初中英语课外阅读小故事

初中英语课外阅读小故事

你来决定

There was once a wise old woman who lived back in the hills. All the children used to come back and ask her questions. She always gave the right answers.

There was a naughty little boy among the children. One day he caught a

tiny bird and held it in his cupped hands. Then he gathered his friends around. He said, “Let’s trick the old woman. I’ll ask her what I’m holding in my hands. Of course, she’ll ans wer that I have a bird. Then I will ask her if

the bird is living or dead. If she says the bird is dead, I’ll open my hands and let the bird fly away. If she says the bird is alive, I’ll quickly crush

it and show her the dead bird. Either way, she’ll be wrong.”

The children agreed that this was a clever plan. Up the hill they went to the old woman’s hut.

“Granny, we have a question for you,” they all shouted.

“What’s in my hands?” asked the little boy.

“Well, it must be a bird,” replied the old woman.

“But is it living or dead?” demanded the excited boy.

The old woman thought for a moment and then replied, “It is as you will, my child.”

从前，有一位博学的老妇人，她住在后山。过去所有的孩子都经常来找她问问题。她

总是有求必应。

其中有一个调皮的小男孩。有一天，他抓到一只小鸟，双手捧住，然后把伙伴们叫到

身边，说：

“咱们去哄一下那个老太太。我要问她我手里握着什么东西。她肯定会回答说我握的

是小鸟。然后，我问她小鸟是活的还是死的。如果她说鸟是死的，我就张开手让小鸟飞走。如果她说小鸟是活的，我就马上用劲一捏，让她看到那只死鸟。不管用什么方法，她都说

不对。”

孩子们都异口同声的说这是一个聪明的计划。他们爬上山，来到了老妇人的小屋。

“奶奶，我们要问您一个问题。”他们都大声说道。

“我手里是什么东西?”那个小男孩问道。

“噢，肯定是一只小鸟，”老妇人回答说。

“可是活的还是死的呢?”小男孩兴奋的问到。

老妇人想了一会儿，然后回答说：“孩子，这由你来决定。”

惧怕成长冒险会被生活吞没Risking

Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile spring soil.

The first seed said, I want to grow! I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the e arth's crust above me…. I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring…

I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!

And so she grew.

The second seed said, I am afraid. If I send my roots into the ground below, I don't know what I will encounter in the dark. If I push my way through the hard soil above me I may damage my delicate sprouts…. what if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them? And if I were to open my blossoms, a small child may pull me from the ground. No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.

And so she waited.

A yard hen scratching around in the early spring ground for food found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Those of us who refuse to risk and grow get swallowed up by life.

中文：

两颗种子并排躺在春天肥沃的土壤里。

第一颗种子说：“我要成长。我要把根深深扎入土壤;我要用芽顶穿坚硬的地壳… 我要伸展柔嫩的蓓蕾，像旗帜一样宣告春天的到来… 我要感受太阳照在脸上的温暖，接受花瓣上晨露的祝福!”