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英语·中国传统故事

本文音频整理自:英文教学(ID:yingwenjiaoxue),版权归原作者所有


注:以下蓝色标题均为链接,可点开直接阅读(点,点,点)


01 New Year's Eve 除夕
02 Laba Festival 腊八
03 Dongzhi Festival 冬至
04 Spring Festival 春节
05 Lantern Festival 元宵节
06 Qingming Festival 清明节
07 Dragon Boat Festival 端午节
08 Double Seventh Festival七夕节
09 Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节
10 Double Ninth Festival 重阳节


11 Hurry Up,Plants 拔苗助长

12 The Early Bird Catches the Worm 笨鸟先飞

13 Powerful Mr. Fox 狐假虎威

14 Painting the Dragons to Life 画龙点睛

15 The Fake Musician 滥竽充数

16 Waiting for Rabbits 守株待兔

17 Discovering An Elephant 盲人摸象

18 Better Late Than Never 亡羊补牢,未为迟也

19 A Masterpiece in the Making洛阳纸贵

20 Meng Jiao's Happy Ride 走马看花


21 Peach Paradise 世外桃源
22 Music to a Cow's Ears对牛弹琴
23 The Spear and the Shield 自相矛盾
24 Good or bad?塞翁失马焉知非福
25 Frog's Tasty World 井底之蛙
26 Eight Immortals Cross the Sea 八仙过海
27 Where's my sword 刻舟求剑
28 Sky is Falling 杞人忧天

29 The Yellow Rock Old Man 孺子可教

30 Quick Success 马到成功


31 Measure Me for New Shoes 郑人买履
32 Master Archer 百发百中
33 Mengzi's Good Advice 五十步笑百步
34 Watch Your Back 螳螂捕蝉黄雀在后
35 Fun, Friends and a Future for Mengzi 孟母三迁36 Clear as a Bell 掩耳盗铃
37 The Fisherman's Quiet Victory 鹬蚌相争渔翁得利
38 Don't Look Here 此地无银三百两
39 Dragons Everywhere 叶公好龙
40 A Quick Glance Can Be Misleading 走马观花

41 Missing the Bigger Picture 一叶障目

42 Racing Horses 田忌赛马

43 The Forest of Plum Trees 望梅止渴

44 No Difference 朝三暮四

45 The Mysterious Animal 黔驴技穷

46 The Swan Feather 千里送鹅毛

47 The Tale of Two Pearls 鱼目混珠

48 The Unlikely Friendship 负荆请罪

49 Wen Tong's Bamboo 胸有成竹

50 The Snail Girl 田螺姑娘


51 Family Matters Part 1 宝莲灯1
52 Family Matters Part 2 宝莲灯2
53 Family Matters Part 3 宝莲灯3
54 Family Matters Part 4 宝莲灯4
55 Magic Gold and Old Ding Part 1 聚宝盆1
56 Magic Gold and Old Ding Part 2 聚宝盆2
57 Magic Gold and Old Ding Part 3 聚宝盆3
58 Hua MuLan Part 1 木兰从军1
59 Hua MuLan Part 2 木兰从军2
60 Hua MuLan Part 3 木兰从军3

61 Pangu Separates the Sky and the Earth 盘古开天
62 Nuwa People Part 1 女娲造人1
63 Nuwa Makes People Part 2 女娲造人2
64 The Long Haired Girl Part 1 长发姑娘1
65 The Long Haired Girl Part 2 长发姑娘2
66 The Three Monks Part 1 三个和尚1
67 The Three Monks Part 2 三个和尚2
68 The Three Monks Part 3 三个和尚 3
69 Monkeys Try to Save the Moon 猴子捞月
70 Kua Fu Chases the Sun 夸父追日

71 The Jade Emperor's Zodiac Calender 生肖来源
72 Jing wei Fills the Sea 精卫填海
73 HouYi and the happily Ever After Part 1 后羿射日 1
74 HouYi and the happily Ever After Part 2 后羿射日 2
75 HouYi and the happily Ever After Part 3 后羿射日 3
76 The Ox-man Part 1 神农尝百草 1
77 The Ox-man Part 2 神农尝百草 2
78 The Ox-man Part 3 神农尝百草 3
79 Butterflies and Love 梁山伯与祝英台 1
80 Butterflies and Love 梁山伯与祝英台 2

81 Butterflies and Love 梁山伯与祝英台 3
82 Nuwa Fixes the Sky 女娲补天 1
83 Nuwa Fixes the Sky 女娲补天 2
84 Ox's Big Mix-Up 神牛下凡
85 The Four Dragons 四条龙
86 Rat's Wedding 老鼠嫁女
87 The Grateful Pigs 金猪报恩
88 The River God’s Gifts Part 1 金斧头银斧头1
89 The River God’s Gifts Part 2 金斧头银斧头2
90 The Tortoise and the Hare 龟兔赛跑

91. The Love of the Cloud Weaver 
牛郎织女

牛郎和织女在凡间相见并一见钟情,然而牛郎是凡人,织女却是天上的仙子。他们违背了王母的意愿结婚生子,但是织女最终还是被王母带走了。牛郎用老牛的皮做成了衣服,披上之后便可飞上天空,王母感动于两人的感情,允许他们每年的七夕在鹊桥上见面。

When the world was young, the sky was as soft as silk. Magpie birds soared and never wanted to land. Only Zhinu the cloud weaver did not feel at home in the sky. She watched the people far below and wove clouds that reached for the ground.
Zhinu and her sisters lived in the sky with their grandmother, the Queen Mother of the West. One night, there was a terrible storm. Zhinu looked down at a cozy farmhouse, wishing she were with the family inside. But not everyone was inside. She watched a young farmer and his old ox trying to stop the water from flooding the wheat fields. 
The ox stumbled and sank in the mud. The farmer gently helped her up.
He sang of the stars of the ox constellation as he led her to the barn. He was interrupted by a shrillvoice yelling from the farmhouse, “Hey lazy Niulang, sleep in the barn tonight. Your brother and I don’t want mud in the house!”
The next morning, Zhinu pulled on her dress made of the dawn’s red clouds. She wanted to see the farmer again. “Let’s go swimming,” she suggested to her sisters.
“Grandmother won’t like it,” her sisters warned. But Zhinu convinced them. They grabbed their swimsuits and slid down the clouds to the ground. While the others jumped into the pond, Zhinu tiptoed to the farmer’s barn.
She heard the shrill voice again. “Your brother and I have done our duty. 
It’s time for you to go, Niulang. Your parents wanted you and your brother to split everything. So, we’ll keep the farm. But you’re lucky, you get the ox!”
Niulang said quietly, “Okay, she’s my best friend.” Zhinu peeked through the doorway. The ox looked older than her grandmother! The ox turned toward Zhinu. Then Zhinu thought she heard the ox say, “Moo—marry her!”
Zhinu ran as fast as she could to the pond. She hung her dress over a tree branch and hid underwater. She thought of the farmer and the strange ox.
Soon, everyone was drying off and rising into the sky. But where was Zhinu’s red dress? Without it, she couldn’t return home with her sisters!
Suddenly, Niulang appeared, carrying her dress. “Please marry me,” he said. “I promise to be a good husband.”
To her surprise, Zhinu said yes. Perhaps it was his shining eyes, so like the night sky. She felt at home with him. But Zhinu’s grandmother wanted Zhinu home—in the sky.
For years, Zhinu and Niulang hid from her grandmother in their cozy farmhouse deep in the forest. Niulang would sing Zhinu to sleep with songs of the night sky. Zhinu would wake up Niulang by draping the trees with the colors of dawn. 
One night, they were awakened by angry clouds beating against the sky.
The wind howled. Niulang went outside as flood waters rose higher.
Once again, he tried to save the wheat. The old ox sank in the mud and couldn’t get up. She told Niulang to always keep her hide with him. Then she died.
The storm attacked. Soldiers took shape from dark clouds, grabbing, reaching. Deep in the storm, something struggled. It was like dawn on the brightest morning. It was his love, his Zhinu. She was being dragged into the sky by her grandmother!
Niulang shook out the ox’s hide. He jumped on and took flight. He flew faster and faster after Zhinu. “Wait for me!” Niulang called.
“Niulang, bring me home,” Zhinu cried.
“No!” her grandmother yelled. She slashed the sky with her golden hairpin. Zhinu heard the sky ripping in two. Through the rip shone the stars of the Milky Way.
On one side of the rip was Zhinu, on the other Niulang.
Since that day, Zhinu and Niulang have been separated by the Milky Way. On the seventh day of the seventh month of the moon, magpie birds weave a bridge in the sky. Zhinu and Niulang meet in the middle of the bridge, together again.
On this one day each year, everyone celebrates love, even Zhinu’s Grandmother. This day is known as Chinese Valentine’s Day.

The End
Question: How do you celebrate the seventh day of the seventh month of the moon?

核心词汇
magpie n. [鸟]喜鹊
soar v. 高飞,翱翔
weaver n. 织布工
wheat n. 小麦
stumble v. 绊脚,跌跌撞撞地走
constellation n. 星座,荟萃
barn n. 谷仓
shrill adj. 尖声的
split v. 劈开,切开
peek v. 偷看,窥视
drape v. (以打褶的布或其他织物)披在……上,装饰,包,裹
howl v. (风等)怒号,呼啸
hide n. 兽皮
slash v. (用刀、剑等)砍
rip v. 斯,撕破
Valentine’s Day 情人节
One night, they were awakened by angry clouds beating against
the sky. 一天晚上,他们被怒云击空的声音所吵醒了。本句中
beating 作为后置的现在分词定语,修饰 clouds.

以下翻译来自百度翻译:

当世界还年轻的时候,天空像丝绸一样柔软。喜鹊鸟翱翔而不想降落。只有织布云彩的织女在天空中感到不自在。她注视着远处的人们,编织着云朵,云朵直达地面。
织女和她的姐妹们和他们的祖母,西方的王母一起生活在天空中。一天晚上,有一场可怕的暴风雨。织女低头看着一座舒适的农舍,希望自己能和家里的人在一起。但并不是所有人都在里面。她看着一个年轻的农民和他的老牛试图阻止洪水淹没麦田。
牛跌跌撞撞地陷在泥里。农夫轻轻地扶她起来。
他领着她到谷仓时,唱着牛群的星星。他被农舍里一个刺耳的声音打断了,“嘿,懒牛郎,今晚睡在谷仓里。你哥哥和我不想房子里有泥!”
第二天早上,织女穿上了黎明的红云做的衣服。她想再见到那个农民。“我们去游泳吧,”她向姐姐们建议。
“祖母不会喜欢的,”她的姐妹们警告道。但织女说服了他们。他们抓起泳衣,顺着云层滑到地上。当其他人跳进池塘时,织女蹑手蹑脚地走向农民的谷仓。
她又听到了刺耳的声音。“你哥哥和我已经尽了我们的责任。
牛郎,你该走了。你父母要你和你哥哥把所有的东西都分了。所以,我们保留农场。但是你很幸运,你得到了牛!”
牛郎平静地说:“好吧,她是我最好的朋友。”织女从门口偷看。这头牛看起来比她祖母老!牛转向织女。然后织女想她听到牛说:“莫嫁给她!”
织女尽可能快地跑到池塘边。她把衣服挂在树枝上,藏在水下。她想到了农夫和那头奇怪的牛。
很快,每个人都干涸了,升上了天空。但织女的红裙子在哪里?没有它,她不能和她的姐妹们一起回家!
突然,牛郎拿着她的衣服出现了。“请嫁给我,”他说。“我保证做一个好丈夫。”
令她吃惊的是,织女答应了。也许是他那闪亮的眼睛,像夜空一样。她觉得和他在一起很自在。但是织女的祖母想让织女回到天上的家。
多年来,织女和牛郎一直躲在森林深处舒适的农舍里,躲避祖母。牛郎会唱支奴,伴着夜空的歌声入睡。织女会用黎明的颜色覆盖树木,唤醒牛郎。
一天晚上,愤怒的乌云拍打着天空,把他们惊醒。
风呼啸着。洪水涨得更高时,牛郎走了出去。
他又一次试图拯救小麦。老牛陷在泥里,站不起来了。她告诉牛郎永远躲在他身边。然后她死了。
暴风雨来袭了。士兵们从乌云中成形,抓着,伸着。在风暴的深处,有什么东西在挣扎。这就像是最明亮的早晨的黎明。那是他的爱,他的织女。她被她的祖母拖上了天空!
牛郎抖了抖牛皮。他跳上飞机逃走了。他追着织女飞得越来越快。“等我!”牛郎喊道。
“牛郎,带我回家,”织女哭着说。
“不!”她的祖母喊道。她用金色的发夹划破了天空。织女听到天空裂成两半。透过裂缝,银河系的星星闪闪发光。
裂缝的一边是织女,另一边是牛郎。
从那天起,织女和牛郎就被银河分开了。在月亮的第七个月的第七天,喜鹊鸟在天空中编织一座桥。Zhinu和Niulang在桥中间相遇,再次相遇。
在每年的这一天,每个人都在庆祝爱情,即使是织女的祖母。这一天被称为中国情人节。

92. The White Snake 
白蛇传 1

我是白素贞,是条蛇妖,修炼千年终于化成人形,希望有朝一日我能拥抱我爱的人。我学习医学和道术,希望能帮助他人,我也学会了改变自己的外形。我和小青聊着,今天该变成什么样子呢?最终,我变为一个女子,一身白衣。我们走在烟雨朦胧的西湖岸边,一位男子给我递上了一把伞,接下来会发生什么呢?

My skin had changed every year for a thousand years. But it had never changed into the skin I wanted. I wanted to be human.
“Hey, Suzhen, we’re like Nuwa, the Mother of Everyone,” said Xiao Qing. 
“We hug the earth when we move. No clumsy feet for us!”
“I don’t want to be a snake any longer,” I told her. “I want to walk and . . .”
my voice grew hesitant.
Xiao Qing laughed, her fangs shining as she smiled. “You want to hug more than the earth, I know it!”
I blushed and looked down, saying nothing. I wanted to speak from my heart and tell Xiao Qing that yes, I wanted to hug someone I loved, to hold a baby in my arms. But straight talk, well, that’s not my way.
I was made to wind down any path or wind around any thought. A little left, a little right, a little wrong. I wasn’t born to be good. I was hatched. I am Bai Suzhen, a snake demon! But I tried to be good. Wanted to be good. I studied medicine and magic because I hoped to help people. I also learned to change my shape. I often wondered, if I changed my shape, could I change into someone good?
“Sister,” I said to my best friend Xiao Qing, a gleaming green snake.
“Who should we become today?”
“How about changing into hawks?” she suggested. “We’d get to fly, and I’d like a chicken dinner.”
I shook my head and my tail back and forth.
“You’re right, hawks can’t hug,” she teased me. “How about monkeys, sister? We can swing through the trees looking for other monkeys to hug!” She lifted her bright green head, dancing and swaying. Then she stuck her tongue out at me! Xiao Qing hatched when I was two hundred years old, and since that time she has been like a little sister to me. 
I coiled into a circle. “We’ve practiced enough with animals, I think. Let’s try to change into humans.”
From our home on the celestial mountain, we descended to Hangzhou. 
We shed our snake skins near Leifeng Pagoda, on the shore of West Lake. Our tails became feet and legs, arms and hands, bodies and heads.
Xiao Qing haltingly walked toward a clothesline and grabbed a silk green dress. “Isn’t it beautiful?” she said, holding it in front of her. I nodded.
Xiao Qing made a stunning human, with black, flowing hair like a wave down her back.
A white dress embroidered with white peonies caught my eye. The silk danced in the breeze, curling as though it were alive. I forgot about human ideas of good and bad. I pulled the dress off the line and put it on.
My body felt as though it had always been mine. “Let’s walk by the lake,” I said to Xiao Qing. “I want to feel the breeze off the water.” As we walked across the Broken Bridge, a light rain began to fall.
“Let’s return to our cozy snake hole,” said Xiao Qing. “It’s too wet.”
A man walked up to us on the rainy shore of West Lake. “Please take my umbrella, ladies,” he said, smiling. As a snake, I had only ever seen human feet. The man stood in front of me, and I was dazzled. The rain sparkled on his eyelashes. He was breathtakingly handsome. I couldn’t speak.
“What do you think, dear?” Xiao Qing prodded me. “Shall we take this gentleman up on his offer?”
I didn’t say anything.
“The umbrella?” Xiao Qing added.
In a daze, I reached for the umbrella. When his hands touched mine, my heart beat fast. I heard him gasp. He held my hand a few moments longer. His smile grew wider. “Pardon me,” he said. “I have never seen anyone as beautiful as you. Are you real?” he asked me.
I was too stunned to thank him for the compliment. “How will we return your umbrella to you?” I asked, lowering my eyes shyly and pulling my hand from his.
“My name is Xu Xian,” he answered. “I live near Leifeng Pagoda, in the
wooden house next to the pharmacy. You can visit me. I’d like that.
Please do. I work with my sister and brother-in-law in the pharmacy.”
“We’ll return the umbrella tomorrow, kind sir,” I said, the formal words sounding strange to my ears. I stopped myself from adding, and then we’ll fall in love.

The End
Question: What is something that you couldn’t do if you were a snake instead of a human?

核心词汇
clumsy adj. 笨拙的;臃肿的
hesitant adj. 犹豫的; 迟疑的; 吞吞吐吐的; 踌躇的
fang n. 尖牙; 毒牙
blush v. 脸红,惭愧
wind v. 蜿蜒; 缠绕
hatch v. 孵化; 孵出,破壳而出
demon n. 恶魔; 魔鬼
gleaming adj. 闪闪发光的
hawk n. 鹰
tease v. 挑逗; 取笑,戏弄
sway v. 摇摆; 歪,倾斜
celestial adj. 天的,天空的
descend v. 降临; 下来,下降
shed v. 流下; 流出; 蜕皮
pagoda n. 塔,宝塔
haltingly adv. 犹豫地
clothesline n.晒衣绳
stunning adj. 令人震惊的; 令人晕倒的
embroider v. 刺绣; 渲染; 在…上绣花
peony n. 牡丹,芍药
breeze n. 微风
curl v. 拳曲; 弯曲; 卷曲
cozy adj. 舒适的,安逸的,惬意的;
dazzle v. 使目眩; 使惊异不已
sparkle v. 闪耀,闪烁; 活跃
prod v. 刺激,激励; 刺激; 捅; 促使…行动; 戳
daze v. 使迷乱而不能做出正确反应,使茫然; 使惊奇与迷惑
gasp v. 喘气,喘息; 倒抽气
stunned adj. 大吃一惊的
compliment n. 恭维; 敬意,致意; 称赞
pharmacy n. 药房
But straight talk, well, that’s not my way. 但是直白讲话可不是我
的风格。本句是白素贞对自己的评价,认为自己是迂回婉转的性
格。
Xiao Qing made a stunning human, with black, flowing hair like a
wave down her back. 小青成为了一个绝色美女,长发像瀑布一
样从后背垂下。本句中 made 意思是成为。
I forgot about human ideas of good and bad.我忘记了人类那些关
于对错的概念。本句是指白素贞偷拿人类衣服时不顾人类对于此
事的正误判断。
Shall we take this gentleman up on his offer? 我们该不该接受这
位公子的好意啊?本句中的 take up on 是接受邀请的意思。
I stopped myself from adding, and then we’ll fall in love. 我没让
自己加上一句,“然后我们就会相爱了。”本句是白素贞在许仙面
前拘谨,不愿直白地表达自己对于许仙的倾慕之情。

以下翻译来自百度翻译:

一千年来,我的皮肤每年都在变化。但它从未变成我想要的皮肤。我想成为人类。
“嘿,苏贞,我们就像女娲,每个人的母亲,”小青说。
“当我们移动时,我们拥抱着地球。我们没有笨拙的脚!”
“我不想再做蛇了,”我告诉她。“我想走路,然后……”
我的声音变得迟疑起来。
小青笑了,她的牙齿闪闪发光。“我知道,你想拥抱的比拥抱地球还多!”
我脸红了,低头看了看,什么也没说。我想发自内心地告诉小青,是的,我想拥抱我爱的人,抱着一个婴儿。但直言不讳,这不是我的方式。
我被要求绕着任何一条路走,绕着任何一个想法走。有点左,有点右,有点错。我不是天生好的。我被孵化了。我是白素贞,一个蛇妖!但我试着做个好人。我想做个好人。我学习医学和魔法是因为我希望帮助人们。我还学会了改变我的形状。我经常想,如果我改变了我的形状,我能变成一个好人吗?
“姐姐,”我对我最好的朋友小青说,小青是一条闪闪发光的绿蛇。
“我们今天应该成为谁?”
“换成鹰怎么样?”她建议道。“我们要坐飞机,我想要一顿鸡肉晚餐。”
我来回摇着头和尾巴。
“你说得对,老鹰不能拥抱,”她取笑我。“猴子怎么样,姐姐?我们可以在树上荡来荡去,寻找其他的猴子来拥抱!”她抬起她明亮的绿色头,一边跳舞一边摇摆。然后她向我伸出舌头!小青是在我两百岁的时候孵化出来的,从那时起她就像我的妹妹一样。
我盘绕成一个圈。“我想,我们已经对动物做了足够多的练习。让我们试着变成人类吧。”
我们从天山上的家下到杭州。
我们在西湖岸边的雷峰塔附近蜕皮。我们的尾巴变成了脚和腿,手臂和手,身体和头。
小青蹒跚地走向晾衣绳,抓起一件丝绸绿色连衣裙。“这不是很漂亮吗?”她说,把它举在面前。我点点头。
小青做了一个惊人的人,黑色的,飘逸的头发像波浪一样顺着她的背部。
一件绣有白色牡丹花的白色连衣裙引起了我的注意。丝绸在微风中翩翩起舞,像活的一样卷曲着。我忘记了人类对好与坏的看法。我把裙子从绳子上扯下来穿上。
我的身体感觉好像一直是我的。“我们沿着湖边走吧,”我对小青说。“我想感受一下水面上的微风。”当我们走过断桥时,下起了小雨。
“让我们回到我们舒适的蛇洞,”小青说。“太湿了。”
一个人在雨中的西湖岸边向我们走来。“女士们,请带上我的伞,”他笑着说。作为一条蛇,我只见过人的脚。那个人站在我面前,我目瞪口呆。雨在他的睫毛上闪闪发光。他英俊得惊人。我说不出话来。
“亲爱的,你觉得怎么样?”小青捅了捅我。“我们接受这位先生的提议好吗?”
我什么也没说。
“伞?”小青补充道。
我发呆了,伸手去拿伞。当他的手碰到我的手时,我的心跳得很快。我听到他喘息。他又握了我的手一会儿。他的笑容越来越灿烂。“对不起,”他说。“我从没见过像你这么漂亮的人。你是真的吗?”他问我。
我惊呆了,没有感谢他的赞美。“我们怎样才能把你的伞还给你?”我问道,羞涩地垂下眼睛,把手从他的手里抽出来。
“我叫徐贤,”他回答。“我住在雷峰塔附近,在公园里
药房旁边的木屋。你可以来看我。我想要那个。
请吧,我和我姐姐和姐夫在药房工作。”
“我们明天还伞,好心的先生,”我说,这句正式的话听起来很奇怪。我阻止自己添加,然后我们会坠入爱河。

93. The White Snake 
白蛇传 2

小青和我一整天都很忙碌,我却无法忘却许仙。第二天,我们拜访了许仙和他的家人。我们三人去到湖边散步,我和许仙越聊越投机,我们深深爱上了彼此。婚后我们开了一家药店,借助医术与药物治好了许多人。清明节那天,我发现自己怀孕了,许仙喜出望外,我们决定去寺庙祈福。然而,意外之事发生了。

Xiao Qing and I were busy the rest of the day. We found a house to live in. I could not stop thinking about Xu Xian.
We bought weird food for our human bodies. I was hungry for a mouse, but noodles would have to do. Everything was new and surprising. But nothing compared to how I had felt when I met Xu Xian. That surprised 
me the most.
We went to his house the next day. I met his family, then Xu Xian, Xiao Qing, and I walked by the lake. AtfirstXiao Qing was the only one to talk.
I was too nervous. We stopped at the Broken Bridge and looked into the water. Gradually, we all began to talk more easily. We laughed and frowned at the same things. It was like we were old friends, except for the slow looks Xu Xian and I gave each other, and the way my heart pounded when he stood near me.
Over time, Xu Xian and I fell deeper in love. Falling in love was like sliding into West Lake. It was a shock at first, then we drowned in a love that surrounded us like water.
We got married. We lived with Xiao Qing in a house by the lake and opened a pharmacy. Our medicines and magic cured people. I continued to try to be good. I healed the poor without payment and was the best wife and sister I could be. I finally believed I was more human than demon. I finally believed that I was good. I didn’t tell Xu Xian of my past. I didn’t want to look back.
On Tomb-Sweeping Day, I found out I was pregnant. We were overjoyed! Xu Xian wanted to visit Jinshan Temple to ask for blessings on our family. He rowed Xiao Qing and me across the lake to enjoy the views while he visited the temple.
As Xu Xian returned to our boat, a Buddhist monk rushed toward him. 
He shook a metal staff at my sister and me and yelled, “Demons!”
Xiao Qing and I grabbed the oars and rowed away as fast as we could!
The monk grabbed Xu Xian. “Those two are snake demons!” he yelled at my husband. “They only look like beautiful women! They will steal your life and leave you with nothing! Already I see the signs of their evil in your face!”
Xu Xian defended us. “No, my wife and her sister are good women. 
Leave us alone!” We rowed closer to the shore and Xu Xian jumped in the boat.
“I see they have bewitched you!” the monk shouted. “Test them with Realgar wine at the next Dragon Boat Festival!”
The Dragon Boat Festival arrived too soon for me. I was very afraid!
Everyone said that if hidden demons drank Realgar wine, they would transform into their real shapes. I wanted to stay a woman!
That night, Xu Xian gave me a kiss. Then he held out a small cup of wine for us both to drink. “To our love and happiness!” he said. I took a sip.
Very small! It was barely a taste! The room started to spin. I couldn’t walk. Xu Xian helped meinto bedand went to make some tea.
My skin began to change. White scales appeared. My body stretched, becoming a snake. Xu Xian opened the door. “I love you!” I cried, but the only sound was hissing.
He screamed and fell to the floor. I slithered to him. He was still and becoming cold. I wrapped my snake’s body around my husband, hugging him with my whole self, but he didn’t move or speak.
Xiao Qing ran into the room. With her help, I was able to turn back into a woman. Together, we lifted him to the bed, but couldn’t revive him. “I have to get the mushroom of life from Lingshan Mountain! It is the only thing that can save him!” I cried.
“I’ll go,” offered Xiao Qing. “You’re pregnant. It’s too dangerous for you and your child!” 
“Thank you, but I have to go,” I said, hurrying out the frontdoor .“He is my husband.”

The End
Question: New scientific research shows that humans are born with a tendency to be afraid of snakes. Explain why this built-in fear may have developed.

核心词汇
pound v. (心脏)狂跳
staff n. 法杖
bewitch v. 对施魔法; 令心醉,入迷
realgar n. 雄黄
scale n. 鳞片
slither v. 滑行; 滑动
revive v. 使复活,使恢复; 使振奋,复原
Everything was new and surprising. But nothing compared to
how I had felt when I met Xu Xian. 每件事都很新奇。但是没什么
能比得上我见到许仙时候的感受。本句中以否定词 nothing 来表
示最高级,即见到许仙时候的感受是最新奇的。

以下翻译来自百度翻译:

那天剩下的时间我和小青都很忙。我们找到一所房子住。我不禁想起许仙。
我们为我们的身体买了奇怪的食物。我很想吃一只老鼠,但面条就行了。一切都是新的和令人惊讶的。但没有什么比得上我遇到许仙时的感受。这让我很惊讶
我最喜欢你。
第二天我们去了他的家。我遇见了他的家人,然后是徐贤、小青,我在湖边散步。起初,只有小青一个人说话。
我太紧张了。我们在断桥处停下来,向水中望去。渐渐地,我们都开始轻松地交谈起来。我们对同样的事情又笑又皱眉头。我们就像是老朋友一样,除了徐贤和我彼此慢悠悠的眼神,以及他站在我身边时我的心怦怦直跳。
随着时间的推移,我和许仙深深地相爱了。坠入爱河就像滑入西湖。起初很震惊,后来我们沉浸在一种像水一样包围着我们的爱中。
我们结婚了。我们和小青住在湖边的一所房子里,开了一家药店。我们的药物和魔法治愈了人们。我继续努力做个好人。我免费医治了穷人,是我能成为的最好的妻子和姐妹。我终于相信我是人类而不是恶魔。我终于相信我是好的。我没有告诉许贤我的过去。我不想回头看。
清明节那天,我发现我怀孕了。我们欣喜若狂!许仙想去金山寺为我们全家祈福。当他参观寺庙时,他把我和小青划过湖面欣赏风景。
当许贤回到我们的船上时,一位和尚朝他冲了过来。
他向我妹妹和我摇了摇金属棒,喊道:“恶魔!”
我和小青抓起桨,尽可能快地划走了!
和尚抓住了许仙。“那两个是蛇妖!”他对我丈夫大喊大叫。“她们只看起来像漂亮女人!她们会偷走你的生命,让你一无所有!我已经在你脸上看到了她们邪恶的迹象!”
徐贤为我们辩护。“不,我妻子和她姐姐都是好女人。
“别管我们!”我们划得更靠近岸边,许仙跳上了船。
“我看他们把你迷住了!”和尚喊道。“在下一个端午节用雄黄酒来测试它们!”
端午节对我来说来得太早了。我很害怕!
每个人都说,如果隐藏的恶魔喝雄黄酒,他们会变成真实的形状。我想做个女人!
那天晚上,许仙给了我一个吻。然后他拿出一小杯酒给我们俩喝。“为了我们的爱和幸福!”他说。我喝了一口。
非常小!这只是一种尝试!房间开始旋转。我不能走路。徐贤帮我上床睡觉,去泡茶。
我的皮肤开始变了。出现白色鳞片。我的身体伸展,变成一条蛇。徐贤打开了门。“我爱你!”我喊道,但唯一的声音是嘶嘶声。
他尖叫着倒在地上。我溜到他跟前。他一动不动,渐渐冷了起来。我把蛇的身体裹在我丈夫身上,用我的整个身体拥抱他,但他既不动也不说话。
小青跑进房间。在她的帮助下,我得以变成一个女人。我们一起把他抱到床上,但没能使他苏醒过来。“我要从灵山上取生命蘑菇!这是唯一能救他的东西!”我喊道。
“我去,”小青提议道。“你怀孕了,对你和你的孩子来说太危险了!”
“谢谢,但我得走了,”我说,急忙走出前门。“他是我丈夫。”

94. The White Snake 
白蛇传 3

我变回了蛇妖,不顾禁令去盗取仙草,经历重重阻碍,终于获得仙草,唤醒了许仙。我告诉他我爱他,他却不相信我,认为我是蛇妖。我和小青急忙辩解,他却一言不发地离开了。许仙多日不曾归家,我和小青去寺庙寻找他,找到他时他告诉我们,他本想向法海寻求帮助,却被法海囚禁了。接下来会发生什么呢?

I turned back into a snake demon. With a bit of magic, I flew on a fast moving cloud to Lingshan Mountain. I had to get the mushroom of life to save my husband! I knew that no one was allowed to take a mushroom from the mountain, but that didn’t stop me.
A cool wind coming off the mountain chilled me as I arrived at the mountain. A crane flew toward me, its powerfulwingswhipping up the wind. A deer ran at me, kicking. I hissed, showing my fangs. They circled around to get ready to attack again.
I flattened myself in the grass and darted forward, looking for the mushroom of life. With a scream, the crane dove at me! I turned back into a woman and jumped out of the way of its sharp beak. I saw the mushrooms growing on a nearby tree. “I need only one mushroom,” I cried. “Please, my husband died!” I cradled my belly. “I am carrying our child. Please!”
“Stop!” yelled a low voice.
The crane landed softly on the arm of the mountain god standing before me. The mountain god had shining white hair that seemed to be made of light.
“Star of Long Life,” I greeted the god, bowing three times.
He pointed at the mushrooms. I walked to the tree and picked a gold colored mushroom from its trunk. I bowed again (you can never bow too much to a god). Then I rushed back home.
I put the mushroom in Xu Xian’s mouth, and he came back to life! I hugged him and cried, telling him I loved him. He looked at me as though he didn’t trust me anymore. “You were a white snake,” he said to me.
Xiao Qing and I both started talking at the same time, trying to convince him I hadn’t been a snake.
“You thought that snake was my sister?” said Xiao Qing, laughing. “I think the Realgar wine made you see crazy things!”
“I saw the snake too,” I said quickly. “I killed it. You don’t have to worry about it.”
He shook his head slowly. He said nothing to either of us. The next day, he disappeared.
Xiao Qing and I looked day after day for Xu Xian. Atlastwe thought of Jinshan Temple, where the monk had yelled at us. As we walked to the temple the baby moved so much in my belly that it seemed to be walking with us.
Xu Xian rushed toward us when we arrived at the temple but was stopped by the monk. “I didn’t trust you, so I asked Abbot Fahai for help,” my husband called to us. “And he’s trapped me!”
Abbot Fahai held up a Buddhist staff and bowl like weapons. “You demons can’t come here,” he yelled at us.
“My wife and her sister are good!” Xu Xian argued. “It doesn’t matter what they are! Let me go!”
Xiao Qing shook her fist. “You don’t know who you’re messing with! You and your temple will be sorry!”

The End
Question: How can you tell that Xu Xian doesn’t believe Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing?
1. They give different reasons for him seeing the snake.
2. He trusted Abbot Fahai when the monk warned him about Bai  Suzhen and Xiao Qing.
3. He shook his head slowly, said nothing, and then disappeared the next day.
4. He wanted Bai Suzhen to drink Realgar wine to test her.

核心词汇
crane n. 鹤
dart v. 使迅速突然移动; 向前冲,飞奔
cradle v. 轻轻地抱或捧;
abbot n. 男修道院院长; 隐修院院长; 大寺院男住持
trap v. 使受限制; 困住
You don’t know who you’re messing with! 你不知道你在和谁捣
乱!本句是小青在威胁法海,言外之意是法海和两个修炼千百年
的蛇精对抗,是不自量力。

以下翻译来自百度翻译:

我又变成了蛇妖。带着一点魔力,我飞得很快云移灵山。为了救我的丈夫,我必须得到生命的蘑菇!我知道没有人可以从山上拿走蘑菇,但这并没有阻止我。
当我到达山上时,从山上吹来的凉风使我感到寒冷。一只起重机朝我飞来,它有力的翅膀迎风而上。一只鹿朝我跑来,踢着我。我发出嘶嘶声,露出我的毒牙。他们盘旋准备再次进攻。
我躺在草地上,向前冲去,寻找生命的蘑菇。一声尖叫,鹤向我扑来!我转过身来,变成了一个女人,从它尖利的喙边跳了出来。我看见蘑菇长在附近的一棵树上。“我只需要一个蘑菇,”我喊道。“求你了,我丈夫死了!”我抱着肚子。“我抱着我们的孩子,求你了!”
“停!”一个低沉的声音喊道。
鹤轻轻地落在我面前山神的手臂上。山神有一头闪闪发光的白发,似乎是由光构成的。
“长寿之星”,我向上帝鞠躬三次。
他指着蘑菇。我走到树前摘了一块金子它的树干上长着彩色蘑菇。我又鞠躬了(向上帝鞠躬再多也不为过)。然后我冲回家。
我把蘑菇放进了许仙的嘴里,他活了过来!我抱着他哭了,告诉他我爱他。他看着我,好像他不再信任我了。“你是一条白蛇,”他对我说。
小青和我同时开始交谈,试图说服他我不是一条蛇。
“你以为那条蛇是我妹妹?”小青笑着说。“我想雄黄酒让你看到了疯狂的东西!”
“我也看到了蛇,”我很快地说。“我杀了它。你不用担心它。”
他慢慢地摇了摇头。他什么也没对我们俩说。第二天,他失踪了。
我和小青日复一日地寻找许仙。亚特兰蒂斯我们想到了金山寺,那个和尚在那里对我们大喊大叫。当我们走到寺庙时,婴儿在我肚子里动得太厉害了,好像在和我们一起走。
当我们到达寺庙时,许仙冲了过来,但被和尚拦住了。“我不信任你,所以我请法海方丈帮忙,”我丈夫打电话给我们。“他把我困住了!”
法海方丈举起一根佛法杖和碗状武器。“你们这些恶魔不能来这里,”他对我们喊道。
“我妻子和她姐姐都很好!”徐贤争辩道。“不管他们是什么!放开我!”
小青摇了摇拳头。“你不知道你在和谁闹着玩!你和你的神庙都会后悔的!”

95. The White Snake 
白蛇传 4

小青化成蛇身,和法海打斗起来。我也加入了战斗,召集河中的虾兵蟹将攻击法海,法海祭出自己的外袍,抵御了我们的进攻。我们输了这场战斗,逃到断桥边。但是我和许仙却得以重修旧好,很快便成为四口之家。在儿子满月那天,我被法海囚禁在了雷峰塔塔下。十八年后,学成归来的小青打败法海将我拯救,我们一家得以团圆。

Abbot Fahai seemed stunned by my sister’s threats. Then he became so angry that his bald head turned as red as his robes. He threw himself at us, metal staff raised. My sister spun in a circle, like a snake uncoiling.
She moved in front of me to block Abbot Fahai.
“Aha!” yelled Abbot Fahai. “The women show their true natures! Snake demons!” He twirled his Buddhist staff and hit it on the bowl. Then he jabbed it at Xiao Qing. She twisted away.
I pulled a golden hairpin from my long hair. I waved it through the air, pulling the wind and water to the temple. The lake rose, flooding the steps of Jinshan Temple. There was a deafening clapping sound. An army of crab soldiers advanced, heading for Abbot Fahai!
The monk threw his outer robe on the roof of the temple. The magical robe made the temple float safely on the rising water. The crab soldiers slipped back into the water. It was over, and we had lost. Xiao Qing and I ran to the Broken Bridge.
I started to cry. Xu Xian would never return to me now! He wanted a regular wife. A regular wife makes crab dumplings. A regular wife doesn’t attack a temple with crab soldiers! But all I wanted was to love and be loved.
I looked up to see Xu Xian running across the bridge.
“You’ve got some nerve,” called Xiao Qing. “You’re not hiding an angry, red-faced monk somewhere, are you?”
He reached us and knelt before us. “I’m sorry.”
“You know who I am,” I answered. “I was made a snake demon. But am I only what I was made to be? I am a good woman, a good wife, a good maker of medicines. And I will be a good mother to our child, with or without you.”
“Please forgive me,” he cried. “I was wrong. I love who you are.” He took my and Xiao Qing’s hands. We walked around the banks of the lake. By the time we reached our home, we had forgiven Xu Xian.
The three of us soon became the four of us. I gave birth to a baby boy! I thought he might have a tail, but he was entirely human. We had a party one month after our baby was born. I was resting in the bedroom during the party when I heard Abbot Fahai at our front door.
“She is a snake demon!” hissed Abbot Fahai. “They are no good! They will kill you!”
“Leave us alone,” said my husband. “I know my wife, and I love her as she is.” I heard them struggling, then the door to the bedroom burst open.
Abbot Fahai held a Buddhist bowl in the air above his head. There was a force coming from the bowl that drew me to it. I was pulled closer and closer.
“Xiao Qing!” I called, “Strengthen your magic and return to fight him! 
Free me!” Then I was pulled into the bowl and trapped. 
Abbot Fahai buried the bowl with me in it underneath Leifeng Pagoda. I pounded and kicked at the bowl, tried magic spells, but nothing worked.
Xiao Qing studied magic and martial arts for 18 years, then returned to fight Abbot Fahai at the pagoda. From inside the bowl, I heard yelling, crashes, and fighting. At last I heard Xiao Qing’s triumphant cry. I
learned later that Abbot Fahai hid behind a crab’s shell for the rest of his life.
At last, there was a deafening crash. Xiao Qing had used her sword and magic to knock over Leifeng Pagoda! I ran out of the bowl. I was free! My sister and I returned to our home with Xu Xian and our son. At last we could become a good, regular family. And we did!

The End
Question: How could someone who was made to be bad, become good?

核心词汇
block v. 阻止;阻塞;限制
jab v. 猛击; 猛刺; 猛碰
spell n. 符咒,咒语
martial adj. 军事的; 战争的; 尚武的,好战的
triumphant adj. 得意洋洋的; 欢欣鼓舞的
A regular wife doesn’t attack a temple with crab soldiers! 一个普
通的妻子不会用虾兵蟹将去攻击寺庙。这里是白素贞在自嘲,自
嘲自己并非普通的妻子。

以下翻译来自百度翻译:

法海方丈似乎被我妹妹的威胁吓呆了。然后他变得非常愤怒,他的秃头变成了和长袍一样的红色。他向我们扑来,举起金属棍。我妹妹像蛇一样绕着圈子旋转。
她走到我前面挡住法海方丈。
“啊哈!”法海方丈喊道。“女人们展示了她们的真实本性!蛇妖!”他转动他的佛杖,把它打在碗上。然后他戳了戳小青。她扭动身子走开了。
我从我的长发上拔下一根金发夹。我在空中挥舞着它,把风和水吹向寺庙。湖水上涨,淹没了金山寺的台阶。一阵震耳欲聋的掌声。一群螃蟹兵向法海方丈前进!
僧侣把他的外袍扔到寺庙的屋顶上。这件神奇的长袍使神庙安全地漂浮在上升的水面上。螃蟹兵滑回水中。一切都结束了,我们输了。我和小青跑向断桥。
我开始哭了。许仙再也不会回到我身边了!他想要一个正式的妻子。老太太包螃蟹饺子。一个普通的妻子不会用螃蟹兵攻击寺庙!但我想要的只是爱和被爱。
我抬头一看,看到许仙跑过桥。
“你有点胆量,”小青叫道。“你不是把一个愤怒的红脸和尚藏在什么地方吧?”
他走到我们跟前,跪在我们面前。“对不起。”
“你知道我是谁,”我回答。“我是一个蛇妖。但我只是被造出来的吗?我是一个好女人,一个好妻子,一个好制药师。不管有没有你,我都会成为我们孩子的好母亲。”
“请原谅我,”他喊道。“我错了。我爱你是谁。”他握住我和小青的手。我们绕着湖岸散步。当我们到家的时候,我们已经原谅了许贤。
我们三个人很快就成了我们四个人。我生了一个男孩!我以为他可能有尾巴,但他完全是人。孩子出生一个月后,我们举行了一个聚会。聚会期间,我正在卧室休息,突然听到法海方丈在我们的前门。
“她是一个蛇妖!”方丈法海嘶嘶地说。“他们不好!他们会杀了你!”
“别管我们,”我丈夫说。“我了解我的妻子,我爱她。”我听到他们在挣扎,然后卧室的门突然打开了。
法海方丈头顶上举着一个佛碗。碗里传来了一股力量,把我吸引到它跟前。我被拉得越来越近。
“小青!”我喊道,“加强你的魔法,回来和他战斗吧!
然后我被拉进碗里,被困在里面。
法海方丈把碗和我一起埋在雷峰塔下面。我敲打和踢碗,试着施魔法,但什么也没起作用。
小青学习了18年的魔法和武术,然后回到宝塔与法海方丈搏斗。从碗里,我听到了叫喊声、碰撞声和打架声。最后我听到了小青胜利的哭声。我
后来得知法海方丈在螃蟹壳后面藏了一辈子。
最后,发生了震耳欲聋的撞车事故。小青用她的剑和魔法打翻了雷峰塔!我的碗用完了。我自由了!我和妹妹带着许仙和儿子回到了家。最后,我们可以成为一个好的,正规的家庭。我们做到了!

96. Who's Braver than Tiger? 
谁是森林之王?

老虎住在森林里,它十分勇敢且凶猛,老虎会捕食其他动物,其他动物都很畏惧它。一天,老虎遇到一只狐狸,要把狐狸吃掉。狐狸灵机一动,告诉老虎自己是森林之王。老虎显然不信,狐狸让老虎跟在自己身后,狐狸走到一群动物面前时,动物们都吓跑了。为什么会这样呢?狐狸真的是森林之王吗?

Tiger lived in the forest. Tiger was brave. Tiger was fierce. The animals were all afraid of Tiger. He hunted them for food.
One day, Fox walked across Tiger’s path.
Tiger roared. “There is my next meal.”
“Oh no!” thought Fox. "I can’t run faster than Tiger. He will eat me up!”
Tiger roared. He was hungry.
“Wait!” called Fox. “You cannot eat me.”
“I shall eat you,” Tiger said. “You are nothing, Fox. You can’t stop me!”
He took a step closer to Fox.
“You cannot eat me!” cried Fox. “I am the King of the Forest!”
“You are no king,” Tiger roared. “You are a joker.”
“No, it’s true,” said Fox. “Any animal that sees me will run away.”
“Ha!” roared Tiger. “I don’t believe you! I am not running away! I am the King of the Forest!”
“You don’t have to believe me. I can prove it.”
“Go ahead,” roared the tiger. “Prove it!”
“Follow me,” Fox said.
Tiger followed Fox through the forest.
They saw a group of animals in a field. Fox walked toward them. Tiger followed behind. He watched the animals closely. They were busy eating grass. They didn’t see Fox and Tiger in the forest.
Fox growled. He showed his teeth. He tried to roar. The animals heard Fox’s “roar.” They turned and saw Fox and Tiger. The animals ran away as fast as they could! “Look!” cried Fox. “They are afraid of me. Did you see how they ran?”
Tiger was amazed.
“I saw that,” Tiger said. “You really are King of the Forest.”
Tiger bowed to Fox. Then he turned and walked away.
Of course, the animals were not really afraid of Fox. They saw Tiger standing behind Fox. They were afraid of Tiger. He was the real King. He was fierce. He was not as smart as Fox, though. Fox saved himself from being Tiger’s dinner. And that was even better than being King. 

The End
Question: 
What did the animals do when they saw Fox and Tiger?
1. They ran toward Fox and Tiger.
2. They yelped when they saw Fox and Tiger.
3. They ran away as fast as they could.
4. They stood still and remained standing in the field.

核心词汇
brave adj. 勇敢的; 需要勇气的
fierce adj. 猛烈的; 凶猛的,残忍的
hunt v.打猎; 猎取; 追捕,猎杀
roar v. 咆哮; 吼叫
step n. 脚步,跨步,步长
joker n. 爱开玩笑的人
prove v. 证明,证实
through prep 穿过,从……一端至另一端
field n. 原野,田,地
growl v. 作隆隆声; 嘟哝; 愤愤不平地抱怨; 低声咆哮着说
amazed adj. 吃惊的,惊奇的
bow v. 弯腰,鞠躬; 低头; 俯首; 垂首
save v. 解救; 挽救
And that was even better than being King. 这比成为森林之王好
多了。本句中的 that 是指狐狸没有成为老虎的食物这件事。

以下翻译来自百度翻译:

老虎住在森林里。老虎很勇敢。老虎很凶猛。动物们都害怕老虎。他猎取它们作为食物。
一天,狐狸走过老虎的小径。
老虎咆哮着。“这是我的下一顿饭。”
“哦,不!”狐狸想。“我跑不比老虎快,他会把我吃掉的!”
老虎咆哮着,他饿了。
“等等!”狐狸叫道,“你不能吃我。”
“我要吃掉你,”老虎说。“你什么都不是,狐狸。你阻止不了我!”
他离福克斯更近了一步。
“你不能吃我!”狐狸喊道。“我是森林之王!”
“你不是国王,”老虎吼道,“你是个小丑。”
“不,这是真的,”狐狸说,“任何看到我的动物都会逃跑。”
“哈!”老虎吼道。“我不相信你!我不是在逃跑!我是森林之王!”
“你不必相信我,我可以证明。”
“去吧,”老虎吼道,“证明给我看!”
“跟我来,”福克斯说。
老虎跟着狐狸穿过森林。
他们看到一片田野里有一群动物。狐狸朝他们走来。老虎跟在后面。他仔细地看着这些动物。他们正忙着吃草。他们没有看到狐狸和老虎在森林里。
狐狸咆哮着。他露出牙齿。他试图吼叫。动物们听到了狐狸的“吼叫”。他们转过身,看到了狐狸和老虎。动物们尽可能快地跑开了。“看!”狐狸喊道。“他们害怕我。你看到他们怎么跑了吗?”
老虎很惊讶。
“我看到了,”老虎说,“你们真是森林之王。”
老虎向狐狸鞠躬。然后他转身走开了。
当然,动物们并不是真的害怕狐狸。他们看到老虎站在狐狸后面。他们害怕老虎。他是真正的国王。他很凶猛。但他没有狐狸聪明。狐狸救了自己免于成为老虎的晚餐。这比当国王还要好。

97. Yu and the Flood 
大禹治水 1

黄河咆哮,河水奔腾,泛滥的洪灾越过堤坝,淹没了许多地方。大禹和村民们聚在一起商量解决的办法,最终大禹带领一批人夜以继日地挖水渠,将洪水引至大海。大禹在挖水道期间,常常思念自己的妻子,但他知道,自己身负重任,应以天下百姓为先。大禹在家附近劳作时,听到自己刚生下的儿子的啼哭,却没有回家。接下来会发生什么呢?
The snows had been heavy that winter and spring had just begun to green the fields. The Yellow River roared like a dragon. Water raced down the slopes. It leapt over the walls my father had built. My new wife and I raced away and up the mountain.
The river was white with fury and power. The waves chased us. We kept moving upward. At last we reached a dry ridge.
The river flooded valleys and washed away homes. It drowned crops.
Hungry people and animals searched for safety on treetops and boulders. Many never found safety.
When we returned to our village, I learned that my father’s dams had broken. Many people had died. So the king ordered that my father should die too. Along with that terrible news, I learned that I was to take my father’s place. It became my job to stop the floods. I said goodbye to my pregnant wife and headed to the capital.
At the capital, I asked for new ideas from the elders who had worked with my father. They nervously told me what they thought I wanted to hear.
“There were successes,” said one, stroking his beard. “Remember the year with little rain?” They all nodded. “There were no floods that year!”
I waited and listened. Finally, one of the elders quietly said, “It seems the river has no place to go, young Yu. It has too much water and not enough room to run.”
“Here’s what you ought to do,” another one advised. He leaned in. “Find He Bo, the god of the Yellow River. He hates the river! He drowned in it years ago. He might help you.”
I gathered a large army of workers, and we began digging flood channels. I hoped the channels would guide any overflow water away from the main river. The channels would send the water downhill toward the ocean. Next, I waded in the shallow waters of the Yellow River, leading another army of people to deepen and widen it.
As I dug, I tried to remember my wife’s sweet face. But the only memories that came to me were of the last flood. Those memories urged me on, and I worked harder.
The channels and other changes we made to the river had some good results. However, we hadn’t stopped the floods. People were still suffering. We needed to know the river better and make changes more quickly.
We traveled past my family’s home as we worked on the river nearby. I knew my wife had just given birth to our son. I heard his cry as I dug a flood channel near our house. I longed to be with them both, but I couldn’t go see them. Their safety was more important. I had to continue working to make the channel safe for them.
Months later, as we were nearing the end of our work on that part of the river, I heard my son call for his mama. Hearing him inspired me to work all night. The lantern’s light on the water at midnight was almost as bright as the sun. Or so I told myself, because I wanted to keep working.
Over time, I all but became a river creature. I lost my toenails, and my hands and feet wrinkled from being underwater. But I didn’t mind. If I could stop more people from dying, my life would have meaning. And my father’s life and death would have meaning.
The End
Question: How do channels stop rivers from flooding?
1. They make the rivers deeper, so they can hold more water.
2. When the rivers are moving too fast, they slow them down.
3. When there is too much water, some of the water flows into the
channels.
4. The channels use gravity to move the water uphill.

核心词汇
slope n. 斜坡; 斜率; 倾斜; 斜面
ridge n. 背脊,峰,隆起线; 山脊,山脉,海脊; 高压脊; 皱摺,田埂
boulder n. 漂砾; 卵石,圆石; 巨砾,冰砾
stroke v. 轻抚; 轻触; 敲击
wade v. 跋涉; 蹚,走过
wrinkle v. 使起皱纹; 起皱纹
They nervously told me what they thought I wanted to hear. 他们紧张地告诉我那些他们认为我想听的话。本句中 what 引导的一个 宾语从句 what I wanted to hear,作为 told 的宾语, 而 they thought 作为插入语,起到补充说明的作用。
Or so I toldmyself,because I wanted to keep working. 或者是我告诉自己是这样(事实并非如此),因为我想一直工作。前文提到,在半夜灯笼的光线照在水上就像太阳一样明亮,本句揭示实情:这只是大禹为了让自己一直工作而对自己的暗示。

以下翻译来自百度翻译:

那年冬天雪下得很大,春天刚开始使田野变绿。黄河像龙一样咆哮。水顺着山坡流下来。它越过了我父亲修建的城墙。我和我的新婚妻子跑开了,爬上了山。
河水因愤怒和力量而变白。波浪追赶着我们。我们不断向上移动。最后我们到达了一个干燥的山脊。
河水淹没了山谷,冲走了房屋。它淹没了庄稼。
饥饿的人们和动物在树梢和巨石上寻找安全。许多人从未找到安全感。
当我们回到我们的村庄时,我得知我父亲的水坝已经决堤。很多人死了。所以国王命令我父亲也死。伴随着那个可怕的消息,我知道我将取代我父亲的位置。阻止洪水成为我的工作。我向怀孕的妻子告别,然后前往首都。
在首都,我向和我父亲一起工作的长者征求新的想法。他们紧张地告诉我他们认为我想听的话。
“成功了,”一个人抚摸着胡子说。“还记得那少雨的一年吗?”他们都点点头。“那年没有洪水!”
我等着听。最后,一位长者平静地说:“小雨,这条河似乎没有地方可去,水太多了,没有足够的地方跑。”
“这是你应该做的,”另一个人建议道。他俯身进去。“找到黄河之神何波。他讨厌这条河!他几年前就淹死在河里了。他可能会帮助你。”
我召集了一大群工人,开始挖防洪渠。我希望这些渠道能把溢出的水引离干流。这些水道将把水从山上带向大海。接着,我涉水到黄河的浅水区,带领另一大群人去加深和拓宽它。
当我挖掘时,我试图记住我妻子甜美的脸。但我唯一的记忆是上次洪水。这些记忆激励着我继续前进,我更加努力地工作。
我们对这条河进行的河道和其他改造取得了一些良好的效果。然而,我们没有阻止洪水。人们仍在受苦。我们需要更好地了解这条河,更快地做出改变。
我们在附近的河上工作时路过我家。我知道我妻子刚刚生了我们的儿子。当我在我们家附近挖防洪渠时,我听到了他的哭声。我很想和他们两个在一起,但我不能去看他们。他们的安全更重要。我必须继续工作,以确保通道对他们的安全。
几个月后,当我们在河的那一部分的工作接近尾声时,我听到儿子喊妈妈。听到他激励我通宵工作。午夜水面上的灯笼几乎和太阳一样明亮。或者我告诉自己,因为我想继续工作。
随着时间的推移,我几乎成了一个河流生物。我的脚趾甲掉了,我的手和脚因为在水下而起皱。但我不介意。如果我能阻止更多的人死亡,我的生命就会有意义。我父亲的生死存亡是有意义的。


98. Yu and the Flood 
大禹治水 2

大禹日夜劳作,睡眠时间很少。有一天夜里挖渠劳作之时,大禹遇到了河伯。河伯说自己差一点成仙时被这河水所害,并表示只要大禹控制住洪灾,便可用禹想要之物交换,然后便消失了。十年后,大禹再次路过家门,他的儿子冲出来迎接他,大禹却说,自己的任务还没有完成不能回家。最后大禹能治好洪灾吗?

I was working late one night, downriver from my home. I had gotten used to getting little sleep. I told myself I could live on water and work. The calm river and the feeling of fish nibbling on my toes were almost like a dream.
The moon and the lantern were shining brightly. I adjusted my bamboo hat and swungmy axe into the cliff beside the water. I heard a splash behind me. I kept working. Another splash. I kept working.
Another splash! This one drenched my entire back, and I heard laughter.
I turned around, ready to tell the jokester to let me work.
To my surprise, I came face to face with He Bo, the god of the Yellow River. He looked older, more wrinkled, and soggier than anyone I had ever seen. I might have mistaken him for an old carp if I hadn’t noticed he was holding something in his hand.
“I’ve been looking for you!” he said. His mouth curled up into a smile.
His whiskers curled down like a carp’s. “Is your name, Yu?”
I bowed. “Immortal He Bo,” I said respectfully. “I have been looking for you too.”
Water ran down him like many rivers heading toward his feet. With a twinkle in his eye, he sang, [sing-song voice] “I have something that you want!” Then he became serious. “I’ll give it to you if you promise to control this troublesome river! Do you know it drowned me? And it never apologized to me!
“I’m sorry,” I said. “And I promise we will control it.” I bowed again. “We are trying, but we need to know more.”
“I was almost a god,” he said. “I needed to drink the juice of only one more daffodil to become immortal. Then this crazy river drowned me!
Anyway, I got the last laugh! I became a god anyway!” He batted a water bug out of his whiskers and handed me a scroll. I unrolled the scroll. It was a map of the river! It showed where the water was shallow, where it was deep, and where big boulders parted its path. There were notes and suggestions about how to control the river.
“Thank you!” I cried. “This is exactly the information we need to stop the flooding!”
But He Bo never heard me. He was gone, had vanished underwater.
The army of workers and I traveled along nine different rivers in China, making changes that stopped the flooding. We passed my house once again. By this time, my son Qi was ten years old. He ran outside and threw himself into my arms. “Father, you’re home!” he cried.
“I’m sorry, Son,” I told him. “But my work isn’t done. I’m not coming home yet.” It broke my heart to see his sad face. I hoped he would understand someday.
After thirteen years of work, we stopped the flooding. At last China was safe! I was appointed as an advisor to the king because of my success in controlling the rivers. When the king grew old, he chose me to become the next king. I became known as Yu the Great. After my time as king ended, my devoted son Qi became the founder of the Xia Dynasty.

The End
Question: 
What sort of problem would inspire you to work as hard as Yu in order to solve it?

核心词汇
nibble v. 啃,一点一点地咬; 啃出,一点一点咬出; 慢慢减少; 小口咬
swing (swung) v. 使旋转;使做曲线运动;挥舞;悬吊
splash n. 斑点; 溅泼声; 溅上的斑点; 溅泼的量
drench v. 使湿透; 给灌药; 使充满,使洋溢; 浸液; 弄湿
jokester n. 喜欢开玩笑者
soggy adj. 湿透的,浸透的; 沉闷的,乏味的
curl v. 拳曲; 弯曲; 卷曲; 盘旋; 缠绕
whisker n. 细须; 连鬓胡子; 〈美俚〉腮帮子; 须晶
daffodil n. 水仙花; 黄水仙
bat v. 打击,猛击
scroll n. 纸卷; 书卷,画卷,卷轴; 涡卷形
unroll v. 展开; 铺开; 展现; 显示
boulder n. 漂砾; 卵石,圆石; 巨砾,冰砾
vanish v. 消失; 突然不见; 消亡,消灭; 化为零; 使消失,使不见
appoint v. 任命,委派; 约定,指定
devoted adj. 忠诚的; 献身的; 挚爱的; 专心的
I might have mistaken him for an old carp if I hadn’t noticed he was holding something in his hand. 如果我没有注意到他的手里正拿着一样东西,我可能会把他错当成一条鲤鱼。本句使用虚拟语气表达对于过去的推测,其中主句要用 might have done 形式,而 if 引导的条件状语从句要用过去完成时 had done 形式。

以下翻译来自百度翻译:

一天晚上,我在我家下游工作到很晚。我已经习惯了很少睡觉。我告诉自己我可以靠水生活和工作。平静的河流和鱼啃我脚趾的感觉几乎就像一场梦。
月亮和灯笼闪闪发光。我调整了一下我的竹帽,把斧头扔进了水边的悬崖里。我听到身后有水花飞溅。我一直在工作。又一次飞溅。我一直在工作。
又一次飞溅!这个湿透了我的整个后背,我听到了笑声。
我转过身,准备告诉小丑让我工作。
令我惊讶的是,我与黄河之神何波面对面。他看上去比我见过的任何人都老,皱纹多,浑身湿透。如果我没有注意到他手里拿着什么东西,我可能会把他当成一条老鲤鱼。
“我一直在找你!”他说。他的嘴蜷缩成微笑。
他的胡须像鲤鱼的一样蜷缩着。“余,你叫什么名字?”
我鞠躬。“不朽的河伯,”我恭敬地说。“我也一直在找你。”
水从他身上流下来,就像许多河流流向他的脚一样。他眨着眼睛,唱着歌,“我有你想要的东西!”然后他变得严肃起来。“如果你答应控制这条麻烦的河流,我就把它给你!你知道它淹死了我吗?它从来没有向我道歉过!
“对不起,”我说。“我保证我们会控制它。”我再次鞠躬。“我们正在努力,但我们需要知道更多。”
“我几乎是上帝,”他说,“我只需要再喝一朵水仙花的汁液就可以长生不老。然后这条疯狂的河流淹死了我!
总之,我笑到了最后!反正我成了上帝!”他从胡子上打下一只水虫,递给我一本卷轴。我打开卷轴。这是一张河流地图!它显示了哪里的水浅,哪里的水深,哪里的大石头分开了它的路径。有关于如何控制河流的注释和建议。
“谢谢!”我喊道。“这正是我们阻止洪水所需要的信息!”
但贺波从来没有听到我的声音,他走了,消失在水下。
我和工人大军沿着中国九条不同的河流行进,做出了一些改变,阻止了洪水。我们再次经过我家。这时,我的儿子齐已经十岁了。他跑到外面,扑到我的怀里。“爸爸,你回来了!”他哭着说。
“对不起,孩子,”我告诉他。“但我的工作还没做完。我还没回家。”看到他悲伤的脸,我心碎了。我希望有一天他会理解。
经过十三年的工作,我们停止了洪水。中国终于安全了!我被任命为国王的顾问,因为我成功地控制了河流。当国王年老时,他选择我成为下一任国王。我被称为禹大帝。在我的国王时代结束后,我忠诚的儿子齐成为了夏朝的创始人。


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