Story Brief

The Farmer and His Sons

A farmer being on the point of death and wishing to show his sons the way to success in farming, called them to him, and said; “My children, I am now departing from this life, but all that I have to leave you, you will find in the vineyard.”

The sons, supposing that he referred to some hidden treasure, as soon as the old man was dead, set to work with their spades and ploughs and every implement that was at hand, and turned up the soil over and over again. They found indeed not treasure, but the vines, strengthened and improved by this thorough tillage, yielded a finer vintage than they had ever yielded before. This more than repaid the young husbandmen for all their trouble.

Industry is, in itself, a treasure.

 

消失的宝藏

有个农夫种了一大片田，由于勤勤恳恳地精耕细作，他每年的收成都比别人好。可是他的三个儿子却一个比一个懒惰，从来不帮父亲干活，整天只知道吃喝玩乐。

日子一天天过去了，老父亲越来越苍老了。他知道自己的日子不多了。。。

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Explanation Now

Meaning of Words

词语	华文解释	英文解释
勤勤恳恳	形容勤劳踏实。也形容勤恳的样子。 例句：一个男人只要脚踏实地、勤勤恳恳地去实践梦想、改变生活，就可以为家人提供一个好的生活环境。	work diligently and conscientiously
精耕细作	意思是指农业上认真细致地耕作。 例句：爷爷对后院的土地精耕细作，因此他种的各种蔬果都长得又高又大。	intensive cultivation
吃喝玩乐	意思是指过任意享乐的生活。 例句：自从父母过世，他整天就和一群朋友混在一起吃喝玩乐。	idle away one’s life in pleasure-seeking
苍老	意思是神色、行动、外貌显老。 例句：门口坐着一个老人，看上去非常苍老。	old
与世长辞	意思是离开了人世。 例句：当得知她与世长辞的消息后，人们以不同的方式深深缅怀这位善良的老人。	died
毕生	意思是全部的人生。 例句：他决心把毕生精力贡献给科学事业。	lifetime

 

 

Story Brief

A pike who wants to learn to catch rats

A pike and a cat are good friends.

The pike wanted to learn to catch rats from cat. The cat took him into the barn, but the pike lay motionless on the ground.

The cat hurriedly put the pike back into the pond, and the pike recovered.

 

想学捕鼠的梭子鱼

梭子鱼和小花猫是一对好朋友。

有一天，梭子鱼问小花猫：“老鼠肉好吃吗？”小花猫说：“当然好吃啦！”

梭子鱼清了清嗓子说：“那我今晚跟你一起去粮仓，捉几只老鼠怎么样？”。。。

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Explanation Now

Meaning of Words

词语	华文解释	英文解释
无济于事	意思是对事情没有什么帮助或益处，比喻不解决问题。 例句：如果你总是熬夜不睡觉，即使白天再补觉也无济于事，健康还是会受影响。	no use
忙活	指忙碌。 例句：他们俩已经忙活了一上午了。	be busy
颇丰	意思是非常丰富。 例句：今年风调雨顺，到了秋天农民收获颇丰。	a lot of
悔恨	意思是指对过去的事后悔怨恨。 例句：从此后他离群索居，总在悔恨自己过去铸成的错误。	regret deeply

 

 

Story Brief

The Fox and the Crow

A crow had snatched a goodly piece of cheese out of a window, and flew with it into a high tree, intent to enjoy her prize. A fox spied the dainty morsel and thus planned his approaches.

“Oh crow,” said he, “how beautiful are thy wings, how bright thine eye! How graceful thy neck! Thy breast is the breast of an eagle! Thy claws?I beg pardon?thy talons, are a match for all the beasts of the field. Oh! That such a bird should be dumb, and want only a voice!”

The crow, pleased with the flattery and chuckling to think how she would surprise the fox with her caw, opened her mouth. Down dropped the cheese! The fox snapping up observed, as he walked away, that ?whatever he had remarked of her beauty, he had said nothing yet of her brains.?

Men seldom flatter without some private end in view, and they who listen to such music may expect to have to pay the piper.

 

乌鸦和狐狸

乌鸦在集市上捡到一块肥肉，飞累了，她就落在一个枝头上休息。一只狐狸也出来寻找食物，他刚走出洞口，抬头就看到乌鸦嘴里的肥肉，馋得口水直流。

“怎么样才能把那块肉骗过来呢？”狡猾的狐狸眼珠一转，计上心头。。。

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Explanation Now

Meaning of Words

词语	华文解释	英文解释
计上心头	意思是心里突然有了计策。 例句：想到这里，他计上心头，在同伴的耳边嘀咕了几句。	account the mind
讨好	意思是指为得到好感或讨人喜欢而去迎合某人。 例句：这只狗很会讨好主人，总在人多的地方摇摆尾巴。	apple-polish
毕恭毕敬	意思是指十分地认真和尊敬,态度很恭敬，后来也形容十分端庄有礼。 例句：教授非常谦逊，即使自己已经名满天下，对自己幼年的老师仍旧毕恭毕敬。	extremely deferential
千真万确	形容情况非常真实。 例句：这个消息千真万确，你们一定要做好准备。	absolutely true
自叹不如	意思是比喻向高明者折服，而自己感叹自己不如此人。 例句：我这次考试得了第一名，小明自叹不如。	consider oneself inferior to another
名副其实	意思是名声或称谓（号）与实际一致、相符合。 例句：他的演奏如行云流水、洒脱大气，钢琴王子名副其实。	worthy of the name
恭维	指出于讨好对方的目的而去称赞、颂扬。 例句：他的那些话不过是恭维我罢了，我是不会当真的。	flatter
一言不发	意思是一句话也不说。 例句：他坐在那里一言不发，看起来好像在生闷气。	not say a word
自以为是	意思是总以为自己是对的，认为自己的观点和做法都正确，不接受他人意见。 例句：他这个人从来不接受别人的意见，总是自以为是。	be opinionated; be self-righteous
爱慕虚荣	喜欢“表面的光彩”。 例句：她是个爱慕虚荣的女人，总是想尽办法用自己买不起的名牌服饰来向朋友炫耀。	peacockish; vain
甜言蜜语	意思是像蜜糖一样甜的话。比喻为了讨人喜欢或哄骗人而说好听的话。 例句：他追求女人的方式就是甜言蜜语。	sweet
心满意足	指做了某事或得到什么事物等，自己心情很愉悦高兴，让自己觉得满意。 例句：妻子又生了一个女儿，老张现在儿女双全，心满意足。	be perfectly satisfied

 

 

Story Brief

The Vain Jackdaw & his Borrowed Feathers

One day, Zeus declared a order, he wanted to select the most beautiful bird as a king of birds. All of birds were busied to dress up themselves.

A Jackdaw wished he is the one which is selected.

Now the black Jackdaw was not a very handsome bird. Yet he imagined that all he needed to make himself fit for the society of the other birds was a dress like theirs. So he borrowed a feather from the Peacock and stuck them among his own black plumes. And so on, he continued to borrow kinds of feather from all of birds.

Dressed in his borrowed finery he strutted loftily among the birds of his own kind. On that day, all the birds dressed up and walked to Zeus. Zeus saw the colorful Jackdaw at a glance and immediately prepared to make him king. But birds soon saw who he was. Angry at the cheat, they flew at him, plucking away the borrowed feathers and also some of his own.

 

徒劳的乌鸦

一次，宙斯宣布，要在百鸟中选取一个最美丽的鸟为王。听到这个消息，所有鸟类都忙着装扮自己。乌鸦也想成为那个幸运儿，可是他知道，自己浑身上下没有漂亮的地方。

一天，他看到美丽的孔雀，突然有了一个主意。。。

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Explanation Now

Meaning of Words

词语	华文解释	英文解释
装扮	意思是化装，假扮。 例句：今年的万圣节他打算装扮成海盗。	dress up
幸运儿	意思是幸运的那个人。 例句：大奖开出来后，他核对号码发现自己就是那个幸运儿。	the lucky one
浑身	意思是全身。 例句：一辆车飞快地开过去，溅起的水花让他浑身湿透。	from head to foot; all over
甜言蜜语	意思是像蜜糖一样甜的话。比喻为了讨人喜欢或哄骗人而说好听的话。 例句：他追求女人的方式就是甜言蜜语。	sweet
精心	意思是用心；专心。 例句：为了庆祝母亲的生日，他精心准备了一个礼物。	elaborately
五彩斑斓	意思是指多种颜色繁多而耀眼。 例句：成千上万的野花使峡谷五彩斑斓，像仙境一样。	colorful
丑陋	指相貌或样子难看。多局限于指外表、长相；也可指内心、行为丑恶。 例句：那个人虽然外表丑陋，但内心很善良。	ugly

 

 

Story Brief

The Goatherd and the Goats

It was a stormy day, and the snow was falling fast, when a goatherd drove his goats, all white with snow, into a desert cave for shelter. There he found that a herd of wild goats, more numerous and larger than his own, had already taken shelter.

Thinking to secure them all, he left his own goats to take care of themselves and threw the branches he had brought for them to the wild goats to browse on. But when the weather cleared up, he found his own goats had perished from hunger, while the wild goats were off and away to the hills and woods.

The goatherd returned a laughing-stock to his neighbors, having failed to gain the wild goats and having lost his own.

They, who neglect their old friends for the sake of new, are rightly served if they lose both.

 

贪婪的牧羊人

牧羊人赶着羊群在山上遇上暴风雪，他只好找到一个山洞避一避。

进了山洞，牧羊人意外地发现一群野山羊。他立刻起了贪念，心想：“如果让这群羊乖乖地跟我下山，我就能赚很多钱！”。。。

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Explanation Now

Meaning of Words

词语	华文解释	英文解释
贪念	意思是贪心的想法或愿望。 例句：看到地上的钱包，小雨心中不禁起了贪念，于是他偷偷捡起放进书包。	greed
笼络	意思是拉拢、控制。 例句：这位政客只有在竞选前才做做样子，笼络人心。	draw over
讨好	意思是指为得到好感或讨人喜欢而去迎合某人。 例句：这只小狗非常会讨好主人，总在人多的地方摇摆尾巴。	play up to
逃窜	指仓皇地逃走。 例句：小猫扑了过去，老鼠一看立刻四处逃窜。	run away
贪心	意思是贪图不属于自己的东西。 例句：一上了赌桌，他就忍不住贪心要下注。	greed
无影无踪	没有一点踪影。形容完全消失，不知去向。 例句：听到这个好消息，他连日来的疲劳一下子消失得无影无踪。	not the least trace was found
受冻挨饿	意思是遭受饥饿与寒冷侵袭，指无衣无食的穷困境况。 例句：战争让很多人失去了家园，过上了受冻挨饿的流浪生活。	to suffer cold and hunger
失声痛哭	因为过度悲痛而放声痛哭。 例句：想起这些年的辛苦和磨难，他不禁失声痛哭。	lose control and cry out loud

 

 

Story Brief

The Marriage of the Sun

Once upon a time, in a very warm summer, it was reported that the sun was going to be married.

All the birds and beasts were delighted at the thought. The frogs, above all others, were determined to have a good holiday.

But an old toad put a stop to their festivities by observing that it was an occasion for sorrow rather than for joy. “For if,” said he, “the sun of himself now parches up the marshes so that we can hardly bear it, what will become of us if he should have half a dozen little suns in addition?”

 

太阳结婚

炎热的夏天，好久也没下雨，大地快被太阳烤干了。

就在这烈烈夏日里，太阳准备举行婚礼。听到这个消息，所有小动物都欢天喜地地做着准备，小青蛙们也高高兴兴地去为太阳祝贺。

然而一只老青蛙自始至终都躲在角落里。。。

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Explanation Now

Meaning of Words

词语	华文解释	英文解释
炎热	意思是气候极热。 例句：午后操场非常炎热，大家都没有精神再练习下去。	very hot
欢天喜地	形容非常高兴。 例句：小林终于被名校录取，全家人都欢天喜地准备庆祝。	be full of joy
自始至终	指从开始到末了，指一贯到底。 例句：虽然观众不时的窃窃私语，他在舞台上自始至终都一声不响。	throughout
满面愁容	意思是忧虑的神色布满脸庞，形容一个人发愁焦虑的样子。 例句：你看他满面愁容的样子，一定出了什么事。	look extremely worried
好奇	指对自己所不了解的事物觉得新奇而感兴趣，充满新鲜感。 例句：孩子们心里面充满了各种好奇，什么事都想知道个究竟。	curious
愁眉苦脸	意思是指皱着眉头，哭丧着脸。形容愁苦的神色。 例句：他最近几天总是一副愁眉苦脸的样子，好像有满腹心事。	gloomily
苦头	意思是苦痛、磨难、不幸。 例句：从小就父母双亡，他这些年吃了不少苦头。	suffering; hardship

 

 

Story Brief

The Lion in Love

It happened in the days of old that a lion fell in love with a woodsman’s daughter and had the folly to ask her of her father in marriage. The woodsman was not much pleased with the offer and declined the honor of so dangerous an alliance.

Upon the lion threatening him with his royal displeasure, the poor man, seeing that so formidable a creature was not to be denied, hit at length upon this expedient: “I feel greatly flattered,” said he, “with your proposal. But, noble sir, what great teeth you have got! And what great claws you have got! Where is the damsel that would not be frightened at such weapons as these? You must have your teeth drawn and your claws pared before you can be a suitable bridegroom for my daughter.”

The lion straightway submitted, for what will not a body do for love, and then called upon the father to accept him as a son-in-law. But the woodsman, no longer afraid of the tamed and disarmed bully, seized a stout cudgel and drove the unreasonable suitor from his door.

 

狮子与农夫

狮子爱上了农夫的女儿，一心想娶她做自己的妻子。听说了这件事，农夫一筹莫展。他当然不想把女儿嫁给狮子，但又不知道如何拒绝。

这一天，狮子前来求婚，农夫忽然想出一个主意。。。

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Explanation Now

Meaning of Words

词语	华文解释	英文解释
一筹莫展	形容遇事拿不出一点办法，没有任何进展。 例句：如何不产生污染的处理垃圾，科学家们都一筹莫展，谁也提不出最好的办法。	to have no idea about
惹毛	指用招惹挑衅等行为，导致对方发怒。 例句：这个无赖反复挑衅，终于惹毛了这个陌生人。	provoke
发誓	意思是发出誓言。 例句：他发誓要为父亲报仇。	vow; pledge; swear
迟疑	指犹豫；拿不定主意。 例句：她迟疑了一会儿，然后慢慢推开了校长室的门。	hesitate
为难	指难以应付，不好解决。 例句：我遇上了个为难的事，找你出出主意。	feel awkward
冲昏了头	意思是指因胜利或激动而头脑发热，不能冷静思考行事。 例句：他被短暂的胜利冲昏了头，结果用力过猛反而受了伤。	turn somebody’s brain/head

 

 

Story Brief

The Lion and His Three Councilors

The lion called the sheep to ask her if his breath smelled. She said Aye, so he bit off her head for a fool. He called the wolf and asked him. He said No, so he tore him in pieces for a flatterer. At last he called the fox and asked him. Truly he had got a cold, and could not smell.

Wise men say nothing in dangerous times.

 

狮子和他的三个顾问

听说很多大人物都有顾问，狮子也挑选了羊、狼和狐狸当他的顾问。可是顾问无非就是个幌子，狮子根本不听他们的劝告，甚至老想着怎么才能吃掉他们。

这一天，狮子感觉有点上火，嘴巴里隐约发出一股臭味。。。

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Explanation Now

Meaning of Words

词语	华文解释	英文解释
顾问	泛指在某件事情的认知上已经有多年经验，并且擅长解答疑问的人。 例句：这部电影专门聘请了几位物理学家作为顾问，指导剧情中涉及到的时空理论。	consultant
挑选	指从一些人或事物中选出合乎要求的。 例句：他为这对新人专门挑选了一个好日子来举办婚礼。	select
无非	意思是不外乎；没别的。 例句：这些人整天围着你转，无非想得到些好处罢了。	nothing but; only
幌子	初特指酒店的布招，现比喻进行某种活动时所假借的名义。 例句：这种骗术通常用中奖作为幌子，然后引诱受害人支付手续费或税金。	pretence
劝告	指拿道理劝人，希望人改正错误或接受意见而说的话。 例句：他的这一劝告，我一直记在心中。	advise
上火	指中医的一种理论，认为是人体阴阳平衡失调的结果。 例句：冬天干燥寒冷，喝水不够的话容易上火。	heatiness
隐约	意思是指依稀；不明显的样子。 例句：早晨起了雾，只能隐约看见远处的人影。	vaguely
哆哆嗦嗦	形容因受外界刺激而身体不由自主的颤动。 例句：她又冷又饿，哆哆嗦嗦向前走。	trembling
遍体鳞伤	意思是浑身受伤，伤痕像鱼鳞一样密；形容受伤很重。 例句：这个囚犯被打的遍体鳞伤，实在走不动了。	beaten black and blue
狡猾	指诡诈不可信，狡诈刁钻。 例句：他看起来很老实，其实狡猾极了。	cunning
凑巧	意思是正遇着所希望的或所不希望的事情。 例句：我们那天凑巧都去了同一家商场。	coincidentally

 

 

Story Brief

The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox

A lion and a bear found the carcass of a fawn and had a long fight for it. The contest was so hard and even that, at last, both of them, half-blinded and half-dead, lay panting on the ground, without strength to touch the prize that was stretched between them. A fox coming by at the time, and seeing their helpless condition, stepped in between the combatants and carried off the booty.

“Poor creatures that we are,” cried they, “who have been exhausting all our strength and injuring one another, merely to give a rogue a dinner!”

 

狮子、熊和狐狸

狮子和熊同时捕获了一只小羊羔，他们俩都想把小羊据为己有，于是就争吵起来。两人越吵越恼火，不知不觉打了起来。

经过一场惨烈的搏斗，狮子的肚皮被咬破，肠子都流了出来。熊的两条腿也被狮子咬断了，有气无力地瘫倒在地上。。。

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Explanation Now

Meaning of Words

词语	华文解释	英文解释
捕获	意思是捉到，逮住。 例句：猎狗在林中捕获了一只野兔。	catch
据为己有	指把本来不属于自己的东西，占据下来归自己所有。 例句：有的人很自私，经常把公共的财产据为己有。	glom on to
惨烈	意思指的是景象十分凄惨。 例句：一声枪响之后，那只棕熊带着惨烈的嗥叫滚下山坡。	tragic
有气无力	意思是形容说话声音微弱，做事精神不振；也形容体弱无力。 例句：刚从手术麻醉中醒来，他有气无力的回答医生的询问。	lack strength; feel weak
瘫倒	指倒下难以动弹。 例句：劫匪冲进银行，这个妇人被吓的瘫倒在地上。	slump
大摇大摆	指由于得意而走路时身体或手臂等大幅摇摆的样子。 例句：狮子们成功扑倒了一头水牛，吃饱后大摇大摆离去。	swaggering
轻而易举	形容事情容易做，不费力。 例句：事情并不象小雨想的那样轻而易举。	be an easy job to
懊恼	意思是烦恼或懊悔。 例句：前男友要结婚了，她懊恼得把请柬丢在桌上。	annoyed; upset
唉声叹气	意思是因伤感、烦闷或痛苦而发出叹息的声音。 例句：他的个性非常消极，经常为了一些小事唉声叹气的。	sigh in despair
愚蠢	形容人笨，愚昧无知。 例句：这个人愚蠢的行为导致更加严重的后果。	stupid; foolish; silly
你死我活	意思是指只有一方死了，另一方才能活下去；形容双方矛盾之大或斗争之激烈。 例句：这两只野兽一定会斗的你死我活，才会结束这场打斗。	fight at outrance
事已至此	指事情已经这样了。 例句：事已至此，咱们必须还要拿出个办法来挽救危局。	This is the end.

 

 

Story Brief

The Goose with the Golden Eggs

A certain man had the good fortune to possess a goose that laid him a Golden Egg every day.

But dissatisfied with so slow an income, and thinking to seize the whole treasure at once, he killed the Goose; and cutting her open, found her just what any other goose would be!

 

生金蛋的鹅

有一对贫困的夫妇好吃懒做，他们每天向神祈求财富。神最后终于答应给他们一只鹅，夫妇俩很失望，决定第二天一早就把鹅杀掉。

早上丈夫正准备杀鹅，妻子在一旁惊叫起来：“快来看啊！鹅下了一只金蛋！”夫妻俩高兴极了，原来这是一只会生金蛋的鹅。靠着金蛋换来的钱，他们过上了富足的日子。。。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Explanation Now

Meaning of Words

词语	华文解释	英文解释
贫困	指在经济或精神上的贫乏窘困。 例句：经济大萧条导致很多家庭陷入了贫困。	poor; poverty
好（hào）吃懒做	意思指贪于吃喝，懒于做事。 例句：在父母的溺爱下，他整天都好吃懒做，根本不想出去工作。	eat one’s head off
祈（qí）求	指恳切地希望得到。表达人们对美好事物的渴望。 例句：每一位母亲都衷心的祈求孩子能平安从战场归来。	pray
惊叫	意思是吃惊地喊叫。 例句：他被突如其来的爆炸声吓得惊叫起来。	scream
富足	意思是丰富而充足。 例句：他早年的辛勤工作赚取了丰厚的养老金，退休后过着富足的生活。	abundance; rich
好景不长	意思是美好的光景不能永远存在。 例句：虽然他们不顾家人的反对结婚了，但是好景不长，几年后妻子就得了重病。	all good things must come to an end
提议	指提出意见。 例句：老师提议让全班同学投票来选举班长。	propose; suggest
伺候	意思是为某人提供实时的照顾，并完成相关生活的工作。 例句：这位女仆贴身伺候女主人的生活起居。	serve
干脆	意思是指爽快，表示动作行为直截了当，不拖泥带水。 例句：我知道小明的脾气，办事干脆，说一不二。	simply
奢侈	基本意思是指挥霍浪费钱财，过分追求享受。 例句：这位第一夫人生活奢侈，引起很多民众的不满。	luxurious
耗光	意思是全部都消耗完了。 例句：不能等到食物耗光了才去打猎，要有提前的准备。	expend