小学生英语阅读The Wild Swans
The Wild Swans 野天鹅
The Wild Swans 野天鵝Long ago and far away there lived a King. He was very proud of his eleven sons and one daughter. All of his children were good, kind and wise, even young Eliza who was still only a baby.The Queen had sadly died and after a while, feeling that his children needed a mother, the King married again.His new Queen was very jealous of the eleven princes and Eliza, and life for them soon changed. Eliza was sent to the country to be brought up on a farm.The Queen turned the King from his sons, by telling lies to him about them. Soon the King cared nothing for his sons. The Queen was delighted."Go, you big ugly birds," she cried to them one day, casting a spell on them. But the worst she could do was to turn them into swans with golden crowns on their heads. Away they flew.They flew over the cottage where Eliza lived, but no-one saw them.Eliza lived happily at the farm, but she missed her brothers. When she was fifteen, she returned to the palace.The Queen was furious at how pretty Eliza had become, and would dearly have liked to turn her into a swan like her brothers.Instead she bathed Eliza and put three toads in to change her looks. The toads were instantly turned to poppies by Eliza's innocence and goodness.The Queen then used walnut juice to darken Eliza's skin, and matted her hair with fat."This will make the King reject you," said the Queen, and the King did turn from Eliza. He did not know that this messy girl brought before him was his daughter.Eliza was very upset and decided to run away to look for her brothers. She went over the fields and through the forests. She came at last to a stream and saw her own reflection."No wonder my father did not know me," she said, and she jumped in to wash herself. Moments later the real Eliza emerged, with cleangolden hair and fair skin.For many days she walked, looking for her brothers. One day she met an old woman. She had a basket of fruit and shared some with Eliza."Have you seen eleven princes riding through the forest?" asked Eliza."I haven't, my dear," said the old woman. " But yesterday I did see eleven swans riding down the stream. Each had a golden crown on his head." She showed Eliza the river.Eliza followed the river to the shore, and stood watching the waves. As the sun set, the swans turned into eleven princes with golden crowns on their heads."My brothers!" cried Eliza, and she ran to greet them. They were delighted to see their younger sister, now grown into a lovely girl. They soon realized that it was because of the wicked Queen that they were rejected."We are swans during the day," said the eldest. "But when the sun goes down, we regain our human form. We therefore have to be over land when the sun sets or we will be doomed.""We will take you with us when we leave tomorrow," said the youngest. "Tonight we must weave a net to carry you."All night the brothers and sister wove a net. In the morning as Eliza slept, eleven swans flew up into the air, carrying the net. The youngest shaded Eliza's face from the sun with his wing.On the other side of the sea was a beautiful land. The brothers flew hard to reach it in daylight."Here is your new home," they said as they landed.Eliza had a dream that night. A fairy came to her and said, "There is a way to save your brothers, but it means hardship and pain for you. There are stinging nettles around the cave. Gather them, although they will sting, and trample them with your feet. With the flax, weave and make up eleven mail shirts for your brothers. But you must never speak, from the moment you start until you finish, even if it takes years, or your brothers will die."Eliza awoke with a nettle stinging her hand.Her brothers had already left as it was broad daylight, so Elizabegan her work. When they returned and saw her poor blistered hands, and she would not say a word, they realized that she was working for them. Two more days and the first shirt was finished. A day later, she was at her work, when the royal huntsmen came to the forest. She ran to her cave in fright, but the dogs followed her. The King was amongst the huntsmen and fell in love with Eliza when he saw her."I'll take you to the palace, where you may make your home," he told Eliza.Eliza was beautifully dressed, and the King chose to make her his Queen, but she would not smile or say a word."My present to you," he said, taking her to a small chamber, "is a room like your cave, with all your familiar things around you."There Eliza saw the prepared nettles and the completed shirt and she was happy.Night after night the young Queen crept away from the King to continue her work.Soon seven shirts were completed, but she had no more flax. Eliza knew that the nearest nettles grew in the graveyard.At the dead of night, while all were asleep, she crept out to the graveyard. On a gravestone sat seven witches, counting the dead. Eliza walked straight past, with a shudder.The Archbishop was the only one to have seen Eliza leave, and he had followed her. He did not trust her, and thought she had bewitched the King."The Queen is a witch," the Archbishop told the King. "I have proof."The King did not want to believe it, but he watched when Eliza went out at night. Night after night, she continued her weaving in the small room. Then one night, with one shirt to go, Eliza ran out of flax and nettles. She would have to visit the graveyard again. This time the King followed. He saw the witches on the gravestone and believed Eliza to be one of them."The people must judge her," said the King sadly. And the people judged that she was a witch and should be burned at the stake.Eliza was thrown into prison. Her pillows and sheets were the nettleshirts. She could not have wished for better blankets, and she continued her work.Eleven princes arrived that night at the palace gate, demanding to see the king."It's too late to disturb the King," said the guards. Eleven swans flew off as dawn broke.Eliza was carried to the stake in a cart, still sewing and weaving the eleventh shirt. The others lay at her feet."Look at the witch!" cried the mob. "She still sews! She's casting spells Take it from her!"The people were about to tear the shirts from her when eleven swans appeared, golden crowns on their heads, flapping their wings and forcing the people back.The executioner went to tie Eliza to the sake, but Eliza quickly threw the shirts over her brothers, and they became princes again. Sadly the youngest still had a wing instead of an arm, as Eliza had not quite finished the shirt."Now I may speak!" cried Eliza, turning to the King.The whole story was told to the King, who was very happy. He did not want to loose Eliza.As the eldest prince spoke, the wood at the stake blossomed and a huge rose bush sprang up.The King gave a rose to Eliza, and there was a happy wedding procession back to the palace, where the King and Eliza lived happily.。
the wild swans英文故事
the wild swans英文故事The Wild Swans is a famous fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, first published in 1838. It tells the story of a princess who must save her brothers from a curse that turns them into swans. The tale is filled with magic, love, and sacrifice, and has captivated readers for generations.Once upon a time, there was a king who remarried a wicked queen. The queen was jealous of her stepchildren, the princess and her brothers, and cast a spell on the brothers, turning them into swans. The princess was heartbroken to see her brothers suffering, and vowed to find a way to break the curse.Determined to save her brothers, the princess set out on a dangerous quest. She traveled through forests, crossed rivers, and climbed mountains, searching for a way to break the curse. Along the way, she encountered many challenges and obstacles, but her love for her brothers never wavered.After many trials and tribulations, the princess finally discovered the secret to breaking the curse. She had to weave magical shirts out of nettles and throw them over her brothers, but she was forbidden to speak or laugh during the entire process. With great determination and perseverance, theprincess set to work weaving the shirts, despite the pain and difficulty of working with the sharp nettles.As the princess worked, the wicked queen became aware of her plan and did everything in her power to stop her. She spread lies and rumors, trying to turn the king and the kingdom against the princess. But the princess remained strong and focused, determined to save her brothers no matter the cost.Finally, the day arrived when the princess had finished weaving all the shirts. She gathered her brothers by the lake and threw the shirts over them. As they transformed back into humans, the princess couldn't help but cry out in joy and relief. But her spell was broken, and she was transformed into a stone statue.The king, seeing the miraculous transformation, realized the truth and ordered the queen to be banished from the kingdom. He picked up the stone statue of the princess and carried it to the palace, where he placed it in the garden. As he wept beside her, his tears turned the stone into flesh, and the princess came back to life.The princess was reunited with her brothers, and they lived happily ever after. The tale of the Wild Swans became a legend in the kingdom, a story of love, sacrifice, and the power of familybonds. And the princess, now a queen, ruled wisely and justly, never forgetting the lessons she had learned on her journey to save her brothers.And so, the Wild Swans lived on in the hearts of all who heard their story, a reminder of the power of love and determination in the face of adversity.。
安徒生童话英文版：TheWildSwans野天鹅
安徒生童话英文版：TheWildSwans野天鹅It was broad daylight, and close by where she had been sleeping lay a nettle like the one she had seen in her dream. She fell on her knees and offered her thanks to God. Then she went forth from the cave to begin her work with her delicate hands. She groped in amongst the ugly nettles, which burnt great blisters on her hands and arms, but she determined to bear it gladly if she could only release her dear brothers. So she bruised the nettles with her bare feet and spun the flax. At sunset her brothers returned and were very much frightened when they found her dumb. They believed it to be some new sorcery of their wicked step-mother. But when they saw her hands they understood what she was doing on their behalf, and the youngest brother wept, and where his tears fell the pain ceased, and the burning blisters vanished. She kept to her work all night, for she could not rest till she had released her dear brothers. During the whole of the following day, while her brothers were absent, she sat in solitude, but never before had the time flown so quickly. One coat was already finished and she had begun the second, when she heard the huntsman’s horn, and was struck with fear. The sound came nearer and nearer, she heard the dogs barking, and fled with terror into the cave. She hastily bound together the nettles she had gathered into a bundle and sat upon them. Immediately a great dog came bounding towards her out of the ravine, and then another and another; they barked loudly, ran back, and then came again. In a very few minutes all the huntsmen stood before the cave, and the handsomest of them was the king of the country. He advanced towards her, for he had never seen a more beautiful maiden.“How did you come here, my sweet child?” he asked. But Eliza shook her head. She dared not speak, at the cost of her brothers’ lives. And she hid her hands under her apron, so that the king might not see how she must be suffering.“Come with me,” he said; “here you cannot remain. If you are as good as you are beautiful, I will dress you in silk and velvet, I will place a golden crown upon your head, and you shall dwell, and rule, and make your home in my richest castle.” And then he lifted her on his horse. She wept and wrung her hands, but the king said, “I wish only for your happiness. A time will come when you will thank me for this.” And then he galloped away over the mountains, holding her before him on this horse, and the hunters followed behind them. As the sun went down, they approached a fair royal city, with churches, and cupolas. On arriving at the castle the king led her into marble halls, where large fountains played, and where the walls and the ceilings were covered with rich paintings. But she had no eyes for all these glorious sights, she could only mourn and weep. Patiently she allowed the women to array her in royal robes, to weave pearls in her hair, and draw soft gloves over her blistered fingers. As she stood before them in all her rich dress, she looked so dazzingly beautiful that the court bowed low in her presence. Then the king declared his intention of making her his bride, but the archbishop shook his head, and whispered that the fair young maiden was only a wit ch who had blinded the king’s eyes and bewitched his heart. But the king would not listen to this; he ordered the music to sound, the daintiest dishes to be served, and the loveliest maidens to dance. After-wards he led her through fragrant gardens and lofty halls, but not a smile appeared on her lips or sparkled in her eyes. She looked the very picture of grief. Thenthe king opened the door of a little chamber in which she. was to sleep; it was adorned with rich green tapestry, and resembled the cave in which he had found her. On the floor lay the bundle of flax which she had spun from the nettles, and under the ceiling hung the coat she had made. These things had been brought away from the cave as curiosities by one of the huntsmen.“Here you can dream yo urself back again in the old home in the cave,” said the king; “here is the work with which you employed yourself. It will amuse you now in the midst of all this splendor to think of that time.”When Eliza saw all these things which lay so near her heart, a smile played around her mouth, and the crimson blood rushed to her cheeks. She thought of her brothers, and their release made her so joyful that she kissed the king’s hand. Then he pressed her to his heart. Very soon the joyous church bells announced the marriage feast, and that the beautiful dumb girl out of the wood was to be made the queen of the country. Then the archbishop whispered wicked words in the king’s ear, but they did not sink into his heart. The marriage was still to take place, and the archbishop himself had to place the crown on the bride’s head; in his wicked spite, he pressed the narrow circlet so tightly on her forehead that it caused her pain. But a heavier weight encircled her heart—sorrow for her brothers. She felt not bodily pain. Her mouth was closed; a single word would cost the lives of her brothers. But she loved the kind, handsome king, who did everything to make her happy more and more each day; she loved him with all her heart, and her eyes beamed with the love she dared not speak. Oh! if she had only been able to confide in him and tell him of her grief. But dumb she must remain till her task was finished. Therefore at night she crept away into her littlechamber, which had been decked out to look like the cave, and quickly wove one coat after another. But when she began the seventh she found she had no more flax. She knew that the nettles she wanted to use grew in the churchyard, and that she must pluck them herself. How should she get out there? “Oh, what is the pain in my fingers to the torment which my heart endures?” said she. “I must venture, I shall not be denied help from heaven.” Then with a trembling heart, as if she were about to perform a wicked deed, she crept into the garden in the broad moonlight, and passed through the narrow walks and the deserted streets, till she reached the churchyard. Then she saw on one of the broad tombstones a group of ghouls. These hideous creatures took off their rags, as if they intended to bathe, and then clawing open the fresh graves with their long, skinny fingers, pulled out the dead bodies and ate the flesh! Eliza had to pass close by them, and they fixed their wicked glances upon her, but she prayed silently, gathered the burning nettles, and carried them home with her to the castle. One person only had seen her, and that was the archbishop—he was awake while everybody was asleep. Now he thought his opinion was evidently correct. All was not right with the queen. She was a witch, and had bewitched the king and all the people. Secretly he told the king what he had seen and what he feared, and as the hard words came from his tongue, the carved images of the saints shook their heads as if they would say. “It is not so. Eliza is innocent.”。
17 The Wild Swans At Coole
The Wild Swans At CooleWilliam Butler Yeats（1865-1939）The trees are in their autumn beauty，9 aThe woodland paths are dry， 6 bUnder the October twilight the water 11 cMirror a still sky； 5 bUpon the brimming water among the stones 10 dAre nine-and-fifty swans. 6 dThe nineteenth autumn has come upon me 10 aSince I first made my count； 6 bI saw，before I had well finished，8 cAll suddenly mount 5 bAnd scatter wheeling in great broken rings 10 dUpon their clamorous wings. 7 dI have looked upon those brilliant creatures，10 aAnd now my heart is sore. 6 bAll's changed since I，hearing at twilight，9 cThe first time on this shore， 6 bThe bell-beat of their wings above my head，10 dTrod with a lighter tread. 6 dUnwearied still，lover by lover，9 aThey paddle in the cold 6 b Companionable streams or climb the air；9 cTheir hearts have not grown old； 6 bPassion or conquest，wander where they will，10 dAttend upon them still. 6 dBut now they drift on the still water，9 a Mysterious，beautiful； 6 bAmong what rushes will they build，7 cBy what lake's edge or pool 6 bDelight men's eyes when I awake some day 10 dTo find they have flown away？ 6 dI. About the poem1.1. Brief, relevant history of poem and poetWilliam Butler Yeats was an Irish poet, dramatist, mystic and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. H e served as an Irish Senator in the 1920s. He was best known for his poem The Wind Among the Reed, The Tower(1928),The Winding Stair(1929), and Sailing to Byzantium. At first, Yeats’s literature style is affected by mystery and romantic. But later, his poetry grew more physical and realistic. Yeats was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1923.1.2. Parse the poemIt is a beautiful autumn. During the October twilight, there are 59 swans gathering among the stones in the lake of Coole. It has been 19 years since I first counted the amount of swans. I still remember the swans mount before I can finish my count. Everything has changed a lot since I first enjoyed the wonderful view of the scene, which causes my sorrow. The swans' hearts haven't grown old since they always carry passion wherever they go. Now they are drifting on the lake with a mystery and beautiful gesture. I can’t help to wonder where they will go to delight men's eyes after they fly away.II. Form2.1 Meter, rhyme scheme, stressThis poem is a metrical poetry. This poem contains thirty lines of iambic dimeter rimed ab cb dd. This poem in five sections consisting of six lines each.Meter:9 , 6, 11, 5, 10, 610, 6, 8, 5, 10, 710, 6, 9, 6, 10, 69 , 6, 9, 6, 10, 69 , 6, 7, 6, 10, 6Rhyme scheme:ab cb ddStress: Iambic dimeterThe trees│are in their│autumn│beauty， 4The woodland│paths│are dry， 3Under│the October│twilight│the water 4Mirror│a still│sky； 3Upon│the brimming│water│among│the stones 5Are│nine-and-fifty│swans. 32.2 Special characteristicsThe Coole and the swan are the special characteristics in this poem. The former assimilates to the life journey and the friendship between Yeats and Lady Gregory. The later assimilates to Yeats’ dream, thinking and works. The most significant one is the swan. Yeats had written many poems about swan and he loves this characteristic to express his view of the world.III. Content:3.1 ThemeThe theme of The Wild Swans at Coole is mainly about the process that the poet was thinking how to seek beauty, an eternalized quality, as the world careens and changes around him. Eventually, the poet has found the answer which is his own contingent experience and his works will live on long after him. Just as one day his swans will have flown away from him, yet they will delight the eyes of other men.3.2 EvaluationThe poet talks about twilight, October, autumn—all things associated with the end or latter part of things. It's pretty clear that the poet has entered old age on his mind. He is in the autumn of his life, a time when man is forced to reckon what fruits are to be harvested from the seeds his life has sown. As time went by, he has seen lots of things change, and has lost his innocence in a way either, but he still wants to make beauty an eternal quality and become a part of him as the changes around him. When he realized that the swans will fly away t o delight others’ eyes, he found out that he can also become eternal through his experience and works after he’s no longer energetic and youthful.。
小学英语安徒生童话系列(八)TheBirdofPopularSong民歌的鸟阅读素材
The Bird of Popular Songby Hans Christian Andersen（1865）IT is winter-time.the earth wears a snowygarment，and looks like m arble hewn out of therock；the air is bright and clear；the wind is sharpas a well-tempered sword，and the trees stand likebranches of white coral or blooming almond twigs，and here it is keen as on the lofty Alps.the night is splendid in the gleam of the NorthernLights，and in t he glitter of innumerable twinklingstars.But we sit in the warm room，by the hot stove，and talk about t he old times.And welisten to this story：By the open sea was a giant's grave；and on the grave-mound sat a t midnight the spiritof the buried hero，who had been a king.The golden circlet gleamed on his brow，his hairfluttered in the wind ，and he was clad in steel and iron.He bent his head mournfully ，andsighed in deep sorrow，as an unquiet spirit might sigh.And a ship came sailing by.Presently the sailors lowered the anchor and landed.Amongthem was a singer，and he approached the royal s pirit，and said，“Why mournest thou，and wherefore dost thou suffer thus？”And the dead man answered，“No one has sung the deeds of my life；they are dead and forgotten.Song doth not carrythem forth over the lands，nor into the hea rts of men；therefore I have no rest and nopeace.”And he spoke of his works，and of his warlike deeds，which his c ontemporaries hadknown，but which had not been sung，because there was no singer among his companions.then the old bard struck the strings of his harp，and sang of the youthful courage of thehero，of the strength of the man，and of the GREatness of his good deeds.Then the face ofthe dead one gle amed like the margin of the cloud in the moonlight.Gladly and of goodcourage，the form arose in splendor and in majesty，and vanishe d like the glancing of thenorthern light.Nought was to be seen but the green turfy mound，with the stones on whichno Runic record ha s been graven；but at the last sound of the harp there soared ove r thehill，as though he had fluttered from the harp，a little bir d，a charming singing-bird，withringing voice of the thrush，with the moving voice pathos of the human heart，with a voicethat told of home，like the voice that is heard by the bird of passage.The singing-bird soaredaway，over mountain and valley，over field and wood—he was the Bird of Popular Song，whonever dies.We hear his song—we hear it now in the room while the white bees are swarming without，and the storm clutches the windows.The bird sings not alone the re quiem of heroes；hesings also sweet gentle songs of love，so many and so warm，of Northern fidelity and truth.He has stories in wor ds and in tones；he has proverbs and snatches of proverbs；songswh ich，like Runes laid under a dead man's tongue，force him to spea k；and thus PopularSong tells of the land of his birth.In the old heathen days，in the times of the Vikings，the popular speech was enshrinedin the harp of the bard.In the days of knightly castles，when the strongest fist held the scales of justice，whenonly might was right，and a peasant and a dog were of equal importance，where did the Birdof Song find shelte r and protection？Neither violence nor stupidity gave him a thought.But in the gabled window of the knightly castle，the lady of the castle sat with theparchment roll before her，and wrote down the ol d recollections in song and legend，whilenear her stood the old wom an from the wood，and the travelling peddler who went wanderingthrou gh the country.As these told their tales，there fluttered around t hem，with twitteringand song，the Bird of Popular Song，who never dies so long as the earth has a hill uponwhich his foot may rest .And now he looks in upon us and sings.Without are the night and the snow-storm.He laysthe Runes beneath our tongues，and we know t he land of our home.Heaven speaks to us inour native tongue，in the voice of the Bird of Popular Song.The old remembrances awake，the faded colors glow with a fresh lustre，and story and song pour us a blessed draught whichlifts up our minds and our thoughts，so that the evening becomes as a Christmas festival.the snow-flakes chase each other，the ice cracks，the storm rules without，for he hasthe might，he is lord—but not the LORD OF ALL.It is winter time.the wind is sharp as a two-edged sword，the snow-flakes chase eachother；it seems as though it had been snowing f or days and weeks，and the snow lies like aGREat mountain over the whole town，like a heavy dream of the winter night.Everything on the earth is hidden away，only the golden cross of the church，th e symbol of faith，arisesover the snow grave，and gleams in the b lue air and in the bright sunshine.And over the buried town fly the birds of heaven，the small and t he GREat；they twitterand they sing as best they may，each bird w ith his beak.First comes the band of sparrows：they pipe at every trifle in the streets and lanes，inthe nests and the houses；they have stories to tell about the front buildings and the backbuildings.“We know the buried town，”they say；“everything living in it is piep！piep！piep！”the black ravens and crows flew on over the white snow.“Grub，grub！”they cried. “There's something to be got down there；something toswallow，and that's most important.That's the opinion of most of them down there ，andthe opinion is goo-goo-good！”the wild swans come flying on whirring pinions，and sing of the no ble and the GREat，thatwill still sprout in the hearts of men，do wn in the town which is resting beneath its snowy veil.No death is there—life reigns yonder；we hear it on the notes tha t swell onward like thetones of the church organ，which seize us l ike sounds from the elf-hill，like the songs ofOssian，like the ru shing swoop of the wandering spirits'wings.What harmony！Thatharmony speaks to our hearts，and lifts up our souls！It is the Birdof Popular Song whomwe hear.And at this moment the warm breath of heaven blows down from the s ky.There are gaps inthe snowy mountains，the sun shines into the clefts；spring is coming，the birds arereturning，and new races ar e coming with the same home sounds in their hearts.Hear the story of the year：“The night of the snow-storm，the heavy dream of the winternight，all shall be dissolved，all shall rise again in the beauteous not es of the Bird of PopularSong，who never dies！”那是冬季。
黑布林绿野仙踪英文阅读理解
黑布林绿野仙踪 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Introduction“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is a classic American children’s novel written by L. Frank Baum. It was first published in 1900 and has since become one of the most beloved and enduring works of children’s literature. The novel tells the story of a young girl named Dorothy who is swept away by a tornado from her home in Kansas to the magical landof Oz.Plot SummaryThe story begins with Dorothy Gale, a young orphan girl who lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry on a farm in Kansas. One day, a powerful tornado strikes the area and carries Dorothy away in her house to the Land of Oz. When she lands, her house has crushed the Wicked Witch ofthe East, freeing the Munchkins who populate the land’s eastern region.Dorothy soon learns that the only way to return home is to seek out the powerful Wizard of Oz and ask for his help. To reach the Emerald City, where the Wizard resides, she must travel through the treacherous and enchanting Yellow Brick Road. Along the way, she befriends various companions, each with their own hopes and desires.Her first companion is a Scarecrow who wants a brain. Together, they encounter a Tin Woodman who desires a heart and a Cowardly Lion who wishes for courage. These three characters join Dorothy on her journeyto find the Wizard and seek their own wishes. They face numerous trials and challenges, including an encounter with the Wicked Witch of the West, who seeks revenge for the death of her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East.After facing these obstacles, Dorothy and her companions finally reach the Emerald City. However, the Wizard deems their quest unattainable and refuses to help them unless they bring him the Wicked Witch of the West’s broomstick. Determined, they set out to find the witch and accomplish their mission.In their journey, Dorothy and her friends face danger and overcome their own fears. With Dorothy’s quick thinking and the help of her companions, they manage to defeat the witch and retrieve her broomstick. Returningto the Wizard, they discover that he is not as powerful as they believed. However, he fulfills their desires by presenting the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion with tokens symbolizing their respective wishes.Themes“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” explores various themes, including the power of friendship, self-discovery, and the concept of home. Dorothy’s journey through the vibrant and magical land of Oz enables her torealize her inner strength and the importance of companionship. Through her adventures, she learns that home is where the heart is and that her loved ones are irreplaceable.The novel also highlights the idea that individuals possess thequalities they seek but often fail to recognize them. The Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion all believe they lack certain attributes, yet they demonstrate bravery, intelligence, and compassion throughout the story. This theme encourages readers to embrace their own strengths and potential.Furthermore, the Land of Oz serves as an allegory for the United States during the late 19th century. L. Frank Baum incorporates political and social commentary into the story, portraying the Emerald City as a symbol of fraudulent politicians and the pursuit of power. The silver shoes worn by Dorothy in the original novel represent the debate overthe use of silver or gold as the standard for American currency during the time of publication.Adaptations and Popularity“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” has been widely adapted for various mediums over the years. The most famous adaptation is the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz,” starring Judy Garla nd as Dorothy. The film has become a timeless classic and is cherished by audiences of all ages.In addition to the film, the novel has inspired stage plays, musicals, TV shows, and animated adaptations. It has also served as inspirationfor countless other books and films throughout the years. The enduring popularity of the story can be attributed to its timeless themes, captivating characters, and the imaginative world of Oz created by Baum.Conclusion“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” remains a beloved children’s novel that continues to captivate readers of all ages. Through its engaging storyline, memorable characters, and underlying themes, the book encourages readers to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and appreciate the power of friendship and home. The enduring popularity of the story is a testament to its timeless appeal and enduring legacy in children’s literature.。
小学英语阅读：野天鹅
小学英语阅读：野天鹅The Wild SwansOnce upon a time in a kingdom far away, there were eleven Princes and a single Princess, by the name of Elisa. One day, their mother died of a disease.Eventually the King married again. The new Queen hatedthe twelve children.She said craftily, "Elisa is weak, and it would be goodfor her to go to the country for recuperation." The King was grateful to the Queen, as she seemed to care for the healthof his daughter. Therefore, the Princess was sent off to the remotest corner of the country.The Queen then changed the eleven Princes into swans through her magic power, and sent them away from the royal palace. The Princes flew away crying sadly. "Oh! I feel good. It is my world now."After some time, the King missed Princess Elisa and sent for her. The Queen had Princess Elisa wear a dirty and worn-out dress. The King was very surprised to see the dirty Princess Elisa. "Elisa, how do you dress yourself?" Then the Queen said quickly, "Dear Lord, it seems that Princess Elisa has gone mad." The King was furious and sent the Princessaway from him."Ah! Where are my brothers?" The Princess asked a man passing by, "Have you ever seen eleven Princes?" The man said, "I have not seen eleven Princes but I have seen eleven swans.Strangely the swans wore golden crowns. You may find them near the river."Princess Elisa waited for her brothers near the river hoping to find them. At night, eleven swans swooped down to the ground and were turned into the form of Princes. "My brothers!" "Elisa!" They cried and embraced each other.The brothers were trapped under the spell of the wicked Queen, and were forced to become swans and fly around to look for something to eat during the day. Elisa prayed earnestly, "Dear God, please release the magic curse from my brothers." In her dreams that night, a fairy appeared and said, "Make mantles for your brothers with hemp and have them wear the mantles. However, you should not speak at all until those mantles are made completely."The Princes thought that Elisa, who did not speak and merely kept knitting, had become strange. One day, a Prince from a neighboring kingdom saw the knitting Princess when he was out hunting. The Prince took Elisa to his palace saying to himself, "She is a really beautiful lady. I am going to make her happy."But Elisa did not say anything, and only kept knitting eagerly. At nightfall of the next day, the hemp was all used up. Elisa picked some more hemp near a grave but was caught by the Prince. The Prince said, "You dared to go to a grave at night? You must be a witch. Take this witch and burn her at the stake!"Princess Elisa was unable to say anything and was imprisoned. Princess Elisa continued knitting without takingrest even in the prison. Princess Elisa was finally knitting the eleventh mantle, while being carried on a cart going to the burning place. The villagers threw stones at her while shouting, "That witch is still knitting. Burn her at thestake!"At that precise moment, the eleven swans flew in. Princess Elisa threw the finished mantles to the swans. Only then, Princess Elisa opened her mouth. "I now can speak. I am not a witch."They donned the knitted hoods they were turned back into Princes. The Princess told the Prince what had happened up to that time. Thereafter, the Prince and Princess Elisa lived happily together in their kingdom.单词注释：craftily adv. 狡猾地;熟练地;诡诈地recuperation n. 恢复;复原例句：We welcome you to Baiyang Ecological Garden for sightseeing, tour, vacation, conference, rest or recuperation.百杨生态园是您观光、游览、休闲、度假、会议、养生的选择!embrace vt. 拥抱;信奉，皈依;包含例句：However, not all people embrace the new plan.不过也不是所有人都支持新计划。
经典名著英语短文阅读：天鹅The Swan
经典名著英语短文阅读：天鹅The SwanThe Swan is said to sing but once in its life-when it knows that it is about to die.据说，天鹅一生只唱一次歌，只有在他死期临近时才唱。
A certain man, who had heard of the song of the Swan, one day saw one of these birds for sale in the market, and bought it and took produced the Swan, and bade it sing for their entertainment： but the Swan remained silent, In course of time, when it was growing old, it became aware of its approaching end and broke into a sweet, sad song.一只以前听过天鹅那优美歌声的人，偶然在市场上看到几只天鹅正待出售，便买了一只带。
几天后，他邀请几个朋友来吃饭，并介绍了自己的天鹅，让他唱歌来助兴。
不过，天鹅却始终保持沉默。
When its owner heard it, he said angrily, “If the creature only sings when it is about to die, what a fool I was that day I wanted to hear its song! I ought to have wrung its neck instead of merely inviting it to sing.”后来，终于有一天，天鹅慢慢老了，他知道自己死期将至，便展开歌喉，唱出了一曲甜美哀婉的歌，主人听到后，生气地说：“如果你真是临死前才肯唱歌，那我多么愚蠢呀！我真应该在那天拧断你的脖子，而不但仅是让你唱歌了。
野天鹅 the wild swan1
野天鹅the wild swansChapter 1Once upon a time, there was a king. He has eleven handsome sons and one beautiful daughter. The daughter’s name was Elise. One day, he called all his children together. Children, three years ago, your mother died. We all love her very much. But the kingdom needs a queen. I met a wonderful woman. I asked her to marry me, and she said yes. She will be your new mother. Is she beautiful? Yes, she’s very beautiful. Is she smart? Yes, she’s very smart. Is she kind? Yes, she’s very kind. I’m sure she will love you all. Please help me make her happy. We will, father! The next week, the new queen came to the castle. She was very beautiful and very smart, but she was not kind at all. Husband, w ho are all these children? They are my sons and my daughter. Children, say hello to your new mother.Hello, pleased to meet you. I hate children. Keep them in their rooms. But, my dear, everyone loves my children. They can’t stay in their rooms all the time. Then keep them away from me. I never want to see them, especially the little girl. I hate little girls the most of all. Elise ran to her room. She was crying. She was so sad that the queen hated her. Soon her brothers came to see her. It’ s ok, Elise. Don’t cry. We love you. Why does the queen h ate us so much? I don’t know. But we won’t let her hurt you. No,we won’t. John had an ides. Tell father that you want to live in the country with aunt mina. She will take care of you. We can visit you on weekends, and you will be safe from the queen there. She scares us. We don’t like her. Thank you so much. I will do that. The next morning, Elise found the king. Father, may I ask you for a favor? I want to live with Aunt Mina in the country. Why do you want to do that? The queen doesn’t like me. If I stay, she will be angry all the time. If I go, maybe she will be happier here. I think you are right. I’m sorry to cause so much trouble for you. It’s alright, father. I like aunt mina. And my brothers will visit on weekends. I will be very happy there.That afternoon, Elise left the castle. Everyone was sad to see her go , except the queen. The queen smiled. That night, the queen called for the eleven brothers. Boys, I’m sorry. I was very mean to you when we first met. Let’s be friends. We thought you hated children. I hate children w ho are loud and run around. But you are polite and quiet. I think I will like you .Let’s have a picnic tomorrow. We will go to the lake to have lunch. We can talk and become friends. Ok. We will have lunch with you tomorrow. Than k you. That was very strange. Do you trust her? No, I don’t trust her. But we can’t say no to the queen. Let’s be careful tomorrow.。
六年级野生动物保护英语阅读理解20题
六年级野生动物保护英语阅读理解20题1<背景文章>Kangaroos are very unique animals. They have strong hind legs and a long tail. Their fur is usually brown or gray. Kangaroos are known for their ability to jump very far. They can cover long distances with a single jump.Kangaroos live in Australia. They are found in grasslands, forests, and deserts. They are herbivores, which means they eat plants. Kangaroos are mostly active at night. During the day, they rest in the shade.Kangaroos are social animals. They live in groups called mobs. The female kangaroo has a pouch where she carries her baby, called a joey. The joey stays in the pouch for several months until it is strong enough to survive on its own.Kangaroos are an important part of the Australian ecosystem. They help to control the growth of plants by eating them. They also provide food for other animals such as dingoes and eagles.1. Kangaroos are known for their ability to ___.A. run fastB. swim wellC. jump farD. climb trees答案：C。
小学英语 安徒生童话系列(八)The Bird of Popular Song民歌的鸟阅读素材
The Bird of Popular Songby Hans Christian Andersen（1865）IT is winter-time. the earth wears a snowygarment，and looks like marble hewn ou t of therock；the air is bright and clear；the wind is sharpas a well-tempered sword，and the trees stand likebranches of white coral or blooming almond twigs，and here it is keen as on the lofty Alps.the night is splendid in the gleam of the NorthernLights，and in the glitter of innumerable twinklingstars.But we sit in the warm room，by the hot stove，and talk about the old times.And welisten to this story：By the open sea was a giant's grave；and on the grave-mound sat at midnight th e spiritof the buried hero，who had been a king. The golden circlet gleamed onhis brow，his hairfluttered in the wind，and he was clad in steel and iron.He bent his head mournfully，andsighed in deep sorrow，as an unquiet spirit m ight sigh.And a ship came sailing by. Presently the sailors lowered the anchor and landed.Amongthem was a singer，and he approached the royal spirit，and said，“Why mournest thou，and wherefore dost thou suffer thus？”And the dead man answered，“No one has sung the deeds of my life；they are dead and forgotten. Song doth not carrythem forth over the lands，nor into the hearts of men；therefore I have no rest and nopeace.”And he spoke of his works，and of his warlike deeds，which his contemporaries hadknown，but which had not been sung，because there was no singer among his c ompanions.then the old bard struck the strings of his harp，and sang of the youthful cou rage of thehero，of the strength of the man，and of the GREatness of his good deeds. Then the face ofthe dead one gleamed like the margin of the cloud in t he moonlight. Gladly and of goodcourage，the form arose in splendor and in majes ty，and vanished like the glancing of thenorthern light. Nought was to be seen but the green turfy mound，with the stones on whichno Runic record has been gra ven；but at the last sound of the harp there soared over thehill，as though h e had fluttered from the harp， a little bird， a charming singing-bird，withring ing voice of the thrush，with the moving voice pathos of the human heart，witha voicethat told of home，like the voice that is heard by the bird of passag e. The singing-bird soaredaway，over mountain and valley，over field and wood—hewas the Bird of Popular Song，whonever dies.We hear his song—we hear it now in the room while the white bees are swarming without，and the storm clutches the windows. The bird sings not alone the requiem of hero es；hesings also sweet gentle songs of love，so many and so warm，of Northern fidelity and truth.He has stories in words and in tones；he has proverbs and snatches of proverbs；songswhich，like Runes laid under a dead man's tongue，fo rce him to speak；and thus PopularSong tells of the land of his birth.In the old heathen days，in the times of the Vikings，the popular speech was enshrinedin the harp of the bard.In the days of knightly castles，when the strongest fist held the scales of justice，whenonly might was right，and a peasant and a dog were of equal importance，where did the Birdof Song find shelter and protection？Neither violence nor stupidity gave him a thought.But in the gabled window of the knightly castle，the lady of the castle sat wi th theparchment roll before her，and wrote down the old recollections in song an d legend，whilenear her stood the old woman from the wood，and the travelling peddler who went wanderingthrough the country. As these told their tales，there f luttered around them，with twitteringand song，the Bird of Popular Song，who ne ver dies so long as the earth has a hill uponwhich his foot may rest.And now he looks in upon us and sings. Without are the night and the snow-storm . He laysthe Runes beneath our tongues，and we know the land of our home. Heav en speaks to us inour native tongue，in the voice of the Bird of Popular Song.The old remembrances awake，the faded colors glow with a fresh lustre，and story and song pour us a blesse d draught whichlifts up our minds and our thoughts，so that the evening becomesas a Christmas festival.the snow-flakes chase each other，the ice cracks，the storm rules without，for he hasthe might，he is lord—but not the LORD OF ALL.It is winter time. the wind is sharp as a two-edged sword，the snow-flakes chas e eachother；it seems as though it had been snowing for days and weeks，and t he snow lies like aGREat mountain over the whole town，like a heavy dream of t he winter night. Everything onthe earth is hidden away，only the golden cross of the church，the symbol of faith，arisesover the snow grave，and gleams in th e blue air and in the bright sunshine. And over the buried town fly the birds of heaven，the small and the GREat；th ey twitterand they sing as best they may，each bird with his beak.First comes the band of sparrows：they pipe at every trifle in the streets and lanes，inthe nests and the houses；they have stories to tell about the front buildings and the backbuildings.“We know the buried town，”they say；“everything living in it is piep！piep！piep！”the black ravens and crows flew on over the white snow.“Grub，grub！”they cried.“There's something to be got down there；something toswallow，and that's most i mportant. That's the opinion of most of them down there，andthe opinion is goo-g oo-good！”the wild swans come flying on whirring pinions，and sing of the noble and the GREat，thatwill still sprout in the hearts of men，down in the town which is resting beneath its snowy veil.No death is there—life reigns yonder；we hear it on the notes that swell onwar d like thetones of the church organ，which seize us like sounds from the elf-hi ll，like the songs ofOssian，like the rushing swoop of the wandering spirits' w ings. What harmony！Thatharmony speaks to our hearts，and lifts up our souls！It is the Bird of Popular Song whomwe hear.And at this moment the warm breath of heaven blows down from the sky. There are gaps inthe snowy mountains，the sun shines into the clefts；spring is coming，the birds arereturning，and new races are coming with the same home sounds in their hearts.Hear the story of the year：“The night of the snow-storm，the heavy dream of the winternight，all shall be dissolved，all shall rise again in the beauteous notes of the Bird of PopularS ong，who never dies！”那是冬季。
英语课外阅读练习--爱丽丝梦游仙境
Alice and her big sister sat under a tree one sunny day. Alice’s sister had a book, but Alice had nothing with her. She looked at her sister’s book. There were no pictures or conversations in it.‘Why is she reading a book without pictures or conversations?’ she thought. ‘I’m bored. I know! I’ll look for some flowers.’ Then she thought,’ No, it’s too hot for that and I feel sleepy’Suddenly, a white rabbit ran past her. It took a watch from its jacket and looked at it.’ Oh! Oh ! I’m going to be late!’ it said.‘ That’s strange! A rabbit with a watch!’ said Alice.She jumped up and ran after the animal. It ran down a large rabbit-hole, so Alice went down the hole too. She didn’t stop and ask,’ How am I going to get out again ?’ Alice fel l down and down. But she fell very slowly and didn’t feel afraid. ‘What’s going to happen next?’ she wondered. She looked round. There were cupboards in the walls of the rabbit-hole. Some of the cupboards were open, and there were books in them. Sometimes she saw pictures. She looked down, but she couldn’t see any light. Down, down, down. ‘When will the hole end?’ she wondered. Perhaps I’m going to come out in Australia! I’ll have to ask the name of the country. ” Please, madam, is this Australia or New Zealand?” No, I can’t do that. They’ll think I’m stupid.’She thought about her cat, Dinah. ‘What’s Dinah doing? Will they remember her milk tonight? Oh, Dinah! Why aren’t you here with me ? Perhaps there’s a mouse here and you can eat it!’Suddenly, Alice was at the bottom of the hole. ‘ That didn’t hurt’ she said and sat up quickly. She could see the White Rabbit and she ran after him again. They were in a different rabbit-hole now.‘ Oh, my ears and nose!’ the White Rabbit cried.’ It’s getting very late!’ He ran faster and vanished through another hole. Alice followed him through the hole. Now she was in a very long room. She looked round for the White Rabbit, but she couldn’t see him anywhere.There were four doors in the room, but Alice couldn’t open them. Also, she couldn’t see the hole anywhere.’ How am I going to get out ?’ she wondered.Then she saw a little table. It had a very small key on it. ‘Perhaps it will open one of the doors,’ she thought. She took the key and tried to open each door with it. But it was no good. The key was too small.`This key has to open something,’ she thought. Then she saw a very small door about 40 centimeters high. The little key opened it. She put her head down and looked through the door into a beautiful garden. She tried to walk through it, but she was too big. Sadly, she shut the door again and put the key back on the table.Read the text and do the tasksI What is the genre of the text? How do you know?________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________II Chose the best title to the storyA Alice in AustraliaB Alice in WonderlandC Alice and the RabbitIII Decide whether the statements are TRUE (T) or FALSE (F):1 Alice was with her mother and they played tennis ___2 A grey rabbit ran past Alice ___3 The Rabbit was with a watch ___4 Alice felt afraid and didn't go down the hole __5 She fell very slowly___6 Alice found herself in Australia___7 Alice had a dog __8 Alice ran after a cat ___9 Alice found a small key ___10 The small key was on a big table ___III Find the synonyms (A) and the antonyms (B) to the following words in the textA1 dialogues - ______________2 finish - _________________3 quickly - _______________4 silly - _________________B1 rainy - _________________2 forget - ________________3 open - _________________4 interested - ___________IV Answer the following questions.1. What was unusual about the rabbit?_______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ 2. What did Alice see while she was falling down the hole?_______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What events happened in the story that couldn't happen in real life?_______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________4. What did Alice worry about when she fell down the rabbit hole? Prove it with the words from the text_______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ V Describe the picture in your own words (write what is happening in it and what/who you see)_______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________VI1 Do you like the story? Why? / Why not?_______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________。
小学英语 英语故事(儿童故事)The Wild Swans
The Wild SwansThe Wild SwansOnce upon a time in a kingdom far away, there were eleven Princes and a single Princess, by the name of Elisa. One day, their mother died of a disease.Eventually the King married again. The new Queen hated the twelve children.She said craftily, "Elisa is weak, and it would be good for her to go to the country for recuperation." The King was grateful to the Queen, as she seemed to care for the health of his daughter. Therefore, the Princess was sent off to the remotest corner of the country.The Queen then changed the eleven Princes into swans through her magic power, and sent them away from the royal palace. The Princes flew away crying sadly. "Oh!I feel good. It is my world now."After some time, the King missed Princess Elisa and sent for her. The Queen had Princess Elisa wear a dirty and worn-out dress. The King was very surprised to see the dirty Princess Elisa. "Elisa, how do you dress yourself?" Then the Queen said quickly, "Dear Lord, it seems that Princess Elisa has gone mad." The King was furious and sent the Princess away from him."Ah! Where are my brothers?" The Princess asked a man passing by, "Have you ever seen eleven Princes?" The man said, "I have not seen eleven Princes but I have seen eleven swans. Strangely the swans wore golden crowns. You may find them near the river."Princess Elisa waited for her brothers near the river hoping to find them. At night, eleven swans swooped down to the ground and were turned into the form of Princes. "My brothers!" "Elisa!" They cried and embraced each other.The brothers were trapped under the spell of the wicked Queen, and were forced to become swans and fly around to look for something to eat during the day. Elisa prayed earnestly, "Dear God, please release the magic curse from my brothers." In her dreams that night, a fairy appeared and said, "Make mantles for your brothers with hemp and have them wear the mantles. However, you should not speak at all until those mantles are made completely."The Princes thought that Elisa, who did not speak and merely kept knitting, had become strange. One day, a Prince from a neighboring kingdom saw the knitting Princess when he was out hunting. The Prince took Elisa to his palace saying to himself, "She is a really beautiful lady. I am going to make her happy."But Elisa did not say anything, and only kept knitting eagerly. At nightfall of the next day, the hemp was all used up. Elisa picked some more hemp near a grave but was caught by the Prince. The Prince said, "You dared to go to a grave at night? You must be a witch. Take this witch and burn her at the stake!"Princess Elisa was unable to say anything and was imprisoned. Princess Elisa continued knitting without taking rest even in the prison. Princess Elisa was finally knitting the eleventh mantle, while being carried on a cart going to the burningplace. The villagers threw stones at her while shouting, "That witch is still knitting. Burn her at the stake!"At that precise moment, the eleven swans flew in. Princess Elisa threw the finished mantles to the swans. Only then, Princess Elisa opened her mouth. "I now can speak. I am not a witch."They donned the knitted hoods they were turned back into Princes. The Princess told the Prince what had happened up to that time. Thereafter, the Prince and Princess Elisa lived happily together in their kingdom.。
The Wild Swans at Coole
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The Wild Swans at Coole
• Unwearied still, lover by lover, • They paddle in the cold • Companionable streams or climb the air; • Their hearts have not grown old; • Passion or conquest, wander where they will, • Attend upon them still.
• 从我开始计数以来， • 这已是第十九个秋天。 • 远未数尽，我就看见 • 它们乍然飞起， • 拍动着的翅膀发出嘈杂的声响 • 它们分散盘旋，构成一个个不规整的巨圈。
8
The Wild Swans at Coole
• And now my heart is sore. • All’s changed since I, hearing at twilight, • The first time on this shore, • The bell-beat of their wings above my head, • Trod with a lighter tread.
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The Wild Swans at Coole
• The trees are in their autumn beauty, • The woodland paths are dry, • Under the October twilight the water • Mirrors a still sky; • Upon the brimming water among the stones • Are nine-and-fifty swans.
经典名著英语短文阅读：天鹅TheSwan
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The Swan is said to sing but once in its life-when it knows that it is about to die.据说，天鹅⼀⽣只唱⼀次歌，只有在他死期临近时才唱。
A certain man, who had heard of the song of the Swan, one day saw one of these birds for sale in the market, and bought it and took produced the Swan, and bade it sing for their entertainment: but the Swan remained silent, In course of time, when it was growing old, it became aware of its approaching end and broke into a sweet, sad song.⼀只曾经听过天鹅那优美歌声的⼈，偶然在市场上看到⼏只天鹅正待出售，便买了⼀只带。
⼏天后，他邀请⼏个朋友来吃饭，并介绍了⾃⼰的天鹅，让他唱歌来助兴。
可是，天鹅却始终保持沉默。
When its owner heard it, he said angrily, “If the creature only sings when it is about to die, what a fool I was that day I wanted to hear its song! I ought to have wrung its neck instead of merely inviting it to sing.”后来，终于有⼀天，天鹅慢慢⽼了，他知道⾃⼰死期将⾄，便展开歌喉，唱出了⼀曲甜美哀婉的歌，主⼈听到后，⽣⽓地说：“如果你真是临死前才肯唱歌，那我多么愚蠢呀！我真应该在那天拧断你的脖⼦，⽽不仅仅是让你唱歌了。
The Wild Swans
The Wild SwansThe Wild Swans is a classic fairy tale that has been retold in many different forms over the years. It tells the story of a princess who must rescue her brothers from a wicked queen who has turned them into swans. This story has captured the hearts of many readers, young and old, and continues to be a beloved tale to this day. In this essay, we will explore the different aspects of The Wild Swans and how they contribute to its enduring popularity.Firstly, the theme of family love is a central aspect of The Wild Swans. The princess's love for her brothers is what drives her to undertake the dangerous task of breaking the curse that has been placed upon them. This theme resonates with readers of all ages, as it reminds us of the importance of family and the lengths we will go to protect those we love. The story also explores the idea of sacrifice, as the princess must give up her own voice in order to save her brothers. This selflessness is a powerful message that teaches us the value of putting others before ourselves.Secondly, the setting of The Wild Swans is another aspect that contributes to its popularity. The story takes place in a magical world that is both beautiful and dangerous. The princess must navigate through forests, mountains, and rivers in order to find the ingredients for the potion that will break the curse. This setting captures the imagination of readers, as it allows us to escape into a world of fantasy and adventure. The vivid descriptions of the landscape and the creatures that inhabit it make the story come alive in our minds.Thirdly, the characters in The Wild Swans are well-developed and relatable. The princess is a strong and determined heroine who is willing to risk everything to save her brothers. Her brothers, who have been turned into swans, are also sympathetic characters who we root for throughout the story. The wicked queen, who is the antagonist of the story, is a terrifying figure who adds an element of danger and suspense to the plot. These characters are memorable and leave a lasting impression on readers.Fourthly, the moral of The Wild Swans is another reason why it has endured over time. The story teaches us the importance of perseverance and determination in the face ofadversity. The princess never gives up on her quest to save her brothers, even when the odds are against her. This message is one that is relevant to people of all ages, as it reminds us that we can achieve anything if we work hard and never give up.Fifthly, the symbolism in The Wild Swans is another aspect that contributes to its popularity. The swans represent the purity and innocence of the brothers, who have been wrongfully cursed. The potion that the princess must create is made from nettles, which are prickly and painful to touch, but can also be used for healing. This symbolism adds depth to the story and allows readers to interpret it in different ways.Lastly, the timeless quality of The Wild Swans is what makes it a classic. The story has been retold in many different forms over the years, including books, movies, and plays. Each adaptation brings something new to the story, but the core themes and messages remain the same. This enduring popularity is a testament to the power of storytelling and the ability of a good story to capture the hearts and imaginations of people of all ages.In conclusion, The Wild Swans is a classic fairy tale that has endured the test of time. Its themes of family love, sacrifice, perseverance, and determination, along with its memorable characters, vivid setting, and powerful symbolism, have made it a beloved story for generations. Whether we read it as children or as adults, The Wild Swans continues to capture our imaginations and remind us of the power of love and the importance of never giving up.。
小学四年级英语阅读短文：黄金鸟
小学四年级英语阅读短文：黄金鸟ime passed on; and as the eldest son did not come back, and no tidings were heard of him, the second son set out, and the same thing happened to him. He met the fox, who gave him the good advice： but when he came to the two inns, his eldest brother was standing at the window where the merrymaking was, and called to him to come in; and he could not withstand the temptation, but went in, and forgot the golden bird and his country in the same manner.日子一天天过去了，大儿子没有回来，音讯全无。
同样的事情发生在他身上。
他遇到了那只狐狸，狐狸给了他很好的建议，但当他到达那两个旅馆时，他看到他的哥哥站在一家旅馆里的窗户边上，些时旅馆里面的人们正狂欢作乐。
他哥哥向弟弟打招呼，让他进去，他没能抵抗住诱惑，走了进去，然后，也把黄金鸟和自己的祖国忘记了。
Time passed on again, and the youngest son too wished to set out into the wide world to seek for the golden bird; but his father would not listen to it for a long while, for he was very fond of his son, and was afraid that some ill luck might happen to him also, and prevent his coming back.又过了一些日子，园丁的小儿子坐不住了，希望到外面的世界寻找那只黄金鸟，但他的父亲有好一阵子都不同意，因为他非常喜爱他的儿子，害怕他也会象他两个哥哥一样一去不回。
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The Wild Swans
Once upon a time in a kingdom far away, there were eleven Princes and a single Princess, by the name of Elisa. One day, their mother died of a disease.
Eventually the King married again. The new Queen hated the twelve children.
She said craftily, "Elisa is weak, and it would be good for her to go to the country for recuperation." The King was grateful to the Queen, as she seemed to care for the health of his daughter. Therefore, the Princess was sent off to the remotest corner of the country.
The Queen then changed the eleven Princes into swans through her magic power, and sent them away from the royal palace. The Princes flew away crying sadly. "Oh! I feel good. It is my world now."
After some time, the King missed Princess Elisa and sent for her. The Queen had Princess Elisa wear a dirty and worn-out dress. The King was very surprised to see the dirty Princess Elisa. "Elisa, how do you dress yourself?" Then the Queen said quickly, "Dear Lord, it seems that Princess Elisa has gone mad." The King was furious and sent the Princess away from him.
"Ah! Where are my brothers?" The Princess asked a man passing by, "Have you ever seen eleven Princes?" The man said, "I have not seen eleven Princes but I have seen eleven swans. Strangely the swans wore golden crowns. You may find them near the river."
Princess Elisa waited for her brothers near the river hoping to find them. At night, eleven swans swooped down to the ground and were turned into the form of Princes. "My brothers!" "Elisa!" They cried and embraced each other.
The brothers were trapped under the spell of the wicked Queen, and were forced to become swans and fly around to look for something to eat during the day. Elisa prayed earnestly, "Dear God, please release the magic curse from my brothers." In her dreams that night, a fairy appeared and said, "Make mantles for your brothers with hemp and have them wear the mantles. However, you should not speak at all until those mantles are made completely."
The Princes thought that Elisa, who did not speak and merely kept knitting, had become strange. One day, a Prince from a neighboring kingdom saw the knitting Princess when he was out hunting. The Prince took Elisa to his palace saying to himself, "She is a really beautiful lady. I am going to make her happy."
But Elisa did not say anything, and only kept knitting eagerly. At nightfall of the next day, the hemp was all used up. Elisa picked some more hemp near a grave but was caught by the Prince. The Prince said, "You dared to go to a grave at night? You must be a witch. Take this witch and burn her at the stake!"
Princess Elisa was unable to say anything and was imprisoned. Princess Elisa continued knitting without taking rest even in the prison. Princess Elisa was finally knitting the eleventh mantle, while being carried on a cart going to the burning place. The villagers threw stones at her while shouting, "That witch is still knitting. Burn her at the stake!"
At that precise moment, the eleven swans flew in. Princess Elisa threw the finished mantles to the swans. Only then, Princess Elisa opened her mouth. "I now can speak. I am not a witch."
They donned the knitted hoods they were turned back into Princes. The Princess told the Prince what had happened up to that time. Thereafter, the Prince and Princess Elisa lived happily together in their kingdom.。