讀點好英文:The Boy and His Axe 男孩和他的斧頭

The Boy and His Axe 男孩和他的斧頭

A long time ago, there lived a very poor but hard working boy in a small suburb. His father was so ill that he became bedridden.To earn a living, the boy woke up early in the morning and went into the jungle to chop wood for sale in the suburb.

One particular day, the boy carried his axe and went into the jungle as usual. When he was near a lake, he saw a big tree.He climbed up the tree and tried to chop some branches.Suddenly his axe slipped and fell into the lake.The boy started crying because he had lost the one tool he needed to earn his living.

Suddenly the water surface rippled and an old man appeared. Seeing that the boy was frightened, he said，“My boy, please do not be afraid.Tell me why you are crying so sadly.”

“My axe dropped into the water. I need it to earn a living to care for my sickly father.”

“Let me search for it，”said the old man. Then he disappeared into the water and the lake became calm again.After a while, the water surface rippled again and the old man reappeared.In his hand was a shining golden axe.

“Is this your axe?”asked the old man.

“This axe is beautiful, but it is not mine，”said the boy.

“Well, let me go in and search once more.”The old man disappeared into the water again. A moment later, he reappeared.This time, he was holding a silver axe.

“Is this your axe?”asked the old man.

“No, mine is just an ordinary one, not made of gold or silver，”replied the boy.

“All right, let me go in and search again.”He then disappeared into the water.

He reappeared this time carrying the boy's axe.

“Yes, yes, that is mine！”shouted the boy excitedly.

The old man said，“My dear boy, I am so pleased that you are such an honest person. I am giving the golden and silver axes to you.You can then find a good doctor and I am sure your father will recover very soon.”The old man then disappeared into the water.

The boy sold both the axes. With the money, he managed to find a good doctor and soon cured his father of his illness.

從前，在一個小村子里，住著一個貧窮卻很勤勞的男孩。他的父親患了重病，長期臥床不起。為了維持生活，男孩不得已每天天剛亮就上山砍柴，然后在村子里賣。

有一天，男孩像往常一樣，拿了斧頭到深山里去砍柴。男孩在湖邊發(fā)現(xiàn)一棵大樹。他爬上樹，揮動斧頭砍樹枝。突然，斧頭從他手中滑落到了湖里。男孩傷心地哭了起來，沒有了斧頭，他無以為生了。

這時，平靜的湖水起了漣漪，從波浪中出現(xiàn)了一位老漢。這嚇了男孩一跳，老漢說：“孩子，別怕。告訴我你為何哭得如此傷心？”

“我的斧頭掉到湖里去了，我靠它謀生，以此來賺錢照顧我生病的父親?！?/p>

“我這就給你找斧頭去。”老漢說完，便消失在湖中了，湖水又恢復了以往的平靜。不一會兒，湖水又動蕩了起來，老漢從波浪中走出來。他手里拿著一把閃閃發(fā)光的金斧頭。

“這是你的斧頭嗎？”老漢問。

“這把斧頭好漂亮??！但它不是我的?！蹦泻⒄f。

“那好，我再去找你的斧頭。”老漢的身影又消失在湖中。過了一會兒，他又手舉一把銀斧頭從波浪里出來。

“是這把嗎？”老人問。

“也不是，我的斧頭既不是金的，也不是銀的，它只是一把普普通通的斧頭。”男孩說。

“那好，我再去找找看?！崩蠞h說完又消失在湖中。

老漢再次現(xiàn)身時，手里拿著男孩的斧頭。

男孩興奮地叫道：“是的，是的，這才是我的斧頭！”

老漢說：“好孩子，我真高興你是個如此誠實的孩子。我把金斧頭和銀斧頭也一起送給你。你給你父親找個好醫(yī)生，我相信，你父親很快就會好起來?！崩蠞h說完，又消失在湖中了。

男孩賣掉了金銀斧頭，用換來的錢找了位醫(yī)術(shù)高明的醫(yī)生。他父親的病很快就被治好了。

Practising&Exercise 實戰(zhàn)提升篇

單詞注解

disdain[di'sdein]v.鄙視，輕蔑；污辱

distinguish[di'sti?gwi?]v.區(qū)分，辨別

confess[k?n'fes]v.供認，承認；坦白

conspicuous[k?n'spikju?s]a.顯眼的，易見的

fright[frait]n.驚嚇；恐怖

cure[kju?]v.治愈，治好

實用句型

The birds do not dare to rise from the ground.

鳥兒們不敢飛離地面。

I need it to earn a living to care for my sickly father.

我靠它謀生，以此來賺錢照顧我生病的父親。

智慧點津

The ordinary post to give himself more worthy of our respect, it is their toil that brings our facilities and amenities.

那些在平凡崗位上默默奉獻的人更值得我們尊敬，是他們的辛勞給我們帶來了便利和舒適。

Honesty is the best quality.

誠實是最好的美德。