chen Xiang’s father says he doesn’t want to talk about Chen Xiang’s
mother.
2. When Chen Xiang tells his father that they have to rescue his mother, his father says, “Son, about that . . .” and doesn’t want to look him in the eyes.
3. When Chen Xiang tells his father that they have to rescue his mother, his father says, “Son, about that . . .” and heads for the door.
4. Chen Xiang’s father tells him that he already knew about the
imprisonment of Chen Xiang’s mother.
核心词汇
fake adj. 假的，伪造的
immortal n. 神仙
roar v. 吼叫
clench v. 捏紧（拳头等）
lotus n. 莲属植物
dawn v. 被理解，被领悟
sneer v. 嗤笑，讥讽
slip v. 溜，悄悄地走
hanging n. 悬挂物
grab v. 抓取，攫取
maze n. 迷宫
hoot v. （猫头鹰）鸣叫
Is leaving against the rules? 难道离开也是违反天条么？本句中leaving 为动名词作主语。
this hall did not have silk wall hangings and paintings of picnics under peach trees.这个走廊没有丝绸的墙幔和绘有桃树下野餐的画。
That attitude is not helping!那种态度于事无补！本句是玉帝在斥责二郎神的蛮横态度。
I don’t want her to die or to see you broken as Erlang was broken.我不想让她死，也不想看着你像二郎神那样被毁掉。
As I listened to my dad, I felt that everything I knew about my life had been a lie. My dad tried to explain why he hadn’t rescued my mom or told me she was alive. He said it was because of Erlang, the worst brother ever. Apparently, everything I’m going through, Erlang went through the same thing. The only difference is that he went through it 20 years earlier.“Erlang’s mother also married a mortal, like your mom married me.” Dad explained, “An immortal and a human can’t marry. It’s against the rules.After she gave birth to your mom and Erlang, the Jade Emperor trapped her inside Mount Tao. Sound familiar? Erlang was just like you.”“Don’t say that,” I growled. “I would never trap someone inside a mountain like he has trapped his sister. He’s a monster! And if the Jade Emperor did that, he’s a monster too!”“Erlang tore open the mountain to save his mother,” said Dad. “He freed her for a moment. Then the Jade Emperor sent ten suns to kill her. They burned her to death. Erlang saw it all. It destroyed him. From that day on he has never broken a rule.” Dad wiped his eyes. “People call him the God of Purity. He is pure. But he has no love, no compassion, not even for himself. Love and compassion were burned out of him.” He put his arm around my shoulder, saying, “Don’t go to Hua Shan Mountain. The Jade Emperor will kill your mother. You will be destroyed as Erlang was destroyed.”“I will never be like Erlang!” I shouted. I pulled away from my dad and headed toward Hua Shan Mountain alone.After weeks of travel, I arrived. But where was she? Which mountain peak held her? My quest felt hopeless. “Mom!” I cried and fell to my knees.I felt a hand on my elbow, helping me up. I stood and looked into the flashing eyes of the Firebolt God. His kind face wrinkled in concern as I told him my story.“Young man,” he said after I finished. “You aren’t ready to fight your uncle yet. But I’ll train you if you agree to work harder than you ever have before.”After years studying magic and kung fu, I asked the Firebolt God when I could continue my quest to save my mother.“One more task,” he answered, beckoning me to follow him. We hiked past a fiery lake. Steam rolled off the water. Hot mud bubbled.“This is one of my favorite picnic spots,” he said, breathing deeply.Everything smelled of rotten eggs.Then he pointed at a boulder on top of the mountain. “Push this boulder into the lake,” he said. “Then you will get the axe you need to free your mother.”The boulder was the size of my dad’s house! Every day I hiked past the fiery, stinky lake and pushed the boulder. After countless weeks of trying, I gave it a mighty push and a kick. The Firebolt God cheered as the boulder rolled downhill into the fiery lake. Water and flames splashed. A metal axe popped up, and I caught it!“Now you’re ready,” said the Firebolt God. He clasped me on the shoulder. “You have the axe. Now find the Monkey King. He’ll help you.Ask to use his magic Lotus Lamp.”“That’s our lamp!” I shouted in surprise. “He stole it from my family! Tell me where I can find him!” I thanked the Firebolt God for training me and left.When I found the Monkey King, I asked for my family’s lamp and told him my story.“I’m smart enough not to deal with other people’s problems, kid,” said the Monkey King. “You’re on your own!” He waved to me as he floated away on a cloud.“But the Firebolt God said you’d help!” I shouted after him. “I’ll save my mom without you! I’ll save her no matter what!”I still couldn’t find my mom. Finally I had to ask the one who had locked her up—Uncle Erlang. The End
Question: Erlang thinks everyone should follow the rules or be harshly punished. Chen Xiang thinks some punishments are too terrible even if the rules have been broken. Who is right? Present your argument.
核心词汇
apparently adv. 显然，显而易见地
mortal n. 凡人
immortal n. 神仙
trap v. 使……陷于困境，使受限制
tear (tore) v. 撕开，撕裂
wipe v. 擦，拭
purity n. 纯洁，纯净
compassion n. 同情，怜悯
quest n. （历时较久的）寻求，探求
wrinkle n. 使起皱纹，有皱纹
concern n. 忧虑，担心
beckon v. （以点头或打手势）向……示意
fiery adj. 火焰的，燃烧着的
bubble v. 冒泡，起泡，沸腾
spot n. 地点，场所
rotten adj. 腐烂的
boulder n. 巨砾，漂砾
stinky adj. 发恶臭的，臭的
mighty adj. 强有力的，伟大的
splash v. 溅，泼（水、泥浆等）
pop v. （突然）冒出
clasp v. 扣紧，抱紧
But I’ll train you if you agree to work harder than you ever have
before.但是如果你同意比之前更加努力，我将会训练你。本句中
than you ever have before 是指的比以前任何时候都努力。
I’m smart enough not to deal with other people’s problems. 我足
I searched for Uncle Erlang and finally found him hiking with his dog on Hua Shan Mountain. I yelled across a canyon to ask him where my mom was trapped. He wasn’t happy to see me, to put it mildly. And that’s how I got here, fighting my uncle on the cliffs of Hua Shan Mountain.
I raise my axe and crouch under the overhang. I hold my breath.
Uncle Erlang is quiet now after complaining about me not thanking him. I can’t tell where he is. I peek out and look for him. I see his fierce dog on the path ahead. I hope it remembers I gave it some of my dessert. All of a sudden, the dog leaps on me and bites my leg. “Ouch!” Awful beast has long teeth and a short memory!
Then I hear a battle cry, a scream from the path behind me. Uncle Erlang snuck closer while his dog pinned me. Spear raised, third eye about to blast my head off, Uncle Erlang pounds toward me on the path. I can’t go anywhere. I’m going to die!
But suddenly the Monkey King appears on a cloud above me. He lights the magic Lotus Lamp. A golden beam shines from the lamp onto my forehead. Time slows and gravity becomes my toy. Or to put it another way--I become very fast and very strong.
I pry my leg free from the dog’s grip. I knock aside Uncle Erlang’s spear. It clatters down the mountain in slow motion. I scamper up the cliff above Uncle Erlang’s head. I raise the axe, thinking, Should I split Erlang like a watermelon or like a log? I’m filled with the power of revenge.
Then I remember what my dad said about my uncle. No love. No compassion, not even for himself. Destroyed. Dad said Erlang was like me.
I don’t swing the axe. Uncle Erlang looks up at me. Our eyes lock in understanding. He points to a cave down the mountain, where two peaks come together. I see that the cave’s entrance is blocked by a wall of stone. After a moment, time re-sets. Uncle Erlang and his dog run away.
Then I climb down the mountain, heading toward the place where Uncle Erlang had pointed.
“Mom?” I call when I reach the cave.
I hear a faint answer from inside the mountain. I look up at the sun. There’s just one sun in the sky, not ten. I hope for the best and raise my axe. I bring it down as hard as I can. The mountains shake. I throw myself to the ground and hold on. Rocks tear apart with a grinding noise and create a wall of dust. I cover my head with my hands, hoping I am luckier than Uncle Erlang. Hoping the Jade Emperor doesn’t want to repeat history.
“Chen Xiang?” I hear my mother’s voice. And then she’s right in front of me. I drop the axe and run to her. We hug each other tightly for a long time. Then we start the journey toward home to see Dad. The three of us will live happily ever—
Wait a minute . . . the Monkey King still has our lamp!
The End
Question: Compare and contrast Chen Xiang with his uncle Erlang. How are they alike? How are they different?
核心词汇
canyon n. （通常谷底有溪涧流过的）峡谷
mildly adv. 温和地，适度地
peek v. 偷看，窥视，看一眼，瞥
leap v. 跳，跳跃
sneak (snuck) v. 偷偷地走，溜
pin v. 按住，把……困住
blast v. （用炸药等）炸，炸掉
pound v. 猛烈袭击
gravity n. 重力
pry v. 撬动，使劲分开
grip n. 紧握，紧咬
clatter v. 发出连续而清脆的撞击声
scamper v. 奔跑，疾走
log n. 原木
revenge n. 复仇
block v. 堵塞，阻塞
re-set v. 重拨（钟、表）
faint adj. 模糊的，无力的
grinding adj. 刺耳的，吱吱嘎嘎的
Awful beast has long teeth and a short memory! 可怕的畜牲牙长记性短。本句是指哮天犬凶狠无情的特点。
Time slows and gravity becomes my toy. 时间仿佛变慢，重力也任由我支配。本句是沉香感受到了自己的变化——速度变快、力量变强。
The old man bent over the rice plants struggling to grow in the muddy rice paddy. “I guess I shouldn’t mind that Wang Bapi keeps taking more of our land,” he said to his grandson Lu. “The bigger the farm, the more we have to work. And the more we have to give the magistrate. But I wish we had more rice.”“Me too,” said Lu. “I’m tired of us being hungry.” Lu’s real name was Zhang Lu, but everyone called him Lu for short.As they walked back to the house, Grandpa Zhang stepped on something hard. “I think it might be a big piece of rock salt,” he told Lu.“That would explain why the rice has been dying.” They tried digging it up with their hands.“The mud keeps covering it up!” said Lu.“What?” asked Grandpa. He cupped his ears with his muddy hands.“The mud, it’s all over!” complained Lu.“What?” asked Grandpa. He rubbed his ears with his muddy hands.“Grandpa, you have mud in your ears!” said Lu.“What?” said Grandpa, wiping his ears. “I can’t hear you. I’ve got mud in my ears.”“Grandpa,” laughed Lu. “Let’s finish the house chores. Then we can get the shovel and try again.”After cleaning up, they headed inside to the family shrine. They dusted it and bowed to their ancestors.“I’m sorry, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, and all the family,” said Grandpa Zhang. “We don’t have any fruit to share with you today. But we have a little bit of rice and cool water.” His grandson lit the incense and candles.“Do you really think I’m like your great grandpa?” asked Lu.“Just as smart,” said the old man, smiling. “And just as big a nose. And if you are just as hardworking, then you’ll be a great man like he was.”Great Grandpa’s portrait hung over the shrine. He had a serious expression, but his eyes seemed to twinkle in the candlelight.Wang Bapi was Lu and Grandpa Zhang’s neighbor. His fields began on the other side of their yard. The fields stretched all the way to the river. In his big home, Wang Bapi stacked up the gold yuanbao in front of his family shrine.“You would be proud of me,” he said to the pictures of his ancestors.“You gave me a nice farm, and I’ve turned it into a big farm!” He lit a candle. “My neighbors’ farms have all gotten smaller because I am so clever. I move the fences a little bit each night! If anyone notices and complains, I salt their fields. Then nothing grows!” The ancestors’portraits glimmered darkly in the golden light.On the other side of the river from Wang Bapi’s fields was the border of the magistrate’s land. His land stretched from the river across a wide valley. It went over a mountain and to the end of another valley. In that green valley, the magistrate lived with his old father.“Son!” said the magistrate’s father. “You didn’t take care of the shrine while I was sick! The ancestors’ portraits are covered in dust. This peach has a worm in it!”“Father,” said the magistrate. “I said I’d take care of it. Give me time. You don’t need to nag me!”“Are you waiting for the rotten peach to become a tree? For the worm to become a butterfly?” scolded the magistrate’s father. He tapped his son with his walking cane.The magistrate threw away the rotten fruit and rolled his eyes. When his father was sick, the maid had taken care of him. The magistrate had enjoyed a few peaceful days to do as he wished. The magistrate eyed the large pot, called a ding, sitting in front of the shrine. What if his father were to bend over and hit his head on the ding? That would be a shame.However, the maid would have to take care of him again. Perhaps for a week or more this time! The magistrate was pulled out of his daydream by his father’s harsh voice.“Son, go get some fresh fruit and drink for our ancestors. You’ll have to go to the store for more incense and candles.”As the magistrate rode to the store, he went past Grandpa Zhang’s small plot of land. He noticed the grandpa and grandson in the rice paddy, working. The rice didn’t look healthy. “Oh no,” he grumbled. “I bet they won’t want to pay their full share to me next harvest.”In the rice paddy, Grandpa Zhang and Lu struggled to dig. “Whatever it is, it’s big and heavy!” said Lu. The End
Question: What do you think they found?
核心词汇
magistrate n. 地方行政官，治安官
shovel n. 铲，铁锹
shrine n. 圣坛，神殿
incense n. 香，（祭供等）焚香时的烟（或香气）
portrait n. 肖像，画像，人像
expression n. 表情，腔调
twinkle v. （眼睛因欢乐、欣喜等而）闪亮
stretch v. 延续，延伸
stack v. 把……叠成堆，堆放于
glimmer v. 发微光
nag v. 指责不休，唠叨
rotten adj. 腐烂的，发臭的
tap v. 用……轻轻叩击
cane n. 手杖，竹杖
plot n. （作特定用途的）小块地皮
grumble v. 抱怨，发牢骚
paddy n. 稻田，水田
The bigger the farm, the more we have to work. And the more
we have to give the magistrate.农田越大，我们的工作就越多。
我们给县官的粮食也就越多。本句的句式为 the+比较级，the+比较级，表示越……越……
Are you waiting for the rotten peach to become a tree? For theworm to become a butterfly?”你是在等烂桃子变成树么？在等虫子变成蝴蝶么？第二句为省略句，省略了 Are you waiting.
What if his father were to bend over and hit his head on theding?如果他的父亲弯腰的时候头碰到鼎上怎么办？本句句式为what if+句子，表示如果……会怎样？
After digging the entire afternoon, Grandpa Zhang and Lu pulled a huge clay pot from the mud. “It’s a ding,” said Grandpa. “Very old.” Let’s clean it up and put it in front of our shrine. The ancestors will like it.”Later that evening, Grandpa Zhang boiled water and cooked their last bit of rice. “We’ll share it with the ancestors,” he said to Lu. He scooped out three portions: two for them and one for the ding.“Grandpa, do we have anything left?” asked Lu after he finished a few bites. “I’m still hungry.”Grandpa Zhang took the last bit of rice from the ding and put it in Lu’s bowl. “I’m sorry, Ancestors,” he said. “But the boy is hungry.”He thought he heard a voice near the shrine say, “Poor thing.” He shook his head. He was hearing things!When he reached to grab the incense sticks on the shrine, he looked down and noticed something white. There was more rice in the ding! Shaking his head, he muttered, “Getting old, my memory’s starting to go.” He scooped out the rice and gave it to his grandson.“Grandpa,” said Lu. “You already gave me more rice. I’m not hungry anymore.”Grandpa Zhang shook his head again and looked in the ding. He saw a big mound of rice! “Lu, come here!” He called. With his grandson watching, Grandpa Zhang filled a couple of bowls with rice. More rice filled the ding!“Lu,” he said to his grandson. “It’s time to have a party! Invite the neighbors! Dinner’s on us!”Everyone in the village came to the house with a rice bowl. They thanked the ancestors and ate their fill. The ding never ran out of rice! They played rice and dice games and laughed together.After everyone said goodbye, their neighbor Wang Bapi arrived.“Give me the ding,” he demanded. Big men with big knives pushed their way into the house.Grandpa Zhang and Lu lifted the heavy ding over their heads. “I will break the pot if you try to take it!” threatened Grandpa Zhang. Wang Bapi and his gang left. Grandfather and grandson lowered the ding to the floor, their arms shaking. The End
Question: If your bowl of rice never became empty, what do you thinkthe cause would be? Would it be because your parent keeps filling yourbowl, due to a magic pot, because you never eat it all, or anotherreason? Explain.
The next day, Wang Bapi told the magistrate that Grandpa Zhang hadstolen the ding from him. The magistrate ordered the two neighbors tobring the pot to him and tell their stories. Grandpa Zhang and Lu placedthe magical ding in front of the magistrate’s family shrine. After themagistrate heard the stories, he tossed a gold yuanbao into the pot. Thepot filled with gold and his eyes bugged out. Everyone gazed inamazement and clapped. Even the eyes of the ancestors in the portraitsabove the shrine seemed to grow wide with wonder and amusement.
“My lost ding!” cried the magistrate. “It’s been in my family forgenerations! At last you have found it!” he said, nodding to GrandpaZhang. He tossed him a gold yuanbao in thanks.
The magistrate congratulated himself. He would be able to hire manymaids to watch his father and take care of the shrine! He was rich andsoon to be free of his nagging father!
Walking slowly with his cane, the magistrate’s father headed toward theshrine. “I want to try it!” he said.
“Father! Let me help you!” the magistrate cried.“
Don’t try to fool me, Sonny!” the old man said, laughing bitterly.He staggered forward, his cane leading the way. “You want all the goldfor yourself! You don’t want to share it with your poor old dad!” The oldman moved with surprising speed to the family shrine.
The magistrate hurried to stop his father. The old man lifted his cane andpushed it against his son’s chest. The magistrate stumbled backwardand fell on his bottom.
Laughter erupted from the family shrine. Were theancestors mocking him? The magistrate wondered. In shock, he lookedat the paintings of his grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. The fat one was holding his stomach and bouncingwithlaughter. The skinny one had thrown his head back, chuckling. The onewith the long beard was slapping his knee with glee.
The magistrate’s father cradled a gold yuanbao that he had just takenfrom the shrine. The old man struggled to carry it and use his cane. Hestumbled. Did an unseen hand give him a push? The old man fell headfirst into the big, magical clay ding. The gold yuanbao clattered onto thefloor.
The ancestors in the paintings cackled with triumph. The magistratedidn’t rush to see if his father was all right. Instead, he rubbed his facewith his hands and groaned. He knew what was going to happen. Hismouth flapped open in dismay as his life got worse before his eyes.
His smiling father stepped out of the huge pot, swinging his cane anddoing a happy dance. Then another father stepped out, tossing his canein the air and catching it with one hand. More and more dancing fathersrose from the pot. Each one was identical to the others.
“Which one of you is my father?” cried the magistrate.
“Me!” all ten fathers answered in a chorus.
The End
Question: If there were ten of you, what would you do?
The house creaked as I tiptoed to the door. I stood still and silentlybegged it to keep my secret. Another step, another creak. Would myparents awake? I grabbed my dark blue robe. I had woven it myself onlya few weeks before. I slipped it over my father’s armor and under myfeet to quiet my steps. Then I shuffled to the door.
“Mulan?” my father sleepily asked from behind the door.
I wondered when I would next answer to that name. “Yes, it’s just me,” Isaid.
“Go back to bed,” he murmured.
I said nothing. I stood still, my feet pointed toward the front door. I knew Iwas doing the right thing, didn’t I? Then why did I feel so guilty?
My heart thumped. Loud footsteps and loud heart--clearly, I was notmade for a life of secrets. I told myself it didn’t matter what I was madefor. I had to honor and protect my father. I had to take his place in thearmy.
“Father? Mother?” I said gently.
“What is it?” asked my father.
“There’s something I have to tell you before I go,” I answered.
“Go where?” asked my mother. “Are you all right?” My parents got upand reached for me, enfolding me in their arms.
“I’m going to join the army. To protect us. To protect China. I have to bethe one to go.” My voice sounded firm and sure. I didn’t want my parentsto know that I was afraid. I didn’t know if I could be brave like my fatherhad been when he was a soldier.
“You are a great rider,” he said, grasping my hands.
“I always wondered why you wanted to learn to use a sword,” said mymother. “Now I know. You were getting ready for a future we couldn’tsee.” She touched my cheek and turned away before I could see her cry.
The night hung around me like a dark, freshly-woven cloth as I left thehouse.
I said goodbye to my old horse, petting her on the nose and giving her apear to eat. She had taught me to ride, but now she was too old for war.
“Come on, Yongshun!” I whispered to my new horse. He didn’t need anyencouragement. He whinnied loudly and pawed at the dirt asI untied him. “Ssssh,” I whispered, petting his mane as I slipped thesaddle on him. He leaned over and licked me from my chin to the top ofmy head. I wiped the wetness off my nose.
“Thanks for the bath, Yongshun. I like you too, but yuck!” To keep himfrom giving me another lick, I let him have a pear to eat. He downed it intwo bites!
I climbed into the saddle and adjusted my father’s heavy sword at myside. With a nudge of my foot, Yongshun trotted out of the barn and upthe dark mountainside. The sliver of a moon shone like silver on thegrasses as we headed toward the borderlands. Yongshun moved fasteras we drew closer to war. He didn’t share the nervousness I felt.
Daylight shone over the Great Wall as we continued north. I tightenedmy armor and adjusted my tunic. Yongshun’s long legs stretched into arun. My nerves calmed as something stretched inside me too. I nolonger walked with a girl’s short steps but could move across themountains with a stride to match the Wall! I let the wind take mywomanly robe, and I captured my hair into a topknot like my father’s. Isaw my flat, tall shadow and giggled. Giggled like a little girl because I nolonger looked like a girl. I was a man!
The End
Question: Some people say Hua Mulan was a real person. Others saysomeone made up her story long ago. Which opinion do you agree withand why?
核心词汇
creak v. 嘎吱嘎吱地作响
tiptoe v. 蹑手蹑脚地走
armor n. 盔甲
shuffle v. 拖着脚走
guilty adj. 有罪的
thump v. 重击、（心）怦怦直跳
enfold v. 拥抱，裹住
firm adj. 坚决的，坚定的
paw v. 用爪子（或前足、蹄等）抓（或扒）
untie v. 解除……的束缚
mane n. （马）鬃
chin n. 下巴
down v. 吞下
nudge n. 轻推，推动
trot v. （马等的）快跑
borderland n. 边境，边疆
adjust v. 调整
tunic n. （古希腊、古罗马时期男女通用的）长达膝盖的短袖束腰外衣
stretch v. 伸直，伸长
nerve n. 神经、提心吊胆
topknot n. 顶髻，头饰
giggle v. 咯咯地笑
I no longer walked with a girl’s short steps but could move across the
mountains with a stride to match the Wall! 我再也不用女孩的小步子走路
The Yellow River stretched below me like a golden brown thread pulled into a loom. I was someone new, as yet unnamed. Yesterday, I was Hua Mulan, a girl weaving cloth to sell at the market. I had trouble making the cloth. The lines of thread kept getting tangled and breaking. My weaving had been no more ordered than my mind, which was going back and forth trying to find the right way. Two days before I had seen the lists of men’s names called to war.Every list I had read had my father’s name. “My father is too old and sick!My brother is too young and too little!” I had cried. I was not too old or too young. But everyone would say I was wrong. Only men could become soldiers. Once I had decided to become a soldier though, I knew I was right.I went to four different markets yesterday. I bought a sturdy horse at the East Market. No one knew me there, so it was easy. No one asked questions. I named him Yongshun. He had been born in the mountains with strong hooves. His coat was the shiny brown of good mud. His teeth were healthy and just a bit buck-toothed, which made him look like he was laughing.“He’s got a brave, obedient nature,” said the man who sold him to me.Yongshun whinnied and almost pushed me over with his big head. Then he licked the top of my head. “Oh, really?” I said.At the West Market, I quickly bought a saddle. Then I went to the North Market. My neighbors shopped and worked at the North Market. It took a long time to buy a bridle.“How’s your father?” one shopper asked. “Is he feeling better?”Another asked the usual questions. “When do you think you’ll marry?You’re getting older! Are there any young men you like?”“Do you have any cloth to sell me today, Hua Mulan?” asked a seller. I finally paid too much for a bridle from one of my neighbors. “This will help your horse to be brave and obedient,” she said, smiling.“Oh, really?” I said. I bought a long whip at the South Market. The seller advised me. “Be gentle with it and your horse will be—”“Brave and obedient,” I finished for him.He smiled. “Yes, that’s right!”After saying goodbye to my parents, I headed into the mountains on Yongshun. I traveled for several weeks to reach the war. The sky draped over me like a soft woven blanket as I slept each night.Yongshun and I crossed the Black Mountains, where he whinnied to the herds of wild horses running in the grasslands.At last I saw the tents of the army. I tightened my topknot and adjusted my armor. I checked my appearance. Dirty. I gave myself the sniff test. I smelled like a horse. If I were trying to pass as a horse, I would be OK!Would I pass as a man? I felt manly. What did that even mean? I wasn’t sure, but I knew I felt strong.I arrived at the army camp and checked in with my father’s name. Now I was Hua Hu, not Hua Mulan. No one really noticed me. I wondered, Is this all that it takes to honor my father? Is this all that it takes to be a soldier? Is this all that it takes to become brave?I would learn there was more to it. I fought alongside my fellow soldiers in battle after battle. Experiencing the dark pain of war for years taught me things. Some of them I did not want to learn. Each time, I had to conquer my fear before I could conquer my enemy. As time passed, I would often forget that I was different from the men I fought with. The strength of my arms, my sharp sight, the way I drew my breath in and spurred my horse forward when he wanted to run in fear in the other direction— these things that were important. My secret didn’t matter, I thought. The End
Question: Why did Mulan go to four different markets to buy the itemsshe needed for her journey?
1. She wanted to say goodbye to everyone.
2. None of the markets had everything she needed for her journey.
3. She wanted to sell cloth at all four markets.4. She didn’t want people to know she was leaving.
核心词汇
loom n. 织机
weave v. 织，编
tangle v. （使）缠结，纠结
sturdy adj. 强壮的，结实的
hoof n. （马等有蹄动物的）蹄
buck-toothed adj. 长了龅牙的
obedient adj. 服从的，顺从的
whinny v. 嘶叫，欢嘶
saddle n. 马鞍
bridle n. 马笼头
whip v. 鞭子，马鞭
drape v. 披在……上，装饰，包，裹
herd n. 兽群，牧群
tighten v. 使绷紧，使变紧
pass as 充作，被看作
conquer v. 克服
draw one’s breath 吸口空气
spur v. 用踢马刺策（马）前进
l My weaving had been no more ordered than my mind. 我过去织的布不比我的头脑混乱，意思是我的头脑现在和过去织的布一样混乱。本句作者用否定句形式表示类比。
l If I were trying to pass as a horse, I would be OK! Would I pass as a
man? 如果我假冒一匹马，我都能蒙混过关！我假冒成男人可以过关吗？
本句是木兰在怀疑自己的男装打扮，内心不安。
l Is this all that it takes to honor my father?这就是我要为父争取荣誉所需
要付出的代价吗？本句的陈述语序是 it takes sb sth to do sth, 做某事花费
某人某物。
l Each time, I had to conquer my fear before I could conquer my enemy.
每次，我不得不在战胜敌人前先战胜自己的恐惧。
l the way I drew my breath in and spurred my horse forward when he
wanted to run in fear in the other direction. 我深呼吸的方式以及我在马匹因恐惧而奔向反方向时策马向前的方式。此处，I drew my breath in 和
One red morning, the soldiers and I looked across the mountain paths.We watched the enemy move closer. They hurried northward to the grasslands where we waited. Lines of them rode along the mountain paths, eager to fight. I was not eager. They had more soldiers than we did. How could we stop them all?My fellow soldiers sharpened their swords, gave water to their horses, and sung songs to keep fear away. “How do you think we can win, Hua Hu?” asked a general. I turned. My father’s name had become as natural to me as the name I had been born with, Hua Mulan.I considered the general’s question. There were many lines of enemies moving toward us. They moved quickly on the narrow mountain paths. In a flash, I remembered seeing lines like these before. The thread in the loom! I shared my battle plan with the general, pulling apart the sash I wore to show him the cloth’s weave as a way to explain the idea.The general split our army’s main group of soldiers into two. One group went southwest. I joined the group that went southeast. I was impatient to begin battle and impatient for it to be over with! I hoped my idea would work!We hiked and rode over the steep mountains on our way to outflank the Rouran Army. There were no paths to ease our way. A few horses broke their legs on the rocky ground. Some soldiers were knocked off their horses’ backs. Yongshun and I pressed onward. He had become battlehardened and surefooted. He did not try to turn back.It took a long time for our army to outflank the enemy. They continued moving forward. We finally enclosed them on both sides.Attacking with sword and lance, our soldiers wove themselves into the Rouran’s army lines and cut them down. The two armies were like opposing threads weaving together on a loom.I swung my sword and missed. Then I rode out of the mountain path, turned, and charged back--like a line weaving through the lines!I jabbed and swung my sword. My enemies fell, staining the mountain red. Yongshun and I wove in and out of the lines of Rouran soldiers on the mountain paths. Our army broke their lines! The enemy soldiersscattered! My secret, the life I had led as a girl, had helped us to victory!After more than ten years at war, we were called before the Emperor. My time as a soldier was over. He honored me for my service to China.Then he offered me a job as a government official. I thanked him but said no.I only wanted Yongshun, my fast, brave, obedient horse, to bring me back to my family. But before leaving the Emperor’s city, I bought new clothes. When I returned to the spot where the Yellow River meets the Great Wall, I took off my heavy armor. I bathed in the river. I put on clothes for the girl I once was and the woman warrior I would always be.Then I swung onto Yongshun’s back, following the Wall along the mountain ridge.As if knowing my mood, Yongshun stretched out into a run. Was it only the clothes that made me feel free? Or was it that I knew I would always move across mountains with a stride to match the Wall?“Father!” I cried when I reached home. “Mother!” My family welcomed me with hugs and smiles.“Mulan!” They cried. My name sounded like my own once again. The End
Question: This story comes from the ancient folksong, “The Ballad ofMulan.” At its end, the singer explains that boy rabbits like to hop and girlrabbits have soft eyes. But when the rabbits run together, no one can tellthe boy from the girl. What does this observation about rabbits have todo with the story of Mulan?
核心词汇
general n. 将军
flash n. 灵光一闪
sash n. ［军］饰带，军带
impatient adj. 不耐烦的，急切的
steep adj. 陡直的
outflank v. 翼侧包抄
press v. 进逼，进攻
surefooted adj. 步履稳健的，善走山路的
enclose v. （从四面八方）围住，包住
lance n. 长矛
opposing adj. 对抗的，对立的
swing (swung) v. 挥动（棍棒）打击
jab v. 刺，戳，捅
stain v. 沾污，败坏，染污
scatter v. （使）分散
ridge n. 山脊
stride v. 大步，跨步
My father’s name had become as natural to me as the name I had been
born with, Hua Mulan. 我父亲的名字对于我来说，已经听起来和我生下来
就用的名字——花木兰——一样自然了。此处意思是木兰用父亲的名字
参军，I had been born with 为定语从句，修饰 the name。
My secret, the life I had led as a girl, had helped us to victory! 我的秘
密，我还是女孩时所过的生活，帮助我们取得了胜利！此处是说木兰做
女孩时织布的经历，帮助她想出打败敌军的计策。
Was it only the clothes that made me feel free?仅仅是衣服让我感觉自由